USA > Michigan > Genesee County > History of Genesee County, Michigan, Her People, Industries and Institutions, Volume II > Part 30
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Henry H. Kahl, retired farmer of Flushing township, this county, was born in Richmond county, Ohio, September 12, 1836, and is a son of Henry Kahl, a native of Pennsylvania, who, in 1824. moved to Richland county, Ohio, a pioneer, and there cleared land and devoted his life to farming,
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dying there. He was a Whig until 1856, when he allied himself with the newly-organized Republican party. He was a Dunkard in religion. He married Susan Rank, who was born in Pennsylvania in 1801. To these parents thirteen children were born. Of these, Caroline, Lucinda, Isabelle. Mary and Hannah, all born in Pennsylvania, are all deceased. The eight following were born in Ohio: Levina, deceased: Aaron, who died in early life; Henry H., the subject of this sketch; John, who is living at Andrews, Indiana: George, deceased ; Ezra, now living at Young America, Indiana, and Cassie, who died in infancy.
Henry H. Kahl grew up on the home farm in Ohio, where he worked hard when a boy, and he received his education in the district schools. He remained at home until he was eighteen years old, when he went to Young America, Indiana, and worked at the - carpenter's trade six years, then re- turned to Ohio and was engaged in the threshing business with his brothers for two years. During the first year of the Civil War he enlisted in Com- pany I, Fifteenth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, but on account of illness was not able to go to the front at once. One year and three months later. August 12, 1862. he enlisted in Company B, One Hundred and Twenty- first Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, in which he saw a great deal of active service. His first battle was that of Perryville, Kentucky, October 8, 1862. He also fought at Chickamauga, one of the greatest battles of the war, and at Missionary Ridge. He also took part in the Atlanta campaign under General Sherman, and fought at Rome, Dallas Creek. Kenesaw Moun- tain, Peach Trec Creek, Jonesboro, and Atlanta, Georgia ; and at Aversboro and Bentonville, North Carolina. He marched with Sherman to the sea, thence northward through the Carolinas, and was in the Grand Review in Washington, D. C., at the close of the war. He then was honorably dis- charged and returned home.
On May 17. 1866. Henry H. Kahl was married to Margaret Church. who was born in Ohio, May 17, 1843. a daughter of William and Margaret (Scott) Church, pioneers of Ohio, and parents of ten children. Thomas. Elizabeth. Caroline, Bushnell, Varner, Sallie .Ann. Rachel. Alfred, Margaret and Galord, all of whom are now deceased with the exception of Mrs. Kahl.
Eight children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Kahl, namely: Jennie, born in Ohio, April 8, 1867, now deceased : Mary born in Michigan, Novem- ber 8, 1868, who married Melvin Ball, a farmer of near Brent Creek: Bis- mark, korn on October 28. 1870, is now living on the homestead near Brent Creek : Willis, December 27. 1872, is farming in Flushing township: Harry. March 16, 1876, lives in Ypsilanti, this state: Frank, October 20, 1879. now
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deceased; the seventh child died in infancy, unnamed; Erma, August 2, 1880, now deceased.
Mr Kahl is an independent voter. He served as justice of the peace in Flushing township for one term. He is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, and he and his wife are members of the Presbyterian church. He is a man of exemplary character, has followed the Golden Rule and has never been sued or sued a man and has never been on the witness-stand. He and his faithful life companion took an extended trip during the winter of 1915-16 through the South, visiting the scenes of the many battles in which he fought.
Mr. Kall has devoted his active life to general farming and stock raising. He came to Genesee county in 1868 and purchased a farm in Flush- ing township, on which he lived until retiring from active life. He is now in his eightieth year, but is hale and hearty. He and his good wife have traveled life's winding pathway together for more than fifty years and are highly respected by all who know them.
FRANCIS WHITMORE.
Many were the hardships and privations endured by the early pioneers, but they were courageous and were willing to "labor and to wait," knowing that future years would find life easier for them as well as for their children. Francis Whitmore, a venerable farmer of Gaines township, is one of this hardy band of frontiersmen who is deserving of the thanks of the present generation. He was born near Liverpool, New York, July 14, 1840. He came to Michigan with his parents, the family locating in Livingston county, where he grew to manhood. His parents resided in Dearfield township on a small farm from 1844 to 1852, then moved to Genesee county, locating in Gaines township, which was then practically a wilderness; thus during the period of sixty-four years that the subject of this sketch has lived here he has seen the country transformed to one of the leading farming communities in the state, and he has done his share of this work. His wife, whose maiden name was Sophia Burton, was a daughter of Jacob and Anna (Putnam) Burton, and she was born in Lyons township, Oakland county, Michigan, May 31, 1837, where she resided until she was eighteen years old. She received a good education for those early days and was given a certificate to teach school, teaching in her native township for one term before coming to
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Genesee county, where she continued teaching in Gaines township for seven years. She and Francis Whitmore were married on February 28, 1866. They at once settled on a farm of eighty acres in Gaines township, where they have since resided, being well known and highly respected by all.
Mr. Whitmore enlisted for service in the Union army, from Deerfield, Livingston county, September 10, 1861, in Company I, Eighth Regiment, Michigan Volunteer Infantry, in which he served eighteen months. He was wounded on June 16, 1862, at the battle of James Island and spent the fol- lowing nine months in the hospital. He was honorably discharged on March 27, 1863. Returning to Genesee county, he continued to reside with his parents until his marriage in 1866. To Mr. and Mrs. Whitmore two children have been born, William D., who lives in Deer, and Effie L., the wife of Charles J. Shaw, of Owosso.
Politically, Mr. Whitmore is a Republican. He is a member of Samuel Atherton Post No. 116, Grand Army of the Republic. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church in Gaines township. She was formerly one of the leading workers in the Duffield church.
HARRY C. HILL.
Harry C. Hill, a prominent farmer and the proprietor of "Maple Wood Farm," five miles west of Flint, was born on the farm he now owns, on September 29, 1872, son of George J. W. and Helen (Bidwell) Hill.
George Hill was born in Bisley, England, and came to the United States at the age of fourteen years. He later came to Michigan, locating at Ypsilanti, where he learned the cabinet-makers trade. In 1840 he engaged in the furniture and undertaking business at Flint, being the first undertaker in that place. He made his own coffins and furniture. In 1870 he sold the business and retired to a farm, where he lived until his death, which occurred on June 1, 1901. His wife died in 1893. Politically, George Hill was a Democrat and took an active part in local politics, always looking to the interests of the community and looking to the selection of the best men to office. He was a member of the Episcopal church, while his wife was a member of the Presbyterian church.
George and Helen Hill were the parents of eleven children, three of whom are living, Flora, Arthur and Harry C. Flora Hill is a graduate of the University of Michigan and is teaching in the Northern State Normal
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School at Marquette. She has been in Europe three times furthering her education. Arthur G. Hill is now a resident of Shelby, Michigan.
Harry C. Hill was reared on the farm and received his education in the district schools and in the high school at Flint. Mr. Hill has always taken an active interest in politics and has been a delegate to the county, state and national conventions. His influence has always been exerted in behalf of clean policies and good men in public office.
ARA G. EDSON.
Ara G. Edson, a farmer and stockman, living on his farm, known as "Chestnut Farm," six miles southwest of Flint, was born in Gaines town- ship, this county, August 20, 1862, the son of Arving and Philena ( Wether- by ) Edson.
Arving Edson was born in Massachusetts and later lived in Vermont, where he met and married Philena Wetherby, who was of English decent. After their marriage they came to Michigan and settled not far from Lapeer, where they purchased a farm in 1856 and lived until 1860. At that time they sold the farm and moved to Gaines township, this county, where Mr. Edson lived until the time of his death in 1864. Mrs. Edson later married Otis Edson with whom she lived until her death in 1874. Arving and Philena Edson were the parents of four children: George, a resident of Jackson county ; Lydia, the wife of Albert Vincent of Durand; Elizabeth, the wife of John Vincent, of Durand, and Ara, the subject of this sketch ..
Ara Edson began to work for others, by the month, when he was but thirtcen years of age and continued to do so until June 6, 1886, when he was married to Rena Utley, the daughter of Mallory and Julia (Curtis) Utley, the former of whom was a native of the state of New York, who came with his parents to Michigan as a young man. Julia Curtis was born in Genesee county. After their marriage, Mallory Utley and wife located in Farming- ton township and later in Mundy township where they resided until they moved to Flint, where Mr. Utley died in 1914. They were the parents of three children, Rena, Willard C. and Clyde.
After his marriage, Ara G. Edson bought a farm in Vernon township, where he lived for twelve years, at the end of which time he sold the farm and rented for five years, after which he purchased the one hundred and fifty-five acres where he and his family now live.
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Ara G. Edson and wife are the parents of two children, Ray A., who married Florence Fowler and has three children, Robert A., Gerald N., Ralph A., and Glenn G., who is at home.
Mr. Edson is a member of the Gleaners and of the Grange, in both of which organizations he has filled all the chairs. Mrs. Edson is a member of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union and takes much interest in the work of that organization. Mr. Edson takes much interest in local politics and has served as township treasurer, as highway commissioner and as jus- tice of the peace.
JOHN H. JENNINGS.
When a young man, John H. Jenings, now living in honorable retire- ment in Fenton, Michigan, developed a laudable desire not only to accomplish something worth while, but also to be of service to his associates on the high- way of life. Thus it is not to be wondered at that he has not only acquired a comfortable competency, but has also long occupied an envied position as a useful citizen.
Mr. Jennings was born in Kent, Ohio, January 25, 1863, and is a son of H. N. and Lydia A. ( Peck) Jennings. The father came to Michigan in 1867, after having married in Columbus, Ohio. He was a printer by trade and for some time worked on The Ohio State Journal, published at Colum- bus. This was in the pioneer days when most of the news that went into the paper was obtained from the passengers on the stage coaches. After coming to Genesee county he established the Fenton Independent, which newspaper he published with success for a period of forty years. His death occurred in March, 1913, at the advanced age of eighty-three years. He was active in Republican politics from the time that party was organized back in the fifties until his death. He was a member of the Pioneer Asso- ciation here and served on the village board many times. He was a member of the Masonic order. He continued to own and publish the Independent until his retirement from active life in 1911, when he sold the plant to S. F. Beach, the present publisher. His wife preceded him to the grave on June 13, 1902, at the age of seventy-five years. To these parents four children were born, namely: Elizabeth, who has remained single; Clara, who mar- ried C. D. Thompson : Cora, who married A. L. Craft, and John H., of this sketch.
John H. Jennings received his education in the public schools and in the
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University of Michigan, where he spent four years, graduating from that institution in 1883. He was a member of the Phi Kappa Psi fraternity. After his graduation, he identified himself with his father's newspaper. becoming manager. He has been living in retirement for some time. He owns fifteen acres adjoining the town of Fenton and on this he makes his home. He also owns a valuable and well-improved farm of one hundred and forty-five acres in this township.
Mr. Jennings was married on February 6, 1892, to Mary E. Reeson, who was born on July 18, 1863. She was a daughter of John and Mary Ann ( Thompson ) Reeson, pioneers of Genesee county, there being but four buildings on the present site of Fenton when they came to this vicinity. They took up a homestead and developed a good farm through their industry and perseverance. Mrs. Jennings was a member of the Presbyterian church and a lady of many estimable qualities. She was called to her eternal rest on February 28, 1914.
Politically, Mr. Jennings has been active in the Republican party ever since attaining his majority, but he has never sought public preferment. He is a member of the library commission and has been supervisor of his town- ship for a period of ten years.
ROBERT C. DAVISON.
Robert C. Davison, of Thetford township, this county, is a type of modern farmer, a man who uses more brains than brawn in operating his place. He was born on the far-away hills of "bonnie Scotland," the land of heath and heather, of Bruce and Burns-the land of romance. His birth occurred in Fifeshire on May 16, 1869. He is a son of William and Isabelle (Chapman ) Davidson. The father was born in Strathmiglo, Scotland, where he was reared and learned the trade of weaver, which he followed for a liveli- hood. Isabelle Chapman was also born and reared in that town and there they were married. In 1884, when their son, Robert C., was fourteen years old, they immigrated to the United States, proceeding directly to Flint, where the father worked in the mills there for six months, then bought a farm in the northeastern corner of Thetford township, where he spent the rest of his life, dying in February, 1913. His wife preceded him to the grave ou August 1, 1910. Seven children were born to these parents, namely: James,
(20a)
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who lives in Detroit; Marguerite, wife of David Richardson, of Flint; Anne, the widow of David Fisher, lives in Flint; Robert C., the subject of this sketch; William, who lives in Forest township; Christina, wife of Frank Hammil, of Plymouth, Michigan, and David, who lives on the old home- stead.
Robert C. Davidson spent his boyhood in Scotland and attended the public schools there, from which he was graduated. Upon coming to Mich- igan he found employment at Flint with W. A. Patterson, with whom he remained for ten years, from the age of fifteen to twenty-five. He lived at home for awhile after that and then worked in Forest township for Mary McClew, and while there married on February 24, 1904, Leona McClew, a daughter of Alex and Mary McClew, both natives of Scotland, from which country they came as children to the United States, with their parents, the families locating in this county, where Mr. and Mrs. McClew married. Mr. Davidson has worked hard and been economical and is now owner of a neatly-kept and productive farm of ninety-five acres in section 15, Thetford township.
DANIEL J. JOHNSTON.
Daniel J. Johnston, retired farmer of Flushing township, this county, has exercised such sound judgment and persistency in his active career that he has been able to earn a good livelihood and rear his family in comfort, notwithstanding the usual adversities that occasionally beset the pathway of every mortal. He was born in Richland county, Ohio, September 7, 1844. and is a son of Thomas Scott Johnston, who was born in the same locality, and who died when Daniel J. was two and one-half years old. In 1840 the father. who was a carpenter. moved to Olga, Byron county, Illinois, and while working in the lumber camps on Rock river getting out timber, got hurt and caught cold, which resulted in his death in 1847. He was a Whig and a Presbyterian. He married Mary J. Roe, who was born in Richland county, Ohio, March 1, 1822, and to that union two children were born, Daniel J., the subject of this sketch, and Joseph R., whose birth occurred on September 7, 1846. Joseph R. Johnston enlisted, after the third attempt, in the Twelfth Ohio Cavalry. in the spring of 1864. His first service was at Johnson's Island, where he spent six months guarding Confederate pris- oners. While there he contracted the measles, which deprived him of the power of speech for three months. He remained in the service until the
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close of the war, then came to Michigan, where he made his home with the subject of this sketch, his health having been permanently impaired as a result of his services in the army. His death occurred in St. Louis, Mis- souri, in 1901.
Thomas and Elizabeth Roe, the maternal grandparents of Daniel J. Johnston, were natives of Vermont, from which state they moved to Rich- land county, Ohio, where they spent the rest of their lives. They were the parents of eight children, Joseph, Thomas, Washington, Mary J., who mar- ried Thomas S. Johnston: Elizabeth, Sallie, Lucinda and Anderson, of Iowa.
Daniel J. Johnston was but a child when the family went to Illinois from Ohio, making the trip in a one-horse buggy. After the death of the father, the mother went back to Richland county, Ohio, with her children, after spending two years in Illinois, and the subject of this sketch remained in Ohio until 1867, when he came to Michigan, bringing a team of horses, and worked in the lumber woods one year. In the spring of 1868 he settled with his mother in Flushing township, this county, buying a farm there the following year, and there he carried on general farming and stock raising for many years, finally selling out and buying a farm of sixty acres in sec- tion 4, where he still lives, being now retired from the active labors of the farm.
Mr. Johnston was married in 1869 to Elizabeth Demming, who was born in Whiteside county, Illinois, January 1, 1846, her parents being early settlers of that locality. Her father was a soldier in the Civil War and died while in the service. His widow survived until 1912. Mrs. Johnston died on September. 18, 1886, leaving five children, namely: Joseph, born on June 13, 1870, who is now engaged in the hay-brokerage business in the state of Washington; Hattie D., June 1, 1872, who married William Hudson, of Galesburg, Illinois: Mary J., September 15, 1873, who died on July 31, 1891; Ethel M., May 2, 1875, who married Warren Vernon, a merchant, of Ypsilanti, Michigan, and Lucinda P., May 18, 1878, who married George Dunhanı, a farmer, of Flushing. In 1896 Daniel J. Johnston married Mary A. Call, who was born in the village of Flushing. this county, in 1857. Her parents, who were early settlers in Flushing, are now deceased.
Mr. Johnston is a Prohibitionist and an independent voter. He is a member of the Presbyterian church, in which he has been an elder for the past twenty years. He has traveled extensively, having been across the United States four times, taking different routes each time. He also took an ex- tended trip to Europe, going from Montreal, Canada, to England; then
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visited France, Belgium and Scotland, returning to America by way of Liverpool and New York. In August, 1916, Mr. Johnston took a trip to Colorado and on the way he stopped at Reynolds, Nebraska, and visited his father's youngest sister, eighty-five years old, the only remaining one of the family. He also went to Byron and visited his father's grave and while there he had the pleasure of visiting three cousins, the children of Ansa Johnston, his father's brother. One of these cousins is a preacher, living at Kansas, Missouri. One as a doctor, living in Byron, Illinois, and the other is a farmer, living at the same place.
FRED R. OTTAWAY.
It is a great privilege to be able to spend one's life on the old home place. "The roof that heard our earliest cry" has a charm and fascination for us which we cannot find elsewhere, and no matter where on earth our restless footsteps wander we ever long to be back under the old roof-tree. However, this is by no means practicable to most people. Fred R. Ottaway was born on the farm where he now lives in Clayton township, this county, December 18, 1867. He is a son of James E. and Eliza (Ryno) Ottaway. The father was born in Maidstone, County Kent, England, October 17, 1835, and was a son of Stephen and Mary ( Ralph ) Ottaway. In 1839. when James E. was four years old, the family came to the United States, locating in Flint, Michigan, in the spring of that year, and Stephen and two of his sons located in Flushing township, now Clayton township. There were no roads of any kind hereabout in those days and they followed an old railroad slashing. Stephen Ottaway had acquired fifteen acres from two brothers who had preceded him here two years previously from Eng- land. On this land he erected a log cabin, in which he settled his family in the fall of 1830. He worked hard and eventually became the owner of one hundred and eight acres, and there he spent the rest of his life, dying in 1848. James F .. Ottaway purchased the interest of the other heirs and re- mained on the place, which he added to until he owned three hundred and thirty-two acres, the area the farm still covers. He added many improve- ments to the place and became one of the leading general farmers in the township. He continued to live there until 1889. In 1888 he had built the first grain elevator in Flushing and moved there the following year and operated the elevator successfully until his death on May 12, 1895. His
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family consisted of three children, namely: Fred R .. the subject of this sketch; Winifred. the wife of H. H. Prosser, of Flushing, and Claude \'., who is connected with the Citizens Commercial Savings Bank, of Flint. Politically, James E. Ottaway was a Democrat and was clerk of Clayton township continuously for twenty-five years. He also served one term as supervisor. He was a member of the local tent of the Knights of the Mac- cabees at Flushing.
Fred R. Ottaway received his elementary education in the district schools and later attended a business college in Flint for nine months. He worked on the home farm until the fall of 1888, when he moved to Flush- ing and was connected with the elevator business, with his father, until 1894. when he took active charge of the same, for some time having charge of two elevators, one of which he still owns. He moved back to the homestead farm in 1915 and has since been actively engaged in general farming and stock raising.
On January 11, 1893, Fred R. Ottaway was married to Nettie M. Phelps, a daughter of Cyrus and Jennie ( Davis) Phelps. Cyrus Phelps was born in Genesee county. New York, on a farm, where he remained until he went to Illinois. While there the Civil War broke out, and he enlisted in Company A, Tenth Regiment, Missouri Volunteer Infantry, in which he served gallantly until the close of the war, being promoted for meritorious conduct to sergeant. After the war he took a position with the United States Express Company, with which he remained until his health failed. whereupon he returned to Illinois, where he had previously purchased a farm, and in 1888 moved thence to Flushing, this county, engaging there in the hardware business for many years, but is now retired from active life. To him and his wife three children were born, namely: Cyrus, who died when two years of age; Nettie M., wife of Mr. Ottaway, and Merton D., who is engaged in the hardware business in Flushing.
To Mr. and Mrs. Ottaway five children have been born, namely: Marion F., who was graduated from the Flushing schools and from the Baker Business College in Flint and is now employed as stenographer for the Michigan Motor Castings Company : Ralph J., who was graduated from the Flushing schools and is now at home: Stuart P., who is attending high school in Flint; Marjorie, who is also attending the Flint high school, and James E.
Politically, Mr. Ottaway is a Republican. He was supervisor of Flush- ing township from 1903 to 1912, inclusive, and in 1901 and 1902 was town- ship treasurer. Previously he had been village president. In 1913 he was
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