USA > Michigan > Bay County > History of Bay County, Michigan, and representative citizens > Part 72
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85
e APT, JOHN Y. MCKINNEY, who is engaged in market gardening with good success, is the owner of a val- uable tract of land in Portsmouth township, on the boundary line of Bay City. He was engaged in the sawmill business for a period of 28 years, and is well known to the citizens of this county.
Captain Mckinney was born in Detroit, Michigan, June 28, 1836, and is a son of Ira and Elizabeth (Somerville) Mckinney. His father was born in Orange county, New York, December 27, 1804, and was reared on a farm. He worked on the home farm until he arrived at his majority, then went to New York City and engaged in mercantile business. He later engaged in the grocery business there, and took an active part in politics, being a stanch Whig. His connection with politics led to the ruin of his business, although he was not a seeker for office himself. About 1834, he removed to De- troit and went to work in a sawmill. continuing there until 1850, in which year he came to Bay City. He formed a partnership with C. L. Russell. of Cleveland, Ohio, under the firm
name of Russell & Mckinney, and engaged in the sawmill business, their mill being located on Fremont avenue. They continued actively in the business until 1860, when the mill was rented to John Y. Mckinney, our subject. In 1858 Ira Mckinney bought of the government a farm of 40 acres on the west side of what is now Michigan avenue, opposite the present home of our subject. He carried on general farming and lived on this property until his death on April 4, 1888. Politically he was first a Whig and in after years a Republican. Jan- uary 15, 1827, he was joined in marriage with Elizabeth Somerville, who was born in Ire- land May 10, 1801, and was the youngest of 18 children born to her parents. She came to America with two brothers and was married to Mr. Mckinney in New York City. They were parents of the following children : Sarah Jane, born December 5, 1827, and deceased October 12, 1878, who was the wife of Hum- phrey Owen, a prominent lumberman of De- troit; James Renwick, born January 17, 1830, deceased August 30, 1848; Lucinda, born De- cember 1, 1832, who was first married to Charles Wilber, and later to Clark Johnson, of Bay City,-she is now a widow and resides in St. Paul, Minneapolis ; Mary Ellen, born March 12, 1834, who married Henry N. Eastman, December 22, 1850, and is now a widow resid- ing in Des Moines, Iowa; John Y., our subject ; William, who was born and died on January 16, 1840; and Eliza, born June 1, 1843, who is the wife of Daniel Campbell, of Denver, Col- orado. Mrs. McKinney died October 2, 1865. aged 64 years. She and her husband were members of the Universalist Church.
John Y. Mckinney attended the public schools of Detroit and Bay City, and during his boyhood days worked in his father's mill. In 1860, he rented this mill and conducted it until 1861. when it was destroyed by an explosion.
609
AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS.
He then placed in operation the first circular- saw sawmill on the Saginaw River. On July 3. 1862, he enlisted in Company F, 23rd Reg., Michigan Vol. Inf., and served with the regi- ment throughout the Civil War. He
went out as a lieutenant and in 1864 was promoted to a captaincy. He was hon- orably discharged in 1865 and returned to Bay City, where he became foreman of a sawmill. He continued identified with sawmills until 1893, and in that time accumulated quite an estate, which included six stores, a skating rink and a fine residence. He then purchased 171/2 acres of land in Portsmouth township, adjoin- ing Bay City, and has a fine truck garden, or- chard and vineyard. He has 200 grape vines, and an orchard of 400 trees, comprised of peach, pear, plum, cherry and apple. He is a man of energy and enterprise and has met with deserved success.
On February 13, 1872, Mr. Mckinney was united in marriage with Harriet Hudson, a daughter of John R. Hudson, of Grand Lodge, Michigan. She was born in St. Lawrence County, New York. To them were born the following children : John H., was born June 29, 1874, who is identified with the Northern Pa- cific Railroad, and lives at Superior, Wiscon- sin; Ira H., born August 25. 1876, who is a chemist in the employ of the Marine City Sugar Company. of Marine City. Michigan: Nellie. born March 28, 1878. deceased, who was the wife of Van Rensselaer B. Gark of Metamora, by whom she had two children, John McKinney and Helen Gark Mckinney, the latter having been adopted by our subject : and Mary, born December 25, 1879. who is a teacher in the Bay City public schools. Religiously. Mr. Mckinney and his family belong to the Fre- mont Avenue Methodist Episcopal Church, of which he was trustee for many years. He re- sides with his family in a comfortable seven-
room home, which he built at the time of mov- ing upon his place in 1893. Politically, he is a Republican but has never taken an active part in political affairs.
HARLES NERRETER, a thrifty farmer, whose farm is situated in section 35, Fraser township, was born at Clio, Saginaw County, Mich- igan, May 12, 1869. He is a son of John and Minnie (Myser) Nerreter, who came from Germany, where they were married, before the Civil War. The father enlisted for service in that war in a Michigan infantry regiment. He engaged in farming and lumbering at the close of the war. He died about 1886, when 64 years old. His widow is still living, aged about 75 years.
Charles Nerreter is the fourth of nine chil- dren born to his parents. He received his early mental training in Saginaw, and after his school days worked at farming and on the river. For 16 years he was employed as an engineer on lake steamers, and for the last nine years of that period worked for Bigelow Brothers, of Chicago. He bought his farm in Fraser town- ship, which consists of 80 acres, in March, 1902.
On January 2, 1896, Mr. Nerreter was mar- ried to Carrie Watkins, a native of Pennsyl- vania, a daughter of Homer and Sarepta (Gil- more) Watkins. Homer Watkins was born in West Bloomfield, Ontario County, New York, on July 26, 1825. His father, Lewis Watkins, was born November 27, 1789, in Connecticut, and removed to Western New York when quite young. He learned the shoemaker's trade, and carried on a shop in the then village of Buffalo, where he was living before the War of 1812. He afterward moved to Black Rock. then a
610
HISTORY OF BAY COUNTY
separate village but now a part of the city of Buffalo, and had a shop there. On January 28, 1818, he married Philena Rew, a native of East Bloomfield, New York. Her father, Lot Rew, was one of the first settlers of East Bloomfield, having moved there from Connecticut. Homer Watkins' mother died in Bloomfield, October 13, 1831. In 1832 his father came to Michi- gan, and bought 80 acres of land in the town of Farmington, Oakland County.
Sarepta (Gilmore) Watkins, Mrs. Nerre- ter's mother, was a daughter of Oliver and Tyla (Wilson) Gilmore, who were natives of New York State, where Mrs. Watkins was born. Her grandfather, John Gilmore, was a soldier in the Revolutionary War, and lived many years in Chautauqua County, New York.
Mr. and Mrs. Nerreter have reared five children, namely: Ferris Watkins, born No- vember 5, 1896; Ferolene Beatrice, born Oc- tober 18, 1898; Charles Harris, Jr., born No- vember 3, 1900; and Ruth and Helen (twins), born December 5, 1903. Politically, Mr. Ner- reter is a Republican. Fraternally, he is a Ma- son. His religious views are non-sectarian.
YMAN RIVKIN, who is a successful general merchant at Linwood, Bay County, Michigan, was born in 1851 at Mogelem, Russia, his parents be- ing natives of that place.
Mr. Rivkin lost his father when he was a child of nine years. His mother was dependent upon her son's support, and as soon as he had completed his education, in the com- mon schools of his native village, he be- gan to teach, and continued in the edu- cational field for 21 years. In 1890 he decided to emigrate to America, his one
regret being that his mother could not ac- company him. She died one year later. When Mr. Rivkin reached West Bay City, Michigan, his capital was exhausted and he was obliged to work from the bottom in building up a busi- ness. His family joined him one year later and Mr. Rivkin attributes much of his success to the advice and assistance of his capable wife. He engaged in a dry goods business at West Bay City for about 18 months and then located at Linwood where he has remained ever since, building up here a business second to none in the locality. He carries a large and varied stock of seasonable goods, giving his patrons careful and courteous attention and sells at the lowest prices.
In 1870 Mr. Rivkin was married to Lottie Chwerbilou, who was born in his native place. Their children were born in Russia and accom- panied the mother to America in 1891. They are as follows: Jacob, born in 1871, who is engaged in a junk business at Buffalo, New York; Lena, born in 1873, who is the wife of A. Cohen, who was born in Russia; Samuel, born in 1875, who is a general merchant at Omer, Michigan; Annie, born in 1877, who married Benjamin Terris, a native of Russia, and resides in Detroit; Ida, born in 1884, who on April 6, 1905, was married to Julius Rosen- berg, a native of Russia, now a resident of Alpena, Michigan; and Lillian, born in 1887, who resides at home. In addition to this fam- ily of affectionate children, all of whom are doing well, Mr. Rivkin has II grandchildren, as follows: Bluma and Morris, Jacob's chil- dren; Sylvia, Florence, William and Pearl, Lena's children; Fivus, Freda and Marcus, Samuel's children ; and Zimka and Eveline, Annie's children. When there is a family re- union, joy abounds, for all are closely united in affection. Mr. and Mrs. Rivkin have worked
JAMES H. POTTER
613
AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS.
hard and are now able to enjoy the fruits of their industry and economy. They are very highly respected by the residents of Linwood.
Politically Mr. Rivkin is a Republican, but he is no seeker for office, his time and attention being absorbed in his business, his family and his pleasant social connections. He is a member of the Maccabees. The family is Jewish in re- ligious belief.
AMES H. POTTER, one of the repre- sentative citizens of Portsmouth town- ship, Bay County, Michigan, who re- sides on his fine farm of 137 acres in section 34, township 14, range 5, was born in Surrey County, England, within 20 miles of London, on April 24, 1844, and is a son of James and Sarah (Adams) Potter, an old English family.
Our subject is the sixth member of a family of 13 children and, with the exception of his late brother William, the only member of the family to come to Michigan. In 1856 he went to Brighton, England, and found em- ployment in that fashionable seaside city, re- maining there until 1870, when he emigrated to America. Prior to this he had been em- ployed by the great contracting firm of John Aird & Sons and assisted in the construction of the great gas works at Bromley, Kent ; spent four years assisting in the construction of the Millwall docks; spent two years at Hampton assisting in the construction of the Vauxhall water-works; helped build the Charter gas works at Barkin on the Thames, and was employed in much railroad building in and around the city of London.
On April 7, 1870, Mr. Potter left Liver- pool for Portland, Maine, and during the next three months visited many parts of Canada and
New York, and worked a short time in a brick- yard near Rochester. In July he reached the Saginaw Valley and found employment in the construction of the Michigan Central Railroad for a few months and then turned his attention to lumbering, working first in a sawmill and then in a lumber camp in the woods. He then went to California and while there bored a number of artesian wells in the San Francisco Valley. Finally he returned to the Saginaw Valley and worked for the leading companies in various capacities in the lumber region for 16 years, 14 of these in the woods.
When Mr. Potter decided to settle down permanently, his knowledge of values served him well and his selection of land proved most fortunate. The tract he secured was entirely unimproved, but Mr. Potter soon placed it under cultivation. He was obliged to cut a road through to his property and to make a number of public improvements on his own account, all of which tended to make his farm more valuable. As soon as practicable he built a substantial residence and commodious barn and outbuildings, to which he has added as necessity has demanded. In 1900 he added to his holdings by the purchase of 97 additional acres adjoining his original 40-acre tract, his land being situated in section 34. For the past 16 years he has operated a first-class dairy, his place bearing the name,-"Alderney Dairy Farm." He has made a specialty of sugar beets and has devoted 20 acres to them. Few men have had a wider experience in various lines than has Mr. Potter and few have been more successful in what they have undertaken.
Mr. Potter was married first, in England, in 1866, to Hannah Chipperfield, who remained in England until 1873, when she joined Mr. Potter. She died in 1893, without issue. In 1895 Mr. Potter was married to Nancy Richter, who was born in 1862, in Ontario, Canada,
33
614
HISTORY OF BAY COUNTY
and they have four interesting children : Jennie, Ralph, Frances and Granwell. A portrait of Mr. Potter accompanies this sketch.
HRISTIAN APPOLD, who owns a fine farm bordering on the Saginaw River, consisting of 120 acres in sections 5, 6 and 7, township 13, range 5, in Frankenlust township, was born on this farm December 17, 1861, and is a son of John C. and Barbara (Arnold) Appold.
The parents of Mr. Appold were both born at Bayern, Germany, the father on August 9, 1826, and the mother on June 21, 1824. John C. Appold died on his farm in Frankenlust township, April 9, 1903, one of the most highly valued men of the southern section of Bay County, one who for years had directed every energy to the development of this section and who had been more than usually honored by his fellow-citizens. He came to America and di- rectly to Bay County in 1852. For some four years he worked at the carpenter trade in Lower Saginaw, by which name Bay City was at that time known, and then bought 30 acres in Frank- enlust township, now included in our subject's farm. At that time the land was still covered with its virgin growth of timber. He started in at once to clear and put the property under cultivation, and for a while lived in a little shanty where housekeeping was carried on in a primitive way. He was a man not only of in- dustry and determination, but also of business foresight. He soon erected a sawmill and then operated it for 12 years, being succeeded by Schaller & Stevens. He subsequently bought over 300 acres of pine lands in Frankenlust township, and at his death left an improved farm of 130 acres.
Politically John C. Appold was in perfect accord with the Republican party and in the early days was one of the only three members of this party in the township. During a period of 12 years he served as a delegate to every convention. With the greatest honesty and efficiency he served in the office of highway commissioner, drainage commissioner, path- master, school inspector, for 25 years was school moderator and for a long time was a jus- tice of the peace. He was always among the foremost to urge improvements of a public character in the township, while at the same time he was a careful guardian of the public funds. When the project was advanced con- cerning the building of the first German Lu- theran Church in the township, he was one of the handful of earnest men who were ready to insure its completion. Before coming to Amer- ica he had loyally served his own country for six years in the army.
The mother of our subject was Barbara Arnold, who came to America on the same vessel that brought Mr. Appold across the ocean. They were married at Bay City one year later. She died here on the homestead in Frankenlust township, December 1, 1890, the mother of seven children : Michael, of Franken- lust township; John Jacob, of Monitor town- ship; Mary Barbara, of Frankenlust township; George, of Williams township; Christian, of this sketch; Fred, of Frankenlust township; and Leonard, of Huron County.
Our subject has always resided on the old home farm which he operates as a grain and stock farm. He has, like his late father, always been identified with county politics and is usu- ally selected as a delegate to the Republican county conventions, but has refused to accept office. He has also been very active in the affairs of St. Paul's German Lutheran Church
615
AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS.
at Frankenlust and is a member of the build- ing committee which is now putting up a fine new edifice.
On November 31, 1889, Mr. Appold mar- ried Anna Neumeyer, who was born August 15, 1866, at Salzburg, Bay County, and is a daughter of Martin and Mary (Schwap) Neu- meyer, natives of Germany and pioneers of this county. They have six children : George J., Benjamin, Jacob, Christina, Carl and Chris- tian, Jr.
OHN H. SHARPE, one of the prom- inent men of Bay County, who resides on his well-cultivated farm of 20 acres, situated in section 17, Hampton township, has been identified with public af- fairs and educational progress in this locality for the past 30 years. Mr. Sharpe was born September 3, 1849, near Kingston, Ontario, Canada, and is a son of Andrew and Delila (Kronke) Sharpe.
The Sharpe ancestry is traced to James P. Sharpe, Archbishop of Sterling, who suffered death in the time of Charles II of England. Lawrence Sharpe, the paternal grandfather of our subject, was born in Perthshire, Scotland, and came to America at a very early day, set- tling in the State of New York in Revolu- tionary times.
Andrew Sharpe was born near Oswego, New York and was 15 years old when the fam- ily removed to Canada, where it remained through his life. Andrew Sharpe took part in the McKinzie Rebellion in 1837. His occupa- tion was farming. His death took place at the age of 73 years. The Sharpe family was rep- resented by several members in the military operations of the War of 1812. The mother of our subject was born in Ontario, Canada. where she died at the age of 67 years. The family
consisted of nine children, three of these being sons.
Our subject was 15 years old when he left the home farm and entered Prince Albert Col- lege, at Belleville, Canada, where he enjoyed three years of collegiate training. Then he crossed the border and resided at Watertown, New York, working at various callings for some two years, and then came West to Mich- igan, becoming bookkeeper for a large woolen mill at Flint. After 18 months at Flint he went to Hawley and later to Lapeer, and finally, in 1873, settled in Bay County. This section of the State has been his chosen home ever since and he has resided for the past 26 years upon his present compact little farm, which is noted for its fertility, and is mainly devoted to fine gardening and fruit-growing.
Mr. Sharpe has been one of the most vigor- ous promoters of education in this section of Bay County. After locating here, he taught country schools for three years and then was principal of the Essexville School for one year ; later he became principal of the Sterling School and taught also at other points. His services were valued and he was made county school examiner and for six years was secretary of the local School Board and for two years held other official positions.
Mr. Sharpe is now identified with the Dem- ocratic party and has been honored by the party on numerous occasions. He served one term as township clerk and for the past 20 years has been a justice of the peace.
In 1873 Mr. Sharpe was united in mar- riage with Mary Dillon, who was born near London, Ontario, Canada, August 17, 1853, and is a daughter of John and Johanna Dillon, natives of Ireland. They have had nine chil- dren : Harold, of Everett, Washington; Carl S., of Seattle, Washington ; Agnes M., wife of F. P. Sawyer, of Everett, Washington; John
616
HISTORY OF BAY COUNTY
who died aged 17 years; and Lawrence, Ver- non, Edward M., Mary and Thomas R., who live at home.
Mr. Sharpe's fraternal associations are with the St. Andrew's Society and other Scottish clans. As one of the representative men of this section, Mr. Sharpe exerts a wide influ- ence and is probably as well-known as any other agriculturist in Bay County.
e HESLEY WHEELER, one of the oldest and most prominent citizens of Bay City, is a retired ship-builder, who was born in Warren County, New York, June 17, 1823, and is a son of George and Sally ( Padden) Wheeler.
George Wheeler was born in Eastern New York, and devoted his entire life to farming. He was a soldier in the War of 1812, and was stationed at Sackett's Harbor. There the United States government had built a large ves- sel for war purposes, which, peace having been declared, was never launched. The subject of this sketch well remembers going over this ves- sel, after it had been housed in and placed on exhibition. The father died in 1831 in Jeffer- son County, New York. His death was the result of diseases caused by over exertion, and the exposure incident to frontier life.
Chesley Wheeler's mother had six sons and four daughters, of whom he and three sisters are the only survivors. Of these, Mrs. Mary Ann Eaton, who is next older than he, lives in St. Louis, Michigan. Another, Mrs. Emma Williams, lives in Columbus, Pennsylvania. The third sister, Mrs. Melissa Casselman, re- sides in Chautauqua County, New York. The mother of this family was a native of New York, but of Scotch extraction. In religious faith, she was a Presbyterian.
Chesley Wheeler grew up in Jefferson County, New York, where he received his men- tal training and where he was married. Before and after his marriage, he was engaged in farming. Subsequent to that event, he learned the trade of ship carpenter, which he followed until within the last few years. Before com- ing to Bay County, he built a few small ves- sels on contract.
Mr. Wheeler arrived in Saginaw, Michi- gan, in the fall of 1865 and started a ship- yard there. Eight years afterward he moved to West Bay City, where he started another shipyard, having discontinued the one at Sag- inaw. He remained in West Bay City until about 1878, when his son, Frank Willis Wheeler, who up to that time had been in part- nership with his father, became sole owner of the yard.
The "Elfin Mere" was the property of Chesley Wheeler, and was operated by him as a freight steamer until 1901, when the boat was destroyed by fire. Mr. Wheeler gave employ- ment at times to a force numbering from 300 to 400 men.
On February 14, 1843, Mr. Wheeler mar- ried Eliza Hoselton, of Jefferson County, New York. They had five children, four of whom grew to maturity, as follows : Jane L., wife of William Durand, of Bay City; Fred D., de- ceased; Emma, wife of John R. Goodfellow, of Los Angeles, California; and Frank Willis. The mother of this family died December 12, 1891, aged 65 years. She was a member of the Congregational Church.
Mr. Wheeler subsequently married Mrs. Chauncey Greenman, nce Imogene Thurber, a daughter of Noah Thurber, of Penn Yan, New York. She is a member of the Presbyterian Church.
Chesley Wheeler is a Republican in politics. In West Bay City he was quite active politi-
617
AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS.
cally, and exercised a powerful influence in public affairs, although he was absorbed in business to such an extent as to preclude the idea of holding office. Fraternally, he is a member of Joppa Lodge, No. 315, F. & A. M.
HON. FRANK WILLIS WHEELER was born March 2, 1853, and received his mental train- ing in the public schools of Saginaw. He learned the trade of ship carpenter with his father, with whom he entered into partnership about the time they came to Bay City. In this line he continued until the trust bought up the shipyards on the Great Lakes. He then went to Detroit, where he engaged in business as a ship owner. He purchased 200,000 acres of timber land in North Carolina, and incorpor- ated a company with a capital of $1,000,000, Frank Willis Wheeler married Eva Arm- strong, of Saginaw, and they have one daugh- ter, Mary, who is the wife of George Clark, of Detroit. Mr. Wheeler, like his father, is a Republican in politics. He was elected to Con- gress in 1888 from this district. Fraternally, he belongs to Joppa Lodge, No. 315, F. & Λ. Μ.
ILLIAM REID, manager of the Union Ice Company, at Bay City, Michigan, was born in Perthshire, Scotland, March 30, 1850, and is a son of John and Ann ( Morrison ) Reid.
John Reid was a native of Perthshire. In 1850 he left his native land and settled in Huron District, Ontario, Canada, where he en- gaged in agricultural pursuits until the close of his life, in 1900, at the age of 74 years.
Our subject was reared in Canada and ob- tained his education in the public schools. In 1870 he came to Bay City and spent five sea- sons in the lumber regions. He then secured
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.