USA > Michigan > Genesee County > History of Genesee County, Michigan, Her People, Industries and Institutions, Volume II > Part 73
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Charles H. Leal completed his schooling in the Linden high school. which he left shortly before he was due to graduate. In 1896 he returned
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to Fenton and was there connected with the firm of Scott & Company for a period of fifteen years, giving his employers eminent satisfaction in every respect. He has been in business for himself during the past five years, own- ing the clothing department in the large department store of the Rolland & Scott Company. In this line he has been very successful and has built up an extensive trade. He carries a large and well-selected stock of clothing at all seasons.
On January 9, 1892, Charles H. Leal was married to Catherine M. Cady, which union has been without issue. Mrs. Leal is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Leal is a member of the Masonic order and is a Knight Templar. He also is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
GEORGE EDWARD PERRY.
One of the younger class of enterprising and substantial farmers of Grand Blanc township, Genesee county, Michigan, is George Edward Perry, who was born on October 1, 1872, on his father's farm two miles east of Grand Blanc. He is a son of William Ray and Clare (Potter) Perry.
William Ray Perry was born on December 10, 1842, on the farm where he now lives, about two miles east of Grand Blanc, the son of George Edward and Silence (Cottrell) Perry. George Edward Perry was a native of Rhode Island, where he grew to manhood, and there married Silence Cottrell, also a native of that state. In 1832 they came to Michigan, where he bought out a squatter who was on the land where W. R. Perry now lives. He purchased about one hundred and sixty acres of land, only about two acres of which was improved. There was only an Indian trail that wound through the woods and swamps to his land. The Perry road was not laid out until about four years later. There George Edward Perry lived the remainder of his life. When he first came to the county, Pontiac was their nearest trading point. He and his wife were earnest members of the Baptist church. They were the parents of twelve children, all of whom grew to maturity, Mary, Ann, Lucinda, Susan, George, Robert, Mandy Caroline, Oliver, Iretus, Martha and William Ray.
William Ray Perry has always lived on the farm where he now is, having followed farming all his life. He has one hundred and fifty acres of well-improved land, on which he has built a fine, large house, with all kinds of good farm outbuildings. He also has an old house on his farm
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which was built seventy-five years ago. His present home was built in 1894.
In 1871 William R. Perry was married to Clarissa Potter, who was born in Davison township, this county, the daughter of Wilson and Abigail Potter, who were early settlers in Davison township. Potter's Lake is named for this family, a family which stood high in the esteem of that com- munity. The Potter family moved from Vermont to Rochester, New York, and from the latter place, in 1834, to Knapp's Mills, twenty-two miles from Port Huron, on Black river. In 1836 they moved to Flint, and that same year purchased the east half of section I, Davison township, this county In 1837 they and others opened a road from the Irish road to Potter s Lake in three days' time, a distance of three miles. They located on their land in 1837 and were the first settlers in the north part of Davison town- ship. William R. Perry and wife were the parents of only one child, George Edward, the immediate subject of this review. Mrs. William R. Perry died in 1885, and Mr. Perry still remains on the old farm, still taking an active part in the farming.
George Edward Perry has lived all his life near where his birth occurred. He received his early education in the public schools of his home township, afterwards attending Bliss Business College at Flint. Since reaching man- hood he has always engaged in farming. In February, 1897, he purchased eighty acres of land a short distance east of his father's farm. In January, 1904, he bought the sixty acres which separated his farm from his father's, and now has one hundred and forty acres all in one tract adjoining the old homestead. There he carries on a general system of farming and stock raising, with a very commendable degree of success.
On October 10, 1894, George E. Perry was married to Victoria Sim- mons, who was born near Brockport, New York, a daughter of Henry and Grace (Moore) Simmons. The Simmons family came to this county in 1884, and located in Burton township, three miles east of Flint, on the Davison road, where they purchased one hundred and twenty acres of land. and there the family lived until the death of the father in 1908, after which they sold the farm, and the mother now lives in Grand Blanc. Mrs. Perry's father had two children by a former marriage, and to his union with Grace Moore were born three children, of whom one died in infancy, the other being Schuyler, who lives in Elk City, Idaho, and Mrs. Perry.
To Mr. and Mrs. George E. Perry five children have been born, Ward R., Clara L., Martha C., Wilson Henry, and George Edward, Jr: Of these children Wilson H. died on December 1, 1908, at the age of fifteen months.
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STANFORD SOLON GIBSON.
One of the native-born sons of Genesee county, who is a successful farmer of Grand Blanc township is Stanford Solon Gibson, who was born on September 28, 1852, at what is now called Gibsonville, one mile north of Grand Blanc. He is a son of Charles DeWitt and Artemesia (Frost) Gibson, both of whom were natives of New York state.
Charles DeWitt Gibson was born at Palestine. Montgomery county, New York, in 1800, a son of John and Catherine ( Wasson) Gibson, both of whom were natives of Montgomery county, New York. Charles D. Gibson grew up on a farm, but learned the trade of a cabinet maker, and at the age of twenty-one, went to Avon, Livingston county, New York, and there, on August II, 1831, he married Artemesia Frost, who was a daughter of Elisha and Artemesia Frost, old residents of Lima, Livingston county. In 1832 Charles D. Gibson left his home to look for a location in Michigan. He purchased a tract of one hundred and sixty acres on which there were a few improvements, and later added two hundred and forty acres more to his holdings, of government land in Grand Blanc town- ship, this county, on the Saginaw trail, one mile north of the present village of Grand Blanc. Returning to New York, he purchased a stock of goods, which he shipped to the territory, as it was then, and, with his wife and one child, widowed mother and a sister, came to his new home in the wilder- ness. Here he started a wayside hotel on the Saginaw trail, which was then the main highway of travel in this part of Michigan. He opened a store and sold goods to the early settlers, also trading with the Indians who were then numerous in this section. Besides selling goods, and clearing and improving his lands, in a few years, he became extensively engaged in other enterprises in the development of the community, such as building and oper- ating a saw-mill, an ashery and other activities much needed at that early date. He was also for many years engaged in buying and selling land in various parts of Michigan, both for himself and for others, and was uni- formly successful in his business undertakings. During his business life he lost many thousand of dollars by fire and otherwise, but at his death left a handsome fortune for his widow and children. Besides being supervisor and magistrate, he was the first county treasurer of Genesee county, from 1836 to 1838. His death occurred on May 3, 1876. He was a far-sighted man, a good judge of men and their motives, strictly honorable, unassuming in manner, kind and indulgent in his home. He was a member of the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows, and his religious views were liberal, of the
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Unitarian and Universalist type. His widow died in 1889. She was a remarkably fine-looking and intelligent woman, who nobly performed her share of life's duties. They were the parents of eleven children: Jane W., who died in infancy; Thornton, who lived to the age of seventy-eight years and spent most of his life at Gibsonville; Charles F., who was a resident of Detroit until his deathi; Chauncey W., who lives in Oakland, California ; Corydon DeWitt and Carrie A., twins, both deceased; John E., a resident of the soldiers home at Grand Rapids; Mary A., deceased; Sarah J. Glover, of Oakland, California; Frances A., wife of Doctor Case, of Flint, and Stanford S., the subject of this review.
Stanford S. Gibson grew up at Gibsonville, and after leaving the com- mon schools, took a commercial course in Saginaw and in Bay City, then returned to the old home at Gibsonville. He has been a life-long farmer, and is now the owner of two hundred and ninety-one acres at Gibsonville, where he has lived for the most part of his life, although he has spent some years in Flint.
Mr. Gibson married Amelia Rosco, who was born in Grand Blanc, the daughter of H. Rosco and wife, who came from Ohio and engaged in farming just west of Gibsonville, and there Mrs. Gibson's parents spent the remainder of their lives. Mr. and Mrs. Gibson are the parents of two children, Blanche A. and Harry R. Harry Gibson married Blanche Ander- son, and now lives in Oakland, California. Blanche Gibson married Edward A. Schmier, who is referred to elsewhere in this work.
Mr. Gibson is a quiet and unassuming man, and possesses the good will and esteem of all who know him. He is a member of the Loyal Guards.
MATTHIAS BUZZARD.
It is a good sign when a county like Genesee can boast of so many of her enterprising business and professional men and farmers who are native sons, for it indicates that there are to be found all the opportunities necessary to insure success in the material affairs of life, and that her native sons, unlike so many from various sections, have found it to their advantage to remain at home. One of this number is Matthias Buzzard of Fenton.
Matthias Buzzard was born in this county, November 23, 1876, and is a son of George M. and Mary (Cummings) Buzzard. Matthias Cum- mings, grandfather of Matthias Buzzard, for whom the latter was named, was born in Livingston county. Michigan. He married Sarah Middlesworth,
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and they spent the rest of their lives on a farm in that county, being well known to the early settlers there. George M. Buzzard was born in Oak- land county, this state, and lived in Clarkston, Michigan, in his earlier life. He was a farmer by occupation. He was three times married, the mother of the subject of this sketch being his first wife. To their union three chil- dren were born, namely: Olive, deceased; Matthias, the subject of this review, and Hazel, who is living at home. The father of these children owns a farm of fifty-five acres. He is a member of the Methodist Episco- pal church.
Matthias Buzzard grew up on the home farm and received his early schooling in the public schools of Fenton. He then took a course in the Michigan Agricultural College, after which he returned to Fenton, where he has since made his home. He has been employed in the local postoffice since April 2, 1900, his long retention in this capacity being proof of his satis- factory services.
In 1902 Matthias Buzzard was married to Bertha Davenport, who was born at Linden, this county, a daughter of Stephen Davenport, a pioneer citizen of Linden, and to this union two children have been born, Robert and Walter. Politically, Mr. Buzzard is a Republican. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He is a member of the Presby- terian church, has long been deeply interested in Sunday school work and has for some time been secretary of the Sunday school of his church.
CHARLES BAKER, JR.
One of the well-known and influential farmers of Grand Blanc town- ship is Charles Baker, Jr., a native of England, who was born in that country on April 17, 1847, the son of Charles and Eliza (Dymond) Baker, also natives of England.
Charles Baker, Sr., and family came to America when Charles, Jr., was a lad of nine years, taking passage on a sailing vessel from Plymouth, Eng- land, and were several weeks in making the voyage. They landed first in Canada, presently coming on to Michigan, settling in Burton township, Genesee county, where the father and mother spent the remainder of their lives.
When Charles Baker, Jr., was only ten years old he hired out to work as a farm boy, and for nearly five years remained in the employ of James
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Ellis in Mundy township, the interests of that family becoming to him almost as his own. He then spent two years with Benjamin Bloomer, of Flint township. While working out, he yet found time and opportunity to attend the district schools of his district, and did so, and for a short time was a student in the Flint high school.
In July, 1863, Charles Baker, Jr., enlisted for service in the Union army by becoming a member of Company G, Ninth Regiment, Michigan Cavalry, and was detailed to the Army of the Cumberland. He participated in many hard-fought battles of that memorable struggle, among which were the siege of Knoxville, the battles of Blue Springs, Cumberland Gap, Cynthiana, Mariette, Georgia, and also in several battles under General Kil- patrick around Atlanta during the siege of that city. When General Sher- man was preparing for the memorable march to the sea Mr. Baker was captured at Stone Mountain, and for a period of six months was confined in four different southern prisons, four months of the six being spent in the notorious Andersonville prison. On June 25, 1865, Charles Baker received an honorable discharge, and returned to Michigan. He then entered the Flint high school and fitted himself to be a teacher, devoting different periods of his life thereafter to that work. In the spring of 1879 he settled on his present farm in section 11, Grand Blanc township, about one mile east of the village of the same name, and there he has lived since. He has gradually added to his original land holdings, and is now the owner of one hundred and seventy-eight acres of well-improved land, on which he has a beautiful home. He is engaged in general farming and stock- raising, making a specialty of Shorthorn cattle.
On May 2, 1875, Charles Baker, Jr., was married to Grace F. Bland- ford, the daughter of Henry Blandford, a native of England, and to that union were born the following children: Herbert H., who is assisting his father on the home farm; C. Blandford, who died at the age of eighteen; Grace M., who married Dr. Hugh Gundy, a dentist of Flint, and has three daughters, Mary Grace, Catherine Blue and Jane; Ruth, who married Ralph C. Kimball, of Pontiac, and has two sons, George and Albert; Alice, who married Nelson McDuff, of Grants Pass, Oregon, and has two children, Elizabeth Ann and Jack; Susan E., wife of Prof. Charles Cook, teacher of geology in the University of Michigan ; Henrietta, who married Clare Scott, a farmer in the sonthern part of Grand Blanc township, and has one daugh- ter, Alice Marian, and Faith Marian, who married Dewey Dafoe, of Detroit, and has one daughter, Grance Blandford. The mother of these children died in 191I.
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On April 28, 1915, Charles Baker, Jr., married to Mrs. Inez (Elwood) Husted, who was born at Birch Run, Saginaw county, Michigan, daughter of George Nelson and Caroline ( King) Elwood, both of whom were natives of New York state, but who spent the most of their lives in Clarkston, Mich- igan, until their marriage, when they moved to Birch Run. George N. Elwood engaged in farming there early in life, but later moved to Farron- ville and kept a store at the latter place seven or eight years, until their daughter, Inez, was about nine years of age, when they moved to Clio, and lived there about nine years, where the father was engaged in farming, house-moving and other pursuits. He spent his last years with a son at Davison, where his death occurred in 1908, at the age of seventy-four years. His wife died at Clio many years ago. Inez Elwood was married in 1880 to Jolin Husted, of Clare, Michigan, and in the latter city Mr. and Mrs. Husted made their home for about seventeen years at the end of which time they removed to Flint, where Mr. Husted spent the remainder of his life, his death occurring in 1901. Mr. and Mrs. Husted were the parents of two children, Roy and Edith. Roy died in 1909 and Edith makes her home with her mother.
Mr. Baker is a Republican in politics, but not by any means a blind partisan. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, in which he takes a warm and active interest. He has served several times as justice of the peace, an aggregate of twelve years, and has recently been re-elected for another term. He first became supervisor in 1870, and held that posi- tion until 1895. The success that has attended his efforts in a financial way is well deserved, and is the result of natural judgment and ability.
EBERN E. ENSIGN.
Ebern E. Ensign, a well-known and successful farmer of Genesee county, was born in Flushing township on October 6, 1861, being the son of Ephraim E. and Sarah (Bailey) Ensign. Ephraim and Sarah Ensign were natives of the state of New York and Genesee county, respectively, their families being among the oldest in this county. In 1861, Ephraim Ensign enlisted in a Michigan regiment and later died from exposure and starvation in a Southern prison. On March 4, 1904, Sarah Ensign died, leaving one child, Ebern E. By a second marriage, to James W. Pollock, she was the mother of eight children.
MR. AND MRS. EBERN E. ENSIGN.
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Ebern E. Ensign received his education in the schools of Flushing township. He lived with his grandparents until he was seven years of age, at which time he was obliged to seek a home elsewhere and make his own living. When nineteen years of age, he went west and lived in Iowa for some eight months. After his marriage to Jennie Duff (see sketch of Will- iam Duff), who was born on February 9, 1863, in Flushing, Mr. Ensign returned to Saginaw. Here he was employed in a factory for nine years and then came to Flushing township, where he purchased eighty acres of land in section 13. To his original farm he has since added eighty-seven acres. Mr. Ensign has his farm under a high state of cultivation and well improved. Here he is engaged in general farming and stock raising, being interested in Durham cattle, as well as well-bred hogs.
To Ebern and Jennie Ensign have been born four children: William E., born in Saginaw on September 30, 1889; Paul R., born on homestead on April 30, 1895, and two girls, Beatrice and Mildred, both of whom died.
Politically, Mr. Ensign is a Republican, takes an interest in all local politics and has served on the school board for a number of years. Fra- ternally, he is a Free and Accepted Mason, belonging to both the blue lodge and the chapter at Flushing. The sons, William and Paul R., are also members of the blue lodge. Mrs. Ensign and family are active members of the Presbyterian church and take much interest in all church work.
GRANT W. WHITMAN.
One of the chief concerns of every man in the productive period of his life is to accumulate sufficient means to enable him properly to care for himself and family in old age. This is right and necessary, but too many make it the sole aim in life. Not so with Grant W. Whitman, grocer of the village of Fenton, who has tried to do his full duty as a citizen of Genesee county, while laboring for the accumulation of material things. He was born in this county, February 27, 1872, a son of Oliver Valentine and Anstice (Woodhull) Whitman, the former of whom was born in Rut- land, Vermont, February 14, 1849, and the latter of whom was a daughter of George S. Woodhull, a native of New Jersey, and a farmer, who came to Michigan in 1842, locating near Long Lake, in Fenton township, Genesee county. Woodhull Landing was named for him. He owned one hundred
(47a)
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and sixty acres there and was among the early pioneers. He married Anna Hindman. He served as a private in the War of 1812. He and his wife were the parents of four children, Margaret, Emeline, Marcus and Anstice. George S. Woodhull was a son of Jeremiah Woodhull, who spent his entire life in New Jersey. Oliver V. Whitman grew up in Vermont and there engaged in farming until sometime in the sixties, when he came to Michigan and located in Genesee county, locating on the old Woodhull homestead which his wife inherited, and there he spent the rest of his life, dying on August 19, 1911. His widow survives, making her home in the village of Fenton. She has three children. namely: Grant W., the subject of this sketch; Charles, who married Jennie Cramer and lives in Fenton township, and Roy, who married Emily Davis and lives on the old Woodhull farm.
Grant W. Whitman completed his schooling in the high school. He was engaged in the furniture business for ten years at Fenton, also traveled for the Watkins Medical Company for some time, finally, in 1911, estab- lishing a grocery business in Fenton, which he has conducted with ever- growing success to the present time. He carries a large stock of staple and fancy groceries at all seasons.
On April 22, 1896, Grant W. Whitman was married to Maude Lob- dell, who was born in this county, a daughter of Horace Lobdell, now a resident of Detroit, and to this union two children have been born, Earl and Donald Whitman. Mr. Whitman is a member of the Masonic order, and he and his family are members of the Presbyterian church, of which he is a trustee.
JOHN J. MURPHY.
A young man who has stamped the impress of his strong personality upon the minds of the people of Genesee county in such a manner as to render him one of the highly-respected citizens of the locality is John J. Murphy, who is engaged in the drug business in Linden, where he is secur- ing a good foothold, for a newcomer.
John J. Murphy was born at Sutton, Ontario, Canada, May 30, 1885, a son of P. J. and Sarah (Tobin) Murphy, and a grandson of Lawrence Tobin, a native of the state of New York, a farmer, who in 1887 moved to Bay City, Michigan. P. J. Murphy, Sr., grandfather of John J. Murphy, was a native of Ireland; who came to America when eighteen years old. He engaged in farming in New York and removed to Bay county, Michigan, in
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1885, where he bought land. The father of John J. Murphy grew to man- hood on the farm in the state of New York and received a high school edu- cation. His death occurred in 1912 and his widow is living in Detroit. He and his wife were members of the Catholic church and their children were reared in that faith. There were eight of these children, Elizabeth, Eleanor, Lawrence, Thomas, Richard (who died in 1913), John J., Harriet and Ruth.
John J. Murphy completed his schooling in the high school at Bay City. On November 12, 1910, he married Mary A. Munley, who was born in Bay City, September 28, 1884, a daughter of John Munley, of Bay City, and to that union three children have been born, Marie Alice, John P. and Lawrence Francis. Mr. Murphy worked for Doctor Baker in Flint, three years, then was employed two years in Detroit by the James D. Hogg Drug Company. Then, in 1912 he moved to Linden and established a drug store, and is doing a very satisfactory business. He carries a large stock of drugs and drug sundries. He is a member of the Knights of Columbus.
G. RUSSELL PARKER.
One of the sturdy, reliable native-born farmers of Grand Blanc town- ship, is G. Russell Parker, who was born on November 6, 1839, on a farm in the south edge of that township, the son of Jonathan D. and Abigail (Case) Parker.
Jonathan D. Parker was born in Wilbraham, Massachusetts, but later went to New York state with his parents, who located near Mount Morris, in Livingston county, New York. In 1837 he came to Michigan and was followed later by his parents, Russell and Rachel (Damon) Parker. Rachel Damon was a relative of Colonel Damon, of Revolutionary fame. Russell Parker was an old man when he came to live with his son in Michigan, and his death occurred in 1844. Jonathan D. Parker took up four hundred acres of land along the south line of Grand Blanc township, and on that farm he spent the remainder of his life. He was a successful farmer and took an active part in the development of the new county. He was a Whig in politics, becoming an adherent of the Republican party after its organ- ization. His death occurred in 1888. Abigail Case, the mother of Mr. Parker, was born in Connecticut, but was married in Mount Morris, New York. Jonathan D. Parker and wife were the parents of seven children:
P
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Ira D., who died in 1866; Sarah, the widow of Henry Cook, of Grand Blanc township; G. Russell, the immediate subject of this review; Mary, who died in infancy; Willie, an attorney of Olatha, Kansas; Abigail, wife of Edward S. Parsons, of Grand Blanc, and Henry, who died in Grand Blanc in January, 1916. Mrs. Jonathan D. Parker died in 1882. She was an active member of the Methodist Episcopal church.
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