USA > Michigan > Shiawassee County > Past and present of Shiawassee County, Michigan, historically; with biographical sketches > Part 64
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would lay for a week waiting for a breeze, and other times a gale would be so strong that it seemed every one would be blown overboard. From New York Mr. Strauch came by rail to Detroit, where he was an entire stranger. Here he stayed for a week and then went to work at his trade at Sault St. Marie canal. After a short time he was taken sick and went back to Detroit. Upon recovering from this illness, he went to work at his trade in the lumber regions of Huron county.
In August of the year 1858 August Strauch was married to Anstine Pochert, who was born August 26, 1840. She was the daughter of Crist and Adeline Pochert. Mrs. Strauch's parents came to Michigan in 1851 and settled in Huron county, where they engaged in farm- ing. Mrs. Strauch was one of five children, and one of her brothers is living.
Soon after marriage our subject came to Shiawassee county and bought sixty acres of land, in Shiawassee township. This was part- ly cleared, and soon after this our subject rented this land and bought another piece, where he has since resided. He has been an extensive land owner and has divided his three hundred acres among his children. When he came into possession of his home property a log house was upon it, and this he replaced with a modern and commodious frame dwell- ing. All the improvements upon the place are due to the characteristic energy and thrift of this German-American farmer.
To August Strauch and wife seven children were born, of whom five are living: Albert, who is a farmer of Shiawassee township, mar- ried Martha Whitaker, and has two children ; Adeline is the wife of Mark Omstead, of Shi- awassee township, and they have two chil- dren : Emma died in infancy ; Frank, who re- sides in Shiawassee township, married Emma Morse and they are the parents of two chil- dren; William, who resides in Shiawassee township, married Grace Randolph and they have three children ; Rosalie is the wife of Ed- ward Kent and they have one child; Rosa, a
twin sister of Rosalie, died at the age of twen- ty-one years.
In politics our subject is rather independent, though generally casting his vote and influ- ence for the Democratic party. He takes a citizen's interest in political affairs but is in no sense an office-seeker. He has always pre- ferred giving his attention to his farming du- ties and his adopted trade, feeling that in the end they would bring him a better reward, and he now enjoys the fruits of the early days of toil. He is a member of the Congregational church, though formerly a German Lutheran. Mrs. Strauch died January 28, 1903, and a daughter is looking after the interests of the home for her father.
ARTHUR P. STRONG
To have been well born is a priceless legacy, and one in which any man may feel a pardon- able sense of pride, though personally he in no manner contributed to his own good for- tune.
Arthur P. Strong was well born. He is a son of a Methodist Episcopal clergyman, a member of the Detroit conference. To have had "line upon line" and "precept upon pre- cept" from one's earliest recollection, to have been reared among the refining and elevating influences of a Christian home, is indeed a blessing that should rest like a benediction upon the life of one so favored.
Arthur P. Strong is the son of Rev. Fred- erick and Sarah B. (Douse) Strong, who were united in the holy bonds of matrimony June 12, 1855, at Charlottetown. Mr. Strong was born February 20, 1832, at St. Johns, New Brunswick, and Mrs. Strong January 14, 1835, on Prince Edward Island. They were the par- ents of eleven children, and data concerning them are given as follows: William D., born April 25, 1856, is now engaged in the hotel and livery business at Alma, Gratiot county. Lelia was born December 14, 1857, and died
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in May, 1862. Albert, born March 28, 1859, is employed as shipping clerk for Taylor Mc- Leese & Company, of Detroit. Julia Annie, born April 25, 1860, is the wife of Charles Byerly, of Owosso. John B., born March 12, 1862, resides at Calumet. Arthur P. was born on Prince Edward Island, April 15, 1864. Edith Jane, born February 2, 1866, is now the wife of John Mitchell, of Negaunee, Michigan. Louisa A., born January 2, 1868, is the wife of Professor John G. Monroe, of Dayton, Ohio. Ester Florence, born November 6, 1871, is. now Mrs. Charles Mitchell, of Bennington township. Lelia Ada, born October 29, 1869, is the wife of Homer Saxton, of Milford, Michigan. Dell May, born October 22, 1872, is the wife of John B. Watson, who is a sur- veyor in the mines at Calumet, Michigan.
Our subject acquired his education in the various towns where his father, as an itinerant Methodist preacher, was located as pastor, which would naturally characterize him as an all-round educated man.
Just prior to the year of his majority, he entered a general store as clerk and followed this occupation for the term of eleven years, being located during this time at Perry, Ben- nington and St. Charles. The important event in the life of Arthur P. Strong was his marriage, September 17, 1891, to Miss Leora E., daughter of Burr L. and Susan (McFarren) Curtis, of Bennington township. Mrs. Strong was the eldest of three children born to her parents, the date of her birth being September 21, 1866. Cora E., born March 23, 1868, is now the wife of Harry Byerly, of Owosso. Edwin J., born July 4, 1879, is engaged as a clerk in a store in the village of Bennington.
Mrs. Strong's parents were natives of Mich- igan, her father having been born at Howell, Livingston county, June 12, 1838, and having died in March, 1894. Her mother was born in Lodi, Washtenaw county, January 2, 1840, and died in the month of September, 1886. They were married in Woodhull township, Septem- ber 16, 1863.
Burr L. Curtis was the son of John and Samantha A. Curtis, who were early settlers in Livingston county, locating in Howell, where Mr. Curtis carried on a grocery busi- ness. He died in 1841 at the age of twenty- seven years. Mrs. Burr L. Curtis, née Sarah McFarren, was the daughter of John and Caro line McFarren, who were pioneer settlers at Lodi, Washtenaw county.
Mr. Strong owns the farm formerly the homestead of his wife's father, having pur- chased the place of the heirs after the death of Mr. Curtis. The premises consist of eighty acres of choice land, well improved, with com- fortable farm buildings, presenting to the be- holder an air of thrift and prosperity. Here general farming is carried on under the intel- ligent management of its owner.
Mr. Strong affiliates with the Republican party, and has frequently been honored with a place on its ticket. He has held the offices of township clerk and treasurer, two of the most responsible positions of the township. Mr. Strong was instrumental in the organiza- tion of A. P. Strong Tent, No. 711, Knights of the Maccabees, being a charter member of the same. Mr. and Mrs. Strong are esteemed members of the Methodist Episcopal church at Bennington, to which they give loyal support. Being yet on the sunny side of life, their many friends wish for them long years of usefulness.
They are among the most respected citizens of the county, and by their uprightness of life and devotion to the best interests of society generally they have won a large place in the hearts of those who know them best.
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The following interesting data referring to the father, uncle and grandfather of Arthur P. Strong will be read with satisfaction.
For upwards of thirty years Rev. Frederick Strong was a well-known minister of the gos- pel of the Methodist Episcopal church and became a member of the Detroit conference in September, 1872. His first charge was at Reese, Tuscola county, and he was the first
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pastor to occupy that ground. He later had seven different charges in the lower and three in the upper peninsula. He and his devoted wife are now living at Owosso, retired from active service. The St. Johns, New Bruns- wick, Sun of recent date has this to say of members of the Strong family :
"Rev. J. B. Strong was pastor of the Port- land Methodist church. This minister had a large share in the establishment and main- tenance of Methodism in the Maritime Prov- inces during the first half of the last century. He came from England the year before the battle of Waterloo, at a time when England was at war on both sides of the Atlantic. His ship was one of a large fleet of merchant ves- sels convoyed by the famous Bellerophon, which managed to escort the whole squadron safely to Quebec. The young minister was the first English pastor of the St. James' Methodist church, Montreal. He had not been in Canada long when he was married to a lady of Three Rivers. She was of English parentage, but grew up under the care of her stepmother, a French Canadian, and spoke French as her mother tongue.
"The alien landlords of Prince Edward Is- land were at this time proclaiming the mer- its of that colony and as many settlers were arriving Mr. Strong arranged to take Char- lottetown and surroundings as his next parish. Landing at the first point on the island, which was seen by the ship on which they took pas- sage, Mr. and Mrs. Strong found themselves at Tignish, the extreme north end, about one hundred miles from their destination. There was no road, and so the young couple made their journey by open boat to Rustico, whence they proceeded overland to the capital. At Tignish and along the shore Mrs. Strong found her knowledge of French exceedingly con- venient.
"After a period of service on the island Mr. Strong came to New Brunswick, and was sta- tioned at Portland, Milltown, Fredericton and Sackville. In 1836 he embarked for England
with all the family except one boy, who was already with old country relatives. The late collector of Summerside was a lad in a Wes- leyan school in England when Queen Victoria was crowned. They would have returned to British America sooner, but the ship on which Strong sailed got into trouble in mid Atlantic in stormy weather, and put back to Queens- town. They did cross after two years' resi- dence in England, and Mr. Strong had pastor- ates at Windsor, Amherst and other circuits. His ministry closed on Prince Edward Island, where he resided after his retirement. One of his sons entered the ministry, and labored for many years in Michigan, where he now lives.
"C. W. Strong, who is one of the younger sons of Rev. J. B. Strong, became collector at Summerside soon after the island became a province of the Dominion. He held the office thirty-one years.
DANIEL E. SUTTON
In the career of this gentleman, who has been for many years a successful farmer in Shiawassee county and who is now located on section 11, Caledonia township, may be found an illustration of the worth of good principles and of habits of industry and pru- dence .. He had not inherited such wealth as falls to some men but has fought his way through life, provided only with the advan- tages that beneficent nature has granted him. He was born in Steuben county, New York, March 14, 1855, and is a son of Isaac and Lois M. (Perry) Sutton, the father a native of Pennsylvania, where his birth occurred Oc- tober 22, 1822, and the mother of Vermont, her birth occurring September 9, 1827. The father died May 20, 1902, and the mother July 3, 1898.
Isaac Sutton was a carpenter by trade but owned and lived on a farm, and in connection with operating the same he worked at his trade. He came from New York to Michi-
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gan in 1865 and lived on a rented farm in Hazelton township for one year, at the expira- tion of which he bought eighty acres of land on section 14, Caledonia township. This was partly improved. Here he lived until his wife died, after which he made his home with our subject. The old farm is now owned by Dr. Hume. The buildings on the farm were erected by our subject's father. He was for- merly a Democrat but for the last fifteen years of his life was a Republican. He was town- ship clerk in Hazelton, the first year he lived in Michigan. Both he and his wife were members of the Methodist Episcopal church. They became the parents of eight children : Jonathan P., born February 8, 1847, lives in Owosso and works for a lumber company. Electa, born March 6, 1848, died December 4, 1870; she was the wife of Ed. Hern, of Ver- non township. Cynthia, born October 14, 1849. married William Durham, of Corunna. Jacob A., born February 2, 1853, lives at Owosso. Our subject was next in order of birth. William A., born November 19, 1857, a street-car conductor, lives in Chicago, is mar- ried to Maud Wilkinson and they have two children, Effie M. and Myrtle. Helen N., born August 28, 1864, is now Mrs. John McEl- ravey and lives in Shiawassee township. Frank H., born April 28, 1866, married Fannie Ward and lives in Chicago, a railroad conductor.
Our subject was educated in the district schools and lived with his parents until twen- ty-one years of age. He bought forty acres of land upon which were a log house and frame barn. Since purchasing this farm he has added eighty acres and has erected a beauti- ful home, barns and other buildings. The house was built fifteen years ago and the barn three years ago. He is the possessor of as finely cultivated a farm as can be found in the locality.
October 22, 1881, Mr. Sutton was united in marriage to Adelia Mead, who was born No- vember 21, 1862, being a daughter of Caleb and Eliza (Phyillier) Mead. Her father was
born January 19, 1836, and died November 30, 1896, and her mother, who was born May 11, 1827, died May 13, 1863. Mrs. Sutton's father was a farmer and lived in Caledonia township. She was one of three children: Otis S. lives in Rush township. Amelia and our subject's wife were twins; Amelia is the wife of Tru- man Hamp, of Gratiot county.
Our subject and. wife have five children : Alva C., born July 2, 1883, married Winnie Pearsall and they reside in Caledonia. Grant E., born June 4, 1885 ; Oral F., born April 10, 1887 ; Lester, born February 7, 1891, and Car- lisle, born January 23, 1898; all remain at the parental home.
Mr. Sutton is affiliated with the Democracy, though never an office-seeker. He is a mem- ber of the Gleaners and is one of the popular citizens of his township.
JOHN O. TATTERSALL
It is a pleasure to read the story of the life of a man who has been buffetted about from his childhood and who has finally triumphed. To be able to say of him that he overcame dif- ficulties and misfortunes, securing by his own efforts the wealth that insures comfort for his declining years, is strong and merited praise.
John O. Tattersall was born in Lancashire, England, on the 27th day of September, 1850, being. a son of Thomas and Mary (Rothwell) Tattersall. The father died before the sub- ject of this sketch was born. The mother, left alone in the world, finally came to Amer- ica, when our subject was four years of age, and took up her residence in Pittsburg, Penn- sylvania.
From the age of seven to fifteen years, when he should have been strengthened by God's pure air and sunlight, our subject was compelled to labor in the damp, dark coal mines of Penn- sylvania. At the age of fifteen he was bound out to work on a farm, where he remained for the period of two years, and he then took up the vocation of sailor on the Great Lakes.
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He continued the last named occupation about ten years. In the meantime, his mother, hav- ing resided in several places, came to Rush township, and our subject made his home with her when not engaged on the lakes.
Mr. Tattersall was united in marriage with Lola Runyan, who was born in the state of Ohio, December 19, 1860. She is a daughter of Samuel and Sophia (Frank) Runyan, of whom individual mention is made in this vol- ume. Mr. and Mrs. Tattersall's union has been blessed by the birth of five children, all of whom are living. The oldest, Florence, was born March 18, 1883. She is a trained nurse, being a graduate of the Battle Creek Sanitarium. The second, Ellis, was born February 17, 1885. He is preparing himself for the same profession as his older sister fol- lows. The third, Jane, was born October 31, 1887. She resides at home. The fourth, Leo, was born October 31, 1890 and he is at home, as is also the fifth, Oliver, who was born De- cember 27, 1895.
Our subject's farm of forty acres, in section 16, Rush township, was nearly all wild land when he settled upon it. It contained only a log shanty, in which he resided for several years. He at one time purchased eighty acres additional land, which he partly improved. This he sold, for the reason that his health was failing him.
His forty acres of land is in a high state of cultivation, and while he is engaged in general farming, for the last few years he has been raising the sugar beet, which has afforded . him splendid results. The log cabin has been replaced by a beautiful frame house and he has erected a large barn and good outbuild- ings. His health is shattered by the years of toil and by the exposure which he encountered in getting his start in life, and he suffers great- ly from asthmatic trouble. Politically he is a Republican but he has never held office. He has worked himself single-handed from the lowest rung of the ladder to a position of comfort and plenty.
CLAYTON J. THOMAS
Clayton J. Thomas, whose farm is located in section 23, Bennington township, was born February 15, 1866. He was made the adopted son of C. H. Thomas, at the age of seven years, having lost his own mother when but four years of age.
C. H. Thomas was a farmer of Bennington township. He was born at Nelson, Madison county, New York, June 23, 1829. He was married to Almira Trall, a native of Allegany county, New York, September 7, 1854, and came to Shiawassee county, Michigan, in 1866. To them were born two children,-Rosa, now Mrs. Austin Smith, of Bad Axe, Michigan, and Nina, now Mrs. Robert Trall, of Antrim county, Michigan.
C. H. Thomas served during the entire civil. war, a member of Company F, One Hundred and Fourth New York Volunteers. He served from December, 1861, to July, 1865. On his arrival in Michigan, in 1866, he purchased a farm and he improved the property, residing on the homestead until his death, at the age of sixty-four years; he had one of the finest farms in the county. His widow is still living.
Our subject lived with his foster parents, and acquired his early education in the district school. At the age of eighteen he commenced working on a farm by the month, and he con- tinued this occupation until his marriage, on February 19, 1886. He married Lillie, daugh- ter of Jabez T. and Lydia (Gorton) House. She was born on the farm where she and her husband now live, on February 18, 1865. Jabez T. House was born in the state of New York, January 21, 1817, and died June 14, 1897. He was the oldest of a family of seven children, was a successful business man and one possessed of a strong, upright character. His former political affiliation was with the Republican party, but in later years his senti- ments were strongly with the Prohibition party. He believed the traffic in rum was the greatest blight upon our American civili-
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zation, in the nineteenth century. He ab- stained from the use of tobacco and alcohol, and during the last few years of his life would not use either tea or coffee. He was a mem- ber of the Methodist church. His farm, on which our subject now lives, he improved un- til he made it one of the best in the county.
The family consisted of nine children. The oldest, Henry, was born December 12, 1842, and died January 22, 1843. The second, William, born November 30, 1843, died March 8, 1864. The third, Samantha, wife of Phil- ander Punches, was born August 13, 1845. The fourth, Caroline, born February 13, 1847, died January 10, 1851. The fifth, George Ed- sel, born April 3, 1853, died April 12, 1865. The sixth, Frank, born November 2, 1855, died March 8, 1871. The seventh, Ella, wife of C. W. Jennings, was born October 26, 1858. The eighth, Major, born December 3, 1860, resides in Perry, and the ninth is the wife of the subject of this sketch.
After his marriage Mr. Thomas commenced working his father-in-law's farm, and after the death of Mr. House he purchased the interests of the surviving heirs in the estate. Mr. Thomas is a man with good business ability, and combined with it is the desire to have his surroundings the best that he can afford. Since his purchase of the home place he has expended about fifteen hundred dollars in improvements upon his farm buildings, his being one of the handsomest farm residences in the county.
Politically our subject is a Republican, and he now holds the office of township treasurer, the most responsible office in the township.
To Mr. and Mrs. Thomas have been born two children, both of whom are at home, un- der the refining influence of their worthy par- ents. C. Lynn was born on the 12th day of June, 1892. Russell J. was born on the 27th day of May, 1894.
Mr. Thomas, in addition to carrying on gen- eral farming, makes a specialty of handling cream. Besides the milk from his own herd
of ten cows he purchases milk from his neigh- bors and extracts the cream. He disposes of his entire product to Owosso parties. His business in this line aggregates upwards of eight thousand dollars annually. This enter- prise he has now been conducting about eight years. Mr. and Mrs. Thomas are still on the bright side of life and their numerous friends wish for them yet many years of happiness and comfort.
FRANK A. THOMPSON
Mr. Thompson is the fortunate owner of Elmwood farm, in Caledonia township. The old idea of the "horny handed sons of the soil" is to a great extent now unheard of, agricul- tural methods at this time being carried on with comparatively little manual labor. The improved implements whose motive power is steam or electricity accomplish in one-tenth of the time the work that was formerly per- formed by hand. It is quite possible for even the great majority in this country, as well as in England, to be "gentleman farmers." The subject of this sketch is one of the favored rep- resentatives of agriculture in this district, own- ing a fine farm of one hundred and forty acres, all of which is improved with the exception of ten acres of timber land. The homestead is situated in Caledonia township, on section 14. Mr. Thompson devotes himself to general farming, also makes a specialty of Jersey cat- tle and Berkshire hogs, and makes a business of wholesaling cream.
Frank A. Thompson is a native son of Cale- donia township, having been born upon the farm on which he now resides, June 11, 1864. He is a son of James A. and Madeline M. (Lampeer) Thompson, both natives of New York. The father was born in Argyle town- ship, Washington county, New York, July 17, 1817, and died June 14, 1886, and the mother was born at Carthage, Jefferson county, New York, September 5, 1831, and died April 12, 1888.
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James A. Thompson was always a farmer by occupation. He owned a farm in New York before coming to Michigan. The marriage of James A. and Madeline Thompson took place in Carthage, Jefferson county, New York. In July, 1856, they came to Michigan and rode to Corunna on the first passenger train that ran over the Detroit & Milwaukee Railroad. The father of our subject bought one hundred and twenty acres of wild land, before there were any roads to Corunna. He built first a log house, the usual dwelling of the early settlers, and had it built five logs high before asking for any help. Neighbors in those days were far away and help was scarce. The industry, frugality and rugged perseverance of James A. Thompson helped him to achieve such a de- gree of success and prosperity that he became one of the most influential and prosperous citizens of his township. The improvements upon the farm now owned by our subject were mostly made by the father. The place was all cleared and at the time of his death he owned one hundred and eighty acres of well improved and highly cultivated land.
The Republican party received the support of James A. Thompson and he was incumbent of the office of supervisor for two terms. He was also justice of the peace for several years. His religious beliefs were of the Baptist ten- ets and fraternally he was allied with the Masons, including the Knights Templar.
Frank A. Thompson was one of seven chil- dren born to his parents and only two are liv- ing: Fred died at the age of seven years ; Fannie M. died when twenty-five years of age ; Susie died at the age of fifteen; Jennie was one and one-half years old at her death ; our subject was the next child; James died at the age of seven, and Lena M. is now Mrs. Charles Lyman, of Owosso.
Our subject attended the district school and later the Corunna high school. He lived with his parents until their death, when he came into possession of the farm.
October 15, 1888, Frank A. Thompson was
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