USA > Michigan > Biographical history of northern Michigan containing biographies of prominent citizens > Part 76
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The Doctor's friends are legion and the future undoubtedly holds in store for him greater successes than any that have hereto- fore come to him. The family are occupying an enviable position in the community and have won by merit the respect and esteem in which they are held.
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY OF
HARRY BROWN CLARK, M. D.
Mancelona, Antrim county, Michigan, is fortunate in that she has several very able representatives of the medical profession among her citizens,-men whose comprehen- sive study and ready adaptation of scien- tific knowledge to the needs of suffering hu- manity has resulted beneficially in the alle- viation of human suffering and the restora- tion of health. Occupying an enviable posi- tion among the prominent representatives of the profession is Dr. H. B. Clark. Dr. Clark is descended paternally from old Virginian ancestry, his grandfather, John P. Clark, having been born and reared in that state, but later removed to Kentucky, where he married, and then again removed, this time to Missouri, where he located a homestead and engaged in the real estate business. He soon gained high standing in his community as is evidenced in the statement that he suc- cessively filled the offices of county clerk, county treasurer and probate judge. His children numbered seven, six sons and one daughter. The parents of the subject of this sketch were John M. and Hattie (Flye) Clark, the former a native of Audrain county, Missouri, and the latter of Bangor, Maine. Upon reaching the years of man- hood, John M. Clark went to Louisiana, and there engaged in the mercantile busi- ness, and there married, after which event he sold his business and, returning to Mis- souri, he engaged in the real estate busi- ness with his father. Subsequently selling out his interests to a younger brother, he went to Pike county and engaged in the manufacture of woodenware. Later he re- moved to Kalkaska, Michigan, and became traveling salesman for the Freeman Manu-
facturing Company. While with this firm, he met with the accident which caused his death in April, 1893.
Of the four children born to his parents, Dr. H. B. Clark is the eldest. He received his early education in the public schools, and later graduated from a high school. After- wards he entered Benzonia College, and shortly afterwards took a business course in the Northern Indiana Normal School and Business College at Valparaiso, Indiana. He then entered the Chicago Homeopathic Medical College (affiliated with the Hahne- mann Medical College of Chicago), from which he graduated in 1903. Immediately after his graduation he located at Alden, Michigan, but a short time afterward he came to Mancelona, where he has since re- mained, engaged in the general practice. The Doctor had at the outstart an up-hill fight, as he was the first practitioner of the homeopathic school of medicine to locate here ; but by argument and practice he has succeeded in breaking down to a large de- gree the barriers of prejudice that formerly existed and is today commanding his full share of the public patronage. He pos- sesses a thoroughly disciplined mind and keeps in close touch with the trend of mod- ern thought relating to the noble calling to which his life and energies have been de- voted. His skill has led to gratifying suc- cess and at the same time his hopeful spirit and genial temperament have been import- tant factors in sustaining the courage of his patients, thus aiding nature in her attempts to restore the health of his patients.
In 1898 Doctor Clark enlisted in the Thirty-fifth Michigan Volunteer Infantry, under the command of Colonel Irish, and was assigned to the hospital corps. The
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regiment was sent to camps in Pennsylvania and Georgia, having been billed for service in the Philippines, but were mustered out of service earlier than was expected and re- turned home without any actual war service.
On December 25, 1901, the Doctor was married to Miss Emma Faxon, of Jackson, Michigan, the daughter of Clinton C. and Lucy (Campbell) Faxon, and to them has been born one child, Bayard, named in honor of Mr. Bayard Stockton, of New Jersey. Fraternally the Doctor is a member of the Knights of Pythias and the Knights of the Maccabees, being medical examiner for several organizations.
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DAVID LIVELY.
1
Among the progressive and enterprising agriculturists of Antrim county, Michigan, who have achieved a definite measure of success in their line and have at the same time assisted materially in the upbuilding and development of their section of the county, is David Lively, who, though not a native of the United States, is as loyal to his adopted country as any of her native- born citizens. He was born in Canada on the 13th of August, 1853, and is the son of William and Mary (Forest) Lively, the former having been of English descent, and the latter of Irish. The father was a farmer by vocation and spent nearly all of his life in Canada. His love for freedom and the highest good of humanity was evi- denced in the fact that in 1862 he came to the United States and enlisted in a New York cavalry regiment, with which he val- iantly fought in defense of the Union, hav-
ing been seven times wounded by sabre cuts, and at the battle of Hanover Court House he was engaged in a personal combat with seven of the enemy. Because of his injuries he was placed on guard duty until the close of the struggle, when he returned to Canada, where he is still living, his home being near Ottawa.
The subject of this sketch is indebted to the common schools for his elementary education and was early inured to the stren- uous toil incident to life on a farm. He remained in his native county until 1879, when he came to Michigan, locating in An- trim county, three miles from Mancelona. Here he has acquired eighty acres of good farming land, of which he has about sixty acres under the plow and in a high state of cultivation. When he came here the land was in its original condition of wild- ness and he has cleared all the tillable por- tion himself, a task of no small magnitude. The place is well improved in every respect and here Mr. Lively carries on general farming, being diversified in his operations. He raises all the crops common to this sec- tion and also gives some attention to live stock, having some splendid Shorthorn and Holstein cattle and Poland China hogs on the place. In all his operations he is up-to- date in his methods, with the result that his returns are satisfactory in a proportionate measure.
In 1875 Mr. Lively was married to Miss Ellen McGuire, the daughter of Patrick and Catherine (Murray) McGuire, of Can- ada and both natives of Ireland. They were farming people and are both now de- ceased. To the subject and his wife have been born two children, namely : Hugh and Michael, both still under the parental roof.
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In politics Mr. Lively is a Democrat and takes a keen interest in the success of his party at the polls. He has never been an aspirant for public office, though he is now efficiently serving in the capacity of post- master. His fraternal relations are with the Knights of the Maccabees, with which he has been identified for twelve years. In religion, he is a Catholic and in his every- day life he endeavors to live in accordance with his highest conception of right. At all times he has exerted a beneficent in- fluence on the community in which he re- sides and as a result of his upright life and straightforward conduct he has won and retains a host of warm personal friends.
D. W. WILCOX.
Among those men of northern Michigan who, by the mere force of their personality, have forged their way to the front ranks of that class who may justly be termed "pro- gressive and enterprising" is the gentleman whose name heads this sketch, and he is justly entitled to representation in a volume of this character. Mr. Wilcox is a native son of the Wolverine state, having been born in Barry county, Michigan, on December 25, 1857. His parents were A. W. and E. M. (Wood) Wilcox, residents of Barry county, where the father followed the pursuit of farming. The subject of this sketch spent his boyhood days under the parental roof and secured his early education in the com- mon schools of that locality. In 1879 he came to Antrim county and for some time was employed as a railroader. He then took up the saw-mill business, which he has suc-
cessfully followed for twenty years. He owns a well-equipped mill, in which are em- ployed from ten to twenty men, while the product finds a ready market at all times. Mr. Wilcox has erected a commodious and convenient residence, equipped with all the conveniences found in the most up-to-date residences, the house being surrounded by spacious and well-kept grounds exhibiting the taste and good judgment of the owner. In 1904 Mr. Wilcox was so unfortunate as to meet with an accident in connection with a planing machine in his mill which was so severe as to necessitate the amputation of the member.
Mr. Wilcox was married to Miss Emma Zipp, the daughter of Peter and Elizabeth (Eckardt) Zipp, among the earlier settlers' in Mancelona. To Mr. and Mrs. Wilcox have been born three children, Arthur, Ethel and Malcomb. In politics the subject main- tains an independent attitude, voting at all times for the men who he is convinced are best fitted for the office, regardless of their party affiliation. Mr. Wilcox is a thorough and broad-gauged business man, a progres- sive and public-spirited citizen, and is well known and uniformly respected throughout the county.
DWIGHT W. MARSH.
One of the highly respected and es- teemed citizens of Antrim county is he whose name appears above. He was born near Randolph, Cattaraugus county, New York, on October 1, 1847, and is the son of Gideon and Jane (Wellman) Marsh. The father in early life was a lumberman, but
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subsequently took up farming. He came to Antrim county with his son, the subject, and here resided until his death. The sub- ject of this sketch received a fair common- school education and in 1878 he came to An- trim county, locating in Mancelona town- ship when the town of Mancelona was a very insignificant village, this being but two years after the railroad was built through there. Mr. Marsh bought forty acres of railroad land and at once set himself to the task of clearing the land and rendering it fit for cultivation, an enterprise in which he was eminently successful. In 1881 he built a good and substantial residence on the place and also erected a barn and other necessary buildings. Eventually Mr. Marsh purchased a hotel at Bellaire, but after running it for three months he sold out and returned to Mancelona. He now makes his home with his sister, Mrs. W. R. Rice, who owns sixty acres of land adjoining the subject's prop- erty, so that he is enabled to work the two farms conjointly at a minimum of expense and labor. Mr. Marsh came to this locality when but few public improvements had been made and he helped to lay out and con- struct the first roads and in many other ways assisted in the upbuilding and development of this locality.
In 1885 Mr. Marsh was married to Miss Lydia M. Reeves, the daughter of John Reeves, a farmer of Milan, Monroe county, this state. To the subject and his wife have been born the following children : Elsie M. and John G., both of whom are still at home. In politics Mr. Marsh is a stanch Republican and has served his fellow citizens as a mem- ber of the school board, highway commis- sioner and a member of the village board, it being also worthy of note that he was a mem-
ber of one of the first village boards after the incorporation of the village. Fraternally he is a member of the Knights of Maccabees and the Grange. In all the relations of life Mr. Marsh has performed well his part and is now the recipient of the esteem and regard of all who know him.
JOHN P. PLUMBER. i
A citizen of the United States can wear no greater badge of honor than the distinc- tion of having served the government in the four years of war between the states. It is a sacred family inheritance, to be prized like a family jewel by future descendants and kept bright and untarnished by other acts of valor, patriotism and loyalty in the interests of free government. Even in this day, when there are many of the old soldiers still liv- ing, no one can see one of them without feel- ings of respect and admiration. Among the veterans of this great internecine war who reside in Antrim county, Michigan, is the gentleman whose name appears above. He is a native of Pennsylvania, near Philadel- phia, where he was born in 1833. He is the son of George and Mary (Smith) Plumber, highly respected residents of the Keystone state, the father having there followed the trade of blacksmithing for many years. The subject of this sketch was reared under the paternal roof and secured his education in the neighborhood schools. Comparatively early in life he removed to Three Rivers, Michigan, and was there engaged in farm- ing. In 1881 he came to Antrim county and purchased forty acres of land, which he cleared for cultivation and on which he
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erected a neat and commodious house. He gave thoughtful and careful attention to every branch and detail of his work and was prospered in proportion, so that in 1898 he was enabled to retire from the active labor to which he applied himself for so many years and has since that time been enjoying the rest which comes as a just reward for in- dustry and persistent pursuit of a definite purpose.
In 1861, during the early days of the great struggle which for a time threatened to disrupt the Union, Mr. Plumber offered his services, and his life if need be, in order that the nation's honor might remain unsul- lied. He enlisted in Company K, Twelfth Regiment Michigan Volunteer Infantry, Army of the West, and until his honorable discharge from the service, in March, 1865, he valiantly performed his part as a soldier, participating in twenty-one pitched battles, and a large number of skirmishes and all the various campaigns in which his command had a part. In the battle of Antietam Mr. Plumber was seriously wounded in the thigh, from the effects of which he has never fully recovered, and in recognition of which he is now the recipient of a pension from the gov- ernment which he so nobly aided in perpet- uating.
In 1861 Mr. Plumber married Miss Mar- tha I. Porter, now deceased, who was the daughter of David and Mary Porter. To this union were born the following children : Tobias, Maude, Minnie, Ella, George, de- ceased, and Belle. In politics Mr. Plumber is a Democrat, but he takes no very active part in public affairs. He has sold his farm and now makes his home in the town of Mancelona, resting in the respect and confi- dence of all who know him.
CHARLES F. PRIEST.
The unostentatious routine of private life, although of vast importance to the welfare of the community, has not figured to any great extent in history. But the names of those men who have distinguished them- selves through the possession of those quali- ties which mainly contribute to the success of private life and to the public stability and who have enjoyed the respect and confi- dence of those about them, should not be permitted to perish. Their examples are most valuable and their lives well worthy of consideration. Such an one is the sub- ject of this brief article. C. F. Priest was born in Wayne county, Michigan, his na- tal day having been the 29th of October, 1851. His parents were Ephraim and El- mira (Bucklin) Priest. The father was born at Lockport, New York, and while quite young was brought by his parents to Michigan. He was a farmer in active life and after living in Jackson county a year he came to Washtenaw county, where he re- mained ten years. He then removed to Clinton, this state, where his death oc- curred in 1884 and where his widow still makes her home. The latter was born some time during the 'twenties and is probably now about seventy-seven years old. They were the parents of three children, all of whom are still living.
The subject of this sketch received his education in the common schools of Clin- ton, Michigan, and upon attaining mature years took up the trade of carriage wood work, which he successfully followed for fifteen years, and then took up carpentering, which he still follows. He also runs a wagon shop, in which he does a large
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amount of repair and new work, and he has also done some fine pieces of cabinet work. He does contract work for the most part and some of the best houses in this locality have been constructed by him. Since com- ing here, in 1887, Mr. Priest has made his home in Mancelona and has gained a splen- did reputation as a progressive and influ- ential citizen.
In 1878 Mr. Priest was married to Miss Letitia Bunn, the daughter of George and Hannah (Fear) Bunn, natives of Som- erset county, England, and farming folk. To the subject and his wife have been born two children, Neva, deceased, and Frank C., who is at home. In politics Mr. Priest is a Republican, but has never sought public office, preferring to give his time and atten- tion to his private affairs. In his fraternal relations he is affiliated with the Knights of the Maccabees, being the commander of the local tent at the present time. He has ac- quired some valuable town property by his successful business efforts, owning four good lots and a nice house.
In every relation of life he has proven himself the possessor of such qualities as are bound to win in any line of effort and he has won and retains the esteem of all who know him.
FRANCIS W. BRADLEY.
Among the well-known and highly re- spected citizens of Antrim county, none stand higher in popular regard than does the subject of this brief sketch, F. W. Brad- ley, of Mancelona, who for forty years has faithfully labored along his line of indus- try, setting a worthy example for persist-
ent industry and upright honesty. Mr. Bradley is a native of Geauga county, Ohio, where he was born on the 9th of January, 1847, and is the son of Newton and Lucre- tia (Sutton) Bradley, the father having fol- lowed various pursuits, though devoting his attention mainly to farming. The subject spent his early days in Ohio, and secured his education in the excellent public schools of that state. In Ohio also he served his apprenticeship at the blacksmith's trade. In 1878 he went to Kalkaska county, Michi- gan, locating at a small place known as Westwood, where he followed his trade a few years, and then he came to Mancelona and opened a shop which he has since con- ducted without intermission a period of seventeen years, during which time he has earned the reputation of a first-class work- man and a man possessing the highest character.
On the 15th of February. 1863, Mr. Bradley enlisted in Company E, One Hun- dred and Eighty-eighth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, a part of the Western army, with which he served until the close of the conflict, being under the command of Thomas and a part of the time being spent in Tennessee. He took part in all the bat- tles, skirmishes and marches in which his command participated and made an excel- lent record as a brave and valiant soldier.
In 1872 Mr. Bradley married Miss Mary E. Hopkins, the daughter of William and Margaret Hopkins, of Ohio, the father a millwright and carpenter. To the subject and his wife have been born two children, namely: Ruth A., who received a good education, went to Cleveland, Ohio, and entered the employ of a large corpora- tion as a stenographer, but has been pro-
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moted from time to time until she now fills a high position for a trust company ; James L. (deceased) ; Mary E. is still at home and is attending the public school at Mancelona. Mr. Bradley has prospered since coming to Antrim county and is now the owner of a good property in the town of Mancelona, besides the income derived from his busi- ness, which is no small matter, as he is recognized as one of the best blacksmiths in this locality and receives his due share of the public patronage. In politics he is a stanch Republican and takes a deep and in- telligent interest in the trend of passing events, being a close reader and deep thinker, so that he is at all times able to give a sound reason for the faith that is within him. His fraternal relations are with the Odd Fellows and the Independent Order of Foresters. In the social circles of their neighborhood Mr. and Mrs. Bradley and their family are well known and much re- spected and it is eminently fitting that they be classed with the hospitable and popular people of the town in which they reside.
PHARES WEEKS.
It is with distinctive gratification that we incorporate a review of this honored res- ident of Antrim county, for his name is held in high regard by all who know him or have cognizance of his active and useful life. Mr. Weeks is a native of the Hoosier state, hav- ing been born near Fort Wayne, Allen county, Indiana, in 1840. He is the son of Thomas and Eliza J. (Henderson) Weeks, who were early settlers in that state and be- came well-known and influential citizens.
The father was by trade a farmer and cabi- net-maker, while in politics he was a Demo- crat, though he did not take a very active part in public affairs. He reared a family of seven children, and his death occurred in 1882. The subject of this sketch spent his early days in his native state and there se- cured a good education in the common schools. He early learned, under the wise direction of his father, the art of successful. agriculture and therefore, when he came to Antrim county, Michigan, in 1873, he at once homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres of raw land in the woods of his county. He at once built a house and entered upon the task of clearing the land and rendering it fit for cultivation. After clearing about five acres, however, he decided that more money could be made in other directions and he at that time engaged to learn the black- smith trade, at which he became very effi- cient and has continued to follow to the pres- ent time, a period of over thirty-seven years, thirty-one years of this time having been spent in his present location. Mr. Weeks is a finished workman in every respect and has been the recipient of a liberal share of the public patronage in this line.
In 1865 Mr. Weeks was united in mar- riage with Miss Loraine Owen, the daughter of G. S. and Unus (Baker) Owen, who were natives of Canada, while the father was a cabinet-maker and carpenter by trade. In politics the subject is a Democrat and a strict party man in national campaigns, though in local elections he casts his ballot for the men who in his opinion are best fitted for the of- fice. Mr. Weeks is not an office seeker, but he has served the people efficiently in several capacities, having been deputy sheriff and township commissioner, in both of which po-
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sitions he discharged his official duties to the best of his ability in the interest of the public. In his fraternal relations he is affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, having been a member during the past eigh- teen years.
Before closing this sketch, it is eminently fitting to make mention of the fact that dur- ing the dark and troublous days of the Civil war Mr. Weeks enlisted in the military ser- vice of his country, enlisting, in 1863, in Company L, First Regiment Indiana Volun- teer Cavalry, being assigned to the Army of the West, and that he later became a mem- ber of Company D, One Hundred and Forty- second Regiment Indiana Volunteer Infan- try. He took part in a number of hotly contested engagements, performing well his part as a brave soldier of the republic, and received his honorable discharge in July, 1865. Mr. Weeks has always been an ard- ent hunter, taking a special delight in the pursuit of deer, of which he has killed over one hundred, besides two bears and much other game. He still takes an annual hunt- ing trip from which he never fails to re- turn with many trophies of his skill as a Nimrod.
R. E. OSBORNE.
Prominent in the industrial circles of Mancelona, Antrim county, Michigan, and also occupying a leading place as a sterling and progressive citizen, the subject of this sketch well deserves a place in this volume. Mr. Osborne is a native son of the Wolver- ine state, having been born at Richfield, Summit county, on the 3d of September,
1845. He is the son of Ezra and Sarah C. (Humphrey) Osborne, natives respectfully of Ohio and Connecticut. The father was a carpenter by trade and spent the active years of his life in Ohio and in Kalamazoo county, Michigan, where he followed his trade up to the time of his death, which oc- curred in 1875. The subject of this sketch spent his early years in St. Joseph and Kal- amazoo counties, this state, where he at- tended the common schools as opportunity afforded, thus securing a good practical education. Upon taking up the active duties of life for himself he learned the trade of handle making, which he has prac- tically followed ever since. In March, 1885. he came to Mancelona and went to work in the handle factory here, where he rapidly exhibited qualities which eventually led to his promotion to the position of fore- man of the factory, which position he has held for eighteen years, this fact in itself being an indisputable evidence of his ca- pability. The factory is one of the import- ant industrial concerns of this locality and gives employment to about forty-five men in all departments. The manufactured prod- uct is sold over a wide radius of country and the factory is thus enabled to run the year round, unless stopped by accident or other unavoidable cause. Mr. Osborne has gained a good reputation not only as a me- chanic, but as a leader and controller of the men under him he has been highly success- ful, winning their respect and their co-op- eration in all lines.
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