USA > Michigan > Genesee County > History of Genesee County, Michigan, Her People, Industries and Institutions, Volume II > Part 78
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On September 1I, 1912, Patrick H. Callahan was united in marriage to Rose Hughes, who was born in Mt. Morris township, this county, daugh-
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ter of Frank and Margaret (Daly) Hughes, both natives of that same town- ship, members of pioneer families in that part of the county. Frank Hughes, who was a well-known farmer of Mt. Morris township, died in 1902. His widow is still living. They were the parents of seven children, of whom Mrs. Callahan was the fifth in order of birth, the others being John, Charles, Julia, Mary, Herman and Raymond. Mrs. Callahan's paternal grandpar- ents have been dead for years, but her maternal grandparents, Christopher and Julia (Redmond) Daly, are still living, now making their home in the village of Mt. Morris, Christopher Daly being upwards of ninety years of age. They had a good-sized family, their children, besides Mrs. Hughes, having been James (deceased), Frank, Lina, Mrs. McManus, Mrs. Bache and Mrs. Ellen Cashin. To Mr. and Mrs. Callahan two children have been born, Francis Patrick and Catherine Margaret. Mr. and Mrs. Callahan are members of the Catholic church and he is a member of the Knights of Colum- bus. He also is a member of Flint Lodge No. 222, Benevolent and Pro- tective Order of Elks. The Callahans have a very pleasant home on Lapeer street.
CHARLES E. MUNDY.
One farmer may develop particular skill in feeding live stock; another has special success in planning and harvesting crops; still another farmer can make fruits and vegetables do exceptionally well. Charles E. Mundy, of Clayton township, Genesee county, has no specialty, but has been a successful general farmer. He was born on the farm where he now lives, in section 15, on February 22, 1866. and is a son of Thomas and Mary Jane (Darling) Mundy. The father was born in Devonshire, England, and when twelve years of age came with his parents to America, locating in Genesee county, Michigan, the grandfather of the subject of this sketch entering the land, which has since remained the family homestead. This place the elder Mundy cleared and improved, though he did not live long after coming here. His son, Thomas, grew up on this place, which he took charge of at the time of his father's death; later he purchased the place and made it his permanent home, continuing to improve it in various ways. Mary Jane Darling was born in the state of New York and, when a young girl, came to Genesee county to make her home with an uncle, and there she and Mr. Mundy met and married. To their union twelve children were born, five of whom are now living, namely: George makes his home in Flushing;
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Henry died at the age of fifty years; Sarah is the wife of John H. K. Cal- lender, of Ypsilanti; Charles E., of this sketch; Anna is the wife of Daniel Rose, of Clayton township; Juna died when seventeen years old; Chauncey died when eleven years old; Clara was killed when seventeen years old, and Raymond, who lives in Flint.
Charles E. Mundy grew up on the home place and received a common school education. He has remained on the homestead, which consists of one hundred acres, which he has kept well improved and well cultivated. He was married, on August 26, 1886, to Lula M. Barnhart, a daughter of Peter and Margaret (Elder) Barnhart, of Clayton township, where she was reared and attended school. In this union one child has been born, Charles La Verne Mundy, who is at home with his parents.
Mr. Mundy is a Democrat and was township treasurer for two con- secutive terms and drain commissioner for four years. He is a member of Goodwill Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and he and his wife belong to Rankin Rebekah Lodge No. 370. Mrs. Mundy has represented this lodge at the encampment and has served as noble grand of the same for several years in the past.
ARCHIE B. CHILDS.
Farmers come nearer being their own business masters than any other class of workers. It takes considerable capital these days to go into farm- ing properly; we cannot start with nothing and succeed, as did our fore- fathers. But a farmer nowadays does not need so much land as he had been taught to believe he should have. Archie B. Childs, of Mundy town- ship, Genesee county, is succeeding on a small farm, on which he was born March 19, 1880. He is a son of Henry H. and Harriet (Storms) Childs. The father was born in Genesee county, New York, and was scarcely more than a boy when he came to Genesee county, Michigan, but not long there- after he bought eighty acres, which has since remained in the hands of the family. It was at that time wild and entirely unimproved and formerly belonged to former Governor Crapo. Mr. Childs went to work with a will. cleared and got his land ready for the plow, then married before he was twenty-four years old, and settled on the place where he spent the rest of his life, dying in 1897. His wife was a native of Genesee county, where she grew up and spent her life, dying in the spring of 1909. To these parents eleven children were born, eight of whom grew to maturity, namely:
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Lydia is the wife of James Menter of Chicago; Loren M. lives in Detroit; Henry A. died on January 1, 1914; Hattie is the wife of David Stiff and lives in Fenton, Michigan; LeRoy lives in Rankin, Michigan; Archie, of this sketch ; Jessie lives in Knoxville, Tennessee; Willis lives on a farm in South Dakota.
Archie B. Childs worked on the farm during the crop season when a boy and attended the district schools in the winter time. He has remained on the home farm, which now consists of sixty-five acres in section 21, Mundy township, on the Grand Blanc road. He has kept the place well improved and the buildings in good repair and is making a good livelihood as a general farmer and stock raiser on a small scale.
Mr. Childs was married to Lillie Olcott, a daughter of John and Ella (Regole) Olcott, a sketch of whom appears on another page of this work. To Mr. and Mrs. Childs a son, Alvin L. Childs, was born.
Politically, Mr. Childs is a Republican and he is active in local public affairs. He was road overseer for one year and he has been highway com- missioner since 1912. He has also been moderator of his school district for the past four years and has filled these various offices very faithfully. Fra- ternally, he is a member of Mundy Lodge No. 504, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of which he is a past noble grand, and is a member of the grand lodge.
EDMUND M. THOMPSON.
One of the enterprising business men of Swartz Creek, Genesee county, who is deserving of a place in this history along with other progressive and public-spirited citizens of his locality, is Edmund M. Thompson, who was born in Mundy township, this county, October 27, 1862. He is a son of David and Mary (Stearns) Thompson. The father was a native of Massachusetts, from which state he came, as a boy, with his parents to Genesee county, Michigan, the family locating in Mundy township, where he grew to manhood. The mother was fifteen years old when her parents brought her to this section of the state and she spent her youth in Gene- see and Saginaw counties. After their marriage, David Thompson and wife located on a farm in section 2, Mundy township, and there spent the-rest of their lives, his death occurring in the fall of 1894, having been preceded to the grave by his wife in 1880. To these parents three children were born, namely : Edmund M., of this sketch; Lyman died in Montrose township,
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in 19II; and Ellen, who is the wife of Marcellus Myers, of this county. The father of these children married for his second wife Matilda Bell, and to them two children were born, namely, David and May, who live in Flint.
Edmund M. Thompson grew up on the homestead and was educated in the district schools and the Flint high school. He remained at home until his marriage, in 1883, to Belle Hodge, a daughter of Ennis Hodge, of Mundy township. Her death occurred in 1889, leaving three children, namely: Frank, who lives in Boston, Massachusetts; Martha is the wife of Francis Hall, of Flushing township; Roy lives in Mundy township. Mr. Thompson married for his second wife Bertha Moyer, of Fenton, Michi- gan, on November 6, 1894.
After his marriage in 1883, Mr. Thompson settled in Grand Blanc township, where he spent two years engaged in the charcoal business, then returned to Mundy township and engaged in building and contracting, his business growing to large proportions. He continued in this line of endeavor until January 1, 1905, when, in partnership with Elliott Bristol, he pur- chased the hardware store of the Newton Brothers in Swartz Creek and has been operating the same for the past twelve years, enjoying a large and ever-increasing trade with the surrounding country. The firm carries an extensive stock of all kinds of hardware and farming implements.
Politically, Mr. Thompson is a Republican. He was treasurer of Mundy township for two terms. He is a member of Goodwill Lodge of the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows and, with his wife, belongs to the Order of the Eastern Star and the Daughters of Rebekah.
FRANK A. NILES.
Frank A. Niles was born in Argentine, Genesee county, March 27, 1876, a son of Ansel and Josephine A. (Cardinal) Niles. Ansel Niles was a native of Michigan, his wife of New York state. Ansel B. was a farmer and for many years lived in Argentine township, where he was engaged in general farming and stock raising. Later in life he removed to Duffield, Genesee county. His political affiliation was with the Demo- cratic party. There were' four children in this family: John O., a farmer in Durand; Frank A., the subject; Smith B., living in Durand, Michi- gan; Jennie Tunningley, living at the old home.
Frank A. Niles was educated in the district schools of Argentine town- ship, attending the "Brick" school house in that township. He worked
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on the farm at home during his school days, then went to the Stone Horological School of Watch Making, at St. Paul, Minnesota. Gradu- ating from that institution, he went to Bismark, North Dakota, and worked at his trade with E. - B. Woodward for about six years. He then came back to Flushing and opened up a jewelry store on Main street, January 10, 1912. He has since given his attention to this business.
Mr. Niles was married, December 24, 1903, to Louisa Bruce, who was born in Scotland, December 12, 1879, a daughter of George and Mary Bruce, both natives of Scotland. Mr. and Mrs. Bruce came to America in the early part of 1880, settling first in Canada, later coming to Livingston county, Michigan. Here they continued to live, engaged in farming. In his native country Mr. Bruce followed the occupation of hostler.
Frank A. Niles is independent in politics, voting for the candidate whom he thinks best fitted for the office to which he aspires, regardless of his party adherence. He is a member of the Presbyterian church, and past vice-chan- cellor of the Knights of Pythias.
WILLIAM A. ATWOOD.
William A. Atwood was born in Newfane, Niagara county, New York, April II, 1835. His father, Asa Atwood, was born in Connecticut and his mother, Fanny Gilbs Atwood, was born in the state of New York. When about seventeen years of age, Mr. Atwood went to Lockport, the county- seat of Niagara county, where he attended school and worked as an appren- tice in a jewelry store. When finished with the school there, and not caring to follow the jewelry business, he joined his brother, J. B. Atwood, in the lumber and stave business. They operated two or three small mills.
Mr. Atwood was married, in 1860, to Miss Rachel Pickard. They had two children. In 1864 and 1865 Mrs. Atwood and the children died.
In 1866 both W. A. and J. B. Atwood came to Michigan, of which they had heard much as having good openings in the lumber business. They had heard particularly of the pine along the Flint river and came at once to that city. The chances for success looked favorable and they decided to locate. An island in the Flint river, known as Moon Island, was pur- chased and a mill built. This mill was known as the Island mill and was operated by them under the name of J. B. Atwood & Company for about fifteen years. About the end of that period, the supply of logs in the vicin-
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ity was so reduced that they closed up the business. After this, W. A. Atwood became associated with the late Oren Stone in the Flint Woolen Mills, which was operated under the firm name of Stone, Atwood & Com- pany; also with Charles W. Wood in the hardware business known as Wood & Atwood.
Mr. Atwood became a director of the Genesee County Savings Bank early in its history and was its vice-president for many years. In 1896 he became its president, which position he held for the remainder of his life. He was also interested in other lines of business, especially so in the Flint Gas Company, of which he was an active director for many years.
In politics, Mr. Atwood was a staunch and active supporter of the Republican party. He took a deep interest in public matters, but, for him- self, never had political aspirations. He did, however, hold the offices of alderman, mayor and state senator.
In 1871 Mr. Atwood was married to Helen C. Wood, daughter of the late Henry C. Wood. They had two daughters, both of whom died in infancy, and one son, Edwin W. Atwood, of this city.
Mr. Atwood died on April 11, 1908, surviving Mrs. Atwood by only a few months.
CHARLES E. COX.
Many farmers stick to country life not from choice, but from what they believe is necessity. They think if they could live in the city that they would be happy and prosper. They are deluded, but some never find it out; others try town life for awhile and are glad to get back to the soil. Charles E. Cox, a farmer of Gaines township, Genesee county, is contented with rural life and is a successful farmer. He was born in the above named township and county, on July 20, 1884, and is a son of Henry and Mary E. (Beckwith) Cox. The father was born in Devonshire, England, from which country he removed with his parents to America when thirteen years old, the family locating in southern Michigan, near the town of Salem, but later removed to Genesee- county, the parents spending the rest of their lives on a farm in Fulton township. Henry Cox received a common school educa- tion, worked with his father on the home farm when a young man, and married, in Flint, Michigan, Mary E. Beckwith, who was born and reared there. They located on a farm in Gaines township, where they continued to
(50a)
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reside until a short time after the birth of their son, Charles E .; they then moved to Mundy township, but in 1902 moved back to Gaines township, establishing their permanent home. The father died there and the mother still makes her home here. To these parents three children were born, namely: George is the eldest ; William lives in Gaines township, and Charles E., of this sketch.
Charles E. Cox grew up on the home farm and received his education in the district schools. He has continued to make his home with his mother and has operated the home farm in a successful manner, carrying on gen- eral farming and stock raising and keeping the place well improved. He makes a specialty of feeding sheep. The farm contains one hundred and sixty acres.
Politically, Mr. Cox is a Republican and is active in local party affairs. He served as treasurer of Gaines township in 1912 and 1913 and has been supervisor of this township since 1914, holding the office at this writing. He has discharged the duties of these offices in a faithful and highly satis- factory manner.
Fraternally, Mr. Cox belongs to the Gaines Gleaners and to Swartz Creek Lodge No. 458, Free and Accepted Masons. He attends the Swartz Creek Methodist Episcopal church, of which his mother is a member. He is unmarried.
WILLIAM H. GOLDSTINE.
William H. Goldstine, superintendent of one of the factories of the Buick Motor Company at Flint, was born in Waterbury, New Haven, Con- necticut, June 12, 1863, a son of Frederick and Sophia (Hildebrand) Gold- stine natives of the province of Westphalia, Prussia. There they spent their earlier years and there the father learned the trade of brass maker, after leaving school. He came to America in 1859 and spent one year in Water- bury, Connecticut, then moved to Ansonia, that state, where he continued to follow his trade, and died there at the age of seventy-six years, his widow surviving him some time, dying at the age of seventy-eight. He belonged to the state militia or home guard in Connecticut during the Civil War. He and his wife were members of the Lutheran church. They were parents of six children, namely: Minnie, who married Carl Schnuek and lives in Ansonia, Connecticut ; Alvina Emma Sarah, who has remained single and also lives in Ansonia; William H., the subject of this sketch; Dr. Frederick
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C., who is a practicing physician in Ansonia, Connecticut; Isabel, who died at the age of fourteen years, and Carl, who lives in Superior, Wisconsin. The paternal grandparents of these children, Frederick Goldstine and wife, lived and died in Germany. Their family consisted of three daughters and one son, Frederick, Jr. The maternal grandparents also lived and died in Germany.
William H. Goldstine was reared in Ansonia, Connecticut, where he received his education, graduating from the grammar schools, after which he learned the iron-molder's trade and also that of brass worker, at which he became quite expert and which he has since followed. He was in charge of the Birmingham Iron Foundry at Derby, Connecticut, for three years; then was in charge of the Norwalk Brass Company's plant at Norwalk, Connecticut, for five years, after which he came to Michigan and secured employment at Flint with the Buick Motor Car Company, in April, 1908, and there he has since remained, being superintendent of factory No. 15, directing over three hundred men.
Mr. Goldstine was married on July 6, 1890, to Susan A. Dorphlaser, a daughter of Paul Dorphlaser and wife. She was born in Tamaqua, Schuylkill county, Pennsylvania, May 30, 1865, and died some years ago. To Mr. Goldstine's first marriage two children were born, Harry T. and William F. The former, who is assistant superintendent under his father, married Emma Ludwig. The latter is a metal pattern-maker. On June 3, 1914, Mr. Goldstine married for his second wife, Bertha Blackmer, a daugh- ter of Robert M. and Hannah Elizabeth (Smith) Blackmer. She was born in Vassar, Tuscola county, Michigan, August 16, 1884. Her father was a native of New York state and her mother of Pennsylvania. They came west when young, were married in Minnesota and then moved to Saginaw, Michigan, later taking up their residence in Vassar, where Mr. Blackmer died in 1897 at the age of seventy-six years. The widow survives and makes her home with Mr. and Mrs. Goldstine. To Mr. and Mrs. Blackmer five children were born, namely: Ida, Sarah, George, Minnie and Bertha. The father had been previously married, his first wife being Harriet White, who bore him two children, Cora and Leonard.
Mr. Golstine has always voted the Republican ticket. Fraternally, he belongs to St. John's Lodge No. 6, Free and Accepted Masons of Ansonia, Connecticut, and to Washington Chapter, Royal Arch Masons, of Norwalk, that state : also to Nagatuck Lodge No. 63, Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows, and to the Encampment. He is a member of the Episcopal church, while his wife affiliates with the Methodist church.
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AUGUSTUS C. KENDRICK.
Augustus C. Kendrick, a veteran merchant of Flint, for many years actively connected with the general produce business in that city and long regarded as one of the leading business men of the town, is a native son of Michigan and has lived in this state all his life and in the city of Flint, since 1876. He was born on a pioneer farm in Dryden township, Lapeer county, July 11, 1842, son of the Hon. Lucius and Eliza (Look) Kendrick, natives of the state of New York, prominent residents of the Dryden neighborhood, whose last days were spent there.
Lucius Kendrick was born in the town of Darien, Wyoming county, New York, son of Sanford and Diadama ( Bannister) Kendrick, the former a native of New Hampshire and the latter of Vermont, who came to the Territory of Michigan in 1836 with their children and settled in Lapeer county, the family "taking up" about a thousand acres of "Congress land" in the Dryden neighborhood and early becoming leaders in the common life of that pioneer community. There Sanford Kendrick and his wife spent their last days, useful and influential residents, and were buried in the Dryden cemetery. They were the parents of six children, Sophronia, Fidelia, Lucius, Albert, Lyman and Jeanette. Lucius Kendrick was about sixteen years old when he came to Michigan with his parents in 1836 and he grew to manhood on the pioneer farm in Lapeer county, presently becoming the owner of a farm of one hundred and twenty acres. He had received excel- lent schooling before coming here and not long after settling in Michigan began teaching school and taught fourteen terms in his home county. He married Eliza Look, who was born in the town of Elery, in Chautauqua county, New York, daughter of Elijah and Augusta ( Pixley) Look, natives of the state of Massachusetts, who also were early settlers in Dryden town- ship, Lapeer county, this state, where they spent their last days and who were the parents of five children, Jane, Eliza, Ashur, William and Amer. Lucius Kendrick was a Republican and for years was regarded as one of the leaders of that party in that part of the state, serving as a member of the lower house of the Michigan General Assembly from the Lapeer district in the sessions of 1867 and 1869. He was, a member of the Methodist church and his wife was a Presbyterian, both taking an active and influential part in local church work. He died at the age of sixty-five years and his wife died in 1875, she then being about sixty-three years of age. To them six sons were born, of whom the subject of this sketch was the eldest, the
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others being as follow: James, who lost his life in the explosion of the ill-fated "Sultana," on the Mississippi river during the Civil War; Judge William Russell Kendrick, of East Saginaw, a graduate of the Michigan State University, former circuit judge and for years a member of the Mich- igan state parole board; Edwin, deceased; Frederick, of Imlay City, this state, and Dr. Fayette D. Kendrick, of St. Paul, Minnesota.
Augustus C. Kendrick was reared on the paternal farm in Lapeer county, receiving his schooling in the district school in the neighborhood of his home and in the high school at Lapeer and assisting his father in the work of developing and improving the home place. As a young man he went “on the road," soliciting orders for nursery stock and was thus engaged for ten or twelve years, becoming one of the best-known commercial travelers in this part of the state. Two or three years later, in 1876, about two years after his marriage, he moved to Flint, where he ever since has made his home. Mr. Kendrick continued "on the road" until about 1885, in which year he formed a partnership with Horace Leadbetter, under the firm name of Kend- rick & Leadbetter, and engaged in the general produce business at Flint. This partnership continued for about six years, since which time Mr. Kend- rick has continued the business alone, thus being one of the veteran mer- chants of Flint, as he certainly is one of the best known. He has done well in business and is regarded as one of. Flint's most substantial citizens. Mr. Smith is a Republican and served for two years as alderman from the sixth ward some years ago. He is an ardent advocate of the temperance cause and has been active and influential in the anti-saloon movement. Though not a communicant, he has been an attendant on the services of the Court Street Methodist Episcopal church for more than forty years and is an active worker in that church and a member of the Bible class, of which he was president for some time. Mr. Smith was made a Mason many years ago at Monroe, this state, and upon moving to Flint dimitted to Genesee Lodge No. 174, Free and Accepted Masons, at Flint, of which lodge he ever since has been a member. He also is a member of Washington Chapter No. 15, Royal Arch Masons, and of Genesee Valley Commandery No. 15, Knights Templar.
Mr. Kendrick has been twice married. On March 4, 1874, he was united in marriage to Cornelia E. Hill, who was born in New Berlin, Chemango county, New York, August 7, 1846, daughter of and Melvina (Phelps) Hill, natives of that same state, who were the parents of seven children, Cornelia, Addison, Archibald, Lavonia, Bertha, Arlina and Augusta. To that union three children were born, Carl A., who married Ethel Kneister
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