USA > Michigan > Genesee County > History of Genesee County, Michigan, Her People, Industries and Institutions, Volume II > Part 4
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ber of years physician in charge at the Michigan school for the deaf, and also for four years president of the board of United States pension examin- ing surgeons for Genesee county.
Doctor Millard has been a close student of his profession and has made a number of scientific discoveries which have attracted attention from the 'medical fraternity of both continents. The Michigan University Medical Journal, volume II, January, 1872, edited by George E. Frothingham, M. D., contains an account of a case treated by Doctor Millard which attracted much attention at that time, and in the Cyclopaedia of the Practice of Medi- cine, volume XVI, edited by Dr. H. Von Ziemssen, of Munich, Bavaria, the author gives the credit for first employing carbolic acid in cases of diabetes to Doctor Millard. The Doctor also received favorable notice in the Chemiker-Zeitung, published at Cothen, Prussia.
During later years Doctor Millard has retired from the active practice of his profession, being for a number of years a member of the medical section of the National Fraternal Congress, and at one time its president. In 1907 he was the Democratic nominee for regent of the University of Michigan.
Doctor Millard was married in 1872 to Sarah A. Gardner, direct granddaughter of William Mooney, ex-Revolutionary soldier who founded the society of Tammany, in 1789, and daughter of the Rev. Dr. T. C. Gardner, of Ann Arbor, one of the most eminent Methodist clergymen of Michigan, in his day. Mrs. Millard was born in Northville, Michigan, June 4, 1845. The day following their marriage Doctor and Mrs. Millard moved into their home on Harrison street, where Mrs. Millard's death occurred on March 25, 1916. Mrs. Millard was a woman known for her scholarly attainments, being a linguist of unusual ability, and in the earlier days of Flint was a member of the Ladies Library Association. Her sur- viving children are T. Carl Millard, and Mrs. Andrew J. Buckham, who has one son, Thomas Robson Buckham, 2nd.
JOHN H. LONG.
John H. Long, treasurer of the city of Flint and for many years prev- iously to his election to that office, in the spring of 1916, the proprietor of the Bliss Business College in that city, is a native of the Dominion of Can-
GENESEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
ada, born at Port Dover, January 12, 1875, son of Joseph and Wilmina ( McBride ) Long. both natives of the dominion, who are still living on the farm they long have occupied in the Dover neighborhood.
Joseph Long was born and reared near Dover, son of William Long and wife, natives of the state of New York, who located in Canada and spent the rest of their lives there. They were the parents of four children, Joseph. Henry, Frank and a daughter. Joseph Long married Wilmina McBride, who was also born in Canada, daughter of James and Isabel (Austin) McBride, the former a native of Ireland and the latter of Canada. Mr. and Mrs. McBride were the parents of twelve children, Wilmina. John A., Emily, Annette, Elizabeth, Thomas, Robert, Samuel, George, Sidney, Abigail and Nancy, all of whom are still living. To Joseph Long and wife eleven chil- dren were born, of whom the subject of this sketch is the eldest, the others being as follow: Emma, wife of Alva, Belbeck, of Port Dover, Canada ; James Arthur, deceased : Alice E., wife of John Greenbury, of Flint ; Perry W., of Flint: George W., of Port Dover; Charles M., of that same place; Bruce T., of Flint; Nina, wife of Clarence Ferris, of Port Dover; Craig, also of Port Dover, and Merritt, of Ingersoll, near Woodstock, Canada.
Upon completing the course in the high school at Port Dover, John H. Long took a course at the Model School at Simcoe and the Normal School at Toronto, receiving upon his graduation a life certificate good anywhere in the providence of Ontario. Thereafter he taught school for seven years, after which he attended the Business College at Toronto and thereafter taught in business colleges at North Adams, Massachusetts, and at Saratoga, New York, until 1900, in which year he bought the Bliss Business College at Flint and moved to that city, thereafter conducting that school for thirteen years. In the city campaign of 1916 Mr. Long was made the nominee of the Republicans of Flint for the office of city treasurer and in April of that year was elected by a majority of three thousand six hundred and eighty-nine votes and is now serving in that capacity.
On November 28, 1901, the year after locating at Flint, John H. Long was united in marriage to Mand Cook, who was born in that city, daughter of Miles P. and Susan ( Reid) Cook, the former a native of Ohio and the latter of Flint, who had four daughters, Katherine, Mabelle, Mand and Grace. To Mr. and Mrs. Long two sons have been born, Malcolm Can- more and John H. Mr. and Mrs. Long are members of the Presbyterian church and he is a deacon in the same. He is a Royal Arch Mason and a
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member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. The Longs reside at No. 414 West Court street, Flint.
GRANT J. BROWN.
Grant J. Brown, cashier of the Industrial Savings Bank of Flint and one of the best-known figures in financial circles in this part of the state, is a native son of Genesee county and has lived here all his life. He was born on a farm in Flushing township, this county, September 6, 1873, son of Hiram M. and Florence A. (Sutton) Brown, the former a native of Canada and the latter of this county.
Hiram M. Brown was but a boy when he came to Michigan in 1856 with his parents, James Brown and wife, both natives of Canada, the former born near London, Ontario, and the latter at Ingersoll. James Brown home- steaded a farm in Flushing township, this county, and there he and his wife spent the rest of their lives, both living to advanced years. They were the parents of six children, James, Joseph, Hiram M., Melinda, Charlotte and Mary. Hiram M. Brown grew to manhood on the home farm in Flushing township and later bought an eighty-acre farm in that vicinity and began farming on his own account. He later purchased additional land and became a very substantial farmer. In 1895 he moved to Flushing, where he made his home until 1908, in which year he moved to Flint, where he is now living, comfortably retired, at No. 834 Detroit street. His wife died in 1897, at the age of forty-four years. She was born in Gaines township, this county, daughter of William Sutton and wife, natives of New York state, who became early settlers in this county, substantial farmers near Duffield. William Sutton died many years ago and his widow survived him for years, her death occurring at the home of Hiram M. Brown. There were seven children in the Sutton family, those besides Mrs. Brown having been William, Jacob, Margaret, Philena, Susan and Lena. The junior William Sutton died from the effect of wounds received while serving as a Union soldier during the Civil War. Hiram M. Brown is an earnest member of the Baptist church, of which he has been a deacon for many years, and is now serving as a deacon in the congregation of the First Bap- tist church at Flint.
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Grant J. Brown was reared on his father's farm in Flushing township. receiving his elementary education in the Brown school house in the vicinity of his home, supplementing the same by a course in the high school at Flushing, after which he took a course in a business college at Flint. He taught district school for one term and then for a time worked in a general store. In 1898 he entered the employ of the First State Savings Bank at Flushing and was thus engaged for about two years and six months, or until the organization of the Peoples State Bank at that place, when he was made assistant cashier of the latter institution. He remained with that bank for about five years and in 1906 was appointed state bank examiner, which position he held for three years, at the end of which time he resigned and became one of the organizers of the Industrial Savings Bank of Flint, being elected cashier of the same, a position he has held ever since. The Indus- trial Savings Bank was organized in 1909 with a capital stock of $50,000. It now has a capital and surplus of $500,000 and total assets of $3,400,000. The main office of the bank is in the Flint P. Smith building, but a branch office is maintained at the corner of Hamilton and Industrial avenues and another on St. John street. Mr. Brown is a Republican and has ever taken a good citizen's interest in the political affairs of his home county, but has never been included in the office-seeking class.
On May, 1897, Grant J. Brown was united in marriage to Daisy Parme- lee, who was born at Flushing, this county, April 15, 1872, daughter of George and Eleanor ( Smith) Parmelee, the former of whom was born at Sylvania, Ohio, May 30, 1839, and the latter at Flushing. George Parmelee was a son of Thomas J. and Chloe ( Atwell) Parmelee, who came to Michi- gan in pioneer days and settled in Saginaw county. Later they came to this county and located at Flushing, where they spent the remainder of their lives, Thomas J. Parmelee dying on April 25, 1884, at the age of eighty- three. His wife had preceded him to the grave, her death having occurred in 1879. They were the parents of ten children, Mrs. Phena James, Oliver, George, Thomas, Martha, Reuben, Erastus and three who died in youth. Thomas J. Parmelee took an active interest in public affairs and served as justice of the peace, as township treasurer and in various other public capa- cities. George Parmelee was a miller and farmer and was for years one of the best-known citizens of Flushing. He died in 1892, at the age of fifty-three years, and his widow survived him five years, she also being fifty-three years of age at the time of her death in 1897. They were the parents of five children, of whom Mrs. Brown was the third in order of birth, the others being Sarah, Eber G. (deceased), Harry and Clara Irene.
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Mrs. Parmelee was a daughter of Simeon and Sarah (Lawton) Smith, natives of New York state, who came to Michigan in the early days of the settlement of this part of the state, settling first in the village of Groveland, in Oakland county. In 1839 they came to Genesee county, settling at Flush- ing, and were prominently connected with the early history and upbuilding of that place. Simeon Smith for years was justice of the peace in and for Flushing township and held other public offices. He and his wife were the parents of five children, Judith, Angeline, Elizabeth, Eleanor and Fred.
To Grant J. and Daisy (Parmelee) Brown three children have been born, Florence Marguerite, Robert Parmelee and Donovan Millard. Mr. and Mrs. Brown are members of the First Baptist church at Flint and Mr. Brown is chairman of the board of trustees of the same. He is a Royal Arch Mason and a Knight Templar, a member of Genesee Lodge, Flint Chapter and Genesee Valley Commandery, and takes a warm interest in Masonic affairs.
REV. HOWARD D. BORLEY.
Howard D. Borley, a prominent minister of Flint, was born on a farm near Strathroy, Ontario, Canada, on May 23, 1874, being the son of William E. and Jane (Donaldson) Borley. William E. and Jane Borley were natives of Ontario, he having been born in Middlesex county and she at Peter- borough. They were the parents of the following children : William Ernest. a physician of Mishawaka, Indiana: Edgar ard Cecil, twins: Edgar is a physician at South Bend, Indiana, and Cecil is a dentist at Hallock, Minne- sota ; Howard D., a minister at Flint ; Mary Hazel, who died at the age of eighteen years, and Ivan S., of Flint.
William E. Borley, who received his education in Canada, there grew to manhood and was a farmer while a resident of that province, came to Mish- awaka, Indiana, in 1903, where he and Mrs. Borley still reside. Mr. Borley, having received a good education, was always interested in education.
John Borley and wife, the paternal grandparents of Howard D. Borley, were natives of England, having been born near Birmingham. They came to Canada and located on a farm near London, where they died, being over eighty years of age. They were the parents of the following children: Will- iam, Jane. Sarah Elizabeth, Louisa and Melinda. The maternal grand- parents were of Scotch-Irish stock. The grandfather settled near Peter- borough, Canada, and there he and his wife died at an advanced age. . They
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were the parents of the following children: John, David, Mars, Benjamin, Stewart, Mary, Martha, Deborah, Jane and Clotilda.
Howard D. Borley was reared in Middlesex county, Canada, and spent his early life near the village of Mount Brydges. Here he received his early education. After completing the high school course at Glencoe, he continued his educational work at Strathroy Model School, and then for three years was a teacher in the public schools. After completing his work as a teacher, he studied at Strathroy Collegiate Institute and later received the degree of Bachelor of Arts from Queens College at Kingston. He then entered the theological seminary, from which he graduated in 1904. . After taking post-graduate work at the University of Chicago, he accepted the charge of the First Presbyterian church at Big Rapids, Michigan, where he remained until 1910. At this time he was called to a church at Michigan City, where he remained until May 1, 1913, when he accepted the call to his present charge, the First Presbyterian church of Flint.
On June 6, 1906, Howard D. Borley was united in marriage to Ger- trude Robertson, the daughter of John Robertson and wife. To this union one son has been born, John R.
Reverend Borley is a minister of much force and eloquence and is recognized as one of the prominent ministers of the city. His work is well received and he has done much for the religious life of Flint. Fraternally. Mr. Borley is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons and has taken the chapter degrees, as well as being a member of the Knights Templar and the Shrine.
REV. TIMOTHY JOSEPH MURPHY.
For more than thirty-five years the Rev. Father Timothy Joseph Mur- phy, pastor of St. Michael's Catholic church, has lived and labored among the people of Flint, where his devoted and zealous services in the work of his Master have materially contributed to the growth and strength of Catho- licism hereabout. His present parish is an old one, having been established in 1840, the first edifice having been erected soon after the organization of the parish, while the present structure was built during the years 1882 and 1883, under the direct supervision of Father Murphy.
Timothy Joseph Murphy was born in the city of Cork, Ireland, May 4, 1848, son of Jeremiah and Margaret ( Dacy) Murphy. His early education was received in his native city and after completing the curriculum of the ordinary grades he became a student in All Hallows College, Dublin, from
7 g. Murphy
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GENESEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
which he was graduated. In 1870 Father Murphy came to the United States and after landing in New York at once made his way to Detroit and was ordained there by Bishop Borgess, January 30, 1871, and was immediately sent to Bay City as assistant to Father Schutzes, of St. James church, a capacity in which he served for three months. Later he was transferred to the parish at Grand Haven, Ottawa county, this state, becoming the first priest of that parish, and there he remained until he was transferred to Flint in June, 1880. Father Murphy's first act of importance at Flint was the erection of the splendid brick church of St. Michael's, which took the place of the old frame church. St. Michael's church is an edifice fifty by one hundred and fifty feet in dimensions, has a seating capacity of eight hun- dred, cost thirty thousand dollars and is handsomely furnished throughout, a fitting place of worship and prayer.
Even before leaving his native land, Father Murphy had been a great admirer of American people and institutions and, although he has never lost his love for Ireland, he is a truly patriotic citizen of the United States, like his namesake, late an American priest in Rome, who, upon being told by some Americans who had an audience with the Pope, that they hoped he would be sitting in the papal chair upon their next visit, responded, "That may be, but if I ever get there I will hang the American flag on the outer walls of the Vatican." Father Murphy is also a good "mixer," and many of his most earnest friends are found among those whose religious views may not conform to his teachings, but whose hearts are bound to his by ties as broad as humanity itself. He pays close attention to the development of public affairs in Ireland and has enlisted hundreds of Americans in the cause of Irish home rule. He has taken two trips to his old home in Erin and intends to make another if he lives to see the full freedom of the land of his birth. It is his dearest wish that complete home rule may be brought about through a bond of love and give Ireland a place like unto that held by the state of Michigan in this Union. On the occasion of the celebration at Grand Haven in 1876 of the centennial of American independence, Father Murphy was selected by the citizens of that city to read the Declaration of Independence, and he at that time expressed the wish that he might live to hear read and realized the declaration of independence of his own land.
In every section in which has labors have been prosecuted, Father Mur- phy his displayed the same energy and zeal which have endeared him to his parishioners in Flint. Through his arduous exertions he has secured the erection of several churches, and the places of worship at Grand Haven,
(4a)
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Dennison and Berlin owe their being to him. In 1903 he erected what is locally known as Father Murphy's Hall, at a cost of eighteen thousand dol- lars, fourteen thousand dollars of which amount was given him by friends of other creeds than the Catholic, this being but one evidence of the great love and reverence felt for him generally hereabout. Father Murphy's Hall has a handsome auditorium, with a seating capacity of seven hundred, and is fitted in modern style, having a stage and the usual accessories. The base- ment is arranged with a kitchen and a large banquet hall, together with a smoking room. The policy of Father Murphy is to let as large a benefit as possible accrue from the advantages of such an assembly hall and its use is thrown open, to all churches alike, hoth Catholic and Protestant. Broad- minded and compassionate in his views, Father Murphy is always an invited guest at important functions and on numerous occasions has spoken, on invi- tation, in Protestant churches. In this connection, the biographer is per- mitted to present here a little poem, the author of which. a minister of the Presbyterian church, is one of Father Murphy's dearest and most apprecia- tive friends. This was sent him on the occasion of the silver jubilee banquet given in his honor :
TO FATHER MURPHY-A BIT OF SAUCE TO HIS MEAT ON MONDAY NIGHT.
My genial friend and brother, I clip your jolly phiz From this night's Daily Journal. And, homely as it is. I am right glad to see it. And, Father, note the news
That Flint will do you honor ; And I cannot refuse To give myself the pleasure Of jingling just a bit- If I can only manage To get the hang of il.
My Pegasus is balky, And now and then he kieks; And sometimes when I trust him He leaves me in a fix- For if I try to force him To jingle, off he goes. And dumps me and my measure Into a ditch of prose. But, after all, he's handy, Like your Kentucky bay. To lug a portly preacher Along a dusty way.
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To drop the classic figure-
When lacking thought, 1 rhyme it ;
The hill of sense is sandy.
And nonsense helps me climb it. Let me congratulate you ! And if the Monday night Be 'mong the happiest of life- Old man, 'twill serve you right !
Heaven bless you with the best Its larder can provide you ;
And, better still, with loving friends To eat and drink beside you.
May life be all illumined E'en to its latest page ;
And. like your wine, be better By reason of its age. May all the royal bounty Your generous hand has given.
Return to yon in fullness, Anticipating Heaven. And when the sun is setting Behind the Golden West. God give you happy welcome Into His blessed rest. -REV. CHARLES HUNTING.
Marshall, Michigan, Saturday night, January 9, 1897.
Not alone has Father Murphy materially increased the membership of his congregation, but in whatever community he has labored has succeeded in raising the standard of the church, increased its usefulness and added to the enthusiasm, zeal and fervor of its members. The church at Flint now has a congregation of about fifteen hundred persons, who, under Father Murphy's guidance and counsel, are endeavoring to lead wholesome Christ- ian lives. The development of St. Michael's parish has been extraordinary. When he first came, Father Murphy was able also to take charge of the mis- sion at Hazelton, but the membership of that mission increased so rapidly that it became necessary to appoint a priest to that charge who could devote his entire time to its affairs. In connection with the beautiful church of St. Michael's is found a handsome parochial school, where about two hundred and eighty pupils are receiving broad and thorough instruction from six holy women, Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Adjacent to the school is the Sisters' house and not far therefrom is located the priest's residence. The entire group of buildings, which add materially to the architectural
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beauty of Flint, are found on Saginaw, Fifth and Chippewa streets and the structures are surrounded by handsome, well-kept grounds.
It would be difficult to find an individual who has gained in deeper degree the affection of his fellow-men or the love and reverence of his people than Father Murphy. With a happy combination of personal sympathy and compassion, with a strong strain of practicability in material things, he has established himself deeply in the hearts of his people and in the confidence of the community at large.
JOSIAH DALLAS DORT.
It has been said that a city is great, not from the standpoint of a large population, but according to the relative importance of its manufactures and commerce and the attention paid to the welfare of all its inhabitants. Flint has long been a center of middle West manufactures. However, it is to a comparatively small group of men that the city's industrial prosperity has been due, and during the last thirty years none has been more steadily influen- tial in promoting development in the city than J. Dallas Dort, who, by com- mon consent, is now one of the dominant figures in the business life of Michigan. As a youth he entered upon his career with only the advantages of an ordinary education, starting life in a humble station, and followed up the opportunities that opened before him with industry and intelligent energy. Now, in the prime of life, with powers ripened and matured, Mr. Dort is the possessor of an enviable fortune, the directing head of several large industries and a vital force in both business and civic affairs of his community.
Josiah Dallas Dort was born in Inkster, Michigan, February 2, 1861, a son of Josiah and Marcy ( Jones-Straight) Dort, natives respectively of Vermont and New Hampshire, the father dying at Inkster in 1871, at the age of sixty-one, while the mother passed away at Flint, in 1897. Josiah Dort came with his parents overland from his New England home to the state of Ohio, leaving the rest of the family there and continuing his journey west until he arrived at the place known as Dearborn during the late thirties. At Dearborn he and his brother, Titus, engaged in the manufacture of brick, furnishing the material for the United States arsenal at that point. Josiah Dort was appointed postmaster of that place and also acted in the capacity of agent for the Michigan Central Railway, whose line had just
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been completed. After several years he moved to Moulin Rouge, now known as Inkster, and became identified with merchandising. Mrs. Marcy (Jones) Straight, who became his wife, was an educated woman who had taught school in New Hampshire and at Westport, New York. Josiah Dort was a notable man in many ways, a typical country squire, prominent Mason, a lifelong member of the Methodist church, active in politics as a Democrat and Whig and among the leaders of his parties in the state, was on terms of intimacy and a close associate of such men as Zach Chandler, Henry P. Baldwin, John J. Bagley, G. N. Lothrup, who were his personal friends. He acquired considerable property through his able management and at the time of his death was in comfortable circumstances.
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