USA > Michigan > Newaygo County > Portrait and biographical album of Newaygo County, Michigan : containing portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county also containing a complete history of the county, from its earliest settlement to the present time > Part 20
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Mr. Tibbitts held various township offices. He had for some time been a member of the Masonic Order: was a strong advocate of the temperance cause, and in politics a Republican. Both himself and wife were charter members of the Grange.
Mrs. Tibbitts lost her sight in 1879, and since that time has been unable to recognize any one. A severe cold was the cause of this sad calamity.
eremiah Rossiter, farmer, section 17, Den- ver Township, was born in Wexford Co., Ireland, June 4, 1829, and is a son of Jo- seph and Stacia (Fourlong) Rossiter, natives of that country. He attended the public schools of that place and worked on his father's farm until 21 years of age. March 4, 1848, he married Miss Bridget Fortune, daughter of Nicholas and May (O'Coner) Fortune, natives. also of Wexford County. Mrs. Rossiter was born June 18, 1835, and died in Denver Township, June 18, 1880. They worked on the old homestead in Wexford County until the spring of 1850, when they emigrated to Ot- tawa, Can., where Mr. R. was engaged in lumbering until 1857. He then removed to Toronto, Can., and a year later came to Port Sarnia, on Lake Huron, where he was engaged one year in a saw-mill. In the spring of 1859 he moved to Port Huron, Mich., where he sawed for some time, and in the fall of 1860 moved upon his present farm of 80 acres, which was then wild and uncultivated. He has add- ed 40 acres to his original purchase, and 80 of the I20 acres are well improved.
Mr. and Mrs. Rossiter had six children, four of whom are living: Anna C., Nicholas, John and Mary; James and Nicholas are deceased. Mr. R. is a member of the Catholic Church, and is a mem-
ber in good standing of the I. O. O. F., Lodge No. 334, at Hesperia. In politics he is a National Green- backer.
aymond E. Misner, son of Ephraim and Marietta (Darling) Misner, natives of New York, was born in that State, April 14, 1850, and at the age of 16 years came to Michigan and settled in Newaygo County, where he was employed in a saw-mill for nearly ten years ; was also employed about two years by the Chicago & West Michigan Railroad Company. Jan. 1, 1880, he formed a partnership with R. W. Rutherford, for the purpose of carrying on the gro- cery, boot and shoe, flour and feed, and provision trade, under the firm name of Rutherford & Misner, in Fremont. They carry a stock of about $2,000.
Mr. Misner was married, in Fremont, Dec. 25, 1869, to Sophia J., daughter of Cornelius and Chris- tina Addison, natives of Holland. She came to America with her parents, and remained at home un- til her marriage. Mr. and Mrs. Misner have two children; Stella M., born Dec. 25, 1870, and James E., born June 27, 1875. Mr. M. was appointed Special Policeman the first year the village was in- corporated and still retains that position. In poli- tics, he is identified with the Republican party.
lonzo Thayer, mechanic and engineer, sec- tion 27, Ashland Township, was born in Washtenaw Co., Mich., Oct. 12, 1828. He is the son of John G. and Hannah (Pangborn) Thayer, natives of New England, who settled in Michigan previous to their marriage, which event took place in the city of Detroit, June 30, 1813. The father was in the service of the United States during the entire period of the war of 1812, with the rank of Captain. After their marriage they became residents of Washtenaw County, and in 1840 went to Kent County, where the father died, in 1848.
In 1849, Mr. Thayer attained his legal freedom, and in April previous to his reaching that period he
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set out on a prospecting tour through the West and Northwest. He traveled through eleven States and Territories, and in the fall of 185 1 returned to Mich- igan. He settled in Ottawa County, where he was married April 3, 1852, to Sarah Jane, daughter of Caleb and Sabia (Hewitt) Whittemore, natives of Connecticut. Mrs. Thayer was born in Essex Co., N. Y., where her parents resided. They came to Michigan in 1850, and located in Kent County.
After his marriage Mr. Thayer remained in Otta- wa County and was occupied in a saw-mill, after which he came to Newaygo County and followed the same calling on the Muskegon River. His next re- move was to Grand Rapids, where he resided until the spring of 1867, when he made a permanent set- tlement in Newaygo County, buying 40 acres of land in Ashland Township, whereon he fixed his home- stead and turned his attention and energies, to a cer- tain extent, to its improvement and cultivation. He belongs to the National party in political connection, and is an active member of Ashland Grange, No. 545.
The children of Mr. and Mrs. Thayer were born as follows : Ella WV., Feb. 26, 1853 ; Myron F., Oct. 6, 1857 ; Frank A., Feb. 22, 1861 ; Florence J., Oct. I, 1863 ; Hiram, Feb. 23, 1866; Emma E., Dec. 23, 1870; Frederick A., Jan. 28, 1874.
ohn E. Hatfield, farmer, section 26, Nor- wich Township, was born in the city of New York, Feb. 22, 1833. His parents, William and Sarah (Craft) Hatfield, were both born in Vermont, where his father was a farmer. He died when his son was in early youth, and the mother followed her husband to the grave not long after.
Mr. Hatfield resided with a man named William Tross, and was cared for in his family until he was 16 years old, bred meanwhile to the calling of a far- mer and acquiring a fair education at the common school. He afterward spent about five years as an assistant in a saw-mill, with Ulster, Sullivan & Co., and resided in New York until 1861, when he re- moved to Michigan, locating primarily at Grand Rapids. He was there employed in a mill until the
fall of 1867, when he entered a homestead claim of 40 acres of land in Norwich Township, and devoted his energies and time to its improvement. A later purchase has increased his landed possessions to 160 acres, where he is engaged in creditable and prosper- ous farming. In political faith he is an adherent of the Republican party, and has held the Township offices of Justice of the Peace, Highway Commis- sioner, Assessor, Treasurer, etc. He is earnestly and actively interested in whatever promotes the grade of progression in his township.
Mr. Hatfield has been twice married. His first wife was Mary, daughter of Martin and Rebecca (Miller) Kator, a native of the State of New York. She died Dec. 9, 1860, leaving two children, Julia A. and Mary Emma. Mr. Hatfield was a second time married July 12, 1874, to Mrs. Rosa (La Fave) Langford, daughter of Oliver and Mary (Gonyon) La Fave. She was born Feb. 15, 1837, and is the mother of two children, Guy P. Langford and Della May Hatfield.
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acob Barnhard, farmer, section 33, Den- ver Township, was born in Fairfield Co., Ohio, Sept. 29, 1809. When he was very young his parents left that locality, and after living some time in Pickaway County moved to Sandusky County. Here Jacob lived and worked on his father's farm until 22 years of age, when, in March, 1832, he married Miss Sarah Hi- land, daughter of Edward and Mary Hiland, all na- tives of Ohio. Mrs. Barnhard died in 1836, at her home in Sandusky, leaving two children.
June 21, 1840, Mr. Barnhard married Miss Lu- cinda Reed, of Seneca Co., Ohio, and daughter of James and Nancy (Rowley) Reed, natives of that State. She was born in Huron Co., Ohio, Feb. 24, 1820. Mr. and Mrs. Barnhard settled on a farm in Sandusky County, where they lived till the spring of 1848, when they moved to Chicago, Ill .; from there they came to Muskegon, this State, where Mr. B. carried the chain to lay out the town. Finally they moved to this county and settled in Croton Town- ship. Here Mr. B. located on a farm, where he lived until 1855, when he removed to Dayton Town- ship, and built the first " shanty " in that township.
NEWAYGO COUNTY.
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He labored hard and earnestly until he improved 80 acres of heavily timbered land. He has now grown to be an old man, and has always been highly es- teemed as a citizen, and recognized as one of the leading men of the community in which he has lived. He has held the offices of Township Clerk, Director, Supervisor, School Inspector, and at one time was Probate Judge. In politics, he sympathizes with the Republican party. March 15, 1883, Mr. Barnhard moved into Denver Township.
Mr. and Mrs. Barnhard have had seven children : Sarah A., Nancy J., Simon P., Thomas, Sylvanus, Margaret and Jonathan; two are deceased. They are members of the M. E. Church.
eymour E. Doud, farmer, sec. 29, Sherman Township, is a son of John and Amanda A. (Silliman) Doud, natives of Connecticut and Massachusetts respectively, and was born in Trumbull Co., Ohio, July 13, 1854. He lived in his native State until 14 years of age, and Marclı 3, 1869, he came to Newaygo County and purchased 80 acres of partly improved land in Sher- man Township, where he now resides, and has 45 acres under tillage. He was married at Lansing, Mich., Oct. 23, 1875, to Lillian L., eldest daughter of Mark and Lorinda Alton, natives of Ohio; she was born July 13, 1858. They have three children : Ernest L., Eugene A. and Berniss A. Mr. D. has held the office of Highway Commissioner three years, and was also on the Board of Review one year. In politics he is a Republican.
Millard, merchant, Newaygo, was born March 5, 1832, in Allegany Co., N. Y., and is a son of John and Polly (Doud) Millard. The father was a carpenter and joiner, and taught his son the details of the trade. The latter pursued the business during summers and engaged in lumbering winters until he came to Mich- igan, which was in the fall of 1857.
On coming to this State our subject settled in Clinton County and was occupied there until 1860 in farming. He then came to Newaygo and engaged as a sawyer in the mill of the Newaygo Lumber Company, where he remained until 1863, when he began to operate as a contractor, putting in pine timber. He bought 80 acres of pine land and oper- ated on his own account for a time. In 1866 he opened a meat market, which branch of trade lie operated eight years, when he added a grocery and provision department, and afterwards ready-made clothing and gentlemen's furnishing goods. His stock is valued at $1.500 and he transacts an annual business of about $7,000. He owns his store build- ing and residence. He has served as Township Clerk two years and Under-Sheriff two years.
Mr. Millard was married in Allegany Co., N. Y., Nov. 3, 1854, to Phebe E., daughter of Dewitt C. and Mary A. Hyde, a native of Allegany County.
imon P. Barnhard, merchant, Fremont. was born in Ottawa Co., Ohio, Nov. 9, 1844. His parents, Jacob and Lucinda (Reed) Barnhard, were natives of that State. When Simon was four years of age they moved to Illinois, where they remained but six months, and came to the mouth of the Muskegon River, in Michigan, where they lived a short time, then re- moved farther north into what is now Newaygo County, which was then a wilderness. Simon re- mained at home until 17 years of age, when he en- listed in Co. K, 3d Mich. Inf., and served two years and four months in the war of the Rebellion. He was then honorably discharged on account of wounds received at the battle of the Wilderness. He par- ticipated in the battles of ('hancellorsville, Fredericks- burg and numerous smaller engagements. At Chan- cellorsville he was wounded in the leg and left on the field, where he was taken prisoner, but was paroled in 13 days. About six months afterward he was free to enter the service again, where he remained until his discharge. He then returned to this county, where he attended school nearly a year, and taught school for about four years. In the meantime he bought 40 acres of land at one time, and 40 at an-
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other, of partly improved land. He lived on this farm 11 years, then sold in the winter of 1882, after clearing over 50 acres and putting up good frame buildings. He afterward moved to the village of Fremont, where he was employed by the Patrons' Co-operative Co., as manager, and remained in that position until the following April, when he purchased the goods of the company, which consisted of gen- eral merchandise, and now carries a stock of $5,000 to $7,000. Mr. Barnhard has the confidence of his fellow townsmen and of the public generally in this section of country.
He was married in this county, Dec. 25, 1866, to Sarah A., daughter of T. C. and Elizabeth (Moore) Randolph, natives of Maine, where Mrs. B. was born, Feb. 6, 1848. Mr. and Mrs. Barnhard have had five children, viz: W. Emer, May L., Charles, Augus- ta and Elwood; the latter is deceased. Mr. B. has held the office of Clerk of Dayton Township about three years, and School Inspector several years. He is a member of Henry Dobson Post, G. A. R., and in politics is independent.
lanson Taylor, farmer, section 17, Sher- man Township, was born in Trumbull Co., Ohio, Jan. 20, 1841. His parents were Alan- son and Angeline (Viets) Taylor, the former a native of Massachusetts, and the latter of Connecticut. They settled in Trumbull County and there lived until their death. Alanson was 17 years old when his mother died, and at that time he left home to live with an elder brother. He remained with him for nearly three years. In the spring of 1861 he enlisted in the 19th Ohio Reg., and was soon afterward discharged. He then took a trip to Minnesota, and after a short time returned to Ohio and entered Hiram College.
In the spring of 1862 he was married to Esther, daughter of John and Amanda Doud, natives of Connecticut and Ohio. Mrs. Taylor was born in Trumbull Co., Ohio, Jan. 28, 1843. They have had eight children, seven living: Regenia A., Grant U., Lucius L., Lillian A., Plumb A., Pearl A. and Mabel A. In the spring of 1869 Mr. Taylor came to Ne- waygo County and bought 80 acres of land in Sher-
man Township where he now resides, and has about 35 acres under cultivation. He has held the office of Township Clerk one year, and is School Director of District No. I. Politically, he is a Republican.
dmund O. Thomas was born in Onon- daga Co., N. Y., Sept. 6, 1827. His pater- nal grandfather was a native of New South Wales ; and his father, Lewis Thomas, was a native of New York. His maternal grandfather was a native of Germany, and his mother, Betsey E. (Peterson) Thomas, was born in Pennsyl- vania. Edmund O. lived at home until he attained his majority. At the age of 10 years he received an injury which disabled him from attending school, being obliged to use crutches for eight years, in con- sequence of which his schooling was limited. He is a self-made man ; and, being of keen observation, has acquired that practical education which is so es- sential to success in business. His counsel and ad- vice are very often sought. When 18 years of age he commenced peddling, a business he followed 15 years. In 1852 he left New York and came to Mich- igan, via Lake Erie, settling in Wayne County, where he lived six years; was in Ingham County four years, and in Muskegon five years, and in the fall of 1869 came to this county and settled on 80 acres of land he had previously purchased, in Dayton Town- ship. He built a frame house, cleared 45 acres, and lived here until the spring of 1883, when he sold, and bought a house and two lots in the village of Fremont, where he still resides.
He was first married in New York, Dec. 3, 1849, to Elizabeth, daughter of John and Betsey Vanauker, who was born in Monroe Co., N. Y., March 18, 1834, and they had five children : William C., born Aug. 18, 1851 ; Flora A., Dec. 11: 1856; Edmund O., May 18, 1863; Hiram L .; Margaret A., born Jan. I, 1855, died Sept. 28, 1861. Mrs. Thomas died Dec. I, 1870, and Feb. 3, 1874, Mr. Thomas married Mary Tindall, daughter of Daniel and Sarah A. (Johnson) Tindall, natives of Ohio and Indiana respectively, and she was born April 15, 1852. Their three chil- dren are Mary E., born Oct. 30, 1874; Charles H., Jan. 20, 1876; Freddie, April 22, 1881. Mr. Thomas
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was elected Justice of the Peace in 1871, and has held that office ever since; has been a member of the Masonic Order since 1856; is a strong temper- ance man, and in politics is a Republican.
albert E. Sutliff, of the firm of Keefe, Sut- ¿ liff & Co., liverymen, Newaygo, was born in Bridgeton Township, Newaygo Co., Mich., March 18, 1861. His father, Calvin A. Sutliff, was born Jan. 27, 1828, in New York, of Eng- lish and German extraction, and is a pioneer settler of Bridgeton Township, where he is a heavy land- holder. The mother, Emily H. (Woodward) Sutliff, is a native of New York, and was born April 13, 1839. Their farm comprises 272 acres, 100 acres of which is under improvement.
Mr. Sutliff was brought up as a pioneer's son and shared in the labors and hardships of clearing the homestead and placing it in its present valuable con- dition. Sept. 18, 1883, associated with his brother, Solon D. Sutliff, and Charles F. Keefe, he opened a livery stable in Newaygo on the site of the establish- ment of J. M. Allen, whose building was destroyed in the fire of April 29, 1883. The firm is in a pros- perous condition and its establishment is well stocked with excellent horses, carriages and all other fixtures necessary to meet the local demand. Mr. Sutliff is a member of Jericho Lodge, Order of Good Tem- plars, located at West Ashland.
homas C. Grundy, farmer, section 6, Day- ton Township, is the son of James and Ann (Pickles) Grundy, natives of England, and was born June 20, 1839. He lived with his parents until about 16 years of age, and was then apprenticed, for seven years, to learn the trade of carpenter and joiner. After the expira- tion of his apprenticeship he turned his attention to the ministry, which engaged him for five years, in the meantime being licensed to preach, but was not or- dained until he came to America. He left his native
country in the summer of 1867, and settled in Cold- water, Branch Co., Mich., where he followed his trade a part of the time and occasionally preached the gospel. He remained at Coldwater but a few months, when he went to Burr Oak, where he re- mained for a year, thence to Reading, Hillsdale County, where he was ordained a minister of the M. E. Church. After preaching one year at Reading, he moved to Osseo, in the same county, and at the expiration of his engagement there came to Fre- mont, this county, where he preached one year, after which he left the Conference.
In the spring of 1874, Mr. Grundy returned to England, and after spending a few months in his na- tive country, came back to Newaygo County and pur- chased 162 acres of partly improved land, where he now resides. He was married in England, August, 1864, to Ann, daughter of Rev. Thomas and Eliza- beth (Cartwright) Eckersley, also natives of England, and where their daughter Ann was born, and lived until her marriage with Mr. Grundy. In politics, Mr. G. sympathizes with the National party.
enry Darling, farmer, section 6, Garfield Township, was born in Ulster Co., N. Y., March 8, 1811, and is the son of James and Margaret (Misner) Darling. His father was a native of Scotland and was born July 23, 1774, in Prestonpans, and died in Schuyler Co., N. Y., at the venerable age of 92 years. The mother was born Feb. 29, 1780, in Canada, of German an- cestry, and died March 22, 1865, at the ripe of age of 85 years. They were the parents of 14 children, nine of whom are still living. During the war of 1812, the family lived in Canada, the father wishing to remain neutral in the issue between the British Government and the United States.
Mr. Darling came to Newaygo in 1858, and in 1859 bought a saw-mill, which was burned in 1863, with a loss of $1,200, not being insured. He was married Dec. 22, 1861, to Lydia J., daughter of Henry and Cynthia Upton, born at Adrian, Aug. 18, 1841. They passed the four years following their marriage in Schuyler Co., N. Y., where their two children, Henry Tavern and Duane, were born, the eldest
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July 11, 1863, the younger, Sept. 22, 1865. In the spring of 1864, Mr. Darling returned to Newaygo County and bought 320 acres of land in (then) Day- ton Township. The place is known as the Fremont Lake Farm, and is in what is now Sheridan Township. In the same year he built a saw-mill, which was burned in 1870, involving a loss of $5,000. In De- cember, 1870, Mr. Darling went to Kansas and en- tered a claim of 160 acres of land. He remained there until the spring of 1871, when he returned to Newaygo County and purchased the farm of which he is the present proprietor. It contains 50 acres, with one half under improvement. The owner has made additional clearings, built a substantial resi- dence, set out an orchard and put the place in a fine state of cultivation. He has officiated four years as Justice of the Peace and in several other positions of trust.
Mr. Darling is a descendant, on both sides of his parentage, of ancestors remarkable for tenacity of life. His maternal grandfather lived to be 104 years old. Every tooth was perfectly sound and bodily faculties comparatively unimpaired at the time of his death.
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aniel Davis, farmer, section 32, Sherman Township, is a son of Joel and Mary A. (McConnell) Davis, the father a native of Pennsylvania, and mother of Ireland ; they first settled in Ohio, but now reside in Indiana.
NE Daniel was born in Tuscarawas Co., Ohio, March 28, 1845, and was the seventh son of a family of 14 children. He remained at home until 17 years of · age. At that time he enlisted in the 51st Ohio Vol. Inf., and served 21 months, receiving an honorable discharge at the close of the war, at Indianapolis, Ind. Owing to severe exposure, he was taken sick near Atlanta, Ga., and was confined to the hospital nearly five months. After receiving his discharge he returned to Ohio and lived at home a year, then went to De Kalb Co., Ind., where he lived two years, and in the fall of 1868 came to Newaygo County and bought 40 acres of wild land in Ashland Township. He continued to improve this land for eight years, then sold it and purchased 60 acres in Sherman
Township, where he now resides. He has about 25 acres under tillage.
Aug. 30, 1866, he was married in Tuscarawas Co., Ohio, to Mary E., daughter of Zedekiah and Isabelle (Connell) Lewis, natives of Virginia and Ohio re- spectively. Mrs. Davis was born in Tuscarawas Co., Ohio, April 14, 1845. Their four children are Isabelle, Charles A., Lewis C. and Ora J. Politically, Mr. Davis is a radical Republican.
hinar Preston is a son of William and Margaret (Barnhard) Preston, and was born in Ohio Aug. 15, 1839. His father was a native of Vermont and mother of Ohio. They first settled in Ohio, and remained there until his father's death. His mother now lives in Kent Co., Mich., with one of her children. Mr. Preston lived in Ohio until he was 11 years of age, then came to Michigan with his mother, with whom he made his home till 22 years of age. March 12, 1862, he enlisted in the 3d Mich. Inf., and served three years, taking part in many important battles. Among them were those of Gettysburg, battle of the Wilderness, Williamsburg (Va.), Mine Run, Locust Grove and siege of Yorktown. He was honorably discharged at Elmira, N. Y., in March, 1865, and at once returned to Newaygo County, where his mother was then living.
Previous to his enlistment he had made a purchase of 120 acres of land, about five of which were im- proved. He settled on this land and began at once to make improvements. He has since added to his estate at different times, until he now owns 360 acres, 200 of which are being well cultivated. He was married in Dayton Township, March 17, 1862, to Eugenia, daughter of Frederick and Keziah (Hop- kins) Dickison, who was born in New York, March 2, 1846. Her parents were natives of Connecticut and New York respectively, and came to Michigan about the year 1859, settling in Dayton Township. Mr. and Mrs. Preston have had ten children : Reno S., Nellie L., Lester P., Nettie E., Kearney N., Mary O., Frank C. and William F. Two children died in infancy.
Politically, Mr. Preston is a Republican. He has
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held the office of Highway Commissioner, School Inspector and Justice of the Peace; has also been a member of Fremont Grange, No. 494, Patrons of Husbandry.
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avid W. Squier, farmer and lumberman, section 17, Bridgeton Township, was born in Ft. Edward, Washington Co., N. Y., March 15, 1822. His parents, John and Mary (Lampman) Squier, were natives of the same county and were of English and Hol- land Dutch lineage. Mr. Squier grew up on the homestead of his father, under whose care he re- mained until he was 18 years old, when he fulfilled a long cherished desire to devote his attention and en- ergies to lumbering, which he has made the pursuit of his life, and in it has achieved a large degree of success. He traces this inclination to the days of his boyhood when, more as a recreation than as labor, he assisted in rafting logs down the Hudson and Susquehanna Rivers. He afterwards engaged in the same employment on Lake Champlain. In the years of 1844 and 1845 he operated as a contractor in Monroe Co., N. Y., getting out timber to construct the schooner " Genesee Chief " and brig "Venice " for Lake Erie service, working in the heavily timbered region traversed by the Genesee River.
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