The following biographies are from the book Tuscola County and Lapeer County {Michigan} Biographical Records. Printed in the late 1800's. Please use your browsers Edit and Find button to locate the biography that you are interested in on this page.
Biographies on this page for: Arthur C. ANDRUS; Jerome B. BUTLER; William COCHRANE, Peter P. DAWSON, Rev. James ELLIS, Josiah FIRMAN, Mrs. Sally Ann FISH nee RULISON; William H. GIDDINGS, Mrs. Eliza GILES nee McCUNE; James HAMILTON; David KURTZ, Timothy LOWTHIAN, M.D.; George D. MARTIN; Edward A. MURPHY; Ransom C. MYERS; Charles L. NORTON; William D. PENOYER; Manson PERRY; Romain PUTNAM; Mathew RUSSELL; James SHEPPARD; Emanuel L. STALEY; Almon A. THOMPSON; Goodenough TOWNSEND; Harmon VAN BUSKIRK; Edwin J. YOUNGS
MRS. SALLY ANN (RULISON) FISH, A.B.--This prominent lady well known throughout Michigan as the publisher of the Missionary Lesson Leaf and Foreign Mission Fields, was born in Evans Mills, Jefferson County, N. Y., and is a daughter of Charles RULISON. He came to Michigan in 1849 but died soon after his arrival January 7, 1850, at the age of forty four. He was an earnest Abolitionist even at that early day. His wife, Margaretta SWANBERG, was born in Philadelphia in 1808, and was a daughter of John G. SWANBERG, a blacksmith, who afterward went to sea for his health, but died in Philadelphia during the War of 1812. His wife, Mary WHITE, was born in Pennsylvania and her father was a native of London, England and settled in Pennsylvania. After the death of Mrs. FISH's father her mother brought up the family, and she still resides in Flint. Of her six children this daughter is the eldest, and the eldest son, Cornelius E., served for three years in the Michigan Infantry. He received serious injuries and suffered much from wounds and after the war became a practicing physician and died at Flushing in 1890. The second son, Herman G., enlisted in the Seventh Michigan Artillery in 1861 and died from sickness during his term of service. Charles W. now resides in Flint and John and Mary died in early childhood. The lady of whom we write had her early training in New York and until she was past fifteen years old attended school, studying at a select school in Theresa, N. Y. and continued her studies after she came West. At the age of sixteen she began teaching and in 1857 entered Albion College, graduating there from in June, 1859, with the degree of Bachelor of Sciences. For about three years she taught at various points and about the year 1870, she began organizing missionary societies in Michigan, and established about one half the societies in the State which are under the care of the Methodist Episcopal Church. After carrying on this good work with great great ability for a number of years this able lady then became assistant editor of the Michigan Christian Advocate at Detroit, where she resided for three years. Returning to Flint, Miss RULISON gave attention to Temperance work, being an ardent member of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union and State secretary for one year. She began editing a small temperance paper entitled Our State Union, and in August, 1883, undertook the publication of the Missionary Lesson Leaf, to which work she added in 1889 the Foreign Mission Fields, which have a circulation in nearly every State in the Union. The union of this lady in marriage, June 22, 1884 with Dr. G. W. FISH brought her into companionship with one of the noblest men of Flint. He was born in Kortwright, N. Y. in 1816, and received his education in the East, beginning the practice of medicine in Pennsylvania, marrying there in 1838, Octavia MOWRY, and coming with her the following year to Flint, which was an almost broken wilderness. He carried on a pioneer practice until 1847 or 1848 at which time his health failed and going North he served the Hudson Bay Fur Company for a short time as a physician. A year later the Doctor went South and practiced his profession at Aspinwall and Panama and in 1859 visited China. While at Shanghai in 1860 he was acting Consul at Ningpo. The breaking out of the Civil War in the United States, caused the Doctor to discontinue his residence in China and he returned to New York in June, 1862, having made the entire circuit of the globe. Entering the army as Surgeon of the Michigan Cavalry the Doctor took part in the campaigns of Rosecrans, Thomas, and Sherman, acting most of the time as Brigade Surgeon, and nearly three years was in active service. At the close of the war he returned to Michigan and served his State as State Senator and Collector of Internal Revenue. The dire disease, consumption, had entered his household and a son and daughter were taken from the home circle. Their mother soon followed and the bereaved husband and father, who was appointed Consul to Tunis, Africa, went abroad, taking with him his only remaining daughter, who was also failing in health. After his return from this foreign residence Dr. FISH was united in marriage with the subject of our sketch and with her remained at home until his death. He was a man of clear and vigorous mind, of broad experience and a writer of merit, being a contributor to various periodicals of note. His death occurred September 19, 1885 and he was deeply mourned throughout the community. The Doctor was a stanch Republican and assisted in organizing the Republican party at Jackson. Mrs. FISH was elected with two other ladies members of the Board of Education of the City of Flint in 1883, in which office she served for two years, and they have the honorable distinction of being the first women to be elected to such an office of the State. She is a believer in the right of woman's suffrage and a worker in the cause of prohibition.
ARTHUR C. ANDUS--is a Justice of the Peace and Notary Public, of Flushing, Genesee County. (MI.) He was born in Springfield, Mass., November 5, 1815, and is a son of Arthur and Mary (INGRAHAM) ANDRUS, natives of the Nutmeg State. The former was a builder and contractor. He learned the gunsmith's trade and worked at it in Springfield for seven years, making guns for the Government. He then moved to New York and settled in Genesee County, thence went to Niagra County where he served as Justice for about twenty five years. In 1837 he came to Michigan and settled in Oakland County where he owned a large tract of land. He removed from this, in 1847, to Saginaw County where he retired from active life and died in 1848 at the age of sixty nine years. He was a deeply pious man and was frequently called upon in the absence of the minister to officiate in his place. In politics he was a Whig. His wife died in 1849 in Saginaw County. Of a family of six children who were born to our subject's father and mother, three are now living. They are Arthur C., Elizur who is a minister of the Presbyterian Church and located at Augusta, this state, and Burton, who is a mechanic by trade, and by profession an attorney at law. He is now at Bridgeport, Saginaw County. Our subject's grandfather was Elizur ANDRUS, a mechanic by trade. He was a Revolutionary soldier and a descendant of a Welsh family who came to America some time in the sixteenth century. The original of this sketch is one of six children born to his parents. He was educated in Niagra County, N. Y. and was engaged in teaching in the same county. He learned the carpenter and joiner's trade of his father and when his parents came to Michigan accompanied them and was engaged for ten or twelve years in farming. In 1850 he came to Flushing and purchased a farm of eighty acres. He has been extensively interested in buying and selling real estate and farming therin. He purchased considerable property in the city and now resides on Main Street, near the station of the Cincinnati & Saginaw Railroad. Mr. ANDRUS has been in office for twenty years or more and has held various township offices. During that time he has tied the knot uniting many happy couples. He himself was married April 7, 1839, to Miss Eliza R. WOOD, of Macomb County, MI. She is a daughter of Andrew WOOD who came to Michigan in 1835 and died in 1851. Our subject has only one child living, a son, Charles A., whose home is in Grand Rapids. He is married to Nancy L. HANEY. They have two sons. Charles A. studied medical college of Toledo, Ohio and received a diploma from that institution. He is now practicing medicine at East Saginaw, Michigan. He is widely known, having lectured extensively in the United States and Canada in the interests of spiritualism and also upon scientific subjects. He is a very able man. Mr. ANDRUS is a Democrat in politics and an Odd Fellow in his social affiliations.
JEROME B. BUTLER--one of the representative farmers of Burnside Township, Lapeer County (MI.), was born in Livingston County, N. Y., October 22, 1827, and is a son of Isaiah and Louise (REYNOLDS) BUTLER. The father was born in May, 1806, and was the son of Rev. Isaiah BUTLER, a Baptist minister of Massachusettes. Our subject, who is the second in a family of nine children, lived with his father in New York until his eighteenth year when they came West and remained a year and a half, after which the young man returned to the East. The father continued his residence for three years in Oakland County and after living for three years in Ohio he came to Lapeer County and settled in Burnside Township whence he removed to North Branch Township four years later, where he still resides. Upon returning to Michigan, Jerome spent six months in Oakland County and then went to Lake Superior region, where he was successfully engaged in mining for nine or ten years. He now returned to Burnside Township and settled upon the land which he had bought four years before and is now interested in about two thousand acres of land. Mr. BUTLER was married January 6, 1851, to Miss Margaret J. COLLINS, who is a native of Eastport, Me., where she was born March 25, 1827. She is the daughter of Patrick and Margaret (HICKEY) COLLINS, who left Eastport when this daughter was quite young and lived in Boston until 1844 when they removed to Oakland County. *Eight of the ten children of Mr. and Mrs. BUTLER are still living. They are named Louisa, Hamilton J., Nellie, Horatio, Hattie, Jerome B., Josephine, Eugene and Benjamin F. The two oldest daughters have passed from earth and the eldest son is engaged in farming and stock-dealing. Horatio and **Robert are both farmers in Burnside Township and the latter is likewise engaged in merchandising. Jerome is also a farmer at Burnside and his twin sister, Josephine, is the wife of Samuel SIMONDS, a merchant in Wolverine, where the younger son, Benjamin F., also resides. Mr. BUTLER is engaged in general farming and oversees all departments of his farm although he is not himself active in the hard work. He has been extensively engaged in lumbering and has a large sawmill adjoining his home. His father was the oldest settler in this township and has been a man of influence in the community. The Democratic ticket commands the vote of our subject under ordinary circumstances, but he pays little attention to political matters.
*Says eight children living and lists nine. ??? **Did not list him as a child, but this may be a misprint??
PETER P. DAWSON--who is a native of Metamora, Lapeer County, this State (MI.), where he was born June 4, 1840, now has charge of a farm on section 16, Watertown Township, Tuscola County. He is a son of Robert DAWSON, a native of New York State, who came to Michigan, when a young man and made his home on the spot, which afterward became the birthplace of our subject. He was married in Oakland County, in 1835, to Jane MARTIN, a native of New York State, and to them were born six sons and three daughters. Mr. DAWSON was a pioneer in Metamora Township, and one of the two men who brought their families here about the same time and were the first in the township. He was a life long farmer and made his home on a farm of eighty acres in Metamora Township. He came to Tuscola County in 1862 and bought property on section 23, where he resided until his death in 1879. His wife survived him for several years and passed away in 1887. He was a Republican politically and an earnest member of the Sons of Temperance, and both he and his good wife were members of the Methodist Church. Peter DAWSON was reared in Lapeer County and followed farming until 1860, at which time he undertook teaching and pursued that calling for a number of years. He is a graduate of Albion Commercial College and was educated in the common schools of Lapeer County. In 1868 he came to Tuscola and bought eighty acres of land which he still owns. To it he has added forty acres so that he has now one hundred and twenty acres. From eighty acres of this land he has cleared the timber and upon it he has placed many substantial improvements. In 1868 our subject was united in marriage with Emma SPERRY, a native of Lapeer County, and the daughter of Benjamin SPERRY, a New Yorker. He was an early settler of Watertown Township and completed his days here, passing away in 1883. His bereaved widow is still living in this township. To our subject and his wife was born one son, Austin B., and the mother of this child was called from the activities of earth in 1870. The second marriage of Mr. DAWSON took place in 1871, and united him with Emiline DAY who came from Canada and a daughter of Lawrence DAY who came from Canada and became a pioneer of watertown Township, where he still resides. The children born of this marriage are: Marshall Ney, May, Vernia, Leon C., and Jane E. Mr. Dawson is a member of Welcome Tent, No. 34, K. O. T. M., at Fostoria, and in his political connections he is a Republican. For twelve years in succession he has been Township Clerk and also Supervisor for five years. He resigned that office and was elected County Clerk in 1886, and thus continued for four years, besides being School Officer most of the time since he came to the township. Frederick DAWSON, the paternal grandfather of our subject, was a soldier in the War of 1812, and was wounded while on the march from Buffalo to Auburn and died in a hospital at the latter place.
WILLIAM H. GIDDINGS--is a prominent citizen of Atlas Township, Genesee County, (MI.) residing on section 12. He is a native of the Wolverine State, having been born in Macomb County, November 17, 1855. He is a son of William and Fanny (PHILLIPS) GIDDINGS. His father was a native of Connecticut and the mother of New York State. William GIDDINGS, Sr., emigrated with his family, in 1832, to Macomb County and was one of the first settlers there, making their home in the woods before there was a stick cut on the place and before there was even roads. There were only Indian trails by which to trace their way through the woods and wolves and bears were numerous. Our subject was one of three children, he only, however, surviving. His father served as Justice of the Peace and as Supervisor of Ray Township, Macomb County, and when the angel of death finally came it found him at the home of our subject, June 14, 1886. He was born in 1801. He of whom we write was reared in his native county and there lived until his nineteenth year, at which time he removed to Oakland County with his parents and made a stay of several years. Until twelve years ago he was brought up on a farm and then his father became the proprietor of a hotel at Ray Center, Macomb County. When nineteen years of age our subject began to learn the carpenter and joiner's trade and followed it for seven years. In company with his father he subsequently ran a gristmill at Oakwood, Oakland County, which they continued for several years. He married Miss Mary BEARDSLEE, May 6, 1858. She was born in Oakland County and is a daughter of James and Jane BEARDSLEE, early pioneers of that locality and now deceased. By this union there were three children--Fanny J. (Mrs. N. E. WORTMAN), Cassius and Leah. For two years he also engaged in the Lake Superior copper mines, following his trade there as a carpenter. He then returned to Oakwood, MI. and for a time was in the foundry business and in 1873 he came to Genesee County and settled on a farm near Goodrich for a short time and then came to his present place. He owns a fine tract of eighty acres of land and has twenty acres in another county in this State. He is a self made man and has been successful throughout his career. He is a Democrat in politics. Mrs. GIDDINGS is a member of the Congregational Church. They are both highly respected members of society and Mr. GIDDINGS enjoys the fullest confidence of the business men with whom he has dealings.
EDWIN J. YOUNGS--Superintendent of the Castree-Mallory Manufacturing Company, and also a stockholder and director of the same, was born in Fulton, Oswego County, N.Y., September 3, 1850. He is the son of Henry and the grandson of Hyatt YOUNGS, both New Yorkers, and the grandfather was of Welsh descent and a soldier in the War of 1812. The father learned the miller's trade which he carried on at Fulton, N.Y., for forty years, and was also a foreman of mills for some time at Genesee. He was for many years in the State Militia in N.Y. He is inclined to Republican principles, but is independent in his vote, and in his religious views is a Universalist. The mother of our subject bore the maiden name of Phoebe YOUMANS and was born in Coxsackie, Greene County, N.Y. Her father, Abraham YOUMANS, was a farmer of English descent. She died in Fulton, February 22, 1884, at the age of fifty five. Of her thirteen children ten grew to maturity and nine are still living. One son, Abraham, served during the late war and was for seven years in the regular army. He of whom we write had good school advantages in Fulton, N.Y. until he reached the age of ten years, when he entered a planning mill and at the age of fifteen had mastered the business so that he had charge of the establishment. He then was apprenticed to a machinist, and he has developed a natural genius in that line, and at age eighteen was an accomplished workman. He is now one of the finest machinists in Michigan and can devise or make anything in iron, and is constantly making improvements upon the machinery in his establishment. In 1868 the young man started out as a journeyman, traveling through N.Y.,OH.,MI.,Ill.,Mo, Nebraska, Miss., and Louisiana, and made his experience very valuable by way of gaining new ideas. He was at one time Superintendent of the works of the Eams Vacuum Brake Company at Watertown, N.Y., where he married in 1876 Miss Rozelle E. AURANGER, a native of Oswego County, N.Y. He was also Superintendent of the machine shop in Fulton. In 1880 he came to Linden, Genesee County, MI., where he built carriage shops for J. Broch & Sons and superintended their works while there. In 1883 he came to Flint and engaged in business for himself as a machinist and engine broker after which he was solicited to become a partner with Messrs. Castree & Mallory and bought a one third interest in their works, of which he is now superintendent. In 1887 this business firm was incorporated as the Castree & Mallory Company and Mr. YOUNG's became a director.They occupy over twenty thousand square feet of space, situated on six floors, and the machinery is run by a hundred horse power steam engine. He has invented and patented various machines, including the Starr Fence machine, the Starr bob sleigh, the Flexible Land Roller, the Starr lever cultivator and various other machines and devices. One child has cheered his home, to whom has been given the name of Martin P.
WILLIAM COCHRANE,a farmer and stockraiser residing on section 25, Almont Township, Lapeer County, MI., was born in Perthshire, Scotland, about 1820. He is a son of David and Elspit (JACKSON) COCHRANE. The mother died in Scotland when our subject was about ten or twelve years of age and left half orphaned five children, our subject being the second in order of birth. The eldest is John, then comes he of whom we write, then David, Christina and Elizabeth. The father was again married and by his second union became the parent of five children, so that on coming to this country there were ten in all. Our subject's father came to Michigan in 1839 and was engaged in working land on shares for about two years, when he died. Our subject received a common-school education and began to do work for himself when about fifteen years of age, binding himself out in the old country for about four years. He purchased his first land in this country in 1842, having eighty acres where he now lives. Since that time he has added piece by piece to his original tract until he is now the owner of four hunded acres of land. The place was densely wooded when he came here and there were no roads. There was plenty of wild game, however, and Mr. COCHRANE says he has seen a four-acre field covered with deer. The original of our sketch was married when about twenty-six years of age to Isabel C. GAIRNS, a native of Scotland, who came here with the family of Charles FERGUSON. Our subject and his wife have been the parents of nine children, eight of whom are still living. Alexander, one of the most promising of the children, died at the age of twenty-four years, having a short time previously taken upon himself the obligations of married life. Our subject is a Republican in his political sentiments, casting his voice conscientiously with the party that he believes to be in the right in both national and local office, although he has been elected he refused to qualify. He was a Democrat until John C. FREMONT became a candidate for the executive chair. Our subject has given his children the best of opportunities to acquire a thorough education and they have made good their advantages, some of them having fitted themselves for teacher's, in which work they have been successful. They are all now, with the exception of two, heads of families. One, John L., is a very successful commercial traveler. Our subject's children are all settled at not a great distance from his home. Two are in business in Almont and one in Romeo. One son, William, lives at home with his father. Mr. COCHRANE has aided in the building of all the churches and school houses in this vicinity, believing that these institutions are important factors in the upbuilding of true and noble, manly character.
EDWARD A. MURPHY, the County Clerk of Genesee County (MI.) who was elected in November, 1890, on the ticket of the Patrons of Industry and Democrats, has creditably filled the expectations of his friends and made his mark as a worthy official. This gentleman was born in Grand Blanc Township, this county, May 2, 1858, and is a son of Patrick and Mary (PURCELL) MURPHY who became settlers of this county, having come here in 1850. He and his good wife still live in Grand Blanc Township, which has been their home since coming west. Our subject grew to manhood in the township just named and after receiving a common-school education he took a commercial course in the Normal College at Flint, after which he taught until 1886, when he entered the general store of Beals & Palmer at Grand Blanc. Two years later he became general circulating agent and advertising agent for the Genesee Democrat and Flint Daily News, increasing their circulation to a notable degree. He has also done good work in this line on the Detroit Free Press, having won first prize once, and second prize for largest number of subscriptions, while at the same time he was acting as reporter in which he showed himself a man of ability. Mr. MURPHY has been an active worker in the Democratic ranks from boyhood, but of late he has been warmly inclined toward the principals of the Patrons of Industry, and received their nomination to the office he now holds and was afterward endorsed by the Democrats, thus receiving a majority of six hundred and twenty nine in a notable Republican county. He is the first Democratic County Clerk this county has ever seen, and for four years he acted as School Inspector of the township of Grand Blanc. The gentleman of whom we write was married November 9, 1886, to Alice O'BRIEN at County Line, this county, and they have two children, named William F. and Mary E. Miss O'BRIEN was born in Vienna Township, this county and received her education at Flint after which she taught for a number of years before her marriage. Our subject has a farm in Grand Blanc Township, which is still well cultivated and very productive. He has filled his office with ability and satisfaction to the citizens of the county. He and his wife are both members of St. Michael's Catholic Church.
MRS. ELIZA GILES, is a widow of William GILES and the daughter of James McCUNE, a native of Scotland, who spent much of his life in England and there married Margaret LUDLOW, a native of Ireland who bore to him ten children, four sons and six daughters. Mr. McCUNE came to America in the year 1830 and for some time made his home in Pennsylvania, where he carried on farming operations. He, however, felt that he must see more of the country to which he migrated, and in 1848 he removed his family to Ohio, where he carried on a farm for about a year. He died in Jefferson County that State in 1849, and his good wife survived him until 1874. William GILES the husband of our subject was a native of England and was born October 1, 1837. At the age of five he came to America with his parents, William and Maria GILES, both of whom are natives of England. He remained with his parents through his boyhood, receiving an ordinary district school education and at the age of sixteen decided to undertake the blacksmith's trade, and after completing his apprenticeship he followed this business throughout life, except during the time when he was in the service of his country. William GILES enlisted in the United States service, entering Company G, fifty second Ohio Infantry, and served with faithfulness and true bravery through four years marches and battles and was discharged in 1865. He took part in the Atlanta campaign and was with Sherman on his march to the sea. Two years after his return from the army he decided to establish his home by taking to himself a wife, and he was married February 21, 1867, in Jefferson County, Ohio, to Eliza McCUNE. To Mr. GILES and his faithful wife were born four children, Laura C., Eva M., James W., and Lenora E. This kind father and faithful husband was taken from the happy family circle in 1883, leaving his widow and orphans in Jefferson County, Ohio. The following year they removed from the home now made desolate and came to Michigan where Mrs. GILES purchased eighty acres of land on section 7, Millington Township. Mr. GILES belonged to the order of Knights of Honor and also to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. The eldest daughter of our subject is a graduate at the High School at Steubenville, Jefferson County, Ohio. The family is one that is highly respected and esteemed as kind neighbors and progressive, intelligent people in the community where they live.
REV. JAMES ELLIS--This venerable and estimable clergyman was born in Devonshire, England, August 28, 1818, and there had training as a farmer's boy, and remained in England until he was thirty years of age at which time he came to America with his wife and settled in Oakland County, Mich., where he worked out by the month for some time. Later he came to Flint where he was in the employ of H. M. HENDERSON for several months and then bought a small farm in Flint Township, which he improved and cultivated and resided upon for seven years. He then exchanged that property for a part of that where he now lives in Mundy Township and settled upon this farm, where he has since resided. Upon his two hundred and eighty acres he has excellent improvements. Sarah POUND was the maiden name of her who became the wife of our subject in Devonshire, England; she is a native of that shire and after coming to this country became the mother of two children, one of whom died in infancy and the other, Mary, became the wife of Myron CHAPEL, and died in Mundy Township, leaving one child, Williard E. Mr. ELLIS has served his townsmen as Highway Commissioner and has held various school offices. Local political affairs have interested him and he has been active in the support of the Prohibition cause although loyal to the principles of the Republican party. The Methodist Episcopal Church is the religious body with which this truly good man has been identified from boyhood, having been a member of it and a local preacher in its service for about fifty years. While living in England he worked six days in the week and on Sunday he walked twenty miles to preach and never received any money as a salary. His preaching of the gospel has been blessed to the spiritual benefit of the people among whom he has labored and is ever ready to spend and be spent in the service of the Master. He has preached for a long time in the vicinity where he now lives and is most useful in this work. Before coming to America his connection was with the Wesleyan Methodist Church but he is now a member of the Conference of the Methodist Episcopal denomination. This worthy member of society and laborer for the good of the community met with a severe bereavement in the death of his wife, May 14, 1883, but he bears his affliction with true Christian fortitude and devotes himself even more faithfully to the good of others.
**Note: I research this family of George D. MARTIN. If you also have an interest in this family please email me. Thanks, Toni
GEORGE D. MARTIN--This well known citizen of Dayton Township, Tuscola County, (MI.) was born in 1840 in Oneida County, N.Y., and is a son of Martin and Louisa MARTIN. Martin MARTIN was born in the Kingdom of Prussia, Germany, in 1796, and there received the usual education and drill provided for the sons of Germany and was able to read and write in two languages. He also served an apprenticeship to a shoemaker and worked at this trade until he came to America which was in the year 1833. He then located in Oneida County, N.Y., upon a farm and there our subject was born and the family remained until 1850. At that time Martin MARTIN removed to Haldimand County, Canada and spent the remainder of his life in that vicinity dying there in 1854. His wife, Louisa CLACEMAN, is the daughter of Ernest and Sally CLACEMAN, the father being a Prussian and the mother a native of Saxony. Six of the seventeen children born to the parents of our subject are now living, namely: Henry, Hannah (now the wife of Henry WEAVER), Louisa (Mrs. Jacob SHIBLE), George D., Godfrey and Harriet (Mrs. George YAUNT). The father of our subject was the smallest in physique of three brothers and he measured six feet three inches in his stocking feet. He was for seven years in the German army where he served the Government faithfully and was a son of Philip MARTIN, a Prussian shoemaker, and a grandson of Casper MARTIN. The ancestor's name was originally GROSCH and was changed during the French and German wars of the sixteenth century. When only fourteen years old, George MARTIN devoted himself to acquiring the trade of a shoemaker and served an apprenticeship of four years, after which he followed the trade for some fifteen years. It was in 1863 that he located to Michigan and three years later he settled on the farm which is now his home. Here he devoted himself for several winters to working at his trade while carrying on agriculture during the summer seasons, but of late years he has given his entire energy to farm work. He now has one hundred and sixty acres and fully one half of this property is in an improved condition and producing large and fine crops. The marriage of George MARTIN and Tryphena F. SHOUP, daughter of Jacob and Amarilla (SUTHERLAND) SHOUP, took place March 17, 1862 and this happy marriage has resulted in the birth of seven children, two of whom died in early infancy and Jacob E. was killed in July 1890, by a railroad accident. Arminda C. is now the wife of Tunis R. KICE, and Edith E. has married Charles CLINESMITH, while Emma L. and Sarah C. are still beneath the parental roof. The Free Will Baptist Church of the neighborhood is the one with which Mr. and Mrs. MARTIN are prominently identified and our subject is also a member of the Mayville Lodge, No. 394 F & A. M.
JOSIAH FIRMAN--is a farmer residing on section 14, Flushing Township, Genesee County. (MI.) He was born in Avon, Genesee County, N. Y., May 14, 1822 and is a son of Jonathan G. and Marilla (MARTIN) FIRMAN, natives of the same state. The former was a farmer and coming to MI. in 1824, settled in Bloomfield, Oakland County. Thence he removed to Genesee County and settled in the town of Mundy where he took up Government land. They had to cut their own roads through the forests for a mile and a half. There his wife died and after a residence of ten years upon the farm our subject's father went to Macomb County and devoted himself to farming until the latter years of his life, when he removed to Utica, same county, and there resided until his decease. Our subject was one of eleven children, of whom only three are living-he of whom we write, Marilla and Amanda. Josiah FIRMAN received his education in Oakland County, this State, and was reared a farmer lad. He remained at home until twenty three years of age and then purchased a farm in Mundy Township. It comprises eighty acres and was his home for four years. Previous to beginning life as a farmer he was married, his nuptials being solemnized November 30, 1845, and his bride being Jane SMITH, a daughter of Oren and Mary (CONKLIN) SMITH, natives of Vermont and New York respectively, who were pioneer settlers in Michigan. They lived in various places and engaged in farming but finally settled in Mt. Morris, where Mr. SMITH died in his eighty first year. His wife's decease took place at the home of our subject when she was seventy four years of age. After leaving Mundy Township Mr. FIRMAN moved to Flint and was there engaged in peddling for about two years. Later he engaged in teaming for twelve years and then ran an ashery for two years, thence he went to Genesee County, and bought in partnership with his father in law eighty acres of land upon which he lived for fourteen years. The former moved to Flushing Township in 1880 and purchased eighty acres of land where they now live. Three children have brightened and enriched the home life of our subject and his wife --Oren G., Nettie and Orlo. The eldest son married Adelia CURTIS; Nettie is now Mrs. NINING and is the mother of two children--Oren E. and Ervin J. One son, who is deceased, was named Alfonso; he married Mina SMITH and became the father of two children--Jessie J. and Asa J. He died in 1887 at the age of thirty four years. Politically our subject is a Republican. He and his wife are members of the Baptist Church. They have a fine home and hold a high position among the best class of people. Mrs. FIRMAN was born in Rochester, N. Y., June 13, 1825. She attended school at Mendon, Monroe County, N.Y. and on coming West attended school at Grand Blanc, Genesee County. She commenced teaching when fifteen years old, her first school being in Mundy Township on the State road. The session continued three months during the winter and three months during the summer. She received for her services $1 per week and "boarded round". In the early days the family had some unique experiences and the family gun stood ready in an accessible corner for any emergency, for bears were known to be fond of young pig and such stock could not be well spared from the scanty supply.
JAMES M. SHEPPARD, the proprietor of a general grocery and crockery store in Imlay City, was born in Belmont County, Ohio, November 5, 1848. He is a son of Samuel and Eliza (McPHERSON) SHEPPARD, natives of Ohio. Our subject's father was a farmer and was born in 1813. He removed to Tuscola County, this State, where he purchased eighty acres of land. This he successfully operated for some many years, his decease taking place in 1885. Our subject's mother died in Ohio, and she was interred at Sewellsville. Her death took place when our subject was about twelve years of age, and his father was again married. There were six children by the first marriage, four daughters and two sons, and of these our subjects was the fourth in order of birth. They are: Elvira G., Louisa Jane, Clarissa E., he of whom we write, Emma E. and Francis M. Elvira married a Mr. FRIZZELL and lives near Sewellsville: Louisa, Mrs. HISSEY, lives near Hindrysburg, Ohio; Clarissa married I.B. COLER and now lives near Caro, Tuscola County; Emma E. married Sidney FISH and lives near Caro; Francis M. lives on the farm which our subject's father purchased. The original of our sketch was reared on a farm and received a common school education. He was a hard student and became qualified for teaching without attending High School. He began teaching when he first came to Michigan, giving two years of his time to that profession in Tuscola County. He then took a three months course in the Commercial College at Vassar. He then returned to Muskingum County, Ohio, and there engaged in teaching for five years. While there, he was united in marriage to Miss Sarah E. DAUGHERTY, their nuptials being solemnized in October, 1869. There were three children by that marriage, two of whom are still living--Melva E., who lives with her grandparents in Tuscola County, and Frances E., who also makes her home with her grandparents. About 1875 our subject returned to Michigan and located in Tuscola County, where he purchased forty acres of land. He was engaged in both farming and teaching, but within two years after coming his wife died, and giving up farming he went to Vassar and took a position as bookkeeper for a Mr. McLLOSE, remaining with him for four months. He then was clerk for L C MERRITT two or more years. He was married in Vassar, October 10, 1885, to Miss Valeria LEACH, a native of Pennsylvania. She is a daughter of Thomas A. and Myriam LEACH. By this marriage there were three children--Clare L., Samuel T. and Lola M. The first born in Imlay, August 10, 1881, the second child, December 16, 1882; and the third, in October, 1885. This last one died July 5, 1891, of diptheria. Our subject clerked in Mr. HEUSTEN'S law office for about a year, and in 1881 came to Imlay and opened up in the grocery business, which he has since continued. He here has a good and prosperous trade, and carries a fine stock of the class of goods most used by his patrons. Our subject is a Republican in politics, and has been Township Clerk for three years, and Councilman for six years. He is a member of the Royal Arcanum, and has held all its offices. He has twice represented the order in the Grand Council. He moreover belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and has passed through all its chairs, being now representative to the Grand Lodge. Mr. SHEPPARD is emphatically a self made man, both in point of education and finance.
ROMAIN PUTNAM--Our subject is one of the most prosperous business men in the city of Flint (MI.), owning the largest elevator and being proprietor of the most extensive grain business in this place. He has been respectively a successful farmer, stock broker and grain dealer. As a stock broker his career began soon after a trip to Detroit with cattle owned by a neighbor. Quick to see the large returns in such a business he started in and was at once awarded with success. At one time he was the largest stock buyer in the county. He is a keen, shrewd man, whose foresight never allows an opportunity to escape him. At present he deals most largely in grain and also in seeds, besides doing a large business in farm produce and pork packaging. Mr. PUTNAM owns a farm of three hundred and twenty acres within one half mile of the corporate limits of Flint City, in Burton Township. He is a stockholder and director in the Flint Water Works, and holds the same position in the People's Electric Light Company. He was born in Batavia, Genesee County, N.Y., August 27, 1838, and is a son of Morris and Maria (LORD) PUTNAM. Young Romain was reared in Batavia until seventeen years of age, his home being on the farm. He received an ordinary education, and in 1855 accompanied his parents to Genesee County, Mich., they coming hither with three teams from Detroit. They purchased a farm in Burton Township which our subject helped his father to improve, remaining at home until twenty two years of age. He purchased one hundred acres of land, which forms a part of his present place. This he cleared and improved, adding to it from time to time until he had a farm of four hundred acres. It is located on Thread River, and now comprises three hundred and twenty acres, as he sold a small portion. When twenty one or twenty two years of age Mr. PUTNAM began buying and selling stock, and in those early days drove the stock to Detroit walking or driving a buckboard thither, the journey taking him three and a half days. Part of this time he resided on the old farm in Burton Township, but later became a resident of Flint, and finally, in 1876, began to buy grain, forming a partnership, the business of which was carried on under the firm name of BEECHER & PUTNAM. This continued for about six years, at the expiration of which time our subject bought out his partner's interest and continued alone for several years, but in 1889 became associated with his brother, M.H. PUTNAM, and now the business is done under the firm name of R. PUTNAM & Co. It is the largest firm of the kind in the city. Their principal cereal is wheat, although they deal largely in other grains. They have an elevator at Clio. The capital stock of this firm is $20,000. Their place of business is located at the corner of First and Harrison streets, and the elevator is at the foot of First Street, between Weston and Stockton Streets. It has a capacity of one hundred thousand bushels. In connection with their other business they have a feed mill, from which they wholesale what they manufacture. It is in close proximity to the Flint & Pere Marquette Railroad. The original of our sketch was married in Burton Township, October 7, 1876, to Miss Ellen WOLVERTON, a daughter of Asa and Prudence (MARSHALL) WOLVERTON. She was born in Tioga County, N.Y. Her father was a farmer, and settled in this vicinity about 1855, locating on a farm in Burton Township. His decease occurred in 1890, being at the time about eighty two years old. Our subject's mother-in-law now resides in Flint; she is seventy six years of age. They were the parents of five children. Of the three girls who lived to be grown, Mrs. PUTNAM is the youngest. She and our subject are the parents of two children--Morris and Merton. Mr. PUTNAM has held several local offices. He was township treasurer for two years, and is a member of the Flint Water Works Association. He has a pleasant residence, located on Third and Harrison streets. Politically he is a true blue Republican.
JAMES HAMILTON--Arrived in the journey of life at the white mountains of experience, from which he can look back over the years that are fraught with lessons in which pleasure and pain, usefulness, labor and results are strangely mingled, it would seem that a man is but just prepared to live, and who knows but what it is a school, this life of changing and varying shades of happiness and unhappiness, fitting the soul for its after life. He of whom we write is one having these advantages of age and experience, now a resident of Atlas Township, Genesee County, having a farm on section 18, of the same. Our subject is a native of the North of Ireland and was born in June, 1820. James HAMILTON is a son of William and Elizabeth (McDOLE) HAMILTON, but is said to be of Scotch descent. He lost his father when about nine years of age, and when in his fourteenth year came with his brother-in-law, Alexander DOWNEY, to America, taking passage on a sailing vessel from Belfast, and after a voyage extending from April 23 until July 6, he arrived at Quebec, later going to Montreal, and thence to Youngstown, N.Y., arriving there July 6. From there he went to Genesee County, N.Y., and for several years worked on a farm. In 1837 he emigrated to Michigan, coming hither by water. He first took up forty acres of land in Oakland County, where he resided several years and cleared a portion of his purchase. Our subject was first married to Margaret LOBBAN, a native of Scotland. Their nuptials were solemnized in 1846. By this union he became the father of four children, who are: Matilda, Mrs. Junius SANFORD; John; Elizabeth, Mrs. Thomas COLLINS, and James. Some time after the decease of his first wife our subject was again married, his wife being Mary COLLINS, a native of Cayuga County, N.Y., and born May 4, 1834. She is a daughter of William and Diana (LARUE) COLLINS. She came with her parents to Genesee County in 1836, and was settled in Grand Blanc Township. Her father survived several years after locating here and her mother died quite recently. By this second union our subject became the father of three surviving children, viz: Maggie, Mrs. Fred DICKERSON; Jenna, Mrs. Fred E. GALE, and Minnie. About 1847 our subject came to Genesee County and settled on his present farm, building a log cabin in the woods. That continued to be their home for some little time, and he later built the house in which he lives at the present time. As a pioneer he underwent with his family the hardships usual to the life of an early settler. He owns a good farm of eighty acres, which is highly productive. Our subject has served as Highway Commissioner for three years and for many years he served on the School Board in his district, having held office of Director for fifteen successive years. He is a Democrat in politics, and he, with his wife, holds a high place in the social life of the community. They have both endured much hardship, and now are enjoying the fruits of their early labors. To the youth of today it seems hardly probable in viewing the highly cultivated state of the country that it was almost impossible to use horses, and that four or more yoke of oxen were necessary in breaking up the land. Mr. HAMILTON is a well known man throughout the county and is esteemed among the commercial fraternity as one whose ideas of business are clear and well defined.
GOODENOUGH TOWNSEND---a number of notable members of the State Pioneer Association make their home in Davis Township, Genesee County (MI.), and there is none of this number who is more worthy the pen of the biographer than he whose name we have now given, one whose life has been a continuous record of truth and uprightness, of kindness to neighbors and battling for the right and for the elevation of his fellowmen. He was born October 18, 1812 in Wheelock, Caledonia County, Vt., and is a son of Isaiah and Polly J. (WOODCOCK) TOWNSEND who were natives of New Hampshire but came to Caledonia, Vermont. When our subject grew to be nine years old they moved to Addison County, and remained ten years. In 1832 the parents moved to Monroe County, N.Y. and settled in the township of Ogden where they followed farming and where the mother died October 18, 1841. The following year the father came to Michigan and made his home with his children, until his death in April, 1851, when he was sixty five years old. The grandfather Thomas TOWNSEND, of Massachusettes, was a Revolutionary soldier, who went with Benedict ARNOLD to Quebec and died October 14, 1814. The family originated with three brothers who came from England and settled in Massachusettes and Connecticut, and the great grandfather of our subject belonged to the Massachusettes branch of the family and was a ship builder and sea captain. Goodenough TOWNSEND is the eldest in a family of nine children, five of whom are living. He had good educational advantages until he reached the age of twelve years and after that went to school for three months each winter till he was fourteen, and at eighteen attended the Middlebury Academy. At the age of twenty two he began teaching school which he continued for seven years, teaching in the log schoolhouses of Michigan. In migrating to Michigan Mr. TOWNSEND took boat to Toledo and from there walked through fifteen counties of Ohio, Indiana and Michigan to Genesee County, where he took up his present farm from the Government in the summer of 1836 and is now one of the three survivors of the first voters of the township. He built a log shanty which became his home after marriage. Mr. TOWNSEND was on the 18th of November, 1840 united in marriage with Mary A. FISH of Kortright Township, Delaware County, N.Y., where she was born February 23, 1819. This lady was a daughter of Reuben and Fannie (ROBINSON) FISH, and with Mr. TOWNSEND She lived in harmony and mutual labor throughout more than fifty years, dying April 15, 1891. Her education and native ability brought her to the front among pioneer women of this county and her beautiful Christian character blessed all who came within the reach of its influence. In 1838 she united with the Methodist Episcopal Church of Flint and was one of the first seven members in that church at Davison. She ever maintained a firm, unwavering trust and confidence in her Heavenly Father and passed through the dark valley with rejoicing. In the Women's Foreign Missionary Society of her church she was an active worker as she was also in the Women's Christian Temperance Union, being an earnest advocate of the outlawry of the liquor traffic. She came with her parents to Michigan in 1837. She left seven children to mourn her loss, namely: Eliza, Mrs. Erza RANSOM; Melanethon W. S.; Fannie E.; George W.; Juliet C. wife of Wilson S. PRATT of Oklahoma; Reuben F. and Mary.The doctrines of the Whig party commended themselves to the judgement of Mr. TOWNSEND and afterward he became one of the first men to organize the Republican party here and is now a stanch Prohibitionist. He was the first Supervisor of Davison Township, and served for twelve years as Clerk, and also for a number of years as Justice of the Peace, School Inspector and Highway Commissioner. He helped to organize the first Methodist Episcopal Society in this township of which he has since been a member. Upon his richly productive farm of one hundred and sixty acres stands his commodious frame house, which is the adobe of peace and comfort. Both he and his excellent wife have been great readers and he is one of the most intelligent men in this vicinity. He believes that his habits of life and his strict devotion to temperance have added years to his prosperous and healthy life.
DAVID KURTZ---a prominent farmer of section 19, Genesee Township, Genesee County (MI.), was born in Erie County, N.Y., in Clarence Township, September 12, 1852. His father, Jacob KURTZ, a native of Lancaster County. Pa., settled in New York when a young man and there pursued farming. He died in Erie County, N.Y., in March 1861; his good wife, Anna LEIB, a native of Pennsylvania, removed to Erie County, N.Y., with her parents at the age of nine years and it was there that she met and married the father of our subject. The mother died at Mt. Pleasant, MI., while on a visit to her daughter in 1889. Their six sons and three daughters all grew to manhood and womanhood, and three of them-John, Abraham, and Barbara--died after reaching the ages respectively of seventeen, twenty-four and eighteen years. Those who are now living reside in Genesee County, with one exception, and are named Jacob Jr., Elizabeth, Henry, David, Daniel and Mary, who married J.C. FREEMAN, of Mt. Pleasant. At the age of eighteen our subject left his native home, and after spending two years in Missouri, working upon a farm and attending school, he returned to New York. There he was employed on a farm and taught school until he was twenty six years old. At about that time he was married January 23, 1879, to Maria MARTIN, of Clarence, N. Y., a daughter of David and Catherine (LEIB) MARTIN, both natives of Pennsylvania who removed to New York in their early life. The family of Mr. and Mrs. KURTZ consists of two sons and two daughters, Reuben J., Alma E., Horace H. and Ella. In 1879 Mr. KURTZ purchased the farm where he now resides and moved upon it in April of that year. He has erected a first class set of farm buildings, conspicuous among them being a barn 40x100 feet with an L 26x60 feet, with basement under the entire building. One hundred and eighty acres of the estate are well improved and here the owner carries on general farming and stock raising. By proper rotation of crops the soil has been brought to a high state of cultivation and yields bountiful harvests of golden grain. A practical farmer Mr. KURTZ brings to his work good judgement, energy and industry, qualities which have enabled him to crown his efforts with success. In his political convictions Mr. KURTZ is a Republican and has served in various official positions, among them that of Highway Commissioner, also School Inspector. He is a member of the Iron Hall at Mt. Morris, and in his religious sentiments is a consistent member of the Baptist Church at that place. At the organization of the church he served as Trustee and is at present Clerk as well as Chorister, having held the latter position most of the time since the church was organized. To church work he is a liberal contributor of his means and influence and he maintains a special interest in the Sunday school, of which he was the first Superintendent. He has charge of the singing there and belongs to a family well known for its singers. He is one of four brothers now living, all of whom belong to the same church, and have never used tobacco or intoxicants in any form.
MANSON P. PERRY--Money and humane interest in one's fellow being will procure for the sick attendance. Interested motives may be worked upon to procure many of the good things of life, but only love gives freely of the best that it has. The biographical sketch given below, in which is chronicled salient features in the life history of one now deceased and also his virtues, is meant as a memorial made by his widow with loving instinct to preserve a record for his children and friends that cannot but interest them. Manson P. PERRY was born in Avon, N. Y., October 23, 1825. He was a son of Edmund and Mercy (MARTIN) PERRY and when an infant in arms was brought by his parents, in 1826, to Genesee County, MI. The PERRY family settled upon the farm that the widow of our subject now owns and were among the first pioneers to open up a way to the West and to locate in Grand Blanc Township. Mason P. PERRY was the youngest son of Edmund PERRY and he was here reared to manhood, gaining a sturdy independence amid the scenes of early settlements. Life was hard at the time and pleasure was dearly purchased, but was all the more enjoyed because of this. As he grew to manhood he gave his father a great deal of assistance in the development of the farm and took his place among the enterprising young men of the locality. As a lad he received a good common school education. Mr. PERRY was a man of excellent judgement having a large fund of common sense. He remained on a farm until his death, which occurred June 22, 1887. He was highly respected by all who knew him. Aware of the power that the schools are to be in the economical issues of the future, he was an advocate for every advantage that general education could offer to the citizens of the United States. He was a stanch supporter of the Republican party and a co-worker with every cause that promised to be of advantage to the locality in which he lived. Mr. PERRY was instrumental in getting the railroad through the village of Grand Blanc, which is of inestimable value to the farmers about the locality. He was enterprising and public-spirited, having a great force and energy of character. The marriage of Mr. PERRY to Mary P. FAIRCHILD occurred March 23, 1848. Mrs. PERRY is now a resident of the farm of which her husband made her mistress. It comprises one hundred and eighty acres of land which is excellently cultivated. The widow is one of the representative pioneer women of Grand Blanc Township. She is a native of Buffalo, N. Y., where she was born September 17, 1826. She is a daughter of Nathaniel and Harriet (HUGHES) FAIRCHILD, her father being a native of New Jersey and the mother of New Hampshire. The paternal ancestors were said to have come from Scotland. Mrs. PERRY was reared in her native county and State where she remained until 1837. She was then in her twelfth year, when with her parents she emigrated to this State and located to Genesee County, coming via the lakes of Detroit and from the latter city south by wagon to Genesee County. The FAIRCHILD family settled in Atlas Township where they were among the first settlers. Her father located on a portion of the present site of the village of Goodrich and took up eighty acres of Government land, paying for it $1.25 per acre. They erected a log cabin and began work of clearing the place, being content to live in pioneer style. Her father died in 1854 and the mother passed away in 1874. They were the parents of five children, four of whom live at the present time. Sarah A., who is the wife of D. T. HARTWELL of Hadley; next came Mrs. PERRY; then Elizabeth who is now the widow of D. C. DAVISON of Flint; and Nathan M. who lives in East Saginaw. Mrs. PERRY was reared to maturity in Atlas Township and receiving a good common school education.For several years after completing her course she was engaged in teaching school, her experience in this direction dating from seventeen years of age. Since her marriage and during her husband's life, she was his efficient helpmate and counselor. She is now in the prime of her life and is thoroughly fitted to enjoy the comforts with which she is amply provided. She is well known for the gracious hospitality that she dispenses in her beautiful rural home.
TIMOTHY LOWTHIAN, M. D.--the leading physician of Unionville, Tuscola County, is the son of George and Ann (MARTIN) LOWTHIAN, natives of Cumberlandshire, England, whence they emigrated to Canada many years ago, making their home in Princeton, where the subject of this sketch was born, May 7, 1848. The early home of our subject was upon a farm and his elementary education was taken in the district schools. At the age of twenty one the young man left home and entered the employ of the Hon. A. P. McDONALD, who was interested in the construction of the Inter-Colonial Railroad. After remaining with him for about a year, he came to the United States and located at Caro, Mich., where he engaged in the drug business, which he followed for five years. During this time he was pursuing his medical studies, as he read with Dr. William MORRIS, Sr., and he entered the University of Michigan in the fall of 1878. After remaining there one term he entered the University of Buffalo, in 1879, and took his diploma in the class of 1880. The young doctor returned to Tuscola County and in June, 1880, located at Unionville, where he has built up a large and lucrative practice. He had been married in April, 1872, and his bride, Margaret MORRIS, is a daughter of his old preceptor, Dr. William MORRIS, and his good wife, Henrietta (KING) MORRIS, both natives of Dublin, Ireland. This lady was born in Canada and she has become the mother of three children, namely: Mary Sophia, born December 17, 1872; Henrietta Anna, June 17, 1879; William George De Montmorency, February 22, 1882. On the 4th of March, 1888, the home of Dr. LOWTHIAN was overshadowed by the Angel of Death and his loving wife was removed from his side. She was a devout member of the Episcopal Church and a woman of lovely Christian charachter. The Doctor is also connected with the same church and his influence in the community is for the upholding of Christian institutions. His political views are in accordance with the platform and declaration of the Democratic party, and he is a member of Lodge No. 732, I.O.F., at Unionville, and of Justitia Tent, No. 75, K. O. T. M., in the same village. This prosperous and enterprising man stands high in the community and has the confidence of all, both as a physician and as a man.
HARMON VAN BUSKIRK-- a dealer in drugs and groceries in Pine Run, Genesee County, (MI.) was born in Henrietta, Monroe County, N. Y., July 11, 1825. His father, Garrett VAN BUSKIRK, was born at Buskirk's Bridge, Washington County, N. Y., in 1778, and died in 1846. He was not only a farmer but a carpenter and joiner, and his father, John VAN BUSKIRK, was a farmer and was killed during the War of 1812, at the battle of Oak Orchard Creek. The family is supposed to be descended from two brothers who came from Holland at an early day. Our subject remained at home until he reached the age of thirteen, attending district school and after that he worked out by the month upon a farm until he reached his majority. He then learned the cooper's trade, at which he worked for six years. He came to Michigan in 1858 and located at Bellville, Wayne County, and worked at his trade until the war broke out. The young man then enlisted in August, 1862, in Company C, twenty third Michigan Infantry, and was with his regiment when it pursued John MORGAN's raiders. He was in Knoxville at the siege and while at Sulphur Springs, Tenn., he was captured and taken to Belle Island, near Richmond, and afterward transferred to Libby Prison and Andersonville, where he remained until October 8, 1863. He remained in duance vile in various prisons until March, 1864, when he was released and went home. After the war he resumed carpentry for three years and then operated a shingle mill for two years, after which he devoted himself to farming until 1879, and since that time has been in business in Pine Run. The marriage of our subject in 1844, united him with Miss Louise HORTON of Monroe County, N. Y. This lady was a daughter of Hiram HORTON, who carried on a coopering business, and she had one child, Lydia J., who was born in October, 1845, and is now married to David HALSTEAD, of Pine Run. This wife was called from earth's activities in 1849, and somewhat later, Mr. VAN BUSKIRK married Louisa, daughter of Elijah OAKLEY, who was engaged in the manufacture of potash in Genesee County, N. Y. The one child of this marriage Francis S., who was born in 1851, died in 1872, and his mother departed this life in 1874. Mr. VAN BUSKIRK was, in 1876, united in marriage with Mrs. VAN NEST, the widow of Henry VAN NEST. Mr. and Mrs. VAN BUSKIRK are members of the Pine Run Methodist Episcopal Church, and he is identified with the Masonic fraternity and with the Grand Army post at Vienna. He is also an Odd Fellow, and in politics is an ardent Republican.
RANSOM C. MYERS The gentleman whose portrait appears is one of the loyal sons of America who came forward in the country's hour of need and offered their services, and life if need be, to preserve the oneness of the Union. He is now the owner and operator of a fine farm comprising one hundred and forty acres on section 14, Watertown Township, and is one of the best known citizens of Tuscola County. (MI.) A native of this State, he was born in Wayne County, March 4, 1841, and is the son of Solomon and Charlotte (BLACKMORE) MYERS, both natives of New York, the father having been born in Lyons Township, Wayne County. The parental family comprised of eleven children, eight sons and three daughters. The father came to Michigan in 1830 and settled in Wayne County on a farm of one hundred and sixty acres of Government land. In 1861 he sold his place and removed to Tuscola County, where his decease occurred in 1870; his wife passed away ten years later. Solomon MYERS served as a private in the War of 1812 and many were the reminiscences that he related of those stirring times in American history. Both he and his wife were ardent Methodists. Our subject was reared in his native county until twenty one years of age, when he came to Tuscola County and here married to Hannah L. CHAPLIN, a native of Livingston County, this State, and a daughter of Henry S. and Rebecca (SWEET) CHAPLIN, natives of New York. They were the parents of four sons and three daughters, and although of the agricultural calling, their ancestors were also early patriots. Prior to this union mentioned H. S. CHAPLIN was married to Corina FULLER, by whom he became the father of one son. Unto our subject and his wife have been born six children whose names are as follows: Henry S., George L., Fred, Ida B., Willie, and Minnie. All reside in this township except Minnie and George L., the latter of whom is engaged in Ohio in the manufacture of butter and cheese. The eldest son, Henry S., who was born January 8, 1861, lived under the parental roof until after he was of age. He attended school in Adrian for one year and followed teaching until his marriage, which took place in Tuscola County, his bride being Miss Roxie L. JOHNSON, a native of Canada and a daughter of David D. JOHNSON. He makes his home in Watertown Township, and follows farming as his calling. He is a Master Mason, socially, belonging to the lodge at Mayville, and he is also a member of Fostoria Lodge, No. 22, I. O. O. F. In his political sentiments he is a Republican and has served as Township Clerk four years successively. He and his wife have two children, George H. and Clarence Roy. Willie MYERS, the fourth son of our subject, was married in Watertown Township to Lillian B. SEARS, a native of Canada and a daughter of William SEARS, also born in Canada. She was one of ten children born to her parents and is now the mother of one son, Clinton RANSOM. George L. married Alice GILSON, of Ohio, and they have one daughter, Gertrude. Fred, the third child in order of birth, had the misfortune to lose his eyesight at the age of eighteen years. He and his sister, Ida B., are unmarried and at home. Minnie became the wife of Edwin E. PLAIN and resides in Genesee County, Mich. In 1861 our subject came to Tuscola County and his father at that time gave him eighty acres of land. He has since added a tract containing sixty acres and has erected good buildings on the place. Upon the estate he devotes himself to general farming and pays particular attention to the breeding of graded Merino sheep. In 1861 he enlisted in the army, joining Company C, tenth Michigan Infantry. He received his discharge in 1862 and the following year re-enlisted in Company C, Tenth Michigan Cavalry with which he remained until the close of the war. He took part in the battle of Corinth and for a month previous was engaged in skirmishing. He was also a participant in the capture of Morgan and served as a Sergeant until the close of the hostilities. At Hickman Bridge, Ky., directly over the place where Daniel BOONE'S cave was said to be, he was wounded and lost his left arm. Ever since the war Mr. MYERS has been an ardent Republican. Socially he belongs to the St. Charles Lodge I. O. O. F., in Saginaw County, is a member of the Caro Encampment and the Fostoria Lodge, No. 33, K. O. T. M. He has held various local offices, having for nine years been Highway Commissioner and serving as Drain Commissioner for one year. He is also a member of the Board of Review. For a period of eight years he officiated as an itinerant minister in the Methodist Protestant Church, and has for many years been active in church work. He and his estimable wife and children hold a very high place in the esteem of their acquaintances and occupy a prominent position in social circles.
CHARLES L. NORTON--After having actively devoted his younger years to agricultural pursuits, Mr. NORTON is now living retired in Caro (MI), surrounded by the comforts which his arduous exertions have brought to him and enjoying the high esteem of the residents of the city. As a soldier in the late war he deserves and receives the respect of all who love their country, and as a citizen he is public spirited and interested in any measure originated in behalf of the community. Although he has resided in Caro only since 1887, he has made his home in this State ever since attaining to his majority and is consequently identified with its development. Mr. NORTON is descended from sturdy patriotic ancestry. His father Daniel H., was a soldier in the War of 1812, and his grandfather Seeba, was a valiant defender of the common wealth during the Revolutionary War. Two of our subject's brothers were in the Civil War; Alexander B., served three years and seventeen days, being in active service most of the time but fortunately escaping uninjured. He now, with his wife and child, makes his home in Clare, Mich. Another brother, Daniel L., was also in the army, serving faithfully in the defense of the stars and stripes; he is now deceased, and is survived by a son and daughter. The father of our subject was a farmer by vocation and upon attaining to maturity he was united in marriage with Miss Phebe FISH, who like himself was a native of Vermont. While Daniel and Phebe NORTON were residing in Wayne County, N.Y., there was born unto them August 2, 1829, a son whom they named Charles L., and who is the subject of this biographical notice. The excellent educational advantages which the parents obtained for their son were taken advantage of, and Mr. NORTON is now a well educated and well informed man. He attended school until he was eighteen years of age, at which time he commenced to work on his own account. However, he did not leave home and begin his battle of life alone until three years later, when having become the age, he resolved to seek his fortune in the great West. Accordingly in 1850 he came to Michigan and located in St. Clair County, where he was employed by the month in the lumber woods. For about two years he was thus engaged, in the meantime hoarding his savings and pre-empting forty acres of Government land. This he proceded to clear of its forest growth and prepare for active cultivation. The personal work which Mr. NORTON had undertaken was interrupted by the Civil War, which was raging then throughout the land. On March 14, 1862, he enlisted in Company K, First Regiment United States Sharpshooters and experienced his first battle at the siege of Yorktown. With his regiment he participated in the Peninsular campaign and was in front of Richmond. The last engagement in which he took part was the battle of Malvern Hills, after which he was taken ill with typhoid fever and sent to the Episcopal Hospital at Philadelphia in June, 1862. From there he was honorably discharged in March, 1863, for physical disability, but since that time he has never regained his former health. Upon his return to Romeo, this State, where he had enlisted, Mr. NORTON found himself unable to work on account of his enfeebled condition, and he drifted from place to place. On September 27, 1865, he was married to Miss Mary MOSHER, of Otisville, Genesee County, and of this union one child has been born, Daniel A., who is now a farmer residing on section 2, Indianfields Township. Mrs. NORTON was born in Sterling, Ontario, Canada, January 6, 1845, and is the daughter of Adams and Susan (ROSEBUSH) MOSHER, the father a native of Rochester, N.Y., and the mother of Canada. Mrs. NORTON spent her girlhood in Canada, whence she accompanied her parents to this State at the age of eighteen and located in Oakland County. Afterward the family removed to Lapeer County, where various members still reside. Prior to enlisting in the United States service our subject sold his land, and after his marriage he settled in Genesee County, where he was employed as a laborer. Mr. NORTON also resided for a time in Huron County, where he entered one hundred and twenty acres and devoted his attention closely to its improvement. After farming there seven years he removed to Missaukee County, where he purchased eighty acres and spent another seven years in its cultivation. Upon removing to this county he sold that farm and invested his money in property in Caro. As a compensation for his services he received a pension from the Government, and thus in his declining years he can enjoy comforts which in his feeble health are necessary to him. Politically he casts his ballot for the candidates of the Republican party, but is not an active politician, and socially he and his estimable wife are welcome guests in the finest circles of the community.
HON. ALMON A. THOMPSON, M.D., A.B., A.M.--This most eminent physician and surgeon in Flint, is a man whose prominence is not alone resting upon his professional skill, but upon his ability and intellectuality in other directions. Like so many of our able men he is a native of the New England States and was born in Richmond, Crittenden County, Vt., March 26, 1829. He is a son of Uriah and Roxana (JOYNER) THOMPSON, the former a native of Waterbury, Vt., and the latter of Jericho, the same State. Our subject's paternal grandfather was Benoni THOMPSON, a farmer near Richmond, Va., who served in the War of 1812. The family comes of English descent. In 1840 Uriah THOMPSON removed his family to Ohio, going thither by way of the Erie Canal to Buffalo, thence by steamer to Cleveland and then across the country to Avon, Lorain County. He there improved a farm of one hundred and sixty acres of land. In 1854 Uriah THOMPSON purchased a farm near Oberlin and for the remainder of his life was most actively connected with that historic college town. He became Trustee of the college, serving in that capacity from 1848 until 1876, and for some time had charge of the endowment fund. His death occurred in September, 1890, at the age of eighty six years. He was a Republican in his politics and in his church relations a Congregationalist. Our subject's mother died in her native State, at Elden, in 1840. His father remarried twice thereafter. Our subject was the eldest of four children born of his father's marriage with his first wife, others being Albert, Everett and Melvin. Albert is a distinguished physician and is now located at Colton, Cal.; Everett died in Oberlin at the age of eighteen years; Melvin is a dealer in coal and wood and a contractor at Oberlin. Our subject was reared to manhood in Vermont and Ohio. He attended primitive school and helped to clear his father's farm, remaining at home until he was eighteen years of age, when he entered Oberlin College, graduating in 1854 with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. He pursued a post graduate course and two years later added the seal of Master of Arts to his diploma. It had been his desire to study medicine and during his last year at Oberlin he read under Dr. N. S. TOWNSEND, ex-member of the Congress, and in the fall of 1854 entered the University of Michigan, where he took a two years' course in medicine and received his degree as M.D. March 27, 1856. While at Oberlin our subject was connected socially with the Fratres Phi Delta, now the Phi Kappa Phi. The same year after graduating he located at Middleburg, Ohio, for the practice of his profession, remaining there but eighteen months, when he went to Olivet and was teacher of anatomy, physiology, chemistry and natural philosophy for two years in the college. In 1859 he located in Vermontville, where he was associated with Prof. KEDZIE in the medical work. In *1862 both gentlemen went into the army and our subject was commissioned by the Government as Assistant Surgeon of the Twelth Michigan Infantry. He remained with that regiment for *six months, but after the battle of Middleburg was taken sick with typhoid fever, and resigning January 28, *1862, came home. In December of that year he became Assistant Surgeon of the Eleventh Michigan Cavalry, remaining with it until the close of the war. He was commissioned as First Lieutenant and was mustered out at Jackson, Mich., in August, 1865. In 1869 Dr. THOMPSON was elected to the State Legislature from the west half of Eaton County, Mich., and served during the session of 1870 at the end of which time he was appointed United States Consul at Goderich, Canada, under President U. S. GRANT. In October, 1878, he went to the Long Island College Hospital and later located at Flint, practicing alone in this city until 1884, when he formed a partnership with G.V. CHAMBERLIN. Dr. THOMPSON has always enjoyed a most extensive and lucrative practice, indeed the demands upon his time have been so exacting as to impair his health. During the last year he traveled quite extensively through the South and visited most of the Western States, returning to his work rested and recuperated. Our subject was married in Ashtabula, Ohio, in October, 1854, his bride being Louisa J. SAVAGE, a daughter of Captain SAVAGE. She was educated at Oberlin College. Her decease occurred in Vermontville, in 1860. In August of the following year he was married to Harriet P. MARTIN, a lady of culture, who was educated at Olivet College. Our subject has served in many noble enterprises that we cannot enumerate in these pages. He was President of the Opera House Company and is still a Director. In 1885, when the city passed through the smallpox ordeal, he served as City Physician. He is President of the Flint Board of Pension Examiners. Socially he is a demitted Mason and in their church relations he and his wife are Episcopalians. Naturally he is associated with all the medical societies of repute, both local and otherwise. *The above * is placed there because I wanted everyone to know that this is not a typo on my part. It was in the book this way and when typing this I realized that if he went into the army in 1862 and remained with that regiment for six months, that he could not have possibly come home in January of 1862.
EMANUEL L. STALEY--who was born September 25, 1835, in Greenwood Township, Columbia County, Pa., and now makes his home in Columbia Township, Tuscola County. (MI.) He is a son of John and Jane (EDGAR) STALEY, natives of Columbia County, Pa., and of Holland extraction. The father was a stonemason by trade and served as County Commissioner of Columbia County, being the only Republican ever elected in that county. He made the race on the Whig ticket for Congress in 1852, against John G. MONTGOMERY, who afterward died from the effects of poison at the inauguration of James BUCHANAN. He came to Michigan about 1855, and here died and is buried at Caro, having been preceded to the other world but a short time by his faithful wife. They were Presbyterians in their religious faith and people of sterling religious character. Their children were by name William, Mary A., Emanuel, Jacob, John, Louisa, Clara, Winfield S., and Lydia, all of whom grew to maturity and established families of their own and all are now living except the eldest. Jacob enlisted in a Pennsylvania regiment and was wounded at the last battle of Petersburg, and John also served all through the war, enlisting three times as a musician. Farm training and a limited school experience filled up the boyhood days of our subject and he is largely self educated. At the age of twenty he came in the spring of 1856 to Michigan and settled on section 20, Columbia Township, where his father pre-empted and entered one hundred and sixty acres. Emanuel cleared the timber from sixty acres and purchased the one hundred and sixty acres which he was able to dispose in 1873 for $4,000. He then bought forty acres of land where he now resides to which he soon added eighty acres. He has cleared sixty acres of this land besides chopping the trees from one hundred acres for others. He is a prominent stock raiser and breeds Victory hogs. He has made his own way in the world and has had good success in his undertakings. The office of Supervisor was his for fifteen years and he has served in other minor offices and has been a strong Republican since 1856. He is prominently identified with the Free and Accepted Masons. Mr. STALEY was married March 21, 1863, to Mary E. KLINE, a native of Columbia County, Pa., and daughter of Peter P. and Sarah KLINE, who emigrated to Tuscola County and settled in Almer Township in 1862. The seven children who have been born to Emmanuel STALEY and wife are Wallace B., Marvin B., Jane, Clara L., Effie M., John P. and Ada. The latter died at the age of two years. In the Methodist Episcopal Church Mrs. STALEY is an earnest and influential member and she is a woman of sterling character and usefulness. Mr. STALEY was elected two terms as County Surveyor and Superintendent of the poor and was elected for a second time but refused to qualify.
MATHEW RUSSELL---whose fine farm is located in Columbia Township, Tuscola County, (MI.) was born May 7, 1849, in Middletown, Delaware County, N.Y., and is a son of Alexander C. and Mary J. (DUMOND) RUSSELL. Mathew RUSSELL, the grandfather of our subject, was born in Scotland and was twice married. His first wife bore him four children, his second wife three, and all were sons with one exception. Alexander C. RUSSELL was not only a farmer, but a carpenter and miller, and he came to Michigan in the spring of 1869 and settled on section 8, on sevenety acres, which he improved. He resided on the same section until his death, in 1887, and was twice married. The mother of our subject had nine children, all of whom are still living, namely: Wilson, John, William H., George W., Mathew, Rachel, James T., Robert E., and Elizabeth J. The mother was the daughter of William DUMOND and belonged to a family of Holland extraction. An ordinary education was afforded to Mathew RUSSELL until he reached the age of fourteen, when he began to work for wages, and thus assisted his father to pay for the farm. At the age of twenty one he undertook an apprenticeship at the carpenter's trade and at twenty three bought forty acres where he now resides, on section 16. To this he has added by purchase until his property now comprises seventy acres, which he has cleared and improved. For the past eight years he has been engaged in digging wells and has devoted himself more to this than to farming. The principles which are expressed in the declarations of the Democratic party are in the main what Mr. RUSSELL deems most sound, but he is also a member of the Patrons of Industry and the Farmers' Alliance. He has been twice married, first on January 27, 1872, to Mary E. CROFOOT, daughter of Levi and Sarah (FISH) CROFOOT. Two children were born to this union, Levi A. and William H., and their mother died in September, 1876. The present Mrs. RUSSELL bore the maiden name of Sarah E. BRUNDAGE, and she is the daughter of Isaac and Mary J. (COOK) BRUNDAGE, natives of Canada, who came to Michigan and settled at Unionville in the spring of 1878. Benjamin BRUNDAGE, the grandfather of Mrs. RUSSELL, was born in New York and there devoted himself to farming. He married Annie YERKEX. He spent some time in California and died on the train while on the way home from the Western land. Two children, who bear the names of Edna J. and Irvine, have been born to Mrs. Sarah RUSSELL. These children are receiving careful and conscienctious training and are being brought up in the faith of the Christian religion, as their mother is a faithful and devoted member of the Presbyterian Church.
WILLIAM D. PENOYER--Perpetuates the lineaments of this gentleman, who is the oldest pioneer settler in Flushing Township, (MI.) having resided here fifty five years, a period longer than any man in its bounds. The greatest regard and esteem is due him from the people of today who enjoy the advantages which he with other early pioneers struggled and denied himself in order to get. He has been connected and prominently so with the building up of Flushing. At the present time he is enjoying the result of his early labors in his beautiful home, which is one of the best farms in this township. His place comprises of two hundred and five acres of land on section 22 and 23, Flushing Township, Genesee County. Mr. PENOYER was born in Onondaga County, N.Y., January 26, 1824, and is a son of David and Levina (NICHOLS) PENOYER, natives of the Empire State. His father held various positions of trust prior to his coming West, and he was Sheriff of Onondaga County for some time. He was engaged in the handling of fine horses and came to Michigan in 1834. He returned home, however, but in 1836 came back to Michigan to make a permanent settlement. He came on the steamer "Robert Fulton" to Detroit and spent three months in Oakland County. Our subject came on in the meantime with another family, as he was to live with Jarvis BAILEY. He drove the first horse team that ever came to what is now Flushing Township. They first stopped east of Flushing village, two miles up the Flint River and remained there for three months, thence taking the boat down the river five miles. They located on the farm now known as the FAILING place and there remained two years. Our subject then became engaged with his father in chopping and clearing a place, for which he was to receive one hundred and sixty acres on the Flint River two miles east of Flushing. Their home was a log house and in it they lived for eight years. They then moved to Flushing, where the father died in September, 1846. The mother passed away in September, 1883. Our subject's father was a Democrat. He had nine children, of whom six are now living. They are William D., Lewis, Charles H., Homer, Esther and Ellen. Lewis lives in Saginaw City; Charles H. in Mt. Morris; Homer in Flushing; Esther is Mrs. O. F. CLARK, of Flushing and Ellen is Mrs. A. N. NILES, also of Flushing. On first coming into the country the work was rough and hard. They had roads to cut out and the nearest trading point was at such a distance that the settlers learned to do without many things that most people consider necessities. At that time they paid $18 per barrel for flour and $30 per barrel for pork and the journey to and from the nearest trading point, which was Detroit, took ten days. Venison was their staple article of meat food. Our subject was educated in the log schoolhouse in Flushing Township. He remained at home until twenty one years of age and then purchased forty acres which was the nucleus of the farm whereon he now lives. He paid for the place $7.50 per acre and gave his horse in trade. The place was heavily timbered and about a fourth of it pine land. There was a little shanty, 12x24 feet in dimensions in which he lived for eight years and then built a frame house which was his home until 1874, when he built his present beautiful place. Meantime Mr. PENOYER added to his original purchase, until it is now of no inconsiderable size. He has held various offices in the township having been Constable for twelve years. Our subject was married in 1849 to Miss Sarah A. MARTIN of Flint, a daughter of George L. MARTIN. This union was blessed by the birth of three children--George, Leman and Ada. George married Miss Adell TURNER; Ada married E. L. BEECHER, of Clayton Township. Mrs. Sarah PENOYER died February 9, 1887. Mr. PENOYER was united to his present wife December 20, 1887, she being Miss Louise DELBRIDGE of Genesee County. She is a daughter of William L. and Grace (DELBRIDGE*) DELBRIDGE, natives of England, who came to America in 1835. In 1841 they came to Michigan and settled at St. John's, Clinton County, and thence came to Flushing Township where they lived for five or six years and then moved to Flushing village. Our subject is a Republican in politics and has always held to those principles. He has always been a very good shot and has often killed deer while running through the woods, at one time killing two before breakfast. He takes great delight in telling that Mrs. HARRISON, the oldest lady pioneer in the township, made for him two pair of deerskin trousers from the hide of deer killed by himself and tanned by the Indians.
*THE * above by DELBRIDGE is put there so that everyone will know that this is what the book said and not a typo on my part.
