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 86
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 86
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he took up his abode in Wexford county, this state, settling in the town of Wexford, where he again engaged in merchandising until the fall of 1896. That season wit- nessed his arrival in Maple City, Leelanaw county, where he opened a hardware store, which he has since conducted with good suc- cess. He carries a well selected and large stock of shelf and heavy hardware and puts forth every effort to please his customers. His business methods are straightforward and he is very courteous in his treatment of his customers. His prices, too, are reasona- ble and while he realizes a fair profit on his sales yet he has never been known to take ad- vantage of the necessities of his fellow men in any trade transaction.
Mr. Clement was married in St. Joseph county, Michigan, on the 23d of March, 1869, the lady of his choice being Miss Rosa B. Slack, a native of Montour county, Penn- sylvania, born on the 5th of June, 1852. This marriage has been blessed with five children, but only three are now living, the sons being Henry H. and George M. D., Jr. The daughter, Bertha L., is now the wife of E. Franklin Carr. One daughter died at the early age of four months, while Daisy L. became the wife of Elijah Q. Adams and died in Wexford, Michigan, on the 13th of January, 1895, when . in her twenty-fifth year, her death being greatly lamented by her many friends for she possessed excellent traits of character that had endeared her to those with whom she came in contact.
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Matters of general moment are of inter- est to Mr. Clement. He does not selfishly confine his attention to his business affairs, but gives proportionately of his time and energies to measures for the welfare of the community in which he resides. He looks
at life from a broad standpoint and takes a practical view of the conditions with which he is surrounded. Progress and improve- ment are causes dear to him and he has co- operated in many measures for the upbuild- ing of his community and the advancement of its welfare. His political support is given to the Democracy and he is regarded as one of the leaders of the party in this locality, serving as chairman of the Democratic county committee. He has also been chair- man of the committee of Kasson township and he does much to advance Democratic in- terests. He regards it not only as a privi- lege but a duty of every American citizen to keep himself well informed on the issues of the day and to give evidence of his preference or objections to political measures by his ballot. The personal characteristics of Mr. Clement are also such as make him worthy of attention and they have won him favor and friendship wherever he has lived. He is never bitterly aggressive, but accords to all the right which he reserves for himself of framing his own opinions unbiased and of supporting them as he thinks best. He is genial and jovial and possesses a nature that sheds around him much of the sunshine of life.
JOHN KEHL.
Tales of heroism have been the theme of song and story throughout the ages. He who has gone forth to battle for his country, his home or his principles has figured in his- tory in literature and in music and his bra- very has stirred the souls of men through all times. All honor to such an one and yet his heroism is no greater or his daring more
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pronounced than that of the honored pioneer of the west. Men reared in comfortable homes, accustomed to all the conveniences and privileges of life in the east have come into the wild western districts and braved dangers and hardships untold. Volumes have been written, yet the story of the pio- neers has never been adequately related. They deserve all praise and honor and the mighty states of the west, with their splendid improvements, enterprises and tokens of civilization are monuments to their memory. Mr. Kehl is numbered among the early set- tlers of Leewanaw county and is today one of the revered patriarchs of the community, his mind bearing the impress of the early an- nals of this portion of Michigan and forming a connecting link between the primitive past and the progressive present. He has reached the age of seventy-eight years and now in the evening of life he receives the respect of young and old, rich and poor.
Mr. Kehl was born in Alsace, France, now a province of Germany, on the 8th of June, 1825, and was only three years of age when brought to the United States by his parents, Andrew and Anna Mary (Ehold) Kehl, who were also natives of Alsace. They made the journey across the Atlantic in one of the old-time sailing vessels, which after several weeks spent upon the bosom of the deep dropped anchor in the harbor of New York. Mr. and Mrs. Kehl took up their abode in Buffalo, New York, where for many years he was employed as sexton of a cemetery and on putting aside the cares of that position he lived retired, enjoying a well-earned rest up to the time of his death. Both he and his wife died in Buffalo, his death occurring when he was in his seventy- second year. His wife, however, had passed
away sometime previous, her death occurring when she was fifty-five years of age.
John Kehl of this review was the third of their family of five children and he was reared to manhood in Buffalo, where in early life he followed different occupations. From his boyhood days he has depended upon his own exertions for a living and the success that he has achieved is the merited reward of his own labor. When eighteen years of age he was apprenticed to learn the ship car- penter's trade, serving for a term of three years, during which time he mastered the business, becoming an expert workman. On the expiration of that period he went from Buffalo to New Bedford, Massachusetts, and shipped on a sailing vessel, which was gone upon a voyage for thirty-eight months. At the end of that time Mr. Kehl returned to New Bedford and thence went to Boston, where he shipped as a sailor before the mast on a vessel bound for the West Indies. That trip covered five months and when it was ended Mr. Kehl returned to Buffalo, where he again followed his trade of ship build- for several years.
In the spring of 1858, however, he dis- continued work along that line and came to the west. This section of the country was growing rapidly and Mr. Kehl believed that he might have better business opportunities in the Mississippi valley and more readily se- cure a home and competence for his family. He was accompanied by his wife and three children, and they located upon a tract of wild land in Leelanaw township. All around them stood the green forests. The wigwams of the Indians were frequently pitched in this neighborhood, but the white man was claim- ing the land for purposes of civilization and the red race were leaving their old hunting
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and fishing grounds for reservations nearer the setting sun. There had as yet been little done in the way of promoting agricultural interests in this portion of the country and it was an arduous task that devolved upon the pioneers who undertook the work of clearing away the forests and preparing the land for the plow. With characteristic ener- gy, however, Mr. Kehl performed his part of this work and he certainly deserves the gratitude of present generations for what he did. He has made his home in Leelanaw county continuously since April, 1858, al- though he worked for several years at his trade in Green Bay and in Milwaukee, Wis- consin.
On the 3Ist of December, 1863, Mr. Kehl put aside all business and personal con- siderations in order to respond to the Presi- dent's call for further aid to assist in the sup- pression of the rebellion in the south. He joined Company A of the Twenty-sixth Michigan Infantry and with that regiment served until the close of the war. With this command he was in a number of important engagements, including the battles of Spottsylvania, the Wilderness, Cold Harbor and the operations against Petersburg in 1864-5. He followed wherever duty led and was a loyal defender of the nation's starry banner. When the country no longer needed his services he returned to his home, but he still maintains pleasant relations with his old army comrades for he holds membership in Woolsey Post No. 399, Grand Army of the Republic.
Mr. Kehl was married in Buffalo, New York, on the 6th of November, 1849, to Miss Elizabeth Bosche, who was born in Bavaria, on the 15th of November, 1824. She died in Northport, Michigan, on the
22d of December, 1894, when seventy years of age. For forty-five years they had trav- eled life's journey together, their mutual love and confidence increasing as time passed. They also reared a family of chil- dren who are a credit to the name. Louisa, who became the wife of William J. Thomas, died in Northport, Michigan, when about forty-two. years of age. James L. and Ed- ward G. are well known and prominent mer- chants of Northport and are represented elsewhere in this work. Anne E. is now the wife of Nathan E. DeGollier. Chris B. is associated with his brothers in merchandis- ing under the firm style of Kehl Brothers. Charles C. met his death on the 8th of May, 1891, when employed on the schooner "N. C. Kimball," which was lost in a voyage on Lake Michigan with all on board. Howard A. died in Sutton's Bay in January, 1898. The eldest member of the Kehl family was William A., who died in Buffalo, New York, when only fifteen months old. After the death of his first wife Mr. Kehl wedded Mrs. Anna Ripper, a native of Germany, who died four years after their marriage. On the 12th of November, 1900, he wedded Mrs. Frances Guitau, a native of New York and the widow of Orville Guitau, who died in Battle Creek, Michigan.
Few men in Leelanaw, county have a wider acquaintance than John Kehl and none are more favorably known. He has held the office of township treasurer of Leelanaw township for three years and was justice of the peace for four years. Since about 1893 he has lived a retired life and he well merits the rest which has been vouchsafed him. His business career was one of untiring industry and one of these salient elements was his stalwart integrity and fair dealing. Hon-
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orable methods won for him a comfortable competence that now supplies him with all of the necessities and some of the luxuries of life. Certainly, as the architect of his own fortunes, he has builded wisely and well. Although now well advanced in years his in- terest in the town, county and nation are as deep and sincere as in his earlier years and he is as loyal to the country as he was when he followed the starry banner upon southern battlefields. In the evening of life he re- ceives the veneration and respect which should ever be accorded those who have reached an advanced age and because of his prominence and worth we take great pleasure in presenting his record to our readers.
EDWARD LAUTNER.
The soil of Michigan is rich and well adapted for agricultural and horticultural pursuits, and these lines of business activity have been the source of much of the pros- perity of the state. Mr. Lautner is now de- voting his energies to general farming on section 34, Solon township, Leelanaw coun- ty. He is an adopted son of America, but none of her native-born citizens are more loyal to the interests and welfare of the land. Mr. Lautner was born in Austria on the 4th of November, 1848. His father was the late Wenzel Lautner and his mother bore the maiden name of Helena Queiser. In the fall of 1865 they crossed the Atlantic to the new world, and, coming at once into the in- terior of the country, they took up their abode in Solan township, Leelanaw county, where they spent their remaining days. For three years Mr. Lautner was a resident of
this portion of the state and then was called to his final rest in February, 1895, when in . his eightieth year. He had survived his wife for about ten years, her death having occurred in October, 1885, when she was sixty-three years of age. Unto this mar- riage had been born five children, of whom Edward is the second in order of birth.
Edward Lautner spent the first seventeen years of his life in the land of his nativity. He was reared under the parental roof, pur- sued his education in the common schools and afterward devoted his time largely to farm work. With the family he came to the United States and has since resided continu- ously in Leelanaw county, covering a period of thirty-eight years. He has never turned aside into other fields of labor, but to the occupation to which he was reared he has always given his undivided attention. As the years have passed he has prospered in his undertakings and, making judicious in- 'vestments of his capital in real estate, he now owns nearly five hundred acres of rich farm- ing land, most of which is improved. He has erected a good set of farm buildings upon his place, his home being a fine country residence, commodious and palatial. It is also tastefully and' comfortably furnished and an air of refinement and culture per- vades the place. ยท
Mr. Lautner was married in Allegan county, Michigan, on the 17th of April, 1877, to Miss Theressa Zye, who was born in Ohio September 27, 1853. The marriage of the subject and his wife has been blessed with thirteen children, of whom eleven are yet living, namely : Louisa, who is the wife of Nicholas Knieper, Helena, Alfred, Ed- mund, Adolph, Edward, Jr., Stephen, An- ton, Joseph, William and Theodore. The
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children who have passed away all died in infancy.
The family home is very attractive and stands in the midst of a farm, where the splendid improvements are an indication of the progressive spirit of the owner. A glance indicates to the passerby the care and supervision which is given to the farm, which is neat and thrifty in appearance, the well-tilled fields giving promise of golden harvests. It has been along safe, conserva- tive lines of business that Mr. Lautner has achieved his success. He has never engaged in speculation, but has regarded earnest labor and careful management as the basis of pros- perity and to these salient elements in his life work he is indebted for the creditable financial position which he is now filling.
EDWARD B. GIBBS.
Edward B. Gibbs, ex-supervisor of May- field township and a genial, enterprising citi- zen of Grand Traverse county, Michigan, was born in Gibbsville, Sheboygan county, Wisconsin, December 8, 1853. His par- ents were Benjamin L. and Ardelia B. (Knight) Gibbs. The father was born near Albany, New York, but at an early day came west to Wisconsin and settled in Sheboygan county, where he took a prominent part in the development and building up of the country. It was in recog- nition and honor of his services that the village of Gibbsville was named, and it was there he passed to his reward at the age of about sixty-one years. His wife was from Providence, Rhode Island, and is still living, a resident of Mayfield, aged eighty-two years.
Young Gibbs attended the common schools and grew to sturdy manhood in his native village. In 1875 he came to Grand Traverse county, Michigan, and for three years resided in Paradise township, where he was employed in the lumber business. He then purchased eighty acres of land in May- field township and has since resided there, his farm being one of the best improved in the township. In addition to his farming he was at one time interested in a shingle mill which he operated for a short time. He was married in Fife Lake township, this county, May 23, 1878, to Miss Mary H. Hodges. She was born in Hingham, She- boygan county, Wisconsin, September 21, 1857, and is a daughter of James and Honor (Best) Hodges. Mrs. Gibbs is the mother of three children, Lionel A., Ardelia A. and Jesse S. Mr. Gibbs is a member of Strict Account Tent No. 662, Knights of the Mac- cabees, at Kingsley, and is a gentleman who enjoys the good will and confidence of all who know him.
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SANFORD FULLER.
Sanford Fuller is one of the prominent and progressive agriculturists of Grand Tra- verse county, his home being on section 6, Garfield township. To give his life history in detail would be to present a picture of pio- neer times in Michigan, for he has not only been a witness of much of the growth and development of this state, but he has been an active participant in the work that has led to its improvement and substantial upbuild- ing. He was born upon a farm in Frank- lin county, New York, February 25, 1842,
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SANFORD FULLER.
MRS. SANFORD FULLER.
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and when he was quite young his parents re- moved to St. Lawrence county, New York, where he was reared to manhood. He is a son of George Fuller, who is now a resident of Benzie county, Michigan, where he has made his home since the fall of 1863. The mother bore the maiden name of Charity Mansfield and her death occurred in Almira township, Benzie county, in October, 1897, when she was seventy-five years of age. This worthy couple were the parents of seven children, of whom the subject of this review is the eldest.
Sanford Fuller resided in St. Lawrence county until the spring of 1863 and made his home upon his father's farm. He then started westward with the intention of estab- lishing his home in Benzie county, Michigan. On the night of the 17th of September, 1863, in company with twenty-five or thirty men, women and children, who had left St. Law- rence county together and had reached. a point in Lenawee county, Michigan, he was overtaken by a violent snow storm. The party had proceeded westward by water and had landed from the boat at Northport, whence they started across the country to their destination. During the night of the storm Mr. Fuller built a hut of elm bark, into which all of the party were able to crowd excepting himself. To keep from freezing, he took two large pieces of bark which he heated beside the fire and then lay between the two pieces, repeating the pro- cedure many times during the long night. Mr. Fuller was guiding the party and upon him devolved the responsibility of seeing that the others reached their destination in safety. In the morning the snow filled the wagon boxes and the unseasonable weather continued for some days, but the party final-
ly reached their destination in safety. The following morning after the snow storm, however, the sun came out brightly about eleven o'clock and about three o'clock in the afternoon the snow was all melted, but this caused the surface of the ground to be cov- ered with water and made travel difficult. During the cold winter of 1863-4 Mr. Ful- ler was hired to carry a man from Traverse City to Glen Harbor, a distance of thirty miles. He oftentimes made that trip in a sin- gle day, but on this occasion it took him one week to go and come on account of the deep snow. Such were some of the pioneer ex- periences which Mr. Fuller endured during the early years of his residence in Michigan, but with courageous spirit and strong deter- mination, he met all the difficulties and ob- stacles which impeded his progress toward success and in due course of time pioneer conditions gave way to those of a more ad- vanced civilization.
On reaching Benzie county Mr. Fuller located in what is now Almira township, where he took up a homestead, living thereon for six years. On the expiration of that period he sold his first property and pur- chased eighty acres of land in Garfield town- ship, Grand Traverse county, where he has since made his home. Upon his property he has placed good improvements, including substantial buildings, and he has also ex- tended the boundaries of his farm until it now comprises one hundred and sixty acres. In his farming operations he has been ex- tremely progressive and has used the latest improved machinery in carrying on his work and in transforming the wild land into pro- ductive fields.
Mr. Fuller was married in Almira town- ship, Benzie county, on the 6th of March,
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1865, to Miss Elizabeth Hardman, who was born in England and died on the 10th of January, 1884, when forty-two years of age. Their marriage was blessed with three chil- dren : Sarah A., Ada J. and Matilda F., the last named the wife of Robert Barney.
Mr. Fuller has led a busy and useful life, industry being one of the salient fea- tures in his career. His arduous toil and continued efforts, however, he feels have justified him a period of rest each year and each season since 1877 he has taken a va- cation, going to different parts of the coun- try upon hunting trips. He is particularly fond of this sport and is a worthy follower of Nimrod. He particularly delights in hunting deer and many a fine animal has fallen before his sure aim. In matters of public moment Mr. Fuller takes a deep inter- est and is a co-operant factor in many meas- ures for the general good. He is recognized as a leader in public thought and opinion and his efforts in behalf of the commu- nity have been far reaching and bene- ficial. His political support is given to no particular party and he has been called upon to fill a number of local positions. For a quarter of a century he has been road over- seer in Garfield township and has assisted in improving the roads from pioneer times. In early days he aided in cutting the trees down in order to make roads through the forests and in clearing away the stumps. At the present time the latest and most im- proved machinery is used in placing the roads in splendid condition and Garfield township has every reason to be proud of its excellent highways. Mr. Fuller assisted in building the road from Traverse City to Northport in 1863. He was one of the first highway commissioners of Almira township,
Benzie county, where he located at a period when that district was almost upon the bor- ders of civilization, there being but two buildings in the township when he took up his abode there. Many log cabins furnished shelter for the pioneers and all of the hard- ships and trials incident to frontier life were experienced. However, as the years passed the settlers reclaimed the wild land for pur- pose of civilization and the forests fell be- fore the stroke of the woodman and in due course of time the land was converted into rich fields. Mr. Fuller has borne an active and helpful part in all the work of progress and improvement and as one of the honored pioneers of the state he deserves mention in this volume.
AARON BOX.
Aaron Box, one of the largest farmers and most extensive land owners of Grand Traverse county, Michigan, was born April 22, 1840, in Ontario county, Canada, in which province he was reared to manhood. His parents were Aaron and Elizabeth (Wilkinson) Box, natives of England but later residents of Bruce county, Canada, where they died. They were the parents of twelve children. Aaron Box assisted with the work on his father's farm until he was a lad of twelve years, when he was apprenticed for four years to learn the trade of a black- smith. He continued to follow this occu- pation for a time after serving his appren- ticeship, but it was work that was not con- genial and he soon turned his attention to other employment. For four or five years he was engaged in carpentering in Canada, and in 1866 he came to Grand Traverse
HUNTING SCENES. (Photographs furnished by Sanford Fuller.)
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county, Michigan, where he secured a tract of wild land which he cleared and improved, at the same time carrying on his chosen work of carpentering in Traverse City and vicinity. He continued in this manner for about fourteen years, when he erected a saw- mill in Charlevoix county, and operated it for a period of ten years.' At the same time he kept up his interest in his farm and added to his acreage from time to time until he has accumulated four hundred and eighty acres in Mayfield township. We will say for Mr. Box that few men understand the agricul- tural business better than he, and his success has been due to his shrewdness and sound common sense as well as his energy.
Mr. Box was united in marriage in Charlevoix county, Michigan, to Mrs. Lou- isa Mentz, his present wife, by whom he has one child, George. His first marriage was in Canada to Miss Catherine Hannah, a na- tive of Ireland, who became the mother of six children, viz: Lenzena, wife of Alfred Scovel ; Geneva, wife of Walter Carmichael; Charles ; Amos; Cassie, wife of L. G. Britt; and Frank. Mrs. Box died in Traverse City when about thirty-five years old. Mr. Box has been an excellent citizen and has taken great pride in the progress of the county. He was at one time justice of the peace of Mayfield township and has been at all times a man of integrity and upright- ness whose example has been worthy to be followed by the rising generation.
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