USA > Michigan > Calhoun County > History of Calhoun County, Michigan, a narrative account of its historical progress, its people, and its principal interests, Volume II > Part 106
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two years later he was the Prohibition candidate of Michigan, polling a vote one third larger than that of St. John as presidential candidate two years before. In the spring of 1887 he conducted the campaign on the issue of placing an amendment in the constitution of Michigan to prohibit the manufacture and sale of liquor in the state. He won unusual prominence of a national order in that campaign, although the amend- ment was defeated, and the party showed its appreciation by electing him chairman of the national committee of the party, to succeed John B. Finch, at the Chicago convention held in November, 1887. For five years he maintained his headquarters in New York city, but in 1893 removed to his home in Albion, where he has since continued to reside, his duties as an educator occupying a goodly share of his attention.
Dr. Dickie was married on December 22, 1872, to Mary Brockway, a daughter of Rev. William H. Brockway, of Albion. Four children were born to them: Clarissa, Ada, Mary and Brockway.
HOMER C. BLAIR, president of the Commercial & Savings Bank of Albion, Michigan, is a native son of Michigan, born in the town of Tompkins, Jackson county, this state, on January 27, 1872. He is the son of James and Mary (Elliott) Blair, the mother being a native of Michigan and the father of Ohio. They settled in Jackson county in 1840, and there lived rural lives, and in the town of Tompkins, James Blair was known for one of the most extensive wheat and stock growers in his district. He died in 1906, while his widow yet survives and makes her home at Leslie, Michigan.
Homer C. Blair was educated in the high school in Leslie and later entered the University of Michigan, from which he was graduated in the department of pharmaceutics. In 1894 he came to Albion and was here employed by the drug firm of Vaughan & Thomison, remaining thus engaged for a period of three years. At the end of that time he pur- chased the stock of White & Beebe in the drug business and succeeded to their established trade. He continued to be thus associated until 1912, a period of fifteen years, and he recently disposed of his stock to L. C. Van Gorden, Mr. Blair retiring from the business. On July 1, 1912, he was elected president of the Commercial & Savings Bank of Albion, and is actively interested in the affairs of that institution.
In 1899 Mr. Blair married Miss Eleanor Hawkins, of Flint, Michi- gan, and one daughter, A. Elizabeth, has been born to them.
Mr. Blair is known for one of the intelligent, public-spirited men of Albion and a valuable citizen in every respect. He was for six years a secretary of the Board of Education and is now president of the board. In addition to his other business interests, Mr. Blair is manager of the Blair homestead farm for the estate. Fraternally, Mr. Blair is promi- nent in Masonry, being a member of Murat Lodge, No. 14, A. F. & A. M., Albion Chapter No. 32, R. A. M., Marshall Commandery No. 16, Mar- shall Council R. S. M., Moslem Temple of the Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine of Detroit, and also a member of the Knights of Pythias.
ORLANDO CHARLES GALE. The passing of Orlando Charles Gale on February 29, 1912, deprived Albion of one of her oldest and most esteemed citizens, as well as one of her most prominent business men and a founder of the Gale Manufacturing Company, one of the giant agri- cultural implement concerns of the state. Mr. Gale's death, which oc- curred at the home of his son, O. Harry Gale, on West Mulberry street, was not entirely unexpected, as he had been gradually failing since a year ago last July, when he suffered a severe stroke of paralysis, that
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misfortune being followed by a state of invalidism. His mind, however, was entirely unaffected by the stroke, and he was conscious up to the hour of his passing.
In an obituary notice published at the death of Mr. Gale, a complete and quite detailed account of his life is given. This notice is so relevant to the matter in hand that it is here quoted almost verbatim, in lieu of other material, perhaps less pertinent to the subject :
"Orlando Charles Gale was born in L'Acadie, Lower Canada, on June 3, 1823. He was the son of George and Harriet Gale, natives of Vermont. The father had taken a contract to build fanning mills in Canada which required some three years, the family moving there, and it was while thus established that Orlando was born. The family re- turned to Barre, Vermont, and took a steamboat across Lake Champlain to White Hall. From there they went via the Erie Canal to Royalton, six miles east of Lockport, a journey of two weeks. They wintered there until the first lake boats were starting west in the spring to Detroit, and it was while coming up Lake Erie with his family that the father's trunk was opened and some seven hundred dollars-all the money they owned, was stolen. Unable to travel further without means, they stopped at Dearborn for three months, the father taking charge of a gang of men and teams getting out ties for the Michigan Central railroad then being built out of Detroit. This was in the spring of 1836.
They then started for Moscow by team. They experienced great difficulty in getting through the muddy roads to Ypsilanti, having to unload several times, and were helped out of the mud more than once by hitching on an ox team whenever one chanced to come along. It took them about a week to reach Moscow.
Orlando Charles Gale worked on his father's farm and attended school between seasons, walking three and a half miles to and from the select school which he attended in winter. In 1843 the young man en- tered into a partnership with his father and they began the manufacture of plows. He drove to Mishawaka, Indiana, one hundred and fifty miles distant, for his pig iron and to Toledo, seventy-five miles, for his coal. At one time he was able to get only half a ton of coal in the city and it was almost impossible to get through the mud in the middle of the city with even this size of load.
George Gale, the father, retired from the business in 1851, going to California, and his son, Orlando Charles, conducted the business alone until 1853, when he moved his family, consisting of a wife and three children, to Jonesville, where he took in his brother, N. Brooks Gale, as a partner. Almost three years later Brooks sold his interest to Augustus J. Gale. The firm name remained O. C. & A. J. Gale till 1861, when O. C. sold his interest to Horatio Gale and moved to Albion, buying out the hardware establishment of his brother, Henry Gale, which had been established by their father, George Gale, in 1856.
In 1864 A. J. and Horatio Gale sold out their factory in Jonesville and with a brother-in-law, Elliot W. Hollingsworth, came to Albion, entering a co-partnership with O. C. Gale, in the hardware business and starting a small factory, using a building formerly belonging to Lane & Porter, at the corner of Cass & Superior streets on the east side of Superior street. The firm was known as O. C. Gale & Company. Two years later they built a factory where the Kessler & Parker block now stands, which extended through to Clinton street.
In 1874 a stock company was organized, known as the Gale Manu- facturing Company, which is today one of Albion's principal industries. While still interested in the hardware store, Mr. Gale retained a stock
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in the factory. He and E. W. Hollingsworth owned the store at this time which they conducted until 1876, when Mr. Gale sold out to Mr. Hol- lingsworth. At this time in his life Mr. Gale spent a great portion of his time in Minneapolis, Minnesota, until May, 1880, when he again pur- chased the hardware store at Albion and remained there until October, 1890, when he sold out to his sons, E. C. and O. H. Gale, who have ever since continued to operate the business.
For many years Mr. Gale was a member of the Leisure Hour Club, and one of his greatest pleasures was in gathering a number of his friends about him at the club and talking over the early days in Albion.
In 1847 Mr. Gale married Adeline C. Smith of Hanover, Michigan, who passed away in 1890. They became the parents of eight children, six of whom yet survive. They are: Mrs. Joseph King, of Homer, Michigan ; George H. Gale of Chicago; Alpheus S. Gale of Los Angeles; Elliot C. Gale, of Albion; Mrs. Addie Butt, of Los Angeles, and O. Harry Gale of Albion. Charles and Hattie died in childhood. Mr. Gale is also survived by one brother, A. J. Gale, of Los Angeles, deceased, who for many years was identified with the business activities of this city.
O. HARRY GALE is one of the leading hardware merchants of Albion, in which city he was born on the old Gale homestead, November 28, 1870. He is the son of Orlando C. and Adeline (Smith) Gale, the for- mer of whom died on February 24, 1912, and the latter on January 22, 1900. Orlando C. Gale was one of Albion's oldest and most re- spected citizens. He was one of the founders of the present Gale Man- ufacturing Company, the city's giant implement concern. Mr. Gale's life was one pregnant with the elements of all those qualities that go to make for success in this world, and he was one of those men who rose from a penniless youth to a position of acknowledged business power and success. Orlando C. Gale was born in L'Acadie, Lower Can- ada, June 3, 1823. He was the son of George and Harriet Gale, whose home was in Barre, Vermont, and of his life and work a more com- plete sketch will be found elsewhere in this volume.
O. Harry Gale was educated in the public and high school in Albion, also attended Albion Commercial College. Upon leaving school he en- tered the hardware store of his father, and there he acquired a thor- ough knowledge of the hardware business. His store is situated in the business part of Superior street, the building being a three story affair, 24x115 feet, all floors being occupied in the operation of Mr. Gale's business, which is one of the oldest hardware stores in Albion. Mr. Gale carries a large and varied stock, so as to enable him to meet every demand of his many customers. From his long acquaintance and his continued years of business dealings he has become well and favorably known and is in the enjoyment of a prosperous business.
In 1893 Mr. Gale married Miss Gertrude Brown of Norwalk, Ohio. She is a native of Indiana and a daughter of G. Brown, an old and highly respected citizen of his native place. Mrs. Gale was educated at Angola high school, after which she entered Albion College and was graduated from the art department of that institution. Her father, Germ Brown, was editor of the Steuben County Republican for a num- ber of years and was widely known in that connection.
Three children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Gale: Robert G., Richard E. and Grace Josephine. Mr. Gale is a member of the Knights of Py- thias, and the Woodmen of the World in a fraternal way, and in line with his business is affiliated with the Michigan State Dealers' Hard-
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ware Association, of which he was elected president in 1910. Mr. Gale is also a member of the National Hardware Association and a member of the A. F. & A. M. of Albion, Murat Lodge.
At the present time Mr. Gale is occupying the old Gale homestead, a substantial brick residence, with extensive grounds, ornamented with native oaks, and one of the fine places of the city. He is recognized in Albion as one of the intelligent enterprising and thorough business men of the city, and a man of quiet and domestic inclinations which have won him a most admirable reputation wherever he is known.
FRED W. SCHUMACHER. Among the leading business men of Al- bion, Fred W. Schumacher, as one of the intelligent, reliable and active workers in the city, deserves especial mention in this historical and biographical work. He is a member of the Albion Lumber Company, and is in active charge of the brick and mason work for the concern, in which capacity he is well qualified to act by reason of his early training and his natural bent for the business.
Mr. Schumacher was born in Prussia, in March, 1868, and is the son of Carl and Frederica (Raether) Schumacher, both of whom emigrated to this country in 1869, and both died in Albion, the father on April 17, 1901, having reached a fine old age. Their son, the sub- ject of this review, received his early education in the schools of Albion. His father, who was a stone mason by trade, taught him that busi- ness, and for some years he was thus employed. In 1888 he formed a partnership with his brother, Carl A., under the firm name of Schu- macher Brothers, and they engaged in the grocery business, continuing until 1892. In that year Mr. Schumacher disposed of his interests and thereupon worked at his trade, and in 1907 became connected with the Albion Lumber Company as a representative in charge of their outside work, in the line of mason and brick work. He prospered in this connection, his skill and ingenuity, together with his marked ability in the building line, greatly facilitating the business of the company. He became a stockholder of the Albion Lumber Company. This concern has long been one of the largest of its kind in Calhoun county, and does an ever increasing business in lumber and building materials of all kinds. They have built hundreds of houses in the city of Albion alone, and their operations have also extended into the adjoining towns. At the time of the flood in 1908, when all the bridges spanning the Kalamazoo river were swept away in the rushing torrent, this company was given the contract to rebuild all the bridges, the work being done under the super- vision and management of Mr. Schumacher,-a splendid testimonial to his reputation as a builder. Mr. Schumacher has become the owner of a goodly portion of valuable city property, among which is the realty formerly the Bishop property. In 1912 he became the owner of this block, and in addition to repairing a large brick building which already stood upon the premises he has erected other fine brick structures to cover the entire block.
In 1889, Mr. Schumacher married Miss Ida Luedtke of Calhoun county, her father being an early settler. Two children have been born to them,-Minnie, born in 1891, and Albert F., born in 1895.
Mr. Schumacher has served his city in a number of public capacities, being elected alderman of the Second ward in 1896, and city marshal in 1900, in both of which positions he gave faithful service, thus further proving his citizenship to be of the most approved order. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias, with regard to his fraternal affilia- tions, and is a member of the German church of Albion.
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BENJAMIN D. BROWN, a stock holder and director in the Malleable Iron Company of Albion, Michigan, is one of the rapidly advancing young men of business in the city. He is a native son of the state, county and city, born in Albion on February 12, 1883, and his parents were John G. and Ida R. (Fairbanks) Brown, natives of New York state and Michigan, respectively.
John G. Brown was born in New York state on June 7, 1850, and came to Michigan as a child of five years. The family located in Battle Creek first, and later came to Albion, where his parents bought a lot on the corner of Berrien and Michigan avenues, a property which has remained in the family since then to the present time, and has repre- sented the location of the family home. While in Battle Creek John Brown attended Olivet College for a time and after coming to Albion was graduated from the Albion College with the class of '71. Two years later he was graduated from the University of Michigan in phar- macy, after which he located in the drug business in Albion, and was thus engaged for years. In 1893 the Commercial Savings Bank was founded and Mr. Brown was elected its first president. He retained that position from the time of the founding of the bank up to his death in 1909, with the exception of one year. Mr. Brown was interested in the Albion Malleable Iron Company, and was a stock holder and direc-
tor in that concern. Always a good citizen, the city schools of Albion came in for a generous share of his attention, and for many years he served as treasurer of the school board. He was a member of the Ma- sonic fraternity, affiliating with Murat Lodge No. 14, A. F. & A. M., Albion Chapter No. 32, R. A. M., and Albion Council No. 57, R. & S. M. His death, which occurred in November, 1909, was a distinct loss to the city and his passing was felt in many avenues of life in the com- munity which had represented his home for so many years.
Benjamin D. Brown entered the Albion College immediately after his graduating from the Albion high school. Upon the completion of his college course he assisted his father in the work of the bank, and also took an interest in the operations of the Malleable Iron Works, in which he eventually became a stockholder and director, and is actively engaged in work in the different departments. Mr. Brown is a direc- tor in the Union Steel Company, and a director in the Commercial Savings Bank of Albion, in all of which connections he has amply demonstrated his ability as a business man of the progressive and enterprising class. He is unmarried.
OTTO H. STECKER is general manager of the Commonwealth Power Company, with offices in Albion, Michigan. He was born in the city of Albion on February 19, 1878, and is a son of August and Wilhel- mina (Stancranff) Stecker, both natives of Germany. In 1861 the family emigrated to the United States, landing in the city of New York, coming thence direct to Michigan. They lived in Parma four years then located in Albion, on Perry street, and there they made their home until the death of the father in 1882. His widow still survives and makes her home in the city.
Otto H. received his early schooling in North Ward school and in the Albion high school, after which he studied in the International Correspondence School. He secured employment in the Albion Elec- tric Light Company's offices where he remained for five years, after which he was connected with the Albion Buggy Company. He was later engaged in the capacity of chief engineer by the Albion Milling Company, remaining thus for seven years. In 1909 he became manager Vol. II-46
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of the Commonwealth Power Company at Grand Ledge, soon after being transferred to Albion, where he is in charge of the plant of the Commonwealth Power Company.
Mr. Stecker is a member of the Masonic fraternity, affiliating with . Lodge No. 14, A. F. & A. M., and with Albion Chapter, R. A. M., as well as the Council. He and his family are members of the German church. He is a Republican, but has never held office.
In 1906 Mr. Stecker was united in marriage with Miss Ruth Austin, a daughter of Alonza Austin, who has been for thirty years an engineer on the M. C. R. R. One son, Austin Stecker, has been born to them.
WILLARD R. NOYES, as a member of the firm known as the Albion Milling Company, has won a prominence in the business life of Albion that has placed him in the front ranks of the enterprising men of the city, while his service as city clerk since 1906 has further marked him as a citizen of unusual order and genuine worth. He is a native son of Michigan, born in Hillsdale county in the village of North Adams, in February, 1872, and is the son of Franklin and Clara T. (Robison) Noyes, both native New Yorkers and among the early pioneers to Mich- igan.
Franklin Noyes, the father of Willard R., was a doctor and for many years was engaged in the practice of his profession in the vicinity of Hillsdale county. He was a close friend and a classmate of Dr. Mar- shall of Marshall, Michigan, both having graduated from the Cleve- land Medical College. Dr. Noyes died in 1906 at North Adams, and his widow yet survives him, and makes her home in Albion. Dr. Noyes commanded a far reaching practice in his district, and was a man uni- versally respected and esteemed.
Willard R. Noyes acquired his early education in the schools of North Adams, and following his high school days he went to Indiana, where he was employed by the Lake Shore Railroad from 1889 to 1898, as freight clerk and operator, and returning to Michigan in the latter year, became bookkeeper for the Albion Milling Company. Thus be- gan an association which in 1906 resulted in him becoming a member of the firm, as the partner of John Haag, under the firm name of Haag & Noyes, a partnership which has since continued. The office and place of business of the firm is in the old stone mill located on the banks of the Kalamazoo. This old landmark was erected as long ago as 1845, and yet remains in a passing good state of preservation. The firm handles flour, feed, grain and seeds, and in addition to its city trade, does an extensive business with the farming interests far and near.
In 1897 Mr. Noyes married Nellie Groff, a daughter of John W. Groff, an old and highly respected citizen of Albion. Mr. Noyes is a member of the Knights of Pythias, No. 57, Albion Lodge, and the F. O. E., but maintains no other fraternal relations.
JOHN N. HAAG is a member of the firm of Noyes & Haag, dealers in flour, feed and grain, in Albion, Michigan. He has been identified with the business interests of the city since 1891, his connection at that time being represented by association with William Knickerbocker, for many years a miller of Albion. Since 1906 Mr. Haag has been a member of the partnership just referred to, doing business under the name of the Albion Milling Company, and they have since that time built up a large business in the way of buying and shipping flour, grain and feed.
Born in Bavaria, Germany, December 25, 1856, John N. Haag is the son of Roy and Elizabeth (Haag) Haag. He received his education in his native land, entering school when he was six years old and con-
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tinuing until his thirteenth year. After leaving off his studies he worked on the farm with his father until the autumn of 1871, when he emigrated to the United States, and coming direct from New York city to Marshall county, Indiana. He located at Plymouth, remaining there during a year, and then coming to Flowerfield, Michigan, where he was employed in a flouring mill. For six years Mr. Haag continued there, determined to master the business, and when he emerged from his con- nection with that concern, he was a competent and experienced miller. In 1891 he came to Albion, as previously mentioned, and here he se- cured employment in the old stone mill, then operated by William Knickerbocker. This mill, which is one of the old landmarks of Albion, was built in 1845, and it is still standing, in an excellent state of preser- vation, having witnessed many changes in the methods of milling in these years of its active life.
In 1906 Mr. Haag formed a partnership with W. R. Noyes, the firm name being the Albion Milling Company, and in the few years that have elapsed then they have been able to build up a most excellent business in buying and shipping the products in which they deal, and enjoy a splendid reputation for high grade products and despatch in handling the same.
In 1879 Mr. Haag married Miss Elizabeth Russell, the daughter of Thomas and Mary (Scott) Russell, of Scotland. One son has been born to them,-Roy Russell Haag, a graduate of the Albion high school and of Albion College. He is now employed as principal of the Luding- ton high school, at Ludington Lake, Michigan.
Mr. and Mrs. Haag are members of the First Presbyterian church, and he is a member of Albion Lodge No. 60, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and of the Modern Woodmen of America. He is the owner of a substantial home on Porter street, and is regarded as one of the enterprising and progressive business men of the city.
MARCUS M. CALKINS. One of the prominent business men who have been identified with the best interests of Albion, Michigan, for many years is Marcus M. Calkins, wholesale dealer in lumber. He has been engaged in that business since his young manhood, his first connection in that respect being in Coldwater, Branch county. Michigan, where he was employed in a more or less humble capacity, and he has risen by steady stages to the present high place he occupies in the lumber interests of his community.
Born in Geauga county, Ohio, May 14, 1842, Marcus M. Calkins is the son of Moses V. and Almira (Hudson) Calkins. The father was a. native of Vermont and the mother of Ohio, and the family were among the pioneer settlers of Geauga county, Ohio. For many years Moses V. Calkins was engaged in the mercantile and farming business, and in 1849 they removed to Branch county, Michigan, where he became inter- ested in the manufacture of lumber, and operated a number of mills throughout the county. He eventually became one of the most prosper- ous lumbermen of the county and was prominently known throughout that section of the state. He died in Coldwater, Michigan, in March, 1890, his widow surviving him for some years.
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