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 97
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 97
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103
Robert Pierce, a veteran of the war of the Rebellion, having served in a Wisconsin reg- iment. He is still living, residing on a farm in Fife Lake township. Her mother was Julia (Sprague) Pierce, now deceased. She died very suddenly, being stricken with par- alysis July 5, 1878. To David G. and De Etta (Pierce) Chandler three children were born, viz: John, born August 16, 1873, married Lena Bohrer, and they are the parents of three children; Grace, born No- vember 23, 1875, is the wife of Phillip Feiger, now a deputy sheriff of Grand Trav- erse county, and they reside in Traverse City and are the parents of one son; Gar- field, born May 6, 1881, who attended the public schools, was always robust and strong, but was taken with appendicitis and, after a few days' illness, died in March, 1900. Mrs. De Etta (Pierce) Chandler died July 5, 1898, and on June 26, 1901, Mr. Chandler was married a second time, the bride on this occasion being Mrs. Minnie Lancaster. She was born in Hillsdale county, Michigan, but has resided in Grand Traverse county more than thirty years. She is the daughter of Charles and Hannah (Stevens) Tracey, of Fife Lake township. Her father was born in Erie, Pennsylvania, and was a millwright all his life, while his wife was born in El- mira, New York. Both came to Michigan in early life and located in Jackson county, where they met and were married in 1854. Later, about 1873, they moved to Fife Lake township, Grand Traverse county. They are the parents of five children, only two of whom are living, viz: Minnie, wife of the subject, and Kate, who is the wife of LeRoy Mulkey, a carpenter and a resident of Boyne City, Michigan.
In the summer of 1900 David G. Chand-
ler became a candidate for sheriff of Grand Traverse county. Being a very pronounced and zealous Republican, he had very little difficulty in securing the nomination and, as the county is, largely Republican, a nom- ination is almost equivalent to an elec- tion. When the ballots were counted the candidate for sheriff was considerably ahead of the regular ticket, his majority being up- wards of nineteen' hundred. So well did he discharge the duties of the office the first two years that in the convention of 1902 he was re-nominated and in the late election he re- ceived a greatly increased majority.
Previous to his election to the office of sheriff Mr. Chandler was elected to and filled several township offices, discharging the duties of those positions very efficiently. He had the steadfast support of his township and several of those adjoining, which fact was largely instrumental in giving him the nomination. However, the office of sheriff is the only one to which he ever aspired. While making no pretense whatever to re- ligious fervor, Mr. Chandler is a moral man in the fullest sense of the words. He makes the Golden Rule the guide and precept of his life, and those who know him best admire him most for the strict integrity which char- acterizes his conduct in every relation in life. Mrs. Chandler is a member of the Presby- terian church and is generally attended at its services by her husband. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, with membership in Traverse City.
David G. Chandler is the owner of more than one thousand acres of land in Grand Traverse county. His farm in East Bay township, comprising five hundred acres in one body, is well improved, well cultivated
759
GRAND TRAVERSE AND LEELANAW COUNTIES.
and well stocked. He is the owner of a good deal of timber which, year by year, is steadily increasing in value as the land all around is being divested of its forests. While by no means a rich man, he is in very comfortable circumstances, his possessions running away up into the thousands. He has been the architect of his own fortune, having accum- ulated what he has by industry, frugality and good management. In the office of sheriff, as in every other position which he has oc- cupied, public or private, he has done his whole duty without fear or favor.
OSCAR E. CHASE, M. D.
Oscar E. Chase was born September 14, 1871, at Hastings, Minnesota. His father is Edgar E. Chase, a native of Concord, Ohio, born January 1, 1832. The latter's early life was spent on the lakes, as at the age of twelve years he became a sailor, shipping from the port of Sandusky, Ohio. How- ever, agricultural pursuits have occupied his time and attention during his later years. May 31, 1855, at Painesville, Ohio, Edgar E. Chase was united in marriage to Miss Abbie L. Tucker, a native of Ohio, born June 8, 1836. Her home was near Austin- burg, where she was reared and where she attended the common schools, later attend- ing Hiram College a number of years. Soon after their marriage Edgar Chase and wife went to Minnesota and located at Cannon. Falls, on the Little Cannon river, where they lived for about twenty years. They took up a claim of three hundred acres, improved, cultivated and occupied it until, in 1861, the husband and father felt it his duty to serve
his country by aiding in suppressing the Re- bellion. He enlisted in the Third Regiment. Minnesota Volunteers and served all through the war. Exposure in the trenches caused him to be afflicted with rheumatism, and, although it disqualified him from active service in the ranks, he persistently refused to go to a hospital. After considering the matter for some time he decided that the best use he could put his time and talents to, in the interest of the cause of the Union, was to act as a spy. This he did very ef- fectually for many months and he was the bearer of numerous pieces of valuable in- formation from the Confederate to the Un- ion lines. But he had a narrow escape from detection and death. At one time he was about to be hanged, when, through the inter- vention of a Confederate whom he had be- friended, he was released. On his return from the army the family continued to re- side in Minnesota until 1873, when they moved to Northport, Leelanaw county, Michigan. Here they resided until i893, when they moved to Traverse City, where they have since resided.
Edgar E. and Abbie L. Chase are the parents of seven children, two of whom died in infancy. Those living are Harry E., an electrician, who for many years has been inspector for the Hartford Boiler Insurance .. Company, residing in Des Moines, Iowa; Lizzie was the wife of H. R. Hitchcock, a bookkeeper who resides at East Jordan, Michigan, but she died in 1877 at the age of twenty years; Chevy is also an inspector for the Hartford Boiler Insurance Company ; Oscar E., the subject of this review ; Julia is the wife of Glen Parks, a shingle weaver,. and they now reside in Traverse City.
On the farm near Northport the early-
.
1
760
GRAND TRAVERSE AND LEELANAW COUNTIES.
life of Oscar E. Chase was spent. He at- tended the district schools during the winter and during the others seasons worked upon the farm. The father was employed in sail- ing most of the time and the subject and his brothers cleared the land and tilled the soil. At the age of sixteen Oscar quit school and followed merchandising for two years. He attended the Traverse City high school one term, then in 1890 secured a position in the general office of the establishment of the Hannah & Lay Mercantile Company. After being employed there two years he resigned his position, went to Ohio and entered Ober- lin College, where he remained nearly two years. Returning to Michigan, he attended Alma College one year, then, in 1895, taking his credentials, he entered the medical de- partment of the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, from which institution he grad- uated in 1899. Having very little means at his command in the beginning, he had to de- pend wholly upon his industry to defray his expenses at school. It was a brave fight against adverse circumstances, but the battle was nobly won and the victory was all the more appreciated because of the difficulties and discouragements which had been over- come. Taking a brief vacation after leav- ing school, he returned to Traverse City in the autumn of 1899, and having entered into partnership with Dr. H. B. Garner, he opened up in the practice of his profession. This partnership continued for about eight- een months when it was dissolved and Dr. Chase opened an office of his own in the New Wilhelm block, where he has very success- fully continued ever since to engage in the practice of medicine and surgery.
June 27, 1900, in Traverse City, Dr. Chase was united in marriage to Miss Eliza-
beth Loudon, daughter of William and Elizabeth Loudon. In another part of this volume will be found a review of the career of William Loudon. To Dr. and Mrs. Chase one child has been born, Elizabeth Mary, who came to bless the home July 23, 1901. ' She is an intelligent, winsome little babe, the pride of her parents and the joy and delight of her devoted grandparents.
In politics, while active and zealous in the interest of his party, Dr. Chase has no desire to be recognized as a politician in any sense of the term. He is a Republican, but the requirements of his profession are such as to afford him little time for party work. He believes in the principles of the party and is always anxious to see them triumph- ant. Dr. and Mrs. Chase are both members of the Congregational church. He also be- longs to four fraternal orders, the Forest- ers, Maccabees, Mystic Circle and the Royal Arcanum. He has a large and growing practice in his profession and has been most successful in all the cases, both medical and surgical, that have come under his care.
JOHN BARRY.
John Barry was born in the parish of Killavullen, county of Cork, Ireland, April 17, 1854. His father was John Barry, a native of the same county, born in 1812. He followed the calling of a miller up to the time that he came to America, in 1869. Forty years of his life were spent in a flouring-mill, the greater part of that per- iod being with one concern. The mother of the subject was Margaret (Collins) Barry, who was born in Castlehide, county of Cork, Ireland, where they continued to reside many
761
GRAND TRAVERSE AND LEELANAW COUNTIES.
years after marriage, and there all of their children were born. They were the parents of fourteen children, of whom John Barry, the subject, was the youngest. In 1869 the family immigrated to America, landing in New York, and came thence to Michigan, establishing their permanent residence at Saginaw. Only four of the fourteen chil- dren are living, while the father died in 1890 and the mother in 1896. All of the surviv- ing members of the family reside in Sagi- naw, except the subject. They are Cather- ine, wife of Thomas Kelleher, a lumber saw- yer; Bridget, wife of William Collison, a millwright, and Patrick, who is also a hun- ber sawyer.
The early life of John Barry was spent in his native land. He attended the national schools of the county of Cork up to the time the family immigrated to America, when he was fifteen years old. After the family lo- cated in Saginaw he attended the public schools of that city and later took a course in a business college there. He then secured employment in a saw-mill, familiarized him- self with all the various branches of labor in lumber manufacture and, becoming expert as a sawyer, followed that line for a number of years. Before quitting the business he was, though still quite young, recognized as one of the best expert sawyers of lumber on the Saginaw river. Satisfied that more money could be made in a less laborious vocation, he began casting about for more remunera- tive employment. Telegraphy seemed to suit him. He had a quick hand and an ear whose hearing was most acute; he was skilled as a penman and proficient in English orthography. He attended a number of terms at a school of telegraphy and when his proficiency justified him he went to Chicago
and secured a position as telegraph operator in a commercial office in that city. This po- sition he held until 1880, when he came to Traverse City, and he has resided here for the past twenty-three years. His first em- ployment here was in the special marine telegraph service, but in less than a year after coming here he was given control of the local office of the Western Union Tele- graph Company and for twenty-one years he continued in this position. Eighteen years of this time he was the manager of the local telephone system and, in addition, for sixteen years of the time he had charge of the business of the Adams and United States Express Companies. Within the past few years, however, the business of the telephone company of the city has increased to such an extent as to justify him in relinquishing everything else in the line of business and devote to it his entire time and attention. He is now the manager of the city Bell tele- phone system, and under his direction and control it is giving complete satisfaction to its patrons, as it also is to the stockholders and officers of the company.
October 29, 1884, at Saginaw, Michigan, John Barry was united in marriage to Miss Mary Schefneker, a native of Michigan, born in Saginaw, April 12, 1859. She was educated in the city of her birth and is a lady of taste and refinement. Her father was Joseph A. Schefneker, who won con- siderable distinction and the commission of a captain during the war of the Rebellion. For many years he was under sheriff of Sag- inaw county. Mrs. Barry's mother was Margaret (Beckler) Schefneker. Both of the parents of Mrs. Barry are natives of Bavaria, Germany, are still living and resi- dents of the city of Saginaw. They were the
,
1
762
GRAND TRAVERSE AND LEELANAW COUNTIES. -
parents of four children, only two of whom survive, viz: Theresa, who makes her home with her parents, and Mary, wife of the sub- ject. To Mr. and Mrs. Barry seven chil- dren have been born, viz: Estella M., born October 10, 1885; Clotilda M., March 24, 1887; Ina M., September 16, 1889; John J., May 7, 1891 ; William D., May 31, 1893; Thomas, January 20, 1894, died in infancy ; Norbert L., June 5, 1896. All of the chil- dren are attending school and are making good progress in their studies. Stella, the oldest child, is possessed of fine mental pow- ers. She will graduate from the city high school at the close of the present school year.
.
Possessed of the zeal and earnestness characteristic of the Irish race, it would have been practically impossible for John Barry to keep out of politics. He is a Re- publican and by no means a passive one. With each recurring campaign he may be found working zealously in the interest of his party, though he has never aspired to or held an official position in his life. He has been a delegate a number of times to con- ventions at Traverse City. He was corres- . pondent for a number of years for the De- troit Evening News. In religion he is a Catholic and all of the members of his fam- ily are members of that church. He belongs to three fraternal societies, the Elks, the Maccabees and the Catholic Mutual Benefit Association. He was a charter member of the latter association and its first president in Traverse City. He owns a comfortable home, conveniently situated and handsomely furnished. His long residence in the com- munity has given him an extensive acquaint- ance, as he is one of those genial gentleman who needs only to be known to be popular.
JOHN D. MARSHALL.
John D. Marshall, who follows farming in Peninsula township, Grand Traverse coun- ty, is the second child and only son of Will- iam A. and Helen D. (Drew) Marshall. He was born in Frenchtown, Monroe county, Michigan, July 5, 1862, and was only two years of age when brought by his parents to Grand Traverse county. Here he was reared to manhood under the parental roof, and he obtained a common-school education in his boyhood days, entering the schoolroom at the usual age of six years. There he pursued his studies until he had gained considerable familiarity with the common branches of English learning.
John D. Marshall remained at home until his marriage, which occurred on the 3d of May, 1887, on which day he wedded Miss Della V. Eiman, who was born in LaGrange, Indiana, on the 15th of March, 1868, a daughter of Joseph B. and Eleanor ( Young) Eiman. Their family numbered two chil- dren, of whom she is the elder. Mr. and Mrs. Marshall are now the parents of three children : Mary B., William A. and Julius P. They also lost two children, Bessie R., who died on the 26th of January, 1898, at the age of seven years and seven months, and Blossom, who died in infancy.
It was in November, 1887, that the sub- ject and his wife took up their abode upon the farm which has since been their home, and which he had purchased in July of that year. He has thirty-six acres of land, of which twenty-eight acres is utilized for gen- eral farming purposes. He takes a credita- ble degree of interest in township affairs, and his efforts in behalf of the general welfare have been far-reaching and beneficial. His
J. D. MARSHALL.
MRS. J. D. MARSHALL.
J. D. MARSHALL'S CHILDREN.
763
GRAND TRAVERSE AND LEELANAW COUNTIES.
wife is an active member of the Congrega- tional church, and also belongs to Old Mis- sion Hive No. 152, Ladies of the Maccabees, of which she is sentinel, and Mr. Marshall is a member of Mission Tent, Knights of the Maccabees, at Old Mission.
JAMES G. JOHNSON.
-
James Gibson Johnson was born in Oak- land county, Michigan, Nov. 15, 1860. His father was John R. Johnson, a native of the same county, born June 21, 1835. He was a farmer and devoted his entire life to that calling. He is still living, residing on a farm near Traverse City, to which he moved his family in the fall of 1866. The mother of the subject was Eliza Ann (Quick ) John- son, a native of the same county, born Au- gust 19, 1837. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson were united in marriage in January, 1860, and were the parents of four children, two of whom died in infancy. The others are James G., the subject of this review, and Joseph Q., who was born April 13, 1863, and who is by trade a machinist and resides in De- troit.
The early life of James G. Johnson was spent upon his father's farm. He was a child of only six years when his parents brought him to this county, and during the winters of the nine succeeding years he at- tended the district school. The farm work occupied his time and attention during the other seasons of the year. An opportunity offering for employment in a drug store in Traverse City, he gladly embraced it and for the next six years devoted himself as- siduously to the task of learning to be a 48
druggist. His studies were not entirely con- fined to pharmacy, as he reviewed the les- sons of his school days, carefully going over all of the branches and making up in a large measure for the opportunities that had been denied him after his fifteenth year. In 1883, feeling that he had fully qualified himself for the undertaking, he entered into part- nership with James W. Murray, under the firm name of James G. Johnson & Company, and they stocked and fitted up a neat little drug store of their own. All of the busi- ness was transacted by Mr. Johnson, his partner not being a pharmacist and having no other than a financial interest in the busi- ness. After about two years the partnership was dissolved, James G. Johnson assuming the entire control, and he has since very suc- cessfully managed the affairs of the estab- lishment. From a small beginning the busi- ness has increased in magnitude until at this time the drug store of Mr. Johnson enjoys a patronage that is not confined even to the limits of Grand Traverse county. In 1893 a substantial two-story brick block was erected by Mr. Johnson, and in the room on the first floor is located his well- equipped drug store. The subject is a regis- tered pharmacist, having become such immediately upon the going into effect of the pharmacy law of Michigan.
December 14, 1885, at Empire, Michi- gan, James G. Johnson was united in mar- riage to Miss Jennie E. Patterson, a native of Port Coburn, Canada, who came to Trav- erse City with her parents when a child, and was educated in the public schools of this county and of Frankfort, Michigan. Her father was Robert McClellan Patterson, a first cousin of Gen. George B. Mcclellan, who was the Democratic candidate for Presi-
. 764
GRAND TRAVERSE AND LEELANAW COUNTIES.
dent of the United States in 1864. He was born in Pennsylvania, where he was reared and grew to manhood. He went to Port Coburn, Canada, and there met and mar- ried Miss Mary Catherine Putnam, who, although born in Canada, was a lineal de- scendant of General Isaac Putnam, of Revo- lutionary fame. They came to Grand Trav- erse county in 1865 and settled on a farm, where they resided until their deaths. He died November 3, 1878, and her death oc- curred October 27, 1891. They were the parents of a large family of children, only six of whom are still living, viz: Jennie E., wife of James G. Johnson, the subject of this review; Margaret, wife of Ed Gibson, of Chicago; Samuel and Robert are both farmers and reside near Empire, this county ; Etta, wife of Fritz Rohr, of Empire; Mary, wife of J. C. Gridley, of Poplarville, Miss- issippi.
Politically James G. Johnson is a Repub- lican and in former years was quite active in the interest of his party. Of late years, how- ever, his business has grown to such an ex- tent and has so engrossed his attention as to give him no time for extraneous affairs. However, he cannot wholly divest himself of political interest. He has been a member of the county central committee for years and is now treasurer of that body, having served in that capacity for more than six years. During the Harrison campaign of 1888 and for some time afterward he served as secretary of the committee. Despite the services he has rendered his party, he has never aspired to or held a political position, which clearly shows that personal aggrand- izement had no part in the motives by which he was influenced to political activity. He and his wife are both members of the Con-
gregational church and regular attendants upon its service. He belongs to two frater- nal societies, the Maccabees and the For- esters, his membership being with the lodges in Traverse City. He is a man of methodi- cal habits, unswerving integrity, strict busi- ness principles, good judgment and popular with all. He has a fine, well stocked store, in a splendid location near the center of busi- ness, and enjoys an enviable patronage.
CAPT. FREDERICK L. JOHNSON.
There are today few surviving veterans of the Mexican war. Many people of the present time look back upon that epoch in our country's history as one far remote, but Capt. Frederick L. Johnson was a loyal de- fender of, American interests at the time of the contest with the people of the land of Montezuma. He is today seventy-four years of age and yet in spirit and interests seems in his prime. His is an honorable record of a conscientious man who by his upright life has won the confidence of all with whom he has come in contact. Al- though he has rounded the psalmist's span of three score years and ten and though the snows of several winters have whitened his hair he has the vigor and strength of a much younger man and still superintends his farm- ing interests. His has in many respects been an eventful career and his life history can- not fail to prove of interest to his many friends in Grand Traverse county.
Captain Johnson now resides in Penin- sula township, where for about half a cen- tury he has owned a farm although it has only been in recent years that he has given
765
GRAND TRAVERSE AND LEELANAW COUNTIES.
his personal attention to its supervision. The Captain was born in Monterey, Mexico, on the 15th of August, 1829. His father was of Spanish birth, while his mother was a native of Mexico, but the great republic of the United States became his land and he identified his interests with hers. The sub- ject was reared in Mexico and there lived until seventeen years of age. At that time the war with Mexico was inaugurated and he joined the American navy. He was after- ward, however, transferred to the land forces and served under General Zachary Taylor, being in the army throughout the period of hostilities, from the 6th of June, 1846, until the 7th of September, 1848. He acted as an interpreter for General Taylor, his familiarity with the Mexican language, his knowledge of the people and of the coun- try making his aid of much value to the com- mander of the American forces. At the close of the war Captain Johnson was mus- tered out of the service at Fort Jackson, Mississippi. He then came to the north in company with Major Robert Forsyth, who was a paymaster in the American army. Together they journeyed to Detroit, Michi- gan, and for many years thereafter Captain Johnson was connected with marine life, sailing upon the lakes in various capacities. He was thus engaged until 1891, when he retired and took up his abode upon his farm in Grand Traverse county. In 1857 he took charge of a schooner and was afterward master and captain of a steamer, continuing in command of different vessels until he re- tired. He came to know the lakes as does the country boy the familiar lane over which he daily travels. Many an interesting tale can he tell of storms which he has encount-
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.