USA > Michigan > Wexford County > History of Wexford County, Michigan, embracing a concise review of its early settlement, industrial development and present conditions > Part 65
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of whom six attained years of maturity, the subject of this sketch being the eldest of the number.
Victor F. Huntley received his rudimen- tary education in the city schools of Grand Rapids, and afterward spent one year in Albion College. For a short time after leav- ing college he was employed at the trade of wood turning, and during the winter seasons was employed at teaching school. The science of medicine had early attracted his attention, and in 1874, finding a favorable opportunity, he went to Goshen, Indiana, where he read medicine under the preceptorship of Dr. William .A. Whippy. In due time he matric- ulated in the Chicago Homeopathic Medical College, from which he was graduated in 1881, and the following year he entered upon the active practice of his profession at Jen- nings, Missaukee county, Michigan. After remaining there for some time, he became convinced that a better field of labor existed for him in Wexford county, and consequent- ly, on the Ist of May, 1886, he located at Manton, this county, where he has since remained actively engaged in the practice of the healing art. He has taken a keen and abiding interest in public affairs, and, under the administration of the late President Mc- Kinley, he received the appointment of post- master at Manton, discharging the duties of the office to the entire satisfaction of all the patrons of the office. He was re-ap- pointed under President Roosevelt, and still holds office. He has also served as a mem- ber of the board of United States pension examiners, having served as president of the board for two years.
In 1875 Dr. Huntley was united in mar- riage with Miss Harriet E. Castle, a native of St. Lawrence county, New York. This
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union has been a most happy and congenial one and has been blessed by the birth of two children, one that died in infancy, and Fred M., a physician, who graduated from the Chicago Homeopathic Medical College, and is practicing his profession with the subject in Manton. He is a member of the Michi- gan State Medical Society and fraternally is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons, having attained to the thirty-second degree. His political principles are in accord with those of the Republican party, and he takes an active part in local affairs, being a stanch supporter of all movements having for their object the promotion of the welfare of the community in which he lives. As evidence of this fact it is worthy of note that he was one of the numbers to whose untiring per- severance was due the installation of water works at Manton.
Mr. Huntley's ability to trace the devious paths of disease throughout the human sys- tem and to remove its effects is widely recognized and a mind well disciplined by severe professional training, together with a natural aptitude for close investigation and critical research, have peculiarly fitted him for the noble calling in which he is engaged. and thus far his career has been all and more than his most sanguine friends predicted. He is a careful reader of the best professional literature, and keeps himself in close touch with the age in the latest discoveries pertain- ing to the healing art. The better to enable him to keep abreast the most modern meth- ods in the treatment of disease, he took a post-graduate course in the Chicago Homeo- pathic Medical College in 1890, in 1894. in 1899, and again in 1901. Those qualities of mind and heart that do not pertain to the mere knowledge of medical science, but
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greatly enhance the true worth of the family physician, are not wanting in him. He pos- sesses the tact and happy faculty of inspiring confidence on the part of his patients and their friends and in the sick room his genial presence and conscious ability to cope suc- cessfully with the diseases under treatment are factors that have contributed to the en- viable standing which he has attained. As evidence of the success which he has at- tained, he entered into partnership with Will- iams Brothers in November, 1902, in a gen- eral mercantile business, which is incorpor- ated and known as the Williams Mercantile Company, and he is now serving as presi- cent of said corporation. He is also an officer in the Manton Development Association. which has purchased a tract of wild land ad- joining the village. which has been surveyed and platted, and is now rapidly building up.
WILLIAM H. GRAY.
It is not ease but effort that makes the man. There is perhaps no station in life where difficulties do not have to be encoun- tered and obstacles overcome. Every vo- cation has in it certain elements or situations which might be characterized as disagreeable huit which are counterbalanced. to some ex- tent at least, by compensatory features. The subject of this sketch. William 11. Gray, of section 28. Liberty township, has for years pursued two vocations. lle is a tiller of the soil and the local minister in the church of the Disciples of Christ. He is as much at home in the pulpit, in the midst of the members of his flock, as he is in the fields amid his growing crop. He has, doubtless,
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often realized in his dual labors the truth of the assertion that it is not ease but effort that makes the man.
William H. Gray was born on his father's farm in Morgan county, Indiana, August 27, 1847, and is the son of David W. and Elizabeth ( McCampbell ) Gray. Both parents died in Morgan county, Indiana, the father at the age of seventy-six years. They were the parents of thirteen children, the subject being one of the younger mem- bers of the family. He was reared at home and received a common school educa- tion in the schools of the county of his birth. While attending school he aided in the farm work and later engaged in it as his regular vocation.
In Tipton county. Indiana, October 20, 1870, William H. Gray was united in mar- riage to Miss Martha R. Wilcox, a native of Indiana, born in Tipton county. April 24, 1853. She was a young lady noted for her religious fervor and Christian character. Her father was Uriah Wilcox, a veteran of the Civil war, while her mother's maiden name was Emaline Roode. Of a fam- ily of seven children Mrs. Gray was the second. After marriage the subject and his wife established themselves in a home in Morgan county, where they continued to reside until the fall of 1875. when they moved to Wexford county. Michigan, and located on a farm in section 28, Liberty township, where they still re- side. He is the owner of sixty acres of land. thirty-five of which is in a fine state of cul- tivation and well improved. They are the parents of eight children, only three of whom are now living. viz. : Leona MI .. Nellie and Arthur E. Leona is the wife of John F. Gardner. The five other children died early in life.
Though by no means active in politics and not a partisan, William H. Gray has been elected to and held at different times the of- fices of township treasurer and township clerk. He did not seek those positions, but his neighbors of Liberty township, recog- nizing his worth as a citizen and his integ- rity as a man, placed him in nomination and elected him without difficulty. He is ac- tively interested in all matters which tend to promote the welfare of the community or improve the conditions of the locality. He is a public-spirited man, interested alike in the material and spiritual good of his fellow creatures. Since 1887 he has been the resi- dent minister of the church of the Disciples of Christ, located at Haire, in Liberty town- ship. His ministerial labors in all those years have been productive of very satis- factory results. The congregation is devout and prosperous and has been for a long time steadily increasing in membership. Mr. Gray and his wife organized, June 9. 1876, the first Sunday school ever established in Liberty township. Both have labored nobly to keep alive the Christian spirit in the lo- cality and will doubtless receive a rich re- ward, if not on earth, certainly in heaven.
THOMAS P. DENIKE.
The very large per cent. of native Cana- dians which constitutes part of the popula- tion of the states bordering on the Canadian line shows clearly that there have been some Canadians who were not willing to wait un- til Miss Canada sees fit to fling herself into the arms of Uncle Sam. That that will be the ultimate destiny of Canada many on both sides of the border firmly believe. Indeed,
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the location of so many Canadians on this side of the line may hasten rather than re- tard the coming of the Canadian bride. How- ever that may be, there is no doubt what- ever that some of the very best citizens of the state of Michigan today are native Cana- dlians. One of them is the subject of this review. Thomas P'. Denike, a resident of sec- tion 36, Boon township, Wexford county.
In Hastings county, Ontario, Canada. .August 12, 1850, Thomas P. Denike first saw the light of day. His parents were An- thony and Elizabeth ( Reed) Denike, both deceased when Mr. Denike was a small boy.
On his father's farm, in his native coun- ty, he was reared to manhood. lle was given a fair common school education and at the age of twenty-one years started out for him- self in life to make his way in the world. In 1871 he came to Michigan, secured employ- ment in the woods, logging and lumbering. which business he followed for a number of years, when he secured more desirable em- ployment in Big Rapids. In 1875 he re- turned to Canada and for the next few years devoted himself to farming.
In Northumberland county, Ontario, T Canada. August 31. 1879. Thomas P. Den- ike was united in mariage to Miss Sophro- nia Maybee, a native of Ontario, Canada, born June 30. 1856. Her parents were Mi- nard and Rachel (Allie) Maybee, natives of Canada and who died when Mrs. Denike was a little girl. She was educated in her native country and is a lady of most pleasing ad- dress. To Thomas P. and Sophronia ( May- bee ) Denike five children have been born, of whom one died in infancy. The surviving four are : Berton E., Salyer V., Alta E. and Elsie A. All are possessed of good physi- cal and mental powers and give promise of making worthy citizens.
Within a few weeks after their marriage in Canada Mr. and Mrs. Denike, in the au- tumn of 1879, came to Wexford county, de- siring to establish here their permanent home. He purchased eighty acres of land, part of section 36, Boon township, on which he erected a dwelling, which has been the home of the family from that time to the present. Later he purchased forty acres adjoining. which makes him a tidy little farm of one hundred and twenty acres, about fifty of which is cleared and under cultivation. Good, substantial buildings have been erected on the place, making it a most desirable home.
The voters of Boon township seem to be possessed of a good deal of penetration and discernment, being able to recognize a per- son's special fitness for official position, and the good sense to persist in keeping him there. Fifteen years ago they elected Thomas P. Denike to the position of school assessor and each successive election since bas found them voting to retain him in that place. It is a tribute alike to the good judg- ment of the voters and to the abilities of their school assessor. Mr. and Mrs. Denike are true and consistent Christians, though hokl- ing no membership in any denomination.
JOIN R. HOGUE.
If one desires to gain a vivid realization of the rapid advance in civilization during the last few decades, he can listen to the stories of men who are still living and by no means burdened with the weight of years. who tell of their early experience, when the country was new and social conditions in this part of the state of Michigan were in their formative period. It is now a genera-
J. R. HOGUE.
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tion ago, 1870, since John R. Hogue, the subject of this review, first took up his abode in Wexford county. The inhabitants of the county were then few in number, the farms mostly clearings, a large majority of the residences log structures, few roads of any description, with a limited number of schools and a much less number of churches. Con- trasted with the conditions which prevail here at the present time, those days are in- (leed well classified as primitive.
John R. Hogue, of section 22, Colfax township, is a native of Pennsylvania, born in the township of Worth, Mercer county, December 3, 1841. His parents were Will- iam and Sarah ( Kyle) Hogue, natives the father of Ohio and the mother of Virginia, Both are now deceased.
The first thirteen years of the life of John R. Hogue were spent in his native county. He attended school a few term's during the winter months and was employed the remainder of the time upon the farm. In 1854 the family moved to Berrien county, Michigan, and located in Pipestone town- ship. There the subject grew to manhood, completing a course of education in the com- mon schools. In August, 1862, he enlisted in Company B, Seventeenth Regiment Mich- igan Volunteer Infantry. At that particular time the cause of the Union was most des- perate, so, with very little time afforded for preparation, the regiment was ordered to the front. In less than a month after enlistment it participated in the battle of South Moun- tain, Maryland, September 13 and 14, 1862. and two days later took part in the battle at Antietam. It was in the fight at Fred- ericksburg, Maryland, and saw service at Jackson, Mississippi, and participated in the seige of Knoxville, Tennessee.
one of the engagements in which the regi- ment took part the aggressive young sol- dier bore his part with honor. In the battle of the Wilderness. Virginia, May 5 to 7. 1864, and nearly all of the sanguinary en- counters of the time and of the locality he played his part as became a true warrior. June 3. 1865, he received his discharge, after having served nearly three years, and being in the thick of the fight nearly all of the time.
Returning to Berrien county, Michigan, immediately on quitting the service, he turned his attention to farming in Pipestone township for the next five years. In Berrien county, September 2, 1866, John R. Hogue was united in marriage to Miss Susan King, a native of England, born in July, 1848, who came to America with her parents while yet a child and resided the greater part of her life in the county where she was married. The union was a happy one, and three chil- dren were born to bless it. viz: Nora B., Horace H. and Luemma. Nora is the wife of William Sager : Horace is a joint owner in the farm with his father and assists in its cultivation, and Luemma brought joy to the home for the brief period of eighteen months only, when death called her to a better world. Mrs. Hogue died at the family home in Colfax township, Wexford county, after the family located here, and Mr. Hogne was again marired, his bride on this occasion being Mrs. Helen Watson, widow of the late Charles Watson, and daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Eastwood. Iler death oc- curred in Selma township. Mr. Hogue's son, Horace by name, was born November 23. 1868, and on May 19, 1891. was united in marriage to Miss Addie Jordan, of Cad-
In every , illac. and to this union two children have
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been born. namely : Vena. aged eleven years, and Lyle, aged nine.
In November, 1870. the family moved to Wexford county, where Mr. Hogue had taken up a homestead on a part of section 22, Colfax township. On this place he has erected a comfortable residence and all other necessary farm buildings. He and his son Horace together own one hundred and tw en- ty acres, about eighty of which is cleared, improved and under cultivation, the other forty acres being in timber. It is a nice, pro- ductive farm, from which the owners and managers derive a very comfortable income.
The education of the young has always been a matter of much concern and interest to Mr. Hogue. Though by no means a man greatly lacking in knowledge, he feels that he could have accomplished much more in life had he received the benefit of a better education. Knowing his zeal in this particu- lar, the voters of the township. years ago, placed him on the school board and have kept him almost constantly in one or the other positions on the school board ever since. He also served the people of the town- ship in the position of treasurer, justice of peace, board of review, school inspector and highway commissioner. In politics he is a stanch Republican. There are few people of his age now living who have crowded more real good, earnest labor and more gen- nine usefulness into the years of their lives than has John R. Hogue.
EDWARD MORGAN. M. D.
Dr. Edward Morgan has the distinction of being the only soldier who enlisted from Wexford county for service in the Civil war
and he is one of the oldest physicians in years of connection with the profession in this part of the state. lle now makes his home in Manton, where he has a large patronage that is indicative of his skill and comprehen- sive learning in connection with the science of medicine.
The Doctor was born on a farm in Steuben county. New York. July 2. 1841. His father, Reuben Morgan, was a carpen- ter and farmer, following the two pursuits throughout his business career. He mar- ried Miss Clarissa Manhart, and they be- came the parents of eleven children, of whom the Doctor was the fourth in order of birth. The father died in Howard, Steuben county. New York, when about sixty-seven years of age, and his widow. surviving him for some time, died in Emmet county, Michi- gan, in her seventy-sixth year.
In the county of his nativity Dr. Mor- gan was reared and was living there at the time of his first enlistment for service in the Civil war. In May, 1861. he joined Com- pany G, Twenty-third New York Volunteer Infantry, with which he was connected for two years. He was then discharged with the regiment at the expiration of the term of enlistment in May. 1863. In June fol- lowing the Doctor arrived in what is now Wexford county, and secured a homestead in Wexford township, comprising one hun- dred and sixty acres of wild land, on which he settled. To its development and im- provement he devoted his energies until October. 1864. when, feeling that his first (luty was to his country, still in the throes of civil strife, he rejoined the army, this time as a member of Company M. Tenth Michigan Cavalry, with which he served un - til May, 1865, when, the war having closed.
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he returned to his home with a most cred- itable military record. He was the only man who enlisted from Wexford county, which was then largely unsettled, and he was always found at his post of duty, whether in the thickest of the fight or on the lonely pick- et line. At Strawberry Plains, Tennessee, his horse was shot from under him and on that occasion he was so injured that he was un- able to again take up the active work of the farm and accordingly he disposed of his homestead.
The Doctor then entered upon the study of medicine in Steuben county, New York, and after pursuing a course of lectures in the Bellevue Hospital Medical College hie began practice in Wexford and Kalkaska counties, Michigan, continuing his profes- sional labors in this state until 1884, when lic began practice in Florida and also be- came a student in the State University there. Upon his return to the north he settled in Manton, where he practiced successfully in- til 1889, when he went to the territory of Oklahoma and secured a homestead. In connection with the reclamation of the wild land for the purposes of civilization, he also practiced medicine in Guthrie and vicinity Dr. Morgan is a member of O. P. Mor- ton Post No. 54, Grand Army of the Repub- lic, and is serving as its commander. He also has membership relations with the In- dependent Order of Odd Fellows and his wife is president of the Woman's Relief Corps, the auxiliary of Morton Post. She is also an active and consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal church. They have an attractive home in Manton and the Doctor also owns eighty- five acres of land, of which fifty acres is under cultivation. Ile has long taken an active interest in politics as a sup- for two and a half years, and at the end of that time he sold his homestead and returned to Manton, where he has since remained, en- gaged in the practice of his profession and easily maintaining a foremost position in the ranks of the medical fraternity of this sec- tion of the state. He practiced in Kalkaska county for seven years and also in Cadillac for two years, but, with the exception of these periods and the time spent in Okla- homa, throughout his professional career he has remained in Wexford county, where he located as the first physician within its bor- , porter of the Republican party and while re-
ders. Ele belongs to the State Eclectic Med- ical Society and is a man of broad informa- tion who studies and thinks deeply and who shows marked skill in coping with the in- tricate problems which continually confront the physician in his efforts to restore health and prolong life.
In Kalkaska, Michigan, Dr. Morgan was united in marriage to Mrs. Eliza ( Overhiser ) Shults, a daughter of William and Hannah ( Collier ) Overhiser. She was born in Steu- ben county, New York, August 14, 1849. and was brought to Michigan in pioneer times, her father being one of the oldest set - tlers of Cedar Creek township. He arrived in Wexford county about 1870 and took up his abode on a tract of land in the township. and since that time he has been an interested and helpful witness of the progress and im- provement which has been made in his lo- cality. His wife died in Steuben county, New York, in November, 1861. when about thirty-five years of age, leaving two children, of whom Mrs. Morgan is the elder. Unto the Doctor and his wife have been born two children, Mildred M., the wife of Edward Carroll, and William D.
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siding in Kalkaska county he served as coun- ty physician for seven years. Ile is now physician for the four townships of Colfax. Cedar Creek, Liberty and Greenwood in Wexford county, and in addition to this has a large private practice, which indicates the nature of his professional labors and the confidence and trust reposed in him by the public.
RASMU'S P. BREDAIIL.
In mentioning those of foreign birth who have become prominent in their different callings in Wexford county, Michigan, the name of Rasmus P. Bredahl, of Liberty township. the subject of this review, shoukl not be omitted. He is one who has fully borne out the reputation of that class of in- dustrious, energetic and far-seeing men whose birth is credited to other shores, but who have risen to prominence here in the land of their adoption.
Rasmus P. Bredahl. a resident of section 20). Liberty township, was born in Denmark. November 13. 1851. The first fifteen years of his life were spent in his native land. af- ter which he went into Germany and devoted his time up to 1872, when he attained his majority, working on the farms of his em- ployers as a laborer. Having earned and saved enough money to justify him in mak- ing the venture. in 1872 he embarked for America, coming direct to Cadillac, then known as Clam Lake, by way of New York. He had no difficulty in finding employment as almost immediately on locating in Wex- ford county he was employed by the Grand Rapids & Indiana Railroad Company, first on repairs and construction and later as
section foreman. He remained in the em- ploy of the railroad company until January. 1877, when he moved on his farm of one hundred and twenty acres, which he had purchased in 1874, and has since devoted his energies to cultivating and improving his land. This farm is located in section 20. Liberty township. He is the owner of sev- eral other pieces of land, one of them being in section 9. same township, upon which is a comfortable residence. Since 1876 he has transferred his residence a number of times from one to the other of these tracts, but has continuously resided on the farm in section 20 since 1883. One year of this time was spent in California, where he went for the purpose of examining conditions there, but he did not find them so promising as painted and was not tempted to change his residence to that commonwealth. All of his time has been devoted to farming since he resigned his position on the railroad in 1877. He is the owner of two hundred and fifty acres of land in Liberty township, about sixty acres of which are cleared. well improved and sup- plied with suitable and substantial buiklings.
At Cadillac, May 25. 1881. Rasmus P. Bredahl was united in marriage to Miss Mar- tha C. Anderson, a native of Sweden, born December 18. 1847. To this umion four children were born, two of whom died in in- fancy. Those living are Francis E. and Julius . A.
On becoming a citizen of the United States and of the state of Michigan. Rasmus P. Bredahl allied himself with the Republican party and the lapse of time has only served to convince him of the wisdom of his choice. This party, too, has appre- ciated his services and shown its appreciation by electing him to various offices in Liberty
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