USA > Michigan > Washtenaw County > Past and present of Washtenaw County, Michigan > Part 21
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As time passed Mr. Wyckoff sold some of his original tract but still retained a farin of two hundred and sixty-seven acres. While the
country was new and the settlers were too poor to build schoolhouses, school was conducted in his home. He reared a large family, consisting of five sons and eight daughters, and with the exception of three who died in infancy he lived to see them all grow up and marry. He died at the home of his son Theron, in Salem, at the age of eighty-five years.
GEORGE FRED RONNEBURGER, M. D.
George Fred Ronneburger, physician and sur- geon of Ann Arbor, was born in Berlin, Ger- many, January 30, 1878. His father was Gustav R. Ronneburger, who married Louise Hanisch, of Dueben, Saxony. They came to America in 1881. settling in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where the father became extensively engaged in the manufacture of willow furniture. He carried on that business successfully for some time but is now operating in real estate in Milwaukee to some extent, thoughi practically living retired. In his family were three sons and a daughter, but the brothers of Dr. Ronneburger, Otto and Robert, are both deceased. The sister is Mrs. Nicholas Zweifel, a resident of Milwaukee.
Dr. Ronneburger was only three years old when brought by his parents to the United States. He attended successively the grammar and west side high schools of Milwaukee and as his choice of a life work fell upon the profession of medicine, he enrolled as a student in the medical department of the University of Michigan in 1897, but after a brief period he was forced by illness to discontinue his studies for a year. In 1898 he re-entered the university, where he completed the full course and was graduated with the class of 1902. He located at once for practice in this city and has secured a patronage which many an older member of the profession might well envy. He has a well equipped suite of rooms at No. 219 Main street, south.
In 1904 Dr. Ronneburger was married to Miss Emily Lutz, a daughter of Christian Lutz, of Ann Arbor. Fraternally he is a Royal Arch Ma-
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son and his professional relations connect him with the Ann Arbor Medical Society, Washtenaw County Medical Society and the State Medical Association. Deeply interested in his profession both from a humanitarian and professional stand- point, he is well equipped for his chosen life work and is continuously promoting his efficiency through reading and investigation.
THOMAS BIRKETT.
Thomas Birkett, a prominent representative of the banking and milling interests of Dexter and of Washtenaw county, has through his intense and well directed activity worked his way steadily upward in business until he is to-day one of the substantial citizens of this section of the state, controlling interests which have brought to him a gratifying financial return and at the same time have been a source of industrial and commercial development in the county. He was born in Cum- berland, England, on the 10th of January, 1833. his parents being Thomas and Eleanor (Mc- Clean) Birkett. the former of English parentage and the latter of Scotch descent. The father died at the age of eighty-five years, while his wife passed away at the age of seventy-seven years. In their family were four sons and three daughters, of whom five are now living, namely : Jane, Mar- garet, Elizabeth, William and Thomas.
Thomas Birkett acquired his education in the parish schools of his native country and remained a resident of England until 1852, when, at the age of nineteen years, he crossed the Atlantic on a sailing vessel which weighed anchor at Liverpool and after a voyage of forty-seven days reached the harbor of New York. Mr. Birkett made his way to Dresden, New York, where he secured employment at the miller's trade, which he had mastered in his native country. In 1853. however, he came to Washtenaw county. Michigan, where he was employed as a miller for a year and then took charge of the mill owned by D. D. Sloan & Company. This was in 1854 and he continued in charge until 1861. when Mr. Sloan died and Mr. Birkett purchased his interest in the mill and also
rented the interest of Volney Chapin, the other owner, for about two years. On the expiration of that period he purchased Mr. Chapin's interest and continued in control of the business until 1880, during which time he purchased the Hud- son mill, operating the two plants. At a later date he sold the two mills and organized a stock company that built a pulp mill under the name of the Birkett Manufacturing Com- pany. In 1887 he purchased the Dexter mill, which he is to-day operating as a grist mill and in 1892 he bought the Peninsula mills and still owns the water power. As a repre- sentative of milling interests he has promoted in- dustrial activity in Washtenaw county and these different enterprises have also proved a source of general profit by furnishing employment to many workmen. In addition to his other milling inter- ests he was at one time the owner of the Howell mills and also the Pinckney mills. In 1893 Mr. Birkett assisted in organizing the Dexter Savings Bank, of which he has been president from the beginning. This institution has been carried on along safe and conservative lines that have awak- ened general confidence and the bank has become one of the strong financial concerns of the county. He owns a farm of about three hundred acres in Dexter township with two and a half miles of frontage on Portage lake. His farm embraces Prospect Hill, which is the highest point in lower Michigan. He owns the fine old home, which was built by Judge Dexter in 1844, and he has large business interests and water power in Petoskey and at Walloon Lake.
At one time he was largely interested in south- ern pine lands with Senators Palmer and Stock- bridge. Mr. Herdman (the father of Dr. Herd- man), the Hon. Ed Uhl. Russian minister, and others, most of whom have since crossed the "great divide." This enterprise proved quite profitable.
It was on the Ist of May, 1855, that Thomas Birkett was united in marriage to Miss Sarah A. Grundon, who died on the 2d of December, 1892. leaving a daughter, Eleanor, who is now the wife of H. W. Newkirk, of Ann Arbor. Mr. Birkett has never sought to figure before the public in any political sense but as a prominent business man is
THOMAS BIRKETT.
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widely known. He came to Washtenaw county in pioneer days and in the humble capacity of a tradesman began life within its borders. He has advanced steadily step by step until his business record is such as excites the admiration and wins the respect and confidence of his contemporaries. Never making an engagement that he has not fulfilled nor incurring obligations that he has not met, he is to-day honored and respected by all, not alone because of his success but also by reason of the straightforward methods that he has ever followed.
JOHN H. CUTTING.
In this enlightened age when men of industry and enterprise are constantly pushing their way to the front those who have gained success may properly claim recognition, and such a one is John H. Cutting, who is connected with various mercantile enterprises in different towns of Michigan and is a member of the firm of Cutting. Rever & Company, of Ann Arbor. He was born in Haverhill, New Hampshire. in 1854. His father, John W. Cutting. also a native of that state, died in 1894, at the age of seventy-four years and six months. He married Eliza S. Woodbury, also a native of the old Granite state, and her death occurred in 1905, when she had reached the advanced age of eighty-one years. In their family were three children, of whom two are living. Mrs. Helen Davis of Wentworth, New Hampshire, and John H. The father followed farming throughout his entire life and always maintained his residence in his native state.
John H. Cutting remained at the place of his nativity until twelve and a half years of age. when he began earning his living by clerking in a general store at Woodsville, New Hampshire, where he continued for nine years. During that time he also attended Bradford Academy in Bradford, Vermont. When his nine years' service as a salesman had expired he formed a partner- ship under the firm style of Pike & Cutting and thus carried on merchandising interests on his own account at Woodsville. After two years Mr. Pike sold out to his nephew and the firm of
Cutting & Smith was then organized and sub- sequently Mr. Cutting continued the business alone after about two years. He then sold his store in New Hampshire, and removed to Bos- ton, Massachusetts, where he became a salesman for the firm of Bowe, Daniels & Goss, wholesale dealers and jobbers of ready-made clothing, for whom he traveled through Ohio and Michigan. He was with that house through the different changes in the firm for a number of years, at the end of which time he formed a partnership under the firm style of Smith, Chase & Cutting, in Boston, Massachusetts, but continued to cover his territory as a traveling salesman as he had hitherto done. Eventually, however, he disposed of his interests there and became a representa- tive in Ohio and Michigan of the Miner & Beale Clothing Company, of Boston, with which he con- tinues to the present time, having through his integrity, business capacity and close application built up a large business that is now quite mam- moth in its proportions. Within this territory he has also become interested in several clothing concerns at different points over the state and is now financially connected with various mercantile enterprises.
Mr. Cutting has been very successful in his business operations and has made his home in Ann Arbor for the last seventeen years. In 1890 he erected his first residence at No. 608 Monroe street, which he and his family occupied for five years. On selling that property they boarded until he could complete another home at 1520 Hill street, where they lived for four years, when he sold that residence with the intention of re- turning to Boston but did not do so. During the following four years the family lived in a rented house but in 1904 Mr. Cutting built a fine resi- dence on Tappan street, where the family now reside. He is the pioneer in the construction of a modern apartment house in Ann Arbor, having erected a large three story apartment house with a raised basement at the corner of South State and Monroe streets, being the first of the kind in the city. It is a brick with stone facings and contains nineteen suites, with a fine cafe, the latter being equipped and furnished in modern style. There are also two sets of offices and the
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building is modern throughout, with all the latest improvements and equipments known at the present day of advanced architectural per- fection. Mr. Cutting displayed quick foresight in the erection of this building for it has proven a profitable enterprise.
In 1876, in Bath, New Hampshire, occurred the marriage of John H. Cutting and Miss Fannie K. Southard, who was born in that city, and is a daughter of William and Ann ( Barron) South- ard. Prior to coming to Ann Arbor Mr. and Mrs. Cutting lived in Detroit for nine years and while there two of their children were born : Southard I., who was born February 16, 1885. and is now a senior in the law department of the University of Michigan ; and Kathleen, who was born September 21, 1886, and is also attending the university. John H., Jr., born July 23, 1893, is deceased.
Mr. Cutting belongs to the Masonic fraternity, in which he has attained the Knight Templar de- gree of the Scottish rite ; and he is also a member of the Mystic Shrine, of Detroit. His politi- cal alliance is given to the democracy but he has neither time nor inclination for public office, his energies being concentrated upon his business interests. His path is not strewn with the wreck of other men's fortunes and yet he is to-day re- graded as one of the prominent business men of the state, having extensive interests, his labors proving of value in various communities as well as a source of individual profit.
EDWARD T. RYAN.
The real upbuilders and promoters of a city are not those who control the city government or its institutions but are the founders of its business enterprises, contributing to its material improvement through industrial and commercial interests. In this connection Mr. Ryan is de- serving of representation in a record of the past and present of Ann Arbor, for during sixteen years he has been successfully engaged in the sheet metal and tinsmith business. He is, more- over, one of the young business men of the city,
possessing as dominant qualities the enterprise and progressive spirit which have been elements in the rapid growth of the middle west.
A native son of Ann Arbor, Mr. Ryan was born April 1, 1871. His father, Patrick Ryan, became one of the early settlers of Washtenaw county and was well known in business circles and public life here, wielding a wide influence in molding public thought and action, the weight of his opinions being given in support of many pro- gressive measures. He married Mrs. Johanna (McCarthy) Ryan, a native of Ireland, who had four children by her first marriage: Hannah, the wife of Thomas Taylor, of this city ; James, de- ceased: Elizabeth, who is connected with St. Vincent's convent in Cleveland, Ohio; and Mary, the wife of P. Finn, of Chicago. The children of the second marriage are: Michael and John, who are living in Ann Arbor; Timothy, a resi- dent of Jackson, Michigan; Margaret, the wife of William Lourin, of Ann Arbor ; Frank, of this city ; and Edward T.
At the age of seven years Edward T. Ryan entered St. Thomas parochial school and when fourteen became a student in the public schools, passing through consecutive grades until he had acquired a knowledge of the English branches of learning that well equipped him for the dis- charge of the practical and responsible duties of business life. His business career has also been characterized by consecutive advancement and has come in recognition of his earnest labor, close application and determined purpose and now for sixteen years he has been engaged in the sheet metal business, having for two years occupied a fine store at No. 115 Main street. north, opposite the courthouse. His patronage has continually increased until the volume of business annually transacted over his counters represents a large figure.
In 1894 occurred the marriage of Edward T. Ryan and Miss Frances Fluer, of Jackson, Michigan. Their home has been blessed with three children : Philip, Francis and Helen, aged respectfully six, three and one years. Mr. Ryan is connected with the Modern Woodmen of America and with the Knights of Columbus, while in religious faith he is a Catholic. His
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political belief accords with democratic principles and he is serving as supervisor of the third ward of Ann Arbor. In political thought and action he has always been independent, carrying out his honest views without fear or favor. In business he has achieved success through honorable effort, untiring industry and capable management, and in private life he has gained that warm personal regard which arises from deference for the opinions of others, kindness and geniality.
CONRAD NOLL.
Conrad Noll is well deserving of mention in the history of Washtenaw county by reason of the fact that he has been connected with mercan- tile circles in Ann Arbor for almost a half cen- tury and throughout this entire period has main- tained an unassailable reputation for business in- tegrity and enterprise. He was born in Germany February 20, 1836. His parents were George and Margaret (Krapf) Noll, who were likewise natives of that country, in which the father car- ried on merchandising, prospering in his business undertakings. Both parents, however, have long since passed away.
At the usual age Conrad Noll entered the pub- lic schools, acquiring therein the knowledge that equipped him for the practical duties of life. In- terested in the reports which he heard and read concerning America and its business opportuni- ties, he resolved to seek his fortune in the new world and, bidding adieu to friends and native land, he sailed for this country when twenty years of age. Making his way at once to Michi- gan, he settled in Ann Arbor in 1856. Here he entered into the shoe business, in which he is still actively engaged. He possesses untiring en- ergy, is quick of perception, forms his plans readily and is determined in their execution, and the secret of his prosperity lies probably in the fact of his strict adherence to a definite plan of action. The only time in which he has relin- quished his business cares was when in response to his country's call for troops he offered his service to the Union army and became a member
of the Twentieth Michigan Regiment, which was assigned to the Ninth Army Corps. He did ac- tive and valuable service under General Ambrose Burnside and was the recipient of a medal of honor in recognition of gallant service. For six years he carried a rebel bullet in his body, having been wounded at the battle of the Mine Explosion before Petersburg, Virginia, July 30, 1864. He participated in many important engagements and thoroughly understands from actual experience all about the horrors and rigors of war, its hard- ships and its dangers.
In 1870 Mr. Noll was married to Miss Eliza- beth Wicke, a native of Germany, and they have two daughters and a son : Annie Eliza, Lena Lou- isa and Edwin C. Theirs is a beautiful home on Second street. justly celebrated for its warm- hearted hospitality freely accorded to their many friends. They are members of the Zion Lu- theran church of Ann Arbor. One of the distin- guishing characteristics of Mr. Noll is his schol- arly taste, for throughout his entire life he has been an inveterate reader and student, a course of life which is reflected in his fine command of language and his intimate acquaintance with all the leading questions of the day. He is a man of strict business integrity, of genial disposition and pleasing manner and is held in the highest respect by all, while Ann Arbor acknowledges her indebtedness to him for his co-operation in business and public affairs that have contributed to her substantial progress.
OLIVER H. WESTFALL.
Oliver H. Westfall. proprietor of a large livery and transfer business in Ypsilanti, is numbered among the worthy citizens that the Empire state has furnished to Washtenaw county. His birth occurred in Ontario county, New York, on the 14th of February, 1844. His father was Lewis Westfall, also a native of that county, born on the 15th of December, 1810. Throughout his entire business life he devoted his time and en- ergies to agricultural pursuits, continuing the ac- tive work of the farm until ten years prior to
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his death, when he retired and in the enjoyment of well earned ease spent the succeeding decade. He passed away November 26, 1896, at the age of seventy-six years. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Catherine Glimpse, was a native of New Jersey, born in 1809 and died in 1895. In their family were seven children, six of whom are living, as follows : Sarah A., now the wife of Lafayette Burch : Charles, a farmer residing near Belleville: Orson, a retired capitalist of Canton township, Washtenaw county ; Mrs. Jane Everett, of Fair Grove, Michigan, whose husband is an extensive farmer and capitalist ; Oliver H., of this review : and Mrs. Ella King, a widow living in Plymouth, Michigan. The deceased member of the family was William Westfall, who was a farmer.
Oliver H. Westfall attended school in New York city for seven or eight years and afterward completed his education in Plymouth, Michigan, following the removal of the family to that place. It was in the year 1860 that the father came to this state, settling upon a farm and to the work of the fields Mr. Westfall of this review devoted his energies until nineteen years of age, when he entered the Union army in response to the call for volunteers, enlisting as a member of Company A, Thirtieth Michigan Infantry, in which he served as corporal. He proved a brave and loyal soldier, ever faithfully discharging his duty whether on the firing line or the lonely picket line. He has had a very active and varied busi- ness experience, devoting his attention to sundry lines of merchandising until about fourteen years ago, when he came to Ypsilanti and established a large livery and transfer business, which he has since conducted. He is today the leading livery- man of this city, having a splendid equipment of fine carriages and horses and a liberal patronage, which is accorded him in recognition of his earn- est desire to please his patrons and his straight- forward business dealings. His barn, which is an immense brick building, is located at No. 15 South Washington street.
Mr. Westfall has been married twice. On the 12th of July, 1868, he wedded Miss Eliza Gillis- pic, of Canton township, Wayne county, and they became the parents of two children. Clarence,
who was born February 18, 1869. attended school in Plymouth, Michigan, and was afterward a student in the Cleary Business College of Ypsi- lanti. He has been engaged in various lines of business in Jackson and other towns in Michi- gan and for some years has acted as traveling salesman for the Scotton Tobacco Company. He is a trustee and leading member of Queen City lodge, No. 167, K. P. He married Miss Ida VanHorn, a native of Trenton, Michigan, and they have two children, Oliver and Margaret, aged respectively eight and four years. The daughter, Jennie Westfall, became the wife of Fred Wheeler, of Salem, Washtenaw county, who is now proprietor of a large general store in Salem.
In 1893 Mr. Westfall was again married, his second union being with Antoinette Crane, of Clifton Springs, New York. In his political faith Mr. Westfall is a democrat and has filled the of- fices of poor commissioner and chief of police in Ypsilanti. His religious belief is indicated by his membership in the Methodist church. In his business career he has made consecutive prog- ress because he has worked diligently and per- severingly, realizing that labor is the basis of all success.
GEORGE VALENTINE.
George Valentine, who is engaged in general agricultural pursuits in Manchester township, was born in this township, September 3. 1838. His father. Frederick Valentine, was born in Sar- atoga county, New York, June 18. 1810, and was of Scotch and German lineage. By occupation he was a farmer, devoting his entire life to agri- cultural pursuits. In 1833 he came to Michigan with his father, Frederick Valentine, Sr. The mother's death had occurred in May of that year. After reaching his destination, Frederick Valen- tine, Sr., entered from the government a half sec- tion of land on sections 33 and 34, Manchester township, and there he became successfully and extensively engaged in farming. His son. Fred- erick, was likewise a leading agriculturist, who
MIR. AND MRS. GEORGE VALENTINE.
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carried on farm work on an extensive scale. His political support was given to the republican party, and he held membership in the Masonic fraternity and the Methodist Episcopal church. He wedded Miss Abigail Bivens, who was born in Connecticut, July 14, 1819, and was a daugh- ter of Moses Bivens, and a descendant of New England ancestry. Mrs. Valentine likewise be- longed to the Methodist Episcopal church, and its teachings bore fruit in her upright life, kindly spirit and helpful nature. She died August 4. 1858, and was long survived by her husband, who passed away in 1897. They were the parents of four children: George: Augustus A., who died in 1855: Irene; and Celia Ann, who married Spencer M. Case and died in 1883.
In taking up the personal history of George Valentine we present to our readers the life rec- ord of one widely known in Washtenaw county, because of his long residence here. He was reared upon the old home farm, attended the district schools in his youth, and also had plenty of work to do in connection with the tilling of the soil and the care of the stock. In fact. he soon had to put aside his text-books in order to assist in the farm labor. His entire life has been devoted to the work of the agriculturist, and he now lives on section 16, Manchester township, where he owns and operates one hundred and sixty acres of land. while on section 2 of the same township he has twenty acres. His farm is well improved. the fields being richly cultivated, and everything about the place is indicative of the careful super- vision of the owner.
Mr. Valentine was married in 1871 to Miss Ann Jane Tuthill. who was born in the village of Manchester in 1848. her parents being George and Jane Tuthill, the former a farmer who came from Orange county, New York, to Michigan. In his family were seven children : Horace, a farmer now residing in Dakota: Alfred, a resi- dent of Manchester township: Ida, the wife of Charles Coon, also a farmer of Manchester town- ship: Alta, the wife of Horace E. Bowen, a to- bacconist of Clinton, Michigan ; Nettie, the wife of Jay Corey, a grocer of Pontiac, Michigan : Frank : and Mrs. Valentine. Unto our subject and his wife have been born five children : Kittie :
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