USA > Michigan > Genesee County > Portrait and biographical record of Genesee, Lapeer and Tuscola counties, Michigan > Part 33
USA > Michigan > Lapeer County > Portrait and biographical record of Genesee, Lapeer and Tuscola counties, Michigan > Part 33
USA > Michigan > Tuscola County > Portrait and biographical record of Genesee, Lapeer and Tuscola counties, Michigan > Part 33
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Five children have come to brighten the home of Mr. and Mrs. Goodenough, namely: George .. , who was graduated from the State Agricultural College, taking his diploma in August, 1891. Since he was sixteen he has taught school during the winters, and was a graduate of the Flint High School before going to the University. He has now accepted a fine position as teacher in the m- stitute for the coming year. The two other sons Milton H. and Clarence, both died. and the two daughters, Viola and Phase, are at home.
The Democratic party in its declarations expres- ses the doctrines which Mr. Goodenough approves, and he has been quite prominent in local politics, and has filled the office of Drainage Commissioner for one term. He has one hundred and ninety stock. He is a member of both the Knights of the Maccabees and the Alliance. The Goodenough family are descended from one who came to this country from Wales prior to the Revolutionary War.
acres of land upon which he raises all kinds of { four, and Alphonzo 1. who is a merchant in Joliet,
G FORGES. WETHERELL. of Mundy Town- ship, Genesce County, was born in Easton, Washington County, N. Y., July 13, 1821, and at the age of eight years he removed with his parents to Ente County, where he remained until he was eighteen years old, after which he lived for three years in Genesce County the same State and then spent three years in Orleans County. His parents were Joseph D. and Laura (Swift) With- erell, and the father was an hotel keeper in New York and came to Oakland County, Mich., from Orleans County. N. Y., and settled in Oxford, where he died in 18.8. The mother lived until July 26, I Will. In the battle of Trenton in January, 1777
1891 when she died at the age of four-score nad six years.
In the fall of 1816 our subject came to Oakland County and here engaged in farming until the spring of INEX, when he removed to Muskegon for one year and then emme to Genesee County, and bought the farm where he now lives, a line traet of one hundred and twenty-four aeres which he has put in good condition and where he has erected valuable buildings. He was married in Barre, Orleans County, N. Y., June 9, 1853 to Julia Parker, a native of Byron, tienesce County, N. Y., where she was born October 13, 1826. Her father Alphonzo Parker, son of Samuel Parker, a Revo- Intionary soldier, was a pioneer of tiene-te County, N. Y., and came to Michigan with his wife Harriet Swift in the fall of 1853. They lived in Oakland County until the fall of 1867. after which they made their home in Muskegon, where he died, at the age of seventy-nine and Mrs. Parker when eighty-four years old, in Big Rapids.
The two children of Mr. and Mrs. Wetherell are Laura A., who was the wife of William II. Hayden and died December 1, 1XXX at the age of thirty- 11. The offices of School Inspector and Township Treasurer have been filled by Mr. Wetherell and he has taken an active part in political affairs, being a stanch Republican. Mrs. Wetherell is deeply in- terested in the temperance movement and is n , Strong Prolubitionist. They are liberal in their religious views.
The family history of Laura Swift, the mother of our subject, presents some interesting points. Her Father, Moses Swift, was the son of a captain who served in the army during the French and Indian wars prior to the Revolution, and while on his way home to Massachusetts he was attacked with cholera at Albany and died there, and as Inis wife had died previous to this event the son Moses was "bound out" to learn the shoemaker's trade. Before he had served his full apprenticeship the war broke out between the colonies and Great Britian, and as he was not old enough to enlist where his age was known, he ran away and entered the army, and was one of the participants in the battle of Bunker
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his right arm was shot of. After his return home he enlisted in the navy and was made Steward of the ship.
This young here ledd further experiences and hardships as he was taken prisoner when the war was about over and was confined on board the prison ship "Jersey" in New York Harbor and was obliged to subsist on uncooked rate for some time. Hle possessed $20,000 in Continental money, which he threw into the sea. He lived to be upwards of ninety years old and loved to recount the incidents of his military experiences. When a prisoner on the ",Jersey" a British officer endeavored to press him into their navy but as he had lost a limb this could not be done. But he was offered an honor- able official position if he would come with them and replied: "sir. you may think your offer an honorable one but I despise it and you. I have shed much blood for my country but am prepared to spill the last drop before I turn against her." The British officer replied, "I honor you, sir," and no further' inducements were offered to lead him to betray the cause he believed to be samered.
G FORGE E. KIPP. Among the prominent entermising and successful farmers and stock-raisers of Genesee County, residing in Atlas Township, is the gentleman whose name we have now given, and whom we are pleased to represent in this volume. He is a native of tien- eser County, and was born slune 28, 1851. His parents, the lon. George and Catherine (Vantiue) Kipp, came to Michigan in 1815 and settled upon the farm which is now owned by our subject. It then had upon it only a log house and a log baru, and the father of our subject proceeded at once to reduce it from a wilderness to the con- dition of a well-cultivated farm. Three children gathered in that humble home, namely: Jantes R., Harrison T. and George E.
many years was Supervisor of AAtlas Township, tilling that position during the Civil War, and serving also for many years as Justice of the Yeare. He was a strong uncompromising I'nion man dur- ing the war times, and a steadfast supporter of the administration, and throughout his life was a prominent politician of the better class. He had n broad influence throughout this part of the State, being considered a leader in the Republican ranks. Hle was a member of the Congregational Church and was useful and influential in this connection. His first wife died October 2, 1882, and the lady who is now his wife was united with him in marri- age in 1890, and they now reside in Akron, N. Y. lle is a man who has been successful in every- thing he has undertaken, and although now an octogenarian is still deeply interested in all public movement -.
George E. Kipp, our subject, was here reared to man's estate and received his education in the district school of Atlas Township. Few ad- vantages outside of the primitive schools were granted to him, but the intelligence of his parents and the stimulus thus received gave him an ambi- tion to be intelligent and well informed, and through books and observation he has attained an excellent degree of education. He married Novem- ber 22, 1876, Anna Algoe, who was born in Atlas Township, this county, December 11, 1857. She is a daughter of William Algoe, born in New Bruns- wick, of Scotch descent, and Sarah Tucker, a New Yorker, of English extraction. Her parents were early settlers in Michigan and now reside in Orton- ville, Oakland County. To them were born six children, mainly: John 1 ..; Anna, Mrs. Kipp; Otis L; Joseph W .; Dora, wife of A. Brosius; and James R.
Two children have come to bless the home of Mr. and Mrs. Kipp, namely: Leroy 11., who was born October 13, 1877, and Charles A., born June 12. 1879. Our subject owns a fine farm of two hun- dred acres of land, which is in good state of im- provement. and is one of the most beautiful Foral . homes in the county. It never fails to attract and please the eye of the passerby.
During the session of 1872-73 the father of our subject served this district in the lower This enterprising and public spirited gentleman house of the Michigan State Legislature, and for enjoys the entire confidence of the business com-
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munity, and his estimable and intelligent wife is a lady of more than ordinary social qualities, and one whose friendship is prized by all who meet her. They are both prominent movers in all social matters, and in political affairs Mr. Kipp is a stanch Republican, and one who is willing to help forward the cause in which he believes.
AMES R. KIPP is a native of Erie County, N. Y., and was born August 10, 1838. Il is the son of the lon. George and Catherine (Vantine) Kipp, the latter having passed from carth some years ago. The parents are natives of New York, and on the father's side are of German ancestry, while the maternal pro- genitors are of Holland extraction. A further and fuller account of this interesting family is to be found in the preceding sketch, in connection with the name of George E. Kipp, a brother of our subject.
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Genesee County has been the home of our sub- jet through most of his life, as he here grew to manhood, and was having in this county at the time that he enlisted in the army. It was on the 220 of October, 1861, that he joined Com- pany (, Tenth Michigan Infantry, and became a part of the Army of the Cumberland. His regi- ment was subsequently transferred to Sherman's army, and he fought in the battle of Jonesboro, und was present at the siege of Manta. besides taking part in the conflicts of Averyshore, Benton- ville, and numerous smaller engagements and skirmishes. He was one of those who took part in the tonifie assault on Kenesaw Mountain and joined the march to the sea. subsequently returning with Sherman through the Carolinas to Washing ton, and there taking part in the Grand Review. His honorable discharge was granted him July 19, 1865, and he left the army with the rank of Lieu- tenant.
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James Kipp was united in marriage with Martha Myers, October 31, 1872. She was born in Erie County, N. Y., October 18, 1816, and is a daughter of William and Sarah Myer-, who came to Genesce
County, Mich., in 1856, and settled in Atlas Town- ship. To Mr. and Mrs. James Kipp one daughter has been born, who came to them May 21, 1877, and to which they have given the name of Florence. This valued family is associated with every move- ment of progress on the lines of education and social culture in this township.
b ON. SIMEON R. BILLINGS, a well-known citizen of Richfield Township. Genesee County, and a native of New York, was born in Gaines Township. Orleans County, March 17, 1835. His father was Col. L. Billings, and he was born in New York in 1801, white his mother, Roxana C. Rexford, was born the same year in the same State, and died at the age of . eighty-nine years. The father had a whole section of land when he first located in this State, and he did a great work in improving and cultivating this property. He was a Republican in his political sen- timents, a man of line presence, and having a su- perior voice, made a tine appearance at the head of his regiment. Hle filled the office of Highway Commissioner, and held other positions of trust. and died in July, 1887.
Capt. Joseph Billings, the grandfather of our subject, was a New Englander by birth, and an early settler in Chenango County, N. Y., where he look up three hundred and fifty acres of Govern- ment land. upon which he lived for seventy-five years, filling important official positions in the township. Simeon Resford, the maternal grand- father of Mr. Billings, took up land in the same county, and built the first mill which was estab- lished therein, dying at the age of eighty years.
The parents of our subject had live sons and one daughter, all of whom grew to matmity. Simeon remained in his native place until he reached the age of thirty-one, having completed his schooling at the Albion Vendemy. and having taught for two years. Ilis first marriage took place, October 3, 1861, in Orleans County, N. Y., and his bride was Carrie E. Gray. a native of that county. There the young couple settled upon the farm which the
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Caron Selye,
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young man had bought of his father, until they came to Michigan six years later and purchased one hundred and twenty-seven acres of land in Genesee County, where he now resides. It was al- ready partially improved, and wassoon under cul- tivation. One daughter and one son blessed this union, Bertha Il. and William G. The death of Mrs. Carrie Billings took place April 27, 1868, and the second marriage of our subject was Novem- ber 17, 1869, his bride being Miss Nancy R. Asia- ley, a native of Davison Township, this county, and to her has been given one daughter, Carrie E.
Mr. Billings has been from his first coming to this county a man of mark, and one whose in- luence is broad and powerful throughout the county. Many official positions have been tend- ered him, and in every place which he has filled, has been thorough and systematic, and the duties of the office have been discharged with an eye sin- gle to the welfare of the community. He held the office of County Surveyor from 1869 to 1875, and was elected Supervisor during the following yours, 1872, 1873, 1877 and 1878. He filled the position of Representative for this district in the State Leg- islature in 1875 and 1877. and was sent to the State Senate by the Nineteenth Senatorial District in 1879 and 1881. While a member of that body he was on various important committees, and in all cases remembered not only the necessities of bis constituents, but the welfare and prosperity of the State.
ARON J. S. SEELYE. It is not every man. even in a country so rich in resources as Michigan, who can start in poverty and make a financial and social success in life; Int the list of those who have done this is a re- markably long one, and even among these we find a very considerable number who have added to this success the attainment of intelligence and a rich store of information, besides the requirement of an influence which makes them marked men in
the community. Such a man is Mr. Seelye whose sketch we now give, and whose beautiful home in Davison Township, Genesee County, is an orna- ment to the county.
Our subject was born March 7, 1831, in Charlton Township. Saratoga County, N. Y., to which his futther, Abel Seelye, a native of Connectient, Indl come at the age of twenty-one. He was a maker of spindle wheels, but followed farming most of his life and came to Michigan in 1837, where he located neatly six hundred acres of Government land in Atlas Township. Hisson, Andrew.I., the first white settler in this township had preceded him the fall before, and the father moved into the house which that son had built. Their coming here was soon followed by the settlement of other families, and they began to have other neighbors besides In- dians, deer, bears and wolves. The father, who helped to organize the township and was its first Justice, died in 1863 at the age of eighty-one. Ile was a highly respected and well-known man, a great student of the Bible, and was connected with the Cumberland Presby terian Church.
The Seelye family is descended from five broth ers who emme to America from England prior to the beginning of the eighteenth century. The mother of our subject, Abigail Seelye, did not change her name in marriage, as she was connected with a distant branch of the family. She died in 1861 in her seventy-fifth year. Right of her ten children grew to maturity. and two are now liv- thg.
All the schooling which Aaron Scelye received was in New York before coming here at the age of seven, with exception of fourteen days when he studied in the log school house at the age of four- teen; and his truly excellent culture and intelli- gence are the result of his persistent study. At the age of twenty-two he began independent work, taking a season at carpentering. He then opened a general store on section 31, on the 10th of November. 1853, it being the first store in the township. For eight years he thus carried on a successful business, combining with it the manu- facture of potash, and at the same time cleared and improved forty acres of land which he had purchased. He closed out his mercantile business
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in IMlil, but continued his polach manufacturing for thirty years and in toto purchased additional land.
In 1856 Mr. Seelye was united in marringe with Grace Thomas a native of England, who came with her parents to America in 1837. Their one child. Elizabeth A .. is the wife of Freeman Sweers. who is a farmer in this township. The carly political preferences of Mr. Seeyle brought him into the Whig party and later he became a Republican. He has served some three years as School Inspector, and for three terms served as Township Treasurer, and besides being Highway Commissioner for several years, he is now Justice of the Peace. For two years he was also on the Republican County Com- mittee. He is deeply interested in the Pine Grove Cemetery Association, and has served as its Presi- dent, Treasurer and Clerk. Ppon his fine farm of four hundred and thirty acres he raises all kinds of stock, making a specialty of fine wool sheep and Short-horn cattle. The attention of the reader is invited to the lithographie portraits of Mr. Seetye and his estimalde wife, which appear in this con- nection.
C HARLES C. RICE. Among the business men of Clio, who have done much for the social and moral progress of the village, is this general dealer in hardware and harness, who is carrying on a lively trade in these directions. He was born October 12. 18H. in the town of Volny. Uswego County, N. Y .. and is theson of Samuel (. Riev. a native of Bridgeport, Addison County. Vi. who was born about the year 1817. and died in 1881. He had removed at the age of fifteen to Oswego County, N. Y., where he reared a family of nine children, eight of whom are still living.
The brothers and sisters of our subject are Sarah E., a teacher in the public schools at Hornelleville. N. Y .; Harriet, who died in her twelfth year; Catherine W., who is living in Massachusetts; Willis Sa a groceryman of Clio; Bertha, who mar- ried E. M. Chapin, of Holyoke, Mas .; Edmund P., a lawyer and Circuit Court Commissioner in Mid-
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land, this State; Henry W., a jeweler of the same city; and Edith I., who married I. R. Field, a farmer of Vienna Township, Genesee County. The father was a public-spirited man, and a Republican in politie -. He served for several years in New York a- Highway Commissioner, and was also a farmer and stock-dealer and wool buyer. He came to Clio about the year 1879. and bought the build- ing now owned by his son, carrying on a hardware store, and building the Railroad Flouring Mill. He wife, whose maiden name was Mary Wheeler, is a native of Mexico, N. Y., and still makes her home in Vienna Township.
Charles Rice had his early training on his father's farm, and in the district school, remaining at home until he reached his majority, when he enlisted in Company , One Hundred and Eighty-fourth New York Infantry, and was sent to the front under Gen. Sheridan's command. He took part in the battle of Cedar Creek. October 19, 1861,- and re- ceived his honorable discharge June 29, 1865. Soon after this he came to Michigan, and for seven years was with a mercantile firm at Hubbardston, lonia County. I'pon first coming to Clio, in 1872, he went into business for himself. but was burned out two years later, and after that disaster he clerked for various firms until abont 1881, when he sue- ceeded his father in business, since which time he has built up an extensive and prosperous trade, and is one of the most prominent men of (lio.
The lady who, upon the 6th of Detober, 1868, became the wife of our subject, was Miss Almira, a daughter of the Rev. E. W. Borden, a Presbyterian minister. Four children came to brighten this home. The eldest is Emma E., who was born July 5. 1869. and after taking an education in the Clio schools, studied at the Flint Normal School, and then after teaching one term, became a stenographer and book-keeper. She worked for a Buffalo (N. Y.) firm some time, and is now her father's book- keeper. The second daughter, Margaret M., was born June 30. 1872. and has had her education nt the Clio schools; Clayton C., who was born .Inn- mary 7, 1876, died October 21, 1880; and Carlton, who was born July 17, 1882. The family are men- here of the Congregational Church at Clio, and are useful in many lines of work in both church and
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social circles. Mr. Rice was formerly a Republican, but for the past six years has been a Prohibitionist. As Trustee of the Village Board in 1888, he was largely instrumental in banishing the saloons from the village, and thus did good service to all who are interested in the moral and social welfare of the community.
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M ONTVILLE BENJAMIN, a retired farmer and capitalist residing in Flushing, is a native of Madison County, N. Y. and was born June 5, 1835. He is a son of James and Sally (Spear) Benjamin, natives of New York and Massachusetts respectively, although married in the first-named State. In his youth the father was a teacher, having been educated at one of the higher colleges of New York. He was also en- gaged in surveying and later in life became a merchant at De Ruyter, Madison County, con- timing in that occupation for a number of years. He then became proprietor of two hundred acres of land, to the cultivation of which he devoted himself for the remainder of his life. His decease occurred when he was eighty-seven yours of age and his wife died when she was about eighty -live years old.
Our subject's paternal grandfather was Darius Benjamin. He was a Revolutionary soldier and served as one of Gen. Washington's body guards .. His father came from Holland. His wife was in her maidenhood a Miss Charity Rice, and was also of Dutch descent. Our subject's maternal grand- father was Eli Spear, the head of a family in Massa- chusetts who devoted themselves to agriculture.
The subject of our sketch was one of thirteen children born to his parents and of these eleven are now living. They are James D., Alfred, Edward. Eli. Jane, Sarah, Orville, Charity, Mary M. and James II. Jane is now Mrs. W. Nichol -; Sarah, Mrs. J. David-on; Charity, Mrs. Lawrence; Mary, Mrs. Wilson Shepard. Our subject's father was Justice of the Peace and held other township offices. He was a Whig in his political preference
and in his religions leaning was with the Baptist Church.
Our subject was educated in De Ruyter, Madi- son County, and attended the High School there. He was reared a farmer and remained at home until reaching his majority. He then made a trip to Kan-as and saw John Brown and James Lane. He there remained nine months and then returned home to commence his farm labors. In the meantime, on the 12th of October, 1859, he was married to Miss Electa R. Judson, who was born at Mayfield, Fulton County, N. Y. The Judson family traces their ancestry to Dea- con Daniel Judson, whose son Elisha was born in 1765 and in 1787, married Iney Case whose birth occurred in 1766. Their children were Sylvester, Sylvanus, Garden, Elisha, Lucy and Alanson. The parents of Mrs. Benjamin were Sylvanus and Mira M. (Whitman) Judson, natives respectively of Vermont and New York. Mr. Judson retired from farming and settled in Gloversville, where he died. He was an abolitionist of the most pro- nounced type, and with his wife was a member of the Baptist Church.
After marriage our subject came to Michigan in 1863. settling first in Clayton Township, Gen- esce C'ounty. where he purchased forty acres of land, ten acres of which were improved and bore a log house and log barn. They lived there for about two years and then sold the place and pur- chased one hundred and sixty-live acres in the same township. Twenty acres had been improved but there was no house and he created in a short time a board house 16321 feet in dimensions. That farm be improved and lived on for some ten years.
Our subject enlisted in the war, joining Com- pany 11, Twenty-fourth Michigan Infantry and was in service until the close of hostilities. After selling his one hundred and sixty-five acres he purchased ninety-three acres in the same township and there lived for five years. He thence re- moved to Flushing which was his home for one year and then purchased two hundred acres nel- joining the village on the south side of Flint River. That proved to be the family home for ten years and thener they removed to the beauti-
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ful place where they now reside in the southern part of the village. Mr. Benjamin has laid out an addition to the village comprising two acres of
Our subject and his wife are the parents of tive children -- Mira E .. James J .. Elsie G., Perey W. and Edith .. Politically Mr. Benjamin favors the Prohibition party. He has held the office of School Inspector discharging his duties with great credit to binself and his constituents. He and his wife and childern are members of the Baptist Church. Socially he is a Mason and also bekongs to the Grand Army of the Republic. Heisa stock- holder in the First National Bank at Flushing and also one of the charter members. Mrs. Benjamin who is a woman of progressive tendencies, is a graduate of the Chautauqua club, having taken her diploma in 1881, and is also the County President of the Woman's Christian Temperance I'nion.
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