Biographical history of northern Michigan containing biographies of prominent citizens, Part 102

Author:
Publication date: 1905
Publisher: Indianapolis : B.F. Bowen
Number of Pages: 966

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party was organized 'under the oaks' at Jackson, Michigan, and although not a voter he was present on this memorable occasion and was a hearty supporter of the first Re- publican presidential nominee, General John C. Fremont. He remained an attache of the Journal until the year in which the rebellion started abroad in the land, in its blind and misguided fury. All through the course of the earlier months, after the attack by the Confederates upon Fort Sumter, while his fingers recorded the dispatches of the open- ing campaign, and also the varied literature which arose from the exigencies of the times, he was awakened to the fact that men with the true fire of patriotism blazing in their breasts were surely needed at the front (at eleven dollars per month). Con- sequently, on the 27th of September, 1861, 'Ren.' enlisted, under Captain John Piper, in Company E, Thirteenth Missouri Volun- teer Infantry, commonly known as Birge's Sharpshooters, with headquarters at Benton Barracks, St. Louis, Missouri, under the general supervision of Major General John C. Fremont. The style of the organization was afterward changed to Company D, of the same regiment, which was known as the Sixty-sixth Illinois, Birge's Western Sharp- shooters. In October of the same year the company left Battle Creek for St. Louis, where it arrived in due time and was as- signed to its regiment at Benton Barracks. It remained in camp of instruction, doing target practice and skirmish drill, until De- cember, 1861, when it was sent into north- ern Missouri, at Sturgeon and Renick. Mr. Barker was first under fire at Mount Zion, Missouri, on the 23d of December, 1861; next at Fort Donelson, Tennessee, Febru- ary 13, 14, 15 and 16, 1862; Shiloh, April

6 and 7, 1862 ; siege of Corinth, from April 20 to May 30, 1862; Iuka, September 19th; Corinth, October 3 and 4, 1862. After this, with his regiment, he was occupied in camp duty, guerilla warfare and in building a large stockade on the Tuscumbia river, six miles south of Corinth, at Camp Davies. While here Colonel Birge was superseded and Colonel Patrick E. Burke, of St. Louis, Missouri, assumed command, while the regi- ment, at its own expense, armed itself with the celebrated Henry repeating rifles, or seventeen shooter. In 1863 it marched from Camp Davies to Pulaski, Tennessee, where 'Ren.', with the rest of the regiment, was discharged, on the 23d of December, 1863. He immediately re-enlisted, on the same day and in the same command, and then went home on a veteran's furlough of thirty days. Upon the expiration of his leave of absence he rejoined his command at the front, when the regiment marched to Chattanooga to join General Sherman on the celebrated Atlanta campaign. 'Ren.' was again under fire with his regiment at Ball's Knob, Georgia, on the 9th of May, 1864; Resaca, May 14; Rome Crossroads, May 16, where he was wounded in the left foot, which fact 'knocked him out' of ten months' terrible fighting with his regiment. In this battle Colonel Burke was mortally wounded. The regiment kept on and par- ticipated in every battle of the Atlanta cam- paign and in Sherman's ever memorable march to the sea, while Mr. Barker was sent back to the rear with the other wounded, ar- riving in Nashville, Tennessee, in company with about ten thousand : of Sherman's wounded men, styled the Provisional Divis- ion of the Army of the Tennessee, under command of General Meagher, just in time

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to help 'thrash' General Hood, on the 16th, 17th and 18th of. December, 1864; then he was sent to Annapolis, Maryland, thence by ocean transport to Beaufort, North Caro- lina, and on the 10th of March, 1865, he re- joined his regiment at Goldsboro, that state, and marched with the same to Raleigh, North Carolina, April 12th, participating in the surrender of Joseph E. Johnston's forces, while on the next day the command marched to Richmond, Virginia, and thence to the national capital, where it participated in the grand review. He was mustered out of the service, at Louisville, Kentucky, and re- ceived his final discharge, as sergeant, at Springfield, Illinois, July 11, 1865, making a continuous service of three years, ten months and nine days. 'Ren.' still retains the ownership of his Henry rifle, of which he is very proud, having carried it from 1862 to 1865. He has the names of all the battles engraved beside the lock. It is the only rifle retained by the boys of the com- mand and is now held as a regimental relic. He returned to his home in St. Johns, Clin- ton county, Michigan, whither his parents had removed.

"In 1866 Mr. Barker assisted in estab- lishing the Flint (Michigan) Globe, after which, in 1867, he took Horace Greeley's advice, 'Go west, young man, and grow up with the country,' and went to Sioux City, Iowa, where he became an employe of the Journal. Later he became foreman and re- porter on the Sioux City Daily Times, in which incumbency he remained until 1872, when he founded the Sibley Gazette, at Sibley, Osceola county, Iowa, issuing the first number on July 5th of that year, with Grant's name at its masthead. He contin- ued the publication of this paper until May

30, 1873, when he sold the plant and busi- ness to the firm of Riley & Brown. On the 26th of May, 1875, Mr. Barker assumed the management of the Chelsea (Iowa) Bugle, with which paper he remained thus engaged until October following.

"In 1876 he returned to Michigan, his adopted state, and took charge of the Hast- ings Banner, at Hastings, Barry county, re- maining as foreman and manager of the same until April 27, 1877, when he estab- lished the Lake City Journal, at Lake City, Missaukee county, whose publication he continued until May, 1884, when he sold out to H. N. McIntire and purchased his pres- ent plant, the Reed City Clarion, issuing its first number on the 30th of May of that year. The paper has now an exceptionally fine circulation, with a steadily growing popularity, and is a power in local affairs. The office facilities include the celebrated C. B. Cottrell & Sons' country printing press, and the Clarion is an eight-column folio, all home printed and by steam power.

"Mr. Barker is a stalwart of stalwarts in the ranks of the Republican party and is deservedly popular throughout the state, having represented his district in numerous state and district conventions. He was elected presidential elector in the Blaine and Logan campaign of 1884, and in 1892 he was elected a member of the Republican state central committee of Michigan, retain- ing this incumbency four years, or until 1896, when he was again chosen a member of the national electoral college, on the McKinley and Hobart ticket. He served four years as postmaster of Reed City, un- der the administration of President Harri- son. He was chosen one of the delegates from his district (the eleventh) to the Re-

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publican national convention at Philadel- phia, Pennsylvania, which nominated Mc- Kinley and Roosevelt. He has been at all times an ardent and effective worker for the cause of his party, whose principles and poli- cies he has ably advocated and advanced through the columns of his paper as well as in a personal way."

The subject is a popular and appreciative member of that noble organization, the Grand Army of the Republic, in whose af- fairs he takes a most lively interest. At the ninth annual encampment of the order in Michigan, at Grand Rapids, March 16-18, 1887, he was unanimously chosen a dele- gate to the national encampment that was held in the city of St. Louis, in that year. Since that time he has been a delegate to the national encampments as follows: 1890, at Boston, Massachusetts; 1896, St. Paul, Minnesota ; 1897, Buffalo, New York; 1898, Philadelphia; 1899, Cincinnati; 1900, Chi- cago; 1901, Cleveland; 1902, Washington ; 1903, San Francisco; 1904, Boston; and Denver, 1905. In 1897 he was elected jun- ior vice-commander of the department of Michigan, Grand Army of the Republic, while he is the honored past commander of his home organization, James B. Steedman Post, No. 198, and Gen. J. C. Smith Post, No. 451, Grand Army of the Republic. He is also past chancellor commander of Os- ceola Lodge, No. 77, Knights of Pythias, in Reed City ; and he was one of the valued members of the West Michigan Press Asso- ciation, of which he was secretary for some time. He is now a member of the Michigan Press Association, and ex-vice-president of the same.

On the 16th of April, 1876, in Shenan- doah, Iowa, was solemnized the marriage

of Mr. Barker to Mrs. Eliza (Reagan) Grant, who was born in Jackson county, Michigan, on the 20th of May, 1843. Mr. Barker is a most prominent and influential factor in the public, business and civic life of his city and county, and his friends are in number as his acquaintances, while his attractive home, over which Mrs. Barker graciously presides, is a center of refined hospitality.

CHAUNCEY D. BROOKS.

The subject of this sketch has long occu- pied a high position in the estimation of the citizens of Arenac county, a standing won by the force of his character and his accom- plishments. He is a native of Wayne county, Pennsylvania, and is the son of William Drinker Brooks, a native of Vermont, but later a resident of Homer, New York. The father served throughout the whole period of the Civil war as a member. of the Fiftieth Regiment New York Engineers, going in as a private and being discharged with the rank of second lieutenant. The subject of this sketch was reared in his native county and there received a good practical education in the public schools. In 1891 he came to Are- nac county, Michigan, locating at Augres, where he was the agent for the Harmon City property, known as the Northpoint Lookout, the land, consisting of six thou- sand acres, being located in this and Iosco counties and being owned by W. F. Tay- lor, of Atlantic City, New Jersey. In 1895 Mr. Brooks came to Omer and engaged in the mercantile business, under the firm name of Brooks & Squire. He sold his interest

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in 1896, however, and went into the timber business, buying and selling timber lands and contracting. He erected the school house and town hall at Omer and the school house at Twining, besides many other of the best buildings in this locality, acquiring a splen- did reputation for his conscientious work. In 1899 he was appointed postmaster at Omer, but relinquished the office in July, 1902, at which time Mrs. Brooks was ap- pointed to the position. In 1896 Mr. Brooks purchased the shingle mill at Omer, and also, in partnership with Julius Gross, of Tower, he purchased the cooperage saw-mill and stock at Tower, though they subsequently sold the same.

An active Republican in politics, Mr. Brooks has taken a deep interest in party matters, having served as chairman of the county central committee, in which position he accomplished some effective work. Mr. Brooks married, in this state, Miss Joseph- ine Dubay, of Augres, and they have two children. Fraternally Mr. Brooks is a mem- ber of the Free and Accepted Masons.

ANDREW YOUNG.

The subject of this brief mention, who occupies a leading position among the enter- prising, successful agriculturists of section 16, Riverside township, Missaukee county, Michigan, is a native of Canada, having been born in county Wentworth, province of On- tario, on February 13, 1845, and is the son of Thomas and Isabella (Hall) Young. They were both natives of bonnie Scotland and both died in Canada. They reared nine children to maturity, the subject of

this sketch being one of the younger mem- bers of the family. The subject was reared in his native county and in the adjoining one of Wellington until the date of his removal to "the states," in 1879, at which time he came direct to Missaukee county, locating on the farm on which he now resides. This place was at that time entirely unimproved and was largely covered with a dense growth of the native timber, which had to be cleared away before farming operations could be commenced. He has been eminently success- ful in his operations since coming here and has acquired a splendid reputation as a thor- oughly practical and methodical agricultur- ist. He is diversified in his operations, giv- ing attention to all the crops common to this section of the country.

In Wellington county, Ontario, Canada, on November 15, 1868, Mr. Young was united in marriage with Miss Ann S. Mc- Kellar, who was born in the same county November 30, 1846. To them have been born seven children, of whom six are living, namely: Marrian, the wife of John Ten- nant ; Thomas; Elizabeth Ann, the wife of Edward Nichols; Angus; John, and Jean- ette ; one. daughter, Isabella, died in Canada, at the age of three years. Mr. Young has held the offices of supervisor of Riverside township for four years, township treasurer, school inspector and justice of the peace and member of the board of review. He has ta- ken an active part in all movements looking to the advancement of the best interests of the township or county and has served as president of the Missaukee County Agricul- tural Society for eight years. Fraternally he is a member of Galt Grange, No. 922, Pa- trons of Husbandry, and for several years has served efficiently and satisfactorily as

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postmaster of Galt. He has won the uni- versal esteem of his acquaintances because of the upright life he has led as well as be- cause of the effectual part he has taken in public affairs. He is ever to be found on the right side of every issue affecting the moral, social or educational welfare of the com- munity.

JOHN MCCREADY.

The subject of this sketch, who is one of the most prominent business men at Twin- ing, Arenac county, Michigan, is a native of Norfolk county, Ontario, Canada, and is the son of Samuel and Ellen McCready, both na- tives of Scotland. The subject was reared in his native land and there received a fair common-school education. In 1875 he came to Arenac county, Michigan, to work in the lumber woods, and returned here each win- ter for several years. In 1880 he started a small mill, of three thousand feet daily ca- pacity, at Burleigh township, but three years later removed the mill to Turner township, Arenac county, increasing its capacity to six thousand feet. About this time he bought eighty acres of land, and at the same time en- gaged in the manufacture of coiled barrel hoops, building a small mill in connection with his saw-mill. About 1896 he removed to what is now Twining and erected a shingle and saw-mill combined, the former having a capacity of forty thousand feet daily and the latter of twenty-five thousand. CHEBOYGAN. After two years the shingle mill was dis- carded. In connection with the saw-mill Mr. The enterprising, progressive and popu- lar city of Cheboygan is located at the east end of the straits of Mackinac and is not only McCready has established a planing mill. He does a large and successful business, built up entirely by his own efforts. Mr. Mc- a noted resort, but is also one of the most

Cready is also the owner of a fine farm of five hundred and twenty acres, on which are two full sets of splendid buildings, and also has a good residence in town.

In politics Mr. McCready is a firm Re- publican and has held the office of township clerk, as well as other local public positions, being now a member of the town council. He is also president of the Business Men's Association, of Twining. His fraternal re- lations are with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of which he is an appreciative and valued member. In summing up the life of this well-known man, we find the bat- tle of life to have been well fought by him. He has been along various lines an active participant in the activities which have con- tributed to the wonderful development which has characterized northern Michigan. He was among the hardy band of early pio- neers, and is able to recite many stirring inci- dents of early life here. Among other inter- esting facts, he states that while. living in Burleigh township he did much hunting of wild game each autumn, and at one time shot four deer without moving from his tracks, several large bear and much other game also falling at different times before his trusty rifle. He is plain and unassuming in man- ner, and by reason of his clean character he has won and retains the sincerest respect of a large circle of acquaintances.

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substantial business localities in northern Michigan. The city's growth has at no time been rapid, or of the "boom" order, but has been steady and substantial. It is to- day one of the best improved cities in this section of the country, having well-equipped water works, with the finest quality of water secured from artesian wells, well paved streets, a fine sewerage system, a good street railway, up-to-date public buildings, fine fire protection, educational advantages of the highest and best character, neat and substan- tial churches, and other features which char- acterize a modern and progressive city.

We quote from the pen of one well quali- fied to speak of the subject: "Cheboygan's location must have been designated by nature for human wants. Nature has lavishly sup- plied the soil, climate, location, transporta- tion facilities, raw material and power to utilize her advantages. There are within the county water powers capable of develop- ing ten thousand or fifteen thousand horse- power. Her harbors-she has two, Cheboy- gan river and Duncan bay --- are conceded to be the finest and safest harbors on Lake Hu- ron; safe to enter in all kinds of weather and by all kinds of vessels, big or small. Within a few miles of her outer range light pass the whole tremendous commerce of the great lakes, both to and from Lake Michi- gan and Lake Superior. The shipping possi- bilities are therefore unsurpassed, for it means cheap freights and cheap fuel, and unlimited communication. Like all lumber towns, Cheboygan has chiefly devoted her re- sources and capital to lumbering, and her tremendous natural resources of soil and cli- mate are as yet hardly realized. While the pine is about exhausted, the other woods are scarcely touched. Everywhere through the

county are located little hardwood mills, whose combined output amounts up to the millions of feet each year, the profits of which, for the most part, go to the farmers, land-holders and settlers. That Cheboygan is one of the best markets on the lakes for the sale of lumber and forest products is shown by the fact that her lumber inspectors sell over two hundred and fifty million feet of lumber annually, and heavy buyers come here in droves. Cheboygan county affords as fine lands as can be found in the state of Michigan, and timber of all kinds and plenty of it. The land is fertile, as can be proved by our prosperous farmers. No section of the Union has so much cheap and fertile land within so easy reach of good markets as Cheboygan county, and it is becoming a great fruit country. Apples, pears, plums and cherries of the finest kinds can be raised here successfully and in abundance. Also berries of all descriptions, wild and tame."

Cheboygan county is noted for its inland lakes and streams, which abound with fine specimens of the finny tribe. The Sturgeon river is among the best brook-trout streams in the state, while they are also found in the Carp and Maple. The Black and Cheboygan rivers abound in bass, as does Mullet lake in muskallonge, while Burt lake, Long lake and Black lake are also splendid fishing grounds. All in all, few sections of the Union offer as many and varied attractions to the "resorter" as does Cheboygan and contigu- ous territory, a fact which has, especially in recent years, been widely acknowledged and taken advantage of by residents of all sec- tions of the East and Middle West. Before closing this sketch, mention should be made of the "boys in blue" who went out in 1898 to serve in the war with Spain. Company

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H, Third Regiment Michigan National Guard, was called into service on April 25, 1898, and rendezvoused at Island lake the following day. On May 13th the boys were mustered in as Company H, Thirty-third Regiment Volunteer Infantry, and on the 30th of that month arrived at Camp Alger. They left Camp Alger for Siboney, Cuba, arriving at the latter place June 28th. They were in action before Aguadores on July Ist. No members of this company were killed or wounded, though three died of disease. The company left Santiago de Cuba August 2Ist, arriving at Montauk Point September 2d, and at Cheboygan September 5th. They were on furlough from September 5th to November 3d, and were then under orders until December 6, 1898, when they were mustered out.

SAMUEL A. DAVISON.

Among the many excellent men of north- ern Michigan who have stamped the impress of their strong personality upon the com- munity where they live, none are entitled to more specific mention than the gentleman whose name appears above. Mr. Davison is a native of Lenawee county, Michigan, and is the son of James and Jennette (Austin) Davison, natives of the north of Ireland. The subject was reared in Genesee county, this state, and there received a good prac- tical education in the public schools. His has been an active life, as from the first years of his young manhood he has struck out on original lines for himself and, without the aid of money or influential friends, he has seen his efforts rewarded with a satisfactory

degree of success. Mr. Davison engaged in the land and lumber business in Genesee county for some time and in 1870 he came to Alpena, Michigan, with the intention of investing in timber and farm lands. He had good success from the start in obtaining con- trol of land, and equal success in inducing settlers to come here from the southern part of Michigan, the Eastern states and Canada, so that he has to a marked degree been the means of bringing the advantages of north- ern Michigan to the notice of thousands and of adding to the population and the industry and wealth of this locality. In 1880 Mr. Davison removed his family to Alpena county, clearing up and improving two large farms. At that time business men ridiculed the idea that people could make a living by farming in this section, but Mr. Davison thought differently, and his subsequent suc- cess and that of thousands of others who have followed in his footsteps has demon- strated the soundness of his judgment. He has shown that after the timber has been cleared off, the land is all right and that this is a great place for a poor man to get a start. His example and influence has done much to make Alpena county an agricultural section of wide reputation. Mr. Davison located a great deal of land through this part of the state and after selling or cutting the timber off the land, he then divided it into small farms and sold them at very reasonable terms. In 1888 he removed to Alpena and has since that time made it his home. In 1896 he purchased the Warren Davis shingle mill, which he still operates to its full capac- ity, forty thousand shingles per day, besides ties and lumber to a large extent, employing in all his operations about one hundred men. He is a large stockholder in the Kimball

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Lumber Company, the Churchill Lumber Company, and a director in the Alpena Na- tional Bank and the Alpena County Savings Bank.

On August 19, 1879, Mr. Davison wed- ded Miss Mary J. Henderson and to them have been born three children, namely : Rob- ert A. is employed as bookkeeper in his fa- ther's office; Samuel J. is a student in the State University at Ann Arbor; Jennie E. is a student in the high school at Alpena. On August 14, 1894, Mr. Davison married Lowida H. Richmond, his present wife. Mr. Davison has been and still is one of the strong men of his day and generation in Alpena county and his achievements are des- tined to be the common heritage of the peo- ple.

REV. ALEXANDER F. ZUGELDER.

Rev. Alexander F. Zugelder, pastor of the Holy Cross Catholic church, St. James, Michigan, is a native of Germany, born in the grand duchy of Baden, on January 6, 1869. He received his rudimentary educa- tion in the public schools of his native place and after attending the same for a period of eight years entered the gymnasium, or state college, where in due time he was prepared for his subsequent higher training in the university. At the age of nineteen Father Zugelder came to the United States and dur- ing the ensuing four years pursued his stud- ies in the Seminary of Milwaukee, Wiscon- sin, devoting especial attention while in that institution to philosophy and kindred branches, preparatory to the thorough theo- logical course which he subsequently took in Grand Seminary at Montreal, Canada, re-

ceiving in the latter the order of sub-deacon and deacon on the completion of his scholas- tic work.

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Biographical history of northern Michigan containing biographies of prominent citizens, Part 102

Author: Publication date: 1905 Publisher: Indianapolis : B.F. Bowen Number of Pages: 966

Author:
Publication date: 1905
Publisher: Indianapolis : B.F. Bowen
Number of Pages: 966