USA > Michigan > Genesee County > History of Genesee County, Michigan, Her People, Industries and Institutions, Volume II > Part 27
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Thomas Hill was born on a farm near King's Lynn, Norfolk, in 1818
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and grew to manhood there. He married in England and when well along toward middle age he came to the United States with his family, proceeding directly to Michigan and settling at Ann Arbor, where he lived for two years, at the end of which time, in 1853, he came to Genesee county and bought a tract of sixty acres of uncleared land in section 36 of Genesee township, established his home in what then was a woodland wilderness and there he and his wife spent the rest of their lives. When the Hills settled in Genesee township there were no roads reaching out in that direction and their place was reached by an old Indian trail. Thomas Hill became one of the leaders in the pioneer life of his neighborhood and was a man of influence in his community. He became a Republican upon the organization of that party and was ever afterward actively identified with that party. He and his wife were members of the Methodist church and were regarded as among the leaders in good works in their section. Thomas Hill lived to be seventy-five years of age, his death occurring in 1893. He and his wife were the parents of seven children, of whom but two now survive, the subject of this sketch having a brother, Thomas W. Hill, born in 1847, who is now living in Cleveland, Ohio.
Frank H. Hill was reared on the paternal farm in Genesee township and received his schooling in the primitive schools in the neighborhood of his home. Upon reaching manhood's estate he continued to make his home on the old home farm and for some years before the death of his father was engaged in operating the farm on shares. After his marriage he established his home on the old home place and has continued to live there. As he pros- pered in his farming operations he added to his hoklings until now he is the owner of a fine farm of two hundred and thirty acres. In addition to his general farming Mr. Hill for years has been actively interested in dairying and has a fine herd of thoroughbred Holsteins. His dairy barn, constructed with cement floors and equipped along modern lines, has a capacity to accom- modate forty-five head and he also has two capacious silos. The farm is thoroughly tiled and the other improvements are in keeping with those here mentioned, the place being looked upon as one of the model farms in that locality.
It was on July 29, 1884, that Frank H. Hill was united in marriage to Flora Selleck, who was born in Grand Blanc, this county, July 29, 1862. daughter of Charles M. and Maria ( Brainard) Selleck, and to this union two children have been born, Walter T., who married Helen Ashley and is now living on the farm, associated with his father in the dairy business, and Elton, who was graduated from the Michigan Agricultural College and is
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now an agricultural agent in Menominee county, this state. Mr. and Mrs. Hill have a very pleasant home and take a warm interest in the general affairs of the community in which they live, ever helpful in the work of promoting movements designed to advance the common welfare thereabout.
WILLIAM TINKER.
One of the venerable and honored citizens of Genesee county, who, after a successful and protracted career as a foundry and machine-shop owner, is now living retired, is William Tinker, of Vienna township. He was born in Monroe county, Ohio, July 22, 1837, and son and only child of William and Levinia ( Rathborn) Tinker. The father was born in Massa- chusetts, September 30, 1814, and the mother was born in Ashtabula county, Ohio. In 1865 William Tinker. Sr., brought his family to Michigan, locat- ing in Vienna township. this county, and there, with his son, built a machine- shop in the village of Pine Run, where he spent the rest of his life, dying in 1889. at the age of seventy-five years. His first wife, the mother of the subject of this sketch, died in Ohio when only twenty-two years of age, after which he married Sarah Green, who was born in Pennsylvania about 1821. Her death occurred in 1896, when about seventy years of age. Four children were born to that second union, namely: Ellen, who married Will- iam Underhill; Francis, second in order of birth: Ida, who married J. P. Frazie, and Frederick O.
William Tinker. Jr., spent his boyhood in the state of Ohio and received a common school education. His father was a machinist who taught this trade to his son, and young Tinker worked in the machine-shop and foundry, which was owned by his father, until 1865, when the family moved to this county. However, prior to that the elder Tinker and his son had purchased some land in Vienna township. but instead of developing it they established a machine-shop at Pine Run, also operated in connection a foundry and blacksmith shop and built up an extensive business manufacturing and re- pairing general farming machinery, threshing-machines, steam engines, plows and the like. After the father's death the son continued operating the plant with increasing business until in 1915, when the entire plant was destroyed by fire. He rebuilt a small shop, but has since not been doing very much work. He is highly skilled as a mechanic and was always kept busy. It was a severe loss to the entire locality when his large plant burned.
On December 9, 1857, William Tinker was married to Selerie Fox,
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who was born in Kingsville, Ohio, June 3, 1840, a daughter of Eliezer and Emerancy (Ward) Fox, the former of whom was born at Grafton, New Hampshire, April 30, 1808, and the latter at Ashfield, Massachusetts, in 1814. They moved to Ohio about 1830, locating near Kingsville on a farm. There Mr. Fox died in 1844, at the early age of thirty-six years. His widow came to Michigan, in which state she spent the rest of her life, reaching an advanced age, dying in 1901, when eighty-six years old. They were the parents of two children, Mrs. Tinker having a brother, Eliezer. To Mr. and Mrs. Tinker five children have been born, namely: Frank, born on April 26. 1859: Edith, February 27, 1861 ; Harry C., September 26, 1863 ; Lena F., November 11, 1865, and Florence L., July 24, 1868, who died at the age of sixteen years.
Politically, Mr. Tinker is a Democrat. He was township supervisor for some time while living in Midland county during the seventies, and has been school director at Pine Run for the past eighteen years. He is owner of some good farming land near Pine Run. In 1871 he built a shingle-mill in his shop, which he took to Midland county, where he spent five years engaged in manufacturing shingles. He also cut shingles in his mill at Pine Run until the timber was exhausted in that locality.
ROBERT WALTER SELLECK.
Robert Walter Selleck, well-known druggist at No. 518 South Saginaw street, Flint, and a member of the board of directors of the Union Trust and Savings Bank of that city, is a native son of Flint and has lived there all his life. He was born on July 2, 1867, son of Charles and Maria (Brainard) Selleck, the former a native of New York state and the latter of Michigan; the father of whom is still living, the mother dying on April 13, 1916. They were the parents of six children, of whom the subject of this sketch is the third in order of birth, the others being as follow: Charles B., of Davison, this county; Flora, wife of Frank H. Hill, of Genesee township, this county ; Lillian, wife of William Branch, of Bay City, this state; Estella, wife of Dr. Arthur Johnson, of Spokane, Washington, and Gertrude, wife of Hawley Permeter, of Flint.
Charles Selleck was born in Genesee county, New York, son of James Selleck and wife, both natives of that state, who, driving through from Port Huron by ox-team, came to Michigan in the early days of the settlement of
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this region with their children, James, Henry, Hubbard, Edward, Theodore, Sammuel, ( harles and Minerva, and located on a farm in the neighboring county of Lapeer. There Jantes Selleck and his wife spent their last days, both living to be well along in years. Charles Selleck was about fourteen years old when he came to Michigan with his parents and he grew to man- hood on the pioneer farm in Lapeer county. He married Maria Brainard, who was born in that county, member of a pioneer family, youngest of the three daughters born to her parents, the others being Ida and Julia. Shortly afterward he came over into Genesee county, settling on a farm in Grand Blanc township, where he lived until 1865, in which year he moved to Flint, where he engaged in the drayage business. Presently he was made superin- tendent of the farm connected with the state school for the deal at Flint and served in that capacity for ten years, at the end of which time he bought a quarter of a section of land in Richfield township and there made his home until he sold the farm and retired to Davison, where he lived until the death of his wife, then removing to Flint, where he now resides. He is a member of the Baptist church.
Robert W. Selleck was reared at Flint and received his education in the public schools of that city. When thirteen years of age he began working nights, mornings and Saturdays in a drug store and upon completing his schooling, three years later, took up the study of pharmacy in earnest and presently received his certificate as a registered pharmacist. On January I, 1906, he bought the old-established drug store of L. Church & Son at Flint and has ever since been very successfully engaged in the drug business on his own account. In June, 1916, Mr. Selleck completed what is conceded to be one of the finest drug stores in the state. Mr. Selleck has other interests besides those represented in his drug business and is one of the directors of the Union Trust and Savings Bank of Flint. He is a Republican and gives earnest attention to local political affairs, but has never been a seeker after public office.
On September 18, 1889, Robert W. Selleck was united in marriage to Lena Todd, who was born in Genesee township, this county, August 20. 1871, daughter of Washington LaFayette and Anna Eliza ( Morehouse ) Todd, both natives of Michigan, the latter of whom is still living, and who were the parents of two children, Mrs. Selleck having a brother, Arthur M. Todd. To this union two children have been born, Carlotta and Robert. Mr. and Mrs. Selleck are members of the Presbyterian church and take an
(18a)
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earnest interest in the various movements organized for the purpose of advancing the best interests of the community. Mr. Selleck is a thirty- second-degree Mason, affiliated with the consistory of the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite, at Detroit, and is a noble of Elf Khurafeh Temple, Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, at Saginaw. His local con- nection with the Masonic order is through membership in Genesee Lodge No. 174, Free and Accepted Masons; Washington Chapter No. 15, Royal Arch Masons, and Genesee Valley Commandery No. 15, Knights Templar.
CHESTER H. BLISS.
One of the progressive men of affairs of Flint is Chester H. Bliss, proprietor of the Bryant Hotel. He takes a pride in the advancement of his city and county, and heartily supports such movements as make toward that end. He comes of an honest, rugged pioneer family, one that was active and well known in Genesee county in its early history.
Chester H. Bliss was born at Flushing, this county, and is a son of Solon C. and Harriet (Lyon) Bliss, natives of Vermont and New York City, respectively, and parents of two children, the subject of this sketch having had a sister, Belle, who died when five years of age. The father died his son, Chester, was fourteen months of age. The Lyon family established their permanent home at Morris, where the father, Guy Lyon, and wife died. Their family consisted of the following children: William, Mal- colm, Sarah, Helen, Harriet, Cornelia, Lewis, Julia, Horace and John. The paternal grandparents were natives of New York, from which state they came to Michigan and settled in Genesee county in an early day and en- gaged in farming, Grandfather Bliss clearing and improving wild land. His family consisted of four sons, Chester, Richard, Solon and Charles.
Chester H. Bliss was four years old when he removed with the family from Flushing to Grand Rapids, where he lived until he was sixteen years old, and there he attended the public schools, graduating from the high school, then studied at the Swenberg Business College in that city. He moved to Flint in 1878 and clerked in the store of D. B. Lyon & Company, later having charge of the general store of the Pentwater Lumber Company, at Pentwater, Michigan, presently returning to Flint and accepting a position as bookkeeper for Wood & Atwood, which position he held until he entered the service of the Grand Trunk Railway as abstract clerk, and afterwards as
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cashier for that road at Port Huron, later being appointed to the position chief clerk at Durand. He was then Detroit representative of the West Shore Railroad for two years, afterwards filling a similar position for the Lehigh Valley Railroad; then traveled as freight agent for Michigan, and later as state agent. He then spent five years as traveling representative of the Cincinnati, Hamilton & Dayton Railroad. In 1908 he began his connec- tion with the Bryant Hotel in Flint, in partnership with Edward Vosberg, with whom he was associated until 1913, when he bought Mr. Vosberg's interest, and has since been the sole proprietor. On June 19, 1914, the house suffered considerable loss by fire.
On June 24, 1892, Chester H. Bliss was married to Gertrude B. Has- call, a daughter of Henry C. and Belle (Decker) Hascall. She was born in Flint, where she grew up and was educated. Her parents were also natives of that city. Mr. Hascall devoted his active life to the lumber business. His death occurred at Dyersburg, Tennessee, in 1900, where he had been engaged in business about twelve years. He was sixty years of age. His widow survives. They were parents of five children, Harry, Gertrude, Genevieve, Nancy and Carlton. Charles M. and Nancy (Rounds) Hascall, the paternal grandparents of Mrs. Bliss, were pioneers in Flint, this locality, which was still the haunts of Indians when they took up their residence in this vicinity. He was receiver of public moneys. Here he and his wife spent the rest of their lives, his death occurring in middle life, the grand- mother living to an advanced age. They were parents of five children who grew to maturity, Charles, Angeline, Esther, Richard and Henry. The ma- ternal grandparents of Mrs. Bliss were Grant and Julia (Fenton) Decker, also pioneers in Genesee county. Mr. Decker was one of the leading busi- ness men of Flint for many years and was for some time in partnership with Henry C. Hascall. He devoted liis earlier career to general mercantile pursuits and also ran a flouring-mill. The grandfathers of Mrs. Bliss made the race for the office of first mayor of Flint-opposing each other. Grant Decker died in this city at an advanced age. Among his children were Isabella, Genevieve, Julia and Kate. Both grandfathers had been previously married, and had children by their first wives.
Two sons have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Bliss, Chester Hascall Bliss, who is identified with the Childs-Bliss Auto Company of Flint, and Edwin, who is attending school.
Mr. and Mrs. Bliss are members of St. Paul's Episcopal church. Politi- cally, Mr. Bliss is a Republican, and fraternally, he is a member of Genesee Lodge No. 174, Free and Accepted Masons; of Washington Chapter No.
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15, Royal Arch Masons; of Flint Council, Royal and Select Masters; of Genesee Valley Commandery No. 15, Knights Templar; Bay City Consis- tory, Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite, and Elf Khurafeh Temple, Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. He also is a member of Ivanhoe Lodge, Knights of Pytliias, and of Flint Lodge No. 222, Benevo- lent and Protective Order of Elks.
WALTER S. DAVIS, V. S.
Dr. Walter S. Davis, well-known veterinary surgeon at Flushing, was born in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, August 17, 1877, a son of Walter A. and Selina ( Boyd) Davis.
Walter A. Davis was born in Hamilton, Ontario, September 18, 1851. He was engaged in farming near Hamilton until 1883, when he came to the United States and located at Lake View, Montcalm county, Michigan, settled on a farm and followed farming for the rest of his active life. Some years ago he retired and is now living in the village of Langston, Michigan. He was left an orphan in early life and has made his own way in the world. He is ardently devoted to the interests of the Republican party. Selina (Boyd ) Davis is also a native of Hamilton, Ontario, and was also left an orphan, her parents dying when she was but three months old. She was adopted by Henry Burkholder and wife, by whom she was reared as an own child. Her father was an army officer and was killed. To Doctor Davis and wife five children were born, namely: Delbert, who died at the age of twenty-eight ; Walter S., the subject of this sketch; Myrtle, who married Dr. St. Elmo King, a veterinary surgeon, living at Lake View, Michigan; George, living on the old home farm in Michigan, and Ethel. who married Vernie All and lives at Flint.
Dr. Walter S. Davis received part of his schooling in Hamilton, Ontario, but most of his education was obtained at Lake View and in the district schools of Montcalm county. After his school years he worked on his father's farm, and also rented some land and farmed on his own account He continued farming until he went to Grand Rapids to enter the veterinary college at that place. He took a three years' course in that institution, work- ing during the summer vacation on the home farm. After completing his college course he engaged in the practice of his profession at Boyne City. Michigan, remaining there for two years and a half. He then removed to
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Marion, Michigan, where he conducted a drug store in connection with his practice for two years. In 1911 he sold out his business at Marion and moved to Flushing, where he has since continued his practice, which has been stead- ily growing and covers a large territory. For a few years after locating at Flushing he conducted a livery stable, but sold that in 1915. He carries a full line of drugs and remedies pertaining to his practice, and sells them over the country by wagon.
Doctor Davis was married on August 25, 1898, to Martha Ball, who was born in Langston, Michigan, September 23, 1877, a daughter of Fred and Ella ( Wilcox) Ball, natives of Langston, and to this union three chil- dren have been born, Laura, Mable and Edna, all in school. Doctor Davis is a Republican and is active and influential in the affairs of that party. He has several times been a delegate from his county to the state conventions of his party and has been elected to several town and township offices. For the past four years he has served as trustee of the village of Flushing. He is a member of the Masonic lodge at Flushing.
CHARLES CALVIN LUCE.
Charles Calvin Luce, a well-known and successful farmer, was born one mile east of Flushing on January 5, 1878, the son of Calvin W. and Florence (Sutton) Luce, both of whom were natives of Michigan. Calvin W. Luce was born in Hillsdale county on October 7, 1846. His very early life was spent there, but his mother died when he was but a child, and his father, owing to ill health was compelled to return to the state of New York. Young Calvin was bound out until he was twenty-one years of age and was brought to Genesee county, where he grew to manhood. On reaching his majority, he began work for himself, with the farmers of the county. He later bought a farm, on which he lived for some years. He then worked on farms for others before he purchased the farm east of Flushing, where he made his home until his death on September 6, 1912. He was a stanch Republican and he and his wife were active workers in the Methodist Episcopal church. Fraternally, he was a member of the Maccabees.
Florence Sutton was born in Flushing township on March 28, 1850. It was there that he received her education and grew to womanhood and was later married to Calvin W. Luce. To Calvin and Florence (Sutton) Luce were born the following children: Ira, a farmer of Mt. Morris township;
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Jennie, the wife of O. Eugene Soper, of Mt. Morris township; Clarence, a farmer of Flushing township, and Charles C.
Charles C. Luce received his education in the schools of Mt. Morris township and in the high school at Mt. Morris. After completing his school- ing he remained at home until 1898, when he worked on farms for others for a number of years. He then returned to the home place which he worked with his brother, Clarence, for one year. He then was engaged by the .Standard Oil Company at Mt. Morris for some time, but owing to sickness was compelled to resign his position. He then went to the home of his father and later worked by the day for one summer. In the winter he re- turned to Mt. Morris where he was engaged by Christopher Green to drive a dray team. In the spring he returned to the home farm and worked for his father for one year.
On October 29, 1902, Charles C. Luce was married to Florence A. Bump, who was born on November 2, 1877, in Flushing township, daughter of Henry and Delecto (Richardson) Bump, and to this union four children have been born, namely: Gladys, born on January 22, 1904; Harold W., June 7, 1909; Hazel Delecto, August 19, 1910, and Rena May, June 19, 1912.
After his marriage, Charles C. Luce rented his father's farm for three years, and in connection with that he also cultivated an adjoining farm. He then, in 1905, bought the farm of eighty acres in section 23, where he now lives and where he is engaged in general farming and stock raising. He also buys many cattle to feed and raises and feeds quite a bunch of hogs each year. The farm is well improved, the improvements including a large barn and silo.
Politically, Mr. Luce is a Republican and, fraternally, he is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Mr. Luce and his family are active members of the Methodist Episcopal church.
WALTER C. BAILEY.
It matters little what vocation a man may select as his life occupation as long as it is an honorable one. Certainly no calling is more honorable than that of farming-the most ancient of man's varied lines of work. Walter C. Bailey, of Monroe township, is one of Genesee county's energetic farmers. He was born in Niagara county, New York, October 12, 1874, and is a son of Nathaniel and Sarah L. (Layland) Bailey. The father was born in
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Vermont, June 3, 1847. He worked at farming until the breaking out of the Civil War, when he enlisted in a Vermont infantry regiment in which he served for some time, then moved to the state of New York and enlisted a second time, in Company F, Eighth New York Heavy Artillery, and served until the close of the war, taking part in many important engagements. He was honorably discharged, after which he returned to New York and bought a small farm, and there married his first wife, Caroline Layland. He con- tinued to live on his farm there until the death of his wife, then came to Michigan and settled in Mt. Morris township, Genesee county, where he married Sarah L. Wayland. A year later he returned to the state of New York where he spent five years, then removed to Russell, Kansas, where he spent one year, then went back to New York for three years, after which he returned to this county and settled in Mt. Morris township. Three years later, in 1886, he moved to Montrose township, buying forty acres on which he spent the rest of his life, dying on April 4, 1907, at the age of sixty years. He was a Republican and a member of the Grand Army of the Republic. His last wife was born on March 6, 1854, probably in the state of New York, and when young came with her sister to Michigan. Her death occurred on August 28, 1914, at the age of sixty years. Two children were born to Nathaniel Bailey and his first wife, Nellie, who married Joseph Love, and Hiram. Three children were born by his second wife, Walter C., the sub- ject of this sketch; Edward and Frank.
Walter C. Bailey wsa educated in the public schools. He worked out by the month when a young man, finally buying forty acres in Montrose town- ship, where he was living when he married Ella M. Carpenter on March 18, 1899. She was born in Mt. Morris township, this county, June 3, 1878, and is å daughter of Henry and Lillian (McDowell) Carpenter, the former of whom was a successful farmer. His family consisted of seven children, those besides Mrs. Bailey being as follow: Maggie, who is the wife of Frank Donnelly; Elmer, who is employed in the government mint at Wash- ington, D. C., a twin brother of Edbert, who lives in Flint; Esther, the wife of E. J. Cuddeback, of Owosso; Claude, who married Florence Leyrer and is living on the old homestead, and Murel, the wife of J. C. Cuddeback, of Flushing. To Mr. and Mrs. Bailey four children have been born, namely : Earl, born on January 4, 1900; Carl, January 27, 1901 ; Archie, January 30, 1904, and Beatrice, May 23, 1909.
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