USA > Michigan > A history of the northern peninsula of Michigan and its people; its mining, lumber and agricultural industries, Volume III > Part 41
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In 1899 Mr. Follo married Thea Stephenson, of Manistique, and they have one son, Roland.
LOUIS H. FEAD .- As a native son of Michigan and as a representa- tive member of the bar of the Upper Peninsula Mr. Fead is well entitled to consideration in this volume, one of whose important functions is to accord recognition to those citizens who stand prominent in their re- spective fields of endeavor. He is successfully engaged in the practice of his profession at Newberry, Luce county, where he is serving as village attorney and where he is also serving his sixth consecutive term as prosecuting attorney of the county.
Louis H. Fead was born at Lexington, Sanilac county, Michigan, on the 2nd of May, 1877, and is the son of John L. and Augusta ( Wal- ther) Fead, the former of whom was born in the kingdom of Saxony, Germany, on the 12th of July, 1834, and the latter of whom was like- wise born in Germany, on the 2nd of May, 1842. Their marriage was solemnized at Lexington, on the 29th of November, 1859, and the names of their children are here indicated in the respective order of their births,-John W., William L., Charles C., Nellie M., Edward L., Emma A., Frederick F., Louis H. and George A. In 1855 John L. Fead who was then twenty-one years of age, came to Detroit, Michigan, where he remained a few months and then located in Port Huron, Michigan, which thriving city was then a mere village. There he became identi- fied with the operation of a rowboat ferry across the St. Clair river and after a few years he removed to Lexington, Sanilac county, where he established a carding-mill in 1869. The enterprise proved success- ful and with the passing of the years he amplified the facilities of the plant by the installation of improved machinery and thus developed one of the important industrial enterprises of the state. The business was removed to Port Huron in 1907 and there is conducted at the pres- ent time under the corporation name of John L. Fead & Sons, four of his sons being associated with him in the conduct of a well-equipped knitting mill. For twenty-three years he was a valued member of the board of education of Lexington, of which he was treasurer and he was also a member of the city council of Lexington. On the 29th of November, 1909, John L. Fead and his cherished and devoted wife were enabled to celebrate their golden wedding anniversary and surrounded by their children and a large number of friends they made the occa- sion most memorable and interesting. Mr. Fead is a Roman Catholic and Mrs. Fead a Lutheran, and in his political adherency, the father is a stanch Republican.
Louis H. Fead duly availed himself of the advantages of the public
Hugh W.hay Alin
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schools of his native town and thereafter continued his studies in Olivet College at Olivet, this state, after leaving which institution he entered the law department of the University of Michigan, in which he was graduated as a member of the class of 1900 and from which he received his well-earned degree of Bachelor of Laws. He was forthwith admit- ted to the bar of his native state and in July of the same year he camie to the Upper Peninsula and engaged in the general practice of his pro- fession at Newberry, where he has built up a substantial and lucrative practice. The first public office to which he was called was that of school inspector of his native county and in the autumn of 1900, only a few months after establishing his home in Newberry, he was elected prosecuting attorney of Luce county. That his administration as pub- lic prosecutor has met with popular approval and commendation needs no further voucher than that offered by his retention in the office dur- ing the entire intervening period by successive re-elections. He is now serving his sixth term and is known as a strong and versatile trial lawyer. He has also served several terms as village attorney and he holds this office at the present time. He is also treasurer of the Upper Peninsula Hospital for the Insane, which state institution is located at Newberry, and in June, 1908, he became one of the organizers of the Newberry State Bank, of which he has since been vice-president and manager.
In politics Mr. Fead is a stalwart advocate of the principles and policies for which the Republican party stands sponsor and he holds membership in the Episcopal church. His fraternal affiliations are here briefly noted : McMillan Lodge No. 400, Free & Accepted Masons; Manistique Chapter No. 127, Royal Arch Masons; Sault Ste. Marie Commandery No. 45, Knights Templars; Ahmed Temple, Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, in the city of Mar- quette; and Manistique Lodge No. 632, Benevolent & Protective Order of Elks. Mr. Fead is a bachelor.
HUGH MCLAUGHLIN .- Standing prominent among the enterprising and respected citizens of Iron Mountain, Dickinson county, is Hugh Mclaughlin, a well known real estate and insurance agent, active in fraternal and business circles, who is now serving as secretary of the Board of Education. A native of Wisconsin, he was born, February 22, 1846, in Brookfield township, Waukesha county, a son of James and Mary (McAndrews) Mclaughlin, both of whom were born in County Mayo, Ireland, of Scotch-Irish ancestry.
Born in 1801, James McLaughlin grew to manhood in his native country, and there learned the trade of a furrier. Emigrating to the United States in the early part of the last century, he followed his trade for a number of years in New York state, first in Albany, and later in Troy. In 1843 he journeyed by way of the Lakes to Wiscon- sin, stopping first at Milwaukee, which was then a small village, giv- ing but little promise of its present prosperity. Pushing on to Wau- kesha county, he purchased one hundred and twenty acres of wild land, eighty acres of which was located in New Berlin township, the remaining forty acres lying just across the line in Brookfield town- ship. Building a log cabin in the wilderness, in Brookfield township, the family occupied it until 1850, in it the birth of the son Hugh oc- curring. In 1850 James McLaughlin erected a substantial frame house, the first one built in that section of the state, and subsequently devoted his attention to the clearing and improving of his land, in due course of time having a productive and well-kept farm. In 1868
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he removed to the village of Waukesha, and there lived retired from active pursuits until his death, in 1894, at the advanced age of ninety- three years. His wife preceded him to the better world, passing away at the age of forty-eight years, leaving seven children, as follows: Daniel, John, William, Sarah, Hugh, Elizabeth and Mary.
Following a trail for a mile and a half through the dreary woods, Hugh Mclaughlin attended the short sessions of the district school throughout his boyhood days, between terms assisting his father on the farm. At the age of twenty-one years he began life for himself, for one term teaching school. Leaving home in 1870, he was engaged in the grocery business in Chicago until 1871, when he became fore- man of railway construction between Green Bay and Marinette, Wis- consin. The railway being completed in December, 1871, Mr. Mc- Laughlin assisted in the building of the railway line between Menom- inee and Escanaba, its completion, in December, 1872, making direct rail connection between Ishpeming and Chicago. Previous to that time the traffic from Escanaba to Chicago had been by way of the Lakes in summer and by stage in the winter seasons. The following four years Mr. Mclaughlin was engaged in lumbering in Menominee, Michigan, being associated with the Kirby Carpenter Company until 1877, when he assisted in building the railway between Powers and Quinnesec, which was completed in the fall of that year. Locating then in Quinnesec, he engaged in the fire and life insurance business, being the first to open an insurance office in what is now Dickinson county, continuing thus employed until 1884. Since that time he has been actively and successfully employed in the real estate and insur- ance business at Iron Mountain.
Mr. Mclaughlin married, November 28, 1878, Margaret Donovan. who was born in Masonville, Michigan. Her father, John Donovan, and her mother, were natives of Ireland. Four children have born to Mr. and Mrs. McLaughlin, namely: Warren J., a graduate of the Michigan School of Mines, is a mining engineer; Mae J., was grad- uated from the Iron Mountain High School, and from the Thomas Normal Training School, in Detroit, and is engaged in teaching; Frances C., a stenographer, was graduated from the Iron Mountain High School; and Hugh. Since attaining his majority, Mr. McLaugh- lin has been more or less active in public affairs, having at the age of twenty-one years been elected a member of the school board of his native township. From April, 1887, until October, 1889, he was post- master at Iron Mountain, and for the past ten years has been secretary of the Iron Mountain Board of Education, of which he has been a member since 1886. Fraternally he is a member of Iron Mountain Lodge, No. 388, F. & A. M .; of Iron Mountain Chapter, No. 121, R. A. M .; of Iron Mountain Council, No. 75, R. & S. M .; of Lake Superior Commandery, No. 30, K. T .; of Ahmed Temple, Mystic Shrine; and of De Witt Clinton Consistory, Grand Rapids.
JOSEPH N. WELSH .- This well-known citizen and representative farmer and stock-grower of Chippewa county is a member of one of the sterling pioncer families of this section of the state and his fine homestead is located in Dafter township, where he has lived for many years and where he is held in unqualified esteem as is evidenced by the fact that he has been called upon to serve in various township offices, including that of treasurer. He is a stock breeder in the Upper Peninsula and is an energetic and substantial business man, who is well entitled to consideration in this volume. Joseph N. Welsh was born
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in Bruce county, province of Ontario, Canada, on December 30, 1859, and is a son of Richard and Hannah (Hemdroff) Welsh, the former of whom was born in Ireland and the latter in York county, Ontario. Their marriage was solemnized in Grey county, Ontario, and both are now living in Dafter township, Chippewa county, Michigan, being numbered among the venerable pioneers of this county, to whose social and industrial development they have contributed their quota. Con- cerning their nine children the following brief data are entered : Joseph N., subject of this sketch, is the eldest; Albert H., who is a car- penter by trade, is a resident of Ladysmith, British Columbia; William H. is a successful farmer at Dafter township; Rebecca is the wife of Robert Follis of the same township; Richard S. is likewise engaged in farming in that township; Robert S., a captain in the artillery ser- vice of the United States army, has served as such in the Philippine Islands and is now in California; Annie is the wife of William Harper of Dafter township; Martha is the wife of James Harper of the same township; and Arthur H. is engaged in the work of the carpenter's trade at Mashwauk, Minnesota. The father of these children was a child of nine years at the time of his parents' removal from Ireland to the Dominion of Canada. He is a son of William and Kate Welsh and the family located in Leed county, on the St. Lawrence river, where Wil- liam Welsh died in 1846. His widow later removed to Bruce county, where she died in 1875, when nearly seventy years of age. Richard Welsh continued to be identified with agricultural pursuits in Bruce county, Ontario, until 1878, in which year he came to Chippewa county, Michigan, and secured a tract of wild land in Dafter township, where he reclaimed a farm from the wilderness. He was one of the vigorous and resourceful pioneer settlers of the county and gave his support to all enterprises that tended to advance its best interests. He continued to be actively identified with the management of his farm until 1904, since which time he has lived virtually retired. In politics he is a stanch Democrat and both he and his wife hold membership in the Methodist church.
Joseph N. Welsh gained his rudimentary education in the public schools at Chatsworth, Grey county, Ontario, and later continued his studies in the schools of Bruce county, that province, as did he also after the removal of the family to Chippewa county, Michigan. In 1883, when but fifteen years of age, he initiated his independent career as a farmer. He has literally hewed a farm from the virgin wilds and his well-improved landed estate of one hundred and eighty acres gives every evidence of his enterprising spirit and effective management. In addition to cultivating various cereal and other crops best suited to this section, Mr. Welsh has given special attention to dairy farming, in connection with which he utilizes high grade Holstein stock. He also has. standard-bred and registered draft and coach horses and raises Berk- shire swine and Shropshire sheep. He has taken a loyal interest in all that touches the wellbeing of his home township and county and has served continuously as school director for more than a quarter of a century. He was justice of the peace for two terms and for an equal period held the offices of township treasurer and township supervisor. He is one of the valued and appreciative members of Dafter Grange, No. 1157, Patrons of Husbandry, is affiliated with the Knights of Pythias and Knights of the Maccabees and as well with the L. O. L. and R. B. P. In politics he maintains an independent attitude and his re- ligious faith is indicated by his membership in the Presbyterian church, of which his wife also is a member.
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On the 29th of April, 1884, Mr. Welsh was united in marriage to Miss Letitia A. Fegan, who was born in Grey county, Ontario, and who is one of the seven children of Edward and Ellen (Campbell) Fegan, both of whom were born in Dublin, Ireland, where their marriage was solemnized. Soon after their life destinies were thus united they immi- grated to Canada, where Mr. Fegan was identified with agricultural pursuits until 1882, when he removed to Chippewa county, Michigan, and located in Dafter township, where he followed the same vocation until his death, in April, 1908. His widow still resides in that town- ship and all of their children are living,-three sons and four daugh- ters. Mr. and Mrs. Welsh have four children,-Richard Grover, Agnes, Sarah B. and Victoria. Agnes is now the wife of Thomas Armstrong of Chippewa county and Sarah B. is the wife of Morris J. Penner of Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan.
CHARLES G. CAMPBELL .- An early settler of Iron county, Charles G. Campbell, whose present home is about one and one-half miles from the Crystal Falls Court House, has been actively identified with the development and advancement of the industrial interests of this part of the Upper Peninsula, and holds a noteworthy position among its re- spected citizens. He was born, December 24, 1843, near Hamilton, in the province of Ontario, Canada, of thrifty Scotch ancestry. His father, Peter V. Campbell, and his grandfather, Jolin Campbell, were both natives of Scotland.
Reared and married in his native land, John Campbell emigrated with his family to America in 1817, locating in New Brunswick, where he was for many years employed in farming and lumbering. He spent his last days in that province. His wife, Elizabeth Campbell, survived him, passing away at the home of a daughter, in Otterville, Ontario. She reared eight children, five of them being sons.
A child when he crossed the ocean with his parents, Peter V. Camp- bell grew to manhood in New Brunswick, where he became an expert in the art of hewing lumber. Removing when a young man to Ontario, he purchased land near Hamilton, and a few years later removed to a point near London, Ontario, where he continued his agricultural pur- suits until 1852. He then voyaged in a sailing vessel to Australia, being one hundred and twenty-eight days en route, and for four years was engaged in mining operations in Australia and New Zealand. Return- ing to his family, in Ontario, he subsequently came with them to Michi- gan, locating at Port Austin, Huron county. Buying a tract of wild land in Dwight township, he built a log cabin in the woods, and began the improvement of a farm. Removing, in 1865, to Dallas county, Iowa, he bought land, and there commenced the arduous task of clear- ing and improving a homestead. Two years later he sold out, and after living in Canada for a few years, settled at Grand Ledge, Michigan, where he kept a hotel for four years, and then retired from active labor. Coming from there to Iron county in 1890, he took up a homestead claim in Crystal Falls township, near Fortune Lakes, built on the place, and acquired a title from the government. He then sold out, and bought lots in Crystal Falls, built one house, and purchased another, and now, at the advanced age of ninety-four years, is living with his children, being both mentally and physically strong, being at the pres- ent writing, in 1910, with his daughter, Mrs. Sarah Baker, in St. Joe, Idaho. His wife, whose maiden name was Elizabeth Wilkins, was born in New York state, a daughter of Thomas Wilkins. She died, in 1867, in Iowa. Eleven children were born of their union, namely : Lu-
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cinda; Randolph W .; Charles G., the subject of this sketch; Adolphus D. and Sidney M., twins; Peter M .; George E .; William H. and Willard B., twins; Sarah A .; and Harriet M.
About fourteen years old when he came with the family to Michi- gan, Charles G. Campbell remained beneath the parental roof tree until September 23, 1863, when he enlisted in Company C, Twenty-ninth Michigan Volunteer Infantry. Going South with his regiment, he took part in all of its marches, campaigns and battles, with the exception of two different periods, when he was confined in a hospital, being thus confined, at Murfreesboro, Tennessee, when, in June, 1865, he received his honorable discharge from the service. Returning then to Port Aus- tin, Michigan, Mr. Campbell was there a resident until 1866, when he went to Iowa, and for five years resided in Dallas county. Locating in Grand Ledge, Eaton county, Michigan, in 1871, he managed a hotel for four years, and then removed to Sheridan, Montcalm county, where he purchased a mill, and was actively engaged in the manufacture of shingles until 1885.
Coming then to Iron county, Mr. Campbell ran a hotel at Crystal Falls until 1893, when, during the World's Fair, he resided in Chicago. Returning to Crystal Falls he was here engaged in the lumber business until 1903, when he assumed possession of his present home, about a mile and a half north of the Court House, on the north bank of Paint river.
Mr. Campbell married, September 12, 1867, Mary E. Carter, who was born in Gentry county, Missouri. Her father, Joseph Carter, was born in Tennessee, and his father, Elijah Carter, was a pioneer of Gen- try county, Missouri. Joseph Carter learned the carpenter's trade in Tennessee, and subsequently removed to Gentry county, Missouri, where he improved a farm, and also followed carpentering to a considerable extent, living a part of the time in Albany, Missouri, and a part in Athens, Missouri. Removing with his family to Iowa in 1861, he lived several seasons in Polk county, and then returned to Gentry county, where his death occurred, in 1906. His wife, whose maiden name was Elizabeth Turner, was born in Tennessee, and died in Iowa, in 1884. She reared fourteen of her eighteen children. Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Campbell, namely: Nellie, who lived but twelve years; Fannie, wife of Ray Kimball; Arthur died at the age of twenty- six years; and Blanche, wife of Charles H. Watson.
ANGUS W. KERR .- This well known and popular citizen of Calumet, Houghton county, merits consideration in this work by reason of the fact that he is one of the representative members of the bar of the Upper Peninsula. He is engaged in the active practice of his profes- sion in Calumet, where he is senior member of the firm of Kerr & Petermann. He has held various public offices of distinctive trust, including that of representative in the state legislature and he has wielded definite and valuable influence in public affairs in the Upper Peninsula, which has been his home from his boyhood days. Mr. Kerr was born in Kincardine, province of Ontario, Canada, on the 24th of May, 1873, and is a son of John and Isabelle (Matheson) Kerr, both of whom were likewise natives of the province of Ontario, where they were reared to maturity and where their marriage was solemnized. The father died when comparatively a young man and the mother resides at Laurium, Houghton county, Michigan, as do also her other children .- Dr. Murdoch M., Alex F., and John.
Hon. Angus W. Kerr was about ten years of age at the time of the
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family removal from Ontario to Lake Linden, Michigan, in the year 1883, and in the public schools of this city he gained his early educa- tional discipline, which included the curriculum of the high school. He early determined to prepare himself for the law and after attend- ing the law department of the University of Michigan, at Ann Arbor, for one year he entered the law office of Judge Albert T. Streeter, in Calumet. He thus began his technical reading under the preceptor- ship of Judge Streeter, in the year 1892, and he continued in the Calu- met office of Judge Streeter until the latter was elected to the bench of the circuit court, upon which he is still serving. Mr. Kerr was ad- mitted to the bar on the 12th of July, 1895, and by close application, earnest and honorable methods and marked technical ability he has gained for himself a prominent position in his profession, being uni- formly recognized as one of the representative members of the bar of the Upper Peninsula and controlling a large and lucrative practice. After his admission to the bar Mr. Kerr was individually engaged in the work of his profession until the 1st of January, 1901, when he entered into partnership with Albert E. Petermann, with whom he has since been associated. He is known as a versatile and skillful trial lawyer and as a safe and conservative counselor, facts which indicate his broad and exact knowledge of the science of jurisprudence. He has served as city attorney of Calumet, as circuit court commissioner and as prosecuting attorney of Houghton county, of which last im- portant office he was incumbent for four years. In 1899 and 1901 he served as representative of the First Houghton district in the state legislature and during his two terms he made an admirable record for efficient service in behalf of his constituents and the general interests of the state. In January, 1903, he was appointed by the governor member of the state tax commission. In public office he has shown himself faithful and efficient and he has proved loyal to all the duties of citizenship so that he well merits the uniform confidence and es- teem granted to him by all who know him. He is recognized as one of the leaders in the ranks of the Republican party in the Upper Pen- insula and has been a most zealous worker in behalf of the party cause. At the time of the Spanish-American war Mr. Kerr tendered his services to the government and served as corporal of Company D, Thirty-fourth Michigan Volunteer Infantry. This regiment departed for Camp Alger, Virginia, on the 6th of June, 1898, but Mr. Kerr did not go to Cuba with the regiment as he was assigned to the recruiting service. Prior to the war Mr. Kerr had been identified with the Mich- igan National Guard. He is also identified with various fraternal and social organizations of representative character.
At Calumet, Michigan, in the year 1899, was solemnized the mar- riage of Mr. Kerr to Miss Katherine Murphy, a daughter of Daniel D. Murphy, a well known citizen of this place. The two children of this union are Katherine I. and Angus W.
EDWARD RYAN, who died at his home in Calumet, Michigan, was one of the first men interested in mining operations on the Gogebic, and under his supervision the Ryan Iron Belt, the Atlantic Iron Mines, and other valuable iron properties were located and operated. Captain Nathan Moore was also interested in many of these. Mr. Ryan was a self-made man and rose to an enviable position through his energy and enterprise, being undaunted by the many struggles and hardships that awaited him. He was born in Ireland, April 22, 1840, and came to the United States in 1844, with his parents, who located at Wiota,
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Wisconsin. He secured but a limited education, as he was put to work as soon as he was old enough and helped with the support of the family. When the family moved to Houghton, Michigan, in 1854, the boy of fourteen found employment in the general store of Sheldon & Com- pany, driving a team and hauling goods from the wharf to the store, thence to the mining camps in the neighborhood. Being quick to learn and attentive to his duties, he was promoted to the position of clerk and remained with his employers several years.
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