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 21
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Mr. Squier was married Dec. 18, 1846, to Sarah, daughter of Idas and Paulina (French) Dayton. The parents were natives of Washington Co., N. Y. Mrs. Squier was reared and educated in Penfield, Monroe Co., N. Y., where she was born, Jan. 23, 1829, and where she was married. The event of marriage changed Mr. Squier's plans to some extent for the time being, and he engaged in agricultural pursuits in his native State until the fall of 1848, when he located in the vicinity of Coldwater, Mich., and again pursued farming, interesting himself also in buying horses for the Eastern market. In the fall of 1851, he went twice personally to Rochester, N. Y., with a fine lot of animals for that market. He re- mained in Monroe County until May, 1856, when he again came to Michigan and settled in Eggleston Township, Muskegon County, on the river, where he managed a hotel and engaged in lumbering for a
time. In the spring of 1858, he settled permanently in Newaygo County. During that season he bought 140 acres of partly improved land, where he kept hotel 12 years and has been constantly and heavily interested in lumbering, "running in" from two to seven million feet of logs each winter. He has been one of the most extensive operators in pine and farm- ing lands in Northern Michigan, and is now in pos- session of 8,000 acres. One half of this immense territory is improved and cultivated, its management being under his own personal supervision. His farm buildings are on the most extensive scale, and his private residence, built at a cost of $16,000, is re- puted to be the finest farm house in Newaygo County.
In political sentiment Mr. Squier is a Democrat. He is no wire-puller nor office-seeker, and has per- sistently declined all proffered positions.
The children of Mr. Squier were born as follows : Frank W., Oct. 17, 1853; Eva L., Dec. 5, 1855; these two alone survive. E. D., born May 16, 1849, died June 12, 1868; Nellie, born March 24, 1860, died Oct. 8, 1860; David W., born June 19, 1864, died Oct. 5, 1864. Frank W. Squier has attained a fine position as civil engineer.
eorge A. Mills, farmer, section 20, Sher- man Township, is a son of Stillman and Joanna (Harrington) Mills, the former a native of Vermont and the latter of New York; and was born in New York, April 20, 1845. At the age of 12 years he went to live with a brother, where he remained until he was 17, and Sept. 15, 1862, he enlisted in the 149th N. Y. Reg., and served till June 12, 1865, receiving an hon- orable discharge at Bladensburgh, Md. Owing to serious sickness he was confined to the hospital for some time, and was then detailed on detached ser- vice at Philadelphia. He afterwards rejoined his regiment in Tennessee and remained until his dis- charge. He returned to New York, and was em- ployed in a paper mill nearly four years In the fall of 1869 he came to Hillsdale County, this State, and worked for his brother-in-law one year, and after- ward rented a farm three years. In the spring of 1864 he came to Newaygo County and purchased 80
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acres of partly improved land in Sherman Township, where he now resides, and has about 45 acres under the plow.
Mr. Mills was married in Auburn, N. Y., Aug. 20, 1867, to Esther A., daughter of George C. and Esther (Wilkins) Hayward, the former a native of New Hampshire and the latter of Massachusetts, and she was born in Mendon, Monroe Co., N. Y., Dec. 17, 1845. Mr. and Mrs. Mills are the parents of one child, Burton H., born Oct. 15, 1873. In politics Mr. M. is a Republican.
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Conrad Kritzer, farmer, section 10, Ash- land Township, was born in Germany Jan. 26, 1838, and is a son of Henry and Elizabeth (Moll) Kritzer, also natives of Ger- many. He was educated in his native land, and when 17 years old came to the United States and found employ as a farm laborer in Lisbon, Otta- wa County. Two years later he went to Illinois, and after a delay there of some months' duration he re- turned to Michigan, and in 1865 located on 80 acres of finely timbered land, most of which he has already placed under good improvements, with unusually good farm buildings.
He enlisted June 10, 1861, in the 3d Mich. Inf. The regiment was assigned to the command of Gen. Sigel, Corps commander of the Army of the Poto- mac. Mr. Kritzer was a participant in the first bat- tle of Bull's Run, Fredericksburg and Fair Oaks, where he was captured, held some time and was fin- ally exchanged. He was in the fights at Yorktown and at Chancellorsville. At the latter engagement he was injured by a fall from the breastworks and was transferred to the "Invalid Corps, " to which he was attached until June 20, 1864, when he was discharged.
He was married June 4, 1868, in the city of Grand Rapids, to Elizabeth, daughter of Valentine and Catherine (Ritz) Shafer. She was born in Germany April 15, 1846. She grew up and was educated in Neiderstoll, and at 20 years of age set out alone to the United States and became an inmate of the fam- ily of her uncle at Lowell, Mich. She remained there two years, when she came to Grand Rapids and resided until her marriage. All the children, five in
number, born to Mr. and Mrs. Kritzer, are living. They are, Matilda, born March 25, 1867 ; John, Feb. 12, 1870; Charles H., April 12, 1873; Mary E., Jan. 12, 1876; Maggie, March 28, 1879. Both parents belong to the P. of H., Lodge No. 545, Ashland Cen- ter. Mr. Kritzer is a member of Lodge No. 331, I. O. O. F., at Ashland Center, and is a Republican.
ohn Sweet, farmer, section 18, Dayton Township, was born in Thorold, Ont., July 10, 1835. His parents were Alonzo and Sophia (Silverthorn) Sweet, the latter a native of Canada. John lived in Canada until the fall of 1865, when he came to Michigan and re- sided at Bow's Corners, in the eastern part of the State, and engaged two years in farming. In the spring of 1867 he came to Newaygo County and bought 80 acres of wild land on section 18, Dayton Township. He has since resided here and has 60 acres under good cultivation. He was first married in Port Huron, June 11, 1856, to Rebecca Burdett, a native of Canada. To them were born eight chil- dren, viz. : Wm. Henry, born July 19, 1857 ; Helena M., March 4, 1859; John D., Nov. 23, 1860; Eliza- beth M., March 25, 1863; Alphonso L., Jan. 8, 1866; Herman E., Jan. 16, 1868; Arthur, Feb. 17, 1869. John D. died Sept. 26, 1861, and one died in infancy. Mrs. Sweet died June 28, 1870, and Mr. S. subsequently married Emily Dandford, who was born in England, Aug. 9, 1846. Mr. S. is a member of Dayton Lodge, No. 412, I. O. G. T. In politics he is a Republican.
ohn A. Grant, farmer, section 18, Garfield Township, was born in Glengarry Co., Can., Dec. 13, 1843. He is the son of Alexan- der and Ann (McKillop) Grant. His father was born in Scotland and died when the son was in early youth. The mother was also a native of that country and is now residing in Corn- wall, Ontario.
Mr. Grant came to Michigan when he was 19 years old and found employment at Muskegon,
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where he engaged in lumbering on the North Branch of the White Cloud River for Pingra & Sanford. The next spring he engaged as a farm laborer with David Squier, for whom he worked one season, afterwards engaging in lumbering. In 1869, he purchased his farm of 80 acres, nearly all of which was at that time in primeval forest, and by his industrious ap- plication he has placed 50 acres under good improve- ment. He also owns 40 acres of land on section 7, adjoining his farm, which was bought in June, 1883
Mr. Grant was married in Muskegon, May 24, 1871, to Maggie, daughter of William and Honora (Togan) Donahue, a native of Ireland. Three chil- dren have been born of this marriage, as follows: William A., Dec. 9, 1872; Della M., May 5, 1877, and John R., Dec. 31, 1878.
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100 Henry Avary, farmer, section 20, Ashland Township, was born in Wayne Co., Penn., April 10, 1839. His parents, Lewis and Nancy (Avary) Avary, were natives of Pennsylvania, born respectively of French and English par- entage. He was orphaned when five years old, and soon afterward was taken to bring up by a man named Horace W. Gager, of Lebanon Township, with whom he remained, operating as a farmer's assistant, until he was 17 years old; then, determined to do something for himself, he went to Sullivan, N. Y., and learned the trade of painter from his uncle, Isaac Newton. In the summer of 1859 he located at Carbondale, Lawrence Co., Pa., and there pursued his profession. In the autumn of 1860 he went to Lisbon, Ottawa Co., Mich., where he applied himself with energy to the work of acquiring an edu- cation. He studied a year and June 9, 1861, en- listed in Co. H, First Mich. Inf. His command was assigned to the Army of the Potomac, where he was a participant in 16 active engagements and ten unimportant skirmishes. He was in action in the Seven Days' Battles before Richmond, at Fredericks- burg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Culpepper and the battles of the Wilderness. He was captured at Malvern Hill and held prisoner of war, two months and seven days, in the pens at Libby. He was wounded twice in the Wilderness, receiving two bul-
lets in his left arm. A minie ball passed entirely through the arni and at almost the same instant a bursting shell hurled a fragment directly on the elbow joint, shattering it completely. He refused inflexibly to have it amputated, and now has a stiff arm. In July, 1864, he was promoted to the rank of Ser- geant, which he held until his discharge May 13' 1865, his service having continued nearly four years' On returning to Michigan he lingered some time in Washtenaw and Ingham Counties, going thence to Bluffton, Muskegon Co., and engaged as an assistant in the lumber mills of Wilcox & Co. He remained until November, 1873, when he came to Newaygo County and purchased 80 acres of land in Ashland Township. He disposed of a portion of his first purchase and added another tract 40 acres in ex- tent, making a convenient farm of 95 acres, which he has placed under good improvements with commo- dious and suitable accessory farm buildings.
Mr. Avary was married in November, 1864, to Esther Wykoff, who was born in Washtenaw Co., Mich., in 1842, and died in Muskegon County, in August, 1870. Mr. Avary contracted marriage a second time Feb. 27, 1872, with Minnie, daughter of William and Sarah D. (Wegg) Buckett. The parents were natives of England and the mother, aged 7 1 years, resides with her daughter. Mrs. Avary was born in the city of London, Eng., June 13, 1841, and accompanied her parents to the United States when she was eight years of age. They resided for a time in New York city, next in New Orleans, La., then they returned to New York. where Mrs. Avary obtained her education. Her parents transferred their residence successively to Pennsylvania, New York, Wisconsin and back again to the Keystone State, making a per- manent settlement at last in Muskegon Co., Mich., in the fall of 1869. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Avary : Ella G., Nov. 13, 1872 ; Charles C., Jan. 16, 1875; Frank C., Sept. 5, 1876.
Mr. Avary is a decided Republican, and has of- ficiated in most of the positions of trust of the township government. He is a member of the Odd Fellows fraternity, Lodge No 362, at Ashland Cen- ter, in which body he has passed all the chairs, and is now Past Grand. Mrs. Avary belongs to the Daughters of Rebekah in the same order." Both are members of the Patrons of Husbandry, and Mr. Avary is present Master of Grange No. 545.
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® ichard Peacock, farmer, section 32, Gar- field Township, was born at Kirton Lind- say, in Lincolnshire, England (situated 20 miles from Hull on the River Trent), March 15, 1822. His parents, Richard F. and Eliza- beth (Stowe) Peacock, were born respectively at Kirton and Scotton, England, and came to the New World in 1844, settling in Dunham, Canada, where the mother is still living. She was born May 19, 1812. The father died when he was 74 years old.
When he was 12 years old, Mr. Peacock entered the employ of a man named Thomas Brown, who was in the service of the British Government, buying horses for the batteries of artillery. In this position he remained five years, traveling through England, Ireland and Scotland. He next engaged as a plow- man on the estate of Lord Thomas Hudson, where he served two years. He has in his possession four medals awarded him by the agricultural societies of his own and three other counties of his native coun- try, attesting his superiority in his calling. He came to Canada with his parents and engaged for a time as a day laborer, and during the first year purchased 200 acres of farming land of a fine grade, for which he paid by the accumulations from his labors as a farm hand. He gave his parents a life lease of the place, and after seeing them established in comfort he went to the State of New York and engaged as a lumberman in Essex County several successive win- ters, and operating as a farm assistant in Bridgeport, Vt., in the alternate summers. While thus engaged he obtained his credentials of citizenship and exer- cised the freeman's privilege for the first time, in vot- ing for James K. Polk.
He returned to Canada and was married Sept. 22, 1847, to Martha M., daughter of William and Marian (Hare) Lavery, born at St. Armour Tower, Canada, May 9, 1824. Of this marriage seven children were born: William J., George R., David J., Thomas N., Martha E., Ann J. and Stephen Robert. All have grown to maturity and are settled in life. Mr. Pea- cock transferred his family and interests to Michigan, in August, 1863. He worked through the harvest season of that year, in Branch County, where he left
his family, and came to Newaygo County to operate as a lumberman during the succeeding winter. His family joined him in September, 1863, when he en- tered the service of Samuel R. Sanford, and worked for him in lumbering 12 years. The firm with which Mr. Sanford vas connected failed, owing Mr. Pea- cock a large sum of money which he never received. In 1875 he purchased the farm where he now resides, which was then in a state of nature. He bought 40 acres and now owns by later purchase 160 acres, with 40 acres under improvement. He has a comfortable house, convenient barns and other creditable farm fixtures. He also owns 40 acres of unimproved land on section 33. Politically Mr. P. is a Republican.
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infield S. Merrill, farmer, section 17, Ash- land Township, was born Jan. 7, 1851, in Bridgeton Township, Newaygo County. R= He is a son of Isaac D. and Augusta (Mc- Kinny) Merrill, who were born in Maine. They were married in their native State and came to Michigan. After spending some time in the lumber woods on the Grand River they located in Muskegon County, coming later to Newaygo, where they resided a few months and went to Bridgeton, making the first settlement on Sand Creek in that township.
Mr. Merrill passed the first 18 years of his life on his father's farm and operating in his saw-mill, devot- ing every leisure moment to the cultivation of a nat- urally gifted mind, studying in the common schools until September, 1868, when he went to Ithaca, N. Y., to enter Cornell University, where he studied three terms in the scientific course. Returning to Michigan, he became a teacher in the public schools of Muskegon and Newaygo Counties. He continued to make this his profession for some years, during which he officiated as County Surveyor. He has also de- voted much time to making preparations to follow the calling of a farmer.
He was married May 26, 1875, to Orinda M., daughter of D. H. and Maria (Page) Scott, born re- spectively in Ohio and England. Mrs. Merrill was born Dec. 4, 1856, in La Grange Co., Ind., and was
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educated in her native country, and spent some years as a teacher.
After marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Merrill lived on the farm in Bridgeton two years, and in 1877 located in Ashland Township, on 80 acres of stump land. Be- sides the fulfillment of his obligations as teacher and surveyor, Mr. Merrill has thoroughly improved 30 acres of his farm. Mr. and Mrs. M. have one child, -Karl G., who was born Nov. 9, 1882. Mr. Merrill is a zealous and influential adherent to the princi- ples of the Republican party, and has held the of- fices of Supervisor of the township, acted as School Superintendent two years, and has also served as School Inspector. He is a member of Blue Lodge No. 131, at Newaygo, and himself and wife are con- nected with Grange No. 545, at Ashland Center, of' which he is Secretary. . He is a member of the Board of Trustees of the Baptist Church, and was County Surveyor two terms-from 1872 .to 1874, and from 1880 to 1882.
oseph Trumbley, farmer, section 16, Gar- field Township, was born Oct. 8, 1848, in Canada, and is a son of Edward and So- phia (Gyatt) Trumbley. His parents are both natives of the Dominion and of French de- scent. The father was born in 1830, the mother in 1832, and both are yet living.
Mr. Trumbley left the paternal home when he was only 13 years old and engaged in the capacity of a waiter on a Lake Champlain steamer, where he re- mained one season. After this he went to North Adams, Mass., and worked about 18 months on the Hoosac Tunnel. He next went West with a com- panion named Peter Blake, and traveled about two months, returning in June to Duck Lake, Muskegon Co., Mich., where they worked six months in a saw- mill, and for a considerable time thereafter as lum- bermen in that vicinity. He then came to Newaygo County, and has since spent the winters in lumbering, operating the last few years as a contractor.
In 1876 Mr. Trumbley bought 80 acres of wild land, in what was then Sherman Township, one-half lying respectively on sections 16 and 17. He has cleared and otherwise improved 50 acres, clearly
showing what can be accomplished by industry and well directed effort. He belongs to the Patrons of Husbandry and has served his township in various official capacities.
Our subject was married in Hesperia, Oceana Co., Mich., July 7, 1870, to Elizabeth, daughter of Thomas and Hannah O'Brien, who was born Oct. 11, 1846, in Indiana. They have four children,-Edward L., Joseph L., Georgie L. and Lena B.
obert C. Wallace, farmer, section 33, Ash- land Township, was born in the city of Toronto, Can., April 11, 1844. His par- ents, William G. and Ann Wallace, were na- tives respectively of Scotland and Ireland, came to Canada in early life and were mar- ried in Toronto.
Mr. Wallace had the best educational advantages until he was 13 years of age, but the bent of his in- clinations was toward the career of a mechanic, and he became an engineer in the machine shop of Alfred Metcalf in his native city. He afterward went to Hamilton, Ontario, where he engaged in a meat market, associated with an uncle, and there operated until the spring of 1860, when he became a farmer in Haldimand Co., Ont. He remained there until the fall of 1864, when he came to Michigan and located in Mecosta County, engaging in lumber- ing on the Muskegon River, spending the winter of 1 864-5 in that occupation. He entered the employ of Alex. Blake of Newaygo, in the summer of 1865, where he continued some time, as a laborer in the common departments of the lumber business, and at a later period was made forenian of the entire lum- ber interest of Mr. Blake. In the fall of 1876 he became foreman for the lumber firm of Wyman, Buswell & Co., of Grand Haven, operating in their behalf until the fall of 1878, when he settled upon a partly improved farm on section 33, Ashland Town- ship, where he has since expended his time and ener- gies, with the exception of one winter.
Mr. Wallace was married July 18, 1876, to Mary Jane, daughter of John and Nancy (Austin) McIl- veen. The parents and daughter are natives of Ire- land, where the latter was born, in the city of Belfast,
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May 12, 1841. They came to the United States in 1852, and after landing at New York proceeded west- ward until they reached Ottawa Co., Mich., where Mrs. Wallace resided until her marriage.
Mr. Wallace is a decided Republican, and is now (1884) filling his second term as Township Treasurer. He is a prominent member of the Order of Odd Fellows and belongs to the subordinate Lodge, No. 362, at Ashland Center, and to the Encampment, No. 82, at Newaygo. He holds the position of C. P. in the latter named body and that of M. W. G. P. in the former.
ilas Lawrence, farmer, section 27, Norwich Township, was born Sept. 4, 1835, in Upper Canada, and is the son of Samuel and Susanna (Kipp) Lawrence. He was but five years old when his father died, and he was placed in the care of John Kipp, with whom he remained until he was 2 1 years of age. He was mar- ried in 1868, to Ellen McKeage, who was born in New Castle Co., Can., June 3, 1841. She is a daughter of William and Elizabeth (Coles) McKeage, the former a native of Canada, the latter of Ireland. By the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence seven children have been born: Mary E., William E., Martha E., Samuel H., Anna L., Carrie B. and George M.
Mr. Lawrence resided in Canada until Dec. 14, 1876, when he came to Newaygo County, and where he resides, owning 40 acres of land, in Norwich Township.
ackson Leonard, farmer, section 20, Ash- land Township, was born in Erie Co., N. Y., Sept. 27, 1834, and is a son of Orrin and Harriet (Richardson) Leonard. His par- ents were born in the State of New York, of Scotch descent. They went to Chautauqua Co., N. Y., in 1838, where the son obtained his edu- cation and worked on his father's farm until he was 18 years old.
In 1852, Mr. Leonard went to Marion Co., Ind., going thence to Illinois. He came to Michigan in the fall of 1857, and in 1859 went to Wisconsin, where he operated as a lumberman two years, re- turning to Michigan for a permanent settlement. In 1869 he located on section 20, where he bought 80 acres of land, all heavily timbered. Of this he has placed 45 acres under improvements, and erected suitable and substantial farm buildings. He was married Feb. 7, 1866, in Muskegon County, to Susan A., daughter of Jabez Carter. She was born in Os- wego Co., N. Y., and came to the county where her marriage took place, when she was 17 years old.
Mr. Leonard belongs to the Masonic fraternity and is a member of Blue Lodge No. 331, of Newaygo. Himself and wife are members of Grange No. 545, of Ashland Center, of which he is and has been Treasurer. He is a decided and active Republican and has held various township offices.
rwin C. Fox, son of Frederick and Susan (Kelsey) Fox, natives of Massachusetts and Connecticut, respectively, was born in Oswego Co., N. Y., June 18, 1844. When he was about 13 years old his parents moved to Elkhart, Ind., and in 1866 came to this county, settling in Dayton Township. When Mr. Fox was 17 years old he enlisted in the 9th Reg. Ind. Vol., and served one year, when he was honorably dis- charged on account of sickness, which was brought on by exposure. He returned to Indiana, where he remained about one year, then went to the State of New York, and attended the Commercial College at Oswego, and in 1864 again returned to Indiana. The great rebellion had not yet been crushed, and once more his patriotic soul prompted him to again offer his services to his country. Accordingly the following July he re-enlisted, this time in the 152d Ind. Vol. Inf .; at this time he served nearly eight months, and was mustered out of the service in September, 1865. He was in the battle of Pittsburg Landing, Camp Allegheny, W. Va., and several smaller engagements. In the spring of 1866, he came to Newaygo County and took up 160 acres of land on section 30, under the Homestead Act, and
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I20 acres on section 25, Greenwood Township, Oce- ana County. The following spring he went to Indi- ana for the purpose of bringing his father's family to Michigan, and they have since resided on this farm. He has 65 acres under cultivation, and has added 80 acres to his original farm in Dayton Township.
Mr. Fox was married in Dayton Township, May 13, 1873, to Miriam E., eldest daughter of James and Sarah Toles. Her parents were natives of the State of New York, and after marriage removed to Can- ada. Mr. and Mrs. Fox have had four children- Nellie S., Bertha M., Edward G. and William C.
Mr. Fox has held the office of Supervisor six years, Justice of the Peace four years, Highway Commis- sioner six years, Town Treasurer five years. He was County Superintendent of the Poor six months, and resigned to accept the office of Supervisor. He is a member of the Masonic Order, and of Henry Dob- son Post, at Fremont. In politics he is a Republi- can. Mr. Fox has been on the county ticket three successive campaigns for County Treasurer, also for County Clerk, and was defeated by only a small ma- jority.
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Charles Turner, farmer, section 33, Nor- wich Township, was born in Oxford Co., Can., Sept. 16, 1839. He is a son of John and Syrena (Smedley) Turner, natives of the State of New York. They moved thence to Oxford Co., Can., and afterward to Laporte Co., Ind., where the father died. The mother returned with her family to Canada.
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