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 58

Author: Sprague, Elvin Lyons, 1830-; Smith, Seddie Powers
Publication date: 1903
Publisher: [Indianapolis] : B.F. Bowen
Number of Pages: 1088

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 58
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 58

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JAMES W. MARKHAM.

MRS. J. W. MARKHAM.

GRAND TRAVERSE AND LEELANAW COUNTIES.

463

upon the industry is that implied in the fact that it affords a market for wood which is not available for manufacturing into lum- ber for use as ordinary fuel for domestic purposes. The products of the plant find an ever increasing demand in Traverse City and extensive shipments are made each year into other cities and towns in this section, the last year having witnessed a shipment of seven hundred thousand brick to the city of Manistee alone, so that more than half the entire output finds sale outside of Trav- erse City, this fact indicating beyond perad- venture the superiority of the products, the various contractors and builders placing a corect estimate on the value of the material thus furnished. The plant now utilizes about five acres of ground, while in the en- tire tract owned by Mr. Markham are com- prised forty acres. Of this five acres are de- voted to the propagation of cherries and an equal amount to plums, and the orchards are among the best in this section, the owner taking much pride in his pomological enter- prise.

When Mr. Markham here began the manufacture of brick he utilized a small, two-horse power brick machine, and secured a daily output of from seven to ten thou- sand, while the retail sales for the first few years did not reach an aggregate of more than thirty thousand brick on the average, while today the sales in this line reach an annual average of about four hundred thou- sand. This is the only brick plant within a radius of many miles, Manistee being seventy-five miles distant to the southeast, while to the north there is no manufactory nearer than Northport, which is forty-five miles distant. The products of the concern

thus find a demand throughout the whole Traverse region. The plant is now equipped with the latest improved Brewer machine, No. 10, with a maximum capacity of seventy-five thousand a day, while all other accessories and facilities are of the best or- der. When Mr. Markham took up his resi- dence here the land was nearly all covered with the native forest trees, and for eight years he resided in a primitive log house, after which he erected his present attractive and commodious residence.

James W. Markham is a native of the province of Ontario, Canada, where he was born on the 20th of April, 1847, and where he was reared and educated. He served a thorough apprenticeship at the trade of brickmaking, and he was employed as a journeyman until he had attained the age of twenty-one years, when he engaged in business on his own responsibility by open- ing a brick yard in Sanilac county, Michi- gan, on Lake Huron, while later he manu- factured one year at Benzonia, Benzie coun- ty, from which place he came to Traverse City in the autumn of 1874, and in the spring of the following year established him- self in business, as has already been noted. In politics he is a stanch Republican, but has never aspired to official position of any sort, though he is known as a progressive and public-spirited citizen. He was reared in the faith of the Church of England, but is not a communicant, and fraternally is identified with the Masonic order and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks in Traverse City. He is a man of excellent business ability, energetic and far-sighted, and has achieved prosperity through well- directed effort, while he has ever command-

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GRAND TRAVERSE AND LEELANAW COUNTIES.

ed the unqualified confidence and esteem of those with whom he has come in contact in either a business or social way.

On the 12th of May, 1875, in the city of Port Huron, Michigan, Mr. Markham was united in marriage to Miss Sarah Anne S. Murthwaite, who was born in the city of Toronto, Canada, in 1852. They have no children, but the family home is a center of hospitality, and there are few hours when entertainment is not being there extended to one or more of their many friends.

KEHL BROTHERS.

Since 1885 the firm of Kehl Brothers has figured conspicuously in mercantile cir- cles in Northport, Leelanaw county, and the house sustains an enviable reputation. The members of the firm are James L., Edward · G. and Chris B. Kehl, sons of John Kehl, who is represented elsewhere in this volume. The father was born in Alsace, France, June 8, 1835, and is still living in Leelanaw coun- ty at the advanced age of seventy-eight years. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Elizabeth Bosche, died in Northport on the 22d of December, 1894, when in the seventy-first year of her age. John Kehl was brought to America by his parents when a little lad of only three summers and was reared and married in Buffalo, New York. He came to Leelanaw county with his wife and three children, locating in Northport in 1857, and since that time he has made this county his home. In early life he learned the ship carpenter's trade, but his chief occu- pation since coming to the west has been farming. His life history, however, has

been varied and eventful, for in early man- hood he went on several whaling voyages and also made a trip to the West Indies. In this way experiences came to him very dif- ferent from those that fall to the lot of the landsman and he can yet relate many inter- esting incidents concerning his life on the ocean wave.

Unto John and Elizabeth Kehl were born the following children: William, who died in Buffalo, New York, when only a few months old; Louisa, who became the wife of William J. Thomas, and died in Northport when about forty-two years of age; James L. and Edward G., who are members of the mercantile firm at Northport; Anna E., who is the wife of Nathan E. DeGollier; Chris, who is also associated with his brothers in business; Charles C., who lost his life in Lake Michigan when employed on the schooner "N. C. Kimball," which sank on the 8th of May, 1891, with all on board; and Howard A., who died in Sutton's Bay, Leelanaw county, in January, 1898.

James L. Kehl, the eldest member of the firm of Kehl Brothers, was born in Buffalo, New York, on the 25th of August, 1854, and Edward G. was born in the same city on the 18th of November, 1856, while the youngest member of the firm, Chris B. Kehl, is a native son of Northport, his birth hav- ing here occurred on the 2d of September, 1861. The two eldest came with their par- ents to Leelanaw county and were here reared, as was Chris B. Kehl. Their boy- hood days were passed in a similar manner, largely devoted to farm work upon the old homestead and to attendance at the district schools of the neighborhood.

When but sixteen years of age James L. Kehl left home, starting out to make his own

JOHN KEHL

GRAND TRAVERSE AND

LEELANAW COUNTIES.

465 ..

way in the world. He was employed at different occupations, spending five winter seasons in the lumber woods. Edward G. remained upon his father's farm until he had attained his majority, when, in company with his brother James, he purchased a tract of land in Leelanaw township, pleasantly located about two miles west of the town of Northport. They then began farming and followed that pursuit for about seven years. Chris B. Kehl also remained on his father's farm until he was about twenty years of age, when he accepted a position as errand boy in the store of Johnson, Goodenow & Com- pany of Northport. Soon, however, he was made a clerk and later he accepted a position with the firm of Johnson & Hitchcock. Sub- sequently he was in the employ of N. C. Morgan, a well-known merchant, for a per- iod of four years, and at the end of that time the firm of Kehl Brothers was organized, es- tablishing their business in Northport in August, 1885. The partnership has since continued with mutual pleasure and profit, his firm succeeding Mr. Morgan by the pur- chase of the store which he had previously conducted. They have prospered in their undertakings and their trade has constantly grown both in volume and importance. In 1902 they erected a fine cement building, it being the first store of the kind in Leelanaw county. They carry a large stock of general merchandise and their store is a well ap- pointed establishment, neat and attractive in appearance. The business methods which they have inaugurated are such as to com- mend them to all with whom they have deal- ings.

James L. Kehl was married in North- port on the 17th of December, 1879, the lady of his choice being Miss Rebecca How-

ell, a native of this city and a daughter of John and Elizabeth Howell. They now have one son, Isa E. James L. Kehl has taken an active part in public affairs and his loyalty to the best interests of his commun- ity is manifested in his co-operation in meas- ures for the general good. He is an active and influential member of the Congrega- tional church of Northport, of which he is now serving as one of the trustees, and he is likewise a charter member and valued rep- resentative of Northport Lodge No. 16, Independent Order of Odd Fellows.

Edward G. Kehl was married in North- port, October 18, 1888, to Miss Eva Bates, who was born in Leelanaw county and is a daughter of Erastus and Abigail Bates. They also have one son, Rufus B. Matters pertaining to the general welfare and to the substantial advancement of the county re- ceive the earnest consideration and often- times the active co-operation of Edward Kehl and he has been called to public office by his fellow townsmen, who recognize his worth and ability. He is the present treas- urer of Leelanaw township and is also a sup- porter of the First Congregational church.

Chris B. Kehl was married in North- port October 29, 1885, to Miss Emma Beers, who was born in this place and was a daugh- ter of Henry and Julia Beers. She died, however, on the 29th of September, 1887, and on the Ist of October, 1890, Mr. Kehl was again married, his union being with Miss Edith M. Beers, a native of Charlevoix county, Michigan, and a daughter of Am- mon and Julia Beers. This marriage has been blessed with four children, but Clyde, the second, died when three and a half years of age. The others are Grace L., Dorothy E. and Jeanette. Chris B. Kehl has been

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GRAND TRAVERSE AND LEELANAW COUNTIES.

township clerk and also treasurer of Lee- lanaw township and is a member of the Northport school board. The cause of edu- cation finds in him a warm friend who does all in his power for the promotion of the schools and the raising of the standard of instruction. He is a member of the Repub- lican county committee and is a leading rep- resentative of the party, doing everything in his power to promote its growth and in- sure its success. He, too, is a charter mem- ber of Northport Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and is an active member of the first Congregational church of North- port.

In addition to their mercantile interests in Northport, the Kehl brothers have a fine summer resort near here and are interested to quite an extent in farm lands in Leelanaw county. They are men of marked business enterprise and capability and carry forward to successful completion whatever they un- dertake. Few men are more prominent or more widely known in the enterprising town in which they live than the Kehl brothers. They have been important factors in busi- ness circles and their popularity is well de- served as in the firm are embraced the char- acteristics of an unabating energy, unbend- ing integrity and industry that never flags. They are public spirited and thoroughly in- terested in whatever tends to promote the moral, intellectual and material welfare of this section of the state.

PETER STORMER.

Among the earnest men whose depth of character and strict adherence to principles excite the admiration of his contemporaries,

Peter Stormer is prominent. For a quarter of a century he has been one of the active business men of Empire township, Leela- naw county, and his interests, extensive and varied, have ever been of such a nature that, while promoting his individual success, they have also advanced the general prosperity by increasing industrial and commercial ac- tivity. Since 1888 he has been connected with the Empire Lumber Company, one of the most important concerns of this portion of the state, and since 1891 he has been a partner in the enterprise.

Mr. Stormer makes his home in section 32, Empire township, and has always lived in this portion of Michigan, his birth hav- ing occurred on North Manitou island on the 24th of January, 1860. His father, Henry Stormer, was a native of Germany, and after arriving at the years of maturity wedded Anna Lewis, who was one of his countrywomen. In 1857 they left the fath- erland and crossed the Atlantic to the United States, taking up their abode in Mil- waukee, Wisconsin, where they resided un- til the fall of 1859, at which time they set- tled on North Manitou island. There the father carried on agricultural pursuits for several years, and in 1864 went with his family to the old home farm in Empire township. He is well known as a leading agriculturist of his community and a man of honorable purpose and unquestioned in- tegrity of character. His wife died Decem- ber 14, 1898, in her seventieth year. They were the parents of nine children, of whom the subject of this review is the fourth.

Peter Stormer made his home with his parents up to the time of his marriage, and in the public schools he obtained his educa- tion. When married he settled in the vil-

MR. AND MRS. PETER STORMER.

467

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GRAND TRAVERSE AND LEELANAW COUNTIES.

lage of Empire, and since 1888 he has been connected with the lumber business as a rep- resentative of the Empire Lumber Com- pany. For three years he was employed by that company, and then became a contractor. This company does an extensive business in the manufacture of lumber, his trade having reached large proportions, while its annual sales return very gratifying income to the stockholders.

In Northport, Leelanaw county, on the 26th of November, 1891, Mr. Stormer was united in marriage to Miss Helen Voice, a daughter of the late Joseph Voice, who was one of the early settlers and pioneer resi- dents of Leelanaw county. Her mother bore the maiden name of Arvilla A. Smith. On locating in this section of the state Mr. Voice became an active factor in the sub- stantial improvement and development of Leelanaw county, and continued one of its prominent residents until he was called to his final rest, passing away in Northport on the 10th of May, 1892. Mrs. Stormer was born in Sutton's Bay, and by her marriage has become the mother of five children-Pe- ter, Lulu A., Joseph, Henry and Luis.

Mr. Stormer continued to make his home in the village of Empire until the spring of 1894, when he took up his abode upon his farm on section 32, Empire town- ship, and here he has since lived. He owns nearly five hundred acres and has about one hundred acres improved. This constitutes a valuable and productive tract, and the farming interests of Mr. Stormer are like- wise profitable. Fraternally he is connected with the Knights of the Maccabees. Our country has made wonderful advancement along all lines of activity throughout the nine- teenth century and in the beginning of the

twentieth century, and Mr. Stormer belongs to that class of enterprising, public-spirited citizens whose efforts have kept Leelanaw county apace with the universal develop- ment and upbuilding.

SAMUEL S. GARLAND.

Samuel Shields Garland was born June 5, 1853, in what is now Traverse City, though it was then a diminutive settlement of but a few houses. His father was John Gar- land, a native of Canada who came to Mich- igan in 1852, bringing with him his family, and who located at what is now Traverse City. He was a lumberman and followed that business many years. The last years of his life were spent upon a farm in this coun- ty, to which he moved, his death occurring in 1860. The mother of Mr. Garland was Mary (Shields) Garland, also a native of Canada, where she was reared and educated. There she met and married John Garland and there they lived until 1852 when they moved to Traverse City. She died in 1888. They were the parents of nine sons, five of whom are living, viz: William J., a lum- berman, resides in Wisconsin; Richard, a farmer, whose home is in the state of Wash- ington ; Charles and Robert are both farmers and reside in Grand Traverse county; and the subject.

As indicated above, the entire life of Sam- uel S. Garland has been spent in this county. He was educated in the public schools and later took a course at Benzonia College. At the age of twenty-one he left school and soon thereafter was employed by the firm of Hannah, Lay & Company as salesman in

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GRAND TRAVERSE AND LEELANAW COUNTIES.

their general store. By good conduct, steady habits and vigilance in guarding the interests of his employers, he soon won their favor and was promoted from one responsible posi- tion to another until twenty-one years ago, when he was given a position in the bank. The same good qualities that won him ad- vancement in the mercantile department were exercised here, with the result that he is now assistant cashier of the Traverse City State Bank, one of the most substantial financial concerns in northern Michigan.

June 4, 1889, Samuel S. Garland was united in marriage to Miss Isabelle E.,Ger- maine, also a native of Traverse City, born February 10, 1862. She was educated in the public schools of Traverse City, and later in one of the Catholic colleges of Chicago. She is accomplished in music and proficient in art. Her father was Cuyler Germaine, a native of Pennsylvania, who was general outside superintendent for Hannah, Lay & Company for many years and up to the time of his death, which occurred in 1886. Her mother is Anne (Kratochvil) Germaine, a native of Austria, who emigrated to America with her parents in early life and located in Traverse City. Here she met and, in 1860, married Cuyler Germaine. She is still living in a beautiful home, at No. 333 Sixth street, Traverse City. They were the parents of seven children, viz : Isabelle E., William D. C., Lola, Posie, Frank, Charles and Kittie. Fuller details of the family of Mrs. Garland will be found in another part of this volume, in the sketch of William and Charles Ger- maine.

In politics Samuel S. Garland is a Re- publican. While interested in his party's welfare, he is not a politician, political life never having any charms for him. He never

aspired to office and never held a public posi- tion, the practical affairs of business being much more to his taste. Religiously, his leaning is toward the Episcopal church, of which Mrs. Garland is a member and which both attend. He is a member of three fra- ternal societies, the Masons, in which he has advanced to the degree of Knight Templar, the Maccabees and the Elks. He is a stock- holder and director in the Traverse City State Bank; is a stockholder and director in the Hannah & Lay Company, which is a cor- poration, and he is treasurer and a director in the Boardman River Electric Light and Power Company, another corporation. He possesses a good deal of valuable city prop- erty, and is financially interested in many other substantial institutions of the city. His is a handsome home, beautifully located and richly furnished. The splendid success he has won in life is due to his own exertions. There are few men who began in an humble way, as he did twenty-nine years ago, who can show as much for their time and talents as he can. It is all attributable to the splen . did qualities of head and heart of which he is possessed and which he has most judiciously exercised.

CHARLES W. WHEELOCK.

Charles W. Wheelock was born near Lanark, Carroll county, Illinois, March 13, 1865. His father was William W. Whee- lock, a native of Avon Springs, New York, born May 14, 1835. He was a merchant miller the greater part of his life, but owned large tracts of land and superintended and directed the cultivation of the land that he owned. He also did considerable business

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GRAND TRAVERSE AND LEELANAW COUNTIES.

in real estate, buying and selling, and gen- erally made such dealings profitable. He is still living, residing in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The mother of Charles W. Wheelock was Elsie ( Ransom) Wheelock, a native of Pennsylvania, born in the Susque- hanna valley in 1838. She was reared, edu- cated and grew to womanhood in her native place, and along in the 'fifties the family moved to Carroll county, Illinois, and in 1864 William W. Wheelock and Elsie Ran- som were united in marriage. They contin- ued to reside in that county about three years, when they moved to Missouri and later to Michigan. They are the parents of six children, viz: Charles W., Hattie E., Elias M., William W., George M. and F. G.

The early life of Charles W. Wheelock was spent in Carroll county, Illinois, and in Vernon county, Misouri. He attended school in De Soto, Jefferson county, Missouri, until he arrived at the age of thirteen years, when he abandoned his studies for the purpose of becoming a mes- senger boy in a telegraph office in De Soto. When he arrived at more mature years he engaged in the construction of telegraph lines for the Western Union Telegraph Company, and after pursuing that vocation for some time went to St. Louis and secured a position with an electric light company, as foreman and superintendent. For the next six or more years he discharged the duties of that position most efficiently, but gave it up that he might come to Battle Creek, Michigan, to engage in the milling business with his father. Meanwhile he and his father had invested considerable money in the stock of the Northern Telephone Com- pany whose headquarters was in Traverse City, to care for their financial interests.

Soon after his arrival here, the Northern Telephone Company sold out to the Citi- zens' Telephone Company of Grand Rapids and in 1900 Mr. Wheelock was tendered the position of local manager, which he accepted and he is now discharging the duties of the place to the satisfaction of all concerned.

April 26, 1893, in St. Louis, Misouri, Charles W. Wheelock was united in mar- riage with Miss Minnie M. Creech, a native of Missouri, born near St. Louis, December 6, 1874. There she was reared and secured her education in the public schools of the city of St. Louis. Her father was George Creech, a native of Missouri, while her mother was Mary J. (Menifee) Creech, also a native of Missouri, born in 1860. Mr. and Mrs. Charles W. Wheelock are the par- ents of three children, viz: Alma Lorene, born August 4, 1894, died six weeks later;" Halcyon Ruth, born July 29, 1895; Chester Leroy, born October 25, 1900.

Among the possessions of Charles W. Wheelock is a nice little manufacturing plant which he operates very successfully. It is the Traverse City Cigar Box Factory. He owns the entire concern and it has a capacity of one thousand boxes daily. The lumber is prepared specially for the plant and the boxes are taken from it and turned out com- plete. It is the only concern of its kind north of Grand Rapids, and its product is disposed of as fast as it can be turned out, the books of the concern showing a very sat- isfactory profit to the credit of the enterpris- ing proprietor.

In politics Mr. Wheelock is a Republi- can, takes an interest in political campaigns and is always gratified over the success of his party, but he is too busy a man to take an active part in political work; never hav-

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GRAND TRAVERSE AND LEELANAW COUNTIES.

ing aspired to or held a political position. In religious affairs he is not committed to any denomination, though he frequently at- tends divine services at the Congregational church with Mrs. Wheelock, of which de- nomination she is a member. He is a man of good busines qualifications, active and energetic, deliberate and prudent and under his direction the business of the telephone system which he directs gives to its patrons satisfaction.

CHARLES L. JOYNT.

Into Michigan the dominion of Canada has sent many of her sons who have crossed the border and have found in the United States, because of its livelier competition and greater business activity, the advantages they have sought. Among this number is Charles L. Joynt, who today is classed among the representative and successful farmers of Leelanaw township, Leelanaw county. His home is on section 27 and here he has lived through almost a quarter of a century.

Mr. Joynt was born in Leeds county, Ontario, on the 21st of March, 1842. His father, John Joynt, was a native of Ireland and on leaving the Emerald isle he crossed the Atlantic to the new world. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Mary Layng, was a native of Scotland and both died in Leeds county, Ontario. Their marriage was blessed with a family of twelve children, six sons and six daughters.

Charles L. Joynt, the fifth in order of birth, was reared upon his father's farm in the place of his nativity, remaining at home until seventeen years of age. He then started out in life on his own account and

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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 58

Author: Sprague, Elvin Lyons, 1830-; Smith, Seddie Powers Publication date: 1903 Publisher: [Indianapolis] : B.F. Bowen Number of Pages: 1088

Author: Sprague, Elvin Lyons, 1830-; Smith, Seddie Powers
Publication date: 1903
Publisher: [Indianapolis] : B.F. Bowen
Number of Pages: 1088