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 75
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 75
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Mr. Bellinger was married in Kasson township, Leelanaw county, on the 21st of April, 1883, to Miss Alfarata Amidon, who was born in Shiawassee county, Michigan, on the 5th of November, 1863, a daughter of William H. and Mary J. (Whitney) Ami- don, the former a native of New York and the latter of Ohio. In their family were six children, of whom Mrs. Bellinger was the second, and by her marriage she has become the mother of a daughter and a son, Flora S. and Orville H. The family home is a pleas- ant and hospitable one, and in addition to his mill property Mr. Bellinger owns two hun- dred acres of valuable land, of which one hundred acres has been improved and now returns to the owner a good annual income.
It is the capable and successful business men who make the best officers, bringing to the public business the same aptitude, energy and determination which they show in the control of their private interests. Mr. Bel- linger has frequently been solicited to serve in positions of public trust and responsibility. He was elected sheriff of Leelanaw county and served so capably that he was then re- elected and continued in the office for. a sec- ond term. He has held the office of township treasurer for one term and has been school treasurer for many years. Matters pertain- ing to public progress and improvement re- ceive his earnest endorsement and public measures have benefited by his active and practical assistance. He manifests his politi- cal belief by casting his ballot each election for the men and measures of the Republican party. In his social relations he is a Mason and an Odd Fellow, and in his life he ex- emplifies the beneficent spirit of these fra- ternities, which are based upon the brother- hood of mankind and embody in their teach- ings mutual helpfulness and a spirit of char- ity.
WILLIAM ILES.
William Iles is well known in Cedar, in Leelanaw county and in northwestern Michigan, where he has controlled extensive and important business interests. In his un- dertakings he has prospered and he has ever been fair and straightforward in his dealings with his fellow men. He is now the owner of extensive property interests in Traverse City and in Cedar and in the latter place he is now engaged in dealing in liquors, con- ducting a retail trade.
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John Iles, the father of the subject, was one of the pioneer settlers of Leelanaw county. A native of Ireland, he wedded Miss Eliza Menire, who was born in Canada, but was of Irish parentage. John Iles had settled in Canada on crossing the Atlantic and from the Dominion they crossed the border into the United States and became residents of Leelanaw county in 1866. For some years they lived in Elmwood town- ship, Mr. Iles carrying on agricultural pur- suits there, and later they secured a home- stead claim in Solon township, at what is now Cedar. Upon that farm they located and it remained their place of residence throughout their remaining days. The fa- ther made farming his life work and was an industrious, energetic man, and both he and his wife won many friends in this county. The mother died when sixty-three years of age, and the father passed away at the ad- vanced age of seventy-eight years. They were the parents of twelve children, of whom William is the second in order of birth.
There was no lack of companionship for William Iles in his youth and many merry hours were passed by the brothers and sisters of the household. They were also trained to habits of industry and the subject.per- formed his full share of the work on the home farm. He was born in London, On- tario, January 26, 1855, and was therefore about eleven years of age when he came with his parents to Michigan. He remained un- der the parental roof until twenty-two years of age, when he started out upon an inde- pendent business career, and the success that he has since achieved has resulted entirely from his own efforts. He first engaged as foreman with the Grand Haven Boom Com- pany, and acted in that capacity for four
years. On the expiration of that period he returned to Leelanaw county, and for four years occupied the position of walking boss for the Frankfort Lumber Company. At the end of that time he was chosen chief of police of Traverse City, on the organization of the police force there, and for fourteen years he was the head of the force to main- tain law and order there and protect the rights of the law-abiding citizens. He proved a most capable official, ever loyal to his duty, and the public reposed the ut- most confidence in him. At length, how- ever, he resigned, and went to Alaska, spend- ing two years in that country, where he worked in the mines, but not realizing a for- tune there in the time he had anticipated and feeling that Michigan was a more congenial place of residence, he returned to Leelanaw county, opening a saloon in Cedar. This he has since conducted and to some extent he has engaged in the lumber business, but devotes his energies chiefly to the saloon business.
On the 3d of February, 1883, in Trav- erse City, Michigan, Mr. Iles was united in marriage to Miss Julia Secore, a native of Canada, born in the city of Montreal. She is a daughter of Philip and Celia Secore, of Traverse City, who were numbered among the pioneer settlers of this section of the state, having located here when the work of improvement and progress had scarcely be- gun. The home of Mr. and Mrs. Iles has been blessed with three children, two sons and a daughter, William, Jr., Eva and Frank N., all of whom are still with their parents.
In his political views Mr. Iles is a stal- wart Republican, having always given his support to the principles of the party. He
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has labored for its success, being regarded as one of the leading party workers of this locality. He has filled a number of public offices. For six or seven years he was un- der-sheriff of Grand Traverse county and was also deputy United States marshal for four years under James Clark. As the cus- todian of the public right he has ever been found as a most faithful officer, discharging his duties with promptness and fidelity. His father was an ardent Democrat and when he came to Leelanaw county he was one of but two adherents of the Democracy in Solon township. He however did all he could for the principles in which he believed, but his son, after mature consideration of the ques- tions and issues of the day, decided not to follow in the political footsteps of the fa- ther and has ever given his allegiance to the "Grand Old Party."
Fraternally Mr. Iles is connected with Traverse City Lodge No. 222, Free and Ac- cepted Masons; Traverse City Chapter, Royal Arch Masons; Traverse City Coun- cil, Royal and Select Masters, and is familiar with the teachings and tenets of the craft of which he is a worthy follower. He owns valuable property interests in Traverse City and in Cedar, having made judicious investments in real estate, and today he is classed among the prosperous men of Lee- lanaw county.
HENRY SEEGMILLER.
Henry Seegmiller, a prominent and in- fluential business man of Kingsley, Grand Traverse county, Michigan, was born Au- gust 19, 1845, in Goderich, Ontario. His parents, Jacob and Wilhelmina (Click)
Seegmiller, were natives of Germany. They were married and resided for a number of years in Canada. They were the parents of ten children and he was a tanner by occupa- tion, residing in Goderich, where they both died, the mother at the age of fifty-nine and. the father at the age of seventy-two years.
Henry Seegmiller was a farmer, but also conducted a foundry in his native country until 1878, when he came to Michigan with his wife and four children, moving on a. farm in Garfield township about two and. one-half miles from Traverse City. He con- ducted this farm three years, when he be- came dissatisfied and returned to Canada and for two years was engaged in the real-estate and commission business at Walkerton. He then went to Goderich and conducted a foundry in partnership with his brother and returned to Grand Traverse county, where he turned his entire time and attention to agriculture in Paradise township. Three or four years later he moved to Kingsley and embarked in the mercantile business, build- ing a store for that purpose. The first build- ing he built he sold, then he erected a second store building, in which he now carries on his business. He has met with flattering success and keeps one of the nicest and most complete line of goods to be found in any small town in this state. He was postmas- ter four years under Cleveland's adminis- tration and has made many friends and built up a large patronage by his courteous and upright dealings. His residence is one of the finest and handsomest in the village.
Mr. Seegmiller was married in Gode- rich, Ontario, 'to Miss Mary Ann Seegmil- ler, a native of Petersburg, Ontario, born April 26, 1851, and the fruits of this union are eleven children, namely: Charles H .;
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Carrie, who is the wife of Demont Ellison ; Wilhelmina, wife of Rev. Albert Balgooyen ; Lucy A., the wife of Rev. W. T. Hill; Abbie; John A .; Oscar; and Walter. Three children were transplanted to the garden of the Lord, one at the age of four years, one at the age of eight months and one in in- fancy. Charles H., who is a graduate of the Traverse City Business College and of the normal school at Valparaiso, Indiana, is now a bookkeeper for a Chicago house. He married Miss Ida Stanton. Wilhelmina, who attended Ferris Institute and Albion College, was a successful teacher and was principal of the schools at Ford River, Mich- igan. Lucy has taught in the schools of Grand Traverse county.
Mr. and Mrs. Seegmiller are members of the German Lutheran church and con- tribute in no uncertain way to its advance- ment in Kingsley. In addition to their mer- cantile business they own a farm of four hundred acres and have three hundred of it under cultivation, a source of considerable profit. Mr. Seegmiller is an enterprising, public-spirited citizen and has been a mem- ber of the village board for several years, looking closely after the best interests of the public and giving it the same shrewd and careful attention that he bestows upon his private business. He is a Democrat in poli- tics, a member of Strict Account Lodge No. 662, Knights of the Maccabees, and of Maple Leaf Lodge No. 27, Ancient Order of United Workmen, of Goderich.
WILLIAM F. EIKEY.
To his own efforts is the success of Wil- liam F. Eikey attributable, for he started out upon his business career without capital or
the aid of influential friends, and is today the owner of a good farm in Grand Traverse county. This, too, is the visible evidence of his life of industry, for when it came into his possession it was entirely unimproved.
A native of Pennsylvania, Mr. Eikey was born in or near Mckeesport, April 22, 1854, and was one of the younger members of a family of seven children, born of the mar- riage of Louis Eikey and Christina Keitel, both of whom were natives of Germany. They removed from the Keystone state to Monroe county, Ohio, when the subject of this review was only about six years of age, and there he lived upon the home farm until he was seventeen years of age. He then en- tered upon an independent business career. Leaving Ohio he made his way to Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, where he secured a position as a puddler in a rolling mill, being thus em- ployed for about seven years.
While living there Mr. Eikey was united in marriage on the 22d of March, 1878, to Miss Minnie Kramer, who was born in Ger- many, October 10, 1857. He then came with his bride to Grand Traverse county, Michi- gan, and settled upon the farm which he had purchased in the fall of 1877, and which has since been his home. He first bought one hundred and sixty acres in section 5, East Bay township, all of which was wild and un- improved. With characteristic energy he began its development, and acre after acre was cleared and placed under the plow, until he now has about half of it under cultivation. He has also erected good buildings, and he has one of the best barns in the entire coun- ty. He keeps on hand a good grade of farm animals, and he raised the cereals and fruits best adapted to the soil and climate, his crops commanding a good price on the market
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WILLIAM F. EIKEY.
MRS. WILLIAM EIKEY.
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when they are placed on sale. He has ex- tended the boundary of his farm until it now comprises two hundred and more acres, and is rapidly developing a valuable property.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Eikey have been born ten children-Mamie, Charles, Arthur, Ida, Eda, Willie, Lewis, Bert, George and Tony. Of this number all are yet living with the exception of Willie, who died at the age of twelve years. Mr. Eikey has been highway commissioner and has served in sev- eral school offices. He is a thrifty and in- dustrious farmer, and while he has profited by his residence in Michigan the state has found him a good citizen, progressive, wide- awake, alert and enterprising, promoting the public welfare while advancing his individual interests.
MYRON S. BROWNSON, M. D.
Myron S. Brownson, M. D., the first physician to locate in Kingsley, Grand Trav- erse county, Michigan, has done more to- wards the present prosperity of the village than any other man. He may truly be said to be the father of Kingsley. It would be impossible to give anything like a detailed account of the many enterprises originated and carried on by him or in which he was interested, but we will endeavor to give a brief, authentic account of some of the more important undertakings which have placed him among the first men of the county. He is a son of Henry and Mary (Stafford) Brownson and a grandson of the Rev. Elisha Brownson, a pioneer preacher of re- nown. Dr. Brownson was born in South Dansville, Steuben county, New York, Feb- ruary 10, 1844, and spent his youth on his
father's farm in that county. Ambitious and energetic, he early conceived a desire to make the study of medicine his life work, but it was not until about his twentieth year that he entered upon those studies. An in- terruption was occasioned when he enlisted in Company B, One Hundred and Eighty- eighth New York Volunteer Regiment, in which he served one year. This year was of practical value to him as he was placed in the medical department as cadet and the ex- perience there gained was of more service to him than many months of study would have been. Leaving the army, he returned to Steuben county and resumed his studies for a short time, when failing health com- pelled him to seek a change and he came to Grand Traverse county, Michigan, remain- ing about a year. Once more he returned to Steuben county and completed his studies, graduating from the University of Penn- sylvania in 1868.
Dr. Brownson opened an office and be- gan the practice of his profession in Loon Lake, Steuben county, New York, but later located in Valparaiso, Indiana. While there he attended lectures and took the course in Bennett Medical College of Chicago, grad- uating from that institution in 1871. In 1872 he returned to New York and practiced in Dansville, Livingstone county, for about two years and in 1874 settled in Kingsley. He was not long in establishing a practice which was at once lucrative and extended. His quick and willing response to the call of distress and his prompt and skillful treat- ment of disease touched the hearts of the people and opened for him the way to their confidence and esteem. This resulted in making him at once popular and necessary and he soon found himself possessed of little
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leisure. He has traveled the county from one end to the other, in all seasons and at all hours, for he has made it a point of honor never to let his services be asked in vain. . His popularity has only been exceeded by his success and he can point with pride to thirty years of profitable practice in Grand Traverse county.
A man of mammoth business ability, he foresaw the possibilities of the new and then thinly inhabited district in which he chose to cast his fortunes, and purchased a tract of one thousand acres of woodland. This tim- ber was mostly of hard wood and was sit- uated where the village of Kingsley now stands, he having platted and laid out the vil- lage in the very center of his purchase in 1882. Few men would have the temerity or ability to institute and carry on so many enterprises, which, in his case, have proved to be successful and money-making. He built and operated the first saw and grist- mill, the first blacksmith shop, general store and livery stable in Kingsley, erected fifty- three residence and business blocks, built three lumber mills and carried on a large lum- ber business for about twenty years, and also built the Brownson sanitarium early in the 'eighties. In 1900 he built the flour-mill, known as the Toner Roller Mills, and was instrumental in having erected the Metho- dist Episcopal church, while he has con- tributed most liberally to the building of the other churches as well. He still owns about eleven hundred acres of land in this county and has four hundred under cultivation.
Dr. Brownson has shown himself an editor of no small ability and has success- fully conducted a number of journals and newspapers, his first venture being in Dan's- ville, New York, where he published the
Home Medical Advisor and Health Journal, which had a circulation of five thousand copies. In 1888 he established the Paradise Enterprise, of Kingsley, which was merged into the Traverse City Transcript three years later and five years after that was sold to the Traverse City Herald. In 1899 he established the Kingsley Hustler, a wide- awake, newsy sheet that furnishes the local neighboring news in a spicy, able manner that makes it a welcome visitor in the ma- jority of homes in this vicinity. Dr. Brown- son was married in Springwater, Living- stone county, New York, May 22, 1872, to Miss Sarah A. Rowe. She was born in that county and was a daughter of Joseph and Christine Rowe, who were from Pennsyl- vania. Of the four children born to this union but one, J. Joseph Henry, survives. Like his father, he is a physician practicing in Kingsley and bids fair to outdo the older doctor in popularity and skill. Dr. Brown- son, the subject, is prominent in fraternal circles and takes a leading part in the work- ings of a number of local lodges, being a member of the Masons, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Sons of Bethlehem, James Wadsworth Post, Grand Army of the Re- public, and the Modern Woodmen of Amer- ica.
LOUIS E. AINSLIE.
The student of history cannot carry his investigations far without learning that the name of Ainslie has long figured in connec- tion with the development and agricultural interests of Grand Traverse county, for hardly had the white race begun to dispute the dominion of this section of the state with
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the red men when Gilbert Ainslie, the father of the subject, established his home in the midst of the green woods. He was a helpful factor in the early progress and aided in lay- ing broad and deep the foundation for the present prosperity and advanced condition of the county and the work which he begun has been carried forward by his son, Louis E. Ainslie, who is today a prominent and progressive citizen, as well as a practical and enterprising agriculturist.
Gilbert Ainslie was born in the state of New York, June 14, 1827, and he wedded Mary E. Baughn, who was a native of Ohio, born September 9, 1832. Their marriage was celebrated on the 25th of September, 1854, and soon afterward they came to Michigan, settling at Elk Rapids, in Antrim county. After a short period, however, they came to Grand Traverse county, taking up their abode upon a farm in Acme township, north of Yuba. There they lived for sev- eral years and then became residents of Gar- field township, where Mr. Ainslie carried on general farming for some time. When he put aside agricultural pursuits he removed to Traverse City and secured the position of mail carrier between Traverse City and Dun- can, Michigan. To that work he devoted his energies throughout the remainder of his days, his death occurring in the former place on the 14th of October, 1869. His wife, surviving him for about five years, died in Traverse City, March 10, 1874. In their family were five children, as follows : Doug- lass, who was drowned while bathing in the mouth of the Boardman river, when thirteen years of age; Louis E., who is the second in order of birth; Mary M .; Maria B., the wife of Alfred W. Black; and Gilbert H., who died in infancy.
Louis E. Ainslie was born December 3, 1859, upon the farm in Acme township which his father had entered from the gov- ernment upon his arrival in Grand Traverse county, and amid the wild scenes of frontier life he was reared, sharing with the family in the hardships which fall to the lot of the pioneers and assisting in the arduous duties of developing a new farm. There were also many pleasures to be enjoyed, some of which were known only in pioneer times and are not now enjoyed by people of the present generation. He lived with his parents un- til they were called from this life and after his mother's death he sought and obtained employment in the store of Hannah, Lay & Company, for whom he acted as cash boy for two and a half years. After that time he attended school in Traverse City, Michi- gan, and in Salem, Ohio, spending two years in the latter place, after which he returned to the former place. For a year he continued his studies in the schools of Traverse City and thus well equipped with a fair knowl- edge of the English branches of learning which are continually brought into requisi- tion in business life, he began farming, which has been his life occupation. He purchased a tract of land in Acme township and lived thereon for several years, when he traded that property for the farm which is now his home. The real-estate transfer was effected in 1890, and this has since been his home. It comprises one hundred and sixty acres on section 32, East Bay township, and the mod- ern farm buildings there seen have been largely erected by the present owner, who keeps everything about his place in excellent repair, giving to the farm his personal su- pervision in every department, considering no detail too unimportant to claim his atten-
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tion. To this may largely be attributed his success, for it is a most valuable element in business life. The greater part of his land is under cultivation and in return for his care and labor the fields yield golden har- vests.
In Acme township, on the 12th of March, 1890, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Ainslie and Miss Mary E. Baynton, who was born in Canada, April 22, 1868, a daughter of Thomas and Lucy (Patching) Baynton, both of whom were natives of the same country. They came to Grand Trav- erse county in 1870 and settled in Acme township, where both died. They had a family of twelve children, Mrs. Ainslie be- ing the seventh in order of birth. By the mar- riage of the subject and his wife there are now two daughters, Hattie Belle and Lucile.
Mr. Ainslie is a public-spirited citizen. He feels a just pride in what has been ac- complished in his native county and has watched with interest the rapid strides which Grand Traverse has made toward advanced civilization. Whenever possible he has la- bored for the general good along lines pro- moting the social, material, intellectual and moral welfare of the community, and he is justly accounted one of the honored pioneer residents. Indians still traded in the neigh- borhood at the time of his birth and much of the land was still in the condition in which it came from the hand of nature and in which it had remained for centuries, awaiting the awakening touch of the white race to make it productive. Today it blooms and blossoms as the rose, and Mr. Ainslie is a worthy representative of this great de- partment of labor which George Washing- ton said was the most useful and the most honorable pursuit of man.
AMBROSE B. STINSON.
Ambrose B. Stinson, the genial and ac- commodating postmaster and live business man of Kingsley, was born on a farm in Wil- liams county, Ohio, June 17, 1866. His parents were Albert and Mary (Ultz) Stin- son, who came to Grand Traverse county, Michigan, in 1881, and remained here through the remainder of their lives. Mr. Stinson received a good education in the common schools and began life on his own account in Grand Rapids, where he was em- ployed as clerk in a dry goods store for three or four years. He was courteous and oblig- ing, and soon made many friends, who were pleased to have him wait upon them. Re- turning to Grand Traverse county, he soon embarked in the mercantile business in 1890 in Kingsley, in partnership with Ira D. Lin- ten. This relation was sustained for about seven years, and in 1897 was terminated in Mr. Stinson buying out the business and con- ducting it alone. He has built up a large and constantly increasing trade, with added work since his appointment as postmaster in 1897. He is a man of fine attainments, and his popularity is second to none in the village. Besides his mercantile business he is largely interested in farming and owns four hun- dren and forty acres of land, the cultivation of which he oversees.
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