General Notes

Notes for JOHN ORLOFF WOOLSON, CAPTAIN:

From History of Bay County, Michigan 1883 page 151

Capt. John Woolson was born in Orange County, Vermont, in April, 1826. In 1834 he moved with his parents to Lake County, Ohio. He was in the vessel trade until 1862, when he came to Bay City and engaged in the same business, which he still continues. He has also carried on the grocery business. Was married in 1853, and has two children. His residence is on Fourteenth and Bowery Streets.

From Protrait and Biographical Record, Saginaw and Bay Counties, Michigan Mar 1892 pages 842,843, and 845

Capt. John O. Woolson, a prominent and well known vesselman of Bay City, where he has resided since the spring of 1864, was born in Tumbridge Township , Orange County, Vermont, April 15,1826. He is a son of Asa and Mary (White) Woolson, both of whom are of English descent, their ancestors having moved into the woods of New Hampshire seven or eight generations ago. The father was a clothier, but died when our subject was only two years old, and four years afterward the remaining members of the family removed to Painesville, Lake County, Ohio.

The educational advantages offered our subject, were very limited, and when quite young he became self-supporting, and for many years was master of either sailing or steam vessels on the lakes. In 1864 he came to Bay City and engaged in the steam tug business with N. B. Bradley as partner. In 1868 he added the grocery business on Water Street. In 1875 he sold his tug interests and bought vessel property in connection with the grocery business doing both a boat supply and general grocery business, until about 1881, when he turned his whole attention to vessel property, and has since owned quite a fleet.

The Bradley Transportation Copany was incorporated January, 1891, with a capital stock of $144,000, and the following officers: John O. Woolson, President: F. W. Bradley, Vice-President; and C. H. Bradley, Secretary. The company owned steamer "Charles H. Bradley", a large steam barge 215 feet overall, 35 foot beam and 15 foot depth. The consort, the "Brightie" is 180 feet overall, 35 foot beam, and 13 foot hold, carries thirty-five thousand bushels of grain, eight hundred thousand feet of lumber, or twelve hundred tons of ore. Another vessel which they own, "Mary Woolson", is a schooner 190 foot overall, 36 foot beam, 14 foot hold, and carries forty-eight thousand bushels of wheat or fourteen hundred tons of ore.

Capt. Woolson now devotes, his whole attention to the vessel business. Previous to the organization of the Bradley Transportation Company he owned several large lumber vessels, among which were the schooners "Gebbard" and "Yankee", and in 1887 he built the schooner "Mary Woolson" . Mr. Woolson is one of the stockholders in the First National Bank, and also had an interest in it when incorporated as the Bay City National Bank. He erected his residence at No. 302 Bowery Street, and has lived on the same site since his first advent in Bay City.

He has served his fellow-citizens in the capacity of Supervisor of the Fourth Ward, and is also a member of the Bay City Lodge, No. 129, F.& A.M. After weighing the merits of political questions he identified himself with the Republican party, to which he adheres.

December 27, 1846, Capt. Woolson was married to Miss Lovisa E. Davis, of Painesville, Ohio, and they had one child,, Francis, who died in 1878. The Captain was afterward married , July 13, 1857 to Miss Betsey M. Ingraham, and of that union two children were born: Fred H., now of Port Huron; and Mary, who is at home. The third marrige of Capt. Woolson, was with Miss Josephine H. Webster, of Painesville, Ohio, and occured May 1,1891. Francis C. Woolson, the only chold of the first marriage, married miss Lovina Wilson, of this city, and by her he had two children, Maude and Minnie. (this was the second marriage for Francis. C. Woolson, his first was to Miss Alice C. Ford, daughter of William J. Ford and Caroline Rebecca Paine, Sept 2, 1866 in Painesville, Ohio. They had one child William Charles Woolson Ford, born Feb 26,1869)

Capt. Woolson has been active in the vessel business for a longer period of time than any other citizen of Bay City. He established his position without any help whatever, starting out as a poor sailor boy, and by energy and perseverance and ability has worked himself to the front. Such a life, so full of success and happiness, should be honorably mentioned in a work of this character, and receive the respect of all his acquaintances.

In connection with this sketch will be found a lithographic protrait of Capt. Woolson.

More About JOHN ORLOFF WOOLSON, CAPTAIN:

Occupation: Sailor

More About JOHN WOOLSON and LAVISA DAVIS:

Marriage: December 27, 1846, Lake County, Ohio

More About JOHN WOOLSON and BETSEY INGRAHAM:

Marriage: July 12, 1854, Lake County, Ohio

More About JOHN WOOLSON and JOSEPHINE WEBSTER:

Marriage: May 1, 1891, Lake County, Ohio