USA > Michigan > Bay County > History of Bay County, Michigan, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 40
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JOHN KILDUFF was born in the County of Sligo, Ireland, June 24, 1812. In 1837 he came to America and settled in the state of Maine. He afterwards lived one year in Boston, five years in Lock- port, N. Y., in Pennsylvania two years, then returned to Lockport two years, and then in Saint Catharines, Canada, where he was en-
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gaged in the construction of stone roads. He came to Bay City in 1862, and has been street commissioner thirteen years. Mr. Kilduff is now seventy-one years of age, and is still in his vigor.
E. E. BURROUGHS was born in Livingston Co., N. Y., where he was engaged in farming. In May, 1883, he came to Bay City and purchased the livery stable of W. H. Peck, situated at the corner Saginaw and Fifth Streets. The stable is fitted with all the modern improvements, and stocked with from twelve to fifteen fine horses. The stable is one of the best in the city, recently built, and has a very fine office attached for the accommodation of his patrons.
GERMOND F. BENNETT has been for upwards of ten years past one of the most active men connected with the lumbering interests of Bay County. He was born February 25, 1842, at Dryden, Tomp- kins Co., N. Y., and came to Bay City, Mich .; in the Spring of 1872. Since that time he has been in the employ of McGraw & Co. as general foreman, and still retains that position. Mr. Bennett is emphatically a representative lumberman. The responsible position which he holds with one of the most extensive lumbering firms in the valley, requires large experience and good executive ability; all of which Mr. Bennett possesses.
FRANK LAFEVRE was born near Montreal, Canada, July 18, 1831. He remained there until he was thirty-two years old. In 1863 he went to Titusville, Pa., and engaged in the oil business. Was there until 1865, when he came to Bay City, and was employed by Sage & McGraw as engineer, in the mill now owned by H. W. Sage & Co., West Bay City. Heremained with them six years. He then engaged in the hotel business at the Saginaw House, on Saginaw Street, between First and Second. There he remained four years and then rented the Portland House on the corner of First and Washington Streets, where he remained seven years, doing a large business. In 1881 he built a large three-story brick hotel on Washington Street near the D. & B. C. R. R. depot. It is a good house in every respect, hav- ing all the modern improvements. Mr. L. is a good landlord and well known. He is an enterprising man, and has materially helped to build up the city. He was married January 6, 1863, to Miss Josephine Bartlett, of Canada, and has four children.
EPHRAIM RIKER was born in the state of New Jersey, Essex County, April 2, 1815. At an early age he went to New York City, and obtained a situation in a grocery store. At sixteen years of age he commenced learning the trade of a mason, and worked at that business until 1849. Went then in the oyster trade. In 1850 he removed to Sandusky, Ohio, and commenced business as a grocer. In 1859 he removed to Toledo, and engaged in the same pursuit. In 1865 he came to the Saginaw Valley, and located at Saginaw. Here he also carried on the grocery and fish business. He then moved his stock of goods to Au Sable, remained there one year, then came to Bay City, where he sold out his grocery stock, and continued in the fish business. Mr. Riker has accumulated considerable wealth since his advent into Michigan. He was the original owner of Point Lookout, a noted Summer resort, and has considerable property at present. In 1834 he was married to Sally Ann Miller, of New York, who died in 1864, leaving seven children. Mr. Riker resides in South Bay City.
DANIEL R. CURREY was born in New Brunswick, December 25, 1838, and at the age of eighteen months removed with his parents to Youngstown, N. Y. He removed again with his parents to Paris, Canada, at the age of twelve, and at the age of eighteen began business for himself as news agent on the Great Western railroad, running from Niagara Falls to Detroit. He came to Michigan in 1859, and engaged in the harness business at Almont, in Lapeer Co. From there he went to Rochester, Oakland Co., where he re- mained three years, after which he came to Bay City, and started the first harness shop here. He did a very successful business for
two years, and after selling out to Thomas Luxton, removed to Pontiac, and engaged in the wholesale grocery and liquor trade. He continued there for a couple of years, and returned again to Bay City, and soon after entered upon the business of a journalist, which he continued for eight years. He then sold out, and for a couple of years was a commercial traveler, and is now a special traveling agent for the Connecticut Mutual Life Insurance Company for Michigan. He was married January 15, 1863, to Miss Mary E. Jones, of Rochester, Mich., and has two daughters, named May and Grace, the former being sixteen and the latter twelve. His resi- dence is 914 Sixth Street, Bay City, Mich.
CHARLES E. ROSENBURY was born in Petersburg, Rensselaer Co., N. Y., September 18, 1843. In 1855 he moved to Rhode Island. He then came West to Illinois; remained there until 1877, when he came to Bay City, and engaged in the furniture business, which he still continues. His store is situated on Third Street, between Saginaw and Washington Streets. He keeps a first-class stock always on hand, and does a thriving business.
BERNHARD TEPOORTEN is a native of Germany; born March 19, 1824. At an early age he came to America, and settled in Chicago, Ill., remaining there two years. He then moved to Wyandotte, Mich., remaining there eight years. He then moved to Lenawee Junction, about four miles from Adrian, and remained there until 1869, when he moved to Bay City, and erected a hotel on the corner of Washington and Eleventh Streets, and named it the Wyandotte House, which he still continues. Mr. Tepoorten has been very successful since coming to Bay City, and has accumu- lated considerable property. He was married in 1857, in Wayne County, Mich., and has eleven children.
HENRY N. WATROUS was born in Pennsylvania, July 3, 1837, remaining there twelve years. He moved with his parents to Broome County, N. Y., where he remained until 1862, when he came to South Bay City, then called Portsmouth, and engaged in the manufacture of shingles. In 1864 he moved to Oil City, Pa., and engaged in the oil trade. In 1868 he moved to Broome County, N. Y., purchased the old homestead, and engaged in farm- ing, remaining there until 1876, when he returned to South Bay City, and engaged in lumbering. In 1878 he purchased his brother's (James) interest in the mill, and in company with his brother, Orville A., continued the business until 1881. when the mill was destroyed by fire. He is at present engaged in dealing in pine lands and manufacturing shingles. He was married March 18, 1868, to Bettie Redfield, of Conklin, N. Y., and has three children. Residence 922 Harrison Street.
HAMILTON C. MYERS was born in Detroit, Mich., November 26, 1845, and remained there twelve years. Then, with his parents he moved to Port Huron; then to Lexington. In 1861 he moved to St. Clair; enlisted in the United States Navy, remaining there one year, when he received his discharge. He then enlisted in the Eleventh Michigan Cavalry; was Gen. Stoneman's dispatcher. The company consolidated at Pulaski, Tenn., and returned as the Eighth Michigan Company. During two years and three months' services Mr. Myers was in thirty-six engagements. He received his discharge at Jackson, Mich., returned home, and commenced the study of law. In 1867 he visited the Western States for the benefit of his health. He then returned home and engaged in the law business, but was obliged to retire on account of his health. After traveling through the Southern States, he returned home, and engaged in sailing for one year. In 1882 he sailed the "Messenger" from Cheboygan to Georgian Bay, and is at present engaged with Murphy & Dorr, as millwright. He was married February 2, 1870, to Maggie Wilder, of Cleveland, Ohio.
JOHN W. SHEARER was born in Albany, N. Y., August 19, 1833.
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In 1850 he moved to Detroit, and learned the carpenter and joiners' trade. At the expiration of his apprenticeship he accepted a position from his brother James as foreman. In 1856 he went South, and was engaged in different car-shops as master mechanic. In 1860 he returned to Detroit, and entered into a co-partnership with his brother James, remaining here until the war broke out. He enlisted as private in the Second Michigan Infantry, and was promoted to lieutenant; while at Yorktown was discharged, and re- turned to Detroit. In 1865 he came to Bay City, and took the contract of putting in the machinery in D. G. Arnold's sash and blind factory, after which he engaged with his brother James in the mill.
In 1878 he entered into a co-partnership with H. Watkins in the carpenter and joiners' business, which they still continue. He was married June 30, 1866, to Mary E. Larned, of Ohio, and has three children.
SAMUEL J. TRIPP was born in Essex, Conn., January 31, 1825. He learned the trade of a ship's carpenter, and in 1856 moved to South Bay City, where he commenced work at his trade. He built the schooner "Essex," and brig "Bay City." In 1860 he went South to Mobile, Ala., where he remained until the war broke out. He returned to Connecticut, and afterward came to East Saginaw, and engaged in shipbuilding. He built the barge "Newsboy," steamer "Reindeer," bark "Wenona," steamers "Evening Star" and "Hubbell," and a number of others. In 1873 he bought an interest in the old steamer "Western World," dry dock, and built the barge "E. J. Judd." Mr. Tripp is still in the ship-building busi- ness.
HUGH A. FRASER Was born in Glengarry County, Canada, Octo- ber 13, 1846, and remained there seventeen years. After his school- days he engaged in farming with his father. He then moved to Wisconsin, and remained there until 1869. He then moved to East Saginaw. In 1873 he came to Bay City, engaged as saw-filer for S. McLean & Son; remained there until 1875, when he engaged in the carriage business for himself, which he continued until 1877, when his shop was destroyed by fire. He then returned to S. Mc- Lean & Son; remained there until 1881, when he; moved to Wau- sau, Wis., and engaged with Clark, Johnson & Co. until 1882. He then returned to Bay City. He is at present manager of the Heal- ng Hand Medicine Company. He was married to Eva S. Kinney, of Bay County. Residence 1010 Broadway Street. Mrs. Fraser's father is one of the pioneers of Bay County, and is still living.
FRANK TAYLOR, one of the old residents of Bay City, is a native of England, and emigrated to this country when a young man. He was in Ohio several years, and about 1857 settled in Portsmouth. He worked at ship-building and in the woods for several years. He built a frame house, on the corner of what is now Harrison and McGraw Streets. That burned and he built a large brick hotel, still standing. In 1882 he built the frame building in which he is now keeping hotel. He has a wife and five children.
HELON M. STARK was born in Orleans Co., N. Y. When a small boy, removed to Niagara County with his parents, and remained on the farm, near Lockport, until fourteen years of age. At that time they removed to Erie County, near Buffalo, and remained there until he was nineteen. They then returned to Lockport, or vicinity, where he lived until twenty-two years old, on a farm. He came to Michigan in 1840, and settled in Ionia Co., Mich. He remained there and in Clinton County until 1861, when he removed to Bay County, on a farm, where Messrs. L. L. Hotchkiss & Co's mill and salt works now stand. He remained there about fourteen years, and removed to Bay City, where he has remained ever since. His present residence is 1,009 Grant Street. He was married to Rebekah Kilbourn, of Sackett's Harbor, N. Y., on February 2, 1841. They
have now six sons and two daughters living. Mr. Stark was born in 1817, and is at present sixty-six years old. His father is still living, and is ninety years old, and lives at Saginaw City. H. F Stark, son of the above, is engaged in the tobacco and confectionery business on Water Street, opposite the Campbell House.
PASCAL B. CHARBONEAU was born in Sanilac Co., Mich., October 8, 1849, and remained there until he was twenty-one years old. During that time he attended school and worked in the saw mills. In 1870 he went to Alpena and was there three years. While there he designed an oscillating top and bottom gate for gang saws, which has proved a success, and is in use. In 1877 he came to Bay City and engaged as saw filer for H. W. Sage & Co .; was there one sea- son. He then worked for J. M. Rouse three years as saw filer; was two seasons with William Peter, as saw filer. While there, in 1881, he invented the combination circular and gang saw swage, and built a full sized model. He built the patterns in the Winter of 1882. He is at present engaged in manufacturing his combined swage machine at the Standard Machine Company's works, on the corner of Water and Twenty-sixth Streets.
G. K. JACKSON was born in Algonac, Mich., in 1840. In 1858 he commenced the lumber business with Ripley & Butterfield, where he rose to the position of general manager. He came to Bay City in 1863 and engaged in the same business. In 1881 Mr. Jackson shipped 60,000,000 feet of lumber, and in 1882 he shipped 45,000,- 000 feet, which is about the minimum and maximum of his annual operations. His business office is in the Averell Block, Center Street, and his residence No. 1103 Center Street.
DR. C. W. MAXON was born in Lima, Livingston Co., N. Y., in 1843. With little change in his life, he graduated and began the practice of dentistry. In 1861 he enlisted in the Thirty-third New York Infantry Volunteers. In 1862 he was discharged, but again en- listed in the Twenty-sixth New York Independent Battery Volunteers, where he served three years. In 1865 he received his discharge and returned to his dental practice in Wyoming County. He came to Bay City in 1866 and established the practice of his profession. Dr. Maxon is a prominent member of several orders, both professional and civil, in the city, and has an extensive practice. Dental rooms Nos. 10 and 12 Opera House Block.
ALEXANDER MCGILLIS was born in Canada, October 15, 1852, and remained there up to 1868. During that time he attended school and worked on the farm. He then came to Bay City and engaged with S. H. Webster to work in his saw mill; was there one and a half seasons. He then worked for Chapin & Barber two years in their salt block. He then worked two years again for S. H. Webster; then for the Keystone Company, of West Bay City, up to 1877. In 1879 he engaged with Folsom & Arnold to take charge of their salt blocks and the manufacture of their salt, which position he still holds. He has been very successful in all his undertakings. He was married November 25, 1873, to Miss Ellen Sullivan, of Bay City, and has two children.
JOHN J. MASON, JR., was born in Zilwaukee, Saginaw Co., Mich., September 17, 1856. At the age of one year, with his par- ents, moved to East Saginaw; was there until he was twenty years old. During that time he attended school and worked with his father at the salt well business, sinking and repairing salt wells. In 1876 he entered into co-partnership with his brother Zach, under the firm name of Mason Bros., contractors in sinking and repairing salt wells. The firm is doing a large business in their line, and have been successful. J. J. Mason has finished a beautiful residence on the corner of Fourth and Lincoln Streets. He was married Decem - ber 12, 1878, to Miss Ella Dickie, of Bay City, and has one child.
ANTHONY LAFLEUR was born in Canada, October 13, 1842. Re- mained there until he was twenty years old, when he went to Cali-
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fornia and remained there eight years and nine months, working in the mines. He visited British Columbia, and while there worked a year in the mines and the rest of the time was in the milk business. He then returned to Canada and in 1872 came to Bay City and bought the Union City House on Water Street, between Nineteenth and Twentieth Streets, where he has been doing business until the present time with good success. Has a large business, is a good landlord, and has many friends. He was married November 11, 1874, to Miss Obeline LaLoude, of Canada, and has two children.
EDWARD M. WRATTEN was born in Utica, N. Y., March 29, 1843. He graduated from high school in 1861, and was married to Jennie White, May 19, 1868. He removed to Bay City, Mich., June 1871, and entered the F. & P. M. R. R. Co's freght de- partment at Bay City as elerk, but was soon afterward promoted to cashier. He held this position until September, 1882, then accepted the position of freight agent of the same company at Bay City, which position he still holds.
E. J. HOOPER, son of the late Dr. Joseph Hooper, was born in London, England, February 19, 1854. At the age of five years, with his parents, he moved to New Market, Canada; was there up to 1861. He then moved to Cleveland, O., and was there five years. While there he attended school. They then moved to Corunna, Mich., and were there up to 1867. He then moved to Bay City, where he engaged with Frank Crandall, and was two years in his store. He was five years with Parker & Lloyd in their furniture store, and four years with Clark and Cobb. In 1882 he opened a furniture store for himself on Harrison Street, in the Kennedy Block, South Bay City, where he is having a good trade. His father, Joseph Hooper, was a minister of the gospel, and died very sudden- ly. He preached one Sabbath morning and attended Sabbath-school, and died that night and entered into his rest.
EDWARD L. MARTIN was born in York County, Pa .; May 11, 1846, and remained there up to 1866. During that time he at- tended school and worked on his father's farm. He then went to Greenville, Ohio; then purchased a farm and farmed three years in Darke County, Ohio. In 1869 he moved to Saginaw City and was there one year, working in Brayman's salt block. In 1870 he moved to West Bay City and worked for H. W. Sage & Co. three years in their salt works. In 1873 he moved to South Bay City and engaged with John McGraw & Co., and has worked there ever since. Is still engaged with the present firm, Birdsall & Barker. He has been successful since coming to Bay City-owns 165 acres in Bay County, and has a good fishery near the Oak Grove on the Bay Shore. He owns two dwellings in the city. He was married May 14, 1878, to Miss Anna Stephan, of Clifton, Canada, and has two children. Residence, 1519 Polk Street, South Bay City.
HARVEY P. WATKINS was born in Lima, N. Y., December 28, 1842. In 1843 he moved with his parents to Grand Blanc, Mich .; remained there six years and moved to Flint, Genesee Co .; re- mained there until 1862, during which time he learned the carpen- ter and joiners' trade. He came to Bay City and entered into a co-partnership with his brother, George Watkins. In 1871 he opened a livery stable on Saginaw Street, where he remained for five years, then selling out he went West, where he remained for a time, visiting California, Oregon, and other states. In 1876 he re- turned to Bay City, and took a contract to build three miles of rail- road from Tawas to the rivers. After finishing his contract he re- turned to Bay City and entered into a co-partnership with J. W. Shearer. The firm still continue the business. They have a large factory on Eleventh Street, and employ a number of men.
CHARLES C. HEUMANN, son of the late Leonard Heumann, was born in Bay City, September 16, 1856. After receiving a business
education he was employed by C. R. Hawley & Co., dry goods mer- chants, as errand boy. After three years in their employ he as- sumed a more responsible position with Walther Bros., boot and shoe merchants, and in 1876 purchased an interest in the business. After three years of business, he sold out and returned to C. R. Hawley & Co. as salesman, and in 1883 purchased a stoek of groceries and the business of F. Heinze, corner of Eighth and Grant Streets. He was married in 1880 to Louisa E. Klump, of Canada. Mr. Heumann's father was the first chief of police in Bay City, and held the office four years. He was shipwrecked and lost while on his way to the old country.
BENNO A. KATTHAIN Was born in Schlessin, Prussia, March 27, 1834. In 1860 he moved to Saginaw City and engaged in the band. 1861 he entered the Fourteenth Michigan Infantry as musician. After serving three years and six months, was honorably discharged, and enlisted in 1865 in Hancock Veteran Corps; served one year, received his discharge at Washington and returned to Saginaw City. In 1868 he came to Bay City and engaged in the musie business, which he still continues at his residence, corner Sixth and Jeffer- son Streets. Mr. Katthain received 160 aeres of land, near the St. Louis Railroad, for his services during the war. He was also a member of the Knight Templar Band.
DR. HENRY B. LANDON was born in Monroe County, Mich. March 31, 1840. In 1857 he entered the University of Michigan and graduated in 1861. He then enlisted in the Seventh Michigan Infantry, and was appointed adjutant; was wounded in the battle of Fair Oaks in 1862, and returned home. In 1863 he again returned to the army as assistant surgeon; resigned in 1864 and returned home. In 1861, Dr. Landon received the degrees of Bachelor of Arts. In 1865 he received degree of Doctor of Med- icine and Master of Arts. In 1865 he came to Bay City and com- menced the practice of medicine, and was appointed division sur- geon of the Michigan Central Railroad. His office and residence are at 707 North Monroe.
ANDREW VANDEN BROOKS was born in Holland, September 18, 1829, remaining there until he was twenty-four years old, part of the time engaged in the lime and mason business. In 1854 he came to America, and settled in Detroit. In 1855 he came to Bay City and built the first lime kiln in the city, on Water Street, be- tween Tenth and Eleventh Streets. In 1863 he transferred his business to Twenty-third Street, which he still continues. Mr. Vanden Brooks is part owner of the Bank Block, on Center Street, and owns a beautiful dwelling on the corner of Twenty-third and Wilson Streets, where he resides. He was married July 4, 1869, to Nettie Vanhemel, of Bay City, and has four children.
HUBBARD H. CHURCH was born in Richford, Vt., April 4, 1831, and remained with his parents until 1853, when he moved to Burlington and learned the ship-carpenter's trade. In 1856 he moved to Michigan City, Ind .; in 1858 to Cleveland, remaining there until 1871, when he came to Bay City and engaged in ship building. He built the Bay City Dry Dock in 1876, which he oper- ated a short time, and sold out to Judge Campbell. He is at pres- ent engaged in rebuilding the tug "Witch of the West" for Capt. William Gordon.
WALTER P. MOORE was born on Prince Edward Island, Sep- tember 7, 1858. He remained in the place of his birth fourteen years, when he came direct to Bay City, then just acquiring con- siderable reputation as a lumbering center. After receiving a fair education he learned the carpenter trade with his father. He afterward worked for some time with Gregory & Holland, carpen- ters, after which he went into business for himself as contractor and builder, in which he has made a success. Mr. Moore resides
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on Fitzhugh Street at 816, and does business at 615 North Adams Street.
SIMON P. PLUMSTEEL was born in Williamsburg, Canada, April 25, 1822, remaining there twenty years, during which time he learned the boot and shoe trade. He moved to Port Dalhousie and en- gaged in the boot and shoe busines. He moved to Glencoe Station, on the Great Western Railroad, remaining a short time. In 1860 he moved to Detroit, and opened a boot and shoe store which he run for one year and was burned out. He afterwards moved to Pontiac, then to Clarkston, in both of which places he wasin the boot and shoe business. While at Clarkston, his place was twice robbed, Mr. Plumsteel losing $615. Next he visited the oil country of Pennsylvania, then Williamstown, Mich. In 1870 he came to Bay City and engaged in the boot and shoe business, which he still con- tinues. He was married in 1844 to Rachael J. McCracken, of Canada.
WILLIAM E. TEALL was born in Mount Morris, Livingston Co., N. Y., June 19, 1848. In 1868 he learned the tailor business at Warsaw, N. Y. In 1871 he came to Bay City and engaged in the merchant tailor business, which he still continues. Mr. Teall has been very successful since coming to Bay City, and las ac- cumulated considerable wealth. He has three fine cottages in the city; also a fine residence on the corner of Fourth and Hampton Streets, where he lives. He has a wife and four children.
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