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

CITY OF EAST SAGINAW.

589

a Director in the company for several years. At the National
Democrat Convention at St. Louis, in 1876, Mr. Webber was Chairman of the Michigan delegation, and introduced a resolution,
adopted by the convention, recommending the abolition of the
so-called two-thirds rule He was the nominee on the Democrat
ticket for Governor in the fall of 1876, and received more votes
than had been previously cast for the successful candidate for that
office in the State, and more votes than given to the Presidential
Electors on the same ticket. Mr. Webber became a member of
Saginaw Lodge No. 77, F. &. A. M., of East Saginaw, in 1855, the
year of its organization. Norman Little was first, W. L. P. Little
second, and Mr. Webber the third member initiated into the lodge.
The two former being dead, Mr. Webber is the oldest Saginawmade Mason now living. -He was Master of this lodge three years;
was made a R. A. M. in Washington Chapter, at Flint, and in
1864, was a charter member of Saginaw Valley Chapter, No. 31,
located at East Saginaw, serving as High Priest for three years.
In 1869 he was elected Grand High Priest of the Grand Chapter
of Michigan. In 1874 was elected Grand Master of the Grand
Lodge of F. & A. M., of Michigan; is also a member of St. Bernard Corn., No. 16, of Knights Templar, and was Eminent Corn.
one year. He united with the I. 0. O. F. in 1847. Mr. Webber
has taken great interest in the promotion of the agricultural interests of the Saginaw Valley and Northern Michigan. He has been
connected with the Executive Boards of the State Pomological
Society, and the State Agricultural Society, and was elected President of the latter in 1878.
William L. Webber as a business man, is prompt, methodical,
and exact; as a lawyer, he ranks among the first in the State; as a
man, is generous, sympathetic, social and the very soul of honor
and integrity. He was married in October, 1849, to Nancy M.
Withington, only daughter of Edward and Nancy (Monk) Withington, of Springwater, Livingston county, N. Y. They have 2
daughters-Florence Ann, born at Milford, Mich., in 1850, married to James B. Peter, of East Saginaw, in 1873, and Frances E.,
who was born in 1854.
Wickes Bros., founders and machinists, East Saginaw, formerly of the firm of H. W. Wood & Co., and was composed of II.
W. Wood, H. D. and E. N. Wickes. This firm was established at
Flint, Mich., in 1854, where they remained until 1860. They then
removed to this city, and erected a building 35x150 feet in size,
one-story high, on the site of the present establishment. They
employed 36 men, but business increased so rapidly that they were
soon forced to erect larger and more commodious facilities for their
ever increasing trade. Their buildings are located on Water street,
where they manufacture gang-saws, and all kinds of engine work.
They employ over 75 men in their business, and the machinery
manufactured finds a ready sale throughout the Northwestern
States. H. D. Wickes, of the firm, was born in Yates county, N.
Y., and learned his trade at Penn Yan, in the same State.