USA > Michigan > Bay County > History of Bay County, Michigan, and representative citizens > Part 54
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Mr. McClatchey was married in Bay County, to Evelyn La Valley.
ALTER W. WILLIAMS, M. D., and MARY A. W. WILLIAMS, M. D., are among the most success- ful practitioners of medicine of Bay City, Michigan. They have resided in this city several years and have come to stay. Both are scions of prominent and rep- resentative American families, their ancestors having come to this country in the early colo- nial period.
Dr. Walter W. Williams was born at Lima, Washtenaw County, Michigan, September 14, 1847, and is a son of Gen. Asa and Hannah Harris (Bond) Williams. He is a descendant of Roger Williams, the founder of Rhode Island, who established the family in this country.
Gen. Asa Williams was born in New Lon- don, Connecticut, October 21, 1802, and was descended from a long line of sea captains. His mother. Cynthia (Pride) Williams, was born
July 27, 1771, and died October 6, 1855. Gen. Asa Williams came to Michigan in 1825, and was one of the first settlers of Washtenaw County. He was a man of great industry and executive ability and steadily added to his pos- sessions until he was owner of many hundred acres of valuable land. He took a very active interest in political affairs, being a stanch Dem- ocrat, and represented his county in the Legisla- ture. He was a brigadier-general in the State Militia of Michigan, being appointed by Gen. Lewis Cass, then Governor, of Michigan. On December 12, 1830, General Williams was joined in marriage with Hannah Harris Bond, who was born November 13, 1809, and of the Io children born to them, five grew to maturity, namely : William Diah, born March 22, 1834, who died in 1894, at Marquette, Michigan, after serving 18 years as circuit judge; Han- nah Eliza, born January 11, 1839, who lives at Atlanta, Georgia, and is the widow of Bishop Milton Cravath, to whom she was married Oc- tober 4, 1860; George Rodney, born February 4, 1841, who died at Milan, Michigan, in 1903; Edwin King, born March 28, 1843, who was killed at the battle of Gaines' Mill, June 27, 1862; and Walter W. General Williams died October 2, 1869, and was survived by his wife who died September 17, 1876.
Walter. W. Williams was reared on the home farm in Washtenaw County, Michigan, and received his intellectual training in the public schools of Lima, the Ann Arbor High School and the University of Michigan. After leaving college he went West, living in the saddle among the cowboys. After the death of his father he settled on the old homestead in Washtenaw County. Some years later he sold it and removed to Eaton Rapids, Michigan, where he also engaged in agricultural pursuits. He was a Republican and very active in poli- tics. He was twice elected to the Legislature,
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-in 1887 and 1889,-and was speaker pro tem. in 1889. He took up the study of medi- cine and after securing his degree began prac- tice in Eaton Rapids and then moved to Bay City in 1897. He spent two years in California on account of ill health but never gave up his residence in Bay City. He makes a specialty of electrical therapeutics and skin and chronic diseases. He is a Mason and has been a Knight Templar since 1872.
In 1872, Dr. Walter W. Williams was uni- ted in marriage with Mary Achsah Whitaker. Dr. Mary A. Williams is a daughter of Charles and Laura (Beach) Whitaker. The Whitaker coat-of-arms, with a white horse as the crest and bearing the motto "Faith conquers and truth retains," indicates connection with the Wiltshire branch of the family, whose parent stock was from Holmes, Lancashire, England, the family being one of the oldest of that coun- try. The family was established in this coun- try by Jonathan Whitaker, who came here from England, first settling in Massachusetts. He later moved to Long Island, and still later to New Jersey, where he died in 1763. He was the father of Jonathan Whitaker, who was born in 1723 and died June 17, 1786. The lat- ter married Mary Muller, and among their children was Stephen Whitaker, great-grand- father of Dr. Mary Williams. He was born January 19, 1747, and died November 4, 1827. He was in the battle of Monmouth in the Revo- lutionary War. He married Susan White. Isaac Whitaker, a son of Stephen and Susan (White) Whitaker, was born January 16, 1792. He served his country in the War of 1812. He was joined in marriage with Ach- sah Cushman, a descendant of Robert Cush- man, who served as agent for the "Mayflower." They were parents of Charles Whitaker, who was born in Benton, New York, in 1818, and came to Michigan in 1836, locating in Lima,
Washtenaw County. He owned and conducted a large farm for many years and made a spe- cialty of thoroughbred stock. He was a Dem- ocrat in politics and served many years as super- visor. He was a Royal Arch Mason and a charter member of Chelsea Blue Lodge. He was united in marriage with Laura Beach, who was born in Plattsburgh, New York, in 1824, and was a daughter of William and Polly (Kellogg) Beach. Her grandfather, Capt. Joseph Beach, who spent the last years of his life at Otsego, New York, served in the French and Indian War and later in the Revolutionary War. He was probably born at Morristown, New Jersey, where he spent a large portion of his life and became the father of six children, the youngest of whom was William Beach, father of Mrs. Charles Whitaker. William Beach was born in 1782, and moved to Schenec- tady, New York, where in 1811 he was married to Polly Kellogg, a direct descendant of Silas Kellogg, who was a member of the first Conti- mental Congress from Berkshire County, Mas- sachusetts.
Charles and Laura (Beach) Whitaker be- came the parents of the following children : Finley, of Sandwich, Illinois ; Caroline, of Ann Arbor, Michigan; Mary Achsah, of Bay City: Ella, wife of William Tuomy, of Ann Arbor, Michigan; Charles E., one of the most exten- sive breeders of Black Top sheep in Michigan, who owns and manages the old homestead near Chelsea; and William I., a physician of Du- rand, Michigan.
Dr. Mary A. W. Williams received her early education in the public schools and then took the regular course in the medical depart- ment of the University of Michigan, graduating in 1891. During the last year of her course she served as assistant to the professor in gyne- cology. She commenced practice in 1891 at Eaton Rapids and continued until 1897, since
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which time she has practiced in Bay City, mak- ing a specialty of the diseases of women and children. She is a member of the Bay County Medical Society, Michigan State Medical Society, and American Medical Association. In 1900 she went to New York City and pur- sued a course in the New York Post-Graduate School.
Dr. Mary A. W. Williams was brought up according to the old ideas, that is,-to build up an honorable character, which is better than wealth to meet the emergencies of life; in this she has proved the sterling qualities of her in- heritance. She organized the U. & I. Club, a literary society at Eaton Rapids, Mich- igan. Soon after coming to Bay City, she joined the Woman's Club. She is allied with church and society.
YRUS HILLER, who is well-known to the citizens of Bay County, Michi- gan, has been engaged in various lines of business during his long resi- dence here and has been highly successful. He is at the present time treasurer of the Bay City Cold Storage & Produce Company, Ltd., of which he was one of the organizers.
Mr. Hiller was born near Flint, in Genesee County, Michigan, December 26, 1841, and is a son of John and Mary (Sherman) Hiller. His grandafther, John Hiller, who was of Ger- man parentage, was born in New York State, and there followed farming throughout his active career. He spent the last years of his life at the home of his son, Jacob, in West Bloom- field. Michigan, where he died in 1864, aged about 93 years. His wife was also of German descent, coming of the Frank family of that country.
John Hiller, father of our subject, was born
in Rochester, New York, January 28, 1808, and died June 30, 1895. He came to Michigan in 1836, shortly after his second marriage, tak- ing up and buying land to the extent of 300 acres in Burton township, Genesee County. The house built by him in 1841 is still standing and is now occupied by his daughter, Mrs. Jane Warner. He was a very energetic man and continued actively engaged in farming until within a few years of his death. There was no issue by his first marriage. His second mar- riage was with Mary Sherman, a daughter of John Sherman, of Churchville, New York, and they had 12 children, II of whom grew to maturity, as follows: David W., of Flint, Michigan ; Philena, deceased in 1898, aged 63 years, who was the wife of John Graves, of Flint, Michigan; Mary, widow of Theophilus Herrington, of Flint, Michigan; Cyrus; Levi, of Walla Walla, Washington; James P. and Frank, of Flint, Michigan ; Henry, of Portland, Oregon ; Lewis, of Flint, Michigan : Jane, wife of Charles K. Warner who is on the homestead farm; and Charles, of Flint, Michigan. Relig- ously, Mr. and Mrs. Hiller were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, being devout Christians and of charitable inclinations. He was a serious minded man, of happy disposi- tion, and had the happy faculty of making friends. No worthy seeker of help was ever refused by him, and in the early days of the community he sheltered many a pioneer until a clearing could be made and a cabin built for him and his family. Such acts of kindness made him a man beloved by all who knew him.
Cyrus Hiller continued on the home farm until he was within a few months of being of age, buying of his father the remainder of the period of his minority. For two winters before leaving home, he engaged in teaching school, then in the summer of 1863 worked on a farm, in order that he might attend school the follow-
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ing winter and brush up for his duties as teacher. He then taught in Wheatland, Hills- dale County, Michigan, and while there met Emily M. Sweezey, to whom he was afterward married. He and his wife stayed on her father's farm until the fall of 1864, when our subject moved to Saginaw and taught school in that vicinity the following winter. In the spring of 1865 he purchased a farm near Fentonville and followed farming, then sold out and pur- chased a farm near Flint, where he continued for seven years. Selling that property to good advantage, he returned to Saginaw in 1873, and in the spring of the following year became proprietor of a grocery store, which he success- fully conducted for four years. He ran a mill boarding house two years, and in 1880 pur- chased a planing mill in Bay City. He operated this plant successfully until 1899, when it was destroyed by fire a second time; he had imme- diately rebuilt it in 1889, when it was first burned. He decided not to rebuild after the second conflagration, and turned his attention to farming. He owns 328 acres in Wisner township, Tuscola County, which he now rents on shares. Mr. Hiller was one of the organiz- ers of the Bay City Cold Storage & Produce Company, Ltd., and has served as treasurer from the first. This is a flourishing enterprise, having an extensive patronage in Bay City and the surrounding country. Our subject resides with his family at No. 922 North Monroe street, Bay City, where he is enjoying the fruits of a well-spent past in the happy companionship of his family. He is a progressive, public-spir- ited and well-informed man, taking an earnest interest in the affairs of the nation, State, county and his immediate community. He is a man of striking manner and strong personal- ity, and to a marked degree enjoys the confi- dence and friendly feeling of his acquaintances.
Mr. Hiller married Emily M. Sweezey, a
daughter of Joseph M. Sweezey, of Wheatland, Michigan, and they have an adopted daughter, Maude. Religiously, they are members of the Madison Avenue Methodist Episcopal Church, of which he is a trustee and a class leader. Fraternally, he is a member of Bay City Lodge, No. 129, F. & A. M. He is a Democrat in politics, and has served on the School Board of Bay City for some years.
R EV. EUTROPE LANGLOIS, priest in charge of St. Ann's Church, at Linwood, Bay County, Michigan, 0 and a beloved cleric of the diocese of Grand Rapids of the Roman Catholic Church, was born March 17, 1865, in the Province of Quebec, Canada, and is a son of Cyrille and Cesarie (Guimont) Langlois.
The parents of Father Langlois were both born in Canada, but the family is of French extraction. From his youth Father Langlois was designed for the church and his education was pursued with this end in view. After his graduation from the University of Quebec, he was ordained to the priesthood in 1892. At once he came to Michigan and was settled first at Au Sable, then at Muskegon, and still later at West Bay City. Since October 6, 1894, he has been located at Linwood, and notable are the changes he has brought about. He has accomplished the building of the beautiful St. Ann's Church and the adjoining parsonage and has also rebuilt the old Church of the Sacred Heart, on the stone road, in Kawkawlin town- ship, and he has in contemplation the building of a commodious brick parsonage in connection with the latter church. When he came here at the call of duty, he found church affairs and church property in a bad condition. The pres- ent cheerful outlook, as to members and finan-
HENRY B. LANDON, A. M., M. D.
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ces, is the outcome of his well-directed energy, his pious zeal and executive ability. Both with- in and without his congregations, Father Lang- lois had many friends and admirers.
Father Langlois belongs to the same relig- ious body as did Father Jacques Marquette, who, more than 200 years ago, also inspired by duty and religious zeal, came to what is now the State of Michigan on his mission of peace, helpfulness and good-will. This work has never failed and Father Langlois, in his sphere and generation, has nobly done his part.
ENRY B. LANDON, A. M., M. D., whose period of medical practice ex- ceeds that of any other physician in Bay City, Bay County, Michigan, was born March 31, 1840, in Monroe, Michi- gan, where he received his early mental train- ing. In 1857, Dr. Landon entered the Univer- sity of Michigan, where he graduated in 1861, with the degree of A. B. He then enlisted in the army, being commissioned Ist lieutenant of Company D, 7th Reg. Michigan Vol. Inf., of which regiment he was later appointed adju- tant, and served in that capacity until the battle of Fair Oaks. In this engagement he was severely wounded, being shot through the chest and left arm. He was compelled to re- turn home and soon afterwards resigned his commission. In the fall of 1862, he entered the medical department of the University of Michigan, but his studies were interrupted in the fall of 1863 by his appointment as assist- ant surgeon of his old command, with which he remained until the spring of 1864. He then resigned his commission and resumed his med- ical studies in the University at Ann Arbor. He graduated from the medical department
in 1865. The degree of A. M. was conferred upon the Doctor by his alma mater in 1866, in recognition of his ability and scholarly attainments in the line of his profession.
In the spring of 1865, Dr. Landon located in Bay City, where he remained until 1890. In the fall of the latter year, he went to Denver, Colorado, where he was engaed in the practice of medicine for three years, returning in Jan- uary, 1894, to Bay City.
Of the pioneer physicians of Bay City in 1865, the only ones left are Dr. Landon, and Dr. Johnson, of St. John's. When the former settled here the number of medical practition- ers was about 10. Of these Dr. Landon is the only survivor now living in Bay City, and the oldest of all in continuous active practice. Of late years he has been, to a considerable extent, on the retired list.
Dr. Landon has been twice married. On January 22, 1862, he wedded Martha J. Wil- liams, of Ann Arbor, Michigan. She died in November, 1883, leaving a son, Dr. Herbert W. Landon, of Lansing, Michigan, who spent one year in the University of Michigan, and afterwards studied in the office of Dr. McGraw, in Detroit. He graduated from the Detroit Medical College in 1898, and was interne for a year at St. Mary's Hospital, being six months in the medical ward, and an equal period in the surgical ward. He was married in February, 1904, to Dorothy Sterling, of Monroe, Michi- gan, a member of a prominent family there. He is now in active practice at Lansing, being located near the State Agricultural College at that point.
On January 28, 1866, the subject of this sketch was married to Florence Fitzhugh, the youngest daughter of one of the pioneer fami- lies of this region, which has always been very prominent. One son resulted from this union,
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-Dana F., who is a student in the Bay City High School.
Dr. Landon is a member of the G. A. R., and of the military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States. He is one of the earliest members of the Bay County Medical Society, of which he was secretary when Dr. Horace Tupper was its president. He is the oldest mem- ber in Bay City. Next in length of member- ship is Dr. Isaac E. Randall, of West Bay City, after whom comes Dr. Robert W. Erwin. A portrait of Dr. Landon accompanies this ar- ticle.
P ETER LAROUCHE, one of the well- known, industrious farmers of Gar- field township, Bay County, Michi- gan, owns a valuable farm of 80 acres which is situated in section 13, in a locality well adapted to general farming and stock-raising. Mr. Larouche was born November 12, 1859, in the Province of Quebec, Canada, and is a son of Peter and Madeline (Claveau) La- rouche.
The family is of French extraction. The father did not survive his 46th year, dying in 1865 and leaving his widow with a family of nine children, of whom our subject was the sixth in order of birth.
Mr. Larouche obtained his education in the schools of Quebec, and in 1879 came to Bay City. He spent the succeeding 10 years at work in sawmills and lumber camps. In 1885 he married and two years later bought 40 acres of his present farm. This he cleared and placed under cultivation, and in 1902 he bought an adjoining 40 acres. He has cleared 50 acres from its wild state and has converted it into a valuable farm. In 1899 he built his barn and in 1902 he built his comfortable home; his property has all the necessary out
buildings and the surroundings are those that tend to make the estate a very pleasant place of residence.
In 1885, Mr. Larouche married Eugenia St. Peter, who is a daughter of Buzzel St. Peter, of Canada. They have seven children : Peter, born May 12, 1886; Eva, born August 12, 1889; Clara, born April 20, 1892 ; Arthur, born October 25, 1894; Alice, born May 30, 1897; Azilda, born October 3, 1901 ; and Jen- nie, born May 5, 1904. The family belong to the Catholic Church.
Politically, Mr. Larouche is a Republican. He belongs to the Maccabees. He is a very highly respected citizen of Garfield township, an honorable and upright man in business rela- tions, and a careful father and a good neighbor.
RANK A. MILLER, a well-known and prosperous agriculturist, whose farm is located in section 35, Fraser township, Bay County, Michigan, was born in Macomb County, Michigan, Feb- ruary 17, 1860. He is a son of Adam and Caroline (Wiles) Miller.
Adam Miller was born in Germany, Feb- ruary 24, 1829. There he received his school- ing, and afterwards served in the German Army for two years. He came to America February 2, 1856, landing at New Orleans. He was the son of John and Fortunate (Stader) Miller, the former of whom died when about 90 years old, and the latter at the age of 63 years. Adam Miller proceeded from New Or- leans to Cincinnati, where he remained two years, working in brick-yards, and also on the levee, up and down the Mississippi River. He then went to Cleveland and from there to Buffalo, and thence into Canada, where he did
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farm work. In 1858, he came to Michigan and engaged in fishing on Lake St. Clair.
In April, 1859, Adam Miller married Caro- line Wiles, a native of Lancaster, Ohio, whose father was a carpenter by trade, and spent most of his life in Detroit. To their union seven children were born, namely: Frank A .; William Henry, who married a Miss Prender- gast; Joseph, who married Georgiana Rivet and has two children,-Gladys and Nelson; Charles; George, who first married Jessie Jack- son, and afterwards Annie Jones, and has one daughter,-Etta; and Jesse, deceased.
Frank A. Miller married Emma Benware, a daughter of Joseph Benware, of Wallaceburg, Canada. They have had the following chil- dren : John; Frank; Elizabeth; Cora Belle, de- ceased; Frederick; Annie; Charles ; Louis, de- ceased ; Guy ; Emma : Hugh ; and Willie.
In politics, the subject of this sketch is a Republican. Fraternally, he is a member of the Maccabees. He belongs to the Catholic Church.
LARENCE H. SLOCUM, general manager of the Michigan Cedar Company and one of the prominent business men of Bay City, Michigan, was born at Providence, Rhode Island, and is a son of Henry W. and Sarah B. (Bonnell) Slocum.
The father of Mr. Slocum died when he was an infant. His mother was born 73 years ago, in New York City, and came to Bay City when her son was four years old. She still survives, a beloved member of his family.
Mr. Slocum obtained a good common- school education and took a business course at what was then known as Devlin's Business Col- lege. It later was merged into the Bay City Business College. He was 16 years old when
he entered into business, beginning as office boy with Shearer Brothers, a large real estate firm, with whom he continued for eight years. He then accepted an opening in the lumber business with A. Maltby, who subsequently organized the Maltby Lumber Company, which failed some time later. Mr. Slocum was con- nected with one of the city's large manufactur- ing concerns for about a year and then accepted the position of general manager for the Michi- gan Cedar Company, one for which he is admirably fitted. He has a thorough knowl- edge of the business and possesses the traits which are absolutely necessary to success. His strict attention to the details as well as to the various outside complications and interests, and his thoughtful and intelligent management have resulted in the most satisfactory con- ditions.
The Michigan Cedar Company was orga- nized January 20, 1903, and has associated with it the firm of W. C. Sterling & Son, of Monroe, Michigan, the largest cedar dealers in the State. This company manufactures cedar poles, ties and posts, deals in timber lands, en- gages in logging and handles at wholesale all kinds of forest products from the Michigan woods. Their convenient offices are in the Shearer Brothers' Block in Bay City, where (Mr. Slocum may be found ready to do business, with the assurance of satisfactory work as to quality and quantity.
In 1898, Mr. Slocum was married to Lulu D. Hulburt, who was a daughter of Dr. Hul- burt, of Bay City, and a charming and accom- plished lady. She died in June, 1903, leaving a son, Harold Hulburt, who was born May 16, 1899. Mrs. Slocum was sadly missed in her home circle and in the city's social life, as well as in the First Baptist Church, being the lead- ing spirit in many of the young people's benevo- lent societies. Mr. Slocum is also a church
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worker and has always shown an interest in the Sunday-school. In 1893 he erected a beautiful home on Green avenue, in the IIth Ward, which is presided over by his aged mother.
Mr. Slocum is one of Bay City's representa- tive men and has become so entirely through his own efforts, his success plainly indicating the results of close, persistent attention to the' business in hand and the living of a clean, manly, moral life.
A LFRED J. RADZINSKI, M. D., a prominent and successful physician and surgeon of Bay City, Michigan, has been engaged in practice here throughout almost the whole of his professional career. He was born in Trenton, Michigan, March 19, 1877, and is a son of Frank and Mary (Slazinski) Radzinski, both of whom re- side in Detroit.
Frank Radzinski was born in Posen, Ger- many, in 1846, and in his early days entered upon the study of medicine, but as his parents were wealthy land-owners he lacked the incen- tive to continue. Until he was 28 years of age, he spent his time looking after his father's interests. He was well educated in the schools of Germany, becoming a fluent speaker of the French, German, Polish and English lan- gauages. He served in the Franco-Prussian War and was severely wounded a number of times, receiving injuries from which he will never fully recover, although his general health is good at the present. After the war, in which his parents lost all their property, he spent one and a half years in France, then came to Amer- ica in 1874, locating in Detroit where he had a sister residing. He remained a short time, then returned to France, but he found that he liked America much better than Europe. He
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