Person

S. E. Wait

Individual Identifier: ind_WaitSE

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DescriptionBorn in Fairfield Vermont. The family moved to Ohio in 1838 then in 1846 moved to Waterville, Wisconsin. 1848 came to Mackinac island at the daily farm of Michael Dousman. In 1850 moved to Old Mission in the schooner "Arrow" (which was making weekly trips between Mackinac and Old Mission). Employed as a school teacher on the ship Madeline in Bowers Harbor. In 1854 was employed at Hannah, Lay & Co. with J. K. Gunton, and E. F. Dame in building the company's boarding house and the county court house. In 1854-1855 winter taught school in Clinton, Ohio. In 1856 and a few years managed the carpenter and joiner work for Dexter & Noble in Elk Rapids, while planning and superintending the side-wheel steamer, "Albatross." Was appointed teacher of "the Indians in the Middle Village (later Peshawbestown) in 1862. 1866-1871, clerk for Hannah Lay & Co. store then clerk and steward of the new propeller "City of Traverse" in spring of 1871. In 1872 had to resign due to illness, recovered, then worked at the drugstore of L. W. Hubbell & Co. as cashier and bookkeeper. In May 1875 purchased Hubbell's drug store. First marriage in 1858 to Louisa Colburn of Old Mission, who died in 1868: they had two children Ida R. and Coral., who graduated in pharmacy at the University of Michigan. In 1870 married again to Ellen Packard, of Racine Wisconsin. Their children: Minnie Belle, graduated Traverse City High School and Normal School. Edmund W. Wait Cyrus Raymond both graduated from the National Institute of Pharmacy in Chicago, Illinois. May 1, 1901 established S. E. Wait & Sons, in partnership with his sons. Member of the Congregational Church, where he served as the clerk since 1875. S. E. Wait, owner of the Pioneer Drug Store (later the S.E. Wait Drug Store), c. 1850. An early pioneer of the region and a prolific photographer. In 1900, Treasurer of the Traverse Bay Building and Loan Association and the Weque-tong Club.

Source of descriptionPortrait Herald edition, 1894, Old Settlers Historical and Chronological record by Wait: settled in GT Region, 1900 R. L. Polk City Directory, Traverse City