USA > Michigan > A history of the northern peninsula of Michigan and its people; its mining, lumber and agricultural industries, Volume III > Part 52
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He married January 10, 1903, Etta O'Brine, who was born in Sault Ste. Marie, and has here spent her life. Her father, Jeremiah P., was born August 19, 1847, in county Clare, Ireland. Coming to the United States at the age of eighteen years, he lived several years in Chicago, being employed as an engineer. In 1873 he came to Sault Ste. Marie, and here helped build the locks. He subsequently served two years as deputy sheriff, afterwards being engaged in the livery and saloon business until his death, July 26, 1895. He was a Democrat in politics, and a faithful member of the Roman Catholic church. Mr. O'Brine married Ellen O'Hearn, who was born at St. Catherine, Can- ada, in 1852, and is now residing in Sault Ste. Marie. Three children blessed their union, as follows: Etta, now Mrs. A'Hern; John, and Annie. Of the nine children that have been born to Mr. and Mrs. A'Hern, eight are living, namely : Marie, John I., Jeremiah, Francis, James, Margaret, Agnes, and Lucia.
GEORGE W. MCCORMICK has been a resident of Menominee since 1903 and here he holds precedence as one of those progressive, ener- getic and capable business men to whom has been due the rapid indus- trial and commercial advancement of the city within the past few years. He has thoroughly identified himself with local interests and is general manager of the Menominee River Sugar Company, in which
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he is a stockholder and director. This important concern, which has contributed materially to the industrial stability and prominence of Menominee, has found in him a most able and discriminating admin- istrative officer. He has gained the unqualified confidence and regard of the community in which he has established his home.
George W. McCormick was born on a farm in Lennox county, prov- ince of Ontario, Canada, and the date of his nativity was September 12, 1871. He is a son of James and Margaret (Sexsmith) McCormick, both of whom were natives of Lennox county, Ontario. His father was born in Antrim county, Ireland, on the 4th of June, 1822, and his mother was born in Lennox county, Ontario, in 1832. Their mar- riage was solemnized in the province of Ontario, Canada, where they continued to reside until their death, the mother having been sum- moned to the life eternal in February, 1895, and the father having passed away in October of the following year. They became the parents of four sons and five daughters, all of whom are living, except one of the daughters. James McCormick gained his early educa- tional discipline in his native county in the fair Emerald Isle and was about fifteen years of age when, in 1837, he embarked with his par- ents, Hugh and Nancy (Wilson) McCormick, on a sailing vessel des- tined for the foreign shores of America. They landed in the city of Quebec, Canada, and thence his father removed to Lennox county in the province of Ontario, where he secured a tract of land and turned his attention to agricultural pursuits. Here both Hugh and Nancy (Wilson) McCormick passed the residue of their long and useful lives and here their son James was reared to maturity. He never severed his allegiance to the great basic industry of agriculture and continued to reside on the old homestead farm secured by his father more than three-quarters of a century ago until the time of his death. The property is still held by the family and James McCormick, brother of the subject of this sketch, now resides upon a portion of the same. The parents were devout communicants of the Church of England. George W. McCormick, whose name initiates this article, passed his boyhood and early youth on the old homestead farm mentioned, and after availing himself of the advantages of the public schools he pur- sued his higher academic studies in a collegiate institution at Napanee, Canada. Thereafter he was for two years engaged in teaching in the public schools of his native province and in 1890 he came to Mich- igan and established his home in Kalamazoo, where he entered the employ of a publishing and stationery house, for which he was sales- man until 1894. He then became a representative of the Traveler's Insurance Company of Hartford, Connecticut, of which he was district agent until 1901, with headquarters in Bay City, Michigan. In the year last mentioned he became associated with others in the organiza- tion of a company for the manufacture of beet sugar at Wallace, prov- ince of Ontario, Canada. He was made secretary and assistant man- ager of the company, of whose board of directors he was also a mem- ber, and he continned to be actively identified with the management of its affairs until January, 1903, when he removed to Menominee, Michigan, and assumed the position of general manager of the Men- ominee River Sugar Company, in which he is a stockholder and di- rector. Michigan has gained no little priority as a center of the man- ufacture of beet-sugar, and the plant of the company mentioned is one of the largest and best equipped in the state. Mr. McCormick is also vice-president of the Flint Lumber Company, at Flint, Michigan. A thorough business man who maintains a broad view of commercial
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and industrial conditions, Mr. McCormick is essentially progressive and loyal as a citizen and is ever ready to lend his aid and influence in support of measures tending to advance the general welfare. He has shown particular interest in agricultural and educational affairs since coming to Menominee and he was one of the founders of the Agricultural School of Menominee county, which has the distinction of being the only technical county school of its kind in the state of Michigan. In politics he accords an unswerving allegiance to the Republican party, though he has never had aught of desire for the honors and emoluments of public office. He is a communicant of the Protestant Episcopal church and in the Masonic fraternity he has at- tained to the degree of Knight Templar. He was initiated into the time-honored fraternity at Kalamazoo, Michigan, in 1894, and his present affiliations are here briefly noted: Menominee Lodge, No. 269, Free and Accepted Masons; Menominee Chapter, No. 107, Royal Arch Masons; Menominee Commandery, No. 35, Knights Templars; and Moslem Temple, Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mys- tic Shrine, in the city of Detroit, Michigan.
On the 28th of June, 1899, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Mc- Cormick to Miss Anna Morrison, who was born and reared at Laporte, Indiana. She is a daughter of Henry D. and Mary (Ridgeway) Mor- rison, both of whom were likewise natives of Indiana, being repre- sentatives of pioneer families of that state. Both are now deceased, and of their four children, three are still living. Mr. Morrison was an extensive land-holder and substantial capitalist of Indiana and was much interested in banking enterprises. He was a Republican in pol- itics and both he and his wife held membership in the Presbyterian church. Mr. and Mrs. McCormick have two sons,-Morrison Ridge- way and George Wellesley, Junior.
HENRY CHANDLER KIMBALL, M. D .- Living retired from the active duties of his profession, Dr. Henry Chandler Kimball has the distinc- tion of having been the first member of the medical fraternity to locate in Iron county, and the first man to erect a dwelling house at Crystal Falls. A son of John Kimball, he was born, October 5, 1837, in Levina, Livingston county, N. Y., coming from excellent Scotch lineage. His grandfather, Dennis Kimball, was born in New Hampshire, of Scotch parents, whose surname was formerly, it is said, spelled Campbell, but was changed to its present form several generations ago. Removing to Pennsylvania, he lived there long enough to improve a homestead, and then sold, and for awhile resided in Levina, New York. He spent his last days with his children, in Michigan, where he died at the age of one hundred and one years.
A native of New Hampshire, John Kimball made the most of his opportunities for obtaining an education, and after removing to New York taught a part of each year in the public schools. About 1848 he started with his family for Michigan, travelling across the country with teams to Palmyra, Lenawee county, where he lived a short time. Settling then in Franklin township, he bought land, and devoted a portion of his time to tilling the soil, the remainder of his time teaching school, and was there a resident until his death. His wife, whose maiden name was Eliza Pease, was born in Vermont. She survived him, and spent her closing years of life with her children, of whom she had nine, as follows: Philander, Francis, Sarah, Henry Chandler, Levi, Laverne, Alonzo, Theodore, and Martha.
Having obtained his elementary education in the pioneer schools of
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Lenawee county, Michigan, Henry C. Kimball began the study of medi- cine at the age of twenty-two years with Dr. Chitlock, of Jackson, Michigan, in the meantime attending the Medical Department of the Uni- versity of Michigan, at Ann Arbor. He subsequently engaged in the practice of his profession at Liberty for seven years, after which he en- tered the Detroit Medical College, from which he was graduated. Lo- cating then at Colon, Jackson county, Dr. Kimball remained there until 1881, when he made his advent in the Upper Peninsula. Iron county, in which the Doctor located, was then a part of Marquette county. Pro- curing lumber at Florence, he had it drawn with a team to the present site of Crystal Falls, and here put up the first frame building erected in this vicinity. It was not, however, in the city limits as first platted, but at the saw mill near by. Immediately after the platting of the city, the doctor purchased two lots on Superior street, at the corner of Fourth street, and was the first to begin building operations within the corpora- tion, though he was soon followed by others. Dr. Kimball subsequently opened the first drug store in the city, and established the first banking institution. From the date of his settlement in this locality until 1891 he was physician for all of the mining companies of this part of the state. Removing to Chicago in 1892, Dr. Kimball was there successfully en- gaged in practice until 1898. Returning then to Crystal Falls, the doctor has since made his home with his son Ray, among his pleasant rural sur- roundings enjoying the peace and quiet earned by years of successful practice of a most useful and noble profession.
Dr. Kimball married Fanny F. Bartle, who was born in New York state, a daughter of Nelson Bartle. Three children have been born to Dr. and Mrs. Kimball, namely : Henrietta, John L., and Ray. Henrietta married first Charles Farrin, who died, leaving her one child, Ned K. Farrin. She married second William Moore, and they have one son, Donald Moore. John L., living in Jackson, Michigan, is now an inspec- tor for the Prudential Life Insurance Company. He married.Nellie Hol- lister, a daughter of Solomon D. Hollister, and they have three children, Leo, Margarette and Anita. Ray Kimball, a dealer in real estate and mining properties, has a pleasant home on the south side of Iron River, about one and one-half miles from the Court House. He married Fanny Fern Campbell who was born in Warren county, Iowa, a daughter of Charles and Mary (Carter) Campbell, of whom a brief sketch may be found elsewhere in this work, and they have one child, Bernice. Dr. Kimball was the founder of Crystal Falls Lodge, No. 385, F. & A. M .; and is a member of Iron Mountain Chapter, R. A. M .; of Marquette Com- mandery, K. T .; of Moslem Temple, Mystic Shrine; and of the Grand Rapids Consistory.
JAMES W. OXNAM .- A resident of Ironwood for nearly a quarter of a century, James W. Oxnam has been an important factor in develop- ing the business interests of this section of the Upper Peninsula, and through his upright, straightforward dealings has won the esteem and confidence of his fellow-townsmen. A son of William Oxnam, Jr., he was born, July 27, 1859, at Council Hill, Jo Daviess county, Illinois, of English ancestry. His grandfather, William Oxnam, Sr., a land- holder and a farmer, was a life-long resident of county Cornwall, Eng- land, although two of his family, his sons William and James came to America, the latter settling in Canada. As far back as known his an- cestors were English, the family name, says tradition, having formerly been spelled Oxenheim.
Born and bred in Cornwall, England, William Oxnam bade good
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bye to his old home when he was about twenty years old, embarked on a sailing vessel, and having crossed the Atlantic located in Maryland, where he lived until after his marriage. Migrating then with his bride to the then far Northwest, he passed through Chicago when it was a small hamlet, much of the land now included within its limits being then owned by the government, and for sale at $1.25 an acre. Pushing on- ward to Galena, Illinois, a new but flourishing town, he was for awhile engaged in mining lead in that vicinity. Subsequently, while prospect- ing, he struck a rich vein of ore, and in the course of a few years acquired a competency, and thenceforward lived retired, dying at the home of a daughter, near Lena, Illinois, at the good old age of seventy- eight years. He married Elizabeth Mitchell, who was born in county Cornwall, England, and came with her parents to America, locating near Baltimore, Maryland. She died at the age of seventy years, leaving four children, as follows: Eliza Jane, Ellen Matilda, Thomas, and James W.
Receiving a practical education in the public schools of Council Hill, James W. Oxnam remained a member of the parental household until twenty years of age, when he started out for himself, travelling through the South and West, being employed at various kinds of labor. In 1880, hearing from a friend in Ontonagon, Michigan, of the good times in that vicinity, he started for the Upper Peninsula, going by rail to Baraga, thence traveling on foot, and carrying a heavy grip in his hand, to Onto- nagon, a distance of forty miles. He at once secured work, for quite awhile teaming wood and lumber for Mr. Riddle, whose daughter he afterwards married. Afterwards he was made deputy postmaster and justice of the peace, and was there a resident until 1886. Coming then to Gogebic county, he traveled by boat to the point nearest Ironwood, thence overland to the new town. He soon became active in promoting the material growth of the place, and for many years was a successful contractor for building streets and laying sewers, likewise doing much teaming, and becoming an extensive dealer in wood and lumber. In 1904 Mr. Oxnam began to manufacture temperance beverages, having purchased the business of his brother-in-law, James Riddle, and has continued it until the present day.
Mr. Oxnam married, in 1882, Alice Riddle, who was born in Green- land, Ontonagon county, Michigan, a daughter of -
and Fanny (Cannon) Riddle. Born and bred in Ireland, Mr. Riddle came to America with the family when young, and lived with his par- ents, until his marriage, when he was but twenty years old. Starting on their wedding journey, he and his bride went up the Hudson river to Albany, thence to Buffalo by the Erie Canal, then by the Lakes to Eagle Harbor, Keweenaw county, Michigan, where he worked in a mine, and kept a boarding house until 1851. He then went with his family by boat to the present site of the city of Ontonagon, which was then a wilderness, with only three buildings which had been erected in small clearings. The next morning he started on foot and alone for Rock- land, where there was quite a settlement, and was there, three days later, joined by his wife, who made the trip by boat. Taking up government land, Mr. Riddle began the improvement of a farm, residing there sev- eral years. Moving then to Greenland, Ontonagon county, he remained there until 1898, but has since been a resident of Rockland. He mar- ried, in New York City, Fanny Cannon, who was born in county Derry, Ireland. She died in August, 1894, leaving six children, as follows: James, Edward, Alice, Fanny, Mary, and Robert.
Mr. and Mrs. Oxnam are the parents of two children, Dora and Edward. Dora married Luther Brewer, and has two children, Luther
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and Alice. A prominent and influential member of the Republican party, Mr. Oxnam has filled various official positions with acceptance to all concerned, having been a member of the first City Council, in which he represented the First ward several terms, and having served five years as street commissioner. He helped to organize the Ironwood Fire Department, which he served as assistant chief eleven years, having since been chief of the department. Fraternally he belongs to Iron- wood Lodge, No. 389, F. & A. M .; to Minerva Chapter, R. A. M .; and to Gogebie Commandery, No. 76, K. T.
GEORGE E. HOLBEIN .- One of the progressive and enlightened rep- resentatives of the Fourth Estate of Michigan is George Ellis Holbein, editor and manager of the Pioneer-Tribune of Manistique. In no other field does a man exert as far-reaching and potent an influence and Man- istique is fortunate enough to have her journalistic destinies entrusted to capable and conscientious hands. Mr. Holbein was born at Denison, Summit county, Ohio, August 16, 1864, the son of Elias and Lydia Kulp Holbein. The father, who was a harness-maker, died in 1872, when Mr. Holbein was a lad eight years of age, but the mother still survives.
Mr. Holbein's lineage can be traced to England and to Germany, and both the Kulp and the Holbein families have been founded in this country since about the year 1740. The paternal ancestors first located in Pennsylvania and later came on to Ohio, where they were known as honorable pioneer citizens and where the father of George E., for his . uprightness, won the respect of all those who knew him best, at various times being honored by positions of official trust. The mother is a de- scendant of William Nash, an English emigrant of the early eighteenth century, who also made his way to the Keystone State. Several of the mother's forbears participated in the Revolutionary war, some on the side of the Colonists, and others being of Tory conviction.
George Ellis Holbein received his elementary education in the school of Wadsworth, Ohio, entering its higher department, and later matricu- lating at Heidelberg University at Tiffin, Ohio. However, he was not graduated from either school owing to the fact that the resources of the family were limited and Mr. Holbein was forced to make a livelihood for himself at an early age. The fact that his mother was a widow with a large family made it necessary for him to face the serious issues of life when other boys were still enjoying to the fullest the delights of youth- ful irresponsibility. While born and reared in a little mining village, most of his vacations were spent in the employ of farmers, and the free, wholesome life of the agricultural community, no doubt, did its share to the broad development of his character.
In 1883 Mr. Holbein was seized with the prevalent western fever and made a radical step by going west, locating in Hiawatha, Kansas, where he secured a position in a newspaper office. In 1887 by means of the exercise of the greatest industry and thrift he found himself able to establish himself upon a more independent footing and he secured and conducted a small, weekly newspaper in Colorado Springs, Colo- rado. He eventually returned to the Jayhawker State and during 1891- 1892 managed a newspaper at Holton. His identification with the North- ern Peninsula dates from the year 1893. His career of seventeen years as editor and manager of the Pioneer-Tribune has been one of constant progress and the office of this well-esteemed sheet has been transformed from a struggling, illy-equipped one, to one containing type-setting ma- chines, power presses and everything to be found in first-class offices in
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cities twice the size of Manistique. In an editorial capacity Mr. Holbein is fearless and fair and in consequence the verdict of the Pioneer-Tri- bune is of weight in this part of Michigan. For thirty years he has been identified with the printing and journalistic business and he is well-known in the fraternity. Every change in location made by him has been made because he believed it to be a step upward. One of the dominant characteristics of this essentially self-made man is what he would call "keeping everlastingly at it" and it is by this "open, Se- same," that he has been able to gain a competency in an unpromising field of country journalism. If his earlier years were lean ones finan- cially the successful present is recompense. In addition to the control- ling interest in the Tribune Publishing Company he owns business realty and a handsome residence, which is the centre of a gracious hospitality.
Mr. Holbein subscribes to the articles of faith of the Republican party and at various times has represented the party as secretary of the county committee and as delegate to the state and district conven- tions. He was deputy state oil inspector of the state of Michigan dur- ing 1898-99 and is present member of the board of public works of Manistique.
He finds no small amount of pleasure in his lodge relations. He is prominent in Masonry, which he joined in 1903 and in Odd Fellowship, with which he became identified in 1910. He is also a member of the National Protective Legion, having been secretary of this organization for thirteen years, having joined in 1897. He is a member of the Pres- byterian church, and trustee of the local congregation and can be relied upon to give his support to all good causes.
Mr. Holbein formed a congenial life companionship when on Oc- tober 29, 1890, he was united in marriage to Miss Mary Louisa Ried- inger, a former school teacher. Her grandparents emigrated from Ger- many in 1820 and found content and prosperity in the land of their adoption. Mrs. Holbein's father is a heavy landowner in the vicinity of Randolph, Ohio, and a highly respected citizen. Their one child, a daughter named Grace, was born May 26, 1898.
MICHAEL J. DOYLE .- The bar of the Upper Peninsula has an able and popular representative in the person of Michael J. Doyle, who is engaged in active general practice in the city of Menominee, and who has attained a high reputation as a trial lawyer, besides which he is known as a well fortified counselor. He has been prominent in con- nection with political affairs in Michigan and has been a recognized leader in the councils of the Democratic party in this state. He served one term in the legislature of Michigan and was prosecuting attorney of Menominee county for two terms (from 1906 until 1910).
Michael J. Doyle was born in the city of Memphis, Tennessee, on the 1st of October, 1854, and is a son of William and Bridget (O'Hearn) Doyle, both natives of the Emerald Isle. The father was born in the county of Wicklow and was thirty-two years of age at the time of his death, which occurred at Toronto, Ontario. The mother was born in the county of Tipperary, and she died at Memphis, Tennessee, when twenty- eight years of age. Their marriage was solemnized in the city of Cleve- land, Ohio, and their only child is he whose name initiates this sketch. The father was reared and educated in his native land, where he re- mained until 1847, when he came to America and located in the city of Cleveland, Ohio, whence he later removed to Memphis, Tennessee. After the death of his wife he removed to the northern part of the Dominion of Canada, and at the time of his death he was a successful contractor in the city of Toronto.
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Michael J. Doyle was afforded excellent educational advantages, as he was enabled to prosecute his studies in De LaSalle Institute and Osgoode Hall, two excellent institutions in the city of Toronto, Canada. In the law department of the latter he was graduated as a member of the class of 1879 and duly received his degree of Bachelor of Law. Soon afterward he located in the city of Detroit, Michigan, where he was identified with manufacturing interests until 1887, when he re- moved to Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, where he engaged in the practice of his profession. In 1890 he was appointed city attorney by the Com- mon Council and in the fall of 1891 he was elected a representative of Chippewa county in the state legislature. In August of 1891 he removed from Sault Ste. Marie to Iron Mountain, Michigan, where he served one term as city attorney and where he followed the work of his profession until the autumn of 1894, when he removed to Menominee and was engaged in practice there until 1897. He then removed to Green Bay, Wisconsin, where he was engaged in professional work until 1903, when he returned to Menominee, which city has since been the scene of his successful endeavors as an attorney and counselor at law. In 1906 he was elected prosecuting attorney of Menominee county, and his able service as a public prosecutor resulted in his being chosen as his own successor in 1908. His second term expired in 1910, and since that time he has given his undivided attention to the private practice of his profession, in connection with which he retains a large and repre- sentative clientele. Mr. Doyle has marked talent along literary lines and the appreciative wit and humor characteristic of the race from which he is sprung. He has written two books that have met with a most pleasing popular reception,-"Swan Swanson," published in 1895, and "John Poorfellow," published in 1898. He was reared in the faith of the Catholic church and has never deviated therefrom, being now a communicant of St. Albertus Parish in his home city, He is identified with the local organization of Knights of Columbus and is at present in- cumbent of the office of chancellor in the same.
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