A history of the northern peninsula of Michigan and its people; its mining, lumber and agricultural industries, Volume III, Part 67

Author: Sawyer, Alvah L. (Alvah Littlefield), 1854-1925
Publication date: 1911
Publisher: Chicago : The Lewis Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 752


USA > Michigan > A history of the northern peninsula of Michigan and its people; its mining, lumber and agricultural industries, Volume III > Part 67


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George Hall is a Canadian by birth, having been born in the province of Quebec, in 1849. His parents were Robert and Jane A. Bagley Hall, of the province of Ontario. In 1875, when he was about sixteen years of age, he came to Houghton county, Michigan, and during his first winter here made his livelihood by driving a team. He then went to Osceola and worked for his brother-in-law, John Bagley, contracting for the Osceola Mining Company. When he was still quite young he took steps to estab- lish himself in business independently and did general contracting. rail- road mining and grading at various mines. He proved himself to be thoroughly fitted for enterprises of this character and has enjoyed great success. He has gradually increased his equipment and at times employs as many as one hundred and seventy-five men with teams. He has done much building and repairing for the Mineral Range and other railroads; built the Mohawk Railroad for the Mohawk Mining Company in the summer of 1900, the line extending from the mine to Traverse Bay, a distance of twelve miles; and for a number of years has been engaged on the Copper Range with contracts for the Tamarack Mining Company.


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Mr. Hall also engages extensively in the lumber business, taking out timber from Houghton and Keweenaw counties, and for a number of years he has furnished timber for the Wolverine Mining Company.


As previously mentioned Mr. Hall is president of the Calumet Brew- ing Company, having served in this capacity since its organization in 1899. He has large investments of real estate in the vicinity of Calumet and at Laurium, in addition to his fine agricultural holdings. His pres- ent fine residence in Laurium was erected in 1910, or rather he began its occupation in March of that year, and it is modern in appointment and handsome in appearance. Mr. Hall lived for a number of years at Wolverine. He subscribes to the principles and policies of the Repub- lican party, and holds membership in Lodge No. 1247, Modern Woodmen of America, of Calumet. Denominationally Mr. Hall and his family are Methodist Episcopal and attend the church at Kearsarge.


Mr. Hall's wife was Miss Jane Alicia Bagley, of Canada, a daughter of Robert and Jane Bagley. Their union was solemnized on April 26, 1881. Seven children have been born to them, of whom George Jr., Gladys Ella, and Ruth Blanche are at home and attending school. The deceased are: Laura May, Beatrice Jenny, Ethel Florence and Arthur James.


One of Mr. Hall's latest contracts is the excavating of the streets in the village known as the Ulseth addition to Hancock.


DR. DOUGLASS HOUGHTON .- Of all the noted pioneers of the Lake Superior district, there is perhaps none so conspicuously identified with the early history of the copper and iron districts of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan as Dr. Douglass Houghton, who was the first to investigate, scientifically, the mineral possibilities of the southern shore of Lake Superior, and whose work was the foundation on which the vast iron and copper mining industries of the state have been erected.


Douglass Houghton was born September 21, 1809, in Fredonia, Chautauqua County, New York, of English lineage, the original Ameri- can settler of the line having come from Bolton, Lancashire, England, settling in Bolton, Massachusetts, about the middle of the Seventeenth Century. Judge Jacob Houghton, the father of Dr. Houghton, settled in Fredonia early in the Nineteenth Century, and was a successful at- torney and judge until his death. He married Mary Lydia Douglass, who was born in New London, Connecticut, and died in Fredonia, leav- ing a large family.


The education of Dr. Houghton was begun in the Fredonia public schools, continued in the Fredonia Academy, and completed in the Van Rensselaer Scientific School, at Troy, New York, where he graduated with the class of 1828, with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. Being an excellent scholar, he was appointed upon his graduation as tutor of chemistry and natural history in the Van Rensselaer Institute, and won early and marked distinction as an educator. In 1830, friends of science in Detroit applied to Professor Eaton, of the Van Rensselaer Institute, to recommend someone to deliver a course of lectures in their city on chemistry and general science. Dr. Houghton was named for this work, and his visit to Detroit on this mission led him to locate in that city as a medical practitioner, for which he had qualified by a thorough course of study.


The standing of Dr. Houghton in his adopted city was shown by his election as the first mayor of Detroit. Shortly after taking up his resi- dence in Michigan, he was selected as surgeon and botanist to a party organized for the purpose of discovering the source of the Mississippi River, and in that capacity traveled extensively in the northwest.


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Upon the organization of the state of Michigan, Dr. Houghton was appointed State Geologist, and in 1840, accompanied by his cousin, Columbus C. Douglass, as assistant, he visited the Upper Peninsula, and for the following five years, until his death, spent each working season in the Lake Superior district. The appropriation made for Dr. Hough- ton's exploration of the iron and copper districts was pitifully small, even for that early day, and it has been the wonder and admiration of all who have followed him, that with such meagre finances, he was able, not only to cover so much ground, but to cover it so well and thoroughly that his work has stood to the present day as a monument of energy, accuracy and scientific acumen.


Dr. Houghton combined a linear and topographie survey of the iron and copper districts, doing also an immense amount of detailed work of remarkable accuracy along geological lines. For these labors he was un- usually well fitted, combining rare mental and physical vigor with schol- astic tastes and high scientific attainments. Unfortunately his work was cut short October 13, 1845, when he was drowned in a storm while go- ing from Eagle River to Eagle Harbor in a small boat.


The people of the Lake Superior copper district have shown their appreciation of the wonderful work done by Dr. Houghton by naming for him the county of Houghton, which is the most populous in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan; the village of Houghton, which is the financial and social center of the Lake Superior copper district; the township of Houghton, in the county of Keweenaw; the Douglass Houghton Falls in the vicinity of Lake Linden ; the Douglass Houghton School, in the western part of the village of Houghton, and several copper mining companies also have taken the name of Houghton, and of Douglass Houghton.


The work of Dr. Houghton will stand for centuries yet to come as a noble example of what was accomplished by a pioneer scientist of in- defatigable zeal, high attainments, and higher aims.


COURTNEY C. DOUGLASS came to Houghton from New York City in 1887, to look after extensive landed interests. The earliest American ancestor was William Douglass, who came from Scotland to Boston about 1624. Judge Christopher Douglass, the grandfather of the sub- ject of the present sketch, was born and reared in New London, Con- necticut, removing from there to Fredonia, Chautauqua County, New York, and thence to Macomb County, Michigan, removing later to Wal- worth County, Wisconsin.


Columbus C. Douglass, the father of Courtney C. Douglass, was born August 22, 1812, in Fredonia, Chautauqua County, New York, removing with his parents to Macomb County, Michigan, when twelve years of age. When a young man he was made assistant to his cousin. Dr. Douglass Houghton, who had been appointed as surgeon and botanist to a party organized to search for the source of the Mississippi River, and accom- panied Dr. Houghton on that expedition. On the appointment of Dr. Douglass Houghton as the first State Geologist of Michigan, Mr. Doug- lass, then a young man of twenty-eight, was made his assistant, and continued in this position until the death of Dr. Houghton in 1845. During this period of five years, Mr. Douglass worked during the sum- mer seasons in Lake Superior, then a wilderness, and spent his winters in Boston, taking special work at the Massachusetts Institute of Tech- nology, to qualify himself more thoroughly for work in the field. As a result of his studies in Boston, and of his labors in the field, under the very able guidance of Dr. Houghton, Mr. Douglass became a practical


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geologist, and, upon the unfortunate death by drowning of Dr. Hough- ton in 1845, began turning his attention to the practical exploitation of the vast mineral wealth of the Lake Superior copper district, being one of the very earliest pioneers in this field. For fifteen years, from 1845 to 1860, Mr. Douglass made his headquarters in Houghton, and was very successful in interesting capital from the eastern states and also from Europe, in Lake Superior copper mines, and it was largely due to his energy, sagacity and indomitable perseverance, that the great mineral resources of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan were developed. In 1860 Mr. Douglass removed to New York City, and died in London, December 17, 1874, the interests of his estate then devolving upon his son.


Courtney C. Douglass, the son of Columbus C. Douglass, was born May 18, 1862, in Algonae, St. Clair County, Michigan, and was reared and educated in Michigan and New York City, removing to Houghton in 1887. Mr. Douglass has taken a prominent part in the further develop- ment of the eopper resources of the Lake Superior district, proving a worthy successor to his honored father, and has been instrumental in the organization of a number of copper mining companies, several of which are now important producers, with others still in the development stage.


JOHN CAMPBELL .- Possessing undoubted business ability, judgment, and tact, John Campbell holds a position of prominence among the es- teemed and valued citizens of L'Anse, being actively identified with its mercantile interests, and ably serving his fellow-men at different times in various public offices. IIe was born in Cleveland, Ohio, December 14, 1850, of substantial Scotch ancestry.


His father, John Campbell, Sr., was born and reared in Scotland, but while yet a young man emigrated to America, locating in Canada. Soon after his marriage he settled in Cleveland, Ohio, from there com- ing a few years later to the Upper Peninsula. He secured work in On- tonagon, Michigan, and not very long after lost his life in a shipwreck on the lake. His wife, whose maiden name was Rebecea Turner, was born in Scotland. She survived him, and married for her second hus- band Edwin L. Mason, of L'Anse, Michigan. By her first marriage two children were born, John, the subject of this sketch, and Florence, now dead. By her union with Mr. Mason there were also two children, Will- iam L. Mason, of whom a brief sketch may be found on another page of this volume, and Edith.


A small boy when he came with his parents to Northern Michigan, John Campbell obtained a practical business education in the public schools, and began his active career as a clerk in the establishment of Condon & Holland, general merchants at Hancock, Michigan. He subse- quently clerked for R. A. Little & Co. at the Franklin Mine, and for James A. Close in Hancock. Coming to L'Anse in 1872, Mr. Campbell was for some time a clerk in the bank of E. L. Mason & Co. In 1878 he became manager of the mercantile business of Peter Ruppe & Son, hold- ing that responsible position until the burning of the store, in 1896, a period of eighteen years. Since that time Mr. Campbell has been suc- cessfully engaged as a merchant on his own aecount, and has also carried on a substantial business as a dealer in timber lands.


In 1876 Mr. Campbell was united in marriage with Ella E. Curtis. Her father, Rev. David Alonzo Curtis, was born in New York state, and was there educated. Ordained in early life as a preacher in the Metho- dist Episcopal church, he became a member of the Detroit Conference, and held pastorates in various places in Michigan, preaching in Ontona-


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gon and Houghton counties as early as 1860. He spent his last years in Petersburg, Michigan, dying in 1905, at the venerable age of four score and four years. His wife, whose maiden name was Mary Beal, was a native of Michigan. Mrs. Campbell passed to the higher life in Septem- bed, 1908, leaving six children, namely : Rebecca, Florence M., John C., Frances E., Grace H., and Ellen Jean. Rebecca married Dr. Douglas McIntire, of St. John, Washington, and they have one son, Douglas Mc- Intire, Jr.


A stanch supporter of the principles of the Republican party, Mr. Campbell has served as township treasurer and clerk; as village presi- dent and trustee; as school director; and for upwards of forty years has been notary public. Fraternally he belongs to L'Anse Tent, K. O. T. M. M .; and to L'Anse Camp, M. W. A.


HON. CHARLES HENRY WATSON .- Bringing to the practice of his profession a well trained mind, habits of industry, and much strength of purpose, Hon. Charles IIenry Watson, of Crystal Falls, is well worthy of the rank which he has attained among the leading attorneys and influential citizens of the Upper Peninsula. He has long been active in public affairs, and in 1907 was president pro tem of the Constitutional Convention. He was born October 29, 1870, at Binghamton, New York, a son of Robert H. Watson, and grandson of Stephen T. Watson, a native of Devonshire, England.


At the age of twelve years, Stephen T. Watson left his Devonshire home, and having crossed the Atlantic located in New York state, where he was variously employed for a few years. He subsequently received an appointment as keeper at the Auburn State Prison, and later was engaged in the transportation business, running a packet on Oneida Lake. Removing from there to Wisconsin, he was a pioneer settler of Wevauwega, Waupaca county. A short time later he settled as a pioneer in Waushara county, Wisconsin, and having secured a tract of Govern- ment land in Saxville township, built a log cabin in the midst of the woods, and for a number of years there devoted his time to clearing the land and tilling the soil. Subsequently taking up his residence at Berlin, he lived retired until his death, at the advanced age of eighty- eight years. He married Mary Apthorpe, who was born at Maidstone, County Kent, England, and came to America in girlhood. She lived to the venerable age of ninety years. She and her husband reared four sons and three daughters.


Robert H. Watson was born in 1835, at Albany, New York. En- dowed with much native mechanical ability, he became a locomotive engineer, and for a number of years was a master mechanic in the em- ploy of one of the eastern trunk lines. Subsequently, while in the employ of the St. Louis, Iron Mountain & Southern Railroad Company, he was a resident of Little Rock, Arkansas. He spent his last years, however, at Thayer, Missouri, passing away in 1898. He married Ca- lista Jane Rice, who was born in Vermont, sixteen years previous to her marriage. She died in Saxville township, Wisconsin, in 1877, aged thirty-three years, leaving four children, as follows: Mary Ella, Clara Louise, Charles Henry and Jennie.


But six years of age when his mother died, Charles Henry Watson was brought up in the home of his grandparents, receiving his rudi- mentary education in the district school of Saxville township, and afterwards attending the Berlin High School. While yet a student he began his journalistic career as a carrier of the Berlin Evening Journal. In 1888, at the age of seventeen years, he came to the Upper Peninsula,


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entering the employ of Major Clark, publisher of The Pioneer, at Manis- tique, working six months for his board and clothes. Having by that time become familiar with the art preservative, Mr. Watson became a compositor on the Sunday Sun, published by Will Montgomery. About six months later Mr. Montgomery was taken ill, and Mr. Watson, in company with Ed. Jones, assumed the management of the paper, Mr. Watson becoming editor of the sheet. Having changed the name to The Manistique News, these gentlemen ran the journal a year, and then sold out to T. J. MacMurray, and established The Sunday Morning Star. This venture did not prove profitable, and at the end of three months the owners sold out.


Mr. Watson came in 1890 to Crystal Falls, Iron County, and for a brief time worked in the office of the Diamond Drill. Going then to Menominee, he had charge of the Menominee Democrat for a few months. subsequently being city editor for awhile of the Ishpeming Daily Press, at Ishpeming. Locating then in Chicago, Mr. Watson remained there until June, 1891, when he returned to Crystall Falls, purchased an in- terest in the Diamond Drill, which he managed in company with Mr. Atkinson until the latter sold out his share to M. H. Moriarity, with whom he continued until 1896, when Mr. Watson disposed of his interest to Thomas Conlin. Having in the meantime devoted his leisure mo- ments to the study of law, Mr. Watson then entered the Law Department of the University of Michigan, from which he was graduated with the class of 1899. He immediately began the practice of his profession at Crystal Falls, where he has gained a large and lucrative clientele.


Mr. Watson married in 1892, Blanche Campbell, who was born at Adel, Iowa, a daughter of Charles G. and Mary (Carter) Campbell, of whom a brief sketch may be found elsewhere in this volume. Mr. and Mrs. Watson have one son, John Campbell Watson, a student. Mr. Watson has served his fellow-townsmen in various official capacities. He has served as city attorney and has five times been elected prose- cuting attorney of Iron county. Fraternally he is a member of Crystal Falls Lodge, No. 385, F. & A. M .; of Crystal Falls Chapter, No. 129, R. A. M .; of Hugh McCurdy Commandery, No. 43, K. T .; DeWitt Clinton Consistory, and of Saladin Temple, Mystic Shrine, of Grand Rapids.


DONALD ERWIN SUTHERLAND .- The substantial and influential citi- zens of Ironwood have no more worthy or respected resident than Donald Erwin Sutherland, superintendent of the Norrie Mine. One of the original settlers of this city, he has been associated with its highest and best interests since its inception, contributing wisely and well towards the development and advancement of its industrial and financial prosperity, and taking an active part in the management of public affairs. Of pure Scotch ancestry, he was born, November 19, 1859, in Glengarry, province of Ontario, Canada, which was like- wise the birthplace of his father, George Sutherland.


His grandfather, Donald Sutherland, was born in Scotland, where, as far as known, his parents spent their entire lives. Two of their children, however, emigrated to Canada, John, who has descendants still living in Ontario, and Donald. Locating about two miles from the Saint Lawrence river, in Glengarry, Donald Sutherland purchased a tract of wild land, and having made an opening erected a log cabin for himself and family. Railways had not then been thought of, and Montreal, forty miles away, the nearest trading point, was reached with teams only, the roads being principally forest paths.


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Dividing his time between clearing the land and tilling the soil, he resided there until his death, at the venerable age of ninety-six years. The maiden name of his wife was Nelly Ross, who was of Scotch descent. They reared five children, Kate, Margaret, Mary, Nelly and George.


The only son of his parents, George Sutherland began as a boy to assist his father on the farm, a part of which he subsequently inher- ited, and during his active career was prosperously employed in ag- ricultural pursuits, also taking a prominent part in public affairs. Late in life he moved to Ironwood, Michigan, and here spent his last days, passing away at the age of seventy-two years. He married Eliza MeCloud, a Scotch lassie who was born near Montreal, and died, at the age of seventy-three years, in Ironwood, Michigan. Of their uuion ten children were born and reared, as follows: Caroline and Margaret, twins; Donald Erwin; George; Arthur; Eliza; Henry; Alexander ; Fanny and David.


Brought up and educated in Glengarry, Donald E. Sutherland be- came familiar with the various branches when young, and until 1879 resided with his parents. In that year, being determined to find some way of improving his financial condition, he came to Michigan in search of work, his only available capital at that time having been good health, a cheerful heart, and two strong and willing hands. For two years he was employed in a saw mill at Fort River, after which he gained his first experience as a miner at the Curry mine, near Norway, Dickinson county, where he remained a short time. He next went to the Marquette Range to explore for the Metropoli- tan Company, making himself generally useful in the different branches of exploring. In 1885 Mr. Sutherland was transferred to Ironwood, coming here to open the Norrie Mine. Ironwood at that time had no place on the map, the present town site and the surround- ing country being a dense wilderness, through which he led the way, with his axe chopping a trail through the site of the Norrie Mine, The following year he was employed as time keeper at the mine, af- terwards as captain opening the mine. He subsequently served as assistant superintendent under the general superintendent, J. H. McLain, for two years, and was then promoted to his present position as superintendent of this mine, which is now included in the prop- erty of the Oliver Mining Company. In this capacity Mr. Suther- land has shown excellent judgment and great ability, his services be- ing highly appreciated by the company.


Mr. Sutherland married, September 26, 1889, Anna Hartigan, who was born in county Lambton, Canada, a daughter of Thomas and Mary IIartigan, of whom a sketch may be found elsewhere in this volume. Mr. and Mrs. Sutherland have two children, namely : Flor- ence, a student in Notre Dame College, South Bend, Indiana, and Kath- erine Elizabeth. Mr. Sutherland is officially connected with two of the leading business organizations of this section of the Upper Penin- sula, being president of both the Lake Superior Mining Company and the Gogebie National Bank. In his political views he was formerly a Democrat, but in 1896, being a believer of sound money for the people, voted for William McKinley for president, and has since been iden- tified with the Republican party. Taking a genuine interest in mu- nicipal affairs, Mr. Sutherland has served with credit to himself and to the satisfaction of his constituents in various offices within the gift of his fellow-townsmen, having been a member of the City Board for some time, county treasurer two years and mayor of Ironwood ten years.


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ALBERT EDWARD PETERMANN .- One of the most prominent and highly esteemed members of the legal profession in this part of Michigan is Albert Edward Petermann, who has recently retired from the office of prosecuting attorney of Keweenaw county after a most praiseworthy career of eight years, his splendid standing as a lawyer having been stamped with highest approval by his elevation to such office. His career in the profession has now numbered only about a decade, but that period has been of sufficient duration to show his ability to meet grave questions with entire adequacy.


The name of Petermann is one which enjoys no small amount of honor throughout this and the nearby counties. The subject's father, Ferdinand D. Petermann, established his home in the Upper Peninsula as much as fifty years ago, and it almost goes without saying became identified with the copper mining industry. Not only did the com- munity come to look upon him as a good citizen and one whose right hand was ever given to the advancement of all just causes, but he played an important role in the mining world and among the important posi- tions held by him was that of captain of the Calumet & Hecla Mining Company. When he retired in 1888, he and his wife went to Buffalo, New York, in which city they resided for over fifteen years. The charms of the old home ever remained fresh with them, nevertheless, and in 1905 they returned to the Northern Peninsula, taking up their home in Calumet, renewing old acquaintances, and taking pardonable gratification in the fact that their sons have come to be leading citizens of the locality. Ferdinand Petermann married Miss Caroline S. Bast. The children of this worthy couple were six in number, one of the sons being recently deceased. The eldest in point of birth is that popular and gifted gentle- man. Colonel John P. Petermann, Spanish-American war veteran and one of Michigan's most extensive merchant princes, his stores being situated in six different towns and conducted under the name of the J. P. Petermann Company. Colonel Petermann is mentioned on other pages of this work as is also Fernando D. George H., who died in 1904, was associated with Colonel Petermann in his large mercantile interests. There are also two sisters: Caroline, wife of Rev. Frederick B. Arnold, a minister of the Lutheran church at Laurium, and Emma, who resides with her parents. Ferdinand Petermann has ever subscribed to the articles of faith of the Republican party and he and his wife are loyal members of the Lutheran church.




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