REV. JAMES J. McLAUGHLIN

Arriving in Elk Rapids Township in 1851.

On the paternal side, Rev. J. J. McLaughlin is of Scotch extraction, and his maternal grandfather, William McDonald, was also Scotch. His parents were James and Abigail (McDonald) McLaughlin, natives of Penobscot, Me.  The former was a carpenter by trade, and became a pioneer of Allegan, Mich., in 1836. He built the first flouring-mill erected in that village for Alexander L. Ely, formerly of Rochester, N. Y. In 1844 he removed to the mouth of the Kalamazoo River, and sometime later opened a ship-yard at Saugatuck. Here he constructed a number of vessels, and bought and carried on a hotel at Kalamazoo besides. In 1848 he held a position under the Government as a farmer among the Indians. In the spring of 1849 he bought a vessel at Chicago, and, going to the Grand Traverse region, cut the first stick of timber where Northport now stands. In 1851 he removed with his family to Elk Rapids, and kept a boardinghouse for A. S. Wadsworth, who, with his wife and S. K. Northam, were the first white people to locate here. For a few years he engaged in the manufacture of shingles, running a mill for that purpose, and from 1858 to1863 lived on a farm, where he died April 16 being then in his seventy-fourth year.

His first wife, Abigail, was drowned in the Kalamazoo River, by the capsizing of a boat, July 25, 1841. Their second son, Robert N, is now deceased, as is the youngest son, Charles A., who was the first white child born in this county (Kalamazoo). For his second wife, Mr. McLaughlin chose Lydia A. Case, who was born in Vermont, and who died in 1877.

Rev. James J. McLaughlin, the subject of this sketch, was born in Brockport, N. Y., April 2, 1835, and was only a year and a-half old when his parents settled in Allegan. He had very limited opportunities in the way of obtaining an education, and when fourteen years of age went aboard one of his father's vessels as a sailor, and thus spent the following seven years of his life. During the winter seasons he worked at his trade of carpentering, which he learned from his father. The major share of his life, however, has been devoted to the peaceful avocation of farming, as about a quarter of a century was thus spent. on farm in section 33, Elk Rapids Township

In August, 1864, our subject enlisted in the Union army in Company D, Tenth Regiment of Michigan Cavalry. His service was of the most active description, for he was in fifteen different states, and much of the time participated in the worst kind of warfare, that of fighting the so-called bushwhackers. Among others in which he was engaged, were the battles of Morristown, Tenn., Strawberry Plains, Henry Court House, Abbot's Creek, Newton, N. C., etc. During the spring of 1865 he went on the Stoneman raid, covering two thousand miles in seventy days, and spending most of the time in his saddle. He was also one of those who captured the body-guard of Jeff Davis, and he still has in his possession a saber taken from one of that body-guard four days before the capture of the President of the Southern Confederacy. At the end of his service Mr. McLaughlin returned home a physical wreck, owing to his life of privation and indescribable hardships. It was many months before he could again engage in business.

June 1, 1861, our subject married Maria A. Horton, who was born in Springfield, Ohio, December 3, 1839, and with her parents settled in Pine Lake, Mich., where their home was erected on one of the clearings which had been made by the Mormons.  The union of Mr. and Mrs. McLaughlin was blessed with two children: Charles S., born in Elk Rapids, August 11, 1862; and Luella, who died at the age of two years. The son married Addie May Lombard, and has two children, Charles J. and Frank. A member of the household is a girl named Stella, who was taken by our subject and his wife when she was an infant, and has been brought up by them. Their home has always been open to the needy and destitute, and they have provided for, or reared, no less than seventeen persons.

In 1872 Mr. McLaughlin was licensed as a local preacher of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and was ordained a Deacon in 1880. For many years his father was the only Methodist in this section, and he himself has been connected with the church since 1860. His first vote was cast for John C. Fremont, and ever since he has been an enthusiastic Republican. He is Past Grand of the local lodge of Odd Fellows, but is not connected with any other society. From the beginning to the close of the war, his brother Robert served on the Union side, took part in many leading battles, and won the rank of Brevet-Brigadier-General. In everything pertaining to the good of this community, our subject has always taken a leading and zealous part. He is a gentleman of high Christian principles, and has always been noted for his uprightness and integrity of word and deed.

He was Justice of the Peace from 1863 until 1890. Under Harrison's administration he was Postmaster of Elk Rapids for three years. For many years he was a member of the Board of Township Supervisors, and in 1884, after his removal to the village, was elected Probate Judge. He held that responsible position until 1888, administering the duties of his office in an honorable and efficient manner.

JAMES J. McLAUGHLIN, supervisor of Elk Rapids, was born in Brockport, N. Y., April 2, 1835. He removed with his parents in 1836 to Allegan, Mich. His father, James McLaughlin, a native of Penobscot, Me., erected the first flour-mill built in Allegan village. It belonged to Mr. Alex. L. Ely, formerly of Rochester, N.Y. From Allegan he moved to the mouth of Kalamazoo River, and during his stay opened a ship yard at Saugatuck. On Jul 25, 1841, he wife, Mrs. Abigail C. McLaughlin, was drowned in the Kalamazoo River by the capsizing of a boat.

In 1844 he bought and opened a large hotel in Kalamazoo, and also built several boats for D. S. Walbridge, Esq. Later he resumed operations in the ship yard at Saugatuck. In 1848 he accepted a position under the government as farmer among the Ottawa Indians. In the spring of 1849 lie bought a vessel in Chicago and there with removed to Traverse Region. He cut the first stick where Northport is now situated. In the fall of 1851 he and his family came to Elk Rapids and kept boarding-house for Mr. A. S. Wadsworth. His early movements have already been related. His time from 1853 was devoted partly to mechanical work and partly to the manufacture of shingles and to other industrial enterprises. He died of consumption April 16, 1863.

James J., the son, spent some seven summers of his youth in sailing and in the winters he worked as a carpenter. In 1858 he engaged in agricultural work on his father's lands on Section o3 in Elk Rapids Township on the western shore of Elk Lake, and continued farming until 1882. He now owns the farm of over seventy acres, and has about fifty acres under cultivation, with a thriving young orchard of choice varieties of fruit, and other home conveniences.

On June 1, 1861, he was married to Miss Maria A. Horton, of White water. She was born in Springfield, O., Dec. 3, 1839. She came with her parents to Pine Lake, Mi., where they prepared them a pioneer home in one of the Mormon clearings in that vicinity. The first sight which met their gaze on approaching the place was an effigy of Mr. J. S. Dickson, hung at the mouth of the river by the Mormons who had just before been driven from the place, but had left some of their vegetables in the ground which gave timely relief to the wants of Mr. Horton's family.

Mr. and Mrs. McLaughlin have one son. Charles S., born in Elk Rapids Aug. 11, 1862, and two adopted children, James R. and Stella B.

On Oct. 3, 1864, he enlisted in Company D, Tenth Michigan Cavalry, and served his country until discharged, Oct. 4, 1865. His first conflict with the rebels was at Morristown, Tenn. Next lie fought at the battles of Strawberry Hill, McHenry Courthouse, Abbot's Creek, Statesville, Salisburyland at Newton, N. C. In the spring of 1865 lie took part in the famous Stoneman raid, marching 2,000 miles in seventy days. He was one of those who captured the bodyguard of the Confederate leader, Jeff. Davis, about four days before Jeff. himself was captured. He has now in his possession the saber taken from one of the guards.

In 1880 Mr. McLaughlin became supervisor of Elk Rapids Township, and in November 1882, he removed from his farm to Elk Rapids village and opened an office in the town hall for the transaction of municipal and other official business. He has a pleasant home residence on Traverse Avenue.  He is now serving in his fourth term as supervisor and in his nineteenth year as justice of tile peace, and has served in various other municipal, educational and church offices in his community. In the fall of 1860 he was converted and united with the M. E. Church. In 1862 he became an exhorter, and in 1872 he was licensed as a local preacher and was ordained deacon in 1880. He has been one of the foremost laborers for frontier work and has organized different new appointments which have since become parts of self-sustaining circuits. Mrs. McLaughlin has been a member of the M. E. Church since thirteen years ago, and their son is also a member. Father James McLaughlin was the first and for several years the only Methodist in the Traverse Region.