USA > Michigan > Men of progress : embracing biographical sketches of representative Michigan men with an outline history of the state > Part 59
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438
MEN OF PROGRESS.
RASMUS HANSON.
HANSON, RASMUS, of the firm of Sall- ing, Hanson & Co., Grayling, Mich., was born at Vester Kipping, Falster, Denmark, Oet. 14, 1846. He attended the common schools until he was 14 years old, and was then confirmed in the Lutheran church. He worked on his father's farm until the fall of 1863, when the war broke out between Den- mark and the German confederacy, when, in connection with another party, he started out as an army sutler, but circumstances were unfavorable, and the venture yielded no profits. He returned to his father's farm, bnt found farm life too slow for his energies, and he finally agreed with his father to emigrate to America. He left home May 3, 1865, and landed in New York the 15th. He decided to make for the interior, and located at Racine, Wis., where he hired out on a farm and worked four months. He then went to Manistee, Mich., where he met Mr. B. Sweet on the wharf and hired ont at $20 per month. In a very short time he worked himself up to the position of fore- man for the firm, for whom he continued to work until 1867. Having accumulated a little money, he became associated with Ern- est N. Salling in buying timber and lumber- ing it and selling the logs, and also getting out logs for other parties. In the fall of 1871 he sold out to Engelman, Bab- cock & Salling, and was engaged as woods'
manager by this firm, with whom he continued for two years. In the meantime he had associated himself with Nels Michel- son in jobbing and logging, and after leaving the employ of the former firm he organized the firm of Michelson, Hanson & Co., which in 1873 was merged in the new firm of R. Hanson & Co. This firm continued to oper- ate until the spring of 1878, when the name was changed to Salling, Han- son & Co., Mr. Salling having joined the new firm. This firm began operations at Grayling, putting logs into the Manistee river and selling them to parties at Manistee. In 1882 the firm commenced to manufacture lumber of its own, and bought out a small sawmill, which, in 1899, was superseded by a new mill with a capacity of 20,000,000 a year. In 1892 a band mill and planing mill were added. The firm own a large amount of pine, and have hardwood timber covering about 60,000 acres. In 1900 the firm began the erection of a hardwood mill at Johannes- burg, a place which the company has just started. Mr. Hanson is also a member of the Michelson & Hanson Lumber Co., of Lewiston, Mich., having mills at Lewiston and at Sallings. He is a director of this company and general manager of his own company. He also helped to organize the Michigan Sugar Company, the first sugar company or- ganized in Michigan, and also the Bay City Sugar Co., in both of which he is a director, and is interested in the Crawford County Ex- change Bank and other commercial and finan- cial enterprises.
Mr. Hanson is a Republican, but disagrees with the party as to the treatment of the new possessions. He was an alternate to the Minneapolis convention in 1892 and a member of the Michigan Electoral College in 1896. He was elected the first county treasurer of Crawford county in 1SS0 and received the entire vote of his township. He has been a member of the local school board for 15 years, is a 32nd degree Mason, and is a member of the National and State Lumbermen's Associations, of the Michigan Club, the Hoo Hoos, etc.
Mr. Hanson was married Sept. 17, 1867, to Miss Margrethe Hanson, and their five chil- dren are : Matilda, wife of H. A. Bauman, cashier of bank; Margrethe, at home; Thor- wald, manager of the company's business at Johannesburg; Espern, manager of merean- tile business at Johannesburg, and Oscar, now employed as clerk in his father's store.
439
HISTORICAL SKETCHES.
NEWKIRK, DR. CHARLES T. Dr. Newkirk's paternal ancestors were from Ger- many, first settling in the region of the Catskill Mountains, N. Y. His grandfather, Peter Newkirk, removed to Canada and was an active partisan of Mackenzie in the re- bellion of '37-8. His father, Reverend Moses Newkirk, was born at Simcoe, Ontario, where the son was also born December 10, 1842. His mother, Catherine Topping, was of Irish parentage. Dr. Newkirk had early educa- tional advantages, was a graduate of the Uni- versity of Toronto, and in 1863 was graduated as doctor of medicine from Victoria College of that city. He practiced for a short time in Canada and then with his family went to Buenos Ayres, S. A. Devoting some nine months to the study of the language, he re- ceived an appointment as "Doctor of the Province of Corrientes," and was also made surgeon of the Argentine Hospital, but re- signed after four months to enter the service of the Brazilian army as first surgeon of a division, with the rank of Major. After four years' service, at the close of the Brazil-Para- guyan war, he opened a drug store in connec- tion with the practice of his profession, at Assumption, Paraguay. His wife's health failing, he started on his return to the north, but as the yellow fever was then raging at Buenos Ayres, sending his family on to their destination, he remained there. Ilis pro- fessional services were accepted by the gov- ernment, and he remained there, fighting the disease for four months, or until the epidemic had exhausted itself, the virulence of which may be judged by the fact that the record showed 26,000 deaths in 35 days. His ser- vices were highly applauded by the local press. Coming north in the fall of 1871, after visiting New York and Chicago, he decided to settle in Bay City. His knowledge of the Spanish language and his experience in army and yellow fever practice, pointed him out as most fit for service in the Spanish-American war, and yielding to the solicitations both of his friends and the government he accepted an appointment and left for Santiago July 12, 1898, and entered the yellow fever hos-
DR. CHARLES T. NEWKIRK.
pital there. After a few weeks' service, he was advanced to the position of brigade sur- geon with the rank of Major, on the recom- mendation of General Shafter and the de- partment surgeon. Ile remained at his post until his services were no longer needed, doing service in the hospitals in and around San- tiago and Siboney, despite greatly impaired health, and returned to Bay City in October. Dr. Newkirk is a large contributor to Ameri- can Medical literature. He is a member of the American Medical Association, and of the State Medical Society, has served as vice- president of the latter, and was one of the or- ganizers of the Bay County Society. He served 10 years as county physician of Bay County and is local surgeon for several rail- roads. He was 12 years a member of the Board of Education and part of the time its president. Is a member of the Masonic Fra- ternity, and a Republican in politics. Miss Mary J. Anderson became Mrs. Newkirk at Simcoe, September 10, 1863. Her father, Jolın Anderson, late of Cleveland, O., was from Ireland and was a partisan of Macken- zie in the Canadian Rebellion of '37-8. Dr. and Mrs. Newkirk have two children- Dolores, a graduate of the Leggett School in Detroit and of Vassar College, now living in New York, and Harry N., surgeon for the American Steel Wire Co., of Chicago, with works at Ironwood, Mich.
440
MEN OF PROGRESS.
HENRY W. CAREY,
CAREY, HENRY W. £ Mr. Carey is a resident of East Lake, a suburb of the city of Manistee, and is a prominent factor in the business enterprises of the locality. He is secretary and treasurer of the R. G. Peters Salt and Lumber Company, of the Manistee & Luther Railroad, and of the Batchelor Cyprus Lumber Company, with mills at Panasoffkee, Fla., is vice-president and treas- urer of the Peters Lumber and Shingle Com- pany of Benton Harbor, president of the Wol- verine Oil Company of Manistee, president of the Michigan Manufacturing Company (shingles and lath) of Elk Rapids, and direc- tor of the News Publishing Company of Man- istee, and editor of the Manistee Times- Sentinel.
Mr. Carey is a native of New York City, born in 1850. Ilis educational course was completed at the college of the city of New York. Served his time in the 22nd N. Y. state troops, and at the time of his coming to Michigan held the rank of Captain in the Veteran Corps of that regiment. He came to Michigan in 1881 and entered the employ of R. G. Peters as private secretary. His in- tegrity, character and systematic business
habits gave him rapid advancement, until there are few men now in Michigan having an equal number of responsible business con- nections. Although never having held a po- litical office, he is prominent in the councils of the Republican party, of which he is a member, and is recognized as a leader in his part of the state. He was made a member of the State Central Committee in 1888 and since 1890 has been a member of its executive committee. Ile served six years as chairman of the Manistee County Committee, an equal length of time as secretary of the Con- gressional District Committee of the Ninth District, and was one year a vice-president of the National League of Republican Clubs. He has been a trustee of the school board of Eastlake for 18 years. In February, 1893, he was appointed by Governor Rich, Paymaster- General of Michigan State Troops, which po- sition he held four years, and from which he derived the title of Colonel.
Col. Carey is a leading and somewhat en- thusiastic member of the order of the Mac- cabees. He became a member of the order in December, 1889, when he assisted in or- ganizing Linten Tent No. 17, of Eastlake, of which he was elected Commander, and under his administration the Tent grew rapidly in membership, and in 1891 took the prize for the largest per cent of gain, having increased nearly 200 during the year. He has admin- istered the office of Deputy Great Com- mander, Great Chaplain, First Great Master of the Guard, and Great Lieutenant-Com- mander, to which latter he was elected at the Great Camp of the State in 1894. Colonel Carey is thoroughly posted on all matters per- taining to the workings of the order and has always been ready to respond and contribute to all of its gatherings.
Miss May M. Ransom, daughter of Jona- than HI. Ransom, of New York City, became Mrs. Carey in 1879. Three children, Mabel M., now traveling in Europe, and Archibald E. and Eleanor J., at school, are the fruit of the union.
441
HISTORICAL SKETCHES.
MERRIMAN, GEORGE W. Mr. Mer- riman's first introduction to Michigan was in a business way, he having come to Plainwell to accept a position in a bank in which his unele had an interest. He is of English lineage, his grandfather, Elisha Merriman, was a resident of Connecticut, and some of the older residents of the country may reeall having seen or handled the wooden clocks, of which he was a well known manufacturer. His father, Elijah, was a resident of Savan- nah, N. Y., where the son was born Feb- rnary 4, 1851. His mother was Maria E. Winegar, of Springport, N. Y. The son attended the primary schools up to the age of 17, when he entered the High School of Clyde, N. Y., from which he graduated after a two-years' course. He then engaged in teaching and was principal of the Union School at South Butler, N. Y., where he earned the first money he could call his own. He gave up an engagement for a second year at this place, to accept the situation at Plain- well, which had been tendered him. Com- mencing in a subordinate position at $50 per month, he remained in the bank until 1880, a period of about nine years, during which time he was promoted to the position of assistant and aeting eashier. He then entered the law department of the University, graduating with the elass of 1882. Locating at Hart- ford, an enterprising village of Van Buren County, he soon established a good praetiee, which he has maintained with a steady in- erease, up to the present time.
In 1894 Mr. Merriman was elected to the State Senate from the Eighth Senatorial Dis- triet, composed of the counties of Allegan and Van Buren and was re-elected in 1896, serv- ing through the regular sessions of '95 and '97, and the special session of '98. As ehair- man of the important Committee on Finance and Appropriations of the Senate during his seeond term, he won a merited prominence by his eareful serutiny of the demands of the
GEORGE W. MERRIMAN.
many state institutions in the way of ap- propriations, and while not refusing what seemed just and reasonable, yet keeping the state tax levy, within the average limits of former years. He was also the father of the "Merriman" railroad taxation law, which has been so prominently before the publie of late.
Some years ago Mr. Merriman beeame identified with the manufacture of hardwood lumber, and has operated several sawmills in southwestern Michigan, with headquarters at Hartford, where he also has a mill in opera- tion. He is one of the leading Republicans in his part of the State, and was a delegate to the National Republiean Convention at Minneapolis in 1892. In a commercial way also, he is a banker and dealer in and large holder of real estate, besides having farming interests to which he gives personal attention. He is a Royal Areh Mason and a member of the Oddfellows fraternity, of the Elks and Maeeabees. He has been twice married, first in 1882, to Miss Jennie Sherman of Plain- well, who died in 1888, leaving one son, Harry J., and in 1894 to Mrs. Jennie Smiley Phelps, of Grand Rapids.
442
MEN OF PROGRESS.
FRANK ADAMS PEAVEY.
PEAVEY, FRANK ADAMS. Mr. Peavey represents the element of which the population of Michigan was almost wholly composed up to the middle of the present century, those of English extraction (remotely in most cases), with a contingent of Irish, forming the bulk of the population. His father, Charles C. Peavey, was descended from English stock and was born at Wolf- boro, N. H., coming from there to Marshall, Mich., in 1855, and removing to Battle Creek in 1865. Ilis mother, Mary Adams, was a daughter of John Adams of Boston, one of the Adams family of Massachusetts. Frank A. Peavey was born in Marshall June 22, 1860. Ile attended the public schools of Battle Creek and the Adventist College at that place, and in 1880 entered the employ of his grandfather, Colonel John Peavey, who kept a hide and leather store in Battle Creek, with whom he remained about three years. In 1883 he accepted a position with the Battle Creek Metal Back Album Company, repre- senting them on the road, and after about six months' service with them he entered the em-
ploy of the Upton Manufacturing Company of Battle Creek, as bookkeeper. In 1884 this concern moved their plant to Port Huron, Mr. Peavey continuing with them. In 1890 the Upton Manufacturing Company was merged into the Port Huron Engine & Thresher Company, and Mr. Peavey was made general manager of the business. The com- pany is now capitalized at $500,000, with "branches at Peoria, Ill .; Cedar Rapids, Ia .; Manitowoc, Wis., and Wichita, Kan. The concern makes threshing machinery, traction engines, road rollers, power corn shellers and portable sawmills. The present year (1900) the company is introducing a special feature of the manufacture of road wagons, which, when attached to a traction engine, can be used as a regular train, in the hauling over- land of beets, chicory, road materials, coal, etc. The Port Huron Engine & Thresher Company finds a ready sale for its output in the middle west. The healthy growth of the concern is shown by comparing the sales of 1890, $100,000, with 1899, $1,000,000. Very much of this increase is due to judicious management under Mr. Peavey's administra- tion. The concern gives employment to about 400 men.
Aside from his connection with the Port Huron Engine & Thresher Company, of which he is secretary, treasurer and general manager, Mr. Peavey is a director in the Port Huron Manufacturing Company, and is in- terested in the Factory Land Company, the Threshermen's Review Publishing Company, and the Road Maker Publishing Company, all of Port Huron. Ile is a member of the Fellowcraft Club of Detroit, and of the Port Huron Club. Miss Alma Walker, daughter of Maciah Walker of Port Huron, became Mrs. Peavey in 1891. Mrs. Peavey's father was a Canadian by birth, his father (with his family), however, having been one of Port Huron's earliest settlers. Her mother, Mary Innis, was of St. Clair. Mr. and Mrs. Peavey have no children.
443
HISTORICAL SKETCHES.
BOUDEMAN, DALLAS. Mr. Boude- man stands at the head of the bar in Western Michigan, being a resident of Kalamazoo, where he has been in active practice for 28 years. He was born at Danville, Montour county, Pa., January 20, 1846, and his first name indicates that his parents, William and Margaret G. Boudeman, were admirers of the then Vice-President of the United States, George M. Dallas, who was a Pennsylvanian. Mr. Bondeman's parents were pioneers of St. Joseph county, this state, coming from their Pennsylvania home in 1850, by the then approved mode of land conveyance, a covered wagon and team of horses, although in many cases other than the one under notice, a yoke of oxen served in place of the horses. They settled on a farm in St. Joseph County, where the son (an only child) was brought up. The son's early education was received in the pub- lic schools of Flowerfield and Three Rivers, in St. Joseph county. After teaching two win- ters in the primary schools of the county, he pursued a four years' course at Hillsdale Col- lege, and immediately after graduation, be- gan the study of law in the office of Severens & Burrows, of Kalamazoo, the former now Judge of the U. S. District Court for the Western Michigan District, and the latter, one of the United States Senators from Michigan. After being admitted to the bar, Mr. Boude- man became a partner with Judge Severens in practice and was thus connected for six years. Mr. Boudeman's standing in the legal pro- fession may be judged by the character of his early preceptors, and by the fact that he is now a non-resident lecturer in the Law De- partment of the State University. He has handled snecessfully many important cases in the Supreme Court and in the United States · Courts, notably the case of the Duplex Print-
DALLAS BOUDEMAN.
ing Press Company, recently decided by the U. S. Court of Appeals in favor of the com- pany for whom Mr. Boudeman was attorney.
Mr. Boudeman is a Republican in politics, but is not and has never been an officeseeker, the only official position which he ever held, having been as a member of the Kalamazoo School Board. At the Republican Judicial Convention in 1899, Mr. Boudeman vielded to the earnest request of many attorneys in southwestern Michigan, in permitting his name to be presented as a candidate for Judge of the Supreme Court. Judge Grant was, however, nominated, and Mr. Boudeman is still endeavoring to be a lawyer and to con- vince the courts, including Judge Grant, that his clients are always right, in which he is in most cases successful. Mr. Boudeman was married November 15, 1871, to Miss Mary J. Oernst of Mendon. Their children are Donald O., and Dallas, Jr., the former 20 years of age and in college, the latter 2 years old and at home.
444
MEN OF PROGRESS.
G. HENRY SHEARER.
SHEARER, G. HENRY. Mr. Shearer is a native of Michigan, born in Detroit, Jan- uary 3, 1853. His father, Hon. James Shearer, was for many years and until his death on October 15, 1895, one of the most honored and trusted citizens of the state. He was born in Albany, N. Y., and came to De- troit in 1837, removing to Bay City in 1865. He was a contractor and builder while in Detroit. The mother of G. Henry Shearer, Margaret Hutchinson, daughter of Henry Hutchinson of Detroit, died in Bay City February 20, 1899.
The subject of this sketch received his early education in the public schools of De- troit and Bay City and in private and select schools, and thereafter until 1872 at the Pennsylvania Military Academy at Chester, Pa. In preparation for a life work he scenis to have realized the fitness of beginning at the bottom. After leaving school he secured a position as common yard man in a himber yard in Bay City, and gradually worked his way up until he became bookkeeper and con- fidential man. In 1877, in connection with his father and brother, he branched out in the
real estate business, they having heavy land investments in Michigan and other western states.
Mr. Shearer honors the menory of his father by his faith and fidelity in public trusts. He has been a member of the Bay City Water Board for 18 years, and a member of the Fire Commission ever since its organization, and is president of both boards. He is secretary of the Elm Lawn Cemetery Company, a trus- tee of the First Presbyterian Church, and a stockholder and director in and vice-president of the Bay County Savings Bank. He is a 32 degree Mason, a member of the Mystic Shrine, of the Maccabees, the Royal Ar- canum, the Oddfellows, and of the Bay City Club (social). His landed interests are largely in connection with Shearer Bros., Colt, Mulholland, and Bay county land companies (limited), all of Bay City. Miss Elva D. Culver, daughter of Descum Culver, a former lumberman of Bay City, became Mrs. Shearer Angust 22, 1876. They have no children. Mr. Shearer is a Republican in politics, has never sought any political office, although of- fered many difficult offices, and held many positions of trust in the party.
445
HISTORICAL SKETCHES.
CALLAGHAN, MILES MORRIS. The senior member of the firm of Callaghan & Richardson of Reed City, was born at Port- land, Mich., October 7, 1868. His paternal ancestry, as may be readily inferred from the name, was Irish. His grandfather, Patrick Callaghan, who was a lineal descendant of King Kollunkill, was an Irish leader, and was forced to leave Ireland in 1850, for po- litical reasons. His parents, Charles and Margurette (Morris) Callaghan, were resi- dents of Portland, but removed to Reed City when the son was 7 years of age. The son had the advantages of the local schools until the age of 15, when he became errand boy and delivery clerk for Stoddard Bros., a hard- ware firm at Reed City, beginning at a eom- pensation of $10 per month. He was in the employ of this firm for 15 years, during the last seven of which he was buyer and manager. In 1897 he started in business for himself, as agent for manufacturing firms, and in Feb- ruary, 1899, became a member of the firm of Callaghan & Richardson, retail dealers in paints, oils and wall paper. The firm are also manufacturers' agents in that part of the state, for handling pump and well supplies, heavy hardware, bicyeles, sporting goods, etc.
Mr. Callaghan is a Republican in politics and is the only one of that political faith in the Callaghan family. He has been president of the Young Men's Republican Club, of Reed City, for the past eight years, and is secretary of the Osceola County Republican commit- tee. He holds the office of postmaster at Reed City, to which he was appointed by President Mckinley June 15, 1897. He has congres- sional aspirations, being ambitious to repre- sent the Eleventh distriet in Congress.
Mr. Callaghan's society connections and
MILES MORRIS CALLAGHAN.
services are extensive. Ile joined Osceola Conrt Independent Order of Foresters at Reed City in 1889, and in 1892 was appointed high messenger of the court. In 1896 he was eleeted vice-high chief ranger at Lansing, and in 1897, at Port Huron, was elected high chief ranger and re-elected in 1898 at the Detroit meeting of the High Court. When the state was divided by the erection of two High Courts in 1899, he was appointed high secre- tary of the High Court of the Western dis- trict, which position he still holds. He is serv- ing his second term as chancellor commander of Osceola Lodge Knights of Pythias, of Reed City, and is a member of the Maccabecs, Mod- ern Woodmen of America, Royal Circle, Mys- tic Circle, etc.
Received the vote of his county for 17 bal- lots at the Republican congressional eonven- tion for the Eleventh district at Traverse City in July, 1900.
446
MEN OF PROGRESS.
US
CAPT. HARRY HILL BANDHOLTZ.
BANDHOLTZ, CAPT. ILARRY HILL. Among our young Michigan men of progress, Capt. Bandholtz must certainly take rank, as he is now introducing American progress into an extensive district in Cuba, in the native nomenclature, being styled "Khaki King of Sagua." He was assigned to the command of this district of Sagua, comprising about 2,400 square miles, with headquarters at the city of Sagua la Grande. His duties consist of building roads, enforcing sanitary regulations, inspecting hospitals, ete .- a position of respon- sibility certainly flattering to a young man in his thirty-sixth year.
Capt. Bandholtz is part German, his father, Christopher Bandholtz, after serving in the Danish-German war, came to America from Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, in 1847. ITis mother, whose maiden name was Eliza- beth Hill, is of Puritan descent, and traces her lineage back to the Perrys, represented by Commodore Perry of Lake Erie fame. The father and mother were married in Constan- tine, N. Y., where the present Capt. Band- holtz was born September 18, 1864. Grad- nating from the local schools there in 1881, he passed the next four years as a bookkeeper in Chicago, and in 1885 won his way to the West Point Military Academy upon a compet- itive examination at Kalamazoo. He grad- uated from West Point in 1890, and was com- missioned a second lieutenant and assigned to
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