USA > Michigan > Genesee County > Portrait and biographical record of Genesee, Lapeer and Tuscola counties, Michigan > Part 30
USA > Michigan > Lapeer County > Portrait and biographical record of Genesee, Lapeer and Tuscola counties, Michigan > Part 30
USA > Michigan > Tuscola County > Portrait and biographical record of Genesee, Lapeer and Tuscola counties, Michigan > Part 30
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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
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Mr. Algoe is a native of New Brunswick, and was born in St. John's, May 16, 1832. He has no recollection of the scenes of his birth, for when an infant he was brought to Michigan by his parents John and Margaret (Me(rath) .Algoe, they settling in Groveland, Oakland County. The father, who was a farmer, took up a tract of Government land in 1835 and this he improved and cultivated, mak- ing it his home until called hence by death. Our subject remained with his parents, spending his time in aiding his father on the farm, and going to the district school, until he was eighteen years of age, when he he entered the mercantile busi- ness by engaging as clerk in a dry-goods store at Goodrich, Genesce County. He remained there until 1851, when he went to Kansas and sojourned there one year. He pre-empted some tiovermment land in That State, and engaged during one winter ns a teacher.
In January, 1861, having removed to this city, Mr. Algoe entered the office of the Register of Deeds as Deputy Register, and remained in that enpacity until the fall of the same year. The Civil War being then at its height, our subject, who was un ardent defender of the I'nion in principles, assisted in raising Company 1. Tenth Michigan Infantry, of which he was made Second Lieuten- ant, under Capt. Barker. The company remained in camp until April, 1862, when they were ordered 10 the front. They were at Hamburg, Corinth, and followed Rosecrans to Chattanooga and Sher- man to Atlanta. They also participated in the engagements at Lookout Mountain and Mission Ridge. For bravery on the field of action Lieut. Algoe was promoted to First Lieutenant. Adjutant, and Inter to Captain of Company A. At the battle of Atlanta he was shot in the fare, and by reason of disability he was mustered out March 1. 1865.
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Returning home with a record of which he and his might well be proud, Capt. Algor was elected Register of Deeds, serving in this capacity three
terms, of two yens cach. since which time he has bren in the real-estate and insurance business ist Flint. As above mentioned he alsoserved efficient- ly as Supervisor. Under President Grant he was appointed Postmaster immediately after his form ns Register of Deeds expired. He was one of the organizer- of the first gas company in the city, also of the Citizens National Bank, the Citizens Building and Loan Association, and the Equitable Loan Association. He is identified with the order of Chosen Friends, which has a large member- ship, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and is Bien one of the charter members of Gov. Crapo Post. No. 15 G. A. R., of Flint. In that Post lie has occupied all the Chairs, as he has also in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Order of Chosen Friends.
On June 2, 1858, Mr. Algoe was united in marri- age with Miss Emily Tracy, of Flint. the daughter. of Fitch R. and Charlotte Tracy. Mr. and Mrs. Algoc have two children: John Frank, who is now in business in the city as a hardware merchant, and Margaret 'T., who is at home and is engaged as a teacher in the city schools. The father of Mrs. Algoe was one of the oldest settlers in this city, coming bert at a very carly day and settling list in Davison. His death occurred in Flint. where the most of his active life had been passed. Capt. Algoe is a consistent Christian, and a member of the Presbyterian Church, of which he was for a long time Trustee.
OHIN WHEELER is a retired farmer resid- ing in Flushing, Genesce County. He was born in England, December 27, 1810, and is a son of William and Mary (Gorvin) Whee- ler, natives of England. The father was a farmer and came to America in 1851, settling in Canada. His family followed him to this country four years later and located in Middlesex County, I'pper Canada, and there William Wheeler was foreman of the grading department in London on the Great Western Railroad. He remained in that place for fourteen years and thener came to Cien-
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este County in 1851 and settled in Flushing Township and lived there until his death, which took place in April, 1866. The mother died in 1877. Our subject's paternal grandfather was William Wheeler, a farmer, who was born in England and passed his life in his native Ind. le bud n family of three children,
"The original of this sketch is one of seven chil- dren born to his parents, as follows: Our subject ; Emmie, Mr -. J. Larue; Isaac; Elizabeth, Mrs. George Smith; Lucy, Mrs. 1. Rogers; Mary .A., Mrs. George Groon; and Ella, Mrs. McMillan. Our subject was educated in Michigan, having come here in 1860. The family settled in the Township of Wales, St. Clair County. He worked and learned the trade of a pump-maker, devoting his time to that business during the summer and working in the pine woods during the winter.
In 1861 Mr. Wheeler enlisted as a private in Company I, Fourth Michigan Infantry and served for two years. He was then taken prisoner at Gaines' Mill and was confined in Libby Prison for forty days, at the expiration of which time he was paroled and sent to Fortress Monroe and Was there in a hospital, having been shot in the same battle in which he was taken prisoner, the wound resulting in the amputation of two of his fingers. After leaving Fortress Monroe our subject was taken to Alexandria and placed in the convalescent camp; he remained there for two months and was discharged on the 11th of October, 1862. He was in seven general battles, taking part in Bull Run, the siege of Yorktown, Williamsburg, Chickahome. Mechanicsville, Hanover Courthouse and Games' Mill.
After our subject's return from the war he attended school in Wales, St. Clair County, the first winter, and the next summer came to Flush- ing, this county, and here worked in the lumber woods two months. He was for a time variously engaged and then purchased a farm two miles from the village of Flushing, on section 15, Flush- ing Township. The place comprised seventy-two aeres and was entirely barren of buildings and improvements. He settled upon it and devoted himself to improving it, adding first eighty acres and then forty acres, so that he now has a farm of
one hundred and forty-two acres with good build- ings nud general improvements. He here devotes himself to general farming.
Mr. Wheeler moved into Flushing in 1891, having built a Ine residence which he now occu- pies. He has held various school offices in the township and has been Commisioner. He has been Commander of Ransom Post, No. 89, 6. .. R., of Flushing, and also Noble Grand of the Odd Follows and District Deputy Grand Master of the sume order. He is also a member of the Flushing Grange.
Our subject was married in 1873, to Miss Lucy Wright of Flint. She is a daughter of William and Elizabeth (Bendel) Wright, natives of Eng- land, who came to America in 1869. Our subject has two children who are living. They are Theo B. and Herman E. Mr. Wheeler is a Republienn in politics. Mrs. Wheeler and their daughter, Theo B., are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. The lady belongs to the Woman's Relief Corps, of which she is President. She is also a member of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union. Mr. Wheeler is prominent in all the enter- prises of the village.
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OSEPH HOBART, a veteran of the late war, was born in Chautauqua County, N. Y., in the town of Harmony, September 27, 1812. His father. Lester Hobart, was born in Oneida County, N. Y., where he followed agri- cultmal pursuits, and later was a farmer m Chautauqua County. The paternal grandfather, whose home was in Vermont, served in the War of 1812. Lester Hobart resides in Harmony, N. Y., and is now eighty-two years of age. His political attiliations led him to join the ranks of the Republican party, where he was influential. The mother of our subject whose maiden name was Mary A. Preston, was born in Chautauqua County, N. Y., where she passed from earth in 1850, at the age of forty years.
Eight children were born to Lester and Mary A. Hobart, of whom seven grew to maturity. Four
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sons engaged in the Civil War in defense of the Union and one of these, Frecland, died at Ander- sonville. Joseph, of thissketch, was reared on a farm and received a common-school education. When only twenty years of age he enlisted in August, 1862. in Company F. One Hundred and Twelfth New York Infantry, and participated in the various engagements in which his regiment took part. He witnessed and aided in the bom- bardment of Charleston, and in the battle of Cold Harbor, June 3, 1861, he was wounded by a minic hall which passed through his left elbow. From the field hospital, whither he was at once taken, be was sent to the general hospital at Fairfax Semi- mary and there the arm was operated on. Three and one half inches of bone were removed and the arm never healed entirely; it has ever since been stiff and useless.
On October 16, 1861, Mr. Hobart was discharged by reason of disability from gunshot wounds and returning home, he for two succeeding years was forced to carry his arm in a sling. He engaged us a farmer in Chautauqua County until 1870. when he came to Michigan and sojourned at Holly for a short time. Next he purchased a farm in Atlas Township, Gene-ce County, comprising ninety acres on section 9, and upon this place he located and engaged in general farming and stock raising. His estate is located on the Kearsley River near the village of Atlas and is valuable not alone on account of its location adjoining the village, but also on account of its fertile soil and fine improvements, In June, 1890, Mr. Hobart retired from active life as a farmer and routing his place, removed to Flint, where he purchased a residence on West Court Street, No. 919.
On September 29, 1886, Mr. Hobart was mar- ried to Miss Clarinda Perry, the wedding being celebrated in Davison, Genesee County. The bride was born in Grand Blane, this county, and is the daughter of Edmund Perry, a native of Avon, N. Y., whose sketch appears elsewhere in this vol- ume. Mrs. Hobart, who was the oldest in her father's family, was brought to Davison by ber parents when three years old and received her ed- neation in the log school house located in the woods near her home. At the age of twenty she
commenced to teach, and the following year at- tended the Michigan State Normal School. The second year in that institution her health failed and she was compelled to cease her studies. After- ward she followed the profesion of a teacher in Genesce County many years, mostly in Grand Blanc, and was a member of the Genere County Teacher's AAssociation, in which she was an official. She is a member of the Woman's Relief Corps of Flint, and belongs to the Baptist Church. In polities Mr. Hobart is a strong Republican and is highly esteemed for his upright life and his self- sacrificing devotion to his country.
AMES A. HOWE is an enterprising and prominent farmer whose country place is embellished by a handsome brick residence and good and capacious barns. Mr. Howe was born in Westmoreland, Cheshire County, N. Il., December 29, 1837. He is the son of Samuel Howe, who was born in the same place in 1797. He died in 1865 at the age of sixty-eight years. He was a Universalist in his religious belief. Our subject's mother was in her maiden days Miss Caroline Arnold, who was born in New Hampshire in 1809. She now lives with our subject.
Our subject is one of three sons born to his par- ents, the oldest, Fred S. Howe, being an engineer and now lives in Vermont. The youngest, Thomas W., died at the age of eleven years. Mr. Howe was reured in the village and received a common- school education. At the age of sixteen he went to work for himself by the month, and in 1870 be- came the proprietor of an hotel at Bellow's Falls. Vt .. a place on the Connecticut River. His hotel was called the Island House and was a favorite summer resort. In 1869 our subject became en- gaged in the bakery business in Ogdensburg, N.Y., but in 1870, he leased the Island House for another term of yents and remained there until 1873, thence went to Broekville, Canada, where he became the proprietor of the Revere House. He remodeled it and refurnished, putting it in first-class order. In 1875 he went to St. Catherines, Canada, und was
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there engaged in the manufacture of cement, but remained only one year. The following year he visited this section of Michigan and then went to Texas where he spent nearly six years in stock- breeding, buying and selling sheep and cattle.
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While engaged in the stock business in Texas om subject handled a great many animals, having as many as three thousand sheep at one tine and two hundred head of cattle, His headquarters were at Sherman, Tex. April 25, 1880, Mr. Howe arrived in Genesce County. His first farm was known as the Brewer place in Burton Township. About 1888 he sold that and purchased his present farm on section 7, Burton Township. February 5, 1871, our subject was married to Miss Katie Wat- kins, who was born in Alstrad, N. H. and is a daughter of Holland and Mary Watkins, also of New Hampshire. Her parents died when she was quite young. Que child has come to our subject and his wife and has been named Frankie May. Our subject is a Democrat in politics. Mrs. Howe is a member of the Episcopal Church and is an in- terested worker in church affairs.
Our subject has one hundred and sixty acres of land in this locality which is thoroughly well im- improved. He devotes himself to general farming but pays particular attention to the raising of sheep and horses. While in Texas our subject was en- gaged in the lumber and hardware business in con- nection with his stock. He began life without any means and at the age of sixteen be engaged to work for Capt. L. Murdock, who at that time was the largest manufacturer of woodenware in the United States. He spent seven years with him and then began his career as above described. He has worked hard for everything he possesses, and his efforts have been crowned with success.
AMES 11. WIRITING, one of the prominent business men of Flint, who came here in 1863. and is now the Treasurer and Gen- eral Manager of the Flint Wagon Company, of which he has had the entire management since its organization, was born at Torrington, Con',
May 11, 1812, and is a son of James and Amelia (Allen) Whiting. He received his education in the district schools and the High School at Win- chester, after which he entered a store in the latter place and at the age of sixteen served in the same capacity at Waterbury, Conn. Later he enlisted in the army during the War of the Rebellion, and in July, 1862, joined Company A, Twenty-third Connectient Infantry, going out as Colonel's Or- derly and belonging to Banks' command at New Orleans. He was made Adjutant of the regiment and most of the time was in command of the post, acting as Assistant Adjutant General of the First Brigade. He came up the Mississippi River to Cairo upon the first boat which ascended the river after the taking of Port Hudson and Vicks- burg, and was mustered out at New Haven, Conn.
Soon after his return from the army the young man took the Western fever, and coming to Flint, began book-keeping for William L. Smith & Co. Three years later he went into partnership with O. F. Forsythe under the firm title of Forsythe & Whiting, and later they admitted to the firm Maj. W. R. Morse. Somewhat later the other partners bought out Mr. Forsythe's interest and the firm Iwrcame Whiting & Morse, and afterward our sub- jeet took the entire business into his own hands. (). A. Richardson finally joined him and received a working interest, and they were in business to- gether for nearly twelve years. After the death of that gentleman Mr. Whiting disposed of his hardware trade, in 1881, to J. M. Bussy, as he found that he had too many branches of business upon his hands.
The Flint Wagon Company was organized in 1××2, the stockholders being ex-Gov. Begole, D. S. Fox, J. 11. Whiting, George L. Walker and Allen Beach, and it was incorporated two years later with D. S. Fox as President, George L. Walker as Vice President, and JJ. II. Whiting as Secretary, Treasurer and General Manager. They located their build- ing on fifteen acres near the tracts of the Chicago & Grand Trunk Railway and began in a small way with a few hundred dollars and a few men. The business increased from year to your until they are able to report that for the year ending May, 1891, the product is somewhere between
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twelve thousand and fifteen thousand ychicles of member of the Masonic order at Fenton, and is a Master Mason. He also belongs to the Farmers' enterprising and public-spirited citizens of this part all kinds, including merchandising, farm and freight wagons, carriages and road carts. The ' Alliance, and is universally classed among the most trade has been built up by producing a No. 1 class of goods, and for two years they have not been able to keep up with their orders. They now give employment to nearly two hundred men, and have thirty-two buildings, including works and storehouses. They have also added a wheel plant. making buggy and cart wheels, and manufacture a surplus of about twenty-five sets of wheels a day besides what they use. Our subject was the moving spirit m organizing this company.
Miss Alice N. Northrop, daughter of the Rev. 11. 1. Northrop, former pastor of the Presbyterian Church at Flint, became the wife of Mr. Whiting May 12, 1870. The Rev. Mr. Northrop still re- sides in this city, of which he is an honored citi- zen. One daughter, Florence, has blessed this union. She has been a student at Madam Means' private school in New York City for several years, having paid especial attention to music, taking lessons from Ranney, the great vocal teacher, who brought out Patti and other notable artists, and is at present living with Mr. and Mrs. Ranney.
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BEODORE PORTER M. WAIN. There is no one in Grand Blane Township more worthy of the pen of the biographer than this gentleman whose portrait is shown on the up- posite page, and who for forty years has been in- separably associated with the material and moral progress of Genesee County. His peculiar fitness for official positions has been recognized by his fellow. citizens who have bestowed upon him many offices of trust and responsibility. During his active ser- vice as Supervisor he contributed to the welfare of the township which he represented on the County Board. To that responsible position he was elected in 1870, filling the office one lerm, and in 1881 he was appointed by the Town Board Supervisor to lill a vacancy, serving one year. He was for a number of years Justice of the Peace, and has filled other local offices. In his social relations he i. a
The father of our subjeet, David J. Me Wain, was a native of Vermont, descended from Scotch stock, and Mary (Tabor) Me Wain, the mother, was born in New York, of Welch ancestry. Great-grand- father Me Wain, a resident of New Hampshire, was a soldier in the American army and participated in many of the battles of the French and Indian War as well as the War of the Revolution. The subject of this biographical notice was born Sep- tember 21, 1825, in Washington County, N. Y. At the age of four years he was brought by his parents to Genesve County, N. Y., where he grew to man- hood. His education was commenced in the com. mon schools of that county, and was supplemented by a course in Cary's Collegiate Seminary. After finishing his schooling he followed the profession of a teacher four terms in Batavia, N. Y., and after coming to this State, taught three terms in Grand Blanc Township. However, the greater part of his life has been devoted to farming pursuits.
The marriage of our subject, September 10, 1850, brought to his home a bride in the person of Mary C. Gould, who bore him seven children, four of whom are now living, namely: Mix, AAsa, Willie .J. and Dora. all of whom are married and have homes of their own. Dora is the wife of John Barton; Mix and Asa are farmers of Grand Blane Town- Ship; and Willie d. resides in East Saginaw, where he is employed by the Flint & Pere Marquette Railroad. The year following his marriage, our subject brought his wife to tieneser County, Mich., the trip being made by way of Lake Erie and De- troit. In the summers he devoted himself to clear- ing and improving his land and putting in crops, while he made his home in a log cabin. His win- let's for a few years were employed in teaching, and during his first school here he had over eighty pupils on the roll. By frugal industry and good judgment. he has acquired possession of eighty acres of land, all under excellent cultivation. and his success in life has been due as much to the earnest helpfulness of his devoted companion as to
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his own industry and enterprise. Mrs. MeWain departed this life January 21, 1885, leaving her family and many friends to mourn her loss. In his political views Mr. MeWain is a Democrat, and his counsel in local and political affairs is consid- ered well worth working.
ILLIAM A. PATERSON. We here present one of these thoroughly enterprising and unconquerable spirits who are ever ready to go ahead, no matter what misfortunes may be- fall them. He is a manufacturer of carriages, carts and buggies, and has just been burned out at a loss of $25,000, but intends to keep right on with thisi- ness and make a greater success in the future than he has in the past. He has been exceedingly pros- I kind. perous and now owns a fine block of buildings in the city of Flint.
Mr. Paterson was born in Guelph. Ontario, Can- ada, October 1, 1838, and is a son of Archibald Paterson, a Scotchman, who came to America when quite young, and having learned the trade of a carpenter and joiner, he engaged in contracting and building at tinelph. and also carried on farm- ing, but is now living a retired life at the age of eighty-eight. He has been an Eller in the Pres. byterian Church. Jane Ingels, the wife of Arch. bald Paterson, daughter of John Ingells, a Scotch- man, was born in Canada, and died there at the age of thirty -seven. Five of her sis children are still living. They are John ., James, William .... Mary and Adam, and the one who is deceased. hore the name of Margaret. After taking an edu- cation in the log schoolhouse in Canada, near Guelph. this boy at the age of fourteen was appren. ticed to learn the blacksmith and carriage-makers' trade, but in 1836 attended school for one winter at Franklin, N. IL .. after which be carried on work at various points.
In 1860 young Paterson went to Kentucky and established a wagon factory at Fredonia. until he was driven out by the commotions consequent upon the breaking out of the Civil War, and went to
Illinois, locating at different times at Deentur, Jack- sonville, Springfield and Bloomington. After traveling about some, he drifted to Michigan, and after a short stay in Pontiac, be located in Flint; in 1869. taking as n partner his brother Adam, he started a small carriage shop on Saginaw Street.
This business gradually increased, and Mr. Pat- erson has now for some years been running it alone. In 1879 he located in the shops where he is now engaged and a few years later enlarged his enpa- city to two hundred thousand a year, and manu- factured for the jobbing trade, thus making his works the largest in the State. He keeps men on the rond, making large sales from the West, and in 1878 erected a fine establishment comprising three stories, and a basement which was burned down August 8, 1891, and these buildings having been greatly rebuilt and enlarged, he now has the largest works in this part of the country of the
The marriage of Mr. Paterson in 1875, united him with Mi -- Mary Dryden, of Guelph, a' daugh- ter of Thomas Dryden, a prominent farmer there. Their three children bear the names of Maude, William and Mary. In 1890, this prominent man was made Mayor of Flint, in which capacity he is doing good service to the city. He is a true-blue Republican, and a devoted member of the Preshy- terian Church, in which he acts as Trustee. Hein- long- to the social orders of the Knights Templar, and the Knights of Pythia.
16 RED W. BRENNAN is a promising young lawyer of this part of the State. He was horn at Mt. Clemens, Macomb County, this State, June 15. 1861. He is a son of James F. and Mary (Traver) Brennan. His father was a railroad contractor running from Ottawa, Canada. Healso had a contract on the Grand Trunk Railroad from Detroit to Port Huron, and also on the Canadian Division of the Great Western Road. AAfter being engaged on the Michigan Central from Detroit to Bay City, he located at Mt. Clemens until he re. tired from active business; he is now sixty years of age.
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