Portrait and Biographical Record
of Muskegon and Ottawa Counties, Michigan
Biographical Publishing Company,
Chicago 1893
James J. Gee
James
J. Gee, a prominent native of Michigan and an enterprising and prosperous
business man of Whitehall, Muskegon County, was born in the township of
Albion, not far from the village of Homer, in Calhoun County, December
19, 1851. Our subject is the only living son of William N. and Lucinda
(Turner) Gee, pioneer settlers of the Wolverine State. The father, born
in Virgil, Cortland County, N. Y., August 26, 1827, was one of the two
sons of Jacob B. Gee, also a native of Virgil, and born in 1807. The paternal
great-grandfather, John S. Gee, was the son of Maj. John Gee, an Englishman
by birth, but a brave soldier of the War for Independence. He held a Major's
commission and served with distinction during the entire period of the
struggle. The Major carried an old bull's-eye watch, since handed down
from generation to generation until it came into the possession of William
N., while he was yet a boy. Not realizing the historical value of the memento,
the father traded the watch off for a cheap shotgun, but now would give
half of his property if he could recover the old relic of Revolutionary
days. A brother of the father, Volney Gee, served bravely during the Civil
War and was among the the first to answer his country's call. When an attempt
was made to cross the Potomac Bridge at Fredericksburgh in the face of
a murderous fire from the other side, and the commanding officer called
for volunteers to make the dash, he, with others, in the face of almost
certain death, undertook the hopeless task. Nearly all of the courageous
Federals fell before the deadly fire of the rebel troops.
Volney Gee was thrice wounded
in the right arm and when told that it must be amputated to save his life,
replied that he had rather be sent home dead than lose his arm. Every effort
possible was made to preserve his life, but the heroic young soldier expired
in the hospital in Washington. He was Sergeant of his company, and records
show him one of the bravest soldiers of the war, gallant in action, resolute
and fearless. Physically, he was a magnificent specimen of manhood, six
feet in height, as straight as an arrow, and in deed a soldier born. John
S. Gee, the great-grandfather of our subject, was a small farmer
and hotel-keeper of Virgil, N. Y., and his hotel was a rendezvous for the
soldiers of the War of 1812. At his death this property was inherited by
Jacob B., who was his only son. Jacob sold the the old home and removed
to Steuben County, N. Y. He was a tiller of the soil, and in 1833 he journeyed
to Michigan on a prospecting tour, and in the pioneer days of 1835 brought
his family to the then far West and settled in Calhoun County, Mich. He
took up a small piece of land from the Government and bought other real-estate
near Albion. William N., the only living son, was then a lad of eight years.
The paternal grandfather married at nineteen years of age Miss Libby Ballou,
who was born in Herkimer County, N. Y. She was the daughter of a Frenchman,
and a niece of a celebrated sea-captain. The noted Methodist preacher,
Ballou, was one of this same family, as was also the mother of the late
President Garfield. Five of the ten children of the paternal grandfather
are deceased, and their mother long since passed away.
Our subject's father, William
N., the eldest, was the possessor of more than ordinary ability but had
little opportunity to gain an education, as he was early obliged to assist
his father in the support of the brothers and sisters who clustered about
the family hearth. When only twenty years of age he was united in marriage
with Miss Lucinda Turner, the daughter of Elijah Turner, a farmer and the
son f a once wealthy distiller whom the revenue laws ruined. The distiller,
known as Judge Turner, was a prominent politician of his day and a man
widely known and respected. It was in 1853 that Jacob B. Gee removed to
Muskegon County and made his home not far from Whitehall, and there upon
the old homestead he is yet living. The Gee family in the West represent
four generations: Jacob B., the only son of John J.; William N., the only
living son of Jacob B.; James J., the only living son of William N., and
the children of James J.: Carl, Merle and Lynn. William N. and his family
came to Muskegon County in 1865. He has been a successful general agriculturist
and fruit-grower and has accumulated a comfortable competence. He has been
a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church since 1857, and is and has been
a life-long temperance man, being identified with the Prohibition party.
he has never accepted a political office, but has been a Trustee and for
many years a Class-leader in the Methodist Episcopal Church.
In the parental father were
five children, one dying in infancy. Emma, the eldest living, was for fifteen
years a successful teacher in the public schools. She is an active worker
in the Women's Christian Temperance Union, and is a clear and forcible
writer, strong in argument, and choice in diction. A maiden lady, she makes
her home with her parents. Clara married G. A. Sumner, formerly a merchant,
but now cultivating one of the fine fruit farms of J. J. Gee; Cora Bird,
the youngest girl, was a graduate of Whitehall High School and died in
early womanhood. James J., our subject, attained to adult age upon his
father's farm. He was fourteen years old when, in 1865, his parents came
to Muskegon County. He completed his education in the Whitehall High School
and afterward taught for one year. Later he entered the hardware store
of P. Morse & Son, of Whitehall, but, the firm failing at the end of
two years' service, he purchased the stock from the creditors entirely
on time and against the advice of his friends, who warned him that by doing
so he would only make a second failure of the business. Confident of his
own ability and determined to succeed, Mr. Gee went ahead with courage
and from the first steadily made his upward way, the business increasing
constantly, until now he controls one of the largest hardware and furniture
trades in this part of Michigan. Beginning for himself about fifteen years
ago with about $1,000 capital, our subject has accumulated a handsome property
and aside from his business interests in Whitehall is extensively engaged
in fruit-growing, owning one of the finest young fruit farms in Muskegon
County and another equally as valuable in Oceana County. Mr. Gee is an
enthusiast in horticulture, giving it much careful study and attention,
and receives both pleasure and profit from from the possession of these
valuable pieces of real-estate. He firmly believes that Michigan has the
finest fruit soil and climate of any State East of the Rockies. Upon his
Muskegon and Oceana County Farms, he has five thousand five hundred, the
choicest varieties of peaches, apples, quinces, plums and pears grown in
this latitude.
Combining business and recreation,
our subject now spends much of his time in his orchards, and for the past
few years has allowed himself more opportunity for rest and relaxation
from the daily cares of life. By untiring industry and shrewd business
management attaining the pinnacle of success, he can now afford to let
others do the work, while he yet continues the watchful oversight necessary
to the prosperity of his extensive business interests. Mr. Gee has not
desired to hold local office, never feeling he could spare the time from
his own private business, which so long demanded his unceasing care. Our
subject is, however, a public-spirited man, and with efficiency served
one term as Supervisor of the township and for two terms ably discharged
the duties of Treasurer of the township.
In August of the year 1880,
Mr. Gee and Miss Ida Widoe, of Whitehall, were united in marriage. Mrs.
Gee is a daughter of the late John Widoe, a prominent clothing merchant
of Whitehall. He was born in Pennsylvania, and was the worthy descendant
of a long line of brave and honored ancestry. The attractive home
of Mr. and Mrs. Gee has been blessed by the birth of three sons: Carl,
aged twelve years; Merle, ten years old; and Lynn, aged eight years. Our
subject and his estimable wife are both valued members of the Methodist
Episcopal Church and are active in benevolent enterprises. Fraternally,
Mr. Gee is connected with the Ancient Free & Accepted Masons, and in
his social, business and church relations commands the esteem and high
regard of the entire community of old friends and acquaintances.
Prof. Joseph H. Sheffield
Prof. Joseph H. Sheffield, the efficient and cultured
Principal of the Muskegon High School, is a native of New England, and
was born June 21, 1861, in the city of Worcester, Worcestor County, Mass.
The Sheffields are of English ancestry and early became permanent settlers
in Rhode Island and New York. Charles P. Sheffield, the father of Joseph
H., was born in Franklin County, N. Y. The mother of our subject, Lucy
(Keach) Sheffield, was the daughter of Joseph H. Keach, a prominent citizen
of Connecticut, who long resided in Windham County, the birthplace of his
children. Remaining in Worcester throughout the years of boyhood, Prof.
Sheffield prepared for college in the Worcester High School, from which,
after a full course, he graduated with honor in 1879. In the fall of the
same year he entered Harvard University and, taking the classical course,
at the expiration of four years graduated with the Class of '83, receiving
the degree of A. B. Prof. Sheffield was also the recipient of especial
honors in Latin and Greek, and during his collegiate course made an enviable
record in every branch of study which he pursued. Having enjoyed the benefit
of extended instruction, he decided to engage in the vocation of teacher,
and in the fall of 1883 took charge of Old Lyme Academy, located in the
town of Old Lyme, Conn., situated on the Connecticut River.
Prof. Sheffield for a twelvemonth retained the Principalship
of the academy, but in the fall of 1884 journeyed to the West and became
Principal of the High School in Manistee, Mich., and successfully held
the responsible position until 1889, when he accepted the charge of the
Muskegon High School and was immediately installed as Principal. With an
average attendance of two hundred students, the Muskegon High School justly
boasts of its high grade of scholarship, its pupils entering since 1890
the State University at Ann Arbor with a high record, of which Prof. Sheffield
may well be proud. The thorough course comprises four years of Latin, two
of Greek, two of German, and two of French, and throughout the entire four
years the higher branches of English are pursued, trigonometry being the
highest mathematics taught. Prof. Sheffield has seven capable assistants,
each excelling in his own department. The graduates of the Muskegon High
School now entering the University of Ann Arbor as freshmen have enjoyed
a most thorough preparation for college, and many of them will undoubtedly
take high rank in the university classes. The new High School building
recently erected is a handsome edifice, built of terra cotta and brick
and resting upon a fine stone foundation. it contains extensive laboratories
used in the study of chemistry, natural philosophy, physiology, biology
and physical geography. This magnificent edifice cost about $60,000.
While in college, Prof. Sheffield was a member of
the Phi Beta Kappa and much enjoys the reunions of the fraternity. On the
11th of July, 1886, our subject and Miss W. A. Buchner, of Saginaw, Mich.,
and daughter of Isaac Buchner, were united in marriage. Mr. Sheffield and
his accomplished wife are the parents of two daughters and one son: Pyrrha
B., Ida K.,, and Charles V. Mrs. Sheffield is a valued member of the Methodist
Episcopal Church, and socially occupies a prominent position. Achieving
excellent results as an instructor, and devoted to the duties of his profession,
Prof. Sheffield also takes an active interest in the movements of the day
and is a liberal-spirited citizen, progressive and enterprising.
Peter H. Wintermute
Peter H. Wintermute,
proprietor of the leading livery, board and sales stable at Muskegon, was
born in Orange County, N. J., on the 30th of November, 1834. He traces
his ancestry to Germany, whence in an early day his paternal grandfather,
John Wintermute, emigrated to America, making settlement in New Jersey.
There, in 1810, Septer Wintermute, the father of our subject, was born,
and in Orleans County, that State, in 1813, Emily Bartholf, mother of our
subject, opened her eyes upon the scenes of earth. The former followed
the business of a hotel-keeper in various places, and also conducted a
livery stable.
The second son in a
family consisting of three sons and two daughters, Peter H. Wintermute
passed the first four years of his life in his native place, whence he
was taken by his parents to Illinois. There for two years he resided in
Bernadotte, removing from there to Pekin, the same State. After spending
four years there, the family went to Wisconsin and settled in Whitewater,
where the parents remained until their death. Peter H. remained in that
city until 1870 when he removed to Milwaukee, Wis., and there continued
the livery business, which he had carried on in Whitewater for two years
prior to his removal.
In the spring of 1875
Mr. Wintermute came to Muskegon, Mich., bringing with him the equipments
of his livery stable, and purchasing property in the business centre
of the city. In 1881 he erected for the more extensive prosecution of his
business a brick building, 70x150 feet in dimensions, and two stories in
height. Here he conducts a large and profitable business, both with the
people of Muskegon and the surrounding country. in his stable may be found
a large number of valuable horses belonging to himself, as well as many
owned by residents of the city. He also carries a full line of hacks, carriages,
coupes and phaetons, which he rents at reasonable rates.
In 1872 Mr. Wintermute
was united in marriage with Miss Reta, daughter of Joel Clapp, of Whitewater,
Wis., and one child has been born to bless this union, a daughter, Lucy
C. Having made a careful study of the political issues of the age, Mr.
Wintermute has cast his influence on the side of the Democratic party,
which he invariably supports. In his fraternal relations he is identified
with the Masonic fraternity and the Knights Templar, being prominently
connected with these social organizations. He is a stockholder and Director
in the Muskegon Savings Bank, and is also prominently connected with other
leading enterprises of the city and county. His attention, however, is
devoted principally tot he details of his extensive business, and it is
through his excellent judgment, tact and discrimination that he has been
enabled to succeed where others might have failed.
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