USA > Michigan > Genesee County > History of Genesee County, Michigan, Her People, Industries and Institutions, Volume II > Part 69
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Loron A. Reese was reared on the homestead farm in Genesee towil- ship, receiving his schooling in the neighboring district school, and from boyhood was a valuable assistant to his father in the work of improving and developing the home place. After his marriage in 1883, he established his home on the paternal farm and after the death of his father became the owner of the same and has ever since lived there. He later added to the farm by the purchase of a tract of thirty-five acres adjoining, over the line in Richfield township, and has since been cultivating one hundred and thirty- five acres, a well-improved and profitably cultivated farm, on which he has done very well. Mr. Reese has not confined his activities wholly to farm- ing and is one of the stockholders of the Bank of Otisville, being also other- wise interested in the general development of his home community. He is active in the affairs of the Grange and has long been secretary of the local Grange for the Flint River and Richfield district. He also is a member of the Order of Gleaners, connected with Lodge No. 131 of that order at Rogersville, and takes a warm interest in its affairs. Mr. Reese is a Repub- lican and gives a good citizen's attention to local politics, but has not been included in the office-seeking class.
In the spring of 1883 Loron A. Reese was united in marriage to Nettie J. Fowler, who was born in Waltham, LaSalle county, Illinois, on Septem- ber 29, 1864. She is the daughter of Jackson and Susan M. (Sanborn) Fowler, the former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of New York state, whose last days were spent in this county. Jackson Fowler was born on April 15, 1824, son of Thomas and Ann Fowler, who had come to this country from Ireland and settled in Pennsylvania, where they spent the rest of their lives. He grew up as a cabinet-maker and married Susan Sanborn,
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who was born on June 12, 1835, daughter of Levi Sanborn and wife, natives of Vermont, who later lived in New York, then in Illinois and finally came to Michigan. settling in Richfield township, this county, where they spent their last days. In 1861 Jackson Fowler and family came to Mich- igan and settled in Genesee township, this county, where Mrs. Fowler died on May 1, 1870. Mr. Fowler survived for many years, his death occurring on April 27, 1903. He and his wife were the parents of four children, of whom Mrs. Reese was the third in order of birth, the others being as follow : William S., born on November 9, 1859, who is now living on the old Rogers homestead in Richfield township; Etta, December 19, 1861, who died in youth, and Frank, October 14, 1869, who died on March 25, 1873. To Mr. and Mrs. Reese two children have been born, Alta E., born on May 12, 1886, who married George L. Jewell, a farmer, of Richfield township, and Everett L., December 23, 1895, a trimmer by trade.
GEORGE M. COGGINS.
George M. Coggins, one of the prominent and successful merchants of Grand Blanc, was born on August 6, 1868, in Oakland county, this state, son of Thomas F. and Ann ( Purcell) Coggins.
Thomas F. Coggins was born at Youngstown, New York, where he received his early education. There his father died, after whose death, his mother with the children came to Michigan, locating at Flint, where Thomas F. and his brothers engaged in the meat business. He remained in the business until some time later, when he married Ann Purcell, a native of Cork, Ireland, after which he removed to a farm in Groveland town- ship, Oakland county. There Mr. Coggins engaged in farming until 1870, when he removed to Holly, where he again engaged in the meat business, at which he remained until 1873, when he returned to Flint, where he continued in the business. It was there that he died when the son, George, was seven years of age. The young son lost his mother some months later. Being left an orphan at so tender an age, he was cared for in the home of his uncle, James Coggins, for a few months, after which he was on a farm east of Flint for a year, and then for two years was with a family on a farm west of the town, after which he went to work as a farm hand in Grand Blanc township. He continued at this work until he was twenty years of age, when he began clerking in a hardware store at Holly, and
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was later engaged there by Grant Cheney, in the meat and grocery busi- ness, until thirteen years ago, when he purchased the store and has con- ducted the same ever since. On September 6, 1915, Mr. Coggins com- pleted twenty-five years in the store he now owns, in Grand Blanc.
Eight years ago George M. Coggins bought forty acres of land near Grand Blanc, and there he has erected his slaughter house and does much of his own butchering. In addition to his extensive interests in the store, he is a partner in the Farmers Exchange Bank, at Grand Blanc, and is the chairman of the loan committee of the same. He has a good substantial dwelling house located next to the store building. He owns the build- ing in which he is conducting his business, having purchased it some ten years ago.
On November 25, 1897, George M. Coggins was married to Florence George, who was born in Mundy township, this county, a daughter of Eugene and Harriett (Ganson) George. Eugene George was born in Switzerland on December 19, 1829, the son of George George, a hatter by trade, who was a soldier under Napoleon Bonaparte and who was present at the burning of Moscow. George George left the home of his birth and came to America in 1849, his wife, Angeline, following the next year. On landing in the United States, George George came direct to Michigan and located in Mundy township, this county and it was there that the family made their home. In 1853 Mrs. George died while on a visit to a daughter in Canada. Mr. George died in 1877. They were the parents of six children, all of whom came to America. Eugene George learned the baker's trade from his father, who owned a shop in his native country. Eugene George did much traveling in Switzerland to see the country and the people. In 1849 he came to America in a sailing vessel, being fifty-seven days on the ocean. After landing at the port of New York he came direct to Michigan and located in Genesee county.
On May 31, 1851, Eugene George was united in marriage to Harriett Ganson, a native of New York state. They located on a farm in this county and here Mr. George became a prosperous farmer and stock raiser. He owned two hundred acres of land, a part of which he divided with his sons. Politically, he was a Democrat and took an active interest in local affairs. He and his family were members of the Catholic church. In 1879 Mr. George visited his old home in Switzerland, where he remained for six months. On his return he lived at his home in Mundy township for many years, and died at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Coggins. His wife died at her home in Mundy township in 1898.
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Mr. and Mrs. Coggins are the parents of five children, Josie, Nora. Bernadette, Celina and Clark. The family are active members of the Catho- lic church and Mr. Coggins is a member of the Knights of Columbus and of the Maccabees. The family are prominent in the social and civic activi- ties in the community. Mr. Coggins is highly regarded as a man of sterling worth and strict integrity. Left an orphan at the age of seven, he has cared for himself since that time. By hard work and perseverance he has accomplished much that is worthy of emulation and respect and has made many friends, who regard him highly. Mr. Coggins gives his wife much of the credit for his success in life, through her faithfulness and desire to assist in all ways possible.
CHARLES M. TOPPING.
"The art preservative of all arts" has an able advocate in Genesee county in the person of Charles M. Topping, who conducts a well-equipped job- printing establishment at Fenton.
Charles M. Topping was born at Deerfield, Michigan, January 2, 1862, son. and only child of Orlando and Mary (Becker) Topping, the latter a daughter of Joseph Becker, a native of New York, who removed with his family many years ago to Tyrone township, Livingston county, Michi- gan. Orlando Topping was born in this state, was educated in the common schools, and became a school teacher. He later was employed in the flour mills at Fenton several years, having moved there from Saginaw, where he had been engaged in business for some time. His first wife died when their only child, Charles M., the subject of this sketch, was two years old. His second wife was Laura Reed, and to that union two children were born, Fan- nie and Jennie, both living. Orlando Topping was a member of the Metho- dist Episcopal church. His death occurred in 1912.
Charles M. Topping completed his schooling in the Fenton high school. When but a boy he decided upon a career as newspaper publisher, and about thirty-four years ago, in the early eighties, he established The Fenton Courier, which he published with pronounced success for a period of over twenty years, at the end of which time he sold out and entered the office of the Egyptian Cement Company as bookkeeper. He remained there two years, then worked in Detroit two years with Gregory, Mayer & Thom, printers, then returned to Fenton and established his present job-printing
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business, which was a success from the start. "The Topping Art Printery" imprints will be found on much of the best job printing now produced in that flourishing village.
Mr. Topping was married in 1881 to Nettie E. Arms, and they have two children, Clara E., wife of W. C. Mardorf, of Cincinnati, Ohio, and Jennie.
Charles M. Topping is a Democrat and has been active in party affairs. He was postmaster at Fenton during Cleveland's administration and was supervisor for three years, being succeeded by John Jennings. He has also served as township clerk, as superintendent of the poor and as village clerk, filled all these offices faithfully and ably. Mr. Topping is a mem- ber of the Masonic order, including the Knights Templar, and is also a member of the Maccabees.
JAMES L. SPENSER.
James L. Spenser, president of the Bank of Linden, has by excellent management and persistent industry attained a large degree of success in the business world and at the same time has gained the confidence and respect of all with whom he has come in contact.
Mr. Spenser was born in Livingston county, Michigan, January 25, 1853, a son of Olympus and Laura (Jacobs) Spenser. Mark Jacobs, the maternal grandfather, was a native of Vermont, who came to Michigan in an early day and was a pioneer of Livingston county, buying a farm there on which he established his future home. He was twice married. Grand- father Asa Spencer was a native of New York. He was a farmer and Baptist minister, continuing to preach until his death at the age of sixty years. He was of Dutch descent. Olympus Spenser came to Michigan when sixteen years old, after the death of his father, and in Livingston county he attended school and established his future home on a farm. His first wife was Nancy Jacobs, a sister of his second wife, Laura Jacobs. The latter died in December, 1904, his death having occurred in June, 1901. He moved from Livingston county to Fenton, Genesee county, in 1866, and to the town of Linden in 1886, where he lived until his death. He had three children, Nora, who died in, infancy; James L., the subject of this sketch, and George R., who lives in Flint.
James L. Spenser received his education in the public schools of Liv-
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ingston county, in the Fenton high school and in the State Normal, com- pleting the full English course in the latter and graduating in 1876, being given a state certificate to teach. He began his career as a teacher and fol- lowed the same successfully for nine years, during which time his services were in wide demand. He began teaching in the district schools of Genesee county in 1870, and he taught as principal of the graded schools for three years in Linden and two and one-half years in Flushing. Finally abandon- ing the school room he engaged in the drug business in Linden for a period of twenty-one years, enjoying a large trade. He formerly owned a good farm, but sold it some time ago. He studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1888, but has never practiced; however, he has handled a number of estates and engaged in other similar matters in a legal capacity. In 1908 Mr. Spenser entered the banking field and has been president of the Bank of Linden since that year, the rapid and substantial growth and prestige of this popular institution being due for the most part to his able management and wise counsel.
On August 1, 1878, James L. Spenser was married to Ella Webber, who died in 1902, leaving one child, Laura Zoe Spenser, who was given a good education and was principal of the Linden schools for three years. In 1905 Mr. Spenser married, secondly, Mary G. Richards, which union has been without issue.
Mr. Spenser is a Republican and has been active in public affairs for many years. He served as county clerk from 1885 to 1889 and is now village attorney, having held this office several terms, and has done much for the general upbuilding and welfare of Linden. Fraternally, Mr. Spenser is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and of the Loyal Guards. He is a member of the Presbyterian church.
GEORGE M. BUZZARD.
From the life record of George M. Buzzard, well known agriculturist of Fenton township, Genesee county, many useful lessons may be gleaned by the youth starting out on the road to success as a farmer and stock man, for. Mr. Buzzard has believed in the wise saying of the ancient philosopher, "Lose no time in getting off the wrong road as soon as you discover that you are traveling it."
George M. Buzzard was born at Pontiac, Oakland county, Michigan,
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November 6, 1844, a son of Joseph and Mary E. (Osborn) Buzzard. The father was born in Cattaragus county, New York, February 5, 1804, and was left an orphan when young. He grew up in his native locality, received a meager education and there married, later moving to Oakland county, Michigan, taking up a homestead of one hundred and seventy-six acres in Pontiac township, on which he lived about forty years; then moved to Clarkston, Michigan, where he spent the rest of his life. His wife was born on October 22, 1811, and died many years ago. Both were active members of the Methodist Episcopal church. They were parents of thirteen children, namely : Almira, born on December 4, 1827, who died on January 4, 1864; Adeline, December 4, 1823, also deceased; Israel, July 11, 1831. deceased ; John, April 1, 1834, who died on March 30, 1835; Eli, March 23, 1836, who died on January 12, 1862; Jacob, May 8, 1838; Elizabeth, July 29, 1840; Edwin, January 5, 1842; George M., the subject of this review; Isabel. November 9, 1846; Ardy, January 4, 1850, who died on July 24, 1854; Charles, July 10, 1852, who died on July 19, 1858, and William, November 9, 1854.
George M. Buzzard grew up on the home farm in Oakland county and there received a common-school education. He married Mary E. Commins, a daughter of Mathias and Sarah Commins, and to this union four children were born, namely: Olive P., born on October 8, 1872, who died on May 18, 1905; Flora L., June 9, 1874, who died on August 27 of that year; Mathias, November 23, 1876, and Hazel H., June 13, 1887. The mother of these children passed away on December 18, 1905, and Mr. Buzzard later married Mrs. Caroline (Bennett) Till, who was born at Ridgeville, Ohio, January 6, 1848, a daughter of Capt. Charles and Caroline M. (Thurston) Bennett, the former a son of Jonathan Bennett, who served in the War of 1812, receiving a slight wound in battle. Jonathan Bennett married Mary Fukes, a daughter of Captain Fukes, of Wales, who owned a fleet on the Atlantic ocean. Capt. Charles Bennett sailed on the Great Lakes. He owned a farm of one hundred and twenty acres near Ypsilanti, Michigan, and in 1856 he settled at the head of Long Lake. He built the first steam- boat that was operated on that lake and started the main health resort there. He was a veterinarian and practiced his profession in that locality. He was a Republican and an active member of the Methodist church. His family consisted of twelve children, all now deceased with the exception of Mrs. Buzzard and John Bennett, the latter of whom lives in Monroe county, Michigan. This family was named as follow: William, Marietta, Keziah, Caroline, Paul, Emily, Frances, Eliza, Frank, John and Charley.
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Capt. Charles Bennett was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, October 12, 1808, and died on January 22, 1899. When but a child his parents removed with him to New York state, locating on the shores of Oneida lake. His mother died soon thereafter and his father remarried. Charles started out in life for himself when but a boy, leaving home, and for some time was supposed to be lost. He began working at a lake port, which marked the commencement of his maritime career of forty-four years, becoming a captain in early manhood. In 1844 he made a memorable trip, starting from Ogdenburg, New York, at the first opening of navigation, with a cargo, and took the first vessel that reached Chicago by that route, with provisions, and made forty thousand dollars. He explored Isle Royal at the expense of Charles Chapin, of Detroit, sailing the vessel "Dream," of Cleveland. He sailed in October of that year and wintered in Lake Superior. He sunk a shaft on an island and found valuable ore, which brought his employer the sum of one hundred thousand dollars. Captain Bennett returned to his starting place the following June and discovered that his boat had been given up as lost and its owner had collected insurance on it. Captain Bennett was also connected with the early railroad history of Mich- igan. Upon leaving the lakes he came to Genesee county and opened a summer resort at Long Lake, in which body of water the Bennett Islands were named for him. He retired at the age of seventy-five years, buying a farm in Lasalle township, Monroe county, Michigan, where he died. He was married in 1820, at Ithica, New York, to Caroline Thurston and to that union twelve children were born. Mrs. Caroline Buzzard's first hus- band was Augustus William Till, who conducted a general store in Bay City, Michigan, in 1865, which he later sold, and established a similar busi- ness in Fenton, Genesee county. Mr. Till was born in Germany, August 28, 1828, and when young came to America alone. He married on February 4, 1864. He was a son of John William Till and wife, whose family con- sisted of three children, Augustus William, Theodore, and Dora. Augustus William Till was a Republican and was active in politics. He was a Mason and a member of the Presbyterian church. His family consisted of three children, namely: Jessie, born on December 3, 1868; Mabel, February I, 1870, who is living in Detroit, and Edward Arthur, April 28, 1882, who died on April 14, 1915. The latter was a stage carpenter in the National theater in Detroit.
George M. Buzzard located on his present farm of fifty-six acres in Fenton township, in April, 1908. He devotes considerable attention to
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fruit growing, having an apple orchard of four acres and one acre of berries and small fruits. Mr. Buzzard is an independent voter. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church at Fenton and his wife belongs to the Presbyterian church.
CALVIN BUNNELL.
While there are many who enter the live-stock business, few make a success of the same, for it requires a combination of sound judgment, fore- sight, courage and industry. These qualities seem to be possessed by Calvin Bunnell, of Goodrich, this county, who owns excellent farming land. He was born on September 27, 1842, in Lapeer county, Michigan, a son of Hiram and Lucy (Mason) Bunnell, both natives of Connecticut, probably born at Hartford. There they spent their earlier years, removing from there to the state of New York. In 1836 they came to Michigan, locating in Oakland county, when it was sparsely settled and little improved; but later moved to Hadley township, Lapeer county, locating in the wilderness, from which they carved out a home through their grit and industry, enduring the hardships and privations incident to pioneer life. They took up government land and spent the rest of their lives in that locality. It was there that Calvin Bunnell grew to manhood. He worked hard when a boy on the home farm and had little opportunity to obtain an education. When eighteen years old he came to this county and worked in a mill in the village of Goodrich for about five years. In 1867 he began buying and shipping live stock from that town, or rather, driving them to market at Detroit, continuing to take his stock overland for a period of about twelve years, sometimes driving the stock eighty miles, taking some kind of stock there nearly every week. He then began shipping by rail from Metamora and also shipped from Grand Blanc and from Davison. He has continued in this line of endeavor for nearly a half century and is one of the best-known stock men in this part of the state, being regarded as one of the best judges of all kinds of live stock in Genesee and surrounding counties. Although in his seventy-fourth year, Mr. Bunnell is still active and continues to make regular trips with stock to Detroit. He owns two well-improved farms in Lapeer county. aggregating one hundred and fifty-five acres. Although he has owned one of these since young manhood, he has preferred to devote his attention principally to shipping live stock. He has also bought and sold wool for nearly forty years.
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In 1865 Calvin Bunnell was married to Orlena Blodgett, who was born in Burlington, Vermont, a daughter of Isaac and Lucretia (Lee) Blodgett, who came to Michigan in 1864, the family locating on a farm just east of the village of Goodrich, but a few years later moved to Fenton and finally to Birmingham, the parents spending the rest of their lives on a farmi there. The death of Mrs. Bunnell occurred on April 6, 1912. Mr. Bunnell is a Republican and served as supervisor of Atlas township for a period of thir- teen years, refusing longer to accept office. He has long been well and favorably known throughout Genesee and Lapeer counties.
WILLIAM CARPENTER, JR.
One of the progressive farmers and public-spirited citizens of Genesee county is William Carpenter, Jr., of Goodrich, a man who believes in doing well whatever is worth doing at all. This idea has doubtless been a potent factor in his success in life. He was born on August 9, 1843, on a farm just west of Goodrich, and is a son of William and Lurania ( Pierce) Carpenter. He is descended from a long line of English ancestors, many of whom were prominent in their day and generation. Some of them settled in New York, among. whom was George Carpenter, whose youngest son, George, Sr., grew to manhood there and married Abigail Gildersleeve. He spent his life on a farm in Dutchess county, New York, until he removed with his family to Saratoga in 1812, and settled on a farm in that locality. His wife died in 1811, leaving six children, Henry, Pamelia, Mary, Amy, Peter. William and Abigail. He afterwards married Mrs. Jerusha Case of Dutel- ess county. This second 'union was without issue. George Carpenter, Sr., remained on his farm near Saratoga until 1837 when he and his son Willian eame to Michigan, where he spent the rest of his life, reaching the unusual age of one hundred and two years, as shown by the family records. . His youngest son, William Carpenter, Sr., was born on September 16, 1805, at the old home in Dutchess county, New York, and he remained with his father until fourteen years of age, then started out in life for himself, employed on the farm of Jacob Denton, near Saratoga, with whom he remained fourteen years. There he met Lurania Pierce, who was also employed by the Dentons, and they were married in 1833, and soon there- after moved to Niagara county, New York, purchasing a farm of fifty acres, on which they spent two years. In the spring of 1836 he and Levi
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Preston started to Michigan, walking through Canada to Detroit, thence by the old Saginaw road to Atlas township, Genesee county. There Mr. Car- penter entered two hundred acres of government land, on which he built a log house, cleared two acres on which he sowed oats and planted potatoes, then returned to New York and settled up his business and with his wife and son Jacob (now deceased) started for his new home in Michigan, accompanied by Levi Preston and family. They made the trip in two wagons, each drawn by two yoke of oxen. They brought such household plunder as the wagons would hold. The journey required thirty days, but was safely made. They set to work with a will, experiencing the usual hardships and privations of pioneer life, and in due course of time had a good farm and a comfortable home, in fact one of the finest farms in Genesee county. There William Carpenter, Sr., and wife lived to advanced ages, his death occurring on July 13, 1898, at the age of nearly ninety-three years. His wife preceded him to the grave on January 13, 1882, in her seventy-fifth year. To these parents seven children were born, namely : Jacob D., deceased, who was born in 1834; Mary E., who died when eighteen years of age; Julia A., the wife of Deloss Hosler, of Genesee town- ship; William, Jr., the subject of this sketch; Amos, who lives near Cairo, Tuscola county, Michigan; Pamelia, deceased, who was the wife of Simeon Newton, and George E., who lives in Cairo, this state.
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