History of Bay County, Michigan, and representative citizens, Part 60

Author: Gansser, Augustus H., 1872-
Publication date: 1905
Publisher: Chicago : Richmond & Arnold
Number of Pages: 738

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In 1901, Dr. Tupper was united in mar- riage with Mary Cranage, a member of a rep- resentative family of Bay County, and a daugh- ter of Thomas Cranage of Bay City. They have one son who bears the name of Thomas, in honor of his grandfather.

Dr. Tupper is a prominent member of the American Medical Association, and of the Michigan State Medical Society, and in 1903 served as president of the Bay County Medical Society. Aside from professional connections, he has inany social associations and belongs to the Bay City Club and to the Elks.

OHN WALSH. This gentleman, who served for one term, with marked effi- ciency and great acceptability, as may- or of West Bay City, is one of the old- est residents of this vicinity, having located in Bay City in 1866. He is actively engaged in the coal mining industry, and holds the posi- tion of president of the United City Coal Com- pany, the headquarters of which are in West Bay City.

Mr. Walsh was born in Haldimand Dis- trict, Ontario, in 1846. There he was reared and schooled, and there he remained until his removal to Bay City, Michigan, as previously mentioned. His residence in Bay City cov- ered a period of 17 years, during a great por- tion of which he was engaged in the retail gro- cery trade on Center avenue. After disposing of that business to Messrs. Chatfield and Speer,

Mr. Walsh purchased the store of John Mc- Graw, located in South Bay City, which he con- ducted successfully for two years.

Upon his removal to West Bay City, in 1883, the subject of this sketch established a wholesale grocery house, in partnership with Luther B. Edinborough. Mr. Edinborough was some time afterward appointed postmaster of West Bay City and Mr. Walsh purchased the former's interest in the concern, and con- ducted its constantly increasing business for two years, without a partner. In 1896 James R. Tanner was admitted to partnership, and two years afterward, Harry J. Daily became associated with Messrs Walsh and Tanner.

In 1901, Mr. Walsh withdrew entirely from the concern, having disposed of his interest to Messrs. Tanner and Daily. Since the subject of this sketch established the business, its vol- ume had grown from $90,000 to more than $500,000 per year.

The United City Coal Company, of which Mr. Walsh is president, was organized in Au- gust, 1903. The other officials are: David Jones, vice-president; and W. W. Chapman, secretary and treasurer. The property of the company consists of a tract of 75 acres, a part of which is situated within the corporate limits of the city. One shaft, employing about 40 men, is now in successful operation. To the direction of the affairs of this enterprise, Mr. Walsh now gives his principal attention.

Until within the past two years, the subject of this sketch was quite active in Republican politics, and has been conspicuous in his advo- cacy of the consolidation of the "Bay Cities." Shortly after his retirement from the wholesale grocery business, he was elected mayor of West Bay City. He assumed the mayoralty when the public treasury was empty. The city had a bonded indebtedness of $400,000 and a floating debt of $74,500. By a strictly business admin-

CAPT. JOHN O. WOOLSON

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istration, which curtailed improvements and re- duced expenditures, the new incumbent and the Council placed the city on a sound financial basis, and re-established its credit within six months. Their system of retrenchment reduced the floating debt to about $40,000, settled the interest account and liquidated most of the claims against the city, outside of the bonded indebtedness.

Mr. Walsh has three sons, all residents of West Bay City, namely: Harry J., a retail . grocer ; Arthur G., a produce commission deal- er; and Frank A., who has the State agency for the "Seal of Minnesota" flour, with head- quarters at Cleveland, Ohio.

APT. JOHN O. WOOLSON, one of the most prominent citizens of Bay City, Michigan, and president of the Bradley Transportation Company, was born in Tunbridge, Orange County, Ver- mont, April 15, 1826. His career is an impres- sive illustration of what may be accomplished by natural ability, supplemented by ambition, energy and perseverance. Beginning as a humble sailor boy, his own exertions have won for him a degree of success which renders his life an encouraging example to every as- piring youth. Captain Woolson is a son of Asa and Mary (White) Woolson, whose an- cestors were English and among the earliest settlers of New Hampshire.

Asa Woolson was born April 4, 1796, at Langdon, New Hampshire, and died June 5, 1827. He learned the trade of a clothier in a woolen mill. He started a woolen mill at Tunbridge when a young man, and was oper- ating it at the time of his death. He was a sturdy, ambitious man, of rugged honesty. He married Mary White.

Captain Woolson's grandfather, Asa Wool- son, was born at Lunenburg, Massachu- setts, February 4, 1767, and died at Grafton, Vermont, September 22, 1826. He married Ann Sargent, who was born in Templeton, Massachusetts, November 3, 1771, and died at Springfield, Vermont, November 29, 1857.

Captain Woolson's great-grandfather, Asa Woolson, was born at Weston, Massachusetts, August 2, 1727, and died at Lunenburg, Mas- sachusetts, April 18, 1789. His wife was born at Woburn, Massachusetts, July 3, 1736.

Captain Woolson's great-great-grandfather, Joseph Woolson, came from England when 17 years of age, and settled in Weston. There he built a block-house in which a garrison was manitained for a number of years, as a defense against the Indians. Four generations of the family were born in this block-house.

Captain Woolson, our subject's father, died when his son, John O., was one year old, and his widow then moved to St. Lawrence County, New York, where she married Henry William Bard. When the subject of this sketch was six years old, the family moved to Painesville, Lake County, Ohio. His opportunities for mental improvement were quite limited, and at an early age he became self-supporting. When but a lad he commenced following the water, where he worked his way up until he became a sailing master, and for years commanded sail- ing and steam vessels on the Great Lakes.

In 1864, Captain Woolson came to Bay City, Michigan, and formed a partnership with Nathan B. Bradley in the steam-tug business. In addition to this, he became interested in a grocery, his store being located in Water street. In 1875 he severed his connection with Mr. Bradley and bought other vessel property, still continuing in the retail grocery trade. He also made a specialty of supplying vessels with nec- essaries. In 1881 he abandoned the grocery

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business, and has since given his entire atten- tion to his shipping interests.

In 1887, Captain Woolson built the schooner, "Mary Woolson," now owned by the Bradley Transportation Company, which also owns the steamer "C. H. Bradley" and the schooner "Brightie." This company was in- corporated in 1891, with Captain Woolson as president ; F. W. Bradley, vice-president ; and C. H. Bradley, secretary.

The subject of this sketch was one of the original stockholders of the First National Bank, of Bay City, and became a stockholder, in the Bay City National Bank, when it suc- ceeded the first-named institution.

Captain Woolson's first wife was Lovisa E. Davis, of Painesville, Ohio. One son was born to them named Francis, who married Malvina Wilson, and died in 1878, leaving a widow and two children,-Maude, since de- ceased; and Minnie, who is the wife of Z. A. Carr, of Park Rapids, Minnesota.

On July 13, 1854, Captain Woolson mar- ried Betsey M. Ingraham, a daughter of Jo- seph Ingraham. Two children were born to them, namely: Fred H., of Bay City; and Mary, wife of F. S. Tear, of Painesville, Ohio.

Captain Woolson's third wife was Jose- phine H. Webster, of Painesville, Ohio, whom he married May 1, 1891.

Captain Woolson has been active in the ves- sel business for a longer period than any other resident of Bay City. His prominence has been gained by slow degrees, and is the direct result of the sterling traits of character which have made him everywhere respected. His irreproachable record is based upon self-reli- ance, unswerving integrity and untiring per- sistence, and reflects great credit upon the com- munity with which he has been identified for 40 years.

In 1874, Captain Woolson built his present

fine residence at No. 302 Garfield avenue, then known as the Bowery. The streets were still ungraded, when he set out the splendid maple shade trees which surround and adorn this beau- tiful home.

The subject of this sketch has always been a Republican, although never a politician, and has served as supervisor of the Fourth Ward. Fraternally, he is a member of Bay City Lodge No. 129, F. & A. M. His portrait accompanies this sketch, being presented on a foregoing page.

ON. THEODORE F. SHEPARD, an. honored resident of Bay City, who is judge of the 18th Judicial Circuit of Michigan, Bay County,-is one of the most prominent and successful members of the State bar.

Judge Shepard was born in Livingston. County, New York, June 14, 1844. He is a son of Howell Shepard, a native of Yates Coun- ty, New York, who was for some time a thriv- ing farmer in that vicinity, and was subse- quently engaged in mercantile pursuits in Alle- ghany County, where he died in 1860. In poli- tics, the father was in early times a Whig, but was identified with the organization of the Re- publican party. The mother of Judge Shepard was Sarah Rathbun, a native of New York State.

The subject of this sketch attended the pub- lic schools of New York and afterward pursued a course of study in Alfred University, Alle- ghany County, graduating in 1865. Soon after his graduation, he began the study of the law in Cuba, New York, in the office of Hon. Mar- shall B. Champlin, a distinguished lawyer, who was Attorney General of the State for six years. After a preliminary course of reading, Judge Shepard continued his studies in the Albany

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Law School, and was admitted to the bar in 1866. He then spent another year in the office of Mr. Champlin. At the end of this period he came to Michigan and commenced practice in West Bay City, having formed a partnership with Hon. C. P. Black. He soon attained marked success in his profession and also be- came prominent in public affairs.

In 1872 Judge Shepard was elected prose- cuting attorney, and conducted the affairs of that office in such a vigorous and impartial manner as to strike terror to the minds of evil- doers. During his term of office, law-breaking was reduced to a minimum, and many of the resorts of criminals were closed. As a conse- quence of the reputation he thus acquired, many criminal cases were subsequently placed in his hands, and for years thereafter he had the lead- ing business in the city in that class of litiga- tion.

Previous to his entrance upon a higher sphere of effort, Judge Shepard served as city attorney of West Bay City for several terms. He was a member of the Board of Education for 12 years, acting as its chairman during the entire period. For 10 years he was also presi- dent of the Water Commission.

In 1890, President Harrison appointed Judge Shepard, United States district attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan, a posi- tion which he filled with notable efficiency for four years.

Judge Shepard was married in Cuba, New York, in January, 1868, to Mary M. Randolph, a daughter of S. S. Randolph, a native of the "Empire" State. Three children resulted from this union, namely : Howell G., now about 30 years of age; Lottie E., who died when six years of age; and Mamie E., who died in 1900, in her 28th year.

The subject of this sketch has always been an ardent champion of the principles of the Re-

publican party. He was chairman of the Re- publican Congressional District Committee for several years. He has been a member of the Republican State Central Committee, and has rendered most effective service on the stump in various campaigns. He was a delegate to. the national convention at Cincinnati, which nominated President Hayes, and has held a seat in almost every Republican State convention for 25 years. The offices which he has filled with conspicuous ability have been in connec- tion with educational matters and the profession. of the law.

LOYD HAMILTON RANDALL, B. S., M. D., physician and surgeon at West Bay City, Michigan, a thor- oughly equipped member of his pro- fession, has been established in this city since 1904. Dr. Randall was born in West Bay City, September 5, 1875, a member of one of the old and honored families of this section, being the son of Dr. Isaac E. Randall, one of the oldest practitioners in Bay County.

After completing the public-school course and graduating from the Bay City High School in 1893, he entered the University of Mich- igan at Ann Arbor, where he took the combined courses of literature and medicine. In the former he was graduated in 1897, with the de- gree of B. S., and two years later was grad- uated in medicine, receiving his degree of M. D. He then accepted the position of medical house officer at the Lakeside Hospital, Cleve- land, Ohio, where he remained 18 months, and then took charge of the Wabash Railroad Hos- pital, at Moberly, Missouri, for six months. While this experience was of inestimable value to the young physician and surgeon, he decided upon a visit to the great medical centers of

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Europe before entering on private practice. For one year he engaged in post-graduate work at Vienna, Austria, and in 1902, was fortunate enough to obtain an appointment on the staff of Dr. von Mikulicz, the great authority on surgery, at the Royal University of Breslau, who has a world-wide reputation. The value of this appointment to the young surgeon could not be overestimated.

In the fall of 1903, after a year's service on the hospital staff, Dr. Randall left Breslau and turned his face in the direction of his native land, stopping for a few months, however, to take some post-graduate work at the Rotunda Maternity Hospital at Dublin, Ireland. Upon his return to West Bay City, he opened an of- fice and has met with a very cordial reception. His thorough medical and surgical preparation, combined with natural ability and professional enthusiasm, have gained him the confidence of the public who appreciate what is required in the successful practitioner of the present day. Dr. Randall has a wealth of experience to draw upon and he has also the zeal, watchfulness, knowledge and skill which mark the accepted professional man of the 20th century.

Dr. Randall is a member of the local medi- cal societies and is fraternally associated with both the Masons and the Odd Fellows.

L R. LEWIS, M. D., one of the best known professional men of Bay County, was the founder of the Lewis Hospital, of Bay City, and is also president of the Lewis College for Nurses, which is an auxiliary to the hospital.

Dr. Lewis was born at Seneca Falls, New York, January 4, 1855, and received his early educational training in Seneca Falls Academy. At the age of 19 years he took up the study of

the sciences and later the study of medicine and surgery, graduating from Jefferson Medi- cal College in 1878. He has always been a close student and upon graduation had the honor of first prize. He has had more than 15 years experience in hospital work in some of the largest hospitals in this country, and has pursued post-graduate work in New York City, assisting the professors in clinics. He prac- ticed in New York State for some years and in Illinois for one year. He holds certificates from each of these States and also from Michi- gan, whither he moved from Illinois, locating at Bay City. In 1900, he established at No. I203 Broadway, Bay City, the Lewis Hospital, an institution modern in all its appointments, where all classes of patients are well cared for, except those with contageous diseases, who are not received. He established the Lewis Col- lege for Nurses as an auxiliary to the hospital, and this also takes high rank among institu- tions of the kind. Its trustees are: Mrs. M. S. Knaggs, president ; Miss Helen MacGregor, Ist vice-president ; Mrs. Annie E. Coffin, 2nd vice-president; Mrs. Eva Asman, secretary; Mrs. M. K. Lewis, treasurer. The students are given thorough training in practical hospital work before graduation, as well as a complete course of study.

Dr. Lewis is a student of his profession and a scientist, devoting nearly all his time to study that is not taken up by his business affairs. He has written several works in the past, and there is now in the hands of the pub- lishers a work on anatomy and physiology which will cover over 500 pages. He main- tains an office in Suite 6, of the Bank Block, at No. 302 Center avenue. In 1879 Dr. Lewis joined the Masonic order and is a mem- ber of Auburn Lodge, No. 431, F. & A. M. He became a member of the Order of the East- ern Star in 1885, became a Royal Arch Mason

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in 1886 and took the Scottish Rite degrees in 1903. He joined the Knights of Pythias in 1886 and became past chancellor in 1903. He joined the Independent Order of Odd Fellows in 1899 and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks in 1901. He also belongs to the Modern Woodmen of America and the Tribe of Ben Hur lodges.

OSEPH POQUETTE, a prosperous farmer, whose property is located in section 28, Kawkawlin township, Bay County, Michigan, was born in Ot- tawa, Canada, in 1853. When he was an in- fant, his father died. His mother still lives in Ottawa, and is past 85 years of age.

The subject of this sketch had no oppor- tunity to attend school. He received his first lessons from a fellow workman named John Gallan, who taught him how to write his name. He worked seven years in lumber camps in Canada, and several years for David Moore, who was in the lumber business in Ottawa. When about 28 years old, he came to Michigan and located at Bay City. He worked in the northern woods in winter, and in sawmills in the summer. He also worked for the gas com- pany in Bay City. By thrift, enterprise and hard work, he has accumulated a nice property, and is now able to live in comfort.

Mr. Poquette bought his present farm of 40 acres in 1888. At that time it was wild land, covered with timber, and he did not have the money to pay for the papers. In 1900 he put up a substantial barn, and in 1904 he built a fine dwelling, valued at $1,800. He is engaged in general farming and stockraising.

On April 29, 1882, Mr. Poquette was mar- ried to Anna Vizene, a daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth (Wells) Vizene, natives of Quebec,

Canada. Mrs. Poquette was born at Ottawa, Canada. Her father died when she was an infant. Her mother died in 1881, leaving 10 children, of whom Mrs. Poquette was the eighth in order of birth. Mr. and Mrs. Poquette adopted, at the age of three weeks, a babe, named Annie, who died in 1893, at the age of eight years and eight months. In 1902 they adopted two girls,-Delena and Mamie. The former was born March 7, 1886, and the latter April 12, 1888.

Politically, Mr. Poquette is a Republican. He is a member of the Maccabees and the Grange. In religion, he is a Catholic.

OHN C. HEWITT, president of the Bay City Gas Company, and Junior member of the law firm of Cooley & Hewitt, of Bay City, is a man in the prime of life, and was born April 6, 1862, in Almont township, Lapeer County, Michigan, and is a son of Calvin A. and Mary S. (Churchill) Hewitt.

The Hewitt family is an old and honored one of New England and many of its represen- tatives are not unknown to fame. They were early residents of Rutledge Centre, Vermont; the founders coming thither from the North of Ireland were probably of Scotch extraction. Amos S. Hewitt, the paternal grandfather, was born at Rutledge Centre, Vermont, and was a pioneer in Michigan.

Calvin A. Hewitt, father of our subject, was born in Lapeer County, Michigan, March 18, 1835, and died at Bay City aged 69 years. A practical stone mason by trade, he was one of the early building contractors of the city. He came here in 1863 and continued his con- tracting business until his decease, building the Concordia Block and many of the best resi-

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dences. Until the organization of the Green- back party, he was an active Republican, but in the new organization he saw the solving of many problems which stood in the way of the country's prosperity. He took a lively interest in the promulgation of its doctrines and faith- fully supported its candidates. The only polit- ical office he ever accepted for himself, was that of supervisor, which he filled for one term, but he was a loyal supporter of the claims of his friends. He was one of the early members of the Odd Fellow organization at Portsmouth. His wife was a consistent member of the Bap- tist Church and he was an attendant and a lib- eral supporter. The three of his children who reached maturity are : Frank A., of Bay City; John C., of this sketch; and Ernest C., also of Bay City.

John C. Hewitt was reared at Bay City and was given a good common-school education. As soon as his books were put aside, he entered the employ of the National Globe, of this city, as bookkeeper. In his spare moments he learned to set type, under the instruction of an old-time printer, Garry C. Laing, and when his duties on the newspaper ended, he went to Vassar and became a compositor on a journal there, but six months at the business satisfied his ambi- tions in that direction.

In 1881 he returned to Bay City and became bookkeeper for the firm of Rust Brothers & Company and remained here until 1885. In this year he was made deputy comptroller of Bay City and he continued in the office until September, 1888. For some months he was employed as bookkeeper by Greene & Stevens and then entered into partnership with James A. Greene, in a sawmill enterprise, under the firm name of James A. Greene & Company. in which he continued to be interested until No- vember, 1890, when he returned to the comp- troller's office, and continued to serve under

Capt. William Keith until 1892. Mr. Hewitt then formed a new business connection, enter- ing into a copartnership with James B. Barber and Alexander Logan, under the firm name of the Bay City Excelsior Company. Mr. Hewitt was only actively connected with this business for one year although it continued for some five years. In the meantime he had become an ex- pert accountant for Bay County, in the litiga- tion growing out of the action commenced by the Auditor General of Michigan against Will- iam V. Prybeski, county treasurer, the suit be- ing to recover taxes due the State. Mr. Hewitt was thus employed until the contest was over, his expert work being highly commended on all sides.

Mr. Hewitt continued to work as a general accountant until August, 1895, when he was admitted to the bar, having been engaged in the quiet study of the law since 1885. under the direction of competent attorneys. He was as- sisted by these well-known attorneys: Alfred P. Lyon, John Simonson, John C. Weadock and Ubald R. Loranger. Upon his admission to the bar, he entered the law office of Edgar A. Cooley as the latter's assistant and remained in that position until April, 1889. Since that time he has been associated with Mr. Cooley as partner.

In 1895, Mr. Hewitt was appointed local attorney for the Detroit & Mackinac Railway ; he continued with this corporation through 1896 and during the same period was local at- torney for the Michigan Central Railroad Com- pany and has continued his railroad connection since entering into partnership with Mr. Cooley. He has been interested in various business en- terprises, and in 1899 he was appointed attor- ney and was elected president of the Bay City Gas Light Company. Subsequently a reorgan- ization of this company took place, but Mr. Hewitt continued as president and attorney of

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the Bay City Gas Company, under its new charter. He has been actively interested in all lines of public improvement here and is counted one of the city's representative men.

Mr. Hewitt married Hattie M. Howard, of Midland, Michigan, and they have two chil- dren : Fred F. and Mary Naomi. Both he and his wife attend the First Presbyterian Church.

While nominally a Democrat, Mr. Hewitt is in no way a politician in the usually accepted sense. He has served as a member of the Board of Supervisors of Bay County and of the Board of Public Works, of Bay City, being president of the latter board for a period of two years. Fraternally he is a Mason, being a member of Portsmouth Lodge, No. 190, F. & A. M., and Blanchard Chapter, R. A. M., both of Bay City. He belongs also to the Elks, to the Modern Woodmen of America and to the Bay City Club.

OHN P. SNYDER, M. D., the pioneer physician of Williams township, Bay County, Michigan, and one of the busiest professional men in this sec- tion, was born in the Dominion of Canada, at Burgessville Ontario, in January, 1846. He is a son of Philip and Catherine (McLees) Snyder.

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History of Bay County, Michigan, and representative citizens, Part 60

Author: Gansser, Augustus H., 1872- Publication date: 1905 Publisher: Chicago : Richmond & Arnold Number of Pages: 738

Author: Gansser, Augustus H., 1872-
Publication date: 1905
Publisher: Chicago : Richmond & Arnold
Number of Pages: 738