Villages
Eagle River and Delaware
Source: History of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan:
containing a full account of its early settlement, its
growth, development, and resources, an extended description
of its iron and copper mines : also, accurate sketches of
its counties, cities, towns, and villages ... biographical
sketches, portraits of prominent men and early settlers.
Publication Info: Chicago : Western Historical Co., 1883.
Eagle River, the county seat of Keweenaw County, is some
ten miles west of Eagle Harbor, at the mouth of the river of
that name. Among the earliest mining operations, commenced
in the Upper Peninsula contemporaneously with the opening of
the Cliff vein by the Pittsburgh & Boston Company, were
those of the old Lake Superior Copper Company, the
progenitor of the present Phoenix Company, who obtained
seven leases in 1843, each embracing nine square miles, in
which was included the grounds afterward laid out by the
Phoenix Company, and sold off in separate lots, forming the
village of Eagle River. A sandy beach extends either way
from the mouth of the river along the banks of Lake
Superior, flanked on the south with a ridge of conglomerate,
over which the river pours in a fall of some thirty-five
feet. The court house stands on the top of the bluff to the
east of the falls. It is a commodious wooden structure, two
stories high, the county offices being on the first floor.
The building used as a jail is a rented structure, and is
not a very secure place to hold professional "cracksmen."
The dock was built at the mouth of Eagle River by the old
Cliff (Pittsburgh & Boston) Company. It is formed by an
extensive pier jutting out into the lake, with a rail
track and hand cars for transferring freight between the
vessels and warehouse. Both are now owned by M. H. Simpson,
of Boston. On the west bank of Eagle River, nearly opposite
the present excellent hotel, and partly buried in the
drifting sand of the beach, can be seen two mementoes of
former days. The one a small frame building bearing still
the inviting sign, "Sam'l Lloyd's Hotel;" the other an
old-fashioned "thorough-brace," of the No. 9 pattern, built
by J. C. Burbank & Co. It bears the inscription, "Calumet to
Eagle River-J. Cronin, No. 2."
Religious services were held by the Episcopal Methodists in
the schoolhouse, and by the Catholics at private houses, but
they have there no church edifice.
The Masons and Odd Fellows have each an organization in the
place, and both meet in a hall in the Phoenix Hotel.
Keweenaw Lodge, No. 242, F. & A. M., was chartered January
8, 1868; W. P. Spaulding, first Master; Samuel B. Harris,
first Senior Warden; Godfrey Vivian, first Junior Warden.
Present membership, 59.
Superior Lodge, I. 0. 0. F., No. 100, was chartered January
14, 1867. The charter was granted to Robert F. Gulick,
William Van Orden, James Crawford, Joseph Retallack, W. B.
Wright, William Retallack, and Charles Ham. Present
membership, twenty-eight.
The mines working in the immediate vicinity in 1882 are the
Phoenix, Cliff, St. Clair, Central and Conglomerate, on the
west and south, and the Ash Bed (Petherick) and Copper
Falls, nearer to Eagle Harbor on the east.
As most of the trading of the miners is done at stores at
the mines, there are no very extensive mercantile
operations called for at the village.
Anton Siblisky carries an average stock of $10,000 in
general merchandise, business established in 1867.
There is also a large trade in explosives by John Senter, in
connection with a general insurance business. Mr. Senter is
the agent for E. J. Dupont, Nemours & Co., of Nemours,
France, and also of the Marquette Powder Company. The
French company was established in 1852; the Marquette in
1879.
Its manufacturing interests are centered in a fuse factory,
brewery and blacksmithery.
The Eagle River Fuse Company established business in
December, 1862, under a patent bearing date December 2,
1862, the company being Richard Uren, Thomas Dunstone and
Joseph Blight, manufacturing 25,000 feet of fuse a day. In
1874, Mr. Dunstone sold his interest to the other partners,
who have continued the business and increased the capacity
of the works to 50,000 feet a day, or at the rate of $10,000
worth a month. The works are operated by water power taken
from the Eagle River at the falls, and are run all the year
round. There is a home market for all their product. They
employ five hands, and run ten hours a day.
The Knivel Brewery was established in 1855, by Frank Knivel,
its present proprietor. It has a capacity of 1,200 barrels a
year, two-thirds of which is bottled.
The Eagle River Blacksmith shop is owned and operated by
William Retallack, and is doing a good business.
The first hotel at Eagle River was known as the Johnson
House. It was built in 1846, and owned and kept by Lathrop
Johnson. That year, Joseph Long's House, a German hotel, was
also built at the River.
The Phoenix House is the only hotel in the place. It was
built in 1853; is a commodious and well-kept house; has
twenty-four rooms, and affords a fine home for travelers.
Col. William B. Wright, its present proprietor, operated it
from 1855 to 1860 on lease. The Eagle River Post Office is
kept at the hotel.
The Eagle River Light House is built on the bluff on the
west side of the river. The light is on the keeper's
dwelling; is of the sixth order, and elevated sixty-one feet
above the lake. It was established in 1855 or 1856; was
first kept by John Griswold until his death, and then by his
widow until August 25, 1865, when Henry Feiser, the present
keeper, was appointed.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
CHARLES H. T. ATWOOD, Principal of the Eagle River School
and Grand Worthy Secretary of the I. O. G. T., was born in
Boston, Mass., September 12, 1853. He moved to Maine in
childhood and lived upon a farm. He began his career as a
teacher in Maine when eighteen years of age; taught for $18
a month; had eighteen scholars. He came to Michigan in 1874,
and in 1875 entered the State Normal School, at Ypsilanti,
and graduated in 1876 in the first course, and the higher
class of 1880. He came to L'Anse in the last-mentioned year,
and taught school at that place one year, and then came to
Eagle River to accept the position of Principal of this
school. He was married in Maine March 29, 1874, to Miss
Margaret McKinney. Mrs. Atwood was born in Solon, Maine.
They have three children, two sons and one daughter. On the
organization of the Grand Lodge of I. O. G. T., of the
Upper Peninsula in 1881, Mr. Atwood was elected Grand
Worthy Secretary. (See history of the order.)
JOSEPH BLIGHT, senior partner and manager of the Eagle River
Fuse Company (for sketch of business see general history)
was born in Cornwall, England, December 25, 1832; learned
the carpenter's and joiner's trade, and emigrated to America
in 1852. He spent one year in Northern New York, then went
to North Carolina, where he remained another year, and then
in 1854 came to Lake Superior. He located at Copper Harbor,
and one year later moved to Eagle River; he was engaged as
mining carpenter at the Copper Falls Mine until 1862, when
he commenced his present business. He and his first
partners, Mr. Richard Uren, Thomas Dunstone, patented their
machinery and made their own machines. The business has
since been improved and extended to its prosperous
proportions. He was married in Cornwall, England, July 12,
1852, to Miss Mary A., daughter of Charles Terriell. They
have two sons and a daughter. Mr. Blight's father, Richard
Blight, was the inventor and builder of the first steam
stamps built in the world.
ROLAND H. BRELSFORD, passenger conductor of the Mineral
Range Railroad. Mr. Brelsford was born in Philadelphia,
Penn., May 11, 1830, was brought up in that city, and
resided there till twenty-four years of age. He then spent
three years in Ohio, and then came to Lake Superior; made
his home in the Ontonagon District, in June, 1857. He was
employed as clerk of the Ridge Mine, one year, and was
subsequently engaged in warehouse and other business in that
region till 1861, when he came to Hancock and clerked for
Leopold & Austrian nearly a year. He served as Under Sheriff
awhile; was nine years in charge of J. A. Close & Co's.
Warehouse and Dock, and also steamboat agent for Leopold &
Austrian, and served some time as Collector of United States
Customs. From 1873 to 1877, he served as County Clerk of
Houghton County. In June, 1877, he engaged with the Mineral
Range Railroad, as Station Agent, and since March, 1881,
has served as passenger conductor. Mr. Brelsford, through
his long residence on Lake Superior, and his extended
connection with the shipping and railway interests of this
region, has become as widely and favorably known as any man
on the lake. Although he runs a narrow-gauge road, there is
nothing narrow about him, physically, mentally or otherwise.
Any man whose heart is not in the right place, or who can't
enjoy a good story or a good laugh, had better not tie to
Conductor Brelsford.
JEREMIAH CRONIN, mail contractor on route 24,390, from
Houghton to Eagle Harbor, Mich., first commission bearing
date July 1, 1866. Was born in Ireland, April 25, 1829. He
is the son of Michael Cronin. In 1848, he came to America;
made his home in New York City two years. He came to Lake
Superior in 1850, arriving at Copper River October 16 of
that year, and has made the county of Keweenaw his home ever
since. He was engaged in mining till 1866, when he entered
upon his present business. In 1867, he moved to Hancock,
where he resided till 1877. He was the first President of
the village under the new charter, and served as a member of
the Council several terms. He has also held the office of
Deputy Sheriff for Houghton County twelve years. He moved
from Hancock to Calumet in 1877, and from Calumet to Cliff
Mine in 1881. Mr. Cronin was married, at Eagle River,
September 11, 1862, to Miss Bridget Carey, daughter of
Michael Carey. Mrs. Cronin was born in Ireland. They have
seven children living-Michael, Anna, Frederick C., Jeremiah
P., Mary A., Frank and William.
HENRY FIESER, keeper of the Eagle River Light since August
23, 1865 (see history of Light), was born in Germany January
26, 1838; came to America in 1852, and made his home in
Pittsburgh, Penn., where he was employed in a glass house
till 1855, when he came to Lake Superior, and engaged as
engineer at the Cliff Mine. In the summer of 1862, he
enlisted in Company C, Twenty-seventh Michigan Volunteers,
under Capt. William B. Wright. He was appointed Second
Sergeant, and promoted to First Sergeant of his company in
1863. While engaged before Petersburg, he received a gunshot
wound in the left elbow joint, that caused the loss of his
arm. He was discharged May 6, 1865, at the Judiciary Square
Hospital, On his return to Lake Superior, he was appointed
to his present position. He was married in October, 1865, in
Eagle River, to Miss Dora Helf, by whom he had two sons. He
lost his wife in 1869. He was married again, at Eagle River,
to Mrs. Ann Betzing (widow). Two children were born to this
marriage, a son and a daughter.
CAPT. JOHN H. GATISS, agent of the Caton Mine and agent,
part owner and director of the Chicago Mine (see history of
these mines), was born in Yorkshire, England, May 7, 1828,
but was brought up in Durham County; his father being a
mining agent or superintendent, he early imbibed a liking
for that kind of business; he came to America in 1845, and
was engaged in coal mining in Pennsylvania in what is known
as the Barclay Estate Mines; he remained there till 1856,
when he went to La Salle, Ill., and took charge of the
Kentucky Shaft, which was the first coal shaft sunk in that
place. In June, 1859, he came to Lake Superior to take
charge of the Caton Mine for Judge Caton, of Illinois; he
has remained here since, excepting a short time spent in
traveling and prospecting. In 1881, he was prospecting in
Newfoundland for an English company, and entered some large
tracts of land. The Caton Mine has remained idle in
consequence of its peculiar financial situation. (See
sketch.)
SAMUEL W. HILL, P. O. Marshall, Mich., one of the most
experienced and respected of the few remaining pioneer
mining men of the copper region of Lake Superior. At this
writing he is prospecting on the scenes of his early
explorations and surveys of nearly forty years ago. Mr. Hill
was born November 6, 1815, in Starksboro, Vt.; was educated
for a civil engineer and surveyor. He started out to seek
his fortune in the spring of 1839, supplied with limited
means, but with a good set of instruments, and plenty of
energy and pluck. His first work was done in Albion, N. Y.,
where he secured the job of surveying a township. From New
York he came to Milwaukee in 1840, with the expectation of
getting land surveying to do. Failing to find any opening
for work in his profession, he went to Racine and engaged as
school teacher. The following year, he secured a place with
a party of Government Surveyors, under Capt. Cram, who were
starting from Milwaukee on an expedition to make a survey of
the boundary line between Michigan and Wisconsin. He
assisted in this survey, and for the first time beheld Lake
Superior (in the year 1841). For some reasons (not known to
the writer) he meandered the Ontonagon River at that time.
He was soon afterward employed on the Government surveys of
the Upper Peninsula, and in discharge of his duties ran the
section lines of a large portion of what is now Keweenaw
County. About 1845, he was associated with Dr. Douglass
Houghton in the geological surveys of that region, and it
was from his camp that the Doctor departed on his last
cruise, on that fatal October 13, 1845. Mr. Hill was
subsequently associated with Foster & Whitney in their
geological surveys of the copper region of Michigan, and
received very flattering mention in their reports. He was
among the first to make discoveries of value in the copper
region; helped to organize mining companies, and was
employed as Superintendent at the opening and developing of
several of the richest mines on the Peninsula. He was agent
of the Quincy Mine at its inception, and was in charge of it
for some years. He platted and laid out the village of
Hancock, and was prominently identified with the early
growth and development of the mining region. As an
experienced explorer, no man stands higher in general report
than S. W. Hill. A long, practical experience, and a
thorough scientific knowledge of the subject of copper
mining on Lake Superior, entitles Mr. Hill's opinion to
respect and confidence. For many years past he has made his
home at Marshall, Mich. These meager details of the life of
one of the most prominent historic characters of Lake
Superior have been obtained without the assistance or
consent of the gentleman himself, in fact against his
express wishes. The excuse the writer can offer is that it
is impossible to give the history of this region without
some slight mention at least of one who has borne so
conspicuous a part in the scenes described.
FRANK KNIVEL, proprietor of Knivel Brewery, established in
1855. The brewery has a capacity for the manufacture of
1,200 barrels per year, two-thirds of which is bottled. Mr.
Knivel was born in Prussia; came to America in 1850, and
directly to Lake Superior; spent four years in the employ of
various mining companies, and in 1854 located at Eagle
River, and the following year he completed his brewery and
put it in operation, and has continued the business to this
date (1882), making his one of the oldest established
breweries on the lake; he was married in Detroit, July,
1856, to Miss Sophia Noeck, who is also a native of Prussia.
They have two sons and three daughters.
JOHN SENTER, insurance and powder agent. (See sketch of
business in Eagle River History.) Since 1852, has been agent
for E. J. Dupont & Co., powder manufacturers, of Nemours,
France, and of the Marquette Powder Company since 1879; also
does a general fire insurance business; he was born at
Peterboro, N. H.; received a common school education, and in
1842 went to Iowa, where he served as clerk in the Surveyor
General's office; he remained in Iowa until 1845, and then
returned to New Hampshire. In 1846, he came to Lake
Superior, and located at Eagle River; he was connected with
the Phoenix Mine for some time; was appointed Postmaster at
Eagle River in 1847, and held the office ten years; was also
extensively engaged in merchandising; he established a large
general store at Eagle River in 1847, and carried it on
until 1856; he also established the second store at
Houghton, and had others at Eagle Harbor and at Copper
Harbor; he also built and operated the pier and warehouse at
Eagle River. For many years he has done the exchange
business for this region. Of late years the powder and
insurance business has occupied his attention. Mr. Senter
has served as County Treasurer of Houghton County eight
years, while that county embraced the present Keweenaw
County, as well as others; he is now largely interested in
real estate and mining property. As one of the early
pioneers, Mr. Senter is well and favorably known; his
superior intelligence and business enterprise has made him a
prominent factor in the growth and development of interests
of this section of the State.
ANTON SIBILSKY, merchant, business established in 1867, was
born in Germany; he came to America in 1849; located at
Sheboygan, Wis., where he resided till 1852, when he came to
Lake Superior and located near Eagle River; he worked at
getting out wood and timber and farming; also worked in the
mines. In 1867, he began business as a merchant at Eagle
River; he carried a stock of general merchandise of about
$10,000, having the only store in the place; he is also
interested in mining stocks.
JOHN TWOHY, JR,. County Clerk and Register of Deeds of
Keweenaw County, was elected to this office in the fall of
1878, and reelected in 1880, first term beginning January 1,
1879; he is a native of the Upper Peninsula, and was born at
Copper Harbor February 21, 1854; he received a common school
education, and took a regular course at Bryant & Stratton's
Business College of Detroit; he spent some years in teaching
school. In addition to his official duties while Register of
Deeds and County Clerk, he has had charge of the dock and
warehouse business at Eagle River for G. Kloeckner & Co.,
merchants, of the Phoenix Mine; he has proven himself an
efficient officer and good business man, whose uniform
courtesy makes him a good type of the better class of the
Lake Superior people.
COL. WILLIAM B. WRIGHT, Sheriff of Keweenaw County and
proprietor of the Phoenix House, was born at Middletown
Point, Monmouth Co., N. J., June 28, 1814. When in his
eighteenth year, he enlisted as a private in the United
States Fourth Artillery November 21, 1831, at Baltimore,
Md.; served in the Black Hawk war of 1832 and in the Creek
war of 1836, and was discharged in Florida at the expiration
of his term of service, November 25, 1836. He enlisted in
Company K, Fourth United States Artillery, July 23, 1838,
and the following day, July 24, was appointed First
Sergeant, and served in the Indian war of Florida of
1838-39; he was discharged at the expiration of the term of
service, June 24, 1843; he re-enlisted the same date in the
same company, and was reappointed First Sergeant. August 8,
1846, he was appointed Ordnance Sergeant, and stationed at
Fort Wilkins, Copper Harbor, Lake Superior, Mich., in
charge of the fort and Government property. He served at
this fort until October 11, 1855, when he was discharged
from the service at his own request. He was married at
Sackett's Harbor, N. Y., in November, 1840, to Miss Mary A.
Sackett; they had one child, a daughter, lost at Eagle
Harbor. After retiring from the army, in 1855, he leased the
Phoenix House, a large hotel, which he kept until November,
1860; he was commissioned Second Lieutenant August 4, 1862,
by Gov. Blair, of Michigan, with authority to recruit a
company for the Eighteenth Michigan Volunteer Infantry, to
serve in the late war. The company was raised and assigned
to the Twenty-seventh Michigan Volunteers December 22, 1862;
he was commissioned Major of the Twenty-seventh Regiment,
and promoted to Lieutenant Colonel December 17, 1863, and to
Colonel October 3, 1864; he participated with his regiment
in twelve engagements and skirmishes, and was wounded July
30, 1864, at the charge of Petersburg; he was twice wounded
the same day-first by a gunshot wound in the right shoulder,
and again by a shell wound in the left hip; he was
discharged for disability in October, 1864. On his return
from the army, he engaged in hotel keeping at Eagle River,
having purchased the Phoenix House during the last year of
his service; he has held various public offices, having
served eight years as Superintendent of the Poor of Keweenaw
County, six years as School Director, and at this writing is
serving as Sheriff, having been elected in the fall of 1880.
Delaware is strictly a mining town, It is the post office
for the Conglomerate Mine, Amygdaloid, and for Wyoming. It
is kept at the office of the Conglomerate Company. In 1847,
the Northwest Copper Mining Association was formed, with
4,320 acres of land on which to operate under a special
charter, obtained March 9, 1849. The Northwest Mining
Company was organized on the 15th of May thereafter, which
in 1861 was merged into the Pennsylvania Mining Company.
The estate at this time had swollen to 8,880 acres of
mineral and timber land.
In 1863, the Delaware Mining Company was organized, and 720
acres from the west side of the estate were set off to it,
for which the Delaware paid $100,000 in stock; in other
words, 4,000 shares of Delaware stock were divided among the
stockholders of the Pennsylvania Company.
At one time, Horace Greeley was President of the company,
and spent two or three weeks on the ground, occupying an
old log house, now standing near the barns of the
Conglomerate Company. He was instrumental in getting a post
office established there, then called the Penn Post
Office-now Delaware.
In 1876, the Pennsylvania and Delaware were organized as one
company, under the title of the Delaware Copper Mining
Company, and were operated as such up to January, 1881, at
which time the Conglomerate Mining Company took possession
under a sale to them of the entire property for 50,000
shares in the new organization, it being one-half of the
stock of the new company. They now own 20,000 acres of land,
including the lands around Lac La Belle formerly owned by
the Mendota Company. It is now the largest estate held by
any company in the copper region.
The Catholic Church in Delaware was built by Rev. Patrick
Fanagan. The Methodists also hold regular services at this
place.
Delaware Lodge, I. 0. of G. T., was instituted January 11,
1882, by Rev. John Russell; M. Benton, first Worthy Chief;
has a membership at present of fifty; William H. Clark,
present W. C.; Mrs. A. H. Taylor, V. W. C.; Henry Masters,
Secretary.
The other mining towns in Keweenaw County are Copper Falls,
Central, Phoenix, Clifton and Allouez, although there are
mining settlements at all the mines not wholly abandoned.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
THOMAS J. BICE, second copper-dresser at the stamp-mill
of the Conglomerate Mining Company, was born in Iowa County,
Wis., October 28, 1856; he came to Lake Superior in
September, 1864, and while only a boy began working at the
Franklin Stamp Mill as copper-dresser; he also worked at the
Concord, Isle Royal, Tribute Company, Huron and Atlantic
Stamp Mills. While at the Huron, he held the position of
second copper-washer. In August, 1880, he accepted his
present position.
THOMAS D. BRADFIELD, M. D., physician and surgeon to the
Conglomerate Mining Company, has been connected with this
mine for the past fourteen years. He was born in Cass
County, Ind., January 12, 1843; he received his literary
education at the local high schools at home. He then took a
two years' medical course at the State University of
Michigan, and a course of lectures at the Detroit Medical
Hospital, from whence he graduated on June 1, 1869. He was
then appointed physician and surgeon to the Copper Falls
Mine, Lake Superior, and began the practice of his
profession at that place on the 16th of June of that year.
In 1871, there being some work carried on at the Delaware
location, he became the physician to this mine also. In
fact, during several years his practice extended over the
entire upper section of Keweenaw Point. The large increase
of force at the Delaware, now called the Conglomerate, under
Capt. A. P. Thomas' management, has given him an exclusive
practice.
MARSHALL BRINTON, contractor with the Conglomerate Mining
Company, was born in Delaware County, Penn., February, 1839,
where he obtained a liberal education, making that his home
until September, 1872, when he emigrated to the Upper
Peninsula of Michigan. He engaged at the Delaware Mine, now
the Conglomerate, as a teacher and clerk. He taught the
school three winters in addition to keeping the mine books
during the same years. From 1876 to 1879, he was in charge
of the surface work and doing duty as supply clerk. In 1879,
he went to the Black Hills, where he spent nine months,
returning to Lake Superior in February, 1880, and resumed
-work at the old mine as clerk. In July of that year, he was
appointed surface foreman, and acted in that capacity until
May, 1881, since which time he has been engaged in contract
work. Mr. Brinton has been prominently identified with the
temperance movement in this region.
JOHN DOUGHERTY, foreman copper-washer at the stamp-mills of
the Conglomerate Mine, was born in Pennsylvania July 27,
1852. When only one year old, he came with his parents to
Ontonagon County, Mich., and located at the Ridge Mine. When
old enough to work, he was employed at the Evergreen Bluff
Mine, 1864. He was at that mine only a short time, and then
was at the Caledonia one year; with the Logan one and a half
years. In 1867, he engaged at the stamp-mills of the
Pennsylvania Mine as copper-washer; was next employed in the
stamp-mill of the Isle Royal Mine three years. He was
employed at the Huron Stamp Mill one year as second dresser,
and one year as first dresser; was there four years
altogether. He next spent four years as second dresser of
the Franklin Stamp Mill. He was next in charge of the
Allouez tail house several months; spent another year at the
Franklin, and, in 1876, accepted his present position.
JOHN GRIGG, master mechanic of the Conglomerate Mining
Company, was born in Cornwall, England, December 25, 1844.
He learned the machinist's trade in his native country, and
emigrated to America in 1865. He came direct to Lake
Superior, and worked as machinist with the Cliff Mining
Company two years. He next worked with the Phoenix Mining
Company six years in the same capacity. During his last year
with this company, he was foreman of his department. He next
spent one and a half years at the Cliff as foreman. He then
had charge of the erecting of the machinery at the St. Clair
Mill; next at the Osceola Mine as machinist two years. In
1875, he commenced with the Delaware Mining Company in his
present capacity, and has held his present position under
the new organization. Mr. Grigg has proven himself a
competent man and one worthy of the responsible trusts
confided to his care.
EDWIN HENWOOD, Superintendent of the company's store at the
Conglomerate Mine, was born in Cornwall, England, September
12, 1845. He came to America in childhood (1846) with his
parents. He spent his early youth in Pennsylvania, and, in
1852, came to Lake Superior with his parents. He lived first
at Fort Wilkins, Copper Harbor. His father, Capt. William H.
Henwood, was a mining agent in charge of the New York &
Michigan Mine about four years. He was also stationed at the
Central Mine awhile. In 1858, the family moved to Grant
County, Wis. Two years later, Edwin returned to Lake
Superior. In 1861, he entered the office of the Houghton
County Gazette at Houghton, where he learned the printer's
trade. In 1863, he engaged with John Hoar & Bro., merchants
at Houghton, as clerk, and remained in their employ till
August, 1868. He then attended the Lawrence University one
year at Appleton, Wis. He was clerk at Condon & Close'
store at the Franklin Mine about a year. He next engaged
with the Lake Superior Ship Canal Company as manager of
their store, and shortly afterward was appointed Assistant
Superintendent, and discharged the duties of engineer and
Superintendent during 1870-71-72. He was next with S. D.
North as head salesman at the store at the Quincy Mine two
years. He next went to the island of Isle Royale; spent one
year as manager of North & Kloeckner's store, in which he
had an interest. He was next at Calumet in charge of North &
Briggs' store five years, including both managements. In
1879, in company with William J. Light, he built the Sutter
store at Lake Linden. Shortly after, he returned to Briggs &
Cole, of Calumet, and then traveled for a Detroit firm from
December 1, 1880, to October 1, 1881, when he accepted his
present position. Mr. Henwood is an experienced business
man, and is well qualified for the responsible position he
holds.
CAPT. JAMES HOATSON, first mining captain at the
Conglomerate Mine, was born in Scotland, August, 1846; he
came to America, with his parents, in 1853; his father,
Capt. Thomas Hoatson, being agent in charge of the Bruce
Mine, on the north shore of Lake Huron; the family remained
there until 1865, when they moved to the Quincy Mine near
Portage Lake. Young Hoatson was an employee of the Quincy
Mining Company one year; he was next employed at the Ridge
Mine in Ontonagon County for four years as a miner; he next
served two years at Calumet as assistant captain, and two
years at the Hecla in the same capacity; he was next in
charge of the underground work at the Isle Royale one and a
half years. In 1876, he was appointed first captain at the
Conglomerate Mine, and, with the exception of the year
1879, he has been in charge to this date, August, 1882.
Capt. Hoatson is a fair representative of the popular mining
captain, and, were it not for fear of giving offense, the
writer could speak in very flattering terms of his
reputation in his business, and his courtesy to the casual
visitor who desires to make the tour of the underground over
which he rules .
JAMES B. ROBERT, chief clerk and paymaster of the
Conglomerate Mining Company, was born at Yonkers, N. Y.,
September 11, 1850. In 1864, he entered the broker's office
of Bach & Saltonstall of New York City as clerk, and
subsequently was with Jay Cooke & Co; he operated for
himself awhile. In the fall of 1880, he came to Lake
Superior, and June 1, 1881, was appointed to his present
position. Mr. Robert occupies a position of great
responsibility. The Conglomerate Mining Company is now
engaged in making improvements that will aggregate over half
a million of dollars, besides working the mine with a strong
force.
A. H. TAYLOR, surface foreman of the Conglomerate Mining
Company, was born in the province of New Brunswick,
September 12, 1852; he was brought up in that country, and,
in 1875, went to New Hampshire, where he worked as carpenter
till 1878, when he came to Lake Superior. Here he was
employed at the Phoenix Mine as foreman carpenter, till May,
1881; he then accepted his present position.
