Biographical history of northern Michigan containing biographies of prominent citizens, Part 49

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

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had bearing on the industrial progress of his home town. He is at the present time president of the Kalkaska board of trade, whose organization was effected mainly through his earnest efforts, and through this body much has been done to foster local enterprises and establish new ones, while the work of the board is not abating with the passing of time. For the past fifteen years Mr. French has been county superintendent of the poor, and in this capacity has proved a most valuable and faithful official. He has made a special study of social problems, especially in connection with matters touch- ing the indigent, the causes of poverty, etc., and his efforts in the office mentioned have been guided with resulting discrimination and ability. In politics he has ever been stanchly arrayed as a supporter of the Re- publican party, and even as a boy, at the time of the campaign in which the "grand old party" presented its first candidate for the presidency, General Fremont, our sub- ject organized a juvenile Republican club among his boy companions, even proving successful in duly proselyting boys who were members of sternly Democratic fam- ilies. He reverts to this period in his career with no small amount of satisfaction, and his party fealty is equally insistent today, while he is frequently called upon to serve as delegate to the various party conventions, though he has never been personally am- bitious for official preferment. He and his son are appreciative members of the Masonic fraternity, and he served two terms as mas- ter of his lodge, while in 1884-5 he repre- sented the same in the grand lodge of the state. His son is secretary of the Kalkaska lodge at the time of this writing.

In Springville, New York, on the 29th

of September, 1874, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. French to Miss Sarah J. Cady, who was born and reared in that state, and she accompanied him to the new home in Michigan about two years later. She was summoned into eternal rest on the 29th of August, 1898, at the age of fifty-seven years, having endeared herself to a wide circle of appreciative friends in Kalkaska, where she was prominent in church and social affairs. Two sons were born of this union, and the elder, Charles, died at the age of seven years. Irving, who is now associated with his father in business, served a four years' ap- prenticeship in a local printing and news- paper office, and he is at the present time correspondent for two daily papers. He is an alert and progressive young business man and proves an able coadjutor to his father. On May 14, 1902, he was united in mar- riage to Miss Cora Terpening, of Kalkaska. Mr. French again married on September 5, 1904, this time to Miss Mariette S. Cobb, a native of New York. Like his father, he is a stanch Republican in politics. In con- clusion it may be also stated in this connec- tion that the subject of this review served three years as a member of the board of trustees of the village and for one year as president of the town.

MANCELONA VILLAGE.

Mancelona is situated in the eastern part of Antrim county, upon the Grand Rapids & Indiana Railroad. It is the largest village in the county, numbering nearly two thousand people. It was named in honor of the first settler, Perry Andress's youngest

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daughter, Miss Mancelona Andress. The village was incorporated in 1889. William H. Thompson was its first president. There are nearly six hundred school children, ne- cessitating the employment of fourteen teachers; has a branch of the state normal school, and has six churches. The Antrim Iron Company's furnace is located here, and employs nearly three hundred men the year round; here also is located the wood alcohol plant in connection therewith, pig iron and wood alcohol being shipped from here to all parts of the country. The Mancelona handle factory and the cheese- box factory are located here and employ many men. The merchants in Mancelona enjoy a good trade from a large surrounding country, which is well settled, and the vil- lage is well supplied with good well water which is pumped by the Holly system of pumps, has a fine electric light plant, fine brick blocks, plenty of cement sidewalks and cross walks. There are here three law- years, five doctors, plenty of preachers to instruct the people; and above all a live, progressive people, who work for the best interests of Mancelona.

HAROLD B. WHALLEY.

The popular and efficient cashier of the Kalkaska County State Savings Bank, of Kalkaska, is one of the prominent young business men of this section and is well en- titled to representation in this work. Mr. Whalley is a native of England, having been born in Nottinghamshire, and being a son of Rev. John Whalley, a clergyman of the

Congregational church and a man of dis- tinguished ability. The mother's maiden name was Martha Murgatroyd, and she died in 1891. Our subject received his rudi- mentary educational discipline in the schools of his native land, and when he was nine years of age his parents removed to south Africa, where they remained until he was fourteen years old, his father having been established at Pietermaritzburg in charge of a church of the denomination above named. The family were located there during the memorable Zulu war, and remained for some time at Natal, while our subject retains very vivid recollections in regard to the turbulent occurrences of that period. He returned with his parents to England, where he re- mained until the autumn of 1883, when he came to the United States in company with his parents, his father becoming pastor of a church at Richmond, Macomb county, Michigan, whence they later removed to Middleville, Barry county; from which place they came to Kalkaska in the autumn of 1890. Here Rev. John Whalley served three years as pastor of the Congregational church, being later pastor of the church at Hart, Oceana county, and continuing his residence in Michigan for nearly a score of years. He is now pastor of a church in Frankfort, South Dakota. His son Oswald, a dental surgeon, is engaged in practice in Kalkaska.

Harold B. Whalley, the immediate sub- ject of this sketch, was about twenty-four years of age at the time of taking up his residence in Kalkaska, and here he was for four years employed as clerk in the post- office during the regime of Josiah C. Gray. He then secured a clerical position in the City Bank, becoming bookkeeper in the in-

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stitution and thus continuing until the or- ing been erected in 1902, at a cost of ten ganization of the Kalkaska County State thousand dollars, while the counting rooms of the bank are of modern design and acces- sories making the banking office a specially convenient and attractive one. The new building has been occupied by the bank since the Ist of January, 1903. The official corps of the bank is as follows: President, Am- brose E. Palmer; vice-president, William C. Freeman ; cashier, Harold B. Whalley. The stock of the bank is held by representative men of the county, and the institution is thus distinctively a "home" bank, its board of di- rectors comprising seven members. Savings Bank in February, 1902, when he was tendered and accepted his present re- sponsible position as cashier, while he is also a stockholder and director of the insti- tution, which has advanced to a foremost position among the financial concerns of this section of the state. Mr. Whalley gives his undivided attention to his executive and ad- ministrative duties, and it is largely due to his energy, discrimination and progressive policy that the bank has forged so rapidly and substantially forward in popular estima- tion and supporting patronage. In politics Mr. Whalley gives his allegiance to the Re- publican party, but he has never sought the honors or emoluments of public office and is JOHN MILLER. in no sense a politician. He was chosen president of the village one term in 1903 and then elected in 1904.

Mr. Whalley is one of the prominent and valued members of the Congregational church in Kalkaska, being a member of its board of trustees and also serving in the deaconate.

On the Ist of January, 1897, was sol- emnized the marriage of Mr. Whalley to Miss Mary Dunn, the daughter of Dennis and Kate (Faman) Dunn and they have two children, M. Claire and M. Kathryn.

In conclusion we enter a brief resume of the history of the bank of which the subject is cashier. The Kalkaska County State Sav- ings Bank was organized on the 13th of Feb- ruary, 1902, and the official number of the same is 257. It is capitalized for twenty thousand dollars, has a surplus of seventeen hundred dollars and its deposits average one hundred thousand dollars. The building oc- cupied is one of the best in this section, hav-

The subject of this sketch, who is one of the best known farmers of his community, was born in Ogdensburg, St. Lawrence county, New York, in October, 1874. When he was ten years old the family removed to Charlevoix county, Michigan, in which com- munity the subject has since resided. His parents were Hugh and Sarah (Wayne) Mil- ler, both natives of Ireland, the father of An- trim county and the mother of Down county. They were married in New York state, and were farming people all their lives. In 1858 Hugh Miller bought the homestead on which the subject now resides, moving on to the same in 1859. He first lived a couple of years on the north side of Pine lake where he cleared about six acres of land, but he dis- covered that it was railroad land and that it would be impossible for him to obtain a good title to it, it not being on the market. He then bought one hundred and ninety acres of government and state land bordering on

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the west side of Pine lake, and on this place he erected his first log cabin home, which was located near the site of his present resi- dence. He later built a much more commo- dious structure. The log house was his home for about twenty years, during which time he succeeded in clearing and rendering fit for cultivation about eighty acres on which he cut much valuable timber, but there being little demand for the same, it was mostly burned. Mr. Miller, however, found some profit in the timber business, as he sold large quantities of cord wood and hoops and stays for fish barrels which he shipped by sailboat to the markets. His family consisted of seven children, his two sons, aged respectively ten and twelve years, being his only helpers in his work. His youngest daughter, Margaret Isabel, aged two years, was the first white person who died in this county and her re- mains were buried near the "Inn," on a piece of land owned by John S. Dixon as at that time Mr. Miler could not get a deeded tract of land on which to inter the body. Later, however, the remains were removed to a cemetery lot. At the organization of Charle- voix county and Charlevoix township Mr. Miller was elected treasurer, being the first to hold this office in the township. Char- levoix township then comprised Charlevoix county and as Mr. Miller's duties also em- braced those of collector it was necessary for him to personally visit all of the settlers. It was necessary for him to walk all the dis- tance to Boyne City to collect taxes and then he had to walk to Harbor Springs to make his settlements, his first settlement not amounting to over two hundred dollars. His first personal tax was but ten cents this being assessed on a sugar kettle. After the first years of the township's organization he

could not be induced to accept public office, although a stanch and enthusiastic Republi- can all his years. His death occurred on the 20th of August, 1877, his wife having died on the 4th of June previously. They had lived together about forty-five years, during which period their lives were devoted to the interests of their children. All of the chil- dren were born in New York state and were as follows: Sarah Jane, who died in 1885, was the widow of Eli Horton, who was killed during the war of the Rebellion; Susan E., who died about ten years ago, was the widow of Asher King, who at one time was a member of the United States army; William M. is living in Charlevoix county, near Belvidere, and is the only mem- ber of the family besides the subject now liv- ing ; John C .; Ellen M., unmarried, who died in 1882, at the age of thirty years, had al- ways remained at home; Mary A., died in 1871 ; Margaret J., who died at the age of two years.

The subject of this sketch devoted his early years to helping his father clear the farms referred to above and because of the absence of his brother he became the main- stay of the farm, though his father continued as the active manager. Mr. Miller inherited the old homestead and has therefore spent practically his whole life in this place. He has one hundred and fifty acres of land, of which ninety acres are under cultivation, and has cleared and worked up the entire tract, having devoted himself assiduously to gen- eral farming.

On April 18, 1883, Mr. Miller was united in marriage to Miss Mary E. Rockey, a native of Canada, and to them have been born three children: Hugh A. was drowned at the age of nineteen on October 3, 1903.

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He was a student of marine engineering and was a passenger on the steamboat "Erie L. Hockey," which foundered in Green bay ; William M. died at the age of nine months, while on board the "Hockey," a small pas- senger boat which foundered during a severe gale in Green bay, his body never being re- covered ; Merrit B. is at home and is a stu- dent in high school.

Mr. Miller is a Republican in politics and takes an active interest in the welfare of his party. Mrs. Miller is a member of the Meth- odist Episcopal church and takes a deep and abiding interest in its upbuilding. In all of life's relation the subject and his wife have proven themselves worthy of the confidence and regard of their friends and acquaint- ances.

CAPT. ALANSON G. ALDRICH.

Captain Aldrich was born April 27, 1836, in Huron, near Huron river, Wayne county, Michigan, and is a son of Marvin M. Aldrich, of New York, who settled in Michigan a few years before the subject's birth. He was a farmer and when the sub- ject was about seven years old the family left for western Illinois. They left Michi- gan for California, transportation being by means of three ox teams, but before reaching the Mississippi river they changed their minds and removed to Wisconsin. In the fall of 1857, however, they came back to Michigan much the worse financially for their experience. They located at Beaver island, where the father established a store and was also engaged in cutting fire wood for steamboats. He had become a member

of the Mormon church and continued to be identified with this sect. In 1856 he moved to Grand Rapids, Michigan, the subject ac- companying him, and remained there the rest of his days and there he was engaged to some extent in the practice of medicine. His death occurred at the age of seventy-three.

Alanson G. Aldrich at the age of twelve years began sailing as a cook on fishing ves- sels. He was also engaged in picking up barrel fish and taking them to the markets, mainly at Chicago. He thus learned all lines of navigation and in four years had become so proficient that he was placed in charge of of the vessel "Dolphin," of which he was captain for three years, being engaged in the same line of trade. He retained his home at Grand Rapids until the spring of 1858, when he located at Charlevoix and, excepting a period of thirteen years, he has since lived there. He secured a small sailboat and em- ployed two men in fishing off Charlevoix and on Fox islands. In those days fishers lo- cated on these islands and made a profitable business of fishing and Mr. Aldrich contin- ued the business for four or five seasons. He was then made master of a tug for Fox, Rose & Company, engaged in towing wood scows, and while acting in this capacity he dredged out the present channel into Pine lake. There were then two tugs employed, the "Commodore Nutt" and "Minnie War- ren." He was captain on the first one of these, which was the first tug at this point. The old channel into Pine lake was crooked and hard to navigate, but the new channel as dredged by Mr. Aldrich made a short cut that lessened the distance. The earth was mainly taken out by horse scrapers, after which the tugs assisted in making a channel

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of necessary depth. Captain Aldrich later managed a yacht for Dexter & Noble, of Elk Rapids, which boat succeeded the "Sunny Side," owned by Hannah, Lay & Company, which was wrecked off Charle- voix. He then commanded the "Jennie Sut- ton," from Ek Rapids to Traverse City, and also ran a tug on Elk lake for Dexter & Noble, engaged in transporting wood scows. Hannah, Lay & Company then built the "City of Grand Rapids," which Captain Mil- ler commanded, while the subject com- manded the "Clara Belle" from Traverse City to other points. The Hannah-Lay Com- pany finally agreed with Captain Aldrich that they would put the "Clara Belle" on the Petoskey run, alternating with the "City of Grand Rapids." Results were satisfactory to Mr. Hannah so that he put on the "T. S. Faxton," making the subject captain, and it alternated with the "City of Grand Rapids," under Captain Wilbur, to Mackinaw, con- necting with the vessels at Traverse City for Chicago. He worked for Hannah, Lay & Company until they began to sell their ves- sel interests. The "Faxton", was the first vessel sold and Captain Aldrich ran her for two seasons at Mackinaw to St. Ignace as a ferry boat, following which he ran the "Al- goma" for a season in the same capacity. During the summer seasons railroad cars were loaded on the scows and hauled across the channel by the subject. Following his command of the "Algoma" he left the lake service and for three or four years was em- ployed between Chicago and Buffalo on the Wagner sleeping cars. But again longing for the life on the water he returned to the lake and was made captain on a boat running between Chicago and Lake Michigan, the "Ossifrage." taking her from Bay City on

t what was known as the Vandalia line and in opposition to the Graham & Morton line. He eventually had two boats, the "Ossifrage" and the "Sioux City," and another boat in the service to Milwaukee, the manager of the company being Captain John Loughley, of St. Joseph, Michigan. At the close of that season the "Ossifrage" was sold and Captain Aldrich took it to Duluth for the purchaser; returning he entered the employ of the Wagner Company, with whom he continued until 1902. After a thirteen years' residence in Chicago he returned to Charle- voix where he had devoted himself to the conducting of a small farm. He has built him a home in the south part of town and here he expects to spend the remainder of his days. It is noteworthy that during all his service as captain on the boats, he never lost a life or suffered shipwreck, though exper- iencing several break-downs and other minor casualties and having had in some re- spects a wide experience.

Mr. Aldrich has been a useful citizen. In the early days the country was practically shut out from the civilized world, in winters it being necessary to bring the supplies in by water or sled. One winter Captain Aldrich started on the 20th of November for Grand Rapids in a thirty-foot sailboat and had his boat loaded and ready for the homeward journey from Grand Haven early in Decem- ber. They were compelled to face a stiff northwest wind which beat the boat back to Muskegon the next day and from there to Manistee, where they fell in with Captain Stockman, who was engaged in fishing and who stated that if they made no progress by the next day he would accompany them. The two boats were tied together and were finally able to pull into Charlevoix, without

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mishap, though suffering from the intense and senatorial conventions of his party. cold. Captain Aldrich frequently walked On August 4, 1854, Captain Aldrich was married at St. James, Beaver island, to Miss Anna Griffith, a native of Montreal, Canada, and to them have been born nine children, of whom four sons and three daughters are now living. from Charlevoix to Elk Rapids carrying a pack of fifty pounds of provisions, making the trip by the aid of snowshoes, and he has frequently packed seventy-five pounds into the woods in the fall, having in that way walked sixty or eighty miles without ex- haustion. Fortunately he was the pos- sessor of a splendid physique and was enabled to endure intense cold and STATE BANK OF EAST JORDAN.

much hard labor. During the winter Captain Aldrich engaged in trapping fur an- imals and in company with a fur trader he took one entire winter's catch to Grand · Rapids in a twenty-four foot boat.

In politics Mr. Aldrich is a Republican and was a charter member of the party in this county, participating in the first elec- tion held here. The first assessors of the township proceeded to assess village lots at sale prices and other property at one dollar and twenty-five cents per acre. Captain Al- drich was elected supervisor for three years, and at the expiration he refused to again run. He got Mr. Cooper to run, who was de- feated by John S. Dixon by one vote. The following year Captain Aldrich was again successful and served four years, when he resigned to accept the office of sheriff, which office he also filled for four years. About 1870 he was made United States deputy in- ternal revenue assessor and collector under S. S. Bailey and held the office for four years, his district being the eleventh divis- ion of the fourth district of Michigan, cov- ering Manitou and Beaver island and the coast from Traverse City to Sheboygan. The Captain has taken a deep interest in the success of his party and has frequently been an interested delegate to the district, state

The State Bank of East Jordan, which is the first financial institution organized at this place, was started and organized by George B. Martin in 1886, he being suc- ceeded in 1891 by R. R. Glenn, who con- ducted it in company with Alex Bush, under the firm name of Bush & Glenn, for four or five years or until R. R. Glenn died in 1895. In 1897 this organization was succeeded by Glenn & Company, the new acquisition in the firm being George C. Glenn, Mr. Bush re- tiring. In July, 1901, the bank was re-or- ganized as a state bank with a capital of twenty thousand dollars, the officers of the new corporation being Joseph C. Glenn, president : W. L. French, vice-president, and George C. Glenn, cashier. The institution now shows a surplus of sixteen thousand dollars and a deposit of eighty thousand dol- lars. Under the banking laws of the state a savings department was added and is at present a popular adjunct. The building which the bank occupies was erected by Glenn & Company in 1899 and is well adapted to the use to which devoted. It is a two-story structure, standing in a central position and is an appreciative addition to the architectural side of the city. The bank owns a burglar-proof safe which consists of

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a modern, up-to-date vault, with safety de- posit boxes within, and which offers security to depositors and bank patrons.

FRANK A. FOSTER, M. D.

The subject of this sketch, one of the popular and successful physicians of East Jordan, Charlevoix county, Michigan, is a native of this state, having been born in Sanilac county, November 5, 1860. His pa- rents were Robert and Eliza Foster, both now deceased. £ The father, a native of county Caven, Ireland, came to America when a young man and was married in Michigan to Miss Eliza Black, a native of Canada. They made their home in Sanilac county in a new house which they improved, and they earned for themselves a splendid reputation as upright citizens in their com- munity. The subject's boyhood days were spent on the farm, but at the age of eigh- teen years he engaged in teaching school in Sanilac county. For a while he was em- ployed in a pharmacy at Bay City and in pursuance of a determination to make the medical profession his life work, he gave his special attention to the reading of medi- cal works. He then matriculated in the medical department of the State University at Ann Arbor and, pursuing the three-years course, was graduated in 1885 in a class of about eighty. Immediately upon his gradu- ation he located at East Jordan by the ad- vice of Collins H. Johnson, of Grand Rapids, and at once entered upon the active practice of his profession. The only physicians then in this locality were Doctor J. W. Bennett. of Boyne City, Doctor F. Lafever, now of

Charlevoix, and Doctor Baldwin, so that the subject is now the oldest physician in point of continuous practice, he having now en- tered upon his twentieth year of consecutive labor among his people. He has covered a large section of this country in his practice, having many times been called to Boyne City, Boyne Falls, Central Lake and Char- levoix. This is a wide scope of country and the many calls often led him off the lumber roads and he was frequently out in inclement weather all night, frequently being unable to find the right road. During early years of his practice here malarial fever was the main disease, especially at Dwight Landing and East Jordan, where the great saw mills . were first started. He has confined himself strictly to the practice of his profession, al- lowing no other interest to detract his at- tention. He served eight years as United States pension examiner and for many years was county coroner. The original prospect of East Jordan was that it would be but a small sized lumber town, but many farmers have made this their permanent home and it has developed into a good growing town. Doctor Foster is a member of the county and state medical associations and his office is well equipped with all the accessories for the successful practice of medicine and surgery. He takes an active part in local political af- fairs having been several times a delegate to county conventions.

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Biographical history of northern Michigan containing biographies of prominent citizens, Part 49

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