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 3
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Mr. and Mrs. Parkinson have had a happy married life, and five chil- Vol. II-2
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dren have blessed their home, named as follows: Anna M., born August 9, 1880; Ralph H., born April 9, 1882; Blanch J., born October 31, 1884; Elizabeth F., born July 7, 1888; and R. Thomas, born September 23, 1890.
Mr. Parkinson acquired the interests of the other children in his father's homestead in Emmet township, and this remained his home for many years. He did well as a farmer, and has been best known through his activities for the promotion of the interests of the farm and the farmer. In addition to his farming, in 1883 he became traveling repre- sentative for the Advance Thresher Company of Battle Creek and con- tinued in that business ten years. In 1893 he disposed of the old farm and moved to Yale, where for a short time he was in partnership with William H. Harris in the implement business, He left this business in consequence of his election, in 1894, to the state legislature. He repre- sented his district during 1895-96 and made a creditable record as a legislator. In June, 1895, he established a general mercantile business at Yale, and continued as one of the merchants of the city until 1899. He then sold out and bought the farm, half a mile west of town, where he has ever since resided.
Mr. Parkinson has long been one of the active members of the Grange, and at the present time he is master of the Pomona Grange of St. Clair county. In politics he has always been identified with the Republican party, and besides his service in the legislature he has been justice of the peace and a school inspector. He continues the record of the family by his membership in the Masonic order, and he is also a member of the Eastern Star, the Maccabees and the Independent Order of Foresters. Few names have been more actively associated with the best interests of St. Clair county than that of Parkinson, and none with greater loyalty to the best principles of citizenship.
JOHN HOLDEN. Of the group of men who, taken collectively, control the chief business enterprise and industrial resources of the city of Yale, Mr. John Holden is one of the most influential and active. For more than a quarter of a century his name has been associated with the affairs of this vicinity, and always representing the highest personal integrity and business ability.
Mr. Holden was born in Strathroy, Ontario, on the 28th of April, 1849. His parents, Thomas and Caroline (Cooper) Holden, who were both natives of England, came from Canada in 1865 and settled on a farm three miles north of the village of old Brockway in St. Clair county. There the father developed a good homestead, the children were brought up prepared for lives of useful efforts, and there the father passed away in 1877. The mother is still living and makes her home in Yale. The nine children in the family are named as follows: John, James C., Thomas G., Jesse F., Cornelius R., King C., William A., George G. and Lillie M. With the exception of the daughter, the youngest, all are living and doing well.
John is the oldest of the family. He was educated in the common schools and up to the age of thirty-five was a practical, successful farmer. He then left the country and about 1885, with his brothers James C. and Cornelius R., engaged in the general merchandise business at Yale. their firm conducted under the name of Holden Brothers, being one of
John, Helden.
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the leading enterprises of the kind for eight years. Subsequently he was in the drug business, and later in the grain and hay business with Thomas Wharton, maintaining an elevator in connection with their enter- prise. After nine years he sold his interest to Wharton, and then for three years was in the hay business with James Hisey as partner, and since that time has engaged in this line of trade on his own account.
His interests have extended to many of the well known enterprises of Yale. In 1887 he and E. F. Law, buying six acres of land three- quarters of a mile west of Yale, laid out and developed the beautiful Elmwood cemetery, one of the most attractive cemeteries in the county. Ilis principal business for a number of years was the lumber trade. In 1903 he and his brother George G. established the Holden Lumber Com- pany at Yale, and in 1905 the business was reorganized and incorporated as the Yale Lumber & Coal Company. Mr. Holden had been treas- urer of the company from that date, but in 1912 he disposed of his interest in the lumber business. He was also one of the organizers of the Yale Canning Company in 1902 and is now president of this insti- tution, which is an industry of great importance in the prosperity of the city and the surrounding country. The Yale Milling Company was another enterprise which he helped organize and with which he is still identified. Fraternally Mr. Holden is affiliated with the Masonic order.
At Sarnia, Ontario, in June, 1890. Mr. Holden was united in mar- riage with Miss Agnes B. Loughead, who is one of the active members of Yale's social circles. She was born in Canada, a daughter of James and Margaret ( Kingston) Longhead. Mr. and Mrs. Holden are the parents of one daughter, Fredda, born December 2, 1891, who graduated from the Yale high schools with the class of 1911, and who also grad- uated in music and drawing in the Thomas Normal Training School at Detroit.
MAY ROBERTSON. Distinguished not only for her unblemished rec- ord as a women and a successful factor in the business world, but for the honored pioneer ancestry from which she is descended, is Miss May Robertson. of Marine City, who is engaged in the real estate and in- suranee business. In the present day, the capable, clever business woman has about been accepted as a matter of fact, and Marine City is glad to possess such an excellent representative of the type as she whose name inaugurates this review. She is a scion of pioneer stock, the Rob- ertsons having been one of the first families to settle in St. Clair county, Michigan. Her grandfather. Davis Robertson, pushed to the northwest- ward when the Redman still claimed Michigan as his own hunting- grounds, and not only took up land from the government of the United States, but purchased from the Indians the very farm which is now the property of Miss Robertson's parents. Coming when the country was so new and wild. he found much for his hands to do, but he successfully accomplished tasks upon which Hercules might have dislocated his arm. Her father, Orin Henry Robertson, was born upon his father's farm in 1827. and when his years permitted, he became a sailor, following the lakes for several years. In due time he married and reared a family, the young woman to become his wife and the mistress of his household be- ing Miss Emeline Henderson. a native of St. Clair township. Their union was blessed with two children. May being the elder.
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It is the distinction of Miss Robertson to have been born upon the old homestead farm upon which her father's eyes first opened to the light of day, and where her grandfather had encountered the adven- tures, pleasing and otherwise, of the frontiersman. Amid family asso- ciations of scores of years she passed her girlhood and her education was secured in the schools of Marine City. In the year 1898 she entered the employ of Mr. W. E. Hunt, who was county agent for several in- surance companies and who also was engaged in the real estate business and thus she had an opportunity to prove her business capability. In October, 1907. she purchased the business of Mr. Hunt and since that date she has conducted it most successfully, winning the confidence of all who have dealings with her and manifesting executive ability of a high order.
FRANK A. HILL. It is a pleasure to meet a man like Frank A. Hill, who is one of the most prominent merchants and business men in Avoca, Michigan. He is of that class of men who make up the bone and sinew of the nation. He is a man who thinks, who quietly manages to turn things the way he wishes, simply through the power of a superior intel- lect and a mind that has been trained to reason. He possesses a forceful personality. by which men unconsciously are influenced. When the flabbiness of the men who have our politics in their hands and the cold- blooded cruelty of many of the great financial and commercial leaders is brought to the realization of the people in such a way that they de- mand a change, it is from this class of quiet, thinking, practical, business men that the new leaders are drawn. It is this class that makes the American nation a thing of solidarity and not as foreigners often sup- pose, a group of loosely connected people, lacking in all that goes to make national unity. Mr. Hill is not now active in politics, but should the time ever come, he is the kind of man who will be needed. He started his business career in a very modest fashion, but by hard work and close application he has developed it into an important industry. In de- veloping his business he has himself developed into an all-around busi- ness man, who is capable of taking charge of practically any line of work with which he has ever been placed in contact.
Frank A. Hill was born in Canada, on the 14th of April. 1854, the son of James Hill and Almeda (Schedule) Hill. James Hill was also a native of Canada and was the son of Joshua Hill. He was mar- ried in Lower Canada, and after his marriage moved to Lampton county, Ontario. In 1865 he came to the United States and located in Michigan. He lived for many years at Jeddo, and there his death oc- curred. He was the father of six boys and two girls, as follows: Wil- liam S. and Aaron S. Hill, both of whom reside in Greenwood town- ship; Ann, who is the wife of John Sullroan, of Jeddo; Roval, who lives in Clifford. Michigan ; Henry, of Bad Axe, Michigan : James E .. who lives in California : and Emma, who married Frank Nesbitt, of Deford, Michigan ; and Frank A.
The childhood and vouth of Frank A. Hill were spent on a farm in St. Clair county, where he divided his time between work on the farm and attendance at the district school, with considerable time left over to devote to sport and plav. He was always fond of reading and was a good student, going to school until he was seventeen years of age.
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He then had advanced as far as the district school teachers could take him, so he became a teacher himself. Ile taught school for twelve years in the counties of St. Clair and Sanilac, and was not only popular with the parents. but with the children. This is evidence that he had much taet and understood human nature, be it twelve of sixty. In spite of his success he grew weary of the routine after a time and turned to the business field for a change. He chose the mercantile field. and opened a small store in Avoca. He soon had a growing trade and from that time, over twenty years ago, his business has grown steadily. From merchandise he branched out into the elevator business, and with him in this connection he has his son-in-law, H. M. Wadsworth. In ad- dition to this industry he also owns a farm of one hundred and twenty acres in Kenockee township. These three lines of interest of his are all very dissimilar, and are good proof of the versatility of the man. and of what a well trained mind can accomplish.
Frank A. Hill was married in June, 1875, to Malvina Bradley. She is a native of Michigan, having first seen the light of day in Sanilac county, on the 22nd of January. 1860. Her education was received in the district schools. Mr. and Mrs. Hill became the parents of one daughter, Mande, who was born in April, 1877. She was educated in the common schools and in the district schools, and became the wife of HI. M. Wadsworth. They have two children, Lancelot, aged twelve, and Francis, a babe of three.
Mr. Hill and his family are members of the Methodist church, and he himself is very prominent in the affairs of the church. He is one of the trustees and is superintendent of the Sunday-school. He has never lost his interest in the education of children and takes much pleasure and apparently is able to do a great deal of good in his Sunday-school work. Ile is a member of the Brockway Lodge, No. 316, of the Ancient. Free and Accepted Masons. He makes an earnest and sineere attempt to live up to the high ideals set by this fraternity. In politics he was a Democrat and was once an active worker in the party ranks, but he no longer takes an active part. In fact he takes a greater interest in men now than in parties, for the two great parties no longer stand for great and distinet principles, and it is the candidates of the parties whom it is necessary to decide between. As a reward for the faithful service that he rendered his party, he was appointed postmaster by President Cleveland and held this position for four years.
JOHN HI. DANCEY. M. D. Conspienons among the active and able physicians and surgeons of St. Clair county is John HI. Dancey, M. D .. a man of keen intelligence and high mental attainments, who is meeting with unquestioned success in the practice of his profession in the village of Capac, where he has resided for the past sixteen years. He is a Can- adian by birth, having made his entry upon the stage of existenee in Aylmer. Ontario, April 15. 1873, and is of honored Irish stoek, being a lineal descendant of Dr. Edward Daneey, the founder of the Dancey family in America.
Born and reared in Ireland. Edward Dancey received excellent edu- eational advantages in his native country, being graduated from the Medical Department of Trinity College. Immigrating then to the United States, he spent a few months in New York City, and then went to Can-
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ada, locating at Aylmer as the first physician of that place, and was there a resident until his death.
The doctor's father, B. E. Dancey, was engaged in agricultural pur- suits throughout his entire life. He married Julia A. Lightfoot, who has also passed to the life beyond. Six children were born of their union, John H., of this brief personal review, having been the third son in suc- cession of birth.
Being fitted for college at the Aylmer Preparatory School, John H. Dancey was subsequently graduated from the Aylmer Collegiate Insti- tute. Going then to Toronto, he matriculated in arts at the University of Toronto, and in 1892 entered the Trinity Medical College, from which he was graduated in 1896 with the degrees of M. D., C. M., and F. T. M. C. In the fall of 1896, Dr. Dancey began the practice of his chosen profes- sion in Capac, Michigan, and met with such encouraging results from the start that he has continued here ever since, his patronage being ex- tensive and remunerative. Progressive and public-spirited, the doctor takes much interest in local affairs, and is prominent and influential in the. community. A stanch Republican in his political affiliations, he served as village and township clerk for ten years, was president of the village for two years, and when the board of auditors was created in St. Clair county, he was appointed by the board of supervisors as an auditor, and had the honor of being selected by the other members as chairman of the board of auditors, a position which he filled creditably and satisfactorily for three years. Fraternally Dr. Dancey is a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Order of Masons, of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, of the Knights of the Maccabees, of the Modern Woodmen of America, and of other beneficial organizations, in each of which he is medical examiner.
Dr. Dancey married, in 1897, Nellie B. Hewitt, a native of Capac, Michigan, and they have one child, Hewitt Dancey, whose birth occurred in April, 1905.
JAMES A. MUIR. Finely educated and of studious habits, James A. Mnir, of Port Huron, has achieved a noteworthy success through a sys- tematic application of his abilities to the demands of the legal profession, and is known as a prosperous and able attorney. A son of Archibald M. Mnir, he was born October 15, 1866, at Port Dalhousie, Ontario, Canada, coming from excellent Scotch ancestry.
Archibald M. Muir was born in Stirling, Scotland, in 1833. During his earlier life he was engaged in sea-faring pursuits, but later estab- lished himself as a ship builder in Canada. In 1867 he came with his family to St. Clair county, Michigan, where from 1867 until 1874 he carried on an extensive business, having a large ship yard, in which he built many vessels, including among others the "Groton," the "Amer- ica," the "Pulaski," the "Fannie Neil," and the "Vanderbilt," which is still in existence. He lost his life at sea, being drowned October 2. 1892, while sailing on the "Nashua." He married in 1860, Elizabeth Gregory, who was born, in 1834, in Canada, near St. Catharines, Lincoln county, Ontario, where her parents, who were U. E. Loyalists, received a large tract of land from England. Nine children were born of their union, as follows: a child that died in infancy ; Alexander, deceased : William Frederick. Johnson G., James A., the special subject of this
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brief sketch; Florence E., Jessie A., Emma K., deceased; and Mary Agnes.
But an infant when brought by his parents to Port Huron, James A. Muir was graduated from the Port Huron high school with the class of 1883, and for four years thereafter sailed the lakes. Going to Ann Arbor in 1887, he entered the law department of the University of Mich- igan, from which he was graduated with the degree of LL. B., in 1889. Returning to Port Huron, he entered the employ of C. A. Hovey, one of the foremost lawyers of the city, and when, in 1890, Mr. Hovey was elected prosecuting county attorney, Mr. Muir was appointed first as- sistant prosecuting county attorney, his term beginning January 1, 1891. Resigning the position a few months later, he assumed charge of the of- tice of Atkinson, Vance & Wolcott, who had the largest practice of any law firm in the city, and continued with these men until 1893, when he purchased the practice of C. A. Hovey, who had made up his mind to locate in the west. Mr. Hovey, however, returned to Port Huron a few months later, and the firm of Hovey & Muir was at once organized, and continued until 1894, when it was dissolved. In 1896 Mr. Muir formed a partnership with Elmer D. Smith, with whom he was associated until 1898, when Mr. Smith went west. Mr. Muir has since been engaged in the practice of his profession alone, and through his skill and ability has won a large and generous patronage.
Ile married, in 1893, Laura M. Findley, of Akron, Ohio, who was also born of Scotch ancestry. She is a woman of talent and culture, is a member of the Port Huron Board of Library Commissioners, and treas- urer of the Michigan State Federation of Women's Clubs. She is a member of the Congregational Church, and is one of its active workers. Mr. Muir was reared in the Presbyterian faith, his father having been one of the pillars of the old United Presbyterian Church of Port Huron. Fraternally, Mr. Muir is a member of the Knights of Pythias and of its Grand Lodge; of the college fraternity, Sigma Chi, and of numerous fraternal beneficary societies.
JOHN E. GREEN owns a finely improved farm in section 1 of Kenockee township, St. Clair county. and in the culture and improvement of this place he has come to be recognized as one of the valuable adjuncts of the district. He has labored diligently in the upbuilding of his interests in the farming community wherein his farm is located, and the results of his labors are everywhere apparent in the excellent condition of his surroundings. Undoubtedly he has contributed his full quota towards the growth of his township in an agricultural way.
Mr. Green was born in Canada, on December 12, 1863. He is the son of Ephraim and Hannah (Pickett) Green, and the grandson of Leonard Green, likewise a native of Canada. Ephraim and Hannah Green came to the United States in 1864, and immediately settled in Kenockee, where they remained until recent years, when they removed to Port Huron, which now represents their home. They became the parents of ten chil- dren, all of whom are living at this time (1912). They are: Jennie, the wife of Edwin Hescott ; John E .. of Kenockee township ; Edna, who mar- ried George Eastline: John, who married Mande MeCay; Minnie, the wife of a Mr. Licebrooke : Reuben, married to Maude Finskerl; Florence.
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the wife of Ed. Phillips; Emanuel, who married Edith Finskie; Ora, single ; and Alma, the wife of P. King.
John E. Green was reared on the farm which he now owns. As a boy and youth he attended the district schools of his community, at- tending with a degree of regularity until he reached the age of sixteen, when he gave his full time to the work of the farm in summer and the lumber woods in the winter seasons. He continued thus until he was twenty-four years of age. Some years later he became the owner of the farm of one hundred and sixty aeres on which he had been reared, and settled down to the busy life of the farmer. The worthy accomplish- ments of the ensuing years have already been set forth in a preceding paragraph, and further enumeration would be superfluous. Mr. Green has ever been an important factor in the civic life of his township, and is at present a justice of the peace and a member of the township board. His political allegiance is given to the Republican party, and he has always been active in its interests. He is a member of the Maccabees and of the Modern Brotherhood of America.
On May 1, 1889, Mr. Green was united in marriage with Anna Bal- mer, a native of Kenoekee township, born there in July, 1867. She is a daughter of Alex. Balmer, a farmer of this community, and as a young woman spent several years as a teacher of the district schools. Seven children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Green: Alexander; Clair ; Grant ; Marion ; Kenneth and Kathleen, twins; and Edith. The Greens are a fine family of sturdy traits and kindly instincts, and have added much to the betterment of the social and civic life of their community, the while they have made material progress in the accumulating of this world's goods.
FRANK O. PUTNEY. A wide-awake, brainy man, enterprising and energetie, owning and occupying one of the most highly improved and best equipped farms in Brockway township, is not only one of the lead- ing agriculturists of Saint Clair county, but is actively identified with many other outside interests of importance, being one of the busiest men in the county. A native of Michigan, he was born April 15, 1871, in Sanilae county, where his father, Elmore Putney, was an early set- tler.
Elmore Putney was born in Waddington, Saint Lawrence county, New York, December 6, 1839, and was there engaged in agricultural pursuits during his early manhood. In 1862 he offered his services to his country, enlisting in the One Hundred and Sixth New York Vol- unteer Infantry, which became a part of the Army of the Potomac, and served until the close of the war. With his brave comrades he took part in many of the most hard-fought battles of the war, meeting the enemy face to face fourteen times, and twice being wounded. Coming with his family to Michigan in 1867, he bought a tract of heavily tim- bered land in Speaker township, Sanilae county, and on the farm which he reclaimed from the forest was for many years successfully engaged in agricultural pursuits. Having accumulated a fair share of this world's goods, he retired from active business, and is now living in Sandusky. an esteemed and honored citizen of the place. Throughout his many years of residence in Sanilae county, he ever took an intelligent interest in public matters. and in addition to having served several terms as
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township supervisor represented his district in the State Legislature. Ile is a staunch Republican in politics, and both he and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. He married Harriet Porteus, who was also born in Waddington, New York, and they are the parents of six children, as follows: Charles G., of Sandusky, Mich- igan is now serving as state senator; Wallace L., of Sanilae county; Rollin E., of the same county; Frank O., the special subject of this brief personal record : Herbert L., of Topeka, Kansas; and Mabel A .. wife of Allen Moore, of Sandusky, Michigan.
Brought up on the parental homestead, Frank O. Putney obtained his elementary education in the district schools, after which he com- pleted a course of study at a business college in Ypsilanti, Michigan. In 1891 and 1892 he was employed as a clerk in a general store, and from that time until 1901 was engaged in business for himself at Yale, Michigan, being a member of the mercantile firm of Chamberlain, l'ut- ney & Company, general merchants. Selling his interests then in the business, Mr. Putney bought his present farm in Brockway township, and has since carried on general farming in a systematic and scientific manner, each year reaping abundant harvests.
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