Colonel Elwell is a native of Sweden, born near the ancient city of Goteborg December 13, 1832. His father was a graduate of a Swedish university and an officer in the Swedish army, dying in 1869, aged sixty-six years. Colonel Elwell's mother died in 1878, aged seventy-two years.

John A. Elwell passed his early boyhood days with his parents in his native land, and attended the excellent schools of that country until he was fourteen, then graduating from the high school near Goteborg. From the school room he passed into the office of a mercantile establishment, and at the end of a year his uncle, located in New York City, sent for him to come there. As an office boy he entered his uncle's establishment, which was devoted to a general shipping business, and from that position he gradually advanced until, at the end of seven years, he became junior member of the firm of Ryberg, Pentz & Company. This connection continued from 1857 to 18/2, years of almost uninterrupted prosperity in which the firm became interested in a fine line of vessels. While he maintained an office in the Home Insurance building, in New York City, he had his residence in Elizabeth, New

In 1874, in company with his personal friend, Benjamin Richardson, a New York capitalist, Colonel Elwell became interested in the promising land around St. Louis, Michigan, and together they came West to look over the country. The date of his arrival in the then little unkempt village was a red letter day, but the people did not know it until later. it until later. It had long been (as it now is) the habit of eastern capitalists to lend their means to western enterprises, but to spend their profits in their own section. Not so with Colonel Elwell. He saw the possibilities, he realized the need, and he cast his lot with the new town. He brought with him capital-and more, his trained business judgment—and he at once became the hub on which St. Louis's wheel of prosperity turned and he occupies the same position to-day. Whether it meant the building of railroads or telegraph lines, schools or churches, street lighting or other public improvements, he was active and interested-giving financial aid or security, advising, directing, working, he was always found in the front rank. His investments were successful for himself and for the town, and of his abundance he gave freely to those less fortunate and to charitable institutions.

When Colonel Elwell came West with Mr. Richardson it was at the solicitation of E. L. Craw, the promoter of the Chicago, Saginaw & Canada railroad. Before the end of 1875 certain of the eastern bondholders, who had pledged further financial contribu

tions in aid of the completion of the railroad as then planned, failed to fulfill their obligations. Hence during the year 1876 steps were taken to have a receiver appointed, and at that time Colonel Elwell made application to the United States Circuit court at Grand Rapids, Michigan, "to lease the road;" to furnish all necessary rolling stock, engines, etc., at his own risk and expense, and to operate it (the railroad) as lessee, at a fixed rental. The application was granted, and he continued as its lessee and general manager until the property was sold, in 1883, to the Detroit, Lansing & Northern Railroad Company, he having during that period built, at his own expense, extensions amounting to nearly twenty miles of road. During his occupancy and management of this little railroad line he established the United States mail service, the post offices at every station west of Alma to Lake View, and the American Express, appointing his station agents, as agents for the Express Company, for whom he stood as a surety. He built, also at his own expense, a telegraph line from St. Louis to Lake View, and had the railroad surveyed and partially graded for a further extension from Lake View to Howard City, there to connect with the Grand Rapids & Indiana railroad from Saginaw to Grand Rapids. Though the latter was completed by the Colonel's successors, it had its inception in his marvelous comprehension of the future of this region, and to him must be given the credit for the perseverance that furnished a through line from Saginaw to Grand Rapids. In the development of the town, no one has done more by erecting good and substantial dwellings, as is attested by his own late residence and that of his son-in-law, Dr. A. R. Wheeler.

Colonel Elwell aided in the establishment of the First National Bank, and was one of the largest stockholders and its first president, holding the latter position several years. He was twice elected president of the St. Louis board of trustees. Politically Colonel Elwell is independent. Originally he was a Gold Democrat, but lately, with few exceptions, has voted the Republican ticket. He is a communicant of the Episcopal Church, and Emanuel parish finds in him a hearty and liberal supporter, who did much toward the erection of the beautiful church edifice. Besides the large amount of property he possesses, he is also a stockholder in the Chemical Company and the beet sugar factory.

For one who hears even the faintest call to duty, public or private, it could not be supposed that the great crisis of the Civil war should pass without Colonel Elwell taking an active part in its operations. From his father he inherited a love of military affairs, as well as a personal bravery that has won high commendation from superior officers. In 1855 he joined the Brooklyn City Guard, known as Company G, Thirteenth Regiment, N. G. S. N. Y., one of the finest military organizations in that State, and of which company he is still a veteran member. From private to corporal, second sergeant, and orderly sergeant, his promotions were rapid, and on April 23, 1861, he was appointed second lieutenant. His regiment was then at the front in active service. In the year 1862 he was elected first lieutenant, and during that year, together with several of the officers and men of the old Thirteenth, he organized the Twenty-third Regiment of the New York State troops; he was then raised to the rank of major, and before the end of

Mrs. Elwell died in St. Louis, Michigan, March 27, 1898, aged sixty-three years. To this union were born children as follows: (1) Elizabeth A. married W. W. Collin, a lumber merchant at Buffalo, New York; (2) Susan Anna died April 25, 1902; (3) Helen | L. is the wife of Dr. A. R. Wheeler, a successful physician at St. Louis, mentioned elsewhere in this volume; (4) Amy E. married Dr. F. Edgar Farley, a professor in Simmons College, Boston, Massachusetts.

Colonel Elwell is a Mason, his membership being in Montauk Lodge, A. F. & A. M., Brooklyn, New York. Although he has retired from active participation in many of the enterprises that formerly engaged his attention, he still retains a keen interest in all public matters. His health is not of the best, but loving children and many friends minister to him, and are helping him to bear bravely such afflictions as have come with the advancing years. His life has been spent for the public good, and every citizen of St. Louis wishes him many happy years in which to reap the utmost benefits of his wellspent life.

HON

ON. SILAS MOODY, ex-member of the Legislature, a substantial man and prominent farmer of Pine River township, Gratiot county, was born on a farm in Medina county, Ohio, May 30, 1839, son of Rev. William Moody.

Rev. William Moody was a preacher of the Christian Church and was also engaged in farming. He died at the residence of his son, in Pine River township, at the age of eighty-nine years. The mother of our subject, whose maiden name was Maria Ross, died in Pine River township, when seventy

nine years old. This worthy couple had a

family of seven children, and of this family our subject was the eldest. He was reared in Medina county, Ohio, on his father's farm, and was educated in the common schools. He also attended the high school at Chatham, Ohio. Silas Moody was married in Medina county, Ohio, April 6, 1861, to Miss Ellen M. Clapp, a native of that county. Mr. Moody came to Gratiot county and settled on the farm where he now lives, in April, 1861, and here he has since been a resident. He has always followed farming, and in this occupation he has been very successful, and as a man of good judgment and large means, he is prominent in all public matters in his township, and may always be found casting his influence in the direction of progressive movements which promise to be of permanent benefit to his community. He has held the office of township clerk of Pine River township, and various other offices. He was elected to the Legislature in the fall of 1892, serving for one term, during which time he served efficiently on the committees on Religious and Benevolent Societies, the Deaf and Dumb, and Prisons of Michigan. He has taken an active interest in church work, and for twenty-five years has been superintendent of the Sundayschool of the Disciples, or Christian, Church, in Pine River.