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 16
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their own beyond sturdy health, firm and set purpose, and that section of the wild woodland they had purchased and on which they built their new and humble homes; but they soon saw their labors richly rewarded and in their declining days could well afford to leave to the young and likewise sturdy generation, the tilling of the soil.
Lack of accommodations and other difficulties induced these settlers to have themselves inscribed on the register of St. Patrick's church, Carleton, although they lived from five to seven miles distant from that church. It soon became evident, however, that concentration and union of their forces with those of their neighbors at Blue Bush would be of great benefit to all. This conviction brought about the starting of a parochial school in a frame building erected for that purpose in the village of Maybee, in about the year 1880. Two Sisters of the Order of St. Dominic, from the convent in Adrian, were employed as teachers and rendered such excellent service that the school began to flourish and became popular at once. A brick church building was erected at Maybee in 1889, by Rev. Fr. Romayne, of St. Patrick's, Carleton, being the pastor in charge at the time, and by order of the Right Rev. Bishop John T. Foley, declared the parish church for Blue Bush and Maybee and sur- rounding territory within a radius of four miles. Difficulties naturally attending such a change were happily overcome, and the now fair sized and self-supporting parish, like a youth with high ideals and firm deter- mination, at once strove zealously to be worthy to be ranked among all the good congregations of the Diocese of Detroit.
Rev. Fr. Seybold served the church as first resident pastor from 1894 to 1897. Rev. Fr. Jos. Strauss followed from 1897 to 1899. In the year last named, Rev. Fr. Mies took charge. At that time the church had a small lot facing on St. Joseph street, on which stood the church edifice, schoolhouse and Sisters' dwelling place. In 1900 a lot was bought on the north side of the church and the rectory, a fine brick structure built on it, at an expenditure of $3,855. By 1903 the old schoolhouse had outgrown its accommodations and an addition was built on to it. For some years previous to 1905 it had been manifest that the congregation had outgrown the church, and plans were considered for obtaining better accommodations. These culminated in the year last mentioned, in the addition of the present imposing sanctuary, which was erected at a cost of $5,000. The teachers' dwelling place was also enlarged in the same year. As the old school building had by this time become entirely too . small, it was determined that a new schoolhouse of ample dimensions should be put up, and ground adjoining the church property on the north was purchased of Matthew Gerhart for $1,500. On the ground thus secured, was built in 1907, the modern, two-story brick school- house, which belongs to the church and which so highly adorns the property as a whole. It gives ample accommodations for the school, which numbers one hundred and thirty-five pupils, and is furnished and equipped with every necessary provision of the most approved modern type. Three teachers are employed in the school, who, under the supervision of the pastor, labor assiduously and successfully to keep up the highest standard of efficiency, but above all to instill in the hearts and minds of the children the faith of the church, and teach them those moral virtues which are the safest guarantee of future good citizenship.
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Rev. John S. Mies was born in Wongrowitz, province of Posen, Prus- sia, on February 27, 1871, and is the representative of a good family in that city. He is the son of John and I. Mies, the former a native of Tellig, Eifel, near the river Mosel, and the latter of Munstermaifeld, also near the river Mosel, in the Fatherland, who after a few years of residence in Wongrowitz, made their home in M. Gladbach, Rhine province. The father was a man of intelligence and education and for many years held a high place in the employ of the government. He has been a member of the Prussian House of Deputies uninterruptedly from the time he entered it in 1888, up to the present time, and during his tenure of office for these many years has performed its duties with entire satisfaction to his contituents and to the authorities over him. He has, in recognition of his services, been honored by the government with two orders. He was loyal to his country, devoted to its interests and rendered to it the best service of which he was capable, and that was of a high order in both fidelity and ability.
Rev. Fr. Mies obtained an excellent education in his native country, attending the state schools and afterward a college. In 1888 he came to America and located in the city of Baltimore, Maryland, where he attended a theological institution-St. Mary's University-until 1894, when he was ordained to the priesthood by the Right Reverend W. Curtis, Bishop of Wilmington, Delaware. Immediately after his ordina- tion he was sent to Detroit, Michigan, where he was engaged in church work for five years. From Detroit he was transferred to St. Joseph's church, at Maybee, in 1899, and this has been his exacting field of labor ever since.
That he has met the requirements of his duty here in a masterly way is attested by the condition of his parish and everything connected with it. He has vastly increased the value of the church property in a material way, has had erected nearly all the fine buildings which it embraces, and has so improved it generally, that it is an enduring mon- ument to his zeal, enterprise, and excellent management. He has also augmented the force and influence of his flock as a power for good in the community of its location, added largely to its numbers, and given it consequence and standing it never had before. His fidelity to duty and his highly commendable citizenship have also won for him the respect and esteem of the whole territory subject to his ministrations, and secured for him the lasting good-will and admiration of all classes of people, without regard to race, creed or conditions. The interests of St. Joseph's are entirely safe in his hands, and the church of his faith has a faithful and very creditable respresentative here in him.
CLARENCE S. HERKIMER. The advent of the automobile opened up a wide field of business opportunity, and in the ranks of those who have de- voted their attention to this industry may be found many who formerly confined their energies to the cultivation of the soil. The world-old occupation of farming has developed men of brawn and brains, capable of achieving success in any of the fields of industrial endeavor, and Mon- roe county has its full quota of recruits to the modern business of auto-
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mobile dealing. Clarence S. Herkimer, of Maybee, Michigan, representa- tive of the Buick Automobile Company, is a product of the farm. He was born October 18, 1876, on the old family homestead in Monroe coun- ty, and is a son of Robert C. and Augusta (McManus) Herkimer.
The progenitor of the Herkimer family in America was Gen. Her- kimer, of Revolutionary fame, after whom Herkimer county, New York, was named. There was born his grandson, Henry Herkimer, October 2, 1803, and he married Elizabeth Dingman, who died February 12, 1897, at the age of ninety-three years. Their only child was Robert C. Herk- imer, who was born on the old homestead in Monroe county, June 5, 1844. Reared on the home farm, he enlisted September 3, 1864, in Com- pany K, Eighteenth Regiment, Michigan Volunteer Infantry, Capt. Jack- son, and served with the company until his honorable discharge, June 26, 1865. He was married July 5, 1866, to Augusta McManus, daughter of Thomas and Mary McManus. Mr. Herkimer built the tile factory at Exeter, for the manufacture of brick tile, in which he engaged for many years, employing ten or twelve men, and also conducted a sawmill here. He was the owner of the old homestead purchased and erected by his father in Exeter township, where he built a brick residence of twelve rooms, in addition to which he had other modern and substantial build- ings, including a barn fifty-six by one hundred feet, with posts sixteen feet in height, a granary forty-six by seventy-two feet, and other suit- able buildings. The farm was developed by Mr. Herkimer into one of the most valuable in the county, and is located three and one-half miles north of Maybee. Mr. and Mrs. Herkimer had a family of seven chil- dren, as follows: Harry C., residing at Maybee; Otis R., of Detroit; Charles E .; Clarence S .; Mrs. Clara B. Palmer, of Ypsilanti, Michigan ; Leah E., wife of C. M. Knowles, of Milan. and Thomas C., of Detroit. Robert C. Herkimer was a stanch Republican, a popular member of the Masonic fraternity, and an active worker in Baker G. A. R. Post No. 190, of Carleton. He and Mrs. Herkimer were faithful members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and were widely known for their kindness, hospitality and many acts of charity.
Clarence S. Herkimer was educated in the public schools and reared to farm work, to which he gave his entire attention until coming to May- bee to engage in the automobile business. He has become widely known throughout Wayne and Monroe counties as a salesman for the Buick car, and has met with great success in his chosen field, his pleasant per- sonality and honorable methods having gained him numerous friends. On January 3, 1900, Mr. Herkimer was united in marriage with Miss Louisa M. Dexter, who was born and educated at Milan, daughter of Josiah F. and Rhoda R. (Throop) Dexter, natives of York township, Monroe county, Michigan, the latter of whom died June 28, 1900. They had three children: Louisa M., who married Mr. Herkimer; Amy and Edwin. Mr. and Mrs. Herkimer have one daughter: Mamie Gladys, a bright and interesting child of ten years, now attending school. The Herkimer home is situated in Exeter township, and is a center of social refinement, where the numerous friends of Mr. and Mrs. Herkimer often congregate.
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FRED D. REHBERG. The successful farmer of today is he who takes advantage of every scientific discovery in the field of agriculture and is able to apply modern methods to the world-old vocation of tilling the soil. Farming has advanced remarkably during the last half century, no less than the professions, and in order to reap the full emoluments for his labor, the farmer must constantly keep abreast of the times, studying and treating his land in the same manner that the business man devotes himself to his trade or the physician to his patient. One of the agriculturists who has been an important factor in keeping up the high standard of his vocation in Monroe county, is Fred D. Rehberg, of London township, proprietor of the beautiful Fair View Farm. He has been a lifelong resident of Monroe county, and was born here December 7, 1873, a son of Fred L. and Catharine (Goetz) Rehberg, an early settler of the community.
Fred L. Rehberg was born in Mecklenburg, Germany, and there re- ceived his education, but at the age of eighteen years decided to try his fortunes in America, and accordingly embarked on a sailing vessel, with his parents, landing in New York. Mr. Rehberg, Sr., at once made his way to Monroe county, Michigan, settling on the banks of the Rai- sin river, where he purchased land in the woods and erected a log house. Here he continued to reside, cultivated his land and improved his farm until it was one of the best in the county, the little log cabin of pioneer days being supplemented by a handsome frame house. and other suitable buildings. Some years ago he retired from business activities, and he and his wife are now living quietly in Maybee. Mr. Rehberg is a Democrat.
Fred D. Rehberg was reared to habits of industry and integrity, and his boyhood was spent on the home farm, his education being secured in the district schools, supplemented by extensive reading and home study. In August, 1901, he was married to May Ried, who was born, reared and educated in London township, daughter of John Ried, a pioneer of that locality. Mrs. Rehberg's mother is deceased, having left a family of seven daughters and one son. Mr. and Mrs. Rehberg have one daughter: Eunice, who is eight years of age.
After his marriage, Mr. Rehberg settled down to agricultural pur- suits, and he is now the owner of Fair View Farm, a handsome property of one hundred and twenty acres in London township, eighty acres being in section thirty-six and forty acres in section twenty-five. He has a nice, well-furnished residence of six rooms, with modern equipments, a large barn, thirty-two by sixty feet, a substantial granary, and other well-appointed buildings for the shelter of his grain and machinery. The farm is in fine condition, well fenced, graded and drained, and the pastures, meadow lands and grain fields mutely testify to the presence of good management and thrift. At this time Mr. Rehberg is serving as agent for the Farmers' Mutual Insurance Company, for London town- ship, a firm that has a record for paying every fire loss for the past forty-eight years. He is interested in movements for the advancement of education, morality and good citizenship, and has served as a member of the township school board and as a member of the board of trustees
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of the Congregational church. Progressive and enterprising, public-spir- ited in all things, and having hosts of friends throughout the township, Mr. Rehberg is justly regarded as one of his community's representa- tive men, and well merits the high esteem in which he is universally held.
Mr. Rehberg's mother, who bore the maiden name of Catherine Goetz, was born in Alsace, Germany, and was left an orphan, with two sisters, when her father died of an attack of cholera. She and Mr. Reh- berg's father had a family of four children.
Mr. Rehberg's grandfather, Frederick Rehberg, emigrated from the Fatherland many years ago. He set sail from his native land with his family in a sailing vessel and the tempestuous voyage was of six weeks' duration ere they sighted Free America. He made his way to London township, Monroe county, and here founded the home of his family.
Mrs. Rehberg is a cultured lady, has received excellent educational training. She finished the public school course, then spent two terms in the Capac high school of Capac, St. Clair county, Michigan, and then a course in the Byron high school of Shiawassee county, Michigan, suc- cessfully passed her teacher's examination in 1893, and taught success- fully nine years in Monroe county, Michigan. She takes great interest in the Sunday school work, and for nine years has labored as a teacher of the boys' class in the Congregational Sunday school of Maybee. She is a lady, whose home is a model of neatness. Both she and her husband are lovers of good literature.
LOUIS EBY. The present highway commissioner of Exeter township, is an official who has put his public duties foremost and has given a ser- vice which is a practical benefit to every citizen of the township and county. Mr. Eby understands the relation of well kept roads to the com- fort and prosperity of the community, and has directed his efforts to making the local transportation highways adequate to all reasonable needs. He is himself one of the enterprising and successful farmers of the township, and has spent more than thirty years in this county. He was first elected highway commissioner in the spring of 1911, and at the end of the first year his record of service was so satisfactory that he was chosen again.
Mr. Eby has one of the good farm homes of the township on section 20, where he owns eighty acres of valuable land. A modern residence of eight rooms, a stock and hay barn, thirty-two by sixty-two feet, well fenced and well cultivated field, are all the outward evidences of able husbandry and of the prosperity that abides on this estate.
Mr. Eby was born in the province of Alsace, France-now Germany, in 1850. His father, John Eby, spent many years of his life in LaSalle and Raisinville townships of this county. He and his wife were devout Catholics and reared their children in that faith. They were the par- ents of twelve children, two of whom died young. The father died at the age of about eighty-six and the mother at sixty-eight.
Mr. Louis Eby was married at the age of twenty-five to Miss Mar- garet Shike, who was born in Raisinville township, this county. They have become the parents of a large family of eleven children, whose names are as follows: Martha, Ben, Frances, Tillie, Christine, Thomas,
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Eva, Johanna, Leo, Margaret and Sylvester. All were reared to habits of industry and honesty, had the advantages of the public schools, and in their young lives are a credit to their parents. They are all com- municants of the Catholic faith of St. Joseph's Parish at Maybee, Mich- igan. Mr. Eby supports his local church and favors all the forces for better education and better life in the community and nation.
GUSTAVE GRAMS. A successful farmer whose stimulating example has influenced others to become more progressive and scientific in the work on their farms, and an excellent highway commissioner for London township, whose services in connection with the roads and bridges in the township have been of great benefit to the locality, Gustave Grams is proving himself to be one of the most enterprising, far-seeing and serv- iceable citizens of Monroe county. He has been tried in several ways and has come forth from every test with his reputation sustained in the fullest measure and the confidence of the public in his integrity, ability and progressiveness extended and intensified, and its regard for him aug- mented and heightened.
Mr. Grams was born in London township, this county, on January 26, 1879, a son of Rhinehart and Minnie (Zeman) Grams, early settlers in the township, the father, a successful farmer and a highly respected citizen, and the mother one of the choice matrons of the county for ex- cellence of character, force of will in what is right and fidelity to duty in every way. The father died some twelve years ago at the age of sixty- three years, leaving a widow and three children as the surviving members of his family. The children are Frederick, who lives in York township, this county : R. H., who lives in London township, and Gustave. The head of the family was a firm believer in the doctrines and teachings of the Lutheran church, of which he was long a member, and supported the congregation to which he belonged with great ardor and liberality.
Gustave Grams was reared on the home farm and educated in the dis- trict school in the neighborhood, supplementing its lessons by those of experience in business and the practical affairs of life. He remained at home and assisted his mother in the management of the farm until his marriage with Miss Madora Smith, a young lady of intelligence, ad- vanced social culture and good family. This took place on September 10, 1908, and united him with the daughter of V. E. and Effie (Smith) Smith, esteemed residents of London township, and has resulted in the birth of one child, a son named Edward, whose life began on January 28, 1910.
Mr. Grams is a pronounced Republican in political affairs and has considerable influence in the councils of his party. He has served it fre- quently as a delegate to its township and county conventions, and has been an energetic worker for its success at every election since the dawn of his manhood. He served two years as overseer of highways, and in the early part of 1911 was elected highway commissioner. His services in this office during his first term were so acceptable and so highly com- mended that in the spring of 1912, he was elected for a second term with increased evidences of popularity and approval of his course by the people.
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In 1911 he built five good bridges in the township, and in 1912, so far has built fourteen of cement, fine structures of which the people of the township are justly proud. He has about seventy-five miles of roads to look after, and he gives his work in caring for them studious and scientific attention. He understands how to make good dirt roads and turnpikes also, and applies his knowledge on the subject and the materials available for it with good judgment and a high order of skill. He is also somewhat of an expert on bridge building and repairing both roads and bridges. In the office of drainage commissioner, in which he served for a time, he also won high credit for himself as a knowing man of good judgment, and gave the township excellent results from his skill and industry in the administration of the office.
Mr. Grams is a loyal member of the Methodist Episcopal church, to which his wife also belongs. They are cordial and liberal supporters of their congregation in the sect, and hard workers in connection with all its interests. Tall, erect, sinewy and athletic, standing six feet high and weighing one hundred and eighty-five pounds, Mr. Grams is as fine a specimen of physical manhood as can be found anywhere. But his manhood in other respects is in keeping with his physical stature and proportions, and challenges admiration wherever he is known. His word is as good as his bond always, and his stern devotion to duty is ever guided by lofty ideals, breadth of view and judicious discrimination between the seeming good and the real good of the community. London township and Monroe county have no better citizen, and none who is more highly or more justly esteemed and relied on.
FRED LINENFELSER. The Germans in America form an important class of good, reliable and industrious citizens. who can be depended upon to work hard, save their earnings, and so invest their capital that it will afford excellent returns, not only to themselves, but to the com- munity in which they settle and carry on their operations. An example of German industry may be found in the career of Fred Linenfelser, of Maybee, proprietor of the large tile and brick factory, which has been developed into one of the leading industries of this part of the state. Mr. Linenfelser, who has been engaged in his present business for twen- ty-three years, and is one of the best-known brick and tile manufacturers of the county, was born in Baden, Germany, December 30, 1860, and is a son of Pies Linenfelser, who emigrated to the United States with his family and spent his last years in agricultural pursuits in Monroe county, Michigan, owning a fine property in London township. He and his wife were faithful members of the Catholic church, and were well known and highly esteemed in their community.
Fred Linenfelser was educated in the district schools, and continued to assist his father in the work of the home farm until he started to learn the brick making business in the Hecker Tile and Brick Factory, where he remained some years and rose to the position of foreman. In 1908 he erected his present factory, the kiln of which is twenty-one by sixty-three feet, while a fifty horse-power engine operates the machinery in the three large buildings. Steam heat is used above and below, an elevator has been installed to carry passengers to the second story, and
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the capacity of the buildings and sheds is one hundred thousand brick, or fifty thousand tile, the annual output being three hundred thousand brick and tile per annum. Seven men are employed in the works, and the finest of clay is used, the product finding a ready market and com- manding the highest prices. Those associated in business with Mr. Linenfelser as stockholders in the enterprise are Henry Liedel and George Hocknadel, well-known business men of Maybee. Mr. Linenfelser is a man of sterling integrity, and has gained an enviable reputation through his participaton in business ventures of strict legitimacy only. No enterprise looking towards the eventual betterment of the community need fear of not securing Mr. Linenfelser's support, for he is a friend of interest and lends his influence towards securing all improvements pos- sible. As a side line, Mr. Linenfelser sells insurance for the Farmers' Mutual Insurance Company, in Exeter township, and claims that he represents the best company in the state of Michigan, and one which has paid every loss for forty-eight years. His wide acquaintance and popu- larity have gained him a large amount of business in this line, and he has never been known to misrepresent matters or to take advantage of those who place their confidence in him.
In 1888 Mr. Linenfelser was united in marriage with Miss Lena Bitz, who died shortly thereafter. Later he was married (second) to Miss Josephine Hoffman, daughter of John and Joanna Hoffman, the latter of whom survives, while the former was a pioneer settler and agricul- turist of Monroe county, where he died. Mr. and Mrs. Linenfelser have had seven children, namely : Bernard, Anna, John, Robert, Margaret, Monica and Elmer.
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