USA > Michigan > A history of northern Michigan and its people, Volume II > Part 27
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Dr. Edward E. MeKnight was reared to the sturdy discipline of the home farm and gained his preliminary educational discipline in the district schools, after which he continued his studies in turn in the Grand Rapids high school and the normal school at Valparaiso, Indiana, now known as the Northern Indiana University. In this institution he was graduated as a member of the class of 1887 and for the following two years he was a successful and popular teacher in the public schools of Michigan, his services in this profession having been given in Kent county. He was then matriculated in the medical department of the University of Michigan, in which he completed the prescribed four years' course and was graduated as a member of the class of 1894. in June of which year he received his well earned degree of Doctor of Medicine. Ile came forth well fortified for the work of his chosen and most exacting profession, and his novitiate in the same was served in the city of Grand Rapids, where he continued in active general prac- tice until 1897, when he removed to Alpena, which attractive little city has since been the scene of his earnest and successful labors as a physician and surgeon. He has built up a large and representative practice of general order and has kept in close touch with the advanecs made in both departments of his profession, to the best standard and periodical literature of which he has constant recourse. He served two terms as city health officer, and he is actively identified with the American Medical Association. the Michigan State Medical Society, and the Alpena County Medical Society.
As a citizen Dr. MeKnight is essentially progressive and public- spirited, and there has been no dearth of evidence of his personal popu- larity in his home city. In 1906 he was elected mayor of Alpena, and
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the best voucher for the efficiency and acceptability of his administra- tion was that given in his re-election as his own successor in 1908, so that he continued incumbent of the office of chief executive of the municipal government for four consecutive years. His regime was notable for its progressiveness and he kept himself thoroughly informed concerning the affairs of all departments of the municipal government, in which he instituted wise economic measures and policies. Both he and his wife are communicants of the Catholic church, in which they are zealous and valued members of the parish of St. Bernard's church, and in politics he has ever accorded an unequivocal allegiance to the Democratic party.
On the 26th of June, 1900, was solemnized the marriage of Dr. MeKnight to Miss Elizabeth Potvin, who was born and reared in the city of Alpena and who is a daughter of Jules and Elizabeth (O'Neil) Potvin, both of whom are now deceased and of whose two children Mrs. McKnight is the younger; her brother, Edward, is a resident of Memphis, Tennessee, where he is engaged in the hotel business. Jules Potvin was of French lineage and was born in the province of Quebec, Canada. He was one of the pioneers of Alpena, Michigan, and here erected the old Alpena House, a hotel which he successfully conducted for many years. He was a well known and highly esteemed citizen of this section of the state, was a Democrat in his political proclivities and both he and his wife were communicants of the Catholic church. Dr. and Mrs. McKnight have one son, Paul F., who was born on the 18th of May, 1901. The attractive family home is a center of refined and cordial hospitality and both Dr. and Mrs. McKnight are popular factors in the best social activities of the community.
JOHN J. SAXTON .- A strong and representative citizen of Farwell, John J. Saxton holds a place of prominence in business circles, being postmaster and undertaker, and is active in public affairs, and in fraternal organizations. A native of Lenawee county, Michigan, he was born in Tecumseh village in 1859, a son of John and Dorinda (Daniels) Saxton, the former of whom was born in Pennsylvania, while the latter claimed New York for her native state.
Left fatherless at the age of five years, John J. Saxton was given such educational advantages, only, as the village school afforded, and at the age of fourteen years began life as a wage-earner in the paper mills, where he continued working for about eight years. Desirous then of finding more remunerative employment, he prospected in different localities, finally becoming a clerk at a lunch counter at Toledo, Ohio. Soon resigning that business, Mr. Saxton became brakeman on the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railroad, but four months of that work proved sufficient for him, and he made a change of occupation, going to Ishpeming, Michigan, as clerk in a hotel. Coming from there to Farwell, Clare county, in 1882, he accepted a position as clerk in a store, and when his employers transferred their stock and business to a place then called Meredith, Mr. Saxton accompanied them, and remained with them two years. He then opened a barber shop at that place and followed that trade. After traveling a while Mr. Saxton
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returned to Farwell where he continued in that business for some time. In 1897 being appointed postmaster. In 1907 he entered the under- taking business and is now postmaster and undertaker.
A zealous supporter of the principles of the Republican party, he has never shirked the responsibilities devolving upon him as a public- spirited, faithful citizen, but has served in various offices, having been village clerk, village trustee, and for many terms a school trustee. He is an active member of the Farwell Improvement Society, and belongs to the Ancient Free and Accepted Order of Masons, and to the Knights of the Maccabees. In his religious beliefs he is liberal, and attends the Congregational church.
Mr. Saxton has been twice married. He married first, in 1888, Alice Foster, who was born in England, and came to this country alone, join- ing an annt who was living in Farwell. She passed to the higher life in 1900, having borne him five children, three of whom died in infancy, while two are living, namely: Ethel Gertrude, a student at the Mount Pleasant Normal School; and Percy Webster, attending the Mount Pleasant High School. When at home both of these children assist their father in the postoffice, serving as deputy postmasters. Mr. Saxton married second, in 1901, Mrs. Adella Hammond, nee Barrett.
PHILIP E. BAILEY .- Mason county is signally favored in the person- nel of her corps of officials, and one of the most efficient and popular members of the same is Mr. Bailey, who is incumbent of the position of county clerk and who is one of the best known citizens of Ludington. He has been a resident of Michigan from the time of his birth and is a scion of one of the sterling pioneer families of this state, while his course has been such as to uphold the prestige of the name which he bears and to make him a valued factor in the world's great army of workers.
Philip E. Bailey was born in Walker township, Kent county, Mich- igan, on the 7th of December, 1853, and is a son of Alexander C. and Acenath (Matthews) Bailey, the former of whom was born in Weathers- field, Connecticut, a scion of a family founded in New England in the colonial days, and the latter was a native of the province of Ontario, Canada. Alexander C. Bailey was reared to maturity in his native state and as a youth of nineteen years he came to Michigan and num- bered himself eventually among the pioneers of Kent county, where he developed a farm and also followed the work of his trade, that of blacksmith. He there continued to reside until his death, which oc- curred when he was forty-six years of age, and his devoted wife was forty-five years of age at the time she was summoned to the life eternal. They became the parents of two sons and two daughters, all of whom attained to years of maturity, and of the number Philip E. is the young- est. The other son, George L., is one of the representative farmers of Walker township, Kent county.
The future clerk of Mason county was reared under the invigorating influences of the homestead farm and thus early learned the lessons and value of practical industry. When but twelve years of age, however, he began a more or less independent career, securing employment at
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DEBailey
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such work as was available and within the compass of his ability and strength, and in the meanwhile availing himself of the advantages of the common schools, which he attended at somewhat irregular intervals. He found employment in the great lumber mills in the city of Grand Rapids, the metropolis and judicial center of his native county, and finally became foreman in a shingle mill, in Montcalm county. There- after he devoted his attention to agricultural pursuits in Kent county for a period of about five years.
In April, 1886, Mr. Bailey removed from Kent county to Mason county and secured a tract of unimproved land in Eden township. He gave himself vigorously to the development of this farm and eventually brought the same under effective cultivation, besides which he made other excellent improvements of a permanent order. He continued to give his attention to the management of his farm until elected to his present office. On January 2, 1901, he established his residence in the city of Ludington, where he has since maintained his home.
In politics Mr. Bailey has ever been found arrayed as a staunch sup- porter of the principles and policies for which the Republican party stands sponsor, and he has given yeoman service as a worker in its local ranks. In the autumn of 1900 he was elected county clerk of Mason county, and the best voucher for the efficiency and acceptability of his administration of this important office is that given by the fact that he has since continued incumbent of this position, in which he is now serving his sixth consecutive term, which will expire January 1, 1913, the while he is assured of re-election so long as he consents to appear as candidate on the ticket of his party. He is affiliated with the Ludington lodges of the Knights of Pythias and Independent Order of Odd Fellows, as well as with St. Marys Grange, Patrons of Husbandry.
On February 6, 1878, Mr. Bailey was united in marriage to Miss Josephine Major, whose father, Charles B. Major, was one of the pio- neers and representative citizens of Eden township, Mason county, Mr. and Mrs. Bailey have six children, namely: Claude B., Burt A., Harry M., George A., William H. and Philip F.
G. ARTHUR HOLLIDAY, M. D .- The section of Michigan to which this publication is devoted has its full quota of able and successful repre- sentatives of the medical profession, and prominent among the number is Dr. Holliday, who is engaged in practice in Traverse City, where he has built up a large and prosperous professional business.
On the homestead farm of his father, in Ontario county, Canada, Dr. Holliday was ushered into the world on the 26th of June, 1867. He is a son of Jackson and Jane (Hall) Holliday, the former of whom was born in England, in 1818, and the latter of whom was born in the state of Vermont, in 1830, a representative of an old and honored New England family. The father passed away in 1874 and the mother in 1876, and of the ten children six are living, Dr. Holliday having been the ninth in order of birth. Jackson Holliday was reared and educated in his native land and at the age of nineteen years he came to America and located in Ontario county, province of Ontario, Canada, where he seenred a tract of heavily timbered land and reclaimed a farm from
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the wilderness. He became specially successful and prominent as a breeder of highgrade horses and cattle and was one of the influential and highly esteemed citizens of Ontario county, where both he and his wife continned to reside until their death. Both were earnest and zealons members of the Methodist Episcopal church.
Dr. Holliday is indebted to the public schools of his native province for his early edneational discipline, which was supplemented by a course in the University of Michigan. In preparation for the work of his chosen profession he entered Detroit College of Medicine, in which he was graduated as a member of the class of 1904 and from which he received his degree of Doctor of Medicine. In 1886 he established his home in Traverse City, which has always been his home except the five years spent in college. Ile has gained much throngh his active identi- fication with various professional organizations, including the Grand Traverse Connty Medical Society, and the Michigan State Medical Society. In 1907 he was appointed health officer of Traverse City, and he retained this inenmbency for three successive years, during which he gave a most discriminating and effective service. The doctor is affiliated with Traverse City Lodge, No. 222, Free and Accepted Masons; and Traverse City Lodge, No. 73, Knights of Pythias. While essentially progressive and public-spirited in his attitude he is independent in politics and gives his support to the men and measures meeting the approval of his judgment. Both he and his wife are active and devoted members of the First Methodist Episcopal church of Traverse City and he is a member of its board of stewards. He has so ordered his course as to retain the inviolable confidence and good will of his professional confreres and the high regard of the community in which he has main- tained his home for a quarter of a century.
On the 3d of December, 1900, was solemnized the marriage of Dr. Ilolliday to Miss Jenifer F. Cook, who was born and reared in Traverse C'ity and who is a daughter of John and Esther (Rewe) Cook, both of whom were born in England. They are now both deceased. Mr. Cook was numbered among the sterling pioneers of Traverse City, where he was long identified with the extensive lumbering operation of the firm of Ilannah, Lay & Company. Of the seven children Mrs. Holliday was the fourth in order of birth, and of the others one son and one daughter are living. Dr. and Mrs. Holliday have three children,-Harry A., Margaret and Dorothy.
EDWIN I. FERGUSON, proprietor of the New Emmet Hotel and Annex and a prominent factor in business and political circles at Harbor Springs, Michigan, is a representative citizen and a man who not only has achieved his individual success but has also public-spiritedly de- voted himself to the general welfare of his fellow men, and has been foremost in advaneing enterprises and improvements which will prove of lasting benefit to the city, county and state. He is, furthermore, a self-made man, having earned his own livelihood from early yonth. From the first he was possessed of ambition and determination and his energy, courage and business judgment have brought him to a position
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of esteem and influence among the citizens of this state, where he is a man of mark in all the relations of life.
A native of Michigan, Edwin I. Ferguson was born at Paw Paw, in Van Buren county, the date of his birth being the 7th of June, 1855. Ile is a son of Philo N. and Mary (Irving) Ferguson, the former of whom was born at Oswego, New York, and the latter of whom was a native of the Dominion of Canada. The father was summoned to the life eternal in 1893, at the age of sixty-two years, and the mother attained to the age of seventy-four years, her demise having occurred in 1904. Of the six children born to Mr. and Mrs. Philo N. Ferguson but three are living at the present time, namely,-Henry S., who is now residing at Elmhurst, California; Edwin I., the immediate subject of this review; and Ella, who is the wife of David Tilliston, of Charlevoix, Michigan. Philo N. Ferguson was a millwright by trade and he came to Michigan from New York, in the year 1854, locating at Paw Paw, in the vicinity of which place he erected a number of mills. Subse- quently he engaged in farming near Lawton and eventually he located in Ionia county, Michigan, removing thence to Pleasantview township, Emmet county, Michigan, in 1875. In the latter place he established the family home on a farm at Forrest Beach near Harbor Springs and there he was identified with the great basic industry of agriculture during the residne of his life. He was very prominent in Odd Fellow circles, having installed the first lodges of that organization at Cadillac, Mackinaw City and other places. In politics he was aligned as a stanch supporter of the principles and policies promulgated by the Republican party.
Edwin I. Ferguson was reared to the invigorating influences of the old homestead farm and he received his preliminary educational train- ing in the public schools of Ionia county, Michigan. He was associated with his father in the work and management of the old homestead until he had reached his twentieth year. In 1875 he came to what was then known as Little Traverse but which is now called Harbor Springs. Here he entered the employ of the general merchandise firm of Hartwell & Felter, continuing to work in the store of that concern for a period of two and a half years, at the expiration of which he located on a homestead in Pleasantview township, Emmet county, Michigan. For the ensuing five years he was actively engaged in elearing his farm and in the spring of 1881 he came to Little Traverse, where he turned his attention to the dray and express business. With the latter line of enterprise he continued to be identified up to 1898, at which time he engaged in the hotel business, continuing to devote his entire time and attention to that work during the intervening years to the present time, in 1911.
The New Emmet Hotel and Annex, the splendid hostlery of which Mr. Ferguson is proprietor, holds distinctive prestige as one of the finest hotels in northern Michigan. The following statements, taken from an illustrated booklet gotten out about the hotel is a good sum- mary of its attractions. "Closely nestled, the green hills of Emmet to the north, and the cool, sparkling waters of Little Traverse Bay to the south, lies Harbor Springs, in the heart of the northern Michigan resort Vol. II-14
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country. A beautiful little city of two thousand five hundred popula- tion, it is the center of supplies for all north shore resorts, and the rendezvous for thousands of visitors during the summer months. It has many conveniences and advantages of larger cities, and its harbor is the best and safest on the Great Lakes. It is one of the oldest places in Michigan, and, aside from its picturesque location and famous springs, is full of historic interest. It was here that the famous mis- sionary, Pere Marquette, erected the first mission church in this region and labored among the Indians." The hotel is complete in all its appointments, the rooms being large, light and airy. It is heated by steam and lighted by electricity and the pumbing throughout the house is constructed on the most sanitary principles. A special feature of this well equipped hotel is its dining-room, in which all the tables command an extensive view of the water. The table is excellent and everything possible is done to increase the comfort of the guests. By way of amusement there is dancing, sailing, rowing, bathing and golfing. Many trips of exceptional interest are open to the guests, the same including a visit to the Indian village at Ya-way-ga-mug, where may be seen members of the Ojibway, Ottawa and Chippewa Indians in a vivid production of Longfellow's "Hiawatha." The climate is ideally cool and balmy; there is no hay-fever in this region and the nights are just right for restful sleep.
In polities Mr. Ferguson accords a stalwart allegiance to the cause of the Republican party, in the local councils of which he has figured most prominently. He was the first marshal of the village of Little Traverse and in the early days also served as the first street commis- sioner. For some thirty years he has resided in this city and it may be said without fear of contradiction that no man in Harbor Springs commands a higher place in the confidence and esteem of his fellow citizens than does he. As "mine host" he is kindly and genial, his reminiscent mind being filled with anecdotes from the early pioneer days, when this section was mostly virgin wilderness and occupied largely by Indians. In a fraternal way he is affiliated with a number of representative organizations and in religious matters he and his family are devont members of the Presbyterian church.
On the 22d of June, 1878, Mr. Ferguson was united in marriage to Miss Hannah L. Barber, whose birth occurred in Livingston county, Michigan, and who is a daughter of Samuel L. and Elizabeth (Field) Barber, both natives of the state of New York. Mr. Barber came to Michigan overland at an early date, having driven hither from New York in an ox-cart. He located in Livingston county and there literally hewed a farm out of the wilderness. The nearest milling point in those days was Detroit. In 1876 the Barber family removed to Emmet county, settling on a farm near Harbor Springs. In his political con- vietions Mr. Barber was originally a Whig hut after the organization of the Republican party he transferred his allegiance to its principles and policies. Mr. and Mrs. Barber were the parents of four children, of whom Mrs. L. Ferguson was the second in order of birth. Mr. and Mrs. Ferguson have two children,-Orval S., who married Alta Boston, and now resides at Harbor Springs, where he has heen freight agent for
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the railroad for the past fourteen years; and Mae, who is the wife of De Witt D. Porter, of Harbor Springs. Mr. Porter is connected with Mr. Ferguson in the new Emmet Hotel.
JOHN F. KELLY, M. D., of Manistee, Michigan, is a rising young physician and surgeon whose talents and disposition insure him suc- cess and an enviable reputation. Engaged in the noblest of callings, in which more personal sacrifice is involved than in any other vocation in the world, he has launched out for a life of hard work, for both body and mind, and he faces the issue with entire willingness and energy.
This progressive and up-to-date representative of the calling to which he has already proved an ornament, is a native of Michigan, his birth having occurred at Maple Valley, this state, January 16, 1876. As his name indicates he is of Irish and Scotch descent. His father, whose name was Thomas Kelly, is a native of Canada, having been born near Prescott, Ontario, one of his parents being Scotch, and the mother of Dr. Kelly, whose maiden name was Martha McCord, was also born near Prescott, Ontario. The father, whose occupation was that of a saw filer, removed to Big Rapids, Mecosta county, in 1882.
It was in the town mentioned that the early years of Mr. Kelly were passed and for his preliminary education he is indebted to the public schools of the place, his graduation from the higher department occurring in 1897. He also completed the course presented by the Ferris Institute of his native town and, in the meantime having come to the conclusion to adopt as his own the medical profession, he matricu- lated at the Detroit College of Medicine, finishing there in due time, previously spending two years at the Mercy Hospital at Big Rapids. Thus excellently prepared for the profession he was to follow he first hung out his shingle at Applegate, Sanilac county, in the year 1907. In March, 1909, he removed to Sutton's Bay, but his residence there was of a transient character and his identification with the many-sided life of Manistee dates from 1910. He opened an office and in the short time that he has made this the scene of his enlightened activities he has built up a large practice and has gained prestige in professional circles. He is a member of the County, State and American Medical Associations and of Kappa chapter of Phi Beta Pi. In his political convictions he has Republican leanings, but he is too broad-minded to esteem mere partisanship above the best man and the best measure, irrespective of party lines.
On September 24, 1910, Dr. Kelly forsook the ranks of the bachelors and was united in marriage to Miss Mayme Noud, daughter of Patrick Noud, their union being celebrated at Manistec, Michigan, in the Guardian Angels church.
DANIEL W. GOODENOUGH .- One of the representative business men of the city of Ludington is Daniel Webster Goodenough, who has here maintained his home for nearly forty years and who has contributed his quota to the civic and industrial development of his home city and county. He may well be designated as one of the pioneers of Mason
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county, even as he is a scion of a family whose name has been identified with the annals of Michigan history for more than sixty years. The lineage of the Goodenough family is traced back to English origin and the first representatives in America settled in New England in the Co- lonial epoch.
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