A. Noyes & John Wood - Shaw
This firm (A. Noyes & Bro.) is composed of A. Noyes and a step-brother, John Wood. The business was established by Mr. Noyes, a native of Oakland County, Mich. He came to Harrisville in 1865, and the following year opened a store in a small building located where the St. Lawrence House now stands. He continued in business alone until the Fall of 1872, when Mr. Wood, who is a native of Oakland County, arrived, and went into business with Mr. Noyes, the firm being named A. Noyes & Bro. In 1873 they erected the building now occupied with their business. In the Summer of 1882 they built a shingle-mill about five miles from the village, which they are operating. They also have a farm about two miles from the village. Mr. Wood attends the farm and mill and Mr. Noyes to the store. Mr. Noyes belonged to the regular army from 1858 to 1863. He has a wife and three children. Both gentlemen
are active business men and have an excellent reputation as a business firm.
(Bibliography: “History of the Lake Huron Shore and Its People With Illustrations and Biographical Sketches of Some of Its Prominent Pioneers”, 1883, Chicago, Page 274.)
JAMES R. PRITCHARD was born in the State of New York in 1844, went to Canada, graduated at the Provincial Normal School, Toronto, C.W., and the British American Commercial College. Engaged at teaching school three years, came to Michigan in 1866 and worked on Grand Trunk Ry. four years. Then to Alcona County in 1870 and worked for Alger, Glennie & Co. at scaling and bookkeeping. Married Miss Lettie Hood in 1881 and took charge of one of Alger, Smith & Co’s camps, where he is now employed. Became a member of Alcona Lodge, No. 322 in 1881, at Alcona Village and continues membership.
(Bibliography: “History of the Lake Huron Shore and Its People with Illustrations & Biographical Sketches of Some of Its Prominent Pioneers”, 1883, Chicago, Page 278)
JAMES PYNE was born in New Brunswick in 1823, and was married to Isabella Craven, of that place in 1850, and came to Alcona County in 1870. He first worked for Ives, Green & Co., at lumbering for two years, and bought eighty acres in Section 28, of Alcona Township, a part of which he cleared and commenced farming. He has a family of eight children, five boys and three girls, who are living in the township. Mr. Pyne jobbed at lumbering successfully for several seasons for E.R. Haynes & Co., of Alcona Township.
Subsequently he has lumbered for Alger, Smith & Co. at Black River, and has recently finished a large dwelling house on his farm, but did not live to enjoy the fruits of his hard labor, for on the 10th day of May, 1883, he died suddenly of disease of the heart, and was buried in Harrisville cemetery. He was a kind neighbor, a firm friend and an honest man. The large concourse of neighbors who attended the funeral attested to the respect in which he was held by the community where he had so long lived.
(Bibliography: “History of the Lake Huron Shore and Its People with illustrations & Biographical Sketches of Some of Its Prominent Pioneers”, 1883, Chicago, Page 278-279)
ABRAM REED, a prominent citizen of Alcona County, was born in Canandaigua, N.Y., in 1830. When five years of age he came to the State of Ohio with his parents. At the age of twenty-five years he removed to Michigan and settled in Saginaw City. Afterward he removed to Genesee County, Mich., where he remained until October, 1868, when he removed to Harrisville. He had previously
visited this region, looking for lands. On arriving here he cleared the ground and built the mill at what is now South Harrisville. He had operated two mills in Genesee County and took machinery from one of them to put in the mill at South Harrisville. He remained in the concern operating the mill two years, and the removed to the village of Harrisville. In 1876 he moved on his farm having purchased 131 acres of land which he cleared and has converted into a fine farm. In the Fall of 1859 he was married in Genesee County to Miss Harriet Beebe. They have two children. Mr. Reed is supervisor at the present time, and has held the office of highway commissioner nine years. He is a pioneer in Michigan. While in Saginaw he made the first pair of bobs used for carrying passengers on the ice between Saginaw and Bay City. In the affairs of the county Mr. Reed takes prominent part, and is one of its leading farmers.
(Bibliography: “History of the Lake Huron Shore and Its People with Illustrations & Biographical Sketches of Some of Its Prominent Pioneers”, 1883, Chicago, Page 276)
ROBERT REED, farmer was born in Canada, in 1829. In 1858 he came to the Lake Huron Shore, and worked six months at what is now Alcona. He then engaged in fishing, which he followed one Summer. After that he worked in sawmills and the woods for several years. In 1872 he purchased eighty acres of land in Section 21, Harrisville Township, which is now a splendid farm.
Mr. reed is a thorough pioneer and a hard-working man. He did all the chopping and clearing of his farm, unassisted by any one.
(Bibliography: “History of the Lake Huron Shore and Its People with Illustrations & Biographical Sketches of Some of Its Prominent Pioneers”, 1883, Chicago, Page 277)
CHARLES P. REYNOLDS was born in 1828, at Penn Yan, Yates County, N.Y., where he lived to the age of twenty-one, and married Helen Grenell, who was also born at the same place. In 1866 he came to Alcona County, and was employed as bookkeeper by Harris Bros. until the sale of their property to Weston, Colwell & Co., when he was employed by them in the same position until 1869. It 1867 he was elected town clerk and justice of the peace, which offices were held for several years, and retains them at the present time. In 1868 he organized the Harrisville Joint Stock Dock Co., who built a public dock at Harrisville. In 1873 he organized the Alcona County Agricultural Society, and held the offices of secretary, director and president. He has held a
membership in the State Pomological Society, in 1881. In 1880 he was appointed by the governor as State agent for the penal and reformatory Institutions of the State for Alcona County. In 1870 he was elected register of deeds, and was re-elected in 1872, when he transcribed the records of the county of Alpena. He resides at Harrisville and has a family of four children, three boys and
one girl, who are still living. He compiled the history of Alcona County.
(Bibliography: “History of the Lake Huron Shore and Its People with Illustrations & Biographical Sketches of Some of Its Prominent Pioneers”, 1883, Chicago, Page 279-280)
W.E. RICE was born at Saint Johns, Canada, in 1842, and came with his family to Michigan in 1852 and lived in Saint Clair County until 1861. He enlisted in the Twenty-second Michigan Volunteers for three years. He was present in all of the battles of the Army of the Cumberland, including Nashville, Chickamauga and Atlanta. He married, at Saint Clair, Miss Mary Brabant, by whom he had a family of two children, Minnie and Charlie. Mrs. Rice died at Alpena City in 1870. In 1872 he married Miss May Ripkey, and removed to Alcona County in November, 1873. He was engaged as bookkeeper for Geo. L. Colwell seven years. Mr. Rice has also been engaged as master of steam vessels and is at present master of a steam barge and part owner.
(Bibliography: “History of the Lake Huron Shore and Its People with Illustrations & Biographical Sketches of Some of Its Prominent Pioneers”, 1883, Chicago, Page 279)
JESSE SHAW was born on Prince Edward Island, in 1848, and came to Alcona County in 1879, and worked for R.A. Alger & Co., as a common man, in the woods. He was advanced to bookkeeper and scaler, where he is now engaged.
(Bibliography: “History of the Lake Huron Shore and Its People with Illustrations & Biographical Sketches of Some of Its Prominent Pioneers”, 1883, Chicago, Page 279)