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 60
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 60
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government and favoring the enforcement of law and order, he is by no means a poli- tician; he usually votes the Republican ticket, but in matters local frequently loses sight of party and supports the best qualified candidates.
One of the most pleasing chapters in Mr. Amiotte's life story is that relating to his marriage, which happy event was sol- emnized in the year 1892 with Miss Hattie Flaggert, of Muskegon; the home circle at the present time, in addition to the father and mother, contains the third link in the person of an interesting daughter by the name of Zenedia Marie, a bright young lady who carries her weight of eight' years with becoming dignity and grace.
This review of Mr. Amiotte is neces- sarily general in its character. To enter fully into the interesting details of his career, touching his early boyhood experiences, the struggle of his young manhood and the suc- cess of later days, would require a much larger space than the limits attached to bi- ographical sketches in this volume. Suf- ficient, however, has been submitted to prove that he is entitled to a place in the front ranks of successful self-made men of Trav- erse City, who by pluck, energy and enter- prise, directed and controlled by correct prin- ciples, and founded upon strict integrity and unswerving honor, have wrought wisely and well to make Grand Traverse one of the brightest stars in the state's constellation of counties.
WILLIAM O. HOLDEN.
The state of Michigan is celebrated for the superior excellence of its hotels, and Traverse City's prestige in this line is well
upheld by the attractive Park Place Hotel, of which Mr. Holden is the proprietor, while he is known as one of the thoroughly capa- ble bonifaces of the city, enjoying marked popularity and successfully catering to a large and representative patronage.
The old Buckeye state has contributed in no small measure to the personnel of the population of northern Michigan, and of this number is the subject of this sketch. Mr. Holden was born in the town of Kent, Portage county, Ohio, on the 10th of January, 1857, being a son of James A. and Mary (Bradley) Holden. James A. Holden was born in the state of New York in the year 1813, and as a young man he removed to Portage county, Ohio, being for many years a prominent merchant and in- fluential citizen of Kent, retiring from active business a number of years previously to his death, which there occurred in August, 1900, at which time he had attained to the venerable age of eighty-seven years. He was a man of the highest integrity of character, and commanded the unequivocal confidence and esteem of the community in which he so long made his home. He was a Repub- lican in his political proclivities, having iden- tified himself with the "grand old party" shortly after its organization and ever after- ward remaining a stanch advocate of its prin- ciples. His religious faith was what is known as the orthodox church, while his widow was reared a Methodist. She was born in Portage county in 1825, being a representa- tive of one of the honored pioneer families of that county, where she was reared and educated and where she has passed her en- tire life, being still a resident of the village of Kent, where she is held in affectionate re- gard by all who know her. Of the eleven
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WILLIAM O. HOLDEN.
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children ,born of this union seven are living at the present time, namely : Byron L., who is general agent for the New York Life In- surance Company at San Diego, California, is married and has three children; Alice is the wife of Ezra S. Bullis, a prominent book publisher in the city of Cleveland; Myra E. is the wife of S. J. Evarts, a traveling sales- man, and they reside in the city of Chicago; William O. is the immediate subject of this review; James A., Jr., who is a widower with three children, is associated with his brother Byron in the insurance business in San Diego; and Belle M. and Bertie remain at the old home with their mother, in Kent, Ohio.
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William O. Holden was reared to the age of nineteen years in his native town, where he secured his educational discipline in the public schools. In 1881 he came to Traverse City and assumed the position of clerk in the Park Place Hotel, retaining this incumbency for a period of seven years, at the expiration of which he became manager of the hotel. For an interval of three years, however, he was absent from Traverse City, having passed the winter of 1884 in Califor- nia, while for the succeeding two years he was identified with the hotel business in dif- ferent towns in Michigan. He returned to the Park Place Hotel in 1897 and became proprietor of the same in the same year, since which time he has ably managed the same and gained to it a high reputation with the traveling public. The hotel is modern in its appointments, every detail of service receives careful atten- tion and the place is a favorite resort of commercial travelers in this section of the state. Mr. Holden accords a stanch alle- giance to the Republican party, but has
never held nor desired political office. He and his wife attend the Protestant Episcopal church, though neither are communicants, and fraternally he is identified with the Knights of Pythias, holding membership in Lodge No. 373.
On the 22d of April, 1889, Mr. Holden was united in marriage to Miss Sophia Mor- rison, who was born in New York city, on the 3d of September, 1869. Her parents died when she was a child, and she was reared in the home of George H. Lathrop, of Jackson, Michigan. Mr. and Mrs. Holden have one child, Margaret, who was born on the 29th of April, 1890, and who is now at- tending the public schools.
GEORGE A. CRAKER.
Not all who become contestants in the business arena come off victorious in the strife. It is said that ninety-five per cent. of the men who establish business enterprises of their own meet with failure. This is largely due to the fact that they do not enter the field of activity for which nature in- tended them. Some fail because of lack of close application and others because in- dolence finds a part in their makeup. Mr. Craker, however, is one who has met with success along the line of his chosen calling and he is today one of the prosperous and respected farmers of Leelanaw township, Leelanaw county, his home being on section 23, where he owns a valuable tract of land of two hundred and sixty-eight acres, of which one hundred and sixty acres are im- proved. Mr. Craker was born in Erie county, New York, on the 18th of Septem-
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ber, 1839. His father, Zachariah Craker, was a native of England and the mother of the subject, who bore the maiden name of Rhoda Barrett, was also a native of the mer- rie isle. For some years following their marriage they resided in the Empire state, but during the early boyhood of the subject they emigrated westward, establishing their home in Walworth county, Wisconsin, and in that state they continued to reside until called to their final rest. They had seven children, of whom George A. is the second in order of birth.
. When a small lad George A. Craker ac- companied his parents on their removal to Walworth county, Wisconsin, and was reared upon the home farm. No event of special importance occurred to vary the routine of farm life for him in his youth. The family lived in a pioneer settlement. The Indians were far more numerous than the white settlers in the locality at the time of their arrival and the work of im- provement and progress remained to the future, nor was there any promise of the rapid development of the locality. Many hardships and trials incident to fron- tier life fell to the lot of the settlers and with the others of the family Mr. Craker shared in these. He became familiar with the arduous task of developing a new farm and gave his father the benefit of his assist- ance until 1855, when, at the age of fourteen years, he came to what is now Leelanaw county, Michigan, although there was no county organization at the time. Here he was engaged by the board of foreign mis- sions under the supervision of the Presby- terian church to do missionary work among the Indians at what is now the town of Ome-
na. He continued in that service for four- teen years, being imbued with a most earnest desire to bring the light of the gospel to the red race and to aid them in the adoption of civilization. He always had their entire con- fidence and his efforts were not without good results. At the same time he carried on farming and while thus engaged he was married.
It was on the 17th of May, 1860, that Mr. Craker was joined in wedlock to Mrs. Mary McConnell, who was an assistant mis- sionary of Omena and a native of Pennsyl- vania. They traveled life's journey to- gether for almost twenty-one years and then Mrs. Craker was called to the home pre- pared for the righteous, passing away in Leelanaw township on the 8th of January, 1881. She left two children, William A. and Frank. One son, Alonzo C., had died in 1871, when ten years of age. Mr. Cra- ker was again married on the 23d of Sep- tember, 1891, his second union being with Miss Harriet A. Middleton, who was born in Gustavus, Trumbull county, Ohio, on the 25th of July, 1852. They now occupy their pleasant home on section 23, Leelanaw town- ship. Mrs. Craker is a daughter of Joshua S. and Harriet A. (Beman) Middleton, the former a native of Pennsylvania, while the latter was born in Ohio. They are early and prominent settlers of Leelanaw county, having taken up their abode here in the lat- ter part of the 'fifties and at that time pio- neer conditions existed on all sides. They had eight children, of whom Mrs. Craker is the third.
When Mr. Craker entered upon his missionary work he purchased the farm where he now lives and took up his abode
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thereon in the fall of 1866. It has since been his home, although the finely developed tract of land which he now has bears little resemblance to that which came into his possession more than a third of a century ago. Not an improvement had been made nor a furrow turned, the forest trees were still standing as planted by nature and these had to be cut down and the land cleared be- fore crops could be cultivated. Mr. Craker las erected good buildings and today has a very pleasant and substantial home and his farm is one of the best in Leelanaw town- ship. Within its borders are comprised two hundred and sixty-eight acres and owing to his unfaltering industry he now has one hun- dred and sixty acres under cultivation. His fields are rich and productive and the place is divided by well-kept fences. Annually he harvests his grain crops from which he derives a desirable income when his grain is sent to the markets. In all of his work he is practical and enterprising and his la- bors have been crowned with a richly mer- ited success.
Mr. Craker has filled the position of highway commissioner and for many years was one of the superintendents of the poor for Leelanaw county. He and his wife are devoted and faithful members of the Omena Presbyterian church and through a long period he has served as superintendent of the Sunday school. When the missionaries who had been appointed to labor among the In- dians at Omena left this portion of the state the red people were then without a preacher and in order that religious instruction might be continued Mr. Craker and has wife organized an Indian Sunday school. When a white population came into the
country they also organized a Sunday school for the white children,-in fact, Mr. Craker has been untiring in his efforts to promote Christianity among the people of all races. He recognized the truth of the brotherhood of mankind and his efforts have been a great benefit to his fellow men. He is a gentleman of marked sympathy, kind- ly spirit and of unfaltering devotion to the good and his influence has ever been exerted in behalf of the church and the people. His word has ever been a synonym for integrity and he enjoys the unqualified confidence of all with whom he has come in contact. He is today one of the oldest settlers living in this part of Michigan and is the honored president of the Old Settlers' Association of the Grand Traverse region, comprising the counties of Grand Traverse, Leelanaw, Benzie and Antrim. Faultless in honor, fearless in conduct, stainless in reputation, -such is his life record. Honored and re- spected in every class of society, he has through a long period been a leader in thought and action in the public life of Lee- lanaw county and his name is inscribed high on the roll of its leading citizens. Volumes have been written concerning pioneer life, yet the story of the frontiersman has never been adequately told. Mr. Craker never belonged to that class of people who believe in encroaching on the rights of the red men and driving them from their homes, but he believed in bringing to them the benefits and comforts of civilization and of religion. Such a man deserves all praise and honor and the great states of the west, with their splendid improvements, enterprises and ad- vantages of civilization, are monuments to the memory of such worthy pioneers.
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GRAND TRAVERSE AND LEELANAW COUNTIES.
FRANK AMTSBUECHLER.
There are probably in Michigan repre- sentatives of every civilized country on the face of the globe. Among those who have come from Austria is Frank Amtsbuechler, who, however, has spent the greater part of his life in "the land of the free," enjoying its privileges and taking advantage of its op- portunities, until he is now numbered among the intelligent and prosperous residents of the community in which he makes his home. He lives in Elmwood township, Leelanaw county, and is following the occupation of farming.
Mr. Amtsbuechler was born in Austria on the 13th of February, 1861, and is the eldest in a family of five children. When he was a little lad of four and a half years he was brought to the United States by his parents, Franz and Caroline Amtsbuechler, who, severing the ties which bound them to their native land, started with their little family for the United States. Boarding a west-bound vessel they landed at New York, but did not tarry long in the east, coming al- most immediately thereafter to Michigan. They settled in Solon township, Leelanaw county, where the father secured a tract of land which he at once began to cultivate and improve. His labors resulted in the develop- ment of an excellent and productive farm, and thereon he made his home until his death, which occurred in 1892, when he was in his fifty-fifth year.
No event of special importance occurred to vary the routine of farm life for Frank Amtsbuechler in his youth. He was reared upon his father's farm, and when not en- gaged with the duties of the schoolroom his time was largely devoted to assisting his
father in the cultivation of the soil. He plowed, planted and harvested the crops, and thus when he entered upon an independent business career he was well equipped for the work by practical experience.
On the 7th of December, 1886, was cele- brated the marriage of Mr. Amtsbuechler and Miss Mary Lautner, who was a native of Germany, born on the 18th of October, 1863. Her parents, Wenzel and Helena Lautner, were also natives of the same coun- try, and the mother bore the maiden name of Helena Queisner. On coming to America they also established their home in Solon township, Leelanaw county, and the father carried on farming until his death. His widow is still living. Mrs. Amtsbuech- ler is a sister of Stephen and Edward Laut- ner, both of whom are well-known farmers of this county and are represented elsewhere in this volume. Unto our subject and his wife have been born two children, Oscar and William.
At the time of his marriage Frank Amts- buechler located in Elmwood township upon the farm which has since been his home, and to its further development and improvement he has since given his attention. In the op- eration of his land he also displays excellent business ability and executive force, and he now owns two hundred acres, of which about ninety acres are devoted to the pur- poses of general farming. There are good and substantial buildings upon the place, erected by the owner, and his ambition to secure a comfortable home and competence has been laudable and has been crowned with success. There is nothing in his life record which requires or seeks disguise. His his- tory is as an open book, which all may read, and the tribute of respect and confidence
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MRS. FRANK AMTSBUECHLER.
FRANK AMTSBUECHLER.
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which is ever accorded an upright character is given him. His name, too, is enrolled among the early settlers, and he has not only witnessed the development of the coun- ty, but has contributed to its progress through the faithful performance of his du- ties of citizenship.
JAMES H. MONROE.
The early pioneers of Grand Traverse county are fast passing away. Year by year their numbers continue to diminish, until of the hundreds who located here in the 'fifties only a very few of them remain. They withstood the trials, privations and hardships of life on the frontier, cleared the land and made productive farms and com- fortable homes, the result of their arduous labors being now enjoyed by their children and grandchildren. There are, however, many men and women now living in the county who, though coming here in early life, bore well their part in winning the land from the wilderness and making it a pro- ductive, prosperous region. They are no less worthy of praise for the part they bore in the labors and privations of pioneer life than are their parents. The cares and con- cerns of life weighed less heavily, doubtless upon their minds, for adversity has far less influence on youth than on age, but they are none the less entitled to the gratitude of their fellow citizens of today for what they have accomplished. Among these is Hon. James H. Monroe, the subject of this sketch. Coming to Grand Traverse county in 1859, when a boy of twelve years, locat- ing with his father and the other members
of the family in the midst of the wilderness, the early years of his life were chiefly de- voted to toil.
James H. Monroe was born in Steuben county, New York, August 5, 1847. His parents were William and Nellie (LaRue) Monroe, both natives of the state of New York, in which commonwealth they were married and some years afterward moved to Michigan. They located in Kent coun- ty, where they resided three years, and in 1859 established themselves on a homestead in Grand Traverse county. All the region round about was at that time a dense wilder- ness. They came by boat and to reach the land on which they located had to make a journey of twelve miles through the woods, the country at that time being entirely inno- cent of anything in the nature of a road. Six miles of the distance had been partially "cut," which made their progress compara- tively easy, but the remainder of the journey was only accomplished after they had carved their way through with axes. They built a primitive home upon their place and occu- pied it for many years, until a better one was substituted. They were the parents of three children, viz: Mark L. grew to manhood, married and was the father of an interest- ing family of three children, but met with an accident with a runaway team in 1899, whereby he lost his life; Theodore A. re- sides in Traverse City, is married, is the father of one son, and is employed in the starch factory; James H. is the subject of this sketch.
The early education of James H. Mon- roe was confined to the common schools of his neighborhood. He was a good student and improved well his time so that long be- fore he had attained his majority he was
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GRAND TRAVERSE AND LEELANAW COUNTIES.
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well versed in all of the common school branches. This education has been supple- mented since by extensive reading, which has included history, biography, science and works of the higher order of literature, but law has been his special study. The other reading has been more for pleasure than profit, but one position that has been occu- pied by Judge Monroe made the study of the law imperative. There are few men in northern Michigan better informed on almost any subject that might be introduced than he. On leaving school and going out into the world to provide for himself, his father presented him with a tract of land in Blair township, two hundred acres in ex- tent. It was what is termed wild land, wholly unimproved and in the woods. The next few years of his life he devoted to the clearing, improving and cultivation of the land. It is now cleared, improved and in a fine state of cultivation, with good buildings of all kinds and possessing every requisite for a comfortable home. Since he has taken up his residence in Traverse City the farm has been rented, but the work thereon is con- ducted under his immediate supervision.
In October, 1875, James H. Monroe was united in marriage to Miss De Etta Monroe, in Blair township, in which township the bride resided. The family name of each is the same, but, so far as they are able to as- certain, they are related in no other manner than as husband and wife. Soon after mar- riage they took up their abode upon the farm, where they continued to reside until 1888, when the official duties of Judge Monroe ne- cessitated a removal to Traverse City. They are the parents of two children, Gracie and Nellie. The latter died at the age of five years. Gracie is now in her sixteenth year, a
most amiable, studious girl. She is attend- ing school and is making fine progress in her studies. Politically Hon. James H. Monroe is a Republican. He is ardent and zealous in the interest of his party and one of its most prudent leaders in northern Michigan. The first political speech he ever listened to was delivered in Battle Creek, Michigan, by that inost accomplished politician and statesman, Zachariah Chandler, of. Michigan. Like all the utterances of that most remarkable man, it was a remarkable speech, and made a last- ing impression on the mind of the youth.
In the Republican county convention of 1888 James H. Monroe was accorded the nomination for county treasurer, was elected, and two years later was re-elected to succeed himself. In 1892 he was elected probate judge, and for eight years occupied the bench, discharging the duties of the office most efficiently. In 1900, upon relinquishing his place upon the bench, he engaged in the fire insurance business, with offices in the Wilhelm building, in which vocation he is still engaged. At the late election, in 1902, he was elected to represent Grand Traverse county in the lower house of the state legis- lature, and no one doubts that he will make a most worthy and capable representative. Mr. Monroe is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and he and Mrs. Monroe are both members of the Rebekahs. Years ago, when he was an agriculturist, he was a member and earnest worker in the Grange. Besides his fine farm in Blair town- ship he is the owner of a large amount of Traverse county property. To him it must be a real pleasure to realize how well he stands with his fellow-citizens throughout the county. The public is seldom mistaken in its estimation of a man. If Judge Monroe
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was not most worthy he could not have re- mained in the public eye for the past fifteen years without any abatement of his popu- larity. Today his standing in the community is far above what it ever has been. He has won for himself a name whose luster even time itself must fail to dim.
' ORLANDO C. MOFFATT.
It is frequently asserted that distin- guished fathers rarely if ever beget sons who possess the qualities necessary to win distinction. There is just enough truth in the assertion to beguile into this belief people who lack the energy and intelligence to in- vestigate. Thousands of instances might be given on both sides of the proposition. A good deal of the distinction of this world is due to mere accident which tosses a father into the public eye, but is not always suffi- ciently generous to perform a like service for the son. There are, however, thou- sands of instances where men, through force of character, intelligence and native worth have won their way to the front and acquired distinction. In such cases the chances are largely in favor of the sons of such men inheriting those desirable quali- ties and if they do there is reasonable prob- ability that the son may not only equal the sire, but far outstrip him in the achieve- ments of his life. One such son is Orlando C. Moffatt, the subject of this sketch, whose father sat in the halls of legislation of the national capitol at Washington as the representative from the eleventh con- gressional district of Michigan.
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