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 93
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 93
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The Fulghum Manufacturing Company was originally established in Garfield town- ship, Grand Traverse county, and there con- ducted until 1893, when it was removed to Traverse City, where the enterprise has since grown to large proportions, becoming, under the able and efficient management of its
founder and executive head, one of the lead- ing establishments of the kind in this part of the state. It now represents a large invest- ment with an extensive and far-reaching patronage, which is steadily increasing and, being established upon a firm and solid financial basis, promises to continue in the future as in the past, one of the most pros- perous enterprises of the kind in the city of Traverse City.
Mr. Fulghum was married June 1, 1878, at Bethel, Indiana, to Miss Nettie J. Gard- ner, whose birth occurred in that town on the 7th day of April, 1859. Four children have blessed this union, two of whom are living : Olive M., the older of the survivors, was born February 6, 1880, received her ed- ucation in the high school of Traverse City and is still a member of the family circle. Bessie M., born October 21, 1883, also re- ceived her education in the high school and is, like her older sister, a young lady of intel- ligence and varied culture and highly re- spected in the social circle in which she moves. Mr. and Mrs. Fulghum and their two daughters are members of the Methodist church of Traverse City and active in all lines of religious and charit- able work. In politics Mr. Fulghum is a prominent Republican and as such has been influential in party affairs ever since attaining his majority and especially so since becoming a resident of the city in which he now lives. During the past fourteen years he has been almost contin- uously in office, being a leader in municipal affairs, and his services are greatly appre- ciated by his fellow citizens. He joined the Pythian fraternity in 1880 and since that time has been a zealous worker in the order, having been honored with a number of high
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official positions, not only in the local lodge to which he belongs, but in the grand lodge as well. He is also identified with the Ma- sonic fraternity, having been initiated into the same in the year 1890.
J. W. HANNEN.
J. W. Hannen, editor and manager of the Evening Record, came to Traverse City in March, 1894, and was associated with
J. W. HANNEN.
Mr. E. L. Sprague for three years in the publication of the Daily Eagle, holding the position as city editor. In 1897 Mr. Hannen severed his connection with the Eagle and formed a partnership with Thomas T. Bates, publisher of the Grand Traverse Herald, and
engaged in the publication of the Morning Record, which was changed to an evening paper in March, 1901. Mr. Hannen gained his early newspaper experience in New York and was for some time engaged in repor- torial work on several of the dailies of that city. He gained valuable experience as as- sistant to the city editor of the Daily Com- mercial Bulletin, where his duties required him to "do" the Stock Exchange, the Pe- troleum, Mining, Cotton and other ex- changes, and general Wall street work for the Bulletin. Before coming to Traverse City he spent a few years in the West, do- ing newspaper work in Kansas City and Chicago and for a few years in Grand Rapids.
FRANK BENNETT.
The gentleman whose name introduces this review is a native of York state and dates his birth from the year 1857, having first seen the light of day in the town of Mt. Morris, where his parents had lived for some years previous. His father, Alexander Mc- Elwain, a native of Ireland, was brought to America in infancy and grew to manhood in New York, the meanwhile learning the shoemaker's trade, which he followed the rest of his life. He married, in New York, Miss Elizabeth Gracen, who was also born in Ireland, and who came to this country when young, growing to maturity and receiving her education in the Empire state. Alex- ander and Elizabeth McElwain had a fam- ily of eight children, the subject of this re- view being third in order of birth. Some time after the death of Mr. McElwain his widow married Mr. Bennett, whose family
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name the children also adopted, which change accounts for the apparent dis- crepancy in the above paragraph.
Frank Bennett received his educational training in the schools of Traverse City, to which place he was brought by his mother when about four years old. Leaving school when a youth in his teens, he entered the employ of Hannah & Lay as fireman in their establishment at Traverse City and after discharging the duties of that position for a period of five years was promoted en- gineer, which calling he has since followed. Mr. Bennett is competent in his line of work, a fine mechanic and a skillful engineer, his faithfulness and efficiency being attested by his long tenure of service in the large es- tablishment with which he is at present con- nected.
Miss Ida Chauvan, who became the wife of Mr. Bennett on the 20th day of Decem- ber, 1878, was born in Detroit, Michigan, in the year 1857, and was reared and educated in Traverse City. Six children have blessed this union, namely: Lottie, born in June, 1879: Minnie Alice, born in the year 1880; Edna, in 1882; John, in 1886; an infant, un- named, born and died in 1889; and Nettie Ethel, whose birth took place in the year 1893. Mr. Bennett is a staunch Republican in politics and a zealous worker for his par- ty, but has never been an office seeker, not having any ambition in that direction to gratify. Fraternally he belongs to the Pythian brotherhod and the Dramatic Or- der of Khorassan, Modern Woodmen of America and the Order of the Maccabees. Mrs. Bennett is a member of the Christian (or Disciple) church of Traverse City and an active worker in all of the congregation's religious and benevolent enterprises, also es-
teemed very highly in the society circles of the city, being a lady of beautiful character and popular with all her friends and asso- ciates.
CHARLES H. ESTES.
Charles H. Estes is one of those strong, 1 self reliant and determined characters who are occasionally met with and who seem born to be the leaders of their fellow men. Not that Mr. Estes courts that distinction, for he is entirely unassuming, but his great force of character and his zeal and energy in whatever he undertakes naturally places him at the head of the crowd and he has been a powerful factor in Grand Traverse county, Michigan, in developing and encouraging the better element of citizenship and eradi- cating the poorer. He was born in Hanover, Plymouth county, Massachusetts, August 22, 1836, and is a son of Elijah and Jerusha ( Wheeler) Estes, both of whom were na- tives of Massachusetts.
Mr. Estes was a child of two years when his parents left the east and sought a new home in Michigan. They settled in Lenawee county and it was there the subject grew to manhood and received his educational train- ing. He spent one year in Hillsdale county, this state, and in September, 1863, came to Grand Traverse county, where he located in Acme township. His chief occupation has been that of an agriculturist and his farm of three hundred and sixty acres is one of the finest in this section of the state. Thrift and. industry are indicated in the buildings, im- provements and general attractive appear- ance of the premises. Besides his farming operations, Mr. Estes has been engaged in
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lumbering and during the years 1870 to 1873 he built a portion of the state road between Acme and. Harrisville, Alcona county. He was married in Lenawee county, March 14, 1858, to Miss Caro- line E. Hoxsie. Mrs. Estes was born in Palmyra, Lenawee county, July 18, 1838, is a daughter of Leonard S. and Mary (Underwood) Hoxsie and a sister of John Hoxsie, township supervisor, and the late Alonzo C. Hoxsie, both of whom are repre- sented in this work. Her parents were na- tives of New York, but it was not until 1864 that they located in Acme township. The mother died in Traverse City at the age of seventy-nine years. Five children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Estes, namely: Car- rie A., who is the wife of A. S. Pray ; Cora B., who married A. H. Crish; William W., who died when a promising youth of four- teen ; Libbie J., wife of Homer Hanson; and C. Ralph.
Mr. Estes is one of the representative men of the county and has been foremost in every movement tending to the moral and in- tellectual advancement of the people. A man of cleanliness and personal purity, he has waged an incessant warfare against vice and the healthy moral tone of the community is largely attributable to his energy and will. The liquor traffic has a no more able adver- sary, and as president of the Anti-saloon League of Grand Traverse county he has fought them bravely. Both he and Mrs. Estes are working members of the Methodist Episcopal church at Williamsburg, taking a prominent part in Sunday-school work. It was he who organized the Township Sun- day School Association and he has been president of the county association for many years. Mr. Estes has represented Acme
township as county overseer of the poor for upwards of a quarter of a century, has served as supervisor, township clerk, high- way commissioner, justice of the peace and was state road commissioner for a year. Everybody knows and likes him and the success of the old settlers' association of Grand Traverse county, and their large and enthusiastic meeting, results largely from his efficiency and ardor as district secretary of the association, a position he has held for a great many years.
JAMES R. MERRILL.
Forty-five years have come and gone since James R. Merrill became a resident of Grand Traverse county and .it is therefore obligatory as well as a matter of pleasure that we present to our readers his life rec- ord, for his connection with the county has covered almost the entire period of its de- velopment, progress and upbuilding. He lived in this section of the state when the hardships of pioneer life were to be met by the early settlers. Michigan was rich in its natural resources, but the land was un- claimed by the white man and the resources had not been developed for the uses of the Anglo-Saxon race. Mr. Merrill now makes. his home in Grawn. He was born in Canada. on the 20th of May, 1840, and when only about a year old he was brought to Mich- igan, the family settling first in Monroe county. His parents were John B. and Bethia Ann Merrill, who resided in Monroe county during the period of their son's youth. They lived upon a farm there and under the parental roof James R. Merrill
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J. R. MERRIL.
MRS. J. R. MERRILL.
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was reared to manhood, bearing his part in the work of the fields as his strength in- creased with increasing years. He continued in Monroe county until 1858, when he came with his father to Grand Traverse county, settling in Whitewater township. They were among the first residents of this por- tion of the state, around them stood vasts forests and the entire district was almost as it came from the hand of nature. Through the forests there were no roads save an old Indian trail or a path blazed out by the early settlers. Many enterprises of this dis- trict had not then been established and it remained to the pioneers to institute the work of development and carry it forward until the latter-day progress could bring a great transformation here. Both the parents of the subject died in Kalkaska county. They had nine children, of whom James R. is the fifth.
In taking up the personal history of Mr. Merrill of this review we present to our readers the record of one who is widely and favorably known. He has been a resident of Grand Traverse county since the summer of 1858 and his mind therefore bears the impress of the early historic annals of the district. He continued the work here until
the fall of 1864, when, in response to the country's call for aid, he enlisted in Com- pany D, Tenth Michigan Cavalry, with which he served for one year. He then re- turned to this county and was employed as cook in a boarding house. He also worked at different times in the lumber camps for the firm of Dexter, Noble & Company, con- tinuing in their employ at intervals for three years. On the expiration of that period he turned his attention to agricultural pursuits in Whitewater township, where he lived
for two years, after which he settled in what is now Acme township, Grand Traverse county, and again resumed farming. To the cultivation of the fields and the further improvement of the property he devoted his energies until 1897, when he came to Green Lake township and again settled upon a farm. There he carried on agricultural pur- suits for two years and at the end of that time established his home in Grawn. Here he built a store and engaged in general mer- chandise, but subsequently disposed of his mercantile interests and established a hotel and livery business. He has since conducted the hotel and has made it popular with the traveling public, because of his progressive methods, but recently he has rented the hotel property. In the livery barn, too, he has se- cured a good patronage, for his earnest de- sire to please his customers and his honor- able dealings have been the means of bring- ing to him a fair measure of the public support in this direction. He owns eighty- six and a half acres of land in Wexford county, Michigan, in addition to his town property in Grawn, and has recently pur- chased an additional tract of forty acres.
Mr. Merrill was first married in White Water, Grand Traverse county, to Miss Phi- delia Randall, who died in Acme township, when forty-eight years of age. She had two children : Walter M. and Inez. The latter, however, became the wife of Robert Alex- ander and died in Tennessee. Mr. Merrill was again married on the 19th of February, 1889, the lady of his choice being Miss Amelia Ann White, a native of England, and they are now residing in Grawn, where they are widely and favorably known.
Mr. Merrill is quite prominent in fra- ternal circles. He belongs to the Masonic
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lodge, to the Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows and to McPherson Post, Grand Army of the Republic, of Traverse City. He is classed as a valued representative of these various societies and is true to their benefi- cent teachings.
WILLIAM C. HULL.
This public-spirited business man, hold- ing at the present time important official po- sitions with different industrial enterprises of Traverse City and northern Michigan, was born October 24, 1869, in Wauseon, Ohio, the son of Henry S. and Kate ( Pfeif- fer) Hull, the father a native of Pennsyl- vania, the mother born and reared in the Buckeye state. Until the age of sixteen he lived in the city of his birth and attended the public schools of the same, subsequently be- coming a student of the Ohio Wesleyan University, and still later, at the age of twenty-one, being graduated with an honor- able record from the Pennsylvania Military College at Chester. Fortified with a fin- ished literary education, Mr. Hull afterward took a full course in the commercial college at Ypsilanti, Michigan, and in 1891 ac- cepted a clerical position with the Oval Wood Dish Company at Mancelona, contin- uing in that capacity until sometime the fol- lowing year. In 1892, when the factory was moved to Traverse City, he assumed charge of the office, occupying the position of con- fidential man to the president and manager, H. S. Hull, and as such has continued to the present time, doing much in this capacity the meanwhile to promote the interests of the enterprise and give it the worthy prestige
which it today enjoys in the industrial cir- cles of the city and state.
In 1894 Mr. Hull, in partnership with F. H. Smith, began dealing in hardwood timber lands, logs, bark, wood and other forest products, handling vast quantities of the same and meeting with very encouraging success in their efforts. Later the style of the firm was changed to that of the Smith & Hull Company, the subject being made sec- retary and treasurer of the same in 1900, in addition to which office he also holds a sim- ilar position with The Hull-Longnecker Company, which controls extensive interests in the hardwood timber lands of the Upper Peninsula.
Mr. Hull's rapid rise in the industrial world shows him to be liberally endowed with the qualities of intelligence, judgment and foresight, that seldom fail of success, and the official status to which he has been called, and which he so ably and worthily fills, attests executive ability such as few attain. Wide-awake, energetic and thor- oughly progressive in his methods, he has demonstrated to the satisfaction of his busi- ness associates the power to inaugurate and carry to successful issue enterprises of large magnitude, the success of which thus far bespeaks a future of greater scope and in- creased prosperity.
The domestic life of Mr. Hull dates from 1891, on September 24th of which year he was united in mariage with Miss Lola Peck- ham, of Mancelona, Michigan, to which) place her parents removed from New York in the year 1877. Five children are the fruits of this union, namely: Henry C., born September 23, 1894; Gerald P., June 6, 1896; James Richard, January 15, 1898; William C., March 7, 1901, and Jane John-
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stone, who was born September 6, 1902, all living.
Mr. Hull is a Republican, but, being more of a business man than a politician, does not take a very active part in political affairs, though well informed relative to the leading questions and issues of the day. He manifests a lively interest in whatever con- cerns the material advancement of the city of his residence, encourages to the best of his ability all enterprises with this object in view, and lends his influence to all measures making for the social and moral good of the community. He is an enthusiast on base- ball, having been a member of the famous Traverse City Hustlers from the time of their organization until they disbanded, and is a lover of all out-door sports, being withal a courteous gentleman, highly esteemed by a large circle of friends and by the public in general.
CHARLES C. HOWARD.
One of the popular citizens of Traverse City and until recently a trusted employe of the state in one of its leading institutions, Charles C. Howard is widely known in this part of Michigan, and respected by all with whom he comes in contact for his sterling qualities of head and heart. His father, Carlos Howard, a native of Genesee county, New York, and descended from old New England ancestry, was born February 2, 1824, came to Traverse City in 1861, and here spent the rest of his days, dying in the year 1900. The mother, whose maiden name was Mary M. Greene, was born May 2, 1824, in Pennsylvania and departed this life at Traverse City on September 17, 1878.
Charles C. Howard was born in the city of New Haven, Macomb county, in 1849, and when but a lad of eleven years accompanied his parents to Traverse City, where he at- tended school for a limited period, his pre- liminary education being received at his for- mer place of abode. His father owning a farm in Grand Traverse county, he followed agricultural pursuits until his forty-eighth year, when by reason of the homestead being sold he entered the employ of the state, ac- cepting a position in the Northern Michigan Asylum for the Blind at Traverse City. Mr. Howard entered this institution as a farm hand, but by reason of faithful and efficient service he was in due time, promoted to a more important post, still later rising by suc- cessive promotions to a high and responsible position, the duties of which he discharged in a manner satisfactory to all concerned, until his resignation, on April 1, 1903. He was led to this step on acount of exacting and long continued service, but as soon as sufficiently rested from his arduous duties he expects to resume the same, his resigna- tion being only temporary.
Mr. Howard was married, in 1877, to Miss Emma Brockway, a union terminated by the death of the faithful wife, after a happy wedded experience of two years and four months' duration. Subsequently, Jan- uary 23, 1883, he was united in the bonds of matrimony with Miss Katherine Ruhl, who was born in Germany in the year 1864, and came to the United States in 1870, spending the ensuing seven years in Penn- sylvania, at the expiration of which time she changed her residence to Traverse City, Michigan. Mr. and Mrs. Howard belong to the Evangelical church of this city, and are esteemed for their piety and good works, be-
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ing interested in all the religious and benevo- lent enterprises under the auspices of the congregation. They are also popular in so- cial circles, have many warm friend's among the best people of the community, and their home is not only an abode in which the spirit of hospitality reigns, but a favorite resort for young and old, who believe in geting out of life all the pleasure and happiness there are in it. While interested in public matters and, like all good citizens, devoting considerable time and study to political questions, Mr. Howard cannot be regarded as a politician, though a zealous supporter of the Republi- can party.
EMERY RICE.
No history of Grand Traverse county would be complete without mention of Em- ery Rice, who is numbered among the pio- neer settlers, dating his residence here from 1862. It requires great courage and forti- tude to meet the conditions of life in the frontier region. It means hardships and difficulties, with a lack of conveniences and comforts known to the older settled districts, but Mr. Rice was well endowed with the qualities which are needed in the pioneer and he has performed an important work in re- claiming this region for the purposes of civ- ilization. He has not only been an interested witness of the many changes which have occurred here and the transformation which has been wrought, but has borne his part in the work of development and improvement, thus aiding in laying the foundation for the present prosperity and the future upbuilding of the county. His worth in this regard is widely acknowledged and high on the roll of
the worthy pioneers of Grand Traverse county appears his name.
Mr. Rice is now living on section 17, Blair township, owning and occupying a. well improved farm. He was born upon a farm in Wood county, Ohio, on the 29th of October, 1839, his parents being Horace and Chloe (Crowel) Rice, whose family num- bered six children, the subject of this review being the third in order of birth. The father was a native of Massachusetts and after ar- riving at years of maturity he was joined in wedlock to Miss Crowel, whose birth oc- curred in New York. They spent their last. years in Ohio, dying in Lake county, that state.
Emery Rice was a little youth of only six summers when his parents removed from Wood county to Lake county, Ohio. They settled upon a farm on which he wa's reared and on which he made his home until coming to Michigan. In the meantime he attended the public schools, thus acquiring a fair English education. In the summer months. he assisted in the work of the field and early became familiar with farm labor in its vari- ous departments. Habits of industry and integrity were formed which have colored his entire career and made his life one com- manding the highest respect. On leaving the. state of his nativity in 1862 Mr. Rice sought a home in Michigan and secured a claim of one hundred and sixty acres of land on sec- tion 17, Blair township, Grand Traverse county. This he entered from the govern- ment and as not a furrow had been turned or an improvement made upon the place, the arduous task of developing a new farm de- volved upon him. Coming to this new re- gion he desired a companion and helpmate and in the spring of 1863 he returned to
MR. AND MRS. EMERY RICE.
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Lake county, Ohio, and was there married on the 2d of July of that year to Miss Clar- inda Ann Houghtaling, also a native of Ohio. As the years have passed their mar- riage has been blessed with four children, the eldest of whom is Charles C. The daughter Edith is now the wife of Albert Nash. The third child was Merton, who died in early life, and Harvey completes the family. The mother of these children passed away at her home in Blair township in 1887, and in this township Mr. Rice was again married on the 6th of February, 1896, his second union being with Mrs. Abigail Cooper, the widow of Joseph B. Cooper, and a daughter of William S. and Catherine (Tyndall) Abbott. Her father was a native of New York, while her mother's birth oc- curred in Pennsylvania. They both died in Ohio, the former passing away in Wood county, while the latter departed this life in Huron county, Ohio. Mrs. Abigail Rice was born in New Haven, Huron county, Ohio, on the Ist of August, 1848, and spent her girlhood days in her parents' home. In early womanhood she gave her hand in marriage to Joseph B. Cooper, who was a native of Shelby, Richland county, Ohio. They re- moved from the Buckeye state to Michigan and settled in Leelanaw county, upon a farm, bringing with them the three children who had blessed their union in Ohio. They arrived in the spring of 1884 and on the 28th of June, 1892, they took up their abode in Traverse City. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Cooper were born five children, but the fourth, a son, died in infancy. The others are Lilly M., Delilah, Warren E. and Elda E.
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