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 27
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self, and is fast replacing substitutes for all the farm fixtures which perished in the flames.
He was married Oct. 19, 1868, in Verona Town- ship, to Mrs. Martha (Noonan) Currie, widow of Alexander Currie. She was born June 17, 1842, in Canada, 21 miles from the city of Ottawa, whither her parents removed from Ireland in 1840. They removed in 1858 to Verona Township, and bought 160 acres on section 15. Her father, John Noonan, died there in 1875. Her mother, Mary (McLaughlin) Noonan, is living with Henry Pangborn, her son-in- law, in Verona Township. Mrs. Pangborn has three sisters and one brother-James Noonan, a farmer, located near Bad Axe; Ellen, wife of John Scott, of Verona Township; Mary A. (Mrs. Henry Pangborn); Kate, wife of Byron Davis, a painter at Bad Axe. Mrs. Pangborn became the wife of Alexander Currie in Paris Township, Huron Co., July 10, 1860. He was a native of Canada, and was drowned in 1866, in the Mississippi River, where he was plying his vocation of sailor. Mary E. and Electa A. Currie are the names of the children born of the first mar- riage of Mrs. Pangborn.
hilip Binkle, harness-maker at Sand Beach, was born April 21, 1858, in Canada. His father, Christian Binkle, was born in Ger- many, and is now a farmer in the Dominion; the mother, Eve Binkle, is also living. Mr. Binkle learned his trade at Listowell, Ont., be- ginning his apprenticeship when he was 14 years of age. He served three years, and worked during the year succeeding at carriage trimming. He has fol- lowed his trade ever since.
He came to Michigan in 1876, and after spending three months at Jeddo, St. Clair County, he came to Adams' Corners, Huron County, and was in the em- ploy of A. H. Adams two years. He went thence to White Rock, and managed the business of harness- making one year in his own interest.
In May, 1880, he established his shop at Sand Beach, where he has prosecuted his business with success. His shop contains a good assortment of articles common to such business, together with vali-
ses and trunks. Besides his operations as a harness- maker, and in the repair department of his shop, he trafficks in hides, wool and fur. He is the owner of some real estate at Sand Beach.
The marriage of Mr. Binkle to Lena Whipler oc- curred at Listowell, Can., Feb. 13, 1879. One child, the eldest son, was born in White Rock. Two others were born in Sand Beach. Their births occurred as follows: Henry, Feb. 7, 1880; Annie, March 30, 1882 ; William O., June 29, 1884. Mrs. Binkle was born in Canada, Jan. 19, 1861, and is the daughter of John and Margaret Whipler.
audelin Tschirhart, farmer and stockman on section 19, Sherman Township, is a na- tive of Alsace. (At the date of his birth that province belonged to France, but the Franco German war caused its cession to Ger- many.) He was born in May, 1834, near the River Rhine. His father, Anthony Tschirhart, was a native of Germany, a prominent agriculturist and a landholder in Alsace, where he died in 1872, at the age of 65 years. Margaret Tschirhart, the mother, was a native of the same province, of mixed French and German ancestry. She died in her native prov- ince, in 1877, at the age of 58 years. Both parents descended from the better classes, and traced their line of progenitors from a very early period.
Mr. Tschirhart was reared to manhood under the care of his parents. He obtained an excellent edu- cation in the provincial schools where he was born, and at the age of 17 years he engaged in the busi- ness of wagon-making, which he followed three years. At the age of 20 years he set out for America. He located at first in Huron Co., Ont., where he engaged two years in lumbering. In the spring of 1857 he came to Michigan and settled in Sherman Township, where he was the first pioneer on the western part. He was preceded by four permanent settlers in the township. He obtained a claim to 60 acres of Gov- ernment land by purchase, where he has since been occupied in clearing, improving and cultivating, and extending his landed interests, until he is a leading landholder and agriculturist of Huron County. He
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owns 580 acres, with 200 acres under the best im- provements. He has three large stock and grain barns, and a residence exceeded in quality by only two others in the township. He makes a specialty of Durham cattle.
Mr. Tschirhart is a staunch Democrat, and has been active and prominent in the local affairs of the township in whose organization he was one of the prime movers. He is present Supervisor (1884), and held the position 10 years in succession. He has served four years as Treasurer, and has held most of the minor offices.
He was married Jan. 1, 1856, in Stanley, Huron Co., Ont., to Josephine Weingardner. Nine children have been born to them, one of whom is deceased. The names of those who survive are named Jacob, Theresa, Joseph, Anna, August, Josephine, Caroline and Rosa. Louisa died when she was seven years old. The parents of Mrs. Tschirhart, Joseph and Magdalena (Nelser) Weingardner, were natives of Alsace, of mixed French and German descent. Her father was a weaver by occupation, and remained with his family in his native province until 1855, when he came to Huron Co., Ont., accompanied by his children, his wife having died in France. He is still living in Ontario.
The family are Roman Catholics.
illiam C. M. Van Tromp, general mana- ger of the Bay Port farm of F. Crawford, resident at Caseville, was born May 9, 1835, at Taunton, Somersetshire, Eng., and is the son of William and Elizabeth (Warren) Van Tromp. The former died in August, 1881, and was nearly 81 years of age. He was a farmer all his life. The mother resides at the old home in Taunton.
Mr. Van Tromp came to the Dominion of Canada in February, 1879, locating on a farm in Chatham Township, Kent County ; he afterwards managed a farm for Messrs. Walker & Sons; the place contained 1, 100 acres, with 800 acres improved. He continued to operate there two years, and March 14, 1884,
came to the county of Huron and entered the em- ploy of F. Crawford.
He was married in 1862, in Kingston Church, Eng., to Jane Biffen, and they are the parents of three children, born as follows: Edith J., Sept. 9, 1863 ; Mary E., April 27, 1865; Hubert J., Dec. 12, 1863. The mother was born June 9, 1834, in Kingston, Eng., and is the daughter of John and Charlotte (Warren) Biffen. Her parents have been dead many years.
homas Philp, retired farmer, resident on section i, Bingham Township, was born in Cornwall County, Eng., March 25, 1808. He began his contest with the world at the age of 16 years, when he engaged as a laborer in a grist-mill, and acquired a thorough knowl- edge of every detail of the occupation of a miller.
In 1831 he came to the Dominion of Canada and operated as a miller at Coburg about 25 years. In November, 1857, he removed to Michigan and located 320 acres of land under the Graduation Act on sec- tion 36, Verona Township, where he was the first permanent settler. (The village of Sand Beach was in its first days.) The land he had purchased was
two miles from the main thoroughfares, and Mr. Philp built the road from his premises to the routes of communication with the world at large. Forest- ville was the nearest point of supplies, where all provisions were secured. Mr. Philp cleared and otherwise improved 70 acres of his farm, and in 1875 bought 40 acres in Bingham Township, to which he has retired. He still owns 220 acres of land at different points in Huron County, and has given his children different amounts from his original acreage.
He was one of the prime movers in the organiza- tion of the township of Verona, and was its first Supervisor. He has held the position of Treasurer and other minor offices. He was formerly a Republi- can, but at present sustains the principles of the Prohibition element.
He was married Jan. 30, 1849, in Hope Town- ship, Durham Co., Ont., to Ann Moon. Twelve children have been born to them, as follows: Loveda, Elizabeth A., Anna M., Thomas J. and Rebecca J.
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(twins), Robert, Mary, James and William (twins), Isaac and Martha (twins). The last named child is deceased; Martha is the only one now unmarried. Mrs. Philp was born Feb. 2, 1819, in Cornwall, Eng , and is the daughter of John and Ann (Cullies) Moon, also natives of Cornwall. She was 12 years of age when her parents emigrated to Canada. The family are attached to the English Church, in which they were reared.
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eorge S. Bell, farmer, section 26, Hume Township, was born June 20, 1821, in the north of Ireland. His parents came to America when he was nine years of age. He was under the paternal roof until he was 22 years old, when he became a sailor on the At- lantic Ocean. He shipped as a deck hand, after- wards becoming mate, and was on the sea in those capacities eight years, making frequent trips to foreign countries. He was in the British service and sailed on the Thistle and on the brig Themis.
On leaving his seafaring life, he bought a farm in the vicinity of Millbridge, Maine, where he was oc- cupied some years in lumbering and milling. He was there resident when the Southern rebellion broke out, when he entered the marine service once more, in which he continued until the Alabama com- menced her career, when he again abandoned a sea- faring life. He next engaged in mercantile business in Boston, in which he was engaged until the fall of 1862. Under a call from President Lincoln for men, he enlisted in the 66th Mass. Reg. Vol. Inf., enroll- ing in Co. A., Capt. F. Thayer, of Boston. The reg- iment was assigned to the Army of the Potomac. He was in active service in the battles of the Wil- derness, Mine Run, Spottsylvania, Cold Harbor, Al- len's Mills, North Anna, Petersburg, and shortly after the last named contest he was severely injured by being thrown from a horse while crossing the Rap- pahannock River. He went to the hospital only after receiving three distinct orders from his Colonel, and was not again able to take active part in military service, receiving final discharge on account of disa- bility, in August, 1864. On receiving his release he
returned to Boston and remained there two years. In 1866 he went to Lynn, Mass., where he was oc- cupied until he determined to settle permanently in Michigan. In 1868 he came to this township and secured his homestead of 160 acres of unimproved land. He has improved 60 acres. Mr. Bellis a Re- publican in political opinion and connection.
He was married April 4, 1852, at Annapolis, Nova Scotia, to Catherine Carmichael. One child, James E., is living ; May E. is deceased. Mrs. Bell is the daughter or Uri A. Carmichael, and was born in Annapolis, N. S., March 13, 1831. Her father was a Lieutenant in the "Scotch Grays" at the battle of Waterloo, where he was shot in the leg and shoul- der. He suffered all the rest of his life from the ef- fects of his wounds, which caused his death in 1840. He was a native of Edinburg, Scotland. His daugh- ter was nine years of age when he died, and she af- terwards resided with her mother until her marriage. His death occurred at Annapolis, N. S.
Mr. and Mrs. Bell belong to the Presbyterian Church. Mrs. Bell had traveled in the United States for eight years, and was a visitor and specta- tor of the Rebellion for 13 months berore the close of the war. Her last visit was to Chestnut Hill Hospital, where she found her husband, who had been wounded and was in a very poor condition. She remained with him eight weeks, waiting for a discharge, but he never received it. She took him to their home in Boston, where she nursed and sup- ported him for three yeras.
acob Beck, farmer, section 17, Sebewaing Township, was born Feb. 8, 1836, in Scio Township, Washtenaw Co., Mich. He is the son of Gottfried and Mary Beck, natives respectively of Germany and Maryland. His parents settled after their marriage in Washte- naw County and later removed to the township of Sebewaing, Huron Co., where they still reside.
Mr. Beck passed the first 15 years of his life in his native township, attending school and assisting on his father's farm. In 1860 he returned to Wash- tenaw County, where he remained about two years. On his return to the township of Sebewaing, he lo-
F.S. Ayes
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cated on 100 acres of land deeded to him by his father. He now owns 80 acres and has cleared and improved 45 acres. In the fall of 1882 he erected a handsome and convenient farm-house. His place is in excellent condition, and he is considered one of the leading agriculturists and a most reliable citizen of his township. He has a fine vineyard of 5,000 grape-vines, of which he is justly proud. His crop in 1882, from 3,000 vines, was 40,000 lbs. of grapes.
His marriage to Elizabeth Lahr occurred in Sagi- naw Co., Mich., April 12, 1869. They have four children : Wilhelmine M., Ernst V., Matilda M. and Elizabeth F.
Mrs. Beck is the daughter of Valentine and Magdelena (Knorr) Lahr, natives of Germany. The father was born Oct. 25, 1818, the mother July 24, 1815. They emigrated to the United States in 1837, and were married in New York in 1842. The same year of their marriage they returned to the old country, remaining there till April 24, 1850, when they again came to the United States, locating in Monroe County, Michigan, where their daughter, Mrs. Beck, was born March 29, 1851, Mr. Lahr died Oct. 17, 1883. The mother is still residing in Monroe County.
Mr. Beck is independent in political opinion and action, and has held the offices of Treasurer and Highway Commissioner. He and his wife are mem- bers of the Evangelical Lutheran Church.
frederick S. Ayres, of the firm of Ayres & Co., at Port Austin, has been one of the prominent business men of Huron County since 1859, when he came here and entered vigorously into the work of developing the resources of the county. He was born Oct. 22, 1814, in New Canaan, Fairfield Co., Conn. His father was a native of the same county and was a leading tanner and manufacturer of boots and shoes in New Canaan, in which business he was engaged during the entire active period of his life. His wife, mother of Mr. Ayres, of this sketch, was Rebecca (Seymour) Ayres.
The progenitors of F. S. Ayres in this country con-
sist of three brothers, of English extraction, who emigrated to America before the Revolution. One brother settled in Maine, another in Connecticut, and the remaining brother in New Jersey.
The subject of the present sketch is a descendant of the Ayres who located in the State of Connecticut. He became assistant manager of his father's business when he was 17 years old, owing to the protracted ill-health and advanced age of the latter, and at .2 I entered into the manufacture of boots and shoes, which branch of business his father had relinquished. In 1840 he transferred his affairs to West Troy, where he was similarly interested, and conducted a whole- sale and retail business until 1858, when he came West to recuperate his broken health.
In 1859 Mr. Ayres embarked in a lumbering and mercantile enterprise, with Charles G. Learned and Ebon Wiswall, at Port Austin, removing his family here in 1861. At that time the firm owned 10,000 acres of land in Huron County, which a little later they doubled in extent. It was nearly all pine land, and they pushed the manufacture of lumber products of general varieties with vigorous energy. Their saw- mill, which was purchased of Smith, Dwight & Co., of Detroit, and constructed by them, was built in 1850, and at that time was one of the largest and best in the State of Michigan. They manufactured an aggregate of 75,000,000 feet of lumber, a large quantity of lath and shingles, and . afterward added the manufacture of staves and other material for barrels.
In the winter of 1862-3, they sunk the first salt well outside of the Saginaw Valley, and at first evaporated by means of kettles, producing 100 barrels daily. They have since substituted a pan block, and by means of its improved facilities manufacture 160 barrels a day. When their business was in its com- parative, incipiency they employed an average of 100 men, but their extending relations now require the assistance of a considerably larger number. Their average annual sales amounted to about $100,000.
In 1871 the firm relations underwent several changes, Mr. E. Wiswall selling his claim to Mr. Ayres of this sketch, who admitted his son James S. into the partnership, and Mr. Learned transferred his claims to his son Jonas R. In 1874 the latter in turn sold to E. R. Ayres, son of the senior of the firm, which has since been known as " Ayres & Co." The business transactions of the partnership included the
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manufacture of salt, mercantile relations and traffic in real estate. They own a farm in Port Austin, comprising 1,000 acres, a large farm in Dwight Town- ship, and 20 acres platted in the village.
The residence of Mr. Ayres at Port Austin is on Lake Street, and is situated in the midst of finely laid out and attractive grounds.
His marriage to Nancy Raymond occurred in Lewisboro (then South Salem), N. Y. Four children were born to them, two at New. Canaan, Conn .: James S. (see sketch); Sarah E., wife of Charles L. Mather, manufacturer of lime and cement at West Troy, N. Y .; Ebon R., resident at Sandusky, Ohio; and Caroline M., wife of Frederick St. John Lock- wood, President of the Fairfield Co. (Conn.) Bank. The two last named were born in West Troy, N. Y.
A fine lithographic likeness of Mr. Ayres is given in this ALBUM just preceding the above biographical outline.
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Aldrich Holmes, general merchant and dealer in grain at Caseville, is one of the leading and prominent business men of Huron County. He was born July 19, 1836, in Leeds Co., Ont., and is the son of Richard and Mary A. (Aldrich) Holmes. His father is yet a resident of Leeds County, and was born April 27, 1787, in Columbia Co., N. Y. His powers of mind are as complete as in his prime, and on the seventh day of July, 1884, he wrote the date of his birth and his birthplace in a fair, legible hand, to which he affixed his name. His son, the subject of this sketch, visited him in the summer of 1884, and found him in the field, hoeing corn! The mother, who was a distant relative of Dr. Ben. Franklin, was born July 1, 1797, and died March 13, 187.0, on the homestead where the father is still living, and of which he has been a resident 58 years, or since 1826. They were the parents of 12 children, all of whom save the youngest, who died in his forty-first year, are living and in good health. The eldest will be 70 years old on the first day of January, 1885.
Mr. J. Aldrich Holmes was reared on his father's farm, and obtained a good education. In the winter
of 1855-6, he engaged in teaching school in Leeds Co., Ont., returning in the spring to the farm where he assisted in the farm labors until September of the same year. He then went to Haldimand Co., Ont., and again became a teacher. He continued there in that vocation until May, 1858, and again returned to the farm. In September following, he went again to Haldimand County, and taught school until the spring of 1859. He then engaged as a salesman in a store at Selkirk, in the same county. He remained in that capacity until February, 1866. His salary for the first six months was $zo and board for that entire period. In connection with his labors as clerk, he officiated as book-keeper. At the time named, associated with a fellow clerk, he purchased the stock of their employer and managed the business about one year, when Mr. Holmes sold out. He spent the winter of 1866-7 at the Commercial Col- lege at Poughkeepsie, N. Y. The following summer he passed with little profit in the Madock mineral regions of Canada, and in the winter of 1867-8 he again engaged in teaching in Haldimand County. In May, 1868, he came to Ora Labor (now Bay Port), Huron County, where he conducted a limited mer- cantile enterprise in the interests of J. W. Snell. In October of the same year he· embarked in trade with H. C. Marvin, at Unionville, Tuscola Co., Mich., buying a half interest in a trade already es- tablished.
His marriage to Susie A. Holmes took place in February, 1869, and five children, the youngest of whom died in infancy, have been born to them as follows: R. Will, at Unionville, Dec. 8, 1869; S. Estella, March 25, 1872; Bertha A., July 2, 1874; M. Maude, July 6, 1876. The three last named were born at Caseville. Mrs. Holmes is the daugh- ter of William and Mary (Hoover) Holmes, and was born April 30, 1839, in Haldimand Co., Ont., where her father has lived for half a century. Her mother, who was a native of Pennsylvania, died April 4, 1869, at her residence. She was born Nov. 1, 1803. Her father was born in March, 1810, and is a money lender and a man of wealth. Her parents had one son and four daughters.
Mr. Holmes continued in business at Unionville with Mr. Marvin until January, 1871, when he sold to his partner and removed in April following to Caseville. He rented a small store building in the lower part of the village, where he transacted mer-
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cantile business until September, 1872. In the sum- mer of that year he purchased a lot and erected a suitable and convenient building, which he has since occupied. He is a Notary Public, and does the business common to the office. His lines of mer- chandise is suitable for the accommodation of his local patronage and include the articles common to a general mercantile establishment. His building, which is 40 x 84 feet in size, is one of the largest in the county used for like purposes. Mr. Holmes owns some wild lands and a small improved farm.
ohn Schreiber, farmer, section 21, Sand Beach Township, is a son of Christopher Schreiber, who lived and died in Germany. John emigrated to America in 1852 and lived one year in Buffalo, N. Y. He next bought a farm in Macomb Co., Mich., and lived there till 1879, then sold out and purchased 40 acres where he now resides. He has the whole tract cleared and in a good condition of high cultivation. On governmental policy Mr. S. takes Republican views, and both himself and wife are members of the Lutheran Church. Oct. 3, 1852, he married Miss Catherine Mollar, who was born in Germany, March 14, 1830. They have nine children, namely : Minnie, John, Lizzie, Emma, Melie, Ernest, Jennie, Charles and Mary.
John M. Simmie, farmer, section 31, Bloom- field Township, was born Aug. 1, 1849, in Perth, Scotland, of which county his parents, James and Catherine (McIntosh) Simmie, were also natives. The former died there in 1865, at the age of 39 years. The latter resides in Canada, and is 65 years old. She was left a widow with five sons, with whom she emigrated to Canada in 1866. They settled in the county of Huron in the Province of Ontario.
Mr. Simmie was 17 years of age at that time, and soon began to learn the miller's trade in Huron County, which vocation he followed as a business four years, when he engaged in railroading on the "Great Western " of Canada. He continued in that . occupation several years, but in 1876 came to Huron County, Mich. He entered the employ of Langdon Hubbard, in whose interests he has since been em- ployed, working winters in the lumber woods and spending the summer seasons in work on the farm of Mr. Hubbard, of whose agricultural interests he is the manager.
Mr. Simmie was married in October, 1876, to Jeannette Howrocks. Of four children born of this union, two are living. James was born in Sigel Town- ship, Nov. 22, 1877, and died Aug. 9, 1879; John was born Feb. 13, 1879, and died Aug. 12, 1879; Catherine was born Aug. 23, 1880; Isabella, born July 22, 1884. Mrs. Simmie was born in 1853. She is the daughter of John and Bella (Taylor) How- rocks. The former is deceased. The latter resides in Dakota with her sons.
Mr. Simmie is a Republican, and is at present (1884) Township Clerk. He has held other local offices, and he and his wife are Presbyterians.
llan McGregor, farmer, section 8, Bloom- field Township, was born Jan. 8, 1848, in Glengarry Co., Ont., and is of Highland- Scotch descent. His parents, John and Cath- erine (McDonald) McGregor, reside in the village of Wyebridge, Simcoe Co., Ont., hav- ing sold their farm and retired to pass their declin- ing years free from care.
The son was reared to manhood on a farm. He spent the winters of his life, after reaching his ma- jority in lumbering, and working summers on a farm. He came to Michigan in 1876, and in the fall of 1877 bought the farm on which he now resides. He was in the employ of Langdon Hubbard for four years as a foreman, and took possession of his farm in February, 1881.
Mr. McGregor suffered heavily in the fire of 1881, losing his barn, frame house, crops and furniture, also pigs and hens, saving only his cattle and one
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horse. His family took shelter in a shanty, after seeing the destruction of their property, where they resided six weeks, and until a new house was in readiness for their occupancy. His crop of fall wheat was in the ground, which was a piece of good pasture.
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