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 44
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yson Smith, M. D., physician and surgeon, was born May 1, 1848, near Cleveland, Ohio. His parents, Elijah T. and Caroline (Fisher) Smith, were descendants from the Quaker element, who under the leadership of William Penn crossed the Atlantic in 1681. His great-grandparents on both sides were friends and associates of the founder of the city of Philadel- phia, and were intimately connected with all his operations on this continent. Smith's Island in the Delaware River, 12 miles above the city of Trenton, was the property of the paternal head of the Smith family of which the Doctor is a member, and became the inheritance of his grandfather, Thomas Smith. The wife of the latter bore the old-fashioned name of Letitia. She lies buried at Byberry, a small village in the north of Philadelphia County. Her husband was buried at Wrightstown, Bucks County, about 15 miles from Byberry. The sons of Thomas Smith, in their conflicts with the world's chances, fairly typified the varied fortunes that fall to the lot of men. In
the days of their launching forth upon the sea of human struggle, it was the fashion to be respectable. That was a distinction within the reach of all, and whoever attained it belonged by force of desert to the upper class without respect to the amount he repre- sented. If a man was elevated by the choice of his peers to a place of honor, the distinction lay in the characters of those whose action raised him from their ranks. The . third generation amply sustained the honorable name which they inherited. One, Oliver H. Smith, brother of Elijah, went to Indiana, where he was admitted to the Bar as an attorney, became a member of the Indiana Legislature, a member of the House of Representatives at Washington, and a Senator in the National Congress. One of the most valuable acts of his life was a compilation of "Early Indiana Trials and Sketches," which, while it is wholly without assumption, is a remarkable exponent of the true character of its author, exhibiting him as a man of exceptional modesty, pre-eminent abilities and an illustrious type of what a man may make of himself, given the natural qualifications and sufficient discretion to make a wise choice in opportunity and advantage. Elijah T'. Smith went from Bucks Co., Penn., to Ohio, and in 1853 removed his family to Shiawassee Co., Mich., and bought a farm in Perry Township.
Dr. Smith obtained his preliminary education at the graded school at Owosso, which he left at the age of 18 years; and during the next 18 months he pur- sued a scientific course of study under the tutorship of Albert Hardy, now Principal of the High School at Milwaukee. Immediately after leaving his charge, Dr. Smith assumed the management of the High School at Vernon, Shiawassee County, and a year later became Principal at Carrollton, Saginaw County. After more than a year of service there he went to Midland County and acted as Principal of the Schools at Midland City and served as County Superintend- ent of Schools until the office was abolished by a change in the school code, in 1875. He then came to Newaygo and assumed charge of the village schools, holding the position three years.
Dr. Smith is possessed of a peculiar nervous tem- perament, and, becoming aware that the routine and confinement of teaching was making serious inroads upon a physical organization which has few elements of hardihood, he fixed upon the profession of medi- cine as one which seemed to offer the surest route to
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the attainment of his ambition. During his entire course as a teacher he had occupied his leisure in study preparatory to the fulfillment of his purpose. In 1878-9, he attended the Medical Department of the University of Michigan, and afterward received a diploma from the Homeopathic Hospital (College?) at Cleveland. In the winter of 1881-2 he took a special course of study in diseases of women, and was graduated in that department in the Hahnemann College at Chicago, under Prof. R. Ludlam. In 1882-3 he attended lectures at Rush Medical College in Chicago, and walked the Cook County (Ill.) Hospital in clinical study.
A brief resume' of the position of Dr. Smith as a practitioner and the reasons therefor will convey as fair an estimate of his character as can be made. His circumstances while preparing for his business career developed in him a keenness of observation which has marked every movement of his life, and had a weighty influence on his course of study and method of practice. He began with full faith in allopathy. Its routine and unalterable regime, in- flexible while disease and attendant conditions were undergoing such changes as to render old-school diagnosis utterly impracticable, convinced him of grave objections to allopathy. He turned his atten- tion to homeopathy with more of curiosity and desire of experiment than with any real purpose of adopting the system in toto. The results to his understanding were precisely the same as those attained by his examination of allopathy, that methods of medical practice must be dictated by conditions, and he was led to formulate succinctly the underlying truth that the baffling nature of obscure symptoms involves medical principles in a well-nigh hopeless 'labyrinth. This point reached, he commenced his practice in good earnest, and is acknowledged as a careful, dis- criminating and reliable practitioner. When emer- gency drives, his judgment is valuable relatively to his patient in exact proportion to his reasoning powers, his knowledge of the effect of drugs and his abilities as a diagnostician. He treats disease con- scientiously, and his caution almost wholly precludes errors. While his success in his profession is unusual, it may be justly stated that his kindly sym- pathetic nature shrinks from the contemplatiou of human suffering and the infliction of pain, even where the emergency makes absolute demands. His com-
bined traits of character assure to a patient, so far as may be, absolute safety in his hands.
In 1881 Dr. Smith was elected a member of the Board of County School Examiners and was appointed Secretary. He was re-elected in August, 1883, and similarly appointed. He was elected the first Town- ship Clerk of Garfield in 1880, and has been successively re-elected with the exception of one year. He was elected member of the Village Council in the spring of 1883, and has served as County Physician three years. He is a member of the Order of Masonry and has taken all the degrees in the fraternity of Odd Fellows.
Dr. Smith was married in Gaines, Genesee Co., Mich., Aug. 7; 1873, to Donna L., daughter of George P. and Marie Root, a native of Wayne Co., Mich. Their two children, Louise and Lloyd, were born in Newaygo. Dr. Smith owns his place of residence and of business.
1 ollis T. Reed, M. D., physician and surgeon at White Cloud, was born in Ogle Co., Ill., March 25, 185 1, and is the son of Leonard S. and Ann (Treber) Reed, the former a native of Vermont, the latter of Ohio, where they settled soon after marriage. A few years later they went to Illinois, and after a residence of two years returned to Ohio, where they now reside, in Pike County.
At the age of 17 years the son left home, and after engaging in various occupations for about a year, turned his attention to the profession of teaching and studying medicine. He matriculated at Cleveland Medical College and studied there three years, be- sides attending the lectures at the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor a year. He received his diploma at Cleveland, in 1878, and opened the prac- tice of his profession there, prosecuting its duties until the fall of 1879, when he located at White Cloud and established his medical practice in con- nection with the drug trade. His successful opera- tions as a physician have won for him a large degree of patronage and the abiding confidence of the community.
Dr. Reed was married in Geauga Co., Ohio, Aug. 13, 1876, to Emma, daughter of David and Char-
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lotte (Humphrey) Bennett. Her parents were natives of Connecticut and settled in Ohio, where the daughter was born, May 5, 1849. She is a member of the Congregational Church.
Dr. Reed belongs to the Masonic fraternity, Odd Fellows and Knights of Honor. He has held the position of Coroner two years, is a member of the Village Council and has been Health Officer since coming to White Cloud. In the spring of 1883 he was elected Treasurer of Wilcox Township for the year ensuing.
As a prominent and representative business man and citizen of Newaygo County, we present the portrait of Dr. Reed in connection with this sketch.
yron Abel, farmer, Ensley Township, section 25, was born in the State of New York, Aug. 24, 1830. His parents, Ira and Almira (Hines) Abel, were natives of Connecticut, where they were married and re- sided some time, after which they removed to New York. They went back to Connecticut and afterward went to Ohio. Ten years later they came to Michigan, went thence successively to Nebraska and Illinois, and returned to Michigan. On the route back to this State an accident occurred to the train by which it was thrown from the track, and the father was instantly killed. The mother is now re- siding in Newaygo County.
Mr. Abel was the eldest son and the main depend- ence of the family, which part he maintained until he was 37 years old. He has been engaged in agri- culture nearly all his active life, and in his younger days, associated with his father, engaged to a consid- erable extent in burning charcoal. In the State of Illinois he spent ten years in working farms on shares. He came to Michigan in 1865 and bought 160 acres of land on section 25, in Ensley Town- ship, and has since purchased 120 acres on section 7. He has placed 60 acres under improvement. Mr. Abel is independent in politics.
He was married in Lowell, Kent County, April 21, 1867, to Sarah, daughter of Wilkes and Huldah Lamberton, natives of the State of New York. Mrs. Abel was born July 14, 1833, in Canada. Of the
marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Abel, four children have been born: Edward C. and Edith C. (twins), Aug. 13, 1869; Louisa M., Sept. 16, 187.1, and Robert H., who died when he was 20 months old.
eorge R. Breckon, M. D., Fremont, is the second son of Ralph and Almira (Calvert) Breckon, and was born in Halton Co., Ont., Sept. 12, 1847. His father was a native of England, and his mother of Canada, and after their marriage located in Canada. George R. attended the common schools of Canada until 16 years of age, when he came to St. Joseph, Mich., where he remained for a short time, and afterward went to Ohio, where he spent several months. He traveled in Pennsylvania a short time, then returned to Canada, and in the spring of 1867 began the study of medicine with Dr. William Perkins, of Rockwood, Ont. He remained with Dr. Perkins two years, attending the Toronto School of Medicine during the winter season. When Dr. Breckon left home to embark in life on his own responsibility, he did so under very adverse circumstances. The total sum of money he possessed was only $13. Conse- quently, great energy and rare business qualities were necessary to enable him to carry out his plans. These he fortunately possessed, and he was not only able to carry himself through college, but also to lend material aid to his brother-in-law in obtaining a collegiate education. During the meantime, he fol- lowed various occupations, but ever kept up with his studies, and in the spring of 1873 graduated at the Toronto School of Medicine, and commenced practice in Woodstock, Ont. In the spring of 1877, he returned to the State of Michigan and two years after removed to Newaygo County and settled in Woodville, where he remained until the spring of of 1873, when he moved to Fremont, where he still resides, and is practicing his profession.
Sept. 29, 1870, Dr. Breckon was married in Bur- lington, Halton Co., Ont., to Martha, daughter of Edward and Mary Calvert, natives of Canada. Mr. and Mrs. Breckon have had one child, Bertha L., born Nov. 26, 1871, and died June 31, 1878. They are members of the Methodist Church. The doctor is a member of the Masonic Order, and also President
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of the Oxford Liberal Association of Canada, and one of the leading practitioners of medicine in Ne- waygo County.
arker Simpson, farmer, resident on section 24, Ensley Township, was born Nov. 28, 1815, in England. His parents, George and Ann (Woodliff) Simpson, were natives of the same country and there lived and died.
Mr. Simpson came to the New World when he was 35 years of age and first located in Du Page Co., Ill. He remained there four years and worked as a farm laborer. In the fall of 1855 he came to Kent Co., Mich., and in February, 1856, came to Newaygo County. He bought 160 acres of Govern- ment land in its condition of original nature. He has cleared and improved 60 acres. His first pio- neer home, built of logs, was destroyed by fire, and he replaced it with a good frame residence. The other farm buildings are creditable to his energies and judgment. In political connection he is a Dem- ocrat.
Mr. Simpson was married in his native country, in November, 1844, to Ann Robinson, also a native of England. The names of the eight surviving chil- dren are: Mary A., Elizabeth, Eliza, Charles R., William W., James, Frederick and Alfred W. Rob- ert died when one year old. Harriet died at the age of 12 years.
amuel E. Brooks, farmer, residing on sec- tion 10, Ensley Township, was born Dec. 15, 1839, in the State of Ohio. Elisha and Maria (Cook) Brooks, his parents, became residents of Kent Co., Mich., in the period of its early history. The father was born in Ver- mont. After his marriage he concluded that the opening West held a promise for him and removed to Ohio. Later he came to Michigan, where he and his wife passed their remaining years.
Mr. Brooks was under the paternal guidance un- til he was 16 years of age, when he entered upon his contest with the wide world. From 1855 he was
variously occupied until 1865. In the fall of that year he came to Newaygo County and purchased 80 acres of wild land, situated on sections 10 and 15 of Ensley Township. He has cleared and improved 40 acres, where he commenced his career as an as- sistant in the world's work by doing pioneer duty. . He is an adherent of the Republican element in politics.
He was married Oct. 21, 1874, in Kent County, to Elizabeth A. Tower. She was born Sept. 15, 1846, in the same county, and is the daughter of Joseph and Philura Tower. Ralph R. and Ivah Maude are the names of the two children born of the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Brooks.
rancis M. Pike, Supervisor of Garfield Township, residing on section 15, was born in Allegany Co., N. Y., Aug. 11, 1846, and is a son of James G. and Matilda A. (Simons) Pike. The former was born July 18, 1821, the latter in November, 1824. Mr. Pike's pa- ternal grandfather was a native of Vermont, born Sept. 9, 1799, and died April 12, 1869; the grand- mother was born Nov. 20, 1797, and died April 10, 1864. The parents moved to Clinton Co., Mich., in 1851, where they purchased a farm of 80 acres. The mother died Jan. 2, 1862, aged 37, and the father April 6, 1864, leaving seven orphaned children, who were placed in charge of various persons and the family entirely sundered.
Mr. Pike returned to his native county and at- tended school one year. After a short visit to Clin- ton County, in 1865 he came to Newaygo and en- tered the employment of the Newaygo Company, working in a saw-mill three years. He spent a year at the Commercial College of H. P. Bartlett at Lan- sing, Mich., and traveled in the West during the next " three years. In 1870, he was in the employment of the United States Government, in connection with a surveying expedition through Nebraska, and on the termination of his engagement returned to Newaygo, where, in company with David Miller, he established a store for the sale of groceries and provisions, which business continued until the fall of 1880, when he engaged in the purchase of pine lands and tim- ber in Brooks Township, and has passed the success-
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ive winters in lumbering operations, employing a number of men as a working force. In April, 1881, he bought the farm in Garfield Township on which he has since resided, containing 80 acres. At the time of purchase six acres were under improvement. ยท Mr. Pike has cleared 30 acres, built a substantial resi- dence and otherwise improved the place ; also owns a home and lot in Newaygo village, and 240 acres of timber land in Garfield Township, in company with his brother, William J. Pike.
Mr. Pike was married in Newaygo, Dec. 8, 1876, to Louisa H., daughter of Peter and Mary A. Purcell, born Nov. 14, 1856, in Canada. Two children have been born of this marriage, Nora B., Jan. 8, 1878, and Vernie A., Sept. 6, 1882.
Mr. Pike was Treasurer of Brooks Township in 1877-8, before the organization of Garfield Town- ship. He served as Village Marshal of Newaygo two years, and in 1881 was President of the village; also officiated as Treasurer of Newaygo several years. In the spring of 1882 he was elected Super- visor of Garfield Township, and re-elected in the spring of 1883. He belongs to the Masonic frater- nity, being a member of the Royal Arch Chapter.
ohn Osburn, farmer, section 31, Ensley Township, was born Feb. 28, 1822, in Ohio. His parents, Joseph and Mary (Gilder- sleeve) Osburn, were natives respectively of Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
Mr. Osburn made his "freedom " trip to Michigan when he was 21 years of age, and after a short stay proceeded to Illinois. He made no per- manent location there, but soon resolved to test the alluring promises of the Golden State on the Pacific slope, and made his way to California in 1850. He remained four years and returned East, locating for a time in Indiana. Shortly afterward he removed to Hillsdale Co., Mich., and in the fall of 1856 came to Newaygo County. He bought 44 acres of land according to the provisions of the Gradation Act, which regulated the prices of Government land ac- cording to its having been a greater or less length of time in the market, the scale of valuation being graded from 25 cents to $1.25 per acre. The entire tract purchased by Mr. Osburn has been placed by
him in a creditable condition for agriculture. He belongs to the National Greenback party in politics, and has held the post of Treasurer of his township eleven years ; has acted in other official capacities in school matters.
Mr. Osburn was first married in Branch Co., Mich., to Mary Bunker. She was born Aug. 26, 1830, in Ohio, and died Feb. 26, 1875, leaving six children. She was the mother of seven sons and daughters, one of whom preceded her in death, while in infancy. Eli W., eldest son, died May 23, 1881, aged 32 years. Her surviving children are, Albert A., Caro- line L., Mary M., John L. and Evaline L. Mr. Os- burn contracted marriage a second time June 8, 1877, with Mrs. Martha (Simmons) Blake, widow of Joseph Blake, who died in June, 1875. She was born June 1, 1833, in Ontario Co., N. Y., and is a member of the M. E. Church.
ames H. Haskins, farmer, section 1, Ens- ley Township, was born in Pennsylvania, Sept. 26, 1843. He is a son of James B. and Jemima (Daniels) Haskins. . His father was born March 25, 1815, in New York, and his mother, May 3, 1817, in Pennsylvania. After their marriage they located in the latter State, and later in life went to Illinois, where the father died, Oct. 8, 1846, six months after locating in the Sucker State. The mother resides in Pennsylvania, . whither she returned after the death of her husband.
Mr. Haskins was less than four years old when his father died. He remained under the control of his mother until the age of 18 years, when he enlisted in the 150th Reg. Penn. Vol. Inf. The date of his enrollment was Aug. 15, 1862, and his discharge pa- pers were conferred June 15, 1865. The company of which he was a member was chiefly on detached duty and detailed to guard the White House at Washington, in which special service it was engaged when President Lincoln was assassinated. After the close of the war he returned to the Key-stone State, and was variously engaged until the spring of the following year.
In March, 1866, he came to Michigan and for a few months was engaged in prospecting to some ex- tent. He came to Newaygo County, and in Febru-
Ephraim Nitty
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ary, 1867, bought the farm on which he has since re- sided, containing 160 acres of land in its primeval timbered condition. The quality of his efforts to render his property available and remunerative is manifest in the fact of his having, within 16 years, placed I10 acres under valuable improvements.
Mr. Haskins was married April 7, 1869, to Adella, daughter of Jacob and Hepsabeth (Gillett) Moore. She was born in Oakland Co., Mich., Jan. 16, 1842. Her father was born May 16, 1815, in New Jer- sey, and her mother was born Aug. 9, 1821, in New York. Of this marriage three children have been born : Charles T., Alta M. and James B. Alta M. died when four years old. Mr. Haskins is a Repub- lican in political sentiment and has held the office of Justice of the Peace four years. Himself and wife are members of the M. E. Church.
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phraim Utley, farmer, section 8, Dayton Township, is a son of Ephraim H. and Sarah (Yerkes) Utley, natives of New York, who married and settled in Wayne Co., Mich., and afterward removed to Clinton Co., Mich., where they lived several years, then came to Newaygo County, where they made their home until death. Mr. Utley, the subject of this notice, was born in Clinton Co., Mich., March 18, 1844; he lived at home until 16 years of age, when his father died, leaving him 160 acres of land and the care of his mother. He carried on this farm for ten years, when he moved to Newaygo and lived two years; then moved upon his farm of 160 acres, which he had previously purchased in Dayton Township, where he now resides; 120 acres are well cultivated. He was married in Newaygo County, Aug. 26, 1866, to Lucy, daughter of Stephen Gooch. She was born in West Virginia May 8, 1848. Their two children are Ralph, born Aug. 30, 1868; and Clarence, born Dec. 6, 1874. Mr. Utley has held the office of Commissioner of Highways five years, Township Clerk six years, Treasurer one year. He is a Freemason and a Republican.
Mr. Utley has one of the best farms in Newaygo County. It is under good cultivation and has upon it most excellent buildings, which are an index to the
enterprise of the man. He is a man of great energy and perseverance, and it is certainly not saying too much of him to say that he is classed among the most prominent citizens of the county. He is always ready and willing to favor every laudable enterprise inaugurated in his county or among his people. It is by the aid of such useful citizens that the great inventions and enterprises of this age have been made successful.
As one of the truly prominent and representative men of the county we take pleasure in presenting the portrait of Mr. Utley in connection with this sketch.
8 enjamin Cander, farmer, section 17, Beaver Township, was born in Oswego Co., N. Y., Oct. 19, 1847, and is a son of Gideon and Harriet Ann (Peck) Cander. His father was a native of Scotland, born in February, 182 1, and located, in the fall of 1853, in Hillsdale Co., Mich., where he died Jan. 15, 1854. The mother was born Jan. 16, 1814, in Oswego County, and died March 21, 1872.
Mr. Cander went to Fort Wayne, Ind., when he was 14 years of age, and was there occupied one year on a railroad. He went a year later to Branch Co., Mich., where he operated as a farm laborer for some time. In February, 1865, he enlisted in the IIth Mich. Vol. Inf., Co. I, and was discharged in September, 1865, at Jackson, Mich. He returned to Branch County and was married Dec. 25, 1865, to Augusta, daughter of Zimri and Cynthia (Baker) Ful- ler. She was born Feb. 19, 1848, in Monroe Co., Mich .. Her parents were natives of the State of New York; her father died Sept. 10, 1860, her mother, Nov. 14, 1872. He pursued farming in Branch County until Oct. 15, 1868, when he came to Ne- waygo County and purchased 40 acres of land in Beaver Township. On this he has labored as a farmer, clearing and improving it, and has also oper- ated extensively in lumbering. He has been chiefly occupied in the interests of E. L. Gray, for whom he has " put in " thousands of logs within the past ten years.
Mr. Cander adheres to the tenets and principles of
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the Democratic party, and has held the position of Supervisor of Beaver Township seven successive years ; has also officiated as Justice of the Peace six years, and two years as Clerk of the township.
uncan Beaton, farmer and lumberman, sec- tion 36, Monroe Township, was born in Scotland in 1833. His parents, Kenneth and Betsey (Read) Beaton, were born in Scot- land, where they both died.
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