Portrait and Biographical Record of Muskegon and Ottawa Counties, Michigan
Part 18
 

James Hutchinson

    James Hutchinson, a leading business man of Michigan, an energetic and popular manufacturer of buggies, spring wagons, carriages, package and delivery wagons, has for twenty-four years been a prominent citizen of Muskegon, where his well-known factory- enjoying a large trade- annually supplies to the general public some of the finest specimens of vehicles ever used in road transportation. Our subject, a native of Canada, was born in Perth, Ontario, June 17, 1844. His father, James Hutchinson, Sr., likewise a native of  of the Queen's dominions, was reared and educated in Canada and, arriving at man's estate, married the mother of our subject, Ellison Easton, also born in Canada and the daughter of an old and highly respected family, the descendants of a long line of honored English ancestry. Our subject enjoyed excellent educational advantages, and attended school near London, Canada, in which locality he passed the days of boyhood. He early began his his preparation for a self-reliant and self-sustaining future by serving an apprenticeship to the trade of a blacksmith, and arrived at twenty-one years well fitted to begin the battle of life for himself.

    In 1869, removing to the United States, Mr. Hutchinson journeyed to Muskegon, Mich., which city has since been his constant home. For a number of years he was variously employed, working mainly in lines of business connected with his trade, but finally, having some capital in money and a vast amount of enterprise, he embarked in his present manufacturing interests upon his own account. Beginning in a comparatively small way, our subject has with ability and unwearied devotion to business extended the facilities of his factory, which is now equal to the demands of a large and rapidly increasing custom; and the public by its patronage eloquently testifies to its satisfaction with the material and workmanship of the superior product of buggies and wagons which year after year  successfully compete with those turned out by longer established and more pretentious houses. As a manufacturer, Mr. Hutchinson has achieved an enviable reputation and in the general conduct of his business has won the confidence of the public. His trade is not local but takes in a large territory, and the business, from the first an assured success, has in the past sixteen years developed in to proportions far exceeding early expectations.

    In January, 1873, in Whitehall, Muskegon County, Mich., were united in marriage James Hutchinson and Miss Abbie Doolan, a native of Vermont and a daughter of James Doolan, a highly respected resident of the Green Mountain State. The union of our subject and his estimable wife has been blessed by the birth of a bright and intelligent family. Ella E., the eldest born and only daughter, an accomplished young lady, is at home. The three youngest, William, Frank and John, are likewise with their parents, who reside in a beautiful residence, modern in architecture, convenient in design, and containing all the latest improvements. The handsome frame house located at No. 10 East Ionia Street is the abode of hospitality and witnesses the social gatherings of many friends. Our subject is fraternally a valued member of Muskegon Lodge No. 140, A. F. & A. M., and is likewise connected with the Foresters. Politically a Republican and interested in local and national government, he is not in any sense f the word a politician, but, doing his duty at the polls and assisting in matters of local enterprise, is accounted a substantial citizen and man of public spirit.


Orrin D. Blanchard

     Orrin D. Blanchard, a prosperous and well-known merchant of Casenovia, and for many years a prominent educator of Muskegon County, was born in the town of Barre, Orleans County, N. Y., March 17, 1844, being a son of Chandler and Lucy (Lindley) Blanchard. His paternal grandfather, Nehemiah Blanchard, was the son of Jeremiah, who belonged to a famous Huguenot family, of French origin. Grandfather Blanchard was born in New Hampshire, and was a soldier in the War of 1812. By trade a shoemaker, and by occupation a farmer, he was thus engaged in Monroe County, N. Y., and later in Genesee County, the same State. His death occurred in Murray, Orleans County, N. Y., September 13, 1848, at the age of seventy-four.

    Grandfather Blanchard and his good wife, whose maiden name was Sarah Densmore, were the parents of twelve children who attained mature years, namely: Cummings, Chandler, Harbard, Willard, Julia A., Livonia, Lewis, Alman, William, Densmore, Orrin and Ira. Chandler Blanchard, father of our subject, was born in New Hampshire, September 10, 1800, and accompanied his father to New York. From Orleans County he removed to Michigan, and settled in Livingston County about 1840. After his marriage, which took place in Plymouth, Wayne County, he returned to the Empire State, where he departed this life August 23, 1859. In politics, he was first a Whig, and afterward a Republican. In religious matters, he was identified with the Methodist Episcopal Church.

    The mother of our subject was born near Lyons, N. Y., in 1819, and died February 15, 1861. She had a family of five children: Orrin D., of this sketch; Wesley, who enlisted as a private in Company E, One hundred and Forty-seventh New York Infantry, and died on David's Island, October 18, 1864; Rosetta E. Nancy A. and Lelia C. Orrin D. received a district-school education, at at the age of twelve began to be self-supporting. May 14, 1861, he enlisted in Company K, Twenty-seventh New York Infantry, and with his regiment participated in the first battle of Bull Run, Gaine's Mill, and West Point, Va. Being captured at Gaine's Mill, he was imprisoned for forty-two days upon Belle Isle, in the James River. Later he took part in the engagements at Atietam, Fredericksburg, and in minor skirmishes. At the expiration of his term of service he was discharged, on the 1st of June, 1863.

    In the fall of 1863, Mr. Blanchard went to Shiawassee County, Mich., where he attended school during the following winter. February 14, 1864, he enlisted as a member of Company L, Second New York Mounted Riflemen, and while in Washington was afflicted with rheumatism. He was taken to a hospital near Washington, where he remained for a short time. He rejoined his regiment on the 18th of June, at Petersburg, and participated in all the engagements of the army until the battle of Stony Creek, where he was wounded in the right hand and the right temple. For a time he was confined in Mt. Pleasant Hospital at Washington, and upon rejoining his regiment continued inactive service until his discharge at Buffalo, August 25, 1865.

    Coming to Michigan in the fall of 1865, Mr. Blanchard attended school during the following winter. He taught his first term of school in Ingham County, this State. In the Spring of 1866 he went to Lisbon, where he worked on a farm during the summer, and in the fall of the same year accepted the principalship of a school in Casenovia Township. In 1878 he taught one term in Wilson County, Tenn., whither he went, hoping that the change of climate might benefit his wife's health. Altogether he has taught thirty-five terms. For a number of years during the summer season he worked at the trade of a mason, and for seven years had a meat market in Casenovia. In April, 1893, he embarked in the mercantile business under the firm name of O. D. Blanchard & Co., and is conducting a large and lucrative trade.

    A Republican in politics, Mr. Blanchard has served as Justice of the Peace and as Superintendent of Schools. In his social relations he is identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and Masonic fraternity. He was first married to Miss Betsey Johnson, a native of Michigan, and two children were born of the union, Ernest C. and Bessie M. Mrs. Blanchard died April 13, 1879, at the age of thirty-four. The second marriage of Mr. Blanchard united him with Miss Ella A., daughter of Henry Henry Bridger, of Shiawasee County, Mich. Mrs. Ella Blanchard died March 5, 1884, and afterward our subject married Mrs. Mary Peckham, who was born in Norway; her first husband was Henry Peckham, by whom she became the mother of one child, Carrie. She is a lady who occupies a high place in the regard of the people of this community, and her position is among the most cultured and refined of Casenovia's residents.

 

Edward Behrens

      Edward Behrens, one of the leading business men of Muskegon, is connected with C. D. Stevens as proprietor of the Muskegon Boiler Works. He well deserves representation in this volume, for he is an enterprising and public-spirited man, and it is with pleasure that we present to our readers this record of his life. He was born in New York City, on the 18th of December, 1847, and is a son of William and Willimena (Steinford) Behrens, who were natives of Germany. The father was a cabinet-maker, and in early life emigrated to New York City. His death occurred in 1854.

    Our subject remained in his native city until after the death of his father, when he went West to Chicago, and was there educated. He lived for a time with P. W. Gates, of that city, and then with Thomas Turnbull, of Muskegon. In the spring of 1865, he came to this city, and was employed in the shops of Mr. Turnbull for some time. In 1878, he formed a partnership with Joseph Turnbull and Charles E. Woodward, and established the Turnbull Boiler Works. This connection was continued for five years, when the business changed hands. In the fall of 1889, Mr. Behrens went to Rhinelander, Wis., and there built a sawmill, which he operated for a year.

    In 1869, our subject married Miss Annie M. Peterson, a native of Canada, and a daughter of George M. and Susan (Emory) Peterson, the former born in Ontario, Canada, and the latter in New York. When their daughter was a maiden of thirteen summers they came to Muskegon, where the father died May 12, 1875, at the age of fifty-one years. Mrs. Behrens was educated in the schools of Canada and Michigan. By her marriage she has become the mother of three sons and two daughters: William Edward, a farmer; Emma J., Edna Blanche, Clyde Wesley, and Steinford, now deceased.

    On his return to Muskegon in 1890, Mr. Behrens formed a partnership with C. D. Stevens and established the Muskegon Boiler Works. They manufacture steam-boilers, stand-pipes, etc., and are enjoying an extensive trade, which has constantly increased from the beginning, large orders coming from the West and South. They employ some twenty-five men. Their main building is 50x100 feet, to it they have added a wing thirty-five feet square. They are now building a brick office near the shops. hey also do rolling-mill work. Their industry occupies a leading place among the enterprises of the city.

    Mr. Behrens also owns one hundred and sixty acres of good land in Moorland Township, Muskegon County, of which one hundred acres are under cultivation, and he has four hundred sugar maple trees. He makes a specialty of fruit-raising, having a large number of cherry, pear, peach and plum trees, and also many blackberry and raspberry bushes. He also has a herd of fourteen cattle and four horses, and the farm is considered one of the finest in the county. The owner is a Republican in politics, and a member of Muskegon Lodge No. 133, A. O. U. W. His wife holds membership with the Methodist Episcopal Church, and both are numbered among Muskegon's leading and prominent citizens.


Marshall C. Kelley

   Marshall C. Kelley,  an able an highly successful attorney-at-law of Muskegon, Mich., and who for the last five years has given his attention to loans and real-estate, for many years has been a constant resident of his present locality and intimately associated with its upward progress. Our subject was born in Gilmanton, Belknap County, N. H., September 21, 1840, and was the son of William Kelley, also a native of the same place where the paternal grandfather, Joseph Kelley, early settled with his good wife, and born in the same house. The paternal great-grandfather, Jacob Kelley, made his home in New Hampshire in 1771, and was one of the brave and patriotic soldiers of the Revolutionary War. The grandfather, born in the New Hampshire home, was a man of ability and earnest purpose. The mother of our subject, Elizabeth Osgood, born in New Hampshire, was the daughter od Davis S. sgood, the maternal grandfather being the the descendant of English ancestors who, crossing the broad Atlantic, settled in Massachusetts in 1638. The Osgoods are well known in the New England States, the family occupying positions of high usefulness and influence. The parents some years after their marriage removed from the Granite State to the city of Boston.

    Mr. Kelley passed his early years in his birthplace, and there attended the district schools, but when eleven years of age accompanied his father and mother to their residence  in Boston, and completed his studies in the excellent public schools of the latter city. Later, attracted by the broader opportunities of the West, the parents with their family journeyed to Illinois, locating in Will County, where the father found ready employment as a contractor and builder. Our subject, then seventeen years of age, taught school, meantime improving himself by study and reading. Finally deciding upon a a professional career, Mr. Kelley read law with Judge G. D. A. Parkes and W. C. Goodhue, and was admitted to the Bar in 1865. He began the practice of the legal profession in Joliet, Ill., where he became a well-known and prosperous lawyer. He then moved to Wilmington, Ill., and in 1868 moved to Chicago. Previous to entering upon his legal studies, our subject had, in 1859, journeyed to the far West, and for three years devoted his time to mining in Colorado. He however preferred life in the East, and returning to his Illinois home then began the preparation for the business of his life. From the year 1865 to 1867, Mr. Kelley with efficiency discharged the responsible duties of City Attorney of Wilmington, Will County, Ill.

    In 1868, our subject located in Chicago, where, opening the office, he for the twelve succeeding years successfully conducted a law and real-estate business. In 1880, Mr. Kelley removed to Michigan, first making his home on White Lake, Muskegon County, but four years later settled permanently in the city of Muskegon, where he has built up a fine business, and, combining the practice of his profession with the handling of real estate, has achieved a competence. From 18887 until 1890, our subject was Secretary and Treasurer of the Muskegon Lumber Company, and has been identified with the numerous leading public interests of his present locality. In November, 1878, were united in marriage M. C. Kelley and Miss May S. Smith, a native of Wisconsin, and daughter of Rev. William J. Smith, of New York. Five children, four sons and a daughter, have blessed the union of our subject  and his estimable wife. The brothers and sister are in the order of their birth as follows: William Ernest, Grace Osgood, Trueman Lee, Marshall Royal (deceased), and Arthur Carroll. The pleasant family residence of Mr. and Mrs. Kelley is desirably located on Money Lake, a suburb of Muskegon, and is the abode of hospitality. Politically Mr. Kelley is a stanch Republican, and is well posted on all the vital questions of the day. Financially successful, he and his excellent wife occupy positions of social influence and possess a host of sincere friends.