USA > Michigan > Genesee County > History of Genesee county, Michigan. With illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 86
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112 | Part 113
1854. Walter Knickerbocker.
1812-43. Manley Miles.
1855. Edwin Taylor. IS56-69. No record.
Abrain Bodinc.
Richard Johnson.
1870. llenry Knickerbocker.
1844. Henry D. Hunt.
1871. Wright J. Horton.
Richard Johnson.
1872. Nathan Brown.
Daniel Foote.
1873. Jackson Fox.
1815. David M. Seymour.
1874. Fimon King.
John Hall.
1875. Jackson Fox.
Alanson Dickinson.
1876-78. Charles G. Walker.
1846. David Brown.
Jobn E. Upton.
ASSESSORS.
1838. Addison Stewart.
1843. Carlos B. Sceley.
Daniel Curtis. 18.11. Edward Taylor.
Albert H. Hart. Carlos B. Seeley.
1839. Addison Stewart.
1845. William Sisson. Proctor Williams.
Juba Barrows.
Albert II. Hart.
1846. Nelson Gec.
1810. John Martin. Moses Camp. Russel S. Parker.
Sherman Stanley.
1841. Albert HI. Hart.
J848. Patrick Daly. John E. Upton.
Lyman G. Buckingham. Cyrenus Lake.
1819. David Brown.
1842. byman G. Buckingham. John E. Upton.
Carlos B. Seeley.
1850. David Brown.
1813 3813. David Brown.
Albert II. Hart.
[ Full term.
Vacancy.
42
1861. Calvin W. Wisner (f. t.). Talman T. Slafter (v.). 1862-66. No record. 1867. Job Nichols (f. t.). Charles P. Smith (v.).
1868. Charles A. Kelly.
1869. No record.
1870. Ephraim Allen.
IS71. Job Nichols.
1872. William M. Wright.
1849. Frederick Walker (f. t.). Josiah W. Begole (v.).
1876. William M. Wright (f. t.). Charles P. Smith (v.).
1877. Henry C. Ayers.
1851. Rodman W. Albro.
1855. David Brown (I. t.).
1850. Joseph D. Morehouse.
IS48-49. L. G. Buckingham.
1850. Daniel Curtis.
1871. Dexter Douglass.
1860-61. lastings E. Drake. JS62-63. Nathan Brown.
1867-68. Homer Cathcart.
1869. Samnel Bingham.
1877-78. Edwin A. Russell.
1833. Henry Stanley.
Josiah W. Begole.
1817. Lyman G. Buckingham.
1853. Sherman Stanley (f. t.). Nelson Gee (v.).
IS79. Chandler II. Rockwood.
1870. Isnae A. Chapman.
1859. Sherman Stanley. 1860. Stillwell Burroughs (f. t.). Charles P. Smith (v.).
330
IHISTORY OF GENESEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
OVERSEERS OF THE POOR.
1838. John Martin.
1846. Richard Johnson.
Peabody Pratt.
1847. Chauncey Wisner. Josiah W. Begole.
1839. Jeremy Hitchcock.
Elisha Curtis.
18IS. Rossell S. Parker.
IS40. Reuben Fish.
David Brown.
Alanson Dickinson.
18-19-50. Josiah W. Begole. Timothy Boise.
Reuben Fish.
1851. Josiah W. Degole.
1842. Alauson Dickinson.
John Imrie.
Cyrenus Lake.
1852. Daniel Curtis.
1843. Peter Snyder.
Luther Gilbert.
Lyquan G. Buckingham.
1853. Richard Rich.
1844. John E. Upton.
David M. Seymour.
Benjamin F. Robinson.
1854. John Woolfitt.
18.15. Reuben Fish.
Richart Rich.
Richard Johnson.
1855. Albert Wisner.
ISIG. Chaquecy Wisner.
Luther Gilbert.
SCHOOL INSPECTORS.
1838-39. Addison Stewart.
1857. T. W. Lamphierd.
Juba Barrows.
1858. M. F. Baldwin.
Isaac N. Robinson.
1859. E. W. Gilbert.
1840. Moses Camp.
1860. M. F. Baldwin.
Josiah W. Begole.
18G1. C. Norwood Van Wormer.
llenry l'adwell.
1862. Stephen Burroughs.
18.11. Moses Camp.
Willam Chamberlin.
Josiah W. Begole.
1864. C. N. Van Wortuer.
Philo M. Begole.
Addison Stewart. Josiah W. Begole.
1865. E. W. Gilbert.
1843. Almon B. Pratt (2 years). Albert 11. Hart (1 year).
Wright J. Horton. Alexander R. Bray.
1844. Addison Stewart.
1866. T. W. Lamphierd. Hamilton Stanley.
1845. Frederick Stanley (f. t.). Moses Camp (v.).
1867-68. No record.
1869. J. W. Birdsall.
C. Il. Penoyer.
1847. Ellsworth Walkley (f. t.). Daniel Foote (v.).
1848. William Chamberlin.
1849. Manley Miles, Jr.
1850-51. William Chamberlin.
1852. Almou B. Pratt (f. t.). I. N. C. Miles (v.).
1853. Patrick Daly.
1854. Robert Johnson.
1855. Almon B. Pratt (f. t.). William Chamberlin.
1856. William Chamberlin.
SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENTS.
1875-76. lliram II. Bardwell. 1879. Byron S. Jennings. 1877-78. John A. Chapell.
DRAIN COMMISSIONERS.
1871. Roswell C. Burroughs.
1572. William Algate.
1873. William L. Palmer.
1879. Chandler II. Rockwood.
1874-75. Ralph M. Stimpson. -
CONSTABLES .*
Lyman G. Buckingham, IS38 to '44, '46 to '48 ; Frederick Walker. (i. L. Jones, 1838; Albert T. Stevens, IS38-411, '42, '45; John Woo]- fitt, Samuel Clark, Jr., 1839; Charles R. Cooley, 1840 ; Asabel Simons, 1840, '45, '48, '50-52; Joseph Simons, ISI1 ; Ezra Ste- vens, 1841-42; Ilumphrey Hunt, 1841 to '44; William M. Glover, 1813 : Daniel Foote, 1843-14; T. Allen Walkley, 1844-46; Je-
rome Clark, 1845-46; Josephus Stanley, 1846 ; Edward Hughes, J. P. Wetherell, 1847; Gibbens Wentworth, 1847-48; Ezra G. Wisner, 1848-49; Henry Stanley, Lorenzo Gere, 1849; William S. Rogers, 1849-51: Stillman Stanley, Isaac N. C. Miles, 1830; Robert Johnson, 1851; Hiram A. Gilbert. 1851, '56; lliram Cogswell. Joseph W. Metealf, 1852; Daniel C. Crandall, 1852, '59, '68, '70; Oliver Stanley, John Perry, John Hughes, 1853; Porter Colton, 1853-54; Alanson Barr, James Gahan, Edmund Johnson, 1854; Andrew Rhykard, Nathan Brown, 1855; Orson Bingbam, 1855, '75; Joseph D. Morehouse, 1855-59; Orson Jen- nings, 1856; Jerome M. Lampman, 1859 ; George A. Ilutebinson, 1859-79; Marshall F. Dnnn, J. A. Peck, Ansel D. Seeley, 1861 ; ('barles B. Wetherell, 1868; Chauncey M. Braddock, 1868-74; Jackson Fox, 1870-71; Simeon 11. Church, 1870-72; John A. Edwards, 1870-71, '73, '75 to 79; llorace J. Stevens, 1871, '76 to 79 ; Charles I1. Mosier, Martiu Richmond, 1872; William B. Wetherell, 1872-73; Joseph Worden, Alexander Ferguson, 1873; James II. Bement, Austin Stevens, 1874; George Crow, 1874- 75; William D. Bird, 1875; Stephen Olen, 1876-78; William II. Allen, 1876-77 ; Edwin L. Foote, 1878-79.
The town has repeatedly voted on the question of licen- sing the sale of liquor, and uniformly against thus legalizing the traffic. Some of the votes have been as follows: In 1846, for license, 2; against license, 36; in 1847, for li- cense, 2; against license, 45; in 1850, for license, 17 ; against license, 66.
June 20, 1853, at a special meeting to vote on the ques- tion of adopting the prohibitory law, the vote for its adop- tion was 110, and the vote against it but 51.
The population in 1874 was 1550, divided as follows : Males under five years, 121; from five to twenty-one years, SS; from twenty-one to forty-five years, 241 ; from forty-five to seventy-five years, 149; from seventy-five to ninety years, 5; from ninety to one hundred years, 1. Fc- males under five years, 105 ; from five to eighteen years, 111; from eighteen to forty years, 260 ; from forty to sev- enty-five years, 159; from seventy-five years upwards, 3. Total males, 781 ; total females, 769. These were classified according to their condition in life as single, 855 ; married, 652; widowed and divorced, 43.
From the census tables we glean the following facts : The area of taxable lands is 22,364 acres, 11,4462 acres of which are improved lands. The railroad right of way and land occupied by their buildings amounts to 120 acres. There are 264 farms, averaging 78.79 acres each.
The products for the year 1873 were as follows : Wheat, 36,071 bushels; corn, 24,025 bushels; all other grains, 40,605 bushels ; potatoes, 16,632 bushels ; hay, 2200 tons ; cider, 269 barrels; wool, 14,292 pounds; pork, 35,973 pounds; cheese, 100 pounds; butter, 54,732 pounds ; maple-sugar, 1600 pounds.
It thus ranked as the fifth town in the county in the quantity of wheat produced, sixth in corn and cider, second in potatoes, and seventh in hay and butter.
Its orchards covered 479 acres, and produced 9289 bushels of apples.
The number of head of stock kept that year was as fol- lows : Horses, 437 ; mules, 4; work-oxen, 58 ; milch-cows, 511; other neat-cattle, 632; swine, 565; sheep, 2530.
The town has two villages. The largest is Mount Mor- ris, an incorporated village, first platted in 1862, lying partly in the town whose name it bears, and partly in this town. A full history of this village accompanies the history of the
# For the years 1857-58, '60, '62 to '67 inclusive, and '69, there aro no records of the constables elected. For the years 1856, 'Gl, and 'US there is a partial record.
1870. B. Edward Fay (f. t.). James F. Ilall (v.).
1871. lliram 11. Bardwell (f. t.).
William B. Wetherell (v.).
1872. Daniel II. Seeley.
1873. Iliram 1I. Bardwell (f. t.).
1873-74. Darwin B. Foster (v. and f. t.).
1875. Charles U1. Westover.
1876. Ilenry B. Diller.
1877-79, Charles G. Westover.
1846. Ogden Clark (f. t.). Ellsworth Walkley (v.).
1863. W. II. Troop. A. B. Pratt. Stillwell Burroughs.
1842. Ellsworth Walkley.
1876-77. Charles P. Smith. 1878. Charles H. Walker.
IS-II. Reuben Wetherell.
HENRY B.DILLER.
MRS. HENRY B.DILLER.
RESIDENCE OF HENRY B. DILLER, GENESEE, GENESEE CO., MICH.
331
GENESEE TOWNSHIP.
town of Mount Morris, to which we refer the reader for further information.
The other village, named Genesee, but in local parlance known as Geneseeville, lies on sections 10 and 11, a few rods north of their southern boundaries. It was platted Nov. 19, 1856, by Reuben McCreery and Simon King, the plat being recorded in the register's office on the 20th. At that time it was a mere rudiment of a village, with three or four dwellings and the saw- and grist-mills. The first store was built a few years after by Nathaniel Black- mer, and is still standing on the north side of the street running along the railroad, being now used as a dwelling. Mr. Blackmer was succeeded in the business by Martin W. Lake, of Flint. Another store was brought from the north part of the same sections in 1872, and was occupied by its present owner, Horace Clapp. A third store was built by George Crow, in 1872, on the cast side of the road. It is now occupied as a dwelling. The hotel was built by Wm. E. Alexander in the summer of 1872, and was subse- quently sold by him to its present owner, Mrs. Hubbard.
At the present time the village consists of a hotel, a grist-mill, a store, two blacksmith-shops, a wagon-shop, a cooper-shop, and about fifteen dwellings. Its population is about 100.
The post-office was established as early as 1859. The first postmaster remembered by our informant was Martin W. Lake. His successors were William M. Rogers, Charles G. Walker, Mosher Hovey, John R. Begel, and the present incumbent, Martin Richmond, appointed in 1872.
The town has not been entirely unknown outside of its own limits, as it has been honored abroad in the person of the following of its citizens: Reuben MeCreery, County Treasurer in 1852 and 1854, and Sheriff in IS46 and 1848; Chandler II. Rockwood, Representative in 1866; and Philo D. Phillips, Sheriff in 1876 and 1878.
RELIGIOUS.
The first religious services held in this town were in the Coldwater settlement. Among the earliest were Methodist meetings, held in 1836 at the house of Lewis Buckingham, which were addressed by Rev. William Brockway, a mis- sionary and Indian agent, who, traveling along the route between Detroit and Saginaw, sometimes stopped there to break the Bread of Life to the small band of Christian brethren who so eagerly greeted his coming.
Elder Gambell, of Grand Blanc, a minister of the Bap- tist denomination, also held occasional services as early as 1834 and '35, generally at John Pratt's house.
The pioneers had come here bringing their religion with them, and as soon as possible they prepared to organize themselves into a church society. The result of their movement was the formation of the
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCHI OF FLINT.
It was organized on the third day of May, 1834, by Rev. Mr. MeEwin, of Detroit, either at the house of John Pratt or Isaac N. Robinson, with the following members : Lewis Buckingham and wife, Isaac N. Robinson and wife, Luman Beach and wife, John Pratt and wife, and Almira Bacon.
John Pratt, Isaac N. Robinson, and Lewis Buckingham were chosen and ordained as elders of the church, and John Pratt and Isaac N. Robinson were chosen and or- dained to the office of deacons.
They adopted the covenant and articles of faith in the usual manner. One article took very advanced ground in favor of total abstinence, which, at that early day, was quite remarkable, as the temperance sentiment of the time did not usually reach so far. It read as follows :
" ART. 3. We believe that the manufacture and vending and use of all intoxicating liquors, except for medical and manufacturing pur- poses, is morally wrong, and consequently do agree to abstain there- from."
The society erected a church edifice either in the sum- mer of 1834 or that of 1835. It was a comfortable frame building, about 30 by 40 feet in size. It was never painted, but remained in use until about 1855, when it was sohl to Mr. Freeman, moved some forty or fifty rods north from its former site, and converted into a dwelling. The site was donated either by John Pratt or Daniel Curtis (it being a part of the Curtis farm), and, when the church was re- moved from it, reverted to its former owner.
During the twenty-one years that had elapsed from the time of its organization the meetings were regularly sus- tained. When no pastor or minister was at hand to occupy the pulpit, sermons would be read by some of the members. Isaac N. Robinson was generally the reader, but sometimes John Pratt or Nelson H. Chittenden would officiate. The Sabbath-school, too, was kept up throughout the year. It was organized before the church was formed, with Isaac N. Robinson as its superintendent, a position in which he re- mained for a period of ten years.
In 1855, owing to the removal of a large number of its members, the society was broken up.
The following ministers acted as pastors : Revs. John Dudley, N. Cobb, Cyrus HI. Baldwin, John Beach, E. T. Branch, and O. Parker, an evangelist.
THE FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF GENESEE.
In the month of February, 1837, Rev. John Beach, of Flint, came to this town and organized a church at the house of Jeremy Hitchcock. Bradford P. Foster, Albert T. Stevens, and John E. Upton were chosen as the first deacons. The original members were Jeremy Hitchcock and wife, B. P. Foster and wife, and Albert T. Stevens.
In the summer of 1840 a church site was given by John E. Upton, and a small frame church was built. It was about 20 by 30 feet in size, and stood on the southwest corner of section 3. It was used until about the year 1856, when a larger building was demanded to accommodate the growing congregation, and for the convenience of the majority of the members it was decided to change its location. The old church was therefore sold, and a new one built on the southwest corner of section 9, where Sherman Stanley gave one acre of ground for a site. The new church was built in the summer of 1857, at a cost of about $1700. Its size is 36 by 50 feet, and it will comfortably scat about three hun- dred people. The building was put up under contract by Levi MeCarn, and he, having some trouble about getting his pay, retained possession nearly two years before the
332
HISTORY OF GENESEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
society settled his claim and had the building formally dedicated.
The society was incorporated Feb. 24, 1844, at a meet- ing whose officers were Rev. John Beach, Moderator, and John E. Upton, Clerk. The following officers were elected : Daniel H. Secley, John E. Upton, Ezra Martin, Trustees ; Josiah W. Begole, Clerk.
In addition to the deacons first chosen, Josiah W. Begole, Crawford Barkley, and Charles G. Westover have been or- dained to that office. The two last named are the present deacons of the church.
The church has been served by a multiplicity of pastors. The names of those who preached in the okl church, as near as we can ascertain, were Revs. John Beach, John Dudley, Sanborn, Copeland, Branch, and McDowell. In the new church, Revs. A. B. Pratt, Leroy Warren, Wm. Birdsall, John Rose, - Borden, Enoch Atkins, Charles Thomp- son, J. P. Sanderson, and James Halliday.
The highest membership was reached in 1856, when the society numbered 73. During the pastorate of Rev. A. B. Pratt, who was very strict in his views regarding discipline, there was quite a falling off, and the church has never fully recovered from its effects. The present number of mem- bers is about 30. A revival of more than usual interest occurred under the preaching of Rev. William Birdsall in the winter of 1867-68, at which 34 persons were con- verted.
The present officers are W. F. Stevens, John Sharr, Crawford Barkley, Trustees ; W. F. Stevens, Society Clerk and Treasurer ; Charles G. Westover, Church Clerk.
The Sabbath-school was organized in the old church, and had about 10 or 15 scholars. Daniel Rich was the first superintendent. His successors have been J. W. Begole, Bradford Goodale, A. B. Pratt, J. B. Morehouse, Lewis Cornwell, Philo M. Begole, Henry D. Hunt, Charles G. Westover, and W. F. Stevens. The school now numbers about 60 members. Sumner A. Mills is the superintend- ent, and Irving Bray the secretary and treasurer.
The history of those churches whose site is included in the corporate limits of the village of Mount Morris will be found in the historical sketch relating to the latter in Mount Morris township.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
HENRY B. DILLER.
This gentleman, one of the prominent farmers and honored citizens of Genesee, was born in Clarence, Erie Co., N. Y., Aug. 15, 1840. Ile was the oldest son of Abram and Catharine (Drudge) Diller, who had a family of five children. The elder Diller was a farmer by occupation, and was born in Clarence, N. Y., Jan. 25, 1815. In 1864 the family came to Genesce, where the elder Diller resided until his death. Ile was a man highly esteemed by all who knew him for his industry and integrity. Henry B. received an academical education, and has always followed the calling of' a farmer, in which he has been highly suc-
cessful. In 1877 he was elected supervisor, which office he has since filled with fidelity to the trust reposed in him, with credit to himself, and to the satisfaction of his fellow- townsmen.
In 1865 he married Lydia Striekler, of his native town, by whom he has had six children. Both he and his wife are prominent members of the Baptist Church and liberal supporters of religious interests. Altogether, Mr. Diller is one of those kind, Christian gentlemen, whose identification with any community is always productive of good.
GEO. W. HOVEY
was born in Owego, N. Y., Jan. 19, 1815. He was the son of Lorenzo and Anna (Ilinman) Hovey, who had a family of nine children,-five boys and four girls. The elder Hovey was a farmer and miller by occupation. He died in Mount Morris, Livingston Co., N. Y., in 1845, in the seventy-first year of his age.
The carly life of Mr. Hovey was devoid of incidents. The family were in limited circumstances, and his advantages for an education were meagre. Ile started out in life as a farmu- hand. In 1843 he moved to Michigan, with his family and his household goods loaded in a wagon drawn by a pair of horses. From Buffalo they came up the lake to Detroit, and from thenee directly to Flint, where Mr. Hovey disposed of his team, wagon and horses, to George M. Dewey, for eighty acres of land, where he now resides. After paying for the recording of the deed, he had just thirty cents left. Soon after his settlement in Genesee, Mr. Ilovey erected a saw-mill and commenced the manu- facture of lumber, in which business he was successfully engaged until 1875. In connection with his lumbering interests, he carried on his farm. To his original purchase he has since added two hundred and forty acres.
On the 13th of December, 1838, Mr. Hovey was mar- ried, Miss Lucinda Snyder, of Mount Morris, Livingston Co., N. Y., becoming his life companion. Five children have been born to them, viz. : William (the eldest, died March 29, 1871), Martha S., Charles M., Emily C., and Fred. A. Mr. Hovey has been a successful business man, and has attained an enviable positiou among his fellow-men.
SIMON KING
was born April 24, 1802. Ile was the son of Simon King, who was a native of Connecticut. The elder King was a farmer by occupation, and died when our subject was a child. Simon, Jr., spent his carly life in the towu of Wheatland, Monroe Co., N. Y., where he resided until 1849. He then came to Michigan and settled in Pulaski, Jackson Co., Mich., where he remained four years, when he gave the property to his sons, Simon and Hiram, and came to Genesee to engage in the manufacture of lumber and flour in company with Reuben MeCreery. This busi- ness he carried on extensively until 1861, since which time he has been engaged in farming. Mr. King has been twice married, -- first to Isabel, daughter of Joseph and Martha McCreery. By this union there were born to them six chil-
MRS. SIMON KING .
SIMON KING.
MRS G. W. HOVEY.
G. W. HOVEY.
RESIDENCE & FARM OF GEO. W. HOVEY, GENESEE, GENESEE COUNTY, MICH .
LITTLE
HENRY KNICKERBOCKER.
MRS. ITENRY KNICKERBOCKER.
HENRY KNICKERBOCKER.
Henry Knickerbocker was born in Pine Plains, Dntehess Co., N. Y., Aug. 24, 1815. He was the son of Andrus and Margaret (Heisrodt) Knicker- boeker, who had a family of eleven children,-five boys and six girls. The elder Knickerbocker was a native of Columbia Co., N. Y., where he was born in 1792. He followed the calling of a farmer. He served in the war of 1812 as a private soldier. After the war he returned to the farm, and in 1825 re- moved with his family to Genesee County, where he died in 1873, in the eighty-second year of his age.
Henry lived at home until he was twenty years of age, and pursued different avocations up to the time of coming to Michigan, in 1840. He first located in the town of Thetford, where he remained until 1867, when he moved on to the farm now owned by his son, Andrus H. Mr. Knickerbocker was married to Miss Sarah Morrow, by whom he had
two children,-Andrus H. and Maggie M. The former was born in Thetford, Oct. 3, 1848; the latter, Oet. 3, 1846. Mrs. Knickerbocker was born Dee. 21, 1814, at Moravia, Cayuga Co., N. Y. She came to Flint in 1834. Henry Knickerbocker and his wife are both deceased.
Mr. Knickerbocker was emphatically a self-made man, and possessed many, if not all, the requisites of a successful business man. He was industrious, en- ergetie, shrewd, and possessed of keen perception. On coming to Genesee he first hired ont as a farm- hand ; he worked in this eapaeity eighteen months, and with the proceeds bought his first farm-one hundred and twenty aeres-in Thetford. Snecess attended his efforts, and he became one of the promi- nent wealthy farmers of the county. We present to our readers his portrait, as also that of his wife, who was all that is expressed in the terms amiable and intelligent.
333
GENESEE TOWNSHIP.
dren,-two sons and four daughters. In 1864, Mrs. King died, and in 1867 he married Mrs. Philinda Bodine. Mr. King has been a successful business man, and has endeared himself to a large circle of friends and relations.
JOIIN WOOLFITT
was born in the city of Lincoln, England, on the 24th day of May, 1804. He was the son of John and Mary Woolfitt, who had a family of ten children. The elder Woolfitt was a laboring man, industrious, energetic, and a devout member of the Episcopal Church. Ile died at an advanced age. As soon as our subject was old enough to work he was hired to a farmer, which occupation he followed for fifteen years. In 1834 he, in company with Richard Johnson, sailed from Ilull, England, for America. After a tedious voyage of seven weeks he arrived safely in Que- bec, from whence he went by water to Detroit, where he arrived July 4th of that year. From Detroit he went to Pontiac, where he shortly after engaged his services to Johu Pratt to work on the Saginaw turnpike. In the fall of that year he took up the land where he now resides, and on which he has since lived. The following May his house was burned, and he was obliged to work ont to redeem his loss. After five years of hard labor and privation he felt the need of some one to share his joys and sorrows ; he accordingly married Miss Jane M. Allen, of Flint, in July, 1839. They have been blessed with nine children,-sis girls and three boys. Mrs. Woolfitt was born in the province of On- tario, town of Cramah, July 8, 1819. She was left an orphan at the age of wine, and at the age of thirteen came to Michigan with Mr. Isaiah Merriman, by whom she was adopted.
WALTER KNICKERBOCKER
was born in Pine Plains, Dutchess Co., N. Y., April 8, 182.4. On attaining his majority, he started in life as a farm-laborer. In 1815 he came to Michigan, and took up one hundred and twenty acres of land in the town of Thet- ford. He lived in Thetford until 1852, when he disposed of his property there, and came to Genesce, where he now resides. Mr. Knickerbocker has been twice married,- first, to Miss Caroline Morrow : she died in 1854, and in 1855 he married Miss Mary Abrams, of Genesee. She was born in Lansingburgh, N. Y., Jan. 23, 1838; her parents came to Genesce at a very carly day. By his first wife Mr. Knickerbocker had two children, James I. and Charles S. By his second wife he had ten children, viz. : George E., William, Esther (deceased), Jennie G., Martha C., Julia, Mary, Anna, Walter, and Herman HI. Mr. Knickerbocker is one of those vigorous, iron-willed men who attain suc- cess in every department of life despite of all obstacles. llis success is an evidence of what can be accomplished by industry, economy, and good executive ability.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.