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 42
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Mr. Pepper's activities have not been confined solely to the study. and practice of law, however. During his residence in Port Huron he has taken an active part in public affairs generally, being particularly prominent in politics, social life and in military affairs. He is a member of the Baptist church, belongs to a number of seeret societies, includ-
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ing the Masons. Knights of Pythias, Independent Order of Foresters, Maccabees and Modern Woodmen, and holds a commission as lieutenant in the Michigan National Guard.
On September 10, 1907, Mr. Pepper was married to Miss Katherine Mac Donald of Charlevoix, Michigan, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. God- frey MacDonald, of that city. Mr. and Mrs. Pepper have one child, Elizabeth Marion, born October 4, 1910.
SHIRLEY STEWART. The profession of law is one that demands un- divided attention, more than ordinary ability, and careful training. The lawyer of today, if he is engaged in active practice in all of the courts, is kept busy in keeping abreast of the varions decisions that may establish a precedent and so change legal jurisprudence. Shirley Stew- art, one of the ablest and best known attorneys of Port Huron, Mich- igan, has a well-appointed suite of offices in the White Block. Mr. Stewart was born in Port Iluron, January 19, 1883, and is a son of Charles F. and Frances ( Moffat ) Stewart.
William Stewart, the grandfather of Shirley Stewart, was the first hardware merchant in Port Huron, his place of business being lo- cated where the present general store of J. A. Davidson now stands, on Military street. lle was one of the early capitalists of this eity, and owned a large amount of real estate. his home being at No. 772 Water street, where the George Crane residence, occupied by Mrs. Crane, now stands. Both Mr. and Mrs. Stewart are buried in Lakeside Cemetery. Thy had three childrn : William, who lives in Chieago; Nellie, the wife of George Crane; and Charles F. Captain James Moffat, the maternal grandfather of Shirley Stewart, was an early settler of Port Huron, and was well known as the owner of a large line of tugs. He built all of the ferry boats that are on the river at this point, and some of the ferry boats now running between this eity and Sarnia. On first coming to Ameriea he located in Canada, and came from there to Port Huron, where he and his wife died. They are buried in Lakeside Cemetery. A prominent Republican, he served in various positions of honor and trust, and was the first alderman from the First ward. Of his children two are living: Frances. the mother of Shirley Stewart, and James, who resides in Syracuse, New York.
Charles F. Stewart was born in Port Huron. in 1855, and was for a number of years engaged in the hardware and dry doek business. He now resides in Florida. Mrs. Stewart was born in this city in 1854. and now resides with her son Shirley at No. 1022 Sixth street. She is very active in church and charitable work, and is widely known.
Shirley Stewart received his education in the Port Huron publie and high schools, and graduated from the law department of the Uni- versity of Michigan. Immediately after his graduation he came baek to Port Huron. where he has since been engaged in the active practice of law. For some time he was connected with the law firm of Moore, Brown, Miller & Ladd, but since 1907 has had no associate partner in the practice. From January. 1909, until January, 1911. he served Port Huron as assistant prosecuting attorney, and while an ineumbent of that offiee served in three noted murder eases, those of the People versus Carmichael, the People versus Pringle and the People versus Frisbee. Since December. 1911. he has again held the above position. IIe is a
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Knight Templar Mason and member of the Mystic Shrine. He is also exalted ruler of the B. P. O. E., a member of the Knights of Pythias. and a director of the Young Men's Christian Association and president of the Young Men's Republican Club.
THOMAS MOORE. To indomitable pluck and energy as well as native talent must be ascribed the success which Mr. Thomas Moore has achieved in his lifetime. Whether as a private citizen or in official ca- pacity he has been called upon to discharge duties he has always been found ready and willing, and his whole record is one of which any man might feel proud. Mr. Moore was born in Canada, on July 30, 1854, his parents, David and Ruth (Blair) Moore, being of Irish nativity.
The Moore family moved to Wyoming, Canada, when the son Thomas was but a child, and it was there he began to acquire such book knowledge as the rudimentary schools were able to impart. Later his parents became residents of Petralia, where school advantages were of a more satisfactory character, and Thomas, who was quick to learn, had completed the Petralia high school course when but fifteen years of age.
Mr. Moore's business activities were inaugurated at an early age and in the year 1880, with his brother as a partner, he established a general store at Fort Gratiot, Michigan, and they continued to supply the retail trade of that city with its general supplies for several years, or until the death of the brother. when the business was sold. Mr. Moore then sought a new location and in 1892 decided that St. Clair offered a prom- ising feld for the conduct of a general merchandising business. He ac- cordingly opened a general store here and continued its operation until 1904. when he responded to the call of publie demand and accepted at the hands of the voters of the county the office of sheriff, holding tht office for one term. This was not, however, Mr. Moore's first or last experience as a public official, the confidence in which his fellow citizens always held him having found expression at Fort Gratiot in his election to several offices at different times. While there he served in the office of alderman, was a member of the school board and also served a portion of the time as city treasurer. Since he became a resident of St. Clair he for several years filled the office of supervisor of the county, and for six years has been an alderman of St. Clair. He is a Republican in political faith.
Mr. Moore has property interests which make him financially inde- pendent. In 1910 he became largely interested in Alberta, Canada, lands and has come into possession by purchase of an immense holding consisting of 32,000 acres there. This ranch is stocked with cattle and horses, there being ample range on it, and it also contains a large amount of rich land suitable for the cultivation of grain crops. The management of this ranch is now in the able hands of Mr. Moore's son, Thomas O. Moore.
In 1877 Mr. Moore was married to Miss Maria A. Cochran, of Petralia, Canada, who was a native of Hamburg, Canada, her parents being Thomas and Harriet (Bayley) Cochran. She is of English-Irish descent, her father having been born in Ireland and her mother in Eng- land. Mr. Cochran was prominent in Canadian commercial life and was one of the important factors in the development of Canada, he hav-
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ing been a member of the firm of Sifton Ward Company, who built the Canadian Pacific Railroad to Winnipeg. Manitoba, Canada.
Mr. and Mrs. Moore became the parents of five children, all but one of whom, a daughter, Leta Pearl, are still living. Harriet A. is now the wife of Hiram Patter, of St. Clair, he being a prosperous farmer and stock raiser. Francis E. is the wife of William Chamberlin, of St. ('lair. Grace still lightens the parental home with her presence, and Thomas O .. as previously mentioned, lives in Alberta, on his father's ranch.
Fraternally Mr. Moore is prominent in a number of lodges, holding membership in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Royal Arcanum and Maccabees and also being a member of the Eneampment of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
In all departments of civic, commercial or social endeavor that tend to the betterment of the community and the enhancement of its reputa- tion Mr. Moore takes a leading part and stands always ready to con- tribute generously of his time and talent to the furthering of any and all plans that are of commendable character and wide scope.
LAMBERT RECOR, a farmer of East China, Michigan, who is also agent for the White Star line of boats at Marine City, may well and logically claim that he is "to the manor born." for his home has never been in any other hands than those of himself and his aneestry. He was born in East China township, upon the farm which his grand- father purchased from the United States government by deed of date June 26, 1812, and which bears the signature of James Madison, then the president.
Born in 1854, Mr. Recor received his education in the country schools at Newport and St. Clair. In 1879 he married Miss Florence Broadbridge, of Catterville township, St. Clair county, Michigan. Her parents were John A., a native of England, and Nancy Campbell, who was from New York state. They followed agriculture. Mr. and Mrs. Recor have one child, Lee, who besides being identified with his father in business enterprises is bookkeeper at the Western Sugar Refinery. He was educated in the district schools, in the schools of Marine City and in the Detroit Business College.
Mr. Recor in addition to his agricultural pursuits follows profitably several other enterprises. He has been connected with his brother, Ed- ward C. Reeor. in the shipping of hay and grain from the ports of St. Clair and Marine City. With his son Lee, under the firm name of L. Recor & Son, purchases are made of grain, hay. shingles and posts at Marine City, and. as has been mentioned, they are jointly representa- tives of the boat lines at Marine City. Mr. Recor is also interested in lands in the Canadian Northwest.
In addition to his private activities he has given some time to public matters. Hle has been treasurer of East China township, and is now and has been for nine consecutive years supervisor of that town. In politics he is a Republican, and he attends the Methodist Episcopal church.
CAPTAIN JOSEPH C. MILLER. The life of Captain Joseph C. Miller. whose sudden death is of recent occurrence, was connected with sea-
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faring enterprises since his early manhood. For many years he himself sailed the Great Lakes, advancing from the humble post of cabin boy to that of captain. After 1876, however, he devoted himself more to the business of ship-building than to sailing, and at the time of his death was the owner of many tugs and other steamers, having accom- plished a splendid success during the later years of his activities.
Born on the 28th of November, 1851, Joseph C. Miller was the son of. Joseph and Margaret (Brick) Miller, natives of Ireland, who came to Michigan in 1844, each with the family of their parents. They first located at Prescott, Ontario, where Joseph Miller's father, the grand- father of Joseph C. of this review, built the first church which the town could boast, and sent for a clergyman to fill the pulpit. Joseph Miller later came to Marine City and took service with the Wards in boat building, the first to engage in that enterprise in Marine City. The family later moved to Sombra, Ontario, where Joseph C. Miller attended school for a short time, and they eventually settled in Marine City permanently. From there the youth shipped as a cabin boy on the schooner Eagle Wing, later sailing with Captain Stewart on the steamer Keweenaw, and after a while he began working on tug boats, finishing his first season in that service. The next year he spent on the steamer "City of Concord" between Chicago and Odensbaugh as wheelsman and continued in that capacity until he was twenty-one, when he received his full commissioned papers as master or captain, an exceptionally early age for so responsible a commission. In 1872 he was appointed by the Detroit Tug Boat Association to do their collecting for the various tug's owned by them and operating upon the Great Lakes. He was in full charge of this business for twenty-one years, performing his duties with an accuracy and precision that made his service most valuable to his employers. During sixteen years of that time, in conjunction with his other duties, Captain Miller was employed by the Alger-Smith Company to look after their timber rafts that passed through the river. He continued in his service in that capacity until the dissolution of the firm. In 1876 Captain Miller purchased a half interest in the barge Irish, and in 1888 purchased and rebuilt the barge "Sea Gull," making her into a steam barge. From that date he continued in the business on his own responsibility, at the time of his death owning a number of barges and steamers. The suddenness of his death, which occurred in Detroit on the 5th of April, 1912, came as a great shock to his friends, who were many in number, and widely scattered, for the captain made friends in every port. He was a typical example of that fine class of men who risk their lives on the Great Lakes as well as on the oceans.
On the 2nd of October, 1876, Captain Miller married Miss Martha Frances Gaylord, of Marine City. She is a daughter of Baurach and Mary Adeline (Bonney) Gaylord, natives of New York state, where Mrs. Miller was born. Mrs. Miller is in many ways a most unusual woman, having a great deal of executive ability and a capacity for business far beyond that of the average woman. Before her marriage she taught in the schools of Marine City for a number of years, and at one time was in charge of the business of the Western Union Telegraph Company at Marine City. Two children were born to Captain and Mrs. Miller, Joseph C., Jr., who was born on the 1st of January, 1881, and Mattie C. Joseph C. married Miss Catherine Langell, and they are the
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parents of two children, Joseph C. III, and Catherine. Mr. Miller in the summer months is in charge of the United States customs of the Star Line, and is stationed during the winter at Fort Gratiot. Both of these responsible posts he fills to the satisfaction of his employers, and with credit to himself. The daughter, Mattie C., is the wife of Captain (. C. Stewart, of Marine City. He is in the employ of the Pickands Mather Company as captain of the steamer "Adriatic." Captain and Mrs. Stewart have two children : Martha Virginia and Mary Frances.
IIALE PAINE SAPH. One of the ablest and most substantial represen- tative of both the commercial and professional circles of Marine City is found in Mr. Hale Paine Saph, the well known real estate dealer and financial leader, who holds a foremost position among those active in these lines by virtue of numerous influential connections in public and private capacities.
Although Mr. Saph is one of the younger of the leading men of Ma- rine City in point of years, he has been and now is so closely identified with those more important efforts to promote the growth and upbuilding of the city that his name has become indelibly stamped upon its history. Mr. Saph feels a particular pride in participating in the development of Marine City, for it is the place of his birth, his natal day being July 9, in the year 1876. Ile is of German-American extraction, his father, Val- entine A. Saph, being a native of England, who came to the l'uited States with his parents when a child, and his mother, who was Mary Zweng, having been born at Detroit, Michigan. In adopting the legal profession the son followed in the footsteps of his father, Mr. Saph, se- nior, having been a Marine City attorney from 1875 until the time of his death, on September 16, 1903.
IIale Paine Saph attended the public schools until fourteen years of age and at that early age entered his father's law office and began with him the study of law. Ile has always made a specialty of probate court work, the settling of estates, and in connection with these departments of legal work has found it profitable to combine a business that includes real estate transactions. Ile has met with flattering success in his various lines of endeavor and has a clientele of very extensive proportions.
Mr. Saph, who is of Republican political persuasion, has throughout his years of manhood taken an unusually active interest in politics and has held a number of publie offices, appointive and elective. In 1898 he was given the nomination of candidate for mayor by his party, in 1900 he was appointed to the office of city attorney of Marine City, and the same year was elected alderman of ward number 1, and performed the duties of that office so satisfactorily that his constituents again eleeted him to the office in 1902. During 1904 and 1905 Mr. Saph was super- visor of his ward, and in 1910 made a good run as candidate for county clerk of St. Clair county.
Mr. Saph has a deep sense of personal responsibility, and in fulfill- ing the obligations of publie office renders to the public the same highli order of business and executive talent that he brings to bear in the con- duet of his own private affairs. In recognition of his superior financial ability and insight he was in 1899 elected a director of the Marine Sav- ings Bank, which position he still holds, and he is also chairman of the executive committee of that strong financial institution.
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On June 20, 1900, occurred the marriage of Mr. Saph and Miss Mable L. Beattie, of Marine City, she, however, being a native of Manchester, Virginia. Mrs. Saph's father, B. W. Beattie, holds the office of deputy collector of customs at Marine City. Mr. and Mrs. Saph are the parents of a family of four children, Marion E., born October 24, 1901; Hale P., Jr., born August 24, 1904; Mary Leona, born May 12, 1906; Valentine Robert, born October 18, 1910.
Mr. and Mrs. Saph are actively interested in the promotion of social and religious affairs that engage the energies of the leading people of the city, and the weight of their influence is invariably found in advanc- ing the welfare of all worthy movements looking toward the betterment of conditions in the community. Mr. Saph is fraternally affiliated with the Knights of Pythias lodge and is admired by his social companions and business and professional associates for his unimpeachable character and absolute integrity.
WILLIAM PORTER, proprietor of one of the leading cement, tile, sand, general building material, wood and coal concerns of Port Huron, Michigan, is a fair representative of those whose sagacity and capital have done so much toward the commercial and manufacturing progress of the city of his adoption. Mr. Porter has won his present position in the business world through the force of his own industry and ability, and as one of Port Huron's self-made men he enjoys the esteem of his business associates and of those with whom he has had dealings of any kind. He is a native of Canada, having been born near Kingston, September 27, 1870, a son of James and Zilpah (Switzer) Porter, natives of the Dominion, both of whom are now deceased.
William Porter received his education in the public schools, and came to Port Huron with his parents in -1880, remaining on his father's farm until he started to learn the trade of carpenter. This he carried on for some thirteen years, both as a journeyman and contractor, and he then was foreman of a section of the P. M. Railroad for seven years. He then engaged in the cement business, but eventually sold his interests in that concern, and in 1909 formed a partnership with Frederick Knisley, under the firm name of Knisley & Company, an association which continued until June 19, 1911. At this time he engaged in busi- ness on his own account, succeeding Knisley & Company, with yards at No. 333 River street, where he has since continued, building up a large trade. Mr. Porter was reared to the habits of industry and honesty, and through the exercise of these qualities has worked his way to the front rank of business men of his community. Giving his personal supervision to each and every transaction carried on by his firm, he has been able to insure his customers of a fair and honest deal in all cases, and this policy has won the confidence and patronage of the business men of his community. Mr. Porter has a comfortable residence at No. 1508 Gillett street. In political matters he takes an independent stand, and he is fraternally connected with the Maccabees.
On January 9, 1895, Mr. Porter was married to Miss Hattie F. Burgess, who was born in Saginaw, Michigan, daughter of James and Catherine (Farrell) Burgess, both of whom are deceased. Six children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Porter, all in Port Huron, as follows : Zilpah, born July 29, 1896, died March 1, 1912; Catherine, born Jan-
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uary 30, 1898 ; Nellie, September 4, 1900; William J., January 26, 1904 : Roy R., July 8, 1907; and Archie Charles, October 27, 1910. Mrs. Porter is a devoted member of the Methodist church, which the family attends. Mr. Porter is a great believer in the value of a good education, and he is trying to give his children the best of advantages. Both the Porter and Burgess families are well known in St. Clair county, and members thereof have gained substantial positions in nearly every walk of life. Mrs. Porter's father served for eighty-seven days as a soldier during the Civil war, volunteering at the time of the last call for troops, and her brother. James Farrell, belongs to the National Guards, of which he has been a member for twenty years, and now resides in the Soldiers' Home, at Washington, D. C.
REUBEN J. ROOD. It is but natural that any community should take special pride in observing the careers of its native sons, especially when they have achieved the success attained by Mr. Reuben J. Rood, one of St. Clair's most progressive young business men.
Mr. Rood was born in St. Clair on July 20, 1878, the son of IIubert George and Matilda (MeJennett ) Rood. The birth of his father occurred in Liverpool. England, where he lived until his sixteenth year, then, being seized with the desire to avail himself of the great opportunities awaiting young men in the United States, he came to this country. St. Clair being the point of his destination. Arriving here he sought and secured employment of Charles F. Moore, was engaged in lum- bering, but later Mr. Rood adopted the occupation of a farmer and is still engaged as an agriculturist.
Reuben Rood did not have the advantage of other than a common school education in his early boyhood, for his father removed from St. Clair to the farm when he was a lad of but seven years, and his subse. quent opportunity to acquire an education was only such as was afforded by the district school which he attended only during the winter months. He became a wage earner when very young, his first paid employment being undertaken at the age of sixteen years, when he workd by the month as a farm hand. Later he secured work with the Diamond Crystal Salt Company, and subsequently became a conductor on the Rapid Railroad between Port Huron and Detroit, with which company he remained for four years. He then went to Ohio as a conductor on the Lake Shore electric road. It was while employed as a conductor that Mr. Rood, who was always of an exceedingly ambitious character, under- took the private study of electricity and mechanical engineering, his efforts being assisted under direction of a correspondence school. He pursued these studies a sufficient length of time to make himself profi- cient in those lines and he is competent at the present time to under- take the most difficult electrical construction work. he being considered an expert in electric science.
Returning from Ohio to St. Clair, Mr. Rood opened up a restaurant here in 1905, commencing in a small way, the venture. however, proving to be the nucleus to his present extensive operations. ITis trade grew rapidly and in the spring of 1906 he expanded his business by securing a larger store room and adding ice cream parlors and a confectionery stock. In October, 1909, he further augmented his business by installing bakery equipment and at the same time he added an order and delivery
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wagon to enable him better to serve his trade in that line. He next put in a stock of fruit, then shelf groceries of all kinds, and now handles a business that requires the employment of seven assistants, during the summer time, an even larger number being required to supply the wants of his eustomers.
On September 14, 1899, Mr. Rood was united in matrimony with Miss Emeline Catheart, of St. Clair, who was born in Goderieh, Canada. This union has been blessed in the birth of one child, a daughter, Inza M., who was born November 7, 1900. The family is prominent in lead- ing religious and social activities in St. Clair, and held in high esteem for their many admirable qualities by a eirele of friends and acquaint- anees. Mr. Rood holds membership in the Masonic and Foresters fra- ternal orders.
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