USA > Michigan > Genesee County > History of Genesee County, Michigan, Her People, Industries and Institutions, Volume II > Part 37
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On October II, 1899, Harry C. Pierson was united in marriage to Florence A. Hussey, who was born in New York state and who came to Michigan with her uncle when she was thirteen years old. They located in this county and her schooling was completed in Genesee and Flint. Mr. and Mrs. Pierson are attendants at the Baptist church, contributing to the sup- port of the same, and take a warm interest in all neighborhood good works and in the general social activities of the community in which they live.
SETH W. HOWES.
Seth W. Howes, president of the Lennon Creamery Company at Lennon and one of the best-known and most substantial farmers of Clayton township, this county, proprietor of "Lindenwood Farm," a well-kept and profitably cultivated place of ninety-five acres in section 28, situated on the Lennon road, rural route No. 2, out of Swartz Creek, is a native son of Genesee' county and has lived here all his life. He was born on a farm in Gaines
(24a)
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township, March 22, 1854, son of Henry D. and Harriet M. (Wheeler) Howes, the former a native of the state of Vermont and the latter of the state of New York, who were married in this county and spent their last days here, honored and influential residents of the community in which they lived for many years.
Henry D. Howes was born in Vermont on June 20, 1827, and when a young man came to Michigan, settling in Genesee county, where, on August 4, 1850, he married Harriet M. Wheeler, who was born in New York state on November 21, 1832, and who had come to this county with her parents in the days of her youth. After his marriage Henry D. Howes located on a tract in Gaines township, established his home there and proceeded to clear and develop the place, in time becoming one of the most substantial farmers in that section. At the outbreak of the Civil War he enlisted for service in the Fifth Michigan Cavalry and served for three years, being mustered out as a corporal. Upon the completion of his military service he returned to the farm and lived there until 1872, when he moved to the farm in Clayton township on which his son, the subject of this sketch, now lives, and there he and his wife spent their last days, both dying on the same day, December 26, 1915, and were buried in the same grave. They were the parents of seven children, six of whom are still living, those besides the sub- ject of this sketch being as follow: David, a resident of the state of Wash- ington; Wheeler, a resident of Flint, this county; Charles, a resident of Nebraska; Zaide, who married G. V. Pixley, of Richmond, this state, and Mollie, who married O. C. Swayze, of Holly, this state.
Seth W. Howes was reared on the home farm, receiving his schooling in the district school in the neighborhood of the same and in the high school at Flint. Being the eldest son he was from the days of his boyhood a valued assistant to his father in the labor of developing and improving the home place and when the family moved to the new home in Clayton township in 1872, he then being eighteen years of age, he continued working with his father and in time relieved the latter from the active labors of the farm, becoming virtual manager of the same, and helped to bring pretty "Linden- wood Farm" up to a high state of cultivation. Upon his marriage in 1886 he established his home there and has ever since continued to make that place his place of residence, he and his family being very pleasantly situated. Of recent years he has associated with himself in the management of the farm his younger son, Frank Howes, as a partner, the affairs of "Lindenwood Farm" being conducted under the firm name of Seth W. Howes & Son. In addition to their general farming, Howes & Son give considerable attention
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to the raising of pure-bred Jersey cattle and their dairy interests have pros- pered largely. Mr. Howes for years has given close attention to the develop- ment of the dairy interests of his community and is president of the Lennon Creamery Company, a very successful concern, in which he is a stockholder. Mr. Howes also has given considerable attention to local political affairs and has served the public as clerk of his township and as justice of the peace.
It was in 1886 that Seth W. Howes was united in marriage to Sarah A. Sutton, of Clayton township, and to this union two sons have been born, Harry, who married Matilda Knight and is a progressive young farmer in Clayton township, and Frank, who is associated with his father in the opera- tion of the home farm. Both Mr. Howes and his sons are members of the lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Lennon and of the Ancient Order of Gleaners and Mr. Howes is a member of the order of the Knights of the Maccabees, in the affairs of all of which organizations he takes a warm interest.
HON. BERT F. CRAPSER.
Hon. Bert F. Crapser, a well-known and substantial farmer of Clayton township, this county, owner of a fine farm of one hundred and twenty acres on rural route No. 2, out of Swartz Creek, former representative in the Legislature from the first Genesee district and for years actively identified with the work of developing the best interests of the community in which he lives, is a native son of Genesee county and has lived here all his life, a con- tinuous resident on the farm on which he now lives and where he was born on February II, 1874, son of Charles and Lucretia (Kellecutt) Crapser, both natives of this state, the former of whom is still living on the farm in Clayton township, where he has made his home for more than half a century.
Charles Crapser was born on a pioneer farm in the Groveland section of the neighboring county of Oakland on February 13, 1837, son of Albert Crapser and wife, who had come to this state in territorial days from the Cattskill region of New York, locating in Oakland county, whence, in 1839, they came over into Genesee county and settled on a pioneer farm in Burton township, where they spent the rest of their lives, useful and influential pioneers of that part of the county. Albert Crapser and wife were the par- ents of five children, Charles, Catherine, Amos, John and Laura, of whom Charles, John and Catherine are still living. Charles Crapser was about two years old when his parents came to Genesee county in 1839 and he ever since
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has lived here, thus being one of the oldest continuous residents of Genesee county. He grew to manhood on the homestead farm in Burton township and married Lucretia Kellecutt, a member of one of the pioneer families of this county, and in 1864 moved onto the farm on which he now lives and where he ever since has lived, for many years having been regarded as one of the leading members of that community. His wife died on April 23, 1887. They were the parents of five children, three of whom are still liv- ing, the subject of this sketch have two sisters, Zoa, wife of Fred E. Sutton, of Little Rock, Arkansas, and Maud, wife of Edwin Davis, a well-known resident of Clayton township, this county.
Bert F. Crapser was reared on the old Crapser homestead farm in Clay- ton township, receiving his schooling in the schools of that neighborhood, and from the days of his boyhood was a valuable assistant in the work of developing and improving the same. After his marriage he continued to make his home there and has continued there to this day, for years past hav- ing relieved his father of the active management of the place. He is very successfully farming one hundred and twenty acres of excellent land, in addi- tion to his general farming giving considerable attention to the raising of high-grade live stock, and has done very well. Mr. Crapser has for years given close attention to local political affairs, having served the public in various local offices, and in 1912, as the nominee of the National Progressive party, was elected representative from the first Genesee district to the lower House of the Michigan General Assembly, by a vote of 1,513 to 1,451 for Ransom L. Ford, 1,432 for Norman A. Morrish, 68 for Herbert F. Bodine and I for E. T. Middleton, serving in the session of 1913. During his service in the House Mr. Crapser was a member of a number of important committees and was chairman of the committee on village corporations.
Mr. Crapser has been twice married. In February, 1908, he was united in marriage to Rebie Luther, of Swartz Creek, and to that union two chil- dren were born, daughters both, Mildred and Dorothy. On December 15, 1914, Mr. Crapser married Bernice Morrish, a member of Genesee county's excellent corps of public school teachers, who was born on a farm in Clay- ton township, this county, daughter of Hiram and Maria (Hurd) Morrish. Mr. Crapser is senior deacon of Swartz Creek Lodge No. 458, Free and Accepted Masons, of which lodge he has been secretary for three years, and both he and his wife are members of the local chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star, of which chapter Mrs. Crapser, who was one of the organizers of the same, is now the worthy matron. Mr. and Mrs. Crapser have a very pleasant home and take an earnest interest in the general social activities
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of their home community, helpful in the work of promoting all proper agencies for the advancement of the best interests of the community in which they have lived all their lives and to the general welfare of which they are so warmly devoted.
FRANK P. WILDMAN.
Frank P. Wildman, cashier of the Bank of Swartz Creek at Swartz Creek, this county, and for some years connected with banking and other business interests at Flint, is a native of the Dominion of Canada, but has lived in Michigan since he was a child. He was born at Lonsdale, Ontario, January 29, 1873, son of Richard and Elizabeth (Chilson ) Wildman, natives of Canada, who came to Michigan in 1875 and located at Flint, where they spent the rest of their lives.
Richard Wildman was born on April 18, 1823, and became one of the leading and most influential citizens of Lonsdale. He married Elizabeth Chilson, also a native of Canada, who was born on April 29, 1834, and for many years continued in the general merchandise business at Lonsdale, thirty- two years of which time he served as postmaster of the town. He and his wife were earnest members of the Methodist church, liberal contributors to the same, and aided in the erection of two churches. In 1875 Richard Wild- man retired from business at Lonsdale and with his family came over into Michigan, locating at Flint, where he and his wife spent the remainder of their lives, useful and influential residents of that city. Mrs. Wildman died in 1892.and Mr. Wildman survived until 1902. They were the parents of five children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the last-born, the others being as follow : William H., born on July 22, 1853, now living in the West, the proprietor of extensive mining and agricultural interests in Montana and Idaho; Phoebe A., who is widely known as a teacher and educator; George L., a well known and substantial farmer of Burton township, this county, and A. R., a merchant, owner of a fine confectionery store at Traverse City.
Frank P. Wildman was but a child when his parents located at Flint in 1875 and he grew to manhood in that city, supplementing the course in the public schools by a thorough course in the Flint Business College, from which he was graduated. He then turned his attention to commercial pursuits and for six years was employed in 'the cloak and carpet department of the store of Pierce Brothers & Company at Flint, after which he entered the service of the Citizens Commercial and Savings Bank as collector, rising in the
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service of the bank until he became paying teller, a position he held until 1912, in which year he engaged in the manufacture of brooms and was thus engaged until 1915, when he became cashier of the Bank of Swartz Creek, the position he now occupies. In addition to his banking interests, Mr. Wild- man has valuable real-estate interests in Flint and is recognized as one of the substantial citizens of Genesee county. He is a Democrat. but has never taken a particularly active part in political affairs.
In 1897 Frank P. Wildman was united in marriage to Marian Barney, of Flint, daughters of M. C. Barney, now a resident of Detroit. They have a son, Charles Wildman, born in 1900. Mr. and Mrs. Wildman are mem- bers of the Methodist Episcopal church at Swartz Creek and take an active part in the various beneficences of the same, Mr. Wildman being a member of the official board of the church. Mr. Wildman is a thirty-second degree Mason, affiliated with Genesee Lodge No. 174, Free and Accepted Masons ; with Washington Chapter No. 15, Royal Arch Masons; with the Michigan Consistory, Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite Masons, and is a noble of Moslem Temple, Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. He also is a member of Ivanhoe Lodge No. 27, Knights of Pythias, and is past chan- cellor of that lodge. Mr. Wildman has taken an active interest in Masonic affairs and is a past master of his lodge and a member of the grand lodge of Michigan, Free and Accepted Masons.
CHARLES M. STAFFORD.
Charles M. Stafford, who is engaged in the automobile repair business at Flint, was born in Montrose township, this county, on July 25, 1867, the son of Calvin and Eliza (Cook) Stafford, the former a native of Ohio and the latter of Michigan, both now deceased, who were the parents of the fol- lowing children: Nellie, deceased, who was the wife of Lorenzo A. Lousby; Charles M., of Flint; Lizzie, wife of Charles Blackstone of Clio; Elnora. wife of Charles Watson, of Pains Station; Edith, wife of Fred Guyett, of Chicago, Illinois; Walter A., of Frankenmouth Junction, Michigan; Robert L., of Clio; Mabel, wife of William Falkenhagen of Vienna township; Arthur, of Flushing township; Ernest, of near Saginaw; Elmer, who died at the age of six years, and a twin of Elmer, who died at the age of six weeks.
Calvin Stafford lived in Ohio until ten years of age when he came with
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his parents to this county, the family settling on a farm in Thetford town- ship, where he grew to manhood. He served for three years in the Civil War, a member of Company K, Twenty-third Regiment, Michigan Volun- teer Infantry, and at the close of the war bought a farm of one hundred and seventy-two acres in Montrose township, this county. He later sold eighty acres of that farm and purchased forty acres in Vienna township and three hundred and thirty-five acres in Bridgeport township, in the neighboring county of Saginaw. With the exception of five years, during which he lived in Bridgeport township, he made his home in Vienna township until he removed to Clio, seven years before his death, in 1907. Mrs. Stafford died in 1886. Mr. and Mrs. Stafford were not members of any church, but attended the Methodist Protestant church. Mr. Stafford was a justice of the peace for eight years.
The paternal grandparents of Charles M. Stafford were Sanford and Nancy (Tinkham) Stafford, both of whom were natives of Ohio. They set- tled in Thetford township, this county, and owned the same farm from 1853 until their death, Sanford living to the age of eighty-six and his wife to the age of eighty-five. They were the parents of seven children, Calvin, Irving, John, Hattie, Dettie, Vesta and Susie. The maternal grandparents were Lilly and Prudence (Butts) Cook, both natives of the state of New York, he being of English descent and she of German. On coming to Michigan they settled in Bridgeport township, Saginaw county, when Saginaw had but four log huts. There he entered the farm from the government on which he later died at the age of eighty-three years. His widow then went to live with her daughter, Mary Lathimer, in Birch Run township, and there she died three years later. They were the parents of six children, William, Abraham, Ruth, Adeline, Eliza and Mary.
Charles M. Stafford was raised on his father's farm in Montrose town- ship and attended the district schools. After leaving school he continued to farm and live at home until he was twenty-three years of age. He then purchased a farm of seventy acres one-half mile from the home of his father and there he farmed until 1908 when he sold the place and moved to Flint, where he engaged in teaming for a time, after which he engaged in the auto- mobile repair business.
Charles M. Stafford was united in marriage on October 18, 1890, to Minnie French, the daughter of James B. and Cynthia (Bennet) French. She was born in Vienna township where she grew to womanhood and attended school. Her father was a native of New York state while the mother was born in Igham county. Mr. and Mrs. Stafford are the parents
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of two children, Elmer A., who works in the Buick automobile factory, and Helen M., who is in school. The paternal grandparents of Minnie ( French) Stafford were natives of the state of New York, where they lived and farmed. They were the parents of five children, Amos, James, Peter, Jane and Maria. Her paternal grandparents were Norman Bennett and wife who were the parents of the eight children, Allen, Cynthia, Agnes, Emma, Lodenia, Flor- ence, Alice and Maud.
In 1916 Charles M. Stafford married Mrs. Ida M. Grosephend, the widow of William Grosephend and the daughter of Samuel and Susanna (Streeter) Dunning, who, by her her first marriage is the mother of six children, Nora, Lulu, Eugene, Hazel, Susanna and Lizzie. Ida M. (Dunn- ing) Stafford was born in Montrose township in 1867. Her parents were early settlers in the county. The mother is still living, but the father died some years ago. Mrs. Stafford has one sister, Kate, and two brothers, Eugene and James.
Charles M. Stafford has always been an industrious and hard-working man, the greater part of his life having been spent on the farm. He is a member of two of the old families who were prominent in the early life of the county.
FRED TODD.
Fred Todd, a well-known and substantial farmer of Clayton township. this county, former supervisor of that township, and the proprietor of a fine farm on rural route No. 5, out of Flint, is a native son of Genesee county. He was born on a farm in the township in which he now lives, March 29, 1879, son of George M. and Elizabeth ( Morrish) Todd, the former a native of New York state and the latter of England, who had come to this county during the days of their youth with their respective parents.
George M. Todd grew to manhood in Clayton township and there mar- ried Elizabeth Morrish, who had come to the United States when seven years old with her parents, the family coming to Michigan and settling in Clayton township, this county, where she grew to womanhood. After his marriage George M. Todd settled on a farm in Clayton township and there he spent practically all the rest of his life, a substantial and influential mem- ber of that community. He was a charter member of the Masonic lodge at Flushing and was otherwise active in the general affairs of his home neighborhood. He died in 1908 and his widow is still living. They were
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the parents of ten children, five of whom are still living, those besides the subject of this sketch being as follow: Anna, wife of L. N. Badger, of Flint ; Burt, who married Estella Stranahan and lives in Clayton township; Dell, who married Libbie Harding and lives in that same township, and Myrtle, unmarried, who is at home with her mother.
Fred Todd was reared on the home farm in Clayton township, receiving his schooling in the district school in the neighborhood of his home, and was a valuable aid in the work of developing and improving the home place, where he remained until he was twenty-one years of age. After his mar- riage in 1910 he located on the farm on which he is now living and there he and his family are very comfortably and very pleasantly situated. In addition to his general farming, Mr. Todd raises a good grade of live stock and is doing very well. He is a Democrat and for years has been active in local political affairs, having served for three years as township clerk and for four years as supervisor. He is a Royal Arch Mason and a Knight Templar, a member of the "blue" lodge at Flushing and of the chapter and the commandery at Flint, taking a warm interest in Masonic affairs.
On December 14, 1910, Fred Todd was united in marriage to Millie Cronk, who was born on a farm in Flushing township, this county, July 5, 1879, daughter of George Cronk and wife, prominent residents of that com- munity. To this union three children have been born, George E., born on August 2, 1912; Walter C., April 5, 1914, and Frederick J., June 19, 1916. Mrs. Todd is the owner of a fine farm of one hundred acres in Flushing township. The Todds have a pleasant home and take a proper interest in the general social activities of the community in which they live.
ERNEST W. DIECK.
Ernest W. Dieck, vice-president of the Lennon Commercial Bank and one of the best-known and most substantial farmers and stockmen of Clay- ton township, this county, proprietor of "Maple Lawn Stock Farm," a well- kept and profitably cultivated place of two hundred acres in section 28 of that township, two and one-half miles southeast of Lennon on rural route No. 2, out of Swartz Creek, is a native of Germany, but has been a resident of this county ever since he was three years old. He was born on March I, 1870, son of Frederick and Louise (Ketzler) Dieck, natives of Germany,
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who, with their six children, came to the United States in 1873 and pro- ceeded directly to Michigan, settling at Flint.
Frederick Dieck was a poor man when he came to Michigan and for some time after coming here he worked at various forms of employment at Flint, until he presently got a start sufficient to enable him to buy a farm of eighty acres in section 29 of Clayton township, where he established his home and where he spent the rest of his life, becoming one of the substantial residents of that community. He and his wife were members of the Ger- man Evangelical church and their children were reared in that faith. There were six of these children, of whom the subject of this biographical sketch was the last-born, the others being as follow: August, a well-to-do farmer in the neighboring county of Shiawassee; Amelia, wife of Gustav Shuman, a farmer, of Clayton township, this county; Bertha, wife of George Clayton, also of Clayton township; Matilda, widow of Fred Ganssley, and Lizzie, widow of Fred Rittershofer, of Flushing.
Ernest Dieck was about three years of age when he came to this country from Germany with his parents in 1873 and he grew to manhood on the home farm in Clayton township, quitting.school at the age of seventeen to begin farming on his own account and by the time of his marriage, when twenty-three years of age, had gained a substantial start on the way to his present success. After his marriage he established his home on the place adjoining that on which he is now living and to which he has added until he now is the owner of a fine farm of two hundred acres, where he and his family are very well situated, "Maple Lawn Stock Farm" long having been recognized as one of the model farms in that part of the county. He also owns forty acres in the adjoining county. In addition to his general farm- ing, Mr. Dieck has given much attention to the raising of high-grade live stock, particularly Aberdeen cattle, and has done very well in that line. He also has given considerable attention to the general business interests of the community in which he lives and since the reorganization of the Lennon Commercial Bank in 1913 has been the vice-president of that growing finan- cial institution. Mr. Dieck is a Republican and gives a good citizen's atten- tion to local political affairs, but has not been a seeker after public office. He is a member of the Swartz Creek lodge of the Free and Accepted Masons and takes a warm interest in Masonic affairs.
It was in 1893 that Ernest Dieck was united in marriage to Amelia Saltzman, who also was born in Germany and who was six years of age when her parents came to this country and settled in Wisconsin, and to this union six children have been born, Ulysess, who was graduated from the
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Lennon schools; Enola, who also was graduated from the Lennon schools and who married Frank Moore, and Ethel, Hazel, Bertha and Frederick. The Diecks have a very pleasant home at "Maple Lawn Stock Farm" and take a proper interest in the various social activities of the community in which they live, useful contributors to all proper causes thereabout. Mrs. Dieck and the children are members of the Methodist Episcopal church.
WILBERT L. MILLER.
Wilbert L. Miller, assistant cashier of bank at Swartz Creek, this county, for years a merchant at that place, eighteen years of which time he also served as postmaster, is a native son of Genesee county and has lived here all his life. He was born on a farm in Clayton township, in the immediate vicinity of Swartz Creek, in May, 1854, son of Enos M. and Martha J. (Chapman) Miller, the latter of whom passed away in November, 1905, and the former of whom is still living there, for many years a prominent and useful member of that community.
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