USA > Michigan > Genesee County > History of Genesee County, Michigan, Her People, Industries and Institutions, Volume II > Part 18
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To Mr. and Mrs. Ransom five children have been horn, namely: Fay. who died in infancy; Arthur L., born April 30, 1887, is living on a farm in Flushing township: Charles F., born January 17, 1889, died October 13.
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1915; Myrtle L., born December 25, 1894, married Max Graham, a travel- ing salesman of Detroit; Harold, born August 8, 1903, died in infancy.
After leaving school, John A. Ransom took up farming on the home- stead, on which he remained until 1886, when he purchased forty acres in section 33, Flushing township. He later added to this until he had a good farm of one hundred and sixty acres and was actively engaged in general farming here untll 1909, when he located in the village of Flushing, bought property and immediately built the residence in which he now lives. He also owns other real estate in Flushing and in Flint. He has been retired from active life since 1909. He has been a director for the past fifteen years in the Genesee County Mutual Farmers Fire Insurance Company, for which company he has also acted as agent.
Politically, he is a Republican. He belongs to the Masonic lodge at Flushing and has passed all the chairs but master in the same.
FRANK D. BLOSS.
Among the enterprising men of affairs of Genesee county is Frank D. Bloss, of Swartz Creek, local agricultural superintendent of the Mt. Clemens Sugar Company. He has been an advocate of progress in all phases of life, progress at any price with honor, and, this being a fact, he has achieved pronounced success in his chosen field of endeavor, begin- ning early in life to advance himself and leaving no stone unturned whereby he might legitimately do so.
Frank D. Bloss was born in Saratoga county, New York, June 19, 1859, a son of Stephen and Mary (Daniels) Bloss, both also natives of that same county, where they grew up on farms and were married. There Stephen Bloss farmed a small place, in connection with which he operated a blacksmith shop. He left there on Christmas Day, 1864, moving his family to Michigan, and locating on a farmi one mile west of Rankin in Mundy township, this county, living there until he sold out toward the lat- ter part of his life, moving, in the fall of 1878 to a place south of the village, where he spent several years, then retired from active life and spent his last days in Swartz Creek. He and his wife were the parents of eleven children, eight of whom are still living, namely: Frank D., the subject of this sketch: Fred S., of Grand Blanc township: Atwood S .. of Swartz
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Creek; William A., of Swartz Creek, in Gaines township; Cora, the wife of Frank Rix, of Whigville, in Grand Blanc township; Cutler, who lives in Flint; Fannie, the wife of Wilfred Short, of Flushing, and David G., who lives in Swartz Creek.
Frank D. Bloss was reared on the home farm and attended the public schools of his community and the Flint high school. He "worked out" during vacations and taught during the winters for fifteen years in Mundy, Gaines and Flint townships. He later rented what is now the Genesee County Nursery's farm and in 1883 bought forty acres in Gaines township, where he engaged in farming until 1906, in January of which year he moved to Flint, where he continued to reside until in February, 1914, when he moved to the farm and later to Swartz Creek, where he now resides. Before leaving the farm Mr. Bloss became interested in the sugar-beet business, and took a position as field man with the Mt. Clemens Sugar Company, with which concern he remained for one year, acting as district manager. He then was connected with the Continental Sugar Company for one year as district manager, after which he returned to the former company, with which he is still connected. In 1910 he was made agricultural superintendent for this district and is discharging the duties of that position in a highly satisfactory manner.
On August 9, 1881, Frank D. Bloss was married to Eunice A. Storer, a daughter of Eben and Rosanna (Wilcox) Storer. When eleven years old, Eben Storer, who was a native of Connecticut, went to the state of New York, where he lived until about 1837, when he came with his brother to Michigan. They purchased eighty acres in Genesee county, near Flint, and put in a crop. Eben Storer later returned to New York, and while there married Rosanna Wilcox. In 1839 he returned to Michigan with his bride and settled on his farm in Flint township, Genesee county. There he pros- pered and later added to his original holdings until he had a good farm of one hundred and forty-seven acres on which he and his wife spent the rest of their lives, his death occurring in September, 1889, and hers, in March, 1890. They were the parents of six children, namely: Cordelia, deceased, who was the wife of John Hite; Amelia. the wife of Luther Cutney, of Flint; George, who lives in Flint; Mary, the wife of Eugene M. Curtis, of Flint ; Florence A., who lives in Flint, and Eunice, the wife of Mr. Bloss.
To Mr. and Mrs. Bloss two children have been born, Milo E. and Clare S. Milo E. Bloss received his education in the schools of Flint. He mar- ried Frankie Atherton and to that union one child was born, Marion F., who
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is attending school in Swartz Creek. Mrs. Frankie Bloss died in February, 1915, and Milo E. Bloss later married Maggie Bookman. Clare S., the youngest son, married Clara May Bell, of Sage, Ogemaw county, this state. Both these sons are living on the old home place, which they operate, and which now comprises two hundred and fifty acres, known as the F. D. Bloss & Sons farm, in section 11, Gaines township, including the original "forty" in that township, and land in sections 10 and 14.
Politically, Frank D. Bloss is a Republican. He is a member of Gene- see Lodge No. 144, Free and Accepted Masons; a member of the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows and of the Gleaners, and both he and his wife are members of the Order of the Eastern Star, being charter members of Crystal Arbor Chapter at Swartz Creek, which was organized in 1898. Mrs. Bloss was supreme chaplain for the order in Michigan for eight years. Mr. Bloss was chief gleaner of the local lodge of Gleaners for four years, and both are well known and influential in fraternal circles.
WILLIAM A. HOSIE.
William A. Hosie, a well-known and well-to-do farmer and stockman, proprietor of "Maple Lawn Stock Farm" of one hundred and fifty-three acres in section 4 of Clayton township, on the Potter road, rural route No. 1, out of Flushing, and for years actively identified with the work of developing that part of the county, is a native son of Genesee county, born on the farm on which he now lives, and has lived there all his life. He was born on April 19, 1869, son of Archibald D. and Mary M. (Starr) Hosie, the latter of whom is still living on the old home place with her son and his family.
Archibald D. Hosie was born in Massachusetts on September 20, 1835, and was but a child when he came to Michigan with his parents, James and Mary Hosie, who spent their last days in Genesee county, substantial and influential pioneer residents of the Flushing neighborhood. James Hosie was born in Scotland on December 29, 1803, and became an expert at construction work. In 1828 he came to the United States and for some years thereafter was employed on construction work in the East, superin- tending the construction of several extensive jobs, even after coming to Michigan in the early days returning to New York City, where he superin- tended the construction of an important section of the Croton waterworks
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in 1839. It was in 1835 that he and his brother, Andrew Hosie, came to the then Territory of Michigan and after prospecting a bit, pre-empted seven "eighties" in Flushing township, this county, James Hosie thus becoming one of the earliest settlers in this part of the state. In 1837 he brought his family out here from Massachusetts and established his home in the wilder- ness, proceeding to clear and develop his lands, soon becoming recognized as one of the most energetic and influential men in this part of the state, a large landowner and a director of various enterprises. There he and his wife spent their last days, honored and useful members of the community in which they lived. Of their sons, three, Andrew, James and John, were killed while serving in the Union army during the Civil War, two having been killed in battle, while the other was killed while on provost duty, hav- ing been slain by a deserter whom he was trying to arrest. Archibald D. Hosie grew to manhood on the pioneer farm in this county and after his marriage to Mary M. Starr settled on the quarter section, a part of his father's extensive holdings, in Clayton township, now owned and operated by his son, and brought the same to a high state of development, "Maple Lawn Stock Farm" long having been looked upon as one of the best farms in that part of the county. Archibald D. Hosie was a Republican, but never was a seeker after public office. He was a Presbyterian, a member of the church of that denomination at Flushing, and was for years a mem- ber of the board of trustees of the same. He died on April 14, 1906, and his widow still survives hin, continuing to make her home on the old home place. The house in which she and her husband began housekeeping and where their children were born, is still standing on the farm, now being used as a farm building, long ago having been supplanted as a residence by a fine new house. Archibald D. Hosie and wife were the parents of two children, the subject of this sketch having had a sister, Ella, who died in March, 1906, about a month before the death of her father.
William A. Hosie grew to manhood on the paternal farm, receiving his schooling in the district school in the neighborhood of his home and in the high school at Flushing, and has ever remained on the home place, ever before the death of his father having worked with the latter in the practical management of the same. After his marriage in 1895 he estab- lished his home there and has continued to improve and develop the place. In addition to his general farming he has given considerable attention to the raising of live stock and has a fine herd of pure-bred Shorthorn cattle, besides large numbers of sheep and hogs, and has done very well. Mr.
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Hosie is a Republican and has been treasurer of his school district since 19II.
It was on November 27, 1895, that William A. Hosie was united in marriage to Maggie A. Allward, who was born near London, Ontario, daughter of Robert and Catherine Allward, and who came to Michigan from Canada in her youth with her parents, the family settling in Saginaw county and later coming to Genesee county and settling in Flushing town- ship, where she was living when she married Mr. Hosie. To that union two children have been born, Lloyd E., born on December 21, 1896, who finished his eighth-grade school work in the Flushing schools and later took a course in the Flushing high school and in a business college at Flint, and Archibald D., February 2, 1907. Mrs. Hosie died on September 29, 1913, and is buried in Flushing cemetery. Mr. Hosie is a member of the Baptist church at Flushing, one of the trustees of the same, and takes an earnest interest in all neighborhood good works. He is a member of the Order of the Loyal Guard at Flushing and takes a warm interest in the affairs of the same.
CLARENCE A. CAMERON.
Clarence A. Cameron, well-known attorney-at-law at Flint and present court commissioner, is a native of Canada, but has lived in this section of Michigan since childhood. He was born on a farm fifteen miles east of the city of London, Ontario, January 2, 1867, son of Henry and Sophia (Lane) Cameron, both natives of Ontario, the latter of whom is still living, making her home in Montmorency county, this state.
Henry Cameron was the son of AAlexander and Eliza (Lyons) Cam- eron, both natives of Ontario, who came to Michigan in 1866 and settled at Hazelton, in the neighboring county of Shiawasee, where they spent the rest of their lives. Alexander Cameron was a blacksmith as well as a farmer and was known as one of the best artificers in iron in this part of the state. He died at Hazelton in November, 1883, at the age of seventy-three years, and his widow survived until 1898, she being seventy-eight years of age at the time of her death. They were the parents of thirteen children, Henry, Daniel, Nancy, Mary. Elizabeth, John. Wellington, Sarah, Emma, William. Alexander, Phoebe and one who died in infancy. Henry Cameron was trained as a carpenter, but later became a farmer. He married, in Ontario, Sophia Lane, daughter of James and Mary (Chilton) Lane, natives of Eng-
Clarence A.Cameron,
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land, who emigrated to Canada and located on a farm not far from Toronto, afterward moving to a farm near London, in Middlesex county, where they spent the remainder of their days. James Lane was seventy years of age at the time of his death and his widow lived to be fifteen years older, she having been eighty-five at the time of her death. They were the parents of five children,; Reuben, Sophia, Thomas and two who died young. Some years after their marriage. Henry Cameron and wife and their small chil- dren came to Michigan and settled at Judd's Corners. in Shiawassee county, where Mr. Cameron engaged in the mercantile business and also owned a farm. He later moved to Atlanta and was engaged in business there until his retirement. He died in 1904, at the age of sixty-four years, not long after retiring from business. His widow, who still survives, is now living in Montmorency county. She was reared in the old Wesleyan Methodist faith, but in later life has been identified with the Methodist Episcopal church. Henry Cameron held various township offices and at one time was coroner of Montmorency county. He and his wife were the parents of six children, namely: James \., of New Ontario, Canada; Edward W., of Montmorency county, this state; Clarence A., the subject of this biographical sketch ; Reuben T., of Flushing, this county; Mary E., now deceased, who was the wife of William Cole, now of Arizona, and Foster E., who lives in Montmorency county.
Clarence A. Cameron was but a child when his parents came to this state and he was reared on his father's farm in Shiawasee county, attending the district school, the Corunna high school and the Flushing high school. from which latter he was graduated, after which he engaged in the drug and grocery business at Flushing, building up a fine business, which he pre- sently sold to his brother and then entered the University of Michigan in pursuance of a long-cherished design to engage in the practice of the law. He attended the law department of the university and was admitted to the bar in 1912. Almost immediately afterward he engaged in practice at Flint. where he ever since has been thus engaged, with offices in the Flint P. Smith building. Mr. Cameron is a Republican, has held various minor public offices and is at present serving as circuit court commissioner. He is a Royal Arch Mason, an Odd Fellow and an Elk and takes a warm interest in the affairs of these several fraternal organizations. Mrs. Cameron is a member of the Baptist church, and both she and Mr. Cameron take a proper interest in the various social and cultural activities of their home town.
On June 25, 1890, Clarence A. Cameron was united in marriage to Emma White, who was born in Flushing township, this county. August 31,
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1866, daughter of the Rev. Joseph B. and Rebecca ( Smith ) White, both now deceased, who left six children, Mrs. Cameron having three brothers, Hulburt Oliver, William and Samuel, and two sisters, Martha and Abbie. Mrs. Cameron's maternal grandfather, John Smith, one of the early settlers of Genesee county, came here from Ohio and both he and his wife lived to ripe old ages. They had six children, Reuben, Andrew, James, Rebecca, Catherine and Jane. Her paternal grandparents were natives of Pennsyl- vania and spent all their lives in that state. To Mr. and Mrs. Cameron three children have been born. Eula Myrine, who married Raymond R. Williams and has one child, a son, Robert Cameron; Donald W., a graduate of the Flushing high school, who is now a draughtsman in the office of the Gray Motor Company at Detroit, and Ward A., at home. Mrs. Williams was graduated from the Flushing high school and the Flint high school, attended the Monroe Conservatory of Music and taught school for one year.
FRED H. LOWELL.
The man who has a reputation for big crops should study his farming to see if it will bear close critical inspection in its various details. Fred H. Lowell. of Thetford township, Genesee county, does this, and as a result he is a good general farmer. He was born in the above named township and county, September 6, 1880, and is a son of Henry and Sarah ( Mason) Lowell, natives of Illinois and Canada, respectively. They came to Michigan when young and were married here, devoting their active lives to farming, and are now living retired in the village of Clio, Genesee county. To these parents cleven children were born, all living at this writing but one, namely : George, who died when twenty-four years old: Hattie, who was graduated from Ferris Institute and is now teaching in the Coldwater public schools : James R., who is farming on the old homestead; Edward S., who is a car- penter and lives at Highland Park, Detroit ; Walter W., a laborer ; Minnie. who is studying for a professional nurse in Grace Hospital in Detroit, Michigan: Bessie, who is attending Clio high school: Reuben, also a stu- dent in the Clio high school; Cecil, who is attending the public schools at Clio, and Fred H., of this sketch.
The subject of this review grew up on the home farm in Thetford town- ship and received his education in the district schools, being graduated from the common schools, after which he taught a short time in Thetford town-
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ship. He has since devoted his attention to farming and owns forty acres in Thetford township.
Mr. Lowell was married in February, 1913, to Pearl I. Atkin, a daugh- ter of William and Effie (Hart) Farnum. She grew up in this county and was 'educated in the public and high schools. To this union one son has been born, Lawrence F. Lowell, whose birth occurred in 1915.
Politically, Mr. Lowell is a Republican and he was township treasurer for two years, being active in local party affairs.
JOHN F. QUICK.
The present popular and faithful postmaster at Swartz Creek, Gaines township, this county, John F. Quick, hails from the old Keystone state, which has sent so many of her sterling citizens into the West which they have helped develop through their courage, enterprise and excellent ideals of citizenship. He was born in Carbondale, Luzerne county, Pennsylvania, February 25, 1863, son of Francis and Mariah L. (Lake) Quick, the former of whom was born on a farm in Luzerne county, that state. When he was five years old, Francis Quick's father died and he was bound out to a miller to learn the millwright trade, and so spent his boyhood in a flour mill. He became a skilled millwright, which trade he followed for some time. then turned his attention to carpentering and finally to mercantile pur- suits. He was also postmaster at Dunmore, Pennsylvania, for a few years. In 1878, John F. Quick being then fifteen years old, the family came to Michigan, locating in Gaines township, Genesee county, where the father worked some at his trade and there spent the rest of his life, dying in 1892, his widow surviving ten years, dying in 1902. They were parents of five children, two of whom reached maturity, John F., the subject of this sketch. and Almon S., who lives in the city of Flint. The mother was previously married twice, and had three children before her marriage with Francis Quick. Her first two husbands died in New York state, after which she moved to Pennsylvania with relatives and there met and married Mr. Quick. He, too, had been previously married and had two children by his first wife.
John F. Quick attended the public schools in Pennsylvania until he was fifteen years of age. About five years later he learned the painter's trade, which he followed more or less for twenty years, making his home in Gaines township, this county. After his marriage in 1889 he located on
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his farm in section 23, Gaines township, where he continued to reside until appointed postmaster at Swartz Creek. July 1, 1915, the duties of which office he has since discharged in a highly satisfactory manner.
On March 20, 1889, John F. Quick was married to Belle Van Horn, a daughter of John Van Horn, of Gaines township. Mr. Quick is a Demo- crat and has long been active in local party affairs. He served as justice of the peace for four years and as township clerk for three years, filling these offices in an able and conscientious manner. He is charter member of Clayton Arbor Lodge of the Gleaners at Swartz Creek, and is also a men- ber of Swartz Creek Lodge No. 458. Free and Accepted Masons, in the affairs of both of which organizations he takes a warm interest.
HORACE W. GILBERT.
Another honored pioneer citizen of Genesee county is Horace W. Gilbert, a retired farmer living in Swartz Creek, Gaines township, now in his eightieth year. During the sixty-four years that he has lived in this locality he has noted "many changes come over the face of the land," the country having been practically a wilderness when he came here, and talks interestingly of the early days. Horace W. Gilbert was born near Mt. Morris, New York, September 4, 1836, a son of Luther and Hannah ( Wis- ner ) Gilgert, both natives of New York state, where they grew up, were married and lived on a farm until 1852 when they came to Genesee county, Michigan, the father having made a previous trip here, purchasing a farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Genesee township, near Mt. Morris, later returning to his native state for his family. Here he cleared and improved his land and he and his wife spent the rest of their lives on it. Luther Gilbert was a Whig when a young man, and later a stanch Republican, though never sought or held public office. He was an active member of the Baptist church and a deacon in the same for years. His family consisted of six children, Horace W. being the youngest and the only present survivor.
Horace W. Gilbert was sixteen years old when he came to Genesee county, and he assisted his father clear the home place and establish the new home, remaining there until he was twenty years of age. In 1856 he began working at the carpenter's trade, which he followed for a number of years. becoming a skilled workman. He presently purchased one hundred and six acres of wild land which he cleared and improved into a good farm. The
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place, now known as "Spring Brook Farm," lies in section 14, Gaines town- ship. There Mr. Gilbert continued to reside until 1906, when he rented his farm and retired from active life, moving to the village of Swartz Creek, where he has since resided.
On July 4, 1858, Horace W. Gilbert was married to Mercy M. Rall, a daughter of Jacob Rall and wife, who came to Genesee county from the state of New York in 1837, being among the first settlers in Clayton town- ship, where Mrs. Gilbert was born and reared. To Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert three children have been born, namely: Luther, who died in early life; Mary Jane, now deceased, who was the wife of J. D. Thompson, and Fred- erick H., who lives on the home place.
Mr. Gilbert is a Republican and served as treasurer of Gaines township for two years. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church at Swartz Creek and he has been a trustee of the same for years, also chorister for the past half century, and is still acting in this latter capacity. Mr. Gilbert has been one of the main pillars of this congregation for many decades and has always borne a most excellent reputation and is well known over the county. For six years he was a member of the board of directors of the Genesee Farmers Mutual Fire Insurance Company.
J. J. KURTZ, M. D.
Dr. J. J. Kurtz was born in Genesee township, this county, August 7, 1887, and is a son of Daniel and Nellie (Lapp) Kurtz, whose family con- sists of six children, namely: Grace, who has received a good education ; Raymond, who was graduated from the Flint high school and from the Michigan Agricultural College in civil engineering, and now resides in Flint ; Loron, who was also graduated in civil engineering; Dr. J. J., of this sketch ; Clayton, who is farming in Genesee township.
Doctor Kurtz was reared on the home farm and educated in the Flint high school, then entered the college of liberal arts of Northwestern University, Chicago, from which he was graduated in 19to. He then entered the medical department of the same institution, from which he was graduated in 1914 with the degree of Doctor of Medicine. After spending one year as interne in a general hospital, he came to Otisville, Genesee county. He belongs to the Genesee County Medical Society, the Michigan Medical
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