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 24
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In White Rock Township, this county, April 8, 1869, Mr. Richards married Miss Laney Cosal, who was born in Germany May 30, 1852. They have seven children, namely : George, James, Elizabeth, Mary, John, Charles and Ernest.
obert Munford, merchant at White Rock, is a son of William and Elizabeth (Arm- strong) Munford, natives respectively of 7.0 New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, who settled in Maine, where Mr. William Munford died, about 1859. About 10 years afterward his widow removed to Canada, and about 1855 came to Michigan and settled in Port Sanilac, where she died about a year later. She had been married twice, and by each marriage had three children. Her first hus- band was James Erskine.
The subject of this sketch is the eldest son by the second marriage, and was born in Aroostook Co., Me., April 29, 1832. Not having any school priv- ileges in his youth, he has grown up a self-made man. He remained with the family until the fall of 1855, working at the carpenter's trade, which he had " picked up," in and about Port Sanilac from their arrival there until the fall of 1860, when he came to Huron County and established himself at White Rock in the mercantile business, forming a partner- ship with Uri Raymond, under the firm name of Raymond & Munford, which continued about five years, when Mr. M. bought out his partner, and since that time has had the business exclusively to himself, and is prosperous. To some extent Mr. Munford has also engaged in lumbering. He owns a farm of 200 acres in White Rock Township, of
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which 125 acres are in a state of good cultivation. In politics Mr. Munford is a Republican, and he has held the office of Supervisor one year, Township Treasurer several terms, Clerk and Justice of the Peace.
Mr. Munford was married at Port Sanilac, Oct. 10, 1855, to Miss Jane, daughter of Hiram and Ann Wesley. She was born in Toronto, Ont., Nov. 3, 1837. Mr. and Mrs. Munford have had eight chil- dren, seven of whom are living, viz .: Annie, born Aug. 4, 1856; Frank, Jan. 8, 1859; George, April 17, 1861; Ruth, May 30, 1867 ; Clerk, Jan. 14, 1870; Herbert, April 1, 1872, and Nellie, July 22, 1879. One child died in infancy.
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oseph W. Selden, editor and proprietor of the Huron Times, published at Sand Beach, was born June 26, 1858, in Detroit, and is the son of Joseph G. and Laura (Bris- coe) Selden. The latter died in the City of the Straits, in August, 1864. His father is a woolen manufacturer of Vassar, Tuscola County.
Mr. Selden entered upon the initiatory for his present occupation when he was 13 years old, becom- ing an employe in the office of the Tuscola Pioneer. He continued to operate there three years, going thence to Lapeer, where he secured a similar posi- tion on the Clarion. He was next employed on the Huron County News at Port Austin for a short time, and then obtained a situation in a jobbing office in Detroit. He also worked on the Free Press, and on the Post and Tribune in his native city. In 1877 he went to Lexington as an employe on the Sanilac Jeffersonian, coming to Sand Beach three years later, to establish the journalistic enterprise in which he is now interested. The first issue of the Times ap- peared April 8, 1880, and the paper has been popu- lar from its inception. It has a circulation of 1,300, with a profitable jobbing business. The mechanical fixtures include a steam printing-press and a hand jobbing-press. The business requires the aid of three assistants. The enterprise has been a con- tinuous success, and the advertising patronage is generous and sustaining.
The marriage of Mr. Selden to Elizabeth Wixsom occurred at Lexington, April 26, 1880. She was born in Lexington, May 20, 1859, and is the daugh- ter of Philip and Elnora Wixsom. Mr. and Mrs. Selden have one son, born in Sand Beach, Feb. 7, 1881.
Mr. Selden is a member of the Masonic fraternity and belongs to Huron Lodge, No. 365. He has been a member of the Village Council since the place was organized.
nthony Schulte, farmer, section 16, Sand Beach Township, is a son of Randolph and Catherine Schulte, of German nativity, the former coming to America in 1836 and the latter in 1846. They were married in Detroit, where they remained until their death, the former March 18, 1865, and the latter Dec. 31, 1883.
Mr. Anthony Schulte, the subject of this biograph- ical outline, was born in Detroit, Sept. 15, 1853; re- mained at home until 24 years of age, receiving in his youth a common-school education, and in 1877 came to this county and purchased a half section of land where he now resides. He has since disposed of half his purchase, and of the remainder he has 25 acres cleared and thoroughly improved. In political matters Mr. S. adopts Democratic views, and in re- ligion both himself and wife are members of the Catholic Church.
Mr. Schulte was married in St. Clair Co., Mich., Aug. 24, 1881, to Miss Mary McAllen, daughter of John and Mary McAllen. She was born in that county, Aug. 8, 1853.
ohn Stocks, farmer, section 29, White Rock Township, is a son of John and Sarah (Wilkinson) Stocks, natives of England who emigrated to Canada in 1843 and to San- ilac County in 1848. Mrs. S. died in Port Huron, in February, 1878, and Mr. S. in White Rock Township, July 2, 1879.
The second oldest of their family of ten children,
Capt Al Den
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the subject of this sketch, also was born in England, Feb. 4, 1827, and was 16 years of age when the family emigrated to America. In 1846 he enlisted in the Seventh U. S. Regulars, and served through the Mexican War. Shortly before his term of ser- vice expired he broke his left leg, in crossing a bridge. In the fall of 1852 he came to Huron County, where he has since lived. He now owns 10 acres of land in White Rock Township, which are improved. In his political views Mr. S. is independent, and his fellow citizens have honored him with the offices of Overseer of Highways and Constable.
He was married in Port Huron Sept. 26, 1853, to Miss Elizabeth, daughter of Samuel and Mary (Carr) Brown. She was born in Montreal, April 7, 1837. Mr. and Mrs. S. have had 12 children, namely, Abraham, John, Mary E. (died in infancy), Hannah, Jane, William, Elizabeth Samuel, Alice, Mary, Frank and Martha.
Fapt. Aaron G. Peer, of Grindstone City, is one of the earliest settlers of Huron Coun- ty, and is second to none in its business his- tory, having begun the development of one of the resources of the county in 1834. He owns the quarries at Grindstone City, and is the manufacturer of. the first grindstone made here, and put up the first engine used in the prosecution of that business. The engine was prominent among the "first things " of Michigan, as it was the first built at Detroit, and was the motive of the " Argo," the first steamer that plied between Port Huron and Detroit. The land he " claimed " in 1836 was the first entered in Huron County.
Capt. Peer was born Feb. 27,1812, in Dundas, Ont. His father, Jacob Peer, was a native of New Jersey, and in 1821 removed to Algonac, St. Clair County, where he settled on 160 acres of land. He con- tinued its management until his death, when he was 79 years of age. Jacob, another son, is now its occu- pant. Their mother, Mrs. Lucy (Powers) Peer, was born in New Jersey, and died at the age of 74 years, at Algonac.
The subject of this sketch was a farmer after reach- ing manhood until 1833, when, in company with his brother James, he superintended the construction of a schooner, of which he took command and operated in the transportation business between Grindstone City, Port Huron, Detroit and Buffalo, conveying lumber and flour. In 1840, his brother James as- sumed command of the schooner, and two years later she was lost between Huron and Vermillion, Ohio. She had on board her captain and a crew of six men, and was laden with iron, coal and merchandise. She went down in a gale and all were lost.
Capt. Peer then built a top-sail schooner, the "Henry Clay," to ply between Buffalo and Chicago. After running her several years he sold her and built the brig, "F. C. Clark," at Marine City, which he sold, and bought the brig "Crispin." She was loaded with stone and ready for a trip, when she sunk, opposite Grindstone City; the loss was $7,000. He afterward owned the schooner " Blish," and in 1865 was on board with a crew and fastened to a crib in the lake, when a furious gale came up, the moorings were broken and the vessel went ashore, a complete wreck. . The captain and crew escaped by small boats. He was also the proprietor of the " John Owen," a freight and passenger steamer, and he used her as a tow-boat a number years, when she was finally burned, at Algonac, with a loss of $12,000. He was the master of the steamer "Canadian," which he ran in opposition to the line of the Wards of De- troit one season. He has had a long and eventful career on the lakes, which he finally abandoned in 1861.
He quarried the first stone at Grindstone City in 1834, and they were used in the pavement of Wood- ward and Jefferson Avenues at Detroit. In 1836 he made his claim of 400 acres of land, which included the stone quarries, and in that year made the first grindstone, and established the works to prosecute the business. He brought with him the necessary help and facilities, and shipped the products to Chi- cago and other points. The mills now standing also contain machinery for the manufacture of whet- stones, which is of the most improved character. He employed about 40 men when conducting the works himself. They have been rented since 1881, the lease running until 1891.
The farm of Capt. Peer contains 225 acres, with
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120 acres under cultivation, devoted to grain and hay.
A fire-proof stone building, 28 x 50 feet in dimen- sions, was erected by Capt. Peer at Grindstone City, in 1884. It is two stories in height, and he has his residence on the upper floor. The lower story is occupied as a store.
The marriage of Capt. Peer to Euphemia West- brook took place on his farm near Marine City, St. Clair County, in 1839. Four children were born to them, viz .: Arthur H., who resides in Chicago and has been the owner and captain of a vessel a num- ber of years; Charlotte E., who is the wife of William H. Cooper, a merchant at Port Austin. Two chil- dren are deceased. The mother died in 1859, at Port Huron. She was the daughter of Capt. Andrew Westbrook, who was prominent in the war of 1812.
The second marriage of Capt. Peer took place at Port Huron, Nov. 16, 1869, to Sarah L. Hawkins. She was born in Geneva, N. Y.
Capt. Peer is President of the Pioneer Society of Huron County, and has been a member of it since its organization.
Being, of all the residents of Huron County, prob- ably the one most deserving of a representation in the portrait gallery of this ALBUM, as a conspicuous pioneer and still a most prominent citizen, the pub- lishers of this work take special pleasure in placing a likeness of the Captain in connection with the above brief history.
rnest Volz, harness-maker, was born at Sebewaing, his present home, Feb. 25, 1860. His parents, Andrew and Dorothy Volz, were born in Germany. They emigrat- ed to the United States in 1846, locating at Ann Arbor, Mich., where Mr. Volz worked on a farm five years; he came thence to Huron County, locating at Sebewaing, and purchased 160 acres of land, for which he paid $2.50 per acre, upon which he made his home. He increased his property by various purchases until he owned about 500 acres. In 1878 he divided the land among his 10 children.
Mr. Volz was one of the earliest settlers in Huron County, and one of the first in Sebewaing, He was born Oct. 10, 1820. Mrs. Volz was born June 4, 1830. They still reside on the homestead.
Mr. Volz, the subject of this sketch, is the sixth child of his parents, and spent the years of his life until the age of 16 in the acquirement of a common- school education. In 1876 he was apprenticed for three years to learn the harness trade. After serv- ing his time he went to East Saginaw, working at his trade two years; thence he removed to Ann Arbor, where he remained a short time, returning to Seb- ewaing in 1881, where he opened his present busi- ness. He carries all the goods common to the harness trade, and employs two workmen besides himself in the manufacture of saddlery and harness.
He was married Oct. 28, 1883, in Saginaw Co., Mich., to Catherine Roth. She was born Oct. 28, 1860, in Saginaw County, and is the daughter of John and Eva Roth, natives of Germany. Politi- cally, Mr. Volz is a Democrat.
illiam Henne, farmer, section 22, Fairhaven Township, was born Dec. 7, 1854, at Newark, N. J., and is the son of Henry H. GYO. and Magdalena (Winnes) Henne. They were natives of Germany, and emigrated in early life from their native land. They settled in New Jersey, and in 1863 came to Michigan. The father was a tailor by trade in his native country, and after coming to America he engaged in farming. His death, Sept. 21, 1882, was the result of accident. While arranging for the threshing of his season's harvest, he fell from the roof of his barn, his head coming in contact with a wheel of the separator, which produced a concussion of the brain, resulting in death soon after. He was 61 years old, and was an honored and respected citizen. The mother is 71 years of age, and is still living with one of her sons.
Mr. Henne was about 10 years old when he came to Michigan. He resided with his parents until 1870, when he went to Cincinnati, Ohio, and learned the cabinet trade, remaining three years.
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He then returned to Huron County, assisting his parents on the farm.
He was married May 24, 1879, to Annie Kuhl. Her parents were among the earliest settlers of the township of Fairhaven, where she was born, in Octo- ber, 1861. They still reside on' section 27. Mr. and Mrs. Henne have had four children-Henry A. and Frederick W. are living; Theodore and an in- fant child are deceased.
Soon after the death of his father, Mr. Henne es- tablished his home on a portion of the family home- stead, and now holds an undivided share in 120 acres of land. In political connection he is a Re- publican, and has been Clerk of his township three years. He is the present Supervisor (1884). The family belong to the Evangelical Association.
bh
ra Gager, farmer, residing on section 18,
Sand Beach Township, is a son of Noah
and Welthy (Huntly) Gager, natives of Dutchess Co., N. Y., in which State they resided until seven years after their marriage. They then moved to Canada, in which country they both died.
Ira Gager, the eldest son of a family of nine chil- dren, was born in Dutchess Co., N. Y., June 20, 1827. He remained at home assisting the father on the farm and attending the common schools until he attained the age of manhood, when he went forth upon the road of uncertainty to fight the battles of life alone. His first effort was that of farming, at which he con- tinued for a period, and then engaged as "mine host." Finally, abandoning the hotel business, he built a saw-mill, which he operated for a period of three years, and then sold and moved to Niagara Co., N. Y., and engaged in farming.
Mr. Gager came from the latter county to this county in 1866, and homesteaded 160 acres of land on section 18, Sand Beach Township, and has re- sided on the same up to the present time. His land was unimproved, and he entered at once upon the laborious task of clearing and improving it, deter-
mined to make it a pleasant and productive abiding place for himself and family. How well his efforts have proven successful and his aim accomplished, his farm, with about 100 acres improved, will testify.
Mr. Gager was first united in marriage to Miss Diadamia Mann, a native of Canada, of American ancestry, April 17, 1848. She was the mother, by Mr. Gager, of nine children, namely: Rachel, Franklin, Oliver, Susanna, Matilda, Francis, Caleb, Henrietta and Nellie. The wife and mother de- parted this life October, 1879, in Sand Beach Town- ship, mourned by all who knew her.
Mr. Gager was a second time married, Aug. 24, 1884, to Mrs. Mary Peugh, widow of Joseph l'eugh.
In the fire of 1871, which will never be forgotten by the residents of Huron County, Mr. Gager lost all his personal property, crops, etc. His house took fire several times, but by tremendous exertion was saved from the destroying element. Hoping he might be enabled to save his furniture, he removed it from the house and it was entirely consumed. His estimated loss was $1,000.
In the second great fire in this county, 1881, Mr. Gager again lost his fences, but managed to save his buildings. He had a son living one and one-half miles west of him (in Sigel Township) at that time, and, knowing that he would certainly be burnt out, Mr. G., in company with another gentleman, started with two horses to his assistance. They arrived with- in a half mile of his son's house, when they realized they were between two fires, and, actually in the fire. The heat was so severe as to scorch the hair on their horses, yet they succeeded in getting through. When within a few rods of the son's house they observed it had been totally destroyed. They supposed the family had all perished, but, by vigorous shouting, attracted their attention. The family had located in a small corner of the field and were almost suffo- cated. They had actually given up all hopes of rescue and resigned themselves to the terrible fate that would most certainly have overtaken them had not Mr. G. and assistance so timely arrived. Mr. G. conducted the family to a place of safety, where they remained until the following morning and then accompanied him to his home. The family referred to was that of his son Oliver, who now resides in Sigel Township.
Mr. G. has held the office of Justice of the Peace
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of his township and other minor offices. He built the school-house in fractional District No. 1, Sigel Township. Politically he is a Republican.
Kenry E. Flach, farmer, section 7, Chandler Township, was born Sept. 5, 1861, in Cleve- land, Ohio. His parents, Christian and Anna E. (Flanans) Flach, were Germans. Mrs. Flach came to this country when she was 19 years of age. She was married at Mt. Pleasant, Ohio, and in 1842 came to Michigan. Mr. F. died Oct. 15, 1872, in Chandler Township, where Mrs. F. resides with her son, who has cared for her since the demise of his father.
Henry E. was six years of age when his parents came to Michigan, and is the youngest of four chil- dren. After finishing his education in the district schools, he obtained a situation as salesman in the store of J. A. Holmens at Caseville, where he was oc- cupied one year.
He is the owner of an interest in a tract of land in Chandler Township, which includes 700 acres, and is a skillful farmer.
He is an adherent of the Republican party, and on the fourth of November, 1884, cast his first Pres- idential vote for James G. Blaine.
ohn Shine, Supervisor of Hume Township, and farmer on section 23, was born Sept. 27, 1825, in Ireland. His father, Thomas Shine, was a native of Ireland, and was a farmer all his life. He died in 1839, aged about 47 years, and was a man of elevated character and standing in the community to which he belonged. He married Mary Sheehan, and seven children were born to them. Both parents were able to trace their ancestry through long lines of unmixed Celtic progenitors. The mother came to
Canada in 1847, and died the same year, in the city of Quebec.
Mr. Shine is the eldest of the children born to his parents. He obtained a fair education in his native country, whence he emigrated when he was 26 years of age. He worked on the farm until the age of 22 years, when he went to Monmouthshire, England, and obtained employment in the machine shops of that place. He was engaged there three years, meanwhile obtaining a thorough acquaintance with the structure of railroad engines.
In 1851 he was sent in the interests of the Grand Trunk Railroad Company to Quebec, to act in the capacity of engineer and foreman on one of their prin- cipal branches with headquarters at Longeuil, Que- bec. He operated in their behalf four years, going at the end of that time to the Province of Ontario and engaging in the same capacity with another railroad company. He operated there until 1863, when he came to Michigan, and, locating near Bay City, he engaged in the duties of his profession one year.
In the winter of that year he came to Huron County and entered a claim of 160 acres of land under the homestead act, of which he is still the proprietor. The settlers in the township were few in number, there were no roads, no churches and no school-houses at any accessible point. The land he had purchased was in a wholly wild condition, and Mr. Shine, during the five years succeeding followed engineering at Port Austin and Port Crescent. Af- ter the lapse of that period he devoted his time and energies exclusively to the improvement and culti- vation of his property, and 120 acres of his original purchase are in a first-class agricultural condition. He is also the proprietor of 160 acres of unimproved land in Meade Township.
Mr. Shine is independent in political views and actions. He served his township six years as Super- visor,-from 1870 to 1876,-and was re-elected to the same position in 1883. He has held all the local township offices.
His marriage took place Jan. 23, 1854, in the Province of Quebec, to Catherine Moore. Their six children were born as follows: Hanora, Aug. 6, 1856 ; Thomas, Jan. 23, 1858; Eliza, Dec. 7, 1859; John, April 8, 1861 ; Michael, June 24, 1862. Mary was born Nov. 29, 1854, became the wife of Martin Carmody, and died in March, 1876. The
Alex, R. Tike
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mother was the daughter of Michael and Hanora (Moran) Moore. Here parents were natives of Ire- land, and emigrated thence to Ontario, where the father died, in April, 1859. The mother came to Michigan and died at the home of her daughter in October, 1876. They were aged respectively 65 and 82 years. Mrs. Shine was born in County Kerry, Ireland, in December, 1826. She was 21 years of age when her family moved to Ontario.
The family are Catholics.
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alexander Pike, merchant at Ubly, was born Dec. 3, 1834, in Kent County, Province of Ontario. He is a descendant of a military race. His grandfather, Jonathan Pike, came over from England as a commissioned officer under General Wolf, and obtained a grant of Crown lands for honorable service, in Ontario, on Pike's River, so named after himself, where Robert Pike was born, and also a brother and two sisters. One of the sisters married Col. Surplace, and the other married a loyalist Kentuckian, by the name of J. B. Williams. The brother held a Captain's commission in the regular army of England, and so also their father, Robert Pike, was a commissioned officer in England's army, the latter, the father of Al- exander, the subject of this sketch. After serving his country honorably, at the age of 53 years, he mar- ried Magdaline Peltier, and immediately after settled in Ontario, on the bank of the river Thames, and became a farmer, in which occupation he was engaged until his death, at the ripe age of 92 years. The mother died at 52 years, beloved by all her children. She possessed a great degree of energy and perseverance, and was extremely religious.
Mr. Pike obtained a good elementary education in the public schools of the Dominion, and when he was 15 years of age he set out to seek his fortune in "the States." He landed at Detroit, and after re- maining there a month seeking employment, and not finding it as readily as his boyish years anticipated, and his store of cash reduced to 25 cents, he had some misgivings as to the propriety of his remaining in the States, and was about retracing his steps to the Dominion, when, as he was walking on Wood- bridge Street east, he saw a notice reading " Men
wanted here for Lake Superior. Apply to C. C. Trowbridge." Mr. Trowbridge was hiring men for the Collins Company. He applied, and was engaged to go to Marquette, on Lake Superior. At that time the present plucky little city contained one tavern, two little stores, a blacksmith shop and five or six log houses.
He spent two years or thereabout in hard manual work, in the meantime informing his mind by reading the lives of great men, and also history, and with it trade and commerce, enlarging his ideas of the world in general very materially. He soon acquired suffi- cient capital to engage in buying produce and pro- visions in Detroit and other places, all of which he shipped by water to the towns on the shores of Lakes Huron, Superior and Michigan. He continued this business three years, at a rate of profit which in that time netted $7,000. He passed the winters in the improvement of his education at commercial school.
He went to Minnesota, landing at St. Paul, and went from there to Northfield, where he invested his capital first in a dry-goods and Yankee notion store. Not liking the business, he sold out to Eckles, McFee & Hunt. He re-invested his capital in a hardware store, which he continued to prosecute six years.
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