Biographical history of northern Michigan containing biographies of prominent citizens, Part 83

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

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In addition to his career as a civilian, Mr. Grandy has a military record in which he takes a pardonable pride, having been one of the brave boys who donned the blue and fought for the maintenance of the Union and the honor of the flag during the dark and ominous period of the Rebellion. On Au- gust 6, 1862, he enlisted in the One Hundred and Thirty-eighth New York Infantry, but later was transferred to the Ninth New York Heavy Artillery, with which he served in the Sixth Army Corps until the close of the war. During the three years that he was at the front Mr. Grandy took part in all the campaigns and actions in which his division

of the Army of the Potomac was engaged, notably among which may be noted the bloody battles of the Wilderness, North and South Anne, Cold Harbor and others to the number of eight regular engagements, be- sides numerous engagements and skirmishes, in all of which he displayed daring as a sol- dier who lost sight of self in his efforts to up- hold the cause which lay so close to his heart. In the battle of Cold Harbor his regiment was assigned the duty of making the first charge and as that awful day closed there were three hundred men in killed and wounded, besides a large number taken pris- oners, a loss greater perhaps than that of any other regiment that took part in the fight. At the close of the war he marched with his comrades in the grand review at the national capitol, after which he received his discharge and returned home to receive the plaudits of his grateful countrymen for the service to which three of the best years of his life were bravely and unselfishly de- voted.

JAMES O'BRIEN.

James O'Brien, farmer, stock raiser and for many years one of the progressive men of Norwood township, Charlevoix county, was born at Ellenburg, Clinton county, New York, January 28, 1849. His father, Frank O'Brien, also a native of York state and a farmer by occupation, departed this life in 1860, leaving a widow and six chil- dren, of whom James O. was the oldest. The family being broken up by the father's death, the subject left the home place on which his childhood was spent and during the ensuing two and a half years worked as

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a farm laborer in the summer season, devot- ing about three months of the winter time to study in the country schools. While in the employ of one Avery VanDusen, he heard and read much about northern Michigan, and in 1867 came with that gentleman to Charlevoix county for the purpose of taking possession of a tract of land to which he laid claim some time previously. On coming to Michigan, Mr. O'Brien obtained employ- ment at teaming and after following that occupation several years turned his attention to cutting wood, which he sold at fairly liberal prices. Later he spent about three years hauling wood and timber for other parties and at the end of that time accepted a position in a mill at Elk Rapids, where he remained until moving to an eighty-acre tract of land in Norwood township, for which he had contracted about six years before, for the sum of five hundred dollars.

The better to meet the duties and re- sponsibilities of life, Mr. O'Brien, on No- vember 3, 1873, took to himself a wife and helpmeet in the person of Miss Alma Van- Dusen, daughter of the gentleman who ac- companied him to Michigan, and shortly thereafter he took possession of his new home, on which a modest log cabin had been erected for the reception of his bride. When well settled he began the more serious labor of clearing and fitting his land for cultiva- tion and while thus engaged marketed a great many logs at Norwood, five miles distant, in this way earning money to make his payments when they became due. In ad- dition to his means from this source, he had saved some money by working on the Michigan Central Railroad during the year 1872, so that he experienced no serious dif- ficulty in discharging the obligations which

in due time freed his home from incum- brance.

By well directed labor and excellent management Mr. O'Brien not only improved the greater part of his original purchase, but in due time added to the same until his farm amounted to one hundred and sixty acres, sixty-five of which are under a high state of cultivation, the rest being largely devoted to pasturage, besides containing a large amount of very valuable timber. In addition to general agriculture he devotes consider- able attention to live stock, making a spe- cialty of fine breeds of sheep, of which he now has seventy-five head, among them being a number of high grade animals, the breeding and raising of which have given him much more than local repute in this im- portant branch of farming. His cattle and horses are also of the best obtainable stock and wherever exhibited his stock has won a number of first-class prizes. Mr. O'Brien keeps his farm up to a high grade of till- age and displays exceedingly good taste as well as enterprise in the noble calling to which his life and energies are being de- voted. Like many other places in Norwood township, his farm is delightfully situated in the midst of a rich and romantic agricultural region, being about one mile from Lake Michigan and six and a half miles south- west of Charlevoix. The fine modern resi- dence, erected nine years ago, occupies a commanding site from which views can be had of the surrounding country for many miles, a large part of Leelanau county to Cat- Head light house, thirty miles distant, being plainly visible, also Manitou, Beaver and Little Traverse bays, equally as far away, besides a number of beautiful islands which add interest to what is doubtless the most

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romantic scenery in the county of Charle- voix.

While first of all a farmer and as such ranking among the most progressive and successful men of his calling in the county of his residence, Mr. O'Brien has not been un- mindful of his duties to the public, as is at- tested by the interest he has ever manifested in all progressive measures for the public good and the welfare of his fellow men. In state and national issues he was long a Democrat, but of late he has given his sup- port to the Prohibition party, the principles of which he advocated and strongly defended when his was the only vote of the kind in the township of Norwood. Of Irish lineage, he has never lost interest in his nationality, being identified with the Protestant or- ganization of Orangemen which formerly played such an important part in the politics and religion of the Emerald isle and which for many years has been especially odious to the ultra-Catholic party of both the old country and the new. Religiously Mr. O'Brien is a member of the Baptist church at Charlevoix and fraternally belongs to the Patrons of Husbandry, being an influential worker in the local Grange with which he is connected. In his social relations he is de- servedly popular, in matters of business, the soul of honor, his character having always been above adverse criticism and his good name beyond reproach.

Of the seven children born to Mr. and Mrs. O'Brien, five are living, namely : Mary, who holds the position of deputy register of deeds at Charlevoix; Belle, wife of Ed Burns, of Norwood township; Sylvia, who married Joseph G. Brown, both teaching at this time in the schools of Cebu, in the Philippine islands; Mattie, who was edu-

cated at Burn's College, is still at home, as is also Elijah, a youth of fifteen who is pursuing his studies in the common schools ; the deceased are Frank and Avery, who died at the ages of fifteen and nine years respect- ively. All of Mr. O'Brien's children are well educated, both Mary and Sylvia having been successful teachers in the public schools of Charlevoix county before entering upon their present relations.

ROBERT A. MILLER.

One of the prominent and highly re- spected citizens of Ironton, Michigan, is he whose name heads this sketch and who is now superintendent of the poor, in which he has won a reputation for the proficent per- formance of his public duties. He is a na- tive of Bavaria, Germany, born May 13, 1836. Eventually he came to the United States, landing at New York, where he was employed in a brewery, having learned the mysteries of brewing before leaving the fatherland. In 1854 he came to Detroit, Michigan, where he was employed in a hotel, but two years later he engaged in the occupation of fishing on Lake Huron, also selling the same. In 1859 he came to what is now Charlevoix county, the motive for his trip being the collection of a debt from a man who owed him and from whom he ex- pected to secure his money. The same year Mr. Miller went to Beaver island, where he was engaged in fishing for seven years, but met with but average success, being in the employ of others. In 1864 he took up a homestead in Marion township, Charlevoix county, which he created into a good farm-

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stead, remaining there until 1881, having placed twenty acres under cultivation. In the winters he was employed in the woods. In 1881 he removed to Ironton and this has been his home since that time. His first en- terprise at Ironton was the establishment of a brewery, but it being unprofitable he soon disposed of it, as he did also of a small brewery which he had established on his farm southwest of Charlevoix. He has since that time given his attention more or less to farming and has also at different periods held public office. He is present township treasurer and was for ten years clerk, hav- ing also held various school offices. As stated in the opening paragraphs of this sketch, he is now serving as superintendent of the poor, which office he has held in a satisfactory manner for twelve years. Dur- ing ten years of that time he had charge of the county poor house.

Mr. Miller was married on Beaver island to Miss Roxanna E. Rice, who was born in St. Clair county, Michigan, but who died on April 25, 1896. They became the parents of four children, of whom two are living, namely : Stella is the wife of Mathias Allen, of Evelyn township; Archie married Ella Orwitz, a farmer at Ironton ; Joseph E. died at the age of ten years; Arthur, who was a druggist at Central Lake, died in 1888, at the age of twenty-six.

In politics Mr. Miller is a Republican and has always closely followed that party's actions, having been a delegate to the various party conventions and a member of the county central committee for a number of years. Fraternally Mr. Miller was made a Master Mason in Charlevoix Lodge, No. 86, and is today one of that lodge's represent- ative members.

formed the various duties of life that have been assigned him and in every way has ex- hibited a public-spirited attitude towards public questions and today few men in his community occupy a higher place in the es- teem of his fellow citizens.

ROBERT TRIMBALL.

In the death of Robert Trimball, on January 9, 1904, Charlevoix county, Michi- gan, lost one of its most valuable citizens. He was for many years treasurer of his township and at the time of his death held the position of deputy sheriff of the county, having in many other ways left his impress upon the records of Charlevoix county. Mr. Trimball was a native of the Emerald isle, where he was born in 1837, and while yet a mere boy he emigrated to America, arriv- ing at New York city. Five years later, in 1868, he removed to Michigan and bought the land on which he later built his beautiful home and fine farm buildings. The land was found in a wild condition, but he at once set himself to the herculean task of fitting it for cultivation, the result being that the Trimball farm is now considered one of the best in northern Michigan. He is one of the number who have proven of value to northern Michigan, and, though he confined his efforts entirely to farming, he was suc- cessful and in this vocation he acquired a competence. He was well-known as one of Charlevoix county's best citizens. Honor- able and upright in all his dealings, a valu- able friend and wise counselor, a good hus- band and father, he was well spoken of by

He has faithfully per- all. In 1868, the year of his arrival in this

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community, Mr. Trimball was married to Miss Johanna Clark, daughter of Joseph Clark, of Marion, who together with five of their six children survive him. By reason of his many fine qualities and the valuable services performed by him in the develop- ment of this section of Michigan, Mr. Trim- ball is well entitled to representation in this volume.

FRED CLOVER.

Like so many of the enterprising citizens of Charlevoix county, the subject of this re- view comes from New York, a state which more perhaps than any other has con- tributed to the populace, material advance- ment and general welfare of northern Michi- gan. Born in the central part of his native commonwealth in the year 1867, Fred spent his early life pretty much after the manner of the average village lad, attending at in- tervals the public schools and when not thus engaged assisting his parents at any kind of useful employment his hands found to do. In 1880 he accompanied his father, W. C. Clover, to Michigan and settled on a farm near Owasso, which the latter purchased and during the ensuing three years lived in that locality and devoted his attention to agri- cultural pursuits. At the expiration of the period noted he moved with the family to Charlevoix county, settling on land near Charlevoix, which his father bought and on which his parents still live, a fine farm hav- ing been cleared and improved the mean- time.

In the labor required to reduce the home- stead to cultivation Fred Clover bore his full share and of winter months attended the

public schools of the neighborhood, the training thus received being afterwards sup- plemented by a full business course in a commercial college at Grand Rapids. After qualifying himself for the active duties of life, he left the parental roof to make his own way in the world, first as a bookkeeper in the state of New York, where he remained one year, during which time he also took up the study of law with the object in view of ultimately devoting his life to that call- ing. Finding the legal profession not to his taste, he discontinued the study at the end of one year, and turned his attention to the more congenial pursuit of clerking in a mer- cantile establishment, which position he held during the two years following. Desiring to see something of his country and to learn by personal observation of its great extent and wonderful resources Mr. Clover devoted the greater part of the ensuing three years to travel, during which time he visited nearly all the northern, northeastern and eastern states, besides making a number of extensive trips through the South and Southwest, the experience thus derived proving a valuable education to him in more ways than that of mere pleasure or interesting sight-seeing. Later he purchased three hundred acres of fine land about four miles south of Charle- voix. Michigan, the greater part of which was heavily timbered, and for seven years thereafter devoted his attention to lumber- ing with encouraging success. Meantime he reduced one hundred acres of his land to cultivation and at the expiration of the period noted engaged in agriculture, which calling he has since pursued, owning at this time a fine farm of two hundred and forty acres, which in point of fertility and im- provement compares favorably with any

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other place of its area not only in the town- ship of Norwood, but in Charlevoix county.

As a farmer Mr. Clover is enterprising and progressive, employs modern methods and labor-saving machinery in his work and, being familiar with soils and their adapt- ability to the different crops grown in this latitude, seldom fails to realize abundant re- turns from the time and labor expended on his fields. He is also public spirited in the matter of citizenship, takes an active interest in the affairs of his township and county and as a zealous Republican has rendered valu- able service to his party in a number of ways. He is invariably chosen as delegate to the conventions of his party in Charlevoix county and, while not an office seeker him- self, he has made his influence felt in these bodies in behalf of his friends as well as in the making of platforms and the dictating of politics. Mr. Clover has a fine mind and is well informed relative to the public ques- tions and issues of the day, in all of which he entertains strong opinions and the cour- age of his convictions. In the matter of in- ternal improvements he has always mani- fested an abiding interest and ever since be- coming a resident of Norwood township his voice and influence have been given to all enterprises having for their object the ma- terial advancement of the country and the welfare of the people.

In the year 1896 Mr. Clover was united in marriage with Miss Lillian McGeagh, daughter of William and Esther (Ridley) McGeagh, the father an early settler of Nor- wood and for many years operator of a grist and saw-mill, from which he derived a liberal income. Mrs. Clover was born on the site of her present home, received her education in the public schools and has spent the

greater part of her life within the bounds of her native county. The family born to Mr. and Mrs. Clover consists of four chil- dren, whose names are as follows: A. I .; Sybil; Phila Mae, who died April 18, 1904, aged two and a half years, and Freddie J., who died March 20, 1905, eight months old.

FRANK HARDING.

The two most strongly marked charac- teristics of both the east and the west are combined in the residents of the section of country of which this volume treats. The enthusiastic enterprise which overleaps all obstacles and makes possible almost any un- dertaking in the comparatively new and vig- orous western states is here tempered by the stable and more conservative policy that we have borrowed from our eastern neighbors, and the combination is one of unusual force and power. It has been the means of plac- ing this section of the country on a par with the older east, at the same time producing a reliability and certainty in business affairs which is frequently lacking in the west. This happy combination of characteristics is pos- sessed by the subject of this brief sketch, Frank Harding, of Wetzell, Antrim county, Michigan. Mr. Harding is a native of the state of Ohio, having been born on the Ist of October, 1850, and is the son of William and Catherine (Beck) Harding, the father a native of Pensylvania and of German de- scent. while the mother was of good old Quaker stock. The father lived the greater part of his life in the Buckeye state, but late in life came to reside with his son, the sub- ject, his death occurring here. He was the

FRANK HARDING.

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father of four children, three of whom are yet living.

The subject of this sketch spent the first three decades of his life in his native state and in his youth was given the advantage of attendance at the public schools in a state noted because of the high order of its educa- tional facilities. In 1881 he came to Mance- lona, Michigan, and at that place located the first broom handle factory in northern Mich- igan. After conducting this factory for about two and a half years, he came to Wet- zell, Antrim county, and established a broom handle and chair stock factory, owning a one-half interest, and in 1892 he bought the remaining interest. The factory was de- stroyed by fire in 1894, but was immediately rebuilt and is now running constantly at its full capacity. The factory gives employ- ment to over one hundred men the year round and is considered one of the principal industrial enterprises in this locality.

Mr. Harding has been twice married, first to Miss L. Cline, by whom he has one child, Clare, who assists his father in the mill. The subject's second union was with Miss Nellie Stein, who has proved in every sense of the word a true helpmate to her husband. In politics Mr. Harding is in sym- pathy with the policy of the Republican party and does all in his power to advance its interest in his community, though he has never been induced to accept public office of any nature, preferring to devote his time and attention to his business interests. Having resided in Antrim county for many years, his life history is largely familiar to many of its citizens, and his career is known to be well worthy of regard. It has been character- ized by diligence and enterprise in business and by trustworthiness in all life's relations.

OSCAR TILLOTSON.

One of the representative farmers and prominent citizens of Hayes township, Charlevoix county, is a native of Michigan, born in the county of Barry on the 7th of June, 1844, being the son of Ashael and So- phia (Ward) Tillotson, the former of Mid- dlebury, Vermont, and the latter of Syra- cuse, New York. Ashael Tillotson came to Michigan as early as 1837 and settled at Grass Lake, Jackson county, but after spend- ing a short time in that locality changed his abode to Barry county, of which he was one of the first pioneers. The Wards were also early settlers, moving many years ago to Kent county, where the subject's grandfa- ther, Horace Ward, entered land and devel- oped a farm and it was on this homestead that the parents of Oscar were married, after which they took up their residence in the county of Barry, where they continued to live until the death of the father, at the age of forty-four years. Mr. Tillotson left a widow and two children, a son and a daughter, the former the subject of this sketch, who at the time noted was a youth but able to render valuable assistance to his mother in keeping the little family together and providing for its necessities. Mrs. Til- lotson remained on the Barry county farm for a number of years and reared her chil- dren to habits of industry, but later in life removed to Petoskey where she spent the remainder of her days, dying in that city at the advanced age of eighty years.

The subject of this sketch spent his childhood and youth on the family home- stead and being an only son and the chief support of his widowed mother early as- sumed the responsibility of the family's sup-

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port. He grew up a strong, vigorous lad, familiar with the varied duties of the farm, and continued to reside in his native county until eighteen years of age, at which time he rented the home place and with his mother and sister removed to Kalamazoo where he turned his attention to carpentry. After following that trade for a period of two years in the above city he changed his abode to Allegan and engaged in the gen- eral mercantile business, in connection with which he also ran a bakery, meeting with encouraging success in both lines of trade until the financial stringency of 1873 com- pelled him to close his doors and resort to other means for procuring a livelihood. Shortly after retiring from the mercantile business he returned to the homestead and during the ensuing three years devoted his attention to the pursuit of agriculture and in this way retrieving his fortune and in due time placing himself in comfortable circumstances.

In 1880 Mr. Tillotson sold the farm and with his mother and sister took up his resi- dence in Petoskey where he remained until purchasing his present place, about half way between that city and Charlevoix. Mr. Til- lotson purchased a quarter section of land situated about two miles from Little Tra- verse bay, paying for the same the sum of eight hundred and twenty-five dollars, which was considered a very reasonable price at that time and remarkably cheap when compared with the present value of real estate in this part of the country. With the exception of an indifferent cabin and a small patch of cleared ground surrounding it, no work had been done on the place when Mr. Tillotson took possession, but with char- acteristic energy he at once proceeded with

the task of its development and in due time succeeded in reducing fifty-five acres to cul- tivation, meanwhile as opportunities af- forded working at carpentry, by means of which he added very materially to his in- come. The farm is now considered one of the most productive and valuable tracts of land of its area in Hayes township. being ad- mirably situated for agriculture and pastur- age, while the fine timber on the part unim- proved will prove the source of considerable wealth whenever the owner sees fit to put it on the market.

One of the principal reasons that in- duced Mr. Tillotson to move to this part of the country was the precarious condition of his health, which for a number of years had been gradually breaking down and causing him to consider the future with no little ap- prehension. His active out-of-door labor in the bracing, life-giving breezes of the lake region soon enabled him to regain his strength and vitality and for one of his age he is now in the prime of robust manhood, strong, wiry and capable of performing without fatigue any reasonable amount of manual labor. As a citizen he is wide-awake, public-spirited and keenly alive to the best interests of the community and an active participant in the affairs of his township and county. Politically he deems a middle course the safest ground, consequently his support is given the party which best repre- sents his principles and to the candidates who are mentally and morally qualified for the offices to which they aspire. In the mat- ter of internal improvements Mr. Tillotson has done as much for his part of the country as any other man, especially in the securing of roads and the proper construction of the same, an enterprise in which he encountered

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Biographical history of northern Michigan containing biographies of prominent citizens, Part 83

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