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 33
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Lena, John, Ottilia, Justin and Jacob. The family are Roman Catholics.
Mr. Greyerbiehl formed a partnership in 1869, with William Maurer, in the lumber business, and they erected a saw and shingle mill on the farm of Mr. Greyerbiehl. The mill was destroyed in the fire of 1871, causing a loss of $4,000. It was re- built the same year, and was again destroyed in the fire of 1881, causing a loss of $4,500.
rtice B. Williams, proprietor of the Winsor House, at Port Austin, was born Jan. 4, 1819, in the township of Hamburg, Erie Co., N. Y. His parents, Nathan and Sarah (Potter) Williams, were members of the agri- cultural community.
Mr. Williams was brought up on his father's farm, and followed the same vocation, chiefly, until his re- moval to Detroit in 1850. He passed a year there as a saw-mill laborer, proceeding thence to Newport, now Marine City, St. Clair County, where he operated as a filer in the gang saw mill of E. B. Ward. A year later he went to Forestville, Sanilac County, in the same interest, where he operated two years as foreman of a saw-mill. In 1854 he came to Port Austin to assume charge of the saw-mill of Smith, Dwight & Co., and was employed in the same estab- . lishment, under different owners, until the mill was destroyed by fire in December, 1878.
In 1867, he built a hotel at Port Austin, which was managed by an assistant, until he was released by the fire referred to from his position in the saw- mill, when he took charge of the hotel. In 1878, he bought the old court-house building, which he connected with the hotel building, for the purpose of enlarging and increasing his facilities for the ac- commodation of the public. He keeps a temper- ance house, and a livery in connection, with horses and equipments suitable for the accommodation of his patrons. He also runs a free " bus " to all trains and boats. He formerly owned a fine farm of 160 acres in Hume Township, which he ex- changed, in 1867, for the hotel property.
Mr. Williams has always been warmly interested
Robert Scott
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in school affairs; is a member of the Pioneer Society of Huron County, and of the Masonic fraternity.
He was married first in Buffalo, N. Y., Dec. 25, 1840, to Laura A., daughter of Newell Burrows, and a native of Orleans Co., N. Y. She died in Buffalo. Mr. Williams was again married at Forestville, Sanilac County, to Mary A. Hanford, a native of Vermont. Two children were born of the second marriage : Nellie E., wife of H. G. Snover, an attorney of Port Austin, and Stella E., wife of Robert H. Atkins, conductor on the Port Huron & Northwestern Rail- road.
obert Scott, farmer and stockman, section II, Bingham Township, was born March 15, 1818, in Scotland. His parents emi- grated with their family to Ontario, when he was nine years of age, and he remained under their care until 1838. He went from Ontario to the State of New York, and four years later was married (Jan. 9, 1842), to Olive Gould, at Fulton, Oswego County. Five children were born to them -Reuben, George, Jeannette, Charles and Cather- ine. All are married but the second son.
Mrs. Scott was born in Hannibal Township, Oswego County, Sept. 27, 1820, of New England parentage, of German extraction. Her father died when she was six years old, and she was reared in various families until her marriage. After that event herself and husband settled in Fulton, where they resided 17 years, Mr. Scott being an employe on the Oswego Canal. In 1855, they removed to Elgin Co., Ont., coming thence two years later to Huron County, and settling in Bingham Township, where they were among the first pioneers.
They purchased 320 acres of land in June, 1857, on section 11, at a time when there were no thorough- fares of any description. Mr. Scott had not a whole dollar in money when he went to New York, but he had the resolute perseverance of a man with a pur- pose and ambition to secure comfort for his family. His place now includes 80 acres cleared and culti- vated land, which is made attractive in appearance and increased in value by the addition of suitable and valuable farm buildings.
Mr. Scott is a Democrat in political persuasion. He has been Justice of the Peace several years, and has held the office of Supervisor of the township 10 years. The family are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
A portrait of Mr. Scott is given on the preceding page.
harles E. Dow, junior member of the firm of Winterhalter & Dow, proprietors of the Sand Beach Iron Works, was born Jan. 2 1849, in Lake Co., Ohio. His father, John Dow, was born in New Hampshire, and was a farmer and mechanic. He died in Madison, Lake Co., Ohio. The mother, Harriet A. (Butter- field) Dow, is still living, in Ashtabula Co., Ohio.
Mr. Dow began to serve an apprenticeship in a machine shop at Conneautville, Pa., in which he continued three years. On its termination he went to Missouri, and was occupied two years as an engin- eer. He subsequently traveled some time in the West and Northwest, and in the spring of 1871 he came to Rock Falls, Huron County, and entered the employment of Pack, Jenks & Co., where he oper- ated two years as a saw-filer. The year following he was employed by the same firm as clerk, after which he was occupied a year in the repair shop.
In the fall of 1874 he came to Sand Beach, where he rented the hotel property known as the Sand Beach House. He managed the house as lessee three years, when he purchased it and converted it into the " Dow House," by which name it has since been known. He was the proprietor and manager until the spring of 1884, and in connection therewith he conducted a stage line from Sand Beach to Bad Axe. In connection with the hotel Mr. Dow had a livery stable. He carried on the business of livery and buying and selling horses, with good success, for seven years, when he took a partner, the firm name then being." Dow & Verd." At the end of one year he sold his interest to Mr. Verd.
In May of the current year (1884), he purchased an interest in the business in which he is now en- gaged. The building in which the firm of Winter- halter & Dow are operating was erected by the senior member in the fall of 1883. The structure is every
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way adapted to the purpose to which it is devoted, and the fixtures are of the most approved modern device. The manufactures include all varieties of machine and foundry work, brass castings, gas-pipe and fittings, steam-cocks, gauges, valves, injectors, lubricators, etc. The business is prosperous, and promises satisfactory future developments.
Mr. Dow's marriage to Amelia A. Hewitt took place at Rock Falls, Nov. 13, 1872. Nellie D., only child, was born in Rock Falls, Jan. 10, 1873. Mrs. Dow is the daughter of George G. and Angelina (Jenks) Hewitt.
Mr. Dow is a member of the Masonic fraternity, Lexington Commandery, and belongs to the Knights of Honor.
ohn F. Ziegler, farmer, section 16, Sebe- waing Township, was born March 3, 1834, in Germany. He is the youngest son of his parents, Frederick and Christiana (Krauss) Ziegler, also natives of Germany, who emi- grated to the United States in 1834. They settled primarily in New York, and later came to Huron County. They became residents of the township of Sebewaing, where the father died, Sept. 15, 18.78. The mother still resides there, and is 70 years of age.
Mr. Ziegler was a babe of six months old when his parents emigrated to America. He spent his youth and early manhood at home on his father's farm until he was 24 years of age. In 1858 he took possession of a farm given him by his father, which included 80 acres of timbered land. He has put the place in good condition, has cleared 50 acres and erected good farm buildings.
Mr. Ziegler is a Republican in his faith and con- nection. He has been Constable of Dwight Town- ship one year, Treasurer seven years, and Supervisor the same length of time.
He was first married, in Sebewaing Township, to Catherine Layer, and of 12 children of which she became the mother, seven survive : Joseph J., Anna C., Rosanna C., Mary, Louisa, Christiana and John D. Fredrika, John E., Daniel F. and Frederick are deceased. Their mother died Sept. 8, 1878. Mr.
Ziegler was a second time married Oct. 23, 1879, to Sophia, daughter of Frederick and Frederika (Erwin) Grettenberger, and widow of Frederick Brendle, who died May 7, 1869, in the Township of Sebewaing. Mrs. Ziegler is of German parentage, and her parents spent their entire lives in their native land. The children born of her first marriage are: Louisa, Frederick, Dorothy, Catherine (deceased), Hermione (deceased), Otto and Eugene. She was born Aug. 12, 1835, in Germany, and was 18 years of age when she came to the United States. She remained the first few months in the city of New York, and came thence to Detroit, Mich., where she remained three years, coming to Sebewaing in 1857.
ewis W. Coon, farmer, section 4, Bloom- field Township, was born July 7, 1844, near Cleveland, Ohio. His father, Henry H., was born in the State of New York in 1820, and married Sally P. Kidney. He died in 1852. The mother was born Jan. 4, 1822, in Ohio, and is at present residing in Wakeman, Huron Co., Ohio.
The son was brought up on a farm, and learned the trade of a cooper, at which he worked chiefly about four years. At the end of that time, associated with a younger brother, he engaged in the manage- ment of the family homestead. This arrangement was prosecuted nine years, when he left his brother on the place and came to Michigan. He reached Bloomfield Township Oct. 20, 1879. He was pleased with the agricultural promise of Huron County, and removed his family hither a month later. In July, 1880, he bought the farm of which he took posses- sion on the arrival of his family. There were two and a half acres cleared. on which had been erected a log house, having one window. The farm includes 44 acres, and of this 25 acres are cleared.
Mr. Coon is a Republican, and has served as Treasurer and Clerk of the township one year re- spectively.
He was married April 4, 1867, to Mary J. Adams, and of their union nine children have been born : Alice A., April 28, 1868 (she was married Sept. 10, 1882) ; Mabel E., June 7, 1869; Alfred B., Jan. 2,
987: -
Richard Winter
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1874; Florence M., March 14, 1875; Charles A., Feb. 28, 1878; Leon L. was born May 29, 1879; Alta A., Jan. 8, 1881; Herbert L., Feb. 9, 1883 ; Maud, July 31, 1884.
One child-Leon L .- is deceased. The loss and terror of Sept. 5, 1881, through the fire, are indescrib- able, but the destruction of property fades into in- significance in view of the fact that it severed the family circle. Mr. Coon had the child in his arms, and, becoming blind with the dense smoke, became separated from his family. The child smothered in the father's arms.
Mrs. Coon was born June 11, 1846, in Keene, N. H., and is the daughter of Benjamin W. and Mary (Livingston) Adams. She became an orphan at the age of six years, her father's death occurring at that time. Her mother died when she was 18 months old.
on. Richard Winsor, senior member of the banking, law and insurance firm of Winsor nonha & Snover, at Port Austin, was born April 25, 1839, in Middlesex Co., Ont. He is of English extraction in the line of paternal de- scent, and on the maternal side is of mixed Irish lineage.
Richard Winsor, his father, was born in London, Eng. He was a builder by profession, and after coming to Ontario he operated extensively as a con- tractor. Among the buildings he erected is the City Hall, of London, Ont., the public market buildings, the gas works, and other structures of prominence and stability. He married Elizabeth Longworth, a native of County Westmeath, Ireland, and they be- came the parents of nine children, seven of whom survive. Mr. Winsor, of this sketch, is the eldest; Elizabeth is the wife of Hon. R. W. Irwin, of White Rock, Huron County ; Esther is married to William Mckenzie, an engineer and machinist at Port Aus- tin; Jane resides at that place also ; Thomas is the managing member of the business firm of T. Winsor & Co., of Port Austin (see sketch); Philip and Henry are employes in the mercantile establishment of the firm last named.
Their father came from the Dominion of Canada
to Michigan in the winter of 1856-7, and, locating temporarily at. Detroit, looked around for a perma- nent home on what he believed to be the best por- tion of Michigan, prospectively,-the Huron penin- sula, and located 160 acres of land at Light-house Bay. He erected a hewn-log house on a clearing he had made, and was proceeding with all possible vigor and anxiety to develop his home. He opera- ted meanwhile in Detroit during the building sea- sons. He removed his family to the farm at Light- house Bay, and on the 13th of April, 1860, accom- panied by his son John, was going from Huron City to his place with a small sail flat-boat, loaded with bundles of fruit trees for his contemplated orchard, and farming implements, when father and son were drifted into the lake and drowned, and the household left without reliance save the eldest son, then a few days short of his majority.
Mr. Winsor s grandfather, Richard Winsor, was a native of Devonshire, Eng. He was an architect, and had charge of the building operations of the Duke of Kent, father of Queen Victoria, and con- structed buildings under his orders at various points and in several countries. He was married in Eng- land, and had three children, viz .: Elizabeth mar- ried William Hall, a man who pursued the occupa- tion of teaching, accumulated a competency, and in later life operated as a financier; Ann married William Weston, a tanner located at Hall's Mills, near London, Ont., and afterwards at Simcoe, where both died ; Mr. Winsor's father was the youngest child .. He removed when quite a young man to London, Ont., where he lived until 1856. Except for a period when a young man, he lived in the United States, and a portion of that time in what is now the city of Detroit.
Capt. John Longworth, his maternal grandsire, was born April 7, 1790, in County Westmeath, Ire- land, and in early manhood entered the British ser- vice and participated in the Peninsular War, under the Duke of Wellington. The Government of Great Britain bestowed upon him testimonials of apprecia- tion of his gallant conduct in action, in the form of medals, bearing designs to commemorate the battles in which he had distinguished himself. One of these bears in its clasps the inscribed names of Albuhera, Busaco and Talavera ; the' other, that of Waterloo. These medals, with other relics, are in the possession of Mr. Winsor. After the surrender of Napoleon,
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Captain Longworth returned to Ireland and operated as a civil engineer in the service of the Government until the spring of 1830, when he resigned his posi- tion and emigrated to Canada. He arrived at Que- bec in May and entered the service of the Canada company as a civil engineer, establishing himself at Goderich, Ont. There he built the harbor, the first construction of that character on Lake Huron. He afterwards constructed many other public works in the interest of the company, and resided at Gode- rich nearly 53 years. On the 20th of October, 1882, he was removed to the home of his grandson, Mr. Winsor, at Port Austin, on account of his declining health. He died Jan. 17, 1883, nearly 94 years of age. ยท
The facts above stated are taken from the Annual Register of the Dominion of Canada for 1883, which makes permanent record of his long and useful ca- reer.
Captain Longworth first married Elizabeth Bruce, whose lineage in the paternal line is recorded from the days of the royal Robert, of Scotland, a period of more than 500 years. They had six children. Elizabeth was the eldest and married Richard Win- sor. It is presumed that Thomas, the second son, is deceased, as he was a sailor and went to Australia, since which time no definite intelligence has been obtained of him. William remained in Ireland to complete his education, came afterward to America and went to New Orleans, where he became a lawyer in the State Courts of Louisiana. He went thence to Texas, where he resided about 30 years, and was Judge of one of the Circuit Courts during the period of reconstruction, and became peculiar and erratic from these troubles. He resides near Denver, Col., and is an accountant in a mining com- pany. He was an officer of American Customs at London, Ont., three years. Jane is a member of the family of Mr. Winsor. Esther married Daniel H. Lazars, a member of an old Scotch family of position, the first Judge of the County of Perth, Ont., and resident at Stratford. He is still the incumbent of the position. John is deceased. The mother died soon after reaching this country.
Captain Longworth married Ellen Maxwell. They had two children : Susan, wife of Hon. John Rob- son, now Secretary of the Treasury of British Colum- bia, who was for a number of years a leader of the Reform party there. Frances married Capt. Thomas
Niell, and resides near her daughter, Mrs. James Jenks, at Sand Beach. Captain Niell was a sailor, and, in company with Hon. Malcolm Cameron, of Ontario, owned a line of transportation vessels on the lakes. He came to Port Huron, and was inter- ested in the same business on Lake Huron. He was thrown from a horse at Port Austin in 1881, where he was engaged in mercantile business, re- ceiving injuries to the spine which resulted in his death a few days later.
Mr. Winsor was a resident of Ontario until he was 17 years of age. He was a pupil five years in the first graded school instituted at London, under the present free-school system of Canada, established by the appropriation of Glebe, or Clergy Reserve Land, funds. This school had six departments, and afford- ed the best facilities for securing liberal elementary education, including modern languages and classics. Mr. Winsor came with his father to Sanilac County, and at the time of the death of the latter was the sole stay of his widowed mother and seven younger children.
In 1859 the house at Light-house Bay was destroy- ed by fire, with all its valuable contents, including furniture, a fine library and all the belongings of a family of culture and refinement. He was at work at Huron City, and at the same time picking up, as he could, some knowledge of law. He set out from the ruined home with his three small brothers, Thomas, Philip and Henry, at times one on his back and the other two under his arms, and made his way to Huron City. He bought a piece of land, and at intervals cleared and improved the place, kept the family together, attended to the education of his brothers and sisters, and exercised the care they needed until they were old enough to care for them- selves. His brother William (third son) was drowned at Fort Gratiot. He was in poor health, and was taking a trip on a vessel laden with stone, which fouled on the dock of the Grand Trunk Railroad Company, and sunk. William Winsor and a com- rade with him were drowned.
He prosecuted his law studies under John Divine, of Lexington, and was admitted to practice in the State Courts of Michigan at that place, passing his examination in open court in 1867, Judge Dewey presiding. Previous to that he had maintained an office several years at Huron City, and had prac- ticed in the Circuit Courts.
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Mr. Winsor has been prominent in the affairs of the Huron peninsula from the beginning of his career. His abilities, energies and persistent strug- gle in the accomplishment of the purposes which he formed in early life, established him firmly in the confidence of the settlers of Huron County ; and in the fall of 1862, when he was but 23 years of age, he was elected to the Legislature of Michigan on the Republican ticket. He was re-elected in 1864, and served a second term. He was nominated again in the fall of 1866, but declined the position, from the urgency of his business relations. In the spring of 1867 he was elected and served as a mem- ber of the Constitutional Convention at Lansing. In the fall of 1868 he was elected to the State Senate, the District then including Sanilac, Tuscola, Lapeer and Huron Counties. He served during the ses- sions of 1869-70 and 1870-1. In the fall of 1880 he was again elected to the Senate of Michigan, and served in the regular and extra sessions of 1881-2. He was one of the prime movers in securing the extra session for the purpose of devising ways and means for the relief of the fire sufferers in his district, and introduced the Fire Relief Bill, which provided for the necessities caused by the devastation. In the session of 1882, he introduced the bill for the organization of the 26th Judicial Circuit, placing the counties of Huron, Sanilac and Tuscola in one Judicial District.
Mr. Winsor has been active in the prosecution of all enterprises which tended to the development of Huron County and to place it on a par with other sections of the State in point of progress and the facilities of civilization. He was one of the chief in- struments in obtaining an extension of the Port Hu- ron & Northwestern Railroad to Port Austin, and he, with Caleb H. Gallup, moved primarily in the matter of securing the telegraph from Port Huron to this point. After consultation, the two put forth every exertion to secure the purpose desired, and spent weeks in canvassing to obtain sufficient funds to in- duce the Western Union Company to put the wires through, which was done.
Mr. Winsor removed to Port Austin Dec. 24, 1867, having a large family on his hands and a small capital in hard cash. The investment of his re- sources in that line caused him little anxiety, as the entire amount was but 25 cents. The county seat was then established at Port Austin, and he engaged
immediately in the practice of law. In the spring of 187 I he associated Robert W. Irwin with himself as a partner. This relation existed until July, 1876, 5 when his present associate, Horace G. Snover (see CO sketch), purchased the interest of Judge Irwin.
The firm are engaged in the transaction of the most extensive law business in Northern Michigan. Their operations in insurance are also large, and they represent the most reliable and solid companies of England and America, including the London & Liv- erpool & Globe, the old " Home " of New York and the "Union " of California. Their banking house transacts the varieties of business common to such institutions, in which they have widely extended relations. The building in which they now operate was erected in 1884, at a cost of over $4,000, and is one of the most complete business structures in the State. It is built of brick, is 27 x 55 feet in dimen- sions, with two stories and a basement. It stands on solid rock, is heated by steam, and has all the most approved modern appliances. The vault is lined with steel (railroad rails) four inches in thickness, manufactured by the Detroit Safe Company. The access thereto is by means of a steel outside door, with burglar-proof door inside, made of two-inch steel. The door joints are connected by steel bolts to the railroad iron, with all fastenings inside. Within is a burglar-proof chest constructed of steel three and a half inches thick, with another inside. It is of the most substantial character known to safe-builders. The steam-works were put in by the Detroit Metal & Plumbing Company.
The firm of Winsor & Snover own several thou- sand acres of land in Huron County. They own 160 acres in Meade Township, where the water-lime cur- rent has been discovered, said to be the most superior quality of water-lime rock on the continent. A Mil- waukee firm have sunk the shafts, and preparations are being made to develop the quarry.
Mr. Winsor is the individual proprietor of about 2,000 acres of land. He owns one 700-acre farm on sections 10, 11 and 14, in Dwight Township, with 300 acres under first-class cultivation, and raises grain and stock. He has 200 head of Cotswold sheep and 100 head of cattle.
His marriage to Martha Turner occurred at Lan- sing, in June, 1863, and Mr. and Mrs. Winsor are the parents of four sons and a daughter, born as follows : Richard, April 26, 1864; Amos F., Feb. 20, 1866 ;
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Irwin, Oct. 16, 1867; Bessie, March 26, 1871; Horace G., Nov. 20, 1879. The three first were born at Huron City; the others were born at Port Austin. Mrs. Winsor was born Feb. 23, 1845, in Ingham Co., Mich., and is the daughter of John and Rebecca (Haynor) Turner. Her mother was a member of the Haynor family, of Troy, N. Y., where she was born. Her family were German and of excellent position and culture, and she spoke the language of her pa- ternal ancestors with the same facility as English.
Mr. Winsor's portrait is given opposite page 357.
nthony Etzler, farmer, section 29, Hume Township, has been a resident of Huron County since the year 1856, when his par- ents came to Port Austin. He remained at that place a year, and, in company with two brothers, he came to Hume Township and located one half of section 29, in October, 1857. At that date there was but one settler in the township, namely, Walter Hume. (See sketch of S. T. Cante- lon.) He was a single man, as were his brothers, and they were the earliest settlers in the township succeeding Mr. Hume. There were no families, no roads nor improvements of any character, within five miles of their location. All supplies requisite to the maintenance of life were obtained at Port Austin, 10 miles distant. Obstacles of formidable type were the rule, not the least of which were the wolves, with which the forest was infested to a degree that inter- fered materially with the welfare and comfort of the pioneers ; and it frequently happened that the neces- saries of life could be obtained only at great hazard.
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