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 42

Author:
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Chicago : Chapman Brothers
Number of Pages: 592


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 42


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Mr. Persons commenced his political career as a Democrat, but in 1856 voted the Republican ticket, and has since given his support to the issues of that party, though in no sense a demagogue. He is a member of the Masonic Order and served as Secre- tary of Newaygo Lodge, No. 131, F. & A. M., nine years. In 1865 he was chosen Secretary of Newaygo Royal Arch Chapter, No. 38, and is still holding the position. He is also a member of DeMolay Com- mandery No. 5, of Grand Rapids.


Since 1878 Mr. Persons has been engaged in ab- stracting. His office was destroyed in the fire of April, 1883, but he saved his abstracts and most valuable papers.` In 1878 he bought two lots in the village of Newaygo, on which he erected a hand- some residence. He also owns a block in Wilson's Addition, besides two lots in another quarter of the village.


Mr. Persons' acquaintance and connection with


NEWAYGO COUNTY.


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Newaygo County began in its earliest stage, and he has watched its progress with the deepest interest. He has lent substantial support and aid to every meritorious enterprise that promised permanent ad- vantage to the community. He has always been actively interested in temperance work, and is known as a coadjutor of moral and religious principles, though a subscriber to no denominational body.


enry Kritzer, proprietor of the flouring mill at Newaygo, was born Sept. 11, 1828, in the village of Bernshausen, province of Ober Hesse, duchy of Hesse Darmstadt. His parents, Conrad and Margaret (Fahling) Kri- tzer, were also Germans by birth, belonged to the Lutheran Church and reared their children in that faith, giving them such education as the common schools of the "Faderland " afforded. On the 22d day of May, 1842, the family, including the parents, Mr. Kritzer and a younger brother (who died at Chester, in 1856, of consumption) embarked from the port of Bremen for the United States. They landed July I, at New York, and immediately proceeded to Albany, where they witnessed for the first time the demonstrations of American independence. Their journey on the Erie canal to Buffalo consumed eight days, and they went by steamer from the latter place to Cleveland, where a recruiting officer solicited the assent of the parents to the enlistment of Henry in the army, promising the father a tract of Government land for services, whom he would place in a band, as he was quite a musician. As the chief reason for leaving Germany had been to evade military duty, the proposition was rejected. The original destina- tion of the family was Columbus, Ohio, but they changed their intentions and proceeded to Detroit. They found German friends at that place, and lingered there eight days, in order to arrange their plans and become familiar with the state of things as they existed in a new world, as America literally was to them. On the morning of the ninth day, the two elder Kritzers, father and son, started out and followed what is now the track of the Michigan Cen- tral railroad as far as the old "Denike " tavern, roceeding thence to Plymouth, where they found a


few German families had located. Following their advice, they also settled there, the father finding em- ployment by the day. The youngest son was bound for five years to learn the tailor's trade, and the elder was apprenticed for the same length of tinie to a carpenter. The latter served two years and aban- doned his plan, as it enforced idleness through the winter seasons. He went to work in a wagon shop for a man named Green, remaining two years. Meanwhile, his parents had removed to Chester, Ottawa County, in the Grand River valley, where they and two uncles of Mr. Kritzer were the first settlers. They located there in the fall of 1845.


In the fall of 1847 Mr. Kritzer left Plymouth and went to Ann Arbor, where he again engaged in wagon-making for W. Roth, and a year later went to Jackson and entered the employ of Samuel Palmer, who proved a poor paymaster, and he exchanged for another, named Hale Soon after, in December, 1848, he went to Grand Rapids, which was a new place with little invested capital. There was no work to be had, and in the spring he went to Grand Haven, and there engaged in repairing an old steam saw-mill for George Norton. He returned to Grand Rapids and worked for the " Baxters " at wagon-making, and later for Geo. C. Fitch. & Bro., by whom he was mostly employed until 1855, when he went to Chester and built a house on his father's farm. In 1853 he came to Newaygo County and located 320 acres of land in Ashland Township, which he sold many years since.


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In the fall of 1856, Mr. Kritzer came again to Newaygo, with little intent of making a permanent location. The village being at that time in its earliest stage of incipiency, it offered few attractions to young men with the world before them. But Mr. Kritzer had been impressed with the appeals of the Eastern journals to the dependent, struggling young men of the day to take advantage of the opportunities offered by the opening of the West. He had been peculiarly struck by the injunction of Horace Greeley: "Young man, be a hireling no longer than you can help. Go West!" Notwithstanding the fact that the repetition of the words of the sage of Chappaqua have given them a shade of the absurd, they have been the foundation on which many a man has established himself on a solid basis, and in them Mr. Kritzer found food for profitable reflection.


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NEWAYGO COUNTY.


Previous to this time he had been helping his father to put the homestead at Chester in good condition, and about the date named he decided to try Newaygo, and built a small shop on the corner of the State road and River Street. His mother was seized with her final illness and he was summoned home. She died Feb. 21, 1857. Mr. Kritzer returned to Newaygo in April following, intending to pursue his trade; but innumerable obstacles prevented. The country was new, expenses heavy, and in the fall the memorable panic occurred, and Mr. Kritzer saw his little fund of savings dwindle away with little pros- pects of return. Mr. Kritzer says: "The first money I earned in Newaygo was ten cents, which I received of James Belfort. I always remember that. I thought of the saying, ' Where you lose your money, you must look for it ;' so I stayed by." He worked at wagon-making until June, 1863, when, in company with Henry Loomis, he rented what is now known as " Newaygo Mills," located on Brooks Creek. His partner died in the fall, and Mr. Kritzer rented the establishment another year, and in 1865 he bought the mill property of the estate of Ebenezer Sanford. The building has been enlarged, a new dam has been constructed, and a turbine wheel has supplanted the cumbersome old "overshot." The addition of new and modernized machinery from year to year, has put the mill in the best possible condition for business. Its present exhibit is in strong contrast with that of 1865, when it became the property of Mr. Kritzer.


In those days the business was crowded, the grind- ing slow, and it was the custom of the country people, who were its patrons and came long distances, to stay all night, accommodations being provided for them in the mill.


Mr. Kritzer was married Oct. 14, 1858, in Chester, to Magdalena, daughter of George Frederick and Rosine King. She was born in Lancaster, Ohio, April 19, 1838, and her parents were natives of the kingdom of Wurtemburg, Germany. The sons and daughters of Mr. and Mrs. Kritzer were born as fol- lows : George H., Oct. 11, 1859 (died Feb. 14, 1863); Charles C., Feb. 19, 1862; Mary A. M., Feb. 23, 1865; William H., May 6, 1869.


Until 1879 Mr. Kritzer continued to reside where he first built in Newaygo. In that year he built and removed to his present residence on the opposite side of the street. His father, Conrad Kritzer, now


in his eightieth year, resides in his son's former home. The farm at Chester is still in their possession.


The voluntary statement of Mr. Kritzer will be the best possible exponent of his political status : "I cast my first vote for John P. Hale, of New Hampshire, when they called us 'Woolly Heads ;' and I believe there were only 17 votes cast in Grand Rapids. I have always voted on that line of prog- ress.'


In the portrait of Mr. Kritzer, which may be seen on another page, appears the likeness of a fair type of the German element of Northern Michigan. He came to Newaygo County with the single determina- tion to find work and to do it with the energy and purpose he inherited from his ancestors. He resolved that should success and prosperity elude his grasp, the fault should not lie in his shrinking from effort.


He has built his fortunes by industrious applica- tion, established himself socially by his career of honor and self-respect, and reared children to repre- sent him in a later generation, who will do no dis- credit to the name he has made honorable in Newaygo.


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ulius B. Backart, farmer and lumberman, resident at Croton Village, was born Nov. 14, 1846, in Warrensville, Dupage Co., Ill., and is the son of George and Mary A. (Backart) Backart. (See sketch.) He came to the county of Newaygo with his parents when he was but four years old, and has here grown to man- hood and established himself in business. He was married at the age of 20 years, and at once settled in life. He bought 320 acres of land, situated be- tween sections 32 and 33, in Big Prairie, and sections 4 and 5, in Croton. He pursued agriculture indus- triously and effectively for 12 years, and at the end of that time had put 120 acres of land in first-class agricultural condition. He is now resident at Croton village, engaged in several departments of lumbering. He is a Democrat in political connection.


Lucy (Loree) Backart, wife of Julius B. Backart, was born March 10, 1848, in Livingston Co., Mich., and is the daughter of John and Jane S. (Simpson) Loree. The father was born in 1820, in Steuben Co., N. Y., and was of French parentage. He died in


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1868. The mother was a native of Genesee Co., N. Y., and was born in 1827, of mixed Scotch and Dutch extraction. She is still living, in Shiawassee County. Mr. and Mrs. Backart were married at Cedar Springs, Kent Co., Mich., May 6, 1866, and are the parents of nine children, viz .: Myra, Mary, Alice, Nettie, Lucy, Bessie, George, John and Eva.


hewit C. Traver, farmer, section 21, Gar- field Township, was born in Ancram, Co- lumbia Co., N. Y., Jan. 22, 1828, of mixed German and Scotch descent. His father, Gilbert Traver, was born in the same place. His mother, Eliza (Strever) Traver, was born in Columbia County. Mr. Traver remained under the care of his father until he was 22 years of age, when he went to Ashtonville, Lycoming Co., Pa., where he passed two years as a laborer, going thence to Carterville, and there he spent several years. He came to Newaygo in 1868, and two years later bought 100 acres of land in a state of nature with the exception of two acres. He has 55 acres under cultivation at present, with a nice house and other improvements.


Mr. Traver was married in Carterville, Pa., Nov. 21, 1867, to Anna Braddock, a native of England. One child, Mary, was born to them Sept. 18, 1875. Mr. Traver belongs to the Order of Good Templars.


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illiam A. Lewis, farmer, Ensley Town- ship, section 26, was born Dec. 14, 1826, in Pennsylvania, of which State his father, Thomas Lewis, was a native. His mother, Amanda (Spofford) Lewis, was born in Vermont. The parents first settled in the Key-stone State, and afterward went to Geauga Co., Ohio; ten years later they again became resident in Pennsylvania, and five years later they came to Monroe Co., Mich. where the mother died in the fall of 1846. The father died in Toledo, Ohio, in 1878. Mr. Lewis was two years old when his parents went to Ohio, and he accompanied them in their


various wanderings until he was 21 years of age. Having attained his majority, he acquired the trade of blacksmith, which he followed, in different locali- ties, for 12 years. He went to California in 1850, and passed a year in the Golden State to better his fortunes, witnessing all the vicissitudes of that period in the history of the State. He returned to Pennsylvania and lived there two years, going thence to Ohio. He passed the next 12 years of his life there, and in November, 1863, he came to Newaygo County and became the proprietor by purchase of 80 acres of land under the regulations of the Home- stead Act. He has since bought 80 acres, and has placed 116 acres under advanced improvements. In August, 1882, his barn was struck by lightning and was, with its contents, entirely consumed, entailing a loss of $1,000. He replaced the building the same fall.


Mr. Lewis was married July 4, 1851, in Crawford Co., Pa., to Martha M. Harvey, a native of Ashta- bula Co., Ohio. Four children of seven born of their marriage died in infancy. Three survive : Amanda, Fayette T. and John S. Mr. and Mrs. Lewis both belong to the M. E. Church. In politi- cal connection Mr. Lewis has been acting with the Democratic party until the awakening of the tem- perance interest, when he became an adherent of the Prohibition element.


S amuel B. B. Stevens, a pioneer settler in Newaygo County, residing at Newaygo, was born Sept. 15, 1818, at Norfolk, Va., and is a son of William and Ann (Cowell) Stevens. Both parents were of English an- cestry.


Mr. Stevens has been a citizen of Michigan since 1841, when he came to Muskegon and passed a few months occupied in tallying lumber. He then pro- ceeded to Grand Haven, where he resided until 1854, chiefly occupied as a mill hand. In that year he went again to Muskegon, and in 1855 came to Newaygo, which was then in its infancy. His first engagement was as a sawyer in the mill of John A. Brooks. In 1856 he entered the employ of the orig- inal Newaygo Lumber Company, with whom he remained four years. Previous to leaving Virginia


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.he had learned the trade of mason and plasterer, and in 1860 he again turned his attention to that pursuit, alternating winters with the duties of lum- berman, which he prosecuted vigorously and exten- sively, operating as a contractor and employing a considerable number of men. He retired from active business in 1871. He owns a pleasant and comfortable home.


Mr. Stevens was married in Grand Haven, April 5, 1848, to Juliette M., daughter of Ira and Minerva Rice, born July 4, 1824, at Palmyra, Wayne Co., N. Y. Of this marriage eight children were born, five of whom are living, viz .: Ann Agnes is the wife of Joseph C. Russell, of Detroit, an employee of the House of Correction; Ida is the wife of L. D. Ham- mond, of Newaygo; the remaining are Bedford W., Minnie M. and Willie I.


Leth S. Stacey, farmer, section 26, Ensley Township, was born in Minot, Androscog- gin Co., Maine, Feb. 22, 1833, and is the son of John and Mary (Sawtelle) Stacey. His father was born in Maine ; his mother in New Hampshire. They became resident of Mas- sachusetts in later life.


Mr. Stacey was a resident of the Bay State until he was 23 years of age. In 1856 he went to Wisconsin and was occupied eight years in farming and lumbering. He came to Michigan in the spring of 1865 and settled at Muskegon. He remained there two years, and until the spring of 1870 was employed in different capacities in a saw-mill. In that year he came to Newaygo County and became a land-holder by the purchase of 40 acres of wild land, in Ensley Township. Of this he has placed 23 acres under improvement.


He was married at Cedar Springs, Kent County, July 5, 1870, to Sarah A., daughter of Benjamin and Elizabeth West. The parents were natives of the State of New York, where Mrs. Stacey was born, April 6, 1843. Of six children born to the house- hold five survive: George G., Seth H., William B., Elizabeth L. and Harry. Nellie E. died when eight months old. Mr. Stacey has been for four years an adherent of the National party, previous to which he affiliated with the Republican element.


ames Simcoe, farmer, section 23, Ensley Township, is a native of England. He was born Feb. 22, 1839. His parents, William and Catherine (Shelford) Simcoe, were born in England, and were married there. Early in life they came to America and settled in Chemung Co., N. Y. They engaged in farming in that section of the Empire State, and there passed the remainder of their peaceful, uneventful lives.


Mr. Simcoe was nearly 10 years old when he left the Old World for the New, and he remained on the homestead of his parents a year after he had attained his legal freedom. He remained in the State of New York five years after leaving home, engaged in agri- cultural pursuits. In the winter of 1866 he came to Newaygo County and soon after bought 140 acres of wild land on section 23 in Ensley Township. He afterward disposed of 40 acres and retained 100 acres, 70 acres of which are under cultivation. Twenty- five acres are free from stumps. In 1869 he built a fine barn and another in 1881. In 1883 he erected a farm house that is a credit to the owner and an orna- ment to the place.


The pioneer experiences of Mr. Simcoe have all the interest of the tales which, though so often told, never lose their novelty and freshness. At the time of his settlement, Ensley Township was a complete wilderness, and he was obliged to make his own roads as occasion demanded. Cedar Springs, Kent County, was the nearest point of supplies. Mr. Simcoe built the regulation log house in the midst of a forest so dense that the sky could rarely be discerned by an upward unobstructed view. One of the incidents remembered while living in the log house was the falling of a tree which broke in the roof, but without injuring the inmates.


Mr. Simcoe was married in Chemung Co., N. Y., Feb 23, 1862, to Betsey A., daughter of John W. and Annie (Cooper) Caywood. She was born March 9, 1841. Her parents were also natives of the Empire State, and came to Newaygo County in 1865, where her father died, in the fall of 1877. The mother is living in Ensley Township. Three children are the issue of this marriage: William W., Minnie J. and


ـتتـ


Bitely


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NEWAYGO COUNTY.


Seth J. The latter died Sept. 27, 1865, when he was three months old.


Mr. Simcoe is a member of the Republican party. He has occupied the various school offices in his district, and has been Constable one year.


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tephen Bitely, lumberman, section 24, Ensley Township, was born April 6, 1833, in Washington Co., N. Y., and is a son of Jacob and Mandana (Hitchcock) Bitely. The father was a native of Washington Co., N. Y., and the mother was born in Vermont.


Mr. Bitely grew to manhood in his native State, and on attaining his majority he came to Michigan and settled in Paw Paw, Van Buren County, working there one winter; he next went to Lawton, and remained seven years. He returned to Paw Paw in 1859 and enlisted early in the course of the war, his enrollment taking place in November, 1851. He became a member of Co. H, 12th Reg. Mich. Vol. Inf., and was in the service over four years, participa- ting in the noted battles of Shiloh and Middleburg, Tenn. After the war closed he went to Arkansas, where he was occupied one year in lumbering. He came back to Lawton and a year later settled in Allegan County, where he was engaged in the same calling nearly three years. In February, 1872, he came to Newaygo County and established his citizen- ship in Ensley Township. Here he commenced his operations in real estate, which have been extensive and unintermitting.


In 1874 he made his initiatory investment and pur- chased 40 acres of land on section 35. Two years afterward he bought 120 acres on the sanie section, followed in 1878 by the purchase of 178 acres on section 34. In the same year he became the owner of 186 acres on section 24. In 1880 he bought 20 acres on section 15, 50 acres on section 24 and 80 acres on section 13. His purchases in 188 1 included I20 acres on section 15 and 80 acres on section II. Those of 1882 were 20 acres on section 144, and 240 acres on section 11, and the following year he bought 160 acres additional on section II. These com- prised his proprietary acreage in Ensley Township. In 1882 he bought 240 acres on section 22, 440 acres on section 27 in Monroe Township, and in the same


year he purchased 160 acres on section 28, Troy Township. In 1883 he bought 40 acres on section 22, Monroe Township. The tracts of land in Ensley Township were all in timber, which has been chiefly converted into lumber and shingles. He built a shingle-mill on section 27 in 1872, which he con- ducted seven years and removed it to its present site on section 15. Its capacity is 40,000 shingles daily, and his corps of assistants includes 13 men. In 1879 he built a lumber and shingle mill on section 24, with a producing capacity of 40,000 feet of lumber daily and requiring a force of 26 men. His lumber resources on his own tracts of land will be available for some time to come.


Mr. Bitely is a Republican in political belief and has been largely identified with the interests and advancement of Ensley Township. He is held at his true value among his townsmen, and enjoys to an unusual degree the earnest confidence and esteem of his fellow citizens. The people of his township will regard with peculiar satisfaction his compliance with the general desire that his portrait should appear in the Newaygo County Album; and it may therefore be found on page 390.


F. A. Raider, dealer in drugs, medicines books, stationery, watches and jewelry, at Newaygo, was born Oct. 10, 1829, in Bran- deroda, near the River Saale, nine miles from the city of Naumburg, Prussia. He is a son of J. Frederick and Hannah (Viewagen) Raider. The parents of his father died when the latter was but six years of age, leaving five children, of whom he was third in order of birth. The two younger children were cared for by sympathetic neighbors, and the three elder ones were obliged to maintain themselves as they best could. Mr. Raider's father gathered but little knowledge of books and became a carpenter. The son was sent to school at the age of five years, became a thorough student and was especially proficient in mathematics, history and pen- manship. He also gave much attention to surveying and civil engineering. He was early inclined to bus- iness, and when but eight years of age he acted as


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his father's accountant. He was destined for a master's standing in music, and at seven had lessons on the violin; but, not making the desired progress, at nine years of age he had a master of instruction on the flute. At ten he became a member of a band of fifteen performers, an organization whose services were in demand on all festive occasions within a radius of a dozen miles. He was thus connected three years.


Mr. Raider came to the United States with his father when he was 14 years old, landing at New York, Oct. 5, 1843. His father settled on a small farm in Chautauqua Co., N. Y. Two years later Mr. Raider left home and sought employment, which he found with a farmer named Rice, residing in Ripley in the same county. He acted as his assistant two and a half years, alternating his labors with attend- ance at school. Being desirous of becoming ac- quainted with the country, he commenced peddling goods when 18 years old, but abandoned the enter- prise a few months later to engage in the manufac- ture of shingles and wooden bowls. In 1850 he pur- chased a half interest in a small furniture factory, in which he was interested two years and acquired a practical knowledge of the manufacture of all kinds of furniture and agricultural implements then in com- mon use. He removed to Hinckley, Medina Co., Ohio, where he established a factory for grinding and polishing edged tools, which he continued to manage four years. In 1854 he went to Pennsylvania and taught two terms of penmanship, going next to Co- lumbus, Warren County, in that State, where he opened a furniture factory.


In 1855 he removed to Michigan and located 40 acres of land in (now) Ensley Township, and the following spring to Newaygo, where he engaged in the manufacture of furniture, also finding exercise for his gifts in penmanship. His affairs seemed in promising condition, but the financial stringencies of 1857 reduced his resources to their minimum. His inherent industry and frugality stood him in good stead for a year, when, with a capital of two dollars, he began once more the manufacture of furniture. Business multiplied on his hands with surprising ce- lerity, and in two months he required the aid of two assistants. He continued business thus six years, and then turned his attention to repairing watches. His business ventures proved prosperous, and with a


capital of $600 he bought the (then) only drug store in Newaygo, in August, 1865. His commercial ca- reer from that date has been one of continued and substantial success, until he ranks as one of the solid men of Newaygo County.




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