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 83
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 83
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Mr. Oberlin was married at Sutton's Bay, Leelanaw county, Michigan, on the 2d of March, 1872, to Miss Caroline Ruff, who was born in Hamilton, Canada, April 4, 1858, a daughter of Martin and Mary Eva Ruff. Four children graced their union, but the first born, Minnie, died at the age of three years. The others are Emma, Joseph .
P. and Ida. Mr. Oberlin died on the 17th of September, 1902, and since that time Mrs. Oberlin and her son Joseph have conducted the store and managed the other property interests. While possessing many pleasing social traits, Mrs. Oberlin also has excellent business and executive ability and has shown marked enterprise and keen discernment in managing the store and landed interests. She has many friends and her good qualities of heart and mind are widely acknowledged. At the time of his death Mr. Oberlin left about twelve hundred acres of timber land and between three and four hundred acres of improved land, together with a nice home in Bingham, which is still occupied by his widow and children. Mr. Oberlin had ju- diciously invested his capital and realty, which is yearly increasing in value. He started out as many do in this land,-without money or influential friends to aid him, -- but "labor is king" in America, and he placed his dependence uot upon advantage- cus circumstances but upon earnest, persist- ent effort. Indolence formed no part of his life,' and through energy and diligence he overcome all difficulties and advanced to the goal of his hopes-the acquirement of a competence. It was this which led him to leave his native land and sail for the new world, where he knew that business opportu- nity was not lacking and that success may be gained. All through his residence in Leela- naw county he so lived so to retain the con- fidence and high regard of his fellow men, who honored him for his devotion to prin- ciple. He was a devoted husband and father, a faithful friend and a loyal citizen, and his life record is creditable alike to the land of his birth and the land of his adoption.
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CARSON WARNER.
For more than six years Carson Warner has filled the position of register of deeds of Leelanaw county, and his official service has been characterized by the utmost loyalty to- day as well as by capable service in the dis- charge of the work incident to the office. He regards public office as a public trust and that the public have confidence in him is in- dicated by the fact of his re-election.
Mr. Warner makes his home in Leland and is one of the native sons of the city, his birth having here occurred on the 2d of Oc- tober, 1860. His father, John Warner, was a carpenter by trade and for some years was associated with the building interests of this section of Michigan. In the year 1856 he took up his abode on North Manitou island and in 1860 he removed to Leland, the coun- ty seat of Leelanaw county, where he made his home for a period of twenty-six years. He was well known as a representative of in- dustrial interests here and evidences of his handiwork are seen in many of the substan- tial buildings of the city. He married Miss Ann Springhorn, a native of Hanover, Ger- many, in which country his birth had also occurred, and in their lives they manifested many of the strong and admirable traits of character of the Teutonic race. By their marriage seven sons were born, of whom Carson Warner was the sixth. The father was called to his final rest in September, 1886, and his wife, surviving him for fifteen years, departed this life in December, 1901. During their residence in Leland they had gained a large circle of friends, by whom they have been greatly missed.
Under the parental roof Carson Warner was reared and at the usual age he was sent
to the public schools, where he conned his lessons, gaining the knowledge which pre- pared him for the transaction of business after he started out in life on his own ac- count. He has always lived in his native cityo with the exception of a brief period of four years, which he spent in New York city. He then returned from the east to his boy- hood's home, and has since lived in Leland, where he has followed various occupations, becoming well known in the business circles of the city. His capability and his patriotic spirit led to his nomination for the position of register of deeds. In 1896 he received the nomination of the Republican party for that office and at the ensuing election it was found that he was the people's choice. On the expiration of his first term of service he was re-elected and has since been continued in the office, where he has made for himself a creditable record, because of his system in handling the work, his practical methods, his regularity and his capability. Mr. Warner has also served as clerk of Leland township for several terms and his public service is not unknown to his fellow men, who ever find him prompt and faithful. His political sup- port has always been given to measures which he believes will promote the welfare of county, state and nation, and he has done much effective work for his party in Lee- lanaw county.
In Leland, on the 12th of December, 1899, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Warner and Miss Vena Steffens, a daugh- ter of Henry and Elizabeth Steffens, both of whom were natives of Ger- many and the father is now deceased. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Warner has been born one son, Leonard J., who is now the joy of the house- hold. Both the subject and his wife have a
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wide acquaintance here and the cordial friendship of many with whom they have come in contact is extended to them, while . the hospitality of the best homes of Leland is freely accorded them. A native son of the county, Mr. Warner finds his staunchest friends among those who have known him from boyhood, an indication that his career has been honorable and straightforward. Genial, jovial and with deference for the opinion of others, while fearlessly defending his own views, his personal qualities are such as to render him popular among his fellow men.
ELMER C. COMPTON.
In no one particular is a city made more pertinently to receive judgment from the casual visitor or from that great class of commercial travelers who constitute so con- siderable a portion of American society to- day, than in the character of the leading ho- tels : indeed, city and hotel are so indissolu- bly linked together in the mind of the aver- age representative of the traveling public that a prejudice against the latter implies almost invariably an equal distaste for the city itself. Traverse City is favored in hav. ing at the head of Hotel Whiting so able a proprietor and manager as Mr. Compton, who is a thorough hotel man and en- joys marked popularity with the traveling public, so that he caters to a large and dis- criminating patronage. His hotel is cen- trally located, and in its equipments, general appointments and accommodations is to be considered as a model place of entertain- ment. Mr. Compton is one of the progres- sive business men of the city and commands
unqualified esteem in the community, so that it becomes particularly consistent that a re- view of his career be incorporated in this vol- ume.
Elmer C. Compton is a native of the old Keystone state, having been born in Brad- ford county, Pennsylvania, on the 5th of September, 1862, a son of Martin and Clara ( Hickok) Compton, both of whom were born in that state, the father being of sterling Ger- man parentage, and having been engaged in agricultural pursuits in Bradford county un- til his death, which occurred when the sub- ject of this review was about five years of age. The Hickok family was founded in Pennsylvania in an early day and has been one of prominence in the various genera- tions. The mother of the subject is still living, making her home in Manton, Michigan, and having celebraated her sixty-sixth birthday anniversary on the 2d of December, 1902. About five years after the death of her first husband she became the wife of Myron Bal- lard, who had been an extensive farmer in Pennsylvania, where he owned three hundred acres of land. He utilized the property which had been left to his step-children by purchasing a tract of pine land in northern Michigan, the same being two miles square, and in making this investment he was badly swindled, as the property proved of far less value than was represented in the purchase price, so that the patrimony of the children was practically sacrificed. Mr. Ballard died in 1884, having been a mental and physical wreck, and he is buried at Cedar Springs, Kent county, Michigan. The subject had one brother, Martin J., who was a resi- dent of San Antonio, Texas. He was the founder of the Williams Mercantile Com- pany at Manton, Wexford county, Michi-
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gan, disposing of his interests in the same in October, 1902, and died May 19, 1903. Rob- ert Ballard, a step-brother, is engaged in business in that town, and Miss Hattie Bal- lard, half sister of the subject, remains with her mother.
Mr. Compton received his early edu- cational training in the public schols at Troy, Bradford county, Pennsylvania, and when he was ten years of age he removed with his mother and step-father to Cedar Springs, Kent county, Michigan, where he continued to attend school until he had attained the age of thirteen years, when he secured work in a sawmill at Greenville, Montcalm county, and was thereafter identified with this branch of the lumbering business about fif- teen years, in various sections of the state. He was married in 1883, and thereafter con- tinued to be identified with sawmilling about five years, at the expiration of which he pur- chased a farm, in Wexford county, where he followed agricultural pursuits and stock- growing for two years. He then traded his farm for a hotel, the Commercial House, in Manton, and has ever since been successfully engaged in the hotel business-a period of twelve years. He remained at Manton until 1895, when he assumed control of the Hotel King, at Reed City, where he conducted busi- ness until 1896, when he became proprietor of his present hotel, in Traverse City, where he has built up a flourishing and representa- tive business. Mr. Compton is a staunch Republican in his political proclivities, but has never been an aspirant for public office. Fraternally he is identified with the Knights of Pythias and the Independent Order of Foresters, while Mrs. Compton is past chief of the lodge of Rathbone Sisters, an adjunct of the Knights of Pythias. In addition to
his hotel enterprise Mr. Compton is exten- sively engaged in the raising of high-grade sheep, owning a flock of fully three thousand in Wexford county, and having more than all other sheep growers in that county com- bined. He has many important contracts in this line of enterprise and is known as one of the enthusiastic and most successful sheep growers of this section of the state.
At Fife Lake, this county, on the 3d of July, 1883, Mr. Compton was united in mar- riage to Miss Dell Phillips, who was born in Palo, Ionia county, Michigan, on the 7th of September, 1867, being a daughter of George and Margaret (Ferguson) Phillips. She was educated in the public schools of her native county and has passed her entire life in Michigan. Mrs. Compton is an able coad- jutor to her husband in his hotel business and commands the high regard of all who know her. Mr. and Mrs. Compton have had three children, namely : Clara Belle, who was born February 28, 1884, and died at the age of seven months; Maude, who was born January 28, 1886; and Reva Mabel, who was born August 30, 1894, and died July 31, 1902.
WILLIAM D. C. AND CHARLES B. GERMAINE.
The settlement of Grand Traverse coun- ty by white people did not really begin until 1850 and for many years thereafter the num- ber of inhabitants of the county continued to be quite small. Traverse City was only a village until a little more than ten years ago, and yet many of the most thrifty and enterprising business men of the city are na- tives of the city or of the locality where the
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city now stands. Among these are the two enterprising individuals whose names ap- pear at the head of this article. Both were born in what is now Traverse City and were reared and educated here. Here they have established themselves in business, have prospered and here they may yet end their days, as did their father some years ago, honored and respected by every individual in the entire community.
The firm of Germaine Brothers, propri- etors of one of the most extensive livery and feed stables in ail of the Grand Traverse re- gion, is composed of William D. C. and Charles B. Germaine. Their barn and sta- bles are located on State street, opposite the Park Place Hotel. William, the senior member of the firm, was born October 17, 1867, in Traverse City, and his brother Charles, the other member of the firm, was born in the same city April 2, 1873. Their father was Cuyler Germaine, a native of New York, born in Dutchess county, Decem- ber 22, 1833. He died at his home in Trav- erse City December 27, 1886. The first is- sue of the Traverse City Herald published after his death, in a long article reviewing his life work, had this to say of him: "Ear- ly in 1851 he came out to Chicago, and short- ly afterward came to Traverse City, or the spot where Traverse City now stands, in the employ of Mr. Boardman. In the fall of 1851, when Hannah, Lay & Company bought the Boardman interests here, Mr. Germaine entered the employ of the new firm and re- mained with them continuously until they sold their lumbering interests last year, 1885. Mr. Germaine was the oldest employe in their service, no other man having remained with them through their entire business ca- reer here. This fact in itself is sufficient
proof of the high esteem in which he was held by Mr. Hannah and the other member's of the firm. Mr. Germaine for much of this long period, held the very responsible posi- tion of general outside superintendent of the extensive business of this great house. In the early days of Grand Traverse history no man in the entire region was more widely known than he was, and the name 'Cuy,' as he was familiarly called, was a household word throughout all northern Michigan. Early and late he was at his post in and around the mills, on the docks, among the lumber piles, in the shops, on the river, at the boarding house, about the gardens, at the sta- bles, the hay sheds, everywhere where work was to be done, there he was and his gruff but kindly salute, and his quick, decided, ener- getic manner came to be a part and parcel of the great business which his watchful eye ever guarded zealously and faithfully."
In July, 1860, Cuyler Germaine was uni- ted in marriage in Traverse City to Miss Anna M. Kratochvil, a native of St. An- drews, Austria, born January 25, 1843. Un- til she arrived at the age of thirteen years she was reared in her native land and there, in 1856, accompanied her parents to Ameri- ca. They remained in New York a few weeks, went thence to Chicago, where they sojourned for about three months, and then took a boat for Traverse City, where they arrived in due time and where they estab- lished their permanent residence. Here the acquaintance was made which resulted in the marriage, less than four years later. Cuyler and Anna M. Germaine were the par- ents of seven children, all of whom grew to maturity and are now living useful and pros- perous lives. They are, Belle, wife of Sam- uel Garland, who is assistant cashier of the
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Traverse City State Bank, and a review of whose career will be found in another part of this volume; Rosanna, wife of Leslie Hall, who is an expert accountant and was for a number of years railroad agent in Traverse City for the Grand Rapids & Indi- ana Railroad : Mary A., wife of Ellis Rams- dale, who is in the coal and wood business and resides at Manistee; Will D. C., one of the subjects of this review; Frank B., who assists in the management of the livery busi- ness of his brothers; Charles, junior member of the firm of Germaine Brothers; Kather- ine, wife of Ed Newton, who is in the em- ploy of the Musselman Grocery Company and resides in Traverse City. The mother of this interesting family still lives, enjoy- ing excellent health. She resides at 333 West Sixth street, in a superb home, richly furnished and surrounded by all that one could desire to contribute to her happiness.
The entire life of William D. C. Ger- maine has been spent in Traverse City. He attended the public schools, finished the course in the high school and then took the regular course at Swensburg's Commercial College at Grand Rapids, Michigan. On his return from school he secured employment as bookkeeper in the lumber office of the Hannah & Lay Company. After the sale of that department he went into the bank as a clerk and remained there two years. This position he resigned to embark in the news- paper business. He purchased an interest in the Traverse City Transcript, a weekly newspaper, and was given editorial charge. He found the paper much of a weakling. It had been run in a manner to win neither the confidence nor respect of the public or its patrons. Its subscription list was small and its advertising patronage trivial. Its editor-
ial policy was shifty and swayed by every popular breeze. Matters of important local interest were so bunglingly prepared and presented in its columns as to incur the dis- gust rather than the satisfaction of its read- ers. In short, it was a discredit to the city of its publication and to its management. Financially it was hourly "going to the wall" when Mr. Germaine took it in hand. Very few issues, under his management, sufficed to convince the public that new and better blood had been transferred into its veins; that there was a firmer and abler hand at the helm to direct the course of the craft than had ever been there before. In three years he succeeded in building up a publication of which the city and county was justly proud and, without the expenditure of very much money on his part, had made it one of the most profitable publications the city had known up to that time. The splendid suc- cess he had made of the paper led some peo- ple to believe that the publication of a news- paper was only second to operating a rich gold mine. Purchasers were falling over each other in their endeavors to get it and he sold it at what is now looked upon as a fancy price, with the result within a few months it was in the condition of financial and literary stagnation it had been in when he took charge of it and a short time there- after it ceased to be. After dismounting from the "tripod," which is antique Eng- lish for the editorial chair, he embarked in his present vocation of liveryman, with his brother, and in this calling he has shown similar abilities as a business man and as a money maker. They have one of the finest and best livery stables in northern Michigan and in connection with it a railroad transfer line which handles the United States mails.
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At Lake Side, Ohio, July 27, 1895, Will- iam D. C. Germaine was united in marriage to Miss Ola Hull, a native of Ohio, born November 2, 1869. She was reared and ed- ucated at Wasseon, Ohio, and her musical education, which is most proficient, was re- ceived at the Boston Conservatory of Music, Boston, Massachusetts. She has a few if any equals in this particular line in the state. Her parents were Henry S. and Katherine Hull, both natives of Ohio. They moved to Michigan in 1883 and after residing in other localities about ten years, in 1893, located in Traverse City. Henry S. Hull, father of Mrs. Germaine, is president of the Traverse City Oval Wood Dish Company, and he is also president of the People's Savings Bank, a very substantial financial concern recently organized from among the most enterprising capitalists of the city.
The political views of Mr. Germaine fa- vor the Republican party, but he is not a partisan and never suffers political bias to interfere in any particular with business af- fairs. Hence he never sought or held a po- litical office and he probably never will, for he realizes that the possibilities of life in the business world for him are far better than anything he could secure in the way of politi- cal preferment. His religion is Catholic, having been born and reared in that faith, but Mrs. Germaine is a devout member of the Methodist Episcopal church. He is a stockholder in the new People's Savings Bank. The only fraternal societies to which he belongs are the Maccabees, Knights of Pythias and Eagles. Active and alert, shrewd and keen in every business transac- tion, he is yet withal honorable and truth- ful.
Charles Germaine, the junior member of
the firm of Germaine Brothers, also spent his entire life in Traverse City. He was educated in the city schools and attended the high school, but abandoned his books at the age of twenty to take a position in the boot and shoe department of the mercantile es- tablishment of Fredrich Brothers. He re- mained with them two years, then entered into partnership with his brother in the liv- ery business which they are now very suc- cessfully managing.
THOMAS MATCHETT.
Thomas Matchett, one of the substantial, progressive farmers of Grand Traverse county, Michigan, and supervisor of May- field township, was born in the county of Down, Ireland, October 31, 1838. He was one of seven children born to David and Jane (Acheson) Matchett, who moved with their family to.Canada, where the mother died in Bruce county. The father afterwards came to Michigan, and died in Charlevoix county.
The parents of Thomas Matchett came to America when he was a lad of twelve years, and, until he had attained adult years, he made his home in Canada, where he followed agricultural pursuits. In the fall of 1865 he left that country and the following spring settled in Grand Traverse county, Michigan, where he entered a homestead in Mayfield township. He cleared off and improved his land, erecting good buildings and keeping every part of the place in tip top condition. He now has a farm of two hundred and forty acres and is one of the most prosperous men of the county.
Thomas Matchett was married Decem-
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ber 1, 1874, to Miss Leanna McRill, who was born in Hancock county, Ohio, August 19, 1843, and is a daughter of Seely W. and Sarah (Barker ) McRill. They were among the pioneers of Wexford county, this state, and their last days were spent there. To Mr. and Mrs. Matchett have been born four children, Margaret, who died in infancy, Frank D., May E. and Ira R. Both Mr. Matchett and his wife are members of the Grange at Summitt City, of which he has been master. He is a man whose public spirit and enterprise has been of undoubted benefit to this community, his indomitable energy and ardor in whatever he undertakes being a sure safeguard against failure. He has served as supervisor of Mayfield town- ship for many years, and the interests of the people were never more carefully guarded or their rights more cheerfully granted than under his supervision. He has also acted as justice of the peace, township treasurer, township clerk, highway commissioner and school officer, and in each and every position his conduct has been such as to increase the respect and confidence already given him. In private life he is a most amiable and ac- complished gentleman whose engaging man- ners and strong friendships make him a host at once entertaining and hospitable, while his upright conduct as a citizen and a man and the probity of his official acts command for him the full confidence, respect and es- teem of the people.
RALPH CASE.
Ralph Case, senior member of the firm of Case & Crotser, well-known lumber deal- ers and leading business men of Kings- ley, is especially worthy a place among the
representative men of Grand Traverse coun- ty, Michigan, as he has climbed unaided to a conspicuous place among the successful and honored men of the county. He was ushered into existence April 15, 1856, in Calhoun county, Michigan, and the first years of his life found him playing around his father's forge. His parents were Nelson and Eveline (Gwinn) Case, the former a native of New York and the latter of Ohio. The father was a blacksmith by trade and carried on his shop in Ohio and later in Michigan, his last place of residence being Kalamazoo county, where he died at the age of seventy-eight years. The mother survived him, living to the advanced age of eighty-two before she laid down the burdens of life.
Ralph Case was the youngest of four children and was but two years old when his parents moved to Kalamazoo county, where he was educated in the common schools and grew to be a sturdy, industrious youth. At the age of fifteen he began to do for himself, taking up whatever honorable employment that came to his hand. At the age of seventeen he began working in a saw and planing-mill and has been in the lumber business practically ever since. He has real- ly grown up with the business and under- stands every detail of it, being one of the most thorough and practical business men of the county. In 1881 he went into partner- ship with Joseph O. Crotser, and the com- pany has proved to be a strong one and one that has done much to bring outside trade to the village. Besides the Kingsley mills, the firm of Case & Crotser have a mill at Bingham, Leelanaw county, and one on Walloon Lake, Charlevoix county. He is a progressive man and uses progressive ideas in his business.
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