USA > Michigan > A history of the northern peninsula of Michigan and its people; its mining, lumber and agricultural industries, Volume III > Part 33
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Mr. Menard is a member of the Independent Order of Foresters; a member of the French Society of the United States, and as its supreme treasurer paid out of its treasury in 1909 upwards of $60,000; a mem- ber, and financial secretary of the Modern Brotherhood of America, a member and financial secretary of the Society of Saint John the Baptist; a member, and the local financial secretary of the Union Society Cana- dian French; a member of the Knights of the Maccabees; of the Knights of Columbus, and Brotherhood American Yeomen, and financial secre- tary of Union St. Joseph, of Ottawa. Politically Mr. Menard is a Re- publican, and, true to the faith of his ancestors, he is a Roman Catholic in religion.
On January 1, 1907, Mr. Menard, in company with William S. La Londe, incorporated the W. S. LaLonde Land and Insurance Company. with the following named officers : W. S. LaLonde, president ; E. Menard, secretary ; and William J. LaLonde, treasurer, and the company is now carrying on an extensive and successful business.
Mr. Menard married July 14, 1889, Julia Nault, who was born in Sault Ste. Marie, being the third child in a large family of children, of whom but three are now living. Her father, Nelson Nault, was born at St. Pierre, Lebecque, and was for many years one of the more active and prominent men of Sault Ste. Marie. He was a farmer, and an extensive dealer in real estate, and in 1885 made the subdivision that today is known as the Narcisse & Nault addition to the city. He was influential in public affairs, serving as road commissioner, and as alder- man. Religiously he was a member of the St. Mary's Roman Catholic church. He died in 1887, at the age of thirty-seven years, while yet in manhood's prime. He married Harriet Campbell, who was born, lived and died in Sault Ste. Marie. Thirteen children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Menard, seven of whom are living, namely : Joseph, a bookkeeper, was graduated from the United States Military School at Omaha, Ne- braska; Alphonse, printer of the "Golden Rule," was graduated from the same school ; Louis, a student in the same military institution ; Azerie ; Eugene, Jr .; Napoleon and an infant.
THOMAS A. TREVETHAN .- A practical, successful, and progressive agriculturist of Houghton county, Thomas A. Trevethan, residing near Chassell, is proprietor of a valuable estate, on which he is extensively engaged in general farming, in the pursuit of his pleasant and remu- nerative occupation exercising both skill and good judgment. An Eng- lishman by birth, he was born, December 7, 1836, in the parish of Per-
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ran, County Cornwall, coming, it is supposed. of Welsh ancestry, as, according to tradition, the Trevethans with other clans were banished from Wales in the year 900 and settled in Cornwall, England.
His father, Capt. Thomas Trevethan, was born in the parish of Blackwater, Cornwall county, England. and from his youthful days until 1841 was engaged in mining in his native county. Accompanied then by his wife and their four children, he crossed the Atlantic in a sailing vessel, after a voyage of six weeks and three days landing in Quebec. Starting for the states, he went by way of the St. Lawrence river and the Great Lakes to Chicago. thence with team to Galena, Illi- nois, a distance of one hundred and sixty miles, from there proceeding to Lafayette county, Wisconsin. Locating at Shullsburg, he worked in the lead mines nearly three years. In 1844 he paid his first visit to the "copper country," coming here as a representative of the Gratiots, who were interested in mine prospects on Keweenaw Point. The entire upper peninsula was then a pathless wilderness, explorations for metals being very new. He remained here until 1850, exploring different mines, after which he spent two years in Wisconsin. Returning to northern Michigan in 1852 he was employed in different capacities at the Isle Royale and other mines until 1868, when he went back to his old home in Shullsburg, where he continued his residence until his death in 1876. His wife, whose maiden name was Rachel Williams, was born in Padstow, County Cornwall. England. She died in 1852, leaving six children, as follows: William, Jane, Martha, Thomas A., Sarah, and John W. William lives in the Sacramento valley, California ; Jane mar- ried Walter Hicks, of Los Angeles, California; Martha is the wife of T. D. Trusty, of Fort Dodge, Iowa; Sarah married Charles Round, of West Concord, Minnesota ; and John W. lives in California.
But five years of age when he came with his parents to this country, Thomas A. Trevethan began as a boy of twelve years to work in the mines, in June, 1853, coming to the Upper Peninsula, to the Cliff mine. Eagle River was then the county seat of Houghton county, and the only store in what is now the city of Houghton was kept in a small log cabin. In October of that year he left the Cliff and went to the Portage. and was subsequently employed at the Isle Royale Mine until the spring of 1854. Going then to Houghton, he took a contract to get out rocks for the foundation of the first stamp mill built in that place, and afterward superintended the building of the mill, of which he was given charge when it was completed, this mill being the one that shipped the first stamp copper from out the Portage, the copper being loaded on flat boats and taken down to deep water. Mr. Trevethan had charge of the stamp mill until 1858, when he resumed mining. continuing two years. He then got out the foundation of the Huron stamp mill and when it was completed had charge of it until 1864. From that time until 1877 he was engaged in mercantile pursuits in Houghton, being one of the leading general merchants.
In 1877 Mr. Trevethan purchased a tract of heavily timbered land adjoining the present site of Chassell and taking up his residence here has since devoted his time and attention clearing the land and tilling the soil. He owns four hundred acres of good land, one-half of which is under a high state of cultivation and is well improved. having a sub- stantial set of frame buildings, his estate being one of the most attractive and desirable in the neighborhood.
Mr. Trevethan was married in 1855 to Ellen S. Pryor, who was born in Devonshire, England. a daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth Pryor, of
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whom a brief account may be found elsewhere in this volume, in con- nection with the sketch of James Pryor. Mrs. Trevethan passed to the higher life October 30, 1908. Four children blessed their union, namely : Mary Emma, Albert H., Addie E., and T. Irving. Emma, wife of Otto Obenhoff, has nine children: Addie, Sidney, Glenn, Howard, Nellie, Cora, Florence, Bert, and Elsa. Albert H., who married Clara M. Sil- ler, died February 18, 1910, leaving two children : Millie and Ellen May. Addie E., wife of C. F. Hall, has three children : Beatrice, Florence and Marion. T. Irving is associated with his father in farming. Mr. Treve- than has been a stanch Republican all his life and cast his first presi- dential vote for Abraham Lincoln, and has always taken an active part in politics. He was for many years a member of the Houghton County Republican committee, also a member of the Portage township board, and alderman of the village of Houghton. Upon the organization of the township of Chassell in 1888, he was one of the organizers and was its first supervisor and was reelected for the second term.
ARTHUR J. HOLDEN is entitled to great credit in the community as the proprietor and principal of the Laurium Commercial School, an institution so thorough and up-to-date, that it cannot but exert a bene- ficial influence upon future clerical standards of this part of the state, while the education of those fortunate enough to enroll themselves therein, is broadened in more ways than one. This excellent school was founded in 1899 by J. F. Reinier and was conducted by him for six years, at the end of which time Mr. Holden became proprietor. The school rooms are located in the Monroe building, Heela street, Laurium, and their accommodations are sufficient for one hundred and fifty stu- dents. The annual enrollment for both day and evening sessions is from two to three hundred students. The corps of teachers is very efficient and students in the different departments receive instruction from those especially fitted for the branch of learning entrusted to them. All branches of commercial work are given in a very thorough, practical manner. The standard of the work done here ranks high with the best business colleges in the country.
Mr. Holden is a native of Michigan, born in Genesee county, Oc- tober 30, 1880. He received his primary education in the public schools of Genesee and Saginaw counties, and later attended the Flint High School and Fenton Normal College. For four years he taught in the public schools of Genesee and Shiawassee counties. He afterward entered the Bliss Business College at Flint, Michigan, and in 1904 graduated from that institution. After filling a position as assistant instructor in this institution for some time, he accepted a position as commercial teacher with the Laurium Commercial School, which he held until he became proprietor. In June, 1910, he bought an interest in a school located at Menominee, Michigan, which had been organized by M. L. Claney, and was known as the Inter State Business University. This school, now known as the Twin City Commercial School, is con- ducted at Menominee, on the second floor of the Stephenson building, a handsome two story briek structure. Mr. Holden is president and Mr. E. P. Bower is principal.
The Laurium Commercial School also conducts a branch night school in the village of Red Jacket, in the Maggie Walz block.
When students leave Mr. Holden's schools they are well equipped to hold any position in the commercial line. They go to different towns and cities, both east and north, as far west as the Pacific Coast, and as far south as the Carolinas.
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Mr. Holden was married in 1905 to Miss Caroline Houghton, of Genesee county, Michigan. Mrs. Holden was for some time a teacher in the public schools and is at present one of the instructors in shorthand and typewriting in the Laurium school.
FRANCIS A. JAMES .- An enterprising and well-to-do business man of Rockland, Ontonagon county, Francis A. James is carrying on a sub- stantial trade as a dealer in meats, being at the head of the well known firm of James & Jones. A native-born citizen, his birth occurred May 8, 1870.
His father, John E. James, was born in county Cornwall, England, where his parents were born, lived and died. In common with the majority of the children of Cornwall, he began working in the mines as a boy, continuing until 1850. Then, a young man, he decided to try his fortune in a newer country, and came on a sailing vessel to the United States, being on the water six weeks. From New York he came directly to the Upper Peninsula, traveling by way of the Lakes from Buffalo to Ontonagon, thence up the Ontonagon river to Rockland. After working a few years in the mines of Ontonagon county, he re- turned to Cornwall, married his old sweetheart, and on returning with his bride to Michigan settled in Rockland. He was here employed at the mines in different capacities until he had the misfortune to lose his right hand in an accident at the mine, since which time he has done but little active work. His wife, whose maiden name was Mary Ann Oliver, died in 1905, aged seventy-five years. To them five children were born, as follows : Thomas, Eva, Frederick, Francis A., and Minnie.
Having completed the course of study in the public schools, Francis A. James began at the age of fourteen years to learn the trade of a butcher, and has since been profitably engaged in the meat business. In 1901 he formed a partnership with James H. Jones, and established the meat market with which he has since been identified, having in the meantime built up a flourishing trade.
Fraternally Mr. James is a member of Ontonagon Lodge No. 171, I. O. O. F. Politically he is a steadfast Republican, and has served two years as township clerk ; five years as secretary of the Rockland School Board; and is now serving his fourth term as county supervisor.
ALBERT L. FERGUSON .- Throughout the Northern Peninsula are to be found men of pronounced ability and forceful personality, whose perseverance in purpose and directing spirit have made them leaders in the establishment of beneficial projects, and made them prominent in business enterprises. In this connection much credit may be given to Albert L. Ferguson, who has been actively identified with the pro- motion of the hardware interests of Sault Ste Marie for upwards of a quarter of a century, at the present time being vice-president of the Soo Hardware Company. A native of Ontario, he was born in Bramp- ton, April 15, 1864, a son of Adam and Catherine (Golden) Ferguson. Further parental and ancestral history may be found on another page of this volume in connection with the sketch of Mr. Ferguson's brother, Robert G. Ferguson.
His parents having removed when he was a child to Bay City, Michigan, Albert L. Ferguson was there brought up and educated. Going to Toronto, Ontario, in 1880, when sixteen years of age, he was clerk in the Sutcliffe Dry Goods Store two years, and the following year was similarly employed for Burnham & Stopel, in Bay City, Michigan. Coming to the Upper Peninsula in 1883, Mr. Ferguson em-
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barked in business on his own account as a member of the Ferguson Hardware Company, and met with success. This firm was merged into the Soo Hardware Company, of which Mr. Ferguson was made presi- dent and general manager. A few years later the Ferguson Brothers reorganized the business under the name of the Chippewa Hardware Company, Mr. Ferguson continuing as president and general manager. The Soo Hardware Company was incorporated, being capitalized at $20,000, Robert G. Ferguson being made president ; Albert L. Fergu- son, vice-president; and A. E. Ferguson, secretary and treasurer. In March, 1900, the capital stock was increased to 69,000, and the firm is now carrying on an immense business, both wholesale and retail, be- ing the leading hardware dealers of Chippewa county.
Mr. Ferguson is also connected with other organizations of im- portance, being a stockholder in the William F. Ferguson Clothing Company ; a stockholder in, and the treasurer of, the Lock City Manu- facturing Company; and a director in the Soo Savings Bank. Politi- cally he is a firm adherent of the Republican party. Fraternally he belongs to Bethel Lodge No. 358, F. & A. M .; to Sault Ste Marie Chap- ter No. 126, R. A. M .; to Council No. 69, R. & S. M .; to Commandery No. 45, K. T .; to Ahmed Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., of Marquette, Michigan ; to Red Cross Lodge No. 51, K. of P .; and to the B. P. O. E.
Mr. Ferguson has been twice married. He married first, Septem- ber 20, 1893, Alice McNaughton, a sister of Harry McNaughton, in whose sketch, which appears elsewhere in this work, a brief history of her parents may be found. She spent her entire life in Sault Ste. Marie, and at her death, in 1907, left one child, Robert G. Ferguson. Mr. Ferguson married second, June 26, 1909, Julia D. Lennon, who was born in La Crosse, Wisconsin.
MERLIN WILEY .- There has been naught of incompetence or lethargy in the general personnel of the bar of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan from the pioneer epoch of its history to the present day, and within the pages of this work will be found specific mention of many of those who are well upholding the dignity and prestige of the profession in this first decade of the twentieth century. Altogether worthy of such recognition is Mr. Wiley, who has been engaged in the practice of his profession in the city of Sault Ste. Marie since 1904 and who is now serving with distinctive ability and resourcefulness in the office of prosecuting at- torney of Chippewa county.
Merlin Wiley has never failed in loyalty to and affection for the fine old commonwealth that represents the place of his nativity, and it has been a matter of satisfaction to him to retain his residence within its borders and to find ample scope for his efforts in his chosen vocation. He was born at Shepherd, Isabella county, Michigan, on the 7th of May, 1875, and is a son of Edgar J. and Leona C. (Cummins) Wiley, the former of whom was born in Otisco township, Ionia county, Michigan, and the latter in Vienna, Warren county, New Jersey. Of the two chil- dren, the subject of this review is the elder and Helen is now at Oberlin College, Oberlin, Ohio. The father of Mr. Wiley traces his lineage back in a direct way to Samuel Gorton, who was the founder of the family of that name in Rhode Island in the early colonial days, and who was an ancestor of Mr. Wiley in the maternal line. The mother of the subject of this review is a direct descendant of John Hart, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence.
After completing the curriculum of the public schools, Merlin Wiley entered Albion College, at Albion, Michigan, where he was a student for
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three years. He was then matriculated in the literary department of the University of Michigan, in which he was graduated as a member of the class of 1902, with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. In 1904 he was graduated in the law department of the same institution and duly received his well earned degree of Bachelor of Laws. He was forth- with admitted to the bar of his native state and in the summer of 1904 he engaged in the active practice of his profession at Sault Ste. Marie, becoming a member of the firm of Warner, Sullivan & Wiley in 1906. He continued a member of this firm until the 1st of December, 1907, since which time he has conducted an individual practice with a clientage of representative order. He has won special recognition for his ability as a trial lawyer and has been concerned in a number of important liti- gated causes in the local courts. In November, 1909, Mr. Wiley was elected prosecuting attorney of Chippewa county, and in this capacity he has ably and effectively handled the important work assigned to him. He is one of the valued officials of the county and is a prominent factor in the local councils and activities of the Republican party, in which he is at the present time (1910) secretary of the Chippewa county committee, to which position he was elected in 1904 and of which he has since remained incumbent. He is also a member of the board of trus- tees of the Carnegie public library in his home city. He is identified with the Chippewa County Bar Association and the Michigan State Bar Association. Mr. Wiley is identified with the Sigma Chi college fraternity, and his other affiliations are here designated : Bethel Lodge, No. 358, Free & Accepted Masons, Sault Ste. Marie Chapter, No. 126, Royal Arch Masons; Sault Ste. Marie Council, No. 69, Royal & Select Masters; and Red Cross Lodge, No. 51, Knights of Pythias.
October 12, 1910, Mr. Wiley wedded Miss Helen Seymour, a native of Michigan. Her father, Henry W. Seymour, was a prominent lumber- man in Sault Ste. Marie and was congressman of this district in 1887-88. Mrs. Wiley was educated at Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania.
JOHN T. TURNBULL .- In the village of Newberry is found a repre- sentative citizen in the person of John T. Turnbull, who is present sheriff of Luce county and who is held in unqualified esteem in the com- munity, which is indicated by the official position of which he is in- cumbent. Sheriff Turnbull is a native of the fine old Wolverine state, as he was born in the city of Saginaw, Michigan, on the 21st of March, 1874. He is a son of David and Ellen (Thompson) Turnbull, the former of whom was born in the province of Ontario, Canada, and the latter in Scotland. The father now resides in the city of Flint, Michigan. and the mother died in 1892. They became the parents of five sons and four daughters, all of whom are living except one son. David Turnbull was reared to maturity in his native province and as a young man he came to the United States and located in Saginaw county, Michigan, where he reclaimed a farm from the wilderness and gained prestige as one of the pioneer citizens of that section of the state. For a number of years past he has lived virtually retired in the city of Flint. He is a Repub- lican in politics. and his cherished and devoted wife was a member of the Presbyterian society.
After availing himself of the advantages of the public schools of Saginaw county, John T. Turnbull took up a course in the Ferris Insti- tute. a well ordered business college at Big Rapids, Michigan. After leaving this institution he secured employment as stenographer and assistant bookkeeper at Dollarville, Luce county, where he took up his residence in 1900. Later he removed to Duluth, Minnesota, where he
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was employed for a period of about eighteen months as bookkeeper for the Edward Hines Lumber Company, whose headquarters are in the city of Chicago. In 1901 he returned to Luce county and located in the village of Newberry, where he was employed as bookkeeper in a grocery establishment until 1905, when he was appointed township clerk of McMillan township to fill a vacancy. At the regular election in the autumn of the following year he was elected as his own suc- cessor, as was he also in 1908. In November, 1909, further official honors were conferred upon him in that he was then elected sheriff of the county, an office of which he is in tenure at the present time and in which his administration has been altogether satisfactory and creditable. He is found arrayed under the banner of the Republican party and is a stalwart supporter of its principles and policies. He is affiliated with McMillan Lodge, No. 400, Free & Accepted Masons; Manistique Chapter No. 127, Royal Arch Masons, and Luce Lodge, No. 89, Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows.
On the 7th of July, 1903, Mr. Turnbull was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth La Bombard, who was born and reared in Luce county and who is a daughter of Alexander La Bombard, one of the sterling pioneers and successful business men of this county. Mr. and Mrs. Turnbull have three children,-Raymond, Marie and Beatrice.
BENONI LACHANCE .- Among the prominent and influential citizens of the Wolverine state, who have been largely successful in their well directed efforts to further the prosperity of the Upper Peninsula and who have served faithfully in various offices of public trust, Benoni Lachance deserves representation in this compilation concerning the his- tory of his section of the state. Mr. Lachance was born on the 20th of June, 1841, in St. Barthelemy, County of Berthier, province of Quebec, Canada, and is a son of Joseph and Sophia (Jacques) Lachance, both of whom were likewise born in St. Barthelemy, County of Berthier, the former in 1800 and the latter in 1808. Joseph Lachance followed the great basic industry of agriculture for a number of years and about the year 1830 he became a surveyor for the British government. He lived retired for the last twenty years of his life and he was summoned to the life eternal in the year 1874, in his seventy-fifth year, and his wife passed away in 1899, at the patriarchal age of ninety-one years. Both died and were buried at Tecumseh, province of Ontario. They became the parents of thirteen children, of whom four sons and four daughters are now living, the subject of this sketch being the seventh in order of birth.
Benoni Lachance is of Scotch and French ancestry. He received his early educational training in the parish schools of his native town and was early apprenticed to the shoemaker's trade in the city of Mon- treal. In 1856, when but fifteen years of age he came to Mackinac Island on the old steamer "Michigan" and there engaged in the work of his trade. He was fluent in the French language but knew nothing of English. Accordingly he engaged a teacher and devoted the long evenings to the study of English and his ardent concentration in this connection soon made him proficient in the language. In the fall of 1859 he attended the public school, Dr. John R. Bailey being his teacher. On the 27th of March, 1860, following the Indian trail, he walked to Sault Ste. Marie and there worked at his trade until September 16, 1860, when he embarked on the steamer "Sea Bird" and removed to Hancock, Houghton county, Michigan, where he followed his trade until the 6th of August, 1861, when, at the outbreak of the Civil war, he enlisted in Com-
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pany F, Seventh Michigan Volunteer Infantry. He was mustered into service at Monroe, Michigan, on the 22nd of August, 1861, and went to the front without arms, the regiment receiving their arms at. Meridian Hill, Washington, D. C. Mr. Lachance participated in all the battles and skirmishes in which his regiment was engaged and he served two years as sergeant major (1863-4). He was in command of his comrades who had not veteranized in the regiment, from Petersburg, Virginia, to Detroit, Michigan, there being no other officer left to conduct the com- rades thence. His regiment led the forlorn hope in the charge at Fred- erieksburg in pontoon boats, on the 11th of December, 1862, the charge be- ing made under General Burnside, commanding the army. Mr. Lachance was sergeant major in the battle of Gettysburg in the three days' battle, July 1st. 2nd and 3rd, 1863. He was mustered out of service at Detroit, Michigan, on the 3rd of September, 1864. Mr. Lachance has ever re- tained a deep interest in his old comrades in arms and manifests the same by his membership in the Henry C. Pratt Post, No. 289, Grand Army of the Republic, Department of Michigan. His popularity among his old companions has been shown repeatedly. In 1866 he was elected Justice of the Peace at Detour, Michigan, and in 1867 was re- elected to this office in Mackinac Island, Michigan, retaining this office during the long intervening years. At present he is also commander of the G. A. R. post, having served in this connection for the past seven terms.
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