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 44
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On November 15, 1900, Mr. Gilbert was united in marriage with Miss Abbie Morrison, who was born in Montreal, Canada, and edu- cated in the schools of Saginaw, Michigan. They have had two children : Bernice, who is now ten years of age; and Electa, aged four years, and have also reared the daughter of Mrs. Gilbert's sister. Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert are well known throughout Algonac, where they have numerous friends.
DAVID D. MARTIN. In the general election of November, 1910, one of the most prominent and best known citizens of the county was elected to fill the office of register of deeds in the person of David D. Martin, who for many years has been successfully identified with the farming and eivie interests of the county.
Mr. Martin is a native of Canada and was born on a farm near Belle- ville, Hastings county. Ontario, December 3, 1857. His parents were Samuel and Jessie ( Roy) Martin, who moved to St. Clair county in 1872 and have since made their home on a farm in Mussey township. In the latter township Mr. Martin grew to manhood, and his education was ob-
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tained in the common schools of Canada and this county. He lived at home and was a capable assistant to his father in farming until his marriage, which occurred July 2, 1885. Mrs. Martin before her mar- riage was Miss Mollie E. Haley. She was born near Alliance, Ohio, a daughter of William and Susan (Martin) Haley.
At his marriage his father gave him forty acres of land, and on this he and his wife began their independent career, and by industry and good management they gained a prosperous place among the farming people of the county. In 1889 Mr. Martin bought another forty acres, and he has since added to his estate until he is now the owner of one hundred and seventy-five acres in the county. Three children were born to himself and wife. Jessie, who was educated in the district schools near home, is now the wife of James G. Hunter, of Port Huron, and they have one child, William David. Samuel H., the second child, lives at home with his parents. Gertrude L. died at the age of eleven years.
Mr. Martin was reared under the political principles of the Repub- lican party, and has been chosen by his fellow citizens to various offices of honor and responsibility. He served as highway commissioner one year, township treasurer two years, was supervisor of Mussey township ten years and was chairman of the board two years. In 1900 he took the census for his township. In November, 1910, he was elected to the office of register of deeds.
Fraternally Mr. Martin is a member of the Maccabees tent at Capac, and has filled all the offices of the local body and four times repre- sented the tent at the Great Camp. He also affiliates with the Foresters at Capac, the Modern Brotherhood of America, the order of Elks at Port Huron, and has filled all the chairs of the Masonic lodge at Capac and has been representative a number of times to the Grand Lodge.
CHARLES C. PARKER. The power of the press, as exemplified in its newspapers, is acknowledged to be one of the most potent factors in the civilizing of the world, and without this agency many of the greatest beneficial world movements would have been practically inoperative because of lack of publicity. To a wide-awake, progressive community its local newspaper is a necessity, while to some it may be a luxury, but no section prospers that closes its eyes to what is going on in the world or neglects to thoroughly understand the drawbacks, conditions, advan- tages, affairs and people of its own environment. While a great city journal may give the former information it is only the local news- paper that will devote itself to local interests. Such an admirable paper is offered to the people of Algonac, Michigan, in the Algonac Courier, whose editor and proprietor is Charles C. Parker.
Charles C. Parker was born in DeKalb county, Indiana, April 26, 1872, and is a son of J. N. and Matilda (Fisher) Parker. The father died in October, 1911, but the mother survives and resides at Goshen, Indiana. When the family came to Coldwater, Michigan. Charles C. was a boy of eleven years and for some years afterward his time was mainly occupied with his school duties and it was not until after his graduation from the Coldwater high school that he began his appren- ticeship to the printing trade. He began in the office of the Cold- water Sun, necessarily at the bottom of the ladder, for in a printing office there are no leaps to learning, all being very prosaic steps from
J. D. Merchant
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the washing of the rollers and type on up until the top is reached. Even a young man who has had but meager educational opportunities can scarcely complete a thorough printing office apprenticeship without ae- quiring a fair knowledge of many branches; one who is already a high school graduate enjoys still better chances to be successful in journalism. For some years Mr. Parker worked as a printer in offices at Detroit. Chicago and Columbus, Ohio, and then leased the St. Clair Republican, which he conducted for three years. In the meanwhile he looked into the future prospects of the Times-Courier, a newspaper established at Algonae in 1893, and, having satisfied himself, purchased the property and has successfully conducted it in the interests of this section ever since. Mr. Parker is a Republican in politics but his paper is an independent organ and is acceptable to every resident. irrespective of his personal bias. It has been Mr. Parker's aim to conduct a high class local journal and he has succeeded and the patronage extended it is most satisfactory. Largely to his efforts may be attributed the loeating of capital here and the founding of numerous business enterprises as well as the fostering of a local pride that promises much for the future.
Mr. Parker was married to Miss Grace Davenport, who was born at Coldwater. Michigan. Mrs. Parker is also a practical printer and gives her husband valuable assistance. Mr. Parker owns the building in which his plant is situated and also his comfortable residence. He is a Knight of Pythias and is identified with the lodge at St. Clair, Michigan.
FRANK D. MERCHANT. Since 1910 Frank D. Merchant has taken up active farming and stock raising upon the farm on which he was born and where he spent his early years. When he left the farm at the age of twenty-one Mr. Merchant engaged first in the grist-mill business, later giving up that industry to enter the lumber business, and becoming an operator of magnitude in Petoskey and vicinity. Ile succeeded in amassing an independent fortune there in a few years, but in recent years suffered many heavy losses, on two occasions by fire, soon after which he decided to give up the business and pass the remainder of his life in farming. He is comfortably established on the old homestead and is determined to make as great a success of his farming as he did with his lumber business.
Frank D. Merehant was born on the farm he now owns and occupies in section 23 of Grant township on April 22. 1855. He is the son of Den- nis D. and Martha (Peekham) Merchant, the father having been born in Somerset county, Maine, the son of James S. and Olive (Davis) Mer- chant. James S. Merchant was born at Martha's Vineyard in 1787 and his wife in Massachusetts in 1789. They migrated in early life to St. Clair county, Michigan, settling in what is now Grant township. on land now known as the O'Connor farm in section 14. They entered this land from the government in 1837. securing several hundred acres in all. James Merchant labored with the true pioneer's instinct in his task of hewing out a home in the Michigan wilds. and in time he had reduced his place to an admirable state of cultivation, building him a fine home, which stood for many years on the old place. In 1857 his wife died, and after that sad event the elder Merchant took up his abode with one of his sons. He was a devout Christian and always a supporter of the
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church, as was also his wife. They were the parents of ten children- five boys and five girls.
Dennis D. Merchant, their son, was fourteen years of age when he came to Michigan with his parents. He was trained in the public schools of his time, and in his young manhood spent some time as a pioneer teacher in the district schools. In 1847 he was married in the state of New York to Miss Martha Peckham, and with his young bride came by boat from Buffalo to Lakeport, Michigan, the trip in those days taking a full week's time. He moved onto a farm of two hundred acres in what is now Grant township, and set about improving the place to such good effect that his farm yielded him an independent income all his life. When he died on October 17, 1886, it became the property of his son Frank D., who now resides there and in continuing the work his honored father started forty years prior to his death. Dennis Merchant was an honest, earnest man, conscientious in every relation of life, and highly respected and esteemed by all. He was an active worker in the Meth- odist Episcopal church, being class leader and superintendent of the Sunday-school for years. He was the father of six children, four of whom are living at this writing (1912). They are Frank D., of this re- view; Ida M., the wife of Wilbur Quinn, of Battle Creek, Michigan; Charles H., of the same place; and Fred W., of Marshall, Michigan.
Frank D. Merchant received the usual school advantages of the coun- try boy of his time, and at an early age went to work on the farm, con- tinuing thus until he had reached his majority. It was then he entered the grist-mill business, striking out for himself in life, and in that busi- ness he realized a fair degree of success. The business, however, did not entirely suit him and in 1888 he changed his occupation, and going to Petoskey, Michigan, put all his available capital into the lumber busi- ness, starting a saw mill at that point, then the center of big lumber operations. He prospered in this move and succeeded in reaching a net worth of $200,000 as a result of his own operations. Two disastrous fires reduced his property to a great extent, although he yet owns some large timber holdings in the Northern Peninsula, and in 1910 Mr. Mer- chant decided to give over the strenuous life of the saw mill business and return to the quiet and freedom of farm life once more. He is now es- tablished on the old home place, and is fast becoming a factor in the business life of the community.
The years in which Mr. Merchant operated in the vicinity of Pe- toskey were eventful ones, crowded full of strenuous activity and the adventure attendant upon carrying on business in a new and only par- tially developed county. Of the many thrilling experiences he under- went he cites one incident, which is worthy of mention here. Mr. Mer- chant owned his own lumber scows which were used in forwarding lum- ber from his mills at Alanson, Michigan, to the Cheboygan docks, and his tugs plied busily to and fro on Crooked river hauling the finished lumber to distribution points. The incident related occurred in 1906, in which year a number of small passenger boats ran between Cheboygan, Topinabee and Indian River and other points of similar import. On one of these trips as the powerful tug "Merchant" was passing out of Che- boygan river into Mullet lake (about twelve miles long), the captain of the Merchant espied a large tamarack pole lying with the small end point- ing down the river. He remarked upon the possible danger to small
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craft from the pole as they passed on. They were scarce a half mile up the lake when they heard a distress signal from a small passenger boat they had seen following them up the river, and on looking back saw that the Luciel had struck the tamarack pole, which had penetrated her bot- tom, passing through her cabin, and all on board were in dire peril. The captain of the Merchant ordered the men on the scows to ent the tow line, which was immediately done, and the Merchant hastened under full steam to the disabled passenger boat. They succeeded in taking off the entire crew and thirty-seven of the thirty-eight passengers, at the last moment a young girl who returned to the cabin for a valise being drawn down with the sinking steamer. Passengers and crew were landed at Dodges Point, a small station on the M. C. Railroad, after which the Merchant returned to the scene of the accident and with grappling hooks recovered the body of the unfortunate girl and returned it to her friends. The rescued party were loud in their thanks to the captain of the Mer- chant and his gallant crew, and after doing all they could for the unfor- tunate people the tug Merchant returned to her lumber scows and pur- sued her tranquil way up the river.
On March 13, 1882, Mr. Merchant was married to Miss Ena F. Bar- ber, born in Kalamazoo, Michigan, in 1862, a daughter of Dr. L. A. Bar- ber. Mr. and Mrs. Merchant are the parents of two children: Ted B. Merchant, who is secretary of the Phoenix Engineering Company at De- troit, Michigan, and who married Madge McDona, and Lloyd D. They have an adopted daughter, Mary Perry, who has lived with them for a number of years.
Mr. Merchant is a Republican in his political faith, and during his residence in Petoskey he was alderman from his ward for eight years and acting mayor for two years. At the close of his last term of office as his business needed his whole attention, Mr. Merchant refused to again become a candidate for any office, and his friends in his ward presented him with a costly gold headed ebony cane, thus showing their appreci- ation of his services for the city of Petoskey.
DR. TALBERT SLENEAU. Among the prominent officials of the Knights of the Modern Maccabees located at Port Huron, Dr. Talbert Sleneau is the great medical examiner for the order. He is one of the leading citizens of Port Huron, and has been identified with the practice of his profession in this state for nearly thirty years.
Dr. Sleneau was born in Oakville, Ontario, in 1845, a son of Joseph A. and Eleanor (IIarris) Sleneau. When he was four years old the family moved to Michigan, locating near Mt. Clemens. His father was a farmer, and the son grew up on the farm near Mt. Clemens, attend- ing first the district and then the town school. Later the family moved to Saginaw, where he spent the rest of his youth up to the age of seven- teen, when he began his own career.
Among the Michigan veterans of the great Civil war, few made a better record than Dr. Sleneau. Enlisting at the age of seventeen, as a private in Company E of the Twenty-third Michigan Infantry, he saw active service during the three critical years of the war. He spent about a month in camp at Saginaw during 1862 and then his regiment was sent to the front at Louisville, being engaged in following the move- ments of the Confederate General Bragg. The winter of 1862-63 was
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spent in provost duty at Bowling Green, and the regiment then went over the Cumberland mountains into Tennessee. At Campbell Station of the latter state he was first under fire. He was in Tennessee about a year and a half and was in several engagements and much hard cam- paigning. During the great campaign culminating at Altanta, Georgia, he was almost continuously under fire for one hundred and four days, participating in many of the battles and skirmishes that marked that campaign. At Dallas, Georgia, he was wounded in the side and left arm, but was able to walk from the field. He spent a time in the hos- pital at Knoxville, and then received a sixty days' furlough to come home. However, before the expiration of this furlough, in order that he might not be missing from the regiment during the heavy fighting which he foresaw would take place, he went to the front and with his arm in a sling was put in command of the skirmish line of his regiment in the sanguinary and crucial struggle of Franklin, Tennessee. His services had earned him a steady promotion, from fifth sergeant, second sergeant, first sergeant and quartermaster sergeant, to the second lieu- tenancy of Company E and then to first lieutenant of Company C. with which rank he closed his military career. The battle of Nashville and Franklin came about the close of his regiment's hard service, though the regiment remained on duty until the end of the war. He was mustered out before leaving the field, though his papers were dated at Detroit. July, 5, 1865.
On returning, a veteran of the war, to Saginaw, he bought a boat- building business, which he conducted for several years. In order to prepare for a professional career he finally sold this business and en- tered the medical department of the University of Michigan, where he was graduated M. D. in 1883. Dr. Sleneau has been a successful physi- cian ever since, and during the first few years was located at Petoskey, and then made his home at Jackson for twenty years. During his resi- dence in Jackson he became affiliated with Central City Tent, No. 139, K. O. T. M., and served the tent as physician. He became very prom- inent in this order, and in 1902 was elected to the office of great med- ical examiner, which caused his removal to Port Huron.
Dr. Sleneau has always supported the Republican party, and cast his first vote while on the field of war in 1864 for the election of Lin- coln. During his residence at Jackson he served several terms as coroner. The Doctor is affiliated with the Elks lodge of Port Huron, having first joined the order at Jackson.
At Jackson, Michigan, in 1871, Dr. Sleneau was married to Miss Kate Griffith. She was born in New York state, a daughter of Griffith T. and Margaret Griffith. Mrs. Sleneau came to Michigan when a young girl, was educated in the State Normal at Ypsilanti and was a teacher before her marriage. Dr. and Mrs. Sleneau have one daughter, Miss Katherine. After graduating from the Jackson high school she entered the University of Michigan, where she received both the degrees of A. B. and A. M. She is also a graduate of the Pratt's Library Institute of Brooklyn, and has made library work her profession. She is chief librarian of the public library of Port Huron.
ANGUS M. SMITH. One of the old and honored families of St. Clair county, members of which have been prominently identified with the
Abram Smith
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business and public interests of this seetion for many years, is that of Smith, a worthy representative of which is found in Angus M. Smith, proprietor of the shipyard of Abram Smith & Son at Algonac. Mr. Smith was born in this city, November 2, 1860, a son of Abram and Fidelia (Burt) Smith, and a grandson of John K. and Catherine (MeDonald) Smith.
John K. Smith was born at North Salem, Westchester county, New York, and as a young man took up the study of law, a profession which he followed for some years at Potsdam, New York. When the War of 1812-14 broke out he enlisted in the army, taking part in a number of engagements, including that of Plattsburg, New York, and after the war had closed he eame west, being one of the pioneers of Clay town- ship. \ staunch Democrat in politics, he filled numerous positions of public trust, being probate judge, county revenue collector and post- master at Algonac-the first to hold these offiees in St. Clair county- and he served as justice of the peace and held several important posi- tions under Governor Cass. He was aeting in the capacity of postmaster at the time of his death, in 1855. He was a faithful and devout member of the Methodist Episcopal faith, was one of the organizers of the first church of that denomination in St. Clair county and a contributor to the building fund. His wife. Catherine (McDonald) Smith, was born in Glasgow, Scotland, in the year 1796. In 1806 her parents immi- grated to Canada, and in 1817 she eame to Michigan, her marriage with John K. Smith oeeurring in 1818. She early affiliated with the Methodist Episcopal church, and beeame a member of the first Methodist class formed in Algonae (then Point au Chene) in 1824, her husband being leader of the elass. In the year 1830 the first Methodist church in St. Clair county was built in Algonae, the work being carried on amidst greatest difficulties engendered by the financial eireumstances of the little flock. All gave of their material substance freely, and the fine and commendable spirit of self-abnegation was nowhere more touchingly manifested than in the act of Mrs. Smith, who in the absence of money east into the treasury her wedding ring as her share in the work, thus vividly reealling the words of the Master when he said of the widow and her mite: "This woman hath given more than ye all." This act of sacrifice is but a specific example of the beautiful life she lived. IIers was a noble Christian character, and the last words she uttered on earth aptly characterized her life and work: "More love to God and one another." She passed away on August 22, 1881, at the venerable age of eighty-six years, and was privileged to see the fourth generation of her immediate family. John K. and Catherine Smith were the parents of the following named children : Abram, Sarah C., Angus, Jane, Anna, Lydia, Samuel L., Katherine, Franeis and Mary.
Abram Smith was born in Algonae, Michigan, September 8, 1819, and he died in 1910. One of the leading business men of Algonae, he founded the shipyard of Abram Smith & Son, and also identified him- self with publie affairs to a large degree. A Demoerat in polities, he was postmaster, served as president of the school board for more than sixty years-a most phenomenal record for service-and represented his district in the state legislature. He and his wife, who passed away January 26, 1886, were the parents of five children, namely : James B., Cornelia D., John A., Ella and Angus M. The wife of Abram
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Smith, who was Fidelia Burt, was born in Madison county, New York, on October 21, 1819. She was given excellent educational advantages and was a woman of much refinement and culture. Before her mar- riage she taught school for some years. Hers is an old and distinguished family of the Colonial days, and one of the most valued possessions of her descendants is a commission signed by John Hancock, bearing date of September 17, 1787, appointing her grandfather, Oliver Burt, captain of the First Brigade of Militia of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, which document entitles her eldest son to membership in the Society of Cincinnati.
One of the best known ladies in social and religious circles of Algonac is Mrs. Ella (Smith) Moore, who resides in her handsome home at Water and Smith streets. She was born in Algonac, May 22, 1853, daughter of Abram and Fidelia (Burt) Smith, and after completing the curriculum of the public schools of her native place, spent one year at the Michigan State Normal School. She was then engaged in teaching school for one year, and on December 28, 1887, was united in marriage with the late Dr. W. K. Moore. He was born at Owen Sound, Ontario, Canada, and after preparation entered the McGill University of Medi- cine, from which he was graduated. Shortly thereafter he located in Algonac, where he built up a large and representative clientele, and practiced up to the time of his death, February 10, 1904. He was a member of the Maccabees, the Odd Fellows and other societies, including the various leading organizations of his profession, and had a more than local reputation as a physician and surgeon. Mrs. Moore is well known in the Episcopal church and has taken a prominent part in its work. A member of a distinguished St. Clair county family, she upholds all the traditions of the name, is held by all who know her in the highest esteem, and has drawn numerous friends about her.
Angus M. Smith, the youngest child of Abram and Fidelia Smith, has been identified with his present business practically all his life. Like his father and his grandfather, he has considered it a duty to act in official positions of a public nature, and he has served Algonac as village president for fourteen years. Like theirs also, his record has been above reproach. During Cleveland's first administration Mr. Smith acted as postoffice inspector in seven states. He is a Democrat in his political allegiance, and in fraternal matters affiliates with Maple Leaf Lodge, No. 405, Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
Mr. Smith married Miss Elizabeth Craddock, and they are the par- ents of two daughters,-Josephine and Frances, both graduates of the Algonac high school. Miss Josephine remains at home with her parents, while Frances is the wife of Rev. R. W. Hamilton.
JOHN J. BELL. As the first mayor of Port Huron under the com- mission form of government, Mr. John J. Bell has a distinction and op- portunities of service which will permanently identify his name with the municipal history of this city. He was the last mayor under the old charter, and his eminent fitness for the office of chief executive made him a logical choice to the voters of the city. Mr. Bell is an able busi- ness man, and has been known in business and social circles in Port Huron for many years.
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