Biographical history of northern Michigan containing biographies of prominent citizens, Part 60

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

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S. EMMETT NEIHARDT, M. D.

The physician who would succeed in his profession must possess many qualities of head and heart not included in the curricu- lum of the schools, and colleges he may have attended. In analyzing the career of the successful practitioner of the healing art it will be invariably found to be true that a broad-minded sympathy with the sick and suffering and an honest, earnest desire to aid his afflicted fellow men have gone hand in hand with skill and able judgment. The gentleman to whom this brief tribute is

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given fortunately embodies these necessary qualifications in a marked degree and by en- ergy and application to his professional du- ties is building up an enviable reputation and drawing to himself a large and remu- nerative practice.

S. Emmett Neihardt is a native of the old Buckeye state, having been born at West Unity, Williams county, Ohio, on February 14, 1863. His parents were Prof. George W. and Mary (McGowan) Neihardt, now of Orland, Indiana, who were the parents of five children, of whom the subject of this sketch is the eldest. When the latter was less than a year old the family removed to Orland, Indiana, where the subject was reared to manhood. He was given the ben- efit of attendance at the common schools, after which he graduated from the Orland high school. He had determined to make the practice of medicine his life work, and in accordance with this decision he entered the medical department of the University of Michigan, at Ann Arbor, in 1884, remaining there two years. He then entered the med- ical department of Wooster University at Cleveland, Ohio, graduating from that in- stitution in the fall of 1886. Immediately upon receiving his diploma the Doctor came to South Boardman, Michigan, and opened an office. Here he has since continued his professional work, securing a representa- tive support and controlling a fine practice. as has already been stated. His technical ability is fortified by that deep sympathy which adds so greatly to the success of a physician, and his personality is such as to make his presence in the sick room invigor- ating in itself. The Doctor has warm and abiding friendships in the community and from the first was considered an acquisition

to the fraternity in the county. He is a member of the Tri-County Medical Society and the State Medical Society and through this medium keeps in touch with his con- freres, as does he also through reading the best medical literature of the day, ever aim- ing to keep abreast of the advances made in the profession to whose humane work he is devoting his life. The Doctor has been a member of the Masonic fraternity since 1887, and also belongs to the Knights of Pythias, the Modern Woodmen of America, the Ancient Order of United Workmen and the Independent Order of Foresters.

Dr. Neihardt has been three times mar- ried. In 1888 he married Miss Lillie Thrift, of Toledo, Ohio, her death occurring in 1889. He later wedded Miss Addie Gard- ner, by whom he had five children, Mary, Katie, Emmett, Elton and Lola. Mrs. Ad- die Neihardt died in the autumn of 1901 and the Doctor subsequently married Miss Maude Dick, the fruit of this union being Olga and Gretchen.

HOWARD LEACH.

Among the representative citizens of South Boardman, Kalkaska county, Michi- gan, Howard Leach has been prominent for a number of years, being a well-known and successful business man, as well as a leader in political life, and a factor of value in the development of this section of the county. He is now occupying the position of post- master of South Boardman, his efficient ad- ministration having retained him in the office during the past eight years. Mr. Leach is a native of the state of Michigan, having

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been born at Hart, Oceana county, on the Boardman and has been continued in the 27th of December, 1871. He is the second office to the present time, his discharge of the duties of the office being eminently satisfac- tory to the patrons. Aside from this posi- tion. Mr. Leach has also been president of the village of South Boardman, village clerk and school director, thus evidencing the fact that he is a man of recognized ability and integrity of character. Politically Mr. Leach is a stanch Republican and has always taken a keen interest in the success of his party, being an active participant in its coun- cils and campaigns. Fraternally he is a member of the Knights of the Modern Mac- cabees and the Modern Woodmen of Amer- ica. in a family of five children born to his pa- rents, Wesley H. and Esther M. (Lewis) Leach, the former of whom died on May 12, 1904, and the latter on February 20, 1902. In 1872 the family removed to Boardman township, Kalkaska county, and here the subject was reared to manhood. He was early inured to the labor incident to farm- ing life and at the same time was enabled to secure a good practical education in the common schools of the neighborhood. About the time of attaining his majority, Howard Leach accepted employment as a clerk in the mercantile establishment of W. W. Peck, with whom he remained in this capacity for Mr. Leach was married in South Board- man, on February 20, 1896, to Miss Eva Perkins, a daughter of his business as- sociate, E. F. Perkins, and to them have been born two chlidren. Myrna E. and Carleton H. about two years, and then, in June, 1893, he purchased the store and for a number of years conducted it himself. In April, 1903, he formed a business partnership with the late E. F. Perkins, which partnership still exists. Mr. Leach also formed a partner- ship with his brother Frank, under the name of Leach Brothers, and engaged in the hard- CHARLES E. MURRAY. ware business in South Boardman, an associ- ation which has been not only mutually pleasant and agreeable, but which has re- sulted to their marked pecuniary advantage. The store is one of the best in this section of the county and is deservedly popular with the public, as the proprietors make a strong effort to please all who deal with them. A full and complete stock of everything per- taining to their line is carried, including both shelf and heavy hardware, and many articles may be procured here that are not found in even more pretentious stores in the larger places.

On the IIth of April, 1897. Howard Leach was appointed postmaster at South

"Success treads on the heels of every right effort." said Samuel Smiles, and amid all the theorizing as to the cause of success, there can be no doubt that this aphorism has its origin in the fact that character is the real basis of success in any field of thought or action. He of whom the biogra- pher now writes is a successful farmer of Boardman township, Kalkaska county, Michigan, and a man whom his fellow citi- zens have honored with their fullest confi- dence and esteem. Mr. Murray is a native of Waukesha county, Wisconsin, where he was born on October 5. 1847. His parents, Elon and Ruth J. Murray, were natives of

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Ireland, but came to Kalkaska county, Mich- igan, in 1883, settling in South Boardman, where they both died, the father on Janu- ary 28, 1895, at the age of seventy-four years, and the mother on May 20, 1900, at the age of seventy-seven years. Mr. Mur- ray, who had been engaged in the mercan- tile business, was a man highly respected for his sterling qualities of character. He was the father of three children, of whom the subject of this sketch is the second in order of birth. When Charles E. Murray was about two years old, his parents removed to Montcalm county. Michigan, and later to Ionia county, this state. In these two lo- calities he was reared, attending the com- mon schools and securing a good practical education. Upon attaining mature years he began working in saw-mills and eventually rose to the position of head sawyer, which position he occupied for a number of years. In May, 1883, Mr. Murray removed from Tonia county to South Boardman, Kalkaska county, where he resided until the autumn of 1891, being engaged the meanwhile in the mercantile business. At the period men- tioned he purchased sixty acres of good farming land in section 34, Boardman town- ship, and has since that time made this place his home. About forty acres of this tract are improved and in a high state of cultiva- tion, good crops usually rewarding the owner for his toil. The place contains good, substantial buildings and well-kept fences, while the general appearance of buildings and fields indicate the owner to be a man of thrift, taste and good judgment. Mr. Murray does not confine his attention solely to any particular line of products, but raises all the crops common to this section of the state.

In Ionia county, Michigan, on October 19. 1868, Charles E. Murray was married to Miss Mary Raby, who was born in Wash- tenaw county, Michigan, December 3, 1845, and is the daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth (Brownlow) Raby. This union has been a most congenial one and has been blessed by the birth of one daughter, Sarah, who is the wife of William F. Hayward, of Boardman township. In politics Mr. Murray is a strong Republican and has held the office of treasurer of Boardman township, and also clerk and supervisor of the township. He takes an active interest in the welfare of the township and supports all worthy move- ments. Fraternally, Mr. Murray, with his wife, is a member of Valentine Grange, Pa- trons of Husbandry. In every relation of life the subject has proved true to every trust and now is occupying an enviable posi- tion in the community. It stands to his credit and honor that he has attained pros- perity and definite success through his own efforts, since he started out in life with no further reinforcement than that implied in a stout heart, willing hands and a de- termination to succeed through honest and earnest effort.

RUSSELL A. WRIGHT.

To such men as Mr. Wright we turn with particular satisfaction as offering in their life histories justification for works of this nature-not that their lives have been such as to gain them wide reputation or the admiring plaudits of men, but that they have been true to every relation of life, have shown such attributes of character as entitle

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them to the regard of all, and have been use- ful in their sphere of action.

Mr. Wright is a native of the old Empire state, having been born in Delaware county, New York, on September 28, 1858. He is the son of Harvey and Sarah (Webb) Wright, who also were natives of the same locality. They came to Michigan in 1871 and settled in Van Buren county, where they remained until 1873, when, in January, they came to Kalkaska county making their home for two years in the town of Kalkaska, and then removing to the farm on which they now reside, in section 12, Kalkaska town- ship. There the father took up a homestead of forty acres, to which he has added twenty acres, and of this tract he has improved forty acres and has erected good, substantial farm buildings. The subject of this sketch is their only child.

Russell A. Wright spent his youthful days under the parental roof and secured a good, practical education in the common schools. In 1873 he accompanied his pa- rents to Kalkaska county, Michigan, and re- mained with them until his marriage, in 1880, when he settled on the place which is now his home, located in section 13, Kal- kaska township, which comprises one hun- dred and nineteen acres. Fifty acres are under the plow and are yielding satisfactory returns to the owner in return for the labor bestowed upon them. He carried on a di- versified system of farming, giving attention to every detail of the enterprise and sparing no pains that his farm be kept up to the high- est standard of excellence.

Mr. Wright was married at Kalkaska, Michigan, on January 12, 1880, to Miss Mary J. Doan, who was born at Yarmouth, Canada, on May 5, 1861, and is the daughter

of James J. and Margaret (Austin) Doan, natives of Canada, where Mrs. Wright was reared. The subject and his wife have the following children: Lulu M. is the wife of C. J. Camp; Blaine A., who died at the age of two years; Charles I. and Augustus H.

MRS. NANCY M. SHUTTS.

Wholly devoted to home and domestic duties, doing through all the best years of her life the lowly but sacred work that comes within her sphere, there is not much to record concerning the life of the average woman. And yet what station so dignified, what relation so loving and endearing, what office so ennobling as that of home-making wifehood. In the settlement of the great middle west woman bore her full share of hardships, suffering's and other vicissitudes, helping man in the rugged toil of wood and field, cheering him when cast down and dis- couraged, sharing his dangers, mitigating his sufferings, and in the end quietly and unostentatiously rejoicing in his success, yet ever keeping herself modestly in the back- ground. In a biographical compendium, such as this work is intended to be, woman should have no insignificant representation.

Mrs. Nancy M. Shutts is a native of Hannibal, Oswego county, New York, born on February 25. 1847. She was reared to womanhood in her native place and there received the advantage of attendance at the public schools. She was married at Hanni- bal, on March 5, 1868, to George W. Shutts, who was also a native of Hannibal, born on February 22, 1847. In the early winter of 1876 they came to Kalkaska county, Michi-

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gan, and settled on section 20, Boardman township, purchasing eighty acres of land, which was subsequently added to until, at the time of Mr. Shutts's death, the estate comprised one hundred and forty acres of as good land as lay in the township. Mr. Shutts made all the improvements on this place, clearing the land, building the fences and erecting the fine dwelling and substan- tial and commodious barn and other out- buildings on the place. He was a painstak- ing and methodical farmer and enjoyed an excellent reputation in his community be- cause of his sterling qualities of character. His career was eminently honorable and all who knew him speak of him in highest terms of respect and esteem. He was a thoroughly practical agriculturist and a man of business and, like the great majority of successful men, was the architect of his own fortune. His death occurred on July 26, 1893, and his decease was regarded as a distinct and irretrievable loss to the com- munity. Mr. and Mrs. Shutts had no chil- dren of their own, but adopted a daughter, Elizabeth, who became the wife of Jacob W. Wolf, but her death occurred on Janu- ary 27, 1905. Mr. Shutts took an active part in local public affairs, holding the office of supervisor of Boardman township for several terms and was also for several terms treasurer of the township. Mrs. Shutts is a woman highly respected by all who know her womanly qualities and her consistent life. She personally manages the estate and has exhibited business talents of a high order. Her religious affiliation is with the Baptist church, of which she is an active and con- sistent member. She is liberal in her support of all religious or charitable movements and takes a deep interest in all organizations

looking to the betterment of the community. Because of her many admirable personal characteristics, she has won and retains a host of warm personal friends.

ELMER W. COULTER.

As chief executive of the municipal gov- ernment of the attractive and thriving little city of Charlevoix Mr. Coulter has given a most progressive and popular administra- tion, bringing to bear the same straight- forward and liberal policy which has so signally conserved his success in the busi- ness world. He is president of the village at the time of this writing, while his princi- pal business association is in connection with one of the most important industrial enterprises in this county. He is a member of the directorate of the Charlevoix Sugar Manufacturing Company and superintend- ent of agriculture for the same, the position being a responsible one. as it involves the supervision of the sources from which is (lerived the supply of sugar beets from which the output of the concern is manu- factured.

Mr. Coulter is a native of the old Buck- eye state, having been born in Richland county, Ohio, on the 28th of November, 1858. and being a representative of one of the pioneer families of that commonwealth, while the name which he bears has been identified with the annals of American his- tory ever since the early colonial epoch. On another page of this volume is incorporated a brief review of the career of Rev. Cyre- nus N. Coulter. father of the subject, and to the same recourse may be had for further

E. W. COULTER.

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data touching the genealogy and early life of him whose name initiates this article, his father having been one of the prominent and honored pioneer clergymen of this sec- tion of Michigan.

Elmer W. Coulter passed the first dec- ade of his life in Ohio, where he secured his rudimentary education, later continu- ing his studies in the public schools of Liv- ingston county, Michigan, to which locality his parents removed in 1868, while three years later they came to northern Michigan and settled in Antrim county, making their home in the village of Atwood, where the subject was reared to maturity, in the meanwhile continuing to attend the public schools. Through close application to his studies he made himself eligible for peda- gogic honors, becoming a teacher when sev- enteen years of age and continuing to fol- low this vocation four terms, in Antrim and Saginaw counties. Thereafter he held for five years a clerical position in a general store at Atwood, and at the expiration of the period noted he entered the employ of the firm of Kinney & Son, the well-known · seed-growers and dealers of Leroy, New York, who had a large warehouse in Tra- verse City. Of this warehouse and the inci- dental business our subject had charge four years, and then, in 1891, became similarly identified with the firm of D. M. Ferry & Company, of Detroit, having charge of the business of this great seed concern at Char- levoix, where warehouses were established, the firm purchasing large amounts of seed stock in this section of the state, while in that year the concern began to grow seeds in this section, so that Mr. Coulter became identified with the local enterprise at the time of its inception. Northern Michigan

has been found a most eligible locality for the raising of the finest types of peas and beans, and in these lines Ferry & Company here raise large crops each year for seed purposes. In 1891 the firm had out three thousand bushels of seed peas, and the scope of the enterprise here at the present time may be in a measure comprehended when we state that in 1903 the firm had planted in this section nineteen thousand, five hundred bushels of seed; utilizing more than six thousand acres of ground and pro- ducing nearly one hundred thousand bushels of seed. All this great product was grown by contract with local farmers, about eight hundred in number, and they find it profit- able to devote special attention to this branch of enterprise, which has grown to be a most important one in this section of the state. The Ferry company, one of the larg- est seed houses in the Union, had started to raise seed in this section under the direction of Mr. Coulter, who had continued to have personal supervision during the period which has brought about the magnificent development of the enterprise. The work carried on under his supervision has de- manded the constant employment of four men, while during the shipping season a corps of about twenty men is demanded, while during the winter season about twen- ty-five girls are engaged in picking stock seed for use in producing the next season's crop. Some years ago the Ferry company established a warehouse at Harbor Beach, to cover the operative field in that locality. and Mr. Coulter has had charge of the con- tracting and other incidental business of the firm from the start, while for several years he passed the winter season in the De- troit office of the firm, but latterly the firm

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manifested such confidence in his ability and fidelity that his presence at headquarters was not demanded for even brief intervals. He remained with this concern for the long period of twelve years, gaining a high repu- tation as an energetic and progressive business man, while his services were ac- corded the utmost appreciation by those whom he thus served. He resigned his posi- tion in 1903, in May of which year he be- came identified with the Charlevoix Sugar Manufacturing Company, and he has since had charge of its contracting and beet pro- duction, the duties of this important office demanding his undivided attention, while it is needless to say that he is specially well qualified for the position through his long experience in contracting with the farmers of this section, the sugar manufactory hav- ing the same contract system as that main- tained by the seed concern in the securing of stock.

Mr. Coulter enjoys marked popularity in both business and social circles and is one of the representative citizens of Charle- voix. He served for three years as a mem- ber of the village council, while in the spring of 1903 he was elected president of the village. by popular vote. his majority at the polls attesting to the esteem in which he is held in the community. Notable public improvements have been made within his reign, an effective sewerage system having been inaugurated, while other advances of equal importance are to be made, for it may be said that the progressive ideas which our subject has entertained in regard to public affairs had much to do with his being chosen for the position of which he is now incumbent. Fifteen-inch mains are being laid in establishing the sewerage system and

the work has progressed very satisfactorily, while within the subject's term of office the street paving has been considerably ex- tended on Bridge street, the principal busi- ness thoroughfare of the town.

In politics Mr. Coulter gives his alle- giance to the Republican party, and frater- nally he is identified with the Knights of Pythias, the Woodmen of the World and the Knights of the Maccabees, while in the local lodge of the first named order he is serving his second term as chancellor com- mander.

In Atwood, Antrim county, September 17, 1890, Mr. Coulter was united in mar- riage to Miss Emma Z. Byers, and they have two children, Ralph Byers and Earl . Wilson. Mrs. Coulter died February 7. I904.

GEORGE W. HART.

It is the pride of the inhabitants of this country that, when the great Civil war be- tween the states closed, all the vast army of citizen soldiery quietly laid down their arms and returned to the pursuits of peace. It was predicted by the governments of Eu- rope, not only that the country would be di- vided, but after the war an enormous army would be kept up and a military dictator- ship be established on the fragments, per- haps, of every state. Foreign nations did not understand the spirit of the people of this country, that is, the spirit of the people in all the free states. They could not un- derstand how we had come to love the name of liberty and be willing to sacrifice blood and treasure to save a country founded on the rock of freedom. In view of these

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misguided ideas the most of the foreign nations stood ready to pounce upon the frag- ments when the smoke had passed away. But they beheld a splendid sight. They saw the great armies melt away, saw a reunited country in which liberty was a fact as well as a name, and saw the soldiers return to their farms and shops, mills and various other vocations.

Among those sturdy sons of the North who volunteered to fight in the defense of the nation's integrity was he whose name appears at the head of this sketch. George WV. Hart is a native of the old Buckeye state, having been born in Lorain county, Ohio, on September 12, 1848. His parents were Samuel and Emily (Gier) Hart, the former a native of Vermont and the latter of Ohio, and who died in Hillsdale county, Michigan, at the advanced age of eighty- five years. They were the parents of seven children, of whom George W. Hart was the fourth in order of birth. When the lat- ter was about six years of age he accom- panied his parents upon their removal to Hillsdale county, Michigan, where they set- tled on a farm in Ransom township. Here the subject was reared and gained his edu- cation in the common schools of the neigh- borhood. In March, 1864, when but a little past fifteen years old, he enlisted for military service and went to the Southland in his country's defense, being assigned to Com- pany D. Second Michigan Volunteer In- fantry, with which command he served until his honorable discharge from the service in June. 1865. He took part in a number of sanguinary conflicts, among which were Cold Harbor, North Ann River and the series of battles before Petersburg and Rich- mond. At the battle of Fort Steadman he

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Biographical history of northern Michigan containing biographies of prominent citizens, Part 60

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