USA > Michigan > A history of the northern peninsula of Michigan and its people; its mining, lumber and agricultural industries, Volume III > Part 68
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Thus we have seen that Albert Edward Petermann had the ad- vantage of being well-born, and his boyhood was passed in Calumet, or at least its earlier portion and he found much of engrossing interest in the life of the busy mining center in its many picturesque aspects. His father went to Buffalo about the time that young Albert was approach- ing young manhood, and it was in that city that he attended the high school, graduating with the class of 1896. In the fall of this same year he matriculated at Cornell University, remaining within its famous portals for the years included between 1896 and 1900, pursuing a liter- ary course and being graduated with the degree of Bachelor of Philos- ophy. Meantime a long gathering ambition to become a member of the legal fraternity had reached crystallization and he returned to Calumet and entered the law office of A. W. Kerr, of that city, in July, 1900. The young collegian attacked his Blackstone with good effect, and his patron being one of the most enlightened attorneys of the state, he made fine progress and in October, 1901, was admitted to the Michigan bar. Mr. Petermann and Mr. Kerr formed a partnership on the first day of January, 1902, and practiced together for exactly nine years, coming
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to be one of the best known law firms in the Upper Peninsula. On January 1, 1911, Messrs. Kerr and Petermann dissolved partnership and the latter is now practicing alone, his office being in the First National Bank Building of Calumet. He has a splendid equipment, a pleasing personality, eloquence. the gift of selecting a few pointed facts and making them tell, and the ability to win confidence. He is one of the pillars of Michigan Republicanism, his loyalty being of the active, rather than the passive type, for he is willing to go anywhere, to do anything in his power, and of a legitimate nature for the support of "the Grand Old Party." His election to the office of prosecuting attorney of Ke- weenaw county occurred in 1902, and he succeeded himself on several occasions, his tenure of office being from January 1, 1903, until January 1, 1911. His success in this most important office was of the most unequivocal order and it is only probable that he has but entered upon a career political and professional, which will make him one of the well known young men of the state.
Mr. Petermann is one of the most popular of lodge men, and finds great pleasure in his fraternal affiliations, which are with the great and time-honored Masonic order, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
He was married July 2, 1903, to Miss Anna M. Grierson, daughter of James and Johanna Grierson. Their union has been blessed by the birth of two children. a son and a daughter, both of whom can claim Calumet as their birthplace. Albert Edward Jr. was born October 3, 1905, and Mary Locke, February 26, 1908.
SAMUEL F. BERNIER .- For nearly a quarter of a century Captain Bernier was identified with the government life-saving service on the Great Lakes, and in view of his many hazardous experiences and her- culean efforts in this service he can well appreciate the significance of the query, "Life-giving, death-giving, which shall it be, Oh breath of the merciful, merciless sea?" Many of the sturdy sailors whose vocation has been to "go down to the sea in ships" have reason to extend tribute to Captain Bernier and his brave comrades for the preservation of their lives, and few who have been actively concerned with the United States life-saving service on the Great Lakes are better known or held in higher esteem in navigation circles. After twenty-two years and forty-seven days of continuous service in this all-important and self-abnegating vocation Captain Bernier retired from the position of keeper of the Vermillion Point station and en- gaged in the grocery business in the city of Sault Ste. Marie, where he has been identified with this line of enterprise since 1900. He has well earned immunity from further perils and labors in behalf of his fellow men and he is one of the honored and valued citizens of the city which includes within its limits the place of his birth. He is a member of one of the sterling pioneer families of Chippewa county, and thus further interest attaches to the consideration of his career in this publication.
Captain Bernier was born in what is now the Fourth ward of the city of Sault Ste. Marie, on the 19th of May, 1854, and is a son of Edward and Matilda (Boulie) Bernier, both representatives of stanch French families founded in the Dominion of Canada many generations ago. The father was born in the province of Quebec, Canada, in 1824, and died June 19, 1876; the mother was born in the same province, in 1825, and her death occurred on the 5th of May, 1872. The names of the ten children of this union are here entered in the respective order
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of birth : William, Calixte, Louis, George, Samuel F., Mary, Edward, Alfred, Matilda and Joseph. Of the children six of the sons and the one daughter are still living. Joseph and Philomena Bernier, the grandparents of Captain Bernier, were likewise natives of the prov- ince of Quebec, and they became the parents of two sons and three daughters. Joseph Bernier followed the vocation of sailor, as did also his father, Peter Bernier, who came to Canada from the city of Paris, France, in the early part of the seventeenth century, when a young man. Edward Bernier, father of the Captain, was reared to the vocation of a sailor, and thus it may be seen that by inheritance through three generations the latter had a predilection for the sea, as exemplified in the navigation of the great inland lakes.
Edward Bernier came to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and established his home in Chippewa county about 1835, two or more years prior to the admission of Michigan to the Union and long before Chippewa county was organized. He located on the site of the present city of Sault Ste. Marie and here was engaged for some time in the operation of a transfer tramway extending from a point below the falls of the St. Mary river to a point above, this primitive method being necessary for the accommodation of the early freighting busi- ness between the lower lakes and Lake Superior, as no locks had been even thought of at that time. The tramway mentioned was operated by means of horses. Later this sturdy pioneer was employed for some time, during the winter months, in transporting mail overland to Sag- inaw, in the lower peninsula, whither he made trips once a month. Finally he entered claim to a tract of land in sections 8 and 9, town- ship forty-seven, securing the same from the government, where he reclaimed a farm. The major portion of this tract of land is now in- cluded within the city limits of Sault Ste. Marie. Edward Bernier was a man of energy, industry and definite ambition and he became one of the leading citizens of the little village of Sault Ste. Marie, of which he was one of the first trustees. After maintaining his home in his log house for many years he erected in the village a comfortable frame dwelling, in which he maintained his home until his deatlı. Both he and his wife were earnest and devoted communicants of the Cath- olie church, in whose faith they were reared and in whose discipline they carefully trained their children.
Concerning the career of Captain Bernier the following brief rec- ord is taken from the Marine Record, published in the city of Cleve- land, Ohio, under date of February 6, 1896, about four years prior to his retirement from the government life-saving service.
"A prophet may possibly be without honor in his own country, but Captain Samuel F. Bernier, of the Vermillion Point Station, United States life-saving service, has accomplished many deeds of heroism in the neighborhood of his birth place, during a very lively career. He was born May 19, 1854, at Sault Ste. Marie, and was given the best schooling that the town afforded. In 1871, at the age of seventeen years, he entered the general store of Trampe & Company, at the Sault, as clerk. He remained there until June, 1873, when he went tugging in the St. Mary's river, during that and the following season, and during the seasons of 1874-5 he acted as captain on a ferry boat across that river. In 1876 and 1877 he sailed on the steamers City of Fremont and Annie L. Craig, of the Ward Lake Superior line, from Buffalo to Duluth. He joined the life-saving service at the Vermillion Point station on May 24, 1878, and continued as surfman until Octo- ber 1, 1880, when he was appointed keeper. His records show that he
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has assisted a number of vessels in distress, including the steamer S. F. Ilodge, stranded in fog; side-wheel steamer City of Green Bay, with broken machinery; sloop Abbey, which swamped in the high sea, when laden with merchandise; steamer Mystic, lost rudder; sloops Ilannah and Betsey, swamped; steamers India, Olympia, Hesper, Nipigon and Marina, and schooners Melbourne and Delaware, stranded in fog; sloop Hannah, capsized; steamer Margaret Olwill, broken shaft; steamer Huron City, broken cylinder; steamer Mystic, line in wheel. The crew also rescued at one time the schooner C. P. Minch, which became surrounded by a raft of logs and was placed in considerable peril. During this period not a single life was lost within the scope of this station. The value of vessels and cargoes saved was $538,500, as compared with $400 lost by jettisoning of cargo."
Other noteworthy deeds of valor were wrought by Captain Bernier and his men, and it is but in justice due that reference be here made to one most hazardous experience in which, against great odds, they were able to save a number of lives. Early in the morning of Thurs- day, December 2, 1894, the schooner Joseph Page went ashore above Whitefish Point, in a heavy gale and was a total loss. The crew of the ill-fated vessel had an almost miraculous escape from death, and its members owe their lives to Captain Bernier and his comrades of stations Nos. 9 and 10. The Page was the consort of the steam barge Tuthill, downward bound. Such tempestuous weather was encoun- tered that the Tuthill was compelled to cut loose from her consort about one o'clock in the morning of the day mentioned and at a point about twelve miles above Whitefish Point. The jib-sail of the Page had been lost and the foresail was so frozen that Captain Rose, in command of the vessel, was unable to get it down or to furl any other of the rigging. The vessel could not be kept to any definite course, failing to respond to the rudder, and it gradually drifted toward the shore, finally striking about one mile east of the life-saving station No. 9, about three o'clock in the morning. The patrolmen were on the ground and at daylight endeavored to shoot a line to the Page. After several failures to reach the wreck by this means a life boat was manned with five men from station 10 and a full crew from sta- tion 9, all in charge of Captain Bernier. The valiant life-savers started for the wreck at seven o'clock in the morning and reached it at ten o'clock, after a fearful battle with the waves. Captain Rose and his wife and two members of the crew were taken off and safely con- veyed to the shore. In landing, a hole was broken in the lifeboat, rendering it unfit for another trip. Another boat was promptly launched and succeeded in landing the mate and the other members of the crew, six in all, at three o'clock in the afternoon. Both the rescued and the rescuers were covered with ice, as the temperature at the time was but two degrees above zero. The brave life-savers more than once felt that it would be impossible for them to save the persons on the ill-fated boat, but they never wavered in their duty and found ample reward when the work of rescue was successfully completed. Their strength and endurance was taxed to the utmost, and Captain Rose and his men could not find words to express their gratitude and admiration. A tremendous sea buffeted them from beginning to end and their efforts were further hampered by the icy water which swept over their little boat. It is worthy of note that Captain Rose, of the Tuthill, had at the time been sailing the Great Lakes for a period of twenty-seven years and that this was his first disastrous voyage.
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Captain Bernier retired from the life-saving service on June 1, 1900, and in August of the same year he engaged in the grocery busi- ness in Sault Ste. Marie, in partnership with his brother Edward. In September following he purchased his brother's interest and he has since continued the business in an individual way and with marked success, having a well equipped and well managed establishment that caters to an appreciative patronage.
In politics Captain Bernier is found arrayed as a stanch supporter of the principles and policies of the Democratic party, and he and his family are communicants of the Catholic church. He is also identified with the Knights of Columbus and the Catholic Mutual Benefit Asso- ciation. He is essentially loyal and public-spirited as a citizen, has served one term as alderman from the First ward, to which position he was elected in 1906, and he has been a member of the board of public works of his home city since 1909.
On the 8th of October, 1878, was solemnized the marriage of Cap- tain Bernier to Miss Victoria Rousseau, who was born in the province of Ontario, Canada, on the 4th of February, 1858, and who died at the family home in Sault Ste. Marie, on the 9th of November, 1907. She was a devoted wife and mother and her memory is revered by her husband and children. She was a daughter of Edward and Susan (Frichette) Rousseau, the former of whom was born in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, and the latter in Traverse City, this state. They now reside in Bruce county, Ontario, and both are of venerable age. Captain and Mrs. Bernier became the parents of four sons and four daughters, and concerning them the following brief record is given: Matilda is the wife of A. C. Barclay, of Calumet, Michigan; Edward died at the age of eight years; Maude remains at the parental home ; Walter S. died in infancy; George, who made a cruise around the world on the Revenue Cutter Tohama, now resides in the city of Seattle, Washington; and Eva, Margaret and Melbourne remain at the parental home.
ROBERT H. STURGEON, M. D .- Dr. Sturgeon was numbered among the able and successful physicians and surgeons of the Upper Penin- sula for many years and his professional work was practiced in con- nection with the great mining industry of this section of the state. He maintained his home at Iron River, Iron county, for a long period of years and there he died on the 27th of September, 1906, as the result of injuries received two days previously when he was struck by a rail- road locomotive while returning from a professional visit. He was a man of the highest integrity and honor and no citizen held a more secure place in popular confidence and esteem.
Robert H. Sturgeon was born in the village of Keady, in county Armagh, Ireland, about seven miles southwest of Armagh, and the date of his nativity was October 21, 1858. He was reared to maturity in his native land, where he remained until he had attained to his legal majority, when he immigrated to America whither his mother and other members of the family also came. For one year he was employed by the great packing corporation of Swift & Company, in the city of Chi- cago, but his health became impaired, and he was advised to seek a change of climate. Under these conditions he went to Northwestern Canada and secured a homestead claim near the city of Winnipeg. His mother and brother took up adjoining claims and the doctor there re- mained a number of years, within which he effectively developed his land. He finally returned to Chicago in company with his devoted
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mother and there he completed a course in the medical department of the Northwestern University, in which he was graduated in June, 1891, with the degree of Doctor of Medicine. Shortly afterward the doctor came to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and located at Interior, Go- gebie county, where he engaged in practice as physician and surgeon for the Interior Lumber Company. Three and one-half years later he became physician to the Stembaugh Iron Company and in 1895 he re- moved to Iron River, where he succeeded to the practice of Dr. Bond and where he became the one physician of the village.
When the mines at this point were opened he was appointed physi- cian and surgeon by the operating company and at the time of his death he was associated with Dr. Edward N. Libby as physician and surgeon for the Oliver, the Mineral, the Buffalo & Susquehanna, the Oglebay, Norton & Company and other mining companies, besides which he con- trolled a large and representative private practice. His devotion to his profession was of the most intense and self abnegating order and none had a deeper appreciation of its dignity and responsibility.
Dr. Sturgeon was a man of alert mentality and strong intellectual powers and he showed a lively interest in all that tended to advance the civic and material welfare of the city in which he maintained his home. He early made judicious investments in real estate in Iron River and here owned the Sturgeon Block, one of the best business buildings in the town. In 1899 he erected an attractive modern residence and he also owned the Innis House, a hotel of Iron River, besides much other improved and unimproved real estate. In politics the doctor was a stanch advocate of the principles and policies of the Republican party and he served as assessor and treasurer of the village of Iron River, having been incumbent of these offices for two years each. He was identified with the American Medical Association, the Michigan State Medical Society, and the Upper Peninsula Medical Society. He was a trustee of the Presbyterian church in his home town, and was a zeal- ons supporter of the various departments of its work, as is also his widow who still survives him.
On the 1st of February, 1901, in company with Dr. Edward N. Libby, Dr. Sturgeon was associated in the founding of Mercy Hospital, the first and the only hospital of the town. This worthy institution was opened with an equipment of six beds and now the equipment in this line totals twenty-two beds. The hospital was originally opened for the accommodation of the miners of this locality and had only one ward and one private room. In the hospital at the present time are employed four trained nurses and the facilities and accommodations have been brought up to a high standard, making the institution one of the best in the Upper Peninsula. Dr. Libby, the earnest and valued coadjutor of the subject of this sketch, was born in the city of Chicago and is a son of Janies S. Libby. He was afforded the advantages of the public schools of his native city, including the high school, and in 1894, he entered the celebrated Rush College, in which he was gradu- ated as a member of the class of 1898, and from which he received the degree of Doctor of Medicine. His initial work in his profession was done in the city of Chicago, but within a few months he removed to Michigan, where he was associated with the work of St. Thomas Hos- pital for two years, at the expiration of which, on the 1st of October, 1900, he took up his residence at Iron River, where he was closely associated in practice with Dr. Sturgeon until the death of the latter.
In June, 1892, Dr. Sturgeon was united in marriage to Miss Mar- garet Gandy, who survives him, as do also their four children .-
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Margaret E., Andrew G., Robert H. and John S. After the death of her husband Mrs. Sturgeon and her children removed to England, her native place, and there they now reside in the city of Bedford.
WILLIAM J. REYNOLDS .- Laurium is fortunate indeed in possessing as one of her most prominent citizens, a man of the stamp of William J. Reynolds, for it is only through the guidance of men who hold the best interests of the whole body politic above that of the individual that a community can reach its highest growth. Mr. Reynolds has received a high tribute from his fellow citizens by being made presi- dent of the village of Laurium. He is in addition vice-president of the First National Bank of Laurium and conducts one of the largest meat markets in the place. He was born at Quincy, Houghton county, Michigan, September 5, 1869. His parents were William and Elisa- beth (Adams) Reynolds, both natives of England. They were mar- ried in England, but shortly afterward concluded to make a hazard of new fortunes in the United States and accordingly emigrated in 1851. The father had been a man of consequence in his native place, for years, and after coming to Michigan, he settled in Quincy, Hough- ton county, where William J. was born. There the family remained until 1869, when they came on to Calumet, Michigan, the father se- curing a position with the Calumet & Hecla Mining Company and remained in their employ from that time until his death in 1883. His wife survived him for many years, her demise occurring in 1902.
William J. Reynolds received his education in the public schools of Calumet, upon the attainment of his fourteenth year taking his place in the ranks of the wage earners. His first position was with Bear & Dymock who were engaged in the wholesale and retail meat business, and with them he remained for the decade included between the years 1883 and 1893. He then went into business upon his own account under the firm name of Gourd & Reynolds, meat dealers. This partnership lasted two years, when Joseph Jeffery purchased the interest of Mr. Gourd and the firm changed to Reynolds & Jef- fery. In 1906 Mr. Reynolds purchased the interest of his partner, thus becoming sole owner of the business. He has built up a large trade and makes a specialty of high grade sausages.
Mr. Reynolds plays a prominent role in the social and political as well as the business life of the community in which he resides. In addition to his being vice-president of the First National Bank and president of the village, he has for a number of years been a member of the city council. He and his wife are members of the Laurium Methodist Episcopal church of which he is a trustee. He exerts fur- ther good influence as a director of the Young Men's Christian Asso- ciation of which he is also secretary. His genial manners and affabil- ity of address have won for him many friends. Besides his business he is the owner of certain valuable pieces of city property. He gives an unwavering allegiance to the Republican party whose principles and policies he believes untenable.
Mr. Reynolds was united in marriage to Miss Elisabeth Burley of Calumet, Michigan, a daughter of Edward B. and Silana Burley. They have six children, William, Roy, Mabel, Ethel, Hattie, Leslie and Irving.
THOMAS HAYES .- Especially worthy of mention in a work of this character is Thomas Hayes, one of the very early settlers of Dickinson county, and a respected resident of Iron Mountain for fully thirty
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years. A native of Sheboygan, Wisconsin, he was born, January 15, 1851, in the log cabin built in the forest by his father, John Hayes, in pioneer days.
Born in Ireland, John Hayes came to America when young, and for many years sailed the Lakes, carrying grain between Chicago and Buffalo. He afterwards bought eighty acres of Government land in Sheboygan county, Wisconsin, erected a log house for his family, and was there engaged in agricultural pursuits until his death, in 1857. He married Julia Shea, a native of Canada. She survived him many years, living until sixty-three years old.
Leaving Michigan when nineteen years old, Thomas Hayes made his way to Menominee, Michigan, where he was variously employed for a number of seasons. In November, 1879, he made his advent into what is now Dickinson county, being employed as cook at a lumber camp in Spread Eagle. Three months later, in February, 1880, Mr. Hayes came to Iron Mountain to work for Frank Ayers in the first restaurant ever opened in this place. The following April he was joined by his family, and has been a continuous resident here since.
Mr. Hayes married, in 1879, Ellen Garrity, who was born in Ver- mont, where her father, Austin Garrity, settled on coming to this country from Ireland. One of the pioneer settlers of Sheboygan county, Wisconsin, Austin Garrity purchased one hundred and twenty acres of timbered land from the Government, and was succeeding well in the clearing and improving of a farm when he was acciden- tally killed by the falling of a tree. His wife, whose maiden name was Mary Finnegan, survived him six years. Mr. and Mrs. Hayes have two children, namely: William P., born June 27, 1880, who was the first child born in Iron Mountain; and Mary Julia, born Novem- ber 16, 1882.
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