Biographical history of northern Michigan containing biographies of prominent citizens, Part 71

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

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ing a marked success from the start. He con- ducted this enterprise until the spring of 1905, when he disposed of it and has since lived retired, enjoying now the results of his years of activity. While a resident of Isabella county Mr. Lynn served as deputy sheriff of that county and also as school in- spector, and for several years he has served as deputy sheriff of Kalkaska county, dis- charging the duties of the position in an efficient and satisfactory manner. He is the owner of two improved farms in Clearwater township, this county, besides several tracts of wild land and a number of town proper- ties, being considered in very comfortable circumstances financially.

Mr. Lynn has been twice married. His first marriage was in St. Clair county, this state, to Miss Mary Dawson, a native of Canada, and by this union were born two sons, William and Alfred. Mrs. Lynn died in Mount Pleasant and Mr. Lynn subse- quently married, in Shepard. Isabella county, Miss Hannah E. Fearnley, also a native of Canada. Fraternally Mr. Lynn belongs to the Knights of Pythias and to Lodge No. 439, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, at Rapid City. Faultless in honor, fearless in conduct and stainless in reputation, he com- mands uniform regard and from his friends he has won love and esteem.

DANIEL S. WAY.

It is a pleasure to the biographer to refer to him whose name appears above and who is one of the rising young men of Rapid City, Kalkaska county. Though not old in years, he has had some valuable experience

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in business matters and occupies today a high position in the esteem of his fellow men. Daniel S. Way was born in Alden, Antrim county, Michigan, on April 23, 1879, and is the son of Lewis Way, whose personal biography appears elsewhere in this volume. He secured his education in the common schools of Antrim county, also at- tending Benzonia College and the Ferris In- dustrial School of Big Rapids, and in 1898 he accompanied his father on his removal to Rapid City, and has been the latter's assist- ant during the greater part of the time since then. He has also, for two terms, filled the responsible office of treasurer of Clearwater township. Fraternally he is a member of the Masonic order and his daily life carries out the noble precepts of that beneficent order.

Mr. Way was married at Rapid City, on December 25, 1899, to Miss Blanche May Hutchins, the daughter of J. O. Hutchins, and they have three children, Orin L., Daniel and Helen E. Mr. Way takes a lively interest in the welfare of his city and county and lends his aid and influence to all move- ments and enterprises having its material prosperity in view.

CAPT. FLAVEL J. SMITH.

Capt. F. J. Smith, who is the present efficient and popular sheriff of Emmett county, Michigan, is a native of the state, having been born in Berlin, St. Clair county, June 9, 1845, the son of Louis E. Smith, of New York state. He came to Michigan in 1836, locating at Berlin when that section was all covered with timber and when there

were but two other settlers in the vicinity. The subject was the youngest of nine chil- dren and at the time of his birth Mount Clemens, thirty miles distant, was the near- est trade post. The subject's mother, whose maiden name was Sarah Baker, died when the subject was but seven years old, and the father one year later. The subject was thus thrown upon his own resources and was compelled to live wherever he could get a meal until at the age of fifteen years, in 1860, when he went to Oakland county, where he was employed by relatives. In 1861, upon President Lincoln's first call for volunteers to aid in the suppression of the southern Re- bellion, Mr. Smith enlisted for service. He was drilled for two months and then re- ceived his discharge on account of undersize and age. He then worked in the timber lands during the winter until 1864, when he en- listed, in company with his brother, in Com- pany H, Fourth Regiment Michigan Vol- unteer Infantry. At the time the regi- ment got marching orders his broth- er's wife was at the point of death, and so, with the consent of the com- pany and regimental officers, the subject took his brother's place and answered to his brother's name, Garrison E. Smith, the brother going home. The regiment went to Nashville and were placed under the com- mand of General Thomas. They partici- pated in several battles, notably the battle of Nashville and other severe engagements. and the subject remained in the service until his final discharge. Mr. Smith earned a record as a faithful and able soldier, acted as sergeant much of the time and in the ab- sence of officers had charge of the company on several occasions. The company saw hard service and was at one time reduced to eight

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men and at another time were compelled to go eight days with no food but dry corn. In August, 1865, Mr. Smith was discharged and was sent to Nashville with eighteen men. Returning to Oakland he was married on December 24, 1865, to Miss Mary Jo- sephine Hoyt, who was born in Oakland, though of New York parentage. The sub- ject then rented a farm for five years, then came to Ortonville and opened a small livery stable, going in debt for three horses and two buggies which comprised his equip- ment. He remained here for ten years and in the meantime secured the United States mail contract, but in 1880 he came to Petos- key and opened a livery stable, also having the mail contract here. He also established stables in Charlevoix, Harbor Springs, Boyne City and Boyne Falls, which were considered as branches of the main estab- lishment. He was engaged quite extensively as mail carrier, having a number of routes under contract, and it may be stated that he carried the mail to Gaylord when that was the terminal of the Michigan Central Rail- road and also to St. Ignace.

In 1886 Mr. Smith was elected sheriff by a majority of nineteen votes, the county being strongly Democratic and the subject being the only Republican elected at that time. Two years later his former competi- tor defeated him, the entire Democratic ticket being elected and the subject lost the position by only thirty-four votes, while the balance of the ticket was elected by five

hundred majority. In 1893 the subject served as city marshal of Petoskey and the following year was re-elected sheriff after a hot and vigorous campaign. He was re- elected in 1896, and subsequently resigned from the office in 1898, his son, Charles L.,

succeeding in the office and filling out the term. His resignation from office was caused by the outbreak of the Spanish-American war which had aroused the ardor and pa- triotism of the subject, and he at once raised a company of one hundred and six men. Two hundred and forty-three names were put on the roll, but out of these the number stated were chosen. Mr. Smith was elected captain but declined this rank, though con- senting to go to the front as first lieutenant. This company became Company C of the Thirty-fifth Michigan Volunteer Infantry and rendezvoused at Camp Meade, Pennsyl- vania, later going to Augusta, Georgia, and then being mustered out on March 31, 1899. While in Camp Meade the subject was ap- pointed quartermaster, with the rank of captain. After his own regiment was mus- tered out he remained in charge of the mus- tering-out camp at Camp Mckenzie, Au- gusta, until the mustering out of twelve other regiments who had returned from Cuba. He had eighteen mer under his com- mand having charge of hospitals, corrals, etc. Most of the property was sold or con- demned and the camp closed up, the subject being the last man to sleep on old Camp Mckenzie grounds. Mr. Smith cleared up the entire camp and turned over all the prop- erty to the division quartermaster at Au- gusta and it may be stated that his com- mission as captain was dated back to the time he left Michigan.

In 1902 Mr. Smith was again elected sheriff and again in 1904, thus making five elections to this office, a high testimony to his ability and efficiency as a public officer. It may be stated also in this connection that Emmet county has been won from the Dem- ocratic column until it is now considered

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safely Republican. The official duties of the sheriff of Emmett county are heavy and re- quire the service of one under sheriff and eight deputies. Captain Smith gives his faithful attention to the general supervis- ion of the details of his office and is a mem- ber of the State Association of Sheriffs. He takes an active interest in all party and pub- lic affairs and is usually a delegate to county, district and state conventions.

Captain Smith keeps alive his old army associations through his membership in Lombard Post, Grand Army of the Repub- lic, which was named in honor of Colonel Lombard of the old Fourth Regiment. Cap- tain Smith is also president of Company C, Association Spanish War Veterans. He is also associated with the Free and Accepted Masons, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Royal Arcanum, the An- cient Order of United Workmen and the Knights of Pythias, being lieutenant-colonel of the Uniform Rank in the last named order. In the Masonic order he has passed all degrees of the York rite, being now a Knight Templar, and is past master of the blue lodge, having sat in the seat at one time for nine consecutive years, being at the time considered the youngest worshipful master in the state, this being at Ortonville where he was instrumental in obtaining a charter for the lodge there. He also takes a deep interest in chivalric ranks and is an active Templar.

The subject's family consists as follows : Charles L. is in the deeding department in the auditor general's department at Lans- ing, being an expert penman; as stated above, he finished out his father's term as sheriff of Emmett county when the latter en-

listed in the Spanish war, at the conclusion of which time he came to Lansing and en- tered the auditor's office. His reputation as a penman is state-wide and exhibitions of his penmanship, especially engrossing work, have won many premiums at the state fairs, this acquirement being all the more remark- able because of the fact that he is entirely self-taught in this line. Amy, the wife of Charles Hungerford, died at the age of thir- ty-two; Edith M., the wife of William Lott, of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

LLEWELLYN S. SEE.

The subject of this sketch has passed practically his entire life in Charlevoix county, being a representative of one of the sterling pioneer families of this section of the state, while he is at the present time one of the popular and influential business men of the city of Charlevoix, where he is en- gaged in the retail grocery business.

Samuel M. See, the father of our sub- ject, was born on Beaver Island, Maine, and wa's reared to maturity in the eastern states, having removed to the state of New York when a young man and having been a car- penter by vocation during the earlier por- tion of his independent career. He came to Charlevoix, Michigan, in the autumn of 1869 and here engaged in business as a contractor and builder, continuing to follow the work of his trade for some time and finally en- gaging in the furniture and undertaking business, being the pioneer in this line in Charlevoix. He continued to be sucessfully engaged in this business for a period of ten years, up to the time of his death, which oc-

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curred in 1898. He was a man of the high- est integrity and one of sturdy individuality, strong in his convictions and ever ready to defend the same, while he so ordered his course in all the relations of life as to re- tain the unqualified confidence and esteem of those with whom he came in contact. He was one of Charlevoix's representative citi- zens and was loyal and progressive, while he was called upon to serve in various town- ship and village offices, being a stanch Re- publican in his political proclivities, while in a fraternal way he was affiliated with the Ma- sonic order. His widow, whose maiden name was Mary A. Preston, still survives him and continues the business enterprise which he established so many years ago.

The subject of this review was born at Sacket Harbor, Jefferson county, New York, on the 5th of July, 1867, and was a child of about two years at the time of the family removal to Charlevoix, with whose upbuilding he has thus been familiar, his earliest recollections being of the little pio- neer hamlet with whose interests his hon- ored father identified himself so many years ago. Here he passed his boyhood days, availing himself of the advantages of the public schools and when but fourteen years of age he began clerking in the grocery de- partment of the firm of Cooper & Blair, in course of time becoming familiar with all de- tails of the business and thus becoming dis- tinctly eligible for an independent career as a merchant in the line. He has been con- stantly identified with mercantile pursuits since the early age mentioned, though he continued his school work during the mean- while. He was incumbent of clerical posi- tions in various local stores for twelve years, and in 1895 he engaged in the grocery busi-

ness, in company with Geik C. Geiken, whose interests he purchased three years later, and he has since continued the enterprise indi- vidually, having built up a representative trade and having a well appointed establish- ment in which a select and comprehensive stock of staple and fancy groceries, table supplies, etc., is ever to be found. His pres- ent eligible quarters have been maintained since· 1902, and his stock represents an aver- age valuation of about four thousand dol- lars, while his annual sales reach an average aggregate of twenty-two thousand dollars, about half of which business is done during the thriving summer resort season, during which so many non-residents are attracted to this beautiful section. Since 1897 Mr. See has also been identified with lumbering in- terests, buying timber and employing an average corps of thirty men to cut the same during the winter seasons. Each season he gets out about four hundred thousand feet of hardwood lumber, three thousand cedar ties and about fifteen hundred cords of fuel wood. His principal market for the hard- wood product is at Two Rivers, Wisconsin, where he sells to the Two Rivers Manufac- turing Company, manufacturers of wooden- ware specialties. Mf. See takes a deep inter- est in the advancement and prosperity of his home city and county and is one of the loyal and public-spirited citizens of Charlevoix. He is stanchly arrayed as a supporter of the principles and policies of the Republican party and at the present time is incumbent of the office of treasurer of Charlevoix town- ship, while he has also served most accept- ably as a member of the village council. He is a master Mason and is also identified with the local organizations of the Knights of Pythias and the Knights of the Maccabees,

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and with the Petoskey lodge of the Benevo- years. In 1882 he was engaged as a sales- lent and Protective Order of Elks.

Mr. See was united in marriage to Miss Effie E. Pierce, who was born and reared in Charlevoix, being a daughter of Daniel H. Pierce, one of the honored pioneers of this county. Mr. and Mrs. See have no children.

LEWIS WAY.

Holding prestige among the successful business men of today the subject of this re- view has had much to do in advancing the material interests of Rapid City, Kalkaska county, Michigan, and making it one of the important commercial centers of this section of Michigan. The study of such a life can- not fail of interest and incentive, as he is distinctly representative in his sphere of ac- tivity and has contributed in no small meas- ure to the prosperity of the city which is his home and field operation.

Lewis Way was born in Lexington, San- ilac county, Michigan, on the 5th of No- vember, 1850, and is the son of Lewis and Clarissa (Van Camp) Way. His father en- listed in the defense of his country during the dark days of the great southern rebel- lion and was killed in the battle of Spott- sylvania Court House, Virginia. The mother now makes her home in Antrim county. They were the parents of seven children, of whom the subject is the third in order of birth. The latter was reared in Sanilac county until the age of nineteen years, being given such education as could be secured in the common schools. At the age mentioned he came to Antrim county and engaged in farming for a number of

man at what was known as Spencer Creek for the late R. W. Coy, remaining with that gentleman until his death, a period of thir- teen years. After that event Mr. Way was for three years engaged in settling the estate. In 1899 he came to Rapid City and erected the fine brick business block which he now occupies and entered the commercial field, putting in a large and complete stock of general merchandise. The enterprise proved a pronounced success from the start and Mr. Way has had no reason to regret his choice of a location. He is also en- gaged in buying and shipping potatoes and is to a limited extent engaged in lumbering. He also owns about three hundred acres of land in Antrim and Kalkaska counties, and has other minor interests. He is a busy man and, through the exercise of diligence and sound judgment, is achieving a pronounced success in his various business ventures.

Mr. Way was married, in Antrim county, on January 18, 1873, to Miss Josephine Pat- terson, a daughter of the late Ephraim and Jane (Bice) Patterson, early settlers of An- trim county. To Mr. and Mrs. Way have been born eight children, namely: Jessie is the wife of John Main, of Alden, Michigan; Clara is the wife of Frederick Carrier ; Dan- iel S .; Mildred is the wife of Thomas Tra- vis ; Lulu, Blanch, Leone and Lewis. Polit- ically Mr. Way is an ardent Democrat, tak- ing a keen interest in the success of his party. He was for four years postmaster of Alden, this state, and has been treasurer of Clearwater township, Kalkaska county, for two years. His fraternal affiliation is with the time honored order of Free and Ac- cepted Masons. Without much outside as- sistance, the success he has achieved is due

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largely to his own efforts. Strong determin- ation, persistence in the pursuit of an honor- able purpose, unflagging energy and careful management -- these are the salient features of his career and his life stands in unmis- takable evidence that success is not the re- sult of genius, as held by some, but is the outcome of earnest and well-directed effort.

HENRY KLOOSTER.

Among the enterprising and successful business men of Antrim county, none are more deserving of specific mention than is the subject of this brief review. Henry Klooster was born in August, 1868, in the Netherlands, and is the son of Conrad and Ida (Hoff) Klooster, born in the same coun- try, but whose ancestors came from France. The father is a farmer by profession and in 1880 left his native land and came to Ot- tawa county, Michigan, where he is success- fully engaged in agricultural pursuits. The subject's mother died three months after she reached America. They were the parents of four children, all boys and all still living. The subject remained under the parental roof until he had attained his majority, when he married and came to Banks township, An- trim county, and was here engaged in farm- ing pursuits until 1905, when he purchased the only store at Atwood, the same county, which he is now successfully conducting. The stock carried is general in its charac- ter, being selected to meet the wants of the patrons, and the proprietor has attracted and retained a good trade, being over anxious to treat his customers in such a way as shall win their friendship and patronage. In pol-

itics Mr. Klooster renders allegiance to the Republican party, though he does not take a very active part in political matters. His religious affiliation is with the Reform Church of America and every worthy move- ment for the good of the community receives his hearty support.

In 1888 Mr. Klooster was united in the holy bonds of matrimony with Miss Fannie Elzenga, the daughter of James and Rosa Elzenga, and their union, which has been a happy one, has been blessed by the birth of five children, all of whom are living, namely : Addie, Hattie, Rosie, Alice and Conrad. In the community of his residence Mr. Klooster is very highly esteemed and has won many warm personal friends.

JOHN SEVERANCE.

The gentleman whose name appears above and who is the present efficient sur- veyor of Antrim county, Michigan, is a na- tive of this state, having been born in Le- land, Leelanau county, his natal year having been that of the nation's centennial, 1876. His parents are F. M. and Harriet (Porter) Severance, the former of whom was born at Farmington, Michigan, in 1843. He has followed the vocation of farming and lum- bering, at which he has achieved a distinct success, being the owner of fourteen hun- dred acres of land, the greater part of which lies in Antrim county, and also has large real estate interests in the state of Arkansas. He has practically spent his entire life in Michigan and is one of the solid and sub- stantial citizens of the state. He is the father of six children, all of whom are liv-

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ing. He has served his fellow citizens in several public capacities, having capably filled the offices of township supervisor, member of the board of school examiners and justice of the peace.

The subject of this sketch received in the common schools of Michigan a fair educa- tion, such as has enabled him to success- fully handle all business matters that have arisen. His career has not been a long one, but he has had much experience in both public and private capacities and has at all times evinced a soundness of judgment and wise discrimination creditable to one of older years. He has to a large extent fol- lowed farming, though also giving consider- able attention to civil engineering. So ef- ficient have been his services in the latter capacity that he was elected to the position of county surveyor, in which position he is now serving to the entire satisfaction of the public. The duties of a public surveyor are particularly onerous and exacting and Mr. Severance has demonstrated his ability to an eminent degree. In politics he takes an in- dependent stand, preferring to vote for the men and principles that most nearly meet his approval, regardless of partisanship. Mr. Severance resides on his father's farm, where, on the banks of the Jordan river, he has recently erected a comfortable and com- modious residence, furnished with all the conveniences that go to make rural life in- viting and satisfactory.

In 1899 Mr. Severance was united in marriage with Miss Harriet Mayhew, the daughter of Christopher and Cornelia (Salisbury) Mayhew, the father having been an early settler and prominent farmer of Charlevoix, being now deceased. To the subject and his wife have been born two

children, Dorothy and Mary. In social cir- cles as well as in politics and business life he has many friends who maintain for him warm personal regard in recognition of his many estimable personal characteristics. He is of a genial nature, and the fact that many of his friends are numbered among those who have known him from his youth to the present time is an indication that his career has ever been honorable and straight- forward.

WILLIAM H. BLOW.

In some of the bloodiest battles for which the great Civil war was noted the subject of this sketch proved his loyalty to the govern- ment he loved so well, and in the pursuits of peace he has been equally as devoted to the public welfare, not only furthering his own interests, but by his example and influence benefiting the community and advancing its standard of citizenship. William H. Blow now resides in Banks township, Antrim county, Michigan, and is a native of Cham- plain, New York, where he was born on Feb- ruary 28, 1835. He is the son of Peter and Julia (Dumas) Blow, who, though natives of New York, were of French ancestry. The father, who was a farmer, spent most of his life and died in New York. The subject of this sketch received a good common-school education and spent his early years in his na- tive state. Upon attaining mature years he began to speculate in live stock, wool, etc., in which he was fairly successful, and while living there he was almost continually an occupant of public office, having been asses- sor for six years. When the dark clouds of rebellion hovered over this fair land in

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the early 'sixties Mr. Blow evinced his pa- ber of Scotchmen who have found homes triotism by enlisting in Company D, Fif- within our borders. Though holding dear and sacred the beloved land of their fathers, they have none the less been devoted to the fair land of their adoption and, if necessity required it, have been willing to go forth to battle for the maintenance of its institutions. Among this large and respected class was the subject of this sketch, whose death oc- curred in 1898 and who had, through an up- right and conscientious life, attained to an enviable standing in his community. teenth New York Cavalry, and was first as- signed to duty in the Shenandoah valley and thereafter saw much ardous service, being present at the surrender of General Lee's army. He was honorably discharged in 1865, after two years and two months of severe service, and then took part in the grand review at Washington. He then re- turned to his New York home, where he re- mained until 1884, when he came to Antrim county, Michigan, and bought seventy acres of land, which was but partly cleared and on which he at once went to work to put it in shape for cultivation. He has since been successfully engaged here in general agricul- ture and has met with uniform success in the undertaking.

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Biographical history of northern Michigan containing biographies of prominent citizens, Part 71

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