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 50
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settled in Birchville township, Saint Clair county, and afterward re- mained a resident of Birchville township, his death occurring February 18, 1912. He n arried Anna Lee, and of the nine children born of their union, seven were living in 1912, as follows: Thomas; Mary A., widow of Charles King; William H., of South Dakota; H. H., of Croswell, Michigan; Clarissa, wife of Alexander Hillock; Lucinda, wife of Wal- lace Matherson ; and Edwin.
Edwin Fuller attended the district schools during the days of his boyhood and youth, in the meantime being trained to habits of industry on the farm and gaining a practical insight into the various branches of agriculture. Selecting for his occupation the independent one to which he was reared, he has won success through his own unaided efforts, and now owns a finely improved farm of one hundred and forty acres. to the value of which he is constantly adding. In 1897 Mr. Fuller built his conveniently arranged barn, and in 1909 he erected his present resi- dence, which is a model of comfort, being entirely modern in its con- struction and equipments, commodious in size, furnace heated, and supplied throughout with hot and cold water. He is carrying on gen- eral farming and stock-raising, and makes a specialty to some extent of dairying, year by year adding to his wealth, and growing in the esteem of his neighbors.
On March 28, 1888, Mr. Fuller was united in marriage with Mary E. Moore, who was born near Strathroy, Ontario, Canada, January 23, 1861, and prior to her marriage taught school for a time, first in Canada and later in Saint Clair county, Michigan. Mr. and Mrs. Fuller are the parents of two children, namely : Muriel, born July 21, 1889, was gradu- ated from the eighth grade of the public schools; and Lucile, born April 15, 1905.
In politics Mr. Fuller is identified with the Republican party ; he takes an intelligent interest in local affairs, and has served as township treasurer, as highway commissioner and as a member of the school board. Religiously he belongs to the Methodist Protestant church, being a mem- ber of its official board, and is now superintendent of the Sunday school and an earnest and efficient worker in the church.
EDGAR GOLDSMITH SPALDING (born December 28, 1843, died March 17, 1912), came from a long line of patriotic American ancestors. The first of the name in this country was Edward Spalding, who came from the town of Spalding, England, to Massachusetts in 1636. General Simon Spalding, who was the great-great-great-grandfather of Edgar G. Spalding, organized and commanded during Revolutionary times a troop known as Spalding's Invincibles. He was a member of the So- ciety of the Cincinnati, and as his direct descendant, Edgar G. Spalding was eligible to membership.
Mr. Spalding was born at Mt. Clemens, Michigan, the son of Chester and Fanny (Fish) Spalding, his mother being the sister of Allen and Henry Fish, prominent lumbermen of St. Clair county for many years. When he was seven years of age his mother moved to Port Huron, her husband having died the previous year. From 1850 until 1862 Mr. Spalding's boyhood days were passed in Port Huron, Michigan, with the exception of such time as he spent in school in New York and at Albion, Michigan.
ES Spalding
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In 1862. in the second year of the Civil war, President Lincoln called for "300,000 more" northern troops, and Edgar G. Spalding, then but eighteen years of age, offered his services to his country, enlisting as a private in Company C Twenty-second Michigan Infantry, on July 20. 1862. In less than a month he was promoted to the rank of first ser- geant, and on December 15th of the same year was made second lieuten- ant. Mr. Spalding's company and regiment was a part of the army of the Cumberland, and he participated in all its campaigns through Ken- tueky and Tennessee, and at the tremendously important and bloody battle of Chickamauga, in September. 1863, he was in command of his company. At the first charge of Stedman's Division of Granger's Corps. of which his regiment was a member. he was wounded in the hip. Re- tiring to the rear, he had his wound attended to. rejoined his company. which was the Color Company of the regiment, and remained in com- mand during the entire day. Their flag had been presented to the regi- ment at Pontiac, and had been made by the patriotic ladies of the por- tion of the state from which the regiment was recruited, and the occasion of its presentation was one of great interest to the county of St. Clair, as well as the adjoining counties, because a large portion of the regi- ment came from this county. Just at the close of this terrible day, after Longstreet's charges had all been repulsed. the Twenty-second Regiment. which had expended all of its ammunition, received the order to hold the hill upon which it was stationed, at point of bayonet. The enemy came in force, the regiment charged with empty muskets. but were at once surrounded by a vastly superior force, and all the living found themselves prisoners of war.
Much has been written of the terrible experiences and sufferings of northern soldiers in southern prisons, and Mr. Spalding was a living proof of those experiences. He spent nearly eighteen months in the southern prisons, the first seven months being in Libby Prison at Rieh- mond, and from there he was transferred snecessively to several others. among them Danville, Macon, Georgia, Columbia, Charlotte, Raleigh and Charleston. At the latter place, on July 25, 1864, he was one of the 600 Federal officers selected by the Confederates to be placed under fire of the northern guns at the time it was besieged by the Federal army.
It was while he was a prisoner at Charleston that he learned of his having been promoted by act of Congress to the rank of first lieutenant to date, June 7, 1864. On October 12, 1864. he was removed to Columbia and suffered here starvation and untold miseries, and the hardship and exposures which he endured in southern prisons undermined his health so that he never did recover it completely.
After the war was over he returned to Port Huron, and was appointed in 1865 eashier of the eustoms distriet in which Port Huron was located. In 1866 President Johnson appointed him Collector of Customs, but owing to the politieal contest then in existence his appointment was not confirmed, but he remained as cashier for twenty years. During a large part of the time in which Mr. Spalding was connected with the customs department, he also maintained an insurance agency and real estate business, and after his retirement from the government service, con- tinued in the insurance business for several years. Upon the organiza- tion of the St. Clair County Saving Bank he became a director and its Vol. II-24
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vice-president in 1890, which position he occupied until his death. Mr. Spalding was a strong Republican in his politics, but the only public office which he ever accepted was that of the board of estimates of the city of Port Huron, which position he filled for seven years, and was a careful watchman of the city's interests. His reputation for integrity and for accuracy and carefulness in business matters was proverbial. Mr. Spald- ing's experiences in the Civil war had a great influence upon his subse- quent life in many ways, and he was an active and earnest member of several of the patriotic societies: The Society of the Army of the Cum- berland, the William Sanborn Post of the Grand Army of the Republic, and the Military Order of the Loyal Legion. He was also a member of. the Masonic fraternity and a Knight Templar, and a member of the National Geographical Society.
On May 12, 1875, Mr. Spalding was married to Miss Leonora Buel, of Lexington, Michigan, her father being Jacob Buel, a well-known lum- berman of early days in Sanilac county. Two brothers of Mr. Buel served with distinction in the Civil war, and another brother, Captain Grover N. Buel, was in the Mexican war, having enlisted from St. Clair county in a regiment raised for that purpose. He died at Cordova, Mexico.
Mr. and Mrs. Spalding have one child, a daughter, born in Port Huron, who became the wife of George W. Stevens, of Toledo, director of the Toledo Museum of Art. Mrs. Stevens has taken an important posi- tion as assistant to her husband and has also written many articles for various papers and magazines upon literary and art subjects.
JOSEPH MAYNARD. A fine representative of the self-made men of Saint Clair county, it is plainly evident that Joseph Maynard, a suc- cessful agriculturist of Birchville township, was destined to be the archi- tect of his own fortune. Born in humble circumstances, he was reared without special advantages of any kind, his education being neglected and with the most limited opportunities for acquiring knowledge of any kind. By close application, however, untiring energy, and a diligent use of his faculties, he has proved himself a useful and worthy citizen and a valued member of the community. A native of England, he was born March 6, 1838, in Yorkshire, where he lived until eight years old.
His father, Jonathan Maynard, a son of Jonathan, Sr., and Bettie. Maynard, lived in England until 1846, when he immigrated with his family to Canada, where he resided until his death, being engaged in farming. He married, in England, Mary Bailes, and they became the parents of six children, as follows: Jonathan, deceased; William, de- ceased; John deceased; George, deceased; Margaret, wife of William Tibble, of Clark, Canada, and Joseph.
Eight years old when he crossed the Atlantic with his parents. Joseph Maynard grew to manhood in Canada, and as a boy and youth had a hard life, working on his father's farm until twenty-six years old and receiving no remuneration for his labors. Marrying then, he had nothing with which to start in life, and in order to get a start took charge of the parental farm. At the close of the Civil war he located in Saint Clair county, Michigan, hoping in the States to find remunerative em- ployment. He teamed for awhile, and then began farming on his own account, purchasing first eighty acres of heavily timbered land, from
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which he redeemed a good farm. As time passed and his means in- creased, he bought more land, and now has title to two hundred acres. all lying in Birehville township, the greater part being under cultiva- tion, and yielding profitable harvests.
Mr. Maynard married. May 20, 1862, Mary A. Tabble, who was born June 11, 1843, in Canada, and to them seven children have been born. namely : William, a graduate of a business college, is single ; James mar- ried Mary Fox; Fred married Hannah Thoda; Mary is deceased; AAlice is the wife of Charles ('rane, of Adrian, Michigan ; Daniel is single ; and Byron married Eliza O'Connor. Politically Mr. Maynard is in sym- pathy with the Republican party, but he has never been naturalized.
JULIUS BAKER. At this juncture in a volume devoted to the careers of representative citizens of St. Clair county, Michigan, it is a pleasure to insert a brief history of Julius Baker, who has ever been on the alert to forward all measures and enterprises projected for the good of the general welfare and who has served his community in various official positions of trust and responsibility. He is a decidedly progressive citi- zen and ranks as one of the most prosperous farmers in Clyde township his fine estate of two hundred and sixty acres being located in section 11.
Julius Baker was born on the farm on which he now resides, the date of his nativity being the 20th of January. 1873. lle is a son of John and Bridget (Clark) Baker, both of whom were born and reared in Ire- land, whenee they immigrated to America while quite young. Their marriage was solemnized in Canada, and they came to St. Clair county. Michigan, in the year 1862. Mr. Baker landed as an immigrant in Canada with a capital of but two shillings in his pocket. Ile sought employment at once and worked at anything he could get to do and through industry and faithfulness to duty he was finally able to pur- chase a fine tract of land in St. Clair county. This land he cleared and put under cultivation and with the passage of time he came to own one of the finest estates in Clyde township. Mr. Baker is a gentleman of eighty years of age and for the past twelve years he has lived in virtual retirement. his home being with his son Julius, who now owns and oper- ates the old home farm. John Baker is a man of genial disposition and his kindness has won him the honor and esteem of his many loyal friends and acquaintances. ITis cherished and devoted wife passed to the life eternal in January, 1905. Of the four children born to Mr. and Mrs. Baker three are living, in 1912, namely : Robert, of Port Huron ; John. of Clyde township; and Julius, the immediate subjeet of this sketch.
Mr. Baker, of this notice, received his educational training in the publie schools of Clyde township, which he attended until he had reached the age of seventeen years. As a youth he became associated with his father in the work and management of the home farm, the ownership of which eventually passed into his hands. At the present time, in 1912. he has an estate of two hundred and sixty acres. the same comprising some of the best land in this vicinity. In addition to general farming he is a most successful stock-raiser. He recently created a fine barn. some forty by ninety-six feet in lateral dimensions and equipped with every conceivable convenience. In his political convictions Mr. Baker is an unswerving Republican and he has taken an active part in the local councils of that organization. In a fraternal way he is a valued and
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appreciative member of the Knights of the Maccabees and the Gleaners, and both he and his wife carry insurance.
At the bride's home, December 20, 1899, Mr. Baker was united in marriage to Miss Clara Brommer, who was born and reared in Grant township, this county. Mr. and Mrs. Baker are the fond parents of two fine children, Fred J., born in February, 1904, and Julius B., whose birth occurred in July, 1906. Mr. Baker and his wife are not formally connected with any religious organization, but they attend and give their support to the Methodist Episcopal church.
JOSEPH J. GANNON. The boyhood of Joseph J. Gannon was one which in its very nature could not fail to bring out the sterling traits which the man has evidenced, and it is perhaps due in no small measure to his strenuous early life that his present position has been gained. With no schooling after he was fifteen years of age, from that time newsboy, cabin-boy, factory helper, printer's "devil" and numerous other labors of a similar nature held him until he had reached his ma- jority. It was in 1902 or thereabout that he became connected with the Diamond Salt Works of St. Clair in a more or less humble capacity, but his rise with that concern has been continuous, until today he is pur- chasing agent of the cooperage department of the works, as well as being a member of the advisory board and general superintendent of the works.
Joseph J. Gannon was born at Paris, Ontario, on September 15, 1879. He is the son of William and Ella (Wright) Gannon. The father was a carpenter and contractor, and in 1887 the family removed to Detroit, where Joseph attended the public schools until he was fifteen years of age. Up until that time he had supplemented his school work by selling papers in the streets, becoming as worldly-wise in those years as the average "news-merchant" of the streets at fifteen years. When he left school he went sailing as cabin boy on the lakes, following the lakes until he was nineteen, in the meantime advancing from the post of cabin boy until at the time he left off sailing he was competent to hold the position of first mate. When he left the lakes he secured employment in the Standard Pearl Button Works, where he was employed for some little time, going thence into a printing office of the William Graham Com- pany. He next took employment with the Inland & Matthews Sheet Metal Novelty Works, remaining there but a short while. In 1901 Mr. Gannon came to St. Clair, where he accepted a position as sailing master of a yacht owned by a number of business men of the town, taking charge of the yacht on a trip to Buffalo and return. At the close of the season he entered the warehouse of the Diamond Salt Company in St. Clair, and it was not long before he had satisfactorily demonstrated to his superiors his ability for work higher up. He was placed in charge of the shipping department, filling the position in a most satisfactory manner, and he has through his own efforts advanced in the scale until today he is purchasing agent for the cooperage department and a mem- ber of the advisory board, in addition to which he is general superin- tendent of the works. In 1910 the Dangler Transportation Company was organized, and he was made president of the company, doing good work for the. organization in that capacity. Mr. Gannon is a Republican in his political views, and is active in the interests of the party. He is prominent among the business men of St. Clair, and has been president
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of the St. Clair Social Club, an organization of the business men of the city.
On August 16, 1899, Mr. Gaunon married Miss Cassie L., daughter of Joseph K. and Mary Finchart. of Detroit, Michigan. Mr. Finehart was an engineer and a mechanic. Their daughter, Cassie L., now Mrs. Gannon, was educated in the public schools of Detroit and later was a graduate of Notre Dame college at South Bend, Indiana. Two children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Gannon. They are Loren. born June 16, 1900. and Joseph J., born September 23, 1910.
ANTHONY RADONSKY was born in Germany in September. 1841. Both his father and his mother were natives of that country and the mother died there. The father came to St. Clair county in 1869, locating first in Port Huron, but remaining there only a short time before buying the farm in Kimball township where his son Anthony now lives. Before coming to America the boy had worked on farms in Germany and attended school until he came to America, at the age of fourteen.
At the age of thirty-five Mr. Radonsky was married to Augusta Frier, who, like himself, is a native of Germany. but a resident of this county at the time of her marriage. Their union has been blessed with ten chil- dren : Mary. Frank, Martha, John, Charles, Libbie, Emma, Augustus, Lillie and Anthony.
After his marriage Mr. Radonsky began to clear up and to improve his farm. By dint of industry and intelligent management he has be- come the owner of a quarter section of fertile land under good cultiva- tion and equipped with fine buildings. He has been a member of the Catholic church all of his life and his family are communicants of the same ecclesiastical body.
ROBERT R. HOLLAND, for a number of years past active in the real estate business in Marine City, has established a name for himself among the business men of the city in which he was born and reared. He has attained honors in the public life of Marine City as its mayor, and in various other respects he has accomplished that which has given him a degree of popularity in his community which is but the fair reward of service rendered.
Born at Marine City in the house built by Eber Ward and for many years known as "The Mansion," on the banks of the St. Clair river, Robert R. Holland first saw the light on January 27. 1879. He is the son of Robert and Levina (Brake) Holland, both natives of England. who came to the United States in 1854. The father was a ship-builder by trade and first worked at that business in the yards at Buffalo, com- ing to Marine City, Michigan, in 1857, where he entered the employ of Eber Ward in his ship yard. He later was in the service of a man named Gallagher, and subsequently purchased Gallagher's interest in the yard and continued the business on his own responsibility. He gradually became the owner of a considerable quantity of land near Marine City, which land has since been incorporated into the city and is a part of it. In 1877 he purchased the Ward place on the St. Clair river and it was there his son Robert was born, and there he lived until his passing away on March 3. 1893.
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The early education of Robert R. Holland was given him in the public schools of Marine City, which, with one year in a Milwaukee business college, constituted his entire training in that respect. In 1897, his business course completed, he returned to Marine City and he first engaged as a sailor and followed the lakes for a season or two. He soon gave up that occupation and settled down in Marine City in the real estate business, in which he has continued since that time and is now actively engaged. He has prospered in his career thus far, and has been able to add considerably to the large real estate holdings left him by his father. Mr. Holland is a Republican and is reasonably active in political circles of his community. He was elected to the mayoralty in 1910, filling the office in a manner highly creditable to himself and his constituents. He is a prominent fraternalist in local circles, being a member of the Chapter of the Masonic fraternity; of the Knights of Pythias, of which he has been chancellor and thrice illustrions master of the Royal and Select Masters; and also a member of the B. P. O. E. He is a communicant of the Episcopal church. Mr. Holland lives in the old home, which is presided over by his venerable mother, who has now reached the age of seventy-eight years, and who is spending the evening of her life in the care and solicitude of her devoted son.
ALDEN BROWN. When, on March 1, 1899, Alden Brown, one of the finest farmers and most honorable men Van Buren county could claim as her own, passed away his family and the community alike suffered an irreparable loss. He was progressive in his farming methods, and was sincerely interested in whatever was advanced for the betterment of local conditions. Alden Brown was born in St. Lawrence county, New York, at Sackett Harbor, June 26, 1843. He was the son of Simeon and Lucindy (Burlingame) Brown, both natives of New York state. His father was a shoemaker by trade, and followed that occupation all his life in his native state, where he died without ever having come west to Michigan. The mother then came to make her home in Van Buren county with her son, Alden, and passed away at his home in 1897.
Alden Brown spent his early life in New York state and there at- tended the public schools, attending the solid general education which stood him in good stead in later life. On the first of January, New Years day, 1862, he was united in marriage to Miss Charlotte Ritch- ie, who was born in DeKalb township, St. Lawrence county, New York, on July 11, 1843. She was the daughter of Thomas and Mary (Hud- son) Ritchie. Her father was a native of Scotland and her mother of England, both having come to this country with their respective parents. They were married in St. Lawrence county, and there spent the remain- der of their lives, surviving to a ripe old age and dying, only a week apart, in 1897. Thomas Ritchie gave his services to his adopted country at the time of the Civil war, enlisting in a New York regiment under Captain Curtis, and following the flag for a period of three years. Mrs. Brown was the sixth born in a family of twelve children, five of whom are living at this date, 1911.
Alden Brown set out for himself at the age of fourteen years, work- ing as a farm hand and learning by experience the many phases of suc- cessful agriculture. About four years after his marriage he and his wife removed to the state of Michigan and located in St. Clair county,
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near the town of St. Clair, where they bought a farm and there made their home for over twenty years. At the end of that time Mr. Brown purchased the eighty acre farm where his widow now lives.
To Mr. and Mrs. Brown were born eight children, concerning whom the following brief data is here inserted. Ella, born September 11, 1863, was united in marriage to Josiah Henry, and they now make their resi- dence at New Haven. Her husband is a farmer, and their family con- sists of seven children. Frank Brown, born in November. 1866, is unmarried. Ile is a farmer and remains with his mother, operating the home farm. Hattie, born March 19, 1868, is now the wife of Frank Henry, a farmer in Columbus township. She and her husband are the parents of four children. Mary, born on the 12th of September, 1873, is now Mrs. William Ilamilton, and the mother of two children. She resides in Richmond, Macomb county, where her husband is occupied as a hay presser. Lottie, born March 19, 1876, was united in marriage to Edward Vroman, and now makes her home not far from Richmond, Macomb county. She and her husband have a family of six children, Delbert, born in May, 1878, now lives in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Cora, born September 6, 1883, is now the wife of Fred Smades and lives in Chebanse, Illinois. She is the mother of four children. Etta, born August 16, 1885, is now the wife of Alfred Garringe, a painter by trade, and makes her home in Memphis, Michigan. Neither Mrs. Brown or her late husband were members of any denomination, but both were supporters of whatever good works were advanced for the uplift of the community. Mrs. Brown plans to make her permanent home on the farm bequeathed her by her husband. She is a gracious and charming woman, honored and respected by all who know her, and is happy in the memory of the fine qualities and worthy record left by her husband.
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