USA > Michigan > A history of northern Michigan and its people, Volume II > Part 41
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Mr. Furbush, by the circumstance of birth, is a native of the state of Maine, his eyes having first opened to the light of day, in Rome, Kennebec county, February 1, 1855. His parents were Ira S. and Mary Jane (Wilson) Furbush, the former of whom was born in Augusta, Maine, in 1821, and was gathered to his fathers in 1888 while living in Alpena. Michigan; and the latter, whose birth occurred in Concord. Vermont, in 1825, dying a number of years before her husband,-in 1870. To this union were born three children, only one of whom is living at the present time,-the subject, who was also the oldest child. The father spent the greater part of his useful life as an exponent of the great basic industry of agriculture, being actively engaged in the same up to the year 1885, when he came to Alpena to join his son, the subject, and where he was summoned to the Undiscovered Country. He belonged to the Royal Arcanum and in political conviction was Republican.
Mr. Furbush was reared and educated in the district of his nativity and when about twenty-four years of age,-on November 9, 1879,-he assumed the dignities and responsibilities of married life by his union with Marietta Tibbitts. Like her hushand Mrs. Furbush is a New Eng- lander, her birthplace having been Mercer, Somerset county, Maine,
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and her parents Stevens and Julietta (French) Tibbitts. The father was born in the same place in 1821 and is now living in Nashua, Hills- boro county, New Hampshire, at a very advanced age, secure in the respect of all who know him and hold him in deep affection. His devoted wife and helpmeet, who was born in New Sharon, Somerset county, Maine, in 1826, also survives, enjoying with him the twilight of an ideal and protracted life companionship. They were the parents of eight children, of whom five, three daughters and two sons, survive. They are as follows : Mrs. Furbush; Augusta, wife of James Hersum, of Boston, Massachusetts; Wilsey, resident at New Sharon; Flora, wife of H. B. Watson, of Nashua, New Hampshire; and Wallace, of Mereer, Maine. The venerable gentleman, father of the foregoing, was a farmer from his boyhood days until the year 1908, when he retired and removed to his present home at Nashua.
Mr. Furbush spent his boyhood and youth upon his father's farm, attending school in the winter and making himself generally useful in the seasons when the farmer is busiest. When he was sixteen years of age he set out for Augusta, Maine, and there found a position as a clerk in a grocery and the driver of a delivery wagon. In the spring of 1878 he decided upon a hazard of new fortunes and came to Alpena. Michigan, where he has ever since resided. In the fall of 1879 he re- turned to Maine and in November married; he and his wife coming to Michigan on their wedding trip, making the journey from Bay City to Alpena on the steamer, Metropolis. They were in very modest cir- cumstances and the young husband began his business career in the transfer and trucking business, with only one horse and wagon, for the former of which he had traded his watch. Energy, thrift, pro- gressiveness and the ability to keep and inspire liking and confidence, as usual resulted in success, and he now owns from twenty-six to twenty-nine horses and has a trade proportionate. His store-house is 66x120 feet in extent and he possesses all the modern appliances for handling heavy freight of all kinds with a stable 36x70 feet adjoining. for his horses.
Mr. Furbush is recognized as a public spirited citizen and was made city supervisor of the First ward, holding the office for two years. In politics he subscribes to the articles of faith of the Republican party. His lodge relations are of an important character. In the Masonic order he is widely known, being a member of Alpena Lodge, No. 199, Free and Accepted Masons; of Thunder Bay Chapter, No. 74, Royal Arch Masons; of Alpena Commandery, No. 34, Knights Templar; and to Moslem Temple, Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, the latter at Detroit, Michigan. He also is affiliated with Myrtle Lodge, No. 432, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and to the Maccabees.
To the union of Mr. and Mrs. Furbush have been born two sons, Ralph, died when nine months old; and Eugene H., Jr., a graduate of the Alpena high school and Alpena Business College. This promising yonng citizen is bookkeeper and stenographer in the office of Frank W. Gilchrist.
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ALEXANDER A. STUART, M. D .- Of the various vocations to which man may devote his time and energies the medical profession is the most conducive to public helpfulness. There is no field in which so much good can be accomplished as in that devoted to the alleviation of human pain and suffering, and a well equipped, well trained physician and surgeon is an addition to any community. Such a citizen is Dr. Alexander A. Stuart, of Lincoln, Alcona county, Michigan. He was born in Waterloo county, province of Ontario, Canada, on the 9th of March, 1875, and he is a son of William and Catherine (McCoy) Stuart, the former of whom was a native of Scotland and the latter of whom claimed Canada as the place of her birth. In 1890 the father came to the United States and after a short sojourn in the east he emigrated to Minnesota, where he engaged in the work of his trade, that of black- smith. Mr. and Mrs. William Stuart became the parents of seven chil- dren, all of whom were born in Canada and five of whom are now resi- dents of the United States. The mother was summoned to the life eternal in 1876, and the father now maintains his home at West Port, Minnesota.
Dr. Stuart received his preliminary educational training in the com- mon schools of his native place and he is the youngest member of the above-mentioned seven children and the only one who turned his at- tention to a profession. He attended and was graduated in the Grand Rapids Medical College, at Grand Rapids, Michigan, as a member of the class of 1901, duly receiving his degree of Doctor of Medicine. Subsequently he pursued a two years' course of study at the Ferris In- stitute of Pharmacy, at Big Rapids, Michigan, this tending to fit him for the opening and operating of a large drug store, which he now con- duets at Harrisville. Immediately after receiving his medical degree Dr. Stuart located at Lincoln where through ten years' identification with business and professional interests of important order he has gained prestige as one of the leading physicians and surgeons in Alcona county. He is affiliated with various representative organizations of a professional nature and in politics he accords a staunch support to the cause of the Republican party. He has been health officer of Lincoln and for ten years he was examiner for various insurance companies. In a fraternal way he is a valued member of the Grange.
In the year 1902 was celebrated his marriage to Miss Lottie Epsey. who was born and reared in Michigan and who is a daughter of Robert and Ida (House) Epsey of Lincoln. Dr. and Mrs. Stuart became the parents of four children, two of whom are deceased. Those living are: Charles A., whose birth occurred on the 18th of November, 1904. and Edna, born on the 10th of April, 1910. Dr. and Mrs. Stuart hold a secure place in the confidence and esteem of their fellow citizens.
VERNAL R. DAVY has been identified with Evart and Osceola county, Michigan, since 1882, and his part in their affairs is of a most important character. He is one of the gentlemen who brought into being the First State Bank of Evart, and at the present time he serves in the capacity of president of this conservative and well established institution, which position, with the exception of one year. he has held since its organiza-
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tion in 1893. In addition he is a director and has interests in a number of banking, mercantile and manufacturing enterprises, including the Hersey Banking Company of Hersey, Michigan ; LeRoy Exchange Bank of LeRoy, Michigan; Evart Tool Company, Limited, extensive manu- facturers of lumbering tools and handles, all well known institutions of Osceola county, besides he is president of the Canadian Logging Tool Company of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, one of the largest manufactories of its kind in the Dominion of Canada.
Mr. Davy was born in Macomb county, Michigan, April 17, 1862, and through his father is of English stock. The first eleven years of Mr. Davy's life was passed amid rural surroundings. When he at- tained the age mentioned he was transferred to one of America's large cities and within very different scenes he grew to manhood. His educa- tion was secured, with the exception of his elementary training, in the schools of Detroit and was limited to that afforded by the public schools. Ile early took his place in the work-a-day world, first securing a posi- tion in a Detroit dry goods store. In 1882, when he had scarcely at- tained his majority, he came to Evart with the ambition of entering the mereantile business in a small way, but steadily he gained the con- fidenee and patronage of the people of the place. The present store of Davy & Company is a thoroughly modern and complete establish- ment, conducted along the most approved lines. In connection with their mercantile business, which employs thirty people, they operate grain elevators at Evart and Sears, Michigan, which contain all the modern equipment for the handling of grain and produce.
Mr. Davy has been married twiee. On June 2, 1886, he was united in holy bonds of matrimony to Miss Della Smith, daughter of Charles M. and Lney Smith, of Evart. She was called to the life eternal in 1891, leaving one son, Fred E., who is an assistant in the office of his father. In September, 1894, Miss Jennie M. Allen, of Hanover, Michigan, be- came his wife and mistress of his household. Their union has been blessed by the birth of three ehildren-Winifred, Helen and Ruth.
Few citizens of Evart have played as important a part in fostering the growth and progress of Osceola county as Mr. Davy, and his success and that of the community have advanced in parallel lines. While he has never been an aspirant for publie office, he has been a member of the Evart Board of Education for eighteen years and is at present presi- dent of the same.
LEWIS S. WALTER, M. D .- To wipe off the page of history the con- nection Dr. Lewis S. Walter has had with the affairs of Fife Lake, Michigan, would mean to leave a big blank on the record. For a period of thirty years his identity with activities here has covered a wide seope, including the work of village doetor, postmaster, health officer, and various other loeal offices, in fact, a real publie benefactor. Briefly, a resume of his life is as follows:
Lewis S. Walter was born at Pulaski, Jackson county, Michigan. April 1, 1849, son of William and Sarah (Cheesboro) Walter. William Walter, a native of Devonshire, England, was, when a boy, apprenticed to a tailor. Before the term of apprenticeship had expired, the tailor
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came to America, bringing young Walter with him. Arrived in this country, they found changed conditions, and instead of serving out his time as the tailor thought he would, the young man began work for himself. That was in 1839.
At Pulaski, Lewis S. received his early training in the district school. lle entered high school at Jonesville, where, while attending school, he paid for his board by working in a printing office. He soon decided, however, that printing was not the work for him, and he made plans in another direction. As soon as he had qualified for the work, he began teaching school, and for four years he taught and studied. Then in 1872 he entered Bennett Medical College of Illinois, where he graduated in 1876. Immediately following his graduation, he returned to Miehi- gan, and began the practice of his profession at Litchfield, Hillsdale county. From there he subsequently went to Mosherville, where he re- mained two years, and from whence he came to Fife Lake, in 1882. Here he has since resided, practicing his profession, and serving the community in various public capacities. When Fife Lake was incor- porated as a village, he was elected and served as its first elerk. Also he has served as village trustee, justiee of the peace, and supervisor. Ile was one of the organizers of the Village School Board, and has been a member of this board for twenty-four years. He is now, and has been for several years, health officer, and since 1904 he has been postmaster of the town. Another public service he is now performing is that of superintendent at Fife Lake for the Bell Telephone Company. Thus it is seen that Doctor Walter is now and has been for years in close touch with the various phases of life in the village in which he lives.
December 10, 1876, the year of his graduation, he was married to Miss Jennie L. Hubbard, of Pulaski, Michigan, and their family now includes a daughter and five sons. The daughter, Cora, is the wife of Mr. Guy Scudder of Seattle, Washington. Of the sons, we record that Robert E., of whom a personal sketch will be found elsewhere in this volume, is county clerk of Grand Traverse county; Roy L., a veteran of the Philippine war, is now in the far west; Guy has charge of the home farm at Fife Lake; Lloyd is attending high school at Traverse City, Michigan, and Frank A., a school boy, served as a page in the Michi- gan State Senate in 1911.
Dr. Walter has various fraternal relations. For many years he has maintained membership in the State Eelectie Medical Association. IIe has attained high degree in Masonry, and he is a member of the Mae- cabees. Politieally, he is a staunch Republican.
MALCOLM MCPHEE .- Among the many sterling citizens given to northern Michigan by the Dominion of Canada is this well known and highly esteemed pioneer and representative business man of the city of Alpena, and, as his name clearly indicates, he is able to trace his genea- logical line back to the staunch old land of hills and heather. He has been a resident of this section of Michigan for more than two score of years and is at the present time engaged in the retail lumber business in Alpena, thus continuing his association with a line of enterprise with which he has been identified for many years, his connection with the
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same dating back to the time when the great lumber industry was at its height in Michigan.
Mr. McPhee was born at Grenville, in the province of Quebec, Can- ada, on the 25th of August, 1843, and is a son of Alexander and Anna (McGilvrey) McPhee, both of whom were born on the island of Mull, Argyleshire, Scotland, where the respective families had their home for many generations. The parents of Mr. McPhee came to America when young folk and their marriage was solemnized in the province of Quebec, Canada, where the father became a sturdy exponent of the great basic industry of agriculture, to which he continued to give his attention throughout his active career. He continued to reside in the county of Reed, Ontario, uutil his death. The mother died in Alpena, Michigan. They became the parents of twelve children, of whom the subject of this review was the tenth in order of birth, and of the number he is the only surviving son. Five of his sisters are still living. The parents were per- sons of strong character and impregnable integrity, and their lives were filled with earnest and honest endeavor. Both were members of the Presbyterian church and their children were carefully reared in the faith of the same.
Malcolm McPhee gained his initial experiences in connection with the work of the homestead farm and thus early learned the habits of in- dustry and self-reliance, the while his educational advantages were lim- ited to the somewhat primitive schools of the locality and period. He continued to reside in the province of Quebec until he had attained to his legal majority, when, in August, 1864, he came to "the states" and made his way to Ohio, where he found employment in connection with the lumber business and where he remained until the autumn of 1867, when he came to northern Michigan and cast in his lot with its pioneers in the great lumber woods. He arrived in the little village of Alpena on the 26th of September of that year and soon afterward secured em- ployment in a neighboring lumber camp. He labored earnestly and carefully saved his earnings, with characteristic Scottish thrift, and in 1879 he found it possible to engage in lumbering operations in an in- dependent way. In 1886 he erected a saw mill in Alpena and he con- tinued the operation of the same about eight years, since which time he has devoted his attention to the general lumber business. He has well equipped yards and, known for his fair and honorable dealings, controls a large and substantial trade.
Mr. McPhee, while essentially one of the world's workers, has not hedged himself in with confines of narrow order, but has shown a loyal interest in those things that tend to advance the general welfare of the community. Thus he has given his support to measures and enterprises through which have been compassed the development and upbuilding of the beautiful and thriving little city of Alpena, where he has contin- uously maintained his home since 1867 and where his friends are in number as his acquaintances. He served five terms as a member of the city board of aklermen, in which he represented the second ward and proved a valuable factor in the conserving of good municipal govern- ment. He is a member of the Alpena Prospecting Association, is a staunch supporter of the principles of the Republican party, and both
Guy Hamilton
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he and his wife hold membership in the Congregational church. He honors the land and institutions of his ancestors by having run the full gamut of degrees in the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite of the Masonie fraternity, in which he holds membership, and thirty-second degree in Michigan Sovereign Consistory, in the city of Detroit, where he is also identified with the adjunct organization, Moslem Temple, Ancient Ara- bie Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. In his home city his Ma- sonie affiliations are with the following York Rite bodies, in each of which he takes a most zealous interest : Hopper Lodge, No. 386. Free & Accepted Masons ; Thunder Bay Chapter, No. 74, Royal Arch Masons; Sahgonahkato Council, No. 58, Royal & Select Masters; and Alpena Com- mandery, No. 34, Knights Templars. He is also identified with Myrtle Lodge, No. 432, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and Alpena Lodge, No. 505, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.
On the 20th of January, 1866, Mr. MePhee was united in marriage to Miss Celina Campbell, who was born and reared in the province of Quebec, Canada, and who, like himself, was of Scotch lineage. She was summoned to the life eternal in 1893, and of the four children of this union three are living .- William, Allan and Nina. In the year 1895 Mr. MePhee contracted a second marriage, being then united to Miss Mary McDonald, who was born in Ayrshire, Scotland, and who was a child at the time of the family emigration to America. Mr. and Mrs. McPhee became the parents of two children, of whom one died in in- fancy and the other, Armand, remains at the parental home.
GUY HAMILTON .- Ideas backed with indefatigable energy,-the desire and power to accomplish big things-these qualities make of sue- cess not an accident but a logical result. The man of initiative is he who combines with a capacity for hard work an indomitable will. Such a man recognizes no such thing as failure and his final success is on a parity with his well directed efforts. Guy Hamilton is a man of splen- did business capacity and at the present time, in 1911, is general man- ager of the Gaylord Motor Company, at Gaylord, Otsego county, Michi- gan.
Guy Hamilton was born at Clifton, Macomb county, Michigan. on the 30th of March, 1874, and he is a son of James C. and Margaret (Harper) Hamilton, the former of whom was horn in Scotland, in May, 1845, and the latter of whom claims Ireland as the place of her birth, the date of her nativity being January, 1851. James (. Ilamil- ton accompanied his parents, Guy and Annie (Campbell) Hamilton, from Scotland to America in the year 1850, at which time he was a child of but five years of age. Location was made in Macomb county. where the grandfather of him to whom this sketch is dedicated became a prosperous and industrious farmer. Guy Hamilton was a most zeal- ous Christian, a Presbyterian by faith but a Methodist of necessity be- cause of the lack of a church of the former denomination in the new country. Guy and Annie Hamilton hecame the parents of a family of twelve children, eight of whom are living at the present time, James C. being the second in order of birth. To Mr. and Mrs. James C. Ham- ilton were born three children,-Hugh C .. Guy and Jennie M. The
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father is a miller by occupation and he and his wife are now living at Detroit, Michigan.
Mr. Hamilton of this review was reared and educated at Pontiac, Michigan, whither his parents removed when he was seven years old. He early manifested a liking for mechanical work and at the age of twelve years began to learn the machinist's trade, continuing to devote more or less time to the work of that trade during the intervening years to the present time. After attaining to his legal majority he sought employment in Detroit, Michigan, where he eventually beeame inter- ested in the automobile business, beginning to devote considerable at- tention to that line of enterprise in 1903. He was the first man to de- sign and build the side entrance body in Detroit and he is exceedingly well known as a designer in the auto world. In 1910 he came to north- ern Michigan in order to recuperate, his health having become impaired. The business men of Gaylord, hearing that a practical auto man was in the town, sought his adviee and counsel concerning the establishment of a motor plant at this place. Struck with his ability and praetieal knowl- edge, capital was procured, a company organized and Mr. Hamilton was put in charge of the motor factory, which was named the Gaylord Motor Company. This new and promising industry is located on the Michi- gan Central Railroad and thus has splendid facilities for the transpor- tation of their ears. The plant covers twenty-six thousand square feet of ground and it is a conerete structure consisting of two wings, each fifty by two hundred feet in lateral dimensions. The power plant is two stories high and measures forty feet by forty, while the storeroom is forty feet by one hundred feet. The company is incorporated with a capital stoek of one hundred thousand dollars and its official eorps is as follows: A. B. C. Comstoek, president; F. A. Kramer, vice-president ; Seth M. French, secretary and treasurer; and Mr. Hamilton, general manager. With the exception of the motors and axles, which are pur- chased from an outside concern, the company builds their ears com- plete. Only one model is made and that is known as the Gaylord Utility. Mr. Hamilton, who has spent most of his life handling and construeting machinery, as already noted, is the general manager and designer. A foree of one hundred hands are employed and some of the finest cars on the market are turned out. This concern is a great addition to the in- dustrial world of Gaylord and contributes in large measure to its pro- gress and development.
In his political convictions Mr. Hamilton endorses the cause of the Republican party and while he does not take an active part in local polities he is ever on the alert to do all in his power to advance the gen- eral welfare. Ile is a loyal and public spirited citizen and in a fra- ternal way he is affiliated with various representative organizations of a local nature. In their religious faith he and his wife are members of the Methodist church and they are popular and prominent in connec- tion with the best social activities in the community. .
In the year 1895 was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Hamilton to Miss Emily Fielding, who was born and reared at Chicago and who is a daughter of William and Martha (Davidson) Fielding, both living.
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Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton have three children, whose names are here en- tered in respective order of birth,-Chester H., Ruth E. and Guy, Jr.
EDWARD W. CHAPELLE is a native son of Harrisville and he is a scion of a fine old pioneer family of this section of the old Wolverine state, his father, Edward LaChapelle, having emigrated to Alcona county, Michi- gan, as early as the year 1855. He was a civil engineer by profession and concerning his ancestry further data are given in the sketches dedicated to W. L. Chapelle, a brother of him to whom this biography is addressed, and George W. La Chapelle, an uncle, which appear elsewhere in this work. The father married Miss Elizabeth Beever and to them were born the following named children,-W. L., who is editor of the Alcona County Review, at Harrisville; Edward W., the immediate subject of this review; and Frederiek, who is engaged in the automobile business in Detroit. The mother is living, but the father passed away in 1909.
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