USA > Michigan > Genesee County > History of Genesee County, Michigan, Her People, Industries and Institutions, Volume II > Part 85
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the old Parker homestead, which was entered by his grandfather in 1837, and is proud of the genuine old sheepskin patent paper which his grand- father received when he entered the land nearly eighty years ago. The land has never been out of the hands of the Parker family since it was entered, his father having bought out the other heirs.
Mr. Parker was married, December 21, 1907, to Sara J. Losey, who was born in Lansing, Michigan. She is a daughter of James B. and Mary (McGraw ) Losey, both natives of New York state. Her father was engaged in the milling business at Lansing for many years prior to his death in 1912. His widow is still living in Lansing.
EARL B. ROOT.
Crop rotation has the effect of making available all of the plant food element, and as the average soil is generally well supplied with fertile material, depletion will come that much sooner unless proper steps are taken to main- tain the principal soil ingredients. This and other problems of modern farm- ing are well understood by Earl B. Root, of Richfield township. He was born in Forest township, this county, October 17, 1883, and is a son of Randson B. and Julia A. (Bidwell) Root, both born in Forest township, being representatives of two pioneer families of Genesee county, and here they grew up, attended school and were married. The father was born, December 20, 1845, and the mother's birth occurred on June 30, 1846. They devoted their active lives to farming and are now living in the village of Otisville. They are parents of five children, namely : Effie, who was gradu- ated from the Otisville high school, and is now the wife of Robert B. Laird, of Flint; Pearl, who was also graduated from the high school at Otisville, and is now the wife of Raymond G. Miller, of the state of New York; Earl B., the subject of this sketch; Lottie M., a graduate of the Otisville high school, who is the wife of Harry Turnbull, of Saginaw, Michigan, and Hettie, a graduate of Otisville high school, who is now teaching in the public school's at Battle Creek, this state.
Earl B. Root was reared on the home farm, four miles north of where he now lives. He attended the district schools and the high school at Otis- ville, after which he engaged in farming for himself. He owns a well-kept and productive place of one hundred and ten acres in sections 5 and 6 of Richfield township and carries on general farming and stock raising.
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GENESEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
Mr. Root was married on September 7, 1906, to Irma A. Reese, a daughter of Andrew and Mattie A. (Goode) Reese. She grew up in Gen- esee county and was graduated from the Flint high school. Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Root, namely: Russell R., and Dorothy P.
Mr. Root is a Republican and is at present treasurer of Richfield town- ship. Fraternally, he belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Otisville, of which he is past noble grand. He also belongs to the Grange and he and his wife are attendants of the Richfield Methodist . Episcopal church.
. J. FRANK DAVIS.
No introduction in a formal way is necessary to the people of Genesee county by the biographer when he essays to give a succinct record of J. Frank Davis, jeweler, optician and proprietor of a book store in Fenton, for here he has long been well and favorably known as a man of affairs and public-spirited citizen.
Mr. Davis was born in Auburn, New York, in 1859. He is a son of James Thompson Davis and Mary Ann (Clark) Davis, and a grandson of Jesse Davis, a native of Wales. He is descended from the Davis family that founded the Presbyterian church in America. Jesse Davis took up government land near Cayuga, New York, which he developed into a good farm and there reared his family. In that vicinity the father of our subject was reared and educated. He was a miller by trade, which he followed for about twenty years, then became a salesman member of the firm of Fowler, Davis & Hoyt. at Hartford, Connecticut. He came to Michigan in 1867, located at Fenton, where he built a home, and died in 1872 at the age of forty-six years; his widow survived him nearly thirty years, dying in 1901 at the age of seventy-one years. They were the parents of four chil- dren, namely: Emma L., deceased: Jesse Maxwell; John C., deceased, and J. Frank of this sketch. The parents of these children were members of the Presbyterian church.
J. Frank Davis was eight years old when his parents brought him to Michigan. Here he grew to manhood and received a high school education. On October 30, 1883, he married Sadie M. Phillips, whose death occurred on June 30, 1890. To this union the following children were born: Olive Louise was graduated from the Michigan State Normal at Ypsilanti, in
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which place she later taught school; Ethel S. was also graduated from the State Normal at Ypsilanti and is engaged in teaching.
In June, 1892, Mr. Davis married Caroline Crawford. She is a daugh- ter of James Crawford, who was for a number of years engaged in the grocery business at Milford, Oakland county, Michigan. He was active in public affairs there and was a justice of the peace. To the subject's second marriage one child has been born, Charles Crawford Davis. Mrs. Davis is a lady of education and culture and is a writer of ability.
Politically, Mr. Davis is a Republican. He was at one time village clerk and one of the trustees of the village. He is a past commander of Fenton Commandery No. 14, Knights Templar, and belongs to the Presby- terian church.
JOSEPH P. OLK.
Genesee county has long been an excellent grain producer, a fine quality of wheat being marketed from here, consequently the elevator business has been an important one for many years. Joseph P. Olk, a newcomer in this locality, is making a good start in operating an elevator at Fenton and is evidently- a valuable addition to the citizenship.
Mr. Olk was born on October 28, 1871, and is a son of John and Bridget (Woods) Olk, natives of Germany and Ireland, respectively. The mother brought her family from the Emerald Isle to Detroit, Michigan. She had four brothers, all of whom are now deceased, and her death occurred in Jackson, Michigan, some time ago. The father of the subject died on February 20, 1914. To these parents four children were born, namely: Lewis; who lives near Leslie, Michigan; Joseph P., of this sketch; Eva, who died in early life, and Peter, who makes his home in Jackson, Michigan. The father of these children was a soldier in the Civil War, serving as a private in Company H, Twenty-second Regiment, Michigan Volunteer Infantry. He was a member of the Catholic church.
Joseph P. Olk received his education in the district schools and also attended the high school at Leslie, Michigan. On June 24, 1911, he mar- ried Susie Conlan, a native of Jackson county, this state, and to this union one child has been born, Joseph Olk, Jr., whose birth occurred October . 28, 1915.
The subject spent his earlier years on the farm, engaging in general farming until he was twenty-five years old, then secured a position with the
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McLaughlin & Ward Company of Jackson, Michigan, where they operated a large elevator. He took an interest in this line of endeavor and soon mastered its various details, later going to Holly, this state, where he became a partner in the firm of the Mclaughlin & Olk Elevator Company, remain- ing there five years, this venture having been successful. He owns an elevator in Jackson county at the present time. He removed to Fenton in April, 1910, and purchased the controlling interest in the Fenton Elevator Company, which has a capacity of twenty-five thousand bushels, and he has been managing the same with gratifying results, carrying on an extensive business. He also owns the Potter property, just across the street from his elevator. He is a man of progressive ideas, energetic, sound of judgment and honorable in his dealings. This elevator was established fifty years ago and has held an enormous quantity of grain during this half century.
Mr. Olk takes an interest in public affairs and was village president dur- ing 1913 and 1914. He is a member of the Catholic church and the Knights of Columbus.
WILLIAM M. FRAWLEY.
William M. Frawley was born in Flushing township, Genesee county, September 2, 1873, a son of Patrick Frawley, a native of Ireland, born in 1840. Patrick Frawley immigrated to the United States when a young man and first settled in New York, then came to Mt. Morris township, Genesee county, Michigan. Later he removed to the farm in Flushing township, where he he has continued to reside, engaged in farming, but is now lead- ing a retired life. He was married to Margaret McMahon, who was born in Emmet county, Michigan. To this union five children have been born: James P., born February 20, 1892, a local coal dealer in Flushing; William M., subject of this sketch; Nellie, born February 28, 1875, married James McGrew, of Hazelton township; Mary, born May 25. 1877, now living with her father; John S., born November 12, 1879, is in partnership with his brother, James P., in the coal business.
William M. Frawley was educated in the district schools of the town- ship, and afterward took up farming as an occupation, in which he contin- ued for thirty years. He was afterward engaged in the liquor business and also conducted a restaurant in Flushing. He is at present proprietor of the largest garage in Flushing and also owns and manages a pool room. In the
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garage he employs three men and is also sale agent for a prominent ma- chine.
Mr. Frawley was married, October 30, 1905, to Celia King, who was born in October 17, 1876, a daughter of John King, who was born in Ire- land in 1846. To this union two children have been born, Agnes, born September 17, 1906, and Esther, born June 21, 1908.
Mr. Trawley is independent in politics. He is a member of the Catho- lic church and of the Fraternal Order of Eagles.
FREDERICK E. STODDARD.
The reason that Frederick E. Stoddard, merchant and farmer of Rich- field Center, Genesee county, has been able to succeed at whatever he has turned his attention to is because he plans well and is energetic in the execu- tion of his plans-in other words, he first decides that he is right, then goes ahead. He was born in Richfield township, this county, August 18, 1845, and is a son of James and Sarah A. (Davis) Stoddard, natives of New York and Vermont, respectively. When a boy, James Stoddard was bound out to Eber Adams, with whose family he came to Michigan, locating in Oakland county, where they spent about three years, then came on to Atlas township, Genesee county, where James Stoddard grew to manhood. Sarah A. Davis was four years old when her parents brought her to Oakland county, later moving to Genesee county, locating where the city of Flint now stands, there being but a few houses in that vicinity at that time. The family located in Richfield when she was eight years old. When sixteen years old she worked at the home of Eber Adams and there met Mr. Stod- dard. They continued to work for Mr. Adams about a year after their marriage, then went to housekeeping at Atlas village. Later they moved to Richfield, where they spent the rest of their lives, his death occurring at the age of forty-nine years. Their family consisted of thirteen children, only four of whom now survive, namely: Frederick E., of this sketch; Brinton, who is farming in Genesee township; Fleete, the wife of William Wording; and Hattie, the wife of James Comstock, of Davison, Michigan. Those deceased are, Helen, Arinda. Rhoda, Charles, four who died in infancy, and Emma.
Frederick A. Stoddard was reared on the home farm and received a com- mon school education. Leaving school at the age of thirteen, he worked
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out by the month at various occupations until he was twenty-one years old, then bought forty acres of wild land, cleared eight acres at once, and has devoted his life to farming and merchandising ever since. He started a gen- eral store at Richfield Center forty-two years ago, when the country was sparsely settled, and he has enjoyed a comfortable living from it. About ten years of that period he was not engaged in merchandising, later resum- ing with his son as partner.
Mr. Stoddard was married, on November 4, 1867, to Alma R. Fuller, a native of Genesee township and a daughter of Charles Smith and wife, who left her an orphan when quite young. She was then adopted by the Fuller family, whose name she took. The death of Mrs. Stoddard occurred on July 18, 1915. She was the mother of four children, namely: Pearl lives in Flint; Claude and Maude, twins, the former living in Flint and the latter, in Richfield; one child died in infancy.
Politically, Mr. Stoddard is a Democrat and has served as township clerk three different times. He is a member of Davison Lodge No. 336, Free and Accepted Masons.
GLENN WILLIAMS.
Glenn Williams was born in Birch Run township, Genesee county, Feb- ruary 21, 1870, a son of Jeremiah Williams, who was born at Seneca Falls, New York, January 8, 1840. He came to Michigan in 1850 and followed the occupation of a general farmer. He died on December 31, 1915. On August 26, 1864, Jeremiah Williams married Eunice Tuman, who was born in Columbus, Ohio, October 29, 1845. To this union three children were born : Ebenezer, who died in September, 1911; Alvin, living in Clio; Glenn, the subject. The mother died on May 13, 1892.
The paternal grandfather of the subject was Ebenezer Williams, who was born in Seneca Falls, New York, living until 1850, when he removed to Michigan and settled in Birch Run township. He married Anna Mead, who was born in New York state and died at the age of forty-eighty years. She was the mother of six children: Abbie, living in Eldora, Iowa; Mary, living in Grand Rapids, Michigan; Jeremiah, father of the subject; Laura, deceased; one child who died in childhood; Gustavus.
The maternal grandfather of the subject was Spencer Tuman, who died at the age of eighty-four years. He was the father of four children: Mat- thew, deceased, who was a soldier in the Civil War; Mary, deceased; Spen-
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cer, Jr., a Civil War soldier who was killed in battle; Eunice, mother of our subject.
The subject of this sketch was educated in the schools of Birch Run township and in the high school at Cedar Lake. After his school years he engaged for awhile in farming and then taught school for one term. But school teaching was not to his liking and he returned to farming, following this occupation for three years. He then went to Saginaw, where he worked in the salt mine for about a year. Returning again to the farm, he con- tinued his former occupation for six years. Then took a position as clerk in a store in Clio. Following this, he took a position in the Clio elevator and remained here for three years, when he engaged in business for him- self, buying out a general merchandising store, and conducted this business for one year. He was elected to the office of town clerk at that time and combined his new duties with the real estate and insurance business. Find- ing that this accumulation of business was more than he could properly attend to, he sold his store, and has since given his entire attention to his real estate and insurance.
Mr. Williams married Milicent Rowland, who was born on Septem- ber 29, 1866, a daughter of Daniel and Anna (Moon) Rowland, who had four children, Mary, John, Milicent and Emma. Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Williams, namely Elmer, born on August 27, 1892, and Edwin, born October 12, 1897.
Mr. Williams is a Republican and is ever ready to lend his efforts and influence for the promotion of the principles of that party. He has been town clerk for the past four years, town assessor and superintendent of the Genesee county board. He is affiliated with several secret and fra- ternal orders, including the Masons, having been through all the chairs in that order, as he has of the Order of the Eastern Star; the Independent Order of Odd Fellows; the Foresters and the Grange, in all of which he has "passed the chairs." Mr. and Mrs. Williams are members and active workers in the Clio Methodist Episcopal church.
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