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| pg 189, cont 190 Thomas Lazell, Police Magistrate of Big Rapids, and resident of that city since 1860, was born Dec. 30, 1821, in the village of Cliff, Kent Co., England. His parents were Thomas and Lydia (Drake) Lazell, the latter a lineal descendant of Sir Francis Drake, Admiral of the British Navy in the reign of Queen Elizabeth. The family history on the mother's side is peculiarly significant and valuable, from the connection of Admiral Drake with the earliest history of this continent. he was the first British explorer of the Eastern Pacific, and bestowed the first English name, New Albion, on the western coasts of North and South America. This was about the year 1578; and the ambitious and successful navigation of the high seas a few years later touching the Atlantic seaboard, while returning from his career in the West, ruined the initiatory colonization scheme of Sir Walter Raleigh, by carrying the disheartened and desponding colonists back to England. This act retarded the settlement of this continent for more than a quarter of a century, and it is impossible to estimate the extent of the changes made thereby on the Colonial period of the history of the United States. Mr. Lazell's father was a mason and building by profession, and supervised the training of his son in the details of the craft, until the latter was sixteen years old, when he was sent to Gravesend to acquire the qualifications of an architect. After two years he became assistant architect of the House of Lords (Parliament buildings) and served in that capacity about one year, when he connected himself with the English navy. During the contest waged by the British Government with China, Mr. Lazell went out with the Nankin expedition in 1842 and tarried in the Celestial kingdom until 1844, when he was transferred to the squadron of the Mediterranean, where he was on duty nearly four years, first being engaged in the suppression of the rebellion in Portugal, at Lisbon, in t he year of 1847, afterwards being detailed for coast service on the west of Africa; and here Mr. Lazell underwent the unique experience of a genuine shipwreck. At the expiration of ten months he proceeded to the Cape of Good Hope, where the flotilla was stationed about five years, and on the outbreak of the Caffre war he went to the coast of Southeastern Africa. In 1853 Mr. Lazell retraced his way to England, left the naval service and at once set out for America. In June of the sam year he found himself in Grand Rapids, where he remained until fall, going thence to Chicago, where he made but a brief stay and came to Grand Haven. Here he found ample scope for the pursuit of his vocation, and he operated as a building until 1860. In that year he decided upon Big Rapids as his final destination, and he proceeded hither, via Ionia, walking from that point to Big Rapids. He was among the pioneer mechanics of this city, and on his arrival built the house he still occupies on Michigan Avenue. In t he spring of 1865 he erected a steam saw-mill north of State Street, the first steam power in the county, and imported a planing machine from Massachusetts. He sold this property and built a store on Michigan Avenue, and embarked in the grocery and provision trade. Mr. Lazell, in addition to his other business ventures, has operated in real estate to some extent, and is now in possession of 30 acres of land in the third ward of Big Rapids, and several small tracts of land in various parts of the county. He was appointed Postmaster during the administration of President Grant, for a period of six years, and in April, 1882, was elected Police Magistrate, a post to which he was reelected in 1883. He is deservedly popular for the able and impartial method in which he discharges the duties of his incumbency. Mr. Lazell was married in London, England, March 19, 1853, to Mary Ann Styles, a native of Chatham, Kent Co. She joined her husband in this county in 1862. Their son and only child, Harvey G. Lazell, mail agent on the G. R. & I. R. R., was born at Grand Haven, and was the first male child baptized in the Presbyterian Church in that city; he married Emma McNutt, and they have one child, George. |