USA > Michigan > A history of the northern peninsula of Michigan and its people; its mining, lumber and agricultural industries, Volume III > Part 16
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Dr. Harison's genealogy is interesting in its relation to hereditary influences from the fact that his professional activities have been along legal lines and without the foundation of a legal (professional) education. For this reason his genealogy has been especially empha- sized and recorded in this biographical sketch.
Historical References-
A Few Words About Hurst by Its Late Vicar. 1882. Antiquities of Berkshire (Ashmole) 1719.
"History of New York." M. J. Lamb.
History of Yorkshire by General G. H. de S. N. Plantagenet Harison.
EMIL NYBERG .- Prominent among the successful and well-to-do mer- chants of Gogebie county is Emil Nyberg, proprietor of a general store at Ironwood, where he is conducting an extensive business. Like many others of the more enterprising and progressive citizens of the Upper Peninsula, he is of foreign birth and breeding, having been born, December 1, 1866, in Liljidahl, Wermland, Sweden. His father, John Nyberg, a native of the same place, was for many years employed in the iron works of Wermland. Emigrating to this country about 1890, he came directly to Michigan, and spent the remainder of his life at Ironwood, passing away in 1909. His wife, whose maiden name was Anna Nystrom, spent her entire life in Sweden. She reared eleven children, six of whom are living in America, namely : Gust, Charlie, William, Henry, John and Emil.
At the age of nineteen years, having acquired a good business ed- ucation in the public schools of his native land, Emil Nyberg decided to try his fortune in the United States. Coming directly to the Upper Peninsula, he mined for a month at Iron Mountain, from there com- ing to Ironwood, a new town just started in the wilderness, the greater part of the town site being at that time covered with a heavy growth of timber. Mr. Nyberg began work at the Chapin Mine with a pick and shovel, but after laboring for eighteen months concluded to try some other occupation, and the following ten years was clerk in a store, being in the employ first of Peter Johnson and later in that of his successor. Forming then a partnership with Aleck Larson, he opened a general store under the firm name of Larson & Nyberg, continuing as such until his brother, William Nyberg, bought out Mr. Larson's interest in the business, the firm name being changed to Nyberg & Nyberg. In 1907, buying out his brother's share, Mr. Nyberg became sole proprietor of the business, which he is conducting on a sound financial basis, having a large and remunerative trade in general mer- chandise, his stock embracing a complete assortment of goods of all kinds.
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Mr. Nyberg married, in 1889, Susanna Seaverson, who was born, reared and educated in Norway, and into their home three children have been born, namely: Alice, Ina and Lloyd. Mr. Nyberg is a loyal Republican in politics, and represents the Fourth ward on the County Board of Supervisors. Religiously he and his family are members of the Swedish Mission church.
NELSON J. ROBBINS, M. D., is a native son of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, and is one of its representative physicians and surgeons. His popularity and his marked success in connection with the work of his profession in his native city sets at naught all application of the scriptural statement that, "The prophet is not without honor save in his own country."
Dr. Robbins was born at Negaunee, Marquette county, on the 23d of August, 1870, and is a son of Edward and Mary (Robbins) Rob- bins, both natives of England, where the former was born in 1842. The parents were reared and educated in their native land and there their marriage was solemnized. They came to America in 1867 and in the same year took up their residence in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, passing about one year at Hancock and then removing to Negaunee. A number of years later they removed to Ishpeming, where the father died in 1898, and where the mother still retains her home. They became the parents of seven children, of whom three were born in England, and of whom four are now living. Edward Robbins was a mineralogist and a mining expert and he did much im- portant work in connection with the great mining industry in the Upper Peninsula, where he ever commanded unqualified confidence and esteem.
Dr. Nelson J. Robbins received his early educational training in the public schools of Ishpeming. He later attended the medical de- partment of the University of Michigan and finally entered the Col- lege of Physicians and Surgeons, now the college of medicine of the University of Illinois, in the city of Chicago, in which he was gradn- ated as a member of the class of 1893, and from which he received his well earned degree of Doctor of Medicine. In initiating the work of his profession Dr. Robbins became associated in practice with Dr. Wilfred S. Picotte, in Ishpeming, where he remained until 1895, when he removed to Negaunee, where he now controls a large and repre- sentative practice. He is medical examiner of the United States Ma- rine Corps and is examining physican for a number of fraternal or- ganizations and insurance companies. Dr. Robbins holds member- ship in the American Medical Association, the Michigan State Medi- cal Society and the Marquette County Medical Society. He is affili- ated with Negaunee Lodge No. 202, Free & Accepted Masons; Ne- gaunee Chapter, Royal Arch Masons; Lake Superior Commandery No. 30, Knights Templar, in the city of Marquette, where he also holds membership in Ahmed Temple, Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. In polities the doctor gives his allegiance to the Republican party. He is a bachelor.
ABRAHAM H. EDDY .- One of the representative business men of Sault Ste. Marie is Mr. Eddy, who has been identified with the indus- trial and business interests of Chippewa county for nearly a quarter of a century and who is now engaged in the grocery, flour, and feed business at 524-6 Ashmun street. Mr. Eddy was born in Northumber- land county, province of Ontario, Canada, on the 6th of August, 1864,
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and is the son of Alfred M. and Elvira (Bradley) Eddy, both of whom were likewise natives of Northumberland, where the former was born in 1825 and the latter in 1829. The father died in 1885 and the mother was summoned to the life eternal in 1909. Of their eleven children, seven are now living. Harden Eddy, grandfather of the subject of this review, was born in England, whence he emigrated to the province of Ontario, Canada, when a young man. He became one of the suc- eessful farmers of the northern county, where he and his wife, whose maiden name was Ruth Tueker, resided until their death. They became the parents of nine sons and one daughter, all of whom are deceased with the exception of one son. Alfred M. Eddy was reared and educated in his native county, where he devoted his aetive ca- reers to agricultural pursuits. He passed the closing years of his life in Woodstoek, Ontario. Both he and his wife were members of the Baptist church.
Abraham H. Eddy secured his early educational training in the public schools of his native county, and he continued to be associated in the work of the farm until he attained to the age of twenty-two years, when he engaged in the same line of industry on his own re- sponsibility in his native county. Two years later he engaged in the agricultural implements business at Woodstoek, Ontario, where he remained until June 16, 1888, when he came to Sault Ste. Marie, and seeured a position as watchman on the International bridge. He was thus engaged until 1891, after which he held a position of brakeman on the Minneapolis, St. Paul & Sault Ste. Marie Railroad until 1897, when he became salesman in the flour and feed business, besides which he instituted operations as a market gardener. Later he added a grocery department to his business, in which he was associated with D. F. Reynolds, under the firm name of Eddy & Reynolds, from Feb- ruary 1, 1900, until September 1, 1909, when he purchased his part- ner's interest. Since that time he has individually continued in busi- ness. In April, - 1908, Mr. Eddy purchased the Nordyeke building at 524-6 Ashmun street, where he has sinee maintained his business head- quarters. This structure is one of the finest business bloeks in the entire Upper Peninsula and is very modern in its architectural design and equipment. Mr. Eddy was shown the utmost progressiveness and publie spirit and has at all times stood ready to give his influence and co-operation in support of all enterprises tending to advance the general welfare of the community. He developed one of the valuable farms of Chippewa county and there made a specialty of breeding high grade Durham cattle, in which connection he did much to ad- vanee the standard of this line of live stock in this section of the state.
In polities Mr. Eddy gives his allegianee to the Republican party and both he and his wife belong to the Baptist church. Mr. Eddy is affiliated with Bethel Lodge No. 358, Free & Accepted Masons, of which he is past master; Sault Ste. Marie Chapter No. 126, Royal Arch Masons, of which he is past high priest; Sault Ste. Marie Coun- eil No. 69, Royal & Select Masters. Both he and his wife are affiliated with the auxiliary organizations. the Queen of the North Chapter No. 82, Order of the Eastern Star, of which Mr. Eddy is past worthy patron. He is past commander of Sault Ste. Marie Commandery No. 45, Knights Templar; and holds membership in Ahmed Temple, An- cient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine in the City of Marquette and is also a 32nd degree Mason, being a member of De Witt Clinton Consistory of Grand Rapids, Michigan.
On November 24th, 1886, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Eddy
Thomas J. Stevens.
.
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to Miss Sarah Jane Cuthbert, who was born in Oxford county, On- tario, and who is a daughter of John Cuthbert, who was born in Scot- land, and who is still residing on his old homestead farm in Oxford county, Ontario, being ninety years of age. His wife died in 1904 and all their twelve children, eight sons and four daughters, are now living. Mr. and Mrs. Eddy have one daughter, Doris Marie.
ROBERT H. TAYLOR .- A man of honest integrity and solid worth, Robert H. Taylor holds a position of note among the esteemed and respected citizens of Sault Ste. Marie, where he is prominent in busi- ness and social circles. A native of England, he was born, February 10, 1861, in Oldham, Lancastershire, which was likewise the birth- place of his parents, Robert and Mary (Hague) Taylor. His father, a cotton spinner by trade, spent his entire life in England, his birth occurring in 1825, and his death in 1889. His mother, also a life-long resident of her native land, was born in 1827, and died in 1867. Of their six children, three are living, as follows: Miriam, Mary, and Robert H.
Availing himself when young of every offered opportunity for advancing his education, Robert H. Taylor completed the full course of literature, mining engineering and metallurgy at the Fairfield College, being graduated from that institution when but eighteen years of age. Emigrating to this country in 1879, he located in Ne- gaunee, Marquette county, Michigan, finding employment with the Jackson Mining Company, the Negaunee Concentrating Works, and in the exploration department of the Felch Mining Company. From 1882 until 1884 Mr. Taylor was engaged in exploring, after which he opened an office in Negaunee, and was there busily engaged in experimental work for ten or more years. In 1894 he came to Sault Ste. Marie as deputy collector for the United States Government, and as acting ap- praiser for the United States Custom House, positions for which he was well qualified, and which he filled ably and satisfactorily. He is still interested in mining, and has been actively engaged in developing im- portant mines in Canada.
Politically Mr. Taylor is a firm supporter of the principles of the Republican party. Fraternally he stands prominent as a Mason, being a member of Bethel Lodge, No. 358, A. F. & A. M .; of Sault Ste. Marie Chapter, No. 126, R. A. M .; of Sault Ste. Marie Council, No. 69, R. & S. M .; of Sault Ste. Marie Commandery, No. 45, K. T .; and of Ahmed Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., of Marquette.
CAPTAIN THOMAS J. STEVENS .- A man of practical ability and sound sense, Captain Thomas J. Stevens, of Ironwood, Gogebie county, is emi- nently qualified for the responsible position he is now filling as captain of the Pabst Mine, being thoroughly acquainted with mining as it is con- ducted both in England and in the United States. A son of John Ste- vens, Jr., he was born, February 25, 1850, at Leedstown, parish of Cro- wan, county Cornwall, England. His grandparents. John Stevens, Sr., and Avis (Harry) Stevens, were life-long residents of county Cornwall, England, living on a farm in the parish of Mullion.
John Stevens, Jr., the only child of his parents, was born on a farm in the parish of Mullion, and was reared to agricultural pursuits. For a number of years after his marriage he was employed as a farm superin- tendent, and when he gave up that work, settled in the village of Godol- phin, parish of Breage, county Cornwall, where he was a surface employe at the mines, living there until his death, at the age of sixty-three years.
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The maiden name of his wife was Matilda Grace Hosking, who was born in the village of Godolphin, and died there at the age of fifty-one years. Her father, Thomas Hosking, a native of county Cornwall, began mining when very young, and worked his way up to timber fireman. Going to Cuba to accept a position as timber fireman, he lost his life shortly after- ward in a mine accident. He married Grace Simmons, a life-long resident of county Cornwall. John Stevens, Jr., and his wife were Non-Con- formists in their religious belief. They reared five children, as follows: Thomas J., the subject of this sketch; Elizabeth, wife of William H. Griggs, living at Johannesburg, South Africa; Joseph Henry, residing in Saint Louis, Missouri; Albert S., living at New Tredegar, South Wales, England ; and William Henry, of New York city.
Beginning to work at the mines when but eight and one-half years old, Thomas J. Stevens had but little opportunity to attend to his books. He was employed on the surface for six years and then went into the mine, working with hammer and drill and pick and shovel for five years. When nineteen years old he went to Abercarn, Monmouthshire, Wales, finding employment in a coal mine. Realizing that while thus employed he was in constant danger, he left there at the end of a few months and came to America. Three years later an explosion in that same mine killed two hundred and eighty-two miners, the entire working force, among the number being two of Captain Stevens' uncles and two of his cousins. In America Mr. Stevens first worked at Arnold Hill, Essex county, New York, going from there at the end of six months to Scranton, Pennsylvania, where he was employed in sinking shafts for a year. Re- turning then to England, he worked in the mines at Cleator Moor for eleven years, but he was not at all contented to stay there permanently. He accordingly came back to the United States, and after mining a year in Jefferson county, Alabama, went to Sheldon, Massachusetts, where for a few months he was employed in a sulphur mine. Going thence to Pilot Knob, Missouri, he resided there until 1888, when he came to Ironwood, then a new but a rapidly growing town. For thirteen years and four months he worked at the Norrie Mine in a minor capacity, and was then promoted to shift boss, later becoming timber foreman. In 1902 he was assigned to the l'abst Mine as captain, and has since filled the position most ably and faithfully.
Captain Stevens married, in 1876, Mary O. Phillips, who was born in the parish of Sancreed, county Cornwall, England, where her parents, Joseph and Sarah (Olds) Phillips, spent their entire lives. Mr. and Mrs. Stevens are the parents of seven children, namely : Joseph Henry, Sarah Jane. William H., Mary Elizabeth, Edward, Albert John and Eunice Lneile. Joseph H. married Nettie Guess, and they have three children, Glen, Dorothy and Alice. Sarah J., wife of Herbert B. Prout, has three children. Lois, Gordon and Elizabeth. William H. married Pearl Lucia, and they both died, leaving two children, Russell and Lucile. Mary E., deceased, married Edwin J. Collick. Captain and Mrs. Stevens are faith- ful members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and have reared their children in the same religious belief. In politics the Captain is independ- ent, voting for the best men and measures without regard to party affilia- tions. He is now serving as president of the City Board of Aldermen, and is a member of the Board of Supervisors. Fraternally Captain Ste- vens is a member of Ironwood Lodge, No. 386, F. & A. M .; of Minerva Chapter, R. A. M .; of Gogebie Commandery, K. T .; of Ahmed Temple, Order of the Mystic Shrine, of George Washington Lodge, Order of the Sons of Saint George; of the Foresters of America; and of the Temple of Honor.
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MILTON E. BEURMANN .- Through judicious investments in real estate and through his well ordered business operations Mr. Beurmann has become one of the largest landholders in the Upper Peninsula of his native state and here he has made valuable contribution to social and industrial progress, the while he has marked his way by such in- vincible integrity and honor as to retain at all stages the unqualified esteem of his fellow men. He resides in the village of Newberry, where he is the owner of a large amount of valuable realty and in Luce county he has secured many hundreds of acres of timber and farm- ing land. . He has been actively concerned in the development of the agricultural interests of this section of the northern peninsula and has also been an extensive dealer in real estate. Such is his status in the community that he is well deserving of consideration in this publication as one of the representative citizens of the section to which the history is devoted.
Mr. Beurmann was born in Greenbush township, Clinton county, Michigan, on the 11th of March, 1867, and is a son of William and Elizabeth (Pierce) Beurmann, the former of whom was born in Ham- burg, Germany, and the latter in Oneida county, New York; their mar- riage was solemnized in Livingston county, Michigan, and the father passed the closing years of his life in Luce county, this state, where he died at the venerable age of eighty-six years, his cherished and de- voted wife having been summoned to eternal rest at the age of seventy- five years. Of the ten children five are now living,-Emma, who is the wife of Jerred L. Holbrook, of Greenbush township; Agnes, who is the wife of George Parker, a resident of Newberry, Michigan; and Misses Carrie and Eva, who reside with their brother Milton E., subject of this sketch.
The career of William Beurmann was varied and eventful and was marked by many interesting experiences. In his native land he secured an excellent education and there he was employed for some time as bookkeeper for his uncle, who was engaged in the agricultural business. William Beurmann was but twelve years of age at the time of his father's death. In 1837, when nineteen years of age, he came to Amer- ica, where he felt assured of better opportunities for gaining independ- ence and success through personal endeavor. He made the voyage on a sailing vessel and six weeks were consumed in making the trip across the Atlantic. From New York City he made his way to Buffalo and thence by the canal and Great Lakes to Michigan, where he joined friends in Livingston county. He thus took up his residence in the state in the year that marked its admission to the Union and his name merits a place on the roster of its honored pioneers. He secured a tract of heavily timbered land in Livingston county and there reclaimed a productive farm from the wilderness. Later his mother and two brothers joined him in America and established their residence on this original homestead. He himself finally removed to Kent county, where he secured another tract of land and began its reclamation. In 1849 he disposed of this property and set forth with the throng of gold- seekers making their way across the plains and by water routes to the new Eldorado in California. Owing to the fact that fever was then prevalent on the plains and caused great hardships to the straggling trains of gold-seekers, Mr. Beurmann went to the city of New Orleans, from which point he embarked on a sailing ship and proceeded to the Isthmus of Panama, where he waited for a steamer that had made the trip around Cape Horn. On this vessel he embarked and the same was the first steamer to arrive in San Francisco by way of Cape Horn. He
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devoted four years and six months to mining for gold and met with ex- cellent success. At the expiration of the period noted, as a member of a party of twenty-two persons, he started on the long and hazardous trip across the plains to the east. In Utah the party was waylaid by Indians and Mormons and all were left for dead. Of the entire number only two survived. Mr. Beurmann and one companion were rescued by a tribe of friendly Indians and were held as captives until they were released by government surveyors, who gave the Indians blankets and other articles in exchange for the captives. Mr. Beurmann was stripped of his gold by the Indians and Mormons and after gaining his liberty he returned to California, where he resumed his quest of gold. He was soon attacked with mountain fever, and after his recovery he worked on a ranch for a short interval. He then returned to the east, by way of the Isthmus of Panama, and from New York City he made his way back to his home in Michigan, after an absence of six years. In 1856 he located in Clinton county, where he secured land and developed a valuable farm. On this homestead he continued to reside until 1897, when, venerable in years, he removed to the upper peninsula and located in Ince county, where he lived retired until his death.
Milton E. Beurmann was reared on the homestead farm which was the place of his birth and is indebted to the public schools of Clinton county for his early educational training. He continued to be identi- fied with agricultural pursuits in that county until 1897, when he had the good judgment to transfer his operations to the Upper Peninsula, where he has found ample scope for wide and successful business enter- prise. Upon coming to Luce county he assumed the position of super- intendent of the interests of the Newberry Farming Company, and later he was identified with the lumber industry for a period of two years, at the expiration of which he engaged in farming and in the real estate business, with which important lines of enterprise he has since con- tinued to be prominently concerned. He secured one thousand acres of land in this county and with characteristic energy and discrimina- tion he has given his attention to the improving of this property, which has greatly appreciated in value, four hundred acres of the tract being now available for effective cultivation, while the remainder is timber and pasture land. In 1905 Mr. Benrmann purchased the holdings of
the Palms estate in Luce county and thus came into possession of thir- teen thousand acres of land, together with practically all the vacant lots in the village of Newberry. He is known as one of the substantial capitalists of the Upper Peninsula and also as one of its representative business men. His loyalty to his native state is of the most insistent type and he is fully appreciative of the advantages and attractions of the "upper country," where he has found ample scope for effective and productive endeavor, through which he has won large and well merited success. He has guided his course according to the highest principles of integrity and honor and thus has not been denied the full measure of popular confidence and esteem. In politics he is found arrayed as a stanch supporter of the cause of the Republican party, and while he. has never been a seeker of publie office his civic loyalty has been such as to cause him to give careful attention to such positions as have been given him through popular election. He served two terms as super- visor of MeMillan township and for the past five years he has been one of the most progressive and valued members of the village council of Newberry. Mr. Beurmann is a bachelor, and his attractive home is presided over by his two sisters, to whom reference has already been made in this context.
M.A. Howard
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JOHN ROBERT MOORE, M. D .- In the death of John Robert Moore, M. D., which occurred in November, 1909, Ironwood lost not only one of her most skilful and prominent physicians and surgeons, but one of its most honored, respected and valued citizens. He was very success- ful in his treatment of medical and surgical cases, while his genial man- ner and pleasant words of cheer made him a welcome visitor to the strong and hearty, as well as to those suffering ills and pains. A son of Robert Moore, Jr., he was born, July 12, 1850, in Sullivan township, Jefferson county, Wisconsin.
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