USA > Michigan > A history of the northern peninsula of Michigan and its people; its mining, lumber and agricultural industries, Volume III > Part 17
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His paternal grandfather, Robert Moore, Sr., was born, in 1788, in New Hampshire, coming, it is said, of Scotch ancestry. As a young man he migrated to Vermont, from there going into Canada, where he made a brief stay. Going onward to Ohio, he became a pioneer settler of Ashtabula county, and there spent his last years. His wife, whose maiden name was Hannah Bean, was born in Vermont in 1798. She survived him many years, passing away at the home of her son Robert, in Wisconsin.
One of a family of ten children, Robert Moore, Jr., was born in Canada, but was brought up in Ohio. In early manhood he followed the march of civilization westward to Wisconsin. Locating in Sullivan township, Jefferson county, he bought a partially improved farm, and was there engaged in agricultural pursuits many years. He subse- quently removed to the village of Rome, where he lived retired until his death, in 1896, at the good old age of seventy-two years. His wife, whose maiden name was Lois Henry, was born in Pennsylvania, and died, in 1902, in Wisconsin, at the age of sixty-eight years. She reared ten children, as follows: Welcome, John Robert, Henry, Henrietta, Edwin, George E., Frank, Arthur, Oscar, and Minnie.
Receiving his preliminary education in the district schools of his native township, John Robert Moore was subsequently graduated from the Milton High School. His resolution to enter the medical profession having become fixed in his mind, he then began the study of medicine with Dr. Pattie, of Concord, Wisconsin, and in 1872 was graduated from the Chicago Medical College with the degree of M. D. Dr. Moore immediately began the practice of his profession at Stoughton, Wis- consin, from there going to New London. Coming to Ironwood in 1888, he was here actively and successfully employed as mine surgeon until his death, which was caused by the accidental discharge of a gun, in November, 1909.
Dr. Moore was twice married. He married first Julia McFarlane, who died in 1880, leaving one daughter, Mabel Moore. The doctor married for his second wife Nellie W. Dickinson, who survives him, and has two children, Alice D., and John R. Alice D. is the wife of Burt C. Hayes. John R. married Maude -, and they have one son, Robert. Dr. Moore was a member of the American Medical Society, of the Michigan State Medical Society, and of the Gogebie County Medical Society.
WILLIAM B. THOMAS has resided in Manistique for twenty-three years and more, and these have been years of purposes well directed, of plans carefully formed, an era of splendid achievements, and at the same time his far reaching influence has affected the substantial growth and advancement of his city. He was born at Sheldrake in Seneca county, New York, November 17, 1866. His father, Waterman Thomas, was born in Connecticut, but moved from there to New York in 1846 and was a merchant at Sheldrake until coming to Ann Arbor, Michigan, in
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1876, where he resumed mercantile affairs, and he died in that city at the age of eighty-one years. He was a son of Jonathan Thomas, also born in Connectieut and of English descent. The mother of William B. Thomas was before marriage Mary Craven Schenck, a native of New Jersey, and a daughter of Jacob Schenck, of Holland descent. She died at the age of eighty-three years, and of the seven children that blessed the marriage union of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas five grew to years of maturity.
William B. Thomas, the youngest born of these seven children, was ten years of age when he moved with his parents to Ann Arbor, and he received his education in the high school of that city. From there he came to Manistique in 1886, and his first employment here was as bookkeeper for the Chicago Lumber Company, thus continuing for three years. In 1889 he entered upon his connection with the White Marble Lime Company, first in the capacity of bookkeeper, and in 1897 he was elected the secretary of the company and in 1906 became its manager. He is one of the stockholders of this large corporation. The White Marble Lime Company gives employment to about two hundred and fifty men, and it is one of the important and influential business corpo- rations of this part of the state. Mr. Thomas is also the treasurer of the Freeman Lumber Company at Engadine, this state, is the vice president of the First National Bank of his home city and interested in the Manistique Bank and he is the vice president of the Manistique Realty Company. He has also served as the township and village treasurer, and is now a member of the school board, a true and firm friend of the cause of education. He is a Knight Templar and Shrine Mason, a member of the Manistique Order of Elks and of the Sons of the American Revolution.
Mr. Thomas married in 1891 Nettie Tucker, who died in 1902, the mother of four children. He subsequently married Fern I. Nicholson. Mr. Thomas' children are Harrie, Glenn, Marion and Edith.
CAPT. JOHN DUNCAN, deceased, who was for many years assistant superintendent of the Calumet & Hecla Mining Company, was a man of much prominence and enjoyed universal esteem. One thing which had contributed to his prominence was his high rank in Masonry, he having attained to the thirty-third degree. He figured in the affairs of the Republican party and had enjoyed some political preferment. His was the distinction to be one of the oldest continnous county commis- sioners in the state, having served as chairman of the board in Hough- ton county from 1866 until the time of his death in 1904.
Captain Duncan was born in Canada, near St. Thomas, his parents being John and Mary Duncan, natives of Scotland. In his early man- hood he secured employment on the Great Western Railway of Canada and subsequently found his way into Michigan where the most of his life was spent. It was in 1858 that he first located in Houghton county, after a short employment on the Detroit & Mackinac Railway. He made the journey to his new home on the steamer "Montgomery," which was commanded by the late Captain Wilkinson, ex-superin- tendent of the Detroit House of Correction, the trip being the first one both for the vessel and its captain. He was ten years associated with the Quincy mine and only left to accept the superintendency of the Calumet & Hecla Mining Company. The year in which he made this change was 1869 and his relations with this important concern con- tinued for more than thirty years. He was an astute business man and accumulated large means, and was interested in many enterprises, being
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among other things an extensive stock-holder in the Calumet & Hecla Mining Company. His residence, situated at 1025 Mine street, is one of the handsomest in Calumet.
Captain Duncan had large political influence and in addition to his record as commissioner, was identified with both village and township organizations, his good judgment and broad-minded justice being gen- erally recognized. Captain Duncan was a member of the Masonic lodge at Quincy until its transferral to Calumet. He was affiliated with the Montrose Commandery, Knights Templar, and with the Marquette Con- sistory.
June 18, 1862, Captain Duncan laid the foundation of a home by his marriage to Miss Mary A. Moon, daughter of William Moon, for- merly of Kalamazoo, Michigan. This union was blessed by the birth of three children. William, resides with his family in Calumet and is engaged in the hardware business. Fannie, wife of William Holman, an insurance man, makes her home in Calumet. Helen married Fred E. Woodbury, and resides in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The death of Cap- tain Duncan occurred June 6, 1904, and his loss is still felt not merely by his widow and children, but by numerous fellow citizens who real- ized his sterling worth.
WILLIAM R. ADAMS .- Conscientious, earnest and persistent, with a great natural aptitude for his chosen vocation, William R. Adams ranks well among the foremost attorneys of Ontonagon, where he has built up a large and lucrative clientele. He was born, October 25, 1863, at Lapeer, Michigan, a son of Eli Adams. His paternal grandfather, Rev. Mr. Adams, a native of New York state, was ordained as a minister in the Methodist Episcopal church, and was for many years a mis- sionary on the western frontier.
Eli Adams was born and reared in the Empire state, where he learned the trade of a moulder. Coming as a young man to Michigan, he lived a number of years in Lapeer, removing from there to Vassar, Tuscola county, where, establishing a machine shop, foundry, and pump manufactory, was actively engaged in business until his death, in 1886.
After completing his studies in the public schools, William R. Adams began the study of law under the preceptorship of John H. Hickok, of Flint, Michigan, afterwards studying with Durand & Car- ten, of the same city. In 1890 he was admitted to the Michigan bar, and since that time has been successfully engaged in the practice of his profession at Ontonagon. Mr. Adams has taken an active part in the management of town and county affairs, and has served wisely and acceptably in various public offices. He was deputy county clerk in Genesee county, and since coming to Ontonagon has served as president of the Village Board; as a member of the Ontonagon Board of Educa- tion; as justice of the peace; as circuit court commissioner; and for the past fourteen years he has been prosecuting attorney for Ontonagon county.
Mr. Adams married, August 22, 1887, Lydia N. Jones, who was born in Fentonville, Michigan, a daughter of Lafayette N. Jones. Her grand- father, Austin Jones, was born and bred in Wales. On coming to the United States, he settled as a pioneer in Oakland county, Michigan, where he carried on a good business as a contractor and builder for many years, living there until his death, at the remarkable age of ninety-six years. His wife attained the age of ninety years. They trod life's pathway hand in hand for sixty-four consecutive years, in the meantime celebrating both the fiftieth and the sixtieth anniversaries
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of their wedding day in an appropriate manner. Lafayette N. Jones was born in Oakland county, Michigan, and is now employed as a con- tractor and builder in Oakland. His wife, whose maiden name was Victoria Andrews, was born in Tuscola county, Michigan, of English ancestry. Her father, George Andrews, the maternal grandfather of Mrs. Adams, was born in Syracuse, New York, and came to Michigan in early life, settling in Tuscola county in pioneer times. Purchasing a tract of timber land, he erected a log house in the midst of the forest, and by dint of sturdy industry cleared and improved a valuable farm, which, with its substantial frame buildings and its equipments, became one of the most desirable estates in the community.
Politically Mr. Adams is a loyal supporter of the principles of the Republican party, and fraternally he is a member of Ontonagon Lodge, I. O. O. F., and of Lodge, No. 381, B. P. O. E.
WILLIAM B. HATFIELD .- The pioneer merchant of Ewen, Ontonagon county, William B. Hatfield has, mayhap, been more actively identified with advancement of the material interests of this section of the Upper Peninsula than any other one person, having been a continuous resi- dent of this place for upward of a score of years, during which time he has contributed his full share towards advancing the public wel- fare. A son of George Hatfield, he was born, July 12, 1858, in Martin township, Allegan county, Michigan. He is of English descent, the emigrant ancestor of the family to which he belongs having been one Thomas Hatfield, who was born in England, and in 1680 came to America, settling in Massachusetts. The line was continued through Peter Hatfield. Sr., Peter Hatfield, Jr., Absalom Hatfield, Stephen Hat- field, George Hatfield, to William B., the subject of this brief sketch.
Absalom Hatfield. for many years a resident of New York state, married Ruth Hicks, who was a lineal descendant of Robert Hicks of London, who came to America in the good ship "Fortune," landing at Plymouth, Massachusetts, November 11, 1621. On board that same ves- sel came parts of several families that were left behind by the May- flower passengers the previous year. He was a leather dresser, in London having been located on Bermondsey street, Southwick, and was a son of James Hicks, and a lineal descendant of Sir Ellis Hicks, who was knighted by Edward, the Black Prince, for bravery on the battle- field of Poitiers, September 9. 1356, when he captured a set of colors from the French.
Born in New York state, Stephen Hatfield became a pioneer settler of Wayne county, New York, where he bought heavily timbered land, from which he cleared and improved a good farm. He subsequently came to Michigan, and here spent his last years.
George Hatfield was born in Farmington, Wayne county, New York, and after completing his studies in the public schools attended the State Normal School at Albany. He subsequently taught school in his native state until 1856, when he settled in Allegan county, Michigan, where he continned as a teacher during the winter seasons for a number of years, the remainder of the time being engaged in tilling the soil. Removing to Oshtemo in 1860, he purchased a farm in that township, and was there employed in teaching and farming for nine years. Returning then to Allegan county, he bought land in Plainwell township and there continued both his professional and his agricultural labors for nine years. He is now living retired from active pursuits in Mecosta county, being a venerable man of four score years.
The maiden name of the wife of George Hatfield was Lois Jane
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Lapham. She was born in Macedon, New York, and died, in 1887, in Michigan. She was a daughter of Orrin Lapham, and a direct descen- dant of John Lapham, who was born in Devonshire, England, in 1635. After learning the weaver's trade, he emigrated to America, settling in Providence, Rhode Island, where he married Mary Mann, a daughter of William Mann. His house was subsequently burned by the Indians, and he removed with his family to Dartmouth, Massachusetts. His son, John H. Lapham, the next in line of descent, married Mary Russell, a daughter of Joseph Russell, of Dartmouth, Massachusetts, and after- wards located in Rhode Island, where he served as a member of the Assembly. The line was continued through John L. Lapham, who was born October 3, 1703, and married Desire Howland, a daughter of Benjamin J. Howland, of Dartmouth, Massachusetts. He subsequently moved to Dutchess county, New York, settling at Nine Partners. The succeeding ancestor was their son, Abraham Lapham, who was born in Massachusetts in 1749, and died in 1836. His son, John L. Lapham, of whom but little is known, was Mr. Hatfield's maternal great-grand- father. Orrin Lapham, his maternal grandfather, a life-long farmer, spent his last years in Macedon, New York. The parents of Mr. Hat- field reared nine children, namely : Mary E., Carrie, William B., Helen Louise, Ira, Justin, Cora, Julia, and Charlie.
Obtaining his elementary education in the district schools, William B. Hatfield subsequently attended the Union High School. Beginning his career as a teacher at the age of seventeen years, he taught five win- ter terms, in the meantime assisting on the farm. On attaining his ma- jority he secured a position as clerk in a general store at Millbrook, Mecosta county, from there going to Remus, Michigan, where he had charge of the general store belonging to L. T. Wilmouth for a time. In 1889 Mr. Hatfield became a member of the firm of Clark, Farnham & Co., and came to Ewen, Ontonagon county, to engage in business. An engine house and a water tank were the only buildings to be seen on the village site, which, with the surrounding country, was then cov- ered with timber. With his customary enterprise and keen forethought, Mr. Hatfield at once erected a building, and having put in a stock of general merchandise subsequently put up a saw and shingle mill, and for many years was successfully engaged in business as a general mer- chant and as a lumber manufacturer and dealer. Making wise invest- ments, he had, in the meantime, acquired possession of large tracts of valuable land, and is now devoting his time and energies to agricul- tural pursuits, having a well improved farm adjoining the village.
On November 5, 1885, Mr. Hatfield was united in marriage with Maud I. Decker, who was born in Oshowa, province of Ontario, Canada, a daughter of Edward S. Decker. Her grandfather, John Gilbert Decker, was born in Greene county, New York, of English ancestry. In early life he removed to Canada, where he followed his trade of a cab- inet maker for many years, subsequently coming to Michigan, and spending his last days in Mecosta county. His wife, whose maiden name was Mary Stanley, died in Canada. Born in Hope township, Dur- ham county, province of Ontario, Edward S. Decker located in Mill- brook, Mecosta county, Michigan, in 1868, and there followed the trade of a cabinet maker and a carpenter for many years, his death, however, occurring in Maywood. He married Rosetta Fitch, who was born át Reach, province of Ontario, Canada, a daughter of John and Orvilla (Barber) Fitch, farmers in Reach. Mrs. Decker spent her last years in Maywood, also. To her and her husband six children were born and reared, as follows: John Gilbert: Hiram Edward: Maud L., now Mrs.
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Hatfield; Lulu, who was the first teacher in the public schools of Ewen; Frank R .; and Jessie. Mr. and Mrs. Hatfield are the parents of six children, namely : Carl J., Donald D., George E., James Maxwell, Wil- liam B., and Isabella Maud. · Mr. Hatfield is a stanch Republican in politics, and he and his family are regular attendants at the Methodist Episcopal church.
CAPTAIN WILLIAM H. KNIGHT .- Noteworthy not only for his activity in developing and promoting the mining interests of Michigan, but as the representative of a pioneer family of the Upper Peninsula, Captain William H. Knight, of Bessemer, is especially deserving of mention in a work of this character. He was born, January 26, 1855, at Rockland, Ontonagon county, Michigan, of English ancestry.
William H. Knight, Sr., his father, was born and bred in London, England, and there learned the trades of a blacksmith and iron worker. Emigrating to America soon after his marriage, he was for two years employed as a boiler maker in North Carolina. Coming to the Upper Peninsula about 1850, he located in Rockland. All of this section of the state was then, comparatively speaking, unexplored, the sites of the present flourishing towns, villages and populous cities being a dense wilderness. For about eighteen years he lived in Rockland, being em- ployed as a blacksmith at the Minnesota mine. Going then to Mar- quette county, he worked for a time at the Republic mines, after which he worked a few months in Tower, Minnesota. Locating then in Iron- wood, Michigan, he was employed at the Gogebic Mine for a number of years, continuing his residence in that place until his death, at the age of three score and ten years. His wife, whose maiden name was Martha Brooks, was born in England and died in Michigan, surviving him a few years. She reared four sons and one daughter, as follows: James B. S., William H., Ralph C., Ernest A. and Josephine.
Having taken advantage of the limited opportunities afforded him in the pioneer schools to obtain an education, William H. Knight began his active career when quite young, learning the trade of a blacksmith. But not caring to follow his trade, he worked for a time in the copper mines at Houghton, Michigan, being afterwards similarly employed in different parts of this state. Going to Nevada City, Nevada, in 1878, Mr. Knight worked in the silver mines a year, after which he returned to Michigan and was employed in different capacities in the mines at Norway and at Iron Mountain. Going from the latter place to Tower, Minnesota, he was shipping clerk at the mines a year, and the follow- ing nine years was connected with the Nora Mine at Ironwood, Michigan. Wishing then to know more of the world, Mr. Knight journeyed to South Africa and there visited the principal places in Cape Colony, the Orange Free states and the Transvaal, being in the latter place at the time of the Jameson raid. After this event he re- turned to Michigan, and for five years was employed at the Adams Mine, in the Mesaba range. In 1900 he came to Bessemer to captain the Tilden Mine, and has since continued his residence in this city. Here the Captain has a very pleasant home, attractively situated at the top of the hill, commanding a fine view of the surrounding country.
Captain Knight has been three times married. He married first, at tlie age of twenty-five years, Mary Carroll, of Chicago. She died four years later, leaving two sons, Ralph A. and Frederick W. Captain Knight afterward married Mrs. Margaret (Rice) Carroll, a native of Michigan. She died in 1906, leaving one daughter, Josephine Irene. The Captain married for his third wife, in 1908, Mrs. Mary Nelleson.
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yours very truly DI Ho Knight
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Captain Knight is prominent in the Masonic fraternity, belonging to Ironwood Lodge, No. 390, F. & A. M .; to Minerva Chapter, No. 122, R. A. M .; and to the Mystic Shrine of Marquette.
MARCELLUS J. LINDSAY .- One of the first permanent settlers of Crystal Falls, Marcellus J. Lindsay has taken an intelligent interest in the development and promotion of its industrial prosperity, in the meantime having by wise management and judicious investment ac- quired large real estate holdings in this section of the Upper Peninsula. A son of George J. Lindsay, he was born, December 19, 1847, in Aurora, Dearborn county, Indiana.
His grandfather, Vachtell Lindsay, a native of Virginia, was an early pioneer of the territory of Indiana. Settling in Dearborn county, he resided there a few years, when he again followed the tide of emi- gration, making an overland journey to Iowa. Securing a tract of raw prairie land in Jackson county, he improved a homestead, and there spent his remaining days. About 1856, his wife selling her farm, joined a little colony of her neighbors, and, with a pair of cows and a pair of oxen hitched to a wagon, the other members of the company being similarly equipped, she journeyed across the plains and desert, and over the huge mountains, to California, being accompanied by some of her daughters. She settled near Stockton, where many of her descend- ants are still living, and there resided until her death.
A native of Indiana, George J. Lindsay there grew to manhood, while young learning the carpenter's trade. Going to Cincinnati in 1853, he remained there two years, and then went to Iowa, locating in Jackson county, where he had previously purchased land. He did not settle on his farm, however, but took up his residence in Bellevue, where he worked as a carpenter and millwright until 1892. Coming in that year to Crystal Falls, Michigan, he was here a resident until his death, at the age of seventy-four years. He married Charlotte Miller, who was born in England, and they reared four children, as fol- lows : Marcellus J., Charles, Nellie, and Emma J.
Receiving a good education in the public schools of Bellevue, Iowa, Marcellus.J. Lindsay began his active career at the age of sixteen years as clerk in a general store, in Bellevue. In connection with the store was a bank, and the firm was also agent for a flour mill, so as clerk he was likewise bookkeeper in the bank, and salesman in the flour depart- ment, as well as general clerk. During the four years that he was thus employed, Mr. Lindsay obtained an insight into various kinds of busi- ness propositions, the knowledge thus obtained proving of much value to him in after years. He afterwards spent two years as clerk in a clothing store at Marshalltown, Iowa, and then returned to Bellevue. Becoming bookkeeper for George Runkle, who owned a saw mill, and also had taken a railroad contract, he remained with him until the con- tract was completed, and then accompanied him to Florence, Wiscon- sin, where Mr. Runkle had taken a contract to build a section of the Northwestern Railroad, which was to be extended to the Upper Penin- sula. In partnership with Mr. Bishop, Mr. Runkle, junior member of the firm of Bishop & Runkle, in the fall of 1880, built a shanty in the Brule river country, several miles from any white settlers, and the following spring pushed on to the present site of Crystal Falls. Mr. Lindsay as bookkeeper and paymaster for Bishop & Runkle, came with the firm to the Upper Peninsula, and remained at Crystal Falls until 1884.
Going then to Iowa, he spent a short time in that state, and then
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