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 57
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 57
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The Judge was married at Port Austin, Michigan, on the 23d of September, 1865, to Miss Maggie Hillis, a native of Canada, but after almost thirty years of happy mar- ried life she was called from this life, dying in Elmwood township on the 5th of Febru-
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ary, 1895. They were the parents of five children, of whom Anna M. died on her eighteenth birthday, her loss being deeply deplored by many friends as well as her im- mediate family. The other members of the Judge's family are: John E., who is a resi- cent of Traverse City; Nettie, who died in infancy; Maggie L., the wife of. Julius L. Kelly, and Bertha B., who superintends the home for her father.
Because of his patriotic spirit, his devo- tion to the best interests of the community and his business ability and intellectual worth, Judge Campbell is well fitted for leadership in public affairs, and has been one of the molders of public opinion in this section of the state. In several different offices he has served, called to these by the vote of his fellow-townsmen. For two years he was highway commissioner, and for four- teen years was supervisor of Elmwood town- ship. In the fall of 1888 he was elected pro- bate judge of the county and entered upon the duties of the office in January, 1889. Re-election has continued him in the posi- tion, for which he is ably qualified by reason of his sound business judgment, his un- swerving integrity and the fairness and im- partiality of his rulings. He has voted the Republican ticket, and he regards it the duty as well as the privilege of every American citizen to keep well informed on the ques- tions of the day and give an intelligent sup- port to whatever he believes to be for the welfare of the county, state or nation. Prominent in Masonic circles, he belongs to the lodge, to Traverse City Chapter and to the commandery, Knights Templar, and is in full sympathy with the teachings and tenets of the order, which is based upon mutual helpfulness and brotherly kindness.
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Faultless in honor, fearless in conduct and stainless in reputation, his reputation as a man and citizen is such as any man might well envy.
WILLIAM McMACHEN.
William McMachen, to whom has been vouchsafed an honorable retirement from labor, was for a long period connected with agricultural pursuits and is now enjoying a well-earned rest, making his home in North- port. He was born in the town of Granville, in the county of Leeds, Canada, December 4, 1840, and was the fourth in order of birth in a family of eight children whose parents were Hugh and Elizabeth (Top- pins) McMachen, both of whom were of Irish parentage and the latter was born on the ocean while her parents were coming from the Emerald Isle to the new world. They located in Canada and after reaching years of womanhood Elizabeth Toppins gave her hand in marriage to Hugh Mc- Machen. They lived upon a farm and through many years the father of the sub- ject carried on agricultural pursuits with good results. He reached a very advanced age and died in South Crosby, Leeds county, Ontario, when in his eighty-seventh year.
It was upon the old home farm in Leeds county that William McMachen spent his youth, remaining with his parents until he was twenty-two years of age. He then started out to earn his own living and did so by working as a farm hand, in which ca- pacity he was employed in Canada until he came to Michigan.
Ere his removal, however, while still living in Leeds county, Mr. McMachen was
united in marriage to Miss Jane Donovan, the wedding being celebrated on the 19th of April, 1865. She was a native of Canada and they began their domestic life in that country, but after about a year they removed to Michigan, settling in East Superior. They also remained there for a year and in the fall of 1869 they came to Leelanaw coun- ty, settling in Leelanaw township, where Mr. McMachen carried on general farming until the fall of 1901. He was successful in his farm work and by reason of his indus- trious efforts, economy and perseverance he acquired a good capital which now enables him to live retired. Removing to North- port, he established his home in the village and he is now enjoying a well-earned rest. He has disposed of some of his land, having been at one time the possessor of extensive real estate interests here. He still, however, owns three hundred and twenty acres, of which about one hundred acres are im- proved, and the income which he derives from his farm provides him with the neces- sities and some of the luxuries of life.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. McMachen have been born six children, but the eldest died in infancy and Seward died in childhood; Effie is the wife of George Steel; and Adel- bert is still at home. There was also a pair of twins in the family who died in infancy. The mother was called to her final rest in the latter part of December, 1896, and her loss was deeply deplored by those who knew her, for she was a woman of kindly nature, large heart, generous and hospitable. These qualities had gained for her many friends by whom her memory is still cherished. Mr. McMachen was again married, in Erie, Pennsylvania, on the 28th of April, 1897, his second union being with Miss Prudence
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Drown, and they are now living in North- port, where they have a pleasant home. Mr. McMachen is one of the active and influen- tial members of the Methodist Episcopal church and does everything in his power to promote its growth and extend its influence. He believes that the development of an up- right character should be man's first object in life and in his relations with his fellow men he has followed the teachings of the lowly Nazarene, whose words revolution- ized history, bringing peace and forbearance where before was warfare and oppression. Mr. McMachen has made good use of his opportunities and while in business he pros- pered from year to year and conducted all business matters carefully and successfully, displaying in all his actions an aptitude for careful and correct management. He has not permitted the accumulation of wealth to affect in any way his actions toward those less fortunate and he always has a cheerful word and pleasant smile for all with whom he comes in contact.
ERNEST W. HASTINGS.
There is little doubt that a life of activ- ity is productive of longevity. In his own person the subject of this sketch, Ernest W. Hastings, exemplifies it. From youth his life has been one of industry and activity and yet, in his forty-seventh year, he is now as vigor- ously active, agile and alert as a youth of eighteen. There can be little doubt that it is the sluggard, not the toiler, who dies young. Ernest W. Hastings was born in Lansing, Michigan, April 16, 1855, and is the son of Silas Hastings, a native of Ohio and a car-
penter by occupation. The latter located in Lansing in 1853, and there followed his call- ing until the breaking out of the Rebellion, when he enlisted in the First Regiment of Michigan Engineers and Mechanics and served until his death, which was occasioned by sunstroke in the trenches in front of Vicksburg, in July, 1863. The mother of Ernest W. Hastings was Elizabeth Wood- hans, who was a native of England. She accompanied her parents to America in early girlhood, in 1848, and located in Cleveland, Ohio. Here she met and married Silas Hast- ings and soon afterward they moved to Michigan and located in Lansing. After the death of her husband, Mrs. Hastings, with her only son, Ernest W., moved to Traverse City and in 1867 was united in marriage to William Holdsworth, one of the first settlers of Grand Traverse county. She is dead, but he is still living and an interesting sketch of his long and active career will be found in another part of this volume.
Until the age of sixteen, Ernest W. Hast- ings attended the public schools of Lansing and Traverse City. In 1871 he left school, went to Cleveland, Ohio, and became an ex- pert patternmaker, which business he fol- lowed for a length of time. Realizing that his education was not what he desired, he re- turned to Traverse City and took a complete commercial course in the business college of that city. On November 9, 1875, in Trav- erse City, Mr. Hastings was united in mar- riage to Miss Sarah E. Chantler, a native of the state of New York, but who had lived in Traverse City from early childhood. She was the daughter of Charles and Catherine (McDougal) Chantler, who were among the early settlers of Grand Traverse county. To Mr. and Mrs. Hastings five children have
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been born, all of whom are living. Ralph S. is the junior member of the firm of Hastings & Son, dealers in real estate and fire insur- ance agents, and is an expert bookkeeper and accountant, all of the affairs of the office be- ing under his direct supervision. At the opening of the Spanish-American war he en- listed in Company M, Thirty-fourth Regi- ment Michigan Volunteer Infantry, and served all through the brief period of hostili- ties. He was in Cuba with his regiment and saw all the service there was to see, being present at the taking of San Juan hill. The other children are Edith E., Grace C., Walter E. and Ruth. Edith and Grace are both graduates of the Traverse City high school. Walter is still in school and Ruth, who is only five years old, anxiously awaits the time when she too may become a student. The home of the family is know by the name "Brookside." It is one of the finest homes in a city noted far and wide for its fine homes. At the time of his marriage Enest W. Hastings was in the employ of J. Greilick & Company, in their factory, having charge of the sash and door department. There he continued until 1880, when, through an acci- dent whereby one of his hands was injured, he was obliged to relinquish his position. Too nervously active to remain idle, even be- fore the injured member was healed he en- gaged in the musical and sewing machine business. This he followed for ten years, when he took up his present vocation. He has followed this for the past twelve years, doing a most prosperous business, and by fair and honorable dealings winning an enviable patronage. One would think that the life of activity led by Mr. Hastings would pre- clude the possibility of leisure for anything else. His active temperament, however, has
found time to play much at the game of pol- itics, and most successfully. He is a Repub- lican of the most pronounced type,-not rab- id, bitter nor foolishly aggressive, but a sen- sible, consistent member of the party, who can always win votes where the loud and blatant disgust and drive them away. He served on the village board, before the incor- poration of the city, for a number of years, and when the village became a city he served as alderman two terms, four years, as the member from the second ward. For four years he was treasurer of the city, and in 1900 he was nominated and elected member of the state legislature from Grand Traverse county. He served most efficiently for the session of 1901, and was solicited to stand for re-election, but declined because the du- ties required him to remain away too long from his business. He has held various of- fices in the different fraternal societies to which he belongs and has been for a number of years one of the deacons of the Baptist church of Traverse City. In religion both he and his wife are members of the Baptist church, being active workers in the cause and deeply solicitous for the welfare of the denomination. He is a member of the Ma- sonic fraternity, having advanced to the de- gree of Knight Templar and Shriner. He is also a Knight of Pythias. Few men stand better in their community than does Ernest W. Hastings.
WILLIAM MITCHELL.
For a number of years actively identified with the lumber interests .of northwestern Michigan, the subject of this review occupies a conspicuous place in the recent history of
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WILLIAM H. C. MITCHELL.
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Grand Traverse county. Energetic, enter- prising and successful in a material way, he is also honored and respected as a citizen, and has so indelibly stamped his individu- ality upon the community as to become a potential factor in its civic and public af- fairs. William Mitchell was born Septem- ber 7, 1863, in Lima, Ohio, from which his parents brought him when he was one and one-half years old, and later literally grew up in a lumber mill, engaging while still a mere lad with the Mitchell & Mahan Lum- ber Company. This enterprise was estab- lished in 1867 at East Bay, Grand Traverse county, and he continued with the original organization in various capacities until 1893,when the company was reorganized as the East Bay View Lumber Company. since which time he has held different positions, beginning as stickholder and rising to vice- president. Previous to the date mentioned he was for ten years head sawyer in the company's large mill at East Bay, and he also spent considerable time scaling logs, be- sides being intrusted with other important lines of work, in all of which he dem- onstrated fine business ability and proved himself faithful to every duty, making un- der all circumstances the interests of his associates his own.
Mr. Mitchell stands distinctly forward as one of the representative business men of Traverse City and as one of its progres- sive and valued citizens, and he owes his success in life almost wholly to his own ef- forts, consequently is entitled to the proud appellation of "self-made man." His life story contains little outside of the ordinary, but it is replete with duty faithfully done, and his every action has been open to the scrutiny and criticism of his fellow-men, 28
few, if any, of whom have found therein any- thing to censure or condemn. By no means eventful, his career has been true to its pos- sibilities, and there has not been denied him a liberal reward in due season, his success in business resulting in the accumulation of a comfortable competence in addition to the conspicuous place he occupies in industrial circles and in the estimation of his fellow citizens.
On the 5th day of September, 1900, Mr. Mitchell was united in marriage with Miss Ada Blouch, of Rose City, Michigan, the union being blessed with two children, a daughter, who bears the name of Isabelle, and an infant son. In politics Mr. Mitchell is a pronounced Republican, but he is not a partisan in the sense the term is usually un- derstood, nor has he ever withdrawn his at- tention from his business interests for the purpose of aspiring to official position or public distinction. He is essentially a busi- ness man, and, having always made other considerations subordinate to his material interests, it is not at all surprising that his career has been successful and that his fu- ture holds out still greater promises of con- tinued prosperity. Personally Mr. Mitchell is one of the most sociable and companion- able of men, and, being optimistic in all the term implies, he is popular with his friends and associates, and believes in getting out of life all the pleasure and profit there is in it. He is an ardent sportsman and makes it a point to spend a month or two of each year in the wilds of the northern peninsula, where, with rod and gun, he finds a pleasant and profitable recreation in the pursuit of his favorite means of pastime. In these outings he is usually accompanied by a few congenial spirits, whose agreeable social intercourse in
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the absence of business and artificial re- straints tends to smooth the brow of care and give renewed strength and animation for life's duties when they are again resumed. Mr. Mitchell is deeply interested in all that is calculated to benefit his fellow-men, his influence has always been exerted in the right direction, and, from what he has thus far accomplished, it is easy to see that the community has been made better by his presence. Discharging the duties of citizen- ship as becomes a true American and in the prosecution of his own affairs not being un- mindful of his obligations to the public, he has shown himself eminently worthy of the high esteem in which he is held, and the reputation he sustains of being one of the representative young business men of Trav- verse City is cheerfully conceded by all who know him. Mr. Mitchell and his brother Thornton have recently purchased a tract of timber land in Iron county, Michigan. He has also become a one-half owner in the patent right and manufacture of a speculum, in which business he is actively engaged.
JOHN FOOTE & SON.
One of the prominent and pioneer busi- ness industries of Traverse City is that con- ducted under the firm name of John Foote & Son, and though the senior member of the original firm has recently passed away the original title is retained, while the en- terprise is carried forward by the junior member, John N. Foote. It is but in justice due that a tribute of respect and honor he here paid to John Foote, the sterling pioneer who established his home here so many
years ago, and also to his son who was so intimately associated with him and who is his successor.
The Traverse City Tannery was estab- lished by Norris Brothers, at Norrisville, lo- cated on the shore about two miles north of Traverse City, in the year 1860, and the inception of the industry was most modest, since the two brothers personally attended to all the details of manufacture, the products being harness leather and rough leather.
John Foote was born in Clinton, Oneida county, New York, on the 9th of January, 1825, and was there reared and educated. He served a full apprenticeship at the tan- ner's trade, working two years for his board and clothing and becoming an expert in the business. At the age of seventeen years he started out as a journeyman and continued to be thus employed at his trade for a period of ten years,-principally in the south. At the expiration of this time he became asso- ciated with his father, John Foote, and his brother Charles in establishing a tannery at Johnsonburg, Wyoming county, New York, where he continued to be engaged in busi- ness until about 1862, after which he was again employed as a journeyman until 1869, when he came to Wexford county, Michi- gan, and took up a homestead, the same being a tract of wild timber land. In the meanwhile he was employed at intervals in the tannery of the Norris Brothers, near Traverse City, thus continuing from 1871 until about 1880, having in the meanwhile developed his farm of eighty acres. In 1880 he rented the tannery at Norrisville for four years, at the expiration of which he erected a building at the present location, on the bay shore, and purchased the stock and ma- chinery of the Norrisville plant, forthwith
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installing the same in his new building. He had purchased a tract of eighteen acres, while his original investment in establish- ing the new enterprise aggregated about one thousand dollars. Success attended the venture from the start, since he brought to bear marked energy and discrimination, while he permitted none but the best pro- ductions to go forth from his tannery, which has been from the start devoted to the manu- facturing of rough and harness leather. The plant has been enlarged from time to time and is thoroughly well equipped, and the output has ranged from fifteen hundred to two thousand sides of leather annually. No especial attention is now given to the hand- ling of hides, pelts, etc., which are tanned or sold directly, as the case demands. John Foote continued in personal charge of the business until his death, which occurred on the 22d of January, 1902, after an illness of but one week's duration. He was a man of high principle and exalted integrity, and in all the relations of life he commanded uni- form confidence and esteem, his death con- stituting a distinctive loss in the business community. He had reclaimed a good tract of land and erected an attractive residence, while through his earnest and well directed efforts his business enterprise had been made one of the leading ones of the sort in this section of the state.
In politics Mr. Foote gave his allegiance to the Democratic party, and took an active and public-spirited interest in local affairs, having served as treasurer of Elmwood township and also been incumbent of other offices of trust.
At Johnsonburg, New York, in the year 1856, Mr. Foote was united in marriage to
Miss Virginia Jenison, who was born in Warsaw, Wyoming county, that state, and she survives her husband and retains her residence in the home so endeared to her by the memories and asociations of the past. Of this union were born two sons and three daughters, concerning whom we offer brief record, as follows: Rose died at the age of six years; William, who was born in 1861, is a contractor in Traverse City; John N., who was born on the 16th of May, 1863, at Johnsonburg, Wyoming county, New York, learned the tanning trade under the direction of his father, and was associated with him as an employe until he had attained his legal majority, when he was admitted to partnership, under the firm name of John Foote & Son, which has ever since been re- tained, the entire management of the enter- prise devolving upon him since the death of his honored father. He is a stanch Demo- crat in his political proclivities, and is at the present time serving as treasurer of Elm- wood township, being known as a progres- sive and reliable business man and public- spirited citizen; Cora, who was born April II, 1865, is the wife of Willet M. Codding- ton, who is associated with John N. Foote in business, as will be noted in appending paragraphs; and Clara, who was born Au- gust 9, 1874, is the wife of Frederick Dris- coll, of Grand Rapids, Michigan.
FOOTE & CODDINGTON .- As virtually an adjunct to the tanning business the firm of Foote & Coddington established, in 1896, the enterprise of manufacturing robes and coats, the headquarters being at the tannery. The interested principals are John N. Foote and his brother-in-law, Willet M. Codding- ton. During nine months of each year the
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firm give employment to a corps of three ยท skilled workmen, tanning all kinds of fur and skins, especially the skins of Galloway cattle and horse-hides, which are then manu- factured into fine robes and storm coats. The firm makes exhibits at various state and county fairs and control a large jobbing trade throughout Michigan and neighboring states, while they also do a large custom business, having an average stock of manu- factured goods to a valuation of about twen- ty-five hundred dollars. Mr. Coddington, like his partner, is a thoroughly practical man in the business, being familiar with all details and having been employed for several years in the Foote tannery prior to becoming a member of the present firm, while in order to learn the art of tanning hides without the removing of the hair he secured employ- ment in a tannery at Reading, Michigan, where he remained until he had fully mas- tered the business, after which he became as- sociated with Mr. Foote, as has been already noted. The business has been managed most effectively, the correct methods brought to bear and the superiority of the products having conserved the consecutive expansion of the enterprise until it figures as one of the important industries of this section, the trade practically doubling in volume each successive year. On the 16th of May, 1888, Mr. Coddington was united in marriage to Miss Cora Foote, and they are the parents of four children, namely: Gertrude, Clara, Hoyt and Homer. Mr. Coddington was born in Sullivan county, New York, on the 2d of December, 1859, being a son of 'Squire Hoyt Coddington. He is a stanch advocate of the principles of the Prohibition party, but has never aspired to political office. ,
JAMES W. MARKHAM.
The dominating spirit of self-help is what has conserved the distinctive business success and prestige of Mr. Markham, who stands at the head of one of the leading in- dustrial enterprises of Grand Traverse coun- ty, where, from modest inception, he has built up the most extensive brick manufac- turing business in this section of the state, controlling a trade which ramifies through- out a wide area of country and having the high reputation which is ever significant of personal integrity and honorable methods.
Three miles north of Traverse City is lo- cated the finely equipped plant of Mr. Mark- ham, the site of the same being on the west side of the west arm of Grand Traverse bay. Here, on a quarter of an acre of ground, Al- bert Norris had established a brick factory a number of years ago, conducting opera- tions on a small scale, and in 1875 Mr. Markham succeeded him in the ownership of the business, and each year since that time he has burned an increasing amount of brick, having greatly increased the kiln capacity and provided the most modern and approved facilities. At the time when he assumed control of the enterprise the capacity of the plant was for the outputting of about two hundred thousand brick annually, while the average annual output at the present time reaches the notable aggregate of nearly four million brick. Within the season a corps of from twenty-six to forty men is employed in connection with the work of manufactur- ing, and in the connection about two thou- sand cords of wood are consumed each sea- son, thus rendering it necessary to employ men and teams throughout the entire year, while another incidental value to be placed
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