The Scott Family - Edward L Moak

Edward L. Moak. In the human race there is ever progressive change, and it becomes the part of Biography, which is the essence of history, to record and accelerate it. It shows us how far we have advanced beyond the past, and it treasures up the experience of that past for still further advance into the future. Without history we would constantly require to begin the march of improvement or progress anew, and society would be moving in a narrow, ever-returning circle, instead of one straight and forward line. While this is true of history in general, that of ourselves, our relatives, our people—crystallized into the form of biography, whereby are perpetuated the lives of the fittest—have special , even first, claims upon us; and it becomes a duty to both the present and coming generations to include in this biographical work records of the lives of such representative men of our time as the gentleman of whom it is our privilege to now write, whose success in business is due to the practical and sensible constitution of his mind, and to the thoroughness of his business training.
Edward L Moak was born June 13, 1868 in St. Clair county, Michigan, and is a son of Charles J. and Alice (Carpenter) Moak and a grandson of Nicholas Moak, who came to St. Claire county in 1837. Nicholas Moak was one of the prominent agriculturists and leading public men of his day and community, holding various township offices and helping to develop the interests of his section. He had four children of whom three are still living. Many interesting stories of this old pioneer settler are told by his children and grandchildren, and it is related that on one occasion he shot a deer from the window of his house. At that time there lived in Riley township a tribe of Indians known as the Riley Tribe, who on regular occasions made their way to Fort Gratiot to receive their allowances. Mr. Moak’s farm was a convenient stopping –place, and here they would pitch their tents, make a camp and move on after a half-day’s stop. On the return it was no unusual scene to see the squaws fighting for the possession of some trifle after their allowance had been spent for cheap whiskey.
Charles J. Moak, father of Edward L., was Born in Port Huron township, St Clair County, in 1846, and became a resident of South Park at an early day, serving with distinction as alderman of the Eleventh Ward when it was first added to the city, and having a street named after him in the section for whose interests he labored for so many years. He erected numerous houses in that vicinity and was instrumental in securing a number of improvements for that part of the city. During the Civil war he served five years as member of Company K, Second Michigan Cavalry, and he later became a popular comrade of the G.A.R. His death occurred in 1901, and he was buried in Lakeside Cemetery. Charles J. Moak married Miss Alice Carpenter, who was born in Lake county, Ohio, in 1849, and she died in Port Huron in 1902, firm in the faith of the Baptist church, of which she had been a devout member for many years. They had a family of four children, of whom three are still living: Eugene H. (of Port Huron), Edward L. and Myron. Myron C. Moak was born in July, 1881, in Marysville, St. Clair county, and is now a machinist in the employ of the South Park Manufacturing Company at Port Huron. He married Miss Minnie Gray, a well known member of the Baptist church, and they have had five children: Viola, Alice, Myron, Jr., Chester and Esther, all attending school. Mr. Moak is a Modern Woodman and a Mason, and is a Republican in politics, on which party’s ticket he has served as alderman of the Eleventh ward. He has been prominently connected with the business interests of South Park, and for some years has served as special deputy sheriff of St. Clair county.
Edward L. Moak was given excellent educational advantages in the Port Huron schools and the Int6ernational Business College of this city. On April 22, 1891, he was married to Miss Bessie Balmer, who was born in Scotland, daughter of George and Mary Balmer, natives of that country who are now living retired on Pine Grove avenue, Port Huron. Mr. Balmer was for many years a florist and landscape gardener. He and his wife had four children, all of whom are living: Jennie B., the widow of Luther Booth, who was stamp clerk in the Upton Works postoffice; Robert, who married W. F. Sawyer, private secretary to the officers of the J. I. Case Threshing Machine Company. At Racine, Wisconsin. Mr. and Mrs. Moak have had three children, all born in St. Clair county: Elwyn R., in March, 1892: Genevieve, in December, 1895 and Francis H., in May 1899. Elwyn R. Moak is now managing editor of the Racine Journal, although but nineteen years of age. He has been connected with newspaper work since he was fourteen, having worked in the offices of the Times and the Herald in Port Huron. Genevieve is now attending the Port Huron high school.
After completing his studies, the first employment of Edward L. Moak was in the offices of the Port Huron Engine and Thresher Company, with which company he remained until 1900, a period of fifteen years. At this time the Factory Land Company was organized by Mr. Moak, as secretary, the business of the firm being the purchasing, improving and selling of land, encouraging manufacturing concerns to locate their factories in this section, and developing the community in general. The offices of this company, located at No. 2846 Electric avenue, are fitted up in the most modern connection with the electric railway running to the heart of the city. One of the most beautiful spots in the United States is South Park, located on the banks of the St. Clair river, which has been set out and built up by the efforts of Mr. Moak and his business associates. Mr. Moak signed every contract, looked after all of the detail work and superintended everything personally, and it stands today as a monument to the progressive spirit that has made him such a successful man. Since 1889 he has held the office of assistant postmaster at Upton Works; he is treasurer of the South Park Manufacturing Company and the South Park Society Hall Company, and is a director in the Port Huron Loan and Building Association. A Republican in his political views, he has always been an active worker in the ranks of his party, although he has never been an office seeker. Fraternally he is connected with the Maccabees and the Woodmen. His beautiful home, at No. 2419 North Boulevard, South Park is elegantly and tastefully furnished, and contains a large and comprehensive library, and a specimen case filled with rare and valuable relics. Mrs. Moak is a member of one of Port Huron’s literary societies the Looking Backward Club.
The valuable lessons a young and thinking generation can glean from such a sterling character as Mr. Moak presents are briefly these: That natural ability with a good education, coupled with tact and restless energy, are sure roads to success in business, as well as in the social and political fields. Mr. Moak is cool and deliberate, even when absorbed in the most momentous and intricate business propositions; in fact he is possessed of what might be styled a judicial cast of mind, which has enabled him to conduct and regulate his large business with that perfect order which insures success; also to maintain discipline in and guarantee honest service at the hands of his small army of employes.

The following link will take you to a picture of one of the Moak Machine and Foundry Co. machines.
http://files.owwm.com/PDF/Moak/jointer.pdf