USA > Michigan > Genesee County > Portrait and biographical record of Genesee, Lapeer and Tuscola counties, Michigan > Part 1
USA > Michigan > Lapeer County > Portrait and biographical record of Genesee, Lapeer and Tuscola counties, Michigan > Part 1
USA > Michigan > Tuscola County > Portrait and biographical record of Genesee, Lapeer and Tuscola counties, Michigan > Part 1
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org.
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67
Gc 977.401 G28p pt. 2 1939959
M. L.
REYNOLDS HISTORICAL GENEALOGY COLLECTION
1/
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01075 4858
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2010 with funding from Allen County Public Library Genealogy Center
http://www.archive.org/details/portraitbiographglt02chap
490
1
JE
5
ORTRAIT AND -
-
BIOGRAPHICAL
00001
RECORD
7-
-OF-
Genesee, Lapeer, and Cuscola Counties,
MICHIGAN,
CONTAINING ct. 2
Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens,
Together with Biographies of all the
Governors of the State, and of the Presidents
OF THE UNITED STATES.
CHICAGO . CHAPMAN BROS. 1892.
2
541
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
be a very serious accident. She is not able to walk without crutches and has not been out-of-doors for a year and a half Mr. Reed is possessed of very good health for a man of his age.
G FORGE M. EMBERY. Among the promi- nent and enterprising citizens of Genesce County we take pleasure in representing upon this page the worthy son of a worthy sire. who is a good representative of the typical pio- neer families of Michigan. ile was born in this township, October 10, 1852, and his parents. David and Marcia (Morse) Embury, were natives of the Empire State, his paternal ancestors being English and las mother's progenitors having come to this country in the historic "Mayflower" that landed at Plymouth Rock in 1620.
David Embury emigrated with his parents to Geneer County, in 1832, two years after his father's first coming to this part of the country, when he had located land upon which he hoped to create a farm and bring up his family. The boy was but fourteen years old when the family settled in the woods and he therefore saw much of pioneer life and for years made his home in the log cabin which his father had created.
David and Marcia Embury were the parents of seven children, five of whom are still living. The father of this family was killed, June 22. 1886, by a house running away with him. His widow still survives and now in her seventy-third year she is active and interesting in conversation and is looked upon as one of the representative pioneer women of this county. She is said to have been the first school teacher in what was then a hamlet, now Lapeer, and she is the daughter of one of the very earliest pioneers of Lapeer County.
George M. Embury grew to manhood in this county and helped greatly in developing its re- sources. He received his education here in the district schools and afterward in the public schools of Flint and thus secured an admirable prepara- tion for life's duties. He was married October 5.
1875, to Eveline MeFarlen, daughter of John R. MeFarlen, one of the first pioneers of this county. To them have been born three children, Philip (., Irving W., and George .1.
Mr. Embury now owns a line farm of two hun- dred and eighty acres upon which he carries on general farming. He has served as School Direc- tor and in every department of life is a helper to- ward improvement and progress. In his political affiliations he is with the Democratic party, and in business matters he enjoys to a marked extent the confidence of the community. He is enterprising and public-spirited and both he and his interest- ing wife are highly esteemed members of the social circles of the township and county.
1939959
BRAM BUTTERFIELD. Our Canadian neighbors have a great notion" of com- ing over into the States, and into the less conservative atmosphere of this Republic, developing the powers that are in them and their capabilities for progress. They, however, are no better pleased with this bright idea than we are . with its carrying out, as they are found to be most excellent citizen-, and the mingling of Brit- ish conservatism with Yankee push has brought about a splendid element in our midst.
Mr. Butterfield is one of those men who were born under the shadow of the British Bag, lu- nativity having been in the Province of Ontario, and his natal day being August 21, 1816. We cannot how- ever. ascribe all of this gentleman's good qualities to a British origin.
The farm upon which Mr. Butterfield now resides was purchased by him in 1880, and during the same year he established himself in a home by bringing a bride to share it with him. Mrs. But- terfield's maiden name was Marian Lower and she was born in Hadley Township, Lapeer County, in 1850. There she was reared and educated and be- came a teacher, pur-ning that vocation for fifteen years previous to her marriage. Our subject now resides with his mother on the old farm as his wife died in 1881, leaving no children. Eighty neres
Recit, Feb 28-1977
ezeet d?
542
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
of well-improved land constitutes this estate and here he is carrying on general farming and enjoy- ing a just degree of prosperity. He is a Republi- can in his political views and was Township Treas- urer in 1881-82.
D AVID A. CRAMTON. One of the most sie- cessful farmers of Hadley Township, Lapeer County, is he whose name appears above. Hle was born at East Addison, Vt., June 2, 1822, and was the youngest in a family of five children born to his parents, all of whom grew to mature years. They are Emeline, William, Manson, Cook and he of whom we write. Emeline is the widow of Solo- mon Babcock and resides at Norville, Jackson County, this State; William lives in Elba Town- ship, Lapeer County. During the war he had two sons-Franz and George -- who served from 1861 to 1865. Alan-on is now a resident of Ada, this State; Cook died in Hadley leaving a family. The parents of this family were Daniel and Nancy (VanHorn) Cramton. The father was born in Ver- mont and the mother in New Jersey. Daniel was a son of Nathaniel Cramton, who was a Rev- olutionary soldier and was himself a soldier in the War of 1812. Nathaniel Cramton was probably born in England.
David Cramton came to Lapeer County at the age of eighteen, his brother having come here two years earlier-about the time it was admitted to the I'nion as a State. Later the entire family came to the State and made settlement here. The father died in Wayne County. N. Y. in 1831. His widow married Nathan Townsend and they reared a fam- ily of three children, whose names are Marcus, Har- vey and Octavus. The first named is deceased; Harvey is a resident of Oakland County and Octa- vus n resident of Hadley.
July 2, 1818, our subject was married to Harriet. Grandy. They have reared four children, who- names are Jesse, Cook, Julia and Charles. Julia i- the wife of Frank Skinner. Mr. Cramton started out in life with great disadvantages, as far as 10- cuniacy position is concerned, for he had nothing
but a superabundance of energy and faith in the future. By directing his energy in the right direc- tion and by economy and industry he has acenmu- lated a comfortable fortune and to-day owns a farm of two hundred and forty acres which has all been accumulated by the toil of himself and his family. Their social relations are closely connected with their church relations and all are members of the Methodist Episcopal body. Politically Mr. Crain- ton is a member of the Republican party. Socially he fraternizes with the Masons.
.7 LLEN HARROLD. Among the promin- ent, thrifty and influential Irish-American citizens of Genesce County, selected for. representation in this Recoup, is the pros- perons agriculturist of Grand Blanc Township, whose name we have just given, and who is a typi- cal son of the Green Isle of the Sea. He was born October 29, 1819, and is a son of Michael and Eli- zabeth (Ohinstead) Harrold, both natives of Ire- land, where our subject was reared to manhood and where he carly engaged in the occupation of farming. His education was mainly taken in the national schools of Ireland and he did not have the advantage of higher training, but has educated himself in various ways since reaching manhood.
Our subject was married in Ireland. February 6, 1812, 10 Rose Donahue. Two of their six children were early called from earth, and the four who re- main are : Peter, Catherine, Louis, and Addie. In 1813. Mr. Harrold, with his wife, emigrated to America taking passage in a suling veel named " Rochester " and after an ocean voyage of twenty- two days from Liverpool to New York City they journeyed across the continent to Michigan and look up their residence in Oakland County. After several years of farming upon a rented farm they removed to Genesce County and took up their abode in Grand Blane Township, settling upon their present farm which has ever since been their
Two hundred arres form the splendid farm of
543
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
Mr. Harrold and it is the visible result of his enterprise and the patient persevering industry of himself and his devoted wife. He was called upon to mourn her loss February 29, 1888. She was a devoted member of the Roman Catholic Church, with which he is also connected, and will long be mourned as a loss to the community. Mr. Har- rold's political views bring him into the rank and file of the Democratic party and in all matters of public prosperity he is actively interested. He is well known for his sterling integrity and honesty in business matters and is thoroughly esteemed by all who come in contact with him.
ON. D. G. COLWELL. Every enterprise for the upbuilding of Fenton, finds an earnest helper and promoter in the Hon. Mr. Colwell, whose excellent judgment and business capacity have made him prominent, and given him an influence among his fellow-citi- zeus which is of great value. He was shown his faith in the future of Fenton by investing largely in various lines of business here, and his efforts have ever been for the promotion of its true pros- perily. He was born in Seneca, Ontario County, N. Y., March 11, 1825, and his parents. David and Hannah A. (Gilbert) Colwell, were both natives of New York. The father was a manufacturer of woolen goods who emine to Michigan in 1838, and spent the remainder of his days in Livingston County. He was born January 21. 1800, and died May 25, 1885.
On the 20 of January, 1810, the log house which he had built upon coming here was destroyed by fire, and with it almost everything he possessed, and he and his family were obliged to live in a de- lapidated shanty in the woods in the dead of win- ter. Ile was a man of high standing in the com- munity and held various township offices. His good wife who was some three years younger than he, died July 11, 1885. Five of their eight chil- dren are now living. D. G. was the eldest of the family, and was thirteen years old when his parents came to Michigan, and most of his schooling was
taken prior to that time. He began life for him- self at the age of twenty-one, renting a farm in Ty- rone Township, Livingston County, which he farmed on shares, and during the third year he bought forty acres of land to which he added from time to time until he had two hundred and eighty- five acres, and here he made his home for seventeen years, and made his first abode in a small shanty.
In June, 1866, Mr. Colwell removed to Fenton; where he had built a brick house, the brick for which he had manufactured himself. He intended at that time to retire from active business, but he soon became interested in grain and wool, and en- tered into partnership with Mr. E. M. Adams, with whom he continued in business for thirteen years. Besides dealing in grain and wool, they operated a mill, doing business under the firm name of Colwell &. Adams. In March, 1880, the partnership was dissolved. Mr. Colwell taking the mill, and Mr. Adams the grain elevator. Our subject at once re- built the mill and increased its capacity from sev- enty-live to two hundred barrels and has since increased it again to two hundred and fifty barrels and he still carries it on, it being a complete roller mill.
Mr. Colwell was married in 1816 to Phobe Larned, who was born in Barrington Township, Yates County, N. Y., and is a daughter of Henry and Maria (Bailey) Larned, both New Yorkers by birth, who came hither in the year 1830 and settled on the line between Oakland and Living- ston Counties, where she died about the year 1882, and he in 1887. The four children born to this couple are: David 11., John P., William D. and Daniel 11. The oldest son entered the army in 1861, although very young, and died at Mt. Ster- ling, Ky .; Witham is deceased; John has assisted his father upon the farm, while Daniel is at home and is now attending school.
Our subject has been a frequent delegate to vari- ous Democratic conventions, and was supervisor of Tyrone for three years. In 1861 he was elected to represent his district in the State Legislature, and while thus in office he was placed upon two im- portant committees, one of them being on election. He has been Assessor of the village of Fenton and prominent in various ways, having built several
544
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
store-buildings, besides the Opera House, which was dedicated February 1, 1870. He has a large amount of money invested in his milling business, having a full roller process therein, and except what is retailed about the neighborhood, he ships a good part of his product to New England, and also considerable to Africa. A sawmill is also one of his enterprises, and his land comprises five hundred and sixty acres, most of which is under the charge of lus son John. This line tract of land except one hundred and twenty acres adjoins the corporation of Fenton, and it is all in one hody. The Masonic order has counted him a member for some thirty years, and his wife is actively connected with the Presbyterian Church. A large amount of stock of the Fenton Agricultural Association is held by him and he aids all movements which commend them- selves to his judgment.
i
ARMON OWEN is a retired farmer, making his home at the present time in Lapeer. He was born in Columbia County, N. Y .. in Aneram Township. July 13, 1811. lle is a son of Joel and Betsey ( Flint) Owen, the former a native of the same place as is our subject, making that his home throughout his life. His de- weare occurred when at the age of seventy-sis years. He devoted himself to the agricultural valmig. Originedby he was a Whig and was a strong Clay man, and was never known to vote for but one Democrat. In his religions creed he was a Methodist.
Charles Owen. our subject's paternal grand-ire, was a soldier in the Revolutionary War and was one of the boldest and most fearless men of that. desperate period. Although running many chance- in the war he lived to a good old age and his wife survived until ninety years old. Our subject's grandmother Flint before her decease drew a pen- sion as a widow of a Revolutionary schlier. He of of whom we write was one of eleven children who was born to his parents. All grew to manhood !
and womanhood with the exception of one, and six are still living.
Mr. Owen was reared in his native place and re- ceived his education in Massachusetts, across the line in Berkshire County. He remained with his father until reaching his majority, giving his ns- sistance on the farm. On starting out in life for. himself he had no resources whatever, but like many of our American citizens, who have gained wealth and prestige, he had an abiding faith in his own strength and ability that stood him in good stead. le first worked by the month on a farm and received $11 or $15 per month during the summer. In 1837 he married Betsey Silvernail, a native of New York. She was reared in the same locality as was our subject. The young couple be- gan life together on a farm where they remained until 1852, when they came to Lapeer County, Mich., and located on section 36, Mayfield Town- ship. He first purchased eighty acres of land that had a small house upon it. About twenty-five acres of this were partially improved. He added to the place twenty-seven acres in Lapeer Town- ship, then eighty acres adjoining the first farm making in all one hundred and eighty-seven acres. I'pon it he had put up good barns and a commo- dious house. He also improved the old farm and remained there umtil 1887, when he retired from active business and located in Lapeer, where they have a line residence.
Mr. and Mrs. Owen are the parents of seven sons and three daughters -sloel, Algum, Perry, Bradley, Lowen, Emery, Delia, Ida E., Eva and Harmon (. Perry was killed at Cedar Creek on the day of Sheridan's ride; Bradley resides in Cal- ifornia; Lowen is a dentist, at Grand Rapids; Emery lives in Burlington. Lapeer County; Delia is the wife of Chauney Dean, who is a large fruit dealer in California; Eva is the wife of Robert Harrison, of Lapeer City; Harmon resides on the old homestead; Aram is a farmer of Attiva Town- ship, this county.
Our subject is a Republican in politics, his first vote being est for Harrison in 1836 and again in 1810, and his last vote was cast for the grandson. He was Town Treasurer of Mayfield and also Jus- tice of the Peace. He has also been Road Over-
Menj. F. Johnston
.
Respectfully 02hours 1, 6, La Valley
517
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
seer and School Inspector and Trustec. He has never been out of offlee since coming to Michigan. In religious preference our subject and his wife belong to the Methodist Protestant Church of La- peer, of which Mr. Owen has been Trustee since the denomination was organized.
-
B ENJAMIN FRANKLIN JOHNSTON. The pretty village of Almont is the prosperous center of a thrifty and fertile farming re- gion. There are here merchants of all sorts who find a ready sale among the best class of the agricultural element that here do their trad- ing. The furniture dealer of the place, and a man who always has on hand a choice stock that is adapted to the needs of his customers, is he whose name figures at the head of this sketch, and whose portrait is shown on the opposite page. Like many others who have settled in this portion of the county, bringing hither their thrifty and proy- . ident ways, he is a native of New York State, having been born in Geneseo, Livingston County, March 23, 1829. He is a son of Daniel B and Abigail (Lord) Johnston. The father, who was a farmer, was born in 1791, in Columbia County. same State, and the mother at Sharon, Conn., in 1793. Our subject's paternal ancestors were of English and Scotch Stock.
In his boyhood our subject received a common- school education, and in addition the advantage of one term at the High School. He came to Mich- igan as an early settler, loenting in Almout in 1818, when nineteen years of age. He at once engaged in teaching, spending his winters in that way and painting during the summers, which trade he had learned from his brother. In 1850 he returned to his home in New York and the year that he spent as a tercher there was made notable in his life by his marringe. He was mited in wedlock March 25, 1851, to Miss Betsey A. Worster, of Ripley, Chautauqua County, N. Y., who was there born February 29, 1832. She is a daughter of Hiram and Catherine (Thorpe) Worster, and of Welsh an- cestry. The young couple returned to Michigan
and Mr. Johnston, as previously, spent his winters as a teacher and his summers in painting.
In 1858-59 our subject began to devote himself to the cabinet-maker's business, which he followed until the breaking out of the war, when he helped to raise the first Michigan Cavalry. His business not being in a satisfactory condition, he was un- able to go to the front himself until August 26, 1862, when he enlisted in Company A, Fifth Michigan Cavalry, and on being sent to the front was under Gens. Kilpatrick and Custer. He took part in the famous Kilpatrick raid on Richmond in 1861, and was taken prisoner nt the famous charge at Trevilian Station, Va., June 11, 1861. That charge resulted disastrously to the regiment, the enemy capturing seventeen of the company and one hundred and twenty-seven of the regi- ment.
Our subject was taken to Richmond and then to Andersonville, where he was held prisoner nine months until March, 1865. He is the B. F. John- ston who is mentioned in the sketch found else- where of II. C. Wells, as saving the life of the lat- ter while in Andersonville. Mr. Johnson thinks that his standing as a Mason was the means by which he got outside the stockade in October, 1861. He left Andersonville March 25, 1865, to be exchanged in Vicksburg, and with twenty-two hundred other prisoners of war was on the steamer . "Sultana" when she blew up, April 25, 1865, the lost being the ratio of two to one. He was asleep when the explosion took place, but kept las pres- ence of mind enough to try to keep order among the passengers and sailors. When the vessel sank he caught a piece of fence board and after he had been in the water for some time succeeded in get- ting on an island, where the next day he was rescued by n boat. Ile had enlisted as a private, but later was made a farrier, and as such was mus- tered out July 7, 1865.
After his return at the close of the war Mr. Johnston engaged in the furniture, wall paper and undertaking business, and is now the oldest busi- ness man in Almont. In the village he has heldl several offices, having been Justice of the Pence many terms in succession, also Township Clerk, and member of the School Board and of the Village
27
.
548
PORTRAIT AND HOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
Board the greater portion of the time since its organization. He is last High Priest of the Chap- ter of the Royal Arch Masonsand Master of the Blue Lodge, having beld all the offices of the lodge and chapter, and at one time was a member of the Grand laxlge of Michigan. . In 1888 he was a candidate for State Senator on the Democratic ticket for the Sixteenth Senatorial District of Lapeer and Sanilac Counties, but was defeated, they being strong Re. publican counties, although Mr. Johnston ran con- siderably ahead of his ticket. Notwithstanding the fact that the township in which he lives is strongly Republican he has been elected to official positions by handsome majorities.
There have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Johnston three children, as follows: Delphine, born July 29, 1852, married W. S. Washer, of Detroit; Mande Louise, born October 5, 1851, became the wife of D. B. Bancroft, a jeweler of Detroit; and Daniel W., born May 4, 1857, whose home is in Detroit and his office in Chicago, where he is Passenger Agent of the I'nion Pacific Railroad. Both our subject and his estimable wife are members of the Congregational Church, of which he is a Trustee and has been Superintendent of the Sunday- school. He is at the present time in charge of the mission school which is located about four miles from town, and during his four years' connection ยท with this he has missed in attendance but a single Sunday.
AMES HI. HEMINGWAY. Our subject lo- cated at Hadley, Lapeer County, is a dealer in agricultural implements and from his well-selected stock may be had the Intest inventions and improvements upon implements which are used in agricultural business. Mr. Hemingway was born in Chili, Monroe County, N. Y., August 26, 1822. He was the youngest in a family of six children, whose mones are as follows: Elmira, William, George, John and Hannah. The eldest sister became the wife of Reuben Emery and was the mother of three bright children, all of whom graduated at the University in Aun Arbor. William enme to Lapeer County in 1836
and was a prominent lawyer here until his death. A full history of the career of George may be found in the sketch elsewhere in this work, headed George S. Hemingway. John cume to Michigan in 1839 and resided here until his death in 1885. Hannah became the wife of Thomas Babcock, of Hadley, but now resides in Iowa.
The parents of these children were James and Phebe (Hart) Hemingway. They were born about 1792. The father was a native of Connecticut, but resided in New York until 1812 when he came to Hadley and here resided until the time of his death. He served in the Genesce Conference of New York in the Methodist Episcopal Church and from 1834 to 1812 was Presiding Elder. He preached the first sermon delivered in Indley Township in 1836, and every resident of the town- ship, men, women and children, in all numbering about fifteen people were present.
Our subject's grandsire was Isaac Hemingway, who is doubtless of English ancestry. Hle of whom we write received a liberal education in his native State, having been a student at Lima Institute. After coming here he followed teaching for several years in which he had previously engaged and had been assured of his success in New York.
Our subject was married in January, 1817 to Miss Lucina, daughter of Joseph Flint who died October 7, 1889. Unto them were born tive chil- dren, whose names are as follows: Charles, Millard 1., Viola, Grata and Cassius. Millard is now a resident of Lapeer and connected with his father in business ; Viola is the wife of Edward Hodgson, of Hadley; Greta is the wife of John A. Morton, a hardware merchant of Hadley; and Cassins who married Kitty Shotwell lives at home.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.