History of Genesee County, Michigan, Her People, Industries and Institutions, Volume II, Part 68

Author: Wood, Edwin Orin, 1861-1918
Publication date: 1916
Publisher: Indianapolis : Federal Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1070

USA > Michigan > Genesee County > History of Genesee County, Michigan, Her People, Industries and Institutions, Volume II > Part 68

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).

GEORGE F. STEHLE.

One of the best methods to keep the soil from becoming depleted of its natural strength is by proper rotation of crops. Some farmers grow too much grain and not enough grass on their land, especially if it is old land. George F. Stelle, living near Linden, is one of the farmers of Genesee county who properly rotates his crops and keeps the soil of his fields in proper tilth and strength. He was born in Oakland county, Michigan, August 30, 1856, a son of Francis X. and Sarah (Day) Stehle. Demion Stehle, the grandfather, was born in Trilfinger, Germany, where he grew up and married and operated a grist mill there for some time, finally immi- grating with his family to America, locating in Wayne county, Michigan, on a small farm. Grandfather George Day, was a native of England, from which country he came to the United States and located in Oakland county, Michigan. Francis X. Stehle was born in Germany, where he spent his boyhood, coming to America a year or two previous to his parents, and locating in Oakland county, Michigan, where he spent most of his later life. He was a millwright by trade, which he followed mostly for a live- lihood. He also owned a saw-mill for some time. His death occurred in 1913. His wife died in 1878. Eleven children were born to these parents, namely: Anna, Sarah, George, Allen, John, Evelyn, Herbert, Andrew, Edward, Ulrich and Joseph.

George Stehle was reared in Oakland county, where he received his education in the public schools. In 1886 he married Lettie Ripley, a daugh- ter of Myron Ripley, a pioneer of Genesee county. To this union two chil- dren have been born, Frank, born on December 3, 1895, and Reuben, May 20, 1898.

Mr. Stehle .has always followed general farming. He owns forty-five acres north of Linden, but he rents a farm of two hundred and forty acres

680

GENESEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.

west of Linden, in Fenton township. He is a good worker and manager and handles considerable live stock, specializing in Holstein cattle, partly thoroughbred, also in Poland China hogs. Politically, Mr. Stehle is a Demo- crat. He is a member of the Masonic order and of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.

JOEL DIBBLE.

We are alwasy glad to talk to the aged veterans of the Civil War, in which nearly five million men took part, but of this vast number only a comparatively few remain with us to tell the interesting story of the dreadful hardships they endured; but their time is short now, so all persons should join in honoring them for the great service they rendered to succeeding generations. One of the worthy veterans and pioneers of Genesee county is Joel Dibble, of Fenton, now in his eightieth year, and thus perhaps the oldest native-born citizen of his locality. His birth occurred at the village of Fenton, April 7, 1837. He is a son of Clark and Hulda (Bailey ) Dibble. Elisa Bailey, the maternal grandfather, was a native of the State of New York, who came to Michigan in an early day and homesteaded one hundred acres of land in Genesee county, two miles west of Fenton, which he later sold and moved then to Calhoun county, this state. Clark Dibble, who was a soldier in the War of 1812, was a native of the state of New York, where he grew up and married, then came to Michigan, in 1832, settling at Whigville and later coming to Genesee county, where he homesteaded forty acres, adjoining what is now the village of Fenton. He established a saw- mill there long before there was any town. The village was first called Dibbleville in his honor. The first night he spent in this vicinity he slept by a log on the bank of the river which runs through the town. He traded with what was known as "Fisher's tribe" of Indians. He had a bar-room where the Indians could drink and sleep. He finally sold his saw-mill and forty acres to a Mr. LeRoy and a Mr. Fenton, whereupon the name of the town was changed to Fenton. Mr. Dibble then bought an inn on White Lake, in Tyron township, Livingston county. Before going to Tyron he had established a hotel at Fenton, where the A. J. Phillips shops now stand. His family consisted of five children, namely: Thomas J., now deceased. who owned the Dibble House in Flint; Joel., the subject of this sketch, and Catherine, Velda and Clark, deceased. The last-named met death while clearing his farm in Tyron township, Livingston county, a tree falling on him.

68I

GENESEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.

Joel Dibble, who was the second white child born in Genesee county, grew up amid pioneer conditions, the country for many miles round about being then a veritable wilderness. He was five years old when his father died. He had little chance to obtain an education. He worked hard when young, clearing and developing land and he has devoted his active life to general farming and stock raising. He lives on the property of his deceased brother, Clark, on which place also still resides the latter's widow, Mrs. Hannah Dibble, although he owns a residence and a lot and a half in the eastern part of the village.

After devoting most of his active life to farming Clark Dibble moved to Fenton and engaged there in the grocery and meat business six years. He owned ten acres of land there. He spent the last few years of his life in retirement. In 1862 he enlisted in Company G, Eighth Regiment, Michi- gan Volunteer Infantry, in which he served faithfully for three years, engaging in many battles, in one of which he was shot in the shoulder. He was born on November 12, 1835, and died on April 25, 1912. He married Hannah M. Gibson, who was born on September 18, 1840, and to their union two children were born, Martha, who married Mark Peck, who is now engaged in the moving-picture business in Fenton, and has three children, Olive, J. C., and Rowena, and Olive, who married Roy Parker, who now runs a general delivery wagon in Fenton, and has one child, Madeline.

In August, 1860, Joel Dibble married Sarah R. Gibson, who was born in Farmington, Michigan, in 1837, and who died in November, 1911. She was a daughter of Joseph and Martha (Wright) Gibson, both natives of Canada, in which country they spent their earlier years, coming to Michi- gan sixty years ago, and locating with the early settlers in Tyron township, Livingston county, but later moving to Ingram county, locating on a farm, where he and his wife spent their last days, his death occurring in Febru- ary, 1883 ; his widow surviving him twenty-five years, reaching an advanced age, and dying in 1908. To Mr. and Mrs. Gibson nine children were born, namely: Sarah, who married Joel Dibble; Amarilla, deceased; Charlotte, who was next in order of birth ; Hannah M., who married Clark Dibble, and Lottie, Antoinette, Flora, Melvin (deceased) and Dora. To Joel Dibble and wife three children were born, namely: Fred A., of Flint, who married Ada Burch and has one child, Floyd; Nettie J., who married Walter Joslyn, of Holly. Michigan, and has two children, Bernetta and Henrietta Jose- phine, and Daisy M., who married Fred Miles, and died twenty-eight years ago.

Joel Dibble enlisted in the Union army in February, 1865, and was on

682

GENESEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.

detached. service under Colonel Keogon.

He contracted rheumatism and was in the military hospital eight months. He has been remembered by the government with a pension. He was made a Mason in Fenton in 1859. He holds a forty-year certificate, which entitles him to life membership in that order without dues. He is the oldest living Mason in that lodge, that is, in point of continuous membership. Mr. Dibble is a Democrat and has served as street commissioner, as constable and for three years as marshal. He is one of the most widely-known men in Genesee county. He has lived to see many great changes in this locality, and has played well his part in the general development of the same.

CHARLES H. EAMES.

Charles H. Eames, one of the early pioneers of Genesee county, was born on November 8, 1835, in Rush township, Monroe county, New York, the son of William and Abigail Eames, who were natives of the states of New York and of New Jersey, respectively.

William Eames and wife lived for a number of years after their mar- riage in Monroe county. New York, where Mr. Eames was engaged in farming. In 1842 they left their home in New York and came to Michigan, locating in Genesee county and purchasing a farm in the southern part of Grand Blanc township. This land, one hundred and sixty acres, which William Eames obtained from the government, was undeveloped and wholly unimproved. The first house that Mr. Eames erected was a small frame · structure, and in that house the family lived until the summer of 1853, when he erected a much better residence, in which he and his family lived for many years. By much hard work and untiring effort he succeeded in obtain- ing one hundred acres of most excellent land, which he developed and improved, and which in time became one of the best farms. in the county and there he engaged in general farming and stock raising. Being left an orphan at an early age, Mr. Fames was wholly dependent upon his own efforts, yet he succeeded well, and lived to the remarkable age of one hun- dred years, his death occurring in December. 1915, following his one hun- (Iredth birthday. In active life, Mr. Eames always took an active interest in local affairs and did much for the betterment of the township and county during the early days. For a number of years he served his township as commissioner of highways and did much for the benefit of the roads. He

683

GENESEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.

was much interested in that work, believing in the best roads possible, and in schools that were of the highest standard. Being reared as he was, amid the hardships of pioneer life, where they had no roads and very poor schools, his aim was to improve the present conditions. William Eames and wife were the parents of four children, of whom Charles H. Eames is now the only survivor.

Charles H. Eames grew to manhood amid the scenes of early pioneer life in this county and endured much of the hardships of those times. He received his education in the early schools of the township, which were, of necessity, of crude character. Much of his education has been obtained by extensive reading and observation, and he has always been well informed on subjects of general interest. As a lad and as a young man he did much in the way of clearing away the forests and breaking the land on his father's farm. For three years after his marriage he resided on his father's place, after which he moved to a farm of one hundred acres in the same town- ship, and about one mile west of the Halsey school house. There he lived until 1898, when he retired from active farm work and moved to Grand Blanc, where he is now living. Mr. Eames has always been a public-spirited citizen, and has done much toward the advancement and growth of the town- ship and county. He has always been particularly active in the work of promoting the interests of the schools, knowing their great necessity to the youth of the community, and for many years was a director and treasurer of the school board, doing much toward the advancement of the schools of his township. Politically, Mr. Eames is a Prohibitionist, and he and his wife have done much for the cause of temperance in their community.

On August 28, 1867, Charles H. Eames was married to Mrs. Martha (Curtis) Ryan, a native of Grand Blanc, where she was born in 1840, the daughter of Zerah and Achsah (Dayton) Curtis. Zerah Curtis was born in Rush, New York, where he grew up and was educated, and where he was married to Achsah Dayton, a native of Vermont. Some years after his marriage, Zerah Curtis and his family moved to Concord, Lake county, Ohio, where they remained a short time, after which they came to Michigan, settling in Grand Blanc township, Genesee county. There they remained but a short time on a farm in the south part of the township, after which they returned to Ohio, on account of Mr. Curtis being afflicted with rheuma- tism. In 1849 the family again returned to Michigan, and here Mr. Curtis engaged in farming the rest of his life. He always took an active interest in the growth and development of the township and the county, and served

68.4

GENESEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.

his township as treasurer for a time, yet he was not active in the political life of the community. After an active and useful life he retired to Flint, where his death occurred in 1891, his widow surviving him only about a year.

Martha Curtis was married to John Ryan in 1859. He was a native of Ireland, who came to America as a small boy with his parents, who died soon after landing here. The lad grew to manhood in Canada, where his parents had located, working on a farm. In 1859 he came to Michigan and located on undeveloped and unimproved land in Genesee county, which he improved, and on that farm he spent the rest of his life, his death occurring in 1865. To that union there were no children. Some years after the death of Mr. Ryan, his widow married Charles H. Eames, and to this union three children were born, Walter H., Herbert W. and Merritt C. Walter H. Eames was born in Grand Blanc, where he now lives. He was married as a young man, to Lettie Warren, and to that union were born three chil- dren, Florence, Edna and Charles. Florence and Edna were twins and the latter died at the age of seven years. Later, Walter H. Eames married Daisy Waldron. Herbert W. Eames, the second son of Charles H. Eames and wife, grew to manhood on the home farm and was educated in the public schools of the township. He married Edith O'Hare, and to this union one son was born, Herbert Eames, who died in 1906. Merritt C. Eames married Jennie Beach, and to this union have been born two children. Frank and Lillian. Merritt Eames and wife both died when their children were young, and the latter were cared for by their grandparents, Charles H. Eames and wife.

Mrs. Martha Eames is an active member of the Methodist Episcopal church and has always taken much interest in church work. She has been a member of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union since 1875, and was president of the union at Grand Blanc for fifteen years. Fraternally, she is a member of the Lady Maccabees, and is a past commander of the local camp. During the early activities of the temperance crusade, she was a member of the Good Templars, and was for eight years superintendent of the "Demorest Medal Contest," in this county. She was for years the county treasurer of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union, and until within the last few years was always active in that line of work. Circumstances now require that she relinquish much of the work to others, but she recalls with pleasure the progress of this work since the time when she was a child. Mrs. Eames is recognized as one of the most active local workers in the

685

GENESEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.

cause and as one who has done much for the social betterment of the com- munity. Her life has heen an active and useful one, and she has done much good in the county. Living as she did, during the early days of the county, when there were few advantages and few pleasures, she is in a position to note the wonderful advancement made within the past generation. She remembers well of her mother telling of the days when they used blankets for doors to the house, and when they had to build fires to keep the wolves away at night, and how she had been scared by seeing bears, when she went to the spring for water. During their active life, Charles H. Eames and wife were members of the Farmers Club. For fourteen years Mrs. Eames was president of the Ladies Aid Society of her church and for thirty years was a steward in the church. Mr. and Mrs. Eames are among the most highly respected people in the county and their lives have been filled with useful and kindly deeds.

FRANK M. PERRY.

Frank M. Perry, one of the well-known and successful merchants of Grand Blanc, was born on January 24, 1861, in Davison township, this county, the son of Edmund and Clarissa ( Wilson) Perry. A more com- plete history of the Perry family, which was the second to settle in this county, will be found on another page of this volume, under the caption of Joseph Hobart.

Frank M. Perry was educated in the common schools of Davison township, where he grew to manhood and where he lived at the home of his parents, until he was eighteen years of age, when he moved to Grand Blanc township, where he located on the farm on which his grandfather had settled one and one-half miles east of the village of Grand Blanc. That farm had descended to Manson P. Perry, an uncle of Frank Perry, and it was there that Frank Perry worked for a year as a farm hand. At the end of the year an agreement was made whereby Frank Perry was to have an interest in the farm and there the young man spent a number of years with his uncle and the latter's wife Mary (Fairchild) Perry. Manson Perry had begun his home on that farm as a small child with his parents, in 1826, and there he spent the rest of his life.

After Frank M. Perry had worked for his uncle for four years he went to Dakota, where he remained for a year and while there he entered land,

686

GENESEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.

after which he returned to the farm of his uncle. where he remained for two years. at the end of which time he returned to his claim in Dakota, where he remained until 1892. He then again returned to the farm of his uncle, Manson Perry, and after the death of the latter, he and his wife lived with the aunt on the home farm, until her death. On the death of Mrs. Manson Perry, Frank M. Perry became the owner of the tract consisting of one hundred and eighty-two acres of excellent land. He remained on the farm until the fall of 1904, when he removed to Grand Blanc, and became a partner with Alex Gundry, in the hardware and implement business, and has been thus engaged ever since. The firm is doing an excellent business and carries a large and well-assorted stock. In addition to his farm and mercantile interests, Mr. Perry is also interested in the Farmers Exchange Bank at Grand Blanc.

On April 4. 1894, Frank M. Perry was united in marriage to Inez E. Campbell, who was born in Davison township, this county, a daughter of Alexander and Emma ( Preston) Campbell, the former of whom was born at Stockport, New York, on September 4, 1841, and died at Grand Blanc. on July 15. 1915, being then seventy-four years of age. Alexander Camp- bell was a brother of George Campbell, of Atlas, a biographical sketch of whom appears in this volume. Their father was a machinist at Stockport, New York, but later bought a farm there. The wife and mother dying at the age of thirty-two, left Mr. Campbell with five small boys. In 1855 he came to Michigan and located in Davison township, this county, where he purchased a farm, and it was on that farm that the son Alexander resided for many years. At the age of twenty, Alexander Campbell enlisted in the Union army and served for four years in the First Michigan, as an engineer. He was with Sherman on the march to the sea and was mustered out of the service at the close of the war with the rank of second lieutenant.

On December 23, 1868, Alexander Campbell was united in marriage to Emma L. Preston, who was born in Atlas township, this county, a daughter of Roswell and Elizabeth ( Nesmith) Preston. Roswell Preston was born in Vermont, where he was educated and later came to Michigan, locating in Genesee county, where he married Elizabeth Nesmith, who was born in this county, her parents having settled here in an early day. Mr. Preston was a life-long farmer in Atlas township, but spent his last years in Good- rich.

For many years after his marriage Alexander Campbell lived on the old homestead in the southern part of Davison township. After many years of active service he was compelled to retire on account of his health. He

687

GENESEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.

was a man of sterling worth, and was ever ready to give assistance to a more unfortunate brother. During his active life he always took an active part in all local affairs, and served his township as justice of the peace and was for a number of years, a supervisor of the township. His widow is now a resident of Grand Blanc. They were the parents of two children, Roswell J. Campbell, who lives in Idaho, and Inez E., who married Mr. Perry.

Inez Campbell Perry was educated in the common schools of Davison township and later attended the Business college at Grand Rapids and the Normal School at Flint. After completing her education, she taught school for five years, or until the time of her marriage. Mr. and Mrs. Perry have a beautiful modern home in Grand Blanc, it being a substantial brick struc- ture, with all conveniences and richly furnished, excellent taste having been shown in the planning of the residence and the furnishing of the same. The yard and grounds are beautiful and are well kept. Mr. Perry is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons and takes much interest in the order. Mr. and Mrs. Perry are possessed of those traits of character, kindness and courtesy, that make them loved and respected by the community in which they live.

IRA N. GILBERT.

One of the young farmers of Gaines township, this county, who is making good at his chosen vocation is Ira N. Gilbert, who believes in adopt- ing new methods of agriculture to suit changed conditions, when he finds them practicable and superior to the old. He was born in the above-named township and county on May 15, 1887, a son of .\. W. and Estella ( Herrick) Gilbert, both also natives of this county, where they grew up, attended the public schools and were married, each representing pioneer families. They live in the village of Gaines, and have five children, namely: Lola, the wife of Lewis Van Tifflin, of Grand Blanc township; Wilbur, who is farming in Gaines township; Ira N., the subject of this sketch; Ella, the wife of Arthur McCaughna, of Flint, and Leo, who also makes his home in Flint.

Ira N. Gilbert grew up on the home farm in Gaines township, where he worked when a boy during the crop seasons, and in the winter time attended the Swartz Creek school. He has devoted his life to general farm- ing and stock raising, in which he is now successfully engaged in Gaines township, where he owns a well-improved and productive farm- of eighty

688

GENESEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.

acres. He has a comfortable home and such outbuildings as his needs require.

On April 2, 1908, Ira N. Gilbert was married to Iva Eisentrager, who was born on the farm where she now lives, July 7, 1890, daughter and only child of George and Lodema ( Parks) Eisentrager, who reside on a farm in this county, and to this union two children have been born, Orva G., born on January 8, 1909, and Albert N., March 14, 1916. Mr. Gilbert is a Republican, but has never aspired to public office.

LORON A. REESE.

Loron A. Reese, a well-known and substantial farmer of Genesee town- ship, owner of a fine farm of one hundred and thirty-five acres in section I of that township, a stockholder in the Otisville Bank, secretary of his local Grange and for years actively identified with the growth and development of that part of the county, is a native son of Genesee county and has lived here all his life, always having resided on the farm on which he now lives and where he was born. He was born on January 27, 1859, son of Peter and Fannie (Rogers) Reese, the former a native of Germany and the latter of the state of New York, who came to Michigan in 1847 and settled in Genesee township, this county, where they spent the rest of their lives, use- ful and influential pioneers of that section of the county.

Peter Reese was born on February 16, 1824, and was seven years old when he came with his parents to the United States, the family settling on a farm in Erie county, New York, where he grew to manhood and where, in 1845, when twenty-one years old, he married Fannie Rogers, who was born in Erie county, New York, March 2, 1830. She was a daughter of Laban and Susan (Davis) Rogers, both natives of that same state, who, with their family and accompanied by Peter Reese and his young wife, came to Michigan and settled in section 1 of Genesee township, this county, being among the earliest settlers of that part of the county, and there Laban Rogers and his wife spent the rest of their lives. They were the parents of seven children, of whom Mrs. Reese was the fifth in order or birth, the others having been Caivin, Philander, Ransom, S. J., Eunice and Candice, none of whom now survive.

Upon coming to this county in 1847 Peter Reese and his wife estab- lished their home on a farm of one hundred acres in section 1 of Genesee

MR. AND MRS. LORON A. REESE

689

GENESEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.

township, adjoining the farm taken at the same time by Laban Rogers, and there they spent the rest of their lives, active and influential residents of that community, the death of Peter Reese occurring on December 30, 1890. He and his wife were the parents of seven children, of whom the subject of this biographical sketch was the fifth in order of birth, the others heing as fol- low : Amelia, born in April, 1847, who married T. P. Hornung, a mer- chant of Detroit; Marietta, who died at the age of nine years; Andrew, born in 1854, a well-known farmer of Genesee township; Minerva, born in 1856, who married Andrew Cox, a farmer, now living retired at Flint; Angenett, who died in infancy, and Belle, born on January 24, 1864, who married Thomas Williams, a farmer, now living retired at Otisville, this county.

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.

History of Genesee County, Michigan, Her People, Industries and Institutions, Volume II, Part 68

Author: Wood, Edwin Orin, 1861-1918 Publication date: 1916 Publisher: Indianapolis : Federal Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 1070

Author: Wood, Edwin Orin, 1861-1918
Publication date: 1916
Publisher: Indianapolis : Federal Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1070