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 50
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 50
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JOHN PULCIPHER.
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When Mr. Pulcipher came to Grand Traverse county, it was but sparsely inhabi- ted and it has been his privilege and pleasure to assist in organizing many of the town- ships which have been laid out since that time. He was active in organizing East Bay and Acme townships before they were divided. We can give no better evidence of his popularity or efficiency than the fact that he has been retained in the capacity of supervisor of Acme township for a period of over twenty-eight years, a high testimonial of regard to the worth and ability of a truly good man. He has been so conscientious and earnest in performing whatever duties came to his hand that the voters of the township have honored him with office time and again. For six years he served as treasurer of Whitewater township and for a period of ten years he acted as deputy oil inspector. He has been a Republican all his life but has met with hearty support from his many friends whose political belief differed from his own. Mr. and Mrs. Pulcipher's friends are legion in all ranks of life in Acme township.
The subject was married in Putnam county, Ohio, December 27, 1869, the lady of his choice being Miss Mary Hover, daughter of Joshua B. and Mary (Tracy) Hover. She was born August 4, 1848, in Lima, Ohio, where her mother died. In 1856 Joshua Hover came to Traverse City, where he remained one year. He then moved to Acme and built the first saw-mill erected there. He only remained in Mich- igan a few years before he returned to Put- nam county, Ohio, where he died. Mr. and Mrs. Pulcipher are the parents of four chil- dren, Morgan B., Julius E., M. Salina and John W. Morgan is a graduate of law and was a member of the bar at Traverse City.
He is a young man of more than ordinary talent and ability. He secured a teacher's certificate at the age of sixteen and was a successful teacher in Grand Traverse coun- ty. He was connected with the Granite State Building and Loan Association. Julius is a farmer. Salina, who completed the tenth grade, is an accomplished musician and has taught the art. Mr. Pulcipher is one of the best farmers in the county and owns one of the finest and best improved farms. He has three hundred and twenty acres, which have been accumulated by years of hard work, steady application and self denial, a com- petency which will enable him to spend his declining years in well-earned ease and free- dom from labor. Liberal to a degree in all good works, he has been a contributor to- wards the maintenance of the Methodist Episcopal church of Yuba, of which Mrs. Pulcipher is a member and himself a fre- quent attendant.
Mrs. Pulcipher was but seventeen years old when she secured her first teacher's li- cense in Allen county, Ohio, and taught for three summers in one district. She then en- tered the Delphos high school and also taught one term in Van Wert county, Ohio, and then taught in the primary department of the Kalida (Ohio) schools, after which she was for one year engaged in a school in Paulding county. She is, as before stated, a devout member of the Methodist Episcopal church and belongs to the Ladies' Aid So- ciety. Mr. Pulcipher is authority for the statement that Henry Stites, the first white person born in Cincinnati, died in Acme township, in 1875, at the age of eighty- four. He was a school-mate of Thomas Corwin, the great statesman, and was also intimate with Gen. William H. Harrison.
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FERDINAND FROMHOLZ.
Ferdinand Fromholz, who is living on section 1, Blair township, Grand Traverse county, is a native of Prussia, Germany, his birth having occurred on the 23d of January, 1845. He lived for thirty-one years in his native country, and during that time he ac- quired his education in the public schools and afterward entered the army, serving with the Prussian troops in the war with Austria in 1866: He had joined the army in 1864 and was engaged in military service for three years. In 1867 he returned to his parents' home and remained there until 1870, when he again entered the army and fought for his country during the Franco-Prussian war, covering a period of eleven months. On re- ceiving an honorable discharge from the service he once more went to his old home, there living up to the time of his marriage. It was on the Ist of October, 1873, in Prus- sia, that he was joined in wedlock to Miss Anna Hanska, who was born in Prussia on the 12th of May, 1850.
After his marriage Mr. Fromholz settled in Berlin, Germany, where he conducted a hotel about two years. On the expira- tion of that period he sold his property and came to America, bringing with him his wife and one child. Crossing the Atlantic on a westward-bound steamer, they landed in New York city and thence made their way to Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. Mr. Fromholz came to the United States with the hope that he might enjoy better advantages here and more quickly gain a competence in order to provide his family with the comforts of life. In Pittsburg he secured employment in ? glass factory, where he remained for about three years, or until November, 1879. He
then came to Grand Traverse county, Mich- igan, and purchased forty acres of railroad land, comprising a part of the farm upon which he is now living. Here he has since resided and has carried forward the work of cultivation and development until the orig- inal tract bears little resemblance to the prop- erty which came into his possesion about a quarter of a century ago. He has extended the boundaries of his farm until it now com- prises eighty acres, and he cultivates sixty- five of this. Good buildings upon his place have been erected by him, and his spirit of progressiveness and energy are manifested in the excellent appearance of his place, with its well-tilled fields and modern equipments.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Fromholz have been born eight children, namely: George R .; Mary, who is the wife of Christian Strohm: Emma; William; Edith; Ferdinand E. and Frederick E., who are twins, and Elizabeth O., who completes the family. They also lost one son, Albert, who died when about seven years of age. The parents hold mem- bership in the German Lutheran church, and its teachings permeate their lives, their re- ligious faith being indicated by their un- faltering integrity, their consideration for others and their attendance upon church services. Mr. Fromholz has held the office of overseer of highways and has been a member of the board of review in Blair township. While in the Prussian army he served in twenty-one different battles, and was a valiant soldier. The same loyalty to duty has characterized his life in its various relations, and in his career he has exemplified many of the sterling traits of the German people. The reliability, strong purpose and unfaltering perseverance which are so char- acteristic of the representatives of the Teu-
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tonic race are manifested in his career and have made him a valued addition to the citi- zenship of Grand Traverse county. That he made a wise choice in coming to America is indicated by the fact that success has crowned his efforts, and now he not only possesses a comfortable home and productive farm in Blair township, but has also gained many warm friends, who hold him and his wife in the highest esteem.
HENRY C. BURT.
Henry C. Burt is a resident of Grawn and one of the native sons of Michigan. His birth occurred in the city of Hillsdale, Hillsdale county, Michigan, on the 31st of March, 1852. Of the family of eight chil- dren he was the sixth. The parents, Or- ramel and Mary (Lovejoy) Burt, spent their last days in Ionia county, Michigan. When their son, Henry, was only eighteen months old they removed to Gratiot county and there resided until he reached the age of eleven years. At that time they went to Ionia county and under the parental roof Henry C. Burt remained until he had at- tained his majority. The public schools af- forded him his educational privileges and he became familiar with all the duties and labors that fall to the lot of the agriculturist. After putting aside his text books he was employed at various occupations and he con- tinued to make his residence in Ionia coun- ty until 1881, when he removed to Kent county, Michigan. There he engaged in farming, which pursuit he followed continu- ously until 1890. That year witnessed his removal to Benzie county, this state, where
he lived for a year and a half and during that time he was employed as foreman on a sec- tion of the railroad. Coming thence to Grawn, Grand Traverse county, he was for five years engaged in working on the rail- road as section foreman and since that time various business enterprises have claimed his attention. He has served as postmaster of Grawn since June, 1899, and for six years he was proprietor of the hotel here. During that time he was also engaged in merchandising and in the livery business. He is a man of considerable executive force and sound discrimination and enterprise and whatever he undertakes feels the stimulus of his energy and returns to him good success.
On the 24th of October, 1880, Mr. Burt was united in marriage at Crystal, Mont- calm county, Michigan, to Miss Allie A. Hillard, an estimable lady, who was born in Florence township, Williams county, Ohio. Unto them have been born two children, Minnie and George. The former is now the wife of Ernest Harr. The Burt household is noted for its warm-hearted hospitality and our subject and his wife occupy an enviable position in the social circles in which they move. Mr. Burt has been called by his fel- low townsmen to serve in several positions of public trust and responsibility. He has been highway commissioner and has been school director and school moderator. He is a member of Grawn Tent No. 809. Knights of the Maccabees, and in the fra- ternity has the high regard and good will of all of his brethren. While he has re- sided in various places, throughout his en- tire life he has remained a resident of Mich- igan and is a worthy representative of the best citizenship of the state, always inter- ested in its welfare, active in its behalf and
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in business reliable and in friendship trust- worthy, As the result of his diligence and perseverance he is today the owner of one hundred and twenty acres of good land in Green Lake township, all of which is im- proved, and he likewise owns a nice residence in Grawn. He is a man of strong force of character and wherever he has gone he has made friends who entertain for him high re- gard by reason of the possession of a char- acter that the practical, the progressive and the trustworthy elements which are a mov- ing force in all business life and also com- mand respect and confidence in every land and clime.
WILLIAM H. FIFE.
William H. Fife is one of the few re- maining pioneers left to connect the present generation of Grand Traverse county, Mich- igan, with a past that has been fraught with events of the liveliest importance. Those sturdy men and women came to the new country and, amid privation and hardship, suffered and toiled unceasingly and uncom- plainingly, to lay the foundation of our present civilization and prosperity and make Grand Traverse county what it is today. Their example and labor can not be esti- mated or the trials they underwent be re- alized by the children of today who, unques- tioning, accept all the blessings which the twentieth century has to offer with little or no thought of how these blessings have been obtained. Mr. Fife was born March 17, 1823, in Upper St. Clair township, Alle- gheny county, Pennsylvania. He was of Scotch and English extraction, his paternal grandfather, William Fife, being a native of
Scotland, while his maternal grandfather, James Thomas, was a native of Maryland but of English parentage. His grandfather Fife was a soldier of the Revolution and died in his fifty-fourth year from the effects of a bullet wound in the hip. His immediate an- cestors were William and Mary (Thomas) Fife, also natives of Pennsylvania, the fa- ther of Allegheny and the mother of Wash- ington county. They made their home in the latter county and it was there the father died, at the age of fifty-one, and the mother died at Tyner City, Indiana, at the ripe old age of ninety years. They had a large fam- ily of twelve children.
William Fife, the subject of this sketch, was reared on a farm and remained at home until his twenty-second year. He was a boy of bright intellect who made the most of his opportunities and his studious habits en- abled him to acquire a fund of valuable in- formation which made him self reliant and manly and attracted the best class of friends. Leaving home, he went to West Virginia where he engaged in teaching for one year. He then accepted the principalship of the fifth ward school in Pittsburg, Pennsyl- vania, for one year and then followed a few years which were spent in different places in various occupations. In June, 1854, he came to Grand Traverse county, Michi- gan, and on July 3 he settled with his family in Elks Rapids, where he operated a saw- mill for a short time. In 1855 he entered one hundred and sixty acres of government land in section 18, Acme township, for which he paid one dollar per acre. He at once built a log cabin on the land, upon which he has resided ever since. His work has frequently called him away for a great- er or less period, but he has kept and im-
WILLIAM FIFE.
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proved the original homestead, putting up first class buildings and other improvements and adding to the acreage until he now owns two hundred and fifty-one acres of good, productive land.
Mr. Fife has' been an important and prominent factor in the public eye since his first coming to this county, where he has labored so hard and so long for its prosper- ity. He is a life-long Republican and cast the first Republican ballot ever voted in Elk Rapids, Michigan. He was in Ohio for two years, farming, and spent two years six months in teaching the Indian school at Harbor Springs, this state. It was while thus engaged that he established a postoffice at Harbor Springs and for two years served as postmaster, when it was known as Little Traverse village. In 1862, under the admin- istration of President Lincoln, he was ap- pointed postmaster of Yuba by Montgom- ery Blair, then postmaster general. He soon after resigned this office to accept the posi- tion of deputy assessor and revenue collector for the fourth Michigan district, an office in which he was retained for eight years. He was appointed by Governor Blair as commissioner of the Little Traverse and Mackinaw state road and also as commis- sioner of the Traverse City and Houghton Lake road. He was largely instrumental in securing the docks at Charlevoix, Michigan, and no man can point to a better record for good results than Mr. Fife. He has served in a number of minor offices, such as super- visor of Acme township, justice of the peace and notary public, and has been faithful and conscientious in the discharge of each and every duty. His life has been an incentive to many and is well worthy of imitation it
has been so filled with acts of usefulness and honor.
Mr. Fife was first married in Oakland county, Michigan, to Miss Marietta Ainslie, who died in Acme township. He was then married to Miss Flora J. Carmichael, who also died. His present wife was Miss Jose- phine McFarland, a native of Dundas coun- ty, Ontario. They are members of the Presbyterian church, to which they are lib- eral contributors. They have no children, but in the goodness of his heart Mr. Fife has reared four orphan children to useful lives, and a few years ago these children, now grown, came to Mr. Fife and wished him to lay aside his work, that they might care for him and his wife, a most touching ex- pression of their gratitude for his former kindness to them.
DANIEL E. CRANDALL.
Daniel E. Crandall is a representative of the lumber and agricultural interests of Green Lake township, Grand Traverse county. He was born near Belfast, New York, June 7, 1852, a son of James and Elizabeth (McGee) Crandall, in whose fam- ily of six children he was the second in order of birth. Both of the parents died in the Empire state. In the state of his nativ- ity Daniel E. Crandall remained until he was eight years of age, at which time he became a resident of Wisconsin, remaining there until twenty-one years of age. For some time during that period he was em- ployed as a farm laborer and he afterward engaged in rafting lumber on the Wisconsin and Mississippi rivers for five years. On
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the expiration of that period he came to Grand Traverse county, Michigan, and was employed in Mayfield by the firm of Gibbs Brothers, with whom he remained for eight years. His long continuance in this service is indicative of his fidelity to the interests of his employers and the confidence they re- posed in him. On severing his connection with that firm he engaged in business on his own account in connection with his broth- er, James Crandall, in the manufacture of shingles. This business relationship be- tween them was continued for about six years. At the end of two years they set- tled about two miles north of Monroe Cen- ter and carried on business together until another four years had passed, when they dissolved partnership, Mr. Crandall of this review continuing in the manufacture of shingles alone until 1900. He then admitted his son to a partnership under the firm name of D. E. Crandall & Son. They manufacture both lumber and shingles and their business is one of the important industries of Green Lake township. The extensive forests of Michigan have made the manufacture of lumber and kindred industries one of the most important occupations of the state and Mr. Crandall has found in this labor a source of profit. As he has prospered in his undertakings he has also become the owner of valuable landed interests, includ- ing three hundred and sixty-five acres, of which about ninety acres is under cultivation.
It was on Christmas day of 1876 that Mr. Crandall was united in marriage in Montello, Wisconsin, to Miss Anna Haney, a native of the Badger state. They now have four children : Agnes B., the wife of Frank L. Brown; Geneva G .; Deronda E. and Theresa F. The son Deronda is now
in partnership with his father and in connec- tion with the lumber and milling interests they are engaged in merchandising. Mr. Crandall of this review has held the office of justice of the peace, but has never been an aspirant for official positions, preferring to devote his attention to his business af- fairs. Fraternally he is connected with Cen- ter Lodge No. 311, Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He thoroughly enjoys home life and takes great pleasure in the society of his family and friends. He is always cour- teous, kindly and affable, and those who know him personally have for him warm re- gard. A man of great natural ability, his success in business, from the beginning of his residence in Grand Traverse county, was uniform and rapid. As has been truly re- marked, after all that may be done for a man in the way of giving him early oppor- tunities for obtaining the requirements which are sought in the schools and in books, he must essentially formulate, de- termine and give shape to his own char- acter; and this is what Mr. Crandall has done. He has persevered in the pursuit of a persistent purpose and gained the most sat- isfactory reward. His life is exemplary in all respects and he has ever supported those interests which are calculated to uplift and benefit humanity, while his own high moral worth is deserving of the highest commenda- tion:
LAVERN O. SACKETT.
Lavern O. Sackett, who is engaged in general farming on section 6, Blair town- ship, was born in Allegany county, New York, on the 27th of September, 1846. His
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GRAND TRAVERSE AND LEELANAW COUNTIES.
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father was Merrill Sackett, also a native of Allegany county, and it was in that county that the mother of the subject was born. She bore the maiden name of Sarah Rice and by her marriage became the mother of nine children, of whom Lavern O. was the third.
In taking up the personal history of Lav- ern O. Sackett we present to our readers the life record of one who is widely and favorably known in Grand Traverse county. He was reared in Allegany county until six years of age, when his father purchased a farm in Potter county, Pennsylvania, and the family removed thereto. Upon that place the subject remained until he had at- tained his majority and he early became fa- miliar with the work of cultivation and im- proving the fields and performing other duties in the life of the agriculturist. He was married in Potter county on the 14th of May, 1864, to Miss Ann Eliza Yoker, who was born in that county on the 17th of September, 1847, a daughter of Henry and Priscilla ( Phelps ) Yoker. It was in March, 1866, that Mr. Yoker and his wife arrived in Grand Traverse county, Michigan, settling in what is now Green Lake township, where they lived for several years. They afterward took up their abode in Traverse City, where Mrs. Yoker died at the age of sixty-eight years. Of her four children Mrs. Sackett was the second in order of birth.
Upon a rented farm in Potter county, Pennsylvania, the subject and his wife began their domestic life and for two years he op- crated leased land there, but in June, 1866, he severed his business relations in the east and came to Michigan, settling in what is now Green Lake township. He has since lived in Grand Traverse county and has been actively identified with agricultural
interests. For thirteen years he remained upon his first farm and then removed to the farm upon which he is now living in Blair township. This has been his home continu- ously since with the exception of a period of four years, which was spent in Traverse City. He owns eighty-one acres of land, of which thirty-eight acres is under cultivation. Upon his farm he has erected good build- ings and modern equipments of all kinds add to the value of the place and indicate his pro- gressive spirit. Success in life is largely due to the concentration of one's energies. The man who is a "jack of all trades is master of none." Mr. Sackett has never dissipated his efforts over many lines of labor, but has con- fined his attention to agricultural work with the result that he is today in good financial circumstances. Unto the subject and his wife has been born one child, who is yet liv- ing, Henry M. They also lost four children, three of whom died in early childhood, while Rhoda J. died at the age of eighteen years, her loss being deeply lamented by many friends as well as her immediate family. The parents are earnest and exemplary mem- bers of the Methodist Episcopal church at Grawn and labor earnestly for its .progress and upbuilding. Mr. Sackett has served as class leader for more than a quarter of a century and his life has ever been shaped in conformity to the teachings of his denomina- tion. While residing in Green Lake. town- ship he served as highway commissioner and he takes an active and commendable interest in everything pertaining to the welfare of his community. Both he and his wife are peo- ple of the highest respectability, their lives characterized by honorable principles and by fidelity to duty. A genial temperament and kindly disposition are also qualities which
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have endeared them to their many friends and throughout Grand Traverse county where they are known they are held in the highest esteem.
WILLIAM J. SAXTON.
William J. Saxton is one of the extensive land owners of Grand Traverse county, his possessions aggregating six hundred and twenty acres in Green Lake township, of which one hundred and twenty acres is un- der cultivation. Farming has been his life work and although he has been a resident of this county for only a brief period he is al- ready classed among the leading agricult- urists of the community.
Mr. Saxton was born in Lagrange town- ship, Lorain county, Ohio, on the 9th of January, 1857, a son of William H. and Mary (Allyn) Saxton, natives of Connecti- cut and Vermont, respectively. Leaving New England they resided for many years in Lorain county, Ohio, where they spent their last days, the father's death occurring when he was sixty-eight years of age, while his wife, surviving him for several years, passed away at the age of seventy-four. Five chil- dren had been born unto them and to the third they gave the name of William J. He was reared and educated in the county of his nativity, attending the public scchools, en- joying the pleasures of the playground and assisting in the labors of the home farm. The years were thus passed and after he had attained his majority he sought a companion and helpmate for the journey of life. It was on the 5th of September, 1878, that Mr. Saxton was united in marriage to Miss Nellie Brice, a native of Lorain county.
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