USA > Michigan > Genesee County > History of Genesee County, Michigan, Her People, Industries and Institutions, Volume II > Part 10
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EDWIN B. LINABURY.
Edwin B. Linabury, secretary of the Board of Commerce at Flint, is a native son of Michigan, born in the city of Pontiac, April 20, 1875, son of Henry M. and Louisa (Going) Linabury, both born in that same city and the former of whom is still living there.
Henry M. Linabury is the eldest of the five children born to Henry C. and Frances ( Mattison) Linabury, who were early residents of Pontiac, the other children of that family having been Albert, Carrie, Myra and Lena. Henry C. Linabury was one of the early merchants in Pontiac and also was for some years a commercial traveler. He lived to be well advanced in years, as did his wife. Henry M. Linabury was reared to commercial pur- suits and for many years was the proprietor of a drug store at Pontiac, later becoming identified with the vehicle industry. His wife died in 1908, she then being sixty-three years of age. and he is still living at Pontiac. He is a member of the Methodist church, as was his wife. They were the par- ents of four children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the second in order of birth, the others being as follow: Benjamin, who died when seven
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years of age : John E., of Bristol, Connecticut, and Carrie L., who is at home with her father. The mother of these children was the daughter and only child of Benjamin and Matilda (Carter ) Going, natives of Massachusetts and early settlers in Pontiac, where for years Benjamin Going was engaged in the hardware business and where he died, when past sixty years of age. His widow survived him many years, she being above ninety years of age at the time of her death. Benjamin Going had been previously married and by his first marriage had a daughter, Helen.
Following his graduation from the Pontiac high school in 1894, Edwin B. Linabury became identified with the vehicle business controlled by his father and for ten years acted as purchasing agent for that concern. He then went with another concern in that city and was connected with it, in the capacity of purchasing agent, until 1909, when he went to Rockford. Illinois, and was for some time purchasing agent for a concern there. He then returned to Pontiac and there was engaged in the cost and purchasing department of the Oakland Motor Car Company until January 1, 1912, when he entered upon the office of secretary of the Board of Commerce in his home town and was thus engaged until August 21, 1915. In the meantime his work in that capacity had attracted wide attention and on the date last mentioned he went to New York City to accept a position in the commercial organization department of the American City Bureau, but did not remain there long, for he presently was called back to Michigan and on February 14, 1916, entered upon his present duties as secretary of the Board of Com- inerce at Flint, at the same time moving to that city, where he now resides.
On April 19, 1899, Edwin D. Linabury was united in marriage to Eva M. Kelly, who was born at Pontiac, this state, August 29, 1875. She is the daughter of James and Mary ( Wilkinson) Kelly, the former a native of Scotland and the latter of England, who had come to Michigan with their respective parents many years ago and were married in this state. James Kelly died at his home in Pontiac some years ago, and his widow is still living there. They were the parents of six children, of whom Mrs. Lina- bury was the fourth in order of birth, the others being James (deceased). Mary, William D., Grace and Maude (deceased): To Mr. and Mrs. Lina- bury two sons have been born, Albert B. and Edwin B. Mr. and Mrs. Linabury are members of the Presbyterian church. Politically, he is inde- pendent. Fraternally, he is a member of the Knights of Pythias and of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.
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MARSHALL M. FRISBIE.
Marshall M. Frisbie, one of the best-known of the younger members of the bar at Flint, who has been practicing law in that city since 1907, with offices in the Dryden building, is a native son of Genesee county and has lived here all his life. He was born on a farm in Genesee township, October 14, 1883, son of Nathaniel H. and Mary J. (Bragg) Frisbie, the former a native of this state and the latter of New Hampshire, who were the parents of three children, of whom the subject of this sketch, the last-born, is now the only survivor; Ernest, the first-born having died in infancy, and Luna C., who married Abram L. Gay, also being now deceased.
Nathaniel H. Frisbie was born in Oakland county, this state, son of Philip and Calista ( Farman) Frisbie, natives of New York state and early settlers in Oakland county, where their last days were spent. Philip Frisbie was an energetic pioneer, held various minor office, was justice of the peace for some years and served a term in the Michigan state Legislature. He died at the age of forty-nine years and his widow lived to be eighty. They were the parents of nine children, William, Atwell, Spencer, James, Marcus B., Madison, Nathaniel. George and Carrie. In his youth Nathaniel Frisbie left the home farm in Oakland county and went to New Hampshire, where he married Mary J. Bragg, daughter of Alba M. and Susan (Allen) Bragg, the former a native of Vermont and the latter of New Hampshire, who for years were influential residents of the neighborhood of Alstead, in the latter state. Alba M. Bragg was a cousin of General Bragg, of Civil War fame. He and his wife were the parents of seven children, Susanne, Mary, Emily, Alma, Nellie, Marshall and Benjamin, the latter of whom died when a small boy. Alma Bragg came to Genesee county and married John Chesnut, now deputy sheriff of this county. Not long after his marriage Nathaniel H. Frisbie returned to Michigan and bought a farm in Tuscola county, where he made his home for several years, at the end of which time he came to this county, about 1881, and bought an eighty-acre farm in Genesee township, later moving to Fenton township and thence to the town of Fenton, but presently returned to his farm, where he lived until 1897, in which year he moved to Flint, where he engaged in the real estate business and where he spent the rest of his life, his death occurring on March 29, 1913, he then being sixty-three years and ten months of age. His widow, who was born on June 15, 1850, still survives him. She is a Baptist, as was her husband. He was a member of the Knights of the Maccabees.
Marshall M. Frisbie.was fourteen years of age when his parents moved
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to Flint and he was graduated from the high school in that city in 1903. He then entered the University of Michigan and was graduated from the law department of that institution in 1907. On June 15 of that same year he was admitted to the bar and ever since has been engaged in the practice of his profession at Flint. Mr. Frisbie is a Republican and is serving his third term as court commissioner. He and his wife are members of the Court Street Methodist Episcopal church and he is a Royal Arch Mason and a Knight Templar, as well as a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, chaplain of Friendship lodge of the latter order.
On August 1I, 1909, Marshall M. Frisbie was united in marriage to Minnie E. Baldwin, who was born in Mundy township, this county, Decem- ber 21, 1885, daughter of Morgan G. and Sarah P. (Ormiston) Baldwin, both natives of Michigan, the former born in this county and the latter in Wayne county, who are now making their home in Flint. They had two children, Mrs. Frisbie having had a brother, Howard, who was accidentally killed by a fall from a horse when he was eleven years old. Mrs. Frisbie's paternal grandparents, Morgan and Eunice (Dart) Baldwin, had five chil- dren, Matthew, Morgan, Eunice, Susan and a son who died in youth. Grandfather Ormiston also had five children, Samuel, John, Sarah, Mrs. Bel- ford and Mrs. Melvina O. Simmons. To Mr. and Mrs. Frisbie three chil- dren have been horn, Howard A., Luna P. and Crystal M.
FENTON REUBEN MCCREERY.
Fenton R. McCreery, of Flint, Michigan, for many years, actively con- nected with the United States consular and diplomatic service, is a native son of Flint, his birth having occurred there on April 21, 1866. He is a son of Col. William Barker and Ada B. (Fenton) McCreery, the former of whom was born at Mt. Morris, New York, and the latter at Fenton, this county, and who for years were numbered among the prominent and influen- tial residents of Flint, where their last days were spent. They were the par- ents of four children, of whom Fenton R. was the first born, the others being Adelaide Fenton, who became the wife of Jerome H. Remick, and is now living in Detroit: Katharine, the wife of Matthew Davison, Jr., of Flint, and Howard, who died in infancy.
Col. William B. McCreery, who died at his home in Flint in 1896, had been a resident of this county since he was two years old and had been a potent factor in the development of this region. He was the son of Reuben and Susan (Barker) McCreery, both natives of the state of New York, the
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former born in 1808, and the latter, a daughter of a veteran of the War of 1812, born at South Wales, near the city of Buffalo, where she grew to woma hood and where she was married. In 1838 Reuben McCreery and his family came to Michigan and settled in Genesee township, this county, thus being numbered among the earliest pioneers of this part of the state. Reuben McCreery homesteaded a farm and also started a saw-mill in the new country, being very active and influential in the development of the community in the early days. He was elected sheriff of Genesee county and then moved to Flint, where he ever afterward made his home, though continuing his saw-mill and hmmmbering operations. He and his wife were among the charter members of St. Paul's Episcopal church at Flint and he was one of the first vestrymen of that church, although he afterward became identified with the Presbyterian church. He and his wife were the parents of four children, William B., Charles H., George B., and Julia, who became the wife of Charles S. Draper.
As noted above, William B. McCreery was but two years old when his parents came to this county, and he grew to manhood in Flint. After com- pleting the course in Doctor Nutting's Academy near Ann Arbor, he entered upon the study of law at Flint, where he was admitted to the bar, and was engaged in the practice of his profession when the Civil War broke out. He enlisted for service in the Union army in Company F, Second Regiment, Michigan Volunteer Infantry, and went to the front as a sergeant of that company, gradually gaining promotion until he became colonel of the Twenty-first Regiment, Michigan Volunteer Infantry. He was six times wounded and carried two bullets in his body the remainder of his life. At the battle of Chickamauga he was wounded and captured by the enemy and taken to Libby prison, whence he made his escape through the historic tunnel, he being the second man out. After suffering many privations, he finally rejoined his regiment and commanded the Engineer Brigade, Army of the Cumberland, until early in 1864, when he returned home and there was mar- ried to Ada B. Fenton, daughter of Col. William M. and Adelaide ( Bird- sall) Fenton, who had come to Michigan from New York, in 1836, and settled in the southern part of this county at a point where the town of Fenton, named in their honor, afterward grew up.
Col. William M. Fenton was for years one of the leading lawyers of the state of Michigan, In 1840 he was elected to represent this district in the state Senate and in 1848 was elected lieutenant-governor, being re-elected in 1850. He was appointed register of the land office at Flint by President Pierce and in 1856 he and his family visited Europe. In 1858 he was
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elected mayor of Flint and was serving in that capacity when the Civil War broke out. He wired Governor Biair to draw on him for five thousand dollars to equip the first company of troops called into service. Early in 1861 he was made major of the Seventh Regiment, Michigan Volunteer Infantry, but before mustering he was commissioned by Governor Blair as colonel of the Eighth Michigan, with which he went to the front and which he commanded in some of the hardest-fought battles of the war. Colonel Fenton was the Democratic candidate for governor in the campaign in which Governor Crapo was elected. Upon the organization of Flint as a city he was elected chief of the fire department and effected the organization of that department. He presented to the city the lot on which the city hall now stands. He was one of the founders of the Citizens National Bank of Flint and was its president. The Fenton block, which he erected, is one of the standing monuments to his memory in Flint. Colonel Fenton died in 1871 and his funeral is said to have been the most largely attended of any funeral ever held in this part of the state. He and his wife were the parents of four children, those besides Mrs. MeCreery being as follow : Henry, deceased : J. Brush Fenton, of Flint, and Sarah R., who is deceased.
. Upon the completion of his military service Col. William B. McCreery returned to Flint and engaged in the general merchandise business as a mem- ber of the firm of Judd & McCreery, which occupied the corner room in the Fenton block. In 1865 he was elected mayor of the city of Flint, serv- ing a term of two years. He later was appointed collector of internal revenue, an office which he held for several years, after which he was elected state treasurer, serving in this capacity until 1877. In the latter year he became cashier of the Citizens National Bank. For many years he was one of the active members of the state board of agriculture. In earlier days he was a lumberman in Flint, with a planing-mill near the Pere Marquette depot. He was one of the builders of the Chicago & Northeastern railroad, between Flint and Port Huron, now a part of the Grand Trunk system, and in numerous other ways took a prominent and active part in promoting the city's interests. In 1890 Colonel McCreery was appointed United States consul to Valparaiso, Chile, and was serving there in that capacity during the time of the celebrated "Baltimore affair." He remained in Chile two years, his term of service covering the period of the Chilean revolution. His death occurred at his home in Flint in 1896, at the age of sixty years. He had been a vestryman of St. Paul's Episcopal church for many years. Colonel McCreery was twice married. His first wife, Mrs. Ada B. (Fenton) MeCreery, died on February 25, 1884, and he afterward married Genevieve
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Decker, daughter of Grant Decker, who was the first mayor of Flint. Mrs. Genevieve McCreery survived her husband about three years, her death occurring in 1899.
Fenton R. McCreery was reared at Flint and upon the completion of the course in the public schools of that city entered the Michigan Military Academy at Orchard Lake, and afterwards entered the University of Mich- igan, in the class of 1888. On account of failing health, he then went to New Mexico, where he spent some time in a mining district, seventy miles from a railroad. While there he acquired a knowledge of the Spanish language, which afterwards became valuable to him in the diplomatic service.
When his father was sent as consul to Valparaiso in 1890, Fenton McCreery accompanied him and served as clerk in the consulate there, later being appointed by President Harrison as secretary of the United States legation at Santigao, Chile. Part of the time he was acting minister (charge d'affaires ) during the Balmaceda administration, the revolution of 1891 and the difficulties with the United States growing out of the "Balti- more" affair. In 1897 he was appointed by President Mckinley as secre- tary of the embassy at Mexico and served there for ten years, during three years of which time he was acting ambassador of the United States govern- ment. In 1907 he was appointed by President Roosevelt minister resident and consul general to the Dominican republic and was stationed at Santa Domingo when the government of the United States took over the collec- tion of the customs of that revolution-ridden government. Upon his return to the United States he received the personal congratulations of the Presi- dent for his service in that connection. In 1909 Mr. McCreery was appointed by President Taft envoy extraordinary and minister plenipoten- tiary to Honduras and served in that capacity during a time of revolution in that republic, several revolutions occurring during his term of service, the last one of which he was instrumental in composing, for which service he received a vote of thanks from both contending parties. In 1911 Mr. McCreery resigned from the diplomatic service, after nearly twenty years of continnous work in that line, and returned to his home in Flint, where he has since given his attention chiefly to his farming interests, being the owner of a fine farm in Mt. Morris township. Upon retiring from the diplomatic service Mr. McCreery ranked third in the list and is recognized as an expert in matters affecting this nation's foreign affairs. In 1912 he was employed in an advisory capacity by the committee on foreign relations of the United States Senate, which held sessions in Washington, New Orleans, Louisiana.
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El Paso. Texas, and Los Angeles, California, then investigating Mexican affairs.
In 1913 Mr. McCreery traveled in Greece, Egypt, Palestine, Turkey and the Balkan states. In addition to being a master of the Spanish lan- guage, Mr. McCreery also speaks French, the language of diplomacy. He has visited all the countries in this hemisphere and has made five trips to Europe. Since his return home Mr. McCreery has often been called to the lecture platform and his addresses on subjects relating to the Latin-American republics are considered authority on the politics and history of these coun- tries and the relations of the United States to them. He was honorary vice- chairman-at-large of the American peace centenary committee, which was appointed to organize celebrations, in both America and England, to cele- brate the one hundredth anniversary of the peace treaty between England and America. Mr. McCreery is a Republican in politics and a member of St. Paul's Episcopal church at Flint.
GEORGE ANDREWS.
In the memorial annals of Genesee county, and particularly of the city of Flint, there are few names held in better remembrance than that of the late George Andrews, for many years one of the best known and most active building contractors in that city, who died at his home there on December 27, 1895. His widow, one of the real pioneers of Genesee county, still sur- vives, living in the old Andrews home at No. 725 Harrison street, where she has made her home for more than sixty-five years. She arrived in Flint in 1838, the year after Michigan was admitted to statehood, having come to this state with her parents, the journey having been made by canal and lake boats to Ohio, part of the journey from Connecticut being made in a covered wagon. She has thus been a witness to the whole of the won- deriul development of Flint from its village days, with the exception of a period of ten years after her father's death.
George Andrews was born in Silver Creek, New York, June 1, 1827, son of Bushnell and Electa ( Montgomery) Andrews, natives of that state, and was the eldest of the three sons born to that parentage, the others being a son, who died in infancy, and Marcus Bushnell Andrews, the father, was a member of the state militia in New York, and was known by the title of Captain. The mother of the sons above mentioned died in New York and
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Captain Andrews married Nancy Mason, to which second union four chil- dren were born, John, Martin, Lora and one who died in youth. At an early day in the settlement of Michigan, Captain Andrews came with his second wife and his children to this state, settling at Detroit, but presently moved to Genesee county, settling on a farm about seven miles north of Flint, where he died some years later at the age of forty-four years. On that pioneer farm George Andrews grew to manhood and then went to Flint, where he spent the rest of his life. Upon locating at Flint Mr. Andrews worked for a time as an iron finisher in a machine shop and then took up the carpenter's trade, becoming a very proficient builder, and was thus engaged the rest of his life. He married when twenty-three years of age and in the spring following built a house for himself; there he made his permanent home, and in that house his widow continues to make her home. Though reared in the Episcopal church, Mr. Andrews and his wife became members of the Congregational church at Flint, and for many years were among the leaders in that congregation, Mr. Andrews long hav- ing served as one of the deacons of the church. He took an earnest interest in music and for some time was a member of the Flint cornet band. Fra- ternally, he was affiliated with both the Masons and the Odd Fellows and took a warm interest in the affairs of both of these organizations. As noted above, Mr. Andrews died at his home in Flint on December 27, 1895, he then being sixty-nine years of age, and he left a widow and four daugh- ters to mourn his passing.
On Christmas day, 1850, being the twentieth anniversary of the birth of the bride, George Andrews was united in marriage at Flint to Saralı S. Taylor, who was born in Euclid county, Ohio, December 25, 1830. She was the daughter of Hiram and Prudence Patience ( Fuller) Taylor, natives of the state of Connecticut, who came to Michigan in 1838 and settled in Flint, where Hiram Taylor died that same year. His widow continued to make her home in Flint, except a few years spent in Connecticut, and spent her last days there, living to the great age of ninety years and ten months. Hiram Taylor and wife were the parents of seven children, four sons and three daughters, Susan T., Mary E., Edward, Jonathan, Samuel, Sarah S., Nathaniel J. and Hiram Thomas. Of these children all are now deceased save Mrs. Andrews and Hiram T. Taylor. Nathaniel J. Taylor, who was an honored veteran of the Civil War, died in 1914.
To George and Sarah S. (Taylor) Andrews six children were born, one son and five daughters, as follow: Lanra Electa, who died in the twelfth year of her age; Mary S., who makes her home with her mother
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in Flint, and who for years has been a teacher in the public schools of her home city; she was for four years connected with the state department of public instruction in the capitol at Lansing and for four years was con- nected with the state auditor's office; George Bushnell, who died in infancy; Sarah Eva, who is now a teacher in the kindergarten and first grade depart- ments of the state school for the blind at Lansing; Bertha Electa, who was graduated from the art department of Albion College and taught art for a time and for four years was house secretary of the Young Women's Christian Association at Lansing, is now living on a farm east of that city, and Georgia Ella, who is teaching in Brown Hall, state of the school for the deaf. at Flint.
ROY E. BROWNELL.
Roy E. Brownell, attorney-at-law, of Flint, this county, with offices in the Flint P. Smith building, that city, is a native son of Michigan, born on a farm in Metamora township, in the neighboring county of Lapeer, September 18, 1883. He is the son of Edmund and Lexy (Copeman) Brownell, both natives of this state and the parents of two children, the subject of this biographical review having a sister, Carrie, wife of Albert A. Gibson, of Hadley township, Lapeer county.
Edmund Brownell was born on a homestead farm in Metamora town- ship, Lapeer county, son of Ellery and Emily (Dowd) Brownell, natives of . New York state, who were among the early settlers of Lapeer county, this state. Ellery Brownell homesteaded a farm in that county and became a large farmer and stockman. He was a man of much influence in his com- munity and represented that district in the Michigan House of Representa- tives in the sessions of 1867-69. Both he and his wife lived to ripe ok ages and spent their last days on their homestead place. They were the parents of five children, of whom Edmund Brownell was the youngest, the others being Ellery, Enos, Emily, Ellen and one who died in early youth. Edmund Brownell was reared on the paternal farm and after his marriage began farming on his own account and became very successful. now living retired at Lapeer. He early served his township as highway commissioner, later as supervisor, and was a member of the state Legislature as a repre- sentative in the House from Lapeer county, during the sessions of 1897 and 1899. Mr. Brownell is vice-president of the First National and State Sav- ings Bank of Lapeer. He is a Mason and a Republican and was for some
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