USA > Michigan > Men of progress : embracing biographical sketches of representative Michigan men with an outline history of the state > Part 32
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It is in his political career, however, that Gov. Pingree has become best known. In 1889 his political friends were at sea for a candidate for mayor of Detroit, and upon their earnest solicitation, he accepted the nomina- tion. He was elected by a decisive vote and re-elected for the three succeeding terms, at his last election his majority exceeding the entire vote received by his competitor. He was a candidate for the Republican nomina- tion for Governor in 1892 and again in 1894, but the nomination came to him readily in
HON. HAZEN S. PINGREE.
1896, when he was elected by a majority over all others, of 66,000, leading his colleagues on the Republican tieket by an average of over 20,000, and in his home county (Wayne) by about 4,000. Ile was re-elected in 1898.
Gov. Pingree's distinguishing traits as an official, are his originality, his aggressiveness and his tenacity, with a tendency towards state socialism or the civil ownership or control of public utilities. As Mayor of Detroit he gave an impulse to publie improvement, especially in the way of paving, secured the establish- ment of the publie lighting plant, and com- batted what he regarded as unjustifiable pre- tensions on the part of the street railways. These measures gave him prominence through- ont the state and led him to the governor's ehair, where the same traits have inspired his action. A law for the local taxation of rail- roads was made inoperative by the Supreme Court decision. A law providing for a State Tax Commission is in operation and promises good results. But Gov. Pingree's official career cannot be reviewed here, for obvious reasons. Gov. Pingree occupies a fine mansion on Woodward avenne, in Detroit. Mrs. Pin- gree, to whom he was married in 1872, was formerly Miss Frances A. Gilbert, of Mount Clemens. They have had three children, two daughters (the oldest deceased), and one son, Hazen S.
226
MEN OF PROGRESS.
MARK NORRIS.
NORRIS, MARK. The name of Norris was in the early days a familiar one in Eastern Michigan, and during later years has become equally so in the west. Mark Norris, grand- father of the present, located at Ypsilanti in 1827 and was for many years prominent in business, social and political life. The family are in direct descent from Nicholas Norris, who came to America from England in 1640. A son of the elder Mark Norris, Lyman De- catur Norris, father of the present Mark, was for many years a prominent attorney in Ypsilanti, and during his residence there was elected to and served a term in the State Sen- ate, and was also a member of the Constitu- tional Convention of 1867. He left a lucra- tive practice at Ypsilanti, removing to Grand Rapids, then a small town, comparatively, but with the expressed conviction on his part that it was destined to become the second city of Michigan, a prediction which he lived to see. He acquired an extensive practice in western Michigan and was at one time candidate on the Democratic ticket for Judge of the Su- preme Court. The wife of Mr. Norris and mother of the present Mark, was Lucy A. Whittlesey, a native of Connecticut, and direct descendant of Rev. John Cotton.
The present Mark Norris is a member of the law firm of Crane, Norris & Stevens, of Grand Rapids, and was born at Ypsilanti July 28th, 1857. ITis education was elaborate, and it may be said finished, so far as it could well be finished in the schools, embracing the full course at the Ypsilanti Public Schools, two years (1871-1873) at the Yonkers Mili- tary Academy, at Yonkers, N. Y., a prepara- tory college course at De Veaux College, Sus- pension Bridge, N. Y., and a four years' liter- ary course at the university, from which he graduated in 1879, this being followed by a two years' law course, from which he gradu- ated in 1882, having previously, during his leisure months, for several years read law in the office of Norris & Uhl, of Grand Rapids. Ile was admitted to practice upon examina- tion before the Supreme Court, April 14th, 1882. He continued in the office of Norris & I'll as assistant and partner until the disso- lution of the firm in 1887, when he became a partner with his father under the firm name of Norris & Norris. This connection con- tinned until the death of the father in 1894, when Mr. Norris continued the practice alone for several years, until the formation of the present firm of Crane, Norris & Stevens. Mr. Norris has, during his professional career, made a specialty of fire insurance law, and is called as counsel in fire insurance cases throughout the United States. He represented the pre- vailing defendant party in a case of national importance, the Chippewa Lumber Company vs. the Phoenix Insurance Company, reported in the 80th Michigan Reports, p. 116. He was for four years a member of the State Board of Law Examiners, to which he was appointed by Gov. Rich in 1895. He has business interests outside of his profession, in- cluding a directorate in the Grand Rapids Desk Company. In politics he ranks as a gold Democrat. He is a Mason, a member of the Alpha Delta Phi of the University of Michi- gan, and of the Sons of the American Revo- lution.
Miss Cornelia Abbott, daughter of Rev. Larmon W. Abbott, of Ridgefield, Conn., be- came Mrs. Norris in 1885. They have three children, Margaret A., Abbott L. and Cor- nella.
227
HISTORICAL SKETCHES.
MORSE, JUDGE ALLEN BENTON. Allen Benton Morse, attorney-at-law, Ionia, Michigan, is one of the oldest residents of this state, having been born in Otisco town- ship, Ionia county, January 7, 1839. He was the third white child and first boy born in that township. Mr. Morse is a dircet de- scendant of old Puritan stock, tracing his ancestry back to Samuel Morse, who came from England. His father, John L. Morse, came to Michigan in 1830, from Courtlandt county, New York, locating first in Oakland county and afterwards removing to Ionia county. The elder Morse was a member of the Michigan State Legislature 1846-47, and judge of Probate Court for Ionia county 11 years.
Allen B. Morse was educated at the dis- triet school near his father's farm, and when the gold excitement broke out, his father left for California, leaving his farm and six chil- dren, and all under the care of the mother. Allen, being the oldest, it devolved upon him to do all he could toward the maintenance of the family. He taught school, worked the farm and helped the neighbors, and did everything that would serve to bring in some money toward the family treasury. In the fall of 1859 he was given his first good suit of clothes and sent to the Agricultural Col- lege at Lansing, where he remained two years and paid for his board by working on the farm at nine cents per hour. He then taught school one winter and was a law stu- dent at the breaking out of the Civil War, when he enlisted, July 30, 1861, as a private in Co. B, 16th Michigan Infantry. For meritorious conduct he was commissioned first lieutenant in the 21st Michigan, be- came adjutant of said regiment, and served as assistant adjutant on the staff of Col. Frank T. Sherman, commanding a bri- gade in Sheridan's division. He lost his left arm at Mission Ridge November 25, 1863, and was mustered out of service September 16, 1864. Returning to Ionia he commenced the reading of law in the office of W. B. Wells of that city and was admitted to the bar
JUDGE ALLEN BENTON MORSE.
in Ionia by Judge Lewis S. Lovell, February 28, 1865. Mr. Wells then took him into partnership in March, 1865, and the partner- ship continued until 1880, when the firm be- came Morse, Wilson and Trowbridge, and remained such until Judge Morse took his seat on the bench of the Supreme Court of Michigan in October, 1885.
In 1892 Judge Morze resigned his place on the bench and became the Democratic candidate for governor. He was defeated by John T. Rich, but as a reward for his party loyalty was appointed United States consul at Glasgow, Scotland, by President Cleveland.
After serving four years, Judge Morse re- turned to Fonia and resumed his practice of law.
IIe was first married in 1874, to Miss Frances Marion Van Allen, who died in 1884. In 1888 Miss Anna Babcock, of Ionia, became Mrs. Morse. He has four children : Marion, wife of E. M. Davis, of Ionia; Van Allen, in Des Moines, Ia .; Lucy C. and Dan R., stu- dents.
Judge Morse is a member of St. Vincent Lodge, F. and A. M., of Glasgow, Scotland, where he was raised while he was United States consul in that city.
228
MEN OF PROGRESS.
GEORGE WILLIS BEMENT.
BEMENT, GEORGE WILLIS. George Willis Bement, secretary and treasurer of the E. Bement's Sons establishment for the mann- facture of plows, stoves and agricultural im- plements, located at Lansing, Michigan, was born at Fostoria, Ohio, November 9, 1850. When old enough he was sent to the public schools in his native city, and when 15 years of age, took two terms at the Fostoria Academy under William (. Turner, and later took a special course in Greek and Latin under a private teacher.
From his twelfth to his seventeenth year he spent his summer vacations working in his father's foundry and learning the trade of a moulder, an art in which he became very pro- ficient, and which served him well in after years. His earnings during this period of his career amounted to about $3 a week.
The winter of his eighteenth year found him engaged in the profession of school teacher, having in charge abont forty scholars in a district school some six miles from Fos- toria. The following spring he turned his attention to the trade he had learned in his father's foundry, and started out as a moulder. He secured his first work in this
line with the firm of Loomis & Nyman, at Tiffin, Ohio, in the manufacture of plows and machinery.
As young Bement had given his father all the money he had earned at school teach- ing, in his new career he was obliged to hustle for himself. After remaining about three months in the employ of Loomis & Nyman, went to Toledo, where shortly afterwards his brother joined him. The brothers worked together for a while in Toledo, and finally decided to come to Michi- gan. They did so, and visited a number of towns in this state, Monroe, Adrian, Te- cumseh, Albion and Battle Creek. He found work with the firm of Nichols, Shepherd & Company, of the latter place, where being considered a good moulder, he earned $13.50 a week, although ouly nineteen years of age. Remaining with the firm until September, he returned to Fostoria, and accepted the position of cashier in the store of ex-Governor Charles Foster. Mr. Bement stayed with Mr. Foster until November, 1870, and that fall joined his father and brother in the foundry they had established in Lansing.
The history of the success of this firm has been told in these pages. While the elder brother and the father looked after the busi- ness end of the concern, G. W. Bement dec- orated the plow beams during the day, and at night attended to the books and the general office work. Mr. Bement, in 1893, was made a member of and treasurer of the board of con- trol of the Michigan School for Blind, in which capacity he served six years, and in January, 1899, was re-appointed by Governor Pingree to serve six years longer. He is a Republican in politics, and was a member of the city council of Lansing in 1895-97 and '99. Ile was also a member of the Lansing Board of Education for nine years, and in 1896 was one of the presidential electors of Michigan, from the Sixth Congressional Dis- triet.
His marriage took place on June 13, 1872, to Miss Rillie Finsthwait. They have two children, Howard Bement and Frank H. Be- ment. Mr. Bement is a Mason and Knights Templar.
229
HISTORICAL SKETCHIES.
CLARAGE, CHARLES. Mr. Clarage is of English and New England descent, his father, Thomas Clarage (Claridge) having been born in England and his mother, Eliza- beth M. Hooker, being a native of Vermont. Charles Clarage was born in Kalamazoo, Mich- igan, August 4th, 1860. Thomas Clarage was junior member of the old firm of Bird & Clar- age, founders and machinists at Kalamazoo. He died in 1895. Charles attended the public schools of Kalamazoo until his fourteenth year, when his educational course was inter- mitted by three years in business life, two years as clerk in a news and stationery store, and one year as clerk in the Kalamazoo post- office. In 1877 he entered the Baptist College at Kalamazoo, and was a student therein dur- ing the two following years. His college course was followed by a further service of three years in the Kalamazoo postoffice and railway mail service. In 1882 he became in- terested in the Bird Windmill Co., of Kala- mazoo, being secretary of the company and afterwards represented its interests at Lincoln, Nebraska, for one year. Returning to Kala- mazoo in 1885, he purchased the half interest of Mr. C. H. Bird in the firm of Bird & Clar- age, and the business thereafter took on the style of Thos. Clarage & Son. For two or three years before his death, Thomas Clarage practically retired from the active manage- ment of the business, to which the son natur- ally succeeded, and he has been the active manager for the past seven years. The foundations of a business so well laid by the father have been improved upon and added to by the son, who continues the business under the former well known name and style. The working force has been fully doubled during the past five years and the capacity of the plant increased in the same proportion, to enable them to handle the rapidly increasing business. The orders were formerly largely from Kalamazoo and immediate vicinity, and while these are steadily on the increase, Indi- ana and Illinois are now supplying a large amount of their business. Detroit also has
CHARLES CLARAGE.
come to the front with a rapidly increasing demand and for some years past, large con- tracts have been seenred with some of Detroit's best known business houses.
Mr. Clarage is one of Kalamazoo's young hustlers, his concern being one of the few which continued during the hard times period, without being compelled to shut down or to reduce the working force or cut down their wages. He kept his men busy on full time during the whole period of the industrial de- pression.
Miss Ella M. Southworth, daughter of Ran- lall W. Southworth, of Kalamazoo, became Mrs. Clarage, October 15th, 1884. They have one son, Harry Randall Clarage, eleven years of age. In his religions connections, Mr. Clar- age is a Presbyterian. His society connections are Masonic, including Kalamazoo Command- ery, Knights Templar. Ile is also a member of Michigan Sovereign Consistory of Detroit. Ile is also an enthusiastic wheelman and through his efforts and under his personal direction was constructed thirteen miles of evele path, one of the best in the state, to Gull Lake, which has been a source of much pleas- ure to Kalamazoo wheelmen.
230
MEN OF PROGRESS.
CHARLES BRIGGS.
BRIGGS, CHARLES. Calumet's lead- ing merchant, Charles Briggs, proprietor of the Hecla store in that city, and president of the Merchants & Miners' Bank of Calumet, since its organization in 1873, was born November 12, 1837, in Cincinnatus, Cortland county, New York state. His father, Dr. Isaac Briggs, a physician, was born in Ply- mouth, Massachusetts, his father's father and grandfather were Congregational ministers in Massachusetts. Mr. Briggs is a descendant of the old Allerton family of Massachusetts.
Young Briggs attended the district schools of Dryden, where his family moved when he was a child, and when he became 8 years of age he was sent to the Homer Academy at Homer, New York, where he studied for four years. His uncle was at that time operating a general store at Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, so when he reached his fourteenth year his unele sent for him and gave him a position as clerk in the store. He remained in this posi- tion for nine years, and at the end of that time he was offered and accepted a position as cashier in the Lake Geneva Bank. After a
year in this capacity he realized the opportuni- ties offered in the Upper Peninsula of Michi- gan for a young and energetic man, so he came to this state and secured a position as book- keeper in the general store of S. D. North & ('o. Ile had been saving his money, and the following year became a partner in the con- cern under the firm name of North & Briggs at Rockland, Ontonagon County. The new firm met with success, and the next year branched out and established a store at the Quincy mine at Hancock, Michigan, and in 1868 started a store at Calumet, closing the Rockland store. Two years after the Calumet venture another store was established at Lake Linden. In 1876 the company dissolved, Mr. Briggs taking the store at Calumet and Mr. North the one at the Quincy mine. The silent partner, William Harris, took the Lake Lin- den branch. Mr. Briggs then associated with him II. K. Cole, under the firm name of Briggs & Cole, and enlarged the Hecla store at Calumet to accommodate the increasing business. This partnership was dissolved in 1884, when Mr. Cole withdrew from the firm, leaving Mr. Briggs sole proprietor.
Mr. Briggs has been a trustee of the school district of Calumet township for nineteen years. In 1891, he was made president of the board, and as such he acted until 1895. He became secretary in 1895. District No. 1 is without doubt the largest township school dis- trict in the United States, having 6,798 scholars enrolled in 1898, and fourteen school buildings, a general high school and a staff of 101 teachers.
Mr. Briggs married in 1865, Miss Sarah E. Ilama, at Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. His only son, Charles Edwin Briggs, is a sur- geon at the Lakeside Hospital, Cleveland, Ohio. Mr. Briggs is president of the E. F. Sutton Company, of Lake Linden, Michigan, and in 1879-80 was a member of the Michigan Legislature.
231
HISTORICAL SKETCHES.
CROZE, HON. JOSEPH. Houghton's mayor, Hon. Joseph ('roze, has an interest- ing history, one that is replete with incidents of hardships and trials, for in his early career he found himself in an alien land, with strangers surrounding him, whose language he had to learn in order that he might find a position above that of a day laborer. Joseph C'roze was born near St. Henri de Mascouche, Province of Quebec, February 8, 1841. His father was Pierre Laurent Croze, a farmer near Montreal, Canada, and the original founders of the family came from France, in 1762.
Joseph Croze attended the parish schools near his home during the winter months when there was no work that required his assistance on the farm, and all summer long labored as a farm hand. Up to the time he was 18 years of age, he made about $18 a month at this work, and then not wishing to follow in his father's vocation he left home and came to Michigan in search of employment.
He arrived at Eagle River, Michigan, May 24, 1859, with $2.00 in cash to pay his way until he could find work. Even the clothes he wore at that time were unpaid for. He found employment as a surface man at the Cliff copper mine, working for $24 a month, and paying $8 for his board. He found great difficulty in getting along with his limited knowledge of the English language, but after a while he managed to pick up sufficient to enable him to converse with his fellow-workmen. Six months later he drove a mule team, hauling wood to the mine. The next two years he worked as a chopper, getting out wood for the Garden City mine, now a part of the Phoenix Mining Company's property. Every month out of his meager wages he managed to save and send home $10, which left him $16 for his
own expenses. A year later he was made timekeeper for the company and assistant surface boss. Hle left this position after ten or twelve months to become clerk in Wright's Hotel at Eagle River, where he remained until June 1, 1869, and went to Houghton, Michigan, where he accepted a position as clerk in the general store of Smith & Harris of that place, now the Graham Pope store. He remained with this firm for eight years, and his wages were advanced every year. By dint of constant study and long experience he soon became an excellent busi- ness man, and saved his money with a view of starting in business for himself should opportunity offer.
In 1873 he invested his savings of $2,000 in an undivided half interest in a towing tug and four scows, and after three years he had made enough to enable him to buy out his partner's share in the concern, and became sole proprietor of the outfit. Business in- creased rapidly, and in 1877 he resigned his position in the employ of Smith & Harris, in order to devote his entire time and attention to the towing business. Since that time he has built up the business, and now owns sev- eral large tugs and drydocks and does a large amount of ship repairing.
In 1897 he was appointed to fill the vacant office of mayor of Houghton, and he was elected again to this office in 1898. He is director of the School Board of District No. 2, East Houghton, and has been identified with that body for over eight years. He was alder- man during the years 1896-97. He married in 1869, Miss Johanna Sullivan at Eagle River, and has nine children. Mr. Croze is a stock- holder in the Peninsular Electric Light & Power Company of Houghton County, and an extensive holder of real estate.
232
MEN OF PROGRESS.
ELBRIDGE GERRY BROWN.
BROWN, ELBRIDGE GERRY. El- bridge Gerry Brown, supply clerk for the Calumet & Hecla Mine, and a resident of Calumet, Michigan, is the son of Manly Brown, who was born in Corinth, Orange county, Vermont, served in the war of 1812, after which he settled near Batavia, Genesee county, New York, married Betsey Moulton, who was born in Minden, Massachusetts, and whose father, Royal Moulton, settled in the town of Batavia, New York, in 1808.
Elbridge G. Brown was born May 14, 1840, at Cheektowaga, New York, where his father operated a small farm, and his educa- tion was commenced in the district school near his home, where he was privileged to attend during the winter terms. The boy earned his first money as a switch tender on the Buffalo & Coshocton Valley Railroad, the same road- bed now owned by the West Shore Railroad Co., working for four months at 50 cents per diem, when only 12 years of age. Ile then attended two terms at the Genesee Seminary, situated at Alexander, Genesee county, New York, after which he became a teacher in a district school two miles from his home, at a
salary of $18 a month. In August, 1862, young Brown enlisted in the 50th New York regiment, which had been assigned to the en- gineer's corps, and as such he served through the war, being clerk of his company when he was discharged in 1865 at the close of the war.
After leaving the army he took up the study of telegraphy, and after perfecting himself in that science failed to secure a position. In 1867 he found work handling freight for the Merchants' Union Express Company at Cleveland, Ohio. He remained at this employment for nine months and then became a messenger for the same company traveling between Cleveland and Millers- burg, Ohio. After six months in this branch of the work he was transferred to Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, with the Union Express Com- pany of that city, which was later absorbed by the American Express Company. During this change, he went to work again as a por- ter with the new company, and a month later was made bill clerk, remaining such until the Adams Express Company gathered in the sys- tem, when he was made money order clerk, holding that position until 1874. He then went to Lake Superior, to accept employment with the Sturgeon River Lumber Company of Hancock, Michigan, which he resigned in 1880 to fill a position as supply clerk for the ITecla mine. In 1888 he was made supply clerk for the Calumet & Hecla Mining Com- pany, and has held that position since then.
Mr. Brown has been married twice. His first wife was Miss Elizabeth Lombard, of Tacutneyville, Vermont, who died in 1889. In 1893 Miss Julia Watkins, of Lapeer, be- came Mrs. E. G. Brown.
Mr. Brown is a Democrat, and was made a member of the board of control of the Michi- gan College of Mines at Houghton, Michi- gan, in 1897; his term will expire in 1903.
He is a Mason, and a member of Montrose Commandery, Knights Templar, of Calumet, and Saladin Temple, Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, of Grand Rapids. He was formerly chaplain and adjutant of the Grand Army of the Republic Post of Calumet.
233
HISTORICAL SKETCHES.
ORR, GEORGE HENRY. Mr. Orr's grandfather eame originally from the State of Vermont, and his father operated a farm in Steuben county, N. Y., where George Henry was born May 17, 1842. The boy attended a district school and later a graded school at Academy Corners, Pa., after leaving which he worked with his father as a farm hand.
When he was 16 years of age he took a contract getting out stave and tie timber, but what money he made at this he turned in toward the support of his family. In 1862 he enlisted as a private in Company F, One Hundred and Seventh New York Volunteer Infantry and was discharged and sent home four months later on account of rheumatism contracted while he was in service. Borrow- ing $125, young Orr then went into the retail meat and provision business and continued for five years with good success. His uncle was in the business with him and the firm bought and shipped stock to New York City. In 1868 George bought out his uncle's inter- ests and the next three years operated on his own account, buying and selling live stock and managing the retail department for three years and then selling out on account of poor business. In the spring of 1871 he took what money he had and could borrow and started in getting out logs for Brooks & Gil- lett, of Addison, New York. In the spring of 1873 he moved his outfit to Manistique, Michigan, and took a contract putting in logs for the Chicago Lumbering Company of that place. He met with sufficient success the first year to enable him to pay off the mortgage on his plant, and his debts in New York. He then bought a larger outfit, working as a job- ber until 1878, when he bought an interest in the Chicago Lumbering Company, and be- came superintendent of the logging operations conducted by them. He occupies this same position today. The Chicago Lumbering Company cuts about 75,000,000 feet of hum- ber per year.
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