USA > Michigan > Genesee County > History of Genesee County, Michigan, Her People, Industries and Institutions, Volume II > Part 57
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85
JOHN M. JOHNSTON.
Although the province of Ontario is excellent for general farming pur- poses, many of her native-born citizens have come across the border into Michigan and became farmers. Among those who have selected Genesee county for the scene of their operations is John M. Johnston, of Montrose township. He was born near Hamilton, Ontario, February 7, 1862, and is a son of William and Nancy (Carr) Johnston. The father was born in Ireland, in 1843. When a young man he emigrated to Canada, locating near Hamilton, Ontario, where he engaged in farming, residing there until about 1866, when he came to Michigan, locating in Mt. Morris township. this county, where he lived until 1872, when he located in Thetford town- ship. In April, 1880, he moved to Montrose township, where he spent the rest of his active life, spending the last few years of his life in retirement in the village of Montrose, where his death occurred in 1912, at the age of sixty-nine years. He was a Democrat, a member of the Knights of the Maccabees, and of the Methodist Episcopal church. His wife, Nancy Carr. was born in Canada, September 10, 1843. Mr. and Mrs. Johnston were mar- ried in Canada and to their union seven children were born, namely: John. George, Mary, who married John Marble; James, Frank, who lives in New York City, Christie, the wife of L. M. Jennings, and William, who lives on the old homestead.
John M. Johnston received his education in the district schools of Mt. Morris and Thetford townships, and assisted with work on the farm in the summer time, working in the lumber woods in Crawford county, in the
57
GENESEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
winter months. When twenty-one years of age he became camp manager for H. C. Ward, being the youngest man in the crew. He spent twenty-four years in the woods, during which time he farmed in the summer months. He first purchased forty acres in section II, Montrose township, which he later sold, and bought eighty acres in section 15, to which he added forty acres and later another forty. He then sold one forty. He has been very successful as a general farmer and stock raiser. He has made many import- ant improvements, including the erection of a large barn with cement floors and a modern residence, with furnace heat.
On April 25, 1889, John M. Johnston was married to Alice Farr, a daughter of Eugene and Lucy (McGuary) Farr, who came to Genesee county from Canada in an early day. Mrs. Johnston was born on August 13, 1865, and she received a common school education. To Mr. and Mrs. Johnston one child has been born, Kitty, born on April 17, 1894, who died on October 6, 1907.
Mr. Johnston is a Republican. He was highway commissioner in 1894. and in the spring of 1913 was elected township supervisor, the duties of which office he has since discharged very acceptably. He belongs to the Masonic lodge at Montrose, and to the Methodist Episcopal church.
DANIEL McCAUGHNA.
Daniel McCaughna, treasurer of Gaines township, this county, and was a well-known and progresive farmer of that township, being the owner of a well-kept and profitably cultivated farm of eighty acres one and one- half miles east of the village of Duffield, is a native son of Michigan and has lived in this state all his life. He was born on a farm in Burns town- ship, in the neighboring county of Shiawassee, November 30, 1863. He is the son of Daniel and Margaret (Haviland) McCaughna, both natives of Ireland, who came to this country after they were grown and settled in Shiawassee county, this state, where they married and established their home on a farm in the vicinity of Byron, becoming substantial and useful residents of that community. Mrs. McCaughna died on the old home farm and Mr. McCaughna is still living there at a ripe old age. They were the parents of ten children, of whom seven are still living, those besides the sub- ject of this sketch being James, Rogers, William, John, Edward and Anna.
Daniel McCaughna was reared on the home farm over in Burns town-
ยท
572
GENESEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
ship and received his schooling in the schools of Byron, finishing in the high school. At an early age he started out on his own account and by the time he was of age had saved a bit of money. He married at the age of twenty- three and for five years thereafter made his home on the farm that belonged to his wife's mother, in Argentine township, this county, operating and managing the same. Afterward he moved to the village of Gaines and was there engaged in the wood, coal and elevator business until he bought his present farm in Gaines township in 1904 and moved onto the same, where he has lived ever since and where he and his family are very pleasantly situated. Mr. McCaughna is a Democrat and for years has given close attention to local political affairs, serving at present as treasurer of the township. He and his wife are members of the Ancient Order of Gleaners and she is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church at Duffield, both taking a proper interest in the various social activities of their home com- munity and in all good works thereabout, useful in the work of promoting all agencies having to do with the betterment of conditions in that neigh- borhood.
On November 2, 1887, Daniel McCaughna was united in marriage to Ella S. Atherton, who was born in Argentine township, this county, Febru- ary 15, 1868, daughter of Samuel H. and Janet. (Quackenbush) Atherton. and who, after her graduation from the Byron high school, began teaching school and was thus engaged at the time of her marriage to Mr. McCaughna. To that union six chidlren have been born, namely: Arthur, who is a fore- man of one of the departments of the big Buick factory at Flint; Howard A., a graduate of the high school at Flint; Edna L., a graduate of the same school; Janet B., who is attending the Dort school at Flint; Walter, in high school at Gaines, and Lorna E., who is still in the district school.
WILLIAM DUFF.
William Duff, one of the well-known farmers of Flushing township. was born in Crieff, Scotland, on October 25, 1854, the son of Alexander and Katherine ( McNevan) Duff.
Alexander Duff was born at Muthill, Scotland, on October 27, 1826. There he was educated and grew to manhood and learned the shoemaker's trade. He later removed to Crieff, where he established himself in a shop and where he made his home until he came to America in 1854. Alexander
573
GENESEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
Duff married Katherine McNevan, who was born in Dunning, Perthshire, Scotland, on February 26, 1825. To this union the following children were born: Isabelle, the wife of James Wilber, of Saginaw; Anna, the widow of Richard Cottrell, of Flushing; William, Mary, deceased, who was the wife of Delos Simpson, and Jennie, the wife of Ebern E. Ensign. Isabelle, Anna and William were born in Scotland.
In 1854 Alexander Duff and family came to the United States, coming directly to this county and settling in the village of Flushing, where Mr. Duff worked in a shoe store for Frank Boman for years. In 1872 he pur- chased a farm, two miles north of Flushing, and there made his home until his death, February 10, 1901. His widow died at Saginaw on August 30, 1907. Mr. Duff and family were members of the Presbyterian church in which he was an officer for many years. He became a Mason in his native land and never transferred his membership on coming to America. Politi- cally, Alexander Duff was a Republican and took much interest in local politics.
William Duff received his education in the schools of Flushing and lived there until he was eighteen years of age. In 1872 he moved with his parents to the farm north of town, where he remained and managed the farm until the death of the father. Four years later the mother died and the home farm was sold. Mr. Duff purchased his present farm of one hundred and twenty-nine acres in 1905.
On March 16, 1878, William Duff was united in marriage to Della Hicks, who was born on January 20, 1859, in Livingston township, Shia- wassee county, the daughter of William and Agnes (Brant) Hicks, natives of Ohio, who settled in Livingston county, where they lived until moving to the farm in section 3, Flushing township, where they died. William Hicks was born in 1826 and died on February 6, 1889. His wife was born in 1830 and died on December 1, 1893. To William and Agnes Hicks were born the following children: Hiram D., now living at Midland ; Charles, deceased; Frances, the wife of James Grant; Della, the wife of William Duff, and Augusta, the wife of Chauncy Streeter, of Montrose township.
To William and Della Duff have been born two children, Catherine and Earl Alex. Catherine Duff, who was born on April 29, 1882, married Seth Hotchkiss, of Montrose township, and has one child, William . Isaac, born on July 4, 1906. Earl Alex Duff, now of Flushing township, was born on August 21, 1891. and married Lilla B. Bacon. They have one child. a son, Donavan P., born on April 18, 1913.
574
GENESEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
William Duff has a well-improved farm and is engaged in general farmn- ing and stock raising. He and his family are active members of the Presby- terian church. Fraternally, Mr. Duff is a Mason and a member of the Gleaners.
GEORGE W. ROBB.
The late Dr. George W. Robb had a high standing among the profes- sional men of Genesee county, both as a skilled physician and an honorable gentleman, for he was recognized by all classes as a high-minded, talented. courteous gentleman of integrity and moral worth.
George W. Robb, who was born near London, in Ontario province, Canada, June 9, 1858, was a son of John and Elizabeth (Smith) Robb, who were natives of Scotland and came early in life to Canada. George was one of fourteen children in this family. He was educated in Toronto, Canada, and graduated at the Detroit Medical College. After completing his medical course, he came to Linden, Michigan, and began the practice of his profession, which he continued until soon after his marriage. In 1909 he went to the Klondyke gold fields. Returning, he resumed his prac- tice, removing to Flushing, Michigan, where he lived at the time of his death, on September 14, 1915, aged fifty-six years. He was an active member of the Methodist church. His fraternal association was with the Masonic order, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Knights of Pythias. In politics he was independent. On September 8, 1898, George W. Robb married Carrie L. Belden, whose life history is told in the following para- graph.
Mrs. Carrie L. (Belden) Robb was born in Argentine township, Gene- see county, Michigan, May 10, 1872, and is a daughter of Newton and Har- riet A. (Smith) Belden. Her father was born in New York state, August 23, 1849, and came with his parents, Charles D. and Rebecca ( Sears) Belden, when they settled in Genesee county, in 1850. Newton was reared in the family home in Argentine township and educated in the district schools of the township. He was married, March 10, 1870, to Harriet A. Smith and settled on a farm. He followed the occupation of farming until 1908, when he retired, and he died on January 1, 1915, at the age of sixty-five. He was a member and an official in the Methodist Episcopal church, was a member of the Knights of the Maccabees and an ardent Republican.
Harriet A. Belden was born in Hadley township, Lapeer county, Michi-
575
GENESEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
gan, August 22, 1849. Her parents, George M. Smith and Phoebe (Fish) Smith, natives of New York state, came to Michigan in the early days and settled in Lapeer county, where they engaged in farming. Harriet was educated in Atlas township, Genesee county, her parents having removed to this township when she was young. Later they removed to Argentine township, then to Fenton township, where she lived until her marriage on March 10, 1870. She was the mother of two children: Carrie L. (Mrs. Robb) and Roy, who was born September 25, 1876, and is a farmer near Swartz Creek in Clayton township. Mrs. Belden is still living at that place.
Mrs. Carrie L. Robb was educated in Shiawassee and Tuscola counties, Michigan, and in the district schools of Mundy township, later attending the high schools of Linden and Fenton. She taught in the township district schools for six years previous to her marriage. Mrs. Robb is the mother of three children: William Ewart, born January 17, 1900; Isabelle R., born March 12, 1901, and Belden, born October 10, 1902; all are going to school.
THOMAS D. PARTRIDGE.
Thomas D. Partridge, one of the oldest living pioneers of Genesee county. lives on his three-hundred-and-eighty-acre farm, four miles from Flint, in Flint township. He was born in 1832 in Devonshire, England, and came with his parents, Thomas and Anne (Dowe) Partridge, to the county in 1839.
Thomas Partridge was reared on a farm in his native country and there married Anne Dowe on August 26, 1828. On April 6, 1835, the family left England for their new home in the United States and landed at New York on May 16, 1835, being six weeks on the ocean. On May 26, 1835, they located at Stafford, Genesee county, New York. Here he rented a farm of Newton Stage for a time, after which he purchased seventy acres, where the family lived until September, 1839, when they came to Genesee county, Michigan. A farm of one hundred and twenty-nine acres was pur- chased in Atlas township and here they lived until the spring of 1842, when this farm was sold and they moved to a farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Flint township, which Mr. Partridge had bought while living in the state of New York. It was here they lived until they retired from the farm in 1867 and moved to Flint, where Mr. Partridge died on May 20, 1880, and Mrs. Partridge, on January 12, 1883.
Thomas and Anne Partridge were the parents of six children, four of
576
GENESEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
whom grew to maturity : Anne, the wife of William R. Hubbard; Thomas D., John F., who died on January 8, 1914, and Charles W., who lives a retired life in Flint.
Thomas D. Partridge has lived on his present home farm since he was ten years of age. Here he grew to manhood and received his educa- tion in the schools of the township. On the retirement of his father, Thomas D. purchased of him one hundred and forty acres of land, making him a tract at that time of two hundred acres.
On October 10, 1870, Thomas D. Partridge was united in marriage to Naomi, the daughter of James and Hannah (Mercer) Burren. Naomi Bur- ren Partridge was born in Wayne county, New York, on September 10, 1853, and, when six years of age, came with her parents to Mt. Morris town- ship, where they lived for one year. The family then lived for a year in Flint, before taking up their residence in Mundy township, where James Burren died on March 5. 1889. Mrs. Burren died in December, 1906. James and Hannah Burren were the parents of the following children : Naomi; William, of Mundy township: Georgie, the first of the children born in Michigan, died in 1868; Lillie, the wife of Frank Dullam, died on March 11, 1906; Julia is the wife of Frank Hill, of Mundy township; Frank and Charles are both residents of Grand Blanc.
Politically, Thomas D. Partridge is a Republican and has voted with the party since its organization. He has always been interested in the selec- tion of the best men to office and has always taken an interest in local affairs.
S. E. CURTIS.
One of the best known native citizens of Genesee county of the older class of farmers is S. E. Curtis, now living in retirement in the village of Swartz Creek. He has been contented to spend his life in his home commun- ity and has lived to see many important changes roundabout, for this com- munity was little developed in his boyhood days. He has played well his part as a citizen. He was born, July 9, 1849, in Mundy township, this county, and is a son of Joseph and Martha (Thompson) Curtis. The father was a native of Schenectady county, New York, and the mother was born in Mas- sachusetts, from which state she was brought to New York by her parents when a girl, where she grew up on a farm, as did also Joseph Curtis, and they were married there. Soon afterward they came to Michigan, locating on a farm in Mundy township, Genesee county, Mr. Curtis entering eighty
MR. AND MRS S. E. CURTIS.
577
GENESEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
acres from the government, which land he cleared and improved, spending the rest of his life on the same. His death occurred when about sixty-eight years old, his widow surviving six or eight years longer, dying about 1890. To these parents three children were born, namely: Lyman, who was pro- prietor of the Genesee County Nursery, died March 3, 1916; Julia is the wife of Mallery Utley, and they live in Flint township; S. E., of this sketch, is the youngest.
S. E. Curtis grew up on the homestead and received a common school education. Remaining at home until he was married, he worked the home place and also on other farms. After his marriage he purchased forty acres in Mundy township, which he lived on about four years, then bought one hundred acres, on which he made his home until moving to Swartz Creek in March, 1914. He started out with no capital and by hard work and good management became very comfortably fixed, now owning an excellent farm of one hundred acres in section 5, Mundy township.
Mr. Curtis was first married in September, 1870, to Emily Countryman, a daughter of Nehemiah Countryman. She was born in Ingham county, Michigan. To this union nine children were born, all of whom grew to maturity, and eight are now living, namely: Lillian is the wife of Ellsworth Dake, of Gaines township; Jane is the wife of John Queign, of Mundy township; Mary is the wife of Henry Newton, of Mundy township; Amy is the wife of Wilbur Short, of Mundy township; Charles lives in Linden; Florence, now deceased, was the wife of William Kelley; Sophia is the wife of Elmer Gundry, of Mundy township; Fern is the wife of Frank O'Brien, of Gaines township; Cassius Nehemiah lives on the old home place. The mother of the above named children died in February, 1891, and Mr. Curtis subsequently married Mrs. Mary (Bremley) Curtis, widow of James Curtis. She was born in Devonshire, England, and when nine years old came to America with her parents, and there she grew up and was married in June, 1861. In 1866 she came to Flint township, Genesee county, Michigan, where she resided until her marriage to the subject of this sketch. Her first hus- band, James Curtis, was a native of England, from which country he came to America when a young man. To her first marriage, two children were born, namely: Carrie is the wife of Thomas Harvey, a photographer, living in Washington county, Michigan; William died when fifteen years of age.
Politically, S. E. Curtis is a Democrat and is faithful in his support of the party. He is a Presbyterian, but his wife belongs to the Methodist church.
(37a)
578
GENESEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
JOHN McCANDLISH.
Among the pioneers of Atlas township, this county, there are few who left better memories thereabout than did the late John McCandlish, who for years was one of the best-known and most substantial farmers of that part of the county. He was a good citizen, a kind and generous neighbor, an affectionate husband and father and possessed qualities of mind and heart that endeared him to the whole countryside thereabout, so that at the time of his death on April 15, 1886, he was widely missed. His widow sur- vived him many years, her death occurring at the home of her son-in-law, John R. Macomber, at Atlas on March 7, 1916. She enjoyed the usual dis- tinction of seeing her picture widely published in the metropolitan press in connection with a group containing five generations of her family, of which group she was the head, the others being her daughter, Mrs. Macomber; the latter's daughter, Mrs. Letitia Niles; the latter's daughter, Mrs. Gladys Reed, and the latter's little son, William James Reed, great-great-grandson of the venerable Mrs. McCandlish.
John McCandlish was born at Kirkcudbright. on the river Dell, near Edinburgh, Scotland, April 4, 1812. He grew up in his native land and in 1838 came to the United States, locating at Hyde Park, a suburb of New York City, where he married, November 18, 1844, Margaret Stivens, who was born at Lawrencekirk, Kincardineshire, Scotland, May 18, 1822, and who had come to this country with friends when she was twenty years of age, locating in New York. In 1847 John McCandlish and his wife came to Michigan and settled on a farm of eighty acres in the southwestern part of Atlas township. this county, which at that time was an unbroken forest wilderness. He cleared a spot on a rising piece of land on his homestead tract, erected thereon a small frame house and there established his home, early becoming one of the most influential pioneers of that part of the county. John McCandlish was a member of the Presbyterian church and his wife was an Episcopalian, both taking an active part in church affairs in their community, as well as in all neighborhood good works, and were for years helpful in promoting all good causes thereabout. On that pioneer farm John McCandlish spent the rest of his life, his death occurring in the spring of 1886, as noted above, his widow, as also noted above, long surviving him. They were the parents of eleven children, of whom three died in infancy and one, William McCandlish, died at Goodrich, this county, on December 25, 1915; the surviving children being as follow: Mary Isabel, who mar-
579
GENESEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
ried John R. Macomber, a well-known retired miller at Atlas; Jane, wife of Joseph Nichols, living near Standish; Robert Henry, who lives at Flint; John Ewine, of Goodrich; Colin, who lives on the old home farm in Atlas township; Allan, who lives on a farm four miles southwest of the city of Flint, and Stephen, who lives on a farm near the old McCandlish home farm, in the southwestern part of Atlas township.
EMRIE W. ROCKAFELLOW.
Emrie W. Rockafellow, proprietor of the hotel at Goodrich, this county, justice of the peace in and for Atlas township, former treasurer of that township and for years, or until his retirement from the active labors of the farm, one of the best-known and most substantial farmers in that part of the county, is a native son of Genesee county and has lived in this county all his life. He was born on a farm at the south edge of Davison township, February 8, 1858. son of Elijah A. and Joan (Burpee) Rockafellow, the former a native of the state of New York and the latter of this state, whose last days were spent in this county.
Elijah A. Rockafellow was born at Mt. Morris, in Genesee county, New York, April 7, 1832, son of Elias and Catherine (Thatcher) Rockafellow, who came to Michigan the year in which this state was admitted to statehood and became prominent and influential pioneers of the southern part of this county. The Rockafellows, or Rockefellers, as the name is variously known, arc a numerous family in the United States, all descending from a common stock, the founder of the family in this country having been old Johann Peter Rockefeller, who came from Sagendorf, in Rhineland, Germany, about 1733, and settled in Somerset county, New Jersey, becoming one of the foremost citizens in what is now Raritan township, Hunterdon county, that state. From him and his brother, Diehl Rockefeller, have descended those of that name and of the name of Rockafellow in the United States, now a numerous family, some of whom are known the world over. The name in Europe has been traced back for centuries to an old feudal castle in France. Old Johann Peter Rockefeller had a grandson, John Rockefeller, who was the father of John, Jr., who was the father of Elias, who was the father of Elijah A., father of the subject of this sketch, the name two or three genera- tions back having been changed in the latter branch to Rockafellow. John Rockefeller, son of Peter, grandson of Johann Peter, the emigrant, was a
580
GENESEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
lieutenant in the patriot army during the Revolutionary War and distin- guished himself at the battle of Monmouth.
Elias Rockafellow, son of John, son of John, son of Peter, son of Johann Peter Rockefeller, was born in New Jersey in 1803. He was left an orphan at an early age and was reared by an uncle, Samuel, under whose direction he learned the blacksmith trade. At the age of twenty-one he married Catherine Thatcher and moved to Mt. Morris, Genesee county, New York, whence, in 1837, he and his wife and their seven children came to Michigan and settled in what then was a "howling" wilderness in the south- ern part of Genesee county, the journey from Detroit requiring four days of toilsome travel. The nearest grist-mill was thirty miles away and there were few settlers in that part of the country at that time. Elias Rocka fellow set up a blacksmith shop at what is now the village of Atlas and established a foundry for the manufacture of plows, sleigh-shoes and the like, and shod horses and oxen there until 1868, when he sold out to his son, Elijah A. Rockafellow. Elias Rockafellow made considerable money, but the constant drain on his well-known generosity prevented him from accumulating much wealth. He was a Republican, as were his six sons, and for many years served as justice of the peace in that community. He also was for some time township treasurer and filled other offices of trust, until growing deaf- ness retired him from public service. Upon his retirement from active life he lived on a good farm in ease and comfort until his death in 1887. He and his wife were members of the Presbyterian church and were among the leaders in that congregation thereabout.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.