USA > Michigan > A history of the northern peninsula of Michigan and its people; its mining, lumber and agricultural industries, Volume III > Part 54
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On the 14th of January, 1903, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Wells to Miss Hattie Stephenson, youngest daughter of the Honorable Samuel M. Stephenson, of Menominee, concerning whom specific men- tion is made on other pages of this work. Mr. and Mrs. Wells have one son, John W. (2nd). They are popular and prominent factors in the best social life of their home city and their attractive home is the recognized center of generous hospitality.
CAPTAIN CHARLES RIPLEY .- Noteworthy among the men of keen foresight and enterprise who have been active in promoting the welfare of Chippewa county is Captain Charles Ripley, of Sault Ste. Marie, who has lived in this vicinity nearly four decades, and is familiar with every phase of its development and growth. He has been identified with many beneficial enterprises, in 1877 putting into commission the first steam ferry boat used in crossing the Saint Marie river from Sault Ste. Marie, and is now, in the summer of 1910, captain of the steamer "White City," plying between Houghton and the White City at Por- tage Entrance. A son of Volney Ripley, he was born, December 1, 1845, in Schodack, Rensselaer county, New York.
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His grandfather, Abram Ripley, who was of English ancestry, was a pioneer farmer of Schodack, where he cleared and improved a home- stead, and in addition to tilling the soil owned and operated a brick yard, and later dealt in lumber. His wife came from Quaker stock, and as a woman of domestic tastes and virtues was a veritable helpmeet to him in his pioneer labors.
Volney Ripley was born and reared in New York state, his birth occurring in 1808. A student from his youth np, he studied law, and was admitted to the New York bar. In the '30s, thinking to improve his chances for making a fortune, he came to Michigan, before it was admitted to statehood, and for several years was engaged in lumbering at St. Clair, St. Clair county. He subsequently spent a year in New York state, during which time his son Charles was born. He after- wards returned with his family to St. Clair, from there moving, in September, 1854, to Pontiac, Michigan, then the terminal of the De- troit & Pontiac Railroad. He had at that time a saw mill at Allegan, in St. Clair county, and one at Lower Saginaw, now called Bay City, and a third one at Bangor, Van Buren county. He was one of the leading lumbermen of the state at that period, being a member of the firm of Ripley & Co., of Saginaw, and of Ripley & Butterfield, at Al- legan, and having full charge of all the business as general manager. He died at Mackinac Island, Michigan, in 1866, at the age of fifty- eight years, being the youngest member of his father's family to pass to the world beyond. He was a Whig in politics when young, but after the formation of the Republican party was one of its stanchest adher- ents. He served as registrar of deeds for St. Clair county. He was a very busy man, employing many people in his work, among others having been ex-Governor Jerome. Volney Ripley married Marie Klein, who was born in Rensselaer county, New York, in the town of Scho- dack, in 1826, of German ancestry, and died, March 2, 1906, in Sault Ste. Marie. Her father, Isaac Klein, was born on the old Klein home- stead, in Schodack, in the very house in which Charles Ripley was born, in 1796, and lived for almost a century, his death occurring in 1894. Of the eight children born to Mr. and Mrs. Volney Ripley, seven are now living, namely: Lucien, Marquis T., Charles, Mary L., Norman, Joseph, and Ida M. Lillie, the youngest child, died at the age of forty- one years. Joseph Ripley, the sixth child, and a younger brother of Captain Ripley, was for seven years general superintendent of the United States Locks at Sault Ste. Marie. He was one of the commis- sioners of the Panama Canal, and designed the locks. He is now resid- ing in Albany, New York, and is engineer in the canal construction department of New York state, a position to which he was appointed by Governor Hughes.
Living beneath the parental roof-tree until twenty years of age, Charles Ripley completed his early education in the schools of Pon- tiac, Michigan. When sixteen years old, he began working for a neighboring farmer, remaining with him fifteen mouths, and receiv- ing eight dollars a month wages. He afterward assisted his father in lumbering, working in the woods and on the drives. After the death of his father, he was timber looker a number of years. In 1872 Mr. Ripley entered the employ of the United States Government, for a year being customs inspector at Sault Ste. Marie, subsequently becoming clerk in the store of L. P. Trempe. Mr. Ripley then served three terms as township clerk and village assessor, and was a member of the village commission, deputy registrar of deeds, and deputy postmaster. From 1883 until 1888 he was engaged in mercantile pursuits in Sault Ste. Marie as head of the firm of Ripley & Pickford.
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In 1877 Captain Ripley put into service the first steam ferry in this part of the county, and has since been engaged in this particular business until 1903. In 1889 he built the steamboat "International," which was used as a ferry boat for a long time. The Captain has, it is said, crossed the St. Marie more times than any other one man. Until 1887 he was the only person thus engaged, but in that year an opposition boat was started. The two were merged into one service in 1896, Captain Ripley taking one-fourth interest in the stock, and be- coming general manager of the business, which was known as the Sault Sainte Marie Ferry Company. The Captain sold out his interest in 1901, but remained with the company two years longer. He then, in 1903, bought the steamer "Thomas Friant," and the following two seasons run between Marquette and Pine River for the Huron Moun- tain Club. He is now, as above stated, captain of the steamer "White City."
Captain Ripley married, October 26, 1870, Lucy Ashmun, who was born in Sault Ste. Marie, a daughter of Edward and Amanda (Chap- man) Ashmun. Her Grandfather Ashmun, a native of New Jersey, came to the Upper Peninsula when a young man as a pioneer. He was a very prominent man in Sault Ste. Marie, and the first judge of Chippewa county. Under the treaty of 1854, he took up Land Claim No 1, in Chippewa county, and located in Sault Ste. Marie long ere its incorporation as a city was dreamed of, and Ashmun street was named in his honor. He was in the employ of the American Fur Company, and must have been here before 1827, as the Captain has in his possession a letter written to Judge Ashmun, sent to this place, in that year. A brother of Judge Ashmun was governor of Siberia. Edward Ashmun was born at Rice River, Minnesota, in 1823, and after settling in Sault Ste. Marie became active in public affairs, serving as Indian interpreter until 1872, also being keeper of the light at White Fish Point, and postmaster in this city. At the time of his death, in 1877, he was serving as justice of the peace, an office that he had held many years. His wife, Amanda Chapman, was born in 1827, and died in 1881. They were the parents of nine children, of whom four are now living, as follows: Lucy, now wife of Captain Ripley; Ella, wife of Clyde W. Hecox; Mary; and Jennie, wife of Peter Kelley.
Eleven children blessed the marriage of Captain and Mrs. Ripley, namely : Edward R .; Volney A .; Ella M .; Charles A .; Harvey G .; Nellie A .; Guy C .; Chester W .; Bert J .; Harry died in infancy; and L. Clyde. The Captain has now eight voters in his family, and at the next presidential election will have nine. Fraternally the Captain belongs to the Knights of the Maccabees, and politically he is a Demo- crat.
WILLIAM H. FAUCETT .-- Ranking high among the far-sighted and discerning men who are actively advancing the material interest of Houghton county is William H. Faucett senior member of the firm of Faucett Bros. & Guck, of Calumet, and a prominent resident of Lau- rium. A native of Michigan, he was born April 8, 1860, at the Meadow Mine, Keweenaw county, Michigan.
His parents, James and Frances Fisher Faucett were born, reared and married in Ireland, county Fermanagh. Leaving their native land in 1840 they came across the ocean, the point of destination being Michigan, whose rich mines had attracted much attention. James Faucett located at the Cliff Mine, Keweenaw county. He lived here several years, also at the Meadow and Humbolt Mines, moving in the
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'60s to Eagle River. Here his wife died at a comparatively early age in 1870, and he passed away in 1905 in the eightieth year of his age. Five children were born of their union, namely: Robert C., who died in 1906; Jennie, who died in 1901; William H .; Annie, wife of W. G. Rielly of Butte, Montana; and Carrie, wife of James D. Kinnee, of Houghton, Michigan.
Leaving at an early age, the public school of Eagle River where he obtained his early education, William H. Faucett entered the Fuse Factory which was conducted by Uren and Blight. From this place he was employed at the Eagle River Hotel which was owned and man- aged by Col. W. B. Wright with whom he remained three years. Mr. Faucett was next employed by Mr. Judd P. North of the Calumet Hotel. After one year as surfman in the United States Life Saving Station at the Portage Lake Ship Canal he returned to the employ of Mr. North. The years 1886 and parts of '87 and '88 saw Mr. Faucett located at the Calumet and Hecla Smelting works at South Lake Linden now known as Hubbell. In the spring of 1888, under Cleve- land's administration, the Ontonagon and Brule River Land Grant was opened up for settlement to homesteaders. Hither Mr. Faucett went, later returning to Calumet, finding employment at the Calumet and Hecla mine. Leaving the mine in 1889 Mr. Faucett spent six months at Valparaiso University subsequently being employed respect- ively at Lake Linden in Ferdinand Bolz & J. Slonaker's retail meat market and at Iron Mountain in Cruse & Co.'s market in which firm his brother Robert C. Faucett was a partner. Mr. Fancett later worked for the wholesale meat firm of Nast & Karger of Houghton, remaining until October, 1892, when he located at Calumet and began his labors in the interest of the Northern Michigan Building and Loan Association of Hancock being employed by Dunstan & Hanchette. At the end of six months he severed his connection with this firm open- ing the first real estate office in Houghton county. He continued the building and loan and at the same time solicited insurance for the Frank A. Douglas Agency of Houghton and later added general insurance to his own business. The insurance, real estate and building and loan business Mr. Faucett has pursued continuously since, Robert C. Fau- cett, who died a few years ago joining him in the business in 1899 and Frederick K. Guck being admitted to partnership in 1902. The firm under the name of Faucett Bros. & Guck has since carried on an extensive real estate and insurance business. This enterprising com- pany has been identified with various real estate transactions, among them having been the sub-dividing and platting of the Village of Ahmeek, Keweenaw county, and at present they are busily engaged in the surveying and platting of forty acres of land formerly owned by Mrs. John Phillips, the tract being now known as the Village of Phil- lips located near Allonez, Houghton county. Mr. Faucett is also a di- rector of the Northern Michigan Building and Loan Association of Hancock.
In 1899 Mr. Faucett was united in marriage with Miss Jessie Ful- ler. daughter of Rev. O. E. Fuller, an Episcopal clergyman, of Mid- land, Michigan, and into their household four children have been born, namely: Rachel, William H., Jr., who died at the age of two and one-half years; Virginia, and Emily Cornelia.
Fraternally Mr. Faucett is a member of Keweenaw Lodge, No. 242, F. & A. M .: of Calumet Chapter, No. 153, R. A. M .; of Montrose Com- mandery, No. 38. K. T .; of Ahmed Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., of Mar- quette: and of Detroit Consistory, being a thirty-second degree Ma- son. He is likewise a member of Hecla Lodge, No. 90, I. O. O. F.
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CHASE S. OSBORN .- The glory of our great American republic is in the perpetuation of individuality and in according the utmost scope for individual accomplishment. Fostered by the most auspicious sur- roundings that can encompass one who has the will to dare and to do, the nation has, almost spontaneously, produced men of the finest mental caliber, of true virile strength and of vigorous purpose. The cradle has not ever been one of pampered luxury, but the modest couch of infancy has often rocked future greatness. American biography thus becomes one of more perfect individuality, in the general as well as the specific sense, than does that of any other nation on the globe. The self-made man is a product of America, and the record of accomplishment in this individual sense is the record that the true and loyal American holds in deepest regard and highest honor. These statements are distinctively apropos of the career of Chase S. Osborn, journalist, litterateur, public official and loyal citizen. In connection with the civic and material prog- ress of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan his name is associated in no ephemeral way, and he has marked by definite accomplishment a place of his own in economic, industrial and social affairs in this favored sec- tion of a great commonwealth. He has gained prestige as one of the leading newspaper men of the northern peninsula, has served in vari- ous offices of public trust and has been an influential factor in the do- main of politics, as a stanch and zealous advocate of the cause of the Re- publican party. In November, 1910, he was elected to the distinguished office of governor of the state. He has done much to further the de- velopment and upbuilding of his beautiful home city, Sault Ste. Marie, where he took up his residence nearly a quarter of a century ago, and he is recognized as one of the essentially representative citizens of the Upper Peninsula.
Chase Salmon Osborn was born in Huntington county, Indiana, on the 22d of January, 1860, and he finds a due measure of satisfaction in reverting to that fine old commonwealth as the place of his nativity. He is a son of Dr. George A. and Margaret A. (Fannon) Osborn, the former of whom was born at Madison, Jefferson county, Indiana, on the 28th of February, 1823, and the latter at Circleville, Pickaway county, Ohio, on the 30th of April, 1829, a daughter of John Fannon, who was a native of Virginia and whose father was born in the north of Ireland.
The lineage of the Osborn family is traced back to Danish and ancient English origin, and in Denmark the original orthography of the name was Eisbjerne,-a term signifying polar bear or god bear. About the year 300, A. D., a Danish jarl or earl named Osbearne invaded Eng- land as the leader of an army of Norsemen, where the family was thus founded. Concerning the name the following interesting data have been given: "The name as borne by the original representatives in America was Osborne, but a division in the family arose in connection with the war of the Revolution, and the patriot branch dropped the final 'e,' to distinguish it from the Tory branch, which retained the orig- inal spelling. In this connection it should also be recorded that John Osborn, great-great-grandfather of him whose name initiates this review, was both a physician and clergyman and that he served as chaplain in the immediate command of General Washington in the great conflict that brought independence to our nation and hurled oppression back. One or more other representatives of the name were likewise found en- rolled as gallant soldiers in the Continental line during the Revolution. The paternal grandmother of Mr. Osborn moulded bullets for use of the United States forces in the defense of Washington during the war of 1812, at the time when the British troops were making their way up
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the Potomac river, and her husband was a lieutenant in the army that thus opposed the English forces for a second time. Isaac Osborn, grand- father of the subject of this review, was numbered among the sterling pioneers of Indiana. He was born in New Jersey, whence he removed to the state of New York in 1806, and he later removed to Indiana. He became a successful trader on the Ohio and Mississippi rivers, between Cincinnati and New Orleans, and on one of his trips he was robbed and murdered. The maiden name of his wife was Pardee and she was a descendant of George Pardee, who came to America on the historic Mayflower.
Dr. George A. Osborn passed the greater part of his youth in Ohio but his educational training was completed by a course in the University of Indiana. In his native state also he prepared himself for his chosen profession, and he long held precedence as one of the able physicians and surgeons of the Hoosier state. He was a stanch abolitionist during the climacteric period leading up to the Civil war and did much to fur- ther the work of the historic "underground railroad," by means of which many slaves were assisted to freedom. He joined the Republican party at the time of its organization and ever afterward continued a stalwart advocate of its principles, though he never sought or desired public office. He was a man of fine intellectual and professional attainments and his character was the positive expression of a strong and noble nature. He passed the closing years of his life in the city of South Bend, Indiana, where he was long engaged in the practice of his pro- fession and where his death occurred in the year 1902. His wife is now living in South Bend. Concerning their children the following brief data are entered : Eugene B. is a resident of Milwaukee, Wisconsin ; Ste- phen P. is a successful farmer and stock-grower of St. Joseph county, Indiana; Emma is the wife of David N. Reed, of Lafayette, Indiana ; Georgiana is the wife of Frederick W. Brown, deceased; Chase S. is the immediate subject of this review; Horace E. is a resident of Jackson, Michigan ; Charles R. is engaged in business at Jackson, Michigan ; and William D. is identified with business interests at South Bend, Indiana.
Chase S. Osborn is indebted to the public schools of his native state for his early educational discipline, and at the age of ten years he be- came a student in the schools of the city of Lafayette, Indiana. There- after he entered Purdue University, in that city, in which excellent in- stitution he continued his higher academic studies for a period of three years. When twelve years of age Mr. Osborn gained his initial experi- ence in connection with the "art preservative of all arts," as he then began working about a printing office, in Lafayette. By working during his vacations and at other times he gained a knowledge of the profession and found use for his youthful brawn in connection with the manipu- lation of the old-time Washington hand press. His dignified stipend was nothing at first and it was only after some service that he earned two dollars a week. He early began to depend largely upon his own resources, and as a boy he sold newspapers, in which connection it may be noted that by energy and persistence he finally gained control of the sale of the Chicago papers in his home city of Lafayette. His first reportorial work was done on the Lafayette Home Journal and finally after a varied experience on the farm and in the woods, when nineteen years of age, he went to Chicago, where he secured a position on the reportorial staff of one of the leading daily papers. In 1880 he went to the city of Milwaukee, where he became a member of the editorial staff of the Milwaukee Signal. Later he was simlarly engaged in turn with the Milwaukee Chronicle, Evening Wisconsin, Milwaukee News, Mil-
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waukee Sentinel and had charge of the Chicago Tribune bureau in Mil- waukee. In 1883 he went to Florence, that state, where he became asso- ciated with James I. Toner in the purchase of the Florence Mining News, of which he became editor. This was a weekly paper devoted more especially to the exploiting of the mining interests in that section of Wisconsin, and its political policy was Republican. After the first year Mr. Osborn purchased his partner's interest in the business and he thereafter continued as editor and publisher of the News for three years, at the expiration of which he sold the plant and business. He then returned to Milwaukee, where, in April, 1887, he became asso- ciated in the founding of the Miner & Manufacturer, of which he be- came editor and manager. A few weeks later, however, he disposed of his interest in this business and accepted the position of city editor of the Milwaukee Sentinel. This incumbency he retained only a short time, as his ambition was to establish himself in an independent newspaper business in a favorable location. He finally visited Sault Ste. Marie, and he was so favorably impressed with the city and its future possi- bilities that he here effected the purchase of the plant and business of the Sault Ste. Marie News, with M. A. Hoyt, present publisher of the Milwaukee News, of which he thus became editor and publisher in No- vember, 1887. In 1888 Alex W. Dingwall of New York joined Osborn and Hoyt in partnership. In 1889 the firm of Osborn, Hoyt & Ding- wall dissolved and the business was continued by Mr. Osborn. By his aggressive policy and able administration he made the News one of the leading weekly papers of the state and an able exponent of local inter- ests as well as of the cause of the Republican party. The News is the oldest and leading Republican paper on the Upper Peninsula, and Mr. Osborn became sole owner of the paper in 1889, thus continuing until 1900, when he disposed of the same. He has long been known as one of the forceful editorial writers of Michigan and his paper was made to do effective service in promoting the intersts of the Republican party and in furthering the industrial and civic advancement of Sault Ste. Marie and the entire "upper country." Of Mr. Osborn the following pertinent statements have been made: "He has been a contributor to many magazines and other periodicals and his articles have been mainly of a descriptive order. He is a vigorous and fluent writer and is also a ready and entertaining public speaker." Mr. Osborn is the author of "The Andean Land," an interesting and valuable book of travel on South America. The book is considered authoritative on South Ameri- can matters.
Mr. Osborn has never lacked in energy and initiative, and his success has thus been the direct result of his own ability and well directed endeavors. He has been a close and appreciative student of economics and practical politics, and has especially well informed himself in re- gard to political matters in his adopted state, where he has long been an influential factor in the councils of the Republican party. In 1889 he was appointed postmaster of Sault Ste. Marie, and he held this posi- tion for four years, under the administration of President Harrison. In 1892 he purchased the Sault Ste. Marie Tribune which he consoli- dated with the News, for the purpose of furthering thereby the interests of the Republican party. In 1894 he was elected president of the Michigan Press Association and also president of the Michigan Republi- can Press Association. In January, 1895, after a spirited contest he was appointed state game and fish warden, of which office he remained incumbent until January 1, 1899, and of whose affairs he gave a most able and careful administration. He retired from this position to as-
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sume forthwith that of state railroad commissioner, in which he served during the administrations of Governors Pingree and Bliss. As rail- road commissioner he formulated and carried into effect measures that have been of inestimable value in fostering and protecting the interests of Michigan, and its railroad commission is conceded to be one of the most efficient in the entire Union. It was through his personal and of- ficial efforts that many of the abuses of privileges on the part of the railroad corporations operating in Michigan were abolished, and he showed neither fear nor favor in his labors in this important office, from which he retired in 1903. Broad-minded, progressive and public-spir- ited, Mr. Osborn has ever been the aggressive champion of the people, and he has been specially earnest in protecting the rights of laboring men. He is not given to rash inferences or to impotent generalizing, but he is quick to discern the point at issue and is then indefatigable in his efforts to bring about the verities of right and justice. He has given yeoman service in behalf of the cause of the Republican party and has long been one of its leaders in the Upper Peninsula. He is a stanch advocate of the policies of President Taft and of the former president, Theodore Roosevelt. He has done much to promote the social and material upbuilding of the Sault Ste. Marie, which may well be termed the Gem City of the Great Lakes. He is a student and a man of dis- tinctive culture. He has had the advantages of European and world travel and has never failed in appreciation of all that represents the higher ideals of human existence. As a campaign orator he has made a high reputation, and none is more worthy of the office of governor of the state, a position to which he has been elected at the time of this writing.
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