USA > Michigan > A history of the northern peninsula of Michigan and its people; its mining, lumber and agricultural industries, Volume III > Part 47
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Mr. Chandler's far-sightedness in a business way led him to pur- chase from the United States in 1883, a strip of land adjacent to the rapids or sault, in St. Mary's river. The price charged by the govern- ment was only a few dollars. The patent bears date of December, 1883, and is in ordinary form. Afterwards the property so acquired was turned over to the Chandler-Dunbar Water Power Company, of which Mr. Chandler is president. This company has a plant for generating power and electric energy in the rapids in front of that part of the shore which the government had patented to Mr. Chandler. When the rival water power company, promoted by F. H. Clerge, and known as the Michigan-Lake Superior Power Company, established itself in the Soo it sought to extinguish Mr. Chandler's company, and to that end borrowed the name of the United States for the purposes of bring- ing suit to oust Mr. Chandler and his company from the rapids and to deprive them of all rights therein as well as from the clearly pat- ented shore property. The Clerge Company having indemnified the United States for the use of its name, brought suit in the United States circuit court to cancel the Chandler patent. The litigation which followed was long, vexatious and expensive, but the circuit court decided in Mr. Chandler's favor.
The government removed the case for review to the United States circuit court of appeals, which also sustained Mr. Chandler's con- tention (see 152 Federal Reporter, page 25). The government then appealed to the United States supreme court which in April, 1908, also sustained every contention of Mr. Chandler, holding his patent not only good for the lands described in it on the shore of the rapids, but that it also embraced Islands Nos. 1 and 2 in front of the patented property and also the lands under the rapids in front of that part of the shore to the "thread of the stream," which really meant the national boundary line, (See for final decision of this great case, 209 United States Supreme Court Decisions, page 447), which is perhaps more important as an interesting bit of Soo history than as a legal document, expounding any new principle in legal lore.
For years before Mr. Chandler's purchase of the rights along the shore and under the rapids, any person, even though without any con- siderable means, might have acquired them, but nobody but Mr. Chan- dler saw their future value, which it is now conceded reaches into the millions. Since the decision of the Supreme court above referred to, important congressional measures have been taken to acquire most
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of these rights by condemnation, which proceedings are now pending. Mr. Chandler made a free gift to the government of such of his shore land at the rapids as it wanted for the purpose of widening the ship canal above the locks in 1909 and 1910 and has always stood ready to help along any public improvement. His present to the government would have cost many thousand dollars if he had not made a free gift of it.
Mr. Chandler is interested in the various philanthropical insti- tutions of his city. He was the founder and is still the principal financial supporter of the Sault Ste. Marie Hospital.
In 1886 he was united in marriage to Miss Cata Oren, daughter of Charles and Sarah Oren, formerly of Clinton county, Ohio. They have one child, a son, named Thomas. A daughter named Paulina is de- ceased, her death occurring in Silver City, New Mexico, in May, 1909. Mr. and Mrs. Chandler spent the winter of 1909-10 in San Juan, Porto Rico, which Mr. Chandler believes to be one of the most beautiful sections the sun shines on. He took the opportunity to make a thor- ough study of the new American acquisition. He considers its public school system an admirable one, its citizens of the better class unusually intelligent, and its natural products abundant and of high quality. Although the Porto Rico politician is endeavoring to bring about self- government, Mr. Chandler believes that the time is not yet ripe to grant it. "About six years ago," to quote from a newspaper inter- view granted by Mr. Chandler, "the provincial legislature gave self- government to municipalities and the first move the officers made after their election was to appropriate the entire income from the taxes to pay their salaries, leaving nothing for public improvements and run- ning expenses. The legislature changed this later by providing that not to exceed fifty per cent of the tax money could be appropriated for salaries and that the balance must be used to improve the towns and to pay the necessary expenses."
FRANK X. KAISER .- A man of sterling worth and integrity, Frank X. Kaiser, of Eagle River has served the public in positions of im- portance, and invariably to the satisfaction of all concerned, for the past ten years, having been clerk and register of deeds. A native of Michigan, he was born February 20, 1876, at Lake Linden, Houghton county, where his father, John Kaiser, was an early settler.
John Kaiser was born in Canton Berne, Switzerland, where he was bred and educated. As soon as old enough he joined the Swiss army, serving in the cavalry. When twenty years old, having been honor- ably discharged from the army, he emigrated to the United States, making his first stop in Detroit, where he was porter at the Russell House for a year. Coming then to the Northern Peninsula, he was for awhile engineer at the Minnesota Mine in Rockland, after which he was employed in the stamp mill at Lake Linden until 1887. Re- moving then to Allouez, Keweenaw county, he resided there until his death, in January, 1904, when he was accidentally killed on the rail- road. He married Theresa Kaiser, who, though bearing the same family name, was not related to him. She died in 1880, leaving six children, Henrietta, John, Charles, Mary, Anna, and Frank X.
During his youthful days Frank X. Kaiser laid a substantial foun- dation for his future education in the public schools of Lake Linden and Allouez, and at the age of seventeen years began working at the Rock House, continuing there a year. Going then to Ypsilanti, he entered Cleary's Business College, and having there completed the
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course of study was for awhile thereafter bookkeeper in a meat market at Allouez. Entering then the employ of Col. Peterman, he was assist- ant bookkeeper until 1900, when he was elected county treasurer, a position to which he was re-elected in 1902. In 1904 Mr. Kaiser was elected county clerk and register of deeds, and has held the office by re-election ever since.
Mr. Kaiser married, June 7, 1905, Ida May Bennett, who was born in Keweenaw county, Michigan. Her father, Thomas Bennett and her grandfather, Noah Bennett, natives of Cornwall, England, were early settlers of Keweenaw county, where they were first engaged in mining, afterwards being similarly employed in Opechee, Houghton county. Thomas Bennett was but ten years old when he came with his parents to the Upper Peninsula. For many years he has been in the government employ, having first been assistant light keeper on Manitou Island, afterwards being light keeper at Eagle River until the light was discontinued in 1909, at the present time being light keeper at Manitou Island. The maiden name of the wife of Mr. Ben- nett was Ida Rohrig. She was born at Eagle Harbor, Keweenaw county, where her parents, Andrew and Margaret (Hoffenbecker) Rohrig, natives of Germany, were pioneer settlers, and where they are still living. They reared six children, Ida May, Rebecca, Thomas W., Noah, William R., and Ethel C. Mr. and Mrs. Kaiser are the parents of two children, John D. and Virginia. In his political affiliations Mr. Kaiser has always been a stanch Republican. Fraternally he be- longs to Calumet Lodge, No. 404, B. P. O. E.
FRANK HEPTING. - A valued and highly respected resident of Phoenix, Frank Hepting is numbered among the successful agriculturists of Keweenaw county, and is widely known as an upright, honest man, and a worthy representative of those citizens who came here from a foreign country, and through their earnest efforts have acquired a competency. He was born, January 28, 1838, in Baden, Germany, where his father, Philip Hepting, a noted horticulturist, spent his entire life.
At the age of fourteen years, having previously attended school very regularly, Frank Hepting began learning the trade of a clock maker, at which he spent an apprenticeship for five years. His health becoming impaired, he gave up his trade at the advice of his physician, and sought out-of-door employment. He subsequently served six years in the Ger- man Army, after which he worked with his father for sometime, riving and laying shingles. In 1866, bidding good-bye to the family, none of whom ever left the Fatherland, Mr. Hepting emigrated to America, coming directly to Keweenaw county, where he had acquaintances, and the following four years was employed at the Cliff Mine, in the mill, afterwards working in the mine two years. He subsequently chopped wood for a time in the lumber regions. After his marriage, Mr. Hepting settled on the forty-acre tract of land, in Phoenix, belonging to his wife, and began his career as an independent farmer. Succeeding well in his undertakings, he made wise investments of his money as it ac- cumulated, buying other tracts, until now he has title to a fine farm of two hundred and twenty acres, a large part of which is cleared, and under an excellent state of cultivation. This farm is now operated by Mr. Hepting's sons, able farmers, all of whom have good homes.
Mr. Hepting married Mrs. Augusta (Friski) Sebolsky, who was born in Prussia, on the farm of her father, John Friski. Mr. Friski was born and reared in Prussia, where he was engaged in agricultural pur- suits during his early life. His wife died there in early womanhood,
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leaving four children, Charles, Augusta, Caroline and Bertha. Subse- quently, in 1847, Mr. Friski emigrated with his children to the United States, and became a pioneer settler of that part of Houghton county now included within the boundaries of Keweenaw county. The greater part of the Upper Peninsula was then an unexplored wilderness, and the mining industry was in its infancy. He worked as a miner for a time, and then located in Wisconsin. While there the Civil war was in progress, and he cheerfully offered his services to his adopted coun- try, enlisting in a Wisconsin regiment, in which he served until the close of the conflict. Receiving then his honorable discharge from the army, he returned to the Upper Peninsula, and spent his last years at Lake Linden, Houghton county, Michigan. Augusta Friski was but a child when she came to Michigan with her father, and was here brought up among pioneer scenes. She married for her first husband Christian Sebolsky, a native of Baden, Germany, and one of the early settlers of Keweenaw county. Mr. Sebolsky died at Eagle River, Michigan, leav- ing his widow with two children, Louisa Sebolsky and Fred Sebolsky. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Hepting, namely : Peter, Joseph and John.
Louisa Sebolsky married Weibert Kuss, and they have eight chil- dren, Emma, Sophia, Minnie, Annie, Francis, Bertha, John, and Clar- ence. Fred Sebolsky married Annie Raeder, and they have three chil- dren, Frankie, Willie, and Ethel. Peter Hepting, the oldest child of Mr. and Mrs. Hepting, married Christina Miller, and they are the par- ents of three children-Ray, Louise and an infant. John Hepting mar- ried Louisa Steg, and they have an adopted son Ernest. Emma Kuss, Mrs. Hepting's oldest granddaughter, married John Miller, and has two children, Patolia and Clyde. Sophia Kuss, wife of Alexander McDon- ald, has two children, Ruth and Crescent.
ELI PARSONS ROYCE, a retired business man of Escanaba, was born in Clinton, Oneida county, New York, November 29, 1820. His father, Phinehas Royce, a native of Massachusetts, and of Quaker descent, married Deborah Parsons, a native of Connecticut, of English de- scent; her grandfather, Jonathan Parsons, was a minister in New England at the time of the witchcraft trials, and his Bible was used to balance on the scales against the witches. This Bible is now in the possession of the widow of Henry M. Royce, at Oconto, Wisconsin. Phinehas Royce and his wife removed to the Western Reserve, where they spent the remainder of their lives, and both are buried in Ober- lin, Ohio. Eli P. is the fifth child and fourth son. Emilie, the second child, married Dr. Dan Bradley and they were missionaries to Siam and it is said she is the first woman to ever shake hands with the King of Siam without going on her knees.
The early days of Eli P. Royce were spent in his native county and he received a good education in the public schools and at an academy. He was fifteen years of age when his parents removed to Ohio, and soon after he was employed as assistant to a corps of surveyors located in the woods three miles west of Oberlin; they surveyed through the surrounding country and Mr. Royce became well acquainted in the woods, being able to go in any direction without the aid of a com- pass. From Oberlin he removed to Sandusky, Ohio, where he was at various kinds of work, at one time being employed on a horse railroad which was built from that city south about twenty miles; he worked some time in engineering and construction work on this road, and a year later removed to Adrian, Michigan. Mr. Royce worked three
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years on the railroad between Adrian and Hillsdale, and taught school two winters. He returned to Sandusky, Ohio, and from there took a steamboat for Chicago, where he was employed in various capacities for two years; during this time he became well acquainted with W. B. Ogden, a very prominent citizen of Chicago, for whom he worked part of the time. Mr. Royce then went to Michigan City, Indiana, where he was employed in surveying the shore and building piers. Returning to Chicago he was married, in June, 1849, by Reverend J. B. Walker, to Sarah J. Barras, a descendant of Colonel Barras, who served under Napoleon. She was born in the state of New York.
From Chicago Mr. Royce removed to Green Bay, Wisconsin, where he was employed in surveying and exploring in all directions, for lumbermen and others. He headed an exploring party which was prospecting for a railroad to be built west to the Wisconsin river, being appointed to this position by Judge Howe. The party was first carried by a team sent by Mr. Tank, a prominent man of that day, and after reaching the Indian settlement at Oneida they sent the team back and took their way with their outfit on foot. At night they lay on the ground covered by a small cloth tent, and as it snowed all night and all the next day the woods were almost impassable. The temperature was thirty degrees below zero, and finding an Indian camp near, they stopped here a short time. They then proceeded to the Wolf river, through to a point thirty miles north of Stevens Point, and on to Stevens Point. Mr. Royce then sent the men home and re- turned to Green Bay.
In 1855 Mr. Royce came first to Escanaba, and in 1861 he again came here while looking for a suitable harbor, at the request of Nel- son Ludington, of Chicago, and David Wells, of Milwaukee, who intended embarking in the iron business in the Northern Peninsula. Mr. Royce reported his location at what is now Escanaba, and returned to his home in Green Bay. He came again to Escanaba in 1862, returned to his home in Green Bay, and later in the year returned to Escanaba, where building operations were begun. His family did not come to Escanaba until 1864, although he had then been located in the town about two years. He has been a resident of the city since 1862, and laid out the town originally, under the supervision of Mr. Ludington and Mr. Wells, who instructed him to use his own judg- ment about the manner in which this work was carried on. He laid out the original town as it now stands, and had it recorded in 1864. Many additions have been made since, but Mr. Royce is the oldest resident of Escanaba, and consequently very well known in the North- ern Peninsula. He has held the offices of postmaster, judge of pro- bate, member of the council, mayor, and city engineer. He has always taken an active part in local affairs, and is one of the representative, public-spirited citizens of the city. To Mr. Royce is given the credit for the present beautiful Ludington street which by his foresight was laid out so wide.
WILLIAM E. SMITH .- Conspicuous among the foremost citizens of Keweenaw county is William E. Smith, who has long been prominent in public matters, and is now serving as county judge of probate, his resi- dence being at Eagle River. Full of enterprise and vim, he is both progressive and optimistic, and has an abiding faith that the future of Keweenaw county will be both bright and prosperous. A son of Michael Smith, he was born, August 13, 1863, at Eagle Harbor, this county, of Irish ancestry, his paternal grandparents having been life- long residents of county Waterford, Ireland.
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Born and reared in Lismore, county Waterford, Ireland, Michael Smith was educated in his native village. Coming to America in search of remunerative employment, when a young man, he lived two years in Malden, Massachusetts, but not entirely pleased with his prospects in New England he followed the march of civilization westward, coming to Keweenaw county, Michigan, and locating at Eagle Harbor. The greater part of the Upper Peninsula was then unexplored, and mining, which had even then begun in different parts of the state, was con- ducted in a most primitive way. After working for awhile with pick and shovel, he opened a small store at Eagle Harbor, and meeting with success from the start, he gradually added to his stock, building up a fine trade, which he continued until 1888, when he was succeeded by his sons and a nephew. He afterwards lived retired from active business cares until his death, in 1893. His wife, whose maiden name was Mary A. Foley, was born in Lismore, Ireland, where her parents spent their entire lives. She died in 1894, leaving seven children, as follows: John F., William E., Minnie F., Annie T., Nellie M., Robert M., and Michael J.
Completing his early education in the public schools of Eagle Har- bor, William E. Smith began in his youthful days to assist his father in the store, being employed as a clerk until 1887. Taking an active part in public matters, he was at that time elected county treasurer of Keweenaw county, and served in that position two years. He then went to Ironwood and was in the newspaper business for a time. He re- turned then to Eagle Harbor, and was again elected to the same office. Since that time, Mr. Smith has served as clerk and registrar of deeds, and is now judge of probate. He is also editor of the Keweenaw Miner, a weekly paper issued in Mohawk, and having a good circulation throughout this part of the Northern Peninsula.
Mr. Smith married, in 1888, Nellie Carey, who was born at Eagle River, Michigan, a daughter of Christopher Carey, a native of Ire- land, who became one of the earlier settlers of Keweenaw county, which he subsequently served as sheriff. Mr. and Mrs. Smith are the parents of six children, namely : M. Clare, Genevieve, Willard E., Carmen, Ruth and Helen.
EDWARD C. ANTHONY .- Another of the sterling citizens of the Upper Peninsula to whom must be ascribed much honor for the effective work done in the social and material upbuilding of this section of the state is Edward C. Anthony, who is one of the leading citizens of Negaunee, where he has been called upon to serve in offices of public trust, includ- ing that of mayor, and he has been a resident of the Upper Peninsula for more than half a century, so that he is well entitled to consideration as one of the pioneers of this favored section of the Wolverine state.
Mr. Anthony was born in Devonshire, England, on the 8th of Janu- ary, 1840, and is a son of Thomas C. Anthony, who was likewise born in Devonshire, where he conducted a dyeing business until 1873, when he came to America and took up his residence in Ishpeming, where he lived retired until his death. The subject of this review was afforded the advantages of the schools of his native land and at the age of four- teen years he entered upon an apprenticeship at the trade of harness- making, at which he served two years, within which he became a skilled workman. In 1856, at the age of sixteen years, the young Englishman set forth to seek his fortunes in America. He soon made his way to the Upper Peninsula and located in Marquette, in 1856. For two years he was employed at farm work and at labor in the lumber woods and thereafter he assisted in the work of making the survey of the first railroad constructed in the Upper Peninsula. In this connection he
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served as chain man, and under the leadership of A. M. Palmer, a suc- cessful civil engineer, he also assisted in exploring for minerals. Later he was employed as railroad brakeman but in 1861 he subordinated all other interests to tender his services in defense of the integrity of his adopted country. In that year he enlisted as a private in Company B, First Michigan Volunteer Cavalry, for a term of three years or during the war. He lived up to the full tension of the great conflict between the north and the south, participating in many of the important en- gagements marking the progress of the war. His services were prin- cipally in Virginia, Maryland and Pennsylvania and in May, 1862, at the second battle of Winchester he was captured by the enemy. He re- ceived his parole in the following September and rejoined his command near Alexandria, Virginia. He continued in active service thereafter until 1864 and took part in all engagements in which his command was involved, except during the period of his incarceration in the Confed- erate prison. He was mustered out and received his honorable dis- charge in the city of Detroit, Michigan, in September, 1864, after three years of valiant and effective service. He has ever retained a deep interest in his old comrades in arms and signifies the same by his mem- bership in the Albert Jackson Post, No. 300, G. A. R., of which he has served as deputy commander.
After the close of his career as a soldier Mr. Anthony returned to Marquette and two months later he established his home in Negaunee, where he established a harness shop which he successfully conducted until 1899, when he disposed of the business, through his connection with which he gained a competence. For a time he was also engaged in the powder business and he also conducted successful operations in the handling of mining properties and timber lands as a member of the firm of Taylor & Anthony. His enterprise in the manufacturing of powder for use in the mines was initiated in 1879 and was individually conducted by him until 1890, when the Anthony Powder Company, Limited, was organized and he became the president of the same, an office of which he is still incumbent. He is also an interested principal in the Escanaba River Land & Iron Company, of which he was presi- dent and general manager for two years. In politics Mr. Anthony is a stanch supporter of the principles and policies of the Democratic party and though the Republican party has long been in the majority in his city and county he has been called upon to serve in public offices and his election to the same has thus the more clearly indicated the high esteem in which he is held in the community. He served four years as treasurer of Negaunee township and two years as city treasurer. He was superintendent of the poor for his township for a period of eighteen years and for ten years was a valued member of the board of education of his home city. For six years he was a member of the pension board and at the present time he is chairman of the board of public works of Negaunee. In 1890 he was elected mayor of Negaunee and in this im- portant municipal office he served, with all of efficiency and acceptabil- ity, for five years. He is affiliated with the Masonic fraternity, in which he has attained to the chivalric degrees, being identified with Lake Su- perior Commandery, No. 30, Knights Templars, at Marquette. He also holds membership in the Ancient Order of United Workmen. In the year 1865 was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Anthony to Miss Dorothy Bey, who was born in Marquette and who is the daughter of the late F. C. Bey, who was one of the sterling pioneers of that state, whither he and his wife removed from the state of New York, the place of their nativity. Mr. and Mrs. Anthony have three children,-Harriet, Fred- erick and May.
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