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 24
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Mr. Gifford lived at home with his parents until he was 20 years old, when he entered the employ of
Aaron Courtwright, of Newaygo. A year afterward he went to Muskegon, where he continued four years, operating summers as a saw-mill hand and spending the winters as a lumberman. He is now a landholder, owning 160 acres, on which he is indus- triously pursuing his chosen vocation of farming.
Mr. Gifford was married at Muskegon, July 4, 1883, to Sarah L., daughter of Elinus and Experi- ence Patience (Peters) Mundy. She was born May 7, 1863, in Newaygo County. Mr. Mundy was born of Scotch parentage, Feb. 15, 1821, in New Jersey. The mother was a native of New York and of Welsh descent, born Feb. 24, 1822, and died March 28, 1876, in Brooks Township.
Mr. Gifford belongs to the National party in politi- cal affinity.
@ ,Ifred F. Armstrong, farmer and carpenter, section 15, Ashland Township, was born in Monroe Co., N. Y., Aug. 13, 1823. His par- ents, Bela and Mary (Palmer) Armstrong, were natives of Connecticut. They settled in the Empire State, and in 1826 came to Oakland Co., Mich. The father died soon after and the mother went back to the State of New York with her children. She returned in 1836 to Walled Lake Oakland County, where she died Oct. 7, 1840.
Mr. Armstrong returned to New York after he death and worked as a farm laborer until the fall o 1843, when he again came to Michigan. He inter- ested himself in lumbering on the Grand River and followed that business about two and a half years He passed some years in various employments, and in the fall of 1852 pre-empted a portion of section 15 in Ashland Township, where he has since resided and operated as a farmer. He was the third perma- nent settler, and is identified with the pioneer history of Ashland Township and the development of Ne- waygo County. He owns 80 acres of land, and has improved 45 acres.
Mr. Armstrong was married July 3, 1844, in Kent Co., Mich., to Sarah Jane, daughter of William and Deborah (Denton) Anderson. The parents were born in Ontario, Can., of which place the daughter was also a native. She died in Kent County, April 20, 1848, leaving one daughter, Mary Jane. Mr. Arm-
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strong was a second time married in the fall of 1851, to Amelia Whittemore, born in Connecticut and died in Ashland Township, Aug. 28, 1867, leaving two chil- dren, who were born as follows : Hattie, May 18, 1861, and Alice, March 28, 1852. The latter died in 1876. .
Mr. Armstrong is a decided adherent to the tenets of the National party. He has held the positions of Township Clerk and Supervisor for six years, and Road Commissioner five years.
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ohn H. Hyde, farmer, Brooks Township, secs. 12 and 13, was born in Delaware Co., Ohio, Aug. 6, 1839, and is a son of Phil- ander M. and Mary Ann (Kilby) Hyde. The father was born in Hampton, N. Y., June 27, 1816, of English ancestors. He is still living. The mother is of Irish lineage, and was born Sept. 10, 1817, in Whitesbury, Oneida Co., N. Y.
Mr. Hyde's parents settled in Barry Co., Mich., in 1851, where the father purchased a farm of 40 acres, in Maple Grove Township, and, with the exception of a single year, the son resided there until he was 23 years old. He commenced his career as a farm- er in that county, and in 1865 sold his property and came to Newaygo County. He bought 120 acres of land, where he has expended much time and labor, and brought 110 acres to an advanced state of cultivation, and increased the value and appearance of the place by adding a good barn and home, and set out a judiciously selected assortment of fruit- trees. In political connection he is a Democrat, and has been elected to fill the various school offices.
Mr. Hyde was married in 1862, in Barry County, to Adaline, daughter of William and Maria (Wright) Jarrard. She was born Feb. 27, 1842, in Richland Co., Ohio. Her father was born in 1814, in Penn- sylvania, and was of French descent. He died in June, 1883, in Barry County. The mother was born in 1824, in Ohio, and resides in Barry County. Mr. and Mrs. Hyde have had four children, two of whom are living. They were born in the following order: Lemuel (dec.), Orville G., Leonard (dec.) and Mar- vin W. The family are members of the Congrega- tional Church.
ohn F. Parmeter, farmer, section 1, Ash- land Township, was born in Addison Co., Vt., Sept. 22, 1811, and is a son of Jesse L. and Elizabeth (Goo) Parmeter. The father was of English parentage and the mother of French descent. The parents removed to Herkimer Co., N. Y., in 1819, and four years later made another transfer of their interests to Allegany County, in the same State.
Mr. Parmeter there passed the years preceding the period of his legal freedom in a manner common to farmers' sons, and on attaining his majority purchased a small farm. Shortly after he disposed of the pro- perty, and in the fall of 1833 came to Michigan and engaged in farming in Concord, Jackson County. The malarial climate of the Peninsular State in those days found in Mr. Parmeter an easy victim, and, thoroughly worn out with his sufferings, he returned to the Empire State, where he spent four years. The attractions of Michigan as an agricultural State had never lost their force, and he resolved on recover- ing his health once more to contest issues with the climate for the sake of securing the benefits of her wonderful farming possibilities ; and he came to Van Buren County and managed a farm until 1846, when he established a hotel at Mattawan, where he oper- ated upward of ten years. Meanwhile he went to California in search of gold and to recruit his health, making a successful effort in both avenues. In 1861 he came to Newaygo County and located on a farm in Sheridan, where he pursued agriculture until the fall of 1866, when he sold out. He bought 40 acres of land on section 1, Ashland Township, where he has made extraordinary progress and improvements. He has, among other attractions, an orchard com- posed of fine and varied fruit trees, and is just com- pleting a convenient and commodious residence.
He was married June 27, 1840, in Kalamazoo, to Sarah A , daughter of John and Mary E. (Ensley) Kyle. She was born Nov. 4, 182 1, in Tioga Co., N. Y., and removed when she was 12 years old to Kal- amazoo Co., Mich., where she resided until her mar- riage. Her father died in her infancy. Two of four children born to Mr. and Mrs. Parmeter are living,-
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Orlando and Mary M. (Mrs. M. H. Britton, of Ash- land). Marcellus and one other are deceased. Mr. Parmeter is an adherent of the principles and issues of the National party, and has acted as Jus- tice of the Peace four years.
errick Waters, farmer, section 31, Sher- man Township, was born in Warrick Co., Ind., April 7, 1847, and is the fifth child of a family of seven children. His parents were Jonas and Lucinda (Bartholomew) Waters, the former a native of Ohio, and resides with his son in Sherman Township; his mother died in Indiana. When Merrick was seven years of age he went with his father to Minnesota, but remained only a short time, then came to St. Joseph Co., Mich., living there two years, and in January, 1855, they came to Newaygo County. He lived at home until 21 years of age, when his father gave him 50 acres of land in Sherman Township, where he now resides.
He was married in Sherman Township, July 12, 1868, to Henriette, daughter of Samuel D. and Ann Coburn, natives of De Kalb Co., Ind .; the mother died in Indiana and the father removed to Newaygo County. Mr. and Mrs. Waters have one child, Val- leria C., born Oct. 2, 1877. In politics he is a Nat- ional.
amuel D. Coburn, farmer, section 29, Sher- man Township, was born in New York, March 2, 1825. His parents, Girden and Cynthia (Phillips) Coburn, were natives of Vermont. They first settled in Genesee Co., N. Y., and afterward removed to Ohio, where they lived 17 years, then went to De Kalb Co., Ind., where the mother died ; the father then came to Michigan and lived in Muskegon County until his death. Samuel remained at home until 22 years of age. He first purchased a farm in Allen Co., Ind., which he lived on two years, then moved to La Grange County, same State, and worked at coopering
five years. He then returned to De Kalb County and remained until 1865, and in the winter of that year came to Newaygo County and bought 80 acres of wild land. He has since sold this land, and pur- chased 120 acres where he now resides. He has 40 acres under tillage.
He was married in De Kalb Co., Ind., to Annie Perry, a native of Ohio, who died five years after her marriage. Mr. Coburn then married Ann Der- mott, of De Kalb Co., Ind., who died in 1863, leav- ing five children : Henrietta, Franklin W., Charles F., Ella S. and Carrie. For a third wife Mr. C. mar- ried Sarah E. (Walkley), widow of Rufus W. Seaman, and daughter of Oliver and Parthena (Smith) Walkley. Mr. and Mrs. Coburn have three children : Viola L., Oliver L. and Parthena D. Mr. C. has held the office of Highway Commissioner; was elected Justice of the Peace, but did not serve ; was School Director five years. He was elected Treas- urer of Sherman Township in the spring of 1883, and is the present incumbent. In politics he is a Republican, and himself and wife are members of Fremont Grange, No. 494, P. of H .; they are also members of the Disciples' Church.
rastus S. Burril, merchant druggist, at Grant Station, Ashland Township, was born at Casnovia, Muskegon County, Nov. 22, 1850, and enjoys the distinction of being the first white child born in the township. His parents, Ezra and Eliza (Fellows) Burril, were natives of Ohio, and after their marriage settled in Kent Co., Mich., removing later to Casnovia. In 1851 they located on a tract of land lying on sec- tions 12 and 13, the " pioneer palace " being erected on the latter. It became a historic structure from the fact of its being the place of birth of John E. Burril, the first white child born in the township of Ashland.
When Mr. Burril was ten years old his mother died, an event that severed the family, and made his self-sustenance a matter of necessity. He early re- alized the importance of an education, and, in addi- tion to the work of self-support, he managed to obtain such schooling as the facilities of the times
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afforded. His health became impaired, and he went to California to recruit, and to obtain a fair idea of the resources of the Great West. He fixed a tempo- rary residence at Santa Cruz, remaining there until the fall of 1875, when he came back to Michigan. He was married Oct. 14, 1875, to Josephine, daugh- ter of Andrew and Clara (Holbrook) Baker. The parents were natives of New York, where they were married, and they eventually settled in Ashland Township, where the daughter was born Sept. 22, 1857. Mr. and Mrs. Burril, soon after their mar- riage, removed to a farm on section II, and there remained until the spring of 1878, when Mr. Burril founded a mercantile business where he is now located, which he prosecuted until 1881, when he sold out his general stock, and established himself in the drug trade, with a stock valued at $2,500. His business is prosperous and increasing. He is a zeal- ous Republican, and has held various local offices. He is a member of the Order of Odd Fellows, and belongs to Lodge No. 362, at Ashland Center. To Mr. and Mrs. Burril have been born four children, namely : Ella M., Sept. 24, 1876; Melvin E., June 17, 1878 ; Joseph E., Aug. 15, 1880; Lysle, Feb. 25, 1883.
afayette Waters, farmer, section 30, Sher- man Township, son of Jonas and Lucinda (Bartholomew) Waters, was born in War- rick Co., Ind., Feb. 11, 1843. When 10 years of age he went with his father to Minnesota, remaining only a short time, when they came to St. Joseph Co., Mich., and lived nearly two years. In the winter of 1855 he came with his father to Ne- waygo County and settled in Sherman Township, where they have made their home ever since. His father first took up 160 acres of wild land, and after- ward bought 40 acres in Dayton Township. His mother died while they were living in Indiana, and since that time he has made his home with his father. They have about 75 acres under improvement.
The subject of this sketch was married in Sheridan Township, March 17, 1867, to Polly A., daughter of John and Elizabeth Nichols, natives of Ohio and Massachusetts, respectively. They have had six children, five surviving: James L., Myron L., Carle-
ton W., Edith A. and Ceylon L. William W. died Aug. 21, 1876, being three years and three months old. He has held the office of Constable one year, . Township Treasurer eight years, Supervisor four years, and in politics his sympathies are with the National party.
ohn E. Nelson, farmer, section 31, Sheridan Township, is a native of Canada, and was born Nov. 9, 1850. His parents, John and Sarah (Sherman) Nelson, were natives of Canada and New York, and lived there until 1855. In the fall of that year they came to Oceana Co., Mich., where his father died in 1859. His mother then moved to Ionia County with her family of six children, where they lived until 1862, and in the fall of that year came to Newaygo County and settled in Sheridan, then Bridgeton Township, where she has since resided.
In the fall of 1862, the subject of this sketch went to Calhoun Co., Mich., to live with an uncle, with whom he remained until the spring of 1865, and then came to this county. Since that time he has made several changes, but is now a resident of Sheridan Township. In the fall of 1873 he was married in Wisconsin, to Annie M. Larue, a native of that State, and they have had two children : Flor- ence and Willie M., both of whom are deceased. Mr. Nelson is very active in the temperance reform, and in politics is a Republican.
illiam A. Webber, banker, at Fremont, was born in Steuben Co., N. Y., May 27, 1853. His parents, Samuel W. and Mariette (Bowen) Webber, were natives of Vermont and New York, respectively. They first settled in Steuben Co., N. Y., where Mr. Webber, Sr., was engaged in farming. They came to Michi- gan in the spring of 1856 and settled in Portland, Ionia County, where the father now resides; the mother is deceased. In early youth, William A. at- tended the common schools, and during the winter of 1869-70 attended Olivet College, in Eaton Co.,
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Mich. Soon after graduating he entered the banking house of S. W. Webber & Company, in Muir, Ionia County, as book-keeper, where he remained nearly three years. His house owned a controlling interest in the First National Bank, and soon closed their private bank, and William entered the former as book-keeper. He continued there but a short time, when he left the bank and engaged in farming for about two years, then entered the banking house of Webber, Just & Company as cashier, and re- mained two years. May 15, 1882, he came to this county and settled in Fremont, where he opened the bank of Webber, Hewitt & Company.
He was married in Lyons, Ionia County, Sept. 7 1873, to Abbey B., daughter of Gabriel and Mary Trefry, natives of Nova Scotia, who came to Mich- igan about 1852 and settled in Lyons, where they now reside. Mrs. Webber was born in Ingham Co., Mich., March 7, 1855. Mr. and Mrs. Webber have two children : Murdo J., born Oct. 22, 1877, and John M., Feb. 14, 1883. Mr. W. is a Republican in politics.
onathan A. Hindes, farmer, section 32, Sherman Township, was born in Canada, Dec. 10, 1844. His father, Moses Hindes, was a native of Vermont, and his mother, Jo-, anna (Austin) Hindes, was born in Canada. They lived in Canada until the fall of 1855, then came to Michigan and settled in what is now Sheridan Township about six months. They then rented a farm in Dayton Township, upon which they lived a short time, and then moved on 40 acres of land in Sherman Township, where the father died, in the fall of 1880. The venerable mother resides on on the homestead with the subject of this sketch.
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Mr. Hindes owns 80 acres of land, and about 70 acres are improved. He was married in this county Nov. 6, 1867, to Malinda J., daughter of William and Lydia Sours, the former a native of Germany and the latter of New York. Mr. and Mrs. Hindes have had eight children, six of whom are living : William M., Charlotte H., Mary M., Frederick J., Catherine A. and Frank A .; Lydia J. and James A. are deceased. Mr. H. has held the office of Consta-
ble one year, School Director four years,-was re- elected in 1883. In politics he is a Republican, and himself and wife are members of Fremont Grange, No. 494, P. of H.
rnold Johnson, farmer, sections 33 and 28, Sheridan Township, is a son of Kurnel and Gertrude Johnson, natives of Germany, and was born in that country Aug. 14, 1827. At the age of 25 years he left his native land and came to America. He came directly to the Western country, and, after spending a short time in Wisconsin, settled in Muskegon, where he lived most of the time until 1861. He then came to Ne- waygo County and purchased 80 acres of wild land in Sheridan Township, where he now resides, and has about 50 acres under cultivation.
Mr. Johnson was married in Milwaukee, Sept. 26, 1861, to Josephine Gross, who was born in Paris, France, Sept. 27, 1844. They have had nine chil- dren, seven of whom are living : Christian E., Adelia G., Arnold J., Philip S, John J., Herman S. and Henry W .; Jennie E. died when 19 years of age, and Gertrude died at the age of eight months. Mr. John- son is a Republican, and himself and wife are mem- bers of the Catholic Church.
iram L. Brace, farmer, section 21, Ashland Township, was born in Steuben Co., N. Y., June 6, 1833. He is a son of Hiram I .. and Jane (Vroom) Brace, of New England origin and English and Dutch descent. Mr. Brace withdrew from the protection of the parental roof on attaining his majority, and came to Coldwater, Mich., in the capacity of collector for the Pharos Lightning-Rod Company, where he had his head- quarters for four years. Severing his relations with his employers, he became associated in partnership with the Vulcan Lightning-Rod Company, which con- nection continued until Dec. 17, 1861, when he enlisted in defense of the integrity of the Union. He enrolled in Battery G, First Mich. Light Artillery,
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his command being assigned to the corps of Gen. Buell, and joined the Army of the Cumberland. He was under fire at Chickasaw Bayou, Fort Hinman and Caney Bottoms, besides several unimportant skirmishes, escaping without suffering any of the ex- treme exigencies of war. He received an honorable discharge, Jan. 23, 1865.
Mr. Brace married, near Coldwater, Mich., March 15, 1865, Bernetta, daughter of William and Mary (Martin) Skinner. She was born in Jefferson Co., N. Y., Dec. 31, 1844, and when seven years of age came to Branch County with her parents. She was edu- cated chiefly at Colon, St. Joseph Co., Mich., and became a successful and popular teacher. In the winter of 1866, a year and a half after their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Brace located on 80 acres of land, on section 21, Ashland Township, and devoted them- selves to the preparation of a suitable home for the establishment of their family interests. They remained residents until 1870, when Mr. Brace established himself in mercantile business at Cedar Springs, Kent County, and prosecuted his interests in that direction three years, when he embarked in the manufacture of heads and staves, continuing that pursuit three years. In 1876 he again settled upon his farm.
Mr. Brace is an active and influential member of the Republican party. He has officiated in the positions of Justice of the Peace, School Inspector, Treasurer, etc., and is still a member of the local government of the township. He belongs to the Order of Odd Fellows, Lodge No. 362, at Ashland Center, and is a member of the Blue Lodge, No. 131, at Newaygo. Both himself and wife are warmly es- teemed as valuable members of the social element to which they belong.
B enjamin E. Tibbitts, farmer, section 8, Sheridan Township, was born in Shefford Co., Can., Jan 24, 1839. His parents, Arza and Adaline (Shattuck) Tibbitts, were natives of Vermont. He left home when 16 years of age, and came direct to Fremont Center, in the spring of 1855. He lived there one year, then bought 80 acres of wild land in Sheridan Township, where he now lives and has 35 acres un- der tillage. He was married in Fremont March 3,
1867, to Lucinda, daughter of John and Catherine Slater, all natives of Pennsylvania. Mr. and Mrs. Tibbitts are the parents of seven children : Adaline L., Willard A., Ida A., Agnes C., John F., Myrtle E. and Harriet A. Mr. T. has held the office of Justice of . the Peace four years, and Drain Commissioner two years. In politics he is a Republican, and him- self and wife are members of the M. E. Church.
donijah E. Upton was born in Adrian, Mich., Nov. 29, 1837. His parents were Henry and Cynthia (Weaver) Upton, the former a native of Massachusetts and the latter of New York. They first settled in North Adams, Mass., and afterward came to Adrian, where they lived 26 years. In 1855 they came to Newaygo County, where the father died, in 1866; the mother is still living, in this county.
Mr. Upton came to this county with his parents, where he still remains a resident, and is older in busi- ness than any other man in Fremont. He has dealt largely in real estate and still continues that business. He is also engaged extensively in farming and lum- bering. He was married in Dayton Township, July I, 1867, to Helen L., daughter of William and Lovilla B. Morton, residents of Dayton, who was born in New York, April 23, 1845, and they are the parents of four children : Ada L., Ralph E., Mary B. and William H.
Mr. Upton has held the office of Treasurer of the old town of Fremont two years, Clerk one year, and has been Notary Public nearly all the time since 1859. He was formerly third Master of Pilgrim Lodge, No. 180, F. & A. M., and was the first Secre- tary of the Lodge, two years. He represented this county in the Grange Convention held at the new capitol, at Lansing; was County Surveyor eight years. He was agent of the Empire Land Company five years, commencing when the population of Fremont was 150. In 1870 he was a partner with S. C. Hall, of Muskegon, in building a section of the Ionia & Mackinaw State Road, but, owing to the ill- ness of Mr. Hall, Mr. Upton managed the business alone for several months. He built the bridge at the crossing of the Muskegon river, and a little town has
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sprung up at this point which bears the name Upton. He surveyed the village of Reed City, and many other village and city additions. He has been School Director six years, and a member of the School Board four years. He was largely interested in the organization of the Patrons' Mutual Fire Insurance Company, and was its Secretary four years. The company had at risk over $700,000 when it went out of his hands. He was an active worker in or- ganizing the Patrons' Co-operative Company, was made its Vice-President and manager, and a large and successful business was done so long as he had charge of its affairs. Mr. Upton is emphatically a man of business and a business man. His mind is comprehensive in its range, yet grasps the minutest details. He persistently inquires until the whole sub- ject is open before him, and then adjusts his plans.
Himself and wife are attendants at the Disciples' Church, of which Mrs. Upton is a devoted member. He was also a Trustee of the M. E. Church about six years. Politically, he was formerly a Republican, but lately has voted with the National party.
ennis Lordon, son of Thomas and An- nastia (McNamara) Lordon, natives of Ireland, was born in that country March 4, 1845, and came with his parents to America when four years of age. They settled in New York State and remained there four years, and in 1853 came to Grand Rapids. Dennis was the third son of a family of five children. He attended the common schools of Grand Rapids, and in 1862 came with his parents to Newaygo County, where his father took up 160 acres of land, in Sheridan Township, which they managed together. He was married in Muskegon, Oct. 18, 1867, to Mary, daughter of Rob- ert and Mary Meighen, natives of Ireland. Mr. and Mrs. Lordon have four children: Frank, Mary, George and Nellie. After his marriage Mr. L. set- tled on a tract of land adjoining his father, and they still carry on farming together. In 1880 he fitted up a restaurant in the fine block recently built by Hart and Bowman, in Fremont, which he manages to the satisfaction of his patrons. In politics, he has hereto- fore acted with the Democratic party, but now be- longs to the National party.
When Mr. Lordon was eight years of age he at- tempted to jump from a train of cars in motion, on the N. Y. & L. E. R. R. He lost his footing and the re- sult was the loss of his right leg, just below the knee.
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