History of St. Clair County, Michigan, containing an account of its settlement, growth, development and resources, its war record, biographical sketches, the whole preceded by a history of Michigan, Part 116

Author:
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Chicago, A.T. Andreas & Co.
Number of Pages: 818

USA > Michigan > St Clair County > History of St. Clair County, Michigan, containing an account of its settlement, growth, development and resources, its war record, biographical sketches, the whole preceded by a history of Michigan > Part 116

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guine, nervous temperament. He is a constant and thorough worker, having early acquired habits of indus- try, and has done a vast amount of work in the past thirty years. He has aimed to be strictly honest in all his transactions, and, in consequence, is known as a man of strict integrity. With firmness of decision, and strong personal and moral courage, nothing can move him from acting in accordance with what he believes to be right ; he has frequently sacrificed personal gain rather than do what he believed to be wrong or unjust to others. He is devoted to his family, and makes many special efforts for the well being of his children. He has never used intoxicating liquors, never uses tobacco, and by practice and precept is a strong temperance man. He is a forcible, fluent and effective speaker, using language that is plain, convincing and often elo- quent. In the past ten years, he has made many political speeches, and while in the State Senate made sev- eral speeches that attracted considerable attention, one of which, his speech in support of his bill to provide for uniform and cheaper school text-books was given the exceptional honor of being ordered printed in the journal, by a unanimous vote of the Senate. While he is a restless, active and enterprising business man, he is also popular, a fact which has been fully tested on various occasions when he has been a candidate for of- fice. He has been several times elected to office without opposition, and received a larger majority when elected Mayor of St. Clair than was ever obtained by any other person. In every position he has been called upon to fill, he has discharged the duties of the office with credit and ability, and to the satisfaction of the public. He belongs to that class of men, too seldom found, who have the moral courage to labor for a good cause, even though it be unpopular. While in the State Senate, Mr. McElroy introduced and secured the passage of a number of bills, among the more important of which are the following : A bill to amend the highway laws, providing a way to proceed in laying out highways across railroads ; a bill for the protection of travel on public highways, which gives Commissioners of Highways additional power, and subjects them to a fine for neglect of duty. A bill to provide for the safety of persons attending public assemblies. This was a very important measure, and well calculated to prevent the needless sacrifice of human lives. A bill for the collection of damages sustained by reason of defective public highways, streets, bridges, crosswalks and cul- verts. Previous to the passage of this bill, a citizen of another State or a foreign country could recover dam- ages by suing the municipality liable in the United States Court, under the common law; whereas, the citi-

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HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY.

zen of Michigan, being obliged to sue in the State Courts, could not recover. This bill was strongly opposed, and its passage through both Houses was a victory for its author. In the session of 1877, Mr. McElroy pro- cured an amendment to the general railroad law, limiting the charges on certain kinds of freight, this being the first instance in which the Legislature of Michigan has attempted to regulate the railroad charges on freight. In the same session. a bill for the protection of guests of hotels from danger by fire was passed, which was made up mostly of ideas taken from a larger and more elaborate bill prepared by Mr. McElroy early in the session of 1879. M. McElroy took a very decided stand against special legislation, and particularly against granting special charters to cities and villages. As Chairman of the Committee on Cities and Villages, he was in a position to give force to his ideas, and by his persistent and continued efforts, every new village and new city incorporated during that session was compelled to incorporate under the general law. By this means, the labor of the Legislature was shortened and the expenses largely reduced, saving, in the matter of printing alone, thousands of dollars. Evidence of this fact can be seen by comparing the size of the volume of local acts 1877, with that of 1879, the latter being only about two-thirds the size of the former. When the liquor question came up, Mr. McElroy took a leading position. He advocated retaining the tax law, mak- ing it more stringent, and increasing the tax thirty-three and a third per cent. He prepared a programme for action, which after a hard fight was adopted, and the law was amended in accordance with his views. In the session of 1879, he introduced a bill to prevent members of the Legislature from accepting railroad passes. The bill failed, but Mr. McElroy returned all the passes sent him both sessions. He regards such passes as bribes, and preferred to pay his way, and be free and independent. During the session of 1877, his railroad fare amounted to $126. He was Chairman of the Committee of Supplies and Expenses of the Senate during both his terms, and early in the session of 1879 discovered that the Legislature was being charged excessive profits on stationery, which it was entitled to at the wholesale contract price with the State stationer. The result of his investigation on this subject was that the cost of stationery for the session of 1879 was less than half what it was for the previous session. There is no doubt that the legislation secured by Mr. McElroy has resulted in saving and protecting human lives, and has saved to the State many thousands of dollars. He had the reputation of being the hardest working man in the Senate, and it is but a statement of facts to say that he distinguished himself as being an industrious, able, eloquent and wise legislator. During his resi- dence in St. Clair, Mr. McElroy has contributed largely to the prosperity of the city by his public spirit and enterprise. In the face of many discourugements, he has established and maintained a steam ferry between St. Clair and Courtwright, and through his own unaided efforts succeeded in having St. Clair made a station of the Canada Southern Railway, and, as a consequence, the free transfer across St. Clair River of all freights and passengers going or coming by that railroad. This enterprise has been worth many thousands of dollars to St. Clair and its vicinity, and is only one of many efforts Mr. McElroy has made for the good of the beau- tiful city he has chosen for his permanent home.

CHARLES McMILLAN, farmer, Section 17, P. O. Rattle Run, is a native of Scotland, and was born December 12, 1817. After reaching manhood he emigrated to the United States in 1842, and in the fall of that year went to Chicago on the " Great Western " with Capt. Walker, and returned and came to St. Clair that year. He spent the winter in Canada, and in spring of 1843, settled in this county, and in the fall located where he now lives; it was all timber, and there was only two small houses between here and St. Clair. He and his brother would walk out here from St. Clair in the morning, and chop all day to clear a place to build a shanty; it was slow work, for he had never chopped a day in his life; there was only one lumber wagon in the township at that time. In 1844, he built a part of the house where he now lives, and it was thought very grand at that time. He lived here four years, then went to Sanilac County, and in 1847, built a saw mill and engaged in lumbering, and remained there until 1850; then sold out and bought a mill at Gibralter, and ran that three years, and then came back on his farm, and since then for the past thirty years has resided here. He owns a good farm of 140 acres, which he cleared and made himself. He has held the office of Supervisor several terms, and Drain Commissioner several terms, and Justice of the Peace, but resigned. In 1862, he married Miss Louise Van Epps, a native of New York State. They have two children-Frank and Grace. Mr. McMillan has one son-Neil, by former wife. He is a member of the firm of D. F. McDonald & Co., commission, Detroit.

HON. MARCUS H. MILES, deceased, was born in Apulia, N. Y., October 23, 1813, and was a son of Elijah Miles, a native of Stockbridge, Mass. Mr. Miles received his education in Homer, N. Y. He for some time clerked in a store in Skaneateles, N. Y. In 1835, came to Detroit, and the following December to Port Huron. On April 18, 1836, he went to Marine City, and in 1838 came to St. Clair. In 1837-38, while in Marine City, he was Deputy County Clerk and Postmaster of that place. He held the office of County Clerk from 1839 to 1842, and from 1849 to 1850. He also was Register of Deeds from 1839 to 1842, and County Judge in 1847, resigned the latter office in 1848. From 1857 to 1860 he was Judge of Probate, and Circuit Court Commis- sioner in 1855 and 1856. From 1840 to 1858, he was Justice of the Peace, and also from 1866 to 1870. While holding the office of County Clerk, he read law and was admitted to the bar as an attorney. During the war, he was Assistant Provost Marshal of the Fifth District, which he resigned in 1863 to accept the office of Quartermaster of the Eleventh Michigan Cavalry, which regiment he helped raise at Kalamazoo. He was with his regiment at Lexington and Camp Nelson until April, 1864; then spent some time at Louisa Fort. He was appointed Judge Advocate of a military commission, by Maj. Gen. Burnside, in July, 1864, and in August following, he was appointed Assistant Judge Advocate of the department. In October, he was made Judge Advocate of the military commission and general court martial at Lexington, which position he held until the close of the war. He was elected to the Legislature in 1866, and was a member of the Constitutional Convention in 1867. In 1870, he was appointed United States Inspector of Customs at Toronto, which office he held until death. Mr. Miles was married November 29, 1840, to Miss Maria C. Partridge, daughter of Capt. Asa Partridge, a Captain in the war of 1812, They have four children, of whom three are living-Edwin C., of Chicago; Timothy L. P., of St. Clair; and Emma M., of St. Clair.

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HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY.

THOMAS J. MILLIKIN, druggist and grocer, was born in the county of Durham, Canada, July 11, 1848, and is a son of John Millikin, a native of the North of Ireland, and came to Canada when a young man. The family removed to two miles below Courtright. on the St. Clair River, opposite St. Clair County, in 1849. Our subject was here brought up on a farm and educated in the common school. He then went to Chatham, Kent County, Canada, and spent four years in a drug store and learned the business. He came to St. Clair in 1870, and clerked for H. Whiting & Son until 1876, when he bought Whiting's drug and grocery stock, and en- gaged in business for himself. He does a business of $16,000 annually, and his trade is constantly increasing. Mr. Millikin was married in December, 1872, to Miss Anna Fox, by whom he has five children; four of these are living, viz .: Maurice II., Leslie W., Helen B. and Jennie M. Mr. Millikin is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, a strong temperance man and a member of the Knights of Pythias. He held the office of City Clerk of St. Clair for two years. In politics, he is Democratic.

STEPHEN MITTIG, mason and contractor, Section 25, P. O. St. Clair, is a native of Bohemia, Austria, and was born March 25, 1823, and upon reaching manhood emigrated to the United States in 1853, and lived in Detroit two years, and in 1855 came to St. Clair and began working at his trade; continued for some years and afterward engaged in contracting and building, and since then has followed the business, and is the oldest mason in the business here; has built two churches and many buildings and residences. In 1849, he married Miss Anna Arnold, a native of Bohemia. They have seven children-Anna, Frank, Johanna, Adeline, Christina, Raymond and Augusta.

FRANKLIN MOORE, Postmaster, was born September 6, 1845, in St. Clair Township, two miles north of St. Clair City, on the St. Clair River, and is a son of Reuben Moore, a native of Manchester, N. H., who came to this county about fifty years ago. Mr. Moore went to East Hampton, Mass., at the age of fourteen years, and attended Williston Seminary for three years, and from thence, in 1864, entered Yale College, graduating from the latter place in 1868. He then came to Detroit and read law for six months; when he went to Saginaw, and entered a lumber yard with a view of learning the lumber business. In January, 1870, he removed to Toledo, Ohio, where for three years he acted as bookkeeper in the lumber yard of H. W. Sage & Co. In the fall of 1872, he moved to Detroit, where he engaged in business with his brother, C. F. Moore. In the fall of 1873, he moved to Saginaw and remained there two years; at the close of that time returned to St. Clair, where he added to his other business that of farming. In December, 1879, he bought the St. Clair Republican, which he has since owned and edited. In June, 1881, he was appointed Post- master at St. Clair, which position he now holds. He held the office of Superintendent of Schools in the town of St. Clair for one year, and for four years has been a member of the Union School Board, of which he is now Moderator. He was married on the 11th day of June, 1873, to Emily S. Parmelee, of Toledo, Ohio. He has three children-Laura, born in Saginaw January 19, 1875; Franklin, born in St. Clair September 6, 1877; and Margaret, also born in St. Clair November 28, 1879.

WILLIAM B MORSE, Deputy Sheriff of St. Clair County, was born in Grafton County, N. H., Octo- ber 7, 1837, and is a son of Hazen S. Morse, of St. Clair, also a native of New Hampshire. The family came to St. Clair in the fall of 1846, where they have since resided. Our subject worked in the lumber woods and at running logs in Pine River for several years. He served one year in the late war, in Company I, Fourth Michigan Infantry, and participated in the battles of Nashville and others. He was in the United States de- tective service in St. Clair for some time. He has been four times elected to the office of City Marshal of St. Clair; has been twice elected Alderman of the Second Ward. which office he now holds. and has been Deputy Sheriff of St. Clair County for the past six years. He was married, in 1857, to Miss Margaret E. Brown, by whom he has three children-Eliza, Edwin C. and Minnie M. Mr. Morse is a member of the Knights of Pythias and of the Knights of Maccabees.

MERRILL NORRIS, farmer, Section 26, P. O. St. Clair, is a native of New Hampshire, and was born in Grafton County September 13, 1827. He grew up and lived in that State until 1853, when he came to this county and settled in this town, bought land, cleared it and made a farm, and since then, for the past thirty years, has lived here. He has held the office of School Inspector.

ANDREW J. PALMER, deceased, was a native of Connecticut, and was born in Windham County, in the town of Ashford, May 9, 1809. His father and grandfather were born in the same town. When six years of age, his parents removed to Canandaigua, N. Y., and in 1821 moved to Scio, Allegany County, where he lived until the fall of 1828, when he started for Cayuga County, Ohio, on foot, carrying his clothes in a bundle on his back. He spent the winter there, and May 29 he started for Detroit on the schooner Lady of the Lake. He spent a few days in Detroit, then went up the St. Clair River on the Forrester, and reached his uncle, George Palmer, adjoining the village of Palmer, now St. Clair, May 31, 1829. In the fall of the same year, he hired out to his uncle Thomas to work in saw mill, and remained there until July 1, 1830. Then went to Detroit, and his uncle bought him an old scow and had it repaired, and Andrew with two Frenchmen sailed it, making trips to River Rouge and to Lake St. Clair, and carried stone for paving the crossing of Woodward and Jefferson avenues, which was the first paving done in the city of Detroit. In October, he went to Buffalo in the steamer Henry Clay, and spent the winter at home, and in the spring went on a raft of lumber to Cincinnati, and from there came to Detroit. During the sum- mer he came to St. Clair, and in the fall went in the mills again for his uncle, and was there during the years 1831-32. In August, 1832, he bought the land on Section 9. their present homestead. At that time, there were only two lots entered in the township, and those were for lumbering. He engaged in lumbering during winters and cleared his land during summers, but was principally engaged in lumbering. On the 9th of Jan- uary, 1842, he married Miss Betsey Dalliba, a native of Scio, N. Y. They came on the present homestead, cleared the land and made his farm. They lived here until his death, which occurred January 18, 1882. He sold considerable of his land before his death, but left 160 acres. He held the office of Justice of the Peace, Highway Commissioner, and was Town Clerk for many years. He was at the time of his death one of the oldest settlers of the county, and had been actively identified with the interests of the town and county for

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half a century. He left five children-Henry, lives in this county; Judson, lives in Toledo; Elvira, now Mrs. Gracy; Winfield, lives in this county; Thomas, lives in this county.

HENRY C. PEASLEY, farmer, Private Claim 406, P. O. St. Clair, is a native of Essex County, N. Y., and was born November 8, 1844. He grew up there until sixteen years of age, and when the war broke out enlisted in Company H, Fifth Regiment New York Cavalry, and served two years and four months. Was taken prisoner at Ream Station, below Petersburg, and from there was in Andersonville Prison four months; then confined at Florence, S. C., two months, until exchanged. After his return from service, he lived in his native State until 1874, when he came to this county, and for some years was in the lumber woods. In March, 1882, he came on the large stock farm of Eugene Smith, and since then has had the management of it. He married Miss Carrie Bartlett, of the town of Kimball, September 5, 1878. She is a daughter of Judson Bart- lett, of Bartlett Mills. They have one son-Guy H.

EDWARD PHILLIPS was born in St. Clair December 14, 1844, and is a son of Charles Phillips, of China Township, and a native of New York State. Our subject was brought up and educated in St Clair. In December, 1878, he married Miss Edna M. Scott, daughter of Robert Scott, of St. Clair. Mr. Phillips is a member of the firm of Belnap & Phillips, in the manufacture of brick in St. Clair. For a history and descrip- tion of their factory, see chapter on mills and factories of St. Clair.

MANDEVILLE POOLE, surveyor and civil engineer, St. Clair, was born in London, England, October 28, 1824. His father, Mandeville Poole, was also a native of London. Mr. Poole was educated in his native city, where he acquired the profession which he now practices. In 1843, he went to Jamaica Island (one of the West Indies), in the employ of a large sugar manufacturing firm, where he surveyed some large sugar plantations. He came to New York City in the spring of 1853, remaining there but a short time. He re- surveyed the city of Belleville, N. J., and the same year came to Detroit, where for three months he was en- gaged in making plats for what is now the Detroit & Milwaukee Railroad. The same fall he surveyed St. Clair. In 1855, he removed to St. Clair County, which has since been his home. The same year, he took charge of the Altabista Stock Farm near St. Clair, which he superintended for twenty-three and one-half years. Since 1879, he has resided in the city, and practices his profession. Mr. Poole was married April 13, 1844, to Miss Mary Brodie, a native of Scotland. They have had five children, but two of whom are living, viz .: Gertrude M. and William Mandeville. One daughter, Charlotte A., died September 2, 1872, at the age of nineteen years.

EDWARD C. RECOR, present County Treasurer of St. Clair County, was born in East China Township, this county, and is a son of Lambert Recor, deceased, a native of the same township and born on the same farm. Mr. Recor was brought up on the farm, and his educational advantages were such as are furnished by the common schools, St. Clair City Schools, and that of Bryant & Stratton's Business College of Detroit. Mr. Recor deals in grain, hay, and all kinds of lumbermen's supplies at East China, where he owns a dock. He also owns a steam barge and a tow barge, and is engaged somewhat in freighting. He was married June 5, 1867, to Miss Nancy Parsons, daughter of Deacon Parsons, deceased. She was born in China Township, near St. Clair. The have had three children, of whom two are living, viz .: May and Harry. Mr. Recor also owns and runs the farm, in addition to his other business. He was elected to the office of County Treasurer in 1880 by an overwhelming majority.

CAPT. H. W. ROBERTSON is a native of St. Clair County, and was born at Marine City February 19, 1841. His parents, James Robertson and Theodate Potter, were early settlers of this county. The Captain began sailing in 1860 on the schooner A. Rust; sailed before the mast two years and was mate on her two years, and sailed master of her two years. Was master of the barge King and the Clint. Was with Capt. Fish on the Sanilac, then the barge Keepsakes, barge Smith, steam barge Emma Thompson two seasons, and was master of the steam barges Alpena and the B. W. Jenness three years, and in 1882 sailed master of the Porter Chamberlain. Capt. Robertson was married December 17, 1867, to Miss Mary L. Higley, of St. Clair. She is a native of Rochester, Mich. They have one son, Lee, and have lost one son, Frank.

ROBERT SCOTT was born in Caledonia County, Vt., May 30, 1809. He was reared on a farm and re- ceived a common school education. At the age of fifteen he began to learn the carpenter's trade, which he followed for several years. He came to St. Clair in 1831. From 1839 to 1870 he engaged in lumbering. He married, February 2, 1834, Miss Roxy A. Leach, by whom he had ten children, four of whom are living-Ade- line C., Jane, Elna M. and Nellie I. Mr. Scott was elected to the office of Sheriff in 1850; was City Treasurer of St. Clair for two years, and Under Sheriff of the county for some time. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity and of the M. E. Church of St. Clair.

ALBERT SHAFER, proprietor of the St. James Hotel, St. Clair, was born in Berlin Township, this county, July 30, 1848, and is a son of James Shafer, a native of New York, who settled in this county in 1840. In 1856, the family removed to Marine City, where our subject was reared and educated. He opened the St. Clair Exchange Hotel in 1875, and ran it until it burned, in February, 1876. He then engaged in the livery business until July, 1881, when he took charge of the City Hotel in this place, which he closed in May, 1882, and at once opened the St. James Hotel on Front street. This hotel is first-class in every particular, and con- tains fifteen rooms, for the accommodation of transient guests only. Mr. Shafer was married February 12, 1874, to Miss Sarah Hickman, by whom he has two children-Bertie and Willy.

D. SHELDON was born in Hamburg, N. Y., December 10, 1814, and is a son of D). Sheldon, a native of New England. The elder Sheldon was a Captain in the war of 1812, and died soon after its close from dis- ease contracted while in the service. Our subject's mother also died when he was young, being only ten years old, leaving him to rely mostly upon his own resources for sustenance. He lived with an uncle near Auburn, N. Y., until sixteen years old, when he went to the tanner and currier's trade, which he mastered in five years and four months. He then went to Tioga County, Penn., and worked on a farm a few years. In April, 1837, he came to Calhoun County, Mich., and there engaged in breaking land for a few years. He then went to Detroit, and remained there until 1840, when he went to Port Huron, and took charge of the

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HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY.

large tannery of English & Walker, remaining there until it burned in 1842. He came to St. Clair the same year, and superintended the building of a large tannery two miles above St. Clair, on the river. He took charge of the tannery after the building was completed, and superintended it until 1846, when he came to the city and erected a tannery of his own. He is the pioneer tanner of St. Clair, and is doing an extensive bus- ness. Mr. Sheldon was married in 1843 to Miss Grace Abernethy, by whom he had four children, two of whom are living-Mary E. (Mrs. King, of Bay City), and Charles, who has charge of their extensive brick manufactory at St. Clair. This factory was built in 1867 by Mr. Sheldon. They have two steam brick mills, and make six million brick annually. It is regarded as the best brick yard in the State. Many of these brick are shipped to Alpena, Duluth, Marquette and other places. Chicago dealers and builders buy much of their brick here.

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History of St. Clair County, Michigan, containing an account of its settlement, growth, development and resources, its war record, biographical sketches, the whole preceded by a history of Michigan, Part 116

Author: Publication date: 1883 Publisher: Chicago, A.T. Andreas & Co. Number of Pages: 818

Author:
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Chicago, A.T. Andreas & Co.
Number of Pages: 818