USA > Michigan > Genesee County > History of Genesee county, Michigan. With illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 69
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Ile next sought and obtained the hand of Miss Emily A. Perry, with whom he had been acquainted since boy- hood. They were married Feb. 24, 1857. Mrs. Emily Jordan is the daughter of Simeon and Sarah Perry, and one of a family of six children, whose names are Isabel, Emily A., Mary, Joseph, Mary (2d), and Esther. Mrs. Jordan's parents came to Michigan among the first settlers of Genesee County.
Simeon Perry came to the Territory with his father in 1827, and afterwards returned to New York and married Miss Sarah Cartwright, of Genesee County, N. Y. Ile has resided ever since on his farm in Grand Blanc. His
wife died Sept. 17, 1876, in the seventy-second year of her age.
Mr. Jordan and his esteemed wife are the parents of six children, named as follows : Mary E., Frank P., Jennie E., Louie A., Charles S., and Belle C., all living at home with their parents, except Mary, who died Feb. 21, 1877, aged eighteen years. Mr. Jordan is the owner of a valuable and fertile farm, beautifully situated and well adapted to the production of all the grains and fruit for which his locality is so widely celebrated.
The portraits of this worthy couple, with a view of their farm-home, may be found on another page.
EDGAR E. STIMSON
is the descendant of an old New England family. Robert Stimson and his family emigrated from Massachusetts about 1797, and settled on a new farm in West Bloomfield, Ontario Co., N. Y., where they remained until old age, when they went to Ohio and resided with their son, Robert, until their deaths. They were the parents of eleven chil- dren, -Robert, Rebecca, Sutley B., Nancy, Ilarriet, Betsey, Emily, Catharine, Mary Ann, Sarah, and Martha.
S. B. Stimson was born Nov. 7, 1800, at West Bloom- field, N. Y. From boyhood he was a natural mechanic, and he became a carpenter and builder, which occupation he followed all his life. In 1822, on January 1st, he mar- ried Polly Earl, of Mendon. She was born March 30, 1800, and became the mother of six children, named Morris M., Charlotte T., Edgar E., Fancher, Jane, and Harriet H.,-all of whom are living except Harriet, who died in childhood. Mrs. Polly Stimson died at the age of thirty-two years, Feb. 23, 1832. On the 28th day of April, 1836, Mr. Stimson married Olive Mansfield, of Mendon, by whom he had two children,-Warren and Robert E. Ilis second wife died Oet. 8, 1851. Dec. 2, 1852, he married his third wife, Mrs. Cynthia Herrick, of West Bloomfield ; there were no children by the latter marriage. In 1859 the old gentleman emigrated to Kan- sas, where he lived for the ensuing eighteen years ; his wife died in 1876, and about the same time he had a stroke of paralysis. Ilis son Edgar brought him to his home in Michigan to reside with the children. He died at the home of his son Morris, in Kalamazoo, in May, 1877, at the age of seventy-seven years.
Edgar E. Stimson was born at West Bloomfield, N. Y., Sept. 6, 1826. Ile lost his mother before he was six years old; for two years after this event he had a home with Abel II. Peck, after which he remained with his father until he was seventeen years of age, when he went out into the world to do for himself. IIe worked at farm labor in the summer seasons and went to school in the winter; at the age of twenty he commenced teaching school, which he followed for several winters. Ile then, in company with his father, bought a grist-mill and farm at West Bloomfield, and carried on milling and farming for several years. IIe subsequently exchanged his interest in that property for a new farm in the town of Waterford, Oakland Co., Mich.
E. E. STIMSON .
TEN
RESIDENCE OF E.E
MRS. E. E. STIMSON.
USE'
ON , ATLAS, MICHIGAN.
261
ATLAS TOWNSHIP.
lle married Miss Frances C. French, of West Bloom- field, N. Y., on the 11th day of April, 1854. Soon after his marriage he removed to Michigan, settled on his new farm, built a shanty, and commenced clearing and improv- ing his land. In 1865 he sold off his personal property and worked at the milling business in Ortonville; soon after he sold his farm in Oakland, and purchased a farm of one hundred acres in the town of Atlas, Genesee Co., to which he has since added fifty-two aeres, and has made extensive improvements in the farm-buildings, ete.
Mrs. Frances C. Stimson, who is a remarkably intelligent and agreeable lady, was born at East Bloomfield, N. Y., on the 19th day of July, 1829; she was the daughter of John B. and Betsey French, old residents of the last- named place. She was one of eight children, namely,- Alexander H., Timothy D., John B, Marcia J., Reuben E., Mary M., Frances C., and IIelen M. Her family were originally natives of New England, and settled in Western New York at an early day.
Mr. Stimson and his wife are members of the Free-Will Baptist Church, and take an active interest in the advance- ment of the Gospel, and all enterprises for the upbuilding of society. They are both deservedly esteemed for their Christian and social qualities. They are the parents of five children, viz. : May V., Hattie L., Celia A., Frank E., and Lizzie J., all of whom are at home with the parents, except Hattie, who is the wife of Henry Brigham, and resides on the old farm-home of that family in Lapeer Co., Mich.
On another page of this work may be found a view of the farm-home of this worthy family, with the portraits of the owners.
TIJE McNEIL FAMILY.
The ancestors of this family were of Scotch and Welsh nativity, descendants of whom settled in New England at an early date. Charles MeNeil was a native of Vermont, educated and reared a farmer. He married Jerusha Ly- man, daughter of Maj. Lyman, of Vergennes, who was a soldier in the war of 1812, and received his death-wound at the battle of Plattsburg. Charles MeNeil came into possession of the old home-farm of his father, on the eastern shore of Lake Champlain, at Charlotte. The farm consisted of five hundred acres, on which he resided all his life. He also owned the ferry between Charlotte and Essex, across the lake. He reared a family of fifteen children, named as follows : Frances, Mary E., Nancy H., Laura L., John J., Charles, . David, James B., Charlotte, Henry, Jane, George, Ellen, William, and Julia. Of this large family eleven are still living. Charles died in 1860, at the age of seventy-nine years, and his widow attained to the same age, her decease occurring in 1864.
John L. McNeil, the eldest son, was born at Charlotte, Oct. 10, 1813. His boyhood was passed in attending the common schools and in farm-labor until he was twenty-one, when he worked for his father a few months (at five dollars per month ), and for the next year took charge of his father's hotel in Charlotte. In 1836 he concluded to go West and select a location for his future home. On the 2d day of
May, of that year, he started with a light, covered wagon, in which he carried some extra clothing, provisions, a couple of log-chains, an axe, a set of drag-teeth, and various other tools. He came by way of Saratoga, Johnstown, Auburn, and Geneva to Buffalo, where he shipped his team and wagon for Toledo. On account of storms they did not land at Toledo, but eame on to Detroit, when, hearing ill accounts of the Toledo country, he decided to settle in Michigan. Ile followed the old Saginaw road into the wilderness of Lapeer County ; selected and bought of the goverment three hundred and twenty aeres in the township of Atlas, in the present county of Genesee, about sixteen miles southeast of the city of Flint. IIe then sold his horses and wagon, bought a yoke of oxen, built a small log house which he covered with elm-bark, and moved in and kept house, as happy as a king. About a year later he creeted a commodious log house, in which he and his bro- ther Charles kept bachelor's hall until the fall of 1837, when he married Miss Sylvia Davison. Ile went sixteen miles on foot to obtain the necessary license of the county clerk. They were united on the 26th day of October, 1837. From that time he was busily engaged in clearing and improving his land, and in ereeting suitable farm-buildings. In 1838 he was elected one of the assessors of Atlas, and two years later justice of the peace, which latter position he filled for the ensuing eight years. In 1848 he was elected a repre- sentative to the State Legislature. In all of these positions he served the public in a satisfactory manner. For the last forty-two years he has been a zealous adherent of, and active worker in, the Democratic party. Mr. MeNeil has become widely known as a fine stock farmer, making wool-growing a specialty, and has done much towards the introduction and improvement of the fine wool varieties in his locality.
John L. McNeil and his excellent wife are the parents of three children. Charles, the eldest, died in infancy ; Mary J. and Lyman are unmarried, and reside at home with their parents. Mr. McNeil is a man in whom the community have unbounded confidence,-shrewd and cau- tious in his business ventures, plain and unassuming in his manners, courteous and affable in his intercourse, and hon- orable in his dealings. Ile has never in the course of a long and active life had a suit at law.
The ancestors of Mrs. Sylvia McNeil were also natives of New England and of Scotch descent. Paul Davison, the paternal grandfather, emigrated to Western New York, and settled on a farm at Lima, in Livingston County. Ile reared a family of seven children,-three sons and four daughters. Norman, the eldest child, was born in 1786; was reared a farmer, and also became a carpenter. Nov. 9, 1806, he married Huldah Brown. After his marriage he carried on farming for several years in various places in Monroe and Livingston Counties. In the spring of 1831 he and his two eldest sons made a trip to the Territory of Michigan in quest of a location for their future home. They came to Detroit, and thence followed the old Saginaw trail into the wilds of Lapeer. They selected and bought a government lot at the place now known as Davisonville, in the township of Atlas, now Genesee County. Ilis was the second entry of land in Lapeer County. He erceted a two-story frame house, which was the second house built in
262
HISTORY OF GENESEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
Atlas. In the fall of that year he returned to New York, and moved his family to their new home in the wilderness. To the west of them their nearest neighbor was two and a half miles distant, and in the opposite direction none nearer than Port Huron. His family consisted of his wife and ten children,-viz., Sarah G., l'aul G., Oliver P., Sylvia, George A., Henry P., Dewitt C., Benjamin F., Jane A., and Mary F.
Mr. Davison was in the early and pioneer days of Mich- igan a man of much influenee and consideration, and under the Territorial laws was made judge of the courts by Gov- ernor Mason. He also served as supervisor and as magis- trate of his town. He died in 1841 at the age of fifty-five, and his widow in 1848 at the age of sixty-two years.
Their fourth child, Mrs. Sylvia MeNeil, was born at Lima, Livingstou Co., N. Y., March 28, 1812. She re- eeived the wholesome lessons and practical education of a farmer's daughter, and possessed with it the vigorous con- stitution and robust habits common to the atmosphere of farm-life. She was about nineteen years of age when the family emigrated to the wild woods home in Michigan, and she retains to-day a vivid remembrance of their early pioneer life,-of the days when the forests were alive with deer, wolves, and bears. She has always been an active, industrious housewife, and has nobly performed her full share of life's duties. She enjoys the respect and esteem of all her acquaintances, and the love and reverence of her children.
On another page of this work may be found the portraits and a view of the home of this old pioneer couple.
DAVID MCNEIL
was born at the old home, on Lake Champlain, April 21, 1816. He was also reared on the farm, attending school in his boyhood in alternation with farm labor. He remained with his father until he was twenty-three years old, when (in 1839) he came West. Soon after his arrival in Mich- igan he purchased at second-hand one hundred and sixty acres of wild land in the township of Grand Blane, Genesee Co. He next built a log shanty, and therein kept bach- elor's hall for three years; worked the while on his new farm, clearing off the timber, ete. During this time he made the acquaintance of Miss Jane A. Davison, the third daughter of Judge Davison, of Atlas. They were united in marriage on the 1st day of January, 1844. Hle then erected a more commodious log house, into which they moved. Iu a few years, by incessant toil and good management, Mr. MeNeil had become a well-to-do farmer, and one of the " solid" men of the county, known and esteemed by a large circle of friends and acquaintances for his many good qualities as a citizen and neighbor.
David MeNeil and his wife have been blessed with four children. Ellen J., the eldest, is the wife of Sherman Townsend, and resides in Ionia ; Norman J. is married, and owns and resides on his farm adjoining that of his father; George D. and Arthur G. are young men, and reside at home with the parents, assisting in earrying on the old home-farm, which embraces two hundred and forty aeres of fertile land, well adapted to all kinds of grain and fruit.
On another page will be seen a fine view of the farm-
home, accompanied by the portraits of David McNeil and his excellent wife.
JONATIIAN FROST.
Among the early settlers of Atlas township there was no one who did more to advance the growth and prosperity of his township than he whose name heads this sketeh. Jon- athan Frost was born in South Bristol township, Ontario Co., N. Y., Dec. 25, 1817. His father, dying when he was quite young, left him to find a home as best he could. For a time he lived around among his relatives, but finally made his home with his unele, Col. Hawes, with whom he lived until he grew to manhood. His chances for an education were limited to a few months in the winter at a district school, his summers being passed in working on his uncle's farm. Ile commeneed life with only his hands, backed by an indomitable will, combined with energy and industry.
In 1836 he came to Michigan and bought of the govern- ment the northeast quarter of seetion 24, and of his brother the east half of the northwest quarter of the same section, in Atlas township. He remained in Atlas during the fall and winter of 1836, and then returned to New York, where he worked at farming by the month until after his marriage, in May, 1839, when with his wife he moved on to his farm in Atlas, no portion of which was then cleared. A log house was soon built, and life in the wilderness commeneed. Under his skillful management the forest disappeared, and soon a beautiful farm, with fine buildings, orchards, and all the modern improvements, appeared where, but so short a time before, the wolves, deer, and other wild animals roamed undisturbed. To the two hundred and forty acres Mr. Frost added from time to time, until at the time of his death his farmu comprised four hundred and ninety-three aeres of fine land, pronounced to be one of the best in the township. As above stated, Mr. Frost commenced life with nothing, and for several years after moving into the woods life with the new-married couple was no holiday. He did the most of his clearing himself, and many times worked half the night burning off the fallows, often burning his hands to a blister handling the charred logs. As time passed and prosperity dawned upon him, Mr. Frost branched out in business. He dealt largely in real-estate and invested in mills, thus doing much to help his township. In early life Mr. Frost was a Democrat, but upon the organization of the Repub- liean party, and thenceforward until his death, he was one of its most ardent supporters, although he never solicited office. He experienced religion at the age of fifteen, and was ever afterwards an earnest and sineere Christian. After he came to Michigan he joined the Methodist Episcopal Church. He was active in the organization of that church in Atlas, and was for many years one of its officers. Mr. Frost died April 14, 1873. In his death Atlas lost one of its most enterprising citizens,-one respected and esteemed by friends and neighbors.
Ile was married to Olive Cobb, May 30, 1839. She was the daughter of Job and Rhoda ( Abbey) Cobb, and was born March 3, 1818. There were born to them the following children : Maryette, born Sept. 17, 1840; Rhoda A., born Dec. 1, 1843; Emily and Emery, born June 23, 1847 ;
-
*
RESIDENCE OF W. M. CARPEN
ATLAS, GENESEE COUNTY, MICH.
263
ATLAS TOWNSHIP.
Ephraim, born Dee. 15, 1852. Emery died Oct. 15, 1848; Ephraim died March 3, 1877. Mrs. Frost died Dec. 16, 1852. For his second wife Mr. Frost married Mrs. Ann S. Ilawes, daughter of William and Prudence (Case ) Paul. She was born April 6, 1828. Their union was blessed with one daughter, Jenny Frost, born Aug. 22, 1861.
THE CARPENTER FAMILY.
The ancestors of this numerous family are from a long line in English history. Of those who settled in New York was George Carpenter, who reared a large family of children. His youngest son, George, grew to manhood, and was mar- ried to Abigail Gildersleeve. He was a farmer in Dutchess County ; about the year 1812 he removed with his family to Saratoga, and settled on a farm. His wife, who died in 1811, was the mother of Henry, Pamelia, Mary, Amy, Peter, William, and Abigail. Ile was afterwards married to Mrs. Jerusha Case, of Dutchess County, by whom there were no children. He remained on his farm until 1837, when he came to Michigan, and made his home with his son William. He died at the extreme age of one hundred and two years, according to the family records. William Carpenter, the youngest son, was born Sept. 16, 1805, at the old Dutchess County home. He remained with his father until he was fourteen years of age, when he launched out for himself. Ile was employed on the farm of Jacob Denton, near Saratoga, where he remained fourteen years. During this time he paid court to Miss Luranie Pierce, who was also employed in the family of Mr. Denton. They were married in 1833, and soon after moved to Niagara County, bought a farm of fifty acres, upon which he settled and remained two years, when he sold out, and, in the spring of 1836, he, in company with Levi Preston, started for Michigan. They came on foot through Canada to Detroit, thebee by the old Saginaw road to Atlas, Genesce Co. Mr. Carpenter selected and bought of the government two hundred acres, about fourteen miles southeast of the city of Flint. Hle next erected a log house, cleared off two acres, put in oats and potatoes. He then returned to New York, settled up his business, and with his wife and child started for the new home in the West. Mr. Levi Preston and his family came in company with them. The journey was performed with ox-teams,-two yoke of oxen to each wagon. The wagons, besides the family, contained beds, clothing, provisions, tools, etc. They were thirty days on the tedious journey, but arrived safely at the selected home in the wilderness. And from that little beginning in the wild woods, after passing through all the trials of pio- neer life, has arisen the beautiful home of the Carpenter family, in Atlas, where William Carpenter and his worthy wife still reside, enjoying a happy old age in the compan- ionship of their children and old neighbors.
They are the parents of seven children,-Jacob D., Mary E., Julia A., William, Jr., Amos, Pamclia, and George E.,-all of whom are living except Mary E, who died in the eighteenth year of her age. Jacob is married, and resides on his farm in the town of Burton, and the others are all married, and own and reside on farms in T'us- cola County.
William Carpenter, Jr., was born on the 9th day of August, 1844, at the old homestead in Atlas, where he has passed his life thus far. Ilis boyhood days were spent in the schools and on the farm. At the age of twenty-two he married Miss Kate Colwell, daughter of James and Ann Colwell, old settlers of Atlas. They were united on the 24th day of October, 1865.
In 1867, William Carpenter, his father, divided his property among the children, since which time William, Jr., has bought out the others, and now owns the old home- stead and farm, consisting of two hundred and forty-five aeres. He has made extensive improvements in the resi- dence, farm-buildings, etc. As will be seen by reference to the view on another page, he has one of the finest farms in that part of the county.
JEREMIAHI NARRIN.
The aneestors of this gentleman were of Seotch and Welsh origin, and among the early settlers of New York State.
Peter Narrin, the grandfather of Jeremiah, emigrated from Wayne County, N. Y., in 1838, to Michigan. IIc purchased one hundred and twenty acres of government land in the town of Groveland, Oakland Co. His family, which consisted of his wife and three sons, with their wives and children, all came at the same time and set- tled in the same locality. The names of the sons were William L., John S., and De Witt C. Together they located and occupied about one thousand acres in the same neighborhood.
Peter Narrin died in 1851, at the age of seventy-four years, and his widow, in 1852, at the age of sixty-four years. William L., the ellest son, was born in Wayne Co., N. Y., April 21, 1811, and Feb. I, 1832, he married Miss Sally Moore. In 1838 he sold his farm in New York, and, as above stated, came to Michigan, bought and settled on three hundred and twenty acres of government land in Oakland County. This became his home, where he reared his children, and where he remained until eight years sinee, when he removed to Ortonville and purchased two hundred acres adjoining that village. IFis death oc- curred on the 14th day of May, 1879, at the city of Flint, while under medieal treatment for stone in the bladder. lle was the father of six children, three of whom died in infancy ; the others (John S., Jeremiah, and George W.) grew to manhood. John S., the eldest son, went to the Western country about twenty-two years ago, and the family have had no tidings of him for the past twelve years. George W., the youngest son, resides on the old homestead in Groveland.
Jeremiah Narrin, the second son, was born June 20, 1838, at the old home in Wayne County, N. Y., and while he was an infant his parents moved to Michigan. From the time he was fifteen months old he lived with his grand- mother, until her death, when he had attained to his four- teenth year. By the old lady's bequest he became the owner of the old home-farm of Peter Narrin, in Oakland County. After the death of his grandmother he worked
HISTORY OF GENESEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
by the month for Enos Goodrich, with whom he continued six years, during which time he " courted" Miss Matilda L., the daughter of his employer. He was successful in his suit, and they were married on the 4th day of October, 1859. Ile had previous to this sold his farm in Grove- land, and after his marriage he purchased his present farm in the town of Atlas, on which he settled and where he has resided ever since. Mr. Narriu has made extensive im- provements on his farm, so that now it is one of the best farm-homes in that locality.
Mrs. Matilda L. Narrin, who is a remarkably intelligent lady, of pleasant and agreeable address, is the eldest child of Enos and Ann Goodrich, who were among the earliest settlers of the town of Atlas. Enos Goodrich was born in Cayuga Co., N. Y., Aug. 11, 1813. He came with the Goodrich family to Michigan in 1836, and settled at the place where now stands the village of his name. In com-
pany with his brother Reuben he erected mills, stores, and other buildings at that place, and carried on an extensive business for many years. On the 26th day of June, 1838, he married Miss Ann Atkins, of the same place. They are the parents of two children,-Matilda L. and Enos II. Since 1863, Enos Goodrich has resided at Watertown, Tuscola Co., where he is engaged in farming. His son, Enos H., is married, and also resides on a farm near his father. Mrs. Matilda Narrin was born in the village of Goodrich, April 4, 1841. She is the mother of three children, namely, Annie E., Ella C., and Ellis, the latter of whom died in infancy. Annie and Ella are at home with the parents. Mrs. Narrin resided in the village of Good- rich until fifteen years ago, when she removed to the farm one and a half miles southeast of the village.
The reader's special attention is called to the view of their beautiful farm-home, on another page of this work.
FLUSHING.
THE township of Flushing lies on the western bound- ary of the county of Genesee, and includes township 8 north, in range 5 east, as denoted on the United States survey. It is watered by the Flint River and its tributa- ries, the stream named entering near the southeast corner of town, and, after a winding course, leaving it near the centre of the northern boundary. The mill-sites along the river were early improved, and it still furnishes power at numerous places within the limits of the county. Along the river the surface of the township is somewhat varied, the banks in places being high and steep and the land in the immediate vicinity rolling, while at others they are gently sloping and the neighboring country nearly level. A large portion of the township is exceedingly level, and the whole was originally covered with a dense growth of heavy timber, in which was considerable pine.
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