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 39
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
In 1897 Mr. West was appointed inspector of baggage by A. R. Avery, and after four months received the appointment to the position of liquidatory clerk, and later entry clerk, in which capacity he served until 1907. A stanch Republican in his political views, he has been an active worker in the ranks of his party in Port Huron, and his popu- larity and the recognition of his ability caused him to be elected alder- man of the Tenth ward for two terms. His fraternal affiliations are with the B. P. O. E., Port Huron Lodge, No. 343.
WILLIAM V. ANDREAE. Inheriting in no small measure the habits of industry, honesty and thrift characteristic of his German ancestors, Wil- liam V. Andreae has met with eminent success as a manufacturer, an
andreas
772
HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY
agriculturist and a financier, and holds high rank among the leading citi- zens of Saint Clair county, his home being in Yale. A son of Charles Andreae, he was born in Ashland, Ohio, February 24, 1850, and there spent his childhood days.
Born in Stuttgart, Germany, in 1815, Charles Andreae served an apprenticeship at the weaver's trade in the Fatherland, and was there married. In 1845 he came with his family to the United States, being forty-five days in crossing the Atlantic. Locating in Ashland, Ohio, he followed his trade in that place for three years, after which he removed to Essex county, Canada, where he took up from the government a traet of wild land and began the pioneer task of redeeming a farm from the wilderness. His wife dying in 1859, he gave up farming and went to Chatham, Ontario, where for ten years he and his three sons worked in a woolen mill. Coming to Michigan in 1869, he, with John L. Fead, built a small woolen mill and operated it successfully until 1881, when he sold out his interests in the plant. Locating then in what was Brockway Cen- ter, but is now Yale, he and his sons built a small mill and engaged in business under the firm name of C. Andreae & Sons, at first working prin- cipally for the farmers, doing custom work. As soon as conditions and means demanded it the mill was enlarged, and he thus became the founder of what is to-day Yale's largest industry, the plant which he originally started now giving employment to one hundred or more people. In 1906 the business was incorporated under the name of the Yale Woolen Mills, outside capital being taken in and the plant again enlarged. After the death of Mr. Charles Andreae, which occurred March 15, 1892, the mill was for a number of years operated by his sons. William V., the subject of this sketch, and his brother, the late Rudolph Andreae. Of the union of Charles and Louisa (Eartly) Andreae, three sons were born and reared, and of these William V. is the sole survivor.
Beginning as a child to work in the mill with his father, William V. Andreae received but limited educational advantages, although for a time he worked in a general store and attended night school. Hle was for many years, as above mentioned, engaged in the woolen business with his father, and subsequently, from 1908 until 1911, was president of the Yale Woolen Mills, in which he is still a stockholder, although he has resigned the presi- deney. After his resignation from that office Mr. Andreae purchased a fine farm in Kenockee township, and in its management finds pleasure, health and profit. living with Nature in the free, open air, which agrees with him, making him, as he says, feel fit as a king, with neither ache or pain to disturb him.
Mr. Andreae is also associated with various financial institutions of importance, being vice-president of the First National Bank of Yale: sole owner of the Andreae Bank of Avoca, Michigan; and president of the Andreae. Beard, Windsor Bank at Melvin, Michigan. True to the political faith in which he was reared. Mr. Andreae is a Democrat, was the second president of his home village after its name was changed from Brockway Center to Yale, and subsequently served two terms as alderman. His family have been connected with the Lutheran church. and his wife belongs to the same.
Mr. Andreae married. May 16, 1878. Sophia Riekerman, who was born July 31. 1858, at Port Sanilac, Michigan. Her father. Charles Rickerman, was born in Germany. October 10, 1833, and died at Port
774
HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY
Sanilac, Michigan, January 29, 1911, while her mother, whose maiden name was Louisa Randever, was born in Germany, October 27, 1833, and died at Port Sanilac, August 27, 1910. Coming from the Father- land to Michigan in 1856, Mr. and Mrs. Rickerman located at Lexing- ton, where he worked for a time for Mr. J. L. Woods, an extensive lum- berman. Subsequently Mr. Rickerman took up a tract of land lying four miles from Port Sanilac, and was there engaged in farming until ready to retire from active pursuits, when he removed with his family to Port Sanilac. He and his wife reared seven children, namely : Charles Riekerman, of Port Sanilac; Mrs. Andreae; Augusta, wife of Thomas Alling; Henry, a resident of Duluth, Minnesota; Louisa, wife of John McGovern, of Toronto, Canada; John, living in Detroit; and Mary, wife of Eugene Jessop. Mr. and Mrs. Andreae are the parents of three children, namely: Charles V., cashier of the Andreae Bank at Avoca ; Louisa, wife of Guy Beard, of Yale; and Lloyd V., living at home.
JOHN F. WOLVIN. Among the representative business men of St. Clair none ranks higher nor bears a better reputation than does John F. Wolvin, for years past identified with the manufacturing interests of that city, and, since he sold his business to the Mills Lumber & Manu- facturing Company, superintendent of their plant. His operations in St. Clair have covered a long period of years, and since he was eighteen years of age he has been identified with the factory interests of the city. John F. Wolvin was born near Utica, New York, on a farm, October 5, 1841. He is the son of Levi and Jane (Henderson) Wolvin. The Wolvin family came to Michigan in 1836, coming in wagons across Can- ada and settling in St. Clair county, there taking up unimproved land in about the central part of the county. The early education of their son John F., was but of a very meagre nature. School advantages in the early days were limited, and the family circumstances did not permit a heavy outlay for such training. John F. worked on the farm of his father until he was eighteen years of age, when he entered the employ of P. D. Mitchell in his sash and door shop on Yankee street, near St. Clair village, to learn the business. He learned the business so well and made himself so valuable to Mr. Mitchell that in time he was taken into the business as a partner, and when the senior partner died and his sons stepped into his place, Mr. Wolvin continued in the business with them. Some time later he purchased the interest of the younger Mitchells and moved the plant into St. Clair, continuing with the operations of the plant for a number of years until he finally sold the business to the Mills Lumber & Manufacturing Company at a good figure, Mr. Wolvin remaining with the company in the capacity of superintendent of the plant, a position which he is abundantly able to fill, in view of his life- long experience in the business.
Mr. Wolvin is a man of quiet and kindly instincts. He has never entered the political field in any capacity, although often appealed to by his fellow townsmen to become identified with that line of endeavor, recognizing in him as they did an able man and one in whom the public might repose special confidence. He has always been prominent in church activities, early in life identifying himself with the Methodist Episcopal church, and has always held responsible offices in the church. He has been a member of the board of trustees of the church for years, and
775
HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY
when the present Methodist church was built at St. Clair he was a promi- nent member of its building committee. He is always ready and willing to lend his aid in any good work for the advancement and improvement of the city in any way, and is liberal in his gifts to worthy causes. He is a member of the Maccabees and of the Modern Woodmen.
In 1863 Mr. Wolvin married Miss Delilah Stevens, of Sanilae county. She died in 1875, withont issue. Mr. Wolvin contracted a second mar- riage in 1877, when he became the husband of Caroline Ballmay of St. Clair, but a native of Canada. Three children were born of this later union. They are George E., assistant cashier of the Commercial & Sav- ings Bank of St. Clair; Bertha, who is a teacher in the public schools of Seattle; and Elmer, a sailor on the Great Lakes.
BENJAMIN J. KARRER. The debt of America to Europe for citizens who have added to her strength is great indeed. and there are many who instance this as an argument that we should continue to open our doors to all who choose to come, but it must be remembered that those who came in the nineteenth century came to become a part of this country and that they brought to it ideals and standards of living sim- ilar to those of the nation of which they were to become citizens. There is still opportunity in America, but it is only for those who ean compete with the flower of our civilization; it was so in the past and those who have made good are men whose powers of mind and body were equal to the best of America. A signal example of such a career is that of Ben- jamin Karrer.
Switzerland was the birthplace of Peter Karrer, the father of Benjamin J. He was born about 1800 and was a cabinet maker by trade. He married Madeline Le Vere. a lady of French descent, who was born in the southern part of Switzerland. Their fifteen children were all born in the land of their parents' birth and lived there until 1847. when the family immigrated to America. They settled in Detroit, where the father followed his trade until his death. The mother lived to the age of eighty-nine. Of the nine girls and six boys in the Karrer family two of the latter and three of the former are still living: Caro- line, who is the wife of Charles Fredericks, a stained glass dealer in Detroit ; Madeline; Simon C., who is engaged in the real estate and in- snrance business ; Sophia, whose husband is Joseph Frederick, cashier of the German Savings Bank of Detroit, and Benjamin.
It was in Switzerland in 1842, on August 26. that Benjamin Karrer's life began. As he was but five years old when he came to America, he obtained his education in the Detroit schools. At the age of thirteen he left sehool to work in a grocery store, where he stayed two years. For the next four years he worked at the butcher business for different em- plovers. It was at this time that Lincoln made his second call for volun- teers, and the boy of nineteen responded and went forth to fight for the preservation of the country of his adoption. Until November, 1862, he served in Company K of the First Michigan Cavalry, and was then made first lieutenant in Company K of the Ninth Michigan Cavalry. He continued in this regiment until Jannary, 1864, when he was dis- charged on account of disabilities received in service. He participated in the first battle of Winchester. in the battle of Antietam, the siege of Vol. II-19
776
HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY
Knoxville, Murphysboro and in many others. It was during an engage- ment in Tennesse that he was disabled by a fall from his horse.
When Mr. Karrer came home from the army he at once went into the business of dealing in stock, and for a year bought and sold cattle in Detroit. In 1866 he left Detroit and went into the butcher business in Port Huron for Edward Kaseneyer, with whom he was associated for three years before taking up the same line of work for himself. He fol- lowed this trade for seven years and then, in 1876, bought a tract of land on Lapeer avenue, upon which he built a race track and a hotel, besides improving the tract in numerous ways. He conducted the hotel and track for three years and then leased the Union Hotel in Port Huron which he managed for six years. His next venture was to buy a lot and erect on it a building in which he conducted a restaurant for twenty-four years. His thrift and good judgment brought him ever- increasing prosperity, and he is now enjoying the fruits of his earlier efforts.
Mr. Karrer has been a Democrat all his life, casting his first vote for our chief executive in favor of George B. McClellan. He has been called upon to fill various offices in the city government. During the time when Mayor Boynton was in charge of the city administration Mr. Karrer was alderman. He has been city treasurer and served on the board of estimates, was three years city assessor and acted as commis- sioner of highways for the township of Port Huron. Since his childhood he has been a member of the Catholic church, and he is fraternally con- nected with the lodge of the Elks.
Mrs. Karrer was before her marriage Miss Louise B. Saety, of Lex- ington, Michigan. Her parents were born in Germany and came to this country in 1849. Like Mr. Karrer's parents, they settled first in Detroit, but after a short time there and in Port Huron settled in Lexington and engaged in the flour milling business. There were six children in the Saety family. Two of Mrs. Karrer's sisters, Caroline and Anna, are at present traveling for a publishing house. Kate became the wife of an architect, John Kanmyer, living in Port Huron. Henry Saety is in the automobile business in Detroit.
The marriage of Louise Saety and Benjamin J. Karrer took place at Lexington, in April, 1873. A family of five children grew up in the home begun at that time. Frances, born in June, 1874, is now married. the wife of Otto Hill, engaged in the lumber business in Port Huron. Louisa, two years younger, is the wife of William Sullivan, of Boston. a judge. Kate is now a widow, her deceased husband having been William Haynes. She was born in June, 1880, and now lives with her parents. Benjamin was born in March, 1882, and is in the undertaking business in Port Huron. Anna is Mrs. Willis Filer, whose husband is connected with the Detroit Stove Works in Detroit.
GEORGE W. CARMAN. In no department of commercial life of a city is the character of the individuals engaged therein of more vital im- portance to the whole community than is that of its financial leaders. It is very essential that the men who direct financial affairs and institu- tions shall be of the highest reputation individually, that their talents be comprehensive, and their characteristics be such as to inspire confi- dence and insure stability and safe business methods. If this is true of
777
HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY
financial institutions in general it is especially requisite that the facts embodied in these statements shall apply with the greatest force to savings banks, to which are entrusted with confidence that must not be betrayed the hard earned savings of so many toilers in all walks of life. Marine City is fortunate in numbering among its important institutions the Marine Savings Bank, of which Mr. George W. Carman, a man whose integrity and ability are of the highest, is cashier. Mr. Carman has had valuable and varied experience in business operations and is well fitted both by natural talents and wide training in commercial life for the duties of his position in the bank.
George W. Carman is a native of New York City, where he was born August 28, 1852, the son of Joseph G. and Susan (Gould) Carman, and a descendant of John Carman, who came to America from England in 1631. This settlement of the Carman family on the American continent in the days of the Pilgrim fathers makes it one of the oldest in the United States and one which necessarily has been identified with the history of the country from before the time of the first establishment of this government.
Joseph G. Carman was a stationer and blank book manufacturer. He removed with his family from New York City to Memphis, Michigan, when the son George was an infant. The son subsequently became a resident for a time of Danbury. Connecticut, and from there went to Avon, New York, at which place he took up the study of law, continuing for one year. Following this, in the year 1874, Mr. C'arman removed to Port Huron, Michigan, and entered Chadwick's law office at that place. Believing that his largest snecess was not to be had in the practice of the legal profession, he took up surveying work and secured a position in the United States goverment service in that department. He first worked on the Great Lakes and was later transferred to duty with a party of surveyors on Mississippi river work. ITis interest in surveying finally diminished and Mr. Carman returned to Michigan, locating at Memphis, where for five years he held the appointment as postmaster. discharging his duties with great satisfaction to the public. He also ably filled the office of city treasurer of Memphis for several years and conducted a private banking business.
It was in June, 1884. that Mr. Carman began his career as a banker and at that time he, in company with John W. Porter, established a private banking institution at Marine City. Of this bank Mr. Carman was cashier, and he held that position when, on September 5, 1891, the institution was incorporated as the Marine Savings Bank, with Mr. Porter as its president. Since he has retained his cashiership of the bank continnonsly up to the present time, and as he still occupies the post, his record of service in that capacity extends over a period of time more than a quarter of a century in length. His unimpeachable in- tegrity and conservative methods have given him a high personal stand- ing in the commercial world. and the record of the institution whose business he direets has been one of unbroken success. Mr. Carman also conducted a private bank at Algonac, Michigan, from 1904 to April. 1912, which institution has recently been incorporated as a state bank, of which latter G. W. Carmack is a director.
Besides attending to his manifold business interests Mr. Carman has devoted a portion of his valuable time to the discharge of the duties of
778
HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY
official life in the city, he having served for several years as treasurer of Marine City, and also ably assisted in the direction of the city's affairs as an influential member of the board of aldermen. He holds a promi- nent place in all avenues of social activity and has membership in the Masonic order, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Knights of Pythias.
The marriage of Mr. Carman to Miss Harriet Lacy, of Avon, New York, a native of that state, occurred on October 25, 1876. A family of eight children were born, five of whom are now living. Two of the children died at tender age, Stanley when five and Frederick when seven years old. Frances, who was the wife of David Ensig, departed this life in 1909. The other members of the family, with the exception of Harry, who is at school, are occupying good positions in the business or pro- fessional world. One daughter, Ruth, is assistant manager of the J. B. Armstrong factory at Guelph, Ontario; Florence is a kindergarten teacher at Ithaca, Michigan; one son, W. S., is employed at the Detroit United Bank at Detroit, while John L. is assistant cashier of the Marine Savings Bank.
CHARLES D. HOLLAND is well classed as among the leading farmers of St. Clair county, whose labors have materially contributed to the ad- vancement and general welfare of the community. His life has been a busy and useful one, and is an example of honorable dealing, steadfast purpose, fidelity to principle and invincible moral courage. As one of the representative farmers of East China township he well deserves the esteem which is universally accorded him, and his farm of seventy acres is well improved and shows the discriminating care bestowed and the progressive methods brought to bear by the owner. Mr. Holland was born in Marine City (then Newport), St. Clair county, Michigan, in 1859, and is a son of Robert and Levina (Brake) Holland.
Born in England, Robert Holland early in life took up the occupa- tion of a ship carpenter, but in 1858 came to the United States and lo- cated on land near Marine City, a portion of which he later platted, it being now included in the city limits. He also located the land which is now the farm of Charles D. Holland, overlooking the St. Clair river, and there the remainder of his life was spent in agricultural pursuits. Mr. Holland married Levina Brake, also a native of England, and they had a family of nine children, of whim five are now living: Henry, who is engaged in business in Marine City ; Robert. who is engaged in culti- vating a part of the old homestead; Esther, who is the wife of Norton Mangh, also residing on the homestead; Mary, the wife of A. H. Cot- trell, a substantial citizen of Marine City, and Charles D. .
Charles D. Holland was reared to farm work, and received his educa- tion in the public schools of Marine City. On May 26, 1880, he was married to Miss Lucinda Jane Bury, who was born on the Canadian side of the St. Clair river, nearly opposite to her present home, daughter of Thomas and Lucinda Bury, Canadian farming people. Mr. and Mrs. Holland have had a family of six children, as follows: Bertha M., who is the wife of John Currie, a contractor of Detroit; Arthur, who lost his life by drowning when he was ten years of age; Millicent, who is the wife of Fred Kuehnle, a well-known lumber merchant of Cleveland, Ohio; Harvey, who is night foreman for the D. U. railroad at Marine
779
HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY
('ity; Clara, a graduate of Sarnia ( Ontario) Hospital and now head nurse of that institution; and Enlia, a student at the Marine City high school.
Mr. Holland's farm of seventy aeres is most eligibly situated on the banks of the St. Clair river and is thoroughly equipped for the thriving business he is eondueting. In the community in which he resides he is well known and highly esteemed and considered one of its representa- tive citizens, while the family has a high rank in the county. A stanch Republican, Mr. Holland has been actively identified with polities for a number of years, has served on numerous occasions as delegate to county conventions, and for five years acted as supervisor of East China town- ship. With his wife he is a consistent member of the Episcopal church at Marine City, and both have been active in religious and charitable work.
REV. PETER J. TERNES. It will be readily coneeded by the most disinterested parties in Marine City that that community owes some- thing to the labors of Father Ternes. Aside from the undeniable good he has been able to accomplish among the members of his parish, he has been the direct instrument in the building of the handsome stone church erected after his arrival in the city and dedicated on September 14, 1904. Previous to his arrival and since the year 1847 the members of Holy Cross church worshiped in a small and entirely inadequate building. but with his coming the new church soon materialized. His influence has been felt in divers ways for the betterment of civic conditions in Marine City. and he is beloved of his floek and respected by all.
Rev. Peter J. Ternes was born near Detroit, on July 4, 1865. His father, Peter Ternes, was a farmer, and when the son was yet a boy the family moved to Detroit, where the elder Ternes became a prominent and influential man in public affairs. He was for many years active in politieal circles, and held many offices of responsibility, always being active in the administration of the affairs of the city. The son was edu- cated in the parochial schools of Detroit, following which he entered the Jesuit college at Detroit, graduating therefrom in 1884. He was a member of the second class sent out from that institution. He next entered St. Mary's Seminary at Baltimore, Maryland, and was gradu- ated from that school in 1887. In the school year of 1887-8 he was'em- ployed as a teacher in the Monroe Catholic Seminary, following which he was made assistant priest of St. Joseph's church of Detroit. In 1890 he was appointed to the church at Manchester. remaining there until 1895, when he was sent to take charge of Holy Cross church at Marine City. This church was first organized by missionaries from St. Anne's church in Detroit and for some time subsequent to its organization mass was said in a log building down the river. In 1847 they were able to build a small church in Marine City, which served their purpose, al- though entirely inadequate to their needs, until the coming of Father Ternes in 1895. when he very shortly began to lay plans for the erection of a suitable edifice, which materialized in due season and was dedicated in September, 1904. The present membership of the church is twenty- five hundred or thereabonts. A parochial school in connection with the IIoly Cross church was organized in 1870, and through the labors of Father Ternes and the united efforts of his people this school is today
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.