USA > Michigan > Washtenaw County > Past and present of Washtenaw County, Michigan > Part 34
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township : Eckhardt E., who was graduated from Saline high school in the class of 1905 and in 1906 expects to enter the University of Michigan ; Adam G., a resident farmer of York township; Charles Henry, of this review ; Mary, the wife of Jacob Kaiser, who is living in Ingham county, Michigan ; Melvina, the wife of Frederick Kaiser, also of Ingham county ; and Leah and Olga, who are at home.
Charles Henry Schroen, reared under the pa- rental roof, early became familiar with the duties and labors that fall to the lot of the agriculturist and assisted his father in the work of the home farm through the period of his youth. He was married on the 10th of May, 1896, to Miss Emma J. Hauser, a daughter of John and Heinericka Hauser, of Pittsfield, and they now have three in- teresting children: Clarence Karl. Edwin W. and Luella M. The parents are members of the German Lutheran church. Their residence is a handsome home in Saline, where they have a wide and favorable acquaintance, enjoying the warm regard of all who know them. Mr. Schroen's business connection with Saline is that of a mer- chant and in trade circles he bears an excellent reputation by reason of his up-to-date store, for he carries a large line of well selected merchan- dise and also by reason of his honorable methods and his earnest desire to please his patrons.
ALBERT E. REYNOLDS.
Albert E. Reynolds is the owner of large landed interests in Michigan, while his business interests in Ann Arbor are represented by a fine billiard hall and cigar store. He is a native son of Washtenaw county, his birth having occurred in Ypsilanti on the 21st of September. 1868. His father. William Reynolds, was likewise a native of Michigan, while the paternal grandfather was of English birth and in early life became a sea- faring man, eventually winning promotion until he had become captain of a vessel. Taking up his abode in Michigan, he here reared his family, living in this city in pioneer times. William Rey- nolds is also numbered among the pioneer settlers
of the Wolverine state, having been reared amid the wild scenes and environments of the frontier and sharing with the family in all the hardships and trial as well as pleasures incident to pioneer life. Becoming a farmer, he prospered in his business affairs and made his home upon a large farm of six hundred acres in Wayne county. While still a boy he became a resident of this county, making his home in Ypsilanti, where oc- curred the birth of Albert E. Reynolds.
Being reared in his native city, Albert E. Rey- nolds at the usual age began his education as a public school student there and he was afterward the first pupil and the first graduate of the Cleary Business College of Ypsilanti. He was a self-ed- ucated man in that he worked his own way through school. Being ambitious to acquire good education and realizing its valne as a preparation for life's practical and responsible duties, he earned the money which paid his tuition and met the other expenses of his course. After leaving school he spent five years as a traveling salesman to the jobbing trade and a representative of the firm of Brown Brothers, of Detroit, who later sold out to the trust. Subsequently he established a large store on Woodward avenue in Detroit, having an excellent location there. He has at different times been connected with the hotel busi- ness, being at the Grand on Mackinac Island, at the Wayne in Detroit and also at the Cadillac in the latter city. He is largely interested in the cattle and land business, having vast tracts of land in various parts of Michigan and he is ex- tensively and successfully engaged in the cattle business with his uncle. George W. Robson, who is a retired lumberman and capitalist living in Van Buren township. Wayne county. As before stated, Mr. Reynolds' business interests in Ann Arbor are represented by a fine cigar store. billiard hall and fine bowling alleys at Nos. 220 and 222 South State street, where he has been located for three years. The billiard hall is large and splendidly equipped and he has the patronage of many of the students of the University of Michigan as well as many of the permanent resi- dents of the city. He has resided in Ann Arbor since 1900, during which time he has gained a wide and favorable acquaintance here.
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In 1884 Mr. Reynolds was united in marriage to Miss Hattie E. Crimmins, of Detroit. He has one sister living, Mrs. Gertrude Schaner, a widow, who now resides with her mother. A member of the Elks lodge of Ann Arbor, he is now filling the chair of esquire. Personally genial and affable, readily winning and retaining friends, Mr. Reynolds is popular in the city which he has adopted as his place of residence. More- over, in business affairs he is recognized as a man of excellent ability, executive force and keen dis- cernment, who has carefully placed his invest- ments and is capably managing them.
JAMES BUCHANAN WALLACE, PH. D., M. D.
Professional life in Saline is well represented by Dr. James Buchanan Wallace, one of the ca- pable physicians and surgeons of Washtenaw county. He was born in Library, Pennsylvania, October 8, 1864. His father, John William Wal- lace, was a native of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, and a son of James Wallace, whose birth occurred in Ayreshire, Scotland, near the Renfrew border. He was a descendant of the illustrious Wallace family that furnished to the world the great Scottish patriot, William Wallace, whose life of heroism has proved the foundation of many a thrilling tale known to every school boy where the English language is spoken. John William Wallace, father of our subject, was a farmer by occupation, and married Miss Jennie Reddick, a native of Ligonier, Pennsylvania, whose ances- tors came to America from the west of Ireland. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Wallace were born three sons and a daughter: James B .; William, who is en- gaged in the real-estate business in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania : Samuel Carson, superintendent of schools in Penn township, Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania ; and Emma, who is living with her parents.
Dr. Wallace, of this review, supplemented his early education by a course of study in Mount Union College in Ohio, from which institution he was graduated with the degree of Bachelor of Arts in the class of 1887. He next entered the
Western Theological Seminary at Allegheny City, Pennsylvania, and was graduated in 1890, and was ordained to the Presbyterian ministry. He received the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in 1900 from his alma mater. For thirteen years he had charge of the churches of his denomina- tion in Freeport, Pennsylvania, Saginaw, Mich- igan, and Detroit. For a year before leaving the ministry he devoted his leisure hours to the study of medicine, and then matriculated in Detroit College of Medicine, from which he won his M. D. degree in 1901. The same year he located for practice in Saline, where he has since remained and his patronage now covers a wide territory. He is a capable physician, correct in his diag- nosis of a case, and in the application of his sci- entific knowledge to the needs of suffering hu- manity.
In 1895 Dr. Wallace was united in marriage to Miss Margaret McGary, a daughter of Frank and Margaret McGary, of Saginaw, Michigan. They are members of the Presbyterian church; and fraternally Dr. Wallace is connected with Saline lodge, No. 133, A. F. & A. M. ; Peninsula chapter. R. A. M., Detroit ; and Saginaw coun- cil, R. & S. M. His political allegiance is given to the republican party, and upon its ticket he was elected coroner of Washtenaw county in 1004. He is also the present health officer of Saline, and is a member of the board of educa- tion. He is popular because of a genial manner. unfailing courtesy and deference for the opinions of others ; and he is highly respected by reason of his ability in the line of his profession, and his fidelity to honorable, manly principles, as well as to a high standard of professional ethics.
REV. ALEXANDER L. NICKLAS.
Rev. Alexander L. Nicklas, pastor of Zion Lutheran church in Ann Arbor, one of the strong- est organizations of this denomination in the middle west, was born in Bradys Bend, Pennsyl- vania, in 1867, and is a son of Alexander and Christina (Hilfinger) Nicklas, both of whom were natives of Germany. The father was born
DR. J. B. WALLACE.
18
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in Hesse Pfaffenberfurth, in 1826, and the mother's birth occurred in Wurtemberg, in 1828. They were married, however, in Pennsylvania. While in his native country the father served in the German army for six years and five months and soon after the close of his military service in 1853 he came to America. He was a carpenter by trade and, establishing his home in Pennsyl- vania, was employed at building operations throughout his remaining days, his death oc- curring in the Keystone state in 1872. His wife survived until 1878, when she, too, was called to her final rest. In their family were six children, of whom two died in childhood. The others are : Mrs. Margaret Lautenschlaeger, a widow, resid- ing with her brother. Rev. A. L. Nicklas ; Charles, who is connected with the street car service in Pittsburg. Pennsylvania; Alexander, of this re- view ; and Louisa, the wife of William Barbin, of Allegheny City, Pennsylvania.
Rev. Nicklas pursued his early education in the schools of Butler, Pennsylvania, and following his mother's death in 1878. he being then eleven years of age, he was sent to the Wernle Orphans' Home at Richmond. Indiana, an institution of the Lutheran church. There he spent three years, after which he became a student in the Capital University at Columbus, Ohio, from which he was graduated with the class of 1888. Having determined upon the ministry as a life profession he next entered the Lutheran Seminary at Colum- bus, Ohio, and began preparation for his holy calling. He is a graduate of that school of the class of 1801. His first appointment was at Marion, Ohio, where he remained as pastor of the Emanuel English Lutheran church for five years and was very successful in his work there. He was then called to Ann Arbor, Michigan, this being the seventh call he had received from churches desiring his services. He came to Ann Arbor in 1896 as the pastor of Zion Lutheran church and has here since remained.
In 1895 Rev. Nicklas was married to Miss Marie Ritz, of Franklin, Ohio, a daughter of Sebastian and Catherine Ritz. Her father died in 1005. at the venerable age of eighty-seven years. Rev. and Mrs. Nicklas have two children. Ger- trude and Leona. In politics Rev. Nicklas is not
a party man but keeps in touch with the political situation of the country as every true American citizen should do. His time and energies, how- ever. are almost entirely given to his church, which, under his guidance, has made substantial growth.
The Zion Evangelical Lutheran church was or- ganized in 1875 with a membership of fifty families, who left the Bethlehem church. Rev. H. F. Belser, father of Dr. Belser, was called to the first pastorate of the church and so continued for fifteen years or until 1800. Services were first held in the old Congregational church, which had been purchased for forty-three hundred dol- lars and the original board of elders was com- posed of William J. Merkle, Phillip Lohr and Christian Mack, while the members of the board of trustes were Christian Hoffstetter. A. D. Sey- ler. L. Schleicher, Fred Hutzel, Conrad Schnei- der and Frederick Schmid. The new congrega- tion established a parochial school, of which Gottlieb Kurtz was the teacher for fifteen years and was then succeeded by Louis Boes, who is the teacher at the present time. In 1876 a pipe organ was installed and in 1879 the church build- ing was remodeled. In 1889 the Ladies' Aid Society was organized with a membership of one hundred and fifty. The first change in the pastor- ate occurred in 1800, when Rev. M. C. Hein suc- ceeded Rev. Belser, continuing in charge for six years, or until 1896. In 1890 a young men's so- ciety and also a young ladies' society were or- ganized and in 1896 these consolidated under the name of the Young People's Society. In 1894 the old church was torn down and a new edifice was erected at a cost of twenty-one thousand dol- lars, the corner stone being laid on the 27th of May, 1894, while the church was dedicated on the 16th of December of the same year. Rev. Hein resigned in the spring of 1896 and the Rev. . A. L. Nicklas was installed pastor on the 5th of July of that year. In 1898 the Ladies' Missionary So- ciety was organized and now has a membership of one hundred and forty. The present board of elders consists of Frederick Schmid. J. M. Braun and David Laubengaver. while the trustees are John Keppler, W. E. Pardon, G. Josenhans, Fred Fiegel. Fred Staeb and George
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Baner. There is now a membership of about five hundred and fifty families and the Sunday school numbers four hundred and fifty pupils. The con- gregation is one of the largest in Ann Arbor and the church is a potent influence for good. Gratify- ing progress has been made in the various lines of church work during the pastorate of Rev. Nicklas, whose earnestness, consecration and zeal have made him one of the strongest represent- atives of the Lutheran ministry in the middle west.
JOHN READ.
John Read, deceased, was a pioneer settler of Washtenaw county, where he took up his abode in 1838, and for many years was connected with its agricultural interests. A native of Con- necticut, he was born in Reading, February 1.4. 1826, his parents being Samuel B. and Camilla ( Lyons) Read, who were likewise natives of Reading, the former born April 1, 1801, and the latter January 23, 1803. The father engaged in farming in Connecticut until 1838, when he dis- posed of his property there and came to Washte- naw county, Michigan, purchasing a farm in Ypsilanti township, two miles southeast of the city of Ypsilanti, where he cleared the land and developed one of the finest farm properties in the county. His attention was given to its develop- ment and improvement up to the time of his death, which occurred November 19, 1884. His first wife died August 27, 1854, and he afterward married Eliza Lyons, a sister of his former wife. Her death occurred in Ypsilanti, April 14. 1900. Mr. Read had a large family of children, but all are now deceased.
Jolin Read, having spent the first twelve years of his life in Connecticut, then came with his par- ents to Washtenaw county, and after attending the district schools to some extent continued his education in a seminary at Ypsilanti, whereby he was well qualified for life's practical duties. He then assisted his father on the home farm for a few years. His sister Eliza, who was born Janu- ary II, 1829, and is now deceased, was the wife of Byron Yeckley, who owned and resided upon
a farm near Decatur, Michigan, Mr. Yeckley con- tinuing its cultivation up to the time of his death, after which Mr. Read went to Decatur and took charge of his sister's farm. He operated it for ten years and then sold the property, after which he returned to Ypsilanti and settled upon the old homestead, his father being then quite aged, so that Mr. Read took charge of the property and also cared for the father until his demise. John Read afterward resided upon the home place for a brief period and then removed to the city of Ypsilanti, where he cared for his stepmother, who was also his aunt.
On the 19th of September, 1901, John Read was married, in Ypsilanti, to Miss Amelia U. Read, a native of Chenango county, New York, born October 29, 1826, a daughter of Hezekiah H. and Anna ( Banks) Read, both of whom were natives of Connecticut, whence they removed to Chenango county. Her father was a half-brother of Mr. Read's father. Following his removal to New York, Hezekiah H. Read purchased land and there engaged in farming throughout his re- maining days, while his wife also died on the old homestead there. He was also county judge of Chenango county for several years and was a valned and influential citizen of his community.
Mr. and Mrs. John Read had no children of their own, but adopted her sister's son, Henry R. Brown, who became a photographer in Ypsilanti and later removed to Sioux City, Iowa, where he conducted a photograph gallery until his death.
With Mrs. Read in Ypsilanti now resides Charles H. Browning, an old friend of the family. He was born in Stonington, New London, Con- necticut, October 22, 1827, and in his youth his parents removed to Chenango county, New York, where they died. His father was the owner of a large dairy farm near the Read homestead. Charles H. Browning was twice married. He first wedded Miss Harriet A. Ufford, and after her death Ann Woodley, who has also passed away. Mr. Browning engaged in the dairy busi- ness in Chenango county until, because of illness, he sold his farm July 14, 1884, and lived retired for a time in Pharsalia, New York. He afterward removed to South Otselic, New York, where he resided until July 26, 1903, when he came to
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Ypsilanti and has since lived with Mrs. Read. He was a great friend of her father when their farms adjoined in Chenango county.
For many years the Read farm has been a land- mark in this county. When Samuel Read came to Michigan he purchased the land for seventy-five cents per acre and as the years passed improve- ments were made so that the place greatly appre- ciated in value. After John Read took charge he continued the work of development and prog- ress and prospering in his undertakings, he added to the place until he owned two hundred and sixty acres all in one body and constituting one of the finest farms in this county. Eventually he sold the property at an excellent price and removed to Ypsilanti to retire from business and also to care for his aged mother. Here he continued until his death, which occurred June 30, 1902. He was never an office seeker but had firm belief in republican principles. All of the Read family were members of the Episcopal church. Living in this county from pioneer times, John Read had a wide acquaintance and his sterling traits of character commanded the confidence and good will of all.
Mrs. Read left Chenango county, New York, and came to this county twenty-two years ago. and since then she has traveled considerably and she also spent a few years with her adopted son in Sioux City, Iowa. She is well-to-do and she owns a large brick residence at No. 15 South Adams street, where she and Mr. Browning re- side, this place having been purchased by Mrs. Read when she came to Ypsilanti.
FRANK M. MILLER.
Frank M. Miller, a popular and well known druggist of the village of Milan, was born in Augusta township. Washtenaw county, Michigan, February 25. 1871. The family is of Holland Dutch origin and the great-grandparents of Frank M. Miller were Jacobus and Gentray ( Veeder ) Miller, residents of the state of New York. Their son. James Miller, grandfather of our subject, was born on a farm near the present
village of Herkimer, New York, and having ar- rived at years of maturity was married in 1822 to Miss Sally Rodgers, a daughter of John Rodg- ers, who like Jacobus Miller was a soldier of the Revolutionary war. The Rogers family as represented by the present generations spells the name without the "d." With his family. consist- ing of his wife and two children, Marvin and Eliza Jane. James Miller removed to Michigan. settling in the township of Augusta, Washtenaw county, about 1828 and there occurred the birth of Andrew Miller, who is said to have been the first white child born in the township. Other children of the family were: Ellen M .: Madison M .: Sally, who died in December. 1868; James, who died in April, 1887: Marvin, who died in November. 1876: and Andrew, who died in 1903.
Madison M. Miller was born in Augusta town- ship in 1841 and at the time of the Civil war he joined the Union Army with the Twentieth Michigan Infantry. He was for many years a farmer but eventually removed to Chelsea. Michi- gan, where he engaged in busines as a painter. For the past seven years he has been living in California. He married Miss Helen Egbert, who was born in Chemung county, New York, her peo- ple settling in Monroe county, Michigan, in 1849. while later they removed to Saline township. Washtenaw county, just before the outbreak of the Civil war. She is now living in Milan. The sons and daughters of Mr. and Mrs. Madison Miller were: Frank M .: Dr. James M. Miller. who was born in Chelsea. November 8. 1875. and is engaged in the practice of dentistry in Cadillac. Michigan : Flora Belle, who is a graduate of the State Normal School at Ypsilanti, Michigan, and is now engaged in teaching near Ann Arbor ; and Maggie, who died at the age of seventeen years.
Frank M. Miller pursued a high-school educa- tion at Cadillac and after putting aside his text- books was employed as a clerk in a store there for seven years. He also traveled for four years for a drug firm in Manistee. Michigan, and he studied chemistry at the Chicago College of Pharmacy. In September. 1900. he cune to Milan and es- tablished a drug business on his own account. He has since conducted the store with growing suc- cess and today has a liberal patronage which is
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indicative of his fair dealing, his excellent stock and the confidence reposed in him by the general public.
On the 24th of October, 1894. Mr. Miller was united in marriage to Miss Callia J. Kelsey, a daughter of Henry and Abyssinia Kelsey. Their children are : Maurine Kelsey, Doris Kelsey and Gerald Kelsey Miller. The family attend the Baptist church and Mr. Miller is a member of the Masonic and Knights of Pythias fraternities. He is serving as a member of the school board and of the village council and is actively interested in all that pertains to the growth, progress and substantial development of Milan. He has a wide and favorable acquaintance in business and social circles in this part of the county and his genuine personal worth is indicated by the warm friend- ship given him by the majority of those who know him.
JOHN ROSE.
John Rose, a capitalist of Ann Arbor, was born in Lincolnshire. England, February 6, 1824. His father. William Rose, was also a native of that country and was married there to Miss Rebecca Abbott, who accompanied him on his emigration to America in 1855. Seeking a home in the mid- dle west he settled in Washtenaw county, where he spent his remaining days, his death occurring in 1869. There were four children in the family but with the exception of John Rose all have now passed away.
In the country of his nativity John Rose spent the days of his boyhood and youth, acquiring his education there and then becoming imbued with a desire to enjoy better opportunities than were afforded in his native land he sailed from England in 1845. He, too, made his way at once into the interior of the country and secured employment as a farm hand in Washtenaw county. He brought with him no capital and it was necessary that he provide for his immediate support. . After spend- ing some years at farm labor he engaged in clerk- ing in drug and grocery stores in Ann Arbor and eventually acquired capital sufficient to enable him to engage in independent business ventures,
He has been a very active man, his life character- ized by untiring energy, strong purpose and keen business discernment. He has seldom been at fault in matters of business judgment, has made judicious investments and by hard work, execu- tive ability and indefatigable perseverance he has accumulated an independent fortune and is now retired from active business save for the super- vision which he gives to his invested interests. which are represented by various industrial and commercial lines.
On the Ist of May. 1851. Mr. Rose was united in marriage to Miss Eliza Jane Virrill, of Canada, who belonged to an old French family. They be- came the parents of two children and the daugh- ter. Ella Rebecca, who is the younger, is the wife of George Waterman, of Ypsilanti. The son, George W. Rose, is now living upon the old homestead farm of one hundred and five aeres. located three miles from Ann Arbor, and is an en- terprising and successful agriculturist, carrying on his farm work in keeping with modern ideas of progress and improvement. He was married. in 1877, to Miss Frances Yates, a native of Illinois, and a relative of ex-Governor Yates. Two children have been born of this union, Harry J. and Everett S. The former married Osta May, of Hamburg, Germany, and is a rural route mail carrier. They have one son. Reuben Charles. eight months old, and a great-great-grandchild of Mr. Rose, whose name introduces this review. Everett S. Rose is living upon the home farm with his father and is a breeder of fine chickens.
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