USA > Michigan > Lapeer County > History of Lapeer County, Michigan : with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 21
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GEORGE DONALDSON was born in Woodstock, Ont., in 1849, and came to Michigan in 1865, locating in Lapeer. He is the proprie- tor of an extensive meat market on the north side of Nepessing Street near First National Bank, and is largely engaged in droving, shipping and dealing in live stock. He also owns ninety-six acres of land two miles east of the city. He was married in 1880 to Miss Nancy McClary, of London, Ont.
ROBERT B. CONKLIN was born in Stark, Herkimer County, N. Y., in 1823, and came West at an early day. He first settled in Mc- Henry County, Ill., taking up land from the government, and sub- sequently purchased and resided upon an improved farm. In 1854 he came to Lapeer County and bought a farm in the township of Almont, where he lived several years, when he removed to the town- ship of Mayfield. In 1863 he bought a farm three miles from La- peer City, where he resided till 1872, when he became a resident of Lapeer, where he has since lived. He was married in 1842 to Miss Rachel Chapel, of Otsego County, N. Y. At present Mr. Conklin owns 160 acres of pine and farming lands in Oscoda County.
DR. E. G. DOUGLASS was born in Oakland County, Mich., in 1839, where he grew up to manhood, and where he continued to reside till 1863, when he commenced the study of his profession with his brother, Dr. I. Douglass, in Romeo, Mich. He continued his studies with him two and one-half years, when he came to La- peer and commenced the practice of dentistry, which he has con- tinued up to the present time. Dr. Douglass became a member of the State Dental Association in 1867, and to day, 1883, has the most extensive and oldest established dental practice in the county. He was married in 1861 to Miss J. H. Snyder, who was born in Lower Canada. They have two children, Edith G., born November 4, 1869, and Elton G., born August 9, 1876.
MILTON A. VAN WAGONER was born in Oakland County, Mich., in 1844, and after attending the common schools in the locality, he entered the school at Clarkson, where he graduated. He then went to Ann Arbor, where he attended school a year and a half, when he returned to Oakland County and taught school several terms in that and Genesee Counties. He then turned his attention to the sale of musical instruments in Goodrich, Genesee County, for a short time, when he came to Lapcer, in 1874, and since that time has continued the sale of all kinds of musical instruments in this and adjoining counties.
IRA H. BUTTERFIELD was born in Gainesville, N. Y., in 1812, and came to Michigan in 1838. He settled in Utica, where he en- gaged in farming, milling and manufacturing. In 1866 he came to Lapeer and purchased land on Saginaw Street, upon which he still resides. About the same time he bought a grist-mill near his farm, which he owned and operated up to 1877. Mr. Butterfield repre- sented Macomb County in the State senate one term, Lapeer
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MRS. J. MANWARING
J. Manwaring
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HISTORY OF LAPEER COUNTY.
County forming a part of the district, and has held the office of su- pervisor two terms. He was married in 1839 to Miss Rachel Mc- Neil, of New Hampshire, who died in 1846. Was again mar- ried to Miss Alice W. McNeil, of the same State, but was living in Lowell, Mass. He has five children, three sons and two daughters.
FREDERICK LINCOLN was born in Bangor, N. Y., in 1845, and came to Michigan in 1860. He first located in Port Huron, where he remained till 1873, following sailing as an occupation, when he came to Lapeer, and has been engaged in the grocery trade and milling; at present has charge of R. G. Hart's elevator and grist- mill. He was married in 1874 to Miss Kate M. Hart, daughter of R. G. Hart, and has two children, a son and a daughter.
NELSON MILES was born in Grand Rapids, Mich. When three years old he moved with his people to Schoharie County, N. Y., and three years thereafter to Watertown, N. Y. He attended the public schools and institute, and in 1865 came to Michigan, his father buy- ing and settling upon the farm he (Nelson Miles) now owns in La- peer City. He was married in 1877 to Miss Florence Lawton, of the State of New York, and has one daughter.
FOREST HADLEY was born in Essex County, N. Y., in 1845, and in 1850 went with his parents to Wisconsin, where they remained till 1874, when they came to Michigan and settled in the township of Lapeer, Lapeer County. In 1876 he engaged in farming for himself in the same township, but afterward went to the township of Deerfield. In the spring of 1882 he came to Lapeer and located on Mill Street, where he has since resided. He was married in 1881 to Miss Lizzie E. Moore, a daughter of one of the older resi- dents of the township of Lapeer.
HORACE E. HATCH was born in what is now Lapeer City, in 1852. He attended the schools in the place, and afterward graduated at Goldsmith's Commercial College, Detroit, Mich., following which he accepted a clerkship in White & Brown's hardware store, where he remained eight years, the firm changing three times during that period. He finally took the management of the business for E. C. White, whom he bought out in 1881, since which time he has car- ried on an extensive hardware business; is located in the Opera House Block, Nepessing Street. He was married in 1880 to Miss Corena Manwaring, daughter of Senator Manwaring, of Lapeer, and has one child.
FRANK THOMPSON was born in Lapeer County in 1861. His first business venture was in Hadley, where he engaged in hotel keeping one year. In 1882 he and his father (A. M. Thompson) bought out the well equipped livery stable in Lapeer, on Park Street. His father retiring in December, 1882, he then assumed full control and management of the largest business in that line in Lapeer County. He was married in 1881 to Mattie Geer, of Lapeer, and has one child.
H. D. PIKE was born in Washington County, N. Y., in 1839, and came to Michigan in 1856. He stopped three years in Detroit and two years in Oakland County, when he came to Lapeer and soon thereafter engaged in mercantile pursuits, first with the firm of Emmons & Pike, and afterward with Pike Bros. He was next engaged in a grist-mill two years, and is at present a partner in the firm of Milliken & Co., dealers in dry goods and general merchan- dise. He owns 330 acres of land on sections 28 and 29, in the township of Mayfield; has held the office of supervisor three years and alderman several years. He was married in 1864 to Miss Alice Lathrop, of Mayfield, Lapeer County, daughter of Horace M. Lathrop, one of the pioneers of that township. Mr. Pike has one son.
JEREMIAH EARL (deceased) was born in the State of New York about the year 1804, and came to Michigan in 1850. In his younger days he learned the blacksmithing trade, which he followed
to the end of his life. He was married to Miss Harriet Evans, of New York, whom with two sons and one daughter still survive him. His death occurred in 1854.
E. K. EARL, son of Jeremiah Earl, was born at Little Falls, N. Y., in 1845, and in 1850 came with his parents to Michigan. In early life he learned the mason's trade, which he followed till 1875, when he engaged as a clerk and traveling salesman for a Lapeer firm, with whom he continued three years. In 1877 he purchased the farm where he now resides, and soon thereafter moved upon it. He was married in 1865 to Miss Helen Shafer, who died in 1873, and was married to his present wife, Sarah Prindle, of Rochester, Mich., in 1876. They have two children.
GEORGE B. GREGORY was born in Chenango, N. Y., in 1831, and in 1851 came to Lapeer via stage from Buffalo to Detroit and entered the employ of J. B. Hart as clerk in his general store. In 1854 the firm of Davis & Gregory was formed for the purpose of engaging in the manufacture of doors, sash and blinds and a gen- eral lumber and planing-mill business, and existed for twenty-four years without change, with the exception of one year, when Robert King took an interest. In the meantime Mr. Gregory clerked for Mr. Jennings in his store from 1860 to 1865, when Tuttle and Gregory established a mercantile branch to their business, Mr. Gregory taking charge of the same. In 1878 the partnership was dissolved, Mr. Gregory taking the store and Mr. Tuttle the lumber and mill business. In 1882 Mr. Gregory sold out and retired from business. He was married in 1854 to Miss Mary E. Tuttle, of Lapeer.
JAMES C. THICKSTINE was born in Crawford County, Pa., in 1837, and while a young man learned the carpenter's trade, which he followed for several years, and was also engaged in the oil busi- ness four years. About the year 1868 he came to Michigan and located in Genesee County, where he remained two years, when he came to Lapeer and organized the Farmers' Association and Fire Insurance Company, and soon thereafter engaged in the wholesale lumber and shingle trade, with location at present near the Grand Trunk Station. He was married in 1881 to Miss Samantha E. Smallidge, of Lenawee County, Mich.
WILLIAM LOFFT was born in England in 1837, and emigrated to Canada in 1857. When a young man he learned the blacksmith's trade, which he has since followed. He lived in Goderich, Huron County, Ont., six years, and in 1863 came to Lapeer, where after working at his trade two years he established himself in the business of general blacksmithing, his present location being on Fox Street. He was married to Miss Margaret Sloan, of Kingston, Ont., in 1862, and has two children.
FRANCIS MCELROY was born in 1841 at Galt, Ont. His parents came to Detroit in 1847, where they lived about seven years. Afterward lived in St. Clair County, in this State, and also at Bay- field, Wis. In 1861 he enlisted in the Fifth Michigan Infantry and served through the war. His regiment was in the Army of the Potomac, and he wears the "Kearney Cross" for gallantry in action. Came to Lapeer in 1865 at the close of the rebellion, and is now in business as a baker and confectioner. Is also engaged in farming. Married Miss Annie Carrigan, of Port Huron, in 1865. They have four children. He was the first city collector of Lapeer, has also been an alderman, and is now (1883) supervisor for the first city district, being his third term in that office.
WARD H. JENNINGS was born at Leeds, about fifty miles from Portland, Me., in 1824. Had a common school and academic education. Came to Michigan in June, 1845. Engaged in the manufacture of wagons, plows, boots, shoes, etc., at Rochester, Oakland County. Returned to Maine in 1848 and remained there three and a half years, during which time he got married to Myra
G
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HISTORY OF LAPEER COUNTY.
P. Parcher. Again came West and went into mercantile business with his brother at Rochester, Mich. In 1853 they also engaged in trade in Lapeer, Mr. W. H. Jennings making it his place of residence ever since. The firm continued until 1874. A new con- cern called Jennings & Son succeeded to the Lapeer part of the business. In 1876 he built a grist-mill, and after operating it two years sold it. Had previously rented a mill which was burned down in 18 -. Has been president of the village corporation, mem- ber of the council, etc. Has two children, a son and daughter. The daughter is married and lives in Massachusetts, and the son is his business partner. In addition to the foregoing he is an ex- tensive owner of and dealer in real estate.
Hon. JAMES TURRILL (deceased) was born in Shoreham, Vt., September 24, 1797. Leaving his father's farm at the age of twenty-one he engaged in a general mercantile business in his native town and in Bridgeport in the same county. He pursued his mercantile labors in the two places mentioned with very gratify- ing and remunerative results until 1836, when he came to Michigan and invested extensively in lands at and near Lapeer. Returning to Vermont he continued his business until 1842, when he moved his family, consisting of wife and eight children, three sons and five daughters, and located in the village of Lapeer. Here he again turned his attention to mercantile affairs, dealing largely in real estate at the same time. Success attended his efforts, and after a lapse of thirteen years he retired from active business and gave his attention to the cultivation of his farms and the management of his pine land interests. He was for some time a member of the bank- ing firm of R. G. Hart & Co. and was one of the directors of the Port Huron & Lake Michigan Railroad, now called the Grand Trunk, having aided largely with his means and advice at a time when others were quite discouraged in getting it completed from Port Huron to Flint. After that was done he retired from the director- ship at his own request; but remained active and efficient in the work. Although Mr. Turrill was never ambitious for public life, still his fellow citizens saw fit on several occasions to place him in positions of honor and trust. He was several times elected one of the trustees and afterward president of the village of Lapeer, and upon its incorporation as a city was chosen its first mayor. He was also elected to the house of representatives of the State legisla- ture in the fall of 1848, and served in that body during the sessions of 1848 and 1849. During the war he took an active part in putting down the rebellion, and his eldest son, Captain J. Henry Turrill, a brave and noble hearted officer of the Seventh Michigan Infantry, lost his life at the battle of Antietam. Mr. Turrill was a man of strict integrity, liberal in the support of religious and charitable institutions, and gave with a free hand to the poor and needy. He died July 31, 1876.
GEORGE N. TURRILL was born in 1833 in Bridgeport, Addison County, Vt., and came to Lapeer with his parents in 1842, and has since been a resident of the county. In early manhood he was employed in his father's store, but since that time has been a farmer. He now owns farms on sections 5, 7 and 8 in the town- ship of Lapeer, but resides on the old homestead in the city of Lapeer. He was married in 1862 to Miss Paulina Vosburg, who was born in Columbia County, N. Y. They have three children living.
HENRY K. WHITE was born in 1820 at South Hadley, Mass. Came to Lapeer Township in 1833. His mother brought her family, consisting of five sons and three daughters, the father being dead, and they went on a farm. In his early days he sailed for a number of years, during which he was on the Pacific coast, and visited California, Washington Territory, etc. In 1871 he became the first cashier of the newly organized First National Bank of
Lapeer, and of which he is now (1883) president. Previously was in the banking business with his brother, the late E. J. White. In 1861 he raised Company F, First Michigan Cavalry, and was captain of it. He was compelled to resign on account of physical disability. He was married in 1866 to Miss Jane Wrigglesworth. They have four children.
MYRON B. SMITH was born in the town of Kent, Litchfield County, Conn., November 30, 1811. When but a few months old he was taken to Oneida County, N. Y., settling there in 1812, and where he remained until he was twenty-one years of age. The year of the Black Hawk war he went West. As an assistant to an uncle of his, who was a government surveyor, he followed the old Sauk trail from Chicago to the Mississippi River. Was gone about six months. They then came to Michigan and surveyed Sanilac, Huron and Tuscola Counties before a single settler had penetrated that section of this State. Went then to Pontiac and remained eighteen months. In 1836 helped to make the first survey of southern Iowa, remaining about six months. He then returned and worked at the trade of a carpenter for two years. In 1839 settled in the village of Lapeer. When he passed through here first, in 1834, there were only about six houses in the place and a saw-mill. He has followed the trade of . a carpenter the greater part of his life. Has held the following offices since in Lapeer County: Register of deeds several years, county treasurer six years, deputy county clerk, justice of the peace, etc. He was married in 1844 to Mrs. Walker, whose maiden name was Mary A. Dexter. They have one child, a son, who is employed at the depot of the Detroit & Bay City Railway. Lapeer was surveyed and located as the county seat by S. V. R. Trowbridge, G. O. Whittemore and Harvey D. Parke, the latter of whom was his uncle, and who died at Pontiac in 1879.
SARDIS B. MARSHALL was born in Alden, Genesee County, N. Y., in 1827. Came to Michigan with his parents in 1836. They set- tled in Almont, Lapeer County, and went to farming. In 1869 he came to Lapeer village and went into the hotel business. Had kept one in Almont, previously, besides carrying on a farm. At Lapeer he bought the "Northern Exchange" and rebuilt it, calling it the "Marshall House." Kept it two years and sold it. Rented it in 1877 and again ran it until May, 1881. In September, 1882, bought the "Abram House," and is now landlord of that well-known hostelry. Was an alderman while living in Almont. Married in October, 1853, to Celestia Smith, who died in 1860, and by whom he had two children, one of whom, an only daughter, is living. Married again in September, 1861, to Jane A. Ferguson, by whom he has had three children, of whom only one, a daughter, survives.
HON. MYRON C. KENNY, M. D., was born in Perry, Genesee County, N. Y., in 1823. Came to Michigan in 1842. Commenced the study of medicine with Dr. Dennis Cooley at Washington, Ma- comb County, in 1844. Attended lectures in Cleveland, O. Passed an examination before a board of censors at Almont, Michigan, and was authorized to practice. Commenced practice at Lapeer in 1846. In public life Dr. K. has held the following positions: Member of the State legislature in 1865-66; member of the constitutional con- vention in 1867; mayor of the city of Lapeer two years; alderman, school inspector and, for over twenty years, a member of the board of education. Was married in 1850 to Ann Eliza Turrill. They have two children living.
CHARLES W. BROWN was born in Nassau, Rensselaer County, N. Y., in 1819. His parents were farmers and he was brought up on a farm. When sixteen years of age he went into a store in the village of Nassau, remaining there until he was twenty-one years of age. He then went to Monroe County, N. Y., where he remained till 1842, when he removed to Lapeer County, Michigan, where he
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has since resided. Lived at Farmers Creek from 1845 to 1881. Has been a farmer most of the time, but was also in the mercantile business and manufactured potash. Was a justice of the peace and school inspector in Metamora. Elected judge of probate in 1880, and re-elected in 1882. Since holding this office has lived in La- peer City. Married in 1845 to Susan E. Cressey, a native of New Hampshire. They have three children, one daughter and two sons. One son is a farmer in Metamora Township, the other is a grad- uate of West Point and is now lieutenant in the United States army.
HON. LORD W. HINMAN was born in 1833, at Royalton, Niagara County, N. Y. His parents came to Lapeer County in 1835. He was brought up on a farm and was educated in the Lapeer common schools. In 1862 he enlisted in the Tenth Michigan Cavalry and served to close of the war. Was a first lieutenant when mustered out. Was a justice of the peace when he lived in Elba Township. Was elected mayor of Lapeer City in April, 1883. Follows farm- ing. Was married to Cornelia A. Henderson, a native of New York State, who died in 1881. He has two children.
ROBERT A. WHITE was born in 1841, in Romeo, Macomb Coun- ty, Michigan, and was reared on a farm. In 1861 he went into the army, and was on the staff of Surgeon-Gen. J. K. Barnes, ranking as a first lieutenant. Held the position two years, when he was made assistant surgeon of the Thirty-ninth Regiment of U. S. col- ored troops, with which he remained until the end of the rebellion. During the time he was in Washington, received medical instruc- tion at Georgetown College. Came to Lapeer County in 1866, liv- ing at Almont and Attica until 1873, when he removed to Lapeer City. Is now a jobbing contractor and builder, also a dealer in all kinds of building materials. Has been married twice; first, in 1861, to Elizabeth Plant, who died in 1865, and by whom he had one child; and again, in 1866, to Caroline Mentor, of Dryden, Lapeer County. They also have had one child.
JASPER BENTLEY was born in Chenango County, N. Y., in 1826, and came to Michigan in 1844, locating at Fenton, Genesee County. Came to Lapeer County in 1848, settling at Hadley. Was a builder and contractor for a number of years, also taught school. Held the office of county clerk from Jan. 1, 1865, until 1876, inclusive- twelve years. Was mayor of Lapeer in 1872-73. Was clerk of Had- ley, and has been a school inspector for twenty years. In 1875 he was admitted to the bar and has since practiced law, being a mem- ber of the legal firm of Moore & Bentley. Was married to Julia Barnard, of Utica, N. Y., in 1846. They have two daughters liv- ing.
JOHN H. PALMER was born in 1838, at Akron, Ohio. Attended the academy at Spencer, O., and the college at Hillsdale, Michigan; followed the vocation of a teacher in 1860-61. Enlisted in 1862 in the One Hundredth Regiment Ohio Infantry, and served until March, 1865. Ranked as a captain when mustered out. At the close of the war went to Nashville, Barry County, Michigan. Lived there for a number of years, during which time he was county superintendent of schools. Came to Lapeer in 1874 as pastor of the Universalist society. Afterward studied law with Moore & Bentley. Admitted to the bar in 1878. Was for a time a member of the legal firm of Moore, Bentley & Palmer. Is now (1883) circuit court commis- sioner and clerk of Lapeer City. Married Emily Putnam, of Bridge- water, O., in 1861. They have one child living-a daughter.
WILLIAM A. JACKSON was born in 1816, near Scrooby, Notting- hamshire, England. Studied medicine in that country and was an assistant surgeon in the British navy. Emigrated to Canada in 1837. Practiced his profession at Montreal, and also held the office of government messenger under Lord Sydenham. Returned to England in the winter of 1840-41. Remained a year and then came to the United States. Practiced medicine at Syracuse, Cicero,
Cleveland, Oswego County, N. Y. Came to Lapeer in 1856, and has remained until the present time in active practice. Was a United States examining surgeon for fifteen years. Held the office of mayor of Lapeer in 1876. In 1874 went to Europe and visited the hospitals in London, Paris, &c. Was married in 1846 to Miss Amelia Stockdale, of Cicero, N. Y. Has three sons living, one of whom is practicing medicine with him.
SEYMOUR A. MANZER was born in 1847, in Huron, Wayne County, Mich. Commenced the study of medicine at Watrousville, Tuscola County, Michigan, in 1866. Commenced practice at Attica, Lapeer County, in 1871. Graduated from the medical department of the Michigan University in 1873. Practiced at Wacousta, Mich., until 1882, when he removed to Lapeer. Married Flora Elliott, of Wayne County, in 1870. They have two children, a son and daughter.
WILLIAM McDONALD was born in Kincardineshire, in the northeast of Scotland, in 1824. Learned the machinist trade at Glasgow. Came to the United States in 1848, and located in Detroit, where he worked in the machine shops of that city until he went to Romeo, Macomb County, where he was for a time in the employ of Holman & Farrar; afterward became a member of the firm. In 1866 came to Lapeer and bought an interest in the machine shop of Mr. New- ton, the firm being known as Newton & McDonald. The shops were burned down in 1872, shortly previous to which Mr. Mc- Donald had purchased his partner's interest. In 1873 built his present place of business. Was married in 1847 to Miss Margaret Shearer, of Glasgow, Scotland. They have had five sons and two daughters. The sons are all at work in their father's establishment. The daughters live in Texas.
WILLIAM N. VARNUM was born in 1826, at Berlin, Waterloo County, Ontario. His parents came to Michigan and settled on a farm in Metamora, Lapeer County, in 1842. The son learned the trade of a blacksmith and followed it for twenty-five years in that township. In 1870 he removed to Lapeer and started a foundry, blacksmith and wagon-shop, to which he has added a furniture man- ufactory and undertaking establishment. In Metamora he was a supervisor for two years, and in Lapeer has been an alderman for eight years. Married Julia H. Russell in 1847. She was a native of New York State but a resident of Lapeer County at the time of her marriage. They have had a family of eight children, four of whom are now living.
ARTHUR H. THOMPSON, M. D., was born in St. Thomas, Ont., in 1838, of American parentage. He commenced the study of medicine in his native place in 1855. From there he went to Lon- don, Ont., and was four years in the office of Dr. A. T. Bull. Afterward attended homeopathic colleges in Philadelphia and New York. Also took one course of lectures at the Michigan University. He passed the homeopathic medical board of Canada in 1862, and is member of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of that province. Previously, however, he had graduated at the New York homeopathic college. Practiced in St. Thomas and Stratford, Ont., for some years. Traveled for a time and settled in Lapeer in 1867, and has since been a successful practitioner in the city and county. Was married in 1873 to Miss Anna Dodge, a native of Vermont. They have two children.
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