Muskegon Bio Record Part 13

Portrait and Biographical Record of Muskegon and Ottawa Counties, Michigan

Biographical Publishing Company, Chicago 1893

Part 13

William Fay

    William Fay, the enterprising wholesale paper dealer and printer of Muskegon, Mich., handles Japanese napkins, stationery, lead pencils and manila fibre and other wrapping papers, fine and course. Born in Hampden County, Mass.., January 30, 1821, our subject was the son of William H. Fay, Sr., a native of Massachusetts and a pioneer settler of Ohio, where he passed many years and died in 1882. The mother, Mary (Loomis) Fay, was likewise born in Hampden County, Mass., and was the daughter of Uriah Loomis, who was of English ancestry, and who in a very early day in the history of our country made his home in the old Bay State, and later actively engaged in the Revolutionary War.

    Our subject was only an infant when, with his parents, he journeyed to Ohio, where he remained until 1849, receiving a good common-school education in the free schools of the home district. in 1849, then about twenty-eight years of age, Mr. Fay went to the south and located in Virginia, where he entered into railroading, and continued in that employment for several years. He later established a shipyard at Richmond, Va., and conducted the business until 1862, when he was arrested by the Confederates and imprisoned for a time in Richmond, and was later transferred to Salisbury, N. C., where he was kept a prisoner over a year. During this time he was in Salisbury, from May 1 to September, 1862, and was imprisoned with five hundred other wretched creatures, two hundred and thirty-nine of the number starving to death.

    From September 1, 1862, until January 1, 1864, Mr. Fay remained a prisoner in Richmond, then, released , went into the secret service department of the Federal army and engaged as a scout in the Confederate camps. He met with many narrow escapes, at one time having a rope placed around his neck, saving himself only by strategy. He remained in the secret service until the close of the war, and when the struggle was ended returned again to Richmond. Our subject was with Gen. Butler as aid and guide from January until June, 1864, and with Gen. Grant at Cold Harbor did valuable service for the Union cause in and about Richmond until October 16, 1864. At this latter date Mr. Fay returned to Gen. Butler, who was occupying the north side of the James River, near Cantrill's line. Our subject continued with Gen. Butler until he was succeeded by Gen. E. O. C. Ord, and was then at the service of the latter until the surrender of Richmond. While with Grant our subject kept up a daily correspondence between Richmond and the Union lines. Mr. Fay, who performed valuable work for the Government, was greatly assisted by his wife and friends in Richmond, and in the performance of his dangerous duties Became acquainted with Secretary of War Randolph. While under Gen. Ord, our subject, possessing a thorough knowledge of the people, their customs and the country thereabout, captured a number of prisoners at various times, and now owns two guns and a pistol he took at one time from his prisoners.

    After the fall of Richmond Mr. Fay conducted Gen. Wetzel's army into the city, and riding at the lead of the column, became intimately acquainted with all the generals who occupied the old Southern city. These commanders were Gens. Deut, Hallock, Schofield, Stoneman, Terry and Patrick. During the occupation of Richmond Mr. Fay saved the life of Gen. Hallock, who was about to become the victim of an assassin. After peace was assured our subject was appointed Inspector of the Port of Richmond, and held the position until the trial of President Andrew Johnson. Mr. Fay remained in Richmond until the year 1884, and was one of the grand-jury which indicted Jeff Davis for treason. In the year 1884, making his permanent home in Muskegon, he entered into his present line of business, which he has since prosperously conducted. Politically a stalwart Republican, our subject has been a member of the party from the first day of its formation.

    In 1852, in Richmond, Va., were untied in marriage William Fay and Miss Eliza T. Hicks, a native of the Old Dominion and daughter of Pleasant Hicks. Four living daughters and two sons, deceased, have blessed the home. Georgie is the widow of Edward T. Merrill, of Muskegon, and is prominent in the Woman's Christian Temperance Union work; Alice is the wife of Lewis C. Scull, of Muskegon; Mary is at home; and Mattie is employed as a book-keeper in Muskegon. The cheerful and attractive family residence, located at No. 77 Sanford Street, is the scene of many pleasant gatherings of friends, the home being the abode of hospitality. Few men did the amount of dangerous service for the preservation of the Union which fell to the lot of Mr. Fay, who never found a path too dangerous to tread, and never faltered when duty urged him to an effort which involved life and death. The remembrance of his devotion to the Federal cause is a precious legacy with which he may endow his children, a bequest more enduring than houses or lands.

Loren O. Beerman

     Loren O. Beerman, the leading and prosperous dealer in pianos, organs and all kinds of musical instruments of Muskegon, Mich., is widely known as the organizer of the Muskegon City Band, which, containing twenty-two pieces, is one of the finest drilled bands on the eastern shore of Lake Michigan. Mr. Beerman is justly proud of the ability and success of the Muskegon City Band, of which he has had the entire supervision and training and directing of the music. In 1890, in competition at the Band Tournament held at Big Rapids, the Muskegon City Band took the first money and won the plaudits of an admiring audience. During the summer the band give open-air concerts and in the winter play in the Opera House. In his business as a dealer in musical instruments our subject has acquired an extended trade, carrying a full line of musical goods of the best manufacture and most popular makes. A native of Canada, and born in Ontario, March 6, 1851, our subject is the son of Stephen Beerman, likewise born in Canada, but is now residing in Muskegon, Mich., having late in life removed from the Dominion to the United States. The mother, Sarah (Patterson) Beerman, was a native of New York and the descendant a well-known and highly respected family of the Empire State.

    Our subject spent his early years in Canada, and in the Dominion received an excellent education. At sixteen years of age he removed to the States and located in Ferrysburg, Mich., where he worked for ten years in a sawmill. Later he learned the trade of a carriage-maker, and in 1877 went into the business on his own account, continuing the manufacture of vehicles for twelve years. He then sold out the carriage business and engaged in handling musical instruments. The musical talent of Mr. Beerman undoubtedly influenced him in his choice of business, and, excelling as a band-master and director, he has made a wide acquaintance and enviable reputation. The open-air concerts and the musical programmes given by the Muskegon City Band in the Opera House have done much to elevate the standard of music in Muskegon County and the near vicinity.

    In 1873 Loren O. Beerman and Miss Mary Burbank were united in marriage. The estimable wife of our subject was a long-time resident of Spring Lake, Mich., and is the daughter of Isaac Burbank, a native of Ontario, Canada. The union of Mr. and Mrs. Beerman has been blessed by the birth of one son, Fred L., now seventeen years old, who is possessed of a very high order of musical ability and plays the piano, the euphium and trombone. He is also an excellent performer on the traps and drum and takes a leading part in the concerts, being a pleasing soloist and a favorite with the audiences. Our subject is fraternally a Knight of Pythias, and is a member of Banner Lodge, I. O. O. F., of Lake Side, Muskegon. He is also connected with the Knights of the Maccabees, and in these various orders numbers many friends. Politically a Republican, Mr. Beerman, while not an office-seeker, is intelligently interested in both local and national issues. The family residence, No. 45 Pine Street, is desirably situated and well known by the wide circle of friends and acquaintances by whom our subject is esteemed as a neighbor and citizen of ability and sterling integrity. Financially prospered, Mr. Beerman is numbered among the prominent business men of the city, and is ever ready to do his full share in all matters of public welfare.

Charles F. Ross

    Charles F. Ross, Secretary and Treasurer of the Alaska Refrigerator Company, is a man distinguished for the most sterling qualities of mind and heart, and brings to bear experience and the wide knowledge, both general and technical, which such a position demands. The present works were established at Michigan City, Ind., in 1878, at first on a small scale, but were greatly increased as the demand for refrigerators became general. The company continued in business in Michigan City until 1890, when the plant was moved to Muskegon. The site here covers fifteen acres, with all the shipping facilities possible at hand. The factory proper is a brick structure, three hundred and forty feet long, sixty feet wide and three stories high. It is fitted and equipped with the best machinery and in the most approved manner, and is run by a Reynolds-Corliss engine of three hundred horse power. Three boilers, built of steel and sixteen feet long, compose the battery. The building is lighted by four hundred and fifty incandescent lights and is protected from fire by eight hundred sprinklers.

    It is the aim of the company to meet the wants of all classes of people who use refrigerators, and therefore its line for the household embraces one hundred and thirty-five styles, the prices ranging from $10 to $100. Then there are seven sizes for grocer's use, three sizes and styles of beer coolers and six styles each of single and double cooling rooms. These range in price from $350 upwards. Special sizes are made to order, so that every want can be filled. The company uses five hundred thousand feet of lumber each month. A train over a quarter of a mile long and drawn by two of the largest engines on the Chicago & West Michigan Road carried the first shipment of refrigerators sent out by the Alaska Refrigerator Company this year (1893). When the signal was given for the largest train that ever left this county to start, the shrieks that broke from the moving double header were responded to to the echo by the brazen throats of twenty factories, while the two thousand inhabitants of the infant city looked with pride at the receding train. This train, speeding Eastward, had for its load four thousand eight hundred refrigerators and represented the product of the factory for five weeks. The value of the consignment was $50,000. The Alaska Refrigerator factory has in the last two years almost doubled its capacity. Mr. Moon was made president of the company about 1885, and fills that responsible position in a most satisfactory manner. The superintendent in charge, J. H. Ford, is well known here, having been for a number of years in the employ of the Leonard Refrigerator Company, Grand Rapids, and since his connection with the big institution he has driven it right to the front.

     Charles F. Ross, the present efficient Secretary and Treasurer, entered the service of the company in 1882 and has been connected with the same ever since. He was born in the city of Beloit, Wis., in 1856, and is the son of L. E. and Susan (Brown) Ross. The school days of our subject were passed in Beloit, and he began his career by clerking in a book store in that city. Later he came to Michigan and became book-keeper for the firm of Douville Bros., at Manistee. In 1882 he went to Michigan City, Ind., and there became book-keeper and shipping clerk for the Alaska Refrigerator Company, and continued with the company actively until 1890, when the plant was moved to Muskegon. He became a stockholder and was made secretary and treasurer. Mr. Ross is thoroughly conversant with every department of the business and is widely known for his integrity, ability and enterprise. In 1879 he married Miss Ella J. Meade, a daughter of A. C. Meade, of Beloit, Wis. In politics, Mr. Ross is a Republican and socially, is a Knight Templar in the Masonic fraternity, Michigan City Lodge.

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