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 17
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CHARLES L. BOYNTON. A man of sterling integrity and worth, Charles L. Boynton holds a substantial position among the active and enterprising business men of Port Huron, as president and general manager of the O. K. Laundry Company, being connected with one of the well-known industries of the city. He was born March 30, 1860, in Cincinnati, Ohio, a son of the late Major Nathan S. Boynton, and is of distinguished ancestry, being a lineal descendant of Sir Matthew Boyn- ton, who was the first to introduce sheep and goats into America, and for so doing was knighted by the British Crown in the seventeenth cen- tury.
Mr. Boynton's grandfather, Granville F. Boynton, a native of New York state, was an early pioneer of the territory of Michigan, having located at Port Huron about 1827, and being here a resident until his death, in 1846. His wife, whose maiden name was Frances Rendt, was a daughter of Captain Lewis Rendt, who was born in Bremen, Germany, served several years in the German army, was in the British army during the War of 1812, and was later one of the pioneers of Saint Clair county, Michigan.
A native of Saint Clair county, Nathan S. Boynton was born June 23, 1837, in Port Huron, and his elementary education, which he ac- quired in the rural schools of Port Huron and Marine City, was sup- plemented by one term of attendance at the high school of Waukegan, Illinois, which he entered in the fall of 1852. Beginning his active career as clerk in a Port Huron grocery, he subsequently learned to make whips by hand. Investing what little money he made by working at his trade in timber lands, he lost all of his accumulations in the panic of 1857. Going south then in search of business opportunities, he lo- cated in New Orleans, but did not remain in that city very long, his freely spoken convictions on the anti-slavery question cansing him to journey northward. Stopping at O'Fallon, Illinois, he assisted a farm- er in clearing land, taught singing school, and worked at the carpenter's
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trade. In July, 1858, with the money which he accumulated, two hun- dred dollars in all, he went to Cincinnati, where for a time he sold elec- trical apparatus for curative purposes and began the study of medicine. and there took unto himself a wife. Returning to his native state in 1862. he enlisted in Company (, Eighth Michigan Cavalry, as a private, but was soon promoted, first to lientenant of Company L. and later was commissioned captain of the company. Subsequently, for meritorions conduet in the capture of the noted rebel. General John Morgan, in Ohio, and for his gallant service in the east Tennessee and Georgia cam- paigns, he was made major of his regiment.
Mustered out of service at the close of the war, Major Boynton lived for awhile at Marine City, Michigan, where he served as deputy assessor of internal revenue, and as postmaster. He was village elerk in 1866, village president in 1867, and in 1868 represented his district in the state legislature. Returning to Port Huron in 1869, the major was en- gaged in the newspaper business two years, later being engaged in the real estate and insurance business. An earnest admirer of Horaee Greeley, he joined the Republican party in 1872, and was for many years active in public affairs. In 1874 he was elected mayor of Port Huron. re-elected in 1875, and in 1894 was again a eandidate for the mayoralty. and polled the largest vote ever given the mayor of the city. In 1896 he was again honored by his fellow-citizens with an election to the same high position. For six years he was a member of the Port Huron board of education, and its president four years.
A man of great executive ability and of remarkable skill as an organ- izer. the fraternal world had never a more enthusiastic and intelligent worker than Major Boynton, who was prominently identified with many organizations, ineluding the following: The Ancient Free and Aeeepted Order of Masons; the Knights of Pythias; the Ancient Order of United Workmen; the Independent Order of Foresters; the Aneient Order of Foresters: the Modern Woodmen of America; the Woodmen of the World : the National Fraternal Congress; the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks; the Khorassan; the Fellowcraft Club; the Michigan Grand Army of the Republie; the Military Order of the Loyal Legion, and various other social organizations. The major. however, was specially interested in the Knights of the Maccabees, of which he be- came a member in 1878, when he joined, as a charter member, Diamond tent at Port Huron, an organization that was at that time under the jurisdiction of the Canadian order of that name. A delegate to the general review of that order held at Buffalo. New York, in the spring of 1879, his sympathies were entirely with that division of the order that then and there adopted a new constitution, the other faction with- drawing, and was there elected supreme lieutenant commander of the first supreme tent of the order. The supreme commander resigning soon afterward, the major was induced to become his sneeessor in office, and in that capacity devoted his energies to reeoneiling the two oppos- ing factions, which he satisfactorily accomplished at the review held in Port Huron in January, 1881.
After the retirement of Major Boynton as supreme commander of the Knights of the Maceabees the management was crude and lax, and the order was very near the point of dissolution when he was again urged to come to its resene, and he was made great reeord keeper of the Great Camp of Michigan. In 1883. when the supreme tent was in- stituted, prominent men from other states urged Major Boynton, bv correspondenee. to find some means of extending the order to points
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outside of Michigan, and when this was done the major was made su- preme record keeper, and retained both offices until 1894, when he withdrew as great record keeper and was elected great commander. In 1892 he was elected vice president of the National Fraternal Congress, and in 1893 was made its president.
At the Great Camp of the Maccabees for Michigan in 1900, Major Boynton was again elected great commander of the Great Camp, receiv- ing nearly three times as many votes as his opponent for the position. In 1897 he was elected supreme adviser, an office that was subsequently abolished. In 1902, at the biennial review held in Marquette, the major's policy of expanding the Great Camp won the day against much opposition, and from that time until the Great Camp review in Toledo in 1908 he was actively and prominently identified with the cause of Modern Maccabeeism. At that review this venerable and honored "Father of the Maccabees," as he was often termed, was forced on account of failing health to retire from office, and was succeeded by Mr. G. S. Lovelace, of Muskegon. On May 27, 1911, Major Boynton passed to the life beyond, his death being mourned as a personal loss not only to his family, but to the entire community and to the various frater- nities to which he belonged.
In Cincinnati, Ohio, which was his home from 1859 until 1862. Major Boynton married Annie Fidelei, who still occupies the beautiful home which the major erected at 1005 Huron avenue, it being one of the finest and most attractive residences in the city. She is the mother of five children, as follows: Charles Lincoln, the special subject of this sketch ; Mrs. A. E. Parker; George H .; Mrs. J. D. Patterson, and Mrs. H. H. Wright.
Charles L. Boynton was educated in the public schools at Port Huron and at the Detroit Business College, from which he was grad- nated when young. Ile was afterwards a clerk in drug stores in both Port Huron and Detroit, and chief clerk of the Knights of the Macca- bees. Still later, Mr. Boynton was engaged in the vessel and coal busi- ness, and then in the laundry and jewelry business. In all of these lines of industry he has made good, and is now president and manager of the O. K. Laundry Company, which is located at 727-729 Lapeer street, and of the R. S. & J. D. Patterson Jewelry Company, located on Military avenue, and is financially interested in real estate, in which he has extensive dealings.
During the Spanish-American war Mr. Boynton took an active part, while prior to that time he had for twenty years belonged to the Mich- igan National Guards. He served as colonel of the Thirty-third Michi- gan Volunteer Infantry in Cuba during the Spanish-American war, a position for which he was eminently fitted through his previous military service. Fraternally he is a member of the Free and Accepted Order of Masons: of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and of the Knights of the Maccabees.
On January 8, 1907. Mr. Boynton married Gertrude Vinton, who was born in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, where her father. Edward L. Vinton, is still living. Mr. and Mrs. Boynton reside at 1432 Seventh street, where they ever gladly welcome their many friends and ac- quaintances They are members of Grace Episcopal church.
BROCK E. BRUSH, M. D. Emerson has said that " All are needed by each one." And that is as true in one avenue of life's activities as in
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another. However. the importance of a business or profession is in a very large measure determined by its beneficence or usefulness. So depend- ent is man upon his fellow men that the worth of each individual is largely reckoned by what he has done for humanity. There is no class to whom greater gratitude is due from the world at large than to those self-sacrificing. sympathetic, noble-minded men whose life work has been the alleviation of suffering that rests upon humanity, thus lengthening the span of human existence. There is no known standard by which their benefieent influence can be measured; their helpfulness is as broad as the universe and their power goes hand in hand with the wonderful laws of nature that come from the very source of life itself. One of the most prominent and successful physicians and surgeons not alone of Port Huron but of all this section of the commonwealth is Dr. Brock Brush, whose gifts and abilities are of the highest order and who as a constant student of his profession has kept abreast of the leaders in the onward march of scientific progress. Ile specializes in surgery.
Dr. Brush was born in Amherstberg. Canada, July 14, 1865, the son of Wheeler and Margaret ( Anderson ) Brush, the father a native of Mal- den, Essex county, Canada. and the mother of Falkirk, Scotland, the date of her birth having been March 5, 1831. To these worthy people were born eight children, equally divided as to sons and daughters, and all of whom survive. The mother survives her husband and makes her home in the Dominion.
The Doctor was educated in the excellent Canadian schools of his lo- cality and in early youth, having come to a eonelusion as to his career. he entered the Detroit College of Medicine, where he seeured his pro- fessional training. By no means of the type which is content to "let well enough alone," he has since taken several post-graduate courses in New York and London, England. He first hung out his professional shingle at ('rosswell. Michigan, and there remained for eleven years. In 1907 he took the step which gave him to Port Huron and in the in- tervening time since his arrival has built up a large practice and enjoys the respect and admiration of the whole community, his usefulness as an nnusually gifted and enlightened practitioner being great. He does much work in the line of general surgery. His offices are located at 506. 507 and 508 Meisel Building on Military street.
Dr. Brush was married January 1. 1901. to Miss JJosephine MeDowell. born in Ontario, Canada. in March, 1867. Her father is a Canadian and her mother of English birth. The charming home of Dr. Brush and his wife is located on Prospect street and is the center of a gracious hos- pitality.
The Doctor is a Republican in polities, but is by no means an office seeker. Ilis fraternal relations are with the Masons and Odd Fellows. fle is a man of pleasing personality, but is decided in thought and action. His great native ability, coupled with careful study and good judgment, have made him a power in his profession.
FRANCIS ELINIU SPENCER. When on March 2, 1889, Francis Elihu Spencer was called to the Great Beyond, St. Clair county lost one of her most distinguished citizens, a man who had always had her interest and welfare as one of the nearest eoneerns of his heart. Progressive and broadminded in his outlook, he lent his foresight and activity to the
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building up of the town. A man of signal ability, his high aims led him through a life of notable accomplishment and success in whatever he chose to undertake.
Franeis Elihu Spencer was born in the state of Massachusetts, Oc- tober 27, 1829, coming to the state of Michigan as a young man after having become skilled in his trade in Canada. Upon his advent in this state he engaged, together with James Cogley, in the manufacture of carriages, sleighs and wagons, and continued in that business for many years, until he went to the business of manufacturing sewing machines at Memphis, Michigan, the name of his product being the "Webster." After a number of years in that line Mr. Spencer bought a large tract of tamarac swamp and set out to elear land. He succeeded so well, and installed so many improvements, that at the time of his death, March 2, 1889, he was the owner of a farm of one hundred and thirty- eight of good farming land, and also another piece of sixty acres, be- sides a sixty-acre tract which he had given to a daughter. Mr. Spencer also had the honor to have built and sold a great many of the residences and store buildings in the village of Memphis.
As a church member he was ever ready to assist with time and money whatever good work was being put forward, and both he and his family attended the Catholic church.
On September 4, 1864, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Spencer to Miss Ellen Burney, who was born in West Bromadge, Staffordshire, England, on June 13, 1842. She is the daughter of Dennis and Ann (Cavenangh) Burney, both natives of Ireland. Her father had been a house carpenter in his native country, and had gone to England at the time of his marriage to follow his trade there. He and his wife came to America in 1852, and bought land in the wilderness of Colum- bus township, St. Clair county, Michigan. This the father cleared and improved, later adding to it until he had a fine farm of two hundred and twenty acres. He continued to work the farm until his death, in 1898, one year after the death of his wife. Mrs. Spencer was the second born of the five children of Mr. and Mrs. Burney; John, her eldest brother, is now a farmer in Columbus township; Mary Jane is deceased ; Margaret, unmarried, makes her home on the old Burney homestead, and Thomas is deceased.
The union of Mr. and Mrs. Spencer was blessed by the birth of four children. Candace Ann, who was born on the 22nd of March, 1866, is now the wife of Nelson Hartson, a prominent farmer of Wales town- ship. She and her husband are the parents of nine children. John Francis, born June 20, 1871, is the chief engineer on the steamer Ream, now plying on the Great Lakes. Thomas Edward, born June 5, 1874, is an engineer on the Grand Trunk Railroad, and has his residenee at Battle Creek, Michigan. Charles James, born October 8. 1881, is en- gaged in the real estate business at Seattle, Washington.
OSCAR TAYLOR. The commercial instinct and artistic talent which are necessary to find combined if one would see a successful photog- rapher are exemplified in marked degree in Mr. Osear Taylor, the pop- ular owner and operator of Taylor's gallery, which he established in St. Clair in October, 1909. Mr. Taylor enjoys the unusual distinetion of
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being a member of a family each individual of which is engaged in the photographie business in some part of the United States. his father hay- ing been a photographer for over forty years, teaching the art to each of his four children, of whom three are sons and one a daughter.
Oscar Taylor was born at Woodbourne, New York, his parents being Albert and Jennie (Thompson) Taylor, both native New Yorkers. Os- car's first independent venture in the business of photography after leaving his father's studio was at Detroit, Michigan. He conducted the gallery at that point for a time and then removed to Akron, Ohio, where he opened a commercial gallery and did a considerable amount of work in this connection for the Webb Motor Fire Apparatus Company, whose headquarters were at Vincennes, Indiana. He at one time had a studio at Chatham, Canada, but finally located at St. Clair, and has ever since continued to conduct a successful photographie business at that point.
Mr. Oscar Taylor and Miss Philemon La Paint of Detroit, Michigan, were united in marriage on March 19. 1909. Mrs. Taylor is a native of Canada, having been born near Dresden in the province of Ontario. Her parents were Louie and Eliza (Martin) La Paint, the father being, as the name indicates, of French nativity, France being his birthplace. Following the custom in that country Mr. La Paint in early manhood learned a trade, his selection being that of shoemaker. His mother died when he was a lad of six years and after that time he made his home with his grandparents. Not finding things to his boyish liking, however, he ran away from that home when but ten years old and never returned, but later worked his way to Canada, where he engaged in an agricultural vocation. The La Paint family originally consisted of fifteen children, thirteen of whom are living at the present time.
In St. Clair social circles Mr. and Mrs. Taylor are held in high esteem for their many admirable qualities, and in all other departments of activity in which the leading people of the community are interested they are hearty supporters of every effort to advance the welfare of the community.
HENRY C. KAUMEIER, a dealer in coal and wood at No. 1602 Stone street, Port Huron, Michigan, has been a resident of this eity for more than thirty-five years, and during this time has been prominently iden- tified with the business and public interests here. Mr. Kaumeier is a native of Michigan, having been born in the village of Monroe. August 28, 1860, a son of John C. and Mary ( Reisig ) Kaumeier.
John C. Kaumeier was born in Bavaria, Germany, and there learned the trade of carpenter, an occupation which he followed throughout his active life. His wife, also a native of Bavaria, was about twelve years of age when brought to the United States by her parents, who came by the Erie canal and the Great Lakes to Monroe, Michigan, where she and Mr. Kaumeier were married. When Henry C. Kanmeier was six months old, his parents removed to Adrian, Michigan, and there he received his education, and when he was fifteen years old his father brought the family to Port Huron. During the next year Henry C. Kaumeier began working with his father's force of contractors, and when he was twenty he had charge of a gang of men when the Grand Trimk shops were built here. his father having general supervision of
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the work, though working on a salary. Mr. Kaumeier continued with his father until he was thirty-five years old, at which time he was ap- pointed superintendent of public works, a position which he filled satis- factorily for four years, and during his incumbency the first briek pav- ing was done on Water street, and the Tenth street bridge was built. On the expiration of his term of office Mr. Kaumeier began to take con- tracts for hriek paving, and continued to follow that occupation until 1909, at which time he established himself in the wood and coal busi- ness, which has occupied his attention to the present time. He is pos- sessed of much business ability, and he has always been a hard and tireless worker. As a result of his industry and uprightness of living he is now the proprietor of a successful business enterprise, and he can look back over a business career that has been honorable in every re- spect. Although he was reared a Republican he is now an advocate of the principles of the Socialist party, and has allowed his name to be used in connection with the offices of county treasurer and sheriff. In 1910 he was the candidate of his party for the office of mayor, but owing to political conditions at this time met with defeat.
Mr. Kaumeier was married May 26, 1886, in the same block in which he was born in Monroe, Michigan, to Miss Lizzie Mohr, who was born and reared in that village, daughter of Conrad Mohr, one of Mon- roe's well-known citizens. One child, Arthur H., was born in Port Huron, June 10, 1888. He received a good common school education, and as a young man learned the printer's trade, and is at present living in Vincennes, Indiana. He was married in Port Huron, Michigan, to Miss Clara Burr, a Canadian by birth, and they have had one dangh- ter. Yolanda.
HERBERT C. SIEGEL. In noting the salient points in the career of this well-known and honored citizen of Capac, many interesting phases are found, since he figures not only as one of the successful business men of this place, but as one of the self-made men of his adopted city, where he deals in real estate and handles automobiles, pianos and sewing ma- chines. His life has been one of signal usefulness and honor, and it is but germane to the character of this work that he be accorded specific recognition among others who have contributed so much to the progress and material prosperity of the section. Mr. Siegel was born on a ves- sel crossing the Atlantic ocean from Germany to the United States, May 10, 1857, and is a son of Carl and Wilhelmina (Kohn) Miller.
Carl Miller brought his wife and child to Baltimore, Michigan, and there his death occurred six months later. Subsequently his widow was married to Carl Siegel, and Herbert C. adopted his step-father's name. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Siegel moved to Sterling township, Macomb county, settling in the woods three and one-half miles from any clearing. After clearing a small patch of woods and building a little shanty, they continued to reside therein for six or seven years, cultivating their land as best they might with crude tools. Being in exceedingly humble circumstances, they had neither horses nor cattle when they first located in that region, and consequently were compelled to carry all their goods from point to point, but that was only a part of the hardships and privations borne by the pioneer settlers of that region. When he was only six years of age young Siegel held
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one end of a cross-cut saw while his father sawed stave bolts, and from that time on his youth was filled with the hardest kind of work. Later Mr. Siegel's step-father sold his land and removed to Ray township, Macomb county, and when he was eight years old Herbert C. began attending school. Ile also went to the district schools while living in Macomb, to which place his step-father had moved, but when he was seventeen years of age the work of the farm fell upon his shoulders, his step-father having lost his health. When he was nineteen years of age the family moved to Capae, but Herbert continued to work on a farm in summer and attend school in winter until he reached the age of twenty- one years. At this time the farm on which he had been working went into other hands and Mr. Siegel was thrown upon the world with a capital of a few tools and five dollars. In August, 1878, he established himself in a small business in Capac, and each year has found him add- ing to his interests until he is now one of the most substantial business men in the city. Ile is possessed of a comprehensive knowledge of realty values, deals extensively in real estate and loans, and handles a large line of automobiles, pianos, sewing machines and like articles IIe is a stockholder in the Capac Savings Bank, and has served as vice-presi- dent and president of that institution. In political matters a stanch Republican, he has been honored with various township offices, in all of which he has served with signal ability. Fraternally he is con- nected with Forest Lodge, No. 126, A. F. & A. M.
On July 21, 1881, Mr. Siegel was united in marriage with Miss Clara McNaught, who was born at Capac, St. Clair county, Michigan, August 28, 1861, daughter of Archibald J. and Maria (Alverson) MeNaught. One son has been born to this union, William C., born September 10, 1888, a graduate of Capac high school, class of 1906, and now a travel- ing salesman for a Detroit stock broker.
Archibald J. McNaught was born in the state of Pennsylvania in 1839, and was a son of Malcolm J. and Rachel (Eastman) MeNaught, natives respectively of Scotland and Canada. He was reared on a farm, received a common school education, and at the outbreak of the Civil war enlisted as a soldier in the Union army. Ile became one of the best known citizens of Capac, where he served as postmaster under Presidents MeKinley and Benjamin Harrison, and is now living a quiet retired life. Mr. MeNaught was married September 4, 1861, to Maria Alverson, the first white child born in this part of the county, daughter of Daniel Alverson. Daniel Alverson was born in 1797, in Rhode Island, became one of the pioneers of Capac, and here settled in the wilderness as a hunter and trapper. He became the owner of a fine farm and subsequently interested himself in the lumber business, hav- ing a mill on Mill creek and another one mile north of Capac. Later he went west as far as Denver, where he built the first log cabin on the present site of that Colorado metropolis, and made several trips over- land to the west, finally going to Oregon, where he developed another farm from the woods. His death occurred there October 5, 1881. To Archibald J. and Maria (Alverson) MeNaught there were born two children, Clara, who married Mr. Siegel, and Henry, who married Liz- zie Fritz and now resides in San Francisco, California.
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