USA > Michigan > Lapeer County > History of Lapeer County, Michigan : with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 11
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B. F. JOHNSTON, furniture dealer, was born in Geneseo, Living- ston County, N. Y., March 23, 1829. At the age of nineteen he came to Almont, and learned the painter's trade with his brother. He worked at his trade summers and taught school winters here and in New York and Pennyslvania for eight years. In 1858 and 1859 he was in the cabinet business which he sold out in the spring of 1860 and worked at painting for two years. In 1861 he helped to raise the First Michigan cavalry. August 26, 1862, he enlisted in the Fifth Michigan cavalry, which was with the Army of the Potomac the most of the war. Served under Kilpatrick and Custer. Was with Kilpatrick in the famous raid on Richmond in March, 1864. Was captured June 11, 1864, at Trevilian Station, Va., and a prisoner at Richmond, Charlotte and Andersonville nine months. Was paroled after Lee's surrender, and on his way North was blown up on the steamer Sultana, on the Mississippi River, when of 2,200 men on board, between 600 and 700 only were saved. Returned home awaiting orders, and was mustered out July 6, 1865. He then engaged in the furniture business, in which he has continued to the present time being the oldest business firm in Almont. He was married March 25, 1851, to Betsey A. Worster of Chautauqua
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County, N. Y., and has three children. Mr. Johnston is prominent in the Masonic fraternity, being master of the lodge and high priest of the Chapter of Almont, and an officer of the Grand Lodge of Michigan.
R. K. FARNUM was born in Darien, Genesee County, N. Y., August 8, 1827. At the age of eight he came to Almont with his parents. Here he learned the trade of carpenter and joiner. Work- ed on the Illinois Central Railroad for two years. In 1859 went to Marquette, Mich., and remained about ten years. Farmed in Al- mont about two years, and in 1870 bought his present business- sash, door and blind factory, saw-mill and flouring-mill. He is also a contractor and builder. Also built and owns the grain elevator at the Almont station of the P. H. & N. W. R. R. About twenty- two years ago married Miss Nancy Covell. His second wife whom he married in 1871 was Miss Asenath Goetchius. Has two children.
A. M. ROBERTS was born in Wales, Erie County, N. Y., September 6, 1836, and remained in the State of New York until he was eight years of age, when (in '44) he came with his parents to Almont. Here he attended school and learned the wagon- maker's trade. At the age of fifteen he went into his father's store as clerk. He was afterward for about one and a half years in John Phelps & Co's store. In 1860 he worked at his trade about six months, then assisted his uncle in a general merchandise store and in the postoffice, Goodland, until the last of December, 1861, when he enlisted as private in the Tenth Michigan Infantry. March 3, 1863, he was promoted quartermaster sergeant of the regiment. December 31, 1864, he was promoted first lieutenant and quarter- master. During a large part of his service was on detached duty at regimental headquarters as acting hospital steward, clerk, etc. Was discharged in August, 1865. After various other employments he came into the employ of Currier, Moses & Co., on the 20th of April, 1868, and has remained with that firm and its successors, H. A. Currier & Bro., ever since, as bookkeeper and general superintend- dent. Mr. Roberts' first wife was Miss Mary Phelps to whom he was married in April, 1858. She died August 22, 1860, and on October 6, 1861, he married Miss Harriet A. Clark. Has three children, one boy and two girls. Mr. Roberts has filled the office of trustee of the corporation of the village one term, and has been secretary of different societies for several years.
ADAM WATSON was born in Scotland, April 26, 1822, and was brought up on a farm. He came to this country at twenty years of age to Almont, and worked on various farms for several years. At the age of twenty-five years he bought a farm of eighty acres, one mile east of the village, which he still retains. . He also owns 320 acres in the town of Dryden. His business has always been farm- ing and in it he has achieved success. Mr. Watson was married in 1848, to Miss Helen Hotchkiss and has three children living. He makes his home in Almont. Has until lately owned and lived upon a beautiful place in the outskirts of the village, which he has now sold with the intention of moving into the village
H. F. HILLIKER, proprietor of the Harrington House, Almont, was born in Boston, Erie County, N. Y., in March, 1822. At the age of nineteen he went to Rochester, N. Y., and remained a year, being employed as a musician. In 1846 he moved to Dryden, Lapeer County, where he bought a farm in section 36, and re- mained two years. Then resided in Almont about two years. About 1853 he moved to St. Clair County. Kept hotel at Rich- mond and Memphis. Returned to Almont in April, 1883, and bought the Harrington House, in which he is doing a business satis- factory to his patrons and profitable to himself. He was married in February, 1852, to Miss Elmira Brink, of St. Clair County, Michigan. Has two boys and two girls. Mr. H. has from the age of eighteen years followed the profession of musician, and has
played for innumerable balls, parties and social gatherings in New York and Michigan. His children have inherited his musical taste and the family form a fine musical band.
W. W. TAYLOR, of the firm of Taylor & Hopkin, dealers in general merchandise, was born in Almont, June 21, 1841. Was brought up on a farm and educated in the schools of Almont. In August, 1861, he enlisted as a private in the First Michigan Cavalry: served three years, his regiment being in the Army of the Potomac; and was engaged in most of the battles of that army. Was pro- moted sergeant and mustered out in August, 1864, at Berryville, Va. Returning to Almont he was employed as clerk, until January 1, 1874, when the firm of Farquharson & Taylor was formed, which con- tinued until July 10, 1878, when Mr. Farquharson retired, and John F. Hopkin became a member of the firm.
Mr. Taylor was married in May, 1870, to Miss Mary Andrus of Almont and has two children.
SAMUEL MATHEWS was born in Trumbull County, Ohio, May 24, 1831. At the age of thirteen he came with his parents to Al- mont where they settled on section 26. The journey was made by way of Sandusky and Detroit and through the Maumee Swamp. The wagon containing their household goods was drawn by three yoke of oxen, and they drove thirty head of cattle.
He remained upon the farm until he was twenty-two years of age, and then went to work for himself. He subsequently bought a farm in section 6, where he now resides. In 1861, he married Miss Abigail English, of Vermont.
WILLIAM MORRISON, of the firm of Morrison & Richards, black- smiths and wagon makers, was born in Argyleshire, Scotland, in 1845. When he was six years old his parents moved to Canada. He served two years' apprenticeship at his present trade, and in 1865 came to Almont where he worked at his trade. In 1876 he established his present business, in which his success has been satisfactory. In 1879 James Richards became partner forming the present firm.
WILLIAM MORGAN, of the firm of Gould, Morgan & Co., livery- men, was born in Chemung County, N. Y., in May, 1834. Worked at farming and on the canal until he was eighteen years old. In 1852 he came to Almont and worked in a mill until 1856, when he went into the livery business in which he has continued to the present time with the exception of about two years. He also buys and sells horses. He was married in March, 1859, to Miss M. J. Beach, of Almont, and has one child.
EDWIN R. GOULD, liveryman, was born in St. Clair County, Michigan, June 4, 1845. Attended school and worked on a farm until 1868, then came to Almont. For about three years he was engaged in teaming between Almont and Detroit. He went into the livery business in 1875. He is also operating a farm southeast of the village, but resides in Almont. He was married August 6, 1873, to Miss Ella Way, who died in October, 1874. He has one child. Mr. Gould's parents came to St. Clair County, from New York. A portion of their way to their new home was through the woods and openings, where there was no road, and they were obliged to clear a rough road in advance of the wagons. Mr. Gould, Sr. was drowned thirty-seven years ago. His widow resides with her son in Almont.
H. A. CURRIER, of the firm of H. A. Currier & Bro., was born at Topsham, Vt., April 23, 1840. Came to Almont with his parents in the year 1847, and was educated in the schools of Almont. At the age of sixteen he learned the machinist's trade in his father's shops. In 1869 he bought the business of Currier, Moses & Co., an interest in which he sold in 1870 to his brother Fred P. Currier, Jr., forming the present firm. He was married in October, 1868, to Miss Mary E. Charter, of Northport, Mich.
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HISTORY OF LAPEER COUNTY.
JOSEPH SIMON, SR., of the firm of J. Simon & Son, was born in Pennsylvania, April 28, 1826. He there learned the trade of carriage manufacturing. In 1848 he went to New Jersey, and engaged in the carriage business. Came to Almont in 1855 and engaged in the same business. In 1878 his son became associated with him, and since then they have, under the above firm name, made a specialty of building and repairing carriages, giving some attention also to wagon work. Their skillful and faithful work has secured for them a large patronage and successful business.
PHILIP SMITH was born in Galen, Wayne County, N. Y., in 1815. At the age of four years he went with his parents to Pal- myra, N. Y., where he was a schoolmate of Joseph Smith, cele- brated as the founder and apostle of Mormonism. In May, 1833, his parents moved to Almont, bringing with them a large addition to the population of the town, viz: ten boys and two girls, one of the girls being married. They settled in the south part of the town. At the age of nineteen he started out for himself, working by the month as a farm hand. In 1835 he located on the south half of the southeast quarter of section 31, government land. On this farm he still lives. In 1839 he married Miss Lura Ferguson, also a native of Wayne County, N. Y., and has three children. Mr. Smith is one of the few now living who were present at the first town meeting of the town of Almont (then Bristol) which was held in April, 1834.
E. B. COTTER was born in Ceries, Mckean County, Penn., in the year 1847. Came to Michigan at the age of ten years; learned the trade of house-painting with his father, but finding it injurious to his health, gave up the business. Bought a small farm in St. Clair County, but not being successful as a farmer, engaged in the hoop and stave business, which he followed for several years in dif- ferent parts of the State. His health failing, he went into the em- ploy of the Agricultural Insurance Company, of Watertown, N. Y. In the year 1880 he canvassed Sanilac and St. Clair Counties, and March 15, 1883, engaged in the saloon business on Main Street, Almont.
PETER FERGUSON was born in Perthshire, Scotland, October 26, 1824. Worked on his father's farm in boyhood, and at the age of fifteen took charge of the farm, on account of the ill health of his father. In 1845 he came to this country, and to Rochester, N. Y., where he remained a few months; then came to Almont to visit and see the country. He bought the place known as the Williams farm, in section 23. After a short stay in Genesee County, N. Y., he returned in the fall of 1846 to Almont. In 1847 he bought 100 acres in section 15, and 200 in section 14. In the fall of 1848 he made Almont his home, and engaged in farming and buying and selling lands and village property. Has fifteen houses and seven stores in the village of Almont, and 500 acres of land in the town. He drove the first drove of cattle that was taken from the county.
HIRAM SMITH was born in Monroe County, N. Y., November 25, 1823. At the age of eight he moved with his parents to the town of Bruce, Macomb County, Mich. Residing there one year, they came to Lapeer County. He worked on his father's farm until he was seventeen years old, then worked for himself two years at farm- ing. At the age of nineteen he learned tailoring, in which business he has been almost continuously employed until the present time. Is now working in his son's tailoring establishment on Main Street, village of Almont. He was married in 1847 to Loretta Black, of Almont, and has four children.
D. P. SMITH, son of Hiram Smith, was born in Almont, August 8, 1852, and educated in the schools of Almont. At the age of seventeen he learned tailoring with his father, and has continued in that business until the present time. His shop is on the corner of
St. Clair and Main Streets, Almont. He was married August 1, 1877, to Miss Mary P. Myers, and has two children.
MARK BRAIDWOOD was born in Ayrshire, Scotland, in 1804. He was for many years employed as a Brussels carpet weaver in Kil- marnock until 1842, when he came to Almont and settled on his present farm, east half of southeast quarter of section 35, 100 acres. He has added to this the southwest quarter of northeast quarter of the same section, making 140 acres. He was married in 1840 to Mary Blaine, of Newton upon Ayr, Scotland. The names of their children are: George, farmer, living in Metamora; John, farmer, living in Dryden; Mark, farmer, living in Dryden; Thomas, died August 8, 1846, in infancy; Thomas, farmer, living in Otter Lake; Jane, wife of David Borland, of Almont; William, Alexander H., and Gabriel living with their parents.
JOHN HOPKINS was born in Ayrshire, Scotland, in May, 1797. He was bred a farmer, and has followed that occupation. In 1833 he came to Almont and entered eighty acres of land in section 35. He now owns 320 acres, viz: west half of the southwest quarter of section 25; southeast quarter of section 26; northwest quarter of northeast quarter and northeast quarter of northwest quarter of section 35. He was married in 1833 to Janet Hamilton, who died in 1868. His second wife, to whom he was married in 1870, was Janet Robertson, by whom he has one child. Of the first wife's children, four are living, and three have died.
JAMES REID was born in Ayrshire, Scotland, July 17, 1813. Was bred a farmer, and has always followed that employment. He came to this country in 1850, reaching Almont July 20th, and bought the farm on which he now resides. He was married in 1838 to Margaret Mikell, of Ayrshire, Scotland. Has one child, the wife of James Rattray, of Almont. Mrs. Reid died April 9, 1881. Mr. Reid's farm is the east half of east half of southeast quarter of section 24. He has also eighty acres in St. Clair County.
CHARLES MORTON was born in Kincairdineshire, Scotland, March 1, 1818. His early employment was principally millwright work. He came to Genesee County, N. Y., in 1843, and was there engaged in milling. In May, 1857, he came to Almont, where he has been employed at flour milling and carpenter work. Is now working in R. K. Farnum's sash, door, and blind factory. In 1847 he married Isabel McHardy, of Scotland, who died in 1859. In 1863 he married Isabel Mckinnon, a native of Scotland, Has five children living.
MORRIS MORTON was born April 13, 1852, at Avon, N. Y. Came with his parents to Almont in 1857. In the fall of 1870 he commenced work as a miller in R. K. Farnum's mill at Almont, where he is now employed. In May, 1876, he married Emma Porter, of Goodland, Lapeer County. They have three children.
FRANK M. JOHNSON was born December 8, 1860, in Almont. Was educated in the schools of Almont, and at the high school of Flint, Mich. In 1880 he was employed six months in the office of the Flint Democrat, and in 1881 became associated with his father in the publication of the Almont Herald, of which he became sole pro- prietor and editor, March 2, 1882. , He was married in February, 1882, to Mertie Dickerson, of Almont. Has one child.
W. S. WEBSTER, son of Elisha Webster, one of the pioneers of Lapeer County, was born in the town of Almont, April 15, 1850. Has always remained upon the old homestead, northwest quarter of section 4, which was entered by his father in 1831. In 1873 he married Lizzie James, a native of England. Has four children. In connection with his farm he has operated until four years ago the grist-mill built by his father on a small stream which crosses the farm, and which is said to be the oldest grist-mill in the county.
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HISTORY OF LAPEER COUNTY.
LEONARD WILLIAMS was a native of Connecticut, born in 1821. He remained in that State engaged in farming until 1860, when he came to Almont and engaged in mercantile and banking business, establishing the first bank in Almont. He was compelled by the failure of his eyesight to retire partially from active business, retain- ing, however, his connection with the bank. At the time of his death in August, 1874, he was residing with his son on the farm. He was killed by the settling of a stone which was being sunk in the field. He was alone at the time, and when found had been some hours dead. His son had been severely injured by a similar accident about a month before. Mr. Williams left a wife and four children. One child, Alice B., has since died. The others are Henry H., of Almont, Mrs. J. C. Huntington, of Flint, and Mrs. W. W. Stockley, of Houghton County. Mrs. Williams resides in the village of Almont.
HENRY H. WILLIAMS was born in New London County, Conn., April 15, 1845. At the age of fifteen he came with his parents to Almont, where he attended school, and was employed in his father's store. In 1868 he married Alice Miller, of Bruce, Macomb County, by whom he had two children. Since his marriage he has resided on the farm previously owned by his father, the north one-half of northeast quarter of section 22. July 27, 1874, he was severely injured by the falling of a stone which he was sinking, from which he has never entirely recovered. About a month after this his father was killed by a similar accident.
ISAAC T. BEACH was born November 2, 1832, at Hartford, Conn., where he was educated and spent the first twenty-one years of his life. Came to Michigan and settled in Almont, being engaged in mercantile business for several years. He has also farmed somewhat. Has now a farm in Almont and one in Attica. Was married in January, 1855, to Carrie Fancher, a native of New York, and has one child. His residence is on East St. Clair Street, in the village of Almont.
PETER COUTTS was born in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, February 15, 1805. His occupation there was farming and trading in cattle, traveling extensively in England, Scotland and the Orkney Islands. He left Scotland in 1862 (May 17), and went to Canada where he resided until 1864, when he came to Almont, and' bought the west one-half of southeast quarter of section 11, eighty-seven acres, on which he has since lived. He was married in 1836, August 14, to Jane Webster, of Aberdeenshire, Scotland. They have five children living, two have died. James died in 1881, in Canada; Mary died in 1861, in Scotland; Jane, widow of Moses Gardiner, lives at Vassar; Annie, wife of Michael Reilly, in Chicago; Peter, in Dakota; Thomas, at home carrying on the farm; and Elizabeth, now at West Branch.
DANIEL THOMSON was born in Paisley, Scotland, December 12, 1822. He was by early occupation a Paisley shawl weaver. May 31, 1848, he married Janet Wilie, a native of Paisley, Scotland, and two days after came to this country, leaving his wife. He worked at weaving at New Ipswich, N. H., (where his wife joined him) about a year, then at Blackstone, Mass., and at Bristol and New Providence, R. I. In February, 1855, he came with his par- ents, wife and two children to Almont, and settled on the farm which his father had bought in 1851, the northeast quarter of sec- tion 13, on which he has remained to the present time, except one year when he went East with his wife on account of his health. In addition to this he owns eighty acres in the town of Berlin, St. Clair County. " His wife died in 1866, and in 1867 he married Mrs. Margaret Gemmell, whose maiden name was McArthur. In 1879 they were burned out, saving nothing-the family barely escaping with their lives. Mr. Thomson has four children; two have died. Elizabeth, wife of George Bowen, lives at Imlay;
Margaret, wife of William B. Wallace, died December 8, 1880; Janet, wife of Thomas B. Wallace, lives at Denver, Col .; Ellen, died February 24, 1881; James W. and William D. are at home.
CHARLES KENNETT was born in England April 5, 1800. During his youth and early manhood he was employed at farming, and also learned and worked the trade of carpenter and joiner. In 1827 he came to this country and worked at his trade in Albany and Troy, N. Y., for two years. In 1829 he moved to Detroit and remained several years employed at his trade. He then kept tavern at Wyandotte for seven years. In 1840 he came to Almont and bought a farm near the county line, northeast quarter of south- west quarter and west one-half of southwest quarter of section 34. About the year 1864 he moved into the village of Almont where he now resides. He was married in 1821 to Sarah Paine. They reside with their son and only child. Mr. Kennett is still a man of remarkable vigor showing but little token of his advanced age.
CHARLES KENNETT, JR., was born in England in 1822. In 1827 his parents came to this country and resided at Albany and Troy, N. Y., for two years. In 1829 they came to Michigan and resided at Detroit and Wyandotte until 1840, when they moved to Almont and bought a farm in section 34, where he remained until 1883, when he moved to the village and took up his residence with his parents, who had removed to the village in 1864. He still retains and cultivates the old homestead. He was married in 1865 to Evaline Vail, a native of Canada, and has one child, a daughter.
WILLIAM D. MORTON was born in Paisley, Scotland, September 11, 1825. He was by occupation, in Scotland, a pattern setter, at which he worked until 1848, when he came to this country and to Almont, with his parents, brother and sister. His father bought of the government the east one-half of southeast quarter section 12, to which has since been addel southeast quarter of northeast quarter section 12, and twenty acres in the town of Berlin, St. Clair County. On this last tract is Mr. Morton's residence, and here he has made his home until now, except one year spent in Illinois, where he had intended to make his home permanently, being prevented by the death of his brother, who was killed by the kick of a colt. Mr. Morton was married in 1863 to Catherine McArthur, a native of Paisley, Scotland. The children are Arthur and Frederick, who are living with their parents. A daughter, Grace, died in April, 1875. Mr. Morton's father died in 1852; his mother is living with her daughter in Winona, Minn. Mrs. Morton's parents came to Berlin in 1830. Her father died in March, 1861; her mother in 1864. In December, 1871, Mr. Morton was run over by a runaway team and severely injured, from which he has never fully recovered.
JOHN HALLOCK was born in Oneida County, N. Y., March 5th, 1818. Was brought up on a farm. In 1844 he came to Almont and settled on east one-half of southwest quarter of section 13, which he had bought the previous year. To this he has added southeast quarter of southeast quarter section 14, and northwest quarter of northwest quarter section 24. Has 140 acres under cul- tivation. September 28, 1844, he married Harriet C. Mosher, of Oneida County, N. Y. They have had four children. George S. was born October 10, 1846, and lives in Almont; Charles Edgar, born March 2, 1849, also of Almont; Francis Henry, born May 26, 1865, died March 29, 1866; and Beatrice, born April 3, 1867, liv- ing at home. Mr. Hallock's father died November 24, 1867, aged eighty-three; his mother died February 19, 1871, aged eighty-nine. Mrs. Hallock's father died in Buffalo, N. Y., August 8, 1838, aged forty. Her mother is now living in Jackson, Mich., at the age of eighty-three.
ALEXANDER W. FERGUSON, son of Charles Ferguson, of Almont, was born in Almont, September 17, 1855. Was educated in Almont
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HISTORY OF LAPEER COUNTY.
and at Mayhew's Business College at Detroit. Was six years em- ployed in C. Ferguson & Son's bank at Almont, and for the last two years has been engaged in farming, his farm being the southeast quarter of section 22. In January, 1881, he married Marian A. Milliken, of Bruce, Macomb County, and has one child.
ORVILLE T. SANBORN was born in Almont, September 24, 1844. Was brought up on a farm. In 1867 he bought a farm of 138 acres in section 32, being all of northeast quarter except a tract of twenty- two acres in the southwest corner. In 1865 he married Lizzie Murdock. For the last two years he has resided in the village of Almont, his farm being under lease.
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