USA > Michigan > Genesee County > History of Genesee county, Michigan. With illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 94
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Caleb Calkins and Caroline Piper were married in the " Green Mountain" State, on the 22d day of February, 1825. The following spring they gathered together the household goods and removed to the famous Genesee country, in Western New York, where they started a home in the town of Wheatland, Monroe Co. From there they moved to Oakfield, N. Y., where Mr. Calkins and his brother Daniel had purchased a farm in the then wilderness, which was overran by the wolves aod Indiaos. He subsequently sold his interest io that place and bought on the West openings. His next move was to start out with his father-in-law to look at the lands of Michigan. They came to Calhoun County, traveling on foot, and selling pins, needles, and notions hy the way to pay their expenses. He had pre- viously sold bis farm on the openings, and now bought a farm in Michigan. Ile subsequently sold it, however, and bought another in the town of Alabama, Genesee Co., N. Y., where he resided several years. In 1840 he traded that place with his brother Daniel, taking in exchange oac hundred and sixty acres in the town of Clayton, seven miles west of Flint. Having examined his latest acquisition, and let to Samoel Wiekham the job of clearing two acres, sowing it to wheat, and harvesting the erop, he then returned to New York. In 184I be sent his household goods by team to Buffalo, and shipped them on a lake craft to Detroit, and theo, with his family in an emi- graot wagon drawn by a good pair of horses, started to fonod a home
in Michigan. Hle crossed the Niagara at Lewiston, traveled through Canada, crossed the Detroit River at Detroit, and arrived at his new home in October. They were accompanied by Mr. Calkins' sister, Mrs. Sherman Fletcher, whose husbandt had preceded the rest of the party by a couple of weeks for the purpose of having a house ready for their joint occupancy before the party arrived. In this intention, however, he failed, and the families temporarily moved in with Samuel Wickham, remaining there seme eight or ten days before Fleteher's house was ready. Both families lived in the Fletcher honse for three weeks. Mr. Calkins traded his team of horses with Jarvis Bailey, getting a team of oxen, a cow, a hog, and lumber for his house in exchange. At the expiration of the three weeks his owo house was ready and the family moved in.
There are many interesting incidents connected with their pioneer experiences, some of which we briefly mention. In the winter follow- ing their arrival (1841-42) fodder for the cattle could not be obtained, and as a consequence they were forced to live upon " browse," or the tender twigs of trees that were felled for that purpose. In January, 1843, the family were out of flour and had no money. As an ex- pedient, Mr. Calkins purebased a load of lumber (giving his note in payment), hired a man to draw it to Milford, and traded it for two barrels of flour of very poor quality-about what would now he classed as "No. I middlings." To settle the note forty bushels of wheat was given the next harvest. In 1848 he sent his eldest son to Pontiac with a load of wheat, and he brought back a load of apples, which were the first brought into Clayton.
Mr. Calkins was fond of banting, and very proficient in the use of the riffe ; both his own and his neighbors' tables were well supplied with venison furnished by his skill. He built the first framed barn in Clayton, and also the first school-house. The "raisings" were attended by every man in Clayton, and some from Flushing and Flint. For several years Mr. Calkias worked among the neighbors at shoemaking, coopering, and carpenter and joiner work.
To his lifetime he was honored by his fellow-citizens by being called to office, serving as school inspector and justice of the peace, demonstrating in each position his ability and probity of character. Both he and his wife were honored members of the Methodist Episco- pal Church, lived consistent and exemplary Christian lives, and passed from earth secure in their faith in Christ, and the loving re- gards of their friends and acquaintances. Mr. Calkins died Aug. 5, 1860, and his wife Nov. 12, 1863.
Mr. Calkins had a family of thirteen children, of whom six still survive. Their names and residences are as follows: Edmund, Daniel, Elijah, and Elisha Calkins, of Clayten ; Mrs. A. M. Felt, of Mount Morris ; James II. Calkins, of Owasso. Of the deceased, Edmond, Rosina, and Matilda died young in the State of New York; Edwin, and Caroline, wife of William Morrish, in this towo; Dimmis, wife of Thomas Morrish, in Flint; and John W., a soldier in Co. H, 4th Michigan Cavalry, in Angust, 1864, at Cartersville, Ga.
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CLAYTON TOWNSIIIP.
Ford ; Assistant Dictator, Charles L. Countryman ; Re- porter, Charles Mclain ; Financial Reporter, M. S. Osgood ; Treas., Benjamin Ingalls ; Chaplain, F. W. Fuller ; Guide, George Jeffers ; Guardian, John C. Smith ; Sentinel, J. L. Goodrich.
SWARTZ CREEK LADIES' LIBRARY ASSOCIATION.
The idea of forming an association of this nature in the village was first conceived and mentioned by Mrs. Benja- min Ingalls, and to her and Mrs. D. E. Salisbury is due the praise for carrying out the plan. The society was organ- ized in May and June, 1877, with about 30 members. The plan of the work is somewhat different at present, subscrip- tions being taken. The number of volumes in the library in the middle of June, 1879, was 181. These are princi- pally works of fiction, although a considerable number of religious and other volumes are included. The society- room is in Grange Hall. The present officers are: Presi- dent, Mrs. J. C. Parsons ; Vice-President, Mrs. Charles Crapser ; Recording Secretary, Mrs. D. E. Salisbury ; Cor- responding Secretary, Mrs. Jenny Ilill ; Treasurer, Mrs. Davison ; Librarian, Mrs. Ingalls. The society is not yet incorporated.
Among those who have kindly furnished information in this township, and to whom thanks are therefore due and hereby tendered, are Enos M. Miller, Isaac Lyons, Esq., Jacob Coddington (of Flushing), James E. Ottaway, John Carton, Michael Donahoo, Esq., Peter Lennon, and numer- ous others, whom there is not space to mention.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
PAUL E. TRAYNOR.
Bernard Traynor was born at Cootehill, County Cavan, Ireland, in 1810. Ile lived at home with his parents, who were farmers, until about 1836, when he married Ellen Donahoo, and commenced farming on his own account. In 1844, in hopes of being able to better his condition, he joined the tide of emigrants then crossing the ocean to found new homes and build up futures in the country whose name had become to them the synonym of hope and promise, and, with his wife and three children, landed in New York in due time.
Some years previous his brothers-in-law, Bernard Lennon and Patrick Conlen, had come to America, and had finally settled in Clayton. They had written back glowing reports regarding the cheap lands and rich soil there so abundant, and Lennon, to encourage his brother-in-law to come, had promised to give him forty acres of land. Upon his arrival in Clayton he at once moved on to this land,-the north- west quarter of the northeast quarter of section 30,-and began improving it, in the mean time, also, working out at day labor to support his family. He arrived in July, just at harvest-time, and worked during that season on the Card farm, in Shiawassee County, six miles from his home, walk- ing back and forth each day, and receiving two bushels of wheat for cach day's labor.
By his industrious habits and energetic efforts, actuated
by a laudable ambition to become " forehanded" in the world, he not only cleared and improved the forty aeres he originally owned, but also about two hundred and forty aeres more which he was able to add to it. His wife died in 1847, and he survived her some twenty-eight years, living a widower till his death, which occurred May 13, 1875, from consumption.
Ilis children were Paul E., Edward, Susan, Michael, and Mary A., all of whom live in Clayton, Paul E. and Michael occupying each a part of the homestead.
Paul E. Traynor was born in Ireland, Aug. 15, 1839, and lived with his parents until the winter of 1862-63, when, in February, he enlisted as a private in Company HI, 23d Michigan Infantry, and went forth to fight the battles of his adopted country against the hosts of its rebellious citizens. He participated in the battles of Nelson, Crab Orchard, Stone River, and Resaca, in the latter engagement receiving an injury in his right side from being struck by a spent shell, which sent him to the hospital and kept him there until he was discharged, in June, 1865. Since his return he has been engaged in agricultural pursuits in this town, where he has one hundred and sixty acres on see- tion 20.
PETER LENNON.
It is not always the oldest citizens of a town who are the most intimately connected with its development and prog- ress. In this case we write of a man who, though yet young in point of years, has demonstrated his ability and made his mark in the world. He springs from the hardy race of Irish farmers who have done so much towards de- veloping the resources of this country. His father, Peter Lennon, was born in Belle Bay, County Monahan, Ireland, in 1814. Tle was a son of Edward Lennon. In 1833 he was married to Margaret Bowen, and, three years after, eame to this country. He settled in Wayne Co., l'a., and from that time until 1853 was engaged as a contractor in constructing railroads, mostly in that State. From there he came to this town (Clayton), where his brother Bernard had long resided, and, purchasing the southwest quarter of the northwest quarter of section 30, commenced the business of farming, which he carried on, with painstaking industry, until his death, which occurred Jan. 16, 1861. Ilis wife died July 7, 1859.
Their family consisted of a son and a daughter,-Peter, born in Pennsylvania, Ang. 3, 1839, and Anna J., born Jan. 18, 1843. Anna J. is a school-teacher, and still makes this town her place of residence. Peter came to Michigan with his parents when he was fourteen years of age, and lived at home until he was twenty-two, attending the common schools as opportunity occurred, and, by appli- cation and a natural aptitude for acquiring knowledge, oh- tained a good, practical English education. At that time the breaking out of the war of the Rebellion aroused his patriotism, leading to his curollment. Aug. 7, 1861, as a private in Company D, 5th Michigan Infantry, in which he served four years, re-enlisting on the 25th of December, 1863; he was mustered out July 27, 1865. Entering the service as a private, he rose through all the grades to
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HISTORY OF GENESEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
captain, receiving a commission as such a short time before being mustered out. He was in the Army of the Potomac, and participated in the battles of Williamsburg, Seven Days' Fight before Richmond, Harrison's Landing, second Bull Run, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, at New York during the draft riots, Bristoe Station, Wilder- ness, the siege of Petersburg, and numerons lesser engage- ments. Ile was severely wounded in the head at Williams- burg, received a slight wound in the right leg at Gettysburg, and a more severe one through the calf of the same leg at the Wilderness.
After the battle of Chancellorsville he was, with several others of his brigade, decorated with the " Kearney Cross" for meritorious conduct on the field. This honor was con- ferred by General Order No. 48, issued May 16, 1863, by D. B. Birney, brigadier-general, commanding Ist Division, 3d Corps, Army of the Potomac, which was Kearney's old division. Oct. 27, 1864, he was taken prisoner at the battle of Hatch's Run, and after being confined in Libby prison one week was taken to the prison-pen at Salis- bury, N. C., where he was subjected to the usual inhu- manity exhibited towards Union prisoners by the rebels, until, on the 4th day of January, 1865, he, with fourteen others, eluded the guard and made his escape. In com- pany with one other, he continued his efforts to reach the Union lines, and after traveling about four hundred miles across the country, mostly in the night-time, finally found assistance and protection with the Union troops at Straw- berry Plains, near Knoxville, in East Tennessee, where they arrived Feb. 7, 1865. Rejoining his regiment, he took part in the closing campaign of the Rebellion, and was present at Lee's surrender. This record of a gallant soldier is one of which any one might well be proud, and Mr. Lennon, though in no spirit of boasting, refers to it with pardonable pride.
For six years after his return home he served as a mem- ber of the Flint Union Blues.
Upon his return he accepted the position of superintend- ent of the Flint River Boom Company, which he filled for nine years, when he moved on to his farm in Clayton. He now owns five hundred aeres, and is engaged in agriculture, making something of a specialty of wheat-growing.
He is well known as a War Democrat, and has no sym- pathy with the present tendency of the party in the direc- tion of States' Rights. IIe has held the office of treasurer and supervisor of the town, as will be seen by reference to the history of Clayton township in this work.
Jan. 9, 1872, he was wedded to Miss Susan Traynor, of Clayton. Their children have been four in number,-Peter, born Oet. 6, 1872, died Oct. 14, 1872; Wilbur James, born Sept. 16, 1874; Mary Ellen, born July 9, 1876 ; Peter Bernard, born Aug. 7, 1878.
MICHAEL McENRUE.
This prominent farmer of the township of Clayton, who has done so much towards developing the town, was born in County Cavan, Ireland, in the month of October, 1826. Ilis parents were farmers, and bore the names of Owen and Catharine (MeCabe) McEnrue.
He remained with his parents, assisting in the work on the farm, until he reached the age of twenty-three years, when he conceived the idea of emigrating to America, to make his fortune in the land of liberty. Taking passage for New York on the sailing ship " William Cooper," he, after an uneventful voyage, reached the modern Gotham, and remained there two years before coming West. In the fall of 1851 he came to Flint, and went to work on the farm of Allen Walkley, with whom he remained nearly four years. In the time that thus intervened he purchased the western half of the northeast quarter of section 29, in Clayton. Soon after his marriage he moved on to this place and began to improve it, and by his energy and good management, backed by a vast amount of hard labor, he has increased its size to three hundred and forty aeres, nearly half of which is under cultivation, and has been cleared mainly by the work of his own hands.
Hle was married, in December, 1853, to Margaret Red- mond, of Flint, who was the daughter of James and Bridget Redmond, of County Wexford, Ireland. They have had nine children, as follows : James, born Ang. 24, 1855; Anna, born July 25, 1857 ; Kittie, born March 16, 1859; Bridget, born July 25, 1861 ; Mary, born Sept. 30, 1863; Michael, born May 5, 1865; John, born Sept. 10, 1866; Sarah, born Aug. 30, 1867 ; and Julia, born Nov. 6, 1870. Mary died Aug. 30, 1868, John died in infancy, and the rest are at present living in Clayton.
JAMES PENOYER.
Descended from a French family, whose representative or representatives came across the sea many generations ago, and settled in some part of New England, the present generation of Penoyers have no means of tracing their direct genealogy for more than three generations in the past.
James Penoyer, grandfather of the present person of that name, was a resident of Lee, Mass., for many years, and from there moved to Onondaga Co., N. Y., in the early days of the settlement of that section of the country. His home was in the town of Fabius, where he and his wife died at a ripe old age. Their children were named Reuben, David, Jacob, Truman, Silas, Zina, and Doty. They all lived and died in Onondaga County, with the exception of the youngest son, Doty, who served in the war of 1812 as drum-major, afterwards enlisted in the regular army, served several years in the West, and died somewhere in the Yel- 'lowstone country.
Jacob was the father of the subject of our memoir. Ele was married in Massachusetts (probably at Lee) to a Miss Crocker, by whom he became the father of five children, named, respectively, Sally, Mercy, David, Josiah, and Zina. His first wife dying, he subsequently married Lucy St. John, who bore him four other children,-Anna, James, Julia, and Abigail. His wife died June 22, 1828, aged fifty years, and two years later he was called from earth, his death occurring July 13, 1830, at the age of fifty-six years. Of his children but five are now living. Their names and residences are : Mrs. Mercy Fairchilds, Cortland,
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CLAYTON TOWNSHIP.
N. Y .; Mrs. Zina Woodroe, Pekin, Ill .; Mrs. Anna Ing- ham, Flushing, Mich. ; Miss Julia Barnes, Clay, Onondaga Co., N. Y .; and James Penoyer, of Clayton.
James Penoyer was born in the town of Fabius, Onon- daga Co., N. Y., Oct. 1, 1812, and spent his boyhood and early youth at home, attending the common schools some portion of the time. After his mother's death, at the age of fifteen years, he was apprenticed to Marovia Marsh, of Pompey Hill, to learn the trade of a hatter. Four years later his brother Josiah, who was a hatter doing business at Tully Corners, purchased his time, and with him he fin- ished his term of apprenticeship. In June, 1834, he left his brother's employ, and came West as far as Medina Co., Ohio, where he stopped and went to farming, part of the time on some land of his own. In December, 1836, he came to this county and commenced work for his brother David, of Flushing, who was clearing fifty acres of land on what is known as the MeIntyre farm for Thomas L. L. Brent. About a year later he purchased one hundred and seventy acres of land,-ninety aeres being on section 3, in Clayton, and eighty acres on section 34, in Flushing. He continued in his brother's employ most of the time until the summer of 1838, when he returned to Ohio, and June 11th was married to Miss Naney M. Freeman, of Westfield, Medina Co., who was born at Truxton, Cortland Co., N. Y., Dec. 29, 1817. She was a daughter of Rufus and Clarissa (St. John) Freeman, of that place.
The Freeman family were Vermonters, Rufus' father being one of the earliest settlers in that State. They came from Truxton to Westfield in the spring of 1825, and were among the earliest settlers there. Rufus bought in all three hundred acres of land, which he owned at the time of his death. He was a Baptist preacher as well as a farmer, and served as pastor of a number of churches while living in Ohio, renting his farm when he was not situated so as to manage it himself. He died in Westfield, March 8, 1875, having survived his wife nearly twenty-one years.
After their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Penoyer came to Michigan, but did not occupy their farm until Oct. 31 1869, living meantime in Flushing. Then, to enable Mr. Penoyer to work during the winter at clearing his land, they moved across the river, before the fall rains had swelled it enough to prevent its being forded, and commenced life in a rude, unfinished log cabin, which had been constructed amid the towering oaks, eight of which stood within arm's length of its walls. Here they encountered, defied, and triumphed over all the trials that their situation entailed upon them. Their first crop of wheat, which promised finely, was destroyed by a sharp frost in the month of June, and for a year or two flour was a scarce article in their household. Its lack was made up by an abundant supply of potatoes, milk, and meat,-the latter consisting of pork and wild game,-and was not so serious an affliction as it would otherwise have been. These hardships, their disagreeable features having been softened to the memory by the lapse of time, are now remembered as interesting reminiscences, and are a source of honorable pride and satisfaction, as evincing the courage and fortitude that enabled the pioneer to conquer them.
Fifteen years ago they exchanged farms with Thomas J.
Packard, and removed from Flushing to Clayton, taking up their residence on the northeast quarter of section 5, where their pleasant and attractive home is still maintained. Their lives have been quiet and retired, filled with the pleasures incident to industrious home-life rather than those of social and public life ; and now, surrounded by family, friends, and the comforts of competence, they calmly await the passing of the years till, like well-ripened sheaves, they shall be gathered into the garner of the Lord. Both have long been members of the Baptist Church in Flushing, and have exemplified by their practice the princi- ples they profess.
Their children, four in number, are all living. Their names are Lura Clarissa, born May 25, 1839, married A. S. Partridge, and lives in Flushing; Rufus James, born Aug. 14, 1842, now living in Colorado; Hiram Floyd, born July 11, 1849, residing in Flushing; and Byron Lewis, born March 8, 1855, living in Clayton.
ISAAC LYONS.
The Lyons family sprang from an Irish emigrant who settled in Connecticut many years ago. From that State the family migrated to Sussex Co., N. J., where Isaac
ISAAC LYONS.
Lyons, Sr., was married to Polly Shepard, and afterwards removed to Ithaca, Tompkins Co., N. Y , where they lived a long time and had a numerous family of children. Their names were William, Jacob, Squire, Joseph, Maria, Eliza, Isaac, Daniel B., Abram II., Mary, and Ann. Jacob, Squire, Joseph, and Mary died in New York, Abram II. in Flint, Mrs. Maria Coddington in Flushing, and Mrs. Ann Granger in Clayton. The other four are still living,-William in Detroit, Mrs. Eliza Clement and Daniel B. in Flint, and Isaac in Clayton.
In the fall of 1836, Isaac Lyons, Sr., with his wife and most of his family, came to Michigan and stopped in Flint. He purchased ten eighty-aere lots on sections 5, 6, and 8, in Clayton, for the oceupaney of his children. They moved on to the lands in the fall of 1838 and spring of
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HISTORY OF GENESEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
1839. He and his wife, however, continued to reside in Flint till their deaths,-she dying in 1842, and he some years later.
Isaae Lyons, Jr., was born in Ithaca, N. Y., Jan. 29, 1816. In May, 1836, he married Caroline Livingston, a daughter of John and Lena (Cole) Livingston, of Hector, in the adjoining county of Schuyler. John Livingston was a native of Pennsylvania, and Lena Cole of New Jersey. Ile died in Sehuyler County, and his wife is still living there, with a son, at the great age of ninety-three years.
Isaae was a blacksmith by trade, and after his marriage came to Michigan with his parents, and built the second blacksmith-shop in Flint, where he worked for a couple of years before settling on his land, which was the east half of the southeast quarter of section 5, in Clayton. From that time on he has continued to reside on the place, working a good share of the time at his trade, having suceceded in getting most of his land cleared by exchanging shop-work for chopping with his neighbors, and has increased the size of his farm by purchasing the west half of the quarter-sec- tion. A strong Demoerat in his politieal belief, he has never missed but one election since he became a voter, and, being in sympathy with the political majority in his town, has often been elected to office. He has held the offices of highway commissioner, drain commissioner, and town treas- urer. He was elected a justice of the peace at the first town-meeting held in Clayton, and is still holding that office, having served continuously for upwards of thirty- seven years.
His family consists of five sons,-John, born Jan. 19, 1839 ; Smith, born Aug. 18, 1841 ; Isaac, Jr., born Oct. 10, 1846; Andrew J., born July 12, 1849 ; and Charles L., born Sept. 1, 1853. John died Mareh 27, 1849, and Andrew J., Aug. 18, 1850. The others are living in Clayton.
MICHAEL DONAHOO.
In the town of Amgeslin, County Cavan, Ireland, lived an Irish farmer by the name of Michael Donahoo, who had wooed, won, and married a blooming lassie of the neigh- borhood, by the name of Mary Coyle. From this union sprang a numerous family of children, one of whom, bear- ing his father's name, is the subject of this sketch. Their names and births were as follows : Ann, 1806; John, 1808; Mary, 1810; Ellen, 1812; Michael, 1818; Rose. 1820; Bridget (died in childhood); and Peter, 1830. Ann mar-
ried Patrick Conley ; Mary married Bernard Lennon; and both came to this country in 1832, and settled in Clayton in 1838. Ellen married Bernard Traynor, and in 1845, in company with others, came to America.
Michael, Sr., died in Ireland, April 1, 1839. Ilis son Michael married in April, 1845, his bride being Miss Ann McGrath, a daughter of Nicholas and Rose (Conoley) McGrath, of Cootehill, County Cavan. The 8th of May fol- lowing, they, in company with his mother, his brothers John and Peter, his sister Ellen and her husband, set sail for New York. On the voyage, his mother, whose health had been quite poor for some time, succumbed to the hard- ships of the voyage, and died at sea a few days before the vessel reached its destination. The rest of the party eame directly to Clayton, where Michael purchased of a Mr. Gifford the west half of the southwest quarter of section 19, and set about building up a home for himself and family.
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