Biographies
B

A.C. Beebe

"The Traverse Region, Historical and Descriptive, with Illustrations of Scenery and Portraits and Biographical Sketches of some of its Prominent Men and Pioneers"
Chicago: H.R. Page & Co., 1884
Page 315

A.C. Beebe settled on Section 36, in Clearwater, in May, 1868. He came from Susquehanna County, Pa. He had served three years in the war, from 1862 to 1865, and came west to make a home where land was cheap. By the time he had settled his family in a home his money was exhausted. He had no team but was fortunate in the possion of a wife who could be a helpmate, and together they did the first work of logging and clearing. Mr. Beebe was town clerk three years and was the first treasurer of the county. The first term of the court in the county was held at his house. In the fall of 1876 he removed to the village of Kalkaska where he has been engaged in mercantile business, lumbering and milling. He has a wife and two sons.

Contributed 2009 by Pat McArthur

D.P. Beebe

"The Traverse Region, Historical and Descriptive, with Illustrations of Scenery and Portraits and Biographical Sketches of some of its Prominent Men and Pioneers"
Chicago: H.R. Page & Co., 1884
Page 314

D.P. Beebe located on Section 36, in the present town of Clearwater, in the spring of 1867. He was born in Susquehanna County, Pa., in the year 1838. In 1861 he married Ellen, daughter of Norman Ross, who is also one of the pioneers of Kalkaska County. September, 1862, Mr. Beebe enlisted in Company H, One Hundred and Forty-third Pennsylvania Regiment, and was in the service one year, at the end of which time he was discharged for disability. He had been brought up on a farm and desiring to find a home in some new country where land was cheap, decided to try northern Michigan. Accordingly, in the spring of 1867 he brought his family to Indiana, where Mr. Ross was then living, and leaving them there he came up to the Traverse Region and selected a location on Section 36, as above stated. He then brought his family and they lived in what was known as the Jerry Curtis house until he could build one. They moved into their own house the following fall, and Mr. Beebe went at work to make a farm. The next year the town of Clearwater was organized and he was elected the first town treasurer. In 1876 he was elected sheriff of the county and removed to the village of Kalkaska where he still lives. He sold his farm to the county for a part of the poor farm. He afterwards purchased land in Excelsior, and still owns a farm not far from the village. Mr. Beebe is a prominent member of the Odd Fellows and Masonic faternities. They have four children.

Contributed 2009 by Pat McArthur

Arthur A. BLEAZBY

Contributed 2009 by Pat McArthur

ARTHUR A. BLEAZBY was the second lawyer to locate in Kalkaska Comity. He is a native of Ireland and emigrated to Canada with his parents at the age of six years. He attended school there and subsequently entered college. Before completing the course he came to the States, and in 1861 enlisted at Lockport, N. Y., and went into the service with Colonel Ellsworth. He remained in the service about two years, and soon after his return north went to Kalamazmo, Mich., and entered Kalamazoo College. After graduating from that institution he studied law in the office of Severnce & Burroughs, and was admitted to the bar in 1878. Having business interests at Niles requiring his attention he went there and remained until March, 1876, when he removed to the village of Kalkaska, and engaged in the practice of law. He has held the office of prosecuting attorney one term and is extensively connected with the business interests of the village. He is one of the owners of the large brick block built in 1880, is secretary and treasurer of the Smith Lumber Co., and vice-president cf the Kalkaska Manufacturing Co. He also has manufacturing interests at Mancelona, Antrim County.
Page 323 - "The Traverse Region, Historical and Descriptive, with Illustrations of Scenery and Portraits and Biographical Sketches of some of its Prominent Men and Pioneers". Chicago: H. R. Page & Co. 1884.

The first Baptist Church of Kalkaska was duly organized May 18, 1876. At the meeting. held for the purpose of perfecting an organization, A. A. Bleazby was moderator and R. S. Abbott clerk. The charter members of the society were as follows: Maggie C. Hunt, Mary A. Hough, Mrs. Arthur A. Bleazby, Mrs. Miry A. Hunt, Mrs. Kate Barber, Mrs. Nellie Carlisle and Jacob Hunt. The trustees were Albert G. Barber, Jacob Hunt and Arthur A. Bleazby. Church officers: Deacon, Jacob Hunt; clerk, Mrs. Arthur A. Bleazby; treasurer, Mrs. Kate Barber. It was proposed to make immediate arrangements for building a church edifice and a building committee was appointed consisting of Jacob Hunt, Arthur A. Bleazby, Albert G. Barber, F. R. Osgood and R. S. Abbott. The first pastor was Rev. F. R. Osgood, who came from Clam Lake but remained only a short time. In the spring of 1877 he was succeeded by Rev. W. S. Munger. April 1, 1877, the rite of baptism was conferred on Robert S. Abbott and Miss Lena Hunt by Rev. W. S. Munger. Nothing was done toward building a church until the spring of 1878, wheln it was voted to proceed with the erection of a church building and a new building committee was appointed, consisting of the trustees and A. E. Palmer and Lloyd M. Mills. In the summer of 1878 Rev. J. Munro became pastor. He was succeeded the following year by Rev. C. H. Rhodes. The corner stone of the church builiding was laid with appropriate ceremonies May 9, 1878, but it was not dedicated until the fall of 1879. It was built, however, only to be suddenly destroyed, for Dec. 21, 1879, the builling caught fire from a defective flue and was totally destroyed. It was a severe misfortune to the society, the loss being about $1,503. There has been occasional preaching but no pastor since the church burned until, early in 1851, Rev. S. G. Brundage entered upon the pastorate of the society. There are about twenty-five members of the church in 1881. Officers: Clerk, W. E. Mlartinl; treasurer, Mary A. Hunt; trustees, J. P. Hunt, A. A. Bleazby, C. P. Sweet.
Page 326 - "The Traverse Region, Historical and Descriptive, with Illustrations of Scenery and Portraits and Biographical Sketches of some of its Prominent Men and Pioneers". Chicago: H. R. Page & Co. 1884.

THE KALKASKA MANUFACTURING COMPANY is a stock company, and was organized in 1883, with a capital of $50,000, for the purpose of manufacturing druggists' boxes and sample wooden ware. The buildings were erected and work commenced in December. The site purchased was the French & Palmer plant for manufacturing hoops. The officers of the company are as follows: President, A. E. Palmer; vice-president, A. A. Bleazby; secretary, J. J. Williams; treasurer, Walter Wylie; directors, the stockholders already named, and A. C. Beebe. The works give employment to about eighteen hands.

THE SMTTH LUMBER COMPANY was organized in 1883, and purchased the saw-mill property that formed the i ucleus of the village. The mill has had various owners and varied fortunes since it first began operations. The present company was organized with a capital stock of $25,000. George E. Smith is pesident; A. A. Bleazby, secretary and treasurer, and D. E. McVean, vice-president; directors, George Smith, D. E. McVean, Robert Campbell, and A. A. Bleazby. The company manufacture lumber, lath and shingles. There are also a grist-mill built by George Sleldon, and now owned by A. C. Beebe; planing-mill built in fall of 1882 by John Woodward & Son, the tannery of Jacob Hunt, and the usual variety of smaller industries.
Page 328 - "The Traverse Region, Historical and Descriptive, with Illustrations of Scenery and Portraits and Biographical Sketches of some of its Prominent Men and Pioneers". Chicago: H. R. Page & Co. 1884.

IMPROVEMENTS. The new court-house, built in 1883, is a conspicuous ornament to the village and is an improvement that reflects credit upon the enterprise of the county.

The new school building being built in 1884, at a cost of about $5,000, is another valuable improvement.

The brick business block, built in 1880, by Messrs. A. A. Bleazby, C. P. Sweet, Ambrose E. Palmer and D. E. McVean, is one of the finest business blocks in northern Michigan. The block is 80x100 feet in size, three stories in height and cost about $25,000.

A new church building is in process of construction by the M. E. society.

In addition to these are the manufacturing industries already mentioned and numerous dwelling-houses.
Page 329 - "The Traverse Region, Historical and Descriptive, with Illustrations of Scenery and Portraits and Biographical Sketches of some of its Prominent Men and Pioneers". Chicago: H. R. Page & Co. 1884.

KALKASKA COUNTY
BY A. A. BLEAZBY
The principal industries are lumbering and farming. The lumbering interest is well established and quite general. The farming interests are now taking a larger development in our county, and so far our farmers have been very successful. The products of the farm are wheat, rye, oats, tubers generally, and for the last five years a good deal of dent corn has been raised. All grains grown in southern Michigan do well here. The face of the country is gently rolling, and the soils are sandy, or sand and gravel loam with a mixture of light clay. It is what is known as warm, quick soil. Those who have given their attention to fruits have succeeded beyond their expectations. They have raised successfully pears, cherries, plums, apples and all sorts of small berries. Originally the land stood one-third pine and two-thirds hardwood. The pine timber is very largely cut. The hardwood timber, except where a few farms have been cleared, remains an almost unbroken forest. The principal hard woods are maple, grey elm, rock elm, basswood, beech, and some cherry and white ash. The hardwood timber lands average in value about 810 per acre. To clear up the hardwood timber lands and fit the same for the plough, after the saw-logs have been taken off, costs about $15 per acre. The manufacturing so far has been along the line of the lumber and timber products, such as shingles, lath and flooring. We have institutions manufacturing all sorts of woodenware, such as pails, chopping trays, butter bowls and ladles, and almost everything that is made in those lines. So far, the manufacturing interests are centered in Kalkaska, the county seat, a town of 2,000 inhabitants, and in South Boardman, a town on the G. R. & I. railroad, of about 500 population. There are no navigable streams in the county, except as the Manistee river and the Boardman river are used for the running of saw logs. There is but little water power in the Manistee river, and that of the Boardman river is utilized at Kalkaska and South Boardman, but neither of these are developed to more than a small percentage of their capacities. The Rapid river, rising in the northeast portion of the county and running in a southwest direction to Torch river, is one continuous chain of water privileges. There are only two or three water powers developed in its entire length. There are no mineral interests in the county. The chief towns are Kalkaska, South Boardman, Leetsville, Westwood. The market for the products of the farm, so far, is largely a home market, as the lumber interests consume a great amount of hay and grain, thus giving to the farmer the benefit of the general market and freight added on all he has to sell. The only exception to this is the potato crop, which has developed very largely during the last three or four years, and in the raising of which the farmer has taken much interest. There is no crop here more certain or more profitable than the potato crop. Our schools are well developed for a young county, especially the one in Kalkaska village, which has seven departments presided over by competent teachers, and is the equal of the better class of graded schools throughout the State. Our church interests are represented by organizations of Congregational. Baptist, Methodist and Disciple, all of which seem to be prospering and are well supported. Our present railroad facilities are the G. R. & I. only. Wages for the common laborer are well maintained here, as the cheapest labor earns $1.25 per day. Woodsmen get from $1 to $1.50 per day and board. The mill and yard men average $1.75 to $2 per day, and the skilled laborer in our better class of mills earns from $3 to $5 per day. Farm labor generally brings from $15 to $20 per month and board. All our streams are homes of the trout and grayling. In no portion of the State are waters so richly stocked with these gamey fish. The hunter finds here what interests him, the partridge, pheasant, woodcock, deer, fox, and occasionally bears. The development of iron in this vicinity has made a market for all the rough grades of wood and timber. After the sawing timber has been removed, this wood cut four feet long and delivered to the kilns along the railroad brings $1.35 per cord, and this pays the farmer for what he desires to have done, namely, the clearing up of his farm. The farmer in this country has learned that his land will produce better, and seems to have greater staying qualities, when as much of the forest growth as possible can be removed from the land and not burned upon it, as was formerly done. The lands in this vicinity which are covered with pine are largely if not entirely a light sandy soil, and so far have not been put to any farming purposes. It is doubtful if at present there is any known way of making them profitable to the farmer.
Source: Michigan and Its Resources By Michigan Dept. of State published 1893 Lansing, Michigan

William H. Bockes

"The Traverse Region, Historical and Descriptive, with Illustrations of Scenery and Portraits and Biographical Sketches of some of its Prominent Men and Pioneers"
Chicago: H.R. Page & Co., 1884
Page 314

William H. Bockes, farmer, Clearwater, was born in Medina County, Ohio, Feb. 18, 1842. He was reared and educated in his native state. In May, 1861, he elisted in Company K, Eighth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, served his country seventeen months in that regiment, and then re-enlisted in the Sixth United States Cavalry and served nineteen months. At the close of his term of three years, he enlisted in the Second Ohio Cavalry and served until honorably discharged in September 1865. He then returned to Medina County, and in June, 1866, he made a tour into Traverse Region and purchased lands in what is now Clearwater, Kalkaska County, Mich., before the organization of either the county or township. The only settler then in the county was Mr. William Copeland. Mr. Bockes then returned to Ohio, and on Oct. 11, 1866, was married to Miss Mararet Cook, also of Medina County. She was born there May 4, 1844. Their children are W. Everetts, Margia E., Z. Cook and Lena O. After marriage Mr. and Mrs. Bockes went immediately to their chosen pioneer home, where they still reside. They then had to obtain their supplies from Elk Rapids. Mr. Bockes has in all 300 acres of land, about 100 of which is now under cultivation. He has a flourishing orchard of apples, pears, cherries, plums, quinces and small fruits, and an elegant dwelling and other good farm buildings. He has served about eight years as township treasurer, and is now, in 1884, serving in his sixth year as supervisor of Clearwater. He has also been for some six years postmaster of Barker Creek postoffice. Fraternally he belongs to the I.O.O.F. and the G.A.R.

Contributed 2009 by Pat McArthur

Allen E. Burnham

"The Traverse Region, Historical and Descriptive, with Illustrations of Scenery and Portraits and Biographical Sketches of some of its Prominent Men and Pioneers"
Chicago: H.R. Page & Co., 1884
Page 319

ALLEN E. BURNHAM, carpenter and joiner and farmer, was born in Shelby, Orleans County, N. Y., April 14, 1830. He came with his parents to Washtenaw County, Mich., in 1833, and, with the exception of two years, remained there until his removal to Traverse Region. In August, 1847, he enlisted in Company D, First Michigan Infantry, and served his country in the Mexican war until its close. His honorable discharge was on July 26, 1848. On April 6, 1854, be was married to Miss Nancy A. Squier, of Milan, Monroe County. She was born in Villanovia, Chautauqua County, N. Y., Dec 7, 1880. Their children are Charles E., William A. and Minnie G. In October, 1872, Mr. Burnham located lands in Section 20, in Cold Springs, Kalkaska County, and opened them a pioneer home in the waving forest, before Kalkaska village was commenced. He then had to obtain their supplies from Grand Traverse and Elk Rapids. He thinks his was the third family that settled in that township. After clearing forty acres and erecting good buildings on his homestead land, he sold it, and in March, 1882, removed to Section 36, where he is again causing the wilderness to bud and blossom as the rose. He took part in the organization of Cold Springs Township; was its first treasurer and its second supervisor. He has also been superintendent of schools, highway commissioner and justice of the peace. He is a member of the I. O. O. F. In the fall of 1864, Sept. 1, he again enlisted, and on November 3 mustered Company B, Hall's Battalion Independent Sharpshooters, Michigan Volunteers (afterward consolidated with the First Michigan Volunteers). He received his commission as captain and served until honorably discharged April 10, 1865. His regiment was the first to plant the Union flag in Petersburg.

Contributed 2009 by Pat McArthur

This information is made available to the public for non-commercial purposes.

Copyright 2010-2019 Kalkaska County MIGenWeb