USA > Michigan > A history of northern Michigan and its people, Volume II > Part 48
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JAMES W. TURNER .- It would be almost impossible to find anyone more conversant with the history of Evart for the past thirty-eight years than James W. Turner. No one is better known throughout the length and breadth of the county, and not only has he watched its develop-
James. Weumer
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ment, growth and progress, but he has borne an active part in promot- ing all interests and measures which he has believed to be for the public good. Mr. Turner has proved himself enterprising and successful in many vocations. He has proved that he understands those agricultural methods which bring gratifying returns; he has engaged in trade, hav- ing conducted a meat market in the city for some six years; he has taken other roles in the many-sided life of the community, but his most illustrious services have been as a dealer in horses and cattle, and he is looked upon as a benefactor in that he has imported a great deal of fine stock to the county, thereby greatly raising the standard in this line. He has bought and sold more horses than any other man in northern Michigan, and those who have transacted business with him have always been satisfied, his fairness and honesty being of the proverbial sort. He is at present engaged in this work and is also proprietor of a livery business. Among the property owners of Osceola county this gentle- man is eminent, since he owns almost eight hundred of its most valu- able acres.
Like a goodly percentage of the citizens of this county James W. Turner is a native of the Empire state, his birth having occurred in Genesee county on April 3, 1843. His parents, Edward and Hannah (Staines) Turner, were both born in England. The father died at about the age of fifty-one years, but the mother is still living, this ven- erable lady making her home in Ludington with her younger daughter and her years number eighty-nine. She came to America in the year 1832, locating in Rochester, New York. The father came in 1835, he having run away from home and was accompanied on his journey to America by seven sisters. Mr. Turner was the eldest of the five chil- dren born to this worthy couple and what schooling he received was secured in the schools of his native county. As the family was by no means in affluent circumstances the eldest son found it necessary to go to work at the age of twelve years, finding employment upon a farm and his services being sufficiently valuable that he was retained for six years. At the comparatively early age of eighteen this courageous young fellow made an independent venture by renting a farm and tak- ing its management upon his own shoulders. At the same time he had begun in a very modest way, it is true, to engage in that line in which he has met with such unqualified success-the buying and selling of . cattle, horses, and the like.
When twenty-two or twenty-three years of age (in 1866), he became attracted by Michigan prospects and removed to the state, locating in Ionia county. He remained there, engaged in farming and dealing in horses, cattle and sheep, until 1872, when he came on to Osceola county, where he has ever since resided. He came direct to Evart and con- ducted a meat market for about six years. He then began to deal in horses, both fancy and livery, and as mentioned in a preceding para- graph no man in northern Michigan has engaged as extensively in this industry as he. His first transactions were in Indiana, Ohio was added. then Chicago, and his field now embraces the entire United, States. When he first saw Osceola county thirty-eight years ago it was rather sparsely settled and conditions were far different than at the present
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time. One helpful thing he did to advance the community was to drive cows here, and these he sold to the settlers. For six years he drove cattle from Ionia county to Osceola county for butchering. He has brought within the borders of the county a great number of fine horses for breeding purposes. Some of the transactions of Mr. Turner have been on a monumental scale, for instance, selling one lumber firm over forty thousand dollars worth of horses. It is certainly an eloquent commentary on his honorable and systematic business methods that in all his dealings there has never a dissension arisen and that unlike the record of many dealers, his is innocent of a single lawsuit. He is one of the most important land holders, having in his possession nearly eight hundred acres, located in Osceola township. His farm is a valu- able one, and is advantageously situated near the town of Evart.
Mr. Turner was married when a very young man and in his native county, Miss Julia Case, also of Genesee county, New York, becoming his bride and their union being solemnized on the 1st day of March, 1864. This lady was called to her eternal rest in 1904, being survived by two daughters, Susan and Nina, besides her husband. On the 19th day of April, 1906, Mr. Turner took as his wife Miss Sarah Fry. Their home is one of the attractive and hospitable centres of the city.
In a fraternal way Mr. Turner is one of Michigan's prominent Masons, having found recreation in its sessions for over thirty-three years, and having cemented many friendships through its medium. As he himself succinctly puts it, he is a Republican "from start to finish," putting his entire faith in the superiority of the policies and principles of the "Grand Old Party." He has been a member of the council and has acted as township treasurer, and has taken an active part in public matters, any trust given to him being esteemed in safe hands. If anyone in Osceola county enjoys a well-deserved popularity it is he, his busi- ness bringing him into contact with a host of people who have ever found his business reputation above the attack of the malevolent or envious, and his personality is of the most pleasing type. He has never used intoxicating liquors or tobacco in his life, and is a splendid repre- sentative of that type of the successful business man to whom Ameri- cans point with pride, the self-made man.
JOEL MARTIN, D. D .- The patent of nobility that rested its honors and distinctions in the person of Rev. Joel Martin came from high authority since it was based upon exalted character and distinguished ability. Looking into the clear perspective of his career there may be scen definite courage, persistent determination and innate kindliness of spirit which, coupled with broad human sympathy, make the life of a minister one of great helpfulness to mankind. Rev. Joel Martin was summoned to the life eternal on the 20th of February, 1908. his demise having occurred at Bay View, Michigan.
A native of Martinsville, Wayne county, Michigan, Rev. Martin was born on the 17th of June, 1857, and he was a son of Timothy P. and Orinda (Norton) Martin. The father was identified with the merchandise line during the greater part of his active career and was a member of the Board of County Drain Commissioners of Wayne county for twenty-one years. Rev. Martin received his early educa-
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tional training in the public schools of Martinsville and subsequently he attended school at Adrian and at Ann Arbor, having been a stu- dent in the University of Michigan. He later entered the Moody In- stitute, at Chicago, Illinois, in which he was graduated with the degree of Doctor of Divinity. Shortly after his graduation he returned to Martinsville, where he preached his first sermon in the Methodist church. He had four different charges, the same being Waldron, Bedford, Pittsford and Brighton, Michigan. For a period of twelve years he was president of the Wesleyan Methodist Conference and during that time he compiled a history of the Conference. After some years he beeame a Congregationalist and was state evangelist and state superintendent at Rockford and in connection with that de- nomination he had charge of churches at Rockford, Big Rapids and Kalkaska. Rev. Martin came to Bay View, Michigan, in 1904 and there he passed the closing years of his life, his death having oceurred on the 20th of February, 1908, as previously noted. He was a man of broad mind and generous impulses and he was ever ready to lend a helping hand to people less fortunately situated in life than himself. As a minister of the gospel, he was sincere, earnest and zealous: his preaching was eloquent and always carried conviction; and in the various avenues of usefulness his exemplary life served as lesson and incentive to the younger generation. He was a minister for forty years.
On the 13th of March, 1869, Rev. Martin was united in marriage to Miss Jane Adair, who was born in Scotland and who is a daughter of Thomas and Mary Adair. Mrs. Martin was reared and edueated in her native land and she emigrated to America, in company with her parents in the year 1852. Rev. and Mrs. Martin became the parents of two sons, namely,-Elmer P., who is now associated with his mother in the management and operating of their hotel; and Anson T., whose death occurred on the 5th of November, 1894, at the early age of twen- ty-two years. After the death of her husband Mrs. Martin became interested in the hotel business and at the time of this writing, in 1911, she is proprietor of the New Howard Hotel, at Bay View, the same being strictly modern in all its appointments and containing two hundred rooms. Mrs. Martin is a woman of unusual business abil- ity and great eharm of personality.
J. EPHRAIM POUTRE, M. D .- The world instinctively and justly ren- ders deference to the man whose success in life has been worthily achieved, who has attained a competence by honorable methods. and whose high reputation is solely the result of pre-eminent merit in his chosen profession. We pay a deservedly high tribute to the heroes who on the bloody battle-fields of war win glorious victories and dis- play their invincible courage, but we perhaps fail to realize that just as much eonrage and skill are required to wage the bloodless conflicts of civil life. Especially in the arduous career of a physician are re- quired all the qualities which go to make the ideal soldier,-courage, daring, self-control, and the keen judgment necessary to make an instant decision when life itself is at stake. Absolute indifference to
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physical comfort as contrasted with his duty, combined with a hardy frame and a complete knowledge of his profession; these they must have in common, but the physician must add to all these the divine gift of sympathy and a personal magnetism which often does more for his patients than medicine.
It is such a combination of traits that is possessed by Dr. Joseph Ephraim Poutre, physician and surgeon of Manistee, Michigan. As his name indicates, he is of French descent, his birth having occurred in the city of St. Johns, Quebec, January 18, 1863. ITis father, Napo- leon Poutre, was a Canadian agriculturist, and his grandfather, Peter Poutre, was a native of France, as was likewise the grandmother. The subject is one of a family of thirteen children born to Napoleon Poutre and his wife. Seven of the number were sons and six were daughters and all were born within the boundaries of Canada, in the same house where the father was born.
Dr. Poutre was reared in and around the historie and beautiful old city of Montreal, obtaining his early education in the schools of that city. He was naturally inclined toward the medical profession and in April, 1890, he was graduated from the medical department of the Laval University at Montreal. In the following August he went to Wisconsin and there began the practice of his profession in the town of Tomahawk, Lincoln county. Hle built up a good practice in the decade in which he was identified with that community and his talents won recognition. In June, 1901, he removed to Manistee and has ever since here engaged in practice, being now one of the prom- inent and much esteemed members of his profession.
The marriage of Dr. Poutre occurred while he was still in Wis- consin, his union to Miss Florence LeBoeuf occurring on the 15th day of November, 1892. She was, like himself, a native of Canada and of French descent. Her parents were Dulpis and Olymph LeBoeuf. Her father was a farmer. They subsequently removed to Wisconsin and it was there that Mrs. Poutre was reared and educated. Her father later became the proprietor of the LeBoeuf Lumber Company, of Muskegon, known as the firm of Rogers & LeBoeuf, and he later moved to Tomahawk.
Dr. and Mrs. Poutre have become the parents of four sons, namely : Leopold, Rodolf, Raymond and Eugene. The important professional duties of Dr. Poutre do not exclude him from fraternal enjoyments and he is a member of the Foresters, the Knights of Columbus and the Modern Brotherhood of St. John the Baptist. IIe is also a men- ber of the County and American Medical Associations.
In the matter of political conviction Dr. Poutre gives his allegi- ance to the men and measures of the Democratic party, but he is not sufficiently partisan to prevent his voting for the best men irrespective of party lines. Hle and his family are communicants of the Catholic church, to whose good works they give their earnest support.
FREDERICK L. RICHARDSON .- A resident of Alpena county since his infancy, the president of the Richardson Lumber Company has gained prestige as one of the representative business men of this section of
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the state and as one of the progressive citizens of the thriving little city of Alpena, where his interests are centered. The name which he bears has been prominently identified with the development of this section of the state, especially in connection with the lumber industry, and thus there is all of consisteney in offering in this publication a brief review of his career, with incidental data concerning the family history.
Frederick L. Richardson was born at Pittsfield, Somerset county, Maine, on the 26th of Mareh, 1865, and is a son of Alfred and Eliza- beth (Pushor) Richardson, both of whom were likewise natives of that county and members of families there founded in the pioneer days. Alfred Richardson was born in the year 1833 and was com- paratively a young man at the time of his death, which occurred in Alpena, Michigan, in January, 1877. His wife survived him by more than twenty years and was summoned to the life eternal in 1898. her birth having occurred at Pittsfield, Somerset county, Maine, in 1840. Concerning the four children the following brief data are entered : Melvina is the wife of Charles R. Leavitt, of Alpena; Frederick L., of this review, was the next in order of birth; Frank A. is secretary of the Michigan Veneer Company, one of the prominent industrial con- cerns of Alpena; and Maude is the wife of George R. Green, of this city.
Alfred Richardson was reared and educated in the old Pine Tree state, whence he first came to Alpena, Michigan, in the autumn of 1864. He was the youngest of five sons and his eldest brother, Charles W., had come to Michigan in 1858. The latter located in Alpena in that year and became one of the pioneers in the development of the lumber industry in this section of the state, as a member of the firm of Avery, Murphy & Richardson, which conducted extensive lumber- ing operations for many years. The firm cut and sawed millions of feet of lumber and its members were among the influential factors in compassing the early stages in the development of northern Michigan, long known as one of the great timber reserves of the country. After remaining for a few months in Michigan Alfred Richardson returned to Maine, and in September, 1866, he arrived with his family in Al- pena, where he continued to be identified with the lumbering opera- tions conducted by his brother's firm until he was summoned from the scene of life's mortal endeavors, after a residence in Michigan covering about a deeade. He was a member of Alpena Lodge, No. 199, Free & Accepted Masons, and Thunder Bay Chapter, No. 74, Royal Arch Masons. His political allegiance was given to the Democratic party and both he and his wife held membership in the Universalist church.
Frederick L. Richardson is indebted to the public schools of Alpena for his early educational discipline, which was supplemented by a course in the Northern Ohio University at Ada. He was but twelve years of age at the time of his father's death, and after attending the public schools for the ensuing two years he secured employment in the lumber camp of his uncle, Charles W. Richardson. The young lad thus worked in the woods for two winters and in the summer Vol. II-24
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seasons assisted in driving the logs down the river to the saw mill of the firm. Thereafter he resumed his studies in the Alpena schools and his attendance in the Northern Ohio University covered a period of two years. After leaving this institution he returned to Alpena and assumed the position of bookkeeper for the Thunder Bay Boom Com- pany, with which he remained in this capacity for three years. He then identified himself with the extensive lumbering interests of Al- bert Pack, in January, 1891, from which time until 1894 he held the position of bookkeeper. In the year last mentioned he was promoted to the office of superintendent and manager of the business, in which capacity he continued to serve until May, 1899, when, shortly after the death of Mr. Pack, he assumed the general supervision of the in- terests of the latter's estate at Alpena. In December, 1900, he pur- chased the lumber business from the estate and in the spring of the following year he organized and incorporated the Richardson Lumber Company. Under this corporate title the enterprise has since been continued successfully and Mr. Richardson has been president of the company from the time of its incorporation. In 1908 he erected a mill at Bay City, which is under the management of the mill in Alpena, but is a much larger mill. Mr. Richardson has also become largely identified with lumbering interests in the south, where he has passed the major portion of each winter for the past decaded, investigating and investing in timber tracts. He is associated with three partners in the ownership of valuable timber lands in Louisiana and Alabama, with mills at Bellamy and Hull, Alabama. In the latter place are centered the interests of the business, which is conducted under the corporate title of the Allison Lumber Company.
Mr. Richardson is recognized as a loyal and progressive citizen and has held various appointive city officers in Alpena. He was a mem- ber of the water board at the time when the city water-works were purchased by the municipal government, and he has given his influence and co-operation in the support of measures and enterprises tending to conserve the progress of his home city and county. He is a member of the directorate of the Alpena County Savings Bank, and is secretary and treasurer of the Huron Land Company. In politics Mr. Richardson is found aligned as a staunch supporter of the cause of the Democratic party. In the Masonic fraternity his local affilia- tions are with Alpena Lodge, No. 199, Free & Accepted Masons; Thun- der Bay Chapter, No. 74, Royal Arch Masons; and Alpena Command- ery, No. 34, Knights Templar, while in the city of Detroit he is iden- tified with the adjunct organization, Moslem Temple, Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. He also holds membership in Alpena Lodge, No. 505, Benevolent & Protective Order of Elks.
On the 1st of March, 1887, Mr. Richardson was united in marriage to Miss Abbie King, who was born in Madison county. Ohio, and who is a daughter of Joseph and Amanda (Tarpening) King, the former of whom was born in Reading, Pennsylvania, in 1812, and the latter of whom was born in Madison county, Ohio. The father died in 1879, at the age of sixty-seven years, and the mother was seventy-three years of age when she was summoned to the life eternal. Of their four
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children, all of whom are living, Mrs. Richardson was the third in order of birth. In conclusion of this review is entered brief record concerning the children of Mr. and Mrs. Richardson : Roy S., who was graduated in the Alpena high school and also attended the University of Michigan three years, being in the forestry department, is now applying himself to learn- ing the details of the lumber business in the employ of the Rust-Owen Lumber Company at Drummond, Wisconsin; Norma is a student in the Detroit Home and Day School for Young Women in the city of Detroit ; and Lee is attending the Alpena high school.
DR. LOUIS NORMAN YERKES was born at Chatham, Ontario, on the 5th of October, 1865, a son of Norman and Caroline (McCalle) Yerkes, both of whom were born and reared in Simon, Ontario. The father was a Imberman by occupation and in 1869 he removed, with his family, to Hersey, Michigan, where he reared to maturity five children. In the schools of Hersey, Dr. Yerkes received his preliminary educa- tional training, and at the Ada, Ohio, Normal University, which he attended for a period of two years. In 1886 he entered the drug store of Dr. Neville, of Hersey, and in that year he began to study medicine under Dr. Neville. Going to Minnesota in 1889, he practiced under a preceptor, Dr. Godfrey, at the mines on the Mesaba and Vermillion ranges. Moving to the upper peninsula of Michigan in 1899, he lo- rated at Cooks Mills, where he was appointed physician and surgeon for the Cleveland-Cliff's Iron Company, having graduated from the Michigan College of Physicians and Surgeons. In 1905 he moved to Bay City, Michigan, where he became physician and surgeon for the West Bay City Sugar Company, the Hecla Company, the American Ship Building Company, the Bradley-Miller Company and the Pere Marquette Railroad Company. While a resident of Bay City, he he- eame a member of the Bay County Medieal Society and the American Medical Association.
In September, 1909, Dr. Yerkes came to Elk Rapids and here he has succeeded in building np a large practice, and is surgeon for the Pere Marquette Railroad at Elk Rapids.
In 1892 was solemnized the marriage of Dr. Yerkes to Miss Mar- garet Doyle, of Muskegon. She was born and reared in Michigan and is a daughter of Patrick Doyle, who was engaged in teaching school for some years. He emigrated to the United States in the '60s and during his residence at Muskegon was justice of the peace for some twenty years and a well known business man.
Dr. and Mrs. Yerkes have two children,-Bertha, whose birth oc- curred in 1893; and Malcolm, born in 1898. Both children remain at the parental home and are now attending school.
In connection with the work of his profession Dr. Yerkes is affil- iated with the American Medical Association. In politics he accords a stalwart allegiance to the canse of the Republican party and as a citizen he is ever ready with his help and money to assist any and every worthy project. Fraternally he is connected with the time-hon- ored Masonie order, and the Royal Arch Masons.
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SAMUEL J. SMITH, a resident of Mackinaw City since 1890, has prob- ably been more closely identified with the business and civic life of the city than any other citizen. An able and prosperous business man, he is public-spirited to the sacrifiee of his own material interests, and has given a large share of his time to the promotion of the community's welfare.
Born in Gray county, Ontario, January 16, 1859, he obtained his early education in a log schoolhouse in Newaygo county, Michigan. After that he began his career as fireman on a lake boat, was promoted to engineer, and coming to Mackinaw City in 1890 he engaged with his father in lumbering and the hotel business. To these lines of business he has devoted his attention for the last twenty years. He is also presi- dent of the People's Bank, and throughout his residence here his in- tegrity and enterprise have been factors in the business welfare of the city.
Mr. Smith has served twenty terms as township supervisor, nine terms as president of the village board, secretary of the school board for fifteen years or more, was township treasurer one term, and two terms county treasurer. As a Republican he has several times been state delegate of the party. He is a thirty-second degree Mason, a member of Wawatam Lodge No. 448, Ancient Free & Accepted Masons, of which he is past master; St. Ignace Chapter, Royal Arch Masons; Inverness Council, No. 60, Royal & Select Masters, Bay City Consis- tory, and the Shriner temple at Saginaw. He is also a member of Helena Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, at Mackinaw City, and Cheboygan Lodge, No. 504, Benevolent Protective Order of Elks.
Mr. Smith is a son of David and Sarah (Edgerton) Smith. His father was born in Waterloo, Ontario, in 1829, and died in July, 1909, and his mother was born in London, England, and is still living. Of their eight children, four are living. The father came to Newaygo county, Michigan, in 1871, and was engaged in the lumber business there until his removal in 1890 to Mackinaw City, where he was in the lumber and hotel business up to the time of his death.
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