History of Genesee County, Michigan, Her People, Industries and Institutions, Volume II, Part 12

Author: Wood, Edwin Orin, 1861-1918
Publication date: 1916
Publisher: Indianapolis : Federal Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1070

USA > Michigan > Genesee County > History of Genesee County, Michigan, Her People, Industries and Institutions, Volume II > Part 12

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Thomas D. Vickery was a son of Jonathan Vickery, who was born on October 22, 1780, and married Phena Burr, who was born in 1787. They had five children, Olive, Thomas, Ozias, Manley and William, all deceased.

Levant A. Vickery was educated in Darien, New York, attending first the common schools and then took a course in the academy at Alexander, in that state. After completing his school studies, he engaged in teaching school during the winter months; in the summer he worked on the farm. In the spring of 1867 he came to Michigan, where he taught school for two years and worked on the farm when not engaged in teaching. In the spring of 1869 he entered the employ of Niles & Cotcher. general merchants, of

LEVANT A. VICKERY.

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Flushing, as bookkeeper for the firm. He continued with this firm until 1873, a period of four years, then formed a partnership with Arza N. and Harlan P. Niles in the general merchandising business. This partnership continued until 1889. when Mr. Vickery and his son purchased the entire interest of the firm and the business was continued under the firm name of L. A. Vickery & Son. In 1804 the business was sold out and Mr. Vickery having received from President Cleveland the appointment of postmaster at that time, he entered upon the discharge of the duties of that office. He was postmaster of Flushing for a period of four years. In 1898 he was elected township supervisor and held. that office for one year. When the People's State Bank was organized, in 1900, Mr. Vickery was elected cashier of that institution. He held that position until January 1, 1915. when he was made president of the bank, which position he now holds.

On March 30. 1864, Mr. Vickery was married to Mary E. Jewell, who was born in Rochester, New York, March II, 1838, and was reared and edu- cated in that state. She was a daughter of John Chittenden Jewell, who was born in New York and who married Lucy Ann Howe.

Mr. Vickery is a Republican, a thirty-second-degree Mason, a member of the Knights of the Maccabees and of the Royal Guards. He is the father of two children, Earl J., born in 1866, married Edith Kimmel, a resident of Flushing. born in 1866, and who is now the mother of two children, Esther K. and Helen ; a third child, Earl, died when about four years old. Earl J. Vickery is now a practicing attorney in Detroit, Michigan. Linus W. Vick- ery. born in April, 1868, was at one time a member of the L. A. Vickery firm, but died in 1889, at the age of twenty-one years.

REV. MICHAEL J. COMERFORD.

The Rev. Michael J. Comerford, pastor of St. Matthew's Catholic church, at Flint, is a native son of Michigan and has lived in this state all his life. He was born in the city of Detroit, January 29, 1871, son of Michael and Bridget (Feigh) Comerford, natives of Ireland, the former born in County Kilkenny and the latter in Limerick, whose last days were spent in Detroit, where for years Michael Comerford was prominently connected with the lumber interests of that city.

Michael Comerford was born on a farm in Kilkenny, son of James and Elizabeth (Comerford) Comerford, both natives of that same county, who

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spent all their lives there and who were the parents of nine children; of these. Michael was the first-born, the others being James, John, Patrick, Peter, Mary, Elizabeth, Jane and Margaret. Michael Comerford was but little more than a boy when he came to the United States and proceeded on into the northern part of Michigan, where he began to work in the lumber woods and was thus engaged for some years, acquiring a thorough and practical knowledge of the lumber business. He married Bridget Feigh, who was born in County Limerick, Ireland, daughter of David and Elizabeth (Hunt) Feigh, natives of that same county, who were the parents of seven children. Elizabeth, Margaret, Mary, John, Thomas, Anna and Bridget. David Feigh and his wife spent all their lives in their native Limerick, he being eighty years of age at the time of his death; his widow survived him for many years, she being at the remarkable age of one hundred and five years at the time of her death. After some years spent in the lumber woods of northern! Michigan, Michael Comerford located in Detroit, where he engaged in the lumber business on his own account and was thus engaged very successfully until his death in 1901, he then being sixty-five years of age. His widow survived him about two years, she being seventy-two years of age at the time of her death in 1903. They were earnest members of the Catholic church · and their children were reared in the faith of that church. There were seven of these children, of whom Father Comerford was the last-born, the others being as follow: Thomas, of Detroit; Elizabeth, who married George Hetherington, of Detroit; John, also of Detroit; Cyran, deceased; James, deceased, and Mary, who married Adam Gibson, of Philadelphia.

Father Comerford received exceptional advantages in the way of pre- paration for the duties of his holy office. He was reared in Detroit, the city of his birth, and received his elementary education in St. Vincent's paro- chial school in that city. . At the early age of thirteen years he consecrated his life to the holy priesthood and upon completing the course in the parish school entered Assumption College at Sandwich, Ontario, where he received his classical education. Afterward he entered St. Mary's Seminary at Balti- more, where he completed his theological studies in 1895, graduating from that institution with the degree of Bachelor of Sacred Theology. In Septem- ber of that same year, Father Comerford was ordained to holy orders and was shortly afterward assigned as pastor of St. Mary's church at Pickney, this state, being the first priest of that parish. On October 1, 1895, Father Comerford was given charge of the church at Pickney and he remained there for sixteen years, or until October 1, 1911, when he was placed in charge of the newly erected parish of St. Matthew's, at Flint, where he ever since

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has been located. Father Comerford has done a notable work in his con- nection with St. Matthew's church and his parish has grown until it now numbers three hundred and twelve families. Not long after taking charge there, he bought ground from the Loyal Guard, a property originally known. as the Mcintyre, the Martin and the Pegge estates, and in 1913 began the erection of a school building, to serve not only as a school, but as a temporary place of worship, expending about one hundred and twenty thousand dollars upon the same. Plans are now well under way for the erection of a fine church edifice, the same to cost an additional one hundred and twenty thou- sand dollars. The parish school enrolls two hundred and four pupils at present and is yearly growing. Since the month of October, 1914, Father Comerford has been aided in the labors of his growing parish by the Rev. Father Francis F. Van Antwerp, assistant priest, who also was born in the city of Detroit, and the affairs of St. Matthew's parish are reported to be in a flourishing condition.

HARRY W. WATSON.

No history of the commercial life of the city of Flint would be complete without fitting mention of the part played in the business activities of that city for years by the late Harry W. Watson, who built up from a small be- ginning one of the greatest wholesale cigar establishments in the state of Michigan, a business which is still being carried on by his son, Eugene H. Watson, president of the Harry W. Watson Company.

Harry W. Watson was a native of Illinois, born at Pittsfield, November 22, 1864, the only child of Henry and Phoebe (Campbell) Watson, the for- mer of whom, a merchant of Pittsfield, died at that place when his son was but a small child. His widow later married Ferris Hyatt, who lived at Flint, Michigan, and to that second umion five children were born, Marion, Clark, Anna, Jane and Ferris. Harry W. Watson was about six years old when his mother moved to Flint and he grew to manhood in that city and there spent the rest of his life. He received his education in the public schools of Flint and in a military and business college in the East and for two years after completing his college course was engaged as a commercial traveler. He then went into business for himself, in the wholesale cigar line, and from the very beginning of his business career was successful, gradually building up a large business, which he presently incorporated, with a capital of one

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hundred thousand dollars, under the name of the Harry W. Watson Com- pany. He remained at the head of that enterprising and flourishing con- cern until his death, which occurred on April 7, 1913, he then being forty- eight years of age. In addition to his extensive commercial interests, Mr. Watson was a member of the board of directors of the Commercial and Citizens Savings Bank of Flint. He was a Democrat and, fraternally, was affiliated with the Masons, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, in the latter of which organizations he took a particularly warm interest, having been the first exalted ruler of Flint Lodge No. 222 of that order. He was a thirty-second-degree Mason, as is his son, Eugene, who is now the directing head of the extensive busi- ness he built up at Flint.

On November 26, 1884, Harry W. Watson was united in marriage to Agnes Parsell, who was born at Flushing, this county, November 20, 1865, daughter of Eugene and Roxanna ( Brockway) Parsell, the former of whom was born at Clarence, New York, and the latter at Mackadavia, Maine. Eugene Parsell, who was for many years one of the best-known and most influential citizens of Genesee county, was but a lad when his parents, Robert Parsell and wife, came from New York state to this county and located at Flushing in the early days of the settlement of that village, where they spent the remainder of their lives. They were the parents of seven children, Jennie, Laura, Mary, Ernest, Eugene, Robert and Puella. Eugene Parsell grew to manhood at Flushing and there married Roxanna Brockway, whose parents, also were early settlers in that neighborhood. In his early manhood Engene Parsell drove the local stage out of Flushing and carried the mails. In 1872 he moved to Flint and there engaged in the drug business in part- nership with Charles Mason. He later was elected sheriff of Genesee county and was re-elected, serving for two terms, and was afterward appointed warden of the state reformatory at Ionia, in which capacity he served for several years. He later was appointed postoffice inspector for this district and in that capacity served the government for many years. His wife died on September 18, 1907, and he is still living at Flint, now in the eightieth year of his age. He and his wife were the parents of three children, of whom Mrs. Watson was the second in order of birth, the others being Charles and J. H. Parsell.

To Harry W. and Agnes (Parsell) Watson were born three children, Eugene Henry, Lucile and Pauline, all of whom, with their widowed mother, continue to make their homes in Flint. Eugene H. Watson, who succeeded his father in the wholesale cigar business at Flint, being the president of the

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Harry W. Watson Company, a business which he is carrying on very suc- cessfully, married Loretta Kingsley and has two children, William Kingsley and Jean Campbell. Lucile Watson, who is a graduate of the Flint high school and of the Harcourt Place school at Gambier, Ohio, is the wife of Lloyd Slayton Kenworthy, of Flint. Pauline Watson, also a graduate of the Flint high school, took a course at Briar Cliff school, on the Hudson, near Ossining. She is now Mrs. Courtney Johnson, of Flint.

WILLIAM THOMAS WALKER.

William Thomas Walker, vice-president and general manager of the Walker-Weiss Axle Company at Flint, is a native of Ohio, born in the city of Toledo, that state, October 26, 1881. He is a son of William and Rose (Jennings) Walker, the former of whom was born in Ireland and the latter in the city of Adrian, this state. They were the parents of three children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the last-born, the others being Jennie, wife of W. C. Stevenson, of Columbus, Ohio, and Albert, deceased.

William Walker was born in County Cork, Ireland, and was but a boy when he came to the United States, locating at Ogdensburg, New York, where he was living when the Mexican War broke out. He enlisted for service in that war and upon the completion of his military service, located at Toledo, Ohio, where he engaged in the grain business and where he spent the remainder of his life. He not only was a prominent business man of that city, but was prominent in the city's civic affairs and for some years served as auditor of the city of Toledo. He died at his home there in 1892, at the age of about sixty-five years. He was a member of the Baptist church, as is his widow, who is still living in Toledo.

W. Thomas Walker was reared in the city of Toledo, his birthplace, and was graduated from the high school in that city in 1900. He then entered the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, and was graduated from that institution in 1904, after which he began working in the works of the Olds Motor Company at Detroit. He was thus engaged for seven or eight months, at the end of which time he became a consulting engineer in Detroit and while thus employed returned to Toledo, where he presently resumed the manufacturing line. Later he went to Canton, Ohio, where he was thus engaged for a couple of years, or until 1908, in which year he took service with the Weston-Mott Company at Flint and was presently made assistant

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general manager and manager of the sales department of that company, remaining with that concern for five years. In 1912 Mr. Walker was made vice-president and general manager of the Walker-Weiss Axel Company, a concern organized at Flint, with a capital stock of three hundred thousand dollars, for the manufacture of automobile axles. This company, which employs five hundred persons and operates a manufacturing plant with a capacity of forty-five thousand sets of automobile axles annually, is officered as follows: President, C. H. Bonbright ; vice-president, W. Thomas Walker ; secretary and treasurer, F. J. Weiss, and assistant secretary and treasurer. H. E. Schweitzer.

On October 24, 1906, W. Thomas Walker was united in marriage to Maud Gale, who was born at Morrice, in the neighboring county of Shiawas- see, daughter of Charles W. and Florence M. (McKee) Gale, both of whom were born in that same county, the former a son of Isaac Gale and wife. natives of the state of New York and early settlers in Shiawassee county, and the latter a daughter of Robert and Arminia McKee, he a native of Michigan and she of Ohio. Charles W. Gale and wife were the parents of two children, Mrs. Walker having a brother, Robert Isaac Gale. Mrs. Walker is a member of the Episcopal church at Flint. Mr. Walker is a Republican and, fraternally, is affiliated with the Masons and the Elks, a member of Flint Lodge No. 23, Free and Accepted Masons, and of Flint Lodge No. 222, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. He is also a member of the Country Club at Flint and the Fellowship Club at Detroit.

FRANK H. HASKELL.

It is not everybody who can make a success in the real estate business, as many special qualifications are necessary, such as tact, energy, a knowl- edge of values, the ability to readily grasp a situation, forcefulness, cour- tesy and honesty. Frank H. Haskell, of the Haskell Realty Company of Flint, is one of Genesee county's citizens who seems to possess these char- acteristics. He was born in Ingham county, Michigan, fifteen miles from Lansing, on March 18. 1872, and is a son of Henry and Julia (Gould) Haskell, also natives of Ingham county, where they grew up, were mar- ried and devoted their active lives to agricultural pursuits. Upon the breaking out of the Civil War, the father enlisted in the Eleventh Michigan Volunteer Infantry, in which he served faithfully as a private

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for three years. After being honorably discharged at the close of his term of enlistment, he returned home and took up farming on the eighty acres that he had purchased before the war, which he cleared and improved, but finally sold it and moved to Genesee county, living retired for many years in the village of Goodrich. He now makes his home in Hartland, Michi- gan. His wife died in Goodrich in 1896, at the age of forty-seven years. She was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. He belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Hartland Post, Grand Army of the Republic. Politically, he is a Democrat, and he served as justice of the peace for several years. To Henry Haskell and wife two children were born, John, who resides in Sandford, this state, and Frank H., of this sketch.

The paternal grandparents of these children were Henry and Clara Haskell, natives of New York and pioneers in Ingham county, Michigan, where he died, but her death occurred in Livingston county. They had six children, namely: Alfred, Daniel D., Henry, George, Anna and Addie. The maternal grandparents, Luke Gould and wife, were natives of New York state, devoted their lives to farming, and were pioneers of Ingham county, Michigan. They died when past middle life. Six children were born to them, named as follow : Madison D., Alfred, Charlotte, Julia, Ella and Carrie.

Frank H. Haskell was eleven years old when his parents removed from the farm to the village of Goodrich, and there he grew to manhood and attended school, including the high school. Afterward he began clerking in a hardware store with Milton Hill, in that town, remaining with him one and one-half years, then worked for J. D. Cheney as clerk in his grocery store, also in the postoffice for one year; later worked for S. B. Pixley, general merchant, for three years. He then embarked in the furniture business for himself, also did undertaking. After continuing these lines in Goodrich three years, he came to Flint in 1898 and bought a grocery store at First avenue and Smith street, which he conducted two and one-half years, then bought the Flanders store on North Saginaw street. He has owned twelve different grocery stores in Flint. He finally spent three years on the road as a commercial salesman, and in June, 1915, in partner- ship with L. A. Rogers, he embarked in the real estate business, which he has since followed with his usual industry and success.

Mr. Haskell was married in January, 1891, to Lura B. Caswell, a daughter of Orlando and Caroline (Brosius) Caswell, of Goodrich. Her death occurred in 1897 at the age of thirty-three years, leaving two chil-

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dren, Leon and Beulah. The former married Clara Smith and is now traveling for the Lakeside Biscuit Company. The daughter is ledger clerk and assistant accountant in the Pere Marquette freight office. She was graduated from the Flint high school in 1914, after which she taught in the public schools six or eight years.

Mrs. Laura B. Haskell was born in Goodrich and she and Mr. Haskell were schoolmates. Her parents were natives of the state of New York, whence they came to Genesee county, Michigan, in an early day and here spent the rest of their lives. Three children were born to them, Hattie, Lura and Mary.

Mr. Haskell was married to his second wife, Eva Johnson, on March 30, 1904. She is a daughter of Jacob and Alice (Ramsdell) Johnson. To this last union one son has been born, Frank H. Haskell, Jr. Mrs. Has- kell was born in Genesee county, Michigan. Her father came from Penn- sylvania, her mother from Ohio, and both are now deceased. They were parents of seven children, namely: Helen, Calvin, Laura, Levant, Eva, Mary and Grant. Politically, Mr. Haskell is a Democrat. He and his wife attend the Christian Science church.

FRANKLIN H. PIERCE.

In the list of Flint's successful and useful citizens, the late Franklin H. Pierce long occupied a prominent place, and it is with a peculiar sense of fitness that a summary of his life and character is given a permanent place in the record of his home city and county.

Franklin H. Pierce was born in Bethlehem, Grafton county, New Hamp- shire, on October 24, 1841, of sterling old Yankee stock, and the sound qualities of character which distinguished him in his mature business career were but typical of the staunch New England blood which he inherited. His father was John Pierce, also a native of New Hampshire, who lived to the advanced age of ninety-seven years. He was the father of six children, namely : Franklin H., John, Mrs. Mary Sinclair, Mrs. Eliza Woodward, Mrs. Sarah Sawyer and Edward.

After completing his common school education, Franklin H. Pierce, at the age of nineteen years, carne to Coldwater, Michigan, where, for two years, he was in the employ of Wood & Barbour. In 1865 he came to Flint and engaged in the clothing business. in partnership with his brother,

Fill. Queres

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Edward O., under the firm name of F. H. & E. O. Pierce. They were suc- cessful in this enterprise and through the years this firm was continually numbered among the sound and substantial mercantile firnis of Flint. The only serious setback experienced by this firm during all these years was the destruction of the store by fire about three years after its opening. The store and stock were increased from time to time to meet the increase in demands of their business, until now the house is numbered among the lead- ing commercial institutions of Flint. About 1897, desiring to retire from active business life, Mr. Pierce sold his interest in the business to his brother, the firm being now known as E. O. Pierce & Son.

During all the years in which Mr. Pierce was actively occupied in advancing his business interests, he maintained a good citizen's interest in the general welfare of his city and took an active part in efforts for its advancement. For some years during his early residence here he served as alderman, in which position he rendered efficient service to his city. He also served on the board of public works, where his sound judgment and keen business ability were put to the best use. He was one of the originators of the present splendid waterworks system, but which in his day was criticized as being a useless expenditure of money. In many other ways his keen foresight was exhibited in his direction of public affairs and he was recog- nized as a man of unusual astuteness and sagacity.

Politically, Mr. Pierce was a Republican, but he entertained no ambition for public office, his chief interest lying along commercial lines. His fra- ternal relations were with the Free and Accepted Masons, the Knights of the Maccabees and the Loyal Guards. He was an earnest member of St. Paul's Episcopal church, of which he was senior warden at the time of his death.

On November 29, 1870, Franklin H. Pierce was married to Mary E. Lamond, a native of Flint and the daughter of Robert D. Lamond and wife, who became early settlers of Flint. They had three children, Mary, Robert and Jennie. To Mr. and Mrs. Pierce were born three children, Sarah, who died at the age of nine years; John L., who is represented elsewhere in this work, and Frances, the wife of H. H. Hills, of Detroit. Franklin H. Pierce died on June 24, 1901, after an illness of several months.

Diligence, perseverance and honesty were characteristic qualities of. Mr. Pierce. Although his life was a busy one, his every-day affairs mak- ing heavy demands upon his time, he never shrank from his duties as a citizen and his obligations to his church, his neighbors and his friends. He

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was benevolent, kind-hearted and thoughtful for those less fortunate than himself. never failing to grant succor where it was known to be rightfully needed. He was well read and a man of noble attainments. Although a quiet and unassuming man, with no ambition for public position or leader- ship, he contributed much to the material, civie and moral advancement of his community, while his admirable qualities of head and heart and the upright course of his daily life won for him the esteem and confidence of the cireles in which he moved.

NOAH BATES, M. D.

Genesee county has reason to take pride in the personnel of her corps of medical men from the pioneer days in her history to the present time. and on the roll of honored names that indicates the services of worthy and esteemed citizens in this field of endeavor there is gratification in reverting to that of Dr. Noah Bates, of the city of Flint, for many years a successful and widely known physician and surgeon.

Noah Bates was born in Bealton, Norfolk county. Ontario, Canada, February 25, 1838. He is a son of Joseph and Phila ( Rogers) Bates, natives of New Jersey and New York, respectively, who immigrated to Ontario in an early day, settling in the wilderness. There they cleared and developed a farm, on which thy spent the rest of their lives, the death of the father occurring in June, 1865, at the age of sixty-six years, his birth having oc- curred November 26, 1805; the mother died February 4, 1892, in her eighty- seventh year. They were members of the Baptist church. Thirteen children were born to them, namely: William, who died young; James was next in order of birth; David and Orrin both died in early life: William, Edward, Peter, Joseph, Noah, Mary, Hiram, Charles and Eliza Ellen. The last named married William Smith. The grandparents of these children, Joseph and Margaret Bates, were natives of England, from which country they came to America, first locating in New Jersey, later removing to Ancaster, Canada, locating near Hamilton, Ontario, where they both died. Their family con- sisted of two sons and four daughters, of whom the following are remein- hered : James, Joseph, Patty and Margaret. The grandfather, Joseph Bates, was known as the "Sleeping Preacher." It was said of him that he was "called" of God to preach the gospel, but refused to obey the summons, and that while he could control himself during his waking hours and refrain from

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History of Genesee County, Michigan, Her People, Industries and Institutions, Volume II, Part 12

Author: Wood, Edwin Orin, 1861-1918 Publication date: 1916 Publisher: Indianapolis : Federal Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 1070

Author: Wood, Edwin Orin, 1861-1918
Publication date: 1916
Publisher: Indianapolis : Federal Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1070