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 72
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 72
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
pendent Order of Odd Fellows at Maple City, and he belongs to Murray Post No. 168, Grand Army of the Republic, in which he has been officer of the day and command- er. He has also taken an active part in church work, belonging to the First Con- gregational church of Solon, in which he has held a number of official positions. His fidelity to duty and capability are such strong traits in his character that he is never allied with any organization that does not seek his aid in an official capacity, and thus he has been active as an officer of the church, of the Grand Army post and in political positions. Fearless in defense of his honest convictions, vet never bitterly aggressive, he gives an un- faltering support to what he believes to be right, and yet retains the friendship and con- fidence of those who do not hold the same opinions.
BIRNEY J. MORGAN.
Birney J. Morgan was born in Camden, Lorain county, Ohio, in 1846. He was one of eight children, only four of whom are living, one brother and two sisters. His mother died when he was quite young. He received his education in the common schools of Ohio. He came to Traverse City with his father in the spring of 1862, and soon after began work for the late James K. Gunton, proprietor of the Gun- ton House, and stayed with him for two years. He then went to the oil region of Pennsylvania and stayed there one year, re- turning at that time to Traverse City, where he has remained ever since, resuming work for Mr. Gunton. In company with Henry Clark, he opened a livery in Traverse City
1
569
GRAND TRAVERSE AND LEELANAW COUNTIES.
in the fall of 1869. After six months he bought out his partner and has continued in the business alone ever since, and is now the owner of the most extensive liveries in Traverse City. His establishment may be truly called the pioneer livery of the north- ern part of the lower peninsula. Besides do- ing an extensive livery business, he has for many years been engaged in the buying and selling of horses. During that time he has shipped hundreds, if not thousands, of horses to this region from Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and southern Michigan, to Traverse City, which he has sold to the farmers and lumbermen of the Grand Traverse region. He has also been engaged to quite an extent in farming and fruit growing, and now owns several fine farms in different locali- ties about the region, among the best of which is a fine farm and fruit orchard just out of the city in Elmwood township. In late years he has been engaged quite exten- sively in lumbering, and now owns and op- erates a saw and shingle-mill at Cobb's Junc- tion, and a saw-mill on the South Manitou island. He has for several years been a stockholder and one of the directors of the First National Bank of Traverse City. He is also one-third owner of the Traverse City Canning Factory, a large and new establish- ment, having a capacity of handling one thousand cases per day, and at the present time giving employment to sixty hands.
Mr. Morgan enlisted in the war of the Rebellion in the winter of 1864-5. At that time the only means of travel was by water or overland by trail a distance of one hun- dred and fifty miles, and he and others who enlisted at that time waited for navigation to open to join the army, but by the time nav- igation did open the war was finished, and
Mr. Morgan did not have a chance to do any fighting.
In politics Mr. Morgan is a Republican and has held the office of sheriff of the coun- ty for two terms, besides several minor of- fices. He belongs to only one secret so- ciety, the Masons, of which he has long been a prominent member. He has for many years attended the Congregational church and contributes freely to its support and calls that his church home, although he also contributes liberally to the support of other churches. He is a public-spirited citizen and takes an interest in every public enter- prise, contributing liberally to the support of any undertaking that promises to be of benefit to the city or country.
Mr. Morgan was married in April, 1874, to Miss Carrie M. Gunton, a native of Tra- verse City, and a daughter of the late James K. Gunton and wife, who were both early pioneers and among the first people to be married in Grand Traverse. They have a family of three children, Evelyn R., born January 21, 1876; Grace C., born January 18, 1880, and Theron B., born April 21, 1883. All are living at home in a large and beautiful residence on the corner of State and Wellington streets, Traverse City. Mr. Morgan can be truly numbered among, not only the pioneers, but also among the most successful self-made men of Grand Tra- verse.
GEORGE JACKSON.
George Jackson is a farmer by inherit- ance and occupation, having been born De- cember 18, 1853, on his father's farm in Steuben county, Indiana, where he was
570
GRAND TRAVERSE AND LEELANAW COUNTIES.
reared to early manhood. His parents are Theophilus and Mary Ann (Carter) Jack- son. At the age of seventeen young Jack- son left home to do for himself, traveling from place to place until 1877, when he came to Grand Traverse county, Michigan, where he has been a fixture since. He pur- chased from the Grand Rapids & Indiana Railroad Company land and became identi- fied with the agricultural interests of the county, enlarging his farm until he is today one of the most prosperous and successful farmers in this section. He owns two hun- dred and forty acres of land, which has been secured entirely through his own efforts and industry. Mr. Jackson was married, August 13, 1882, to Miss Lizzie E. Jeffrey, a native of Ohio, who has borne him three children, Erma I., Ruth Darling and Theophilus Paul. Mr. Jackson votes for the man best fitted for local positions, regardless of politi- cal sentiment, and on the national ticket he supports the Democratic party.
Mrs. Jackson was born April 3, 1860, and is a daughter of Jacob H. and Emily A. (Helm) Jeffrey, who were the parents of six children, all of whom are living. Jacob Jeffrey, who was born in Maryland in 1821, and died in 1879, was a college graduate and a man of more than ordinary intelligence, being the inventor of several useful devices. In his later years he was a merchant, con- ducting business until the failure of his health. In boyhood he accompanied his fa- ther to New York, but the major portion of . his life was spent in Ohio and Indiana. Po- litically he was a Democrat and religiously a Presbyterian. The Jeffrey lineage is traced back to Lord Jeffrey, of Scottish re- nown, and the family name has figured con- spicuously in American history. Emily A.
Jeffrey is a native of New York, though of English descent, and one of her ancestors was a colonial governor of Massachusetts. She is a Methodist in religious faith and is now a resident of Orlando, Indiana. She possesses considerable skill as an artist in oils and many specimens of her work now adorn the homes of her children. Mrs. Jackson received a good public school edu- cation and for seven years was employed as a teacher in the schools of Grand Traverse county, Michigan, and Steuben county, Indiana.
ROBERT BARTZ.
Robert Bartz, a son of John and Jose- phine (Rudolph) Bartz, resides on section 31, Blair township, Grand Traverse county. The family is of German lineage. Both of the parents were natives of the fatherland, and after coming to America they took up their abode in Michigan, living for some time in Allegan county. The month of April, 1883, witnessed their arrival in Grand Traverse county, and they settled in Green Lake town- ship, where they are now living. Their fam- ily numbers ten children, of whom Robert is the fourth in order of birth.
It was in Allegan county, on the 27th of April, 1862, that Robert Bartz was born. He was there reared, spending his youth in the usual manner of farming lads of the period. He worked in the fields during the summer months and in the winter seasons attended school, thus acquiring a good education in order to assist him in his farm work. In the spring of 1883 he accompanied his parents on their removal to Grand Traverse county,
..... . . ... . ... . . ....
ROBERT BARTZ GROUP.
571.
GRAND TRAVERSE AND LEELANAW COUNTIES:
and made his home chiefly with them up to the time of his marriage, which important event in his life was celebrated on the 3d of June, 1895, the lady of his choice being Miss Susie Miller, who was born in Crawford county, Ohio, on the 19th of January, 1874. She is a daughter of Jacob and Helena ( Ben- dle) Miller, both of whom were natives of Germany. Her father died in Crawford county, Ohio, October 20, 1901, but her mother is still living in Mayfield township. Mrs. Bartz is the fifth of their family of eight children, and by her marriage she has become the mother of three interesting lit- tle daughters-Josephine, Marguerite and Clara.
At the time of his marriage Mr. Bartz took his bride to a farm in section 31, Blair township, and here they began their domestic life. The place has since been their home, and they are well-known representatives of the farming interests of this locality. Mr. Bartz owns one hundred and twenty acres of land, of which one hundred acres is culti- vated, and the excellent improvements he has placed upon the property make his farm a valuable one, forming an attractive feature of the landscape. The traveler who rides by can see at a glance that the owner is pro- gressive, practical and industrious. The buildings are substantial, commodious and kept in good repair. Fences divide the place into fields of convenient size, and everything is indicative of the careful supervision of a painstaking and progressive farmer. In his business affairs Mr. Bartz is energetic, prompt and notably reliable, and possesses a good fund of common sense, a quality which is too often lacking in the business world, and its absence is the cause of many failures in business life.
ERHARD STROHM.
The sons of Germany have carried the civilization of the fatherland into all parts of the world, and in removing into localities far distant from the place of their birth they have shown a ready adaptability in adopting new customs, in adjusting themselves to new and in utilizing unfamiliar conditions in a manner to serve their personal ends in the honorable struggle to win prosperity. Ed- hard Strohm is a worthy representative of the German-American citizenship in Leela- naw county and his life work has been a credit alike to the land of his birth and the land of his adoption.
Born in the city of Wurtemberg, Ger- many, on the 6th of November, 1841, Mr. Strohm spent the first nineteen years of his life there and in accordance with the laws of the country he acquired his education. He calmly surveyed the future which his own country offered and contrasted it with the advantages of the new world, to the credit of the latter. Deciding therefore that he would have superior opportunities in the United States, he severed the ties which bound him to home and friends, but carried with him into the new world many pleasant recollec- tions of those with whom he had been sur- rounded in his youth. He landed in New: York-a stranger in a strange country,. whose language was unfamiliar to him and whose customs were dissimilar to those he: followed in the fatherland. He possessed a. stout heart, however, and a pair of willing hands and with these as capital he began life amid new surroundings. Going to Bucks county, Pennsylvania, he lived there for about a year and a half, after which he took up his abode in the city of Philadelphia, where he
36
572
GRAND TRAVERSE AND LEELANAW COUNTIES.
was engaged in driving a team for about three and a half years. At the end of that time he came to the west, locating in Tra- verse City, Michigan, in the fall of 1865. He there entered the employ of the well-known pioneer lumber firm of Hannah, Lay & Company, with whom he remained for about twelve years, although this was not a consec- utive service.
At the end of that time Mr. Strohm set- tled on the farm which is still his place of abode, it being located on section 25, Elm- wood township. Here he has resided con- tinuously since and he is today the owner of one hundred and sixty acres of land, of which one hundred acres is included within his rich fields or is utilized for meadow and pasture lands. He has made a study of the soil and of the cereals best adapted to it and he raises good crops and also good grades of fruit. He has fine appearing farm animals upon his place and his buildings are com- modious and substantial, affording ample shelter to grain and stock. The features which constitute a model farm of the twen- tieth century are seen upon his place and the owner is a man of unflagging industry, whose work receives his consideration, for therein lies the possibility of providing for his family.
Mr. Strohm was married in Traverse City, Michigan, to Miss Katherina Kirner, a native of Baden, Germany, but she died in Elmwood township, when fifty-five years of age. Unto this marriage was born a fam- ily of five children, two daughters and three sons : Anna, Christian, Erhard, Julius and Christiana. The elder daughter is now the wife of Joseph Amtsbuchler, and the young- er is the wife of Alexander Brown.
ยท Mr. Strohm has served as a school treas-
urer, but otherwise has never held public office nor been an aspirant for the honors and emoluments of political service. He has been content to give his undivided attention to his agricultural pursuits and because of his close application and executive ability in business matters he has achieved a gratifying degree of prosperity. Coming to America a young man, he was not doomed to disap- pointment in the hope that caused his emi- gration. On the contrary, his dreams have been more than realized. He found that all avenues of business were opened to the am- bitious, determined laborer and that capac- ity and fidelity were the only requisites for advancement. The years have witnessed his struggle to achieve prosperity, and in the struggle he has come off victorious.
JOHN DEUSTER.
In the field of political life and commer- cial activity in Leelanaw county, John Deus- ter has won distinction, and today is num- bered among the leading, influential and honored citizens of Sutton's Bay. He has been closely associated with mercantile in- terests and agricultural pursuits here and has also figured prominently in public af- fairs, being an advocate of progressive meas- ures, his interest in the welfare of the coun- ty being manifest by practical co-operation for the general good. Called to public office by his fellow townsmen, he is now filling the position of county sheriff and the prompt- ness and fidelity with which he discharges his duties have won for him the favorable criticism of leading representatives of both political parties.
.
578
LEELANAW COUNTIES.
GRAND TRAVERSE AND
Mr. Deuster was born on a farm in Milwaukee county, Wisconsin, October 7, 1851. His father, John H. Deuster, Sr., was born in Germany, and after crossing the Atlantic to the new world continued his journey into the interior of the country, ac- companied by his wife and four children. They settled in Milwaukee county and there the father engaged in farming for some time. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Anna Barbara Eppnech, was also a na- tive of Germany. About 1867 the husband and father removed from the Badger state to Leelanaw, taking up his abode in Sutton's Bay township, and when he had made prep- arations for receiving his family he was joined by his wife and John, in 1868. The parents spent their remaining days in that township, the mother passing away about 1877, while the father, surviving her for about six years, departed this life in 1883. They were communicants of the Catholic church and in that faith they reared their family, numbering ten children, of whom John Deuster, whose name forms the cap- tion of this article, is the ninth in order of birth.
About a year after his mother's arrival in this county John Deuster came and took up a homestead claim in Sutton's Bay town- ship in 1875, previous to which time he had assisted his father in the cultivation of his place. Beginning the development of his own farm, he soon transformed the place into productive fields and thereon he erected suitable buildings. He was energetic and industrious-characteristics which have been manifest throughout his life-and his labors were attended with good results. For five years he remained upon the homestead and during that time he was also engaged in
merchandising in partnership with his fa- ther and his brother Hubert. They con- ducted a store in Sutton's Bay, carrying a full line of general merchandise, and the business association between them was main- tained for a number of years. Eventually, however, the firm dissolved partnership and Mr. Deuster of this review turned his at- tention to the saloon business. He also built the Park Hotel and conducted both enter- prises for about twelve years, meeting with a creditable degree of success. He contin- ued to occupy his time and attention in that manner until the fall of 1902, when he was elected sheriff of Leelanaw county, and to. the duties of the office he is now giving his undivided attention, with the result that he is proving a most capable and efficient officer.
This is not the first office that Mr. Deus- ter has held, for he has long been prominent in local political circles and his fitness for leaderhip and his fidelity to duty have been the cause of his selection for several posi- tions of political preferment. He has held the office of highway commissioner of Sutton's Bay township for six terms, has been township treasurer, and when the town of Sutton's Bay was incorporated he was the first village treasurer. He has also been a member of the village council and in these various offices he has proved most faithful to his duty. He has always acted with the Democratic party and his firm faith in its principles is evidenced by the stalwart sup- port which he gives it. It was upon its ticket that he was elected county sheriff, in which office he is the incumbent at this writing. Discharging his duties without fear or favor, his course is marked by unfaltering fidelity and resolute purpose, which has won for him the trust and regard of all.
574
GRAND TRAVERSE AND LEELANAW COUNTIES.
Mr. Deuster was married in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on the 23d of July, 1874, to Miss I.ena Klein, who was born in Milwaukee county, on the 8th of January, 1853, a daugh- ter of John and Katherina (Bauer) Klein, both of whom were natives of the fatherland. Coming from Germany to. America, they settled in Milwaukee county, Wisconsin, where Mrs. Klein died. In their family were thirteen children, of whom Mrs. Deus- ter is the third. She was reared and edu- cated in Milwaukee county, is a lady of cul- ture and has many warm friends in Lee- lanaw county, as well as in the community where her girlhood days were passed. She possesses many sterling traits of character, ably cares for her household affairs and pre- sides with gracious hospitality over her pleasant home. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Deus- ter have been born seven children : Ella B., who became the wife of John Ott and died in Sutton's Bay township, February 25, 1898, in the twenty-second year of her age; Isabella, who died in her fourth year; Lee J. H .: Isabella, the wife of William Schat- man ; Rosabelle K., the wife of Albion Reu- nauver ; John M. and Clarabelle C.
The family home is in Sutton's Bay and in addition to this Mr. Deuster owns a valu- able farm of two hundred and thirty-five acres of rich and productive land in Sutton's Bay township. He is a member of the Catholic church, while his wife belongs to the Lutheran church. Both have the favor- able regard and friendship of many with whom they have come in contact. Mr. Deuster has led a busy and useful life and his public and private career are alike hon- orable. He has won high encomiums as an office holder, and as a representative of offi-
cial life in Leelanaw county, as well as a pioneer settler and leading business man, he deserves representation in this volume.
:
JOHN CARNS.
John Carns, for many years a well-known and prosperous citizen of Grand Traverse county, Michigan, was born in Leeds coun- ty, Canada, January 20, 1830, his parents being Jacob and Catherine (Hagerbone) Carns. His parents were natives of Canada, but of German origin. Mr. Carns remained with his parents until he reached his nine- teenth year, and moved with them about that. time to Harnich, Kent county, that province, where they continued to live until their death. Mr. Carns began working for himself when nineteen, and for twenty years carried on farming in Harwich. He has an adaptability and liking for his work that gives him a great advantage over the hundreds who plow and sow simply because it is the season given to that work, not because they have given thought to the subject. Mr. Carns may be called a scientific, as well as practical, far- mer, and the results he obtains would seem to justify any one in giving the business intelli- gent forethought. In the spring of 1869 he moved with his family to Michigan, locating in Antrim county, where he remained for ten years, when he came to Grand Traverse county, which has since been his home. His farm contains two hundred and twenty-nine acres of land, with modern improvements in the way of buildings, etc., that make it one of the most charming spots in White- water township.
MR. AND MRS. JOHN CARNS.
575
GRAND TRAVERSE, AND LEELANAW COUNTIES.
John Carns was married to Miss Lucinda Hawley on December 26, 1853, while yet a resident of Kent county, Canada. She was born in that place on August 14, 1837, and is a daughter of Truman and Mary (Gill) Hawley, who afterward moved to Antrim county, Michigan, where the mother was laid to rest. The father survived her and made his home with his daughter, Mrs. Carns, until he, too, answered the final sum- mons. To Mr. and Mrs. Carns have been born a family of eight children, all of whom grew to years of maturity, when death claimed three of the daughters. They are as follows: Mary C., wife of William Cur- ry; Truman J .; Jacob; George; Roxanna, who became the wife of Thomas Wood, and died in her thirtieth year; Rilla, who died at the age of twenty; Phoebe J., who married Charles Eaton, and was twenty-five years old at the time of her death; and Lois. Mr. Carns and his estimable wife are devout members of the Methodist Episcopal church at Elk Lake, and have done their full share in keeping up the work of that organization. They are people of refinement, and occupy a prominent place in the social life of their lo- cality, where they are held in the highest respect and esteem. Mr. Carns is an ardent Republican, and feels deeply interested in the political issues of the day, but is not offensively partisan, according to others the same right he claims for himself-that of thinking for himself and forming his own opionions. He has been justice of the peace for Whitewater township for twelve years, and highway commissioner for two years, and in all that time has conducted the busi- ness pertaining to those offices in a manner that has been above reproach.
WASHINGTON COX.
Within the boundaries of the farm of Washington Cox on section 6, Mayfield township, Grand Traverse county, lies a quarter section of land and almost the entire amount is under cultivation, only thirty-five acres being still unimproved. This repre- sents much hard labor, and Mr. Cox is a man of well-known energy and determina- tion in business affairs. Indolence and idle- ness are utterly foreign to his nature, and his continued activity in the management and development of this property has made his one of the valuable farms of Mayfield town- ship.
Agricultural life has been familiar to Mr. Cox from his earliest infancy, for he was born upon a farm in Columbia county, Pennsylvania, on the 15th of January, 1833, his parents being William and Diantha (Taylor) Cox, both of whom died in Col- umbia county. It was in the place of his nativity that the subject was reared and he did not lack for company on the old home- stead for he was the sixth in a family of seven children, and many a merry hour was spent by the sons and daughters of that household. Each one also had his share in the work to be done upon a farm and through nineteen years Washington Cox re- mained at home, spending his youth in the usual manner of farmer lads of that period. He then started westward and for about five year's he lived at various places in Indiana and was variously employed, accepting such work as would yield him an honest living and enable him to save something from his earnings.
It was during his sojourn in the Hoosier
576
GRAND TRAVERSE AND LEELANAW COUNTIES.
state that Mr. Cox was married, the wed- ding taking place in Noble county, in 1856, the lady of his choice being Miss Mary Hill- iard, a native of Indiana. About a year after their marriage they removed to Alle- gan county, Michigan, where Mr. Cox pur- chased a farm, and they continued to reside thereon until the fall of 1888, when they came to Grand Traverse county. At that time they settled on the farm which has now been their home for fifteen consecutive years. Many of the modern features of the place are the work of Mr. Cox, who has labored energetically to develop the property into a valuable farm. He has one hundred and sixty acres, of which one hundred and twen- ty-five acres have already been placed under the plow or otherwise utilized in the farm work with good results. The buildings are substantial and commodious and fences and buildings are kept in good repair, while everything about the place is orderly, indi- cating that the owner is systematic in his work and practical in all that he does.
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.