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 96

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 96

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).

NELSON MILLS, Marysville, of the firm of N. & B. Mills, Section 32, manufacturers of pine and other lumber, is a native of Nova Scotia and was born January 15, 1823. When three years of age his parents moved into Upper Canada in the township of Mosa; there he lived until manhood. Then he came into Mich- igan and located in this county at Newport (now Marine City) and became a citizen. Here he worked at ship-building. Then he and Myron Williams bought a tract of timber and sawmill on the Fort Gratiot turn- pike in 1850, and engaged in lumbering. Their mill burned the next winter, and they rebuilt the mill and had it running in six weeks. They run the business there twelve years. In 1853, they formed a partnership with N. Reeves, of Detroit, and bought a tract of pine land in Sanilac County, and the Brooks and St. Clair mill at Algonac. N. Mills took charge of the Williams and Mills' property, and M. Williams that of the Reeves, Williams & Mills'. In 1854, they bought the Vickery mill at Vicksburg and transferred their business to that place and built another mill. Soon after this the Vickery mill burned. The business was carried on in this way for three years, when Reeves failed; Williams & Mills took his interest and paid the debts. They carried on the business until 1862. Then N. Mills bought the Williams interest, and took B. Mills in as part- ner and moved the mill from the turnpike to where the Vickery mill had been burned. They bought a tract of pine in Ogemaw County. They run the logs down the Rifle River, where they raft them and bring them to Vicksburg (now Marysville), where they operate two mills and a shingle and planing mill. They cut from eight to ten million feet of lumber yearly, and have the largest retail trade on the river. Mr. Mills is the largest stockholder in the Mills Transportation Company, which consists of the large steam barge Nelson Mills and four tow barges. They have also two other steam barges which are employed in freighting lumber to Cleveland, where the firm have a lumber yard for the sale of their lumber. They also carry on mercantile business. The interests of this firm comprise the business interests of Marysville. Mr. Mills has been ac- tively identified with the interests of the town and county, and has held the office of Supervisor of the town of St. Clair, Justice of the Peace and School Inspector ; and has held the office of Postmaster most of the time since he came here. He owns a large farm about two miles from Marysville. In 1863, Mr. Mills was united in marriage to Miss Mary Williams, a native of this county, and daughter of Myron Williams. Mr. and Mrs. Mills have six children, three sons and three daughters-John, Myron, Maggie, Hannah, Emeline and David.

JOHN MINER, farmer, Section 31, P. O. Port Huron, is a native of Canada and was born at Masco, below Montreal, July 11, 1825 ; he came to this State in 1849 ; lived at Lexington two years; then came to St. Clair and lived there seven years, and in 1858 bought this farm and since then for the past twenty-four years has been

587

HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY.

engaged in farming. He owns a good farm of one hundred acres. In 1850, he married Miss Louise Horstler of Lower Canada. She died in 1857 and left two children-Fred and Josephine. He married Miss Elizabeth Minnie, of Belle River, August 1, 1858. She is a daughter of Lambert Minnie and Ursula St. Barnard. She was born in this county. Mr. and Mrs. Miner have seven children-Louise, Minnie, Peter, John W., Corne- lius G., Clarence B. and Laura A.

LOUIS N. MINNIE, City Clerk, is a son of Joseph C. and Adelaide Minnie, who were among the earli- est settlers of Port Huron. He was born in this city October 4, 1843. Grew up and received his education here. When fourteen years of age, entered dry goods store, and remained there about five years. Then went South and during the last two years of the war served in the ordinance department at Knoxville, Tenn. Then returned here and entered dry goods trade again. On account of his ill health he gave that up and entered the employ of the Great Western on Ferry, Saginaw, and remained there for eight years. In April, 1881, was elected City Clerk, and in April, 1882, was re-elected, again in April, 1883, to same office. He has also held the office of Collector of the Second Ward. Mr. Minnie was united in marriage to Miss Helen M. Jones, a native of Ann Arbor, May 23, 1871. They have four children-Claude L., James E., Richard J. and Louis T.

JOSEPH P. MINNIE, deceased, was a native of Michigan, and was born in St. Clair County, Algonac, April 21, 1807. He was brought up in this county, and learned the trade of merchant tailor. After reaching manhood he was united in marriage, May 10, 1832, to Miss Adaline LeDuke, a native of the city of Detroit. They came to Port Huron in 1834, and were among the earliest settlers here. They built a house near the bridge, and it is still standing on Water street. Mr. Minnie was for many years engaged in merchant tailor- ing. He was elected Justice of the Peace and repeatedly re-elected, and held that office for twenty years. He amassed a large property by his own foresight and good management. His death occurred March 10, 1865. . Seven children survive him, three daughters-Mary Ann, now Mrs. Baker; Matilda, now Mrs. Capt. Andrews; Josephine, now Mrs. Post. And four sons-Joseph, Napoleon, Edward and Abraham. Mrs. Minnie still re- sides in the home place on Military street, and is one of the oldest settlers now living here.

CAPT. FRED MINOR, Section 31, P. O. Marysville, is a native of New York State, and was born in Clinton County July 27, 1836. He came to this county during boyhood and began sailing on the lakes in 1851 on the schooner Leander. He sailed before the mast, and as mate until 1863, and since then has sailed as master, and has had command of the William Kelly, Otter, barge Salina and Prinderville, propellers, Arizona. Annie Young, S. D. Caldwell, Holland and others. He owns a good farm of one hundred acres, well improved, and has lived on it since 1872. In 1872, he married Miss Adelia E. Hitchings, a native of Maine. They have three children-Arthur. Edith and Frank R.

WILLIAM T. MITCHELL, attorney at law. Judge Mitchell is a native of New York State, and was born in Genesee County May 27, 1817. He was brought up and received his education in that State. Studied law, and was admitted to the bar in October, 1839, his first certificate of admission being signed by his father, Hon. William Mitchell, Presiding Judge. After being admitted he came West to Michigan, and located at Lapeer, and was admitted to practice at Pontiac, in the Circuit and State Courts; also in the Courts of Chan- cery and the Supreme Courts; after two years, he returned to New York on account of sickness; practiced there one year, then came to Romeo, Macomb County, where he practiced law until 1847; while there he held the office of Prosecuting Attorney, and was Master in Chancery. In September, 1847, he came to Port Huron and engaged in practice of law. In 1848-50, he was Master in Chancery. In 1853, was elected to the State Legislature, and was afterward Circuit Court Commissioner. In 1869, he was elected Judge of the Circuit Court, but resigned the position in January, 1873. He is the oldest member of the bar in active practice in this section of the State. Judge Mitchell married Miss Adeline A. Peck, of Attica, N. Y., October 28, 1839. She died August 22, 1851, leaving one daughter-Emily C., wife of Fred J. Dowland, late Treasurer of Mason County. Judge Mitchell was united in marriage January 18, 1854, to Miss Fannie F. Hosmer, of Ohio. They have four children-Frances Ella, Rosa F., William H. and Emily M. Frances is married to Capt. John Rice, of Buffalo, and Rosa is married to Lieut. John J. Crittenden, United States Army, now at Fort Leaven- worth.

GEORGE MITTS, wagon manufacturer, is a native of Canada, and was born September 11, 1828. Grew up and learned his trade there. Came to Port Huron in 1856, and engaged in working at his trade. He es- tablished his present business in 1860, and has carried it on since then for a period of twenty-two years, and is the oldest in the business here. He makes all kinds of wagon work, and employs from six to ten men. He has been a member of the Masonic fraternity for many years, and belongs to the Royal Templars and other orders. In 1850, he married Miss Jane Glass, of Canada; she died in 1859, leaving four children-Helen, Albert, Emma and Irving. In 1862, he married Miss Electa Chalker, from Canada. They have two children -Alma and Georgie.

A. N. MOFFAT, of the firm of A. N. Moffat & Co., is a son of Capt. James Moffat. and was born in Port Huron August 3, 1849. He attended school here, and completed his education in Olivet College. He then engaged in the ticket business, and exchanging Canada money. In 1873, Mr. Moffat established the present business of the firm. From a small beginning it has steadily increased from year to year, and they have a large established merchant and marine business, and are also agents for the Northern Transit Com- pany, and Ward's Lake Superior Line. Mr. Moffat is interested in the Star Line, and also in steam barges and tugs. He was one of the organizers and is a director in the Commercial Bank. He was united in mar- riage October 31, 1872, to Miss Euda Starkweather, of Charlotte, Mich. They have six children-Archie, Florence, Lester, Anna, Euda and Sarah.

CAPT. JAMES MOFFAT, owner of steamboats, tugs and ferry boats, is a native of Scotland, and was born May 4, 1824. His parents came to Canada during his early boyhood, and settled about twenty miles from Sarnia, when it was a wilderness with scarcely a wagon track. He worked at cutting wood, lumber and staves for a year or two, then was employed by Cameron at the ferry, when it consisted of only a little row boat for passengers, and a sniall scow to transport horses before the horse ferry was in use. After that

588

HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY.

was in the employ of Mr. Davenport for six years. About the year 1851, Capt. Moffat started a ferry of his own, consisting of a skiff and sail boat, and afterward started a horse boat and run that several years. He then built a little boat called the Union. About the year 1859, he, with one or two others, built the ferry boat Sarina, well known to every one here. Several years later, engaged in the tug business, and built the Kate Moffat, and afterward built the Brockway and the Frank Moffat and the Mocking Bird. Later, he bought and re-built the Grace Dormer. In 1877, he and Mr. Runnels bought the Beckwith, and during the present year they built the Omar D. Conger, one of the finest boats on the river. For forty years past Capt. Moffat has been connected with the ferry, and for most of the time has had control of the business, and has been actively identified with the steamboat, tug and vessel property. When he began he had nothing, and his success in life is owing to his own industry and energy. He is a member of the Board of Aldermen, the only Republi- can Alderman ever elected in the First Ward. In 1848, Capt. Moffat married Elizabeth Gray, a native of Canada. She died in 1865, leaving four children-Alonzo N., John, Frank, now Mrs. Stewart, and Katie, now Mrs. MeVenn. In 1866, Capt. Moffat married Mrs. Frances M. Smiley, of Syracuse, N. Y. They have two sons-Fred S. and James.

REV. T. W. MONTEITH, pastor of the United Presbyterian Church, is a native of Michigan, and was born in Allegan County December 3, 1843. He received his preparatory education at Kalamazoo College. In 1866, he entered Monmouth College, and pursued his literary studies there and in Michigan State University, and graduated at Monmouth, June, 1869, and at the seminary in Newburg, N. Y., in 1872. After preaching in Ohio a short time, he accepted a call to his present pastorate, and was installed July 8, 1873. Mr. Mon- teith was united in marriage to Miss S. J. Turner, of Crown Point, Ind., June 24, 1875. They have three children-Carrie V., William T. and David T.

DAVID MOORE, farmer, Section 21, P. (). Port Huron, is a native of New York State, and was born in St. Lawrence County October 5, 1826. He lived in that State until reaching manhood, then came West to this State in 1846, and settled in this county, in the town of St. Clair, and worked in lumber woods, on farm, and afterward bought timber land, cleared it and made farm, and afterward cleared another farm and has been engaged in lumbering and farming. He only had $150 when he began, and he now owns two good farms, of 120 acres each, and fifty acres in town of Kimball, all the result of his own industry and good man- agement. He has held school and road offices. He married Miss Sophia Raymond, of the city of Detroit. They have three children-Louise, now Mrs. John Gracy; Eber W., on farm town St. Clair; Elvira, now Mrs. Joseph Jackson.

WILLIAM J. MULFORD, of the firm of Mulford & Son, manufacturers and dealers in furniture, is a son of William R. Mulford and was born in Elizabeth, N. J., December 5, 1845. His parents came here in 1847, and he grew up and attended school here. Before reaching manhood he enlisted during the war and served in Company H and Company K, Third Regiment Michigan Infantry. After his return from the serv- ice he became a partner in his father's store in 1867, and since then has been actively connected with it. He has held the position of chief engineer of the Fire Department, and also a member of the Board of Estimates. He had command of the Military Company two years, and is now superintendent of cemetery. In 1867, he married Miss Margaret Sleeper, a native of New York State. They have five children-Martha, Mable, Kate, Margaret, Helen.

W. R. MULFORD, dealer in furniture, is a native of New Jersey, and was born at Springfield, Essex County, March 20, 1823. He grew up to manhood in that State, and served apprenticeship in furniture busi- ness, at Elizabethtown, in that State. In 1846, he came West to Michigan, and was six weeks on the way, and in May arrived in Port Huron, which at that time was a very small village. Soon after locating here, he estab- lished his present business on the lot now occupied by Mr. Saunders, and since then, for over thirty-six years, he has been engaged in business here, and is the oldest furniture dealer in this section of the State. In 1844, Mr. Mulford married Miss Martha Smith, a native of New Jersey. She died in 1847, leaving one son, William J. In 1870, Mr. Mulford was united in marriage to Miss Emily Stephens, daughter of H. L. Stephens, Esq. She died December 24, 1881. Mr. Mulford's father, Jacob Mulford, now eighty-nine years of age, is living with him. He is a native of New Jersey.

CAPT. ARCHIBALD MUIR, is a native of Scotland, and was born March 16, 1833. His parents came to the United States when he was only two years of age, and settled in Canada East, and west of Montreal, near the boundary line. His early life was spent on a farm. When fifteen years of age he began sailing on the schooner Hannah Counter; three years later, when only eighteen years of age, he sailed Captain of the brig St. Louis, of Buffalo, and continued sailing as master until 1867. In the fall of 1861, he went across the Atlantic; upon his return, when thirty days out from Scotland with a load of pig iron, his vessel was dis- masted 300 miles from the coast of Newfoundland. The vessel was carried back to the Irish coast, and dur- ing the winter repairs were made, and the following spring sailed upon his return, and arrived in Quebec, May 5, 1862. Between the years 1862 and 1867, before coming to Port Huron, he was Superintendent of the Marine Oil Company of Canada. In 1867, he came to Port Huron, and engaged in ship-building. The first vessel he built was the Groton. He built the Brown, James Couch, Fanny Neal, and the propellers Vanderbilt and Montana. He organized the Port Huron Dry Dock Company, and built the wharfs and the dry dock, and car- ried on an extensive business for about ten years, and built sixteen vessels and propellers. He was afterward Superintendent of the Marine Oil Company of Canada. For the past few years has sailed master of vessels. Capt. Muir married Miss Elizabeth A. Gregory, a native of Niagara District, township of Louth, Canada, March 22, 1860. They have seven children-William, Fred, Johnson G, James A., Florence E., Jessie A., Aggie M. and Archibald A.

GEORGE K. NAIRN, Deputy Collector, is a native of Edinburgh, Scotland, and was born June 22, 1836. His parents came to Canada in 1841, and he was brought up and received his education there, and came to Michigan in 1859. Upon the breaking-out of the rebellion, he enlisted June 10, 1861, in the Third Michigan Infantry, and served five years, and held commission of First Lieutenant when mustered out July 9, 1866.

589

HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY.

After his return the following year, was appointed Deputy Collector, and since then has held that position in the custom service. Mr. Nairn was united in marriage, June 22, 1876, to Miss Mary E. Miller, of Port Huron. She died February 22, 1880, leaving one daughter, Ethel Clare.

L. S. NOBLE, of the firm of Noble & Welton, fire, life and marine insurance agents, is a native of Onon- daga County, N. Y. He came to Michigan in 1837, and was at Ann Arbor and Battle Creek. He then re- turned to Ohio and New York. He came to Port Huron June 27, 1847. In 1850, he engaged in the whip business in Detroit for two years. He then engaged in the grocery business at Port Huron until 1856. He engaged in the insurance business in 1854. Has had the agency of the Phoenix Insurance Company of Hartford since 1860. The first risk he wrote for this company was for Hull & Osborne, May 4, 1860. He had two certifi- cates from the company, testifying to his long and favorable service in representing its interests here. He has been actively interested in the fire department since it was first organized. Mr. Noble married Miss Mary A. Fowler, of Westfield, Mass., May 24. 1844. They have had three children-M. Augusta, now Mrs. Aus- tin; Louise M., married Maj. E. S. Petit; and Alonzo Frank, living here.

M. NORTHUP, physician and surgeon, is a native of Schuyler County, N. Y., and was born January 29, 1836. He received his education in that State, studied medicine and graduated at the Geneva Medical Col- lege in 1859. He afterward practiced medicine in Steuben County and also in Canada. During the war he entered the army as Acting Assistant Surgeon. After the close of the war he located at Lexington, this State, and practiced medicine there about seven years. In the fall of 1871, he came to Port Huron, and since then has practiced his profession here. He has served as President of the Board of Health for six years, and as Alderman of the Fifth Ward, and is chairman of the building committee for the new hospital. Dr. Northup married Miss Annie A. Herson in 1864, from Florence, Ontario, Canada. They have two children-Lizzie H. and Charles S.

JOHN G. O'NEILL, Mayor of the city of Port Huron, was elected in April, 1883, by a handsome major- ity upon the Democratic ticket, against the combined strength of three vigorous political organizations. The campaign was exceedingly spirited, and the city having gone heavily Republican one year ago, made Mr. O'Neill's triumph a very flattering indorsement. He is thirty-four years old, a native of Toronto, Canada, where he was educated in Saint Michael's College, and where he is now well known on account of former residence, as well as the great prominence he has attained as the senior partner in the mercantile establish- ment of O'Neill Brothers & Co., organized in 1876, and now doing the largest general trade of any house in Eastern Michigan outside of Detroit. Mr. O'Neill was one of the organizers of the Commercial Bank of Port Huron, and has always occupied a commanding position on its Board of Trustees. He is also general manager and principal owner of the Up River Ice Company, one of the largest industries of the city, besides which he is actively engaged in operations in pine lands, farming lands and city real estate. He is called "John " amongst the people, and although unmarried has always been too busy to pay much attention to the young ladies. He manages all the large business enterprises in which he is engaged with the most perfect skill, and being a young man of irreproachable habits and character, all his investments have been crowned with singular success. He has served in the City Council and upon some local boards, which renders him perfectly familiar with his duties as Chief Executive of the pushing and enterprising city of Port Huron. We look upon Mr. O'Neill's future as very promising indeed.

PETER J. O'NEILL is a native of Dublin, where he lived from his birth, in 1811, until 1833, and where he received an exceptionally good education for young men in that ill-fated country. At the age of twenty- two he removed to Montreal, where he engaged in the mercantile business until the rebellion under William Lyn McKinzie in 1836-37. This was the last attempt of the Canadas to dissolve British connection, during which Mr. O'Neill was engaged in important contracts supplying the troops while the war lasted. The opera- tions of that little rebellion brought him into Western Canada, and he settled in Toronto in the wholesale dry goods trade, remaining there until 1861, during which time he embarked heavily in manufacturing, and was one of the Directors in the Toronto Savings Bank and the Toronto Mutual Insurance Company. Mr. O'Neill's business connections extended largely into the United States. He made frequent trips to New York, where, in 1845, he married Miss Clara Corrigan, the daughter of Mr. P. Corrigan, of that city, and niece of Sir Domine Corrigan, of Dublin, one of the most renowned doctors of the British Empire. Mrs. O'Neill is also a relative of James O'Connell, an honored name in the city of New York. Since 1861, Mr. O'Neill has lived in Port Huron, where he has laid the foundation of the large firm known as O'Neill Brothers & Co., the most exten- sive business establishment in general trade in St. Clair County. This firm is also operating largely in timber lands and city property. He has frequently visited Europe on business, keeping fully abreast with public men and measures in England and Ireland, having made an extended tour of those countries and Continental Europe in 1878. He has never taken much interest in American public affairs, always shrinking from public office, and only for a single term consenting to serve in the City Council. Mr. O'Neill's life has been most active. He is yet in the business world, as pushing, enterprising and energetic as most men at the age of forty. He now loves business for its own sake and because he is a complete master of its details. He has six daugh- ters and two sons living, amongst whom are John G. O'Neill, the present Mayor of the city of Port Huron.

DAVID LOUIS OSBORNE, of the firm of F. A. Weyers & Co., dealers in groceries and provisions, is a native of Salem, Mass., and was born December 8, 1813. After reaching manhood, came to Detroit in 1836 and was one of the early settlers of that city, and for many years was engaged in the baking business and also in the nursery business there. He built the greenhouses at the corner of 24th and Fort streets, and was engaged in the lumber trade for some years previous to coming here, and still has a planing mill on Michigan avenue. He came here in 1880, and since then has been engaged in his present business, and the firm of F. A. Weyers & Co. have a large and leading trade. In 1837, he married Mary G. Robie, of Salem, Mass. She died in 1850, leaving three sons-John H., Charles F. and Lewis. In 1853, he married Miss Peace P. Buxton, of New Hampshire. They have two children-Frank W. and Mabel.

590

HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY.

DR. SAMUEL D. PACE, United States Consul, Sarnia, is a native of Canada, and was born in the Province of Ontario April 29, 1835; his father was a native of New Jersey, and his mother was descended from a New England family. He received his literary education in Canada and in the State of Wisconsin. In early boyhood he determined to be a physician; after completing his medical studies, he came to Port Huron in 1860, and successfully engaged in the practice of his profession. In 1869, Dr. Pace was appointed by President Grant United States Consul to Port Sarnia, and since then has occupied that position. Dr. Pace was united in marriage April 19, 1855, to Miss Lizzie Freeman, a native of England. They have three daughters-Mattie, the eldest, is the wife of the Consular Agent at London; Cora, now Mrs. Frank Mallory, of Detroit; Clara, now Mrs. George L. Bracket, of the city of Detroit.

DR. G. J. PARKER, physician and druggist, is a native of Trumbull County, Ohio, and was born April 23, 1823; he received his education in that State and in Detroit, and studied medicine and graduated at the Cleveland medical college. In the fall of 1849, came to Michigan and engaged in practice of medicine at Lex- ington, Sanilac County. In May, 1861, came to Port Huron and continued in the practice of his profession for ten years; then retired from active practice. and has since given his attention to the demands of his busi- ness. In 1855, Dr. Parker was united in marriage to Miss Celestia G. Simons, a native of Vermont. They have one daughter -- Birdie Grace.

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 96

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