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 68
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 68
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103
which time and man have wrought and has taken a helpful part in reclaiming the wild district for purposes of civilization.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Frederick Heimforth have been born ten children : William; Eliz- abeth, who was the wife of William Berrin- ger and died in Ohio; Fred, who died in Elmwood township, Leelanaw county ; Cath- erine, the wife of H. B. Conine; Philip, who is a resident farmer of this county; Peter, who resides in Rosdale, California; Sophia, the wife of Fred Weigand; George H., who is a farmer of Elmwood township; Minnie, at home; and Lena, the wife of Emory Wei- gand.
Mr. Heimforth was born on North Man- itou island, Leelanaw county, April 20, 1856, and remained at home with his father until eighteen years of age, during which time he mastered the branches of English learning taught in the public school near his home. On leaving the parental roof he made his way to Ohio, where he spent about two years, after which he removed westward to Kansas, where he also lived for two years. For about three years he was in Colorado, Wyo- ming and Montana, engaged in prospecting and lumbering, and on the expiration of that period he returned to Leelanaw county. For two years he was upon the home farm, assisting his father in its cultivation, and then settled upon the farm which is now his home, on section 8, Elmwood township. He owns two hundred and seventy acres of land, of which two hundred acres is improved. This is the old Dunlap farm and is a valua- ble property, splendidly equipped with mod- ern accessories, with the latest improved farm machinery and with good buildings. His methods of farming are in keeping with the advanced ideas of the twentieth century
and in his work he is systematic, energetic and diligent.
Mr. Heimforth was married in Elmwood township, Leelanaw county, on the Ist of January, 1889, to Miss Rhoda E. Hatch, who was a native of New York, her birth having occurred in Oswego county, October 3, 1855. Her parents were Smith and Cor- nelia A. (Lince) Hatch, who came to Lee- lanaw county about 1867 and settled in Elm- wood township, where the father died on the 18th of August, 1887, but the mother still survives. They were the parents of five children, of whom Mrs. Heimforth is the second in order of birth. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Heimforth three children have been born, Fred, Elizabeth and Mary.
In township and county affairs Mr. Heimforth takes an active and abiding in- terest and views all such matters from a practical and progressive standpoint. He votes with the Republican party and is one of its stanch advocates. He has never been active as an office seeker, however, preferring to give his time and attention to his business affairs, in which he has met with signal suc- cess. He is a man of varied experiences, gained during his sojourn in different parts of the county. There is nothing narrow in his nature, he looks at the world from a broad standpoint and stands as a high type of American manhood, reliable, enterpris- ing and with due regard for the rights of others.
HENRY HOEFLIN.
Among the men who have been largely instrumental in developing and bringing out the best resources of Grand Traverse coun-
1
. ....
HENRY HOEFLIN RESIDENCE.
539
GRAND TRAVERSE AND LEELANAW COUNTIES.
ty, Michigan, perhaps none occupy a more prominent place than Henry Hoeflin, whose fine farm property is noticeable among the well-cared-for homes of this section. Mr. Hoeflin was one of eight children born to Jacob and Elizabeth (Westmiller ) Hoeflin, both of whom were natives of Germany. He was born May 1, 1852, in Waterloo county, Ontario, and grew to sturdy manhood there. Early in February, 1887, he left his native land and sought a new home in the States, locating in Paradise township, Grand Traverse county, Michigan. Here he en- tered one hundred and sixty acres of land which has since been his home and which he converted from its original wilderness into a profitable and pleasant farm.
Mr. Hoeflin was married June 21, 1875, to Miss Magdalena Bauman, a native of the same county. She was born April 21, 1850, and is a daughter of John K. and Catherine (Schlink) Bauman. Mr. and Mrs. Bauman were born in Germany, whence they came to Canada, the husband and father passing away in Waterloo county when in his sixty- seventh year. The mother came to Michi- gan, where she lived to the advanced age of ninety-one years. They were the parents of two children, of whom Mrs. Hoeflin was the elder. Eight children have blessed the home of Mr. and Mrs. Hoeflin, namely : John D., Charles, Isadore, Mary M., Ar- thur, Henry, who died in his second year, Venia and Lilly. St. John's Lutheran church of Kingsley numbers this worthy couple among its most zealous and honored members. Mr. Hoeflin is an ardent Repub- lican and for the past two years has held the office of highway commissioner, giving to the work an intelligent and discriminating
direction that has been of invaluable service to the general public and a lasting credit to himself.
ARCHIBALD M. CAMPBELL.
Archibald M. Campbell, a well-to-do and reputable farmer of Grand Traverse county, Michigan, was born in Elgin county, Cana- da, July 23, 1845. He is a son of Alexander and Grace (Morrison) Campbell, both of whom came to Canada from Scotland, their native land. In the spring of 1868 Mr. Campbell came to Grand Traverse county and remained until the following October, but old associations were too much for him 'and he returned to the friends of his youth, remaining there for six years. In 1874 he took the California fever and spent two years in that state, engaged principally in lumber- ing. He once more returned to Canada and soon after located in Shiawassee county, Michigan, where he was employed in agri- cultural pursuits for two years. Coming again to Grand Traverse county, he purchas- ed eighty acres of land in Whitewater town- ship and has lived there continuously since. The farms of this section are noted for their good buildings and neat, thrifty appearance and his is no exception to the rule. Having designed it for his homestead, he gave care- ful attention to its clearing and improve- ments and the result is all that could be wished for. That he has prospered to such an extent is due to his industry and good management.
Mr. Campbell was joined in marriage July 19, 1877, in Corunna, Shiawassee county, Michigan, to Miss Matilda M. Bo-
33
510
GRAND TRAVERSE AND LEELANAW COUNTIES.
man. Mrs. Campbell was born in that coun- ty October 2, 1858, and is a daughter of John and Jane (Judd) Boman, the father a native of Germany and the mother of Con- necticut. She was the eldest of a family of six children and is the mother of three, viz : Alexander, who is a student in the Univer- sity of Michigan; John A. and Alice L. Mr. and Mrs. Campbell fully realize the ad- vantages of a good education and are en- deavoring to equip their children with such moral and intellectual training that they will be fitted for any position in life to which they may be called. They take an active part in church work and hold a membership in the Elk Lake Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Campbell has served on a number of school offices and has acted as highway commis- .sioner.
JAMES O. BLOODGOOD.
James O. Bloodgood, a leading citizen of Grand Traverse county, Michigan, and a practical farmer of Whitewater township, first opened his eyes to the light of day on a farm in Schoharie county, New York, March 14, 1833, in the home of Joseph and Nancy (Hill) Bloodgood. When the sub- ject was about two years of age his parents moved to Wayne county, Michigan, and six years later to Hillsdale county, that state, where for a period of twenty-three years they made their home. They then followed their son to this county and remained here until their deaths, the mother at the age of seven- ty-four years and the father at the more ad- vanced age of eighty-three. They were the parents of nine children.
James Bloodgood made his home with
his parents until he had almost reached his thirtieth year and it was not until September, 1862, that he came to this locality and in- vested in land in Whitewater township. He has bought and sold land many times, buy- ing up a tract of uncleared land which he would put in tillable condition and sell for an advance on the cost price, when he would at once invest in another place. He was married in Corry, Erie county, Pennsylvania, on July 4, 1866, to Miss Emily B. Griffis, a native of Cattaraugus county, New York, and a daughter of Orlin and Susan (Stil- well) Griffis. Their marriage resulted in the birth of one child, Ernest L., who died in infancy. Essie A., wife of Ray E. Shug, and William R. were adopted children. Mrs. . Bloodgood was a woman of many. admirable qualities, an active member of the Methodist Episcopal church and an excellent home- maker. Her death, which occurred August 22, 1899, in the fifty-seventh year of her age, was a great loss, not only to her immediate family, but to the entire community in which she lived and labored.
Mr. Bloodgood is also a member of the Methodist church at Williamsburg and is a strong advocate of the principles of temper- ance. His influence has been potent for good throughout this entire section and he is fearless in his denunciation of wrong. He is a Republican and has been honored by a number of offices, his services giving such eminent satisfaction that he has been retained for year after year in the same capacity. He has been justice of the peace for about eight years, township treasurer for several years, and supervisor for over twelve, a record for probity and deserved confidence that can not be beaten. These facts, alone, are elo- quent of the worth and integrity of the man,
541
GRAND TRAVERSE AND LEELANAW COUNTIES.
but they can give but a small idea of the good he has been to the public. We will note one instance of his enterprise in behalf of the community. He built the first school house erected in Williamsburg and installed therein Miss Sarah Spencer, now Mrs. Elvin L. Sprague, as the first teacher, and it is safe to say that the educational interests have been steadily growing since.
ELMER E. DURYEA.
Elmer E. Duryea is the owner of a valu- able farm in Long Lake township, having there a tract of one hundred and sixty acres of land, over half of which is under cultiva- tion. There are also good buildings upon the place and none of the equipments of a model farm are lacking. With agricul- tural life Mr. Duryea has been identified from his earliest infancy. He was born upon a farm in Chautauqua county, New York, on the 7th day of April, 1864, his parents being Peter A. and Eliza M. Dur- yea. When their son was a youth of nine years they bade adieu to their old home in the Empire state and started westward, arriving in Grand Traverse county, Mich- igan, in the fall of 1873. They settled in Long Lake township upon a tract of land to the development and cultivation of which the father devoted his energies un- til called to his final rest. He passed away at the age of seventy-five years and his wife died at the age of sixty-seven years. Of their seven children Elmer E. Duryea is the youngest.
From the age of nine years Mr. Duryea of this review has been a resident of Grand
Traverse county. Many pioneer conditions still existed at the time of the arrival of the family here and with the others he shared in the hardships and also in the arduous work of developing a new farm. He was reared to manhood in Long Lake township and through the winter months attended the pub- lic schools, acquiring a good practical edu- cation. The occupation to which he was reared he has made his life work. He owns the old homestead of eighty acres and in ad- dition has another tract of eighty acres and his cultivated fields comprise eighty acres of land whereon are annually harvested splen- did crops of the cereals best adapted to soil and climate. Industry is the key note of his character and forms the basis of an honora- ble business career.
On the 14th of February, 1888, occurred the marriage of Mr. Duryea and Miss Mattie E. Hill, a daughter of the late Charles Hill, of Peninsula township. Mr. and Mrs. Dur- yea lost one child in infancy and they have now a daughter, Vera P., who is at home. For six years Mr. Duryea has held the office of supervisor of Long Lake township and his long continuance in office is certainly in- controvertible proof of his fidelity to duty. He has also filled the position of township clerk, of school inspector and of school di- rector and the cause of education has found in him a warm friend, for he believes in em- ploying competent teachers and in advancing the cause of education. Both he and his wife hold membership in the Friends church of Long Lake and are deeply interested in its growth and in the extension of its in- fluence.
Mr. Duryea is a representative of our best type of American manhood and chivalry. By perserevance, determination and honor-
542
GRAND TRAVERSE AND LEELANAW COUNTIES.
able effort he has overthrown the obstacles which barred his path to success and reached the goal of prosperity, while his genuine worth, broad mind and public spirit have made him a director of public thought and action.
GEORGE A. ROBERTSON.
George A. Robertson is an enterprising farmer, living in section 17, Garfield town- ship, Grand Traverse county. His father was the late James W. Robertson, who was born in Georgetown, in the District of Co- lumbia, in the year 1824. Coming to the West, he resided for a long period in Mich- igan, and died in Traverse City on the 2d of September, 1902. The mother of the subject bore the maiden name of Rebecca R. Hooker, and was a native of Mar; and. She, too, passed away in Traverse City, her death here occurring on the 25th of May, 1895, when she was about sixty-one years of age. Mr. Robertson was seventy-nine years old at the time of his demise. The eldest of their four children is George A. Robertson, whose birth occurred in Baltimore, Mary- land, on the 3d of August, 1855. He spent the first ten years of his life there, and then accompanied his parents on their removal to Traverse City, Michigan. Here he was reared, remaining here chiefly up to the time of his marriage, when he settled upon the farm on which he now lives. He had also learned the carpenter's trade in Traverse City, and followed that pursuit for twelve or fourteen years prior to the time when he decided to give liis undivided attention to his agricultural interests. He purchased eighty acres of timber land on section 17, and, with
characteristic energy, began the clearing of this land and placing it under the plow. The trees were cleared away, the stumps taken up and the land made cultivable, and now he has about sixty acres improved and yielding to him good harvests annually.
Mr. Robertson was married in Traverse City on the 23d of November, 1881, the lady of his choice being Miss Emma J. Rob- erts, whose birth occurred in Detroit, Mich- igan, on the 28th of December, 1857. She is a daughter of Stephen and Elizabeth (El- lis) Roberts, and by her marriage she has become the mother of ten children-Maud E., Alfred H., Mabel D., Alice E., William H., Rose E., Jessie B., Carl A., Lulu N. and James W. Both the subject and his wife have many warm friends in this locality, and the circle is continually being increased as the circle of their acquaintance is extended. Mr. Robertson has served as school directer since 1885, and the cause of education finds in him a warm friend, who believes in marked ad- vancement along intellectual lines. He has likewise been township treasurer for two years, and whatever pertains to public prog- ress and improvement receives his endorse- ment and co-operation. He is indeed a pub- lic-spirited man, and one to whom the wel- fare of his community is dear. While his life has been quietly passed, he has so lived as to win uniform regard from his fellow- men, who appreciate his cordial manner, his genial disposition, his reliability in business transactions and his trustworthiness in pub- lic offices. Mr. Robertson is a member of Traverse City Tent No. 871, Knights of the Maccabees, and Mrs. Robertson is a member of the Traverse Bay Hive No. 71, Ladies of the Maccabees. They are also members of Grand Traverse Grange No. 379, of which
-
G. A. ROBERTSON.
........ ..
MRS. G. A. ROBERTSON.
1
:
543
GRAND TRAVERSE AND LEELANAW COUNTIES.
Mr. Robertson has been master for three years, and Mrs. Robertson is lady assistant steward. Their daughter Maud is a gradu- ate of the Traverse City high school of the class of 1900, and she has been a successful teacher in the public schools of Grand Trav- erse county for two years. She has taken some musical instruction, and is also a grad- uate in the Mt. Pleasant Normal College of the class of 1903, and will be one of the teachers of the Empire public schools. Mabel and Alice are both students in the Traverse City high school.
ALBERT W. MEBERT.
Albert W. Mebert, who is engaged in general farming in Leelanaw county, his home being on section 17, Bingham town- ship, is a representative of one of the pioneer families of this locality. His father, William Mebert, took up his abode in Bingham town- ship when its settlers were very few and when the greater part of the land was still in the condition in which it came from the hand of nature. He was a native of Saxony, Ger- many, and after coming to the United States he was united in marriage to Miss Lavinia Lindley, whose birth occurred in Indiana. For some years they were representatives of agricultural interests in Leelanaw county and both died in Bingham township, Mrs. Me- bert passing away when sixty years of age, while Mr. Mebert reached the psalmist's span of three score years and ten. They were the parents of three children : Henry E., who is living in Ontario; Emma, who died in childhood, and Albert W.
The last named was born upon his father's
farm in Bingham township, August 21, 1872, and was there reared. His education was begun in the district schools near his home, and when he had mastered the branches therein taught he entered the high school of Traverse City, where he completed his course. He has always resided in Bingham township and has always followed agricul- ural pursuits. He was trained to the work of the farm in his youth, early becoming famil- iar with the duties and labors that fall to the
lot of the agriculturist. He is today the owner of eighty acres of land, most of which is improved, and the farm is a well cultivated one, indicating in its neat appearance the carefui supervision of an owner who is at once progressive and practical.
In Bingham township, on the 9th of No- vember, 1896, Mr. Mebert was united in marriage to Miss Kate Hacker, who after less than three years of happy married life was called from this life, passing away on the 18th of October, 1899. They were the parents of three children : Etelka H., Joyce, a daughter who died in infancy, and Roscoe M. On the 31st of March, 1900, Mr. Mebert was again married, his second union being with Miss Martha Revold, a daughter of Charles Revold and a native of Bingham township. They are well known young peo- ple of the county and have many friends who hold them in high regard.
In his political views Mr. Mebert is a Re- publican. He has held the office of clerk in Bingham township and has been assistant postmaster at Keswick. He also assisted in taking the census in 1900 and he is the sec- retary of the Leelanaw County Farmers' In- stitute. Everything pertaining to the wel- fare of the agricultural class and to the ad- vancement of methods of farming is of in-
544
GRAND TRAVERSE AND LEELANAW COUNTIES.
terest to Mr. Mebert, who is a most enter- prising and wide-awake young farmer of his native county.
MORGAN L. LEACH, M. D.
Morgan Lewis Leach was born in Erie county, New York, April 1, 1821, being the oldest of a large family of children. His father was Jeshurun Leach, and his mother was Theoda, daughter of Theophilus Hunt- ington. Both father and mother were natives of Vermont. During his early years the family made several removals, going first to Oakland county, Michigan, back to Erie county, New York; then to Strongsville, Cuyahoga county, Ohio; from there to Mundy, Genesee county, Michigan, and then to Margaretta, Erie county, Ohio. In con- sequence of the death of the father, which occurred in Margaretta, the care of the fam- ily devolved in a great measure upon the subject. Returning with them, at the age of twenty-one, to Mundy, he became a resident of the neighborhood where, several years be- fore, they had passed through the somewhat romantic and not unpleasant experience of pioneer settlers in an almost unbroken wil- derness. In his childhood days, the helps for obtaining an education were confessedly in- ferior to those available at the present time. He was sent to the district school at an early age, and continued to attend irregularly, with many interuptions, till he was twelve years old. After that time his school privileges were very limited, the time of his attendance amounting in the aggregate to only a few months. That from the start he made good progress in his studies and maintained a good
reputation for behavior is evidenced by the fact that in his twelfth year he was selected by the teacher to assist him in his work, the duty assigned him being the instruction of a reading class, several members of which were older than himself. There were not as many branches of learning taught in the common schools of those days as have since been crowded into them. Reading, spelling, writ- ing, arithmetic, geography and grammar filled the curriculum of study, and not all of these were mastered or even attempted by all the pupils. Nevertheless Dr. Leach stoutly maintained in his old age that those old-fashioned schools turned out young men and women as well qualified to make their way to positions of honor and usefulness in life as are the graduates of our city high schools of these late times. The deficiency of his school education was in a great degree made up by a habit of general reading. At an early age books had a great attraction for him. His father once took him to see the neighborhood library, in which he was a shareholder. It was a great treat. The dis- play of books, wonderful to his young com- prehension, was never surpassed in interest by any of the "shows" the sight of which, in more mature childhood, he was permitted to enjoy. He was an inveterate borrower of books. He read on all subjects, history, biography, travels, fiction, religion, science. The reading was without plan or order, and doubtless would have been more profitable had a well-arranged system been followed. Though he read mainly for the love of it, the great fund of information thus acquired be- came practically a part of himself, and, crude though it was, of inestimable value in the conditions and relations of life which at later periods he found himself placed.
1
GRAND TRAVERSE AND LEELANAW COUNTIES.
545
At the age of nineteen, while the family were residing in Margaretta, Dr. Leach taught his first school. To an earnest young person, who realizes the grave responsibilities of life, teaching for a time is often the best school for the training of his faculties and the disciplining of the character. That he profit- ed by the experience thus gained cannot be doubted. After the return to Mundy, he en- gaged in various pursuits, with varrying de- grees of success, but without accumulating any property. Finally he turned his atten- tion to the study of medicine, which had long possessed for him a growing attraction. His studies were conducted nominally under the direction of a friend, D. H. C. Fairbanks, but in reality were pursued independently at home, in the irregular intervals between pe- riods of necessary manual labor. In the fall of 1851, thinking himself sufficiently advan- ced in his studies to be profited by a course of lectures, he went to Ann Arbor, to enter the medical department of the university. It was Saturday night when he arrived. After pay- ing his hotel bill on Monday morning and his matriculation fee at the college, he had just sixty-two and a half cents remaining to carry him through a six-months course. He went through, however, successfully, receiv- ing a little help from friends at home dur- ing the winter, and coming out a few dol- lars in debt in the spring. After the close of the term, a friend came to him with the offer of pecuniary assistance. He accepted the loan of a hundred dollars, which enabled him to spend the summer in study at Ann Arbor, in a class under Dr. E. Andrews, who was at that time demonstrator of anatomy in the college. In the fall, confronted with the necessity of turning his medical skill to pe- cuniary account and feeling confident of
his qualifications, he removed with his mother and younger brother to Duplain, Clinton county, and engaged in practice. Here he became acquainted with Mrs. Lemira M. Coy, widow of Chandler W. Coy, one of the pioneer settlers of Duplain. The acquaint- ance ripened into a mutual attachment, and they were married on the 27th day of Octo- ber, 1856. In the autumn of 1857, after sev- eral years of successful practice, he returned to Ann Arbor, attended a second course of lectures, and graduated with the degree of Doctor of Medicine, on the 25th day of March, 1858, a few days before he was thirty-seven years old.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.