USA > Michigan > Huron County > Portrait and biographical album of Huron county Michigan, Containing biographical sketches of citizens also a complete history of the county, from its earliest settlement to the present time > Part 14
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Charles Gilbert, farmer, resident on section 8, Meade Township, has lived in the State of Michigan from boyhood, and in Huron County since he settled in the township of Meade, in the fall of 1859. He was born in Norway, Oct. 11, 1837. His parents, William and Catherine (Anderson) Gilbert, were also natives of Norway, where they married and settled and lived until the death of Mr. G., the father. . After that event the mother came with her children to the United States and settled at Pontiac, Oakland Co., Mich., in 1853, where she died in November, 1854.
Mr. Gilbert was 15 years old when the family lo- cated at Pontiac. He is the sixth of seven children born to his parents, and secured a fair education in his native country. He remained in Pontiac about 18 months and proceeded thence to Port Huron. He resided there until the date of his coming to Meade Township. He bought 80 acres of Government land, for which he paid $40. The tract was in a wholly wild state and he settled in the "brush," built a log house and began the work of clearing and improving his place. He has prospered in his efforts and has exhibited his inherited traits of energy and thrift to good purpose. He is now the owner of 120 acres of land and has placed the major portion under excel- lent cultivation.
Mr. Gilbert is a Republican of the efficient type. He has held the office of Supervisor of Meade Town- ship four consecutive years, and has officiated as Justice of the Peace the same length of time. He was Treasurer from 187 1 to 1877 and has discharged the duties of the different school offices.
The spirit in which Mr. Gilbert adopted this coun- try as his own, with all that citizenship involved, was conclusively proven by his enrollment in the service of the Union during the civil war. He en- listed Aug. 15, 1862, in the 23d Mich. Inf., and was in active service until the close of the conflict. He obtained an honorable discharge, June 28, 1865, at Detroit. Among the engagements in which he was an active participant were Perryville, Ky., London, Campbell Station, and at the siege of Knoxville, Tenn., and he went with Sherman toward the sea as far as Atlanta. He was also involved in numerous minor skirmishes. On receiving his discharge he re- turned to his farm in Huron County.
The marriage of Mr. Gilbert to Anne C. Petersen occurred in Meade Township, Oct. 24, 1861. Nine children have been born to them,-Charles A., George J., Mary R., Emma M., Anne M., Bertie A., Emma A., Henry C. and William. Emma M. died July 22, 1877.
Mrs. Gilbert was born March 11, 1833, in Nor- way. She is the daughter of Christopher and Caro- line Petersen and accompanied her parents to America in the fall of 1855.
ohn M. Cary, Clerk of Huron County, and a resident of Bad Axe, was born Aug. 28, .1842, on Mt. Desert Island, Maine. His father, Rev. Calvin L. Cary, was a minister of the Baptist Church and was in active labor in the interests of that denomination about 50 years. He died in Bradford, Penobscot Co., Me., in 1883, at the age of 87 years. The mother, Ursula (Forbes) Cary, died in Bradford, in 1873.
Mr. Cary went to Bangor, Me., when he was about 18 years old, and learned the drug business, which was his chief interest for 15 years. In the fall of 1874 he came to Saginaw, Mich., and engaged with the lumber firm of. Whitney, Rennick & Gulli- ver. In the spring of 1875, he came to Bad Axe to assume the management of their saw-mill, which he conducted 18 months. At the expiration of that time he opened a drug store at Bad Axe, which he continued to operate until the spring of 1881, when he sold out in order to be at liberty to devote
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himself to the duties of his official charge. In the fall of 1880, he was nominated and elected on the Republican ticket, by a majority of about 600 votes. He received a re-election in the fall of 1882, secur- ing the position by a majority of 153 votes.
Mr. Cary is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and is the owner of a residence and three-fourths of an acre of land, besides a store building occupied by John Ballentine. His first residence at Bad Axe was one of the finest abodes in that village, but it was destroyed by the fire of 1881, with all its con- tents. The loss was about $3,500 above insurance.
He was married in Bradford, Me., May 11, 1872, to Alvina Scribner, who was born May 16, 1844, in Charleston, Me., and is the daughter of Mark and Dolly Scribner. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Cary are three in number. Lulu was born in Charleston, Me., Oct. 11, 1873. Charles C. was born in Bad Axe, Feb. 29, 1876. An infant yet unnamed was born in the latter place March II, 1884.
illiam T. Bope, attorney, member of the law firm of Chipman & Bope, at Bad Axe, and Prosecuting Attorney of Huron County, was born Jan. 8, 1853, in Lapeer City, Mich. He is the son of Philemon and Ellen (Sloss) Bope. His mother died in March, 1862, when he was but nine years old, and in April, 1865, he was fully orphaned by the demise of his father. When he was three years old he went to Orland, Steuben Co., Ind., with his maternal uncle, Thomas B. Sloss, with whom he remained four years. He returned to his parents in 1860, continued in their care until the period of his or- phanage, when he again became the charge of his uncle, who discharged the duty of parent toward him. He attended the graded school at Orland, finished the complete course of study and was grad- uated. In 1873, he became a student of law in the office of McBride & Morland, attorneys at Waterloo, Ind., and read for his profession under their guid- ance two years. In the fall of 1875, he entered the Law Department of the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, where he was graduated in 1876. He initiated his practice by establishing an office at But-
ler, Ind., in partnership with John W. Baxter, a re- lation which existed two years. On its termination Mr. Bope went to North Manchester, Ind., where he practiced one year. He came to Bad Axe in Jan- uary, 1879, and established his business in company with George W. Carpenter, with whom he was asso- ciated one year, after which he conducted his affairs alone until the formation of the present business connection, which occurred in the spring of 1883. The firm are deservedly prosperous and popular, from qualifications, integrity and devotion to the in- terests of their clients. They have been connected with some of the most prominent cases in this por- tion of Michigan, both civil and criminal. They conducted the defense in the case of the People vs. Buckley : assault and battery, with intent to kill,- securing the acquittal of Buckley. Another noted case which they argued was the suit in chancery of McGaw vs. McGaw, for the purpose of setting aside a U. S. patent. Messrs. Bope & Chipman defended the case successfully. Mr. Bope is a member of the Odd Fellows Order, and also belongs to the Knights of Maccabees. He owns his office and residence and two 40-acre lots in the southern portion of the village, which is platted and some lots sold. He also owns about 400 acres of land in different parts of the county. The business firm of which he is a member are also engaged to a considerable ex- tent in traffic in real estate.
Mr. Bope was married June 15, 1882, in Butler, Ind., to Binnie Plowe, daughter of John and Eliza- beth Plowe. She was born in February, 1857, in . Wolcottville, Lagrange Co., Ind. Her parents reside in Butler, DeKalb Co., Ind.
As one of the leading citizens of the county, we present Mr. Bope's portrait in this volume.
homas Scott, farmer, resident on section 23, Verona Township, was born in Scotland June 9, 1833. He is the son of John and Jane (Dalglish) Scott, and he remained in his native land until the spring of 1857, when he emigrated to the Dominion of Canada. He had learned the business of a stone mason in Scot- land, and during the building of the Grand Trunk
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Railroad he worked on it one year. In September, 1859, he came to Verona and bought 280 acres of land. In the spring following, he went to Tennessee and engaged in the construction of the Nashville & Northwestern Railroad. The same fall he came back to Verona. He at once entered upon the im- provement of his farm and now has 100 acres under cultivation.
He has suffered the experience common to the citizens of this portion of Michigan in both the fires of 187 1 and 1881, in each of which he lost all com- bustible property on his place. In that of 1871 he lost his house and barn full of farm products, together with farm implements, fences, etc. The same loss, but of increased value, resulted from the last fire, when nearly $6,000 in property vanished "in the flames. He has rebuilt his house and barn, and is gradually recovering his former status. He has been Supervisor of Verona about 12 years.
Mr. Scott was married in Canada in 1867 to Agnes, daughter of Robert and Helen (Beattie) Shannon. She was born in Westminster, Canada, and has be- come the mother of six children, born in Verona Township, as follows : John, Robert, William, Thomas, Ella and Walter.
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eorge R. Allen, farmer, section 5, Meade Township, was born Dec. 27, 1841, in Middlesex Co., Ont. His parents, John and Lucinda (Russell) Allen, were born re- spectively in Canada and Vermont. After their marriage they settled in Quebec, after- wards removing to Middlesex County, where Mr. A. died. Mrs. Allen lives in Huron County, whither she removed in 1881. Their family included two sons and six daughters.
Mr. George R. Allen is the second son and sixth child in the above family. He acquired such educa- tion as the Dominion offered, and remained at home assisting on the home farm until he was 25 years of age. He was variously engaged in his native prov- ince until the summer of 1882, when he came to Huron County and bought 80 acres of land in Chandler Township. He afterwards exchanged this
property for 80 acres of land under partial improve- ments in Meade Township. This has been his homestead since he became its proprietor, and 60 acres are under the best improvements.
He is a member of the Masonic fraternity. While a resident of Ontario he belonged to the class known as "Reformers."
He was married Aug. 11, 1866, in Canada, to Mary A., daughter of Richard and Ann (Quest) Dibb. Five children have been born of this union, as fol- lows : Wallace E., Feb. 15, 1867 ; Minnie L., May 30, 1869 ; Horace L., Feb. 28, 1874 (died Sept. 30, following); Bertram R., June 26, 1876 (died March 31, 1881); Herry L., July 1, 1880. Mrs. Allen was born Nov. 18, 1846, in Ontario, and died in Middle- sex Co., Ont., July 11, 1880.
homas Cole, farmer, section 8, Huron Town- ship, was born Jan. 1, 1848, on the Isle of Man, Eng. He is the son of Charles and 2ยช Margaret (Gale) Cole, and the latter is living in Huron Township, Erie Co., Ohio, with one of her twin sons. She also is a native of the Isle of Man, and was born Nov. 18, 1814. The father was born April 12, 1815, and died Dec. 18, 187 1, in Huron, Erie Co., Ohio. He was a hatter by trade, but passed the later years of his life in farming.
Both parents were of Danish descent, and arrived on the shores of the United States June 5, 1852. They proceeded to Concord Township, Lake Co., Ohio, and later to Oxford, Erie Co., Ohio, where the son who is the subject of this sketch grew to man- hood. He was about four years of age when his parents came to America. He remained on his father's farm until a little less than three years previous to his removal to Michigan. At that time he went to Margaretta Township in Erie County, and rented a farm on which he resided until the fall of 1879. He took possession of a farm of 60 acres in Huron Township on the 18th of November, on which he now resides. In the spring of 1883, he bought 40 acres more. At the time of the fire of 1881 he had cleared ten acres, and had a good
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house and barn, both of which were burned with all their contents and wearing apparel, save one trunk, containing business papers and valuables.
Mr. Cole is a Republican in political faith. He has been School Assessor five years, and in 1881 was School Superintendent.
He was married May 26, 1870, to Laura B. Strong. All the children, seven in number, that have been born of this union, are living. Jesse L. was born April 21, 1871; Belle M., July 10, 1872; Archie A., Oct. 10, 1874; Cedelia M., Feb. 24, 1875 ; John E., Oct. 11, 1877; Elva R., June 25, 1879; Edna G., May 24, 1881. The parents of Mrs. Cole, Andrew and Cedelia (Parrish) Strong, are deceased. The mother was born in 1829 and died in Placer- ville, Cal., in 1856. The father was born in 1824, and his death occurred Dec. 4, 1870, in Lenawee Co., Mich. Mrs. Cole was born April 22, 1848, in Wisconsin. She and her husband belong to the Methodist Episcopal Church.
ohn Ballentine, merchant at Bad Axe, was born Aug. 8, 1841, in New Brunswick. His parents, William and Ruth (McAllen) Ballentine, were members of the agricultural class in that province until the son was 15 years old, when they removed to Dereham Township, Oxford Co., Ont., after which he discon- tinued his operations as a farm assistant, to which occupation he had been reared. He spent four years in the saw-mill business in Oxford County, and in 1860 came to Port Huron. He was similarly occupied there until 1863, and went to Forester, Sanilac County. He passed two years in a saw-mill there, going thence to Rock Falls in Huron County, where he engaged as a sawyer. He remained there 18 months, and at the end of that time he opened a general store at Verona Mills, which he conducted with success until the fire of 1871, in which he lost his store,-building and contents, -suffering a loss of $6,000, about one-half of which was covered by insurance.
His next business venture was in lumbering, and he built a saw-mill at Verona, which he continued to manage about seven years, when he added a flour- ing mill. His affairs continued prosperous until the
fire of 1881, when the insatiate demon of flame swept away all his accumulations and entailed a loss of about $50,000 above all insurance. The fire of 187 I destroyed his property and involved his affairs to such a degree that, on making his settlements and placing himself square with the world, he had just 50 cents in money and what he wore upon his person when the disaster overtook him! House and furniture were gone, and his wife had only the clothing she wore.
He managed to keep afloat, and in January, 1883, he came to Bad Axe and established his present mercantile business, in which he has met with satis- factory success. He has built the finest house at Bad Axe, on one of the most desirable locations, having adjacent grounds containing two acres. He owns a lot near his present place of business, where he proposes to build a business block of brick during the coming year, for which project his preparations are considerably advanced. He owns also two business lots on a prominent street and 248 acres of fine farming land in the vicinity of Bad Axe. He belongs to the Masonic fraternity.
His marriage to Mary M. Grice took place at Rock Falls, Huron County, April 6, 1865. She is the daughter of James G. and Jane (Mason) Grice, and was born June 19, 1843. in Manchester, Eng- land. (See sketch of J. G. Grice.) James R. and Benjamin I., the only children born to Mr. and Mrs. Ballentine, are deceased.
We take pleasure in presenting the portrait of Mr. Ballentine in this work as a type of the representa- tive and progressive citizens of the county, and of a man who has exhibited singular courage and busi- ness talent in rising to competency after suffering so great misfortune by fire.
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obert Wallace, member of the business firm "known as the " Lake Huron Stone Com- pany," and resident at Grindstone City, which takes its name from the enterprise designated, was born Feb. 22, 1836, in Coun- ty Armagh, Ireland. He came to the Ameri- can continent when he was 15 years old, and engaged in farming in Lanark Co., Ont. In 1854 he came to Huron Co., Mich., and became an assistant in the
e
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business of which he is now one-fourth owner. He operated as a laborer until 1864, when he succeeded to the position of manager of the quarries, and in 1868 he acceded to his proprietary interest. The company own 400 acres of land on the shore of Lake Huron in Port Austin Township, where their quarries are situated, and their business requires an average working force of about 70 men. The stone is manufactured chiefly into grindstones, a con- siderable proportion being converted into scythe- stones and building stone, for all of which purposes it is of fine quality. Buildings of suitable character for the manufacture of their products are located in the immediate vicinity of the quarries, and they ship to all portions of the United States and Canada, and a considerable trade with foreign countries has been established. The firm employ several traveling sales- men. Mr. W. also owns a quarter interest in a quarry in Marietta, Ohio, where stone is obtained for both wet and dry grinding,-also large quantities of building and dimension stone. Besides, Mr. Wal- lace owns 400 acres of farming land, with 80 acres . under cultivation.
He belongs to the Masonic fraternity, and also to the Protestant Association. During four years of the administration of President Grant, he officiated as Postmaster of Grindstone City.
He was married June 30, 1859, at Port Austin, to Margaret, daughter of Patrick and Margaret Deegan. She was born Nov. 14, 1844, at Toronto, Canada. Of their union ten children have been born, as fol- lows: William H., John E., Leonidas R., Margaret J., Ann I., Samuel J., Eliza M., Ellinor E. and Frank. One died in infancy.
charles Clark, farmer, section 8, Rubicon Township, was born March 2, 1824, in the city of London, Eng. His parents, Charles and Mary Ann (Hadfield) Clark, passed their entire lives in England. The former was born in 1800 and died in 1854; the mother was born in 1810, and died also in 1854.
Mr. Clark is their only child, and grew to man- hood in his native country. Three years after the
death of his parents, he emigrated to this continent, landing at the port of New York. He proceeded to Toronto, Ont., and settled at Scarborough, 16 miles from that city, where he rented a farm and was a res- ident eight years, In the fall of 1877 he came to Michigan and bought an unimproved piece of land in Rubicon Township. It contained 80 acres, and had been " lumbered over " by its former owners, Messrs. Stafford, Haywood & Jeness. The entire tract is in a fine condition for the purpose of agricul . ture, and is supplied with a good frame house and barn.
Mr. Clark is a Republican in political views, and has served eight years as Justice of the Peace and four years as Notary Public. He is a Presbyterian in religious connection.
He was married in the autumn of 1840 to Ann M. Simmons. Following is the record of the children born of their union: Mary Ann, May 3, 1841 ; Rosina Elizabeth was born March 27, 1842, and died June 15, 1842 ; Charles William was born Sept. 24, 1844, and died March 12, 1882, his death result- ing from a fall .in Stafford's salt works at Port Hope; Rosina E. (second) was born April 17, 1846; Jane was born April 4, . 1848, and died April 2, 1851 ; Arthur was born April 30, 1850; Esther Jane, May 10, 1852; Robert, Sept. 3, 1854; John Crossley, June 1, 1857, in Toronto, Ont. ; James A., April 23, 1859; Alfred was born March 7, 1861, and died May 10, following; Alice A. was born May 29, 1862, in Bosanquet, Ont. The first eight children were born in London, Eng., and two died there. The two next named were born in Scarborough, Ont., and one died at that place. Mrs. Clark is the daughter of James and Mary Ann (Allen) Simmons, and was born Nov. 2, 1825, in London, Eng. She is the youngest of five children. Her parents both died in that city, in 1862. She is a Baptist in religious belief.
The fire of 187 1 was a terrible experience to the parents and four of the children who were at home. From their house they watched the progress of the hurrying monster as long as they dared, but when a longer delay would cut them off from a place of safety, they left their dwelling and went to a field filled with burning stumps, where they found a place of possible refuge, and encamped. All through the long hours of the most dreadful night of their lives they stood constantly alert to keep the fire from
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their garments, and expecting death from the suffo- cating smoke which blinded and choked them; and in this instance, the fire running in the turf ceased its encroachments within a few feet of the place where the family were stationed. The smoke caused dreadful suffering in their eyes. In the morning they went to Port Hope, the journey thither being full of a new danger, from the trees falling on all sides, uprooted by the wind, which in every section of the territory devastated by the fire raged with relentless fury in its track. At Port Hope the sufferers received the aid of which they were so sorely in need.
In the fire of 1881, Mr. Clark lost all his crops that were not gathered, including corn, peas, etc., besides fences, four valuable sheep, etc.
illiam G. Cleary, farmer and mechanic, section 34, Gore Township, was born Jan. I, 1816, at Eastport, Maine. His parents, John and Ann E. (Turner) Cleary, are both deceased. The former was 90 years old at the time of his death; the age of the latter at the date of her decease was 72 years.
Mr. Cleary went to Brooklyn when he was 16 years of age and was apprenticed for seven years to learn the business of ship carpenter. He served five years. His master was Captain John Perry, better known as "Commodore Perry," who afterward commanded the United States squadron in the expedition to Japan. As his apprenticeship was far advanced he was re- lieved in order to join the marine service, which he did and sailed on board the frigate "Grampus," on which he was first carpenter. The cruise extended through the waters of the South Atlantic, the Indian Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea, and along the coasts bordering on those bodies of water.
Mr. Cleary was in the marine service eight years, his draft being for seven years, and a year longer being required to reach home. He landed at Boston, and went thence.to New York. He came with little delay to Port Huron, where he found employment as
a carpenter on the Huron House. He remained in that city three years, going thence to New Orleans. He spent three winters in the Crescent City, working at his trade, returning to Port Huron for the inter- vening summer seasons. In 1842 he went to Buffalo, whence, after he had labored there some time, he went to Canada and worked at Sarnia. He went thence to Cherry Creek, Sanilac County, 'where he built a steam saw-mill for Messrs. Crowel & Gilbert. He spent a winter there, and in the spring following went to Elm Creek, where he took a job to convert a saw-mill, which was operated by water, into a steam saw-mill, in the interests of a man named Nathan Chase. The work occupied about six months, and he went from there to Port Sanilac to build a steam saw-mill for Anthony Oldfield. He engaged after- wards in constructing scows and sail boats for the coast service, and also in building a lumber vessel for Charles Benton. He operated at that point about six years, then went to Forester to engage as foreman in the saw-mill of Smith & Kelley, and passed four years in their saw and grist mills and work-shop.
Leaving'their service, he established himself in building fishing boats at Big Creek, in which he continued several years. He worked a year at his trade at Cheboygan, on the Straits of Mackinac, whence in August, 1869, he came to Port Hope and entered a claim of 120 acres of unimproved land, on which he settled. He entered vigorously into the work of clearing and otherwise improving his property, meanwhile building a shop for the construction of boats. He was in prosperous circumstances when the fire of 187 1 occurred. In that terrible conflagra- tion he lost his house, barns, fences, shops and tools, the value of the latter alone being $1,000. The aggregate loss was estimated at $2,500. In the fire of 1881 he lost fences and hay-stacks, but no build- ings.
Mr. Cleary was married March 29, 1845, to Jane Hunter, and of their union II children have been born, three of whom are deceased. Four sons and four daughters are living. Mary A., Martha J. and Elizabeth are deceased. William S., James, Margaret, Sarah J., George, Henry, Ellen M. and Ann Eliza are the names of those living. Mrs. Cleary was born Jan. 11, 1825, in Beckwith, Carlton Township, Perth Co., Ont. She is the daughter of James and Mary (Willis) Hunter. Her father is about 80 years of age
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and is living in Gore Township. Her mother died in August, 1879, at Port Sanilac, and was 74 years of age.
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