JAMES R. McDONALD, explorer and estimator of pine lands, was born in Glengarry County, Canada, in 1846. In 1862, he removed to Saginaw, and engaged in lumbering. After taking his turn at about everything in this line of business, from swamping to head sawyer, he became an explorer; he began about 1868 to estimate pine lands, and soon became an expert, since which time he has made that his principal business,' having also devoted considerable time to buying and selling pine lands; he is widely and favorably known among the lumber men of Michigan, and there is probably no man in that region from Lake Huron to the Porcupine Mountains, on Lake Superior, whose judgment on the value of a tract of pine land is held in higher estimation. Mr. McDonald has lately become largely interested in pine lands in Ontonagon County; his home at present is at Bay City, but he is about removing to Detroit. where he will be established by October, 1882.

ALFRED MEADS, editor and proprietor of the Ontonagon Miner, the oldest paper on the lake, that is, that has been printed continually without change of name or location. The paper was established in 1855. (See history of the press of Ontonagon County.) Mr. Meads was born in Brighton, County of Sussex, England; received a common school education until twelve years of age, when he began in his father's establishment to learn the business of baker and confectioner. At the age of seventeen, he was apprenticed to the watchmaker's trade, and served five years. In April, 1852, he emigrated to America, and located at Cleveland, Ohio, arriving May 1 of that year. There he obtained employment at his trade, and subsequently went into business under the Forest City House, which he continued for seven years. In 1859, he removed to Ontonagon, Lake Superior, Mich., and engaged in business as a watchmaker and jeweler. During the prosperous years of this region, for several years he held the office of Deputy Collector of Internal Revenue, or until the office was abolished; he was afterward appointed Deputy Collector of Customs, and was elected Judge of Probate of Ontonagon County. In 1869, he purchased the Ainer, and has since earnestly worked for the general interest and development of Ontonagon County, as to him seemed best; he is at present associated with several parties of capitalists and owners of land and mines in this county, and will develop them as soon as railroad facilities can be obtained; he is the owner of extensive tracts of land in the Porcupine Mountain district, and has written of- and studied that district more perhaps than any other person; his long residence in and intimate knowledge of Ontonagon, his extensive acquaintance and correspondence with its representative people have qualified him to speak with assurance of its general interests and prospects; he firmly believes that Ontonagon County possesses greater and more varied advantages than any other county in the Upper Peninsula, and that it only needs proper railroad facilities to develop its wonderful resources. Mr. Meads has recently purchased an entirely new outfit for the Miner office, including type, office fixtures and steam Taylor press; he is building a new office, and in the fall of 1882 will issue the paper in its new dress and established in permanent quarters. This paper has an extensive circulation among mining men, with whom it is an acknowledged authority.

JAMES MERCER, forwarding and commission merchant, proprietor of the general steamboat, wharf and warehouse, and agent of the Ontonagon & Brule River Railroad Docks, was born in the city of London, England, September 9, 1830. He emigrated to America with his parents when three years of age. The family located at Detroit, Mich., but soon afterward removed to Canada, where he was brought up till he had attained the age of fifteen years. He then returned to Detroit, and engaged as merchant's clerk for a few vears. He then sailed as steamboat clerk on the Lake Superior boats three seasons, from 1850 to 1853. The years 1853, 1854 and 1855, he was employed as mining clerk with the Albion, Montgomery and Howard Mining Companies. He then followed the lake an other season as steamboat clerk, and in the spring of 1857 located at Ontonagon, and engaged as clerk at the warehouse of E. M. Livermore; continued with him and his successor till 1862, when he became a partner in the business. In 1874, he bought out the other interest, and became sole proprietor. He has since conducted the only forwarding and commission house in the place, and has recently been engaged as agent of the railroad docks at this place. He was elected to the Michigan Legislature as a Republican, representing the district composed of Ontonagon, Baraga. Keweenaw and Isle Royale Counties. Mr. Mercer proved himself a thorough worker, and made his influence felt in securing the passage of an act, confirming the land grant on the present company, and thus securing the construction of the road.

PETER MITCHELL, explorer, was born in Fayette County, Penn., September, 1828; he came to Ontonagon in June, 1847, a young man in search of experience, and says he found it. He was married in Ontonagon, in February, 1853, to Miss Laura E. Field, a resident of Niagara Falls, N. Y. Mr. Mitchell has spent his life since coming to this region principally in exploring for mineral and timber; his explorations have extended not only throughout the Upper Peninsula, but in Northeastern Minnesota, along the north shore of Lake Superior and Vermillion Lake region. He was one of the pre-emptors who pre-empted the copper region west of the Norwich Mine in 1851. In 1868, he discovered the Massaba Iron Range, a wonderful belt of magnetic iron ore in the State of Minnesota. He has a very large collection of minerals and pre-historic relics. He has not less than 2,000 specimens illustrating the mineralogy, geology and Indian history of this region. Mr. Mitchell is a thorough student of natural history. His many years of life in the woods have afforded him favorable opportunities for observation.

JAMES A. MONROE, Principal of the Ontonagon Graded School, Town Clerk and Secretary of the Board of School Examiners, was born in Patterson, N. J., in 1855. He took a regular collegiate course at Cornell University, and graduated in 1880. He then came to Ontonagon, and was employed as clerk for H. H. Rich & Co. He was elected School Superintendent in the spring of 1881, and when the law went into effect that abolished the office, he was elected one of the Board of School Examiners in August, 1881. He was engaged as Principal of the graded school of Ontonagon in 1881 to fill vacancy. He has been retained by the board, and is now serving his third term. Mr. Monroe is a man of superior ability and culture, and under his management the Ontonagon School is working very successfully.

CHARLES MUELLER, jeweler and dealer in fancy goods and groceries, flour, feed and provisions; average stock, $4,000. Mr. Mueller was born in Baden, Germany, April 1, 1826. He served a regular apprenticeship to the cutter's and silversmith's trade. In 1854, he emigrated to America; spent one summer in Newark, N. J., and, in October, 1854, came to Ontonagon, Lake Superior, and opened a jewelry store, and continued business at that place till 1862, when he removed to Rockland and engaged in his present business. While here he has served two years as Town Clerk, and several years as a school officer.