History of Saginaw County, Michigan; historical, commercial, biographical, Volume I, Part 55

Author:
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Chicago : C.C. Chapman & Co.
Number of Pages: 962

USA > Michigan > Saginaw County > History of Saginaw County, Michigan; historical, commercial, biographical, Volume I > Part 55

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547

CITY OF EAST SAGINAW.

born at Kimball, St. Clair Co., Mich., Feb. 16, 1852, and Guy K., born at the same place Sept. 5, 1853.

John C. Brown, dealer in logs, etc., East Saginaw, is a native of New York, and located at East Saginaw in 1869. He established his present business in 1872. From that time until 1881, he has invested in pine lands, in Midland and other counties. He has two valuable farms, one of which, not far from East Saginaw, is worth $100 per acre, and is one of the best improved and most productive farms in the State. On this, in 1879, he erected a residence and two barns. One of these barns cost $1,600, is 40x80 feet in size, two stories in height, and a perfect model of an equine palace.

R. Bruske, druggist and chemist, and dealer in drugs, medicines, wines and liquors, and a fine assortment of fancy and toilet articles, began business in 1875, at the corner of Jefferson and Genesee streets, which he still has possession of. He has a neat store, which is run in a most attractive manner, and has a large prescription trade. He was born in the province of Schlesia, Prussia, in 1851, and came to America when but three years old, with his parents, who located in Saginaw. He was reared and educated here, and in 1865 began clerking in different stores; in 1868 entered the drug business with L. Simonean, was with him seven years, after which he took a four-months tour to Europe. HIe returned to Saginaw, opened business for himself, and has been successfully engaged in it for six years. In the spring of 1882 Mr. Bruske calculates to branch out and enlarge his business on account of liis increasing trade.

Joseph T. Burnham, of Burnham & Still, salt, and lumber manufacturers, East Saginaw, was born at Berlin, Erie Co., Ohio, July 30, 1824. He is a son of Ellsworth and Maria ( Walker) Burnham, natives of Connecticut. Joseph was reared on a farm and attended the district schools in winter, assisting his father on the farm and in a saw-mill in the summer seasons. When young, he built a saw-mill at Berlin, which was destroyed by fire. Another mill erected on the same site suffered the same fate, and in May, 1856, he came to Saginaw county. He first located at St. Charles, where, in connection with three others, he bought a saw-mill and a large tract of pine land; also kept a "country store." Four years later tlie mill was idestroyed by fire, and in 1863 Mr. B. located at Sag- inaw City. Soon after lie puchased an interest in the Freeto & Smith mill property, at South Saginaw, and after passing through several hands the mill was burned, in 1867. It was rebuilt in 1868, and a shingle. mill erected, which shared the luck of its pre- decessors three years later. Mr. Burnham has suffered the loss of six mills; in which he had whole or part interest. He was Post- master at St. Charles for two years, and has served as Alderman of East Saginaw. He is a member of the K. of P. and I. O. O. F. fraternities. He was married in October, 1848, to Julia A., a daugh- ter of Sheldon and Sallie (Osborn) Hurd, a native of Berlin, Erie Co., O. They have 4 children-Ella A., wife of C. N. Palmer; Saralı A., wife of W. H. Morgan; Frank E. and J. T.

548

HISTORY OF SAGINAW COUNTY.

Caffery Bros., dealers in agricultural implements, wagons and carriages, East Saginaw. This firm was established April 20, 1880, and in one short year their business has assumed stupendons pro- portions. They have erected a two-story brick warehouse on Gene- see ave., at a cost of $8,000, where they store the immense quantities of goods received weekly. This firm have 75 local agents . distributed throughout the State, and give employment to fonr first-class salesmen. The firm was formerly located at Pinkney, Mich.

A. W. S. Calderwood was born in Scotland, May 25, 1845, and is a son of Peter Calderwood, who emigrated to Canada in 1855. Our subject came to South Saginaw in the fall of 1865. In 1868 he engaged in the mercantile trade in this place. He keeps a full line of dry goods, clothing, millinery and furnishing goods. His sales amount to $10,000 annually, and are steadily increasing, for Mr. Calderwood is a live business man, keeps up with the times, and sells cheap. He also owns a half interest in the grocery store of Calderwood & Smith. He was married in 1873 to Miss Ellen M. Vanliew, by whom he has 1 daughter, Jennie.

Mr. Camp, of Sample & Camp, manufacturers of lumber, lath and salt, East Saginaw, was born in Grinnell Co., Ohio, in 1826. He received an academic education, and was engaged in farming until the war, when he was a soldier in the 40,000 men Ohio sent to garrison Union forts. He was stationed at Arlington Heights. During the war he organized the 64th Reg. Ohio Vol. Inf. Band, and was its teacher. He was a Tp. Trustee while in Ohio. Mr. Camp came to Saginaw City in 1873, but did not remove his family there until 1878.

Joseph Carr, of McKnight & Carr, blacksmiths, corner Johnson and Franklin streets, East Saginaw. was born at Dunville, Monk Co., Canada, May 6, 1848, and is of English and Irish ancestry. When 12 years of age he left home and went to Buffalo, N. Y., where he drove a coal cart for one year. He was a sailor on the lakes for three years, a blacksmith at Dunville, Canada, three years and a half; in 1870 came to East Saginaw, and worked on a tug one year; worked in a saw-mill and feed store; then as black- smith for Charles A. Dolliver for eight years; then in business for himself 11 months, and the present partnership was formed March 1, 1881. In the spring of 1877 he purchased a house and lot at the Penoyer farm, valued at $1,000. He is a member of the East Saginaw Reform Club; was married at East Saginaw, May 11, 1871, to Effie Inez Elliott, who was born near Detroit. Mich. They have one child, Ivy I., born at Saginaw City, Feb. 25, 1881.

Elijah S. Catlin is an old settler of Saginaw Valley, having located at Bay City in 1848. He came by way of Flint on the State road to Saginaw. The road was paved with logs and the journey was tedious. Saginaw was a village of about 500 inhabitants at that time, and there was one house, a log structure, in East Saginaw, near where the Bancroft House now stands. Emerson's mill was also on the east side of the river, surrounded by its half-a-dozen cabins.

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CITY OF EAST SAGINAW.

Mr. Catlin passed down the river to Bay City, which at that time was a village of 15 families. He remained in Bay City until 1859, when he came to East Saginaw, where he has since resided. Mr. Catlin informs us that the first salt of Saginaw Valley was made in East Saginaw in 1860. While in Bay City he was a clerk, and after coming to East Saginaw, became bookkeeper for a lumber firm, which position he hield for five years, when he engaged in the commission business, also inspecting and shipping lumber, which he has followed until the present time. Mr. Catlin was born in Schuyler Co., N. Y., May 14, 1826, and is a son of Lee- man and Betsey Catlin. He was married in 1858 to Miss Martha E. Wellman, by whom he has 3 children- Joseph E., Carrie and Charles S.

Alexander H. Clark, of Clark Bros., grocery and meat market was born in Ayrshire, Scotland, June 6, 1848, and is a son of Robert and Hannah (Clark) Clark. He attended school, and at 15 years old was apprenticed to the slater's trade, where he remained four years. In 1866 he came to the United States, locating at East Saginaw. In 1871 he started in business, and in 1878 his brother entered into full partnership. They have $1,500 invested in groceries, $1,000 in the meat department, and $1,000 worth of slate for roofing constantly on hand. Mr. Clark was married at East Saginaw, April 4, 1871, to Elizabeth, daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth (McGregor) Steel, who was born near Detroit, Mich ., July 18, 1850. Of their 3 children, 1 is living, Robert, born Nov. 2, 1874. Esther was born April 1, 1872, and died in July, 1872, and Elizabeth was born Oct. 12, 1876, and died April 1, 1877. Mr. Clark is connected with the Masonic order, and his wife is a member of the Presbyterian Church.

S. G. Clay, formerly manager of the Academy of Music, East Saginaw, was born at Bath, England, in 1818. When 12 years of age he went on board a man of war, where he practiced instru- mental music for three years. At the end of this time he went on board the vessel " Spit-Fire," off the coast of Algiers, and subse- quently came to America, locating at Philadelphia, where his parents had previously settled. Mr. Clay has been engaged in managing theaters and theatrical companies for over 30 years. In 1852 he was the manager of the Bidwell Hall at Adrian, Mich., and was subsequently a teacher of band music at Detroit, Flush ing, Flint and East Saginaw. He has been in charge of the Academy of Music from 1859 to 1881.

H. Coleman, proprietor livery establishment, East Saginaw, was born in Livingston Co., New York, where he was also edu- cated. In 1862 he enlisted in the 136th Reg. N. Y. Vol. Inf., and served three years figliting for "Uncle Sam." He was for one year on a detached service. In 1865 he went into partnership with J. J. Harvey, of East Saginaw, and they opened a hotel and livery at Howell, Mich., where they remained two years. They then opened a livery at East Saginaw, and were in partnership until

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HISTORY OF SAGINAW COUNTY.

1878, when the firm was dissolved, Mr. Coleman purchasing Mr. Harvey's interest. Mr. C. has also one of the largest undertaking establishments in the city in connection with his livery. Mr. Coleman was married in January, 1867, to Minerva H. Thomas, a native of New York.

John H. Cook, of the firm of J. H. Cook & Co., is a native of Caynga Co., New York, and was born March 9, 1841. His father, John Cook, was a native of New Jersey. Mr. Cook was brought up on a farm, and his early education was obtained in the common schools. He came to Saginaw county in 1854, and here resided on a farm. He served for over two years during the late war, in Co. C, 7th Mich. Cavalry, participating in the battles of Gettysburg and others, and was wounded at the former place. He was in the employ of the Boom Company here for 11 years. He, with Mr. John Howard, purchased their present salt block, and erected a shingle mill in 1880.

Mr. Cook was married in November, 1867, to Miss Polly A. Baker, danghter of William Baker, East Dayton, Mich.

T. B. Corning (deceased) was born at Williston, near Burling- ton, Vt., in 1802, and was the son of a noted physician of the Green Mountain State. When quite young he went to Boston, and subsequently to Rochester, N. Y., where he entered the employ of Ephraim Moore, a prominent merchant of that city. Some time after, Mr. Corning went to Webster, N. Y., where, in connection with his brother William, he transacted a prosperous business in a general store. About this time he was married to Ann E. Dickinson, of Lyons, N. Y. The brothers afterward established a banking house at Rochester, N. Y., under the firm name of T. B. & W. Corning, which house is still doing a thriving business. Mr. Corning located at Detroit, Mich., about this time, and when salt operations first commenced in the Saginaw Valley, came to East Saginaw. He was one of the founders of the First National Bank, of Saginaw City, and a prominent stockholder and director of that institution. In 1872 he built a palatial resi- dence on South Washington street, at a cost of about $25,000. He was an unselfish and kind-hearted citizen, a remarkable finan- cier, and his judgment on all business matters was considered second to none. He departed this life in 1874, and was tenderly laid at rest in the family vault at Brady Hill cemetery, He left a wife, a son and daughter, and many friends to mourn his loss.

D. Crease, of Russell & Crease, manufacturers of lumber, lath, staves, headings and salt, East Saginaw, was born in the Eastern States, and first entered into business at East Saginaw. His first venture in salt was at Zilwaukee, where he was located seven years. He owned one well, 1,000 feet deep, that has furnished brine enough to make 100 barrels of salt per day ever since. While at Zilwaukee he was a Justice of the Peace, and has been Superintendent for Batchelor & Co., for over three years. He is connected with the Masonic fraternity.

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CITY OF EAST SAGINAW.

Patrick Crowley, proprietor of hotel on Jefferson street, near F. & P. M. R. R. depot, East Saginaw, was born at Peterboro, Upper Canada, Jan. 15, 1848. Hc is the third son of James D. and Margaret (Whibbs) Crowley; father born in Connty Cork, Ireland, in 1811, and dicd Nov. 30, 1878. Patrick was reared on a farmı, and when 17 years of age, went to work in the lumber business. In 1874, for three months, he was proprietor of the Etna House, on Cass street, East Saginaw, and then kept the Tremont House for five years. In 1880 he erected his present hotel, which is 70 by 120 feet in size, three stories high, contain- ing 42 rooms. He was married at Saginaw City, May 14, 1874, to Margaret, daughter of Patrick and Margaret (Mulroy) Walsh, who was born at Evansville, Canada, June 17, 1849. They have 2 children-Francis J., born Feb. 14, 1876, and Margaret E., born Ang. 21, 1877. Mr. Crowley and wife are members of the Roman Catholic Church.

E. B. Cutter, foreman of F. & P. M. R. R. car shops, East Sagi- naw, was born in Massaclinsetts, where he learned the carpenter and joiner's trade. In 1852 he went to Chicago, and worked for Ameri- can Car Company until their failure; then worked at trade; thence to I. C. R. R .; thence to C. & N. W. R. R .; thence to Blooming- ton, Ill., for C. & A. R. R .; thience to Holly Springs, Miss., for Mississippi Central R. R. and accepted present position in 1880; is a man of family, and home at Lake View, Ill. He was formerly a member of Excelsior Lodge, of Chicago, now Ancient Odd Fellows. Mr. Cutter is a stcam gas fitter and a millwright.

Geo. Davenport, proprietor of shingle-mill which was established in 1864 and run by Christopher Reeves for two years. The mill afterward passed into two or three different hands, and was finally bought by E. S. Avery, of Detroit, and removed north on the J., L. & S. R. R. in 1872. The same year a mill was built in Florence, on lots 21 and 22, by Geo. Davenport & Co., manufacturing lumber, lath and shingles. In 1874 it was purchased by Mr. Davenport, and it was destroyed by fire in 1878. In 1879 it was rebuilt, at a cost of $3,000; it gives employment to 13 men, and turns ont 35,000 shingles per day. Mr. Davenport was born in Saginaw City, Jan. 11, 1840, son of E. W. and Marthy Davenport. He was brought up and educated here, and formerly followed farming to a certain ex- tent; also was engaged in lumbering, directly and indirectly, for 17 years. He was married Oct. 10, 1866, at Pompey, N. Y., to Lydia B. Wright, a native of that State, and they have two daughters re- siding at home. Mr. Davenport is a prominent man in the city, having lived here all his life, and has been well connected with the business welfare of the county.

Elijah N. Davenport was born in 1804 in Dutchess county, N. Y., where he was brought up until he was 18 years of age. His father originally came from England, and settled in New York at an early date. His mother was born in New York, whose ancestry came from Holland. Mr. Davenport, at the age of 18, went to

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HISTORY OF SAGINAW COUNTY.

Niagara county and was engaged in farming until 1831, when he came to Michigan and settled on the Flint river, where the city of Flint now stands, having bought 200 acres of land on the east side of the river. At that time there was only one white family living there besides his own. He was married in Niagara county, N. Y., in March, 1828, to Martha Cronk, a native of that State, who came with him to Michigan. The existence of a great deal of sickness in the neighborhood indnced him to move to Grand Blanc, Genesee connty, where he bought a farin of 80 acres and acted as inn-keeper and Postmaster, it being the nearest one in that part of the conntry. Having a desire to come to Saginaw, he sold his farm in Grand Blanc in 1834 and bought land in different parts of the city, which was surveyed off into city lots. He kept a hotel, opposite where the First National Bank now is, several years, and started a ferry across the Saginaw river, which he ran until the Genesee street bridge was built. In 1836 he was elected High Sheriff and re-elected again in 1840, retiring after serving eight years. He was also elected County Judge, which office he held several years. He was one of the principal stockholders in the Genesee street bridge, which was built in 1863. Oct. 15, 1863, he died, leaving his wife and a family of 10 children, 8 daughters and 2 sons, to monrn his loss. Mr. Davenport was a very prominent man in the county at the time of his death, and had accumulated considerable wealth, thus leaving his family well provided for in life. The widow is still living on the homestead, and is in her 74th year. Out of the family of children there are 5 daughters and 1 son married, living in different parts of the State.

Robert Dederich's bottling works, North Water street, East Sagi- naw, were established by Mr. Dederich, in 1876. The business increased very rapidly, and Mr. D. was forced to find larger and more convenient rooms for his purpose. He now manufactures birch beer and soda water, and is sole agent for Finlay & Zahm's celebrated Toledo bottled beer. He employs 14 men, and also lias a branch establishment at Bay City. The manufacturing depart- ment is fitted up with the latest improved machinery, and is under the efficient management of Mr. Butelle, of France. Mr. Butelle has gained considerable local notoriety, owing to his introduction of Dederich's birch beer. He was awarded a special premium on wine at the Centennial Exposition of the United States.

Louis De La Vergne was born in the town of Armina, Dutchess county. New York, Jan. 12, 1807. His boyhood days were spent on his father's farm and liis education was obtained in the common schools. In 1835 he went to Tompkins county, New York, and kept a dairy until 1838, when he removed to Broome county, New York, locating on a farm seven niiles from Binghamton. Here he resided until 1852, and farmed all that time except the last four years, whichi time he ran on the New York & Erie R. R. In 1852 he came to East Saginaw, which was then a wilderness. He worked four years for Jas. Ketcham and others, when, in 1856, he went to

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CITY OF EAST SAGINAW.

Pike's Peak, spent nearly all his money, and returned the same year. He worked for Warner & Eastman about three years, when he became foreman in one department at the F. & P. M. car shops. Mr. De La Vergne was a very hard worker in his younger days. His house was the second one built south of the bayou, and this he built of nights and Sundays, attending to his regular daily labor at the same time. He was married Nov. 1, 1828, to Miss Alma Stebbins. sister of Deacon Luther Stebbins, of near Buffalo, New York. They have had 11 children, 8 living-William, Theodore, Helen (Sinith), Lucy, Franklin T. F., Lurinda (Donaho), Louis and Jennie (Randle). The deceased are S. Maria, Henry and William Y. Three of their sons, Theodore, Franklin and Louis, were soldiers for the U. S. during the Rebellion.

R. F. Dobson, painter, East Saginaw, is a native of the Province of Ontario, Canada, and in 1856 located at Detroit, Mich., where he lived one year. In 1859 he came to East Saginaw, where he learned his trade. In 1863 he enlisted in Co. C, 7th Reg. Mich. Vol. Inf., serving one year in behalf of his adopted country. His brother, Charles F., was killed in the fight before Richmond, Va. Mr. Dobson employs about 10 men, and enjoys a very good pat- ronage in both the Saginaws.

Eugene E. Draper, proprietor of the Oriental Restaurant. These magnificent parlors were opened Feb. 22, 1881, at a cost of $6,000. The establishment consists substantially of a central entrance lead- ing to the reception room in the rear, while on each side is a large room used respectively for a sample room and dining-hall. These two rooms are nicely fitted up in the latest style, and are con- ducted in a first-class manner. The reception room is a model of neatness and beauty. A fine Brussels carpet covers the floor, and the ceiling and walls are decorated in a most handsome manner: For the convenience of guests there are six private apartments set off from the main room, which are also nicely arranged. In the main entrance is a stairway, leading to the second floor. This department is divided off into two large parlors, elegantly fur- nished, which occupy the front of the building, while the balance is set off into eight sleeping apartments. The whole building is fitted up and furnished in the best and latest style. This is cer- tainly an honor to East Saginaw, as it is the finest restaurant in- the State of Michigan, and cannot be excelled in Eastern cities. Mr. Draper, tlc proprietor, was born in Oakland county, this State, June 16, 1845, son of Calvin D. and Mary J. Draper. Hc came with his parents to Saginaw in 1854, and has made it his home here ever since. In 1878 he opened a restaurant on Cass street, south of Genesee, and ran it until January, 1880, when he sold out and opened in his present place of business.

C. E. Eastman, dealer in white pine and hard-wood lumber, East Saginaw, was a former employe of the McGrath Bros., from whom he gained a practical knowledge of the lumber trade that materially aids him in his large purchases and sales. Mr. East- man is located at No. 6, Buena Vista block.

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HISTORY OF SAGINAW COUNTY.

Hon. Edwin Eddy; of Eddy, Avery & Eddy, lumber merchants, was born at Eddington, Penobscot Co., Mc., Jan. 18, 1817. His parents werc Eleazer and Sylvia (Campbell) Eddy, natives of Maine; father died in 1826 and mother in 1860. When 17 years of age Mr. Eddy went into the lumber camps, where he remained work- ing for others for four years. At the expiration of that time he engaged in business for himself. In the fall of 1863 he came to the Saginaw Valley, locating at Saginaw City, and a year later at East Saginaw. Immediately after arrival, hc purchased a fourth interest in the firm of Avery, Murphy & Co. The firm finally be- came Eddy, Avery & Co., which was dissolved by the death of Newell Avery in March, 1877, and the present firm of Eddy, Avery & Eddy established, Mr. Eddy owning a third interest. The inill property and salt-blocks are located at Bay City, where the firm manufacture about 70,000 barrels of salt per year, and cut ncarly 21,000,000 feet of lumber. They own extensive tracts of pine land in Clare, Roscommon, Midland and other eountics. While a resident of Bradley, Me., Mr. Eddy was Secretary and Treasurer of the town, and represented the district for three terms in the Mainc Legislature. He was formerly a Democrat, but joined the Free-Soil party, and when the Republican party was organized enlisted with his political champion, Hannibal Hamlin, under its banner, where both have since remained. Mr. Eddy was married in January, 1840, to Celia W. Eddy, a native of Maine. Of their 7 children, 4 arc living -- Naney M., wife of T. E. Dorr; Ellen A., Selwyn, of the firm of Eddy Bros., Bay City, and Charles A., a member of the firms of Avery & Co., and Eddy Bros. George, Lucy and an infant arc deceased.

N. H. Eldred, of Eldred & Baker, carriage and wagon manu- facturers, East Saginaw, was born in Ohio. He came to this State in 1859, and was here edneated and partly learned his trade at "the Saginaws." He then went to Tnseola, Mieh., where he remained in business 10 years. He finally purchased an interest in the firm of Baker Bros. at East Saginaw, where he has sinee been in business. The firm is doing a large business, and is one of the oldest houses in the trade in the Saginaw Valley.

Thomas Emery, contractor and builder, East Saginaw, was born in Lapeer county, Mieb., Oct. 8, 1850. His parents removed to Ann Arbor when he was quite small. Here he received a thorough education, graduating in the engineer's course of the literary de- partment of Michigan University in that city. IIe learned the car- penter's trade prior to gradnating, and in 1874 he came to East Saginaw, where he has since resided, except one year which he spent in Toledo, Ohio, and six months in Detroit. He was married in 1879' to Miss Carrie Atwater. From 1877 to 1879 he was a member of the School Board of East Saginaw.

George Feige, manufacturer and dealer in fine furniture, is the son of Ernest Feige, who was born near Hessen, Germany, in 1811. In 1847 he emigrated to America, locating at New York city,

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CITY OF EAST SAGINAW.

where for a period of seven years he was employed in manufacturing furniture. In 1854 he canie to Michigan, settling at East Saginaw, and after investing iu real estate and erecting substantial dwellings thereon, turned his attention to the furniture business, in which he lcd the trade for six years. In 1860 he turned over the business to his sons, George, Ernest and IIenry. In 1879 Henry retired from the firm, and a year later George becamne sole proprietor. The large building occupied by Mr. Feige was built in 1873, at a cost of $10,- 000. Mr. Feige employs 20 men, and his trade extends over many States of this Union.

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History of Saginaw County, Michigan; historical, commercial, biographical, Volume I, Part 55

Author: Publication date: 1881 Publisher: Chicago : C.C. Chapman & Co. Number of Pages: 962

Author:
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Chicago : C.C. Chapman & Co.
Number of Pages: 962