USA > Michigan > A history of the northern peninsula of Michigan and its people; its mining, lumber and agricultural industries, Volume III > Part 63
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Giving excellent educational advantages when young, John Quarn- strom was graduated from the Norway High School, and very soon after- wards was appointed deputy county clerk. Subsequently entering the employ of the Oliver Mining Company, Mr. Quarnstrom was clerk and book-keeper for the firm until 1907, when he was elected to his present position as county clerk.
On September 18, 1901, Mr. Quarnstrom was united in marriage with Margaret O'Connell, who was born in Quinnesec, Michigan, a daughter of Patrick and Mary O'Connell. Three children have blessed
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the union of Mr. and Mrs. Quarnstrom, namely: Aileen, Bernice and Jack. Fraternally Mr. Quarnstrom is a valued member of several bene- ficial organizations, including the following named: Iron Mountain Lodge, No. 700, B. P. O. E .; Oak Leaf Camp, No. 2885, M. W. A .; and the Order of Vasa.
PATRICK H. O'BRIEN .- For forensic eloquence, magnetic person- ality, and remarkable acumen in the unraveling of the problems of his profession, Patrick H. O'Brien has won for himself an enviable dis- tinction as a member of the Houghton county bar. He makes his resi- dence in Laurium, but is well known throughout the length and breadth of the county. Mr. O'Brien was born March 15, 1868, near the Phoenix Mine in Keweenaw county, Michigan, and as his name indicates he is of Irish extraction, his parents, Patrick J. and Mary Harrington (Green) O'Brien both having had their birthplace in the Emerald Isle. The father was born in Glengariff, County Cork, and desiring to test the fuller resources of the new world, emigrated to the United States in 1856. He located for a number of years in Boston, Massachusetts, and in 1863 came on to the Lake Superior district, and eventually se- cured employment in the Cliff Mine in Keweenaw county, Michigan. From 1887 he worked in the Calumet & Hecla mine and while there engaged met his death in August, 1890. He gained the respect of the community in which he made his home, for he was a man of force and had the courage of his convictions. He was a leader in Democratic politics and served as justice of the peace in two townships. His wife was born on Bear Island, Bantry Bay, County Cork, Ireland, and at the age of sixty-six years, still resides at Laurium, finding one of her strongest interests in the Catholic church whose many good projects she furthers to the best of her ability. Mr. O'Brien is one of nine children, the following five surviving: Michael E., a prominent life in- surance agent and president of the First National Bank of Laurium; Timothy; James; Patrick H .; Annie, a well-known kindergarten teacher at Calumet.
Patrick H. O'Brien received his common school training at Allouez, Keweenaw county, and in the Osceola school in Houghton cunty and was graduated from the Calumet high school in 1887, carrying off the honors of his class. The next two years Mr. O'Brien tried his hand as a pedagague at Copper Harbor and Copper Falls and in 1889 entered the law department of the Northern Indiana College in Valparaiso, Indiana. Such were his natural gifts and so well did he apply himself that he was able to finish the prescribed course in two years and was admitted to the bar, April 1, 1891. The scene of his first legal activity was at West Superior, Wisconsin, and here he remained for eight years, firmly establishing himself in a city where the proportion of lawyers was unusually large and building up a lucrative practice, his specialty being personal injury cases. In the summer of 1899 he removed to Laurium, Houghton county, where he had little difficulty in more than equalling the reputation he had borne in West Superior, both as a barrister and a public-spirited citizen. His gifts as a criminal lawyer are generally acknowledged, for he has won many desperate cases. In argument Mr. O'Brien is wonderfully gifted, possessing among his many qualifications, that ready wit which is one of the rarest heritages of his nationality. He has a multitude of friends and admirers and is much sought as a public speaker. He is an enthusiastic adherent of the policies and principles of the Democratic party and in 1908 was nom- inated for Congress on the Democratic ticket. He is indeed well en-
Vol. III-28
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dowed to play a leading role in politics. He is a member of the Sacred Heart church and his fraternal relations extend to the Elks, the Knights of Columbus and other organizations.
Mr. O'Brien was married in 1897 to Miss Bessie Kelley, a daughter of Daniel and Mary Kelley, and born in Ottawa, Canada. This union has been blessed by the birth of three sons, Gerald, aged twelve years, and William D'Arcy, aged nine; Daniel, aged four; and one daughter, Mary, aged six years.
WILLIAM F. WAITE .- The personal sketches appearing in this pub- lication will sufficiently emphasize the fact that the Northern Peninsula of Michigan has its full quota of able and successful legists and jurists, and the personnel of its bar at the present time is such as to well up- hold the high prestige ever maintained by the legal fraternity of Mich- igan. Numbered among the essentially representative members of the bar of Menominee county is Judge William Fuller Waite, who has been engaged in the practice of his profession in the city of Menominee for more than a decade and a half.
William Fuller Waite was born in Tyrone, Livingstone county, Michigan, on the 4th of August, 1860. His father, Elihu Waite, was a native of Penfield, New York, where the grandfather of the subject of this sketch came and settled from Whately, Franklin county, Massa- chusetts. The family is of English descent, but settled in Massachu- setts in the first half of the seventeenth century. The name Fuller given him for a middle name was the family name of his paternal grand- mother. His education was obtained in the district school, Fenton High School and the University of Michigan. Judge Waite was admitted to the bar by Judge Newton, at Howell, Michigan, on January 18, 1888, and located at Escanaba, Michigan, where he practiced law until April 13, 1893, when he removed to Menominee, where he has since resided.
He was married January 15, 1891, to Miss Helen Osgood, of Ann Arbor, Michigan, and has two sons, Leslie Osgood and Gordon Tarbell. He has held the office of prosecuting attorney of Menominee county and is now judge of the Municipal Court of the city of Menominee.
WILLIAM HENRY MITCHELL .- Noteworthy among the energetic, en- terprising and progressive business men of Dickinson county is William H. Mitchell, of Iron Mountain, an extensive and successful hardware dealer. A son of William Mitchell, Jr., he was born, in November, 1867, in Bradford, Yorkshire, England. His grandfather, William Mitchell, Sr., who was born in Yorkshire, England, and there spent his last days, was for many years a soldier in the British army, serving principally in Australia. He reared the following children: Timothy, William, Jr., Anna, Elizabeth, and Ellen.
Born in Bradford, England, William Mitchell, Jr., learned the tin- smith's trade when young and was subsequently engaged in the manu- facture of tin, galvanized and japanned ware in Bradford, where he was a life-long resident. His wife, whose maiden name was Isabella Thomp- son, was born at Burton Leonard, county of York, West Riding, England, and is now residing at Bradford, Yorkshire. To her and her husband seven children were born, as follows: William H., the subject of this sketch ; George; Anna; Fred ; Florence ; Gladys; and John Thomas.
Having acquired a good business education in the government schools of Bradford, William H. Mitchell began work in his father's factory, and while thus employed became familiar with the manufacture of the various wares. On leaving the factory he emigrated to this country on
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June 28, 1889, making his entrance into Iron Mountain. Immediately entering the employ of Hancock & Sundstrum, he remained with that firm three years, afterwards being with George Corning until 1895. Em- barking then in business on his own account, Mr. Mitchell has since built up a large and profitable hardware trade in Iron Mountain, his fair and honest dealings winning him an excellent patronage.
Mr. Mitchell married, in 1887, Georgianna Strong, who was born in Bradford, England, a daughter of William and Rachel Strong. Nine children have blessed their union, namely: Gertrude; Harry; Gladys; Will; Thomas; Horace and Doris, twins; Georgie; and Albert. True to the religious faith in which they were reared Mr. and Mrs. Mitchell are members of the Episcopal church.
JOHN T. JONES .- The rapid growth and increasing prosperity of the Upper Peninsula is largely due to its hidden wealth of mineral treas- ures, some of the richest mines in the country, without doubt, lying in this little strip of land. Conspicuous among the intelligent and enter- prising men who have been identified with the development of its rich resources is John T. Jones, of Iron Mountain, one of the most able and best known mining men of the United States. He has been associated with the mining industry for many years, making a thorough study of its possibilities, and has invented a method for smelting ores by an electric and chemical process which promises to revolutionize that par- ticular branch of the industry. A son of Thomas J. Jones, he was born, September 14, 1847, at Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, coming from thrifty Welsh ancestry.
His paternal grandfather, John Jones, was born in Carmarthen county, Wales, where he followed the trade of a hatter during his early life. About 1831, accompanied by his family, he came to America, locating at Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, which was then a small place. Securing a position in the glass factories of that city, he continued his residence there until his death, at the venerable age of ninety-two years. His wife, whose maiden name was Margaret Pergram, was born in Wales and died in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, at the age of sixty-five years. She bore him six children.
Born in Carmarthen, Wales, Thomas J. Jones was a lad of twelve years when he came with his parents to the United States. He began very young to learn how to run an engine, and became a mechanical engineer. He was afterwards master mechanic in Pittsburg, Pennsyl- vania, from there moving to Sharon, Mercer county, where he continued his mechanical labors, living there until his death, at the age of seventy- seven years. He married Margaret Williams, a native of Wales, and she preceded him to the better world, passing away at the age of sixty- five years. Nine children blessed their union, as follows: Margaret, Mary, John, Thomas, Arabelle, Emma, Alice, Philip and Carrie.
Brought up in Pittsburg and obtaining his education in the public schools, John T. Jones began, at the age of twelve years, to work with his father, under whose instructions he became a skilled mechanic. Going to Sharon, Pennsylvania, he set up the machinery for the Keel Ridge Furnace and was employed there and at the Middlesex and other furnaces until 1881. Coming in that year to the Upper Peninsula, Mr. Jones assumed the management of the mining properties of P. L. Kim- berly, whose operations were then being prosecuted at Keel Ridge, Iron Mountain and Iron River, and later on the Mesaba Range. He has since continued thus employed, having the general superintendence of all of the Kimberly mines throughout the Upper Peninsula. He is an expert
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in mining, and in 1909 built the Ardis Furnace at Iron Mountain, one of the best equipped furnaces in the state. Since 1883 Mr. Jones has resided at Iron Mountain, where, on section thirty, he has a beautiful estate of one hundred and forty acres, in the northeast part of the city, the tract bordering on Lake Antoine. A large part of his land is highly improved, and upwards of one thousand fruit trees have been set out, while all kinds of forest trees known in this region are in close prox- imity to the house. The residence is furnished with all modern im- provements and conveniences, and has a large greenhouse attached, and, with its beautiful surroundings, is one of the most picturesque and desirable homes to be found in this part of the Union.
Mr. Jones married, October 19, 1870, Rachel Milligan, a native of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. Her father, John Milligan, Jr., was born, in 1808, near Alliance, Ohio, and her grandfather, John Milligan, Sr., was born in Londonderry, Ireland, and came to America with two of his sisters. He located first at Brownstown, Pennsylvania, from there go- ing to Ohio as a pioneer settler. Seven children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Jones. namely : Albert Graham, Elmer William, Caroline, Rachel A., Ruth, Arthur and Leah Ardie. Albert G., of Iron Moun- tain, married Cora Symonds, and they have two children, John and Elizabeth. Elmer, living at Iron Mountain, married Gertrude Crowell, by whom he has two children, Dorothy and Robert E. Caroline, wife of Edward McDonald, of Covington, Kentucky, has one child, Marion. Mr. Jones is a member of the American Institute of Mechanical En- gineers and of the Upper Peninsula Society of Mining Engineers, and fraternally is a Mason, belonging to Iron Mountain Lodge, No. 388, F. & A. M.
ALBERT E. ROBBINS .- Energetic and progressive, keen and alert in business matters, Albert E. Robbins, of Iron Mountain, has met with undoubted success as a merchant and as an agriculturist, and is now rendering excellent service to his constituents as sheriff of Dickinson county. A son of Nahum B. Robbins, he was born, December 14, 1860, at East Constable, Franklin county. New York, coming from New Eng- land ancestry, his grandfather, Captain Eleazer Robbins, and his great- grandfather, Samuel Robbins, having been natives of New Hampshire.
He is a lineal descendant of George Robbins, who was born in Eng- land and emigrated to the United States in colonial times, bringing with him a small hand trunk, which is now in the possession of Mr. Robbins. This trunk is lined with a newspaper which was printed at the "Black Swan," Pater Noster Row, London, in 1756. He has also many other valuable relics of colonial days.
Moving to New York state when a young man, Eleazer Robbins was soon after made a captain in the One Hundred and Twenty-third New York Militia, his commission, signed by Governor Joseph C. Yates, bear- ing the date of October 23, 1824. He subsequently settled at Cherry Valley, Otsego county, where he spent his remaining years. He married Rosamond Burbank.
Born and reared at Cherry Valley. New York, Nahum B. Robbins learned the trade of a harness maker, but after his removal to Franklin county devoted his time and energies to general farming. Patriotic and public-spiried. he enlisted during the Civil War in the One Hundred and Forty-second New York Volunteer Infantry, and was with its regiments in its various marches and engagements until taken ill. when he entered the hospital at Beaufort, South Carolina, where his death occurred in
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December, 1863, at the carly age of twenty-nine years. The maiden name of the wife of Nahum B. Robbins was Delia M. Child. She was born at East Constable, Franklin county, New York, of New England ances- try, her father, Jacob Child, Jr., and her grandfather, Jacob Child, Sr., having both been born in Pomfret, Vermont, the birth of the former occurring February 13, 1804, and that of the latter February 11, 1775. The Child family furnished twenty-two soldiers for the Revolutionary war. Her great-grandfather, Abijah Child, who was born in Woodstock, Connecticut, September 3, 1749, was a soldier in the Revolutionary War, taking an active part in its first battle, which was fought at Lexington, Massachusetts, on April 19, 1775. A complete history of the Child fam- ily in America has been published by Elias Child, and from it we learn that Delia M. Child, the mother of Mr. Robbins, was a descendant of Ephraim Child, who emigrated to America in 1630 and settled in Rox- bury, Massachusetts. Jacob Child, Sr., was a pioneer settler of Franklin county, New York, and there spent his last years, dying at the remark- able age of ninety-eight years, while his brother John lived to the age of ninety-six years. Jacob Child, Jr., migrated from Vermont to New York, and having bought a tract of wild land in East Constable cleared and improved a farm, and was there employed in agricultural pursuits until his death, at the age of seventy-one years. His wife, whose maiden name was Samantha Sumner, was, also the descendant of an old and honored New England family.
Left a widow with three young children, Mrs. Nahum B. Robbins im- mediately put to good use the knowledge of carding, spinning and weav- ing which she had learned from her mother, with her wheel and loom earn- ing a sufficient sum of money to enable her to provide her children with all the necessaries of life and give them good educations. Living to see them all well settled in homes of their own, this brave woman felt amply repaid for her years of labor. She spent her last days in peace and plenty, at the home of her youngest son in Malone, New York, passing away in March, 1906, aged seventy-four years.
Attending the public schools of Malone, New York, Albert E. Rob- bins acquired a practical education while young. Coming westward in 1877 he located in Calumet, Michigan, and for seven years was employed at the Calumet Mine, after which he spent a year at his old home in Malone, New York. Returning to the Upper Peninsula in 1886, Mr. Robbins took up his residence at Iron Mountain, and for a few months worked as a carpenter at the Chapin Mine. He was subsequently engaged in the furniture and undertaking business until 1903, when he sold out. In the meantime, however, Mr. Robbins had purchased a tract of wild land across the river, in Florence county, Wisconsin, and had superintended its clearing and improvement. He has erected a fine set of buildings, having ample barns for his stock and a good house for his employes, his estate being one of the model farms of the county. Going to California in the fall of 1903, he spent the winter on the Pacific coast, and on his return in the spring sold his farm at an advantage. He owns several buildings in Iron Mountain, including the Robbins Block which he built in 1891 on Hughitt street and which is a large, two-story busi- ness block, constructed of native brown sand stone. It is one of the fin- est structures in the city.
Mr. Robbins married, in January, 1881, Mary Blacney, who was born in Calumet, Michigan, a daughter of John Blacney, a native of England. She died in 1886, at Iron Mountain, leaving one daughter, Stella Rob- bins, who was graduated from the Marquette Normal School and is now
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a teacher in the public schools of Spokane, Washington. Mr. Robbins married for his second wife, in 1888, Jennie Van Auken, who was born in Menominee, Michigan, a daughter of Joseph and Ambrosia (Lyon) Van Auken, natives, respectively of Pennsylvania and New York. Six children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Robbins, namely : Ruth, Sumner, Hazel, Anna, Emma and Putnam. Fraternally Mr. Robbins is a member of Iron Mountain Lodge, No. 388, F. & A. M .; of Iron Mountain Lodge, No. 700, B. P. O. E .; of Lodge No. 129, K. of P .; and of Oak Leaf Lodge, No. 2885, K. O. T. M.
RUSH CULVER .- Among the able and influential members of the bar of the Upper Peninsula, Rush Culver, for many years receiver of the United States Land Office at Marquette, Michigan, has won unmistak- able prestige, being widely known as a man of scholarly attainments, well versed in legal lore. Beginning his professional career without the aid of money or influential friends, he has won well deserved success through a thorough mastery of his calling, fidelity to his trusts, and honesty in his dealings, his present stable position in legal business and social circles being due entirely to his own efforts. A son of Amasa and Jeanette Culver, he was born July 17, 1862, in Elkland, Pennsylvania, where he spent his early life. In 1888 his parents came to Michigan, locating in L'Anse, Baraga county.
Having been graduated from the Elkland High School, Rush Cul- ver began the study of law in Wellsboro, Pennsylvania, spending one year in the office of B. B. Strang and another with H. B. Packer. Ad- mitted to the Tioga county bar in 1883, Mr. Culver was actively en- gaged in the practice of his profession at Westfield, Pennsylvania, for four years. Coming to the Upper Peninsula in 1887, he practiced a year at Marquette, when, in 1889, he opened an office in L'Anse, con- tinuing there until 1893. He was in that year appointed receiver of the United States Land Office at Marquette, and has since been one of the leading citizens of this place. Making a specialty of looking up government land titles, Mr. Culver had for years an extensive clientele among the homesteaders of the Lake Superior district, obtaining de- cisions in their favor in forcing issues with the various land companies and land grabbers inevitably found in a newly settled country.
Retiring from his law practice in 1904, Mr. Culver devoted his attention to his lumber interests, in that year organizing the Northern Lumber Company, at Birch, Marquette county, where he erected saw mills and practically built up the town. He served as president of the company until 1909, when he disposed of his interests in the business. In 1906 he was elected mayor of Marquette, and gave the people of his town a businesslike administration.
An influential member of the Democratic party, he served for some time as chairman of the Democratic County Committee of Marquette county, and in the campaigns of 1892 and 1894, won an extended rep- utation as a graceful and forceful platform speaker, doing good work for his party. His party's nominee in 1894 for congressman from the Twelfth district, he was defeated by his opponent, Samuel M. Stephen- son, although he polled far more votes than the other members of his ticket. He was chosen to represent the Democrats of Michigan as dele- gate at large to the Democratic National Convention at Kansas City in 1900.
Mr. Culver married Laura E. Woodruff on December 25, 1885. Their home life has been ideal. They are blessed with three children, Harry, Ethel and Jeanette. Harry Culver, Mr. Culver's son, was grad-
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uated from the law department of the University of Virginia at Char- lottesville, Virginia, with the class of 1909, and is now practising law at L'Anse, a member of the firm of Culver, Brennan & Culver.
CHRISTOPHER GROSSBUSCH .- The life record of Christopher Gross- busch, a retired merchant of Iron Mountain, may well furnish to the coming generation a forceful illustration of the genuine success to be gained by energetic industry, persistent toil, and well-directed purpose. Beginning life with limited means, and in the course of his activities meeting with losses and reverses, he labored cheerfully and courageously, and having conquered all obstacles is now enjoying a well-earned leisure. Throughout his career, he has had the assistance of his wife, to whose efforts, he gallantly attributes his present prosperity. A son of John Grossbusch, he was born, September 18, 1844, in Prussia, where he was bred and educated.
John Grossbusch was born in Luxemburg, and when young served an apprenticeship at the shoemaker's trade, and, according to the custom of that country, subsequently travelled through different towns and vil- lages, working at his trade a short time in each place, and on leaving always taking with him a certificate of good character and skilful work- manship. Settling permanently near Reisdorf, he was there engaged in shoemaking until his death, at the age of fifty-six years. He married Elizabeth Elson, a native of Stall, Prussia, and she died in 1845, leaving six children, namely: Mike, Anna Maria, Loretto, and Chris- topher and William and Andrew, both deceased. Loretto died at the age of twenty-two years, and the others came to the United States, locat- ing at Iron Mountain, Michigan.
Brought up and educated in his native village, Christopher Gross- busch early learned the shoemaker's trade. Emigrating to this country in 1866, he spent two years in Chicago, Illinois, in 1868 going to Stillwater, Minnesota, and a year later settling in Duluth, which was then a small hamlet. He there followed his trade three years, and in 1872 located at the Oliver Mining Location, in Keweenaw county, Michigan, where he continued as a shoemaker for three years. Going then to Houghton county, Michigan, he remained there until 1880, when, just a very few days after the completion of the railroad, he came to what is now Dick- inson county, locating in Iron Mountain on July 24, of that year. The greater part of the present city was then covered with timber, there being very few houses in the vicinity. Buying a lot on Stephenson street, he put up a two-story building, and, utilizing the upper floor for a residence, he used the lower story for a shoe shop and a grocery, being one of the first merchants of this place. In 1886 Mr. Grossbusch's property caught fire from the adjoining building, and was entirely destroyed. He immedi- ately rebuilt, putting up a building two and one-half stories in height, brick building, which he rented, and at once opened a confectionery tion having originated in the second house in the block. Mr. Grossbusch sustained a total loss, his entire property being swept away, leaving him without a dollar. In 1889, borrowing money, he erected a substantial brick building, which he rented, and at once opened a confectionery store in a small frame building, putting in a stock worth from ten dol- lars to fifteen dollars. The venture proved successful, and in 1893 he embarked in the furniture business, which he conducted most satis- factorily until 1906. Selling out in that year, Mr. Grossbusch has since lived retired from active pursuits.
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