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 15
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52
Mr. Cleary is a Democrat, and has held the several school offices. He and his wife are communicants in the Episcopal Church.
ddison Broomhower, farmer, section 34, Sheridan Township, was born Dec. 16, 1844, in Ashtabula Co., Ohio. His par- ents, Andrew and Mary (Bayley) Broomhower, were natives of New York and Pennsylvania, respectively. Mr. Broomhower remained in his native State until the summer of 1869, when he came to Michigan. He at once bought 160 acres of wild land in Sheridan Township, where he has since resided with the exception of 18 months immediately following the fire of 1871, which he passed in Ohio. His farm comprises about 60 acres cleared, improved - and cultivated land. He belongs to the Democratic element in politics, and has held nearly every local office in his township.
He was married in Ohio Dec. 20, 1864, to Alma A. Stewart. They have had seven children,-Charlie, Mary, Alma, Xenophon, Alfred A., John and Jane. John died when he was between two and three years of age. Mrs. Broomhower was born April 14, 1846, in Ohio, and is the daughter of Alfred and Alma Stewart.
ngus O'henley, farmer, section 6, Sheri- dan Township, was born June 13, 1849, in Scotland, and was in extreme infancy when his parents emigrated to Canada from Scotland, as they came to the American continent within the first year of his life. He is the son of Donald and Christena O'henley. They came to Huron County in the spring of 1876.
Mr. O'henley is the eldest son and one of ten
children born to his parents. When he was 19 years of age he became a sailor, and he spent II seasons on the lakes in various capacities. He was first and second mate on several of the largest and best pro- pellers on the lakes. He came to Huron County in the fall of 1875, where he bought 320 acres of land in Sheridan Township. He still retains the ownership of 200 acres, and this tract embraces 60 acres of cleared and cultivated land with good and suitable farm buildings
He is a Democrat in political principle and has been Treasurer of the township two terms.
Mr. O'henley was married June 29, 1880, in Can- ada, to Mary McDonald. They have three children -Catherine, Alexander and Margaret. Mrs. O'henley was born in Canada, Oct. 8, 1858, of Scotch par- entage.
.
enry Getty, general superintendent of the salt works of the New River Salt Block Company, was born in the State of New York, March 20, 1835, and is the son of Robert and Harriet Getty. His father was a native of the Empire State, but lived most of his life in the Dominion. He was residing temporarily in New York when the birth of his son Henry occurred, and, the mother dying soon afterward, the family returned to Canada, where the father died in 1853.
Mr. Getty was " bound out " to a cousin when he was six years old, to be brought up a farmer. But he baffled the original intention of everybody concerned, by running away. He came to Lexington, Mich., and engaged as a lumberman and spent a winter in that employ. He returned to Canada in the spring, where he remained until he was 23 years old. In 1858, he came back to the Huron coast, and from that date until 1872 he was occupied as a lumberman winters and as a saw-mill assistant summers.
On the establishment of the salt block in 1872, he assumed his present position, in which he has since continued. Its capacity is a " three-pan " block, only one being in operative order. It has two wells, one 1,040 feet in depth, the other 1,003 feet, neither of which is pumped to its full capacity, both being
& Ludington for
193
HURON COUNTY.
capable of yielding 200 barrels daily. The owners are waiting a greater degree of activity in the salt business to run their works to their full extent. The proprietors are W. H. Cooper and W. Creevy, of Port Austin, and Orange Nobles, of Erie, Pa.
Mr. Getty was married Sept. 28, 1856, to Elizabeth Pulling. Following is the record of their children : Hattie F., born July 24, 1858, was married Jan. 6, 1881, to Eugene Everingham. Bertha M., born July 16, 1861, was married July 25, 1878, to Milo Kelley. Jennie, born Sept. 12, 1862, married Alexander Mc Fadden, Feb. 28, 1881. William H. was born April 29, 1864; George, born Aug. 26, 1865, died Oct. 24, 1872; Frankie was born June 13, 1870; Alice was born Sept. 23, 1872. Mrs. Getty was born June 22, 1836, in Patworth, Sussex Co., Eng., and is the daughter of Richard and Fanny Gertrude (Holden) Pulling. Her father was born Jan. 11, 1791, in Brighton, Eng., and died April 19, 1874. Her mother was born Aug. 23, 1806, and died May 14, 1850.
Mr. Getty owns a farm of 40 acres, which he pur- chased in 1872, in a wholly wild and unimproved state. It is nearly all fitted for tillage. It is situated in Dwight Township.
He is a Republican and has discharged the duties of several school offices.
eremiah Ludington, Jr., a pioneer settler of Huron County, resident at Verona Mills, was born May 5, 1828, in Middlebury, Ad- dison Co., Vt. His parents, Jeremiah and Laura (Corbit) Ludington, were natives respect- tively of Vermont and Connecticut. His father was born June 7, 1800, his mother in 1804. They were married in Vermont and became the parents of four children, three of whom are living,-William, a farmer in Kent County, Mich., Philo B., a sailor and farmer, living at Presque Isle; and Mr. Ludington, who is the second in order of birth. The family removed to Cleveland Township, Cuyahoga Co., Ohio, in 1831, where the father engaged in farming. Mr. Ludington was bred to the vocation of farmer and followed that calling in the Buckeye State until 1850. He was married June 5, 1849, in Euclid
Township, Cuyahoga Co., Ohio, to Maria A. Tres- cott. She was born in Ohio, and is the daughter of Hunting Trescott. The family of Mr. Ludington comprises four children-Almond A., Albert L., Daniel H. and Willie T.
Mr. Ludington and his wife reached Sand Beach May 13, 1850. The location was in its primeval, natural condition, heavy timber standing as nature had arranged it. He immediately entered upon the manufacture of shingles, employing a considerable force of assistants. He carried on a successful and extensive business, shipping his shingles to Cleve- land, Ohio. In addition to his lumbering operations he conducted a general store. In 1857 he built a saw-mill at Center Harbor, designated by the name of the place, which he retained and managed until Oct. 4, 1864, the date of its sale. The property included 1, 100 acres of fine pine lands, and three miles of railroad track, laid to the pine woods from the saw-mill. In December, 1864, he came to Verona Mills and built a saw-mill. His first work was to get out the lumber for his own house and that of his brother-in-law, John Kneal. They were the first frame buildings in the township. In the spring following he removed his family hither, mak- ing the transfer on sleighs and arriving March 24th. He owned about 1,200 acres of pine land, and em- ployed about 60 men and 10 teams in the manufac- ture of lumber and shingles, drawing his products in winter to Sand Beach for shipment to market. He has manufactured some of the best lumber in Michigan, in the course of his experience as a lum- ber producer. In 1869 he cut 400,000 feet of lum- ber, and 100 planks averaging from 36 to 49 inches in width. Two of these are yet on exhibtion at the lumber-yard of Woods, Perry & Co., No. 5 Carter Street, Cleveland, Ohio. Each is 16 feet long, one being 46 inches in width, and the other four feet and one inch wide. But on the day of this writing, full accounts of the terrible fire at Cleveland, in which Messrs. Woods, Perry & Co. suffered to the extent of $450,000, reach the public. The dispatches give details of the destruction of the office of the firm on Carter Street, where these planks have been objects of curiosity for 15 years.
Mr. Ludington passed his first ordeal of flame and disaster June 24 and 25, 1864, at Sand Beach, when his loss, in railroad track, logs, telegraph poles and farm buildings, was $10,000. His next was on Feb
HURON COUNTY.
194
22, 1868, when he lost $20,000. The property burned included a steam saw and grist mill, grain, flour, lumber and other miscellaneous property, wholly uninsured. He rebuilt the saw-mill, at a cost of $12,000, which he operated successfully until the general conflagration of 1871, when the loss of prop- erty in this one instance was appalling. On the night of Oct. 9, the saw-mill, lumber valued at $7,000, an inestimable quantity of standing pine timber, 26 valuable buildings (including six resi- dences) and other property vanished in flame and smoke. The value of property that could be esti- mated reached a figure of about $35,000, all without insurance. He sold soon afterward a considerable amount of property to Ballentine & Puddick, includ- ing two and a half million feet of pine lumber.
He then devoted his energies to agriculture and commercial affairs. He erected a store for the pur- pose of founding a mercantile enterprise, continuing its management from 1875 to 1879, when he gave it to his son Daniel. In the year last named he built a large hotel, 32 x 52 feet in extent, with addition 32 X 42 feet in dimensions, and having a large hall on the second floor. The wing is two stories in height, the main building being a half story higher. He rented the hotel until May 4, 1882, when he took personal charge of its affairs. In the fire of 1881 Mr. Ludington was again a heavy loser, saving no personal effects excepting one trunk with its con- tents, a sewing-machine and the hotel property. He lost two fine barns, valued at $4,000. He owns 65 acres of land connected with the hotel in Verona, and also about 600 acres variously located in the county. He belongs to the Masonic fraternity.
Mr. Ludington is inseparably associated with the municipal history of the part of Huron County where he has lived for more than 34 years, and which he has been largely instrumental in opening to business and progress. He has been active in local official life, having served several years as Treasurer of his township, besides in most other offices in town and county.
In the fall of 1874 he was nominated on the Re- publican ticket to represent his district in the Legis- lature of Michigan, scoring a triumph of 239 votes majority. He served an additional term, to which he was elected in the fall of 1879, his majority being about the same as at his first election, He served
three years as State Swamp Land Road Commis- sioner, during which time the Huron City & Bad Axe State road was built, under his supervision. He gave his taxes to the enterprise, consisting of 75 days' labor. He built his grist-mill in 1866, and within that year contributed $2,000 to the road building. His aggregate of highway contribution reaches $6,000, and the county is indebted to him principally for the fine roads in this vicinity. In 1866 he employed a gang of men with teams, con- structing roads, paying the entire expense.
The career of Mr. Ludington in Huron County has been deeply marked by the terrible vicissitudes through which it has passed. He has been a very successful business man, and has risen from his several severe misfortunes with courage and energy unabated; and the record of his brave struggles will form one of the most prominent and striking chap- rset in the eventful history of Huron County.
In presenting the portrait of Mr. Ludington in this work, the publishers are pleased to know they not only give the likeness of one of the county's pioneer settlers, but a man who has identified himself with the interest of the county and her citizens since 1850. The early settlers and a large majority of the present population of the county will recognize in the likeness of Mr. Ludington those features that indicate success, and that accomplish puposes only through the channels of honest, energetic endeavor.
ames Hall, resident at Grindstone City, has operated since 1870 as a turner in the grindstone mills. He was born Feb. 24, 1852, in Northumberland Co., Ont., and is the son of Alexander and Catherine (McCauley) Hall. The family removed in 1862 to Maho- ning Co., Ohio, where Mr. Hall became a miner at the age of 1 1 years, working in the coal mines. He was employed in that capacity until he was 16 years old, when he came to Sanilac County and spent two winters in the lumber woods of Austin Township. In the summer of 1868 he was employed in the saw-mill of Charles Durand, located one mile south of Sand Beach. Through the following summer he fished at
195
HURON COUNTY.
Forestville, and came first to Grindstone City in the summer of 1870. He entered the employ of the Huron Stone Company and spent two months strip- ping stone, after which he became a turner, and has pursued that vocation since.
In 1878 he bought 160 acres of land on section 27, in Port Austin Township. It was covered with the forest, and he has cleared and improved one-half the tract. He is preparing to devote his attention ex- clusively to breeding fine grades of cattle, and has now a herd which contains some excellent specimens of the Short-horn and Holstein breeds. He also owns 160 acres of land, with 30 acres improved, in Austin Township, Sanilac County.
Mr. Hall was married Nov. 28, 1878, to Bridget, daughter of Thomas and Catherine McCoy. They have two children,-Catherine and Mary A. Mrs. Hall was born Feb. 25, 1852, in Ottawa Co., Ont.
Mr. Hall has held the office of Road Commissioner, of Port Austin Township, in which capacity he ex- celled.
liver Haley, farmer, section 14, Colfax Township, came to Huron County in the spring of 1866. He lived about six months at Sand Beach, and in the spring of 1867 " took up " a claim of 160 acres of land on sections 14 and 23, in Colfax Township. He has made a later purchase of 40 acres, increasing his estate to 200 acres in the aggregate, which embraces 60 acres under good cultivation. Mr. Haley has held various official positions in school and township affairs. He is a Republican in his political sentiments.
Mr. Haley was born April 29, 1818, in Ireland, where he married and settled. About 1854 he emi- grated to Canada, whence he came to Michigan. His parents, Luke and Phebe Haley, were also na- tives of Ireland, and passed their entire lives in the land of their birth.
Oliver Haley was married in Kings County, Ire- land, to Mary Culbert. Their seven surviving chil- dren were born in the following order: Margaret, Oliver, James, Ellen, Henry, George and William.
The three last were born in Canada. Phebe died when she was about six months old. Mr. and Mrs. Haley are communicants in the Church of England.
aphael Labelle, farmer, residing on section 25, Meade Township, was born July 31, 1849, in Canada. He is the son of Mar- cellin and Theresa (Filion) Labelle. His parents were both natives of Montreal, were married and settled in Canada, whence they came in 1871 to Hume Township, Huron County, where the mother died. The father is yet a resident of Huron County. They had ten children.
Mr. Labelle is the eldest child of his parents. He lived in Canada until 1870, the year in which he came to Huron County. He entered a claim of 160 acres of land in Meade Township, of which he held possession for three years. At the expiration of that time he sold his claim to his brother. As he was a single man he was not compelled to remain a resi- dent on his land, and he was employed, during his spare time for five years, in a saw-mill. In 1872 he bought 80 acres of land on section 25, in Meade Township, where he established his homestead. He has improved 50 acres.
Mr. Labelle is a Republican in political sentiment and action, and he has held various township offices of importance and trust.
He was married Dec. 25, 1874, at Port Austin, to Agatha Geoffroy. She was born Oct. 25, 1856, at Bayfield, Ontario, Can. Her parents were natives of the Province of Quebec, and of French origin.
illiam Thompson, farmer, section 20, Ver- ona Township, was born June 4, 1835, in Ontario Co., Can. He is the son of Wil- liam and Ann (St. John) Thompson. The demise of his father occurred in Canada Oct. 26, 1862 ; his mother is still living in the Do- minion. His father was an experienced and skillfnl
COUSINS
196
HURON COUNTY.
agriculturist and gave his son a thorough training in the vocation to which his life had thus far been de- voted. When he attained his majority, he received 20 acres of land from his father, on which he lived and labored until his removal to Michigan. He came to Verona Township in March, 1864, and secured a claim of 160 acres under the Homestead Law. He now owns 320 acres, which comprises 90 acres under cultivation. In the fire of 188r he lost his house, fences and several tons of hay. He is holding the office of Justice of the Peace.
Mr. Thompson was married in Brock Township, Ontario Co., Can., Feb. 14, 1856, to Margaret Bryen, daughter of William and Margaret (Low) Bryen, a native of Ireland. They have had 13 children, nine of whom are living. They are named John, Michael, Margaret, William, Sarah, Georgiana, George, Emma, and Cecelia. Their mother died Jan. 11, 1881, and Mr. Thompson was again married Dec. 2, 1883, to Mrs. Mary Scott, widow of Thomas Scott, and a native of Canada. By her first husband her children were, William H., born Nov. 6, 1869; Benjamin B., May 19, 1872; and George A., Sept. 1, 1884.
atthew C. McDonnell, M. D., physician and surgeon at Bad Axe, was born June 12, 1850, in Lockport, Niagara Co., N. Y. He is the son of Kirvan and Mary (Guinnon) McDonnell. His father is a farmer by calling, and in 1856 removed to Dexter, Washtenaw Co., Mich.
The son was bred to the same vocation, and before the age of 16 had obtained a good common-school education. He then began teaching, continuing in that vocation four winters. In 1876 he went to Toledo, to operate as a salesman for Newhansel Bros., dry-goods merchants, where he was employed three and a half years. His next service was in the dry-goods house of Fred Eaton in the same city, with whom he was in business eight months. He ter- minated his mercantile career to enter upon his prep- arations for his profession, and in September commenced a course of study in the Medical Depart- ment of the University of Michigan, at Ann Arbor,
where he completed the prescribed curriculum of medical study, and was graduated with the centen- nial class of 1876. He first established himself in business at Carleton, Monroe Co., Mich., where he pursued his profession six months, going thence to Weston, Lenawee County. He continued in business there until Aug. 1, 1883, when he came to Bad Axe and has succeeded in establishing what promises to be a substantial and popular practice. In addition to his regular business, he owns a half interest in a drug store, in company with L. C. Carpenter, his brother-in-law.
Mr. McDonnell was married Aug. 23, 1881, in Adrian, Mich., to Mary A. Carpenter. She was born in Fairfield, Lenawee County, April 2, 1862, and is the daughter of Reuben T. and Rosanna (Upton) Car- penter. Dr. and Mrs. McDonnell rejoice in the pos- session of a son and a daughter, twins, born May 13, 1883. They are named Matthew Leslie and Mary Edessa.
illiam J. Williamson, farmer, section 29, Grant Township, was born Aug. 5, 1840, in Hancock Co., Ohio. He is the son of Levi and Mary (Biblar) Williamson. His father was born in Virginia and is of mixed English and Scotch descent. His mother was born in Ohio, of Dutch parentage. After marriage, the parents settled in Hancock Co., Ohio, where the mother died, about the year 1849. His father after- wards married Agnes Cellars, a native of Ohio, and the family subsequently removed to Allen Co., Ind. In the fall of 1863 they came to Huron County, where the father located on 80 acres of land on which he had made a claim in the spring of the same year. It is situated on section 29, Grant Township, and he has since resided on the same place. Eight children were born of the two marriages. (See sketch of Dr. Levi Williamson.)
Mr. Williamson is the second son by the first mar- riage. He passed his life in the manner common to farmers' sons until he reached manhood. When that period arrived, the country was in the throes of civil war, and as the conflict grew more and more intense and its momentous nature became more and more
2
197
HURON COUNTY.
apparent, Mr. Williamson became interested in its issue, and the first event of his life of conspicuous importance was his enlistment in the Union service, Aug. 13, 1862. He enrolled in the Tooth Ind. Inf., and was in the military service of the United States until Jan. 6, 1863, when he was discharged at Mem- phis, Tenn., on account of disability. He returned to Allen Co., Ind., with health much impaired, and in the spring of 1863 he came to Huron County and entered a claim of 160 acres of land in Grant Town- ship. He remained in Huron County during the summer, returning to Indiana in the fall, where he again enlisted, in the 142d Ind. Vol. Inf., and re- mained in the service until the termination of the war. On receiving his discharge, he returned to Huron County and entered upon the work of im- proving his farm, which was in a wholly wild state. His place now includes 100 acres, with 90 acres under good improvement. He sold 60 acres of his original acreage.
Mr. Williamson is a Democrat in political senti- ment. He has officiated as Township Clerk, School Assessor and in other positions, in the spring of 1884 (current year) was elected Treasurer of Grant Township.
Mrs. Elizabeth Ann (Harrison) Williamson was born June 25, 1854, in Canada. Her parents, Ed- ward and Elizabeth (Petch) Harrison, were natives of England. They emigrated from that country to the Dominion of Canada in 1845, where they re- sided until their removal to Huron County, in May, 1867, since which date they have resided with their daughter. Mrs. Williamson has one sister, Mrs. Jane (Harrison) Gage. Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Williamson, namely : Charles E., Gertrude M., George O. and Lydia M. George died in infancy. Mr. Williamson is the resident owner of 160 acres of land in Grant Township, 45 acres of which are under cultivation.
ames Reed, farmer and salt contractor at Grindstone City, was born Nov. 14, 1840, in the township of Narsagawaya, Halton Co., Ont. He is the son of William and Mary E. (Green) Reed, and was reared on a farm. He was engaged in that business in Ontario until October, 1865, when he came to Huron City. After a stay there of several days he went to
Port Austin and operated one season as a lumber- man. In 1866 he came to Grindstone City and en- gaged as a quarryman in the quarry now owned by Worthington & Sons. From that date he continued in the same occupation until 1882, with the excep- tion of two seasons, when he was engaged in farm- ing and threshing.
In 1882 he took possession of his farm, which he bought in 1869. It then contained 40 acres, but he has sold a portion and now owns 26 acres, nearly all of which is now under cultivation. In 1882 he made a contract with Worthington & Sons to manu- facture salt in their mills. He employs a force of 1 I men, and the works have a capacity of producing 120 barrels a day. The salt is delivered on the dock.
Mr. Reed owns a fine residence and surroundings and a business building at Port Austin, where his son-in-law, John E. King, is engaged in mercantile affairs.
He was married Feb. 4, 1863, in Guelph, Halton Co., Ont., to Mary, daughter of William and Eliza Hyde. She was born July 18, 1844, in Canada. Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Reed : Eliza J., James A., Thomas E. and Annie M.
Mr. Reed is a member of the Knights of Mac- cabees.
kenry Neal, proprietor of the Lake View House at Huron City, was born in the town of Woodstock, Oxfordshire, Eng., Dec. 13, 1828, and is the son of Thomas and Mary E. (Stowe) Neal. They were natives of England and emigrated to America with four children,- three sons and one daughter,-in 1837. They lived in the city of Detroit until 1842, the father being employed as a gardener. Eventually he removed to Moore Township, Ontario, and there bought a farm of 100 acres, which he cleared and improved. He was born in October, 1801, and died on his farm in 1875. The mother still resides there.
Mr. Neal entered the lake sailing service in 1842, and from 1844 to 1880, with the exception of two summers which he spent in lumbering, operated in -
198
HURON COUNTY.
that capacity. He began as a cabin boy and held every intermediate position until he became master ยท of a vessel. He made a success of his business until 1860, when his vessel was lost. He owned the schooner Harwich, which was in the transporta- tion service as a lumber, coal and stone vessel. In July, 1860, she was driven in a heavy gale upon a reef of rocks on Middle Island, in Lake Erie, becom- ing a total wreck with no insurance. From 1867 to the date of his changing his vocation in life, he sailed as steward of the " Huron City," a steamer plying principally between Huron City and San- dusky. She was owned partly by Langdon Hub- bard. Between the years 1860 and 1867 he was the proprietor of two tugs, operating on the St. Clair and Detroit Rivers.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.