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 63
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 63
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line call every morning, noon and evening on their way to and from Traverse City, where close connections are made with in- coming and outgoing trains. Upon the water row-boats, sailing-boats. and steam launches all add to the beautiful picture, which can hardly be surpassed in any por- tion of the globe. The subject's farm is de- voted to the raising of fruit and vegetables and upon it are also produced the milk, but- ter, poultry and eggs which are supplied in abundance to the guests.
It was on Christmas day of 1889, in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, that Mr. Keyes was united in marriage to Mrs. Jeanette S. Ballard, a native of Elyria, Ohio, and a daughter of Anson and Emeline Braman, the former a native of Batavia, New York, and the latter of Berkshire county, Mass- achusetts. In the year 1872 the parents of Mrs. Keyes located in Northport, where they lived for several years, and then re- turned to the east. Mr. Braman died in North Carolina and his widow passed away in Elyria, New York. Both Mr. and Mrs. Keyes are active supporters of the Presby- terian church at Omena, and he is a member of the Knights of Pythias fraternity. They are people of genuine worth, highly respect- ed by all with whom they have come in con- tact. Cordial and genial in manner and putting forth every effort for the entertain- ment of their guests, they have become pop- ular with a large number of tourists who an- nually seek rest and quiet in this portion of Michigan. It is a well authenticated fact that success comes as the legitimate result of well applied energy, unflagging deter- mination and perseverance in a course of action when once decided upon. She smiles not upon the idler or dreamer and only the
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men who have persistently sought her favor are crowned with her blessings. In tracing the history of Mr. Keyes it is plainly seen that the prosperity which he enjoys has been won by commendable qualities and it is also his personal worth which has gained for him the high esteem of those who know him.
SAMUEL M. BROWN.
The position of magistrate or justice of the peace is not looked upon in this country with the same amount of reverence and re- spect as it is in other lands, the reason for this being difficult to determine. It is very certain, however, that many very able men have occupied the office of justice of the peace in various parts of this country, that they discharged the duties of the position most worthily and that through their ser- vices they merited and received the respect and confidence of their fellow citizens. One such is Samuel M. Brown, the subject of this sketch. He has held the position for twenty years, and if in that time he has erred at all it has been on the side of mercy. One difference between Justice Brown and many other ordinary justices of the peace is that he is a man of good judgment, cool, delib- erate and impassive, to which is supplement- ed a very thorough knowledge of the law. He is a member of the bar and has been for many years.
Samuel M. Brown was born in Iowa county, Wisconsin, December 18, 1850. His father is Henry Brown, a farmer, who was born in the county of Antrim, Ireland, of Scotch-Irish parents, October 1, 1820. Only two years of his life were spent in his
native land, as his parents emigrated to America in 1822, settling in New York, and there the boyhood of Henry Brown was passed. He received a fair common school education and when he arrived at man's es- tate moved west, locating in northern Illi- nois. There he met and, on the 25th day of December, 1849, married Miss Julia Part- low, who was a native of New York. Hen- ry Brown is still a hearty, vigorous man, in his eighty-third year, and mentally and physically he gives every evidence of being able to easily pass the century mark. Mrs. Brown died in July, 1893. They were the parents of nine children, two of whom died in infancy. The others, of whom Samuel M. is the oldest, all grew to maturity and are living useful and prosperous lives. They are Albert H., a resident of Traverse City, present grand master of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows of the state of Michi- gan. He is stockholder, president and man- ager of the Eureka Brick Company, of Grand Rapids, Michigan; Ida M., wife of W. J. Kent, of Everett, Washington ; Clara E., wife of Seth Osborne, a resident of Wexford, Michigan; Martha J., wife of U. S. Ottinger, of Monroe Center, Michigan; William L. Brown, secretary and treasurer of the Traverse City Manufacturing Com- pany; Ray E., a clerk in a mercantile estab- lishment in Everett, Washington. The early days of Samuel M. Brown were spent in southern Wisconsin and northern Illinois on a farm. He attended the public schools, and, realizing that little if any further chance of acquiring an education would be afforded him, he made the most of his op- portunities given him. In 1866 the family moved to Michigan, locating in Grand Traverse county. Here the subject labored
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for eleven years, assisting his father in clear- ing and cultivating a farm, besides doing much work in the woods and in the lumber camps. In the spring of 1877 he went west and spent a year looking over Kansas, Ne- braska and Missouri. In 1878, in Vernon county, Missouri, Mr. Brown was united in marriage to Miss Alice M. Partlow, a na- tive of Wisconsin, and a lady of much talent and refinement. They immediately took up their abode in Humboldt, Kansas, where they continued to reside until 1881, when they moved to Michigan, and located in Traverse City, where they have since re- sided. They are the parents of one son, Elmer E., born August 9, 1879, who was educated in the city schools of Traverse City and is at present city circulator of the Daily Eagle, Traverse City. In politics Samuel M. Brown is a Republican and has always interested himself in the success of his party. Twenty years ago he was elected justice of the peace and has very efficiently discharged the duties of the position ever since. Soon after entering upon the duties of his office, to qualify himself for their dis- charge. he began the study of law. The more he pursued it the more interested he became. Volume after volume was studied by him, until he felt himself fully qualified to pass the necessary examination for ad- mission to the bar. He was admitted in 1895, and has been a practicing attorney of Grand Traverse county since. He is now serving his third term as supervisor from the first ward of the city. He is a stock holder and vice-president of the Traverse City Manufacturing Company. Mrs. Brown is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and most of her relatives are mem- bers of the same religious fold. Mr. Brown,
however, belongs to no religious denomina- tion, but naturally leans to that in which most of his relatives and friends are. The Modern Woodmen of America and the In- dependent Order of Odd Fellows are the only fraternal societies to which he belongs. He is a man of ability and integrity, whose services are well appreciated by the people of Traverse City and whose place upon the bench of the lower court it would be diffi- cult to fill.
MARVIN LACORE.
An honorable retirement from labor in which to enjoy the fruits of former toil and the enjoyment which life can offer is the fitting reward of a useful and active busi- ness career, in which one, through keen dis- cernment, indefatigable labor and honorable methods, advanced steadily toward the goal of prosperity. Such is the record made by Marvin LaCore. He is now practically liv- ing retired in the village of Empire, Leela- naw county, and through his long connec- tion with agricultural interests he not only carefully conducted his farm, but so man- aged its affairs that he acquired thereby a position among the substantial residents of the community. Moreover, he is entitled to representation in this volume because he is one of the native sons of Michigan and his mind bears the impress of its early historical annals. He was born here ere the state was admitted to the union and since territorial days down to the present he has been an in- terested witness of its development, taking a just pride in what has been accomplished by this growing commonwealth.
Mr. LaCore was born on a farm in Hills-
MR. AND MRS. M. LA CORE
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dale county, on the 18th of May, 1836. His father, Addison LaCore, was a native of Batavia, New York, while the mother bore the maiden name of Sarah Marvin and was born in Onondaga county, New York. Her death occurred in Bronson, Michigan, in 1840, when she was but a young woman, it being occasioned by being thrown from a horse she was riding. She had become the mother of three children, of whom Marvin LaCore of this review is the second in order of birth. The father long survived his wife and reached the advanced age of eighty- seven years, passing away in Hillsdale coun- ty, Michigan, one of the honored and re- spected pioneers of the state.
At the time of the mother's death the family was broken up, the children going to live with different people. Marvin LaCore found a home for a time with a man by the name of Waterman, with whom he lived for a few months. He then took up his abode with a gentleman named O. Clark, of St. Joseph county, Michigan, where he re- mained until 1847. He was then nine years of age and at that time he went to Illinois to live with his father, who had married again and was then residing in Stephenson county of the Prairie state. For about a year Marvin LaCore remained in that coun- ty, at the end of which time his father went to California and sent his son to Niagara county, New York, where he lived with an aunt until about 1851. In that year he went to live with an uncle at Jamestown, New York, where he remained for a year and there he left without much ceremony, run- ning away in order that he might go to sea. Proceeding to New Bedford, Massachusetts, he there embarked on a whaling vessel. The succeeding eight years of his life were
thus occupied. He made many whaling voyages and went through the exciting and often arduous experiences incident to the capture of the great monarchs of the deep. At length leaving that life, he returned to Hillsdale county, Michigan, and with the money he had earned he purchased forty acres of land and engaged in farming. To the development and improvement of his land he devoted his energies until after the outbreak of the Civil war.
When the southern states attempted to overthrow the Union, men from all walks of life flocked to the standard of the nation. They came from the work shops, from the counting-rooms, from the offices and from the farms, all anxious to serve their coun- try and to maintain the Union unbroken. A few months passed and it was seen that the war was to be no mere holiday affair, that the South was as resolute as the North in its efforts to win victory. Prompted by a spirit of patriotism, Mr. LaCore then of- fered his services to the Union, enlisting in August, 1861, as a member of Company C, Seventh Michigan Infantry. He was made orderly sergeant of his company and with his command went to the front. The regi- ment at once entered active service and Mr. LaCore's valor was tested on a number of important battle fields. During the engage- ment of Fair Oaks he was slightly wounded in the right hand, but blood poisoning set in and occasioned the loss of one of his fingers. He afterward took part in the battle of Fredericksburg and acted as second lieuten- ant of his company on that occasion. There he was wounded in the left arm and was sent to Washington, where he was granted a furlough of thirty days. During that time he paid a visit to his friends in New York.
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Before he left the capital city, however, he was commissioned second lieutenant of his company, but while in the Empire state he resigned. Soon afterward he returned to Michigan, where he remained for four months. He then again became a seaman, shipping on the lakes, but when a few months had been passed in that way he re- turned to the land and in June, 1863, he came to Leelanaw county. This district of Michigan was but sparsely settled compar- atively and much of the land was yet unim- proved. Mr. LaCore took up a homestead claim in Empire township, which was then a part of Glenn Arbor township. Settling upon a tract of land, he has since made it his home. At one time he was the owner of one hundred and forty-seven acres of land, but most of this has now been disposed of. Since coming to Leelanaw county farming has been his chief occupation, but ere the war was ended he again entered his coun- try's service, spending a year in the navy. He re-enlisted in 1864 and continued with the naval troops until the close of hostilities. He served in the Mississippi and West Gulf squadrons and was discharged from the United States ship of war "Portsmouth" on the 9th of September, 1865. Returning to his home, he resumed farm work and has made excellent improvements upon his prop- erty, transforming what was once a wild tract of land into rich fields which return to him golden harvests during the time of his active connection with the farm work.
Mr. LaCore was married in Wilson township, Niagara county, New York, on the 13th of January, 1863, to Miss Mary Hill, a native of Lewiston, New York. They now have three living children : Lil- lian, who is the wife of Professor Charles E.
Ferris, a member of the faculty of the Uni- versity of Tennessee at Knoxville; John O., who is living in Elk Rapids, Michigan, and Otto M., a resident of Cross Village. They also lost one child, Margaret, who died in infancy. From an early period in the de- velopment of Leelanaw county Mr. LaCore has been prominent in its public affairs. He served as the first clerk of Empire town- ship, has also been one of its supervisors and for more than thirty years he has been justice of the peace. No higher testimonial of his capability in office could be given than the fact that he has so long been continued as the incumbent in that position. His de- cisions are strictly fair and impartial and he has won "golden opinions from all sorts of people." Mr. LaCore has also been active in behalf of the educational interests of the community and has served as school in- spector and school director for nearly forty years. His political support has long been given to the Democracy and he is recognized as one of its leading representatives in this part of the state. In the years 1880 and 1881 Mr. LaCore served as a member of Point Betsey life-saving station. Fraternal- ly he is connected with the Masonic lodge, with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and with the Knights of the Maccabees and both he and his wife are devoted members of the Methodist Episcopal church. He has witnessed much of the growth and progress made in northwestern Michigan and as a public spirited and enterprising man has taken an active interest in public affairs. His career has been varied and there have entered into his life history many incidents unusual in the history of most men. His experiences on whaling vessels, if written in detail, would furnish a thrilling story.
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He also knows what war means and upon the battlefields of the South he proved him- self a loyal soldier. In the more quiet pur- suits of life he has showed himself to be honorable and straightforward in all his re- lations with his fellow men and because of his upright life and because he is one of the pioneer settlers of Michigan he deserves prominent mention in this volume.
LUDWIG STRACK.
No European nation has contributed to the complex fabric of our American social make-up a more valuable element than has the great empire of Germany, and in the varied fields of useful endeavor we find the German-American playing his part effectu- ally and honorably. The subject of this re- view was reared to the vocation of gardener in the fatherland and gained that valuable experience and practical facility which has led to his being called to the responsible po- sition which he now holds, as chief gardener for the Northern Michigan Asylum for the Insane, at Traverse City. He has risen to this position through his fidelity and able service, and he has been employed by the authorities of the institution for the past sixteen years, within which he has done much to promote the interests of this noble and well conducted establishment, with its fine buildings, grounds and farm. Mr. Strack has a pleasant home at 309 Spruce street, and he retains the confidence and re- spect of all who know him. Since he as- sumed charge of the gardening of the asy- lum farm he has harvested fully fifty thou- sand head of cabbage, fifteen thousand bunches of celery and one thousand bushels
of onions, and from this statement an idea may be gained of the extent of the opera- tions under his supervision. In the year 1901 he secured from his gardens fifty-five thousand bushels of edible tubers, including potatoes, carrots, turnips, beets, etc., while other products during the year included about five hundred bushels of peaches, about forty bushels of grapes, twelve tons of pumpkins, fourteen tons of squash, five hun- dred bushels of green corn, four hundred bushels of cucumbers, one thousand bush- els of strawberries, four hundred bushels of raspberries, one hundred and fifty of cur- rants, five hundred of apples and one hun- dred of plums. Such of the products as were not used directly in the institution as matured have been placed in the root cellars and cold-storage houses until sold or util- ized on the tables of the asylum. When Mr. Strack first assumed his present posi- tion he had personal charge of practically all details of the work, but under his direction the increase and expansion of the horticultu- ral and pomological industry of the institut- tion has been so great that he now has a large corps of assistants constantly working under his direction. He also has control of supplying the table requisitions for both vegetables and fruit, and keeps a record of such supplies. Mr. Strack came to Ameri- ca in the year 1884, and his brother-in-law, Albert Bork, had at that time secured em- ployment at his trade of mason in connec- tion with the erection of the asylum build- ings, and our subject came to Traverse City, and for the first three years was employed as a helper about the building, after which he was given charge of laying out and car- ing for the lawns about the buildings, set- ting out shrubbery, etc., and the beautiful
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and effective scheme of landscape gardening now in evidence is largely due to his dis- criminating efforts and supervision. He continued to attend to the grounds until the demands placed upon his attention and time in connection with the fine gardens and orchards became so insistent as to compel him to resign the lawns to the care of others.
Mr. Strack was born in Pomerania, Germany, on the 3d of December, 1848, and . was there reared to maturity, while he be- came associated with the gardening busi- ness when a mere boy and continued to de- vote his attention to the same until his emi- gration to America, his experience being wide and varied and his knowledge of the most practical order. He came to the United States in 1884, and forthwith took up his residence in Traverse City, where he has since made his home. He is indefatiga- ble in his industry, and his interest in his work is unflagging, so that his services are fully appreciated. In politics he gives his support to the Republican party and he is true to the duties of citizenship. In Ger- many he was united in marriage to Miss Amelia Bork, who accompanied him on his removal to America. They have two chil- dren, namely : Matilda, who is the widow of Joseph Thompson, of Grand Rapids, and who now resides in Traverse City; and Louis, who is employed in the furniture de- partment of the mercantile establishment of the Hannah & Lay Company, of this city.
JOSEPH JEOR.
Joseph Jeor is one of the enterprising, energetic farmers who have contributed so materially to the present flourishing condi-
tion of Grand Traverse county, Michigan. He was born July 3, 1857, in Detroit, Mich- igan, where the mother died, leaving three little children, of whom Joseph was the sec- ond. His father moved to Traverse county and took up a homestead upon which he resided for several years and partially im- proved. He afterward moved to Traverse City and finally to North Dakota.
The subject of this sketch came to this county when little more than an infant and has grown to manhood and received his edu- cation in the midst of lifelong friends. He is industrious and economical and has man- aged to accumulate eighty acres of land which he has placed in a high state of cul- tivation, while his buildings are plain and substantial-built for convenience and serv- ice. December 23, 1882, he was married to Miss Nettie Davidson, a native of Crawford county, Pennsylvania, born June 30, 1866, and the mother of his two children, William E. and Florence Pearl. They are quiet, un- assuming people whose sterling qualities are appreciated by a host of friends. In politics Mr. Jeon supports the Republican party on national issues, though in local matters he votes for the man he considers best fitted for the office.
JOSEPH M. ALLGAIER.
The farming interests of Leelanaw coun- ty are well represented by Joseph M. All- gaier, whose home is on section 35, Solon township. He has there a fine country resi- dence, and is a progressive agriculturist, his property being valuable and indicating his careful supervision. His father, Frank All- gaier, was a native of Prussia, and after
JOSEPH JEOR RESIDENCE
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arriving at an adult age he was united in marriage to Miss Wilhelmina Sours, who was also a native of Prussia. Their marriage occurred in Grand Traverse county, Michi- gan, and they took up their abode in Penin- sula township. They resided there and in Long Lake township, Grand Traverse coun- ty, for a number of years, the father being actively connected with farming. He con- tinued to engage in agricultural pursuits un- til his death, which occurred when he was seventy-three years of age.
Of a family of five children Joseph M. Allgaier was the third in order of birth. He is a native of Peninsula township, Grand Traverse county, his natal day being June 2, 1863. He lived at home until the time of his marriage, and assisted his father in the cultivation of the farm, early becoming fa- miliar with agricultural work in its various departments. The public schools of the neighborhood afforded him his educational privileges, and the lessons of industry, perse- verance and integrity which he learned in his youth have been important factors in shaping his career in later life, and have formed the foundation of his very creditable and desirable success.
Mr. Allgaier was married in Traverse City, Grand Traverse county, on the 13th of August, 1885, at which time he led to the marriage altar Miss Mary Murphy, who was born in Canada and is a daughter of Alex- ander and Sarah Murphy. This marriage has been blessed with four children, who are yet living-Francis, Wilhelmina, Alvina and Estella. They also lost three children, who passed away in early youth. The family home is upon a fine farm of about four hun- dred acres. This property is an indication of the life of industry and enterprise which
Mr. Allgaier has led. He owes his property to his own sound business judgment, his dili- gence and his perseverance, and he is today one of the large landowners of the com- munity. He has kept fully abreast with the progressive spirit of the times, which is man- ifest in agricultural life as well as in other lines of business activity. Upon his farm he has erected a commodious and beautiful resi- dence; in fact, it is one of the best country homes in this portion of the state, and is tastefully furnished and is pervaded by an air of hospitality and good cheer which makes it a favorite resort with the many friends of the family. Both Mr. and Mrs. Allgaier are held in the highest regard. They are people of sterling worth and occupy an enviable position in social circles, where intelligence and true worth are received as the passports into good society. Mr. Allgaier has held the office of school treasurer, but the greater part of his time and attention has been given to his business affairs, and he stands today among the self-made men of the country, whose life histories awaken for them the admiration and respect of all who know them.
HARVEY J. CURTIS.
The Buckeye state has furnished to Michigan many of its best citizens, and it appears that that commonwealth has not greatly impoverished itself by doing so. Among those who left Ohio thirty-five or forty years ago and settled in northern Mich- igan, the subject of this review, Harvey J. Curtis, janitor of the Central school build- ing, Traverse City, is by no means the least. He was born in the town of. Grafton, Lo-
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