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 70
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 70
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HENRY COURTADE.
One of the attractive farm residences of Grand Traverse county is the property of Henry Courtade, of East Bay township. Built in a modern and pleasing style of achi- tecture, it forms one of the features of the landscape, which presents a fair picture of well-cultivated farms lying adjacent to the waterways for which Michigan is famous. That Mr. Courtade is thoroughly familiar with agriculture is shown in the neat and thrifty appearance of his place, and the com- fortable competence which he has acquired is an indication of his life of thrift and in- dustry.
A native of Ohio, he was born in Seneca county, March 15, 1841, the second of a fam- ily of five children. His father was Lorenz Courtade, who was born in Alsace, Germany. After arriving at years of maturity he wed- ded one of his countrywomen, Miss Barbara Host, whose birth occurred in Bavaria. Aft- er some years' residence in Ohio the parents came with their family to Michigan, settling in Ottawa county, whence they afterward removed to Detroit, living there for a few years. Subsequently they came to Grand Traverse, making their home in East Bay township, where both the father and mother (lied.
Henry Courtade was but a small boy at
the time of the family's removal to this state, and was a youth of thirteeen when he became a resident of Detroit, there remaining until he was about twenty years of age. Entering upon an independent business career at that time, he made his way to the upper peninsula of Michigan and was employed at intervals in the copper mines for several years. In the summer of 1865 he came to East Bay town- ship, Grand Traverse county. About that time he was married in Ottawa county, Mich- igan, to Miss Regina Knauf. She was born in Washtenaw county, this state, and the mar- riage occurred on the 10th of July, 1865. They began their domestic life in East Bay township upon the farm which Mr. Courtade has since made his home, with the exception of a brief period of two years, when he re- turned to Ottawa county. For thirty-five years he and his wife traveled life's journey happily together, and were then separated by the hand of death, Mrs. Courtade being called to the home beyond on the 5th of . April, 1900. Twelve children had been born unto them, namely : Charles R., George E., Ida, Albert, Rose G., Leo H., and Josephine E., who are yet living ; and Frank L., Louis, Mary, Oscar J. and Elizabeth C., who are deceased.
Mr. Courtade still resides upon his farm in East Bay township, where he is the owner of a tract of land comprising one hundred and twenty acres. Of this he has improved one hundred acres, and the farm is product- ive, the arable soil yielding quick return for the care and cultivation of the owner. He is intensely practical in all his work, is seldom at fault in matters of judgment, and through the capable conduct of his business affairs he has won a competence, which classes him among the men of affluence of his commun-
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ity. He has taken great delight in providing a comfortable home for his family, and his chief interest has ever centered in his own household. He and his family are communi- cants of the Catholic church, to which his wife also belonged, at. " in his political views he is a Republican, believing in the principles of the party, "it never seeking office. He has never desired to figure prominently in public affairs, his attention being fully occu- pied in his efforts to gain a living for him- self and family, and his persistency of pur- pose in this direction has been rewarded. There have been no exciting or startling chapters in his life history, but it is that of a man who has been found true to duty in every relation and now richly merits the esteem which is uniformly given him.
ISAAC J. NEWMARCH.
Isaac J. Newmarch, commissioner of highways for Paradise township, Grand Traverse county, Michigan, was born about twenty miles from Ottawa, Ontario, on April 10, 1854. His parents, James and Melissa (Milks) Newmarch, located in Fife Lake township in 1873, and a few years later moved to Paradise township, which is still their home. They are the parents of ten children.
Mr. Newmarch grew to manhood in Can- ada and became a farmer of ability and re- source. In 1881 he came to the United States and settled on his present homestead in Grand Traverse county, Michigan, where he owns two hundred and eighty acres of as fine land as can be found in the county. A commodious brick residence has added great- ly to the appearance and attractiveness of
the property, and proclaims Mr. Newmarch one of the up-to-date agriculturists of pres- ent times.
The subject was married in Montreal, Canada, April 22, 1873, to Miss Ellen Mon- teith. Mrs. Newmarch was born in Montreal February 3, 1848, and is a daughter of John and Mary Ann (Devine) Monteith, who were born in Ireland, whence they moved to Montreal. Here they reared a family of eight children, and were regarded as hon- orable, upright people. They continued to make Montreal their home until they were called to the home above, and died as they had lived, honored and respected. To Mr. and Mrs. Newmarch five children have been born, namely : Mary E., the wife of Adam Seegmiller, was a· teacher in her home coun- ty prior to her marriage; Sarah E., wife of William S. Saxton; James J .; William H., and Andrew J., who died in infancy. Mr. Newmarch has served as commissioner of highways for the past six years, a fact sig- nificant of his efficiency. He is one of the men who improves on acquaintance and whose friends include the many who have had dealings with him.
PETER COURTADE.
From the age of thirteen years, when he began working in the copper regions of northern Michigan, Peter Courtade has been dependant entirely upon his own efforts and well may he claim the proud American title, "a self-made man." In youth many a man, now successful and prominent in the business world, has been buffeted by fortune, and has encountered innumerable obstacles, but
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such difficulties always disappear before persistent, determined effort and success does not forever withhold her rewards from him who labors diligently and perseveringly. The life record of Mr. Courtade stands in exem- plification of the fact that merit will event- ually win.
Born on a farm in Seneca county, Ohio, on the Ist of April, 1837, Peter Courtade is of German lineage, his parents, Lorenz and Barbara (Host) Courtade, being natives of the fatherland. The former was born in Alsace and the latter in Bavaria, and after re- siding for some years in Ohio they brought their family to Michigan, settling in Kent county on a farm. Peter Courtade, the eldest of their five children, was a lad of seven years when he accompanied his parents to this state and upon the home farm in Kent county he remained until thirteen years of age, but his father was in limited circum- stances and desiring to provide for his own support he went to the Upper Peninsula, where he entered the employ of a copper mining company. There he remained until the summer of 1865, when he came to Grand Traverse county, being then a young man of twenty-eight years.
Mr. Courtade had been married in Ke- weenaw county, this state, on the 25th of June, 1858, to Miss Magdalena Jordi, who was born in Berne, Switzerland, November 16, 1841, a daughter of Kasper and Eliza- beth (Hannie) Jordi, both of whom were native of the land of the Alps. They had two children, Mrs. Courtade being the elder. She was brought to America by her parents when about twelve years of age, the family re- siding for a time in Cleveland, Ohio, whence they removed to the copper-mining region in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, where
Mrs. Courtade grew to womanhood and where she was married, there living until the removal to Grand Traverse county in 1866.
At that date the subject and his wife lo- cated in East Bay township upon the farm which is now their home. He has here about one hundred and sixty acres of land, of which about ninety-five acres are improved. It has been his labor that has wrought a transformation in the wild tract which came into his possession. From early morning until dewy eve he has labored in the fields, plow- ing and planting in early spring time, and gathering his crops in summer and autumn, his diligence being rewarded by a compe- tence which now classes him with the men of affluence in his community. He has erected good buildings upon his place and has an attractive residence. His present en- viable financial position is in marked con- trast to that in which he started out in life when but a mere boy, and such an example of thrift and industry should serve as a source of encouragement and inspiration to others.
The home of Mr. and Mrs. Courtade has been blessed with nine children: William H., who resides in Traverse City ; John N., a resident farmer of East Bay township; Louisa, the wife of Russel L. Vanderlit; Frederick L .; Edward P .; Joseph R .; Frank D .; Minnie M .; Elizabeth S., who is the wife of Perry H. Boynton. The family is one of prominence in the community, the members of the household occupying an en- viable position in social circles. The sons have become good business men and Mr. and Mrs. Courtade and their children are all held in high esteem by a large circle of friends, whose number is continually in-
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creasing as the circle of their acquaintance widens.
In his political views Mr. Courtade is a Republican, having acted with the party since its organization, it being formed about the time he attained his majority. During his residence in East Bay township he has been elected to a number of local offices. He has served as justice of the peace, has been a member of the board of review, also school assessor and school moderator, and the cause of education receives his earnest en- dorsement, for he realizes its importance as a preparation for life's responsible duties. He and his family are communicants of the Catholic church. More than a third of a century has passed since Mr. Courtade came to Grand Traverse county to ally his inter- ests with hers and throughout the entire period he has lived a life of unfaltering in- dustry, guided by sound judgment and di- rected by honorable principles.
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JOHN LITNEY.
John Litney occupies today a prominent position in the commercial circles of Sut- ton's Bay and Leelanaw county, and he de- serves all the more credit for this from the fact that he started out in life empty-handed, depending entirely upon his own resources for the start which he had and for the suc- .cess that he has achieved. In an analyza- tion of his character we find many elements worthy of commendation and of emulation. He did not ask for fortune's favors, but set · out to win them by honest work, and the success which ever crowns earnest, honest toil is today his. He is now the senior mem-
ber of the firm of Litney & Wolter, dealers in agricultural implements and farm ma- chinery in Sutton's Bay, where a liberal pat- ronage has been accorded them.
Mr. Litney was born in Troy, New. York, June 20, 1845, a son of Joseph and Sarah ( Moston) Litney, the former a na- tive of Paris, France, while the latter was born in Limerick, Ireland. They were mar- ried in this country and after some years' residence in the Empire state they made their way westward, locating in Rock coun- ty, Wisconsin, where they spent their re- maining days. The father's death occurred in 1865, when more than fifty years of age, and the mother, long surviving him, passed away in 1900, at the advanced age of seven- ty-three years. Unto this worthy couple were born nine children, five sons and four daughters, of whom John Litney is the sec- ond.
During his early youth John Litney was brought by his parents to the west and was reared in Rock county, Wisconsin. He was still but a youth when he offered his serv- ices to the government, his patriotic spirit having been aroused by the continued at- tempt of the south to overthrow the Union. In October, 1863, at the age of eighteen years, he donned the blue uniform of the nation, becoming a member of Company C, Third Wisconsin Cavalry, with which he served for two years. His loyalty to the old flag and the cause it represented was manifest by his valorous service on the field of battle and by his faithfulness to every duty assigned him. He went to the war a boy ; he came home a man. The experiences of army life, its hardships, its trials, the patriotic devotion which it inculcates, the friendships formed thereby, do more to de-
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velop manhood than a decade of ordinary experiences in times of peace could have done.
When the country no longer needed his services Mr. Litney returned to his home in Rock county, Wisconsin, where he remained for about two years, and then after spending a few months in the west, he came to Michi- gan, settling at Northport. There he en- tered the employ of Campbell & Goodrich, being engaged to drive a team. Later he was with H. N. Ballard for three years, as his foreman, and later he spent a year in the employ of Johnson, Hones & Company. He next entered the service of the firm of Johnson, Hitchcock & Company, whom he represented as foreman for several years, having charge of their wood and brick busi- iness. He lived in Northport altogether for twelve years and then came to Sutton's Bay, where he has been engaged in mercantile business for seventeen years, first in the em- ploy of others and later on his own account. For a part of the time he was with W.S. Johnson & Company as an employee and then purchased a third interest in the busi- ness. Subsequently a change in the firm oc- curred and the business style of John Lit- ney & Company was assumed, the partners being John Litney, Theodore Platner and E. R. Dailey. For three years they continued in business together and then sold out, at which time Mr. Litney entered into partner- ship with Edward Buffey, in the implement business. This relationship was maintained for two years when Mr. Buffey sold out to John Wolter, since which time the busi- ness has been carried under the present style of Litney & Wolter. They carry a large line of farm machinery and agricultural implements, realizing a fair, honorable profit
on their sales, and by reason of their straight- forward business methods and their court- eous attention to the wishes of their cus- tomers, they have secured a large patronage.
Mr. Litney was married in Northport, Michigan, in 1873, to Miss Augusta Keys, a native of Northport, and they now occupy. a pleasant home in Sutton's Bay, where they have a wide acquaintance, while the hospital- ity of the best homes of the locality is freely and graciously accorded them.
Mr. Litney takes an active interest in political questions and is an active worker in the ranks of his party in Leelanaw county. He has held the office of township treasurer of Sutton's Bay township for twelve years, has been president of the village and for twelve years was school director, taking a deep and abiding interest in the progress and improvement of the schools and in all mat- ters pertaining to the welfare and advance- ment of the village. He belongs to the class of substantial citizens whose lives do not show any meteoric effects, but who by their support of the moral, political and social status for the general good, promote the real welfare of their respective communities and are therefore deserving of honorable men- tion on the pages of history.
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ERNEST J. TAYLOR.
The goddess of success never smiles upon the idler or dreamer. Her favor is hard to win and she does not deign to crown the great majority with her blessings. In trac- ing the history of Ernest J. Taylor it is plain- ly seen that the prosperity which he enjoys has been won by commendable qualities,
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those of well applied energy, unflagging de- termination and perseverance in the active affairs of life. Shaping his life along such lines, he has won the high esteem of his fel- low men and become one of the well-to-do agriculturists of East Bay township, Grand Traverse county.
Ernest J. Taylor was born upon a farm in Ashtabula county, Ohio, October II, 1856, and is a son of Allison and Adaline (Parshall) Taylor, who are mentioned on another page of this work. In their family of three children the subject of this review is the eldest. He spent the first fourteen years of his life in the place of his nativity and then came with his parents to Grand Tra- verse county, Michigan, where he has since made his home. He remained under the pa- rental roof up to the time of his marriage and then settled upon the farm where he now lives. Throughout his business career he has carried on the work of the agriculturist and he today owns two valuable tracts of land, one of forty acres lying in Garfield township and the other of ninety-two acres situated in East Bay township. The labor necessary to the development and improvement of this property is performed by Mr. Taylor, whose marked energy has been one of the salient features in his career.
It was in Garfield township, on the 16th of September, 1885, that Mr. Taylor was united in marriage to Miss Minnie B. Peart, a native of Pennsylvania, born in Allegheny county on the Ist of October, 1865. Her parents were James and Agnes (Charles) Peart, in whose family were three children, Mrs. Taylor being the second in order of birth. Her father died in East Bay town- ship, February 16, 1897, when in the ninety- first year of his age. Unto Mr. and Mrs.
Taylor have been born two daughters and a son, namely : Agnes B., Alice and Edgar B. Both the subject and his wife have the warm regard of many friends and are held in high esteem in this community. Mr. Taylor has been supervisor of East Bay township for five years, for four years was township treas- urer and has been township clerk since the spring of 1902. He has taken an active part in all measures pertaining to public im- provement and he co-operates in many movements which are designed for the gen- eral good. He is a Republican in his politi- cal views and fraternally he is connected with Traverse Bay Tent No. 136, Knights of the Maccabees. His wife is an estimable lady of refined nature and culture and her genuine worth has won for her the high esteem of many with whom she has come in contact.
ADAM TAGER.
Adam Tager is a representative of one of the pioneer families of Leelanaw county, and from his early boyhood days has lived in Solon township. He is now identified with two of the leading business interests of this portion of the state-agriculture and the manufacture of lumber. The name of Tager has figured in connection with farming in this county since 1866, in which year the subiect's father came to Michigan.
Adam Tager is a native of Canada, his birth having occurred in Waterloo county on the 15th of September, 1862, his parents being Fred and Susanna (Lite) Tager. The father was a native of Germany and in early life made the voyage across the Atlantic to the new world, settling in Canada, where he
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ADAM TAGER.
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met and married Miss Lite, a native of the dominion. They became the parents of ten children, and with their family they removed from Canada to Michigan, establishing their home in Solon township, Leelanaw county, where the father secured a tract of land and began farming. He has since carried on ag- ricultural pursuits and is yet an honored and respected resident of this locality, but in 1900 he was called upon to mourn the loss of his wife, who died on the old homestead farm, when fifty-nine years of age, her death being deeply regretted by her many friends, as well as her immediate family. She had so lived as to win the high regard of those who knew her, for she possessed many excellent traits of character, and in her home she was ever cordial and hospitable.
Adam Tager, the fourth member of the household, was a little lad of only four sum- mers when brought by his parents to this county, and he has resided in Sofon township continuously since 1866. When six years of age he entered the public schools and mas- tered the branches of learning therein taught. After putting aside his text books he deter- mined to make his life work the occupation to which he had been reared, and he is now the owner of a quarter section of land, a part of which is improved. In addition to gen- eral farming he is also engaged in the manu- facture of lumber, owning and operating a saw mill. In his business affairs he is indus- trious and energetic, and his close application and careful control of his interests are bring- ing to him a good income annually. He is a citizen of worth and a man whose personal traits of character are commendable. Among the people who have known him from his early boyhood he has many friends, who will be glad to see this mention of him in the
history of his adopted county. He deserves to be classed among the pioneer settlers, for he has seen much of the growth and upbuild- ing of this region, and has given hearty en- dorsement to many measures for the gen- eral good.
JOHN NERLINGER.
John Nerlinger was born in Bavaria, Germany, on the 21st of August, 1848, and thus is far separated from the land of his nativity, for he is now living in East Bay township, Grand Traverse county. Both of his parents, Jacob and Gertrude Nerlinger, were likewise natives of Bavaria and there spent their entire lives. Of a family of six children the subject of this review is the fifth. He pursued his education in the public schools in accordance with the laws of his native land and afterward learned the coop- er's trade in Bavaria, following that occupa- tion there until he came to the United States. He resolved to test the truth of the favora- ble reports which he had heard concerning the opportunities for the young men in Amer- ica and in the spring of 1868 he bade adieu to friends and native land and sailed for the new world. Landing in New York city, he there remained three months, working at the cooper's trade, and.at the end of that time he went to Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, where he also resided for but a brief period. He af- terward followed various occupations in different places near Pittsburg and his ef- forts to gain a living were crowned with suc- cess and his economy in due course of time enabled him to win some capital.
Mr. Nerlinger was married in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, on the 24th of July, 1874, to Miss Fredericka Jacob, also a native of the
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fatherland, her birth having occurred in Al- sace on the 2d of August, 1849. She crossed the Atlantic to the United States in 1872 and lived in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, up to the time of her marriage, when she went to her husband's home in Butler county, that state. There they lived for two years and then came to Grand Traverse county, Michigan, ar- riving in March, 1878. They settled upon the farm which is now their home and it has been their place of residence throughout the intervening years. Mr. Nerlinger first pur- chased forty acres of woodland of the rail- road company. This he has cleared and has erected thereon. good buildings. As his financial resources have increased he has also extended the boundaries of his property by an additional purchase of forty acres and now his entire farm of eighty acres is im- proved and under cultivation. The land has been carefully lotted for different depart- ments of farm work according to its adapta- bility and in the control of his property Mr. Nerlinger shows thorough understanding of farming methods as well as practical judg- ment in all of his affairs. He has good build- ings upon his place and his property is the visible evidence of his life of untiring thrift and earnest toil.
The home of Mr. and Mrs. Nerlinger has been blessed with four children, but Carrie Ei, the second child, died when sixteen months old. The others are Emil F., Charles and.John. In his political views Mr. Ner- linger is a Democrat, interested in the suc- cess of the party, yet he is not a politician in the sense of office seeking. He has never been an aspirant for official honors, prefer- ring to give his time and energies to the con- trol of his business affairs, in which he is meeting with creditable success.
FREDERICK R. WALKER.
Frederick R. Walker, chairman of the board of supervisors of Grant township, Grand Traverse county, Michigan, is a man whose untiring and unusual executive abil- ity has placed him conspicuously to the front in the affairs of his township, where he has been an important factor for many years. He was born April 4. 1859, on a farm in Indiana county, Pennsylvania, and inherited a taste for agricultural pursuits that has followed him all his life and made him one of the most successful and prosper- ous farmers in this locality. He was of German parentage and one of nine children born to John C. and Catherine (Snyder) Walker, who moved to this county in 1883 and were among its most highly respected residents. The father died February 2, 1898, while on a visit to his son, David W., of Putnam county, Kansas.
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