USA > Michigan > Genesee County > History of Genesee County, Michigan, Her People, Industries and Institutions, Volume II > Part 34
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field ten years and raised up a nice, living church, which still continues. I left it with forty members. My health failed me and one of the best doctors in the state gave me up to die-said I could not live another year. He advised me to go to California, which I did in 1849. His name was Doctor Wikom. You may not know him, but many of your readers do. I was absent from home, in all, twenty-one years, but talked with my family through the silent language of the pen, and sent them home considerable money. I came home with much improved health. I then laid out a mission field in the town of Gaines, where I now live. I labored nine years on this field and built a good church, which you may have seen when in our town. I have been retired from active labor for the past five years, been confined to my house all winter with the asthma, and have not been in Gaines since last fall."
BURTIS E. WOOLFITT.
Burtis E. Woolfitt, of the firm of Woolfitt, Macomber & Campbell, real estate and insurance, with offices in the Dryden building at Flint, is a native son of Genesee county, of good old pioneer stock, both his parents having been born in this county, and he has lived here all his life. He was born on a farm in Thetford township, February 21, 1872, son of Eber and Frances ( Barkley) Woolfitt, both natives of this county, the former of whom is still living. Eber Woolfitt was born on a pioneer farm one mile south of Mt. Morris, this county, son of John and Jane M. (Allen) Woolfitt, who were among the earliest settlers of that part of Genesee county. John Woolfitt was born in Lincoln, England, May 24, 1804, but when a young man (in 1834) came across the water and settled in Michigan. Five years later he was married to Jane M. Allen of Flint, she being a native of the Dominion of Canada. They immediately started housekeeping on the home- stead farm one mile south of Mt. Morris, which he located from the government when he first came into this county, and there he spent the rest of his life, being nearly eighty-seven years of age at the time of his death. His widow survived him some little time, she being 'nearly eighty-four years of age at the time of her death. They were the parents of nine children, Mary, Elizabeth, Eber, Caroline, Charlotte, Matilda, Amos, William, and the development of the same, and has been a farmer nearly all his life. He married Frances Barkley, who was born in Thetford township, daughter of Crawford and Sarah ( Haines) Barkley, natives of New York state, who
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became early settlers in Genesee county. Upon coming to this county both Crawford Barkley and his wife entered claims to homestead tracts in Thet- . ford township, homesteading adjoining "eighties." They built their cabin home on the line separating the two homesteads and thus held both claims in one residence. At that time the nearest milling point was Pontiac and Crawford Barkley was accustomed to carry a sack of corn on his shoulders to that point, returning with a sack of meal. Both Crawford Barkley and his wife spent the rest of their lives on their homestead farm, both living to ripe old ages. They were the parents of five children, Josiah, Robert, Charles, Frances and Antoinette, all of whom lived to maturity save the latter. After his marriage Eber Woolfitt cleared and improved an eighty-acre farm in Thetford township, on which he made his home until about 1890, when he moved to Clio, Michigan, and then to Bay City. In 1914 he moved to a farm one mile south of Mt. Morris, where he is still living. He is a Prohi- bitionist in his political views and has taken an active part in local politics, having served as supervisor, township trustee and justice of the peace in his home township. For a few years he made his residence in the village of Clio and while there served as a councilman and also as president of the village board. It was while residing at Clio that his wife died, in 1895. She was a member of the Congregational church. To Eber Woolfitt and wife two children were born, the subject of this sketch having a sister, Eva, who mar- ried John Chisholm, of Flint.
Burtis E. Woolfitt was reared on his father's farm, receiving his ele- mentary education in the district school in that neighborhood, supplementing the same by a course in the high school at Clio, after which he took a course in a business college at Bay City. He then was employed as a bookkeeper in the the bank of Charles H. May & Company at Clio and presently rose to the position of cashier of that bank. He remained with the May bank for seven years, at the end of which time he transferred his services to the Union Trust and Savings Bank at Flint and was connected with the abstract and insurance department of that institution for about two years, after which he entered the real-estate and insurance firm of Derby & Choate, at Flint, the firm becoming the Derby, Choate & Woolfitt Company, this connection continuing until 1903, when Mr. Wolfitt and Elmore J. Macomber purchased the business of the Derby, Choate & Woolfitt Company and up to July I, 1916, continued the same under the firm name of Woolfitt & Macomber, long having been recognized as among the leading dealers in realty in this part of the state. This firm platted Sylvan Court, in the heart of the city of Flint ; Riverside, Fairview, River addition to Fairview and Northern addi-
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tion to Fairview, containing in all about one hundred and eighty acres and built many houses for home-seekers. On July 1, 1916, Osborn A. Camp- bell of Detroit, was taken into the firm, the name of which was then changed to Woolfitt, Macomber & Campbell. Mr. Woolfitt is a Republican, with strong leanings toward prohibition, and takes an earnest interest in local political affairs, but has never been included in the office-seeking class.
On June 6, 1894, Burtis E. Woolfitt was united in marriage to Gertrude M. Congleton, daughter of Harold F. and Emily J. (German) Congleton, and who died without issue one year and nine months after her marriage. On April 3, 1900, Mr. Woolfitt married, secondly, Martha Bannister, who was born at Utica, this state, August 22, 1878, daughter of E. Burke and Augusta M. (Merrill) Banister, both natives of this state. E. Burke Ban- nister, who died in 1892, at the age of forty-one years, was the state agent for the Singer Sewing Machine Company. His widow survived until October I, 1915, and was sixty-three years of age at the time of her death. They were the parents of three daughters, Claudia, Martha and Florence, who were reared in the faith of the Methodist church. Mr. and Mrs. Woolfitt are members of the Court Street Methodist Episcopal church at Flint and take an active interest in the various beneficences of the same, as well as in all local good works. For years Mr. Woolfitt has been a member of the board of trustees of the church and is now secretary of the same. He is a thirty-second degree Mason, affiliated with the Michigan Sovereign Con- sistory,' Valley of Detroit, Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite; a member of Flint Lodge No. 23, Free and Accepted Masons; Washington Chapter No. 23, Royal Arch Masons; Flint Council No. 56, Royal and Select Masters; Genesee Valley Commandery No. 15, Knights Templar, and both he and Mrs. Woolfitt also is a member of Genesee Lodge No. 24, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of which lodge he was financial secretary for two years, and his wife are members of Genesee Lodge No. 355, Daughters of Rebekah.
FRANK P. HASKELL.
Frank P. Haskell, a well-known merchant at Flushing, and president of that village, was born in Holley, New York, February 5, 1857, a son of George W. and Sarah O. (Perry) Haskell, the former a native of Maine, whose parents moved to Holley, New York, when he was a small boy. George W. Haskell was married in Holley and lived there until 1866, when he came to Michigan, buying property on the line of Flushing and Mt. Morris town-
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ship in this county, and made his home there until about 1878, when he sold and purchased a farm south of Flushing village, where he made his home until his death, which occurred in 1902, at the age of seventy-five years. Sarah O. Haskell was born in Kendall, Orleans county, New York, in 1838, and lived at the place of her birth until she was married. She was a daughter of John and Lucy (Webster) Perry, farming people and natives of New York, the latter a kinsman of Daniel Webster. To George W. Haskell and wife three children were born, Frank P., the subject of this sketch; Ella, born in 1859, who married S. C. Ottoway, a farmer living in Flushing, and Addie B., who married H. E. Brockway, of Flint. Mrs. Sarah O. Haskell died in 1909, aged seventy-one years.
Frank P. Haskell was educated partly in New York state, attending the primary schools there for about two years. At the age of nine years he came with his parents and the rest of the family to Michigan. He attended the graded school at Flushing, and the high school at Flint, afterwards graduating from the high school at Flushing. He then went into the employ of Niles & Vickery, general merchants, remaining with that firm for eight years as bookkeeper and chief clerk. He then for two years was with Albert Meyers, a clothing merchant in Flint, and then went to Saginaw and was with Bonham & Spaulding, as special sales manager, for a short time, after- ward going with the S. R. Batson Tailoring Company, Detroit, as cutter and bookkeeper, and was thus engaged for six years, at the end of which time he went to Chicago and took a position as commercial traveler for Skinner Brothers, dealers in woolen goods. Mr. Haskell was on the road for about seven years, or until 1905, when he retired and returned to Flush- ing. For about three years thereafter he lived on the old homestead, engaged in farming. In 1908 he bought out H. H. Chatler's store, in Flushing, dealing in groceries, paints, wall paper, decorations, and the like, and conducted that business for seven years. In 1915 he disposed of his grocery business, retain- ing the other lines, and moved his store to the Odd Fellows block, north side of Main street, where he has since continued business.
In April, 1885, Frank P. Haskell was married to Phoebe A. Bowman, who was born in Flushing, November 13, 1859, a daughter of Franklin and Helen (Hinkley) Bowman, and to this union one child has been born, a daughter, Sarah Blanche, who married Thomas Cooper, of Flint, and has one child, a son, Thomas Haskell Cooper, born on April 12, 1916.
Frank P. Haskell is a Republican and has held several official positions in township and village. He was elected clerk of Flushing township in 191I and served for two years. He then, in 1913, was elected village treasurer
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and a year later, in 1914, was elected township treasurer for a one-year term, and was re-elected. In 1915 he was elected president of the village council, in which position he is now serving. Mr. Haskell is identified with several secret and fraternal orders. He is a Royal Arch Mason and a Knight Templar, member of the blue lodge and the chapter at Fhishing, past high priest of the latter, and of the commandery at Flint. He also is a member of the local chapter of the Order of Eastern Star at Flint. For the past twenty years he has been commander of the local tent of the Macca- bees and is likewise a member of the lodge of the Benevolent and Protec- tive Order of Elks at Grand Rapids.
GEORGE A. MITCHELL.
George A. Mitchell, well-known dealer in real estate at Flint, is a native of New York City, but has been a resident of this state since he was an infant in arms and therefore regards himself as much a son of Michigan as one "native and to the manner born." He was born on June 14, 1866, son of William and Hester A. ( Rogers ) Mitchell, both natives of New York state, who later came to Michigan and the latter of whom is still living.
William Mitchell's parents were natives of Connecticut and he had two sisters, both of whom died without issue. He was reared in New York and was trained to the cooper's trade, becoming proprietor of a cooper shop in New York City. When the Civil War broke out he enlisted in one of the New York regiments and served for four years. In 1867 he came to Mich- igan with his family and purchased a farm of sixty acres near Owosso, in the neighboring county of Shiawassee, which he improved, and there he spent the rest of his life, his death occurring in 1905, he then being seventy-five years of age. His widow still survives him and resides in Owosso. She is a daughter of Moses and Betsy ( Puggsley ) Rogers, natives of New York state, who came to Michigan in 186; and settled in the village of Burton, in Shiawassee county. Moses Rogers was a building contractor in New York and had done well in that line, so that after coming to this state he was in a position to live practically retired from the active labors of life. Both he and his wife lived to ripe old ages. They were the parents of seven chil- dren, of whom Mrs. Mitchell was the fifth in order of birth, the others being Sumner. Charles, Elizabeth, Maria, George and Augusta. To William and Hester .\. ( Rogers) Mitchell five children were born who lived to maturity,
George a Mitchell
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namely : Isabel. wife of George L. VanDyne, of Owosso; William, of Coldwater, this state; Maria ( deceased), who was the wife of Samuel Dob- bins; George A., the subject of this biographical review, and Frank H., of Marshall, this state.
George A. Mitchell was reared on the parental farm in Shiawassee county and received his schooling in the district school in the neighborhood of his home. When twenty years of age he left the farm and learned the cigar- maker's trade, later becoming a manufacturer of cigars at Fenton, this county, where he remained in business about eight years, at the end of which time, in 1908, he moved to Flint, where he ever since has been successfully engaged in the real-estate business. Mr. Mitchell is a progressive Republican and takes an carnest interest in general political affairs, but has never been a seeker after public office. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
On December 25, 1005. George A. Mitchell was united in marriage to Dora A. Simpson, who was born at Flushing, this county, daughter of Mer- ritt and Nettie ( Wilcox) Simpson, the former a native of Michigan and the latter of Vermont, she having come to this state with her parents in her girl- hood. Merritt Simpson's parents were pioneers of this section of the state and his mother is still living, being now past ninety years of age. Merritt Simpson and his wife are now living at Flint. To them three children were horn, Mrs. Mitchell having two brothers, Archie and Emmet. Mrs. Simpson's parents, John Wilcox and wife, both natives of the state of Ver- mont, are now dead, their last days having been spent in this county.
ELMORE J. MACOMBER.
Elmore J. Macomber, well-known real-estate dealer, member of the firm of Woolfitt, Macomber & Campbell, the Dryden building, Flint, is a native of New York, born in Philadelphia, Jefferson county, that state, December 29, 1870, son of Asa and Josephine ( Mosher ) Macomber, both natives of that state, to whom three children were born, the subject of this sketch having a brother, Irvin L. Macomber, of Flint, and a sister, Helen A., wife of W. O. Smith, of Oxford, this state.
Asa Macomber was reared in Jefferson county, New York, and became a general merchant in the town of Philadelphia, that county, where he also served as postmaster. In 1880 he came to Michigan with his family and
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located at Holly, where he engaged in merchandising and where he died in 1885. His widow still survives and is making her home at Flint. She is a daughter of Joseph H. and Sarah A. (Green) Mosher, natives of New York, farming people there, who later came to Michigan and settled in the village of Gratton, near Grand Rapids, later moving to Holly, where they spent their last days, both living to good old ages. They were the parents of five children, Sylvester D., Josephine, Alvina, Ida E. and one who died in infancy.
Elmore J. Macomber was ten years old when he came to Michigan with his parents in 1880 and he grew to manhood at Holly. Upon completing the course in the public schools he began clerking in a general store at that place and was thus engaged for fifteen years or until 1900, in which year he moved to Flint. The next year, in 1901, he formed a partnership with Burtis E. Woolfitt, in the general real-estate and insurance business, and has ever since been thus engaged, the firm long having been recognized as one of the most enterprising and progressive dealers in that line in this part of the state. They are now promoting four additions to the city of Flint and have contributed largely to the recent upbuilding of the city. In the sum- mer of 1916 the firm was augmented by the acquisition thereto of Osborn A. Campbell, of Detroit, the firm name since then being Woolfitt, Macomber & Campbell. Mr. Macomber is a Republican and for four years served as a member of the Flint board of alderman, representative from the third ward.
On March 29, 1909, Elmore J. Macomber was united in marriage to Minnie L. Oliff, who was born at Milford, this state, daughter of Thomas and Emily Oliff, natives of England, who are now living at Clio, this county. Thomas Oliff is a brick manufacturer at Clio and president of the Clio State Bank. To him and his wife five children have been born, namely; Lillian, deceased; Mabel, wife of Don Lawrence, of Ypsilanti, this state; Minnie L., who married Mr. Macomber; Edith, who married Charles Matson, cashier been born, daughters, Emily Joseph, Elmora Lillian and Ann Bryce. Mrs.
To Elmore J. and Minnie L. (Oliff) Macomber three children have Macomber is a member of the Presbyterian church. Mr. Macomber is a thirty-second degree Mason, affiliated with the consistory, Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite, at Bay City, and is a noble of Elf Khurafeh Temple, Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, at Saginaw. His local con- nection with Masonry is through Flint Lodge No. 23, Free and Accepted Masons; Washington Chapter No. 15, Royal Arch Masons, and Genesee Val- ley Commandery No. 15, Knights Templar. He also is a member of the Knights of the Loyal Guard, and in the affairs of all these organizations takes a warm interest.
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JAMES P. COLE.
James P. Cole, chief of police of Flint, is a native son of that city and has lived there all his life, thus being thoroughly familiar with every detail of the city's later growth and development. He has been connected with the police department of Flint since 1900, was promoted from captain to chief in 1914 and is one of the best-known police officials in the state of Michigan. He was born on November 5, 1875, son of Thomas and Ellen (O'Brien) Cole, the former of whom was born in Boston, Massachusetts, and the latter in the city of Limerick, Ireland, both of whom spent their last days in Flint, where they had lived the greater part of their lives.
Thomas Cole was the son of Charles Cole and wife who came to this city from Ireland and for years lived in Boston, later going to Canada and settling on a farm near Windsor, where their last years were spent, Charles Cole being nearly one hundred years old at the time of his death. His wife also lived to a ripe old age. They were the parents of eight children, Thomas Cole was reared in the city of Boston and early became thoroughly familiar with the work of railroad construction. When about twenty years old he came to Michigan and was for some time engaged in railroad construction work at Detroit, later being sent to Saginaw in charge of the construction of that division of the Pere Marquette road, upon the completion of which task he located at Flint, where he spent the rest of his life. Not long after locating at Flint Thomas Cole married Ellen O'Brien, who had come to this country with her parents, David O'Brien and wife, natives of Ireland, who later became residents of Flint, where their last days were spent. David O'Brien and wife were the parents of seven children, James, Patrick, Michael, Bridget, Catherine, Mary and Ellen. Thomas Cole died in 1912, at the age of eighty-three years. His widow survived him three years and was sixty- three years of age at the time of her death on December 23, 1915. They were members of the Catholic church and their children were reared in that faith. There were six of these children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the fourth in order of birth, the others being Charles (deceased), Min- nie C., Thomas B., Frances, who died in infancy, and Frances C., all the survivors being residents of Flint.
Upon completing his schooling in the parochial schools at Flint, James P. Cole began working for Thomas Doyle in the ice, coal and wood business and then for several years, or until his apportionment to the police force in 1909, was engaged as a clerk in a grocery store. Upon receiving his appoint- ment to the police force he early demonstrated his fitness for that form of
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service and gradually rose to the rank of captain and had served with that rank for five years, when, on August 1, 1914, he was elevated to the position of chief of the department, which position he now occupies. Chief Cole is generally regarded as being the right man for the responsible position he now occupies and he ranks high among the police chiefs of this state, his department having a fine reputation for general discipline and efficiency.
On September 11, 1907, James P. Cole was united in marriage to Mary Helen Dunn, who also was born at Flint, daughter of Peter and Catherine ( Dwyer) Dunn, the former of whom, a native of Ireland, came to this coun- try when a young man and located at Flint, where he married and where he reared his family, he and his wife having been the parents of five children. those besides Mrs. Cole being Margaret, Catherine and two who died young. To Mr. and Mrs. Cole have been born two children, Mary Helen and Mar- garet Dacy. Mr. and Mrs. Cole are members of St. Michael's Catholic church and he is a member of the Knights of Columbus.
JACOB VEIT.
The qualities of keen discernment, accurate discrimination, sound judg- ment and executive ability enter very largely into the makeup of Jacob Veit, of the firm of Veit & Perry, wholesale saddlery, harness, leather and findings, of Flint. For many years he has been one of the prominent busi- ness men and esteemed citizens of Genesee county. Many admirable traits have been contributing elements to the material success which has come to him during his long and worthy business career.
Jacob Veit was born in Baden, Germany. in the village of Nieder- schopfheim, February 15, 1847, a son of Sebastian and Elizabeth ( Steiger ) Veit, natives of France and Germany, respectively, of the Alsace-Lorraine country. Sebastian Veit was a glass worker. He came to the United States about 1846, but returned to the old country, later coming back to America, being followed by his family in 1848, Jacob being the youngest of his children. He settled with his family at Mt. Clemens, Michigan. where he followed his trade and spent the rest of his life, dying about the year 1857. His widow survived until she was seventy-two years old. They were reared in the Catholic faith, from which they never departed. To these parents six children were born, namely: Josephine, who , married Anthony Gosse and is now deceased ; Amelia, who married Charles Bassett.
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also deceased; Jacob, the subject of this sketch, and three who died in infancy. The father of Sebastian Veit was a physician who lived and died in France. His family consisted of three children, Margaret, Philip and Sebastian. The maternal grandparents were natives of Baden, Germany. where Grandfather Steiger kept a vineyard and made wine. He and his wife spent their lives there, reaching advanced years. Among their children were Michael, Brigita and Elizabeth.
Jacob Veit was not quite two years of age when his parents brought him to America. He grew up in Mt. Clemens, where he received a com- mon-school education, and when a boy learned the trade of tanner, which he followed until he went into business for himself, in January, 1889. It was on December 28, 1868, that he moved to Flint and began working for his brother-in-law, Charles Bassett, under whom he learned the tanner's trade. and succeeded him in the business in 1889, continuing the shop in partner- ship with Clark T. Perry. They operated on a small scale for awhile, but their business increased with the years and their quarters have had to be enlarged from time to time, until now they have a large and well-equipped modern establishment and carry on an extensive wholesale and retail busi- ness, which is confined principally to the state of Michigan. They manu- facture harness and deal in saddlery and shoe findings, employing a con- siderable number of assistants. They have been in business twenty-seven years under the firm name of Veit & Perry, and have enjoyed a continuous growth all the while, owing to their honest dealings, good management and the fact that they send out only high-grade products.
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