USA > Michigan > A history of the northern peninsula of Michigan and its people; its mining, lumber and agricultural industries, Volume III > Part 18
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went South. Returning to Crystal Falls in the spring of 1886, Mr. Lindsay, with David Ross, took a contract to get ore from the Shaffer Mine, with which he was connected until 1893. Since that time he has devoted his time and energies to the management of his private affairs, and the looking after of his extensive real estate interests in Crystal Falls. Mr. Lindsay is unmarried, making his home with his sister. He is prominent in Masonie circles, being a member of Crystal Falls Lodge, No. 385. F. & A. M .: of Crystal Falls Chapter, No. 129, R. A. M .; of Hugh MeCurdy Commandery, No. 43, K. T .; and of Ahmed Temple, Mystic Shrine, of Marquette.
NELSON E. FISHER .- A man of undoubted business ability and judgment, far-sighted and progressive. Nelson E. Fisher holds a place of prominence among the leading merchants of Iron River, and is offi- cially and financially associated with the development and advance- ment of various enterprises conducive to the prosperity of the Upper Peninsula. A son of Willet R. Fisher, he was born, February 3, 1865, at Palmyra, Lenawee county, Michigan, of colonial stock.
His great-grandfather, Joel Fisher, was born, May 20, 1780, in New York state, and, as far as known, he spent his entire life in that state. He was descended, so sayeth tradition, from an officer in the German Army, who, after a falling out with his brother-officers, emigrated to America, and here reared his family. Joel Fisher married Charlotte Ransher, who was born November 16. 1775, and among their children was a son named Nelson, who was the grandfather of Nelson E., the subject of this sketch.
Nelson Fisher, born in New York state, was there reared and edu- cated. In 1837, accompanied by his wife and children, he started for Michigan with ox-teams. Driving through to Ohio, he traded his oxen for horses, and continued on his journey. Arriving in Lenawee county, he purchased a tract of land in Palmyra township, and was there en- gaged in general farming and stock raising the remainder of his long life, passing away. November 10, 1885, at a venerable age. In the meantime he had witnessed wonderful changes in the face of Lenawee county, and had watched with genuine pride and satisfaction its de- velopment from a wilderness to a well-settled and wealthy agricultural county. He married Eliza Spaulding, who was born February 12, 1811, in New York state, a daughter of Jonathan and Susanna (Potter) Spaulding. She, too, lived to a ripe old age, and they had the pleasure of celebrating the fifty-fifth anniversary of their wedding day.
Willet R. Fisher was born, March 6, 1834. in Chautauqua county, New York, and was but three years old when taken by his parents to Michigan. He was brought up and educated in Lenawee county, and when ready to begin life for himself bought land near the parental homestead, a part of which he subsequently inherited, and was there engaged in agricultural pursuits until his death. September 25, 1898. He married Mary Hopkins, who was born in Virginia. May 16, 1839, being a descendant in the eighth generation of John Hopkins, the em- igrant ancestor, who came to the United States in colonial days, the line of descent being through John. the emigrant; Stephen, his son ; John, of the third generation: his son Timothy: Samnel, the fifth in line of descent ; Levi, her grandfather; and Samuel, her father. Samuel Hop- kins, the seventh in line from the emigrant, married Susanna Loar, and subsequently removed from Virginia to Lenawee county, Michigan, purchasing a farm in Ogden township, where both he and his good wife spent their remaining days. Both lived far beyond the allotted three
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score and ten years of life, celebrating five or six years before their deaths the sixty-fifth anniversary of their marriage. Mrs. Willet R. Fisher survived her husband, and still resides on the homestead. She reared five children, namely: Lida; Nelson E., the subject of this sketch ; George H .; Ernest; and Leroy L.
Receiving his early education in the public schools of Palmyra, Michigan, Nelson E. Fisher subsequently took a business course at the Adrian Business College. Leaving home in 1888, he came to Iron River, and having taken up a homestead near by clerked in a grocery store while holding his claim. In February, 1889, he accepted a posi- tion as clerk in the grocery and provision store of P. N. Minkler, and the following May, in partnership with Peter Erickson, bought out Mr. Minkler, and continued the business under the firm name of Erickson & Fisher until the death of Mr. Erickson, five years later. Since that time Mr. Fisher has been sole proprietor of the business, which he has managed with great success until the present time. In addition to con- ducting successfully his large grocery and provision trade, Mr. Fisher is connected with many enterprises of note. He is president of the Fisher-Morrison Lumber and Fuel Company ; president of the Electric Light and Power Company; a director in the Caspian Realty Com- pany ; in the Menominee Range Power and Development Company; in the Citizens' Land and Development Company; in the Michigan Iron and Mining Company; and is a member of the Iron River Business Men's Association. Fraternally Mr. Fisher belongs to Iron River Lodge, No. 162, K. of P.
Mr. Fisher married, in 1904, Lucia Milker, who was born at Bur- lington, Iowa, and into their home two children have been born, Leslie Paul and Aileen L.
HERBERT MITCHELL NORRIS .- A talented, able and earnest member of the Michigan bar, Herbert Mitchell Norris has achieved success in his chosen profession, his legal skill and knowledge placing him among the leading lawyers of Ironwood. A native of Fenton, Michigan, he was born, October seventeenth, 1852, in Fenton township, Oakland county, being a son of the late Meshach Norris, Jr. His paternal grandfather, Meshach Norris, Sr., was born in Vermont, where his father, Rev. David Norris, was for several years pastor of a Presby- terian church. Moving to Canada when a young man, he resided there for a time, and then located in New York state. From there, he came in 1835 in territorial days, to Michigan, becoming a pioneer of Rose township, Oakland county, where he improved a farm and was thereafter engaged in agricultural pursuits until his death, at the age of seventy-two years. His wife, whose maiden name was Hannah Young, was born in New York state and died, a few years after he did, in Holly, Michigan, passing away at the advanced age of eighty- two years. She reared seven children, as follows: Moses, Laurin. Willard, Meshach, William I., Elsena and Carrie.
Born in Ontario, Canada, in 1824, Meshach Norris, Jr., began life for himself when young, at the age of fifteen years, becoming camp foreman. He subsequently sailed the lakes for a time, and then learned the wagon maker's trade, which he followed in Genesee coun- ty, Michigan, both in Fenton and at Pine Run. Settling in Holly, Michigan, in 1855, he first engaged in the real estate business, after- ward becoming an extensive dealer in horses and cattle, and during the Civil war he sold many horses to the United States for use in the Cavalry service. He passed away at his home in Holly in April, 1909,
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at the venerable age of eighty-five years. His first wife, whose maiden name was Mary J. Young, was born in New York state, a daughter of William and Lucy (Gilman), Young. She died at the age of sev- enty-five years, leaving two children, Alma, wife of Hollister Hubbel, of Rose township, Oakland county; and IIerbert M., her first-born child. The father married for his second wife Mrs. Aurelia Wendell, widow of Ahasuerus Wendell, and she still resides in Holly.
Having laid an excellent foundation for his future education in the public schools of Holly, Herbert M. Norris went, in 1871, to Midland county, where he staid a few months, working first in a saw mill and later in the woods. The following spring he returned to Holly, and in the fall of 1872 entered the law department of the University of Mich- igan, at Ann Arbor, and was there graduated with the class of 1874, in June of that year being admitted to the bar. Locating in Caro, Tuscola county, Mr. Norris remained there until 1876, when he re- turned to Holly, where he remained two years. The following two years he was engaged in the practice of his profession at Clarkston, Oakland county, and the ensuing year was similarly employed in Detroit. Going to Wyandotte, Wayne county, in 1881, Mr. Norris was there until 1886, when he accepted a position in the Custom House at Detroit, retaining it five years. From that time until 1905 he was actively and successfully engaged in the practice of law at Bessemer, Michigan, but since that time has been a resident of Ironwood, where he has an extensive and remunerative law practice, making a spe- cialty of corporation law, with which he is very familiar. Mr. Norris is attorney for the Newport and the Cleveland Cliff Mining Compa- nies ; for the Scott and Hale and the Gogebic Mining Companies; and for the First National Bank of Bessemer, and the Ironwood Bank.
Mr. Norris married, in 1880, Mrs. Elizabeth (McCartney) Young, a daughter of Thomas McCartney and widow of Jeremiah B. Young. Mr. and Mrs. Norris have no children of their own, but they have tenderly cared for an adopted daughter, Lucile Hortense Norris, since she was an infant of fifteen months. She is now a pupil in the Iron- wood High School. For many years Mr. Norris was identified with the Democratic party, but in 1904 he cast his presidential vote for Theodore Roosevelt, and hopes to have the opportunity to again vote for the same presidential candidate.
MICHAEL FRANK MCCABE, M. D .- Actively engaged in the practice of his profession at Ironwood for a full quarter of a century, Dr. Michael Frank MeCabe was one of the few physicians of the Upper Peninsula who have remained so long a time in one place, never having forsaken his original location. A man of wide experience, giving much thought to the study of disease and the most enlightened methods of alleviating suffering, he met with genuine success as a practitioner, winning a large and lucrative patronage. A native of Wisconsin, he was born, August 26, 1860, on a farm near Taycheedah, Fond du Lac county, of Irish parentage. Cut off in the prime of his life and the full fruition of his powers, his loss is deeply deplored and regretted both by his lay- men friends and his professional brethren, among whom he was a con- spicuous representative.
Clarence MeCabe, father of Dr. McCabe, was born in the north of Ireland where his parents were life-long residents. He came to America as a young man, two of his brothers, Michael and Peter, also emigrat- ing, and the latter who lived in various places in the Badger State, finally settling near Taycheedah, where he improved a farm. Clarence
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McCabe was a carpenter by vocation and followed this trade in several different states of the Union. When he finally desired to settle down, his choice was the state of Wisconsin and in Fond du Lac county, he, joining the pioneers, purchased a tract of heavily timbered land lying two miles from the present site of Taycheedah, and with true pioneer grit and courage, began hewing a farm from the forest. Getting no re- turns from his land for a number of years, he worked at his trade a portion of the time, and devoted the remainder to the clearing of the land, a process in which he was forced to burn huge piles of timber that would now be of great financial value. He was master of the situ- ation and on the farm which he improved he spent the remainder of his days in peace and plenty, both he and his wife, whose maiden name was Calhoun, enjoying in their last years the fruits of their earlier years of toil. To them seven children were born, six of whom grew to years of maturity as follows: Bridget, Mary, Michael Frank, Hannah, Peter and Catherine.
Receiving an excellent education in the public schools, Michael Frank McCabe began teaching school when but eighteen years of age. He was afterward graduated from the Fond du Lac Business College,. and subsequently resumed his professional work, and while still a teacher began reading medicine. After a careful preparation, he en- tered the Rush Medical College in Chicago, where he was graduated with the degree of M. D. in the spring of 1885. Then entering the em- ploy of the Milwaukee, Lake Shore, & Western Railroad Company as assistant surgeon, Dr. McCabe made his advent in Ironwood on May 18, 1885, previous to the completion of the railroad to that place. A half dozen houses or so stood on the present town site and a railroad supply store had been erected, while the surrounding country was an almost pathless forest. The railway was so far completed by July 5th of that year, that passenger service was inaugurated, and on that date the Doctor was a passenger on the first train going to Odanah, Wisconsin, where he witnessed the driving of the golden spike that united the two roads connecting the Gogebic and Mesaba ranges. Forming a partner- ship with Dr. Thomas in 1887, Dr. McCabe purchased a drug business, and, having a few years later bought out his partner, he continued alone, having at the time of his death a well-established and lucrative trade in drugs. He was at the same time actively and successfully en- gaged in the practice of medicine, his professional knowledge and skill winning him the confidence and esteem of his numerous patients.
The Doctor married in 1890, Catherine Hartigan, who was born in the county of Lambton, province of Ontario, a daughter of Thomas and Mary Hartigan, of whom a brief personal record may be found on another page of this work. Dr. McCabe is survived by his widow and five children, namely : Frank, Jerome, Marion, Ruth and Gertrude.
FERNANDO D. PETERMANN .- The Upper Peninsula of Michigan has every reason to take pride in her native sons, who have remained within her borders and identified themselves with her civic and business inter- ests, and among this number is Fernando D. Petermann, who is one of the essentially representative business men and most popular citizens of the village of Kearsarge, where he is serving as post-master and where he is the junior member of the firm of J. P. Petermann & Company, who here conduct a prosperous mercantile business.
Fernando D. Petermann was born in the village of Evergreen, Ontonagon county, Michigan, on the 4th of July, 1869, and is the second son of Fernando D. and Caroline S. (Bosst) Petermann, who were
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numbered among the pioneers of the Upper Peninsula, where the father took up his residence more than half a century ago, having located in Ontonagon county and having been for many years actively identified with the great mining industry in this section of the state, where he served as mining captain in the Ontonagon and the Calumet & Hecla mines. He was prominently concerned with this important line of en- terprise until about the year 1888, when he removed to the city of Buffalo, New York, where he passed the residue of his life, as did also his wife. Concerning their children the following brief record is pre- sented,-George H., who died in 1904, had charge of the store con- ducted by his brother at Mohawk, Keweenaw county, Michigan; Colonel John P. Petermann, who now resides at Laurium, Houghton county, and who is one of the prominent and influential citizens of the Upper Peninsula, is individually mentioned elsewhere in this volume; Albert E. is junior member of the well known law firm of Kerr & Peter- mann; Mrs. F. B. Arnold is the wife of Rev. F. B. Arnold, who is a clergyman of the Lutheran church and who was formerly pastor of the church of Calumet; and the youngest daughter who resided with her parents till their death. Fernando D. Petermann, Sr., and his wife are well remembered in the Upper Peninsula and both were zealous members of the Lutheran church, while he was a stanch Republican in his political adherency and ever took an intelligent and lively interest in all that touched the welfare of the community.
Fernando D. Petermann, Jr., the immediate subject of this sketch, passed his boyhood days at Calumet, Houghton county, where he was afforded the advantages of the public schools, including the high school. He supplemented this training by a course of four years in Concordia College, in the city of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in which excellent in- stitution he was graduated, and from which he received the degree of Bachelor of Arts. Soon afterward he went to Buffalo, New York, where he assumed a position of bookkeeper. In. the meanwhile he con- tinned his reading and studies at night and during other leisure hours and he has ever shown a deep appreciation of the best in literature, besides which he keeps in touch with the questions and issues of the day. After remaining in Buffalo for a time Mr. Petermann returned to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and located at Allonez, Keweenaw county, where he became interested with his brothers, George H. and Colonel John P., in the conducting of a general store, which was known as the Petermann Store. In 1903 he and his elder brother. Colonel John P., established the Wolverine store, at Kearsarge, Houghton county, and with this enterprise he has since been actively identified, the store being ably managed and well equipped and having retained from the beginning a large and representative patronage. In 1902 Mr. Petermann was appointed postmaster of the village of Kearsarge and of this office he has since remained incumbent, having given a most effective and satisfactory administration of the same. From the time of attaining to his legal majority Mr. Petermann has given an unqual- ified allegiance to the Republican party and he has shown a zealous interest in the promotion of its interests in a local way. He has been called upon to serve in various offices of trust aside from that of post- master and is at the present time a valued member of the board of education at Kearsarge. In addition to his commercial interests in this village he is also a partner in the store conducted by his brother at Mohawk, Keweenaw county. Both he and his wife are members of the Lutheran church and they are valued factors in connection with the best social life in their home community.
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In 1898 Mr. Petermann was united in marriage to Miss Anna M. Barth, a daughter of Charles H. Barth, of Buffalo, New York, and they have one son, Fernando Barth Petermann, who is the third generation of the family to bear the name of Fernando.
ALBERT GALBY .- There are not many young men whose years are as few as those of Albert Galby, train dispatcher of the Mineral Range Railway, who hold as responsible a position as he. His knowledge of railroading is not confined to his present capacity but is of a thorough and practical sort, for he commenced at the bottom rung of the ladder and is working his way up. He was born in South Dakota, in 1889, and is of Teutonic origin, his parents, G. O. and Arabella (Bernette) Galby, both being natives of Germany. Early in their married life they severed old associations and came to the land of the stars and stripes, taking up a farm in South Dakota upon which they still make their home.
Mr. Galby attended the common schools and was graduated from the high school at Calumet. Soon after he matriculated at the Wisconsin University and took up the study of telegraphy. After completing his training in this line, he was stationed at different points in Wisconsin and early evidenced that efficiency and faithfulness which have in- sured his rapid advancement. In 1909 he came to Calumet, having been appointed train dispatcher with the Mineral Range Railway with headquarters at this place. Mr. Galby is a single man. He loves books and study and is particularly fond of history. Fraternally he holds membership in the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Lodge No. 404.
REV. GEORGE C. EMPSON, pastor of the Congregational church at Glad- stone, Michigan, was born in Howden, Yorkshire, England, October 25, 1842. His father, Charles Empson, was a farmer in Yorkshire; by his wife Ann he had sixteen children, fourteen of whom grew to maturity, and four of whom still survive. Reverend George C. is the fifth son and eleventh child and most of the family lived to a good age.
The boyhood days of Reverend Mr. Empson were spent in his native place; he was educated at Springhill College, now Mansfield College, at Birmingham, and at Oxford College, graduating in 1868 from a lit- erary and theological course. He has been a minister forty-two years, twenty-six of which he has spent in America. He became pastor of the Congregational church at Bilston, South Stifone, England, Jan- uary 1, 1868, and remained there four years; after serving twelve years as pastor of a church at Stratford, Manchester, England, he re- moved to the United States, which has since been his field of labor. His first pastorate in this country was at Wayne, Michigan, where he remained three years, then served nearly three years at Sault Ste. Marie, and in September, 1890, became pastor of the Congregational church at Gladstone, Michigan, where he has since remained. He has won the high esteem and full affection of his parishioners, and stands well in the opinion of the entire community. IIis eloquence and scholarly address, combined with his sincere earnestness have en- deared him to all.
In May, 1866, Reverend Empson married Sarah Freeman, born in England, where she was reared and educated, and to this union were born nine children, two of whom died in infancy and one at the age of twenty-five years. The others are: Mary E., a public school teacher ; Gullieland, wife of J. D. Landreth, of Salt Lake City ; Allwyn,
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also a public school teacher; G. R., given mention at length elsewhere in this work; Hilda, wife of A. P. Smith, an attorney of Escanaba; and Ethelwyn, also a public school teacher.
G. R. EMPSON, city attorney of Gladstone, Michigan, and a successful lawyer, was born in Manchester, England, March 6, 1872, son of Rev. George C. Empson, pastor of the Congregational church of Gladstone, mentioned at length elsewhere. George C. Empson married Sarah Free- man, also a native of England, and they became the parents of nine chil- dren, two having died in infancy and one at the age of twenty-five. Five daughters and one son are living, G. R. Empson being the fourth child and older son.
The early years of G. R. Empson were spent in his native country and he was eleven years of age at the time his parents brought him to Amer- ica, the family locating first at Wayne, Michigan. He was graduated from Sault Ste. Marie high school, and later attended Detroit College of Law, graduating in 1893. Mr. Empson was admitted to the bar in 1893. and spent two years in the office of Moore & Goff, at Detroit. He entered upon the practice of his profession at Gladstone, in 1895, and has built up a large clientele. He has held the office of city attorney ever since locating in Gladstone, with the exception of two years. He also has other business interests outside of his profession.
Mr. Empson is a stanch Republican and active in the interests of the party. He takes a prominent part in public affairs and has served seven years as a member of the board of education. He is well known and im- mensely popular, having a host of friends, and stands well in the estima- tion of his fellows. He married Eda R., daughter of Louis and Barbara Nicholas, and they have three sons, Lewis, George R. Jr., and Freeman.
LEWIS D. EASTMAN .- A representative member of the bar of the Upper Peninsula is Lewis D. Eastman, who is engaged in the success- ful practice of his profession in the city of Menominee and who has given effective service as city attorney and has served as circuit-court commissioner. He is known as a man of high professional attainments, and his success in his chosen calling has been on a parity with his un- mistakable ability. As a citizen he is essentially progressive and public spirited and he has unlimited faith in the still further advancement of Menominee as a commercial and manufacturing center.
Lewis D. Eastman was born at Lisbon, St. Lawrence county, New York, on the 18th of October, 1851, and is a son of Rev. Morgan L. and Hester (Thorpe) Eastman. Rev. Morgan Lewis Eastman was born at Fairfield, Herkimer county, New York, in 1813, and was a son of one of the sterling pioneer families of that section of the old Empire state. The family is of English origin and the American branch was founded in New England in the colonial epoch of our national history. Mrs. Evaline H. Thorpe Eastman was born at Ogdensburg, New York, in 1818, and there was solemnized her marriage to Mr. Eastman. They became the parents of nine children, of whom six are now living, namely : Mary, who is the wife of James H. Leonard; Marian L., who is the wife of George A. Clark; Rev. Samuel E., who is a clergyman of the Congregational church and resides in Elmira, New York; Luna E., who is the wife of Wiliam Edmidson of the state of Florida; Lewis D., who is the immediate subject of this sketch; and Marcia, who is the wife of M. H. Phillips, of Oshkosh, Wisconsin. The father gained his education almost entirely through self-discipline and became a man of good scholarship and of marked ability as a public speaker. For fully
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