Biographical history of northern Michigan containing biographies of prominent citizens, Part 95

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

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NORTHERN MICHIGAN.

the fall of 1865, when he received an honor- able discharge from the service and again returned to his home county. He attended school the greater part of the time until 1868, when he went west, spending some time in Kansas and Missouri and other western states, being engaged for a time as a school teacher in Missouri. He then came to Michigan and here followed the lumber- ing business in different places until the spring of 1873, when he came to Lake City, Michigan, and shortly afterwards settled on the farm on which he now resides, in section 18, Reeder township. He first took up a homestead of one hundred and twenty acres, which he has since increased to two hundred acres, and of this tract he has one hundred acres improved and capable of producing abundant crops. He is an indefatigable worker and this, combined with good judg- ment and wise discrimination, has enabled him to realize a large degree of success in his undertaking.

Mr. Long was married in Cannington, Ontario, Canada, on April 19, 1875, to Miss Jane A. Parliament, who was born in Brock township, Ontario county, province of On- tario, Canada, October II, 1856, and is a daughter of George and Margaret (McNer- rin) Parliament, both natives of Canada. Of their seven children, Mrs. Long is the third in the order of birth and by her union with Mr. Long she has become the mother of three children, Harry P. and William H., living, and one son who died in infancy. Mr. Long has taken a deep interest in local public affairs and has served as township su- pervisor, township clerk, justice of the peace, superintendent of the poor and as a school officer. His fraternal relations are with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and with

the Grand Army of the Republic, Caldwell Post, at Lake City. He is a man widely known and by all admired for his sterling qualities of manhood.

JOHN ENGLISH.

Among the leading and progressive agri- culturists of Richland township, Missaukee county, Michigan, the subject of this sketch has long occupied a conspicuous position. He is, like so many of the successful farm- ers of this region, a native of Canada, hav- ing been born in Cartwright township, Dur- ham county, seventy miles east of Toronto, and the date of his birth was October 30, 1856. His parents were Robert and Eliza- beth (Richardson) English, both natives of Canada, who came to Missaukee county, Michigan, in April, 1880, settling in Rich- land township. The mother's death oc- curred here on August 31, 1904, at the age of seventy-five years. The subject of this sketch was reared on the parental farm- stead, receiving a good common-school edu- cation, and at the age of eighteen years he came to Missaukee county, Michigan, and . was employed in the woods and on the river in the winters and springs, and worked at farm labor in the summers for about two years. He then returned to his old home in Canada, where he remained for a time, and then returned to Missaukee county and, in company with his brother James, bought one hundred and sixty acres of land in sec- tion 9, Richland township, and since that time has devoted his attention exclusively to agricultural pursuits. He now. owns -three hundred and sixty acres and has

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erected a complete and well arranged set of farm buildings, having about one hundred and sixty acres of the place improved. He is thorough and practical in his methods and has achieved a distinctive success in the undertaking. His crops are abundant and in addition he also gives due attention to the auxiliary branches of farming, such as stock raising and fruit culture, finding these things profitable as well as pleasant.

On August 19, 1882, Mr. English was wedded to Miss Eugenie A. Taylor, daugh- ter of William M. and Mary A. (Hicks) Taylor (whose sketch appears elsewhere in this volume). She was born in Lyons, Cook county, Illinois, on July 7, 1864, and is the third born in a family of thirteen children, namely : Clara B., born May 9, 1889; Myr- tle G., born February 24, 1891; Birdie M., born September 30, 1892; Mary E., born August 18, 1894, and John D., born July 24, 1899. The deceased children are Eva A., who was born June 19, 1884, and died No- vember 29, 1889; Emma A., who was born October 4, 1885, and died April 14, 1897; James W., born April 18, 1886, died Au- gust 19, 1897. Prior to her marriage Mrs. English was a teacher for several years, having taught in the schools of district No. 2, Richland township. It may be stated that, in addition to his farming operations, Mr. English is also engaged in the mercan- tile business at Lucas and buys and ships potatoes and wool in large quantities. He is thoroughly practical in everything he does, the fact being undoubtedly the key- note to the success which has attended all his operations. The possessor of many emi- nent personal qualities, he has earned the sincere regard and esteem of all who know him.

JAMES ENGLISH.

Well and favorably known among the prominent and progressive farmers of Mis- saukee county, Michigan, is James English, who resides on section 9, Richland township. Mr. English was born about seventy miles east of Toronto, in Cartwright township, Durham county, Canada, on March 24, 1853, and is the third in the order of birth of the twelve children that blessed the mar- riage of his parents, Robert and Elizabeth (Richardson) English. He was reared un- der the parental roof, to the life of a farmer, and was well educated in the common schools of his neighborhood. He remained at home until October, 1875, when he came to Muskegon county, Michigan, and began working in the lumber woods. In Decem- ber of the same year he came to Missaukee county and worked in the woods and on the river in what is now Richland township for Blodgett & Burns, being engaged in this way and also in farming for some seven or eight years, since which time he has con- fined his attention almost exclusively to ag- ricultural pursuits. In the summer of 1878 he purchased, in company with his brother John, the southwest quarter of section 9, Richland township, where he made his home until the time of his marriage, in'1881, when he went to reside on the large farm owned by Delos A. Blodgett in Richland township. There he remained until the fall of 1891, when he settled on the farm on which he now resides, and which he had previously purchased. He erected on this place a lot of good and substantial farm buildings and . here he is the owner of one hundred and twenty acres of as good land as can be found · in the township. He owns altogether nearly

JAMES ENGLISH, MABEL C. ENGLISH, DELOS A. ENGLISH AND MRS. ELIZABETH ENGLISH.

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NORTHERN MICHIGAN.

seven hundred acres of land. In addition to caring for his own interests, Mr. English has for many years had the control and over- sight of the extensive farms belonging to Delos A. Blodgett in Missaukee, Osceola and Clare counties, this fact being but an- other evidence of the high regard in which he is held by those who have known him for years. He takes a lively interest in all that concerns his community and has served effi- ciently as treasurer of Lake township and several years as highway commissioner. Fraternally he is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons and the Independent Or- der of Odd Fellows.

On September 26, 1881, Mr. English was married to Miss Elizabeth Singlaub, who was born in Germany on September 5, 1858, the daughter of Nicholas and Anna K. (Shunk) Singlaub. The subject and his wife have two living children, Mabel C. and Deloss A., while two others died in infancy.

WILLIAM ENGLISH.

Canada has contributed some of her best citizens to the United States-men who have here entered into the spirit of our insti- tutions and have not only gained pecuniary independence for themselves, but have also been a distinct acquisition to our popula- tion. The subject of this sketch was born in Haldemand township, Northumberland county, about seventy miles east of Toronto, Canada, on February 23, 1848, and is the eldest of the twelve children born to his par- ents, Robert and Elizabeth (Richardson) English. The parents were both natives of Ontario, Canada, and came to Missaukee

county, Michigan, in April, 1880, settling in Richland township. Here the mother died on August 31, 1904, in the seventy-fifth year of her age. The subject of this sketch was reared on his father's farm in Canada and received a good education in the public schools. At the age of twenty-one years he came to Missaukee county, walking the dis- tance from Lowell, Kent county. During the winters he worked in the woods, in the spring was a log driver on the rivers, and in the summer and fall worked at farm la- bor. For ten years he was in the employ of Thomas Burns. In August, 1884, Mr. Eng- lish settled on the farm where he now re- sides, purchasing at that time forty acres of mill land, which he has subsequently in- creased to eighty acres, nearly all of which is in cultivation and producing abundant crops of all the products common to this locality. He has a good set of farm buildings, well arranged for the various purposes for which intended, and conducts his operations ac- cording to the latest and most improved methods.

Mr. English was married in Bowman- ville, Durham county, Ontario, Canada, on August 28, 1875, to Miss Charlotte Mc- Brian, who was born in Alnwick, Northum- berland county, Ontario, on July 9, 1846, the daughter of Robert and Mary (Collins) McBrian. The parents, who were natives of Ireland, and who both died in Northum- berland county, were the parents of five children, Mrs. English being the eldest of the number. Mr. and Mrs. English have four children living, Willis A .; Cora Blanche, the wife of Claude Warden; Wil- lie L .; Genie Mae; they have buried three children, as follows: James N. was killed near Lake City, at the age of nine and a half

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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY OF

Fellows and the Modern Woodmen of America. A man of acknowledged ability and possessing a pleasing disposition, it is not strange that he has won a host of warm and loyal friends since making his home here.

JOHN LUTKE.

The subject of this sketch, who is suc- cessfully conducting a highly improved farm in section 29, Clam Union township, Missaukee county, Michigan, and who occu- pies the responsible position of supervisor of the township, is a native of far-away Holland, where he was born on February 10, 1848. His parents were Thomas and Alice (Kurs) Lutke, who were natives of the same country and who came to America in 1869 and settled in Allegan county, Michigan. They came to Missaukee county in 1872 and settled in section 30, Clam Union township, where the mother died in March, 1891, when upwards of seventy years of age. The subject of this sketch was the eldest of their four children and spent the years of his youth in his native land, receiving a good education in the public schools. Com- ing to America in 1868, he located in Ottawa county, Michigan, where he was employed at farm labor until 1871. In January of that year he came to Missaukee county and has been a resident of Clam Union town- ship since that time. He is the owner of two hundred and twenty acres of good land and has one hundred and ninety acres of it improved and in a high state of cultivation -a marked contrast to its wild condition when he obtained possession of it. He gives attention to all the crops common to this

section and has met with reasonable success in his labors. He is generally regarded as one of the best farmers in the township, a reputation well merited.

In Clam Union township, on June 14, 1877, Mr. Lutke wedded Miss Tetge Sik- kens, a native of the Netherlands, born August 27, 1856, and to them have been born the following children: Katie is the wife of James Hoekwater; Alice is the wife of Joseph Nederhoed; and Sarah, Jennie, Abel H., Anna, Maggie, Thomas F. and Florence. In the way of public office Mr. Lutke has served as supervisor of Clam Union township several terms, as probate judge four years, township treasurer, school assessor for upwards of twenty years, and justice of the peace for many years. He is acknowledged as a leader in thought and action in his community and his voice and influence is always to be found on the side of every question that promises to advance the general welfare of the community.

JOHN H. EPPINK.

Though of foreign birth, the subject of this sketch has passed so nearly all his life in the United States that he may almost be called a product of this country. Thor- oughly loyal to the land of his adoption and all her institutions, he is American in heart and feeling, though naturally retaining in his heart a warm spot for the land of his na- tivity. John H. Eppink is a native of the Netherlands, where he was born on Decem- ber 4, 1846. His parents were Benjamin and Grace (Walters) Eppink and they had four children, of whom the subject is the

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second in order of birth. The latter was but six months old when the family emigrated to America, at which time they came to Allegan county, Michigan, remaining there during the remainder of their days. The subject was reared in that county and se- cured a good practical education in the schools of that neighborhood. He remained upon his father's farm until about twenty years old, and then he engaged in the mer- cantile business at Graafshap, Allegan county, which he continued until 1879, when he sold out and entered the office of county treasurer, to which he had been elected ,and in which he served four years. During his official career he resided in Alle- gan and upon the expiration of his term of office he engaged in the mercantile business there, in which he continued for four years. In the spring of 1888 he came to Lucas, Mis- saukee county, Michigan, and erected a saw- mill, which he operated for about two years, when the mill was destroyed by fire. He then entered the mercantile and real estate business, in which he has since continued and in which he has achieved a distinctive success. He also owns one hundred and twenty acres of land, which he operates and which he has found to be a profitable source of income. He is practical and methodical in all his operations and no detail of his enterprises is so trifling as to escape his at- tention, the result being a very gratifying degree of success.

In Allegan county, this state, on April 22, 1868, Mr. Eppink wedded Miss Lan- nette Notier, who was born in Allegan county on December 5, 1849, the daughter of John and Mary Notier. The subject and his wife are the parents of three children, namely : Sena, the wife of William H. Tay-

lor ; Mary, the wife of George E. Lamb, and John B. Mr. Eppink has held the office of justice of the peace in Richland township and because of his fine personal qualities has won and retains the sincere regard of all his acquaintances.

CORNELIUS CATS.

Among those men who have by their earnest and indefatigable efforts accumu- lated a comfortable material estate, and at the same time have won for themselves the sincere regard and esteem of their fellow men, the subject of this sketch occupies a conspicuous position. Mr. Cats, who re- sides on section 3, Clam River township, was born in Leeland township, Ottawa county, Michigan. on November 21, 1850, and is the son of Jacob and Nellie (Brook- more) Cats. These parents were natives of the Netherlands and emigrated to America about 1848 .and settled in Ottawa county, Michigan, where they remained until their deaths. The subject of this sketch was the eldest of their two children and was reared chiefly in Ottawa county, where he attended the common schools. While residing in this county he was employed in various places. chiefly at saw-mill work. In December, 1871, he came to Missaukee county and pur- chased forty acres of land in section 3, Clam Union township, it being wild and unim- proved land at that time. He is now the owner of one hundred and twenty acres of land, nearly all of which has been improved. In all business affairs with which he is con- nected he has shown qualities of a high or- der and has many admirers of a stanch and

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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY OF

loyal character, who esteem him at his true worth.

Mr. Cats was married in Clam Union township, this county, April II, 1872, to Miss Jeltje Bouwma, who was born in Lee- land township, Ottawa county, Michigan, October 7, 1854, and the daughter of David and Teesje Bouwma. To the subject and his wife have been born the following children : Mellie is the wife of Henry Mulder; Katie is the wife of John Quist: Jacob; David; Agnes is the wife of Henry DaBoer; Rene; Hattie, who is the wife of Claude Youngs ; Johanna; Minnie ; Maggie; Lizzie, and an- other one named Lizzie, who died in in- fancy. In local public affairs Mr. Cats has occupied a conspicuous position, having held the office of supervisor of Clam Union town- ship, township clerk and school director. In all the characteristics that go to make up a successful life the subject of this sketch has been well equipped and his life career but goes to show what may be accomplished by the man of energy and determination. He has led an eminently useful life in his com- munity and his influence has ever been ex- erted on the side of right and morality.

WILLIAM S. SHAW.

Among those who have been prominently concerned in the ushering in of new eras of industrial activity in Charlevoix county stands Mr. Shaw, who is president and man- ager of the Boyne City Tanning Company and who is known as one of the represent- ative business men and loyal citizens of this section of the Wolverine state. His ex- tensive interests place him among the leaders

in industrial circles in northern Michigan and he has achieved that success which is the logical result of enterprise, systematic effort, resolute purpose and straightforward methods. There are no other qualities ab- solutely essential to development, and upon the ladder of his own building he has. climbed to prominence and prosperity, while in the community with whose interests he is so closely and conspicuously identified he is held in the highest esteem and confidence. Concerning the important industry of which Mr. Shaw was practically and essentially the founder we are able to give a comparatively adequate idea by quoting somewhat freely and with slight metaphrase from a descrip- tive article appearing in the anniversary number of the Boyne Citizen, under date of September 2, 1904 :

"The extensive tanneries of the Boyne City Tanning Company were located and established here by W. S. Shaw in 190I. The large supply of hemlock bark, inex- haustible for many years to come, and the fine shipping facilities at the upper end of Pine lake, wielded a mighty influence in bringing these tanneries to Boyne City. A large tract of land was obtained, the same being located on the lake shore and in the western part of the town. Building oper- ations began in the spring of 1901, under the supervision of Mr. Shaw. At the tan- nery were erected the first buildings in this place of cement construction in the matter of foundations, proving beyond a doubt their permanency as last durations for manu- facturing purposes. By early winter the plant was ready to do business. The total number of buildings in use at the tannery at the time of this writing is thirteen, of which four are brick, one of stone and brick,

W. S. SHAW.

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one of cement blocks and six of frame con- struction. The names, dimensions and construction material of these buildings are here noted : Roll house, wood, sixty by one hundred and thirty-two feet; machine and blacksmith shop, brick, forty by fifty feet ; warehouse, frame, thirty-six by one hundred and fifty feet ; boiler house, brick, forty-four by sixty-five feet; leach house and sweat pits, stone and brick, forty-four by one hun- dred and seventy feet; hide house, brick, fifty by eighty feet; dry house, wood, fifty by three hundred and thirty-six feet; yard and beam house, wood, sixty by five hun- dred feet; engine house, brick, forty-four feet square; tank house, wood, sixty by one hundred and twenty feet ; offal house, wood, twenty-four by forty-eight feet ; hair house, cement blocks, thirty by fifty feet, and the office of brick and of adequate dimensions for the accommodation of the executive and clerical staff of the company.

chinery of this immense plant is kept run- ning by hides brought from the markets of the world. Australia competes with Pata- gonia as a supplier of hides; Cape Colony with British Columbia; China with Mexico and India with Cuba. Every land forwards its contribution of hides, that the tanning liquor of the hemlock trees may turn these skins into valuable materials for shoe manu- facturers. Eighty hands find employment in the tannery and receive in annual wages the sum of fifty thousand dollars. The product is exclusively sole leather and amounts to four million pounds a year. All this is shipped to Boston and other eastern points where the largest plants for shoe manufacturing are located.

On the south terrace Mr. Shaw has put up twenty or more houses for his workmen. These are all comfortable homes with mod- ern improvements, including electric light- ing. The tannery is one of the most im- portant industries in Boyne City and as there is an abundance of bark in this section the plant can be successfully operated for many years to come."

These buildings are well protected against fire by the use of an underwriters' compound fire pump, with a capacity of one thousand gallons per minute, and there is also a house with a reel of one thousand This great concern bases its operations upon the ample capital stock of two hun- dred and fifty thousand dollars, all utilized in the prosecution of the enterprise, while the annual business transactions have reached the average aggregate of seven hundred thousand dollars. The corporation is feet capacity and a present equipment of seven hundred and fifty feet of hose. The premises are furnished with an underground system of cast-iron pipes, with six hydrants. A complete electric-lighting plant is operated in connection with the other machinery of the works. Eight hundred cords of tan bark ' a close one, as over nine-tenths of the stock are used monthly for tanning purposes in ad- dition to large quantities of chestnut and other tanning extracts, the hemlock bark being purchased of the firms of W. H. White & Company, G. von Platen, Boyne City Lumber Company, of Boyne City, and Cobbs & Mitchell, of Cadillac. The ma- is held by Mr. Shaw. In the prosecution of operations ten thousand cords of tan bark are utilized annually. Mr. Shaw has been identified with the tanning industry for a full score of years, and his intimate knowl- edge of all practical details makes him es- pecially well equipped for the supervision

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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY OF

of the large plant in Boyne City, while as sole leather and accumulated considerable an executive and administrative officer his

means during the operation of these tan- powers are equally well developed and ma- neries from 1891 to 1900. In 1902 Mr. tured. Shaw, with others, organized the Boyne William S. Shaw was born in the city of Montreal, Canada, on the 22d of July, 1869, and there he passed his early youth, having duly availed himself of the advantages of the public schools of his native city and having supplemented this discipline by a course of study in the Fort Plain Institute, at Fort Plain, New York. He initiated his independent career at Warden, province of Quebec, Canada, where he became identified with the tanning industry when about six- teen years of age. The family name has long been concerned with this branch of in- dustrial activity and our subject's father was associated with others in the ownership and operation of the largest tanneries in the do- minion of Canada, tanning more than half the sole leather manufactured in Canada. The family was early founded on American soil, the original ancestors in the new world having located in the colony of Massachu- setts, while later the family was found prominently represented in the civic and in- dustrial life of the state of New York. Mr. Shaw is a son of Brackley and Marcia Jane (Bartlett) Shaw, both of whom were born in the state of Massachusetts. The father is yet living, at the age of. seventy-three years, while the mother died in 1884. Our sub- ject was concerned with tanneries in St. Leonard and Roxton Falls, Quebec, and later at Huntsville and Bracebridge, Ontario, from which latter place he came to Boyne City in 1901. He built and owned the two last named tanneries, which were the largest in Canada at that time. At these points he made his reputation as a tanner of first-class City Chemical Company, he holding one- third of the stock and being president of the concern ever since its organization. This business consumes daily one hundred and ninety-two cords of wood, supplying the Boyne City Charcoal Iron Company with its charcoal, and shipping the wood alcohol to Buffalo and the acetate of lime to New York. This concern produces more wood alcohol and acetate of lime than any other plant in the United States. The organization of this company and its subsequent success has been in a large measure due to the foresight, courage and push displayed by Mr. Shaw and his fellow-promoters, as the business was an entirely new one to all concerned. He has fully identified himself with the best interests of the town of his adoption and is one of our most progressive and public- spirited citizens and is known as a business man of the highest class and as one well worthy of unqualified confidence and regard. He is a large stockholder in the Boyne City State Bank, of which he is vice-presi- dent, while he is also vice-president of the lo- cal board of trade. He has recently erected a fine modern residence in the city and this pleasant home is a center of gracious hospi- tality. In political matters Mr. Shaw is inde- pendent, voting for men and measures that accord with his views, regardless of party lines. Though reared as a Presbyterian, he is not affiliated with any religious denomi- nation, though in full sympathy and har- mony with all churches, being ever ready to assist in every worthy religious or benevo- lent movement.

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Biographical history of northern Michigan containing biographies of prominent citizens, Part 95

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