ANDREW J. GRAHAM, deceased. Few men in Leonidas Township were more
widely or favorably known than the subject of this record. Liberal and
public spirited, he not alone labored for his own advancement, but since
the time of his coming here maintained a lively interest in the progress
and welfare of the community about him. He was undeniably one of those
men who leave their mark where they have lived, and whose names are
remembered long after they have departed hence.
The fifth child of ORSON and PHEBE (BARTLETT) GRAHAM, our subject
was born in Italy, Yates Co., N.Y., Feb. 10, 1828. He continued a
resident of his native county until reaching his majority, then learned
the carpenter's trade, which he followed in the Empire State afterward
for a period of eleven years. He continued this employed for two years
after coming to Michigan. After that time his attention was mostly
given to agricultural pursuits. As a farmer he was thorough and
skillful, and as a business man prudent and fortunate in his
investments.
ORSON GRAHAM was born in Chester, Windham Co., Vt., and his wife,
PHEBE, in the town of Marcellus, Mass. After marriage the parents of
our subject settled in Italy, N.Y., whence in 1884 they changed their
residence to Lima, in Livingston County, where the mother died a few
years later. The father passed away in Honeoye, Monroe Co., N.Y. The
parental household included seven sons and three daughters.
Our subject left Livingston County, N.Y., in 1852, and coming to
Michigan settled in the unimportant village of Colon, where he
prosecuted his trade of carpenter until 1854, then settled upon a tract
of land embracing a portion of section 29, in Leonidas Township. His
first purchase embraced 120 acres, to which he added as time passed on,
and erected the necessary farm buildings for the convenience of himself
and family, the storing of grain and the shelter of stock. In the year
1880, during a violent storm the barn and other building were struck by
lighting and entirely destroyed. The house also caught fire, but was
fortunately saved; he also lost five horses by the fire.
Notwithstanding these losses he was what may be termed prosperous, and
was generously rewarded for his labors. A new set of buildings soon
replaced the old ones which had been destroyed, and the farm with its
appurtenances bears fair comparison with anything of the kind in St.
Joseph County.
For thirty-one years walked by the side of our subject as his
faithful companion and helpmate a lady who in her girlhood was MISS
HELEN WILCOX, and to whom he was married Sept. 19, 1857. MRS. GRAHAM is
the daughter of NEWCOMB and MIRANDA (STEARNS) WILCOX, who were natives
of Naples,Ontario Co., N.Y. There also they were reared and married,
and lived for a time afterward, and then, in 1837, came to the new State
of Michigan, locating in Sherwood Township, Branch County. There the
mother died in March, 1884. MR. WILCOX is still living. Their family
included two sons and five daughters, six of whom are living.
MRS. GRAHAM was born in Naples, N.Y., May 21, 1833, and was the
fourth child of her parents. She was but four years old when they came
to Michigan, and was reared at the homestead in Branch County. She was
educated at Albion, Mich., and taught school eight years, receiving $16
per month, the highest wages she ever received; she had taught as low as
$6 per month. Of her brothers and sisters, seven in number, all were
teachers. One of her sisters is at present a preceptor at Ludington,
Mich. MRS. GRAHAM taught six days a week, and boarded around among the
neighbors. Of her marriage there were four children, of whom the record
is as follows: ORSON B. married MISS LONISA BEARD, and is farming in
Leonidas Township; NANNIE is the wife of CLARENCE KENT, of Union City,
this State; LEWIS B. married MISS SADIE LONGNECKER, and is living on a
farm in Leonidas Township; HARRY died when a babe of seven months.
MRS. GRAHAM has been a member of the Baptist Church since eighteen
years of age, and still preserves her interest in its advancement and
prosperity. MR. GRAHAM, politically, was an old-styly Jacksonian
Democrat, and defended his principles with all the natural strength of
his character. Considering the fact that he came to Colon Township with
the modest capital of $300, it is to be acknowledged that he did well.
The following extract relating to the death of MR. GRAHAM, a highly
respected citizen of Leonidas Township, departed this life Nov. 22,
1888. He was one of a family of ten children, five of whom survive him.
He was born in Italy, Yates Co., N.Y., Feb. 10, 1828. He came to the
State of Michigan in 1855, and worked at his trade, that of a carpenter
and joiner. In 1856 he was married to HELEN N. WILCOX, a daughter of
NEWCOMB WILCOX, of Sherwood, after which he located at Colon and engaged
in manufacturing. In 1858 he moved into the township of Leonidas and
settled upon the farm where he died, which was then almost a
wilderness. He had been in poor health for nearly twenty years, but
bore his troubles uncomplainingly. He was an upright citizen, and lived
so that he enjoyed the esteem and confidence of his neighbors, and
departed this life with the assurance of rest in heaven. He leaves a
wife and three children to mourn the loss of a kind husband and father.
In his last sickness he was conscious to the last, commended his family
to the care of God, and spoke with rapture of the beautiful things he
saw.
'We shall meet, but we shall miss him,
There will be one vacant chair.'
but, 'Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord.'
GEORGE D. CLARK. The pleasant country home of this gentleman, which
forms on of the attractive features of Nottawa Township, and which
embraces a portion of section 12, is one within which intelligence,
culture and education are at once apparent as the leading attributes.
The dwellers there, while giving due attention to labor and its
attendant comfortable results, have most wisely kept in view the higher
life, and never permitted the acquisition of gain to infringe upon those
duties and privileges by which the human race is distinguished from the
lower animals. Reading thought and study have made the home of MR. CLARK
attractive to the cultured classes, both among friends and strangers.
The subject of this sketch is a son of one of the honored pioneers
of St. Joseph County, and first opened his eyes to the light near the
homestead which he now occupies, May 4, 1840. His father JASON CLARK,
was a native of Onondaga County, N.Y., and married MISS LUCY A. DUNHAM,
one of the associates of his childhood. They emigrated to the Territory
of Michigan in the summer of 1834, settling in the month of June on a
tract of land in Nottawa Township. The father for a period of ten years
battled with the elements of pioneer life, and was then called hence,
his decease taking place in 1844, when his son, our subject, was a
little lad four years of age. The mother is still living, having
reached an advanced age, and makes her home in Kalamazoo County.
The parental family included five sons and two daughters, three of
whom are living. Of these GEORGE D. was the third in order of birth. He
was reared upon the farm and conned his first lessons in the district
school. Later he attend Colon Seminary and the Union schools at Mendon
and Three Rivers. He had just attained his majority upon the breaking
out of the late Rebellion, and in September following enlisted in the
11th Michigan Infantry for one year. Soon after receiving his honorable
discharge he again entered the ranks, as a member of the 1st Brigade, 3d
Division, 14th Army Corps, and thereafter continued in the service of
his country until the preservation of the Union was assured. He endured
the usual hardships and privations incident to a soldier's life, but
fortunately escaped wounds and capture, and soon after receiving is
honorable discharge at Springfield, Ill., returned to his native
township.
MR. CLARK being desirous of adding to his store of knowledge,
resumed his studies in the Albion College, where he was graduated from
the commercial department, and upon emerging from this institution
resumed farming on a tract of land in Nottawa Township. His first
purchase was eighty acres on section 12, upon which he has effected the
improvements which we behold to-day. The residence is neat and
substantial, and the barn amply indicative of thrift and enterprise.
MR. CLARK keeps a goodly assortment of livestock in the shape of cattle,
horses and swine, and to these gives the needful care and attention,
which to him is a matter of pride as well as profit. He has now ninety
acres, the greater part of which has been thoroughly cultivated, and
yields abundantly the rich crops of this region. His nearest trading
point is the town of Mendon.
On his return from the army MR. CLARK was united in marriage, in
1869, in the little city of Burr Oak, to MISS IDA PINE. This lady was
born in Hancock, Delaware Co., N.Y., May 15, 1846, and is the daughter
of ALFRED and PHEBE A. (PATRICK) PINE, who were also natives of the
Empire State. The former died in 1864; the latter is still living, and
resides with MR. CLARK. To MR. and MRS. CLARK there has been born one
child only, WARREN P., who is now attending Albion College.
MR. CLARK, politically, is a Republican with strong Prohibition
tendencies, usually voting the Republican ticket. Both he and his
estimable wife are members in good standing of the Methodist Episcopal
Church, in which Mr. CLARK has held the office of Steward and
Superintendent of the Sunday school. As an ex-soldier he belongs to
WILLIAM F. CURTENIUS Post, G.A.R., at Mendon. Both MR. and MRS. CLARK
maintain a lively interest in educational matters, and in all the
enterprises set on foot tending to the moral and religious welfare of
the community, there they found giving of their means and influence.
Their home abounds with books, papers and magazines, which at once
indicate the manner in which they spend their leisure hours.
G.D. CLARK has in his possession an old family Bible in a good state
of preservation, purchased by his grandfather on his father's side in
1814. It was printed in 1812. JASON CLARK and LUCY CLARK, our
subject's parents, drew up and signed a temperance pledge in 1837, and
kept it until the day of their death; it reads as follows:
Family Temperance- We this day solemnly agree to never more drink
spirituous liquors, except in sickness.
JASON CLARK
LUCY CLARK
MRS. CLARK has the original manuscript in fair state of preservation. (Noted by transcriber, Carole Carr)
HENRY N. WARREN. The most interesting period in the life of the subject
of this biography, and one which he considers of the most importance,
was that spent as a Union soldier in the service of his country. To
that he looks back upon with satisfaction as to a time in which he, with
thousands of others, was tried and not fund wanting. He laid down the
musket for the plowshare over twenty years ago, but recalls those years
even with their difficulties and hardships as among the most
satisfactory of his life, in that he did not give his efforts to his
country in vain. He has since followed the peaceful pursuits of
agriculture, and for a period of over thirty-five years has been a
resident of this county. He has now a good farm lying on section 24, in
Leonidas Township, where he has built up one of the most creditable
homesteads within its limits. He is a thorough and skillful
agriculturist, a genial, hospitable and companionable man to meet, and
one with whom may be passed many a pleasurable and profitable hour.
EPHRAIM WARREN, the father of our subject, and his wife, MARGARET
(HOLDERIDGE) WARREN, removed from Ontario County, N.Y., in 1853 to
Michigan, and settled upon a tract of land in Leonidas Township, this
county. The father only lived five years thereafter, his death taking
place in 1858. The mother survived her husband a period of twenty-one
years, remaining a widow, and departed this life at the old homestead,
in February, 1879. The household circle included eight children, five
sons and three daughters, five of whom are living.
The subject of this sketch, the third child of his parents, was born
in Naples, Ontario Co., N.Y., Sept. 22, 1840. He became familiar with
farm pursuits at an early period in his life, and with the exception of
the three years spent in the service of his country has bent his
energies in this direction. He first trod the soil of Michigan in 1853,
when a lad of thirteen years, and has since been a resident of Leonidas
Township.
A few months after the outbreak of the Rebellion and a little before
reaching his majority, young WARREN enlisted, Aug. 24, 1861, in Company
G, 11th Michigan Infantry, and much of the time thereafter did Corporal
duty. He participated in many of the important battles of the Army of
the Cumberland, and in the fight at Mission Ridge was slightly wounded
in the right foot. He was in the engagement at Stone River,
Chickamauga, Missionary Ridge, at Atlanta during the latter part of the
siege, and met the rebels in various other engagements and skirmishes.
Otherwise than the natural results of hardship and privation he came out
comparatively unharmed, and received his honorable discharge in 1864,
being mustered out at Sturgis, this State.
Upon returning to civil life MR. WARREN resumed his residence in
Leonidas Township, and in 1872 was united in marriage with MISS LYDIA,
daughter of WILLIAM and ANN (STIMERS) BILLINGS. The parents of MRS.
WARREN were both natives of New York, and the mother spent her last
years in Michigan, dying in March; 1887. The father is still living.
The family consisted of five children, and MRS. WARREN was the second
child of the family. She was born Feb. 8, 1849, in Genesee County, N.Y.
It is hardly necessary to say that MR. WARREN, politically, is an
earnest Republican, and supports the principles of his party in the
conscientious manner which has marked all his sentiments in life. The
WARREN homestead is one of the pleasantest in this part of the county,
and under its hospitable roof gather from time to time the warm friends
whom the proprietor and his excellent wife have gathered around them by
a straightforward career which has been unmarked by a dishonest deed.
JOHN SCHERMERHORN. There are a few men in every community distinguished
for their intelligence, their liberality and their progressive ideas.
Among this class may be mentioned the subject of this sketch, who has
improved the years of a long and pleasant life in the acquirement of
useful knowledge, and in disseminating those principles which have
influenced his own career. The friend of temperance and good order, he
is a pronounced Prohibitionist, and in religious matters a member in
good standing of the Dutch Reformed Church, with which he identified
himself many years ago. He is residing quietly on his pleasant farm in
Nottawa Township, and which embraces about 190 acres of good land on
section 21. He has comfortable and substantial farm buildings, and by a
life of industry has secured a competence for his declining years.
Our subject was born in Schenectady County, N. Y., at the modest
home of his parents, five miles from the town of Schenectady, Jan. 25,
1810. His father, JOHN SCHERMERHORN, Sr., and his mother, who in her
girlhood was MISS MARIA SLATER, were also natives of the Empire State.
JOHN, Jr., was the second born in a family of five children, all of whom
lived to mature years, but of whom four are now living. Our subject
spent the early years of his life at the old homestead in his native
county, engaged, until a youth of sixteen, in the various employments
connected therewith. He now commenced learning the cooper's trade,
which he followed until setting out in life on his own account, when he
concluded to turn his attention again to agricultural pursuits.
The first property of young SCHERMERHORN was a farm in Rotterdam
Township, in his native county, upon which he operated until 1866. He
then determined on a change of location, and selling out, removed with
his family westward to this county, settling in Nottawa Township, of
which he has since been a resident.
Our subject was married, in Schenectady County, N.Y., to MISS
REBECCA VEDDER, who was also born there, June 21, 1814. This union
resulted in the birth of eight children, and the mother departed this
life at her home in Nottawa Township, this county, Sept. 4, 1887, when a
little over seventy-three years old. Their eldest son, JOHN, died in
childhood; MARIA is the wife of CORNELIUS VIELE, and they are now living
in Hillsdale County; EDITH married WARREN WEST, who is occupied in
farming in Nottawa; ROBERT is carrying on farming in Nottawa Township;
Francis was a carpenter by trade, and died in Nottawa Township, at the
age of thirty-six years, in 1883; OMIE died at the age of thirty years;
JOHN is farming in Nottawa Township, and SARAH remains at home with her
father.
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