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 32
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While in charge of one of the divisions of the gen- eral hospital, Dr. Flora devoted a portion of his time to morbid anatomy, histology and natural history, especially in the department of entomology. During his microscopic investigations of embryology in in- sect life, he conceived the idea of photographing magnified objects, and, aided by a photographer, he succeeded in obtaining what he supposed to be the first photographs of that character. It afterwards transpired that he had a contemporary in the work, --- Dr. Dean, of Washington, who was engaged at the same time (1865) in photographing sections of the spinal cord. Micro-photography has now reached amazing proportions, but Dr. Flora claims originality if not priority in the discovery. In addition to his
duties and researches, he made important contribu- tions to the medical, literary and scientific magazines.
On receiving his discharge from the army, Dr. Flora established his practice in Chicago, and while there became favorably known to a wide circle of miscellaneous readers by articles on current sanitary topics, one of which at least was exigent and oppor- tune. Many will remember the able and exhaustive paper on 'Trichinae published by the Chicago Times, and copied by hundreds of journals of lesser pre- tensions. It was then becoming the subject of much interest to scientific thinkers, and alarm to other classes.
In 1868, the Doctor came to Denver, Newaygo County, and not long afterward to Newaygo. His business here has been extensive and satisfactory. His intellectual grade in his profession is understood and appreciated, and he takes precedence of his com- peers as the oldest resident practitioner. He has been medical adviser among the poor a large proportion of the time since he settled here, and he has served many years as a local health officer. He is at present Justice of the Peace.
In 1872, Dr Flora perfected and patented a safety mask for the purpose of protecting the respiratory organs from dust in mining and dry-grinding, by cot- ton films charged with antiseptics, forming a perfect safeguard against germs of infection in contagious diseases.
Dr. Flora was married in Seymour, Jackson Co., Ind., April 7, 1857, to Sarah C., daughter of Charles and Harriet Hanley. She was born at Cohoes, N. Y., May 10, 1835. Charles A., elder child, was born in Bartholomew Co., Ind., and is a printer by trade. Daisy, only daughter, was born in Newaygo, Oct 7, 1869.
atrick Neville, deceased, was born March 14, 1824, in County Wexford. Ireland. He was the son of John and Catherine (Stafford) Neville. His parents' record is in- complete, but it is known that they were natives of the same county where their son was born, and died about the year 1860.
Mr. Neville grew to manhood in his native land, where he was married Jan. 31, 1853, to Catherine
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Ronan. She was born and reared in the same place in County Wexford, and is the daughter of Matthew and Bridget (O'Donahue) Ronan. Her father was born in 1801, and her mother in 1802, both in Ire- land, in which country they also both died, in 1853. Mr. and Mrs. Neville sailed for the United States, April 15, 1853, and arrived in New York on the 2d day of June following. They reached the city of Philadelphia, where they remained three months. They started for Michigan in September and arrived in Newaygo County on the 10th of that month. They passed the following winter at Powers' Corners, in Everett Township, and in March 1854, bought 160 acres of land in Big Prairie, where they founded their home.
Mr. Neville died March 19, 1865. Of seven children born to him and Mrs. Neville six are living. Following are their names in the order of their birth : Mary B., John J., William P., Mary Jane (dec.), Catherine E., Matthew G. and Patrick P. When the father died the eldest child was but 11 years old, but the two eldest sons, aged ten and nine years, with their mother's aid, have placed the farm in fine con- dition. They at once, upon being left alone, contin- ued the work begun by the father, and could drive the oxen, although too small to adjust the ox yoke, which was done with the mother's assistance. The farm now comprises 105 acres, cleared, cultivated and improved with fine buildings.
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elson McDonald, farmer, section 1 I, Sheri- dan Township, was born in Upper Canada, March 23, 1826. He is a son of Peter and Amanda (Smith) McDonald, the former a native of Canada, where he now resides, at the advanced age of 95 years; the latter of Connecticut, and died in 1874. He lived in Canada until 1855, when he came to Newaygo County and purchased 240 acres of wild land in Sheridan Town- ship, where he now resides. He owns 210 acres, having given his sons 150 acres. He has 120 acres under cultivation. He was married in Upper Can- ada, April 11, 1848, to Amanda E., eldest daughter of Moses S. and Joanna (Austin) Hindes, the former
a native of New York and the latter of Upper Can- ada; they moved to Newaygo County, where the father died, in the fall of 1880, and the mother re- sides in Garfield Township. Mrs. McDonald was born in Upper Canada, Nov. 10, 1828.
Mr. and Mrs. McDonald are the parents of II children : Melvin, Peter, Franklin, Cylicia V., Ar- minta, Amos, Amon, Ida, Eda; Horatio died at the age of 22, and one died in infancy. Mr. McDonald has held the office of Highway Commissioner nearly every year since he settled in this township. Him- self and wife are members of Fremont Grange, P. of H. In politics he is a National Greenbacker.
charles F. Keefe, senior member of the firm of Keefe, Sutliff & Company, livery- men, resident at Newaygo, was born July II, 1856, in Solon, Somerset Co., Me. His father, Michael Keefe, was born at St. John, N. B., May 4, 1818, of English and Scotch ancestry His mother, Louise (Waugh) Keefe, was born in De cember, 1824, in Maine, of English lineage. They removed to Lincoln, Penobscot County, in 1859, where they resided nearly 17 years. In the winter of 1875 they came to Howard City, Montcalm Co., Mich., whence they removed in December, 1882, to Canton, St. Lawrence Co., N. Y., where they are yet living.
Mr. Keefe became a telegraph operator at the age of 15, and followed that pursuit about two and a half years, and then engaged as a salesman in a drug store. He came West in 1874 and located at How- ard City, where he spent three years in various occu- pations. In 1877 he entered upon the duties of book-keeper for the Muskegon Boom Company, where he was employed two years, acting also as foreman on the drive, and scaling logs during the winters until he came to Newaygo. On the 18th of September, 1883, associated with Albert E. and Solon D. Sutliff, he established a livery stable on the site of a similar enterprise managed by J. M. Allen, which was destroyed by fire, April 29, 1883. The firm are doing a profitable business, keeping ten horses and all fixtures common to such establishments.
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Mr. Keefe was married at Newaygo, Feb. 14, 1881, to Flora, daughter of Calvin A. and Emily Sutliff, born in Bridgeton, Dec. 24, 1863. Ethel, only child, was born in Bridgeton, Nov. 28, 1881. Mr. Keefe is a member of the Masonic fraternity.
oshua G. Childs, farmer, section 26, Mon- roe Township, was born April 29, 1849, in Niagara Co., N. Y., and is a son of Sanford and Elizabeth (McGregor) Childs. The father is a native of New York, and the mother was born in Scotland. Both are yet living and re- side in Eaton Co., Mich.
Mr. Childs obtained his education chiefly at the common schools of his native county and finished his career as a student in books by one term of study at Lewiston. He became "his own man " at the age of 17 years and spent some time in travel in the States of Pennsylvania, Ohio and Indiana. He com- menced his career as a farmer in Newaygo County, in 1870, by entering a homestead claim in Monroe Township, where he has since made the best possible application of his strength and judgment in clearing and otherwise improving his farm.
He was married in Monroe Township to Harriet C., daughter of Abraham and Mary E. (Beaden) Al- ger. She was born in Coldwater, Mich., Nov. 10, 1856. Her parents were natives of Ireland. Mr. and Mrs. Childs have had five children, born as follows : Mary E., Nov. 18, 1871 ; Minnie M., April 11, 1875 ; Alden S., May 9, 1877 ; George A., April 6, 1879. James, born July 7, 1883, died Sept. 13, 1883.
Mr. Childs is a Republican, and has held the of- fices of Supervisor and Deputy Clerk of the township.
elson P. Cook, farmer, section 2, Big Prairie Township, was born April 8, 1841, in Marion, Wayne Co., N. Y. His parents, Asahel and Louisa (Dumond) Cook, were both natives of the State of New York, where the father was born about the year 1815 : he died Nov. 7, 1880, in Allegan County.
Mr. Cook came to Michigan with his parents when he was 13 years old. They settled in Arlington, Van Buren County, and he continued an inmate of his father's household until he was 27 years of age, when he was married and began life as a family man. He passed a number of years in various employments, including farming, lumbering and operating threshing- machines. He came to Newaygo County in 1872, and Feb. 28 entered a homestead claim of 160 acres of land. He has cleared and improved 30 acres of land, placed it under good cultivation and erected suitable and convenient farm buildings. His place is well stocked with horses, cattle, sheep and swine. In political relations he is a Democrat.
Mr. Cook was married Oct. 5, 1868, in Arlington, to Hannah, daughter of Hiram and Jane (Wilson) Lewis. She was born in Greenbush, Albany Co., N. Y., April 9, 1850. Her parents were natives of the Empire State, born respectively in 1818 and 1819. Mr. and Mrs. Cook have been the parents of two children : Margaret, born June 28, 1869, is the sole surviving child.
sa P. Carpenter, retired farmer and teacher, resident on section 6, Croton Township, was born in Waterford, Caledonia Co., Vt., Sept. 2, 1802, and is the son of Asa and Erepta (Grow) Carpenter. His father was born in 1770, in Ashford, Conn., and died Sept. 10, 1826; he was a son of Jonah Carpenter, who came to America soon after the Pilgrims made their first settlement in Massachusetts. The mother of Mr. Carpenter was born in 1780, in Hartland, Vt., and died in 1862.
The father of Mr. Carpenter was a Congregational minister and gave his son a good available education. He commenced the vocation of teaching at the age of 18 years. He taught his first school in the town of Victor, Ontario Co., N. Y., in 1820. In 1824 he went to Canada. He was married Oct. 3, 1824, in Lewiston, Niagara Co., N. Y., to Margaret, daughter of John and Catherine (Huff ) Ulman. She was born April 27, 1798. Her father was born in 1754, in Lancaster, Pa., and died in 1833. Her mother was born about 1764, in Canajoharie, N. Y., and died in 1835. Nine
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of twelve children born to Mr. and Mrs. Carpenter are living. Following are all their names in the order of birth : Joseph Warren, Alethia, John Grow, Henry Ulman (died of a wound in the army, and is buried at Alexandria, Va.), Margaret Ann, Asa and Erepta (twins), Benjamin, Charles Carrol (died by drowning) Elizabeth Catherine and Mary Jane. The latter were twins and Mary Jane is deceased.
Mr. Carpenter was exclusively occupied in teach- ing until 1853, when he came to Michigan. He bought 40 acres of land in Croton, Newaygo County, and has added by purchase 80 acres more, where himself and wife now reside. The children have all scattered away to homes and interests of their own, except the son Benjaimn, who lives upon a part of the homestead.
Mr. Carpenter has always been actively interested in politics, and records himself as an inflexible Re- publican. He has held the office of Town Clerk six years, Superintendent of the Poor seven years, has been Coroner of the county and Justice of the Peace 12 years, and has officiated as School Inspector most of the time since he settled in Croton. He has taken the New York T'ribune 40 years. Himself and wife belong to the Congregational Church.
illiam H. Cope, farmer, section 14, Gar- field Township, was born in Beverley, Can., Nov. 8, 1827. He is a son of William and Rhoda (Tucker) Cope, and was reared on a farm under the supervision of his father to the age of 20 years, when he left home and went to Waterloo, Can.
In October, 1848, he was married to Fannie Smith, who was born April 25, 1827, in Vermont. Of their marriage six children were born, namely: Eliza J., wife of William Monroe, farmer, of Garfield Town- ship; John, Alice, Emma, Elnora and William. Soon after the event of his marriage, Mr. Cope returned to Beverley and managed a saw-mill belonging to John Howard, one year. In 1849 he came to Decatur, Van Buren Co., Mich., and there pursued agriculture. He had a long and prostrating illness, which con- tinued a year and exhausted his little savings. On
recovery, in 1851, he came to Croton, Newaygo County, and one year later made arrangements for the purchase of the farm where he now resides, of William Loomis, containing 80 acres of land, ex- changing therefor the labor of three years and two yokes of cattle. His farm now consists of 50 acres of cleared and well improved land, and 30 acres in heavy timber. Mr. Cope is in a prosperous condition financially, and has the satisfaction of knowing that he has won his way over obstacles that would have thrown men of less resolution into hopeless dis- couragement.
ewis S. Meyers, farmer, section 36, Big Prairie, was born in France about 30 hours, or 90 miles, from Strasbourg, on the river Main. The date of his birth was July 23, 1831. His father, Jacob Meyers, was born about 1783, in Schelestadt, and died in 1868. He was an attache of an officer on the staff of Napoleon Bonaparte. Jacob Meyers, the paternal grandfather, belonged to the farming community of France, and by vocation was a dairyman. Mary Ann (Phillips) Meyers, the mother of Mr. Meyers of this sketch, was born in 1801, in Minster, France, in Lower Alsace. She died about 1857.
The parents came to the United States in 1832, and located in Stark Co, Ohio. The son was about nine months old, and they lived there until he was 12 years of age, when they removed to Allen Co., Ind. Mr. Meyers remained at home until his first marriage in 1856, when he became the husband of Elizabeth McDowell. Two children were born of this marriage, namely : Viola, row Mrs. Weaver and residing in Indiana; and Leander, who lives in Ft. Wayne, Ind. The mother died in 1864. After the death of his wife Mr. Meyers enlisted in Co. A, 21st Mich. Vol. Inf., enrolling Sept. 1, 1864. His com- mand was attached to the army corps of Gen. Sherman, and he served in all the actions during the memorable march to the sea. On the close of the war Mr. Meyers came to Croton, where he worked one year in a saw-mill, and then turned his attention to carpentry, and became foreman in the lumber interests of Robert Mitchell.
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Mr. Meyers was married in Croton, Newaygo County, May r3, 1869, to Katherine Maier. She was born July 22, r838, in Baden, a Prussian province, and is a daughter of Batel and Margaret Maria (Kohler) Maier, natives of the same place in Prussia where their daughter was born. Both were Germans and born approximately in r805 and 1807.
About the date of his second marriage Mr. Meyers bought 80 acres of land in Big Prairie, where he established his home. He has 30 acres cleared, with good improvements. He has passed his time farm- ing and working as a lumberman. He is a great sportsman and has an interesting record. His list includes 300 deer, 194 of which he killed in Indiana. He has killed but one wolf, and but one bear. The latter weighed 327 pounds.
Mr. Meyers is a Democrat in politics, and Roman Catholic in religion.
ohn Barnhard, farmer, section 3, Dayton Township, is a son of Jacob and Sarah (Hyland) Barnhard, and was born in San- dusky Co., Ohio, Nov. r8, r836. When he was ten years old he came to this county with his parents. He lived under the parental roof until he was 20 years of age, and was then employed by the month on a farm for one year. In the fall of 1858 he purchased 80 acres of wild land, on which he built a log house, and has since added 60 acres to his original purchase; 100 acres are under good cultiva- tion. In 1875 he erected a fine frame house where he now resides.
He was married in Dayton Township, Nov. 24, 1860, to Maryette, daughter of Aaron and Amanda Stone, natives of Connecticut, and they have two children: Gilbert L. and Herbert A. Mr. B. has held the office of Township Clerk, Highway Com- missioner, School Inspector and Constable. He was elected Justice of the Peace but declined to qualify ; he was also Township Treasurer four years.
March r2, 1862, he enlisted in the 3d Mich. Inf .; served nearly three years and was honorably dis- charged, on account of a severe wound in the arm, at Spottsylvania Court-House. He was in the battle
of the Wilderness and also that of Mine Run; much of the time he was on detached service. He now re- ceives a pension. Himself and wife are members of Hesperian Lodge, No. 495, P. of H., and in politics he is a Republican.
ilas Edgecomb, farmer, section 21, Big Prairie Township, was born Nov. 24, r826, in the State of New York, and is the son of Asel and Sarah M. (Sears) Edgecomb. Both 'parents were of German descent and were born in the Empire State, the former about 1804 (died in in r877), the latter in r 806 (died in 1827).
Mr. Edgecomb became a resident of Michigan in r826, when his parents settled in St. Clair County. He was married in Brockway, St. Clair County, March 20, 1848, to Anna Freeman. She was born June r9, r83r, near St. Thomas, Canada West, and is the daughter of Curtis and Cynthia (Arms) Free- man. Her father was born Feb. 18, 1795, in Lower Canada, and died Jan. 9, r866, in Brockway. The mother was born May 20, r800, in the Dominion, and is still living. Following are the names of the chil- dren born to Mr. and Mrs. Edgecomb: C. Maria (dec.), Nelson (dec.), John W., Mary Jane (dec.), Charles S., Alvaretta, Arthur (killed in 1881 on a log rollway on the Muskegon River), Annie and Thomas.
Mr. Edgecomb was a resident of St. Clair County about ten years, when he removed to the State of Iowa. He went thence, r8 months later, to Wiscon- sin, where he resided one year at Prairie Du Chien, and two years in Grant County. He came to Ne- waygo County, Jan. 9, r860, and entered the employ of Henry Loomis, for whom he kept a boarding-house about five months, located two miles from Newaygo village. He went in the summer of 1860 to Gaines- ville, Kent County, where he bought 40 acres of land, with about 25 acres improved, where he lived three years, selling out at the expiration of that time and removing to Croton. After a year's residence there he moved to section 26, where he logged one winter. The following spring he bought r20 acres of land on section 25, on which he resided one year and sold
Win /he ilu Webster
Mavs Phere An. Welester.
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out. His next purchase was 160 acres, which is now his homestead. This became his property in 1870, and was partly improved. On this he has since resided with the exception of several winters he has spent in the lumber woods. In political belief Mr. Edgecomb is a Democrat, and in religious tendency inclines to the Presbyterian faith.
illiam Rila Webster, deceased, was born Oct. 29, 1810, in Stanstead, “Canada East." His earliest traditionary ancestor was his grandfather twice removed,-other- wise his great-great-grandfather,-who was an Englishman and came from Norfolk to the United States and settled in New Hampshire, where all his intermediate paternal ancestors were born. His father, John Webster, was born in 1787 and re- moved to Vermont with his family in 1792. He was married in 1809, to Marcia Eastman, and soon after that event went to Stanstead. The wife was born April 10, 1790, in New Hampshire. She was of Welsh ancestry, and died in Big Prairie, Dec. 23, 1863. John Webster died Feb. 15, 1819, in Stan- stead, Canada East.
Mr. Webster came to Michigan in June, 1853, and selected Newaygo County as a place of residence. In the spring of 1854 he settled on section 21, Big Prairie Township, where he bought 600 acres of land. On this he wrought out his life work as a pioneer, a husband and father, and citizen. Mr. Webster was married at Port Hope, Ontario, Oct. 12, 1836, to Phebe Ann Moore. She was born in that place April 8, 1822, and is the daughter of Janies and Azubah (Soule) Moore. Her father was born in the State of New York, in 1792, of Scotch and Irish lineage, and one remove from such ancestry. Azu- bah (Soule) Moore was born in 1796, and was the daughter of Wilson Soule, and of German de- scent. Wilson Soule married Polly Curtis, who was a native of New York and of English ancestry. Their marriage occurred in 1792, and about the year 1808 they removed to Ontario, near Coburg. Wil-
son Soule died in Clarke, Ontario, May 7, 1837; his wife died in Brantford, Ontario, in January, 1857. James Moore and Azubah Soule were married in 18II. The latter died Sept. 19, 1843, in Clarke ; the latter in Haldimand, Ontario, Jan. 18, 1865. Their children were born as follows: Azubah Fi- delia, July 3, 1814; Emily Rosetta, March 16, 1816; Calvin Wilson, May 23, 1818; Polly Lavi- nia, May 22, 1820; Phebe Ann (as given); Hosea Lysander, July 23, 1824, died July 21, 1826.
The following are the records of the children born to Mr. and Mrs. Webster: James M. H. (see sketch); Charles Wesley, July 28, 1845 (died Sept. 16, fol- lowing) ; John Emory (see sketch); Sophronia Ade- laide, Aug. 7, 1850 (died Oct. 6, same year) ; George Rila (see sketch); Herbert Fremont (see sketch); Chester Calvin, July 31, 1858 (died April 13, 1871) ; Phebe Adela, Aug. 10, 1861 ; Leslie Allison, July 20, 1863. The daughter last named is remarkable for an unusual mental organization. She attracted much notice in her early childhood for precociousness, and it became the purpose of her parents to give her an education commensurate with her abilities. At a suitable age she was sent away to school, but it soon became necessary to remove her to the quiet and tranquillity of her home. Her studies developed her reflective faculties so rapidly that her physical powers utterly failed to keep pace, and her health became endangered. She is a young lady of lovely Christian character and is the endeared companion of her widowed mother. Leslie, the youngest son, has a marvelous genius for music, and is able to manipu- late any instrument that comes within his reach. He plays the violin and all keyed instruments with taste and skill. He was married Jan. 8, 1884, to Jessie, daughter of J. F. A. Raider, of Newaygo.
William Rila Webster's grandfather was the brother of the same paternal ancestor of the representative statesman and orator of America-Daniel Webster. It is a singular circumstance that the generation be- fore them married into families of similar name but no kin. The similarity of many traits in different lines of descent in the Webster family is a well established fact, and is discernible in the character of him whose earthly career this sketch commemorates, as in his younger brothers-Francis Webster, resid- ing at Fairbanks, Buchanan Co., Iowa; John Webster,
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who died in Michigan, in 1877 ; and West Webster, a citizen of Minnesota. He was of powerful physique, large brain, strong mind and wonderful self-poise, and possessed a phenomenal memory, seeming never to forget anything he read pertaining to his duties as a man and citizen.
Mr. Webster was a natural mechanic, and from his childhood was distinguished for his love of architect- ure. He employed all his leisure in studying, plan- ning, drawing and designing buildings for himself and others, and, had he devoted his life to architecture as a calling, would have acquired distinction in that art.
All his life long he was a believer in a Supreme Being, and insisted on his entire household observing the ordinance of the Sabbath. In March preced- ing his death he made profession of religion, and when the moment of his dissolution came he passed to the silent mystery of the world beyond in the tri- umph of a living faith. With his last breath he strove to impress upon his children and others the precepts of religion and the imperative necessity of temper- ance and morality. Mr. Webster died May 21, 1882. His portrait with that of his surviving wife may be found on other pages of this volume. The character of the one is indelibly impressed upon those who knew him as a man of sterling traits and such charac- teristics as built Newaygo County to her present com- pleteness and position. Five surviving sons and one daughter are living testimonials to what he was as a father. Mrs. Websteris such a woman as experience and. self-sacrifice develop from the stock of earlier generations-such a woman as under the impulse of later civilization would have taken front rank in the work of the world. She is possessed of most strongly marked personal traits of character. No one has larger sympathies or more heartfelt interest n the well -being of others. "Bear ye one another's burdens," is her law of life. She has followed it in sweet patience, unfaltering courage and with a pur- pose and spirit wholly exempt from any personal end or motive. She has been, since the death of her husband, the mainspring in all the family and bus- iness matters relating to the settlement of his estate, and prosecutes her affairs with all calmness and wisdom of judgment. Who will say, when Ne- waygo County reaches its height of promised achieve- ment, what part the pioneer mothers had in the consummation ?
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