USA > Michigan > Bay County > History of Bay County, Michigan, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 37
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HISTORY OF BAY COUNTY.
N. HOWELL is a native of Canada, and settled in Bay City in 1866. The first three years he worked in saw mills, and in 1869 went into the wooden ware works, and has remained there ever since.
PATRICK McCRICKETT, engineer at the wooden ware works, is a native of Ireland. In 1869 he emigrated to this country from England, and remained four years in Detroit. In 1873 he came to Bay City to take his present position.
VALLEY IRON WORKS.
These works were started in the Fall of 1866, by the firm of Like, Ellsworth & Campbell. The following Spring Mr. Bergan bought out Mr. Campbell's interest, and in May, about a month later, the entire works were destroyed by fire. There was no insur- ance on any of the property burned, but by July the buildings were rebuilt and the works in full blast. For some time the business prospered and gave employment to an average of fifty men. About 1871 the property passed into the possession of D. C. and William Smalley, of Seneca Co., N. Y., who were experienced and practical business men. The firm at first was Smalley Bros. & Catlin, and afterwards, Mr. A. D. Catlin being succeeded by C. E. Lewis, the firm was changed to Smalley Bros. & Lewis. About 1875 Mr. J. S. Smalley succeeded Mr. Lewis, and in 1878 he retired and was succeeded by his son, Mr. W. T. Smalley. The firm name is now Smalley Bros. & Co. They manufacture steam engines and saw mill and other machinery, and deal exten- sively in gas pipe, tubing, etc. They do a business of upwards of $175,000 annually, and employ on an average about eighty men. The capacity of the works has been greatly increased, and further enlargements are being continually made. The works now occupy six lots and every inch of space is thronged with activity. The proprietors are gentlemen of great business energy, and their sagacity is demonstrated in the pronounced success that has attended their operations, which contribute a liberal share to the growth and prosperity of Bay City.
WILLIAM SMALLEY, who gives his personal attention to the practical part of the business, is a machinist of long experience. He is a native of Seneca Co., N. Y., and for several years was superin- tendent of the Silsby Manufacturing Company's works, at Seneca Falls. In 1871 he came to Bay City and engaged in business as above stated. Mr. Smalley attends closely to the management of the manufacturing. He is a member of the Board of Water Works Commissioners, but as a rule pays less attention to public affairs than to the interests of the firm.
D. C. SMALLEY is a native of Seneca Co., N. Y., and followed farming in his native county for several years. In 1871 he came to Bay City to engage in business with his brother William. In carry- ing on the affairs of the establishment he has given his attention to its financial management, in which branch of the business he is particularly efficient. He has held the office of alderman from the Fourth Ward, and for several years has been a stockholder and director in the Second National Bank.
WILLIAM T. SMALLEY is a son of Mr. J. S. Smalley, formerly a member of the firm. He is also a native of Seneca Co., N. Y., and came to Adrian, Mich., with his parents in 1855. In 1874 the family came to Bay City, the father succeeding to an interest in the firm, and William going into their employ as book-keeper. In June, 1878, he succeeded his father in the business as above stated. He still has charge of the books of the firm, and is a young man of thorough business habits.
The institution of this firm is an important factor in the indus- trial interests of Bay City, and in amount of work turned out is one of, if not the largest, in the Saginaw Valley.
BAY CITY STONE COMPANY.
This is one of the important institutions of Bay City, and one that has much to do with the building up and architectural beauty of the place. This company was founded by Tennant Bros. & Co., in 1872. In 1879 the name was changed to the Bay City Stone Company. The gentlemen composing the company are James H. Tennant, Edwin Pryer and Abraham Bate. They do every description of stone and marble work, and keep a large force of men continually employed. The office and marble works are on Water Street, cor- ner of Eighth, and the stone works occupy a large area on the dock. This company have done the stone work on all the principal build- ings in the city, and have contracts on public buildings in various parts of the state. Their works at the dock present a busy scene throughout the year, and are suggestive of an extensive and prosper- ous business. The gentlemen who compose the company are prac- tical and energetic men, and have built up a business that they may well feel proud of.
JAMES H. TENNANT is a native of Yorkshire, Eng., and emigrated to America in 1857. In 1872 he came to Bay City from Canada, and engaged in business as above stated.
ABRAHAM BATE is a native of England, and came to this country in 1870. For about two years he was in charge of an extensive stone yard in Detroit. In 1872 he settled in Bay City, and became a member of the firm of Tennant Bros. & Co.
EDWIN PRYER is also a native of England, and came to this country in 1862. He learned the marble and stone cutters' trade at an early age, and has followed the business ever since. In 1870 he settled in Bay City, and has been a member of the above named company since it first started in 1872.
BRADDOCK & BATEMAN,
manufacturers of cigars, South Bay City, succeeded Bebee & Brad- dock in July, 1882. They employ about forty hands, and do an extensive business throughout the state. They manufacture only about one-half the cigars handled by them.
EDWARD B. BRADDOCK is a native of Essex, Conn., and settled in Bay City in 1859. Prior to that time he was in business in Con- necticut, but having an uncle in Bay City, or Lower Saginaw, as it was then called, he concluded to try the new country. When he came here the firm of H. D. Braddock & Co. was carrying on a general store where Symons, Smart & Co. are now located, and he went into their store, remaining in their employ about three years. He then became a member of the firm of Dunham & Whipple, and they purchased the store of H. D. Braddock & Co., and did business under the firm name of Whipple, Braddock & Co. He continued in the mercantile business four or five years, and then was away from the place about five years. In 1876 he went into the cigar business, the firm being Bebee & Braddock. In July, 1882, F. Bateman succeeded Mr. Bebee, and the firm became Braddock & Bateman. Mr. Braddock was married August, 1863, to Miss Mary J. Stevens, daughter of Appleton M. Stevens, of this city. In 1865 he built his present residence on South Center Street, now a hand- some street with numerous attractive homes. At the time Mr. Braddock built, that part of town was a pasture, and it was thought very strange that he should select such an out-of-the-way place for a residence. Verily, the desert has blossomed as the rose. Mr. Braddock has been a busy man during the twenty-three years of his residence here. He was treasurer of Portsmouth for six months, and town clerk for three years.
F. BATEMAN is a native of New York State, and followed rail- roading for several years, working his way up to the position of passenger conductor. When the Michigan Central Company finished its line to Bay City, he came here and run a passenger
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HISTORY OF BAY COUNTY.
train until the Summer of 1882, when he determined to leave the road and settle down in some local business. In July, 1882, he succeeded Mr. Bebee in the firm of Bebee & Braddock, and is now doing a prosperous business.
ROBERT HARRIER, foreman of the manufacturing department of Braddock & Bateman's business, is a native of Pennsylvania, and came to Bay City in 1875. He was manufacturing cigars for a time, but in the Summer of 1881 sold to Bebee & Braddock, and has since held the position of foreman of the works.
THE MICHIGAN PIPE COMPANY.
In 1871 the Northwestern Gas and Water Pipe Company was established in Bay City. The business of manufacturing wood pipe with the Wyckoff patent augur was first started in Chicago, by Thomas B. Farrington and J. F. Temple, and in 1869 a stock com- pany was organized, and extensive works started here. In January, 1881, this company was succeeded by the Michigan Pipe Company. The officers are I. H. Hill, president; C. E. Jennison, vice-president;
WESTERN GAS & WATER PIPE COMPANY.
MICH, ENG CON DET
H. B. Smith, secretary and treasurer. These gentlemen are all well known citizens of Bay City, and the works are now doing a very extensive and successful business. The pipe which they manu- facture is being used in nearly every state, and the past year they have been crowded to their utmost capacity to fill orders. They manufacture water pipe, steam pipe casing and gas pipe, also chain pumps and tubing. Their works cover about ten acres, and give em- ployment to an average of fifty men. In the Spring of 1882 the pres- ent salt block was built. The well was sunk by the old Atlantic Salt Company, and was one of the first salt wells sunk here. This institu- tion is now one of the important contributors to the prosperity and wealth of Bay City.
M. F. WILcox, superintendent of the works, came to Bay City with the original company in 1871, and has held the position of superintendent ever since. He is a native of Ohio, and has been engaged at some kind of mill work for the most part of his life. He was with the company at Three Oaks, Mich. He is a very compe- tent. man, and when the present company was organized the managers very gladly retained him in the place he had filled so many years.
A. A. ARCHER, engineer at the Michigan Pipe Works, came to Bay City with the Northwestern Gas and Water Pipe Company, having been in their employ at Three Oaks. He is a native of Oneida Co., N. Y. When thirteen years of age he shipped aboard a whaling ship, and for nine years followed sailing, visiting nearly every part of the world. In 1859 he returned to his native land, and in 1862 went into the service, where he remained two years, as Captain of Company C, One Hundred and Eleventh Ohio Volunteers. In 1871 he settled in Bay City, and has held his present position since the works first started. He has a wife and three children.
THE BRADDOCKS.
The name of Braddock is prominently associated with the early business history of Portsmouth, and in a sketch of their oper- ations are contained many items of interest.
H. D. BRADDOCK, and his son, H. A. Braddock, came to what is now Bay City in the Spring of 1855, from Essex, Conn., and organized the firm of H. D. Braddock & Co. Mr. H. D. Brad- dock, as the principal member of this firm, at once began the manu- facture, and engaged in a general lumber and timber business. In 1857 he built the three-masted schooner "Essex," the first vessel of any size built in Bay County, and the following year he built the brig "Bay City." The firm also carried on a general store in con- nection with their lumbering business. They were located at Ports- mouth, and Mr. Braddock was instrumental in securing a re-estab- lishment of the Portsmouth postoffice, which had been discontinued some years before, and was appointed postmaster. He was one of the organizers of the Portsmouth Salt Company, the first one organized in Bay County. In 1860 he, with his sons H. A. and L. W. Braddock, organized the firm of H. A. Braddock & Co., for the purpose of carrying on a general lumbering business. In 1863- '64 they built the mill known afterwards as the Watrous Bros. Mill, on the Middle Ground, it being the first mill built there. About 1868 they went out of the lumber business, and Mr. H. D. Brad- dock returned to Connecticut, where he is still living. After the dissolution of the firm his sons, H. A. and L. W. Braddock, re- mained here, and have been engaged in various pursuits. H. A. Braddock was twice elected supervisor of Portsmouth before its an- nexation to Bay City, and was trustee and afterwards president of Portsmouth Village. In 1868 he was elected county clerk, and was continued in that office eight years, when he declined to again accept the office. He is still a resident of Bay City, and for the last three years has been with the lumber firm of Gates & Fay. L. W. Braddock is engaged in lumber inspecting, and is in that business at the present time. Jesse N. Braddock, a brother of H. D. Braddock, came here, accompanied by his son, C. S. Braddock, in 1855, and was engaged with the firm of H. D. Braddock & Co. He was also interested in the Portsmouth Salt Company, and was its superin- tendent for several years. He died in 1864. His son, C. S. Brad- dock, was afterwards engaged in the planing mill business. He held the office of treasurer of Bay City two years, and afterwards removed to Connecticut, where he still lives. A. C. Braddock, another brother, came here in 1861, and began the erection of salt works, known as the New York Salt Works, of which com-
pany he was a member and general manager. He con- tinued the manufacture of salt about twelve years, and then, with his two sons, went into the planing mill business, under the firm name of A. C. Braddock & Sons. Afterwards they converted their works into an oar factory, which they operated about three years. A. C. Braddock is still a resident of Bay City, and a mem- ber of the Board of Public Works.
CAPT. J. P. PHILIPS was born in Herkimer County, in the state of New York, September 6, 1808. He remained there until he was twenty years of age, with his parents, farmers, when he began to look out for himself. He was in Sullivan County about three years, and about 1832 went West, to Ohio, and soon after went to Akron, Ohio, and remained there until the Fall of 1836, when he came to Michigan and settled in what' was then called Newport, now Marine City, St. Clair County, where he was engaged in a general goods and supply trade. In 1844 and 1845 he built the side-wheel steamboat "Oregon," for the Buffalo and Chicago trade, and com- menced business with her, starting on his first trip about the latter part of July, 1845. In the "Oregon," Capt. Philips had the first compound engine on the lakes, which, as well as the boat, proved
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HISTORY OF BAY COUNTY.
a success He used the "Oregon" that season and three years longer in the Buffalo and Chicago trade, and then sold her to Capt. Chapman. In the meanwhile, he had built the steamboat "Amer- ica" at Port Huron, in the years 1847-'48, to be run in the Buffalo and Chicago trade for a short time in 1848. He then arranged to run between Buffalo and Sandusky, in the Buffalo and Cincinnati railroad line. The "America" was run in that connection the sea- son of 1849 and a part of 1850, when he bought the unfinished hull of the steamboat "Buckeye State," from Capts. Howe and Jones, had her completed, and placed in her a second compound, low pressure engine, at large expense, which also proved a success. The "Buckeye State" was run between Buffalo and Cleveland, in the Cleveland, Columbus & Cincinnati Railroad Line, and afterwards in the Michigan Central Railroad Line in connection with the Ply- mouth Rock and Western World, but soon the passenger business, for which all those boats were adapted, was largely monopolized by railroads, and all those large and expensive boats were compara- tively worthless.
In 1853, Capt. Philips turned his attention in a limited way, on account of means, to pine lands and lumbering, mostly in Bay County and on the tributaries of the Saginaw River, in which business, and some other enterprises in Bay City and County, he has been engaged to the present. His business headquarters are at Bay City, while his family and residence remained at Detroit until quite lately, where he still owns a fine and valuable residence property, on Fort Street West, corner of Sixth. The life and business career of Capt. Philips furnishes a model for young men to imitate, no matter what their pursuit. He has been all his life a man of great industry and courage. His philosophy is, and always has been, that any legitimate business, properly managed, would pay, and he has achieved success where most other men would have failed. Although now upwards of seventy years of age, he spends no time in idleness, but still adheres to his notions of industry as a matter of principle. His habits of life have been exemplary in a high degree, never allowing himself to acquire habits that were harmful or wasteful, and as a consequence, he still possesses a rugged constitution. Few men have a more eventful business career to look back upon than Capt. Philips, and all along are the evidences of an ingenious mind, indomitable will, and wise philosophy.
MITCHELL & BOUTELL.
The firm of Mitchell & Boutell began business in the year 1867, when Smith & Westover and D. H. Van Valkenburg were their company. The following year they purchased the tug "Annie Moiles," and two years later, in 1878, their company retired. In December, 1871, the tug "Union," a very fine craft, belonging to them, was destroyed by fire. During the next two years they pur- chased the tug "Laketon," and in 1875 the propeller "Music." In 1876-'77 they built the side-wheel steamers "Luther Westover" and "Sea Gull," and purchased the barges "Seminole" and "Sylvia Morton." The largely increasing business of the firm in later years necessitated the purchase of the steamer "Emerald," barges "Roscius" and "Favorite," and schooners "Emma A. Mayes" and "Nelson." In 1882, the tug "Cora B." came into their possession. The principal business of the firm is the towing and delivering of logs to Saginaw River and ports along the Huron Shore, which they carry on very extensively.
DANIEL BOUTELL was born in New Hampshire in 1800. When a small boy he moved to Syracuse, where he lived for some years. While there he married Betsey Adams, of that place. He was one of the first settlers of Deerfield Township, Livingston Co., Mich., where he cleared a large farm. In 1858 he moved to Birch Run, and kept the hotel called the Half-Way House, between Flint and
Saginaw. In the Winter of 1859 he moved to Bay City and bought the old Sherman House, which he rebuilt in 1862, naming it the Boutell House. It was burned in June, 1865. Shortly afterwards he contracted a severe cold, which was followed by dropsy, from which he died in the Spring of 1866. Mrs. Boutell died in November, 1880.
W. A. BEEBE was born in Norfolk County, Canada, September 26, 1847. When fourteen years old he learned the stove-plate moulding trade, but only followed it two years. In 1863 he moved to Pontiac, Mich., where he remained a short time. From there he went to Big Rapids and engaged in lumbering. In May, 1864, he came to Bay City, where he followed sailing and saw milling until 1870. That year he took an extensive trip to Texas and Florida. On his return he stopped in Illinois and had charge of a saw mill at Horse Shoe Landing, on the Mississippi River for F. A. Vallette, of St. Louis, with whom he remained about two years. He was married on December 26, 1871, to Mollie Holmes, of St. Louis, Mo. In 1872 he paid a visit to his old home in Canada. In the Fall he went to New Orleans for the purpose of engaging in some business, but not being successful he returned to Canada. In the Spring of 1873 he again settled in Bay City, working in the mills during the Summers until 1878. In 1875 he had started a fish business which he carried on during the Winter, and in 1879, in company with J. J. Forcia, he purchased the dredge "East Sag- inaw No. 1." On March 21, 1880, they purchased the Plumb Island Fishery from John Coryeon. Since that time they have built for themselves an extensive trade, both in the fish and dredg- ing business. They have four large boats and employ nine men on the dredge and about twenty on the fishery. A view of their busi- ness, showing their boats and fishery, will be found in this work. Mr. Beebe was elected alderman in 1881 and re-elected in 1883. He is a Knight Templar, Bay City Commandery, No. 26, also Kanonda Encampment of Odd Fellows. Mrs. Beebe died in 1882, leaving four children, two of whom are boys.
CAPT. WILLIAM H. BARSE was born in the town of Mayfield, Montgomery Co., N. Y., May 19, 1814. He came to Detroit, Oc- tober 13, 1832, and found it the muddiest place in existence, and having about 3,400 inhabitants. Capt. Barse engaged in sailing from 1833 to 1852, and in 1836, in the latter part of November, entered the mouth of Saginaw River, and came to anchor. The next morning ice had formed around the vessel, so he remained on board about one week, until the ice was strong enough to walk on with safety, when he left the vessel one morning for Saginaw City, where the cargo was consigned to Harvey Williams. Capt. Barse says :- "In passing from the vessel up the river, we found, where the Third Street bridge is now located, Indian Farmer Trombley and Indian Blacksmith Cushaway, and at Portsmouth, or what is now called South Bay City, one or two small frame dwellings, and at Crow Island we found another dwelling, where we took our supper of bread and milk, for which I paid forty-four cents for three sup- pers, that being the last cent I had or I would have given the poor woman more. We arrived at Saginaw City at 9 o'clock P. M., where I drew what money I thought would pay my expenses to Detroit, and the following morning started on foot for that city. We stopped at the Cass the first night, and at Flint the next, with a Mr. Beach, who offered to take us to Pontiac for $5. I found that by going without our supper the next night we could indulge in a ride, and so engaged him. We arrived at Pontiac the third day about dark, and as we had a good rest, I told the men we would walk on to Birmingham that night. We arrived there about 9 o'clock P. M., and went to bed without our suppers arose early next morning, and walked on about five miles, which gave us a good appetite for breakfast. About noon we took a cold lunch for din-
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HISTORY OF BAY COUNTY.
ner, again paying out 'the last cent.' We arrived in Detroit about 3 o'clock in the afternoon, foot sore and completely used up. I think the last mile I walked on my heels, my feet were blistered so badly."
Capt. Barse quit sailing in 1853, and was elected city marshal of Detroit that Spring, and at the expiration of his term of office, engaged in the insurance and collection business. In 1867 he came to Bay City, and engaged in the same business, adding vessel brokerage to it. In 1869 he took the agency of the Anchor Line, retaining that agency for ten years, when the line withdrew its agency from this city. He is now engaged in the grocery business at 163 Washington Street, between Sixth and Seventh Streets.
DR. CHARLES T. NEWKIRK, of Bay City, was born at St. Wil- liams, Canada, December 10, 1841. He early manifested a desire for study, but there being a large family to support and educate, his early opportunities were somewhat restricted. Acting upon the advice of a friend, he taught school when but fourteen years of age, and, with the money thus obtained, was enabled to finish his literary course at the high school in Hamilton, Canada. He afterwards studied medicine with Hon. John Rolph, and in the twenty-first year of his age, graduated from the University of Victoria College, at Toronto, of which his preceptor was Dean. He practiced his profession for a short time in Canada, when, with his family, he removed to South America. He spent nine months learning the Spanish language, and, immediately on passing his examination, was appointed by the governor director of the province. He was also made doctor to the Argentine Hospital, which position he re- signed in three months, to accept a similar one in the Brazilian army. He afterwards became first surgeon with the grade of cap- tain. This position he held for three years, when he returned to Canada. After a brief visit among his friends there he again went to South America, and at Assumption, in Paraguay, began the practice of medicine in connection with the drug business. He passed through several epidemics of small-pox, yellow fever, and cholera. Of the first mentioned, his brother, Dr. Daniel Newkirk, with whom he was associated in practice, died. This event, to- gether with the constantly failing health of his family, so disheart- ened him that he determined to return to Canada, and engage in quiet practice. With this intention he closed his business in As- sumption; but, on arriving in Buenos Ayres, where he had engaged passage, he learned that the yellow fever had broken out there in the most malignant form. Hundreds were dying daily, and those of the citizens who were able, fled the city. Only a small number of the resident physicians could be induced to remain. Dr. New- kirk, with a degree of heroism and self-denial characteristic of him- self, decided at once to remain. Having sent his family on to Can- ada, he again devoted himself to the work of saving life and alle- viating suffering. He was in constant communication with the authorities for the prevention of the spread of the disease; and, by his advice, many sanitary precautions were taken, which doubtless cut short one of the most frightful epidemics ever known. An idea may be formed of the danger which Dr. Newkirk was compelled to face from the fact that 26,000 persons died in twenty-five days of -this disease alone. He was engaged four months in Buenos Ayres during this plague, rarely working less than eighteen hours daily. His hotel was constantly besieged by hundreds of persons who were anxious to secure his services, some offering the most extravagant fees, but he insisted upon taking them in rotation, the poor receiving the same attention as the rich. His heroic conduct during this time was liighly applauded by the press of Buenos Ayres, and the Commission of Montserrat presented him with a splendid album in testimony of his services to the sick. The ovation paid him upon his departure was a most distinguished compliment. On his way
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