USA > Michigan > Men of progress : embracing biographical sketches of representative Michigan men with an outline history of the state > Part 50
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a period of fourteen years. Mr. Weadock continued the practice alone until 1893, when Miles J. Purcell, who had been a student in his office, became a partner under the firm name of Weadock & Purcell, which is the present style. Mr. Weadock is what may be termed an all round lawyer, devoting his atten- tion to general practice. He has been presi- dent of the Bar Association of his county and State. With one exception to be noted, he has never consented to stand for political office, although repeatedly solicited by his party friends to do so. He has frequently been urged to run for Congress, but his firm con- viction is that no man can serve two masters. In his profession he is devoted to the interests of his clients and feels that he could not do full justice to them if aiming to fill the roles both of lawyer and politician. This sentiment, how- ever, does not bar him from contributing his full quota toward the success of his party in its campaigns both on the stump and in the way of counsel, deeming this an obligation due to good citizenship.
When the two cities of Saginaw and East Saginaw were consolidated, Mr. Weadock was elected Mayor, serving two terms of one year each, 1890-1891. During his terms the duty necessarily arose of adjusting the various in- terests connected with the union, the successful accomplishment of which was largely due to the fact that he insisted that the terms of con- solidation should be honorably carried out. During his term, also, and upon his insistence, an investigation of the affairs of the City Clerk and Police Justice and. Police Court Clerk were ordered, and upon the wholesome rule that "public office is a public trust," al- though they were of his own party, he had them tried and removed from office when their misfeasance was established. In religious opinion, Mr. Weadock is a Roman Catholic and in polities a Democrat. In 1878 he was joined in marriage with Miss Anna E. Tars- ney, a sister of his then law partner. Nine children were the fruit of the union, seven of whom are living. The mother died in 1893, and in 1896 Mr. Weadock was married to Miss Grace M. MeTavish, daughter of Archi- bald MeTavish of Saginaw. Two children are the fruit of this union.
369
HISTORICAL SKETCHES.
WEADOCK, JOHN CULLEN. Mr. Weadock is the youngest of seven sons of Louis and Mary Cullen Weadock, who migrated from Ireland in 1860 and settled on a farm near St. Marys, Ohio, where John C. was born February 18, 1860. Of the seven brothers three of them chose the legal pro- fession and have done honor to the bar in this state. Jolin C. obtained his early education in the district schools at St. Marys, and after his removal to Bay City in November, 1876, he had the advantage of the Bay City High School, from which he graduated in due course. After graduation he spent some time in teaching, when he determined to take up the study of law, and with that end in view he entered the office of his brother, Thos. A. E. Weadock, then a successful practitioner at Bay City. He was admitted to the bar in 1881 and in 1886 was married to Miss Helena F. Bertch, daughter of Andrew Bertch of Lansing. Shortly after his admission to the bar he formed a partnership with his brother and former preceptor, under the firm name of T. A. E. & J. C. Weadock. The partnership still continues, although the senior partner has been for some years a practitioner in De- troit. While still a resident of Bay City, Thos. A. E. was elected to Congress (1890) and again in 1892, and during his four years of service in Washington, the business of the firin largely devolved upon the junior partner. With characteristic energy and an oppor- tunity to develop, he assumed the additional labor thus thrown upon him and in the con- duct of the affairs of the firm evinced those qualities which have placed him in his present standing at the bar, to which but a decade be- fore he had been admitted. Personally, Mr. Weadock is of strong physique and robust health. Socially, while unassuming and re- tiring in manner, he is an affable and com- panionable gentleman, whose personality in- vites the confidence and respect of those with whoin he comes in contact. In his home life he is a good entertainer, is one of the best whist players in the city and enjoys the society
JOHN CULLEN WEADOCK.
of a large circle of friends whom he has worthily won. Politically he has always taken an active interest in the political life of his city and state. IIe is a skillful organizer, but never stoops to the base in politics, and while in partisan _contests he never asks or gives quarter, the campaigns in the Tenth Congres- sional District which he has conducted have been noted alike for their cleanness and energy. While he has never been a candidate for office, nor regarded favorably the many requests of his party friends to allow the use of his name, he was appointed to the office of City Attorney in 1887, a position which he filled for four years with equal credit to him- self and advantage to the service.
Mr. Weadock his been president of the Bay City Club, the leading social organization of the city, and National Vice-President of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, the Michi- gan branch of which possesses one of the best insurance systems of the order, in the perfect- ing of which he has borne an active part. He has also served as president of the state or- ganization. He is a member of the Elks, and was Exalted Ruler of the Bay City lodge three terms.
370
MEN OF PROGRESS.
CHARLES L. WILSON.
WILSON, CHARLES L. Charles L. Wil- son was born at Warsaw, N. Y., February 1, 1843. His father, Samuel Wilson. was a farmer and of English ancestry. His mother's maiden name was Sabrina E. Shaw, of Ver- mont extraction. The family moved to Michi- gan in 1845, first stopping in Oakland county, near Rochester, where they rented a farm for a season, then proceeded to Saranac, Ionia county, locating on a farm where a portion of the village was subsequently platted. The father engaged in farming and hotel keeping until about three years previous to his death in 1872. Mrs. Wilson, the mother, is now 89 years of age.
The early education of Charles L. was at the village schools. He was subsequently em- ployed portions of the time as cabin boy on steamers then plying between Grand Rapids and the upper country. From the fall of 1858 until 1860 he was clerk in a store. After an- other winter term at school he obtained a clerkship with H. Rich & Co., of Ionia, attend- ing school during the less busy portion of the year. In this way he attended one term at the State Normal and one at the Ypsilanti Union School. In 1863 he engaged as sutler's clerk
for D. F. Frazell, then sutler of the Veteran Reserve Corps, stationed near Indianapolis, where he superintended the business for sev- cral months, until stricken with typhoid pneu- monia. Recovering, he was soon after en- gaged as teacher of a district school, using his spare time in reading law. In 1865 he entered the Law Department of the Michigan Univer- sity and graduated with the class of 1867. Then for a time he assisted his father in the hotel business. In the spring of 1868 he began practice in his home town, and was elected justice of the peace. He drafted the original charter for the incorporation of the village, and was subsequently elected village clerk, township clerk and president of the vil- lage.
In the fall of 1872 he formed a co-part- nership with Wmn. L. Strickland, under the firm name of Wilson & Strickland, which continued until 1874, when he was elected prosecuting attorney, but failed of re-election in 1876, the entire Republican county ticket being elected. While holding the office he was in co-partnership with a former school- mate, Benj. Vosper, under the firm name of Vosper & Wilson, and soon after the expira- tion of his term he again opened an office in Saranac, where he has continued to reside.
In 1880 he became a partner with Hon. A. B. Morse and the late Attorney-General S. V. R. Trowbridge, under name and style of Morse, Wilson & Trowbridge, which contin- ued until the retirement of Mr. Morse, the succeeding firm being Wilson & Trow- bridge, which was mutually dissolved about a year later, when Mr. Wilson invested quite largely in Grand Rapids suburban and city property. He moved to that city and engaged principally in real estate business with his brother, Geo. B. Wilson. IIe returned to Sar- anae two years later, where he has since re- sided, leaving his brother to look after the busi- ness in the city.
He was elected Judge of Probate on the Democratic-People's-Union Silver ticket, in 1896, over Grant M. Morse. Mr. Wilson be- longs to the Masonie fraternity, being a Past Master of the local lodge, a member of Ionia Chapter, No. 14, and Commandery No. 11.
371
HISTORICAL SKETCHES.
EIS, RIGHT REVEREND BISHOP FREDERICK. The Right Reverend Bishop Frederick Eis, bishop of the diocese of Sault Ste. Marie and Marquette is a man of great piety and a zealous worker in his sacred eall- ing. Under his charge the diocese has grown and prospered, and Catholicism has advanced in strength numerieally and otherwise.
He was born in Germany and came to Ameriea when he was 12 years of age, and has since resided in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. As a youth, Bishop Eis com- meneed his studies with Father Fox, one of the pioneers of the church in that part of Michigan, then located at Rockland. Con- tinuing his studies, he then attended the pro- vincial seminary at Milwaukee, Wis., where he remained for several years and then went to Canada to finish his education.
His education completed, he returned to the Upper Peninsula and in the fall of 1870 was ordained priest by Bishop Mrak at Marquette. Upon his ordination he was given St. Peter's parish in that city, a remarkably important charge for a young priest.
After his pastorate there he was given sue- cessive charge of a number of important par- ishes in the diocese, his longest connection with any church being in Negaunee, where he spent 10 fruitful years. He found the parish in debt and left it free from ineumbranee with a good parsonage and a parochial school, which had been built during his pastorate.
Upon the death of Bishop Vertin, Father Eis took the position of administrator of the diocese, previous to which he spent three years at the parish of Crystal Falls, being ap- pointed there after his return from a trip to the far west for the benefit of his health. While there he was dean of Gogebie, Iron and Ontonagon counties and was one of Bishop Vertin's consulters. For some years he held the position of diocesan inspector of parochial schools.
Bishop Eis is the fourth bishop of the dio- eese of Sault Ste. Marie and Marquette. The dioeese was elevated to the bishoprie in 1857
RIGHT REV. BISHOP FREDERICK EIS.
with Father Baraga as its first bishop. He was succeeded by Bishop Mrak, who resigned his holy office after some years service and was spared to see two successors don the epis- copal robes he laid aside. Upon the resigna- tion of Bishop Mrak, Bishop Vertin was ap- pointed to the office and held it to his death almost 20 years later, when Bishop Eis was appointed. His appointment was made in Rome from two lists of three names each, sent respectively by the priests of the Marquette diocese and the prelates of the province of Milwaukee.
Bishop Eis has shown a marked willingness to assist all who seek to enter the churchly calling's, and has rendered assistance to a num- ber of young men who aspired to the priest- hood. He has also helped no less than ten deserving young women to overcome the diffi- culties in the road of their becoming mem- bers of the Order of St. Joseph. Withal, he is a man of modesty and reserve, yet affable and easy to approach. These are the quali- ties that have served to make him popular wherever he has been stationed and the most cordial relations exist between himself and every priest under his charge.
372
MEN OF PROGRESS.
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ALVA WINSLOW NICHOLS, M. D.
NICIIOLS, ALVA WINSLOW, M. D. Dr. Alva Winslow Nichols, Greenville, Mich., was born in Cannon township, Kent county, this state, in 1848. His father was a school teacher and teacher of penmanship, and his grandfather, Dr. Jasen Winslow, was one of the first physicians to locate in Grand Rapids. The family is a Massachusetts family and the name one of the oldest in that state.
Dr. Nichols' early education was received in the district schools near his hoine and in the public schools of Grand Rapids. His grand- father being a physician, he chose the same profession, and commenced reading medicine when 15 years old. Hle also took up the trade of a mason, and during the summer months he worked as such, being considered a first-class workinan, especially in lath work and plaster- ing. He became a district school teacher for three winters, and in the fall of 1872 entered the University of Michigan and graduated from the Bellevue Hospital Medical College, New York City, in 1874. Upon graduating he immediately went to Greenville and opened an office. Soon after locating there he espoused the cause of the "greenbackers" and later became a populist. He has been an active
worker in behalf of the principles of this party, and a leading spirit in its organization.
Dr. Nichols has also engaged in journalism. He managed and published the Greenville Sentinel and Farmers' Voice from 1889 to 1893, and for ten years, from 1874 to 1884, was the Greenville correspondent for the De- troit Evening News.
Good roads has always been his hobby. It was through his efforts in this direction that for twenty miles out from Greenville, excellent gravel roads lead into the town, greatly bene- fiting the farmers who drive in with their farm produce, and the town itself which is the po- tato center of Michigan. He commenced the agitation for gravel roads in 1895, and was in- strumental in raising $1,400 from the council of Greenville and $4,000 from the farmers, and the roads were built in 1895, two months after beginning.
Dr. Nichols has been a member of the Greenville school board since 1893 and is at present secretary of that body. He has taken a great interest in the affairs of the schools under his care, and in '93 he commenced the agitation for a commercial course in the public schools, organizing a movement and estab- lishing a system that has been adopted by many of the leading cities throughout the state of Michigan-the introduction of stenog- raphy and typewriting.
In 1898, Dr. Nichols was a candidate for Congress. In 1894 was candidate for gov- ernor of the People's party, receiving 32,000 votes. This year he was elected member of the People's party national committee. He has been chairman of the State Central Committee since 1892.
Dr. Nichols is a member of the Knights of Pythias, the Royal Arcanum, the Prudent Patricians of Pompeii and the Knights of the Maccabees. He is a man of strong personality, a tireless worker and progressive in every sense of the word. He has absolute faith in the principles of his political creed and sees in it the nucleus of a faith that in the next century will be a power in the land, stronger than that of any political party today.
Dr. Nichols was appointed by Governor Be- gole trustee of the Michigan Asylum for the Insane at Kalamazoo in 1882, serving six years, was four years member of Board of Pen- sion Examining Surgeons for Montcalm county, and has been supervisor of the second ward of Greenville ten years.
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373
HISTORICAL SKETCHES.
MORRILL, ROLAND. Fruit raising in Michigan is an industry favored by the rich quality of the soil and exceptional growing conditions that has given the state a prom- inent place amongst the apple, peach and grape producing states of the United States. Such associations as the National Association of Nurserymen and the Michigan State Horti- cultural Society bring growers into close con- tact with each other in the exchange of views resulting from the annual and semi-annual meetings of the societies, vast benefit is de- rived and much is done toward the scientific methods best adapted for fruit raising and care of orehards.
Roland Morrill, of Benton Harbor, is con- sidered one of the highest authorities on mat- ters relating to fruit culture as well as one of the most suceessful fruit growers in the State of Michigan. His farm near Benton Harbor is of 300 aeres, rich and productive soil and of this he has 160 acres devoted to the raising of fruit and a nursery of young fruit trees. He is one of the largest fruit growers in the section.
Roland Morrill was born in Branch County, Michigan, November 9, 1852, and educated in the High School of Grand Rapids. ITis early life was full of hard knocks, as his father died before he reached his fourteenth year. The boy was left in charge of a guardian and was sent to Missouri, where he spent three long years splitting rails, cutting brushwood, dig- ging stumps and other hard labor incidental to clearing and getting in working condition a farm in a new country. After this unprofit- able employment he returned to Michigan and entered the employ of Warren H. Pearl, work- ing on the latter's farm near Benton Harbor. By living economically a few years he was able to buy a small farm and afterwards added
ROLAND MORRILL.
to the same until he now has the largest peach farm in the fruit belt. Mr. Morrill is a rela- tive of the late Senator Justin Morrill and of Lot Morrill, the first Republican governor of Maine.
Mr. Morrill married, August 25, 1874, Miss Ella Pearl, daughter of Warren H. and Minerva Pearl, upon whose fruit farm he first learned his present business. He has two children, the son, Warren Pearl Morrill, is a graduate from Ann Arbor, class of '98, and engaged in the fruit growing business with his father.
Mr. Morrill is also a member of the firm of Morrill & Morley, manufacturers of spray- ing apparatuses and atomizers, and is at pres- ent one of the heaviest stockholders in the Twin City Telephone Company, of which he is also one of the organizers. In 1896 he was superintendent of the poor. He is a member of the Knights of Honor and the National Association of Nurserymen and the Michigan State Horticultural Society, of which he was president for seven years.
374
MEN OF PROGRESS.
LOYAL EDWIN KNAPPEN.
KNAPPEN, LOYAL EDWIN. Mr. Knappen was born at Hastings, Michigan, January 27, 1854. His father was Edwin Knappen, a merchant of that place, who died a few months after his son's birth; his mother, whose maiden name was Sarah M. Nevins, is still living at ITastings. Both his parents were born in Vermont, his grandfather's family coming to that state from Conneetieut, where, during the War of the Revolution, his grand- father, Rev. Mason Knappen, was born a member of Judea Society, which, with two other societies in Litchfield county, were or- ganized into the town of Washington in honor of the then Commander-in-Chief of the Amer- iean forces.
Mr. Knappen attended the Hastings schools until fifteen years of age, when he entered the University of Michigan, from which he was graduated in 1873 with the degree of A. B., receiving the degree of M. A. in course three years later. After six months as assistant principal of the High School at Hastings, he entered the office of Hon. James A. Sweezey at Hastings as a law student, and was admitted to practice in August, 1875, becoming a part- ner with Mr. Sweezey and so continuing until
1878. Upon the dissolution of this eo-partner- ship he formed a like connection with his brother, Charles M. Knappen, which con- tinued until 1883, when he associated with Christopher II. Van Arman as Knappen & Van Arman. Removing to Grand Rapids in 1888, he entered into association with William J. Stuart, forming the law firm of Stuart, Knappen & Van Arman, which eondueted offices both at Grand Rapids and Hastings un- til Mr. Van Arman's death in 1890, soon after which the Hastings office was elosed. The firm of Stuart & Knappen continued until 1893, when the latter became a member of the firm of Taggart, Knappen & Denison, which continued six years. In 1899 he en- tered into partnership with Mr. George P. Wanty, under the firm name of Wanty & Knappen, this relation continuing until Mr. Wanty's accession to the Federal beneh, when he associated with Jacob Kleinhans, under the name of Knappen & Kleinhans.
His firm is one of the most prominent in Western Michigan, its praetiee being largely in the representation of more important busi- ness interests and in the heavier litigation in the Federal and higher State courts.
Politieally, Mr. Knappen is a Republican, but not a politieian. He was prosecuting at- torney for Barry county from 1878 to 1882, U. S. Commissioner from 1880 to 1888, was three years a member of the Hastings Board of Education and its president for one year, and after locating at Grand Rapids was assistant prosecuting attorney from 1888 to 1891. He is a member of the National and State Bar Associations, of the Grand Rapids Board of Education and of the Board of Trade of that eity. Fraternally and socially, he is a member of the Masonie and Knights of Pythias soci- eties, of the Psi Upsilon college fraternity, Sons of the American Revolution, Peninsular Club and Kent Country Club, and attends the Episcopal church.
He was married in 1876 at Hastings to Miss Amelia I. Kenyon of that place. They have three children, Stuart E., practicing law with his father, Fred M., connected with the Grand Rapids Veneer Works, and Florenee, a student at Vassar College.
375
HISTORICAL SKETCHES.
GILKEY, PATRICK H. The father of Mr. Gilkey, John F., came from Chester, Vermont, and settled in Richland, Kalamazoo county, Mich., in 1830. His mother, Mary M. Lovell, a descendant of the Enos Lovell family, of Vermont, came soon after and with balance of family located at Climax, Kalama- zoo county, Mich., where they were united in marriage and returned to Richland, Kalama- zoo county, where Patrick H. was born, Nov. 15, 1843. The father was one of the large farmers and business men in his locality and the son had the best educational advantages that the locality thien afforded, which were confined to the district school and four years at the Richland Seminary, which it may be presumed was little, if any, in advance of the average graded school of today. Before reach- ing his majority he took a course at the East- man Business College at Poughkeepsie, N. Y. When twenty-one years of age, he struck out on his own account and was a farmer until 1878, a period of fourteen years. He then engaged in mercantile business at Richland village, with George M. Evers, under the firm name of Evers & Company, operating a gen- eral store and buying and selling grain and produce, also doing a private banking business. The first year's business proved lucrative and the firm then opened a branch concern at Prairieville. Later the firm became Parker & Gilkey, which continued until 1880, the firm also operating a general store at Climax, Mich. Since 1880 Mr. Gilkey has been alone in business or associated with other partners and is at the present time with J. R. Hogg, conducting a general store at Richland, and managing a four hundred acre farm near there.
For years Mr. Gilkey was the Republican leader in the part of the county in which he resides, but withdrew during the second Cleve- land administration on account of its position on the tariff question. He was not formally identified with the Democratic party but dis- approved of what he regarded as class legisla- tion as advocated in the Republican platforms and carried out in the legislation by that party. He is well known throughout western Michi-
PATRICK H. GILKEY.
gan as a writer in opposition to the so-called protective policy of the Republican party, hav- ing contributed many convincing articles on that subject and in the interests of the farmers. Being a large stockholder in protected indus- tries, he, with his pen, took up the interest of the farmer, which brought replies from nearly every State in the Union. In 1896 he was nominated for Congress by the Democrats of the Third Congressional District, but with- drew in favor of Albert M. Todd, who was elected.
Mr. Gilkey has extended business connec- tions other than farming and mercantile, bothi at home and further west. He is a stockholder in the following named enterprises: Borden Paper Co., Otsego, Kalamazoo National Bank, Kalamazoo Paper Co., Union Bank of Rich- land, Lovell State Bank, Monticello, Iowa; City Bank of Lowell, Mich. ; National Bank of the Republic, Chicago, Ill. His lodge connec- tions are Masonie including the Masonic de- grees. Miss Della F. Parker of Richland be- came Mrs. Gilkey in 1869. They have a daughter and a son : Mary L., wife of Leon M. Jones, of Spokane, Wash., and Harold P., at lome.
376
MEN OF PROGRESS.
MARK SPENCER BREWER.
BREWER, MARK SPENCER. The poet has written "There is a divinity that shapes our ends, rough-hew them as we may." It is not venturing too much to say that Mr. Brewer's preference would have been for a quiet, domestic life, serving his neighbors and fellow-citizens uprightly, in a business and professional way. But the Fates seem to have decreed otherwise. Mr. Brewer seems to have been cut out for official service and the people of Michigan will be equally glad and proud that the pattern was not spoiled in the making. In spite of himself, Mr. Brewer has been kept almost continuously in the public service since he reached the age of manhood. Born in the township of Addison, Oakland county, Michi- gan, on October 22, 1837, he worked upon his father's farm until he was nineteen years of age, receiving his early education at the local schools and at the academies at Romeo and Oxford, before the development of the local high schools in Michigan. He studied law at Pontiac with the late Governor Moses Wisner and the late Judge M. E. Crofoot, and was ad- mitted to the bar in 1864 at Pontiac, where he has since practiced his profession, except when employed in the public service. In 1866 he
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