USA > Michigan > Genesee County > History of Genesee County, Michigan, Her People, Industries and Institutions, Volume II > Part 50
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JAMES P. HILLER.
James P. Hiller, a well-known and well-to-do retired farmer of Genesee township, this county, owner of a fine farm of one hundred and twenty acres on rural route No. 3, out of Flint, former justice of the peace in and for his home township and in other ways for many years actively identified with the general and civic affairs of that community, is a native son of Genesee county and has lived here most all his life, having been a witness to the development of this region since pioneer days. He was born on a homestead farm in Burton township, this county, February 1, 1845, son of John and Mary (Sherman) Hiller, natives of the state of New York, both born within twenty miles of the city of Buffalo, who became early set- tlers in this county and here spent their last days.
John Hiller and his wife were married in their native state and three years later, in the latter thirties, came to Michigan, driving through by horse-team as far as Oakland, where they traded their horses for oxen and drove on through the forests to Genesee county by ox-team. Upon arriving here John Hiller homesteaded a half section of land in Burton township, established his home there and there he and his wife spent the remainder of their lives. He gave one of his "eighties" to his brother for having located the land and kept the other three "eighties" until his death, becoming one of the most substantial pioneers of his neighborhood. He was a Democrat and held township office of one character or another for many years. He and his wife were members of the Methodist Episcopal church and were among the charter members of the first church of that organization established at Burton. John Hiller lived to a ripe old age. as did his wife, his death occurring in 1900 and hers, in 1895. They were the parents of twelve children, ten of whom are living and one who died in infancy, namely: David W., who was killed in a railroad accident at Flint, April 4, 1916: Philena, who married John Graves; Mary, who married Theophilus Herrington, of Flint; Cyrus, of Bay City; Levi, of Walla Walla, Washington; James P., the subject of this biographical sketch ; Frank, of Richfield township; Henry, now living in the state of Oregon;
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Lewis, of Flint; Jane, who married Charles K. Warner, and Charles C .. of Flint.
James P. Hiller remained on the homestead farm in Burton township. assisting in the development and improvement of the same and receiving his schooling in the neighboring distriet school, until he was eighteen years old, when he went to Flint and for twelve years engaged there, working in the Haskell saw-mill. He then went over into Lapeer county and for four years was engaged working for lumber companies there. In the mean- time, in 1867, he had married a Genesee county girl and in 1877 he returned to this county with his family, and on November 15 of that year bought a tract of eighty acres in Genesee township, established his home there and has ever since lived on that place, though for some years past living practically retired from the active labors of the farm. As his farming operations prospered, Mr. Hiller bought an adjoining "forty" and has long been the owner of his present fine farm of one hundred and twenty acres. He has a very pleasant home there and he and his wife are quite comfort- ably situated. Mr. Hiller is a Democrat and has held various township offices, including that of justice of the peace. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Protestant church at Genesee and he is one of the office- bearers in the same. Mr. Hiller has lived past the "allotted" span of three score years and ten and it is interesting to note that he never has had a suit at law, nor has any of his brothers.
It was on July 14, 1867, that James P. Hiller was united in marriage to Alvira Hibbard, who was born in Genesee township, this county, August 12, 1848, and to this union three children have been born, Carrie B., who married Louis Richmond, of Flint; Abbie M., who married George Stephens, of Mt. Morris, and Floyd J., who is connected with the postoffice at Flint.
FERDINAND AND LOUIS BARISET.
The Bariset brothers. Ferdinand and Louis, two of the best-known and most substantial farmers of Genesee township, this county, proprietors in joint ownership of a fine farm of one hundred and twenty acres on rural route No. 3, out of Flint, are natives of the Alsace-Lorraine country, but have been residents of Genesee county since the days of their young man- hood and have done very well in their operations here, long having been regarded as among the most progressive and energetic fariners in their neighborhood.
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Ferdinand Bariset, the elder of the two brothers, was born on June 18, 1858, son of Casper and Margaret (Shemanich) Bariset, also native Alsatians, who spent all their lives in their home country, and who were the parents of seven children, of whom Ferdinand was the fifth in order of birth and Louis, the last-born. In 1880, he then being twenty-two years of age, Ferdinand Bariset came to the United States, landing at the port of New York, where he remained a short time and then came to Michigan, locating in Genesee county, where he has remained ever since. For a couple of weeks after coming to this county he stopped in Grand Blanc township and then went up into Richfield township, where he began working for B. Conrad, at a wage of five dollars a month. After a couple of months of that employment he began working for Jacob Hanna, of that same town- ship, at a wage of eleven dollars during the summer months and five dol- lars during the winter months. After eighteen months of that service lie had saved sufficient money to pay for the passage of his younger brother, Louis, and sent for the latter, who arrived in due time and ever since the two brothers have been very closely associated in their operations in this county. For eight months longer Ferdinand Bariset continued his service on the Hanna farm, receiving thirteen dollars a month for his services, and then transferred his services to Frank P. Coolie, on whose farm he worked for four years, at a wage of eighteen dollars during the summer months and fifteen dollars during the winter months. In the meantime his brother, Louis Bariset, also had been making good use of his time, working on farms in that same neighborhood, and the brothers presently were enabled to buy a farm of forty acres in Richfield township, Louis taking charge of the place and Ferdinand continuing his wage earning. Soon afterward they rented a tract of eighty acres near their own place and for three years operated both tracts. They then sold their farm to advantage and in part- nership bought a tract of seventy acres in Genesee township, where they ever since have made their home and where they are very pleasantly and comfortably situated. Not long after acquiring their new farm they added to the same by the purchase of an adjoining tract of fifty acres and ever since have been farming one hundred and twenty acres of their own land and have done very well. Their farm is well drained and well improved, with a fine, large house built in 1904 of cement blocks made by themselves on the home place and a large and well-equipped barn, thirty-four by eighty- four. The brothers carry about twenty head of cattle, twenty-five hogs and seven or eight horses and their farming operations are carried on along modern lines.
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Louis Bariset is married and his elder brother has been a member of his household ever since it was established. Mrs. Bariset, who before her mar- riage was Adaline Neuman, was born on May 10, 1862. To her union with Lewis Bariset one child has been born, a daughter, Rose, who mar- ried Ernest McNeal. The Bariset brothers are good farmers and enter- prising, public-spirited citizens, both they and Mrs. Bariset taking an active and earnest interest in the general welfare of the community in which they live.
ORLANDO K. HATHAWAY.
Orlando K. Hathaway, a well-known and well-to-do retired farmer of Davison township, this county, who for years has been actively engaged in commercial pursuits in the village of Davison and otherwise prominently identified with the affairs of that part of the county, is a native of the state of New York, but has been a resident of this county since he was four years old. He was born in Porter township, Niagara county, New York. May 14, 1852, son of Lafayette and Ellen (McCollum) Hathaway, natives of that same county, who came to Michigan in the middle fifties and settled in Genesee county, where their last days were spent.
Lafayette Hathaway was born in the year 1824 and grew to manliood in his native county of Niagara, in the state of New York, where lie mar- ried Ellen McCollum, who was born in that same county in 1832. In 1856 they came to Michigan and settled in this county, locating on a farm at the west edge of Atlas township. A year or two later they moved to Davison township, where Mr. Hathaway bought a tract of eighty acres in the north- west quarter of section 21 and forty acres adjoining on the north, in section 16, and there he established his home in the unbroken forest, having to clear a spot for the erection of his house. Upon the breaking out of the Civil War, Lafayette Hathaway enlisted in Company K, Twenty-third Regiment, Michigan Volunteer Infantry, and served for more than three years. He was wounded during the service and never permanently recovered from the effects of that wound, his health ever afterward being impaired by reason of it. At the conclusion of his military service he resumed his farming operations and became one of Davison township's substantial and influential citizens. During the period from 1866 to 1868 he served as township treas- urer and also held other township offices. About 1878 he retired from the
ORLANDO K. HATHAWAY.
MRS. AMELIA HATHAWAY.
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farm and moved to Flint, where his death occurred on January 2, 1880. His widow survived him sixteen years, her death occurring in 1896.
Orlando K. Hathaway, the only surviving member of the family oi Lafayette Hathaway, was about four years old when his parents came to Genesee county from New York and he grew to manhood on the paternal farm in Davison township, receiving his schooling in the neighboring schools. From the days of his early boyhood he was a valuable assistant to his father in the labors of developing and improving the home place, remaining at home after growing to manhood, having practical charge of the farin, owing to the unstable state of his father's health. After his marriage in 1878 his parents retired from the farm and moved to Flint, as noted above, and he established himself on the old home place, where he continued farming for twenty-five years, at the end of which time he sold that farm of one hun- dred and twenty acres and moved to another farm that he owned in that same township. He lived there for a year while he was erecting a house in the village of Davison, into which he moved upon its completion and where he has ever since made his home. Upon moving to Davison Mr. Hathaway became engaged as a traveling salesman for an insurance com- pany and after a year of that form of service opened store in Davison, where he engaged in the sale of implements, harness and general farmers' sup- plies and was thus engaged until he sold his store in January, 1914. In the meantime he had been developing a growing business in another part of the town, in the way of fertilizer, fencing, fire-proof safes and some other lines and has since then been devoting his whole attention to that business. in which he is doing very well. Mr. Hathaway has long been recognized as one of the ablest salesmen in the way of agricultural supplies in this part of the state, and even while he was engaged in conducting his store often was called on to make trips on a special bit of salesmanship.
Mr. Hathaway has been twice married. In 1887 he was united in marriage to Amelia Long, who was born in the village of Goodrich, this county, a daughter of Henry and Mary (Esterly) Long, of Pennsylvania- Dutch stock, who came to Michigan during the fifties. Mrs. Amelia Hath- away died on November 8, 1908, and on December 28, 1909, Mr. Hathaway married Winifred Hammond, who was born in Burton township, this county. daughter of Mortimer and Alice ( Rockwood) Hammond, life-long residents of this county, the former of whom is a farmer and carpenter of Davison township. Mr. Hathaway is past master of Davison Lodge No. 236, Free and Accepted Masons; past noble grand of Vernon Lodge No. 400, Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows, in the same village, and is also a member of
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the Ancient Order of Gleaners, in the affairs of all of which orders he takes a warm interest. He and his wife are members of the Order of the Eastern Star and of the Daughters of Rebekah. His first wife was worthy matron of the Order of the Eastern Star at the time of her death and the present Mrs. Hathaway is noble grand of the local lodge of the Daughters of Rebekah and secretary of the local chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star.
J. HERMAN TAYLOR.
J. Herman Taylor, treasurer of Genesee township, this county, and one of the best-known and most substantial farmers and dairymen in that part of the county, owner of a fine farm of ninety-nine acres on rural route No. 3, out of Flint, and for years actively identified with the work of developing the best interests of the neighborhood in which he lives, is a native son of Genesee county and has lived here all his life. He was born on a farm in section 4 of Genesee township on June 22, 1867, son and only child of Nathaniel and Sophronia (Stuart) Taylor, the former a native of Ohio, born near the city of Cleveland on March 16, 1832, and the latter of New York state, born in the vicinity of Medina, May 6, 1838, who came to Michigan in the days of their childhood with their respective parents, both families settling in Genesee county, and here they spent their last days.
Nathaniel Taylor was but five years old when his parents, Hiram and l'rudence (Fuller) Taylor, came to Michigan and settled at Flint, which at that time was a straggling hamlet with but five frame houses. Hiranı Taylor died within less than a year after coming here, leaving his widow with ten children. The widow remained here and survived for many years. but after the death of her husband the family was divided and young Nathaniel was sent to the home of his grandparents in Connecticut, where he lived until he was seventeen years old, when he returned to Flint and learned the carpenter's trade, becoming a very proficient workman. There, on September 1, 1853, he married Sophia Davison, who was born on August 16, 1835. To that union two children were born, Charles on January 12, 1855, who died at the age of seven months, and Sarah, February 12, 1856, who married J. P. Russell. The mother of these children died in the fall of 1856 and Nathaniel Taylor afterward moved from Flint ont into the country north of town, where he was engaged working at his trade when the Civil War broke out. In 1861 he enlisted for service in Company I.
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Tenth Regiment, Michigan Volunteer Infantry, and was detailed to the Engineers and Mechanics Corps. Upon the completion of his original term of enlistment he re-enlisted and served nearly four years. Upon the com- pletion of his military service Mr. Taylor returned to Genesee county and on April 10, 1864, married Sophronia Stuart, who had come to this county from Ohio whn eleven years old with her parents, John and Dollie (Stu- art) Stuart, the family settling in section 2 of Genesee township, later mov- ing to a farm in section 4 of that same township, where John Stuart died on March 16, 1881, at the age of eighty years. His widow survived until July 9, 1900, she being ninety-one years of age at the time of her death. They were the parents of ten children, of whom Mrs. Taylor was the sixth in order of birth. After his marriage Nathaniel Taylor made his home on a farm in section 4 of Genesee township and lived there for twenty-two years, at the end of which time he bought a small farm in section 14 of that same township and there spent the rest of his life, his death occurring on October 13, 1914, he then being eighty-two years of age. His wife had preceded him to the grave two or three years, her death having occurred 011 December 16, 1911, she then having been seventy-three years of age. Nathaniel Taylor was a Republican and he and his wife were members of the Methodist Episcopal church.
J. Herman Taylor was reared on the paternal farm in Genesee town- ship, receiving his elementary education in the district school in the neigh- borhood of his home and supplemented the same by a course in the normal school at Flint, after which he taught school for one term at Flushing. He then bought a fourteen-acre tract in section 14 of his home township and for six years was there engaged in fruit and berry farming. He then for three years worked the home farm and in 1893 he bought a twenty-acre tract, adjoining the same on the south, in section 23. In 1896 he married and in 1901 bought another "forty" adjoining his place on the south. In 1913 he bought an additional twenty acres in section 22 and is now farming ninety-nine acres. Mr. Taylor's farm is well improved and profitably culti- vated. In addition to his general farming he has gone in somewhat exten- sively for dairying and poultry raising and has a fine herd of cattle, Dur- hams and Holsteins, and a promising lot of chickens, a cross of Rhode Island Reds and White Leghorns. He also has a fine bunch of Jersey Red hogs and is doing very well in his operations, regarding his dairy and chicken yard as very valuable adjuncts to his farm. In 1907 Mr. Taylor built a fine, large barn, thirty-two by sixty-two, with cement floor and modern equipment and is well fixed in his farming arrangements. He is a Repub-
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lican and has served as school inspector in his district for many years. In the two years, 1904-05, he served as township treasurer and in 1915 was again elected to that office and was re-elected in 1916, now serving his fourth term in that capacity.
It was on March 25, 1896, that J. Herman Taylor was united in mar- riage to Mary P. Clark, who was born in Ritchfield township, this county, March 14, 1875, daughter of Edwin G. and Emma (Woolman) Clark, the former of whom, born in this state in November, 1844, is still living and the latter, born in New York state on May 15, 1851, died in July, 1913, at the age of sixty-two years. Edwin G. Clark and wife were the parents of eight children, two of whom died in infancy, the others, besides Mrs. Taylor, being Russell, Howard, Harold, Julia, who married Andrew Riegel. and Lois, who married Joseph Coon. To Mr. and Mrs. Taylor six children have been born, namely: Norris, born on January 25, 1897; Ruth, March 19, 1901; Donald, February 28, 1903; Alton, August 27, 1904; Lawson. June 8, 1909, and Marguerite, September 7, 1911. Mr. and Mrs. Taylor are members of the Methodist Protestant church at Genesee and take an active interest in church affairs as well as in the general good works of their home community.
JOHN CLARK.
John Clark, a well-known and well-to-do farmer of Genesee township, this county, proprietor of a fine farm of one hundred and forty-two acres on rural route No. 3, out of Flint, and for years actively identified with the promotion of the best interests of his home community, is a native of England, but has lived in this county ever since he was three years old and has therefore been a witness to and a participant in the wonderful develop- ment that has marked this region during the past generation. He was born in the city of Liverpool on January 1, 1865, son of John and Margaret (Crilley) Clark, the former a native of Ireland and the latter of England. who became residents of Genesee county in 1868 and the latter of whom is still living here, at a ripe old age.
The senior John Clark was born on February 14, 1822, and remained at his home in Ireland until after the death of his parents, when he became a sailor and followed the sea until 1848, when he became attracted by the discovery of gold in California and went to that new Eldorado, where he remained until 1852, without, however, "striking it rich." He then returned
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to a sailor's life and presently returned to England, where, in the early six- ties, he married Margaret Crilley, who was born in that country in 1842, and made his home in the city of Liverpool until early in 1868, when he came to the United States with his family and proceeded straightway to Michigan, arriving in Genesee county in March of that year. Upon com- ing to this county, Mr. Clark bought a farm of forty acres in section 25, Genesee township, the present home of the subject of this sketch, and there established his home, spending the rest of his life there. When he bought the place about three acres of it had been cleared and there was a log cabin on the place, he and his family making their home in that humble abode until the way presently was clear to erect a more substantial residence. Mr. Clark cleared his original "forty," and as he prospered in his farming opera- tions added to his holdings until he became the owner of a fine farm of one hundred and sixty acres. John Clark died on his home farm on February 12, 1907, he then heing eighty-five years of age, and his widow survives him, she now being in her seventy-fifth year. To them four children were born, of whom the subject of this sketch was the first-born, the others being. as follow: Anna, who died at the age of seven years; Margaret, born on July 13, 1869, who married Grant Jobson, of Chicago, and James H., born on September 26, 1871.
The junior John Clark was a little past three years of age when his parents came to Michigan and he grew to manhood on the paternal farm in Genesee township. where he always has made his home. His schooling was obtained in the district school in the neighborhood of his home and from early boyhood he was a valuable assistant to his father in the work of developing and improving the home place. After his marriage in 1890 Mr. Clark continued to make his home on his father's farm and has lived there ever since. Until his father's death he worked the home place in partner- ship with his father and after the death of the latter bought the interests of the other heirs in one hundred acres of the home farm and later bought an adjoining tract of forty-two acres and has since been quite successfully farming his place of one hundred and forty-two acres. In addition to his general farming, Mr. Clark has given considerable attention to the raising of cattle, hogs and sheep and has done very well. His place is well improved and his operations are carried on in accordance with approved agricultural methods.
It was on November 5, 1890, that John Clark was united in marriage to Edna J. Parker, who was born in Richfield township, this county, July 31, 1871, daughter of Enos and Jane (Lash) Parker, both natives of this
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county, the former born in 1845 and the latter on August 25, 1851, who are still living on their farm in Richfield township, well-known and sub- stantial residents of that community. Mrs. Clark is the eldest of the four children born to her parents, the others being Charles, born on March 25, 1873, who is living in Richfield township; Mary, April 14, 1878, who mar- ried Watson W. Billings, and Bertha, born in October, 1891, who died in infancy. . To Mr. and Mrs. Clark five children have been born, namely : Lehla, born on September 29, 1893, who was graduated from the high school at Flint and is now teaching school: Hugh R., August 7, 1895, also a graduate of the Flint high school, who is now a valued assistant to his father in the work of the home farm; Gladys M., May 16, 1897, who died at the age of seven years; Erma B .. July 8, 1905, and Vehna, December 20, 1915. The Clarks have a very pleasant home and take a warm interest in the general social life of the community in which they live.
WILLIAM F. EATON.
The late William F. Eaton, for years one of the best-known and most substantial farmers of Genesee township, this county, and long prominently connected with the general activities of that neighborhood, was a native of the great Empire state, but had been a resident of this county since he was about nine years old and had therefore been a witness to and a participant in the wonderful development that has marked this region within the past generation. He was born at Fulton, in Oswego county, New York, Novem- ber 15, 1858, son of Wellington and Sarah Jane (Williams) Eaton, the former a native of Ohio and the latter of New York state, who later became pioneers of this section of Michigan and spent their last days in Genesee county.
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