USA > Michigan > St Clair County > History of the St. Clair County, Michigan, containing an account of its settlement, growth, development and resources.. > Part 136
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(. W. CURTIS, farmer. Section 15, P. O. Capac, was born in the State of New York in 1919, and was raised in the agricultural profession. At the age of ten he was thrown on his own resources, He then worked on a farm till fifteen years of age. From this time till he arrived at the age of twenty. he worked on a farm during the summer and attended school in the winter. He then went to Pennsylvania, where he farmed it during the summer and followed Jumbering during the winter till 1550, at which time he came to Mich- igan and located on his present home of 220 acres, which he has improved and is now working as a stock fart. He has 130 acres under cultivation. Esquire Curtis donated $350 toward building the Baptist Church and Sto for the brick chinch. He also subscribed $25 to the railroad toward building a depot: also $30 for the Fair Grounds. He also assisted in organizing the first church in the town: also the School District No. 7. tu which he donated $200. Is a member of the Protestant Methodist Church, and also of the order of Free- masons, and was Highway Commissioner of the town of Mussey. Justice of the Peace twelve years, and was elected Supervisor two terms, also Clerk of the town of Otsego two years and Supervisor of the same four years, was chairman of the board two years. In ISI1, he was married to Miss Angeline Williams of Penn- sylvania, and has four children-David F., Susan A. Robert M . Francis A . and John F. adopted Mrs. Curtis is also a member of the Protestant Church. Mr. Curtis is, in every respect a most estimabh citizen, : Christian gentleman, and of the class that build up communities, that are an honor to themselves their country and their God.
REV. EDWARD A. DOYLE, pastor of the Free Will Baptist Church of Capas, was born in Nova Scotia in 1831. At the age of three years his parents removed to New Brunswick, where he remained until twenty. tive years of age. He studied theology at the Theological Seminary of New Brunswick. In ISI he came to Canada, where he remained six years on a farne and in the Number business In 10, he came to Michigan and located in Lapeer County, where he entered the ministry. He also improved a farm of 160 actes, and also built a saw mill and opened a store, all of which were burned down in 1521. In 15;3. he cant to St. Clair County, locating in the village of Capac, taking charge of the church here and also one at Riley Con ter. He has organized three churches in St. Clair County and three in Lapeer County, also, two in Tuscola County; also assisted in organizing four temperance societies and is now aiding to organize one in Riles Con- ter. He is a member of the State Home Mission Society and has been for twelve years, and is agent of the State Board of Correction and Charities for St. Clair County, appointed by Gov. Jerom in ISSE. He was married to Miss Mary J. MeMan, of New Brunswick. in ISI. They have seven living children-Charlotte. Alice, Eliza. Lucinda. Alexander F. Charles I. and Nettie. He lost his wife in 120. He was married to Mi- Henrietta MeNaught, of Michigan, in 1872. They have one child, named Eva.
ELBERT M. FISHER. Principal of the high school. was born in the State of New York in Il. and was reared in the agricultural profession. He came with his parents to Michigan in PG, where he worked on a farm till 1-69. then went into the mill business, where he worked till he was nineteen years of age at which time he lost his hand by an accident. in the month of May. In the following July he started, school in the town of Tuscola, which he continued till the last of January, at which time he began teaching in the district, when he taught there a four months session, after which he taught one term in Millington, from here he went to Freeland, Saginaw County, where he remained teaching in the graded schools. From here he went to Bridgeport. Saginaw County, where he taught school two years In the mean time he had tokon one term at Ypsilanti. Mich., and two terms at Valparaiso. Ind. In 199 he was elected President of the
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HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY.
Saginaw County Teachers' Association for one year. Ile then came to Capac and took the position of Princi- pal of the high school. In 1882, he was elected President of the Teachers' Association of St. Clair County. He is a member of the Freemasons, the Good Templars, the Knights of Honor, the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which he is also steward. He was married to Miss Mary Ellis, of Bridgeport, Saginaw Connty. December 21. 1881. Mrs. Fisher is Vice President of the Ladies' Aid Society of Capac, also is a member of the order of Good Templars, and is Vice Templar.
HENRY GRANT, carpenter, Section 14, P. O. Capac, was born in Germany in 1852, and in 1856 he came to Canada with his parents, where he remained until 1859, at which time he came to the United States, locating in Capac. St. Clair Co., Mich. Mr. Grant was reared on a farm and received a business education. At the age of twenty-two years he commenced carpenter work on his own account, which he follows during the summer season and the balance of the year works at lumbering. Ile owns an eighty acre farm, which he has helped to open up. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and a gentleman of influence and sterling integrity.
JOHN HEWITT, cabinet-maker and furniture manufacturer, was born in St. Clair County, Mich , in 1842, and was reared in the agricultural profession, and received a collegiate education. He joined the army at eighteen, and remained in it three years and two months, at the end of which time he returned to Michi- gan and worked at the carpenter and joiner business up to 1878, when he engaged in the furniture business. He was a Justice of the Peace in Capac one year, and is now Town Clerk, which position he has held for four years. He is a member of the K. O. T. M.'s. He was married to Miss Marion B. Weir. of Scotland, in 1864. They have four children-Thomas. Angie, Nellie and Pearl.
FRANCIS M. HOUGH, farmer, on connty line between St. Clair and Lapeer Counties, P. O. Capac, St. Clair County, was born in Ohio, in 1851, and was reared in the agricultural profession and received a business education. lle was taken to New York State by his parents in infancy and came to Michigan at the age of eighteen and was engaged in farming and other business seven years. He then came to Capac and worked on a farm eighteen months, and was then engaged at other work about seven months. In 1876, he opened and improved a farm of forty acres, which he has since run as a grain and stock farm. Mr. Hough also loans money on short time. Hle was married to Miss Emma Crippin, of Michigan, in 1875. They have one child, Gladys Winn, horn July 15, 1882. Mr. Francis M. Hough is the only child of his mother, Mrs. S. A. Ilough, who was born in the State of Ohio in 1835. Mrs. Hough was taken to the State of New York by her parents in infancy, where she lived until 1848, at the end of which time she returned to Ohio and remained until 1853, then came to Grand Rapids, Mich .. where she remained one year. She then returned to the State of New York in 1854 and remained until 1869; she then went to La Porte, Ind., where she remained a short time and came to Capac, St. Clair Co., Mich., in 1870, and opened her present business. Mrs. Ilough built her resi- dence and business house, and has been very successful in her business. She was married to Mr. John Ilough, of New Jersey, in 1849, by whom she has one child, Francis M. She lost her husband in 1852, in the State of Ohio, after a short illness.
PETER KELLEY, farmer, Section 32. P. O. Capac, was born in Ireland, in 1824. While yet a child he came with his parents to Canada, where he lived fourteen years, after which time he came to Michigan, stop- ping in the city of St. Clair. Here for five years he followed sailing, and working at the cooper's trade. In 1854, he settled on his present farm of 160 acres, 110 of which he has himself improved, raising grain and stock, as his principal business. Mr. Kelley was Highway Commissioner for five years, School Director and School Moderator for several years. Mr. Kelley is an honored member of the ancient order of Freemasons. Was married to Miss Elizabeth IIill, of Canada, by whom he has four children-Royal, William J., Engene and Emergine. In 1864, he joined the army, doing service in the engineers' and mechanics' regiments, Com- pany K. and mustered out in 1865, Mr. Kelley, like so many of his co-laborers who came to this part of the State, when it was in its primeval state, has done his share toward building up the proud State of Michigan. and his children, as well as his children's children, will revert with pardonable pride to the part their noble sire took in surely laying its foundation of greatness.
D. C. LEWIS, dealer in cattle, hogs and sheep, was born in the State of New York, in 1832. Was reared in the village; received a business education. At the age of twenty-eight, came to St. Clair County, Mich., and opened a meat market in Memphis, where he continued three years. In 1866. he removed to Capac, where he opened a general store, which he continued until 1872. The next five years he clerked it, after which he established his present business. Was elected Township Treasurer several times, and assisted in organizing the graded school in the village of Capac. Ilandles from 1.000 to 2,000 head of cattle per annum, and about 1,000 head of sheep, and from 200 to 500 head of hogs. Was married to Miss Martha Bates, of Michigan, in 1860. Ilave two children-Halma and Julia M.
GURLEY LESTER. dealer in dry goods, groceries, farm implements, lumber, building material, doors, sash and blinds and real estate, was born in St. Clair County in 1841, and reared in the agricultural profession. At the age of nineteen he began life by opening a general store. In 1861, went East on a visit, where he re- mained four months, after which he returned to Michigan and opened a store in the town of Berlin, where he rontinned until 1869, at which time he came to Capac and opened a general store. In 1876, he added a de. partment of hardware to his store, and in 1878, also engaged in the real estate business, buying at that time 1,040 acres of swamp east of Capac. since which time he has added by purchase 560 acres more. In 1882, he added to his already extensive business, that of sash, doors and blinds. In Sanilac and St. Clair Counties, owns about 2,000 acres of land; also owns ten residences and four business properties in the town of Capac. Ile is a member in good standing of the order of Odd Fellows. Was married to Miss Mary J. Seigel. of Germany, in 1871. They have two children -William and Lawrence. Mrs. Lester was a teacher at Mount Clemens and taught school the last three years. Mr. Lester is a splendid speciman of the genuine western man, whose large possessions speak volumes, and will serve as a beacon light to the rising generation, and show them what shrewd business tact, with indomitable will and perseverance, has accomplished for him and may do for them.
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HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY.
JAMES LOVE. farmer, Section 14, P. O. Capac, was born in Scotland March 3, 1820. At a tender age he came with his parents to Canada, where he remained nine months, after which he came with his father's family to Michigan, where he was reared in the agricultural profession and received a liberal education. In 1850, he set out in life for himself, hiring out at $10.50 per month, for one year. In the fall and winter of 1852, he attended school six months For six years he spent his winter seasons attending school and working or a farm in the summer; during 1856-57 was at home out of health, when he remained on the farm till Ist ?. At this time he sold out his farm and removed to the town of Musset, St. Clair Co. Mich., where he bought a farm of eighty acres, where he now resides. His home farm he has finely improved, has a fine orchard and other fruit. He owns four shares in the cheese factory, of which he is also Treasurer and Director, the pro duets of which amount to about seven tons annually. Is a member of the Congregational Church. Freema sons; was School Director two years, and a Justice of the Peace two years, Mr. Love was married to Miss Alice Parker, in Canada, January 1, 1822, and has three children-Robert, Norman and Marguerette, Mr. Love started in life without a penny, commencing as a hand at $10,50 per month, and has gradually come up from nothing to affluence and an enviable position in society: is an ardent temperance advocate, and a wisher of good to mankind generally. Mr. Robert Love, the father of James, was born in Scotland While his eldest son James was of a tender age, he immigrated to America, landing at Quebec, where he remained nine months, after which he removed to St. Clair City, and then to Bell River, in the town of China, where he re mained eight years. After several changes, in 1950, he bought an eighty acre farm, which be operated till 1867. when he emigrated to Missouri. Macon County, where he remained fourteen years on a farm, when he returned to St. Clair County, Mich., where he now makes his home with his son James. In 1830, while re- siding in St. Clair City. Mr. Love met with great loss by fire. losing all his personal effects, and barely es. caping with his life and that of his wife. He was married to Miss Jean Berbour, of Scotland, in 1825, on the M. and Hugh. Ist day of Fuinc. Has been the father of seven children -James, Annie B., JJohn B., Janet, Elizabeth, Mary Mr. L. is a member of the Congregational Church. Lost his wife, Angust 27. 1-54, and was then married to Mrs. Jeanette Frazer in 1867. He was one of the organizers of the Congregational Church in Armada, and was a member of a vigilant committee in Missouri. Mr. Robert Love is a man of eighty-two years of age, well preserved and still manifesting a remarkable degree of vitality.
JAMES R. MCGURK, M. D., was born in Belfast, Ireland, in IS13: came with his parents to Canada in 1815 and located in Hamilton, where he remained until 1857. In 1858, he removed to Sarnia, where he was educated at the Sarnia Grammar School; received his medical education in Canada. Detroit and Ann Arbor. Mich . graduating in Detroit in Inne, 150. Came to Capac, August 12. 1870, where he established himself in his profession. In INGU, was elected to the Legislature to represent the Third District of St. Clair County for one term. In 19s] was elected as a State Senator to represent the Twenty-First Senatorial District, was Superintendent of Schools of Mussey Township six years, and President of the village one year; was councilman eight years; isa Knight Templar and belongs to the Odd Fellows, and also the Knights of Pythias, and is President of the St. Clair, Sanilac and Lapeer Counties Medical Society: is a trustee of the Methodist Protestant Church. In 1879 he associated with himself his brother Robert in the practice of medi eine and owns an elegant residence and other property Hetwas married to Carrie, the youngest daughter of the Hon. D. (. Walker, in 1973. They have one adopted daughter.
ROBERT MCGURK. M. D., was born in Ontario, Canada, in 1854. He was reared on a farm: received a business education, and at the age of twenty-two taught school one year, after which he commenced the study of medicine with his brother in Capac. Mich. He attended the Medical Department of the State University of Ann Arbor one year. After this he read medicine for one year and returned again to Ann Arbor, graduating in March, ISTS. Immediately after receiving his degrees, he entered into copartnership with his brother in Capac for one year. At the expiration of the copartnership be removed to Emmet Station for a time, but at the expiration of eight months he returned to Capar to assist his brother, whose health was failing, where he still remains: is a member of the order of K. O. T. M. O. W .; is a School Inspector and is also Director of his district.
EDWARD MATTESON, farmer, Section 23, P. O. Capac, was born in the State of New York in 11 He was brought by his parents to Michigan, village of Almont, county of Lapeer, in infancy, where he was raised. He began farming at the age of twenty for himself. in St. Clair County, on shares, where he continued one year; he then removed to another farm where he remained one year, at the en lof which tinte he bought a forty acre farm in the town of Almont, where he remained three years, In 1969, he bought his prese at home of eighty aeres, which he improved; and has since been engaged in raising grain and stock. Mr. Matteson is a member of the order of K. O. T. M He was married to Miss Mary Dodge, of Michigan, in IStil. by whom he had two children Hughie S. and Bertie HI. He lost his wife in 1SG1, and was married to Miss Rhoda M. Conant, of St. Clair County, Mich., in 1822, by whom he has two sons- Edward C. and William Franklin.
II. D. MILLER, Pastor of the Methodist Protestant Church; P O. Capac. The Rev II. D. Miller was boro in Lapeer County, Mich , in (11: reared a farmer. At the age of thirteen, he engaged as a farm hand. where he continued till 1860. On the breaking-out of the rebellion in 1501 he entered the army, joining the First Michigan Cavalry. May 1. 1862, he was taken prisoner and was compelled to undergo the horror- of Libby prison and Belle Island, for fifteen months. In 1964. he was exchanged, and re-entered the army in 1864. At the battle of Wolf Run Shoals, he was wounded. and discharged in April. 1561, and returned to La prer County, where he tarried for a short time, thence going to Saginaw City, where he entered the mercan tile business. continuing at it till 1526 From here he returned to the farm, at which business he remained till 1\\0. In 1879, he joined the Conference and entered the ministry in Lapeer City, Lapeer County. In the meantime, la took the natural theological course, and conquered Watson's Institute, Kidder's Homileties. Newton on the Prophecies. Binney's theological works, Wayland on Moral Sciences. Upham's Mental Science. Ilart's Rhetoric. True's Logic. Ridpath's History of the United States, and Ecclesiastical Ilistory. Ilis first
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HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY.
charge was the Fairgrove circuit, Tuscola County, where he remained two years, and built a nice church and horse-barn; thence in 1881 to Berlin and Capae, assuming charge of the churches in those places. In Capac he built a nice church and completed the parsonage. During two years of his labors in the vineyard here, he has added to the church, by conversion, over 105 members, preached seventy-three funeral sermons in three and a half years, and since his ordination, has married eighteen couples and performed thirty-five baptisms. In 1863, he was married to Miss Mary L. Barnard, of Michigan, and has two children living-Ada Adell and William Henry: Lazella, deceased. Is a a member of the Odd Fellows, Knights of Pythias and Sons of Temperance. The Rev. Mr. Miller is in every respect a remarkable man, having commeneed life penniless, and by his own manly and heroic efforts has made himself a place among men; has done a noble service in fighting the bat- tles of his country in its struggles to maintain the right, and is now doing valiant work in the great army of the Lord, whose duty is to save souls; to snatch brands, as it were, from the burning, and to purify the pools of vice and sin. In this great and noble work, he has so far been most eminently successful; and his future gives great promise of incalculable good. Such deeds, if ever, result from the labors of self-made men like the Rev. Mr. Miller.
JOHN C. MILLER. farmer, Section 13. P. O. Capac, was born in Germany in 1832 ; came to ('anada, with his parents, in 1857, where they remained one year, when they removed to St. Clair County, Mieb. Mr. Miller was raised in the agricultural profession, and received a liberal education. At the age of twenty-one, he began life for himself : bought and improved a farm of forty acres, which he ran as a grain and stock farm. Mr. Miller was married to Miss Sophia Shroder, of Germany, in 1872 ; has two children-Willie and Lonisa.
DR. D. PATTERSON was born in West Williams, Canada, in 1852, and was reared in the agricultural profession : attended college at Komoka, graduating in December, 1872: he then attended Strothroy High School, in Ontario, nine months, in 1875. In the interval of 1873 and 1874. he taught school in the district. and city schools of Canada ; in the meantime, was reading medicine. In 1875, commenced a regular course of medical studies in the State University, graduating in the year 1877 : during the vacations of the university, he attended the London Hospital. In June, 1877, he came to Capac, where he commenced the practice of his profession, in which he is still engaged. Was elected School Inspector of the town of Mussey, in 1882, for the term of two years ; in 1881. was elected Superintendent of Schools ; is physician and surgeon for the Chicago & Grand Trunk Railroad for the village of Capac ; is a member of the order of Odd Fellows and the K. O. T. M.'s. Owns a farm of eighty acres one mile west of the village, and residenceand other property in Capac.
JAMES A. ROONEY, of the firm of Rooney & Huggett, manufacturers of brooms and brushes. was born in Wisconsin in 1845 ; was reared in the lumber business. Mr. Rooney received a collegiate education. graduating in 1872. He engaged in the hardware and agricultural implement business in 1873, in Appleton, Wis., in which he continued until 1875 ; he was then on the road for Smith & Chandler, of Milwaukee, in the wholesale grocery business, three years and seven months; was then Superintendent of the Breen Iron Mines, of Waucedah. from the spring of 1878 to 1880, and at the end of that time he came to Capac and en- gaged in his present business, which was at first the manufacture of Giant Scrubbing Brushes, and has since added a broom department, and is successfully proscenting both branches of the business. He is a member of the K. O. T. M.'s. Was married to Miss Jennie Edgar May , 1879 ; had one child, Maud, now deceased. He owns a farm of eighty acres in Menominee County, Mich., in the township of Breen. The capacity of his factory is about 2,400 each of brooms and Giant Scrubbing Brushes.
RICHARD SUJUTT, County Treasurer, Section 14, P. O. Capac, is a native of England, and was born March 27, 1828. Upon reaching manhood, he came to the United States, in 1848. and came to this county the same year, and began working on a farm, and afterward bought land in the town of Mussey, made a farm and engaged in farming, and since then, for over thirty years, has resided there, except one year he spent in England. He owns a good farm of 180 acres, and also owns other property. In 1859, he was elected Super- visor, and has been elected and represented his town in the Board of Supervisors thirteen years, and has beld the office of Town Treasurer and other minor offices. In the fall of 1882. he was elected County Treasurer, and now holds that office. In 1854, he married Miss Ann D. Love, a native of this county, and daughter of Robert Love, who came here in 1829, and was one of the early settlers. They have seven children-Jane L., Robert D .. Ella E., Annie M., Mary A., Eva J. and Walmsley.
HENRY C. SMITH, dealer in groceries. crockery, flour, feed and provisions, was born in St. Clair County. Mich., in the town of Berlin, in 1853 ; was reared on a farm and received a business education and, at the age of sixteen, began farming for himself, which he followed for two years ; after which he was in the mill business for two seasons : he then contracted to carry the United States mail. Was Sunday school teacher in Sanilac County, and is a member of the Good Templars, and also of the Ancient Order of United Work- men.
NICHOLAS SMITH, farmer. P. O. Capac, was born in the State of New York in 1823; he was raised in the agricultural profession. He came to Michigan, with his parents, at the age of thirteen, and settled on a farm of 160 acres in Oakland County. At the age of twenty-one, he began working by the month. at. which he continued three years ; he then began farming in the town of Almont : he was next in the town of Berlin two years : then in the town of Mussey one winter; he was next in the town of Dryden, Lapeer County, twelve years; he then removed to the township of Oregon, where he remained nineteen years, rais- ing grain and stock ; then went to Armada Township, Macomb County, where he continued five years, at the end of which time he came to his present home of seventy acres. He has about thirty-five acres opened and in a tine state of cultivation. Mr. Smith is a member of the Free- Will Baptist Church. He was married to Miss Eliza Thurston. of the State of New York. in 1862, by whom he had one child, Horton, born in 1864. Mr. Smith raised an adopted child from the age of four months ; he also raised a boy from the age of six to twenty-one years. Mrs. Smith is also a member of the Free- Will Baptist Church.
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