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 91

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 91

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

F. CHARLES EICHHORN, manufacturer of cigars, and dealer in cigars, tobacco and pipes, billiard hall, wines and liquors, is a native of Germany, and was born in Alsbach, Hesse-Darmstadt, May 24, 1835. Upon reaching manhood, he emigrated to the United States in 1856, coming to Port Huron in the same year, and began working at his trade. In 1864, he started his present business, and since then, for the past eighteen years, has successfully carried on the business in his present location, and has a good trade. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., K. of P., and the German Aid Society. He married Miss Mary Bachers, a native of Wies- baden, Germany, February 11, 1859. They have six children-Charles, Mary, Augusta, Emily, Louisa and Gustav.

PHILIP EICHHORN, JR., Assistant Postmaster, is a native of St. Clair County, and was born in Port Huron February 1, 1859. He attended school here, and completed his education in Detroit, at Goldsmith's College. In 1871, he entered the post office, and since then, for the past eleven years, has remained there, and during the present year was appointed to his present position as Assistant Postmaster.

W. A. ELDRIDGE, of the firm of A. N. Moffat & Co., steamboat and vessel agents, is a native of St. Clair County, and was born in Port Huron October 15, 1847. His father. G. A. Eldridge, was an old soldier, and came here after the Florida war, and lived here until his death. W. A. grew up, and attended school here, and entered store as clerk. In 1868, he went away and lived in Chicago, New York and Toronto for ten years. In the spring of 1882, returned to Port Huron and became a partner in the firm of A. N. Moffat & Co. The firm of Wright & Eldridge, are also engaged in coal trade. Mr. Eldridge married Miss Florence E. Bean, from Rock Island, Ill., October 15, 1873. They have one son, Wallace Gordon.

CAPT. CHARLES R. ELY, deceased, was born in St. Lawrence, New York State, July 19, 1839. He commenced sailing for the Northern Transportation Co. in 1855. He was united in marriage January 9, 1865, to Miss Mary Mitchen, of Wolf Island, Ontario. For a time they lived in Ogdensburg. N. Y., and after- ward in Kingston, Canada West, from which place they removed to Port Huron in 1878. With the exception of three years, Capt. Ely sailed for the Northern Transportation Company from 1855 until 1880. He was a very skillful sailor, and had a large experience in the marine service. After a lingering illness he died of paralysis, June 28, 1882. He was a kind husband and father, and his death was mourned by a large circle of friends. His wife and two sons, Eddie and Herbie, survive him, and reside in this city.

CAPT. THOMAS A. ELLERY, P. O. Marysville, Section 32, is a native of Vermont, born May 20, 1837. Removed to Port Huron November, 1851, and remained a resident of that city until 1879, when he came to this place. In the spring of 1852, he sailed on the schooner Eugene, with, Capt. John Sinclair, Sr., and fin- ished the season in the Lady Jane, acting as master of her during the illness of the Captain. In 1853, Capt. Ellery sailed the scow Baltic, and during the following three years sailed the schooner Trader, schooner Star, and other craft; owned and sailed schooner Emma about three seasons; was half-owner and master of the brig Preble; owner and master of schooner S. L. Noble and scow Hannah; sailed steam barge Nelson Mills in the fall of 1870. In 1871, was sailing master of schooner R. J. Gibbs in the Cleveland and Montreal trade. In 1872, was mate of steam barge Mary Mills, and since then has sailed propellers and barges for the Mills Transportation Company. Will sail the new steam barge now building and unnamed, for this company, dur- ing season of 1883. During thirty years of life on the water, Capt. Ellery has never lost a season, and lias been master twenty-eight years of that time. He is also a practical ship carpenter, which trade he works at. during the winter months. In 1857, Capt. Ellery was married to Miss Amelia Hallinan, of Port Huron, by whom he has had seven children, one of whom, the oldest boy, was accidentally killed by the street cars. The living children are named Amelia, Estella, Herbert, Arthur and Grace.

M. V. ELLIOTT, Inspector of Customs, is a native of Maine, and was born March 4, 1837 ; he grew up. and attended school there ; he came to Michigan in 1857, and came to Port Huron the same year ; he entered the employ of Eddy, Avery & Co., and remained with this old and well established lumber company for nine-

569

HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY.

teen years. In June, 1876, he was appointed Inspector of Customs for the Huron District, and since then, for the past seven years, has held that position. In 1862, he married Miss Matilda Young, a native of this city ; they have three children, Francena, James T., Mary Jane.

ROBERT B. ELLIOT, proprietor Elliott House, was born in Roxburyshire, Scotland, June 29, 1834. He came to Canada in 1850, and came to Port Huron in 1868 and bought the Central Hotel, and kept that house two years, then kept the Union Hotel at Fort Gratiot three years, and after opened the Elliott House here, and kept that hotel five years ; then sold out and went to the old country. After his return, he kept the Larned House one year, and the Commercial House two years. He has recently bought and re-built his pres- ent hotel. He married Miss Eliza Smith, of Mt. Forest, Ontario, Canada ; they have four sons-Thomas B., Alfred S., William H., John L., and one daughter, Aggie.

PHILIPP ENDLICH, proprietor City Bakery, is a native of Germany, and was born June 6, 1826 ; he emigrated to this country in February, 1853 ; lived two years in New York, one year in Ohio ; came to Michi- gan in 1856, and lived two years in Detroit, and came to Port Huron in 1857. He rented Flugal's bakery in 1860, and engaged in business for himself, and since then, for the past twenty-two years, he has carried on the business here. The City Bakery is the oldest bakery in Port Huron. In 1870, he married Miss Martha Pfeiffer, a native of Germany ; they have six children-Annie, John A., Caroline, Louise, Clara, Cathrina.

W. F. ERNST, Deputy Collector Customs, is a native of Germany, and was born in Saxony, April 1, 1839. He emigrated to America in 1855, and two years later came to Port Huron, and was on a farm until the war, then enlisted and served in Battery B, First Light Artillery of Michigan. Was taken prisoner in battle of Shiloh, and was held two months. He was promoted to Lieutenant, and was in command of the battery for some time. Was discharged as First Lieutenant June 14, 1865. After the war, had a dry goods store at Point Edward until 1869, and the following year opened a grocery and crockery store at Port Huron, and engaged in that business until 1878, and the next year was appointed to his present position. He is a member of Masonic order, and belongs to Post G. A. R. In 1869, he married Miss Theresa Orttenburger, a native of the city of Berlin, Germany. They have four sons-W. M., M. W., B. W. and H. W.

DON EWER, dealer in wines, liquors and tobacco, store in the old Minnie Block, opposite the Custom House and post office, Port Huron, Mich., is a native of Monroe County, N. Y., and was born June 22, 1844. He came to Flint, Mich., in 1856. Upon the breaking-out of the rebellion, he enlisted April 28, 1861, in the first call for troops, and went out in Company F, Second Michigan Infantry ; served three years, and re-enlist- ed as a veteran. In 1863, was appointed Mail Agent of the First Division of the Ninth Army Corps, and oc- cupied that position until the close of the war, and was discharged in August, 1865. During the time he was mail agent, he made a run from Bull's Run to Washington, a distance of twenty-nine miles, in twenty-eight minutes. After the war, he returned to Flint, and lived there until 1874, when he came to Port Huron, and engaged in wholesale liquor and tobacco business. He deals exclusively in fine goods, and has a leading trade. In 1874, was united in marriage to Miss Eliza Draper, of Flint, Mich .; they have two children-Nellie E. and Don Harry.

N. T. FARR, dealer in groceries, is a native of New Hampshire, and was born July 19, 1814. He came to Michigan in 1841, and settled at St. Clair, and worked at the trade of ship carpenter there and at Marine City. In 1845, he came to Port Huron, and began work as carpenter and joiner, and followed that business for many years. He was elected Deputy Sheriff two years, and was route mail agent eighteen months be- tween here and Detroit, and kept the Government light house at Sturgeon Point two and a half years, and for the past four years has been engaged in the grocery trade here. He brought the first sewing machine ever brought to Port Huron, and made the first ready-made clothing ever made and sold here. In 1839, he married Miss Mary Ann Bellows, of New Hampshire. She died in 1851, leaving two daughters, Francis E., now Mrs. David Fleming, Detroit ; Emma J., now Mrs. Frank J. Holland. They lost two sons, George B. and Charles B. In 1852, he married Miss Orilla Steele, of Jefferson County, N. Y. They have one son, Charles Fred, and lost two daughters, Lillian and Helen. Mr. Farr served one year in the late rebellion, and at the end of that time was discharged for disability.

BETHUEL CLINTON FARRAND, attorney at law, was born in Aurelius (then Auburn), Cayuga Co., N. Y., December 13, 1820. He is the third son of Bethuel Farrand, first Judge of Probate of Washtenaw County, Mich., who with his family came to this State in the spring of 1825 and located in Detroit. In the fall of the same year, they went to Ann Arbor, which then comprised but ten or twelve families. Mr. Far- rand received his school education there, attending for some time the Griffin Academy. In 1839, he went to Detroit to study law. He entered the office of Morey & Taylor-Mr. Morey, Attorney General ; and after- ward with Jay & Porter completed his study, and was admitted to the bar by the Supreme Court in 1843. During his years of study in Detroit, he was one of the original members of "The Kent Club," and framed its constitution. Hon. George B. N. Lothrop, Hon. Anson Burlingame, Hon. Fred T. Sibley, Hon. D. Betham Duffield were fellow-members at that time. Soon after his admission to the bar, Mr. F. came to Palmer, the county seat of St. Clair County, and engaged in the practice of his profession, and after a year removed to Port Huron, and entered into partnership with Lorenzo M. Mason. The firm of Mason & Far- rand continued six years, when Mr. Mason removed to Detroit, and Mr. F. engaged in the lumber business. In 1857, he resumed the practice of the law, and since then has been prominently identified with it, and is the oldest member of the bar in active practice in this section of the State. He has held the office of Prosecuting Attorney two terms, and for a long time has been identified with the Pioneers' Association of St. Clair Coun- ty. Mr. Farrand's first wife was Miss Laura W. Whitman, daughter of David Whitman, one of the early settlers of the county, who came from Haverhill, N. H. Their marriage took place November 14, 1845. Mrs. F., much beloved and respected, died June 22, 1852. They had three children, daughters, the youngest, Sa- rah, died soon after the mother. Mr. Farrand was united in marriage to Miss Helen M. Wheaton, daughter of John Wheaton, of New Haven, Conn., October 16, 1854. Miss Wheaton was principal of a young ladies' school in Detroit, and formerly connected with the high school of Hartford, Conn., and is a native of Bran-

570

HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY.

ford, in that State. Mrs. F. is prominent in literary circles in this section of the State, and with her origi- nated the idea of forming the Port Huron Ladies' Library Association, mentioned elsewhere. In pioneer matters, she has taken great interest, and was one of the Vice Presidents at the formation of the State Pio- neer Society. Mr. Farrand has four daughters and one son living : Laura Caroline, now Mrs. Silas L. Bal- lentine, President and Founder of Somerville school; Mary Emma, Helen M., Fanny C. and Bethuel Clin- ton, Jr., all of whom are now residents of St. Clair and Port Huron. The name of Mr. Farrand has long been a synonym for honesty and uprightness in his profession, and he is well known throughout the State.

FREDERICK FINSTER, M. D., homoeopathic physician and surgeon, is a native of Germany, and was born in Bavaria April 3, 1831. His parents emigrated to this country, and came to Detroit when he was only six years old, in 1837. He grew up and received his education in this State. Studied medicine in Detroit in the office of Drs. John Ellis and S. B. Thayer ; attended his first course of lectures in the College of Medicine and Surgery in the University of Michigan during the session of 1853-54. He took his next course of lectures in the Homoeopathic Medical College of Cleveland, Ohio, during the session of 1854-55, and graduated there- from in the spring of 1855. He then formed a copartnership with Dr. E. H. Drake, of Detroit, for two years, and was actively employed in his profession during that time in that city. He came to Port Huron in the spring of 1857, and since then, for the past quarter of a century, has been successfully engaged in the practice of medicine, and has won an enviable reputation as an able, conscientious physician ; and, with one exception, is the oldest practitioner in the city. In 1859. Dr. Finster was united in marriage to Miss Lydia A. Kimball, a native of this county ; they have six children -Alice May, Sheldon Edward, Frederick Ellis, Nancy Edith, Arthur Ray and Chester.

GEORGE FISH, of the firm of George Fish & Co., dealers in groceries and provisions, is a native of England, and was born May 11, 1812. Upon reaching manhood, emigrated to the United States, in 1833, and reached Port Huron in the spring of the same year, when there were only three houses in Port Huron. He was clerk in a store for two years. Then bought a farm and engaged in farming for many years. In 1872, he came in town again, and engaged in the grocery trade. He owns several good farms, besides stores and buildings here in the city. When he came here he had nothing, and his success in life is owing to his own efforts. In June, 1839, he married Miss Mary Rattray, a native of Scotland. They have five children-Will- iam, Mary Jane, Thomas, George and John.

THOMAS FISH, of the firm of George Fish & Son, dealers in provisions, groceries and sporting goods, is a son of George Fish, one of the earliest settlers of Port Huron. Thomas was born in this county Novem- ber 16, 1854. He grew up and attended school here. They established their present business in 1879, and have built up a large trade. He is connected with the State militia, being a member of the Port Huron Guards.

E. FITZGERALD, proprietor Fitzgerald ship-yard, is a native of Ireland, and was born April 11, 1818, and emigrated to this country in 1835, and two years later came to Port Huron and arrived here in November, 1837. After coming here, engaged in lumbering, and helped build the first saw-mill at Fort Gratiot ; after- ward went on the lakes, and was engaged in sailing until 1866, when he established a ship-yard, and engaged in ship building and repairing, and has carried on the business until the present time. Mr. Fitzgerald is one of the early settlers of Port Huron, and has been identified with the interests of the city, and has held the office of Mayor of the city, Supervisor, Alderman, Comptroller and other local offices. In 1841, Mr. Fitzger- ald was united in marriage to Miss Mary Lamb, a native of this State. They have nine children-Edmund L., William C., Sarah, James, Mary, Thomas, Fred, Stella, Augustus.

JAMES H. FITZGERALD, proprietor dry dock and machine shop, is a native of Port Huron, and was born May 27, 1854. His parents were among the earliest settlers of this place ; he grew up and attended school here, and has always lived in the first ward of the city. He learned his trade of engineer here, and, when eighteen years of age, passed his examination and received his certificate as engineer. He served as engineer on the lakes for five years, and in 1876 established his present business, and has carried it on since then. He manufactures all kinds of mill and marine machinery, and has a good trade.

W. C. FLANAGAN, cooper, is a native of Canada, and was born December 27, 1816. After reaching manhood, he came to Michigan and settled in Port Huron in the fall of 1837, and was among the early set- tlers of this then small village. He soon after engaged in his present trade, and has carried on the business most of the time for the past forty-five years. He employs eight to ten men, and does a good business. There are very few here now that were here when he came. While living outside of the town, he held the office of Township Highway Commissioner, School Director, Town Clerk and Justice of the Peace. In 1843, Mr. Flanagan married Abagail Chase, of Canada. She died June 10, 1851, and left three children, Alexander, Joseph C., Flora. In 1853, he married Lucinda Ruddock, of Port Huron; they have four children-William, Henry, Howard and George.

CHARLES FLUGAL was born in the city of New York February 9, 1799 ; when only fourteen years of age, on the 8th of March, 1813, he enlisted as drummer boy in the Thirteenth Regiment United States Infan- try, in the war of 1812 ; he remained in the service until the close of the war, and was discharged in June, 1815, at Sackett's Harbor, N. Y., and remained there until 1818. He enlisted again December 10, 1818, for five years, in the Second Regiment United States Infantry. After serving his term of enlistment, he enlisted again for five years, and during this term he went up the St. Clair River, on the old steamer Superior, to Fort Howard, on Green Bay, and remained there two years; then returned to Governor's Island, New York, where he received a furlough of sixty-one days, and went to Sackett's Harbor and remained there eleven months, when times were so hard that he could not get work, and on the 27th of April, 1829, he again enlisted for five years in his old regiment, the Second United States Infantry ; during that time removed to Fort Niagara, and one month later, upon the breaking-out of the Black Hawk war, the troops were ordered West, and his command came to St. Clair. It was during the cholera summer of 1832 ; they came to St. Clair and remained there several days ; the men were dying of cholera; they went to Spring Wells and were there ten days, then went to Niles, Mich .; here the command embarked in a pirogue composed of two dug-outs made from two

571

HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY.

large logs lashed together, and afterward took a schooner and went to Chicago, where they joined Gen. Scott's command ; on the 10th of August they started for Galena, via Naperville and Dixon's Ferry ; they went to Rock Island, and remained there and at Davenport until September 17, when the treaty with the In- dian chief was completed ; they then returned to Chicago, and the command was transferred to Fort Dear- born. On the 2d of October he, with ten others, started for Detroit on foot; they were all that were left of the command of eighty-four that started West ; they returned to Fort Niagara, and he finished his fourth term of enlistment, and again re-enlisted for three years, and a few months later was ordered to Fort Gratiot, and reached here in 1834, and served out his fifth term of enlistment, and twenty-three years of military serv- ice, and was discharged in 1837. He then started a bakery and grocery, and continued in that business, on Military street, corner Water street, until 1854. After selling out, he was clerk in store of Sweetzer & San- born, and was also with Peter and John Sanborn. He has been a member of the Masonic order over forty years, and is now Tiler of Pine Grove Lodge and Port Huron Lodge, and also Tiler of the Chapter and Com- mandery. July 31, 1822, he married Miss Emily Allen. She was born in Jefferson County, N. Y., January 31, 1805 ; they have two children-Mary, now Mrs. Livingston, living in this county ; and Samuel ; he served four years in the Seventh Regiment Michigan Volunteer Infantry.

CAPT. DANIEL FLOOD is a native of Canada, and was born January 1, 1825. He began sailing in 1845, on the scow Antelope. He helped to take the first mill-engine up on Lake Huron shore in 1846, and took the first load of lumber that was shipped out of Alpena some twenty-four years ago, and has been run- ning for the same man ever since, Mr. J. S. Minor, mill-owner. He sailed four years before the mast, then went as mate, sailing master of the Emeline and other vessels until 1855, then sailed master of the schooner Meredian. He bought and sailed several vessels, and in 1860 bought the schooner Seaman, and has owned and sailed her for the past twenty-two years-a longer time than any captain from any port on the river has owned and sailed one vessel continuously. He came to Cottrellville, in this county, in 1846. Capt. Flood married Miss Eliza Jane Harrington, a native of New York State, March 3, 1859. They have two children, Ellen, now Mrs. Clark, of Ohio; Edith, now Mrs. George L. Thompson.

DANIEL FOLLANSBEE was born in Grafton County, N. H., February 24, 1813. He learned the trade of carriage-making. Upon reaching manhood, he came west to Michigan, and arrived in this county at St. Clair October 1, 1833, and began working at his trade. There being little demand for carriages at that early day, he went to work at the trade of millwright, and since then, for a period of about fifty years, he has worked at the trade. His first visit to Port Huron was October 6, 1833. He came in a canoe. In 1856, he came to Port Huron to reside, and since then has resided here, and has lived in the county half a century, and is one of the oldest settlers now living here. At one time, he could call by name every man living in St. Clair County. He has held the office of County Clerk, and served as Under Sheriff fourteen years. He mar- ried Miss Eliza M. Davis, a native of Grafton County, N. H., May 22, 1837. They have had eight children, only two of whom survive, Susan, now Mrs. William R. Andrus, and Frank, both living in Port Huron.

FRANK L. FOLLANSBEE is a native of St. Clair County, and was born October 11, 1846. When only fourteen years of age went in the grocery store of R. S. Baker ; afterward entered the employ of Joseph Jacobi, and was connected with his clothing business for twelve years. In 1876, was elected City Clerk, and was re-elected four successive years. In 1881, was elected City Comptroller. He received the nomination for Sheriff at the recent Democratic Convention. He married Miss Alice Colerick, of Almont, Lapeer Co., Mich., December 7, 1876. They have one son, Van Colerick.

CAPT. WILLIAM FORBES is a native of Aberdeen, Scotland, and was born July 27, 1838. He came to the United States in 1856 ; lived in Canada, at London and Sarnia, a few years. Began sailing in 1861 on the brig Ocean, under Capt. Thomas Neal, for two seasons ; then sailed on the Garibaldi and the Anglo Saxon. He sailed as mate from 1866 until 1871 ; in 1871, he was master and half-owner of the Fanny Neal, and sailed her until 1877 ; he then spent one season running ferry at Saginaw, and since then has sailed master of the Fanny Neal. In 1878, he built the freight and passenger steamer C. A. Forbes. She runs on the west shore, and he is now her owner. He is now building at Bay City a large steam barge for the iron ore trade, to cost about $75,000. He also owns a good farm in Canada. When he began life, he had nothing ; and his success is owing to his own efforts and good management. Capt. Forbes married Miss Catharine Kerr, of Sarnia, Canada, December 16, 1868 ; they have four children-Alexander, Christie Ann, Catharine May and William ; lost two children in infancy.

LOREN B. FORESTER, proprietor "Pony Mill," is a native of Canada, and was born in the county of Dundas July 23, 1826. His parents removed to St. Lawrence County, N. Y., in 1831. He returned to Canada in 1838, and remembers being within hearing of the battle of the Windmill. Came to this county in 1849 and engaged in mill building, and two years later engaged in milling, and since then for a period of thirty years has been engaged in milling and mill building, and is the oldest in the business in this city and county. Mr. Forester married Miss Christina Atkins, a native of Lanarkshire, Scotland, October 20, 1853. They have four children-Jessie, Fannie, John C., George L .; lost one daughter, Minnie.

E. T. FREEMAN, superintendent of Sanborn's Elevator, is a native of Ontario County, N. Y., and was born March 21, 1841. His parents came to Michigan in 1843. When the war broke out, Mr. Freeman enlisted, on the first call for troops, in the Topographical Engineers' Company. Capt. Howland, of the company, originated the system of signal lights and signal flags, from which sprung the system used by the army dur- ing the war. The company was in Missouri until Fremont was superseded, when the signal corps was dis- banded. Mr. Freeman went into the Twentieth Michigan Infantry, and participated in the battles of the Potomac until the end of the winter of 1862-63, when he was transferred to the Army of the Cumberland, under Gen. Grant, and took part in the siege of Vicksburg. In the winter of 1863-64, he entered the Thir- teenth New York Light Artillery, under a commission issued by Gov. Seymour, and served until the end of the Atlanta Campaign. Mr. Freeman was then appointed to the Ordnance Department, under Gen. Slocum, in Sherman's march to the sea. He afterward returned to Tennessee with his command, and was on duty at

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

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 91

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