USA > Michigan > Genesee County > History of Genesee County, Michigan, Her People, Industries and Institutions, Volume II > Part 53
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Charles M. O'Dell, father of Mrs. Ida Packard, was a son of Moses and Betsie (Seeley) O'Dell, natives of Orange county, New York. They settled in Mundy township, this county, where they lived the remainder of their lives. They were the parents of seven children: Lydia, who became the wife of William Taylor; Charles M., father of Mrs. Packard; Harris, Myron and Sarah, who died young; Charlotte, the wife of Benjamin Pease, and Dewitt S.
Ida (O'Dell) Packard was born in Mundy township, this county, Sep- tember 2, 1864. Her mother, after the death of her first husband, married Ephraim Elwell, and moved to Flushing township in February, 1868, where Ida attended the district schools and the high school. In 1880 she engaged in teaching and taught in the district schools of Flushing, Clayton and Mundy townships. On September 18, 1883, she was married to George Packard, and to this union two children were born, Marion and George, Jr. Both children were graduated from the Flushing high school and later received degrees from the State University at Ann Arbor. In July, 1914, George Packard, Jr., took a position as assistant cashier in the First State and Savings Bank at Flushing, the institution which his father had organ- ized. In October, 1915, he was made cashier of that bank, and became a stockholder and director. He is a Mason, being a member of the blue lodge, at Flushing, and is also a member of the Knights of Pythias. Both Mr. Packard and his sister, with their mother, are members of the First Metho- dist church of Flushing.
Thomas Packard, the father of Goerge Packard, Sr., was born in Lebanon, New Hampshire, in October, 1804. He was a son of Ichabod and Rachel (Chamberlain) Packard, natives of Brockton, Massachusetts. Ichabod Packard was a private soldier in the Revolutionary War, and
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his ancestry dates back to Samuel Packard, who came to the United States in 1638, and located near Boston. The ship on which he made the voyage was the "Diligence," which followed soon after the historic "Mayflower." As a young man, Ichabod Packard moved to Lebanon, New Hampshire, where he lived to quite an old age, his death occurring in 1841. He built the first dam across the river at Lebanon, New Hampshire, and operated a saw-mill, also followed farming to some extent. He was married to Rachel Chamberlain, and to that union there were six children born : Chamberlain, Louisa, Betsy (who married Daniel Hardy), Thomas, Origin and Asahel, the last three named, of whom came to Genesee county and took up govern- ment land in Flushing township.
On July 4, 1833, Thomas Packard was married to Pamelia Hartshorn, in Norridge, Vermont. His wife was born in the latter place on March 19, 18II. She lived to the age of seventy-eight years, and was widely known as a sincere Christian woman. Her death occurred in Flushing in March, 1889. The children of this union were George, Carlos, Emeline, Eliza and Caroline. After his marriage Thomas Packard came to Genesee county, in 1841, and settled first in the village of Flushing. Soon after he bought some land from L. L. Brent, and engaged in farming; later he purchased other farms and became one of the large landowners of the township. He was one of the pioneers in the lumber industry hereabout, his mill for the manufacture of lumber and shingles being located at Flushing. He also followed farming, which was his principal occupation until the time of his death, which occurred on July 4, 1875, at the age of seventy years.
BYRON S. JENNINGS.
Byron S. Jennings, president of the Clio village council, former sheriff of Genesee county, former county superintendent, and for many years super- visor of Vienna township, was born in Genesee township, this county, July IO, 1855, a son of William C. and Caroline (Johnson) Jennings, the former of whom was born near Willoughby, Ohio, and came to Michi- gan when a young man and took up eighty acres of government land in section 24, in Genesee township, this county. He and his father, Abner Jennings, came together and worked together on the farm for several years. William Jennings was a carpenter by trade and worked at his trade part of the time. He worked at Saginaw most of the time and had to walk
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the distance of thirty miles to that place. He lived to the age of seventy- five. He was a Republican and was justice of the peace for many years. He also held the position of highway commissioner for several terms. He was a man highly respected in the community and his efforts and influence were always exerted in behalf of things that were commendable and right.
Caroline (Johnson) Jennings was born in New York state and came West with her parents, who settled on forty acres of land in Thetford township, this county. Later her father took up and owned the section of land on which the town of Clio is now located. There he made his home until his death, which occurred at the age of about seventy years. His name was John Wesley Johnson, but among his intimate associates he was called "One-Thumb Johnson," because he had lost a thumb in a Fourth of July accident. William C. Jennings and Caroline Johnson were married in Genesee county and seven children were born to that union: Byron S., the subject of this sketch; Clara, deceased, who was the wife of Henry Kurtz; William Wesley, who is now living in Flint; Emma, who married Seward Thompson and is living in Flint; Alberta, deceased, who was the wife of Ira Dixon; Albert N., now living on the old homestead, and one child who died in infancy.
Byron S. Jennings was educated in the township schools of Genesee township, and in the Flint grades and high school, which was at that time located in the old city hall. After completing his studies in the high school he engaged in teaching school and taught for twelve years, teaching in the Miller school, at Richfield; in the Diamond school, on the Irish road; in the Kirsley school, near Flint; in the Pine Run school, six years; in the Diamond school, in Vienna township, and in the county line school.
On December 25, 1881, Byron S. Jennings was married to Clara E. Young, daughter of James and Sarah (Stewart) Young, natives of Pennsyl- vania, who moved to Vassar, in Tuscola county, this state, where Mr. Young served as postmaster for a number of years. After moving to Pine Run Mr. Young opened a grocery store and was again appointed postmaster, and kept the postoffice in his store. He and his wife were the parents of two children, William and Mrs. Jennings, the latter of whom was educated in the district schools of Genesee county and was graduated from the Flint high school. She taught in the country schools for two years and then went to Flint and taught in the school for the blind. When that school was moved to Lansing she went there and was engaged in teach- ing in the school for one year. Then she returned home and soon after was married to Mr. Jennings. To this union three children have been born,
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Mabel V., who died at the age of twelve years; Lillian, who married Charles W. Obee, of Adrian, Michigan, a professor in the college there, and Harley, who was graduated from the college at Adrian and is now farming.
Byron S. Jennings is a Republican and in 1888 was honored by his party by being elected to the office of sheriff of the county, for a two-year term. After serving his term of office he bought one hundred and ten acres of land in section 23, one mile east of Clio, and engaged in farming until 1908, when he retired and moved to town. Since then he bought thirty-five acres adjacent to the town of Clio, and platted the same in city lots, the greater part of which he has sold at a good price. He rents his farm. Mr. Jennings has been supervisor of Vienna township for fourteen years. He was school superintendent of Genesee county for four years and was then made school inspector, an office that supplanted the office of county superintendent. He is president of the village council, and has been a member of the council since moving to town. He was school treas- urer of Clio for a few years. He is a member of the Methodist Protestant church, has served as treasurer of the congregation for many years, and is conference trustee and treasurer of the board. He is a teacher in the Sun- day school and has had one class for more than twenty years. In all mat- ters pertaining to the church and in all its activities, Mr. Jennings is a lead- ing spirit. He is not only active and influential in church affairs but he is also interested in civic affairs, and his influence is always exerted in behalf of any cause that has for its object the uplift of humanity and the making of a better citizenship. Mr. Jennings' fraternal affiliation is with the Masonic order.
PATRICK J. GREEN.
A worthy scion of an honored old family of Genesee county is Patrick J. Green, farmer of Montrose township. He has been content to spend his life in his native locality, fully appreciating home opportunities. He was born in Genesee township, this county, November 9, 1863, a son of James and Ellen (Mackin) Green. The father was born in Ireland in 1826, from which country he came to Michigan when about eighteen years old, locating near Flint, among the pioneers; buying there a farm which is now a part of the city of Flint. He operated that place until 1865, then moved to Vienna township, buying a farm on which he spent the rest of his life, his death occurring in 1892. He engaged in lumbering during the winter
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months for many years. His wife, Ellen Mackin, was born in New York City and when young in years came to Michigan with her parents, Patrick Mackin and wife, the family locating in Flint about 1848, settling on a farm that finally was owned by the subject of this sketch, and there Mr. and Mrs. Mackin spent the rest of their lives. Six children were born to James Green and wife, namely: Thomas, who is farming in Vienna township; William, who is farming in Saginaw county; James, who now lives in Detroit and is employed as a timber estimator for a Chicago firm; Elizabeth, who married James Shanahan, a farmer of Montrose township; Michael, who is farming in Vienna township, and Patrick, the subject of this sketch.
Patrick J. Green grew up on the home farm and was educated in the Montrose public schools. He remained on the farm with his parents during their lifetime, his mother dying on May 8, 1908. He then bought one hundred and forty acres in section 4, and there he has since resided. In connection with general farming he is specializing in raising blooded live stock-Hereford cattle, Chester White hogs, Shropshire sheep and a fine grade of horses. During the fifteen years that he has lived there he has made many important improvements on his farm, which is one of the best in that locality.
On April 28, 1898, Patrick J. Green was married to Elizabeth Berry, who was born in 1861 in Montrose township, this county, where she grew to womanhood and was educated in the common schools. She is a sister of Duncan Berry, a sketch of whom, which contains a history of the Berry family, will be found elsewhere in this volume. Politically, Mr. Green is a Democrat. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Montrose, and is a member of the Catholic church.
JOHN H. WOOD.
The twentieth-century farmer can no longer follow the methods of his grandfather, who worked the virgin soil when land, climate-in fact, most everything-was different. One must not only "be up and doing, and learn to labor and to wait," as the poet admonished, but one must be a close student of literature bearing on agricultural themes and also a keen observer and a logical thinker. One of the successful farmers of Flushing township, Genesee county, is John H. Wood, who was born on the farm he now occupies, October 20, 1846, a son of James Wood, who
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was born on December 22, 1810, in Wetton, England, where he grew up and became a mechanic. He immigrated to the United States in 1842 and located in this county, where he purchased forty acres in Flushing town- ship, which place is now owned by the subject of this sketch. It was government land and heavily timbered, but he cleared it and made a good farm of it. It was in what was called the English settlement, as a number of his countrymen had previously located in that locality, including the families of John Reed and James Bailey, who came with about ten English families that settled there. They had all lived in towns in the old country, none of them knowing anything about farming, but they set to work with determination, and after a struggle, succeeding in establishing comfortable homes. James Wood spent fifty-four years on his farm and died there, May 20, 1896. He was a son of John Wood, who was born in England in 1770. John Wood came with his son, James, to America, and died here in 1854. His wife, Elizabeth, had died in England. They were parents of eight children, two of whom, Samuel and James, came to the United States.
James Wood grew up in England, where he married Sarah Burgess, who was born in Adlington, England, September 19, 1815, and was a daughter of Henry and Mary Burgess, both of whom spent their lives in England. They were parents of eleven children, all of whom remained in England but Sarah. They were a family of farmers. The death of Mrs. Sarah Wood occurred on March 28, 1892.
To James and Sarah (Burgess) Wood, seven children were born, namely: Mary, who died on July 4, 1842, at the age of seven years; Ann, born on July 14, 1839, who married Chester Felton, a veteran of the Civil War and at one time a resident of the English settlement here, who died on February 8, 1913; Jane, September 7, 1841, who married Edward Judd, a farmer of Shiawassee county, whose death occurred on August 14, 1913; Ellen S., August 26, 1844, who married Edwin A. Bailey, a son of the original settler in the English settlement, Mr. Bailey dying on March 31, 1913, his widow now living in Flushing; John H., the subject of this sketch; Carrie E., December 4, 1848, who married the Rev. Alexander Fair, a Meth- odlist minister, of Shiawassee county, who died in December, 1912, and Charles E., May 27, 1852, now a retired farmer and real-estate dealer, of Flint.
John H. Wood grew up on the home farm and received his education in the district schools, after which he taught five terms in the Flushing and Montrose districts, then resumed farming, buying forty acres in section 8,
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Flushing township, to which he added sixty acres, in Montrose township. He has made a success as a general farmer.
On January 24, 1872, John H. Wood married Georgiana Wickham, who was born on January 29, 1855, a daughter of Gabriel and Mary Jane ( Arnout ) Wickham. The father was born on September 11, 1815, lived in the English settlement here, and died on September 10, 1883. The mother was born on March 3, 1821, and died on September 15, 1904. To John H. Wood and wife three children were born, namely: Edith M., born on June 4, 1873; Arnott B., July 26, 1880, now farming on his father's place, who married Rosella E. Christler, September 19, 1906, and has one son. John Wyman, born on November 28, 1912, and Imogene S., January 11, 1883, who married Frank Emerick, an auditor, now in the employ of the United States Radiator Company of Detroit.
Mr. Wood is a Republican and served as justice of the peace in his township for seven years; also was highway commissioner for one term. He is in favor of prohibition and is at all times ready to lend his support to any measure looking toward the betterment of his community in any way.
WILLIAM VINCENT.
William Vincent, one of the best-known and most substantial retired farmers of Gaines township, now living at Swartz Creek, former highway commissioner, former justice of the peace, former treasurer of his home township and for years actively identified with the work of developing the best interests of that part of the county, is a native of the dominion of Canada, but has been a resident of Michigan since the days of his youth. He was born in Canada, February 10, 1843, son of Richard and Sarah (Ap- pleman) Vincent, who came to this section of Michigan in 1858 and here spent the remainder of their lives.
Richard Vincent was horn in Vermont, as was his wife. After their marriage they moved to the state of New York and later moved over into Canada, where they lived until 1858, when they came to Michigan and established their home in the western part of Genesee county, where they spent the rest of their lives, earnest and usful pioneer citizens. They were the parents of nine children, of whom two are still living, the subject of this sketch having a brother, Joseph Vincent, a farmer at Middlebury, this state.
William Vincent was fourteen years old when he came to Michigan with
MR. AND MRS. WILLIAM VINCENT.
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his parents in 1858 and he has ever since been a resident of this county. He completed his schooling in the district schools in the neighborhood of his new home and from boyhood was an able assistant to his father in the work of clearing and developing the old home farm. When twenty-two years old, after his marriage. he began farming for himself, starting in a small way on a woodland farm, which he cleared and brought under cultivation. As he prospered in his farming operations he added to his original holdings until he became the owner of a fine farm of two hundred acres in Gaines township. four miles south of Swartz Creek, which he still owns and where he made his home until the time of his retirement from the active labors of the farm and removed to Swartz Creek, where he and his wife are now very pleasantly and comfortably situated. Mr. Vincent is a Republican and for years has taken an active part in local political affairs, having served his township as highway commissioner, as justice of the peace and as treasurer.
Mr. Vincent has been twice married. His first wife, who was Lucretia Paliner, died in 1908, leaving six children, namely: John, who is a farmer and owner of one hundred acres in Gaines township; Elgin, also a Gaines township farmer, owner of eighty acres; Sarah, wife of Thomas Ballard; Fred, the owner of a farm of sixty acres in Gaines township; Elizabeth, wife of Dudley Shaw, owner of a farm of forty acres in Gaines township, and Verona, wife of Edwin Hillbrough. On December 24, 1911, William Vincent married, secondly, Gertrude Whittemore, who was born in Iosco county, this state, July 16, 1874; who was educated in the high school at Detroit, became a clerk in the store of E. O. Pierce & Sons at Flint and later became a professional nurse and was thus engaged at the time of her mar- riage to Mr. Vincent. Mr. and Mrs. Vincent are members of the Methodist Episcopal church and both are members of the Grange and the Order of Gleaners, in the affairs of which they take a warm interest. Mr. Vincent is also a member of the local tent of the Knights of the Maccabees, of which he is the present commander.
MRS. JANE CHISHOLM.
Mrs. Jane Chisholm, widow of John D. Chisholm, was born in Vienna township, this county, on August 26, 1844, daughter of Christopher and Mary ( Knowles) Hughes, natives of Ireland, the former of whom, born on April 2, 1806, came to the United States with his wife and two children in
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1831. The little family settled on a farm about six miles from Rochester, New York, and remained there for five years. In his native country, Mr. Hughes had learned the shoemaker's trade, but on coming to America he discontinued that work. In 1836 the family came to Michigan and settled on a farm in Vienna township, this county, where they remained until 1853, in which year they moved to Genesee township, where Christopher Hughes spent the rest of his life, his death occurring on February 25, 1898.
The Vienna township farm of Christopher Hughes was located between what is now the towns of Clio and Mt. Morris. The market for his pro- duce was at the city of Detroit, some seventy miles away. His only means of transportation was an ox team, so he hired the only team of horses in the community. These he got at Flint, and in payment for the same he gave a bushel of oats for each bushel of potatoes delivered. The Hughes farm in Genesee township consisted, at first, of one hundred and sixty acres. This was increased, before the death of Christopher Hughes to four hun- dred and sixty acres. Mr. Hughes was a great traveler and in his time saw much of the western country. He was a public-spirited man and did much for the advancement of the community, always ready and willing to assist in any enterprise of value. He built many miles of Michigan roads and did much toward getting railroads in the territory.
On June 2. 1827, Christopher Hughes was united in marriage to Mary Knowles, who was born in Ireland in 1803, and who died on March 16, 1881. To that union were born nine children, Elizabeth, Stephen, Matthew, Thomas, Michael, Mary, William, John and Jane. Elizabeth Hughes was born in Ireland and is now living on the old homestead. Stephen Hughes was born in Ireland in 1831 and died in Flint in 1902. Matthew Hughes was born in the state of New York in 1833 and became a lumberman in New Orleans. He died some years ago. Thomas Hughes was born in the state of New York in 1835, and died in 1878 in California, where he was engaged in the cattle business. Michael Hughes was born in the state of New York in 1837 and is now living in Mt. Morris, this county. Mary Hughes was born in the state of New York in 1839 and died in North Dakota on February 23, 1913. William Hughes was born in Vienna town- ship, this county, in 1841 and is now living in Corunna. John Hughes was born in Vienna township in 1843 and is a resident of Mt. Morris. Jane, widow of John D. Chisholm and the subject of this sketch, is living on her farm in Vienna township. . In 1860 Mrs. Chisholm taught school at Mt. Morris, in the old Barber school which name the school still carries.
Jolın D. Chisholm, deceased husband of Mrs. Jane Chisholm, was born
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in Canada on April 3, 1841. He was educated in the public schools there and there grew to manhood. In 1866 he came to Michigan and settled in East Saginaw, later becoming manager of a lumber company at Saginaw, which position he held until he became a passenger conductor on the Pierre Marquette railroad. He remained with that road for eight years and then accepted a similar position with the Grand Trunk Railway, which latter posi- tion he held until the time of his death on April 9, 1880.
To John D. and Jane (Hughes) Chisholm were born four children, John D., Charles C., Marie and Agnes. Jolin D. Chisholm was born in East Saginaw on July 2, 1873, where he received his education and grew to manhood. He was with the Pierre Marquette railroad for fifteen years, and is now with the Maryland & Western, as trainmaster. Charles E. Chisholm was born on June 14, 1875, and is engaged in farming his mother's place and in the buying of timber. He makes his home with his mother. Marie Chisholm, born on October 19, 1877, is the wife of Peter Carton, an auctioneer and real-estate man, of Flint. Agnes H. Chisholm was born on November 12, 1879, and is the wife of P. J. Conley, an insurance agent, of Marquette.
HIRAM WESLEY BUMP.
Hiram Wesley Bump, a well-known farmer living on the outskirts of the village of Flushing, is a native son of Genesee county, born in Clayton township, August 21, 1868, son of Henry and Delecta (Richardson) Bump, who are now living in Flushing. Henry Bump came to Michigan as a lad and was reared by Henry Pearson on the latter's farm in Clayton township. He married Delecta Richardson, who was born at Hazleton, this state, and after his marriage settled on a farm in Clayton township, where he made his home until his retirement from the active labors of the farm, when he moved to Flushing, where he has since made his home. He is a Democrat and is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. To him and his wife were born six children, two of whom died young, the others, besides the subject of this sketch, being Theresa, who died at the age of twenty-one years; Florence A., who married Charles Luce, of Flushing, and William Nelson.
· Hiram Wesley Bump was educated in the Flushing high school. He bought a forty-five acre farm adjacent to the village and engaged in farm- ing. Later he added to his acreage and has continued farming operations,
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doing general farming and also giving considerable attention to stock raising. Mr. Bump is independent in politics. He is a member of the Presbyterian church and has served as an official in the local congregation. He was mar- ried on November 19, 1890, to Effie Mae Bliss, who was born in Montrose township, this county, June 16, 1871, a daughter of George Truman and Lucinda Hannah (Johnson) Bliss. George Truman Bliss was born in Ohio, April 1, 1847, and came with his parents to Michigan when quite young, the family settling in Montrose township, this county. Maurice Majean Bliss, his father, was also born in Ohio and came to Michigan soon after his mar- riage. Soon after coming to this state the Civil War came on and he en- listed in Company C, Seventh Michigan Cavalry, of which he was quarter- master-sergeant. He was wounded in battle and from the effects of his wound he never fully recovered. . After returning from the army Maurice M. Bliss again took up his farming interests in Montrose township and con- tinued to be actively engaged in farm work for a number of years and then retired. He died in 1908 at the age of eighty-two years. He was a Democrat in politics and held a number of local offices. He was a Mason. His wife, Lucy ( Hollister ) Bliss, was born in Woodford, Bennington county, Vermont, September 29, 1830. When she was quite young her parents settled in Ohio, where she had her home until she was married. She was the mother of four children : George Truman; Inez, who married Frank M. Confer, a farmer ; Helen, who died at the age of sixteen, and Mahlon Majean, a farmer, living in Montrose township. The mother is still living at the age of eighty-six years.
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