USA > Michigan > Washtenaw County > Past and present of Washtenaw County, Michigan > Part 32
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William A. Schneider came to Ann Arbor in early youth and acquired his education in the public schools of this city. He was afterward a telegraph operator for several years and during
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his early connection with commercial interests he worked for the firm of Hutzel & Company, after- ward for the Eberbach Hardware Company and later for the J. C. Fischer Company. For two years he has been engaged in business on his own account under the firm style of Ryan & Schnei- der. at No. 115 North Main street, opposite the courthouse, where they do a large business in furnaces and sheet metal work. The patronage is constantly growing and has already reached extensive and profitable proportions, making their enterprise a leading commercial interest of the city.
In 1901 was celebrated the marriage of Wil- liam A. Schneider and Miss Matilda Weis, of Manchester. Their children are two in number. Luella Marie and Earl William. Mr. Schneider holds membership relations with the Knights of the Maccabees and with the Zion Lutheran church, while in his political views he is a demo- crat. He keeps well informed on the questions and issues of the day, as every true American citizen should do, but is without political aspira- tions for himself. He is yet a young man but has attained a creditable position in business cir- cles and is building up a fine trade in his chosen field of endeavor.
AARON LONG.
Aaron Long. a cigar manufacturer of Ann Ar- bor. was born in Wiltshire, England. on the 3d of January, 1843. The father, Charles Long, emigrating with his family to Canada, died three weeks after his arrival in that country. Aaron Long was at that time but three years of age. The family landed at New York city and at once made their way to the British possessions to the north. Mr. and Mrs. Long were the parents of four children, of whom three are living: John, now a resident farmer of Canada; Aaron, of this review ; and Mrs. Ann Scott, the wife of a promi- nent contractor at Galt, Ontario, Canada.
Aaron Long spent the early years of his life in Canada and pursued his education in the schools of Canada. He has for many years resided in Ann
Arbor and is greatly respected and esteemed by the business people of this city. He entered his present line of business in 1895 and as a cigar manufacturer is conducting a successful enter- prise at No. 115 North Main street, where he manufactures some very fine brands of cigars, not- ably the "Yellow and Blue," which is a ready seller on the market. He furnishes employment to a number of workmen and is in control of an enterprise which is steadily increasing in volume and importance, his trade bringing to him a good financial return.
At the time of the Civil war Mr. Long, then a young man, responded to the call of the country for aid in the preservation of the Union and en- listed as a member of Company D. Second Michi- gan Volunteer Cavalry, with which he saw much active service, being frequently in the thickest of the fight. He was also engaged in lonely picket duty and wherever stationed he was found loyal to the old flag and the cause it represented.
In 1868 Mr. Long was married to Miss Mary Jane Bailey, of Ann Arbor and they have two chil- dren : Albert T., in Ann Arbor ; and Mrs. Hattie E. Smith, also of this city. The former is a di- rector of an orchestra and is also a member of the faculty of the University School of Music, pos- sessing superior talent and ability in that art. The same patriotic spirit which animated the father in the Civil war was also manifested by the son at the time of the Spanish-American war and as bugler he went to Cuba with the Twenty-third Regiment of Michigan Volunteers. Company A.
Mr. Long is a valued representative of some fraternal organizations, including the Masonic Fraternity lodge, No. 262, in which he has held all of the chairs, serving as senior deacon for a number of years, and was a charter member of this lodge. He is likewise a member of Welch post, G. A. R., and thus maintains pleasant rela- tions with his old army comrades, recalling around the camp fires many events that occurred upon the battle fields of the south. His religious faith is in accord with the teachings of the Episcopal church and in politics he is independent where local questions are involved. while in national politics he gives an unfaltering support to the democracy. A long residence in Ann Arbor has
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made him well known, while his salient charac- teristics have been such as have gained for him the confidence and esteem of his fellowmen.
CORNELIUS STEWART.
Cornelius Stewart, who for many years was well known as an agriculturist of Washtenaw county and business man of Ypsilanti, was born in Lodi, New York, September 28, 1817. His parents, Mr. and Mrs. Abraham Stewart, were also natives of New York and were of Scotch- Irish descent. The father owned a large tract of land near Lodi and engaged in farming there throughout his active business life but both he and his wife died when their son Cornelius was very young, the mother when he was but nine days old and the father when he had reached the age of three years.
Following his mother's death Cornelius Stewart was taken by his grandmother but she died a few years later and he was then reared by his mater- nal uncle, Cornelius Cole, who gave him good ed- ucational privileges. When his school life was ended, desiring to learn a trade, Mr. Stewart went to Ovid. Seneca county, New York, where he entered the employ of a tailor, with whom he worked for a short time, when he entered into partnership with a friend and established a retail clothing store in Ovid. Leaving his partners in charge of the store, he went to California in 1849 and remained there about a year and a half, re- turning home with two thousand dollars in gold which he divided with his partner according to previous arrangements. Not long afterward he purchased his partner's interest and continued the business alone. He was accorded a liberal pat- ronage and was conducting a profitable business when, desiring to double his stock, he went to Rochester, where he purchased a large amount of men's clothing and furnishings. The Jews from whom he made the purchase, however, swindled him and he was forced to make an assignment. He then came to the west, settling in Washtenaw county, where he purchased a small tract of land west of Ypsilanti and engaged in farming there
for about five years. He then removed into the city and Mrs. Stewart purchased several building lots in the eastern part of the town for an invest- ment. Mr. Stewart accepted a position with the clothing manufacturers in their mills here, but only remained for a short time, when his health began to fail and he retired.
Mr. Stewart was married in Cortland county, New York, to Miss Mary E. Spencer, a native of England, born April 27, 1817, and a daughter of Michael and Mary ( Larvers) Spencer, who came from England to America in 1818, settling near Syracuse, in Onondaga county, New York. The father was a tanner by trade and conducted a business of that character for several years, after which he removed to Cortland county, where he also carried on a tannery. Finally disposing of his tanyard he purchased a farm in that county for his sons and with them resided on the farm until the death of Mrs. Spencer, when the husband re- moved to the city of Cortland to live a retired life. Coming west to visit his daughter in Web- ster, Michigan, he was there taken ill and died very suddenly. Mr. and Mrs. Stewart became the parents of four sons and a daughter. Albert, born September 16, 1841, died in February, 1843. Edgcomb died in infancy. Wilmer, born Septem- ber II, 1844, served in the Union Army and was wounded in the battle of Gettysburg. His mother brought him home and he died here. Edwin Eu- gene, born September 27, 1847, died December 31, 1854. Ella is the wife of Henry L. Stoup and they reside at No. 125 Towner street, Ypsilanti. Mr. Stoup is a millwright by trade and travels most of the time, installing machinery in mills throughout the state. Mr. and Mrs. Stoup have four children : Mrs. Emma Robbins, of Ypsilanti ; Minnie, the wife of Fred Amerman, of Grand Rapids ; Hazel D., wife of Walter C. Pierce, a member of the police force here, and they reside with her grandmother ; and Wilmer, who died in infancy.
The death of Mr. Stewart occurred March 2, 1897, when he was seventy-nine years of age. His political support had always been given the re- publican party and he was a member of the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows and the Masonic fraternity. He became a charter member of the
CORNELIUS STEWART.
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Masonic lodge at Ovid. New York, and afterward dimitted to the lodge in Ypsilanti. He held mem- bership in the Congregational church, to which Mrs. Stewart also belongs, and all over this part of the county was known as a prominent citizen, worthy the regard which was so uniformly ac- corded him. Mrs. Stewart has sold some of her property here and in 1886 she purchased the beautiful home at No. 11 South Adams street. where she and Mr. and Mrs. Pierce reside. Although now past eighty-eight years of age, she is still very active, being remarkably well pre- served physically as well as mentally. and throughout the community she is held in warm esteem by young and old, for her life has por- trayed those qualities which ever awaken admira- tion and respect.
HARRY C. BENHAM.
Harry C. Benham, who is engaged in the in- surance business in Ann Arbor as the representa- tive of the National Casualty Company of Detroit, was born in the city where he yet resides on the 2Ist of December, 1868. His father, Samuel R. Benham, a native of New York, came to Ann Ar- bor in 1865 and for many years engaged in busi- ness here as a cigar manufacturer. He married Eliza Chuff. a native of Ithaca, New York, and they became the parents of six daughters and two sons, namely : Mrs. Ella Bowers, who is living in Grand Rapids, Michigan: Mrs. Mary Par- schal, of Detroit ; Mrs. W. W. Watts, also of De- troit ; Florence, who is assistant to Dr. Hall, a dentist of this city : Hattie, who is living with her mother ; Harry C. : Samuel L., of Ann Arbor ; and Mrs. Mabel A. Mayes, of New York. The mother is still living in this city, but the father died in 1889 and his remains were interred in Forest Hill cemetery.
In the public schools of his native city Harry C. Benham continued his education until he was graduated on the completion of the high school course. He afterward turned his attention to the jewelry business in Ann Arbor and when think- ing to find a broader and more profitable field
of labor in insurance circles he became a represen- tative of the National Casualty Company of De- troit, with which he has been connected for nine years. He has fine offices in the Savings Bank Building and is doing a large business, writing annually policies which represent an extensive insurance. The same business instinct, adapta- bility and power of reading men are demanded in the successful insurance agent as in the successful merchant, together with a most thorough knowl- edge of the business in every department, so that one may meet every argument of a possible client. Alert, enterprising and sagacious, Mr. Benham has made rapid advance in this field of business and has gained desirable remuneration from his labor.
In 1891 occurred the marriage of Harry Ben- ham and Agnes J. Seekinger of Chelsea, Michi- gan, and they have one son, Dion H., now a public school student. He possesses a beautiful voice and natural gift in music and is now a member of the surpliced choir of St. James church, of which his parents are members. Mr. Benham, frater- nally, is connected with the Benevolent and Pro- tective Order of Elks, while his political support is given to the democracy. Widely known in the city of his birth and residence, many of the ac- quaintances of his youth are numbered among his stalwart friends in manhood-an indication of a life that has been in harmony with manly con- duet and upright principles.
SILAS H. DOUGLAS, M. D.
Dr. Silas H. Douglas, for many years promi- nently identified with Ann Arbor, twice its mayor, and for twenty-eight years a member of the uni- versity faculty, was born in Fredonia, Chautauqua county, New York, October 27. 1816, of parents who were among the earliest settlers of New Eng- land, and died at his home in Ann Arbor. August 26, 1890. He prepared for college at Fredonia Academy and was graduated from the Univer- sity of Vermont, when he took his master's de- gree. He came to Michigan in 1838, locating in Detroit, where he studied medicine with Drs.
17
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Rice and Pitcher. He took his degree of M. D. from the University of Maryland. Under Dr. Douglas Houghton he was connected with the Michigan geological survey and was with a gov- ernment party that negotiated Indian treaties. He came to Ann Arbor in 1843 and in 1844 was ap- pointed assistant professor of chemistry in the University of Michigan. In 1846 he was made a full professor of chemistry and remained a pro- fessor in the university until 1875. He was largely instrumental in the organization of the department of medicine in the university and for a time held the chair of materia medica in addition to that of chemistry. For a considerable period he was the dean of the medical faculty. He introduced the laboratory method of instruction, then nearly unknown in medical schools, and now the princi- pal means of imparting instruction. In 1858 the chemical laboratory was built according to his plans and he was put at its head, making it, in the words of Dr. Tappan, "one of the most com- plete and efficient in our country." To the de- velopment of this laboratory he devoted the best years of his life. Dr. Douglas also had charge of the erection of the university observatory, the south wing of the main hall and the early univers- ity system of water-works.
Dr. Douglas was a man of large business capac- ity and clear judgment. In 1869 he organized the Ann Arbor Gas Company and for over twenty years was its president. In 1871 and again in 1872 he was elected mayor of Ann Arbor and in that capacity proved one of the strongest mayors the city ever had. He re-organized the police force and among the many reforms he introduced was the present license system of the liquor traffic. Ann Arbor at the time he became mayor had over eighty saloons. He framed a city license ordinance which greatly restricted their number. The le- gality of this ordinance was upheld by the supreme court and the legislature adopted Dr. Douglas' plan throughout the state, enacting a state license law. He was a stanch member of St. Andrew's church and served on the vestry for many years. Dr. Douglas was eminent in his chosen field of science and as an instructor sagacious and dis- creet in civil life, faithful as a churchman and up- right in his private character.
Dr. Douglas was married May 1, 1845, to Miss Helen Welles, who died November 24, 1880. They had seven children, three sons and four daughters. The sons are: William W., for many years a leading clothing merchant of Ann Arbor ; Samuel T., a prominent lawyer of Detroit ; and Henry W., the superintendent of the Ann Arbor Gas Com- pany, one of the best known gas men in the state, who has served Ann Arbor as alderman, ran sev- eral hundred votes ahead of his ticket for mayor and is at present a member of the park commis- sion. The daughters are the Misses Kate, Alice H. and Louise Douglas. Another daughter, Miss Saralı L. Douglas, died April 28, 1891.
HERBERT M. SLAUSON, PH. B.
Herbert M. Slauson, superintendent of the schools of Ann Arbor since 1898, was born in Baldwinsville, New York, December 22, 1853, a son of James Oscar and Elvira ( Minor) Slauson, the former a native of Connecticut, and the latter of Lithopolis, Ohio. The father was a farmer by occupation and removed from the Empire state to Iowa, when his son Herbert was only two years of age. There he became identified with business interests. His identification with public affairs in that state proved of value to the locality and he continued an honored resident of Fort Dodge, Iowa, until his death, which occurred in 1892. His wife survived him for a number of years, passing away August 26, 1905. They had a son and daughter, the latter being Harriet T. Slauson, who died in 1882.
Professor Slauson of this review was reared in his parents' home in Iowa, and acquired his ele- mentary education in the public schools there. He came as a student to Ann Arbor and was gradu- ated in 1877 on the completion of a course in the literary department of the State University. Fol- lowing his graduation he was engaged in teaching in Iowa. In 1898 he accepted the position of the superintendency of the schools of Ann Arbor and has since remained in charge of public in- struction here. He is a zealous and earnest edu- cator who inspires with his own zeal the teachers
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and pupils under him. There are now seventy- four teachers in the public schools of Ann Arbor and he has gained their active co-operation, while during his connection with the schools he has in- stituted many new and improved methods whose practical value has been proven in the excellent work done by the pupils. His office is in the new high-school building.
In 1882 Professor Slauson was married to Miss Clara L. Conover, of Ann Arbor, and they occupy a beautiful residence at No. 433 Fifth avenue, which is the center of a cultured society circle. Professor and Mrs. Slauson are members of the Methodist church and his political allegiance is given to the republican party. He is known today as one of the capable educators of the state, gain- ing a reputation that places him in the front rank of school superintendents of Michigan.
WILLIAM HERZ.
There is a strong German element in the citi- zenship of Ann Arbor and Washtenaw county, the representatives of the Teutonic race having been among the founders and promoters of the indus- trial, commercial and professional activity of this part of the state. Of this class Mr. Herz is a rep- resentative, his birth having occurred in Ageln, Magdeburg, Prussia, on the 24th of May, 1849. and his parents, Andrew and Augusta (Schmidt ) Herz. were also natives of that locality. The fa- ther was one of the early pioneers of this portion of the country, coming to Ann Arbor in 1865. after which he engaged in building operations as a contractor. After an active and useful ca- reer, crowned by successful accomplishment, he passed away on the 14th of May, 1883, and his wife died October 27, 1889. In their family were two sons and a daughter. the youngest be- ing William Herz, of this review. The elder son, Carl, is a farmer residing near Terre Haute, Indiana, and the daughter. Paulina, is now de- ceased.
William Herz spent the first twenty years of his life in the land of his nativity, within which period he acquired a good public school and busi-
ness education, pursuing his studies in Berlin and other cities of Germany. He then determined to come to America, believing that he might en- joy good business advantages in the new world. He had learned the trade of painting and deco- rating in his native country, and after reaching the American port, he at once proceeded to Ann Arbor, where he established business as a deco- rator and painter at his present location. His efforts have since been concentrated along this line, and his persistency of purpose, his well de- fined actions and his skill have been strong and forceful factors in his prosperity. In 1871 he purchased the property at No. 112 West Wash- ington street and erected thereon a fine building, which he has since occupied for business pur- poses. Many large state contracts have been awarded him on public institutions, including painting and decorating in the buildings of the University of Michigan and the State Normal School of Ypsilanti. He employs many men, re- quired by reason of the extent of his patronage. and is today recognized as one of the leading rep- resentatives of the trade in this county.
On the 4th of June, 1874, Mr. Herz was united in marriage to Miss Sophia Muehlig, a native of Washtenaw county, and they have one son, Os- wald A., who was born October 31. 1875. and is a young man of excellent business ability and laudable ambition, who is now with his father as a bookkeeper.
While well known in the field of his chosen labor, Mr. Herz is, perhaps, equally prominent because of his activity in public affairs, commu- nity interests having been furthered by his active co-operation and tangible assistance. For eight years he has been alderman of the second ward. elected by both parties, an honor which requires no comment from the hstorian, for it indicates in itself his high standing in public regard, and is incontrovertible evidence of his marked fidelity to duty. He has been chairman of the election committee for eight years, and chairman of the lighting committe and the general fund for six years, and he exercises his official prerogatives in support of every measure that he deems will prove of practical good to the municipality. There is no better record in connection with the affairs
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of the city government in Ann Arbor than that made by Mr. Herz. He has also figured in mili- tary circles, having been a member of Company A and of Company B of the First Regiment of the Michigan National Guard for six years. He was the organizer of the local council of the Royal Arcanum, Schiller council, No. 595, of which he is still a member ; and he also belongs to the Arbeiter Verein and the Bethlehem Evangeli- cal Lutheran church, while in musical cireles he is a prominent and popular factor, possessing a fine tenor voice and holding membership with many singing societies. He has a beautiful home at No. 603 West Huron street ; and the hospital- ity, which he and his wife so graciously extend, is greatly enjoyed by their many friends. Over the record of the business and public career, as well as the private life of William Herz, there falls no shadow of wrong or suspicion of evil ; and he is justly classed with the representative citizens of Ann Arbor.
GEORGE PICKERING GLAZIER.
George Pickering Glazier, whose name is on the roll of Chelsea's honored dead, was born at Boston, Erie county, New York, April 5. 1841. his parents being George M. and Ann Maria Glazier. In 1846 his father came to Michigan and settled at Jackson, where he died in 1854. The son attended school until the father's death, when it became necessary that he provide for his own support and he entered a drug store as salesman. During the evening hours he studied bookkeeping and subsequently he went to New York, where he completed a course by graduation in the American Pharmaceutical Association in 1863. Returning to Jackson, he then entered the drug business, re- maining there until 1862, when he removed to Parma, where he continued in the same line of merchandising as a partner of Thomas J. Stimson under the firm style of Glazier & Stimson. In 1867, however, Mr. Glazier sold his interest in that store to his father-in-law and removed to Chelsea, where he opened a drug store, meeting with success in that undertaking from the begin-
ning. Not long afterward he established a private banking business in which he was associated with M. J. Noyes under the firm style of Noyes & Glazier. This relation was maintained until about 1873, when Mr. Noyes withdrew and Mr. Glazier conducted the bank alone. He also carried on his store until 1881, when he retired and was suc- ceeded by his son, Frank P. Glazier. Having now the opportunity to give more of his time to banking, he conducted the business on a more ex- tensive scale than ever before. In 1880 the name of the institution had been changed to the Chelsea Savings Bank and Mr. Glazier, occupying the position of cashier and thus acting as executive head, so continued until his death on the 5th of March, 1901.
On the 12th day of May, 1861. Mr. Glazier was married to Miss Emily J. Stimson, a daughter of H. I. Stimson, of Parma, who came to Michi- gan in 1838 and settled in Lenawee county, where his daughter was born. There were three chil- dren of this marriage : Effie, who died at the age of six years; Nora, who died when ten years of age ; and Frank P.
In politics Mr. Glazier was an earnest repub- lican but without political aspiration. In 1901 a fine memorial bank building was erected in his honor by his son Frank at a cost of seventy thou- sand dollars. It is a granite and marble structure and would be a notable building in many a city of much larger size. Mr. Glazier was a man well liked and highly esteemed and his efforts con- tributed substantially to the upbuilding and pro- motion of the interests of Chelsea. His marked characteristics were those of loyal citizenship, of progressive business life and of fidelity to the re- lations of friendship and the home.
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