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 45
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 45
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These extracts are given as a fair exam- ple of the work undertaken by these devoted men who blazed the way of Christianity through the wilderness. And side by side with their names should be written the names of the devoted wives who shared every pri- vation and peril. Like the genealogical trees, we are too apt to see the male names written high upon the branches while those of the females hide humbly in obscure places. But justice should remember if fame forgets.
Mr. Steele was especially fortunate in the female line. Of his mother he writes: "My mother was a Baptist. She was the
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mother of ten children, seven boys and three girls. Of these seven boys six became min- isters of the gospel, representing three de- nominations, two Baptists, three Methodists, and one Congregationalist. My mother was a Christian woman, who early taught her children to pray. My earliest recollections are associated with laying my head upon my mother's lap and repeating my infant prayer." In his ministerial work he was most ably assisted by his wife, who worked in the church as well as in the home, and who finally, according to the usages of the Meth- odist church, received a license to preach, and often filled his pulpit during any sick- ness or absence. His daughter, Mrs. Robert A. Campbell, was also a very able Christian woman, being devoted especially to the work of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union, to which she gave much of her life.
Mr. Steele was twice married, first to Miss Eliza Ann Morgan, who lived but a short time. In 1838 he was married to Miss Ruth Adelaide Lamberton, who at this writ- ing is still living in Northport, at the ad- vanced age of eighty-seven years. Of the children of this marriage but one survives, their son, Wilber F. Steele, who lives in Northport. Another son, Rev. Newland Steele, was also a minister in the Methodist church.
Mr. Steele's work after coming to the Grand Traverse region in 1859 as presiding elder brought him to his Northport labors. In 1870 he became resident pastor of the church which had gradually been built up in that place, and during that year not only preached without compensation, but donated two hundred dollars towards building a Methodist church there. In. May, 1871, the corner stone of the present building was laid
and one thousand three hundred and fifty dollars was pledged towards its construction, although it was not completed until sometime later.
Mr. Steele was a convincing and forceful speaker, while not by any means a "ranter," retaining his ability to his last days. While his extreme age brought failing physical powers his mental faculties retained much of their vigor as long as he lived. He died, truly honored and lamented, the last of April, 1903, his burial occurring May Ist, under Masonic services, of which body he had for many years been a prominent member, at- tended by a large concourse of his old-time friends and brethren, several ministers as- sisting in the ceremonies.
One of the hardy mariners closely iden- tified wtih the early history of Leelanaw county and Grand Traverse region was Cap- tain Peter Nelson, who was born in Copen- hagen, Denmark, in 1811, coming to this country in 1835. Like most of the Norse- men whose life among the wild seas and fjords of their native land make them almost as much akin to the sea as the shore, he was a skillful sailor, and we first hear of him in 1851 as captain of the little sail vessel "Venus," running between Chicago and Traverse Bay, and for many years he sailed the old schooner "J. Y. Scammon" between Chicago and Traverse City. This boat, owned by Hannah, Lay & Company, of Traverse City, was the great transportation line for general traffic for this region, car- rying passengers as well as everything else required. Captain Nelson was known as a reliable and careful navigator, and his widow still relates, as an example of his rigid ideas of duty, the incident of his landing Mr. Smith's young son and daughter on one of
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their journeys home from college, on the farther shore beyond Carrying Place, be- cause he considered it would conflict with his duty to run into the harbor with them. As it was night when they went ashore and they got lost in their efforts to find their way across, being obliged to spend the night in a cedar swamp without food or shelter and find their own way home in the morning, they thought it a rather grim example of dutv.
After leaving the "Scammon" Captain Nelson received the appointment of light- house keeper at Cat's Head, which position he held for a number of years. He died on his farm south of Northport in the spring of 1891. Captain Nelson remained unmar- ried until well advanced in years, as it was not until 1866 that he finally settled down to domestic life, marrying Mrs. Alice Bigelow, of Northport, who is still living in their old home. Two sons and a daughter were born of this union, all of whom are living.
Walter W. Barton was born in Wy- oming county, New York, June 22, 1834. When two years old he removed with his parents to the village of Tonawanda, Erie county, where he remained until 1852, where he received a common school education. In the fall of 1852 he removed to St. Louis, Missouri, and engaged in the construction of railroads and continued in that business in and about that city until the spring of 1858, when he went to Northport, Leelanaw coun- ty. There he engaged in the wooding of lake steamers and selling goods until the spring of 1863, when he removed to the village of Leland, where he resided until his death, which occurred several years since. At Le- land he engaged in the drug business, and was for a number of years postmaster. He
also held the office of supervisor and justice of the peace several terms. Mr. Barton, in company with E. O. Rose, now of Petoskey, had the job of grading the Traverse City branch of the Grand Rapids & Indiana Rail- road between Walton Junction and Traverse City. He was representative in the state legislature in 1881-2. He was also elected state senator for 1887-8.
George N. Smith, Jr., eldest child of Rev. George N. Smith and wife, was born in St. Albans, Vermont, June 20, 1832, and was brought west when a young child, where he shared the family fortunes until at twenty years of age he left home to enter, with his sister Arvilla, upon his school life at Olivet Institute. Previous to this time their only in- structors had been their parents, and they expected to find themselves much at a disad- vantage in comparison with others of their age. Happily this was not the case. The boy who at four years of age read his regu- lar portions of the scriptures at family wor- ship, and at eight had triumphed over that hated bugbear of youth, Colburn's Arith- metic, was not one to be intimidated by trifles ; and although reared in the wilderness the young students made great progress, and in 1855 entered Olivet College, graduating in 1858.
Twice during this time Mr. Smith made the journey from Northport to Grand Rapids on foot by trail, carrying his pack of blank- ets, books and provisions on his back- rather an arduous trip even for the college athlete of today. One of these journeys was made on snow shoes, as the deep snow pre- vented any other means of travel, and the young fellow, being of a delicate physique. found himself wearied out long before the journey was ended. Then as progress grew
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slow provisions began to grow scarce, until at last he divided his scanty store of crack- ers and dried meat into two parts, and taking one for his breakfast he labored painfully on, hoping to reach some habitation before the last was gone. As he had become quite sick while on the way the miles dragged slowly along, and while still in the depths of the forest he heard the distant bay of a pack of wolves. One after another the voices gathered from here and there, ever getting nearer together and louder. As night was coming on the situation was not very reassuring to the unarmed and half famished traveler, and he was just consider- ing that the wolves stood a better chance to get a supper than he did, when he heard the report of a gun, and in a few minutes a party of three or four surveyors came out upon the trail, the wolf pack at their heels. Cheered by their company, and finding that they had no food that day, he divided his last little store, and they all pressed on to reach the shelter of a lumberman's shanty of which the surveyors knew, hoping to find there rest and food. But the way was long and night settled down over the weary band, while the wolves howled close behind, kept at bay by an occasional volley from the guns carried by the surveyors. Finally it was decided that Mr. Smith and another young man should leave their packs to be carried by the others, while they, being unincumbered, went ahead more rapidly to find the shanty and have food prepared by the time that the rest of the party came up, the latter holding the wolves from following. This was done, and at half past nine the light was seen shining and the haven was reached, but Mr. Smith fell faint- ing on the floor as the door was opened to them. However, their kind entertainer soon
knew their plight, and when half an hour later the rest of the party arrived there was food and fire and a warm welcome awaiting them, and although the wolves howled around the shanty till daylight, the rest of the journey was made without further ad- venture.
In college Mr. Smith was an earnest and efficient student, carrying off several class prizes that had been unsuccessfully competed for several years, and being called on as an assistant teacher before his own course was completed. Later he held the positions of professor of higher mathematics, and that of professor of Greek and Hebrew. He was a constant writer, both for the secular and theological publication's, and the last two years of his life was employed as one of the committee appointed to retranslate the Old Testament from the original Hebrew.
Having been brought up under the strongly conservative religious training of his parents, and finished off by the well- known methods of President Finney, of Oberlin College, it appears somewhat re- markable that it was during his sojourn at Oberlin that Mr. Smith's views regarding the religious dogmas taught began to change. Having in some chance way been led to read some New Church books, commonly known as "Swedenborgian," he at once felt that he had found an answer to many disquieting questions of his religious life. Further study confirmed him in this opinion, and made him, long before his college life closed, an ar- dent follower of the faith that he lived and died by.
No doubt this was a sore disappointment to the father, who had dreamed of leaving behind him a successor in faith and works, and many sharp but ever kindly discussions
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filled the frequent letters between father and son. But although immediately after his graduation the younger man entered upon his theological course at the New Church College at Urbana, Ohio, from which he graduated, and was ordained as a minister of the New Church in 1860, the differences of belief never caused a rift in the affection- ate regard and respect that bound them to- gether to the end of life.
Having been called as pastor of the New Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Mr. Smith settled there and in August of that year was married to Miss Miranda Wyman, of that city. Here he remained for some time; but after the death of his wife, in 1868, he returned to Urbana as minister of the church there. He was afterwards married to Miss Seddie Powers, of Milwaukee, Wis- consin, who survives him, living at "Fern- brook," their old-time summer house at Northport, where Mr. Smith died from the effects of an accident, January 11, 1897.
During the years of his ministry Mr. Smith was pastor of churches in the cities of Richmond and Indianapolis, Indiana, estab-
lishing the first organizations of the New Church ever formed there, and serving as their pastor a number of years. He was also employed as pastor at Chicago and Canton, Illinois, and also Wyoming, Ohio, besides doing an immense amount of missionary work in Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinois and Indiana, as well as at other points. In 1873, while living in Indianapolis, having previ- ously had a slight stroke of paralysis, which still troubled him, his physicians advised Mr. Smith to leave the ministry for a time and engage in a more active out-door life. He therefore graduated from a course in the State Medical College of that city, and began the practice of medicine, which he followed during the most of the remaining years of his life in connection with his church work. The last six years of the pastoral work of Mr. Smith's life was done in Grand Rapids, where he began it nearly forty years before. He was buried in the family burial place at Northport, Michigan, attended by the Ma- sonic fraternity, of which he was a member, having been one of the charter members of Unity Lodge, Holland, Michigan, in 1860.
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MR. AND MRS. PAUL R. BARTH
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BIOGRAPHICAL.
PAUL R. BARTH. .
Paul R. Barth is a self-made man who, without any extraordinary family or pecuni- ary advantages at the commencement of life, has battled earnestly and energetically and by indomitable courage and integrity he has achieved both character and success. By sheer force of will and untiring effort he has worked his way upward and today he is a prosperous merchant of Omena, Leelanaw county.
Mr. Barth is one of the citizens of Lee- lanaw county that the fatherland has fur- nished to Michigan. He was born in Prus- sia, Germany, on the 19th of January, 1859, and is a son of John G. and Fredericka Barth, who were also natives of Prussia. In the spring of 1866 they, too, bade adieu to their native land and with their children sailed for the new world, taking up their abode in Canada, where they lived until No- vember of the same year. At that time they came to Michigan, settling in Northport, where they spent the winter and in the suc- ceeding spring they took up their abode upon a farm in Leelanaw township. Throughout his entire life Mr. Barth gave his time and energies to agricultural pursuits and his
close application to his work enabled him to gain a good living for his family, which numbered, beside himself and his wife, nine' children, of whom Paul R. was the fifth in order of birth. Both Mr. and Mrs. Barth re-' sided on what became the old family home-' stead in Leelanaw township until death and when they were called to the home beyond the community lost two of its respected and highly esteemed citizens.
Paul R. Barth was a little lad of only' seven summers at the time he crossed the briny deep with his parents and since No- vember, 1866, he has been a resident of Lee- lanaw county. He has enjoyed its advan- tages, has improved its business opportuni- ties and through his earnest purpose and un- faltering diligence he has arisen to a prom- inent position in commercial circles. At the usual age he entered the public schools and therein continued his studies until he 'had largely mastered the common branches of English learning. His training at farm work was received on the old homestead, where he lived until twenty-two years of age, giving his father the benefit of his services. He worked in the fields and mead- ows and the sun shone down on many a harvest which grew from grain that he
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planted. On leaving home he was employed in the lumber woods, during the winter months, while in the summer seasons he con- tinued to work as a farm hand for several years. When his labor and economy had brought him capital sufficient to enable him to begin business on his own account he opened a meat market in Northport. This was in 1884 and was the first market estab- lished in the county. For four and a half years he engaged in business there, receiving a liberal patronage which brought to him a good financial return. He then disposed of his market in the fall of 1889, when he came to Omena, connecting himself with the commercial circles of this place. Here he established a general store and is still con- ducting it. He carries a large and well se- lected line of general merchandise and his store is neat in appearance and well ap- pointed. Everything that he can do to please his customers is done by Mr. Barth and his business methods are in close conformity to the strictest ethics of commercial life.
On the 8th of May, 1884, Mr. Barth was tinited in marriage to Miss Amelia Seelig, the wedding being celebrated in Northport. The lady was born March 2, 1862, in Prus- sia, a daughter of Ludwig and Amelia See- lig. She was not permitted to enjoy her happy married life very long, however, for death claimed her in 1887, she passing away at Northport on the IIth of March, of that year, amid the deep regret of many warm friends. She left one daughter, Myrtle R. Mr. Barth was again married in Leland township, on the 23d of December, 1891, his second union being with Christina Alpers, who was born in that township and is a daughter of Henry and Katherine Alpers, who were likewise natives of the fatherland.
Five children have been born of this union, of whom three are living, Robert C., Walter G. and Ernest A. The other two died in infancy.
Mr. Barth takes an active and helpful interest in township affairs, and progress and patriotism may well be termed the keynote of his character. He is now acting as a member of the school board of Omena and he has contributed to the support of the Omena Congregational church, being inter- ested in the moral as well as the social, ma- terial and intellectual welfare of his com- munity. In addition to his store and home in Omena he owns eighty acres of land in Leland township, having made judicious in- vestments of his capital in real estate. A fact of which due recognition is not usually accorded in connection with the agricultural history of Michigan is that to no foreign element is due its present prosperity in so large a measure as to those who have had their nativity in or trace their lineage to the great empire of Germany. Among those who have left the fatherland to identify themselves with American life and institu- tions were the parents of our subject, bring- ing with them their young son Paul. The Barth family became a credit to the land of their adoption as well as to the land of their birth and in his life record Mr. Barth has manifested many of the strongest and most commendable traits of his Germany an- cestry.
FRANCIS E. DUNN.
On section 19, Garfield township, is the fine farm of Francis E. Dunn. There, in the midst of highly cultivated fields stand
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good buildings and an air of neatness and thrift pervades the place, indicating the care- ful supervision of a practical and progressive owner. He represents one of the pioneer families of this section of the state, and is numbered among the native sons of Traverse City, his birth having there occurred on the Ist of August, 1855. His father, Dominick Dunn, was born in Dublin, Ireland, and after arriving at years of maturity he wedded Miss Ellen Odell, whose birth occurred in Limerick, Ireland. Believing that he might have better financial opportunities in the new world, having heard favorable reports concerning the business possibilities here for the ambitious young man, he sailed for the United States, and in the fall of 1851 arrived in Grand Traverse county. Two or three years later Miss Odell crossed the Atlantic, and they were married in Chicago. They began their domestic life in Traverse City, and were prominent and honored pioneer people of the county, residing here for a long period and watching with interest the prog- ress and improvement made. For sixteen years Mr. Dunn was in the employ of Han- nah, Lay & Company, and that he was one of the trusted representatives of the firm is indicated by his long connection with its affairs. At the end of that time he turned his attention to agricultural pursuits in Gar- field township, carrying on the work of the farm until about three or four years prior to his demise, when he put aside business cares and throughout his remaining days enjoyed a well-earned rest. He died in Traverse City in the fall of 1900, when about eighty years of age, and his wife passed away in August, 1891, when about seventy-two years of age. This worthy couple were the parents of six
children, of whom Francis E. Dunn is the eldest.
The subject was reared in Traverse City until eight years of age, and then went with his parents to the farm in Garfield township. He has since resided in this township, and his energies have been devoted to agricultural pursuits and to the lumber business. That he carefully directed his labors and that energy and sound judgment have been mani- fested in his career is shown by the fact that he is today the owner of two hundred acres of valuable land, and of this one hun- dred and twenty acres is under cultivation.
Mr. Dunn was married in Traverse City, Michigan, on the 10th of April, 1882, to Miss Ellen Duffy, of St. Louis, Missouri, and they had three children-Dominick Ivan, Arthur Edward and John Duffy. The wife and mother died in Garfield township in June, 1893, when about thirty-five years of age, and her loss was deeply deplored by many friends as well as by her immediate family. On the 31st of December, 1894, Mr. Dunn was again married, his second union being with Miss Mary Kratochoil, a native of Garfield township, Grand Traverse coun- ty, born May 20, 1860. This marriage has been blessed with four children-Clarence Leroy, Clara Belle, Raymond, Edwin and Louis Irvin.
For many years Mr. Dunn has been school moderator in his district, but his best public service has been done as a private citizen. He has not been an aspirant for office, but has given his support to many measures for the general good, and has been a co-operant factor in many movements which have been of marked benefit to the township and county. Honored and respect-
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ed by all, the high position which he occu- pies in public regard has come to him not alone because of his success in business, but because of the straightforward, honorable policy he has ever followed. He is today the owner of much valuable property in Traverse City in addition to his farming interests, yet the methods he has employed in the acquire- ment of his capital have been such as will bear the closest investigation. Honor and integrity are synonyms with his name, and there is no citizen in Grand Traverse county more highly esteemed than is Francis E. Dunn.
FRANK CAMPBELL.
From humble financial positions many successful men have arisen to positions of prominence. To be born amid unfavoring circumstances does not imply that one's life. shall be passed amid such surroundings, and especially in America, "the land of the free and the home of the brave," is opportunity offered for advancement. It is this that has drawn so many men of foreign birth to the new world, where they have profited by ex- isting conditions and have so shaped their lives that they have gained a fair measure of prosperity, which is the goal of all busi- ness endeavor.
Mr. Campbell is a representative of this class of citizenship, and is today. one of the well-to-do farmers of Grand Traverse coun- . ty, living on section 31, Garfield township. He was born in county Sligo, Ireland, on the 7th of February, 1837, the sixth of nine children constituting the family of Henry F. and Lucy (Leach) Campbell, the former a native of Ireland and the latter of Eng-
land. The parents were married on the Em- erald isle, and, determining to try their for- tune in the new world, they left their home in county Sligo and sailed for Canada. After a short time, however, they came to Grand Traverse county, Michigan, settling in Gar- field township, where Mr. Campbell lived un- til after the death of his wife, which oc- curred when she was sixty-six years of age. Subsequently he returned to Canada, where he died at the advanced age of eighty-four years.
In the county of his nativity Frank Campbell spent the first sixteen years of his life, and then accompanied his parents on their emigration to the new world. For two years or more he lived near Toronto, Can- ada, and for a brief period resided in Illinois, while the years 1857 witnessed his arrival in Grand Traverse county, Michigan, among the pioneer settlers whose log cabins gave evidence of the dawn of an era of progress and improvement which was to bring great changes here. For several years he was employed in connection with the great lum- bering interests of the state, working in the woods or in the saw-mills. He was also employed as a cook for some time. For some four years he sailed upon the lakes as a cook, and later he turned his attention to farming, purchasing one hundred and twelve acres of land in Garfield township. He has lived since that time upon this farm, but the place bears little resemblance to the property which came into his possession. His labors have wrought many changes. He has erected good buildings and has a nice home, while in the rear stand substantial barns and other outbuildings for the shelter of grain and stock. The work of the fields is carried on by the aid of the latest im-
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