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 22
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JOHN HOWE. Among the names of those intimately associated with the pioneer history of St. Clair county, Michigan, is that belonging to the Howe family, members of which located here at a day when the most primitive conditions prevailed and through their work developed excellent farming property out of raw prairie and timber. One of the earliest of these pioneers. the late John Howe, formerly an agriculturist of Riley township, was born in London, England, April 10, 1818, a son of James Howe.
John Howe was reared in the city of London, and was never outside of its limits until after he had attained .his twenty-first year. Ile re- ceived an excellent education, his parents intending that he should be a minister, and he was given a classical course. Mr. Howe was a good
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scholar, and could read Latin and Greek fluently, but his inclinations did not run towards the ministry, and he decided upon a commercial ca- reer. Entering a dry goods store in London as a clerk, he soon rose to the position of floor-walker, and when he had attained his majority he went to Highworth, England, and there purchased a stock of dry goods and en- gaged in business. About that time he was married, and he continued to carry on business in Highworth until after the birth of a daughter, at which time he started for the United States, believing that in the new country he could find a better opportunity for displaying his abilities. Leaving Liverpool on one of the four vessels then crossing the Atlantic, he landed in New York after a voyage of six weeks, and from that city made his way to Darien, Genesee county, where he purchased land and engaged in farming. Not being satisfied with his prospects there, how- ever, he soon struck out for the west, and eventually landed in St. Clair county, where he purchased land in Riley township. Not long after coming here his eyesight failed, and for a long period it was feared that he would be permanently disabled, but by a simple, homely remedy, the use of cold water, he cured himself and restored his sight to its normal condition. Not only was Mr. Howe one of the leading farmers of his township for many years, but he also was prominent in polities. A stanch adherent of Republican principles, he was a valued worker in the ranks of his party, was an orator of some reputation, and held various township offices. He was exceptionally active in educational work, his own early training making him peculiarly fitted for this kind of labor. Mr. Howe was reared in the faith of the Congregational church, and was a consistent member and liberal supporter of the church of that denomination at Memphis, Michigan.
Mr. Howe and his wife were the parents of six children: Eliza, born in England, married J. E. Rumsey, and made her home in St. Clair county, Michigan, until her death, in August, 1910, when she left cight children; Henrietta, who married James H. Gregg, is now a widow and resides in Macomb county; Charles Albion, who married Ophelia Woolman, is now deceased, and his widow lives in Capac ; Jennie is now Mrs. N. L. Lucia, of Port Huron; Lucius E., now residing in Memphis, Michigan, married Miss Marion Douel; and Regina married Emerson Russell, and is now living in Riley township.
CHARLES MAY. A well known individual who has long been identi- fied with the leading business interests of St. Clair is found in the person of Mr. Charles May, dealer in ice and a general cement work contractor. Mr. May belongs to the pioneer citizenry of this section of the state, having been born in Sterling township, Macomb county, Michigan, on August 29, 1858, the son of Herman and Catherine (Metzker) May. The father, Herman May, was a native of Saxony, Germany, and came to the United States when a young man, locating, upon his arrival in America, at Detroit, Michigan. Previous to immi- grating to this country the elder May had, according to the invariable custom of his native country, become master of a trade, his choice fall- ing upon that of harnessmaking and upholstering. Upon his arrival at Detroit he at once sought work at his trade and secured a position as an upholsterer. He worked for a period at that employment then decided that he would find it more to his liking and profit to engage in farming,
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and he accordingly bought a farm in Macomb county, upon which he lived for several years. His death occurred January 22, 1879. His wife survived him many years, her demise having been in the year 1905.
The boyhood days of Charles May were spent on the farm at tasks which usually fall to the lot of the industrious American farm boy. His education was attained at the country school of his home locality. At an early age the boy became a wage earner, securing his first remu- nerative position at the age of fifteen as a teamster for a lumberman. He was thus employed during the winter and when spring came he returned to the farm and again assisted with duties there.
His next employment was found in the shipyards, and for sixteen years he continued to work in that connection. Desiring to make a change after that time Mr. May went to Detroit and for a time worked there as a carpenter. Subsequently he removed to St. Clair and engaged in business in the lines he now follows as an ice merchant and contractor. His business ability and integrity have brought him a generous amount of success and he is numbered among the staunch citizens of St. Clair whose influence is invariably felt on the right side of all matters of public import. In matters political his principles are Republican and he served his fellow citizens in official capacity as city marshal for one term.
Mr. May was married on May 19, 1880, to Miss Phiba Ganlait, of St. Clair, who is a native of Canada. Her parents were Joseph and Matilda (Currier) Gaulait, Mr. Gaulait being a sailor. Four children blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. May. Clara is the wife of Arthur H. Buhl, a member of Buhl Sons Company, hardware dealers of Detroit. Tilla married Amiel Krausie, of Detroit, who is engaged as a belt fin- isher in the Detroit Belting Works. Hattie and Katie, both of whom are graduates of the St. Clair high school, make their home with their parents, assisting them in maintaining the high social standing of the family in St. Clair.
OTTO L. HILL. A native-born citizen of Port Huron, and the de- scendant of one of the honored pioneers of the place, Otto L. Hill occu- pies a noteworthy position among the substantial business men of the community, being intelligent and well informed, while as manager of the Peter Hill & Son Lumber Yard he has an extensive and lucrative trade. Coming from thrifty German stock, he was born in Port Huron, October 24, 1872, a son of the late Peter Hill.
Born, bred and educated in Germany. Peter Hill immigrated to America at the age of twenty-three years, and for four years was a resident of Buffalo, New York. Coming to Port Huron, Michigan, in 1856, he was in the employ of the Avery Lumber Company for five years. Having by that time mastered the details of the trade, he embarked in business on his own account, in due course of time becoming one of the leading lumber dealers of the city, as head of the firm of Peter Hill & Son carrying on business on a somewhat extensive scale. He hecame active in public, social and religions work. He was a director for twenty years of the National Exchange Bank, one of the solid finan- cial institutions of the city. A stanch Republican in politics, he held many public offices of trust, for twenty years after its organization being a member of the board of estimates and holding other positions of re- Vol. II-11
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sponsibility. An active member of the German Evangelical church, to which his wife and children also belonged, he was for many years one of its trustees. He spent the very last days of his long and useful life at the summer home of his daughter, passing away at the Sturmen Cottage, Keewahdin Beach, August 21, 1910, at the venerable age of eighty-one years. He married Ernestine Ernest, who was born in Ger- many, and was a sister of William Ernest, who served as major of a Michigan regiment during the Civil war, and was a prominent member of the Grand Army of the Republic, of Port Huron, where he died. She died in 1892, and both she and her husband are buried in the Lake- side Cemetery, at Port Huron. Mr. Peter Hill left at his death three children and two step-children, namely: Otto L. Hill, Mrs. Frank Miller, Mrs. Charles Sturmen, Mrs. Theresa Stein and George Stein.
Otto L. Hill acquired his early education at Port Huron, after leaving the public schools being graduated from a business college. Entering then the employ of his father, he obtained a thorough knowl- edge of the lumber trade, and in 1898 became associated with his father under the firm name of Peter Hill & Son, the name by which the business is still known, and in the building up of which he ably assisted his father. Although a particularly quiet, unassuming man, Mr. Hill has much business energy and ability, and is meeting with most satisfactory success in his operations.
Politically Mr. Hill is a steadfast supporter of the principles enun- ciated by the Republican party, and has rendered appreciative service to his fellow-citizens as alderman and as police commissioner. Fra- ternally he is a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Order of Masons ; of the Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine ; of the Modern Woodmen of America; of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks; and of the Knights of the Maccabees.
In June, 1898, Mr. Hill was united in marriage with Frances Karrer, who was born in Port Huron, a daughter of Benjamin J. and Louise (Saity) Karrer, who still reside at Port Huron, honored and esteemed citizens of the place. Mr. Karrer was born and reared in Switzerland, while Mrs. Karrer has spent her entire life in Port Huron. Mr. Karrer served as a soldier in the Civil war, and is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic. Mr. and Mrs. Hill are members of the German Evan- gelical church, of which he is a trustee. They live at 1017 Seventh street, occupying the house which Mr. Peter Hill erected several years ago. Mr. Hill owns the building in which his office is located, at 867 Water street, and is also the owner of other city property which he leases.
ALBERT DIXON. The office of biography is not to give voice to a man's modest estimate of himself and his accomplishments, but rather to leave upon the record the verdict establishing his character to the con- sensus of opinion on the part of his neighbors and fellow citizens. In tonching npon the life history of the subject of this sketch the writer aims to avoid fulsome encomium and extravagant praise; yet he desires to hold up for consideration those facts which have shown the distinc- tion of a true, useful and honorable life-a life characterized by perse- verance, energy, broad charity and well defined purpose. To do this
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will be but to reiterate the dictum pronounced upon the man by the peo- ple who have known him long and well.
Albert Dixon, dealer in real estate and formerly engaged in the wholesale grocery business in Port Huron, Michigan, is a Britisher by birth, his eyes having first opened to the light of day in the town of Kenning Ilall, county of Norfolk, England, on the day preceding Christ- mas, 1839. His parents were Zachariah and Deborah (Carter) Dixon. In 1848, before his years numbered a decade, young Albert came to America with his parents, who took up their first residence in the land of the stars and stripes at Bristol, Kendall county, Illinois, where the father engaged in the tin and copper smith business, which he had learned and followed in England. The subject had received the rudi- ments of a common school education in his native country. At the age of thirteen the responsibilities of life began to fall upon his young shoulders and he left for Port Huron, where he accepted a clerkship with a retail grocer, F. Saunders, who was also an Englishman and had heen a friend of the subject's parents in "the right little, tight little is- land. He clerked for this gentleman many years, and proving faithful and efficient in small things was given more and more to do and subse- quently became a partner. The business was eventually changed to a wholesale business and Mr. Dixon remained in partnership with his for- mer employer until Mr. Saunders' demise, which occurred in 1900. Pre- vious to that Mr. Dixon's son Fred, who had clerked for them, became a partner in the business. In 1901 the Messrs. Dixon sold out to the Na- tional Grocery Company and entered the real estate business, in which they have met with success of no inconsiderable proportions and have contributed to the success and advancement of the city. In 1904 Mr. Dixon platted and put upon the market seven acres known as the Dixon plat. In 1867, in April, the popularity and confidence enjoyed by Mr. Dixon was evineed in his election to the city clerkship, in which office he gave praiseworthy service for a period of two years.
On April 3, 1861, Mr. Dixon laid one of the most important stones in the foundation of his success by his marriage to Miss Sarah A. Wilson, who was born in the north of Ireland and came to this country with her parents when a child. She is the daughter of John and Nancy (Mac- Naull) Wilson. The union of the subject and his wife has been blessed by the birth of the following three children: Frederic J., Eva N., who became the wife of J. C. Sloan, of Port Huron, and who has a son, James D. Sloan ; and Harvey A., who lives in Port Huron and has three chil- dren, Marjorie, Eleanor and Albert.
Politically, Mr. Dixon gives heart and hand to the policies and prin- ciples for which the Democratic party stands sponsor. He is a member of the Masonic order, affiliating with Pine Grove Lodge. in which he has filled all the chairs. and is now serving as worshipful master and being entitled to a seat in the Grand Lodge. Ile is also entitled to wear the white-plumed helmet of the Knight Templar; has been eminent com- mander, and is interested in all branches of Masonry, exemplifying in his own life its ideals of moral and social justice and brotherly love. While engaged in the wholesale grocery business he became a stock- holder in the Commercial Bank and he is now a director in the same. He is interested in all public-spirited measures and enjoys the general regard of the city. Ile, with W. L. Jenks and his son, F. J. Dixon, es-
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tablished the Port Huron City Electric Railway and built the Detroit branch to Marine City.
FREDERIC J. DIXON. Among the sterling and eminently useful cit- izens of Port Huron is Frederic J. Dixon, son of the foregoing, who is engaged with his father in the real estate business and who is superin- tendent of the department of accounts and finance of Port Huron. He is a native son of the city, his birth having accurred within its pleasant boundaries on January 22, 1863. He received his education in the pub- lic schools and one year previous to graduation he left his desk in the high school to assist in his father's business, F. Saunders & Company, wholesale grocers. As previously mentioned, he subsequently became a member of the firm. They sold out in 1901 and have ever since been engaged in real estate business. He follows in the parental footsteps in the matter of political faith, being a tried and true Democrat in na- tional matters, but he has strong leanings towards independence, esteem- ing the better man and the better measure above partisanship. He is a much esteemed member of society and stands ready to give his support to all measures likely to result in general benefit. He was elected to his present office in the winter of 1910, assuming the office on January 1, 1911, and his services have been of the highest character. He is a mem- ber of Port Huron Lodge, A. F. & A. M., and is affiliated with both or- ders of the Maccabees.
JOHN R. TARTE. One of the enterprising young business men of Marine City, Michigan, who is typical of the spirit of that thriving community is John R. Tarte, a native of the city. He was born on February 9, 1881, his parents being Jeremiah and Sarah (Gardette) Tarte. Both of his parents were natives of the vicinity, his father being born in the city and his mother on a farm near town. The senior Tarte was a ship carpenter, while his wife's people followed farming. They gave their son John an excellent education. After graduating from the high school at Marine City he took a thorough course in a business college at Detroit. He then returned to Marine City and decided to learn the barber's trade. Subsequently he bought a shop, which he sold, and started another. He made still another venture in this direction and then engaged in other businesses for a time, returning to his trade with the purchase of a shop on January 25, 1896.
In 1909 Mr. Tarte was nominated without opposition to the office of city treasurer, and was elected. In 1911, having served most accept- ably in that capacity, he was again nominated by acclamation, and was elected by a larger majority than before. His political affiliation is with the Republican party, and in religion he is a Catholic.
Alma Francis Kirthner was the maiden name of Mrs. Tarte. Their marriage occurred at Marine City. Mrs. Tarte was born in Fair Haven, Michigan, her parents being August and Julia (Wagner) Kirthner. They left the farm and moved to Marine City. Mr. and Mrs. Tarte have two interesting children, Alice, born November 21, 1906, and John R., Jr., born December 10, 1908.
JAMES E. SCOTT. A high order of natural talent, superior educational advantages and the exercise of courage and energy in the discharge of
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every task to which he set himself to accomplish have combined to bring flattering success to Mr. James E. Scott, one of St. Clair's leading business men. Mr. Scott holds the fine position of state manager for the Des Moines Life Insurance Company of Des Moines, Iowa, with offices in St. Clair, and also condnets a thriving real estate business in connec- tion with his other duties.
James E. Scott is a native of the state of Michigan, having been born at Capac on February 24, 1880. His was a pioneer family, for his parents, Ephraim and Emiline (Wilson) Scott, were also born in Michigan, and the home farm in Berlin township was purchased by Ephraim Scott from parties who held the original grant to the property direct from the United States government.
The boyhood of James was spent on the farm and his early schooling was such as he could acquire at the country schoolhouse, which has been the beginning point of education for so many of the men who have attained prominence and power in these later as well as the earlier days of the history of our country. Later opportunity came for him to attend the high school at Armada, Michigan, from which in due time he graduated. In 1897 he matriculated at the Michigan Agricultural Col- lege at Lansing, in which he took a full agricultural course, graduating from the school in 1900. It had been the intention of Mr. Scott to next pursue the study of law, but the state of his health at that time was so poor as to prevent the fulfillment of that ambition. Turning his atten- tion to other lines of endeavor, he finally decided to become a traveling salesman for a time, and with that purpose in view accepted a position with the Central Implement Company. Later he severed that connec- tion and acted as a salesman for the DeLaval Separator Company. This line of work did not entirely suit Mr. Scott, however, and he decided to return to the farm for a period. He did so and remained there for two years.
Mr. Scott's first experience as an insurance agent was acquired dur- ing the time he was attending college, it having been his practice to occupy his vacation times in work for the insurance companies. His success in that line of endeavor was marked and he rapidly rose in rank in that work until in 1908 he received the well earned appointment of state manager for the Des Moines company, which position he now holds to the satisfaction of all concerned. It was in January, 1911, that he established his office in St. Clair and added real estate operations te his insurance business, and he is now conducting a very profitable trade in these lines.
On July 27, 1901, James E. Scott and Mary J. Robb. of Gaylord, were united in matrimony. Mrs. Scott was born in Berlin township, Michigan, the daughter of John R. and Jennie (Lee) Robb, both of whom were of Scotch extraction. Mr. and Mrs. Scott are the happy parents of three children, namely, Aubrey L., born October 9, 1904; Wilma B., born January 21. 1906; and Lyle, born October 9, 1907, all of whom are living and form a charming family for their proud parents.
The Scotts are prominent in social and religious circles, and Mr. Scott is active in the promotion of all such enterprises as have the advancement of the interests of the community in which he lives as their prime object. Politically his principles are Republican, and fra- ternally he is affiliated with the Knights of Pythias lodge.
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ELBERT PLUMB TIBBALS, M. D., was born in Norfolk, Connecticut, on February 24, 1842. His father, Sheldon Tibbals, was a farmer and was born in the same township where his son began his life. Thomas Tib- bals, the grandfather of Elbert, was a drum major in the Colonial army during the Revolution and was with Washington during the bitter winter at Valley Forge, when only the invincible spirit of the patriots enabled them to starve and freeze for an ideal. He survived the war and en- joyed the liberty which he had helped to secure. A grant of a section of land in Connecticut was made to Thomas Tibbals, and this place was the foundation of the family fortunes.
When Elbert Plumb Tibbals was but eight years of age his father died. His mother, Jeanette (Prout) Tibbals, had all the New England devotion to learning, and she instilled into her son those ideals of char- acter and intellectuality which have been so powerful in determining the bent of American character. Elbert received a good common school edu- cation and prepared for college in Norfolk Academy. He entered Yale and studied there for one year before going to New York City to enter the College of Physicians and Surgeons. At the age of twenty-two he graduated from the medical school and immediately went to Millerton, Dutchess county, New York, to begin his practice.
When Dr. Tibbals had been practicing for four years he decided to come west. He was just about to be married, and so naturally he felt that it was a propitious time for locating in some newly settled part of the country. In April of the year 1868 Dr. Tibbals had bought a drug store in Port Huron and in November of that year he was married at Millerton, New York, to Miss Julia E. Crane. The young couple came to Port Huron, where the Doctor began his practice, and they have since resided in this city. Two children were born of their union, John Parks Tibbals and Grace A. The son is a civil engineer and practices his pro- fession in Port Huron. Miss Tibbals is a music teacher and resides with her parents.
In 1864 Dr. Tibbals cast his first presidential vote, and that vote was for Lincoln. Under Cleveland he served for two terms as pension exam- iner. He was the first city comptroller of Port Huron and for sixteen years was a member of the school board.
While residing at Millerton Dr. Tibbals became a member of the Masonic order, and there he served as junior warden. Upon coming to Port Huron he became affiliated with the Modern Maccabees and was for thirteen years their state medical examiner and was supreme medical examiner for two years. Another fraternal order in which he is active in his professional capacity is that of the Patricians, in which he is chief medical examiner. This order was organized in Washington, D. C., toward the end of Cleveland's second administration. Dr. Tibbals also belongs to the Foresters, the Mystic Circle and to the Elks.
He has extensive interests in the various enterprises of the city, being a stockholder in the Engine & Thresher Company and also in the Cass Motor Works. In the time which he has lived in the city he has thoroughly identified himself with its interests and is justly regarded as one of the representative citizens.
ARTHUR H. SANDERSON. One of the comparatively young men of St. Clair county, Michigan, who by sheer force of individuality have kept
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pace with the wonderful strides of this period of the world's history. is Arthur Sanderson, general manager of the Jeddo Hardware Company, dealers in hardware and implements, with a side line of groceries. The community is fortunate in the possession of so good a citizen and so excellent and progressive a business man, for such success as he has achieved has been of that wholesome sort which has contributed at the same time to the prosperity and welfare of Jeddo and the surrounding country. He is an able exponent of the progressive spirit and strong initiative ability which have caused St. Clair county to forge so rapidly forward in a commercial and industrial way.
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