USA > Michigan > Genesee County > Portrait and biographical record of Genesee, Lapeer and Tuscola counties, Michigan > Part 12
USA > Michigan > Lapeer County > Portrait and biographical record of Genesee, Lapeer and Tuscola counties, Michigan > Part 12
USA > Michigan > Tuscola County > Portrait and biographical record of Genesee, Lapeer and Tuscola counties, Michigan > Part 12
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67
626
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
ters and then began to teach school and afterward allended school again, studying in the academy at Genesco, N. V.
After leaving school the young man began car- pentry work and undertook the manufacture of fanning mill. He came West, arriving in Flint, October 12, 1815, and there carried on that business for three years, espeeting to go to college but instead bought a farm upon which he remained for three years and then sold it and removed to Flint, going into the manufacturing of doors, sash and blind -. le sold out this business in 1856 and bought a farm in Genesee Township this county, where he lived for ten years. pursuing general farming and stock-raising, but in ts67 sold the property on section 20, and bought the farm upon which he now resides, and upon which he has made many and substantial improvement -.
Mr. Rockwood was married December 15, 1851, to Catherine V .. second daughter of Isaac and Eliza (Buckingham) Robinson. Mr. Robinson was born in Windham. N. Y., May 3 1803, and in the spring of 1533 he started for the West. leaving Mi. Morris, in Livingston County, N. Y., and locating in Flint. Mich., where there was then one log house standing near the site of the lank. They went north of this point and located Government land in what was known as the Coldwater alle- ment and there they improved a farm and lived for about fifteen years after which they located in Flint where the father died November 30, 1889. Mrs. Robinson was born in Hoboken, S.J., and died in her forty-ninth year.
Mrs. Rock wood was born in M1. Morris, N. Y., April 18, 1530 and was this three years old when she came to Michigan with her parents. After this she never lived outside of Genesee County. She completed her education in Flint and began teach- ing at the age of sistern and taught nine terms in the district school. She belongs to one of the old New England families and can trace her ancestry back to 1620.
The children of Mr. and Mrs. Rockwood are William C., who married Ella Eldridge and lives in this county ; Alice E., who is Mrs. M. E. Hammond; Charles R., married Catherine Davenport, and & a Civil Engineer in Washington State; and Redmond
IL., who resides at home with his parents. Mr. Rockwood is a strong Republican and in his early day's was a Whig. He has served as Justice of the Peace and Conunisioner of Highways and all through the war served as Supa visor filling this office thirteen year- in all. In 1867 he was elected to the Legislature and he has served as Assistant .Assessor of Revenue for tienesee, Shiawassee and Clinton Counties and kept this office until it was closed out by the Government. He was appointed Deputy Collector of Internal Revenue and was elected County Treasurer, holding that office four years, as long as the law allows. He is identified with the order of Free Masons and also with that of the Patrons of Industry.
Since the above was written our subject has passed hence, the date of his death being Novem- ber 1. 1891.
صـ ٠٠٠
ILLIAM LU'CAS. Among the British Amer- ican citizens of North Branch Township, Lapeer County, who for many years have been thoroughly Americanized and who, during the Civil War cast in their lot with other patriots and fought for the honor of the old dag, we are pleased to give the name of William Lucas. He was born in Oxfordshire, England about seventy- five miles west of London on the 5th of April, 1×21. His parents, John and Mary (Manning) Lucas, were both natives of Northampton, and his lather, the son of a rich man who had lost his estate, was a day laborer and mable to give his son a good education. This parent died when our subject was but fourteen years old, and the boy after that worked out for a living.
When Mr. Lucas had reached the age of twenty- six he was married to Eliza Fossey, of Hardick, and they became the parents of four children-Eliza- beth 1., Robert F., Harriet M. and Janey. These children have all established families of their own, and their mother was called from earth December 9. 1882. It was in 1853 when our subject brought his family to America, locating in Detroit through the winter. He first worked for John S. Bagg as
1
0
1
-
629
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
gardener. He then entered the employ of John Hul on his stock farm on the river Rouge, and there had oversight of the hired men. He was a trained gardener in England on the estate of Lord Bute.
Somewhat later Mr. Lucas removed to Oakland County, where he farmed for two years, and com- ing to Lapeer County in August, 1856, he bought the place where he now resides. It was then all an unbroken forest. and he has made every improve- ment which is to be seen upon it to-day, besides doing much useful work upon the road.
He of whom we write enlisted December 1, 1861, in Company F, Tenth Michigan Infantry. He was under Shuman in what was then known as the Army of the West, and took part in the various marches of that body through Kentucky, Tennessee, North and South Carolina and Georgia, and though he served until July 19, 1865, he was not in any general engagements, and did not see much lighting. At the expiration of the war he returned to Michigan with his health much im- paired, so he has been unable to do active work smee that time. In his political views he is in carn- est sympathy with the Republican party, and he say's that the party which sustained the adminis- tration during the war, is good enough for him HOW.
1
1
C ASPER . HAAS. Without doubt the lin- est merchant tailor in the city of Flint is the gentleman whose portrait is presented on the opposite page. He was born in Frank fort- on-the-Main, at Hesse-Cassel, Germany. November 1. 1815.
His father, John Haas, was a shoemaker in the old Prussian vity and was also engaged in farming near there. He still survives, a resident of his native land and is now eighty-one yous of age. lle belongs to a long-lived family, his mother being ninety-two years of age at the time of her death. During the Revolutionary War he served As one of the Hessian mercenaries,
Our subject's mother, Anna M. Mertz, also it native of Hesse-Cassel, died in Olissigheim. She was the mother of four children, there being two boys and two girls. Susan died in Germany; Elizabeth, Mr -. D. EHinger, died in Allegan, Mich., in 1866: John is a weaver and farmer at Oberi -- sigheim. Our subject was reared in his native place and thence went to Oberissigheim, where he remained until past fourteen years of age and then came to America, which he had from boyhood had the greatest desire to see. He left Bremen, October 10, 1860, on the steamer "Hamilton." The ship. encountered severe storms and was almost lost; it's masts, rudder and rigging were all washed away and it drifted to the coast of Newfoundland cov- ered with ice. It was finally discovered by a search party which had been sent out from New York and was taken to that city by a tug.
Young Haas was apprenticed to a tailor for three years in New York. Thence he came to . Allegan, Mich., but after a short stay there went back to New York and in July, 1861, he enlisted in the Forty-first New York Infantry. He was mustered in at Poughkeepsie, but was kept as a substitute on guard in department posts and places until the close of the war. He was mustered out in New York in 1865 and remained there until January, 1866. He had attended the evening schools and had become proficient in the use of the English language. In January. 1866, he re- turned to Allegan, and of the 5th of May came to Hint and was engaged with Mr. Ford until 1870, when he started a merchant tailoring establishment on Saginaw street in the Fenton Block. He sul- fered in the financial crash of 1875 but immedi- ately afterward started anew and opened an estali- lishment at the corner of Saginaw and First Streets. In 1882 he moved to the Eddy Block, remaining there until April. 1888, when he removed his par- lors into the time new brick block known as the Haas Block, which comprises two stories and a basement, being 22x70 feet in dimensions and heated by steam.
Mr. Han- carries the finest stock of clothes sail- able for gentlemen's wearing apparel and the latest assortment of goods. His patronage is not cons , lined to this locality, for he has customers all over
630
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
the State, and all work receives his personal super- intendente. Hmot January. 1892, he purposes lo open parlors for the manufacture of ladies' coats, mantles and tailor-made dresses, there being but one institution of that Kind in the Saginaw valley.
Mr. Hans was married in Detroit, July 28, 1890. to Miss Katie Flynn, a native of New York State. Our subject with John Purney and James Will- iams, was the promoter of the present paid five department, which was at first a volunteer com- pany. Socially he belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, is also a Mason, and is rap- tain of the I niformed Division of Ivanhoe Lodge, No. 21, K. of P. Mr. Haas is one of the most prominent business men, outside of speculative business, in this city. He is publie-spirited and enterprising and it is with pleasure that we elton- , of this sketch is the oldest child. iele his success m a financial way. He is an ardent Republican in his political views. He has ever been identified with the public interests of the city and several of the fine residences here have been built by him.
B YRON HURD. No one is more accommodat- ing to the wayfaring public than he where name appears above, and no one is more liked by his fellow-citizens than the genial proprietor of the Sherman House. Mr. Hurd was born in Lewistown, Niagara County, N. Y., May 7, 18:37. He is a son of Amail and Eliza (Farne>) Hurd. The former was born in Keene. N. IL., in 1799. Our subject's grandfather, Robert 1. Hurd also a native of New Hampshire, went to New York locating in Pike. Mlghany County, and later, in 1815, came with our subject's father to Flint and resided with his son. Russel Hard, at Pine Run, this county, until his decrase, which occurred when he was ninety-four years of age. He was of English descent and of excellent family. He served in the War of 1812.
1
Our subject's father was a shoemaker by trade. le came to Michigan in 1816. bringing with him his family which comprised a wife and three chill- ren. He at once engaged in manufacturing shoes,
building a shopat the corner of Third and Saginaw Streets and there employing from teu to sixteen men. Later he became foreman for Mr. I. Del- bridge, finally retiring from active labor and his decrease occurring in 1890, when at the age of umety-one years. Our subject's mother was born in Vermont. She was the daughter of Artemus Fur- ness, who emigrated to Ohio and then to Chesen- ing, Saginaw County, where he purchased a farm and there lived until his decease, which occurred when he was seventy-eight years of age. Our sub- jeet's mother still survives and now resides in the first brick house which was built in Flint and which was originally intended for a schoolhouse. She is the mother of twelve children, nine of whom are living at the present time. Of these the original
When nine years of age our subject was brought by his parents to Flint, coming by water-way from Buffalo to Detroit and thener by team. Heattended . the district school in the old brick schoolhouse and afterward attended high school. In 1852 he went to Painesville, Ohio, with his grandfather Furness, working in the summers on the farm and attend- ing school in the winter. He went back and forth between Flint and his grandfather's home in Ohio until 1856, when he returned to remain perman- enty and for five years took charge of a livery barn. running the place until 1861. He then went to the oil regions of Pennsylvania and re- maindl for one year, teaming it from Waterford Erie County, to MeClinton Flats, hauling oil over the road. He took some horses through to O-ka- loosa, lown, driving them on foot from Burlington. He remained there a year engaged in teaming and in the employ of the Western Stage Company,. carrying mail. He drove the mail carriage between Oskaloosa and Fort Kearney, Neb. He was thus employed for about five year -.
In 1867 Mr. Hard returned to Flint and served as a common laborer during the summer, upon the farmsand in the winters in a lumber camp. About 1876 he became foreman of a livery stable for Mr. 1. 11. Beebe and was then employed in the old Thayer House. now the Crystal House, and after- ward became clerk in the Melatyre House, later m the Sherman House which has been rebuilt and in
631
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
1887 be rented and furnished the Exchange House on Saginaw Street, opposite the Courthouse cant ran it until September, Jakg, when he purchased the fixtures of the Sherman House and has since been it- propictor. It is one of the oldest hotels in the city, is nicely furnished and in every way a first-class house.
Our subject was married in Lansing to Miss Polly Bennett, a native of New York State. Their nuptials were solemnized May 30, 1882. In his belief Mr. Hurd is a Republican of the true-blue type.
C LINTON S. WOOD. This prominent resi- dent of section 6. Atlas Township, Genesee County, is a son of New York, being born in Yates County, that State, September 8, 1818. He is a son of Barnabas and Betsey (Davis) Wood, pioneers of Livingston County, N. Y. When only a youth our subject learned the cooper's trade which he followed for many years and his father was a cooper before him. Few educational advan- Inges were offered him but he improved conscien- tiously every opportunity and has become a man of intelligence and broad information, mainly through his own eforts since reaching manhood.
Lucinda Palmatier was the name of the lady who became Mrs. Clinton Wood in New York in 1812, and their wedding day was November 19. She was born in Delaware County, March 17, 1820, and ber parents were Jolm and Betsey ( Weaver) Palmatier. both natives of New York and the father was a soldier in the War of 1812. When she was about fifteen years old she removed with her parents to Steuben County, and there spent her youth and young womanhood, receiving her elementary edu- ention in the primitive schools of that time.
After the marriage of this comple Mr. Wood worked for about two years as a farm hand at $10 a month and then went to farming for himself in Livingston County, N. Y., where he resided for many years in connection with his trade. In 18GG he sold that property and coming to tieneser County, Mich., settled on his prosent farm in Atlas Town-
ship, where he has since resided. Much hard work has been bestowed upon this farm, and he has made it thoroughly cultivated and highly productive. He has done much ditching and til- ing. The first home here was in an old log house which some years later was removed and the pres- ent commodious and attractive residence built in it- stead. In his accumulation of this handsome property he has been ably seconded by his faithful, prudent and wise counselor and helpinate, and they now own one hundred and sixty acres of ex- cellent land.
Mr. Wood is warmly attached to the doctrines of the Republican party but is not a wire-puller or ofllee-secker, as he feels himself better adapted to the management of a farm than the management of affairs of State and prefers that more ambitious men till the offices of the township and county. Mr. and Mrs. Wood are among the most esteemed and highly respected citizens of the township and . have a large circle of warm friends. As neighbors they are regarded as most friendly and accommo- dating, and their integrity and uprightness give them the confidence of all with whom they have dealings.
~
A LBERT C. LYON, who is engaged in the real-estate business in Flint, is a citizen of this city, and occupies a lovely residence built on the site of his father's home here more than thirty-five years ago. Mr. Lyon was formerly engaged extensively in making loans as well as in real estate. He was born in Flint, of which place his father was a pioneer, March 28. 1818. His father, William H. C. Lyon. was born in Lima, N. Y., August 19, 1811, while his grand- father, Wakeman Lyon, was a native of Connecti- ent. The latter emigrated at an early day to New York. His death, which occurred, August 31, 1816, aged 37 years, was accidental and was caused by fading into a well. The ancestry of this family is traced back to one Samuel Lyon who resided in Conneetient in 1750.
!
632
PORTRAIT AND A OGRAPHICAL RECORD.
Wer attaining to manhood in Lima, N. Y., Wil- finn 0. 0. Lyon come to Michigan in 1836, and in Saginaw began trading with the Indians at vari- on- points, thener returned to Flint, where he con- tinned to make his home. When he arrived in this city, he opened a general merchandising estali- fi-loment on Saginaw Street, where the Congrega- tional Church now stand-, and for years he con- ducted business as a merchant. From 1850 and until 1855 be engaged with E. F. Frary in the grocery farines, until in the last mentioned year he was burned out. During the war he was with Mr. Forsy the in the landware business, and prior to this, in 1859-61. he was Register of Feeds of the conny. While serving in that position he with his son- completed an abstract of titles of the
An extensive traveler. Mr. Lyon visited every State and territory in the Union, and he had an orange grove at Tampa. Fla .. besides holding prop- erty in this county. His death occurred February ti. Ixml, at Griffin. La. at the age of seventy-ix years. His political affiliations were with the Democratic party, and he served his fellow-citizens in various official capacities, being Supervisor for many years. His first wife, known in her girlhood a- Esther W. Riggs, was born at West Avon. ... Y., and was the daughter of Jeremiah Riggs, a mil- ler of the Empire State. In 1825 Mr. Riggs lo- cated it Grand Blanc, this State, and while Mich- igan was still a teritory engaged in farming. La- ter he remove to Fentonville, where he became a prominent business man and there his life was brought to a peaceful close. The mother died dan- uary t6. 1565. in Flint.
William H .. a brother of our subject, resides in Griffin, Gia .. while Enuna Gi .. his sister, married .J. M. Bishop and also makes her home in frittin, Gia. Albert U. was reared and educated in Flint, where he attended the Union School. In 18GG he was a student in the Fenton school. At one time he owned the abstract of title office, and upon las- ing that business be continued in real-estate and loans for ten years over the First National Bank. ile was appointed City Clerk in 1851.
In 1889 Mr. Lavon built his beautiful residence on the corner of Clifford and Fourth Street, and
the lady who presides over this elegant home bore the maiden name of Ama M. Carey, She was married to Mr. Lyon in this city, her native home, in 1883. Mr. Lyon is a charter member of Friend- chip Lodge, No. 171. 1. 0. 0. F. He is a Demo- crat. and in hearts sympathy with every measure telling to promote the interests of Flint.
-
b ON. ROBERT P. AAITKEN. Our subject is a man who has taken no unimportant part in formulating legislative measures that have tended to the improvement and eu- riching of that portion of the State in which he lives. Mı. Aitken was born m what is now the town of Perth. Fulton County, N. Y., probably in the winter of 1819. He is a son of William and Helen (Chalmers) Vitken, both natives of Scotland. They emigrated to New York and settled in what is now Perth, where they died. They had a family of six children and of these our subject was the fifth in order of birth. He passed his early life up to about the age of sixteen years in the vicinity of hi- birthplace, and then went to New York City where he was employed as a clerk in the office of his unele, William Hinton, and after remaining for six years with him, in November, 1812. he came to Generer County, Mich. Having laid up a portion of his carnings he decided to purchase a stock of goods. This he did but in a short time traded a portion of his stock for land which was located on section 8. Flint Township.
Our subject has been a resident of this township since the fall of 1812. He has given his time and attention to farming and agricultural pursuits. He is now the owner of several hundred acres of land in this county. two hundred of which is in the home farm where he has created a fine class of buildings. This has been beautified and made at- tractive to a great degree. Mr. Aitken was mar- ried in the city of Flint March 12, 1813, his bride being Miss Sarah J. Johnstone, who is a native of New York City, having been there born August 2, 1×23, She is a daughter of William and Hannah ( Met arthues ) Jelastone, both natives of Ireland.
John L. Lage
635
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
Their devere occurred in Flint Township, at the residence of our subject. Mr. and Mrs, Aithen have been the parents of ten children, seven of whom lived to be grow 1. They are: William Il., Matilda E., Robert H., Grave 1. David D. Anna I., and Sarah J. Two children died in infancy, John A. and Samuel M., twins. William II. mar- ried Evangeline Kingsbury. He served in the War of the Rebellion in the Eighth Michigan In- fantry. His death occurred about 1873. Matilda is the wife of John MeKircher; Robert 1., married Mi- Ida Anderson and they restde on the home farm. thrace is the wife of Robert Harrington; David D. married da Long, of New Jersey.
The original of our sketch has lold the office of Supervisor of Flint Township for twenty-nine years, and is now serving his second term as Justice of the Peace. He has served also through two successive terms in the legislature during the troubled period of the '60-, having been elected in the fall of 1865 and re-elected in 1867. He has noted as Secretary of the Genere County Fire In. surance Company, having asted in its organiza- tion and being one of its first members. He has ever taken an active interest in political affairs and is an ardent Republican. He and his wife were members of the Episcopal Church. In 1886 our subject suffered the bereavement attending the loss of his wife, who died May I. She lives buried in Glenwood Cemetery in the city of Flint, Mich.
ON. JOIN 1 .. GAGE. The rank and tile of the early pioneers are fast thinning, and the men who have worked for their estates. clearing and logging them, are bring fe- placed by those who amherst the products of the labos of the sturdy first settlers. The gentleman whose portrait is shown on the opposite page jsme of the few remaining pioneers in this vicinity. He was the second man who was elected to repre- sent this county in its legislatme and has been a resident of Burton Township, tieneser County, since 1836.
1
Mr. tage was born in Rockingham County, N.
Lydia (Brockelbank) Cage, John Cage was the first white gold born in that part of New Hamp- shire after the Revolutionary War. Our subject's grandsite, Joshua frage, who was of English birth and parentage, was a Continental sellier and look part in the battle of Bunker Hill. John Cage re- moved from New Hampshire to Ontario County, N. Y. He served in the War of 1812 and was the incumbent of various local offices in his place of residence. He was seventy-eight years of age at the time of his decrease, which occurred in 1857.
Our subject is the oldest of nine children, of whom fourare living. He learned his letters in an almanac and attended school in a desultory way, enjoying a few weeks at the then noted academy at Canandaigua. He was thereafter engaged in trach- ing for six terms, and after coming to Michigan taught in the school of the city of Flint in 1838, 39. He remained at home until reaching his ma- jority and was then engaged in Or fouring mill for a few months. In 1827 be determined to learn the carpenter's trade, receiving EX per month when first learning.
In 1830 our subject came to Michigan and par- chased a small tract of land in Lenawee County. He subsequently prospected a good deal, making his toutes on foot, and finally located near Flint, taking up a tract of Government land in 1835. The settlers were few and the work of clearing was appalling. He, however, built a house, to which the Indians came very frequently . and has made his home near Flint ever since. Mr. Hage was mar- ried July 19 1835, to Miss Mary Tufts. a daughter of lobo Tofts, of Canandaigua. V. Y. Mrs. Mary Gage died in February, 1889. She was the mother of seven children. Of these Ellen is deceased; Mary is the wife of George 11. Chapin, a farmer of Grand Blanc Township, Comer County ; Eliza Jane is the wife of Abram Peer, of Burton Township; Lydia E. i- dercard; Charles resides in Wexford County, this State; Julia is the wife of William Ray. a farmer in Mundy Township; and Susan is the wife of Joseph Jelli-, of Flint.
Mr. Bage is a Demoernt in politics. He has been Supervisor of his township for live terms, Justice
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.