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 50
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
Barry County and followed farming. In the winter of 1856 he came to this county and settled in Denver Township, where he has since lived on a farm of 120 acres, 60 of which are well cultivated. He has also erected good buildings. April 19, 1883, his wife died at her home, leaving four children. Their names and births are as follows : Sarah R., April 10, 1852; Andrew D., July 15, 1854; Arthur B., Nov. 9, 1860; Alfred J., April 25, 1863; Alvin A., born Dec. 10, 1849, died Feb. 5, 1871; Gay H., born June 2, 1 868, died March 3, 1869.
Mr. Dake has held the offices of Justice of the Peace and School Inspector, and is devoted to the interests of the Republican party. Himself and wife were earnest members of the M. E. Church.
S olomon V. Walker, farmer, section 5, Day- ton Township, is a son of Elias and Eve- line (Griswold) Walker, and was born in Berrien Co., Mich., Aug. 20, 1838. His father was a native of Vermont and his mother of New York. They were married in the latter State, and moved to Berrien County about the year 1833, where his father purchased a tract of good land, which he cleared, and remained there until the death of his wife; after which event he sold his farm and moved to Van Buren County, bought another farm, and lived there until his death, which occurred in 1856.
Solomon V. was educated in the common schools, and remained at home until 22 years of age. He then worked on a farm by the month, and in the woods, lumbering, for two years. In the spring of 1860 he came to Newaygo County and purchased 80 acres of Government land under the Gradation Act, and soon after returned to Berrien County, remain- ing only one summer. He continued to improve his land, working during the fall and winter months, for three years. He has since added, by purchase, 120 acres, and now owns an excellent farm of 200 acres, 125 of which is well cultivated. He was married in Berrien County, Aug. 1, 1862, to Nannie M., daughter of James and Mary (Mellor) Dean, who was born in England, March 8, 1841. Her parents were also na- tives of England; they came to America in 1839 and settled in Pennsylvania, and afterward moved to
458
NEWAYGO COUNTY.
Berrien Co., Mich., where they still reside. Mrs. Walker remained at home until her marriage, with the exception of two years, when she was engaged in teaching. Mr. and Mrs. Walker have had seven children: Mary E., Margaret E., Charles V., Elen- ora J., Alice I., Solomon J., and George E. Sept. 2, 1864, Mr. Walker enlisted in the 21st Reg. Mich. Inf., and served till the close of the war, receiving an honorable discharge June 8, 1865. He was with Sherman in his celebrated march to the sea, and in the battle of Bentonville, N. C. He held the office of Highway Commissioner three years, School Di- rector several years; was elected Justice of the Peace but declined to serve. He was elected Su- pervisor of Dayton Township in the spring of 1883, which office he now fills. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and a charter member of Hespe- rian Grange, P. of H., No. 495 ; was chosen the first Master. In politics he sympathizes with the Na- tional party.
J. Murphy, Jr., foreman for the lumber firm of Crepin, Murphy & Sons, is the man- ager of their interests in Beaver Township. They owned a large tract of land, establishing' their business there in 1878. One million feet of lumber is cut and put in White River yearly, and is floated in the Muskegon River to Mon- tague, where their extensive lumber mills are situated. Their possessions in Newaygo County include about 4,000 acres of pine land, and they employ a laboring force of about 200 men and 60 teams. P. O., Mon- tague, Mich.
-
neste
enry Homes, farmer, section 5. Dayton Township, was born in Ontario Co., N. Y., Nov. 3, 1832. His parents, William and Dennis (Winchell) Homes, were natives of Berkshire Co., Mass. They came to Lenawee Co., Mich., in 1853, and lived there about three years, then moved to Hillsdale County, where the father died in 1858 and the mother in the fall of 1865. Henry lived with his parents during their life, and for a long time was their sole support. He was the 12th
child of a family of 13 children. In the fall of 1864 he sold his farm in Hillsdale County, and worked at various occupations until the fall of 1878, when he came to Newaygo County and bought 80 acres of partly improved land in Dayton Township, where he now resides. In politics he is a Republican, and cast his first vote for J. C. Fremont.
lonzo Yates, merchant, farmer and lumber- a man, section 18, Troy Township, was born Aug. 31, 1842, in Niagara Co., N. Y. He is a son of Gilbert and Polly (Hunt) Yates, and both parents were natives of the Empire State. They removed to Wisconsin in its pioneer days. His father lost his life in a river which he was crossing on the ice, driving a yoke of oxen. The latter were saved. The mother of the subject of this sketch resides near Almont, Lapeer Co., Mich.
Mr. Yates was ten years old when he lost his father, and two years later he became an inmate of the family of a Mr. Hallock, and was employed as a farm laborer on his extensive estate until he became of age, and received a fair common-school educa- tion. On reaching the age of 21 years he determined to advance in life if it was within the reach of effort, aided by ambition and industry: In the fall of 1863 he made his way to Newaygo County, where he entered a claim of 120 acres of land in Troy (then Beaver) Township, under the provisions of the Homestead Act. He was the earliest settler on section 18, where the echoing ring of his ax was the first sound produced for the purpose of making a permanent settlement. He cleared a patch and built a house literally of logs, the casings even being constructed of hewn logs. Not a piece of sawn timber was in the whole structure. He had ten dollars in money as a working capital, and all his supplies were carried on his back a distance of ten miles. From his small beginning under the most trying circumstances he has brought success, and now owns 200 acres of land in Troy Township and 320 acres of land in Oceana County, lying opposite to his tract in Newaygo County, constituting a most magnificent farm of 520 acres of land beautifully situated, and containing 425 acres in finely improved
BH Boolbaugh
NEWAYGO COUNTY.
461
and cultivated condition. He operates chiefly as a stock farmer and raises large quantities of hay, to accommodate which he has fine, commodious barns. He raises cattle to a considerable extent. In 1876 he opened a store for the sale of general merchan- dise in a small log building, which enterprise proved a successful venture, and his mercantile business is now established in an appropriate building, which was erected in 1878. His stock includes full lines of all varieties of dry goods, groceries and drugs, suitable to the demands of the local trade. His lumber interests consist of a trade in shingles, which are manufactured in his own mill in Lake County.
Mr. Yates was married in October, 1871, to Miss Amy Keastard, who died in 1873. Mr. Yates mar- ried Emma Keastard, twin sister of his first wife, in July, 1874. She died in 1876, leaving two children, Ora and Emma. Mr. Yates contracted a third marriage in 1877, with Helena, daughter of Rufus and Kate (Cline) Hall, both of whom are now living at Frankfort, Benzie Co., Mich. Mrs. Yates was born in 1853, in Erie Co., Pa. Of this last marriage two children have been born. Rufus J. is the only survivor.
Mr. Yates has no decided bent in political senti- ment. He has been Supervisor of Troy five years, , Treasurer four years and served 18 years as Justice , of the Peace.
S. North, farmer, section 26, Beaver Township, was born July 19, 1832, in Maine. His parents, Joseph and Rebecca (Snow) North, were both born in Clinton, Ken- nebec Co., Maine; the mother of Mr. North, Rebecca Snow, was born in 1803, in Thompson, Maine. Mr. N's father was a farmer in the State of New York for many years, and in 1850 located in St. Clair Co., Mich., where he followed farming and lum- bering. In November, 1860, he located in Denver Township, Newaygo County, and resided there 19 years. In 1879 he became a citizen of Beaver Township.
Mr. North remained a member of his father's fam- ily until he was 17 years old, when he made an open- ing with the world to improve his fortunes and ac-
complish something that should reflect credit on his honesty of purpose and effort, if not on his judgment. He had received the training and disci- pline preparatory to following the profession of farm- ing. In 1849 he became a resident of St. Clair Co., Mich., and in 1860 came to Newaygo County, where he bought 120 acres of land, in Beaver Township. On this he has since expended his time and energies.
He was married in 1854 to Amelia Whilford, a na- tive of St. Clair County. His second marriage, with Susan Drake, occurred in 1867. Four children born of this marriage are living: Mattie, Hattie, Ella and Luella.
Mr. North is an adherent of the Democratic party in political faith and action.
3
8 enjamin H. Coolbaugh, farmer, section 33, Everett Township, was born May 24, 1820, in Pennsylvania. His parents, Garrett and Mary (Hanna) Coolbaugh, were also natives of the Key-stone State. They re- moved to Tompkins County, N. Y., in 1827, and thence to Allegany County in the same State. In 1846 they came to Jackson Co., Mich., and settled in (now) Leoni Township.
Mr. Coolbaugh obtained a good education at the common schools, which was extended by attendance at the academy at Grass Lake, Jackson County. He devoted himself to teaching, which pursuit he fol- lowed nine years, and was a member of his father's household until he had reached the age of 32 years. In 1852 he went to Bristol, Indiana, and engaged two years in mercantile trade. He disposed of his business by sale and returned to Jackson County, where he remained two years. In the spring of 1860 he came to Newaygo County and bought a half inter- est in 220 acres of land, situated on sections 28, 29 and 31, in Everett Township. He also bought 40 acres on section 30, on his own account. Afterwards he became sole proprietor of the entire tract of which he was half owner, and subsequently made purchase of two bodies of 40 acres each, respectively situated on sections 12 and 13. His aggregate landed estate amounts to 440 acres, his sales of land having been
4€
462
NEWAYGO COUNTY.
inconsiderable. Of his home place 90 acres are in cultivation.
Mr. Coolbaugh is independent in political connec- tion, but formerly acted with the Democratic party. He has served his generation as Supervisor and School Inspector many years ; has often been elected Justice of the Peace, but as often declined the posi- tion.
He was married at Manchester, Washtenaw County, in December, 1852, to Lucy A. Brower, daughter of Nathan D. and Prudence (Saunders) Brower. Of six children born of the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Coolbaugh, five are living, namely : Franklin, Jo- sephine, Eugenie, Effie and Loretta. The deceased child died in infancy; Mrs. Coolbaugh died May 14, 187 I.
The picture of Mr. Coolbaugh, on page 460, is that of a representative farmer, worthy citizen and a man who stands second to none in the public estimation.
201. John H. Standish, attorney, resident at Newaygo, was born Feb. 10, 1816, in Ben- son, Rutland Co., Vt., and is the son of Henry and Abigail (Parkhill) Standish. The patronymic comes in direct line of descent from the old Puritan, Capt. Miles Standish, who sent another man to do his wooing, with a result that showed he "builded better than he knew."
The father of Col. Standish was a farmer, and came to Michigan about 1839 and established his in- terests in Vermontville, Eaton County. The son was a typical Green Mountain boy of the generation in which he was born, keen and knowing beyond his years, and before he was 15 years old had exhausted the educational resources of the quiet town of Ben- son, which were of no mean order. At the age named he went to Orleans Co., N. Y., and there taught school six months. On the expiration of his engagement he proceeded to Ohio, where he taught school three months in Venice, Huron County; he went thence to Chicago, and engaged in clerking for Philo Carpenter, a merchant in the (then) embryo city. He remained in his employ a year and then went West. He made a prospecting tour through Iowa and started down the Mississippi, intending to
make his way to New York via New Orleans. In the Crescent City he met a casual friend, bound for Texas, and together they shipped on the "Toin Toby," a privateer fitted out in New Orleans to cruise against the Mexicans. They went aboard ostens- ibly as marines, with the understanding that on reaching Velasco, their destination, they should enroll as marines or pay regular fare. While en route, young Standish fell into difficulties with Capt. Hoyt, who demanded menial service of him, against which the fiery youth rebelled, and was threatened with the severest ship discipline and to be put in irons. This roused all his mettle and he assured Captain Hoyt that he would never issue the order, and he did not; but the feud only smoldered until the privateer arrived off Galveston, where they learned there were 800 Mexicans on the island, held by the Texan authorities. Col. Standish demanded to be put ashore. His request was complied with, but he was informed that he must report, "dead or alive," at sunset. On reaching the island the first man he met was Dr. Summers, a physician who had treated him professionally in Chicago. To him he stated his circumstances, and the doctor took him to General Bromley, an artillery officer in the Texan service, who tendered him his protection. In a few hours Capt. Hoyt landed and gave Gen. Bromley a statement which induced that official to withdraw his guaranty. On inquiry, the determined youth ascer- tained that the island of Galveston was under the authority of Lieut .- Colonel Somers, and he applied to him with success, his friend, Dr. Summers, vouching for him as an American citizen, and the officer commanding guaranteeing his safety as such. Capt. Hoyt made himself lively and entertaining, and threatened direful results. Several days after, the commandant sent for Standish and told him that he felt wholly unable to give him the full protection he evidently required, as there were unmistakable evidences of plottings for secret mischief; gave him a pass across the channel at the lower end of the island, and told him when and where he would find a pony equipped for the fifteen miles to be traversed before he could attempt to leave the island unob- served. At the time appointed the pony, mounted by an undaunted stripling of seventeen, was flying like the winged wind towards assured freedom. Dismounting at the small station in charge of a squad of half a dozen men, he made his request to
NEWAYGO COUNTY.
463
be set across the channel. The officer scanned him from head to foot, and, pulling a paper from his pocket, began to read to him an exact description of himself, and finished by declaring his intention to place him in custody and deliver him duly to Capt. Hoyt. The pass and order from the commandant proved an antidote, and he was promptly set ashore on the main land at Velasco. He immediately sought out the recruiting officer, Major J. W. Tinsley, and enrolled in the First Regiment of Texas Cavalry, under Col. Wells. One morning, a few days later, the "Tom Toby " lay off Velasco, and not long after- ward her Captain came ashore. He gave a gruff greeting to the young man who had eluded his grasp, and appealed to Major Tinsley for the surrender of the fugitive. The Major was a young man and fully in sympathy with the boy who had placed him- self under the protection of the Texan military authorities. The Major and Captain angrily paced a long piazza where they had met, their wrath wax- ing hotter and hotter. As they met counter in their walk, Major Tinsley suddenly drew a dagger from his side pocket, and, placing it alarmingly near the throat of Captain Hoyt, informed him that he was a dead man unless he passed his word of honor to cease to molest young Standish and to surrender his baggage, which contained valuable clothes and other property. The terrified free-booter gave the required promise and went aboard his boat. Day-dawn re- vealed the harbor free from all traces of the "Tom Toby."
Col. Standish remained in the Texan service 18 months, and took part in a number of engagements. On the organization of his regiment he was elected Second Sergeant, and passed the various grades to Second Lieutenant. When he deemed it prudent to sever his connection with his regiment he received honorable discharge and made his way to Louisiana, where he spent a year in the parishes of Natchitoches and Rapides, He then resolved to make his way North, and he came to Mount Carmel, Wabash Co., Ill., where he taught school one winter. While there he was married to Hester A., daughter of the Rev. William Courter, a minister of the Disciples' or Christian Church. Under the influences brought to bear upon him, he became a convert to the tenets of the Christian Church, and became active and useful in behalf of its interests. That body he still holds
in venerated remembrance. He is a born orator, an adept in the use of effective, concentrated language, and there is no doubt that he accomplished a large amount of good. "Isms" were at that period making astounding headway among readers and thinkers, and they engaged the interested attention of Col. Standish. He was attracted by the phenom- ena of mesmerism, and his mercurial composition soon made him one of its ablest exponents. His experiments and reflection led him into psychology, and he commenced lecturing as soon as the subject as- sumed respectable claims, and began to widen his sphere of operations. He fell away gradually from his religious connections, and became widely known as a lecturer on psychology, and traversed the land from the New England seaboard to its Western limits, disseminating his views on the topic which absorbed him and afforded scope for the exercise of his peculiar traits of character and his unusual abilities. In 1839 he left Illinois and settled his family at Middleville, Barry County, where he resided until 1852, and then settled at Newaygo, on the place which is still in his possession and where he built the house which is now his home.
In his lectures in Southern Illinois his knowledge of law had attracted the attention of the Judiciary of that region, and he was invited to appear before the committee of examination appointed by the court to pass upon the qualifications of aspirants to the Bar. He complied, and was formally admitted to the prac- tice of law in the State Courts of Illinois. In 1852 he was appointed Deputy Register of Deeds and Clerk of Newaygo County, and after serving two years was elected to both offices; and re-elected in 1856. In 1857 he was admitted to practice in the State Courts of Michigan and established his business at Newaygo. In 1860 he was elected Prosecuting Attorney and served two years. He then resumed the duties of his private business, which he prose- cuted until 1863.
At this time the events and progress of the civil war were, as everywhere, the topic of the day at Newaygo, but enlistments were slow for want of a leader. The exigency awakened the old fire and spirit in the composition of Col. Standish, and he went to Grand Rapids, applied for and obtained the necessary qualifications, returned to Newaygo, hung the stars and stripes from his office window, and
NEWAYGO COUNTY.
464
before dark of the same day 22 stalwart, hardy woodsmen from the line of the Muskegon had en- rolled in the roth Mich. Cavalry. But a few weeks were consumed in filling a company, and, on report- ing, it was found to be the earliest organization of 100 men and was assigned the senior place, becoming Co. A, Capt. Standish. The regiment was mustered in Nov. 18, 1863. Its Captain was promoted by suc- cession to the position of Major Oct. 10, 1864. On the 13th of March, 1865, he was made Lieut .- Colonel by brevet, for gallantry in action at Strawberry Plains, Tenn., Aug. 23, 1864, when, with 125 men and Col- lins' Ill. Battery, he repulsed an attack from Wheel- er's Cavalry Corps of 6,000 men, with nine pieces of artillery, and when seven men of his regiment held McMillan's Ford, on the Holston River, by hard fight- ing, against a brigade of rebel cavalry for three and a half hours. He was made Brevet Colonel April II, 1865, for gallantry in action at Abbott's Creek, N. C. Sept. 2, 1865, he was made Lieut .- Colonel and was mustered out Nov. 11, 1865. Company A was one of the finest in the army. Its members were nearly all lumbermen, or men made hardy and able to bear the fatigues of war by years of labor and ex- posure in their business, either as woodsmen or farm- ers. In the action at Strawberry Plains one of the most remarkable events of the whole war, Col. (then Capt.) Standish had but 275 men to withstand Wheeler's entire force of 6,000. The statement seems incredible, and the results of the action ought to have won stars for the leader and commissions for every man in his command. The spirit of the whole detail is illustrated by the reply of one of the seven men who defended McMillan's Ford, to Gen. Wheeler, who asked him, " Why did you not keep us from crossing? " "Why, you see, we did until you hit me, and that weakened our forces so much that you were too much for us." The rebel chief remarked, "If I had 300 men like you I could march through the realms of Pluto. (He spelled the locality with four letters for short.)
On his return to Newaygo Col. Standish resumed the practice of law. In 1867 he was elected to rep- resent his district in the Senate of Michigan, and in 1869 was re-elected. While serving his first term in the Senate he was Chairman of the Committee to investigate the legal status of the D. & M. Railroad, an onerous and important position, for which the
-
technical knowledge of law and eminent abilities of Col. Standish made him peculiarly fit. The business was transacted in joint committee. The Chairman of the House Committee was R. R. Smith, of Port- land, Ionia County, and the duties absorbed nearly all the time of the session. In the spring of the same year he was appointed by President Grant, U. S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan, and in 1873 received a re-appointment, serving in the aggregate eight years. During this time he resided in Grand Rapids, and in 1875 returned to Newaygo. A year later he went to Muskegon, where he prose- cuted his profession until November, 1881, when, his health being in a precarious condition, he again re- turned to Newaygo, where he is now pursuing his business as an attorney.
Five children were born to Col. Standish of his marriage with Miss Courter. Two are living. The record is as follows : Cynthia Sophia, born Nov. I, 1839, died Nov. 24th of the same year. William Henry, born Sept. 1, 1840, died Nov. 9, 1840. Geor- gette, was born July 24, 1842. (See sketch of W. D. Fuller.) Marcellus, born Oct. 9, 1844, died Aug. 23, 1850. Albert and Alice (twins) were born Aug. 24, 1849. The latter died Aug. 17, 1851. Alice Sophia, born Dec. 18, 1853, died Nov. 10, 1873. She was a young lady of unusual promise and singularly win- ning traits of character. Albert Standish, eldest sur- viving son, is a lawyer and business man of splendid attainments and abilities, and is in the employ of a prominent business firm in Chicago. The mother was born March 17, 1822, and died at Newaygo, Sept. 29, 1855. The second marriage of Col. Standish took place at Glens Falls, N. Y., Feb. 19, 1857, when Em- meline, daughter of Pliny and Martha Day, became his wife. She was born April 6, 1830. Of this mar- riage three children have been born : Miles P., born March 15, 1858, is in the lumber business at White Cloud ; J. Frank, Nov. 22, 1863, is in the employ of the C. & W. M. R. R., at the depot in Newaygo; Mattie was born Jan. 6, 1868. The sons are already an honor to the community and a credit to their gen- eration. The daughter is the treasure and joy of the household.
It is impossible in a brief paragraph to convey a just idea of the character of Col. Standish. He be- longs essentially to the genus Yankee, and has all `the traits which distinguish that class to whom no
NEWAYGO COUNTY.
465
delineating pen has ever done full justice and in all probability never will. His celerity in judgment when emergencies drive is simply amazing. His shrewdness and wonderful command of language would have made him one of the most successful and popular jury lawyers in the country had he com- menced his career as an attorney in early life. He is on life's declivity in years and health, but his men- tal acumen is as keenly vigorous as in his prime, and his labors in his profession are as effective and illus- trative of the resources of information, wit and sagacity he has at ready command, as when he was in the full strength of manhood and all the ardor of ambition.
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.