USA > Michigan > Genesee County > History of Genesee County, Michigan, Her People, Industries and Institutions, Volume II > Part 76
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The elder William W. Blackney was reared in New York state and was given an excellent education. He became a school teacher and presently
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came to Michigan, settling at Clio, this county, where he was engaged in book keeping and teaching for several years. He later bought a farm of three hundred acres in that neighborhood and was becoming quite well circumstanced when he became a victim of the epidemic of malarial fever that swept over this region about that time and died, in the forty-second year of his age, August 28, 1876, the day on which the subject of this sketch was born. William W. Blackney was a man of large influence in his com- munity and had held local offices. His widow survived him for more than twenty years, her death occurring in 1898, she then being fifty-five years of age. She was a very earnest worker in the Methodist Protestant church and devoted to all neighborhood good works. Mrs. Blackney was a native of England, who had come to this county when a small girl with her par- ents, John Bell and wife, the family settling on Grand Island, in the Niagara River, where John Bell engaged in farming, spending the rest of his life there, living to a ripe old age. His wife died at the age of seventy. They were the parents of three children, Mrs. Blackney having had a brother, John, and a sister, Elizabeth.
The junior William W. Blackney was graduated from the Clio high school in 1894 and thereafter for ten years was engaged in teaching school, the last year of his service is that connection being spent as superintendent of the schools at Clio. In that year, 1904, he was nominated by the Repub- licans of Genesee county for the office of county clerk and was elected in November of that year, taking office on January 1, 1905. He was twice re-elected to that office and upon completing his third term of public service, started, that very night, for Ann Arbor, where he entered the law depart- ment of the State University, from which he was graduated with the degree of Bachelor of Laws in June, 1912. Mr. Blackney was admitted to the bar shortly afterward and in November, 1912, formed a partnership with Clif- ford A. Bishop, prosecuting attorney for Genesee county, and has ever since been engaged in the practice of his profession under the firm name of Bishop & Blackney. On January 1, 1913, Mr. Blackney was appointed assistant prosecuting attorney and is still serving the county in that official capacity. He is a stockholder in the National Bank of Flint and he and his partner are interested in the Paterson Auto Sales Company. Mr. Blackney has given close attention to general civic affairs and is a member of the city school board, a service to which he gives his most thoughtful attention. He owns a comfortable home at 719 Stevens street, where he and his family are very pleasantly situated.
It was on December 23, 1904, that William W. Blackney was united
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in marriage to Cassie F. Miller, who was born at Swartz Creek, this county, September 27, 1883, daughter of William L. and Alice (Ingalls) Miller, both natives of Michigan, who have lived in the village of Swartz Creek for many years. William L. Miller is a son of Enos Miller and wife, early pioneers of Genesee county, the former of whom is still living and the latter of whom lived to a ripe old age, who were the parents of six children, Clarence J., William I ... John, Clinton (deceased), Archibald T. and Cas- sius. Mrs. Blackney's maternal grandparents, Benjamin Ingalls and wife, also were early settlers in Genesee county, where they reared three daugh- ters and one son, Hattie, Etta, Alice and Adelbert. William L. Miller, a well-known hardware merchant of Swartz Creek, was for sixteen years postmaster of that village. He and his wife are the parents of three children, Mrs. Blackney having two brothers, LaVern O. and Ford B.
To William W. and Cassie F. (Miller) Blackney one child has been born, a daughter, Shirley Mae, born on April 28, 1915. Mr. Blackney is a Royal Arch Mason, a Knight Templar and a noble of Elf Khurafeh Tem- ple, Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. He also is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of the Knights of the Maccabees. of the Gleaners and of the Loyal Guard and he and his wife are members of the Order of the Eastern Star and of the Daughters of Rebekah.
JARED VAN FLEET.
Jared Van Fleet, former city treasurer of Flint, who for years has been actively and successfully engaged in the real-estate and insurance business in that city, is a native son of Genesee county and has lived here all his life. He was born on a farm in Gaines township, this county, October 2, 1846, son of James and Mary Ann (Cooley) Van Fleet, both natives of the state of New Jersey, whose last days were spent in Flint.
James Van Fleet was a son of Jared and Betsy Van Fleet, both natives of New Jersey, of Dutch descent, who spent their last days on a farm near Ovid, New York, Jared Van Fleet having been eighty-five years of age at the time of his death. He and his wife were the parents of seven children, Edward, Montgomery, Watson, Bernard, James, Emma and Rachel. James Van Fleet was a boy when his parents moved from New Jersey to New York and he grew to manhood near Ovid, in the latter state, and as a young man taught school for several years. There he married and in 1843 came
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to Michigan, settling in Genesee county. He bought a farm of eighty acres in Gaines township and cultivated the same with such success that it was not long until he became recognized as one of the most substantial residents of that part of the county. As he prospered he added to his land holdings until he presently became the owner of six hundred acres. From the very beginning of his residence in this county Mr. Van Fleet took an active and prominent part in local political affairs and early was elected supervisor of Gaines township. He also served for some years as justice of the peace in and for that township and in 1866 was elected representative from this district to the state Legislature, serving two terms in the House. In 1868 he was elected county treasurer of Genesee county and moved to Flint, where he thereafter made his home. After serving four years as treasurer he served for four years as chief deputy in the county treasurer's office. He afterward was elected supervisor for Flint and served in that important capacity for ten or twelve years, at the end of which time he was elected justice of the peace, in which capacity he served for several years, after which he engaged in the insurance business and was thus occupied until he retired from active business life. James Van Fleet lived to the great age of ninety-five years, his death occurring at his home in Flint on March 28, 1915. His wife had preceded him to the grave more than twenty years before, her death having occurred in 1892, she then having been sixty-eight years of age. Four of their children grew to maturity and are still living, the subject of this biographical review having two brothers, Albert B. Van Fleet, of Durand, this state, and John C. Van Fleet, of Vienna township, this county, and a sister, Ann Elizabeth, wife of William H. Fairchild, of Swartz Creek, this county.
Jared Van Fleet completed his schooling in the Flint high school and then began to clerk in a grocery store in that city. He later received the appointment as deputy county clerk under Judge Long and later served two years in the same capacity under L. D. Cook. He then was a deputy in the office of the register of deeds, under George Taylor, for four years, at the end of which time he engaged in the real-estate business, which he has quite successfully followed ever since. Mr. Van Fleet also was city treasurer of the city of Flint for two years and in all his public service worked with the best interests of the community at heart.
On October 27, 1875, Jared Van Fleet was united in marriage to Agnes Gibson, who was born at Albion, New York, daughter of Samuel G. Gibson and wife, and to this union one child has been born, a daughter, Isabella G.,
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who is a stenographer in the office of the judge of probate at Flint. Mr. and Mrs. Van Fleet are members of the Episcopal church and take a warm interest in the various social and cultural activities of their home town.
FRANK A. GREEN.
Frank A. Green, sheriff of Genesee county, is a native son of this county and has lived here all his life. He was born on a farm in Atlas township on May 21, 1878, son of Oscar L. and Diana (Shrader) Green, both natives of New York state, who were the parents of four sons, of whom the sub- ject of this sketch is the youngest, the others being Arthur, of Lapeer county, this state; Walter, of Atlas township, this county, and Claude, of Flint.
Oscar L. Green was born in Erie county, New York, son of Alonzo Green and wife, the former a native of Massachusetts, who came to Michi- gan in 1854 and settled in Atlas township, this county, establishing their home on a farm there and there they spent the rest of their lives. Alonzo Green lived to the great age of ninety-four years and his wife also lived to a ripe old age. They were the parents of four children, Fred, Myron, Lucy and Oscar L. The latter was a young man when he came to this county with his parents and he later became a farmer on his own account in Atlas township, the owner of a fine farm of two hundred and ten acres. He married Diana Shrader, who also was born in Erie county, New York. Her father was a native of Germany and she was the third in order of birth of the six children born to her parents, the others being Philip, Henry, Caroline, William and Christopher. Oscar L. Green was an excellent farmer and was an influential resident of the community in which he lived, for years a director of schools in his district. He died on December 22, 1915, at the age of seventy-one years, and his widow, who still survives, is now past seventy-two.
Frank A. Green was reared on the paternal farm in Atlas township and finished his schooling in the Ortonville high school. He remained at home until he had passed his majority and then took employment in the Oak Grove sanitarium at Flint, where he was engaged for three years, at the end of which time he was appointed a member of the Flint police force and served in that capacity for seven years. He then was made deputy sheriff, under Sheriff W. O. Parkhurst, and after four years of service in that office was elected sheriff in 1912. He was re-elected in 1914 and is
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now serving on his second term. Sheriff Green is a Republican and for years has taken an active interest in local political affairs.
Sheriff Green and .wife reside in the sheriff's residence and maintain the same in admirable style. Mrs. Green was born Anna Wainwright, only child of George and Anna ( Bennison) Wainwright, but from childhood was known as Anna Hess and her marriage certificate was made out with the latter name inserted. Her father died when she was a small child and her mother married, secondly, Adam Hess. Mrs. Green was born in England and was but an infant when her parents came to this country. Mr. and Mrs. Hess are now living in Cincinnati, Ohio. Mrs. Green is a member of the Baptist church. To Sheriff and Mrs. Green one child has been born, a daughter, Charlotte Lucile. Sheriff Green is a Mason and a member of the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and the Loyal Order of Moose.
THOMAS J. HENDERSON.
Thomas J. Henderson, proprietor of a steam-and-hot-water-fitting establishment at 515 Brush street, Flint, is a native of Canada, but has been a resident of Flint since he was a boy and has therefore been a witness to and a participant in the notable development of that city in recent years. He was born at Stratford, Ontario, July 22, 1879, son of Thomas U. and Rosa (Sutton) Henderson, both natives of Canada, now and for years past residents of Flint, who are the parents of two children, the subject of this sketch having a sister, Mabel, wife of Louis Merrick, of Detroit.
Thomas H. Henderson also was born at Stratford, Ontario, son of Thomas and Mary (Hollingsworth) Henderson, who emigrated from Scot- land to Canada and settled at what afterward became the town of Strat- ford, Thomas Henderson having built for a home the second log house erected at that point. He was a stone mason. He and his wife spent the rest of their lives at Stratford, both living to ripe old ages. They were the par- ents of six children, William, Richard, Eliza, Jane, Thomas H. and Edward. Thomas H. Henderson was early trained to the tinner's trade and also learned the details of the plumbing and heating business. He married Rosa Sutton, daughter of John Sutton and wife, who had settled at Stratford, Ontario, upon emigrating from England to Canada. John Sutton was a car builder and later moved to Detroit, where he and his wife spent the remainder of their lives, he being ninety-six years of age at the time of his
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death. He and his wife were the parents of five children, Mary, Jane, Rosa, Fred and one who died in youth. About 1889 Thomas H. Henderson and his family came to Michigan and located at Flint, where for some years Mr. Henderson was engaged as foreman of the George W. Hubbard plant, after which he opened a plumbing, heating and sheet-metal establishment of his own and has ever since been conducting the same.
Thomas J. Henderson was about ten years old when his parents moved to Flint and he ever since has made his home in that city. He obtained his schooling in the public schools and early began learning the plumbing trade under his father's direction, and later became thoroughly acquainted with the heating business. He worked in his father's shop until 1900, in which year he opened an establishment of his own and has since then been engaged in the general plumbing and heating business, with special attention to the equipment of steam-and-hot-water-heating plants, and has done very well.
On December 22, 1899, Thomas J. Henderson was united in marriage to Katie Zeyher, who was born at Muskegon, this state, in 1876, fourth in order of birth of the five children born to her parents, natives of Germany, both now deceased, the other children being Charles, Amos, Ida and Fred. To this union two children have been born, Ida Mae and Katherine. Mr. and Mrs. Henderson are members of the First Baptist church. Mr. Hen- derson is a Republican.
CHARLES E. LEONARD.
Charles F. Leonard, a prominent farmer of Flint, was born in Wayne county, New York, on April 14, 1871, being the son of Albert E. and Hattie (Fritz) Leonard, both of whom also were natives of Wayne county. Charles was the only child of this union.
Albert E. Leonard was reared in Wayne county, New York, and there followed the trade of a cooper for some years. In 1877 he came to Michi- igan, locating in Genesee county and was employed on a farm in Atlas town- ship by John Joy. He remained there for three years and then removed to Atlas, a small village, where he worked at his trade, that of a cooper, making barrels for the mill that was located in the village. After remaining there for some time, he returned to New York, where he remained until after the death of his father. He then returned to Atlas and was again employed by Mr. Atherton in the heading-mill for three years, after which he was engaged in farming on his own account, for three years, on the George Campbell
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farm. He then rented the Putman farm, three miles east of Goodrich, where he remained for three years. After a short time with Mart Wilson, he purchased forty acres in Oakland county. Here he improved the farm, remodeled the house and built a barn and, besides the work on his own farm, he cultivated the Marsh farm. Some six years later he sold the farm and moved to Springfield, in the same county, where he operated a twenty-acre tract. He still resides here.
Albert E. Leonard was twice married. His first wife, the mother of Charles E. Leonard, died in 1874. He married for his second wife, Mrs. Nellie McFarland and to this union were born, Frank, of Clarkton; Art, of Oakland county; Minnie, who died when but a small child, and Eddie. of Pontiac.
The paternal grandparents of Charles E. Leonard were Cyrus and Mary Leonard, the former being a native of Scotland and the latter of Eng- land. They came to America when about seventeen years of age and settled in the state of New York, where they met and were later married. Mr. Leonard died on the farm in New York at the age of eighty-seven. The widow later came to Atlas, where she died at the age of eighty years. She was a devout Christian and took much interest in church work. They were the parents of Albert E. and a twin who died; Cyrus and Sarah.
The maternal grandparents, Fritz by name, were natives of Germany and both lived to be quite aged. Mr. Fritz was a successful farmer and the family always lived on the farm.
Charles E. Leonard was reared in the village of Atlas and on the farm and attended the public schools. After leaving school he worked on the farm, having been engaged by Lois McNeal for ten years. He later worked for George Jacobs, Alex Campbell and the Collins Brothers.
Mr. Leonard was united in marriage on December 20, 1893, to Minnie B. Hamilton, the daughter of James and Mary C. (Collins) Hamilton. One year after his marriage Mr. Leonard bought a farm of seventy-two acres in Atlas township, in sections 13 and 18, and here he farmed for sixteen years, when he sold the place, retired and moved to town.
In August, 1911, Mrs. Leonard died, at the age of thirty-seven years. She was born in Atlas township and here spent the greater part of her active life. Her father was a native of the north of Ireland and her mother was born in the state of New York. The parents came to Genesee county in an early day and were among the early pioneers.
James Hamilton, the father of Mrs. Charles E. Leonard, was born in Ireland in 1820, being the son of James and Elizabeth (McDole) Hamilton,
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both of whom were said to be of Scotch descent. Young James lost his father when but nine years of age and when but fourteen came to the United States on a sailing vessel. He landed first at Quebec and later came to Youngstown, New York. In 1837 he came to Michigan, locating in Oak- land county, where he partly cleared and improved a farm.
James Hamilton was first married to Margaret Lobban, a native of Scotland. His second wife was Mary Collins, a native of the state of New York, born on May 4, 1834. She was the daughter of William and Diana (Larne) Collins, and came with her parents to Genesee county in 1836, settling in Grand Blanc township. The father lived many years after com- ing to his new home and the mother survived him a number of years. To James and Mary Hamilton were born the following children: Maggie, the wife of Fred Dickinson; Jenna, the wife of Fred E. Gale, and Minnie. Mr. Hamilton held various township offices and he and his wife were held in high esteem.
Fraternally, Charles E. Leonard is a member of the Knights of Pythias and the Loyal Order of Moose. He is a Democrat in politics and takes an interest in the selecting of good men to office.
CHARLES A. BLACKINTON.
Charles A. Blackinton, a farmer and stockman of much prominence in Flint township, was born on the old home place, where R. A.' Blackinton now lives, on January 30, 1860, being the son of Jabez and Matilda (John- son ) Blackinton.
Jabez Blackinton came to Michigan when but a boy, with his parents, and located in Detroit. The city at that time was but a small place and here the father of Jabez was engaged in the mercantile trade for a time. He purchased land in Genesee county at the time and was unable to pay for it. He later purchased a farm in Livingston county, where he acquired one hundred and sixty acres, and here the family remained for a few years. The family later went to Genesee county and purchased the eighty acres where R. A. Blackinton now lives. It was here that William Blackinton, the father of Jabez died. At the time of his death he owned the home place of eighty acres and the one hundred and sixty acres in Livingston county. It was later that Jabez Blackinton purchased the home place of eighty acres and later added sixty acres to the farm. It was here that he died in 1883.
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Matilda Johnson came to Flint township with her mother from New York City and here they purchased a farm. It was here that Matilda later met and married Jabez Blackinton and to them were born the following chil- dren : William J., who now lives at East Ninth street, Flint; Robert, on the old home place; Anna, the wife of Joseph McGlinchey, of Flint; Charles A .; Sarah, who died in infancy; Henry, who died at the age of seven years; Francis, who is the widow of Walter Persons, and George, who died in infancy.
Charles A. Blackinton received his education in the district school of the township of that time. He remained at home until January 17, 1884, at which time he was married to Jessie H. Persons, the daughter of Marvin and Kate Persons, of Flint township. After their marriage, Charles A. and Jessie H. Blackinton located on the farm where they now reside and which has been developed and improved under their efforts. They are the parents of one child, Jay Guy. Jay Guy married Mary Willitt and to them have been born the following children : Esther, born on October 31, 1911 ; Charles W., born on October 29, 1913, and James Guy, born on June 29, 1915.
Charles A. Blackinton is a successful farmer and a breeder of fine Hol- stein cattle and a dairyman of note. His farm is located one and one-half miles southwest of Flint and is on the river road. Here he has one hundred and fifty acres of good land, eighty-seven acres of which is being cultivated by his son, Guy.
Mr. Blackinton is a Republican in politics and held the offices of super- visor, pathmaster and director of his school district. He is an active mem- ber of the Maccabees and the Gleaners, as well as an active member of the Court Street Methodist Episcopal church.
JOHN TURNER.
John Turner, a prominent farmer of Flushing township, was born on June 24, 1852, at Stafford, Genesee county, New York, being the son of James and Elizabeth (Fersdon) Turner. James Turner was born in Devonshire, England, in 1825, the son of James and Susan (Dell) Turner. In 1851 James Turner, Jr., came to the United States with his father and settled in the state of New York. The father returned to England some time later. In 1852 Elizabeth Turner joined her husband in New York. In April the family came to Flushing township. where they settled on a
JAMES TURNER.
JOHN CROSSLEY.
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farm in sections 21 and 22, where Mr. Turner lived until his death in 1893. In March, 1850, James Turner was married to Elizabeth (Fersdon) Turner, who was born in England, in 1823. She was the daughter of John and Elizabeth Fersdon, natives of England, where they lived and died. The father was a blacksmith and a man well known in the community in which he lived.
John Turner received most of his early education in the state of New York, but attended school in Michigan, to which he came at the age of four- teen years. He married Elizabeth Crossley, a native of Flint, where she was born on January 10, 1862, the daughter of John and Lydia H. (Fiton) Crossley.
John Crossley was born in Lancaster county, England, on December 18, 1822, and came to the United States in 1842, settling in the state of New York. He became a plumber and gas fitter at Utica, where he remained until 1847, when he came to Detroit and was there employed by the Sam Ferguson Company. He was later sent by the company to Flint to install the first heating system at the deaf and dumb asylum. He remained at the asylum for nearly seventeen years and was later superintendent of the Flint Gas Company for eighteen months. The latter position he had to give up owing to ill health, and he died in July, 1913.
Politically, Mr. Crossley was a Republican and took an interest in all local matters. He was one of the first members of the Flint Episcopal church. During the latter part of the Civil War he was drafted as a soldier, but, owing to his health, he had to hire a substitute, being compelled to sell a cow in order to get the necessary money.
Lydia (Fiton) Crossley was born on October 7, 1829, in England, where she was educated and grew to womanhood. She later came to the United States with her mother and they settled at Utica, New York, where she was married to John Crossley. To this union the following children were born: Anna, Martha, Emma, Joseph, John, Sarah, Elizabeth, Marion, Charlotte and three who died in infancy. Mrs. Crossley died on May 5, 1906. The maternal grandparents of Lydia Crossley were James and Charlotte (Hill) Fiton, while the paternal grandparents were James and Lydia (Warren) Crossley, all of whom were natives of England.
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