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 19
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Langdon Hubbard
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whence, after a residence of five years, in the fall of 1880, she came to Meade Township, in Huron County, to make her permanent home. She is the mother of ten children, namely : Sarah, Samuel, Joseph, Annie, Mary, Hannah, George, Nathaniel, Albert and Elizabeth.
Mr. Newcomb, second son and and third child, was born Jan. 16, 1854, in Canada. His early occu- pation was farming, and in the fall of 1875 he came to Huron County, where he was employed alternately in the lumber woods and in farming six years. In the summer of 1879 he bought 320 acres of land, of which he has cleared and improved 40 acres.
In political adherence Mr. Newcomb is a Republi- can, and is present School Assessor.
He was married April 2, 1884, at Port Huron, to Maggie King, who is a native of Canada.
angdon Hubbard, resident at Huron City, and one of the most prominent lumbermen and dealers in real estate in Huron County, has been a resident of Michigan since 1839. In that year he identified himself with the bus- iness interests of this portion of the Peninsular State, locating at Lexington, in Sanilac County, where he engaged in lumbering and in commercial affairs. There were no piers at that point to facilitate ship- ping, and he caused the construction of the upper pier at Lexington, the first structure of the kind of any importance between Port Huron and Saginaw. He was materially aided by the good will of Capt. E. B. Ward, of Detroit, the well-known proprietor of a line of boats on the lake, who presented him with $500 and a free pass on any of his boats for five years. On commencing his business he was associ- ated with Watson Hubbard, a brother, and R. B. Hubbard, a cousin, the united interests of the trio continuing about 30 years. They carried on their operations at Lexington about eight years, owning at the same time an extensive lumber yard at Sandusky, Ohio. About 1870 he and his brother sold their as- sociated interests to R. B. Hubbard, since which date Mr. Hubbard of this sketch has conducted his affairs alone. He is the sole proprietor of about
30,000 acres of land, which are in the market. He owns a lumber yard at Bad Axe, and a considerable acreage in the vicinity of that village. On his fine farm at Huron City, which includes 350 acres of im- proved land, he is extensively engaged in breeding fine cattle and horses, and in the prosecution of ag- riculture of a first-class type. He has a herd of 450 head, which includes thoroughbreds and graded cattle, and he rears about 100 head yearly. His blooded stock in Durham and his dairy herd includes 40 cows, whose milk is devoted chiefly to cheese- making. He owns go head of horses, some of which are of well-known and established pedigree, both on the track and for draught purposes,-Black Hawks, Long Manes and Normal-Percherons. His yearly wheat product ranges from five to seven thousand bushels, and he grows heavy crops of other farm produce. He has made a signal success of potatoes, and has raised crops of peach-blows averaging 430 bushels to the acre. He keeps a flock of 200 sheep.
Mr. Hubbard has experienced, in all their fullness, the vicissitudes which have made the lives of the settlers of Huron and Sanilac Counties eventful. He and his business associates lost heavily in the fires of 187 1 and 1881, the aggregate covering about $250,- ooo, including two saw-mills, each having a produc- ing capacity of 40,000 feet of lumber daily; two stores, with stocks of goods ; two large barns with grain and other contents ; farming implements and an inestimable amount of timber in the woods; a residence which cost $8,000 ; and a dock at Huron City, half a mile in length, valued at $10,000, which burned to the water's edge. This latter, Mr. Hub- bard has rebuilt.
At the time of his coming, to Sanilac County everything was in its most primitive condition. He hired a man to bring him from Port Huron to Lex- ington, a distance of 22 miles, paying him 50 cents for the service. He obtained his business interests with the Hubbards by purchasing the claim of G. S. Lester, then associated with them. Among other general projects in which he has been interested for the benefit of the public was the construction of 16 miles of the State road from Huron City to Verona.
Mr. Hubbard was born in Bloomfield Township, Hartford Co., Conn., Sept. 2, 1816, and is the son of Joab and Ruth (Brown) Hubbard. He grew to manhood and was educated in his native State.
He was married in April, 1862, to Amanda J.
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daughter of George S. Lester. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Hubbard are : Frank W., born April 16, 1863; Annabel M., Nov. 23, 1864; and Richard Langdon, Jan. 25, 1865.
To meet the evident expectations of the citizens of Huron County and the business public elsewhere, the publishers take pleasure in placing Mr. Hubbard's portrait in this ALBUM, in proximity to this biograph- ical outline.
ugust Holstein, operative miller in the employment of W. R. Stafford at Port Hope, was born Aug. 22, 1847, in Danzig, Prussia. His parents, Ferdinand John and Maria (Dombrowska) Holstein, were also na- tives of Prussia. Their family included two sons and two daughters, all of whom are living. The parents came to the United States in 1864 and set- tled on a farm in Rubicon Township, where they are still residents.
Mr. Holstein was reared to manhood in the prov- ince of his birth, and came to America in 1864. He was married in August, 1879, to Agnes Moor, daugh- ter of W. J. and Elizabeth (Smith) Moor. Her mother died in 1876, in Port Hope, where her father is still living. Two children have been born, as fol- lows, at Port Hope: Ida May, Feb. 22, 1882, and Irene Florence, July 20, 1884.
In political preference, Mr. Holstein is an Anti- Monopolist.
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illiam Proudfoot, farmer, section 20, Grant Township, was born Feb. 19, 1837, in New York. He is the son of James and Margaret (Wessel) Proudfoot, who were born respectively in Scotland and New York. They were residents of the latter State after their marriage, as long as they lived.
Mr. Proudfoot was a cooper by trade, which he learned in early life and followed until 1861, when
he enlisted in the 33d N. Y. Vol. Inf., and served as a soldier two years. He was in the Army of the Potomac and participated in the second fight at Bull Run. He passed through the entire Peninsular Campaign, and was with Mcclellan in the famous seven days' retreat. He was wounded at the battle of Fredericksburg, May 4, 1863, a minie ball passing through his thigh. He was captured by the rebels, but was paroled, as his time of enlistment had ex- pired. He was in captivity ten days.
After obtaining his discharge he returned to the State of New York, and in June, 1871, he came to Huron County to establish a permanent home. He entered a claim of 80 acres, and bought 80 acres ad- ditional. Of this tract he retains 135 acres, and has about 40 acres under cultivation.
He is independent in his political views, but in- clines to Democratic principles. He has held the position of Justice of the Peace and other local offices.
He was married May 18, 1864, in Seneca Co., N. Y., to Teressa E. Randolph. James E. and Eliza- beth M. are the names of their children. Mrs. Proudfoot was born Sept. 9, 1844. in Seneca Co., N. Y. Her parents, Edward S. and Elizabeth (Bach- man) Randolph, are natives of the Empire State and reside in the city of New York.
B enjamin L. Scott, manufacturer of and dealer in all varieties of rough and dressed lumber, lath, shingles, etc., as well as mer- chant and miller, at Bad Axe, was born Dec. 8, 1853, in Erie Co., N. Y., near the city of Buffalo. He is the son of Francis B. and Martha (Bunnell) Scott. He was born on a farm, but his education was considered and he received a good business training at Bryant & Stratton's Busi- ness College at Buffalo, whither his family removed when he was 18 years of age. His father was a painter by vocation, having an extensive business in sign-painting, shading and decorating. Mr. Scott entered the shop with his father and remained there
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until Aug., 1878, when he came to Ossineke, Alpena Co., Mich. He was employed one year by the L. R. Sanborne Lumber Company as scaler on the dock. Aug. 6, 1879, he came to Bad Axe, where he entered the service of Robert Philp as foreman in his lumber yard, and he continued to act in that capacity until May, 1881. At that date he engaged as clerk with Langdon Hubbard in his store, located at Huron City, where he remained until September of the same year. He returned to Bad Axe and built the saw-mill he has since conducted. A year later he established his mercantile interests. About one-half of the prod- acts of the saw-mill are custom and merchant work. In October, 1883, he rented the Bad Axe grist-mill, which he is still running. He owns his saw-mill and 18 acres of land, which is partially platted, and also 120 acres of land in the vicinity of Bad Axe.
Mr. Scott was married Dec. 20, 1876, to Agnes Pratt, in West Bloomfield, Ontario Co., N. Y. She was born in Bloomfield, and is the daughter of David and Angeline (Mattison) Pratt. Three children have been born of this union, as follows : Francis D., Nov. 13, 1877, in the city of Buffalo; Charles B. and Helen were born in Bad Axe, July 26, 1880, and May 19, 1883, respectively. The parents are members of the Baptist Church.
ugh M. Gale, M. D. C. M., practicing physician and surgeon at Bad Axe, was born Nov. 1, 1855, in Wellington Co., Ont., and is the son of John and Miami (Bradt) Gale. He obtained an excellent elementary education in the public schools in his native province, where he attended until he was 12 years old, at which age he was sent to the Collegiate Institute at Elora, and completed five years of study there. He engaged in teaching three years. During the time he was at the Collegiate Institute and teaching, he was studying medicine at intervals with Dr. James Wallace, of Alma, Ont., and in 1878 he matriculated in the Medical Department of McGill University, at Montreal, Quebec, where he was graduated in 1882, with the degree of M. D. C. M. He came to Bad Axe May II, of the same year, and
opened his office. He has succeeded in rendering his practice popular, and is already engaged in a prosperous and substantial business. He is a mem- ber of the Masonic fraternity, and belongs to Blue Lodge, No. 365, located at Bad Axe.
Dr. Gale was married May 31, 1883, in Colfax Township, Huron County, to Anna, daughter of William H. and Barbara (McNaughton) McDowell. She was born July 15, 1860, in Kent Co., Ont.
S imon Filion, farmer, section 30, Lincoln Township, is the son of Moses and Ange- line (Desjardines) Filion. The parents were born in Canada and were of French de- scent. Their children were 14 in number, eight of whom are still living.
Mr. Filion is the ninth child and the seventh son. He was born near the city of Montreal, May 28, 1851. He was nine years of age when his parents transferred their family and interests to Huron County. He now owns 120 acres of land in the townships of Lincoln and Meade, and has 25 acres under improvement. Mr. Filion is a decided Re- publican and has held various local official positions in township offices.
He was married Jan. 27, 1877, at Grindstone City, Huron County, to Marceline Labelle. Two children -Rosanna A. and [Arthur T .- have been born to them. Mrs. Filion was born in Canada, April 30, 1859. She is of French extraction.
ohn S. Deady, druggist at Bad Axe, was born May 31, 1850, in Hamilton, Ont. He is the son of William and Hannah (Secord) Deady, who removed from Ontario with their family to Rochester, N. Y., in 1855. His father is a member of the flouring firm of Wilson & Co., of that city. Mr. Deady grew to manhood in the beautiful city of the Genesee Valley, and when 20 years of age he went to Hamilton, Ont., to fill a
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position as assistant book-keeper in a boot and shoe establishment. Two years later he became a sales- man in the grocery of William H. Deady, his brother, who is located in the same city, where he operated between three and four years. At the end of that time he went to Goderich and engaged as accountant with Secord, Cousins & Co., lumbermen, remaining with them about five years. On leaving their ser- vice he went into a drug store in the same place, for the purpose of learning the business. A year later he returned to Rochester. In the spring of 1882 he came to Bad Axe, where his brother was engaged in the drug business, and engaged in his employment. May 1, 1883, he became proprietor of the business by purchase, and in June following he removed to his present location on Sand Beach Street. He carries a well-assorted line of druggists' sundries, consisting of drugs, paints, oils, varnishes, patent medicines, liquors, etc., and is engaged in the trans- action of a prosperous business.
lexander L. Esler, farmer, sections 12 and 13, Huron Township and assistant keeper of the light-house at Point aux Barques, has operated in that capacity six years, his service beginning in September, 1878. His watch is from midnight until sunrise. He is also en- gaged in farming, and is the proprietor of 333 acres of land, 50 acres of which are improved. The place has a good dwelling and other suitable farm buildings.
Mr. Esler was born Feb. 14, 1842, in County An- trim, Ireland, and is the son of Alexander and Ellen (Lang) Esler. His father was born on the "Green Isle" in 1798, and died March 28, 1882. The mother was born in 1807, and is still living, in County Antrim. Mr. Esler came from his native land to Canada in 1867, and was employed as a carpenter in the Dominion four years. In 1871 he came to North Branch, Lapeer Co., Mich., and spent eight months in the capacity of a "scaler " of lumber. In the month of June, 1872, he came to Huron City and worked for Langdon Hubbard as a carpenter until January following. He passed the remainder of the winter as a lumberman, and during the succeeding
summer worked as a builder at Port Austin, on the construction of a house for William Clark, editor of the Huron News. His next employment was with Messrs. Dale, Stead & Co., contractors for the Harbor of Refuge, and he managed a lumber camp at White Rock, in their interests, superintending the prepara- tion of the lumber. He was thus occupied two years at White Rock and Sand Beach. He framed the first piece of timber used in the construction of the break- water, and aided in sinking the first crib, on the 25th of June, 1874.
He bought his farm the previous year, and on the completion of his engagement above referred to he took possession of his property, on which he has since resided. He is a Republican, and is present School Director (1884).
Mr. Esler was married March 30, 1876, to Sarah Johnson. No children have been born to them, but they have an adopted son, William, who was born Feb. 15, 1878. The child is legally adopted. Mrs. Esler is the daughter of William and Elizabeth (Robinson) Johnson. The fathers of Mr. and Mrs. Esler died on the same day. Her mother is living in the township of Stanly, Huron Co., Ont.
Mr. Esler suffered heavily in the fire of 1881. He lost his stable, 30,000 feet of lumber, and the shingles designed for his barn. All the fences on the place were burned, and his house with entire contents, beds, bedding and clothing, the family saving only such apparel as they were wearing. Five hogs were also burned. The loss was estimated at $2,000.
aniel H. Ludington, merchant at Verona Mills, was born Sept. 29, 1856, in the township of Sand Beach, Huron County. He is the son of Jeremiah and Maria A. (Trescott) Ludington. His father has been an extensive lumberman and business man of this part of Huron County for the past 34 years. (See sketch of Jeremiah Ludington.) In 1875 he took charge of the mercantile interests of his father, also acting as book-keeper. In the fall of 1877 he opened business in the same branch at his present location, where he operated successfully until the
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year of general ruin-1881-when he experienced the common fate. His business suffered almost utter loss, $5,000 being swept away with but little relief from insurance. In the year following he rebuilt his store, erecting a structure 24 x 40 feet, one and a half stories in height, his residence being placed beside the building in which he has since transacted busi-
ness. He carries a general stock of merchandise suited to the local demand. In addition to his com- mercial interests he traffics to some extent in real estate. He is serving his third term as Township Clerk. In 1872 he was appointed Postmaster and is still the incumbent of the position. Mr. Luding- ton is a member of the Masonic fraternity.
He was married in Sigel Township, Huron County, Sept. 16, 1877, to Abertle Redmon, a native of Ger- many, daughter of John and Philipena Redmon. Three children have been born of their marriage- Milton J., Ina E. and Ruby May.
ohn W. Murphy, farmer, section 35, Grant Township, was born in Cumberland Co., Eng., July 28, 1832. His parents, James and Hannah (Walker) Murphy, were natives respectively of Ireland and England. After their marriage they settled in the latter coun- try, whence they emigrated to Canada in 1854, and settled in Middlesex County. The father died there, Nov. 13, 1864. The mother removed thence to Tuscola County, where she died, July 31, 1873. The senior Murphy was a school-teacher by pro- fession, and followed that business 25 years in Eng- land and five years after his removal to Canada. Their children were Mary A., Ruth, John W., Will- iam, Christopher, Francis and Edward. Two died in infancy.
Mr. Murphy obtained a fair education in his na- tive country, where he was also engaged in farming until he reached manhood. He was 21 years of age when he came to Canada, in 1853, and had a cash capital of 25 cents when he reached London, Ont. He found employment without delay, and hired out as a farm laborer at $10 a month. He contributed the first $25 which he earned to the benefit of his parents. After laboring about 20 months, he rented
a farm of 100 acres, which he managed several years. After this he rented another farm of similar dimensions He continued in the management of these two farms 13 years. In the winter of 1869 he located in Sanilac Co., Mich., buying 280 acres of land in the township of Greenleaf. He entered vigorously into the work of clearing and improving, and in the nine years of his proprietorship of the place cleared 95 acres, and erected two good barns, with other suitable and necessary farm buildings. He remained in Greenleaf Township until the fall of 1877. In the spring following he came to Grant Township and settled on 160 acres of land which he had purchased during the year previous. He has added to it by later purchase until his estate includes 360 acres, with 150 acres in a fine state of cultiva- tion, three excellent barns, a substantial dwelling, a fine herd of cattle containing 50 head, eight horses and other stock. He is a leading agriculturist of the county and a prominent citizen in his township.
His political views are with the Republican ele- ment. In the spring of 1879 he was elected Super- visor of his township and held the position four years. .
Mr. Murphy was married Jan. 28, 1856, in Lon- don, Ont., to Elizabeth Hedley. Their children are William, Mary A., James, Thomas and David. James died before he was two years old. Mrs. Murphy was born in England, and is the daughter of William and Mary (Boyd) Hedley. Her parents were natives of England, where they died. Mr. and Mrs. Murphy were brought up in the Church of England, and are supporters of the same at present.
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oseph Broomfield, farmer, section 19, Sigel Township, was born Sept. 3, 1838, in England. He is the son of Charles and Hannah (Kent) Broomfield, natives of Eng- land, who spent their entire lives in that country. Their family included the following children: Charles, John, Ann, Joseph, William and John (2d). Four of them reached mature life.
The father of Mr. Broomfield was a baker and grocer, and he was his shop assistant until the age
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of 13 years. He then left home and was employed in the business of a bakery about six years.
In the spring of 1857 he emigrated from his native land to Canada, and passed the first six months of his residence upon the American continent as a farm assistant. He then proceeded to a point near Lon- don, Ont., and went to work in a grist-mill in the employment of an uncle, where he was occupied nearly two years. At the end of that time he again engaged in farming, which he continued until his removal to Huron County, which took place in the fall of 1865. He took possession of 80 acres of land, in Sigel Township, which he had pre-empted in 1859. He built a log house and entered vigor- ously upon the work of placing his farm in the best possible condition. He was making rapid strides towards prosperity and the accomplishment of his purpose, and in the spring of 1870 he erected a good barn 30 x50 feet in dimensions, and his affairs were moving forward with satisfactory results, when the fire of the following year swept away the accumu- lation of his years of effort. His loss was esti- mated at $1,600. As soon as possible he built a log house, and in the spring of 1872 he rebuilt his barn, which is 34x50, a larger and more valuable structure than the first. He redoubled his ener- getic efforts to place himself in comfort, and had about 50 acres cleared and improved and in a prom- ising state, when the second great fire swept over this part of Michigan and again destroyed the accumulated results of his unremitting toil. Again his buildings were all destroyed, his barn and con- tents being worth at least $1,700. His aggregate loss was about $3,000. He is slowly retrieving his losses and replacing his buildings with others of a still better grade than those burned. His new barn is 40 x 60 feet in dimensions.
In political connection Mr. Broomfield is a Repub- lican. He has officiated six years as Township Clerk, as Supervisor four years, and he has been Justice of the Peace most of the time since he has resided in the township. He has discharged the duties of all the school offices, and is acting Notary Public.
He is one of the leading and prominent citizens of Huron County, well and widely known as a man of honor and integrity, and as a firm friend of the substantial development of the county, and as a pro- moter of the general prosperity. The town of
Bloomfield in Huron County was named in his honor, a clerical error causing the change in orthog- raphy.
Mr. Broomfield was married July 12, 1859, in Canada, to Catherine, daughter of Porter and Ann (Dove) McKichan. Her parents were natives of Scotland and removed to Canada from that country in 1847. Their children were ten in number, and were named Catherine, Jane, Mary, Sarah, Duncan, Alexander, Archibald, Peter, John and Hugh. Mrs. Broomfield was born in Scotland, June 15, 1842. Seven children have been born of her marriage, recorded as follows : Sarah A., born June 24, 1860, is the wife of George Whilliam; Charles A. was born March 1, 1863; May J., March 9, 1865 ; Archibald, March 15, 1867 ; Hannah, May 10, 1869; Fanny, May 4, 1871 ; Alice, Feb. 6, 1874.
Mr. and Mrs. Broomfield are members of the Presbyterian Church.
orman J. Scott, general merchant and dealer in farm produce at Verona Mills, was born Dec. 24, 1854, in London, Ont. His parents, Alexander and Annie (Grant) Scott, removed in 1856 from the Dominion of Canada to Bingham Township, Huron County. His father purchased 320 acres of land on sections II, 12, 13 and 14. He has sold all the tract except 40 acres, situated on the northeast corner of sec- tion 14. He was a heavy loser by the fire of 1881, in which he suffered the destruction of property amounting to $6,000.
Mr. Scott received 40 acres of land from his father, on attaining his majority, to which he added 160 acres more, and still retains the ownership of the entire tract, which includes 40 acres under im- provements and cultivation.
In April, 1883, Mr. Scott engaged in his present mercantile enterprise at Verona Mills. "He built the store he now occupies and took possession June 15, 1883. The building is 32 x 40 feet in dimen- sions, is stocked with lines of merchandise suited to the local demand, and the proprietor is engaged in a satisfactory business. He handles dry goods, cloth- ing, boots, shoes, stoves, plows, castings and extras
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for agricultural machinery, and he buys and ships all varieties of farm produce.
He was a heavy loser in the fire of 1881, which consumed his dwelling, farm implements, grain and all his farm produce,-amounting to about $2,000.
Mr. Scott was married April 23, 1879, to Ann J. Sageman. She was born June 2, 1860, at Malden, Can., and is the daughter of Charles and Harriet (Philp) Sageman. Alexander C., born Feb., 16, 1880, and James, born June 4, 1881, the two eldest children of Mr. and Mrs. Scott, were born in Bing- ham Township. Elizabeth A., youngest child, was born Aug. 10, 1883, at Verona Mills. The parents are members of the Presbyterian Church.
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