USA > Michigan > A history of northern Michigan and its people, Volume II > Part 44
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Fraternally, he is identified with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Independent Order of Odd Fellows and Free and Ac- cepted Masons, and in the last named has reached his thirty-second de- gree. Mrs. Case is a member of the Masonie auxiliary, the Order of the Eastern Star. Politically, Mr. Case is a Republican. While not ac- tively associated as a member with any church organization, he and his family attend worship at the Methodist Episcopal church.
GEORGE W. BEEVER .- Although born in the state of New York, Will- iam Beever has been a resident of Alcona county, Michigan, since he was a child of but four years of age. He now resides on the fine farm re- elaimed from the virgin wilderness by his father in the early pioneer days and the same is in a high state of cultivation. He has added to the original tract of eighty aeres until he now owns an estate of three hun- dred and twenty acres and as a practical agrienlturist his success has been of unequivocal order.
Mr. Beever was born in Steuben county, New York, the date of his nativity being March 8, 1853. His parents, William and Mary (Lines) Beever, were born and reared in England, and they immigrated to what is now Alcona county, Michigan, on the 24th of March, 1857. In those early days the principal occupations in the northern wilderness were lumbering and fishing. Accordingly, William Beever secured employ- ment with the firm of Harris Brothers, at the old Water mill near Har- risville. In the spring of 1860 he purchased a tract of eighty acres of unbroken timber land, being the second man to settle on raw land on the west shore of Lake Huron from Bay City to the straits of Mackinaw. IIis neighbor, Joseph Fisher, deceased, was the first man to settle in that community, coming there in 1859, one year previous to Mr. Beever's
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advent. The father, mother and two children set industriously to work, carrying green lumber one hundred rods from the end of the railroad for the purpose of erecting a primitive dwelling in which to reside. Mr. Beever began to clear his land a little at a time, meanwhile supporting the family by spending the winter months working for the Harris broth- ers. During the summer months he cleared his farm and gradually made way for good healthy crops. In 1895 his entire eighty acres was cleared and it is to-day one of the finest farms in northern Michigan. Mr. and Mrs. Beever became the parents of two children,-Emma, who is now the wife of Peter Eferick, and who resides at Harrisville; and George W., the immediate subject of this sketch. The father was sum- moned to the life eternal in 1909 and his wife, who preceded him to the Great Beyond, passed away in 1902.
George W. Beever was four years of age at the time of his parents' removal to Michigan and he became familiar with woodcraft in his early youth. His educational privileges were such as were afforded in the primary schools of the locality and period and even as a child he began to assist his father in the work of clearing and cultivating the home farm. From the time he was twelve years old until he was nineteen he worked in the woods, trapping and hunting in the winter months and found it a very profitable as well as exciting occupation. During this time he killed twenty-two bears, and hundreds of deer, as they had to use venison for food up in that country, pork being forty dollars a bar- rel. He now owns this fine estate, which contains so many reminiscences of his childhood, but to the original traet he has added some two hun- dred and forty acres so that he now conduets the operation of a farm of three hundred and twenty acres. The same is located in Harrisville township, Alcona county. In polities Mr. Beever is aligned as a staunch supporter of the principles and policies for which the Republican party stands sponsor and while he has never been ambitious for the honors or emoluments of political office he has given most efficient service to the township of Harrisville as a member of the board of school directors. At the present time, in 1911, he is secretary of the Alcona County Farmers' Institute. Fraternally he is affiliated with the Independent Order of Forresters, the Knights of the Maccabees, the Grange and the Gleaners. He is a loyal and public-spirited citizen and one who holds a secure place in the confidence and esteem of his fellow men.
In the year 1875 Mr. Beever was united in marriage to Miss May Ward, who was born at Stanley, New Brunswick, a daughter of George and Esther (Buchanan) Ward, both of whom are now deceased. George Ward died in 1902, while his wife survived him until 1906. Mrs. Beever was educated in the common schools of Harrisville, having come here when quite young, and she was the first in order of birth in a family of six children. She is a woman of most gracious refinement and utmost sincerity and she and her husband are devout members of the Methodist church at Harrisville. To this union have been born four children,- Emma, Rose, Jennie and William, all of whom live on farms in Harris- ville township.
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LEON CHICHESTER, banker and prominent man of affairs at Petoskey, where he has resided since 1891, was born at Otsego, Allegan county, Michigan, January 15, 1863. The family were pioneers of this section of Michigan, and both in Allegan and in Petoskey the name is closely associated with banking as well as the best ideals of citizenship. Ira Chichester, the father, was born in central New York, and at his death in 1903 was eighty years of age. His wife, whose maiden name was Ann Mary Ives, lost her life in an accident on Mt. Washington in 1880, at the age of fifty. Two of their four children are living,-Leon and Fred 1., the latter being a banker of Allegan. The late Ira Chichester was brought to Michigan by his parents when he was six years old, and he was reared among pioneer conditions. He became a surveyor, con- tractor and builder, and one of the most successful men in western Michigan. Besides holding township offices, he was county treasurer of Allegan county for ten years. In politics he was Republican. Towards the close of his life he took an active part in Petoskey business, and was the first president of the First State Bank of that eity, a position he held until his death.
Leon Chichester attended the Allegan schools, and at the age of six- teen beeame an employe of the First National Bank of Allegan. Through- out his active career he has been identified with financial affairs, and is one of the best known bankers of Michigan. In the Allegan bank he was promoted to bookkeeper, and at the age of nineteen beeame cashier, being at the time, the youngest man in the state to hold the office of cash- ier of a national bank. In 1891 Mr. Chichester moved to Petoskey, where he and Mr. George Robinson organized the First State Bank of Petoskey, with a capital of fifty thousand dollars. His father was the first president. and he himself became eashier and later vice president, and sinee his father's death in 1903 has been president. Mr. Chichester is a former president of the Michigan Bankers Association. As a citizen his influence and activity mean much for Petoskey's civie progress. Ile has served one term in the city council, and at the present time is a member of the city charter revisory commission. While a resident of Allegan he served as village treasurer. In politics he is Republican.
Mr. Chichester married, in 1900, Miss Jeanne E. Caskey. She is a native of Allegan and a daughter of Charles W. and Edith (Hunt) Caskey. Her father, who is a native of Michigan, is a contractor and builder and now operates a sawmill and planing mill at Seattle, Wash- ington, where he and his wife both live. There were five children in the Caskey family, Mrs. Chichester being the second. Mr. and Mrs. Chichester have two children,-Edith H. and Ira.
JULIUS CAMPBELL .- One of the metropolitan and important mer- vantile concerns that lends prestige to Traverse City is that of the Julius Campbell Company, dealers in hardware and furniture, with two finely equipped stores, one at 123-5 Union street, and the other at 417 Union street. Of this company, which is duly incorporated under the laws of the state, Jnlins Campbell is the chief executive and dominating force, and in his initiative and administrative ability he has shown marked resourcefulness in the building up of a splendid business enterprise,
Julius Campbell
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his connection with which gives him place among the representative business men of northern Michigan. He is a native son of this section of the state and a member of one of its honored pioneer families. His secure place in popular confidence and esteem renders altogether inept any application of the Biblical aphorism that a "prophet is not with- out honor save in his own country."
Julius Campbell was born on his father's old homestead farm in Leelanau county, Michigan, and the date of his nativity was March 24, 1865. He is a son of Henry F. and Minnie (Beitner) Campbell. The father died in Traverse City, February 26, 1911, and the mother still lives in Traverse City. Henry F. Campbell was born in the north of Ireland and the lineage is traced back to the historie Campbell clan which has played so important a part in the annals of Scotland. He was born on the 2d of September, 1831, and thus would have attained to the patriarchal age of eighty years if his life had been preserved uu- til September 2, 1911. He retained his mental and physical faculties to a wonderful degree, and lived a life of industry, sobriety and in- tegrity. His sterling character showed itself in all the relations of his long and useful life and when the gracious twilight of his day was at hand he found that his lines had been cast in pleasant places, for he had the reverent regard of all who knew him. His cherished and de- voted wife, who had been his companion and helpmeet for fully fifty- one years, was born in Germany and was a child at the time of her parents' emigration to America. Of this union were born three sons and three daughters, and of the number the three sons and two daugh- ters are now living, Julius, of this review, having been the second in order of birth.
Henry F. Campbell was reared to adult age in his native land, to whose common schools he was indebted for his early educational dis- cipliue. At the age of seventeen years he severed the ties that bound him to home and the fair Emerald Isle and set forth to seek his fortunes in America. The sailing vessel on which he took passage landed in Quebec, Canada, where he disembarked, and he soon afterward made his way to the central part of the state of Illinois, where he remained about two years. He then came to the Grand Traverse region in north- ern Michigan and numbered himself among the pioneer settlers of Leelanau county, where he secured a tract of wild land and reclaimed a productive farm from the virgin forest. He bore to the full the tension of the pioneer days and proved himself equal to all emergencies and labors. He was one of the well known men of this section of the state and in former years was influential in public affairs of a local or- der, in which connection he was called upon to serve in various town- ship offices. In politics he was originally a Democrat, but for many years he gave his allegiance to the cause of the Republican party. He held membership in the Methodist Episcopal church, as does also his wife.
Julius Campbell, like many others of the representative business men of this favored section of the Wolverine state, gained his initial training and experience in connection with the work of a pioneer farm and after duly availing himself of the advantages of the public schools Vol. 11-22
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of his native county he completed a course in the Grand Rapids Busi- ness College. For several years thereafter he was identified with the lumber business, and he then went to the city of Detroit, where he was employed as a salesman in a retail hardware establishment for the en- suing two years. In 1904 Mr. Campbell established his present busi- ness enterprise in Traverse City, where he effected the organization of the Julius Campbell Company, of which he has been the efficient head from the start. In the two well equipped establishments conducted by this company are handled complete and diversified lines of hardware and furniture, and the slogan of the concern is well taken,-"everything to furnish the home." A large and representative business has been built up and the most valuable asset of the concern is its unassailable reputation for fair and honorable dealings. Not only along business lines but also as a citizen does Mr. Campbell stand exponent of progres- sive ideas, and he is ever ready to give his influence and co-operation in support of measures tending to advance the material and social wel- fare of the community. In politics he maintains an independent attitude and while he has never been ambitions for public office he served for two years as treasurer of Elmwood township, Leelanau county. Both he and his wife hold membership in the First Methodist Episcopal church of Traverse City and Mrs. Campbell is a popular factor in con- nection with the best social activities of the community.
On the 24th of October, 1895, Mr. Campbell was united in marriage to Miss Emma Schaake, who was born in the city of Grand Rapids, Mieh- igan, and who is a daughter of Valentine and Wilhelmina Schaake. The mother is deceased and the father is a resident of Traverse City. Their marriage was solemnized many years ago, and the father is now living retired. Of the two children Mrs. Campbell is the elder and her brother William is with the Westinghouse people as an engineer. Valentine Schaake and his wife were both born in Germany and he came to America when a young man. He had learned the wagonmaker's trade in his native land and he became one of the pioneer wagon and carriage manufacturers in Grand Rapids, where he continued to be actively identified with business interests until 1890, when he retired. He is a Republiean in politics and he is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, as was also his wife. Mr. and Mrs. Campbell have one danghter, Helen Doris.
LAURITZ A. LARSON, who is ably filling the position of cashier of the Bank of Copemish, Manistee county, Michigan, was born at Greenwood, this state, on the 9th of October, 1871. His parents, Christen and Lauren- tine Larson, were both natives of Denmark, whence they removed to the United States. After some years they established their home near Osage, Iowa, where Christen Larson was register of deeds, and later en- gaged in the mercantile business for a number of years. Hle has recently paid a visit to his old home in Denmark. Here L. A. Larson, the sub- ject of this sketch grew up, receiving his preliminary education in the public schools, attending high school at Osage, though he did not gradu- ate, but at the age of eighteen years entered the Osage National Bank. Later he became eashier of the Ilome Trust & Savings Bank, remaining
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in tenure of that position until May, 1907, when he removed to Cope- mish, where, in company with others, he purchased the Bank of Cope- mish, which had been organized by Messrs. Hodges and Rachow, in Jan- uary, 1905. The bank is a private institution owned by Brewster, Lar- son & Company, and its official corps at the present time, in 1911, is as follows : F. O. Brewster, president ; L. A. Larson, cashier ; and Ivan Liv- ingston, assistant cashier. This substantial monetary institution con- trols an extensive business and is decidedly popular with the business public. It is widely noted for its fair and honorable methods and the fine integrity and honesty of its officers constitute one of its best assets. It transacts a general banking and exchange business. Mr. Larson is also identified with the Bank of Mesick, Michigan, and the Bank of Ar- cadia, Michigan, of both of which he is president.
In the year 1894 was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Larson to Miss Emma J. Whitaker, of Osage, Iowa, at which place she was born and reared. Mr. and Mrs. Larson have one child,-Allene, who was born at Osage on the 13th of Angust, 1897. In politics Mr. Larson is aligned as a stalwart supporter of the principles and policies for which the Re- publican party stands sponsor and he has ever given most freely of his aid and influence in support of all movements advanced for the general good of the community. Fraternally, he is affiliated with the time- honored Masonic order and he is also a valued and appreciative mem- ber of the Knights of Pythias, the Modern Romans, and Modern Wood- men of America. Mr. Larson's father is now in Denmark on a trip. -
GEORGE L. CRISP .- As county commissioner of schools for Grand Traverse county Mr. Crisp has proved a most able and discriminating executive and during his incumbency of this office he has done much to systematize, solidify and advance the work of the public schools of his native county, where his parents took up their abode in the pioneer days. In his present office he has shown marked initiative, perspicacity and administrative ability and he is a valued factor in connection with educational affairs in this section of the state, where he has most secure place in popular confidence and esteem.
George L. Crisp was born on the old homestead farm of the family in Grand Traverse county on the 23d of June. 1872, and is a son of William and Mary E. (Sprowls) Crisp, whose marriage was solemnized in Hillsdale county, Michigan. The father was born at Hermitage. sixty miles distant from the city of London, England, and the date of his nativity was September 25, 1833. He died at his home in Grand Traverse county on the 14th of November, 1909, secure in the high re- gard of all who had come within the sphere of his benignant influence. His wife, who lives with her son, was born in Canandaigua county. New York, and was a child at the time of her parents' removal to southern Michigan, where she was reared and educated.
William Crisp, the honored father of him whose name initiates this sketch, was reared and educated in his native land and was eighteen years of age at the time of the family emigration to America in 1851. He was a son of William and Sarah Crisp, and they made the voyage to the United States on the sailing vessel "Audrey Foster," which con-
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sumed six weeks in making the trip across the Atlantic. The voyage was marked by the prevalence of an epidemic on shipboard and many of the passengers died en route, there having been a burial at sea nearly ever day during the major portion of the long and weary journey. The Crisp family disembarked in the port of New York eity and thence proceeded to Lockport, New York, from which place removal was made a few years later to Hillsdale county, Michigan, where William Crisp, Sr., secured a tract of land and became a snecessful farmer. Both he and his wife continued to maintain their home in that county until their death. William Crisp, Jr., continued to be associated in the ree- lamation and other work of the home farm until, on account of ill health, he followed his brother John to Grand Traverse connty and numbered himself among the sturdy pioneers here. He purchased a traet of wild land and there reelaimed a productive farm. At one time his landed estate comprised two hundred aeres and he was prominently identified with the eivie and material deveolpment of this section of the state. Indefatigable energy and good management brought to him a due measure of success and he was an honored and influential factor in his community. He returned, with his family, to Hillsdale county in 1873 and there remained until 1876, when he again eame to his farm in Grand Traverse county, where he continued to reside during the residue of his long and useful life. He served for twenty-four years as justice of the peace and held other township offices. These preferments well indicated the high regard reposed in him by the people of the com- munity which so long represented his home and was the scene of his earnest toil and endeavor. He was a stalwart advocate of the cause of the Republican party and was a man of mature judgment and broad mental ken. He had been affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and was a most earnest and devoted member of the Metho- dist Episcopal church, as is also his widow, who is now venerable in years and who is held in affectionate regard by all who know her. He was licensed as a local preacher in his church and was most active in its work, while his influence was ever given in support of all things which represent the higher and nobler ideals in the scheme of human existence.
George L. Crisp was an infant at the time of the family removal to IHillsdale county, and three years later the parents returned to Grand Traverse county, where he was reared to maturity under the benefieent influence of the home farm, in the work of which he began to assist when a mere boy. In the meanwhile he availed himself of the advan- tages of the district schools and for a time he attended the public schools in the county of Hillsdale. He was graduated in the Traverse City high school as a member of the class of 1891 and thereafter he continued his higher academie studies in the Northern Indiana Normal School and Business College, an institution that is now known as the Northern Indiana University, at Valparaiso, Indiana. For the ensning several years Mr. Crisp gave his attention to the pedagogie profession, in which he was a successful teacher in the schools of Grand Traverse, Antrim and Leelanau counties. He became superintendent of the public schools of Williamsburg, Grand Traverse county, in 1897, and retained this
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position for one year. His effective labors in the local educational field marked him as specially eligible for the office of county commissioner of schools, and in the spring of 1903 the voters of his native county ac- corded him this responsible position, to which he was elected by a gratifying majority as candidate on the Republican ticket. In the spring of 1907 he was elected as his own successor, and his second term will expire in July, 1911. The public estimate placed upon his services and adminstration was significantly shown in his re-election and his continned retention of the office. He has been indefatigable in his ef- forts, has gained the earnest co-operation of the teachers throughout the county and his progressive policies, admirably defined and carried ont, have met with unequivocal popular support. Mr. Crisp has con- tinued to take a lively interest in industrial and civic affairs in his na- tive county and has been prominent in the promotion of fruit culture, in connection with which he is the owner of a fine fruit farm in White- water township. On this place he has an excellent cherry orchard of choice varieties and he also raises apples and small fruits. He gives a general supervision to the place and in this way finds both recreation and pleasure. He still maintains his home on his farm near Williams- burg.
In politics Mr. Crisp accords allegiance to the Republican party and he is well fortified in his views as to matters of public import. Both he and his wife hold membership in the Methodist Episcopal church of Williamsburg and there also he is affiliated with East Bay Lodge, No. 264, Free & Accepted Masons, of which he is master at the time of this writing, in 1910, and both he and his wife hold membership in the ad- junct organization, East Bay Chapter, No. 344, Order of the Eastern Star. He is also an active and valued member of Williamsburg Grange, of which he is the present master, and is affiliated with Traverse Bay Tent, No. 136, Knights of the Modern Maccabees. He has been an in- fluential figure in the local councils and work of the Republican party and is chairman of its central committee in Grand Traverse county.
On the 19th of November, 1892, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Crisp to Miss Nettie Ernst, who was born and reared in Michigan and who was a daughter of Walter and Harriet (Freeman) Ernst, the former a native of Ohio and the latter of Michigan. Mrs. Crisp was summoned to the life eternal on the 20th of March, 1898, and is survived by two sons,-Ferris W. and John E. On the 19th of February, 1900, Mr. Crisp contracted a second marriage, having then been united to Miss Edna G. Graham, who was born at Davenport, Iowa, and who is a daughter of Captain Eli and Sarah (Green) Graham. One child, Josephine, was born to them on June 21, 1901.
Mr. Graham was a native of Green Bay, Wisconsin, and his wife of Davenport, Iowa. He was a lake captain, being both captain and owner of the "Grace Williams" as well as of several other boats. He met death by being swept overboard near the Manata Islands in 1895. His widow is now living in Traverse City. They reared a family of four children, two sons and two daughters, all living and as follows: Hugh Graham is the engineer at the waterworks of Traverse City ; Mrs. Crisp was next in order of birth : Charles, of Chicago, is in the telephone busi-
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