USA > Michigan > A history of northern Michigan and its people, Volume II > Part 28
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Daniel W. Goodenough reverts to the old Empire state of the Union as the place of his nativity, though he has been a resident of Michigan since his childhood days. He was born in Cattarangus county, New York, on the 16th of March, 1842, and is a son of David Washington Goodenough, who likewise was a native of the state of New York, where he was reared and educated and where he continued to be identified with agricultural pursuits until 1849, when he removed with his family to Michigan and settled in Lawrence township, Van Buren county, but he died on the 1st of May of the following year. He was a man of ster- ling character and strong individuality, and in his younger days he had been a successful teacher in the common schools of his native state. His father, David Goodenough, was born in Vermont and passed the closing years of his life in Cattaraugus county, New York, where he settled in an early day. Mrs. Laura (Tryon) Goodenough, mother of the subject of this review, was born in the province of New Brunswick, Canada, and she passed the closing years of her life at Lawrence, Mich- igan, where she died in 1890, at the venerable age of seventy-eight years. Of the four children Daniel W. was the third in order of birth and the only son; of the three daughters only one is now living, Darliska, who is the wife of Hanable M. Marshall, of Ludington.
He whose name initiates this review was a lad of seven years at the time of the family removal from New York to Van Buren county, Mich- igan, where he was reared to adult age under the sturdy discipline of the farm and where his educational advantages were those afforded in the common schools of the locality and period. He early initiated his business career, as it became incumbent upon him to aid his widowed mother as well as to provide for his own needs. Thus he secured em- ployment in a general store at Lawrence, Van Buren county, when he was but thirteen years of age, and he continued to be employed as a clerk in mercantile establishments of this order for a period of about ten years, at the expiration of which, when twenty-three years of age, he brought his experience and limited financial resources into play by engaging in the same line of enterprise on his own responsibility in the village of Hartford, Van Buren county, where he conducted a general store about seven years. He was energetic, careful and enterprising, and this fact, as couplied with his fair and honorable methods, gained to him definite success in his business operations. At the expiration of the period noted, in 1872, he disposed of his interests at Hartford and came to Mason county, where he has maintained his home during the long intervening years. within which he has witnessed and aided in the development of this section from virtually the primitive wilds to one of the attractive and opulent organic divisions of the fine old Wolverine state. He engaged forthwith in the general merchandise business in Ludington, which was then a mere village, and after continuing this enterprise about four years his establishment was destroyed by fire. He
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then turned his attention to the lumbering industry, with which he continued to be actively and successfully identified for many years and with which he is still connected to a limited extent. His operations in this line reached large proportions and were continued actively until about 1890. He is the owner of valuable farm property in Mason county, as well as of the old Olney homestead farm in Van Buren county, and he gives a general supervision to these properties, the while he has been manager and one of the principle stockholders of the Lud- ington Milling Company since 1890. This corporation owns a large and well equipped flour mill, the mechanical facilities and other acces- sories of which are of the best modern type. Mr. Goodenough has directed his business operations with much circumspection and judg- ment, and through his association with normal lines of industrial and business enterprise he has gained a substantial fortune. In addition to his other interests he has for some time given attention to the extending of financial loans on approved real-estate security.
Every measure and undertaking that have been projected for the general good of his home city and county have been accorded the earn- est support of Mr. Goodenough, and his attitude as a citizen is essen- tially progressive and public-spirited. In politics he is aligned as a supporter of the cause of the Democratic party, and while he has never had any predilection for official preferment, he represented the second ward of Ludington on the board of aldermen in the early period fol- lowing the incorporation of the municipality under city government. He is well known throughout his home county, and his genial person- ality and sterling attributes of character have retained to him the high regard of those with whom he has come in contact in the various rela- tions of life.
In the year 1866 was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Goodenough to Miss Lodema Olney, who was born and reared in Van Buren county. this state, and who is a daughter of Burrill A. and Elvira Olney. Her father was one of the first settlers of Hartford township, that county. and was prominently identified with the development and upbuilding of that section. Mr. and Mrs. Goodenough had two daughters and one son. Eleanor is the wife of H. S. Gray, a representative member of the har of Benton Harbor, Michigan, and they have two children- Emily and Luman. Olive Emily died at the age of twelve years. Lu- man W. Goodenough, the only son, was afforded the best of educational advantages, including a course in the law department of the University of Michigan, and he is now engaged in the successful practice of his profession in the city of Detroit. He married Miss Elizabeth Noble. and they have two children-Elizabeth and Eleanor.
WILLIAM B. ROBERSON .- A man of broad intellectuality, wide-awake and brainy, William B. Roberson holds high rank among the more enterprising and public-spirited citizens of Alpena. and is prominently identified with many of its foremost interests, his influence being felt alike in agricultural, commercial, financial and social circles. His tireless energy and his practical ideas and comprehensive grasp of details, combined with a wonderful power of organization, have marked
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him as a man of excellent executive ability and made him one of the leaders in all movements of a progressive character. He was born February 21, 1881, in Utica, Macomb county, Michigan, a son of Dr. George G. Roberson.
George G. Roberson, M. D., was born in 1856, in Mt. Clemens, Macomb county, Michigan, and was educated primarily in the public schools. He subsequently attended the University of Michigan, after which, having decided to enter upon a professional career, he was graduated from the Detroit College of Medicine and from the National Medical University of Berlin, Germany. For upwards of thirty years Dr. Roberson has been actively and successfully engaged in the practice of medicine at Utica, Michigan, being among the foremost physicians and surgeons of his community. Dr. Roberson married Clara Eames, who was born in Utica, Michigan, in 1860, and is a direct descendant of one Thomas Eames, who came from England to the United States in 1632, settling in Massachusetts. The Doctor and Mrs. Roberson have two children, namely : William B., the special subject of this brief biographical sketch; and Edgar J., born in 1883, and now a resident of Montana, being engaged in numerous enterprises in and about Chouteau.
Acquiring his elementary education in the public schools, William B. Roberson was graduated from the Utica High School in 1898 as president of his class. In 1900 he was graduated from the Detroit Central High School, and while studying in that institution he had the honor of representing the Detroit High School in a state oratorical contest, in which he secured first place. He subsequently entered the University of Michigan, at Ann Arbor, and was there graduated in 1904, with the degree of Bachelor of Arts.
Beginning his active career in Detroit, Michigan, Mr. Roberson be- came affiliated with varions enterprises, including advertising, publish- ing, jobbing, and others of like nature. Disposing of all of his Detroit interests in May, 1906, he married during the following month, and, with his bride, came to Alpena to assume charge of the W. B. Comstock estate, which he has handled ably and satisfactorily. Possessing ex- cellent business ability and judgment, Mr. Roberson has been active in the promotion of beneficial projects since becoming a resident of Alpena, and has organized, or helped to organize, many enterprises of financial and commercial value to the community. He assisted in the organization of the State Savings Bank of Alpena, and was one of its directors until its consolidation with the Alpena County Savings Bank ; he organized the Alpena Farm Produce Company, of which he is a director and the secretary and treasurer; the Alpena News Publish- ing Company, of which he is the president and treasurer and one of the directorate; and the Alpena Motor Car Company, of which, in addition to being a director, he is secretary and treasurer. Mr. Rober- son was for two years, when the interests which he represented were sold, a director of the Alpena Power Company, limited, and of the Alpena Electric Light Company. An important factor in the organiza- tion of the Alpena Chamber of Commerce, Mr. Roberson has been an active assistant in pushing forward the industrial development of the
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city and promoting its material interests. In addition to the above mentioned enterprises with which he is identified he has numerous other interests of a business nature in Alpena and in other communities, his great prosperity in his career being the merited reward of his persistent efforts, perseverance and industry.
Mr. Roberson is a stanch Republican, supporting the principles of his party by voice and vote, but is a strong believer in non-partisan municipal polities. Fraternally he is a member of Utica Lodge, No. 71, F. & A. M .; of Alpena Lodge, No. 505, B. P. O. E .; of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows; and of the Knights of the Maccabees. He belongs to the Zeta Psi College fraternity ; to the Michigan Society; Sons of the American Revolution ; to the Alpena Country Club ; the Detroit Country Club; and to the Detroit Club.
On June 2, 1906, in Detroit, Michigan, Mr. Roberson was united in marriage with Hazel Morris, who was born in that city June 3, 1881, being a daughter of Edmund A. Morris, secretary, treasurer and general manager of the Detroit Lead Pipe and Sheet Lead Works. Mr. and Mrs. Roberson have one child, John Eames Roberson, who was born in Alpena May 9, 1907.
W. HENRY WILSON .- Keen-sighted and enterprising, possessing sound judgment and rare business ability, W. Henry Wilson holds a con- spicuous position among the leading business men of northern Mich- igan, and has been an important factor in advancing the material in- terests of Harrison, his home city. Coming on both sides of the house of substantial New England ancestry, he was born in November, 1846, on a farm in Barre, Vermont, where, in early life his father followed the trade of a stone cutter.
Having acquired a good education in the public schools, W. Henry Wilson left the east in 1866, starting westward in his search for fame and fortune, and for two years was engaged as clerk in a furnishing goods house in Chicago. Locating in Michigan in 1868, he became a member of the firm of W. H. and F. A. Wilson, which made a specialty of purchasing timber lands and lumbering, and for three years carried on a good business in Genesee county. In 1871 Messrs. Wilson trans- ferred their operations to Isabella county, and in 1879 they bought from the Flint & Pere Marquette Railroad Company the land on which the eity of Harrison now stands, and began lumbering. The firm soon after opened a general store in Harrison, and here, in 1880, they ereeted a saw mill. As the land was cleared, it was placed on the market, and sold for farming purposes. The firm did an extensive and lucrative business in this vicinity, and were also largely interested in southern lands. After his marriage, and prior to coming to Harrison to live. in 1882, Mr. Wilson lived in Vernon township, and he and his partner were engaged in lumbering in Isabella counties. He is now associated in business with his son, being head of the well-known firm of W. H. & W. L. Wilson, which owns ten thousand acres of land in Clare and Missaukee counties, and deals in both improved farms and unimproved lands.
Mr. Wilson is identified with one of the leading financial institutions
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of the county, being first vice-president of the State Savings Bank of Harrison. He is a Republican in politics, and a member of the Knights of Pythias. His son William is a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Order of Masons, and is identified with the Republican party.
Going back to his old home in Barre, Vermont, in 1869, Mr. Wilson was there united in marriage with Gertrude Carr, and to them four children have been born, namely: Sarah E .; Cora E., wife of Rev. A. W. Johnson, pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Cadillac; John E., who with an uncle is engaged in the stationery and blank book business at Seattle, Washington; and William L., junior member of the firm of W. H. & W. L. Wilson.
REV. JOHN J. RIESS .- Devout in spirit, sincere in his convictions, ex- tremely earnest in purpose, the labors of Rev. John J. Riess, pastor of St. Mary's Church, at Grayling, Crawford county, have been blessed, and he is known as one of the most popular and best beloved clergymen of this part of the state, having endeared himself to Protestants and Cath- olics, alike. He is a deep thinker, and an eloquent speaker, fluent in his delivery, and convincing in his logic, and an untiring worker in the Master's vineyard. A native of Germany, he was born, November 1, 1879, in Bavaria, being the oldest child in a family of six children. His parents, John N. and Margaret (Helgrath) Riess, emigrated from the Fatherland to this country in 1880, and now, in 1911, are living in Ludington, Michigan.
Designed for the priesthood from his youth, John J. Riess was edu- cated at St. Francis' Seminary, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and after his ordination, June 24, 1903, was appointed assistant pastor of St. Joseph's Church, at West Branch, Ogemaw county, Michigan, receiving the appointment in July, of that year, at the same time being made as- sistant pastor of St. Mary's Church, in Grayling. In September, 1908, St. Mary's parish was formed, and Rev. Father Riess was installed as pastor. In addition to his pastorate of St. Mary's, he supplies St. Michael's Church, at Roscommon, and the stations at Frederic, Lewis- ton, Lovells, and Waters.
St. Mary's Church was established in 1884 by Father Schulack, S. J., a good and Godly man, well known in the early history of Northern Michigan as an active and devoted missionary. St. Michael's Church, in Roscommon was also established in 1884, and to both of these churches the devout Father Schulack fed the Bread of Life for three years. From 1887 until 1888 Rev. A. Webeler, of Cheboygan, Michigan, supplied at St. Mary's, and being then moved to West Branch, he had charge of both St. Joseph's and St. Mary's until 1900. From that time until July, 1903, Rev. G. Guthausen, who succeeded Rev. A. Webeler at West Branch, cared for the flocks at St. Mary's and St. Michael's. Since that date Father Riess has had full charge of the churches mentioned above, and his work has been blessed far beyond the most sanguine expecta- tions.
In 1905 St. Mary's Church, at Grayling was enlarged. renovated, and beautified, and in 1911 Father Riess purchased ground in Frederic, the station which was under his charge, and had a beautiful structure erected
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in which his people might worship the Lord. In the entire field over which Rev. Fr. Riess has spiritual control, there are one hundred and fifty families, St. Mary's parish alone consisting of sixty-five families. The church at Grayling has a seating capacity of two hundred, and in 1908 a new and commodious parsonage was built, the entire church property being now valued at $20,000.
In addition to all of this there has been erected at a great cost. and sacrifice the Grayling Mercy Hospital, the main building of which is forty feet by seventy feet, with a wing twenty-five feet by thirty-two feet. This institution was a donation from Mr. R. Hanson and other lumbermen, and was officially turned over to and placed under the charge of the Sisters of Mercy. The building, which has accommoda- tions for forty patients, is equipped with all the modern improvements found in up-to-date institutions of the kind. Father Riess has served as building manager of the hospital and is now a member of its advis- ing committee.
PETER FRISKE .- The great empire of Germany has contributed a most valuable element to the cosmopolitan social fabric of our American republic, which has had much to gain and nothing to lose from this source. Among the sterling citizens of German birth and ancestry re- siding in the city of Manistee is Peter Friske, who has here maintained his home for more than thirty years and who has here gained definite success through his own well directed energies. He may consistently be designated at the present time as one of the pioneer business men of the city, and here his hold upon popular esteem has been fortified through stanch integrity and genial personality.
Mr. Friske was born in Germany on the 14th of February, 1856, and is a son of Stephen and Rosa (Keen) Friske, both of whom passed their entire lives in Germany, where the father was a farmer by vocation. Peter Friske was reared to adult age on the home farm and is indebted to the excellent schools of his fatherland for his early educational train- ing. In 1877, shortly after attaining to his legal majority, he severed the home ties and set forth to seek his fortunes in America. He landed in New York city and soon afterward made his way to Detroit, Mich- igan, where he was employed for a short time. He then went to Wiscon- sin, where he remained about one year, at the expiration of which, in 1878, he returned to Michigan and made Manistee his destination. He secured employment in connection with the great lumbering activities of this section of the state, and he continued to work in saw mills and lumber camps until 1884, in the meanwhile being industrious and frugal and carefully conserving his earnings. In the year mentioned he pur- chased the lot at 174 Eighth street in the city of Manistee on which is located his present place of business. On this lot he erected a store and a residence, and here he has maintained his home during the long intervening years. the while he has built up a prosperous general mer- chandise business. He has also made judicial investments, including the purchase of pine lands in the earlier years of his business career, and through the development of his properties he added materially to his financial resources, thus attaining to the goal of independence and
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substantial prosperity. He is one of the representative business men of Manistee, has shown a loyal interest in all that has concerned its wel- fare and has at all times given his support to such projects as have tended to conserve its social and material advancement.
No citizen commands a higher degree of popular confidence in Man- istee than does Mr. Friske, and this has been shown in official preferment conferred upon him. He is a stalwart supporter of the cause of the Democratic party and in 1890 he represented the Seventh ward in the city board of aldermen. In 1892 he was further honored in being elected to the important office of county treasurer, of which he continued incum- bent for two years and in which he gave a most careful and acceptable administration of the fiscal affairs of the county. He is a member of the German Working Men's Society and the Knights of Columbus, and both he and his wife are zealous communicants of the Catholic church.
In the year 1884 Mr. Friske was united in marriage to Miss Belle Levenduski, of Manistee, and she was summoned to the life eternal in 1888. Of the three children of this union it may be recorded that Anna died at the age of five years; Paul is a resident of Detroit, and Edward maintains his home in Milwaukee. In 1891 Mr. Friske contracted a sec- ond marriage, having then been united to Miss Helen Biggie, who was born and reared in Manistee, and of the children of this union the fol- lowing are living, namely: Marian, Belle, Joseph, Rose, Stephen, Leo, Helen, Maria and Winifred.
FRANK FOCHTMAN, restauranteur, is known all over northern Mich- igan as proprietor of the finest grill cafe in this part of the state. His establishment at Petoskey is by no means one of the least of the at- tractions which have given that city a reputation. In this age of travel when a large proportion of the population spend part of their time away from the home kitchen, the man who furnishes wholesome food to the public contributes as great a service to society as any other individual. Mr. Fochtman has been in business at 438 East Lake street since 1897. The palm garden which is a part of his establishment is one of its most popular features.
Mr. Fochtman was born in Pennsylvania, April 24, 1871, and comes of good old German stock. His parents were Henry and Elizabeth Tegler Fochtman, both natives of Pennsylvania. Of their twelve chil- dren, nine are living and Frank is the fourth in order of birth. His father, who for a number of years followed blacksmithing and carriage making at St. Mary's, Pennsylvania, in 1881 moved to Emmet county, Michigan, where he went to farming. A few years later locating in Petoskey, he conducted a saloon until his son Frank bought him out, and since then he has been more or less actively engaged in real estate though he is now practically retired. While farming he was honored with township offices, and has been a progressive citizen. He is a mem- ber of the Catholic church, and in polities a Democrat.
Frank Fochtman received his education in the public and parochial schools of Petoskey, and his first work was as an expressman. He was in the saloon business with his father until he bought out the business in
Frank Fochtman
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1897. Since then he has developed the cafe to its present attractive reputation, and now caters to the best class of trade.
His fraternal affiliations are with the Petoskey Lodge No. 629, B. P. O. E., and in politics he is a Democrat. In 1896 he was married to Miss Mary Sexton and they have no children.
AMOS B. CROW .- An essentially loyal and public-spirited citizen of Alpena, Michigan, is Amos B. Crow, who is president of the Alpena Marble & Granite Company, of which he was one of the organizers. Mr. Crow was born at Chatham, province of Ontario, Canada, on the 2nd of August, 1868, and is a son of Andrew and Harriet (Purser) Crow, the former of whom was born in the county of Kent, Ontario, and the latter at Seven Oake, Kent county, England, whence she emigrated to Canada about 1850. Andrew Crow was engaged in the grocery business at Chatham during the major portion of his active business career and he was summoned to the life eternal in 1883, at forty-five years of age. He was affiliated with the time-honored Masonic fraternity. Mrs. Crow after the death of her honored husband became the wife of John Sim- mons and she is now residing in the state of Alabama. Mr. and Mrs. Crow became the parents of six children, four of whom are now living,- Reta, who resides in Alabama; Amos B. is the immediate subject of this sketch ; Ada maintains her home in Alabama; and Templeton resides at Marine City, Michigan.
Amos B. Crow was fourth in order of birth in the family of six children and after completing the curriculum of the public schools of Chatham he assisted in the grocery business of his father. He was about fifteen years of age at the time of his father's death and he came to Michigan in 1886, establishing his home at Alpena, where he became interested in the marble business with George Haggerty. The firm adopted the name of Crow & Haggerty and continued to do busi- ness for about two years, at the expiration of which Mr. Crow pur- chased his partner's share and continued the industry individually until the 26th of July, 1907, when the Alpena Marble & Granite Company was organized. This company was incorporated under the laws of the state with a capital stock of $10,000 and Mr. Crow was elected president of the company, with George Lough as secretary and treasurer. The headquarters of this thriving concern are maintained in the fine build- ing, recently constructed, on the corner of Washington avenue and Third street. This business house is of brick and stone, with re-enforced concrete floor and roof. It is two stories in height and contains a finely equipped office with modern and up-to-date furnishings. An extensive business is controlled by the company and the concern is recognized as a valuable addition to the industrial world of Alpena.
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