History of the St. Clair County, Michigan, containing an account of its settlement, growth, development and resources.., Part 133

Author: Western historical company, Chicago. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Chicago, A. T. Andreas & co.
Number of Pages: 814

USA > Michigan > St Clair County > History of the St. Clair County, Michigan, containing an account of its settlement, growth, development and resources.. > Part 133

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).

LEVI MORRILL, retired, Section 11, P. O. Brockway Centre, is a native of Concord. N. II., and was born April 17, 1815. After reaching manhood. he came West to Michigan, when it was a territory. and settled in Oakland County, and began working by the month, and afterward engaged in farming. While living there,

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HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY.

in 1848, he married Miss Huldah Knapp, a native of New York. Her parents came to this State during her early childhood. In 1848, Mr. and Mrs. Morrill came to St. Clair County, and lived in Port Huron four years. In 1852, they came to the town of Brockway, and settled on the land where they now live. It was all covered with heavy timber; he cleared his land and made a large farm, and also engaged in limbering, and carried on that business over one third of a century. He has given up the business to his sons. He owned a mitt here. lle is one of the oldest settlers now living in this town; has held town offices. Mr. and Mrs. Morrill have six children-Jesse A., engaged in lumbering and farming here; Mary, now Mrs. Kelly, living in this county; Charles R, living in this county; Esther, now Mrs. Patman, this county: Levi, married and living here; Hettie, at home.

G. S. NEY, M. D., physician and surgeon, is a a native of Ontario, Canada, and was born March 14. 1854. Attended school there, studied medicine; attended first course of lectures at Toronto, and graduated at Bellvue Hospital Medical College in 1882. After graduating, came to this place and associated with Dr. Mitchell, and since then bas practiced his profession here.

ANDREW PAISLEY, farmer, Section 24, P. O. Brockway, is a native of Scotland, and was born Octo. ber 15, 1802. He grew up and lived there over fifty years. Emigrated to this country in 1854, and came the same year to this county and settled in the town of Brockway on the place where he now lives; it was a very wild place, all woods; he built a log house, which is still standing, cleared his land and made his farm, and since then for past thirty years has resided here. Owns his farm of eighty aeres. las heldt office of Road Commissioner. Mr. Paisley was married October 1, 1837. to Miss Margaret Armstrong, a native of Scotland. They have had seven children, only one survives, a daughter, now Mrs. Gilchrist.

W. H. PALMER, general merchant and owner of Palmer's saw and grist mill. is a native of England, arid was born February 16, 1816. When ten years oldl. came with his mother to Quebec, and the following year came to Michigan, and settled in this county at Ft. Gratiot, and he was brought up there. He entered the employ of the Grand Trunk Railroad, and was with the line three years, and at the end of that time a special engineer. Afterward opened a meat market in Port Huron. In 1868. he came to Brockway Centre, and engaged in mercantile business, and since then has for the past fifteen years successfully carried on the business here, and is the oldest merchant without change, now in business here. In 1870, with Mr. Grinnell, he built a woolen mill and ran the business three years. In 1878, he put in machinery for saw, grist and plan- ing mill, and since then has operated saw, grist and planing mill, and engaged in manufacturing and dressing lumber. Mr. Palmer has large business interests and does the leading trade. His success is owing to his own efforts. Has held the office of Town Clerk and school offices. He was married Jannary 27, 1820, to Miss Hannah L. Chamberlain, a native of Canada. They have seven children-Fred T., Jane E., William II .. Charles H., Hannah A., Earl E. and Ina E.

JOHN RATH, farmer, Section 14, P. O. Brockway Centre, is a native of Ireland, and was born in County Wexford, in 1829 His parents emigrated to Canada during his early childhood, and he grew up and lived there until 1860; then came to this county and settled in this town, and engaged in farming for Lewis Brock- way: two years later he came on the place where he now lives, it was all woods; he cleared the land and made his farm, and since then has been engaged in farming. He married Miss Agnes Manhardt, a native of Canada. They have eight children-William, Henry, James, John, Elizabeth, Matilda, Ada and Annic.

JAMES WALLACE, manufacturer and dealer in harness, trunks, etc., is a native of Scotland, and was born October 26. 1853 ; his parents came to Canada in 1856, and he was brought up and learned his trade there. In 1871, he came to this State, and lived in the city of Detroit three years ; then went to New Balti more, and remained there five years ; and. in May, 1882, came to Brockway Centre, and established his busi ness here, and has built up a good trade.

GEORGE W. WARING, merchant, is a native of Michigan, and was born in Oakland County, June 23. 1828. lle grew up to manhood there, and engaged in running stage line ; he lived there until 1822, when he came to Brockway Centre, and since then has been engaged in mercantile business and staging. He was mar ried. October 28, 1859, to Miss Ezelda Hovey, of Lapeer County. Mr. Waring is a son of Wells and Philinda Waring, who were early settlers in this State.

S. O. WELCH, Farmer and humberman, Section 23, P. ( Brockway Centre, is a native of Washington County. N. Y., and was born November 12. 1820. He grew up to manhood there and engaged in farming and lumbering. le came to this State in 1856, and engaged in lumbering, at Flat Rock, for two years, and then removed to Broekway, and engaged in lumbering on Black River, Elk Crock and Mill Creek and Cass River. and has successfully carried on a large business for over a quarter of a century in this State, and now runs a saw mill and grist mill north of Brockway Centre, at "Elk," his son Samuel having charge of the business there. Mr. Welch moved on the place where he now lives in 1560. He bought a large traet of land, cleared it and made his farm, has divided a part of it with his children and still owns 210 acres. lle, with others, built a mill at Brockway Centre. He was elected a member of the Board of Supervisors several terms, and has held other town and school offices. In 1810 he married Betsey Barrett, a native of New York State; she died in 1859 and left six children-George. Samuel J., James, Emerson. Willard and Maria. In 1860, Mr. Welch married Annie Barrett, of New York. They have three children -- William. Roger and David.

DR. J. WELLS, physician and surgeon, is a native of Vermont, and was born in Caledonia County. August 14, 1518 ; he was brought up and attended school there ; then studied medicine, and graduated in 1841. The following year, came West to Michigan ; he engaged in teaching and practiced medicine ; and was engaged in mercantile business in Detroit for a short time In 1858, he came to Broekway, and engaged in the practice of medicine until IS68 ; then went to Missouri, and remained there ontil 1875, when he returned and since then has successfully practiced his profession here. In 1812. he married Miss Lithura Davis, a native of Wyoming County, N. Y. She died in 1851, leaving two children- George and Lithura, both living in Wisconsin. In 1852, he married Eliza Bradshaw, a native of Wyoming County, N. Y .; they have four children-Charles, in drug business here : Louise, living in Mason County ; Walter, living here, and Ida, now Mrs. McArthur, living here.

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HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY.

EMMETT TOWNSHIP.

E MMETT Township was organized in 1852 with Patrick Kennedy, Supervisor. Among the pioneer settlers were Patrick Donegan, Patrick Kennedy, M. Harrington, Rev. Lawrence Kilroy and J. Dorhemy. The township is peculiarly adapted to agriculture, the land being slightly undulating and very fertile. The name Emmett was conferred on the district by its first organizers in honor of Ireland's young patriot. The Catholic Church of Emmett is located within two miles of Kenockee. The schools are well attended and the administration of local government affairs watched jealously.

In 1836, the United States lands in this township were first entered. Among the early purchasers were Nathan Dickinson, Alexander Forbes, Polaski Jacks, H. Imley, George Beach. Elisha Jenkins, Nathan H. White, R. T. Leach, Ashbel Chandler, William Ramsdell, Jere Allis, Normon Perry, John S. Fox, Patrick Donegan, Michael Harrington.

St. Patrick's Society of Emmett was organized in 1877. with Rev. Patrick A. Tierney, President; James Cogley, W. H. Butler, Ed. Gallagher, David Donohue, Thomas Butler and William Power, members associating.

SUPERVISORS.

Patrick Kennedy, 1852-56: Patrick Fitzgerald, 1857-58; John Carelry, 1859; Patrick Fitzgerald, 1860: Patrick Kennedy, 1861: Thomas Kennedy, 1862; D. Carney, 1863; Thomas Kennedy, 1864-65; John Cavenaugh, 1866-67; D. Carney, 1868-72; W. H. Butler, 1873-74; William Power, 1875-78. W. H. Butler, 1879-80; William Power, 1881-82.

JUSTICES OF THE PEACE.

Patrick Fitzgerald, 1858; Bryan Kelly, 1858-60; Thomas Kennedy, 1859; Thomas Byrne, 1862-66; C. S. Wixon, 1862; Patrick Kennedy, 1863-70; Cor. L. Carroll, 1863; John Purtell, 1864: David McCall. 1864; Malcolm McLaren, 1865: W. J. Parkinson, 1867; Patrick Fitz- gerald, 1868-72; Bryan Kelly, 1868-74; John Purtell, 1871; Patrick McGill, 1871; Duke Mckenzie, 1873; Patrick Kennedy, 1874; P. K. McGill, 1875; W. E. O'Neil, 1876; B. Pop- plewell, 1877; Henry A. Cope, 1878; Thomas Byrne, 1879; P. Kennedy, 1880; B. Popplewell, 1881; James Cogley, 1882; Patrick McGill, 1882.

PERSONAL SKETCHES.

In the following pages are given the biographical sketches of the pioneer and prominent citizens of this township. This very important section of the work has been very fully treated; so that the history of this district may be said to be complete in every respect.

FRANK BROGAN, dealer in dry goods and groceries, was born in Canada, 1843 ; was reared on a farm and received a business edneation. Came to Michigan in 1867, and located in Bay City, where he engaged with Moore, Smith & Co., as Foreman of camp, here he remained seven years, at the end of which time, he opened his present business, in 1874. Was appointed Postmaster in the spring of 1874, which position he still holds. Mr. Brogan was married to Miss Mary Carroll, of Michigan, in 1874 ; they have two children living-Frankie and Nellie : Jamie, deceased. Mr. Brogan owns a farm in the town of Riley, and also owns a residence and business house in the village of Emmet, carries $4,000 to $5,000 in stock, and does a business. of about $12,000 yearly.

JOIN BUCKLEY, manufacturer of boots, shoes and brick, was born in Emmet, St. Clair Co., Mich., in 1868; was reared in the boot and shoe business, receiving a business education. Began the business of boot and shoe manufacturer at the age of sixteen for himself, in the village of Emmet, which business he has since followed. In 1882, he formed a copartnership with his brother, Thomas, for the purpose of manu- facturing brick in the village of Emmet. Mr. Buckley has run a farm since 1879, in connection with the boot and shoe business. Owns fourteen acres of land and two houses in the village of Emmet. Belongs to the order of Good Templars, and is School Inspector. Mr. Buckley was married to Miss Ellen Conley, of Can- ada, in 1880 ; they have one child, Lenora, born March 30, 1881.

THOMAS BUTLER, of the firm of Butler & Cary, general merchants, was born in Detroit, Mich., in 1815 : was reared on a farm. At the age of twenty, he began work for himself, as a day laborer, at which he continued for about seven years, in St. Clair County ; came to Emmet in 1871, bought two lots and built a residence and blacksmith shop, which he sold in about two years. In 1872, Mr. Butler assisted in securing a depot at the village of Emmet. Opened his present business in 1873, under the firm name of E. Galliger & Co .; has continned in the same line of business since; now under the firm name of Butler & Carey. Mr.

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IHISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY.

Butler is a member of the St. Patrick Society. lle was married to Miss Louisa Downey, of Prince Edward County, Canada, in 1828; they have three children-Mary, Margaret and Louisa.

WILLIAM II. BUTLER, owner and operator of the Emnet Grist and Saw Mills, was born in Detroit. Mich., in 1839, and was reared in the agricultural profession, receiving a business education. He remained at home, working on his father's farm, till twenty-four years of age (having cometo St. Clair County in 18491. after which time he set out for himself, by commencing farming in the township of Riley, St. Clair County, Mich. Here he remained, carrying on his farm, for six years, and then built a saw mill in the village of Emmet, in 1870. In 1872, he extended his business by adding a grist mill to his already flourishing business, the capacity of which is about 300 bushels daily, and that of the sawmill about 5,000 feet daily. Was Supervisor of the Township for four years, and School Moderator three years. Mr. Butler was a candidate on the Democratie ticket for the Legislature, for the Third Representative District of St. Clair County, but was defeated by a few votes. Was married to Miss Catharine Buckley, of Michigan, in 1870 ; has five children -Mary, Ann, Gertrude, Catharine and William. Mr. Butler is a self-made man, having mainly educated himself, and what he has, has been accumulated by his own energetic and well directed efforts. He is a use- ful and influential citizen, and held in high esteem by his fellow-townsmen.

MAURICE CARY, of the firm of Butter & Carey, general merchants was born in Canada in 1859. Mr. Carey was reared in the railroad business, and received a business education; he came to the I'nited States, with his parents, in infancy, and began railroad business at the age of twenty, and continued three years: came to Emmet March 30, 1882, and opened his present business; is a member of St. Patrick's Society, and was a member of the order of Good Templars. Mr. Carey owns eighty acres of land in Enunet Township.

JAMES COGLEY, owner and manager of the Emmet Farm Implement and Buggy Manufacturing Es- tablishment, was born in Ireland in 1810; came to Canada in 1817, where he remained eight years, at the end of which time he came to St. Clair Co., Mich., and remained on a farm with his father until he arrived at the age of fifteen, when hewent to learn the blacksmith trade, where he served an apprenticeship of three years with S. S. Eaton; he was then on journey-work five years. Mr. Cogley then went into business with F. E. Spencer, in the manufacture of buggies and wagons in 1863, and continued four years, at the end of which time he bought the interest of Mr. Spencer, and continued business at the same place two years, when he sold out and went on to a farm in Kenockee, where he remained five years, and in connection with his farm he also carried on blacksmithing. In 1822, he bought seven lots at Ennet Station, on which he built two business properties and two residences. In 1878, he added to his other business a foundry; he owns in the village of Emmet three residences and three business properties. In 1882, he was elected as a Justice of the Peace, and was also School Director of District No. 1 for six years. Mr. Cogley was married to Miss Ellen Fur- long, of Detroit, Mich .. in 1864. They have seven children living-Minnie A .. Emily G., Patrick J., George F .. Charles A., and Charles A. deceased Mark Leo, deceased. Mr. Cogley is in every essential particular a self-made man, having started in life without a cent, and has by honest industry and judicious economy amassed a handsome competency.

WILLIAM ENRIGHT O'NEILL, dealer in dry goods, groceries and drugs, was born in Shangolden. twenty miles west of the old historic city of the violated treaty in the county of Limerick, Ireland, December 17, 1833; spent fifteen years in the village of Shangolden, where he completed his education as far as mathemat- ics; he emigrated from Ireland May 1. 1846, and landed in New York May 17, 1847; he engaged as a canal driver on the Erie canal, which business he followed during the season of ISI ?; after this he was coachman for Elijah Fetch, of Auburn. N. Y., one year; after this, he went to Binghampton, where he acted as foreman of railroad repairs two years; he then spent some years in the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Railroad as fore- man of track laying. In 1860. he went to Chicago, where he was employed on the I. C. R. I. & P. Railroad. as foreman of track laying. Then he returned to Binghamton, N. Y .. and enjoyed a vacation of one year. after which time he came to Emmet, St. Clair Co., Mich., and opened his present business; he owns four resi dence properties in the village of Emmet; he carries about $3,500 in stock, and sells about $8,000 worth of goods annually; was prominent in the Fenian movement in 1864, which had for its object the invasion of Canada, under William R. Robbins, of New York, and Gen. J. O'Neill: has also taken a large interest in the land movement under Parnell; he assisted in the organization of the St. Patrick's society of Emmet, and was a Justice of the Peace for a number of years; is also at this time a Notary Public: he assisted in securing a village school for District No. 7. of which he was the first chairman of its organization; he was married to Miss Mary A. McGraw, of Ballingary, July 20, 1858; have five children living, three by a former and two by the latter marriage.

WILLIAM LEWIS, farmer, Section 16, P. O. Capac, was born in Canada in 1821; his early life was spent on his father's farm, receiving a liberal education. At the age of sixteen years, he removed to the State of New York, where he learned the blacksmith's trade, at which he continued for two years, at the end of which time he removed to Pennsylvania, where he worked at his trade for three years. From Pennsylvania he re- turned to Canada, where he followed his trade for a period of twelve years, at the end of which time he came to St. Clair County. Mich., and settled on his present farm of one hundred and twenty acres, ninety-five acres of which he has finely improved, and is under a fine state of cultivation, raising grain, etc .; he also has quite a fine orchard. embracing choice fruits, inchiding cherrys, peaches and a variety of small fruits. In connection with his agricultural pursuits, he did. till six years ago. also carry on the blacksmithing business. At the time he first settled on his farm, his nearest neighbor was three miles distant: he was Path Master two years and School Director one year; he was married to Miss Ann Arnold, of Canada; has six children-Washington B., John Q., Edway, Rachael, Maryetta, Channey. Garibaldi. Eugene: of the six children, all are living but Gar- ibalda. Mrs. Lewis is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and takes a lively interest in its ord: nances. Mr. Lewis has in his busy life so far, by what he has done and is still doing, manifested true, noble and manly characteristics; his mechanical turn of mind has proved of much value to him; he is now regarded as one of the first men of his town.

FRED MILLER, Section 19, P. O. Capac. Fred Miller was born in Germany in 1847, and came to the

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HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY.

United States, landing at Cleveland, Ohio. in 1856, where he remained eighteen months, after which he went to Canada, where he remained six years, at the end of which time lie came to St. Clair County, Mich., and set- tled in Section 19 in the township of Emmet, with his parents, where he remained until he was eighteen years of age; he then acted as engineer in a saw mill during the summer for twelve seasons, working in the lumber woods during the winter season. At the end of this time he returned to his present farm, where he has since resided, raising grain and stock: he is Treasurer of School District No. 3; he is a member of the order of the Grange; he also assisted in organizing the Lutheran Church. In 1873, he was married to Miss Rachael Wag- oner, of Germany. They have two children-Minnie and Charles. Mr. Miller is a noble specimen of our German friends, being a sober, industrious, frugal and estimable ritizen, and in every respect a self-made man. Ile is the third sou of the late Charles Miller, who was born in Germany in 1821, and emigrated to the United States in 1856, and settled in Ohio for a short time and then went to Canada, where he remained six years, at the end of which time he came to St. Clair County, Mich., and entered and improved a farm on which he lived until his death, which occurred in 1880; he was a member of the Lutheran Church. Mr. Charles Miller was married to Miss Mary llontz, of Germany, by whom he had four children-Charles, Joseph, Fred and Christopher. Ilis wife died in the passage to this country; he married for his second wife Miss Sophia Good- erman, of Germany, by whom lie also had four children-William, Mary, Annie and Herman.

JOIIN O'CONNOR, farmer, Seetion 21, P. O. Emmet, was born in Ireland, in 1831. At the age of four- teen years, he emigrated with his parents to Canada, where he located in Strothroy, and lived there till he was twenty-two years of age, at which time he came to the United States, lecating on his present home of 120 acres, which he has opened up; he has 100 acres under cultivation; is a grain and stock farmer. Mr. ()'Connor has also been a contractor, having built a wagon road for the State, and also spent some portion of his time in the lumber business. Mr. O'Connor is a gentleman of culture and fine feelings, and has aided largely in building up schools and other educational opportunities. lle was married to Miss Catharine She- han, of Ireland, in 1858, and has nine children-Mary A., James, Helena, Hannah, Louisa, Michael, John, Edward and William. Mr. O'Connor is a gentleman of fine attainments, business qualities and unswerving integrity, an ornament to any community and an honored citizen of his adopted country. He is also extreme- ly genial and kindly in disposition, and his hospitality, like that of most self made men, is proverbial.

JOIIN F. RYAN, proprietor of Emmet House, and farmer, was born in Springfield, III., in 1852; was raised on a farm and received a liberal education. At the age of twenty-one he began working on railroad as foreman on construction, at which he continued seven years in Ohio : was then four years in same business in Michigan. Mr. Ryan took charge of the Emmet House January 9, 1883. Mr. Ryan was treasurer of the Temperance Society four years ; is a member of St. Patrick's Society. Owns an eighty-acre farm, which he improved. Was married to Mrs. Galliger, of Emmet, Mich., January 9, 1883 ; Mrs. Ryan is a graduate of the high school of Detroit.

GEORGE VAN ORMAN, lumberman and farmer, Section 1, P. O. Brockway, is a native of La Colle, Lower Canada, and was born April 29, 1847 ; his parents came to this county and settled in the town of Brock- way, when he was only eleven years old. When he was seventeen, he went to work in a saw-mill, and the following year enlisted in Company K, Second Michigan Cavalry, and served fourteen months, and was dis- charged on account of sickness. After the war, worked in the mill and on the river. Has been in this mill most of the time for the past twenty years, and has run the mill for several years past. Also owns the farm where he lives. In 1867, he married Miss Julia Burnham, a native of this State : they have four children- llerbert 11., Fred, Charlie and Rufus.

NATHAN VAN ORMAN. farmer, Section 1, P. O. Brockway, is a native of New York State, and was born November 4, 1832. His parents, Jacob and Sarah Van Orman, removed to Canada during his early boy- hood, and he grew up in the upper and lower provinces. He came to this county in 1856, and settled at Brockway, and worked in a saw-mill several years. Ile afterward entered a store as clerk, and remained there several years. He then settled on the place where he now lives. It was all covered with timber. He cleared the land and made his farm, and since then has resided here and engaged in farming; owns 100 acres of land. Has held school offees many years. In 1861, he married Miss Mary Ann Shannon, a native of Watertown, N. Y. They have three children-Chester, Agnes and Arthur. They lost one daughter, Alice. JOHN WALTZ, farmer, Section 19, P. O. Capac, was born in Romeo, Mich., in 1857, and was reared as a shoemaker. At the age of twenty-four years, he started as a farmer on his own account, opening up a farm of 120 acres, and has also eighty of timber. He was married to Miss Matilda Grant, of Canada. Mr. Waltz is a young man of great energy, a faithful representative of those who build up all sections of our country worth living in, and has bright and flattering prospects before him.

RILEY TOWNSHIP.

ILEY Township was settled by the Otchipwes of the Riley band of Indians originally. In 1836, the American land buyers flocked thither to purchase the United States lands then brought under notice. In 1835, the Wells, Mansfields and others located on the southern limits of the town and must be considered the pioneers of Riley. The equalized valuation of real and personal property, in 1882, was $477,280. The population in 1845 was 234; in 1850, 311; in 1854, 593; m 1864, 1,075; and in June, ISSO, 2,002. The area of the township is 23,800 acres; number of school children, 596.

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History of the St. Clair County, Michigan, containing an account of its settlement, growth, development and resources.., Part 133

Author: Western historical company, Chicago. [from old catalog] Publication date: 1883 Publisher: Chicago, A. T. Andreas & co. Number of Pages: 814

Author: Western historical company, Chicago. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Chicago, A. T. Andreas & co.
Number of Pages: 814