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 24
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56
Charles J. Moak, father of Edward L., was born in Port Huron township, St. Clair county, in 1846, and became a resident of South Park at an early day, serving with distinction as alderman of the Elev- enth ward when it was first added to the city, and having a street named after him in the section for whose interests he labored for so many years. He erected numerous houses in that vicinity and was instrumental in securing a number of improvements for that part of the city. During the Civil war he served five years as member of Company K, Second Michigan Cavalry, and he later became a popular comrade of the G. A. R. His death occurred in 1901, and he was buried in Lakeside Ceme- tery. Charles J. Moak married Miss Alice Carpenter, who was born in
monk
,
661
HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY
Lake county, Ohio, in 1849, and she died in Port Huron in 1902, firm in the faith of the Baptist church, of which she had been a devout mem- ber for many years. They had a family of four children, of whom three are now living: Eugene HI. (of Port Huron ), Edward L. and Myron. Myron C. Moak was born in July, 1881, in Marysville, St. Clair county, and is now a machinist in the employ of the South Park Manufacturing Company at Port Huron. Ile married Miss Minnie Gray, a well known member of the Baptist church, and they have had five children : Viola, Alice. Myron, Jr., Chester and Esther, all attending school. Mr. Moak is a Modern Woodman and a Mason, and is a Republican in politics, on which party's ticket he has served as alderman of the Eleventh ward. He has been prominently connected with the business interests of South Park, and for some years has served as special deputy sheriff of St. Clair county.
Edward L. Moak was given excellent educational advantages in the Port Huron schools and the International Business College of this city. On April 22, 1891, he was married to Miss Bessie Bahner, who was born in Scotland, daughter of George and Mary Balmer, natives of that coun- try, who are now living retired on Pine Grove avenue, Port Huron. Mr. Balmer was for many years a florist and landscape gardener. He and his wife had four children, all of whom are living: Jennie B., the widow of Luther Booth, who was stamp clerk in the Upton Works postoffice ; Robert, who is living in Chicago; Bessie, the wife of Mr. Moak; and Nellie, who married W. F. Sawyer, private secretary to the officers of the J. I. Case Threshing Machine Company, at Racine, Wisconsin. Mr. and Mrs. Moak have had three children, all born in St. Clair county : Elwyn R., in March, 1892; Genevieve, in December, 1895; and Francis H., in May 1899. Elwyn R. Moak is now managing editor of the Ra- eine Journal, although but nineteen years of age. He has been con- neeted with newspaper work since he was fourteen, having worked in the offices of the Times and the Herald in Port Huron. Genevieve is now attending the Port Huron high school.
After completing his studies, the first employment of Edward L. Moak was in the offices of the Port Huron Engine and Thresher Com- pany, with which company he remained until 1900. a period of fifteen years. At this time the Factory Land Company was organized by Mr. WV. L. Jenks, as chairman, and Mr. Moak, as secretary, the business of the firm being the purchasing, improving and selling of land, encourag- ing manufacturing concerns to locate their factories in this section, and developing the community in general. The offices of this company, located at No. 2846 Electric avenue, are fitted up in the most modern style, and include a large, well-furnished waiting room to be used in connection with the electric railway running to the heart of the city. One of the most beautiful spots in the United States is South Park, lo- cated on the banks of the St. Clair river, which has been set out and built up by the efforts of Mr. Moak and his business associates. Mr. Moak signed every contract, looked after all of the detail work and superintended everything personally, and it stands today as a monu- ment to the progressive spirit that has made him such a successful man. Since 1889 he has held the office of assistant postmaster at Upton Works; he is treasurer of the South Park Manufacturing Company and the South Park Society Hall Company, and is a director in the Port Huron
662
HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY
Loan and Building Association. A Republican in his political views, he has always been an active worker in the ranks of his party, although he has never been an office seeker. Fraternally he is connected with the Maccabees and the Woodmen. His beautiful home, at No. 2419 North Boulevard, South Park, is elegantly and tastefully furnished, and contains a large and comprehensive library, and a specimen case filled with rare and valuable relics. Mrs. Moak is a member of one of Port Huron's literary societies the Looking Backward Club.
The valuable lessons a young and thinking generation can glean from such a sterling character as Mr. Moak presents are briefly these : That natural ability with a good education, coupled with tact and rest- less energy, are sure roads to success in business, as well as in the social and political fields. Mr. Moak is cool and deliberate, even when absorbed in the most momentous and intricate business propositions; in fact, he is possessed of what might be styled a judicial cast of mind, which has enabled him to conduct and regulate his large business with that perfect order which insures success; also to maintain discipline in and guaran- tee honest service at the hands of his small army of employes.
CAPTAIN JOHN D. BAIRD. Identified throughout his active career with the development and advancement of the commercial and shipping interests of the Great Lakes, Captain John D. Baird, of Marine City, has gained an enviable record for his seamanship, and is widely known as one of the most skilful navigators of the state, as master of various vessels having been eminently successful. He was born April 13, 1869, in China township, Saint Clair county, Michigan, a son of David R. and Mary (Elderkin) Baird. His grandfather, John Baird, a native of Scotland, was an early settler of East China township, where he cleared and improved a farm.
Growing to manhood on the parental homestead, John D. Baird attended the district school during his earlier life, afterwards continuing his studies at the Saint Clair high school during two winter terms. At the age of nineteen years he shipped as a deck hand upon a lumber boat, the D. Lenty, plying between Bay City and Tonawanda. He proved himself so faithful to the duties of that position that on arriving at Tonawanda he was made watchman, and the following October he was again honored with a promotion, being made wheelsman. an unusual occurrence, as a sailor has usually to serve as watchman at least a year before being appointed to a higher position. The ensuing season he was wheelsman on board the "E. S. Pease," a lumber boat, which on one trip early in the spring when loaded with iron ore, encountered a severe storm from the northeast on Lake Huron, and in addition to having its cabin and boiler house carried away lost the two barges it had in tow, they being swept away. The boat was beached near Port Hope, where all of the crew excepting Captain Baird and another wheelsman were taken off by the life saving crew from Pt. Aux Barques. They, however, stayed by the ship until help was sent from the shore about a week later to lighter the cargo and pull the boat off the beach. In 1891 he was wheelsman and lookout on the Str. "Northern Light."
In 1893 Captain Baird was second mate on the steel steamer "Wil- liam H. Gratwick." and served as second mate on that boat two years and as first mate four years. In the spring of 1899 he was first mate
663
HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY
on the "M. A. Ilannah." and in August, 1899, was made captain and master of the steamer "George T. Hope." and the following year had charge of the same vessel. In 1901 he was captain of the "John J. Williams," in 1902 was master of the steamer "Lagonda," in 1903, of the "James Gayley." and in October, 1904, was put in charge of the "I. W. Nicholas." In 1905 he was captain of the "William E. Reis." and the following five years was master of the new "William II. Grat- wiek;" in 1911 he was master of the "Loftus Guddy." Each succeed- ing ycar from the time that he began sailing the Lakes until the present time, larger and better boats have been given to him as the oppor- tunity offered, and his responsibilities have become correspondingly greater, the changes made making evident to all the great confidence that the owners of the Mitchell fleet have in his ability and trustworthiness.
Captain Baird is a member and the president of the Marine City branch of the Shipmasters' Association, and was a delegate to the Grand Lodge of that order at their last meeting, January 16, 1912. The Captain is a Republican in politics. Fraternally he is a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, and both he and his wife belong to the Order of the Eastern Star.
Captain Baird married, December 26, 1893, Anna Wenning, of China township, a daughter of John and Margaret (Otjen) Wenning, the former of whom was born in Germany and the latter in Ohio. The union of the Captain and Mrs. Baird has been blessed by the birth of five children, namely: Margaret Grace, horn December 2, 1895; David H., born January 7, 1898; Edna Marie, born June 23, 1902; Howard John, born November 28, 1903; and Anna Laura, born November 9, 1905.
MAURICE D. PENDERGAST. In studying the lives and characters of prominent and prosperous men we are naturally led to inquire into the secret of their success and the motives which have prompted their actions. As held by many, success is a question of genius, but is it not, rather, a matter of experience and sound judgment? For when we traee the careers of those who stand highest in public esteem we find. in nearly every case, that they are those who have risen gradually, fighting their own way in the face of all opposition. Self-reliance, con- scientiousness, energy, honesty-these are the traits of character that command the highest emoluments and win the greatest success. To these may be attributed the business success of Maurice D. Pendergast, president of the United Fence Company, of Port Huron, Michigan, whose name during the past decade has become familiarly known in industrial circles throughout the Northwest.
Mr. Pendergast was born at Newmarket, Strafford county, New Hampshire, in the house in which each of his direet paternal ancestors was born back to his great-great-grandfather, a block house built in 1712 by his great-great-great-grandfather as a protection against the Indians. In 1855 Mr. Pendergast's father had come West to Minne- sota, locating land along with the family of Hutchinson, after whom the town of Hutchinson was named, and the mother followed some time later, but in 1861 she returned to New Hampshire, where Maurice D. Pendergast was born April 4, 1861. The Indian outbreak in Minnesota prevented the mother from returning to that state until 1864. Mr. Pen- dergast was reared to manhood on a farm four miles from Hutchinson, Vol. II-12
664
HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY
receiving his education in the log schoolhouse nearby and from his father, who was a college graduate, in the field while engaged in farm work. At the age of sixteen years he attended a term in the Hutchin- son schools, and when seventeen began to teach the home schools. He followed this occupation for about eight years in the winter months, his summers being spent in work on the farm, of which he had practically been in charge since his father's death in 1876. When he was twenty- five years old he sold the farm in order to secure funds to enter the farm implement business, and while carrying on an establishment of that kind in Hutchinson he invented a machine for building woven wire fencing on the field and began the manufacture of his invention. As this business grew and flourished he gradually gave up the implement business, and in 1899 he began the manufacture of the fence-making machines entirely. In 1901, in order to secure better freight rates, he moved to Minneapolis, and while there became involved in patent litiga- tion, which resulted in so much harm to the two contending parties that a new company was formed, and through skilful manipulation Mr. Pendergast was forced out of the combine. Nothing daunted, Mr. Pendergast started all over again, and using his Canadian patents, which he still held, he went to Sarnia, which he believed to be the logical dis- tributing point of the Dominion. Two years later, with a new and highly improved machine, Mr. Pendergast's company invaded the field again in the United States and built a factory in Port Huron. This machine proved to be the fastest in existence, making 3,000 rods in a day of ten hours, and became so popular that the competing company was thrown in a panic and in order to force the sale of their much slower machine, which could not make more than 500 rods of fence in ten hours, threw $1,000 off of its price. Eventually the officers of Mr. Pendergast's company were invited to a conference with the heads of the competing companies, and as an illustration of the firmness of char- acter, determination of purpose and sheer grit that has made Mr. Pen- dergast one of the successful men of his part of the country, the inter- view, much condensed, follows:
The spokesman for the competing organizations, the official who had made the call, asked the meeting: "Gentlemen, what have you to offer?" Mr. Pendergast immediately answered: "We are here out of courtesy ; not to make an offer," and asked to be enlightened as to the object of the meeting. The rival official replied: "We understand you are selling in our territory and at a less price than we." "That is probably true," answered Mr. Pendergast. "You must not do it," the spokesman said. "If you do we will undersell you even though we have to give our product away and offer a bonus of ten per cent." "In that case," Mr. Pendergast answered evenly, "we will close our factory until you come to your senses, when we will start again." Eventually Mr. Pendergast's competitors undersold him to such an extent that the dealers were unable to handle his goods, but this move was met with an advertising campaign on the part of the Port Huron Company, stating that machines would be sold direct to customers for cash, and during the first month, March, 1910, the sales aggregated $2,000. This rapidly increased, running up to $20,000 a month, and another meeting of com- pany heads was called, at which the competitors of the Port Huron Com- pany offered Mr. Pendergast's concern $20,000 a year guarantee if his
665
HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY
firm would combine with them and organize a trust to maintain prices. This he firmly refused to do, and his action has been commended by numerous farmers' societies, who have pledged their support to the company that has so elearly showed its independence of the trust. The output of the Port Huron Company, whose factory is on Milwaukee street, in South Park, is about 3,000 tons yearly, all of which is mar- keted in the United States, while the Sarnia concern, shipping to all parts of Canada, has a yearly output of about 4,000 tons.
Maurice D. Pendergast was married in HIntehinson, Minnesota, June 29, 1893, to Miss Winning S. Sutherland, daughter of Thomas and Susan (Parkinson) Sutherland, and granddaughter of General Parkinson, who was the oldest Mason in Ontario at the time of his death. Mrs. Pender- gast was born and rearer in Sarnia, and was educated in Stillwater, Minnesota, moving to Hutchinson a year previous to her marriage. She and her husband have had four children, all born in Hutchinson ;
Judith Margaret, Thomas Sutherland, Maurice Harrison and Winning S. Mrs. Pendergast was reared in the Episcopal church, which her husband also attends. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., filling all the chairs in Hassan Valley Lodge, No. 109, at Hutchinson, in which he still holds membership, and taking the Eneampment degree. For- merly a member of Ivanhoe Lodge, No. 60, Knights of Pythias, at Hutchinson, he has transferred his membership to Johnston Lodge at Sarnia, where he also belongs to the Blue Lodge and Chapter of the Masonic order.
Mr. Pendergast is also descended from a prominent family on his mother's side, she being an own cousin of John Greenleaf Whittier, in whose "Snow Bound" may be found mention of the blowing of the fish horn on the Piscataqua. This conch shell belonged for many years in the family of Mr. Pendergast's mother, and he is now its owner, it being one of his most valued possessions.
FRANK J. HAYNES. The lumber interests of the state of Michigan form one of the greatest industries of the country, and the men who con- irol the vast operations carried on here have been the leaders in the development of the resources of this section for many years. Genera- tions of sueeessful lumher manufacturers have indissolubly connected the name of Haynes with Michigan's leading timber merchants, and the present representative of this family, Frank J. Haynes, of Port Huron, is worthy and capable of upholding the reputation established by his forebears.
The original partnership name of what is now F. J. Haynes & Company was James Haynes & Son, the members of the firm being James and Jacob P. Haynes, the grandfather and father of Frank J. Haynes. They extended their operations from the Black river and other streams emptying into the St. Clair river, to the Monistique river of the Upper Peninsula, at the mouth of which they purchased what was known as the Clark & Thompson sawmill. There, as modern ma- ehinery was invented, the mill was remodeled from time to time to con- form with more progressive and economical methods of manufacture, and the company found abundant timber resources in a tract of 10,000 acres of pine lands located along the banks of that stream. After fifteen years of successful operation the firm sold out to Charles S.
666
HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY
Harvey, of Chicago, and the mill later went into the hands of the Chi- cago Lumbering Company. James Haynes died in 1868.
Jacob P. Haynes was born in the state of New York, February 22, 1832, and was seven years of age when he accompanied his parents to Port Huron. He was here educated, and as a youth was associated with his father in the lumber business. At the time of his father's death he took charge of the business, the firm style continuing the same, and he continued to be identified with the business until 1886, the seat of opera- tions being at Cedarville, in Mackinac county, where an extensive busi- ness was built up in the white cedar and white pine of that section. On his retirement, in 1886, his second son, Frederick R., took his place, and in 1894 his third son, William J., was admitted to the firm. From 1907 Mr. Haynes suffered from poor health, sustaining three strokes of paralysis, and he died April 8, 1911. He was of a very happy and cheerful disposition, a close student, and a great lover of Nature, tak- ing yearly tramps through the forests of this section. In 1873 he be- came associated with J. J. Boyce in a banking business on Water street, and this connection continued until 1884. In political matters he was a Republican, but he never cared for public office; fraternally he was a Mason and an Elk. He was free in his religious views, supporting liberally all denominations, and was an attendant of the Methodist church, of which his wife was a devout member. He married Mary J. Young, who died July 13, 1903, and both were buried in Lakeside Cemetery. They had four children, all born in Port Huron ; Frank J .; Fred R., who died in 1909, leaving two children, Helen and Mark, who now occupy the old home of Jacob P. Haynes, one of the most beautiful in Port Huron; James, who died in 1870; and William J., who died in 1908, leaving a widow.
Frank J. Haynes was born April 6, 1861, on the same lot where his home now stands, No. 708 River street, and received excellent educa- tional advantages, attending the public and high schools of Port Huron, Orchard Lake Military Academy and Bryant and Stratton's Business College at Detroit. On completing his course at the latter institution his father at once took him into the business, where he at first took charge of the office work. He has been connected with this industry to the present time, operating sawmills and vessels, and doing much traveling in search of good timber lands. He owns forests in Oregon and Mississippi. and is known throughout Michigan as one of the largest lumber mer- chants in the state. In addition to being the only surviving member of the firm he is president of the Cass Truck Motor Company, presi- dent of the Port Huron Paper Company, and a director in the Port Huron Driving Association. Progressive and enterprising in all things, he has been one of the most prominent factors in the development of the interests of Port Huron, and the high positions in which he has been placed testify to the esteem in which he is held by his fellow citizens. A stanch Republican in politics, he has served as mayor and alderman of Port Huron, has been police commissioner for eleven years, and under Governor J. T. Rich of the Michigan State troops, served as inspector general. He had also served twelve years with Michigan State troops before he became inspector. Fraternally he is affiliated with the Knights of Pythias, the Elks and the Maccabees and has been
667
HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY
honored by election to various offices. Ile was exalted ruler of the Elks when that organization was first established here, and he is at present chairman of the building committee that has charge of the erection of the new temple. In addition to his pretty residence he owns much tenant property and many building lots, including that upon which the plant of the company stands at No. 713 River street. He has always been liberal in his support of religious and charitable movements.
In 1883 Mr. Haynes was united in marriage with Miss Anna E. Crawford, daughter of Alexander and Mary (Parmerlee) Crawford, natives of Macomb county, Michigan, who are now deceased. Mr. Craw- ford was for many years connected with the United States customs. He was one of the early schoolmasters of this part of the country, having for his pupils many of the prominent citizens of Port Huron, and serv- ing in the office of superintendent of schools. His wife was also a school teacher in this city. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Haynes: James J. and Edward A., who are associated with their father in business, and both are graduates of the University of Michigan ; and Mary L., who is attending the Port Huron high school.
James J. Haynes, the eldest son of Frank J. and Anna E. (Craw- ford) Haynes, was born in Port Huron, Michigan, in October, 1884, and received his education in the Port Huron high school and the University of Michigan, at Ann Arbor. After leaving the latter insti- tution he became a clerk in the office of his father's lumber business, later became bookkeeper for the concern, and in 1908 was admitted to partnership. He gives nearly all of his attention to the retail end of the trade, and is a young man of much more than ordinary business ability. He is a Republican in political matters, and fraternizes with the Elks.
In August, 1907, Mr. Haynes was married to Miss Fannie F. Par- sons, who was born in Detroit, Michigan, daughter of Frederick and Alice (Knill) Parsons, natives of Toledo, Ohio, who are now deceased. To this union there has been born one child: Elizabeth Parsons, born August 1, 1908, in Port Huron. Mr. and Mrs. Haynes are consistent members of the Episcopal church. The comfortable home, at No. 727 Elk street, was erected by Mr. Haynes' grandfather many years ago.
WILLIAM J. LAMB. Among the enterprising citizens of St. Clair county who owe their success and advancement in life to their own in- dustry and well-directed efforts is William J. Lamb, of Jeddo, merchant and director and vice-president of the Grant Elevator Company. There is no positive rule for achieving success and yet in the life of the suc- cessful man there are always lessons which might well be followed. The man who gains prosperity is he who can see and utilize the opportunity that comes in his path. The essential conditions of human life are ever the same, the surroundings of individuals differ but slightly, and when one man passes another on the highway of life to reach the goal of prosperity before other who, perhaps, started out before him it is because he has the power to use advantages which probably encompass the whole human race. Mr. Lamb stands among Jeddo's successful busi- ness men, the qualities of sound judgment, keen discrimination and executive ability entering very largely into his make-up and being con- tributing elements to the material success which has come to him.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.