USA > Michigan > St Clair County > St. Clair County, Michigan, its history and its people; a narrative account of its historical progress and its principal interests, Vol. II > Part 12
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HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY
ELMER G. BROWN. Prominent among those citizens of Port Huron, Michigan, who have made their own way in the world and have attained positions of trust and distinction is Elmer G. Brown, whose fidelity to duty, sterling honesty and hard, industrious work have made him one of the most trusted employes of the Port Huron Engine and Thresher Company, where he is superintendent of plant No. 2. Mr. Brown, who now resides at No. 2401 North Boulevard, South Park, was born within a stone's throw of the present site of his office in Port Huron, August 28, 1867, and is a son of William H. and Mary (Horton) Brown. His father, who for many years sailed the Great Lakes, is now in the employ of the same company, being at plant No. 1. Mr. Brown's mother died January 31, 1884.
After securing a fair common school education Mr. Brown at fifteen years of age went out on the Lakes on the same vessel with his father, starting as cabin boy and after a year becoming a cook. He spent two years in that position, and then was promoted before the mast, eventu- ally, two years later, being given his mate's papers. On July 21, 1890, Mr. Brown was married at Center Line, Michigan, to Miss Louisa Land- schoot, who was born at Center Line and was a daughter of Peter and Catherine (Curly) Landschoot. Mr. Landschoot was a soldier in the Union army during the Civil war, serving with a Michigan volunteer regiment from the second call for troops until the close of hostilities. He brought his family to Port Huron when Mrs. Brown was about ten years of age, and thereafter was engaged in market gardening. After his mar- riage Mr. Brown gave up his life as a sailor, and on February 16, 1891, started to work for the firm with which he is now connected, acting in the capacity of carpenter for about three years and then being promoted to the position of foreman of the carpenter department, an office which he held until 1904. In the meantime, in 1900, he had become a stock- holder in the company, and in 1904 he was made superintendent of plant No. 2, and as such has efficiently discharged the duties of the position ever since. Mr. Brown is a skilled mechanic, and gives every little detail his best work and closest attention. His own efficiency has always been a spur to the work of the men under his charge, who respect and admire him, and he is popular alike with co-workers and officials. Mr. Brown is also a stockholder in the Factory Land Company, was a stockholder in the Port Huron Saw Company, and was one of the stockholders in the Major Manufacturing Company, which has since been dissolved.
In his political views Mr. Brown is a staunch Republican, but, while he is an earnest worker in the ranks of his party and deeply interested in its success, he has never been an office seeker, being too busily devoted to his own affairs to attempt to manage the affairs of his community. He is prominent fraternally as a member of the Modern Maccabees, in which he has filled all of the chairs, and he now serves as commander of Rusher Tent, a position which he has held for seven years, representing his tent at two great camp reviews, one at Saginaw and the other at De- troit. In addition he is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America, of which he has been vice counsel for two terms, and is connected with the Knights of Columbus. He and Mrs. Brown are faithful and devout members of St. Stephen's Catholic church. They have no children.
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HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY
HENRY P. OHMER. A practical and prosperous agriculturist of Saint Clair county, Henry P. Ohmer is actively engaged in his independent oc- cupation on one of the pleasantest and most desirable farming estates in Brockway township, being finely located in section eight. He was born in Detroit, Michigan, August 18. 1866, a son of Philip Ohmer, and is of German ancestry on both sides of the house.
Philip Ohmer was born May 6, 1840, in Baden, Germany, and as a boy of twelve years came with his widowed mother to the United States, locating in Pennsylvania, where he remained seven years. Coming to Michigan in 1859, he spent two years in Detroit. Going from there to Grand Rapids in 1861, he enlisted in Company B, First Michigan Light Artillery, in which he served three years. Being honorably discharged at the expiration of his term of enlistment, he reenlisted, serving until the close of the war, when he returned to Detroit and for awhile had charge of a ship yard in that city, later, in the employ of the contractor for the City Water Works, having charge of the excavating work necessary in installing the water works. In 1877 he located in Lynn township, Saint Clair county, and having purchased forty acres of wild land on section twelve immediately began the improvement of a farm. His means being exceedingly limited, he found that in order to make both ends meet he must work during the winter seasons as a wage-earner in Detroit. In- dustrious and thrifty, he succeeded in his undertakings, and at the time of his death, which occurred in July, 1910, on his farm in Lynn town- ship, he owned two hundred acres of good land, and was numbered among the prosperous and valued citizens of his community. He was always a staunch supporter of the principles promulgated by the Repub- lican party. He married Anna Brehm, who was born in Germany in 1845, and came to this country with her father, Anthony Brehm, who was an early pioneer of Port Huron, Saint Clair county. She passed to the life beyond in 1908, leaving four children, namely : Henry P., the subject of this brief sketch; Mary, wife of William Beers, of Lynn town- ship; Edward M., of Lynn township; and Emma, living with her brother Edward.
Spending his boyhood days in Detroit, Henry P. Ohmer received most of his educational training in the schools of that city. When eleven years old he came with his parents to Saint Clair county, and until attaining his majority assisted his father in the pioneer labor of redeeming a farm from the forest. On leaving home he was for fifteen years employed in railroad work, being located in Michigan or in Can- ada during the time. In 1900, desirous of returning to the soil, Mr. Ohmer purchased one hundred and forty acres of land in Brockway township, and has since been successfully engaged in general farming, his attractive home, with its surroundings, showing conclusively that he has a thorough understanding of his business, and that he exercises ex- cellent judgment in its management. In addition to farming he is also largely interested in the fur business, being one of the largest dealers in Michigan outside of Detroit. He has ever been identified with the Re- publicans in politics, and is a fine representative of the self-made men of our times having had no help until well able to care for himself and his affairs.
Mr. Ohmer married, October 22, 1891, Mary Skinner a native of Canada, and they are the parents of six children, all of whom are living
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at home, namely : Mary E., Edward P., Henry O., Charles Thomas, Anna W. and Harvey.
JOHN F. RUFF. The career of John F. Ruff, vice president and gen- eral manager of the Port Huron Creamery Company, of Port Huron, Michigan, illustrates most forcibly the possibilities that are open to a young man who possesses sterling business qualifications. It proves that neither wealth nor social position, nor the assistance of influential friends at the outset of his career, are at all necessary to place a young man on the road to success. It also proves that ambitious perseverance, steadfastness of purpose and indefatigable industry, combined with sound business principles, will be rewarded, and that true success fol- lows individual efforts only. John F. Ruff was born at McQuon, a suburb of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, May 3, 1863, and is a son of Rev. J. Frederick and Charlotte (Pasner) Ruff.
When Mr. Ruff was six years old his parents moved to St. Clair, Michigan, where Mr. Ruff's father was the minister in charge of the German Lutheran church until failing health caused his retirement from active ministerial duties, and he then moved to a garden farm of ten acres situated on the outskirts of the city, John F. being then about thirteen years of age. About four years later his father died, and he took charge of the little plot of land, assisting his mother to pay off the debts which had accumulated. When he was twenty five years of age he turned over the farm to a younger brother. During all the time he had remained with his mother he had received no wages, but had secured a heifer calf, which he raised and later sold for $50. With that money he made his first payment on a tract of twenty-five acres of land, located near St. Clair, about two-thirds of which was under cultivation, while the remainder was in swamp and brush. There he started a dairy with one cow, and sold milk to three customers, each of whom took one pint. Continuing on that place for three years, he found himself the owner of a herd of twenty cows, and at this time he was persuaded by Mr. Charles F. Moore to bring his animals to Mr. Moore's farm, where that gentleman furnished a like number of cattle. During the two years that Mr. Ruff continued on that property he went to Lansing and took the short course in the dairy school. The milk from Mr. Moore's farm was disposed of at St. Clair, the surplus being put into ice cream, but eventually Mr. Ruff sold his interests to Mr. Moore and built his first creamery in the city in about 1906, beginning to buy milk of the farm- ers of the country. This proving a success, he took Charles H. Otter as a partner, and a year or so later they bought out the Co-operative Creamery at Lambs Corner, and subsequently moved to Avoca. Three years later they were doing business with 1,500 farmers, but competi- tion became of such a nature that they deemed it advisable to move to Port Huron in 1905, and they first located at No. 728 Lapeer avenue. The competition gradually failed and they obtained a great deal of their old trade, but a new competition at once set in. In 1910 business had grown to such an extent that more capital was needed, and a stock com- pany was formed by a consolidation of the present firm and the Central Ice Cream Company, formerly owned by H. C. Krill, Jr., with a capital of $100,000, which in 1911 was increased at the annual meeting to $150,- 000. During that year Mr. Ruff started another creamery in Sarnia,
John F. Ruf
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HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY
where the first butter was made on July 6th. In 1903 the St. Clair Com- pany established a skimming station at China and one at Rattle Run, to supply the St. Clair factory, which had been put in charge of Mr. Otter, although Mr. Ruff still retains a one-half interest. The first year in Port Huron the company made 75,000 pounds of butter, and the year of the stock company's organization 1,500,000 pounds were manufactured. During the month of June, 1911, 258,796 pounds rep- resented the output of the factory, a gain of 70 per cent over the same month of the previous year. For July 4, 1911, the company sold 2,000 gallons of ice cream. A branch of this firm is now established at De- troit, for the sale and distribution of the company's product, and is known under the firm name of P. M. Ruff & Company.
In 1909 the firm moved to its present location, 325 Court street, where a building has been erected ninety-six by fifty-two feet, the idea having been that this would be large enough for all future operations, but in 1910 it was found necessary to add eighty feet to its length, and in 1911 a second story was put on the building. A new department was added in 1911 when a poultry department was established, to furnish the trade with milk fed chickens.
In 1911 Mr. Ruff bought out the Lauth Auto Engine Company, and he is now manufacturing automobile engines and building up a good business on Water street. In the fall of 1911 he was the prime spirit in the organization of the Port Huron Artificial Ice Company, of which he is now general manager. He also holds stock in the New Haven Creamery, at New IIaven, Michigan, and in addition has interests at Chesterfield, Michigan. His close attention to and sagacious manage- ment of his business interests have insured their success, and he now inspires confidence as a man fair and honorable in his dealings and true to all his obligations; a safe man who is sure to succeed. He has always evinced a public-spirited citizen's interest in municipal affairs, but has been too busily engaged with personal matters to engage prom- inently in public affairs. He has, however, served as city treasurer in St. Clair for two terms, as alderman for two terms and as acting mayor one year. He was city assessor two terms, being once appointed by a Democratic and once by a Republican mayor. His intelligent and con- scientious discharge of his duties in these capacities, as well as the good influence which his sound judgment and high character exerted on them, are evidences that he would be a valuable representative in higher posi- tions. He and his family are members of the German Lutheran church, of which he is a trustee.
On November 15, 1888, Mr. Ruff was married in St. Clair to Miss Anna M. Otter, who was born and reared in that city, and four children have been born to this union: Lydia, who now has charge of the office in the creamery : Walter, who is learning the poultry business with the idea in view to take charge of that end of the business; and Oscar and Albert, who are living at home.
It is not because of special prominence in public affairs that Mr. Ruff has and is justly entitled to the respect and confidence of his fel- lowmen, nor is it solely because he has acquired success, for some do that who have neither the respect nor confidence of others, but it is because, is a comparative, pre-eminent degree, he is a representative man of a
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class to whom, more than any other, is due the continued growth and prosperity of the many thriving cities of the Middle West.
DAVID GOODWILLIE. It is quite safe to say that no more worthy of- ficial ever occupied the position of city treasurer at Port Huron, Mich- igan, than the present incumbent, David Goodwillie. A man of sterling integrity, conscientious, industrious and eminently capable, he is render- ing the city valuable and efficient service. He was born June 15, 1857, in Niagara Falls, where his father, Rev. David H. Goodwillie, then had charge of a large congregation. His paternal grandfather, Rev. David Goodwillie, was born in Vermont, and was of pure Scotch ancestry, as is gleaned from a history of the family, which traces his genealogical record back fully two hundred years. After being graduated from Dart- mouth College, in Hanover, New Hampshire, he was ordained as a min- ister of the United Presbyterian church, and first located at New Bed- ford, Pennsylvania. In 1825, continuing as pastor of the New Bedford church, he also assumed charge of the church at Liberty, Ohio, also preaching at Poland. After a time he relinquished his pastorate at New Bedford, and still later gave up his church work at Poland, but con- tinued at Liberty until 1875, resigning then with an honored record of fifty years of service in one church. He was a man of much force of character, and was held in high regard by his parishioners, who at the time of his resignation presented him with a handsome watch as a token of their love and esteem, the watch now being in the possession of his grandson, the special subject of this sketch. He spent his closing years of life in Cleveland, Ohio, passing away in 1893, at the venerable age of ninety-one years, his birth having occurred in 1802. His wife, whose maiden name was Frances Hamill, was born and reared in Pennsylvania.
David H. Goodwillie was born in New Bedford, Pennsylvania, Octo- ber 25, 1828, and when about three years of age was taken by his par- ents to Liberty, Ohio, where he obtained his elementary education in its public schools. He was subsequently prepared for college in the old academy at Salem, Ohio, and at the age of twenty-two years was grad- uated from Jefferson College, in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania. He sub- sequently accepted the chair of natural sciences at Westminster Col- lege, in New Wilmington, Pennsylvania, and held the position until called to Stamford, province of Ontario, Canada, as pastor of the Pres- byterian church of that place, in the spring of 1855. The ensuing fall he was ordained to the Presbyterian ministry, and remained in Stam- ford six years. Accepting a call to the Presbyterian church at Com- merce, Oakland county, Michigan, in 1861, he had charge of that church for twenty-one consecutive years, performing the manifold duties de- volving upon him in that capacity ably and faithfully. In 1882 he became pastor of the Westminster Presbyterian church at Port Huron, with which he was connected for twenty-four years, his pastorate hav- ing been long and eminently successful. During that time he led a busy and useful life, looking carefully after the material as well as the spir- itual needs of his parishioners. He performed the marriage ceremony more than one thousand times, but he never kept any record of the num- bers of the people converted under his wise teachings, nor of the many funerals at which he officiated. Since his resignation from the ministry
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he has resided at his pleasant home at No. 2201 Willow street, Port Huron, where he delights in welcoming his friends.
Rev. David HI. Goodwillie married, September 1, 1854, Catherine R. Armstrong, who was born near Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, a daughter of John and Nancy (Kuhn) Armstrong. Six children blessed their union, as follows: Agnes and Frances, living at home; David, the spe- cial subject of this sketch; John A., a resident of Detroit, Michigan is married and has four children; Mary Ada, wife of Edward F. Mann, of Portland, Maine; and Thomas B., who died at the age of twenty-five years.
But four years old when his parents located in Commerce, Michigan, David Goodwillie there acquired his rudimentary education in the public schools, afterwards obtaining his collegiate education in Youngstown, Ohio, and in 1877 being graduated from Bryant & Stratton's Business College, in Detroit, Michigan. Mr. Goodwillie then taught school for a year in Oakland county, Michigan, and in 1879 became bookkeeper for Anderson & Company, hardware dealers at Port Huron. Embarking then in business on his own account, he was for ten years a stockholder and the vice president of the well-known firm of Beard & Goodwillie. In 1903 Mr. Goodwillie was appointed by the city council fire commis- sioner of Port Huron, and served in that capacity until 1906, when he was appointed to fill out an unexpired term as city treasurer. He was subsequently elected to that responsible position, and at the end of the term was honored by a re-election to the same important office. In 1910, under the new form of government, Mr. Goodwillie was a candidate for mayor of the city, but was defeated at the polls. The new mayor, how- ever, and his co-workers then appointed him city treasurer, and he is filling the office with credit to himself and to the satisfaction of all con- cerned.
On December 22, 1885, in Oakland county, Michigan, Mr. Goodwillie was united in marriage with Kate Killam, who was born in that county, a daughter of George and Jane (Ketcham) Killam. Two children have been born into their home, namely: David Harold, who after his grad- uation from the Port Huron high school, attended the University of Michigan three years, and is now employed in the office of the Grand Trunk Railroad Company, and Mary Agnes, a graduate of the Port Hu- ron high school. Fraternally Mr. Goodwillie is a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Order of Masons; of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks : of the Woodmen of the World, and of the Knights of the Modern Maccabees. True to the religious faith in which he was reared, he is a faithful and valued member of the Westminster Presbyterian church.
DANIEL O'CONNELL. To be elected and re-elected year after year to an honorable and responsible public office argues pretty conclusively that the recipient of such testimonials of confidence from his fellow- citizens must possess excellent qualities and qualifications and such is the case with Daniel O'Connell, who is serving as supervisor of Emmet township, St. Clair county, Michigan, having been continuously elected since 1905. Ile is an honest, upright, intelligent and highly respected citizen and in him Emmet township has a careful guardian of its rights and a sensible, practical adviser in its calculations. Mr. O'Connell was
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born December 22, 1860, at Paris, in the Dominion of Canada, and is a son of Charles and Honora (O'Conner) O'Connell.
The parents of Mr. O'Connell were born and reared in Ireland and both came to Canada when young people, where they married, afterward moving to Ohio, and from there came to St. Clair county, Michigan. The remaining years of their lives were passed in Emmet township, where the father died in 1869, but the mother survived him until 1905. They had three children, namely : Mary, who is the wife of W. Lepper, residing at Detroit, Michigan; Daniel; and Honora, who is the wife of Moses Kenney, a resident of Emmet township:
Daniel O'Connell was five years old when the family came to Emmet township. Until he was twelve years of age he attended the district school during the winter seasons, but was then judged to be old enough to contribute to his own support and worked for his father until the latter's death, afterward making himself generally useful on neighboring farms. He then tested life in a big city, going to Chicago, Illinois, where he was employed for one year as a driver on the old horse-car line, but then returned to Michigan and resumed farming purchasing a tract of forty acres in Emmet township. To the first tract he added a second forty acres and still owns this land, although he is no longer actively engaged in farm life. Mr. O'Connell has never married but is carefully looked after in the home of his beloved sister, Mrs. Honora Kenney, who is well known also in Emmet township, a lady, whose hearty hospitality is fre- quently tested by her many friends. In addition to his valuable farm Mr. O'Connell owns improved real estate at Port Huron. He belongs to the fraternal organization, the Modern Woodmen of America, and carries insurance in the same, and is counsel of Woodman Lodge, No. 8683. He was school director for fifteen years in his district, No. 4, and is a staunch Democrat, always attending the state and county conven- tions and active in his party interests. He received the nomination for register of deeds of St. Clair county, but was defeated with the party. Mr. O'Connell is a distant relative of Dan O'Connell. Personally he is a very pleasant man to meet, having a kind and affable manner and fre- quently showing flashes of the natural wit that seems inseparable from those of Irish descent. He is a member of the Roman Catholic church at Emmet.
JOHN SCHLINKERT. The gentleman to a brief review of whose life and characteristics the reader's attention is herewith directed is among the foremost business men of St. Clair, and has by his enterprise and progressive methods contributed in a material way to the industrial and commercial advancement of the city and county. He has in the course of an honorable career been most successful in the business enterprises of which he is the head, and is well deserving of mention in the biograph- ical memoirs of St. Clair county.
John Schlinkert, dealer in coal and builders' supplies and manu- facturer of cement blocks and steamboat coater, is, as his name indicates, of German origin. He was, however, born in St. Clair, the date of his nativity having been September 14, 1870. His parents John and Anna (Schulte) Schlinkert, were born in Germany. They came to the newer land across the Atlantic in 1866 and were married in St. Clair. The date of their first identification with St. Clair was 1868, and in one year
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after his arrival here he purchased the old Oaks and Holland saw mill and also established a brewery. He discontinued business in 1893, and for the first time since coming to this country returned to Germany, where he visited his relatives and friends and renewed the associations of his youth. Ile returned and took up the threads of life in St. Clair. He was a successful business man and gave an enlightened consideration to all public affairs. He had given the regular army service in Germany and had been honorably discharged before coming to this country. The demise of this good citizen occurred in 1906, but his memory will long remain green in the hearts of his many friends.
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