History of Bay County, Michigan, and representative citizens, Part 69

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

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rough lumber. This was sold in cargo lots and shipped all over the world. It is estimated that the cutting of this company was from 25,000,000 to 40,000,000 feet annually.

In 1898 Mr. Churchill, in connection with other leading capitalists here, organized the Bay City Sugar Company, which at a later date was united with the Michigan Sugar Company. The former company built a factory and had it in operation in 1899. Mr. Churchill's interest has continued in the sugar industry and he is the president and treasurer of the Bay City Michigan Sugar Company, president and gen- eral manager of the Tawas Sugar Company and has interests in numerous other factories. His other enterprises have been indicated. The Stearns & Culver Lumber Company, of which he is a director, cuts long-leaf yellow pine lum- ber in the South, and also manufactures tur- pentine. He was one of the organizers of this company as he also was of the Onoway Lime- stone Company, of which he is also the presi- dent.

Mr. Churchill was married. during his res- idence in Chicago, to Amelia Montgomery, who is a daughter of Joseph A. Montgomery of that city. Of their three children but one survives, a daughter, Florence. The family belong to the Protestant Episcopal Church and Mr. Churchill has been a vestryman for many years.

Mr. Churchill became prominent in politics at Alpena, where he was twice elected mayor. In 1875 he was sent to represent the district in the State Legislature. In 1894 he was unani- mously chosen by the Democratic party of the Ioth Congressional District as a candidate for Congress, but was defeated, that being the year of the great Republican victories all over the country. Hon. John Donovan was the only Democrat elected that year to the Legislature, being the only one of the party's candidates successful on State or national ticket.

MR. AND MRS. HENRY KRANER AND FAMILY

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Mr. Churchill has withdrawn from many of his business enterprises and devotes more time, than he formerly permitted himself, to the leisurely enjoyment of the good things of life. He takes much interest in the raising and driv- ing of good horses and owns many valuable ani- mals. His fraternal connections include the Knights of Pythias and the Elks. Personally, Mr. Churchill is a man very pleasant to meet either in a social or business way. His manner is cordial, his attitude engaging and his cour- tesy of the kind that wins friendship and ad- miration.

5 ENRY KRANER, deceased, was one of the pioneer settlers in Bay County, Michigan, and at the time of his death owned 200 acres of fine land in Monitor township. He was born in Prus- sia, Germany, July 1, 1827, and died on his own farm in Bay County, June 1, 1904.

Mr. Kraner came to America when he was a young, unmarried man, landing in Washte- naw County, Michigan, in 1847. He secured farm work there and continued to work on various farms by the month for three years and then worked one year in Bay County. After his marriage, he re- turned to Washtenaw County, where he bought a farm of 80 acres, which he operated for seven years. Securing mill work in Bay City, he sold his farm and worked in a sawmill for three years, and then bought another farm and again engaged in agricultural pursuits. His first purchase was one of 80 acres and he continued to buy other tracts until he owned 200 acres. It was all heavily timbered. When Mr. Kraner started to build his home, he had to make a clearing so as to obtain an open site. With the assistance of his sons he cleared off

this large body of land and put it under culti- vation. He was an intelligent, honest, industri- ous man, one who did his duty to his family and his community. He was a strong Democrat and was elected to school and township offices. He was one of the organizers and liberal con- tributors to the first German Lutheran Church established at West Bay City.

Henry Kraner, was married May 2, 1852, to Fredericka Mackenson, who was born in Brunswick, Germany, May 26, 1829, and came to Bay City, in 1850, with her parents, Zacha- rias and Fredericka (Schroeder) Mackenson. Six children were born to this union, the four survivors being: Anna; Frederick; August; and Caroline, who is the widow of George Nickels, and who has one son,-George. The mother of this family is still living. Mr. and Mrs. Kraner celebrated their, 50th wedding anniversary on May 2, 1902, at which time Mr. Kraner enjoyed the testimonials of esteem shown him by his family and friends.

AUGUST KRANER, who has succeeded his father both in the management of the home farm and in the respect of the community, Owns 125 acres of land, 80 of which are situ- ated in sections 24, Monitor township, where he resides. Since his father's death, he has completed many improvements, including the rebuilding of the dwelling house and the erec- tion of a substantial barn. He carries on gen- eral farming and is extensively engaged in the raising of good stock.

August Kraner was married April 26, 1892, to Christine Rheinhardt, was born in Monitor township, in 1872, and died February 16, 1893, leaving a little son,-Henry,-motherless.

In politics Mr. Kraner is one of the town- ship's leading Republicans. He has held a number of school offices and was school treas- urer for a considerable time. He is one of the

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trustees and treasurer of the German Lutheran Church at West Bay City.

On a foregoing page, in connection with this sketch, is shown a group picture of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Kraner, their sons and daugh- ters and their two grandsons.

D ILLON PROSSER CLARK, senior member of the firm of Clark & Mun- ger, one of the leading firms of ar- chitects at Bay City, Michigan, was born in Medina township, Medina County, Ohio, October 20, 1850, and is a son of James and Annie M. (Wright) Clark.

James Clark was born in 1823 in Argyle County, New York, and died in Ohio in the spring of 1877. In boyhood he learned the mason's trade and worked at the same after he had removed to Ohio. He became a mason contractor, which business he conducted suc- cessfully to the end of his life. He married Annie M. Wright, who was a daughter of Or- ris and Elizabeth (Reece) Wright. Mr. Wright was born in New York but moved at an early day to Ohio and owned and operated an old-fashioned water-power grist-mill at Johnson's Corners. The mother of our subject died in 1893, aged 66 years. The four children of Mr. and Mrs. Clark were : Dillon P., of this sketch; Della, wife of Albert Herkner, of Me- dina, Ohio; Clarence O., of Medina, Ohio; and Eugene E., of Cleveland, Ohio. The parents were consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which the father served many years as a member of the official board.

After completing the common-school course in his native locality, Dillon P. Clark learned the mason's trade with his father and worked with the latter for four years. In 1870 he en- tered into business for himself as a contractor

at Medina, and followed contracting there for 10 years, a part of this period being in part- nership with Wallace Munger, father of his present business partner. During all these years Mr. Clark had devoted more or less attention to the study of architecture, at first as a recrea- tion but later with the idea of giving the pro- fession his entire time, it being one congenial in every way. His former occupation had laid the foundation, for the laws that govern build- ing and construction are applied by every prac- tical mechanic and must be thoroughly under- stood. Mr. Clark was not able, however, to avail himself of the advantages given in a school of architecture; his knowledge has been entirely gained through study and observation, assisted by a natural artistic ability.

In 1880 Mr. Clark began to follow archi- tecture as a profession and on November I, 1882, he came to West Bay City and opened office, four years later removing to Bay City. While his work covers all kinds of construc- tion, Mr. Clark makes a specialty of churches and public buildings. He superintended the construction of the Federal Building in Bay City, one of the finest buildings in the State; was one of the architects of the Phoenix Block ; designed the Methodist Episcopal and Christian churches and many fine residences at Medina, Ohio; the Ridotto and many other fine build- ings of both public and private character in Bay City and West Bay City; the Methodist Epis- copal Church, Greenville, Michigan ; Methodist Episcopal churches at Owosso, Sault Ste. Marie and Calumet, Michigan; four churches and numerous other buildings at Flint, the First Baptist Church at Alpena, Michigan, etc., etc. In collaboration with his present partner, the new Bay City Club house, the Genesee County Court House, sheriff's residence and jail, the new Carnegie Library and four splendid school buildings at Flint, Michigan, have been de-

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signed, as well as a large number of churches, school buildings, business blocks and fine resi- dences at various points throughout the State.

When the Phoenix Block was completed, Mr. Clark took an office there, where he contin- ued until February, 1898, when the firm moved into its present fine suite of offices in the Shearer Block, which are convenient and modern in every particular. On September 1, 1897, the firm of Clark & Munger was formed, Averton Edmund Munger, whose sketch appears on an- other page of this work, becoming the junior member.

Mr. Clark married Alice Hickox, who is a daughter of Roman F. Hickox, of Lodi, Ohio. They had one daughter, Matie B., a beautiful, accomplished girl, whose death on May 10, 1897, was a crushing affliction. Mr. Clark is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church in West Bay City, of which he is at the present time a trustee. Politically a Republican, he takes no very active part in campaign work. He is a member of Wenona Lodge, F. & A. M., of West Bay City.

€ DGAR J. REILLEY, who follows the business of lumber inspector and log scaler, and as such is widely known through the Michigan lumber regions, has well-appointed offices located at the corner of Center avenue and North Water street, Bay City. Mr. Reilley was born in Edinburg, Ohio, March 24, 1851, and is a son of John Scott and Cornelia Bissell (Webb) Reilley.

The Reilley family came originally from the North of Ireland. The paternal grandfather of our subject was John Reilley, who married Margaret Scott, of Franklin County, Penn- sylvania.

John Scott Reilley was born in Green Vil-

lage, Franklin County, Pennsylvania, July 28, 1818. His father, John Reilley, was a mer- chant and justice of the peace and in later years engaged in school teaching. His uncle, James Reilley, was killed in the battle at the river Raisin. John S. Reilley learned the tailoring trade at Steubenville, Ohio, but the greater part of his young manhood was spent in West Vir- ginia. He traveled over the country as a jour- neyman tailor, working at various points until the introduction of factory-made clothes made it no longer profitable. He then opened a hotel at Edinburg, Ohio, but later removed to Ra- venna, Ohio. About 1853 he removed to Vas- sar, Tuscola County, Michigan, where he be- came interested in lumbering. Eight years later he came to Bay City, where he subse- quently opened a grocery store. After operat- ing it about two years he retired from business and died 15 years later, August 5, 1904. While a resident of Ohio, he was a member of the Odd Fellows but did not continue his relations with the organization after coming to this State. Politically a Democrat, he was elected by his party to numerous local offices and served as a member of the Bay County Board of Super- visors from the Fifth Ward for some time.

On December 31, 1846, at Freedom, Por- tage County, Ohio, John S. Reilley was mar- ried to Cornelia Bissell Webb, who is a daugh- ter of Dr. James Webb, of Holly, Orleans County, New York. Mrs. Reilley was born February 7, 1829, and is of Scotch and Eng- lish ancestry. Her mother was born in East Hartford, Connecticut, and was a niece of Major General Bissell, an officer in the Revo- lutionary War. Mrs. Reilley's brother, Mervin Webb, was a member of an Ohio heavy artillery regiment during the Civil War and died at Natchez, Mississippi. The four children of Mr. and Mrs. John S. Reilley were : Florence, deceased, who was the wife of Albert Miller,

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of Spokane, Washington; Carrie Gertrude, Crawford Scott and Edgar J., of this sketch.

Carrie Gertrude Reilley is one of the well- known educators of Bay County. After com- pleting her education in the Bay City schools, she taught at St. Helen's, near Hemlock, in Saginaw County, then at Kawkawlin and finally in the Bay City Training School. She then began a professional career of 13 years' dura- tion in Bay City, teaching first in the Wood- side School, then in the Fifth Ward, then spent four years in the Sixth Ward and completed her work as teacher in 1897 in the Farragut School. She is a very intelligent lady and is particularly gifted in the art of teaching.

Crawford Scott Reilley was born in Bay City, August 14, 1867. After finishing his work in the grammar schools, he attended the Bay City High School for a period and then began the study of the law with John L. Stod- dard, and continued with T. A. E. and J. C. Weadock. Subsequently he was graduated from the law school of the University of Mich- igan in 1889 and then entered the office of his former preceptors for a time. Later he located in Sheboygan, Michigan, where he has gained great prominence in his profession. In addi- tion to having a large private practice, he has been city attorney for a number of years, county prosecuting attorney and circuit court commissioner. Fraternally he is an Elk.

Edward J. Reilley, the subject of this sketch, was educated in the public schools of Vassar and Bay City, and began his business life as a messenger boy. One year later he went to tally lumber for the W. C. Yawkey Company and was with that firm three years, going then to Tawas as lumber inspector for three years more. During this period he had charge of the Western Union telegraph office for one year, having learned to receive and transmit mes- sages over the wire several years before, when

he was a messenger boy in Bay City. In 1871 he went to work for E. Y. Williams and continued with him about 20 summers, working through the win- ters in the woods as a log scaler for other parties. In 1891 he went to the Lake Superior country as an inspector and after a two years' absence came back to Bay City, where his serv- ices are offered to lumber men as a skilled in- spector and log scaler. The business is one for which every man is not qualified, and no one is competent without years of experience.

Politically, Mr. Reilley is a Democrat. Fraternally he is a Mason, belonging to Bay City Lodge, No. 129; Blanchard Chapter, No. 59, R. A. M. ; and Bay City Commandery, No. 26, K. T. The whole family attend the Pres- byterian Church.

ONORE LEMIEUX is a well-known farmer and blacksmith of Bay County, whose farm and shop are located in section 4, Kawkawlin township, and whose postoffice address is Linwood.

Mr. Lemieux was born at Montreal, Prov- ince of Quebec, Canada, in 1865, and is a son of Peter and Philomen Lemieux. The father is living on the farm with his son, the mother having passed away several years ago. They had nine children, as follows: Peter, who resides at Essexville, Bay County : August and Wilbrod, who live in Minnesota: Honore : Evangeline, who is the wife of Homer Len- guin ; Wilfred, who owns the 40 acres adjoin- ing the property of his brother, Honore: Eladie, deceased; Zinnophile, whose home is in section 5, Kawkawlin township: and Elizabeth. married Austin Brancham, of Beaver township.

The subject of this sketch came from Can-

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ada to Michigan in 1891. He spent a year in Bay City, and in 1893 located on his present farm, which consists of 40 acres of desirable land, and is kept in excellent condition.

On October 7, 1902, Mr. Lemieux was married to Elizabeth Mennier, a daughter of Solomon and Margaret (Grelenx) Mennier. Solomon Mennier came from Canada about 1872. Mr. and Mrs. Lemieux have had two children .- Lillian, who died in infancy; and Felix, who was born November 18, 1904. The subject of this sketch is an industrious, upright and worthy man, and is favorably regarded by all with whom he is brought into contact. In politics Mr. Lemieux acts with the Democratic party. Religiously, he is a member of the Catholic Church.

OHN M. NUFFER, a leading citizen of Williams township, who is the owner and operator of a large cheese factory and also the proprietor of a general store at Auburn, was born February 16, 1870, in Frankenlust township, Bay County, and is a son of William and Mary (Kranzlein) Nuffer.

The ancestry of Mr. Nuffer on both sides is of German extraction, both pa- ternal and maternal grandparents having been born and married in Germany. They came to Michigan at a very early day and settled in Frankenlust township. Bay County, right in the wilderness, far removed from civilization. They were obliged to cut their own paths through the forests and tam- arack swamps in order to reach the land they had purchased. Both Mr. Nuffer and Mr. Kranzlein became very prominent citizens in the settlement and development of this section, but they were not able to give their children many school advantages, our subject's father

being almost a man before he enjoyed any op- portunities. He was very young when the family came to Bay County, and the mother was five years old.

William Nuffer and Mary Kranzlein were married in 1864 and they had six children, viz. : Margaret, wife of Michael Uhlrich, of Saginaw ; Barbara, deceased, who was the wife of Adolph Wirth; William, who died in 1900 and was buried in Frankenlust township: John M. of this sketch; and George A. and Henry of Amelich, Bay County. Mr. Nuffer died at the age of 38 years and his widow married again. She had eight children by the second marriage and died at the age of 58 years.

Our subject was educated in the schools of Frankenlust township and worked on the home farm until he was 21 years of age and then spent a season in the woods engaged in lum- bering. He then learned cheese-making with William Walker, a veteran cheese-maker of Frankentrost township, Saginaw County, with whom he worked four months and then fol- lowed the business with Michael Bickle for two months. Mr. Nuffer then embarked in the business for himself, starting a factory in Monitor township where he continued three years and then bought a factory at Amelith, where he continued his business for four years. In 1901 he started his large factory at Auburn, where he has a capacity for the making of 8,000 pounds daily. His milk is secured within a radius of four miles and he ships his finished product to Bay City, Saginaw, Adrian and Detroit.

Mr. Nuffer is a man of enterprise and of progressive ideas, and he has just completed and occupied a fine store building, run in con- nection with his factory. This building is con- structed in a modern way and its steel ceiling is not only an object of beauty, but is also de- signed for safety. Mr. Nuffer carried a large

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stock of well-selected goods, including shoes, clothing, dry goods, groceries, hardware, con- fectionery, etc.

Mr. Nuffer was married June 28, 1898, at Monitor, to Katie Weber, who was a daughter of Fred and Eliza (Phillips) Weber. Mrs. Nuffer died on January 5, 1905, aged 28 years and 17 days, leaving a family of five chil- dren (the youngest a newly born babe), viz. : William, Elma, John, Otto and Katie Mary. In her death Mr. Nuffer has met with a terrible bereavement. She was a most estimable lady, a willing and valued helpmate and a devoted wife and mother.

Politically Mr. Nuffer, is a Democrat. He is a member of the German Lutheran Church.

ON. JONATHAN SMITH BAR- CLAY, who is well remembered by the older citizens of Bay County, was for many years one of the most enterprising and progressive business men of Bay City. He was identified with various enterprises and established the well-known hotel known as the old Wolverton House, but for a period of 25 years prior to his death he lived a retired life. He was a son of Richard and Hannah (Smith) Barclay, and grandson of John Barclay, who founded the Bank of Northumberland at Philadelphia. The family is of Scotch origin and is descended from the first colonial Governor of New Jersey, Robert Barclay. Hannah Smith, the wife of Richard Barclay, was a daughter of Col. George and Effie (Drake) Smith, which family also traces its ancestry to early colonial days.

Jonathan S. Barclay was born in Northum- berland County, Pennsylvania, August 8, 1807, and at the age of 16 years learned the trade of a millwright and miller. He conducted a grist-

mill when a mere boy and moved to Tamaqua, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, to assist in the construction of a branch railroad. He then went to Pottsville, where he followed his trade for a time, after which he went to Lycoming county to build a furnace. About this time he gained the displeasure of his father by voting for Andrew Jackson, Democratic candidate for President, and was disinherited. Senator Thomas F. Bayard, United States Senator from Delaware, was familiar with these facts, and gave what assistance he could to the young man. He took him to his home, gave him em- ployment and the use of a large law library. Mr. Barclay took advantage of his opportunities by spending all his spare time in the pursuit of legal studies. After leaving the Senator's home, he started for Rochester, New York, where he was located for two years, during that time helping to build some of the largest flour- ing mills of that section. At that time the war between Texas and Mexico was raging, and with a party of young men he started south to enlist in the Texas army, but on reaching Cleve- land, Ohio, was met with the intelligence that Santa Anna had surrendered to the Texans. The "Toledo War," the fiasco relating to the boundary between Ohio and Michigan, was about to begin, so instead of going to Texas, Mr. Barclay, with 16 others took a boat for Monroe, Michigan. When they landed, Gover- nor Stevens T. Mason was reviewing his troops. After the review, the party volunteered their services, which were declined on account of scarcity of food and arms. Our subject then started for Detroit, where he remained a few days, then went on foot to Jackson, and from there to Albion, searching for employment without avail. Finally at Tekonsha he con- tracted to build a sawmill and a hotel: three years later he returned to Albion, where he built the Jesse Crowell flouring mill. the first in

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operation at that point. He then had charge of the plant for five years, and while there served as justice of the peace a number of years, his early legal training while in the home of Senator Bayard standing him in good stead. When the Michigan Central Railroad Company had under consideration the advisa- bility of running its line through Albion, Mr. Barclay, being well known among the farmers for miles around, worked hard for the right of way. Afterward he was appointed agent at Albion, a position he filled with credit four or five years. When the Michigan Central Rail- road offices were moved to Detroit, he also moved and conducted the Michigan Central Railroad eating house, where the Hotel Wayne is now situated. Subsequently he purchased a stock of goods and established a general mer- chandise store at Lower Saginaw, now Bay City, arriving December 20, 1849. This was the second store in Bay City and most of its early trade was among the Indians, with whom he was well acquainted. He did an extensive business with them and later re-embarked in the general mercantile busi- ness at Bay City. He finally disposed of his store and stock to the firm of Park & Munger and commenced building the old Wolverton House at the corner of Third and Water streets, which he thereafter con- ducted about 15 years, in the meantime engag- ing extensively in the fishing business on Saginaw Bay. He was elected sheriff of Bay County in 1856 and again in 1861, and proved an efficient officer. After leaving the hotel he devoted his time to his vineyard and peach orchard on the bay shore until he met with re- verses. At one time he also conducted a stage line and carried the mail between Lower Sagi- naw and Saginaw. and Lower Saginaw and Alpena. He was a Democrat in politics and

was one of the early members of the State Leg- islature. The last 25 years of his life were spent in happy retirement in the companionship of his family, his death occurring in August, 1887, in the 80th year of his age.

While serving as station agent at Albion, Mr. Barclay was united in marriage with Sarah Ann Sweeney, a handsome and intelligent woman. She survived her husband many years, dying in October, 1904, aged 90 years. She remained well and strong to the last, pos- sessing fully her mental factulties and her memory of the early events of her life when the State was young and in its early development. She was a woman of the best type, in character and intellectuality, and was an ardent church worker, having been one of the founders of the Protestant Episcopal Church in Bay County. Three children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Barclay, namely: Frederick, who fought for three years under Admiral David Farragut in the United States Navy, and was a member of the Farragut Veterans' Association of Phila- delphia ; Lyman ; and Helen, widow of Lucian S. Coman, a record of whose life appears else- where in this work.

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History of Bay County, Michigan, and representative citizens, Part 69

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