USA > Michigan > Genesee County > History of Genesee County, Michigan, Her People, Industries and Institutions, Volume II > Part 82
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Cash H. Dake grew up on the home farm and received his education in the district schools of Thetford and Montrose townships. He continued to work on his father's farm until he was twenty-six years of age, or at the time of his marriage, when he bought forty acres of his father, on which he lived two years; he then bought seventy-four acres in section 34, which he farmed until 1909, when he bought eighty acres in section 26, selling his former place, and here he still resides, carrying on general farming and stock
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raising specializing on thoroughbred Duroc-Jersey hogs. His farm is well improved in every respect.
Mr. Dake was married on August 28, 1901, to Nellie Westfall, who was born, February 24, 1881, in Montrose township, Genesee county, where she grew to womanhood and was educated in the public schools. To Mr. and Mrs. Dake one child has been born, Beulah B. Dake, whose birth occurred on June 21, 1905. She is now attending school.
WILL N. WADLEY.
A successful farmer must keep up a proper rotation of crops with a view to the fertility of the soil of the farm. This system is successfully car- ried out by Will N. Wadley, of Argentine township, Genesee county. He was born in Shiawassee county, Michigan, February 6, 1875, and is a son of Walter M. and Sarah E. (Ray) Wadley, the father a native of the state of New York, and the mother born in Argentine township, Genesee county, Michigan. Walter M. Wadley came here in 1879. His father entered land from the government in Fenton township, this county, part of Long Lake, later moving to Almar, where his death occurred. Walter M. Wad- ley lived in Argentine township until 1912, when he moved to Fenton, where he now lives retired after a long life as a farmer. He has two children, Will N., of this sketch, and George, who now lives in Saginaw, this state.
Will N. Wadley was reared on the home farm and he received his education in the common schools, later attending the business college at Ypsilanti. He has devoted his active life to farming and now owns a well- improved farm in Argentine township.
Mr. Wadley was married, on June 18, 1899, to Imogene Orr, who was born in Shiawassee county, January 17, 1875. She received her education in the public schools and the Ann Arbor high school. To Mr. and Mrs. Wadley two sons have been born, namely: Ralph, born June 11, 1901, is six feet and two inches in height and weighs two hundred and ten pounds, although now but sixteen years old; Jerome was born September 13, 1903.
Politically, Mr. Wadley is a Democrat and is active in local party affairs. He has served as township treasurer, justice of the peace and highway com- missioner. Fraternally, he belongs to Byron Lodge No. 80, Free and Accepted Masons, and Duran Chapter No. 39. Royal Arch Masons; with his wife, he belongs to Huldah Chapter No. 112, Order of the Eastern Star, and has served in several offices.
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Mr. Wadley, in connection with general farming, makes a specialty of breeding Red Polled cattle, his herd being led by "J. G.", a fine registered Durham. He took first premium at the New York state fair and the Michi- gan state fair. Mr. Wadley is also a breeder of Ohio Improved Chester hogs. His excellent live stock is greatly admired by all for superior qual- ity and he has done much to encourage better stock raising in Genesee county and vicinity.
FRED HARDY.
Fred Hardy, a well-known and substantial farmer of Genesee township, owner of a fine farm of one hundred acres on rural route No. 3, out of Flint, and actively identified with the work of developing the best interests of his home community, is a native son of Genesee county and has lived here all his life. He was born on a farm in Davison township, March 20, 1875, son of Henry O. and Viola (Hymebauch) Hardy, the former a native ยท of the state of New York and the latter of Michigan, both of whom spent their last days in this county.
Henry G. Hardy was born on April 9, 1850, and, when about fifteen years old, came to Michigan with his widowed mother and settled in Davison township, this county, where he grew to manhood. There he married Viola Hymebauch, who was born in that township and who died in 1882, at the age of thirty-four years, leaving six children, namely: Nora, who married David Prosser; Cora, who married Charles Lovejoy; Frank; Fred, the sub- ject of this biographical sketch; Mae, who married West Conke, and Arthur, who is living in Richfield township, this county. Some time after the death of the mother of these children, Henry O. Hardy married Christina Gilchrist, and to that union two daughters were born, Charlotte V., a graduate of Olivet College, and Floy M., both of whom are now teaching school. For some years after his marriage Henry O. Hardy continued to make his home in Davison township and then moved up into Genesee township, where he bought a forty-acre farm in section 13, later buying an "eighty" adjoin- ing and still later an additional "forty," thus giving him a fine farm of one hundred and sixty acres, on which he spent the rest of his life. His death occurred in 1906, he then being fifty-seven years of age. His widow sur- vived him but two years, her death occurring in 1908. Mr. Hardy was a Republican, and he and his wife were members of the Methodist Episcopal church.
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Fred Hardy was reared on the farm and received his schooling in the Brown district school in the neighborhood of his boyhood home. As a young man he "worked out" for a couple of years and then returned to the home farm, assisting his father in the development of the same until his marriage in 1900, when he bought sixty acres of the home place and there established his home. Some time later he bought an adjoining "forty" and has since been farming his hundred acres with much success, being regarded as one of the most progressive farmers in that section. In addition to his general farming, Mr. Hardy gives considerable attention to the raising of cattle and hogs and is doing very well. In 1908 he built a fine new barn, thirty-four by sixty four feet in size, with cement floor and up-to-date equipment, and the other improvements on his place are in keeping with the same. Mr. Hardy is a Republican and gives a good citizen's attention to local political affairs, but has not been included in the office-seeking class.
On May 22, 1900, Fred Hardy was united in marriage to Nellie E. Servis, who was born in Forest township, this county, in 1876, daughter of Lansing and Sophia (McPherson) Servis, natives of New York state, the former born on August 14, 1834, and the latter, April 9, 1842. Mr. and Mrs. Servis came to Michigan at an early day and established their home at Otisville, this county, becoming prominent and valuable members of that community. Mr. and Mrs. Hardy have a very pleasant home on their farm in Genesee township and take a proper interest in all movements having to do with the advancement of the best interests of the community in which they live.
FRED W. PARTRIDGE.
Fred W. Partridge, a prominent and successful farmer of Genesee county, near Flint, was born in Flint township on November 16, 1861, being the son of Richard and Emily I. (Coterell) Partridge. Richard Partridge and wife were both natives of England, he having been born in Devonshire in 1839 and she in Bristol on March 5, 1841. They were married in their native country on August 17, 1858, and came to America the same year, having been six weeks on the water. They landed at Quebec and then came to Fenton by way of Detroit and from Fenton to Flint by stage. They purchased a farm in Flint township and here they made their home until the death of Mr. Partridge, on January 25, 1877; Mrs. Partridge is still living.
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Richard Partridge and wife were the parents of four children : Edward, born on November 9, 1860, is living in Oklahoma City; Fred W., Francis A., the wife of Rev. George A. Fee, a Methodist Episcopal minister of Detroit, and Charles E., of San Diego, California, who was born on June 17, 1874.
Fred W. Partridge was reared on a farm in Flint township, attended the district school and worked on the farm in the summer. He later married Augusta A. Roska, who was born in Germany on June 12, 1864, and came with her parents to Flint township, where she attended school and met and married Mr. Partridge. Mr. and Mrs. Partridge are the parents of the following children : Edgar S., born on January 3, 1886, now lives in Detroit ; Eva, born on May 10, 1888, is the wife of Claud McNiel; Marion E., born on May 17, 1892, is the wife of George Monign, of Vienna township; Donald A., born on September 5, 1895, is at home with his parents; Fred W., Jr., born November 20, 1900. Mr. Partridge is a Republican and has served as justice of the peace and on the township board.
PAUL B. MCKEON.
Paul B. Mckeon, treasurer of Argentine township, this county, and one of the best-known and most progressive young farmers of that township, a former school teacher and, since the days of his youth, actively interested in the work of promoting the best interests of his home community, is a native of this county and has lived here all his life. He was born on a farm in Fenton township June 30, 1889, son of Charles O. and Agnes C. (Twoomey) Mckeon, both natives of Michigan, the former born in Woodhull township, in the neighboring county of Shiawassee, and the latter at Tyrone, in Liv- ingston county. Charles O. Mckeon was born on August 22, 1857, and has for years been a well-known and substantial farmer of Genesee, a well-to-do resident of the southwestern part of the county. His wife died in February. 1914. They were the parents of two sons, Paul B. and Ralph J., besides whom they had an adopted daughter, Margaret. Ralph J. McKeon is a graduate of the commercial department of Sandwich College and is now engaged in farming in Holley township, in the neighboring county of Oakland.
Paul B. Mckeon was reared on the paternal farm and was graduated from the Linden high school with the class of 1908. Afterward for three years he was a teacher in the public schools of his home township, mean- while continuing during the summers his active connection with the home
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farm and has continued to reside there, having now the practical manage- ment of the same. He is relieving his father of much of the responsibility of farm direction, being recognized as one of the most up-to-date and ener- getic young farmers in the neighborhood. Mr. Mckeon has given proper attention to local civic affairs and in the spring of 1916 was elected, as the nominee of the Democratic party, treasurer of Argentine township, a posi- tion he now occupies. He is a member of the Catholic church at Fenton and takes a warm interest in the general affairs of the parish.
COLEMAN P. MORAN.
Coleman P. Moran was born in Montrose, August 10, 1879, a son of Patrick Moran, who was born in Ireland, March 17, 1836, the anniversary of the patron saint whose name he bore. Patrick Moran came to America, May 1, 1846, at the age of ten years. He first located in Toronto, Canada, where he remained for twenty years. In 1866 he came to Saginaw, Mich- igan, from which town he worked on the great lake vessels for a period of five years. In 1870 he bought a farm near Montrose, where he settled and made his home until his death, which occurred on December 23, 1909. He married Bridget Hannan, who was born in Bayfield. Ontario, October 14, 1842. She is now living on the farm, near Montrose, on which they first settled. She was the mother of nine children, of whom the following is the record: (1) John A., born in 1870, married Lillian Morrison, who was born in Lyon county, Michigan, October 4, 1882. They have one child, Mary Jane, born February 5, 1914. (2) Jane M., born May 23, 1872, died in childhood. (3) Christopher J., born February 20, 1874. (4) J. Hillary, born September 22, 1876. (5) Charles T., born September 22, 1877. (6) Coleman P., subject of this sketch, born August 10, 1879. (7) Mary A., born December 14, 1883, married Robiens Jones, of Clio, Michigan, and died on October 16, 1915. She was the mother of five children: Howard, born September 19, 1904; Margaret, born December 23, 1906; Robert E., born October 14, 1909; Carlton, born July 4, 1911; Raymond, born August 7, 1914. (8) Margaret, born February 22, 1885, married John Dighton Taylor, of North Dakota. (9) Jane Ellen, born June 3, 1887.
Patrick Moran, father of these children, was the son of James Moran, who was born in Ireland in 1813. He was a blacksmith by trade, came to Canada in 1846 and died in 1848. He married Ann Duignan, who was
Coleman Duoau
PATRICK J. MORAN.
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born in Ireland in 1815 and died in Canada in 1847. She was the mother of ten children, whose names are as follows: Mary, James, Christopher, Margaret, Jane, Simon, Patrick, Louis; two children, born in Canada, died in infancy.
Bridget (Hannan) Moran was a daughter of Thomas Hannan, a shoe- maker by trade, who was born in Ireland on March 16, 1806. He immi- grated to Canada and located at Bayfield, in 1847. He died on November 16, 1896. He married Ann Cosgriff, who was born in Ireland in February, 1808, and died in August, 1880. She was the mother of five children, Patrick, John, James, Thomas and Bridget.
Coleman P. Moran received his education in the Montrose schools. After his school days he worked on the great lake boats for six years, as wheelman and lookout man. Afterward he bought a farm in Montrose township and followed farming until 1912, when he turned his whole atten- tion to fruit growing. He married Anna Byrne, who was born in Maple Grove township, Saginaw county, July 23, 1885. She was a daughter of Patrick Byrne, who was born in Ireland, March 17, 1842, and became a farmer in Saginaw county, Michigan. He married Catherine Hogan, who was born in Flint, Michigan, March 12, 1849. Both are still living at their home in Saginaw county. They are the parents of seven children: Mary, deceased; Catherine ; Mrs. Edward McCartney, of Saginaw county ; Monica, who died in infancy; Frank, living in Maple Grove township; Anna, wife of the subject; Thomas, living in Maple Grove township.
Patrick Byrne was a son of James Byrne, who was born in Ireland and immigrated to the United States, settling in Maine, where he spent the remainder of his life. He was the father of five children: Thomas, living in Williams, Arizona; Patrick ; James, deceased; Edward, deceased ; Michael, deceased.
Catherine (Hogan) Byrne, mother of Mrs. Anna Coleman, was a daughter of Thomas Hogan, a blacksmith by trade, born in Tipperary county, Ireland. He married Catherine Murphy, in 1840, and afterwards came to the United States, settling in Flint, Michigan. His wife was also a native of Tipperary county, Ireland, and became the mother of three children, Catherine, William, living in Maple Grove township, and James, who died in 1865.
Coleman P. Moran is a Democrat in politics. He has served as school officer of Montrose township for nine years; was a candidate for justice of the peace and for supervisor in the years 1910 and 1915, and is now holding the office by appointment of the county commissioners; has served
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as village marshal; was appointed deputy sheriff, May, 1915, and was appointed postmaster of Montrose, January 6, 1916.
Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Moran: Christopher, born June 1, 1908; Catherine, born January 25, 1910, and Robert, born June 16, 1915. Mr. Moran's fraternal affiliation is with the Knights of Columbus. The family are members of the Catholic church.
JAMES ENNIS.
James Ennis, a well-known and substantial farmer of Genesee town- ship, the owner of a fine farm of nearly one hundred acres on rural route No. 9, out of Flint, is a native son of Genesee county and has lived here all his life. He was born on a farm in Mundy township on June 12, 1858, son of Peter and Hannah (Berry) Ennis, both of whom were born in Ireland and whose last days were spent in this county. Peter Ennis was about forty years old when he came from the old country to the United States. For some time after coming to this country he lived in New York state and there married Hannah Berry, who had come to this country from Ireland with her parents in her girlhood. Shortly after their marriage, he and his wife came to Michigan and settled on a farm in Mundy township, among the early settlers in that section. There they lived for about ten years, at the end of which time they moved to the village of Rogersville, where they lived several years and then moved to the farm in Genesee town- ship, where the subject of this sketch now lives, and there spent their last days. Peter Ennis dying in 1868, about two years after taking up his resi- dence on the farm. They were the parents of four children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the second in order of birth, the others being John (deceased), Thomas (deceased), and Ella, who married Stephen Lucas.
James Ennis was about ten years old when his father died in 1868 and he made his home with his mother on the farm in Genesee township until her death, after which he bought the interests of the other heirs in the place and there established his permanent home. He has a well-kept and profitably cultivated farm of ninety-nine acres and is doing very well in his farming operations, at the same time giving considerable attention to the raising of live stock. Mr. Ennis is a Democrat and gives a good citizen's attention to local political affairs, but is not included in the office-seeking class. He is a member of the Grange and takes a warm interest in the affairs of that organization.
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On April 10, 1912, James Ennis was united in marriage to Mrs. Eliza- beth (Dickerson) Jones, who was born in Richfield township, this county, June 1, 1861, daughter of Henry and Almira (Hibbard) Dickerson. She was married in 1881 to Ballard Jones, who was born in Burton township, this county, on November 23, 1858, and who spent all his life on a farm there, his death occurring in 1899, he then being forty-one years of age. To Ballard and Elizabeth (Dickerson) Jones three children were born: Lulu, who married Theodore Leffler and is living in Forest township; Roy, who married Vera Ellis and is living in Richfield township, and Joy, who is living in Flint. After the death of Mr. Jones, Mrs. Jones sold her farm in Burton township and bought property in Richland, and was living there when she married Mr. Ennis in 1912. Mr. and Mrs. Ennis are members of the Catholic church at Mt. Morris and take a warm interest in parish affairs, as well as in all neighborhood good works. They have a very pleasant home and are quite comfortably situated.
EDWIN HERRICK.
One of the farmers of Gaines township, Genesee county, who is evi- dently intelligently applying himself to his vocation, is Edwin Herrick, who is not only a hard worker with his hands, but also uses his mind in the management of his crops and soils, and therefore is succeeding. He was born in Wisconsin, October 18, 1856, and is a son of Hiram and Amanda (Derby) Herrick. It is very probable that they were both natives of Wis- consin also, where they grew up and married. They were still young in years when they removed to Michigan, in 1858, when their son, Edwin, was two years old. The family located on a farm in Gaines township, Genesee county, near where the subject of this sketch now lives. At that time the country was sparsely settled and but slightly improved.
Edwin Herrick grew up on the home farm, where he worked hard when a boy, and he received his education in the common schools, remaining at home until he was twenty-one years old. For some time he worked out by the month in his neighborhood, but finally bought a place of his own and has engaged in general farming all his life. He owns forty acres three miles from Swartz Creek.
Mr. Herrick was married, on April 22, 1885, to Zella McGaw, of Kent. Ohio, and to this union three children were born, namely: Ethel is the wife
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of James Gooking; Rena is the wife of Seth Regole, and Herbert is single and living at home. The wife and mother passed away in June, 1910. On March 23, 1915, Mr. Herrick married, for his second wife, Mrs. Alice (Ramsbottom) Goodin, who was born in England. She grew up in her native land, where she attended school, and when twenty years of age came to the United States, locating in Clayton township, Genesee county, Michi- gan, and here married Mr. Goodin, to which union five children were born, namely : Ida, Winnie, Dortha, Elsie, and Lettie Ann. Mr. Goodin's death occurred on June 22, 1913.
Mr. Herrick is a Republican and belongs to the Loyal Guards.
WALTER L. JOHNSON.
As a general farmer Walter L. Johnson, of Thetford township, Genesee county, is an advocate of modern methods. He gives such attention as is necessary to produce large yields of all his crops and at the same time keeps his place attractive in every way, thus setting a good example. He was born on the farm that he now owns, on June 7, 1862, and is a son of Theo- dore and Adeline (Mullen) Johnson. The father was born in Massachu- setts in 1816 and the mother was born in New Jersey in 1833. When young, they each came to Fulton county, Ohio, where they were married, and in 1859 moved to Michigan, locating on a farm in section 17, Thetford town- ship, Genesee county, where they spent the rest of their lives, the father's death occurring in 1893 and the mother's in 1882. Their family consisted of six children, namely: George H., who has devoted his active life to rail- road service, is now yard boss for the Grand Trunk Railway at Kalamazoo, Michigan ; Linda is the wife of John J. Marvin; Nettie is the wife of Austin Reynolds; Millie is the wife of George Adams; Walter L., of this sketch; Emma is the wife of Earl Johnson.
Walter L. Johnson was reared on the home farm, where he worked hard when a boy, and he received his education in the district schools. He remained at home until his father's death and the home farm fell to him. The place consists of forty acres in Thetford township. He keeps a good grade of live stock, including a registered Percheron mare.
Mr. Johnson was married in 1901 to Martha Sheridan, whose death occurred in 1903, without issue. She was born and reared in Thetford town- ship and received her education in the public schools here and in Flint. On May 25, 1912, Mr. Johnson married for his second wife Matilda Kasser
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and to their union two children have been born, namely: Robert G., born June 10, 1914, and Paul D., born May 3, 1916.
Politically, Mr. Johnson is a Republican. He was at one time township treasurer and served as supervisor from 1912 to 1911, inclusive. He is a member of Vienna Lodge No. 205, Free and Accepted Masons.
A. B. KNIGHT.
A. B. Knight, a well-known and substantial retired farmer of Clayton township, this county, now dealing in agricultural implements at Swartz Creek, of which village he has been a resident since 1906, for years secre- tary and treasurer of the Patrons Mutual Fire Insurance Company of Genesee and Shiawassee counties and otherwise actively identified with the general interests of the community in which he has been an active factor ever since he began to take a man's part in affairs thereabout, is a native son of Genesee county and has lived here all his life. He was born on the farm which he now owns, three miles west of Swartz Creek, on September 16, 1860, the son of Abraham and Matilda ( Slaght) Knight, these parents were natives of Seneca county, New York, the former born on August 21, 1820, and the latter in 1822. They were married in that county in February, 1844, and in August of the same year they came to Michigan and settled in Genesee county, where they spent the rest of their lives.
When he was eighteen years of age, in 1838, Abraham Knight had made a trip to this part of the state of Michigan from New York and had bought the farm in Clayton township, this county, here he established his home upon coming here with his bride in 1844 and thus became reckoned as among the early settlers of that part of the county. He was a good farmer and became the owner of two hundred acres, of which one hundred and sixty acres was cleared and well improved, it long having been looked upon as one of the good farms of that section. He and his wife were the parents of five sons, all of whom are still living, those besides the subject of this sketch being as follow: Robert, a farmer in Saginaw county, this state ; John C., a retired farmer, now living at Flushing, this county; Enoch, a retired farmer, living at Flint, and Charles, a farmer, living in Clayton towsnhip.
A. B. Knight was reared on the farm on which he was born, receiving his education in the district school in the vicinity of the same and proving
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