Biographical history of northern Michigan containing biographies of prominent citizens, Part 78

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

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charged his official duties in a manner highly creditable to himself and to the entire satis- faction of the voters who elected him. Fra- ternally, he is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and its auxiliary branch, the Daughters of Rebekah, and the Knights of the Maccabees.

On December 29, 1892, Mr. Deevy was married to Miss Nellie Anderson, the daugh- ter of L. B. and Caroline (Barber) Anderson, of Shelby, Oceana county, this state. Mr. Deevy is distinctively a self-made man and has won success through moral and le- gitimate methods, his hold upon popular confidence and esteem being that ever begot- ten of honest worth of character.

HENRY M. ENOS.

One of the most important industrial enterprises in the city of Charlevoix is that represented by the Argo Milling Company, which also operates a modern mill at East Jordan, and of this well known company the subject of this sketch is secretary and treas- urer, while he is known and honored as one of the reliable, and public-spirited citizens of this section of the state.

The Argo Milling Company was incor- porated on the Ist of December, 1903, with a capital stock of sixty thousand dollars. The fine modern mill in Charlevoix is equipped with the full roller process and has a capacity for turning out sixty barrels of flour per day. The company has but recently completed the erection of a fine new mill at East Jor- dan, at a cost of about eighteen thousand dollars, including the elevator, and this mill has an output capacity of one hundred and

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twenty barrels a day. The mill at Charlevoix dates its foundation back to 1885, when it was erected and equipped by H. B. Rifen- burg, who inaugurated operations under the title of the Rifenburg Milling Company. The original equipment was the best roller pro- cess, but improvements have been made from time to time, so that the mill has been kept to the very highest standard and is one of the best in the northern part of the state. In 1893 Mr. Enos became associated in the ownership of this property, the original owner retiring from active business at that time, and three years later John Burns was admitted to partnership, succeeding Mr. Ri- fenburg, and in 1902 Mr. Burns sold his in- terest to George D. Swinton, whereupon the present company was organized and incor- porated, in order to extend the scope of the business. The official corps is as follows : George D. Swinton, president; Henry M. Enos, secretary and treasurer; Archibald A. Swinton, vice-president; and Herman I. McMillan, mill superintendent. Mr. Enos became identified with the Charlevoix mill at a time of general business depression, and thus its business affairs were not particularly prosperous during the first two or three years. Good management and well directed energy, coupled with superior products, soon caused the venture to forge forward, and at the present time the business is such as to more than test the capacity of the plant. A car load of grain is utilized each day, and the local supply is found inadequate, so that ex- tra grain is purchased from outside sources, a specially large trade being controlled also in the manufacturing of feed. The demands placed upon the Charlevoix mill became so great as to render it impossible to meet the same, and this fact led to the erection of the

new mill at East Jordan. The Charlevoix mill is operated by steam power, and that at East Jordan by electricity, supplied by the East Jordan Electric Light & Power Com- pany.

George D. Swinton, president of the company, is a resident of Calumet, in the upper peninsula of the state, and there holds the important position with the Calumet & Hecla copper mines. His son Archibald A. is vice-president of the milling company and is actively identified with the management of the enterprise, while he is a son-in-law of Mr. Enos, who figures as the immediate subject of this sketch. Mr. McMillan, the superintendent, is a practical and scientific miller, and to him is due in a large measure the gratifying success which has attended the operation of the mills.

Henry M. Enos is a native of the old Empire state, having been born on a farm in Wayne county, New York, on the 21st of November, 1840, and being the son of E. B. and Z. T. Enos, who came to Michi- gan when he was a child of four years, first locating in Lenawee county and later re- moving to Jackson county, where our sub- ject was reared to manhood under the sturdy discipline of the farm. He secured his edu- cational training in the public schools and at Union College at Leona, and Adrian College, at Adrian. He began teaching in the public schools when eighteen years of age, and in the meanwhile continued his collegiate work. After his graduation he was for a time identified with farming and also with con- tracting and building, and then resumed his pedagogic labors, in which he successfully continued for a full score of years. He was superintendent of the public schools at Ovid and Mapleton, Clinton county, and for six

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years held a similar incumbency at Cadillac and for eight years in Charlevoix, in which latter city he thus continued until he became identified with his present business enter- prise. He came to Charlevoix in 1885 and at the time of assuming the superintendency of the schools here only five teachers were employed, including himself. When he withdrew from the school work here twelve teachers were retained, while the enrollment of pupils had increased from one hundred and eighty to nearly four hundred and fifty. His enthusiasm and earnestness in his work knew no bounds and to Mr. Enos the school system of Charlevoix will ever be indebted. The original building in which he here insti- tuted his effective efforts contained only four rooms, and to afford required accommo- dation a portion of the town hall was util- ized. Two years after his assuming the superintendency the school building was de- stroyed by fire, and as soon as possible there- after the present central school building was erected, the same having been ample for all school purposes at that time, but the present facilities being much extended. He com- pleted the grading of the schools and effected the establishing of the high school in the second year of his incumbency, while under his regime was graduated the first class, that of 1888, with six members. Mr. Enos gained the affectionate regard of his students and did all in his power to aid and encour- age them, and it is a source of gratification to him to know that a number of his gradu- ates have continued their studies in higher institutions of learning and have made ex- cellent records for themselves in various fields of endeavor. Mr. Enos states that he found Charlevoix a very pleasant field of labor, and he secured the hearty co-opera-

tion of the citizens and of the members of the board of education-men of progressive ideas and liberality, so that his work was not handicapped by narrowness of official policy. He was a member of the board of county examiners for several years and also did effective work in the teachers' institutes, where he gained marked popularity, deliver- ing lectures and giving instruction at insti- tutes in various sections of the state and tak- ing great pleasure in the work. He is a man of high intellectual attainments and is spe- cially advanced as a student of history, while he still keeps in close touch with educational matters and continues to devote his atten- tions to study and reading in the intervals not demanded by the exactions of his busi- ness affairs. In politics Mr. Enos is a stanch Republican, taking a lively interest in the party cause and frequently serving as a del- egate to party conventions, and he has been incumbent of the office of township super- visor and was for two terms president of the village council, giving a most able and satis- factory administration of municipal affairs. He is a member of the Congregational church.

In Jackson county, Michigan, on the 24th of December, 1864, Mr. Enos was united in marriage to Miss Laura E. Bar- stow, whose death occurred in 1898. Though she had been an invalid for several years she continued to be an active and devoted worker in the Congregational church until she was summoned into eternal rest, while she was also an appreciative and valued member of the Charlevoix Historical Society, with which our subject is likewise identified. Mrs. Enos is survived by two children, Ralph C. is a representative of the Metropol- itan Life Insurance Company and resides in

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New York city. Marguerite is the wife of Archibald A. Swinton, vice-president of the Argo Milling Company, as has been noted. She was a member of the first class gradu- ated in the Charlevoix high school and later was graduated in Olivet College, at Olivet, this state, having been a member of the class of 1897. She is a talented musician and has been a successful and popular teacher in this attractive line.

ERNST E. WINTER.

One of the most important of the light houses on Lake Michigan is that located at Beaver Harbor, St. James, Michigan. It was erected in 1857 and rebuilt in 1871 in a more substantial manner. It is a stationary light, but of great power and can be seen at a distance of fourteen miles. Since the es- tablishment of this light house there have been six keepers, one of the most notable be- ing Mrs. Williams, who has charge of the light house at Harbor Springs, Michigan, at the present time and who occupied that position for twenty years. Her former hus- band, a Mr. VanRiper, was keeper of this light house, but met his death in the per- formance of duty. A vessel was grounded in the vicinity and he, together with the mate of the stranded boat, started in a row boat with a message of relief to Mackinaw, but both were lost in the storm. His widow was then made keeper here and held the posi- tion for twenty years, as before stated. The present keeper of the Beaver Island light house is Ernst Winter, who was born in Ger- many, May 31, 1857. He received a good common-school education in his native land

and when old enough was apprenticed to the trade at weaving, at which he became quite proficient. In 1884 he emigrated to the United States, coming at once to Grand Rapids, Michigan, at which place he had relatives residing. He was employed at various kinds of labor here, among others being work on the pier, and later he went to Detroit where he spent three or four years. In 1891.he was sent here from Grand Haven to assist the lighthouse keeper at Skillagalee, the first light in the straits of Mackinaw entering from Lake Michigan. After six years of faithful performance of duties at this point he was appointed keeper at Beaver light house at St. James and has so continued until the present time. The duties of the po- sition require the keeper to devote his entire attention to it and at times his work is very arduous and oftentimes dangerous. There is also a light at the south end of Beaver island and one at Squaw island, nine miles to the north, which are also under the gen- eral supervision of the subject of this sketch. The position is one of the most important in the government service and Mr. Winter has evinced a thorough capability to discharge in a satisfactory manner the duties incumbent on him. Because of his faithfulness to du- ties and other personal qualities he has gained for himself a host of warm and per- sonal friends since coming to this section who are unanimous in their desire that he be retained here indefinitely.

In 1896 Mr. Winter was married to Elizabeth Statts, also a native of Germany, who came to Detroit at the early age of ten years, that having been her home until her marriage. To them have been born two children, Viola and Ulunda. This marriage was Mr. Winter's second, he having a son,

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Max, by the former union. The members of the family are highly esteemed in the community and their home is a frequent re- sort of a joyous social circle.

CAPT. OWEN GALLAGHER.

In this rushing, utilitarian age, when selfishness rules the day and the love of wealth and power obtains in nearly every sphere of human endeavor. it is a pleasure to turn aside from the maddening crowd and consider briefly the career of an in- dividual who, unmindful of self interest or conspicuous position, gives his life in noble service to his fellow men. Such an one is Capt. Owen Gallagher, the keeper in charge of the life saving station at St. James har- bor, Beaver island, a position fraught with peril such as those unacquainted with the nature of the service cannot appreciate and through the medium of which hundreds of precious lives have been rescued from de- struction and thousands of dollars worth of property saved to the owners. This sta- tion was established in 1876, with Harri- son Miller as keeper: after serving eleven years he was succeeded by the present in- cumbent, Captain Gallagher, under whose able management the service has been brought to a high state of efficiency, ranking at this time among the best equipped and most thorough stations on the Great Lakes. The crews under the charge of Captain Gal- lagher are composed chiefly of fishermen who have spent their lives on the water and who are skilled in everything pertaining thereto, being strong and vigorous of body, self-reliant in all the term implies, absolutely

fearless in the presence of danger, and calm and determined when confronted by death in its most awful form. Many of these fish- ermen were mere boys when the Captain came among them and, having been trained under his immediate direction, a better class of boatmen cannot be found. In view of the fact that their service is purely volun- tary, too great praise cannot be awarded them for the noble work they have done in rescuing many unfortunates from watery graves.

The service at this time includes all the islands within a radius of about twenty miles, on many of which are rugged rocks and dangerous reefs, rendering passage among them at certain seasons exceedingly difficult and hazardous. A number of se- rious wrecks have occurred since Captain Gallagher took charge of the station, one of the most noted being that of the schooner "Queen City," which ran on Hog island reef, about eight miles from St. James har- bor, where it lay from twelve to fifteen hours with the crew clinging to the rigging for safety, in momentary expectation of be- ing dashed upon the cruel rocks below. After repeated attempts, the Captain fin- ally succeeded in getting near enough to throw a line to the doomed vessel and by this means brought the sailors in safety to the shore. Captain Gallagher attributes not a little of his success to the implicit faith which his men repose in him and their read- iness and promptness to respond to his every command without question or demur even though it exposes them to extreme peril and not infrequently danger and destruc- tion. Thus far he has had no cause to re- prove any one for neglect of duty although he is a strict disciplinarian and exacts from

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all the most implicit obedience to his direc- as a sailor on a vessel engaged in the lake tions and commands. Another secret of his success is that he never orders his men to go where he does not follow, in fact it is he who leads the way, there being no danger, however great, which he does not meet with impunity and no situation in which such a feeling as fear causes him to hesitate. The amount of property saved under the per- sonal direction of Captain Gallagher is be- yond estimate, while the number of prec- ious lives rescued run well into the hun- dreds. The calls from St. James are in excess of those from any other station on Lake Michigan, and to render his service the more efficient, all local tugmen co-op- erate with his crews in times of danger, be- ing ever ready to follow his leadership and to be directed and controlled by his judg- ment. With the exception of a life boat which has long been needed, his equipment is full and complete, only surf and sail boats being used; but these, under the manage- ment of strong, fearless. and thoroughly efficient sailors, have been remarkably effective in bringing about the many great achievements which he has to his credit.

Captain Gallagher hails from the north of Ireland, being a native of county Done- gal, on the rugged coast of which he spent his childhood and youth, thus early becom- ing experienced in things pertaining to the sea. While a mere lad he passed much of his time boating and fishing and liberally grew up in a close companionship with the water, a love for which has been ever since one of his most pronounced characteristics. When a youth of nineteen he came to the United States and about the year 1866 made his way to Beaver island, where he spent some time fishing and later shipped

trade, in which capacity he continued until appointed keeper of the St. James life sav- ing station in 1887, the position coming to him without any solicitation whatever on his part. His reputation as an efficient sailor and his high personal character as a sober, honest and industrious man were among the principal considerations which brought him to the favorable notice of the authorities and when a vacancy occurred he was at once recommended for the place, his appointment following in due time. Since entering upon the discharge of his arduous and responsible duties he has been actuated by a laudable ambition to make his station a model one and to this end has labored earnestly regardless of hardship or expense, often paying his men for their services more than the usual government allowance of three to ten dollars, the difference coming out of his own pocket. In this connection it may be proper to state that upon divers oc- casions he advanced money to men and women rescued by his crews, the majority of whom, be it said to their credit, fully ap- preciated the kindness and in due time re- paid him with interest, but others, lost to every sense of honor and humanity, went on their way not only unmindful of the help received, but of the higher obligation which they owed him for saving their lives.

Captain Gallagher's interest in his fel- low men is so great that he expends nearly all of his salary in promoting the efficiency of the life saving service, in addition to which he is ever ready to respond to appeals of distress from whatever source, never withholding a helping hand from either a friend or stranger in need. So deeply is he interested in his work that he seldom asks

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leave of absence, having been off duty but four times in sixteen years of service and then for only very brief periods. Physically he is strong, active and vigorous, his con- tinuous contact with rugged labor and hard- ship tending greatly to the development of splendid, well-rounded bodily powers, while his mental faculties, educated under the stress of dire situations, also by coming in close touch with all classes and conditions of people, are of the keen, critical kind that enable him to plan well, see far into the fu- ture and to carry to successful issue any undertaking in which he may be engaged. Except in local matters the Captain takes little interest in politics, but he manifests a pardonable pride in his adopted country and lends his influence to all worthy enter- prises for the advancement of the island on which he lives. A brave man, whose life has been a continuous sacrifice for the good of others, a benefactor in the true sense of the term, his career has been fraught with un- told blessings to the world, and when, in common with all things human, his race shall end, the memory of his noble deeds and honorable achievements will constitute a record to which each passing year will give additional luster.

CHARLES A. BRABANT.

Charles A. Brabant, postmaster at South Arm, Michigan, and also engaged in the general mercantile business, is a native of the old Empire state, having been born in Clayton, Jefferson county, New York, June 3, 1857. At the age of ten years he ac- companied his parents to Canada, which

was their home for a number of years. At the age of fifteen years Mr. Brabant left the parental roof and came to Detroit, Michi- gan, and there remained for five or six years. He obtained a position in a grocery store as errand boy, though he was com- pelled to perform various kinds of services usual about such a store. He was poorly paid, however, and managed to save but little above his expenses. His brother was in business in Newbury, Michigan, and at the age of about twenty-one years the sub- ject entered his employ, remaining there for two or three years, but found him a hard man to work for. In 1893 he came to South Arm and entered the employ of the South Arm Lumber Company, as a clerk, the company then operating mills at South Arm and in connection also running a gen- eral store here. Mr. Brabant soon exhib- ited good business qualities and by faithful performance of his duties rose to the posi- tion of manager of the store, which position he held during nearly all of the time he was employed by the company. About six years later Mr. Brabant purchased the store from the lumber company and has since carried on the business, meeting with a very satis- factory and gratifying success. His sales amount to about twelve thousand dollars annually, though his business has been greatly decreased from the fact that the South Arm mill was burned two years after the subject took possession of the store. The lumber company then removed to Mar- quette, thus taking away from South Arm a number of employees and their families. Mr. Brabant carries in his store a full line of general merchandise, such as meets the full wants of the community and enjoys an enviable reputation as an accommodating,

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courteous and careful store-keeper. Mr. Brabant was made postmaster of South Arm village in 1902 and still is incumbent of this office. He is also a member of the school board. In politics he is Republican and takes a keen interest in public affairs of this locality. He is a lover of outdoor sports and his chief recreation is fishing and hunt- ing.

Mr. Brabant was united in marriage at East Jordan, to Miss Lillian Isman, the daughter of Solomon G. Isman, a pioneer merchant of this locality, but now deceased. Mrs. Brabant came to this section of Michi- gan when the country was in a wild and un- improved condition and has literally grown up with the country. Her mother is still living and makes her home here. Prior to her marriage Mrs. Brabant was a teacher in the schools of Charlevoix county and at- tained an excellent reputation in her pro- fession.

WILLIAM JOHN GALLAGHER.

The gentleman whose name introduces this review is not only one of the most ex- tensive land owners and prominent business men of Beaver island, but also ranks among its most intelligent and highly esteemed citi- zens. William John Gallagher, for many years the leading fisherman of St. James and at this time a prominent real estate dealer of Beaver island, was born in New York city. March 4. 1856, being a son of James P. and Bridget Gallagher, natives respectively of Tyrone and Donegal counties, Ireland. James P. Gallagher left the land of his birth when a youth of nineteen years, going to Scotland and from the latter country subse-

quently came to the United States, settling in New York city where he reared a family and worked for a number of years at the trade of blacksmithing. In August, 1871, he moved to Beaver island, Michigan, and settled on a farm three miles from St. James, where, in addition to agriculture, he taught school and for a period of twenty-five years served the people of Peaine township as jus- tice of the peace. He was a man of fine mind and much more than ordinary education and culture and long enjoyed the reputation of a leader of thought in his community. He took an active interest in the development of the island, was long an influential figure in its public affairs and to him perhaps as much as to any other man is due the credit of in- ducing the settlers to locate and invest their means in this one of the most highly favored and desirable spots in the Great Lake region. After a long and exceedingly useful life of seventy-eight years duration, he was called to the other world, dying in 1897, on the place where he originally settled. The sub- ject of this sketch spent his childhood and early youth in his native city, receiving his educational training in the schools of the same and when about fourteen years of age began earning money of his own as an er- rand boy on Wall street. He continued in that capacity until his sixteenth year when he accompanied his parents upon their re- moval to northern Michigan, since which time his life and interest have been very closely interwoven with the growth and prosperity of Beaver island, and the thriving town of St. James. The season following his arrival on the island witnessed the be- ginning of Mr. Gallagher's independent ca- reer as a fisherman, which line of work he followed during the ensuing eight years for

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Biographical history of northern Michigan containing biographies of prominent citizens, Part 78

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