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 52
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At the time of the Civil war, Mr. Schaub manifested the most ardent loyalty to the Union and did all in his power to aid its cause dur- ing that climacteric period in the nation's history. On the 30th of April, 1846, he was appointed, by Gov. Alpheus Felch, to the office of first lieutenant of the Monroe Cass Guards, of the Thirty-seventh Reg- iment of State Militia. He had received in his native land excellent military training and experience and he thus did much to bring the Cass Guards up to a high standard of tactical efficiency, the command having been named in honor of Gen. Lewis Cass, who was one of the foremost figures in the history of Michigan. At the inception of the Civil war Mr. Schaub was tendered commission as lieutenant colonel of a Michigan regiment, but imperative exigencies and conditions pre- vented him from entering active military service, with the result that he showed his loyalty by sending a number of his countrymen to the front and looking after the welfare of their families during their absence.
In St. Louis' Catholic church in the city of Buffalo, New York, on the 10th of August, 1838, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Schaub to Miss Magdalena Schmidt, who was born at Oberlauterbach, depart- ment of Strassburg, in Alsace, France, on the 28th of July, 1817, and who survived her honored husband by more than a decade. She passed the closing period of her life in the city of Chicago, where, in the home of one of her children, she was summoned to eternal rest on the 11th of May, 1892, her memory being revered by all who came within the sphere of her gracious and gentle influence. Mrs. Schaub was reared and educated in her native land and was a young woman of about eigh- teen years when she accompanied her parents on their immigration to America. They embarked at Havre de Grace, France, on the 6th of May. 1835, and arrived in the port of New York City on the 28th of the following July. In the national metropolis Mrs. Schaub remained several months with her uncle, Bernard Schmidt, and then she joined
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Peter a. Jde aub
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her father on a farm near Humberstone, Welland county, province of Ontario. She was a daughter of Ignatz Schmidt, who served as first sergeant in the army of the great Napoleon and who was wounded at the battle of Waterloo. In the possession of Frank Schaub is the medal or badge presented to him by Napoleon after this battle and the same is a greatly valued heirloom, as well as a trophy of general historic interest. An uncle of Mrs. Schaub likewise served under Napoleon and while with the army on the way to Moscow, Russia, he was frozen to death by the side of his horse. Mr. and Mrs. Schaub became the parents of ten children, of whom two sons died in infancy. The eldest two children, Katherine and Josephine, were born in the city of Buf- falo, and the others who attained to years of maturity were born at Monroe, Michigan, their names being here entered in respective order of birth: Elizabeth, Francis Joseph, William Louis, Peter Anthony, Magdalena and Philip J. Parental memories and associations in con- nection with the old homes in Europe are shown in the names of the children, several of whom were given cognomens in honor of German and French rulers.
PETER ANTHONY SCHAUB, to whom the publishers are indebted for much of the data for the foregoing memoir of his honored father, is now a resident of the city of St. Paul, Minnesota, and has long been numbered among its representative business men. He was born in Monroe, Michigan, on the 21st of August, 1853, and retains deep interest in his native city and county, which are endeared to him by many gracious associations and hallowed memories. As a boy he at- tended St. Michael's parochial school, and at the age of fifteen began work with his father, under whom he served a three-year apprentice- ship at the tailoring trade. On becoming of age, on January 21, 1876, the left home and was taught the art of cutter by his brother Frank. Subsequently he worked for a tailoring house in Decatur, Illinois, and then took charge of a tailoring department in the house of J. R. Race at Decatur, where he remained until March 17, 1878. At that date he moved to Chicago, and entered the house of Willoughby, Hill & Com- pany, where his brother William L. had started the tailoring depart- ment, and under whom he served as assistant cutter. In 1881 he became head cutter, and was made head of the department, his brother having engaged in business for himself. On July 1, 1887, he moved to St. Paul, where his brother Philip was located, and thus established the firm of Schaub Brothers in that city. They have had a career of more than usual success, and their annual trade for some years has been about $85,000. For more than twenty years the Schaub Broth- ers of St. Paul have been one of the best known tailoring houses of the northwest.
Mr. Peter A. Schaub during his early years spent in Monroe was a member of the Monroe Light Guards. He also took an active inter- est in athletic contests and was a member of teams which won many trophies in that city. He also belonged to the boat club there and the Northwestern and Mississippi Valley Rowing Association. In pol- itics Mr. Schaub is independent. He is a member of the Catholic Club
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of New York, of the Chicago Athletic Club, the St. Paul Commercial Club, the Elks' Club at St. Paul, the St. Paul Knights of Columbus, and St. Joseph's Catholic church. The firm of Schaub Brothers, of Chicago, at the World's Fair in Chicago won the first prize on their exhibit of a dress suit and a gentleman's driving overcoat. They also took honors on their exhibit at Paris, France, in 1896.
Mr. Peter A. Schaub has furnished some pleasing reminiscent state- ments concerning old days in Monroe county. These statements, which have an important bearing and interest for readers of this history, are reproduced with certain paraphrase as follows: "In a preceding history of Monroe county, I regret that failure was made to mention the beautiful Egyptian lotus trees that were planted in the pioneer days by Dr. Edward Dorsch on the shores of Plum Creek Bay, Monroe. These are one of the noteworthy attractions of Monroe at the present date, and especially when putting forth their beautiful and fragrant flowers, which are unique in this section of the world. I would also recall, as a matter of historic interest, the old Van Wormer sawmill, since in the same were sawed most of the gunstocks utilized by Michi- gan troops, as well as by men from other states, in the Civil war. My uncle, Phillip Schaub, who is still living in Monroe, at the venerable age of eighty-eight years, also owned and operated a sawmill at that time, the mill having been situated in the district of the city commonly known as Waterloo. In this mill he sawed walnut logs from which likewise were manufactured many gunstocks for the weapons used in the Civil war. He was the fifth owner of this mill, and thus it is to be inferred that it was established in the eighteenth century. It is virtually certain that this historic old mill represented in its operation the initiation of the great lumber industry in Michigan and other sections of the west. The Ilgenfritz nurseries, at Monroe, were likewise among the first in the west.'
It may be noted that on other pages of this work is made due men- tion of the development of the great nursery industry in Monroe county. His native city being the only Michigan port on Lake Erie, Mr. Peter A. Schaub also writes most appreciatingly concerning the centennial celebration to be given in the present year as a memorial of Perry's famous victory on Lake Erie, September 10, 1813, in the War of 1812.
THE SCHAUB BROTHERS. The tailoring house of Schaub Brothers in St. Paul, under the firm management of two of the Schaub brothers, has been mentioned in preceding paragraphs. In the Mentor building of Chicago is the other firm of Schaub Brothers, importing tailors, and they too occupy a foremost position in their particular line of business.
The Schaub Brothers, both of St. Paul and of Chicago, are repre- sentatives and children of the late Joseph Schaub of Monroe. The brothers, Frank, William and Peter, learned the merchant tailoring business from their father in Monroe, and sat on the board to learn the business thoroughly, both in making the garments, as well as cut- ting them. After several years training Frank and William went to New York City, where they continued their period of preparation in
PHILLIP SCHAUB AND PETER A. SCHAUB
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a school for cutting, and after that for a number of years were engaged as cutters by several different firms in New York and Boston. Frank Schaub came to Chicago April 1, 1875, to engage as cutter for one of the tailors in that city. In 1879 William also came to Chicago, and in July, 1881, they formed the partnership of Schaub Brothers, which is still in existence. William died in 1896, and Mr. Frank J. Schaub has continued the business under the original name to the present time. After learning his trade from his father, Peter also came to Chicago and acquired the art of cutting from his brother Frank, after which he obtained a position with a Chicago firm as cutter. Philip also came to Chicago, where his brother Frank taught him cutting. He then secured a position as cutter for a St. Paul concern, and in 1887 Peter and Phillip formed the partnership of Schaub Brothers in St. Paul, as described in previous paragraphs. The third generation has now entered the tailoring business. Phillip Schaub has two sons, Carlton and Harold, who have recently entered the business of Schaub Brothers in St. Paul.
PHILLIP SCHAUB. The careers and activities of the younger genera- tion of the Schaub family have been set forth on preceding pages, and also the long and honorable life of the late Joseph Schaub. Special consideration should be shown to the venerable Phillip Schaub, a brother of the late Joseph Schaub, and an uncle to the Schaub Bros., who are so prominent in business in St. Paul and Chicago. Phillip Schaub, who now resides in the city of Monroe, at the venerable age of eighty-eight, was born in Germany May 1, 1825. He came to Monroe during the pioneer period of this city, and has for many years been closely identified with its industrial and civic prosperity. Phillip Schaub is one of the old lumbermen of this city, and in this industry and business he was very active and held a high rank among the leaders of the lumber busi- ness in southern Michigan. Mr. Schaub is a member of the St. Michael's church. He married Regina Halbrich. Their marriage was celebrated in the old French church at Monroe. The four children of their mar- riage were Mary, Kate, Phillip and Annie.
CHARLES L. JONES, D. V. S. The Jones family, of which Charles L., the veterinarian of Monroe, is one of the prominent representatives in this generation, has been identified with Monroe county for many years, and its members have always been known for their useful and honorable lives.
Joseph Jones, the grandfather of Charles L. and founder of this branch of the family in Monroe county, was a native of Pennsylvania and came to southeastern Michigan at an early day. His wife's name . was Mary.
F. Arthur Jones, son of the above and father of the doctor, was born in this county and his death occurred in 1885. For many years he was one of the prosperous farmers of Raisinville township, but later bought a farm in Jackson county, which was his home until his death. Besides being a successful farmer, he was a man who closely identified himself with community activities and his leadership and influence were directed to many good ends. He served in public office as township supervisor,
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as member of the school board and was tax collector two terms. He and his wife were long active members of the M. E. church, in which he was a trustee and class leader and always took an active part in church work. F. Arthur Jones married Miss Christina Knapp, who also represented one of the old families of the county, her father being Ludwig Knapp. She died in 1905. Besides Dr. Charles L., the other living children are: William H., M. D., a graduate of the University of Michigan and now engaged in practice at Arthur, Illinois; Franklin, also a graduate of the University of Michigan and now practicing medi- cine in Pottersville, Michigan; Mary L., who is a graduate of the Ypsilanti State Normal and is the wife of Francis Boyd; Myrtle Lorain, a graduate of the Spring Arbor Seminary; and Mattie, a graduate of the State Normal at Ypsilanti.
Charles L. Jones was born on the old home farm in this county, November 26, 1870. During his boyhood on the farm he attended the district school during winter sessions, and later was a student in Spring Arbor. In 1895 he entered the Detroit Veterinary College and was graduated D. V. S. in April, 1897. His practical experience as a farmer has contributed to his success in his profession, and for a number of years he has been one of the leading veterinarians in this section of Michigan. His first year of practice was at Spring Arbor, after which he located in Monroe. His business extends over Monroe and adjoining counties, and he is often called into consultation. In 1909 he erected a horse barn fitted especially for the treatment and care of domestic animals.
April 21, 1898, Dr. Jones was married to Miss Sophia M. Knapp, daughter of Salmon and Catherine (Grassley) Knapp, her father having been one of the early settlers in this county. Dr. and Mrs. Jones are the parents of five children: Merle Lorain, Quentin A., Lilly C., Theodore Milton and Marsella C. Dr. Jones is a prominent Mason, having membership in Monroe Lodge No. 27, A. F. & A. M., Raisin River Chapter No. 22, R. A. M., and is also a member of the Modern Woodmen of America.
EDWARD DORSCH, for thirty-seven years a practicing physician in the city of Monroe, is a native of Wurzemburg, Bavaria, Germany, where he was born January 10, 1822, the son of Francis L. and Eliza- beth (Stepf) Dorsch, the former a prominent attache of the Bavarian court, who died in 1825. In 1830, at the early age of eight, Edward Dorsch was sent to a celebrated Catholic institute, where for a number of years he was the only pupil of the Protestant faith. He left that institution in 1840, when he was eighteen years of age, to attend the Munich University, from which he graduated with a diploma in his twenty-third year. By order of the Bavarian government, he was sent to Vienna to perfect his theoretical knowledge by actual practice in the hospitals in that place, and in addition to that course he took up the study of philosophy, botany, natural history and kindred sciences. As active thinker and ready writer, in the spring of 1849 he became an exile from the land of his nativity, the tone of his articles not being in accord with the government in power. With a large number of
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emigrants he was driven out by reason of their political faith during the unsuccessful revolution, he acting in the capacity of surgeon.
On his arrival in New York, he was married to Miss Sophia Hartung, who was born in Ingolstadt, Bavaria, Germany, on June 15, 1827, and they lived a happy wedded life until her death in September, 1884. They had one son, who died at the age of eight months. Dr. Dorsch went from New York to Detroit, but in the autumn of that year he learned from one Mr. Bruckner, a prominent German of Monroe, that there was a good opening in that city for a German physician, so he went to Monroe in October, 1849, and made that city his home until his death on his sixty-fifth birthday, January 10, 1887. After the death of his first wife he again married on November 4, 1885, his second wife being Augusta, daughter of Frederick and Fredieka (Korte) Uhl.
From his earliest citizenship Dr. Dorsch was a stanch Republican, and in 1860 was presidential elector from what was then the second district, on the ticket which was headed by Abraham Lincoln. He never took any active part in politics with a view to personal advance- ment, and steadfastly persisted in refusing all local offices, accepting only for one term an appointment on the state board of education, between November, 1872, and November, 1878. In 1868 he was appointed examining physician for the pension office, which position he held up to the date of his death. During the time he was pension examiner he prepared a draft showing the course and effects of a ball on the human body, which was afterward adopted and is used by the pension department at the present day.
In addition to being a thorough physician and surgeon, Dr. Dorsch was a deep thinker and an able writer from his college days and was much sought for as a correspondent, both in prose and poetry, by weekly and monthly publications. The force of his articles while at Munich and Vienna, and the position he therein took, caused him to be exiled from Bavaria at the close of the German revolution, as is mentioned in a previous paragraph. Shortly after his settlement in Monroe, and perhaps his first literary venture outside of contributions to maga- zines, was a volume of poems, entitled "Hirten Briefe an Mein Volk," Critics have said of this that he was a master of words and handled his subject in a masterly manner. In 1875 he published a pamphlet, "Parabasen," and his last work, which appeared in 1884, and was published by the New York International News Company, was named "Lieder aus der Alten und Neuen Welt."
Critics speak in terms of the highest praise when reviewing the works of Dr. Dorsch. He was a deep thinker, it has been said; in fact, too deep for the master, as the thinker overruled the poet, and while holding himself to logic of the strictest kind; he did not permit his eyes to rove in beautiful ecstasies. Still, it would be doing him an injustice to say that he did not feel real inspiration, as with the head of a philosopher and the heart of a poet, he worked or blended the two together in the most of his poetical works. Yet, perhaps some of them would have been better had they been written in prose, as in many cases, carried away by inspiration of his theme, throwing his entire
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soul into the subject in hand, and with an earnest desire to create in the reader the same determined opposition to slavery and ardent love for freedom which inspired him, his argument and the language was so strong that the verses ofttimes lost their harmony.
As to his last work, "Lieder aus der Alten und Neuen Welt," it is characteristic of the man and the poet, and gave scope to powers which were not known, perhaps even to himself, until this opportunity afforded him his chance to use it to the uttermost. To his own keen insight and intense sympathy he owes everything in value to his writings. An ardent lover of books and a just critic in art, he threw his whole soul into his work and showed his innermost thought and feeling until his poems were so beautiful and rich in thought and quaint expression they might almost have been called pictures. They give the inner and outer life of a high minded, fine feeling and warm hearted, talented man, of whom the editor of the "Deutsche Amerikanische Dichtung" says: "He was one of the most prominent German-American poets; one of the purest, noblest and worthiest priests, who died while soaring in the zenith of his fame as a poet and writer.
"Were it possible for us to translate into English and preserve the force and expression of the original, we feel that for depth of thought, warmth of feeling and terseness of expression, the writings of Dr. Dorsch would equal those of a Longfellow or a Whittier. In addition to his almost innumerable original poems, covering over forty years and mostly written by the inspirations of nature in his visits to his patients, he had the rare faculty of grasping the idea of the author, and his translations of the English poets into the German tongue are conceded to be masterpieces of art, and will of themselves make his name a shining star in the firmament of German literature. On his death he left a large collection of manuscript poems, which are from time to time published in the different German papers.
"Personally, Dr. Dorsch was of a very retiring disposition. A care- ful student, he was bound up in his books, and while a great favorite with all who knew him, generous to a fault, yet he had but few inti- mates ;- all his warmest and truest friends were his books. A connoisseur in art, he gathered a fine collection of artistic works, and on his death several thousand volumes of his valuable library were donated by his wife to the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor."
JAMES H. TODD, a supervisor of Ida township and one of the repre- sentative farmers of the section, is well known and popular in his home town. He is a native Ohioan, born in Crawford county, that state, on January 5, 1868, and is the son of George and Mary (Underwood) Todd. The father, George Todd, was also born in Crawford county and there reared, while the mother was a native of Pennsylvania. They came to Monroe county, Michigan, in 1886, arriving on the 26th day of March. Eight children were born to George and Mary Todd, of which number six are living at this writing.
James H. was the eldest son of the family and he found much to employ himself with in the work of the farm at home. He attended the schools of his native village and later entered the high school at
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Bucyrus, Ohio, where he remained for one year, and after which he launched out for himself, working at whatever employment he might find. Eventually he settled in Ida township where he became the owner of a farm of sixty acres in section 22, and which has occupied his atten- tion from then until now. He has prospered with his farming interests, and is one of the leading producers in his district today. He has, in addition to his farming duties, found time to devote to the political affairs of the township, and his fellow townsmen have so far given open recognition of their confidence in his integrity and ability as to place him in the office of supervisor of the township, a post which he has filled in a most creditable manner for the past six years. He is a Republican in his political views, and has taken a leading part in the activities of his town and township in that respect.
On November 6, 1890, Mr. Todd was united in marriage with Miss Adeline Cory, who was born near Sylvania in Lucas county, Ohio, and educated in the schools of her native town. They have had two chil- dren, one being now deceased. Ethel A., born January 13, 1892, was educated in the district schools and the Ida high school, from which she was duly graduated in 1911. She is now numbered among the public school teachers of Monroe county.
Mr. Todd is a member of Ida Lodge No. 431, Independent Order of Odd Fellows and its auxiliary order, the Rebekahs. He is also a member of the Modern Woodmen of America.
ALEXANDER TOUSSANT NAVARRE. An old and honored resident of Monroe, living now in the place where he was born, Mr. Navarre repre- sents one of the old families who early settled in Monroe county, and himself has borne an important share in the life of the community, both as a business man and as a public official, and he was also a soldier of the Union during the Civil war.
Alexander Toussant Navarre was born at Monroe, March 8, 1844. The founder of the Navarre family in America was Robert Navarre, who was a descendant from the Henry of Navarre of France. The paternal grandfather was Col. Francis Navarre, who was an officer in the American army during the War of 1812. The father was Joseph G. Navarre, who died July 3, 1862. He had been one of the prominent citizens of Monroe county for many years and was a highly educated man, using both the French and English fluently. His wife, the mother of Alexander T., was a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Suzor.
Alexander T. Navarre was reared in Monroe, receiving his educa- tion in the city schools, and was little more than a boy when the Civil war came on. During the last year of that war, in January, 1864, he enlisted as a private in the Seventh Michigan Veteran Volunteers. In February of the same year, he was promoted to quartermaster-sergeant, subsequently promoted to first lieutenant, and in November, 1864, was detailed as adjutant of his regiment, serving as such during the remainder of the war. He was honorably discharged at Jeffersonville, Indiana, July 5, 1865.
Mr. Navarre has had a long record as a county and local official. He held the office of county treasurer for four years, 1880, 1881, 1882 Vol. 11-26
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and 1883. For twenty-five years he was township clerk and supervisor of the town of Monroe, succeeding to the office of supervisor after a long service as clerk. Mr. Navarre is now adjutant of the Joseph R. Smith Post No. 76, Department of Michigan, G. A. R. He is also a member of Branch No. 13 of the Catholic Mutual Benefit Association of Monroe.
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