USA > Michigan > A history of northern Michigan and its people, Volume II > Part 17
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In a social way Mr. Foster is a member of the Masonic order, in which he is affiliated with Gladwin Lodge No. 397, Free and Accepted Masons; and Gladwin Chapter No. 157, Royal Arch Masons; besides which he holds memberships in the Order of Eastern Star, the Knights of Pythias, the Independent Order of Foresters, the Tribe of Ben Hur, the Loyal Guards and the Patrons of Husbandry. Mr. Foster has ever manifested a deep and abiding interest in all matters pertaining to the general good of the community and he has made for himself an enviable record for reliability in business, loyalty in citizenship and fidelity in friendship, besides which he has added to these admirable qualities unswerving faithfulness in office.
H. E. REA, D. V. S., West Branch, Michigan, was born in the province of Ontario, Canada, in 1878, son of Robert and Hannah Rea, both natives of that place, where the father died in 1910. There the sub- ject of this sketch was reared and educated. He is a graduate of the Toronto Veterinary College, with the class of 1902, and since his gradu- ation has been engaged in the practice of his profession at West Branch, which, having no other registered veterinary surgeon, he has found a good field for his labor. A lover of domestic animals, and espe- cially of horses, and equipped with superior technical training, Dr. Rea has from the very beginning of his practice met with marked suc- cess. In addition to practicing his profession and conducting a hos- pital at West Branch, he deals extensively in horses, buying and selling at all seasons of the year and is regarded as one of the best judges of horses in Ogemaw county. He is a member of the Michigan Veterinary Association, and enjoys the distinction of being a director of that body. Socially the Doctor is a member of the Knights of Pythias and the Royal Guards.
He is the only member of his family in the United States, the others having remained at the old home in Canada. In 1906 he married Miss Nellie Longwell, daughter of Charles Longwell, and they have one daughter, Ethel.
STEPHEN H. CORNELL, M. D .- During the years which mark the period of Dr. Cornell's professional career he has met with gratifying success and during the period of his residence in Copemish he has won the good will and patronage of many of the best citizens here. He is a thorough student and endeavors to keep abreast of the times in every- thing relating to the discoveries in medical science. Progressive in his ideas and favoring modern methods as a whole, he does not dis- pense with the time-tried systems whose valne has stood the test of years. He now stands very high in the medical profession of the state and is in the most significant sense a self-made man.
Dr. Stephen II. Cornell was born in the province of Ontario, Canada,
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on the 2nd of March, 1869, and he is a son of David and Melissa (Smith) Cornell, both of whom were likewise born in Canada, whence they removed with their family to Michigan, in 1879. Location was first made at Reed City, Osceola county, where the father engaged in the timber and real-estate business. In 1890 the family home was es- tablished at Copemish, Manistee county, where David Cornell devoted his attention to the drug business. The parents are now residents of Copemish. Stephen H. was the first in order of birth in a family of five children, one of whom, Alexander S. Cornell, is also engaged in the practice of medicine in this city. On other pages of this work are given fuller data concerning the latter's career. Stephen H. Cornell was af- forded the advantages of the public schools of Reed City and in 1887 he entered the Detroit Medical College, pursuing the full course and graduating as a member of the class of 1890, with the degree of Doctor of Medicine. During vacations, while at college, the Doctor earned money with which to pay a portion of his expenses by teaching school. After his graduation he was interne at St. Mary's Hospital, in the city of Detroit, for one year. Thereafter he pursued a post-graduate course in the Bellevue Hospital College, in New York City, and he also took an electro-physical course, under the able preceptorship of Dr. Junettner, of Cincinnati, Ohio. He then went into Upper Michigan as physician and surgeon at the Calumet and Hecla mines and in 1891 he came to Copemish, where he established his home, and here he opened offices and entered upon the active practice of his profession. He has gained eminent precedence as an able and skilled physician and surgeon and in connection with his work has given most efficient service as an officer of the board of health of Copemish.
Dr. Cornell has been twice married. In 1893 he wedded Miss Alice Cunningham, of this city. She was born in the state of New York and came to Michigan with her parents about 1877. The family resided for a time at Freesoil, from whence she went to Flint, Michigan, and re- ceived most of her education. Mr. Cunningham was long engaged in the timber business. Mrs. Cornell came to Copemish as assistant post- mistress. She was summoned to the life eternal in 1898 and in 1905 the Doctor was united in marriage to Miss Genevieve Dean, of Sherman, this state. She is a daughter of William and Demarious (Baldwin) Dean, both of whom were born in Michigan and resided at Sherman until their death. Dr. and Mrs. Cornell have one child, Demarious Ade- line, who was born on the 17th of August, 1910.
Dr. Cornell is affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Knights of the Maccabees, besides which he is also enrolled as a member of various professional organizations of representative charac- ter. His interest in political questions is deep and sincere and he gives an earnest support to Democratie principles, believing that the plat- form of the party contains the best elements of good government. Concentration of purpose and persistently applied energy rarely fail of success in the accomplishment of any task, however great, and in tracing the career of Dr. Cornell it is plainly seen that these have been the secret of his success.
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PETER E. SHIEN .- The lumber interests of Michigan, which are of vast extent and significanee, have been developed and promoted by men of great enterprise, foresight and sagacity, prominent among the number being Peter E. Shien, a well known and highly respected resi- dent of Tawas City, Iosco county. A son of Michael Shien, he was born February 14, 1848, in Elmira, Chemung county, New York. Michael Shien migrated with his family to Michigan in 1852, becoming a pio- neer settler of Holly, Oakland county. He was a contraetor by oceupa- tion, in that line of industry doing his full share toward bringing the state to its present advanced condition as regards its material prop- perity. He married Mary Brickley, and of their eleven children four survive, but Peter E., the ninth child in succession of birth, and a sis- ter are the only ones of the family living in Michigan.
Reared on a farm, Peter E. Shien attended the district schools until sixteen years of age, and being an exceptionally good scholar, there laid a substantial foundation for a future prosperons eareer. Enlisting in 1864 in Company K, Fifth Michigan Volunteer Infantry, he served until the close of the Civil war, first as a musician and afterward as mounted orderly on the staffs of both General Haneock and General Grant, his proficiency in horsemanship and his faithfulness in duty well qualifying him for the position. He was honorably discharged from the service on August 16, 1865, at Parkersburg, Indiana, having during his term of enlistment received no wounds, although he was se- verely injured during the engagement at Petersburg, Virginia, by being thrown from his horse.
Returning home, Mr. Shien again attended school for a while, mate- rially advancing his education. In 1867 he went to An Sable, Iosco county, where he was for a while employed in the fishery business. . Subsequently making an entire change of occupation, Mr. Shien em- barked in the Inmber business, with which he was actively associated for thirty-eight consecutive years, holding numerons responsible posi- tions in the lumber distriets of Michigan. He became an expert esti- mator of timber, sometimes estimating for the buyer, sometimes for the seller, and frequently for both, his calculations in every case varying but very little from the figures taken by actual measurement. He has likewise had the management of the shipment of much Inmber to New York and other eastern shipping points, ably handling its transporta- tion. Although so long connected with the lumber trade, he has been in the employ of but three firms, his long retention by each being greatly to his credit.
Taking a warm interest in public affairs, Mr. Shien has filled many offices of importanee since becoming a resident of Michigan. For eight years he was land trespass agent for the state government; in 1896 he was elected sheriff of Iosco county; and for a number of years was treasurer and supervisor of Oseodo township. Fraternally he is a Scottish Rite Mason, having taken the thirty-second degree in Ma- sonry. and a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of the Independent Order of Foresters and of the National Union.
Mr. Shien married, in 1871, Jennie Van Wormer, and their only child lived but a brief time. Mr. and Mrs. Shien have an attractive home in
Homer & Benedict
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Tawas City, and its hospitable doors are ever open to their large circle of warm friends and acquaintances.
HOMER G. BENEDICT .- Prominent among the more active and valued citizens of Grayling is Homer G. Benedict, who has through his ability and trustworthiness won the full confidence of his fellow-inen, and as sheriff of Crawford county is performing his official duties with charac- teristic fidelity and intelligence. A native of Wisconsin, he was born, in 1852, in Dodge county. His father, Ira Benedict, was born in Ohio and was united in marriage with Vanelia M. Meeker, of Ohio, and after a time moved to Dodge county, Wisconsin, where he spent the remainder of his days. After his death his wife moved with six children to Hills- dale county, where she spent her remaining days. Of the seven children born to Ira Benedict and his wife, three survive, namely : Luther C., Homer G. and Thomas G.
But six years old when his mother settled in Michigan, Homer G. Benedict acquired his early education in the rural schools of Hillsdale county, living there until 1888. Making his first appearance in Craw- ford county in that year, he embarked in farming and butchering, in the latter industry being prosperously employed for twenty-two years. He was also successful as an agriculturist, and has title to a partly im- proved farm of eighty acres, pleasantly located in Beaver Creek town- ship, Crawford county. Mr. Benedict has an honorable record of citi- zenship, and in the various official positions to which he has been elected by the people has served to the utmost satisfaction of all concerned. He was township treasurer for two years; justice of the peace eight years; postmaster at Wellington, Crawford county, an equal length of time; was supervisor by appointment one year; and has filled various offices of minor importance. On January 1, 1911, he assumed his office as sheriff of the county, and to its duties is devoting his time and energies, pleasing and satisfying his fellow-citizens on either side of the political fence.
Mr. Benedict married, in 1873, Pauline M. Lee, who was born in Hillsdale county, Michigan, in 1854. Her parents, John and Mercy Lee, natives respectively, of Connecticut and New York state, settled in Hills- dale county, Michigan, in 1845 and with true pioneer courage redeemed a farm from the wilderness. Into their humble home nine children were born, two of whom are living, namely: Levi C. Lee and Mrs. Benedict. Mr. and Mrs. Benedict are parents of six children, as follows : Mercy B., born June 29, 1874, married Herman Gohn; Luna I., born April 28, 1876, married George Annis; Gertrude M., born October 17, 1878, mar- ried August Wright; Elizabeth V., born December 25, 1884, married Christopher King; Eva B., born March 3, 1892, at home; and Frank L., born March 26, 1897, also at home.
IRVING CADY FRENCH .- Of the younger generation of business men of Kalkaska county, there is none, it is quite safe to say, more truly en- titled to the respect and confidence of the community in which his inter- ests are centered than Irving Cady French, junior member of the retail lumber firm of N. A. French & Co. He is one of the most progressive Vol. II-9
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of the men connected with that important Michigan industry, lumber, and his identification will now number more than a decade of years. He is the scion of a family long founded on American shores, Lieuten- ant William French having come to the new land, destined to become the abode of the "free and the home of the brave" only a few years subsequent to the Mayflower, while a long line of bearers of the name has exemplified those high ideals of citizenship which characterize Mr. French.
By the circumstance of birth Irving Cady French is a native of the Empire state, the scene of his nativity having been Springville, Erie county, New York, and his birthdate March 26, 1876. When Macaulay was shown the clustering vines in Hampton Court, with trunk like unto a tree, he expressed a wish to behold the mother root in Spain from which the scion was cut, and similarly it is but natural to desire to trace the ancestral forces that are unitel in every son and daughter of ability and high ideals. The family of the subject of this review is a very old and honored one, claiming its origin from Rollo, Duke of Normandy, a Norman Viking who settled in France in 910, several gen- erations before William the Conqueror appeared upon the horizon and effectually changed the progress of events for all time. The line is traced unbroken from the above-mentioned Lieutenant William French. He was born March 15, 1603, in Halstead, Essex county, England, came to America in 1635, and settled in Cambridge, Massachusetts, becom- ing one of the original proprietors and earliest settlers of Billerica, Middlesex county, Massachusetts, which settlement was founded in 1652. The records in the possession of Mr. French are silent as to the occupation of that gentleman, but it is very evident that he was a man of influence and importance in a day when native worth was tolerably sure of recognition and the record of his life is one of which his de- scendants cannot be otherwise than proud. A lieutenant of militia, he was afterwards promoted to the rank of captain; from 1660 to 1669 he served as selectman; he was the first deputy, or representative of Billerica in the General Court at Boston and was very active in the cause of Indian instruction. He died November 20, 1681, crowned with years and honors, a type of the stanch and public-spirited American which has enabled the nation to become what it is. The subsequent line is as follows: Corporal John, born in 1635; his son, William, was born in 1687; Nathaniel, son of the foregoing, was born in 1721 ; his son, Joel, was born in 1768; his son, Nathaniel, was born March 5, 1812, at Dum- merston, Vermont, and died November 21, 1876, at Susquehanna, Penn- sylvania. The latter was a farmer throughout the course of his life, and for many years was a deacon in the Baptist church. His son, Newell A., father of the subject, was born October 28, 1838, in Jackson township, Susquehanna, Pennsylvania, secured a common school education, removed to New York and was there living at the time of the birth of Mr. French.
The place and time of the nativity of that highly esteemed gentle- man, the late Newell Andrew French, has been given. IIis death oc- curred July 28, 1910, his years at the time of his demise being seventy- one, and his memory is likely to remain green in the hearts of the many
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friends he has left behind on his journey to that "bourne whence no traveler returns." He was a man who gave an intelligent and altruis- tie consideration to such questions as affected the welfare and progress of the community in general; he was a stanch Republican in politics. He was engaged in the lumber business and was a contracting builder. He was entrusted with various offices in municipal and civic bodies, was for thirteen years county superintendent of the poor of Kalkaska county and at all times gave ample proof that his circle of interest was by no means co-incident with that of his own affairs. He married Sarah Jane Cady, the daughter of Ebenezer S. and Mary (Oyer) Cady. She was of German and English extraction, the paternal ancestor, Nicholas Cady, having come to America from England in 1644, while the Oyers were Germans. Mrs. French was born in Schuyler, Her- kimer county, New York, January 13, 1844, and died in Kalkaska, August 29, 1900, after a life of great worthiness. There were in the family two children, Mr. French being the first in order of birth.
His father having removed to Kalkaska in 1876, the early years of Mr. French were passed here and it was here that he obtained an ex- cellent public school education, being graduated from the higher de- partment in June, 1893. He subsequently took a business course in Benzonia College at Benzonia, Michigan. Previous to this, however, in 1885, he had attained to the position of "printer's devil," in the office of the Kalkaska Leader, and in this manner vacations and hours after school until his school days were concluded were utilized in the varied and strenuous fashion common to the vocation named above. The office is one which is popularly declared to constitute an education of a liberal character in itself and Mr. French made the most of the opportunities presented in this line. At one time he worked for a banker-editor who evinced great interest as to what he did with his earnings and finally induced him to save each week a stated portion of them,-the money to be deposited in his bank. We have Mr. French's own word for it that the bank and the advice both proved good and the savings of those days formed the basis of what was later invested in the present business. Mr. N. A. French had embarked in the lumber business in 1899, and the subject became the junior member of the re- tail lumber firm of N. A .French & Son, in which business the latter still continues, his father's recent demise having left him in sole man- agement. The business has grown with the years and is one of Kal- kaska's important institutions. Mr. French deals in rough and manu- factured lumber, lath, shingles, doors and windows, and in mouldings, porch trimmings, building paper and ready roofing.
On May 14, 1902, Mr. French laid the foundations of a happy home and a congenial life companionship by his marriage to Miss Cora D. Terpening, daughter of George A. and Ella E. Terpening, of Reading, Michigan, the father being a fruit grower by occupation. The mar- riage of Mr. and Mrs. French was solemnized in Reading and has re- sulted in the birth of three children, all born in Kalkaska, Michigan. They are as follows: Charles B., November 15, 1904; Frances E., De- cember 14, 1906; and Marian J., June 4, 1910.
Mr. French is a Republican in politics, but has taken in this de-
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partment of affairs only the interest of the intelligent voter, and has never held publie office. Although giving his heart and hand to all good movements, he does not belong to any church. Ile is a prominent and popular Mason, and is and has been for nine years, secretary of Kalkaska lodge No. 332, Free and Accepted Masons. He pays homage to "the heavenly maid." having no small amount of musical taste and talent ; is saxaphonist in the local band and has held various offices in the organization.
JAMES M. MAGMER .- It has been given this native son of the world's greatest metropolis to gain precedence as one of the prominent and valued factors in connection with the industrial activities of northern Michigan, and he is numbered among the representative business men of Ludington, the judicial center of Mason county, where he stands exponent of progressive spirit and eivie loyalty.
Mr. Magmer, who is one of the interested principals in the Cartier Manufacturing Company, of Ludington, where he is also engaged in the undertaking business, was born in the city of London, England, on the 18th of March, 1863, and is a son of Julius and Mary (Claney) Magmer, the former of whom was born in Germany and the latter of whom was born in London, of stanneh Irish lineage. The mother died in London, and the venerable father has for many years maintained his home in the eity of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where he took up his resi- denee about the year 1876, soon after his emigration to the United States. His sterling attributes of character have gained and retained to him the high regard of those with whom he has come in contact dur- ing his long and useful life.
He whose name forms the caption of this article was a lad of about thirteen years of age at the time of the family removal from London to America. In his native city he had secured his rudimentary education, which was supplemented by attendance in the publie sehools of Mil- waukee. When abont eighteen years of age he seeured employment with the Pere Marquette Steamship Company, for which he worked on the first steamboat put into commission by this company,-the F. & P. M. steamer "No. 1." Ile was thereafter assigned to duty on one vessel after another until the initiation of the car-ferry system of the company, when he became chief steward of the system, with headquar- ters in the city of Ludington, where he thus took up his residence in 1895. He continued in the employ of this company for the long period of twenty-two years, and as chief steward he had charge of supplies for the great car-ferry boats and other steamers of the line.
Upon severing his connection with this corporation, Mr. Magmer be- came associated with Messrs. Antoine and Charles E. Cartier in the mercantile business conducted by the Cartier Manufacturing Company. and in this connection, as a stoekholder of the company, he assumed charge of its extensive double brick store in the Fourth ward of the city of Ludington. He is still interested in this enterprise but since 1907 he has given the major portion of his time and attention to his indi- vidual business as an undertaker and funeral director. He has a finely
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equipped establishment, with the most modern of facilities and acces- sories.
In polities Mr. Magmer accords a staunch allegiance to the Republi- can party, though he has never been an aspirant for publie office. Both he and his wife are communicants of the Catholic church and for the past decade he has been president of the Ludington organization of the Catholic Mutual Benefit Association. He is also affiliated with the Knights of Columbus, the Knights of the Modern Maccabees, the Sons of King Jaequa, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and the Gaelie Knights. He is specially zealous in connection with the work of the Catholic church, and both he and his wife are prominent members of the parish of St. Simon's in their home city.
On the 21st of May, 1883, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Mag- mer to Miss Mary A. Duffy, of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in which state she was born and reared. They became the parents of two sons and two daughters, namely: John J., Loretta, Harry and Margaret. All of the children are living exeept Loretta, who died at the age of eigh- teen years.
MARTIN ABRAHAMSON is one of the energetic business men of the younger generation in Ludington, whither he came with his parents when a child of but four years of age. He was born at Brevik, Nor- way, on the 21st of September, 1881, and is a son of Lars and Johanna (Christofferson) Abrahamson, both of whom were likewise born in Norway, where they were reared and educated and where their mar- riage was solemnized. They emigrated to Ameriea in 1885 and imme- diately thereafter established their home in Ludington, where they still reside and where the father is engaged in shipping and selling gravel. Ile was long a sailor on the Great Lakes and was also interested at one time in ship-building. Mr. and Mrs. Abrahamson became the parents of six children, three sons and three daughters, all of whom are living, Martin being the second in order of birth.
Martin Abrahamson was reared and edneated at Ludington and he was engaged in various kinds of work during his youth, paying his own school expenses. In 1907 he and his brother John became interested in the coal, wood and cement business, under the firm name of Abraham- son & Brothers. On the first of Jannary, 1910, Mr. Abrahamson pur- chased his brother's share in the business and the same is now being run under the title of Martin Abrahamson, with location at the foot of Emily street, south of the railroad tracks. Mr. Abrahamson has been eminently successful in his various business enterprises and he is rapidly gaining prestige as one of the influential citizens of Ludington. In politics he accords a stalwart allegiance to the cause of the Republican party and though he has never manifested aught of ambition or desire for publie office of any description he ever gives freely of his aid and influenee to all movements projected for the general welfare of the community. His religious faith is in harmony with the tenets of the Norwegian Methodist Episcopal church, in which he is serving as steward. He is a bachelor.
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