USA > Michigan > Bay County > History of Bay County, Michigan, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 57
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FELIX YOUNG was born in Seward, Schoharie Co., N. Y. He moved with his father to Bay County when twenty-three years old. He engaged the first Winter at lumbering for H. W. Sage, after which he worked in Sage & Co's salt block for three years. He was foreman of the same the next year. He then in company with two brothers established a meat market; continued for two years and sold out to his brother, and accepted the appointment of police- man for Second Ward. The following June, 1882, he was appointed marshal of West Bay City, which office he still fills. He keeps house with his mother on the corner of Linn and Michigan Streets, as an officer giving satisfaction to the public by strict attention to the duties thereof.
JAMES NORTON was born in Vermont, in 1823. At the age of seven his father moved to Franklin Co., N. Y. He left home at the age of seventeen, and came to Jackson Co., Mich. He remained there four years, and returned home. He moved with his father to Cleveland, O., and remained eight years, till 1852, when he came to Saginaw City, and engaged in the manufacture of shingles with a cutting machine. He remained at Saginaw until 1871, when he came to Wenona and bought lots in the Fitzhugh & Keisel's Addi- tion, and erected a dwelling. He lost his house by fire in 1878,
after which he bought and built a good residence on Jennie Street, in Raymond's Addition, where he now lives. He married Miss Louisa Quantrel, of English birth, then of Cleveland, in 1847. He has had eight children, five sons and three daughters, four sons and one daughter of whom are living.
JAMES FRED NORTON was born in Saginaw City, in 1853; re- mained with his father and came to Wenona in 1871. He had worked at engineering in Saginaw, and soon engaged in the business here, on a dredging machine, which was his principal business until 1879. He then opened a retail fruit and confectionery store on Midland Street, being the owner of lot three, block twelve, Litch- field's Addition. He returned to engineering for the Summer of 1882, and in December he received the appointment by the City Council, of street commissioner, for the Second Ward, which posi- sition he still occupies. He married Miss Barbara Schwartz, of Saint Clair, in 1875, a native of New York.
DOMINICK JEAN was born in Green Island, Canada, in 1847. He lived there until he was thirteen years old, and then went sailing. First trip to Bordeaux, France; thence to New York; thence to Liverpool; thence to New Orleans; thence to Havre De Grace, Bombay, Calcutta, and then back to New York; thence to Califor- fornia and back to New York. He then spent three years in the West India trade with the United States. Thence to Marseilles and back to Philadelphia, and then commenced sailing on the lakes. He was two months at the wheel and the balance of the season was second mate. The next season he served before the mast on a sail vessel. The next two seasons as second mate, since which time, for twelve years, he has been master of different vessels, and had the extraordinary luck through care and attention to never lose a man by accident, or suffer any disaster to his vessel of any consequence. He married Miss Etta Goodson, of Toronto, in 1876, whose age is now twenty-eight. No children. Residence, First Ward, West Bay City, corner Joseph and Seventh Streets.
NICHOLAS EMERY came to West Bay City eighteen years ago, where he worked about two years when he went to Willow Island, now Melborn, where he remained nine months, working for W. R. Burt & Co. He returned to West Bay City in 1873, and engaged with H. W. Sage & Co., as foreman, holding that po- sition up to the present time. He was born in Monroe, Maine, in 1829. He has been twice married, first to Miss Oaks, and after- ward to Miss Abbey A. Carr. .
FREDERICK W. LANKENAW was born February 2, 1846, at Fort Wayne, Ind. He received carefulinstruction from private teachers, and at an early age entered Concordia College, in his native city, graduating therefrom in 1865. He adopted the profession of a teacher. He came to Michigan in 1866 and to Bay City in 1867, and has been connected with the educational interests of the county longer than any other teacher. He taught in the Bay City schools from 1867 until 1880, when he accepted the position of superintend- ent of schools for District No. 2, West Bay City, formerly Wenona, which position he still holds. In 1872 he was elected superintend- ent of schools for Bay County, in which capacity he worked dili- gently to promote the interests of the public schools. He was mar- ried in 1869 to Miss Ellen Rogers, a native of Bay City. They have two children, a boy and a girl. Mr. Lankenaw has earned an en- viable reputation as an accomplished and pains-taking teacher, and as such possesses in a remarkable degree the esteem of the commu- nity in which he resides.
ROBERT BATESON was born in 1824, and is a native of Scotland. While yet a lad he emigrated to Canada with his grand-parents, and settled in Lanark County, Ontario, on a farm where he remained until 1866. He then came to West Bay City, and worked five years in Sage's mill. In 1872 he purchased a lot in Bangor, on which he-
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built a small house, and afterward two lots and built a residence on Au Sable Street, in Salzburgh, where he now resides. He also purchased a farm of 160 acres in the township of Monitor, which he has divided with his sons, retaining eighty acres for himself.
He married Jenette McDonald, of Canada, in 1853. They have had eleven children, ten of whom are living.
JESSE A. BRAMAN was born at New Baltimore, Macomb Co .. Mich., where he learned the trade of an engineer. He came to Bay City in 1862, and for the last ten years has been the engineer at the steam saw mill and salt works of Moore, Smith & Co., and their successors, Smith Bros. He was married in 1868 to Elizabeth Cox. He has a family of three children, one of them by a first wife. He was an alderman for the First Ward of West Bay City in 1879-'81.
CAPT. H. A. HAWGOOD was born in Wales. At five years of age he went to Milwaukee, Wis., with his parents, where he has since resided. At fifteen years of age he commenced sailing in the ca- pacity of porter on the propeller "Bradburg," and afterward engaged in tugging on the Chicago River and also the Saginaw River. The Captain has an interest in the steam barges "Belle P. Cross" and "D. W. Powers," and the consorts of the "B. P. Cross," which are the "Chicago Board of Trade," "Stephen Clement," George H. Wand," "Little Jake" and "Henry W. Hoag." Captain Hawgood has recently built an elegant residence in West Bay City, where he will hereafter make his home.
CONRAD A. KLEMM was born in Saginaw City, February 18, 1859. At the age of fourteen he engaged with G. D. King in the grocery business. In 1879 he removed to West Bay City, where he has a general store. He was married in 1880 to Barbara M. List, of Frankenmuth.
DANIEL C. STARR was born in Cuyahoga Co., Ohio, January 1, 1831. In 1852 he moved to Indiana, and engaged in farming, re- maining there seven years. He then moved to New York State, and remained there until 1861, when he entered the transportation de- partment of the army, remaining there eighteen months. In 1862 he came to Bay City and engaged in different occupations until 1875, when he engaged in boat building, which he still continues in the First Ward of West Bay City. He was married December 12, 1864, and has two children.
JOHN H. LITTLE was born in Mercer County, Pa., July 11, 1818. Three years later he accompanied his parents to Silver Creek, Chautauqua Co., N. Y., where he lived for sixteen years. He learned the tailoring business, and in 1838 left home, and com- menced sailing on the lakes. He followed sailing for a number of years, after which he engaged in business as a harness maker in Ohio. He came to Bay City in 1849, and in 1861 engaged in the grocery business in company with John Cottrell. In 1854 he pur- chased the property where the First National Bank now stands, and there carried on the grocery business. In 1868 he sold out to Smith & Travers, and in 1874 built the store now occupied by J. S. Hogle, and carried on business there for three years. He then re- tired from business, and removed to West Bay City, where he now resides.
SWAN JOHNSON is a native of Sweden, and was born November 1, 1846. In 1870 he moved to New York, and remained there six years engaged in a wire spring factory. In 1876 he came to South Bay City, and was engaged at John McGraw & Co's mill two years, and the Wooden Ware Works three years. In 1882 he purchased a lot on the corner of Thomas and Henry Streets, in West Bay City, and erected a store, and engaged in the grocery and provision busi- ness, which he still continues. He was married in 1872, and has three children. Residence, over store.
ALLAN H. STILLMAN was born in Rome, N. Y., August 31, 1856, and remained there until 1875, attending school and em-
ployed in his father's store (wholesale and retail grocery). In 1875 he went to Samt Louis and into the employ of the Pullman Car Company, continuing in their employ three years. He then re- turned to Rome, N. Y., and was employed as book-keeper in the State Bank of Rome, in which position he remained until 1879, when he came to Bay City, and engaged as book-keeper with Gates & Fay, with whom he remained until 1882. He was then employed by H. W. Sage & Co., of West Bay City, as book-keeper, which posi- tion he still Itolds. He was married February 10, 1880, to Miss Anna L. Adams, of Rome, N. Y.
CAPT. T. G. LESTER is a native of England, where he was born in 1831. At two years of age he came with his parents to Port Hope, Ontario, but soon thereafter they went to New York, re- maining two or three years. In 1848 he learned the ship capen- ter's trade in Clayton, N. Y., working at it for a number of years. In 1852 he went to the Isthmus of Panama, in the employ of the Panama Railroad Company, remaining four months, when he re- turned to New York. In the Spring of 1854 he went to California and worked in the United States Navy-yard at San Francisco, after which he engaged in mining, visiting British Columbia and Van- couvers Island. He returned to San Francisco, and in 1860 to New York. Soon thereafter he came to Shiawassee County, Mich., and purchased a farm, and two years later returned to New York and married Miss Augusta Wetherbec. In 1864 he entered the employ of the Government, building transports, but during the year sold his farm and visited Philadelphia, New York City and other Eastern cities. In the Fall of 1866 he came to Bay City, and has since been engaged in building barges.
THE LATE JOHN GRATTAN SWEENEY was born in Dublin, Ireland, in 1822. He came to this country with his uncle when only eight years old, and located at Rome, N. Y. In 1850 he enlisted in the regular army as a private in the Sixth Infantry, and saw service in Mexico and on the frontier. In 1851 he was promoted to the rank of corporal, and later in the year to sergeant. He received an honorable discharge in 1855, and coming to this state located at Banks in 1863. He married Margaret. McKittrick, of Detroit, bring- ing her to Banks. Subsequently he removed to Wenona, and in 1866 was elected sheriff of Bay County. After serving a short time in that capacity he resigned and was elected supervisor of Bangor Township, which office he held nine years. His wife and four boys survive him. His domestic relations were always happy and agreeable. He was a kind father and affectionate husband. Mrs, Sweeney is deserving of much praise in having kept her boys together and teaching them habits of industry. They are all good workers, and make their home with their mother at the old home- stead on Midland Street, West Bay City.
JOHN BRIGHAM, SR., was born November 21, 1806, in Lowville, Lewis Co., in the state of New York. His father, David Brigham, was of New England origin, having emigrated from Massachusetts to Lewis County about 1795, and was one of the pioneers of that section of the state. His mother was, before marriage, Sarah Veeder, daughter of Judge Veeder, who is mentioned by James R. Paulding as the Patriarch Veeder who presided over the first settle- ment on that portion of the Mohawk, "the advance guard of civilization." He was twice driven from his home by the Indians, and his buildings and personal effects either burned or carried away. She was therefore familiar with the hardships of pioneer life, and was a descendant of the early Dutch settlers of the Empire State. Mr. Brigham was one of the early pioneers of Michigan, he having emigrated to Michigan Territory in November. 1833. He brought with him only the little sum of money he had been able to save while working out by the month, and first settled in what is now the township of Atlas, Genesee County, but in November, 1836, re-
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moved to Hadley, Lapeer County. Here he cleared the fine farm of about 300 acres which is now occupied by his oldest son, Aaron G. Brigham, and here his home has been ever since that time ex- cept about two years, from 1841 to 1843, when he lived on a farm in Atlas, Genesee County. November 21, 1838, he was married to Eliza S. Goodrich, daughter of Levi H. and Eunice Goodrich, who, with her parents and brothers had emigrated to Atlas, Genesee County, in May, 1836. She was born in the town of Sempronius, Cayuga Co., in the state of New York, September 12, 1809. When she was about six years of age her family removed to what was then known as the Niagara Frontier, and settled on a new farm in Clarence, Erie Co., in the same state. Here she continued to reside till the time of her emigration to Michigan. She died of cancer, March 3, 1874, after enduring three painful surgical opera- tions. She was a woman of strong mind, resolute will, unassum- ing virtues and of remarkable devotion to her family. She had six brothers, whose names in the order of their ages are as follows: Moses Goodrich, Aaron Goodrich, Levi W. Gooodrich, Enos Good- rich, John S. Goodrich and Reuben Goodrich. All of these except Levi W. and John S. are now living. Moses and Levi W. were farmers, Aaron and John S., lawyers, and Enos and Reuben, merchants and men of general business. Aaron Goodrich is author of a work en- titled "A History of the So-called Christopher Columbus and his Discoveries in America;" has been chief justice of the supreme court of Minnesota, secretary of legation to Belgium under Lincoln's administration, one of the Presidential electors of Tennessee, member of the Legislature of Tennessee and has held other positions of honor and trust. Enos and Reuben have both been members of the Legislature of this state, and John S. was elected judge of the Seventh Judicial District of Michigan, but died at the age of 36, before entering on the duties of his office.
John Brigham had four sons and one daughter, viz: Aaron G. Brigham, John Brigham, Jr., Eliza Jane Brigham, Samuel L. Brigham and Charles S. Brigham, all of whom were born at Hadley, Lapeer County, except John, Jr., who was born during the sojourn of the family in Atlas. Of these children three; are now living, Eliza Jane and Charles S. having died in infancy.
AARON G. BRIGHAM was born May 12, 1840, and was mar- ried to Caroline Vantine January 7, 1869. They have three sons and one daughter.
JOHN BRIGHAM, JR., was born August 29, 1842, in what was then Atlas, Lapeer, but now Genesee County. He graduated at the law department of Michigan University, March 25, 1868, and was admitted to the bar at Lapeer in the Summer of 1868. After graduating he returned home and remained till the Spring of 1874, when he went into the law office of Hon. J. B. Moore, of Lapeer, where he remained a few months, after which he came to what was then Wenona, now West Bay City, and opened a law office February 1, 1875. He has continued to practice law, keeping his office in West Bay City from that day to the present time. In Spring of 1879 he was elected an alderman of West Bay City, and is now the city attorney. He was married October 9, 1878, to Barbara M. Aitken, of St. Clair County, Mich., whose parents were from Glasgow, Scotland.
SAMUEL L. BRIGHAM, junior member of the law firm of J. & S. L. Brigham, was born in Lapeer County, Mich. He graduated from the law department of the University of Michigan in 1874, and came to West Bay City in 1876, when he formed a co-partner- ship with his brother in the practice of law. He is also a justice of the peace, for which position his legal attainments well qualify him.
EUGENE BURR was born in Plymouth, Wayne Co., Mich., in 1842. He remained there until the age of twenty-one. In 1864 he enlisted in the Union Army, Company C, Thirtieth Michigan
Infantry, for three years, or during the war. He remained on de- tail service under Gen. Cutler, with headquarters at Jackson, Mich., until the close of the war. He worked at farming in various places until 1871, when he married Miss Nellie Rogers, of Watford, Ontario, and in 1872 came to Wenona, and engaged in mill labor, principally on boom. He continued in this capacity until 1880. Was then elected constable of Third Ward, West Bay City, also ap- pointed policeman by the council. In 1882 was appointed harbor master, and in 1883 street commissioner of Fifth Ward. Resi- dence, corner Ninth and Jackson Streets, West Bay City. Has two children, sons.
BARTHOLOMEW STAUDACHER was born in Germany in 1828, and worked with his parents, who were farmers, until 1854, when he emigrated to America, coming directly to West Bay City where he worked in saw mills four seasons. In 1855 he purchased 250 acres of land in Hampton Township, Saginaw Co., which he has im- proved until now he has 120 acres under cultivation. Mr. Stan- dacher has been highway commissioner five years, and is now school director. Has been married twice, and has eleven children.
STEPHEN SWART was born in Lapeer County, Mich, and became a citizen of West Bay City in 1879, at which time he engaged in the watch, clock and jewelry business. He is also a practical watchmaker, and is doing a thriving trade. He married Miss Charlotte Woodruff, and has one child, a boy.
JACOB SWART was born in Charlton, Saratoga Co., N. Y., in 1819, and came to Michigan in 1836, settling in Lapeer County, and en- gaging in farming. In 1844 he embarked in the mercantile trade at Goodrich,+Genesee Co .- For the past eight years he has lived in West Bay City, making his home with his son, Stephen Swart, the jeweler.
JAMES CAMPBELL was born in Rochester, N. Y., in 1839. Family moved to Niagara County when he was three years of age. His father died in 1842, when the family moved to Kent Co., Canada, where he lived until seventeen years of age, after which he engaged in sailing Summers, and worked in the lumber woods Winters until the age of twenty-one, when he engaged in the lumber and square timber business for himself. Followed it until 1865, when he came to Bay County, and settled in Salzburgh. Engaged in the Huron Salt & Lumber Co's. mill as head sawyer for two years. Having had but limited advantages of education, he ap- plied himself during the Winters to the study of arithmetic and book-keeping, under the instruction of A. L. Cumming, then prin- cipal of Wenona graded school. Soon after he established a billiard room in the Campbell House Block, Bay City. Continued the business there and in the Ernst Block, West Bay City, until 1874, also carrying on lumbering for himself on the Kawkawlin River, in pine and oak square timber, and erected a two-story brick block on the corner of Midland and Linn Streets, where the Mosher Block now stands. In 1873 he erected a hotel at West Branch, Ogemaw Co .; moved his family there and kept the house one year, after which he rented it and in a few months it was lost by fire. In 1875 he sold out his interest in the billiard business and gave his whole attention to lumber and square timber till 1878. He then commenced jobbing for S. O. Fisher, which he still continues. He married, in 1863, Miss Bridget Brophy, of Kent County, Ontario. Has had three children, two daughters and one son, all living. Has a commodious residence on Midland Street, West Bay City, which he bought in the Spring of 1882.
HOMER P. CHASE was born in the Township of Prairie Ronde, Kalamazoo Co., Mich., December 25, 1850, and came to West Bay City in the Spring of 1865. Is a carpenter by trade and has been sailing on the lakes. For the past three years he has been with Charles Babo & Sons as clerk in their store. Married Sarah E.
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Lester, of West Bay City, formerly of Chatham, Ontario. They have two children.
C. E. SMART was born in the town of Rochester, N. H., and came to Michigan in 1856. He stopped in Niles about one year, working in a machine shop, after which he traveled West and South, passing two years on the island of Cuba. In 1874 he entered the employ of the Michigan Central Railroad as engineer, which posi- tion he held about one year and a half, when he took the position of Division Master Mechanic of the locomotive and car department at Saginaw, which he still holds. He married Mary Dugan, of Niles, Mich., and they have two children.
J. A. BEHMLANDER, proprietor of the City Meat Market, West Bay City, was born in Frankenlust in 1853, and has always resided in the Saginaw Valley. For a while Mr. Behmlander worked in a shingle mill, and about 1872 engaged in the butcher business. In 1874 he commenced for himself, and is having a large trade. He married Barbara Hutchenroider, and they have one child, a daugh- ter. Geo. Paul Behmlander, father of J. A. Behmlander, was one of the earliest settlers, having come here in 1838.
PATRICK CALLAGHAN was born in Bruce County, Ontario, in 1848, where he remained till twenty-one years of age, when he came to the Saginaw Valley and engaged with Mr. Toohey, with whom he remained about five years driving team, after which he worked in the Sage Mill for a while. Then engaging in the hotel business he was proprietor of the American House three years and the Cal- laghan House, his present stand, four years. Was married to Miss Annie Cook in 1872. They have one child, a son.
GRIFFITH H. FRANCIS was born in Oneida County, New York. He graduated at the Oneida Conference Seminary in 1872; also from the Michigan Law School in 1874. He commenced practicing law at Saline, Mich., but removed to West Bay City in 1876, and soon thereafter was appointed superintendent of schools to fill vacancy occurring by resignation of Dr. Magill. He was elected justice of peace of said city and served as such from 1877 to 1881, and is now (1882) supervisor for Second Ward. In 1878 he was married to Miss Harriet A. Hyne, of Brighton, Mich. They have one child, a girl.
HIRAM A. EMERY was born in the state of Maine, and came to Michigan in 1864. He is a member of the firm of Emery Bros., who are largely engaged in lumbering. They also operate a steam saw mill at East Tawas. . In addition, he owns and works a farm in the township of Bangor, Bay County, on which he lives. Is married to Eunice Anderson, also a native of Maine, and has a fam- ily of four children.
M. C. DANFORTH was born in Oswego County, New York, in 1836, and in 1865 came to Mason County, Michigan, and engaged in lumbering, remaining there two years, when he went to Ovid, Clinton Co., Mich., where he farmed and also manufactured brick. It is worthy of note that the second house built in Ovid was con- structed from brick of Mr. Danforth's make. In 1876 he came to West Bay City and opened a cooper shop. He still continues the business, employing six to seven men. Mr. Danforth was married in 1859, to Miss Elizabeth Dennis, of New York. They have one son.
JAMES RINGWOOD Was born in Syracuse, N. Y., and about 1867 removed to Saginaw, where he remained but a short time, when he came to Bay City, and from there to West Bay City where, soon thereafter, he opened a blacksmith shop and livery stable. About 1876 he moved his business to Bay City, where he is still doing busi- ness. In 1876 he married Elizabeth Robinson, of Bay City.
CHRISTOPHER MOHR is a native of Germany. In 1867 he emi- grated to America, and until 1873 was engaged in a tannery in New York, after which he came to West Bay City where he has
since resided. In 1874 he engaged in the liquor business on Linn Street, where he still continues it. He married Mary Rose, of West Bay City. They have two children, a son and daughter.
MICHAEL HUFNAGEL was born in Germany in 1842, and before leaving his native land learned the miller's trade. In 1865 he came to West Bay City, and in 1880 rented the Salzburgh Flouring Mill from F. Fitzhugh & Co., its location being the east side of Water Street, foot of Main. Mr. Hufnagel employs three men about the mill and is doing a good business, grinding at least 200 bushels per day through the season. In 1869 he married Barbara Heuman, of Bay City. They have one son and three daughters.
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