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 6
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Ralph P. Chase was born in Gratiot township in 1881, January 19. He grew up on the farm, attending school in the winters and working in the summers. Until four years ago, when his father moved to Port Hu- ron, he and his son worked together on the place. Since that time Mr. R. P. Chase has taken charge of it. In 1901 he was married to Lillian London, of Gardendale, and five children have been born of this union. These are Glen, Vernon, Lila, Kenneth and Shirley.
Mr. Chase is one of the progressive farmers of the county and well fitted to carry on the occupation of his ancestors, which has been called
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by one of the classical writers "the occupation most fitting for men of honorable birth." It has been from the farms that our country has drawn the flower of her citizens and it is a hopeful sign that our sons and grandsons of American born men and women are still growing up in that environment which has no equal for producing resourceful and self-reliant men, with sound ideals of citizenship.
FRANCIS E. REEVES, general blacksmith and proprietor of a machine and automobile repair shop, of Avoca, Michigan, is one of the representa- tive men of his community who have succeeded in a business way and who have won to themselves reputations that are indicative of the pos- session of high moral characters. His accomplishments have been of a worthy nature in the business world in which he moves, and are highly creditable to him. in view of his limited means and equipment at the beginning of his career.
A native of St. Clair county, Mr. Reeves was born in Grant town- ship on September 18, 1867. and he is the son of Peter and Marion (Buel) Reeves, natives of Canada and the United States, respectively. The father of Peter Reeves was Stephen of that name, born in England, and an immigrant to Canada, where he married Jane Williams. Some years after his marriage Stephen Reeves and his family immigrated to the United States, settling in Grant township. where he passed the re- mainder of his life, busily engaged in the improving of the farm he en- tered from the government in that township. Ten children were born to them, two of whom were yet living in 1912,-Alonzo. a native of Grant township, and John, a resident of Pontiac. Peter Reeves, his son, also settled in Grant township, and he became the owner of a farm of one hun- dred and twenty acres, which he worked to the best advantage during his lifetime. He was a quiet, unassuming man, thoroughly honest and straightforward in all his dealings, and when he died he left his five children a heritage of honest training and worthy principles that has stood them in good stead during their lives. The names of those children are as follows: Francis E., of this review; Ella, the wife of Charles Ernest, of Grant township: Almeda, the wife of Edwin Wood, of Clyde township; David, on the old homestead, and Eveline, who married Rennie Kail, of Grant township.
Francis E. Reeves, in common with the other members of his father's family, was reared on the farm home in Grant township. He was priv- ileged to attend the district schools of the community, and when he reached the age of nineteen he began to learn the trade of blacksmithing and general wood working, continuing at the work until in 1898, when he made his first business attempt, choosing the town of Avoca as the scene of his activities. He himself constructed the building which he later occupied on Main street in Avoca, and on its completion opened a general repair shop, wherein he repairs automobiles and general farm implements. He has carried on a most successful business since the beginning of the venture, and is now established on a solid basis, which is sufficient guarantee of his future success.
Mr. Reeves is somewhat inclined to fraternalism, and is a member of Brockway Lodge, No. 316. A. F. & A. M. He is well posted in affairs of the order and an enthusiastic member. He is also a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, No. 343. of Port Huron. and
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of the Ancient Order of Gleaners. His political convictions are those of a Democrat, although he is not especially active in political matters.
On March 27, 1900, Mr. Reeves married Alberta MeGaw, born in Canada, on August 7, 1871. She received her education in the schools of Port Huron, and was graduated from the high school of that city. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Reeves,-Marion, aged eleven years; Merle, aged eight ; and Francis, Jr., now three years old.
ROBERT H. MORLEY. St. Clair county claims Robert H. Morley as one of its progressive and representative farmers, and he is uniformly esteemed in the vicinity of his home in section 33, Mussey township, where he is the owner of eighty acres of well-improved land. Mr. Morley has a thorough and comprehensive knowledge of soil and climate con- ditions in St. Clair county, having resided here all of his life, and this knowledge, added to industrious and progressive methods of working his land, has attained for him unqualified success. Robert H. Morley was born in Capac, Michigan, November 14, 1873, and is a son of Phillip H. and Marietta (Alverson) Morley.
Phillip H. Morley was a native of England, having been born in the mother country April 27, 1841. He was reared and educated there, but at the age of seventeen years emigrated to America, and after spend- ing about five years in Canada, moved to Port Huron, Michigan, in 1863. Subsequently he removed to Capac, where he secured employment in the construction of the Grand Trunk Railroad, became a section foreman, and continued in the service of that company for twelve years. He then became connected with the Pere Marquette Railroad, and later was em- ployed on the Michigan Central for ten years, and after resigning from the service of the latter company retired from railroading and settled down on his farm in Mussey township, where he spent the remainder of his life, his death occurring in March, 1911. He and his wife, who survives him, had four children: Robert H .; Earl, who is married and resides in Capac; Phillip F., residing in Berlin township, where he is engaged in agricultural pursuits; and James I., of Omaha, Nebraska.
Robert H. Morley was reared in Capac, where he attended the pub- lic schools, and this was supplemented by study in the institutions of Otsego Lake. At the age of eighteen years he returned to Capac, and when his father engaged in agricultural pursuits became his assistant. Farming has always taken Mr. Morley's entire attention, and he now owns eighty acres in Berlin township and rents a tract of 120 acres in Mussey township. He has directed his efforts with such discrimination as to attain a full measure of success, being recognized as one of the representative agriculturists of the township. In politics Mr. Morley gives his allegiance to the Republican party, but has never cared for public office, although he takes a lively interest in all that tends to con- serve the progress and material prosperity of the county and state. Fraternally, he is connected with the Modern Woodmen of America, while his wife is a popular member of the Royal Neighbors. She is well known in religious circles and consistently attends the Methodist Epis- copal church.
On January 29, 1902, Mr. Morley was united in marriage with Miss Flossie P. Rowley, daughter of Nathan and Julia (Feligh) Rowley, both deceased, the former of whom was a native of Michigan and the latter
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of Canada. Mrs. Morley, who is a twin sister of Floyd E. Rowley, se- cured a good education in the Capac public schools. She and her hus- band have two children : Marion E., born September 26, 1903; and How- ard E., born March 15, 1908.
DAVID CUMMING, D. V. S. Port Iluron numbers among its citizenship a large representation who have come to the Wolverine state from the neighboring Dominion of Canada, and viewed as a whole they constitute a particularly fine class of men. Among the most estimable and praise- worthy of those who have taken up their residence beneath the stars and stripes is David Cumming, D. V. S., whose profession is that of a veterin- ary surgeon and who is one of the most successful in his line. In 1891 Dr. Cumming was appointed United States veterinary inspector of the port of Port Huron and he has been the only one to hold this important office since it was made separate and distinet from Detroit.
Dr. Cumming, whose home and office are located at 912 Lapeer avenue, this city, was born on a farm in the vicinity of Milton, Ontario, June 26, 1842, the son of William and Margaret (Bell) Cumming. He grew to manhood on the home farm, becoming familiar with the great basie industry in all its departments. He attended the country schools when a lad and subsequently entered high school in Milton, from which he was graduated at the age of eighteen years. About the year 1868 Dr. Cumming set out in quest of wider opportunities and located in Toronto, where he took a course in the veterinary college at that place, being grad- uated in 1870 with an especially thorough training for his work. That school is one of the best of its kind and Dr. Cumming is proud of the possession of the diploma he received at that time. He located first in Mitchell, Ontario, and there engaged in practice until 1879; in which year he came to Port Huron and has ever since resided here, doing a useful work and winning the confidence and esteem of the community in which his interests have been centered for more than thirty years.
At Mitchell, Ontario, Dr. Cumming laid the foundation of a most happy and congenial life companionship by his marriage to Miss Ma- tilda Robertson, daughter of Alexander and Matilda Robertson. They have two children, a son and a daughter. Edna became the wife of Rev. J. L. French, D. D., of Ann Arbor, where he is connected with the Uni- versity of Michigan. Mrs. French is a graduate of the Port Huron high school, and was graduated from the University of Michigan in 1902, after which she taught for a time in the Port Huron high school. They have one little daughter, Margaret Matilda French. William J. is still a member of the parental household.
Dr. Cumming, who is much in sympathy with American institutions, took out naturalization papers shortly after coming to Michigan. He is a loyal Republican, but has never been lured to office-seeking by its hon- ors and emoluments. He is a Modern Maccabee and he and his wife are valued members of the Congregational church. They are highly re- spected and their circle of friends may be said to be coincident with that of their acquaintances.
DR. GLENN R. DUNNING. Prominent among the energetic and pro- gressive young business men of Goodells is Dr. Glenn R. Dunning, who is well known as a skilful veterinary surgeon, and is also identified
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with the mercantile interests of the town as a hardware merchant. A son of the late James Dunning, he was born in the town of Wales, Saint Clair county, Michigan, November 19, 1880.
His grandfather, Abijah Dunning, was born and reared in Ottawa, Canada. He married Bridget Cogan, a native of Ireland, and after spending a few years in Canada they came from there to Saint Clair county, Michigan, in 1858, later removing to Manitoba, where they re- sided during their remaining years.
Born and reared in Canada, James Dunning came with his parents to Saint Clair county, Michigan, where he engaged in agricultural pur- suits. Becoming a pioneer settler of Wales township, he bought land, and on the homestead which he cleared and improved was prosperously engaged in tilling the soil until his death in 1902. He was an active and valued member of the Methodist Episcopal church at Lamb. He mar- ried in Saint Clair county Elmira Bush, who is still living, in 1912. Of the five children born of their union, four are living, as follows: Jo- sephine, wife of Henry Persel, of Washington; Clayton A., a graduate of the Ypsilanti Business College, is manager of a wheel works at Flint, Michigan; Nettie Z., a teacher in the public schools of North Yakima, Washington; and Glenn R.
Born November 19, 1880, and brought up on the homestead in Wales township, Glenn R. Dunning was educated in the public schools, being graduated from the eighth grade at the age of fourteen years. The fol- lowing five years he assisted in the management of the home farm, ob- taining a good knowledge of the various branches of agriculture. In 1903 he entered the Veterinary College at Grand Rapids, Michigan, and was there graduated with the class of 1906. Immediately locating in Goodells, Dr. Dunning has here worked up an excellent practice in his profession, his skill as a veterinarian being recognized throughout this section of the county. He takes great interest in everything pertaining to his profession, keeping pace with the most up-to-date methods used in veterinary work. In the fall of 1911, having formed a partnership with G. H. Fowler, Dr. Dunning erected a cement block building and em- barked in mercantile pursuits, putting in a full line of general merchan- dise, including hardware, lumber, posts and wire fencing, and is now car- rying on a substantial and satisfactory business in this line.
Dr. Dunning married, November 25, 1903, Cora B. Grumwell, who was born in Wales township, Saint Clair county, February 16, 1884. Her father, William Grumwell, was born in Yorkshire, England, May 13, 1842, and as a boy of eight years came with his parents to the United States, landing in New York in 1850. In October, 1861, he enlisted in Company H, Eighth New York Cavalry, which was assigned to the Army of the Potomac, and served three years, nine months and twenty days, taking an active part in many engagements and being five times wounded. Mr. Grumwell is now a member and the commander of Wales Post, No. 233, Grand Army of the Republic. He likewise belongs to Memphis Lodge, No. 142, Ancient Free and Accepted Order of Masons, and to Memphis Chapter, No. 223, Order of the Eastern Star. Mr. Grumwell married Mary C. Linklater, who was born in Kimball township, Saint Clair county, Michigan, November 12, 1853, and of their five children three are now, in 1912, living, as follows: Martha, wife of Frank Cod-
Mehittable & lady
Sent D. Cady
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gon ; Catherine E., wife of Alvah Burt ; and Cora B., wife of Dr. Dun- ning.
Fraternally, Dr. Dunning is a member of Boynton Tent No. 51, Knights of the Maccabees, at Goodells, and has insurance in the same. Politically he supports the principles of the Republican party. Relig- iously both the Doctor and Mrs. Dunning are members of the Methodist Protestant church at Goodells, the Doctor being also a member of its official board.
BURT D. CADY. Few names have been more closely and none more honorably identified with the history of Port Huron and St. Clair county during the past half century than that of Cady. Probably the best known representative of the family at the present time is Mr. Burt D. Cady, the postmaster of Port Huron, who has had a prominent career as a lawyer and public man.
His father, the late Elwin M. Cady, who died at his home in Port Huron on the 30th of January, 1896, was one of the best known men in the county. He was born at Medina, Ohio, April 18, 1834, and when quite young his parents moved to New Port (now Marine City), and later to Rochester, Wisconsin, where Mr. Cady attended school, com- pleting his education in Racine College. In 1854 he came to Port Huron and engaged in the lumber business. He attained a wide acquaintance in every township throughout the county. For a long number of years, while John P. Sanborn was collector of customs, he held the office of deputy collector, and was in Mr. Sanborn's employ for a number of years after he retired from the customs service. Mr. Cady was a Re- publican and probably knew more men in St. Clair county than any other citizen. For twenty years he annually made the trips into the townships to deliver the election tickets to the supervisors. In Novem- ber, 1895, he was nominated by his party for alderman of the Sixth ward in Port Huron and was elected by a substantial majority. A little later the first serious illness of his life attacked him and resulted in his death. The committee of the city council in its resolutions properly expressed the feelings and regard of the general citizenship for their fel- low citizen, and the following paragraphs of the resolutions are quoted as a deserved tribute to this prominent resident:
"Whereas, The common council of the city of Port Huron record with a sense of deep and sincere grief the decease of Elwin M. Cady, late a member of the Sixth ward of this city be it therefore
"Resolved, That while the deceased was not permitted to associate with us in an official capacity, his long, active and useful life as a citizen of this city, covering a period of thirty-five years, and the personal knowledge possessed by this council of his sturdy, rugged and energetic character, his versatile qualifications for the service of the public and his devotion to duty and the full performance of every trust. private and public, confided to his charge, entitle his life, character and public spirit to a fitting tribute of respect and commemoration.
"Resolved, That in the death of Elwin M. Cady this city loses one of its most respected citizens. this council the services of one who would have made an able, diligent and efficient member, his neighbors a kind. considerate and obliging friend. and his family a fond, indulgent hus- band and parent.
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Mr. Cady was married in 1861 to Miss Mehitable E. Kimball, and their seven children were: Ella E., Erwin A., Sarah E., Mertie Maude, Elwin M., Burt D. and Clay C. Mrs. E. M. Cady, who is still a resident of Port Huron, is one of the real pioneers of St. Clair county, where she has spent all her life. She was born on "Bunce Farm," August 12, 1837. Her parents were Everett and Mehitable (Moulton) Kimball. Her father was born at Bath, New Hampshire, May 4, 1805, and her mother at Lyman, New Hampshire, December 9, 1803. In the Kimball family there were nine children, as follows: Edward, Mary S., Guy M., Susan, Rebecca, Mehitable E., John, George and Andrew. The first five were born in New Hampshire, and the others in Michigan. The father and mother came to Michigan about 1836, and were pioneer settlers of St. Clair county. The father was also a pioneer lumberman of Michigan.
Mrs. Mehitable E. Cady spent the greater part of her life up to the time of her marriage in Clyde township, St. Clair county. Since her marriage to the late Elwin M. Cady she has resided in Port Huron. She obtained a good English education, and taught school in Clyde, Ke- nockee and what is now Yale. Mrs. Cady is a representative of the pioneers of St. Clair county, and it is fitting, therefore, as well as for her excellency of character and exemplary life, that a portrait of her appears in this work.
Burt D. Cady, one of the representatives of this family, and to whom the following paragraphs are devoted, was born in Port Huron, July 25, 1874. He attended the public schools of the city and when eighteen years old began the study of law in the office of Avery Brothers & Walsh. He was admitted to the bar on his twenty-first birthday, July 25, 1895. The greater part of his subsequent career has been devoted to the duties of public office. As a lawyer he has been very successful, and since establishing his own office in 1897, has enjoyed a large prac- tice. In 1896 he was elected assistant police justice of Port Huron for a term of four years. In 1898 he was elected circuit court commissioner, and served two terms in this capacity. On August 21, 1901, he was appointed to the office of prosecuting attorney, and in the fall of 1902 he was elected to succeed himself in this office. In November, 1906, the eleventh senatorial district elected him as its representative in the state senate. On August 3, 1909, President Taft appointed him postmaster of Port Huron, and he has since given the city a very capable and sat- isfactory administration of this public service.
As an influential Republican and as a progressive citizen Mr. Cady has often been honored and performed useful services for the public welfare. In 1897 he was secretary of the State League of Republican Clubs, was vice president the following year and in 1899 was president of the league. In 1896 he formed the Municipal League of Republican Clubs at Port Huron and served as its president several years. For several years he was chairman of the Republican county committee. During his term as prosecuting attorney he successfully prosecuted two important cases in the interest of the commonwealth, these being the People vs. William Gilfoy and People vs. George Bearss. Gilfoy was tried for the murder of James Gafney, a saloonist of Port Huron, and Bearss was charged with the murder of Jane Brown, the wife of Abel Brown, a farmer of Berlin township. Gilfoy was sentenced to the Michi-
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gan state prison, at Jackson, for eighteen years, and Bearss is now serv- ing a life sentence at Marquette, in the Upper Peninsula Prison.
Mr. Cady is a stockholder and is now president of the Port Iluron Driving Park & Agricultural Society. Ile is also a stockholder and di- rector of the Detroit Life Insurance Company, and is a director of the Cozy Homes Limited of Welland, Ontario. He takes an active part in fraternal affairs. He is a member of Charter Lodge, No. 18, K. of P., at Port Huron ; affiliates with Port Huron Lodge, No. 343, B. P. O. E., and is now secretary of the corporate body ; is a member of Pine Grove Lodge, No. 11, F. & A. M., and of Huron Chapter, No. 27, R. A. M., of Port Huron Commandery. No. 7, Knights Templar, and of Moslem Tem- ple, A. A. O. N. M. S., of Detroit ; is also a member of Port Huron Lodge, No. 261, I. O. O. F. He was reared in the faith of the Congregational church and became a member when about sixteen years old. He is a trustee of his church and is now president of the Y. M. C. A. of Port Huron.
Mr. Cady was married at Lapeer, Michigan, June 3, 1902, to Miss Mary K. Beamer, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Beamer, a native of Lapeer and a graduate of the high school of that place. Mr. and Mrs. Cady are the parents of one child, Eleanor Maurine.
LEROY PEARSON. It is said that stenography is a key which opens all kinds of business opportunities, but it might be added that only a skil- ful and an industrious hand can make it fit into the locks. The trite adage that there is always room at the top is truer of no field than that of commerce. It is a mistake to suppose that brains, vim and taet are not as badly wanted in this field as in that of the professions, and the career of Mr. Leroy Pearson is another chapter in the literature of suc- eess, quiekly achieved by reason of talent and intelligent effort.
Sanilac county, Michigan, was the birthplace of Mr. Pearson, the date of his birth being October 12, 1884. Ilis parents are Richard and Addie Pope Pearson, now residents of Sandusky. His mother's father, Alfred Pope, was a soldier in the Civil war, going from Michigan to join in the fight for the Union. Mr. Richard Pearson, now probate judge of Sanilae county, was born in Canada, but his wife is a native of Michigan. Leroy was educated in the public schools of Sanilac county and in business college here. He was a page in the House of Representatives of Michi- gan in the legislative sessions of 1897-1899 and 1901, and during those years he attended three regular and four special sessions called by Gov- ernor Pingree. Two years later Mr. Pearson became Mr. Percival's sten- ographer. In eight years he has advanced to the position of manager of the office, and of secretary and treasurer of the Percival Block Com- pany. Mr. Percival's business is a real estate, loan and general insur- ance, whose office is at 1002 Military street.
In 1906 Mr. Pearson was married to Miss Bertha Conroy, who has spent her entire life in Port Huron. Her parents came from Canada and were well known among the older settlers of Port Huron. Both B. WV. Conroy and his wife, Caroline Brophy Conroy, are now dead. Mr. and Mrs. Pearson reside at 918 Howard street, a home which they own. Mrs. Pearson is a member of St. Stephen's church.
Mr. Pearson is a Woodman and also a member of the Maccabees lodge. He has for some time been active in the Michigan National Guard, and
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is now first lieutenant of the Port Huron company (Company C, Third Infantry). His business sagacity and initiative would be remarkable in a person of much maturer age, and in one of his years it is extraordinary. The general respect which this inspires is supplemented by the admira- tion which his many excellent personal qualities entitle him to receive. Such men as Mr. Pearson make it certain that the progress of Port Hu- ron, so ably furthered by the elder generation, will be continued in the future, and its development will more than parallel its prosperous past.
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