USA > Michigan > Genesee County > History of Genesee County, Michigan, Her People, Industries and Institutions, Volume II > Part 47
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operated a machine shop, but for some years past has lived retired from the active labors of life, having closed his shop and gone out of business. Mr. Hughes is independent in his political views and has never given much time to political affairs, though he has held some minor civic offices. He is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic and has held office in that pa- triotic organization ever since he became a member of the same.
It was in 1866, the year after his return from the army, that John Hughes was united in marriage to Emily Mann, who was born in Canada, January 22, 1845, and who had come to this county about 1853 with her parents, William H. Mann and wife, the family settling in Mt. Morris town- ship, William H. Mann homesteading the tract of land on which the village of Mt. Morris later sprang up. Mr. Mann platted the village and was for years one of the leading factors in the development of that place, many of the early buildings there having been erected by him. To Mr. and Mrs. Hughes eight children have been born, four of whom are still living, Ed- ward, Laura, who married Edward Bockman; Christopher C. and Matthew Forest. Mr. and Mrs. Hughes are members of the Catholic church and have ever taken an earnest part in parish affairs.
GEORGE S. HUNT.
Agriculture animates every species of industry and opens to nations the safest channels to wealth. It is the strongest bond of well-regulated society, the surest basis of internal peace and the natural association of correct morals. George S. Hunt, of Gaines township, is one of Genesee county's citi- zens who is contented it live on a farm. He was born in Oakland county, Michigan, November 6, 1848, and is a son of Hazael S. and Jane (Craw- ford) Hunt. The father was born in Rensselaer county, New York, Feb- ruary 20, 1814, and the mother was born in Ireland, June 17, 1829. Stephen Hunt, the grandfather, came to Michigan in an early day and entered land from the government-a half section, eight miles west of Pontiac-which land he cleared and developed into a good farm and there spent the rest of his life, becoming well-to-do. He had seven children, to each of whom he gave eighty acres. The father of the subject of this sketch was seven- teen years old when he came to Oakland county, Michigan, where he mar- ried and settled on a farm, where he resided until removing to Genesee county in 1893. His death occurred here on May 19, 1895. He and Jane
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Crawford were married on August 27, 1846. Her death occurred on March 3, 1863. They became the parents of six children, all surviving at this writing, namely: Sarah is the eldest; George S., of this sketch; Mary is the wife of A. T. Dickey, of Shiawassee county; Harriett M. is the widow of James Simpson and lives at West Bloomfield, Oakland county; Charles lives in Pontiac; Rebecca E. is the wife of William W. Greene, of Okla- homa.
George S. Hunt was reared on the home farm and received a common school education in Oakland county. When only sixteen years old he worked out on farms by the month, but later assisted his father with the farm work until he was twenty-five years of age. On April 16, 1885, he married Isabel Simpson, a native of Oakland county, where she grew up and attended school. Her birth occurred on January 28, 1848, and she is a daughter of Andrew and Margaret Simpson. She was an infant when her mother died, in Feb- ruary, 1848. Her father, who remarried, continued to reside on the farm in Oakland county until his death, on September 28, 1877.
George S. Hunt located on his present farm, May 2, 1885, and here he has since resided, a period of thirty-one years. The place consists of forty acres and lies three and one-half miles south of Swartz Creek. He has made a very comfortable living and has a neat little farm. Politically, he is a Democrat, and has been a member of the township board of review. He belongs to Swartz Creek Lodge No. 458, Free and Accepted Masons.
FRANCIS HEARN RANKIN.
Francis Hearn Rankin, former mayor of Flint and proprietor of the job-printing, engraving and book-binding plant of the Wolverine Citisen in that city, is a native son of Flint, born there on December 28, 1854, son of the Hon. Francis H. and Arabella ( Hearn) Rankin, natives of Ireland and early residents of Flint, whose last days were spent in that city.
Francis H. Rankin was born in the north of Ireland, son of Joseph Rankin, and received an excellent education in his native land. He married Arabella Hearn, daughter of the Rev. Thomas Hearn, an Episcopal min- ister, and in 1849 came to the United States, locating at Pontiac, this state. He had been engaged in literary pursuits in his native land and upon locating at Pontiac became associated with a newspaper there. In 1850 he moved to Flint, where he founded the Genesee Whig, which he continued under that
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Raukino
F. H. Hankin
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title until the dissolution of the Whig party, when he changed the name of the paper to the Wolverine Citisen, which it ever thereafter bore and which he continued to publish until his death, in 1900, at the age of eighty-four years. His widow survived him until 1904 and was eighty-five years of age at the time of her death. They were members of the Episcopal church, of which Mr. Rankin for years was a vestryman, and their children were reared in that faith. There were six of these children, of whom the sub- ject of this biographical review was the fourth in order of birth, the others being as follow: Jennie, widow of Leroy C. Whitney, who is now making her home in Milwaukee; Richard, of Saginaw, this state; Anna, wife of George D. Flanders, of Flint; George, of Milwaukee, and Joseph, deceased.
The Hon. Francis H. Rankin was an ardent Republican and his news- paper for years exerted a powerful influence in behalf of the principles of that party throughout this section of the state. He took a prominent part in local civic affairs and was postmaster of Flint, a member of the city school board and city clerk for many years. He also was widely known in state political circles and was a member of the House and of the Senate in the state Legislature, serving two terms in the House and one in the Senate. He was Governor Crapo's closest friend and adviser and was appointed by the governor as a member of the state prison board and as a member of the board that located the state school at Coldwater. He was a charter mem- ber of Genesee Lodge No. 174, Free and Accepted Masons; a member of Washington Chapter No. 15, Royal Arch Masons, and of Genesee Valley Commandery No. 15, Knights Templar, as well as of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
Francis Hearn Rankin began to learn the printing trade when he was so small that he had to stand on a chair to reach the "cases" in his father's newspaper office and has ever since been connected with the printing trades. Upon completing his schooling, he became associated as a partner with his father in the publication of the Wolverine Citizen, paying particular atten- tion to the job-printing department of the same, and after the death of his father, in 1900, continued the publication of the paper until 1910, in which year he discontinued it and has since devoted his time to his extensive print- ing interests. Mr. Rankin is a Republican and served one term as mayor of Flint and one term as city treasurer. He was a member of the board of education for fifteen years; a member of the board of control for the state school for the blind at Lansing for ten years and since 1905 has been a mem- ber of the board of trustees of the state school for the deaf. He is a
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director of the Union Trust and Savings Bank and owns several business and residence properties in Flint.
On October 26, 1881, Francis Hearn Rankin was united in marriage to Caroline Pierce, who was born in this county, February 14, 1856, daughter of Silas and Caroline (Crocker) Pierce, both now deceased, who were the parents of three children, Mrs. Rankin having two brothers, George and Silas Pierce. Mr. and Mrs. Rankin have one daughter, Caroline, who is a graduate of the Flint high school and who has become thoroughly familiar with the details of operation of her father's printing and engraving plant. Mr. and Mrs. Rankin are members of St. Paul's Episcopal church. He is a thirty-second-degree Mason, affiliated with the consistory of the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite, at Detroit, and is a noble of Moslem Temple, Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, in that city; his local con- nection with Masonry is through membership in Genesee Lodge No. 174, Free and Accepted Masons, at Flint; Washington Chapter No. 15, Royal Arch Masons, and Genesee Valley Commandery No. 15, Knights Templar. He also is a member of Genesee Lodge No. 24, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and of Flint Lodge No. 222, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. Mr. Rankin was one of the incorporators, with Edwin O. Wood and others, of the Loyal Guard, of which he was president for two years and of which he afterward was supreme secretary for seventeen years.
PATRICK SLATTERY.
Patrick Slattery, well-known druggist at Mt. Morris and one of the most enterprising and progressive young merchants of that flourishing village, is a native son of Michigan and has lived in this state all his life. He was born on a farm near North Branch, in Lapeer county, this state, July 10, 1889, son of William and Sylvesta (Heenan) Slattery, the former a native of Ireland and the latter of Michigan, who for years have been living retired at North Branch.
William Slattery was born in Tipperary, Ireland, in 1848, and was a well-grown lad when he came across the water with his parents, the family settling at Kingston, Canada. There William Slattery lived until 1862, when he came to Michigan and settled on a farm in the vicinity of North Branch, in Lapeer county. He presently married Sylvesta Heenan, who was born at
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Almot, this state, in 1852, and established his home on his farm, where he lived until 1907, in September of which year he retired from the active la- bors of the farm and he and his wife moved to North Branch. Their home there was destroyed by fire early in 1916 and they since have been finding pleasant recreation in travel. William Slattery is a Democrat and for years took an active part in the political affairs of his home county. He is a mem- ber of the Knights of the Royal Guard. He and his wife are members of the Catholic church and their children were reared in that faith. There were nine of these children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the sixth in order of birth and all of whom are living, the others being as follow: Jack, who is living at North Branch; Mary, who married P. A. Tierney, who is engaged in the insurance business at Houghton, this state; Mae, who mar- ried James Stewart, a contractor at Caro, this state; William, of Mt. Mor- ris : Della, who married Fred Brady, a city employee at Detroit; Anna, who is a professional nurse at Detroit; Margaret, who married Russell Wilson, who is connected with the United States civil service at North Branch, and Agnes, who married Frank Sholts, of Detroit.
Following his graduation from the high school at North Branch, Pat- rick Slattery entered the pharmacy department of Ferris Institute at Big Rapids and was graduated from that institution in June, 1912, immediately thereafter, on June 16, buying Goodwin's drug store at Mt. Morris, which he ever since has owned and managed. Upon taking charge of the store Mr. Slattery changed the name of the same to "Slattery's Pharmacy." He adopted modern methods in the conduct of his business, brought the stock and equipment up to up-to-date requirements and has done very well in his business, his place being regarded as one of the best drug stores in the north- ern part of the county. Mr. Slattery is a Democrat. In his fraternal rela- tions he is affiliated with the Knights of Columbus and with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, member of the lodges of those orders at Flint, and takes a warm interest in the affairs of both organizations. He has been local manager of the telephone exchange since September 1, 1912.
On March 1, 1916, Patrick Slattery was united in marriage to Bernard- ine Drake, of Flint, who was born at Jackson, this state, March 14, 1896, daughter of Robert and Mary (Oslager) Drake, the former of whom is a foreman in the great Buick factory at Flint. Mr. and Mrs. Slattery are members of St. Mary's Catholic church at Mt. Morris and take an active in- terest in parish affairs, as well as in all local good works and in the general social and cultural activities of their home town.
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CHARLES O. UPTON.
Charles O. Upton, one of the best-known and most representative farm- ers of Genesee township, this county, former treasurer of that township and for years actively identified with the development of the best interests of that part of the county, is a native son of Genesee county and has lived here all his life. He was born on the farm on which he now lives, in section 3 of Genesee township, November 30, 1859, son and only child of Henry and Mary U. (Wisner) Upton, the former a native of Massachusetts and the latter of Michigan, whose last days were spent in this county, honored and useful members of the community in which they lived.
Henry Upton was born in the city of North Adams, Massachusetts, March 24, 1832, son of John E. and Theodosia Upton, the former of whom was engaged in the manufacture of cotton goods in that city in partnership with his brother-in-law, Oliver A. Arnold. The factory and warehouses of the firm were destroyed by fire, practically ruining John E. Upton finan- cially, and in consequence of this serious reverse he decided to attempt a new start in the West. In 1841 therefore, accompanied by his family and bring- ing a few necessary household effects, he came to Michigan and pre-empted a tract of land in section 3 of Genesee township, this county, at that time a forest wilderness. After paying his moving expenses and the fees of the land office, John E. Upton had left but twelve shillings with which to start a new career in a new country. Nothing daunted, however, he established his home in the wilderness and proceeded to clear and improve his place and was beginning to see his way clear to success when he was killed by a stroke of lightning on June 16, 1857, eighteen years after locating in this county. His wife had died on May 18 of the same year, just two days less than a month before his tragic end. They were the parents of three children, Oliver, Mary E., who married Nathan Day, of New York City, and Henry. The latter was about nine years old when he came to this county with his parents and was twenty-five when his father met an untimely death. He assumed the active management of the farm, becoming a successful farmer and an influential member of that community, remaining on the old home farm until 1910, when he retired. His death occurred on March 10, 1914, he then lacking just a fortnight of being eighty-two years of age. His wife had preceded him to the grave thirteen years, her death having occurred on February 19, 1901. She had been a resident of this county and of Genesee township all her life, having been born on a pioneer farm in section 2 of that township on October 15, 1841, first-born of the three children born to
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Chauncey and Elmira (Ferris) Wisner, the others having been Scott A. and Harriet E. Chauncey Wisner and wife were both born in Mt. Morris, New York, were married there and lived there until they came to Michigan in 1839 and settled in Genesee township, this county, where they spent the re- mainder of their lives, useful and influential pioneer residents of that section of the county. Mary U. Wisner grew to womanhood on the paternal farm in the same neighborhood as that of the Upton farm and was living there at the time of her marriage to Henry Upton in 1857.
Charles O. Upton was reared on the farm on which he was born, the tract entered from the government by his grandfather in 1841 and, being the only child of his parents, inherited the same and has been living there all his life. In his youth the schooling received in the district school in the neighborhood of his home was supplemented by a course in the high school at Flint, after which he turned his attention seriously to farming and was ever thereafter a valued assistant to his father in the operation of the home farm, the full management of which he gradually assumed as his father grew older. Upon his marriage in 1888 he established his home on the old home place and his children have been reared there, the fourth generation of the family to occupy the old homestead. In addition to his general farm- ing Mr. Upton for years has given special attention to the breeding of fine sheep and at one time was the possessor of the finest flock of Improved Black-top Delaines in the state of Michigan, the wool of these sheep, on ex- hibition at the Louisiana Purchase Exposition or World's Fair, at St. Louis, having won for Mr. Upton the highly-prized diploma of credit from that exposition. That famous flock consisted of two hundred and thirty-five head of sheep, of which forty-two were full-blood Delaines, thirty-three of which it later became necessary to destroy when rabies broke out in the flock. Mr. Upton is a Republican and has served his township in the capacity of treasurer.
It was on March 20, 1888, that Charles O. Upton was united in mar- riage to Frances Underwood, who was born in Thetford township, this county, daughter of Robert and Esther (Brown) Underwood, who later moved to Millington township, in Tuscola county, this state, where Mrs. Underwood died, after which Mr. Underwood went to Kansas. Robert Underwood and wife were the parents of six children, of whom Mrs. Upton was the third in order of birth, the others being Mabel (deceased), Sarah (deceased), Mrs. Sabrina Warner, who lives in Forest township, this coun- ty; Mrs. Elma Kanouse, who lives in Genesee township, and Robert, a farmer, of Tuscola county. To Mr. and Mrs. Upton two sons have been
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born, Floyd F., who was born on December 15, 1888, and who is now farmi- ing for himself in Genesee township, and Arnold H., born on November 19, 1893, who is still living on the home farm, assisting his father in the opera- tion of the same. The Uptons have a very pleasant home and take a gen- eral interest in all movements having to do with the advancement of the cause of the community thereabout.
WILLIAM GEORGE HERMAN.
William George Herman, proprietor of the flourishing creamery at Montrose, this county, the owner of a fine farm on which he makes his home in the vicinity of that pleasant village and regarded as one of the most active factors in the common life of that community, is a native of the great En- pire state, but has been a resident of Michigan since he was about three years old. He was born on a farm in Genesee county, New York, January 24, 1874, son of George Frederick and Ruth (Walker) Herman, the former a native of Germany and the latter of Canada, who later came to Michigan and are now living at Bay City, this state.
George Frederick Herman, who was born on December 25, 1846, grew to manhood on a farm in Germany and in 1868, when twenty-two years of age, came to the United States, locating at Rochester, New York, later buy- ing a farm west of that city in Genesee county. He married Ruth Walker, who was born on a farm in the vicinity of Toronto in 1850, daughter of Lewis and Ruth Walker, the latter of whom died in 1863, after which Lewis Walker came to Michigan, where he spent his last days. George F. Her- man sold his farm in New York in 1877 and came with his family to Michi- gan, settling in Bay county. He bought a farm in Beaver township, that county, later moving to a farm in the neighboring township of Williams, near the town of North Williams, and there lived until about 1908, when he retired from the active labors of the farm and he and his wife are now living, very pleasantly situated, in Bay City, Mr. Herman giving his atten- tion to the real-estate business.
George F. Herman is a Republican and during his residence in Bay county has held several township offices. He is a member of the Independ- ent Order of Odd Fellows and he and his wife are members of the Metho- dist Episcopal church, he having been for years a steward of the church at North Williams. To George F. Herman and wife seven children have been born, of whom the subject of this sketch was the first-born, the others being
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as follows: Maggie E., born in 1876, who died in January, 1900; Bertha L., born in 1878, who died in 1906; Elizabeth Jane, born in 1880, who is now teaching school in Bay City; John F., born in 1883, who became a carpenter and is now living in New York state; Alice B., born in 1885, who died in 1908, and Maria B., born in 1887, who is now working at Saginaw. George F. Herman's parents were both of German birth. His mother died in 1870 and his father later came to the United States, where he spent the rest of his life, his death occurring in 1876.
William G. Herman was but a child when his parents came to this state from New York and he grew to manhood on the paternal farm in Bay county, receiving his schooling in the schools of that county. He remained on the home farm until he was twenty-two years of age, when he began working on his own account and about two years later came to Genesee county, where he married in 1900 and nine years later, in 1909, bought a farm of his own in section 17 of Montrose township. In the meantime Mr. Herman had been giving considerable attention to the creamery business and a year after settling on his farm rented the same and went to Burt, where for two years he was engaged as the manager of the creamery at that place. This practical experience convinced Mr. Herman that a creamery could be successfully operated at Montrose and he returned to his home in the neigh- borhood of that village and in 1912 established his present creamery at Montrose. The enterprise immediately secured the good will of the farm- ers of that part of the country and has been a success from the very start. Mr. Herman has equipped his plant with the most up-to-date machinery and appliances and has done very well. In 1912 the creamery did a business of $13,379; in 1913, $23,106.56; in 1914, $30,914.58, and in 1915, $43,862.05. Mr. Herman continues to make his home on his farm, where he and his family are very pleasantly situated, and is turning the place into a dairy farm, specializing in Jersey cattle. He is a Republican, a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, connected with the lodge of that order at Montrose, and he and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church at Montrose, Mr. Herman serving the congregation there as chor- ister and as a member of the board of stewards.
It was in 1900, after coming to this country, that William G. Herman was united in marriage to Edna D. Sammons, who was born on a farm in Richfield township, Summit county, Ohio, in September, 1877, daughter of William and Delila (Bowers) Sammons, who came to Michigan in 1891 and settled in Flushing township, this county, and have since made their home in the vicinity of the village of Flushing. William Sammons and wife are
ISRAEL HILL.
MRS. ALICE L. HILL.
ISRAEL HILL HOMESTEAD, DAVISON TOWNSHIP.
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presently recuperated and bought a farm in section 19 in Davison township, where he established his home and there he lived until his retirement from the farm and removal, on March 15, 1910, to the village of Davison, where he spent the rest of his life, his death occurring on May 6, 1914.
Israel Hill was an excellent farmer and, as he prospered in his farming operations, added to his holdings until he became the owner of a fine farm of two hundred and forty acres, which he improved in good shape and brought up to a high state of cultivation, long having been regarded as one of the best farmers in his neighborhood. He took an active part in the general affairs of the community and was an enterprising, energetic and influential citizen, ever helpful in all movements designed to advance the best interests of the community. He was a member of Flint Post, Grand Army of the Republic; a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows, and he and his wife were members of the Baptist church, in the affairs of all of which organizations he ever took a warm interest.
On September 1, 1861, Israel Hill was united in marriage to Alice L. Seelye, who was born in Davison township, this county, daughter of Alson and Lorinza (Wicker) Seelye, early residents of Genesee county, who took a prominent part in the development of a social order in the Davison neigh- borhood. In a biographical reference to Mrs. Ernest L. Post, sister of Mrs. Hill, presented elsewhere in this volume, there are set out further details of the history of the Seelye family in this county. Alson Seelye came here in 1836 and entered a tract of "Congress land" in Davison township. He and his brother cleared the first land ready for cultivation in Davison township and became prominent pioneers of that section of the county. Alson Seelye built a one-room log house on the section line and when the roads later came to be surveyed through that part of the county it was found that his house stood right in the middle of what ought to be the road. The surveyors laid their lines to one side of the cabin and that original "jog" in the road per- sists there to this day. It was in that log cabin that Mrs. Hill was born and she has distinct recollections of the howling of the wolves about the cabin home during the long and dreary winter nights.
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