USA > Michigan > Men of progress : embracing biographical sketches of representative Michigan men with an outline history of the state > Part 31
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In 1872 the family came to Miehigan and settled on a farm of 50 aeres, near Bradford. The purchase price of this little traet of land was $560, and the first payment was $8, the balanee being on contract. This meant a good deal of money, if the family ever hoped to become free owners of their homestead, and
HON. DUNCAN A. WAYNE.
on Dunean Wayne the work of making all the payments now evolved. The boy labored industriously toward this end and eventually had the satisfaction of clearing the place of its indebtedness and handing the farm over to his mother. His devotion for his maternal parent kept him a bachelor for many years, and he did not marry until 1892, when he wedded Miss Maud C. Neff, of Bradford, Michigan, in that city. He brought his wife home with him, and in 1893 his mother passed away in the little home that had been purchased for her by her youngest son.
The original 50 acres of that little farm has now been inereased to 160 by Mr. Wayne, and he still operates it. Mr. Wayne held the office of supervisor at Mount Haley township, Midland county, for 15 consecutive terms and chairman of the board of supervisors four terms up to 1898, when he was elected a mem- ber of the present Legislature, and he was a member of the school board in his distriet many times. He was postmaster at Bradford until he was sent to the Legislature, and the postoffice being located on Mr. Wayne's farm, his wife has succeeded him in that office. He has two children, Lelia Madelaine and Per- ley D.
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MEN OF PROGRESS.
ADOLPHUS AGUSTUS ELLIS.
ELLIS, ADOLPHUS AUGUSTUS. Adolphus Augustus Ellis, attorney at law, of Ionia, Mich., is the son of Elmer E. Ellis, one of the early settlers of Vermontville, Eaton county, Mich., who came there from Cayuga county, New York, in 1847.
Adolphus A. Ellis, the subject of this sketch, was born on his father's farm in Ver- montville, October 5, 1848, and after he ar- rived at school age, and until his fifteenth year, attended the district school in the win- ters. He spent his summers laboring upon the farm. When he was about ten years of age, his father gave him three sheep, which, to- gether with the increase, he sold, in the fall of 1864, preceding his sixteenth birthday, and with this fund to buy his books and clothing, he entered the public school of Charlotte, boarding at the home of Attorney E. A. Foote and doing chores for his board.
In the winter of 1864 he enlisted, intend- ing to go into the Fifth Michigan Cavalry, but was unable to pass the physical examina- tion. Hle returned to school and finished the school year; then he "went west," to Iowa,
where for three years he worked as a farmi hand in the summer and attended school in the winters, near Newton, Ia. He returned to Michigan in the fall of 1868 and engaged in hardwood lumbering, and, with the money earned, was able to enter Olivet College in 1869. He was able to get along until the spring term of 1871, when, his funds being ex- hansted, he made preparation to leave school. Thomas A. Savage, the village blacksmith, prevailed upon him to accept a loan of fifty dollars necessary to complete the year's school- ing. Young Ellis gave his note for the amount, and as soon as school ended, by his labor as a farm-hand and shearing sheep, earned the money and paid the note. The winter of 1871 and 1872 he taught school in a country district a few miles west of Char- lotte and "boarded round." In the spring term of 1872 he taught in the Grand Ledge schools, where he continued the following two years, devoting his spare time to the study of law during the school months, and in the vaca- tion getting what practice he could in the law office of Shaw & Pennington, attorneys at Charlotte. He was admitted to the bar be- fore Judge Lovell at Ionia, January 5, 1876. Ile commenced practice in Muir, where he remained until January 1, 1881, when he removed to Ionia, where he has since resided and practiced his profession.
Mr. Ellis married in 1874 Miss Mattie Nichols, daughter of George W. Nichols, of Oneida, Eaton county. They have two chil- dren, Howard A., attending Olivet College, and George N., attending high school.
Mr. Ellis was elected prosecuting attorney of Ionia county in 1884 and re-elected in 1886; was elected attorney-general of the state of Michigan in 1890 and re-elected in 1892. The citizens of Ionia elected him mayor of Ionia five times, 1890-91-97-98 and 1899.
Mr. Ellis is a Royal Arch Mason, a Knight of Pythias, and belongs to the K. O. T. M., I. O. O. F., A. O. U. W., R. A. and B. O. P. E.
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HISTORICAL SKETCHES.
TYRRELL, HON. JOHN E. John E. Tyrrell is an Irishman by birth, having been born in Dublin, Ireland, January 28, 1848. He has had a history, that if written up in detail, would furnish most interesting read- ing, for he has served under two flags, one that his own people endeavored to raise over an independent country many years ago, and the flag of an alien land, now his adopted country, when the Southern States sought to make two countries out of one. When a very young child, Mr. Tyrrell came to this country and located in New York state. His educa- tion was completed there at St. John's College in Fordham, which is one of the finest Cath- olie institutions of its kind in New York state. While attending this college in 1864, in answer to the call of President Lincoln, young Tyrrell put aside his books and took up the musket in their stead, enlisting as a private in the Fifty-sixth New York Infantry, and serving six months in that regiment. The Fe- nian cause shortly after this agitated Ireland and the young man immediately offered his services, and in January, 1867, he left New York for Ireland, and reported to General Halpin, then in command of the Fenians.
Tyrrell was detailed on the staff of the general, and he served through the great re- bellion of that time, taking part in many fierce struggles and participating in the battle of Wicklow Mountains on March 7, 1867. This was one of the hardest fought bat- tles of the rebellion. Four days later, on March 11, Tyrrel was captured by the Eng- lish as a suspect and held as a prisoner until the following May, when, upon his release May 23, 1867, he determined to return to America, and taking the first opportunity of- fered him, arrived in New York City, June 10, 1867. The active part he had taken in the struggle for liberty made by his fellow countrymen, together with the vast amount of misery and suffering he had witnessed there filled the young patriot's heart with a desire to do something toward alleviating the existing conditions and working toward the final free-
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HON. JOHN E. TYRRELL.
dom of his native land. He went to Canada and there organized a division of Fenians. The Canadian government soon set their se- cret service to work and discovered the ex- istence of the division and soon Mr. Tyrrell became an object of interest for the govern- . ment detectives, so, as he did not desire an- other experience in an English prison, he left Canada behind him and returned to the United States. He came to Michigan in March, 1868, and has lived in this state ever since, his present address being Jackson, Mieli.
Mr. Tyrrell has never sought political officc. He is a Republican, and was chairman of the Blaine-Logan Club in 1884 on the occasion of Mr. Blaine's visit to this state during his cam- paign tour. Mr. Tyrrell was elected represen- tative to the Legislature from the City Dis- trict of Jackson, for the session of 1889. He has served in the National Guard since 1875, was commissioned captain in 1884, major in 1888; lieutenant-colonel in 1889, colonel First Infantry 1892, and brigadier-general com- manding brigade in 1898. He married Miss Katherine Wilsey, daughter of Solomon Wil- sey, August 31, 1870, at Dexter, Michigan.
220
MEN OF PROGRESS.
JAMES HENRY SEAGER.
SEAGER, JAMES HENRY. Seager is a name that belongs to Connecticut, where, ever since the early days when that state formed a part of the colonies in possession of Great Britain, the family has lived and flour- ished, always taking an active part in the his- torical changes of the government, and sery- ing in the colonial troops during the revo- lution.
James Henry Seager was born in Roches- ter, New York, on the 27th day of December, 1846. His father, Reverend Schuyler Sea- ger, was a Methodist minister, who held charges in many of the cities throughout west- ern New York, and in later years was presi- dent of the Genesee Wesleyan College at Lima, New York.
Owing to his father's calling, which necessi- tated his traveling from place to place, young Seager was afforded opportunities to study in various cities and towns throughout western New York. His education concluded with a year at the Michigan Agricultural College, in 1863-64.
While attending the latter college he was tendered a position as paymaster's elerk under
Colonel Hiram F. Hale, which he accepted, serving in the department until some months after the close of the war. He was then made cashier of the Junction City, Kansas, bank, and held this position until 1870. While in Kansas Mr. Seager was also interested in levee building, dredging and railroad construction.
In the year 1871 he elosed out his business interests in Kansas and returned to Michigan, finally settling in Houghton, where he repre- sented his brother-in-law, S. L. Smith, of the firm of Smith & Harris, of that place. On the dissolution of this firm he went into busi- ness for himself, opening a general store at the Franklin mine, near the town of Han- cock, also conducting a branch at Ripley, on Portage Lake, opposite Houghton. There stores have been successfully operated ever sinee.
Mr. Seager is a man of shrewd business instinet, and takes a keen interest in the vari- ous commercial affairs with which he has be- come connected. He is the vice-president of the National Bank of Houghton, Michi- gan, and also of the Peninsular Electrie Light & Power Company of that city. He is president of the Copper Range Railroad and of the Portage Lake Foundry & Machine Company, the New Douglass Hotel Company of Houghton, and the Mining Gazette Com- pany.
For several terms he filled the office of supervisor, but his business interests have of late years increased to such an extent that he has been prevented from accepting political office.
He has done much toward developing many of the mining industries of the Upper Penin- sula, and was one of the promoters of the Baltic Mining Company and the Copper Range Mining Company, of Houghton, both of which have turned out most profitably. Mr. Seager lives in Houghton, Michigan, where he is a representative capitalist and merchant.
Mr. Scager married, at Fayette, Missouri, in 1869, Aliss Laura Shafroth.
221
HISTORICAL SKETCHES.
WHALEY, ROBERT JEROME. Robert Jerome Whaley, president of the Citizens' Commercial and Savings Bank of Flint, Mich., and a capitalist and real estate owner of that city, was born December 8, 1840, in Castile, New York state. Ilis family is of English deseent, the first Whaley that came to America was one Edward Whaley. who was one of the three regicide judges that or- dered King Charles I. to the scaffold, during that period when Cromwell was in power.
Edward Whaley, upon the accession of Charles IL., songht safety in the colonies, hid- ing from the agents of Charles II. for years in New Haven, Conn., where he is supposed to be buried.
Robert, the grandfather of the subject of this sketeh, built the first saw mill ever erected in Wyoming county, New York state, in 1806. His son, and Robert J. Whaley's father, Jeremiah Whaley, were engaged in operating a small farm near Castile, N. Y., when Robert was born. ITis education was obtained in the district school, and when he was four years of age his father opened a hotel in Pike, N. Y., where the boy attended the more advanced school of the village.
In 1850 the Whaley family moved to St. Croix county, Wis., and was one of the first families to settle at Willow River, now known as Hudson, Wis. He started a general store and eontinned in that business for ten years. Young Whaley helped his father in the store until December 15, 1861, when he went to Caledonia, New York, where his grandmother owned a farm. The next four years were spent in working his grandmother's farm on shares, and this gave him a good finaneial start. Upon the death of his grand- parent he returned to Hudson and purchased a farm of 320 aeres and remained there two years, and in October, 1867, came to Miehi- gan.
Jannary 24, 1867, he married Miss Mary MeFarlan, in Flint, Mich., and returned to
ROBERT JEROME WHALEY.
Hudson with his wife, where he remained un- til the following October. Then he went to Flint, and has lived there ever since. Ile now entered the Inmber business, entering the mill vard of his father-in-law, sorting and piling and learning to seale lumber and logs, and going into the wood in winter. He continued in his hummbering operations until the death of his wife's father, Alexander McFarlane, in 1881. Hle then closed out the interests and devoted his time to looking after the estate until 1894. Since that time Mr. Whaley has looked after his farming interests.
Mr. Whaley is a director in the Flint Water Works Company and the Flint City Gas Company. He was a member of the Central Board of Control of Michigan State Institu- tions during the Winans administration. 1891-1892, and established the precedent of returning to the state all funds saved during the year. Ile is a member of Michigan Sov- ereign Consistory of Detroit, Mason, Temp- lar and Shriner, and has been great finance keeper of the great eamp of Michigan. K. O. T. M., for the past eighteen years.
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MEN OF PROGRESS.
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GILMAN JONES MCCLINTOCK.
MCCLINTOCK, GILMAN JONES. Gilman Jones MeClintock, at present engaged in a prosperous real estate and insurance busi- ness in Laingsburg, Mich., was born in Areadia, Wayne county, New York state, September 27, 1832, His father, Freeman McClintoek, was a well-known physician in Shiawassee county in its early days, and a descendant of the oldl New England family of MeClintoek. His mother was Lydia A. Short.
Until he was fifteen years of age young MeClintoek lived on a farm and attended distriet sehool at Bainbridge, Ohio, in which place the family resided. Later he attended the Chester Seminary at Chester, Ohio, where he first formed the acquaintance of James A. Garfield, the martyred president of the United States who was attending this college.
Young MeClintoek's father was desirons of having his son follow the medieal profession, but the boy favored the mereantile business or the life of a farmer, so in 1851 he married Miss Wealthy A. Marshall at Bainbridge, Ohio, and coming to Michigan, located on a farm about one and one-half miles east of Laingsburg.
When his father went to California in the following year, the son looked after the col- lection of his outstanding debts. He then went to work in the general store of E. B. Smith, and became postmaster under Presi- dent Franklin Pierce,
Upon the return of his father from Cali- fornia, in 1856, the father and son together purchased the general store operated by E. B. Smith and commeneed business under the firm name of F. McClintock & Son. This partnership continued until 1860, when the business was sold.
The younger MeClintock continued as postmaster until 1861, when he commenced to organize a military company to take part in the civil war. He was mnstered in as first lieutenant in Co. D, Fourteenth Michigan Infantry, November 18, 1861, and partiei- pated in several skirmishes from Pittsburg Landing to Corinth, and was then sent to the hospital at Farmington, Miss., where he was confined with typhoid fever for over two months. Returning home in 1862, he re- joined his father in the mercantile business. In 1868 he started on his own account alone. In the meantime he secured the appointment of postmaster under Johnson. After run- ning a general store for four years, he sold out all his interests in 1872, and since that time has been engaged in farming. He took up insurance and real estate in 1879, and returned to Laingsburg, where he has sinee been identified with a sneeessful real estate and insurance business and was post- master during both of Cleveland's administra- tions.
Mr. MeClintock's first wife died in 1879, and he re-married in 1883, his second wife being a Miss C'lara D. Webb, of Holly, New York. He has five children; Ellen M. is the wife of G. D. Millspangh, of Albion; Helen M., wife of Rev. Samuel Bird, Denton, Mich .; Minnie lives with her elder sister, Carrie, wife of Watson Wesley, of Port Huron, Mich .: amd Frankie is a teacher in the kindergarten at Port Huron.
Mr. MeClintoek is past commander of Henry Denning Post, G. A. R., No. 192, and a member of the Masonie fraternity. He is a Democrat and occupied the position of supervisor in his county for four terms.
223
HISTORICAL SKETCHES.
SALSBURY, LAUT K. Mr. Salsbury will certainly rank as a representative Michi- gan man, if push and a readiness to adapt him- self to various pursuits, as a means to "get there," will pass as credentials. Acting alter- nately as teacher, book agent, live stock dealer, farm hand and railway mail clerk, and getting his education in detached sections, as a limited financial means made possible, he now occupies a leading position at the bar. Living on his father's farm in Washtenaw county, he attended the neighborhood school until he was 14, after which he attended the Lowell (Kent county) high school for two years. At the age of 16 (1883) he received a third grade teacher's certificate and took charge of the Star district school in Bowne township, Kent county. The former teacher had been fired through the window by the large male pupils. The district had over 60 pupils, and the director agreed to pay him $60 per month, in view, no doubt, of their large number and unruly character. The second week the boys tried to send him through the window after the other teacher, but courage and muscle. aided by a heavy hickory ruler, gave him the victory. He was offered $75 per month for another year, but preferred to take a school nearer his former home, which he taught for a year. He entered Albion College in the spring of 1884, graduating from there in 1887, during the vacations act- ing as book agent, farm hand and live stock dealer. Upon leaving college he commenced the study of law in the office of John M. Mat- hewson, of Lowell, but his funds running short, he received an appointment in the mail service, through the influence of the late Con- gressman M. TI. Ford. of Grand Rapids. He was removed from the position (April, 1888) for "offensive partisanship" and was subse- quently reinstated, but declined further ser- vice. In the meantime he resumed the study of law in the office of Turner & Carroll, of Grand Rapids, remaining there some two years. Nearly a year at the University Law School, which was cut short by want of funds, followed, when in March, 1890, he was ad- mitted to practice upon examination before the Supreme Court. The following July he opened an office at Grand Rapids, his office outfit consisting of a desk, carpet, two chairs
LAUT K. SALSBURY.
and four books, got on the strength of money borrowed for the purpose. He had clients the first week, and arose to prominence in the profession through his connection with the Egan murder trial. Since 1891 he has been a member of the law firm of Maher & Sals- bury, of Grand Rapids. He was appointed city attorney of Grand Rapids in May, 1899.
Mr. Salsbury was born at Saline, Washte- naw county, March 1, 1867. His father, George L., was a farmer and a direct descen- dant of the Salsburys, who came to America in 1622, the present Lord Salisbury, of Eng- land, representing the English branch of the family. His mother, Corinthia Edwards, was descended from the Vermont branch of the Edwards family. Mr. Salsbury was married November 10, 1890, to Miss Gertrude Shanks, daughter of Mark Shanks, of Clarks- ville. They have one daughter, Helen, born in 1896.
Politically Democratic, Mr. Salsbury has twice represented his party as candidate for prosecuting attorney of his county, and as delegate to the National Convention in 1896. In a business way, he is president and general manager of the Collins Hook & Eve Co., of Grand Rapids, employing some 75 people. His society connections are Masonic, Elks, Knights of Pythias, K. O. T. M., T. O. F. and W. O. W.
224
MEN OF PROGRESS.
HON. JUDGE ROLLIN HARLOW PERSON.
PERSON, HON. JUDGE ROLLIN HARLOW. Rollin Harlow Person was ap- pointed circuit judge of the new Thirtieth Judicial Circuit by Governor Winans, Febru- ary, 1891, and in the following April was elected for the three years' vacaney and in 1893, nominated by all four parties, re- elected without opposition for the full term.
lle was born in Livingston county, Miehi- gan, October 15, 1850. Ilis father, C'orne- lins Harlow Person, was a farmer near Howell, Michigan, and as he was injured by the kiek of a horse and unable to attend to the farm work alone, the boy was able to attend the distriet school but little after he was 10 years of age. Young Person continued his studies, as much as possible, under the dirce- tion of his father, reading and studying dur- ing his few spare hours, and when he was 19 years of age he attended a teacher's elass at Howell and won a teacher's certificate. He taught two winter terms after that, and then returned to the publie school, having saved sufficient money to enable him to do so. In in the spring of 1871 he was given a first grade teacher's certificate, and that same year he was made deputy register of deeds. During
the year of 1872 he read law in the office of Dennis Shields, of Howell, and in the fall and winter of 1872-73 attended the Law Depart- ment of the University. Like most poor stu- dents at this University. Mr. Person had to work his way through in many ways. He sawed wood in almost every back yard in Ann Arbor, and mush and molasses furnished his daily diet. He was admitted to the bar in 1873, and the same year, shortly after grad- uating, married Miss Ida M. Madden, daugh- ter of James G. Madden, at Mammouth, Illinois. Taking the advice of Horace Greeley, he started west, landing in Repub- lican City, Nebraska, with his wife, and find- ing himself a thousand miles from home with less than $5 on hand.
Republican City at that period was the eenter of the county seat war and the Indian troubles, and there was plenty of excitement going on most of the time. The county elerk, who was also register of deeds, learning that Person was conversant with the duties of that office, and being desirous of a vacation, offered Mr. Person his office and all the fees received during his absence from town. This gave him five weeks' living, and in the meantime he located in a piece of land near the city and lived in a dugout. His wife was only 17 years old at this time, while he was 23, and here in their primitive home they passed through the intense excitement of the Indian troubles and the county seat war. Gradually Person built up a good practice and was on a fair way to- ward prosperity when the grasshopper plague, so common to that seetion, eleared the country of every living plant above ground. His elients, mostly farmers, were unable to pay their fees, so he was forced finally to abandon his home and farm and return to Howell.
He was recorder of the latter eity, 1876-77, and circuit court commissioner, 1876-78. Mr. Person has four children: Harlow Stafford, now in the Literary Department, University; Harry J., with the National Biseuit Company, at Sioux City, Iowa, and May and Armand, at home. He is a Mason, having taken all degrees to Knight Templar.
225
HISTORICAL SKETCHES.
PINGREE, HON. HAZEN S. No man in the country has been more talked about during the past few years than has Gov. Pingree. Born in Denmark, Maine, August 30th, 1840, the son of Jasper and Adeline (Bryant) Pin- gree, his early education did not extend beyond his fourteenth year. His father was a farmer and a descendent of Moses Pingree, who came from England in 1640, and settled in Ipswich, Mass. His great-grandfather was a soldier in the War of the Revolution, his grandfather in the War of 1812, and himself in the Civil War, and he treasures as mementos, a musket carried by each in the service. At the age of fourteen he secured work in a cotton factory at Saco, Me., and in 1860 he went to work in a shoe factory at Hopkinton, Mass. He was thus employed in 1862 when he enlisted in a regi- ment of artillery and served until the close of the war. His service was with the Army of the Potomac, in which he participated in a dozen or more battles. ITe was, with a num- ber of his comrades, taken prisoner by Mosby, May 25th, 1864, and held for some five months at different southern prisons. Soon after his muster out in August, 1865, he came to De- troit and worked for a time as an employee in a shoe factory. In December, 1866, the shoe manufacturing firm of Pingree & Smith was formed with a capital of $1,360.00. They purchased a small plant and with eight hands employed they closed the first year's business . with an output of some $20,000. The eon- cern has become the most extensive of its kind in the west, latterly employing over 700 hands, with an output of about one million dol- lars annually.
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