USA > Michigan > Monroe County > History of Monroe County, Michigan : a narrative account of its historical progress, its people, and its principal interests Volume II > Part 12
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The seventh in order of birth in a family of seven brothers, Frank S. Sturn received his preliminary educational training in the graded schools of Monroe, where he also attended high school. After leaving school he became a clerk in the store of J. S. Hoffman, a dealer in dry- goods. In 1900 he became associated with Mr. Hoffman in the clothing business and in 1903 he purchased Mr. Hoffman's stock, at No. 19 E. Front street, where the business has since been conducted with increas- ing success. A very select stock of clothing, hats, caps and men's furnishings are handled and the firm controls an extensive and very exclusive patronage. Mr. Sturn is a business man of marked capacity and his fair and honorable methods have won him the confidence and esteem of all with whom he has dealings.
October 8, 1905, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Sturn to Miss Louisa McCoy, a daughter of Jacob and Hulda (Moneyshith) McCoy.
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ST. CHARLES CATH, CH, NEWPORT MICH OLDPORT ROAD ~
ST. CHARLES CATHOLIC CHURCH, NEWPORT, MICHIGAN REV. T. G. MORIN, PASTOR
Re. .. Morin
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At the time of her marriage Mrs. Sturn was a resident of St. Mary's, Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Sturn have one daughter, Dorothy E., whose birth occurred on the 25th of July, 1910. The Sturn home is at No. 54 Hum- phrey street and is the scene of many attractive social gatherings. In their religious faith they are devout communicants of St. Michaels Catholic church. In a fraternal way Mr. Sturn is a valued and appre- ciative member of the Knights of Columbus.
REV. T. G. MORIN. Where eminent abilities and unblemished integ- rity, combined with unimpeachable virtue, derivable from the daily practice of religion and piety, contribute to adorn the character of an individual, then it is most proper that it be prominently set forth as an example to those who would make themselves useful to the rest of man- kind. In this connection is given a brief sketch of the life and work of the Rev. T. G. Morin, pastor of St. Charles' Parish, of Newport, Michigan, a man who though still young in years, has accomplished great things in his field of labor. Rev. Father Morin was born at Erie, Monroe county, Michigan, December 14, 1875, and belongs to an old and prominent family of this section, being a son of James J. and Elizabeth (Trabbick) Morin, the latter the daughter of Peter Trabbick, an old pioneer settler of the county. In the family of his parents there were six sons and six daughters.
Rev. Morin received his elementary education in the public schools of Erie, Michigan, following which he pursued a three year course of study along commercial lines in St. Mary's Institute, at Dayton, Ohio. He then entered the University of Ottawa, at Ottawa, Ontario, where he completed his full university course of seven years at that institution. His theological studies were completed at the Grand Seminary of Mont- real, Quebec, in 1904. The young cleric was ordained at Detroit, Michi- gan, by Bishop Foley, on December 17, 1904, and his first charge was as assistant at St. Peter and Paul's church, at Ionia, in Ionia county, Michigan, being later called to St. Mary's church, at Monroe, Michigan. After ten months of faithful service there as assistant to Rev. Father J. Joos, Father Morin was made chaplain of the Sacred Heart Academy, at Grosse Pointe, Michigan, and in October, 1907, came to Newport, to take charge of the parish of St. Charles, where he has continued to re- main in the service of his church up to the present time. This church was built in 1885, and from a small beginning has continuously grown until today it has fifteen hundred communicants, one of the largest con- gregations in Monroe county, the church edifice having a seating capa- city of five hundred and fifty.
Rev. Father Morin, who is yet in the prime of his vigorous young manhood, is ambitious and energetic, never tiring of good works among his beloved flock. His influence, always for the good, is felt throughout his parish, permeating the remotest nook and cranny, and the whole- some respect which he inspired upon his coming has not abated with the passing years, but has rather increased, as his people have grown to know him and learn something of the many admirable traits of the man. To the talents of pastor and teacher is added the learning of a scholar and literature, which, united with rare business tact and ability to
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govern, has made him already a conspicuous figure in the church, and has gained to him the confidence, good will, and love of all classes, denominations and nationalities.
ST. CHARLES PARISH. It was in the year 1816 that a number of French Canadian families obtained land grants from the government in what is now Monroe county, Michigan, and there they settled and began the stupendous task of clearing the primeval forests and converting the wilderness district into a habitable place. At that time there was but one road crossing this section of the county, that being the United States turnpike, originally laid out by General Hull during the War of 1812.
In those early days the Catholic faith of these hardy people was fostered and kept alive by the missionary efforts of the Redemptorist Fathers, then in charge of St. Anne's church of Detroit. Until the year 1838 nothing was done towards the erection of a church, but in that year a modest log house was erected on the farm of Peter Allore, that place being located in the vicinity of the present church north of Swan creek. In this humble building divine services were held at irregular intervals by the Missionary Fathers as they journeyed to and fro be- tween Detroit and Monroe until the year 1846, when the Mission of Swan Creek, as this parish was then known, was made a Mission of St. Francis Church of Ecorse. The Rev. Charles Deprete, a nephew of Rt. Rev. Peter Lefevre, then bishop of Detroit, was pastor of Ecorse, and this zealous and devoted priest exhorted the few resident families, which numbered eighteen, to erect a better church edifice, more in keeping with its sacred purpose. The resident families were represented by the following heads of homes: Peter Allore, Peter Brancheau, Sr., Peter Brancheau, Jr., David Brancheau, John Brancheau, Jeremias Beaubien, Dominic Couture, John Courier, Alex Laduke, Louis Laduke, Oliver La- duke, Alex Labeau, Francis Leroux, Alex Loranger, John B. Trombly, Francis Lozon, Leander Young and Leon Young.
Jeremias Beaubien generously donated two acres of land to the parish, located about one hundred rods southwest of the present church, on the United States turnpike, the land to be used for the church and to become church property. Here another log cabin, larger and in many ways more pretentious than the first, was erected, and its dedication took place in March, 1847. Immediately following its dedication a mission lasting seven days was preached by the Redemptorist Fathers Gillett and Fran- cois of St. Mary's church, at Monroe, and to commemorate this event, which marked a crucial point in the history of the young church, as well as to perpetuate in the minds and hearts of the faithful a memento of its salutary effects, a large wooden cross, some twenty feet in height, was erected on a little mound near the church.
In the following year occurred the death of Jeremias Beaubien and soon thereafter the heirs of the deceased discovered that no deed for the two acres which he had donated to the church had ever been recorded, and it appearing that they were unwilling to grant a deed in verification of their father's gift to the church, the building was abandoned as a house of divine worship, and thus after their many years of struggle, it was written that the church of Mission of Swan Creek could boast of
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little material progress, although the spiritual work of the little mission could not be gainsaid. The mission once more returned to the practice of its early days, viz., that of hearing Holy Mass in the hospitable homes of Peter Allore and Peter Brancheau, Sr.
In the year 1851, a friar named Louis Boissanno came to Swan Creek to instruct the children in the necessary knowledge of the fundamental truths contained in the Catechism, as an immediate preparation for First Holy Communion, and he conducted that class also in the home of Peter Allore. In the same year Rev. Fr. Deprete called another assembly of the faithful of Swan Creek Mission to renew the hope of erecting a church with the ultimate purpose of making it a parish with a resident pastor. To lend solemnity to the occasion the Rt. Rev. Bishop Lefevre, in company with his nephew, Rev. Charles Deprete, attended the meeting. The presence of the chief pastor of the diocese together with that of their own spiritual adviser, filled all with a holy enthusiasm, inspiring them to acts of generosity and with a great zeal for the work outlined by the bishop and their pastor. John B. Trombly donated an acre of land, giving a deed with a clear title to the property, the location of the land being on the river road about a half mile east of the United States turnpike. At the same meeting, Louis Laduke gave an acre of land for a cemetery. These gifts added an impetus to the general impulse, and the year 1852 witnessed renewed energy in the advancement of the cause of the church, and the humble mission of Swan Creek, after passing through all the trying circumstances incident to its formative period, soon became numbered among the parishes of the Diocese of Detroit. In the spring of 1853 the proposed new church, a large frame building, was completed. Because of the unabated and fatherly interest that Rev. Charles Deprete displayed in the Mission of Swan Creek, the new church and parish was dedicated to and bore the name of his patron saint, St. Charles Borromeo.
In July, 1853, Rev. John Van Gennip was appointed first resident pastor of St. Charles church, Newport, with Huron River, now Rock- wood and Brest, as missions. No pastor's residence was built before 1871, and in the interim the resident pastors lived at the home of John B. Trombly. It may be of interest to mention the fact here that the first High Mass sung at Newport was on the day of dedication in the spring of 1853, when "La Messe Royale" was chanted by Messrs. August Loranger of Monroe, Sylvester Sancrainte of Newport, and Henry Menancon of Rockwood. The first organ purchased for this parish was in 1860, Miss Orelia Loranger, daughter of Moses Loranger, being the first church organist. Rev. Fr. Van Gennip remained in charge of Newport church until January, 1856, at which date he was transferred to St. Mary's church, at Monroe.
From 1856 to 1880 the little church, now prosperous and growing, pursued the quiet tenor of its way, not unlike the regular routing of a country parish. During this period of almost a quarter century the church witnessed a succession of pastors, not less than fourteen priests being appointed successively to the pastorate of St. Charles church and parish. They are here named, in the order of their service: Rev. Louis Lemagie, Rev. Remy J. Vander Hayden, Rev. Victor Girard, Rev. C. Ryckeart, Rev. D. Galleart, Rev. Adrian de Montanbricq, Rev. J. Hende-
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kens, Rev. Charles Maugin, Rev. M. H. Schaeken, Rev. L. Hendricks, Rev. Peter de Smedt, Rev. E. Dekiere, Rev. E. Maesfranc and Rev. H. Kemper. None of the above named priests continued in charge of the parish for a longer period than two years, with the exception of Rev. Fr. Maesfranc, whose pastorate endured for four years. This frequent change was for the most part due to the gradual growth of the church in other parts of the diocese, and the fact that the limited sphere of service in a small country parish was insufficient to satisfy the zeal of these ener- getic and devoted fathers, they were in consequence called to other por- tions of the Lord's vineyard where they would exercise a wider influence.
Soon after the appointment of Rev. Fr. Kemper in the summer of 1880, he began to agitate the needs of the parish of a new church, to be constructed of brick and sufficiently large to meet the demands of the parish for many generations yet to come. In October, 1880, sickness compelled him to abandon his well-commenced labors in the parish and he was succeeded by Rev. Fr. Gauthier, D. D., who with undaunted energy and a fine courage carried forward the work of erecting the new church, and bringing that work to a successful consummation. Viewed in our own day, this edifice, erected thirty-one years ago, bespeaks much praise for the ability and efforts of Fr. Gauthier, as well as for the loyality and spirit of sacrifice that was so openly manifested by the faithful members of the parish. On April 15, 1882, the corner stone of the church was laid. Serious illness caused a cessation in the labors of Fr. Gauthier about this time and he was succeeded in the parish by Rev. Fr. George Laugel on August 9, 1883. This worthy priest, guided by a prudent zeal, continued the work of Fr. Gauthier, and during the three years of his pastorate the new church was completed and furnished with appropriate equipment and furnishings of altar, pews, etc. In the sum- mer of 1886 the present brick rectory was reared. On June 16, 1886, Rev. L. I. Brancheau, a native of the parish, was ordained to the priest- hood, and soon after his ordination, on July 4, 1886, the young priest was sent to his native parish to minister to the spiritual wants of the people during the absence of Rev. Fr. Laugel, who had obtained per- mission to visit Europe on a mission of charity. Fr. Laugel returned to his parish on October 21 and remained in Newport until December 7th of that year, when he was called to Wyandotte and Rev. Fr. Brancheau succeeded him as pastor at Newport. He in turn, on October 9, 1890, was called to assist at the cathedral in Detroit, and left the parish of Newport with a pleasingly small indebtedness to clear away.
From October, 1890 to October, 1895, the parish was under the care of the Basilian Fathers, and during their brief regime the frequent change of pastors proved to be detrimental to the progress and spiritual as well as material development of the little parish. They were suc- ceeded by Rev. H. Syoen on October 1, 1895, and it is well established that his untiring efforts did much to bring the parish up to its present efficient standing, under the ministrations of its present pastor, Rev. T. G. Morin.
Rev. Fr. Morin was appointed to the pastoral charge of St. Charles' parish on October 12, 1907, and under his watchful care the parish has
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gradually advanced in matters both spiritual and temporal. At this writing the project of a parochial school has been launched, which bids fair to meet with good success in the parish.
Taking a retrospective view of the past thirty years of the life of this community, one must inevitably be impressed with the sturdy, in- sistent and zealous labors of this people, who have striven so worthily in their laudable ambition to spread the gospel of Christ in its community, and to maintain for His greater honor and glory, a worthy and fitting house of worship in their midst. The effect of their spiritual labors has been felt in every sphere of activity in the town of Newport and vicinity, and to them and the faithful Fathers who have guided them in their work and directed the upward path of their spiritual progress, all praise is due and heartily rendered.
MRS. CHRISTIANA C. WILLING, the widow of Christian Willing, of Frenchtown township, Monroe county, Michigan, is one of the most highly respected women of her community. Of good old German stock she is a good representation of all the virtues that ordinarily implies. Upright, sincere and kind, she has fulfilled in a commendable fashion all the duties demanded of her as wife, mother, and neighbor. An excel- lent cook and neat housewife, her home has been the envy of many not possessed of her Teutonic qualities.
Mrs. Willing was born in Germany April 23, 1842, the daughter of Christ and Christiana (Cull) Seip, both of whom were natives of Ger- many. When they reached America, and it was in after years a family joke, they had nothing but their six children to begin their life in the new country. Christiana was eight years old when they left the old country for America. There were no fast ocean greyhounds in those days, and the family came across the ocean in a sailboat, spending three long months on the water, from May until August. After landing they came immediately to Monroe county, where they lived until the death of Mr. and Mrs. Seip. Mrs. Willing had seven brothers and sisters, three of whom, Fred, Mathew, and Lena, wife of John Schneider of Erie, Michigan, are still living.
Mrs. Willing was confirmed in the Lutheran church of Monroe and is still a member of that church. On November 27, 1866, she married William Betzner of Indiana, who died June 9, 1874. Two children from their marriage are still living, Adam Betzner, and Sopha, wife of Charles Hubbard. In 1878 Mrs. Willing was married again, this time to Chris- tian Willing, and four children were born to them, three of whom, Fred, Charles and Carrie Willing, are still living. Mr. Willing died July 16, 1901.
WILLIAM J. LUFT. One of the progressive business men of Monroe is William J. Luft, who began his career in one of the local stores as a clerk, and by business ability and industry has become one of the suc- cessful merchants of the city.
Mr. Luft was born in the city of Monroe, February 4, 1869, a son of Jacob and Margaret (Sellman) Luft. The family has been identified with Monroe county since the early fifties, and its members have been
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substantial workers and worthy citizens. The father was born in 1839 in Wittneberg, Germany, where he received his early education, and then in 1851 came to the United States and direct to Monroe county with his parents. The family first bought a farm of forty acres, and the father spent the rest of his youth there and was engaged in farming through- out his active career. He became the owner of a fine farm of one hun- dred and twenty acres, and in raising stock and grain conducted a busi- ness with excellent success. His death occurred on the home farm in 1910. His wife died there in 1883. There were four children: William J. ; George A., a farmer ; Anna P .; and Walter W., also a farmer.
During his boyhood William J. Luft attended the district schools and later Monroe high school, and in his seventeenth year returned to the farm. Soon afterward he entered the employ of Fred W. Meier Wallpaper and Book store, later with L. W. Newcomer, clothing firm, and was identified with that business for ten years, during which time he laid the basis of his successful business career. In 1906 he was able to buy out Mr. Newcomer's interest, and at that date formed the present well-known firm of Luft-Bice Company, whose store at 22 East Front street is one of the popular trading places for clothing and men's furnishing goods. Mr. J. B. Bice is the other principal partner.
Mr. Luft served during the Spanish-American war, as a sergeant in Company M, Thirty-first Michigan Volunteer Infantry, until muster out of regiment (thirteen months), serving three months in Cuba.
He was married on October 24, 1905, to Miss Rosa E. Sturn, daughter of Fred and Margaret (Reyer) Sturn, a family which has also been well- known through its connection with business affairs in this city. Mr. and Mrs. Luft are the parents of one son, Karl H. The family are all members of the Zion Lutheran church. For many years Mr. Luft has taken a prominent part in the National Guard of Michigan, having been a member for the past seventeen years, and for six years was captain of Company D, of the First Michigan Infantry. In Masonry he affiliates with Monroe Lodge No. 27, A. F. & A. M., with River Raisin Chapter No. 22, R. A. M., and with Monroe Commandery No. 19, K. T., and is also a member of the Knights of Pythias. Both as a business man and citizen, he is one of the men who endeavor to promote the highest welfare of their community, and whose co-operation is always forthcoming when needed.
ALBERT M. MONORE. One of the enterprising, progressive, and there- fore successful and prosperous farmers of Exeter township, and one of the leading citizens of this part of the county, Albert M. Monore presents for contemplation, in himself and in his achievements, a fine specimen of elevated and serviceable American manhood and Michigan citizenship of the best kind. In all the relations of life he has ever been true to the call of duty, and he has taken a broad view of his associations with his fellow men and what he owes them in service, influence and example, although he is far too modest and genuine in his merit to make any such claims for himself.
Mr. Monore is a native of Monroe county, was reared among its people, obtained his education in its public schools and has never had any other home or desire for one. He is therefore wholly a product
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of the county and one of its most loyal and representative men. He was born on his father's farm in Exeter township on March 1, 1864, the first child in a family of twelve, and is a son of Sancomb and Elizabeth (Woodward) Monore, the former born in 1836 and the latter in 1844, on March 23, both in this county. The grandfather, Andrew Monore, was a native of Canada. The great-grandparents on the father's side came to Canada from France at an early day and were highly esteemed in the part of the Dominion in which they lived. Andrew's wife, the grandmother of Albert, was Miss Emma Decussier before her marriage, a daughter of one of the first judges in Monroe county, and here both the grandparents died. Their son Sancomb grew to manhood at Brest, in this county, and for years was a freighter on the river and lake. On May 7, 1863, he married Elizabeth Woodward, a daughter of William Woodward, who was born in England, and who married Miss Elizabeth Robinson, a native of London, in that country. Both died in this county, having come here soon after their marriage. They had eight children, six sons and two daughters: William, Stephen, Robert, Ed- win. Elizabeth. Mary, John, and Benjamin. Stephen and Edwin died early in life. Elizabeth married Sancomb Monore, as has been shown, and Mary married Adelbert Wilson.
Sancomb Monore, after his marriage, located on a tract of wood- land improved with only a rude log cabin and a log stable. This land comprised fifty acres which he cleared and improved from year to year, until he converted it into a good farm. He and his wife were the parents of twelve children, ten of whom are living: Albert M., the interesting subject of this brief review; Robert, whose home is at Carleton; Harvey, who resides at Williamsburg, Iowa; James, who lives in Exeter township, this county; George, who is a resident of Sumpter township; Alvin, whose abiding place is Carleton; Lawrence, who lives in Ash township, near Carleton; Benton, who is a member of the police force in Detroit; Fanny, who is the wife of a Mr. Dewey and lives in Toledo, Ohio; and Mary, whose home is also in Toledo.
The father was a devout churchman and belonged during his later years to the Episcopal church, although he was reared a Catholic. He died in 1905 in the sixty-second year of his age, universally respected for his sterling worth and high character; and the mother is now living in Carleton, where she has a very attractive and comfortable home. Like her husband in his lifetime, she enjoys in a marked degree the regard - and good-will of all who know her, and like him she is worthy of every good opinion bestowed upon her, for her life has been upright and useful, and she has given the people of Monroe county a fine example of genuine womanhood and motherhood.
Lawrence, the son, was reared on the home farm and assisted his father in clearing and cultivating it as it was cleared and made ready for crops. After his father's death he remained at home and stood by his mother, aiding zealously in all her undertakings. He was educated in the district school, near the farm, and the lessons of the school were supplemented by the teachings and example of his parents, which admonished him to be industrious and honest, an excellent foundation for success in life.
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At the age of twenty-six, Albert Monore was married to Miss Minnie Eckhoff, a young lady of good family and educated to the limit of her opportunities. She has been a good and very helpful companion for him, and has aided him in all his struggles for advancement by good counsel and by more substantial assistance, doing her part in every way to hasten his progress. She is a daughter of the late Michael Eckhoff, now deceased, of this county, a sketch of whom will be found elsewhere in this volume.
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