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 37
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Charles S. Choate, Jr., received his education first in the common schools and later in the Agricultural College at Lansing, Michigan. He then took up telegraphy and was employed for many years as an operator. He has been with the P. M. railroad for thirteen years, and has acted as manager of the elevator for five years. On Decem- ber 25, 1894, he and Isabelle M. Goff were married, and they have become the parents of two children, Aubrey J., born January 20, 1900, and Merritt G. born September 18, 1906. Mrs. Choate was born in Belleview, Ohio, October 23, 1867, and received her education in the common and the Belleview graded schools. She is still a member of the Congregational church of Belleview. Mr. Choate is a member of Samaria Lodge 438, A. F. & A. M. at Samaria. Although he pre- fers the Democratic party he has never taken much active part in poli- tics. He is the owner of the Erie Coal and Tile Yard at Erie, Michigan.
EDWARD W. HILTON, secretary of the Farmers Mutual Insurance Company of Monroe and Wayne counties, Michigan, ranks as one of the representative citizens of this locality.
Mr. Hilton dates his birth in Ida township, Monroe county, Michi- gan, December 31, 1838. The Hiltons came originally from England, but Eliab and Nathan, grandfather and father respectively of Edward W., were natives of New York state. Nathan Hilton married Nancy Willard, daughter of William and Mary Willard, natives of Connec- ticut, and early pioneers of Michigan. It was in 1835, in Monroe county, that they were married. A few years later they moved over into northwestern Ohio, but not long afterward came back to Michi- gan and took up their residence in Monroe county, at first in La Salle township and later in Erie township, the last move being in 1854. Here in Erie township they spent the rest of their lives and died. In their family were nine children, of whom four are living at this writing (1912), namely : Joseph S., of Dundee, Michigan; Mrs. Elizabeth Eigh- mey, widow of Spokane Eighmey; Susan, wife of James Dunmore, of Dundee, Michigan, and Edward W.
Edward W. Hilton was reared on his father's farm. He received his early education in one of the primitive log schoolhouses in the vicinity in which they lived, and in 1860 entered Hillsdale College. In the meantime he had learned the carpenter's trade and worked at that trade a year or more. While he was attending college the Civil war cloud gathered. In August, 1862, at his country's call, he enlisted as a member of Company K, Eighteenth Infantry of Michigan, and was with his command, in the Army of the West, until June of the following year, when he was discharged on account of disability. In August,
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1864, having recovered his health, he re-enlisted, this time as a mem- ber of Company M, Eighth Michigan Cavalry, with which he served until the close of the war, when he was honorably discharged. He was mustered out at Nashville, Tennessee, and from there returned to his home in Monroe county.
After the war, Mr. Hilton taught school in winter and farmed in summer, and was thus occupied for eighteen years, his summers also including some carpenter work. In the meantime he purchased sixty acres of woodland in Erie township, which he cleared, and to which he added another tract, making ninety-four acres. Subsequently he sold all of this land except two and a half acres at Erie, where he lives. Since 1895 he has been secretary of the Farmers' Mutual Insurance Company of Monroe and Wayne counties, which was organized in 1863. His long term of service in this capacity, covering as it does a period of eighteen years, is convincing proof of his efficiency.
In August, 1864, just before he re-entered the army, as outlined above, Mr. Hilton and Miss Kate E. McEldowney were united in mar- riage. Mrs. Hilton, like her husband, was born and reared in Mon- roe county. They have one son, George S. Hilton, a resident of Toledo, Ohio, where he is foreman in a factory. He is married and has three children.
Politically, Mr. Hilton affiliates with the Democratic party, but has never taken an active part in public affairs. Fraternally, he is iden- tified with Wm. Bell Post, G. A. R., of Dundee, Michigan, and Samaria Lodge, No. 484, A. F. & A. M. It was in 1864 that he was made a Mason, and he has filled every office in the lodge except that of Master. Mrs. Hilton is an active member of the Presbyterian church of Erie.
HON. CHARLES T. GORHAM, as president of the First National Bank in Marshall, was the oldest banker in the state, at the time of his death, and one whose ability has given him unusual prominence in financial circles. He had, in addition to this, a diplomatic record that stamped him as a man of tact and sound judgment and no stranger in the city was long left in ignorance as to his name and reputation. The fact that a large amount of worldly goods has come to him as the legitimate result of his business enterprise, is a matter of but slight importance compared with the fact that in none of his banking transactions was his paper ever discounted or dishonored.
Mr. Gorham came from a family which was prominent in political circles during the early days of the republic, one of its members, Nathaniel Gorham, having been a delegate to the first United States convention, held in New York. Capt. John Gorham, a direct ancestor, was prominent in the Dutch and Indian wars. The line is traced back to England, and those who established themselves in the colonies found a home in the New England states. He of whom we write was the third son of William and Polly (Weed) Gorham, who reared a family of four sons and one daughter. All rose to prominence, one son being a clergy- man in Newark, New Jersey, another a lawyer in Burlington, New York, and the eldest, who used his fine literary attainments in the field of book publication and criticism, lived and died in Peekskill, New York.
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The birthplace of Mr. Gorham was Danbury, Fairfield county, Con- necticut, and he was born on the 29th of May, 1812. While he was quite a young man, his parents removed to Oneonta, Otsego county, New York, where Charles prepared for college, fully expecting to finish the college course. He had, however, displayed marked business qualifi- cations, which attracted the attention of a leading merchant of Oneonta, one of the most practical and successful business men in the interior of the state. Young Gorham was persuaded to abandon his intention of going to college and accept a position in the extensive mercantile house of that gentleman, and there he remained for five years. He there exhibited the greatest of fidelity to the interests of his employer and gave complete satisfaction to him.
In 1836 Mr. Gorham came to Marshall and engaged in mercantile business with C. M. Brewer, the firm doing a large and successful busi- ness until 1840, when Mr. Gorham disposed of his interest to his partner and opened a private bank. This he conducted until 1865, when it was incorporated as a national bank, of which he continued to be presi- dent up to the time of his demise. Under his judicious and able man- agement the institution continued to flourish and prosper, and its presi- dent, Mr. Gorham, was known as the oldest banker in the state. In 1845 he was commissioned major general of the sixth division of the state militia. In 1859 he was elected to the state senate and during his term assisted in organizing the military system which is virtually retained by the state to this day. Mr. Gorham was earnestly solicited to accept a second nomination to the senate, but declined.
Prior to 1848 General Gorham was a Democrat, but so distasteful to him was the canvass of that year that he withdrew from the party. A few years later he assisted in forming the Republican party, of which he has since been a member. In 1864 he was a delegate to the Baltimore convention which nominated Abraham Lincoln for a second term, and later as member of the electoral college to confirm the election, and in 1868 was a delegate-at-large to the convention held in Cincinnati, which nominated Ulysses S. Grant for the presidency. In 1870 he received an offer of the mission to Chili, but declined to accept; in the same year, without the least solicitation on his part, he was appointed minister to the Netherlands, which position he filled with honor to himself and satis- faction to the government. As a diplomat, General Gorham showed the greatest respect for the feelings and rights of the people to whom he was accredited, while maintaining the honor of his own government, and performing the highest service in the interest of the people who had made him their ambassador. His mission was free from selfish ambitions and his actions such that after his resignation in 1875, he received many complimentary notices from friends and the press in Holland, as well as from those in this country. His majesty, the king, sent his minister of state to ascertain if Mr. Gorham would accept the honor of a decora- tion from the hands of his majesty, stating that it would give him pleas- ure to confer the order. Mr. Gorham assured the minister that he appreciated the compliment but could not accept the decoration.
A few months after his return from abroad, Mr. Gorham was appointed assistant secretary of the interior under Secretary Zachariah
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Chandler. General Gorham won the highest respect of the administra- tion and his associates in office, and when his resignation was accepted, the man whom he suggested for the office was appointed as his successor. For many years previous to his residence in Europe, General Gorham was a member of the school board and was counted an ardent friend of the common school system of the state. He was a member of the Pres- byterian church from 1844 until his death, which occurred on March 11, 1901.
General Gorham was married April 10, 1839, to Miss Charlotte Eaton Hart, daughter of Dr. L. W. Hart, of Durham, Greene county, New York. In the county Mrs. Gorham was born and spent the greater part of her early life. Her mental powers and innate refinement were the founda- tion of her unusual culture and high breeding, and her character was wholly in keeping with her intellectual endowments. She presided in her lifetime over the beautiful home of the family, which is one of the notable residences of Marshall.
Mr. and Mrs. Gorham were the parents of one daughter and two sons. The daughter, Isabel W., is the widow of the late Col. Norris J. Frink, an honored citizen of Marshall. Col. Selden H. Gorham is deceased, while Charles E. is connected with the First National Bank of Marshall as its president.
FRANK D. WEBER, of Frenchtown township, Monroe county, Michigan, has had a life of more variety than ordinarily falls to the share of any one man. He has been engaged in four different occupations, each one as remote from the other as could be imagined. He was first educated in a business college for a business career, but finally changed and decided to become a wood carver. Later he gave up this work, to become an undertaker, but subsequently embarked in the poultry business, but is now again engaged in the undertaking business.
Outside of his mother, Wilhelmina (Pip) Weber, a native of Prussia, but now residing in Detroit, Michigan, who is ninety years old, Mr. Frank Weber is the sole surviving member of his family. His father, Frank Weber, a native of Brevena, died in 1872. Frank was born in Detroit, September 4, 1862, and spent his childhood there attending the public schools and finishing his education with a course at Goldsmith's business college. For the next twenty-five years he worked as a wood carver, until in 1890 when he came to Monroe, Michigan, and entered the undertaking business. He remained at this for six years, and then took up the busi- ness of poultry raising at which he was very successful. With most of the chickens Rhode Island Reds he made a feature of the egg selling. He is now engaged in the undertaking business, under name of Nadeau & Weber, on Front street and living at 15 Lorraine street. Mr. Weber believes in life insurance as a good investment and has a policy in the Massachusetts Mutual. He is a Democrat but has never taken much interest in politics. His lodge affiliations are restricted to the K. C., the C. M. B. A., and the M. W. of A. By his first marriage with Anna Bodde he had one child, Marcella, who was born September 19, 1893. In 1906 he was married again, this time to Sophia Burns, a native of Ida township, Monroe county, Michigan.
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Mrs. Weber is the daughter of August and Elizabeth (Buergard) Burns, both natives of Mecklenburg, Germany. They had both moved to America, however, before their marriage which took place in Monroe, Michigan. They became the parents of five children, Charles, who mar- ried Minnie Schreader; Augusta, the wife of Christ Schreader; Lena, the wife of William Leotz; Fannie, who has remained unmarried, and Sophia, the wife of the subject of this sketch. Sophia was born April 24, 1871, and one year later the family moved to Frenchtown township, where she attended the district schools until she was fourteen. In 1890 she was married to Henry Sisung, and from their union four children were born : Irving, on May 10, 1891; Mabel, on November 30, 1895 ; Ruth, on December 31, 1900; and Henry, in February, 1904. Mr. Sisung was a Democrat and took an active interest in the party. For two years he served as supervisor of Frenchtown township. He died October 23, 1905, and on May 25, 1906, Mrs. Sisung's marriage to Frank Weber took place. Both Mr. and Mrs. Weber are members of St. Mary's church at Monroe. She holds a membership in the Royal Neighbors, and like her husband is the owner of a life insurance policy. They own 128 acres of land in Frenchtown township.
ADELBERT W. EVANS, D. D. S. The world instinctively pays defer- ence to the man whose success has been worthily achieved and whose prominence is not the less the result of an irreproachable life than of natural talents and acquired ability in the field of his chosen labor. Dr. Evans occupies a position of distinction as a representative of the dental profession in Monroe, Michigan, and the best evidence of his capability in the line of his chosen work is the large patronage which is accorded him.
Dr. Adelbert W. Evans was born in the city of Quincy, Michigan, October 7, 1876, and he is a son of Hiram and Sarah (Redding) Evans, the former of whom was a native of New York and the latter of whom was born and reared in Michigan. Hiram Evans was educated in his native state and he came to Michigan in 1850, settling at Quincy, where he engaged in the manufacture of carriages, wagons and buggies. In 1878 he removed to Leamington, province of Ontario, Canada, where he embarked in the furniture business and where he continued to reside until his demise, in 1906, at the age of seventy-three years. His cherished and devoted wife passed away just eight weeks prior to the death of her husband. Both are buried in the cemetery at Leamington.
The third in order of birth in a family of three children, Dr. Evans attended school at Quincy for a few years prior to his parents' removal to Canada, at which time he was a lad of eleven years of age. He was graduated in the Leamington high school and in 1892 began the study of dentistry. In 1892 he was matriculated as a student in the dental department of the Detroit Medical College, in which he was graduated in June, 1895, duly receiving the degree of Doctor of Dental Surgery. For a short time after his graduation he was engaged in the work of his pro- fession at Detroit and at the time of the outbreak of the Spanish-American war he enlisted for service in a Michigan company. He was sent with his regiment, under command of Colonel W. T. McGurrin, to Tampa, Florida, where he remained for five months. At the close of the war he received
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his honorable discharge and returned to Michigan, locating at Monroe, where he opened dental parlors and where he has since been engaged in the work of his profession. He controls a large and lucrative patronage and is recognized as one of the best dentists in Monroe county.
In connection with his life work Dr. Evans is a valued member of the Michigan State Dental Society. His offices are on the corner of Front and Monroe streets. In a fraternal way he is affiliated with the Adrian Lodge, No. 429, Benevolent & Protective Order of Elks. In state and national affairs he is a stalwart Republican but in local matters he votes for the best man regardless of party affiliation. At the present time he is chairman of the City Republican Committee.
ANDREW BAIER. In tracing the history of lives conspicuous for their achievements, the most interesting feature of the study is to find the key to such success. The more critically exact this study becomes, the more convincingly certain it is that the key is in the man himself. Us- ually those who achieve most do it against the very obstacles before which other men succumb. They gain success not more through special gifts than from rallying the full equipment of mind and body into the service of their purposes. The late Andrew Baier, of Monroe, illustrated in a very marked degree the power of concentrating the entire resources of the man and lifting them to the plane of high achievement ; of supple- menting admirable natural endowments by close application, impregnable integrity and marked tenacity of purpose. Along the manifold lines in which he directed his splendid energies and abilities he made of success not an accident but a logical result. He gained precedence as one of the leading manufacturers and business men of his native city and as a loyal and progressive citizen he did much to further the industrial and civic prosperity of Monroe, where his name will be held in lasting honor, not less on account of his valuable services than on account of the sterling character and genial nature which gained to him the unqualified confi- dence .and esteem of all with whom he came in contact. Mr. Baier's life was one of persistent work and successful achievement, such as one would expect from a man of his energy, ambition and innate business genius, and it is most consonant that in this history of his native county be entered a tribute to his memory and a brief record of his business career.
Andrew Baier was born in the city of Monroe, Michigan, on the 2d of May, 1852, and here his death occurred on the 4th of April, 1909. He was a son of Peter, native of Bavaria, and Barbara (Hersel) Baier, both of whom were of staunch German lineage, and his parents were numbered among the sterling pioneers of Monroe county, where they continued to reside until their death. Of their children two sons and four daughters are still living, John, who is a resident of Monroe; Joseph, who main- tains his home in the city of Adrian, Lenawee county; Mrs. Mary Francis, of Pinconning, Michigan; Mrs. Anna Rotach, of Marine City, this state; Mrs. Barbara Schreiber, of Detroit; and Mrs. Lena Mohr, of Monroe.
Mr. Baier was indebted to the public schools of Monroe for his early educational discipline, and he early manifested distinctive ability as a
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mechanician. About a generation ago he initiated his independent career by forming a partnership with Matthew F. Seib, under the firm name of Seib & Baier, and they engaged in the hardware business in Monroe. This firm continued successful operations for many years and then, to meet the demands of a constantly increasing trade, a stock company was organized to continue the enterprise, this concern being incorporated under the title of Monroe Hardware Company. Mr. Baier continued as president of the conmpany until a short time before his death, his re- tirement having been occasioned by his desire to devote his attention to other large and important interests. About thirty years ago the original firm began the manufacturing of furnaces, and the patterns for the same were designed by Mr. Baier, while the castings were made by the McLaren-Wagner Company. From a modest nucleus the manufacturing department of the business was developed to large proportions, and in 1887, to facilitate the growing enterprises, Mr. Baier effected the organ- ization of the Monroe Furnace Company. Mr. Baier as a man of much technical skill and great business acumen, soon found it necessary to devote virtually his entire time and attention to the affairs of this com- pany, and the products of its plant, known under the title of the "Floral City Furnace," soon proved able to meet any competition. Under Mr. Baier's effective guidance the business grew apace, and in 1889 the original company was dissolved, to give place to the present Monroe Foundry & Furnace Company, the old foundry and the York mills being converted into a plant that proved adequate for some time, after which the present large and modern plant was built. Mr. Baier was president of the company from the time of its organization until his death, and the great industry now constitutes a noble monument to his memory, for he was at all times the directing spirit, the organizer of business cam- paigns, the designer of new models and the inventor of improvements. He had supervision over all departments and his dictum in regard to all operations was considered final, so great were the confidence and trust of his associates.
Mr. Baier was a man of signally winning personality, and his buoyant, genial nature made him a favorite in both business and social circles. Though he gave a generic allegiance to the Democratic party he had no predilection for active politics, but he was essentially loyal and public- spirited in his civic attitude, ever ready to do all in his power to further the best interests of his native city. Several years before his death he was appointed a member of the Monroe board of public works, of which he was made vice-president, and at the time of the rebuilding of the city 's electric-lighting plant his practical knowledge of machinery and his ex- perience in dealing with salesmen saved hundreds of dollars to the city. His death removed one of the leading business men of the city, one who had accounted well to the world and to himself and one whose circle of friends was coincident with that of his acquaintances. In the family home, whose every relation had been of ideal order, his death brought the bitterest chalice of sorrow and bereavement, but those nearest and dear- est to him may find a measure of consolation in the gracious memories of his strong, loving and noble life. Mr. Baier and his wife are both mem- bers of the St. Michaels church. He has been a trustee for many years.
Jacob Martin
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On June 15, 1875, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Baier to Miss Frances Steiner of Monroe, and she survives him, as do also two sons, Walter and Francis. A third son was born, but he died at the age of ten years, March 28, 1906. Mrs. Baier was born in Monroe and lived here practically all her life.
JOSEPH CREQUE. A worthy example of what may be accomplished by steadiness and perseverance in the face of discouragements and dis- advantages is seen in the life of Joseph Creque, an estimable farmer and stock-raiser of section 7 in Whiteford township. He was born in Alsace, Germany, April 21, 1859, his parents being Joseph and Catherine (Zeh- rimger) Creque, who came to the United States in 1867. They landed at Toledo and came to Whiteford township, where they lived until Mr. Creque's death. Mrs. Creque died September 6, 1912. Of their eight children, six are still living besides the subject of this sketch.
Joseph Creque was a boy of eight years when he came with his par- ents to America. His education had begun in the excellent school system of Germany and for some years he continued attendance at school in the district where he lived. He thereafter followed farming with his father until he was twenty-six years of age.
On October 15, 1884, he was united in marriage to Louise Burg- hardt and their family has consisted of five children, of whom four are now living. Edward, Joseph and Leo, the sons, and Clara, the daughter, are being educated in the public schools. The family are members of the Roman Catholic church, their membership being in the church at Whiteford township.
Mr. Creque is a man of fine old German stock, of which he is a typical representative in his honesty and quiet, dignified self-respect. When he began life for himself, he possessed two cows and nothing more; he now owns two hundred and forty-six acres of land in Whiteford township and buys' and ships cattle by the carload. He is also very successful in the raising of hogs and is well known as a stock raiser, in which capacity he has made most of his money. During the accumulation of his property he has lost buildings by fire, but has never allowed himself to become discouraged nor to be less diligent. He stands high in the estimation of his neighbors and acquaintances.
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