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 4
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In 1903 Mr. Putney, who is of an investigating turn of mind, became interested in the matter of steel culverts to such an extent that he or- ganized the Ohio Corrugated Culvert & Bridge Company, of Middle- town, Ohio. This proved so successful that in 1904 he, in company with George II. Lewis, Frank R. Fowler and Lewis Schnuerer, organ- ized, in Elyria, Ohio, the Lewis Corrugated Culvert Company, and was made its vice president and a director of the same. During the same year Mr. Putney, with H. E. Baird, A. B. Weider, F. M. Beach and E. Wheeler, formed the Lyle Corrugated Culvert Company at Lyle, Minnesota, capitalizing it at $50,000, and was made secretary of the organization. Mr. Putney has since disposed of his interest in that en- terprise, but the company is still in active operation at both Lyle, Min- nesota, and at Minneapolis. In 1906 Mr. Putney, J. P. Lang. C. C. Fauts, William Johnson and Hugh Morris, of Middletown. Ohio, or- ganized the Arkansas Metal Culvert Company at Little Rock, with a capital of $25,000, and Mr. Putney was elected secretary of the com- pany. After the completion of the Dixie Culvert and Metal Company, which was organized in 1908, at Atlanta, Georgia, by G. H. Charles, C. C. Fauts, R. C. Phillips, R. C. Todd, of Middletown, Ohio, and Mr. Putney, with a capital of $100.000, the Arkansas Metal Culvert Com- pany was merged into that company, with Mr. Putney as secretary. Continuing his operations along that line of industry, Mr. Putney, William Lemon, J. H. Charles and Hugh Morris organized, in 1908, the Colorado Ingot Iron Pipe & Culvert Company at Maniton, Colorado, which is an enterprise of much importance. Mr. Putney has also been instrumental in organizing various smaller concerns of a like nature, but has never retained his interest in the companies any length of time.
Mr. Putney married, June 30, 1902, Mary Chamberlain, who was born in Yale, Michigan, of honored pioneer stock. Her father, Oren P. Chamberlain, was born in Canada, July 15, 1831, and died in Yale, Saint Clair county, April 20, 1899. Having learned the carpenter's trade when young. Mr. Chamberlain came to Michigan in 1859, locating in Saint Clair county while the country roundabout was still in its
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virgin wildness. A man of great activity and energy, and a tireless worker, he took advantage of all offered opportunities for advancing not only his personal interests, but the welfare of the community in which he resided. He became extensively interested in business as a lumber manufacturer and dealer, and was for a long time the leading merchant of Brockway. Centre, now Yale, and was there postmaster for years. His wife, whose maiden name was Emma J. Vanderburg, was born in New York state, August 20, 1842, and is now living in Yale.
Mr. and Mrs. Putney have no children. Politically, Mr. Putney in- variably supports the principles of the Republican party, and frater- nally he is a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Order of Ma- sons; of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks; of the Modern Woodmen of America, and of the United Commercial Travelers of America.
EDWARD F. FEAD. Among the families of eastern Michigan who have been closely identified as producers and contributors with the business and industrial affairs, the one represented by Mr. Edward F. Fead, of Yale, is easily entitled to a place of large prominence. Mr. Fead himself belongs to the group of citizens who control and direct the greater vol- ume of business in his community, and his leadership in civic affairs has also been noteworthy. Other members of his family have been equally well known in this and adjoining counties of the state.
Mr. Edward F. Fead was born at Lexington, Sanilac county, Michi- gan, June 19, 1869. The founder of the family in Michigan was his father, John L. Fead, whose name has been associated with large busi- ness undertakings in this vicinity for nearly half a century. John L. Fead was born in Bavaria, Germany, July 12, 1834. Reared and edu- cated in the fatherland, he showed the qualities of independence and enterprise which needed larger fields for their development than could be found in his native home, and so at the age of eighteen, alone and on his own resources, he set ont for America. An uncle had previously settled at Lexington, Michigan, and he came direct to this place, where he made his home for many years. He married, at Lexington, Miss Augusta Walthers, who was born at Hamburg, Germany, May 2, 1839. When she was two years old her parents immigrated to America and later settled at Lexington, where she was reared and married. For some years Mr. John L. Fead was a merchant of Lexington. He then joined Mr. Charles Andreae and became senior member of a firm which con- dueted a woolen mill at Lexington. Later the Andreae family sold their interest and transferred their enterprise to Yale, after which Mr. Fead continued the business himself. This was one of the important in- dustries at Lexington until 1907, when the mills were destroyed by fire. They were rebuilt at Port Huron, where the business is still conducted on a large and successful scale under the name of John Fead & Sons. Mr. John L. Fead and wife were the parents of nine children, namely : John W., William L., Charles C., Nellie M., Edward F., Emma A., Fred F., Louis H. and George A.
After his graduation from the Lexington high school in 1885, Edward F. Fead began his business evperiences in his father's woolen mills, but the course of his career did not continue permanently in the manu- facturing industry. On January 1, 1887, he entered the banking house
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of B. R. Noble & Company, at Lexington, as bookkeeper, and he has been identified with banking ever since and is now one of the well known and influential bankers of the state. Ile became cashier of the bank with which he was first employed, and held that position at Lexington until 1890. The firm then bought the bank at Crosswell, where Mr. Fead was cashier for a year. In January, 1891, he came to Yale to take the place of assistant cashier of the Yale Bank of B. R. Noble. In 1896 he was ad- vanced to cashier, and in this capacity has served the institution for the past fifteen years.
In 1900 the bank was reorganized and took out a national charter, and has since been the First National Bank of Yale. The original in- corporators were B. R. Noble, F. A. Griswold, Bartley MeNulty, James MeColl and Edward F. Fcad. With its capital stock of forty thousand dollars, and with a large aggregate of deposits, this institution is one of the strongest and best conducted banks of St. Clair county.
As a public-spirited citizen of Yale, Mr. Fead has worked for the general welfare of the community in the same spirit that he has shown in his banking career. He served five years as village clerk, two years as village president and two years as village treasurer before the in- corporation of Yale as a city. In 1907 he was elected a member of the Yale school board, and has been president of the board ever since. For nine years he was a member of the board of light and water commission- ers. Mr. Fead is a director of the Yale Creamery Company and director and has been vice-president of the Yale Canning Company. He is treas- urer of the Riverside Driving Club of Yale, and fraternally is affiliated with the Masons and Eastern Star, the Odd Fellows and the Knights of the Maccabees.
Outside of business and official duties, Mr. Fead is devoted to his home life. Ile was married at Sarnia, Ontario, September 13, 1899, to Miss Rachel O. Laughlin. Mrs. Fead, who takes a prominent part in the social affairs of Yale, was born in Ontario, July 15, 1876, being a daugh- ter of William and Martha ( Armstrong) Laughlin. Mr. and Mrs. Fead have three children : Pauline A., born July 14, 1901; Max E., born Oc- tober 12, 1903; and Margaret I., born August 23, 1908.
WESLEY C. BRICKER. As one of the partners of the firm known as the Avoca Elevator Company, Wesley C. Bricker has contributed gen- erously to the business upbuilding of the town of Avoca. Launching a new business with a combined capital of three hundred dollars between him and his partner, they commenced operations there in 1900, and since that time have conducted an ever increasing trade in hay and grain. First renting an elevator, they were able to make a start, but continued prosperity for a few seasons enabled onr subject to build a first-class elevator, which he now operates. Much of the success of Mr. Bricker has heen directly the outcome of his excellent traits of business integrity and careful management, and as the possessor of these admirable qualities the town is considerably the richer for the example of his progressiveness and his good citizenship.
The parents of Wesley C. Bricker were Wendel and Emma (Clem- ens) Bricker, and they were natives of Waterloo, Canada, where they lived on a farm, the father dying there in 1892. The mother still lives on the old Canada home in Waterloo. They were the parents of nine
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children, Wesley C. being the eldest of that number. He attended the common schools until he reached the age of sixteen years, and thereafter remained on his father's farm until he was about twenty years old, at which time he began to work in a nearby elevator, continuing for five years and gaining a thorough and wholesome working knowledge of the business. In 1900 he came to Avoca, where his keen perceptions soon recognized the demand and possibility for a lucrative elevator business. It was then that he made overtures to a man whom he regarded as a pos- sible partner, and between them they managed to produce the munificent sum of three hundred dollars, with which they proposed to start an ele- vator business. They rented an elevator and for two years devoted their time to the buying and shipping of hay and grain. At the end of that time Mr. Bricker bought out his partner and built an elevator, increasing the extent of his operations by taking in a partner and buying out the Ward Lumber & Coal Company. The firm is now known as the Avoca Elevator Company. In recent years he has become the owner of a modern hardware store, which under his careful management is making rapid advancement and growth. The success which Mr. Bricker has realized certainly is due to his own ability and business foresight, and his achievements are of a nature highly creditable to himself and the community. Although Mr. Bricker has never become a naturalized eiti- zen of the United States, his influence as a resident is of the highest order, and his life and work in Avoca in the years of his connection with that place have added much to the welfare of the community.
On July 12, 1892, Mr. Bricker was united in marriage with Miss Edith Middleton, born and reared in the vicinity of Avoca. Five chil- dren have been born to them. Harry, the eldest, is a graduate of the Ferris Institute at Big Rapids; Alta is now a student in the Port Huron high school, while Gertrude, Harvey and Elnore are students in the Avoca schools.
FRANK BURT. An eminently useful and highly respected citizen of St. Clair county, Frank Burt is a fine representative of the native-born residents of this section of Michigan, and is widely known as cashier of the Capac Savings Bank. He is recognized as a man of solid worth. possessing in a high degree those traits that command respect in the business world, and his life record is such as to reflect credit on the town of bis nativity. A son of John Burt, he was born, May 15, 1866, in Mussey township, coming on both sides of the family of substantial ancestry.
John Burt was born in Macomb county, Michigan, of pioneer stock. Migrating to St. Clair county in early life, he is still a resident of the county, his home now being in Capac. He married Lucy Locke, and into their household four children have been born, as follows: Frank, Millie, wife of George Hunter; Florence, wife of Edward Praker; and a child that died in infancy.
Acquiring his edueation in the common and high schools of Capae. Frank Burt began life on his own account at the age of seventeen years. Entering the employ of the Port Huron, Northern and Pere Marquette Railroad Company, he was for sixteen years station agent at Marlette. Michigan, and also agent at the same place for the American Express Company, and for the Western Union Telegraph Company. Coming
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then to Capac, Mr. Burt, in partnership with the Leach Brothers. built an elevator, and for two years was associated with its operation. In 1905 he became assistant cashier of the C'apac Savings Bank, and proved himself so capable and efficient in that capacity that in 1907 he was promoted to his present responsible position as cashier of the institu- tion. This bank, which was incorporated according to the laws of Mich- igan, has a capital stock of $20,000, and has as its officers and directors men of prominence and ability, as follows: President, G. A. Fuehr ; vice- president. Gus Hill; cashier, Frank Burt; assistant cashier, Floyd .I. Burt, while its directors are : G. A. Fuehr, Lincoln Avery, Gus Ilill, P. R. Dinsmore and A. E. Sleeper.
Politically a firm adherent of the Republican party, Mr. Burt has rendered acceptable service as clerk of the village of Capac, and as its treasurer. Fraternally he is a member of Forest Lodge, No. 126, An- cient Free and Accepted Order of Masons.
On May 10, 1886, Mr. Burt was united in marriage with Mary J. Leach, who was born in Lynn township, St. Clair county, Michigan, and they are the parents of three children, namely : Floyd J., assistant cash- ier of the C'apar Savings Bank: Ethel V., who was graduated from the Michigan State Normal School. and has a life license to teach, is now an instructor in the public schools of Mount Clemens : and Kenneth. a pupil in the Capac high school.
BERNHARD WALTER. As a living example of what resolute working. earnest endeavor and indomitable perseverance will accomplish, Bernhard Walter stands prominent among the worthy citizens of St. Clair county. Hle is a product of the Fatherland, and was born March 9, 1860, a son of Theodore and Matilda (Shindler) Walter, both of whom are now de- ceased.
Mr. Walter's edueation was seeured in the public schools of his native country, and he also received excellent training as secretary to his father. who served in various high public offices in Germany. Deciding to adopt the trade of furrier, he paid $100 to learn the business and also spent a three-year apprenticeship. later traveling all over Germany, France. Italy, Gaul and Austria. In 1880 Mr. Walter decided to try his fortune in America, and on coming to this country first settled in Grand Rapids, Michigan, where he remained only two months, then going to Detroit. where he entered the employ of Henry Newland, one of the leading fur- riers of that city. He spent eleven years with Mr. Newland, and then se- cured a position with W. Miller, with whom he continued three years, the next nine years being spent as foreman of T. Heine's fur store. In Au- gust, 1902, having come to Port Huron on business, he found a good opening. and. quick to grasp the opportunity offered, established himself in business on Court street. where he rented a store. Six months later he bought his present store and dwelling at 1208 Military street, and here he has since continued, the only exclusive fur store in Port Huron. Ile deals in raw fur, and manufactures all kinds of fur garments for both ladies and gentlemen, his repair department giving the best of satis- faction. His trade extends throughout the city. county and state, and into Missouri, Illinois. Ohio and Texas, sueb large cities as St. Louis, Chicago, Cineinnati, Lonisville and Detroit being markets where he has a
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heavy trade. He is ably assisted by his capable wife, who is a woman of more than ordinary business ability, and who raises a large assortment of German canary birds as a side line. In addition Mr. Walter is a taxi- dermist, and does a large and Inerative business along this line. He takes an independent stand in his political views, voting for the man rather than the party. Fraternally he is a popular member of the C. M. B. A.
On January 19, 1882, Mr. Walter was married to Miss Agnes Kreucher, who was born in Detroit, Michigan, in 1859, and whom he met as a fellow-employe in Newland's fur store. She is a daughter of Joseph and Katherine (Brusmaker) Kreucher, natives of the Rhine, Germany, who came to Michigan as young people. Mrs. Kreucher is now deceased, while her husband, who worked in a fur store in Detroit for a number of years and was also an employe of the Central Railroad, is now living a retired life at Port Huron. Mr. and Mrs. Walter have had children as follows : Joseph M., born November 10, 1882, living on Griswold street, Port Huron, married Miss Eva Nelson, and has one son, Gerald ; Matilda, born September 20, 1884, the wife of LeRoy Grattan, of Port Huron, has two sons, Walter and Gabriel; Elizabeth, born January 9, 1887, the wife of Frank King, living on Ninth street, Port Huron; Ida, born January 14, 1891, the wife of Patrick Breslin, living in Port Huron ; Bertha died, aged nineteen months, and was buried in Detroit; Barney, born January 1, 1894, assisting his father in the store, and carrying on bicycle repair- ing as a side line; Cecelia, born October 30, 1895, at home; and Zelma, born April 14, 1898, also at home.
Mr. and Mrs. Walter are devoted members of the Roman Catholic church. They have been very industrious, and by steady work and fair dealing have built up an excellent business, winning the respect and es- teem of all with whom they have come in contact. Mrs. Walter has been an able helpmeet, assisting her husband in every way and sharing with him the hardships that are bound to assail the young couple endeavoring to establish themselves in a new business. The success that has attended their efforts is but the just reward that comes to those who faithfully and honestly strive to better themselves, and their many friends are gratified with their business success and social popularity.
The house in which Mr. and Mrs. Walter live is one of the old historie landmarks of Port Huron, and a structure to which much interest is at- tached. Here for many years lived the famous Squire Minnie, who set- tled the Indian disputes, and it was also for a long period the home of Granny Rodd, an old Indian, and the mother of Mrs. Minnie. This fa- mons old character, whose picture appears on the walls of many business houses in Port Huron, lived to the remarkable age of 104 years. hav- ing been born in 1766 and died in 1870. The house, built some seventy years ago, was found to be a veritable storeroom of interesting relics of pioneer days in Port Huron, Mr. and Mrs. Walter finding a number of valuable relies which had been put under the eaves, in addition to a number of books of ancient print.
In closing this all too brief sketch of one whose life has been filled with industry and perseverance, it may be stated that Mr. Walter has al- ways found time to assist in movements that have for their object the betterment of Port Huron in any way, and as one who has the city's wel- fare at heart, he is esteemed and respected by his fellow citizens.
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CAPTAIN JAMES P. HARROW, essentially a pioneer of Clay township, could not with propriety be omitted from a history of St. Clair county. He comes of an old Scotch family, and is the son of George Harrow and his wife, Lneretia (Peer) Harrow, and was born in Clay township on Jan- uary 23, 1839. Ilis father, George Harrow, was born on private claim No. 188, in Caley township, in 1806, and was the son of Alexander Har- row, a native of Scotland and a captain in the British navy. Alexander Harrow came to America in 1775, settling in Canada. At that time he was still in the service of the British navy. Ile bought a tract of land containing 14,000 acres in 1794, and the spot on which Captain James P. Harrow lives today is a part of the original purchase of his ancestor, Alexander Harrow. The latter was born in 1755, and in 1775 he entered the naval serviees of Canada as lieutenant of an armed ship. He served in the Revolutionary war as a British soldier, and in about 1797, he lo- cated on the lands previously mentioned. Here he spent the rest of his life and died in 1812. He was the father of five children : John, Mary, Catherine, George and James. George married Lucretia Peer, who was born near Hamilton, Canada, and eame to the United States in about 1831. They were the parents of twelve children, nine of which number were living in March, 1912. They are: Mary J., Catherine. married to William Roberts; Lney A .; Charlotte ; J. P .; John, married Mary West- brook : Henry : Washington, and William.
James P. Harrow was reared in the neighborhood in which he now lives. and was educated in the common schools of his community. Ile at- tended school until he was about seventeen years old, at which time he began sailing. After two years he was made captain and since that time, 1858, he has been upon the lakes continuously. and has come to be known well and favorably in navigation circles on all the Great Lakes. Besides his business as a captain he is an extensive farmer and cattle raiser. He sells his eattle to the local butchers thus realizing the highest prices for them. Captain Harrow is a man of excellent judgment in both depart- ments of his work and is as good a farmer as he is a sailor, which, in view of his enviable reputation on the lakes, is quite as good a recommenda- tion to his farming abilities as a man might well wish. As the son of one of the oldest families in Michigan, or of the United States. Captain Har- row has in every way upheld the traditions of the family name. and in spite of the fact that his first American ancestor was in the service of the British government, Captain Harrow and his sons are representatives of the finest type of American citizenship today.
On March 20. 1867. Captain Harrow was united in marriage with Mareia J. Lyons. She was born near Hamilton, Canada, on February 14, 1844. Captain and Mrs. Harrow are the parents of three children : Her- bert S .. William A .. and Grace M. All three have received the most lih- eral edneational advantages, and the young people are happily consti- tuted so that they have made excellent use of the privileges their parents have so generously given them. One of the pleasantest things in the lives of these worthy parents, and the thing that has given them perhaps the most pleasure, is the fact that they were so sitnated that they might give to their children the advantages in an educational way which they themselves were denied. Thus their children have grown to maturity and have profited most agreeably by the splendid opportunities made for them by their indulgent parents.
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Herbert S., the eldest son, is a graduate of the Algonac high school and of Albion College, from which institution he received his degree of B. A., with the class of 1896. He is a rising and particularly prosperous contractor in Detroit.
William A., after completing his high school course, was graduted from the Albion Business College, and he is now engaged successfully in the produce business at Holly, Michigan.
Grace M., also a graduate of the Algonac high school, was later grad- uated from the Albion College and the Michigan State Normal at Ypsi- lanti, and is now principal of the Grant school at Mt. Clemens, Michigan.
Captain Harrow owns two hundred acres of fine farm land in Clay township, and he also owns his boat, the schooner "Nelson Bloom." He is a prosperous farmer and a valuable citizen, and has given worthy ser- vice to his town while its supervisor. He is a Republican in his political allegiance, and is firm and staunch in his convictions of whatever nature, possessing all the qualities which make for valuable and worthy citizen- ship. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, in which she is particularly active and earnest.
LINCOLN AVERY. Among the men who have contributed important services and substantial honors to the professional and public life of Port Huron and St. Clair county, Mr. Lincoln Avery, a prominent law- yer and former collector of customs, stands among the number who by general consent would be recognized as deserving of such honorable distinction.
Mr. Avery has spent most of his lifetime in this county, is a man of self-attainment, and has won his advancement step by step through his ability and industry. He was born on a farm at Uxbridge, Ontario, October 24, 1860, a son of Anthony and Sarah (Hilborn) Avery. When he was about a year old his parents moved to a farm in Grant township, St. Clair county, and there he was reared, attending the district schools until he was sixteen years old. He is a graduate of the State Normal School at Ypsilanti, of the Michigan Agricultural College, and of the law department of Michigan University. After completing his literary conrse he taught both in country and village schools and was later county commissioner of schools.
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