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 34
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Mr. Etzler had an adventure which supplied all the romance and thrilling incident requisite to a complete pioneer experience. He was returning from Port Austin with a bag of flour on his back, when he became aware that three wolves were pur- suing him closely. The forest was very dense, and rapid locomotion difficult under the best circumstan- ces; a burden increased the dangers. He finally dropped the sack of flour and made the best time possible. Only the urgency of the occasion, which had grown clearer with every step, saved his life, as the savage brutes were close upon his heels when he reached the safe shelter of home.
Mr. Etzler was born Nov. 26, 1835, in Prussia, and came with his father's family to America when he was 18 years old. After a brief stop at Buffalo, N. Y., they went to Geauga Co., Ohio, where they re- sided three years previous to coming to Michigan. The section on which the farm of Mr. Etzler is situ - ated is one of the best in the township, a state which is the palpable result of the energy and persistent effort which has been expended to place it in a con- dition to take fair rank with other sections in the county. He owns 106 acres, most of which is under improvements of the best type. The orchard on the place is a very fine one, and comprises 350 trees, of the best quality and variety.
Mr. Etzler is a Democrat, and has held several local offices of his township.
He was married July 4, 1858, to Elizabeth Wiemer. Their children are named Anna, Mary, Emma and Helen. Mrs. Etzler was born Sept. 30, 1827, in Prussia. She came with her brother to the United States in 1855, locating in Sebewaing, where she lived until her marriage. Mr. Etzler is 'a Roman Catholic.
illiam Wilson, farmer and stockman, res- ident on section 34, Paris Township, was born May 10, 1832, in Middlesex Co., Ont. His father was a native of Yorkshire, Eng. He emigrated to Canada, where he married Jane White, a native of Scotland. They settled in Middlesex Co., Ont., where they passed the years of their lives subsequent to their marriage. He died June 8, 1882, and she in July, 1874. They were aged respectively 72 and 60 years.
Mr. Wilson is the oldest of 10 children born to his, parents, and he was an inmate of their home until his marriage, Nov. 2, 1855, to Jane Bryce, in London Township, Middlesex Co., Ont. Their four children were born as follows: John G., Oct. 22, 1857 ; Ann G., June 2, 1860; Ida J., Nov. 2, 1864; Hannah G., Sept. 2, 1871. Mrs. Wilson is the daughter of Archibald and Ann (Monahan) Bryce. Her father was of Scotch birth; her mother was born in the State of New York. They settled in
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John. C. Liken
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Middlesex County in its early period, and received a land grant from the British government, such as was bestowed upon the first actual settlers of that part of the territory belonging to Great Britain. Her father has been dead more than a score of years, and her mother is still a resident in her old home. Mrs. Wilson was born Nov. 24, 1845, in London Township, and is the eldest of three children born to her parents.
After their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Wilson set out for Michigan, landing at Forestville, Sanilac County, on the Huron peninsula. Mrs. Wilson remained there a few weeks, while her husband made his way through the unbroken forest on a "jumper,' travers- ing a route marked by " blazings," and continuing to press on until he reached his claim, in what is now the township of Paris. He was the first settler in the township, and named it when it was organized. The first three town meetings were held in his cabin. He was for a number of years a member of the Board of Supervisors, and has been almost contin- ually connected with the official management of its affairs.
Mr. Wilson has now 160 acres of land in excellent farming condition, with an elegant residence, located in a fine position on his farm. Politically he is in- dependent. The family are communicants of the Episcopal Church.
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ohn C. Liken, senior member of the busi- ness house of John C. Liken & Co., at Sebewaing, was born Aug. 9, 1832, in Grossherzogthum, Oldenburg, Germany. His parents, Frederick and Catherine Liken, were also natives of Germany, where they passed their entire lives. Their children were named Fred- erick, William, Henry, Hannah, J. C, Herman and Magdalena. They are all living with one exception. Mr. Liken received an excellent education in the schools of his native country, previous to becoming 14 years old, after which he was apprenticed for four years to learn the cooper's trade, working one year. After serving his time, he went to Greenland on a
whaling vessel, in the capacity of cooper. He was absent six months. On first reaching the ice- floes of the Northern Ocean, the crew and assistants were called up to see a colony of seals at play. Young Liken sprang upon a cake of ice in his eager- ness to kill one of the creatures, but it was too thin to bear his weight, and he went through into the water. A seaman who hastened to his rescue was obliged to devote his attention to his own safety, and the adventurous boy hung to the ice, which broke in his grasp until he was exhausted. He had time meanwhile to form a resolution to steer clear of Greenland all the rest of the days of his life, if there should be any left at the termination of the difficulty in which he found himself! The captain, with sev- eral seamen, lowered a small boat and made their way through the broken ice and rescued him. On the fourth of July, the whaler was blocked into a water course, by 21 English and German whaling vessels, and lay there three weeks. Mr. Liken reached home in the latter part of August, perfectly satisfied with his experiences. He worked at his trade until the summer of 1853. In June of that year he sailed for America, working his passage in a sailing vessel. The voyage consumed exactly six weeks. The estimate of his services by the captain was expressed by the present of a $5 gold piece. The particular act for which he received the testimonial was his voluntary ascent to the mast-head during a fearful gale, to assist in reefing a sail.
On landing at the port of New York, he sought for work at his trade, but being without friends or influence, he was for a time unsuccessful. Finally he took the landlord of the hotel where he stayed, into his confidence, who became interested in his welfare and inserted an advertisement in his behalf in a journal published in the interests of the craft to which he belonged. He applied to the advertising firm of Waydell & Co., where he met William F. Young, of Binghamton, N. Y., then in the city, for the purpose of securing coopers. He made an en- gagement with him and proceeded to Binghamton, where he was employed four years. He went thence to Addison, Steuben Co., N. Y., and worked one year at his trade. The panic of 1857 caused the collapse of his employers, and he found himself in enforced idleness. He had invested his earnings in real estate at Addison. He observed that various members of the surrounding community were in possession of
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considerable quantities of stave bolts, and he went to Binghamton to consult his former employer as to the feasibility of a plan he had conceived to embark in business in his own behalf. Mr. Young supplied him with money, and he returned to Addison to carry out his plan of entering into the manufacture of sugar and molasses hogsheads, of which he made a complete success. He purchased the fixtures of his former employers, and went into business on an ex- tensive scale, with 14 assistants.
On the failure of the timber supply of that region, he sold his property and proceeded to Huron County, locating at Sebewaing in the fall of 1865. He at once put his business in operation, and was rewarded by largely increased avenues, one branch being the exportation of large quantities of white- oak pipe staves to Germany. This still continues, though in reduced quantity. He owns and operates two saw and stave mills at Sebewaing, and one each at Unionville, Akron and Fair Grove, Tuscola Co., Mich. His working force includes 200 men and boys, and the aggregate annual product of his vari- ous lumber establishments amounts to $75,000. He operates two flour mills at Sebewaing and Union- ville ; the one is a three-stone mill, the other a two- stone mill, with a producing capacity of 60 barrels of flour daily. He is the owner of the " John C. Liken," a steamer plying between Sebewaing and Bay City. Among the many firms with whom he transacts bus- iness, are the two named in New York and Bingham- ton.
In 1874 he erected the fine brick block in which he carries on his mercantile transactions, including traffic in hardware, dry goods, groceries and drugs, constituting four stores, in which his business rela- tions require the aid of nine clerks. His trading business amounts to $100,000 annually. He deals extensively in lumber, shingles, lath, brick, lime, etc., etc. He has branch business houses at Bay Port and Kilmanagh, in Huron County, and at Unionville, in Tuscola County, and his entire annual business transactions amount to about $350,000. He owns over 1,000 acres of land in Huron, and 500 acres in Tuscola Counties, chiefly unimproved.
Mr. Liken is identified with the principles and issues of the Republican party. He has served on the Board of Village Trustees since the organization of Sebewaing.
He was married Feb. 15, 1855, in Oxford, Chenan- go Co., N. Y., to Walburga Kunkel, daughter of Peter and Mary Kunkel. Her parents were both natives of Bavaria, Germany, where her father died. Her mother came to America and died in 1869, in Sebewaing, at the residence of her daughter. Mrs. Liken was born July 16, 1836, in Bavaria. She came to the United States when she was 16 years of age. Following is the record of the five children born to Mr. and Mrs. Liken : Mary C. was born Jan. 31, 1856, in Binghamton, N. Y., and is the wife of Richard Martini, of Sebawaing. Hannah E. was born Sept. 16, 1857, in Addison, N. Y. She married F. C. Bach, and lives at Sebewaing. (See sketch.) Charles W. was born Sept. 25, 1858, in Addison ; Emma H. was born at the same place, March 23, 1864; John died in infancy.
The public will doubtless be pleased to find, ac- companying this sketch, a portrait of Mr. Liken, who deserves representation in the collection given in this work.
illiam Handy, farmer, section 13, Case- ville Township, was born Oct. 3, 1821, in Wilkesbarre, Pa., and is the son of Daniel and Sybil (Woodruff) Handy. The former was a native of Pennsylvania, and removed his family to Parma Township, Mon- roe Co., N. Y., where he entered upon the career of a pioneer. In 1836 he came to Michigan, reaching Detroit Oct. 6, of that year. He proceeded to Ox- ford, Oakland Co., Mich., where he bought another unimproved tract of land, comprising 120 acres, where he made a clearing in the "oak openings," built a log house and established a home. He died March 24, 1848, and was 7 1 years of age at the time of his demise. The mother died about 1869, and was 82 years old.
When Mr. Handy was 22 years of age he went to Lapeer County to engage in lumbering, operating in the woods winters, on the drive during the spring seasons and as a saw-mill assistant in summer. In the fall of 1849 he went to Port. Austin and passed the summers and winters of two years in lumbering. In 1851 he bought 80 acres of land near Caseville,
Carl Histerman
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where he set himself diligently to the work of found- ing a home. He sold the place in 1856, and took possession of the farm which is and has since been his homestead. His first motive in making the transfer was to secure the advantages of better hunt- ing and trapping. He has killed ten elk since com- ing here, whose horns sold for $25 in Chicago. The number of deer he has captured cannot be estimated, and he has killed two bears when alone, as well as several in company with other hunters.
Mr. Handy is a Democrat. In 1864 he was drafted into the military service of the United States, and was assigned to Company F, 15th Mich. Vol. Inf. He was in the service eight months, dur- ing which time he was under fire in regular battle at Bentonville. He was discharged in June, 1865, at Louisville, Ky.
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His marriage to Lydia Case took place Jan. 18, 1847, and they are the parents of seven children,- Caroline, Mary A., John Charles, Sylvia, Clarissa, Sherman and Minerva. One child is deceased. Mrs. Handy was the daughter of Isaac and Jane (Austin) Case, and was born March 21, 1828, in St. Clair Co., Mich. She died in 1884. Her parents were respectively natives of Connecticut and Michi- gan.
ohn J. Murdock, farmer, sections 21 and 22, Caseville Township, was born Sept. 29, 1847, in Kilnrow, County Ayr, Scotland, and is the son of Hugh and Janet (Campbell) Murdock. In November, 1868, he emigrated to the United States. The parents are living with their son in Caseville Township. The father was born April 1, 1827 ; the mother in November, 1828. They came to Ohio in the fall of 1869.
After landing in New York, Mr. Murdock pro- ceeded to the coal regions of Pennsylvania, Ohio and Indiana, where he was employed for some time in the mines. In 1873, he came to Huron County ; he purchased a farm of Hon. Joseph Snell, with seven acres improved.
Mr. Murdock is a Republican. in political senti- ment, and has held various township offices. He was married Feb. 23, 1871, to Louisa Sollaw. Their
children were born as follows: Albert H., Feb. 2, 1872 ; Edwin S., Feb. 13, 1874; Jessie A., Nov. 13, 1876 : Mabel J., April 24, 1879; Grace E., May 19, 1882. Their mother was born Jan. 14, 1850, in Canal Fulton, Stark Co., Ohio, and is the daughter of John A. and Anna (Cyring) Sollaw. Her mother died in 1869, and her father in 1877, in Stark Co., Ohio.
G Sarl Heisterman, ex-Register of Deeds of Huron County, resident at Bad Axe, was born Nov. 5, 1820, in Westphalia, Prussia. He received a thorough education in his na- tive country, pursuing courses of study in phi- losophy, medicine and political economy until 1843, when he went to Leipsic and was there occu- pied as a translator of French medical literature into English. He came to America during the progress of the Mexican war, proceeding to Buffalo, where he enlisted in the United States Army for five years. He was in the service throughont the entire course of of the war, receiving honorable discharge in August, 185 1, at Ft. Gratiot, Mich. He went next to Saginaw City, and was occupied a few months in operating a ferry between the cities of Saginaw and East Saginaw.
In November, 1852, he purchased of the United States Government an island in Saginaw Bay, contain- ing about 400 acres of land, on which he located and resided until September 1, 1883, when he sold the property. The island belongs to the township of Fair Haven in Huron County, which was not then or- ganized. He sold the island to an organization of gentlemen of Saginaw, styled the Island Club, obtain- ing $1 1,000 as compensation therefor. The island is a noted resort and fast increasing in popularity.
Mr. Heisterman has been identified with the for- tunes of Huron County since 1852, and has been active in its interests. In the fall of 1876 he was nom- inated on the Democratic ticket for Register of Deeds, and was successful in obtaining the election. The quality of his services can be estimated from the fact, that he held the incumbency six years, receiving two re-elections. He was Supervisor of Fair Haven Township 16 years, and held several other official positions. He was elected State Senator the present
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year (1884). He was the first white settler in Fair Haven Township, and for some time had no associates save the Indians, of whom there were a great number. A missionary made frequent visits to the locality but he was not a resident.
The marriage of Mr. Heisterman to Mary Dutcher took place at Port Huron, Mich., September 18, 1849. She was born January 11, 1828, in Oswego Co., N. Y., and is the daughter of Daniel and Lavanchia Dutch- er. Her mother died when she was 15 years old ; her father is living in Fair Grove Township, Tuscola County, of which he has been many years a resident. He is 84 years of age.
A portrait of Mr. Heisterman accompanies this sketch, being placed on a preceding page. It gives the features of a prominent and representative citizen of Huron County.
christian Botcher, deceased, formerly resid- ing on section 13, Sand Beach Township, was a son of John and Mary Botcher, natives of Germany, in which country they resided until their death. Christian was born in the native country of his parents, and resided there, engaged in the occupation of farming and coachman, until the summer of 1868. At the date mentioned, he crossed the ocean and landed on American soil. He came direct to this county and settled in Sand Beach Township. Two years later, in 1870, he pur- chased 83 acres of wild land on section 13, same township, and entered on the laborious task of clear- ing and improving the same. He erected a fine frame house, good barn and other buildings, and was just entering on the enjoyment of the fruits of his labor when, in 1871, the destroying element, fire, laid his barn, together with its entire contents, in ashes. During that fire, so well remembered by every inhab- itant of Huron County, Mr. Botcher injured his eyes, fighting the element, from which injury he never re- covered, his death occurring December 3, 1873.
Mr. Botcher was united in marriage, in Germany, in January, 1850, to Miss Mary Puls. She was a daughter of Christopher and Sophia (Stevenson) Puls, natives of Germany, in which country the daughter
was also born, July 15, 1831. Her parents had a family of ten children, most of whom died in infancy. Mrs. B. is a member of the Lutheran Church, as like- wise was her husband.
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homas Winsor, senior member of the firm of Thomas Winsor & Co., manufacturers of salt, lumber, staves, heading, shingles, etc., also dealers in general merchandise, Port Austin, was born June 5, 1852, in London,
- Ont. He is the son of Richard (sr.) and Eliz- abeth (Longworth) Winsor (see sketch of R. Win- sor), and has resided since he was seven years of age in Huron County.
His parents removed in 1869 to Huron City, where the family remained several years and went thence to Port Austin, where they still reside.
Mr. Winsor established a general mercantile busi- ness at Port Austin, in 1871, and after managing its interests singly for a few months, he became associa- ted with Thomas Neill, and after a successful prose- cution of the affairs of the concern about three and a half years, its membership was dissolved. In 1875 the firm of Carrington & Winsor was created, which relation still continues. Their first business was transacted in a brick store, which they erected for the purpose, and where they have since operated. Their stock represents an average amount of $12,- 000 or more. In 1880-1, they built an extensive salt block and saw-mill, which was burned March 27, 1881, involving a loss of $22,000. In the following year a branch store, which they had built in Meade Township, 24 x 80 feet in dimensions, was burned, with a loss above insurance of $2,500. They re- built the store and constructed a grist-mill at the same place, and subsequently sold both. The salt block was also rebuilt and a saw-mill erected to aid in the prosecution of their business. They own two wells, having a capacity of 200 barrels daily, and manufacture three grades of salt, distinguished as "packer's salt," "fine " and "second-quality." In 1883 they built an elevator on the Port Huron & Northwestern Railroad, at Port Austin, which has a capacity of 18,000 bushels, and is one of the largest
Ingram Harrison
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structures of the kind on the line. The firm traffic in all kinds of grain and produce. They own a dock situated near their mills, built in 1877 by Mr. Winsor and his brother Philip (now a salesman in the store). The land where their works are erected comprises 40 acres nearly, and they own 10 acres south of the village of Port Austin. They conduct a retail and wholesale lumber yard, and operate as builders and contractors; also have a machine shop where a large amount of repairing is done. Another branch of their business is the sinking of salt wells along the shore of Lake Huron. In 1883, Roscoe E., son of Mr. Carrington, was admitted to the firm. Mr. Winsor has been and still is Postmaster of Port Austin.
He was married at Port Crescent, Jan 1, 1874, to Ida A. Carrington. Their children were born at Port Anstin, as follows: Eva, Jan. 1, 1877; Blanche, Aug. 26, 1880; William, Jan. 14, 1883. Mrs. Winsor is the daughter of Mark and Rhoda A. Carrington, and was born Aug. 3, 1858, at Lex- ington, Sanilac Co., Mich. (See sketch of Mark Carrington.)
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eter Smeader, Sr., farmer, section 6, Dwight Township, was born Feb. 18, 1813, in Ger- many, and is the son of Theodore and Lucy Smeader, also natives of Germany, where they passed their lives.
Mr. Smeader was reared to manhood in his native land, and was a resident there until 1855, the year of his emigration to the United States. He came at once to Sanilac County, and passed about 18 months at Forestville. He went thence to Port Austin, where he spent nine years in a saw-mill. At the end of that time he bought 130 acres of land and has since bought 80 acres more. He has sold 50 acres of his original purchase, and placed 65 acres under cultivation.
Mr. Smeader is a Democrat in political faith.
He was married the first time in Germany, Jan. 1, 1840, to Johanna Lelly. Eight children have been born to them, two of whom died in infancy.
Elizabeth, Mary, Susan, Peter, Christopher and Nicholas. Their mother was born in Germany and died Aug. 5, 1865. Mr. Smeader was a second time married in September, 1866, in Dwight Township, to Jane Harper, a native of Canada. The family are Roman Catholics.
ngram Harrison, farmer and stockman, resident on section 24, in Lake Township, was born Dec. 25, 1832, in Yorkshire, Eng. His father, John Harrison, was also born in England, and in 1857 transferred his family and business to Middlesex Co., Ont. His mother, Mary (Wilson) Harrison, was a native of England, and died in her native country when she was 45 years of age.
Mr. Harrison was the fourth of seven children born to his parents. He obtained a fair education by his own efforts, and when he was 12 years of age began to earn his own livelihood by farm labor. When he was 22 years of age he came to this. country, and settled in Livingston Co., N. Y. A year later he went to Middlesex Co., Ont., where he was a laborer until his marriage, in that county, June 29, 1859, when he became the husband of Elizabeth Edwards. The following children have been born to them: Mary (Mrs. Joseph Williams) ; Henry, Eliza, Alice, Robert, Edward, John, Ann, James, Francis and William. The latter died in infancy.
After his marriage Mr. Harrison was a farmer in the counties of Middlesex and Lambton, in Ontario, where he remained nine years. In the fall of 1869 he came to Huron County, and purchased 240 acres of land on sections 24 and 25, Lake Township. The entire tract was in its original wild state. The farm now includes 90 acres of cleared and cultivated land, two acres of which is a well-assorted orchard, and the place is fitted with suitable and necessary farm buildings.
Mr. Harrison is a Republican, and has discharged the duties of several local offices in the township.
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He owns and operates a flouring mill at Pinnebog. In the collection of portraits selected for this ALBUM is found that of Mr. Harrison, accompanying this sketch.
ames S. Ayres, of the firm of Ayres & Co., at Port Austin, merchants, farmers, dealers in real estate, and manufacturers of salt, was born Aug. 30, 1838, in New Ca- naan, Conn. He is a son of Frederick S. and Nancy (Raymond) Ayres, and is in company with his father and brother, Eben R. Ayres, res- ident at Sandusky. (See sketch of F. S. Ayres.) Mr. Ayres was educated in the common schools of West Troy, and afterwards was instructed by a pri- vate tutor until about the age of 17 years, when he matriculated at Williams College, Williamstown, Mass., and four years later was graduated at that institution. He attended the Law School at Albany one year, and graduated there, and went thence to Chicago, where he opened his office and acted as an attorney for three years.
- In 1866 he came to Port Austin to manage his father's lumbering interests, which he conducted five years, and in 187 1 became a member of the firm of Ayers, Learned & Co., engaged in the business already named, in which they have since continued to operate. In 1874 Mr. Learned sold his claim to the brother of Mr. Ayres, Eben R., a resident of Sandusky.
The building where the Messrs. Ayers conduct their mercantile transactions is one of the first con- structed at Port Austin. Their stock is estimated at $10,000, and they employ three salesmen. The firm offer for sale 14,000 acres of farming lands in Huron County, situated in the townships of Port Austin, Dwight, Lincoln, Meade, Lake, Chandler and Oli- ver. They have about 1,200 acres which they culti- vate in Port Austin and Dwight Townships, and employ by the month a small army of agricultural laborers.
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