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Capt. William Mees
Capt.
William Mees, a retired lake captain, who is now enjoying a well-earned
rest after years of arduous toll at his home in Muskegon, was born in Somersetshire,
England, on the 18th of June, 1826. His parents, William and Fannie F.
(Baker) Mees, were also natives of England. The father served in the British
navy for the long period of twenty-four years, and at length emigrated
to Canada, where his death occurred.
Capt. Mees, whose name heads
this record, was a lad of only eight summers when he accompanied his parents
on their emigration to Canada, landing in Quebec. The father was also a
contractor of canal building and was engaged on the construction of the
St. Lawrence Canal. Our subject's connection with the Lakes dates from
his fourteenth year, when he went with his father to Chicago and secured
a position as cook on the schooner "Drift," which plied on Lake Michigan
between St. Joseph and Chicago, and was commanded by Capt. William Dougan.
Capt. Mees sailed on the Lakes until 1892, and rose successively step by
step until he became captain. The first vessel he sailed out of Chicago
was the "Henry Clay," in 1848. In 1849, he was captain of the "Gen. Warren,"
which he ran for two seasons, and later the brig "T. W. Morris" two seasons.
He then moved to Muskegon, in 1851, and entered the employ of Ryerson &
Morris and sailed the schooner "Roberts," being in their employ steamboating
and sailing for about ten years.
Later he resumed business on
his own account, buying a small steamboat, which he ferried across Muskegon
Lake, being so engaged about two years, when he built the passenger steamer
"Pony," which was also put into commission as a ferry boat. He afterwards
sold the above two boats and then built the tug "Gettie" in connection
with Capt. Tom Walters.
In 1873 he sold the "Gettie"and
went to Green Bay and bought the steamer "Annie," which he took up to Pine
Lake and ran between Charlevoix and East Jordan for four seasons, and being
desirous of selling the "Annie," he took her to New Orleans, via Chicago
and the Illinois Canal and Illinois River, and disposed of her to advantage.
In the following summer he became superintendent of of the Muskegon Booming
Caompany's floating stock and was so engaged about six years. He was then
engaged as captain of the "Ira O. Smith," up to 1891, his practical retirement
from the steamboat business dating from that year. He has held papers as
a pilot and captain for thirty-six years, but his whole experience on the
Lakes runs back to 1842. He is among the oldest lake captains living.
In January, 1848, Capt.
Mees was united in marriage with Miss Winifred White, a native of Boston,
Mass., who died June 11, 1888, mourned by many friends. Eleven children
were born of that union, but only three are now living, as follows: Mary,
now the wife of Charles Brown, a resident of Chicago; Eliza, who resides
in Lansing, Mich., where she is employed in the State Auditor's office;
and Winifred, wife of Robert Foster, who resides in Muskegon.
On the 18th of November, 1843,
during a severe storm, Capt. Mees was wrecked off the coast of South Haven,
while sailing on the schooner "Liberty." Making his way to the shore, he
walked through two feet of snow to St. Joseph, a distance of twenty miles.
He met with a number of hardships during his life on the Lakes, yet altogether
was very successful in escaping wrecks and injury. Since 1892 he has lived
retired and his rest is well deserved. In politics he votes with the Democratic
party and is a stanch advocate of its measures. Socially, he is connected
with the Masonic fraternity, belonging to Muskegon Lodge No. 140, A. F.
& A. M. The Captain is widely known throughout this community and has
a large circle of friends and acquaintances, who esteem him highly for
his sterling worth and the many excellencies of his character. He is an
interesting conversationalist, having many entertaining stories to tell
of his life as a sailor.
Joshua Davies Joshua Davies was born in Sidney County, Me., in
January, 1818, and died at his home in Muskegon on the 14th of February,
1886, at the age of sixty-seven years, respected by all who knew him. His
father, Charles Davies, who was also a native of the Pine Tree State, was
a highly educated man, and was quite prominent in public affairs.
Our subject spent a portion of his boyhood in the
county of his nativity, and afterward went to Massachusetts, locating in
Lowell. There he acquired his education in the common schools, and later
started out in life for himself by working in a cotton mill. On leaving
Lowell he went to Springfield, Mass., where he was employed in a cotton
mill for some time. He was a man of industrious and frugal habits, and
as the result of his economy and enterprise in his early years, he acquired
sufficient capital to begin business for himself. On coming to the West,
he took up his residenc in Kenosha, Wis., where he established and built
a foundry and machine shops. On the 11th of November, 1858, he came to
Muskegon and established the Davies Iron Works, in company with Mr. Emerson.
This partnership continued for a year, after which our subject bought out
Mr. Emerson's interest and conducted the business alone until his death.
He built up an excellent trade, and on account of the liberal patronage
which he received, his business proved a profitable one.
Mr. Davies was united in marriage with Miss Sarah
N. Gay in Killingly, Conn. She is a native of Washington, N. H., and a
daughter of Abner Gay, who was born in Dedham, Mass. Her mother bore the
maiden name of Anna Warren, and was a daughter of Daniel Warren, who was
born in the old Granite State. The Gay family is of English origin, and
probably was founded in America in early Colonial days. Mrs. Davies acquired
her education in Massachusetts. Four children were born of the union of
our subject and his wife, three of whom are still living, two sons and
a daughter: Genevieve, wife of Lyman Patten, of Muskegon; Squire V., who
is Secretary and Treasurer of the Davies Iron Works; and Reed S., who is
now living in Chicago.
In politics, Mr. Davies was a Republican, a stanch
advocate of the party, for he believed in its principles and in protection
for American industries. When called to his final rest his loss was mourned
throughout the community. Through his successful business career he was
enabled to leave his widow in comfortable circumstances. She still resides
at No. 194 Clay Avenue, and is a highly esteemed lady.
Talmadge P. Cowles
Talmadge P. Cowles,
Clerk of Laketon Township and a successful farmer of Muskegon County, was
born in Delaware County, Ohio, July 9, 1842. He is a son of Joel Cowles,
an old settler of Laketon Township aand one of its most honored citizens,
whose long and useful career has een characterized by probity, energy and
industry, and who now, in his advanced years, lives somewhat retired from
active labors. He was born in Oneida County, N. Y., August 28, 1806, and
was a son of Joel Cowles, a native of Connecticut and farmer by occupation.
Grandfather Cowles was the youngest child of the family, and served sixteen
days in the Colonial army at the close of the War of the Revolution. Grandmother
Cowles bore the maiden name of Susanna Phelps and was a native of Connecticut,
where she was reared to womanhood in the town of Windsor.
The youngest of eight
children, Joel Cowles, Jr., was about nine years of age when he left New
York and located in Delaware County, Ohio. There, in 1837, he married Miss
Priscilla Smith, a native of New York, who died after becoming the mother
of six children. They were: Delzon, Melvin and Edward, all of whom are
deceased; Elmer, who resides in St. Joseph, Mich.; Talmadge, the subject
of this sketch; and Esther, the wife of Daniel Jenkins, of St. Joseph,
this State. The second marriage of Joel Cowles united him with Miss Elizabeth
Wilkins, who was born in Guernsey County, Ohio. They are the parents of
four children: Emeline, wife of George King; Minnie, who married Laughlin
Burns; Lottie, the widow of Theodore Aley; and Bell, who is now in Chicago.
After his first marriage,
Mr. Cowles located in Delaware County, Ohio, whence he later removed to
Indiana, and from there to St. Joseph County, Mich. In 1863, he came to
Muskegon County and located in Laketon Township, where he has since resided.
He entered the land from the Government and now enjoys the distinction
of being the oldest settler in the township. He built a small house soon
after settling on the place, and then cleared and improved the land. He
now owns one hundred and thirty acres, although at one time he had more
in his possession. Politically, he is a Republican and cast his first Presidential
ballot for John Q. Adams; he also voted for W. H. Harrison in 1840, and
for Benjamin F. Harrison in 1892. He has voted the straight Republican
ticket ever since attaining his majority, and has voted at every Presidential
election, with two exceptions.
Talmadge P. Cowles,
the subject of this sketch, was the fourth in a family of six children,
and was reared in Ohio until the age of seven years. He then accompanied
his father to Indiana and resided in Steuben Coutny for two years, returning
thence to Ohio. At the age of twelve years he came to St. Joseph, this
State, with his father, and two years afterward he commenced to work in
the employ of others, being engaged in farming for some time and receiving
his wages every month. In St. Joseph, Mich., April 1, 1864, he was united
in marriage with Miss Ursula Engle, who was born in St. Joseph County April
19, 1845, being the sixth among eight children born to the union of James
and Margaret (Vincent) Engle.
After his marriage Mr.
Cowles resided in Burr Oak Township, St. Joseph County, Mich., whence
he came to Muskegon County on the 29th of December, 1872, and located in
the woods on the farm where he now resides. About four acres of the property
had been cleared and it was not long before the remainder was under fine
cultivation. For a time he made his home in a little log cabin, but later
he built the substantial residence at present adorning the place. He and
his wfe are the parents of two children: Julia A., widow of Henry Baars
and the mother of one son, John H.; and James E., who is at home with his
parents. The home farm comprises twenty acres, upon which are raised the
various varieties of small fruits.
A Republican in his
political belief, Mr. Cowles has officiated in various capacities and has
held a number of local positions, to which he has been elected by his fellow-citizens.
In 1891 he filled the postion of Deputy Clerk, and has also served as Township
Clerk, School Inspector, School Director and Highway Commissioner. He is
a member of the Grange, in the progress of which he is warmly interested.
He is a man who takes an intelligent interest in everything pertaining
to the advancement of his community, and is a public-spirited and progressive
citizen.
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