USA > Michigan > Bay County > History of Bay County, Michigan, and representative citizens > Part 64
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Politically an ardent Democrat, Judge Wright has always been noted for his sturdy American patriotism. He has been honored by his party and by his fellow-citizens on more occasions than usually come to one individual, and it is but just to say that his whole public career has justified the confidence reposed in him. In April, 1881, he was elected alderman to represent the Fifth Ward, and later was elected to represent the Eighth Ward. In 1883 he was elected to a seat in the State Legislature and public approval of his course was shown by his reelection in 1885. When his term as city alderman closed, in 1887, his fellow-citi- zens were not willing for him to pass out of official civic life, and, without consulting him, they nominated him for the office of mayor. To this highest municipal place he was elected by a plurality of 804 votes.
Two years later, before his mayoralty term had expired, he was nominated for judge of
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probate, and in November, 1888, he was elected to this honorable office and served in both ca- pacities until the following April, declining at that time a renomination for the mayoralty. He continued as judge of probate until 1892, when he was elected for another four years, his ma- jorities offering the flattering figures of from 1.300 to 1.700 votes. In 1895 he was again called to the mayor'e chair and served two years more, filling both official positions, and in 1896 he was reelected judge of probate and contin- ued in office until January 1, 1901. He has had frequent opportunities to lay claim to still higher political positions, but has refused to be further tempted from the congenial life and large emoluments connected with his profes- sion. In addition to an extensive practice, he has charge of his wife's large property interests and is obliged to give more or less attention to business enterprises of his own. Formerly he was largely interested in real estate develop- ment here, and has built some 50 comfortable houses which he has sold, on easy terms, to working men. It is a matter of satisfaction to him that he has never had a single law suit with a tenant, nor has he ever foreclosed a mort- gage or contract.
For some time Judge Wright has been much interested in the development of Point Look- out, the only summer resort on the western shore of Saginaw Bay. He took hold of this property in 1895, as trustee, and in 1900 it came into his wife's possession. This delight- ful place to spend the summer was started about 1882 by Tasker & McDonald, and as the steamers of the old Saginaw, Bay City and Alpena line were running, this resort grew rapidly in favor. Upon the discontinuance of the line, its prosperity departed, on account of want of suitable transportation. This condi- tion led Judge Wright to purchase the steamer "City of New Baltimore," a trim, safe little
vessel, which easily accommodates 400 pass- engers, and is chartered for regular trips dur- ing the summer season. Negotiations are in progress for the erection of a fine modern hotel here, with accommodations for a large number of guests, although an excellent hotel and numerous cottages have already been built here. It offers a quiet, healthful, delightful home for the hundreds who are in search of a place for a summer home, where the breath of politics has never blown and the frivolities of fashion have not overcome peace and comfort with preten- sion and show.
Judge Wright was married in 1871 to Anne Dana Fitzhugh, who is a daughter of the late William D. Fitzhugh, extended mention of whom will be found in this work. They have had eight children, viz : Anne Virginia, born at Geneva, Switzerland, who married Thomas L. Kane, of Kane, Mckean County, Pennsylvania, who is a nephew of the distinguished Arctic ex- plorer, Dr. Elisha Kent Kane; Hamilton Mer- cer, Jr., the fourth of the name in direct line of descent, born at New Haven, Connecticut, in 1874, who is a resident of Oakland, California, an attorney-at-law, and the secretary of the California Promotion Committee; Sybil K., born at New Haven, in 1877, who married George S. McLandress, a practicing physician of Albuquerque, New Mexico; Cornelia, born at Bay City, in 1879, deceased in 1896; Archi- bald V. R., born at Bay City in 1883; Charles Carroll, born at Rugby, Tennessee, in June, 1866; Alida Fitzhugh born at Bay City, Sep- tember 9, 1888; and William Edward, born at Bay City, February 13, 1891. The family be- long to the Protestant Episcopal Church.
Judge Wright's delightful home is not only one of culture but of rare hospitality. Perhaps here he is at his best, proffering a real Southern, hearty welcome to those admitted to close friendship, taking rare pleasure in the treasures
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of his great library of 2,500 volumes, or in en- thusiastically displaying his thousands of choice photographs, which he has himself taken. He has 2,600 negatives in his possession, some of which have never been printed, but a number of which have won prizes in exhibitions of amateur photography.
Judge Wright is associated in membership with Joppa Lodge, No. 315, F. & A. M .; Bay Lodge, No. 104, I. O. O. F .; Bay City Lodge, No. 23, K. P .; and Lodge No. 88, B. P. O. E. He is a man who is equally at home in social usages, in business, politics, medicine and law.
OHN BERGER, one of the successful business men of Amelith, Frankenlust township, who owns and operates what is said to be the largest cheese factory in Bay County, was born at Berne, Switzerland, January 28, 1848, and is a son of John and Elizabeth (Spring) Berger.
The parents of Mr. Berger never came to America. They had four children : John, of this sketch; Jacob, who owns and operates a cheese factory at Canton, Ohio; Gottlieb, a farmer in Switzerland; and Mrs. Elizabeth Garber, of Switzerland.
Our subject went to school until he was 16 years of age and then learned the cheese busi- ness, working in a Swiss factory, where he learned all the different preparations of this necessary adjunct to a good meal, until 1876, when he came to Massillon, Ohio. There he remained until 1886 when he removed to Saginaw and one year later to Bay County. After working three years in the woods and obtaining enough capital in this way to start into business, he opened a small cheese fac- tory at Amelith. This was the first factory of its kind in Bay County. Mr. Berger received
much encouragement from the first for his products were wholesome and palatable, and he has enlarged and again enlarged his business until he now has a plant with capacity for turn- ing out 10,000 pounds of cheese per day, four capable workmen being employed. Mr. Ber- ger's specialty is brick cheese, which he intro- duced to the trade.
On his acre and a half of land, Mr. Berger has built a fine home, a big barn and his well- equipped factory. It is his intention to also erect a store and engage in merchandising.
On November 30, 1877, Mr. Berger was married in Ohio to Mattie Kinsey, who was born March 31, 1858, and is a daughter of Christian Kinsey, a native of Switzerland. Mr. and Mrs. Berger have four children: Ferdi- nand, whose home is opposite to that of his father ; Flora, wife of August Haag, of Frank- enlust township; and John and Anna, who live at home.
Mr. Berger is a self-made man. His pros- perity has come through his own ability and in- dustry. He is a good citizen, one of the rep- resentative men of Frankenlust township. In politics he is a Republican. He was post- master for eight years at Amelith, having re- ceived his appointment from President McKinley.
EROME B. STEVENS, one of the prominent and substantial citizens of Bay County, senior member of the firm of J. B. Stevens & Sons, and owner of one of the largest dairy farms in this section, which includes 100 acres of land in sections 8 and 17, Hampton township, was born at Pike, Wyoming County, New York, August 15, 1844, and is the only son of Jerome B. and Mary (Beardsley) Stevens.
The father of our subject died at a point
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on the Allegheny River, where he was operat- ing a sawmill, when our subject was five years of age. Both he and his wife were natives of the State of New York.
Jerome B. Stevens, our subject, was reared on a farm until he was 14 years of age and then learned the shoemaking trade at Rushford, Allegany County, New York, and followed it until he came to Michigan in March, 1864. He settled first at Monroe, in Monroe County, and became a student in the Monroe High School, teaching school in the following winter and thus earning the means with which to take a business course at the Albion Commercial Col- lege at Albion, Michigan. Mr. Stevens then opened a shoe store at Tecumseh, Michigan, and continued there in the shoe business for five years. His next business venture was the wholesale manufacturing of boots and shoes at Tecumseh under the firm name of J. B. Stevens & Snedicor; after one year of operation the factory was removed to Detroit, where Mr. Stevens continued to operate until 1877, when he sold out and then engaged as traveling sales- man for one year for Pingree & Smith, shoe manufacturers of Detroit. He then opened a retail store in Detroit, which he conducted until 1893, when he sold it. In the following year he came to his present farm. Four of his sons are associated with him in the dairy and pro- duce business ; the farm is devoted to the pro- duction of fine dairy goods, milk, cream, but- ter and also eggs. For the fine quality of goods it has gained a name on the market.
In 1867 Mr. Stevens married Kittie Foun- tain, who was born in 1843 at Manchester, Michigan, and is a daughter of Jabez and Catherine Fountain, of Eastern New York. They had two children,-Julian and Herbert. His second marriage was to Lucy Stephens, a daughter of Jonathan and Charlotte Stephens. To this union were born three sons : Frank C.,
Clarence E. and Ray B. For his third wife Mr. Stevens chose Sarah E. Wood, of Ohio, daughter of Samuel and Priscilla H. Wood, na- tives of Ohio and members of the Society of Friends. All the sons are connected with the firm except Herbert, who resides in Iowa. The family belong to the Baptist Church.
Mr. Stevens has taken a great deal of in- terest in agricultural matters since settling on his farm and has been prominently identified with the Patrons of Husbandry and at pres- ent is serving as master of Pomona Grange.
R EV. LORENZ A. WISSMUELLER, pastor of Trinity Evangelical Lu- theran Church of Monitor, Bay County, Michigan, is widely known throughout that section of the county where he has labored so faithfully and with such bene- ficial results. He was born in Frankentrost township, Saginaw County, Michigan, Decem- ber 29, 1869, and is a son of Lorenz and Julia (Moll) Wissmueller.
J. Adam Wissmueller and his wife, the grandparents of our subject, were one of 13 couples who left Franken, Germany in 1847 and came to America in search of religious freedom. Mr. Wissmueller and his wife had two chil- dren at that time; Margaret, now the wife of George Kipfmueller of Bay County; and George who died at the age of 40 years and was buried at Frankentrost, Michigan. This party of early settlers located in Saginaw County, Michigan, in 1847, and there founded the colony of Frankentrost, after which the township later took its name. They were led by their pastor, Rev. J. H. Ph. Graebner, who went to the land office at Marshall and pur- chased two and a half sections of timber land in Bloomfield township, at 77 cents per acre, which
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were divided among them. The people and their church prospered. After the division of their lands, they set about clearing their farms and building homes.
Lorenz Wissmueller, father of our subject, was born at Frankentrost, Saginaw County, and later moved to Saginaw, where he engaged in teaming for some years. He later returned to his native place and in 1897 purchased a farm. He married Julia Moll, one of II chil- dren born to Mr. and Mrs. J. A. Moll, who also came to this country with the party above mentioned. Of the eight children born of this union, Lorenz A. is the oldest. He has a brother Richard, a teacher in St. Peter's Paro- chial School at Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Our subject's mother died in 1893 and was buried in the cemetery at Saginaw.
Lorenz A. Wissmueller was educated at the Holy Cross Evangelical Lutheran School at Saginaw, and in 1883 was confirmed at the age of 13. He attended public school two months, then through the assistance of Rev. Joseph Schmidt, pastor of his church, attended Concordia College at Fort Wayne, Indiana, graduating in 1889, after a course of six years. He entered Concordia Seminary at St. Louis, and completed a three-years course in theology in 1893, in the meantime having served a year as vicar of the Evangelical Lutheran St. John's Church at Marion Springs, Michigan. He was ordained June 18, 1893, in the Evangelical Lutheran St. Lorenz Church at Frankenmuth, Michigan, and served six months as vicar there. December 17, 1893, he was installed as pas- tor of Trinity Church at Forestville, and in May, 1896, accepted a call to Trinity Church at Monitor, being installed on June 7th of that year.
The Evangelical Lutheran Trinity Church at Monitor was formed in the spring of 1880 by Rev. Ferdinand Sievers, Sr., with 17 char-
ter members, nine of whom are still living. On July 18th the congregation was organized and Rev. Ferdinand Sievers, Jr., accepted the call as pastor and continued until May 31, 1896, when he accepted a call to South Chicago. The corner-stone of the present church was laid July 18, 1897, and it was dedicated February 6, 1898. The brick of which it is constructed were drawn nine miles, as were the stone trim- mings. The church supports two schools, one under O. Mueller and the other under charge of J. G. Appold. It has 110 voting members, 382 communicants and 660 souls. Last year 20 children were baptised, 28 confirmed, five couples were married and two members buried.
Rev. Mr. Wissmueller married Anna C. Schwartz, a daughter of Rev. W. Schwartz, of Ruth, Huron County, Michigan, and they have five children : Clara, Lorenz, Kurt, Armin and Anna.
RANK RIVARD, a prosperous and respected agriculturist of Fraser township, whose farm is located in sections 32 and 33, was born in Ma- comb County, Michigan, in 1837. He is a son of Mitchell and Theresa (De Kane) Rivard.
Mitchell Rivard was born in Quebec, and his wife in Ontario, Canada. The former was a farmer in Macomb County, Michigan, and died in 1886 in his 93d year. He used to haul fire-wood from Grosse Pointe to Detroit, when the latter place was no more than a village. Rivard street in Detroit was named after an uncle of Frank Rivard, whose farm many years ago was in that locality.
Frank Rivard attended the public school in Macomb County, where he afterwards was married. He first commenced farming in St. Clair County, Michigan, where he owned 80
BRUNO C. NABERT
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acres of land, which he cultivated until 1887, when he came to Bay County, and purchased 160 acres in section 32. Later he bought the 60-acre tract in section 33, where his farm- house is located. He still owns 120 acres, hav- ing sold 40 acres and given some land to his sons. He is a general farmer and stock-raiser.
In 1869 the subject of this sketch was mar- ried to Theresa Quono, a native of France. On the death of her father she came to America with her mother and two sisters, Her union with Mr. Rivard resulted in 10 children, as follows : Irene, born October 14, 1870, and de- ceased August 2, 1897, who was an Ursuline Sister at the time of her death; Sifers, born August 8, 1872; Henry, born May 22, 1874, and deceased April 21, 1876; Frank, Jr., born June 15, 1876; Philip, born May 4, 1878; Kate, born December 8, 1880; Emil, born October 28, 1882; Josephine, born October 3, 1885; Joseph, born October 8, 1887; and Helen, born May 3, 1893. Sifers, the oldest son, married Emma McClure, and has three children,- Ethel, Leo and Irene. Kate married George Petrimoulx, and had two children,-Norbet and Emil. Emil married Jennie Le Bordais and resides in Fraser township. In politics, Mr. Rivard is a Democrat. He and his family are members of the Catholic Church.
B RUNO C. NABERT, deceased, for many years a progressive and suc- cessful business man of Bay City, whose portrait is herewith shown, was widely known as an exceptionally fine coppersmith, sheet-iron worker and steam-fitter. His death occurred in 1903, and was not only a sad shock to his wife and rela- tives but to his many friends throughout Bay County. He was born in Frankenlust town-
ship, Bay County, Michigan, January 28, 1852, and was a son of Dr. August Nabert.
Dr. August Nabert was born in Brunswick, Germany January 10, 1828, and was gradu- ated from a medical college in Brunswick. After leaving college he spent three years as a physician on a South Sea whaling vessel, and in 1851 came to America. He settled in the Saginaw Valley and commenced the practice of medicine. This was the year of the great chol- era epidemic. Dr. Nabert was stricken with the fatal disease and died on September 4, 1854, when his son Bruno was less than a year old. He left a wife and five children, all of whom are living but our subject, and all those living reside in Bay County, except one son, who re- sides in St. Louis, Missouri.
Bruno Nabert received a common-school education such as could be obtained in the schools of that day. The instruction given him was limited in amount and scope, but he took advantage of such opportunities as he had and grew to be a well informed man. He had a remarkably retentive memory and could re- late, with accuracy as to date and de- tail, many of the interesting occurrences of the early days of Bay City. At an early day he learned the tinner's trade, and while following it also learned that of a coppersmith, in which trade he became ex- tremely proficient. He was a genius in his work in copper and built up a trade in almost all parts of the United States and Canada. Few excelled him in this line and his work need but be seen to be appreciated. For a period of 25 years he was foreman for the Miller Hardware Company, then opened a shop for himself on Water street, between Second and Third streets, oftentimes employing as many as 10 men. In 1903 he purchased the present place of the business established by him at No. 616 North Water street. After his death, his wid-
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ow took entire charge of the business, which she still manages. It was in an unsettled condi- tion at first, but she took hold and straight- ened out the affairs in an able manner and has since given her time largely to its manage- ment. Mrs. Nabert is a woman of a higher or- der of intellect, ability and good judgment, and was very frequently consulted by her husband concerning matters of business.
In 1888 Mr. Nabert was united in mar- riage with Emma Sherman, who was born in Ohio, and is one of two children born to George and Amanda ( Woodmansee) Sherman, natives of the "Empire" State. This union resulted in the birth of two children, both of whom died in infancy. Religiously, Mrs. Nabert is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and is identified with all the church societies, being treasurer of the Home Missionary So- ciety. She is a woman of culture and refine- ment, and has many friends who enjoy the hos- pitality of her home.
Mr. Nabert was a lover of fast horses and owned two fine specimens of horseflesh, both registered and well-known in this vicinity, namely : "Florence Mack" and "Black Jack." He went to Chicago in October, 1903, to pur- chase a valuable animal valued at $500, and it was while there he was stricken with ap- pendicitis and operated on. On October 25th, Mrs. Nabert received a dispatch announcing the operation as she was leaving church, and took the first train for Chicago, accompanied by J. H. Metcalf, a friend of the family. Mr. Nabert died on the following day, the 26th, at at 6 o'clock P. M. Mrs. Nabert is not a strong woman physically, and the shock of her hus- band's sudden illness and decease completely overcame her. His remains were brought to Bay City and are in a vault in Elm Lawn Cem- etery, where a fine monument to his memory has been erected.
Mr. and Mrs. Nabert were almost insepar- able companions outside of business hours, and both being fond of horses were nearly always seen driving together. She still owns the fine horses owned by him at his death and takes great pride in them. She rented the family home at 214 Jefferson street, then leased IO acres on the boundary of Bay City where she has a comfortable home and the facilities for properly caring for her blooded stock.
RANK H. HOFFMANN, one of the most highly respected citizens of Bay City, Michigan, a retired farmer and formerly city treasurer, was born in Johannesburg, Austria, September 28, 1824, and is a son of Joseph and Rosalie (Metzger) Hoffmann.
Joseph Hoffmann, the paternal grandfather, was born at Zegenhultz, a village in Prussia, not far from the Austrian line. His son, Jo- seph Hoffmann, the father of our subject, learned the tailoring trade which he followed, in an establishment of his own at Johannes- burg, for a number of years. He died there in 1865, aged 65 years. He married a daughter of Carl Metzger, of Johannesburg, who was a prominent man there and lived to the age of 89 years. Mr. and Mrs. Hoffmann had 12 chil- dren, the four who reached maturity being : John, Frank H., Catherine and Conrad, all now deceased except our esteemed subject. John lived in Cleveland, Ohio and served in an Ohio regiment during the Civil War. Conrad died in the Austrian Army. They were reared in the faith of the Roman Catholic Church.
Our subject adopted his father's trade, which he learned very thoroughly at an estab- lishment in Wein, Austria. In 1849 he came to America, landing at the port of New York.
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In that city he continued to follow the tailor- ing business for three years, when he came to Bay City, one of the early business men here. In addition to his tailoring, he became inter- ested in other enterprises, operating a large grocery for a time and for one year conducting the Bay City House, which was one of the first hotels here. Subsequently he built a hotel on the corner of Sixth and Adams streets which he operated two years. In the meantime he had invested in farming land on the corner of South Center street (now Cass avenue) and the city limits, and in 1881 he went to live there. It was originally a tract of 40 acres, to which Mr. Hoffmann added until he had 120 acres. Later he disposed of all but 10 acres, which he farmed until 1904.
At Bay City Mr. Hoffmann married Cath- erine Close, who was born in Baiern. They had 12 children, the 10 who reached maturity be- ing : Minnie, wife of John S. Dougherty, of Bay City; Frank, of Alpena, Michigan; Au- gust, of Pontiac, Michigan; Bertha, wife of William H. Brown, of Alpena, Michigan ; Catherine, wife of J. F. Boes, a sketch of whom appears in this work; Rosalie, wife of Fred L. Hanscombe, of West Bay City; Lillian; Wal- ter, of Spokane, Washington ; Fred, of Hough- ton, Michigan; and William, of Bay City. The mother of this family died in 1901, aged 63 years. The family belong to the German Lu- theran Church.
Politically, Mr. Hoffmann has always been identified with the Democratic party. In 1860 he was city treasurer. He has served as high- way commissioner and for eight years past has been a member of the School Board, of Fractional School District, No. 3, of Ports- mouth township.
JOHN S. DOUGHERTY, son-in-law of Mr. Hoffmann, was born in 1855 at Bay City, and
is a son of Henry and Catherine Dougherty. Henry Dougherty was one of the early settlers of Bay City, and was an engineer by profes- sion. His five children were: William, of Marquette, Michigan; Albert, of Spokane, Washington ; John S., of Bay City and Hugh, of Hot Springs.
John S. Dougherty was educated in the public schools and for many years was em- ployed as a lumber and log scaler. When the North American Chemical Company's plant was opened, he became foreman, having charge of the process department. Mr. Dougherty's marriage with Minnie Hoffmann has been blessed with five children : Joseph J., Ruth M., Harry L., Frank E. and Mamie. In his politi- cal views Mr. Dougherty is a Republican. Fra- ternally he is a member of the Knights of Pythias. The family and all its connections stand very high in public esteem in Bay City.
E DWARD W. PORTER, a prominent attorney of Bay City, and a member of the firm of Porter & Haffey, was born at Metamora, Lapeer County, Michigan, in 1851. He is a son of M. G. and Maria A. (Morse) Porter, and a grandson of Moses Porter, who was a native of Connecticut and served as a commissioned officer in the Revolutionary War. Moses Porter came to Michigan at an early period and died May 8, 1840, in Lapeer County, aged 81 years. He was buried at Metamora.
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