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 82
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 82
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WILLIAM S. ANDERSON.
From the purview of the publication at hand the subject of this review has particu- lar claims to such specific recognition as is here accorded, for he is not only one of the honored and influential business men of Traverse City, but is also a representative of one of its sterling pioneer families, so that the genealogical record also can not fail of interest as here perpetuated. He stands at the head of one of the oldest and most noteworthy enterprises of like character in the city, where he conducts an undertaking business which is pre-eminent in the hon- orable bearing and careful methods em- ployed and in the discriminating delicacy of treatment which the nature of the work of a funeral director renders expedient, and he
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has thus retained as his own the respect and confidence of the community, even as did his father before him, the latter having likewise early assumed a position of priority in the business and social life of Traverse City, where he maintained his home for the long period of thirty-two years.
William S. Anderson is a native son of the old Buckeye state, having been born in the town of West Carlisle, Coshocton coun- ty, Ohio, on the 21st of May, 1850. His father, the late Samuel Anderson, was born in Chester county, Pennsylvania, on the 4th of March, 1820, the family name having been identified with the annals of the Key- stone state from an early epoch in its history. He was there reared and educated and there learned the trade of carriage making. As a young man he removed to Coshocton coun- ty, Ohio, and at West Carlisle became one of the pioneers at his trade in that section. There he continued to follow this vocation for a number of years, also being for some time there identified with the undertaking business. In 1866 he removed with his fam- ily to Traverse City, where he established himself in the carriage and wagon manufac- turing business, having a well equipped shop and soon securing a profitable supporting patronage, as his integrity was beyond cavil and his skill as an artisan unexcelled. At the time of his coming here the place was scarcely more than a hamlet in the woods, and it was his privilege to witness its devel- opment into an attractive city of many metropolitan pretentions, while in the com- munity, to whose material progress and prosperity he contributed in no small meas- ure, he ever commanded the unequivocal confidence and high regard of all who knew him, and it may well be said that few indeed
were the residents of the city to whom his face was not a familiar one. He here con- tinued the carriage and wagon business until 1875, when he sold the same to our subject and John Cadham, and then engaged in the undertaking business, with which he was thereafter identified until the close of his life's labors. This sterling pioneer citizen was summoned into eternal rest on the 11th of April, 1898, at the age of seventy-eight years, one month and ten days, while his death was felt as a personal bereavement by the people of the city with whose civic and industrial and social affairs he had been so closely identified for thirty-two years. In politics he gave his allegiance to the Prohibi- tion party, and both he and his wife were devoted members of the Presbyterian church.
On the 26th of June, 1845, was sol- emnized the marriage of Samuel Anderson to Miss Margaret Younker, who was born in West Carlisle, Coshocton county, Ohio, on the 6th of October, 1828, where she was reared to maturity, her parents having been numbered among the pioneers of that sec- tion of the Buckeye state. Samuel and Mar- garet Anderson became the parents of twelve children, of whom only five are living at the present time, namely : Henry H., who is a successful member of the bar of the city of Chicago; William S., who is the immediate subject of this review ; Miss Jennie E., who is the capable lady assistant in the undertak- ing establishment of her brother William; and Angeline D. and Margaret E., who still reside in the old homestead in Traverse City. The devoted wife and mother passed away on the 6th of April, 1898.
William S. Anderson was reared to the age of sixteen years in his native village of West Carlisle, Ohio, and there secured his
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early educational discipline in the public schools, while he continued his studies for two years after the removal of the family to Traverse City. Then, at the age of eighteen years, he became identified with his father in the wagon and carriage business, learning the same in all its details and gaining valu- able experience under the direction of his father. In 1875 he became associated with John Cadham in the purchase of this busi- ness, which was thereafter conducted under the firm name of Anderson & Cadham about three years, at the expiration of which our subject purchased his partner's interest in the enterprise, of which he remained in sole con- trol until 1883, when he disposed of the same and associated himself with his father in the undertaking business, under the firm name of Samuel Anderson & Son, and this association continued until the death of the senior member of the firm, since which time the business has been conducted under the ownership and individual name of our sub- ject. His establishment is one of the largest and best appointed of the sort in northern Michigan, and every portion of the business receives the most punctilious and careful at- tention, while the accessories include all the most modern appliances and provisions. The character of Mr. Anderson is so well known as being above the least iota of re- proach that further comment in the connec- tion would be superogatory. He holds the csteem of the entire community, in which he has passed the greater portion of his life, and he is known as a liberal and public- spirited citizen and as one whose aid and in- fluence can invariably be counted upon in the promotion of all worthy undertakings for the general good. In politics, while without personal ambition for office, he has ever ac-
corded a stanch allegiance to the Republican party, but has never permitted his name to be considered in connection with any public preferment. He and his wife and two of his sisters were members of the Congregational church, while the other sister is identified with the Presbyterian church. The family is one of prominence in the best social life of the community and none is better known or held in higher estimation.
On the 15th of October, 1875, Mr. An- derson was united in marriage to Miss Dora Brockway, who was born in Oswego, New York, being a daughter of Thomas and Anna (Lesley) Brockway, who came to Traverse City about the same year as did the Anderson family, and these honored pio- neers are still living here, Mr. Brockway be- ing now in his eighty-first year, while his wife is seventy-nine years of age. To Mr. and Mrs. Anderson have been born six chil- dren, concerning whom we enter the follow- ing brief record: Lulu, who was born on the 12th of September, 1876, died at the age of eleven years; Samuel, who was born on the 4th of July, 1879, was drowned in the Boardman river at Traverse City when six years of age; Ralph was born on the 18th of May, 1881 ; Harvey H. was born May 28, 1883; William H. was born August 4, 1885; and Mabel A. was born November 6, 1887. Mrs. Anderson died at Traverse City No- vember 19, 1899.
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Samuel Anderson enlisted in the Sixty- first Ohio Volunteer Infantry in 1861, and served to the end of his enlistment of three months. Being one of the first to enlist un- der the first call for volunteers, William S. went with his father, as drummer boy, as far as Camp Dennison, Ohio, where he re- mained for a short time, when, to his disap-
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pointment, he was forced to return home. Mr. Anderson at once re-enlisted for three years' service, in the Fifty-first Ohio Volun- teer Infantry, Company I, in which he served for about two years, when he was honorably discharged, as the government re- quired his services as a mechanic, in which position he served until the close of the war in 1865. He was a pensioner up to the time of his death.
EDWIN BLACK.
Persistence and courage in the face of difficulties are necessary factors to success, and energy and determination must lend their aid if one would succeed in the face of competition and gain prosperity in this age of activity, when all are striving for the same goal. However, opportunity is limit- less and if one is diligent and enterprising a competence if not wealth may always be gained. Edwin Black has become one of the prosperous citizens of Grand Traverse county and is a respected resident of East Bay township, where he owns and operates an excellent farm. He has one hundred and sixty acres of land of his own and altogether he operates two hundred and forty acres, being one of the extensive farmers of his community.
At an early period in the development of Grand Traverse county the Black family was established here by the late John Black, father of the subject, who was born in Scot- land on the 24th of January, 1827. He was only eight years of age when he left his na- tive country and with his parents crossed the Atlantic to Canada, where he was reared to
manhood. On leaving the Dominion, he spent some time in Wisconsin and afterward lived for a period in Illinois before coming to Michigan. On reaching this state he took up his abode in Manistee, where he was en- gaged in the lumbering business in the em- pioy of others. The spring of 1851, how- ever, witnessed his arrival in Traverse City and he entered the employ of the well known lumber firm of Hannah, Lay & Company, with which he was connected continuously until 1858. He then purchased a tract of land of one hundred and sixty acres in East Bay township, cleared a small portion of this and built a log house. Soon afterward he entered the employ of the firm of Green & Holden, well-known lumbermen of East Bay township, acting as foreman of their mill for several years. On severing that busi- ness relation he once more entered the em- ploy of Hannah, Lay & Company, having charge of the operation of their saw-mill in Traverse City during the summer months. while in the winter seasons he operated one of their lumber camps in the midst of the forest. His time and attention was thus engaged until the fall of 1868, when he set- tled upon his farm in East Bay township. giving his undivided attention to agricul- tural pursuits. He erected good buildings upon his farm and made substantial and val- uable improvements. To the further culti- vation and development of his land he de- voted his energies until his death, which oc- curred on the 3d of February, 1899. For many years he was a very active business man of Grand Traverse county, successfully accomplished whatever he undertook by reason of persistency of purpose that over- came all the difficulties and obstacles in his path. John Black was twice married. He
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MR. AND MRS. JOHN BLACK
MR. AND MRS. EDWIN BLACK
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first wedded Miss Harriet A. Scofield, a native of New York, to whom he was mar- ried on the Ioth of July, 1853. She died at their residence in East Bay township on the 3d of September, 1862. Four children have been born of that marriage: Alfred W .; George G., who is now deceased; a daughter who died in infancy; and Edwin, whose name introduces this record. Mr. Black was again married on the 21st of August, 1865, in East Bay township, Grand Traverse coun- ty, his second union being with Miss Helen McFarland, who was born in Dundas county, Canada, on the Ist of October, 1844.
In taking up the personal history of Ed- win Black we present to our readers the life record of one who has a wide acquaintance and is favorably known in Grand Traverse county. He was born upon his father's farm in East Bay township, on the 21st of August, 1862, and was reared to manhood in that lo- cality where he has always resided. The common schools afforded him his education- al privileges and his business training was received upon his father's farm. The prac- tical knowledge which he gained of farm life during his youth has been the means of shaping his entire career. His choice of a life work fell upon agriculture and he has since engaged in the tilling of the soil, hav- ing today two hundred and forty acres of land under cultivation, of which he owns one hundred and sixty. His farm interests are extensive and, being well conducted, bring to him a good financial return. At an early day he learned one of the great lessons of life, that there is no royal road to wealth, and as he has toiled industriously through the years of his manhood he is now in the possession of a good home and good farm.
Mr. Black was married in East Bay
township, on the 21st of March, 1887, to Miss Alice A. Taylor, who was born in Ohio and is a daughter of Allison and Adaline Taylor, of East Bay township. Her parents are prominent early settlers of this locality and are mentioned on another page of this work. Mrs. Black died in East Bay town- ship February 24, 1888, leaving one son, John T. Mr. Black was again married Sep- tember 20, 1894. His present wife bore the maiden name of Miss Hattie M. Daynto and is a native of Michigan. The fruits of their union are two children, Alfred F. and Edna G.
Mr. Black votes with the Republican party, to which he has always given earn- est support. He has held the office of treas- urer of East Bay township, has likewise been supervisor of the township and is the incum- bent of the latter position at the present time. In the office of justice of the peace he won public commendation by reason of his fair and impartial decisions, based upon the evi- dence, the equity and the law involved in the case. In matters pertaining to the welfare of his township, county and state he is deeply interested and his effort in behalf of the gen- eral progress have been far-reaching and beneficial. His name is associated with progress in the county of his birth and among those in whose midst he has always lived he is held in the highest esteem by reason of an upright life and of fidelity to principles which in every land and clime command respect.
CHARLES D. COPELAND.
Charles D. Copeland is an enterprising, wide-awake young farmer of Grand Traverse county, possessing the spirit of progress and
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advancement which has characterized this state from the period of its early development. Whatever Mr. Copeland undertakes he car- ries forward to successful completion and his excellent farm on section 14, Grant town- ship, has been acquired through his own la- bors and is a monument to his life of indus- try and thrift.
A native son of Michigan, Charles D. Copeland was born upon his father's farm in Lawrence township, Van Buren county, on the 20th of March, 1871, the parents being James and Amanda (Adams) Copeland, who were natives, the father of Scotland and the mother of New York. Unto them were born seven children, four sons and three daughters, the subject of this review being the eldest of the family. He was reared and educated in Van Buren county, living there until twenty-one years of age, when he came to Grand Traverse county, where he has since made his home. He was first employed at farm labor and at logging for a few years and then with his capital he had managed to save from his own earnings he purchased eighty acres of land in Grant township, but afterward disposed of forty acres of that tract. His landed possessions today, however, comprise eighty acres, of which forty-eight acres has been placed un- der cultivation and the modern farming methods which he employs have resulted in the production of good crops and fruit, so that he finds a ready sale on the market for all that he raises.
On the 20th of August, 1896, in Trav- erse City, Michigan, was celebrated the mar- riage of Mr. Copeland and Miss Hattie Cox, a native of Allegan county, this state, her birth having occurred in Dorr township, August 2, 1871, a daughter of Washington
and Mary (Hillard) Cox, of Mayfield town- ship, Grand Traverse county. Three chil- dren have graced this marriage, namely : Guy M., Amanda M. and Lewis C. The family have a nice home, and upon the farm is a good barn and other modern equipments. The owner is a progressive agriculturist and is continually on the outlook for new meth- ods which will promote the efficiency of his work, yet he does not adopt ideas unless he is convinced of their practical value and util- ity. He has an enthusiastic interest in his business and he does not scorn that close at- tention to detail without which the highest degree of success can never be obtained. Personally Mr. Copeland is popular, having many characteristics which have gained for him the warm regard and friendship of those with whom business and social relations have brought him in contact. He is a Re- publican in politics.
WILLIAM LOUDON.
The sturdy Scotsman has played a con- spicuous part in forwarding the material prosperity of the American republic from an early epoch in its history, and the well bal- anced mentality and marked pragmatic abil- ity so typical of the race are well exempli- fied in Mr. Loudon, who emigrated from the land of hills and heather to America more than a quarter of a century ago and who has maintained his home in 'Traverse City dur- ing practically the entire period of his resi- dence in this country. He is one of the rep- resentative business men and honored citi- zens of the place, being a member of the firm of Caldwell & Loudon, manufacturers
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of carriages, wagons, sleighs, etc., and through his own efforts he has achieved a success worthy the name, being clearly en- titled to representation in this volume.
William Loudon was born in the town of Kilmaurs, Ayrshire, Scotland, on the 12th of January, 1851. His father, John Loudon, was born in Scotland, of stanch old stock, in the year 1802, and there he passed his entire life, his death occurring in 1882. He was a man of inflexible integrity and lived a life of usefulness and honor, having been a blacksmith by trade and vocation. His wife, whose maiden name was Catharine Hutton, was born about 1809, and she passed her en- tire life in Scotland, where she died. They became the parents of seven children, con- cerning whom we enter the following brief record : Marion is the wife of Robert Bailey, mate on a steamer plying the river Clyde, and they reside at Ardrossan, Scotland; John, who is a blacksmith by vocation, is married and has children, making his home at Saltcoats, Scotland; Mary is the widow of a Mr. Blair, who was superintendent of mines and who died about sixteen years ago, and she still resides in Saltcoats, Scotland; Will- iam is the subject of this sketch; Daniel came to the United States in 1885 and is now employed in the crockery department of the general store conducted by Hannah, Lay & Company, of Traverse City, being married and having a family of children; Thomas died in Australia ; and Robert died in Trav- erse City.
William Loudon, to whom this sketch is dedicated, passed his early life in the town of Androssan, Scotland, where he secured his educational discipline and where he learned the trade of blacksmith, there continuing to make his home until he had attained to the
age of twenty-two years. In July, 1872, at Saltcoats, Scotland, he was united in mar- riage to Miss Elizabeth McMillen, who was born in that town on the Ist of February, 1853, being a daughter of James and Mar- garet (Fullerton) McMillen. Mr. McMil- len was a captain on one of the steamships plying between Glasgow and Montreal, Can- ada, and in this capacity he crossed the At- lantic many times, and on his last voyage, about thrity years ago, he met his death by being washed overboard during a severe storm. His widow still resides in Saltcoats, where she was born, and is now seventy- eight years of age. They became the par- ents of ten children, of whom seven survive, all maintaining their residence in Scotland except Mrs. Loudon.
About three months after their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Loudon emigrated to Amer- ica, landing in New York city and thence coming westward to Chicago, which still lay in ruins from the great fire of the previous year, and after remaining there for three weeks they came by boat to Traverse City, where they have ever since made their home, being well entitled to the honor of being des- ignated as pioneer citizens of the place. Mr. Loudon secured employment at his trade in the blacksmith shops of Hannah, Lay & Company, and was thus engaged until 1881, when he engaged in business on his own re- sponsibility, associating himself with Robert Caldwell, under the firm name of Caldwell & Loudon, and this business. alliance has ever since continued. The firm has built up a large and profitable business in the manu- facturing of carriages, buggies, wagons, sleighs, trucks, etc., the plant of the concern being well equipped, while the trade ramifies throughout a wide radius of country in this
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section of the state. Superior workmanship and fair and honorable dealings have been the means through which the firm has at- tained so marked success and so high a rep- utation, and its members are known as pro- gressive and public-spirited citizens. Aside from this enterprise Mr. Loudon is a mem- ber of the directorate of the People's Sav- ings Bank, is president of the Boardman River Electric Light & Power Company, and is the owner of a number of tracts of timber land in the county and also of valuable realty in the city, including his beautiful residence, which is one of the most modern and attrac- tive homes in the city. In politics Mr. Lou- don gives his support to the Republican par- ty in state and national affairs, but in local matters he maintains an independent atti- tude, lending his influence in favor of such men and measures as meet the approval of his judgment rather than being guided along strict partisan lines when no issue is in- volved. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, to whose spe- cific work and collateral benevolences they give a consistent support. Fraternally Mr. Loudon is identified with the Masonic order, in which he has attained the Knights Tem- plar degree, and also with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the Knights of Pythias and the Knights of the Macca- bees. Mr. and Mrs. Loudon have twice vis- ited Scotland since coming to America, and in the summer of 1902 they there remained for a visit of three months, being accom- panied by their youngest daughter. Of their children we offer the following record : Bes- sie is the wife of Dr. Oscar Chase, a success- ful physician of Traverse City, and they have one daughter, Elizabeth; Kate is the
wife of Frank M. Gardiner, a traveling salesman, and they also reside in Traverse City, having one daughter, Margaret ; James has charge of the office of the Boardman River Electric Light & Power Company, of which his father is president; and Jennie re- mains at the parental home.
MEINROD OBERLIN.
The life history of Meinrod Oberlin, now deceased, forms an important chapter in the annals of Leelanaw county, for he was an en - terprising merchant whose efforts were largely effective in promoting the commercial activity of this locality. He belonged to that class of representative American citizens who in promoting individual prosperity also ad- vance the general welfare. His name was synonymous with integrity and his fair deal- ing was one of the conspicuous traits of his character. His life was an era of accom- plishment and when death called him he left to his family a valuable estate and more than that-the priceless heritage of an untarn- ished name.
Mr. Oberlin was born in Switzerland on the 13th of March, 1851, and spent the days of his youth in the land of the Alps, coming to the new world when eighteen years of age, imbued with the hoping of acquiring a fortune in this country, where opportunity is open to the ambitious and diligent. Mak- ing his way to Indiana, he was there em- ployed as a laborer on the railroads until his removal to Leelanaw county. Here he worked at different occupations for a time and then accepted a clerkship in a store at
MR. AND MRS. MEINROD OBERLIN
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Sutton's Bay. That he had the unqualified confidence of his employers, that he was ca- pable and efficient and that he was popular with the purchasing public, are shown by the fact that for nine years he occupied that position. He afterward engaged in buying wood and brick on his own account and sub- sequently he again accepted a clerkship at Sutton's Bay, acting in that capacity until 1887, when he came to Bingham. Here he began business on his own account as pro- prietor of a general store and in the enter- prise met with gratifying success, securing a large and profitable patronage. He like- wise continued to deal in wood and brick and in 1899 he embarked in the lumber business, these varied pursuits occupying his atten- tion up to the time of his demise. He was a man of resourceful business ability, alert and enterprising, and into varied avenues of la- bor he directed his energies, each receiving his careful attention and oversight, and in all he met with success. He operated a mill at Bingham, a second at Sutton's Bay, a third at Provement and a fourth at Gem Arbor, and his business interests were al- ways of a nature that proved of benefit to the community as well as a source of success to him, for they provided employment for many workmen and also promoted commercial ac- tivity, which is the source of all prosperity in town and cities.
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