USA > Michigan > Genesee County > Biographical history of Genesee County, Michigan > Part 26
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In 1836 her father removed with his family from Rochester to Shia- wassee county, Michigan, and from thence Mrs. Thomson made her way to Flint, where she opened a school for young ladies.
For nearly fifty years she lived in Flint, and all this time she was more or less a teacher in Biblical and historical studies, continually diffusing an atmosphere of intelligence, culture and devout religious thoughts. In 1840 she was married to Edward H. Thomson, and at once her home became the center of the social life of the growing city. Without question no person has exerted more beneficent and widefelt influence upon the community. She was foremost in every effort of education and uplift to others; foremost in every good word and work for benevolence and helpfulness.
Her grand native intelligence, enriched by broad culture and extended travel, together with a home filled with rare books and treasures of art, were ever freely and readily used for the pleasure and profit of all who sought.
Perhaps her most distinguishing characteristic was her sympathetic na- ture-a heart large enough to feel for all suffering, far-reaching in its ten- derness-even like the divine pity. Thus, as a necessity, she became a shelter. a support, a defender to the sick, the helpless, the friendless.
In full measure she had that large-heartedness that could weep with those that wept and rejoice with those that rejoiced.
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"When the ear heard her than it blessed her; When the eye saw her it gave witness to her, Because she delivered the poor that cried; The fatherless, also, that had none to help him, The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon her ;
And she caused the widow's heart to sing for joy ..
She put on righteousness and it clothed her ; Her justice was as a robe and a diadem. She was eyes to the blind and feet was she to the lame.
She was a mother to the needy :
And the course she knew not she searched not."
Mrs. Thomson died on Easter day. April 10, 1887. She was survived by a son, Edward H. Thomson. Jr., who died the following year.
IRA T. SAYRE.
Ira T. Sayre was born at Hector, Schuyler county, New York, March 6, 1858. His father, Augustus Sayre, is a descendant of Thomas Sayre, who settled at Southampton, Long Island, in 1639. At the present day may still be seen the house, built by him in 1648, a venerable landmark of early days, being the oldest English frame house in America. David Halsey Sayre, father of Augustus, was born in this old homestead, and came to Seneca county, New York, in 1804. Augustus Sayre came to Genesee county, Michigan, in company with his brother, Thomas, in 1850, and settled on the farm near Flushing, now owned by Ira T. Sayre. In 1854 he returned to New York, was there married in 1856 and then came back to Flushing. Here he spent most of the time from then on, barring a few short periods at Red- lands, California. The wife of Augustus was Sarah E. Terry, daughter of Nathaniel Terry, of Chester, New Jersey, a descendant of Richard Terry, who settled at Southold, Long Island, in 1639. Nathaniel Terry's grandfather, Richard Terry, emigrated to Chester, New Jersey. Nathaniel came to Hector, New York, in 1821, where Sarah, as stated above, was born. Augustus and Sarah Sayre are still living at Flushing, after fifty-one years of domestic felicity. Their family consisted of Ira T., our subject; Franklin P., an at-
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torney at Flushing; and Julia M., who died at the age of thirty-three at Redlands, California, being the wife of Archibald E. Ball.
Ira T. acquired his education at the Michigan Agricultural College, and in addition studied law at the State University. He was admitted to the bar before the supreme court in 1881, and immediately began the practice of his profession, and has continued in it ever since, covering a period of over twenty-five years. In addition to his law practice he is engaged in farming, being associated with his brother, Frank, in tilling five hundred acres of land in Flushing township.
He is also interested in pine lands in Michigan, Oregon and Louisiana. In the latter state he is secretary and treasurer of the Evart Lumber Com- pany (Lt'd.), having mills at Evart, Louisiana. He is also interested in banking, being president of the People's Bank at Flushing, Michigan, and at Leroy, Osceola county, Michigan. He is also a stockholder in banks at Mont- rose, Swartz Creek, Evart and Coleman, Michigan, and Raymondville, Texas.
Mr. Sayre began his career in politics at the age of sixteen. He was made township clerk in 1882, and served also as village clerk for eight or nine years. In 1893 Governor Rich appointed him on the board of control of the state industrial school, Lansing. He served in that capacity until elected to the state senate in 1898 for the regular term of 1899. He served also in the special sessions of 1899 and 1900. He was appointed a member of the board of tax commissioners by Governor Bliss in 1901, serving for four years, and was a member of the board making the first advalorem assessment of the rail- road properties of a state as a single property in the United States. This as- sessment produced a tax of more than three million dollars, increasing the tax by one-half over what the railroads had paid upon a specified tax-paying basis.
On August 5, 1884, Mr. Sayre was married to Julia E. Niles, daughter of Franklin. A. and Mary (Turner) Niles. They are the parents of three children-Helen Lorraine, aged sixteen ; and Sidney Estelle and Frank Niles, twins, of ten years of age.
GEORGE C. MYERS.
Mr. George C. Myers, supervisor of Burton township, was born in Ot- sego county, New York, July 10, 1863. His parents, George L. and Nancy (Sommers) Myers, were both natives of New York state, the latter dying in Otsego county November 19, 1864. The father was married this time to Miss Jane Weller, who was also taken from him while they were still living in New York. His third marriage was to Lucy Sommers, sister of his first wife, and she still survives. In April, 1867, George L. came to Genesee county, Michigan. and settled upon an eighty-acre farm in Burton township, which was at that time but partially improved. He soon made great changes in the farm, and brought it under a fine state of cultivation. He ended his days on this homestead and answered to the last summons March 20, 1890, having attained the age of sixty-eight years.
There were eight children born of his first union, four sons and four daughters, our subject, George C., being the youngest of the family. George was about four years old when his father emigrated from New York to Genesee county, Michigan. He was reared on the farm and received the major part of his education in the common schools of the township. For one year, however, he attended the Flint high school, and was thus enabled to equip himself sufficiently to make general advancement through his own in-
GENESEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 383
dividual efforts and ambition. He has devoted himself chiefly to farming, and is at present the owner of about one hundred and twenty acres of well improved and excellently farmed land. On March 14, 1884, he was married in Grand Blanc township, to Miss Carrie E. Estes, who was born in Burton township, being the daughter of Peter D. and Lovina ( Merrill) Estes, promi- nent residents of that locality, and people who have always been identified with the progressive elements of the community.
Mr. and Mrs. Myers have become the parents of four children, viz. : Raymon E., Glenn H., Fern A. and Ruth E. They have taken great pride in their home life, and have endeavored to surround their children with wholesome and uplighting influences.
Mr. Myers has held the office of supervisor for two years, and has dis- charged his duties in a most commendable fashion, serving his second term. For one term he was made justice of the peace and also served two terms as township treasurer. He is a man that goes actively into the county and town- ship affairs and is always ready with an intelligent view on questions relating to the general welfare of the public .. His activities have always been identi- fied with the Republican party, but he believes first of all in giving the peo- ple a "square deal."
Mr. and Mrs. Myers are invaluable members of the Methodist church, in which Mr. Myers has held such offices as that of trustee, steward and Sunday school superintendent. He is always ready to help out both by counsel and by work, never shirking a duty that devolves upon him. He is also a member of the Burton Center Grange, No. 1072, and the Gleaners Arbor, No. 270.
ROBERT P. AITKEN.
Robert P. Aitken was born in 1819 in Montgomery (now Fulton) county, state of New York, of Scotch descent, his mother's maiden name being Chalmers, and the grandmother's on the mother's side being Stewart, claim- ing kinship to "Royal Charlie" of Scotland; but, as Mr. Aitken was a staunch Republican, he claimed no preferment on that account.
At the age of seventeen he went to the city of New York and served as clerk six years, having by strict economy saved a few hundred dollars. See- ing little chance for a young man having a small capital to commence in busi- ness in a large city he decided to try his fortunes in the west. Accordingly, in the autumn of 1842 he started for the then small town of Flint, in the state of Michigan, taking with him a small stock of merchandise. Owing to the extreme scarcity of money he exchanged a portion of his goods for eighty acres of wild land on section 8 in the town of Flint, and forthwith went to work improving it. On the 12th of March following he was married to Miss Sarah J. Johnstone, who, with her father's family, had preceded him from New York city only a few months. Miss Johnstone was born in the ciyt of New York in the year 1823, and up to this time had never spent much time in the country ; but a board shanty was speedily erected on this land of their own, and together they commenced under new auspices, the journey of life. Many privations had to be endured, but their farm increased to two hun- dred and twenty acres, practically all being improved. Any success or improvement may be set down as the result of constant labor. They raised a family of ten children-five sons and five daughters-of whom two sons and four daughters only now survive.
GENESEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 385
Besides having improved a large farm, mainly by his own hands, Mr. Aitken served his township as supervisor thirty-one years, twenty-one years consecutively, and his district in the state legislature four years.
He was recognized as authority by his neighbors for miles around, drew their wills, their deeds, their mortgages and other quasi legal papers, and was their recognized authority and confidential advisor in matters of private concern.
He received in his youth a good common school education, which was improved upon while clerking in the city of New York, and by constant read- ing and active interest in public affairs he became in middle life not only one of the best scholars, but one of the best informed men in Genesee county. He was fond of music, as was Mrs. Aitken. They owned the first musical instrument that was owned in the township of Flint-a melodion. He took much interest in his immediate social relations among the farmers of his township, instituted and taught a singing and spelling school during several winters in the district schoolhouse.
Mr. and Mrs. Aitken were members of St. Paul's Episcopal church in the city of Flint, and their marriage was the first marriage solemnized in St. Paul's parish. They not only taught their children, but by precept and example taught the doctrine that to do right because it was right to do it, was the best evidence of true religion, and that cleanliness in character and habit was next to godliness.
Mrs. Aitken died in 1886, aged sixty-three years, on the farm where forty years before she had taken up life's marital relations, and where her children had been born, and in 1905 Robert P. Aitken died on the same farm where, sixty-three years before, he had cleared away the brush to erect the board shanty for himself and bride. The evolution from the board shanty to the beautiful farm home is evidenced by the picture of the house that was constructed on that farm in 1865, and that farm that was, when first visited by Robert P. Aitken, a wilderness, is now a beautful and fertile farm with practically every acre under the highest state of cultivation with beautiful buildings kept up and maintained by the children of the man and woman whose courage and industry were emblematical of the early pioneers.
Robert P. Aitken lived an active life. He did active service in public and private walks. From the time he left the stony hills of Montgomery county in New York until his death, a period of nearly seventy years, his life was
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an unceasing industrious effort, whether laboring for himself and his family, his neighbors or for the public, industry and perseverance characterized his conduct, and if any man has ever lived who could claim the credit of having caused two blades of grass to grow where but one grew before, Robert P. Aitken was the man.
D. G. COLWELL.
FRANK E. HALL.
LEONARD FREEMAN.
CHARLES BAKER.
GEORGE R. HOWE.
CHARLES G. HUGHES.
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GENESEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
MICHIGAN SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF.
The educational achievements of the state of Michigan have been the pride of its citizens for many years and the object of admiration on the part of her sister states throughout the union. Her educational system is among the best, and many of her state institutions are unexcelled anywhere. Among these is the Michigan state school for the deaf, located at Flint. The citizens of Genesee county may well feel proud over having in their midst a school of such high character. Its success and standing has largely been brought about by its able superintendent, Mr. Francis D. Clark, and the efficient corps of instructors that he has gathered into his organization. For the benefit of our readers and with the hope of encouraging the already generous appre- ciation of the work of the school, we give here copious extracts and adapta- tions from the twenty-seventh biennial report of the board of trustees for the years 1905 and 1906:
BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS.
The Michigan school for the deaf is situated in the fourth ward of the city of Flint, West Court street leading directly up to the principal entrance. The situation, on the highest part of a ridge of land, washed on three sides by rapid streams, furnishes most excellent drainage, while the grounds of the school, by a wise forethought in retaining the original growth of hardwood trees, and by judicious expenditures from time to time, are very beautiful.
The state owns here two hundred and sixty-eight acres; about thirty ·acres are covered by the buildings, or used as lawns, playgrounds, etc. The remainder is devoted to the maintenance of a large herd of choice cattle, whose abundant milk supplies all the needs of the school.
The buildings consist of a front building and running back from it three wings, which are connected at the rear, and joined to the old school building by corridors. This school building is the oldest one here. Possibly when first built it was admirably planned to accommodate both the deaf and the blind, but the removal of the blind to Lansing and the piling of other buildings around it have combined to change the uses for which it was in- tended, and to render some of its rooms very dark and entirely unfit for school- rooms, but it is well ventilated and warmed and makes an admirable dormi- tory, for which it is now used exclusively, except three or four workrooms in
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the basement, where clothing is sorted and mended as it comes from the laundry.
The front building, with the state coat of arms high in the air, and a great carved wooden eagle over all, is a fair sample of the best architecture of fifty years ago. Standing in front of it, all that part of the main buildings to your right is devoted to the boys, and on the left to the girls. The basement of this building is taken up mostly by the heating apparatus, bathrooms and the parlor for the domestics. This building has three floors and furnishes space for office rooms, dormitory and hospital, while the wings are used for bath and study rooms.
What is known as the "new building," because it was built many years after the main building, is connected by a two-story covered corridor with the east wing. In its basement, which is entirely above ground, light, airy and well heated and ventilated, are the pupils' dining room, kitchen, store- rooms, etc. This dining room will seat five hundred and fifty pupils without undue crowding. It opens directly off the large kitchen, which is well sup- plied with the appliances usually found in large hotel kitchens. The floor above is occupied by the girls' reading room, officers' dining room, matron's parlor, and bedrooms for officers and domestics. The second floor is occupied as a girls' dormitory.
Running back from the rear building is a long one-story extension. In it we come first to the laundry. Two large rooms are taken up by the mangle, dry room, and ironing tables. Then comes the tin shop, and beyond that the laundry proper, containing two of the largest sized washers, a centrifugal wringer, stationary tubs, soap vat and clothes craters. Next to this is the pump room, where a huge steam pump pumps the water needed in our upper stories, and stands ready in case of fire to drive a 'torrent through the system of standpipes with which the buildings are supplied. Back of the pump room is the boiler house. This is one of the most expensive places in the whole school, the two three-hundred-horse-power water tube boilers, requiring nearly three thousand tons of coal a year to keep our buildings warm, and four men to look after them.
Connected with the pump room is the engine room. This is finished with a beautiful inlaid wainscoting in black walnut and maple, the construction of which furnished many hours of excellent practice for the young cabinet- makers. Two direct connected McEwen engines and dynamos, built by the
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Ridgway Engine and Dynamo Company, generate the electricity that lights all our buildings, and drives the motors at different places about the buildings where power is needed.
On the grounds, a couple of hundred feet from the front door, stands the superintendent's cottage. The name "cottage" has attached itself to this building probably because it is smaller than the main building. It is really a commodious ten-room residence, and the handsomest superintendent's home in America. It stands as a monument of what deaf boys, when properly instructed, can do with tools, for the woodwork of the building and most of the furniture was made by the boys of the cabinet shop. It has thus become a standing example of the degree of excellence that we expect from them, and many a young man who has in a fit of discouragement complained that Mr. Barton, the instructor in cabinet-making, was a little too strict in requiring a perfect fit in a joint, or flawless finish on a surface, has been brought to a realizing sense of the necessity of such exactness, and the possibility of his attaining to it by a visit to the "cottage."
Some eight hundred feet. east of the superintendent's cottage, but con- nected with all the other buildings by cement walks, is Brown hall, our school building. Its architecture is entirely different from that of the other buildings. It is built of dark red pressed brick, trimmed with red sandstone, and con- tains forty-three schoolrooms, an assembly room, gymnasium, reception room, office, etc. The building covers two hundred and eighteen feet from east to west, and one hundred and thirty feet from north to south.
Entering the end nearest the main building, under a massive portecochere, the stairs on the left lead to the basement, while a step or two on the right takes one into the main hall on the first floor. In the west wing of the base- ment, on one side, is a large swimming pool for the boys, and on the other their lavatory. These occupy the whole wing. The east wing is given up to the same conveniences for the girls. All of the central part of the basement is one large hall. Visitors on entering this often wonder at the richness and great variety of its decoration. This room is the home of the class in house decoration. Its walls have received their first attempts at decoration, which have been painted over with more pretentious designs, as their skill increased, and these again by the best efforts of the most skillful-their masterworks be- fore graduating. All of the designs that appear on the walls and ceilings above were first worked out on paper here.
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Back of this is the engine room and fan. Here a twenty-five horse- power engine drives a huge fan, which forces thirty-five thousand cubic feet of air each minute into the building, changing the air in every schoolroom once in every ten minutes.
Part of this air passes through a system of steam coils, containing four miles of steam pipe, and is heated to about 130 degrees ; part passes under these coils, and is only heated to about 60 degrees. Self-acting thermostats and dampers regulate the proportion of this hot and cold air supplied to each room according to the temperature in that room. In this way the amount of air sent to each room is always the same, but its temperature constantly changes.
Back of the engine room is the boiler house, where the steam for run- ning the engine and heating the coils and the water in the swimming tanks is generated. All the furniture used in this building, except the chairs, was made in our own cabinet shop.
CABINET MAKING.
The cabinet shop occupies the entire ground floor and part of the second floor in the old shop building. On the ground floor are fourteen work benches, supplied with all the tools that a cabinet-maker ordinarily uses, and leaving abundant space between them for large articles, with room around them for those who are at work on them. There are also those machine tools which are most frequently met with in wood-working establishments, such as buzz- saws, jig-saws, planers, sharpers, turning lathes, veneer presses and a carving machine, which was built by the instructor. A small room at one side con- tains the drafting table and stores of various kinds; upstairs are the finishing room and the upholstering room. In the first of these boys learn how to put on the "finish" which all fine work requires, and which can only come from good varnish, skillfully applied, and long and patiently rubbed down.
Upholstering is a trade by itself. We do not pretend to teach it ex- haustively, but though it is not cabinet-making, it is very convenient for a cabinet-maker to know something of it-enough to finish an arm chair, or a sofa, and those of our boys who finish the course in the cabinet shop know this, while those who have a taste for this work leave us really good ordinary workmen.
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We are in the habit of speaking of all a boy learns in this shop as "cabinet- making," and call it all one trade. If a boy stays his full time there, how- ever, he will be proficient in all of the following, which are given in the "American Annals of the Deaf" as "industries taught"-cabinet-making, car- pentry, chair-making, glazing, painting, wood-carving, wood-turning-be- sides having some knowledge of forging and tempering small tools and up- holstering. Many of them, too, on graduating, are fairly good at designing furniture.
SHOEMAKING DEPARTMENT.
1
The remainder of the old shop building is occupied by the shoeshop. Some years ago we seriously thought of abandoning this trade. Not that it was not one than paid the school, but because we thought it did not prepare our boys so that they could leave school feeling that they had a trade by which they could earn a living. The truth is that shoemaking has changed. Instead of being one trade, it has split up into several factory avocations, for nearly all shoes are now made in factories, and though many still think that a "hand-sewed" shoe is perfection, good machine sewing is both better and prettier. All that is left for the old shoemaker is a few old-fashioned custo- mers, who still insist on having shoes made to order, a few people with mis- shapen feet who can not wear ready-made shoes, and repairs to ready-made shoes. Even the repairer's trade has greatly changed. He must turn out a neat-looking job and will find his health and wealth both improved by using some of the factory appliances. The foreman of a factory no longer looks for shoemakers. He employs hands on uppers, buttonhole makers, lasters, hands for various machines, finishers, cutters, etc.
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