USA > Michigan > Genesee County > History of Genesee County, Michigan, Her People, Industries and Institutions, Volume II > Part 84
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ber, Henry Larned was a soldier in the Civil War and died in Libby prison. Grandfather David Colwell was born on January 1, 1800, and his death occurred in 1885. He was a native of Richfield, New York, and he mar- ried Hannah Gilbert, who was born in Fayette county, New York, August 17, 1803, and died on July 11, 1888. They removed to Livingston county, Michigan, in pioneer days and entered a homestead of one hundred and twenty acres, on which they spent the rest of their lives. David Colwell, Sr., the subject's great-grandfather, was a native of one of the New Eng- land states, possibly Rhode Island. He married Thankful Paine and they moved to Allegany county, New York. He owned a woolen mill and was also a clothier. The father of the subject was born on March 14, 1825. in Ontario county, New York, and was educated in the common schools. He devoted his life to farming. He was a pioneer of Livingston county, Mich- igan, where he became the owner of four hundred acres of valuable land. His wife was a member of the Presbyterian church, which he attended and supported liberally. He was quite active in politics and a leader of the Democratic party in his district. He served two terms in the Legislature of this state in a very creditable manner and was for some time supervisor of his township. He was a man of splendid physique, tall and weighed two hundred and forty-five pounds. After locating at Fenton, Genesee county, he became one of the leading citizens of this locality. In April, 1869, he built the present opera house and also erected other important build- ings and residences. He was in partnership with a Mr. Adams for a num- ber of years and they owned and operated a saw-mill, elevator and flouring- mill. They sold the elevator in 1880 and the partnership was dissolved, Mr. Colwell continuing as sole owner of the saw-mill and flouring-mill. He did a large business and shipped flour to various sections of the United States, also to foreign nations. He also engaged in buying and shipping wool many years after locating here. His death occurred on March 28, 1910, his wife preceding him to the grave in April, 1908. They were par- ents of the following children: David H., who was a member of a Mich- igan cavalry regiment during the Civil War, died while in the service at Mt. Sterling, Kentucky, when sixteen years old; John B., of this review; Will- iam D., who died on October 20, 1872 ; Daniel H.'s whereabouts are unknown.
John B. Colwell was educated in the common schools of Oakland county, Michigan, and the Fenton high school. On November 10, 1869, he married Martha Collins, who was born, November 22, 1847, in Allegany county, New York. a daughter of James and Susan (Howe) Collins. To this union the following children were born: Martha (known as Mattie)
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married H. E. Curtis and to their union one child was born, Mildred; Mrs. Curtis died some years ago; Grace, second of the subject's children, married William E. Scott and two children were born to them, Helen and William; Mr. Scott died and his widow married Rev. John R. McWilliams, a Presby- terian minister in Genesee county; their union has been without issue; Gil- bert, third child of the subject, has been practicing dentistry at Ithaca, Michigan, for the past nine years; he married Harriet Barstow and they have two children, John C. and Bruce C.
John B. Colwell assisted his father in operating the elevator at Fenton, also his saw- and flouring-mills for a number of years, then engaged in farming nine years on his father's home place. He moved to the farm, then back to Fenton several times. He owns a valuable place of one hun- dred and fifty-two acres, which his Grandfather Larned homesteaded in Livingston county, Michigan. Politically, he is a Democrat, but has never been so active in public affairs as was his father before him. His wife is a member of the Presbyterian church.
ALFRED V. HISCOCK.
The farmer who succeeds must plan for the future, must subdivide his crop area into sections of a size to suit his requirements, and in such manner as to keep his ground fully occupied by a continual rotation of crops, throughout the growing season, and thus obtain the maximum of produce from his soil with no loss of fertility or losses from other causes. One of the careful farmers of Genesee county is Alfred V. Hiscock, of Montrose. He was born in Macomb county, Michigan, March 30, 1857, and is a son of William R. Hiscock, who was born in Orleans county, New York, May 5, 1830. There he grew to manhood, working on the home farm until he was twenty-one years old, when he came to Michigan and located in Macomb county. After spending three years there, he went to Washtenaw county, where he bought a farm, on which he lived until 1865, when he enlisted in the Eighth Michigan Cavalry in which regiment he served until the close of the Civil War. After being honorably discharged, he returned to his home in New York, but a year later came to Flushing, Michigan, where he spent two years. He then located on a farm in section 20, Montrose town- ship, Genesee county, where he engaged in farming until 1894, when he moved to the village of Montrose. His farm is now owned by his grand-
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son, W. F. Hiscock, son of the subject of this sketch. William R. Hiscock is still living in Montrose, being now, eighty-six years of age. He has been a successful farmer and a good citizen in every respect. He is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic post at Montrose. He is a Republican and belongs to the Baptist church. His wife, Nancy T. Bates, was born in Steuben county, New York, March 16, 1832, and is now in her eighty- fifth year. They were married in 1853 and six children were born to their union, namely: Alfred V., of this sketch; Stephen D., a carpenter in Mont- rose; Lewis is deceased; Marian B., who is farming in Montrose town- ship; Ella May is the wife of Eugene Miller, who is engaged in the elevator business at Clio, Michigan; George D., who is engaged in railroad service and lives in Montrose.
The paternal grandparents of the above named children were Elijah and Dolly Hiscock. They were natives of the state of New York, where they were married and established their home. He was a soldier in the War of 1812. The maternal grandparents were John L. and Hannah Bates, both of whom spent their early lives in the state of New York, finally migrating to Macomb county, Michigan, at a very early date.
Alfred V. Hiscock grew up on the home farm and received a limited public school education. He began working out when only nine years old, engaging in farm work until he was twenty-five years of age. He then began working in a mill in Genesee county, remaining there eighteen months, then went to Elk, Michigan, where he built a hotel which he operated until about 1887. At that time he came to what is now the village of Montrose and built the Montrose Hotel, which was the first building in that village. This he managed until about 1898, when he was appointed postmaster at Montrose, in which capacity he served with satisfaction to all concerned until February 9, 1916, a period of eighteen years, discharging his duties most faithfully and ably. A few months after leaving the office he resumed work on his farm in section 29, Montrose township. He makes a specialty of raising Holstein cattle and Shropshire sheep.
Mr. Hiscock was married, on October 14, 1877, to Rosie E. Stage, who was born in Holly, Michigan, December 31, 1861. When she was twelve years old her parents removed from Holly to a farm in Hazleton township, Shiawassee county, where she lived until her marriage. She is a daughter of William and Rachel A. (Madden) Stage, both natives of the state of New York, whence they migrated to Conway, Michigan. The mother died in Holly, this state, after which the father moved to Hazelton, where his death occurred. They were parents of five children, namely :
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Sylvia is deceased; Rosie, wife of Mr. Hiscock; Fred is engaged in the cigar manufacturing business at Vassar, Michigan; Hudson is deceased; Cora B. is an elocutionist and resides in Los Angeles, California.
Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Hiscock, namely: William F., born August 4, 1878, is farming on the old homestead, being the fifth representative of five generations on that farm; Grace B., born August 1, 1880, married W. H. Hoskins, a mason by trade; Myrtle R., born September 4, 1883, was assistant postmaster for twelve years and now lives in Flint.
Politically, Mr. Hiscock is a Republican. He belongs to Lodge No. 222, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, at Flint, also the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Orangemen at Montrose.
GEORGE HUGGINS.
Industry, uprightness and intelligence are characteristics which will advance the interests of any man and will tend to the prosperity to which all aspire. Such are some of the traits of George Huggins, farmer and civil engineer of Montrose township, Genesee county, Michigan. He was born in Norwich, England, January 20, 1861, and is a son of James and Sarah A. Huggins, mention of which is made on another page of this work.
George Huggins came to Michigan when a small boy and here he grew to manhood. He was educated in the public schools of Montrose and Clay- ton townships, Genesee county, graduating from the Flushing high school in 1882. He began life for himself as a teacher, which profession he fol- lowed for eleven years, including the English settlement, Graves, Brown and Richardson district schools of Flushing township, also the Caldwell, Mackintyre and Slade district schools of Montrose township. He gave emi- nent satisfaction as a teacher. In 1888 he studied at the Michigan Agri- cultural College at Lansing, entering the sophomore class, his excellent record in the Flushing high school giving him a sufficient number of credits. He studied civil engineering and made rapid progress in the same under Prof. Lewis Carpenter. Since leaving college he has devoted considerable attention to civil engineering and has met with such pronounced success that he now has more work than he can attend to, his services being in great demand. He engineered the first mile of state road in Genesee county. He is the present county drain surveyor, the duties of which responsible position he
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has discharged in a most acceptable and faithful manner for the past six years. He was elected county surveyor in 1913 and again in 1914. Politi- cally, he is a Democrat and, fraternally, he belongs to the Knights of the Maccabees. He is a member of the Montrose Methodist Episcopal church and has been a member of the choir of the same for the past twenty-four years. He was one of the builders of this church and has always been active in the work of the same.
Mr. Huggins purchased forty acres of good land in section 27, Mont- rose township, with the proceeds derived from his teaching. He subse- quently sold this land and bought one hundred acres in section 28, which place he has kept well improved, but keeps his land rented as he is kept busy with his work as civil engineer.
FRANK A. GALLAWAY.
No better example of a successful, self-made man could be found in Genesee county than Frank A. Gallaway, who conducts a large plumbing establishment at Fenton. Since early boyhood he has relied upon himself and has forged to the front, despite obstacles and an unpropitious early environment. Mr. Gallaway was born in Syracuse, New York, August 27, 1871. He is a son of Abraham and Eunice (Hill) Gallaway and a grand- son of Ebenezer Hill, a farmer of New York state, where he spent his life. The father of the subject grew up on the home farm in the state of New York and received his education in the neighboring schools. He purchased sixty acres near the city of Syracuse and devoted his life to farming, living on that place thirty years. His death occurred in 1890, his widow surviv- ing twenty-one years, dying in 1911. He was a soldier in the Civil War and belonged to the Methodist Episcopal church. His family consisted of five children, namely: Charles, who served in the Civil War; Mary, James, Sylvester, and Frank A .. the subject, who is the only member of the family in Genesee county.
Frank A. Gallaway grew up in his native locality and was educated in the public schools of Syracuse. New York. When twelve years of age he ran away from home and has supported himself ever since. He left his native state in 1894 and came to Michigan. He was employed by Joshua Hill in Pontiac for three years, then came to Fenton in 1903, where he has since made his home. After working for wages one year, he began in the
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plumbing business, installing stoves and furnaces, also conducted a tin shop, and has continued in this line of endeavor to the present time, having enjoyed a large and increasing business all the while. He has a well equipped shop and employs skilled workmen, being prepared to turn out high-grade jobs promptly and satisfactorily. He owns valuable town property.
Mr. Gallaway was married, first, to Pearl House, which union was with- out issue. His second wife was known in her maidenhood as Sadie Landen. This last union has resulted in the birth of one child, Neita Gallaway, born on November 9, 1909. Fraternally, Mr. Gallaway belongs to the Modern Woodmen of America.
GEORGE E. LOVE.
The subject of this sketch, George E. Love, was born in Clinton county, Michigan, May 31, 1859. His father, John Love, was of Scotch descent and was a native of New York state. His mother, Mary (Gay) Love, was of English ancestry. They came from New York state and settled in Clin- ton county and there became engaged in farming. Mr. Love ended his days on the farm, reaching the age of sixty-five years, his death occurring in December, 1884. Mrs. Love afterward removed to Flushing to live with her son, George, where she died on December 31, 1904, at the age of seventy- four years. Mr. and Mrs. Love were highly respected and well known in their community for their piety and industry. Their family of children was quite large, George being the sixth child. He was reared on the farm, thus getting his first experiences in life from contact with the hardy prob- lems set by Mother Nature. As a boy he was active and energetic, receiv- ing such education as was afforded by the rural schools of the times. Possessed of an ambition to assist in maintaining the affairs of the paternal home and at the same time desirous of working on his own responsibility, he became engaged in various occupations away from home. Beginning at the age of seventeen and continuing until about the age of twenty-six, his attention was turned toward the buying and shipping of live stock and in dealing with the public he obtained a reputation for honorable methods of dealing, as well as making a record for himself as a man of keen business insight. Following this, he became interested in lumbering, transacting this business in Mecosta county, Michigan. This occupied him for several years and in this work, as in previous occupations, he distinguished him-
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self with the same fortitude and success. In 1900 he transferred his activities to Flushing and engaged in the retail lumber business, and he has since engaged in the same business in Fowlerville, Michigan. He has achieved not only success in business, but has obtained the confidence and respect of his fellow townsmen as well. In 1909 he and others formed a corporation, under the name of Genesee Lumber Company, and operated a retail yard in Flint. Of this company he was chosen secretary and general manager. This corporation continued business for three years and then dissolved, Mr. Love buying back the two yards at Flushing and Fowlerville, which he operates now.
On December 29, 1885, Mr. Love was united in marriage to Ida B. Currence, of Alma, Gratiot county, Michigan, who was born and raised in that county, she being the fourth child of Mr. and Mrs. John L. Currence, one of the leading families of that county and highly esteemed by all who knew them. Mrs Love was a young lady of excellent standing in the com- munity and has proved to be an able and worthy helpmate to her husband. Their union has resulted in the birth of three children, one of whom, Edith M., was called to the Shepherd's fold when nine years of age; the two sur- viving children are Earl D. and Florence E. Earl was born on October 8, 1886; Edith, M. was born on July 12. 1889, and died on December 9, 1897; Florence E. was born on February 13, 1897. Mr. Love is an esteemed mem- ber of the Masonic fraternity and has taken great interest in the teachings of that great order.
GEORGE MACNEAL.
The lawyer is a practical man. He breaks through all shams, to arrive at correct conclusions, and he is not often deceived with plausible pretenses. Armed with the great elementary principles of the law of evidence, the grandest branch of the science of law, he unravels frauds in their many and varied forms, thereby vindicating right, rewarding honesty and punishing vice and iniquity. George MacNeal, of Fenton, is one of the leaders of the bar of Genesee county.
Mr. MacNeal was born at St. Thomas, Canada, April 29, 1879, and is a son of Edward and Jane ( Pratt ) MacNeal. The father was born on Aug- ust 21. 1833. Abraham MacNeal, the grandfather, was a native of New
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York state, from which he removed to Ohio about 1835. He was a wheel- wright by trade and operated a mill in Ohio the rest of his life. His family consisted of nine children, of whom Edward was the youngest and is the only survivor. Edward MacNeal, the subject's great-grandfather, was born just one hundred years to the day before the father of the subject was born. He came from Ireland or Scotland and was a prominent man in his community at the time of the Revolutionary War. Edward MacNeal was educated in the common schools and was twice married. By his first union three children were born, namely: Edward lives in Battle Creek, Michigan, and is connected with the Sheppard brass works; Cora lives in Saginaw, Michigan; Adelaide lives in Rainsville, Ohio. Edward MacNeal's second marriage was to Jane Pratt, by which union four children were born, namely : Frank lives in Memphis, Tennessee, where he is engaged in contract work; Arthur is a practicing physician in Chicago; George of this sketch, and Ward, a bacteriologist in New York City.
Edward MacNeal bought a farm in 1876, bordering Oakland and Gen- esee counties, which he operated a number of years, then rented it and went to Saginaw to live with his daughter. He devoted most of his life to rail- road service, being a passenger conductor on the Grand Trunk road for many years, and was also a passenger conductor on the Northern Pacific through Montana. He went to Washington, then back to Chicago and later to Ann Arbor. He was a Knight Templar.
George MacNeal was educated in the common and high schools of Chicago, then entered the law department of the University of Michigan, from which he was graduated in 1901, and was admitted to the bar in June of that year. While in the university he was captain of the class in athletics, playing two years on the football team and one year on the baseball team. He has always been deeply interested in wholesome athletic sports. He began the practice of his profession in Fenton, having previously been asso- ciated with McArthur Brothers in Chicago for some time. He has prac- ticed alone since coming here, has built up a very satisfactory clientage and is a familiar figure in the local courts. He is a painstaking, earnest, per- sistent lawyer, who makes all other interests subordinate to those of his clients, and is well versed in all phases of the law. He has taken an active interest in public affairs since coming to Fenton and at one time was trustee of the village, also village attorney. Fraternally, he belongs to the Masonic lodge, chapter and commandery, being senior warden in the latter, and is commander of the Maccabees. He also belongs to the Independent Order
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of Odd Fellows, including the subordinate lodge in Fenton and the encamp- ment at Linden.
Mr. MacNeal was married on January 25, 1906, to Ada Angell, who was born on March 4, 1884, in Oakland county, Michigan. She was edu- cated in the Fenton high school and the State Normal and taught school for some time. Three children have been born to the subject and wife, namely, George Stewart, Ada Mary and John Angell.
GEORGE E. TAYLOR.
George E. Taylor was born in Oakland county, Michigan, March 21, 1838, his family moving to Genesee county when he was twelve years old. His father, Isaac S. Taylor, was from Pennsylvania, and his mother, Margaret Davis, from Belfast, Ireland. Mr. Taylor, the eldest of four children helped clear the land where most of his boyhood was spent and went to school at a log school house near by. Later he finished his educa- tion at the Clarkston Academy. When eighteen he commenced teaching school, and at twenty-one started to study law, being admitted to the bar a few years later.
Mr. Taylor was a lifelong Republican and first entered the political field as an aspirant for honors in 1865, when he was elected supervisor, which office he held for eight consecutive years. In 1873 he was elected register of deeds, holding that office for six years, and in 1882 was elected state senator. In 1888 Mr. Taylor was elected alderman of the second ward, holding that office for two terms, when, in 1892, he was elected mayor of the city. In the fall election of 1892 he was elected judge of probate, which office he held until January, 1901. He was a hard worker in the Republican party, entering actively into all its campaigns, and for many years, up to the time of his death, was a member of the state central committee.
In February, 1867, Mr. Taylor was married to Miss Sarah E. Beards- lee, who died in April, 1868, leaving an infant son. In 1871 he was mar- ried to Miss Euphemia A. Freeman, by whom he had one son and one daughter. Mr. Taylor died suddenly of heart trouble at his home on Court street, on March 8, 1903. He is survived by his widow and sons, Hamil- ton B. Taylor, of Detroit, and Howard E. Taylor, of Marion, Indiana, and daughter, Mrs. Edwin W. Atwo-d. of Fl:
Le &Taylor
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WARD HENRY PARKER.
Ward Henry Parker, whose parents were among the pioneer settlers of Genesee county, Michigan, was born in Grand Blanc, December 29, 1885. His parents were Henry E. and Lizzie M. (Holton) Parker, natives of Genesee county and Wayne county, Michigan, respectively. Henry E. Parker was born in Grand Blanc township, April 22, 1855, and was a younger brother of G. Russell Parker, whose sketch elsewhere in this volume gives a complete record of the family.
Henry E. Parker lived his whole life in Grand Blanc township and at the time of his death owned three hundred acres of land in the southern part of the county and the northern part of Oakland county. He lived on the farm until 1911 when he moved to Grand Blanc, where he resided until his death, January 19, 1916. He was married, September 12, 1879, to Lizzie M. Holton, a daughter of Thomas and Lucy (Moody) Holton. Mrs. Holton is now the wife of G. Russell Parker, above mentioned, whose history also includes a sketch of Mrs. Holton's parentage. Henry E. Parker and his wife were both members of the Methodist church and took an active part in its various activities. He was a kind and genial man, interested in the life of his fellowmen, and never failed to give his support to such move- ments as he felt would be for the betterment of his community.
Henry E. Parker and his wife were the parents of two sons, one of whom died in infancy, the other being Ward H. Mr. and Mrs. Parker also adopted a boy, but he also died in infancy. They reared another boy, K. C. Wortman, who is now living in Grand Blanc.
Ward H. Parker spent two years in the Flint high school and later became a student in Michigan Agricultural College, where he remained in continuous attendance for five years. After graduating with the degree of Bachelor of Science in 1908, he taught chemistry for three years. He then took charge of his father's farm, the latter moving into the village of Grand Blanc. His next move found him employed by the United States depart- ment of agriculture as county agriculturist of Genesee county, a position he held for about a year. The following two years were spent as a traveling salesman for a dairy supply house. He is now engaged in farming and at the same time acts as salesman for the Patterson Auto Sales Company of Flint.
Mr. Parker is classed among the really scientific farmers of his county and his farm bears witness to the training he received in college. He owns
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