USA > Michigan > Genesee County > History of Genesee County, Michigan, Her People, Industries and Institutions, Volume II > Part 28
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After his marriage, Mr. Bailey continued to live on his farm for four years, then sold out and bought forty acres, later buying fifty acres adjoin- ing. In 1915 he bought the old homestead of forty acres and is now oper-
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ating one hundred and thirty acres, all under cultivation. He is raising an excellent grade of live stock, including thoroughbred Holstein cattle. He built a good house in 1911, which he recently remodeled. Politically, Mr Bailey is a Republican. He served as township treasurer in 1909 and 1910. He has also served as township constable, as justice of the peace and as treasurer of his school district, giving eminent satisfaction in all these posi- tions of public trust. He is a Royal Arch Mason, a member of the blue lodge and the chapter at Montrose, and is also a member of the Gleaners.
FRANK C. HITCHCOCK.
Frank C. Hitchcock, a well-known and progressive merchant of Genesee, this county, dealer in general hardware, implements, builders' supplies and the like, is a native son of Michigan and has lived in this state all his life. He was born in the city of Saginaw, in the neighboring county of that name, June 12, 1869, son of Henry A. and Catherine ( Macy ) Hitchcock, the former a native of Ohio and the latter of Michigan, for many years well-known residents of Genesee township, this county, where the former is still living.
Henry A. Hitchcock was born on a farm in Lorain county, Ohio, in .August, 1841, and was but a youth when his parents, Samuel and Phoebe ( White ) Hitchcock, the latter of whom was a direct descendant of Peregrine White, came to Michigan and settled in Genesee township, this county. Samuel Hitchcock was a blacksmith and started the first blacksmith shop in that part of the county, at Kearsley, where he continued in business for years and where he spent the rest of his life, a useful and influential pioneer resident. He organized the first school in Genesee township, in the Tanner district, and also organized the first Sunday school. Henry \. Hitchcock grew to manhood in Genesee township. becoming an expert blacksmith and mill man. There he married Catherine Macy, who was born in Lenawee county, this state, February 22, 1844, and who was but two or three years of age when her parents, Richard and Catherine ( Dallott ) Macy, came to this county and settled on a homestead farm in section 24, Genesee town- ship, where they spent the remainder of their lives, prominent pioneer citizens. After his father's death, Henry A. Hitchcock went to Saginaw, where he installed the machinery in R. J. Bennett's first planing-mill there. He remained there as superintendent of various mills until :880, when he returned to Genesee county, bought a forty-acre farm in section 24 of Genesee
MR. AND MRS. FRANK C. HITCHCOCK.
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township, adjoining that of his wife's old home, and there established his home. He still retained his practical connection with the mills after moving there, however, and his sons managed the farm, he being thus engaged until his retirement from active labor some years ago. He is a member of the Baptist church, a Republican and a member of the Knights of the Maccabees. His wife died on April 1I, 1915, at the age of seventy-two years. They were the parents of two children, Samuel, who is liying on the old Macy homestead in section 24, Genesee township, and Frank C., the subject of this biographical sketch.
Frank C. Hitchcock was about eleven years old when his parents returned to this county from Saginaw, the place of his birth, and he com- pleted his schooling in the schools of Genesee township, after which he became engaged in the milling business. He was thus engaged for about ten years, for two years with the Wright Lumber Company; for two years with the C. K. Eddy Lumber Company; for three years with the Temple- Emory Milling Company and for some years with the Jackson Manufactur- ing Company. In the meantime, in 1890, Mr. Hitchcock had married one of his Genesee county neighbor girls and in 1897 he returned to this county and opened a blacksmith shop south of the railroad in the village of Gen- esee. In 1903 he moved that shop to the site now occupied by his hardware store in the village and opened a store with a small stock of hardware. His business grew from the very start and presently he erected a new store building, moving the old building to the rear, and he since has made other additions to his store building, doubling its former capacity. He now carries, in addition to a general line of hardware, a full line of agricultural imple- ments, saddlery. paints, fencing, building supplies, auto supplies and the like and is doing a very good business. Mr. Hitchcock is an enterprising and energetic business man and constructed the first cement sidewalk laid in the village of Genesee. He has a fine white-brick residence, electrically lighted, and he and his family are very pleasantly situated. Mr. Hitchcock is a Republican and is a member of the local school board. He is a member of the Masonic lodge at Otisville and takes a warm interest in Masonic affairs.
In 1890 Frank C. Hitchcock was united in marriage to Nettie Wert- man, who was born in Niagara county, New York, June 14, 1869, and who was twelve years old when her parents, George and Mary Ann (Leib) Wert- man, came to Michigan and settled on a farm in seetion 18, Richfield town- ship, this county, where they lived until their retirement from the farm and removal to Flint. where George Wertman died in 1914. His widow is now
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making her home with her daughter, Mrs. Hitchcock, in Genesee. Nettie Wertman grew to womanhood on the parental farm in Richfield township and remained there until her marriage to Mr. Hitchcock. To that union two children have been born. Mabel, born on September 18, 1892, and Royal, July 6, 1893.
CLARENCE LUCE.
Clarence Luce, the son of Calvin W. and Florence (Sutton) Luce, was born in Flushing township, this county, on November 7, 1875.
Calvin W. Luce was born on. October 7, 1846, in Hillsdale county. He lived there but a few years and was bound out until he was twenty-one years of age, to a family in Genesee county. After serving his time he began to work for others on his own account. After a time he bought a farm just east of Flushing, where he lived for some years, after which he lived on several different farms before he located on the one near Flushing, where he died on September 6, 1912. He was a stanch Republican and an active worker in the Methodist Episcopal church. He also was a member of the order of Maccabees.
Florence (Sutton) Luce was born on March 28, 1850, in Flushing township and in the same house where Clarence Luce was born, twenty-five years later. She and Calvin W. Luce were the parents of four children : Ira, a farmer of Mt. Morris township; Jennie, the wife of O. Eugene Soper, of Mt. Morris township; Clarence, and Charles C., the latter of whom also is a farmer of Flushing township.
Clarence Luce received his education in the schools of Flushing, Flint, and Mt. Morris townships and later attended the normal school at Flint. After completing his schooling he returned to the home farm, where he assisted his father for one year, at the end of which time he purchased a farm of eighty acres in section 25, Flushing township. He then married Frances M. Hackney, who was born in Mt. Morris township on April 25, 1874, a daughter of Johnson and Mary (Pailthorp) Hackney.
Johnson Hackney was born in Lincolnshire, England, on May 13, 1836, and when twenty years of age, came to the United States, with his sister, locating in Mt. Morris township, this county, where he lived until his death in 1905. On November 9, 1864, he was married to Mary Pailthorp, who . was born in Mt. Morris township on February 13, 1845, spent all her life there and is buried on the farm where she was born. She was the daughter
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of William and Frances (Sisson) Pailthorp, natives of England and early settlers of this county. Johnson Hackney and wife were the parents of five children, those besides Mrs. Luce being as follow: Edward, of Flint; Clar- ence, of Mt. Morris township; Eugene, of Vienna township, and Reuben, of Flint. Mr. and Mrs. Hackney were active members of the Methodist Episco- pal church and took much interest in all church work.
Frances Luce received her education in the schools of Mt. Morris town- ship. It was there that she grew to womanhood and was married to Clarence Luce on December 12, 1900. To this union three children have been born: Beatrice Mary, born on July 8, 1902; Mildred Hackney, December 14, 1904, who died on May 27, 1914, and Marguerite Johnson, December 3, 1913.
Clarence Luce lived on his original eighty-acre farm for seven years, during which time he added forty acres to the place. In 1908 he purchased one hundred and ten acres in section 23, Flushing township, and there made his home for five years. In 1912 he bought a home in Flushing, where he lived for two years, after which he purchased fifty-eight acres in section 25, Flushing township, where he has since made his home. He manages all his farms and engaged in general farming and stock raising. He specializes in pure-bred Holstein cattle, of which he has about twenty-five head. He raises . and feeds many hogs and sheep. Besides his other interests he owns a half interest in the Flushing Butter Company and is a stockholder in the con- pany that is operating the canning factory.
Politically, Mr. Luce is a Republican and takes an interest in local civic affairs. Fraternally, he is a member of the Knights of Pythias. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church at Flushing and take much interest in church work.
GEORGE E. MUNDY.
George E. Mundy was born in Clayton township, Genesee county, Mich- igan, December 23, 1860, the son of Thomas and Mary Jane (Darling) Mundy. Thomas Mundy was born in Devonshire, England, November 16, 1838. In July, 1850, he came to the United States with his parents, John and Sarah (Butcher) Mundy, also natives of Devonshire. The other two children of this family who came with their parents at that time were John and Charles. John Mundy bought eighty acres of land in section 15, Clay- ton township, this county, from a man who had just taken it up as govern-
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ment land. It was all wild land and he began the work of clearing it up and getting it in shape for cultivation. He built a log house and made that place his home until his death, which occurred four years after coming to the United States. His wife continued to live there after the death of her hus- band, her son, Thomas, taking charge of the farm and taking care of his mother until her death at the age of ninety-two years.
Thomas Mundy was married in March, 1860, at the age of twenty-one. He continued to make his home on the old home farm for many years, buy- ing more land, from time to time, but always kept the old homestead. He was engaged in general farming and stock raising. He was township drain commissioner for fourteen years, and laid out and overhauled all the drains in Clayton township. He held the office of justice of the peace and other township offices, was administrator of several estates and served as district school officer and director. He was a member of the Baptist church and his political affiliation was with the Democratic party. After the death of his first wife he married Anna Brown, now in Canada. Soon after his second marriage he sold his homestead to his younger son, reserving only forty acres for himself, and practically retired from active work. He is still living.
Mary Jane ( Darling ) Mundy, mother of George E. Mundy, was born in Lockport, New York, November 21, 1842, a daughter of Dr. Serenis and Mary (Goyer) Darling. Doctor Darling was a native of Connecticut. His father was also a doctor, and his lineage on his mother's side, runs back to the physician who accompanied General LaFayette to this country. His wife was a native of Vermont, also with an ancestry dating from colonial times. There were eight children in the family of Doctor and Mrs. Darling, Electa, Anna, George, Serenis, Clarissa, Mary Jane, Henry and Hiram. Mary Jane Darling came to Genesee county with an uncle, William Goyer, and lived on the Goyer farm now owned by James Bendle, in Clayton town- ship until her marriage to Thomas Mundy. To that union twelve children were born, three of whom died in infancy. The others are: George E., sub- ject of this sketch ; Henry, who died in September, 1912; Sarah, who married John H. Callender and lives at Ypsilanti, Michigan; Charles, who lives on the old Mundy homestead; Anna, who married Daniel Rose, a farmer in Clayton township; Juna and Chauncey, both deceased; Clara, who died from accident when young : Ray, living at Pontiac, Michigan, and Mary Jane, who died in 1890, aged forty-seven years.
George E. Mundy was educated in the district schools of Clayton town- ship. When twenty-three years old he bought forty acres of wild land in Clayton township, which he cleared and put in condition for cultivation. He
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remained on that farm until about 1899, having added sixty acres more land to his original purchase in the meantime. He sold out then and removed to Flint, where he engaged in the produce business for about eight months, at the end of which time he purchased one hundred and twenty-one acres of land in Clayton township and again engaged in farming, continuing thus engaged for about two years. In 1902 he sold out and moved to Flushing, where, in partnership with E. L. Bucher, he engaged in the buggy business. After five years this partnership was dissolved and George E. Mundy bought the hotel in Flushing then known as the Eggleston House. He changed the name to Hotel Mundy and conducted it for seven years and two months, at the end of which time he sold out and has since continued to look after his farm that he has owned and operated himself for eleven years, hiring the work done, but still living in the village. Mr. Mundy has made a success in business, starting, as he did, in a log house on forty acres of wild land.
On November 1. 1883, George E. Mundy was married to Mary Vernon, daughter of Enoch and Hannah ( Bailey) Vernon, who were among the early pioneers of Flushing township. Mrs. Mundy was educated in the district schools of the township and in the Flushing high school, and then was engaged in teaching up to the time of her marriage. To Mr. and Mrs. Mundy have been born two children, Floy, who died at the age of fourteen years, the result of an accident, and Hazel May, a graduate of the Flushing high school and of the Michigan Agricultural College, who taught domestic science in the Midland high school in the year 1915. Mr. Mundy's church affiliation is with the Presbyterian church. In politics, he is a Republican. He has served as township treasurer of Clayton township and as drain commissioner of Flushing township. He is a Royal Arch Mason, a member of the blue lodge and of the chapter at Flushing.
CLAUDE HOLDEN.
One of the most enterprising of the younger farmers of Thetford town- ship, is Claude Holden, who is now the efficient treasurer of the township. He was born in the above-named township on November II. 1890, and is a son of A. J. and Elizabeth (Craig) Holden. The father was born in this county in the year 1849. The mother was born in Canada in 1864, and when young in years she came to this county, where she met and married Mr. Holden. Here they have engaged in general farming and are living in
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Mt. Morris township. They are parents of four children, namely : Bertha, who is the wife of Bert Tryon; Carrie, wife of Otis Cook; Winnifred E., the wife of Elias Berkman, of Flint, and Claude, the subject of this sketch.
Claude Holden was reared on the home farm in Thetford township, where he worked when a boy, and he received his education in the district schools, which he attended until he was eighteen years of age. Mr. Holden has always followed farming, and is now owner of sixty acres in section 3, Thetford township, on which he is making a very comfortable living.
On March 2, 1915, Claude Holden was married to Blanche Whitman, who was reared in that same locality and attended school there, her par- ents having settled in that part of Genesee county many years ago. To Mr. and Mrs. Holden one child has been born, Claude Max, whose birth occurred on February 28, 1916.
Politically, Mr. Holden is a Republican and is active in the work of his party. He was elected treasurer of Thetford township in the spring of 1916 and is discharging the duties of that office in a very creditable manner. Fraternally, he is a member of Lodge No. 91, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and Clio Lodge No. 205, Free and Accepted Masons.
CHARLES W. MINTO.
Charles W. Minto, the proprietor of the "West Flint Stock Farm," in Flint township, and supervisor of that township, was born in Caledonia township, Shiawassee county, this state, on July 7, 1872, the son of William B. and Almeda J. (Hanna) Minto.
William B. Minto was born in Scotland on March 15, 1846, while Mrs. Minto was a native of the state of New York, born on August 20, 1847, in Genesee county, that state. Mr. and Mrs. Minto are residents of Union City, Michigan, where Mr. Minton is engaged in the clothing business. They are members of and active workers in the Methodist Episcopal church. They are the parents of the following children. those besides the subject of this sketch being Mattie, the wife of S. T. Blackmer, of Fowlerville; Blanche, the wife of Lee Olmsted, of Fowlerville, and George F. Minto, of Detroit.
Charles W. Minto was reared on the home farm until he was nine years of age, when his father moved to Corunna, where he attended the public schools. After graduating from the high school he was employed by a clothing house at Union City, where he remained for three years.
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On January 6, 1892, Charles W. Minto was united in marriage to Amy G. Dye, who was born on August 2, 1873, in Flint township. Mrs. Minto was educated in the district schools of her home township. Mr. and Mrs. Minto have no children of their own, but have adopted a girl who receives the same kind attention as if she were of their own blood.
After his marriage, Charles W. Minto was for two years engaged in the clothing business at Fowlerville and for six years in the same business at Durand. after which he settled on the farm where he and his family now reside. There he devotes his attention to general farming and stock raising and has made a success of the feeding of cattle and sheep, at times feeding as many as three thousand six hundred head. Besides his other business enterprises he was the founder of the Minto-Woodruff clothing store at Mt. Pleasant.
Fraternally, Mr. Minto is a Royal Arch Mason and a Knight Tem- plar, affiliated with the blue lodge at Newberg; with the chapter at Durand, and with the commandery at Corunna. He also is a member of Owosso Lodge, Benevolent Order of Elks.
Mr. Minto is a Republican and for years was treasurer of his school district. In 1915 he was elected supervisor of his township and that position he still holds.
HERBERT ALLEN MACPHERSON.
Herbert Allen Macpherson, a well-known and enterprising young grocer at Flint, is a native of the Dominion of Canada, but has lived in Flint since he was about two years of age. He was born at Aurelia, November 24, 1881, son of Peter L. and Thomison (McNaughton) Macpherson, natives of Canada, who have been residents of Flint since the year 1883.
Peter L. Macpherson was reared on a farm in Canada and became a farmer there on his own account, remaining there until 1883, when he came with his family to Michigan, locating in Flint, where he ever since has been engaged as a horticulturist. He is the eldest of the seven children born to his parents, Allen Macpherson and wife, natives of Scotland, who emigrated to Canada, where they spent the rest of their lives on a farm. Mrs. Mac- pherson's parents also were natives of Scotland who emigrated to Canada and settled on a farm, where they spent the remainder of their lives. Grand- mother McNaughton was Margaret Hume before her marriage. Peter L. Macpherson and wife are members of the Presbyterian church. To then
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three children were born, Belle, now deceased, who was the wife of Charles R. Buchanan: Ann, who is living with her parents, and Herbert A., the sub- ject of this biographical sketch.
Herbert A. Macpherson was about two years old when his parents moved front Canada to Flint and he grew to manhood in that city. Upon leaving the public schools he began clerking in a grocery store and thus acquired a thorough acquaintance with the grocery trade as applicable to local condi- tions. In 1908 he established a store of his own and has ever since been thus engaged, long having been regarded as one of the most energetic and progressive young merchants in the city. Mr. Macpherson has a very well- appointed and completely-stocked store at 505 Detroit street and has built 1tp an extensive business. In his political views he is independent and. fraternally, he is affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
On November 4, 1909, Herbert A. Macpherson was united in marriage to Ethel Hovey, of Flint, who was born in that city and has lived there all her life. She was the last-born of the four children born to her parents. both of whom now are deceased, the other children being Helen, Clara and Mand. Mrs. Macpherson's mother was a Mckinley. Mr. and Mrs. Mac- pherson are members of the Congregational church. They have a very pleasant home at 718 Chippewa street.
JAMES A. THOMPSON.
In any great wheat country. like central Michigan, there are to be found modernly-equipped mills, and the flour industry is a most important one. This is true of Genesee county and one of her enterprising and successful millers is James \. Thompson, owner of the Fenton Flour Mills.
Mr. Thompson was born in Genesee county, July 4, 1868, a son of G. L. and Vannila ( Vinton) Thompson. His mother was the daughter of David Vinton, a native of Connecticut and a pioneer farmer of Tyron, Michigan. G. L. Thompson was born near Romeo, Michigan. In 1866 he came to Genesee county, where he engaged in farming many years, later retiring from active life and spending his last years in Fenton, where his death occurred on January 30, 191.4. His widow still lives in Fenton. He was a member of the Presbyterian church. To these parents three children have been born, Nellie, Clark and James A.
The subject of this sketch was educated in the common and high schools
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of Fenton, also attended the local normal school. In January, 1895, he was united in marriage with Mary Hayes, which union has resulted in the birth of two children, Harriet and Clark.
Mr. Thompson began his active business career as teller in the Fenton State Bank; later he went to California, where he spent two years, being employed by the Tickner, Burham Company, of Chico, that state. Return- ing to Michigan, he ran a saw-mill at Marion for eighteen years, then sold out and for some time was connected with the firm of Hackley, Phelts Com- pany at Hackley, Wisconsin. He returned to Fenton in 1909. He owns the Fenton Flour Mills, which he is operating with gratifying results. He also deals in grain, coal, cement, etc., and is also local agent for the Buick automobile.
Politically, Mr. Thompson is a Republican. He belongs to the Masonic order and the Knights of Pythias.
CHARLES M. ECKLES.
Many people are of the opinion that the word farming means the same the world over, and so it does in a sense ; yet, the methods of farming vary radically in different countries. so the word means one thing to the tiller of the soil in Michigan and quite another to the farmer of Brazil, India, or South Africa. One of the successful husbandmen of Montrose township, this county, is Charles M. Eckles, who was born in this state on October 2, 1859. He is a son of John and Jane ( Hulburd ) Eckles. The mother was born in Allegany county, New York, from which she came in her youth with her parents to Michigan, the family settling in Wayne county. where she met and married John Eckles, and there spent the greater part of the remainder of her life, dying in Livonia township, that county.
John Eckles was born in Yorkshire, England, and when young came to the United States, settling in the state of New York, later coming to Michigan and settling in Wayne county. After his marriage he moved to Montrose township, this county, and purchased eighty acres in section 22, where he spent six or seven years, at the end of which time he returned to Wayne county, where he spent the greater part of the remainder of his life, his last days, however, being spent in Montrose, this county. His family consisted of eight children, three of whom died in infancy. Those reaching
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