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 35
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Mr. Gauweiler has operated extensively as a lum- berman and farmer. When he first came to Ne- waygo County it was in the most primitive state of nature. The roads were all Indian trails, provisions were brought from Muskegon on the backs of men or in canoes or flat-boats, of which latter there were two on the Muskegon River. Mr. Gauweiler frequently performed this service, which required three days for a trip. The landing point was Indian Village, and transportation thence to Croton was made by ox teams. His mail was directed to Chi- cago, and was brought thence by the captains of sail-boats in the lake service to Muskegon and from there by raftmen.
An incident related by Mr. Gauweiler is interest- ing as a reminiscence of the early date of his settle- ment in Croton Township. In 1847 the supply of provisions was so low that they found themselves a day late in their calculations, and to relieve the pressure of hunger, collected the abraded meal that scattered from their " corn-cracker " and transformed
it into cakes; but it proved worthless from the mix- ture of sand and dirt. A council decided on the or- ganization of an expedition in search of game, and six of the party set out to hunt and fish. The first spoils were two pigeons, which were left in Mr. Gau- weiler's charge, and he built a fire and cooked the birds in accordance with his instructions. On re- flection, he decided that the requirements of his com- rades had fallen below the exigencies of the case, and when the culinary process was completed he perfected the whole arrangement by eating the pigeons, and complacently awaiting the return of the expedition. His companions appeared empty-handed and announced that the party would dine off the pigeons. Mr. Gauweiler stated the facts in the case with Teutonic politeness and consideration, but the depraved natures of the others failed to appreciate his forbearance, and they proceeded to inform him without ceremony that he was the kind of Dutchman described by a dash and two d's, and deserved shooting. The fact that he was sustained by the pigeons enabled him to refrain from malice, and he silently accorded to them his full and free pardon for their lack of sympathy. They went supperless to bed, and the following day the opportune arrival of two barrels of flour put an end to the famine.
Mr. Gauweiler owns 480 acres of land and his dwelling at Croton, besides another building in that village, occupied as a store and hotel. Among his other business enterprises was the building of the Washington House. He was a Democrat previous to the organization of the National party, since which time he has affiliated with the Greenback element. He is prominent in the Order of Masonry, and has officiated as Master of the Lodge at Croton. He is now. a member of Newaygo Lodge, No. 131, of the Newaygo Royal Arch Chapter, No. 35, of Big Rapids Council, and De Molay Commandery, No. 5, at Grand Rapids.
Mr. Gauweiler was first married in 1849, in Ohio, to Mary Ann Miller. She was born in Ohio in 1830, and was a daughter of Andrew and Julia (Sauers) Miller, natives of Pennsylvania, of German extrac- tion. Margaret, John F. and Mary, three children, constituted the issue of this marriage. The eldest daughter survives, and is the wife of John W. Cars- kadon, of Muskegon. The wife and mother died in 1857.
Minerva (Bennett) Gauweiler, the present wife of
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Mr. Gauweiler, was born Jan. 12, 1836. She is a daughter of Isaac H. and Sally (Cassidy) Bennett, the former born in the State of New Jersey, April 23, 1800, and still alive. He is a descendant of ances- tors born in Holland. The mother was of Scotch- Irish extraction, born in New York in 1802, and died in 1877 The daughter's marriage to J. F. Gauweiler occurred Jan. 21, 1858, in Croton. Their six chil- dren all survive. They are Mary C., George F., Martin VanBuren, Alfred R., Seymour B. and Ros- antha.
uther L. Parmeter, farmer, section 20, Bar- ton Township, was born March 5, 1812, in Orange, Franklin Co., Mass. His parents, Nathaniel and Hannah (Chaney) Parmeter, were also natives of the Bay State, where the father was a farmer and lumberman. They re- moved thence to St. Lawrence Co., N. Y., when the son was seven years old.
He remained in the home of his parents until he was 19 years of age, when he became interested in that branch of lumbering known as " rafting," which he pursued as an occupation two years. He was married in 1839, to Emily Freeman, a native of St. Lawrence Co., N. Y., who was born in 1822. Mr. Parmeter removed to Michigan in July, 1865, and located on 80 acres of land in Barton Township, where he has since carried on the business of farming and operated as a lumberman, as opportunity has afforded. He enlisted in the 11th N. Y. Cav., in 1861, and was discharged for disability after one year's service. Mrs. Parmeter died July 3, 1881, leaving five children : Helen (Mrs. Sylvester Healey), Lucian, Earl, Maud (Mrs. Andrew Ewing), and Fred ; two children are deceased.
Mr. Parmeter was a second time married June 19, 1883, to Mrs. Martha (Lewis) Shannon. She was born in Malone, Franklin Co., N. Y., and is the daughter of William H. and Orissa (Seely) Lewis. Her first husband, William Shannon, died in 1874, and left two children: Nelson A. and Marie Antoinette.
Mr. Parmeter is an adherent to the Republican faith, and has held the position of Justice of the Peace 12 years, and has officiated in other important local offices.
onathan Platt, farmer, Brooks Township, section 14, was born Jan. 30, 1855, in Mor- row Co., Ohio. Eli Platt, his father, was born in 1814, in Clinton Co., N. Y., and was the son of Eli and Eleanor (Winchell) Platt, the former being the son of Eli Platt (Ist). Elizabeth (Wood) Platt, mother of the central figure of this record, was born June 3, 1819, in Jefferson Co., N. Y., and is a daughter of Jonathan and Mar- tha (Reynolds) Wood, both of whom died in Ingham Co., Mich.
Mr. Platt was but three years of age when he was broght to Michigan by his father, who bought a fine tract of land of the Government, now the property of his son by deed. It consists of 174 acres of land, 90 acres of which have been placed in a finely im- proved condition. The farm buildings are of a good style and substantial, and the value of the place is greatly increased by a well selected orchard. Mr. Platt coincides with the Republican element in polit- ical affinity, and has acted in the capacity of School Director.
He was married Jan. 21, 1883, in Newaygo County, to Achsah Mila, daughter of Enoch and Hannah I. (Kimball) Doty. The father was of Welsh parent- age, born in New York, in 1837, and died in 1872. The mother was born in the Empire State in 1845, and is yet living, in Newaygo County. Mrs. Platt was born July 7, 1865, in Clinton Co., Mich. She and her husband belong to the Congregational Church.
obert Quackenbush, farmer, section 18, Croton Township, was born Feb. 3, 1840. Peter Quackenbush, his father, was born of German ancestors, in 1798, in Monmouth, N. J., and died in 1862. His mother, Maria (Morgan) Quackenbush, was of the same nationality and born in 1819, in the same place as her husband. The latter became a soldier in the Union army, en- listing in the State of New York. He was taken sick
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Moins Truly
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and died in the hospital, leaving a wife and six chil- dren. Mr. Quackenbush died Jan. 1, 1884.
Mr. Quackenbush was the eldest child, and on his father's demise assumed his place in the manage- ment and maintenance of the family. The home place was but small, and in addition to the duties of farming he worked two years as a saw-mill hand, and at the end of the third year sold the farm and came to Michigan. The family settled in Croton Township, on a farm the son purchased, and Mr. Quackenbush worked two years at harness-making at Croton village. He settled down to agricultural life in 1866, and has devoted the summer seasons to farming, and engaged in lumbering winters. He now owns 135 acres of land, of which 25 acres are cleared and under culti- vation.
Mr. Quackenbush is an adherent to the tenets of the Democratic party.
eth S. Watrous, Clerk of Newaygo County, was born in Norwalk, Huron Co., O., May II, 1847. His parents, Sears and Emily (Barber) Watrous, belonged to the agricultural community, and lie was reared as a farmer's son, obtaining his education at the terms of winter school.
The civil war broke out when he was 14 years old, and the influences that pervaded the entire commu- nity, varying in intensity as the months rolled on and the rebellion assumed proportions more and more formidable, had their effect on him and he re- solved to enroll in his country's defense at the earliest possible moment. Shortly after passing his sixteenth birthday he was enabled to fulfill his resolve. He enlisted June 6, 1863, in the 2d Ohio Battery, and was in the United States service two years and nine months. He was in the battle at Franklin, Tenn., and in several fights of minor importance, in one of which he was severely wounded, receiving a minie ball in the pit of the stomach, which passed through his body to the right hip, where it is still imbedded, baffling the skill of the physicians. He was in Cum- berland hospital at Nashville six months, and rejoined his battery to be mustered out one month later, when he returned home and entered Eastman's Business
College at Poughkeepsie, N. Y., where he was graduated in February, 1866. Meanwhile he had come into possession of 30 acres of land and de- voted about two years to amateur farming. He sold the property and came to Michigan and settled at Sturgis, where he became proprietor of a restaurant by purchase, and four months later his establishment was destroyed by fire, involving a loss of $1,900. He went thence to Holland and for a time kept a barber shop, and eventually found employment as a painter in a carriage and wagon shop. The company failed four months afterward and thereby he ex- perienced another loss. In the summer of 1869 he engaged with the Engineer Corps of the Chicago & Michigan Lake Shore Railroad, where he was em- ployed until the spring of 1870, when he joined a construction corps and operated until 1872. In that year his home in Holland was destroyed by fire and he suffered a total loss. He secured a position as conductor on the Chicago & Mich. Lake Shore rail- road, and in the spring of 1873 he was seriously in- jured while engaged in coupling cars. His right arm was crushed and he was laid up for a year. He turned his attention to telegraphy, and after acquir- ing the details of the business was stationed at Pent- water two years in the capacity of night operator. His next post was at Fremont, where he operated as station agent eight years, and in 1880 was elected Clerk of Fremont village. He owns a fine property at Fremont.
In the fall of 1882 Mr. Watrous was elected County Clerk and moved to Newaygo, where he has since resided. He is a member of the Order of Knights of Honor, Chosen Friends, Knights Tem- plar and of the Masonic fraternity.
Mr. Watrous was married at Norwalk, Ohio, Feb. 7, 1866, to Minnie A., daughter of Rev. Solomon B. and Sarah B. Gilbert, who was born Feb. 7, 1848, in Massachusetts. They have had two children. Myr- tie B. was born in Fairfield Township, Huron Co., Ohio, Dec. 6, 1867. Harry S. was born in Holland, Ottawa Co., Mich., March 6, 1870, and died in Fre- mont, Sept. 11, 1879.
Mr. Watrous is still a young man. He is the youngest enrolled defender of the Nation's integrity recorded in this work. He has passed through or- deals of disaster that would have daunted most men and relegated them to the obscurity of struggle without hope, and made the success, to which the
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majority look forward with laudable ambition, only the will-o'-the-wisp flame that blazes in alluring witchery just beyond the grasp of its eager pursuer. Mr. Watrous "stands to his guns, " and, notwithstand- ing his baffling experiences, is putting his shoulder to the needed work of the world with an energy and suc- cess that offer the best quality of encouragement to a later generation of aspirants. His portrait, which appears on another page, adds to the value of the collection which so largely increases the worth of the Newaygo County Album to its patrons.
Christopher Kaufman, farmer, section' Io, Croton Township, was born July 13, 1823, in Schwegenheim, Bavaria, Germany, which was also the native place of his mother, Catherine (Heyser) Kaufman, who was born in 1794, and died in Pike County, Ohio, in 1868. His father was born in 1792, in Grunenshein, Germany, and died in his native land in 1834.
Mr. Kaufman was eleven years old when his father died. After fulfilling the requirements of the law in relation to his education, he was, according to the custom of the country, apprenticed to learn a trade. That of stone-mason seemed most feasible, and after fulfilling his contract with his master he worked as opportunity offered and supported his inother. When the . conscription for the German army was made his number entitled him to a release, and he availed himself of his liberty by emigrating to the United States, his mother accompanying him. She went to another son, who was residing in Pike Co., Ohio, and Mr. Kaufman of this sketch pro- ceeded to New Orleans, reaching there in December, 1845. In June, 1846, he came to Chicago and thence to Muskegon Forks, in Newaygo County. He came with J. F. Gauweiler, whose sketch, on another page of this volume, contains the experiences common to both in those earliest days of the pioneer history of Croton. But, severe as was his experience, he was fitted to endure by the toils and privations he had encountered in his native land, and with true conti- nental perseverance he refused to be daunted by the obstacles he encountered in the New World. After his experience in the lath-mill terminated he settled on 80 acres of land in Croton, designated as "canal
land," and paid for the same ; but, by some chicane- ry, never clearly comprehended by anybody, a col- lector appeared who took a second payment for it, but failed to accouut for it to the authorities, and Mr. Kaufman paid for his property a third time. Yet he kept up his courage and hard work, and now owns 240 acres of land, with 100 acres under culti- vation and with first-class improvements.
Mr. Kaufman is a Republican and is highly re- spected in his generation for his genuine, meritorious traits of character. He has been for 37 years a res- ident of what is now Croton Township.
Christina Marsh, who became the first wife of Mr. Kaufman in 1851, at Muskegon, died in 1867, leav- ing no children. The second wife of Mr. Kaufman was the widow of David Jones. Her maiden name was Elizabeth Mahle, and her only child by her first marriage, Eliza Jones, is the wife of Milton Cole, of Croton Township. The marriage of Mr. Kaufman and Mrs. Jones took place Sept. 13, 1868, and they have three living children,-Christina B., William H. and Bertha A.
iram Lewis, farmer, section 2, Big Prairie Township, was born in Greenbush, Albany Co., N. Y., March 6, 1818. His father, Stephen Lewis, was born in Vermont, about the year 1796, and died in 1819. His mother, Mary (Crandall) Lewis, was born in New York in 1798 and died in 1849.
The father died when his son was less than two years old, and Mrs. L. then became the wife of Tru- man C. Baker. He remained under the joint care of his mother and stepfather until he was 16 years old, receiving three months' schooling. When he reached the age named he enlisted in the regular army for three years, and after the expiration of his period of enrollment he engaged for a time in farming. He next learned the trade of stone-mason, and has since combined the two occupations. He resided in Wayne County until July, 1865. He became a sol- dier of the civil war, enlisting Jan. 2, 1864, in Co. M, Ninth N. Y. Heavy Artillery, and received his discharge June 15, 1865. A month later he settled on a farm in Van Buren Co., Mich., on which he re- sided eight years. In 1873 he removed his family
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and business interests to Newaygo County. He en- tered a claim of 82 acres of land under the provis- ions of the Homestead Act, in Big Prairie Township, where he has since resided. He has now 14 acres improved.
Mr. Lewis has been married twice. His first wife, to whom he was married in Wayne County, in 1838, was Diantha J. Wilson. She died in 1877. Nine children were born of this marriage, four of whom are living. Following is their record : William H., born March 21, 1840; Sylvester, May 9, 1843 (dec.); Mary J., Ang. 30, 1844 (dec.); James H., Aug. 7, 1847 (dec.); Stephen, July 1, 1849 (dec.); Hannah M., April 9, 1851 ; Sarah L., Nov. 26, 1854 (dec.); Samuel, June 12, 1856; Ida, Dec. 9, 1861. The second wife of Mr. Lewis was Mrs. Mary Louisa (Demund) Cook, to whom he was married Aug. 10, 1881, in Big Prairie.
Mr. Lewis is a Republican in his political views.
ohn R. Kriger, farmer, section 34, Ash- land Township, was born Sept. 19, 1842, in Hillsdale Co., Mich. His parents, Michael and Hannah (Carpenter) Kriger, were of Ger- man lineage and natives of New England. They became residents of Michigan in their youthful days, married here and settled in Newaygo County, in 1853.
Mr. Kriger was under the supervision of his par- ents until he reached his majority, and was married Feb. 26, 1863, to Ellen, daughter of Henry and Lu- cina (Strowbridge) Snow, natives of New York, and of New England ancestors. Mrs. Kriger was born in Cortland Co., N. Y., Oct. 20, 1845. She came to Tyrone, Kent Co., Mich., when she was 16 years old, and soon after became a domestic in the family of Michael Kriger, and operated in that capacity until she became the wife of one of the sons. The senior Kriger established the young couple on 80 acres of land joining the homestead. The farm was in its orig- inal, unbroken, unimproved state, but Mr. Kriger had health, hope and an object in life, and manfully ap- plied his resources to clearing and cultivating his property ; and he now has more than one half of his landed estate in creditable condition. Mr. Kriger is regarded as a practical, common-sense farmer, and
both himself and wife are warinly esteemed in the community of which they are members. They be- long to the M. E. Church, and Mr. Kriger is an earn- est supporter of the Prohibition party. He has held the position of School Inspector, and is now acting as School Director.
Following is the record of the children born to the household : Melvin J., April 20, 18641; Lida E., Oct. 20, 1865 ; Emma C., March 2, 1868; Annie M., Oct. 12, 1873 ; Ernest M., May 21, 1876; Cilvia H., Sept. 16, 1871, died Oct. 3, 1872.
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erome A. Botsford, farmer, Croton Town- ship, section 5, was born March 10, 1828, in Oswego Co., N. Y. His father, John L. Botsford, was born in Connecticut, in 1800, and died in the year 1840. The mother, who previous to her marriage was Mary Carpenter, was also a native of Connecticut, born in 1802 and died in. 1839.
Mr. Botsford was eleven years old when his mother died, and in the succeeding year he was wholly orphaned by the demise of his father. He was cared for, for a time, by his uncle, after which he went to Wisconsin with his sister, Mrs. Dexter Farr, where he remained three years engaged in farm labor for his brother-in-law. He went to Illinois, where he worked for some months, and between that State and Wisconsin he passed alternate portions of time until he decided on coming to Michigan. He landed' at Muskegon Nov. 5, 1853, and proceeded to Croton, where he worked for the Mill Company one winter His next transfer was to Newaygo, where he con- ducted a lath-mill one summer, returning to Muske- gon in the fall. He "scaled " logs one winter for a man named Trowbridge, and was afterward employed in various ways. At present he owns 57 70-100ths acres of land, on which he resides, and has 40 acres under good cultivation, with relatively fair buildings and some stock. He also owns a half interest in 80 acres on section 8. He is an adherent of the Republican party, and has officiated as Treasurer, Road Commissioner, Justice of the Peace and as Supervisor of the township of Ensley.
Mr. Botsford became the husband of Mary Eliza- beth Backart in January, 1858, and they are the
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parents of five children, namely: Charles J., Mary E. (2d), Douglas T., Carrie M. and Adeline A. Mary E., eldest daughter, is deceased. Mrs. Bots- ford was born in New York, in September, 1838, and is the daughter of George and Mary Adaline Backart. (See sketch.)
rancis F. Hall, farmer, section 2 1, Garfield Township, was born in Gainesville, Wyo- ming Co., N. Y., July 14, 1831, and is a son of Francis B. and Elect- Hall. His father was born Feb. 18, 1799, in Vermont, and died Jan. 22, 1862, at Marengo, Ill. The mother was born May 23, 1808, in New York, and died Dec. 20, 1878, in Pavilion, Kalamazoo Co., Mich.
The parents of Mr. Hall went, when he was about three years of age, to Pendleton, Niagara Co., N. Y., where they resided until 1838. In October of that year they removed to Pavilion Township, Kalamazoo County, where his father bought 40 acres of land. The family were in rather straitening circumstances, and Mr. Hall did all in his power toward their main- tenance and comfort for some years. At 22, he went to Arkansas, and was variously employed in and near Napoleon for five years, when he returned to Michi- gan, and joined his father's family at Marengo Prairie, Cass County, whither they had removed in his absence. He assisted on the homestead until 1859, when, in company with four others, he started to cross the plains. On reaching Fort Kearney they disbanded, and Mr. Hall proceeded to Kansas, where he passed a summer, going thence to New Orleans. In March, 1860, he came North as far as Laclede Co., Mo., and engaged as engineer in a saw and grist mill until fall, when he returned home. In the spring of 1861 he went to Brady, Kalamazoo County, where, associated with his brother, William H. Hall, he rented a saw-mill, which he managed successfully about a year.
Mr. Hall was married Feb. 2, 1862, at Prairieville, Barry Co., Mich., to Mrs. Sylvia J. Glass, daughter of Curtis and Lorinda (Vangilder) Lewis, born at Leroy, Genesee Co., N. Y. Mr. and Mrs. Hall have six children : Allison A., Francis M., Wilber W.,
Benjamin B., Charles C., Harry H. and Robert R. In March, 1862, Mr. Hall moved to Galesburg, Mich., where he bought a house and lot and was variously employed until January, 1864, when he rented the saw-mill he had previously managed in Brady. He continued to conduct the lumber business until Feb- ruary, 1865, when he enlisted in Co. L, Sixth Mich. Cav., Capt. Chipman. He was mustered out March 26, 1866, at Fort Bridger, Utah.
He came to Newaygo County in December, 1866, and bought 120 acres of land in what is now Garfield Township. It was all in its original condition, and Mr. Hall has cleared 60 acres and put it under good improvement. He has held the office of Justice of the Peace four years, School Director five years, and School Inspector two years. He is a member of the Blue Lodge, No. 131, at Newaygo, and belongs to the Patrons of Husbandry.
ohn Docherty, farmer, section 32, Barton Township, was born in County Bennegal, Ireland, Oct. 31, 1839, and is a son of Charles and Sarah (McConn) Docherty. The parents were natives of the Emerald Isle, and set out for the New World in 1846. The mother died on the passage; the father settled in Tyrone Co., Ont., for a time, and went thence to Compton County, where he resided until his death in 1880.
Mr. Docherty remained with his father until he was 23 years old, and obtained such education as the schools of the Dominion afforded. In 1862 he went to the western part of Canada, and three years after came to Ionia Co., Mich., where he spent 18 months in the capacity of farm laborer, returning at the expiration of that time to Canada and residing there some years. In 1868 he entered a claim of 80 acres of land under the provisions of the Homestead Act, in Barton Township, where he has since princi- pally resided. In addition to his labors as a farmer he has engaged in lumbering, working in the woods and in shingle-mills. He was first married to Hul- dah E. King, a native of Ohio. Of this marriage two children were born, both of whom are deceased. Mr, Docherty was a second time married in 1880, to
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Mrs. Lena M. (Corbett) Lee, widow of Seth Lee, who died in 1879, leaving her with two chil- dren, William L., born Aug. 29, 1873, and Clyde I .. , born Jan. 1, 1877. Mrs. Docherty was born in Maine, Oct. 15, 1853, and is the daughter of Abel P. and Lydia F. (Tracy) Corbett, also natives of Maine. Twin daughters, Jessie May and Grace May, were born to Mr. and Mrs. Docherty, Sept. 14, 1882.
Mr. Docherty is a Republican in his political principles.
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