Biographical history of northern Michigan containing biographies of prominent citizens, Part 93

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

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In politics Mr. Wisler is independent in his views and actions, being bound by no party ties and invariably voting for the man or policies that meets his favor. His emi- nent personal qualities and abilities have long been recognized by his fellow citizens and have been rewarded several times by his selection to offices of trust and responsi- bility. He has served as treasurer of the township two years, treasurer of the vil- lage two years and for eight years has served as a member of the school board, in all of which positions he performed the var- ied duties to the entire satisfaction of his constituents. Fraternally he is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons, holding affiliation with Lodge No. 374 at Mance- lona, and in his daily life he exemplifies the noble teachings of this time-honored order.

In 1878 Mr. Wisler was united in mar- riage to Miss Zenette Buck, the accom- plished daughter of John and Zedinia (Wood) Buck. The family moves in the best social circles of the community and in all the relations of life exhibit those sterling properties which win and retain friendships.

WILLIAM KREBS.

Among the leading industries of Alpena, Michigan, is that of tanning, and among those who have been instrumental in promot- ing the success of the enterprise specific mention should be made of William Krebs. Mr. Krebs came to Alpena to make his per- manent home in 1896, though in the preced- ing year he had been here superintending the construction of the C. Moench Sons Company plant, one of the largest tanneries

in northern Michigan. This plant gives em- ployment to one hundred men and has a ca- pacity of seven hundred and fifty finished sides of sole leather per day. The buildings cover a large area, the company properly embracing fifty-five acres of ground. The main building is six hundred by sixty feet, with an L sixty by one hundred feet; the boiler house is sixty by ninety feet, and the leech house fifty by one hundred and twenty- five feet. Since coming to Alpena Mr. Krebs has had entire control of this large plant, and, having been engaged in the tan- ning business for twenty-one years, is well qualified to conduct it. The company also own one upper leather tannery, a glue plant and a gas plant at Gowanda, New York, and an upper leather tannery at Salamanca. that state, these being among the largest plants in the United States, and in all branches, of its business the company gives employment to about seven hundred men. Mr. Krebs is one of the vice-presidents of the company and in the performance of his duties spends part of his time at Gowanda and Salamanca. His brother John is gen- eral foreman of the Alpena plant, while a nephew, Walter J. Krebs, is bookkeeper, having taken the highest honors at the Al- pena Business College. The subject is a di- rector of the Alpena National Bank and is vice-president of the Lakeside Cranberry Company. which controls four hundred acres of cranberries. Fraternally he is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons, belonging to all the subordinate bodies, and also belongs to the Benevolent and Protect- ive Order of Elks.

Mr. Krebs married Miss Amelia Moench, of Cattaraugus, New York, the daughter of Christopher Moench, the

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founder of the firm of C. Moench Sons cognizance of the general as well as the indi- Company. Mrs. Krebs died on December vidual welfare. Such are the men who are eminently entitled to representation in a publication of this nature, and it is with pleasure that we incorporate a review of the life history of him whose name initiates this paragraph. 17, 1902, having become the mother of three children, Carrie, William H. and Adolph E. Mr. Krebs has evinced business and execu- tive qualities of the highest order and has been to a large degree instrumental in pro- moting the success of the enterprise with which he is so closely identified. The pos- sessor of many fine personal traits of charac- ter, he has won and retains a host of warm personal friends.

JOSEPH HUDSON.

As one reviews the history of Clare county and seeks to determine whom were the founders of its prosperity and prestige and prominent in its early development, he will find that the subject of this brief sketch has been long identified with the progress and advancement of this favored section of the Wolverine state, where he has main- tained his home for a third of a century and where he has attained gratifying success in connection with the development of its re- sources, being one of the leading farmers and stock-growers of the county and hav- ing one of the finest landed estates in this part of the commonwealth. He may prop- erly be designated as a pioneer, and radical have been the changes which have occurred here since he took up his residence in the county, since at that time much of its terri- tory was practically an unreclaimed wild. He has played well his part as a citizen, his course has been characterized by industry, progressive spirit and good management and by that broad-minded policy which takes

Mr. Hudson is a native of the "right little, tight little isle," upon whose domin- ions the sun never sets, having been born in Yorkshire, England, on the 30th of March, 1850, and being a son of parents who passed their entire lives in that mother country. Our subject received good educational ad- vantages in his youth and continued to re- side in Yorkshire until 1868, when, at the age of eighteen years, he came to the United States, having become convinced that better opportunities for advancement were to be found in the "land of the free." Soon after his arrival in the port of New York he set forth for the west, making Michigan his destination, and here follow- ing such vocations as afforded him remuner- ative employment. In September, 1870, in Ionia county, he was married, and in the fol- lowing month came with his bride to Clare county, where he took up a homestead of forty acres of wild land, the same constitut- ing the nucleus of his present fine landed estate. He reclaimed his farm and bent his energies to the work in hand, so that in due time his success became cumulative and en- abled him to expand the scope of his opera- tions. His original homestead, in section 2, Grant township, still continues to be his place of abode, and is one of the best im- proved properties in this section of the state, while in the matter of house and other farm buildings it is safe to say that few more at- tractive places can be found within the lim-

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its of the state, his residence being one of the most modern in the county, while the barns are large and substantial structures. Thrift and prosperity are shown on every side, and Mr. Hudson is recognized as one of the leading men of the county ; where he is held in high esteem by all who know him. His estate comprises four hundred and eighty acres and nearly the entire tract is under a high state of cultivation, while he makes a specialty of the raising of sheep, in which department of his farming enter- prise he has been most successful. He feeds several hundred head of sheep each year and has the best of accommodations for fully twelve hundred lambs, as well as for other live stock. He has also given con- siderable attention to lumbering in this county, and through his operations in this line added materially to his financial pres- tige.

In his political proclivities Mr. Hudson is a stalwart advocate of the principles of the Republican party, and he has been an active factor in public affairs of a local nature. He has served in various township offices, in- cluding that of supervisor, of which he was incumbent for two years, and Governor Bliss appointed him a member of the board of trustees of the Michigan Employment Institute for the Blind. He was elected treasurer of the board and continued a mem- ber of the same for several years, rendering most effective service.

In Ionia county, Michigan, on the 14th of September, 1870, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Hudson to Miss Rachel Cross, who was born and reared in that county, and she has proved a devoted com- panion and helpmeet. Four children were born of this union, of whom two are living,

Frederick W., who is associated with his father in the management of the home farm; and Mary, who is the wife of James A. Mc- Kay. The two deceased children are Sarah, who died at the age of twelve years, and John, who died at the age of five years.

WOLVERINE.

The village of Wolverine is located in the southwest part of Cheboygan county, on the Mackinaw division of the Michigan Central Railroad, the beautiful Sturgeon river, one of the finest trout streams in the state, running through the village. The village is located high in the hills, the coun- try being quite hilly in the vicinity. The surrounding country for the most part is heavily timbered with hardwood of all kinds, and the land is as fine for farming as any that lies out of doors anywheres and is rapidly settling up, now that people are beginning to turn from lumbering to farm- ing. It is said that some of the crops have recently increased over one thousand per cent. in one season, and the land is fine enough to keep the same ratio of increase for some time yet. The timber on the land makes it worth more per acre wild than old settled farms with elegant buildings on them have sold for in southern Michigan in the past few years, so that clearing up the land furnishes abundant capital to the set- tler to operate his farm as it should be, and furnish stock, tools, machinery, barns. houses, etc. Plenty of land may still be had cheap. Wolverine prides itself upon its splendid graded schools, giving fine educa- tional advantages, upon its beautiful

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churches, elegant private residences, good hotels and business houses, and its social advantages, the people being refined, edu- cated and very hospitable. Wolverine is the headquarters of the Guelph Patent Cask Company, an English concern, which is prosperous and well managed, and the town has also a saw mill, shingle mill and other industries, and is growing vigorously.

NOBLE I. MARSH.

A scion of old colonial stock and a na- tive of the old Green Mountain state is this venerable and honored pioneer of Antrim county, where he has maintained his home for more than thirty years, being the owner of a well-improved farm in Echo township.

Mr. Marsh was born in Franklin county, Vermont, in 1829, and is a son of Palmer and -- (Stanley) Marsh, both of whom were likewise born in that state, the respect- ive families having been founded in New England in the early colonial days. When our subject was but a youth his parents re- moved to the province of Ontario, Canada, where they passed the remainder of their lives, the father being summoned into eter- nal rest in 1844, while his devoted wife passed away in 1869. Of their nine chil- dren only two are living, of whom our sub- ject is the elder. His brother Orville is a prosperous farmer, residing near Benning- ton. Vermont.

Noble I. Marsh was reared to the life of the farm and has ever continued his alle- giance to the great basic industry of agricul- ture, through which he has, by earnest and indefatigable labor, gained a competency.

His youthful days were passed in the prov- ince of Ontario, Canada, where he secured a good common-school education and where he learned the valuable lessons of industry, frugality and integrity of purpose, early be- ginning to depend upon his own resources. Subsequently he came to the state of Michi- gan and later located in Lapeer county, this state, where he was engaged in farming until 1871, when he came to Antrim county and secured a tract of wild land in Echo township, his present homestead being a portion of this original tract. He took up a homestead claim of eighty acres and forth- with instituted the arduous task of cutting off the timber and reclaiming the land to cultivation. His first residence was a small and rudely constructed shanty, and this con- tinued to be the family home for a period of seven years, at the expiration of which he erected a large granary and fitted the same up as a dwelling, utilizing it for this pur- pose for three years and then erecting his present comfortable and attractive residence. He made all the improvements on his farm and at one time owned two hundred and forty acres in Echo township, but he retains only his original homestead of eighty acres, which is one of the best farms in this sec- tion, and here he lives in peace and comfort, being practically retired from active labor. His daughter Alice presides over the domes- tic economies of the home and her husband has charge of the farm.

In his political proclivities Mr. Marsh is a stalwart Republican, having identified himself with the "grand old party" at the time of its organization, and while he has ever stood ready to aid in the promotion of the best interests of his township and county he has not been a seeker of public office,

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though he has held the position of road com- missioner and has rendered effective serv- ice as a member of the school board of his district. He has long been a zealous mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal church, as is also his cherished wife, who is a woman of noble attributes of character, holding the af- fectionate regard of all who have come with- in the sphere of her gracious influence.

In 1850 was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Marsh to Miss Mary Sweet, who was born and reared in the province of On- tario, Canada, being a daughter of Amos and Elizabeth Sweet, and to them have been born eight children.

IVILLJAM LEWIS.

It is a fact patent to all that the United States can boast of no better or more law- abiding class of citizens than the great num- ber of English people who have found homes within her borders. Though holding dear and sacred the beloved mother country, they are none the less devoted to the fair country of their adoption, and, as necessity has re- quired it, many of them have gone forth to battle for the maintenance of its institutions. Among this large and highly respected class is the subject of this sketch, who for a num- ber of years led an active life as an agricul- turist, but is now enabled to live at ease in his comfortable home in Kalkaska, Michi- gan. Mr. Lewis was born in Devonshire. England, on November 17, 1835, and is the son of James and Jane (Gidley) Lewis, who were born. lived, married and died in Eng- land. The subject obtained a good educa- tion in the public schools of his native land

and in August, 1855, he came to the United States, crossing the Atlantic in a sailing vessel and being six weeks on the voyage. Upon his arrival he came to Milford, Oak- land county, Michigan, where he engaged in farming until 1868, when, in April, he came to Kalkaska county and settled in Ex- celsior township, where he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land. He cleared and improved this place and brought it up to a high standard of excellence, being prospered in proportion to his labor, so that in 1904 he was enabled to lay aside the ac- tive labors of the fields and retire to a neat and pleasant home in Kalkaska, where he now lives.

While living in Oakland county, this state, he was, on December 8, 1861, united in marriage to Miss Sarah Ann Edwards, a native of Oakland county, Michigan. This union was blessed in the birth of five children, namely: A daughter died in in- fancy ; Clara died at the age of about ten years : Charles J. : Dannie D .: William died in Excelsior township, at the age of twenty- one years. Mrs. Lewis's death occurred in Kalkaska on the Ist day of May, 1905, at the age of sixty-four years, and was deeply re- gretted by all who had come within the range of her gracious influence. Mr. Lewis has always kept in close touch with the lead- ing issues of the day and has helped in many ways to advance the varied interests of the county. For several years he served as school assessor and as a member of the board of review of Excelsior township for eleven years.

Mr. Lewis is an active member of Colonel Baker Post, No. 84, Grand Army of the Republic, this affiliation being consistent from the fact that during the dark and

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troublous days of the southern rebellion he Rapid River township. The land was heav- enlisted in the defense of his adopted coun- try, joining, in August, 1862, Company I, Twenty-second Regiment Michigan Volun- teer Infantry. He served almost three years, or until the war closed, seeing much arduous service and, in the bloody battle of Chicka- mauga, being severely wounded.

GEORGE CUTTING.

The subject of this sketch occupies a po- sition in the front rank of Kalkaska county's successful farmers and representative citi- zens. He also enjoys worthy prestige as a neighbor and friend, being actively inter- ested in the moral advancement of the com- munity and in close touch with the times in all that relates to the welfare of his fel- low men. Mr. Cutting was born in Norfolk, England, May 7, 1834, and remained in his native land until after attaining his major- ity, in the meantime securing a good public- school education. In December, 1855, he embarked on a sailing vessel for the United States, and in March, 1856, he landed at New York city. He came at once to Niles, Michigan, and was employed on various farms in Berrien county until October, 1861, when, hearkening to his country's call for help in suppressing the southern rebel- lion, he enlisted in Company E, Twelfth Michigan Volunteer Infantry, and served about eighteen months, when he was honor- ably discharged because of physical disabil- ity. He then returned to Berrien county. remaining here until September, 1869, when he came to Kalkaska county and took up a homestead of eighty acres in section 14,

ily timbered, but he at once set to work to clear it and render it fit for cultivation, which was accomplished in due time. Good buildings were erected on the place and other necessary improvements made and since that time he has successfully continued its cultivation. About seventy-seven acres are in actual cultivation and yield good re- turns to the owner.

In Niles, Michigan, Mr. Cutting was married to Miss Lucretia Ann Pope, and to them have been born the following children : Etta M. is the wife of G. Dorman; Nellie is the wife of Robert Syres; Ralph; Frank B .; John, deceased, and one that died in infancy. Mr. Cutting has taken an active part in local affairs, rendering all the aid in his power to the advancement of all movements look- ing to the betterment of the community. He has not been a determined seeker after office, though induced to fill those of high- way commissioner and school officer. Fra- ternally, Mr. Cutting is a member of Col. Baker Post, Grand Army of the Republic. Personally Mr. Cutting is a man of genial presence and his sterling worth has won for him a high place in the esteem of the public.

CHARLES P. SHERWOOD.

It is always pleasant and profitable to contemplate the career of a man who has made a success of life and won the honor and respect of his fellow citizens. Such is the record of the well-known gentleman whose name heads this sketch, than whom a more whole-souled or popular man it would be difficult to find within the limits of the

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county in which he resides. Mr. Sherwood is a native of the old Keystone state of the Union, having first seen the light of day in Bradford county, Pennsylvania, on May 1, 1868. His parents, Nathan and Jane (Beabe) Sherwood, were also both natives of Pennsylvania and came to Kalkaska county, Michigan, in the autumn of 1880, settling in Kalkaska, where they have since resided. The father was a miller by trade, but for a number of years he has practiced veterinary surgery.

Charles P. Sherwood came to Kalkaska with his parents and was there reared and at the same time secured a good practical education in the public schools. In the spring of 1897 he purchased a farm of forty- nine acres situated in section 28, Rapid River township, and made that his home until the fall of 1904, when he was made the recipient of distinctive honor at the hands of his fellow citizens, being elected sheriff of Kalkaska county. He is now effi- ciently and satisfactorily filling the position, performing the duties in an energetic and businesslike manner. Prior to this time he had held the office of justice of the peace in Rapid River township, resigning the of- fice when elected to the higher position. He had also served as school director of dis- trict No. 2, Rapid River township.

On December 24. 1896, Mr. Sherwood was united in marriage with Miss · Ella J. Marshall, a native of Michigan and a daugh- ter of William N. Marshall, of Rapid River township. This union has been a happy one and has been blessed by the birth of three children, Clayton M., Elma and Edna, the two latter being twins. Fraternally, Mr. Sherwood is a member of the Kalkaska Tent, Knights of the Maccabees, and takes

a deep interest in the success of the order. He has ever taken an active interest in the enterprises and undertaking's which have been projected for the general good of the community and his attitude has been that of a public-spirited and progressive citizen.

LEWIS ENGMARK.

Lewis Engmark is one whose career ex- cites the admiration and gains the respect of all, for through his diligence and persist- ent efforts he has won a leading place in ag- ricultural circles in Kalkaska county, where he has made his home for a number of years. He is a native of Denmark, where he was born March 26, 1872. His father is An- drew Engmark and his mother's maiden name was Mary Jeppesdatter. They were married in their native land and when their son, the subject, was about sixteen years old, they came to America and settled in Charlevoix county, this state, where they lived about a year and a half. They then lived in the town of Mancelona for several years and in the spring of 1895 they settled in section 18, Cold Springs township, Kal- kaska county, where they now reside. Lewis Engmark has always made his home with his parents, but is the owner of a fine farm of forty acres, located in section 16, Cold Springs township, which he has brought up to a high standard of excellence. He is en- ergetic and progressive in his methods and though his farm is not as large as others in the locality, few excel it in point of im- provements or proportionate products.

Mr. Engmark takes a lively and intelli- gent interest in the welfare of the commun-

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ity and invariably throws his influence to the right side of every moral issue. He has been honored by his fellow citizens with sev- eral public offices, having satisfactorily and efficiently served as justice of the peace, con- stable and in the spring of 1903 was elected township clerk. His fraternal relations are with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, holding membership in Mancelona Lodge, No. 368. A man of independent and earn- est thought, his line of action has come from a line of reasoning based upon his own ob- servation and familiarity with passing events, not being governed by the ideas of others unless they seem to him based on sound principle and reason.

FREEMAN MANUFACTURING CO.

The thriving little city of Kalkaska, ju- dicial center of the county of the same name, has attained to no little prestige as an indus- trial center, and among the most important manufacturing concerns of the place is that of which William C. Freeman is the president. The enterprise involved is one which has materially aided in giving the city prestige, while it has likewise contributed to the general progress and stable prosperity. Mr. Freeman is the head and front of the Freeman Manufacturing Company, which was organized through his efforts and which manufactures a wide range of specialties in wooden ware, representing many articles in- vented and patented by the honored presi- dent, who is one of the county's most hon- ored and valued citizens.

The Freeman Manufacturing Company was incorporated under the laws of the state

of Missouri in 1883, having at the time been established in Louisiana, Missouri, from which place the business was removed to Kalkaska in the year 1888. The present im- portant enterprise is the outgrowth of a modest manufacturing business established by Mr. Freeman in the year 1878, when he began the turning out of certain wooden ware specialties, under patents secured by himself. In Louisiana, Missouri, he ex- panded the scope of the business, which he there continued until he found it expedient to remove to Kalkaska, the supply facilities here being far superior, as beech and maple timber was to be here found in abundance and of the quality best adapted to the pur- poses. The original plant in Kalkaska repre- sented an investment of about forty-five thousand dollars, and employment was afforded to about seventy-five persons, while the average annual output reached an aggre- gate of seventy-five thousand dollars. On the 27th of May, 1893, the entire plant was de- stroyed by fire, entailing a loss of forty- seven thousand, five hundred dollars, includ -. ing manufactured products and stock in the yards, while the insurance indemnity aggre- gated but sixteen thousand dollars. Within the same year the present plant of the com- pany was built, the facilities being much larger than the original one. The invest- ment aggregated fifty-five thousand dollars, and the capital stock of the concern, as in- corporated under the laws of the state, is one hundred thousand dollars. The company gives employment to one hundred and fifty operatives in the factories, and about one hundred more persons are employed in a practically direct way, in clerical, executive and representative capacities. The annual output has now reached an average aggre-

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Biographical history of northern Michigan containing biographies of prominent citizens, Part 93

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