HON. JAMES GILLESPIE BIRNEY. In recalling this distinguished citizen of the United States, whose brilliant gifts and solid service to his county deserve preservation in every public record, the citizens of Bay County, Michigan, remember with pride that for over a decade he made his home here.

        James Gillespie Birney was born February 4, 1792, at Danville, Kentucky, an only son of James and Anna (Reed) Birney. His decent was pure Protestant Scotch-Irish. The paternal grandfather owned the old family homestead near Cootehill, County Cavan, Ireland, and is represented as a man in prosperous circumstances, a vestryman in the Church of England and a local magistrate. His life was closed in his own country. On the maternal side, the grandfather was John Reed, who was born in Londonderry, Ireland, a man of wealth and political influence. His connection with some of the political movements of the dangerous times in which he lived caused him to leave his own land and seek a home in America, and as early as 1779 he had established himself in Kentucky. In the same year he built a fort within tow miles of Danville and a mansion which has stood the assaults of Time until within a recent period. From his marriage with Lettice Wilcox came some of Kentucky’s greatest statesmen: Thomas Buchanan Read; Judges John and Thomas Green, Rev. Lewis W. Green, D. D., Dr. Willis G. Craig and Gen. Humphrey Marshall.

        In spite of the wealth and social standing of his father, James Birney, the father of our distinguished subject, tired of home surroundings and ancestral customs, and when only 16 years of age escaped from Ireland and resolved to build up his own fortunes in the great county across the ocean. He reached Philadelphia in 1783. In 1788 he opened a store at Danville, Kentucky, in which he prospered and later became identified with almost all the channels of trade, politics, religion and social life in the State and became justly reputed the wealthiest as well as one of the most influential men in Kentucky. His many interests brought him into close contact with the leading men of his day and it was in his own home or in companionship with his grandfather Reed that James G. Birney learned the theories of government, which books could never have taught him, and while still a youth had formulated his own views.

        Thus the youth grew up unusually intelligent and possessing the poise of a man before he had reached maturity. His character was that of a youth frank, self-respecting and self-reliant, with that tough of Southern chivalry which so marked his generation and which is so sadly wanting in the present. After thorough preparation, James G. Birney entered the sophomore class in Princeton College, in April, 1808, and was graduated September 26, 1810, having shown unusual proficiency in moral and political philosphy, general literature and the classics, in fact, in just those branches which he needed in his future career. While there he had listened to the teachings of the president of the college, the eminent Dr. Stanhope Smith, who taught his pupils that slavery was a moral wrong and a political evil. The subject was one of importance over the whole Union and was the subject of much debate and discussion at the college. Pennsylvania had already passed an emancipation act, which was followed by the same legislation in New York in 1801, and in New Jersey in 1804. In all the college discussions James G. Birney took part, never defending slavery, although both his father and grandfather were slave-owners and he had been brought up in its shadow and under its influence. Immediately after securing his diploma, he returned to Kentucky, and he subsequently entered upon the study of the law with United States District Attorney Alexander J. Dallas in Philadelphia, with whom he continued for three years. He passed his examination and was admitted to the bar in Philadelphia, and in May, 1814, he returned to Danville and entered upon the practice of the law. In the fall elections he was made a member of the Town Council and was instrumental in founding the Danville Academy. In 1816 he was elected a member of the Lower House of the Kentucky General Assembly, and it was during this period that he first took the stand in opposition to slavery, which made his subsequent career so interesting and important.

        Mr. Birney now began to think of a wider sphere for his professional and political ambitions, and circumstances pointed to Alabama as a fruitful field and thither he removed in 1818.

        >From 1818 to 1823 the biographer finds Mr. Birney practicing his profession, overseeing an immense plantation and entering with vigor into politics. The latter interests brought about financial losses of a serious character. His frequent absences from home had caused the unprofitable cultivation of his crops, mainly his cotton, and in 1823, in debt, he left his plantation and removed his family to Huntsville, the county seat of Madison County, and one year later he was elected mayor of Huntsville. He continued his professional duties, attaining to a distinction unusual, considering, his eminent competitors, and his political prominence continued to increase. More and more his leanings were in the direction of anti-slavery legislation, and early in 1826 he began to take an interest in the American Colonization Society, which he regarded “as a scheme of benevolence to the whole colored population, and as a germ of effort capable of expansion adequate to the largest necessities in the extermination of slavery.” In December, 1826, he appeared before the Legislature with the rough draft of a fill “to prohibit the importation of slaves into this State for sale or hire,” which did not please some of the large planters.

        It is not the object of this sketch of this distinguished man to follow in detail his political career, which included his removal to Ohio in 1835 and the genesis of the Republican party, under other names, his nomination on November 13, 1839, as presidential candidate for the new organization, and a recapitulation of the great political movements of the next decade in which his was so important a figure. His work for the emancipation of the slaves is national history. Probably few men suffered more in the cause than did James G. Birney, - the loss of the esteem of kindred and friends which was replaced by contumely and insult, the loss of his property, the interruption of his professional career which had offered the most brilliant future, and the constant detraction of those who had every reason to believe in the purity of his motives.

        When his father died in 1839, leaving him a large estate and many slaves, he immediately emancipated his negroes. In 1840 he was invited to England as one of the vice-presidents of the World’s Convention, and in May of that year he was nominated for the presidency by the Liberal party and at the subsequent election, receive 7,000 votes.

        About this time he became one of the three proprietors - of Lower Saginaw (now Bay City), Michigan, and, in order to look after his interests here and also to find retirement after so many years of strenuous struggle, he decided to remove to this place. He arrived at Saginaw in the fall of 1841 and remained there through the winter. At this time all the business interests of the valley were at so low an ebb that Webster House, one of the largest hotels in Michigan at that time, outside of Detroit, built in 1837, was no longer required to accommodate the traveling public and had been standing unoccupied for some time. Mr. Birney and his family secured it as a private dwelling, and it continued to be their home during the year’s residence in Saginaw, before their removal to Lower Saginaw.

        In association with Dr. Daniel Hughes Fitzhugh and James Frazer, Mr. Birney had previously purchased the stock of the Saginaw Bay Company, which company owned the John Riley Reserve and had laid out the town of Lower Saginaw. They became the successors of that company and the title was conveyed to Mr. Birney. He acted as trustee until a division of the property was made among the stock holders.

        A memorable occasion during the residence of Mr. Birney at Saginaw was that of July 4, 1842, when he was invited to address a number of his fellow-citizens who were dining with him at Jewett’s Hotel. The late Norman Little and Judge Albert Miller were appointed a committee to wait on Mr. Birney and extend the invitation to honor the party with an address in honor of the day. His reply was characteristic. He said that he could not do nor say anything to honor the anniversary of American independence and freedom, for that day would not have arrived until the release from bondage of the three or four million individuals who were held to service by their oppressors, had taken place. He consented to attend and speak on his own theme and the eloquent address on the subject of “Emancipation” was subsequently made use of as a public document.

        In the spring of 1842, Mr. Birney removed to Lower Saginaw. His residence here was the block house at the corner of Fourth avenue and Water street, built by the Saginaw Bay Company. Aside from looking after the interests of the Saginaw Bay Company as trustee, he engaged extensively in agricultural pursuits, particularly in stock-raising. He brought a fine herd of blooded cattle from Ohio and the results are shown in the fine cattle which abound through the Saginaw Bay district.

        After coming to Michigan, Mr. Birney was again called into active public life by his nomination in 1843 again to the presidency. At the election in 1844, he received 62,300 votes. In 1845 he was nominated for Governor of Michigan and at the election polled 3,023 votes for this high office. This closed his public political career, although his interest in the anti-slavery struggle was not abated. Disease was creeping on and after his health failed he did not mingle often with his fellow-citizens of Bay County, but he had been very benevolent and public spirited and he was always remembered with kind feelings by his old neighbors. In order to consult medical specialists and also to give his youngest son collegiate advantages, he went East and settled at Eagleswood, near Perth Amboy, New Jersey. He died there from effects of paralysis brought on through a fall from a horse, after five or six years of invalidism, on November 23, 1857, at the age of 65 years. He did not live long enough to realize his earlier hopes of the growth and importance of Lower Saginaw, nor to see the day which he would have considered the true birthday of American Independence.

        Mr. Birney was married on February 1, 1816, to Agatha McDowell, who was a daughter of United States Judge William McDowell and a niece of Governor Madison of Kentucky and of Bishop Madison of Virginia. She died in 1838, survived by one daughter - Mrs. Florence B. Jennison, of Bay City, Michigan, - and five sons, James, William, Dion, David and George. In 1841 his second union took place, also a congenial one, to Elizabeth Fitzhugh, a sister of Mrs. Garritt Smith; by this union there was one son, - Fitzhugh. Mr. Birney was a man of the highest Christian character and no even incomplete biography can be prepared without special reference being made to his unaffected piety. The Holy Bible was his constant companion and his mind was stored with its precious truths. While a resident of Lower Saginaw, it was Mr. Birney’s custom to conduct religious services in the little school house.

        In spite of the great eminence he had reached in the political world, Mr. Birney was noted for his quiet unostentation. He possessed the refined manner which comes from mingling with superior society, from his extensive reading and travel, and he was conspicuous even in the heat of debate for a consideration for the feelings of others and a remarkable absence of selfish self-seeking. Like other reformers and public benefactors, Mr. Birney did not escape detraction from high places, but, in the light thrown by the progress of events in these subsequent years, when the people of the North and the South have learned to dispassionately study history, the name of James G. Birney has gained added and enduring luster.

ELOF L. JOHNSON, a farmer and merchant of Garfield township, Bay County, Michigan, owns a well-improved farm of 40 acres in section 1, operates a general store in which the Garfield Post Office is located, and is one of the leading mane of his section. Mr. Johnson was born in 1864 in Sweden, and is a son of Jonas Peter and Lena Johnson.

        The father died in Sweden, in 1875, aged 51 years, leaving his widow with eight children. Tow of the sons, Alfred and Michael, had established themselves as Bay City, and in 1878 Alfred returned to Sweden and brought his mother and the rest of the family to Bay City. The mother did not long survive the change, dying in the fall of 1878, aged 52 years. The children all survive and are all located in Bay County, Michigan, within 20 miles of each other. They are: August, a farmer of Fraser township; Alfred, a farmer of Fraser township; Charles, a farmer of Garfield township; Michael, a farmer of Garfield township; Annie, wife of Joseph McCaskee, of Bay City; John, a farmer of Garfield township; Frank, a farmer of Fraser township; and Eolf L of this sketch.

        Two years after coming to Bay County, the subject of this sketch bought his farm of 40 acres in section 1, where he has carried on agricultural operations ever since. In 1898 he opened a general store on his property, in which the post office is kept, his wife being post-mistress.

        In 1890, Mr. Johnson was united in marriage with Clara McCabe, who was then a resident of Bay City. They have three interesting little children: Alma, born in April, 1899; Dewey, born in May 1901; and Rudolph, born in November, 1902.

        Mr. Johnson has been an active member of the Republican party for many years and has been called upon to serve in a number of important official positions. He was justice of the peace for one term; was supervisor for five years; township treasurer for one year and has been a school director for 10 years. These offices have come to him practically unsought, for he is a man of excellent character, highly esteemed by his fellow citizens. Both he and his wife belong to the Methodist Episcopal Church.

HEZEKIAH M. GILLETT, senior member of the law firm of Gillett & Clark, and vice-president of the Bay County Savings Bank, was born in Genesee County, New York, and is a son of Samuel and Susan (Board) Gillett.

        The parents of Mr. Gillett were both born and reared at Chester, Orange County, New York, where they were subsequently married. Later they became residents of Genesee County, where they engaged in farming. The father died in October 1903, aged 80 years. The mother still resides at Le Roy, New York.

        Mr. Gillett secured his primary education at Le Roy Academy, in his native county, and then entered Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, where he was graduated in 1874 with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. Two years later he came to Bay City and entered upon the study of the law, with the firm of Hatch & Cooley. He was admitted to the bar of Michigan in 1877 and shortly afterward entered into partnership with J. E. Simonson, the firm of Simonson & Gillett being established on January 1, 1879. Later, E. S. Clark was admitted to partnership and the firm style was Simonson, Gillett & Clark until September 1904, when the present firm succeeded. This law partnership dating from the time when Mr. Gillett became interested therein is the oldest in Bay City and Bay County. Mr. Gillett has devoted particular attention to corporation and real estate law practice and for a considerable period has been counsel for many of the manufacturing corporations of the city, including the North American Chemical Company and the Bay City Michigan Sugar Company. Since its organization, he has been on the board of directors of the Bay County Savings Bank, of which he also is vice-president.

        Mr. Gillett was first married to Helen M. Leconey, of New York City, in 1880. Mrs. Gillett died in 1885, being survived by one son, John. John Gillett recently accepted a position in the engineering department of a large manufacturing company of Cleveland, Ohio, after a year spent in the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor.

        Mr. Gillett was again married, in 1887, to Minnie E. Orton, who was born and reared in Bay County and is the only daughter of the late Charles F. Orton, an early resident, who was extensively engaged in the lumber business. Mr. Orton died at Duluth, Minnesota, February 14, 1898. He was a native of Steuben County, New York, where he was born in 1839. Mrs. Gillett inherited form her father great musical talent. The latter was organist at Trinity Protestant Episcopal Church for a long period. Mrs. Gillett is known to the musical world through a number of choice musical compositions. One son and two daughters have been born to Mr. & Mrs. Gillett, viz: Gladys, Eleanor and Robert, who are students in the Bay City High School.

        Mr. Gillett is a Mason, a member of Bay City Commandery, No. 26, Knights Templar. He also retains his college fraternity membership with the Theta Delta Chi society. For a number of years he has been a vestryman of Trinity Protestant Episcopal Church.

REV. FRANCIS GRES, pastor of St. Joseph’s Church, Bay City, Michigan, was born December 4, 1853, in the south of France. During his almost 50 years as student and faithful laborer in the spiritual field, he has won the approbation of the church and the love of his people on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean.

        Father Gres in boyhood attended the schools of Rodez, his native village, but his theological education was pursued in Brittany, where he was graduated in 1877 and in the same year was ordained to the priesthood, taking his vows in 1878 in the Society of the Holy Ghost. His scholarship and zeal made him eligible to a responsible position and he was sent to be a professor in the Seminary College at St. Pierre, in the island of Martinique, West Indies, which city only a few years ago was destroyed by the terrible eruption of Mounty Pelee. After six years of educational work here, Father Gres returned to France and served eight years as a missionary priest.

        In 1892 Father Gres came to America and located at Detroit, Michigan, where he was assigned as assistant pastor of St. Joachim’s Church, and remained in this connection until June 1894, when he came to Bay City as assistant to Father J. Roth and later to Father F. J. M. Michael Dangelzer. In 1900 he was appointed pastor of St. Joseph’s parish and is now rounding out his 11^th year in Bay City. Father Gres has taught himself the English language. His pastorate has been marked with large accessions to the church, with a great increase in the church school and with added enthusiasm among the people. A new church will soon be erected, the financial affairs of the parish being in a most prosperous condition.

        Rev. Alphonsus Coignard, assistant priest, was born in Normandy, France, in 1874, was educated at Mortain, France, where he graduated in 1892. He then joined the Society of the Holy Ghost in the same year. In 1897 he was ordained at Baltimore, Maryland, by His Eminence, Cardinal Gibbons, as subdeacon and as deacon. In February, 1898, he was ordained to the priesthood under Archbishop Ryan, at Philadelphia.

        Father Coignard taught theology at several points for two years and then was sent as priests to Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin. In 1900 he came to Bay City as assistant to Father Gres, when the latter assumed full charge of this parish. Both these reverend gentlemen are learned, pious men, whose churchly zeal is only equaled by their manly, consecrated, unselfish, Christian individual lives.

        The academy in connection with St. Joseph’s Church is managed by the Dominican Sisters, a body of holy women whose reputation for piety and scholarship extends over the world. Nearly all grades are accommodated here, and careful and through instruction is afforded in all ordinary branches in the classics and in music. Accommodations are provided in the class room for 350 day pupils.

HON. CHESTER L. COLLINS, one of the leading members of the Bay County bar, and president of the Michigan State Bar Association, recently elected judge of the 18^th Judicial Circuit of Michigan, has been an honored resident of the Third Ward of Bay City since the fall of 1875. He was born at Newcastle, Coshocton County, Ohio, June 13, 1847, and is a son of Adgate W. & Susan (Olive) Collins. His father’s parents removed to Ohio from Massachusetts, where the ancestors, coming from Ireland, had settled prior to the Revolution. His mother’s parents were descended from English ancestors, who settled in Maryland and Virginia at an early day.

        Adgate W. Collins was born in 1821 in Richland County, Ohio, and his wife in the same year, in Muskingum County, Ohio. They removed from the latter county to Knoxville, Iowa, in May of 1852, where Mr. Collins has continued to reside, interested in farming, merchandising and banking. Both parents are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

        Chester L. Collins was educated in the common schools of Knoxville, Iowa, and in June, 1868, was graduated at the Iowa Wesleyan University. He then studied law in the office of the well-known legal firm of Stone & Ayers. The senior member of this firm, Hon. William M. Stone, was one of Iowa’s War Governors. He was admitted to practice in the “Hawkeye” State in 1869. Prior to entering college, he had assisted on his father’s farm and had clerked in the latter’s store. In May, 1864, he entered the army, enlisting in Company A, 47^th Reg., Iowa Vol. Inf., and served as its sergeant until the company was mustered out of the service on September 28, 1864.

        From the date of his admission to the bar in Knoxville, he continued to practice his profession there until 1875, engaging in much important litigation, having many cases in the Circuit and District courts and the Iowa Supreme Court. This condition continued after he came to Bay City in October, 1875. Judge Collins having a record from that until the present time in all the courts of the State of Michigan, in the Supreme courts of Florida and Louisiana, in the United States Circuit courts, the United States Courts of Appeal and the United States Supreme Court.

        Judge Collins has been a member of the Michigan State Bar Association from the time of its organization, has been its vice-president and is now its president. For several years he was chairman of the committee on legislation and law reform and was largely instrumental in initiating and carrying on the movements, which finally resulted in the Revised Supreme Court Rules of Michigan for 1897.

        He has been closely identified with all the public-spirited enterprises which have resulted so favorably for Bay City. When the Bay County Bridge Commission was organized, he was one of its first members, his co-0workers being Joseph Turner of Bay City and the late John Welch and Ephraim Kelton. During the administration of this commission, the Third street bridge was built, that of 23^rd street was rebuilt, and the South Center (now Cass avenue) one was taken from 23^rd street reconstructed at that point. For a term of five years he was a member of the Bay City Police Commission and has served for more than 20 years as a member of the board of trustees of the Bay City Public Library. When the bankruptcy law went into effect, Hon. Henry D. Swan, judge of the United States District Court, appointed Judge Collins referee in bankruptcy for the Northern Division of the Eastern District of Michigan, being the sole referee of that division, and he served as such until April, 1904, when he resigned the office.

        On May 12, 1874, Judge Collins was married to Sarah Miller, who is a daughter of Judge Albert Miller of Bay City, one of the best known pioneers of the Saginaw Valley, and they have two daughters: Emily and Susan Mary.

        Judge Collins political affiliations have always been with the Republican party. His first presidential vote was cast for Ulysses S. Grant, in 1868. On February 10, 1905, he received the Republican nomination for the office of judge of the 18^th Judicial Circuit of Michigan, comprising the county of Bay. His election followed in April. Since 1870 he has been in fraternal connection with the Masonic bodies, and he retains his college membership with the Beta Theta Pi fraternity. His interest in the Grand Army of the Republic has always been sincere and he has twice served as commander of U. S. Grant Post, No. 76. A portrait of Judge Collins accompanies this sketch.

HON. BIRDSEY KNIGHT, one of the leading men of Bay County, who owns and operates a fine farm of 240 acres and resides in section 17, township 14, range 6, in Hampton township, was born in Avon township, Oakland County, Michigan, July 18, 1851, and is a son of Hon. Nathan and Harriet (Stephens) Knight and grandson of Ebenezer Knight, a native of Maine.

        Hon. Nathan Knight was born at Otisville, near Portland, Maine, July 14, 1817, and accompanied his parents to Oakland County, Michigan in 1826. He completed his education at Austinburg Institute, Ohio, where he taught school prior to coming to Bay City, in 1854. Securing a farm in Hampton township, he lived on it two years and then was a resident of Bay City until 1860, when he returned to the farm, which continued to be his home through life. For four years he was engaged in the practice of the law at Bay City in partnership with William Sherman, this being the only law firm at that time in the city. Nathan Knight was a very superior man, both in education, mental attainments, and in the sterling qualities needed in the early days of any community. He was sent to the Legislature and worked for his section with success and filled almost all the offices which demanded a man of ability and tact. His death took place in Bay County, December 28, 1886. The mother of our subject was born in Vermont and died in Bay County, Michigan, February 14, 1892, aged 64 years, six months and six days. Our subject is the only survivor of their three children, one of whom died young and the other at the age of 16 years.

        Our subject is the only survivor of this old pioneer family. He can recall the time which no road had been surveyed between his farm and Essexville. The present smiling fields of grain and rich meadow lands were nothing but wild, unbroken prairie, with here and there an oasis of timber.

        His father, Nathan Knight, secured 160 acres from the government and that was the nucleus of the present large farm which is located in section 17, 20 and 8. The first winter passed on the farm was one of many privations, chief among these being a lack of that humble vegetable, the potato, which, perhaps, is only truly appreciated when it is impossible to obtain. The grandfather sent a supply from Detroit by the first boat in the spring, that then being the only means of transportation. Our subject’s father had brought several head of stock with him and entered into stock-raising with his brother-in-law, John V. Stephens, now of Vermontville, Eaton County. Enough hay was harvested the first season to winter the stock, but, unfortunately, 33 stacks of hay were burned by a prairie fire and two year old steers were sold for $10, while 300 head of sheep were given away to save them from starvation. He had already suffered from thieves and wolves and did not resume sheep growing.

        In addition to being one of the leading agriculturists of Bay County, our subject has, like his father, been closely identified with public affairs. A stanch Democrat, he has been the choice of his party for almost every office in its gift, being elected on many occasions and on others running ahead of his ticket when defeated. He served for 18 consecutive terms as supervisor for Hampton township, an office his father had filled for 16 terms previously. For two years, Mr. Knight held the office of superintendent of the poor, and in 1891 he was sent as Representative to the State Legislature and again in 1893, serving on very important committees during both terms. He was mainly instrumental in securing the State system of road building. His career at Lansing was in every way honorable and his service was such as to preserve the esteem in which he was held by his constituents and to invite the regard of the public, outside his own district.

        On November 21, 1876, Mr. Knight was married to Eren A. Hilker, who was born in Oakland County, Michigan, September 21, 1857, accompanied her parents to Clinton, then to Ingham and in 1875 to Bay County. She is a daughter of Andrew C. And Harriet Hilker, natives of New York. Mr. & Mrs. Knight have two daughters, namely: Bessie I., born June 30, 1878, and Mabel G., born February 26, 1880, both young ladies being at home. This home is a commodious dwelling full of comforts, which was erected by our subject’s father to take the place of the small frame edifice, which was the pioneer residence. Mr. Knight belongs to the Knights of Pythias and to the Maccabees.

MRS. SELINA POWELL, widow of the late Capt. John Powell and a most highly esteemed and capable lady, owns and manages a magnificent farm of 280 acres, situated in sections 22 and 27, Monitor township. Mrs. Powell was born at Bristol, England, in October, 1854, and is a daughter of Thomas and Sarah Gardner.

        Mrs. Powell was reared in a home of plenty, her father being engaged in an excellent business in Bristol. She was educated in a private school and was given a chance to acquire many accomplishments. She was scarcely through school, being only 17 years of age, when she married Capt. John Powell, who was a deep-sea sailor and a man of means and ability. In 1870 Captain and Mrs. Powell came to Bay County and took possession of the present farm, which at that time was all timberland, with the exception of 25 acres of clearing. Mrs. Powell has had charge of the farm for many years. Captain Powell was engaged in a lumber business at Bay City and for 18 years owned an interest in and was the master of the steamer “Racine,” which plied between Tonawanda and Buffalo.

        Captain and Mrs. Powell had these children: Ellen, deceased; Mary Florence, wife of James McGuill, of Indianapolis, Indiana; John Howard, deceased; Ralph; Alice, wife of Frank Shaller, of Bay City; Margaret, wife of Nicholas Dean, of West Bay City; Nellie, wife of Lee Walsh, of West Bay City; and Elsie, who resides with her mother. Mrs. Powell successfully operates this large estate, with the assistance of her son Ralph. The family home is a beautiful brick residence, built in modern style, with all the comforts and conveniences of a city home.

        Mrs. Powell is a member of Grace Protestant Episcopal Church, Bay City, West Side.

MICHAEL GARLAND, one of the representative business men of Bay City, Michigan, present of the M. Garland Company, and majority owner of the stock in the Valley Iron Works, of Bay City, of which he is president, was born at Cape Vincent, Jefferson County, New York, January 17, 1838, and is a son of William H. & Aurelia (Cross) Garland.

        William H. Garland, father of our subject, was a native of Leeds, Yorkshire, England, where he was born March 11, 1808. Seven years of his life were given to learning the machinist’s trade, but just as he was prepared to make the knowledge profitable, he was pressed into the English naval service. After some years before Constantinople, and other ports, he was sent to Canada as one of the body of surveyors working in the mountains, and then his service ended. He first settled at Clayton, New York, but subsequently removed to Cape Vincent, where he built a machine shop and was engaged as its superintendent for a number of years. About 1845 he erected for himself a sawmill at Warren Settlement, New York, and he operated this mill during the remainder of his active life. He died July 21, 1871. Politically he was a stanch Whig.

        William H. Garland married Aurelia Cross, who was a daughter of Moses H. Cross, who was in the military service of the United States during the War of 1812. Of the 11 children born to this marriage, nine reached maturity, viz: Michael, of Bay City; Sarah E., born February 1, 1840; Jane, born May 29, 1842; James and Edward (twins), born November 4, 1843, the former of whom died November 3, 1864; William Harry, born August 21, 1848; John, born May 26, 1850; Aurelia, born April 10, 1852; and Cynthia, born August 23, 1855, who is the wife of Capt. E. T. Rattray of Cleveland, Ohio. The parents were worthy members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. The father was a whole-souled man, full of generous impulses.

        Michael Garland was educated in books in the local schools, but his natural mechanical abilities were encouraged in his father’s mill, very little of its construction or operation being unknown to him while he was still a child of tender years. When but 12 years of age he was perfectly competent to operate a steam engine. Naturally he learned the business of millwright and steam engineer and the knowledge of these trades has been the basis for much experimenting and for innumerable inventions, Mr. Garland and his fellow stockholders at this time owning some 60 patents for improvements in sawmill, windmill and other kinds of machinery.

        At the age of 17 years, Michael Garland left home for the West, going first to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, from which point he sailed on October 17, 1857, for Mainstee, Michigan. He had been engaged to put up a double-cutting circular sawmill for Adam and James Stronach, at Old Stronach, Michigan. This contract he satisfactorily completed, but when its owners were ready to operate it they could not find sawyers of sufficient knowledge to run it. Mr. Garland consented to run it through the winter, filing for himself and the other sawyers, but in the spring returned to his parents home in New York, where at the earnest solicitation, he remained through the summer. In the following year he went to Dubuque, Iowa; from there he proceeded by boat to Cassville, Wisconsin, and shortly afterward went to Turkey Rive, Iowa. The summer was spent in that locality, full of work, erecting sawmills and building freight barges. As operator of a mill for Brown LeGraff & Company, at Cassville, Wisconsin, he remained in that village about two years, and during this period he also completed the manufacture of a number of barges, in association with Homer Smith, a partnership having been formed under the name of Smith & Garland.

        About 1859 Garland sold out to his partner and returned to Manistee, Michigan, where he engaged with the firm of Canfield, Coles & Company (lumbermen) and had sole charge of the mechanical departments of two mills, including the engines as well as all mill machinery. He remained in this important and responsible position until 1860, when he went to Chicago. During his stay there he had the pleasure of seeing the Prince of Wales, on his visit to the United States, who is now King Edward V11, of Great Britain.

        From Chicago, Mr. Garland went to what was then a more progressive place, one where business opportunities were better, Eau Claire, Wisconsin, and there he operated a mill until June 15, 1862. The Civil War was then at its height and the military spirit penetrated every industry and aroused patriotic feelings in every loyal breast. Mr. Garland was now a young man only 24 years of age and had accomplished more than many men succeeded in doing in double the time. He was known all through the section where he had followed his line of work as a thoroughly competent man and most reliable engineer. Openings were ready for him with many companies, but he decided to offer his services to his country and on the last mentioned date enlisted in Company I, 30^th Reg., Wisconsin Vol. Inf., and continued with that organization until it was mustered out October 28, 1865, at Madison, Wisconsin.

        Mr. Garland spent the winter of 1864-65 at Fort Union, at the mouth of the Yellowstone River, during this period was in a number of Indian Skirmishes. His mechanical skill was frequently called into play in the building of boats designed to carry four companies of soldiers down to Fort Randall, at Sioux City, and he also had charge for 60 days as a non-commissioned officer with a guard of privates, of a steamboat on the river. He made a trip from Fort Union to St. Louis, on the steamer “Yellowstone.” While at Fort Union he built and operated for the government a portable sawmill, fitted with circular saws. Another experience, far more pleasant, was an attack of smallpox, at Yankton, Dakota.

        After his final discharge from the military service, Mr. Garland returned to Eau Claire and resumed his place in a machine shop there, that of superintendent, but later gave it up to rebuild a sawmill at Gravel Island, Wisconsin, which he had originally assisted in building and which had been destroyed by fire. This mill was owned by Taylor & Bussey and was fitted with gang and circular saws; after he rebuilt it, he remained two years as superintendent of all its departments. In 1867 he returned to Eau Claire, resumed his old position of superintendent and built a comfortable home for himself and wife there. He next took charge of a mill for Ingraham, Canada & Dole, which he operated until 1869. During the two years he had spent at Gravel Island, he had been in partnership with Samuel Sykes, under the firm name of Sykes & Garland, and it was during this period that he patented his first invention, a sawdust feeder for furnaces. A patent was granted June 15, 1869, and a second patent on May 28, 1872.

        In the fall of 1869, Mr. Garland went to Muskegon, Michigan, looking up opportunities to see his sawdust feeder patents, but returned to Eau Claire for the winter, returning to Muskegon in the spring of 1870. He installed a sawdust feeder for O. P. Pillsbury & Company, founded an agency there and then came on to Saginaw and Bay City. On March 17, 1870, he entered into a contract with A. Rust & Company, for the introduction of the sawdust feeder in their mill. This feeder was installed and remains in the mill, which has passed into the control of the Kneeland-Bigelow Company, of Bay City. In the spring of 1871 he returned to Eau Claire and worked through the summer for Ingraham, Canada & Company, but came back to Bay City in 1872, leaving his family at Eau Claire. He entered into the manufacture of his invention and of mill machinery. He was kept busily occupied in putting up sawmills and installing his sawdust feeder all over Michigan and other lumbering States. For many years his office in Bay City was on Water street, opposite the Fraser.

        The M. Garland Company as organized has Michael Garland as president, H. W. Garland as secretary and treasurer, and Maude G. Garland as vice-president. With the exception of two shares, the stock is all owned in the family. The plant covers 13 city lots, on both side of 23^rd street and includes a fully equipped foundry and machine shop, with every facility for manufacturing machinery. Employment is given 71 men and the product includes all kinds of machinery. Mr. Garland’s conveyors are in use in all sorts of manufactories all over the United States, in sugar houses, wood pulp mills, coal mines, etc. in July, 1903, Mr. Garland and wife purchased the Valley Wind Engine & Iron Works, the product of which is windmills, grain grinders and pumps, and here also is a splendid foundry and machine shop. This plant covers a space of 375 by 100 feet. The business was incorporated October 28, 1903, with Mr. Garland as president; Mrs. Garland as secretary and treasurer; and W. H. Shapley of Toronto, vice-president.

        Mr. Garland was married first to Cyrena L. Vradenburg, who was a daughter of Christopher Vradenburg, of Durand, Wisconsin. One child survives this union, Harrison W., who is secretary and treasurer of the M. Garland Company. Mrs. Garland died February 26, 1901. Mr. Garland’s present wife was formerly Emma Collins, of Bay City, Michigan.

        Mr. Garland votes with the Republican party and takes much interest in politics, but is not a seeker for office. He was a charter member of the Bay City Club and is a stockholder and regular member of the new club, in which is son is also actively interested.

        Mr. Garland has an immense volume of accomplished work behind him. In addition to his other business associations just mention, he is a member of the firm of Oaks & Garland, of West Bay City, manufacturers of a new device, in the way of a metal nozzle for a fire hose, so constructed that it can be driven into a solid wall of wood. This has met with approval all over the country and it is destined to be used in every fire department in the world because of its general utility. The largest mill Mr. Garland ever built, among the many scattered all over the lumbering districts, was the Whiteney & Batchelor mill at Melbourne, Saginaw County, Michigan, erected in the winter of 1878-79. This mill has cut 30,764,000 feet of lumber in a season, not running nights, and during a season of 202 days of 11 1/4 hours each has cut an average of 1666,666 feet per day, the record for the Saginaw Valley.

        Mr. Garland is not only a man of exceptional business ability, but of the most remarkable mechanical talent. Personally he possesses a winning, courteous manner, is the dispenser of generous hospitality and is in the enjoyment of universal esteem.

WILLIAM CUTHBERT, who operates a successful dairy in Bay City, Michigan, and is conveniently located at No. 2494 Center avenue, is a citizen who enjoys the esteem of all who knew him and they are many. He was born May 1, 1864, at Probus, Cornwall, England, and is a son of William and Mary (Grieye) Cuthbert.

        The Cuthbert family is an old one in Cornwall, the grandfather, Henry Cuthbert, having been born there where he established a large brewery. The father of our subject was born at Falmouth. He was reared there and subsequently has made inspector of the county constabulary stationed at Torquay. He died in 1873.

        At the time of his father’s death, William Cuthbert of this sketch was a child of only 11 years, but he found a home with an aunt with whom he remained until he was 13 years old. At this early age he started out to grapple with the world for himself and he was fortunate in finding employment with a farmer who was kind and considerate to him and with whom he remained for 13 years. In 1890 Mr. Cuthbert crossed the Atlantic to Canada and located near Simcoe, Ontario, where he worked on a dairy farm for three years and thus gained a practical knowledge of the milk and dairy business which has since proved of such advantage to him.

        In 1893 Mr. Cuthbert came to Bay City and went on the Culver farm for one year and then purchased his present milk business, which he has operated ever since. Mr. Cuthbert purveys his own milk and has a 12 year record on the wagon, without missing a single day. This means a great deal of consideration for his patrons, few of whom can show as fair a title to fidelity to business. He has a very large trade, handling some 60 gallons per day of milk and a large quantity of cream. He deals both wholesale and retail.

        Mr. Cuthbert married Mrs. Grace (McDonald) Culver, widow of the later W. H. Culver, who left one daughter, Lou. The family attend the Congregational Church and are liberal contributors of its support.

        Mr. Cuthbert is a Republican in politics, but he does not take any very active part in campaign work, his business absorbing the greater part of his time. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, being a member of Joppa Lodge, F. & A. M.