USA > Michigan > A history of northern Michigan and its people, Volume II > Part 14
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At Otisville, Genesee county, Michigan, in the year 1878, was sol- emnized the marriage of Charles II. Reynolds to Miss Margaret Craw- ford, who was there born and reared and who remains in the beautiful home in Alpena,-a home endeared and hallowed to her by the many gracious memories and associations of the past. Mr. Reynolds is sur- vived by two sons, William HI. and Charles A.
HON. JOHN S. ELWELL .- Conspicuous on the roll of the prominent men of Standish is the name of the Hon. John S. Elwell, who has played an important and wholly praiseworthy part in the progress and devel- opment of the place. For twenty-eight years he has been identified with its civic, social and commercial life, in the latter department of affairs he represented Hobson & Company's Granite & Marble Works of Saginaw. During the period mentioned he has held many important offices. In 1885 he was elected justice of the peace of the township of Lincoln, and he was subsequently elected justice of the peace of the borough when Standish became such. When Standish was incorporated as a city he was again the choice of the people for that office, of which he is the encumbent at the present time. He likewise served one term as judge of probate; three terms as circuit court commissioner; and in 1895 was admitted to the Michigan bar. The Hon. Mr. Elwell has had a varied though prosperous and honorable career since coming to this city. in which it has been his happiness to win so much of confidence
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and recognition. He has tried several lines of business, -- the sewing machine, the insurance and the undertaking, and in all of them has found the success which ever rewards unbending integrity, unabating energy and initiative and an energy which never flags.
Mr. Elwell is a native of the Wolverine state, his birth having oc- curred in Oakland county on the 8th day of December, 1843. He re- ceived such educational discipline as was necessary to fit him for a life of future usefulness in the common schools. His youth was spent amid rural surroundings, his father being a farmer, and under the excellent tutelage of the elder gentleman he received a training in agriculture in its several departments which would have fitted him for that calling had he desired to assume it. His first adventures in the world of affairs were in the capacity of a harness-maker, but he did not continue long employed in this manner. He removed to Standish in 1884 and at once took an active part in the many-sided life of the community in which his interests are now centered.
In 1870 Mr. Elwell was united in marriage to Miss Jane M., dangh- ter of Amos and Melissa (Park) Brown, the foundation of a happy and congenial life companionship being thus laid. Their children are five in number, namely : Jennie, Frank, Ruth, Arthur D., and William D., the latter deceased.
Mr. Elwell is the son of Darins and Ann (Townsend) Elwell, of the state of New York, who at an early day in its history emigrated to Michigan, where they became prosperous agriculturists. The greater part of the life of this worthy couple was passed in Romeo, Oakland county.
Mr. Elwell is independent in polities, but is very public-spirited, giving active support to all causes likely to result in the greatest good to the greatest number. Fraternally he belongs to the Order of Mac- eabees and in his religious conviction he is Baptist, being a trustee in the church of that denomination.
CHARLES UTTER .- The able and popular incumbent of the office of superintendent of the plant of the American Printing Company at Man- istee, Michigan, is Mr. Charles Utter, who was born at Conneaut, Ashta- bula county, Ohio, on the 28th of April, 1874. His father was Rev. Francis Utter, a Methodist clergyman, who was born in Ohio. Rev. Utter married Miss Charlotte Stuck, a native of Pennsylvania. Dur- ing the period of the Civil war, Rev. Utter was enlisted in the Ohio regi- ment as chaplain and he served in this capacity throughout the war. About 1876 Rev. and Mrs. Utter removed to St. Johns, Michigan, whither he had been sent in connection with his ministerial duties. As time passed he had charge of parishes in different places but eventually he was recalled to St. Johns, where he passed the residue of his life, his death having occurred in the year 1882. The mother passed away at a later date. They were the parents of four children, of which number Charles was the youngest born.
Charles Utter resided with his parents until he had attained to the age of nine years, at which time he went to live with a Mr. Sullivan at Ithaca. Michigan, his father having died when he was but eight years
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old. Hle received his education in the public schools of Gratiot county, often working mornings and evenings in the office and eking out what learning he could in the meantime. In 1885 he went to live with his brother Darain at De Witt, Michigan, who was a teacher by occupation. Charles remained with him, attending school and working at odd jobs until he was eighteen, at which time he went to Kalamazoo, where he entered the employment of the Commercial Printing Company, remain- ing there until 1895. He then took to roving, going to Oxford, Flint and Lapeer, working in various printing offices and remaining but a short time at each one, as none of the places seemed to suit him. Finally he arrived at Manton, where he engaged with the Tribune and where he continued to maintain his home until 1904, in which year he established his home in Manistee, entering the employ of J. H. Shults. In July, 1905, he was proffered and accepted the foremanship of the News Pub- lishing Company, retaining this incumbency until April, 1906, in which year Mr. Kihnke established the American Printing Company and en- gaged Mr. Utter as superintendent of the plant. He has retained this position to the present time, in 1911, and his varied experiences in dif- ferent printing offices have made him a most valuable asset to this concern.
Mr. Utter is a staunch Republican in his political convictions and he is essentially progressive and public-spirited in his eivie attitude. In a fraternal way he is affiliated with the Knights of Pythias and his re- ligions faith is that of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Utter is a most capable business man and he holds a high place in the confidence and esteem of his fellow citizens.
GEORGE HYDE, proprietor of Hyde's Restaurant on Main street, West Branch, Michigan, is one of the wide-awake business men of this city, where he has been identified with his present enterprise the past four years. Mr. Hyde was born in Ireland in 1859, a son of Crawford and Ann Hyde and one of their four children, three of whom are living, he being the only one residing in Michigan. In 1868 the family left the "Emerald Isle" and came to America, making settlement in Lenawee county, Michigan. In this state George was reared and has ever since made his home, notwithstanding in the meantime he has been doing business in various parts of the United States. In early life he learned the mason's trade, at which he spent most of his years. He was an ex- tensive contractor and builder, paying much attention to concrete con- struction in the erection of railroad bridges, viadnets, etc., in all of which he was very successful. He was engaged in this particular line of work from 1885 until recently, and has been in the employ of various railroad companies not only in different parts of the United States but also in Old Mexico. He has been identified with the building of arches, abutments and bridges for the following railroad companies: B. C. & St. L., R. & P., West Shore, Nickle Plate, Omaha, North-Western, N. W. & M., I. C., M. T. & T. In Old Mexico he did construction work for the V. C. & P. and Mexican Central Railroad Companies, in all this work filling the position of either foreman, inspector or superintendent. Having in his employ workmen of different nationalities, it was neces-
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sary for him to familiarize himself with their language, and to-day he speaks the Spanish language quite as fluently as he does his mother tongue.
In 1891 and 1892 Mr. Hyde was a partner in operating Oak Point, a summer resort in Ohio, where he was successful, and in 1910 he set- tled down to the restaurant business in West Branch, where he owns some valuable property, including his residence and several lots. In this business he is ably assisted by his wife, formerly Miss Johanna Peters, and whom he married in 1908. .
An incident in which Mr. Hyde figured and which was written up in the local papers at the time is deserving of mention here, as showing the sort of material of which he is made. While stationed at Minnea- polis, in the employ of the Cook Construction Company, Mr. Hyde risked his life to save that of some boys. It was on Sunday. The scows used in the construction work were tied up to the docks, but through negligence were not locked. Along came three boys who untied one of the scows, got into it and allowed it to run out as far as the lines would permit, without realizing their danger until they found they could not pull the boat back to her former place at the dock. Then there was great excitement on the shore as the people gathered there watched the boys in the little boat. The current of the Mississippi was swift and sure and the dam was high. At this critical moment Mr. Hyde con- ceived the idea of reaching the imperilled boys by propelling himself, hand over hand over the cable, which was about fifteen hundred feet long and ten feet from the water. It was a herculean feat even for an aerobat, but he accomplished it and saved the boys from death.
WALDEMAR E. BROWN .- Since 1900 has Waldemar E. Brown, of Manistee, Michigan, been incumbent of the office of superintend- ent of the Buckley & Douglas Lumber Company lumber yards, having charge of the manufacturing, grading and shipping of this substantial coneern. He was born in the city of Sarpsborg, Norway, on the 18th of August, 1863, and is a son of Bernt J. and Helena (Borganson) Brown. the former of whom died in the old country and the latter accompanied her two children-a boy and a girl-to America in the year 1886, at which time Waldemar E. was twenty-three years of age. The first lo- cation was made at White Cloud, Michigan, whence they moved to Minneapolis, Minnesota, later coming to Manistee, which represents their home at the present time. The mother is still living and she has now attained to the venerable age of sixty-eight years.
Waldemar E. Brown attended the state school of Norway until he had passed through the eighth grade, at which time he was sent to a private institution in which to receive a commercial education. After completing a course in the latter school he entered an office as assistant hookkeeper. later securing a position as elerk in the post office. The year 1880 was devoted to a salt water trip which ineluded various im- portant ports and in 1881 he came to America, his first stopping place being Grand Haven, this state, whence he proceeded to Spring Lake, where he was employed in a mill and humber yard during the summer. The following winter he spent in a lumber camp, returning to Spring
HEBinin.
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Lake in the spring. For two or three years thereafter he did hard man- nal labor in the mills, yards and camps, and in the fall of 1883 he went to Hungerford, where he worked in a lumber yard, planing mill and saw mill, after which he became assistant superintendent of the board- ing house of Stewart, Ives & Company. Later he was transferred to the yards of this concern, where he learned to inspect humber. In 1888 he removed to Diamond Lake, where for the Michigan Lumber Com- pany he acted as edgeman, trimmer and lumber inspector. After seven years identification with this concern he went to Lilly Junction, where he inspected lumber of the Sissons-Lilly Lumber Company and to- wards the close of his identification with them had charge of the yards. He remained there until the spring of 1897, at which time he went to Cloquet, Minnesota, as inspector for the Northern Lumber Company. In July, 1897, he established his home in Manistee, engaging with the Buckley & Douglas Lumber Company as inspector. Some time later he became foreman of the Lake Shore yards and in 1900, as previously noted, he was appointed superintendent of the yards, having charge of manufacturing, grading and shipping.
On the 13th of July, 1885, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Brown to Miss Phyllis Gardner, of Big Rapids. She was born in Canada, a daughter of George and Margaret (Moulee) Gardner, the former a na- tive of Canada and the latter of Ohio, their arrival in Michigan occur- ring when Phyllis was a mere child. The father was long engaged as ship carpenter, and his death occurred in Michigan about the year 1903, the mother still surviving. Mr. and Mrs. Brown became the parents of six children, concerning whom the following brief data are here re- corded-Walter was born on the 19th of May 1886; Mary Catherine, on the 3rd of July, 1887; Elmer, born April 14th, 1889, died on the 27th of April of the same year; Isabella was born on the 26th of March. 1890; Joseph, born on the 17th of March, 1893, died on the 28th of May the same year; and Charles was born on the 17th of December, 1892.
Mr. Brown is a Republican in his political proclivities and he is a man whose civic attitude is of the most progressive order. While a resident of Lilly he served as justice of the peace and as a school di- rector. In 1905 he was elected fire and police commissioner of Man- istee, serving in that office until 1908. In the spring of 1910 he was given further evidence of popular confidence and esteem in that he was then elected mayor of Manistee, in which office he gave a most efficient administration of the municipal affairs of the city, and was re-elected mayor in the spring of 1911.
His fraternal connections are with the following organizations : Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks; Knights of the Maccabees : Modern Brotherhood of America; Knights of the White Cross; Modern Romans ; the Scandinavian Working Men's Association ; and the Eagles. He and his wife are devont communicants of the Catholic Church, hold- ing membership in the Guardian Angel church, in the various depart- ments of whose work they have been most zealous factors.
FRANK C. ADAMSKI .- An enterprising citizen of the younger gen- eration in Manistee, Michigan, is Frank C. Adamski, who was born at
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this place on the 15th of September, 1881. He is a son of Joseph and Mary (Jarka) Adamski, both of whom were born in Germany, whence they emigrated to America about the year 1872, locating at Manistee, where the father began working in the mills. He was employed by Louis Sands and he continuel to be identified with lumbering operations for a period of seventeen years, at the expiration of which he purchased a tract of forty acres of land two and a half miles distant from Man- istee, reclaiming a fine farm from the wilderness. In 1889 he purchased a small grocery business at Oak Hill, which he enlarged in 1900 by building an addition to the store, fitting the place up with all the most modern equipment. He also constructed a house adjoining the store and there he and his wife now maintain their home.
Frank C. Adamski is the fourth in order of birth in a family of eight children, all of whom are living, He received his preliminary education in the parochial and public schools of Manistee county, spending two years in the local high school. In 1897 he went to Mil- waukee, where he entered the employ of the Lincoln Avenne Drug Company as an apprentice, remaining there one year, after which he became a student in the Milwaukee Medical College, in which well ordered institution he was graduated in the class of 1900, duly receiv- ing his degree of Bachelor of Pharmacy. After his graduation he re- turned to Michigan, where he successfully passed an examination be- fore the Michigan Board of Pharmacy, after which he accepted a posi- tion with W. R. Hall of Manistee, as pharmacist, continuing in his em- ploy for seven consecutive years. In 1907, however, his health became impaired and he was forced to resign his position. After attending col- lege for one year he returned to Manistee, where he established the Red Cross Pharmacy on the 1st of July, 1909. He equipped the store with the latest fittings, dispensing with the old-style counters and in- stalling up-to-date show cases instead, placing cach upon a marble base. This splendid establishment is one of the show places of the town and it controls a large and lucrative trade. Mr. Adamski is a stalwart sup- porter of the principles and policies for which the Democratic party stands sponsor and he manifests a deep and abiding interest in all mat- ters pertaining to the general welfare of the community. In a fraternal way he is connected with the Knights of Columbus and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. He is a devout communicant of the Catholic church and holds membership in the St. Joseph's parish.
On the 15th of June, 1910, Mr. Adamski was united in marriage to Miss Margaret Schmelling, a daughter of William and Margaret Schmelling, both of whom are prominent citizens of Manistee, where the father is a contractor and builder by vocation. Mr. and Mrs. Adamski are popular factors in connection with the best social activities of Manistee and their home is a recognized center of most refined and gracious hospitality.
PROFESSOR ELMER N. DURFEE .- It is not to be gainsaid that there is no office carrying with it so much of responsibility as that of the in- structor who moulds the plastic mind of youth, who instills into the formative brain those principles which, when matured. will be the chief
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heritage of the active man who in due time will sway the multitudes, lead armies, govern nations or frame the laws by which civilized na- tions are governed. To say that all learned men are capable of filling this high and important office is by no means the truth. One is inclined frequently to believe that the true instructor is born and not made; he must have a vast knowledge of human nature; he must know not only what is in books but what is in man also,- that is, he must understand his pupil and deal with his mind according to his individuality.
Among the popular instruetors of Michigan is Professor Durfee. His education and long experience, together with his knowledge of youthful human nature, have fitted him in a high degree to fill his present position as superintendent of the Standish public schools. He has held his present positon since 1905, and in the ensuing years has given abundant satisfaction to pupils and parents. The Standish public school is upon a high plane of excellence. It has twelve grades and a corps of nine competent teachers, and fits its students for the best of the colleges. In the course of study are two languages. There are three hundred and sixty pupils enrolled on its books and it graduates on an average of ten students per year.
Professor Durfee is a native of the Wolverine state and the year of his birth was 1866. He is the son of Edgar and Elizabeth (Bennett) Durfee, both of whom are likewise natives of the state. They are of English parentage, the subject's grandparents having come here in the early history of the state, and, attracted by its manifold advantages, made it their permanent home. Professor Durfee was reared and re- ceived his education of a preliminary character in the schools of Shia- wassee and Clare counties, and a great part of his higher education was obtained after the attainment of his majority. Later in life, and after he had had many years experience in teaching, he concluded his work in the State Normal College of Michigan, passing in 1908 those final examinations which qualified him for all state work for life. He has to his eredit twenty years as an instructor and he enjoys high prestige among instructors throughout the state.
In 1891 Professor Durfee established a happy home and eongenial life companionship by his marriage to Miss Katia Kellogg. Their union has been blessed by the birth of five children,-Ruth, Walter, Joy, Max and Harold.
In the matter of political conviction Professor Durfee subscribes to the articles of faith of the Republican party and in evidence of the con- fidence which he has inspired in the community is the fact that he has been several times elected to public office, having held the positions of justice of the peace, supervisor and alderman. He is public spirited and his right hand is ever given to such good causes as he believes will result in benefit to the whole body politic. Fraternally he is a member of the time-honored Masonic order.
HERBERT L. Dow is a native son of the state of Maine, where his birth occurred on the 28th of June, 1866, and is a scion of fine old New Eng- land families, his parents being Oscar R. and IFelen A. (Dolloff) Dow. who moved west to Michigan in 1867, at which time Herbert L. was an
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infant of but one year. Like all the early pioneers Oscar R. Dow worked in the lumber woods for a number of years after his arrival in this state. In 1875 he purchased a tract of two hundred acres of land, to which he soon added another tract of forty acres, in Gladwin county, where he was located for twenty-nine years, and then he sold that es- tate and bought two hundred and forty acres in Sage township, where he has been engaged in agricultural pursuits during the long interven- ing years to the present time and where he and his wife still maintain their home. He has served his township and county in various public offices of responsibility and trust, having been county treasurer and township treasurer, besides which he was also highway commissioner. He and his wife became the parents of four children, namely,-Herbert L., the immediate subject of this review; Frank, Fred and Lelia, of whom the latter three were born in Michigan.
Herbert L. Dow was reared to the invigorating influence of the home farm, in whose work he early became associated with his father, and he received his preliminary educational training in the common schools of Gladwin county. At an early age he manifested an aptitude for me- chanics, and accordingly he studied and eventually mastered station- ary steam engineering, for which work he procured a license. For sev- eral years he resided at Wagerville, Gladwin county, Michigan, where he kept a store and operated a cheese factory, and in 1907 he established his home at Gladwin, where he owns and operates a saw mill, a planing mill and a machine shop. He has been interested in the lumber busi- ness since 1894 and in connection with his machine shop he makes a specialty of automobile repairing. He is a representative citizen and has gained a wide reputation for unquestioned integrity and fair and honorable methods in connection with all his business dealings. He has ever been progressive and enterprising and it is an historical fact that with his father he owned and ran the first threshing machine in this county, operating the same for a period of nine years. In polities he has ever been aligned as a loyal supporter of the principles of the Democratic party and in connection with political affairs was supervisor of Grout township for seven years. He is now, in 1911, clerk of the city of Gladwin, in connection with the duties of which office he is ac- quitting himself most creditably. Socially he is a member of the Ma- sonic order, the Knights of the Maccabees and the Grange, and the re- ligious faith of the family is in harmony with the Methodist Episcopal church. His father and mother were of the Presbyterian faith.
In the year 1890 was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Dow to Miss Effie G. Woods, who was born and reared in Sanilae county. To this union have been born five children,-Edson, Ethel, Vera, Russell and Irma. Mr. Dow is a citizen whose loyalty and public spirit have been of the most insistent order and it is bnt consonant to state here that no one in Gladwin holds a higher place in popular confidence and regard than does he.
GEORGE W. DOANE .- Although a civil engineer by profession George W. Doane has been engaged in the abstraet business at Gladwin, Mich- gan, since 1900 and he has taken an active part in the political affairs of
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the community, ably filling some of the most important offices that the city has had to offer. He was born in Gratiot county, Michigan, on the 23d of August, 1864, and is a son of Harrison P. and Frances (Crandall) Doane, the former of whom was a native of the state of New York, whence he came to the old Wolverine state with his parents when but three years of age. The mother was likewise born in the Empire state of the Union and she is now living, at the age of seventy-five years, in Huntington Park, California. The Doane family on their arrival in this state located in Oakland county, where they entered a tract of gov- ernment land and continued to be identified with agricultural pursuits until the respective deaths of the father and son. Ilarrison P. and Frances Doane became the parents of three children, two of whom are now living,-George W., the immediate subject of this review, and Mrs. J. M. Thayer, of Huntington Park, California.
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