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 13
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Almost the entire life of John Schlinkert, Jr., has been passed in St. Clair and it is needless to say that its institutions are very dear to him. He received his preliminary education in the schools of St. Clair and in 1886 he entered the Jesuit College at Detroit, in which institution he remained as a student for one year. In 1887 he returned to St. Clair and in association with his father began the business in which he has since actively engaged. It has broadened in scope under his management and it is safe to say that he has no peer in his knowledge of his partic- ular work. As one intimately concerned in a line of industry which has important bearing upon the progress and stable prosperity of the com- munity he occupies a representative position in business circles and it is eminently befitting that he be accorded recognition in this volume.
Mr. Schlinkert was married in November, 1903, the young woman of his choice being Grace V. Kenyon, of St. Clair. Mrs. Schlinkert was born in China, St. Clair county, her parents being Seneca and Elizabeth (Recor) Kenyon. The Kenyons were among the earliest families to lo- cate upon the St. Clair river. Their union has been blessed by the birth of two sons: John K., born April 16, 1905; and Bruce Frederick, born March 19, 1907.
Mr. Schlinkert has been and is active in public affairs and any re- sponsibility with which he is entrusted is sure to be taken creditably and well. He was for many years a member of the board of public works and he has for two years been treasurer of St. Clair. In 1912 he was elected mayor of St. Clair, which office he holds at this writing. He is a member of the Knights of Columbus and of the Benevolent and Pro- tective Order of Elks, Port Huron Lodge No. 343. He is also president of the Commercial Association of St. Clair and vice president of the St. Clair Hospital.
GEORGE A. LAWES, one of the progressive and enterprising business men of Port Huron, and the proprietor of a successful meat market at No. 2408 Connor street, South Park, is an example of the success that comes to those who have the true perseverance and determination to over- come all obstacles, and in spite of the lack of early advantages, either of an educational or financial nature, to win their way to the front no matter how many failures and discouragements they have to face. Mr. Lawes, whose residence is at No. 2620 Little street, is a native of Can- ada, and was born at Chatham, Ontario, July 10, 1869, a son of George A. and Lovina (Chinn) Lawes.
George A. Lawes. Sr., was the proprietor of the Rankin Hotel in Chatham at the time of his son's birth, and two years later Mrs. Lawes died, and her husband was again married. In 1881 he went to the Cana-
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dian Northwest, and he is now a well-known resident of Holland, Man- itoba, where he carries on a successful real estate business. George A. Lawes, Jr., did not accompany his father and stepmother to the North- west, but went to live with an uncle, his father's sister's husband, at whose home he resided until he was sixteen years of age. He had been given but few chances to acquire an education, the greater part of his tuition in boyhood being gained in the school of hard work, and when he came to Port Huron he found there were few positions open to him. Eventually he became a sailor on the Great Lakes, and at the age of eighteen years had worked his way to the rank of mate, under Captain Curtiss, of Bay City. He continued to follow the Lakes until he reached his twenty-first year, when, seeing that his lack of education barred him from becoming a captain, he cast about for some other occupation in which his future would be assured.
On August 15, 1891, Mr. Lawes was married to Miss Martha Kem- nitz, at Monroe, Michigan, she being a native of Monroe county, and a daughter of William and Mary (Gruffman) Kemnitz. Shortly after marriage with a capital of $150, Mr. Lawes started a store at Hubbards Corners and was so successful that he decided to widen his field of op- erations and moved to Rattle Run, and eventually, two years later, to Smith Creek, by which time he was carrying a stock of $4,500 in gen- eral merchandise. Here a great discouragement met him, for fire de- stroyed more than one-half of his stock, and when he came to Port Hu- ron he had only about $2,000 with which he set himself up in business in South Park, at the corner of Twenty-fourth and Mock streets, and he proceeded to try and remake his lost finances. He still owns the store building there, as well as his residence. Hard-working and persevering, honest and fair in all of his dealings, giving good value for the least money, Mr. Lawes soon won the confidence and patronage of a large, paying trade, and so rapidly did his business grow that in 1910 he was forced to seek larger quarters, and came to his present location 2408 Con- nor street, where he erected a cement block building, twenty by forty feet. The same success that has attended his efforts in other sections has continued with him here, and he is looked upon as one of Port Hu- ron's successful, self-made men.
On February 12, 1910, Mr. Lawes met with another misfortune, when he lost his estimable wife, who had shared with him all of the trials and hardships that beset a young married couple who are trying to get a foothold and established a home. Two sons survive her: George O. and Byron James. In political matters Mr. Lewis is a staunch Republican, but is not an office seeker nor politician. His brother-in-law, however, the Hon. August Neidermeier, who married a sister of Mrs. Lawes, has served as county treasurer and member of the state legislature, and now resides at Monroe.
WILLIAM H. FREEMAN. Prominent among the active and progressive agriculturists of Saint Clair county is William H. Freeman, whose hand- some property lies in Brockway township, being finely located in the midst of a rich and fertile country. A native of New York state, he was born January 27, 1851, in Chemung county, coming on the paternal side of honored New England ancestry.
Nathan S. Freeman, his father, was born in Massachusetts, in 1828,
N.F. Davidson
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and while yet a boy accompanied his parents to New York state, where his early life was spent. Coming with his family to Michigan in 1866, he located in Saginaw, where he followed his trade of an engineer for many years, being employed in the lumber mills. About twenty years prior to his death, which occurred at the age of three score and ten years, he bought a farm, and subsequently spent his remaining days in retirement. IIc married Clarinda Wilson, who was born in Genessee county, New York, in 1830, and is now living in Montrose, Genesee county, Michigan. Four children blessed their union, as follows: Wil- liam II., the special subject of this brief personal narrative; Asa, of Genesee county, Michigan; Ella, wife of David Somers of the same county : and Charles, who also lives in Genesee county, Michigan.
Acquiring his early education in the common schools of his native county, William H. Freeman came with the family to Michigan when fifteen years of age, and very soon after his arrival in Saginaw began working in the lumber camps in winters, where for a year he served as an engineer in a large mill. Becoming familiar with the business, he be- gan life on his account as a lumber dealer, buying and selling at jobbing rates. Purchasing land in Macomb county, Michigan, in 1887, Mr. Freeman was there engaged in tilling the soil for seventeen years. Sell- ing out in 1897, he purchased his present farm of one hundred and forty acres in Brockway township, the estate when he bought it having been badly rain down. He immediately began its improvement, and it is now one of the best and most valuable in the neighborhood, being furnished with an excellent set of farm buildings, and plenty of machinery of the most approved kinds to carry on his work successfully. Beginning life without means, his only capital having been an unlimited amount of energy, courage and ambition, Mr. Freeman has been exceedingly for- tunate in his operations, and with the able assistance, advice and counsel of his wife, to whom he gives a large share of credit for his snecess, he has gained a competency, while by his honesty and upright dealings he has won a host of friends.
In politics Mr. Freeman is a steadfast Republican. He was for twelve years school treasurer. and at the present writing, in 1911, is serving as highway commissioner. Faternally he is a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Order of Masons and of the Knights of the Maccabees.
On June 22, 1875, Mr. Freeman was united in marriage with Jennie Cade, who was born in Ontario, Canada, and of their union eight chil- dren have been born, namely: Wellington, residing in Bellingham, Washington : Elizabeth, wife of Jesse Tice, of Lynn township: Carrie, deceased ; Nina, wife of Thomas Hillock, of Lynn township; and Hiram, Bert ("., Earl and Dayton R., living with their parents.
WILBUR F. DAVIDSON, whose portrait appears on the opposite page, was born in Adrian, Michigan, in 1852. Ilis father, the late Rev. James F. Davidson, was a Methodist Episcopal minister and a member of the Detroit Conference, and his health and ambition were such as to enable him to answer the roll call at the conference for fifty-five years in snc- cession, of which record he was very proud. He married Catherine Dorr Wittenmyer who was born in Germantown, Pennsylvania, and was of German descent, and who died in Michigan May 22, 1906. Mr. David-
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son's father was born in Scotland in September, 1810, coming to the United States as a young man, locating in Michigan in 1830, where he spent the remainder of his life. During his ministerial activity he was prominent in this state and occupied pulpits of some of the larger cities.
After his graduation from the high school in Howell, Michigan, in 1870, Wilbur F. Davidson was employed as clerk for three years, and was afterwards similarly engaged at Flint, Michigan, and at the age of twenty- two years he formed a co-partnership with one of his former employers and conducted a general store in Howell for a number of years under the partnership of Jewett & Davidson. This firm made a specialty of pur- chasing stocks of merchandise in other cities of the state, Mr. Davidson managing the various stores until they were sold again, and in 1882 he purchased a large dry goods store in Port Huron and conducted it suc- cessfully until 1885. In the fall of 1883 he installed a small electric lighting plant in his store to light the same, this being the first electric lihting plant established in Port Huron, or St. Clair county, and one of the first in the state. Afterwards with his associates he organized the Port Huron Light & Power Company, which grew to be one of the best equipped and modern electric light and power plants in the country, furnishing lighting to the city and current to the various manufacturing establishments in Port Huron and vicinity.
After selling out his dry goods business in 1885 Mr. Davidson en- gaged in the general contracting and building of electric lighting and power plants and electric railroads, having made a very favorable ar- rangement with the Thomson-Houston Company, at that time the largest manufacturers of electric apparatus. He was actively engaged in this work continuously until 1894, when he met with a very serious accident which incapacitated him from active business for nearly two years. He instituted several suits for damages, finally winning his case, receiving judgment for $50,000.00. Since that time he has devoted his attention largely to the installing of power plants, and is at this time interested in plants in Vermont and Michigan. Mr. Davidson was a director of the Commercial Bank for a number of years and was also the first president of the German-American Savings Bank at Port Huron, of which he was one of the organizers. He is also president of the Aikman Bakery Com- pany, being one of the organizers of that concern also. He is a member of the American Bankers Association, and the Michigan Bankers Asso- ciation. As a member of the firm of MeMorran & Davidson he owns considerable real estate in Port Huron. Mr. Davidson possesses rare judgment, discrimination and ability, is public-spirited and progressive, and holds a position of prominence and influence among the foremost citizens of Port Huron and the State. Successful in his undertakings Mr. Davidson has acquired much wealth through honest and legitimate business dealings, and is ever ready to give aid and support to all proj- ects calculated to benefit the city, county or state, his liberality and gen- erosity being proverbial.
A staunch adherent of the Democratic party, Mr. Davidson has never been an aspirant for political honors, although he polled a handsome vote as candidate for state treasurer on the Democratic ticket of 1904, and was subsequently nominated for governor by the Saint Clair county delegation. Fraternally he is a member of the Independent Order of
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Foresters; of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and of the Knights of the Modern Maccabees.
Mr. Davidson married, June 1, 1876, Margaretta P. Turner, who was born in Flint, Michigan, a daughter of Edward and Cornelia (Seymour) Turner, natives of New York state. Mr. Turner passed to higher life in 1902, but Mrs. Turner is still living. Mr. and Mrs. Davidson have five children, namely : James Edward. Charles S., Cornelia Turner, Wilbur S .. and Arthur B. James Edward, born in Flint, Michigan, in 1879. was graduated from the Detroit University, and is now general manager of the Pacific Power and Light Company at Portland, Oregon. He married Edith Stokes of Philadelphia, and they have three children, Dorothy B., J. E. Jr., and John S. Charles S. the second son, born at lIowell, Michigan, in 1881, was graduated from the Detroit University and is now general sales agent for the Holophane Company, having head- quarters in Newark, Ohio. Cornelia Turner, whose birth occurred in 1891, in the beautiful home which Mr. Davidson erected at 1707 Military street, Port Huron, and which the family now occupy, was graduated from the Leggett Home and Day School in Detroit, and is now living with her parents. Wilbur S., born in the present home, is a graduate of the Detroit University. Arthur B., the youngest child, is attending the Port Iluron public schools. Mr. and Mrs. Davidson are active and valued members of Grace Episcopal church, in which he is serving as vestryman, a position of trust of which he is especially proud.
JACOB JACOBI. Like thousands of other worthy men whose lot in their native country was simply to drudge and be always poor, Jacob Jacobi saw in the Western World a rainbow of promise, and, coming to this country as a poor and but indifferently educated lad. through the force of his own energy and enterprise worked his way to a position of promi- nence among the substantial business men of his adopted city, and is now the proprietor of one of the largest clothing stores in Port Huron, located at No. 914 Military street. His success has been the reward of many years of faithful endeavor, and not only has he gained prominence in the business workl, but he is also one of the best known fraternal society men in this city. Mr. Jacobi was born August 27, 1847. in the village of Aufhansen, by Bopfingen, county of Neresheim, Wurtemberg. Germany, and is a son of David and Nanette ( Baer) Jacobi, neither of whom ever left their native country.
After attending the public schools of Germany until he was fourteen years of age, Mr. Jacobi began to learn the trade with his father, a man- ufacturer of hats, caps, gloves and buckskin trousers, and continued with him until he was nineteen years old. At that time he decided to try his fortunes in the United States, and eventually landed at New York in August, 1866. From that time until the following April he was em- ployed in a Brooklyn cap factory, and he then eame to Michigan, and on April 10, 1867, started to work for his uncle, Joseph Jacobi, who was the proprietor of a clothing store. On October 1, 1870, he and his uncle started the present store with a stock valued at $4,000, and four years later Mr. Jacobi purchased his uncle's interest and has since conducted the business alone.
On September 5. 1875, Mr. Jacobi, was married in Brooklyn, New York, to Miss Fannie Hess, with whom he had been acquainted in child- Vol II-7
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hood in the old country, and they have two children, Hattie H., who re- sides at home, and Edwin B., who is assisting his father in the clothing business. Mr. Jacobi is an excellent business man, and he attributes much of his success to the fact that he has given every detail of it his personal attention and never misrepresented goods. The $4,000 stock has increased to a full line worth $15,000 and the fixtures and appur- tenances of his establishment have improved accordingly. After paying rent for a period covering thirty-eight years, Mr. Jacobi in 1909 pur- chased the store building. His comfortable residence, situated at 1415 Military street, he erected in 1883. He is an independent Democrat in politics, but has found his time too much taken up with his business to allow him to engage actively in public life.
It is probably as a member of fraternal associations that Mr. Jacobi is best known, outside of his business, to the citizens of Port Huron. In 1868 he became a member of the German Aid Society, a beneficial order, and from 1870 until 1882 served as its recording secretary, from 1882 until 1886 as its president, and since 1887 as treasurer-a period of forty years as an office holder. When he was forty-eight years old he joined the Loyal Guard, of which he has been paymaster for eight or ten years, has been treasurer of the Royal Arcanum for five or six years, and for about sixteen years has been a member of the I. O. O. F. He is a member of the K. O. T. M., and also holds membership in the Blue Lodge and Chapter of the Masonic fraternity, being a trustee of the Temple Association. In every relation of life Mr. Jacobi is a man who deserves the fullest confidence and regard of his fellow-citizens, and his influence has always been given to those movements which have proven to be beneficial to his community.
PETER E. NEATON. The question has often arisen and at times has become one of discussion in the public prints whether a collegiate train- ing is beneficial or otherwise to the young men of America who must succeed the older generation, in changed conditions, in business, social and civic life. Each side has its adherents among the thinkers and in- vestigators who devote time and attention to subjects calculated to bring about the betterment of society. In many cases the question answers it- self. An interesting illustration of the success which may attend a trained and educated man in various lines into which choice or circum- stances may lead him can be found in one of the best known citizens of Emmet, Michigan, Peter E. Neaton, postmaster and member of the city council, and for many years an efficient instructor in educational insti- tutions. Mr. Neaton was born in Wales township, St. Clair county, Michigan, August 26, 1876, and is a son of Peter and Mary (Kelley) Neaton. The parents were born in Ontario, Dominion of Canada, and still reside in Wales township. St. Clair county, to which they came soon after marriage. They have four children, namely : Peter E., James A., Francis W. and Stephen A.
Peter E. Neaton was studious as a boy and took advantage of the ed- ucational opportunities afforded him in the public schools of Wales township, and after being creditably graduated from the eighth grade entered Detroit University, where he was graduated in 1898, with his degree of B. A. For two years afterward he taught school in St. Clair county and then returned to the university and remained until he had
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secured his degree of A. M. He then accepted a position as instructor in the English and commercial departments at St. Xavier College, of Cincinnati, Ohio. where he continued for three years. Upon returning to Emmet he was tendered and accepted the position of cashier of the Emmet Bank, and satisfactorily performed his duties in this financial institution for two years. For some years Mr. Neaton has conducted a boot and shoe business in this place, and as a business man commands the respect of competitors and the public.
On July 26, 1904. Mr. Neaton was married to Miss Anna Donahue, who is a daughter of David and Jane Donahue, and they are the par- ents of four sturdy sons: Philip, who has completed his sixth year; Francis, who is five years old; Joseph, who has reached his third year; and David, who has but one year to his age credit. Mr. and Mrs. Neaton are members of the Roman Catholic church. In his views on public questions Mr. Neaton is in close sympathy with the Republican party but has never been very active as a politician. In 1908, however, he was appointed postmaster at Emmet and has proved an efficient and satis- factory public official. Fraternally he is identified with the Knights of Columbus, the M. W. of A. and the A. O. H.
W. E. DEAMUD. Those who have been compelled to make their own way in the world and who have attained success through their own in- dustry and perseverance form a large per cent of the representative cit- izens of American eities and towns, and they are invariably found to be men of resource, energy and publie spirit. Competition is so fierce dur- ing these modern days of commercialism that to win success in any busi- ness calls forth the best efforts that a man possesses, and the greater a man's ability, so will his measure of success be great in proportion. One of Port Huron's successful self-made men is W. E. Deamud, a dealer in groceries, meats and dry goods, at the corner of Moak and Twenty-fourth streets, whose whole business career has been one of hard, persistent labor. Mr. Deamud was born on a farm near Dunville, Ontario, Canada, Mareh 30, 1863, and is a son of Ephraim and Caroline (Ellsworth) Deamud.
W. E. Deamud was two and one-half years old when he was brought to the I'nited States by his parents. the family settling in Saginaw, Mich- igan, where he received a common school education. Completing his studies at the age of thirteen years, he began to make his own way in the world, and his first employment was with a lumberman, whose horses he cared for. Ile next became a parcel boy in the dry goods store of J. W. Howry, his wages being at first $1.50 per week, out of which he had to pay his own board, and he continned with this gentleman for six years, when he was receiving $12.00 per week. At this time Mr. Deamud went to Owosso, where. with an unele, he was engaged in conducting a skating rink, but after one winter there went to Chicago, and continued there for six years, working in dry goods stores, and earning excellent wages in addition to gaining valuable experience. While living in the "Windy City," June 1. 1887, Mr. Deamnd was married to Miss Anna Caroline Bennett, who was born in Ontario, Canada, a daughter of James and Anna (Misner) Bennett. Mrs. Deanud's mother had died when she was still a child, and her father, a country merchant, passed away when she was fifteen years old, at which time she went to live with a sister in ITam- ilton. Canada. and in that city learned the photographie business, fol-
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lowing that later for nine months as the manager of a photographic gal- lery in Buffalo, New York. From Buffalo she went to Chicago, where she accepted a position as a clerk in a department store, and while in that city met Mr. Deamud. They have one son, Harold Leroy, who was born in North Grove, June 25, 1902.
From Chicago Mr. and Mrs. Deamud moved to Saginaw, where for about twelve years he was engaged in clerking for William Barry in his dry goods store, and he then decided to enter the mercantile field on his own account, subsequently opening an establishment at North Grovc. In June, 1909, he came to Port Huron, where he has since carried on a successful business. Mr. Deamud carries a full line of staple and fancy groceries, fresh and salted meats and fish and well-selected dry goods and notions, and since he has been here has built up a large and paying trade. He is an excellent business man, and his years of experience in other cities has taught him just what his trade needs, and how to buy his stock so as to be able to dispose of it at a reasonable profit and still give his enstomers the best goods for the money. In his political belief he is a Republican, and cast his first presidential vote for James G. Blaine. He takes an interest in matters that pertain to the welfare of his city, but has never been an office seeker on his own account. His fraternal connections are with the K. O. T. M.
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