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 34
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66
*
32 1
NEWAYGO COUNTY.
longed, and devotes the intervals between his terms of school to active ministerial effort.
He came to Michigan in the fall of 1872 and at first located in Kent County, and soon after came to Newaygo County, where he has since been engaged in the duties and labors of teacher, and is rated fairly and justly as a leader in his profession.
He was married Jan. 13, 1870, at Skowhegan, Somerset Co., Me., to Lydia E., daughter of Noah and Lydia (Eaton) Pratt, a native of Somerset County, and born Oct. 3, 1837. Her parents were born respectively in Massachusetts and Maine. Five children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Churchill, as follows: Bertha L., June 20, 1871; Lydia M., Nov. 6, 1873; Lula A., March 28, 1879; Lillian P., Oct. 5, 1881 ; and an infant yet unnamed, born Nov. II, 1883.
Mr. Churchill is a decided Republican in political faith.
CA
S quire Gard, farmer, section 6, Barton Town- ship, was born in Union Co., Ind., Jan. 26, 1825, and is a son of Benjamin and Eliza (Adams) Gard, both of whom were natives of Pennsylvania and resided there for a consid- erable number of years. They removed to Indiana, where the father died in 1841 and the mother in 1863.
Mr. Gard was the sixth child of 14 born to his parents, and spent his childhood and youth on his father's farm, obtaining a fair degree of education at the common schools. On first starting in life he went to Ohio and engaged as a farm assistant with a man named William Lybrook, and after the termin- ation of his engagement with him rented a farm, which he managed one year. He next went into farm service by the year. During the time, he was married (1848) to Margaret M., daughter of Samuel and Mary (Yeryan) Feather. The former was born in Pennsylvania, the latter in Tennessee. Mrs. Gard was born in Union Co., Ind., July 30, 1829. The family circle includes six children : Samuel, John, Mary E., Martha E., Daniel and Phebe.
Mr. Gard carried on the pursuit of agriculture about 20 years in Ohio and Indiana, and in 1868 entered a homestead claim of 80 acres of land,
where he has since pursued his calling, and now has 40 acres of land fairly improved and under cultiva- tion. Mr. Gard unites with the Republican party in his political action.
-
ilbert Grow, farmer and lumberman, sec- tion 17, Croton Township, was born April II, 1847, in Jackson Co., Mich. His father, David Grow, was born in 1803, in New Hampshire, and died in 1878; the mother, Sarah (Barney) Grow, was born in 1812, in Pennsylvania.
Mr. Grow was reared to the age of manhood by his parents, received a common-school education and learned the trade of a wagon-maker of his father, He was eight years old when his parents came to Croton Township, and on coming to manhood he engaged in farming and lumbering, besides following his trade as opportunity offered, and has continued to combine the three occupations. He owns 80 acres of land, fairly improved and supplied with good buildings. He is a Democrat in political affinity.
Elma B. Hutton, who became the wife of Mr. Grow, was born Nov. 25, 1856, and is the daughter of George W. and Nancy (Buck) Hutton. The former was born of English parentage, in Adams Co., Penn., Jan. 22, 1822. The latter was born in Hunt- ington Co., Penn., Nov. 17, 1826, and descended from Dutch ancestors. Mr. and Mrs. Grow were married Nov. 3, 1878, in Howard City, Montcalm County, and are the parents of two children, Laura E. and Sarah Ina.
rank Mathews, farmer, section 6, Bridge- ton Township, was born in Burke, Ontario, April 10, 1830. His parents, Fred and Mary Mathews, were of French descent and natives of Ontario. When he was 14 years old Mr. Mathews left home to engage as a boat- man on the Mississippi River, where he was occupied five years. In 1849 he came to Muskegon County and found employment at various points in lumber-
€
NEWAYGO COUNTY.
322
ing, until 1867, when he came to Newaygo County and purchased 40 acres of wild land in Bridgeton Township, where he engaged in farming. He has achieved a most creditable and permanent success, and now owns a farm of 240 acres, all of it under im- provements excepting 100 acres. The high degree of cultivation and expensive farm buildings put the place in the foremost rank in the county.
Mr. Mathews was married in Muskegon, in Novem- ber, 1856, to Margaret, daughter of Henry and Sophia Rono, born in Canada, of a direct line of French an- cestry. The daughter was born July 8, 1837, in Wisconsin, and was brought in her youth to Mus .. kegon. . She died Sept. 8, 1883, leaving six children. Two others, Freddie and Nelsie, died before their mother. Those yet living were born as follows: Frank, Aug. 25, 1857 ; Dellie, Nov. 25, 1859; Fred- die, Feb. 7, 1862 (died Dec. 16, 1864); Ellen, Oct. 14, 1864; Henry, July 26, 1867 ; Jennie, Aug. 14, 1869; Minnie S., Jan. 13, 1872.
Mrs. Mathews was a member of the Roman Cath- olic Church, and lived a consistent, orderly life. She is sincerely mourned as a kind, considerate mother, a model wife and a generous-hearted, sympathetic neighbor.
Mr. Mathews is a Republican, and has been the in- cumbent of the position of School Director several successive years.
ester C. Morgan, President of the Morgan Lumber Company, resident at Muskegon, was born June 13, 1822, in Leroy, Genesee Co., N. Y. His parents, William and Sophia (Coe) Morgan, were born, lived and died in the State of New York.
Mr. Morgan was possessed of an active temper- ament and made the best use of the advantages offered in the common schools of the generation in which he was born, and at 17 years of age he com- menced teaching. At the age of 20 years he began the manufacture of linseed oil in his native county, and the prosecution of that business occupied his at- tention 14 years, when he sold out and came to Wisconsin. After a residence there of 18 months, he proceeded to Chicago, where he engaged in the
wood and coal trade, and also interested himself to a considerable extent in speculating, operating in the fruit trade nearly five years.
In 1866 he located in Muskegon Co., Mich., and bought 250 acres of land near Muskegon. He put the place under good improvements, among which was the planting of an apple and peach orchard, both of which were hopelessly injured by the excessive cold of the winter of 1869. In 1868 he engaged in the business with which he is now connected and which he has since prosecuted in all its important branches. The mill belonging to the concern is lo- cated in White Cloud, and has a productive capacity of 20,000 feet of lumber daily. The company is a stock concern, and is doing a fair business. An earlier business connection of Mr. Morgan was with S. N. Wilcox, of Chicago (now deceased), whose re- lations to the lumber trade of Northern Michigan are well known. The partnership was for the purpose of instituting the trade in lumber at this point, and they credited the first mill for the production of lumber in this section. Mr. Morgan built the pioneer house at White Cloud, and accomplished the first logging in this vicinity. He has been and is now extensively connected with the landed interests of the county of Newaygo. The company own 3,000 acres of land, lying chiefly in Wilcox Township. The private estate of Mr. Morgan includes 200 acres of land in Muskegon County, where he at one time owned a half-mile tract in its primitive condition. He is a. Republican of declared position, and was Supervisor of Lakeside, Muskegon County. He is not prominent in the work of temperance reform, but has never in his life drank a glass of liquor. In the fall of 1883 he had his first encounter with sickness, being past 60 years of age, when he was for the first time in his life under the necessity of calling a phy- sician for personal attendance.
He was married Sept. 4, 1845, in Genesee Co., N. Y., to Mary J., daughter of James and Mary Long. They were all natives of the State of New York. Six children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Morgan, four of whom survive. They are, James L., Sarah A., Helen M. and William F .; Sophie and Kate died in infancy.
James L. Morgan, eldest son of L. C. Morgan, and Treasurer of the Michigan Lumber Company, was born in Leroy, Genesee Co., N. Y., July 31, 1848.
323
NEWAYGO COUNTY.
He was, during his early life, under the sole guid- ance of his father, and since attaining to a suitable age has been connected with him in business. Since 1883 he has been officiating in his present capacity. He inherits the political tendencies of his father, and held the position of Postmaster two years, under President Grant. He has held the position of Notary Public two years, and, on the incorporation of the village of White Cloud, was elected 'Trustee, and dis- charged the duties of the situation two years. He has served one year as agent of the American Ex- press Company, and was elected Township Treasurer but never qualified.
+
ohn Moote, farmer, section 30, Barton Township, was born Sept. 5, 1833, in Wel- lington Co., Can., and is the son of Joseph and Christina (McArthur) Moote, the former a native of Canada and the latter of Scotland. The father died in his native place, Sept. 4, 1863; the mother is still a resident of the Dominion. At the age of 16 years Mr. Moote began to labor as a farm hand, and continued to fill that position at various places until his marriage. That event oc- curred Feb. 28, 1853, when he became the husband of Sarah S., daughter of John and Margaret (Greiggs) Foreman. Her father was English by birth and her mother was a native of Canada, where Mrs. Moote was born Jan. 28, 1833.
Mr. Moote remained a resident of Canada until 1868, engaged in farming, and in that year he came to Newaygo County, where he entered a claim of 80 acres of land in accordance with the regulations of the Homestead Act, and in the autumn following took possession of his property. His good sense, management and industry here enabled him to in- crease his estate to 200 acres, of which he has cleared and improved 85 acres. He is a member of the Advent Church and a Republican in political faith and action. The family of Mr. Moote includes II children, four of whom constitute two pairs of twins. They are named as follows: Martha I., Charlas W., John, James, Christina, Joseph W. and William H. (twins), David, Andrew, Jacob and George (twins).
uther Whipple, farmer, section 24, Monroe Township, was born Sept. 29, 1846, in Liv- ingston Co., N. Y., and is the son of Wil- liam M. and Sarah A. (Thompson) Whipple, natives of the State of New York.
The first labor in which he engaged independ- ently was on the Genesee & Erie Canal. In 1867 he came to Lansing, Mich., where he was variously employed until 1870, when he came to Newaygo County and entered a claim of 80 acres of land under the regulations of the Homestead Act. This has since been his home and the scene of his exer- tions to establish himself and family in comfort and to enjoy the fruits of timely and well-directed effort.
He was married April 8, 1874, to Eunice T., daughter of Randolph W. and Claramon (Harmon) Whipple, natives of Herkimer Co., N. Y. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Whipple : Alice, April 22, 1878; Randolph, Sept. 3, 1880, and Addie, Oct. 3, 1882.
Mr. Whipple is a Republican in his political views and has held several local offices.
ohn W. Tucker, farmer, section 34, Big Prairie, was born at Hamilton, Ontario, Aug. 26, 1819, and is the son of Joseph C. and Sarah (Cady) Tucker. The father is a na- tive of New York and was born about 1783, and died in 1853. The mother was born in New York about the same year as her husband, and died in 1838. Both were of English extraction.
Mr. Tucker remained at home until he was 12 years old, and in 1831 came to Lapeer Co., Mich. He stayed there two years and returned to the Do- minion. Two years afterward he came back to Michigan, stayed a year and again returned to Cana- da, where he resided eight years. In 1855 he came to Decatur, Van Buren County, where he stayed two years, and then bought 120 acres of land in Big Prairie, where he has made a permanent settlement.
324
NEWAYGO COUNTY.
The tract of land of which he became the proprietor was in its original condition, untouched by the hand of man. He has made good use of his time and energies, and has placed 40 acres under good im- provements and advanced cultivation. In political affiliation he is a Republican.
Mr. Tucker was first married in Waterloo, Ont., in 1840, to Harriet Smith. She died Sept. 20, 1880, on the farm in Big Prairie. Mr. Tucker was married a second time in January, 1881, to Mrs. Jane Mc- Micken. There is no child by either marriage. Of her former marriage, Mrs. Tucker has five children, as follows : William John, James, Ellen, Samuel and Maggie Jane.
illiam Jay, farmer, section 24, Goodwell Township, was born March 24, 1817, at Binghamton, N. Y. His father, Peter Jay, was born in the State of New York some RE time about the year 1782. He was of Eng- lish parentage and died in 1840. The mother, Ruth (Hall) Jay, was born near the year 1784, in Masschusetts, and died in 1838.
Mr. Jay went away from home as his " own man " when 17 years old. He went to Missouri and passed four years in that State and in Fort Leaven- worth, in (then) Kansas Territory. He was in the employment of the United States Government, and worked as an assistant in getting out and preparing the timber to build the fort. In 1838 he came to Michigan and joined his brother in Oakland County, where he remained until the fall of 1839. In that year he went to Ohio, where he was married, in February, 1841, to Permelia Hancock. She was the daughter of Abner and Miranda (White) Hancock, both of whom were born in Vermont, respectively in 1798 and 1796. They were of English parentage and died in 1856 and 1880. Mrs. Jay died April 6, 1879, leaving five children, all of whom yet survive, namely : Delia Ann, Amelia A., Ruth A., Frank and Emma.
Mr. Jay remained a resident of the Buckeye State until February, 1852, when he sought the land of golden promise on the Pacific slope, leaving his
family in Ohio. He followed mining in California until the life of the Nation was put in peril through the imbecility and headlong recklessness of the South. He enlisted in 1861, in Co. A, Second Cal. Vol. Cav., for three years. He was in the service under that enrollment the three years, and was dis- charged at Camp Douglas, near Salt Lake City, Utah. He returned to Ohio and re-enlisted in Co. F, United States Cavalry, regular service, for three years.
He was discharged at Fort Laramie in 1868, came back to Ohio, and in company with his family pro- ceeded to Mecosta County. Two years later he came to Newaygo County and secured a claim of 80 acres of land under the Homestead Act, where he has since expended his labor and time to the best possible advantage, having placed 40 acres of land under improvement and advanced culture, with fair farm buildings. Mr. Jay is a Republican in politi- cal affinity.
He was a second time married Feb. 8, 1882, to Sarah P. Ehle. She was born in Oswego, N. Y., Aug. 5, 1825. Her father, Adam Ehle, was born near the Mohawk River, and was quite a young lad while the war of the Revolution was in progress. He was German in national descent, and died near the year 1863. The mother, Mary (Sternberg) Ehle, was born in nearly the same period as her husband, and died about 12 years since.
illiam Cram, farmer, section 28, Croton Township, was born Dec. 28, 1834, in Upper Canada. William Cram, his father, was of French descent, and was born in June, 1800, in Nova Scotia. He died in 1861. His mother, Margaret (Hardy) Cram, was born in 1808, in England, and resides at Grand Rapids.
Mr. Cram was four years of age when his parents came, in 1838, to Lowell, Kent Co., Mich. He remained there until he 14 years old, when he came to Croton and obtained employ in a lumber mill. He was occupied in that and kindred positions until he reached the age of 18 years. His father had a claim on 80 acres of land in Cannon Township, Kent
NEWAYGO COUNTY.
325
County; but, through physical incapacity and a disease of the eyes, which made him nearly blind, his little property was likely to slip from his hold, and the son contributed all he was able to spare from his earning. The homestead was saved, and an ad- ditional 80 acres purchased. In 1852 Mr. Cram went to Iowa with a surveying corps, who were sent for the purpose of sectionizing the State, and was absent ten months. On his return he stopped in Cannon Township, and worked a season upon the improvements on the homestead farm, after which he made a permanent settlement in Croton. He bought 160 acres of land, situated upon the side of the road opposite to his present holding. He cleared 40 acres and set out an orchard. He sold out in 1862 and moved to Croton village; where he remained a year and a half, and bought 80 acres of land, which now constitutes his homestead ; and he has labored with industry and judgment until he has cleared 60 acres of land from its original condition, has a fine barn, well assorted orchard, and a con- siderable herd of good stock. In politics Mr. Cram is a Republican, and belongs also to the Patrons of Husbandry, Croton Lodge, No. 11.
Ann Eliza (Davis) Cram was born Aug. 1, 1838, in Wales, and is a daughter of James and Martha (Harris) Davis. They were natives of Wales, the former born in 1813, and the latter in 1810. Both are yet living in Mecosta County.
The marriage of William Cram and Ann Eliza Davis occurred April 5, 1860, in Croton Township, Elder Wm. Kelley officiating. They are the parents of one child, Lelia Eveline, born July 17, 1874.
-
homas C. Kinch, farmer, section 1, Barton Township, was born in Leicestershire, Eng., Oct. 3, 1838, and is a son of John and Sarah (Freenian) Kinch. The parents were natives of England, and are both deceased.
Mr. Kinch set out in life with no aid but the patent necessity of securing a livelihood. At the age of seven years he was employed in gardening, and, true to the habits of his class and country, re- mained in that employ until he was 14 years of age. He then learned the baker's trade, and followed it
in the city of Leicestershire 13 months, when he was apprenticed to a butcher and served two years. After that he was variously employed until 1856, when he came to the United States, and first found employment in Connecticut. He came thence to Ohio, where he was married, May 4, 1868, to Rhoda H., daughter of James and Jane (Gleed) Lewis. She was born May 4, 1842. Mr. and Mrs. Kinch have two children: John L., born Jan. 27, 1869; and Fred, April 23, 1871.
Mr. Kinch is the owner of 280 acres of land, with 45 acres improved. He is a Republican in politics.
- CO
9 6
8 enjamin Bisard, blacksmith, section 27, Ashland Township, was born in Madison Co., Ohio, March 28, 1821. He is a son of Philip and Elizabeth (Rush) Bisard, na- tives of Pennsylvania, where they resided most of their lives, removing to Madison County in 1820. When he was four years old his parents went to Medina Co., Ohio, and there he as- sisted on the farm until he was within one year of his majority. In 1841 he entered upon an appren- ticeship with Frederick Rice, of Lodi, Medina Co., Ohio, to acquire the craft of blacksmith. After con- cluding his term of contract with Mr. Rice he estab- lished his business at Chatham, Ohio, and afterwards at Spencer, where he was associated in blacksmith- ing with his brother-in-law. Later he went to Pen- field, Lorain Co., Ohio, and there followed the same vocation from the spring of 1846 to that of 1853, when he returned to Medina County, and worked as a blacksmith until the fall of 1863. At that date he came to Newaygo County. He settled on section 27, where later he bought 40 acres of land, of which he is still the proprietor. It was all in dense forest, just as nature had adorned it after her own plan and pat- tern. Mr. Bisard has cleared and otherwise improved 25 acres. In addition to his farm he conducts a good business in his shop, in which he is accounted a skillful and reliable artisan.
Mr. Bisard was married May 31, 1840, to Mary, daughter of Abraham and Elizabeth (Taylor) Oak- ley, of Chatham, Ohio. Her parents were natives of
NEWAYGO COUNTY.
326
New Jersey. After marriage they removed to Wayne Co., Ohio, where the daughter was born, June 26, 1823. Her mother died when she was five years old, and she was placed in the care of her grand- parents, with whom she remained until her mar- riage. Six children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Bisard, as follows: Randall D., June 12, 1845 ; James J., July 16, 1847 ; Philip, May 16, 1852; Abel W., March 17, 1860; Joseph, born April 9, 1849, died July 22, 1866 ; John J., May 12, 1856, died April 2, 1859.
Mr. Bisard is a Democrat, and has held various township offices. Mrs. Bisard is an active member of the M. E. Church.
oseph Smeltzer, farmer, section 32, Big Prairie Township, was born July 17, 1839, in Germany. His father, Michael Smeltzer, as born in 1811, in Werlf, a town of Germany, on the River Rhine. His mother, Catherine (Palmers) Smeltzer, was born in the same place in 1818. Both parents are still living, in Milwaukee, Wis., whither they emigrated in 1846.
Mr. Smeltzer was 17 years old when his family left the "Fatherland," where he had received a good German education. On reaching the city of Mil- waukee he had no difficulty in finding plenty of re- munerative labor, and he engaged with the foreman of a railroad construction corps, with whom he re- mained seven years. When he was 24 years old he came to Newaygo County and went to work for Jerry Ryan, and was in his employment between three and four years. All the earnings of his first eight years of labor he gave to his parents, and at the age of 25 years he commenced to lay the foundation of his own career as an American citizen. In 18- he went to Morley, Mecosta County, where he worked 14 successive winters for Nelson Higbee, as a lumber- man. The alternating summers he worked at farm- ing. He owns 135 acres of land in Big Prairie. Of this, 100 acres are well improved and cultivated, and the farm is supplied with substantial buildings.
Mr. Smeltzer was married in Grand Rapids, in 1865, to Susan McKenney. She was born March 14, 1837, in Canada East, and is a daughter of Pat-
rick and Hannah (Flinn) McKenney, the one a native of County Tyrone, Ireland, the other born in County Cork. Peter, Charles and Mary are the three chil- dren of Mr. and Mrs. Smeltzer.
illiam H. Davenport, farmer, section 14, Barton Township, was born in Wayne Co., Ind., May 20, 1848. William and Jemima (Stanley) Davenport, his parents, were also natives of Indiana and came to Michigan in 1856.
Mr. Davenport was brought up to the pursuit of agriculture, and is the owner of a fine farm of 120 acres, well improved and under a fair state of culti- vation. He is a Republican in political sentiment and action. He was married in 1870, to Alice Owen, and by this marriage became the parent of one child, Arthur, born June 10, 1873. His wife died in 1872.
Mr. Davenport was a second time married, in 1877, to Tilda, daughter of William and Angeline (Crofoot) Smith, born April 6, 1851, in Mendon, St. Joseph Co., Mich.
ohn F. Gauweiler, retired farmer, resident at Croton village, was born Dec. 2, 1824, in Bavaria, Germany, of which province his parents were both natives. His father, George Gauweiler, was a farmer, and was born in 1799, died in Croton in 1850. His mother, Catherine (Bopp) Gauweiler, was born in 1798 and is living in Ohio. In 1842 the family came to the United States, and the son remained under the con- trol of his father until the end of the period pre- scribed by law.
Mr. Gauweiler received a good education under the judicious school system of his native country, which compels the attendance of children at school until they are 14 years old. He worked in a brick yard summers after he reached the age of eleven years, and fulfilled the time required by law at school in winter. At 15 he was apprenticed to learn the
-6
327
NEWAYGO COUNTY.
business of cabinet-making, at which he worked until 18 years old. On coming to America his parents located in Warren Co., Ohio, and, on the arrival of the period of his legal freedom, he went to New Orleans and there found employ at his trade six months. He came to Chicago, spent a month there, and, June 24, 1846, came to Croton, where he engaged as a mill-hand with George W. Walton, making lath. An associate, Christopher Kaufman, and himself labored one year and received but $20 each, as remuneration. At the end of that time they both took the mill for payment. An individual of unsavory memory, named Daniel Hammond, ar- ranged to purchase the half interest of Kaufman, representing he had money in Chicago, whither he proposed going to procure both that and needed pro- visions. The honest German acceded to the propo- sition, and, moreover, confided to him their aggre- gated $40, to make some purchases of clothing for them. This probably proved a fortunate investment, for he was never heard of; and it is hoped, if this record ever comes to his knowledge, that he will ex- tract the proper degree of comfort from this perma- nent recognition of his merits. The young men thus defrauded of their hard-earned savings found a friend in John F. Stearns and managed to pass the winter in comfort.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.