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 33
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rancis H. Peterson, farmer and lumber- man on section 23, Croton Township, was born in Hastings County, Canada West, Oct. 24, 1850, and is a son of Hazlett and Susannah M. (Purcells) Peterson. The former was born in Kingston, Canada, in 1812, and died in Croton Township, Oct. 22, 1882. The mother was born in 1822 and is still alive. Both parents were of German extraction.
The family came to Newaygo County in 1866, when the son was 16 years old. He remained at home two years longer, and set out in life on his own responsibility. He engaged as an assistant in a shingle-mill and followed that business nine years. In 1879 he bought 80 acres of land, of which he has cleared but a small proportion, occupying his time chiefly in lumbering. He is a Prohibitionist and has held the various township offices.
Edith E., wife of Francis H. Peterson, was born in Everett Township, Newaygo County, Dec. 7, 1855, and is the daughter of James and Sarah (Barnhart) Berry. Her father was a farmer and born of Irish extraction, in the State of Massachusetts, June 16, 1811; died March 29, 1862. Sarah, his wife, was born Feb. 7, 1818, in Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Peterson were married Dec. 6, 1874, in Newaygo, and are the parents of three children : Robert H., Arthur E. and Mabel V.
leazer Luce, farmer, section 6, Barton Township, was born Aug. 10, 1814, in Tompkins Co., N. Y., and is a son of David and Sophia (Raynord) Luce. His par- ents were born on Long Island and are both deceased. The son was "bound " to a farmer named Thomas George, and was under his management until he was 19 years old, receiving a fair degree of education.
Mr. Luce was married in 1837, to Mrs. Sarah (Edwards) Moore, a native of Steuben Co., N. Y., born March 30, 1817, and daughter of Stephen and Nancy (Johnson) Edwards. Her father was born in
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Connecticut, her mother in Orange Co., N. Y. Mr. Moore died in 1837 and left one child, Loretta. Five children born to Mr. and Mrs. Luce are living, namely: Eliza J., Andrew J., Eleazer S., Eleanor L. and Sarah Unica. Five are deceased.
Mr. Luce passed a number of years on a farm in Steuben County and went thence to Pennsylvania,. where he followed the same pursuit three years. In the fall of 1856 he set out for Michigan and stopped in Ohio to spend the winter. In February, 1867, he arrived in Newaygo County, where he exchanged his team, wagon, harness, etc., for 80 acres of land on section 6, Barton Township. The title proved worthless and he came very near losing it, and he entered the claim as stipulated under the provisions of the Homestead Law. The deed of conveyance bears the signature of U. S. Grant, then Chief Ex- ecutive of the United States. The land was a wil- derness of heavy timber, and its proprietor has placed it under fine improvements. He is a Repub- lican and warmly esteemed by his fellow townsmen.
lias Elwell, farmer, section 36, Monroe Township, was born in Bennington Co., Vt., March 5, 1828, and is the son of Harrington and Rhoda (Benton) Elwell. The father was a native of Vermont, and the mother of Germany ; both are deceased.
At the age of 13 years Mr. Elwell was thrown up- on his own resources to secure a maintenance for himself, and he engaged as a chore boy and at- tended a district school the first winter. For some years afterward he was variously employed. He was married in 1849, in New York, to Sarah, daughter of Jonathan and Eunice (Putney) Bennett, born in Warren Co., N. Y .. May 4, 1832. The parents were natives of the Empire State. He pursued farming for some years in the State of New York, and in 1853 transferred his family and interests to Hillsdale Co., Mich., removing successively to Barry and Allegan Counties. In 1866 he entered a homestead claim in Newaygo County, of which he took possession March 11, 1868, and has put his place under good improvements and profitable cultivation. Of 13 children born to Mr. and Mrs. Elwell, five are living,
namely : Orlando J., Clarinda J., Hiland W., Edgar L. and Calvin B. The deceased were Francis E., David D., Lavinia Annie, Mary A., Eunice E., Charles D. and one in infancy.
Mr. Elwell is a Republican in politics.
R obert Rogers, farmer and lumberman, resi- dent on section 21, Big Prairie Township, was born April 7, 1850, in Kent Co. Mich., and is son of Benjamin and Betsy (Reynolds) Rogers. (See sketch.)
Mr. Rogers continued to remain under his father's management until he was 21 years of age, when he began to interest himself in the two-fold calling which now occupies his attention and to which he has since devoted his energies without in- termission. He has become the owner of 80 acres of land, of which he has cleared nine acres the present year (1883). He is a Democrat in political adherence.
Mr. Rogers was married Dec. 26, 1871, in Ne- waygo County, to Delia Dingman. She was born Dec. 25, 1852, in Noble Co., Ind., and is the daugh- ter of Jared and Miranda (Spurbeck) Dingman, both of whom were of German descent and are yet living in Newaygo County. The five children born to Mr. and Mrs. Rogers are all living. They are named Myrtie, Maud, Meda, Benjamin and Jared.
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A sa Cook, farmer, section 11, Barton Town- ship, was born April 1, 1835, in Richland Co., Ohio. His parents, Asa and Cynthia (Updegraff ) Cook, were natives of Ohio. The father died when his son was but ten years of age ; the mother in 1859.
Mr. Cook spent the years of his early life in ob- taining an education and in farm labor, until 1862, when he responded to the call of his country for men to aid in her hour of trial. He enlisted and
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was in the service until June, 1865, when he received his discharge. Among the prominent engagements in which he participated were Crab Orchard, Stone River, Atlanta, Peach Tree Creek and the campaign of Sherman through Georgia. In October following his discharge from the army he located in Newaygo Co., Mich., and bought 80 acres of land in Barton Township, then in a comparatively unsettled condi- tion.
He was married in 1860 to Eliza Jane, daughter of John and Elizabeth (Doll) Forsyth. The parents were natives of Pennsylvania. Mrs. C. was born in Ohio, Nov. 3, 1841. The family of Mr. and Mrs. Cook includes three children, viz .: May M., Francis M. and Nellie A.
Mr. Cook is a Republican in political belief, and has served his.township in several official capacities.
onrad G. Smith, farmer, section 16, Ash- land Township, is the son of Josiah and Rachel (Clemens) Smith, natives of Maine. They were married in the Pine-Tree State and removed to Seneca Co., Ohio, where the son was born, Oct. 20, 1834, and resided in that county until 1845.
Mr. Smith had reached the age of 1 1 years when his parents went to Noble Co., Ind. He worked on the farm of his father until the death of the latter in the fall of 185 1, which event brought him face to face with the realities of actual life so far as the world goes. He gave his attention heartily to the first op- portunities that presented to earn a comfortable, creditable livelihood. He was married July 1, 1858, at Elkhart, Ind., to Arcenoah, a daughter of Elisha and Sophia (McQueen) Hager. She was born in Oswego Co., N. Y., March 25, 1842, and died in Or- ange, Noble Co., Ind., March 27, 1861, leaving one child, Eugene V., born Sept. 4, 1859. She fell a victim to diphtheria.
Mr. Smith found in the civil war a field for his ef- forts, and he became a soldier. He enlisted Aug. 25; 1861, in Co. M, Second Ind. Cav. His regiment joined the Army of the Cumberland, Gen. Buell in command. Mr. Smith underwent the oft-recited ex- periences of the encounters of the Morgan raid, and
was in the action between the noted guerrilla chief and Gen. Johnson, at Gallatin, Tenn. The Union force was repulsed on the third charge, and while making the onset Mr. Smith received a shot across the right eye, and another in the left leg. A pursuit followed, and after riding seven miles he was captured. He was finally paroled and rejoined his command at Louisville, was sent thence to Indianapolis, where he was discharged as disabled, Dec. 20, 1862. He returned to Noble County, and in the spring of 1863 he went to Newaygo County and purchased the tract of land where he is now established. He delayed entering upon the work of improving, as the facilities for lumber operations seemed to offer paramount at- tractions, and he availed himself of their advantages until he was ready to settle in life.
He was married June 23, 1867, to Sarah L., daughter of David and Lucretia Law. She was born Sept. 13, 1847, in Noble Co., Ind. Her father was born in Ohio and her mother in New York. Mr. and Mrs. Smith took possession of the farm, 60 acres of which are under good improvements, and in a fine state of cultivation, showing the industry, effort and judgment of its proprietor. Mr. Smith owns in ad- dition one-fourth of section 20, in Ashland Township. To him and his wife the following children have been born: Claude D., Feb. 3, 1871, and Ann, Feb. 13, 1873. Mr. Smith belongs to the Greenback party in politics, and is a member of Blue Lodge, No. 131, F. & A. M., at Newaygo.
illiam Le Baron, farmer, section 22, Big Prairie, was born in Genesee Co., N. Y., April 8, 1836, and is the son of John and Jane (McCollum) LeBaron. The father was born in Killingworth, Conn., about 1803, and was of French ancestry. He died Nov. 20, 1878, in Olive, Clinton Co., Mich. The mother was born about 1808, in Cherry Valley, N. Y.
Mr. LeBaron was three years old when his parents came to Michigan. They settled at Saline, Calhoun County, in 1839, where they resided until 1845, when they removed to a farm in Wayne County; thence they removed to Farmington, Oakland County, five years later. The family resided there
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on a rented farm until 1855, when they removed to Clinton County. The son acted as assistant to his father previous to that time, and obtained a good common-school education, with the intention of going to a higher institution of learning, but changed his plans and enlisted in the regular army of the United States. He enrolled at Detroit, April 8, 1858, in Co. A, Second U. S. Light Artillery, and served five years, receiving his discharge in April, 1863. He returned to Olive, Clinton County, and worked his father's farm until his marriage, when he bought 80 acres of land in the same township. After a short residence there he bought a farm in Alpine, Kent County, where he pursued agriculture until the fall of 1873, when he came to Newaygo County and entered a claim of 74 acres of land under the Home- stead Act. As his circumstances warranted he has continued adding to this until he now owns 250 acres. Mr. LeBaron has made a great achievement by unremitting labor. He has 50 acres of land cleared and improved, all by his own unaided efforts ; has worked at lumbering and harvesting, and prac- ticed every economy to place himself and family in comfort and independence.
Mr. LeBaron was married Feb. 21, 1867, to Cor- nelia, daughter of Eddy and Ann (Burtch) Burtch. She was born at Newport, Province of Ontario, Aug. 27, 1844, and her parents were natives of Mt. Pleas- ant, Ontario, Canada. They were of English and German descent, born respectively in 1819 and 1824. The father died in 1857 and the mother married Julius Rouse, and is now living at Lowell, Kent County. The children of Mr. and Mrs. LeBaron are : Arthur F., Charles, Edith and Eddy. The two last named are twins.
alter L. Whipple, farmer, section 12, Monroe Township, was born Feb. 9, 1835, in Genesee Co., N. Y., and is a son of Wil- liam M. and Sarah A. (Thompson) Whipple, the former a native of Pennsylvania, the latter of New York.
Mr. Whipple was bred to the vocation of farmer, and in 1864 came to Michigan with his father, locating in Ingham County. He enlisted in the late
war in 1861, in the 5th Reg. N. Y. Vol. Inf. Co. E, and served nine months; was discharged in conse- quence of disability.
After receiving his discharge from the service of the United States he went to Lansing, Mich., and. studied dentistry with Dr. Lanterman some years, but finally abandoned his purpose of making that his business in life, and in the autumn of 1869 purchased 80 acres of land in Monroe Township, on which he practiced amateur farming and has gradually in- creased his landed estate until he now owns 600 acres, all situated in the township of Monroe.
Mr. Whipple was married in Ingham County, June 14, 1869, to Alice E., daughter of Randolph W. and Claramon (Harmon) Whipple, natives of the State of New York.
Mr. Whipple is a Republican in political affiliation, and has served his townsmen as Treasurer and Jus- tice of the Peace.
hilip A. Harrison, surveyor, resident at OYOY Croton, was born June 23, 1824, in Steuben Co., N. Y., and was a son of James and Elizabeth (Ennis) Harrison. The father was of English extraction and was born in April, 1791, in New York. He died in 1878, in Seneca Co., Ohio. The mother was a descendant of Scotch ancestors, and was born in 1803 in New Jersey. She died in April, 1848.
Mr. Harrison was trained for his contest in life under the supervision of his parents, and remained with them a year after his marriage, when he com- menced an independent career: He bought 80 acres of land in Reed, Seneca Co., Ohio, and conducted in that place his agricultural operations until 1850, when he sold his estate there and came to Ottawa Co., Mich., in company with his father. He pur- chased a farm, whereon he operated two and a half years, sold out and went to Casnovia Township, where he bought 80 acres of land. After 18 months he again disposed of his property, and in 1855 came to Croton Township for a permanent settlement. He bought a farm containing 240 acres, situated on sections 22 and 23, where he operated successfully. In October, 1865, he retired from active agricultural life, and resides upon his property in Croton village.
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He has been a resident of Croton Township 28 years, and during that time has been in active official life continuously, with the exception of one year. He served as Deputy Sheriff of Newaygo County two years, has been Clerk and Justice of the Peace 12 years; has officiated as School Inspector, Commis- sioner of Highways, Constable and Supervisor. In political connection he is a member of the Greenback element, is interested in all political movements, and is at present Village Recorder, Justice of the Peace and School Inspector.
Mr. Harrison was married Feb. 4, 1844, in Seneca Co., Ohio, to Sarah Bennett, who was born April 18, 1825, in Steuben Co., N. Y., and was the daughter of Isaac H. and Sally (Cassidy) Bennett, the foriner a native of New Jersey, born April 23, 1800. The latter was born in 1802, in New York, and died in 1877. Mrs. Harrison died Oct. 23, 1865, having become the mother of eight children, born in the following order : Bennett I., James G. (dec.), Electa S. (dec.), Samuel D., Worth, John F., Mary and Lyman P. The second marriage of Mr. Harrison to Emily Pettingill occurred Oct. 4, 1870, at Morley, Mecosta Co., Mich. Her parents, Benjamin and Electa (Nichols) Pettingill, were natives of the State of New York. The former was born in 1803, of English extraction, and died in 1879. The mother was born in 1806, and is still alive. Mrs. Harrison was born April 1, 1836, in Ingham Co., Mich. Two children, Eudora C. and Gertie L., constituted the issue of her marriage with Mr. Harrison.
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aniel D. Smith, farmer, section 12, Barton Township, was born July 15, 1820, in Nel- son, Madison Co., N. Y., and is the son of James and Sarah (Dike) Smith, the former a native of Columbia Co., N. Y., the latter born near Woodstock, Windham Co., Vt. They died in Madison County.
Mr. Smith passed the years of his minority with his parents, and was married Dec. 30, 1845, to Sylvia, daughter of James and Margaret (Hogoboom) Chap- pell, born in Eaton, Madison Co., N. Y., Dec. 18, 1824. Her father was born in Watertown, N. Y .; her mother in Manchester, Vt. After the event of
his marriage Mr. Smith continued the occupation of farmer in his native county on the same place, where he operated 16 years. At the end of that time he sold the property and located in Kent Co., Mich., where he followed agriculture two years. In Janu- ary, 1867, he came to Newaygo County and pur- chased 120 acres of farm land in Barton Township, where he has toiled and cleared 69 acres. His place. is a credit to his exertions and judgment, and bids fair to hold proportionate rank with others in the county. One of nine children born to Mr. and Mrs. Smith is deceased, namely, James. The others are, Sarah A. (Mrs. Andrew Forsyth), Orville L., Ann E. (Mrs. S. B. Schermerhorn), Willis L., Flora M. (Mrs. Charles Bryant), Estella C. (Mrs. Perley Hall), Min- nie O. (Mrs. George Millard), and Franz Sigel.
Mr. Smith is a Democrat in political belief, and has discharged the duties of the most important township offices.
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8 ernard E. Morton, carpenter and joiner, resident in Big Prairie Township, was born Dec. 4, 1820, in Plymouth, Chenango Co., N. Y. His father, Elijah Morton, was born in 1771, in Hatfield, Mass., and was the grandson of one of the Pilgrims who came to America in 1620, in the Mayflower. He died in 1845, in Shiawassee Co., Mich. The mother, Han- nah (Ransom) Morton, was born in 1780, in Wood- stock, Conn. She was of mixed Scotch and Welsh extraction, and died in 1867, in Big Prairie.
Elijah Morton came to Shiawassee with his family in 1834. Mrs. Morton was the widow Swaine when she became the wife of Mr. Morton, and had several children. Aaron Swaine, one of her sons, came to this State in 1833 and first located in Shiawassee County, afterwards, in 1850, coming to Big Prairie, where he built the second house erected in the town- ship, located in section 7.
Bernard Morton accompanied his half-brother to Michigan, and, after the removal of the latter to Ne- waygo County, alternated between here and the home of his mother in Shiawassee County, until 1856, when he came to what is now Dayton Town-
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ship and pre-empted 40 acres of land, on which he settled and at once entered upon the work.of estab- lishing his home. He was married Feb. 22, 1857, in Big Prairie, to Nancy Gibson. She was born in Mercer Co., Pa., Feb. 23, 1828, and died in Dayton, June 11, 1880, leaving four children, born as follows : Corena V., Aug. 9, 1859; Amelia A., April 24, 1861; Marilla M., Nov. 14, 1862; A. Ogilva, May 27, 1866.
Mr. Morton is a Republican in political principles. He served nine months in the war of the Rebellion, belonging to Company G, Eighth Mich. Vol. Inf., and was discharged at Detroit, Aug. 7, 1865. After his discharge he returned to his family in Dayton Township, where he worked on his farm until the death of his wife and the severing of his house- hold, when he became an inmate of the family of his niece, the wife of William L. Murphy, of Big Prairie.
oseph A. Franklin, farmer, section 36, Big Prairie Township, was born in Leonidas, St. Joseph Co., Mich., March 13, 1845, and is a son of Allan and Lydia Ann (Stevens) Franklin. His father was born in 1810, in Westmoreland, Vt., and died about 1849. The mother was born May 22, 1816, in Steuben Co., N. Y., and is living on the homestead in Leonidas, and is the wife of A. M. Covey.
Mr. Franklin enlisted at the age of 18 years in Company A, Eleventh Mich. Vol. Inf. The date · of his enrollment was Dec. 15, 1863, and he was mus- tered out of service Sept. 16, 1865. After leaving the army he returned home and worked as a farm laborer three years. He came to Newaygo County in April, 1871, and entered a claim of 160 acres Government land under the provisions of the Home- stead Act, on which he has since resided. He has sold 80 acres, and cleared 26 acres, on which he has erected good farm buildings. He is a Republican in political relations, and has been Constable one year. He was elected to the same office in 1883, but de- clined to qualify for the position.
"Mr. Franklin was married in 1872, in Fredonia, Calhoun County, to Sarah Ann, daughter of Stephen and Jane (Pryor) Saunders. She was born in New York, May 29, 1837. Her father was born May 18,
1795, in England, and died Aug. 26, 1862. Her mother was also a native of England, born Jan. 21, r813, and resides in Albion, Calhoun Co., Mich. The family belong to the denomination known as Second Adventists.
ichard Bardan, farmer, section 30, Barton Township, was born in Elgin Co., Out., June 7, 1833. His parents, Albert and Nancy (Gibbs) Bardan, were natives of the Dominion, and there passed their lives.
The circumstances of his family prevented Mr. Bardan from obtaining much education. They were situated remote from schools, and it was neces- sary for each member to contribute toward the com- mon maintenance. He remained at home until he was 22 years of age, when he went to Benton Co., Iowa, and was there engaged in farming five years. In 1860 he came to Mecosta Co., Mich., and 11 years later settled in Newaygo County, where he located 40 acres of land in Barton Township and established his homestead. His political faith assimilates with the principles of the National party.
Mr. Bardan was married in 1857, to Sarah A., daugh- ter of Lewis V. and Paulina (Wheeler) Keller. The parents were natives of Pennsylvania and New York. Mrs. Bardan was born April 16, 1843. She is the mother of seven children, born as follows: Susan F., born Oct. 3, 1859; Annie L., Jan. 31, 1861; Alpha J., Jan. 27, 1865 ; Cora E., May 10, 1868; Ida M., Sept. 27, 1876 ; John O., Jan 29, 1881.
eorge W. English, resident on section 7, Croton Township, was born Jan. 4, 1837, in Crawford Co., Ohio. His parents, Abraham and Sarah (McKee) English, were born in Pennsylvania, respectively of English and Irish descent. The father was born in 1800, and died in May, 1882. The mother was born in 1807 and died in 1875.
Mr. English has worked most of his active business life as a carpenter and builder, and cabinet-maker, to which trade he was apprenticed at 16 years of age.
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He pursued it as a vocation in his native county until 1861, when he went to Williams Co., Ohio, and engaged in cabinet-making. He enlisted in the civil war in September, 1862, enrolling in Co. H, Ninth Ohio Cav., for three years. The war closed before his period of enlistment had expired, and he received his discharge at Columbus, Ohio. He was in active service during the entire time, and among the important campaigns of which he was a part was that of Sherman's grand march to the sea. His wife and three children went to Crawford County while he was in the Union service, and on the termination of the war he returned to Ohio, and they went to Wood County, returning two years later to Williams County. In 1873 they came to Hillsdale Co., Mich., and resided there two years. In 1875 they removed to Isabella County, where they continued to reside until July, 1882, when they made a permanent settle- ment in Newaygo County.
In 1867 Mr. English began his labors as a minister in the interests of the denomination of First-Day Adventists, and at the date named he came to this county to take charge of the circuit of Big Prairie, Croton village and Snowtown, in Croton Township, where he is still discharging the duties of the position. He is a Republican in principle, but is in no sense active in politics.
Mr. English was married in Crawford Co., Ohio, Oct. 8, 1857, to Nancy, daughter of Robert and Jane (Doney) George. Her parents were born in Penn- sylvania, respectively in 1812 and 1815. Her father died in 1855, in Williams County, where her mother now resides. Following are the names of the eight children born of this marriage : Emma Jane, Abraham Lincoln, Frank Ellsworth, Ida Belle, Sarah Ellen, Charles Grafton, George Edward and Herbert (deceased).
16 ohn Toner, farmer, section 10, Barton Township, was born in the city of Toronto, Can., in September, 1841. He is a son of Francis and Mary (Carrigan) Toner, who were natives of Ireland, and emigrated to the Do- minion of Canada in 1840. They came thence to Newaygo Co., Mich., in 1867, where the father died, April 1, 1880, and the mother is still living.
Mr. Toner received the training of a farmer's son, and in 1867 bought a homestead right in Newaygo County, which he again entered under the regula- tions of the Homestead Act. His farm now includes 160 acres of land, with 60 under improvement and in a fair state of cultivation. He was married June 27, 1881, to Margaret E., daughter of Daniel and Catherine (Pratt) Hanley. Her father was born in Ireland and her mother in Oneida Co., N. Y. Mrs. Toner was born Jan. 30, 1858, in Topeka, Kansas. To her and her husband one child, Mary C., was born Jan. 5, 1882.
In political tendency Mr. Toner is neutral, but he is a decided foe to local monopoly and has devoted his energies to its disruption.
y: artwell Churchill, instructor, resident on section 34, Ashland Township, was born Feb. 2, 1845, in Somerset Co., Maine, and be- longs to the Churchill family of England, one of the oldest and best sustained in the list of the better classes in that country. His father dying when he (Hartwell) was between three and four years old, he remained under the care of his mother until the age of six years, when he was placed under the management of John Peirce, of Embden, in his native country, with whom he continued to reside until he was about 13 years old. He then became a farm laborer, devoting himself to his work in the sum- mers and to study winters, thereby securing a good education, which enabled him to commence teaching at the age of 19 years. He was economical and pru- dent, and saved sufficient of his earnings to purchase 100 acres of land, where he established his mother and her children in a home, and turned his attention to farming. After eight years he experienced finan- cial reverses to such an extent that he resumed his profession, combining the labors of a teacher with those of a minister of the gospel in the interests of the Free-Will Baptist Church. In 1879 he became connected with the United Brethren Church, and was a successful revivalist preacher. His views conflict- ing with the stern discipline of that denominational body in relation to secret societies, he returned to the ministry of the Church to which he originally be
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