History of Kent County, Michigan, together with sketches of its cities, villages and townships, educational, religious, civil, military, and political history, portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens, Part 108

Author: Leeson, M. A. (Michael A.); Chapman, Charles C., & Co. (Chicago)
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Chicago : C.C. Chapman & Co.
Number of Pages: 1434

USA > Michigan > Kent County > History of Kent County, Michigan, together with sketches of its cities, villages and townships, educational, religious, civil, military, and political history, portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens > Part 108

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Alexander Milmine, of H. B. Milmine & Co., proprietors Nov- elty Iron Works, Grand Rapids, was born in Canada, Aug. 30, 1822. His parents were Alexander and Hannah (Todd) Milmine, natives respectively of Canada and Connecticut. The subject of this sketch obtained a common-school education, and when 18 years of age entered upon a three years' apprenticeship, at the cooper's trade. Atthe end of this time he opened a shop for himself at Beachville, Canada, where he remained five years. After farm- ing for three years, and four years spent in the mercantile trade at Princeton, Canada, he located at Racine, Wis., and engaged in the grocery business. Three years later he came to Grand Rapids, and in 1863 enlisted in Co. A, 1st Mich. Eng., marching with Sherman "down to the sea," and serving till the close of the war. Soon after coming back to this city he engaged in the iron trade, which business he has since followed. Mr. Milmine was Alderman from the Fourth ward before the war, and since that period has represented the Seventh ward in the same capacity, his official record numbering 10 years. He is a member of Lodge No. 250, I. O. O. F., West Side, and also of Champlain Post, G. A. R. He was united in marriage in 1844 to Elizabeth C. Beamer, a native of Canada. Of the seven children born to them. six are living ---- Alfred A., Henry B., Freeman S., George E., Ed- na R. and Marion. Alice is deceased.

J. Miner, proprietor Palace Hat Store, 27 Monroe st., was born in Steuben Co., N. Y., Nov. 5, 1837. His parents were Asa B. and Ruth (Cotton) Miner, the former a farmer of Steuben county, and both natives of Connecticut. Mr. Miner grew to manhood at Prattsburg, N. Y., and there received his education. When 26 years of age he went to Berlin, Ottawa Co., Mich., and was en- gaged in the general mercantile trade at that point for seven years. He first came to Grand Rapids, in 1861, and has made that city his home since, although being away a portion of the time. In March, 1879, he established the hat and cap busi-

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HISTORY OF KENT COUNTY.

ness, and in 1881 purchased his present stock. His success has exceeded his most sanguine expectations, and he enjoys the largest trade in his line of goods, of any firm in the city. Mr. Miner is a member of Valley City Lodge, No. 86 (Masonic). He was married Nov. 12, 1867, to Dicie Lapham, of Rockford, Kent Co., Mich., who died in December, 1872. He was again married April 5, 1881, to Marion Lewis, a resident of Grand Rapids, and a member of the First Congregational Church.

John Mitchell, of the firm of Kinney & Mitchell, 146 North Kent st .; blacksmiths, was born in Canada Oct. 23, 1846. He learned his trade at the age of 16 and has followed it since. In 1864 he came to Grand Rapids and worked for Fiebig & Rath- man on Canal st. four years; formed a partnership with Malachi Kinney and began business on Canal st .; three years after they removed to their present quarters. In July, 1871, they were burned out, when Mr. Mitchell lost about $1,000. They settled temporarily on the West Side and were burned out again within two weeks, when they located in a new shop rebuilt on the site of the old one at 146 North Kent st. They shoe about 200 horses a week and employ seven men. Mr. Mitchell was married in Lon- don, Canada, Sept. 22, 1869, to Mary, daughter of John and Ann Coleman, born in Ireland in 1849. She died Aug. 31, 1879. Mr. Mitchell is a member of the Roman Catholic Church, and owns a residence and lot at 148 Ottawa st.

Edward Mohl was born June 8, 1829, in Stuttgart, Wurtemberg, Germany, where he was educated for the ministry and was well informed in five different languages. He came to the United States in 1846 and learned the trade of cigar-maker with his uncle in New York city where he remained till 1849, when he came to Grand Rapids city and engaged in the manufacture and sale of cigars in the old Brunson House building; he remained one year and, the house being too small for his business, he returned East and settled in Connecticut, where he was engaged very extensively in his business till 1854, when he again came to this city and finally opened business at No. 39 Pearl st., where his son Edward E. now keeps. He carried on a very heavy business in his line the last 10 years of his life, with Mr. Hugo Schneider. The firm is known all over the State as Mohl & Schneider. They did an an- nual business of $150,000. Hs was married the same year he came to this city to Mary, daughter of Frederick and Sophia Greiner, born in the same place as her husband, in 1837. They had five children, all still living, born in the following order : Edward E., Robert W., Emily C., Mary S. and Louise. In 1870, in com- pany with his brother-in-law, Julius Greiner, he built a saw and flouring mill at Lisbon, Ottawa Co., where they invested about $25,000, and transacted business four years and sunk about $12,- 000, when they exchanged it for 360 acres of land in Alpine tp. He also took a great interest in political matters, and served one term as Alderman of this city; Controller two years, and was

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several times nominated for Mayor but declined. He was founder of the German Humboldt Masonic Lodge of this city, of which he was Master at the time of his death. He was also a member of the American Masonic fraternity, and founder of the German-Eng- lish school of this city, in which he invested several thousand dol- lars without any return, and was elected President and Treasurer of the board at the time of its organization, which position he held till the time of his death, which occurred Nov. 11, 1874. Mr. Mohl was a very liberal and charitable man, and was well liked by every one with whom he was engaged in a business way. . He was eminently successful in business, and had accumulated about $60,- . 000 in real estate. He erected two large brick stores on Canal st. and a fine $10,000 residence corner Cherry and Lafayette sts. We give a portrait of Mr. Mohl on another page.

Edward E. Mohl, of the firm of Mohl & Kenning, No. 39 Pearl st., and son of Edward and Mary (Greiner) Mohl, was born in Grand Rapids July 20, 1858, where he attended the common schools till 16 years of age, then entered the Notre Dame College of Indiana, where he remained two years and graduated with high honors. He then took a one year's course in G. B. Swensberg's Business College of this city. Six weeks after leaving college his father, Edward Mohl, pioneer cigar manufacturer and tobacconist of this city, died (Nov. 11, 1874), his son Edward E. succeeding to the business. He carried on the business alone 18 months at No. 12 Canal st., then removed to the Porter block and admitted Mr. John E. Kenning as partner. After transacting business there nearly two years they removed to their present location, No. 39 Pearl st., where they keep a full line of tobaccos, cigars, and smoker's articles. They occupy the whole of the four-story build- ing, the second floor being used as a store-room, the third for manufacturing purposes, the fourth for drying. They employ 13 hands in the house, also have two traveling salesmen on the road. They carry a stock of about $10,000 for the wholesale and retail trade, and do an annual business of $40,000. Mr. Mohl also has 80 acres of choice land in sec. 32, Alpine tp., two lots corner Cherry and East sts., besides holding considerable paper in shape of mortgages, etc., in various parts of the county. He is a careful, shrewd business young man and has already earned his place among the substantial business men of this city.

John Mohrhard, dealer in all kinds of fresh and salt meats, No. 115 Canal st., and son of Christian and Christina Mohrhard, was born in Germany in 1835. He came to the United States in 1853 to this city, and worked in the butchering business six months for Jonn M. Zinser & Kusterer, then engaged 18 months with Kruger & Tusch. He then engaged in partnership with John M. Zinser on the West Side three years. He then took a six months' trip to California, and again returned to this city and engaged with his former partner till 1861, when they dissolved and he formed a new partnership with J. C. Widoe, Monroe st., and on Canal st., which

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lasted till 1867, when he went in with John Piles, and they trans- acted business together 18 months .! He then began business alone directly opposite his present place of business, where he remained till 1876, when he moved to his present place, where he keeps a choice stock of fresh, salt and dried meats constantly on hand and does an annual business of from $80,000 to $100,000. He was married in this city in 1866 to Martha J, daughter of Jesse and Terresa (Gunder) Widoe, born in Ohio in 1847. They have one child-Addie L., born in this city Jan. 26, 1871. He is a member of the Odd Fellows and German Workingmen's societies. He has kept tlre Bridge Street House on Bridge and Kent sts., he owns a half interest in the Star Bakery building, and one house and lot, 166 Ottawa st., and one house and lot on Bridge st., also 10 acres of land in Walker tp. He also owns the most of Mohr- hard's addition.

Hon. Robert M. Montgomery was born at Eaton Rapids, Eaton Co., Mich., May 12, 1849. His father, Johnson Montgomery, is a native of the State of New York, and settled in Michigan in 1836. Mr. Montgomery obtained his early education at the com- mon schools of his native place, and at 18 commenced teaching in the vicinity of Benton Harbor. He was thus occupied two years and began the study of law at Hart, Washtenaw Co., with Hon. J. Russell, present Judge of the Fourteenth Circuit. He was ad- mitted to the bar in 1870 and entered upon the practice of his profession at Pentwater, Oceana Co., where he continued in prac- tice seven years. He was a short time Assistant Assessor of Internal Revenue; was four years Prosecuting Attorney of Oceana. county. In 1877 he came to Grand Rapids and opened a law office, and has been constantly and profitably engaged, and since removing to Grand Rapids has held the office of United States Attorney. In April, 1881, he was elected Judge of the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit and will assume the duties of the position Jan. 1, 1882. He was married in 1873 to Theo. Wadsworth of Pentwater. They have two children-Morris and Stanley.

Heman N. Moore, of the firm of Rice & Moore, No. 101 Mon- roe st., was born at North Anson, Mc., in 1842; is son of William and Almeda (Wyman) Moore. His father died when he was 13: years old, and, as eldest son, was placed under responsibilities. which necessitated immediate activity. The family moved to Grand Rapids and he engaged with the firm of Kellog, White & Co., on Monroe st. In 1860 he entered the postoffice under N. L. Avery; in July, 1861, he enlisted in Co. D, Sth Reg. M. V. I., Capt. E. B. Church. After one and a half years' service he rose to the rank of 1st Lieut., and was transferred to Co. K, 7th Mich. Cav., Cus- ter's Brigade, where he acted as Captain three years, part of the timne on " detached service." He reached the rank of Brevet Colo- nel and was discharged Dec. 13, 1865, at Jackson, Mich. He was in 13 regular engagements, besides numerous skirmishes while in the 8th Mich. Reg., and was wounded at Antietam in the left arm,

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and July 1, 1863, at Gettysburg, received a sabre cut on the head, his horse was killed, himself captured and in a few days he escaped. After his transfer he was in 19 severe engagements. Mr. Moore was married at Grand Rapids Feb. 4, 1864, to Ellen L., ( aughter of Gaius S. and Mary L. Deane, born in this city in 1843; they have had five children and have three living-Florence, Donna A. and Harold B. Mr. Moore owns his residence at No. 190 Division st., a lot on Canal st., 3,000 acres of grazing land near San An- tonio, Texas, and 1,000 acres of timber land not far from Galves- ton. He has been Under Sheriff two years, is a member of the Masonic Order and Commander of the De Molai Commandery, Knights Templar; also belongs to the Grand Army of the Repub- lic, Custer Post.

John Elliott Moore, of Grand Rapids, was born in Roxbury, Delaware Co., N. Y., Aug. 5, 1848. His father, John B. Moore, was a native of Roxbury, a dairy farmer by occupation, and was born Nov. 21, 1804. He lived in his native place until he came West, in 1855, and settled at Palo, Ill., where he still lives. He received his early schooling in the common schools of his native town, and afterward attended Rock River Seminary at Mount Morris, Ill. He entered Cornell University at Ithaca, N. Y., in 1868, and graduated from this institution in 1871, and in the fall of that year he commenced reading law with John W. Champlain, of Grand Rapids, and was admitted to the bar of Kent county in September, 1878. In the spring of 1876 he graduated from the law department of Michigan University. In December, 1876, he became the junior partner of the firm of Champlain & Moore, of Grand Rapids. They have a well-established and lucrative prac- tice. Mr. Moore was married June 1, 1881, to Miss Elizabeth Stevens, daughter of Samuel Stevens, of Stamford, Delaware Co., N. Y.

Moran & Anderson, proprietors of Moran's restaurant. This famous resort, the finest of the kind in the State of Michigan, was first opened to the public in 1879. Mr. Moran erected the Moran block, of brick, at a cost of $6,000, and fitted up the interior re- gardless of expense. The house was erected under the supervision of Frank Anderson, the junior member of the firm, who has been in the restaurant and hotel business for over 16 years. The base- ment is used for kitchen, ice meat box, wine and fruit cellars. The first floor for a dining room, with a fine bar-room in front, presided over in day-time by the genial Harry Hubbard, who is also a member of the orchestra of Power's Opera House. The upper floor is fitted up with private rooms and parlors, especially for private suppers and parties. The furniture, and in fact every- thing about the building, was made to order, and the inside pre- sents a very neat and tasty appearance. The senior member, Charles Moran, was born in Grand Rapids, July 7, 1854. He is a son of James L. Moran, who was chief of the Grand Rapids Police force for ten years. Mr. Moran was reared and educated in his native

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HISTORY OF KENT COUNTY.

city, and for several years was bookkeeper for his father. His father resigned his position, and the son followed his example. In 1879 he started in his present business. He was married Dec. 26, 1877, to Kate, daughter of John McDonald, a wholesale grocer of Grand Rapids. Frank Anderson, the junior member, was born at Hoboken, N. J., June 14, 1854, and is a son of William H. Ander- son. He was reared and educated at New York city, and went to Chicago at an early day. After the great fire of 1871, he came to Grand Rapids, and in 1879 took charge of Mr. Moran's business as manager. On Feb. 1, 1881, he was admitted as a partner. Mr. Anderson was married Aug. 16, 1881, to Dell W. Martin, a resident of Laingsburg. Mich.

James P. Moran, livery man, 47 to 51 Louis street, was born in Canada in 1851; is son of Dennis and Mary Moran. He was reared on a farm; his parents came to this city in 1858, and when 11 years old he left home to make his own way in the world. He worked some years as a farm hand, and in 1869 set out on a trip through Illinois, Wisconsin, etc. He spent four years in Janes- ville, Wis., and engaged in lumbering in the northern part of this State three years. In 1878 he engaged in traffic in horses shipped to Grand Rapids from Indiana. In 1880 he bought his present business, the oldest in the city, established in 1838.

Hon. Jefferson Morrison, an honored pioneer of Michigan, and the first Probate Judge of Kent county, was born at Milton, Sar- atoga Co., N. Y., July 15, 1805. His father, Junius Morrison, was a native of Rhode Island. Judge Morrison was reared to man- hood in his native State, receiving his early education in the dis- trict schools, and subsequently attending an academy at Castleton, Vt. When young he learned the tanning trade, and was engaged in that business at Galway, Saratoga Co., until 1831. He then went to Western New York, and six months later came to De- troit, Mich., entering the employ of Judge Ingersoll, who was en- gaged in the manufacture of leather at that place. In 1834 he was appointed Inspector of Leather for Wayne Co., Ter. of Mich., by Governor George B. Porter, and the following year was com- missioned Justice of the Peace for Kalamazoo county, which then included Kent county, by Governor Stevens T. Mason. In the spring of 1835 he came to Grand Rapids, and established a trading store at the foot of Monroe street, now known as the "Campau Place." This was the first general store opened at Grand Rapids, and for several years Judge Morrison did a thriving and lucrative business. In 1836 he brought his wife from Detroit, by stage, but when they reached Middleville the Thornapple river was flooded, and they were forced to seek some other mode of passage. Judge Morrison found some Indians of his acquaintance, of whom he borrowed two canoes. He placed his wife and trunk in one, with two squaws, while he went ahead in the other one, to look after some land he had previously purchased at Cascade. While crossing over a rapid, the canoe which contained his wife filled with water,

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and her trunk floated down the stream. The squaws finally brought the canoe to shore, and Mrs. Morrison reached the bank in safety. They finally reached Robinson's trading-post, where they remained over night, and the next day finished their perilous journey. The same year, 1836, Judge Morrison entered the land and laid out the villages of Saranac, Ionia Co., and Cascade, Kent Co. In 1835, having made some purchases of real estate at Grand Rapids, he started on a prospecting tour, with Chicago as the objective point. In company with Rix Robinson, he started down the Grand river in a canoe. The first night they stopped at a deserted trading-post, and the next day arrived at Grand Haven. Here they obtained two Indian ponies and an Indian to pilot them to the mouth of the Kalamazoo river. They arrived there after dark, and employed an Indian and two squaws to pilot them along the lake shore to the point nearest Chicago. They finally reached St. Joseph, where they engaged passage on a small schooner bound for Chi- cago. The real-estate market there was much excited, and Judge Morrison disposed of one lot, at Grand Rapids, at a clear profit of $300. He then purchased a pony and returned to Detroit. Judge Morrison's Indian name was Poc-to-go-nin-ne, by which he was known to all the tribes throughout the State. In 1852 Judge Morrison transferred his business from Grand Rapids to the forks of the Muskegon river, in Newaygo county, where he laid out the village of Croton. He sold out two years later, and returned to Grand Rapids. In 1860 he purchased a stock of gro- ceries on Monroe street, but in 1866 sold his interest in the busi- ness, and has since led a retired life. He was married in 1836 to Caroline, daughter of Abram Gill, of Detroit. Five children were born to them, one daughter and four sons-Sarah, Lewis C., Walter B., George and Byron. Mrs. Morrison departed this life in 1850, and Mr. Morrison was again married, at Grand Rapids, to Wealthy M. Davis. They have five living children-Fred., Ella, Mary, Lucy and James. John is deceased. In 1836 Judge Mor- rison was elected Judge of Probate of Kent county, the first incumbent of that office. He laid out and platted Morrison's Addi- tion to the city of Grand Rapids, and in various ways has proven himself to be a man of public spirit and enterprise. During his life of nearly four score years, Judge Morrison has passed through many trials and hardships, but in his declining years, he rests quietly from the cares and storms of an active business career, and lives in the enjoyment of the days gone by, and the esteem and good-will of the entire community.

Robert W. Morris was born in New York on the 13th of Octo- ber, 1816, and died at Grand Rapids on the 5th of May, 1866. When 18 years old, having saved some money by the exercise of great economy, he went to Michigan, and bought 80 acres of land in Oakland county. In 1837 he removed to Grand Rapids tp., and, in partnership with L. Covell and W. I. Blakely, engaged in business in a saw-mill, six miles from what was then the village of

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Grand Rapids. In 1838 he dissolved this connection, and, remov- ing to Muskegon, entered into partnership with Martin Ryerson, in manufacturing lumber, which the firm sold in Chicago, where they had two large lumber yards. They owned, in course of time, two large saw-mills at Muskegon, vessels to carry lumber to Chicago, and the first steamer that navigated Lake Michigan between these localities. They began, in 1838, with a capital of but $6,000, and, 27 years later, when Mr. Morris retired, he re- ceived $250,000 as his share. In the spring of 1865 Mr. Morris removed to Grand Rapids, where he purchased 20 acres of land, with improvements, that made it the finest place of residence in the city. This property is, at present, worth five times as much as it cost. During his residence at Muskegon, Mr. Morris was Mayor of that city six years, and also held minor offices. He at- tended the Congregational Church, but was a generous contributor to all religious denominations. He married at Chicago, on the 4th of August, 1852, Miss Sarah A. Joslyn. This union was blessed with three children, two daughters and a son, who are still living, the consolation of their widowed mother. Mrs. Morris manages the estate with a high degree of business ability. She has never ceased to mourn the loss of her noble husband. In an estimate of the character of Mr. Morris, peculiar traits are noticeable, and worth placing on record. He abhorred profane language to such a degree that those in his employment seldom indulged in it. He possessed magnetic power over those with whom he had acquaint- ance or dealings, winning not only their respect, but their affec- tion. His life influenced happily all who came in contact with him; and, with that not unusual combination in the nature of some men, he was brave as he was good, tender and affectionate as he was strong and manly. Upon reaching Michigan, in the early days of his manhood, his whole property consisted of 80 acres of wild land in the Territory; at his death, which occurred when he was but 50 years old, he was the owner of real and personal prop- erty valued at more than a quarter of a million of dollars. Mr. Morris may, with propriety, take rank among the self-made men of Michigan.

Rev. Marx Moses, Pastor of the Temple Emanu El, Grand Rapids, was born in Bavaria, in March, 1834. His parents were Samuel and Rosine (Meyers) Moses. Mr. Moses was edu- cated at Vienna, under Professor Sulzer, and at Frankfort-on-the- Main, under Dr. Stein. At these places he prepared for the ministry, and, when 17 years of age, was stationed at Strasbourg, France, where he remained four years, and two years at Baden. In 1856 he came to America, and was Pastor of Yeshurun Con- gregation four years; Turner Street Congregation, New York city, three years; Jewish Synagogue, Peoria, III., 10 years. He then went to New Orleans, La., where, during the yellow-fever scourge of 1878, he lost his wife, two sons and one daughter, in one week. After four years' labor there, he was called to Madison,

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Ind., where he remained two years, and in August, 1881, accepted a call to his present charge. Mr. Moses is a member of the Masonic fraternity, having taken the 33d degree. He is also connected with the Sons of the Covenant (Hebrews). While a resident of Peoria, Ill., he was a neighbor of Col. Robert Ingersoll, and the two became very warm friends. Mr. Moses was married, in 1859, to Caroline Bookbinder, a native of Nuremberg, Bavaria. Two daughters are the survivors of the children-Hattie and Bertha.

Amos S. Musselman, of the firm of Fox, Musselman & Love- ridge, was born Oct. 19, 1851, near Gettysburg. Pa. He is a son of Major John and Susan (Meyers) Musselman, and attended the common schools until 16, when he entered the Pennsylvania College at Gettysburg, and three and one-half years after went to East- man's National Business College, at Poughkeepsie, N. Y., where he took a full commercial course. He taught in the office and banking department four months; in the fall of 1876 he came to this city, and represented Peter Graff in the firm of Graff & McSkimmin, coffee and spice dealers, 56 Kent street. The firmn bought out the interest of Samuel Fox in the firm of S. Fox & Co., wholesale grocers at Nos. 17 and 19 South Division st., where Mr. M. remained until February, 1879; he engaged as bookkeeper for Hibbard & Graff until March, 1880. In June of that year he formed a partnership with James Fox and L. L. Loveridge, and Nov. 1, 1881, they removed to Peck's block, where they are engaged in extensive wholesale grocery trade. He was married near Lancaster, Pa., Sept. 12, 1877, to Ella, daughter of John and Elizabeth Hostetter, born near Lancaster, Pa., Aug. 16, 1852.

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History of Kent County, Michigan, together with sketches of its cities, villages and townships, educational, religious, civil, military, and political history, portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens, Part 108

Author: Leeson, M. A. (Michael A.); Chapman, Charles C., & Co. (Chicago) Publication date: 1881 Publisher: Chicago : C.C. Chapman & Co. Number of Pages: 1434

Author: Leeson, M. A. (Michael A.); Chapman, Charles C., & Co. (Chicago)
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Chicago : C.C. Chapman & Co.
Number of Pages: 1434