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 35
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Mr. Ayres is an active and aggressive Republican. He was President of the Blaine and Logan Club at
Port Austin, and has taken part in several Presiden- tial campaigns, doing the variety of service popularly known as "stump" speaking. He has acted as Chairman of several Republican county conven- tions, and is always actively interested in the State conventions, and in all movements for the advance- ment of the present party element on the earth. He takes an earnest interest in school matters, and is a member of the present School Board (1884), with which he has been connected continuously for up- wards of 16 years.
Mr. Ayres was married at Tarrytown-on-the-Hud- son, Oct. 20, 1869, to Annie Evans. She was born in Mobile, Ala., in April, 1841, and died Nov. 2, 1882, at Port Austin. The five children born of this mar- riage are named as follows : Nancy (deceased), Eben R., Jay D., James S. and Annie (deceased). Mr. Ayres was a second time married Feb. 7, 1884, at Port Austin, to a sister of his first wife, Sarah Lou Evans. She was born in New York in 1846.
Mr. Ayres owns a fine residence on Lake Street : also an interest in the different plats of the firm in the village of Port Austin designated respectively as "Ayres & Co.'s," and "Ayres, Learned & Co.'s plats."
enry Libby, machinist at Caseville, and en- gineer in the employment of F. Crawford, is the son of Jacob H. and Elizabeth (Stass) Libby, both natives of Germany. The mother died about the year 1857. The father was born in 1796, and is still a resident of Hanover, - Germany, where Mr. Libby, the subject of this sketch, was born, June 12, 1832. There was a family of II children born to his parents, of whom he is the third youngest, and the oldest one now liv- ing, and is the owner of 240 acres of land situated on sections 2, 17 and 10. He was born June 12, 1832, in Hanover, Germany. In 1850 he emigrated to the United States, and found his first employment with a farmer in Geauga Co., Ohio. He went thence to Cleveland, Ohio, where he passed two years in the service of Thomas Searls, learning his trade. He is a natural mechanic, and is an acknowledged master of his business as an engineer and machinist.
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He worked two years for Mr. F. Crawford, in Cleve- land, and camein 1857 in his interest to Caseville, where he has operated since, with the exception of three years, when he was engaged in the manage- ment of a saw-mill at Warrensville, Geauga Co., Ohio.
He has erected all the machinery in the works of Mr. Crawford at Caseville, as follows : two engines in Crawford's mill of 100-horse power; one in another saw-mill, of 35-horse power ; one in the grist-mill, of 35-horse power; No. 1 in drill house, 15-horse power; No. 2, in drill house, 15-horse power; No. 3, in drill house, 15-horse power; No. 4, in drill house, 15- horse power; No. 5, in drill house, 25-horse power; two portable engines, respectively of 7- and 20-horse power. In addition to these Mr. Libby has put in three steam pumps, two of which are 10 x 5 inches and one is 6 x 3 inches in size.
The farm of Mr. Libby includes 125 acres of im- proved land, with two good frame houses and two good frame barns, with necessary out-buildings and excellent orchards.
He was married in September, 1857, to Maria Emshoff, and they have six children, Anna, John, Eliza, Henry, Nora and Mabel. Mrs. Libby was born in October, 1832, in Prussia, Germany. She came with her father to Cleveland, in 1854, after the death of her mother. Mr. and Mrs. Libby are Lu- therans in religious belief.
agloire Fromant, farmer, section 20, Dwight Township, was born Oct. 1, 1842, in the city of Montreal. His parents, Charles and Genevieve Fromant, were na- tives of France.
In 1856 Mr. Fromant left Montreal to seek an opportunity to secure an independent livelihood. He came to Port Austin, where he obtained a place as assistant in a saw-mill, in which vocation he passed 16 years. Seven years following he worked a farm on shares. In April, 1879, he located on 80 acres of land he had purchased in 1869, all of which is now cleared and improved, and is supplied with a good house, barn and other suitable acces-
sory farm buildings. Politically Mr. Fromant is in affiliation with the Democratic party.
His marriage to Elizabeth Smeader occurred at Port Austin, Sept. 1, 1860, and of their marriage II children have been born-Joseph, Charles, Mary, Ann, Peter, Michael, Susan, William, Maggie, Rich- ard and Elizabeth. Mrs. Fromant was born Feb. 26, 1842, in Prussia, and is the daughter of Peter and Johanna Smeader. The family are Roman Catholics in religious belief.
rchie Currie, farmer, section 20, Paris Township, was born in August, 1824, in Argyleshire, Scotland. His father, Duncan Currie, was a shepherd in his native land, and in 1846 he came to the New World, locating in Ekford Township, Middlesex Co., Ont., and afterward came to Michigan, where he located on the farm on which his son is now residing, and there he died, April 5, 1871. His mother, Ann (Mitchell) Currie, was born in Scotland, and died in Ekford about 1850.
Mr. Currie was reared to the calling of his father, which he followed in his boyhood, and on reaching a suitable age he became a farm laborer in his native country until he came to Ontario in 1856. In 1857 he came to the then unbroken and solitary wilderness of Paris Township, and after prospecting in every direc- tion he fixed upon a claim of 240 acres of land on section 17. He "bushed " his road thither for some miles, and had no knowledge of the location of his neighbors, himself and his brother being the only settlers for miles. All supplies were brought 18 miles over the trails of the elk and deer, which were here in great abundance and of whom Mr. Currie killed many for subsistence. He afterwards sold a part of his first purchase, and on the death of his father he took possession of the homestead, which embraces 160 acres of land. He had made a beautiful and valuable home for his family, having now 90 acres cleared and improved in the best manner. Mr. Currie is an earnest and zealous Republican, and has been active in the local official affairs of his township.
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He was married Dec. 27, 1869, in Paris Township, to Miss Flora, daughter of Archie and Mary (Mc- Intyre) Clark. Her father died in Elgin Co., Can., March 2, 1870, aged 53 years. Mrs. Clark was liv- ing with her daughter, Mrs. McDonald, when the fire of 187 1 occurred, in which Alexander McDonald, his wife Nancy, nee Clark, his mother-in-law, Mrs. Mary Clark, his son Archie, a boy of nine years of age, and his sister-in-law, Miss Jeannette Clark-five persons in all-perished in the flames! The dreadful visita- tion and affliction are fully treated in another portion of this work. The following poem, by Cyrenius Mc- Taggart, now deceased, a resident of the township at the time of the occurrence, is incorporated in this sketch, for obvious reasons :
The McDonald Family,
. WHO PERISHED IN THE GREAT FIRE OF 1871, IN HURON COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
Sons of freedom, only ponder On McDonald's awful doom, And his family, five in number, In the hot and fiery gloom,-
Where the flames in torrents flashing, Through the fields and forest round, And the trees like thunder crashing, In great numbers on the ground.
Thus the deluge, fierce in motion, With the wind did loudly roar, Like the waves upon the ocean, Dashing on the stormy shore.
What have been their thoughts and feelings, In that hot and dismal place, When the flames came round, unyielding, Such a stubborn foe to face !
Oh! methinks I see them weeping, Clasped into each other's arms,- When the flames came round them sweeping, Cry aloud in wild alarms,-
As they cast their eyes to heaven, And for mercy loudly cried, When by flames and smoke were driven, Where they fell and shrank and died.
Thus the deluge passed o'er them ; Sad and awful was the scene, Sweeping everything before them, Through the wild and living green. . Thus it raved until the morrow, When a calm appeared at last; Every soul was filled with sorrow At the closing of the blast.
All the fields and forest timber, By their friends were searched around, And at length in death's cold slumber, These poor souls' remains were found.
In the woods where they were driven, Lay their bodies on the earth, And their souls we hope in heaven With the God who gave them birth.
All ye readers, only ponder ! Can you think without regret, On the death of this small number, And among them poor Jeannette ?
A maiden fair in every feature, And admired by all around As a lady, and a teacher, In this moldering mass was found.
Those horrid flames so fierce, and raken With the wind, with force and strife,- This fair lady they have taken In her prime and bloom of life.
No more she's seen among the flowers Nor in the shade of summer green; With her young friends in idle hours, This fair maid no more is seen.
She is gone from earth, departed ; And her friends, to be no more, . Left them sad and broken-hearted, To lament on Huron's shore.
May to her a robe be given ; Thus may her precious soul be blest, Like the stars in yonder heaven, And be one among the rest.
Mrs. Currie was born Sept. 2, 1849, in Elgin Co., Ont., where she resided until the death of her father. On the occurrence of that event, she came to Paris Township, where she was married.
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illiam T. Chappell, proprietor of the Chap- pell House at Sebewaing, was born May 8, 1850, at Avon, Livingston Co., N. Y. His father, W. T. Chappell, Sr., was born at Avon, and his mother, Julia (Ransom) Chap- pell, was a native of Claridon, Geauga Co., Ohio. They located after marriage at Avon, where Mr. C. was a prominent agriculturist and was one of the earliest importers of Durham cattle in the Empire State. The family are still residing there and in- cludes six children,-W. T .. , J. Frank, Charles H., Nellie V., Carrie B. and Emma.
Mr. Chappell attended the common schools of his native place until he was 11 years of age, when he was sent to Temple Hill Academy at Geneseo, N. Y., where he was a student three years, after which he attended the Genesee Wesleyan Seminary at Lima a similar period. In 1868 he went to the Eastman Business College at Poughkeepsie, N. Y., where he was graduated the following year. In 187 1 he came to Bay City; from there he went to Sebewaing, and platted 80 acres of land, and sold lots to the amount of $18,000.
On coming hither to reside, Mr. Chappell at once took rank among the leading men in the town and county. He owns about 400 acres of land in Huron and Tuscola Counties, including 250 acres under cul- tivation. One farm of 160 acres is located near Port Austin. He has been a mail contractor since the time of his locating in Huron County, and at present controls 66 miles of mail route. He deals consider- ably in real estate. He is a connoisseur in horses, and in early manhood indulged a taste for fine grades. He always kept a fine team while at school, and after being graduated he spent a year or two in buying and fitting horses for the New York market.
Mr. Chappell is a staunch and active Republican. 'He cast his first Presidential vote for General Grant, and has been an adherent of the "grand old party" ever since. Most of his life has been spent under a Republican administration, and he expects to spend his remaining years in the prosperity and hope in which the country has rejoiced for so long a period. In the fall of 1876 he was elected Sheriff of Huron County, and served two years. He declined a re-
election. He is a member of the Order of Odd Fellows.
His marriage to Laura E. Tong occurred Jan. 4, 1870, at Avon. They have two children: Mary, born at Avon, and Arthur S., born in Sebewaing. Proctor T. Tong, the father of Mrs. Chappell, is a native of England and married Mrs. Elizabeth (North) Howe. She is a native of Connecticut, and died in Utica, Mich. They had one child,-Laura. .
The portrait of Mr. Chappell, accompanying this sketch, gives the characteristic features of an influen- tial and representative citizen of the Huron peninsula.
gharles E. Ball, farmer, section 6, Dwight Township, was born Jan. 21, 1839, in Nor- walk, Huron Co., Ohio. His parents, Sanford and Lavina (Lock) Ball, were natives respect- ively of Vermont and Pennsylvania. After their marriage they settled in Ohio, where they continued to reside during the remainder of their lives. She died Sept. 18, 1853; and he, April 21, 1859. Charles E., Lois and James constituted their family of children.
Mr. Ball was educated in the common schools of Ohio, and was at home until he was 15 years of age, when he engaged as a sailor on the lakes and con- tinued to operate in that capacity for a period of 25 years. He was first employed as a steward, after- wards became an ordinary seaman and was promoted to the position of mate. He passed ri years in com- mand of a schooner in the service of John F. Rust & Co., of Cleveland, Ohio. In the fall of 1862 he en- listed in the 23d Mich. Vol. Inf., and served three years as private and Corporal. He was an active participant in all the engagements in which the regi- ment was involved until nine months previous to his- discharge, during which time he was on detached ser- vice in Washington.
On being discharged, he went to Muskegon and spent a summer there as an assistant in a saw-mill, and, while employed on the lakes, passed the winter months of four years at Algonac.
In 1861, previous to his enlistment in the army, he bought 43 acres of land in Dwight Township, which
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at the date of purchase was in its original timbered condition. He made a clearing and erected a log house, in which he resided a year. In the winter of 1878 he made an additional purchase of 40 acres of land, and settled permanently on the place. The efforts and good management of Mr. Ball on the place have resulted in the improvement and cultivation of 60 acres.
He is a Republican in political connection and a member of the Masonic fraternity.
His marriage occurred at Croswell (then Davis- ville), Sept. 15, 1860, to Emily, daughter of Eli and Julia Herrington. She was born Jan. 5, 1843, in Pennsylvania. They have an adopted child, Willie by name.
8 radford Slack, merchant, at Ubly, was born March 25, 1852, in Oxford Co., Ont. He came to Bingham Township with his parents, James and Abigail (Wooley) Slack, in 1867. They belong to the farming com- munity and are still residents of this township. Mr. Slack was reared to the occupation of his father, and was under the protection and influences of his paternal home until 20 years of age. On reaching manhood, he bought 80 acres of land on section 18, Bingham Township, which, like himself, remained to be tested in use and value. He at once set vigorously at work to clear and improve and erect a home. He proceeded with his efforts until he had accomplished the reclamation of 50 acres, when he sold the place, a year subsequent to his removal to the village of Ubly. He established there the business he has since conducted, which includes two branches of trade,-general merchan- dise and a tin-shop. Mr. Slack owns four improved lots in the village.
He is a Republican in political connection, and has discharged the duties of the minor local offices of his township. He is and has been considerably interested in school matters.
His marriage to Mary Ross occurred in 1872, in Bingham Township, and they are the parents of four children-Ettie J., Mary A., Guy and Martha.
Mrs. Slack was born in Scotland, in 1852. Her parents, James and Mary (Barber) Ross, are farmers in this township, where the daughter was reared to womanhood.
A nson H. Bowman, farmer, section 20, Bloomfield Township, was born Feb. 28, 1844, in Dunn Township, Haldimand Co., Ont. He is the son of Joseph and Sarah M. (Furler) Bowman. His mother resides on section 3, Bloomfield Township, and was born in 1826. His father died during the early youth of his son, at Romeo, Macomb Co., Mich., where he is buried. He was a farmer all his active life.
Mr. Bowman was brought up to the vocation of his father, and on reaching his majority he rented a farm, which he continued to manage four years, after which he operated as foreman of the place un- til 1873, when he came to Huron County. He entered the employ of Langdon Hubbard, clearing land and logging in his interest five years. In 1878 he bought 160 acres of land in Huron Township, on section 33. Later he sold the place, all but 40 acres, which he retains, with 40 acres on section 4; and on this he has since lived and labored. He has about 20 acres cleared, a good frame house, a barn and a small orchard.
His marriage to Sarah Angelina Crosby occurred Aug. 29, 1865. Their children were born as follows : Palmer E., July 18, 1866 ; Almeda J., Jan. 26, 1868; Anson H., Jan. 22, 1870 ; Walter A. and Robert A., twins, March 26, 1872; Amelia A., March 3, 1874; Almond M., Sept. 15, 1876; Nellie A., Feb. 27, 1880; William C., March 16, 1882; Flora D., April 14, 1884. Robert A., one of the twins, died in July following his birth.
Mrs. Bowman was born June 23, 1849, in Haldi- mand Co., Ont. Her parents, John and Mary A. (Waters) Crosby, are living in Ontario. Their chil- dren are eight in number.
Mr. Bowman is a Republican, and has served as Treasurer of the township seven terms, as Justice of the Peace one year, and in several other positions. He and his wife are members of the Baptist Church. The family suffered indescribable horrors during the
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fire of 1881. The fifth of September found them waiting, in terrified suspense, whatever fate was in store for them. The flames were already in posses- sion of various parts of the farm, and at noon was upon them. To save the house, Mr. Bowman drew water from the well until it was dry. On the failure of the water, the house soon caught, and was aban- doned by the family, who sought safety in a sum- mer fallow, the father removing the box of a lumber wagon, which he propped against the wheels to form a shelter. The inaction and waiting for seeming destruction was a fearful thing to endure, and Mr. Bowman at last re-adjusted his wagon, "hitched up " and started in a westerly direction, only to en- counter intense heat. After traversing a distance of about two miles, they met a man who informed them of the total destruction of everything in that direction, and they retraced their route. Returning to the summer fallow, the wagon-box was again made to do duty as a protection, and they passed the night under its shelter. In the morning a man named Richard Foreman, who was sent out from Port Hope to look for possible sufferers, came to them. He had expected to find all the settlers lost in the fire of the day previous, and up to that time had discovered seven dead bodies, as follows : Mr. Leman and his son Alfred, aged 17 years; Albert Jonch and wife ; Minnie Moss and her brother and sister, children who had become separated from their parents in the smoke. Mr. and Mrs. Moss were saved. The bodies were found between Port Hope and Kinch's Corners, together with a large number of dead cattle, hogs and sheep. The loss of Mr. Bowman included two cows, eight hogs, his house, barn and stable, 12,000 feet of lumber, six acres of oats and five acres of peas.
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eter Smeader, Jr., farmer, resident on sec- tion 6, Dwight Township, is a native of Prussia, where he was born Jan. 16, 1848. He is the son of Peter and Johanna Smeader, whose sketch appears on another page. (See index).
His parents came to the United States when he
was seven years of age, and he resided with them until he reached the age of 17 years. In 1864 he went to Port Austin, where he was a laborer about nine years. He went thence to Tawas City and spent three years in a saw-mill. He came back to Huron County, in 1874, and purchased 40 acres of land in Dwight Township, on which he settled, and to which he has added 30 acres. Of this tract about 50 acres are under cultivation. He is a Dem- ocrat in political connections.
The marriage of Mr. Smeader occurred Oct. 15, 1871, in Tawas City, to Olive Mutart. Of seven children born to them, five survive-Albert Ulysses, Johanna J., Frank W., Jonas P. and William E. Minnie A. and Mary are deceased. The family are Roman Catholics.
Mrs. Smeader is a native of the Dominion of Can- ada, and was born Oct 20, 1848; is the daughter of George and Mary (Sanders) Mutart, natives respect- ively of Prince Edward Isles and Devonshire, England.
avid H. Pierce, general merchant at Ubly, was born March 17, 1849, near the town of Pictou, Ont. His parents, Alexander and Lydia (Grooms) Pierce, were Canadians by birth and of New England origin, descended from Scotch and German ancestors. They be- longed to the agricultural class and came to Michi- gan in 1858, locating five miles south of Minden City in Sanilac County, where they were among the earliest pioneers. The senior Pierce was the first to take a wagon into that part of the county. He af- terwards removed to Bingham Township, in Huron County, and located 120 acres of land on sections 22 and 27. Of his original tract 20 acres lie within the limits of the corporation of Ubly, and are platted. The parents are both residents of the vil- lage, and are passing their lives' sunset days in firm health and content.
The son was eight years of age when he was first made acquainted with the State of Michigan. He was educated in the common schools of Huron and Sanilac Counties, and resided with his parents dur-
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ing his minortiy, obtaining a thorough and practical knowledge of farming, which he pursued nine years after reaching his majority.
In May, 1881, he established his mercantile enter- prise at Ubly, and in the fall of the same year suf- fered the common loss of the people of the Huron peninsula. His first move after the catastrophe was to build a business structure and place therein a full stock of goods, preparatory to retrieving his fortunes, and he has already reaped the reward of persistent energy. His business is in the most flourishing con- dition, his aggregate of annual sales amounting to $20,000. He also owns 80 acres of farm land on sections 23 and 26, chiefly under improvements.
Mr. Pierce is a Republican in political affiliation, and holds the office of Notary Public.
He was married Sept. 16, 1871, in Ubly village, to Frances McGuinness. They are the parents of five children,-Joseph H., Lydia, Alexander, Cathe- rine and Cyrenius. Mrs. Pierce was born Feb. 15, 1853, at Randolph, N. Y. Her father died in that place, in 1868, and she removed to Huron County with her mother and grandmother. With her hus- band, she is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
jeremiah Kelly, farmer, section 32, Dwight Township, is the son of John and Cathe- rine (Coughlin) Kelly, and was born Dec. 5, 1845, in Ireland, which was also the native land of his parents.
Mr. Kelly emigrated to the United States in 1855, and passed 15 years in the cities of New York and Brooklyn and in New Jersey, operating part of the time as a molder.
In 1867 he came to Huron County and was en- gaged a little less than five years in a foundry at Port Austin. In the fall of 1871 he returned to Jersey City, whence, after two years, he went to Susque- hanna, Pa., where he remained between two and three years. He returned to Port Austin, and in the spring of 1877 he purchased and took possession of 120 acres of land in Dwight Township, on which he
has since resided, and of which he has improved one-third.
Mr. Kelly is independent in political opinions. He has served his township in the capacity of School Director.
He was married July 4, 1872, in Detroit, to Martha Houser. They have had four children. Mary died when three months old; John, Catherine and Jenny are still living. Mrs. Kelly is a native of Canada, and was born Oct. 1, 1858, near Bayfield, Canada. She came in early life to Huron County, Mich.
rank X. Vogl, farmer, section 32, Sherman Township, was born Aug. 21, 1849, in Ba- varia. His parents emigrated to Ontario, Can., in 1856, and to Michigan in 1860. His father was a stone mason by trade, and died in Sherman Township, Feb. 5, 1879. His mother is living with a son in this township, and is 75 years of age, 1884.
Mr. Vogl was a child of six years when he was brought to the American continent by his parents, and was ten years of age when they became residents of Huron County. He was an inmate of the pater- nal home until 1876, when he was married, in Sanilac Township, in the county of the same name, on the 27th day of June, to Susanna M. Smith. They have been the parents of five children, one of whom, Hubert, is not living. Those who survive are named Joseph F., George C., John A. and Daniel T. The family also includes an adopted daughter, Mary I. Mrs. Vogl was born June 14, 1856, in Huron County, Ont. Her father, Jacob Smith, was born in Germany, of Prussian parentage. Her mother, Christine (McGinnis) Smith, is a native of Ontario. They are now farmers in Bridgehampton Township, Sanilac Co., Mich., whither they removed in 1866.
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