USA > Michigan > Genesee County > Portrait and biographical record of Genesee, Lapeer and Tuscola counties, Michigan > Part 23
USA > Michigan > Lapeer County > Portrait and biographical record of Genesee, Lapeer and Tuscola counties, Michigan > Part 23
USA > Michigan > Tuscola County > Portrait and biographical record of Genesee, Lapeer and Tuscola counties, Michigan > Part 23
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University of Michigan, and is now an Attorney of Flint, but has recently been appointed Attorney of a large corporation in Detroit, and will remove there January 1, 1892; and Mande E., who is an artist. having enjoyed the last advantages at Cooper Institute, N. Y., and alsostudied under ex- cellent artists at Memphis, Toun.
Our subject served for a time as Truster of the Michigan School for the Deaf, Dumb and Blind, his term extending from 1873 to 1881. During his term the blind school was established at lan- sing. While in St. Joe he served as Alderman for two years, and at Decatur was School Inspector. He and his wife are members of the Episcopal Church. In politics he is a stauch Republican, and influential in the ranks of his party.
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UDGE WARNER LARE. Our subject is one whose residence in Flint dates from 1837, before Michigan had taken on her dignity as a State. He is one of the honored pioneers whose industry, enterprise and honesty have done much for this city. He is an ex-Judge of the Probate Court in which he served right year -. Judge Lake was born in Delaware County, N. Y., October 1, 1809. He was reared in hisnative place until six years of age. He isa son of Warmer and Betsey ( Williams) Lake, the former a native of Connecticut and whose father was of English de-
Our subjeet's father was reared and educated in Connecticut, thenve became a farmer in Cayuga County. N. Y. From that point he moved to At. Morris, Livingston County, and was an early settler in Delaware County. In connection with his ag- ricultural labors he served in the capacity of min- ister of the Baptist Church. In his early days it was not unusual for him to travel a distance of fifty miles to preach to isolated settlers. He was one of the six Baptist ministers west of Albany that founded the Otsego Baptist Association. His decrase occurred when in his eighty-third year.
Our subject's mother, who was born in Wash- ington County, N. Y., died at the age of seventy
yours Of mine children born to the parents be of whom we write is the youngest. There are only two living, his only surviving brother bing eighty- six years of age.
In his youth Judge lake attended the district school and breame an expert speller by much prac- tice in the spelling "bees." He remained at home in Mt. Morris Township until twenty-one years of age and then purchased the farm and operated the one hundred and fifty acres until 1836, when he sold it and came to Michigan. He finally pur- chased four hundred and eighty acres of land in Bridgeport Township, Saginaw County, but in the spring of 18:17 came to Mint, having sold his other land.
The original of our sketch was engaged as an hotel-keeper and ran a stage, also carried the mail to Pontine. This business he sold, however, and located on his farm in Genesce Township, which comprised two hundred and ten acres of wild land. Returning to Flint and resuming hi- hotel business, and again going on a farm in Groveland Town- ship, Oakland County, he finally located perma- bently in Flint in 1850, and here became engaged in the ashery and merchandise business. In 1852 our subject was elected Judge of the Probate Court on the Whig ticket and held the office for four years. In 1851 he allied himself with the Repub- licans and in 1856 was elected Judge of the Pro- bate Court on the Republican ticket.
On the breaking out of the war Judge Lake was appointed draft commissioner for tieneses County by Gov. Blair and later became Deputy Marshal under Mr. Strickland and served as such through- out the war, during which time he was called upon to punish many a deserter. About 1866 he was appointed Assistant Deputy Internal Assessor for Genesee County and hold the office for four years and on completing that term of service became manager at Flint of the Singer Sewing Machine Company and since then has been engaged in the insurance business. His office is located on Saginaw Street and he insures in two companies-the Phe- nix and German-American.
Judge Lake was married in Greece, Monroe County, N. Y., April 1, 1833, to Miss Eliza Butler. She died in 1872, leaving her husband three chil-
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dren-Martin W .. Ora E. and Charles E. Oursub- jest has been School Director and has held other offices. He is a generous supporter of the Baptist Church, in which he was rested.
M YRON RIES. One of the most successful farmers of this locality is he whose name appears above. He devotes himself to general farming, paying special attention to stock-raising. His place is on sections 21 and 22, Atlas Township, Genesee County, of which he is also a native, having been born here July 31, 1812. He is a son of Andrew and Mary ( Liscomb) Ries. His parents were natives of New York State. Our subject's father came with his family to this State and locality in 1836, settling tir-t south of Goodrich in the woods that were an al- most impenetrable wilderness. Their first home was a log cabin, and there the family lived for a number of years. He was the father of seven children, four of whom are living at the present time. They are Perry, Heury, Myron and Drew. The head of the family was a Republican in poli- ties. His decase occurred June 9, 1890. He was a member of the Presbyterian Church, and a public- spirited and enterprising settler of that early day. His wife and our subject's mother wascalled away several years before him. In their death the township lost one of its earliest pioneer settlers.
Myron Ries, our subject, has been reared to man- hood amid scenes of typical pioncer life. It was not an unusual thing for him to plow up the new ground with two, three and even four yoke of rattle, and the work of hewing and burning out stumps occupied all spare days that could possibly be made. He received his education in the district schools of Atlas Township, but has supplemented his limited early advantages by much independent effort in study and reading.
Our subject was first married December 20, 1x6x, to Miss Lucinda F. Parker, a native of Michigan. This lady bare him three children, two of whom are living-Carrie 1 .. and Ray M. His wife died
April 1, 1876. He married his present wife Sep- tember 2, 1879. She was Miss Mary M. Ward, a native of Jefferson County, N. Y., and was born December 25, 1852. She is n daughter of William und Elizabeth A. Ward, the former of whom is de- censed; the latter makes her residence with her daughter and our subject.
Mrs. Ries' father was a untive of England and the mother of Canada. The father emigrated to America when twenty-three years of age, and lived in Canada for a number of years. He subsequent- ly removed to Jefferson County, N. Y., and finally settled in Tuscola County, Mich., during the fate Civil War, and there died July 18, 1882. Mrs. Ries' parents had eight children, four of whom survive. They are John who lives in Tuscola County; the wife of our subject, and William R., also a resident of Tuscola County, and James E. By their union Mr. and Mrs. Ries have become the parents of two sons-Drew W. and Ward H.
Our subject remained at home until twenty-six years of age when he struck out for himself and purchased a farm upon which he is at present lo- cated. Here he owns one hundred and sixty neres of land, which has been put in shape by him- self. In their church relations Mrs. Ries is a member of the Free Will Baptist Church, and both tre active and elevating members of society. He is a Republican in politics and a man who has a great desire to see a purer state of Government and society. He is a member of the Board of Re- view of Atlas Township. Socially he is identified with the Knights of the Macenbees, as is also his wife.
ILLIAM M. GLINCHEY. The gentleman whose name is given above and who came into the State in 1819, now resides at No. 119.S. Second Street, in Flint. Afteran enterprising life he has retired from business of an active nature and interests himself in such social and business pro- jeets as do not exact a great deal of time or attention. Mr. MetHinchey was born in County Tyrone, Ire- jand. July 8, 1x19. He came to this country in 1838
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and on first landing located in New York City. where he remained until 1819. For the first few years he was variously employed for a gentleman in New York City. In 1819 he came to this county and settled on an unimproved farm. He had previously married Mrs. Jane Philip, of New York City. She was born in New York. After coming to this State our subject was engaged in farming in Clayton Township for twenty years.
Our subject finally secured one hundred acres of good land. In the spring of 1870 be sold out and came to Flint, where he has since lived. Hle em- ploys himself looking after his own private bust ness. He is engaged also in lending money. He has here a fine home where it would seem that he must thoroughly enjoy life. While in Clayton Township, dating from 1852, he was for four years Justice of the Peace. He has never in any sense been a politician and did not seek election.
Mr. MeGlinchey has been a member of the Masonic order for many years. He now belongs to the Flint Lodge. No. 23. In his religious con- nection he is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church that is located on Court Street. To our subject and his wife was born only one child. who is deceased. Mrs. McGlinchey passed away froin this life April 17, 1887; she was born m 1823. She was a woman of marked characteristics, und was much loved by all who knew her. She was a devoted member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
Mr. Medilinchey later married Miss Lilly Burren. of Flint. The lady is a native of this place and a daughter of James Burren, of Mundy Township. Hle divules his time between his home in Mundy Township and this city. Mr. Burren was born in Devonshire, England, in 1823, and when twenty- five years of age came to America and settled in Wayne County, N. Y., where he married Miss Hannah Mercer. He was a farmer by occupation and remained in that locality until coming to Michigan in 1858-59. His two older children- Naomi and William-were born in the Empire State. He purchased a farm at Mt. Morris and then in Mundy Township, where he lived until the time of his death, which occurred in March, 1889. His widow sbll liyes on a farm. They had a fam-
Lily of six children. Mrs. MeGlinchey, Julia, Frank, Charles, Naomi and William. Mr. Burren was a member of the Baptist Church.
Hugh MeGlinchey, our subject's brother, and the only one in this country, followed his brother to Michigan and began farming in Flint Township, where he still lives on one of the old farms there. While in New York City our subject was appointed one of the first municipal police of the city by an act of the legislature.
h ON. JOHN L. MeNEH. Among the pro- minent and representative farmers and lead- ing citizens of Genesce County, who have attained their position by superior mental qualities and owe nothing whatever, to the acci- dents of birth of ancestral position, is he whose name appear- above. He was born in Chittenden County, Vt., October 10, 1813, and is a son of Charks and Jerusha ( Lyman ) MeNeil. natives of Vermont, The name MeNeil indicates that the family is of Scotch ancestry and indeed it is one of these clans that took so important a part in the border warfares. Of the representatives of the family in this country, our subject's grand unele, MeNeil, served as a soldier in the Revolutionary War and his maternal grandsire, Maj. Jesse Lyman, held an official position in the Vermont militia and gave up his life for his country in the battle of Plattsburg in the War of 1812.
Mr. John 1 .. MeNeil was one of a family of four- teen children. He was reared to manhood in his native State, his life being that of a fariner boy un- til he reached his majority. He received a good common-school education, laying a foundation for that broader knowledge that has since come to him. In 1836 be left his native State and May 1. of that year started for Ohio, driving from Ver- mont to Buffalo and at the last-named place took a boat, also shipping bis hope and light covered wagon and intended to stop at Toledo, but owing to the Ind condition of the port he went on to Detroit and later came to Genesce County, Mich., and purchased three hundred and twenty acres of
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land on section 11, Atlas Township, paying $1.25 per acre to the Government.
. Our subject put up a shanty upon his new pur- chase, which was seven feet square and not more than four or five feet high. It was covered ont- side with back and that served as his place of resi- dener for about one year and then be built a good log house, which proved to be his home for an- other year. Later on in life be built a good frame house, in which he resided until he moved to the village of Goodrich in the spring of 1890, where he now lives. During the first winter spent in this State our subject served as a laborer in a gravel pit belonging to the Hon. Enos Goodrich and also assisted in the building of a dam, where there were mills to be created. receiving fifty cents per day for his work.
Had there not been the most urgent necessity for hard labor, Mr. Neil would probably have been very lonely and perhaps his heart would have failed him at times, for at night the stillness of the woods in which he lived was broken only by the wereech of the wild animals, and the gun stood . always ready, for bears and deer were plentiful. There were also many Indians, and he learned to make some queer shifts in living. He chopped most of the timber from his own land and em- played three yoke of oxen in breaking up the land. Pontiac was their nearest point at which to get the staple provisions and the journey thither, with the slow but safe os-team was painfully tedious.
The original of our sketch was married October 26, 18:17. His bride was Miss Sylvia Davison. a daughter of Judge Norman Davison, formerly a prominent citizen of Atlas Township. The lady was born in Monroe County, N. Y. Mr. MeNeil had a tedious journey to Lapeer in order to get the license. By this union there were three children, two of whom are living-Mary J. and Lyman, the deversed child king Charles. His wife, who was his devoted helpmate and counselor throughout the early and trying years of pioneer experience, departed this life May 26, 1881. She was in the Que't sele a model wife and mother and her loss was deeply felt, not only in the family, but in the community at large. Her advent into Atlas Town-
ship was made in 1831, her family being among the first pioneers to settle here.
The Hon. John MeNeil served at an early day as Justice of the Peace and held numerous other local offices, In the session of 1813 he served in the Michigan State Legislature and hisconstituents felt that they were represented with the greatest credit. He has always been extensively engaged in farming and stock-raising, paying particular at- tention to raising fine Merino sheep and generally having upon his place between two hundred and three hundred head of such stock. He also raises a superior grade of cattle and horses. Both by precept and example he has been one of the help- ful and enterprising citizens of Atlas Township, and indeed one of the cornerstones of the social life of the community. Politically he is a stanch Democrat. While not a church member, he has deep respect for all consistent religious creeds and has been a generous contributor to the support of the various churches in the locality. The line property which he possesses attests the success which his industry and intelligent management have brought him and it is with pleasure that we revali the comfortable condition which he main- tains in life.
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C HARLES G. MONTAGUE. There are few of the older residents of Genesee County who are unfamiliar with the name of the gentleman who forms the subject of this biograph- ical notice. It is that of a man self-made in the broadest sense of that much-abused term-one who in his young manhood resolved to make life a sue- cess if it could be accomplished by industry and wise management. Many men who are successful perhaps do not so fully realize the fact as those about them who have been less so, but the present standing of Mr. Montagne, socially and financially, should be a source of pleasure to him. A native of this county. he has been identified with its growth, has assisted in the development of the soil, and in the building up of the community. He
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possesses those substantial traits of character which have been handed down to him by a sturdy lige of ancestors, and his conduct in the various rela- tions of life is such as to inspire the trust of these with whom he comes in contact.
Mr. Montague has passed almost his entire life in this county, where he was born in Vienna Township December 5, 1818. His father. Daniel M., was a native of Massachusetts, and his mother, Mary ( Pierce) Montague, was born in New York State. Daniel M. Montague, who followed the ve- cupation of farming, was married in 1839 in New York, and here he and his estimable wife still re- side. They were enabled to give their son Charles C., only a common-school education, as his services were needed almost constantly on the farm, and the educational facilities offered by the schools of the neighborhood were meager. When ready to start ont in life for himself he went to work in this county, being at that time twenty-two years old. and was weeupied eight years in farming, milling. and lumbering.
In 1873 Mi. Montagne purchased his present property which was then partly improved. When he began he had no capital except a pair of willing hands and a capable brain, but he has worked his way to a competency and now owns two fans of eighty acres each, besides considerable live stock. Agriculture has been his life occupation and he has a thorough, practical knowledge of the best way of conducting a farm, the proper rotation of crops, and the kind of grain best adapted to the wil. So fully is his time occupied with the vari- ous details of his work that he has never been able to serve in public capacities and takes no greater interest in politics than to cast a Republican ballot at every election. The Farmer's Alliance have in him an active and energetic member, and the vari- aus methods adopted to advance the interests of the community always receive his hearty co-oper- ution.
On December 25, 1885, Mr. Montague was uni- ted in marriage with Miss Lucia (. Bray, and three children have come to bless the home: Arthur C., Bertha M. and Charles Ralph. A native of this county. Mrs. Montagne has passed her life mostly in this State and is highly esteemed in the com-
mnuity where she makes her home. Mr. and Mrs. Montagne have a cozy residence to which their friends are wout to resort, and find within the walls the happiness of a true home. The house is com- modions and tastily furnished, while without are the substantial structures which are demanded by first-class agriculture of modern times. The place is universally conceded to be one of the best farms in the township and stands as a monument of what can be accomplished by energy wisely directed.
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RA T. SAY RE, the genial President of the vil- - lage and able attorney-at-law, who is located at Flushing, Genesee County, is he whose tor, Schuyler County, N. Y., March 6, 1859, and is a sont of Augustus and Sarah E. (Terry) Sayre, natives of the Empire State. Our subject's father Was engaged in farming in his native State. He cune to Michigan in 1819 and settled on section 23, in this township. in the northeastern portion of this village, where he, with his brother, Thomas 1 .. took up one hundred and sixty acres of land. He remained bere until 1851 and then returned to New York, where he was married, and in 1801. with las family returned to Michigan and settled on his farm with his wife and two children.
Our subject's father remained on his farm until 1890, when he retired from his active proprietor- ship of the fame, and moved to Flushing, where he has since made his home. His father was David H. and his mother Mary (Ashton) Sayre. The former was a native of Long Island and the latter of Ireland. They were married in New York and settled in a farm about 1820. Our subject's great grandsire was Caleb Sayre, and his wife Elizabeth (Halsey) Sayre. The former was in early life a sailor, and spent his latter years as a retired farmer. His parents were both natives of France, who came to America sometime in the sey- entrenth century and settled on Long Island.
Our subject's grandparents on the maternal side were Nathaniel and Sarah (Coleman) Terry, natives of Morristown, N. J. They came to Mich-
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igan in 1868, and loented in the township of Flush- ing on section 13. The father lived until 1879, his wife having preceded him to the after world in 1875. Ile was a soldier in the War of 1812. and both be and his family were conscientious Christian people. Our subject's parents had three children, Ira T., Franklin P. and Iulia M.
Ira Sayre was educated at Flushing and later attended the Agricultural College of Lansing, Mich. He then became a student of the State University at Ann Arbor. He commenced the practice of law at Flushing in 1881. Prior to his entering upon the studying of his profession, he was engaged to teach here, at Clayton and Mt. Morris. He has been Township Clerk for seven years, also Village Clerk for the same length of time, and Justice of the Peace for the last four years. He has served as President of the village for one year. and a member of the School Board for three years. He deals quite extensively in Chicago real estate, and has some valuable property in this township.
Our subject is a Republican in politics. Socially he is a Mason, having attained the Thirty-second degree. He is besides a Knight Templar and an Odd Fellow. Our subject was married m 1881 to Miss Julia E. Niles, the daughter of Franklin A. and Mary (Turner) Niles, natives of New York and Michigan respectively. The former came to Michigan and settled in Flushing where he wa- married in 1865. Our subject is the father of one daughter, Helen 1., who was born May 13, 1891.
E LIAS JACOX. This progressive and enter- prising gentleman owns the excellent farm located on section 17. Flint Township, Genesee County. He is a native of the Wolverine State, having been born in Sterling, Macomb County, May 17, 1837. This parents, David and Huldah (Spaulding) lacox, were natives of New York. The father was brought to Michigan by his parents in 1813, when eight years of age and was reared in Wayne County, becoming one of the very early settlers in Macomb County. He died
in Kent County. Mich., when eighty-five years of age. le and his wife were the parents of three children, of whom our subject is the second. He came with his father to Clayton Township, Genesee County, when he was four years of age and here grow to manhood. He has ever since resided in Clayton and Flint Townships, with the exception of two years spent in Green ville, Montcalm County, and having been reared on a farm has always fol- lowed agricultural pursuits.
April 2, 1863, Mr. lacox was married in Flint Township, to Miss Adelaide Bump, who was born July 29, 1813. in Flushing, this State. She is de- scended from sturdy, patriotic ancestry. Her great-grandfather, who was a soldier in the Revo- lutionary War, was taken prisoner by Cien. Bur- goyne who, however, showed him especial favor on account of assistance he had given the General's sister. The parents of Mrs. Jacox were Elias .l., and Nancy (Stewart) Bump, natives of Oneida County, N. Y., and old settlers in Flint Township. The father engaged in the mercantile business in Flushing and also operated an ashery. Farming, however, was his chief business and at one time he was the owner of four hundred acres of land. He died in Flint, January 8, 1881, while his wife passed away in the same city, November 30, 1890, aged seventy-two years and two months,
The names of the six children which comprise the family of Mr. and Mrs. Jacox are as follows: Albert L., Leon 11., Wilham G., Howard E., Adel- aide 1 .. and Stanley F. The farm which Mr. Jacox owns and operates comprises one hundred and ninety acres, which are carefully cultivated and made very productive. A good class of buildings has been created on the estate, suitable for the stor- age of grain and shelter of stock, while the family residence, a view of which is shown in another portion of this volume, is an attractive abode, reflecting in its interior the taste of the inmates. Mr. Jacox is an adherent of the Democratic party, and believes in the soverignty of individual power. He has served as School Director and is greatly interested in educational matters. Mrs. Jacox is a model matron, having the cares of her household uppermost in her mind, but in her the interests at large lind an appreciative and ready co-worker.
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