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 23
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He was married in Buffalo, N. Y., Sept. 24, 1868, to Ida, daughter of Thomas and Artemisia (Sherman) De Lancy, the former a native of England and the latter of New York. They have one child, Clark, born Oct. 29, 1871. Mr. R. has held the office of Justice of the Peace four years ; Township Clerk, four years; and Village Clerk, five years. He is a mem- ber of the Masonic Order, of the Odd Fellows fra- ternity, and is the Senior Vice Commander of Post Henry Dobson, No. 182, Grand Army of the Republic. In politics he is a Republican. He was a member of the fire department while in Adrian, holding offices in the same, and while in Kentucky was Postmaster, under Grant, and agent for Adams' Express Company.
ohn Russell, farmer, section 4, Goodwell Township, was born in Oxford Co., Dur- ham Township, Can., Nov. 14, 1829. His parents, James and Annie (Mail) Russell were both natives of England. They settled in Oxford County in 1828, and there passed the remaining years of their lives. Mr. Russell was ten years old at the time of his father's death, and was 23 years old when his mother passed away.
He was married to Harriet, daughter of Christo- pher and Jane (Smith) Stockdale, born in Canada, June 6, 1834. In 1869 Mr. Russell removed to Newaygo County and settled in what was then the township of Big Prairie, and bought 160 acres of of land, to which he has added by purchase until he he has 200 acres of fine land in Goodwell Township. Mr. Russell is neutral in politics, and has held the various school offices in the township. In 1882 he was elected Supervisor and held the office two years.
The children of Mr. Russell's household are Hannah S., George and James C.
ichael Moses, farmer, section 23, Garfield Township, was born in Germany, May 29, 1844. He is a son of Joseph and Mary A. (Tray) Moses, who came to Quebec, Canada, with their family in 1855. The par- ents were German by birth, and the father died in Norwich, Oxford Co., Can., Dec. 22, 1879, aged 75 years and six months. The mother is still a resident of that place.
Mr. Moses went to Batavia, Genesee Co., N. Y., in 1859, and was variously occupied there until he enlisted as a soldier of the civil war. He enrolled Oct. 17, 1861, in Co. K, 12th N. Y. Vol. Inf., Capt. A. Root, and remained in the service until Sept. 9, 1862, when he was discharged because of disability. He was in the action at Fairfax Court-House and in several minor engagements. He returned to the Province of Ontario and engaged in agricultural pur- suits until 1866, when he came to Tuscola Co.,
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Mich., and interested himself several successive winters in lumbering, combining farming with his labors in the woods.
Mr. Moses was married at Clio, Genesee Co., Mich., March 22, 1867, to Adaline, daughter of James B. and Rhoda A. Sigsby, a native of New York, born May 14, 1847. Of their marriage six children have been born, Adaline, Mary A., Martha, Teresa, Michael and Frederick.
In 1868 Mr. Moses bought 40 acres of land in Birch Run Township, Saginaw County, which he re- tained until the fall of 1870, when he disposed of the place, and with his family and effects drove through to Newaygo County. He at once purchased 40 acres of land where he now resides, and took possession. He has since purchased an additional 40 which, like his first investment, was all heavily timbered. He has 65 acres in a first-class condition and improved with good buildings, orchards and all fixtures common with well-to-do farmers.
Henry Manning, farmer, section 27, Grant Township, was born Aug. 23, 1847, in St. Lawrence Co., N. Y .. His parents, William and Rachel (Russell) Manning, were of English lineage and belonged all their lives to the farming community. They emigrated in 1849 to Lorain Co., Ohio, where the father died in 1867, aged 67 years. The mother is still residing there, 72 years old.
After he was 12 years of age, Mr. Manning was engaged in agricultural labors almost incessantly. He married Sept. 28, 1870, in Penfield, Lorain Co., Ohio, Sarah J., daughter of George W. and Thalia (Shaw) Allen. The parents were natives of New England, and during the youthful period of their lives their parents settled in Medina Co., Ohio, where they were married. Mrs. Manning was born April 16, 1849, in Hinkley Township, that county, and was educated there. She went to Lorain County at 17, and engaged in teaching, in which calling she made marked success.
Two years after their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Manning came to Michigan and settled on 60 acres of iand in Grant Township, situated in a dense, un- broken forest. The township was almost wholly
unsettled, and Mr. Manning has toiled manfully in his pioneer capacity until he has placed 40 acres of his estate under fair improvements.
He is a Democrat in politics, and has held the position of Clerk of Grant Township five years. The famlly includes the following children : Rowena M., born July 21, 1871 ; Percy R., Oct. 15, 1874 ; Thalia, March 29, 1879; Willie, born Aug. 19, 1872, died Feb. 18, 1875.
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ucius E. Mills, farmer, section 31, Garfield Township, and Postmaster of Brooks (post- office), was born March 28, 1823, in Chit- tenden Co., Vt., and is a son of Daniel C. and Dolly (Farrand) Mills. His parents removed to Cuyahoga Co., Ohio, when he was 11 years old and settled at Cleveland, where the family re- sided eight years and the father was employed as a carpenter. The son acquired a knowledge of that branch of mechanics and pursued it as a vocation, in company with his father. The family removed to Branch Co., Mich., in 1843, where they settled on a farm of 40 acres.
Mr. Mills remained in Branch County until 1835, working at his trade, when he went to Gibson Co., Tenn., and established a carriage and wagon factory in the village of Yorkville. He was doing business there at the period when the Rebellion made itself known and felt in all its hideous proportions, and Mr. Mills, who regarded the whole infamous scheme and proceedings with all the aversion he had inher- ited from his ancestors, and cherished under the in- fluences which had molded his opinions, abandoned his property in Tennessee and made his escape to a region of security and immunity from the threats and venom of rebels. His father was a soldier of 1812, and his paternal grandfather was a participant in the French and Indian war. The southern anar- chists found no tolerance in a man of his lineage, and he made no compromise with them for any ad- vantage whatever. He bought 110 acres of land in Casnovia, Muskegon County, in 1861, where he was engaged in agriculture until the civil war had as- sumed formidable proportions, and he determined to enlist, which he did Oct. 4, 1864, at Grand Rapids,
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enrolling in Co. K, 16th Mich. Vol. Inf. He par- ticipated in the battle of Five Forks and in numer- ous minor engagements until the close of the war, when he enjoyed the culminating scene of the Southern Rebellion in the surrender of Gen. Lee at Appomattox Court-House. He received honorable discharge at Jeffersonville, Ind., in July, 1865.
He returned to his farm in Casnovia, where he was resident until 1877, in which year he came to Gar- field Township, where he owns 200 acres of land, besides 150 acres adjoining in Ashland Township Mr. Mills is a successful and thrifty farmer, represent- ing the industrious frugality of the people of New England, of whom he is a worthy type. He has proved his capacity for usefulness in public life by the manner in which he has discharged the duties of the various incumbencies to which he has been sum- moned by his fellow citizens in Casnovia and Gar- field. He was twice elected Justice of the Peace in the former place, besides to minor offices, and has been elected Superintendent of Schools one terin in the latter.
Mr. Mills was married in Casnovia, Dec. 31, 1861,, to Mrs. Helen M. Thomas, a native of New York, by whom he has two children, Jesse E. and Lincoln D. The family includes Lafayette Eugene, a son of Mr. Mills by a former marriage, and Myron Q. and George Henry, two sons of his wife by her first hus- band. Mr. Mills is a member of the Masonic Order, in which he has taken ten degrees, and of the Knights Templar.
ohn Grawn, sawyer and filer, Newaygo, was born in Sweden, Dec. 20, 1851, and is a son of Andrew and Christine (Rose) Grawn. His parents belonged to the agricul- tural community in their native country, and emigrated to the United States in 1855. l'he father was also a shoemaker by trade, and after lo- cating at Salem, Washtenaw Co., Mich., where he bought a small landed property, he found plenty of employ at his bench. The family removed to Sparta, Kent County, in 1861, where the parents are still resident, on a farm of 60 acres.
Mr. Grawn passed the seasons of his early years alternately in farm labor and school studies, and
in 1870 came to Newaygo and engaged in rafting for the Newaygo Lumber Company. Not long after the transfer of their interests to D. P. Clay, Mr. Grawn was employed in his saw-mill as a setter, and a short time after succeeded to the position of sawyer. He has since had entire charge of the mill, which has a producing capacity of 30,000 feet of lumber per day. Mr. Grawn is a member of the Order of Good Templars, and owns considerable village property.
He was married in Big Prairie Township, June 3, 1877, to Alice, daughter of Seth Hubbard, born Jan. 30, 1860, in Grandville, Kent County. One child, Philorus, was born of this marriage, and is now deceased.
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erben Barnum, farmer, section 33, Ashland Township, was born in Tompkins Co., N. Y., Dec. 22, 1832. His parents, Czar and Margaret (German) Barnum, were natives re- spectively of Connecticut and New York. In 1839 they removed to Lenawee Co., Mich., and the son remained at home aiding in the labors on the farm until he reached the age of 13, when he was engaged in the same capacity with a neighboring farmer, his father judging that the proceeds of his labors would further his own interests to better pur- pose than to retain him at home.
When he was 19 years of age, associated with one of his brothers, Mr. Barnum took a farm in Hillsdale County, which remained under their joint manage- ment three years, where he acquired a practical knowledge of all the details of successful agriculture and an understanding of its responsibilities in an in- dependent sphere. To this purpose he purchased a farm of 80 acres in Ashland, Newaygo County.
Mr. Barnum was married Dec. 23, 1856, in Hills- dale County, to Susan, daughter of Nicholas and Barbara (Voat) Ish. The parents were born in Switzerland, and after their marriage came to the United States, locating in Stark Co., Ohio, where the daughter was born, Oct. 15, 1832, and resided until she was 16 years old, when she came to Hills- dale County and lived until her marriage. About a year after that event Mr. Barnum settled on his farm in Newaygo County, which he had purchased as men-
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tioned. It was situated in the inidst of unbroken forest, with no neighbors in sight ; but himself and wife entered cheerfully and hopefully into the work of the " regulation " pioneer, encountering privation with hardihood, grappling courageously with toil and baf- fling circumstances, and emerging from all their con- flicts with victory on their banners. The character of the spirit in which they have accomplished their life work is fully attested by the temper of their most prominent remembrance of those early days. Its fairest features and those which afforded relief and relaxation from cares are uppermost in thought and word, and their recitals are filled with interesting anecdotes and reminiscences of times when small opportunities were eagerly seized upon to secure a brief tenure upon social ties; and a ride five miles with an ox team over a forest trail to enjoy the fes- tivities of a dance or the excitements of a' revival meeting had attractions in no sense outdone by the more elegant accompaniments of a more perfect civ- ilization. Mr. Barnum's farm now contains 200 acres, three-fourths of which is in a state of advanced and highly creditable cultivation.
Mr. Barnum enlisted Feb. 15, 1865, in Co. A, Ninth Mich. Vol. Inf., and was assigned to the Army of the Cumberland. He was in active service but five months, becoming disabled by camp fever. His regiment was discharged Sept. 13, 1875, but he was compelled to continue some time in the hospital to recover his health. In political faith Mr. Barnum is a Democrat, and has held various offices in the local government of the affairs of Ashland Township.
Five children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Barnum, as follows: Edgar M., Sept. 28, 1857; Frank L., Nov. 2, 1859; Bertha J., Aug. 19, 1862; William H., Feb. 3, 1872 ; Fred. N., born March I, 1870, died Aug. 25, 1872.
illiam H. Bailey, farmer and blacksmith, section 16, Norwich Township, was born Jan. 25, 1830, in England. He is a son of James and Jane (Hill) Bailey, natives of Kent Co., Eng., where his mother still resides. Mr. Bailey had only the educational privileges common to the class of people to which he belonged
in his native country. In 1852 he came to the Do- minion of Canada, and while a resident there he learned his trade of blacksmith. In 1861 he went to Rochester, N. Y., where he worked at his trade, and after a time made another removal, to Ashtabula Co., Ohio, and was similarly engaged until 1872, when he went to Chicago, remained four months and came to Newaygo County within the year. He was employed two months on the Chicago & West Michigan rail- road, and after that worked three years for Steward, Ives & Co. At the expiration of that time he es- tablished a shop of his own. He owns 42 acres of land, where he is engaged in farming when not con- fined by press of business to his shop. He was mar- ried at Big Rapids, in 1874, to Lydia Conkwright, who was born in Oakland Co., Mich., in 1831.
artin Willius, farmer, section 7, Bridge- ton Township, was born on the Rhine
River, Germany, Sept. 14, 1834. The place of his birth was situated between Worms and Mainz in Rhein-Hesse. His par- ents, Valentine and Anna (Oswald) Willius, were Germans and passed their lives in their native land, where the father was a fisherman on the river.
Mr. Willius was educated in his native language and resided with his parents until 1853, when, in company with three others, he came to the United States. He went to Auburn, N. H., where he en- gaged to work a year for a gentleman, who removed within the time to Ontario, Can., and he accompanied him thither. He returned to New York on the expi- ration of his engagement and traveled through the Western States. He came back to Muskegon, Mich., in the spring of 1856. In the year following he came to Newaygo County and entered the employ of Robert Jibson. in Bridgeton Township, with whom he remained a long time, operating as a farm assist- ant. Meanwhile, he purchased and improved to some extent 120 acres of land, which he has in- creased to 200 acres by subsequent purchase, and has 60 acres under cultivation.
He was married May 14, 1866, to Anna E., daugh- ter of Robert and Anna E. (Butler) Jibson, of Bridge- ton. The parents were natives of England, and
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after their marriage came to this country. They set- tled in Muskegon, where their daughter was born, May 29, 1848. In 1862 they removed to Bridgeton. Mrs. Willius died Jan. 9, 1882, leaving three surviv- ing children, born as follows: Anna E., May 4, 1868; Mary T., July 20, 1870; Emma J., July 7, 1872. Three children preceded the mother to the better land of the hereafter. John W. was born March 10, 1867, and died 17 days afterward; Ellen M. was born July 4, 1874, and died Nov. 17, 1881 ; Ida M. was born May 12, 1876, and died Jan. 9, 1882.
Mr. Willius is a zealous Republican. He has been Assessor seven years and School Director three years.
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ack T. Wood, farmer, section 17, Brooks Township, was born Oct. 1I, 1857, in Vo- linia, Cass Co., Mich., and is a son of Henry H. and Catherine (Gant) Wood. His father was born Oct. 15, 1822, in the State of New York. He was a farmer and also en- gaged to a considerable extent in the management of saw-mills. In 1849 he went to California, where he operated in gold-mining two years, and in 1851 came back to Michigan. In 1858 he made another trip to the land of golden promise, remaining seven years. He died in Newaygo County, March 26, 1880. The mother was born Dec. 13, 1822, and is still living, in VanBuren Co., Mich.
Mr. Wood was engaged in the callings of farmer and sawyer with his father during his minority, and attended school winters. He is almost exclusively engaged in farming, and owns 160 acres of land on sections 16 and 17 of Brooks Township. Of this, 50 acres is cleared and well improved, having good farm buildings and other creditable farm fixtures. He is a Republican in political affinity.
Mr. Wood was married July 12, 1882, to Cynthia H. Wilson. She was born in the Province of Que- bec, Canada, Aug. 12, 1863, and is the daughter of Thomas P. and Emily Wilson, both of whom are living in Newaygo County. They became residents of Michigan in 1864, when the daughter was six months old. Mr. and Mrs. Wood have one child, Loyd A., born June 3, 1883.
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genry Zerlaut, farmer, section 5, Bridgeton Township, was born March II, 1843, in Bavaria, Germany. His parents, Joseph and Elizabeth (Steiner) Zerlaut, were also natives of Germany. They came to the United States in 1852 and located at Providence, R. I., and in that place Mr. Zerlaut was a pupil for five years at the public schools.
In the spring of 1856 he went to Wauregan Mills, Windham Co., Conn., and two years after removed to Moosup in the same county, where he entered upon an apprenticeship to acquire the trade of weaver of cassimeres, with a man named Dalebarr. He worked at the bsiness at that point four years, and went thence to Pittsfield, Mass., where he remained until October, 1861, engaged a part of the time in prepar- ing to follow the trade of barber, and at the date named he came to Muskegon, where he finished learning the trade. He worked five years for a man named Joseph Lasser, afterwards founding a similar busi- ness for himself in that city, which he conducted until the fall of 1874, when the fire which effected such disaster to Muskegon destroyed his trade and he came to Bridgeton. He located a farm of 80 acres, on which he has since been engaged in successful and creditable agriculture, and has nearly the entire body of his land under improvement.
Mr. Zerlaut was married Feb. 4, 1865, to Adelia E., daughter of Guernsey and Lydia (Smith) Hall, natives of Ohio. Mrs. Zerlaut was born in Medina County, in the Buckeye State, Feb. 4, 1846. Her parents re- moved to Hillsdale Co., Mich., when she was nine years old, and came thence to Muskegon, where she was chiefly educated. In the spring of 1863 she came to Sheridan Township, where she remained un- til her marriage. A month after that event, March 14, 1865, Mr. Zerlaut enlisted, but was discharged three months later without having seen actual military service, as the war was ended. Seven chil- dren have been born to Mr. and Mrs Zerlaut: Edmund G., Nov. 16, 1867 ; Grace G., July 26, 1870 ; Jessie H., Nov. 5, 1872 ; Frederick B., May 3, 1880; Earl V., Aug 23, 1883; Roy S., Sept. 16, 1875 (died Nov.
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15, 1877); Ermina C., Aug. 13, 1877; died in No- vember, 1879.
Mr. Zerlaut is a Republican, has held the office of School Director, and was elected Justice of the Peace at the last election.
lexander J. Mundy, farmer and lumber- man, Brooks Township, section 13, was born March 18, 1851, in Morrow Co., Ohio. His father, Elinus Mundy, is of Scotch de- scent, and was born Feb. 15, 1821, in New Jersey., His mother, Experience Patience (Peters) Mundy, was born of Welsh ancestors, Feb. 24, 1822, in New York, and died March 28, 1876, in Brooks Township. John D. Mundy, father of Eli- nus, was born in New Jersey June 30, 1788, and died Aug. 8, 1855. Elizabeth (Ballou) Mundy, his mother, was of French parentage, born Jan. 16, 1797, and died Nov. 26, 1860.
In 1862 Mr. Mundy of this sketch came to Ne- waygo with his parents. His father bought 80 acres of land, and afterwards 166 acres more. The son owns 67 acres of this and carries on lumbering oper- ations thereon. He adds to his calling the trade of blacksmith, which he acquired in the shop of his father, for whom he worked six years. He spent four years in wagon-making, and served an apprentice- ship of four years in learning the trade of builder. He possesses energy and the inclination to meet all demands on his varied qualifications, and is a valua- ble accessory to a pioneer community. He is a Dem- ocrat in political sentiment. (See sketch of John A. Mundy.)
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Kenry C. Stone, farmer, section 5, Sheridan Township, is a son of Aaron and Amanda (Dickinson) Stone, and was born in Glaston- bury, Conn., Aug. 12, 1834. His parents were natives of Litchfield Co., Conn. His father died in Michigan ; the mother resides in Dayton Township, this county. Henry C. lived in Con- necticut till 18 years of age, then went to De Kalb
Co., Ind., where he lived three years, and in January, 1855, came to Newaygo County and bought 160 acres of wild land in partnership with his oldest brother, on section 26, Dayton Township. He lived on this farm and continued to improve it for eight years, when he sold and bought 120 acres in Sheridan Township, on sections 5 and 6, where he now re- sides; he has 70 acres under cultivation.
Mr. Stone was married in Dayton Township, June 23, 1859, to Ellen, daughter of Eleazer and Sarah Smith, who was born in Hillsdale County, this State, and came to Newaygo County with her parents, and lived at home until her marriage. Children : Alma, Franklin, Freddie, Oscar, Stella, Ella and Burt. Mr. S. has held the office of Township Treasurer five years, Supervisor three years, School Director and several minor offices. Five of his family are members of the I. O. G. T. He belongs to the National Greenback party.
rs. Lurana (Allen) Train, resident on section 28, Grant Township, was born in Pavilion, Genesee Co., N. Y., Feb. 7, 1829, and is the daughter of Amasa and Sophia (Kentfield) Allen. Her parents were members of the farming fraternity all their lives, and descended respectively from English and Scotch parentage. They were natives of New Eng- land, and in 1834 removed to Medina Co., Ohio, where they settled, in Hinkley Township.
The daughter was married Dec. 31, 1854, to Sam- uel Train, now deceased. He was born March 2, 1833, in Massachusetts. His parents, Samuel and Mary (Burch) Train, removed in his youth to Hink- ley Township, above mentioned, where he grew to manhood, and was married, at 22 years of age. He was occupied in farming until he enlisted as a soldier for the Union in 1862. He enrolled in the Fifth Regt. Ohio Sharpshooters, Co. A. The regiment was first assigned to the command of Gen. Rosecrans and afterwards to that of Gen Thomas. Mr. Train was in much active and perilous duty. Being brave and skilled in rifle practice, he was frequently detailed for important and perilous service. He was in the battle of Chickahominy and afterwards was ill with
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camp diarrhea. May 9, 1865, while recovering from a serious attack of the disease named, he was ex- posed to small-pox, of which he died after six days illness. His death occurred May 15, 1865, in the hospital at Nashville, Tenn., and he was buried in the Second Army Cemetery in the city where he died.
Mrs. Train came to Michigan in the summer of 1855 and entered a homestead claim in Grant Town- ship, where she has since resided. Her first purchase consisted of 120 acres of timber land. Of this 20 acres were afterward sold and purchase made of 60 acres, and the farm now includes 160 acres. At the time she made her location the township was not or- ganized, the postoffice was ten miles distant and the nearest mill 16 miles away. She came with her two sons to clear and improve a home for the father and husband, who was earning the best right to home and country by exposing his life for their preservation. He died in a better cause than they who encountered the same peril to found an independence on a shameful and mad principle; and the home for which he hoped, and the land for which he yielded up wife, children and life, abide, the fixed monuments of his devoted, unflinching patriotism. He left two sons, one of whom is yet living, John B., born April 8, 1861. Willie was born Nov. 13, 1858, and died Aug. 15, 1873. He was the first born and too young to realize the loss of his father. In his death the mother suffered anew the loss of the husband of her youth.
John B. Train was married Aug. 3, 1879, to Sarah V. Baker, born in Ohio Dec. 9. 1856. Leona E., only child, was born July 22, 1880.
red Gifford, farmer, Brooks Township, section II, was born in Parma Township, Jackson County, Mich., Jan. 1, 1858, and is a son of Walter C. and Margaret (Spoor) Gifford. The mother was born of German parentage, in 1831, and the father of Scotch ancestry, in 1829. Both were natives of the State of New York and are still living, in Newaygo County, whither they came in 1865.
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