USA > Michigan > Genesee County > History of Genesee County, Michigan, Her People, Industries and Institutions, Volume II > Part 70
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William Carpenter, Jr., grew up on the home farm in Atlas township and attended the district schools. When twenty-two years of age, October 24, 1865, he married Kate Colwell, who was born in Atlas township, Genesee county, and is a daughter of James and Ann (Burch) Colwell, early settlers here, having come from Niagara county, New York, in 1836, among the pioneers of this county. One daughter has been born to Mr. and Mrs. ( arpenter, Flora Lorania, who is the wife of John G. Faner, a druggist of Montrose, and has one daughter, Kathryn Louise Faner, now six years old. Mrs. Carpenter was summoned to her eternal rest on January 14, 1908.
Mr. Carpenter has devoted his life to general farming and stock raising. He increased his original holdings to a tract of over four hundred acres, but in 1915 sold some of his land and now has only three hundred and fifty- two acres. He moved into the village of Goodrich in 1903 and has lived there ever since. He is deserving of a great deal of credit for what he has accomplished, having started comparatively poor-with only eighty acres, a debt of nine hundred dollars and a capital of about two thousand dollars. He managed well and paid for his land in due time and finally became one of the leading farmers of the county. He is well preserved and although
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nearly seventy-three years of age, does all kinds of work. He looks on the bright side of life, is a genial, obliging and hospitable gentleman, whom it is a pleasure to know, and he is one of the substantial and influential men of Goodrich and community. Politically, he is a Democrat, and fraternally, belongs to Flint Lodge No. 222, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.
T. ALBERT SPARKS.
One of the progressive farmers of Genesee county who well under- stands modern methods of agriculture and is making a success as a general farmer because of well-applied principles is T. Albert Sparks, of Fenton township. He was born in La Grange county, Indiana, October 1, 1860, a son of James and Amanda (Nelson) Sparks. Joseph Nelson, the maternal grandfather, who married Susan Hart, was a native of Ohio, who removed to La Grange county, Indiana, after remaining forty years in New York and pre-empted one hundred and twenty acres. He was a Democrat and a Methodist and was active in public and church affairs. Grandfather Isaac Sparks was a native of the state of New York, from which he moved to La Grange county, Indiana, and pre-empted one hundred and sixty acres of land. He was an active member of the Methodist church. James Sparks was born in Rush county, Indiana, May 7. 1829, and died on January 24. 1884. Amanda Nelson was born on November 3, 1839, and died on April 3, 1895. To these parents seven children were born, six of whom are still living, but none in La Grange county, Indiana, where they were born, as follow: George, T. Albert, Wilbert ( who died when six months old), Ida, Manford, Savilla and Augusta.
T. Albert Sparks spent his boyhood in La Grange county, Indiana, and there received a common-school education. On October 9, 1884, he married Frances Williams, a daughter of George and Mary Ann Williams, the former of whom was a soldier in the Union army during the Civil War and died while in service. Mrs. Sparks died on October 22, 1889, leaving two children, George and Roy. On August 11, 1891, Mr. Sparks married Linnie Bean, and to this union two children also were born, Harold and Muriel, both now at home.
Mr. Sparks began life for himself on a farm of eighty acres in La Grange county, Indiana, where he remained until 1903, when he sold out and came to Michigan, remaining in Cass county three years, then spent
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five years in Kalamazoo county, this state. He came to Genesee county on March 16, 1911, and purchased his present farm in Fenton township, his place consisting of one hundred and twenty-five acres, all tillable but twenty acres of woods. He owns some excellent Percheron and Belgian horses.
Politically, Mr. Sparks is a Prohibitionist. He is a member of the Methodist church, as is his wife, and he is the present class leader and she a teacher in the Sunday School. He was for years the superintendent of the Sunday school at Bethel, Indiana.
ERA M. FRAPPIER, SR.
A large number of Canadians have cast their lot with the people of Genesee and adjoining counties, and by so doing have benefited both them- selves and us. We have always welcomed them, for they are industrious, law-abiding citizens. One of this number is Era M. Frappier, Sr., who is engaged in the lumber business in Linden.
Era M. Frappier was born at Berry, Canada, April 5, 1865, a son of Francis X. and Melissa (Mero) Frappier. The father was born and reared in Lower Canada and was there educated and there married Melissa Mero, who bore him ten children, Era M., Paul (deceased), Olive, Victoria, Henry, Frank, of Tennessee; Alma, Charles, John and Edward. After the death of the mother of these children, Francis X. Frappier married Anna Fertau, who is now living in Saginaw. His death occurred in September, 1911, he dying at the home of his son, the subject of this sketch, in Linden. He had lived in Canada, Ohio, and in this county. He was a member of the Metho- dist Episcopal church.
Era M. Frappier was young in years when his parents removed with him to Ohio and there he attended school, later studied in Michigan, whither the family removed when he was a boy. He was first married on March 26, 1886, to Bertha Dexter, who died in 1893, leaving one child, Cleon, born on September 31, 1888, who married Mabel Wolverton and is employed at the grist mill in Linden. Mr. Frappier married, secondly, Cynthia Case. who has borne him three children, Myrtle, born on December 25, 1895: Bertha, April 7, 1905, and Aline, June 28, 1907.
Mr. Frappier has been engaged in the drayage business in Linden for a period of seventeen years. In 1911 he added the lumber business and has since then been conducting both with gratifying results. He also owns a
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good farm of eighty acres in Gaines township. He is also engaged exten- sively in the sheep business, and during the winter of 1915-16 handled three hundred and fifty lambs. This, too, has been a paying venture. Mr. Frappier is a Republican and is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
ARTHUR W. CIMMER.
The life of Arthur W. Cimmer, a well-known groceryman at Fenton, has been one of unceasing industry and perseverance, and the honorable and systematic methods he has ever employed are commended to others, if they court the goddess Success.
Arthur W. Cimmer was born in Livingston, Michigan, April 5, 1865, a son of James W. and Caroline (Boyce) Cimmer. The mother was a daughter of Mark W. Boyce, a native of New Jersey, who devoted his life to farming. When young he settled in Oakland county, Michigan, and at Fen- ton about 1868. Nathan Cimmer, Arthur W. Cimmer's grandfather, was born near Buffalo, New York. In an early day he came to Michigan and bought a farm in the Livingston neighborhood, but died soon thereafter. James W. Cimmer, his son, was twelve years of age when he came to Michi- gan. In due time he married and established his future home at Living- ston. He and his wife both died in 1907. They were the parents of four children, namely, Arthur W., the subject of this sketch; Ida K., who died when six years of age; Mart T., the next in order of birth, and Alice M .. the youngest.
Arthur M. Cimmer received excellent educational advantages, having attended the high school at Fenton and the high school at Flint. On Decem- ber 27, 1888, he married Alice B. McPherson, who was born in Oakland county, this state, a daughter of William McPherson, a farmer, which union has been without issue. In 1904 Mr. Cimmer moved to Fenton and there engaged in the grocery business in partnership with Charles F. Mathews, which mutually agreeable arrangement has continued to the present time. the firm enjoying a large and satisfactory business all the while, and carry- ing an extensive stock of staple and fancy groceries. Mr. Cimmer has also been president of the Michigan Casualty Company of Saginaw ever since it was organized in 1909. Politically, he is a Republican, and fraternally, he belongs to the Masonic order, to the Royal Arcanum and to the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows.
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FRANK J. STEMMETZ, JR.
A well-known citizen of Richfield township, this county, is Frank J. Stemmetz, who has devoted his active life to general agricultural pursuits. He was born in New York, February 27, 1874, a son of Frank J. and Elizabeth (Dumanois) Stemmetz. The father was born in Dayton, Ohio, and the mother was born in the state of New York. They were married in the latter state and there they made their home until 1890, in which year they came to this county. To these parents nine children were born, seven of whom are still living, namely: Sophia, wife of Michael Stock; Emma, who lives at home; Frank J., the subject of this sketch; Clara, a graduate of the Davison high school, now the wife of James Sullivan : George, unmarried, who lives at home; Harriet, wife of Art Burdick, of Flint, and Charles, at home.
Frank J. Stemmetz, Jr., was reared on the home farm in New York and there he received his education in the district schools. He was seven- teen years old when he came with the family to Michigan. He remained at home, assisting his father with the work on the farm until 1902, after his marriage. He owns a farm of eighty acres in section 21, Ritchfield township, one mile south of the village, and makes a specialty of breeding a good grade of live stock of all kinds.
In September, 1901, Mr. Stemmetz was married to Verna Billings, who was born in Richfield township, this county, where she grew to womanhood and attended the district schools. To this union has been born one child, a daughter, Josephine Lura, born on July 21, 1906. Mr. Stemmetz is a Republican.
FLOYD P. ALGER.
Floyd P. Alger, a farmer and stock raiser of Mundy township, this county, was born on a farmi in that township on June 25, 1871, the son of F. P. and Susan E. (Pease) Alger, both natives of that same township, he having been born in 1840 and she in 1844. They grew to manhood and womanhood in the same neighborhood, attended the same school, and spent their entire lives in the township.
F. P. Aiger and wife were the parents of four children, but two of whom are now living, Millie having died at the age of eighteen and George at the age of two years. Carrie E. Alger was born on June 24, 1867, and
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grew to womanhood in the township of her birth. She attended the district school and the Genesee County Normal School, after which she taught in the public schools for ten years.
Floyd P. Alger was educated in the district schools of his town and after completing his education he engaged in farming and now owns one hundred acres in Mundy township. Mr. Alger takes an interest in politics and has served his township as clerk, as treasurer and as supervisor. Fra- ternally, he is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and was the secretary of his lodge for two years. Mr. Alger is a man of pleasing personalities and has many friends in the community in which he has always lived.
ANDREW REESE.
Andrew Reese, a well-known and well-to-do farmer of Genesee town- ship and for years actively connected with the elevator business at Mt. Morris and Rogersville, is a native son of Genesee county and has lived here all his life. He was born on a homestead farm in section 1, Genesee township, March 1, 1854, son of Peter and Fannie (Rogers) Reese, both natives of New York state, pioneers of Genesee county and for many years useful and influential residents of the Rogersville neighborhood. . In a biographical sketch relating to Loron A. Reese, brother of the subject of this sketch, who is still living on the old Reese homestead, there is set out at length a history of both the Reese and the Rogers families, so well known in Genesee and Richland townships, and to that sketch the reader is respect- fully referred for further information in this connection.
Andrew Reese was reared on the paternal farm in the northeast corner of Genesee township, receiving his schooling in the neighboring district school. He remained at home, a valuable assistant to his father in the work of improving and developing the home farm, until his marriage, at the age of twenty-four years, when he bought the farm in section I of that same township, on which he ever since has made his home. For fifteen years after beginning farming on his own account, Mr. Reese specialized in the raising of Durham cattle, but later gave it up and has since then con- fined his agricultural operations to general farming. In 1890 he bought the Rogersville elevator, which had been in operation, with somewhat indifferent success, since 1871, and started in to put the concern on its feet, at the same time taking active connection with the work of the elevators at Mt. Morris.
Andrew Reese
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Three years later he began buying grain for his own account, severing his connections with the firms at Mt. Morris. He made a success of his busi- ness and four years later sold the elevator at Rogersville to J. P. Bur- roughs & Son, of Flint, though retaining the position as manager of the mill, a position he held until 1913, when he turned the management of the concern over to his son, Alton E. Reese, who has since been managing the elevator, though the elder Reese continues a certain amount of supervisory charge over the business. The elevator has been a prosperous concern ever since Mr. Reese took hold of it and has long been a good, paying proposition. Mr. Reese is a Republican and for two years served as highway commis- sioner for his district. He is a charter member of Rogersville Arbor No. 131, Order of Gleaners, which was organized in 1897 and in which he has been an officer ever since its organization, at present serving as chief gleaner. Mr. Reese was an organizer and director of the Otisville State Bank and has been vice-president since its organization.
In the spring of 1878 Andrew Reese was united in marriage to Mattie Good, who was born in Erie county, New York, October 16, 1853, daughter of John and Esther ( Hummel) Good, also natives of that county, who came with their family to Michigan in 1875 and settled in Richfield township, this county, where they spent the remainder of their lives. To Mr. and Mrs. Reese two children have been born, Irma, born on November 13, 1887, who married Earl B. Root, a well-known young farmer of Richfield township, and Alton F., April 23, 1891, who married Gertrude Bradt, daughter of Dr. J. H. Bradt, of Flint, and is now manager of the Rogersville elevator. They have one child, Virginia, born August 8, 1915.
FREDERICK H. HITCHCOCK.
In writing this biographical history one fact, among other interesting ones, has been revealed-a very large percentage of the men who are now performing the business of the various avenues of endeavor in the county are natives of Michigan. They have been wise in remaining in their own land and clime for reasons too obvious to need delineating. Frederick H. Hitchcock, the popular cashier of the State Savings Bank, of Fenton, is one of this number.
Frederick H. Hitchcock was born at Lansing, this state, July 9, 1865, (45a)
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and is a son of Horace and Mary ( Esselstyn) Hitchcock, and a grandson of Harvey S. Hitchcock, who spent most of his life in Lansing and Royal Oak, Michigan. Horace Hitchcock was a well educated man. He took much interest in religious work, and was a leader in the Sunday school. He was president of the board of trustees of Albion College for a number of years and he was connected with Bayview Assembly work for a period of twenty-two years. Hitchcock Hall was named for him. He was a suc- cessful business man, was a woolen merchant, a member of the firm of Hitch -. cock, Esselstyn & Company, later bearing the firm name of Hitchcock. Son & Company. For a time he was in government service in the state of New York. He and his wife were the parents of four children, James H., Fred- erick H., Mrs. Mary C. Davis and Willard H.
Frederick H. Hitchcock completed his schooling in the Detroit high schools. His early banking experience was obtained with David Preston & Company, with which firm he remained about six years, at the end of which time he became connected with his father in the firm of Hitchcock, Son & Co., in which he spent fifteen years, then returned to the banking business. He was one of those who assisted, in 1908, in reorganizing the State Savings Bank of Fenton, of which popular institution he has been cashier for thir- teen years, discharging his duties in an able, faithful and commendable man- men. Politically, Mr. Hitchcock is a Republican. He is a member of the Masonic order and a Knight Templar.
On April 5. 1894. Frederick H. Hitchcock was married to Julia L. Fitch, who was born in Louisville, Kentucky, a descendant of the Lansing in whose honor Lansing, Michigan, was named. To this union one child has been born, a son, Horace W. Hitchcock.
EARL G. POST.
Among the business men of Davison who are contributing to the gen- eral upbuilding of the community, while laboring for their own advance- ment, is Earl G. Post, who is therefore entitled to the appellation of good citizen. He was born in Potter county, Pennsylvania, May 24, 1854, and is a son of Jonathan B. and Sophia S. (Chamberlain) Post, natives of New York and Pennsylvania, respectively. In the spring of 1858 or 1859 the family moved to Oakland county, Michigan, the father buying a farm in Avon township, which he later sold and purchased another in Springfield
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township, this county, living on the latter place until 1874, when he sold out and moved to Kansas, his son Earl G. Post accompanying him. The father. took up government land in the Sunflower state and there he and his brother-in-law built a combination grist- and saw-mill, and there Jonathan B. Post spent the rest of his life, dying about twenty-eight years ago when comparatively young. His widow is still living at Wakeeney, Kansas.
Earl G. Post spent only three months in Kansas. Returning to Genesee county he worked two years making potash. In 1877 he married and began farming, his wife owning some land, and he bought more land in Davison township and engaged in farming until eighteen or twenty years ago, his place having consisted of one hundred and thirty-six acres. Upon leaving the farm he entered the produce business in Davison, which he followed several years, then turned his attention to handling coal and building material and has thus been engaged ever since. Mr. Post has built up a very satis- factory trade. He handles all kinds of building supplies and lumber and all grades of coal.
Politically, he is a Republican and served as treasurer of Davison town- ship for four years.
In 1877, Earl G. Post was married to Carrie M. Seelye, who was born in Davison township, this county, where she grew up and was educated. She is a daughter of Alson and Lorenza (Wicker) Seelye, the former of whom was born in Saratoga county, New York, and when a young man came to Michigan and took up government land in section 33, four miles south and one-half mile west of the village of Davison. He and his brother cleared the first land in that township, being among the earliest pioneers there. In 1842 Alson Seelye married Lorenza Wicker, a native of Rutland, Vermont, and a daughter of Reuben and Repentence (Ives) Wicker. She came to Genesee county, Michigan with her parents in 1836, the family locat- ing in Groveland, where the father died a short time later.
After his marriage, Alson Seelye moved upon the farm he had entered from the government, improved the same and there he and his wife spent the rest of their lives. He also purchased eighty acres from Lysander Van Tyne, making in all a farm of one hundred and sixty acres. During his first years of farming here he was compelled to haul his grain to Pontiac to market and to have it ground. His death occurred in 1852. He was handy with tools, and in the early days made spinning wheels and reels for the settlers, working in his shop during the winter months and farming in the summer time. When he first came here the country was covered with a dense forest and Indians and wolves were plentiful.
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Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Post, namely: Lorenzo S., who married William Dillenbeck, of Davison, and has two children; Harry G. and Beulah; Lent Earl, who married Gladys Siple, and has one son, Merwin; Ethel C., who married Wilbert Blue, who lives on the old Seelye farm, and has three children, Earl, Vernon Wilbert and an infant, and Pearl, who is at home.
CHARLES CLARKE.
The prominent position attained by Charles Clarke, assistant commis- sioner of industries of the Grand Trunk Railroad, with headquarters in De- troit, has been the result of long years of patient, painstaking, honest and conscientious effort, and he is therefore deserving of his success. His record might well be studied with profit by young men striving for recog- nition in any field of endeavor, for it indicates, among other things, how merit wins, despite obstacles, and that success is dependent on ability and integrity more than anything else.
Charles Clarke was born in Clarkston, Oakland county, Michigan, April 17, 1848. He is a son of Ebenezer and Sarah A. (Wood) Clarke, and a grandson of Ashel Wood, who was born in Bennington, Vermont, in 1783 and became a pioneer in Michigan, dying in Hadley, Lapeer county, in 1860. Ashel Wood married Althea Poole in 1810 in New York state. She was a daughter of Oliver and Sarah ( Ramsdell) Poole, who were married on Jan- uary 13, 1774. They both died at Erieville, New York. The Pooles were of Norman blood, tracing their ancestry back to the Norman conquest, mem- bers of this honorable and distinguished old family being mentioned in the third chapter of Macaulay's "History of England." Ashel Wood was a lawyer, scholar and man of affairs. His father, Elijah Wood, and his grand- father, Ebenezer Wood, were citizens of Bennington, Vermont, and both served as soldiers in the patriot army during the Revolutionary War. To Ashel Wood and wife eight children were born, as follow: Eli, born in 1809, who married Kaziah Underwood; Fidelia, born on September 27, 18II, who married N. W. Clarke; Avis, born in 1813, who married a Mr. Taylor; Eliza, born in 1815, who married a Mr. Moore; Sarah Ann, born on April 7, 1817, who married Ebenezer Clarke; Catherine, born in 1819, who married Ben Allen-Aaron Palmer; Gilbert M., born in 1821, and Emaranci, born in 1823, who married Edward Burton.
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Jeremiah Clarke, the second, was born in Preston, Connecticut, Noven- ber 3, 1760, and although but a boy during our war for independence, he served with credit with his father, Jeremiah Clarke, Sr., under Captain Bigelow Lawrence, having enlisted on March 2, 1778, and was discharged on May 2d of that year. He built one of the first homes in Bath, New York. He also built, at Erieville, the first mills in Madison county, New York. He married Sarah Millington on February 20, 1783. She was born on Febru- ary 17, 1767, and died on July 17, 1845, at the age of seventy-eight years. Jeremiah Clarke, Jr., died at Clarkston, Michigan, June I, 1845. He and his wife were the parents of the following children: Julia, born on Novem- ber II, 1783, who married Eli Cobb; Marcy, September 19, 1785, who married a Mr. Greene ; Lydia, October 5, 1787, who married Nicholas Brown; Jeremiah, the third, September 19, 1790, who married Phoebe Holdrege; Lucy, January 25, 1793, who married a Mr. Johnson; Susannah, October 25, 1797, who married Jeremiah Blair; Amy, May 5, 1795, who married Oliver Poole; Hiram, April 8, 1800; Amos, February 26, 1802; Henry, August 7, 1804, who died on February 9, 1823; Sarah, May 17, 1806, who died on March 5, 1872; Nelson, born June 8, 1808, who married Fidelia Wood for his first wife and Ellen Hulbert for his second wife; Sidney, August 1, 1810, who died in 1832, and Ebenezer, August 6, 1812, who married Jemima Bevier for his first wife and Sarah A. Wood for his second wife.
Jeremiah Clarke second, great-grandfather of Charles Clarke, was born at Preston, Connecticut in 1733; settled in New Hampshire, on land grants, in 1767; later at Shaftsbury, Vermont, where he lived fifty years. He served in the Revolutionary War. He was a member of the first convention of dele- gates from the New England towns, held in July, 1776, and in 1777 he was mayor of Shaftsbury. He was a member of the first council of safety of Vermont, held in 1778, was judge of the first court and a member of the executive council for a number of years. His death occurred in Shaftsbury in 1817, at the age of eighty-four years. He had one brother, Capt. David Clarke, of Plainfield, Connecticut, who was killed in battle during the Revo- lutionary War, on September 17, 1777. This branch of the Clarke family in America is descended from Joseph Clarke, who was born about 1600, in Suffolk, England, from which country he came to America about 1630, locating in Windsor, Connecticut. He served in King Phillip's War.
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