USA > Michigan > Genesee County > History of Genesee County, Michigan, Her People, Industries and Institutions, Volume II > Part 7
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C. B. BURR, M. D.
Dr. C. B. Burr, medical director and executive officer of Oak Grove, a private hospital for the care of nervous and mental diseases, at Flint. former superintendent of the state hospital for the insane at Pontiac, former president of the American Medico-Psychological Association, former presi- dent of the Michigan State Medical Society and one of the best-known alienists and neurologists in the United States, is a native son of Michigan and has lived in this state all his life. He was born in the city of Lansing, November 3, 1856, son of Allen R. and Catherine (Foote) Burr, and was reared in that city, attending the city schools and Old's Academy, later Rork's Academy. In that city he also was first employed, filling the position of assistant postmaster before attaining the age of twenty-one. In 1875 he began to read medicine under the guidance of Dr. W. W. Campbell, of Mason. He studied under the preceptorship of Dr. C. N. Hayden, of Lansing, and attended the University of Michigan and the College of Physicians and Surgeons in the city of New York. From the latter institution he was graduated in 1878, commencing the practice of his pro- fession immediately thereafter at Springport, this state. In November of that same year, however, he became identified with the eastern Michigan hospital for the insane at Pontiac, commencing, as an assistant physician at that institution, his career as an alienist and neurologist. From 1885 until 1889 he served as assistant medical superintendent and from 1889 until 1894 as medical superintendent. On September 1 of the latter year Doctor
OAK GROVE.
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Burr severed. by resignation, his connection with the state institution in order to accept the position of medical director of Oak Grove, and has ever since been thus engaged.
While at Pontiac, Doctor Burr organized the first training class for attendants instituted in connection with the Michigan state hospitals. For the furthering of efficient teaching in this class, he wrote a "Primer of Psychology and Mental Disease," which volume, since amplified and adapt- ed to the use of medical students as well as nurses, is now in its fourth edition, under the title of "A Handbook of Psychology and Mental-Disease." In addition to preparing the above handbook, Doctor Burr has contributed largely to medical literature through reviews and correspondence, papers and addresses, being the author of the following: "Cocculus Indicus in Epilepsy," "The Insanity of Masturbation," "The Insanity of Pubescence," "Muscular Action as a Cause of Fracture in Paretics," "The Relation of Gynaecology ' to Psychiatry," "A Case of Primary Monomania (primäre Verruecktheit)." "Amelioration of Paretic Dementia Following Extensive Sloughs," "Para- noia with Delusions of Change in Sex." "Intra-Cranial Tumor with Ab- sence of Diagnostic Symptoms," "Tachycardia Associated with Insanity." "An Unusual Case of Meningitis," "Valedictory Address" (training school for attendants at Pontiac, 1895), "Valedictory .Address" (training school for attendants at Kalamazoo, 1897). "Psychiatric Suggestions," "A Winter Visit to the Wisconsin County Asylums," " An Altogether Unique Medico- Surgical Case," "Christian Science Folly," "What Improvements Have Been Wrought in the Care of the Insane by Means of Training Schools," "The Symptomatology and Progress of Inflammations as Modified in Mental and Nervous Diseases," "Some Mental Symptoms of More or Less Interest," "Clinical Lecture on Forms of Insanity" ( International Clinics, 1894, ), "Clinical Lecture on Forms of Insanity" ( International Clinics, 1896,), "Paranoia," "Differential Diagnosis of Insanity," "Morbid Besetments or Obsessions," "Care of the Recent Case of Insanity," "Reflections on Trau- matic Hysteria," "Physical Basis of Thought and Emotion," "Essentials of an Adequate System of State Supervision." "Delusions, Illusions and Hal- lucinations," "Biennial Reports of the Eastern Michigan Asylum, 1890 and 1892," "Concerning Morphine Addiction and Its Treatment," "The Size and Essential Features of the Model State Hospital for the Insane," "Syphi- lis of the Nervous System," "Some Unusual Sympathetic Nervous Disturb- ances Accompanying Hysteria." "Epileptics and Their Care," "Brain Tumor and Hysteria." "The Care of the Boy Approaching Manhood," "Some of the Embarrassments of an Executive," "Re-education Following Right
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Hemiplegia." "Paranoia and Certain Paranoid Conditions in Their Rela- tions to the Public and the Profession," "Dementia Praecox and Allied Con- ditions," "Diagnostic Hints in Insanity," "The Christian Duty of Caring for the Mind," "Symbolism in Sanity and in Insanity." "Witchcraft in Certain Medical and Legal Relations," "Medical Preparedness" (editorial in the Journal of the Michigan State Medical Society, March, 1916), "Art in the Insane" ( American Medico-Psychological Association, 1916), "Differentia- tion in Mental Cases," sundry book reviews and correspondence in the American Journal of Insanity, the Journal of the Michigan State Medical Society and the Revue de Psychiatrie, Paris. To general literature, Doctor Burr has contributed articles on "The Mountaineers of North Carolina," "Some of the Insane Characters of Dickens," "The Physician as a Character in Fiction," "Abraham Lincoln," "Universal Military Training," and a lay sermon, "Burns's Epistle to a Young Friend."
Doctor Burr was secretary to the American Medico-Psychological As- sociation for five years and was president of that association in 1906. He has served as president of the Northeastern District Medical Society and was the first president of the Detroit Society of Neurology and Psychiatry, organized in 1908. He was a member of the council, the executive body, of the Michigan State Medical Society, from the time of that society's re- organization in 1902 until 1909, for two or three years was chairman of the council and in 1911 was president of the Michigan State Medical Society. In addition to the foregoing societies Doctor Burr is a member of the Gene- see County Medical Society, the American Medical Association. the Ameri- can Neurological Association and the Mississippi Valley Medical Society. He is a foreign associate member of the Societé Medico-Psychologique of Paris and a corresponding member of the Detroit Academy of Medicine: a member of the Wayne County Medical Association. of the Detroit Club, the Detroit Athletic Club, the American Red Cross, the Shakespeare Club, the Country Club, of all the Masonic bodies in Flint, of the Michigan Sovereign Consistory Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite, of Moslem Temple, Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, and of Flint Lodge No. 222, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.
Doctor Burr has traveled somewhat extensively in America and in Europe. He was a student at the Kraepelin Klinik in Munich in 1909. He is a member of the staff of editorial collaborators of the Journal of the Michigan State Medical Society, was formerly a member of the executive committee of the Flint Board of Commerce, is president of the park board of the city of Flint, member of the state board of registration in medicine,
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and was a director of the National Bank of Flint. He is director and execu- tive officer of Oak Grove (hospital), senior warden in St. Paul's Episcopal church, member of the board of trustees of the Episcopal church, diocese of Detroit, member of the National Defense Association and Navy League, and a member of the national committee of the National Security League.
In 1886 Dr. C. B. Burr was united in marriage to Delia Ernestine Ran- dall, of Norwich, New York, who died in 1888, leaving one child, a daugh- ter, Ernestine Randall. In 1890 Doctor Burr married Annette Louise Whee- ler. of Chicago. His only daughter, Ernestine, gracious, kindly and well beloved, died in January, 1914.
OTTO P. GRAFF.
Otto P. Graff, former treasurer of Genesee county, now treasurer and general manager of the Ford Sales Company at Flint, is a native son of Michigan, born in Exeter township, Monroe county, March II, 1880. He is a son of Henry M. and Mary (Zink) Graff, natives of New York state, now living retired in the city of Flint, who were the parents of three children, Elizabeth, who married William Hanna, of Flint; Jacob A., who died in 1903, at the age of twenty-eight years, and Otto P.
Henry M. Graff was born on a farm in Niagara county, New York, son of Jacob and Mary (Wagner) Graff, the former a native of Germany and the latter of Pennsylvania, of German descent. Jacob Graff was born in the province of Wurtemberg, in 1819, and emigrated to America in 1837. settling in Pennsylvania, whence, after his marriage, he moved to Niagara county, New York, where he and his wife spent the remainder of their lives. She died in 1896, at the age of seventy-six years, and he survived her seven years, being eighty-four years of age at the time of his death in 1903. They were the parents of eleven children, Elizabeth, Anna, Henry M., Charlotte, Maria, Seymour, Jacob, Catherine and three who died in infancy. Henry M. Graff was reared on the home farm in New York and became a very competent farmer. He enlisted for service in the Union army during the Civil War, serving as a private in the One Hundred and Twenty-eighth Regiment, New York Volunteer Infantry, with which he was mustered out at the end of the war. He married Mary Zink, who was born in Erie county, New York, daughter of John Zink and wife, the latter of whom was a Klingelschmidt.
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These parents were natives of Germany, who came to America and set- tled in New York, later coming to Michigan and becoming pioneers in Monroe county, after awhile retiring from the farm and moving to Monroe, where their last days were spent. John Zink died in 1889, at the age of eighty- six years. His wife had preceded him to the grave two years, having been about eighty years of age at the time of her death in 1887. They were the parents of nine children. John, Henry, Philip, Jacob, Andrew, Peter, Eliza- beth, Mary and Lewis, who died in 1883.
In 1870 Henry M. Graff came to Michigan from New York. He bought a farm of eighty acres in Monroe county, whereon he established his home and there lived until February, 1883, when he sold the farm, which he had greatly improved meanwhile, and came to Genesee county. He bought a fifty-acre farm in section 6, Grand Blanc township, and there made his home until 1902, when he sold the place and bought the John McFarlan farm of one hundred and sixty acres one-half mile east of the village of Grand Blanc. There he lived until 1913, in which year he rented the farm and moved to Flint, where he and his wife are now living retired. They were reared in the German Lutheran faith, but upon coming to this state became connected with the Methodist Episcopal church and for years were among the leading supporters of the church of that denomination at Grand Blanc, Mr. Graff being one of the trustees of the same. He also took an active part in civic affairs in his neighborhood and held various township offices.
Otto P. Graff was about three years old when his parents came to this county and he was reared on the paternal farm in Grand Blanc township. receiving his elementary education in the district schools of his home neigh- borhood. He supplemented the same by a course in the normal schools at Flint and at Fenton, after which he began teaching school and was thus engaged for seven years. Mr. Graff is a Republican and for years has given close attention to the political affairs of the county. While he was teaching school he was elected supervisor of Grand Blanc township and served in that capacity for five years. He then was elected county treasurer and upon his retirement from the treasurer's office at the end of his term of service. four years later, engaged in the automobile sales business and has ever since been thus engaged. Upon the organization of the Ford Sales Company at Flint in 1915 Mr. Graff was elected treasurer and general manager of that company and is now serving in that capacity. This company was organized with a capital stock of twelve thousand dollars. Associated with Mr. Graff
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in the business are C. O. Hetchler, president, and George H. McVannel. secretary.
On March II, 1908, Otto P. Graff was united in marriage to Flora B. McNeil, who was born in Thetford township, this county, November 30, 1879, daughter of Alonzo O. and Carrie (Peek) McNeil, both natives of Genesee county, who are now living retired in Flint. Alonzo O. McNeil is a son of Andrew and Phoebe ( Howe) McNeil, natives of New York state and pioneers of Genesee county; they were the parents of five children, George H., Mrs. Wealthy Cox, Alonzo O., Myron and Mrs. Mina Butler. Mrs. McNeil is a daughter of Andrew and Eunice (Terry) Peek, natives of New York state, also pioneers of Genesee county, who were the parents. of six children, Elmer, Ira, Carrie, Lewis, Ardie and one who died in infancy. Mr. and Mrs. Graff have one child, a daughter, Geraldine Vienna. They have a very pleasant home at No. 719 Liberty street. They are members of the Court Street Methodist Episcopal church and Mr. Graff is a member of Friendship Lodge No. 174, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and Gene- see Lodge No. 24, Free and Accepted Masons.
JUDGE COLONEL OGDEN SWAYZE.
Judge Colonel Ogden Swayze, who for twelve years filled the office of police justice in the city of Flint and who is now serving his second term as judge of probate of Genesee county, is a native of New Jersey, born on the banks of the Delaware river, near Belvedere, that state, September 15, 1859. He is a son of Daniel and Sarah Catherine (Angle) Swayze, natives of New Jersey, who were the parents of seven children, of whom but two now survive, Judge Swayze having a sister, Rachel Adeline, wife of Willianı Buck, of Sanford, Florida.
Daniel Swayze was a son of Ogden and Ruth Ann (Somers) Swayze, also natives of New Jersey, of Welsh stock. Ogden Swayze was a farmer and for some time served as sheriff of his home county. He and his wife were the parents of six children, Daniel, William S., John E., Edward H., Rachel and Clark. His wife died in New Jersey, when well past middle age, and he then came to Michigan and spent his last days with his daughter in Oakland county, being seventy-eight years of age at the time of his death. Daniel Swayze grew to manhood on the paternal farm and farming was his life work. During the Civil War he spent three years in the United States
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naval service and rose to be an officer in the navy. Upon the completion of his naval service and after the war, he came to Michigan, locating on a farm near Rochester, in Oakland county. He had married before the war. Some years later he moved to Bay City and thenee to Lapeer county. where he bought an eighty-acre farm and there made his home until 1887, in which year he sold the farm and moved to Flint. For some years he served as custodian of the Walker school in Flint and later bought a farm just west of the city, where he spent the rest of his life, his death occurring in 190), he then being sixty-seven years of age. His wife had preceded him to the grave about ten years previously, she having been about fifty-nine at the time of her death. They were members of the Baptist church.
Colonel O. Swayze was reared a farmer boy, attending the public schools, and was graduated from the Hadley high school in Lapeer county, after which he attended the Northern Indiana Normal School at Valparaiso and upon his graduation from that institution began teaching, in time becon- ing principal of schools in Lapeer county. He then went to the state of Washington and was engaged as principal of the schools at Ritzville, that state, for two years, at the end of which time he returned to Michigan and located at Flint, where he entered upon the study of law in the office of Wisner, Lee & Aitken. On June 18, 1891, he was admitted to the bar by Judge William Newton. Shortly afterward he was elected police justice of the city of Flint and for twelve years filled that exacting office. In the fall of 1908 Judge Swayze was elected judge of probate for Genesee county and entered upon the duties of that office on the Ist of January following. In 1912 he was re-elected judge of probate and is now serving his second term in that office. Judge Swayze is a Republican and from boyhood has taken an active part in political affairs. He was one of the organizers of the Young Men's Republican Club at Flint and was its first president. He served for some time as secretary of the Republican county committee and was afterward for some time chairman of the committee.
On February 4, 1896, Colonel O. Swayze was united in marriage to Edith Kurtz, who was born in the village of Clarence, near Buffalo, in Erie county, New York, December 31, 1868, daughter of Jacob and Susanna ( Diller) Kurtz, natives of New York state, who came to Michigan years ago and settled in Genesee county, where Jacob Kurtz died in the summer of 1915, at the age of seventy-two years, a wealthy and influential farmer. His widow is still living. They were the parents of three children, Mrs. Swayze having two brothers, Frank and Charles J. Kurtz. To Judge and Mrs. Swayze three sons have been born, Colonel Kenneth, Carl Ogden and
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Donald Kurtz. They are members of the Baptist church and the Judge has held various offices in the church. Judge Swayze is a thirty-second- degree Mason, affiliated with the consistory of the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite, at Detroit, and is a noble of Elf Khurafeh Temple, Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, at Saginaw. He is past master of Genesee Lodge No. 174, Free and Accepted Masons, at Flint; a member of Washington Chapter No. 15, Royal and Select Masters, and of Genesee Genesee Lodge No. 174, Free and Accepted Masons, at Flint; a member ber of Genesee Lodge No. 24, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and of Colonel Fenton Canton No. 27, Patriarchs Militant ; he has risen to the rank of past grand patriarch, Michigan encampment, and was twice a repre- sentative to the sovereign encampment of the Patriarchs Militant, once at Baltimore and once at San Francisco. He also is a member of Flint Lodge No. 222, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. and in the affairs of all these organizations takes a warm interest.
FLOYD A. ALLEN.
Floyd A. Allen, who is connected in various capacities with several enterprises of Flint and is generally recognized as one of the most progres- sive and energetic figures in the rapidly expanding industrial life of the city, is a native son of Michigan and has been a resident of Flint since 1908. He . was born on a farm near Parma, Jackson county, May 5, 1877, son of Charles and Eunice (Jackson) Allen, the former of Puritan stock, born in Michigan in 1837. the latter of New York-Dutch stock, born in Akron, New York. in 1843. They were the parents of five children besides the subject of this sketch, namely: Edith (Mrs. O. J. Chapel) and Mead J., both of Parma; R. Z. and Walter C., both of Jackson, and Anna, who died in infancy.
Floyd, the third son, was reared on the paternal farm, attended the pub- lic school at Parma and was graduated from the high school at Albion. He managed his father's farm for three years, then entered Albion College, graduating from that institution with the degree of Bachelor of Arts in 1903. He then taught school for two years, then spent two years as a traveling salesman, until he entered the office of the Buick Motor Company at their Jackson plant. He was promoted rapidly, followe, the company to Flint in 1908 and occupied positions of responsibility and trust until he
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resigned his connection with them on August 1, 1916, in order to devote his entire time to his own large business interests.
On February 6, 1915, Floyd A. Allen was united in marriage to Mrs. Clara Petit, who was born at Port Huron, Michigan. Mr. and Mrs. Allen attend the Episcopal church and take a proper interest in the various social and cultural activities of their home city. Mr. . Allen is a Republican, a mem- ber of Flint Lodge No. 23, Free and .Accepted Masons, and of Flint Lodge No. 222, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. He and his wife reside at No. 502 East Kearsley street.
MATTHEW DAVISON.
Matthew Davison, former mayor of Flint, chairman of the board of directors of the Union Trust and Savings Bank of that city, of which he for years was cashier and general manager, owner of much valuable real estate in and about Flint and long regarded as one of the most substantial and progressive citizens of this county. is a native of Ireland, but has lived in Genesee county ever since he was a babe in arms and therefore is as one native born here, having never known any other home. His early playmates were Indian boys and he has been a witness to the development of this region from pioneer days, being recognized also as one of the most im- portant factors in that wonderful development. Matthew Davison was born in County Antrim, Ireland, January 4, 1839, son of James and Jennie (Aus- tin ) Davison, both natives of Ireland, of Scottish descent, who later came to this country and settled in this county, where their last days were spent. honored and respected pioneers.
In referring to Mr. Davison's ancestral home. it is worthy of note that County Antrim has made a large contribution of her blood to the national life of the United States, as is evidenced in the following facts: The ances- tors of President James Buchanan emigrated from the parish of Raloo; President Andrew Jackson's father was born in Ballyhill ; President Andrew Johnson's father was a Presbyterian minister in Ballymena ; President James A. Garfield's ancestors emigrated from Lisburn; President William Me- Kinley's grandfather went from Ballymoney: President Theodore Roose- velt is descended, on his mother's side, from a family named Irvine who emigrated from Gleno in 1829: "Lighthorseman Harry" Lee, of Revolu- tionary fame, was from Gleno, as was Gen. Robert E. Lee; "Stonewall"
Mavicon
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Jackson was of Antrim descent; Ephraim McDowell, of Gleno, was one of the pioneers of the state of Virginia and was ancestor to many eminent men in the United States; John C. Breckenrdige's ancestors also were from County Antrim. The parish of Raloo, where Mr. Davison was born, is five miles long and four miles broad, and it is authoritatively stated that there is not a family resident there at the present time but sent some of its members to America at an early day.
James Davison was born on a small farm near the city of Belfast, son of Matthew and Ellen Davison, who spent all their lives in their native land, where they reared a large family, of whom mention is made of Matthew, James, Agnes and Helen. James Davison was a weaver of fine linen and also owned a small farm in the Belfast neighborhood. There he married Jennie Austin, daughter of Samuel and Sarah (Mahon) Austin, natives of Ireland, who also came to America later in life (all their children but one married daughter also coming to this side), and settled in Pennsylvania, where Samuel Austin spent the rest of his life. After his death his widow went to Iowa, where her last days were spent in the home of her son, David. She was the mother of seven children, Margaret, Henry, Jennie, David, Samuel, Mary and James. In 1840 James Davison and his wife and their first-born child, Matthew. the subject of this sketch, who then was but little more than a year old, came to the United States and lost little time in pro- ceeding to the then wilds of Michigan, locating in this county. James Davi- son homesteaded a tract of eighty acres in Forest township and there estab- lished his home. He cleared and improved this place and was beginning to see his way clear to the development of a very comfortable home when death put a stop to his labors after he had been a resident of this county about twelve years. He died in 1854, being then about fifty-three years of age. His widow survived him many years, her death occurring at the home of her son, Matthew, in Flint, at the age of eighty-six years. They were earnest Methodists and their children were reared in that faith. There were seven of these children, those besides the subject of this sktch, the eldest, being Samuel, of Alpena this state; Ellen, deceased, who was the wife of William Crawford, also deceased; James L., of Alpena; David, of Prescott, this state : Sarah, deceased, who was the wife of Charles Olds, and William H., of Alpena.
Matthew Davison grew up on the homestead in Forest township. When the Davisons settled there, there were but three white families in that town- ship and as a youngster Matthew Davison's playmates were Indians, who
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