USA > Michigan > Genesee County > Portrait and biographical record of Genesee, Lapeer and Tuscola counties, Michigan > Part 18
USA > Michigan > Lapeer County > Portrait and biographical record of Genesee, Lapeer and Tuscola counties, Michigan > Part 18
USA > Michigan > Tuscola County > Portrait and biographical record of Genesee, Lapeer and Tuscola counties, Michigan > Part 18
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thies are with the Republican party and he has served as Township Treasurer for nine terms, be- sides other offices of local importance. He belongs to the order known as the I'nited Friends, In his quiet home happiness prevails and the lives of its occupants me good examples of the best kind of country life.
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AMES M. FIKES. Our subject is a native of Herkimer County, N. Y., and was bom September 20. 1810. He is the soul of John Fikes of New York, who was born in 1×17, and devoted himself throughout life to the calling of agriculture. He came to Michigan and settled in Fenton, in 1876, and now lives retired from active business. Our subject's mother was, as a young lady, Miss Melitta Hicks, and is a na- tive of the Empire State being born in 1819. She and her husband are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. They have been the parents of two children; the younger, Morris, married and became the father of one son and shed in 1870.
Mr. Fikes began life for himself on reaching his majority, working on a farm on shares for seven years. He came to Michigan in 1870 and located in Tyrone Township, Livingston County, where he purchased ninety-six acres of land and de- voted himself to its cultivation for seven years. In 1877 our subject sold his farm and removed to Fenton where he became engaged in the mercan- tile Imsiness, in 1878, as a partner with George E. Damon, with whom he remained for three years. He then sold out his interest to his partner and purchased a stock of goods, engaging in business for himself for nine years. His stock comprised
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finally sold his stock, rented his store and has store retired from active employment.
On the 6th of November, 1861. Mr. Fikes was married to Miss Annie A. Gifford, who was both in Herkimer County, N. Y., and is a daughter of William Gifford. Our subject's union with this lady has been blessed by the advent of one child, a daughter named Minnie M., who is now the wife of Dr. E. V. Riker and lives at Parmm. She is the mother of two children. He of whom we write affiliates with believers in the Republican party. While a resident of Tyrone Township he served as Clerk for three years and was Supervisor for one year. Since coming here he has been Village Is- sever for one year and has held other minor ofli- ves. Both he and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church in which he is a Steward. He has been Superintendent of the Sun- day-school for over two years.
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Mr. Fikes is the owner of ten aeres within the village limits. He has besides one aere in another portion of the place and a twostory brick bu-i- ness block which he himself built on the main street. While engaged in trade he did an extens- ive business that aggregated from $18,000 fo 822,- 000 per year. He owns besides his fine residence in the village, two houses and lots. Prior to com- ing to Michigan our subject manufactured cheese in Herkimer County, for eight years. In starting out in life for himself he was obliged to borrow money to begin on.
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OHN W. HANDY, M. D. There is probably no physician in dienste County more worthy of the name than the one of whom we now write, and he is at the same time thoroughly worthy of the title of gentleman. and is a man of great practical experience and ability. His father, John H. Handy, was born in Connecti ent in 1817, and his grandfather, JJames 11., was a native of the same State. It was during his life time that the family name was changed by custom from lendee to Hands.
Connertient and served in the Revolutionary War, and his father, Barzilla, was a native of England, and established the Hender family in Connectiont. The grandfather was a pioneer neur Batavia, Gen- eser County, N. Y .. and about the year 1829 he brought the family to Hartland, Livingston County, Mich., where he resided throughout the remainder of his life, which carried him over more than ninety-nine years. One of his brothers, Leman, was the famous showman, and owned the first caravan in which a man entered the age of lions in the United States.
The father of our subject carried on the home farm in Hartland, until 1859, when he removed to Steuben County. Ind., and died there in 1879. Ile was an active member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and was honored and respected by all. having not an enemy in the world.
Dorothy Hancock was the maiden name of the mother of our subject and she was born in Ireland and married there for her first husband Thomas Walsh, and emigrated with him to America, where Mr. Walsh was book-keeper for the millionaire A. 'T. Stewart. his old playmate and schoolmate in England. He died of consumption a few years after their migration to Livingston County, Mich .. where he came for his health, and she here became the wife of John 11. Handy, and the mother of our subject. By her first marriage she had three sons and two daughters. The three some are; Frank, Thomas and Alexander. The two last named served in the Civil War, and Mesander is the author of the " Mary, the queen of the House of David."
Dur salget is the only child of his mother's second marriage, and was born in Hartland, Liv- ington County, October 5, 1852. His educational advantage- were indeed limited, and he paid his tuition for his first term in a graded school by sel- ling the pelts of muskrats, which he had caught, and all through his school days he worked early and late to keep in school at all.
At the age of eighteen this young man began teaching, and saved the money thus carned to pay for further schooling. During the spring and sum- mer of each year he was employed upon the farm, Attending a fall term of graded school and teach-
The great-grandfather, Cyrenus, was born in ing every winter until he reached the age of Iwen-
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ty-six, after which he was obliged to take charge of the farm until after the death of that parent. Hle early evinced great love for the study of physi- ology and anatomy and before long became an au- thority on these subjects in lus neighborhood, and thus gradually drifted into the study of medicine. After studying at home for some time he entered the University of Michigan in the department of medicine and surgery, and worked his own way through. He graduated in 1881, taking his degree, and began practicing in Hartland, Livingston County, remaming there until the fall of 1885.
At this time the young Doctor decided to come to Flint, where he located for two years and entered into partnership with Dr. Cogshall for a short time, since which he has carried on Is- prac- tive independently. His marriage in Indiana in 1876 brought to his home a wife in the person of Min Elizabeth Robbins, a native of that State. He is a member of the Saginaw Valley Medical Asso- ciation, a Republican in politics, and belongs to the Gold Fellows, the Foresters and the Marca-
+ HOMAS O. WOLVERTON. He who pre- sides over the incoming and outgoing mails of Grand Blanc and distributes the same. and a man who is not only a prominent citizen but one who is thoroughly companionable in every way. is he whose name appears above. He is a na- tive of Monter County, N. Y .. and was born Jan- mary 13, 1818. His parents were Dennis and Susan (Dunham) Wolverton, both natives of the Empire State. The former came with his family to Gene- Ne County, this State, in 1851, and settled on a farm in Grand Blane Township on section 1. That place he made his home as long as he lived, his decrase occurring March 11. 1883.
Our subject's father had taken a prominent stand in the local affairs of the township. having served several terms as Supervisor and also as .In- tive of the Peace. He was an ardent Republican in his political creed. Of the large family horn to the parents five now survive. They are Mr.
John Dayton, William C., Mrs. David Schram, Thomas 0., and Mrs. C. Jenney. Tlw father of this family took an active interest in local poli- ties. He was a public-spirited man and a promi- nent member of the Baptist Church. His wife died December 2, 1871.
Thomas D. Wolverton has been reared to man- hood in this county and from early youth has en- gaged principally in agricultural pursuits, He received his education in the common schools of the county and is a wide awake. well-read man, having a large stock of good common sense. Our subject was married November 20, 1872, to Mis Anna Timer, a daughter of Robert Turner, de- craved, and a resident of Grand lane Township.
Our subject and his wife have two children- Susie Enwho was born 29, 1876, and Dayton .1., whose birthday was duly 1. 1887. For four years Mr. Wolverton served as Overseer of the County Poor Farm and for many years he was engaged in farm- ing in Grand Blane Township. In 1889 he was appointed Postmaster of Grand Blanc. He is it Republican in politics and was elected to his pre- ent position by virtue of loyalty to his party. For some time he was identified with the order of the Knights of the Maccabees. Our subject is the owner of eighty acres of excellent land which is under a ligh state of enftivation. For one term he served as Township Treasurer and discharged the duties of his office to the entire satisfaction of his constituents. Any measure that looks to the improvement of the state of commercial or social life in this vicinity receives the support and recognition of our subject.
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L EWIS G. BICKFORD. To record events of interest in the lives of those who have aided in the development of any given section of country. affords the biographer rare delight. Many of the courageous pioneers of Flint have passed to their final rest. but they still live in the hearts of their descendants to whom they furnish an ex- ample worthy of emulation. A number of years have come and gone stee Mr. Bickford departed
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this life, but his influence has not caused. He was born hine 26, 1816, in Manlius, Onondaga County , N. Y., and was the son of Dearborn and Roxana Bickford. natives of Massachusetts.
Young Lewis was educated in the East and be- emme a merchant of Manlius, In 1836. he pur- chased a stock of goods, which he brought to Say- innw and opened up a general merchandise busi- ness, later carrying it on m partnership with Robert Page. This partnership was, however, unfortunate, and after their dissolution Mr. Bickford became Registrar of Deeds, serving for three terms, and then became Justice of the Peace, which office he kept until his decrase, a period of over twenty-five years. Squire Bickford, as he was familiarly called, died September 18, 1881. Socially he was a Master Mason and was a charter member of the Presby- tenian Church. Originally he was a Whig. and later became as ardent a Republican.
Max 9, 1839, Mr. Bickford was married to Miss Marla Gale, at the residence of the bride's aunt,- the Rev. Mr. Beach, a prominent Presbyterian di- vine, performing the ceremony. Mrs. Bickford was born in Salisbury, Rutland County, V't., De- comber 6, 1818, and is a daughter of Leonard and Lavina (Cummings ) Gale, both natives of Ver- mont. Leonard Gale served in the Revolutionary War. He was a hotel man, who in 1821 located at Warsaw, N. Y., running a line of stages between that city and Batavia, and Warsaw and Buffalo.
In 1830 Mrs. Bickford's father removed to West- field. Chautauqua County, and had a stage route between Westfield and Eric. and aise between Westfield and Buffalo. Successful in life and has - ing accumulated chough to make him comfortable during his last years. he died at the age of seven- ty-three years. Mrs. Bickford's maternal grandsire. Ephraim Cummings, also served in the Revolution- ary War. He died at Westfield, as did also Mrs. · Bickford's mother, in 1888, at the age of ninety- three years. Of five children bom of the marriage of Mrs. Bickford's parents, three are living, and of these Mrs. Bickford is the oldest. Following her are Frances M. and Chauney.
Mrs. Bickford was reared in Warsaw until twelve years of age, then went to Westfield, where she was a student in the academy, In 1838 she came
to Michigan with an aunt, Mrs. Harriet Disbrow, and located in Flint, on the Saginaw River. There were at that tune only a half-dozen build- ings on Saginaw Street. They came by steamer to Detroit and by horse to Pontiac, and thener by stage to Flint. There were many of the Chippewa Indians still camped about the place and of those old Mabin was chief, and so frequent was their dealing with the Indians that Mrs. Bickford learned a little of the language, which enabled her to be understood. It was not unusual to see deer and wolves in the streets.
Mrs. Bickford has proved herself to bea capable business woman, for since her husband's death she has carried on every branch of his business. She own- two farms in Burton Township, Genesee County, aggregating two hundred and thirty acres. They bear excellent buildings and are well stocked. She now rents the places on shares. Her residence is at No. 633 Kearsley Street. She is one of the . oldest settlers of the city. She has been the mother of five children, whose names are Julia, Mrs. Nathan Cash, who is deceased; Addison, who died at the age of sixteen years; Frank, who died at the age of twenty-nine and where two sous. Harry and Arthur, live with Mrs. Bickford; Ella, Mrs. Godley, who died in Flint; and Mary, who died at the age of eightern months. Mrs. Bickford is an ardent member of the Presbyterian Church.
A BNER C. JOHNSON, who is well known among lawyers and is recognized as a urin of great legal ability, settled in this county in Mundy Township. Genere County in 1839. He was born in Montgomery County, N.Y., at Canajoharie, August 2, 1×21.
The father, Thomas Johnson, was a hatter by trade, who came to Michigan in 1828 with his family. He was the son of Capt. John Johnson, who was one of the Revolutionary heroes and of English descent. Buying Government land, this pioneer set up housekeeping in a løg bone, and with the aid of his children began felling the trees and improving the land, In 1836 be located
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in Independence Township, Oakland County, where for thirty-five years he was Justice of the Peace, and was known far and wide as Esquire Johnson.
The father of our subject had brought with him on coming West some Ston, with which he had de- signed to pay for his land, but he unfortunately had endorsed for a friend in the Fast to the amount of #500, and upon this friend failing he was called upon to make good the less, which seriously crippled him for years, but he overcame all his difficulties, and when he died in 1sat, at the age of seventy-eight, years he was a man of wealth. He was a true-blue Republican ever after leaving the Whig party, to which he first belonged, and an earnest member of the Methodist Episcopal Church to whi't his wife. Charlotte, also belonged. Her father was a captain in the Revolutionary War and a large landed proprietor, owning some one thousand acres. She died in Oakland County, having been the mother of the following children: Timothy, Abner C., Jane and David (deceased), Ransom, Maria and Permelia.
After spending his boyhood in Montgomery County, our subject at the age of eight, removed to Bloomfield-subsequently to Independence, Mich., but after a while removed to New York, and attended school at fireen, Chenango County. for a year. In his youth he was known far and wide as an athlete, and could out run and out jump any contestant, even an Indian. In 1839 he came to tiene-ce County and brought land in Mandy Township. Here he put up a log shanty which he occupied at once, and which seemed to Iam a paradis of a home under the shade of the beautiful trees. It was built of beach and maple logs with black walnut planks for flooring, and a blanket hung in the doorway. His first crop of buckwheat was the largest over grown in the township. He had great success in hunting, killing hundreds of deer. He once shot a big stag in a redar swamp. and has often brought down as many as seven full-grown deer in a day.
Mr. Johnson began his law studies when only a boy with George W. Wiener, brother of extins. Winner. and after the death of this gentle- man, the Governor and our subject began to do
business together, and have purchased hundreds of thousands of acres. He has one hundred and sixty-live acres on the home farm, and one him- dred and eighty in Grand Blanc Township, and with his son R. C. Jolson, he owns eighty acres in Gaines Township, besides land in other parts of the State. Since 1861 he has carried on the real- estate business and the practice of law in Flint, and for years has been Notary Public and Super- Visor.
Mundy Township was the scene of the marriage of our subject in September 27, 1815, with Amanda l'earsall. a New Yorker by birth, daughter of Joseph and Sally (Mowry) Parall. Her father was a soldier in the War of 1×12. Their three children are: Charles 11., and Ransom C .. who are lawyers in Flint. and James D .. who carries on his father's farm in Grand Blanc, besides owning farms in Grand Blane, Mundy and Fenton Town- ships. Several social orders claim this gentleman as one of their members, and he is active in poli- He belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellow- and the Sons of Malta. In early times he belonged to the party of Know Nothings, and is now a stanch and carnest Republican. He is also a worker in the County Agricultural So- viety, and his good wife is useful in her connec- tion with the Episcopal Church, of which she has long been a member.
INTEL BROWN. This public-spirited and enterprising farmer of Gaines Town- Ship. Genesee County, has a fine farm lo- cated on section 7, which shows every mark of thrift and enterprise. The buildings are first-class, and the fences and fields are marked by order and good management. He was born in Macedon. Wayne County. N. Y., August 1. 1829, and was there reared to the age of sixteen, when he came to Oakland County. Mich .. and lived in the township of lyons for five years. Subse- quently he removed to Barry County. this State which was los home for two years, and he then came to Games Township, this county. He has
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always been engaged in farming pursuits with the exception of five years, when he lived in Vernon, Shiawassee County, and there carried on the sale of agricultural implements.
In April, 1889, Mr. Brown returned to Gaines Township and resumed farming. He has two hun- dred acres of excellent and well-drained land which yield him line crops, and the buildings to be seen on this estate have been placed here by this gentleman.
The marriage of Daniel Brown with Sarah E. tage took place in Rose Township. Oakland County, Mich., March 1. 1850. She is a native of Wayne County. N. Y., and is the happy mother of live children, namely: William M .. Harriet E. (Mrs. Edgar J. Post), Carrie. Minda, and Fred (who married Jessie Ackley ). The office of Justice of the Peace has been tilled by Mr. Brown for twenty-three years in this township and in Vernon Township. Shiawassee County, he was Justice for four years. He was also Highway Commissioner for eight years and has ever taken an active part in politics, being a stanch Republican. Religious matters have in him an carnest helper and he and bis excellent wife are active and devoted members of the Methodist Episcopal Church in which he bas filled the offices of Steward and Class-leader. He is also a member of the Grange, being deeply interested in all movements which promise ad- vance either socially or industrially for the farm- ing community.
OHN W. BLAKE, M. S. The long dist- ances that produce is now sent, cutailing journeys of thousands of miles through varying temperatures, has necessitated what to our ancestors would have seemed a most unfeas- ible scheme, but which is now commonly enough known as cold storage, and which is used by every large wholesale produce dealer. Our subject, who does a very large business as a wholesale produce dealer in Flint, has the best cold storage house in the place. He has been very successful in his busi- nes, which is not surprising, as he has every coll- venience to work with.
Mr. Blake was born October 28, 1817, eighteen miles south of Rochester, N. Y., and one mile north of Honcose Falls. He is a son of Anthony and Mary (Phillip) Blake. His father was a native of Germany. his grandfather Blake having come from the Fatherland with his family, and they located at Dunkirk. N. Y. Anthony Blake was but eleven years of age when brought to America and he soon became a thorough American citizen. Heengaged in farming in Monroe County and in 1852 located in Kendall. Orleans County, N. Y., on what is now one of the best farms in the county. He alsoowns a farm in Morgan County, that State. Our sub- jeet's mother who was a native of Dutchess County, N. Y., died in 1882, at the age of seventy years, She was the mother of eight children, of whom our subject is the third in order of birth.
Mr. Blake was reared on the home farm in Orleans County and received a good common- school education. When seventeen years of age. he entered the Brockport Normal School and was there one year, then went to tieneser College at Lima and was in attendance there for two years, when the college was removed to Syracuse and be- came the Syracuse University. Our subject grad- uated in 1872 with the degree of Bachelor of Science. After finishing his course he was engag. ed in teaching in Orleans County for eight years and prior to that taught for one year. He was Principal of three different schools.
The degree of Master of Science was conferred upon Mr. Blake from his Alma Mater in 1876. In May, 1879, be came to Flint and started in the grocery business on South Saginaw Street, con- tinning as a retail grover for five years, but during the time he was gradually drifting into his procent line and about 1885 dropped the grocery business and gave himself exclusively to dealing in produce. In 1881. he built his fine brick block, which has a frontage of sixty-six feet, extends back one block, and is conveniently located on the sidetracks of the Flint & Pere Marquette Railroad. The block is a twostory building with basement and is the finest cold storage establish- ment in the city, He handles all lines of produce in their season, making a specialty of butter and eggs, and handling from ten thousand dozens of
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egy-, and from three to five thousand pounds of butter per week. He ships East by the car load and averages two car- a week, exporting more largely than any other firm in this locality.
Mr. Blake was married in this city February 15, 1××1, to Miss Ela Stone, a native of Flint. She i- n daughter of Joseph Stone, an old settler here, who was born in England. Mr. and Mrs. Blake me the parents of three children-Herbert S., Elmer S., and Mabel E. Socially Mr. Blake is a member of the Fraternal Order of Home Protectors and in politics he is a Republican. In connection with this sketch appears a lithographie portrait of Mr. Blake.
3 YRON S. JENNINGS. It is with pleasure that we incorporate in this Kroon a brief account of the life of this respected citizen of Genesve County. He has borne a worthy part in the agricultural work of Vienna Township, and in that of social and political vir- des, and to every position has brought the in- dustry and enterprise, which are his chief charac- teristics. As a farmer he uses excellent judgment in the preparation of the soil for crops, in the character of the produce mised, and a correspond- ing harvest is reaped. His estate is pleasantly lo- ented on sections 1 and 14, and although it con- tains only forty-live acres, is made to produce larger crops than many a farm of larger acreage.
A native of this county, Mr. Jennings was born July to, 1855, in the township of Gender, and having always been a resident here, has been closely identified with its later growth. His father. Wil- liam C., was a native of Wales, who, upon imi- grating to the United States, settled first in Ohio, and later came to Michigan in a' very early day. He is numbered among the pioneers of tieneser Township, where he bought a tract of land and prepared it for cultivation. Much of his time has been devoted to his trade-that of a carpenter and joiner-but at present (1891) he resides upon a farm. In public affairs he has always maintained great interest, and his fellow-citizens have ierog-
nized his ability by calling have to fill various post- troms of trust, among them dastier of the Peace and Highway Commissioner.
After working out by the month for some time during his boy hood, Byron Jennings had saved enough money to enable him to attend the High School at Flint. He prepared himself for touch- ing, which he commenced at the age of twenty. He is a teacher of thirteen years' experience, hav- ing taught five years in Pine Hmm. In that pro- fesion he was very successful, and was considered one of the best instructors in the county. He re- mained at home until he was twenty-seven, at which time he was married December 25, 1882, to Mis Clara E., the daughter of James and Sarah (Finley) Young, of Pine Run Township. Her parents were natives of Pennsylvania, and worthy people. After the death of Mr. Young, which or- cured May 19, 1891. his window was appointed Postmistress of Pine Run, and is now filling that position with stevess.
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