History of Saginaw county, Michigan; together with ... portraits ... and biographies ... History of Michigan ...

706

HISTORY OF SAGINAW COUNTY.

to Eliza Vance, who was born in New York, Nov. 14, 1840. They
have 5 children-Hattie, Kate L., James, Thomas and LeRoy.
Charles Wider, born in Germany, June 14, 1825, where he was
raised and educated. May 1, 1849, he came to America and located
in New York. After his arrival he began work at his trade as a
tanner, which he learned in the old country. For three years he
applied himself to his industrial pursuits, when, receiving all idea
that the Western country was a more favorable locality to apply
himself, he emigrated to Michigan in 1852 and settled at Detroit,
where he remained until 1856. July 7 of thesame year he came to
Saginaw. He was married, Nov. 3, 1854, at Detroit, to Christine
Kronenwith, youngest daughter of the third oldest settler of Detroit. They have had 12 children, of whom 6, 4 sons and 2 daughters, are now living. Five children died of malaria in the climate.
His family are residing at home. Mr. Wider is connected with
the oldest tannery in the Valley, a history of which is given in
anotler part of this work, and is one of the old pioneers of Saginaw
county.
Rlobert Wiley, Chief of Saginaw City Fire Department, was
born in Niagara Co., Canada, Nov. 17, 1833. At the age of 14 years
he learned the blacksmith's trade, which he has followed ever since.
He is a fine workman, and has full command over all its branches.
After he left Canada he came to Michigan, and settled in this city
in the fall of 1864, opening a shop at the same time. During that
year he became a member of the Fire Department, and has been
connected with this organization since. In 1879 he was appointed
Chief of the Department, and has filled the position to the entire
satisfaction of all. He was united in marriage, Nov. 17, 1857, at
Aylller, Elgin Co., Canada, to Louisa A. Hayward,a native of that
place. They have 1 child. Mr. Wiley's shop is situated on Hamilton street.
Iron. Gardner D. Williams (deceased), was a descendant of a
Welsh family. His ancestor, Robert Williams, settled in Roxbury,
Mass., in 1638, only 18 years after the arrival of the Mayflower.
The branch of the family from which Judge Williams descended remained in Roxbury for five generations. His father, Oliver
Williams, removed to Concord, Mass., about the year 1794, where
the subject of this sketch was born, Sept. 7, 1804. Oliver Williams
came to Detroit in 1807, leaving his family in Concord. He engaged in business there as a merchant, and was one of the largest
dealers in Detroit. He brought from Boston at one time, for his
trade, $64,000 in goods. About the year 1811, lie built the sloop
" Friend's Good Will," on board of which he visited Mackinaw in
1812. At that place his vessel was chartered by the Government
to go to Chicago for furs. He proceeded to that place under the
charter, and took on board 99 packs of furs belonging to the Government, besides a quantity of his own. On his return voyage, his
vessel was captured by the British at Mackinaw, that post having
capitulated in his absence. The capture was effected by a ruse of