History of Bay County, Michigan, and representative citizens, Part 76

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

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tal. The president of the company is Frank H. Mohr, Louis Hine is secretary and man- ager and Julius Kaiser is vice-president and superintendent. Mr. Kaiser has full charge and oversight of the manufacture of the pro- duct. his practical knowledge of all the details of brewing making his service very efficient and insuring the uniform grade of the goods as well as their healthful purity.

Mr. Kaiser was married in West Bay City to Minnie Bronke, who is a daughter of August Bronke, and they have a family of five chil- dren : Hattie, Ludwig, Minnie, Julius, Jr., and Edward.

Mr. Kaiser is connected with these organi- zations : Arbeiter Unterstuetzung Verein, Mac- cabees and Brewery Masters' Union.

ERGT .- MAJ. CHARLES C. CUTH- BERT, superintendent of Pine Ridge, Green Ridge and Seaman's cemeter- ies, was born in Bay City, Michigan, February 17, 1879, and is a son of Charles and Jane (Carter ) Cuthbert.

The father of our subject was born May 30, 1824. in England, and died in Bay County, Michigan, December 6, 1896, aged 72 years. He was married in Canada where he resided some years, but in 1875 he came to Bay County and purchased a farm which is now owned by our subject. He carried on general farming and also operated a dairy. 'In politics he sup- ported the Republican party. He was a valued member of Trinity Protestant Episcopal Church, of Bay City, a religious body to which his surviving widow also belongs. They had 12 children, namely : Elizabeth, wife of Byron O. Gothman, of St. Louis, Michigan; Ellen, wife of Edward Lord, of Standish, Michigan ; Thomas M., of Bay City; Annie, teacher of

music in Bay City ; George, of Bay City ; John W., of Bay City ; Charles C., our subject ; Dolly E., residing with her mother in Bay City; Frank F., of Bay City; Bessie, wife of James D. Scott, of Bay City ; and Deliah and William Roswell who live at home.

Charles C. Cuthbert was educated in the public schools. At the age of 16 years he be- gan work in the cemeteries under C. D. Fisher and George D. Seaman, his first duties being the watering of the graves, and for the past IO years he has been connected with cemetery work, with the exception of his period of service in the Spanish-American War. In 1897 he en- listed in Company C, Third Infantry, Michigan National Guard, and the following year went through the Cuban campaign as a private of this company, which was one of the companies of the 33d Michigan Infantry, U. S. Volun- teers. Shortly after his return he was appointed corporal and about a year later was made a ser- geant. In 1902 he was made Ist sergeant and served three years in that rank and then was appointed sergeant-major of the Third Bat- talion, Third Regiment and has held this posi- tion during two encampments. He is a mem- ber of Camp Sheridan, No. 5, National League of Veterans Sons; Gen. Henry Lawton Com- mand, No. 60, Spanish War Veterans; and Wenona Lodge, No. 221, I. O. O. F.

In 1899 Mr. Cuthbert was made superin- tendent of Bay City's beautiful resting places for her dead. Since taking charge he has made many improvements, including the fencing of all the cemeteries, and, with his force of four experienced men, has made these spots all that the most critical could ask in the way of quiet beauty and orderly attractiveness, for the final home of their departed ones. Mr. Cuthbert has shown special interest in caring for the sacred plot known as Soldiers' Rest, in Pine Ridge Cemetery, thereby fulfilling the wishes

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of every citizen. He possesses taste and good judgment and his long experience in this work makes his services almost invaluable.

Mr. Cuthbert was married on January 24. 1905, to Ida M. Pegg, who is a daughter of Jacob Pegg, of Bay City. They attend the First Congregational Church.

R e OBERT R. LANE, president of the Bay City Business College, is one of the most enterprising citizens of Bay City. He was born in Durham Dis- trict, Ontario, in 1864, and is a son of Robert and Ann (Bray) Lane, whose union resulted in the birth of nine children.

Mr. Lane received his early mental training in the public schools of Durham and Ontario districts and afterward attended the high schools at Bowmanville, Durham District, and Port Perry, Ontario District. He was princi- pal of a school in Durham District for three years, and taught for the same length of time in a Canadian business college. He then moved to Seattle, Washington, where he taught a short time. While there he opened up stenographic offices, in connection with which he did court work. He subsequently removed to Saginaw, Michigan, where he was principal of the Inter- national Business College until March, 1893. At that period he moved to Bay City and pur- chased the International Business College in the Averell Block.

In 1896 Mr. Lane changed the location of the institution to the rooms above the Y. M. C. A. on Adams street and from there moved to his present location in the Washington Theatre Building, where he occupies the second and third floors, covering nearly 9,000 square feet.

In 1898 the International Business Col- lege, of Bay City, Devlin's Business College, of

Bay City and J. G. Lamsen's private school, in West Bay City, were consolidated under the name of the Bay City Business College, and the attendance has been increased by years of hard and earnest work, until in 1903 the number of pupils was 292. Many were placed in good positions in different parts of the country.

Everything pertaining to the equipment of the institution is strictly modern. The cloak rooms and offices of the college are well lighted and ventilated. The rooms are divided into departments for commercial instruction, sten- ography and typewriting. The faculty, at pres- ent numbering five members, is selected from the very best of experienced teachers, and the subject of this sketch himself possesses super- ior qualifications as a teacher, and brings to bear 21 years of ripe experience. He has been a special instructor in every branch of the work. He is also interested in other enterprises. More than 70 students from other business and short- hand schools have been in attendance at this institution, some of them having previously graduated elsewhere.

Mr. Lane married Mary Oliver, a native of Chatham, Ontario, and their union has resulted in two children,-Mary and Beth.

A NDREW F. HOFMANN, manager and proprietor of The Valley Sheet Metal Works of Bay City, West Side, and one of the city's progres- sive and enterprising citizens, was born at Kochville, Michigan, March 26, 1878, and is a son of John L. and Minnie (Baumbach) (Wuepper) Hofmann.

John L. Hofman. our subject's father, was born at Bayern, Germany, and lived in the city of Berlin until he was 25 years old. He then came to America, locating for a short season in

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Indiana, and then came to Bay City where he followed his trade of carpenter and millwright, but formerly had settled for a few years on a farm. At one time he was a member of the Bay City Board of Public Works. He married Mrs. Minnie (Baumbach) Wuepper, widow of Lieut. John Wuepper. The three survivors of the family of Lieutenant Wuepper are : Ernes- tine, wife of Matthews Keopplinger, of Sagi- naw, Michigan; Sophie, wife of Harry Hay- ward, of Buena Vista township, Saginaw County ; and John H., of Detroit. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Hofmann are : Louisa, wife of Henry L. Menthen, of Saginaw, Michigan; George L., living at home; Andrew F., of this sketch ; August E., of Mayville, Michigan ; and Minnie, living at home. Mr. and Mrs. Hof- mann are members of the Salzburg German Reform Church, of which Mr. Hofmann is a trustee.

After completing the common-school course, our subject learned the trade of sheet metal work, with C. R. Laderach, of Salzburg. remaining with him three years and becoming an expert, skilled workman. To gain exper- ience in all lines, he then worked for a year at Caro, Michigan, at Battle Creek and at St. Paul, Minnesota. Upon his return to Bay City where he desired to make his home, he entered the employ of Wilson & Wanless for a year and then with J. C. Weber for a few months. In 1903, in partnership with Carl A. Mueller, of Joliet, Illinois, Mr. Hofmann opened The Val- ley Sheet Metal Works, and after six months he bought his partner's interest. Since then he has operated the works alone, doing general sheet metal work of all kinds on a large scale. He deals also in heating aparatus, this being an important branch in its season. His plant is well equipped and is a leading representative of the industry here.

On September 29, 1904, Mr. Hofmann

married Bertha Elizabeth Kleckner, who is a daughter of Israel Kleckner, of Cementon, Le- high County, Pennsylvania. Mr. and Mrs. Hofmann are members of the German Re- formed Church. He belongs to the Arbeiter Unterstuetzung Verein. Politically he is a stanch Republican.

A DOLPH FRANCIS, one of the pros- perous farmers and valued citizens of Gibson township, who owns a fine farm of 80 acres, situated in section 29, was born near Montreal, Canada, in Febru- ary, 1850, and is a son of Adolph Francis.

The parents of Mr. Francis both died in Montreal, the mother at the age of 57 years, and the father at the age of 85 years. They were highly respected residents of that city and faithful members of the Catholic Church.

Our subject's boyhood was spent in the city of Montreal and he attended school there. In 1873 he came with his wife to Michigan. They resided in Bay City 12 years, then lived at Grayling, in Crawford County, until 1895, when they came to the present farm in Bay County. The whole place was then but a wil- derness of brush and timber, and before they could even put up a temporary home they were obliged to clear a space. Although before her marriage Mrs. Francis had been a school teacher, she cheerfully took upon herself many hard tasks and much physical labor. The re- sult is that they now have as comfortable and substantial a home as can be found in Gibson township and a farm which is productive and valuable.

In 1872 Mr. Francis married Virginia He- marre, who is a daughter of Herbert and Vir- ginia (Daniel) Hemarre. Mrs. Francis is a lady of superior education and she taught school

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HISTORY OF BAY COUNTY

both in Montreal and in the adjacent country. To this marriage II children were born : Jo- seph, born in Canada in 1873, who is a railroad man; Rosa, Ada and Laura, all three deceased; Frederick ; George; Edward; Frank, deceased; Arthur ; and Charles and Lidia, both deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Francis are members of the Cath- olic Church.

Mr. Francis takes only a good citizen's in- terest in political affairs, but always casts his vote with the Republican party. He has en- couraged all agricultural movements in the township and belongs to the Grange and to the Gleaners. Honest, intelligent and industrious, a kind friend and a good neighbor, Mr. Francis enjoys the esteem of his fellow-citizens with whom he is on the most friendly terms. His pleasant hospitable home has many visitors.

ENRY CLEMENTS, deceased, was one of the leading business men of Bay City for many years and was closely identified with almost every important phase of civic life. Mr. Clements was born in 1855 in New York City, and died in his magnificent home in Bay City, on Oc- tober 31, 1901. He was a son of James and Agnes (McCready) Clements.

James Clements was of English parentage and his wife of Connecticut ancestry. Mr. Clements, who was an expert machinist, after visiting a number of States, finally located at Ann Arbor, Michigan, for the purpose of in- stalling gas plants in divers localities. From Ann Arbor he removed to Bay City where he subsequently organized a company, largely made up of friends at Ann Arbor, and founded the important industry now known as The In- dustrial Works. He survived long enough to

realize ample returns for his energy and enter- prise, and died at Ann Arbor, where several of his children reside. His family consisted of Mary, of Ann Arbor; James, who died in South Africa ; Henry, our subject ; Ida, of Ann Arbor ; and William, of Bay City. Mr. Clements was a man of sterling character and was intimately associated in friendship with his neighbor, Judge Thomas M. Cooley, of the Supreme Court of Michigan.

Henry Clements was graduated in the liter- ary course of the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor and returned to Bay City to enter his father's office in The Industrial Works. Finding this business environment congenial, he continued here and later purchased a one- half interest in the business, devoting the whole of his subsequent life to its expansion and in- terests. He finally purchased the whole plant, but continued to conduct the business under the name of James Clements & Son. At the time of his decease it had grown to be a business of vast proportions and wide connections. After his decease, his widow secured the services of her brother-in-law, Edward J. Bissell, attorney, to look after her interests in The Industrial Works, with the result that he saw such a fu- ture in the business that he gave up his law practice, and, with his son, purchased the plant.

In 1882 Mr. Clements was married to Luella Hovey, who is a daughter of Dr. W. F. and Sarah (Stinson) Hovey, who had two daughters, viz : Mrs. Clements and Carrie, de- ceased, who was the wife of Edward J. Bis- sell. Mr. and Mrs. Clements had two chil- dren : Harold and Madeleine. The beautiful home, in which Mrs. Clements and her children reside, situated at No. 1,601 Center avenue, Bay City, is probably one of the best appointed ones in the city, adorned with everything to gratify the tastes of its cultured owners. 1

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was erected in 1890, being the first of the many elegant mansions which have been built in this exclusive locality. The Clements family attend the First Presbyterian Church.

RS. ELIZABETH LINDERMAN, who resides on her well-cultivated farm of 40 acres, situated in section 26, Hampton township, is one of the old and respected residents of this section, having occupied her farm here since 1857. Mrs. Linderman was born August 18, 1834, in Mecklenburg-Schwerin, Germany, and is a daughter of Christian and Helena (Blake) Koch.

Mrs. Linderman's parents lived and died in Germany. They had II children and Mrs. Linderman is one of three daughters. One brother, Henry Koch, came to America with our subject and her first husband, in 1857.

Mrs. Linderman was reared in her father's house and was taught all the accomplishments for which German housewives are noted the world over. When 20 years of age she mar- ried Ernest Blake, who was born in 1815 at Wismar, Germany. When they came to Amer- ica they settled immediately in Hampton town- ship, Bay County. Michigan, Mr. Blake pur- chasing the present farm of our subject, which at that time was entirely unimproved. He survived but two and a half years. Mrs. Lin- derman's second marriage was to another of her countrymen, Henry Linderman, who was born in Hanover, Germany, in 1834, and came to the United States when 25 years of age. Dur- ing the Civil War. Mr. Linderman went to De- troit and there enlisted for service in the Union Army. All trace of him was afterward lost and it is supposed that he was one of those re- ported missing, after some great battle. He

left two sons: Harry, deceased; and Ernest, born August 20, 1865, who operates the farm for his mother. It is a fertile, well-watered tract of land and under Mr. Linderman's ex- cellent management has proved very productive.

Mrs. Linderman is widely known and very highly esteemed. She has seen very many won- derful changes take place in the county since she first settled here and she recalls many very interesting events of the early days.

ITZLAND L. WILSON. Few citi- zens of Bay County are better known than Fitzland L. Wilson, who has achieved success along many lines and stands to-day as a representative of the class known as self-made men. Mr. Wilson was born after the death of his father, at Akron, New York, February 24, 1838.

The widowed mother took care of her fath- erless son until he had reached the age of nine years, and then the little lad started out to be a wage earner himself. His beginning was in a tanyard, where he was given his board and $2.50 per month for his services; but two months in this situation proved to him that he was not fashioned to be a successful tanner, and he engaged with a neighboring farmer to work during the summers and go to school dur- ing the winter seasons. Little by little his small earnings, providently saved, increased, so that by the time he was 18 years of age he felt justi- fied in going to Akron and entering the Union School, paying for a part of his board and working for the other part. He followed out the same methods when, after several seasons of farm work and study at night by himself. he entered Oberlin College. where he took a special teacher's course, not being able to take the full college course.

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Mr. Wilson then entered into teaching as a profession and followed the same in different parts of Ohio,-in Delaware County, Pick- away County and in the city of Chillicothe. During all this time he was busied in studying out and endeavoring to solve construction problems, his natural bent being in the direction of machinery, and he finally went into the bridge building on an Ohio railroad and was thus engaged in 1861, at the outbreak of the Civil War.

This great national crisis found the young teacher and embryo machinist and inventor a loyal, patriotic supporter of the government, and he enjoys the distinction of being the sec- ond man who enlisted in the "Continentals," the first company that went out from Cleveland, for the 90-day service. This company re- mained at Camp Taylor from April until the middle of May, expecting to be mustered into the United States service, and during this period Captain Stacy came to the camp to get recruits to enter the Second Kentucky Regi- ment. Our subject was one of the 500 who went to Camp Clay where they remained until the new order of the government discharged all 90-day men who did not care to enlist for three years or the duration of the war. Mr. Wilson decided to resume bridge building and he con- tinued until the road he was working on was captured in October, 1862, by the Confederate general, Kirby Smith.

Mr. Wilson then returned to New York on a pass from Gen. Lew Wallace, giving him permission to leave Covington and Cincinnati, and in the metropolis he remained until late in the fall, when he came to Michigan to visit a half brother, L. D. Lighthall, a resident of Ing- ham County. In February, 1863, he reenlisted for service in the Union Army and was mus- tered into Company B,-Sixth Michigan Heavy Artillery, which was sent to serve under Gen-

erals Butler and Canby in the Gulf compaign. The regiment was used in garrisoning Forts Morgan, Wagoner and Port Hudson, on the Mississippi and took part in the capture of Mo- bile. He was finally mustered out of the serv- ice on August 26, 1865, at Jackson, Michigan.

After the close of his military career, Mr. Wilson went into the mill business at Macon, Lenawee County, Michigan, where he contin- ued for 20 months and then sold out his interest and moved to Ingham County. He then pur- chased a mill where he manufactured one of his own inventions which he had patented, the celebrated Wilson washboard, and continued in this industry until November, 1879. He had made many business friends by this time and shortly afterward was instrumental in organ- izing the Saginaw Barrel Company, a stock company. Mr. Wilson was elected superinten- dent of the work of this company and he re- mained a resident of Saginaw until May, 1882, when he built the Wilson hoop factory in West Bay City, which is now operated by the Goldie Manufacturing Company. This mill was en- tirely equipped with machinery invented by Mr. Wilson, himself, and here were manufactured the first elm hoops ever made in Bay County.

Mr Wilson was always alive to all new in- dustries and when the beet sugar industry first attracted general attention, he was a leading in- vestigator of its possibilities. His technical knowledge soon assured him of future success in sugar making and in 1898 he entered into the business as an expert and has continued ever since. He put out a large acreage of his own land and rented properties in sugar beets and has proven the complete success of this indus- try, conducted on his lines.

For the past 15 years Mr. Wilson has owned a magnificent farm of 240 acres, which is situated in sections 9 and 16, Hampton town- ship, where he has carried on general farming,

LUCIOUS W. TOBIAS

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stock-raising and fruit-growing, under the very best possible conditions, having spared neither time nor expense on his property. He has made this a model farm and has expended over $5,000 in buildings. The farm is now under rental, he having retired from its active man- agement, his sugar interests having engaged his entire attention for some time. During 1900 he was associated with the Lansing Sugar Company, of Lansing, Michigan, and traveled through the country, lecturing in its interests through Ingham, Shiawassee, Genesee, Liv- ingston and Jackson counties, placing before the farmers the advantages accruing from the culture of the sugar beet. His work met with much success.

On March 21, 1863, Mr. Wilson was united in marriage with Eleanor S. Reed, a lady whom he met in Ingham County while visiting his brother. Mrs. Wilson was born November 29, 1840, in Huron County, Ohio, and is a daughter of James P. Reed, who removed from Ohio to Ingham County, Michigan, in 1849. Mr. and Mrs. Wilson have had these children : Carl F., who is a mail carrier in West Bay City ; Alice L., who is the wife of Lee E. Joslyn, one of the leading attorneys of Bay City; Grace, who is the wife of William Crabb, of North Tonawanda, New York; James R., who is a farmer in Hampton township; Charles D., who is in business at Buffalo, New York : Clara, who is the wife of John Ingersoll, teller of the Peoples' Savings Bank, of West Bay City ; and George M., who is a resident of Buffalo, New York.

During all these years of activity. Mr. Wilson has continued to work at his various in- ventions and many of them are of a very prac- tical character and have been patented and are in use in many of the manufacturing centers. Although he has been an active supporter of the Republican party all his life, he has accepted

little in the way of political reward, his con- victions being those of principle. His first vote was cast for Abraham Lincoln and each successive Republican candidate has received his generous support. During his residence in Ingham County he served as a justice of the peace, an office to which his sterling character, experience of men and things and his stern sense of justice, brought most desirable quali- fications. He belongs to H. P. Merrill Post, No. 419, G. A. R., of Bay City and is a valued comrade. His fraternal associations are mainly with the various Masonic bodies,-he holds membership in Wenona Lodge, No. 296, F. & A. M., of West Bay City; and of Blanchard Chapter, No. 59. R. A. M., of Bay City.

L UCIOUS W. TOBIAS, deputy United States marshal for 29 counties, com- prising the Eastern District of Mich- igan, whose portrait accompanies this sketch, has been identified with the business interests of Bay City since 1870. Mr. Tobias was born in 1856, at Chesaning, Saginaw County, Michigan, and is a son of Solomon and Sarah A. (Thayer) Tobias.

The father of Mr. Tobias was born in Ash- tabula County, Ohio, in 1831, and died in Michigan in 1878. The mother was born in 1829, in Pennsylvania, and died in 1896. The four surviving children are: Mrs. Mary A., Mrs. Jean, of Bay City ; Blanche, wife of Ed- ward S. Lattimore, of Bay City ; James Frank- lin, a general storekeeper in Beaver township, Bay County ; and Lucious W., of this sketch. In early life Solomon Tobias was a lumberman and millwright. In 1854 he settled in Sagi- naw! County, Michigan, where his youngest son was born two years later.

Our subject was educated in the common

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HISTORY OF BAY COUNTY

schools of Shiawassee County, the family having moved to Corunna in 1861, from which place he came to Bay City in 1870. In looking about for a business opening, the best prospects seemed to be in the transfer line. He had little capital and began what developed into a large business with a one-horse dray. He was in- terested in this business from 1872 until 1902. Several years after his modest beginning, he found it necessary to have several vans built and about this time met William Jennison, who was on the point of starting into a general storage business. They joined capital and organized the Riverside Truck & Storage Com- pany, and continued in partnership, with Mr. Tobias as general manager, for seven years. Other duties pressed at this time and he gave up this business, having accumulated quite a fortune through his commercial enterprise.

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History of Bay County, Michigan, and representative citizens, Part 76

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