USA > Michigan > Biographical history of northern Michigan containing biographies of prominent citizens > Part 86
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He has also been honored with other public positions, having been school officer ever since he came to the county and for a period of fifteen years he served as justice of the peace, during which time much impor- tant business was adjusted in his court. In his political affiliations Mr. Struthers is a Republican, but he has never been a partisan nor an aspirant for office, the positions re- ferred to coming to him unsought. He is public-spirited in all the term implies and to him as much perhaps as to any of his fellow citizens are due the prosperity and progress of the part of Charlevoix county in which he has so long resided and where he is so uni- versally esteemed. As a farmer Mr. Struth- ers ranks with the most enterprising agri- culturists of northern Michigan, his beauti- ful place of two hundred and twenty acres being highly improved and one of the finest and most valuable tracts of land of its size in the county of Charlevoix. In addition to this he owns one hundred and sixty-six acres on Pine lake, in the township of Hayes, five
miles from the county seat, all valuable and well-adapted to general farming. While deeply interested in agricultural pursuits and remarkably successful as a tiller of the soil, Mr. Struthers takes great pride in live stock, his sheep, cattle, horses and hogs be- ing of the finest breeds and representing no small part of the ample fortune in his pos- session. Recently he turned over his home place to his son, who now cultivates it for a share of the proceeds, while he devotes his attention to the management of his business interests.
The family of Mr. and Mrs. Struthers consists of seven living children, whose names are as follows: John; Lucinda M., wife of John Haggerty; Charles; Amelia ; Jane, now Mrs. Henry Howe; Lizzie; Viola, who married Robert Howe; Andrew and Robert; a daughter by the name of Anna, the fourth in order of birth, died in child- hood. The mother of these children has been a true helpmate to her husband in his strug- gles and to her counsel and co-operation not a little of his success is due. She is respected by a wide circle of friends and neighbors and as a faithful wife and member of the Methodist Episcopal church wields a whole- some moral influence in her family and throughout the community.
AMOS COON.
Among those men who have by virtue of their strong personal qualities earned their way to a high standing in the estimation of their fellow citizens, the subject of this sketch is entitled to special mention in a vol- ume of this character. Mr. Coon is a native
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son of Michigan, having been born in De- witt township, Clinton county, on February 19, 1851. His parents, Calvin and Mary (West) Coon, were the parents of seven children, of whom the subject is the third born. Mr. Coon was reared in Clinton county and there received the advantage of attendance in the public schools, a privilege he eagerly profited by, so that he is practi- cally equipped for life's duties. He followed farming during the most of his time while remaining at home, and in the fall of 1896 he came to Missaukee county and settled on the farm where he now lives. He purchased two hundred acres, located in Enterprise and West Branch townships, and here is suc- cessfully engaged in farming and stock rais- ing. He has about sixty acres of land under the plow and in a high state of cultivation and is annually rewarded with abundant har- vests. The place is adorned with a neat and tasty dwelling, a substantial barn and other necessary farm buildings, while the well- kept fences and carefully tilled fields show the owner to be a man of good judgment and one who gives due attention to details. Among his fellow agriculturists he is re- garded as a leader and is ably sustaining his reputation as such.
Mr. Coon was married, in Clinton county, Michigan, to Miss Ellen Bibby, who was to him a help-mate in the truest sense of the word. To them have been born two chil- dren, James C. and Mary J. Mrs. Coon died in October, 1898, while they were liv- ing in Enterprise township, this county. Mr. Coon has long occupied a leading posi- tion in public affairs, as will be noted in the facts that while living in Clinton county. this state, he was drain commissioner for seven years and school moderator for twen-
ty-one years. After coming to Missaukee county he held the office of supervisor of West Branch township (before the township was divided) for three terms, was supervisor of Enterprise township one term, justice of the peace of West Branch township and school treasurer. Fraternally he is a mem- ber of Star City Grange, Patrons of Hus- bandry. He is one of the leading citizens of the township in which he lives and is well worthy of the regard in which he is univer- sally held.
ROBERT H. BLAIR.
In consideration of the representative citizens of northern Michigan attention should be paid to the gentleman whose name appears at the head of this sketch and who conducts a well-ordered farm in Enterprise township, Missaukee county. Mr. Blair is a native of the old Hoosier state, having been born in Washington county, Indiana, on December 20, 1850. He is the son of Robert H. and Jane (Tippin) Blair, who be- came the parents of nine children, of which family the subject is the fifth born. Robert H. Blair was but a mere youth when he ac- companied his parents upon their removal to Page county, Iowa, where he was reared to manhood and received his education. He thereafter spent the major portion of his time in that state until 1885, at which time he came to Missaukee county, Michigan, and for the greater part of two years he was employed at carpenter work at Lake City. He then settled in what was then West Branch township (now Enterprise township) and in 1890 went to Mississippi, where he
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was employed as clerk by a mercantile com- pany and lumbering concern for nine years. He then returned to Missaukee county and settled in section 19, Enterprise township, where he has since been a valued resident. He is the owner of two hundred acres of choice land in Enterprise and Aetna town- ships, of which he has reduced to cultivation about thirty-five acres. He has met with good success in the enterprise and is re- garded as an enterprising' and progressive agriculturist. His efforts have been re- warded with abundant harvests and the well- kept appearance of the place indicates the owner to be a man of sound judgment and good taste.
In West Branch township, this county, in October, 1888, Mr. Blair was married to Miss Winnie Miller, the daughter of Charles A. and Annetta (Bell) Miller, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this volume. To the subject and his wife have been born three children, Claribel, Leon and Frank. In lo- cal public affairs Mr. Blair has long occu- pied a conspicuous position and has served as supervisor of Enterprise township and as justice of the peace and a member of the school board, performing the duties incum- bent upon him in an able and businesslike manner and to the entire satisfaction of his fellow citizens. He has won and retains the sincere regard and esteem of all who know him.
JONATHAN MERKLE.
The United States can boast of no better or more law-abiding class of citizens than the great number of Germans who have found homes within her borders, and among this
large and highly respected class is the sub- ject of this brief sketch. Jonathan Mer- kle, who now conducts a well-ordered farm in section 9, Caldwell township, Missaukee county, Michigan, was born in Germany, February 13, 1848, and is the son of Chris- tian and Paulina Merkle. During the early 'fifties the family emigrated to America and soon afterward located in Waterloo town- ship, Jackson county, this state, where, in 1857, the father met his death by drowning. The mother died in Ingham county, this state, at the age of sixty-seven years. The subject of this sketch was the sixth of their ten children and was about three years old when brought to this country. He was reared to manhood under the parental roof in Jackson county, this state, and there re- ceived a good practical education in the pub- lic schools. About the time he attained his majority he accompanied his mother on her removal to Ingram county, this state, where they settled in the township of Stockbridge. In April, 1886, Mr. Merkle came to Missau- kee county and settled on the farm where he now resides. He first purchased forty acres, which has since been increased to one hun- dred and fifty acres, and of this he has one hundred and nine acres cleared and under the plow and from which he produces abund- ant crops of hay and grain. He also keeps sufficient live stock to use up the surplus products of the place and has a nice, well- selected orchard of standard fruit trees.
On February 25, 1880, in Ingham county, Michigan, Mr. Merkle wedded Miss Maria Whalen, by whom he had one child that died in infancy. This wife died and Mr. Merkle subsequently married Miss Cath- erine Brower, also of Ingham county, and to them were born five children, Nellie M.,
1
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Frank C., Fred J., Jonathan W., and Josiah M. Mrs. Catherine Merkle died in Caldwell township, Missaukee county, on May 27, 1893, at the age of thirty-eight years, and he was later married to Miss Delilah (Roszel) Sutton, and to them have been born two chil- dren, Charles H., and Nathan H., deceased. Mr. Merkle has long occupied a conspicuous place in the public eye and has served as treasurer of Caldwell township for several terms and also as justice of the peace. In religion Mr. and Mrs. Merkle are consistent and active members of the Free Methodist church and earnestly support every move- ment looking to the betterment of the com- munity along all beneficent lines. A man of the strictest integrity of word and deed, Mr. Merkle has earned the full confidence and regard of his fellow citizens.
HENRY NOWLIN.
Few communities are favored with a `more intelligent or enterprising class of citi- zens than Missaukee county, Michigan, and of these there can be none mentioned who deserves more favorable attention than the gentleman whose name opens this biographi- cal sketch and who has for many years served efficiently as the postmaster of Cutcheon. Mr. Nowlin is a native of Roch- ester, New York, where he was born on No- vember 16, 1847, the third in order of birth of four children born to his parents, Addi- son and Mary Nowlin. His father was a native of New York state and his mother of Canada. Her death occurred in Wayne county, Michigan, while he died while mak- ing his home with the subject at the present
homestead. Henry Nowlin was but a small boy when the family removed to Wayne county, this state, and there he spent his early boyhood days, subsequently spending three years in Jackson county, this state, during which time he attended school. He then ac- companied his father and stepmother to Maryland and assisted at the farm work there. He then retired to Michigan and, locating in Van Buren county, purchased a tract of land and was there engaged in ag- ricultural pursuits until the spring of 1877, when he came to Missaukee county. He took up a homestead of eighty acres in sec- tion 2, Forest township, which has since been his home, and which at that time was in its original state of wildness. He cleared and cultivated a portion of this land and has added to it until his present holdings amount to one hundred and twenty acres, of which about forty acres are in a high state of culti- vation. Mr. Nowlin does not confine his attention to any special line of farming, but raises all the crops suited to the soil and cli- mate, meeting with a gratifying degree of success in the enterprise. He owns a good residence, substantial barn and well-built fences and takes pride in the neat appear- ance of the place.
On January 12, 1869, at Albion, Michi- gan, Mr. Nowlin was married to Miss Flor- aett A. (Nowlin) Nowlin, who was born in Jackson county, Michigan, January II, 1847, and is the daughter of Harvey and Eunice (Kellogg) Nowlin. To Mr. and Mrs. Henry Nowlin have been born three children, namely : Ethel, who is the wife of Andrew Norton ; Dennis; Gladys is the wife of Ern- est Cavanaugh. Mr. Nowlin has for many years served as postmaster of Cutcheon, and because of his courteous manners and busi-
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ness ability, he has won the commendation of every patron of the office. He has also served his fellow citizens as township super- visor, township treasurer and justice of the peace, performing the duties of these impor- tant and responsible positions to the satis- faction of his constituents. His fraternal relations are with the Knights of the Mod- ern Maccabees, of which he is a valued mem- ber. His character has been above reproach and the rectitude of his intentions has never been questioned, so that today he occupies a high place in the regard of all who know him.
FRED E. ROSE.
The following brief sketch embodies the record of a man who came to Missaukee county, Michigan, almost two decades ago in limited financial condition and who through the subsequent years, by dint of strenuous and persistent efforts and the prac- tice of wise economy, has been enabled to acquire a fine landed estate and to place him- self in a position of comparative affluence and influence in the community. Fred E. Rose is a native of Orangeville township, Barry county, Michigan, where he first saw the light of day on April 10, 1863. His parents were Irving and Samantha ( Belcher) Rose, who were natives of New York state, but who after their marriage came to Michi- gan. The mother's death occurred in Barry county, this state, when she was sixty-eight years old. Of their ten children, the sub- ject of this review is the fifth in order of birth. Fred Rose was educated in the com- mon schools of Barry county and also was taught by his father the secrets of success-
ful husbandry, acquiring at the same time those lessons of industry, persistence and economy, which bore such an important part in his subsequent success. In the fall of 1886 Mr. Rose came to Missaukee county and bought forty acres of land which was the nucleus of the present fine estate which he possesses and which comprises four hun- dred acres of as good land as Missaukee con- tains. About one-fourth of this land is in cultivation and is yielding rich harvests in return for the labor bestowed upon it. Mr. Rose conducts general farming operations, confining his attention to no special line of products. He has on the place some excel- lent live stock and also a fine bearing or- chard of well assorted fruit trees. When Mr. Rose arrived in Missaukee county his sole capital was one hundred and twenty dol- lars in cash, barely enough to make his first payment of the land purchased by him at that time. His subsequent success has there- fore been a marked compliment to his capa- bility and sagacity as a business man, as well as to his capacity for an immense amount of labor.
On October 27, 1885, while living in Barry county, this state, Mr. Rose was united in marriage with Miss Martha Row- den, who was born in New York on October 27, 1864, being the daughter of James and Hannah (Lawson) Rowden. To Mr. and Mrs. Rose have been born four children, Lorenzo, Archie, Nina and Irving. In local public affairs Mr. Rose has taken an impor- tant part, having served as treasurer of his township for two years and as treasurer of the school fund of the township for a number of years. His fraternal relations are with the Patrons of Husbandry, he having mem- bership in Missaukee Grange, No. 918. It
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may be stated in conclusion that, though farming has been Mr. Rose's main occupa- tion during all his active years, he has to a considerable extent been interested in lum- bering operations with very satisfactory financial results. A thorough business man and possessing those sterling qualities of character which commend themselves to per- sons of intelligence and the highest moral- ity, it is no cause for wonder that Mr. Rose has achieved so high a position in the gen- eral estimation of all who have come in touch with him.
MILTON H. MCELWAIN.
Among the leading farmers and repre- sentative citizens of section 31, Pioneer township, Missaukee county, Michigan, Mil- ton H. McElwain occupies a high standing because of his eminent personal qualities and the good that he has accomplished in the community. He is a native of Tompkins county, New York, where he was born on December 16, 1849, and is the son of David and Sarah . (Armstrong) McElwain. The father, who was a native of Pennsylvania, was a veteran of the Civil war and died in Wisconsin. His widow, who was born in New York state, afterwards became the wife of Elnathan Chase, also a native of York state and a soldier in the Union army dur- ing the Civil war. He died in Pioneer
township at the age of fifty-six years, while his widow died December 14, 1899, at the age of seventy years. The subject of this sketch was the eldest of the two children comprising the family and was reared in Tompkins county, New York, to the age of fifteen years, receiving the meanwhile the
benefit of attendance at the common schools. At the age mentioned he came to Barry county, Michigan, and divided his time be- tween that county and Missaukee county until the spring of 1900, when he perman- ently settled in section 31, Pioneer town- ship. He is the owner of eighty acres of good land, which was formerly the Elnathan Chase homestead, and of this tract he has forty acres improved and producing abund- ant crops of hay and grain. He was for- merly engaged in driving tubular wells, but since coming to this farm he has devoted almost his entire attention to its cultivation, meeting with marked success in the enter- prise. He is up-to-date and progressive in his methods and is considered one of the leading farmers in his township.
In May, 1900, in Barry county, this state, Mr. McElwain was united in marriage with Miss Julia Kern, a native of Michigan. They are both active members of Moray Grange, No. 1029, Patrons of Husbandry, and in many ways show their interest in the wel- fare of those about them, all movements having for their object the moral, educa- tional, social or material welfare of the com- munity meeting with their warm endorse- ment and earnest support.
HENRY HANSEN.
No better illustration of the character- istic energy and enterprise of the typical Danish-American citizen can be found than that afforded by the career of this well- known farmer of Bloomfield township, Mis- saukee county, Michigan. Coming to this country in early life he has made his way
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to success through wisely directed efforts, and he can now look back with satisfaction upon past struggles.
Henry Hansen was born in far-away Denmark on the 20th of January, 1848, and in the schools of that land received a fair education. His parents both died in their native land and at the age of seventeen years young Hansen emigrated to America, going at once to Racine, Wisconsin, where he re- mained but a short time, going thence to Green Bay, the same state. He was em- ployed in the woods in that vicinity for about three years and then went to Manistee, Michigan, where he remained for about ten years, being employed in the woods there also. In 1891 Mr. Hansen came to Missau- kee county and purchased eighty acres of land in section 33, Bloomfield township, he previously owning forty acres in Caldwell township which he sold. To the new place he at once applied his energies in an effective manner, clearing and putting forty acres under the plow. He prospered in this un- dertaking from the beginning and was en- abled to make additional purchases until he is now the owner of one hundred and twenty acres, of which he has cleared seventy. He carries on general farming and in all de- partments of his labor has been successful to an eminent degree.
In Caldwell township Mr. Hansen was married to Miss Anna Joliot and their union has been blessed in the birth of three chil- dren, Emile H., Eli F., and Ida M. In lo- cal affairs of public interest Mr. Hansen has always evinced an interest and he has been called upon by his fellow citizens to serve in several public capacities, namely : Super- visor of the township for five years, town- ship clerk for one year, justice of the peace
and the various school offices, in all of which positions he has uniformly acquitted him- self with great credit to himself and to the entire satisfaction of his constituents. No man in the community enjoys a better repu- tation for integrity of word and deed, and when a man stands high in the estimation of the people who have known him for years no greater testimonial of his worth can be given.
AXEL JOHNSON.
Much of the prosperity of our country is due to the honest industry, sturdy per- severance and the wise economy which so prominently characterizes the foreign ele- ment that has entered largely into our popu- lation. Among this class may be mentioned Axel Johnson, who resides in section II, Norwich township, Missaukee county, Michigan. He is a native of Sweden, where he was born October II, 1857. He was given the benefit of attendance at the public schools in his native land and upon attain- ing mature years learned the trade of car- pentering, at which he labored, being also employed at farm work. In the spring of 1882, at the age of about twenty-five years, he emigrated to America, landing at New York city, from whence he came to Mis- saukee county, Michigan, and found em- ployment in the lumber woods, being so em- ployed until 1898. Since the latter date he has followed agricultural pursuits, his labors being accompanied with a success commen- surate with his labors. In 1888 he had pur- chased and settled on eighty acres of land in section II, Norwich township, Missaukee county, and on this place he erected a saw-
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mill, which he conducted for about one was March 19, 1834, and he is the third in year. He has improved the place and has built a good residence and substantial barn and other necessary farm buildings, and, employing modern machinery and methods, he is considered one of the leading farmers of his township. He owns one hundred and sixty acres, of which about sixty are under the plow and in a high state of cultivation.
On September 20, 1883, at Cadillac, Michigan, Mr. Johnson was united in mar- riage with Miss Anna Ostlund, who is also a native of Sweden, and to them have been born six children, of whom five are living, Anna, Albert, Alice, Emma and Alvin; Arthur died at Chicago, Illinois, January 28, 1905, of smallpox, when in the sixteenth year of his age. In a public capacity, Mr. Johnson has served his township as school assessor and member of the board of review and is the present efficient township treas- urer. Fraternally he is a member of the Knights of the Modern Maccabees. In every relation of life he has faithfully and con- scientiously performed his part and has earned the respect and confidence of all who have come in contact with him. The fam- ily stand high in the social circles of the community and in their home is dispensed a generous hospitality.
HENRY W. NOWLIN.
The Empire state of the Union has con- tributed to Michigan many of her best and most valuable citizens, and of this number may be mentioned Henry W. Nowlin, who resides in section 32, Norwich township, Missaukee county. The subject's natal day
the order of birth of the nine children born to his parents, John H. and Ann (Kellogg) Nowlin, both also natives of New York. They came from New York and settled in Pulaski township, Jackson county, Michi- gan, afterward removing to Girard town- ship, Branch county, this state, where they passed the remainder of their days, the father dying at the age of seventy-eight years and the mother at that of seventy-two. The subject of this sketch remained in Jackson county, this state, until he was twenty-four years old, and then went to Hillsdale county, this state, where he remained for two years. He then went to Montcalm county, this state, and seven years later came to Missau- kee county, settling in the fall of 1883 on the farm where he now resides in section 32, Norwich township. He owns one hundred and sixty acres of land in section 32, and forty acres in section 31. having about sixty-five acres in cultivation. He is thor- oughly-up-to-date in his methods of farming and has met with a large and well-merited success in the undertaking. The place is im- proved with a tasty and well arranged dwel- ling, good barn and other necessary out- buildings and the general appearance of the place indicates the owner to be a man of sound judgment and good taste. He raises here all the crops common to this section of the country and has attained to a position of independence and comparative affluence, the result solely of his own indefatigable ef- forts.
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