USA > Michigan > Washtenaw County > Past and present of Washtenaw County, Michigan > Part 51
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Mr. Braun was married in 1887 to Miss Mary Andrews, a daughter of Jolin Andrews, of Scio township. They have had three children : Sylvia Maria, who was born March 10, 1888; Carl Wil- liam, born June 27, 1880; and Simon Walter, born June 19, 1891. All are now attending school. Mr. Braun is recognized as one of the stalwart advocates of democracy in Washtenaw county and is active in the work of the party. He has served for three years, from 1892 until 1895, as supervisor and again filled the office from 1898 until 1902. In the fall of the latter year he was elected county treasurer for a term of two years and in 1904 was defeated for that office in the great republican landslide. In positions of public trust he is ever faithful, his course being marked by an unfaltering patriotism and devotion to the general good. He holds membership in the Zion Lutheran church of Ann Arbor and has a wide and favorable acquaintance in the city and throughout this part of the state by reason of liis energy and success in business life and his activity in political circles. Since 1892 he has been secre- tary of the German Farmers' Mutual Insurance Company.
WILLIAM SCHULTZ.
William Schultz, successfully conducting a grocery business in Ann Arbor, has spent his en- tire life in Washtenaw county, his birth having occurred in Dexter on the Ist of March, 1877. His father, Henry Schultz, was a native of Meck- lenburg, Germany, and spent his youth in his na- tive land, coming to the new world in 1860. In October of that year he arrived in Washtenaw county, where he became identified with agricul- tural pursuits. He settled first at Dearborn but in 1875 removed to Dexter, where he made his home upon a farm until 1902, and then removed to Chelsea, where his life's labors were ended in death on the 24th of July, 1904. He had married Miss Mary Jessen, of Holstein, Germany, and their wedding trip was the voyage to the new world. They became recognized as worthy farm- ing people of this locality, enjoying in high meas- ures the respect and good will of all with whom
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they were associated. They were separated by death for only a brief period, for Mrs. Schultz passed away in October, 1904, less than three months after her husband's death. In their family were thirteen children, eight of whom are yet liv- ing : John W., a resident farmer of Webster ; Ja- cob E. ; Mrs. Mary Johnson, of Dexter ; Fred F., who follows farming; Samuel, who is living on the old homestead ; William, of this review ; Da- vid, who follows farming in Webster township ; and Mrs. Finkbeiner, of Lima township.
William Schultz was reared upon the old home- stead farm and early became familiar with all the duties and labors that fall to the lot of the agri- culturist as he tills his fields and cares for his stock. In his youth he attended the district schools of Dexter and later continued his studies at Chelsea and the Ypsilanti Normal, subsequent to which time he became engaged in grocery business in connection with his brother, Jacob E. Since June, 1903, he has been a resident of Ann Arbor, at which time he embarked in the grocery business at No. 314 South State street, under the firm style of Schultz Brothers and they now have a large trade, employing three wagons in the de- livery of their goods. Their patronage has stead- ily increased from the beginning and their busi- ness has now reached very profitable proportions.
Mr. Schultz is a republican in his political views but without aspiration for office, preferring to concentrate his energies upon his business af- fairs, in which he is meeting with very creditable and gratifying success. His religious faith is that of the Methodist church. In April, 1903, he was married to Miss Elma Weimeister, of Howell, Michigan, and they have gained many warm friends during their residence in the county seat.
CHRISTIAN REIFF.
Christian Reiff is the owner of valuable farm- ing property in Ann Arbor township and is one of the respected and worthy citizens of Wash- tenaw county. Like a large majority of the lead- ing men of this part of the state, he is of Ger- man birth, the place of his nativity being Wur-
temberg and the year of his birth 1856. His parents were Michael and Lizzie (Horning) Reiff, also natives of Germany, where the father is still living. He is a farmer by occupation, his entire life being devoted to the tilling of the soil. In his family were nine children, three of whom crossed the Atlantic to the new world, a brother and sister of our subject being residents of the state of Washington. The brother has been very successful in connection with the salmon fisheries for fifteen years, conducting a profitable business in the line of that industry.
In 1873 Christian Reiff, then a youth of six- teen years, came to America, making his way at once to Washtenaw county, where he was em- ployed as a farm hand for fifteen or sixteen years. With the capital he acquired through his own earnings he then bought fifty-four acres of land on section 30, Ann Arbor township, from Fred Schmidt and in 1895 he bought the ten-acre tract of land upon which he now resides. The entire farm of sixty-four acres has been cleared. There was only six acres cleared when he took posses- sion of the farm and he performed much arduous labor in bringing the place under its present high state of cultivation. He raises the cereals best adapted to soil and climate and in addition he has a fine orchard of fourteen acres planted to pear, peach, apple, plum and quince trees. He also keeps five cows and finds a ready sale on the market for the butter which he produces because of its excellent quality.
In the year 1887 Mr. Reiff was married to Miss Mary Hiemendenger, a daughter of Michael Hiemendenger, of Ann Arbor township. They have five children : Robert, Oscar, Edwin, Arthur and Alma, all at home, Robert being now employed in Ann Arbor.
On coming to America Mr. Reiff took out his naturalization papers and in 1878 became a citi- zen of this country. Since that time he has exer- cised his right of franchise in support of the men and measures of the democracy and his fellow townsmen, recognizing his worth and ability, have frequently called him to office. He served as path master for ten or twelve years and in 1905 was chosen township treasurer for one term. No trust reposed in him has ever been betrayed
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in the slightest degree and on the contrary he is most loyal to every responsibility and obligation that devolves upon him. He holds membership in the Trinity Lutheran church at Ann Arbor and his life is in harmony with his professions. Through many years he has resided continuously upon his farm, which is now a well improved property. He has built there a good barn thirty by forty-four feet and he has two houses upon his farm, one of which he rents. This property is the visible evidence of his life of thrift and enterprise and shows what may be accomplished by determination and purposeful action when guided by sound judgment.
C. LUDWIG SCHNEIDER.
Ann Arbor is greatly indebted to the fatherland for a large portion of its representative citizens. men of marked activity and enterprise in business who by a ready adaptability to the altered condi- tions of the new world have so directed their efforts here as to win personal success and also contribute to the general prosperity of the local- ities with which they are identified. To this class belongs Mr. Schneider, whose birth occurred in Echterdingen, Stuttgart, Germany, on the 4th of September. 1867. His father. John George Schneider, was a promient contractor of that place, making his home there up to the time of his death, which occurred in 1878. His widow, MIrs. Frederica Schneider. is now living in Ann Arbor. In their family were seven children : Fred, who is now residing in Galveston, Texas; Gott- lieb. Victor and Charles, who are all employed in Ann Arbor; C. Ludwig, of this review; Clara Schneider, who is living with her mother in this city : and Mrs. Fredericke Schmid.
C. Ludwig Schneider pursued his education in the schools of his native country but in his youth accompanied his mother on their removal to the United States and learned the trade of a tinner in the employ and under the direction of John Ffis- terer, of this city. He has since contintted in the same line and now conducts a large heating, tin- smith and plumbing business at No. 207 South
Fifth avenue, where he employs a large force of workmen and also utilizes several wagons in con- nection with the business. He established this enterprise in 1896 and from the beginning has met with gratifying success, the number of his patrons increasing year by year, his fellow towns- men appreciating his capable workmanship and fidelity to every business trust. His own practical understanding of the trade enables him to care- fully direct the labors of those whom he employs and he is always just and considerate in his treat- ment of those who are in his service as well as honorable in his relations to those who award him contracts in his chosen line.
In 1890 Mr. Schneider was united in marriage to Miss Mary Covert and they have become the parents of five children: Isetta. Irene, Estella, Ludwig and Theodore. The family home is an attractive residence at No. 548 South First street built in pleasing style of architecture and it is a favorite resort with the many friends of the fam- ily. Mr. Schneider exercises his right of fran- chise in support of the men and measures of the republican party, with which he has been identi- fied since becoming a naturalized American citi- zen. He belongs to Ann Arbor lodge of Odd Fellows, to the Knights of the Maccabees and the Loyal Guards and is a valued representative of these different organizations because he is loyal to their principles and teachings. The family are all communicants of St. Thomas' Catholic church.
FRED THOMAS STIMPSON.
Fred Thomas Stimpson, conducting the Uni- versity Billiard Hall at Ann Arbor, is a native of the middle west and has spent his entire life in this section of the country. He was born in Aurora, Illinois, February 20, 1863, his parents being George and Sarah (Weightman) Stimp- son. The father was a farmer by occupation and died thirty-three years ago but his wife survived him for thirty years. In their family were four- teen children, of whom the following are yet liv- ing; MIrs. Rebecca Porter, who resides in De- troit : George, who makes his home in Elgin.
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Illinois; Mrs. Lizzie Houglitby, of Shabbona, Illinois ; and Fred T., of this review.
Fred T. Stimpson pursued his education in the public schools of his native city and in early life lived for a time upon the homestead farm near Aurora, Illinois. At a later period in his business career, however, he became proprietor of a grocery store at Elgin, Illinois, which he conducted until 1893, when he sold out and en- tered the employ of Morgan & Wright, of Chi- cago. He came to Ann Arbor in August, 1904, and established the University Billiard Hall at No. 334 South State street. He has since con- ducted it and has made it a popular pleasure re- sort of the city, carrying on the business with profit to himself and to the satisfaction of his inany patrons, who are constantly increasing in numbers.
In 1887 Mr. Stimpson was married to Miss Anna Hurst, of Shabbona, Illinois, and they now have an interesting family of three sons: Elroy B., Thomas W. and Frederick E., aged respect- ively sixteen, thirteen and eight years and all students in the public schools of Ann Arbor. Mr. Stimpson is a stanch advocate of republican principles, supporting the party since attaining his majority, yet without aspiration for office. He belongs to the Methodist church and is a gentle- man of genial, kindly nature, of obliging dispo- sition and affable manner, who has won close friends and has already become popular in Ann Arbor during the period of his residence here.
HUDSON T. MORTON.
Hudson T. Morton, a real estate dealer and speculative builder of Ann Arbor, has in his busi- ness operations contributed in substantial meas- ure to the benefit and upbuilding of the city. He was born in Pittsfield township, February 21, 1845, his parents being James T. and Emily (Clemmons) Morton. The father, a native of Mexico, New York, came from the Empire state to Michigan, in 1826, settling first near Lansing, in Williamston township, Ingham county, where he secured a tract of government land, which he
cultivated and improved, developing a good farm in the midst of the forest. Later he followed the millwright's trade and built many saw and grist mills throughout that part of the state. In 1830 he again entered a claim and thereby became the owner of eighty acres of land in Pittsfield town- ship, Washtenaw county. This was on section 21, and is the farm which is now owned by Hud- son 1. Morton. The father engaged in its de- velopment and cultivation until the spring of 1865, when he removed to Macon, Michigan, but later he returned to Pittsfield township, where his last days were spent. He was one of the honored pioneer settlers of the state, casting in his lot with the residents of Michigan when this was a fron- tier district. He served as a captain in the state militia for about thirteen years, being thus con- nected with the military service while in Pitts- field township. He had also had military ex- perience in New York and became very efficient as a drill master and was commissioned captain of this company. He died in 1874. and had he lived but twenty-nine days longer would have attained the seventieth anniversary of his birth. His wife survived him until 1888, passing away in Ann Arbor at the age of eighty-eight years.
Hudson T. Morton, their only child, acquired his early education in the district schools of Pitts- field township, and later at the Union school and in the normal school at Ypsilanti, Michigan. Soon after putting aside his text books he began buy- ing and selling land, and eventually became in- terested with others in western lands, especially in Nebraska farms. He also bought property in Ann Arbor and has transformed unsightly tracts into fine residence property by the erection of modern buildings. Many prominent buildings at- test his ability as a builder, and he now owns be- tween twelve and fifteen dwellings here. He has never ceased to operate in western lands, and has also instituted many financial industries of the west where he has had business investments. He has, however, made his home in Ann Arbor con- tinuously since 1876.
In 1898 Mr. Morton was married to Miss Anna C. Fredlund, a native of Marquette county, Michigan, and they have two sons and two daughters, Edith A., Anna May, Hudson T. and
HUDSON T. MORTON.
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PAST AND PRESENT OF WASHTENAW COUNTY.
Daniel James T., all born in Ann Arbor. Mr. Morton is a thirty-second degree Mason, being a member of Golden Rule lodge, No. 159. A. F. & A. M .: Washtenaw chapter. No. 6. R. A. M .: Union council, No. 11. R. & S. M .; Ann Arbor commandery, No. 13. K. T .; Michigan Sove- reign consistory, S. P. R. S., of Detroit : and Moslem Temple of the Mystic Shrine, Detroit. Both he and his wife are members of the Eastern Star lodge, and he also belongs to the Elks lodge, No. 325. of Ann Arbor, the Knights of the Mac . cabees, while Mrs. Morton is a member of the Ladies of the Maccabees.
Mr. Morton is a republican in his political alle- giance, but the honors and emoluments of of- fice have had no attraction for him. He has con- centrated his efforts upon his real estate and building operations, and through his purchase and sale of western lands, and as a speculative builder, he has gained the success that makes him one of the most substantial residents of this city Much of the property which he has purchased has steadily advanced in value because unsightly va- cancies have been occupied by attractive resi- dences of his erection. In all his business inter- ests he is enterprising, sagacious and persevering and his prosperity is therefore well merited.
ERHARD THEODORE ALBER.
Erhard Theodore Alber, the senior partner of the firm of Alber & Horning, proprietors of the St. James Hotel, is a native son of Washtenaw county and in his business career has displayed the enterprise which has been the dominant factor in the upbuilding of the great middle west. He was born in Lodi township on the 25th of August. 1866. His father. John George Alber, became a resident of this county when eighteen years of age and settled upon a farm in Lodi township. where for many years he was identified with gen- eral agricultural pursuits. At the time of his ar- rival this was largely an unsettled district in which the work of improvement and progress had scarcely been begun and he entered from the gov- ernment a claim of eighty acres, to which he has
since added as his financial resources have in- creased until he is now the owner of a valuable farm of one hundred and thirty-six acres, which under his careful supervision and cultivation has become very productive. In religious faith a Lu- theran, he is an active worker in the church, doing all in his power to promote its growth and extend its influence. In his political allegiance he is a democrat. He married Miss Marguerita Metz- ger, who died in 1899, leaving seven children, as follows: Charles Michael, a resident farmer of Saline, Michigan: John George, who also makes his home at Saline: John August, a contractor residing in Ann Arbor: Fred Erhard, who is living in Perry, Lodi township: William Henry, who is engaged in general farming near Saline; and Emanuel Gottlob, who is engaged in paint- ing at Saline.
Erhard T. Alber, the other member of the fam- ily, was reared upon the old homestead farm in the usual manner of lads of the period and when about six years of age he began his education in the district schools of his native township. He pursued his studies through the winter months and in the summer seasons worked upon the home farm until about twenty years of age, when think- ing that he would find other occupation more con- genial he left the parental roof and began learn- ing the carpenter's trade. Subsequently he spent five years in the employ of the Ann Arbor Rail- road Company, working in the line of his trade and on the expiration of that period he began contracting and building on his own account. in which he continued for five years. In 1801 he took up his abode in Ann Arbor and he is now engaged in the hotel business as a partner of Nathan Horning. under the firm style of Alber & Horning. proprietors of the St. James Hotel. They conduct a strictly modern hostelry of twen- ty-five rooms heated with steam and there is a barber shop and buffet in connection. Mr. Alber is popular with the patrons of the hotel and re- ceives a liberal patronage from the traveling pub- lic. Everything possible is done for the comfort and convenience of the guests and the hotel is conducted along the most modern lines, so that it would be a credit to a city of much larger size than Ann Arbor.
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In the year of his removal here Mr. Alber was E. L., who has been engaged in the practice of married to Miss Emuma K. Horning, who was dentistry at Howell for fifteen or sixteen years and was formerly connected with the German- American Coffee Company ; Harry Howard, of this review; C. B., who is one of the professors in the Chicago University, being a teacher of manual training there; and Millicent, the wife of Frank Bailey, a capitalist living at Santa Clara, California. born in Pittsfield township. A Mason, he be- longs to Fraternity lodge, No. 262, A. F. & A. M. and is in hearty sympathy with the principles of the craft. His political allegiance is given to the republican party and he is a member of the Zion Lutheran church. His entire life has been passed in the county of his nativity and his deep interest in its welfare is manifest in the public- spirited support which he gives to various meas- ures for the general good. He is recognized as a man of good business qualifications, of keen fore- sight and unfaltering enterprise and his success is the merited reward of his persistent labor.
HARRY HOWARD AVERY, D. D. S.
Dr. Harry Howard Avery, who has secured a very desirable patronage in the practice of den- tistry in Chelsea, was born in Marion, Livingston county, Michigan, February 4. 1867, and is a son of Henry and Harriet ( Sprague) Avery. The Avery family is of English lineage and was es- tablished in Connecticut at an early period in the colonization of the new world, probably about 1635. The representatives of the name have long figured prominently in political circles and a large number were soldiers of the Revolutionary war. eight being killed in the storming of one fort, while nine were killed at the burning of New London, Connecticut. The father removed from Seneca Lake, New York, to Michigan, when a youth of eight years. This was in 1839, at which time his father, Benjamin Perkins Avery, brought the family to the west, settling at Dansville, Mich- igan. He was a farmer and stock raiser and for many years carried on general agricultural pur- suits in Livingston county but in 1902 sold his farm property and took up his abode in Hull. He also possessed considerable ability as a carpenter and in addition to farming carried on contracting and building. His life has been characterized by unflagging industry and enterprise and displays many sterling characteristics worthy of emula- tion. In his family were the following children :
Dr. Avery, whose name introduces this record, attended school in Marion and after putting aside his text-books engaged in teaching for four years. On the expiration of that period he entered the Michigan University in 1889, becoming a student in the dental department, from which he was graduated in 1892, his degree at that time being conferred upon him. He then came to Chelsea, where he has since been in practice. In addition to his practice Dr. Avery is agent for the German- American Coffee Company, which employs some three thousand people on their plantation, most of whom are Tumbella Indians. He is also inter- ested in the Tabasco Chiapas Transportation & Trading Company. There are forty-three thou- sand acres in the plantation, fifteen hundred acres being devoted to the raising of coffee, which pro- duces about one million pounds to the acre. There are four hundred and sixty-three thousand one hundred and eighty-six bearing trees and one hundred and forty thousand trees which will bear in three years. The company was organized in January, 1900, and its business has become a pay- ing investment. They also own six hundred thou- sand rubber trees. The headquarters of the com- pany are in New York and the plantation lies in Chiapas about one hundred and eighty miles from the coast. The company is formed upon the co- operative plan and does a wholesale business and also sells direct to the consumer. The coffee plantation was established about fourteen years ago by a German officer.
Dr. Avery was married to Miss Ida Whitaker, a daughter of Louis Whitaker, of Howell, in Oc- tober, 1890, and unto them has been born one son, Arthur Henry, who is now a student in the pub- lic schools. Dr. Avery belongs to Olive lodge, No. 156, A. F. & A. M., Chelsea chapter, No. 140, R. A. M., to the Knights of Pythias fraternity.
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the Maccabees tent and the Foresters. In politics he is a republican and has served as councilman of Chelsea.
GEORGE CORSELIUS.
George Corselius, to whom an honorable name was more than great riches and whose life was crowned with the respect and confidence of his fellowmen, was numbered among the early jour- nalists of Michigan. His birth occurred on a farm in Sussex county, New Jersey, January 17, 1806, near the banks of the Delaware river. In the paternal line the ancestry of the family can be traced back to the old French barons, and his mother was of Prussian lineage, being descended from some of the military heroes who won laurels in the Thirty Years war.
George Corselius acquired his education in the schools of his native county but when still quite young he left New Jersey and traveled through Pennsylvania and other states, working for the farmers in order to secure an education. He arrived in Michigan in early pioneer times and entering the field of journalism was at one time editor of the Detroit Advertiser and Tribune. In 1829 he came to .Ann Arbor to edit the Western Emigrant at the request of Judge Dexter, who owned the paper. This was the time of the agi- tation over Morgan and the paper supported the principles of the Anti-Mason party. When it had fulfilled its mission it ceased and was succeeded by the Washtenaw Whig, of which Mr. Corselins was the founder, beginning its publication in 1833. He was likewise corresponding editor editor of the New York Journal of Commerce and the State Journal of Ann Arbor and in addition to his writings for the papers he was the author of several articles of value which were published in the magazines of the day treating subjects on moral and intellectual science. He was also the author of a pamphlet entitled "Hints Toward the Development of a Unitary Science or Science of a Universal Analogy." At one time Mr. Cor- selius was elected and served for a term as regis- ter of deeds, being chosen as the candidate of the
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