USA > Michigan > Genesee County > History of Genesee County, Michigan, Her People, Industries and Institutions, Volume II > Part 66
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Charles B. Selleck was two years old when his parents moved from Springfield to Flint and in the latter city he grew to manhood. When about twenty-five years of age he bought a farm of forty acres in Richfield township and began farming on his own account. In 1888 he married and established his home on that farm and as he prospered in his farming opera- tions bought more land until he became the owner of a fine farm of one hundred and sixty acres, which he still owns. In February, 1912, he retired from the farm and moved to the village of Davison, where he since has made his home and where he is very pleasantly situated. While living in Richfield township he served for some time as justice of the peace and after moving to Davison was elected a member of the village council. He also recently was elected justice of the peace and is now serving in both these public capacities.
Mr. Selleck has been twice married. It was in 1888 that he was united in marriage to Myrtie Moore, who was born in Richfield township, this county, daughter of Wallace and Louisa (Moore) Moore, who came to Michigan from the Rochester section of New York state and settled in Genesee county, becoming substantial residents of Richfield township. To that union two children were born, sons both, Jesse L. and Henry W. Jesse L. Selleck, who lives on the old Moore farm in Richfield township, married Maggie Maxfield and lias one child, a daughter, Irene. Henry W. Selleck, who lives on another part of the Moore farm, married Edna Max- field and has two children, Arnold and Myrtle. Mrs. Myrtie Selleck died
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on August 28, 19IT, and on April 17, 1912, Mr. Selleck married Mrs. Ella (Hall) Selleck, who was born at Metamora, in Oakland county, this state, daughter of John D. and Lucy E. (Morrison) Hall, who came to Mich- igan from New York state and settled on a farm in the immediate vicinity of Metamora, where Mrs. Hall died about 1876, after which Mr. Hall went West, where he remained about twenty years, at the end of which time he returned to Michigan and his last days were spent in the home of Mrs. Selleck, his death occurring in 1900, about five years after his return from the West, he then being eighty-seven years of age. Mrs. Selleck was first married in 1876 to William H. Selleck, a cousin of Charles B. Selleck, who was born in this county, a son of Samuel and Sarah (Tripp) Selleck, and who followed farming at Pinconning, in Bay county, until his death in 1909. Charles B. Selleck is a member of the local lodges of the Masons, the Odd Fellows and the Grangers, while both he and his wife are members of the Order of the Eastern Star, the Daughters of Rebekah and the Gleaners. in the affairs of all of which organizations they take a warm interest.
CHANCY N. STREETER.
To the person who closely applies himself to any occupation which he has chosen as his calling in life, there can only come one result, that of suc- cess and a high place in the esteem of those among whom his lot has been cast. One such is Chancy N. Streeter, farmer of Montrose township, this county. He was born here on February II, 1861, and has been content to spend his life in his native locality, where his parents, William and Cath- erine (Marion) Streeter, were pioneers. The father was born in Genesee county, New York, August 4, 1804, and there he grew up and was married and there two of his children were born. In his earlier career he was a sailor for three years and was captain of the first boat that passed through the Erie canal; also was an officer on the boat that first established navi- gation between the clear water of the Great Lakes and the salt water of the ocean, through that canal. He finally came West, settling in Monroe county, Michigan, buying a farm near Bald Eagle Lake, where he also conducted a tavern. He erected the first brick building in Flint, in which place he lived about eleven years, finally selling out there and buying a farm of one hun- dred and sixty acres in Richfield township, later moving to Montrose town- ship and buying forty acres, where W. C. Bailey now lives. Still later he
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bought one hundred and sixty acres on the river, where he farmed for some time. He was the first postmaster in Montrose township, when there were but six voters in the township-two Republicans and four Democrats. He was a Republican, and, using his influence on the day of the first election, he changed the political views of one of the Democrats, who voted with the Republicans. Since then the township has always been Republican. His son, Chancy N. Streeter has in his possession the first ballot-box used in the township. William Streeter was influential in public affairs for many years. He served as a member of the school board, as drainage com- 'missioner, as township treasurer and as justice of the peace. In religion he was a Universalist. He spent the last few years of his life in retirement, his death occurring in 1888. at the advanced age of eighty-four years. His wife, Catherine Marion, was born in Genesee county, New York, in Octo- ber, 1817, and there she spent her earlier years. Her death occurred in December, 1897, at the age of eighty-nine. To these parents thirteen chil- dren were born, two of whom died in infancy, and James when thirteen years old. Those surviving to maturity were as follow: Jerome Henry, deceased; Frances, who married James Smith, now deceased, and lives in Saginaw county, Michigan; Susan Ann, the wife of Thomas Hanley, of Gladwin county, this state; George Wellington lives in Chicago, where he is captain of the naval district of lake Michigan; Marion, deceased, who was the wife of Duncan McGulinay, of Montrose township; Jay Thomas, deceased; May Douglas, who resides in Kansas City, Kansas; Ellen, the wife of Lathrop Johnson, of Montrose township; Laura, deceased, and Chancy N., the subject of this sketch.
Chancy N. Streeter grew up on the farm and received his education in the district schools of Montrose township. He remained at home until his marriage on February 11, 1885, to Augusta Hicks, who was born in Vienna, Genesee county, October 28, 1864, a daughter of William B. and Nancy (Brant) Hicks. The father was born near Sandusky, Ohio, about 1833, and there. he resided until moving to Livingston county, Michigan, where he farmed a few years, then moved to Vienna township, Genesee county. later locating in the village of Flushing, where he spent thirty years, then sold out and bought a home in the township of Montrose, where he spent the rest of his life. His family consisted of five children, namely: Hiram D., who lives in Midland, Midland county ; Charles, deceased; Francis, who died when eighteen years old; Della, the wife of William Duff, and Angusta, wife of Mr. Streeter. Mr. and Mrs. Streeter have one child,
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a daughter, Effie Streeter, born on March 1, 1886, who married Charles Blake and has two children, Frances and Carl.
After his marriage Mr. Streeter continued farming on the home place which he eventually purchased, one hundred and forty-four acres, later buy- ing eighty acres adjoining. It is all under cultivation and is well improved. He has been very successful as a general farmer and stock raiser, keeping a large number of cattle of an excellent grade. In 1912 he built a modern residence. Politically, he is a Republican, and has served as justice of the peace. He belongs to Orange lodge.
ELMER H. PENOYER.
Elmer H. Penoyer, one of the well-known and successful citizens of Flushing township, was born at East Saginaw, this state, January 17, 1862, the son of Homer D. and Sarah (Stone) Penoyer.
Homer D. Penoyer was born in Onondaga county, New York, July 27, 1833, son of David Penoyer and wife, who in 1836 came to Michigan, where the father homesteaded a farm on the bank of Flint river, which was the home of the family for many years. The father, David Penoyer, died when Homer was but seven years of age, after which the children were compelled to assist in the making of a living. Homer made his home in Genesee county until he grew to young manhood. He then went to Saginaw and there worked for his brother on the Penoyer farm until his marriage. In 1862 he enlisted in Company E, Twenty-third Regiment, Michigan Volunteer Infantry, and served for three years. At the close of his service he returned to Flushing township, where he purchased eighty acres of land in section 14, and where he made his home until he moved to the village of Flushing, where he died on July 16, 1908.
Homer D. Penoyer was married in Saginaw to Sarah Stone, who was born in Oakland county in 1841 and died at her home in Flushing in 1909. She was an active member of the Methodist Episcopal church. To that union were born three children: Elmer H., Hattie, the wife of William Marshall, of Flint, and Minnie, the wife of Edward Hearn of Jacksonville, Illinois.
Elmer H. Penoyer received his education in the schools of Flushing township, after which he assisted his father on the farm until he was twenty- seven years of age, when he married Flora Marshall, who was born on
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December 30, 1866, in Clayton township, where she was educated and lived until her marriage. To this union two children have been born, Harold, a photographer in Saginaw, and Marion, who is in high school at Flushing.
Elmer H. Penoyer, at the death of his father, bought of the heirs the old homestead and there he has since made his home, with the exception of three years when he was in the real estate business at Flint. He has a well-cultivated and well-improved farm. The house has been rebuilt and remodeled and a new barn was erected in 1905. Mr. Penoyer does general farming and is interested in the raising of Durham cattle. He is a stanch Republican and takes an active interest in local politics.
A. E. McDONALD.
To the pioneer more than to any other is civilization indebted for the brightest jewel in its diadem, for it was he who blazed the trail and acted as vanguard for the mighty army of progress that within the past century has conquered Genesee county's wilderness, transforming this section into a fine agricultural region. One of this number is A. E. McDonald, of Thetford township. He was born on a farm in Oxford county, Ontario, December 14, 1846, and is a son of Duncan and Mary (Ellis) McDonald. The father, a Highlander, was born in Scotland, from which country he emigrated to Canada with his parents when a boy, and there grew up and married Mary Ellis, a native of England, from which country she had emigrated as a girl to Canada, with her parents. Duncan McDonald followed the sea for a while after coming to this side and later settled on a farm in Oxford county, Ontario, where he spent the rest of his life. His family consisted of fourteen children, eight of whom are still living, A. E. McDonald being the second in order of birth.
A. E. McDonald grew up on the home farm in Ontario, where he worked when a boy, and he attended the common schools. When nineteen years old he left home and came to Michigan, settling in Huron county, where he worked in the lumber woods in the winter time and on farms in the summer months. He remained in Huron and. Lapeer counties about twenty-five years, then came to Genesee county and bought forty acres in Thetford township, where he lived until purchasing the farm on which he now lives, one hundred acres in section 3. He has a good farm, and has made all by his own efforts.
On April 14, 1861, A. E. McDonald was married to Amelia Thrasher,
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a daughter of William Thrasher and wife, and to this union six children have been born, five of whom are now living, namely: Hattie, who is the wife of Bert Stuck, of Swartz Creek, this county; Otho, who lives in Thetford township; Belle, the wife of Francis Leonard, of Thetford township, and John, who also lives in Thetford township. One child died in infancy. Mr. McDonald is a Republican and served as highway commissioner of Thetford township for one term.
SAMUEL BRADY.
A farmer, to be successful, must carefully manage his farm and know what he is gaining or losing, and on what branch there is no profit, just the same as the business man of the city manages his business-in a way, he should be a good bookkeeper. One such in Genesee county is Samuel Brady, of Thetford township. He was born on the farm he now owns, on April 7, 1873, and is a son of Charles and Anna (Byer) Brady. The father was born in Germany, and when two years old came with his mother and step-father to the United States. After spending a short time in Wis- consin they moved to Sebewa county, Michigan, and in 1858 located in Genesee county on the farm where Samuel Brady now lives. Charles Brady was married in Wisconsin. He first owned forty acres in this county, then became owner of a farm of forty acres. He helped three of his sons each to forty acres of land. Anna Byer, his wife, was born in Germany, from which country she came to America when nineteen years old, the voyage requiring eleven weeks. She located in Wisconsin where she and Mr. Brady first met. Three sons and four daughters were born to them, namely: Anna, who is the wife of William Finley; Barbara, the wife of Peter rank- lin; Louis, who is farming in Thetford township; John, who also is farming in Thetford township; Louise, wife of Charles Drudg, of Thetford town- ship; Samuel, the subject of this sketch, and Lucinda, wife of June Bartley, of Genesee township.
Samuel Brady was reared on the home farm and was educated in the common schools. He remained at home until his marriage on February 15. 1899, to Minnie Kraus, who was born in Germany, August 9, 1878, from which country she came with her parents to the United States when four years of age, the family locating in Michigan where she grew up and attended the common schools. After his marriage, Mr. Brady located on
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the home farm of forty acres and has since bought eighty acres more, where he has sinee remained and has kept the place, consisting of one hun- dred and twenty acres, well cultivated and under a high state of improvement. He carries on general farming and stock raising. He and his wife have one son, Lawrence S. Brady, born on October 25, 1905. Politically, Mr. Brady is a Republican. He is a member of the Gleaners.
MILO B. HALLIWILL.
Milo B. Halliwill, a well-known retired farmer of this county, now living at Flushing, was born in Summit county, Ohio, August 6, 1857, a son of Joseph Halliwill, born in the same place, March 23, 1825. The elder Halliwill was educated and reared in that county, where he spent his whole life, a farmer by occupation. He died on June 20, 1890.
The paternal grandfather of Milo B. Halliwill was William Halliwill, a native of Pennsylvania, who was among the first settlers in his home town- ship in Summit county, Ohio, having settled there in 1814. He was born in 1772 and died in 1855. His wife's maiden name was Elizabeth Cox, a native of Pennsylvania, born about 1775, who belonged to a family that was prominent in the early history of the United States, one of the family having been a prominent member of Congress. She died in 1876 at an advanced age. William and Elizabeth Halliwill were the parents of six- teen children, thirteen of whom lived to ripe old ages, and one of whom, A. O. Halliwill, is still living in Michigan. One of the sons of this family served as a soldier in the Union army during the Civil War.
On January 23, 1852, Joseph Halliwill was married to Elizabeth Battles, who was born in New York. October 23, 1833, and was reared and educated there. To that union two children were born, Milo B. and Levi, born on December 23, 1860, who is now living in Ohio. The mother died in November. 1884. She was a daughter of James Battles, who was born in Ireland and who came to the United States, where he lived to the age of seventy-seven. His wife's maiden name was Prudence Pardee, born in Con- necticut. After marriage at her home in that state she moved with her husband to Medina county, Ohio, being among the early settlers in that county. She died at her home in that county, about 1842. James Battles and wife were the parents of four children. Rose, James, Sarah and Elizabeth.
. Milo B. Halliwill received his education in the Richfield central school,
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graduating from the high school in the spring of 1879. He then engaged in farming in Ohio, where he remained for four years. In the spring of 1884 he came to Michigan and was engaged in farming for about eight years. On account of the poor health of his wife he sold his farm and removed to Flushing. Later he purchased another farm adjacent to the town, and operated the same by hired labor. On December 25, 1879, he married Hattie A. Freeman, born in April, 1858, in West Richfield, Ohio, a daughter of Milton R. Freeman, a farmer of Flushing township, this county, for thirty years. He was born in 1836 and died on January 19, 1900. He was a son of Rufus Freeman, a native of central Ohio, and a pioneer preacher and farmer of Medina county. The maiden name of his wife was Clarissa St. John, born in Medina county, Ohio. Milton R. Freeman, father of Mrs. Halliwill, married Ruth Ovialt, who was born on February 27, 1836, and who died on January 7. 1914. To that union were born five children, four of whom are still living.
Mr. and Mrs. Halliwill have one daughter, Mrs. F. P. Sayre, the wife of a prominent lawyer of Flushing. Mr. and Mrs. Halliwill are both mem- bers of the Baptist church and Mr. Halliwill has been a member of the board of trustees of the church for many years. He is a Republican and was postmaster, appointed during the Mckinley administration, and held the office for sixteen years. In 1879 he received from Mr. Mckinley, then a congressman from Ohio, an appointment to the West Point Military Academy, but on account of his mother's poor health he was unable to go. Mr. Halliwill's fraternal affiliation is with the Knights of Pythias.
WILLIAM T. WRIGHT.
Such decidedly different methods have to be employed in coaxing from Mother Earth the grains, fruit and vegetables by which we live that the expert farmer of one country would be a decided failure in another; and many years are often required to become properly acquainted with the methods of successful agriculture in any land and clime. One of the suc- cessful farmers of Genesee county is William T. Wright, of Montrose township. He was born in Toronto, Canada, July 4, 1855, and is a son of Thomas Wright, who was born in London, England, November 15, 1834. When a young man he emigrated to Canada, where he worked as a black- smith. His father accompanied him to the New World, his mother having
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died previously in England, when Thomas was very small. His father, Thomas Wright, Sr., was also a blacksmith by trade, and he spent the rest of his life in Toronto. Thomas Wright, Jr., came to Michigan in October, 1855, locating in Oakland county, where he spent about sixteen years; then located in Wayne county, where he resided about eight years, after which he moved to Muskegon, where his death occurred in September, 1905. He devoted most of his active life to farming, but the last twenty-five years was spent in the employ of the Thayer Lumber Company, of Muskegon, Michigan. He was a Democrat and was a member of the Methodist church. He married Ann Foster, who was born in London, England, in 1836. Her parents remained in that city, but she emigrated to Canada with two brothers, who later returned to London, but she met and married Mr. Wright in Toronto. To Thomas Wright, Jr., and wife nine children were born, namely: William T., the subject of this sketch; Edith, born in 1857, who married George Tibbets, a millwright, of Big Rapids, Michigan; George, deceased; Nettie, who died when young; Charles L., who lives in Louisiana, where he is in the employ of the Southern-Chicago Lumber Company; Jennie, who married Emory Van Valkenburg, who is engaged by a lumber firm in North- ville, Michigan; Elizabeth, who died in early life; Harrison, a lumber dealer in Noxapater, Mississippi, and Cecil, who lives in Lumberton, Louisiana, where he is working with his brother, Charles.
William T. Wright grew up on the farm and received his education in the public schools of Oakland and Wayne counties. He worked out as a farm hand until his marriage in 1877, after which he located in Montrose township, this county, operating the Hulburt farm for ten years, then moved to eighty acres, which he purchased in section 10. It was covered with timber, which he cleared and there engaged in farming until 1910, when he sold out and bought land in section 15, where he still resides and where he is engaged principally in growing small fruits. He has made what he has by honest, hard and persistent work and is now very comfortably fixed and his place is well improved.
On February 20, 1877, William T. Wright was married to Ida J. West- fall, who was born in Wayne county, Michigan, April 13, 1857. She is a daughter of Simon and Jane (Heath) Westfall, pioneers of Wayne county, where they lived many years on a farm, but died in Genesee county, where they spent the closing years of their lives. They were parents of five chil- dren, namely: William H., who is engaged in farming in Montrose town- ship; Minnie. the wife of Frank Waterman, of Montrose; Ida J., who mar-
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ried Mr. Wright; Elsie, who married Richard Eckles, a farmer in Saginaw county, and John, who died in Montrose township. Eight children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Wright, namely: Leonard W., born on March 17. 1878, who lives at home and is engaged in farming; one who died in infancy; Edith, born in 1881, who died on November 3, 1898; Anna, born in 1883, who married David Smith, of Montrose township; Nettie, born in April, 1885, who married Earl Hicks, of Montrose: Jennie, born in 1887, who married Edwin Hart, of Flushing township: Grace, born in 1889, who married Henry Daily, of Vienna township, and Clair, born in 1892, who died on August 8, 1909.
Mr. Wright is a Republican and has served as highway commissioner for the past nine years, and has been justice of the peace three different terms. He was commissioner when more than half of the township was owned by non-residents. He is a member of the Masonic order at Montrose and also of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Gleaners. He attends and helps support the Methodist church at Montrose.
WILLIAM J. LEACH.
William J. Leach, a well-known and progressive farmer of Davison, proprietor of a fine little farm of sixty-six acres one mile south of that village and for years actively interested in the general development of that com- munity, is a native son of Genesee county and has lived here all his life. He was born on a pioneer farm in Atlas township, November 4, 1860, son of George and Anna (Blackmore) Leach, both natives of England, who became early and influential residents of Genesee county, where their last days were spent.
George Leach was born in Gloucestershire, England, in 1829, and when seventeen years old came to the United States. 'After some time spent in New York state he returned to England, but presently returned to New York and at Newstead, in that state, married Anna Blackmore, who was born in Devonshire, England, February 4, 1831, daughter of William and Charity (Gould) Blackmore. When she was about seventeen years old Anna Blackmore came to the United States, preceding her parents, who came over in 1850, and settled at Newstead, in New York state. About 1854 William Blackmore, with his wife and several of their children, came to Michigan, settling in Davison township, this county, where he and his
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wife spent the rest of their lives. For some time after their marriage, George Leach and his wife remained in New York and their first child was born there. In the middle fifties they came to Genesee county and located in Davison township, where for some time George Leach was engaged in working for others. In 1858 he bought a small farm in the southwestern part of Davison township, not far from the village of Atlas, and later bought ninety-six acres adjoining his place, just over the line in Atlas town- ship, and there he established his home and became a very successful farmer. When he bought his farm it was wild, uncultivated land, covered with tin- ber, and he cleared it and brought it to a fine state of cultivation, becoming one of the most substantial farmers in that neighborhood. Mr. Leach was a man of much strength of character, firm in his convictions, and was a potent influence for good in the early days of that part of the country. In 1900 he retired from the farm and moved to the village of Davison, where he spent the rest of his life, his death occurring on June 29, 1914, he then being eighty-five years of age. His wife had preceded him to the grave some years, her death having occurred on April 30, 191I, at the age of eighty. They reared eight children, namely: Sarah, wife of Lucius Knowles, of Davison; Addie, wife of James H. Baxter, of Davison; Elbert, who died in March, 1908; George, Clarence and Frank, of Atlas; Mrs. F. B. Hatch, of Ann Arbor, this state, and William J., the subject of this biographical sketch.
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