USA > Michigan > Genesee County > History of Genesee County, Michigan, Her People, Industries and Institutions, Volume II > Part 11
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GENESEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
time a leader of that party in his home county. His wife died on April 6. 1915, at the age of sixty years. She was the daughter of Baldwin and Elizabeth (Smith) Copeman, natives of Canada and early settlers at Thomas, this state, where both lived to old age. They were the parents of ten children, of whom Mrs. Brownell was the ninth in order of birth. the others being Wesley, Levi, Sidney, Henry, Nelson, Mrs. Roxey Deming, Mrs. Elizabeth Axford, Martha, wife of Henry Howell, and Mrs. Collins, the latter of whom died at Pontiac.
Roy E. Brownell was reared on the parental farm in Lapeer county and was graduated from the Lapeer high school in 1900. In that same year he entered the literary department of the State University at Ann Arbor and in 1906 was graduated from the law department of that insti- tution. In April, 1907, he was admitted to the bar and engaged in practice at Fenton, this county; in March, 1913, he moved to Flint, where he opened a law office, and has ever since been practicing his profession in that city. Mr. Brownell is a Republican and has taken an active interest in political affairs ever since coming to this county. For one term he was president of the Genesee County Republican Club: was supervisor of the federal census for the sixth Michigan district in 1910, by appointment of President Taft, and was secretary of the Taft campaign committee for Michigan in 1912.
Mr. Brownell is a member of the Flint Board of Commerce and of the Country Club. He is a Royal Arch Mason and a Knight Templar, an Odd Fellow and an Elk.
WILLIAM C. STEWART.
William C. Stewart, junior member of the law firm of Carton, Bray & Stewart, No. 407 Dryden building, Flint, was born in that city and has lived there all his life. He was born on March 10, 1876, son of Capt. Damon and Frances M. (McQuigg) Stewart, the former a native of Genesee county. born on a pioneer farm on the present site of the city of Flint, and the latter of the state of New York. They were the parents of six children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the fourth in order of birth, the others being as follow: Hobart A., deceased; Mabel, a kindergarten teacher in Flint : Lucy, also of Flint; Bertha, wife of Dr. Frederick D. Stricker, of Grants Pass, Oregon, and Frances E., a teacher of domestic science in the schools of Chicago. Captain Stewart, an honored veteran of the Civil War, for
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years one of the leading merchants of Flint and later a successful farmer on his fine place on the outskirts of that city, died on December 5, 1905, at the age of seventy-four years, and his widow, who still survives him, is now living in Flint, making her home at No. 517 Detroit street. In a memorial sketch relating to the late Captain Stewart, presented elsewhere in this volume, there is set out in detail a history of this pioneer family in Genesee county, to which the reader is respectfully referred in this connection for further particulars regarding the genealogy of the subject of this sketch.
Upon completing the course in the public schools at Flint, William C. Stewart entered the Michigan Agricultural College and after a three-year course there took up the study of law, pursuing the same under the preceptor- ship of Judge Durand, Hon. John J. Carton and Everett L. Bray, and was admitted to the bar on April 15, 1904. After his admission to practice, Mr. Stewart remained in the office with his preceptors and in 1912 was admitted to the firm, the firm name now being Carton. Bray & Stewart. Mr. Stewart is a Republican in his political faith and, fraternally. is affiliated with the Masons and the Elks, being a member of Genesee Lodge No. 174, Free and .Accepted Masons; of Washington Chapter No. 15, Royal Arch Masons, and of Flint Lodge No. 222, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.
On August 18, 1909, William C. Stewart was united in marriage to Grace E. Temby, who was born at Lapeer, this state, daughter of Nicholas and Cora (Speas) Temby, now residents of Flint, and to this union has been born one child, a son, Robert T. Nicholas Temby was born in Cornwall. England, but has been a resident of the United States for many years. Cora ( Speas) Temby was born in Syracuse, New York. He and his wife are the parents of three' children, Mrs. Stewart having two brothers, Howard and Arthur Temby.
HON. JOHN F. CARTWRIGHT.
The Hon. John F. Cartwright, former representative in the Legislature from this distriet, an honored veteran of the Civil War, retired farmer and former grain dealer and banker at Davison, and for many years one of the most active and influential residents of that flourishing village, is a native son of Genesee comty and, with the exception of a couple of years spent in Kansas back in the seventies, has lived here all his life. He was born on a pioneer farm in Davison township. December 19. 1846, son of Calvin and Mary C. (Fritz) Cartwright, natives of the state of New York and prom-
MR. AND MRS. JOHN F. CARTWRIGHT.
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inent residents of Genesee county, who for many years exerted a wholesome influence upon the life of the community in which the active years of their lives were spent.
Calvin Cartwright was born in Genesee county, New York, February 8, 1816, and in his boyhood went to Canada, where he lived with a brother until he was twenty years old, when, in 1836, he came to Michigan and settled in Genesee county, where he spent the rest of his life. Upon coming here he located in Grand Blanc township, where he married Mary C. Fritz, who was born in Monroe county, New York, October 5, 1822. She was about ten years old when she came to this county with her parents, John P. and Melissa (Barger) Fritz, who settled on the Cheney farm in the Perry neighborhood in Grand Blanc, where they lived until late in life, when they moved to Whigville, where their last days were spent. When the Fritz family settled in Grand Blanc the land for miles about was covered with a practically unbroken forest and the nearest neighbor to the family was three miles distant. Before his marriage Calvin Cartwright had bought a tract of land in Davison township and in 1842 he established his home on that tract and proceeded to clear the same and bring it under cultivation, he and his wife becoming early recognized as among the leading settlers of that community. They were members of the Baptist church and took a prom- inent part in all neighborhood good works. In civic affairs Calvin Cart- wright also took an active part and at one time and another held every town- ship office, serving for eleven years as supervisor. During the Civil War period he was an enthusiastic Union man and did much locally to promote the cause of the Union. His death occurred on January 15, 1891, and his widow survived hin many years, her death occurring on August 24, 1908. Four of their children grew to maturity and are still living, namely: Bray- ton, of Davison, this county; John F., the subject of this biographical sketch ; George, who has been a resident of Idaho since 1870, and Susan M., of Davison.
John F. Cartwright was reared on the farm on which he was born in Davison township and attended the high school at Pontiac and at Flint. When he was eighteen years of age, in December, 1864, he enlisted for ser- vice in the Union army during the Civil War and served until in June, 1865, as a member of the Thirteenth Regiment, Michigan Volunteer Infantry. Upon the completion of his military service he returned home and for three winters thereafter was engaged in teaching school, farming during the sum- mers and also working at the carpenter trade. In the fall of 1872 he mar- (8a)
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ried and soon thereafter moved to the village of Davison, then a mere station on the railroad. There he engaged in the mercantile business and was thus engaged for three years, at the end of which time he bought a grist-mill and saw-mill and for some time was engaged in operating the same, but after awhile sold these mills and went to Great Bend, Kansas, where he bought a quarter of a section of land and proceeded to improve the same. At the end of two years, however, he disposed of his interests in Kansas and returned to Davison, where, in 1880, he engaged in business, in association with his father, in the grain and produce line, three years later buying his father's interest in the business, which for three years he operated alone. He then admitted to partnership Edgar J. Seelye, but after awhile resumed full control of the business, which he conducted alone until 1894, in which year he admitted to partnership his brother-in-law, Ira W. Cole, which mutually agreeable partnership continued until the firm sold the elevator in 1908. That elevator, a structure more than one hundred feet in height, was erected by Mr. Cartwright before forming his partnership with Mr. Cole and for years has stood as one of the landmarks in Davison.
In 1886, while he was engaged in the grain business, Mr. Cartwright started a private bank at Davison and in 1888 incorporated the same as a stock company. In 1896 this bank was reorganized as a state bank and Mr. Cartwright was in charge of the same when the present bank building was erected. In 1909, the year following his retirement from the grain business, Mr. Cartwright withdrew from the bank and since that time has devoted the greater part of his time to the general direction of a fine farm he owns three miles north of Davison, continuing however, to make his home at Davison, where he has been established so many years. When Mr. Cart- wright took possession of that farm it was in a badly run-down condition, but he has built it up and improved it until it is regarded as one of the best farms in the county. He has given considerable attention to the raising of live stock and has done very well with his place. Though not a politician in the generally accepted meaning of the term, Mr. Cartwright has not been unmindful of a good citizen's duty to the public and has served in numerous local public capacities, including those of township clerk, treasurer and super- visor. In 1892 he was elected representative from this district to the Mich- igan General Assembly and served very acceptably as a member of the House in the session of 1893.
On November 28, 1872, John F. Cartwright was united in marriage to Mercy Cole, who was born on a pioneer farm one mile east of the village of Davison, July 8, 1852, daughter of Nathaniel and Mary E. ( Potter)
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Cole, a further history of whom is set out in a biographical sketch relating to Mrs. Cartwright's brother, Ira W. Cole, presented elsewhere in this volume. To this union one child has been born, a son, Charles Ira, born on March 23. 1877, who is living with his parents in Davison. Mr. Cart- wright is a Royal Arch Mason and takes a warm interest in the affairs of that ancient order. He was made a Mason at Goodrich when twenty-one years old and when the charter of that lodge was transferred to. Davison his membership accompanied it. For ten years he was master of Davison Lodge and is a member of Washington Chapter No. 15, Royal Arch Masons, at Flint. He also is an active member of the Grand Army of the Republic and of the Grange and he and Mrs. Cartwright are members of the Order of the Eastern Star.
MORRIS A. KNIGHT.
Morris A. Knight, veteran merchant of Flint, vice-president of the old established dry-goods firm of O. M. Smith & Company, and for many years one of the most energetic and conspicuous figures in the commercial life of Genesee county, is a native son of Michigan and has lived in this state all his life. He was born in the city of Detroit, August 20, 1847, son of Alfred and Mary (Edsall) Knight, natives of New York state and early residents of Flint, where for many years the former was engaged in business and where both spent their last days.
Alfred Knight was born in Orange county, New York, son of Henry and Margaret (Clearwater) Knight, both natives of that same state, who were the parents of four children, Charles, Alfred, Morris and Elizabeth. Henry Knight died at his home in New York state and his widow later made her home with her son, Alfred Knight, at Flint, where she died at an advanced age. Alfred Knight married, in his native county, Mary Edsall, who also was born in the same county, and about the year 1838 came to Michigan, settling at Flint in 1839, where he engaged in the mer- cantile business, but after a year spent there, moved, in 1840, to Detroit,. where he engaged in the shoe business, and was there thus engaged until 1863. In that year he returned to Flint and opened a shoe store, establish- ing his home on the present site of the Elks building. His death occurred in 1876, he then being sixty-four years of age. He and his wife were mem- bers of the Presbyterian church, of which church for many years he was a member of the board of trustees, and their children were reared in that
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faith. There were four of these children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the third in order of birth, the others being Emma F., of Flint; Mar- garet E., deceased, and Mary E., of Flint.
Morris A. Knight spent his youth in Detroit, the city of his birth, receiving his education in the public schools of that city. He was about sixteen years old when his parents returned to Flint in 1863 and for sev- eral years thereafter he was employed in his father's store at Flint, after which he spent about eighteen months in mercantile business in Bay City. Returning to Flint, on January 1, 1876, he formed a partnership with O. M. Smith, in the dry-goods business, under the firm name of O. M. Smith & Company, which has continued unbroken to this day, he and Mr. Smith still being engaged in business at Flint, thus being one of the oldest estab- lished mercantile firms in this part of Michigan. From 1883 to 1915 Mr. Smith and Mr. Knight also were engaged in the dry-goods business at Bay City, in partnership with Jay Thompson, under the firm name of Jay Thompson & Company, selling their interests in that business to the widow of their former partner in 1915. In the Flint store of Smith & Company over sixty people are employed.
On April 24, 1877, at Flint, Morris A. Knight was united in marriage to Harriett Henderson, who was born in that city on January 23, 1849, daughter of James and Mercy (Hill) Henderson, pioneers of Flint, who were the parents of ten children, Horace, Clarence, Harriett, Chester, Al- bert, Alice, James, Henry, Lester and Helen. For many years the elder James Henderson was one of the leading dry-goods merchants of Flint. He erected the building now occupied by O. M. Smith & Company and was there engaged in business until his death, which occurred in 1865.
To Mr. and Mrs. Knight three children have been born, Alfred H .. Louise H. and Alice W. Alfred H. Knight was graduated from the Uni- versity of Michigan in 1900, and from Cornell University in 1901. He married Emma McShea, October 7, 1903, and has three children, Alfred H., Elizabeth and Harriet. Louise H. Knight, who was educated in the Flint schools, the Lewis Institute at Chicago and Rye Seminary, New York, married Byron R. Winborn, June 9, 1909, and has three children, Byron R., James H. and Morris K. Alice W. Knight, who was educated in the Flint schools and Rye Seminary, New York, is at home with her parents. Mr. and Mrs. Knight are Presbyterians and Mr. Knight is a member of the session of the church with which he is affiliated. He is a Republican and for one term served as a member of the Flint city school board.
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GENESEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
WILLIAM HENRY McCLOUD.
William Henry McCloud, traffic manager for the Buick Motor Com- pany of Flint, is a native son of Michigan, born in the city of Detroit, February 13, 1876, son and only child of Daniel and Jerusha (Colwell) McCloud, natives of Canada, who settled in Detroit many years ago and are still living there.
Daniel McCloud was born in Belleville, Ontario, in 1844 and was reared as a maltster, which vocation he followed after moving to Detroit and for many years thereafter, or until his retirement from business. some years ago. His mother lived to be more than one hundred years of age. Mrs. McCloud was born in 1856. Her father, who was a farmer in Can- ada, was drowned in the Kincardine when in middle age. Mr. and Mrs. McCloud are members of the Presbyterian church.
Upon his graduation from the high school in Detroit, William H. Mc- Cloud entered the Detroit Business University and after his graduation from that institution went to work as a clerk in the freight department of the Wabash Railway Company at Detroit, being connected with that depart- ment for ten years. At the end of that period he went West and worked for different railway companies in various capacities, with a view to becom- ing thoroughly familiar with the details of the great problems of trans- portation, and was thus engaged until March 15, 1909, when he entered upon his present position as traffic manager of the Buick Motor Company at Flint and has ever since been thus engaged. He has charge of the trans- portation of the products of the great Buick plant, a plant employing more than eight thousand persons and long regarded as one of the industrial main- stays of the city of Flint. In his political affiliation Mr. McCloud is a Democrat. Fraternally, he is a Royal Arch Mason, an Odd Fellow, a Knight of Pythias, a Knight of the Maccabees and an Elk, a member of Palestine Lodge No. 357, Free and Accepted Masons, at Detroit ; Washington Chapter No. 15, Royal Arch Masons, at Flint; Olympic Lodge No. 1, Knights of Pythias, at Detroit; Capital Lodge No. 45, Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows, at Lansing; Ingersoll Encampment No. 29, Patriarchs Militant, at Detroit; Detroit Tent No. 507, Knights of the Maccabees, and Flint Lodge No. 222, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.
On October 14, 1894, at Detroit, William H. McCloud was united in marriage to Justine Kurtzrock, who was born in that city, daughter of Charles and Elizabeth Kurtzrock, both now deceased, the former of whom
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was a native of Germany and the latter of England and who were the par- ents of five children, of whom but two now survive, Mrs. McCloud having a brother, William Kurtzrock. Charles Kurtzrock was a soldier in his native country and was an expert machinist in Detroit. Mrs. McCloud was reared in Detroit and was graduated from college there. She is a member of the Episcopal church. To Mr. and Mrs. McCloud three children have been born, Elizabeth Veral, Jerusha and William Mellville. The MeClouds have a very pleasant home at No. 113 West Fourth avenue, Flint.
JAMES ALBERT JONES.
James Albert Jones, until recently proprietor of the Dayton hotel at Flint and for years one of the best-known men in that city, is a native son of Genesee county and has lived here all his life. He was born on a farm in Flint township on October 26, 1860, son of Caleb and Adelia (Bishop) Jones, both natives of the state of New York. They were the parents of eight children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the sixth in order of birth, the others being as follow: Maria, who died when three years of age; Martin Egbert, of Vienna township, this county; Edwin and Ira, twins; Jeannette, deceased, who was the wife of John C. Cassidy; Laurinda, wife of J. J. Wickham, of Flint, and Ella J., deceased, who was the wife of William J. Wickham.
Caleb Jones was born in Cayuga county, New York, eldest of the three children of Ira and Lydia Jones, the other two being Lydia and William. Ira Jones and his wife were natives of England. They reared their family in New York state and in the fifties came to Michigan, settling on a farm in Mundy township, where they spent the rest of their lives, both living to old age, he being eighty-five years of age at the time of his death and she eighty. Caleb Jones was reared on a farm and also worked for some time on the Erie canal. It was about 1856 that he came to Genesee county, his first location here being on a farm in Flint township, but a few years later he moved into Vienna township, where he bought an eighty- acre farm, and there spent the remainder of his life, being sixty-seven years of age at the time of his death. His widow survived him several years, she also being sixty-seven at the time of hier death. She also was born in Cayuga county, New York, and was reared there, daughter of Walker and Lorinda Bishop, both natives of New York state, who came
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to Michigan in 1865 and located on "Flint Plat" in the city of Flint, where they spent the rest of their lives, he being ninety years of age at the time of his death and she eighty-five. They were the parents of three children, Mrs. Jones having had a brother, Marvin Albro Bishop, and a sister, Cloiette.
James Albert Jones was reared on the paternal farm in Vienna town- ship and obtained his schooling in the neighboring district school. He remained at home, gradually relieving his father of the cares of the farm, and upon the death of his parents came into possession of the home place, on which he remained until his marriage in 1890. He then moved into Flint, where he was connected with the saloon business for five years, at the end of which time he went to Clio, where he engaged in the hotel busi- ness, and was thus engaged for three years or more. He then returned to Flint and bought the Dayton hotel, at No. 415 Detroit street, which he made one of the most popular hostelries in this part of the state. Mr. Jones made a success of his hotel business and gained recognition as one of Flint's substantial business men. He is the owner of some valuable property in the city. He is independent in his political views, voting for the men rather than for the party, and gives considerable attention to local political affairs.
On April 14, 1890, James Albert Jones was united in marriage to Mary Margaret Dougherty, daughter of Bernard Dougherty, to which union one child was born, a daughter, Helen, now attending school. Mrs. Mary M. Jones died on February 5, 1915, and on July 4, 1915, Mr. Jones married, secondly, Mrs. Catherine Sutphin, widow of Loren M. Sutphin. Mrs. Catherine Jones was born near the city of Tiffin, in Seneca county, Ohio, daughter of Jacob and Sophia (Pope) Powell, the former a native of Ireland and the latter of Pennsylvania, of German parentage. Jacob Powell was the eldest of the five children born to his parents, John William and Mary (Shea) Powell, both natives of Ireland, who emigrated to America with their family and spent their last days in Ohio, both living to old age. Their other children were Wesley. Martha, Nancy and Ellen. Jacob Powell married Sophia Pope, who was the eldest of the six children born to her parents, William and Susan (Miller) Pope, the others being Rachel, Susan, Samuel, Frank and Edward. After residing some years in Seneca county, Ohio, they came to Michigan and settled in the neighbor- ing county of Shiawassee, where both he and his wife spent the remainder of their lives, she dying in 1898, at the age of seventy-two years, and he in 1905. at the age of eighty-one. Mrs. Powell was a member of the
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Adventist church. Mrs. Jones is a member of the Congregational church at Flint.
Mr. Jones is a thirty-second degree Mason, affiliated with the consis- tory, Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite, at Bay City, and is a noble of Elf Khurafeh Temple, Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, at Saginaw. His local connection with the Masonic order is through mem- bership in Clio Lodge No. 205, Free and Accepted Masons; Washington Chapter No. 15, Royal Arch Masons, and Flint Council, Royal and Select Masters. He also is a member of Vienna Lodge No. 191, Independent Order of Odd Fellows; Flint Lodge No. 222, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and Flint Aerie No. 629, Fraternal Order of Eagles.
LEVANT A. VICKERY.
Levant A. Vickery was born in Darien, New York, March 25, 1842. a son of Thomas D. Vickery, who was born, November 8, 18II, on the same farm that was the birthplace of his son, the subject. The senior Vickery was reared and educated in New York, and came to Michigan in the spring of 1866. He followed the occupation of a farmer. He married Mary Howe, a native of New York, born in Oneida county, that state, January II, 1811, and reared and educated in that state. Levant A. Vickery is one of five children of this family, two of whom are now living. Charles B. was a soldier in the Civil War and is now living at the Soldiers' Home, in Bath. New York; Levant A. is the next in order of birth .. The father died in 1892; the mother in 1889. The names of the deceased children of this family are: Helen, born in 1844, married Jesse Marsh and died in 1880; Urr, born in 1847, died in 1857; Dewitt, born in 1850.
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