Biographical history of northern Michigan containing biographies of prominent citizens, Part 6

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

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the object in view of obtaining a more thor- ough educational training than the district schools, which he had attended the mean- while, could impart. Actuated by this laud- able ambition, Mr. Coldren at the age of seventeen entered Hillsdale College, at Hills- dale, Michigan, and during the ensuing six years pursued his studies in that excellent institution, paying his tuition and defraying his other expenses the meantime by teaching during his vacations in the public schools of his native county. After graduation, in 1888, he accepted a position as superintend- ent in the schools of St. Croix Falls, Wis- consin, where he taught successfully for a period of five years, filling the position with credit to himself and to the entire satisfac- tion of the public until being chosen superin- tendent of the schools of Polk county, five years later. Mr. Coldren reorganized the educational system under his jurisdiction, infused new life and vitality into the same and by introducing a number of needed re- forms and adopting modern methods suc- ceeded in making the schools of the county among the best in the state, which high repu- tation they still sustain.

Resigning the superintendency at the end of two years, Mr. Coldren went to Minne- sota where he was engaged in educational work until 1896, when he left that state to become principal of the public schools of Mancelona, Michigan, which position he filled with great acceptance for a period of' four years, resigning in 1900 for the pur- pose of engaging in the furniture business at Bellaire, purchasing of J. W. Mathewson the large branch house which that gentle- man had established some years previously in the latter place. Since embarking in the latter undertaking Mr. Coldren has built up

BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY OF

a large and lucrative patronage and, as in- dicated in a former paragraph, he is now one of the leading business men of the town, his trade taking a wide range and increasing in magnitude and importance with each suc- ceeding year. He is essentially a man of the times, possessing sound judgment, wise dis- cretion and progressive ideas, which with his energy and fertility of resource have been devoted to his constantly growing business and to the welfare of the town, in whose future as an important commercial and in- dustrial center he has great confidence.

Coming to Michigan in the capacity of an educator and never losing interest in the work to which so much of his life was de- voted, Mr. Coldren proved a valuable man in directing educational affairs of Bellaire and Antrim county and, to show their ap- preciation of his ability in this line the peo- ple, in the spring of 1901, elected him com- missioner of schools and re-elected him in 1903 for a term of four years. Since taking charge of this responsible and exacting office he has labored zealously to promote the county's educational interests and it is a compliment justly and worthily bestowed to say that the schools, under his able and judicious management, have made steady and substantial advancement, while in point of organization and efficiency they now com- pare favorably with the best in the state. There are seventy-five districts in the county and a force of one hundred and fifteen teachers is employed, all selected with refer- ence to scholarship and professional ability, over one-third of the number being gradu- ates of normal schools or who have enjoyed the advantages of normal training, thus in- suring to the people the best service obtain- able in the matters of instruction and dis-

cipline. Mr. Coldren is a finished scholar, a polished gentleman and possesses in a marked degree the traits of character essen- tial to popularity and success. As a teacher, he was clear, methodical and eminently practical, and as an official he is character- ized by executive ability of a high order, to which quality may be attributed in a large measure the continuous advancement the schools have made under his supervision.

In addition to his business and official interests, Mr. Coldren is identified with various other enterprises of a public char- acter, being a stockholder in the Bank of Mancelona and an active participant in all measures having for their object the general welfare of his town and county. While a Republican in his political affiliation and well grounded in the principles of his party, he is not a partisan in the sense the term is usually understood nor has he ever asked public favors at the hands of his fellow citi- zens or aspired to leadership. Mr. Coldren was elected as mayor of the city of Bellaire in the spring of 1904, for the term of one year, and is now filling that office. He has been secretary of the board of education for two years and has one year to serve. As a citizen he is enterprising, public spirited and progressive in his tendencies, in the private walks of life he is highly esteemed as a kind and obliging neighbor, a steadfast and loyal friend and all who enjoy the favor of his ac- quaintance speak in complimentary terms of his sterling qualities of mind and heart. Mr. Coldren's wife, formerly Miss Kittie Mills, daughter of Judge Mills, of Hillsdale, was his classmate in college and for some time before her marriage taught in the schools of Duluth, Minnesota. Mr. and Mrs. Coldren have a beautiful and pleasant home, which is

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NORTHERN MICHIGAN.

brightened by the presence of two children, a daughter by the name of Alice M. and a son, Harrold Mills Coldren.

LESLIE A. BUTLER.

In one of the most exacting of all call- ings the subject of this sketch has attained distinction, being recognized as one of the most successful teachers in the county of Antrim. He is a well educated, symmetri- cally developed man, his work as an educator having brought him prominently to the no- tice of the public, the result of which is a demand for his services where a high stand- ard of professional excellence is required. He is a gentleman of scholarly tastes and studious habits, keeps abreast the times in advanced educational methods and his gen- eral knowledge is broad and comprehensive.

Mr. Butler is a native of the state in which he now resides, having been born at Centerville, St. Joseph county, Michigan. He received his education in the schools of his neighborhood and then entered the high school, in which he followed the full course. During this time he was engaged in con- ducting a news agency and as a dealer in bicycles and during this time also acted as news correspondent for various papers. After graduation from the high school he taught for a time in the school at Parkville, this state, and then took a course of instruc- tion at the State Normal School. He was an indefatigable student and made such prog- l'ess that he was granted a teacher's life cer- tificate. He accepted a position as teacher of science in the Benton Harbor high school and later in the Ludington high school,

which he resigned to accept his present posi- tion as superintendent of the schools of Cen - tral Lake, Antrim county, in which position he has achieved a splendid reputation as an educator, exhibiting peculiarly strong quali- ties as an organizer and disciplinarian. Such is the estimation in which he is held by the school board that they defer to his judgment largely in the selection of teachers and other matters pertaining to the equipment and conducting of the schools. Mr. Butler is an active worker in teachers' institutes and is a popular lecturer before these assemblies. In connection with the school work, Mr. Butler is enthusiastic along athletic lines, be- lieving in the maxim "a sound mind, a sound body," and does all in his power to encour- age pupils under his charge to take an in- terest in outdoor sports ; indeed, it was due to his efforts while at Benton Harbor that the foot ball team of the school was or- ganized and did such effective work on the gridiron, it having recently won state hon- ors of the high schools, defeating its strong- est rival, the Escanaba team. Mr. Butler has several fraternal affiliations, being a member of the time-honored order of Free and Accepted Masons, of which he has at- tained to the Royal and Select Master's de- gree, belonging to the chapter at Center- ville and the council at Petoskey. He is also a Knight of Pythias, being a member of the degree team.

The Central Lake public schools have an attendance of about three hundred pupils, under the instruction of seven teachers. In connection with the graded course a full high school is conducted, this feature being added two years ago under the initiative of Mr. Butler. The high school has already at- tained to a high degree of efficiency, as is

BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY OF

evidenced in the fact that it is now on the tion. He has been a resident of Antrim approved list of Michigan colleges and nor- county since 1873, having come here when a mere lad, and he is now the owner of a farm of forty acres in Central Lake town- ship. mal schools, its graduates being accepted by these institutes with due credit for their past work without further examination. Two classes have been graduated. The teachers Mr. Wardrop is a native of the dominion of Canada, having been born in Brantford township, Brant county, province of On- tario, on the 3d of August, 1860. He is a son of George and Ann S. (Wheaton) Wardrop, both of whom are now deceased. His father was born and reared in Scotland, whence he came to Canada in his youth. He became a buyer of timber lands for various companies and also was a practical surveyor, while finally he took up the study of the law, being admitted to the bar and having thereafter been engaged in the prac- tice of his profession until his death, which occurred in Charlevoix county, Michigan, in which state he had maintained his home for a number of years. Of his nine children all are living except two, the names, in order of birth, being as follows : Alfred E., Edwin A., Walter E. (deceased), Rachel J., Eliza- beth, Mary, John (deceased). Walter and Lillian. are all graduates of normal schools or col- leges and are fully alive to the work in hand, taking a deep interest in the welfare of those under their charge. Mr. Butler has or- ganized regular teachers' classes, which he personally conducts, and he takes a personal interest in the work done by each teacher in his supervision. The school board includes in its membership five men who are leaders in the city and who are deeply interested in its welfare and keenly alive to its needs and nothing is left undone which will increase the efficiency of the schools. The building is well equipped with all necessary apparatus and contains a library of three hundred and fifty volumes, the books of which have been gathered largely through the efforts of the pupils of the school. To Mr. Butler is main- ly due the high standing of the Central Lake schools and he has attained an enviable posi- tion among his fellow citizens.

ALFRED E. WARDROP.

The subject of this review became identified with the lumbering industry of northern Michigan more than thirty years ago, and in the connection he had his full quota of experience in the cutting of the na- tive timber, the driving of the logs down the streams and the various other strenuous details which marked the great industry which initiated the advancement of this sec-

The subject of this review secured his educational discipline in the public schools and early began to depend upon his own re- sources, while he was sixteen years of age at the time of the family removal to Michi- gan. In 1876, at the age of sixteen years, he came to the northern part of the state and settled in Melrose township, Charlevoix county, where he began working in the lum- ber woods, continuing his residence in that county for a term of several years. In 1881 he came to Antrim county, where he con- tinued to be concerned in lumbering for some time, and he finally secured his pres-

NORTHERN MICHIGAN.

ent farm, which comprises forty acres of good land, of which twelve are under culti- vation. In addition to raising the various cereals he has devoted considerable atten- tion to growing vegetables for canning pur- poses, selling the products to the canning fac- tory in the neighboring village of Central Lake. He has always worked hard and has endured his share of hardships and priva- tions, but he has attained to independence through his efforts and is one of the re- spected and well known pioneers of Antrim county. In politics he is a stanch Repub- lican, but has never been an aspirant for office of any sort.

In January, 1896, Mr. Wardrop was married to Miss Sarah Maxwell, daughter of Arthur and Eliza (DeForest) Maxwell, pioneers of this section, and the only child of this union is George A., who is attending school in the neighborhood and beginning to assist his father in the work of the farm.

WILLIAM MOHRMANN.

One of the well improved and ably man- aged farm properties of Central Lake town- ship, Antrim county, is that owned and operated by Mr. Mohrmann, who is one of the sterling pioneer citizens of the county and one who is held in high esteem in the community.

Mr. Mohrmann comes of stanch German lineage and is a native of the province of Mecklenburg, Germany, where he was born on the 23d of May, 1835, being a son of Frederick and Lenore (Gilow) Mohrmann, who were born and reared in that same sec- tion of the fatherland, where they continued

to reside until 1857, when they went to Chi- cago, Illinois, moving to Antrim county in 1874. The father was a school teacher by vocation. The subject of this review was reared to maturity in his native land, in whose excellent schools he secured his early educational training, which he has ef- fectively supplemented during the years of an essentially active and useful career, hav- ing applied himself to study and judicious reading after coming to the United States and soon securing a good practical knowl- edge of the English language and literature and being known as a man of broad infor- mation and distinctive intellectuality. He is well fortified in his convictions and opin- ions, and is able to express his thoughts ef- fectively, having made numerous contribu- tions to local newspapers within the past score of years. His loyalty to the land of his adoption is of the most insistent order, and was exemplified in no uncertain way by his service as a Union soldier during the war of the Rebellion. Mr. Mohrmann im- migrated to the United States in the year 1852 and located in the city of Chicago. Later he became bookkeeper for an oil com- pany in that city, retaining this incumbency for three years, and thereafter he followed similar lines of clerical work for twelve years.

At the outbreak of the Civil war Mr. Mohrmann went to St. Louis, Missouri, and in response to the first call of President Lin- coln, he tendered his services in defense of the Union, enlisting, in October, 1861, as a member of Company B, Benton Cadets, with which he served until August of the fol- lowing year, when he re-enlisted, becoming a member of Company A. Seventy-second Illinois Volunteer Infantry, with which he

BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY OF

remained in active service until the close of the great fratricidal conflict, receiving his honorable discharge in August, 1865. He displayed the highest of soldierly qualities, and this led to his promotion from the ranks. At the time of his discharge he was captain of his company, which he had commanded with marked efficiency. His command was a part of the Seventeenth and Sixteenth Army Corps, and participated in a number of the leading battles of the war, notably those of Vicksburg, Franklin, Nashville and Spanish Fort.

After the close of the war Mr. Mohr- mann returned to Chicago, where he con- tinued to reside until 1874, in the spring of which year he came to Antrim county and took up a homestead in Central Lake town- ship, at a point three miles north of the vil- lage of the same name. This original claim is an integral portion of his present fine landed estate, which comprises two hundred acres, while his younger son owns an ad- joining tract of one hundred and twenty acres. When Mr. Mohrmann located on this property it was covered with a dense growth of native timber and he established himself in the forest lodge, erecting a small house, which was practically little more than a shanty. He has reclaimed fifty acres of his land to cultivation and has secured good returns from the sale of the timber from his place, having been identified to a consider- able extent with the lumbering industry in this section and still having about fifty acres of valuable timber on his farm. He lent ma- terial aid and co-operation in the public en- terprises of the early days, having assisted in the construction of the first roads in this section of the county, the building of bridges, the establishing of schools, etc., and having been an exemplar of progressiveness and

public spirit. In the first years of his resi- dence here he was compelled at times to go to Traverse City, a distance of forty-five miles, to secure the necessary supplies, and he and his family otherwise experienced the vicissitudes and deprivations of the pioneer era. The subject has erected good buildings on his farm, including a commodious and comfortable residence, and he is one of the energetic and discriminating members of the agricultural community, having gained a success worthy the name. In addition to the raising of the various cereals, hay, etc., he has good grades of live stock on his place and also secures good yields of potatoes and other vegetables, as well as fruits, having set out a considerable number of fruit trees which are now yielding good returns. In his political proclivities he is a stanch advo- cate of the principles of the Republican party, and in a fraternal way he is identified with the Grand Army of the Republic and the Masonic order.

In 1867, in the city of Chicago, Mr. Mohrmann was united in wedlock to Miss Elizabeth Seed, whose parents, William and Mary (Richmond) Seed, were natives of England, whence they came to the United States, finally locating in Illinois, where the father became a successful farmer, both being now deceased. To Mr. and Mrs. Mohrmann have been born five children, namely : Lenore, who is the wife of George Thurston, individually mentioned on an- other page of this work; George, who is en- gaged in mining operations at Minturn, Eagle county. Colorado; Fred W., who is associated with his father and younger brother in the work and management of the homestead farm; Anna, who still remains a member of the home circle, and Harry, who is also at home.

NORTHERN MICHIGAN.

HENRY RICHARDS.

Among the younger generation of rep- resentative farmers of Antrim county is Mr. Richards, who is the owner of a well im- proved place in Custer township, and who has reclaimed his land and placed it under cultivation through his own energetic and well directed efforts.

Mr. Richards is a native of the state of Delaware, where he was born on the Ist of September, 1864, being a son of Clark and Louisa (Webb) Richards, who came to Michigan in 1860 and settled near the city of Niles, Berrien county, from whence the father moved to Antrim county in 1882 and where he and his wife reside.

The subject was reared to maturity on the home farm, with whose work he early identified himself, while his educational training was secured in the common schools. He remained at the parental home until he had attained his legal majority, when he initiated his independent career, and that he has gained independence and unequivocal success in temporal affairs is due entirely to his own efforts and upright and honorable methods. He came to Antrim county in 1882 and here purchased a tract of wild land and set himself vigorously to the task of developing a productive farm, wielding the ax in the forest and soon bringing about a radical change in the appearance of his land. His homestead comprises one hun- dred and twenty acres, of which he has cleared and placed under cultivation eighty acres, the balance being still covered with the native timber, which is of excellent order and constantly appreciating in value. He has erected good buildings on his farm, and it should be noted that he has personally

cut every stick of timber which has been felled upon the place, a fact which sig- nificantly bespeaks his energy and sturdy physical strength. Mr. Richards is held in high esteem in the community and is ever ready to lend his aid in the promotion of enterprises and undertakings advanced for the general good. In politics he is a stal . wart Republican, and while never ambitious for office his eligibility has been recognized by his fellow citizens, who have called upon him to serve as pathmaster and also as a member of the school board of his district. In a fraternal way he is identified with the Knights of the Maccabees. In 1881 Mr. Richards went to the state of Oregon, where he remained about one year, at the expiration of which he returned to Michigan, whose at- tractions he considers far more alluring than those of the Pacific northwest.

On the Ioth of February, 1892, Mr. Richards was united in marriage to Miss Florence Besaw, who was born in this state, her parents having come to Michigan front the state of New York and her father being a prosperous farmer. Mr. and Mrs. Rich- ards have three children, Lillian M., Harry D. and John H.

CHARLES LEONARD.

We now enter a brief review of the career of one of the representative citizens and prominent farmers of Custer township. Antrim county. Mr. Leonard is a native of the "right little, tight little isle" of England, having been born in Affordshire, on the 7th of December, 1842, and being a son of Wil- liam and Mary (Day) Leonard, both of whom passed their entire lives in England.

BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY OF

where the father followed the great basic in- erection of a substantial log house, which dustry of agriculture as a vocation. This latter was utilized as the family home until 1902, when he erected his present fine resi- dence, which is of modern design and acces- sories, being one of the most attractive rural homes in the township. The subject aided in laying out the original roads in the county and in making other early improvements, while he was equally alert in the perform- ance of his other civic duties and was one of those prominently identified with the or- ganization of Custer township, which was named in honor of General Custer. He has ever commanded the most unqualified re- spect and confidence in the county and is one of our most popular pioneers. He cleared his farm and has made it one of the valit- able places of the county, and it is interesting to record the fact that he felled the first tree to be cut on the land. He and his son to- gether own one hundred and sixty acres of land, of which one hundred acres are under cultivation, being devoted to diversified agri- culture, while the remainder of the land is still covered with the native timber, which is of the best quality and very valuable. In his political adherency Mr. Leonard is ar- rayed as a stalwart advocate of the princi- ples of the Republican party, and he has ever taken an active interest and part in local affairs of a public nature. He served foi two years as road commissioner of Custer township, and for many years has been a valued official of the school district in which he resides and which he aided in forming. In a fraternal way we find him identifiedi with the Grange at Mancelona, a prosperous body and one whose meetings he regularly attends. He and his wife belong to the Congregationalist church, in which he has been an official member. worthy couple became the parents of five children, namely: Ann, Hannah, Charles, Martha and Arthur. The subject was reared to the sturdy discipline of the old homestead farm and secured his educational training in the excellent schools of his na- tive land, where he was reared to maturity, and where he continued to be identified with agricultural pursuits until he had attained the age of twenty-seven years, when, in 1869, he determined to seek his fortunes in America, where he believed he could find bet- ter opportunities for the gaining of inde- pendence and prosperity through individual effort. He first located near Portsmouth, Kentucky, on the Ohio river, and there re- mained a few months, at the expiration of which he went to Chicago, Illinois, and thence to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where he remained but a short interval, since he ar- rived in Antrim county, Michigan, in the autumn of 1869 and here made permanent location, becoming one of the pioneer set- tlers of this section of the state. He took up eighty acres of government land, which was still covered with the native timber and entirely unreclaimed. This original tract constitutes his present finely improved and valuable homestead, and the conditions to- day indicate how strenuous must have been the efforts which he has put forth in the intervening years. Mr. Leonard was the first permanent settler in Custer township, while there were but few families then lo- cated in the county, this entire section being practically an unbroken wilderness at the time. On his embryonic farm Mr. Leonard put up a rude and primitive shanty, which served as a domicile until he completed the

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Biographical history of northern Michigan containing biographies of prominent citizens, Part 6

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