Curtis Pintler Pages 207-209 - CURTIS PINTLER, one of the oldest andmost highly respected settlers, a prominent horticulturist, and successfulstock-raiser of Chester Township, Ottawa County, Mich., was born on thehomestead where he now resides, November 3, 1847. He was the only son of Johnand Mary (Shaw) Pintler, natives of Orleans County, N. Y. The father and motherwere married in the Empire State and emigrated to Michigan in 1845, journeyingby way of Detroit and thence to Marshall. Arriving in Ottawa County they madetheir permanent home in Chester Township, upon the old farm where our subjectpassed the days of childhood and has since continued to live. Buying a yoke ofoxen for $35, a wagon for $8, and a cow for $12, they hauled their few householdeffects through the woods over a blazed road never before crossed by a wagon.The father was obliged to take his axe and cut the brush before the oxen as theyadvanced, while the mother did the driving. Locating in 1845, John Pintlererected a shanty the latter part of the year, and upon January 3, 1846, movedinto it. The new home, 10x16 feet, was built mostly of poles, such as the fathercould elevate from the ground, and in this primitive residence the husband andwife lived until a small clearing could be made and a more commodious andsubstantial house erected. In 1847 a large and comfortable log house was built,which became widely known as a convenient stopping-place for many years betweenGrand Rapids and Muskegon. In 1846 Samuel Free and John Brooks, of Newaygo, started from this place toGrand Rapids and Newaygo to survey for a much-needed public road between thesepoints. The road ran by the father’s homestead and he assisted in blazing thetrees and cutting down underbrush and laying the trail for the more advancedwork to follow. This road is now known as the Grand Rapids and Newaygo StateRoad. For three years the parents kept a tavern, or half-way house, and in thefourth year after the road was opened to travel a man, Lot Fulkerson, opened atavern where Casenovia stands. In the mean time the father was engaged in thecultivation and general improvement of his farm, which was constantly growing invalue. He purchased the land warrant from a soldier in Detroit for $33 and firstlocated eighty acres, afterward adding forty acres, and fifty-seven acres hecleared prior to his death, planting out an apple orchard, which now yieldsabundantly. In 1847 the first postoffice of the township was established andJohn Pintler became Postmaster, the office being called Pintler’s Corners, thename by which the locality was known for many years. Lawrence Mang carried themail for one year on foot from Grand Rapids to Newaygo. The next contract ascarrier was given to Benjamin Wright, who took the pouch of mail on horseback.The first stage-coach passing Pintler’s Corners was driven in 1855, andcarried the mail, the contract then being held by Mr. McLinothan. Soon thepassenger traffic began to improve and the hotel business boomed. In 1863 the present attractive and roomy residence in which our subject nowresides was erected, and on moving into this house the Pintlers ceased to keep atavern. During the latter part of 1848 Lorenzo Chubb moved into "Pintler’sCorners," the old place, and there kept hotel, the former interest of thebusiness, held by the father of our subject, then being turned over to thenewcomer. During these changing seasons the father occupied a position ofimportance and for twelve continuous years served ably as Justice of the Peace,and aside from various other township offices was for several years an efficientSupervisor. In every office with which he was honored John Pintler dischargedthe public duties thereto pertaining with the faithful ability whichcharacterized his every work in life. A sincere Christian man and an uprightcitizen, the father was a member of the Close-Communion Baptist Church and everthrew his influence upon the side of truth and justice. The three children whomade bright the home in the woods were Lucy A., deceased; Curtis; and Ellen J.,deceased, who became the wife of Worthington Moe, a native of Middleville, Mich.The father passed away November 6, 1866, at forty-nine years of age, beloved andhonored by all who knew him. The mother, a devout member of the MethodistEpiscopal Church, survived until 1879, and entered into rest at sixty-four yearsof age. Our subject was educated in the common schools of the township and alsoreceived instruction in Grand Rapids. At the age of twenty years returning tothe homestead, and now owns thirty-eight acres of the old farm, thirty-six ofhis acres being devoted to fruit-culture; seven acres are in apples; twenty inpeaches; one and a-half in plums; one in pears; one in grapes; and one inquinces. Our subject has also two hundred cherry-trees, a flourishing vineyardof four hundred grape-vines and a large quantity and variety of small fruit,which annually yield a handsome income. Mr. Pintler has no general agriculturalinterests but is a stock-raiser, profitably handling the Hambletonian and Claybreeds of horses. He also has high-grade cattle, three-fourths Jersey. In 1868 Curtis Pintler and Carrie M., daughter of J. J. and Lydia (Shackelton)Smith, natives of England, were married. Mr. and Mrs. Smith were wedded inCanada, and in Woodstock the estimable wife of our subject was born. In 1863 Mr.Smith with his family removed to the United States and, a tanner andharness-maker, erected the first tannery built in Lamont, Ottawa County. Heworked for some years in Grand Rapids, where he was widely known and highlyrespected. He died in 1883, at the age of seventy-three, his wife having diedthe previous year, 1882, aged sixty-three. They were both devoted Christianpeople and members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. The nine children who clustered about the family hearth of Mr. and Mrs. Smithwere in the order of their birth: Elizabeth, wife of J. J. Nelland, of GrandRapids; James H., a citizen of Muskegon; Cordelia, wife of F. W. Cook, of EauClaire, Wis.; William J., residing in St. Johns; H. W., of California; CarrieM., Mrs. Pintler; Maggie M., wife of Dan Miller, of Alpine Township; Lydia M.,wife of M. Rich, of St. Paul; and Florence A., wife of Rev. H. O. Lawrence, ofWells, Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. Pintler have been blessed by the birth of fiveintelligent and attractive children: Everett J., Minnie M., Nina M., George W.and Aleta. Mrs. Pintler and the three daughters are members of the MethodistEpiscopal Church and are active in the religious, social and benevolent work oftheir denomination. Mrs. Pintler is likewise a valued member of the Woman’sChristian Temperance Union and is for the second year Treasurer of the localassociation, keeping the records and being the County Superintendent ofFranchise. The accomplished wife of our subject is well known as a lady ofsuperior executive ability and fine business attainments. Mr. Pintler isfraternally associated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows No. 291,Industry Lodge, and Mt. Horeb Encampment, now located at Casenovia. Withoutbeing in any sense of the word a politician, our subject takes a deep interestin both local and national issues and is esteemed a man of broad views andliberal sentiment in all matters pertaining to the general welfare.

Portrait & Biographical Record of Muskegon & OttawaCounties, Michigan 1893, Chicago: Biographical Publishing Company

Transcriber: Susan Gates Davis
Created: 3 April 2003
URL: Biographies