USA > Michigan > Wexford County > History of Wexford County, Michigan, embracing a concise review of its early settlement, industrial development and present conditions > Part 45
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In the year 1875, at Augusta, Wisconsin, was solenmized the ceremony by which Dr. Miller and Miss Alice Turner, a native of Auburn, New York, were united in the bonds of wedlock. Mrs. Miller is the daugh- ter of Rev. George Turner, a leading minis- ter of the Advent church, living in the city of Chicago, and she has borne her Imisband five children, whose names are DeVere. Jessie, Carroll, Ray. Of the three living chil- dren and Miriam. DeVere is a graduate of Rush Medical College and is the junior member of the firm of Doctors Miller & Miller: Jessie is a graduate of Oberlin Col- lege and married 11. 1. Edgerton, of Sharon. Pa., where she now lives; Carroll is a graduate of the Cadillac high school
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and is now a student of naval engineering. Dr. Miller possesses in a marked degree those traits and abilities which mark men masters of their own destinies. Great in- dustry and consecutive effort account large- ly for the success which has attended hin and the honors already won bespeak for hint a long and prosperous future in which to benefit and bless the world by ministering to and healing the ills of suffering humanity. While attending closely to his professional duties, the Doctor finds time for the con- sideration of public matters and ever since locating in Cadillac he has been an active participant in the affairs of the city. In politics he is a staunch Republican, and as such has rendered his party yeoman service, having been active in its councils, besides serving at different times as a delegate to local, district and state conventions. He is an ardent friend of education and as a mem- ber of the school board of Cadillac labored zealously for the schools of the city, doing much to bring them up to their present high standard of efficiency. He is identified with several social and fraternal organizations, among which are the Delta Tau Delta, the Royal Arcanum and the Knights of Pythias. holding the title of past chancellor in the last named society. Ile is also a Mason of high standing, having taken a number of degrees in that ancient and honorable order, including, among others, that of Sir Knight.
EDWARD G. MOFFIT.
Of the many influential families of Wex- ford county few have resided there longer, made a deeper or more lasting impression
upon the history of the county or wielded more infinence for good than has the Moffit family, of Cedar Creek township. It is now nearly a generation since Edward G. Moffit, the subject of this review, accom- panied by the accomplished lady who had then only recently become his wife, came to the county of Wexford to make it his home. It was the same year in which the county was organized ( 1873) and from that time until the present they have been respected residents of the county.
Edward G. Moffit is a native of the state of Michigan, having been born in Kent coun- ty, January 3, 1849. His parents were Eber and Nancy ( Lindsay) Moffit, the former be- ing a native of Ohio and the latter of Con- vecticut. They came to Kent county, Mich- igan, in the early days of the settlement of the state and continued to be a part of its population until their death. Ile was, at the time of his death, about sixty years old and she survived him a number of years, expiring when in the seventy-second year of her age. Eleven children, nine sons and two daugh- ters, were born to them. the subject being the fifth child of the family.
On his father's farm in Kent county, Ed- ward G. Moffit was reared and there he re- mained until he had attained the age of twenty-two years. lle received a fair com- mon school education, such as the times and the conditions then prevailing afforded. Feb. 5. 1874, he was united in marriage to Miss Almeda Brown, a lady of good educa- tion and fine mental endowments. She is a native of Ottawa county, Michigan, born July 20, 1852, her parents being James M. and Diantha L. (Ball) Brown, who were natives, the father of New York and the mother of Michigan. The father had emi-
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grated to Michigan in an early day, locating in Ottawa county. They later moved to Kent county, where they continued to reside until 1873, when they moved to Wexford county and settled in Manton. There Mr. Brown departed this life, since when his widow has made her home on the farm he left. Ile was, at the time of his demise, sixty-nine years of age. They were the par- ents of two children, the oldest of whom is Mrs. Moffit, who was reared in the county of her birth to the age of fourteen years, when the family moved to Byron township. Kent county, where she grew to womanhood and where she was united in marriage to the sub- ject of this review. Four children were born to this union, one of whom, Freddie, died in infancy. The other children are: Frank J., Claude .A. and George S. Frank J. wedded Lena G. Boyer, and they have two children, Blanche and Beatrice; Claude, who owns a forty-acre farm, married Maggie Gibson, and George S. is at home and attending school.
On the removal of the family to Wex- ford county, in 1873. they located in Man- ton, where the subject secured employment in a saw-mill, as filer and sawyer. For twen- ty years he followed this business at Manton and other places and then moved to Kalkas- ka, where he remained nine years, then re- turned to Wexford county and settled in Cedar Creek township, on the farm which he now owns, occupies and operates. It comprises one hundred and twenty acres, one hundred of which is cleared and under cultivation. It is a fine piece of land, very productive and splendidly improved. He is a thorough farmer, one who keeps fully abreast of the times in all that relates to his business. He takes an active interest in all matters pertaining to the welfare of his
township and county, and, in his own modest way, has done much to advance the interest of each. Both Mr. and Mrs. Moffit are thinkers of the advanced school, particularly on matters relating to religion, and are firm believers in the teachings of Christian Science. They became interested in this re- ligion in 1893 and no doctors have been in this home for thirteen years. They derive great pleasure in the perusal of the writings of Mrs. Mary Eddy Baker and they have effected many remarkable cures. Mr. and Mrs. Moffit are respectively first and second readers in the Christian Science church at Manton. He was a member of the Masonic fraternity for many years. The high esteem in which he is held bears testimony to the moral character and substantial worth of the man and his life has been so filled with good (leeds that he finds little to regret in the years that are gone.
WILLIS D. GUERNSEY.
Willis D. Guernsey, who carries on gen- eral farming on section 16, Cedar Creek town- ship, is a native of the Empire state, his birth having occurred upon a farm in Lewis coun- ty. New York, on the 11th day of July. 1854. His parents were Alonzo and Lorania ( Ham- lin ) Guernsey, and unto them were born nine children, seven sons and two daughters. Wil- lis D. Guernsey was the fifth in order of birth and was but two years of age when his parents left New York, emigrating west- ward to Michigan. They settled in Van Bu- ren county upon a farm and there the sub- ject remained with his parents until 1865. when the father died. In 1868 he went with his mother to Mason county, Michigan, where he continued to live for about twelve
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years and on the expiration of that period he came to Wexford county, arriving here in the spring of 1880.
In the meantime Mr. Guernsey had been married in Mount Pleasant, Michigan, on the 19th day of December, 1879, the lady of his choice being Miss Elizabeth Osborne, who was born in Lewis county, New York, on the 16th day of June. 1857, a daughter of John and Julia ( Parmeter ) Osborne, in whose family were ten children, four sons and six daughters, Mrs. Guernsey being the third of the family. She spent her early childhood days in the state of her nativity and was a maiden of eleven summers when her parents came to Michigan, settling in Mason county, where she grew to womanhood. The mar- riage of Mr. and Mrs. Guernsey has been blessed with three children, two sons and a daughter : Herman W., of Kidder county, North Dakota; Charles F., who owns a for- ty-acre farm in Cedar Creek township, and Charlotte M., who wedded Clarence E. Tif- fany, of Cedar Creek township.
When Mr. Guernsey arrived in Wexford county he turned his attention to farming and was also employed in a saw-mill until the fall of 1882, at which time he took up his abode upon the farm which is yet his home. He has resided here through all the intervening years, and this has been a period of marked activity and energy in his life. Ile has erected good buildings upon his place and has cultivated fifty acres of his eighty-acre tract, so that the fields are very arable and return to him excellent harvests. He possesses good business ability, sound judgment and strong purpose, and upon this sure foundation he has builded his success, being the architect of his own fortunes. In public affairs he is also deeply interested and has co-operated in
many measures for the general good. Hle has served as constable of his township for many years, and for several years has been a member of the board of review of Cedar Creek township. His political support is given to the Republican party and he keeps well informed on the issues of the day, thus being able to support his position by intelli- gent argument. Fraternally he is connected with Maqueston Tent No. 220, Knights of the Maccabees, and he and his wife are affiliated with Rosehill Grange. During al- most his entire life Mr. Guernsey has re- sided in Michigan and possesses the enter- prise so characteristic of this section of the country. Brooking no obstacles that could be overcome by determination and honorable effort, he has steadily progressed on his path toward the goal of his success.
JOSEPH STEWART.
Joseph Stewart, who resides in Clam township, Wexford county, is one of the citi- zens of Michigan who have crossed the bor- der from the Dominion. He was born in the county of Ontario, Canada, on the 15th of April, 1851, and is a son of John Stewart, who died in that country when more than eighty years of age. His mother bore the maiden name of Ann Thornell, and, surviv- ing her husband for a time, passed away in Canada at the very advanced age of eighty- five years. They were the parents of eight children, of whom Joseph Stewart is the fifth in order of birth.
In the county of his nativity Joseph Stewart was reared and the public schools afforded him his educational privileges.
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His training in business was received upon his father's farm, where he early became con- versant with the practical methols of pro- ducing good crops and caring for stock. He has been connected with no other occupa- tion during his entire life. Entering upon his business career in Canada, he there en- gaged in farming until his removal to Wex- ford county, Michigan, which occurred in the spring of 1888. On his arrival here he took up his abode upon his present farm in (lam Lake township, and now he has a val- table property, which is indicative of his careful supervision and enterprising spirit. He has erected a very pleasant brick farm residence and good barns and all the other necessary outbuildings, and he owns eighty acres of land, most of which is cultivated. The passerby can see at a glance that the owner is a man of practical ideas and that neatness and thrift are characteristics of his work.
Ere leaving Canada Mr. Stewart was united in marriage, in Ontario county, to Miss Esther Newson, who was born in that county, a daughter of William Newson, of Ontario, who is now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Stewart have become the parents of four children, of whom the eldest, Anna, is now the wife of Thomas Nichols. William wedded Miss Mabel Nixon. Eliza is the wife of Victor Gurnet, and Ethel is still under the paternal roof. Mr. Stewart and his family are widely and favorably known in the coun- ty, having gained many warm friends, who hold them in high regard.
Mr. Stewart is a member of the board of reviews in Clam Lake township, and is also serving as supervisor of the Hobart school. Realizing the value of education as a prep- aration for life's practical duties, the schools
have ever found in him a warm friend, and he has put forth every effort in his power to secure good teachers and raise the standard of education here. He and his wife are ear- nest, consistent Christians, hokling member- ship with the Baptist church, and their lives and inthience have been potent factors in its growth and progress. Mr. Stewart is deep- ly interested in the material, social, intellect- ual and moral advancement of his com- munity. He has so lived as to command the respect and good will of all with whom he has come in contact, and he is now classed among the leading representatives of agricul- tural interests here. In his business career he has placed his dependence, not upon spec- ulation or fortunate combination of circum- stances, but upon perseverance, labor and sound judgment, and upon these he has builded his prosperity.
GEORGE W. BLUE.
The subject of biography yields to no other in point of interest and profit. It tells of the success and defeats of men, the diffi- culties they have encountered, and gives an insight into the methods and plans which they have pursued. The obvious lessons therein taught will prove of great benefit if followed. and the example of the self-made man should certainly encourage others into whose cradle smiling fortune has cast no glittering crown to press forward to nobler aims and higher ideals. Such a man is George W. Blue, subject of this review, and in a biographical compendium of W'ex- ford county's progressive and representa- tive citizens his name is deserving of conspicuous mention. Mr. Blue is one
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of Michigan's native sons, born in La- peer county, September 21, 1846. His parents, John and Mary ( Braymer ) Blue, were early settlers of Lapeer county and fig- ured prominently in the growth and develop- ment of that part of Michigan. The father was a native of New Jersey, the nrother of Livingston county, New York. She died in lowa, Iowa, at the age of forty-four years, while he lived in Lapeer county, Michigan, until he reached the age of sixty-three years, when he too passed to his eternal rest. They were the parents of a large family of chil- dren, of whom the subject of this review was the oldest.
The early life of George W. Blue was spent upon his father's farm in Lapeer coun- ty. There he grew to manhood, attending school during the winter months and devot- ing the remainder of the time to farm work. When he arrived at the age of twenty-one years he moved to Iowa, Iowa county, lowa, where he engaged in farming on his own behalf and where the next six years of his life were spent. Then he tried Kansas for a year, but was by no means fascinated with prevalent conditions in that wind-swept region. About this time, 1873. his atten- tion was called to the. merits of Wexford county, Michigan, as a place of abode and the more he investigated the better pleased was he with the locality. In March, 1874, he secured a part of section 32, Liberty town- ship, the identical farm upon which he still resides, and proceeded to fit it up as a home and farm. The tract of land consists of one hundred and sixty acres, one hundred of which are cleared and splendidly improved.
October 1. 1867, in Lapeer county, Mich- igan. George W. Blue was united in mar- riage to Miss Rachael \. Harger, a native of
Pennsylvania, born March 31, 1848. She is the daughter of John and Ellen Maria (Carpenter) Harger, and a sister of the late Ezra Harger, one of the best known and most highly respected men. during his life time, in that section of the state. To Mr. and Mrs. George W. Blue four children have been born, viz .: Maynard, Grace, Blanche and Gaylard. Grace is the wife of George Monger and Blanche is the wife of Thomas Stewart. Grace Blue, now Mrs. George Monger, was the first white child born in Liberty township. Wexford county.
From the time of his first location in Wexford county, now nearly thirty years ago, Mr. Blue has identified himself with the interests of the county. In politics he is a pronounced Democrat, and has always act- ed with that party, but that has not prevented him from being elected to the position of supervisor of the township nor barred him trom re-election a number of times there- after. He is an enterprising, public spirited man, whose abilities the voters of his locality appreciate .. One of the very first settlers in in the township, he assisted in its organiza- tion. The new municipality then had no roads-indeed it had little of anything other than woods and broad, fertile acres. In all public improvements to be made Mr. Blue was one among the leaders and when he was invested with the authority of an offi- cial, as supervisor, he used all means in his power to improve conditions in the lo- cality. He is a member of Manton Tent No. 20, Knights of the Maccabees, and of the New Era Association, of Grand Rapids. He is genial, companionable and kind. On almost all subjects he is well informed and in legal affairs and complicated business transactions his neighbors frequently avail
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themselves of his knowledge. He served two ternis, eight years, as justice of the peace and made one of the most just and capable judicial officials the township has ever known. Domestic in his tastes and as- pirations, his home has always been a most happy one.
PERRY F. POWERS.
Not only in the field of newspaper enter- prises has Hon. Perry F. Powers attained high prestige, but also he has gained prec- edence in connection with the political affairs of the state of Michigan, being at the present time incumbent of the office of auditor general of the commonwealth. Effective service in the cause of the Republi- can party, no less than recognized eligibil- ity, led to his being chosen to this important preferment. Perry F. Powers is a native of that state of which Senator Chauncey M. Depew spoke in the following pertinent metaphrase. "Some men are born great. some achieve greatness and some are born in Ohio." He was born in the town of Jackson, Jackson county, Ohio, on the 5th of September, 1858, being a son of Pierce and Sarah C. Powers. Pierce Powers, who was also more familiarly known as Perry. was identified with the iron-manufacturing industry in southern Ohio up to the time of the Civil war, when he entered the ser- vice of the Union. He received injuries which were of such severity as to result in his death, and upon the subject of this review, who was the eldest of four children-three sons and one daughter- naturally devolved much of the responsi- bility in the maintenance of the family.
his mother surviving until October. 1902, when she passed away at the age of seventy- three years. The subject was thrown large- ly upon his own resources from his youth. but managed to complete a partial course in the high school. It may be said, how- ever, that Mr. Powers has gained his edu- cation through personal application and through active and intimate association with men and affairs, while in this connection we may consonantly revert to the statement made by an able writer to the effect that the discipline of a newspaper office is equivalent to a liberal education. He was inducted into the mysteries of the "art pre- servative of all arts" in a printing office in his native town, and in 1879 he went to Davenport, lowa, where he secured a po- sition as compositor in a newspaper office. In 1883 he located in Cambridge, Illinois, where he became associated with George C. Smithe in the publication of a weekly paper, the Chronicle. In 1885 he came to Ypsilanti, Michigan, and there continued in partnership with Mr. Smithe in the publication of the Ypsilantian, which they made one of the representative papers of the state. In 1887 Mr. Powers came to Cadillac, to become editor and publisher of the News and Express, representing a con- solidation of the Cadillac News, which had its inception in 1872, and the Express, which was established in 1885. Concern- ing his newspaper career in Cadillac we can not do better than to quote from an article which appeared in the trade paper issued by the Chicago Newspaper Union. apropos of his efforts and standing : "AAmong the makers of Michigan news- papers none is better or more favorably known than Perry F. Powers, of Cadillac.
PERRY F. POWERS.
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and his paper, the News and Express, is a model weekly, printed with modern equip- ment and issued from a model home of its own. The paper was born of a con- solidation. The Cadillac News was estab- lished in 1872, while yet the greater part of the present site of the city ( then known as Clam Lake) was covered with pine trees, and the Express was established in 1885. The two were consolidated in 1887, about the time Mr. Powers acquired owner- ship of the business. Since then his chief ambition has always been to make the News and Express the best edited country paper in Michigan. He never permits any hurry or rush to prevent the preparation each week of from two to three columns of original editorial, and the political edi- torials of the News and Express are, per- laps. more widely copied and quoted than those of any other local paper in the state. Neither is time nor effort spared in making the report of local affairs complete, and the accounts of home happenings are always pre- pared in the most readible and entertaining manner. Powers is untiring and is con- stantly striving in every way to advance the interests of his town, to add to home pride. helpfulness and contentment and to make his own people, as well as the world out- side, think that Cadillac is the best city in the universe. This line of action, long con- tinned, has made the News and Express a profitable property and an influential news- paper. Young Powers was compelled to begin work at a very early age, to assist in the support of a widowed mother with a family of three other children. His life has been one of hard study and hard work. During his residence in Michigan he has been twice nominated and elected a mem-
ber of the Michigan state board of edu- cation, was president of the board four years, having been first elected a member of the board in 1888 and re-elected in 1894. For several years he has been a member of the Cadillac city school board, and is very prominent in both local and state edi- cational circles. He has served one term as president of the State Press Association, two terms as president of the Michigan Re- publican Press Association, and two terms as president of the State League of Republi- can Clubs. He does considerable campaign work on the stump, under the auspices of the Republican state central committee, and makes many addresses each year on edu- cational and kindred topics."
It may be consistently said that the Re- publican party has in Michigan no more loyal and stanch a supporter than Mr. Powers, and both through his able editorials and his efforts as a public speaker he has done much to advance the party cause. He is a man of broad and exact information, a careful student of the questions and issues of the hour and ever amply fortified in his convictions, being a distinct individual and one who has so ordered his course at all times as to retain the respect and confidence of all who know him and have cognizance of his sterling qualities. The party to which his allegiance has been thus unequivocally given placed him in nomination for the of- fice of auditor general of the state in 1900, and he was elected by a gratifying majority. while his administration has been one re- flecting credit upon himself and the com- monwealth. While the duties of his office demand his residence in the capital city of the state, Lansing, he still retains the general supervision of his newspaper, dictating its
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policy and remaining inflexibly loyal to his home city of Cadillac. The News and Ex- press is stanchly Republican in politics and has the largest circulation of all papers in Wexford county. The office is modern and model in its equipment. the letter press be- ing of the highest standard, while the job department has the best of facilities. Were all local offices and papers as ably conducted. so called "country journalism" would be a title of distinction.
On the 29th of January, 1889. Mr. Powers was united in marriage to Miss Jessie R. Warren, who was born in Monroe county, being a daughter of Cyrus A. and Celestia D. Warren, and of this union have been born two sons, Warren and Perry F., Jr.
GEORGE H. OTIS.
So long as the history of America is read. an interesting chapter will always be that regarding the California gold fever, which broke out in 1847. reached its crisis in 1849. but did not materially abate until the ex- citement wrought up by the Civil war almost completely overshadowed it. While Cali- fornia enriched the world with the goldl she gave up during that period, the output being about thirteen million dollars a year, the state may be considered to have had the best of the bargain, for the world enriched her in population, material development and gen- eral improvements. At the time of the first discovery the population of San Francisco was less than two hundred inhabitants. In about ten years it had swelled to more than forty thousand people. Nearly every land on the face of the globe contributed to the
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