USA > Michigan > A history of the northern peninsula of Michigan and its people; its mining, lumber and agricultural industries, Volume III > Part 32
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Mr. Nehmer married, in 1875, Mary Sack, who was born in Brunken, Prussia, and at the age of eighteen years came to the United States with her parents, Michael and Christina Sack, who settled in Michigan, buying a farm in St. Clair county, and there spending their remaining days. Six children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Nehmer, namely : Charles, Henry, Christy, Annie, Lizzie, and Viola. Charles married Maggie Adams, and they have three children, Mary, Nellie, and Elva. Henry married Lizzie Twa, and they have one daughter, Eveline. Annie, wife of George Roehm, has two children, Lyle and Charles. Lizzie, wife of William Howes, has two children, Daniel and Ezekiel. Viola is the wife of George Bess. Politically Mr. Nehmer supports the principles of the Republican party by vote and voice, and religiously he and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
BARTHOLOMEW QUELLO, familiarly known as "Bat" Quello, for many years has been one of the active business men of Calumet, and is known over Houghton county for his enterprise and the integrity of his dealings. As his name indicates he is Italian, his birth having occurred in Italy, in September, 1836. He passed his boyhood and school days beneath the smiling skies of his native country, and was the possessor of a very good education when he became one of the vast army of Europeans to seek new fortunes across the seas. As he was a clever lad he could speak German and French in addition to the mother tongue, but he had no knowledge of English which proved something of a handicap in the early days of his residence here.
After landing upon American shores Mr. Quello came on to the Northern Peninsula, stopping first at Marquette, Michigan. That he is a strictly self-made man will be demonstrated by the fact that he had at that time but twenty-five cents in his pocket. He set about the task of adding to the exchequer, and soon found work in the mines, this being in the year 1859. In the first years he worked at anything his hand found to do, and for seven years was employed in the sawmill and logging business, furnishing timber for the Calumet & Hecla Mining Company. He was thrifty and hard-working and finally from his sav- ings, he was able to buy teams, thereupon engaging in teaming and haul- ing of all kinds, and especially in that of timber. In course of time he bought a farm of small proportions, and located in the bush, cleared it, and brought it to a state of cultivation, and raised hay, oats and pota- toes for the market. He is now one of the well-to-do men of Calumet, and the possessor of considerable property, which includes several dwellings and two good business blocks in Red Jacket, which he rents
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Molam Main .
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to various concerns. In politics he is independent, casting his vote for whomever his convictions instruct him. He was for three years a mem- ber of the city council of Red Jacket. By means of his varied dealings with men he has acquired a good knowledge of men and also of the English language. He is interested in the welfare of Houghton county, for which fifty years residence within its borders has given him a great sense of loyalty and affection.
Mr. Quello was married in 1875, to Miss Mary Murphy, a native of Ireland. To this union have been born eight children, five daughters and three sons, as follows : Mary, now Mrs. McCaulley ; Maggie; Anna ; Lizzie; Alice; John; Michael; and Bartholomew, all of whom are living.
CAPTAIN WILLIAM WEIR .- The romantic "banks and braes" of bonny Scotland overlooked the small village which was the scene of the birth of William Weir, a retired captain of the Calumet & Hecla Mining Company, whose residence is made in Laurium. The date of this event was December 17, 1846, and his parents were William and Mary (McCall) Weir. The father's role in the little community in which he so long made his home was that of postmaster, an office which he held until his death, and for forty long years. Captain Weir has been a resident of America for forty years and those characteristics of in- tegrity, pluck and thriftiness with which Scotland has endowed her sons still mark him among his fellows.
Captain Weir attended the public schools of his native country, but circumstances forced him to abandon his desk and his school books in his tenth year. Although of such tender years he was put to work in the lead mines and worked four years on the ground wash- ing the lead, in the Wanlockhead and Leadhills, Scotland, which are one mile apart. These are big mines and great producers, better even now than they were forty years ago and the facilities for mining them are much better than in America. The mines were originally opened for a gold mine in 1812 but later developed into copper mines. Captain Weir was employed in them until 1870, in which year he reached the resolve to emigrate to the rich and resourceful country across the ocean of which he had heard so much. Soon after landing in New York he went to the coal mines at Pittson, Pennsylvania, and having remained there for a time he came on westward to Jackson county, Illinois, was in Louisville, Kentucky, a winter, and later went to Hardin county, Illinois, where the coal mines again offered him employment. His residence in Houghton county dates from the year 1872 when he secured employment in the service of the Calumet & Hecla Com- pany, and in strongest evidence of his efficiency is the fact that he re- mained with them from 1872 until 1907 in various capacities, and gradually ascending the ladder of advancement. In the latter named year he retired. He was a miner boss and was afterwards appointed captain, having under supervision and direction from six to nine hun- dred men, and being possessed of those essential qualities which enabled him to care for and to control his men with but little or no friction.
In 1874 Mr. Weir was united in marriage to Miss Margaret Renick, of Calumet, a daughter of Walter and Mary (Hoatson) Rennick. Eight children, five of them sons and three daughters, were born to this union as follows: William; Margaret, wife of Sidney Vivian ; Walter, a resident of Seattle, Washington; James; Mary, a graduate of the University of Michigan and a teacher in the public schools; John in the employ of the Calumet & Hecla Mining Company and a
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student in the high school; and Glady, also in attendance in the high school.
In his political convictions Mr. Weir is a stanch Republican, but he has no mind to have a hand in the management of public affairs and he has never sought office. He and his wife are members of the First Congregational church and he has served for a number of years as deacon. His wife is one of the charter members and has attended regularly from its organization.
OSCAR H. SORSEN .- Many nationalities are associated in the popula- tion of the Northern Peninsula and among them Finland is represented in creditable fashion by Oscar H. Sorsen, a prominent and efficient dentist, whose office is situated in the Sorsen block, but who makes his residence in Laurium. Dr. Sorsen was born in Finland, January 3, 1872, and is the son of John and Adolphina Sorsen. His early boyhood was passed in his native country and there he received a part of his education. When in his seventeenth year he left Europe with his parents who were firm believers in the richer resources and greater op- portunity of the land of the stars and stripes. After coming here young Sorsen attended school for a time and familiarized himself with the English language. When not in school he assisted his father who was a tailor.
Dr. Sorsen in the course of events took up the study of dentistry, en- tering the Dental College at Chicago in 1898 and graduating therefrom in 1901. This institution is known as the Chicago College of Dental Surgery. After his graduation Dr. Sorsen came to Calumet and opened an office in the Sorsen block. His office is well equipped and as he is especially well fitted both by natural aptitude and training for the pro- fession of his choice, it is but natural that he has built up a large and profitable practice. In November, 1901, Dr. Sorsen was united in marriage to Miss Sophia Jackola of Calumet, daughter of Andrew Jackola. To their union two sons have been born, Karl Oscar, and Henry Ilmari. Their residence is one of the cosy and attractive homes of Laurinm. Politically Dr. Sorsen gives his support to the Republican party, and he holds membership in the Houghton County Dental So- ciety and is a member of the Knights of Kaleva.
HON. GEORGE GALLUP .- Active in temperament, sound in mind, and bringing to the practice of his profession untiring industry and zeal, Hon. George Gallup has a keen conception of the truth and principles of law, and has attained a position of prominence among the leading attorneys of Escanaba, which has been his home for more than twenty years. A capable, conscientious and progressive business man he is influential in the administration of local affairs, and has served his fellow-men most acceptably in various positions of influence and responsibility. A native of New England, he was born July 31, 1858, in Northfield, Vermont. He is of English descent, the family from which he is descended having been first represented on American soil by three brothers who crossed the ocean in colonial days, one settling in Canada, one in Massachusetts, and one taking up his residence among the green hills of Vermont.
Jonathan C. Gallup, father of George, was born in Hartland, Ver- mont, but has spent the greater part of his long life in Northfield, Ver- mont, where he has followed the independent occupation of a farmer. He married Lanra A. Braley, who was born in Vermont, being one of a family of twelve children, and of the children born of their union, three in number, one died in infancy and one died when three years
Jamesk Porter
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old, George, the subject of this brief sketch, being the only one now living.
Acquiring the rudiments of his education in the common schools, George Gallup was graduated from the Northfield high school, after which he was graduated from the Wesleyan Academy, in Wilbraham, Massachusetts. He subsequently attended the Wesleyan University, at Middletown, Connecticut, for two years, and then entered the Law Department of the University of Michigan, at Ann Arbor, where he was graduated with the class of 1881. Beginning the practice of his profession at Farwell, Clare county, Michigan, Mr. Gallup remained there eight years, and then, in 1889, located in Escanaba, where he has since continued, being now one of the foremost corporation lawyers in this part of the Peninsula. He is now in partnership with his son, being senior member of the law firm of Gallup & Gallup. In 1905 he was admitted to the Montana bar. This firm of Gallup & Gallup main- tains an office at Great Falls, Montana, where he has a large legal busi- ness, representing the Allen Mining and Lumbering Company, of Ana- conda, Montana, which has a paid up capital of half a million dollars. He is a close student, and has the distinction of having one of the finest law libraries in the state of Michigan.
Mr. Gallup married September 6, 1881, Olive F. Duke, a daughter of Joseph and Sophia Duke, the latter of whom was picked up on the shore after a severe wreck, and of whose ancestry nothing is known, not ever her maiden name. Charles E. Gallup, the only son of Mr. and Mrs. Gallup, was graduated from the Chicago Law School, and is now in partnership with his father.
Mr. Gallup has always been prominent in politics, and while living in Farwell served as supervisor, and as president of the village. Since coming to Escanaba he has served four years as mayor of the city, has been supervisor and city attorney, and for two years represented his district in the State Legislature.
JAMES N. PORTER, who for many years has been identified with the mining interests of the country, his associations in this line taking him far afield, and through many unusual and delightful scenes, is a native of Ohio, of Irish descent. Youngstown, of the Buckeye state, was the scene of his nativity, which occurred November 26, 1847. His parents were William and Mary (Nesbit) Porter, both of them natives of Erin, as was his grandfather, Charles Porter, who was a well-to-do distiller of Ireland. Charles Porter lived and died in the country which gave him birth, but his son, inspired by the spirit of change and ambition which fired the later generation, severed old ties and crossed the blue Atlantic to the newer country beyond it to claim his share of the much lauded opportunity there awaiting. He made his way westward to Ohio and settled near Austintown, a village about five miles west of Youngs- town. Before emigrating he had had some experience as an iron worker and after a residence here of some duration, he concluded to establish himself more independently and built iron works and a furnace on Meander Creek, called, because of its location, the Meander Furnace. In those days iron was made from the kidney ore dug out of the ground near the furnace in the coal lands. There was no use made of coke at that time, and coal was used exclusively in the furnace. While ap- parently on the high road to entire success, the panic of 1857 badly crippled him financially and William Porter failed. He died in Aus- tintown in the house which he had built just prior to his marriage, and in which he had resided during almost his entire residence in Ohio. He
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married about the year 1843, one of his own country women, Mary Nesbit. This worthy conple were the parents of four children. The eldest, Isabel, is the widow of Robert McCurdy, of Youngstown, Ohio ; James N. was the second in order of birth ; Charles, a druggist of Niles, Ohio, died in 1883; and the youngest, Calwell, died at the age of thir- teen months.
James N. Porter received his early education in the district school near Austinburg. Although this was not long previous to the Civil war, conditions were still very primitive in some localities and the edifice which housed this institution of learning, was a rude building about twelve feet square. Fortunately the goddess Minerva is never annoyed or hampered by adverse conditions if the desire to learn is really there, and among the boys who sat upon the rough benches and conned their lessons in the so-called "Three Rs," were several who became very prominent. In fact, Mr. Porter had as school mates, John Fitch of Youngstown, and James Campbell, president of the large sheet and tube works of Youngstown. School days were of short duration and Mr. Porter was early forced to face the more practical issues of life. His first humble connection with the mining industry was as the driver of a mule in the mines of North Jackson. He soon transferred his field of endeavor to Moyell, Missouri, and its charcoal resources and gradually worked his way up to the assistant superintendency of the concern. The Charcoal and Iron Works of Moyell were owned by Youngstown capi- talists, and Mr. Porter's identification with them lasted for eight years.
Mr. Porter's next move was to go to Texas, and he spent six months in traveling. Coming back to Ohio, he located at Fairport, and en- gaged in shipping coal over the Painesville and Youngstown Railroad, and was employed in this manner throughout the summer of 1878, and in the ensuing fall when navigation closed. he ran a coal yard at Youngs- town. The following year he went to New York. Mr. Porter again renewed his Youngstown business associations, and in their interest went to Reynoldsville, Pennsylvania, where he built a number of coke ovens and looked after the coal miners, his executive ability, fine judg- ment and personal popularity with the men making his offices in this capacity of unusual value. He remained in Pennsylvania until the spring of 1882, when he was ordered by the "men higher up" to go to Iron River, Michigan, to take the general management of the great mine at that place now known as the Riverton Mine. He was with this mine from its inception, "opening it from the grass roots" as he terms it. His interests and ability to manage them continually broadened. His connection with the Riverton Mine was of nine and a half years du- ration, and he subsequently took charge of the Youngstown mine at Crystall Falls. In the year 1885 the same people assumed full proprie- torship of the Florence Mine, one-half of which they had previously owned, and Mr. Porter managed these three properties from 1886 until 1891, a task to challenge the powers of the most able and versatile. In the latter year his wife's failing health made it advisable for him to seek other climes with her and they went to Colorado, Mr. Porter re- maining there until 1893. Thus taken west by force of circumstances. he allied himself with western mining and with great success pursued independent ventures in Wyoming. Montana, Utah, and in the last four years in Old Mexico. Few men are better informed on mining questions considered from every point, for he has well profited by the experiences of a lifetime. He is at present located in Iron River, where he enjoys great esteem and consideration as a substantial business man and execu-
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tive, and a citizen whose hand is ever given to all those causes tending to bring about the amelioration of general conditions.
Mr. Porter was married in Painesville, Ohio, on the 9th day of Jan- uary, 1879, the lady to become his wife being Margaret, daughter of James and Marian Dayton. By a previous marriage she was the mother of a son, James, who assumed the name of Porter and who is now a resident of Detroit. Mrs. Porter died November 15, 1892, at Colorado Springs, Colorado, whither she had gone in quest of health, and this devoted wife and generally beloved woman is buried, by her own re- quest, in this lovely situation.
When the years of Mr. Porter were sufficient for him to become a voter, he gave his political allegiance to the Democratic party, but his sentiments underwent a change and since the time of McKinley he has voted the Republican ticket. He belongs to the ancient and august Masonic order, having membership in Lodge No. 373, Calvary, Missouri. In religious faith he was originally an old-school Covenanter, but lat- terly has been a Presbyterian, and is a consistent and zealous supporter of the good causes promulgated by the church body.
JOHN F. OLIVER, who is engaged in the coal business at Escanaba, Michigan, and who is one of the pioneers of the Upper Peninsula, dates his birth in Wales, March 14, 1847. America, however, has been his home since his earliest recollection, for in 1850, when a child of three years, he was brought to this country by his parents, William and Mary Oliver. They settled on land in Waukesha county, Wisconsin, where William Oliver improved a farm, and where John spent his boyhood, assisting in the farm work and attending the district school. When he was about seventeen he went to Milwaukee. There he had one more year in school, after which he went to Madison and accepted a position as gov- ernment clerk. Next we find him in Chicago in the employ of the Chicago & Northwestern R. R. He remained in the company's office there one year, and in July, 1865, was sent up to Escanaba-or where Escanaba now is-as paymaster for the Peninsula Division of the road. This position he filled about ten years, and at the end of this time he en- gaged in the real estate business and in the manufacture of charcoal at Perkins, Delta county, to which he gave his attention there the next nine years. Since then Escanaba has been his home and he has been engaged in the coal business. Thus for a period of forty-four years he has been identified with the Northern Peninsula and in touch with the activities which have contributed to its development. While at Perkins he served eight years as treasurer of Delta county, and he was president of the village board before the town became a city.
In 1869, in Toledo, Ohio, Mr. Oliver married Miss Harriet Baldwin, of that city, and they are the parents of five children, as follows: Carrie B., wife of H. M. Stevenson, of Escanaba ; Clinton B., secretary and treasurer of the Castle Valley Coal Co. of Utah, is a resident of Salt Lake City; Luellen W., a captain in the 12th Cavalry, U. S. Army; Robert S., general manager of a mining company, and a resident of Salt Lake City, and Anna L., at home. Mr. Oliver is a member of the Masonic Order.
JOHN G. LEITCH, of Escanaba, Michigan, has been a resident of the Northern Peninsula for twenty-three years and has acquired various interests here. He has an extensive business in posts, poles, ties, shingles, etc., and also deals in real estate, his operations covering a large territory.
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Mr. Leitch is a native of Canada. He was born in Kent county, Western Ontario, June 24, 1860, son of Colin and Mary (McKim) Leitch natives of Canada. His father was a stock raiser and grain dealer in that province, where he lived to the ripe age of seventy-four years. The mother also passed the three score and ten mark, she being seventy- two at the time of her death. They were the parents of six children, one daughter and five sons. The daughter died at the age of fourteen; all the sons grew to manhood.
John G., the third son, was reared in his native county and received his early training in the country schools. He left school, however, at the age of thirteen and began life on his own responsibility as clerk in a general store at Duart. Canada. For six years he remained in that same store, and at the end of that time, when only nineteen, he engaged in mercantile business for himself at Murkirk, Canada, which he con- ducted about eight years. Then he sold out and came to Escanaba, Michigan. Soon afterward he entered the employ of the Northwestern R. R. Co., as agent. and spent about five years in that capacity at Foster City and Bayberg. About 1892, he engaged in logging at Hardwood, in Dickinson county, and in 1901 he returned to Escanaba. Here he was with the Escanaba Lumber Company two years, and four years with the Frances Beidler Lumber Company, at the end of which time he bought the interests of the latter company both at Felch Junction and Escanaba, the business he is now conducting.
In 1881 Mr. Leitch married Miss Christena Genge, of Duart, Ontario, and to them have been given three children, namely: Catherine, wife of G. M. Johnson, of Escanaba; Reginald, a student in the University at Ann Arbor, Michigan, and Gerald, at home.
Politically, Mr. Leitch has always been a stanch Republican and has taken a somewhat active part in local politics. While in Dickinson county he served five years as supervisor.
EUGENE MENARD .- For many years a successful business man of Sault Ste. Marie, Eugene Menard is well known throughout this section of the country for his many interests, and is not only active and promi- nent in financial and social circles, but is ever at the front in the estab- lishment of enterprises conducive to the general welfare and advance- ment. A son of Francis Xavier Menard, he was born in Ottawa, Canada, January 12, 1864, of French lineage.
Francis X. Menard was born in 1824, in Bretagne, France, and was there reared and educated. Emigrating in early manhood to America, he settled in Canada, taking up a tract of heavily timbered land in Clarence Creek township, near Ottawa, and was there engaged in farm- ing and blacksmithing during his active life. A Roman Catholic in his religious views, he was very prominent and active in the establishment of a church in his new home, and in the rude log house which he erected in the wilderness mass was celebrated for the first time in Clarence Creek, and services were there subsequently held for several years before the church was strong enough financially to erect a church building. Since that time three churches have been erected just across the road from the old Menard homestead, the present church edifice being a mod- ern structure, made of brick and stone.
Francis Menard married Clara Francoeur, who spent her entire life in Canada, her birth occurring in 1818, and her death in 1890. Ten children were born of their union, eight of whom are living, Eugene be- ing the ninth child in succession of birth. One son, Francis Menard, Jr., was the first postmaster at Clarence Creek, and on resigning the
J.a. Trevethan
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position was succeeded by his sister Clara, now Mrs. Perrin, who still retains the office, which has been in the family for upwards of forty years.
Completing his early education at Rigand College, in the province of Quebec, Eugene Menard learned the trade of a carpenter. In 1882 he located in Ishpeming, Michigan, and the following year migrated to St. Paul, Minnesota, where he was engaged in carpentering, contracting and building about three years. In 1886 he began working at his trade in Sault Ste. Marie, becoming one of the foremost contractors and builders of Chippewa county, for eleven years being in the employ of the United States Government. In 1903 Mr. Menard embarked in the real estate and fire insurance business, and these, in connection with the supervision of his private property, keep him busily employed. He is identified with various organizations of much importance, and has the distinction of being the only French Notary Public in the Soo, a capacity in which he is very popular with the people.
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