USA > Michigan > Genesee County > History of Genesee county, Michigan. With illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 30
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Joel L. Jones, Fenton, Bat. L .; disch. for disability, May 12, 1865.
Charles Jewett, Bat. E; trans. to Vet. Res. Corps, Oct. 18, 186-1.
William 11. Judd, Bat. H ; must. out July 22, 1865.
Elijah H. Lunh, Grand Blanc, Bat. E; disch, by order, Ang. 9, 1965.
Henry W. Marsh, But. A ; minst, unt July 28, 1865.
David Parker, Bat, A ; disch. at end of service, May 31, 1864.
Georgo W. Prescott, Fenton, Bat. L; umst. out Aug. 22, 1865. Charles H. Root, Mumly, Bat. E; must. ont July 28, 1865. Abraham Ronse, Mundy, But. E; must. out May 20, 1865.
Harvey E. Ruckafellow, Atlas, Bat. 1; must. out July 14, 1865.
John Simons, Atlas, Bat. A; died of disease at Chattanooga, Tenn., June 17, 1864.
John A. Spencer, Atlas, Bat. A ; died of disease at Grayville, La., April 14, '64. Vocins D. Starr, Bat. A ; disch. at end of service, May 31, 1861.
Simeon Simons, Atlas, Bat. A ; must. out July 28, 1865.
Francis W. Stormes, Bat. E; must, ont Ang. 30, 1865.
Orrin N. Slaght, But. E ; must. out Ang. 30, 1865.
William W. Skinner, Fenton, Bat. 1 ; disch. for disability, May 17, 1863. Washington Teachont, Richfield, Bat. A ; must. ont July 28, 1865.
Myron C. Wilkerson, Genesee, Bat. E; minst, ont Ang. 30, 1865. James Allen, Fenton, But. HI ; disch. for disability, June 3, 1862.
Edwin Allen, Fenton, Bat. HI; d'sch. for disability, July 21, 1862.
John Simons, Atlas, Bat. A; died of disease at Chattanooga, Tenn., Juno 17, 1864.
SECOND CAVALRY.
Julin C. Godley, Flint, capt. Co. A ; enl. Sept. 2, 1861; maj., Sept. 25, 1862 ; res. Sept. 12, 18G3.
John G. Crawford, Fenton, sorgt .- maj., 2d lieut. Co. -; enl. Sont. 9, 1862; res. March 31, 1863.
William W. Booth, Fenton, q .- in. sergt .; trans, to hosp. steward, Nov., 1, 1862. William S. Brown. Co. A ; disch. to enlist in regular service, March 13, 1863. John Ballentine, Co. A ; disch, at end of service, Oct. 22, 1864.
Lyman Bristol, Co. B; must. out Ang. 31, 1865.
Albert F. Dodge, Fenton, Co. H ; died of disease at Hamburg, Tenn., May 14, 1862,
Albert I. Demarest, Co. A : tisch. for disability, June 14, 1862.
Juhn S. Hovey, Co. H; disch. for disability, July 1, 1802.
Wm. S. Lind ley, Co. E; supposed killed by explosion of steamer " Sultana," April 27, 1865.
Jesse Morehouse, Flint, Co. A (corp.); disch. for disability, May 5, 1863.
David Manly, Co. A ; disch. at end of service, July 10, 1865.
William Rice, Co. A; disch, for disability, Feb, 1, 1862.
Seth Williams, Co. A ; disch. for disability, Oct. 22, 1864.
SEVENTH CAVALRY.
Butler S. Tubbs, Fenton, sergt., 2d lieut. Co. G; ent. March 24, 1865; trans. to Ist Cavalry, Nuv. 7, 1565; Ist lieut., May 26, 1865; must. out as 2d lieut. Co. A, March 10, 1866.
Manrico M. Bliss, Co. U'; trans. to Vet. Res. Corps, March 15, 1864
George Carrier, Co. K; trans, to Ist Michigan Cavalry, Nov. 17, 1865.
John Cook, Jr., Co. I; must. out Dec. I5, 18G5.
Sylvester Eccleston, Vienna, Cu. L; must. ont Dec. 8, 1805.
Jacob Gassman, Grand Blanc, Co. E; trans. to Ist Mich. Cavalry, Nov. 17, 1865.
Jerome Gass, Finshing, Co. C; must. out Dec. I5, 1865.
Munson Il. Hovey, Vienna, Co. L; must. out Dec. 8, 1865. James McFarlane, Montrose, Co. C; must. ont Dec. 15, 1865.
Gilbert B. Monroe, Thetford, Co. C; must. ont Dec. 15, 1865. Frank Merrow, Co. G; must. ont July 17, 1865.
Charles M. McLain, Vienna, Co. L; must. ont Dec. 8, 1865. Russell MeMannus, Montrose, Co. G; trans. to Vet. Res. Corps, May 1, 1864. Tracy J. Merrill, Richfield, Co. H ; trans to Ist Michigan Cavalry, Nov. 17, ISG5.
J. L. Miller, Co. C; died at Salem Church, Vn., May 27, 1864. Win. McComb, Thetford, Co. C; died at Cold Harbor, Va., June 4, 1864.
Ruger l'aine, Vienna, Co. B; must. out Dec. 15, 1865. James Smith, Flushing, Co. C; must. out Dec. 15, 1865. Austin Shealy, Co. I; must. out Dec. 15, 1865, John H. Sloan, Co. L; must. out Dec. 8, 1865.
Dwight Stewart, Co. L; must. ont Dec. 8, 1865. Leavitt Tooles, Vienna, Co. C; must. ont May 19, 1865. Election Thayer, Flushing, Co. II ; trans. to Ist Michigan Cavalry.
Amos W. Webster, Vienna, Co. L; must. ont Dec. 8, 1865. Mason Ide, Montrose, Co. C; sick in hospital ; not must. ont with company. John W. Wilson, Thetford, Co. C; disch. for disability, Sept 30, 1863.
EIGHTHI CAVALRY.
Ashel Bedon, Co. HI ; died of disease at Lexington, Ky., April 10, 18G4. Thomas Bendle, Flint, wagoner, Co. I; trans. to Vet. Res. Corps, Jan. 15, 18G-1.
Roger W. Bunting, Co. 11; must. out Sept. 22, 1865.
George D. Currier, Co. Il ; must, ont Sept. 22, 1865.
Nathaniel Coulter, Co. I; must. out Sept. 22, 1865.
Chauncey Denny, Flint, sergt. Co. 1; must. out Oct. 4, 18G5.
Joseph Fisher, Flint, Co. 1; trans. to Vet. Res. Corps, Jan. 15, 1864.
Albert Hurst, Fenton, Co. 1; disch, for minority, May 7, 1863.
Barney llarper, Flint, Co. 1; d'sch. for disability, June G, 1863.
Orlando J. Hutchinson, Co. 1; gained from m'ssing in action.
Reuben Hidorm, Flint, Co. I; died of disease at Lexington, Ky., March 5, 1864. Clements King, Co. I: must. ont Sept. 22, 1865.
Oren B. MeNett, Flint, sergt. Co. 1 ; must. ont Sept. 22, 18G5.
George B. McComb, Flint, Co. 1; trans, to Vet. Res. Corps, Nov. 23, 1864.
Charles W. Mosher, Richfield, corp. Co. L; trans. to Vet. Res. Corps, May 1, 1864.
Horace B. Madison, Fenton, Co. 1; died of disease at Annapolis, Md., Dec. 24,
Charles D. Phillips, Co. I; died of disease at Camp Nelson, Ky., June 21, 1864. Franklin E. Potter, Fenton, Co. 1 ; gained from missing in action.
Elmer Preston, Fenton, Co. I ; disch. Feb. 8, 1863.
Andrew Potter, Fenton. Co. 1 ; disch. for disability, Sept. 5, 1864.
Isaac Potter, Co. I ; disch. for disability, Dec. 30, 1863.
Patrick Reynold-, Flint, Co. 1; disch. for disability, April 29, 1865.
Ebin Remington, Fenton, Co. F; must. ont Sept. 22, ISG5.
Elias t:, Seeley, Flint, Co. L ; most. ont June 23, 1865.
Timothy O. Sullivan, Co. C; must. out Sept. 22, 1865.
Elijah W. Smith, Flint, Co. 1 ; missing in action at Turner's Ferry, July 9, 1864. Jutham G Stevens, Gaines, Co. 1I; trans, to Vet. Res. Corps, Jan. 15, 1864.
Orlo HI. Van Sickles, Flint, Co. I ; ga ned from missing in action.
James Van Sickles, Flint, Co. M; must, out Sept. 22, 1865.
Joseph 11. Wharton, Flint, wagoner, Co. I; d sch. for disability, April 30, 1865. Benjamin H. Green, Flint, Co. I; died in hospital at Kingston, Ga., July 20, 1861.
NINTHI CAVALRY.
Solomon P. Brockway, Flint ; maj. Nov. 3, 1862; Hent .- col. June 27, 1865 ; must. ont July 24, 1865, as major.
Jacob Fisher, Co. K ; disch. for disability, July 8, 18G5.
TENTH CAVALRY.
Samnel W. Harback, Fenton, sergt. Co. T .; 21 lient. Co. I, April 1, 1864; 1st lient. Oct. 19, 1865 ; must. out Nov. 11, 1865.
Jessup Morehouse, Flint, sergt. Co. D; 2d lieut. Co. HI, Aprd 3, 1864; Ist lient. Feb. 18, 1865; must. out Nov. 11, 1865.
Edwin A. Botsford, Fenton, 2d lieut. Co. L; enl. Aug. 21, 1863; res. Feb. 14, 1865.
Joshua J. Armstrong, Fenton, Co. L; disch. for disability, July 27, 1864.
Lyman G. Bigelow, Co. D; disch. for promotion, July 28, 1861.
Adelbert Chadwick, Fenton, Co. L; must. out Nov. 11, 1865.
William II. Dunning, Co. E; must. out Nov. 11, 1865.
Chester S. Dymond, Fenton, corp. Co. L; must. out Nov. 11, 1865. Lewis B. F. Dickenson, Fenton, Co. L; nmust. out Nov. 11, 1865.
Chester Farrer, Fenton, Co. 1; mmist. out Nov. 11, 1865.
Elias S. Hale, Flint, Co. L ; must. ont May 24, 1865. Albert J. Ifirst, Fenton, corp. Co. L; must. out July 10, 1865.
Merle D. Ingram, Fenton, Co. L; must, out Nov. 11, 1865.
Francis Jemlerine, Fenton, Co. L; must. out March 20, 1865.
Franklin MeCallam, Fenton, Co. L; must. out Nov. 11, 1865. George Marlatt, Fenton, Co. L; must. unt Nov. 22, 1865. Burton Perry, Fentou, Co. L: must. out Nov. 27, 1863. Allen A. P'urter, Fenton, Co. L .; must. ont Nov. 11, 1865. Joseph Il. Rowe, Fenton, Co. L; must. out Nov. 11, 1865. James Spence, Argentine, Co. M ; disch, by onler, Ang. 3, 186.
Washington Todd, Genesee, C'o. D; disch, for di-ability, June 6, 1864.
James A. Taylor, Fenton, quar .- mas, sergt. Co. L; must. out Nov. 11, 1865.
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AGRICULTURE.
Benjamin B. Welch, Fenton, Co. L; died of disease at Grand Rapids, Mich., Nov. 0, 1863.
John H. Groom, Fenton, Co. L .; disch. for disability, Oct. 17, 1864. Morris L. Groom, Fenton, Co. L ; must, out Nov. 11, 1865.
Chas. W. Thorp, Fenton, Co. I .; must. out Nov. 11, 1865.
PROVOST GUARD.
George Osterhout, Burton ; must. out May 2, Is65.
FIRST REGIMENT UNITED STATES SHARPSHOOTERS.
Company K. William Atherton, no record. Company (". Marcus A. Watson, transf. to Invalid Corps, Jan. 15, 1864. James B. Delbridge, disch, tor chisability, Feb. 6, 186 1.
ONE HUNDRED AND SECOND UNITED STATES COLORED TROOPS.
Lewis Beeler, Atlas, Co. K ; di-ch. for di-ability, Sept. 14, 1861. James H. Green, Flint, Co. B; must. out Sept. 30, 1563.
Josephus Johnson, Fenton, to. 1 ; must. out sept. 30, 1865. Richard Williams, Flint, Co. I ; must. out Sept. 30, 1865.
FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT ILLINOIS INFANTRY.
Company G. David W. Beemer, Fenton ; enl. Aug. 22, 1861 ; died of wounds, Jan. 24, 1863.
FORTY-FOURTH ILLINOIS INFANTRY.
S. S. Androus, now of Flint, 24 tient. Co. B; enl. Ang. 12, 18GI | Lieut. Androus had been principally instrumental in raising the company) ; pro. to Ist heut. for gallant and meritorious conduct at battle of Pen Ridge, Mo. ; battalion adjutant at Park Barracks, Louisville, Ky., for about one year; traus, to 5th U. S. Inf., and served as minstering officer for Rhode Island and Connretient ; must. out of service May 1, 1806.
EIGHTH REGIMENT NEW YORK CAVALRY.
Frank E. Willett, Flint; ent. Sept. 21, 1861; wounded in action and taken pris- uner, near Welton Bridge, Va, on Wilson's raid around Richmond, June 20, 1564 ; confined ten months in Andersonville and other prisons ; paroled April 23, 1×65; must. out June 16, 18G5.
SEVENTEENTH NEW YORK LIGHT ARTILLERY.
Andrew Ferris, Forest ; enl. September, 1863; served through operations against Petersburg, at Burksville, Va,, and at Appomattox ; disch. June, 1865.
FIRST MAINE CAVALRY.
Clarence D. U'liner, now of Flint, formerly of Rockland, Me .; Ist lient., and ordered on duty as asst. gr .- mast. 3d Brig. 20 Div. Cav. Corps ; served during the war on staff of Gen. Charles H. Smith, now c.l. 13th U. S. Inf.
BRIGADE BAND, SECOND BRIGADE, FOURTH DIVISION, TWENTY- THIRD ARMY CORPS.
Enlisted Sept. 3, 18GA, for one year ; must red out June 15, 1905.
Conrad A. Hoffinan, leader, Fenton ;* Cyrus Alsdorf, Jefferson Powell, James Shuttleworth, Rollin A. Jenny, William Gale, William Graham, Edwin G. Niles, Merton S. Stewart, David ('. Briggs, Stephen V. Gates, James A. Hungerford, Charles L. Sheldon, Francis 3. Wheeler, Mortimer M. Stan- lord, Alva U. Wood, Adney F. Forbes.
BRIGADE BAND, SECOND BRIGADE, THIRD DIVISION, CAVALRY CORPS.
Jolin J. Vanderburgh, Fenton ; enl. April 13, 1864; must. out Ang. 2. 1865. Elbert N. Chandler, Fenton ; enl. April 13, 1861; must. ont April 29, 1865. Charles C. Colrath, Fenton; enl. Apr.1 13, 1864; must. out July 2x, 1863.
APPOINTMENTS FROM GENESEE COUNTY.
O-car Adams, Flint, major and pay master C. S. Vols. ; en1. March 18, 1864 ; umst. out Nav. 15, 1865.
Andrew B. Chapin, Fint, asst. surg. of U. S. Vols. ; enl. Sept. 12, 1862; res. Ang. 20, 1864.
Gilman T. Holmes, Gaines, Ist lient., Ist Mich Cold Inf., 102d U. S. C. T .; enl. Nov. 7, 1863 ; regt. q .- m., May 6, 1865; rex. June 30, 1865.
Almon C. Barnard, Genesce Co., Ist lieut., 12th U. S. Col'd Heavy Artillery ; enl. July 15, 1864.
CHAPTER XVIII.
AGRICULTURE-MANUFACTURES-POPULATION.
Early Agriculture in Genesee-Sheep- Breeding-Genegre County Sheep- Breeders' and Wool-Growers' Association-Cattle Breeding -The Hay Product-Genesee County Agricultural Society-The Crapo Farm-Manufacturing Interests-Lumbering-Other Manu- facturing Industries-Population of the County at different Periods.
THE earliest agriculture of Genesee was in no respect dif- ferent from that of other counties of the State, where, as in
& All the members of the ban I here namel were from Fenton. 15
this, the pioneer immigrants were largely from the " Gen- esce Country" of Western New York,-that fertile region which had been reputed to surpass all others in richness of soil and adaptability to the purposes of agriculture, particu- Jarly to the production of wheat. Emigrants from that sec- tion invariably gauged the new countries to which they went, by comparison with that which they had left ; and to them, the one principal proof of the excellence of a soil was its capability to produce wheat,-as much wheat in quantity, and as good wheat in quality, as could be raised on the same area of land in that garden-spot of the world, the Genesee Valley of New York. And in their application of this test to the county of Genesee, Mich., the result was so satisfactory that some of them avowed the belief that the new country was not only equal but superior to the old, in this most es- sential particular.
The first care of the farmers who came to till the virgin soil was, of course, to provide subsistence for their families ; and so the first erops which they planted or sowed in the openings, or in the small elearings in the timber, were ex- clusively such as were required for this purpose ; and chief among these was wheat. Potatoes and other eseulents were provided for in a small way, but the article of prime neces- sity was wheat, and to it a great proportion of the tilled area was devoted. The abundant crops which they ob- tained at once relieved their necessities, and placed them beyond the reach of possible want, and then, from the sur- plus of the first and succeeding crops, they began to realize a revenue in money, though the very redundancy of the yield of wheat in this and adjoining sections of the country brought the price so low at times that the remuneration for the labor of raising, harvesting, hand-threshing, and trans- porting the grain to a distant markett seemed discour- agingly small. The experience of later years, however, has shown that the immigrant farmers of. the early days were not far from right in their estimate of the importance of wheat culture upon such a soil as that of Genesee County, where its constantly increasing, and almost uniformly suc- cessful cultivation, has been the foundation of so large a proportion of the agricultural wealth and prosperity.
Below are given statistics of the wheat production of Genesee County at several periods from 1840 to 1873, as shown by the corresponding census reports, viz. :
BnsheIs
Wheat harvested in 1840. 37,999
..
1850. 1854.
121,021
169,027
ISGO ..
1873.
166,30$ 178,710
And the wheat erop of the county for the present year (1879) is estimated to fall very little short of one million bushels. The increase of production of other grains in the county has not been less remarkable than in that of wheat, as will appear from the following figures ;
Bushels.
All grains (other than wheat) raised in Gen-
esce County in 1810 45,611
All grains (other than wheat) raised in Gen- eser County in 1854 207,793
All grains (other than wheat ) raise ! in tien- este County in 1875.
1,050,009
t it was nol infrequently the case that farmers of Genesee County, after hauling their wheat to Pontiac, Oakland Co., were compelled to sell it there at fifty cents per bushel, and sometimes for even a less price.
114
IIISTORY OF GENESEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
SHEEP-BREEDING.
Sheep-raising and wool-growing were among the earliest of the agricultural industries in Genesce, being entered into to some extent by the farmers of the county soon after settlement, and generally as soon as their circum- stances had been improved and the comfort of their families assured by the production of a few erops of wheat, hay, and other necessaries. In 1840 there were one thousand and seven sheep in the county, as shown by the census report of that year, but there were nearly all in the south- eastern towns. In 1850 the wool produced in the county was, as reported, seventy-three thousand eight hundred and four pounds, and the whole number of sheep had increased to twenty-five thousand eight hundred and ninety-five, in- eluding a comparatively large number of the fine-wooled breeds which had been introduced in the mean time, first in Grand Blanc, and a little later in the adjoining towns. In 1852 the executive committee of the county agricul- tural society (then only two years old) said of the display of animals at their annual fair: " If Genesee County deserves special credit for her productions in any one department of stock over others, it was observable in the sheep-pens. It is but very few years since the fine-wooled varieties were first introduced among us, yet we now find them represented here in a display which would be credit- able to much older counties." In that year the amount of wool sold in the Flint market was reported at thirty- three thousand pounds, bringing an average of twenty-nine cents per pound, and it was remarked by an agricultural journal, in commenting on these facts, that "wool is com- mencing to be an article of considerable revenue to the farmers of Genesee County." In the following year (1853) the estimated quantity sold in Flint was something more than fifty thousand pounds, at prices ranging from thirty-five to fifty-six cents per pound. In 1854 the number of sheep reported was thirty-three thousand two hundred and thirty- six, and the wool-clip in the county had increased to ninety- one thousand nine hundred and thirty pounds. In 1860 the number of sheep reported was forty-nine thousand eight hundred and twenty, and the pounds of wool shorn, one hundred and forty-three thousand six hundred and forty-three.
The extraordinary demand created by the war of the Rebellion caused a steady and rapid advance in the price of wool, until finally it reached and exceeded one dollar per pound. This was the most profitable period ever known by wool-growing farmers from the first settlement of Michi- gan down to the present time.
THE GENESEE COUNTY SHEEP-BREEDERS' AND WOOL- GROWERS' ASSOCIATION.
This association, originated during the fever of war priecs, was formed at a meeting composed of a large number of the leading farmers of the county held at the farm of Jonathan Dayton, Esq, in Grand Blanc, May 25, 1865, for the double purpose of forming such an organiza- tion, and "to inaugurate in Genesee County a practice found to be successful, pleasant, and very beneficial in other counties of the State,"-namely, the holding of annual " sheep-shearing festivals," a practice which has been con-
tinued in Genesce till the present time, and has proved as pleasant and beneficial as its promoters anticipated.
The proceedings of the day commenced at about ten A.M. by the choice of Henry W. Wood as president of the day, and F. Il. Rankin, secretary. D. H. Stone, E. G. Gale, and D. H1. Seeley, being appointed a committee to report a plan and constitution of such an association as was in con- templation, submitted their report, which was adopted, and an organization under the above name was effected by the choice of officers as follows : President, II. W. Wood, Flint City. Vice-Presidents, Emmaus Owen, Grand Blanc ; R. A. Carman, Flint; A. P. Gale, Atlas. Secretary, Franeis Il. Rankin, Flint. Treasurer, D. H. Stone, Grand Blane. Anditors, Charles Pettis, Davison ; Henry Schram, Burton. Executive Committee, C. II. Rockwood, Genesee ; Jonathan Dayton, Grand Blane; J. K. Pierson, Atlas; II. C. Van Tiffin, Flint ; E. G. Gale, Atlas ; E. J. Pierson, Grand Blanc; Edmond Perry, Davison.
The sheep-shearing exercises of the day were witnessed by a large concourse of spectators, among whom were many from other counties, and some from the State of New York, though little publicity had been given, and no programme announced. The shearers entered were Josephus Morgan, Joseph Barton, Benjamin Newman, and S. Miner, of Grand Blane; M. F. Dunn and Orson Bingham, of Genesee; William Hawkins, Alfred Ewer, and Edward Ewer, of Flint City ; J. C. Rockafellow, of Davison ; W. II. Borden and Eben Iliggins, of Mundy; Levi Beecher and Charles Beecher, of Atlas; William Dullam and Frank Cousins, of Flint township. About one hundred and fifty sheep were in the yards, but they were not all shorn. The committees were composed as follows : On bucks, J. W. Begole, R. A. Carman ; on ewes, David Schram, C. C. Pierson, Stephen Jordan; on weighing, Oren Stone; on shearing, J. W. King, C. Il. Rockwood, A. S. Donelson. No premiums had been announced or authorized, but the committees especially commended the animals and fleeces of E. J. Pierson, D. II. Stone, Charles Bates, Gurdon Watrous, and J. C. Dayton, of Grand Blanc ; H. W. Wood, of Flint City ; A. P. Gale, of Atlas ; P. A. Montgomery, of Bur- ton ; Charles Pettis, of Davison ; and C. HI. Rockwood, of Genesee ; though expressing the opinion that a number of others were scarcely inferior to those named.
The meeting of the following year-recorded as " the First Annual Festival of the Genesee County Sheep- Breeders' and Wool-Growers' Association"-was held at the agricul- tural fair-grounds in Flint, May 9 and 10, 18GG. At this exhibition (which was confined to Merinos, one hundred and seven sheep were entered for competition, but the number of shearers was insufficient to complete the shear- ing of all in the time allotted. Mr. Rankin, the secretary of the association, in commenting on this display of animals in the next succeeding issue of his paper, said :
" There was not an inferior sheep upon the grounds, and although in older counties larger exhibitions may have been had, we question if anywhere in this State an equal number of better animals have ever been collected together. . . . The wool of the fleeces was all of fine texture, good length of staple, pliant, and soft, such as any locality might feel proud of producing, and such as would do eredit to a display
115
AGRICULTURE.
of such animals (Merinos) even in those parts of Vermont and New York where their care and cultivation is made a specialty. The flocks of Messrs. Gale, of Atlas, Dewey, of Mount Morris, Rising & Munger, of Richfield, Stone, of Grand Blanc, Rockwood and Beahan, of Genesee, Pet- tis, of Davison, Crapser, of Burton, and others, are destined yet to have a fame in the annals of sheep-husbandry."
Premiums were awarded as follows :
On bucks, three years okl and over, first premium to E. B. Dewey, of Mount Morris; second premium to E. G. Gale, of Atlas.
On bucks, two years old, first premium to P. A. Mont- gomery, of Burton ; second premium to William Lobban. of Davison.
On bucks, one year old, first premium to D. II. Stone, of' Grand Blanc; second premium to Stone & Dayton, of Grand Blanc.
Judges on above classes, James Faucett, of Bath, Steu- ben Co., N. Y., Stephen Hillman, of Pontiac, Oakland Co, and M. M. Hilhuan, of Tyrone, Livingston Co., Mich.
On ewes (pens of three), three years old and over, first premium to D. II. Stone, of Grand Blane ; second premium to Rising & Munger, of Richfield.
On ewes (pens of three), two years old, first premium to Rising & Munger ; second premium to E. G. Gale, of Atlas.
Judges on two last-mentioned classes, Henry Schram, of Burton, Stephen Jordan, of Atlas, and Charles Bates, of Grand Blanc.
On ewes (pens of three), one year ohl, first premium to D. 11. Stone; second premium to P. A. Montgomery, of Burton.
Judges on this class, S. Andrews, of Howell, Phineas Thompson, of Grand Blanc, and M. M. Hilhuan, of Tyrone, Livingston Co.
From that time until the present the annual sheep-shear- ing festivals have been observed with regularity, that of 1879 having been held in Grand Blanc on the 1st day of May. It seems apparent, however, from the late lists of entries, that the interest in them is more confined to the southeastern part of the county than formerly.
Sheep-breeding and wool-growing at the present time, though not prosecuted with as much of enthusiasm as during the period of unnaturally inflated prices, is still a leading agricultural industry in Genesee. The flocks of the county are being constantly improved by importations from Ver- mont, Monroe Co., N. Y., and other places, and they now contain a very large proportion of the most approved breeds. That the wool product here is steadily and quite rapidly in- creasing is shown by a comparison of the figures for 1873 with those for 1879; the quantity sheared in Genesee County in the former year being 300,096 pounds, as re- ported in the State census of 1871 (though the actual amount was probably somewhat greater), and the clip of the present year (1879) being 691,000 pounds, amounting to $224,575.
CATTLE-BREEDING.
Several years elapsed after sheep-raising had been com- menced by the farmers of the county before they began to raise cattle for outside markets. The first drove which left the coun'y of Genesce, destined for an Eastern market, was
driven by Porter Hazelton, of Flint, and James Schram (now of California) to Buffalo, N. Y., and there disposed of. A trader from Ohio came into the county soon after, and, with the assistance of Mr. Gibson, of Whigville, pur- chased quite a large lot of' cattle, which he also drove to Buffalo for a market. This was the beginning of a trade which has grown to be a large and important one to the agricultural interests of the county.
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