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 27
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In 1864 Mr. Mills and his brother established a wholesale and retail lumber yard at Cleveland, Ohio, under the name of Mills. Jewett and Company. Some years later this name was changed to N. Mills and Company and then to the Mills Carleton Company. In 1897 the firm was consolidated with Gray, Jenks and Company, and under the name of the Mills, Gray, Carleton Lumber Company became the largest lum- ber firm in Cleveland, and one of the largest wholesale lumber com-
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panies doing business on Lake Erie, their capacity being over one hun- dred million feet of timber annually.
Mr. Mills in 1889, together with his son John, Isaac Bearinger. of Saginaw. and Hiram W. Sibley, of Rochester, New York, bought a ten thousand acre traet of land in West Virginia, timbered with black wal- nut and yellow poplar, and commenced manufacturing this valuable tim- ber on an extensive seale.
John E. Mills, the eldest son of Nelson Mills, in 1900, secured the right of way and. began to build the electric suburban road between Lansing, St. Johns and St. Louis. He was not permitted to finish the work, his death occurring in August, 1903. Ilis father then went into a new phase of industry, carrying on and completing the work begun by his son. During the summer of 1903 Mr. Mills with his son Myron, his son-in-law, J. R. Elliott, and George G. Moore, of Port Huron, bought the Lansing Street Railway. They proceeded to reconstruet the road and both roads were put into shape for use. Mr. Mills owned consid- erable property in Port Huron, St. Clair, Detroit, Toledo and Cleveland. Ile also owned Stag Island, a popular summer resort in the St. Clair river, which he improved and beantified to such an extent that many Cleveland and Toledo people now make it their summer home. He also owned a planing mill and lumber yard in St. Clair, as well as several valuable farms in St. Clair, Ogemaw and Arenac counties.
There is only space for a brief enumeration of the main business in- terests of Mr. Mills at the time of his death. Ile was president of the following : The Mills, Gray, Carleton Lumber Company, of Cleveland. Ohio; the Lansing Street Railway ; the St. Louis and St. Johns Street Railway Company; the Mills Transportation Company; the Pawnee Boat Company ; the Mills, Elliott Manufacturing Company ; the Nelson Mills Company ; the Port Huron and Sarnia Ferry Company ; the Port IIuron Navigation Company. In the following he was a director: The Port Huron Engine and Thresher Company; the Port Huron Savings Bank : the Deep Spring Mineral Bath Company ; the Panther Lumber Company, of West Virginia ; the Northern Life Assurance Company. of Canada : the Anglo-American Fire Insurance Company, of Toronto : and he was an active stockholder in the Malleable Iron Works and the Port Huron Saw Works. Such a list as this speaks for the remarkable abil- ity and the strenuous energy of the man.
Mr. Wills always took a keen interest in politics, though his business cares prevented him from ever accepting office in spite of the solicita- tions of his friends. Ile cast his first vote for Fremont in 1856. and from that time was always a staunch Republican. He became a member of the Methodist Episcopal church in 1850, and for more than fifty years held the office of steward of the church. No matter how heavy his busi- ness eares may have been, nor how wearied he was with the exertion of the week. Sunday always found him in his pew at church, and he did not attend once. but twice. During the early part of his life he was an active worker in Sunday-school. The following is a brief estimate made of him by one who knew him: "In his business, religious and every-day life he has shown the same strong characteristics, determined in carry- ing out with success whatever he undertook and always thoroughly just in his dealings with men in whatever station of life. Ile rarely dis-
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charged an employe, and during dull seasons in business his great anxiety was to be able to keep those depending on him employed."
Mr. Mills was married in 1862 to Miss Mary Williams, danghter of his former partner, Myron Williams, and they became the parents of seven children. John E., the eldest, died at home, in August, 1903. Myron W. was connected with his father in the lumber, vessel and rail- road interests, and since his death has carried on these interests. He was married in 1893 to Miss Mabel Mann. of Pinckney, Michigan, and they have one daughter, Mary Elizabeth. Margaret W. married Walter J. Hopkins, of St. Clair, in 1893, and they had one son, Mark. In 1907 she was married to George K. Barnes, of Cincinnati. Hannah E. mar- ried Dr. W. B. James, of Eloise, Michigan, in 1907, and they reside at Marysville. Emeline W. married James R. Elliott, of London, Ontario, in 1897 and they are the parents of two children, Margaret Mills and Hally Ballinger Mills. David W. is vice president of the Mills, Gray, Carleton Lumber Company, and makes his home in Cleveland. He was married in 1909 to Miss Maud Merrell, of Detroit, and they have one son, Nelson. The youngest, Hally Ballinger, died in 1900, during the month of March, while she was attending school at the Detroit Seminary. Mrs. Mills died on the 3rd of May, 1891, at the family home in Marys- ville. The death of Nelson Mills occurred on the 16th of March, 1904, after an illness of several months.
DR. WILLIAM B. JAMES. The high professional reputation and the name he bears as a progressive business man sincerely interested in the welfare of Port Huron, makes Dr. William B. James one of the best known citizens of St. Clair county, Michigan. He was born in Cass county. Michigan, on a farm in Calvin township, on the 13th of July, 1870. He is the son of Parker and Elizabeth James, both of whom were born in Penn township, Cass county. Dr. James is the grandson of Isaac James, a prominent Quaker, who was an active participant in the operations of the underground railroad of antebellum days.
The early life of Dr. James was spent on his father's farm in Cass county, where he lived until his eighteenth year and while attending the district schools of the vicinity. In 1890 he went to Detroit to enter the Detroit Medical College, which he did in 1893. He was graduated from that institution in 1899, having spent one year in the Wayne County Hospital as house surgeon before that event. He was appointed assistant medical superintendent of the Wayne County Asylum, a po- sition which he retained until 1907, when he resigned in order to accept the position of secretary of the Nelson Mills estate.
On the third of September, 1907, was solemnized the marriage of Dr. James to Miss Hannah E. Mills, daughter of the late Nelson Mills. She was born in Marysville, Michigan. Both the Doctor and his wife are connected with the Congregational church of Port Huron, of which Dr. James is a trustee.
Aside from his professional interest, Dr. James has large financial interests that require a great deal of his time. He is a director of the Port Huron Engine & Thresher Company, secretary of the Port Huron Summer Resort Association, secretary of the Nelson Mills Lumber Com- pany of St. Clair, president of the Stag Island Summer Resort Associa- tion, and a member of the board of directors of the Port Huron Hospital.
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Ile is also interested in farming and real estate, owning a one hundred and twenty acre farm in Calvin township, Cass county, which is largely devoted to the breeding of English Shire horses.
Politically Dr. James is found under the standard of the Republican party, his first vote having been cast for Harrison in the election of 1889. Ile has often been a delegate to the state conventions of his party.
GEORGE BAILEY ASHLEY. For nearly a quarter of a century Mr. Ashley has been engaged in an occupation which makes him a person whose arrival is desired by hundreds of citizens of Port Iluron. The busiest housewife cheerfully leaves her work to answer his ring. No pursuit is so absorbing that it is not willingly discontinued when he comes to the door, for he is a letter earrier, and the senior member of that order in Port Huron. Not only that, but it is Mr. Ashley's lot to be one of the four first letter carriers of Port Huron, and the only one of the original quartet appointed in 1887.
Mr. Ashley was born in Port Huron on September 14, 1846. His father was George H. Bailey, and his mother, Naomi Ashley Bailey. His father was on his way to California during the time of the gold excite- ment in the middle of the last century when he was drowned in the Humboldt river, on July 22. 1850. Six years later his mother died in the small-pox epidemic which devastated the city, leaving the two chil- dren. George and Charles Bailey, without father or mother. They were taken into the home of Alexander F. Ashley, their maternal unele who, having no children of his own, brought them up as his own. At the time of his death he requested that George should have his name legally changed to Ashley, so as to continue it. To this George assented, and it was earried out in the probate court, under .Indge Harris.
Mr. Alexander Ashley was a farmer and his nephew received a fair common school education. When he grew to manhood he was mar- ried at Ruby, Michigan, to Miss Mary C. Davidson, who was born near Lexington, Michigan. Until his uncle's death they made their home with him. but after his demise they left the farm. and Mr. Ashley began to work at the carpenter trade. In a short time he became a foreman and when the opera house was built he helped at that, working as a brick- laver. He also did some contraeting and then aeeepted a position as foreman in the building of the Grand Trunk elevator. It was while in this position that he received the news of his appointment as letter carrier. The Democratic party had always been the one which Mr. Ashley had supported. and he had served as township elerk and as treasurer during his residence in Port Huron township.
It was about 1878 that M. Ashley bought the lots where his home now stands. The original dwelling was moved away in 1903 and the present house erected. Mr. Ashley has engaged in several successful undertakings and has been able to assist his sons in going into business. Although he has made his own way, he is more than glad to relieve his children of the necessity of being entirely on their own resources. One of Mr. Ashley's enterprises was a meat market. which he later sold out to his son. George. The younger man added a stock of groceries and now eonduets the business at the corner of Eleventh and Lapeer streets. He is married and has one child. Three other sons reside in the city.
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all being married. Alexander lives on Miller street and has three chil- dren. Edwin C. is a piano dealer. Charles B. is manager of the store which his father bought from J. B. Carl in 1906. This establishment is located at the corner of Lapeer avenue and Thirteenth street. The pros- perity of his sons is a source of great satisfaction to the father, who by reason of his self-acquired competence has been able to be of so much assistance to them. Two daughters were also born in this family, but they both died in infancy. Mr. and Mrs. Ashley reside at 1303 Howard street and are among the best known of the representative citizens of Port Huron.
ARCHIBALD M. WRIGHT. Fifteen years as proprietor of the Pioneer Boiler Works, one of the leading industries of its kind in Port Huron, have given Archibald M. Wright a prominent plaec among the substan- tial business men of the city, and during this time he has built up a reputation for honest dealing and public-spirited citizenship that makes him a most desirable acquisition to the city's commercial life. Mr. Wright was born August 25, 1854, in London, Ontario, Canada, a son of Peter R. and Agnes (MeKorkindale) Wright, natives of Scotland. who came to the United States from Canada and settled in Port Huron, where Mr. Wright was a blacksmith for many years. Both spent the remainder of their lives in this eity and are buried in Lakeside Cemetery.
Archibald M. Wright received his education in the public schools of Canada and Port Huron, and after leaving the latter went at once in the boiler making business. He learned the trade in Port Huron, and for fourteen years was foreman for the Phoenix Iron Works in this city. In 1895 he decided to enter the field on his own account, and subsequently purchased the Pioneer Boiler Works, from William Love, the shop and offices being located at No. 105 Bard street. Here he manufactures all kinds of boilers and sheet iron articles, in addition to carrying on an extensive business in repairing. His trade extends throughout St. Clair county, and he also has a good business in differ- ent parts of the state. Mr. Wright's success has come after years of hard and faithful endeavor, and it is all the more gratifying to him in that it is the result of 'his own individual effort. A very kind-hearted man, he respeets the rights of others, and consequently is very popular with his employes, as, in fact, he is with all who know him. He is a thoroughly competent mechanic, and part of his success may be attrib- uted to the fact that he has given his elosest attention to the minutest detail of his business and never has let a piece of work leave his shop that has not been up to grade in every respect. He is a Republican in his politieal affiliation, but has never sought nor desired office. Fra- ternally he is connected with the Odd Fellows. the Masons and the Eagles.
In 1882 Mr. Wright was united in marriage with Miss Rebecca A. Stanley, who was born in Goderich, Canada, daughter of George and Anna (Cantlen) Stanley, natives of Canada, the former of whom is deceased, while the latter now makes her home in Sanilae county, Mich- igan. Mr. and Mrs. Wright have reared a family of whom any parents might well feel proud, and have fitted them for whatever station they desire to take in life. Agnes, the eldest, is a graduate of the Ypsilanti Normal School; Ina, wife of Harvey Whipple, associate editor of the
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Concrete Magazine, of Detroit, has one child. Walter R .. now residing on an apple orchard of 1,000 acres in Stratford. Washington, a graduate of Port Huron high school, and has just attained his majority ; Harold, aged nineteen years. is an employe of the Canadian Pacific Railway, and holds a responsible position in the offices at Calgary, Province of Alberta, Canada : Bruce, who is learning the automobile business in the well known Flanders Company, at Port Huron, is seventeen years old; and Stanley, aged eleven years, and Malcolm, aged seven. are attending public school. The comfortable family residence is situated at No. 938 Wall street.
NORMAN STREVEL. A man of marked intelligence and good business foresight and fact, Norman Strevel is numbered among the substantial farmers of Saint Clair county, his well improved farm being located in section fifteen, Grant township. A son of Matthias Strevel, he was born November 28. 1844, in the Newcastle district. Cramey township. Ilis grandfather Strevel was born in New York, not far from Al- bany, and there spent the greater part of his life.
Matthias Strevel was born in Berne township, Albany county. Now York, and was there reared, educated and married. About 1850 he came with his family to Michigan, and having located in Saint Clair county took up land in Grant township, and also a section and a half in an adjoining township. Settling in Grant township as one of its early pioneers, he cleared and improved a fine farm, becoming owner of four hundred acres of rich and valuable land. Ile was a man of excellent business ability and judgment, quiet and nostentations in manner. and a prominent member of the Methodist church. He married Sarah Me- Nary, who was likewise born in Albany county, New York. She was of patriotie stock, her grandfather MeNary having served as an officer in the Revolutionary, at the time of his enlistment having been commis- sioned as second lieutenant of his company, and afterwards promoted to the rank of major. Of the six children born of their umion, Clark, Wes- ley. Bessie. Phebe. Norman, and Abbott, three were living in 1912.
Norman Strevel was bnt six years of age when he came with his parents from Canada to Saint Clair county, and he attended the dis- triet schools until sixteen years of age. In the eighteenth year of his age. a beardless youth, he enlisted in Company C. Sixth Michigan Cavalary, which was assigned to the Army of the Potomae, and took a prominent part in many of the more notable engagements of the Civil war. IFe was mustered in as bugler of his regiment, and at the end of three years was mustered out as sergeant of his company, his promotions having been bravely earned. At the close of the war the First, Fifth. Sixth and Seventh bodies of Michigan Cavalry were forming the First Brigade, and with his companions Mr. Strevel was sent out on the plains to help to subdne the Indians, who were then on the war path. After the en- gagement at Powder River, the troops erossed over the South Pass to T'tah, where. at Fortbridge, in the winter of 1865 and 1866. the dif- ferent Regiments were consolidated, becoming the First Michigan Vet- eran Volunteers. Being mustered out of serviee in Utah in March, 1866. Mr. Strevel made his way by stage to Atchison, Kansas, 1,200 miles, and from there on the new railway to Michigan, being then twenty-one years old. coming home a man, old. not in years, but in experience, having
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in the years that he spent as soldier seen more of the sadness and glory of life than many men see in the allotted three score and ten years of life.
The following three years Mr. Strevel farmed, operating a threshing machine. Locating then at Port Huron, Michigan, he there dealt in machinery for twenty years, building up an extensive and remunerative business. Under the first administration of President Cleveland he was collector of customs at Port Huron, and after resigning from that posi- tion was for two years collector for the Port Huron Thresher Company. In 1889 Mr. Strevel assumed possession of his present property in Grant township, and has since been successfully engaged in agricultural pur- snits, having two hundred and forty acres of fine land, sixty acres of which he devotes to the culture of fruit, raising apples, pears, peaches and plums, of which he has abundant harvests.
Politically Mr. Strevel is identified with the Democratic party, and takes great interest in its affairs. Fraternally he is a member of Lexing- ton Lodge, No. 61, Ancient Free and Accepted Order of Masons ; and is a charter member of Huron Tent, No. 58, the first tent organized in Michigan by the Knights of the Maccabees; and is also a charter mem- ber of Harmony Camp, No. 12, Modern Woodmen of America.
Mr. Strevel has been twice married. He married first Eveline Mitchell, who passed to the life beyond in 1884, leaving two children, Mabel, wife of Charles Cole, and Nellie, wife of Barney Greening. Mr. Strevel married for his second wife, in April. 1889, Jenny Blasdell, and they had two children, namely: Lizzie, born in 1891, and Grover, born in 1894. This Mrs. Strevel is also deceased, dying in November, 1911.
HENRY R. BAIRD. The legal profession is noted all over the civil- ized world for the acumen and seemingly natural penetration of its members and for the facility with which they arrive at conclusions, gen- erally correct, upon a statement of the simplest clew touching a case at. law, and untangling with ease the most complex and knotty problems upon the slightest evidence. Unfortunately this reputation is not always well deserved, but in the case of the gentleman whose name stands at the head of this biography the highest praise for professional ability is in order. Henry R. Baird, attorney-at-law, still to be numbered among the younger generation, has a fine and well-trained legal mind and has entered upon a career of no small promise.
Mr. Baird is a native of St. Clair county. his life record having begun in East China township, on January 20, 1874. He is the son of William and Catherine (Frank) Baird. Young Henry had his first introduction to Minerva at St. Clair and for his higher education matriculated in the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, from which institution he was gradnated with the class of 1896. He subsequently prepared for the law and in 1901 opened an office in St. Clair. He remained there for several years. early securing recognition for talents, and in 1908. seek- ing a larger field of endeavor, came to Port Huron, where he now resides.
Mr. Baird is of Scotch-German descent and evinces in himself the excellent characteristics of both nations. Both his paternal and maternal grandmothers came from the Fatherland. His grandfather. G. F. Baird. hailed from the "land o' cakes." The subject is one of a family of
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several children. One brother, W. L. Baird, resides in Santa Cruz, C'ali- fornia. IIe was born in 1878, was a student at the University of Michi- gan, and is now in commercial business. He has two living sisters and one deceased, the latter having been born in 1871 and died November 6. 1906. She became the wife of D. P. Webster, of Denver, but the greater part of her married life was passed at St. Clair. Kathleen, wife of R. M. Dye, a lawyer, lives in Davenport, Washington. She was born in 1872. Iva C., the youngest member of the family, born in 1884. is a teacher of physical training at Great Falls.
Mr. Baird, the immediate subject, finds pleasure and profit in his fraternal affiliations, which extend to the Knights of Pythias, the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. He takes a public-spirited interest in all matters affecting the general welfare. He has not yet become a recruit to the ranks of the Benedicts.
ELMER E. STOCKWELL, the subject of this sketeh, was born in Cor- unna, DeKalb county, Indiana, January 18, 1864. At this period the country was in the throes of the Civil war, and Elmer's father, Nathan P. Stockwell, had been in the Union army, having enlisted in an Indiana regiment in the latter part of the year 1862. He was with Grant at Forts Henry and Donaldson, and also participated in the battle at Shi- loh. On Sunday morning. April 6, 1862, Nathan P. Stockwell was severely wounded and was carried from the field in a helpless condition. Owing to the vast amount of work the hospital corps was called on to do and the large number of the wounded, the surgeons were unable to attend to him until the following day. At that time it was impossible to remove the ball from his shoulder and he was later on honorably dis- charged from the service. Returning to his home he again took up the duties of civil life, although he never fully recovered from the wound and was a constant sufferer during all his life as a result of the ball not being removed from his shoulder. When Elmer was two years of age his parents. Nathan P. and Susan Miers Stockwell, moved from Corunna to Danby township. Ionia county, Michigan, where the father engaged in farming. A few years later he entered the Methodist ministry and the family did not remain long in any one place.
At the age of fourteen, Elmer E. Stockwell went to Charlotte, Eaton county. Michigan, where he secured employment on a farm and the privi- lege of attending school. He continued to work for his board and attended the high school at Charlotte until he had prepared himself to teach, and during the last two years of his school work he taught during the spring term and kept up his studies, taking the examinations with his class at the end of the term. Having completed his school work in 1884. he came to Smith's Creek. St. Clair county, where his parents were then living, and soon thereafter secured employment as bookkeeper for James Lindsay, who was engaged in the wholesale hay and grain trade. In the summer of 1884 Elmer was engaged to teach the school in Dis- triet No. 6. Wales township. He was not able to begin school work the first of September. as he was ill of typhoid fever. However. the school board kindly consented to postpone commencement of school and waited for the teacher to recover his health, for even a quarter of a century ago time was a less important consideration than at the present.
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On the 13th of April, 1885, Mr. Stockwell married Miss Clara E. Lamb, who was born in Wales township, this county. Her parents were John A. and Helen Carpenter Lamb. For a time after his marriage he carried on his father-in-law's farm, and during the two years in which he was engaged in farming he taught school during the winter time. During all this time Mr. Stockwell had it in mind to become a lawyer, and spent all his spare time reading law. He continued to teach school, being in charge of the school at Wales Center two years and at Goodells for three years. On January 1, 1894, he was appointed a dep- uty colleetor of customs by Hon. Thomas Crocker, then collector of cus- tom at Port Huron. He was placed in charge of the bonded warehouse and remained in that position until December, 1896, when he was pro- moted to the position of liquidating clerk. He continued in the custom service until July 18, 1898, when he retired from government employ and began his professional work as an attorney-at-law.
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