USA > Michigan > Shiawassee County > Past and present of Shiawassee County, Michigan, historically; with biographical sketches > Part 40
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On Christmas, 1877, he married Martha Bowden who was born March 9, 1858. Her father, Richard Bowden, was born at Man- chester, England, and died in the township of Flushing, Genesee county, Michigan. Her mother, Mary (Smith) Bowden, was born in Ireland and died in Flushing township. Mrs. Fee was the second in a family of five chil- dren: Sara, married C. C. Speers, a resident of Saginaw county and now a representative of his district in the state legislature, and had two children, Johanna and Wyman; Mary married Randolph Bailey and she died three months later, to a day, having lived in Hazel- ton township; Henrietta, who lives in Mon- trose township, Genesee county, married Bert Smith and has three children; Irene, married Edward Farrar, and they live in Montrose, Michigan ; where he is station agent, having one child. Mrs. Fee's parents were married in Flushing township. Her father came to Flushing, Michigan, in 1850 and bought one hundred and twenty acres of wild land, on section 7, built a log house and cleared the land. Later he erected a frame house and barn and lived there until the time of his death. Mr. and Mrs. Fee have seven chil- (ren-all living: Harry O., who was born February 19, 1879, and who is a clerk in the postoffice at Denver, Colorado, married Lela Baker of Kansas City, Missouri, and has three children,-Juanita, and Martha and James, twins ; Edward J., who was born January 28, 1882, and who lives at Flint, married Miss Nellie Dafoe; Nina A., born August 6, 1886, is a school teacher; Harley R. was born August 21, 1888; Winfield was born March 20, 1895 ; Mary J. was born January 20, 1898 ; and Grace I. was born February 14, 1901.
Mr. Fee's father had two sisters,-Mar- garet, born in Ireland, married William Fer- guson, and now lives in Sanilac county, Mich- igan. Ellen, born in Ireland, married John Caruthers, and lives in New York state. Mr. Fee is an Odd Fellow and a Gleaner. He was at one time an organizer for the latter in the counties of Shiawassee, Genesee, Clinton,
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Gratiot, Ionia, Montcalm and Saginaw. Dur- ing the time the Patrons of Industry were flourishing he was county secretary of that organization. He is a Republican and has been drain commissioner two terms and is now serving first term as justice of the peace. Mr. Fee is a member of the Methodist Protes- tant church.
FRANCIS FERRY
The American sisterhood of states is sprink- led o'er with Scotchmen and descendants of Scotsmen.
Scots, wha hae wi' Wallace bl'd, Scots, whom Bruce has often led.
They are a sturdy and hardy race, intelli- gent, peaceable and industrious, and religious in their tendency. They are just such people as make the best possible American citizens, --. · good farmers, good mechanics, good hus- bands ; good wives. The gentleman whose name heads the page is a native of Scotland, where he was born May 13, 1831. He is a son of John and Catharine (Wilson) Ferry, who lived and died in their native land. Mr. Ferry, who was a stone mason by trade, died at the age of ninety-one years and his wife at the age of ninety-two. They had a family of seven children-Agnes, John, Peter, George, Francis, Edward and Mary. At the age of twenty-one years Francis started for America. He shipped from Shields, in the north of England, and was nine weeks on the trip, going in a sailing vessel, this being the only way then of crossing the briny deep. The voyage was slow and tedious, affording him an excellent opportunity of getting ac- quainted with the "always wind-obeying deep." During those eventful weeks, this young Scotchman might have asked with the poet :
Why does the sea moan evermore?
Shut out from heaven it makes its moan, It frets against the bound'ry shore ;
All earth's full rivers cannot fill The sea that drinking thirsteth still.
He finally landed in New Brunswick and worked at farming and in the lumber woods for two years. He then went to Ontario, Can- ada, where he remained about three years, being employed at farming. He did not seem to like the Canadians, however, or rather their ways, and concluded to try Michigan. He located some land where Ovid is now situated, but remained there but a short time, when he sold the property and bought an eighty acre farm in Middlebury township, where he now , resides. Very little of this had been improved, but it contained a saw mill, which he operated for many years ; had a small frame house and a frame shanty which was an excuse for a barn. He set to work with a will, however, and finally cleared the land, pulled down the old buildings and built greater, until he can now boast of as fine a farm as Shiawassee county contains, showing the skill and taste of the owner far better than words can ex- press.
It was a patriotic idea at least, that is from a Yankee's point of view, for Mr. Ferry to celebrate our great national holiday by taking unto himself a wife, who is as, Byron ex- presses it,
the rainbow to the storms of life ! The every beam that smiles the clouds away And tints tomorrow with prophetic ray !
This was on July 4, 1854, when he was mar- ried to Marie Middough, born in Canada May 2, 1834. She is still living. To them were born six children as follows: Cassie C. is the wife of Eugene Beebe, who lives with Mr. Ferry and works the farm, and they have no chil- dren ; Etta married Everett Munson and died ten years ago, leaving one son, Jay ; Emma, who married Elder Evans, died in Middle- bury, having had three children,-Arthur, Jessie and Romeo; Frank, deceased, had left three children, and Ned, who lives with Mr. Ferry, is one of them; Ned, Mr. Ferry's fifth child, died in the army, three years ago, in
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Dakota, having been a bachelor; Robert died in infancy.
Mr. Ferry has been an indomitable worker and when he located in Middlebury there were but few roads there, and the site of the village of Ovid was a wilderness. Until a few years ago he continued to operate the saw mill in connection with his farming. He is a Republican in politics but not an office holder nor an office seeker. He still has good health and manages his farm, and stands high in the community as a reliable and wealthy citizen.
ANDREW FILLINGER
The glory of our nation is in her patriotic sons. The peace and prosperity, prestige and greatness of our government have been won by, the men who ventured their lives for a principle, and whose patriotism shines forth a living example to the generations of the pres- ent and future.
Andrew Fillinger, the subject of this sketch, is one of the men to whom our country is indebted. He was born in Livingston county, New York, on the 20th of September, 1847. He is of the good old German stock, his father, Andrew Fillinger, having been born in Ger- many, in 1821. His mother also was born in Germany in 1815, her maiden name having been Christina Hoover. The father and mother came to this country at the respective ages of twenty-one and thirty-one years, be- ing married in New York shortly after leav- ing the boat upon which they had made the voyage. They lived in Livingston county, New York, until their son was seven years old, when they removed to Livingston county in the state of Michigan. Here they purchased a farm, upon which they resided until the year 1863, when they removed to Shiawassee county where they lived until their death which occurred at the respective ages of sixty- seven and seventy-five years.
Andrew Fillinger, the subject of this sketch, was the oldest of eight children. He and two
brothers, George and Henry, served in Com- pany A, Twenty-second Michigan Infantry. They enlisted together, at Flint, Michigan. George died in the army, of brain fever, and Henry died at the age of twenty-one years February 17, 1871. They all gave the best part of their lives that the nation might be united and free.
Mr. Fillinger during the greater part of his army service was stationed at Chattanooga, Tennessee. He was there when General Hood surrendered his Confederate army to the Union. His company was under the com- mand of Captain Elverson. His company was ordered to Atlanta, but at Calhoun, Georgia, was recalled to Chattanooga. He did duty under General Thomas at Lookout Mountain, where the great battle was fought above the clouds, and was finally mustered out of service at Nashville, Tennessee. He returned to his home in Michigan, receiving the well earned gratitude of the people.
Mr. Fillinger's other brothers and sisters . are Gustavus, who died in infancy ; Mary, now Mrs. Charles Ortner, of Bath township, Clin- ton county ; Charles, living in Owosso; Emma now Mrs. William Carlton, living in Wood- hull, Shiawassee county; and William, who died at Perry, in 1903, leaving a family.
After Mr. Fillinger returned from the army he purchased a farm in Woodhull township, improving the property and there residing for eleven years. February 21, 1869, he was united in marriage with Phoebe Arthur, who was the fifth child of the respected family of Robert and Martha (White) Arthur. Mrs. Fillinger was born in White Lake township, Oakland county, January 22, 1851. They moved to Owosso township in 1880 and en- gaged in farming. They afterward purchased the Lytle farm, of eighty acres, which they have greatly improved, but desiring to take a much needed rest they left the farm and moved to the village of Henderson, where they purchased a beautiful home, in which they ·
now reside. Mr. Fillinger still owns his farm, which he oversees in connection with his busi-
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ness of traveling salesman for The J. J. Mun- son Buggy Company, of Ovid. Mr. and Mrs. Fillinger have three children: Bert A., was born July 10, 1871, and is in business at Oak- ley. He married Ella Caldwell and has two children, Waldon and Otha. The second child, Edward, was born December 29, 1874. He was graduated in 1901 in the Owosso Bus- iness College and now holds a responsible position in Detroit. The third child, Satie, was born August 13, 1877. She married Jacob Gordon, who is now in business witlı the oldest son, Bert A. Fillinger, at Oakley. Mr. Fillinger is a member of the blue lodge of Masons at Owosso and is a member. of the Methodist church.
A. BURTON FREEMAN
A. Burton Freeman, a leading business man of Durand, is a native of Michigan, the date of his birth having been June 3, 1873. He is a son of Dewitt Freeman, a farmer by oc- cupation, who was born in Washtenaw county, Michigan, and of Augusta (Fenton) Free- man, who was born in the state of New York. The elder Freeman continued to live in his native county until the year 1881, when he re- moved to Muskegon and later to Durand. He was a Republican in politics, and died June 23, 1902. His wife still survives him. They had four children, as follows: Bell, who died when twenty-one years old ; Libbie, whose hus- band, Mr. Bradstreet, is a coal and wood dealer in Durand; Hattie A., who married Mr. Charles T. Parris and died at thirty-two years of age ; A. Burton, who is the subject of this review ; and Clara M., who is the second wife of Mr. Parris.
August 2, 1903, Mr. Freeman was united in marriage to Phebe A. Thomas. When Mrs. Freeman was four years of age she lost her father, who died at Bay City, having lived in Oakland until shortly before his decease. Her mother is still living. Mr. and Mrs. Free- man have had born to them one child, Lillian Evangeline, who died in 1898 when an infant.
After receiving a through preliminary train- ing in the district school Mr. Freeman at- tended the high school at Whitehall. This was the extent of his book-training, but being naturally of a studious and thoughtful disposi- tion he has since gathered a goodly fund of information from reading and experience, so that for all practical purposes he is remark- ably well equipped. He early evinced an in- dependence and a self-reliance beyond his years, and at the age of seventeen he com- menced to work in a saw mill. Within the succeeding three years he became proprietor of the mill and sold it. This experience in the lumber business was followed by two years' employment in an elevator, and one year in a general store. Mr. Freeman's next venture was with Mr. Parris, in the produce business, chiefly in the purchase of beans. For some eight years following this, he clerked in a clothing store. September 1, 1900, the establishment was purchased by Freeman and Parris, since which they have conducted it. The business, which has been established for ten years, comprises a full line of cloth- ing and men's furnishings. The firm has also opened a store in Flushing under the name of Pryor & Company.
Mr. Freeman is an earnest and influen- tial Republican. He has served the township as clerk for two years. In October, 1901, he was appointed to the important office of su- pervisor for the balance of the year, and per- formed his duties so ably that he was elected to the position for another year, and reap- pointed in October, 1903, to serve the balance of that year. He is affiliated with the Knights of the Maccabees, the Loyal Guard and the Masonic fraternity, being Worshipful Master at this time, and Mr. and Mrs. Freeman are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and practice its precepts. Altogether, he is a successful business man, and richly deserves the confidence reposed in him, being a gentle- man of the strictest integrity and honor. Of him it may be said in the language of an- other :
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By heaven, I had rather coin my heart And drop my blood by drachms, than to wring From the hard hands of peasants their vile trash, By any indirection !
Mr. Freeman is still on the sunny side of life, and the world should yet hold in store for him many years of activity and usefulness.
CHARLES FREEMAN
Among the old family names in the town- ship of New Haven is that of Freeman. It was in this township that the subject of this sketch, Charles Freeman, first opened his eyes to the light of this old world, December 4, 1841.
Mr. Freeman is of English extraction, his parents, Richard and Mary Ann (Shepard) Freeman, having both been born in England, the father in Warwickshire, in 1809, and the mother at Princethorp. They were united in marriage in the country of their nativity. When the Freemans came to America, in 1836, their eldest, the first of a family of twelve children, had been born to them. Data respecting the family are here given :
Sarah Ann, widow of Joseph Ott, makes her home with her children; Lucy, wife of Samuel Shuster, resides in Rush township; Eliza is the wife of Lewis S. Goodale, of Owosso; William enlisted as a soldier in the civil war, was a member of Company I, Eighth Michigan Infantry, and died of disease on board of transport, a sacrifice upon the al- tar of his country, and was buried at Fortress Monroe, Virginia ; John resides upon the old homestead; Charles is the subject of this sketch ; Joseph and James were twins, the for- mer being now a farmer in Rush township; James was drafted into his country's service, but was stricken down with disease before reaching his command, and was buried at Nashville, Tennessee, thus giving his life for his country,-none could do more; Henry is a prosperous farmer in Rush township; Hi-
ram resides in Saginaw ; Richard E. is a well- to-do farmer in New Haven township; and George E. resides in the same locality.
When Richard Freeman arrived in the township of New Haven, in 1836, Shiawassee county was practically an unbroken forest. He took up one hundred and sixty acres of land from the government. This was one of the first farms, if indeed it was not the first, lo- cated in the township. Mr. Freeman came through by blazed trees for some distance and the last seven miles cleared the way to his new possessions. With characteristic energy of the pioneer, the trees were felled and a log house was rolled up, said to have been the first structure erected in the township. This was later replaced by a frame building, which also lias the credit of being the first of its kind in New Haven township. The quarter section located by Mr. Freeman, being too low to live upon, he moved to another tract of land, con- sisting of one hundred and sixty acres. This place was subsequently improved by him and the family resided there until Charles, the subject of this sketch, was nine years of age. At this time Mr. Freeman moved on to a rented farm of ninety-six acres, in Rush town- ship, where the family lived until the death of the owner, when Mr. Freeman purchased the estate and made this his permanent resi- dence. He later came to be recognized as one of the successful and prosperous farmers of his section, owning at the time of his death nearly four hundred acres of land, together with other valuable holdings. He divided his possessions among his children, giving eaclı a good start in life. In the matter of educa- tion his early advantages were limited, but af- ter coming to this county, he felt the need of learning and by his own efforts acquired a practical education, so essential to success.
In politics he affiliated with the Democratic party, which honored him with positions of trust and responsibility. He served his town- ship as treasurer and was for some years jus- tice of the peace. Mr. Freeman and his good wife were for many years devoted members
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of the Methodist Episcopal church. The fath- er died in February, 1881, at the age of sev- enty-two years, and the mother passed away July 4, 1879, aged sixty-nine years. They rest side by side in the family lot in West Haven cemetery.
Charles Freeman has very distinct recollec- tions of his early experiences in the old log school house in his home district, in New Haven township. With him, as with many another farm boy in a new country, it was "catch as catch can" for picking up the fun- damentals of an education, but he won out and consoles himself with the thought that it might have been worse. Certainly he has rea- sons for personal congratulations for the suc- cess that has come to him in life.
He remained at home, assisting in clearing up the farm, until he was a man grown. When twenty-three years of age he purchased fifty acres of unimproved land on section 25, Rush township. This was to be his future home. A small clearing was made and a frame house erected. Later, as he prospered, he built a frame barn, thirty-four by forty-six feet, clear- ed away the forests and improved the land. In recent years he has added a five-acre tract of wood land.
An important event in the life of Charles Freeman was his marriage, December 25, 1864, to Eliza, daughter of William and Ann (Lusty) Meredith, natives of England. Mr. Meredith was born February 14, 1819, and Mrs. Meredith May 24 of the same year. When they came to this country and settled in Bennington township, Mrs. Freeman was but nine years of age. Her birthday was June 16, 1845. Mr. and Mrs. Meredith spent the ac- tive years of their lives upon their home farm where they first settled. He died December 12, 1894, at the age of seventy-five years, his wife preceding him about two years, having passed away November 14, 1892; both were buried in the Dyne cemetery. They were con- sistent members of the Methodist Episcopal church.
Mrs. Freeman was the eldest of four daugh-
ters, born to her parents : Data given referring to the others are as follows: Sarah, born 1848, married Adam Burwell, resided in St. Charles, and is now deceased; Rose makes her home with her sister, Mrs. Freeman ; Lavina, wife of John Stimson, resides in Fairfield township.
To Mr. and Mrs. Charles Freeman have been born four children, as follows: Cora Ann, born May 21, 1867, is the wife of Wil- liam Lindsay, of New Haven township, and they have a daughter, Lozina E., born Novem- ber 27, 1897; William R., who was born Feb- ruary 24, 1869, and who resides in New Haven township, marred Estella Collins, who died in 1899, leaving two children, Hazel and Charles C .; Alta L., born July 17, 1881, is the wife of Wesley Kurrler, and they have two children living, Ivan and Verne D., one child having died in infancy ; they reside on a farm near Cheasning ; Milton I. M., born in November, 1881, married Ida Shultz, and they reside in Rush township.
Early in the strife of the great civil war Charles Freeman became imbued with the true spirit of patriotism, and on the 19th of Sep- tember, 1861, enlisted in company I, of the Eighth Michigan Infantry, which regiment ,was then organizing at Fort Wayne. On the 23d of September he was mustered into the United States service. The regiment, under the command of Colonel William M. Fenton, left Detroit September 27th, bearing upon its rolls of muster an aggregate of nine hundred and fifteen officers and men. Its destination was Washington. By reason of its active op- erations this regiment was characterized the "wandering regiment of Michigan." The com- mand saw much severe fighting and was known as one of the best regiments from the state. Its loss in service aggregated four hun- dred officers and men, out of an enrollment of one thousand, seven hundred and ninety-two. Mr. Freeman thus briefly outlines his military experiences : From Washington the regiment was sent to Annapolis, Maryland, and there shipped for Hilton Head, South Carolina, landing November 8th and remaining there
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until April, 1862, when the command was sent to Tybee island, Georgia, where it remained but two weeks, then being ordered back to Beaufort. In June they were at James island, near Charleston, where they met the enemy and were defeated. This was the regiment's first heavy engagement, though it had several times met the enemy. In this engagement Mr. Freeman suffered the loss of his index finger on his left hand, the digit having been shot away by a minie ball. From this date to July following he was in the hospital. He rejoined his regiment in Virginia, on what he charac- terizes as General Pope's "masterly retreat." He was detailed as regimental cook, which position he filled until December 9, 1862, when he received his discharge and was honorably mustered out of service, for disability.
In early years he affiliated with the Demo- cratic party, until Cleveland's administration; since which time he has given loyal support to the Republican party, the party with a history. His fellow townsmen have honored him with several positions of trust. He has held the offices of constable, township treasurer, super- visor two terms, and justice of the peace. He claims he has seved his time as a public official and now declines all honors of that character.
Fraternally, he is a member of the Grange and the Grand Army of the Republic, being at present the commander of L. B. Quackenbush Post, No. 205, of Owosso. Mr. Freeman has retired from the activities of farm life and now resides in the prosperous city of Owosso. Mr. and Mrs. Freeman are esteemed members of the Methodist Episcopal church. His many friends wish for him years of well deserved rest and recreation.
.
HARRISON W. FULLER
No higher compliment can be paid to a citi- zen of a great republic than to state that he gallantly served his country in the civil war. The memory thereof is a rich heritage to be handed down to a hero's posterity. Indeed,
future generations will honor vastly more the brave boys in blue than they are honored to- day. The poet says tersely and forcibly :
Whether on the scaffold high, Or in the battle's van, The fittest place for man to die Is where he dies for man.
The subject of this sketch did not die for his fellow man, but he hazarded his life for his country, as he enlisted at the bugle's call early in the strife, in Company D, First Mich- igan Cavalry. He was enrolled August 14, 1861, and a few days afterward, August 20, was mustered in at Detroit. In September the regiment was mustered into service with one thousand, one hundred and forty-four officers and men, T. F. Broadhead being its colonel. Company D was placed on detached service as provost guard, and was stationed at Alexan- dria, Virginia, November 25, 1862, remaining there on that duty until August, 1864, when the regiment was sent west. Mr. Fuller was in the hospital at Alexandria, Virginia, and Washington, D. C., nearly two months. He is a native of Osceola township, Livingston county, Michigan, and now resides on section 22, Fairfield township, Shiawassee county. His father, Daniel Fuller, was born in New York, in 1793, and died in Livingston county, Michi- gan, March 4, 1843, while his mother, Polly (Gibbs) Fuller, also a native of the Empire state, where she was born in 1806, died March 6, 1881, in Shiawassee county. These pioneers were married in their native state, May 5, 1824. They located in Livingston county in 1833, buying eighty acres of native forest in Osceola township and building a log house thereon. Mr. Fuller was accompanied by an uncle, the former having an ox team and the latter a span of horses. Each brought his family and each had two cows. Mr. Fuller cleared some of the land, but died when our subject, Harrison W., was only three years old. After a time his mother married a sec- ond time, becoming the wife of Ephraim Starr, after. which the family removed to the town-
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