History of the St. Clair County, Michigan, containing an account of its settlement, growth, development and resources.., Part 87

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 87

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DAVID BEARD. engaged in lumberinzand farming. Is a son of John and Hannah Beard. His father was a native of Chenango County. N. Y., and came here in 1831. being among the earliest settlers of St. Clair County. He was engaged in lumbering in company with his brother, the late .James Bear 1. Ile died June 1. 1979. His mother is a native of Long Point. Canada, and is still living. David was born in this county, Jan- uary 10, 1839. Ile attended school here and in Detroit: then engaged in farming anl Inmbering. and since then has been connected with the business. He has held the office of Justice of the Peace at Clyde and Al- cona. and was also elected Town Treasurer there. He married Miss Mary E. Horton, a native of Port Huron. November 13, 1467. They have three children-Charlie. Flora and Carlos.

JAMES BEARD, deceased; was one of the oldest settlers and most honored citizens of St. Clair County. He was a native of Green, Chenanro Co., N. Y., and was born May 22. 1-15. His childhood was spent at and near the place of his birth. October, 1-33. being then in his nineteenth year. he removed to Michigan with his brother David. and they located in St. Clair County. They landed at Port Huron in the morning. and as neither of the boys had money enough to board them in townuntil they could get a chance to ride to their father's mill. they walked that distance. They went to work for $12 per month. David -on after returned to New York. In 1442, James and John Beard bought out their father in the saw mill and operated it together. one doing the sawing. the other rafting the lumber. They had to raft their lumber to Detroit then, as vessels were scarce and freights high In 1-45. Mr. Beard removed to Detroit and started a lumber yard near where the oldl water-works dock is. In 1-16. he started a fire company, and was made foreman, and he held the position of foreman of Engine No. C. as long as he liv . 1 in Detroit. In 1-53, he returned to Port Huron, and in 1-56 he and his brother John bought the Whitman Mill, an ] ran it until 1556, when the firm of .T. & J. Beard was dissolved, and E. R. Haynes was taken in as partner. In 1-63. Mr. Beard, with John Johnston. F. H. Vanderburgh and E. R. Haynes, engaged in lumbering at Alcona, Mich. In 1922. Messrs Vanderburgh and Johnston sold out, and Haynes and Beard continued the business. Mr. Beard was one of the first stockholders in the Port Huron Savings Bank. the Times Company, the Port Huron City Railway. and the Port Huron & Northwestern Railway. He was elected Allerman of the Second Ward at the first election of the city of Port Huron, and afterward served in the same eapaeity. In 1-63. he was appointed Assistant United States Assessor, which office he held until the office was consolidated with that of Collect r. excepting during one year of Johnson's administration. When the offices were consolidated he was appointed Deputy Collector, and held the office until 1\? He was frequently offered the office of Collector for the dis triet, but as often declined. Mr. Beard died April 29, 1\\2. Of his father's family, only one survives-Mrs. Louis Brockway, who has been a member of her brother's household during the present year. Mr. Beard leaves four children-Frank. Ida now Mrs. W. C. Anderson . Ella and Alexander. Mrs. A. Beard, who sur- vives her husband, was his third wife. In Mr. Beard's death. Port Huron loses a citizen whom every one respected and loved: generous to a fault, liberal in all publie enterprises, genial in manners, kind and con- siderate under all circumstances. He was truly, one of nature's noblemen. His kind. charitable acts. his good deeds and noble qualities are a lasting monument to all who knew him.

CAPT. GEORGE BEDFORD is a native of Jefferson County. N. Y., and was born May 12. 1-3- He came with his parents to Port Huron in 1449. and began sailing during his boyhood, and has followed the lakes for the past thirty years, and for the past twenty years has sailed as captain. He sailed the scow Lizzie. the Spray, and was master of the propeller City of Port Huron. and built and sailed th Kittie. and now has command of the schooner Jessie. In 1-58. Capt. Bedford married Miss Elizabeth Hillier, a native of Canada. They have three children-Lewis. Captain on the Lakes: Horace. in office Chicago & Grand Trunk Railroad. Kittie, in school.

CAPT. LEWIS BEDFORD. is a son of, Capt. Grorg» W and Elizabeth Hillier Bedford, and was born in Missouri, July 28. 1550. His parents came to Port Huron in 1-60. He began sailing when only this-

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HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY.

teen years of age. with his father, and has been in the marine service for the past ten years. Since July, 1880, he has been part owner and has command of the schooner D. Provost. On December 1, 1882, he was appointed Deputy Collector of Customs.

DANIEL M. BENNETT, homeopathic physician, is a native of Ohio; was born July 5, 1825. Parents removed to New York during his infancy, and he was brought up in that State and Michigan. Studied medi- cine in New York ; graduated in 1856, and again in 1881 ; began practice in that State. Came to Michigan in 1863, and located at Saginaw ; practiced medicine there until 1869, when he came to Port Huron and since then has practiced his profession here. He holds the office of City Physician. In 1854, he married Miss Helen M. Sheldon, a native of Orleans County, N. Y. They have three sons-Daniel W., Albert D. and Lewis T.

JAMES R. BENNETT, dealer in groceries and provisions, is a native of St. Clair County, and was born in Port Huron, January 15, 1843. His parents, Edward R. and Mary Ann Bennett, were early settlers of Port Huron. Ile grew up and attended school here ; learned the trade of carpenter and joiner and worked at the business about twelve years. In 1876. he engaged in the grocery trade, and since then has carried on the business here. Mr. Bennett was united in marriage December 23, 1880, to Miss Naomi Broome, a native of Canada. She died May 8, 1882, leaving one son, Clarence B.

C. M. BENTLEY is a native of Canada, but born of American parents, January 7, 1847. Came to this country with his brother when young ; on account of his brother going to the war, be was compelled to re- turn to Canada, where he learned the trade of harness-making. After reaching manhood, he came to Detroit, thence to Port Huron, where he worked at his trade for some years. In March, 1880, he was appointed Dep- uty Collector of customs, and since then has held that position. In 1868, he married Miss Louisa G. Stevens, a native of London, Canada. They have six children-Fred C., Clara E., Maud M .. Walter HI., Kate M. and Charles L.

AUGUST BEREND, proprietor of planing mill. is a native of Germany and was born October 27, 1828. Emigrated to America in 1856, and came to Michigan the same year; located at Detroit ; came to Port Huron in 1867, and engaged in his present business, and has carried it on for fifteen years, and has a good trade. He belongs to the order of I. O. O. F., Knights of Pythias and the German Society. In 1856, he married Matilda Hartz, of Germany. She died in 1868. They had seven children ; only one daughter, Theresa. survives. In 1869, he married Charlotte Kistler, a native of Germany. They have four children-Otto, Mena, August, Lottie.

H. J. BOCKIUS is a native of Canton, Ohio, and was born February 2, 1831. His ancestors landed in this country with William Penn; his grandfather on his father's side was a soldier in Revolutionary war and was in the battle of Yorktown; after the war, he went to England and from there crossed over to France, where he held the position of drill-master in the army; while there his son, John C. Bockius, the father of the subject of this sketch, was born; his mother died when he was twelve years old. He went with his father through Bonaparte's campaigns; at the age of nineteen he returned to this country and landed in Philadel- phia, where he sought his uncles-his father's brothers; from that city he walked to Lancaster, Penn., to visit an uncle there, and from there walked to Canton, Ohio, where he had another uncle, and reached that place in 1820. At the age of twenty he opened a boot and shoe shop, and began working at his trade; by industry and application to the interests of his business, and fair dealing, he built up a large established trade. He was systematic in everything, and was very successful in all of his business operations, and was actively iden- titied with the interests and material growth of the city and county; he was well known in Northeastern Ohio, and was noted for his liberality and readiness in aiding and assisting the worthy and deserving; he was successfully engaged in business in Canton for fifty-eight years and until his death, which occurred in 1878. He left six children. Mr. II. J. Bockius, the subject of this sketch, spent his boyhood in his native town and attended school there; entered his father's store, where he acquired the correct principles of commercial life, which have always governed him in the management of his business. Upon reaching manhood he came to Port Huron in 1853, when it was a small place; rented a store and engaged in the boot and shoe trade, and since then for the past thirty years he has been successfully engaged in the business here, except a few years he gave it up on account of ill-health. He was the pioneer in the hoot and shoe trade in Port Huron, and there are only two merchants in trade here now that were here when he established his business in 1853. Mr. Bockius has always been actively identified with the interests of the Republican party.and is pronounced in his views. He is not an office seeker, and would never permit or allow his name to be used as a candidate for any otlice, though frequently solicited to do so: yet he has given his time, influence and means for others. and has been frequently chosen as delegate to the county congressional conventions. Mr. Bockins was united in marriage November 24, 1857, to Miss Hyantha MI. Walton, of the city of Milwaukee. They have one son-John W., who is engaged in business with his father.

REV. C. BOFINGER, pastor of the German United Evangelical Church, is a native of Germany and was born November 11, 1829. He grew up and received his literary education, and also pursued his theologi- cal studies there. He came to the United States in the summer of 1854, and was ordained in Chicago in Sep- tember of the same year. He preached near Chicago four years, and was afterward engaged in missionary work and preached in Indiana and Michigan. He came to Port Huron in 1868, and labored here four years. In 1872, he went away and remained five years, and returned in 1877, and since then for the past five years has been pastor of the church here, and has a large flourishing church. He has also been engaged in teaching for over thirty years.

E. C. BOICE, dealer in fancy dry goods and notions, is a son of Wellington Boice, and was born in St. Clair County, July 28, 1853; be grew up and attended school there, then took commercial course in city of Detroit, and was afterward in the office of the Daily Union of that city, for a year and a half; came to Port Huron in 1874, and was clerk for N. P. Chandler, two years; then went with Bondy & Johnston and remained with this firm tive years. He established his present business in March, 1882, and is building up a

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HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY.

nice trade. Mr. Boice was united in marriage November 15, 1878, to Miss Carrie E. Werden, a native of St. Clair County, and daughter of William Werden, Esq., of the town of Kimball.

CAPT. VICTOR BONNAH, is a native of Switzerland, and was born in 1833. His parents emigrated to the United States in 1846, and lived in Buffalo, N. Y. He began sailing in 1851, on the old sloop Savage, one of the oldest vessels on the lakes. The next year he was on the Francis. In 185%. he was captain of the Oriental and afterward sailed the Charles Sumner, the C. B. Blair, the Concord, the Ella Mason, the brig Rio Grande, and is now captain and owner of the Aunt Ruth. He married Miss Aster Shirker, August 15, 1836. She is a native of Swan Creek, this county, and is a daughter of Stephen and Mina Bouie, who were among the earliest settlers of this State. Her mother and her sister, Mrs. Edward Compo, of Detroit, and a brother, were all captured by the Indians in the war of 1812. They narrowly escaped being killed, but were held prisoners over two years and then ransomed. Capt. and Mrs. Bonnah have seven children-Victor, captain of the schooner Home; Andrew, mate of steamer Selina: George, mate with his father; William, steward on lake. They have three daughters-Lizzie, Mary and Lauretta.

THOMAS BONDY, of the firm of Bondy & Johnston, dealers in dry goods and clothing. is a native of Canada, and was born at Amherstburg, Ont., November 17, 1812 ; was brought up and attended school there, and afterward went to Oberlin College, Ohio, where he took a commercial course ; came to Port Huron in 1867, and entered the store of J. W. & J. M. Sanborn, as clerk ; remained with that firm two years ; then engaged in business for himself, the firm being Mears & Bondy. They remained together between two and three years. Mr. Bondy sold his interest and associated with E. R. Sweetser, and they carried on the dry goods and clothing business for six years. In May, 1877, Howard, Bondy & Johnston engaged in the same business, and after eighteen months he and Mr. Johnston bought Mr. Howard's interest, and since then the firm of Bondy & Johnston have successfully carried on the business, and have built up a large trade. In 1870, Mr. Bondy was united in marriage to Miss Marontate, daughter of A. Marontate, of this eity. They have two children, Lena, a daughter, and Mark, a son.

J. E. BOTSFORD, of the firm of .I. E. & W. F. Botsford, owners and operators of Botsford's Elevator, is a son of J. S. Botsford, and was born in Port Huron, November 17, 1847. He grew up and attended school here, and has been engaged in business here since 1868. He and his brother engaged in the elevator and grain business in 1877. They built an elevator in 1880, which one year later was destroyed by fire ; they com- pleted their present elevator, January 1, 1882. Mr. Botsford married Miss Mary Bristol, of Chicago, October 10, 1879. They have three children-John R., Annie and Edna.

I. S. BOTSFORD, capitalist, retired, is a native of Cayuga County, N. Y., and was born, January 26, 1814. His father, Elnathan Botsford, was in that county during the war of 1812. His grandfather was killed at Danbury, Mass., during the Revolutionary war. Mr. Botsford grew up to early manhood in New York ; then started West, and came from Buffalo to Detroit on the old steamer Robert Fulton, and reached Port Huron in November, 1836. The following spring he started a cooper-shop ; his business increased, and he built up a large trade. In 1856, he became interested in vessel property and engaged in steamboating, and also operated in real estate. Having been appointed Government Inspector of steamboats in 1871, he dis- posed of his steamboat property, and held that office until 1828. He is one of the earliest settlers who have lived here continuously, and who has been actively identified with the interests and prosperity of the city and county. He was elected the first City Treasurer under the city organization, and has several times been elected member of the City Council. Mr. Botsford was united in marriage March 12, 1843, to Miss Annie E. Huxtable, a native of White Haven, England. They have three sons-Henry, Deputy Collector of Customs. and John Edward and William F., engaged in elevator and grain business.

W. F. BOTSFORD. of the firm of I. E. & W. F. Botsford, owners and proprietors of Botsford's ele- vator, is a son of 1. S. Botsford, one of the earliest settlers of this county. He was born in Port Huron November 11, 1851. He grew up and attended school here. After reaching manhood, he engaged in elevator and grain business with his brother. They built an elevator and completed it June 1, 1880. It was destroyed by tire, July 1, 1881. They rebuilt, and completed their present elevator, January 1. 1882. It has a capacity of 125,000 bushels. Mr. Botsford was united in marriage May 6, 1826, to Miss Nancy A. Sanborn, daughter of the late James W. Sanborn, one of the oldest and most successful business men in this section of the State. Mr. and Mrs. Botsford have two children-Mabel and infant daughter.

S. L. BOYCE. of the firm of S. L. Boyce & Sons, hardware dealers, was born October 12, 1821. After reaching manhood, he came to Michigan in 1835, and came to Port Huron in November, 1844, and engaged in lumbering, and carried on the business successfully for over a quarter of a century, having the active management of it during that time. There are very few men, even those engaged in luni- bering, who gave as many working hours to the interest of their business as Mr. Boyce. Aside from running his lumber camp during the day, giving it his personal supervision, he did all of his outside work, and brought his supplies, and attended to everything. Much of it he did at night ; sometimes having to carry supplies on foot for a long distance. He has walked, and carried on his back, through the woods with no road or path, for six miles, thirty pounds of sugar and twenty-five pounds of pork, and in one hand a pail of butter, and in the other a pail of soft soap. This is only one of the many instances connected with lumbering in that early day. Mr. Boyee drove the first lumber wagon from Port Huron through to Broekway. In 1820, he engaged in hardware trade at Port Huron, and since 1878 has given the business his active management and has a large trade. He has held the office of Town Clerk and Justice of the Peace at Brockway. He was elected Mayor of Port Huron in 1870, and again eleeted to the same office in 1846; has served as Alderman, and was one of the Commissioners for building the water-works. Mr. Boyce was united in marriage to Miss Hannah Barrett, a native of England, October 8, 1848. They have four children-William J., Samuel L., in business with their father ; and Charles E., attending the university : Fred, a machinist.

W. J. BOYCE, of the firm of S. L. Boyce & Son, wholesale and retail dealers in hardware and house furnishing goods, is a native of St. Clair County, and was born at Brockway. He attended school at Port

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HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY.

Huron, and then took a commercial course at Detroit, and afterward entered his father's store, and has been connected with the business for the past twelve years ; and since 1877, he has been a member of the firm, and it is one of the leading mercantile houses in Port Huron. Mr. Boyce married Miss Emma Plant, a native of this county and daughter of Michael Plant, Esq., October 29, 1874. They have two children-Florence A. and Charley F.

MAJ. N. S. BOYNTON is a native of this county, and was born in Port Huron June 23, 1837. His father, Granville F. Boynton, was a native of New York State, and came here about the year 1827. He died in 1816. 1Tis mother, Frances Rendt Boynton, who is still living, was a daughter of old Capt. Lewis Rendt, for a long time in the British Army, and one of the early pioneers of this county, well-known to the early set- tlers. Maj. Boynton, when a hoy, attended the primitive district schools during the winter months. In 1852, went to Waukegan, Ill., and passed through the high school in that city. He is practically a self-educated man. Before reaching his majority, he engaged in mercantile business, the firm being Inslee & Boynton. In 1859, he went to Cincinnati, and married Miss Annie Fidelei, of that city. In 1862, he returned to this county and enlisted as a private in Company C, Eighth Michigan Cavalry. Ile was soon promoted to First Lieutenant of Company L. theu to Captain, and for meritorious service in the capture of the rebel Gen. John Morgan in Ohio, and gallant conduct in the East Tennessee aud Georgia campaigns, was commissioned Major of his regiment. After a service of three years, and the close of the war, he was mustered out, and returned to this county, making his home in Marine City. Soon after his return, he was appointed Deputy Assessor of Internal Revenue, and Postmaster of that village. In the fall of 1868, he was elected to the Lower House of the State Legislature. Ile held the office of Village Clerk in 1866. and that of President in 1867. The following year he was elected Supervisor of the township. In 1869, he returned to Port HInron and engaged in newspaper business until the summer of 1871. lle then engaged in real estate and insurance business for some years. In 1874, he was elected Mayor of Port Huron, and again re-elected in 1875 to the same office ; was President of the Board of Education for two years, and member of the same body for four years. He invented the Boynton Fire Escape and Hook and Ladder Truck, and the Boynton system of Wire Rope Trus- sing for Fire Ladders, which are used in some of the principal cities of this country and Canada. He now has the superintendence in this State of the business of Sheldon & Co., Book Publishing House, New York, and holds the position of Great Record Keeper of the Knights of the Maccabees, a flourishing beneficiary society. He has five children, viz. : Charles L., Annie L., George H., Frankie and Edith S.

JAMES BRADLEY, Assistant Cashier First National Bank, is a native of Toronto, Canada, and was born February 24, 1853 : he came to Port Huron during his early hoyhood, and attended school here. Upon reaching manhood, was book-keeper for Henry McMoran : in 1873 entered the bank-October 1, 1873-and since then, for the past nine years has been connected with it, and since 1877 has held the position of assist- ant cashier. Mr. Bradley was united in marriage October 14, 1875, to Miss Eleanor Atkins, of Port Huron : they have one daughter, Blanche.

JAMES BRANDIMORE, raftsman, is a son of Peter and Mary Brandimore, who were among the oldest settlers of this section of the State. Ilis father was born in Port Huron, out on Military street, in 1802. He lived here during his life, a period of seventy-eight years, and died November 18, 1880, at that time the old- est person, native born, and the oldest settler of St. Clair County. His wife was born in Sarnia, and still sur- vives at the age of seventy-nine, and lives in Port Iluron. They had twelve children, only four of whom survive-James, Rufus, Celia, now Mrs. Edward Hull, and Adaline, now Mrs. Clement Moore, Mt. Clemens. James, the oldest son, was born in Port Huron August 29, 1830 ; he grew up here, and followed sailing for ten years, then engaged in rafting logs and Inmber, and for the past thirty years has followed that business, and is the oldest raftsman on the river. He married Miss Margaret Welcome, a native of Montreal, Canada, January 7, 1851 ; they have six children-James, George N., Frank D., Charles F., Celestia, now Mrs. John Ivers, Mary Margaret.

RUFUS BRANDIMORE is a native of St. Clair County, and was born in Port Huron July 6, 1833 ; his father, Peter Brandimore, was born here, and at the time of his death was the oldest settler ; his wife, Mary Causley Brandimore, is over eighty years of age ; is still living with her son. Rufus was raised here, and, during his boyhood, used his bow and arrows and canoe with the Indian boys, and ran errands for the officers at the Fort. Since early manhood, has been connected with lumbering ; entered the employ of Mr. Wells and was also in employ of Mr. Avery Nelson Roberts, and is now with Mr. Howard. In September, 1863, he married Miss Charlotte McGuire, a native of Virginia ; her father, James McGuire, was killed in the Mexican war. They have four children-Willie, Irene, Fred and Allen A.

GEORGE BROOKS, of the firm of Brooks & Joslyn, manufacturers aud dealers in pine lumber, is a na- tive of Massachusetts, and was born in Townsend, Middlebury Co., July 20, 1823 ; he grew up in that State, and lived in New Hampshire eighteen years, then went to Boston, and was engaged in the wholesale flour business in that city for some years. He came with Mr. Joslyn to Port Iluron in 1869, and engaged in man- ufacturing fish barrels ; afterward they engaged in manufacturing pine lumber ; they cut from 3,000,000 to 5,000,000 feet annually, and have a good trade. While living in New Hampshire, he was one of the Select- men of the town of Brooklyn for eight years. In 1848, Mr. Brooks married Miss Mary Wright, of Ashhy, Mass. She died in 1874, leaving three children-Edward, Lilla and Mary. In 1875, he married Mrs. Sarah E. Morrison, of this city. They have one son, George W.

WILLIAM II. BROWN, foreman cooper shop Michigan Mills, is a native of Ogdensburg, N. Y., and was born June 26, 1844 ; he attended school, and learned his trade there, and came to Port Huron in April, 1878, and since then has held his present position of foreman cooper shop. He married Miss Lucy A. Castle, a native of Oneida County, N. Y., September 29, 1865. They have two children-Emma F. and Arthur E.

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History of the St. Clair County, Michigan, containing an account of its settlement, growth, development and resources.., Part 87

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