USA > Michigan > Genesee County > History of Genesee county, Michigan. With illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 48
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G. S. Hopkins. 46
1862. Jolın C. Clement.
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1863. =
1864. «
44
P. Il. Stewart.
ISG5.
Josiah W. Begole.
1866. =
44
44
44
ING7.
Paul J. Stewart.
18G8. 44
6 4
Wm. Patterson.
1869. And'w B. Chapin. 44
Paul H. Stewart.
IS70. =
46
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1871. Gen. E. Nownll. =
1872. " 44
Corn. Roosevelt, =
44
George L. Walker.
1×73. 44
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John Algoe.
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14
1875. 4.
S. Mathewson.
Eph. S. Williams. 44
1876. 46
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=
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Jas. Van Vleet. 14
1877. D. S. Freeman.
€4
44
44
44
1878. L. C. Whitney.
44
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Albert Crosby.
1879. "
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ALDERMEN.
First Ward.
Second Ward. Third Ward.
Fourth Ward.
1855. J. W. Armstrong. Benj. Pearson.
Geo. W. Dewey.
David Mather. A. T. Crosman.
1856. H. W. Wood.
Charles Rico. Henry I. Higgins.
1857. C. S. Payne.
Saml. N. Warren, Geo. W. Fish.
Lewis Walker.t Saml. N. Warren. 44
1838. "
Jno. C. Allen.
Saml. B. Wicks, G. W. Skidmoro.
1859. C. S. Payne. Jno. C. Allen.
Saml. N. Warren. G. W. Fish.
Saml. B. Wicks.
J. Skidmore.
1860. Oscar Adams.
Wmn. Hamilton.
W'in. Patterson.
1861. Alex. McFarlan. Edw. C. Turner,
1862. David S. Fox.
Wmn. Hamilton.
Paul II. Stewart. =
1863. « 46
E. C. Turner.
I. N. Eldridge.
David Footo.
1864. ‘
Wm. Stevenson. Edw. C. Turner. Hiram Parsell.
1865. “ =
Geo. H. Durand. L. II. Roberts.
David Foote.
1866. John Hawley.
Geo, HI. Durand. I. N. Eldridge.
Sumner Howard. 44 44
1867. « 44
Almer Randall.
Wmn. Hamilton.
Charles Smith.
1868. =
44
44
Geo. IT. Durand. Orson B. Gibson, Sumnor Howard. 1869. " 44
Abner Randall. F. W. Judd.
F. Il. Pierce.
1870. =
=
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1871. J. R. Chambers.
= Damon Stewart. John Willett.
1872. Sami. C. Randall. = 44
64 Wm. Dullam. J. B. F. Curtis. Josiah W. Begule. James Williams.
1873. Benj. Cotharin.
Saml. C. Randall, H. C. Spencer. 4
44 .4 P. Cleveland, Jr. Chas. D. Smith. = Wm. R. Morse. James Williams.
1875. Thomas Page. =
.
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Satul. C. Randall, Wm. Fobos.
1876. Chas. A. Mason. 46
= Henry Brown. Chas. D. Smith.
1877. "
Win. A. Atwood.
J. Zimmerman.
1878,
44
=
Henry C. Walker. =
Thomas l'age. S. N. Androus. Win. A. Atwood. Jos. M. Corkvy.
1879. Geo. L. Caldwell. Andrew J. Ward. S. 1. Brecher. A. R. Michaels.
STREET COMMISSIONERS.
First Ward. Second Ward. Third Ward.
Fourth Ward.
1855. Wm. Moon.
Win. Eddy. John C. Griswold.
1856. Thos. Me Elhany. George Andrews, James McAlester.
1837. Win. Baker.
John A. Klino. John W. Palmer.
1858, JJohn S. Ryno.
Benj. Pearson. Chas. II. Cudney.
1859. 4
Elijah Drake. = =
1860. Benj. F'. Goff.
William Miller. 44
+ To fill vacancy.
46
44
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=
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M. S. Elmore. Wilson S. Touscy. W. O'Donoughne. = 16
W. Buckingham. Chas. D. Smith. Edw. B. Clapp.
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1874. Benj. Cotharin. J. B. F. Curtis.
P. Cleveland, Jr. Chris. Becker. =
Thomas l'age. J. B. F. Curtis.
Anson S. Withee.
"
66
1872.
Solomon V. lakez.
44
Alvin T. Crosman.
46
O. F. Forsyth.
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Geo. W. Thayer.
1874. 4
44
44
Wm. M. Fenton.
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4 4
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Charles (. Benhan.
C'has. A. Mason. Andrew J. Ward. Win. A. Burr.
Wm. Clark.
178
HISTORY OF GENESEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
First Ward.
Second Ward. Third Ward. Fourth Ward.
18G1. L. Bradford.
S. C. Smith.
W'm. Boomer.
1862. A. M. Hurd.
L. Buckingham. Josiah Pratt.
1863. 4
L. II. Roberts.
James D. Haight.
1864. David Watson.
Thos. Simons.
L. Buckingham. 44
1866. Wm. W. Joyner.
Leonard Wesson. Jacob B. Covert. Orson B. Gibson. Edmond Curtis.
1867. «
44
Wm. Boomer.
1869. Jno. C. Clement. Josiah Pratt.
Josiah l'ratt.
1870. Robt. W. Dullam. L. H. Roberts.
Silas Austin.
1871. Robt. l'atrick, Sr.
1872. 44
S. B. Wicks.
Edmond Curtis.
L. Buckingham. Henry Thayer.
IS74. 44
€4
44
46
1875. =
46
14
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John Becker.
1876. John Andrews.
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Augustus Root.
1877. 46
64
64
John C. Dayton. D. C. Andrews.
1878. Thomas Sullivan.
M. H. White.
1879.
44
Alfred Ingalls.
William Pidd.
JUSTICES OF THE PEACE.
1855 .- Charles Seymour.
1867-68 .- Levi Walker.
Levi Walker.
1869 .- L. G. Bickford.
Lewis G. Bickford.
Lewis Buckingham.
Willard Eddy.
Levi Walker.
1856 .- Paul jf. Stewart.
1870-71 .- Wm. Stevenson.
1857 .- Lewis G. Bickford.
Levi Walker.
1858-59 .- Paul It. Stewart.
L. G. Biekford.
Nelson Norton.
1872 .- Levi Walker.
1860 .- Peyton R. Cook.
Lyman P. Andrews.
1861 .- Lewis G. Bickford.
Win. Stevenson.
1862 .- B. J. Lewis.
1873 .- L. G. Bickford.
1863 .- Lewis G. Bickford. Peyton R. Cook.
William Blades.
Samuel B. Wicks. Wm. Stevenson.
1864 .- B. J. Lewis.
1874-75. - Gleo. M. Walker.
L. G. Bickford.
Lewis G. Bickford.
W'm. Blades.
Charles II. Wisner.
P. R. Cook.
Wmn. Stevenson.
1865 .- Levi Walker.
1876 .-- Benjamin J. Lewis.
B. J. Lewis.
L. G. Bickford.
George M. Walker. L. G. Bickford.
1866 .- C. A. Pomroy.
Charles 11. Wisner.
W'm. Blades.
1877-78 .- Win. Stevenson.
Levi Walker.
George M. Walker.
L. G. Bickford.
L. G. Bickford.
18G7-68 .- L. G. Biekford.
Charles Ii. Wisner.
1 .. G. Buckingham.
1879 .- William Stevenson.
MARSHALS.
1855 .- Cornelius Roosevelt.
1864 .- L. G. Buckingham. 1865-66 .- J. D. Morehouse.
1856 .- Joshua Vose.
1857 .- Nathaniel Dodge.
1867-68 .- John S. Freeman.
1858-59 .- Cyrus II. Goff.
1869-70 .- William A. Miller.
1860 .- George Andrews.
1871-77 .- Samuel B. Wieks.
1SB1-62 .- J. A. Owen.
1878-79 .- Michael Doran.
1863 .- J. D. Morehouse.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
WILLIAM MATTHEW FENTON
was born in Norwich, Chenango Co., N. Y., on the 19th of Deeember, 1808. In 1826, while yet scareely more than a boy, he graduated at Hamilton College, at the head of his elass. In less than a year from his gradnation he sailed from Charleston, S. C., as a common sailor. Four years later, when he decided to leave the seafaring life, he
was first mate of a merehantman, and was offered the cap- taincy of a similar vessel, which position he declined. In April, 1835, he married a daughter of Judge James Bird- sall, of Norwich, N. Y., and in July of the same year set- tled at Pontiac, Oakland Co., where he engaged in mercan- tile business with Robert Le Roy, Esq.
In April, 1837, he removed to Genesee County, and settled in the village (then Dibbleville) which afterwards took his name. There he was first engaged in mercantile pursuits, milling, and real-estate transactions, but soon commenced preparation for the practice of the law, and was admitted to the bar in 1842. In 1844 he was the Democratic candi- date for Representative in the State Legislature, but was de- feated by the opposing candidate. In 1846 he was elected to the State Senate for the distriet composing the counties of Genesee, Oakland, Macomb, and Livingston. While in the Legislature, he was active in securing the establishment of the Institution for the Deaf and Dumb and the Blind, and its location at Flint. In 1848 he was clected lieuten- ant-governor of the State, and was re-elected to the same office in 1850. In 1852, having removed to Flint, he was appointed by President Pierce register of the land-offiec at that place, and held the position until the removal of the office to Saginaw. In the year 1856 he traveled with his family in Europe, and in 1858 was elected mayor of Flint, in which position his ability and good judgment did much for the good of the city and for all the public interests represented.
When the great war of the Rebellion broke out, the voice of Mr. Fenton was raised for his country above the din of party discord. Ile had been, and was, a Democrat, but he was also more than Demoerat, or Republican,-he was a patriot ; and he instinctively dropped all considera- tions of party, and offered his serviees to his country in a way that proved his devotion most conclusively. When the first Michigan troops were called to organize for the field, he telegraphed to Governor Blair that five thousand dollars of his private means was at the disposal of the State for the equipment of the forces. Early in 1861 he was made major of the 7th Michigan Infantry ; but before being mus- tered in with that rank he was commissioned by Gov- ernor Blair colonel of the 8th Infantry. Col. Fenton pos- sessed extraordinary organizing and executive ability, and entered upon bis work with such zeal and energy as to in- spire every offieer and private in the regiment with a simi- lar spirit, and to cause the 8th to be organized, drilled, equipped, and led to the front with remarkable eelerity. Of Col. Fenton's distinguished services as commander of the regiment, aud of the brigade of which it formed a part, a more extended account is given with the history of the heroic Sth, to be found elsewhere in this volume.
After two years of incessant service in the field, Col. Fen- ton was obliged to resign his commission on account of his ill health. On his return home he became the Democratic candidate for Governor, but that party was too much in the minority in Michigan to make his election possible. He then devoted himself to his profession, and to the details of his private business, among the enterprises of the latter being the ercetion of the block of stores and publie hall which still bear his name in the city of Flint. In the
1865. 44
4
1868. Wm. O. Bassett.
Almon Reynolds. George Stanard. = Henry Stanley.
1×73.
64
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Josiah Pratt. = =
4.4
Win. Stevenson.
Lyman P. Andrews.
Charles Seymour. Lewis G. Bickford. R. W. Jenny.
L. G. Bickford.
T
Henry H. Grafo.
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179
FLINT CITY.
organization of the city government, Col. Fenton was chosen chief engineer of the Flint Fire Department, and his zeal in the performance of the duties of that office caused his death, on the 12th of November, 1871. On the pre- vious night he was summoned by an alarm of fire, and, in his haste, he ran against a post with such force as produced fatal internal injuries. "This event cast a gloom over the entire city. Resolutions expressive of the great sorrow felt by the community were adopted at a publie meeting of citizens. Similar resolutions were adopted by the members of the bar, the common council of Flint, the fire depart- ment, and the Knights Templar Commandery, of which he was a member. On the day of his funeral most of the business places in Flint were closed, and nearly all of them draped in mourning. He was a ripe scholar, an able law- yer, and a wise counselor. The elements of true manhood were combined in his character in such nearly perfect pro- portions that, as a man, a neighbor, friend, and Christian gentleman, he won the entire confidence of his fellow-citi- zens." Ile left a family of four children. His wife, his beloved companion during more than thirty years of mar- ried life, had died three years before him.
GEN. M. D. MCALESTER.
Miles D. MeAlester was born March 21, 1833, at Bel- fast, Allegany Co., N. Y., and moved thence in 1836, with his parents, to Flint, Mich., where he resided at the time of his appointment to the Military Academy at West Point, in 1852. He graduated third in his class, and was made brevet second lieutenant, July 1, 1856. On the Ist of December in that year he was promoted to second lieutenant in the corps of engineers, and subsequently served as assist- ant engineer at Fort Taylor, Fla., to the Board of Engineers for Atlantic Coast Defenses, and on Fortifications in New York Harbor. Iu 1859 he was promoted to the charge, as superintending engineer, of the defenses of the city of New York, and in 1861, of the repairs at Fort Mifflin, Pa.
In the early part of the great Rebellion, having just re- ceived his promotion as first lieutenant, he served with dis- tinction in the Army of the Potomae, first as assistant en- gineer on the defenses of Washington, then as chief engineer of the 3d Corps in the Peninsula, directing the construc- tion of field-works, and taking part in the battles of Wil- liamsburg, Fair Oaks, and Malvern Hill; and for meri- torious services in this campaign received the brevets of major and lieutenant-colonel, July 1, 1862.
Hle served with the same army in the Maryland campaign of 1862, and was in the battles of South Mountain and An- tietam ; and at the close of the campaign was transferred to the Department of the Ohio as its chief engineer, and re- mained in that duty till August, 1863, during which time he was promoted to the grade of captain of engineers. A short respite from his arduous duties in the field was afforded him, by his detail as instructor of practical military engineering, and principal assistant professor of engineering at West Point, in the fall of 1863; but the exigencies of the campaign of 1864 made his services again necessary to the army, and in June of that year he was ordered into the field in the South-
west, where he served as chief engineer of the Military Di- vision of West Mississippi from July 15, 1864, to July 16, 1865, and from that time as chief engineer of the Depart- ment of Louisiana, being engaged in the sieges and capture of Forts Gaines and Morgan, and Spanish Fort, and also in the storming of Blakely, all in the Mobile campaign ; and for his gallant and meritorious services in these operations he received the brevets of colonel and brigadier-general, United States army. After the close of the war, Dee. 23, 1865, he was made superintending engineer of the construc- tion of defenses of Ship Island, Miss., and New Orleans, and March 13, 1866, received, in addition, charge of the defenses of Mobile and Pensacola, and of improvements of the mouths of the Mississippi. May 22, 1867, he was ap- pointed engineer of the Eighth Light-House District, and during the same year was superintending engineer of the survey of Bayou Manchae and the Amtie River, with view to the forming of first-class steamboat navigation between the Mississippi River and the Mississippi Sound. And in 1867 and '68 he superintended the survey of Galveston harbor, with view to its improvement.
Gen. MeAlester was married at Wilkes Barre, Pa., Oct. 15, 1868, to Miss Louisa Bowman, daughter of Col. Bowman, formerly superintendent of the Military Academy at West Point. Shortly after his marriage he was assigned (Jan. 1, 1869) to duty as superintending engineer of Lake On- tario harbor works, and the modification and completion of Forts Ontario and Niagara, taking station at Buffalo, N. Y., and was also appointed engineer of the Tenth Light-House District ; but before he had fairly entered on his new field of duty he was attacked with dysentery, which afterwards changed to intermittent typhoid fever, and finally, worn out by recurrence of combined attacks of both disorders, and completely exhausted by the unequal conflict, he passed calmly away, in the morning of April 23, 1869. Ilis re- mains were interred at Wilkes Barre, Pa. The Army and Navy Journal, in noticing the death of Gen. MeAlester, said, " Ilis record speaks for itself, and renders unnecessary further enmment on the great loss which the army, and es- pecially his own corps, has sustained."
GOVERNOR H. Il. CRAPO.
Henry Howland Crapo was born at Dartmouth, Bristol Co., Mass., May 24, 1804, and died at Flint, Genesee Co., Mich., July 22, 1869. Ile was of French ancestry. Ilis father was a small farmer of Dartmouth. His educational advantages were limited, and he was to a great extent self- educated. Ile early manifested a passion for literary pur- suits, studying night and day. When quite young he was given charge of the Dartmouth primary and high schools, and passed a severe examination at the Friends' Academy, New Bedford, to which city he removed in '1832, and hell several municipal offices,-among others that of police justice and treasurer of the city for several years. He was largely instrumental in the establishment of the free public library of New Bedford, the first institution of its kind in Massachusetts. While a resident of New Bed- ford, Mr. Crapo acquired quite a taste for horticulture, established a nursery, and contributed by his pen to various
180
HISTORY OF GENESEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
horticultural periodicals, as well as exhibiting the produc- tions of his nurseries at local and district fairs. An affect- ing eulogy on Mr. Crapo's death was pronounced in 1869, by the president of the National Horticultural Society, at Philadelphia. During his residence in New Bedford he was engaged in the whaling business. He was colonel in the Massachusetts State militia, an officer of two insurance companies, and a compiler of the New Bedford City Di- rectory from 1836 to 1845.
Mr. Crapo removed to Michigan in 1856, having made large investments in pine-lands many years before, making the city of Flint his home. He was largely engaged in the manufacture and sale of lumber at Flint, Fentonville, Holly, and Detroit, soon becoming one of the most success- ful business men of the State. He was the main promoter of the Flint and Holly Railroad, and was president of that road till its consolidation with the Flint and Pere Marquette Railway. He was mayor of Flint, and in 1862 was elected to the State Senate, taking rank among the leaders of that body, being chairman of the committee on banks and in- corporations, and a member of the committee on bounties to soldiers. He was elected Governor in 1864, when the war of the Rebellion was drawing to a close, and re-elected in 1866, filling the position with marked ability.
The principal features of his administration were the cordial and hearty support which he gave President Lincoln in erushing the Rebellion, his veto of the then popular measure to permit the ruinous bonding of municipalities in aid of railroads, and his refusal to pardon convicts from the penitentiary unless upon the clearest proof of their innocence. Of his administration Judge Campbell says, " Governor Crapo was a very conscientious and valuable public servant, and his careful supervision saved the State from mismanagement in some of the multitudinous contracts which require almost the eyes of Argus to watch them. His great business experience and strict economy and integ- rity induced him to give a degree of personal supervision to the details of road-building and other outlays which was more than any one man could devote to such work without injury to himself. His untimely death was owing to neglect of health in attending to the details of public affairs."
With his removal to Michigan Mr. Crapo did not lose his taste for rural affairs, horticulture, and agriculture. Hle had a farm of eleven hundred acres in the town of Gaines, which he reclaimed from a swamp, and made ex- tensive improvements thereon, stocking it with fine breeds of cattle and sheep, many of which were his own im- portation. The farmers of Genesce County chose him president of their society. He was a regular contributor on agricultural topies to the Albany Country Gentleman.
In politics Mr. Crapo was originally a Whig, but became an active member of the Republican party when it was organized.
Jan. 9, 1825, he married Miss Mary Ann Slocum. Her people were of the denomination of Friends. Her plain taste and frugal habits aided her husband and contributed largely to his success in life. She was benevolent and charitable to the poor. She, as well as Mr. Crapo, were members of the Christian, or Disciples' Church, of New
Bedford. After coming to Flint they were identified with the Presbyterian Church.
The unobtrusive pleasures of domestic life were Mr. Crapo's peculiar enjoyment. He was the kind father of a large and loving family of one son and nine daughters. The son, William W. Crapo, now represents the New Bedford, Mass., district in Congress.
HON. ALEXANDER McFARLAN.
Among the foremost men who have largely contributed to the building up of the city of Flint, the name of this gentleman stands second to none. His early life was a checkered one, constantly struggling with difficulties, which nothing but an indomitable will and unflagging perseverance and industry overcame.
He was born on the 14th day of February (St. Valen- tine's Day), A.D. 1812, in the town of Broadalbin, Mont- gomery County, State of New York, of Scotch parents. His father died when he was but a year old, leaving him- self and another child to the truest and best of mothers, who, like the father, had emigrated from old Scotland, and in whose veins ran the true " blood of the Covenanters" of her native land, and under whose guidance the education of the then youthful Alexander was committed. With the meagre advantages procured from a common district school, and with the ordinary certificate in his pocket that he " was graduated," he became himself a teacher at the enor- mous sum of ten dollars per month.
It was in obedience to the wishes of his father (to his mother) that he and his brother should receive a good English education, and such as a new country afforded he obtained.
At the early age of fourteen years he commenced learn- ing the trade, like a distinguished President of the United States, of a tanner, but soon afterwards, becoming dis- gusted with his new vocation, he went to the city of Rochester, and there became a student in one of the prin- cipal seminaries ; and during his residence in Rochester boarded himself, and worked for his support each day three hours. Afterwards he taught school for two years, and then returned to finish the trade that he had abandoned, at Pavilion Centre, in the county of Genesee, in the State of New York, and while so doing earned less than a dollar a day, the greater part of which he subsequently lost by the financial embarrassment of his employer. Finding himself capable to carry on his trade, two Scotch countrymen came forward and generously advanced him one hundred and forty-three dollars, and with this small sum he started on the " voyage of life." The business of tanning by strict economy produced a fair profit, and after the expiration of a two years' lease he surrendered it to the owner, with one thousand dollars in his pockets and over three hun- dred dollars in notes and accounts.
At this time the great tidal wave of emigration had com- meneed from the East to the West. Thousands of active young men, who knew no difficulties and obstacles but what perseverance and honesty would surmount, followed the ju- dicious advice of the then leading journalist of the country,
V.11.13 pole.
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...
181
FLINT CITY.
Horace Greeley, and journeyed West, and among the num- bers was Alexander McFarlan.
The State of Indiana held out seemingly great induce- ments for investing money in the purchase of lands. A purchase was made by Mr. McFarlan in fee-simple of over a half-section of land situate on the celebrated Tippe- canoe River. Like a thousand of similar instances, it proved an unfortunate investment, for, after keeping it for over a quarter of a century, he realized from the sale of it less than one-half he had paid upon it for taxes. Fol- lowing the pathway made by the early French voyageurs, he traveled on foot from Chicago to the head-waters of the Illinois River ; here he took a boat and proceeded to the city of St. Louis, thence down the Mississippi, and up the Ohio to its junction with the Alleghany and Mononga- hela Rivers, visiting St. Louis, Cincinnati, and Pittsburgh, then small villages and but sparsely populated.
The time consumed in these wanderings took money, and with barely enough in his pocket he managed to reach Caledonia, Livingston Co., N. Y., and commenced anew at his trade of a tanner by hiring a building owned by a Scotchman of the name of Alexander Simpson, and, al- though he was successful for ten years and made money, the tannery caught fire and burned up; and though in pecu- niary matters he was a great loser, he soon found himself more than compensated, and not only captivated, but mar- ried, one of the owner's daughters, and who, after a period of over thirty-eight years of married life, still lives to be his noble and loving helpmate.
After a ten-years' residence in Caledonia, Mr. McFarlan moved to Alexander, remained ten years, and then with bis family and with the hard-earned accumulations of fourteen years, came to Flint, in June, 1850. He soon afterwards purchased a one-half interest in the unfinished steam saw- mill of G. H. Hazelton. This was destroyed by fire the following year, when, in order to make good his original investment and protect himself, he purchased the remaining interest, and commenced without delay in erecting a larger steam-mill, which ran with great success for a period of twelve years, when it was again destroyed by fire.
Again was called into requisition the indomitable will and uil desperundum of the owner; a third mill was speed- ily in its place, containing all the new improvements con- nected with the business of making lumber.
Mr. McFarlan became readily possessed of a fortune at this period, when, for the fourth time, the all-devouring element of' fire, after eight years of wonderful success, not only destroyed his mill, but, with the large amount of lum- ber burnt and otherwise rendered nearly valueless, entailed a loss of over one hundred thousand dollars.
Phoenix-like, another mill was built, more complete than any previous one, which is now in operation to its utmost capacity, and again has success crowned his untiring labors. It is fairly estimated that during his residence in Flint his various mills have ent over one hundred million feet of pine lumber.
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