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 51
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George Barclay began his education in Pontiac. He was an earnest
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and indefatigable student, although scholastic ambition in his case had to contend against physical infirmities, he being never of rugged health in his childhood. At nineteen he graduated from the Pontiac high school with strong hopes of taking a college course. He matriculated at the University of Michigan and imprudently undertook to carry double work with the inevitable result of a physical breakdown that necessitated a couple of years of rest. In 1877 having to some extent recovered and in the meantime having definitely determined to carry out a long cherished plan to study medicine, he again entered the uni- versity in the medical department, reading during vacation with Dr. F. B. Galbraith, of Pontiac. He graduated in 1880.
His aim had been to fit himself for a post as surgeon in the navy of the United States; but a better insight into some conditions which would surround him there caused him to abandon the idea and to determine to enter upon the general practice of his profession. In the fall of 1880 he went to Jersey City, New Jersey, and there began his professional career, taking advantage of his propinquity to Columbia College to enter himself as a post graduate student in special courses in the College of Physicians and Surgeons, the medical department of Columbia. Here he graduated in the spring of 1881; and not being especially pleased with his location in Jersey City returned to Michigan. It was about this time that Dr. Isaac E. Brown, one of the physicians of Monroe, was ap- pointed to a professorship in one of the medical colleges of Detroit, and was preparing to remove to that city. Dr. McCallum had come to Monroe with the intention of entering upon the practice of his profession here, and arranged to take over Dr. Brown's office, which he did in September, 1881.
Since that time Dr. McCallum has devoted himself to the study and practice of his profession in the city of Monroe and the surrounding country. The habits of study which marked his youth are the fixed habit of his manhood and despite a large practice in which more than ordinary measure of success has been his, he has kept at all times abreast with every advance in his profession.
IIe was married on November 24, 1886, to Miss Minnie A. Bentley, daughter of A. R. Bentley.
HENRY R. AUSTIN. A scion of one of the honored pioneer families of Michigan, with whose annals the name has been identified since the territorial epoch in its history, Henry Root Austin, who maintains his home in Monroe and who is identified with the governmental railway- mail service, has had a career of somewhat eventful order and is a man who has ever merited and received the unequivocal confidence of those with whom he has come in contact in the varied relations of life. He is now one of the venerable citizens of Monroe county, which has been his home for many years, and here he commands secure vantage place in the esteem of all who know him. He represented his native state as a valiant soldier of the Union in the Civil war and he has ever stood exponent of loyal and progressive citizenship, the while he has been influential in public affairs, in connection with which he was accorded official prefer- ment as postmaster of Monroe. He is a man of fine intellectual attain- ments and, familiar with Michigan history since the early pioneer days, his fund of reminiscences is most varied and interesting, implying
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familiarity with the various stages of civic and industrial development and progress in the great commonwealth which he is proud to claim as the place of his nativity.
Mr. Austin was born in the village of Napoleon, now known as Norvell, in JJackson county, Michigan, and the date of his birth was September 22, 1834. He is a son of Harvy and Jane (Root) Austin, the former of whom was born and reared in the state of New York and the latter was a native of Massachusetts, from whence her parents came to Ohio when she was a child. IIarvy Austin came to Michigan in 1824, more than a decade prior to the admission of the state to the Union, and he first settled in Ann Arbor, the university city having at that time been a mere hamlet. IIe finally removed to Jackson county, where he became a successful agriculturist, as well as a pioneer merchant and tanner. There he accumulated a landed estate of 320 acres, much of which he reclaimed from the forest wilds, and he continued to reside in that county until 1854, when he came with his family to Monroe county and purchased a farm in Monroe township. Here he continued to devote his attention to diversified farming and stock-growing during the residue of his active career and here his death occurred in 1866. Ilis wife long survived him and passed the closing years of her life at 'Bronville, New York, where she died in 1894, at the venerable age of eighty-four years. Both were devout members of the Presbyterian church and in politics the father was originally a Whig and later a Republican. Of the children, three sons and two daughters attained to maturity, and of the number none are now living. Harvy Austin was a man of strong individuality and sterling character-one who contrib- uted his quota to the development and upbuilding of the state of Michi- gan and one whose name merits enduring place on the roll of its hon- ored pioneers.
Henry Root Austin, whose name initiates this review, was reared to the sturdy discipline of the pioneer farm and gained his early education in the common schools of his native county. After attending the district schools during the winter terms and later the village schools of Norvell, he proved himself eligible for pedagogie honors. He taught in the country schools of Jackson county for four winter terms and then re- turned to Norvell, where he continued his studies in the public schools for the ensuing three years. He was then matriculated in the Univer- sity of Michigan, but he soon afterward subordinated all other interests to tender his services in defense of the Union. He enlisted on the 15th of August, 1862, as a private in Company H, Eighteenth Michigan Volunteer Infantry, which was assigned to the Army of the Cumber- land and with which he continued in service until the 26th of August, 1863, when he was commissioned first lieutenant in a regiment of United States colored troops, with headquarters at Nashville, Tennessee. He served in this capacity for two and one-half years, at the expiration of which he was tendered an honorable discharge, on account of seriously impaired health. He waived the discharge, however, and resigned his lieutenancy in February, 1865, being afterward appointed to a position in the United States Christian Commission to distribute supplies. He retained this incumbency three months and in the Twenty-third Corps of the United States Army until he returned to his home in Monroe county. Shortly afterward he again entered the University
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of Michigan, but was unable to continue on account of ill health. After leaving the university Mr. Austin became a salesman for a West Vir- ginia oil company, which he represented first in New England and New York and later in Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Missouri and Michigan. In 1868, Mr. Austin entered into partnership with Frank II. Hubbard and William II. Boyd, and engaged in the wholesale and retail mercan- tile business in Monroe, Michigan, under the firm name of Hubbard, Austin & Company. In 1873 he disposed of his interest in this enter- prise and entered the railway mail service, with which he thereafter continued to be actively identified for a period of about fifteen years, during the greater portion of which he held a position on the line of the New York & Chicago Railroad between Cleveland and Chicago. In 1891, Mr. Austin was appointed postmaster of Monroe, under the admin- istration of President Harrison, and he retained this office four years, when the incoming Democratic administration rendered him persona non grata, with consequent retirement.
After his retirement from the office of postmaster, in which he had given a most acceptable administration, Mr. Austin purchased ten acres of land adjacent to the city of Monroe and instituted the development of the same in the planting and propagation of choice varieties of fruits. The enterprise gave every evidence of becoming a most successful ven- ture, but soon the inroads of the San Jose scale nullified all that had been accomplished, with the result that the promising orchard was virtually obliterated. Under these conditions, in 1899, Mr. Austin again entered the railway mail service, with which he has since been connected and the work of which he greatly enjoys. as he retains the fullest measure of mental and physical vigor, though he has passed the psalmist's span of three score years and ten. His run is on the Detroit & Ironton Rail- road between Detroit, Michigan, and Bainbridge, Ohio.
As may be inferred from preceding statements, Mr. Austin has ever been a stalwart and effective advocate of the principles and policies of the Republican party, and he had the satisfaction of casting his first vote for its first candidate for the presidency, Gen. John C. Fremont. He has voted for every presidential nominee of the party since that time and his fealty does not waver under conditions which mark political activities at the present time. IIe has retained a deep interest in his old comrades of the Civil war and is not only affiliated with Joseph R. Smith Post, No. 76, Grand Army of the Republic, in his home city, of which organization he served as past commander one year, and chap- lain for six years, but he also holds membership in the Michigan com- mandery of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States. Mr. Austin has been a member of the Presbyterian church for more than sixty years and both he and his wife have been most zealous in the various departments of church work. He has been elder of the church of this denomination in Monroe for twenty-nine years and has also given effective service as superintendent of its Sunday-school. He and his noble wife are well known in the county that has so long repre- sented their home, and here their circle of friends is coextensive with that of their acquaintances.
On the 24th of June, 1869, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Austin to Miss Eliza King Isham, who was born and reared in Monroe and whose father, IIiram King Isham, was one of the honored pioneers
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and influential citizens of this county. Mr. and Mrs. Austin have had no children, but have reared in their home ten boys and ten girls, to whom they have given true parental affection and to whom they have given excellent advantages, their kindliness having been well repaid in the filial devotion of these foster children.
WALTER II. GREENING. Among the prominent and influential citi- zens of the younger generation at Monroe, Michigan, Walter H. Green- ing is achieving remarkable success in business life as superintendent and general manager of the Greening Nursery Company. He is loyal and public spirited in his civic attitude and his success in life has been on a parity with his well directed efforts.
A native of Monroe, Michigan, Walter H. Greening was the eldest son of his parents, George A. and Mary E. (Harpst) Greening, both of whom were likewise natives of Monroe. George A. Greening was born in 1857, and passed his boyhood in Monroe. Here he received his educa- tion and here he entered the business world as an assistant to his father, John C. W. Greening. See sketch of John Greening elsewhere in this work. The latter was a native of Germany and was the founder of the nursery business in Monroe, Michigan. His son, George A., therefore had the finest kind of training for the work which was to be his hence- forth. Upon attaining his majority he became a member of the firm of Greening Brothers, and he was a powerful factor in building up a large business. He continued in the nursery business until he retired, and he is now devoting his time to the cultivation and beautifying of his extensive gardens in the South.
Walter H. Greening received his primary educational training in the Lutheran Parochial School and in the public schools of Monroe, thus receiving the broadening influences of two schools so different in type. On leaving the public school he took a course in the Monroe Business College, where he was graduated as a member of the class of 1902. After his graduation he went into the grocery business in which he was engaged for some eighteen months, at the expiration of this time becom- ing interested in the livery business, in which connection he was asso- ciated with Herman Navarre, under the firm name of Navarre & Green- ing. In 1910 he disposed of his share of the livery business and in the following year he engaged in the Greening Nursery business. He con- tinued in this association until January 15, 1912, when he was made general manager of the Greening Nursery Company, and later super- intendent of the same company, having under his supervision the grow- ing of trees, as his special care. He has made a thorough study of the various departments of the nursery business, and is now recognized as an expert in the culture of nursery stock as well as in the handling and caring for the same in both summer and winter seasons. The nursery is a very large one and is equipped with all sorts of heating and water- ing facilities. The cellar is expressly devoted to the caring for trees in the winter time and the selection of fruit trees is of the most hardy type, best adapted to the climatic conditions in the northern states and Middle West.
On the 24th of February, 1905, Mr. Greening was united in mar- riage with Miss Nellie Venier, of Monroe, a daughter of Joseph and Mary (Willet) Venier. Two children, a son, Walter J., and a daugh- ter, Mary T., have been born to this union. Mr. Greening is a member
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of the Benevolent, Protective Order of Elks, in which order he has taken a prominent part. He has an attractive home at 556 Fifth street. Mr. Greening is not only well versed in the nursery business but is an active and progressive man, especially in matters relating to the nursery busi- ness.
AUGUST TRIQUET. A citizen of note and a shrewd business man at Monroe, Michigan, August Triquet conducts a barber establishment and is an extensive property holder in Monroe county. He was born in Bonleneg, France, January 28, 1849, and is a son of Louis and Mary (Vincet) Triquet, both of whom were representatives of fine old French families. The father was born in the same place as the subject of this review, in 1828, and he received his early educational training in the public schools of his native land. For twenty-five years he was em- ployed in a gas factory in France, and in 1850 he immigrated to the United States, landing in New York City, whence he came to Monroe, where he continued to reside during the remainder of his life. He had also learned the cooper's trade while in France and for a time after his arrival in Monroe was engaged in that line of work. His demise oc- curred in 1909 and his cherished and devoted wife passed away in 1894. They were the parents of four children, namely,-August, the immediate subject of this review; Arthur; Helen, who is the wife of P. H. Martel, of Baltimore, Maryland; and Mary, wife of Arthur Mar- tel, of Bowling Green, Ohio.
August Triquet was educated in the Union school at Monroe and for a time he was a pupil in St. Mary's school. Going to Coldwater, Michi- gan, he pursued a course in penmanship, and after his return to Monroe he opened a barber shop, which he has continued to conduct during the long intervening years to the present time, in 1912. He has long been interested in real-estate transactions and is doing a great deal in the way of improving his houses and other properties. In all matters of national import Mr. Triquet is a stanch advocate of the principles of the Democratic party but in local matters he maintains an independent attitude, preferring to give his support to men and measures meeting with the approval of his judgment rather than to vote along strictly partisan lines. He is the owner of a beautiful residence with extensive and well kept grounds, has an up-to-date, well equipped shop and is likewise the owner of considerable valuable real estate in Monroe.
In April, 1868, Mr. Triquet was united in marriage to Miss Carrie Butterworth, of Coldwater, Michigan. Her father was a gallant sol- dier in the Civil war and was commissioned captain of a Michigan com- pany ; he died while in service. Mr. and Mrs. Triquet are the fond par- ents of three children concerning whom the following brief data are here incorporated : Adelia married L. Sharkey, of Monroe; Fred L. is a barber by business and resides at Decatur, Illinois; and Sadie is the wife of George Martin, of Detroit, where he is manager of the Kern Brothers dry goods establishment.
Mr. Triquet is a man of fine mentality and broad human sympathy. He thoroughly enjoys home life and takes great pleasure in the society of his family and friends. He is always courteous, kindly and affable
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and those who know him personally accord him the highest esteem. Mr. and Mrs. Triquet's lives have been exemplary in all respects and they have ever supported those interests which are calculated to uplift and benefit humanity, while their own fine moral worth is deserving of the highest commendation.
THOMAS I. HANSBERGER. Ideas backed with indefatigable energy, -the desire and power to accomplish big things,-these qualities make of success not an accident but a logical result. The man of initiative is he who combines with a capacity for hard work an indomitable will. Such a man recognizes no such a thing as failure and his final success is on a parity with his well directed endeavors. Through his own efforts Mr. Hansberger has become a business man of note in Mon- roe, Michigan, where he has resided during the greater part of his active career thus far. He is engaged in the livery business in this city and has a large sales stable at Toledo, where horses of all kinds are sold at auction to business men, farmers and dray men.
Thomas I. Hansberger was born in Raisinville township, Monroe county, Michigan, November 19, 1881. He is a son of Thomas and Emma (Retherford) Hansberger. The senior Hansberger, born in Fair- field county, Ohio, removed to Monroe county about the year 1870 and at that time purchased a farm in Raisinville township, on which he has since resided. His estate is well improved with good buildings and rep- resents one of the best farms in Monroe county. He is one of the lead- ing stockmen in Raisinville township.
Thomas I. Hansberger passed his boyhood and youth on the old homestead farm, in the work and management of which he early began to assist his father. During the winter terms he attended the district schools and for a time was a pupil in the public schools in the village of Strasburg. Later he became a student in the Monroe Business Univer- sity, in which he was graduated, after which he returned to the home farm and began dealing in stock on his own account. At first his busi- ness operations were on a rather small scale and for a time he was asso- ciated with L. D. Bernett, of Detroit, in his stock deals. In 1903 he removed to the city of Monroe, where he now devotes his attention to the buying and selling of horses. He also handles livery, dray and car- riage horses. In connection with this business he is proprietor of two livery stables in Monroe, which are managed by Adolph W. Krug, under the firm name of Hansberger & Krug. The stables are well equipped with carriages, hacks and a number of horses. Mr. Hansberger pur- chases most of his horses in Indiana, Ohio and Illinois.
In 1902 Mr. Hansberger was united in marriage to Miss Matilda Paltier, a daughter of Clark and Dorothy Paltier, old residents of Mon- roe county. Mr. and Mrs. Hansberger have no children. Their resi- dence is at No. 60 Second street. Fraternally, Mr. Hansberger is affili- ated with Monroe Lodge, Knights of Pythias. His interest in political questions is deep and sincere and he gives an earnest support to Repub- lican principles, believing that the platform of that party contains the best elements for good government.
JOSEPH SCHAUB
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JOSEPH SCHAUB. In this history of Monroe county and its people there is all of consistency in according a special memorial tribute to the late Joseph Schaub, who was numbered among the honored pioneers of the county, who was a man of strong mentality and vigorous purpose, who achieved independence and prosperity through his well directed en- deavors, whose course was ordered upon the highest plane of integrity, and who accounted well to himself and the world in all of the relations of life. He established his home in the embryonic city of Monroe more than seventy years ago and while his life was entirely free from ostenta- tion and dramatic episodes, he contributed in generous measure to the civic and material development and progress of the city and county which long represented his home and in which he gained secure van- tage place as a loyal and public-spirited citizen and substantial man of affairs. He continued his residence in Monroe until his death, which here occurred on the 11th of April, 1879, and his name merits enduring place on the roster of the sterling pioneers of Michigan, in which state he took up his abode about three years after its admission to the Union.
Joseph Schaub was born in Fulda, province of Hessen, Germany, on the 20th of March, 1809, and thus his death occurred shortly after he had passed his seventieth birthday anniversary. He was reared and educated in his native land and there learned the trade of tailor, under the careful apprenticeship system there in vogue. In 1837, at the age of twenty-eight years, Mr. Schaub severed the gracious ties that bound him to home and fatherland and set forth to seek his fortunes in Amer- ica, to which country he came with but nominal financial resources but with a fine equipment in ambition, self-reliance, industrious habits and determined purpose. He made the voyage on a sailing vessel of the type common to that period and landed in the port of New York City, whence he soon proceeded to Buffalo, New York, where he engaged in business on a modest scale, as a merchant tailor. There his marriage was solemnized in the summer of 1838, and in 1840 he re- moved with his wife and their two children to the new state of Michigan, which at that time was receiving a strong tide of immigration from New York and the New England states. He established his home in the thriving little city of Monroe, which then vied with Detroit as an industrial and commercial center of the vigorous new commonwealth, and here he forthwith engaged in the work of his trade. He became one of the leading merchant tailors of this section of the state and gained high reputation in his chosen vocation, in connection with which he received a substantial and representative patronage and gained prestige as one of the enterprising and valued business men of Monroe. He manifested from the beginning a most lively interest in all that touched the welfare of his home city and county, and on the 15th of November, 1847, he became a naturalized citizen of the United States. He ever afterward exercised his franchise in support of the principles and pol- icies of the Democratic party and was well fortified in his opinions con- cerning matters of economic and governmental polity. Both he and his wife were most devout communicants of the Catholic church and were zealous and liberal supporters of the various activities of St. Michael's parish. Their first dwelling in Monroe was a house that
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stood on a lot contiguous to the site of St. Michael's church, and they found great satisfaction in entertaining in their pleasant home the various Jesuit missionaries who visited Monroe in the early days. This hospitable home was also a favorite rendezvous for the fellow country- men of Mr. Schaub, and all such were given hearty welcome. This house is still standing and in excellent preservation. It is one of the historic landmarks of Monroe county, is now owned by William Steiner and is maintained as a home for several of Monroe's pioneer citizens of the present day. Thoroughly appreciative of the attractions and advantages of Michigan, Mr. Schaub persuaded many of his country- men to come to America and establish homes in the Wolverine State, and he was virtually one of the founders of the very considerable German citizenship which became prominent and influential in connec- tion with the development and upbuilding of the city and county of Monroe. He was well known throughout this part of the state, lived a "godly, righteous and sober life," and ever held inviolable place in the confidence and high regard of all who knew him. His character was the positive expression of a strong and loyal nature, and his name well merits a place in the history of Monroe county.
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