USA > Michigan > Genesee County > History of Genesee County, Michigan, Her People, Industries and Institutions, Volume II > Part 29
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maturity were as follow: Charles M., the subject of this sketch; Richard, who lives in Saginaw county; Nellie May, who married Carl Pardee, and lives in Northville, Michigan; Minnie, deceased, who was the wife of Carl Doyle, and Lillian, wife of A. F. Huff, of Detroit.
Charles M. Fckles grew to manhood on the farm and received his schooling in the district schools of Wayne county and in the Plymouth high school, after which he taught school one winter in Montrose and two terms in one school in Livonia township, Wayne county, and also one year in the adjoining township of Redford. In 188t he began working his father's farm, which he operated for ten years, after which he spent one vear. In 1900 he bought seventy acres in that section, and on this latter 1:lace he has since resided. The farm on which he now lives was the first land settled in Montrose township. In 1903 he sold the old home place and the following year bought sixty acres in section 26. His son now farms this latter tract. In 1906 Mr. Eckles began raising berries and now has fifteen acres, four of which are in blackberries, six acres of red and black raspberries and about six acres of strawberries. In 1914 he built a new barn, cement floor throughout. He built another barn in, 1911 and built a large tool house in 1915. Everything about his place is up-to- date and in ship-shape. He makes a specialty of raising grade Holstein cattle, also an excellent grade of Duroc-Jersey hogs.
On November 28, 1881, Charles M. Eckles was married to Eliza Jane Turner, who was born in Wayne county, Michigan, October 4, 1861, a daughter of Robert and Eliza J. (Gaitrell) Turner, both natives of Eng- land, the father born in Yorkshire and the mother in Hampshire. When young they came to Michigan, single, and at different times, both locating in Wayne county, where they were married. Eleven children were born to them, namely: Anna, who is the wife of Mark Preston; Elizabeth, de- ceased, who was the wife of Abner Austin; William H., Dan, Eliza Jane, Frank, James, George, Lydia, who is the wife of Ulysses S. Grace: Emma F., the wife of James Gresehover, and Caroline, the wife of George Clare.
Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Eckles, Earl L. and Ethel. Earl L. Eckles, who was born on December 31, 1882, was educated in the dis- trict schools and in the Montrose high school. In 1915 he married Mary Pollard, and they live on his father's farm, which he helps operate. Ethel Eckles was born in 1888. She was educated in the district schools and in the Montrose high school and for the past ten years has taught school in Vienna and Montrose townships.
Politically, Mr. Eckles is a Republican. He has been justice of the
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peace three terms, has also served as a member of the board of review in his township and as a member of the school board of district No. I. Fra- ternally, he is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and of the Knights of the Maccabees, of the local tent of which latter organization he is past commander. He also is a member of the Gleaners and has been secretary and treasurer of the same for eight years. He is likewise a mem- her of the Grange and is present master of the local lodge, in the affairs of which he takes a warm interest.
JAMES ROGERS.
Among the tillers of the soil in Thetford township, this county, who not only knows how to plow and hoe, but also knows how to manage the business end of the farm, is James Rogers, who hails from Canada. He was born in Victoria county, province of Ontario, September 23, 1843, and is a son of William and Mary (Cruess) Rogers. William Rogers was born at New Market, Kings county, Ontario, not far from Toronto, member of a pioneer family, the son of James Rogers, an American of means, who emigrated to Canada and purchased from the King of England lands on a portion of which the town of New Market now stands. James Rogers was united in marriage to Mary A. Herman, of German descent. His father was an American, in a direct line of descent from the martyr, John Rogers, who was of German descent. Mary Cruess was born in Victoria county, Ontario. also of old pioneer stock, and of German and Irish descent. One of lier brothers, John Crness, was at one time a member of the provincial parliament of Ontario ..
James Rogers grew to manhood on the home farm in his native prov- ince, and he received a common-school education. On October 27, 1867. he married Hannah Gallinger, a daughter of James and Ellen ( Bannerman) Gallinger. The father was a native of Brockville, Ontario, and when a young man moved to Kings county, where he married, his wife being a native of that county. The family is related to that of the late Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman and also to that of the late Senator Gallinger, of New Hampshire. After his marriage, James Rogers located on a farm near where he was born, where he became owner of considerable valuable prop- erty, some of which he still retains. He came to Michigan in July, 1905, and located at Flint, where he lived for two years, at the end of which time
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he bought his present farm of two hundred and twenty acres in section 28 of Thetford township, where he has since successfully engaged in general framing and stock raising and has made many modern improvements on. the place, which is one of the best in the township. He has one son, Elwood James Rogers, who is at home.
PHILIP O. EMBURY.
Another of the native sons of Genesee county who is a substantial farmer of Grand Blanc township, is Philip O. Embury, who was born on a farm about one mile southwest of Grand Blanc, on June 19, 1876, the son of George M. and Margery Eveline ( McFarlan) Embury.
George M. Embury was born on October 10, 1852, in Grand Blanc town- ship, near the village of the same name, the son of David and Marcia ( Morse ) Embury. David Embury was born in Avon, New York, on December 7, 1818, and came to this county with his parents, Caleb and Harriet Embury, in the early days. They located about two miles south of the village of Grand Blanc, at what is now called Five Points, in 1832. About two years prior to that, Caleb Embury came to this county and entered land from the government, and here he spent the remainder of his life, owning at the time of his death more than one thousand acres of land. David Embury was fourteen years old when his parents came to this county, and here he grew to manhood and married Marcia Morse, who was a daughter of Joseph B. Morse, a native of Massachusetts, the latter coming to Michigan in 1831, and settling where now is located the city of Lapeer. He was one of the first settlers there, and built the first frame house in that vicinity. He lived there until 1834, when he moved to his farm, where he lived until his death in 1854. He was a carpenter by trade, and built the first school house in the township, near Farmers Creek. He also built a hotel at Farmers Creek. He was a prominent man in church, school and political affairs of the early days. Marcia Morse's ancestry has been traced back to those who came to this country in the "Mayflower" in 1620. The Embury family was of English ancestry. Marcia Embury was the first teacher in Lapeer county, Michigan, and was active and interesting in her conversation in her old age, and was well known as one of the representative pioneer women of the county. David Embury was a life-long farmer, and lived about one and a half miles west of Grand Blanc. He was also engaged in various other business affairs, and was for some years a director in the First National Bank, of Flint. He was
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a stanch Democrat in politics. His death occurred on June 22, 1886. His widow died on June 26, 1901. She was a member of the Congregational church for more than fifty years. David Embury and wife were the par- ents of seven children, two of whom died in infancy. The others are George M., who died in 1907; Jerome D., of Bay City, Michigan; Elliot P., of Morrisville, New York; Emma C., wife of A. B. Armstrong, of Guthrie, Oklahoma, and Clara E., wife of John S. Cook, of Grand Blanc.
George M. Embury grew up on the home farm west of Grand Blanc and attended the district schools of his home neighborhood and the high school at Flint. In 1875 he married Margery McFarlan, who was born on a farmi one and one-half miles southwest of Grand Blanc, daughter of John B. and Margery (Hadley) McFarlan, mention of whom is made elsewhere in this work. After their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Embury located on the farm where she was born, and where she is now living, and there Mr. Embury spent the remainder of his life, with the exception of about two years, which he spent in Flint in the hardware and implement business; but his chief occupation was farming, and he was the owner of two hundred acres of land in the south part of Grand Blanc township, on which his son, Philip, now lives. His death occurred in 1907. He and his wife were the parents of three children, Philip O., and twins, Irving W. and George A. Irving Embury lives at Seattle, Washington, where he is engaged as a civil engineer. He married Lucy Bear, and they have one daughter. George A. Embury is living on the home farm with his mother.
Philip O. Embury spent most of his youth on the farm where he was born, attending his home schools and the high school at Flint. In 1899 he began, farming on the place where he now lives in section 32, Grand Blanc township, and has since made that his home. He carries on general farming and stock raising, specializing in good draft horses and Durham cattle, for which there is always a ready market. He has two hundred acres of good farming land, with two houses on the place, and his farm is well kept, show- ing the owner to be progressive and up-to-date in his methods.
On April 19, 1899, Philip O. Embury was married to Jeannette Reid, who was born in Osco, Kearney county, Nebraska, a daughter of John and Mary (Ralston) Reid, the former of whom was a native of Scotland, and the latter a native of this country, but of Scotch parentage. John Reid came to America when about twenty years of age and settled first in Rockford, Illinois, where he was married to Mary Ralston. They went to Nebraska and took up one hundred and sixty acres of government land, and there estab- lished a home on the prairie. After several years residence in Nebraska, the
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family came to Michigan and located in Mundy township, this county, where John Reid and his wife spent the remainder of their lives. Mr. Reid was twice married, his second wife being Martha McFarland, who died in June, 1909. Mr. Reid died in December, 1907. To his first marriage there were born the following children: Maggie, wife of Joseph Hawk; Alex, Peter, John, Nettie, the wife of Philip Embury, and Jennie, twin sister of Mrs. Embury, who is the wife of Frank Cheney. The mother of these children died on March 17, 1877, while the family was living in Nebraska.
Mr. and Mrs. Philip O. Embury are the parents of two children, Donald R. and Margery M.
FRANK H. UTLEY.
Frank H. Utley, a successful farmer of Flint township, now living at Flint, was born on the farm he now owns, consisting of one hundred and sixty acres, three miles west of Flint. There he was born on February 18. 1859, the son of Asa and Caroline ( Bristol) Utley, hoth of whom were natives of the state of New York, who came to Genesee county, where they were later married.
.Asa and Caroline Utley, after their marriage, purchased eighty acres of land and Utley for a time was foreman at the McFarland mills, besides looking after the interests on the farm. They were the parents of six chil- dren, three of whom are living, Frank H. being the only son. Elma is the wife of James Parkhurst, of Flint, and Laura is the wife of Charles Druson, also of Flint.
Frank H. Utley was reared on the farm in Flint township, and was educated in the district schools. On November 21, 1883, he was united in marriage to Addie Oliver, who was born in Lapeer county and was educated in the Flint high school. after which, for seven years, she was a teacher in the Utley school, district No. 7. After their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Utley located on the farm where they remained until 1912, when they removed to Flint. where they now reside.
Mr. and Mrs. Utley are the parents of two children, Neva, who resides in Flint, and Charles, a graduate of the Baker Business College, who is at present a rural mail carrier.
Frank H. Utley and wife are members of the Court Street Methodist Episcopal church at Flint and tak an active part in church work. Politically, Mr. Utley is a Republican and has served as township treasurer.
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EARL ECKLEY.
One of the citizens of Burton township, this county, who has always stood for progress. not only in material things, but in civic educational and moral life is Earl Eckley, who, while laboring for his own welfare, has never been neglectful of the good of his neighbors and the general public. He was born in Grand Blanc, this county, November 14, 1852, a son of William and Elsie (Gillett) Eckley. The father was born in 1811 in Devonshire, England, where he lived until he was twenty-one years of age, being reared on a farm. Then, in 1832, he set sail for America, locating in New York City, where he learned the wagon-maker's trade and was married in 1835. His wife, Elsie Gillett, was born in 1819 in Avon, New York, of pure Yankee extraction. Shortly after their marriage William Eckley and wife came to Michigan, locating in Grand Blanc town- ship, this county, where Mr. Eckley secured ten acres on a trade, which he later sold and then bought sixty acres. Working hard and managing well he prospered and added to his original holdings until he at one time owned two hundred and seventy-five acres, all in Grand Blanc township. After selling one hundred acres he moved to the village of Grand Blanc, later selling out and moving to Watersville, in Tuscola county, where his death occurred in 1894. His wife died many years before, in 1869. They were parents of eleven children, namely: Sarah, who died in infancy; Eliza Jane, the widow of Frank Cousins; William Henry, deceased; Charles H .. deceased; Charlotte A., widow of M. Bardwell, now living in Jackson, Mississippi : Clara, deceased: Effie E., the widow of John Hughes of Tus- cola county, this state; Earl, the subject of this sketch; Andrew J., deceased ; Daniel. deceased, and Fred. who lives near Reed City, in Osceola county, this state. Following the death of the mother of these children William Eckley married Amelia Williamson, to which union was born one child. Clema, who is now living in the West.
Earl Eckley grew up on the home farm and received a common-school education, remaining at home with his parents until he was twenty-one years of age, when he began working the home place on the shares, remaining there for five years after his marriage. He then moved to Mundy town- ship, where he lived nineteen years at the end of which time, in 1901, he located in Burton township, where he lived for five years. He moved to his present farm in 1906. and in the following year bought the place, which consists of one hundred and twenty acres in section 16, one and one-half miles from Flint.
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On December 18, 1877, Earl Eckley was married to Elnora Alexander. who was born in Flint township, this county, October 17, 1857, a daughter of John and Rosalie ( Beamer) Alexander. John Alexander came with his father from the state of New York to Genesee county in an early day, the family settling in Burton township. Rosalie Beamer was also born in New York state and she came with her parents to this locality when young and here met and married Mr. Alexander, after which they settled in Flint township. She died in 1869, aged thirty-eight years. Mr. Alex- ander survived her until 1907, having spent most of his life in Flint town- ship. They were parents of five children, namely: Wallace, deceased ; Elnora, wife of Mr. Eckley, the subject of this sketch; John, living in Mundy township; Phillip, who lives in Burton township, and Fred, who lives in Montrose township. After the death of his first wife, Jolin Alex- ander married Deborah Morton, and to them three children were born. namely: Algie, a lake captain, who lives near Milwaukee; Mrs. Lois Pin- ney, a widow, living near Cheboygan, Wisconsin, and Mary, who is married and lives at Spokane. Washington.
To Mr. and Mrs. Earl Eckley five children have been born, namely: Ward W., who is a carpenter and lives in Flint; Bertha May, who died in infancy : Elsie, who lives at home: Orrio Belle. also at home, and Dorris B., who was graduated from the Flint high school in 1915, and is now em- ployed as bookkeeper in the Buick automobile factory at Flint.
Politically, Mr. Eckley is a Republican. He served as school assessor and as school director for six years while living in Mundy township.
WARREN G. RIPLEY.
The career of Warren G. Ripley, now living in retirement in the village of Linden, has been a varied and interesting one-farmer, blacksmith, sailor and soldier, being one of the veterans of the "grand army" that saved the nation in the dark days of the sixties; but he is, first and foremost, a good citizen in the fullest sense of the term. He was born in Washington county, New York, March 1, 1842, and is a son of George W. and Cynthia ( Hol- brook ) Ripley, both natives of the state of New York, the father born on November 19, 1819, and the mother at Whitehall in 1823. Grandfather Ripley, who was known as "Doctor," although no physician, served in the Revolutionary War and the subject of this sketch has a fife used by him at
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the battle of Saratoga, October 9, 1777. He spent his life in Vermont and New York, dying near Oswego, in the latter state. The parents of Warren G. Ripley grew up in their native state and were married in Washington county, New York. They came to Genesee county, Michigan, in 1852 and the following year bought eighty acres in section 9. Fenton township, which the father cleared, and they spent the rest of their lives, his death occurring in 1897; his wife survived until 1902, reaching an advanced age. They belonged to the Methodist church in Linden. They were parents of the fol- lowing children: Warren G., of this sketch; Mary, deceased; Margaret, deceased; Viola; Eugene ; Elmer, deceased.
Warren G. Ripley was ten years old when he came with his parents to Michigan, and here he assisted his father clear his land and establish the family home in the wilderness. He received a meager education in the pio- neer district schools. Upon reaching maturity he married, on March 14, 1864, at Holly, Michigan, Mary E. Loveless, a native of Corning, New York, and a daughter of Isaac and Prudence Loveless. To their union four children were born, namely, Mahlon, who died aged five years; George I., who lives in East St. Louis, Illinois; Clara .A., the wife of Charles B. Ebert, of Parkersburg. West Virginia; John M., who married Nellie McLean and lives in Linden.
Mr. Ripley enlisted, on May 9, 1861, in Company K, Second Michigan Volunteer Infantry, but was transferred to Battery H, First United States Artillery, January 14, 1863, in which he remained until 1867, his life as a soldier thus extending over a period of five years, nine months and one day. He served all through the Civil War with credit and ability and took part in many of the great battles of the war, serving under Generals McDale. McClellan. Burnside, Hooker, Meade and Grant. He escaped without injury. He was promoted to the rank of sergeant and was discharged with that title.
When a young man Mr. Ripley learned the blacksmith's trade, which he followed in Linden for some time. Later, he was employed in the Flint Wagon Works six years, then engaged in farming for some time, but moved to I.inden in 1911 where he owns a house and lot, also eighty acres of land in section 15. Fenton township. After leaving the army, he located on a farm here. About the year 1860 he sailed on the Great Lakes on the "Ever- green City." which plied between Chicago and Collingwood, also made one trip by boat down the Mississippi river and return.
Mr. Ripley is a member of the Seventh-Day Adventist church and, politically, is a Republican.
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GRANT DELBRIDGE.
Grant Delbridge, a farmer and stock raiser of Flushing township, was born in Hazelton township, in the neighboring county of Shiawassee, on October 10, 1868, the son of John L. and Susan (Stone) Delbridge.
John L. Delbridge, the son of William and Grace Delbridge, was born in the state of New York on August 3, 1839. The parents, William and Grace Delbridge were born in England, where they grew to manhood and womanhood and were married. They came to the United States in 1835 and for some years lived in the state of New York. The family later came to Michigan, and for a few years lived in Clinton county, before they bought the farm near Brent Creek. They had lived there about a few years when Grace Delbridge died. William Delbridge, after the death of his wife, moved to Flushing, where he conducted a blacksmith shop until his death in 1870. To William and Grace Delbridge were born the following children: Mary ( deceased ), John, Lucy ( deceased), Louise, who died on August 7, 1916; Louis, William, Grace ( deceased ) and James, who died when but a child.
John L. Delbridge came to Michigan with his parents when but four years of age. Here he received his education and grew to manhood. At the outbreak of the Civil War he enlisted in Company K, Twenty-third Regi- ment Michigan Volunteer Infantry, and was in the service until 1865. He was in many important engagements and was once wounded. He was with Sherman on the march to the sea. On his return after the war, he discon- tinued his work as a blacksmith, and bought a farm near Hazelton where he lived for some years. He later removed to Vernon, Shiawassee county, where he still resides.
John L. Delbridge as a young man was married to Susan Stone, of Flushing, the daughter of William and Betsy Stone. She was born on April 27, 1839, in Oakland county, where her parents had settled after leaving their home in the state of New York. Mrs. Delbridge died on June 18, 1901. To John L. and Susan Delbridge were born five children, Grant, Wilber, William, Dimmic and Clarence.
Grant Delbridge received his education in the log school house of Hazelton and the Center. He lived at home until he was twenty-one years of age. after which he rented a farm northwest of Lathrop, Hazelton town- ship, Shiawassee county, and began active life as a farmer.
On September 16, 1891, Grant Delbridge was united in marriage to Jennie Hart, the daughter of John and Harriet (Farnsworth) Hart. To this union the following children were born: Laverne, born on July 28,
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1892; Grace, October 21, 1893, wife of Milton Smith; Florence, April 3, 1899; Ross, February 25, 1901, and Olive, February 22, 1904.
John Hart, a native of Scotland, and his wife, settled in Oakland county in early life and it was there that their daughter, Jennie, was born. When she was one year old the family moved to Montrose township, where they lived for eleven years. They then moved to New Lathrop, where Harriet Hart died. Soon after the death of his wife, John Hart bought a farm near New Lathrop and there made his home until his death, in 1896.
Soon after his marriage, Grant Delbridge rented a farm west of New Lathrop, where he lived until he rented another farm north of Flushing, where he and his family lived for over nine years. They later resided on a farm east of Flushing for one year, and then, for seven years, on a farm near Flushing. In 1908 they purchased a farm of eighty acres in section 25. Flushing township. In 1910 they moved onto the farm they had purchased two years before, and still make that place their home. There Mr. Delbridge is engaged in general farming and stock raising. He is interested in Holstein and Durham cattle and Duroc hogs. His farm is in excellent condition, well developed and improved. The house, a modern structure, was built in 191 I and the barns, one thirty-six by forty-eight feet and the other thirty-six by fifty feet, are model buildings.
Politically, Mr. Delbridge is a Republican and has served his township as a member of the school board for many years. Fraternally he is a mem- ber of the Yeomen at Flint.
HENRY H. KAHL.
This well-known citizen was one of the loyal supporters of the Union, who went out to fight for its preservation over a half century ago, when the slaveholders undertook to separate the slave states from the free states and to establish a slave republic in the southern half of the United States. It gives the historian pleasure to place on record the careers of the "boys in blue," for their sacrifices were too great not to deserve amiple mention in the annals of the race.
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