USA > Michigan > A history of northern Michigan and its people, Volume II > Part 12
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As master of the schooner "Jacob A. Barker," in 1838-9, Captain Rosman went to Thunder Bay river, where the city of Alpena now stands, and this was the first vessel that ever entered Thunder Bay, the trip having been made for the purpose of securing a load of fish. In the spring of 1844 Captain Rosman assumed charge of the brig "Illinois," which was considered a large vessel in those days but which would appear a mere pigmy beside the great lake craft of the
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present time. The brig carried studding sails alow, and aloft, with top-gallant studding sails. The personnel of the crew included, be- sides the captain, two mates, six sailors, a royal boy, cook and cabin boy, and the vessel transported seven thousand bushels of wheat. Early in 1851 Captain Rosman assumed command of the propellor "Lady of the Lake," at Ogdensburg, New York, and he sent the clerk, Z. M. Hall, to Boston to advertise the new line and to solicit freight. By this means some business was secured from New England, and all of the freight was transported by the one vessel mentioned, in the ownership of which Captain Rosman was associated with Dean Rich- mond and John P. Chapin. Later the owner sold the boat and business to Philo Chamberlin and J. H. Crawford, who eventually added to the line a score of propellers, as increasing business demanded, and thus was formed the Northern Transportation Company, the boats of which plied between Ogdensburg and Chicago for more than twenty years.
In 1874 Captain Rosman became agent for this company at Glen Haven, Michigan, the Vermont Central Railroad Company having pur- chased the line, which had in commission twenty-one propellers on the route between Ogdensburg and Chicago. The captain retained his office as agent for the company for a period of five years. In 1881, already a veteran in the service, he took command of the steamer "Corona," of the Goodrich Transportation Company, of Chicago. He sailed this vessel between Manitowoc, Wisconsin, and Menominee, Michigan, and from 1882 to 1891 he was in command of the propeller "Menominee," between Chicago, Grand Haven and Muskegon. In the winter of 1891 he superintended the building of the steamship "Atlanta," at Cleveland, for the Goodrich Transportation Company, and with the same he made the first trial trip to Chicago, in June of that year. The boat was a model in every way, and Captain Rosman took great pride in his fine craft, which he continued to command until October 22, 1892, when he became very ill. He insisted, however, in running his boat into Grand Haven, though, as stated in the open- ing paragraph of this sketch, he required the support of two of his men while standing on the bridge to give the orders which closed his long, useful and honorable career as an officer of vessels on the Great Lakes. IIis death oeenrred in the following month. He "stood four- square to every wind that blows," and his life offers lesson and incen- tive in its fidelity, its loyalty and its impregnable integrity.
On the 23d of January, 1843, in the city of Buffalo, New York, Captain Rosman was united iu marriage to Miss Eliza J. Dascomb, who was born at Westfield, Chautauqua county, New York, on the 11th of October, 1820, and who died, at Traverse City, Michigan, on the 29th of October, 1896. For twelve years prior to his death Captain Ros- man had maintained his home in Chicago. Of the two children of this umion it may be recorded that the elder, Eva, was born at Westfield, Chautauqua county, New York, on the 21st of June, 1845, and that she is the wife of Frank Hamilton, of Traverse City, concerning whom individual mention is made elsewhere in this work; Charles A., the younger of the two children, was born at Westfield, New York, on the
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21st of February, 1847, and died at El Paso, Texas, on the 11th of April, 1888.
ARTHUR R. BABCOCK, editor of the Herald-Times, West Branch, Mich- igan, was born in Marshall, Calhoun county, this state, in 1868, one of the five children of Robert and Mary (Smith) Babcock, both of Mich- igan. Of this family three are now living, Mr. Babcock and his two sisters, Mrs. Kittie Bennett, formerly a teacher, now a resident of West Branch, and Miss Clara, an artist of some note and a teacher in the Bay City Art School.
Mr. Babcock was reared and received his early education in his native county. He spent two years as a student at Albion College, after which for several years he taught school. In 1888 he came to West Branch. Here, after a brief time spent as a teacher in the district schools he left the school room to enter the newspaper business and began work on the Times, where he fitted himself to become its future editor and proprietor.
The Herald-Times had its beginning thirty-three years ago. It was established in 1882, under the name of the Herald, by J. Allen, who continued it as such until 1890. In that year it was consolidated with the Times and took the title Herald-Times. Mr. Allen continuing as its editor and owner. The Times was eight years old, it having been ushered into existence in 1882 by Weeks & French. After the con- solidation Mr. Babcock remained with the paper, and in 1902 pur- chased it of Mr. Allen. He has since placed it on a solid basis and secured for it the largest circulation of any paper in the county, and in addition to conducting the paper he does a large job business, thus keeping his office and press room busy.
Politically a Republican, Mr. Babcock has from time to time been honored by his party, and has served in various local offices, including those of township and city clerk and secretary and chairman of the Republican County Committee, having been chairman a number of times. He was appointed Postmaster of West Branch on January 16, 1911.
Fraternally Mr. Babcock is prominent and active in both the Masonic Order and the Knights of Pythias Lodge, in the former being a past master and in the latter, past chancellor. Also he is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America. Religiously he and his family are identified with the Methodist Episcopal church.
In 1892 he was united in marriage with Miss Rilla Woods, daughter of Charles and Ruth Woods, of Michigan, and their union has been blessed in the birth of five children, four of whom are living, namely : Lloyd, Josephine, Marion and Benjamin.
JAMES S. MADISON .- There is no broader field for public good than that afforded in the newspaper business. An editor. if he be of the liberal-minded type. can become a powerful influence for public im- provement and James S. Madison, as editor of the Daily and Weekly Advocate, has contributed in generous measure to the ma- terial and civic development and progress of the city of Manistee. Mr.
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Madison was born in the state of Virginia on the 25th of December, 1857, and he is a son of John and Fanny Carroll Madison, both of whom died when James S. was a mere infant. He was adopted by Thomas Simpson, who came to Michigan in 1867, loeating at Pokagon. Cass county, where he was identified with farming business for one year, at the expiration of which he removed to Bear Lake. James S. Madison received but limited educational advantages in his youth, as he was obliged to work in the mills for his support. When eighteen years of age he began to learn the printing business in the office of S. W. Fowler, who was publishing a weekly paper at Manistee, Mieh- igan. He continued in the employ of Mr. Fowler for one year, when he began to realize the need of further educational training if he were to follow the printing business. Accordingly he left the office and began a three years' course of study in the local high school and after graduating in that institution he entered the office of the Manistee Times, where he remained until 1882, in which year the business was sold to Mr. H. S. Hilton, James passing along with the business. He remained there until 1885, when he purchased the outfit and named the paper the Sentinel, which he continued to publish until 1886, when he and Mr. Hilton, who owned another paper, named the Times, agreed upon a copartnership, consolidating the two publications and naming the new paper the Times-Sentinel. This continued until 1892, when Mr. Madison purchased a half interest in the Manistee Advocate from John P. O'Malley, making that paper Republican in its policies. In 1893 he purchased Mr. O'Malley's interest and in 1895 he decided to try publishing a daily issue in connection with the weekly.
In the newspaper world Mr. Madison is an influential factor and through his able and pointed editorials he has done much to advance the general welfare of the community and to point out and procure for the city many needed improvements. His respective papers are pub- lished under the names of the Weekly Advocate and the Daily Advocate and both have a large and healthy circulation. In politics Mr. Madison accords a stalwart allegiance to the cause of the Republican party and he is affiliated with various fraternal and social organizations of repre- sentative character. His religions views coincide with the teachings of the Congregational church and as a citizen he is essentially loyal and public spirited, holding a secure place in the high regard of his fellow
ELIAS HALL,-Now living virtually retired from active business, this venerable and honored citizen of Ludington finds that his "lines are cast in pleasant places," as here he has an attractive home and is sur- rounded by a host of loyal and valued friends. He has been one of the world's workers and his success has been the result of his own well directed efforts. He is not only one of the representative citizens of Mason county but is also a native son of Michigan and a scion of one of its honored pioneer families, with whose annals the name has been identified during practically the entire period of its statehood. He was one of the loyal sons of Michigan who went forth to render valiant service in defense of the Union when its integrity was menaced by armed
Elias Hall
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rebellion, and in all the relations of life he has shown the same high sense of duty that he manifested as a soldier. His life has been one of earnestness and honor, and it is but in justice due that in this publica- tion be entered a brief review of his career.
Elias Hall was born in Allegan county, Michigan, on the 26th of January, 1838, and he is a son of Silas and Susan (Storms) Hall, both of whom were born in New Hampshire, and both of whom were repre- sentatives of families founded in New England in the colonial epoch of our national history. Silas Hall was born at Croyden, Sullivan county, New Hampshire, in which state he was reared and educated, and he came to Michigan in 1836, becoming one of the pioneer settlers of Allegan county, where he remained until 1842, when he removed to Grand Rapids, which was then a mere lumbering village, and he was closely identified with the early history of what is now the second city of the state. He was a contractor and builder by vocation and as a man of strong individuality, sterling character and alert mentality he wielded much influence in the community with which he thus identified himself. He was a resident of Grand Rapids at the time of his death, at the age of sixty-five years, and his name merits an enduring place on the roll of the honored pioneers of the Wolverine commonwealth. In politics he was originally a Whig, but he identified himself with the Republican party at the time of its organization and ever afterward continued a strong advocate of its principles. He was twice married,-first to Miss Susan Storms, who died at the age of fifty-five years. They became the parents of five children, of whom four attained to years of maturity, and of the number three are now living, the subject of this review being the eldest : Mary, who resides in the city of Grand Rapids, is the widow of E. Chase Phillips; and Jeanette is the wife of Charles T. Patterson, of Washington. For his second wife the father married Maria Dean.
Elias Hall was a child of four years at the time of the family re- moval from Allegan county to Grand Rapids, and there he was reared to years of maturity. He has witnessed the various stages of growth in the upbuilding of this fine commercial and industrial eity, and his memory well recalls the time when it was little more than a straggling village. He was afforded the advantages of the common schools of the locality and period, and as a youth he began to assist his father in his various business operations. He apparently inherited his skill as a me- chanie and was one of the early cabinet makers employed in the furni- ture manufactory of Nelson, Matter & Company, which eventually be- rame one of the great concerns giving world wide prestige to Grand Rapids as a furniture-manufacturing center.
When the dark cloud of Civil war cast its pall over the national horizon Mr. Hall did not long subordinate the call of patriotism, as in 1862 he enlisted as a private in Company B, Fifth Michigan Cavalry, which became a part of the gallant brigade commanded by General ('us- ter, who later sacrificed his life in the great Indian massaere through which his name is perpetuated in the history of the nation. This brigade was attached to the Army of the Potomac and with the same Mr. Hall continued in active service until the close of the war. He was promoted to the office of quartermaster's sergeant and later to that of orderly ser-
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geant, with which rank he was mustered out after the long and sangui- nary struggle had reached its close. He participated in many of the important battles marking the progress of the great conflict and proved himself a valiant and faithful soldier of the republic. He participated in the Grand Review of the victorious troops in the city of Washington, and he was on the skirmish line facing Lee's army at the time of the final surrender of that gallant Confederate officer. He received his hon- orable discharge at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, on the 20th of July, 1865.
After the close of the war Mr. Hall returned to Grand Rapids, where he continued to be employed at the cabinet-maker's trade for several years, having devoted a total of about twenty years to this line of work, in which he became a specially skillful artisan. In 1881 he removed to Ludington, where he engaged in the retail furniture business, in which he continued until 1887, when he removed to Reed City, Osceola county, where he was identified with the same line of enterprise for the ensuing three years, and also insurance, at the cxpiration of which he returned 10 Grand Rapids, whence he removed to the city of Battle Creek in 1901. For a period of about sixteen years he was a traveling salesman for furniture manufactories, and insurance agent, and he continued to re- side in Battle Creek until 1907, when he returned to Ludington, where he has since lived retired. From 1871 to 1875 he was a resident of St. Joseph, Missouri, where he was engaged in business, and during his entire active career he maintained a high reputation for close applica- tion and executive ability.
From the time of attaining his legal majority to the present, Mr. Hall has been an uncompromising supporter of the cause of the Re- publican party, and he cast his first presidential vote for Abraham Lin- coln, while serving as a soldier in the Civil war in the field. He has voted for every presidential candidate of the party since that time and is well fortified in his opinions as to matters of public polity. Mr. Hall is a valued and appreciative member of Custer Post, No. 5, Grand Army of the Republic, in the city of Grand Rapids, and there also he has been affiliated with Valley City Lodge, No. 86, Free & Accepted Ma- sons, from which he holds a certificate indicating that he has been a member of the same for forty years. He also holds membership in the Independent Order of Foresters, and both he and his wife are zealous members of the First Baptist Church of Ludington, in which he is a deacon.
Mr. Hall has been twice married. In 1860 was solemnized his union to Miss Martha E. Haire, who was born in Canada and with her people moved to Michigan and was married here. She died in Colorado, in 1878. Two children were born of this union-William Silas who now resides in Guadalajara, Mexico, where he is employed by the Mexican government, and Eva J., who died at the age of seven years. On the 6th of October, 1879, Mr. Hall wedded Miss Jennie Shackelton, who was born at Alpine, Kent county, Michigan, and who is a daughter of the late Jeremiah and Rachel (Williams) Shackelton, honored pioneers of that county. Two children were born of the second marriage-George Morgan, a traveling
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salesman in the city of Grand Rapids, and John DeWitt, who is engaged in the real estate business in Ludington.
ARTHUR STEINMETZ .- He whose name initiates this review is the proprietor of the Standish Stock farm, a valuable property consisting of some three hundred and thirty of the most desirable aeres of Arenae county. This farm has been in his possession and management since February 1, 1904, and his operations thereupon have met with the most abundant success-by no means accidental, but the logieal result of business aeumen, good judgment, honest dealing and fine executive ability. Two hundred aeres of Mr. Steinmetz's land are under cultiva- tion and a great part of the remainder is devoted to pasture. He has a dairy of twenty-five cows, many of which are pure blooded Jersey and the rest of fine quality. Ile also raises horses and hogs on an extensive scale, the latter being of the Chester White breed, of which he makes a specialty. His farm is admirably improved and equipped and his barn is of the most modern construction, measuring fifty-six by one hundred and twenty-eight feet. For four years Mr. Steinmetz's dairy has provided the town of Standish with milk of the highest quality.
Arthur Steinmetz is well and favorably known throughout Arenae county, and he is a native of the state in which his entire life has been passed, Calhoun county having been the distriet of his nativity and its date the 7th of September, 1871. He is the son of James and Sarah (Heinbaugh) Steinmetz, both of whom were born in the Keystone state. On both sides of the house the aneestors are of German birth, but immigrated at an early date to Ameriea, where they found the opportunity and prosperity for which they had hoped. As was the ease with so many of their countrymen, they ultimately located in Pennsylvania and became valuable factors in the life of any community which they made their own.
Mr. Steinmetz was edueated in the common schools of his native county and at an early age eoneluded to adopt the great basie industry for his own. He had seeured a good practical training in its varions departments under the excellent tutelage of his father and he lost no valuable time in futile experiment. He is now to be counted among the most seientifie and practical of agriculturists, and uses the most modern and highly improved farming machinery. His stoek enjoy fine reputation in this part of the state.
On January 24, 1893, Mr. Steinmetz was united in marriage to Miss Lena Gidley, of Jaekson, Michigan. She is a daughter of John Gidley. This happy union has been further eemented by the birth of six children, namely : Ellen, Melba, Harold, James, Clara and Florenee. The subject is Demoeratie in polities and is a prominent and popular member of the Modern Brotherhood of America.
JOHN G. DIEBOLD, treasurer of Ogemaw county, Michigan, is one of the prominent and influential men of his loeality and may be elassed with the successful men of northern Michigan.
Mr. Diebold was born in 1867, in Bruee eounty. province of Ontario,
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Canada, son of George and Catherine Diebold, the former a native of Germany and the latter of Canada. In 1883 the family moved to Michigan, and the parents are still living in this state, being residents of West Branch. Of their eight children John G. is the eldest, the others in order of birth being as follows: Valentine, Mrs. Catherine Mahoney, Mrs. Margaret F. Hadrick, Mrs. Anna Mahoney, Mrs. Pena King, Mrs. Maud Chilton and George, Jr.
John G. Diebold was reared to farm life and has always been in- terested in agricultural pursuits. He now owns eight hundred and sixty acres of land, three hundred acres of which are in his home farm and under a high state of cultivation. An interesting feature of his farm is his apiary. For a number of years he has been interested in bee culture, giving to it his elose and careful attention and now having three hundred colonies.
Besides looking after his large farming interests, Mr. Diebold has found time for publie service, and has efficiently filled a number of local offices. He served two terms as township treasurer and fourteen terms as supervisor. Also for some time he was superintendent of the county poor. In November, 1910, he was elected to his present office, that of county treasurer, and assumed the duties of this position on Jannary 1, 1911.
Mr. Diebold and Miss Emma Wirges were united in marriage in 1895, and to them have been born ten children, of whom seven are living, namely: Peter F., born in June, 1896; Margaret, in 1899; Wil- liam D., in 1902; Joseph J., in 1903; Emma M., in 1905; John G., in 1907, and Catherine H., in 1909. Mrs. Diebold is a daughter of Jacob and Margaret (Wolf) Wirges, and was the first white child born in Ogemaw county, the date of her birth being 1875. Mr. Diebold is a member of both the Ancient Order of Gleaners and the Grange, and in the latter takes an active part.
GEORGE R. GIESMAN .- One of the fine old residents of the city of Manistee, Michigan, who has been actively identified with its interests and general welfare for nearly half a century is George R. Giesman, who has long been a dealer in real-estate, loans and insurance, in con- nection with which enterprise he also conducts a steam-ship agency. He was born at Huron, Erie county, Ohio, on the 5th of March, 1842, and his father, whose name was George Giesman, was born at Gross- herzog Zum Hessen Darmstadt, province of Starkenburg Lindenfels, Germany, the date of his nativity having been 1810. George Giesman left Germany in 1825 and emigrated to America, loeating first in the state of New York, whence he removed to Ohio and later to Wisconsin. In 1835 he married Miss Margaret Wendel, at Buffalo, she having been born and reared at Germany. In the summer of 1842 he located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in which city he was one of the first mason eon- traetors, building the first lighthouse on Lake Michigan, at Mackinaw. He did most of the stone and briek work for the La Crosse Railroad, at North Milwaukee, and did all of the stone work at the dam and built the first brick brewery for Best in Milwaukee. Ile also con- structed the original St. Charles hotel on Market Square, Adler's resi-
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dence on the east side, Baumal's Block, Stammn's Block and Conrad's Block on Reede street, as well as many other prominent buildings that were erected during the years of 1840-1850. He was summoned to the life eternal on the 15th of October, 1867, and his cherished and devoted wife passed away in March, 1904. They became the parents of nine children, three of whom are living, George R., of this sketch being the third in order of birth.
George R. Giesman received his educational training in the public schools of Milwaukee. He was employed at farm work during the summer seasons and at the early age of twelve years he began clerking in a store, eventually being given charge of a marine supply store at Milwaukee. In 1867 he established his home at Manistee, where he accepted a position as bookkeeper and yard salesman for the Manistee Planing Mill Company. In the fall of 1871 he became bookkeeper and storeman for the Green & Millmore Lumber Company, retaining that position for two years, and in the spring of 1874 was elected city clerk. In 1875 he engaged in the real-estate, loan and insurance business, in which line of enterprise he has gained most distinctive success. He also conducts a large steam-ship agency for traffic on the Great Lakes and he has other varied interests of broad scope and importance in this section of the state.
Mr. Giesman has ever been aligned as a stalwart supporter of the cause of the Republican party and he has been a most active participant in local polities. In 1870 he was elected supervisor in ward four and in 1874-5 he gave most efficient service as city clerk of Manistee. In 1875 he was acting mayor of the city and in 1883 he was further honored by his fellow citizens in that he was then elected to the office of justice of the peace. In the last mentioned office he received a large majority of votes and was the only Republican elected to a city office at that time. In 1885 Mr. Giesman was a candidate for and was elected to the office of city treasurer and it may be said concerning him that in all his public offices he has acquitted himself with honor and dis- tinction. In a fraternal way he is affiliated with the time-honored Masonic order, in which he has been incumbent of the office of recorder of Manistee Commandery, Knights Templars, for six years. He is also a valued and appreciative member of the Knights of Pythias and both he and his wife are devout members of the Congregational church, in the different departments of whose work they have been most active factors. Mr. Giesman is a God-fearing, law-abiding, progressive citizen and he holds a secure vantage ground in the high regard of the com- munity in which he has so long maintained his home. He has estab- lished a reputation for fair and honorable methods and impregnable integrity and he has ever exerted himself in behalf of progress and good government.
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