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 32
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Justin R. Whiting was as prominent in political and business affairs as his father had been in military. In 1882 he entered upon a brilliant publie career, being elected to the state senate of Michigan from his district. Four years later he was elected to the lower house of Congress from the Seventh Michigan district, and his services as representative proved of such high character that he was returned in 1888 and 1890. Upon his retirement from Congress Mr. Whiting returned to St. Clair and resumed business in this city. However, in 1898, he consented to become candidate for the office of governor of Michigan upon the Demo- cratic ticket, but was defeated by Governor Hazen Pingree.
John P. Whiting received the greater part of his preliminary edu- cation in the schools of St. Clair, but during the sessions of Congress of 1886 and 1888 the family resided in the national capital and John attended the public schools of that city. He was graduated in 1889 from the St. Clair high schools and in the fall of that year he entered the literary department of the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor and continued there as a student until 1890. His father being one of the founders and incorporators of that mammoth enterprise, the Diamond Crystal Salt Company, at the desire of the elder gentleman Mr. Whiting became a factor in its affairs and he returned to St. Clair from college. Subsequently his father sold his interests in the salt business and the subject returned to Ann Arbor, this time entering the law department, for at that time he had some thought of engaging in that profession. He discovered, however, that he had stronger inclinations toward a com- mercial career and he returned to St. Clair and engaged with his father in business.
Mr. Whiting, the immediate subject, is not unknown to public life, having been elected mayor of the city shortly after his return from col- lege in 1894. He was at that time but twenty-three years of age and was known over Michigan as the "Boy Mayor," being one of the youngest men who have ever held the office in the commonwealth. He was, never- theless very successful in his important position, showing judgment executive capacity and enlightened ideals beyond those usually possessed
Franklin Moore
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by one of his years. In 1898 Mr. Whiting and J. H. Bushnell purchased the Solis & Carpenter hardware business and the firm became known as Whiting & Bushnell. In 1903, Mr. Whiting purchased Mr. Bushnell's interest and he continued sole proprietor of that business until the spring of 1911, when the Whiting Zink Company was organized.
On February 2, 1897, Mr. Whiting abandoned the ranks of the bachelors to become a recruit to the benedicts, the young woman to be- come his wife being Mrs. Jeanette O'Brien, nee Adams. Their home is one of the attractive ones of the city and is the center of gracious hos- pitality. Mr. Whiting is a Democrat, of tried and true conviction, and his fraternal obligation is with the ancient and august Masonic order, whose ideals he exemplifies in his own living.
HON. FRANKLIN MOORE. It is not an easy task to describe adequately a man who has led an eminently active and busy life and who has at- tained a position of relative distinction in the community with which his interests are allied. But biography finds its most perfect justification. nevertheless, in the tracing and recording of such a life history. It is then, with a full appreciation of all that is demanded and of the pains- taking scrutiny that must be accorded each statement, and yet with a feeling of satisfaction, that the writer essays the task of touching briefly upon the detail of such a record as has been that of the honored subject whose life now comes under review, Hon. Franklin Moore, secretary and treasurer since its organization of the Diamond Crystal Salt Company. one of the most extensive salt producing plants in the world, a former newspaper man of note and a representative from St. Clair county to the state assembly. He stands as one of the city's most prominent and pub- lie spirited citizens, ever ready to contribute to any worthy object for the betterment of St. Clair and its people.
Franklin Moore was born in St. Clair township, September 6, 1845, the son of Reuben and Margaret Moore. His early education was re- ceived in the district schools, which he attended to the age of fourteen years, with the exception of two years when he attended a private school in St. Clair city. He subsequently entered Williston Seminary at East- hampton, Massachusetts, and from its preparation entered Yale Univer- sity, from which he received his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1868. Upon completing school at Yale he returned to Michigan and engaged in the lumbering business at Saginaw, remaining there until 1875, in which year he purchased a farm in St. Clair township, which he operated for ten years. Desiring a wider field of activity, Mr. Moore purchased the St. Clair Republican, which he owned and edited for a period of seven- teen years, and meantime gained pleasant distinction as one of the ablest journalists of this section of the state. During this period of his con- nection with the Fourth Estate he was twice appointed postmaster of St. Clair, his first appointment being under the administration of Presi- dent James A. Garfield. He served about nine years in the capacity of postmaster, giving the highest satisfaction to all concerned.
It was during the time of his ownership of the Republican that Mr. Moore and three other citizens of St. Clair organized what is now the Diamond Crystal Salt Company, one of the largest salt producing plants in the world. Such high prestige has this concern attained in its par- ticular field that it is safe to say that there is not a civilized country in
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the world which does not know and use Diamond Crystal table salt. Upon the organization of the company he was elected secretary and treasurer, and this office he has continuously held to the present time, his enterprise and fine executive force contributing in large measure to the success of the company, which has done so much toward the growth of the community in which it is situated.
Mr. Moore has for many years been prominent and helpful in public affairs. In 1877 he was elected a member of the board of education of St. Clair and held the office until 1883, and in 1894, after an interim of eleven years, he was again elected to the office and served until 1900. In 1896 he was chosen supervisor of his ward. In the fall of 1898 he was elected by his party representative to the state legislature and in 1900 received the compliment of reelection. During his first term he was a member of the ways and means committee and during his second was chairman of that on apportionment, etc., and of that on private corpora- tions. He did much for the county, devoting all his energies to the interests of his constituency.
On June 11, 1873, Mr. Moore laid the foundations of a happy life companionship by his marriage with Miss Emily Parmalee, of Toledo, Ohio, daughter of William G. Parmalee, of that city. The following four children have been born to them: Laura, January 19, 1875; Frank- lin, Jr., born September 6, 1877; Margaret, born November 28, 1879, wife of Henry J. Phelps, of Detroit, and Emily, born January 4, 1886, now a teacher in Albert Lea College at Albert Lea, Minnesota.
Mr. Moore and his admirable wife attend the Congregational church, of which he is a member and staunch supporter, in a financial sense. He is a gentleman who dislikes argument, but being of sound principle and staunch conviction, when it becomes necessary he can take a stand so firm as to be unalterable, and be unshaken by the opinions of others. One of his fondest desires is to see St. Clair grow and prosper and to become one of the leading cities, not only commercially, but in the way of beauty and high civic standing. In both society and church work he is retiring, but in each he holds a leading position. The only fraternal order to which he belongs is the Knights of the Maccabees.
WILLIAM J. SCOTT. The contracting and building interests of Port Huron are well represented, the ranks of this vocation being filled with men of enterprise and public spirit who have brought to their work ingenuity and modern ideas, and have not only built up and developed the city, but added to its beauty by the erection of handsome structures calculated to defy the ravages of time. One of the successful contractors of Port Huron is William J. Scott, whose activities have been centered in this city for a period covering thirteen years. Mr. Scott's birth occurred in Canada, June 12, 1867, and he is a son of James and Mary (Watson) Scott, natives of the Dominion. James Scott is now a resident of Michigan, while his wife is deceased.
William J. Scott received his education in the public schools of his native vicinity, and on completing his studies he began to work with his father, assisting him in the work of the home farm. In 1888 he came to Port Huron, where he was employed as a journeyman until 1898, at which time he commenced contracting on his own account, and has so continued with much success. He started in with little capital, but as
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he gradually won the confidence of the people through his straightfor- ward business methods and the excellence of his work his business grew, and year by year he has been compelled to hire larger numbers of men to complete his contracts. He has erected a great many of the new resi- dences in Port Huron, and the modern methods which he uses in his work insures his customers of the best value for their money. As he is a good business man, so has he been a useful and public-spirited citizen, but he has never cared to enter public life, his whole time having been devoted to the building up of a well-established business and the estab- lishing of a comfortable home for his family. In politics he is a Repub- lican, and his fraternal connections are with the Masons, the Knights of Pythias and the Maccabees.
In 1888 Mr. Scott was married to Miss Jennie Cataline, who was born in Huron county. Michigan, daughter of James and Catherine ( MeDon- ald ) Cataline, the former a native of Michigan and the latter of Ireland, and both now deceased. Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Scott: Leighton James, born May 25, 1894, attending the Port Huron high school, and Francis William, born October 5, 1897. Both are mem- bers of the Congregational church, which their parents also attend. Mrs. Scott is an Eastern Star Pythian, and belong to the Sisters of the Royal Neighbors and the Lady Maccabees. The comfortable home at No. 2225 Military street was erected by Mr. Scott in 1910, and in addition to this he owns numerous other dwellings and building property in Port Huron. His office is situated at No. 913 Sixth street.
MARSHAL O. HITCHINGS. Mr. Hitchings' ancestry is of the sturdy stock of the Nova Scotians both on his father's and on his mother's side. Both were born at New Brunswick in the province of "New Scot- land" and possessed in generous measure those qualities which make the greatness of the Anglo-Saxon both in the new world and in the old. They came to this county some sixty years ago and settled on the farm where James Hitchings died in 1900 on February 14, and where Marshal O. Hitchings still resides. His mother, Martha J. Simpson Hitchings, is at present living in this county.
There were a round dozen in the family of James Hitchings, six boys and six girls. Nettie lives at Free Soil, Michigan. Manley's home is in St. Clair county. Cora died two years ago and Edward passed away in 1910. William lives in St. Clair county ; Clifford, in New Orleans. Fred makes his home with his brother Marshal on the old home place. Clara lives in Port Huron ; Nellie, in Liverpool, England; Bessie, at Wyandotte. Michigan, where she is principal of a school. Grace has been dead since 1899.
Marshal Hitchings was born November 19, 1877. and attended the district schools in the county, also the International Business College of Port Huron, from which he graduated in 1899. Since that time he has been engaged in farming and is known as one of the rising young men of the section. He is a Republican and has served one term as justice of peace. He is now serving his first term as township treasurer and is. besides, a director of his school district. He is a member of the Masons and of the Knights of Pythias. Mr. Hitchings is not only a skillful farmer but a man of broad views and high ideals of civic duty
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whose many friends confidently expect him to achieve ever-increasing eminence and prosperity.
Russ S. JENKS. Among the monetary institutions which emphasize and exert marked influence in conserving the financial stability and com- mercial prestige of St. Clair county is the Commercial Exchange Bank of St. Clair city, and in the management of its affairs, holding a position of prominence and relative priority, is Russ S. Jenks, cashier of the in- stitution mentioned. It is indeed true that to his discrimination and well directed administrative dealing is in large part due the fact that it has become one of the county 's popular and substantial banking houses.
Mr. Jenks is a native son of St. Clair, Michigan, his birth having oc- curred here June 10, 1867. His parents, Bela W. and Sarah (Carlton) Jenks, were New Yorkers, and the former came to the Wolverine state to engage in lumbering and shipping. Russ took his first draughts at the Pierian spring of learning in the public schools of his native place, and was graduated from the high school with the class of 1884. He was naturally inclined toward business and soon after his graduation went to Detroit, where he entered the Detroit Business College and there took a course in commercial training. He then returned to St. Clair and went into business in association with his father, who at that time was buying and shipping large quantities of hay. His career in the banking business was inaugurated in January, 1886, when he entered the First National Bank of St. Clair as bookkeeper. In October of that year the bank was reorganized and made a state commercial and savings bank, with William S. Hopkins as president and R. H. Jenks as cashier. Mr. Jenks con- tinued with the bank during the succeeding years in various capacities, at all times proving faithful and efficient and in 1894 he was elected cashier, which position he now holds. C. C. Jenks, of Detroit, is presi- dent of the bank.
In 1890 Mr. Jenks became a recruit to the ranks of Benedicts, the lady of his choice being Miss Grace Kitton, of St. Clair. She is a na- tive daughter of the place, her parents being John E. and Jane (Carroll) Kitton. Mr. Kitton was born in England, but became an American cit- izen years ago and for an extended period had been engaged in business in St. Clair. Mr. and Mrs. Jenks share their attractive home with two children, Carroll K., born in 1899, and Margaret Lee, born in 1903.
In 1908 Mr. Jenks received the compliment of election to St. Clair's mayoralty, and he gave enlightened and progressive service in this im- portant capacity. At the present time he is alderman from his ward, and for years he has been a member of the board of education. Mrs. Jenks is a member of the Episcopal church, which her husband attends and to whose support he liberally contributes. He is a Mason and a Maccabee, who in his own life exempifies their high ideals, and his polit- ical faith is that of the "Grand Old Party," as its adherents are pleased to term it.
ANDREW J. SMITH. Michigan has many beautiful cities, attractive from every point of view, and among these Detroit and Port Huron in- vite a large measure of admiration, the substantial character of their leading business structures, the beautiful, artistic residences which adorn their fine streets, their churches, school-houses, marts of trade and com-
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meree in every line, together with their numerous public buildings, fre- quently eliciting praise from the stranger within their gates and ques- tioning as to the personality of the agent through whom all this has been brought about. The intelligent and well-informed resident will answer, Andrew J. Smith, who is at the head of the Andrew J. Smith Construc- tion Company, Detroit, and of the firm of A. J. Smith & Sons, contrac- tors, Port Huron.
Andrew J. Smith was born in Scotland, August 10, 1850, a son of John and Mary (Legg) Smith, both natives of Seotland. The family came to county Waterloo, Canada, where the father worked as a car- penter. When civil war was declared in the United States, he enlisted in a regiment that was recruited at Elmira, New York, and served as a soldier throughout the entire war. In 1868 the family came to Port Huron and here, in 1876, John Smith lost his life, being accidentally drowned while at work building a cabin on the boat "The Couch." Ilis burial was in Lakeside cemetery. His widow survived him for many years, her death taking place in 1901, at Sarnia, Canada.
Andrew J. Smith recalls nothing of his native land, as he was but two years old when his parents came to Canada, and he lived in the Dominion until he was eighteen years old, securing a good, common- school education and learning the carpenter trade in the meanwhile. IIe worked as a journeyman carpenter at Port Huron from 1868 until 1871, and then started into contracting, with partners, the firm name being Casler, Cooley & Smith. This firm did an immense amount of business at Port Huron and Mr. Smith erected the old Huron House, or the St. Clair Hotel, with others. The first contract that Mr. Smith handled by himself was the James Beard residence, where David MeMora now re- sides, and his first contract under the firm name was the residence of 1. Chamberlain, on Tenth street, and the next one was the Vorhees house down the river, over the tunnel. He has built by far the greater number of the city's fine buildings of all descriptions, a few of which may be named. In 1891 he erected the residence of Judge Stevens, that of A. P. Bennett and Mrs. Dr. Wilson ; rebuilt for E. G. Spalding and A. A. Graves; built the Wilcox house on Griswold street; the residence of Frank Pevy and those of Edward Bosford and Mrs. A. R. Ballentine. Among the public and business structures may be named; The Meisel block, the White block. the Sherman block, the Moore block, the Appel building. the St. Clair County Savings bank, the German Evangelical church, the Congregational church rebuilt, the Harrison school and the Lincoln school, these being but a small part of the work done under the supervision of Mr. Smith in a comparatively short time. He built also the Ubly bank, at Ubly, Michigan ; a bank building at Badaxe, Michigan ; the Hudson. Packard and Ford automobile plant at Detroit. one of the three largest in the city ; also the Leonard storage plant on Jefferson street, the largest of its kind in Detroit : the Stevens building on Wood- ward avenue, which is now occupied by Mr. Hudson ; and is also engaged in adding five stories on the Detroit Y. M. C. A. building. Within the past twenty-two months Mr. Smith has done over two million dollars worth of work at Detroit alone. In addition to the unusually fine build- ings above mentioned he additionally was the builder and contractor of the elegant mansion of Loren Sherman and worked on the Port Huron custom house, and built the Lincoln Avery palatial residence, and all
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the buildings on the state fair grounds at Detroit. The Andrew J. Smith Construction Company has offices in the Campau Building, Detroit, while the office of A. J. Smith & Sons, Port Huron, is at No. 409 Pine street.
On November 11, 1874, Mr. Smith was married to Miss Mary M. Quinn, who was born at Montreal, Canada. They have four children : Maynard D., Herbert W., Lester A. and Earl E., all of whom were born in the present beautiful home at No. 1204 Court street, Port Huron, which Mr. Smith erected in 1870, owning five other pieces of improved real estate on the same street. The eldest son, Maynard D., was born in 1876, was liberally educated and is associated with his father in the contracting business, residing at Detroit, where he fills the office of treasurer of the Andrew J. Smith Construction Company and is its man- ager. He married Miss Laura Reynolds, and they have two sons, An- drew R. and Maynard, aged respectively six and four years. The second son, Herbert W. Smith, who was born in 1880, is also associated with his father in the above business enterprises and has charge of the Port Huron office. The third son, Lester A., who was born January 3, 1881, is also in the office, while the youngest, Earl E., who was born in 1883, has not yet completed his education. Mr. Smith's sons are young men of substantial character, creditable to their parentage and community. Mr. Smith is a Presbyterian in his religious faith, while Mrs. Smith is a member of the Congregational church. In his political views, Andrew J. Smith is a Republican and has served three terms as assessor and at present is one of the city commissioners. He is fraternally identified with the Maccabees, Odd Fellows and Elks. Probably no citizen of Port Huron stands higher in public esteem than Andrew J. Smith, his name being a pledge for honest work of the highest type, business in- tegrity in every transaction, and a conscientious devotion to duty that makes him a valuable citizen.
WALTER JOHN TRUMBLE. A well known and highly respected citizen of Saint Clair, Michigan, Walter John Trumble, has served as letter car- rier for the past six years, during which time his prompt and efficient service, and his accommodating spirit have won for him a host of friends, not only among his special patrons, but throughout the community. A native of Michigan, he was born May 29, 1864, in China township, Saint Clair county, a son of William and Hattie (Crane) Trumble, both of whom came as children from New York to Saint Clair county, Michigan, with their parents.
Brought up on a farm, Walter John Trumble gleaned his early edu- cation in the district schools of China township. Ambitious as a boy to fit himself for a career above that of the farmer as he then knew it, he studied hard during his long vacations, making such progress in his les- sons that he was enabled to enter the Saint Clair high school. On leaving that institution he taught school one winter, after which he entered Albion College, in Albion, Michigan. At the end of a year he was com- pelled by stress of circumstances to leave college. Returning to his home town, Mr. Trumble became a teacher in the Bell district school, in which his grandfather and his mother had previously taught for a number of terms. In the fall of 1888, accompanied by his bride, Mr. Trumble moved to Topeka, Kansas, where he was for three years employed as a
11" j. Mitchell
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teacher in the public schools. Returning then to Michigan, he served for five years as principal of the Bell River Mills school, after which he held the principalship of the eighth grade schools of Saint Clair for three years, as a teacher being ever successful and popular. He was subsequently employed as a bookkeeper until December, 1906, when he accepted his present position as a letter carrier in Saint Clair, an office which he is filling most satisfactorily to all concerned, his faithfulness to his duties and his consideration of his patrons rendering him as pop- ular in the mail service as he was in his professional career.
Mr. Trumble married, June 20, 1888, Lucy Ann West, who was born in Columbus township, Saint Clair county, Michigan, a daughter of Frederick and Arzelia (Beckwith) West. Mr. and Mrs. Trumble have two children, namely : Hattie A., born November 15, 1890, is a teacher in Saint Clair county, and Marion E., born in August, 1894. Politically Mr. Trumble is a Republican and fraternally he belongs to the Knights of the Maccabees. He is an active worker in the Methodist Episcopal church, of which his grandparents on his mother's side were founders and members.
HON. WILLIAM THOMAS MITCHELL. In these days when so many public officials are dishonest the memory of those whose public characters were untainted, who held office as a sacred trust, and who took the re- sponsibilities laid upon their shoulders as debts they owed their com- munity is very dear. Belonging to this class is Judge William Thomas Mitchell, the venerable dean of the St. Clair county bar, a pioneer of Port Huron who has seen the city grow from a hamlet of a few straggling primitive cabins to a commercial and industrial centre, and a man who has done his full share in bringing about the wonderful changes that have taken place here. Although advanced in years, Judge Mitchell is still in the active practice of law, and the brilliance, the deep knowl- edge, the judicial mind are still as much in evidence as they were when he came to Port Huron in 1847. Judge Mitchell was born at Middle- bury, Wyoming (then Genesee) county, New York, May 27, 1817, and is a son of Judge William and Rachel (Parker) Mitchell. Judge William Mitchell, who was a native of Vermont, became first a school teacher, later a lawyer, and was eventually appointed first judge of Genesee county, court of common pleas.
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