USA > Michigan > Genesee County > History of Genesee County, Michigan, Her People, Industries and Institutions, Volume II > Part 71
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Ebenezer Clarke, father of the subject of this review, was born in Manlius, Onondaga county, New York, August 6, 1812, and his death occurred on February 4, 1868, at the age of fifty-six years. He was twice married, as before stated, first, to Jemima Bevier, who was born on March
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6, 1813, and who died on February 10, 1839. To this union two children were born, Henry G., born on January 12, 1836, and William W., October 3, 1838, who died on January 3, 1839. Mr. Clarke's second union, which was with Sarah A. Wood, resulted in the birth of nine children, namely : Lafayette, born on October 24, 1840; Sarah A., August 21, 1842; Jemima L., August 2, 1844; Phoebe D., March 30, 1846, who died on April 7, 1864; Charles, the subject of this sketch; Jane E., November 3, 1850; Allison G., September 3, 1852, who died on January 22, 1853; Burdette E., July 7, 1854, and Clarence E., October 6, 1856, who died on March 20, 1873.
Ebenezer Clarke, father of the above named children, and his brother, Nelson W. Clarke, were superintendents and contractors, respectively, in the work of rebuilding the Sault Ste. Marie government canal in 1859, and sub- sequently they were influential in the development of the salt industries of the Saginaw valley, Michigan, and the oil interests of western Ontario, Canada.
Charles Clarke spent his childhood in Oakland county, being a small boy when the family moved to Genesee county. He received his education in the district schools and in the high school at Fenton, after which he was in the government service, as clerk in the general transfer department, Army of the Cumberland, during the Civil War, and was stationed at Nashville, Ten- nessee, and vicinity, from 1863 to 1865. After returning home at the close of the war he went to Lincoln county, Missouri, where he taught school for some time, then entered his railroad career, April 1, 1872, as station agent at Fenton, Michigan, for the Detroit & Milwaukee Railroad, which road, with others, was absorbed by the Grand Trunk Railway of Canada. He has continued in the service of the latter and its affiliated lines to the present time, or for a period of forty-four years, filling various positions with fidel- ity, ability and general satisfaction, and is now in charge of the industrial development work of all the Grand Trunk Railway System, Western lines, with the title of assistant commissioner of industries.
On November 8, 1870, at Fenton, Michigan, Charles Clarke was mar- ried to Alice E. Pritchard, who was born in Perry, New York, May 26, 1851, a daughter of George W. and Sarah I. (Jillson) Pritchard, who were married at Perry, Wyoming county, New York, in August, 1850. The mother was a daughter of Samuel H. and Eliza (Jewell) Jillson, who were married, February 16, 1823, at Cozenovia, New York. Where they spent the rest of their lives. Sarah I. Jillson was a direct descendant of Thomas Jewell, of Braintree, Massachusetts, her grandfather having been Oliver Jewell (sixth generation). Sarah I. Jillson was born in Cozenovia, New . York, November 23, 1833, and her death occurred at Fenton, Michigan,
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September 7, 1905. Two children have been born to Charles Clarke and wife, George Willis, born at Fenton, January 24, 1873, and Julia Eliza- betli, born in Ovid, Michigan, July 27, 1880.
Politically, Mr. Clarke is a Republican. He belongs to the Detroit Board of Commerce, the Detroit Board of Trade, Detroit Transportation Club, Detroit City Service League, the National Geographical Society, of Washington, D. C., and has been a member of the Masonic fraternity for many years.
CHARLES J. CAMPBELL.
In these days of large commercial transactions, when credits cut a large factor in the daily round of business, the province of the banker is very wide and very important. The excellence of the banks of the present compared with those of the past gives to all classes of business men first-class security for their deposits; assistance when they are in need of ready money to move their business, and a means of exchanging credits that could be accomplished in no other way. One of the leading bankers of Genesee county is Charles J. Campbell, president of the State Savings Bank of Fenton.
Charles J. Campbell was born in Genesee county, Michigan, June 5, 1862. He is a son of Daniel and Bridget (Henderson) Campbell. The father was born in November, 1838, and died on October 25, 1914. The mother was born in Michigan, in 1844, and is now living in the city of Grand Rapids. John Campbell, the grandfather, brought his family to Ontario in an early day, finally joining his son, Daniel, in Genesee county, Michigan, where he spent the latter years of his life in retirement, after a long career as general farmer. He was a member of the Presbyterian church. Daniel Campbell came to Genesee county in 1850, and worked on the Grand Trunk Railroad many years, later becoming general manager of the Grand Rapids Street Railway Company for a period of fifteen years, being construction manager at the time of his death. He was a man of much executive ability and filled these responsible positions with eminent satisfaction to his em- ployers. He was a member of the Presbyterian church. His family con- sisted of three children, namely: Charles J., the subject of this sketch; Effie, who married W. H. Sprague, and Frank, who is the youngest of the family.
Charles J. Campbell completed his schooling in the high school of
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Fenton. He engaged successfully in the machine and foundry business for a period of twenty-seven years and is one of the stockholders in the Walker Manufacturing Company. For seven years he was superintendent of the Egyptian Cement Company of Fenton. He turned his attention to the bank- ing business in 1910, and as president of the State Savings Bank of Fenton has become a potent factor in the financial circles of Genesee and adjoining counties. This bank was organized on January 1, 1909, and Mr. Campbell has been a stockholder in the same since its organization, and president since 1913. The bank is regarded as one of the sound and safe banks of this section of the state and does a general banking business along conservative lines. Mr. Campbell owns one of the fine farms of this state, consisting of two hundred and fourteen acres in Oakland county, less than a mile east of Fenton. He has been very successful in business.
In 1885 Charles J. Campbell was married to Elizabeth Thorp. He has long been active in public affairs and has done much for the general wel- fare and development of Fenton. He has been mayor of the city five times, and has been a member of the school board for twelve years.
LUCIUS ALLEN DUNTON.
One of the progressive farmers of Fenton township is Lucius Allen Dunton, a scion of two sterling old families of the Wolverine state. He has evidently inherited many of the commendable attributes of his ancestors and is therefore an honored and useful citizen. He was born at Holly, Oakland county, August 27, 1857, a son of John W. and Mary Ann (Cook) Dun- ton. The father was born in Vermont, March 19, 1812, and died in Eaton county, Michigan, December 29, 1877. The mother was born on March 16, 1825, and died in Holly township, Oakland county, Michigan, June 16, 1864. To these parents the following children were born: Lydia, born on Sep- tember 13, 1847, who married Charles Sadden, of Fenton; Henry Aaron, May 20, 1849, who disappeared many years ago and his whereabouts are still unknown; John Alonzo, June 11, 1853, who died in January, 1878; Arby H., February 8, 1855, who was twice married, first to Elida Norton, and lastly to Luella Norton, his first wife's cousin; Lucius Allen, the subject of this sketch, and Herbert, born on September 4, 1859, who has remained unmarried.
John W. Dunton lived in Holly township, Oakland countil until Lucius
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A. Dunton was ten years old, then moved to Eaton county and lived. at Potterville until he was killed by a fall from a tree. He was three times married, his second wife being Julian A. Thompson, a widow, who had two children by a previous marriage, Samuel and George. The third wife of John W. Dunton was Mrs. Love, a widow, who had two children by her marriage with Mr. Dunton, Nellie and Enon, but none by her first marriage.
Lucius A. Dunton grew up on the farm and received a common-school education. He began life for himself on an eighty-acre farm in Cedar Creek township, Wexford county, Michigan, where he continued to reside for a period of twenty-four years, then sold out and came to Genesee county and purchased a farm of seventy-nine acres, all within the corporation limits of the village of Fenton and extending along the Oakland county line. He soon remodeled the dwelling and in 1916 built a new barn, put up much wire fencing and made many other improvements. He has modern improve- ments about his buildings, including electric lights. He keeps large numbers of horses and hogs.
On December 9, 1885, Lucius A. Dunton was married in Tyrone town- ship, Livingston county, to Carrie E. Perry, who was born there on May 23, 1867, and is a daughter of George G. and Mary A. (Petty) Perry. Her maternal grandfather, Joseph H. Petty, was born in Warren county, New Jersey, January 7, 1813. He came West, settling in Oakland county, Michi- gan, later coming to Genesee county. When twenty years old he married Esther Steele. He farmed seventeen years in New Jersey and then came by wagon overland to Michigan, to join his parents at Clarkston. He spent nineteen years on a farm in Oakland county, then joined his children at Fenton. His wife died on July 12, 1888, at the age of eighty-two years, that heing the first death in the family for fifty years. To these parents six children were born: Mary A., mother of Mrs. Dunton; Jane, John, Robert, Sarah and Effie. Adam Perry, Mrs. Dunton's paternal grandfather, who was a native of New Jersey, married Isabel Giddings. They came to Michigan in an early day, bought a farm in Oakland county and lived there until moving to Fenton, retiring from active life, and there Adam Perry died.
George G. Perry, father of Mrs. Dunton, was born in Oakland county. Michigan, in 1834, and died at the home of the subject of this sketch on February 21, 1911. He grew up on the farm, received a good education and began teaching school at the age of seventeen years, continuing teaching for a number of years in Oakland and Livingston counties. Later he turned his attention to farming and pre-empted land in Tyrone township, Living- ston county. He.retired from active life one year prior to his death. His
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family consisted of nine children, namely: James, who is practicing den- tistry in Detroit; Nelson, who is farming in Cass county, Michigan; Alice, who lives at Marion; Carrie E., wife of Mr. Dunton; Effie, who makes her home in Livingston county: Nettie, who lives in Fenton; Josephine, who lives in Fowlerville; Eliza, who died in Cass county, and Frank, who died in Tyrone township, Livingston county.
To Lucius A. Dunton and wife four children have been born, namely : Willie, born on March 4, 1887; Grace, October 17, 1889, who died on May 24, 1801: John E., February 21, 1892, who died on July 31, 1913, at the age of twenty-one, meeting death by drowning while bathing in Long Lake, and Harold James, March 8, 1896, who was educated in the public schools of Wexford county and the Fenton high school, is now attending school at Ypsilanti.
Mr. Dunton is a Republican and is active in local politics. He was a member of the Congregational church of Tyrone up to 1911, but since then has been a Baptist.
HARRY H. ENDERS.
Another of the old soldiers who was willing to make sacrifices and risk his life during the crisis of the sixties in order that the nation might live, is Harry H. Enders, a retired farmer of Goodrich, a man who has been known as an enterprising and public-spirited citizen of Genesee county for many years. He was born in Erie county, New York, April 1, 1841, and is a son of Philip and Anna (Hummel) Enders, natives of Pennsylvania and of German ancestry. Philip Enders served in the War of 1812. The latter's grandfather, Christian Philip Enders, was born in Nassau, Germany, in 1740, He served his allotted time in the German army, and came to the United States in 1764, locating in Dauphin county, Pennsylvania, among the earliest settlers there. He was an educated man and taught one of the first schools in that county.
Harry H. Enders grew to manhood on the farm in Erie county, New York, where he attended school, and later studied two years at the academy at Williamsville, that state. On July 21, 1862, he enlisted in Company C. One Hundred and Sixteenth Regiment, New York Volunteer Infantry, spending two years with the army in Louisiana, and was in the siege of Port Hudson and the battles of Pleasant Hill, Sabine Crossroads and a num- ber of skirmishes. He was wounded in the right arm above the elbow
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during the siege of Port Hudson. In July, 1864, he was detailed with his regiment to duty under General Sheridan, in the Shenandoah valley, in Virginia, and fought at Winchester, Fisher's Hill and Cedar Creek. He made an excellent record as a soldier and was honorably discharged on June 8, 1865, after taking part in the Grand Review in Washington.
After his career in the army, Mr. Enders returned to Erie county, New York, and on July 23, 1865, married Maria Hoil, who was born in that county, February 24, 1844, a daughter of John and Fanny (Reid) Hoil, natives of Pennsylvania and of German ancestry. Her mother's maternal grandfather was a soldier in the American Revolution. Mr. Enders is one of a family of twelve children, six sons and six daughters, and Mrs. Enders is one of ten children born to her parents.
In 1868 Harry H. Enders moved with his family to Genesee county and located in Atlas township, two miles southwest of Goodrich, where he purchased øne hundred and twenty acres. He has been very successful as a general farmer and is now owner of a fine farm of two hundred and seventy-eight acres. When he came back from the war he had only four hundred and fifty dollars, and he has made his present excellent property by his own efforts. Mr. Enders is a Democrat and served as drain commis- sioner of his township for two years.
To Mr. and Mrs. Enders have been born nine children, namely: Addi- son Grant, born in New York, who died when eighteen years old; Orville, who died when ten months old; Anna, who died when fifteen years old ; Nettie B., who died when four and one-half months old; Ethel, who died when fifteen years old; Edwin, a twin of Ethel, who died when twenty-four years old; Melvin P., William H., and George B., living. Melvin P. Enders, who makes his home at Fenton, married Maude Townsend and has three children, two sons and one daughter, Rowena, Linford and Melvin, Jr. Melvin P. Enders, Sr., is engaged in the drug business at Fenton. He is well educated, having attended college at Ada, Ohio, where he took a course in pharmacy.
Dr. William H. Enders, a practicing physician at Jackson, Michigan, is a specialist of note in the treatment of stomach and bowel troubles. He was graduated from the medical department of the University of Michigan in 1907, after which he practiced two years at Eaton Rapids, this state; then went to Germany, where he spent one summer taking a post-graduate course in various medical institutions, principally at Berlin. During that period he made a general tour of Europe and visited the home of his ancestors in Nassau. Upon his return to Michigan he located at Jackson, where he has
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since been successfully engaged in the practice of his profession. He mar- ried Kitty Kline, of Hillsdale, this state, and to their union two daughters have been born, Virginia and Mary Louise. George B. Enders attended high school at Flint, then Ferris Institute at Big Rapids, and also graduated in pharmacy at Ada, Ohio. He is now living on his father's farm near Good- rich. He married Bessie Pearson.
Harry H. Enders first came to Genesee county two years before the commencement of the Civil War, engaging at farm work during two sum- mers and spending one winter in the lumber woods. He has noted many changes in the general growth in Atlas township and the country in general during the period of sixty-seven years since he first saw the locality. He retired from active life in March, 1909, moving to Goodrich, and two years later built his present beautiful home, modern in every detail, and there he and his faithful life companion are quietly spending their declining years in peace and comfort, esteemed by all who know them.
MATTHEW B. SMITH, M. D.
Success in the medical profession comes as a result of merit and pains- taking effort. In the industrial world one may, by the proverbial "lucky stroke," win great results or may come into possession of a lucrative busi- ness through inheritance, but professional advancement, especially as a physician, is to be depended on solely by critical study and consecutive re- search long continued. Dr. Matthew B. Smith, of Fenton, is one of the leading physicians and representative citizens of Genesee county, a man who takes an active part in all that makes toward the general improvement of his town and community.
Dr. Matthew B. Smith was born in Mundy township, this county, April 27, 1872, a son of A. A. and Susan (Baldwin) Smith, both natives of Michigan, the mother born in Genesee county. She was a daughter of Morgan Baldwin, who came to this county in 1832, among the early pioneers, and homesteaded in Mundy township. He had to borrow fire from his nearest neighbor, who lived not so very near, as we of today reckon near- ness. He endured the usual hardships of frontier life, but cleared his land and developed a good farm. He had a family of seven children. He took an interest in public affairs and was the first town clerk in Mundy township. He was a stockholder in the first plank road built through this locality.
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William A. Smith, the Doctor's paternal grandfather, came to Genesee county from Oakland county in an early day and was a soldier in the Civil War, becoming corporal in a Michigan cavalry regiment. He died of fever while at the front and was buried in Arlington cemetery, Washington, D. C. The Doctor's father died in 1890, at the age of forty-one years. The mother is living in Detroit. To these parents three children were born, namely: Dr. V. L. Smith, who is practicing medicine in Detroit; Dr. Claude A. Smith, who is also practicing medicine in Detroit, and Dr. Matthew B. Smith, the subject of this sketch. The father of these children was a con- tractor and builder, and was in business in Flint most of the time before his death.
Doctor Smith received his early schooling in the public schools of Flint, and after leaving the high school entered the Detroit Medical College, from which he was graduated with the degree of Doctor of Medicine, with the class of 1898, and soon thereafter began the practice of his profession in Argentine, where he remained seven years, enjoying a good practice. From there he moved, in 1905, to Fenton, where he has since practiced his pro- fession and has been very successful, occupying a position in the front rank of his professional brethren in this and adjoining counties.
Doctor Smith is a Republican and is active in public affairs. He has been secretary of the school board of Fenton for some time. He is a Royal Arch Mason and a Knight Templar and is also a member of the Genesee County Medical Society, of the Michigan State Medical Association and of the American Medical Association.
CHARLES S. JAMESON.
A farmer might as well expect continually to check against his account at the bank and expect always to have a balance there, as continually to . crop his land without returning any plant food to the soil and expect con- tinually to have fertile fields. Charles Jameson, a farmer of Fenton town- ship, has understood this and other important facts of farming and has avoided many common mistakes. He was born in this county, July 31, 1866, and is a son of Silas H. and Rhoda A. (Thompkins) Jameson and a grand- son of John B. Jameson, who was a native of Canandaigua county, New York, from which he came to Michigan in 1837, taking up government land in Mundy township, this county, and there developed a good farm, on which
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he lived until old age, when he retired and moved to the village of Linden, where he spent his last days. Silas H. Jameson was born in the state of New York in 1830, and was seven years old when he was brought to Gen- esee county by his parents. Here he grew to manhood, assisted his father on the home farm and attended the pioneer schools. He engaged in general farming here until he retired, spending his last few years in Linden, his death occurring in 1911. He was twice married. His first wife, Rhoda A. Thompkins, died in 1888, leaving two children, Charles S., the subject of this sketch, and George. His second wife was Flora Ripley, this last union being without issue. Silas H. Jameson owned a fine farm of two hundred and twenty acres in Fenton township. He took up a homestead of one hundred and twenty acres in Mundy township when a young man, but that he sold later.
Charles Jameson grew up on the home farm, where he worked hard during the crop seasons, and in the winter time attended the Linden public schools. He has devoted his life to general farming and stock raising, and owns a well-improved place of one hundred and sixteen acres in Fenton township, to which he moved in 1895, and during his residence of over twenty years there he has made many changes, including the building, in 1910, of a new barn, thirty by ninety feet.
On February 20, 1889, Charles S. Jameson was married to Carrie M. Glover, who was born in Genesee county, where she grew up and attended school. She is a daughter of Henry and Lydia ( Alger) Glover, the former of whom was the first white male child born in Mundy township, this county. Mr. and Mrs. Jameson have no children of their own, but have an adopted daughter, Emerald Hartwell, who was born in 1902. She is a relative of the family and was taken into Mr. Jameson's home when only five months old. She is now attending school. Mr. Jameson is a Democrat.
CHARLES E. ROLLAND.
Nature has offered the agriculturalist unusual advantages in Genesee county and has seldom failed to reward the earnest worker with gratifying results, and when the tillers of the soil are prosperous all lines of business flourish, consequently not only the farmers have succeeded in this locality but also the merchants, millers, manufacturers, lumbermen, stock dealers and many others. Charles E. Rolland, who is engaged in the dry goods
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business at Fenton, is one of the leading merchants of the county and a representative citizen.
Charles E. Rolland was born in Fenton on July 15, 1872, and has been content to spend most of his life in his native vicinity. He is a son of C. F. and Sarah (Lehan) Rolland, the latter a daughter of Thomas Lehan, formerly of Ireland. Grandfather George Frederick Rolland was a native of France, from which country he came to America and located in Oswego, New York, where he followed his trade as tailor. Upon retiring from active life he came to Michigan to live with his son, C. F. Rolland, at Fenton. C. F. Rolland was born in New York, where he grew up and received a public-school education. He was a stone engraver, which trade he followed all his life. He went to Montreal, Canada, where he spent many years, then moved to Chicago and from there to Detroit, where he married Sarah Lehan, who was born in Ireland, from which country she came to America when eighteen years old. C. F. Rolland located at Fenton in 1865 and engaged in the monument business, which he followed until four years prior to his death, which occurred in 1911. He was at one time village president and was a member of the board of village trustees, a member of the school board and of the board of local affairs. He was a Republican and belonged to the Episcopal church. His widow still lives in Fenton. They were the parents of the following children, namely: Frederick George, Frank Clement, Ward S., Charles Emerson, Arthur J., Clara, Helen Pauline, who married C. B. Scott, who is engaged in business with the subject of this sketch, and Ward, who died at the age of twenty-one years. Frederick G. Rolland married Margaret Eddy. He lives in Chicago where, with a partner, he is engaged in the lithograph business, under the firm name of the Rolland, Carquebrille Lithograph Company. Frank C. Rolland, who has been engaged in the drug business for himself for about eighteen years, now lives in Alamogordo, New Mexico. He is married. Arthur J. Rolland has been engaged in the drug business at Carrizozo, New Mexico, for about ten years. He married Marjorie McDonald, a daughter of the present governor of New Mexico.
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