USA > Michigan > Bay County > History of Bay County, Michigan, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 42
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GEORGE FORD was born in Berwickshire, Scotland, August 27, 1833. He came to New York City in 1853; he was in Lockport, N. Y., for some time, then went to Canada and was for five years in the manufacture of machinery. He then returned to Lockport and in 1857 went to Chicago. In 1862 he moved to Detroit and was for nine years engaged in the manufacture of machinery. He then came to Bay City in 1871 and established a novelty works in company with P. L. Rogers & D. W. Case; the works were burned down in 1876. Soon after, he built his present shop on Water Street, foot of Second Street, where he is doing a general manu- facturing of boilers and jobbing business, employing twenty men when running full-handed. He was married March 27, 1862, to Miss Isabella Orr, of Chatham, Ontario, who died April 25, 1883, leaving five children.
ANDREW CUNNING, a native of Glasgow, Scotland, was born in 1842. He spent several years in the cattle business there. In 1868 he came to Grand Rapids, Mich., where he took a contract with the G. R. & I. R. R. to build five miles of their road. In 1871 he came to Bay City, where he was engaged by Capt. Averell for one year. He then took Stephen A. Beers as partner in the manufacture of lime. He afterwards bought out Mr. Beers's share and took W. H. Burton, which partnership continued three years. Since that time he and his son have carried on the business under the firm of Andrew Cunning & Co. They manufacture quick lime, and deal in building stone, calcined plaster, water lime, plastering hair, and hard coal. Their office is on North Water Street, near the railroad bridge. They have also a dock at Twenty-fourth Street, where they intend building a kiln. Mr. Cunning was mar- ried to Eliza Farns, also of Glasgow, and has two children, Alex- ander and Eliza.
O. A. MARSAC, a son of Joseph F. Marsac, one of the oldest pioneers of Bay County, was born in Bay City, April 2, 1852. After receiving a liberal education he entered the employ of Dela- van & McClennan as book-keeper. He has also held the office of supervisor for the Seventh Ward two years. Since the election of his brother as sheriff he has been associated with him as under- sheriff. A portrait of his father appears in this work.
NATHANIEL DUNHAM was born in Madison County, N. Y., June 21, 1830. He came to Tuscola County, Mich., where he was in the
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lumber business five years. In 1863 he came to Bay City, where he has followed the same business. In 1883 he operated lumber camps on the Upper Peninsula. He was married in 1856 to Mary J. Sayles, of Bridgeport, N. Y., and has two sons, who are asso- ciated in business with their father.
EDWARD B. NUGENT was born in Oakland County, Mich., April 2, 1842. In 1856 he came to Bay City and engaged in the lumber business for Moulthrop & Yawkey, remaining there until 1861, when he enlisted in the Third Michigan Cavalry and was promoted to major. He was wounded and returned home, where he remained a short time, and again joined his company and remained until 1866, when he received his discharge and returned to Bay City and engaged in buying and selling lumber. He still continues in that business. He was married in 1865 to Eliza C. Scott, of Memphis, Tenn., and has one child. Residence, 610 Jefferson Street.
CHARLES W. DEASE was born in Norfolk, Canada, in 1841. He came to Michigan in 1861 and settled in Port Huron. He enlisted in the Tenth Michigan Infantry, Company D, during the war and served one year. He was mustered out of service on ac- count of sunstroke which he received. He came to Bay City in 1862 and engaged in the lumber business. He is operating five camps and doing an extensive business. He was married in 1863 to Mary J. Scott, of Sanilac County, Mich., who has since died, leaving five children.
J. R. LEADBETTER was born in the state of Maine, March 22, 1846. At fifteen years of age he came to East Saginaw and en- tered the lumber traffic. In 1881 he came to Bay City, and in company with D. F. Rose, opened an office for the inspection and commission lumber business. The firm handle about 45,000,000 feet of lumber annually. Mr. Leadbetter was married to Miss E. O. Philips, of East Saginaw, in 1869, and has one son. His office is in the Watson Block, on Water Street.
THOMAS J. MCCLENNON was born in the state of New York, May 15, 1846. In 1865 he came to Bay City and engaged in the mill business. In 1877 he adopted the business of speculating in lumber and jobbing in lumber camps, at which he is still engaged. In the Winter of 1883 he operated camps on the Pine and Cedar Rivers, and will get out about 6,000,000 feet of logs. Mr. McClennon was married in 1871 to Mary L. Marsac, daughter of the late Capt. Marsac, of South Bay City, and sister to the present sheriff of Bay County.
WILLIAM GORDON was born in London, Canada, July 13, 1847. He came to Bay City in 1863 and worked with his father, contract- ing the loading of vessels. In 1876 he engaged in the tug and vessel business, which he still continues. He was married in 1872 to May J. Wilson, of Bay City.
EDWARD J. LYNN was born in Canada, November 2, 1836. He came to Michigan, and located at Port Huron in 1856. He afterwards moved to Au Sable, then to East Tawas, at both of which places he was engaged in the lumbering business. He came to Bay City in 1880, and in 1883 was dealing in pine lands. Mr. Lynn was married in 1859 to Julia Natty.
GRANNIS MOULTHROP was born in Connecticut in 1822. He came to Bay City at an early age, and in 1858 was married to Miss Mary E. Clay. He engaged in the lumber business with his brother, Clark Moulthrop, and built the old Moulthrop Mills in the First Ward, of West Bay City. Mr. Moulthrop died March 7, 1872, leaving many friends to mourn his loss. He was a kind and loving husband, and a very benevolent friend.to the poor.
W. H. LoUKS was born in Norfolk County, Ontario, in 1829. In 1863 he engaged in the lumber business. He came to Michigan in 1873, and commenced lumbering at Otsego Lake, where he is still located. He was married in 1851 to Agnes Grey, of New
York, and has five children. One of Mr. Louk's daughters is the wife of Dr. Gilbert, of Bay City. Mr. Louks has one of the finest stock farms in the country, situated at Lapeer, Mich.
WILLIAM H. NELLIS was born in Acton, Canada, December 2, 1837, where he was for some time in business as a tanner and currier. In 1867 he came to Bay City and engaged in the boot and shoe business, which he still continues. He has a branch business at Alpena. He was married in 1863 to Miss Whitney, of Canada, and has two children. His residence is on the corner of Third and Grant Streets.
COLUMBUS V. TYLER was born in Auburn, N. Y., in 1825. In 1836 he removed with his parents to Genesee Co., Mich. He received a common school education and in 1846 commenced the study of medicine under the instruction of Hon. N. B. Eldridge, of Dryden, Lapeer Co. In 1850 he located in Flushing, near Flint, where he practiced medicine nineteen years. He was deputy United States marshal in 1860, in taking the census of Genesee County, and was postmaster four years at Flushing. He has since devoted himself successfully to the practice of his profession. He has been a member of the Genesee County Medical Society, member of the Board of Censors, member of the State Medical So- ciety, member of the American Medical Association and president of the Bay County Medical Society, and member of the State Board of Health. In 1876 he was elected state senator, and re-elected in 1878.
FRED H. HOLLY was born at Seneca Falls, N. Y., June 28, 1850. Twelve years afterwards he removed with his parents to Lockport, in the same state; remained here four years. He learned the trade of machinist with Downs & Co. He afterward returned to Seneca Falls and worked for some time with Downs & Co., after which he came to Michigan. In the Wolverine State he became a full fledged farmer, but did not remain long. He afterwards re- moved successively to La Crosse, Wis., Burlington, Ia., and Sagi- naw City. In Burlington, where he remained four years, he was en- gineer of the fire department for three years, and at Saginaw City. he was engaged in putting in the water works machinery. In 1872 he came to Bay City, and in company with A. B. Verity, made the trial test of the Holly water works here. He has since been em- ployed as second engineer in the water works building. Mr. Holly is a nephew of Holly, the Eastern inventor, and senior partner in the Holly Manufacturing Company. He was married in 1871 to Stella Courtwright, of Owego, N. Y., who died in 1881. He afterwards married Miss H. M. Carpenter, of Woodland, Mich. He has four children. Residence, opposite the water works building.
DUANE L. ZACK was born in Medina, N. Y., December 4, 1848. In 1850, with his parents, moved to Genesee County, N. Y .; re- mained there until he was twelve years old. He then moved to Me- dina, N. Y., remained there five years, during which time his father died. He then, with his mother, moved to Flint. In 1868 he pur- chased a farm in Genesee County; remained there until he came to Bay City. He was two years engaged at John McGraw's planing mill, and is at present engaged as foreman for F. E. Bradley & Co. He was married to Ella S. Kimball, of Genesee County.
CAPT. JERRY F. GREEN was born in Olean Co., Pa., August 30, 1822. He afterwards lived in Fairport, O., and Cleveland, O. Com- menced sailing at the age of ten years on the schooner "Essex," un- der his brother's command. In 1839 he sailed up the Saginaw River, before Bay City was in existence. The old light house was built during the same year. He came to Bay City in 1868 and en- gaged in the tug and vessel business. He was married in 1844 to Emiline Singer, of Fairport, O., and has three children. In 1837, during the Canadian rebellion, the schooner "Harlem" drifted out into Lake Erie, opposite Fairport, O., and froze in the ice. A re-
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HISTORY OF BAY COUNTY.
ward being offered, Captain Green, accompanied by his brother, boarded the craft, lived there during the Winter and in the Spring returned her to the owners.
SIDNEY PHELPS is a native of New York; born in Camden, Oneida Co., in 1858. He resided in that place until the Spring of 1880, when he came to West Bay City and assumed the position of book-keeper for Phelps & Co. He has since occupied similar posi- tions with Ryerse & McCabe, Bay City, also with a lumbering firm at Roscommon. On December 20, 1882, he returned to his former home, where he was married to Carrie W. Sutorius, of Utica, N. Y., returning to Bay City in the same month. Mr. Phelps resides on the corner of Seventh and Adams Streets.
WILLIAM P. CATLIN was born in New York State, March 8, 1852. At sixteen years of age he came to Bay City and commenced work for Catlin & Arnold, on the West Side. He remained there seven years, and afterwards learned the trade of a machinist with Smalley Bros., and still remains in their employ. He was married in 1877 to Nettie Watt, of Saginaw City, and has one daughter. His residence is on the corner of Ninth and Adams Streets.
SAMUEL D. LYNES was born in the state of Ohio, in 1835, and came to Bay City in 1851. Shortly afterwards he returned to Ohio where he remained until 1868, when he again came to Bay City and engaged in the lumber business. Mr. Lynes is an extensive con- tractor. He has operated this season a large camp in Gladwin County, where he will put in about 8,000,000 feet of pine. He was married in 1869 to Miss Caroline Milligan, of Bay City, and resides at No. 1822 Woodside Avenue.
S. A. VAN DUSEN was born in Berkshire Co., Mass., October 29, 1838. After receiving his education in York State, he came to East Saginaw in 1861, and engaged in the hotel business. He came to Bay City in 1868, and became proprietor of Bay City's first-class hotel, the Fraser House. With an interval of six years he continued to run the house until in 1882, when he retired from the hotel busi- ness. He was married in 1870 to Nancy Mead, of New York, and has two children. His residence is corner of Center and Grant Streets.
THOMAS M. TIBBALS was born in Oakland Co., Mich., August 2, 1829; remaining there until 1868, engaged in different occupations. He then came to Bay City and engaged in the painting and paper- hanging business, which he still continues. He was married to Caroline M. Chapman, of Oakland Co., Mich., and has one child. Residence, corner Eleventh and Farragut Streets.
FRANCIS G. OATMAN was born in Tompkins Co., N. Y., Septem- ber 30, 1846. At ten years of age he accompanied his parents to Medina Co., O. In 1862 he came to Bay City on the old steamer "Huron." He has since been in the carpenter and joiner business and has accumulated considerable property. He was married in 1874 to Artelle E. Rogers, of Utica, N. Y.
DAVID J. WEST is a native of Scotland. He was born November 25, 1832, and came with his parents to Quebec, Canada, where he remained one year; then removing to Petersburg, also in the Do. minion. He came to Bay City in 1864, and engaged in the mill- wright business. He was with James Shearer & Co. four years. Was also superintendent of the Huron Works for four years. These works (the property of H. Clarke & Co.,) were burned down and Mr. West is at present employed at Davidson's ship yard, West Bay City.
EGBERT G. SOVEREIGN was born in Simcoe, Ontario, May 24, 1841. In 1867 he came to Bay City and engaged in the lumber business, which he has carried on successfully ever since. He is lumbering this Winter on the Au Gres River. He is married and re- sides on Fifth Street, between Van Buren and Grant Streets.
CAPT. RILEY M. BURRINGTON was born in Steuben Co., N. Y., December 22, 1835. Came to Macomb, Mich., in 1837. Remained
in that part of the state until 1852, when he came to Bay City. Captain Burrington has sailed on the great lakes for the past nineteen years, a portion of which time he has been captain of the steamer "Union." He was married April 8, 1855, to Miss Rogers, of Bay City, and has three children. His residence is at 1610 Sheridan Street.
LEMON L. CULVER was born in Simcoe, Norfolk Co., Ontario, November 11, 1831, remaining there until 1857, during which time he was engaged in different kinds of business. He then went to Buffalo and engaged in the lumber business. In 1866 he came to Bay City, and engaged in the lumber business, which he still con- tinues.
CAPT. JOHN WOOLSON was born in Orange County, Vt., in April, 1826. In 1834 he moved with his parents to Lake County, Ohio. He was in the vessel trade until 1862, when he came to Bay City, and engaged in the same business, which he still continues. He has also carried on the grocery business. Was married in 1853, and has two children. His residence is on Fourteenth and Bowery Streets.
ARTHUR S. PIERSON was born in East Avon, Livingston Co., N. Y., May 17, 1835. He came to Michigan at an early age, and settled in Flint, Genesee Co. In 1852 he went to California, and engaged in mining, and was afterwards in the livery business in that state. He came to Bay City in 1870, and engaged with Newton & Beach in the hardware business, the firm name being Newton, Pierson & Beach. Five years later he sold his interest to C. E. Jennison, and is at present in company with O. F. Forsyth, in the same business, on the corner of Fourth and Water Streets. The firm purchased the block formerly occupied by Bailey & Orton, and still occupy the same location.
EDWARD DECORTE was born in Belgium in 1840. At the age of twenty years he was drafted into the Belgium army, where he served five years with the First Lancers. After being discharged he came to America, and settled in Bay City in 1867. He has since been city contractor, builder of sidewalks, etc. He was married in 1872, to Mary Haggerty, of Bay City, and resides at No. 901 Campbell Street.
GEORGE KEPPEL was born in Rockville, Conn., May 18, 1844, remaining there thirty-three years; was engaged in the wool sorting and dye business. In 1861, while mixing colors, his hand was caught in the gearing, and amputated above the wrist. In 1876 he came to Bay City, and engaged in the manufacture of tinware, which he still continues. Mr. Keppel employs upwards of six men, and keeps five wagons on the road. He was married September 18, 1873, to Miss F. E. Perkins, of New York State, and has one child.
OLIVER TOUTY was born in Franklin County, N. Y., in 1828. In 1877 he came to Bay City, and engaged in the manufacture of potash, which he still continues. His factory is on Eleventh Street. Mr. Touty since coming to Bay City has been very suc- cessful, and has an extensive business.
WILLIAM M. BROCK was born in Ontario, June 22, 1850. At eighteen years of age he engaged in farming, and dabbled in the oil business at Petrolia, Ontario. In 1868 he came to Bay City, and engaged in boring salt wells. Mr. Brock is one of the most successful well borers in the valley. He was married in 1873, to Mary A. Cornell, of Bay City, and has two children.
ADAM HUFF was born in St. Catharines, Canada, March 5, 1824. Shortly afterward his people removed to Sanilac County, Mich. He came to Bay City in 1863, and engaged in the milk business, at which he still continues. Mr. Huff does an extensive business, and has a dairy farm near the city limits, with 100 cows. He was mar-
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HISTORY OF BAY COUNTY.
ried to Sarah Thompson, and has three children. His place of business is on Johnson and Twelfth Streets.
JAMES McKEEN was born in Chatham, Canada, October 9, 1844. He came to Bay City in 1865, and adopted the lumbering business. In 1883 was operating on the Rifle River, where he has charge of Folsom & Arnold's interests. Mr. McKeen was married October 8, 1872, to Helen Hoyt, of New York.
JOHN CORYELL was born in New Market, Canada, October 23, 1843. He came to Bay City in 1863, and engaged in the location and boring of salt wells. He has sunk seventy-five wells in the Saginaw Valley. He was married in June, 1864, to Lizzie Cornell, of Bay City, and has two children. He resides on the corner of McCormick and Twenty-third Streets.
JOHN R. WEBER was born in New York State, April 18, 1831. In 1838 he moved to Buffalo, N. Y., and remained there two years. In 1840 he moved to Evans Township, and remained until 1857, during which time he learned the carpenter and mill business. He then moved to Algonac, Mich., where he remained five years. In 1861 he came to Bay City, and engaged with Miller & Eddy in the manufacture of salt, and is at present engaged with Murphy & Dorr. His residence is 601 Fraser Street.
J J. LESER is' a native of Michigan. He was born in Washtenaw County in 1847, and came to Bay City in 1857. For four years he was with E. Eickemeyer, with whom he learned the carpenter trade. He afterward was employed in that capacity by A. Lamont, with whom he remained three years. In 1872 he com- menced business for himself as contractor and builder, since when he has constructed some of the finest residences in Bay City. Mr. Leser has a wife and four children.
CHARLES W. CATE was born in Monroe County, N. Y., Novem- ber 4, 1837. Twenty years later he went to Rochester, N. Y., and assumed the position of book-keeper for the Flower City Bank. In 1858 he engaged in the nursery business, which he carried on for six years. He then removed to Milford, Mich., and resumed the same business. In 1867 he came to Bay City, after selling out his Milford business, and engaged with Supe & Rhademaker as book- keeper. He was shortly afterward put on the Michigan Central Railroad as conductor, which position he still retains. In 1875 he was married to Mary J. Condon, of Bay City, and has a family of three children. His residence is No. 1018 Monroe Street.
NATHANIEL N. MURPHY was born in Dexter, Jefferson Co., N. Y., October 14, 1841. He enlisted in the Tenth New York Artillery, under Col. A. F. Piper, August 5, 1862. Was company clerk one year, and afterward private clerk for Gen. Hartsuff. He was ap- pointed first corporal in Company I, and was clerk for the provost marshal in Petersburg, Va., under Major Campbell. He was dis- charged in 1865, and returned to Dexter, N. Y. He was five years in the Ontario woolen mills manufacturing blankets. He then moved to Tolland County, Conn., where he superintended the Rus- ket Company's works for two years. He returned to New York, and shortly after came to Bay City in 1877. He was appointed on the police force, and in 1881 was appointed chief of the department. He still retains that office.
JOHN S. PETHERICK was born in England, June 11, 1837, and remained there until 1855, during which time he learned the boot and shoe trade. He came to Canada, and remained until 1865, when he came to Bay City, and engaged at his trade. In 1871 he opened a store, which he run until 1876, when he was elected con- stable of the Third Ward, which office he held for two years. In 1878 he was elected justice of the peace, which office he still retains. He was married December 31, 1862, to Alice E. Zeram, of Canada, and has six children.
CHARLES L. ADAMS was born in London, Ontario, April 16,
1847. In 1852 he came to Michigan, and settled in Detroit, where he remained for seven years. He then accompanied his parents to Fenton, Genesee Co., where he clerked in a hardware store. He went to East Tawas, later, and worked in a machine shop. In 1876 he came to Bay City, and was with Forsythe & Pierson for several years, as manager of their agricultural department. In 1880 he assumed the position of state agent of the Osborn mowers, reapers, and self-binders. Mr. Adams is one of the first men who set up a mower and reaper in Bay and Saginaw Counties. He was married in 1869 to Clara Smith, of Fenton, Mich.
JOSEPH GORDON was born in England in 1810. He went to' Canada in 1846, and in 1857 engaged in sailing. He has been captain of steamers and sailing vessels. He came to Bay City in 1863, and has since been engaged in vessel transportation. He is connected with W. R. Burt, of East Saginaw. His office is in the Watson Block, on Water Street. His residence is on corner Fifth and Farragut Streets.
JAMES S. HOGLE was born in the state of Ohio, May 18, 1850. He came to Michigan in 1864 with his parents, and settled in the town of Portsmouth, Bay County. In 1866 his father engaged in the dairy business and run the first milk wagon in Bay City. In 1872 he purchased the Tuscola Plank Road, and in 1876 paid the debt of Nature, leaving James S. to conduct the business interests of the family. He, in 1882, engaged in the grocery business on Center Street, where he is still located. He was married in 1872 to Lillie Gordon, of New Albany, Ind. Residence, corner Grant and Sixth Streets.
HYACINTHE RABY was born in Montreal, Canada, January 9, 1839. He came to Bay City in 1863 and worked as a carpenter and joiner. He was with William Peter as mill-wright for four- teen years. He kept a hotel in Bangor, West Bay City, one year, and in 1882 became proprietor of the Grand Central Hotel, Third Street, Bay City. He also owns the Oak Grove House, at a Summer resort northeast of the city, and is now (1883) proprie- tor of the Wolverton House. He has a wife and five children.
WILLIAM E. CARNEY was born in Canada, April 4, 1845, and came to Bay City in 1849. In 1862 he engaged with Thomas Watkins in lumber inspecting, and continued in the business until 1864, when he went to Detroit and enlisted in the Fifteenth Mich- igan Infantry. He was promoted to corporal and received his dis- charge, November 16, 1865, at Little Rock, Ark. He returned to Bay City and again engaged in the lumber business, which he still continues. He was married in 1868 to Laura Merritt, of Ingham County, and has two children. His residence is on Adams Street, between Sixth and Seventh Streets.
ALFRED KEITH was born in Canada, March 13, 1829. In 1838 he moved to Illinois, and in 1865 came to Bay City. He was for some time employed as engineer on river boats, and has been On the M. C. R. R. as engineer for a number of years. He run an engine on the J. & L. R. R. for two years, and in 1870 was employed in the same capacity on the F. & P. M. R. R., where he has remained ever since. During all these years of service on the road he has never met with an accident of any nature, and has never been called to account for neglect of duty. He was married Janu- ary 7, 1853, and has three children. His two sons are also en- gineers on the same road with their father. Mr. Keith has a beau- tiful residence at 921 Van Buren Street.
NELSON R. GILBERT, M. D., was born in the township of Nor- wich, Oxford Co., Canada, in 1842. He was educated at Ingersoll Grammar School. He articled himself as a student with Winford York, M. D., in 1867. He graduated and received the degree of M. D. in Cleveland Homoeopathic College in the Spring of 1871. He practiced medicine in Lynedock for two years, and
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moved to Otsego Lake, Mich., in 1875. He was appointed United States Examining Surgeon in 1874, and while at Otsego he filled several township and county offices, including a four year term as county treasurer. He came to Bay City in the Spring of 1882, and associated himself with Dr. Harvey Gilbert, under the firm name of Gilbert & Gilbert.
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