History of Saginaw County, Michigan; historical, commercial, biographical, Volume I, Part 66

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 66

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O. P. Barber, M. D., was born at Canandaigua, Ontario Co., N. Y., in 1849, and is a son of Zaccheus and Hannah (Martin) Barber. He was brought up there until he was 10 years old, and since that time he has lived in different parts of the country. At the age of 15 he entered the literary department of the University of Michigan, at Ann Arbor, and afterward the medical department, where he remained. two years. He then entered Bellevue Hos- pital College, of New York city, from which he graduated in the spring of 1870. He practiced one year at Leroy, Genesee Co., N. Y., and in 1871 came to Saginaw City, forming a partnership with Drs. White and Bliss, with whom he continned four years. In 1876 he opened his office in Andre block, Hamilton st. He has been a member of the American Medical Association for 10 years; of the State Medical Society for nine years; is also a miem- ber of the Board of Health, and was elected City Physician by a Democratic Council. Dr. Barber is one of the leading physicians of this city, and has a large practice. Was nominated for Mayor on the Republican ticket in the spring of 1881, and defeated by 103 votes in a city of between four and five hundred Democratic

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HISTORY OF SAGINAW COUNTY.

majority, and since then has received the appointment of local

sur- geon of the M. C. R. R.

John Barr, proprietor of Barr's brick yard, on sec. 18, Sagi- naw tp., was born in Scotland, June 1, 1819, and is a son of Robert and Margaret Barr. Mr. B. came to America in 1842, locating in Canada, where he assisted on the first iron boat ever built in that country. From Canada he traveled over different portions of New York, and at Chippewa was offered a shop and two acres of land if he would consent to locate there and pursue his trade (being a thorough machinist). While at Buffalo he was offered all the money he desired to start a manufactory, and assisted in building the first looms to knit or weave a shirt, it being formerly done by hand. At Waterford, Saratoga Co., N. Y., he worked eight years at constructing fire-engines. In 1865 he came to Saginaw county, and a few years later went to Niagara, N. Y. where he built a locomotive to run to and from the famous "Falls." He has been principally engaged in brick-making of late years, and turns out annually from twelve to fourteen hundred thousand. He owns 40 acres on sec. 18, 15 acres inside the corporate limits of East Saginaw, and two houses and five lots in Saginaw City. Mr. Barr was married Oct. 12, 1846, to Agnes Brice, who was born at Edinburgh, Scotland, in 1823. One child was given them, Agnes, born Nov. 15, 1847, and died Aug. 11, 1849. Mrs. Barr died July 23, 1848, and in 1864 Mr. B. married Mary Haslip, who was born in Canada in 1841.

Charles G. Benjamin, saw-filer for Williams Brothers, was born in Geneva, N. Y., Oct. 16, 1835, and is a son of Edwin Benjamin. He came to Saginaw in 1859, and engaged in log-scaling in the winter seasons and saw-filing during the summers. The first five years he worked for V. A. Paine; one year with Warner and East- man, and 11 years with Rust, Eaton & Co., and in 1876 he began with his present employers. He was married in 1867 to Miss Laura Johnson, by whom he has 2 children, Edmond and Don- ald. Mr. Benjamin is a member of the Knights of Honor.

D. E. Benjamin is a prominent farmer of this tp. He was born in Cortland Co., N. Y., May 1, 1822, and is a son of Capt. Elias and Rhoda Benjamin, natives of New York. In 1843 Mr. B. came West, locating in Oakland Co., Mich. For tive years he was engaged in lumbering. In 1868 he purchased his present farm of 315 acres of excellent farming land. Mr. Benja- min was married in New York in 1843, to Margaret, daughter of John and Catherine Shoudy, who was born in 1822. She bore him 2 children, Elizabeth and Ellen M., and departed this life in 1863. He was again married, in Genesee Co., N. Y., in 1865, to Adeline, daughter of Luke and Mary Coney, who was born in New York in 1835. They have 1 child, Lillian. Mr. B.'s portrait is given in this work, on page 167.

John H. Benjamin was born in Newport, Maine, Dec. 26, 1840, and is a son of James Benjamin. Our subject learned the black- smith trade with his father, when a boy. In May, 1864, he came to Saginaw and remained about 16 months, then returned East. In

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November, 1869, he returned to Saginaw, and in April, 1870, establislied a blacksmith shop and buggy manufactory. He does a very extensive business, and turns out first-class work. He was married Sept. 12, 1878, to Miss Florence J., daughter of D. J. Smith. They have 1 son, John H., jr.

William Biesterfeld, dealer in dry goods and notions, estab- lished this business on April 1, 1877, on HIamilton street, and at the end of one year it was moved to Andre block, on Court street. Mr. Biesterfeld has a fine stock of goods, and is doing a large busi- iness. When he first opened he had a stock of $5,000, which he lias increased to over $12,000. His yearly sales amount to $30,000. By strict attention to business he has placed - himself among the prominent merchants of the city. He was born at Baltimore, Md., in 1857, and is a son of Henry and Mary Biesterfeld, now residents of this city. In 1865 he came to Saginaw City, and soon after entered the employ of Scheib & Co., with whom he learned the business, and remained until 1877, when he bought his em- ployers' stock. He was united in marriage Nov. 27, 1879, at Detroit, Mich., to Ida E. Dodge, a native of Michigan City, Ind. One child was born to them, William Chester, who died June 29, 1881, aged eight months.

Michael Blank, farmer on sec. 28, was born in Germany, in 1834. In 1852 he came to Saginaw county, and after years of toil and privation, has succeeded in possessing a nice farm of 50 acres. He was married in 1847 to Sorena Brights, who was born in Germany in 1836. They have 5 children-Kate, Lizzie, Law- rence, Anna and Cora. Mr. Blank and wife are faithful members of the German Lutheran Church.

Rev. George Bradley .- Of the many strong men who deserve honorable mention in connection with the early pioneer life of the Saginaw Valley and Northern Michigan no one is entitled to a higher place in this record than Rev. George Bradley. He was born May 31, 1810, in Hopewell, Ontario Co., N. Y. In 1832 he married Miss Sopinia Blakesley, of Oneida Co., New York. He was licensed to preach in 1837. In 1838 he became a member of the Michigan Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and was for 33 years a minister of the gospel of that Church, much of the time as a missionary among the Indians. He labored as only a strong, true and brave man can labor. Wherever hard work and great responsibility were demanded, there was he sent, and no man can say he failed to meet the demand: whether as pastor, pre- siding elder or missionary, he was the same hard-working, earnest Christian man. Whether in the mansion of the rich, the log cabin of the poor pioneer, among the rough laborers in the pine woods or the wigwam of the Indian, he was at all times the dignified, yet courteous, gentleman, the wise counselor, the sym- pathizing friend and always a minister of the gospel of Christ. One of his old co-laborers once said of him, " If you want to see George Bradley, go where duty has called him and there you will find him."

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HISTORY OF SAGINAW COUNTY.

Some idea of his labors may be formed when it is stated that when presiding elder of the Grand Rapids District in 1848-'9, his district embraced all that part of the State lying north of the south line of Genesee county to the Straits of Mackinaw, with his home in the city of Flint. All this vast territory, from Lake Hnron on the east to Lake Michigan on the west, he visited, organizing societies, building churches, preaching wherever he went, in the church, if one was to be found, in the log-cabin of the settlers, the wigwam of the savage, at the camp-meeting, and wherever men and women could be found. In stature he was almost a giant. He had great natural ability. His mind was clear, com - prehensive and practical. He dealt with men as he found them, and souglit in his preaching and intercourse to lead them to be better men. IIe never said a foolish thing. His voice was remarkable: always pleasant and winning, at times it was raised with a sud- denness and power that startled and moved like an electrical shock.

For some time he resided in the city of East Saginaw. When the Indians removed to their reservation in Isabella connty in the winterof 1857, he took up his residence among them, and resided in tha county until his death. He was the Indian's true and un- faltering friend. In the spring of 1871, upon the recommendation of the Missionary Society, he was appointed by President Grant Indian Agent for the State of Michigan. April 8 he went to New York for a conference with the Missionary Board npon Indian affairs. He reached that city late in the evening, and took a car- riage for the mission rooms, but feeling ill he ordered the driver to take him to a hotel, which was done. He stepped from his car- riage to the sidewalk, fell, and expired without nttering a word. Bishop Harris forwarded his remains to loving friends at Saginaw, who conveyed them to Isabella, where they were interred. His devoted, faithful wife, the partner and helper in his great work, survived him until the fall of 1875. The remains of these two earnest Christian workers rest side by side in the beautiful cemne- tery at Mt. Pleasant.

Phineas D. Braley was born in Berkshire county, Mass., April 17, 1811. In January, 1823, he came with his parents in a sleigli to Royalton. New York, and in 1835 they came to Sagi- naw county and settled on the Tittabawassee river. There were 17 in the two families, and they traveled the entire distance with all ox team. They, however, traveled by lake from Buffalo to Detroit. Wlien they arrived at the Saginaw river they found no ferry; but the Indians soon constructed one for them, of two canoes with slabs lain across, and tied, or bolted, to the canoes. Mr. Braley's wagon was among the first wheeled vehicles brought to the Valley.

In those days they liad to go to Thread river to mill, a distance of 32 miles, requiring five days to make the trip. On the arrival of the Braleys here there were but four frame houses in Saginaw, and no plank houses in East Saginaw. Mr. Braley has been

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engaged in lumbering for the most part. every winter since 1836. He removed to Saginaw in 1856. The first winter he was here he cut 200 cords of wood and put it on the river bank for Har- vey Williams, at 30 cents per cord.

Mr. Braley tells an amusing anecdote in connection with his wagon. He said: "Harvey Williams came and hitched his own team to it one day, and refused to return it; said he wanted to buy it; but I refused to sell it. Hc paid no attention to what I said, but put his hand into his pocket and drew out a handful of bank notes and gave it to me without counting it; remarking as he left that if it was not enough he would give me some more. I counted the money, and found there was just $170 in currency." Mr. Braley was married in August, 1833, to Miss Rebecca Hubbard, by whom he had 3 children-Lavina (dec.), Ezra and Cynthia. Mrs. B. died, and he was again married, this time to Miss Jane Blewer, who afterward died, and Dec. 16, 1842, he married Miss Olive Hubbard, by whom he has had 9 children; of these 6 are living, viz .: Phineas, Mary, Emma A., Fannie C., Frederick B., and Laura.

Frederick W. Brenner, City Surveyor, Saginaw City, was born near Cologne, Prussia, Sept. 5, 1844; is a son of Charles T. and Thorthca (Fisher) Brenner, father a native of Prussia, mother of Switzerland. Charles received his early education at the Cologne high school, and when 15 years of age accompanied his father to this country, his mother having died in 1841. He resided at New York city for about six months, attending school, and then engaged in the manufacturing business. In 1850 he came to Sag- inaw City, and soon after his father purchased two lots on the corner of Adams and Hamilton streets, where he erected the Far- mer's Hotel, since known as the Shakspeare and Washington Houses. Here Frederick assisted his father at odd times, and in 1852 went to the mouth of Thunder Bay river (now Alpena) where he remained, seining fish, for three years. In 1854 he commenced surveying with Butler Ives, of Detroit. He was in the employ of the F. & P. M. R. R. for some years, and assisted in locating the road beds of the A. L. & T. B., and the former company. He was elected County Surveyor in 1874, serving as such for two ycars. He was married Oct. 20, 1856, to Maria A. Ortner, a native of Bavaria. They have 7 children-Wilhelmina. Emma, Edward, Caroline, William, Mary and Charlie. Mr. Brenner and wife are members of the Lutheran Church.

Abel A. Brockway was born in Schoharie Co., N. Y., Aug. 16, 1818. In 1848 he came to Port Huron, Mich., and in 1851 to Sag- inaw; remaining only a few days he returned to Port Huron. He spent summers in Saginaw and the winters in Port Huron. He spent the year 1848 lumbering in St. Clair county. He owns large tracts of land in Michigan and also in Washington Territory. He has resided in Saginaw since 1853. His residence is situated on the cross road city limits. He was married in 1861 to Miss Rozette Winget. Their 2 children are Mary and Sarah.

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HISTORY OF SAGINAW COUNTY.

Burnham, Spaulding & Co., dealers in dry-goods and carpets, wholesale and retail. This large house was established Sept. 1, 1880, in Smith's block, Court st. The store was formerly occu- pied by J. B. Woolfenden & Co. This firm has put in an entire new stock consisting of dry-goods and carpets in its various branches, making fine goods a specialty. Mr. Burnham, the senior member, resides at New York city, where he improves the oppor- tunities of buying goods at bargains. He has 35 years experience in the dry-goods business, and nses his judgment in buying the best class of goods for their trade here. They are doing business upon the best of business principles, buying and selling all goods for cash, having only one price. The store is a large, double room withi the same proportions above, while the basement is used exclu- sively for the wholesale department. A first-class dress-making department occupies the third floor, and is also run in connection with the establishment. It is under the management of Mrs. Mary Reynolds, of New York, a lady of great taste and judgment. The whole business is under the supervision of Mr. Spaulding, who has had an experience of 17 years in this business. He is a native of Monroe Co., N. Y., and came to Michigan in 1870. He was engaged in business at Jackson, Mich., for nine years, and has also beside his business interests here, a large dry-goods and carpet house at Caro, Tuscola Co., Mich .. under the name of E. O. Spaulding & Co. The house in this city employs 29 persons, and does a business of $150,000 a year.

F. C. Busch, proprietor book bindery, Hamilton street. This bindery was opened in 1871, in the old postoffice building, and moved to the present location in Newell block in 1874. He manufactures all kinds of blank books and does all kinds of book-binding, ruling, etc. His trade was learned at East Saginaw, of A. H. Frey, in 1866. He was born at Detroit, Mich., in 1850, and came to Saginaw City in 1856. His father They are old settlers in this. and mother, William and Mary (Heilbron) Busch, natives of Ger- many, are residents of this city.

country. His father was born in 1805, and mothier in 1813. The family consisted of S children, of whom 6 are living-Louisa, William C., Augusta, Mena, Frederick C., and Henry.

Myron Butman was born in Milan, Ohio, Oct. 5, 1825, and is a son of Jolin S. Bntman, who removed from New Hampshire to Ohio in an early day. Mr. B. was educated at Huron Institute, Erie Co., Ohio. The year of 1854 he spent in Chicago, and in 1855 came to Saginaw. Previons to locating here, however, he entered about 4,000 acres of fine timber lands near this locality. He has dealt very extensively in timber lands since that time. He is now extensively engaged in Inmbering, doing lris sawing at Bay City. He was married in 1848 to Miss Mary P. Adams. They have 1 child-Mary P.

William H. Cambrey, a native of England, was born in February, 1837, and emigrated to America with his parents in 1844. They

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settled in Independence, Oakland Co .. Mich., where they still re- side. In 1862 William came to Saginaw and worked as engineer in the Chicago Salt and Lumber Co., for four years; for Rust, Eaton & Co. till 1871, and since for Eaton, Potter & Co., as foreman or superintendent. He was married July 4, 1858, to Lucinda Meeker. They have 2 children-Nellie and Kate.

A. B. Chapin, of the firm of Dolsen, Chapin & Co., was born in Marietta, Ohio, Dec. 28. 1840, where he was brought up and educated. He enlisted in the U. S. service in 1861, in Co. L, 1st Ohio Cavalry. While in the army he was made Lieutenant of Gen. Thomas' escort. He came to Saginaw in 1865, and in 1866 mar- ried Miss Electa Barber. by whom he has 2 children-Nellie and Julia. When he first arrived in Saginaw he became identified with Mr. Barber in East Saginaw. under the firm name of Chapin. Barber & Co., who afterward removed their business to Salina.

The manufactory of the present firm is in Bay City. It was erected in 1870. by Dolsen & Walker, Mr. Chapin not having bought into the company until in 1873. The steam power is fur- nished by five large boilers. and transmitted to the machinery through eight engines. This firm employs 80 men. and manufactures annually 23.000.000 feet of lumber. and 60.000 barrels of salt. The first salt well was bored in 1863. by the same firm that erected the mill. They now have six wells in active operation.

Oscar D. Chapin (deceased) was born in Medina Co .. Ohio, Sept. 26. 1826, and was a son of Seymour Chapin. He lived on his father's farm until 10 years of age, when his mother died. He then went to Marietta, Ohio, and resided with his brother, Harlow Chapin, receiving an education in the Marietta schools. In 1864 he came to Saginaw and engaged in lumbering with A. G. Van- way for a short time, when he formed a co-partnership with his nephew, A. B. Chapin, and L. A. Barber, in the same business. Their mill burned Oct. S, 1871; he then went to Bay City and formned a partnership with Mr. Barber of that place. He was mar- ried in August. 1849, to Miss Eliza Barber, daughter of David Barber, and a sister of Levi A. Barber, of Bay City. Mrs. Chapin

was born in Meigs Co., Olio. This union was blessed with S children, of whom + are living, viz. : Charles B .. Florence M. (Greenwood), David S. and Kate. Mr. Chapin died Oct. 24. 1579. loved and respected by all. He was an energetic business man, upright in his dealings, and a man of high social qualities.

F. G. Clifton, chief engineer of Saginaw City water works, was born in England, Dec. 23, 1842, and came to America with his parents when but a small child. He was reared to manhood at Lockport. N. Y., where he served his apprenticeship in the machine shops. In 1860 he entered the Holly works. and remained with them until the war. In 1862 he enlisted in Co. D, 129th Rey. N. Y. Vol. Inf., and was afterward transferred to the Stli Reg. N. Y . Heavy Artillery. On June 3. 1864, at the battle of Cold Harbor, he was taken prisoner, and was confined four months in Andersonville

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HISTORY OF SAGINAW COUNTY.

prison, three months in Florence, and two months was transferred to different places. At the close of the war he returned to the Holly works, at Lockport, remaining with them until 1866, when he came to Saginaw City. He entered the machine shops here, and was a member of the first fire department of Saginaw City. When the Silsby engine was purchased in 1868, he was placed in charge, and in 1872 was transferred to the water works, which were built that year. This position he has faithfully filled from that date. He was united in marriage in the fall of 1865, at Lock - port, N. Y., to Louisa Poyfair, a native of that city. They have 5 children, all residing at home.

W. H. Cole & Co., merchant tailors. This popular honse opened business Aug. 19, 1879. Mr. Joseph Beach, the cutter, cannot be excelled in his department, and is one of the finest artists in the Valley. He learned his trade in Detroit, of A. A. Tripp, and afterward came to this city. He was born at Rochester, N. Y., in 1845; was reared there, and came to Michigan in 1856, locating at Ann Arbor. He has been engaged in clerking in different parts of the State. In 1862 he entered the employ of II. Barnhard, remaining with him eight years, where he learned the clothing business. This house now stands as one of the leading and most fashionable merchant tailoring establishments in the Saginaw Valley. They have the best class of trade from the surrounding country.

David Crowley, proprietor of the Crowley Honse, Hamilton street, was born in Peterborough county, Canada, Nov. 17, 1845. In 1866 he came to East Saginaw; engaged in lumbering until 1872, when he began in the hotel business in Saginaw. He is now on the corner of Hamilton & Ames streets, and has a fine hotel, a history and description of which we give elsewhere in this work. Mr. Crowley was married Jan. 10, 1876, to Miss Margaret Conover, also a native of Canada.

Benjamin Cushway (deceased) was born in Grosse Point (now a part of the city of Detroit), Michigan, February 7, 1810, and was a son of John B. Cushway, a native of Canada, and of French parentage. Mr. Cushway worked on his father's farm until 17 years old, and his education was obtained by attending the night schools, then taught in Detroit. At the age of 17 he began to learn the blacksmith's trade with Harvey Williams, so well known in the early history of Saginaw, and who still resides in Saginaw. He remained with Mr. Williams for seven years. In 1832 he came to Saginaw, remained a short time and returned to Detroit. In 1834 he received the appointment as Indian blacksmith at Sag- inaw, and he a"cordingly came on that year and entered upon his duties as such. He was removed by the treaty of 1837 to Bay City, where he remained in the same situation until 1844. While there he purchased large tracts of land, and a great deal of prop- erty in Bay City, and grew wealthy. He owned the property and resided on the corner of Court and Hamilton streets, in Saginaw,

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SAGINAW CITY.

where the First National Bank now stands, until 1866, when he purchased the Wendell farm near the city on Mackinaw road. Ile resided on liis farin several years, and then returned to the city. Mr. Cushway, at one time, owned the Brockway farm and vast tracts of land in different parts of the State. He was married July 15, 1833, to Miss Adelaide Delisle, by whom he had 14 chil- dren, 9 boys and 5 girls. Mrs. Cushiway was born in Detroit in the year 1812, and was a cousin of the Campeaus, who were the first settlers in Saginaw Valley. Her first visit to Sagi- naw was in 1827, when there were but two houses on the present site of Saginaw, and they were block houses. She returned to her home in Detroit after a visit of some months, and remained until after her marriage with Mr. Cushway. Mr. Cushway died May 25, 1881, in Saginaw, where he had resided for many years. He was well known and much respected for his hospitality and social merits.

C. F. M. Deibel, manufacturer of fine cigars, and dealer in cigars, tobacco and all kinds of smoking articles, on Hamilton street. He started in business December, 1878, and at present employs three men. He began business alone and has worked up a fine trade, which extends over the Valley and averages 20,000 cigars a month. Mr. Deibel was born in this city, and is a son of John and Mary Deibel, who reside here. His father is lumber inspector for Sample & Camp, lumber dealers.

O. J. Demers, clothier, Saginaw City. Mr. Demers was born in Montreal district, Canada, in 1846, and is a son of Constant and Christine Demers, of French descent. His father died about 1861; his mother now resides in Canada. He received his education in Canada, and in 1865 came to Michigan, locating at Saginaw City. On his arrival he did not speak Englishı, and had nothing but in domitable will and pluck. These qualities he lias so applied as to advance him to the front rank of business men. He began busi ness in 1872, and has made additions to his stock at different times, until at present he carries one of the finest stocks of goods in Saginaw City. His annual sales at present amount to $20,000. Mr. Demers was united in marriage June 11, 1879, to Bernardine Herrig, a daughter of Bernard Herrig. They have 1 child, Oliver, now in his infancy.

Horace P. Denison was born in Madison Co., New York, Sept. 6, 1828. His father, Joseph S. Denison, removed with his family to Chenango county in 1832. The latter was a carpen ter and joiner and millwright. At 17 our subject went to learn the carpenter's trade. In 1850 he took charge of the Leonards ville Manufacturing Company's factory, which he superintended for eiglit years. He then went to Jackson, Mich., where he liad charge of the agricultural department in the State's prison for about one year. He then returned to New York, and took charge of the sash and blind factory at Sherburne, where he remained for 10 years. In 1869 le came to Saginaw and took charge of, and be- came one of the proprietors of D. Hardin & Co.'s planing mill,

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History of Saginaw County, Michigan; historical, commercial, biographical, Volume I, Part 66

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