FREDERICK E. ADAMS, proprietor of the Centennial Hotel, was born in Chenango County, N. Y., September 4, 1840; he moved to Wisconsin with his parents in 1850. His father, James Adams, was one of the earliest and most respected citizens of the town of Utica, Winnebago Co.; F. E. was brought up on a farm, and also learned the carpenter trade. In 1864, he came to Lake Superior and worked at his trade at the Evergreen Bluff Mine one year. He also spent a short time at Ontonagon; he then went on the road as a commercial traveler, and followed that business nine years. He was married in Ontonagon, Lake Superior, October 23, 1865, to Miss Elizabeth A. Johnson, daughter of Lathrop Johnson. Mrs. Adams was born in Eagle River, now Keweenaw County, Mich., in October, 1847, and is reputed to have been the first white child born in the Upper Peninsula west of L'Anse. Her father was one of the earliest pioneers of this region (see sketch elsewhere in this work). In 1869, Mr. Adams removed to Illinois, and made his home at Morris until the fall of 1875, when he returned to Lake Superior, and purchased the Johnson House, Ontonagon, which he renamed Centennial Hotel. He has continued as proprietor and host to this date, September, 1882. Under his management the house has become one of the most popular on the Lake. Guests are made to feel at home, and if they are not contented it is not the fault of the genial landlord or his interesting family.

HENRY APEL, merchant, dealer in groceries and general merchandise since 1864, was born in Saxony, Prussia, December 28, 1817. He came to America June 7, 1852, and made his home at Joliet, Ill., where he was made a citizen of the United States. He spent a year and a half at this place, and then removed to New York. He returned to Illinois in 1858, and worked at his trade, that of a shoe-maker. In 1863, came to Lake Superior, landing at Ontonagon May 23. He engaged in farming; he had a farm of eighty acres situated two miles from the village on the Greenland road. In 1864, he was married to Mrs. Fredericka Schneider, widow of Henry Schneider, one of the pioneers of Lake Superior. Mr. Apel converted his business in that of general merchandising, and now has a snug store where he does a fair business.