USA > Michigan > Grand Traverse County > Sprague's history of Grand Traverse and Leelanaw counties, Michigan embracing a concise review of their early settlement, industrial development and present conditions...to which will be appended...life sketches of well-known citizens of the county > Part 102
USA > Michigan > Leelanau County > Sprague's history of Grand Traverse and Leelanaw counties, Michigan embracing a concise review of their early settlement, industrial development and present conditions...to which will be appended...life sketches of well-known citizens of the county > Part 102
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Dr. Snyder, on April 4, 1891, was mar- ried, in the city of Kalamazoo, to Miss Car- rie D. Kitzmiller, whose birth occurred at Flat Rock, Michigan, September 5, 1865. Mrs. Snyder received her preliminary edu-
cation in the public schools, later took a course in the State Normal at Ypsilanti, and for some years thereafter taught in the schools of her county, a work in which she gained an honorable reputation. She has presented to her husband with two children, Stanley, born March 2, 1893, and Esther, whose birth took place December 3, 1894, both living and giving every promise of long lives and useful careers, being intelligent and apt in their studies and possessing many ex- cellent traits of character. Politically, Dr. Snyder affiliates with the Republican party and religiously attends the Congregational church of Traverse City, of which organiza- tion his wife is also a faithful and much re- spected member. He is identified with the Knights of Pythias, Maccabee and Forester fraternities, and as an entertaining citizen, with the good of the community always at heart, encourages all laudable agencies hav- ing for their object the improvement of the city of his residence and the welfare of his fellow men. His home, which is beautiful and attractive, is well known to the best so- ciety circles of Traverse City, and among all classes and conditions of people he and his estimable wife and family are held in high esteem.
FRANK A. DEAN.
Frank A. Dean, foreman of the grocery department of the Hannah & Lay Mercantile Company, and one of the enterprising busi- ness men of Traverse City, was born in Len- awee county, Michigan, on March 16th of the year 1852. His father, Samuel Dean, a native of New York, came to Michigan in an early day, and for a number of years
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held the position of government land com- missioner in this state. About the year 1859 he went to Chicago, from which time until his death, in 1864, he was chief clerk in the postoffice of that city. The maiden name of the subject's mother was Roby Jackson; she too was born and spent her childhood in New York, and departed this life in Michigan in the year 1857. Of the five children born to these parents, the following are living : Wal- ter W., who owns and operates a farm near Traverse City ; Charles D., a contractor and builder of San Francisco, California; Kate, now Mrs. Wilson, a widow living in Toledo, Ohio, and Frank A., whose name introduces this review. His mother dying when he was but a small child, Frank A. Dean early be- came an inmate of his uncle's home in Mich- igan, and there remained until his four- teenth year, attending such schools as the country afforded. Leaving his relative's household at the age noted, he entered the railway service as a newsboy, and during the ensuing four years ran between the cites of Chicago and Toledo, at the expiration of which time he accepted positions in the trans- portation department on different railroads in the southwest and in Mexico, which he held during the sixteen years following. Sev- ering his connection with the railway busi- ness at the end of that period, Mr. Dean came to Traverse City, Michigan, where in due time he engaged with the Hannah & Lay Mercantile Company as clerk, from which position he gradually rose to that of fore- man of the grocery department, which re- sponsible position he has held since the year 1900. He is esteemed by his subordinates as well as by his superiors, and his courteous relations with the public have not been the least among the many influences which have
won for the Hannah & Lay Company the extensive patronage it now commands.
Mr. Dean was married at Sparta, Illi- nois, December 13, 1882, to Miss Elizabeth Orr, who was born in that state on the 10th day of September, 1859. Mrs. Dean's father is a Kentuckian and her mother a native of Illinois, both living in the latter state at the present time. Four children have blessed the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Dean, namely : Harry O., born December 14, 1885, in Sparta, Illinois, and now a student in the Traverse City high school; Thomas Walter, born in Traverse City, May 10, 1890, and at this time pursuing his studies in the pub- lic schools ; Leila Emma, also a student, was born August 7, 1892, and Frank A., whose birth occurred on the 12th day of January, 1897.
Mr. Dean's political views are in har- mony with the Democratic party, of which he has been a supporter ever since old enough to exercise the rights of citizenship. He has never held public office, but has labored ear- nestly to promote the interests of his friends and to advance the cause of the ticket. In matters purely local, however, he not infre- quently votes for the best qualified candidate regardless of party ties, likewise in state af- fairs, when there are no great political prin- ciples or issues at stake. He subscribes to no religious creed or article of faith, but at- tends the Congregational church, to which his wife belongs, and donates freely of his means to its support. His fraternal relations are represented by the Masonic brotherhood and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, in both of which he is a zealous worker, exemplifying in his daily life the principles and precepts for which they stand. Mr. Dean has recently taken possession of a beau-
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tiful home which he caused to be erected in the Third ward on one of the finest residence streets in Traverse City, this being the second dwelling built by him since becoming an honored citizen of this place.
DANIEL WHIPPLE.
Daniel Whipple, who was one hundred and three years old March 1, 1903, while the oldest living resident of the Grand Traverse region, can hardly be classed as a
UNCLE DAN WHIPPLE.
pioneer of the region, as he came to Grand Traverse only thirteen years ago, but he can be classed as a pioneer of the great north- west.
He was born March 1, 1800, of hardy New England stock at Franklinsville, Cata- raugus county, New York. He lived with his parents until he was twenty-two years of
age. At the age of fourteen he made up his mind to explore the great west as soon as he had reached his majority ; however, at the age of twenty-one, his father persuaded him to stay at home another year and work for him on the farm at ten dollars a month. At the end of the year he drew his money, hav- ing saved it all, and started alone for the west. He made his way on foot to Buffalo, where he took passage on board a small sailing vessel for Chicago. There were at this time only two steamboats on the great lakes, both on Lake Erie. After a long voy- age he arrived at Chicago, then only a small village, and from there pushed on west to the Mississippi. Here he fell in with a trap- per named George Tasker and made his ac- quaintance. They became warm personal friends and hunted and trapped together for seven years. The two tramped through Wyoming, Dakota, Iowa and Minnesota, and during their stay together they had many exciting experiences. They had many encounters with the Indians and were sev- eral times captured, but always managed to escape with whole skins.
In 1843 Mr. Whipple joined Gen. John C. Fremont's expedition and with him ex- plored the great Salt Lake region, remaining with Fremont until he finished his trip. Mr. Whipple is very proud of his part in this ex- pedition. About eight years before the war of the Rebellion Mr. Whipple met Kit Car- son and they became warm friends and hunted together and had many encounters with the Indians together. During his forty years in the west, Uncle Dan crossed the Rockies six times. When the war of the Re- bellion broke out in 1861, although over sixty years old, Uncle Dan was patriotic and enlisted in the First Iowa Regiment, under
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the first call of President Lincoln for seven- ty-five thousand volunteers, easily passing himself as twenty years younger than he really was. He enlisted for three months, but remained four years in the army. He was in the battle at Springfield, when Gen- eral Lyon was shot. He was also in several other battles, among them Pittsburg Land- ing, Pea Ridge and Vicksburg.
During his early life in the west Mr. Whipple became engaged to the daughter of a settler, but before they were married, and during his absence, the settlement was at- tacked by the Indians, who slaughtered many of the inhabitants and took the girl captive. Whipple was heartbroken, but gathered four other hunters and went in pursuit. They found the Indians, but dared not attack them, as they held up the girl before them to shield them from the hunters' rifles. The savages then proceeded to torture the poor captive before their eyes, by driving a sharp- ened stake through her body. Whipple and his companions, maddened by the sight, at- tacked the savages, but were themselves cap- tured and marched off, the body of the girl being left with the stake driven through it. Whipple and his companions subsequently escaped. Whipple went in search of the girl, but it took him three days to reach the scene of the tragedy. He found the body and buried her. Mr. Whipple then made a vow to be revenged for the death of his loved one, and he kept that vow. He does not re- member how many "good Indians" he has made, but he was satisfied with his efforts. This episode ended Mr. Whipple's love af- fairs and he has never married.
Another incident which illustrates the character of Mr. Whipple and brings out in ....
a clear light his humane and generous na- ture, must not go unrecorded. After an at- tack on an emigrant train, in which the men and women were slaughtered or made cap- tive, Mr. Whipple and others arrived upon the scene. The devastation was complete, but on looking about he discovered what looked like a bundle of rags, but which on examination, he found to be a baby wrapped up in a shawl and blanket. He took the child to a half-breed family and hired them to take and care for it, giving them a cow in advance in pay for its care and support. He looked after and paid for the support of this child until she grew to womanhood and mar- ried.
Mr. Whipple is very reticent about his travels and adventures and seldom can be in- duced to speak of them, but when he can be induced to talk about himself, he tells some very interesting incidents of his life in the great west which if given in detail would fill volumes and be most interesting reading.
Uncle Daniel came to Michigan at the close of the war and settled at Big Rapids, coming to Grand Traverse in 1890. He lives with a warm personal friend, Marcus Akers, five miles from Traverse City in Leelanaw county. Uncle Dan comes from a long-lived family. He says his grandfather died at the age of one hundred and thirty-three, and his father at the age of one hundred and thirteen. His grandfather was a veteran of the Revolutionaty war and his father served in the war of 1812, while Uncle Dan himself served in the war of the Rebellion. Uncle Dan was one hundred and three years old on March 1, 1903, hale and hearty, and quite frequently walks from his home to Tra- verse City, a distance of five miles.
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RICHARD W. ROUND.
The subject of this sketch has been iden- tified with the iron industry for many years in the United States and other countries, and is now the proprietor of a large foun- dry in Traverse City, one of the most suc- cessful establishments of the kind in north- western Michigan. Familiar with every de- tail of the business and a manufacturer of more than local repute, he has done much to advance the iron interests in Traverse City and throughout the state, being an au- thority on all matters relating thereto. Rich- ard W. Round, son of Daniel and Rebecca (Ward) Round, was born May 29, 1842, in England, being one of a family of six children, whose names are as follows: Re- becca, deceased; Phoebe, living at the old home: Arthur, in Illinois; Daniel, in Lanca- shire, England; Samuel, a moulder, living in Detroit, and the subject, who was the third in order of birth.
Until ten years old Richard W. attended private and parochial schools at his native place, and at that early age began working in a rolling mill, taking up the moulder's trade later. While thus engaged, he attend- ed at intervals for about two years different evening schools, which training, with the elementary instruction referred to above, constituted the sum total of his educational discipline. After becoming efficient in his trade, he followed the same at different places in his native land until 1869, when he went to Canada, in which country he spent the ensuing three years as a journeyman workman in various establishments. At the expiration of that time came to the United States, and after working for one year at Detroit he went to Port Huron, Michigan,
where, in partnership with his brother-in- law, Mr. Rudge, he operated a foundry for a period of eight years, meeting with en- couraging success in the business. Dispos- ing of his interest in the concern to his part- ner at the end of the time noted, Mr. Round went again to Detroit, where he became iden- tified with the iron industry, forming a part- nership with Mr. Jackson, which, under the firm name of Jackson & Round, lasted about two years, when it was dissolved by mutual consent, the subject retiring.
Mr. Round next went to Bay City and accepted a position in the Industrial Iron Works, at that place, later resigning his place, after which he was engaged for some time in Manistee and Grand Rapids, respect- ively. From the latter city he went to Elk Rapids on special work, thence, in 1882, to Traverse City, where he remained one year, and then changed his abode to East Jordan, Michigan, where he became associated with his son-in-law, William Malpass, in operat- ing a foundry, continuing the business with marked success during the ensuing four years, at the expiration of which time he disposed of his interests to his partner and went south. After working for some years as a journeyman in various southern states, Mr. Round returned to Traverse City, Mich- igan, where he was employed about one year by other parties, at the end of which period he engaged in the iron business upon his own responsibility, becoming interested in a foun- dry, which under his able management soon became the leading establishment of the kind in the place. He remained at the head of the business for a period of six years, during which time its magnitude and scope were greatly enlarged, and he then sold out and purchased another foundry, which, under the
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firm name of Round & Son, is still in suc- cessful operation.
Mr. Round's business career has been ac- tive and financially successful, and he is now one of the well-to-do men of Traverse City, owning valuable property, including a fine modern residence on East Eighth street, and another beautiful home on the corner of Court and Boardman, which he now occu- pies. He is public-spirited and progressive, a leader in all enterprises for the improve- ment of the city, and a broad minded, repre- sentative citizen in every sense of the term. In politics he is a Democrat and an active party worker, but by no means an office seeker ; he served two terms on the board of education, but resigned that position on ac- count of his election to the city council, in which body he was a leading spirit for about the same length of time, doing much dur- ing his incumbency to promote the varied interests of the municipality and stimulate public improvements. Socially, he is a member of the Masonic fraternity, in which he has risen to the degree of Sir Knight, and also belongs to the Benevolent and Protec- tive Order of Elks and Ancient Order of United Workmen, besides being identified since his twenty-second year with the North American Iron Moulders Union. Mr. Round is not only in affluent circumstances, as far as material wealth is concerned, but stands high socially and possesses in a marked degree the sterling qualities of manhood and citizenship that win and retain public es- teem. He was married in 1863 to Miss Frances Mary Hickin, a native of England, born on March 22, 1844. This union has been blessed with six children: Alice, wife of William Malpass, who operated an iron foundry at East Jordan; Florence lives in
Traverse City ; Marion, wife of Harry Har- ris; Emily, who married William Brown; Harry, who is associated with his father in the iron business, and Richard D., an em- ploye in the foundry of Round & Son. Mr. Round was reared according to the Congre- gational faith, and still inclines to the doc- trines of that church, Mrs. Round being an Episcopalian.
FRANK R. GOODRICH.
Prominent among Grand Traverse coun- ty's successful and representative business men is Frank R. Goodrich, dealer in real es- tate, the record of whose life and achieve- ments forms no inconsiderable chapter in the history of northwestern Michigan. His ca- reer has been eminently honorable, as well as active, and the worthy position he to-day occupies in the world of affairs has been won by sheer force and energy, directed by those correct principles without which no advance- ment or financial emolument, however great or liberal, can be truthfully termed success- ful. Mr. Goodrich was born August 16, 1856, in Genesee county, Michigan, having first seen the light of day in the town of Goodrich, which place received its name in honor of his father, Reuben Goodrich, for many years a leading citizen of that part of the state.
When Frank R. was about four years old, his parents moved to Traverse City, the schools of which place he attended until a youth of fourteen, this constituting the sum total of his intellectual discipline as far as books are concerned. For a few years afterward he remained at home assisting his father with such labor as the latter had in -
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JOSEPH E. GREILICK.
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hand, then worked in the lumber yards and in the woods, and by successive steps grad- ually passed through the varied departments of the lumber business, becoming equally ef- ficient in all. In due time he was made man- ager of large lumber interests in various parts of Michigan, superintended different mills, dealt in timber and lumber, and in addition to these lines of endeavor, also bought and sold large bodies of timber lands in this and other states. For some years past he has devoted his attention exclusively to real estate, in which his success has been marked, having made a number of extensive deals in timber lands, one of which was a sale of twenty-six thousand acres in a sin- gle tract, others being but little less in mag- nitude. Mr. Goodrich is now interested in number of large blocks of land in the finest lumber districts of Michigan, in addition to which he also deals in city and country realty, besides owning valuable property in Traverse City, Grand Traverse county, be- ing one of the most successful real estate men in the northwestern part of the state.
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Mr. Goodrich is enterprising and public- spirited in all the terms imply, and as a wide awake, up-to-date business man, inter- ested in all that is calculated to benefit his city, county and state, yields precedence to few if any of his fellow citizens. While in- terested in political and public questions, he is not a politician, his business being of such a nature as to preclude active participation in party affairs. He is, however, pro- nounced in his allegiance to the Republican party, but has never aspired to office, having no ambition in that direction nor any desire to be a leader in any but business and indus- trial enterprises. Like the majority of pro- gressive men, he is a member of the Masonic
fraternity, also belongs to the Knights of Pythias and Benevolent and Protective Or- der of Elks, and though not identified with any religious organization, he is a believer in Christianity and a liberal contributor to the Congregational church, of which his wife is a communicant. The domestic chap- ter in the history of Mr. Goodrich's life dates from 1892, on' February 13th of which year was solemnized his marriage with Miss Myrtie Thompson, a native of Tuscola coun- ty, Michigan, born November 19, 1872. Mrs. Goodrich is the only child of George C. and Carrie (Van Wormer) Thompson, both natives of New York, but for a number of years residents of Michigan.
JOSEPH E. GREILICK.
Among the representative business men of Traverse City the late Joseph E. Greilick, for a number of years a leading manufacturer, as well as a public spirited citizen, occupied a deservedly conspicuous place. He was born in Austria September 11, 1834, and came with his parents to the United States in 1848, spending the ensuing four years in New York City, during which time he at- tended night schools, thus adding to the preliminary instruction received in his na- tive land. From New York he came with his parents and the rest of the family to Traverse City in 1854. Here, together with his brothers, he assisted his father in build- ing and operating a sawmill at Greilickville, a short distance north of the then village of Traverse City. Afterwards for a number of years he was employed by the firm of Han- nah, Lay & Company, doing carpenter and mill work. In the spring of 1867 he entered
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into partnership with the firm of Hannah, Lay & Company and engaged in the business of manufacturing sash, doors, blinds, mold- ings, and frames, and in dressing lumber, flooring, ceiling, etc. The business pros- pered and in 1879 he bought the interests of his partners, built a large new factory on Bay street and conducted the business alone, which did a large and lucrative business in furnishing all kinds of finished building ma- terial, becoming the leading factory of the kind in the city. Mr. Greilick managed the business very successfully as long as he lived and established the business on a firm and enduring basis, and the plant is now regard- ed as one of the most valuable manufactur- ing properties in this section of the state. Since the death of Mr. Greilick, it has been operated under the auspices of his estate, the management in the meanwhile being able and the earnings of the establishment liberal and satisfactory in every respect.
Mr. Greilick, on August 4, 1868, was united in marriage, at Benzonia, Michigan, Michigan, with Miss Nancy Case, who was born in 1847 in Ohio, being descended from an old New England family that figured in the early history of Connecticut. Seven children resulted from this union, the oldest of whom, Clarence L., born August 14, 1869, is at this time one of the managers of the factory referred to above and a business man of excellent repute ; he is a married man and the father of two children, and, like the other members of his family, highly esteemed by all who know him. Ernest W., the second son, was born June 16, 1871 ; he is also inter- ested in the lumber industry of Traverse City, being in the employ of the South Side Lumber Company and living with his moth- er; Amy E., born November 17, 1873, is the
wife of Clair B. Curtis, of Traverse City, and the mother of one son; Frances L., whose birth occurred July 1, 1877, is now Mrs. Albert Haviland, of this place; Arthur L. was born July 6, 1879, is a single man, living with his mother, and works in the mill owned by the estate; Edna M., born May 26, 1887, is still a member of the home circle, as is also Josephine, who was born April, 1893, and who is now a student in the schools of the city.
Politically, Joseph E. Greilick was a Re- publican, but never held office nor aspired to any kind of public distinction. He was an active member of the Masonic fraternity, and, with his wife and one daughter, be- longed to the Congregational church of Tra- verse City, to the support of which he was for many years a liberal contributor. In his business affairs he was especially fortunate, everything to which he turned his hands having prospered. He was at the time of his death possessed of a very comfortable for- tune, consisting of valuable city property, including the manufacturing plant referred to and the beautiful modern residence on West Bay street near the city limits which the family still occupies. After an active and useful life, fraught with much good to the community and to his fellow men in gen- eral, Mr. Greilick's earthly career was termi- nated September 27, 1892, in the sixtieth year of his life.
ROBERT P. GARLAND.
Few of the native sons of Grand Trav- erse county can claim as long a residence within its borders as Robert P. Garland, a well-known, enterprising and popular agri-
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culturist of Peninsula township, who was born in this township, May 8, 1849. His parents were John and Mary Garland, pio- neer settlers of this locality. The father was a native of Canada and when he had reached years of maturity he sought a companion for life's journey and was fortunate in win- ning the hand of the mother of the subject. She was born in Ireland, but in early life had come from the Emerald Isle to the new world and lived in Canada until she accom- panied her husband to Michigan. They be- came residents of Peninsula township and there lived upon a farm until death, their home being blessed with the presence of nine sons, who were of much assistance to their father in cultivating the fields and perform- ing the other farm work. Mr. Garland died when sixty years of age and his wife, sur- viving him for several years, died at the age of sixty-six.
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