USA > Michigan > Genesee County > History of Genesee County, Michigan, Her People, Industries and Institutions, Volume II > Part 56
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To George C. and Elinor ( Ritzinger) Kellar two daughters have been born, Elizabeth Ramsey and Marianne Ritzinger. Mr. and Mrs. Kellar are members of St. Paul's Episcopal church and take an earnest interest in the affairs of that parish as well as in the general social and cultural activities of their home city. Mr. Kellar is a thirty-second-degree Mason, affiliated with the consistory of the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite, at Bay City, and is a noble of Elf Khurafeh Temple, Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, at Saginaw. His other connection with the Masonic order is through Franklin Lodge No. 7. Free and Accepted Masons, at Buckhan- non, West Virginia, and Washington Chapter No. 15, Royal Arch Masons, in Flint.
JOHN WILLIAM HURD.
John William Hurd was born in Vienna township, Genesee county. Michigan, April 8, 1858. He was married, January 1, 1884, to Rosa Jane Robinson, who was born at Millport. New York, November 15, 1863. Mr. Hurd was educated in the public schools of Clio and Flint and afterward attended the Janesville Business College, at Janesville, Wisconsin, from which institution he graduated, having completed a full business course and also telegraphy. He then took a position in the office of the Western Union
ยท
NELSON HURD.
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Telegraph Company, in Chicago. After one year in this service, he resigned to take a position as telegraph operator with the St. Paul, Minneapolis & Manitoba Railroad Company, now the Great Northern Railway Company. In November, 1885, he returned to Clio, on a vacation visit, bringing his wife and child with him, expecting to return to the west again the following April. But fate willed it otherwise. During that winter he got to trading and speculating, with the result that he became possessed of a mercantile business and it became necessary for him to settle down and take care of it. He has been taking care of this business for the past thirty years and has also been taking care of the Clio express business for the past twenty-four years, in connection with his mercantile business.
John W. Hurd is the son of Nelson and Sarah Hurd. Nelson Hurd was born in Pike, Genesee county, New York, February 20, 1818. He mar- ried Sarah Maria Harrison, in Tuscola, Tuscola county, Michigan, February 8, 1844. He died at his home in Vienna township, Genesee county, Michi- gan, May 9, 1880, and was buried at Pine Run, Michigan. His wife was born in Oswego county, New York, August 29, 1819, and died at her home in Vienna township, Genesee county, Michigan, Decmeber 21, 1901, and was buried beside her husband in Pine Run.
Nelson Hurd was a sturdy example of the healthy stock to which he belonged. At the age of eighteen he and his father, Russell G. Hurd, jour- neyed from Pike, Genesee county, New York, across Canada with an ox team, arriving at their destination in Michigan the last of February, 1837. Being the eldest of the four boys in the family, Nelson was particularly relied upon by his father as chief assistant in meeting the many hardships incident to pioneer life in the wild and woolly wilderness, where wolves, bears and Indians were the nearest neighbors. His father annexed a large tract of land on Pine Run creek, Genesee county, on what was afterwards known as Vienna township. He also erected the first grist-mill and saw-mill in the state, north of Pontiac. By virtue of a mail contract, secured from the gov- ernment by his father, Nelson had the distinction of carrying the first mail that ever went out of Saginaw. The mail was carried on an Indian pony, following the trail through the woods from Flint to Saginaw, a distance of thirty-two miles. With the aid of his younger brother, Hiram, the mail carrying enterprise, with an occasional passenger or two, was conducted with ponies. The round trip was made once a week, fording Cass creek twice each trip, swimming the creek during the high water period. The incidents of these trips afforded much excitement for the boys, as well as a good deal
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of privations and hardships. Finally the government cut a road through the forest and built bridges across the streams, and a stage coach took the place of the pony mail carriers.
Nelson Hurd became the possessor of two quarter sections of wild land in Vienna township, which he converted into fine farms. He was an honest, hard-working man and a successful farmer. In politics, he was a stanch Republican. On February 18, 1844, he married Sarah M. Harrison, named after her mother and who was the eldest child in the family of Dennis and Sarah M. Harrison. She was born August 29, 1819, in Lewiston, Niagara county, New York. In that place she was reared and educated, attending the academy of that place and afterwards engaged in teaching. She had the ad- vantage of Christian parents and received at their hands a most exemplary training, which was of much value to her throughout her entire life. She embraced the Christian faith at an early period in her life and this faith was exemplified at all times by a true and worthy life, giving evidence to all with whom she came in contact that she had a true Christian character of much refinement and integrity. At about the age of eighteen she came with her parents to Michigan, settling in Tuscola county in early pioneer times. A few years after coming to this place she was united in marriage with Nelson Hurd, a pioneer resident from Genesee county, New York, and with her husband she moved to what is now the old homestead, experiencing all the hardships and privations of pioneer life, raising to maturity a family of seven children. William H., one of her four brothers, is still living at Tuscola.
The paternal great-grandfather of the subject was Robert Lain Hurd. He was a captain in the Revolutionary War and a member of the New Hampshire Legislature for several years. He came to Michigan about 1850 and died shortly before the Civil War, at the age of ninety-three years. He was a man above the average in intellectual ability and with a character above reproach. The maternal great-grandfather of the subject was William Ben- din, who was also a soldier in the Revolutionary War. He entered the serv- ice at the beginning of the war and remained in defense of the colonies until its close.
To Mr. and Mrs. John W. Hurd two children were born: Mercen C. Hurd, born May 9. 1885, and Thurston R. Hurd, born .August 24, 1892. Both sons are practicing osteopathic physicians, Mercen C. being located in Houghton, Michigan, and Thurston R. in Ishpeming. Michigan.
Mr. Hurd is a member of the Masonic order and of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He has served as village councilman and as presi- dent of that body. His church affiliation is with the Congregational church.
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In all his business, fraternal and church relations, Mr. Hurd bears the repu- tation of a man of strict integrity, a man of strong influence always exerted in behalf of the cause that is right, a character that is without reproach in the community in which he has so long been a prominent citizen. A man's character as a citizen and business man is tested by the consensus of opinion of the people of the community in which he lives. Measured by this test, John W. Hurd measures up to the highest standard.
MARK BREWER RANSOM.
Mark Brewer Ransom, one of the prominent and sucessful young farm- ers of Genesee county, was born on February 25, 1879, the son of Robert and Roda A. (French) Ransom.
Robert Ransom was born on July 24, 1848, in Flushing township. He was educated in the schools of that township and lived on his father's farm until he was married, December 24, 1867, to Roda French, after which he purchased a farm three miles northwest of Flushing, and it was there that the son, Mark, was born. The family lived there until 1886, when the farm was sold and Mr. Ransom purchased another farm in section 36, two miles south of Flushing. There Robert Ransom lived until 1910, when he moved to the town of Flushing, where he now resides. Roda (French) Ransom was born in Flushing township on June 6, 1846, daughter of Henry French and wife, further information regarding whom will be found on another page of this volume. Mrs. Ransom died on November 12, 1912. To her and Robert Ransom were born four children, Randolph H., Elva, the wife of William Lewis, of Flint; Susie, who died on March 12, 1902, and Mark B., the subject of this sketch.
Mark B. Ransom was educated in the schools of Flushing township and grew to manhood on the farm of his father, where he lived until his marriage, October 30, 1901, to Bertha Chapman, who was born on September 11, 1878, in Ontario, Canada, the daughter of Charles and Agnes (James) Chapman, natives of Canada, both born in Ontario, the former in 1839, and the latter, April 2, 1847. They were married in their native country and there they lived until 1886, when they came to Michigan, settling in Genesee township, this county, where they still reside. They are the parents of the following children : Albert, Isaac, Agnes, Bertha, Charles (deceased), Martha, wife of Charles Andrews, of Flint: Oliver, and one child who died in infancy.
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Bertha Chapman received her education in the schools of Genesee township and lived at home until she was married to Mr. Ransom. To this union one child has been born, a daughter, Mildred, born on September 16, 1902, who is now attending the high school at Flushing.
After his marriage, Mark Ransom rented the farm of his father and remained there for six years. He then lived on a farm two miles east of Flint for four years, after which he rented two hundred and sixty acres in Burton township, one mile south of Flint, where he remained for one year and then, after one year, he returned to the old home, where he has eighty- four acres of well-improved land, and where he now lives, engaged in gen- eral farming and the raising of stock. He has a large herd of Holstein dairy cattle and many hogs.
The Ransoms are members of the Baptist church and take much inter- est in church work. Mr. and Mrs. Ransom have an adopted son, Robert Dogger Ransom, now seventeen years of age. Mr. Ransom is a Republican and takes much interest in local civic affairs, his influence ever being for the good and all that tends to the advancement of the community in which he lives and the township in general.
GUY V. DICKINSON.
The successful farmer of this day and age must look well to the finan- cial side of his business, the same as if he were a merchant or manufacturer. He must be a good bookkeeper as well as a good plowman. Such a farmer is Guy D. Dickinson, of Richfield township, Genesee county, and consequently he is making a very comfortable living and setting a good example.
Mr. Dickinson was born on the farm he now owns, May 12, 1880, and is a son of E. D. and Jennie (Frise) Dickinson. The father was also born on this farin, the paternal grandparents of the subject of this sketch being among the early settlers in Richfield township, developing the homestead from the wilderness, and here their son, E. D., followed farming many years, but he and his wife now live in the city of Flint. They have five children, namely: Guy D., of this sketch; Eva, who was graduated front the district schools, is the wife of Alton Wagner, of Richfield township; Hattie, who was graduated from the Davison high school, is the wife of Roy Shoemaker, of Flint; Grace, also a graduate of the Davison high school and of Michigan Agricultural College, is the wife of Oscar G. Ander-
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son, of Atlas; Roy R., a graduate of the Davison high school, married Zola Cullen, a graduate of Albion College.
Guy D. Dickinson was reared on the home farm and received his edu- cation in the district schools of Richfield township until he was about seven- teen years old, then went to farming and remained at home. He is now owner of the homestead, which consists of three hundred and eighteen acres, three and one-half miles from Davison, known as "Maple Dale Farm," in section 29, Richfield township. He has kept the place well improved and well cultivated and carries on general farming and stock raising successfully.
Mr. Dickinson was married, in 1901, to Mabel K. Sines, a native of Genesee township, this county, where she grew up and was educated. She is a daughter of William and Abbie Sines. To this union three children have been born, namely: Harold, Hilton and Velma.
Politically, Mr. Dickinson is a Republican. He belongs to Enterprise Grange No. 809.
Reverting to Mr. Dickinson's ancestral history, it is worthy of note that his paternal grandfather, David Dickinson, who died in January, 1914, at the age of ninety-two years, was a resident of Genesee county for seventy- six years. He was a native of Greene county, New York, the son of Zebulon and Esther Dickinson. He was a veteran of the Civil War. He it was who cleared from a forest the farm now owned by the subject of this sketch. He plowed the first furrow for the wagon road down Gilhey hill on the Richfield road and lived to see street cars in operation on that same road.
GEORGE W. ARMS.
George W. Arms, well-known business man of Gaines and formerly postmaster at that place, was born in Fenton, this county, on December 29, 1865, and is a son of Willard B. and Eliza A. (Whitney) Arms. Luther D. Whitney, the maternal grandfather, was one of the earliest pioneer ministers of the Methodist church in this section of the state. He settled in Lapeer county, Michigan, in a very early day and made his appointments on horseback, being a circuit rider. After preaching in that county for a number of years, he took up the study of medicine and practiced this pro- fession for many years in Lapeer county, finally locating in Whigville, Genesee county, where he continued practicing medicine until his death. His daughter, Eliza A. Whitney, was born at Hadley, Michigan, where she
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grew up, attended school and became well educated; she taught school there for some time, finally coming to Fenton, Genesee county, to teach, and here met and married Mr. Arms.
Willard B. Arms, father of George W. Arms, was born in Oakland county Michigan, in 1827, and his death occurred in 1878. He was reared on a farm and when but a boy he began his career as a merchant at White Lake, also establishing a store at Milford, both in Oakland county. He built up a good business at both places and, taking an active interest in public affairs, the Republicans nominated him for the office of state senator, to which he was duly elected, holding the office from 1855 to 1858, inclusive, from the fifth and sixth senatorial districts, also from the twenty-third while living at Fenton in 1867. He removed with his family from Fenton to Marquette in 1873, and finally moved to Chicago, where Senator Arms died in 1878. As a public official, he discharged his duties in a manner that reflected much credit upon his ability and to the eminent satisfaction of his constituents. After his death the family returned to Fenton, where his widow lived until 1891, when she moved to Olivet to reside, being married in that year to Myron A. Hance. On account of ill health, they removed to Fenton in 1914 to reside with her daughter, Mrs. Charles M. Topping, where she died on August 22, 1916.
To Willard B. and Eliza A. Arms six children were born, namely : Nettie E. is the wife of Charles M. Topping, of Fenton; George W., of this sketch; Willard B., Jr., died in 1911; Freddie, Sheridan and Faith died in infancy. The father of these children had been previously married, and two children were born of that union, Daniel, who lives in Missoula, Mon- tana, and William, now deceased, who lived in Marquette, Michigan.
George W. Arnis was educated in the Fenton schools. In 1882, when seventeen years of age, he began clerking in a drug store in Fenton for the firm of Cook Brothers, later clerking for Dunlap & Hovey, continuing as clerk for a period of eight or nine years. He then came to Gaines and purchased the drug stock of N. P. Leland, and he has continued in the same location to the present time, enjoying a large business and carrying a well- selected stock of drugs and drug sundries. He also carries a stock of gro- ceries.
Mr. Arms was married in July, 1888, to Jennie E. Stoner, of Fenton, whose death occurred on April 15, 1898, leaving two children, namely; Mae S., who is now the wife of Jacob G. Judson, was graduated from the Gaines high school, also the Fenton high school, and then spent two years in Olivet College; Evelyn E., wife of Harry A. Brewer, a Methodist minister, now
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residing at Prescott, Michigan, was also graduated from the Gaines and Fenton public and high schools, then took a two years course in music at Olivet College.
The second marriage of Mr. Arms was to Mrs. Ida C. (Andrews) Jones, a daughter of Adam F. Andrews, a pioneer of Fenton. After receiving her education she taught for five years in the district schools in the vicinity of Fenton, later for five years in the intermediate department of the Gaines public school. To Mr. Arms and his second wife three children have been born, namely : one son died in infancy, unnamed; Esther E., and Aroline C. are both attending school in Gaines.
Politically, Mr. Arms is a Republican and has long been more or less active in public affairs. He has served two terms as village president and was a member of the council for a number of years, also a member of the school board many years and has been president of the board for fourteen years. Fraternally, he belongs to Byron Lodge No. 80, Free and Accepted Masons; Durand Chapter No. 139, Royal Arch Masons; Fenton Com- mandery No. 14, Knights Templar. In 1897, during Mckinley's first administration, he was appointed postmaster at Gaines and he held the posi- tion continuously until 1915, a period of eighteen years, during which he discharged his duties in an able and faithful manner, to the satisfaction of the people and the department.
O. EUGENE SOPER.
O. Engene Soper, a prominent dairyman and farmer of Genesee county. was born in Mt. Morris township on September 12, 1871, being the son of Orrin and Julia (Burch) Soper.
Orrin Soper was born in Orleans county, New York, in 1826. It was there that he was educated and grew to manhood. When thirty years of age and after he was married, he came to Michigan and settled on a farm in Mt. Morris township, this county, where he lived until 1897, when he sold the farm and made his home with his son, Eugene, until his death on August 1, 1908. At the time he settled on the farm, on which is now located the rifle range, the tract was one vast wilderness, only two 'acres having been cleared. For a number of years his life was that of most pio- neers, hard work and few comforts. The farm had to be cleared and build- ings erected, most of which labor he performed himself. There were no roads and these had to be cut and made passable. His wife, Julia (Burch)
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Soper, was a native of the state of New York, where she was born on April 22, 1830. It was there that she was educated, grew to womanhood and was married. She came to Genesee county in early married life and here endured the privations of the pioneer with her husband and family. She and Orrin Soper were the parents of five children: Dwight, who died in May, 1915; Anna, deceased, who was the wife of W. E. Wollfitt; O. Eugene and two who died in infancy. The mother of these children died in 1895, two years before the death of her husband. O. Eugene Soper was edu- cated in the Beecher school, in the Woolverine Business College, and was graduated from the Flint Normal School. After completing his school work Mr. Soper returned to the home farm, where he remained until his marriage in 1892, in which year he bought forty acres of land in section 23, Mt. Morris township. It was on September 21, 1892, that Eugene Soper was united in marriage to Jennie P. Luce, daughter of Calvin Luce and wife, further information regarding which family is presented else- where in this volume, and to this union have been born five children, Preston (deceased), Roscoe, Florence, Mildred and Orrin.
At the time of their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Soper came to the farm where they now live, and to which has been added another forty acres. The place has been transformed into a model home. The house has been remodeled, fine new barns have been erected and Mr. Soper is engaged in general farming and in the dairy business. He keeps Holstein cattle and delivers the milk in Flint. The Sopers are active members of the Methodist Episcopal church, in which Mr. Soper is an officer. He is a member of the Grange and, politically, he is a Republican and has served his township as treasurer for two terms.
JOHN HORRIGAN.
John Horrigan, the son of Mark and Ellen ( Heyhill) Horrigan, was born in county Cork, Ireland, on June 21, 1834.
Mark and Ellen Heyhill Horrigan were natives of Ireland, and lived there all their lives. Mark Horrigan was a farmer and a school teacher and was a man of good education. To him and his wife were born eight children, Patrick, John, Michael, Margaret, Mary and three who died in infancy. The children all started for the United States, and all but Mary and John were drowned when the ship "Pemonia," out of Liverpool, went down. Mary later married James Fitsgiven and settled in New Jersey. After
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living there some years, they came to this county, settling in Flint township, and later removed to Detroit, where they retired.
John Horrigan was but eighteen years of age when he came to the United States and settled in Westchester county, New York. There he lived for nine years and in 1860 was united in marriage to Ella Fossett, who was born in 1834 and who died in January, 1906. To that union were. born nine children, James, Mary, Mark, John, Michael, Ellen, Margaret, Frank and Robert. Mary is the wife of Samuel McDowel, of Maple Grove town- ship, Sagassa county. Ellen is the wife of George Hammon, of Genesee township, and Margaret is the wife of John McCammely, of Flint.
In 1861 John Horrigan came to Genesee county, where he rented a farm, for five years, north of Flint. He later rented another farm, but in 1873 he moved to Mt. Morris township, where he purchased a farm of his own. The place consisted of eighty acres and was all timber. The tract was cleared, improved, and developed into a well-kept and highly- cultivated farm. There is not a stump on the place. Soon after the farm was cleared and ready for cultivation, Mr. Horrigan began gradually to raise some stock, and in this he has been quite successful. At the present time he is engaged in general farming and stock raising. Mr. Horrigan and his family. are devout and consistent members of the St. Michael's Catholic church at Flint. Politically, Mr. Horrigan is a Democrat and has served his township as justice of the peace for a number of years.
Mark Horrigan was born on April 9, 1865, and was educated in the schools of Person and at Mt. Morris. After completing his education he returned to the farm, where he assisted his father for a few years. He then worked in the lumber woods for fourteen years, and then for six years was "swamping" and on the river. He then returned to Mt. Morris town- ship, where he rented a farm for a number of years, after which he pur- chased a farm in section 29. There he remained until 1916, when he sold the place and is now living on the farm of his father.
On December 1, 1897, Mark Horrigan was united in marriage to Mar- garet White, who was born on July 18, 1874, daughter of John B. and Elizabeth (Rairdon) White, natives of Ireland, the former born in County Clare in 1835, and the latter, May 26, 1841. After coming to the United States, John B. White remained for a time in the state of New York and later came to this county, locating in Mt. Morris township, where he pur- chased a farm and there he lived until his death in 1891. His widow sur- vived him until 1913. They were married in this county and were the parents of the following children: Michael (deceased), William, Martin,
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John, Mary (deceased), Elizabeth, the wife of William Cox, of Bay City ; Ellen, the wife of Archie Campbell, of Flint; Hannah, the wife of Amos Campbell, of Mt. Morris; Margaret, the wife of Mark Horrigan; Alice, the wife of William Callahan, of Mt. Morris township, and Catherine, the wife of Frank Tuscheny, of Mt. Clemens.
Margaret White was educated in the district schools and at Mt. Morris and was a resident of Duluth, Minnesota, for two years before her marriage to Mark Horrigan. To this union have been born nine children, Adelad, Ellen, Veronica, John, Mark, Elizabeth, Albert, Helen and Marion. The Horrigans are members of the St. Mary's Catholic church. Politically, Mr. Horrigan is a Democrat and has served as a member of the school board for many years.
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