The Highland Township Historical Society
Highland, Oakland County, Michigan

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WILHELM, EUGENE B.

Portrait and Biographical Album of Oakland County, Michigan, Chapman Bros. (1891), pp. 637-638

EUGENE B. WILHELM is the Superintendent and Manager of the Highland Vinegar and Pickle Factory, in which he has a third interest.  The establishment furnishes employment to an average force of forty hands and the sales amount to $100,000, yearly.  Mr. Wilhelm is also a lumber dealer, and is engaged in the mercantile business, having a general store in which well-selected stock is to be found.  The fact that he is succeeding while handling so many business affairs is a proof of his ability and good judgment.  That [Begin Page 638] he is stirring and energetic no one can doubt who sees him in any of the establishments in which he is interested.

The paternal line of descent is traced back to one John Wilhelm, who was killed in the battle of Ft. Erie.  Following him was George, who was born in New Jersey, went to Milo, N. Y., with his parents, and there married and reared a family of seven sons and three daughters.  One of his sons was John, who was born at Milo and lived with his father until he was twenty-two years of age.   The family had removed to Livingston County some years before John Wilhelm became a man, and there he married Leora Humphrey, daughter of Ozias and Parnal Humphrey, who were natives of Simsbury, Conn.  For two years after his marriage John Wilhelm made his home in Springwater, and he then bought one hundred and sixty acres of land in the town of Conesus, N. Y., on which he now lives.  He has increased his landed estate to two hundred and eighty-five acres.  He is one of the stock-holders and Vice President of the Milford State Bank in this county.  His family consisted of the following children: Emily A., Sidney S., Elsie J., Solon H., Eugene B., Martin (deceased) and Martha.

The subject of this biographical notice was born in Conesus, Livingston County, N. Y., February 12, 1856.  He remained with his parents until after he had become of age, pursuing such studies as are usual and learning much of the work in which his father was engaged.  When he attained his majority he formed a partnership with his father, carrying on farming and stock-dealing, and the connection continued four years.   Previous to this period he had taken up the higher branches of study at Genesee Wesleyan Seminary at Lima, N. Y.  In 1883 he came to Milford, this county, and the next year established himself in Highland, buying a one-fourth interest in the vinegar and pickle factory, which he is now so satisfactorily managing.

In Steuben County, N. Y., December 27, 1882, Mr. Wilhelm was united in marriage with Miss Carrie E. Patchen, daughter of Ira and Elizabeth (Ellis) Patchen.  Her parents were born in the Empire State and had two children, a son, Sprague, and the daughter mentioned.   To Mr. and Mrs. Wilhelm there have come two children - Eugene B., Jr. and Philip - bright little lads who are rapidly advancing in knowledge.

Mr. Wilhelm is a Knight Temnplar and is enrolled in Genesee Valley Commandery, No. 15, at Flint.  His political allegiance is given to the Republican party, as after investigation of its principles, he became firmly convinced that it was founded upon the truest theories of government.  He has been Supervisor of Highland Township three consecutive years, and this fact alone is sufficient to indicate his stand ing in the community.  An incident of considerable interest connected with his ancestry is the fact that during the War of 1812 his grandfather, Ozias Humphrey, beat the alarm at New London, Conn., when the British attacked that place.

 

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