USA > Michigan > A history of the northern peninsula of Michigan and its people; its mining, lumber and agricultural industries, Volume III > Part 44
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Having by sturdy industry cleared and improved a productive farm, John Johnson lived there until his death, at a good old age, an honored and respected citizen. His wife, whose maiden name was Ann Davidson, also attained a ripe age. Bothi were trustworthy mem- bers of the Presbyterian church, and reared their children in the same religious faith. Robert Johnson was but eight years old when he crossed the ocean with his parents. He grew to manhood on the home farm, which he helped to clear, and soon after his marriage purchased a tract of timbered land in Maryborough township, Wel-
TH Barnmw
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lington county, Ontario, and having built the customary log cabin of pioneer days began the hard task of clearing a farm. He improved about forty-five acres, and then sold at an advantage, and removed to Lewiston, New York, where he resided five years. Going to Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, about 1870, he purchased land that was still in its virgin wildness, and for fifteen years was employed in its improve- ment. Going to Duluth, Minnesota, in 1885, he remained there for five years, and in 1890 came to Iron River, and now makes his home with Mrs. Barnum. He married Mary Lynn, who was born, in 1831, in Vermont, a daughter of Isaac and Caroline (Streeter) Lynn, na- tives, respectively, of England and Vermont. She died in March, 1908, in Iron River. To Mr. and Mrs. Robert Johnson eight children were born, namely: John; Isaac; Benjamin; Robert; Ann; Melissa Evangeline, widow of Thomas Barnum; Mary; and Lucretia Caroline. Four children were born of the union of Thomas and Melissa E. (Johnson) Barnum, namely: Robert Homer, the special subject of this sketch; Melvina Evangeline; Amy Caroline; and June Jeannette.
But six years old when he came with the family to Iron River, Robert Homer Barnum was here brought up and educated. On at- taining his majority he began life for himself, for about three years being engaged in the timber trade. Entering then the employ of the Diamond Drill Company, he continued with the firm three years, when, in 1908, he embarked in his present business, and has since been successfully employed in the manufacture of concrete blocks, and also as a contractor for excavating cellars, and building cellar walls and foundations, in this line of industry carrying on a substan- tial and remunerative work. Mr. Barnum is a stanch Republican in politics, having cast his first presidential vote for Theodore Roose- velt, and since 1906 has served as postmaster at Iron River.
CAPT. WILLIAM ALEXANDER DUNN .- Conspicuous among the ener- getic and progressive men who are entitled to honorable recognition in the annals of Houghton county for their services in developing and ad- vancing the mining interests of the Upper Peninsula, and in other ways contributing towards the material prosperity of this section of the state, is Capt: William Alexander Dunn, one of the best known and most popular citizens of Houghton. He was born, October 5, 1840, at Glen- garry, province of Ontario, Canada, a son of Walter Dunn. His grand- father, John Dunn, who married a Miss Campbell, was a farmer by occupation, and spent his entire life in Glengarry. The emigrant ances- tor of the family, the captain's great-great-grandfather, a native of the North of Scotland, was a civil engineer, and came to America in the employ of the British government to make surveys in Canada, and set- tled in Glengarry.
Walter Dunn was born and reared in Glengarry, and having em- barked in the lumber business when a young man continued in that line of industry until his death, at the comparatively early age of forty-nine years. He married Sarah Williams, who was born in Glen- garry, Canada, of Welsh ancestry. She survived him, passing away at the age of fifty-nine years. To her and her husband five children were born and reared, as follows: William A., Eliza, Archie, Emma, and George.
Nine years of age when his father died, William A. Dunn lived with his widowed mother the following three years, and then went to Toronto in search of work. There he found employment with an old friend of his father, Mr. John Cook, a lumberman, with whom he remained a
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number of years. In 1863 Mr. Dunn came to the Upper Peninsula to look for mast and spar timber, this part of the country being then, practically, unexplored. He selected and entered timbered lands in several different counties. Subsequently turning his attention to min- ing, he was first associated with the Holyoke silver and lead mines in Marquette county. Coming to Houghton county in 1866, Captain Dunn was one of the very early workers of the Calumet & Hecla Mine. From there he went to Marquette, thence to another town, where he took a contract to build a dock. Completing that work, he signed a contract to manufacture the timber, and build a breakwater, at Marquette, and when the breakwater was finished he assumed its charge. In 1868 the Captain was placed in charge of one of the pits at the New York Mine, and a few months later built a tram from the mine to the furnace. Sub- sequently, in company with John Gillette, worked the New York Mine by contract until 1872. Going then to Negaunee, Marquette county, Captain Dunn opened some mines about six miles out, and the same fall opened the Kloman, which he mined until 1874, the ensuing two years superintending the work at the Lothian Mine.
During the summer of 1876 the Captain embarked in the manufac- ture of nitroglycerin, continuing thus engaged until he made a con- tract with the Hercules Powder Company to introduce and sell its powder on the Upper Peninsula, a position which he successfully filled until the company joined the "Trust." Again turning his attention to mining, he developed several mines, including the Dunn Mine, in Iron county ; the Crystal Falls Mine; and the Schrader Mine, at Iron Moun- tain. For several years during this time, the Captain operated the old Boston Mine, which was later sold to the Franklin, and is now known as the Franklin, Jr. Subsequently he embarked in mercantile pursuits, being engaged in the grocery business at Houghton for two years, after which he prospected for ore in Wisconsin and Michigan. In 1896 he secured an option on the mine now known as the Baltic, which he was successful in developing, retaining his interest in the property until 1897, when he sold out. The captain is now living retired in Houghton, an esteemed and highly respected citizen.
Captain Dunn has been twice married. He married first, in 1868, Alice Blakie, who was born in Canada, of Scotch parentage. She died in 1870. He married second, in 1874, Helen M. Le Diux, who was born in Ontonagon, a daughter of John B. and Almina (Knox) Le Diux, the former of whom was born in Canada, of French ancestry, while the lat- ter was a native of Glasgow, Scotland. Mrs. Dunn was educated in the schools of Ontonagon and Rockland, and at the age of sixteen years began teaching school at the Union Mine. She subsequently had charge of schools at Ripley and at L'Anse, afterwards teaching in the first school opened at the Entry, still later teaching at the New York Mine.
Alice Lillian, the only child born of the captain's first marriage, is now the wife of Herman Haas, of Laurium, Michigan. By his union with his present wife, three children have been born, namely: William Lothian, Bird W., and Daisy. William L., who married Lydia Tislar, died at the age of twenty-eight years, leaving one daughter, Grace C. Daisy, wife of Charles G. Kenerson, has two children, Helen and Rob- ert Knox.
WILLIAM H. MASON .- Achieving success in life through his ability, resolution, and devotion to principle, William H. Mason has accumu- lated a fair share of this world's goods and is now living in Hancock, Houghton county, retired from active business, looking after his ex-
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tensive real estate interests, and attending to his official duties. He was born April 6, 1846, at Sheboygan Falls, Wisconsin, and is of Irish descent, his father, Benjamin Mason, and his grandfather, Thomas Mason, having been natives of Dublin, Ireland.
Thomas Mason, a life-long resident of Dublin, was a saddler by oc- cupation, and in addition to carrying on an extensive and lucrative business was also a large landholder, having title to valuable real estate in that city and its vicinity. He was a Quaker in religion, very con- servative in his views, and reared his children in the same faith.
Born and educated in Dublin, Ireland, Benjamin Mason served an apprenticeship at the soap chandler's trade, and when ready to begin life for himself married Mary McComas, also a native of Dublin. Miss McComas was reared an Episcopalian, the marriage on that account being opposed by the elder Mason. Benjamin therefore emigrated with his bride to the United States, locating first in Schnectady, New York. In 1830, following the emigrant's trail to the western frontier, he set- tled as a pioneer in Sheboygan county, Wisconsin. Purchasing a tract of land which was in its original wildness, he began felling the giant progeny of the forest, clearing a space in which he erected a log house, the home of the family for many years, and the birth place of his chil- dren. In that early day the dusky savages had not fled before the ad- vancing footsteps of civilization, while deer, bears, and all kinds of wild game inhabited the forests, and fish of all kinds abounded in the clear streams. Clearing a part of his land, he lived there until 1850, when he came to the Upper Peninsula, stopping first at Baraga, from there going to the Dana Mine, in Keweenaw county, where for four years he was employed in riving shingles by hand for S. W. Hills, agent for the Dana and other mines. Returning then to Sheboygan Falls, Benjamin Mason superintended the management of his farm until 1860, when he came to the new village of Hancock. Here, after serving as night watchman for a time at the stamp mill, he began making candles for the Quincy Mining Company, while thus occupied teaching the art to William Lapp and Peter Goldstine, who afterwards became leading manufacturers of candles. A few years later he returned once more to his Wisconsin farm, and there lived retired until his death, at the age of seventy-three years. His wife survived him a few months, passing away at the same age. Five children were born of their union, as follows : Mary A .; Lizzie, who lived but five short years; Thomas D .; Archibald M .; and William H.
Beginning life for himself when a boy, William H. Mason worked on a farm at Sheboygan Falls, for two years, receiving ten dollars a month wages, and was afterwards employed in a pump factory until 1862, painting pumps and running an engine alternately. In the fall of 1862, Mr. Mason enlisted in Company C, Fourth Wisconsin Volun- teer Cavalry, went south, and saw service in the states of Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas, and took part in the battles at Port Hudson, New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Oliver Branch, Camp Bazlin, Grove Station, Clinton, and in engagements of minor importance. Honorably discharged with his regiment at Browns- ville, Texas, at the close of the war, he returned to his home at Sheboy- gan Falls.
Locating in Hancock, Michigan, in the fall of 1866, Mr. Mason bought a team, and for three years was actively engaged in hauling rock from Calumet to the portage, and bringing back to Hancock on the return trip immense loads of merchandise. Forming then a part- nership with his brother, Thomas D. Mason, he took a contract to draw
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wood to the Huron Mine, and continued there a year, when the mine failed. The following year Mr. Mason was foreman at the Portage Canal, which was then in process of construction, after which he took a contract to excavate, and draw ties, for the new railway which was being laid between Calumet and Lake Linden. He subsequently made a trip over the mountains, taking a load of duerline from Marquette, Michi- gan, to the Phoenix mine, while there making a contract to furnish the Phoenix Mine for four years with wood and all mining contract work to be done. After the four years, he took a like contract at the Cliff Mine for four years also. At the expiration of that time Mr. Mason returned to Hancock, purchased considerable real estate and the following two years was engaged in the grocery business. Then leaving his son in charge of the grocery, Mr. Mason, with his brother Thomas, went to Newberry to fill a three years' contract to furnish the furnaces of that place with from one hundred and fifty to two hundred cords of wood a day. Returning to Hancock when the contract was filled, Mr. Mason continued in the grocery business for a time, and then sold out. He was afterwards engaged in the brokerage business, representing J. W. Browne & Company, and Turner Brothers, of Boston, but of late has devoted his energies almost entirely to the care of his real estate hold- ings, and to the duties devolving upon him as county agent, a position which he has held since 1900.
Mr. Mason married, September 25, 1867, Hattie A. Chamberlain, who was born in Plymouth, Wisconsin, where her parents, George and Sarah Chamberlain, were pioneer settlers, removing there from Roches- ter, New York, their native city.
Five children have blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Mason, namely : Clarence G., Charles S., Adelle, Minnie and Florence. Clarence mar- ried Charlotte Clark, and they have two children, Clark and Clarence. Charles married Mrs. Nellie Spickler Blackwood, and they have two children, Helen and William. Mrs. Mason passed to the higher life in July, 1906. She was brought up in the Episcopalian faith, but in Han- cock she and the family attended the Congregational church. Politic- ally Mr. Mason is a loyal supporter of the principles of the Republican party.
CHARLES B. M. CRAIG .- Worthy of especial mention in this bio- graphical volume is Charles B. M. Craig, a man of integrity and abil- ity, who is identified with the municipal government of Hancock as city surveyor. A native of Pennsylvania, he was born September 20, 1857, in Reidsburg, Clarion county, a son of David R. Craig.
William Craig, his grandfather, was born in county Antrim, Ire- land, of Scotch ancestry. In early manhood he emigrated to this coun- try, locating at the close of the Revolutionary war first in Lebanon county, Pennsylvania, and afterwards in Northumberland county, Penn- sylvania. He subsequently lived several years in Erie county, Penn- sylvania, from there going to Armstrong county, about the year 1812, where he followed his occupation of a farmer with good results. He spent his last years in Sligo and Greenville, Clarion county, passing away in the year 1854 at the advanced age of ninety-two years. He mar- ried, in Erie county, Pennsylvania, Mary Richards, a daughter of John Richards and Martha Ramsay Richards, and they reared two daughters and eight sons, the names of the sons being John, Alexander, Washing- ton, William, James, Nelson, Rufus and David R.
Born on the home farm on French Creek, near the village of Marion, in Erie county, Pennsylvania, Angust 9, 1811, but reared on
le 4 Sensie
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Crooked Creek in Armstrong county, David R. Craig became familiar with the varied branches of agriculture while young, and, except for a few years in early manhood, spent in teaching school, and some years devoted to milling enterprises, he made farming his life-long occupa- tion. Removing from Reidsburg, Clarion county, Pennsylvania, where he had opened up a large farm, to Iowa in 1864, he bought land in Henry township, Van Buren county, and began the improvement of a farm, living there until 1872, when he sold out and for two years manu- factured woolen goods at Vernon, Van Buren county, Iowa. After- ward moving to Brainerd, Minnesota, he lived retired until his death at the age of eighty-two years. The maiden name of his wife was Jane Means. She was born in Clarion county, Pennsylvania, a daughter of George and Betsy (MacLure) Means, who were born in eastern Penn- sylvania, of Scotch-Irish ancestry. She is now living at Brainerd, Min- nesota, a bright and active woman of eighty-nine years. She reared nine children, namely : Mary J., George H., Nancy M., David R., Jr., James N., Harry C., Charles B. M., Joseph Warren, and Andrew M.
Beginning his school life in Pennsylvania, Charles B. M. Craig con- tinued his studies in the public schools of Iowa, and in select schools in Van Buren county, Iowa. He subsequently taught school in Iowa, and in Benson county, North Dakota, where he bought a tract of gov- ernment land, which he improved. He afterwards engaged in civil engineering, making surveys for railroads, and from 1891 until 1898 being employed as a civil engineer in Duluth, Minnesota. Coming to Northern Michigan, in 1898, he was busily employed in engineering in Houghton county for seven years, when, in 1905 he accepted his pres- ent responsible position as city surveyor at Hancock, an office that he is filling ably and satisfactorily.
Mr. Craig married in 1889, Abbie Grasser, who was born in County Bruce, Ontario, Canada, a daughter of Aulus and Elizabeth (Hueb- schwellen) Grasser, coming on both paternal and maternal sides of Ger- man ancestry. These children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Craig, namely : Charles B. M., David R., 3d, Arthur J., Nancy Elizabeth, Flor- ence Apollonia, and Harry Clay. Religiously Mr. and Mrs. Craig are consistent members of the Congregational church and fraternally Mr. Craig is a member of Portage Camp, No. 2596, M. W. A.
CYRUS H. SENSIBA .- An admirer has called Cyrus H. Sensiba one of the most popular men in the state of Michigan and has added paren- thetically that his popularity is well deserved. The host and proprie- tor of the Iron Inn of Iron River, Michigan, while a native of Wis- consin, has been identified with the Northern Peninsula since 1885 and has experienced many diverse fortunes in the intervening quarter century. His life reminds one of the definition of success of one of the foremost of American authors,-"To accept the" worst that fate can deal and to win courage from it and not despair,-that is success," and by this test as by all others, Mr. Sensiba is a successful man. Always thrifty and alert for opportunity, he found himself midway in his career the possessor of a comfortable fortune, but a succession of untoward events shipwrecked him on the seas of fortune, among them an accident which brought him within a hair's breadth of the grave. Nevertheless he did not lose courage and the host of that attractive and commodious hostelry, the Iron Inn, is one of the prosperous and substantial men of this section. This was erected at a cost of $25,000, is fireproof, fitted with the modern improvements and has fifty rooms. Not only was the Iron Inn the first brick hotel to be built at Iron
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River, but it was also the first brick building of a public character to be erected in the town.
Cyrus H. Sensiba was born at Green Bay, Wisconsin, in 1859 (May 1), his parents being Bert and Elizabeth (Hubbard) Sensiba. The former was a native of the state of New York, and is of German and English descent. The mother was born in Iowa, but came to Green Bay when a year old, and remained there until her death at the age of forty-nine years. The father came to Wisconsin from the Empire state when about twenty years of age, there married, and settled in Green Bay. He was a sailor in his earlier years, but subsequently took up the hotel business. He and his wife became the parents of ten children, of whom nine are living, namely: Kitty, Albert J., Libby, Thomas, Mary, John, Cyrus H., Frederick and Edward. One child died in infancy. All the members of this family grew to maturity in Green Bay.
He whose name initiates this review was the seventh in order of birth of the children of his parents. Circumstances forcing him to be content with a common school education, he started out when young to make his own living in the capacity of a saw mill hand. In 1885 he came to Bessemer in the Upper Peninsula, and for two years con- ducted the Colby House. He then came on to Atkinson, Iron county, and there he worked for a year in a shingle mill. He again took up the hotel business, continuing thus engaged for a period of eight years and experiencing financial success. In 1899 he again made a change, becoming the proprietor of a saw mill. It was at about this time that he entered upon the period of misfortune previously referred to. Among the causes contributing to his financial loss were depreciation in the value of timber and the loss of great numbers of live stock by sickness. Most serious of all he met with an accident of such a character that there are few, if any precedents where a man has re- ceived such and lived. On December 14, 1902, he was struck by a shingle bolt, which fell from the upper part of the mill and knocked him onto a fifty-two inch saw which was making at the time 1,320 revolutions a minute. He received a frightful cut across the back twenty-three and one half inches long, and which required eighty- seven stitches to close up. This was of great depth from the fact that one hundred and fifty feet of steel traveled through the cut while mak- ing it. It is a most remarkable proof of his coolness and endurance that he walked a distance of three blocks after receiving this terrible injury. He was three months under a doctor's care, although he left the hospital twenty-eight days after the accident. In 1903 his mill was burned, the loss, all told, in lumber and buildings, being about $60,000. This was rebuilt in 1904 and was burned again in 1909.
Mr. Sensiba abandoned milling in 1905 and removed to Iron River. He was engaged for a year or more in the livery business and on Feb- ruary 22, 1907, he opened the Iron Inn. This modern and well- equipped tavern is already known over the Upper Peninsula, its splen- did accommodation and the personal popularity of its proprietor forming an irresistible combination.
Mr. Sensiba formed an ideal marital companionship when on April 15, 1889, he was united in marriage to Miss Winnie Merry, daughter of Bruce and Katherine Merry, the father a native of the Empire state and the mother of Wisconsin. Their union was celebrated at Bessemer. Nine children are growing up beneath the roof of this esti- mable couple, namely : Ethel, Maude, Forest, Lester, Ruth, Harold, Mercedes. Reuben and Mildred. They are bright and interesting
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young citizens, who give evidence of the love which has been lavished upon them, one of their father's endearing traits being his love of children.
In politics Mr. Sensiba gives his heart and hand to the men and measures of the Republican party, his allegiance having endured throughout his entire career as a voter. He gave faithful and efficient service as supervisor of Atkinson township for a period of three years. In his fraternal relations he is a member of the Eagles of Iron River, and his wife and the older children affiliate with the Methodist Episco- pal church. Mr. Sensiba has a ready hand for a friend or for anyone who needs his aid, is the champion of all good causes, and one of the representative and universally liked citizens of the locality in which his interests are centered.
GRAHAM POPE, of Houghton, was born in Boston, Massachusetts, of English-Scotch descent, October 12th, 1840, and received his education in the public schools of that city. After one year at the bench at the trade of making nautical instruments, he entered a large commercial house where he had four years of business training. In May, 1861, he came to Houghton in the employ of the Isle Royale Mining Company. In 1862 he enlisted as first lieutenant in the Twenty-third Regiment, Michigan Volunteer Infantry. On his return to Houghton he again entered the mining business in which he continued until his retirement from active life in 1902.
Mr. Pope has lived in Houghton nearly fifty years, during which time he has engaged in many lines of business in which he has been suc- cessful. He was married in 1864 to Alice Helen Fuller who died in 1876 leaving a son and two daughters, who are still living. Mr. Pope has always been a Republican in political life and until within a few years was an active member of that party.
JOHN H. HUNTER has been au important factor in the lumber in- dustry in the Upper Peninsula, where he has conducted extensive opera- tions and where he still has large interests in this line both in an indi- vidual way and also through his identification with the Hunter & Love Lumber Company, of which he is president. He is a citizen who com- mands unqualified confidence and esteem and his liberality and public spirit have been potent in the furtherance of the material and social advancement of the community.
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