Biographical history of northern Michigan containing biographies of prominent citizens, Part 24

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

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NORTHERN MICHIGAN.

In 1869 Mr. Hollenbeck was united in marriage to Miss Mary Drake, who was born and reared in the province of Ontario, Canada, being a daughter of Joseph and Betsy (Hamlin) Drake. Her father was a cooper by trade and both he and his wife passed the closing years of their lives in the province of Ontario, having become the par- ents of nine children, of whom six are yet living. Mr. and Mrs. Hollenbeck have one son, Ezra J., who married Miss Etta Hockin and who is associated with his father in the work and management of the home farm.

bers of the Methodist Episcopal church at the Grange, in whose affairs they have taken a deep interest. there they continued to reside during their Milton Center, where they also belong to. entire lives, the father having been a farmer by vocation. Of their ten children only four are living. The subject of this review was reared to the sturdy discipline of the old homestead farm and his early educational advantages were such as were afforded in the common schools of the locality and period. He was identified with agricultural pursuits at the time of the outbreak of the war of the Rebellion, when he gave prompt exemplification of his intrinsic loyalty by tendering his services in defense of the Union, in response to President Lincoln's first call for volunteers. In the autumn of 1861 he enlisted as a private in Company G. Seventy-fifth Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He continued in active service for three years, having received his honorable discharge on the 22d of December, 1864. His regiment JACKSON WAFFLE. was assigned to the Army of the Potomac and was actively identified with important manoeuvers and operations. He took part in eighteen important engagements, besides many minor skirmishes, and among the more notable may be mentioned the following : The second battle of Bull Run, Gainesville and Gettysburg, and all other battles in which his command was involved during the campaign in West Virginia.

This honored veteran of the Civil war is to be designated as one of the early pioneers of Antrim county, since he took up his resi- dence in the forest wilds of Central Lake township two score of years ago. He figures as one of the founders and builders of the county and is specially worthy of consider- ation in this work. He was here engaged in agricultural pursuits for many years, but is now living practically retired in the attractive village of Central Lake.

Mr. Waffle was born and reared in the old Empire state, having first seen the light of day in Monroe county, New York, where he was born on the 20th of October, 1830. He is a son of Garret and Ann (Cochran) Waffle, both of whom were likewise born in New York, the father of Holland and the mother of Irish and Holland lineage, and

After the close of his valiant and most creditable military career Mr. Waffle re- turned to New York state, remaining at his old home for a few months and then, in the fall of 1865, coming to Michigan. Here he enrolled himself forthwith as one of the pioneers of Antrim county, having secured a tract of heavily timbered land in Central Lake township, a short distance from the present village of Eastport, and having there established his little cabin in the midst of the

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forest, while he proceeded with the arduous labors of clearing his land and rendering it available for cultivation. With the pass- ing of the years his efforts brought forth the desired results, for he developed one of the best farms in this section and gained a com- petency in the connection. He continued to reside on this homestead until 1896, when he removed to the village of Central Lake, where he has since lived practically retired. In the village he has an attractive residence, the same being presided over by his eldest (laughter. Mr. Waffle has been a stalwart supporter of the Republican party from the time of its organization to the present and he has been an influential factor in local af- fairs of a public nature, having served as justice of the peace and as highway com- missioner, while for nine years he was a valtied member of the school board of his district. In a fraternal way he is identified with the Grand Army of the Republic.

In the year 1856 was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Waffle to Miss Ann Au- gusta Harrington, who was born and reared in the state of New York, being a daughter of Nelson and Betsy (Swift) Harrington, and she proved to him a devoted wife and helpmeet. The devoted wife and mother was summoned into eternal rest on April 20, 1894, and of the five children we enter brief record as follows: Garret N. is a prosper- ous farmer of this county; John J., who married Miss Minnie Seymour, is likewise a representative farmer of this county; Elizabeth is the wife of N. R. Wilke, a prominent member of the Antrim county bar and successfully established in practice in the village of Central Lake; Grace E. is the wife of A. W. Foy and they reside in the city of Denver, Colorado, and Andrew J.

is engaged in lumbering enterprises in this section of the state.

LEANDER M. OSBORN.

The subject of this sketch is one of the representative farmers of Milton township. Antrim county, and there is additional in- terest attached to his career from the fact that he is a native of the section of Michi- gan with which this publication has to do. being a representative of one of the honored pioneer families of Grand Traverse county.

Mr. Osborn was born at Old Mission, Grand Traverse county, on the 28th of Feb- ruary, 1867, and is a son of Isaac T. and Catherine (Cole) Osborn, both of whom were born and reared in the dominion of Canada, whence they came to the northern part of Michigan in an early day, the father here becoming identified with the great lumbering industry, while he also de- voted more or less attention to the work of his trade, that of shoemaking. His wife is now deceased, while he is living with the subject. Of their ten children, eight are liv- ing

The subject of this review secured his educational training in the public schools of Big Rapids and early began to depend upon his own resources. He continued to be in the employ of others, in connection with lumbering and farming, until he had attained the age of seventeen years, when he located in Antrim county and purchased his present well improved farm, which com- prises one hundred and twenty acres, of which about forty acres are still covered with the native timber, which is now very

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valuable, while the remainder of the place has been reclaimed to cultivation through the arduous and well directed efforts of the enterprising and energetic owner, who has also made good improvements of a per- manent nature, including the erection of a comfortable residence. He is a stanch Re- publican in his political adherency and takes a proper interest in local affairs, though he has never aspired to the honors or emolu- ments of office. He is identified with the Grange organiaztion of the county and is known as one of the substantial and reliable young farmers of this section. In addition to diversified agriculture he devotes con- siderable attention to the raising of live stock, giving preference to the shorthorn Durham type of cattle. He has worked earnestly and indefatigably and has gained a success worthy the name, while he com- mands the respect and esteem of the people of the community which has been the scene of his effective labors. Mr. Osborn still re- mains a bachelor.

PETER MURRAY.

That the plentitude of satiety is seldom attained in the affairs of life is to be con- sidered a most beneficial deprivation, for where ambition is satisfied and every ulti- mate end realized, if such be possible, apathy must follow. Effort would cease, accom- plishment be prostrate, and creative talent waste its energies in inactivity. The men who have pushed forward the wheels of progress have been those to whom satisfac- tion lies ever in the future, who have la- bored continuously, always finding in each

transition stage an incentive for further effort. Mr. Murray is one whose well di- rected efforts have gained for him a position of desirable prominence in the commercial circles of Antrim county and his energy and enterprises have been crowned by success.

Peter Murray was born in Canada, his birthday having been in 1855. on the anni- versary day of American independence. He is the son of George and Jane ( Ross) Mur- ray, who were natives of Scotland, but later moved to Canada. George Murray died there in 1903, while his widow is still living. making her home in Brooke, in the dominion of Canada. They were farming people and retained the high regard of all who knew them. The subject of this sketch was reared and educated in his native land, receiving such educational facilities as were afforded in the schools of his neighborhood. He was an intelligent student and took advantage of every opportunity afforded for the widening of his fund of knowledge and is today a well read and intelligent man. He early learned the fact that industry and persever- ance were necessary elements to success and nowhere as much so as on the farm, and to these early lessons is largely due his subse- quent success. In 1875 Mr. Murray came to Michigan and located in Echo township, Antrim county, in the midst of the dense wilderness which then covered this section of the country. It was a discouraging pros- pect which faced him at that time, but. un- daunted, he set himself to the task of clear- ing the land and making it fit for cultiva- tion. At that time there was little profit in the timber, as there was no means of work- ing it up into lumber and shipping facilities were meagre, consequently much of the tim- ber had to be destroyed where it fell. Mr.

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Murray labored indefatigably in his ef- gence and his perseverance. He has ever forts to create a good home and that he has been fully alive to the progressive spirit of the times, which is emphasized in agricul- tural life as well as in other lines of business activity. Both Mr. and Mrs. Murray are held in the highest regard. They are peo- ple of sterling worth and occupy an enviable position in social circles. Mrs. Murray is a member of the Baptist church. been successful in a large degree in his pur- pose is evident to the casual observer who today passes his well arranged and neatly kept premises. He is the owner of forty acres of land, of which thirty are under the plow, and though his farm is not as large as some others in the locality, none excel it in proportionate average crops.

Mr. Murray took a prominent part in the organization of the township and helped to lay out all of the early roads hereabouts. He has built on his place a comfortable and convenient home, a large and commod- ious barn and other necessary outbuildings for the care and protection of his crops and live stock. Mr. Murray has been since com- ing to the United States a staunch Repub- lican in politics, his attitude being due to his belief that Republican principles are those best adapted to the welfare of the American people, especially the farmer. He has not been a seeker after public office, though per- suaded by his fellow citizens to accept a place on the local school board, which he retained for nine years and in which position he did much to advance the educational in- terests of his township. He takes a keen in- terest in the public welfare and all move- ments of a beneficent nature meet with his warm approval and endorsement.

In 1888 Mr. Murray was united in mar- riage to Miss Elizabeth Sinclair, whose an .. cestors were natives of Ireland, and to this union have been born five children, Ethel. Gracie, Lillie, Myrtle and Anna.

Mr. Murray's home property is an in- dication of a life of industry and enterprise which he had led, he owing his prosperity to his sound business judgment, his dili-

JOHN W. PEARL.

The biographical annals of Antrim county would be incomplete were there fail- ure to make specific mention of Mr. Pearl, who came here in the early pioneer epoch and who has been prominently identified with the industrial, material and civic prog- ress of this section, having been concerned in both farming and mercantile enterprises and having ever stood for loyal and public- spirited citizenship. He came to this county when the section was practically an un- broken forest, when Indians and wild ani- mals were still plentiful and when the homes of the settlers were cabins of most primitive type. He has been a factor in bringing about the transformation which has made this one of the leading counties of the state, with its highly cultivated farms, thriving towns and villages, its school houses, churches and all other evidences of progress and culture, and he is today one of the prominent and honored citizens of Eastport, one of the attractive and thriving villages of the county.

Mr. Pearl is a native of the old Empire state, having been born in Clinton county, New York, on the 8th of October, 1839, so

NORTHERN MICHIGAN.

that he is now approaching the psalmist's span of three score years and ten, well pre- served in mental and physical vigor and giving slight evidence of the years which have passed over his head. Mr. Pearl is a son of Cassius and Rosella (Stafford) Pearl, the former of whom was born in Vermont, in the year ISII, the family having been founded in New England in the colonial era of our national history. The father of our subject continued to reside in New York state until 1865, when he removed with his family to Michigan and settled in Calhoun county, where he purchased a tract of land, a portion of which is now within the cor- porate limits of the thriving city of Battle Creek. He took up his residence in that town, which was then a small village, and for fifteen years he was prominently en- gaged in the real-estate business, controlling and handling lands throughout the north- western part of the state and carrying on ex- tensive transactions. He eventually dis- posed of his farming property in Calhoun county for the notable sum of twenty-one thousand dollars. He was one of the honored and influential citizens of Battle Creek, where he continued to reside until his death, which occurred in 1886, his de- voted wife surviving him by about a decade. They became the parents of ten children, all of whom are living, the youngest having passed the half century mark, and as indi- cating the sturdiness of the family stock it is interesting to note that none of the chil- dren have ever been ill save in a very in- significant way.

The subject of this sketch was reared and educated in the state of New York, and was about twenty-five years of age at the time of the family removal to Michigan.

In the following year, 1866, he came to An- trim county and located in Banks township, being one of its first settlers, while his brother Lucius opened the first mercantile establishment in Norwood, Charlevoix county, where the pioneers for many miles about repaired for their supplies. The sub- ject erected a log house on his land, and in the early days his home was hospitably opened to those who came here in search of location, many of the old settlers having been entertained by him until they could provide dwellings for themselves. In 1872 Mr. Pearl went to Lyons, Michigan, where he was identified with the operation of a grist mill for a period of four years, at the expiration of which he returned to An- trim county, where he has ever since main- tained his home. Here he established him- self in the general merchandise business in Eastport, building up a good trade and con- tinuing operations in the line for sixteen years. Thus he is to be known as one of the pioneer merchants of this now thriving town, of which he may well be considered one of the founders and builders. He is the owner of a fine farm of fifty-seven acres, in Central Lake township, the same having been reclaimed under his direction, while he still has the supervision of the property, the entire tract being under a high state of culti- vation. Mr. Pearl rendered material assist- ance in the cutting through and improving of the early highways of the county, gave a hearty co-operation in the establishment of schools and otherwise played well his part in forwarding civic advancement and ma- terial prosperity, while he has never abated his interest in and appreciation of this favored section of the Wolverine state. In politics he maintains an independent atti-

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tude, giving his support to the men and his relatives during the period noted young measures which meet the approval of his judgment and keeping in close touch with the questions and issues of the day. He served for six years as supervisor of Cen- tral Lake township and for the notable period of fifteen years was incumbent of the office of postmaster at Eastport, while he has also been a valued member of the school board.

Mr. Pearl has been twice married. In 1872 he wedded Miss Ada Harris, whose death occurred in 1894. She is survived by two children, Norton, who is a member of the class of 1906 in the college at Mount Pleasant, Isabella county, and Effie, who remains at the parental home, being an ac- complished young lady and one who enjoys marked popularity in the social circles of Eastport. In 1886 Mr. Pearl was united in marriage to Miss Alice Hadcock, and they have one child, Myrtle. Mrs. Pearl is a member of the Baptist church. Mr. Pearl is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons.

WILLIAM H. BURNS.

William H. Burns, retired farmer, ex- soldier and representative citizen, is a native of Pennsylvania, born in the city of Phila- delphia, on the first day of March, 1841. At the early age of ten years he was thrown upon his own resources and a little later took up the printer's trade, which he followed in his native city until sixteen years old, when he left the scenes of his early life and came to Michigan, spending the first year in this state with an uncle who owned a farm near the town of Fentonville. After working for

Burns went to Dearborn, near Detroit. where he devoted his attention to farm labor until the breaking out of the war between the states, when he laid aside the implements of husbandry to tender his services to the government, enlisting at Detroit. in April. 1861, in the Jackson Guards, an independ- ent company which was sent to Chicago, where it became a part of the famous Mul- ligan Brigade.

Mr. Burns accompanied his regiment to the front and received his first baptism of fire at Lexington, Missouri, where the Federal command was attacked by the Con- federate forces under Generals Price, Mar- maduke, Shelby and Raines, and defeated after three days of almost continuous fight- ing, the greater part of the force being cap- tured by the enemy. From the scene of this disaster the prisoners were escorted to the city of Montgomery, Kansas, and paroled, after which they were sent to St. Louis, Mis- souri, where they lay in camp until fur- loughed home. Returning to Michigan after a few months of military experience, in- cluding the time spent as a prisoner, Mr. Burns remained there until exchanged in the winter of 1861, immediately following which he re-enlisted in Captain Dargart's company of sharpshooters, an independent command at the time of its organization at Detroit, but later attached to the Sixteenth Michigan Infantry, with which it did ef- ficient service during the campaigns on the Potomac and in other operations in Vir- ginia. Shortly after his second enlistment Mr. Burns was made corporal and the com- pany, being sent east, went into camp until the second battle of Bull Run. Owing to the small target rifles with which the men were

WILLIAM H. BURNS AND FAMILY.

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at first armed they were not allowed to par -. ticipate in any fighting, but as soon as these were exchanged for more effective weapons the company was sent to the front and from that time until discharged in 1864 ex- perienced all the dread realities of warfare in some of the hardest and bloodiest battles known to history. Mr. Burns shared with his comrades the varied experiences through which the Army of the Potomac passed and took part in the campaigns which tested the skill and leadership of some of the greatest generals of modern times. participating in nearly all the battles fought on Virginia and Maryland soil, the following being the most notable: Hanover Court House, Gaines' Mill, Malvern Hill, Harrison's Landing, second battle of Bull Run, Antietam, Fred- ericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Mine Run, the Wilderness, Malvern Hill, Spottsylvania, North Ann and Cold Har- bor, besides numerous skirmishes and minor engagements in which danger was fully as great and death as certain. In the terrible battle of Cold Harbor Mr. Burns was struck on the left arm by the fragments of a shell which broke one of the bones of that ment- ber, inflicting a very painful wound which required three months' treatment in the hos- pital at Annapolis, Maryland, before he was sufficiently recovered to rejoin his regiment. On his return to the army he resumed com- mand of his company, having by succession risen from the ranks of corporal to that of first lieutenant and commander of the com- pany and it was while serving in the latter capacity that he received his discharge with the rest of his comrades on December 30, 1864, after an honorable military career of three years and seven months, during which time he never shirked a responsibility, how-

ever great or onerous, nor hesitated to go where duty called.

Returning to Dearborn at the close of his period of service, Mr. Burns remained there until the spring of 1865, at which time he came to Antrim county and located a home- stead in Bank township, two and a half miles north of the head of Torch lake and about the same distance from Traverse bay, tak- ing up a quarter section of heavily wooded land for which in due time he received a patent from the government. In the clear- ing and improving of his place his greatest task was to get rid of the forest growth and while doing this he ruthlessly burned and otherwise destroyed thousands of dollars worth of valuable timber, much more than enough if now standing to pay for the land with a surplus of sufficient magnitude to place him in comfortable if not independent circumstances. He put forty-five acres under cultivation, made a number of good improvements, set out orchards and in due time his farm ranked with the best in the county. He remained on this farm until 1899. a period of thirty-four years, and then turned it over to other hands and moved to Central Lake where he has since lived a re- tired life in the enjoyment of the fruits of his industry and good management. He has not entirely given up his agricultural inter- - ests, retaining one-half of the farm north- west of the town, and to this and other busi- ness affairs he devotes his personal attention, being still an active man and carrying the weight of his years with the vitality that characterized the days of his prime.

Mr. Burns was married in Dearborn. Michigan, February 18, 1864, to Miss Ellen Cochran, a native of that town and the daughter of John and Caroline Cochran, the

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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY OF

father a stone mason by trade and one of the early pioneers of Michigan, having set- tled in the vicinity of Dearborn sometime in the 'thirties. To Mr. and Mrs. Burns. one child has been born, a son by the name of George H., who married Miss Mettie Arnold and who now lives on his father's farm in Banks township where he ranks among the most enterprising and successful agriculturists of that part of the county.

Politically Mr. Burns is a Republican, but not a very active party worker ; he served for a number of years as justice of the peace in Banks township and made a creditable record in that capacity, having transacted a great deal of important business and but few of his decisions ever suffered reversal at the hands of higher courts. Fraternally he is a Mason of high standing, having for- merly been a member of Torch Lake Lodge, in which he filled all the chairs and for eight consecutive years served worshipful master, in addition to which he and his wife are influential workers in the F. J. Lewis Chapter, Order of the Eastern Star. Mr. Burns manifests an abiding interest in mili- tary affairs and has long been a prominent member of the Grand Army of the Republic, belonging originally to George Martin Post at Eastport, and later transferring his mem- bership to the James A. Saxton Post, with which he is still identified and in which he has also held a number of positions of honor and trust.

WILLIAM MUCKLE.

To write the personal record of men who have raised themselves from humble circumstances to a position of responsi-

bility and trust in a community is no or- dinary pleasure. Self-made men, men who have achieved success by reason of their per- sonal qualities and left the impress of their individuality upon the business and growth of their place of residence and affect for good such institutions as are embraced within the sphere of their usefulness, un- wittingly, perhaps, built monuments more enduring than marble obelisk or granite shaft. Of such we have the unquestioned right to say belongs to the gentleman whose name appears above.

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Biographical history of northern Michigan containing biographies of prominent citizens, Part 24

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