USA > Michigan > Genesee County > Portrait and biographical record of Genesee, Lapeer and Tuscola counties, Michigan > Part 36
USA > Michigan > Lapeer County > Portrait and biographical record of Genesee, Lapeer and Tuscola counties, Michigan > Part 36
USA > Michigan > Tuscola County > Portrait and biographical record of Genesee, Lapeer and Tuscola counties, Michigan > Part 36
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pany, of Genesce County, for four years, and in 1888 he became interested in the Farmers' Home Mutual Instance Company. He is one of the Directors and Treasurer of the same. For four years he served as a member of the County Board of Superintendents, and was associated during that time with R. W. Dellam and I .. J. Hitchcock. The death of Mrs. Atherton caused the abandoning by Mr. Atherton of a pleasant home in the city of Flint, where they had resided for ten years, since which time Mr. Atherton has made his home on the farm with his son, where they are mutually inter- ested in its management.
FOHN T. GILMAN is a retired farmer living at Flushing. He was born in Tioga County, N. Y., December 23, 1821, and is a son of Jolm T. and Mary ( Pierce) Gilman, natives of Massachusetts, where they were reared and mar- ried. Later they removed to Tioga County and engaged in farming, and there the mother died in 1866. The father came to Michigan and settled in the village of Flushing, making that his home un- til his decease, which occurred in 1881. He served , as a soldier in the War of 1812. He was a Repulr liean in politics, and in his religious creed was united with the Methodist Episcopal Church, al- though his wife was a member of the Baptist Church. Mrs. Gilman's father was Joshua Pierce, a native of Massachusetts, and a cooper by trade, although a farmer by calling. He died in New York in 1819.
Our subject was educated in his native county, and was reared a farmer there. He continued to live at home, even after his marriage, taking charge of the farm. The family came to Michigan in 1869 and settled in Mt. Morris Township, where our sub- ject farmed one hundred and sixteen acres. This be improved, building a fine residence and two good barns. It constituted his home for fifteen years, and then he removed to the place where he now lives.
Mr. Gilman was married February 10, 1819, to Miss Martha Jordan, of Tioga County, N. Y. She
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is n daughter of John and Hannah (Lauch) Jor- dan, natives of Orange County, N. Y. The father was a farmer and lived and died in Tioga County. Mrs. Gilman is of Scotch and German ancestry. Our subject and his wife have only one daughter living, Flora, Mrs. H. Cassady. The three deceased children are Franklin, George W. and Charles I.
The original of our sketch enlisted in the army in the year 1863, joining Company D. Eighty-fifth New York Infantry. He was in the service nine- teen months, and was with Gen. Sherman's army on las noted raid, and was fighting all the time. He was captured at Plymouth, S. C., and was in- careerated in Andersonville prison for nine months and when finally he was liberated be weighed but seventy-five pounds. He came home on a furlough in order to recuperate, and later returned to his regiment at New Berne. N. C. They made their last stand at Riley at the time of the surrender of Gen. Johnston. He has never been well since his war experience. Mr. Gilman is a Republican in politics, and belongs to the Grand AArmy of the Republic. He is a man who stand- prominently among the retired business men of this village.
2 HOMAS OTTAWAY. Fifty-two years ago Mr. Ottaway come to the farm where he How ( 1891) resides in Clayton Township. Genesee County, and he has seen great changes here. He is a native of England, born April 30, 18:17, and a son of George and Harriet (Boutcher) Ottaway. The father came to America in 1839 and settled upon a farm one mile cast of where this son now resides, taking thirty-five acres of wood land from the Government. Upon it he built a log house and lived therein many years. To this property he added eighty acres more and continued there until his death in 1856. His faith- ful companion survived him for many years and died at the age of four score in 1891.
The parents were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and meetings were held in their log cabin. If no preacher was to be bad Girorst Ottaway himself led the meeting and exported the
people to turn to God. He was a man of broad reading and tine abilities, and his life was an un- blemished one. He was loved by all who knew him and the people who attended these meetings often said that they never heard such prayers as we're offered by him there. While crossing the ocean, which voyage occupied three months of his childhood, Thomas Ottaway came near finding a watery grave. as he fell overboard and would have been drowned in all probability had not his mother who stood by caught him by the dress and thus saved him.
Our subject remained at home assisting his par- ents and after his father's death he took charge of the farm antd his marriage in 1861 with Miss Sarah S., daughter of John I. and Cornelia M. (('ristler) Sprague. The Spragues had come nt an early day from New York to Macon b County, and later to Clayton Township, this county. Mrs. Sprague died during their residence in Macomb County. and Mr. Sprague passed to the other world in 1886 from the home of his daughter, Mrs. Ofta- way.
The first wedded home of Mr. and Mrs. Ottaway was on a farm on section 8, this township, and later they removed to a property south of Flint, and afterward returned to the old homestead. Ten years later they removed to the place where they now reside when it was all an unbroken forest and here they built a small board house 16x22 feet in dimensions and entered upon the work of clearing the one hundred and sixty acies of land. It is now a beautiful farm and is well supplied with line buildings. The four children of this couple are Effie S., Thomas G., Eugene and Nettie E. The eldest daughter is now Mrs. Spafford and the mother of four children, May, Roy, Clare and an infant son. Thomas married Cora Todd, and they have two children, George and Floyd.
The Republican doctrines are highly endorsed by Mr. Ottaway, and he is prominent in the ranks of that party. He has held the office of Pathmaster and also some school offices. The Methodist Epis- copal Church is the religious body with which both he and his wife are connected. During the boy- hood of our subject times were very hard and money scarce, and all one winter he went withont
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shoes. He has probably shot as many as fifty deer besides other game, and whenever he went to the woods he took his rifle and when he shot game which he could not carry he would hang it on a tree for his father to bring home,
A lithographie portrait of Mr. Ottaway is pre- sented on an accompanying page.
R. STOCKDALE. About 1871 there located in Flint a gentleman who has since been closely connected with its development and who forms the subject of this biographical notice. Since locating here he has given hisatten- tion exclusively to real estate and loans and has by energy and good judgment become well-to-do. His home is on a pleasant farm in Flint Township, conveniently situated to the city so that the resi- dents thereupon have all the advantages to be gained by close proximity to the city as well as the comforts of rural life. There has been no enter- prise originated for the benefit of Flint which has not received the hearty co-operation of Mr. Stock- dale and his aid in every possible way. He has been Director in the Citizens' Commercial and Savings Bank of Flint, from the time of its organ- ization as it now stands until the present-1891.
The eyes of Mr. Stockdale first opened to the light in the beautiful City of Brotherly Love, and his natal day was October 19. 1821. His father. Holm, was a resident of Philadelphia until his death. His mother bore the maiden name of Mary Rutherford and was a native of Pennsylvania. The subject of this sketch received his education in Philadelphia and at an early age displayed con- siderable business talent. Before he was twenty- one he bought out his employer, a carriage-maker, and during the War with Mexico he took a con- tract with the United States Government and made a large supply of wagons for service in the war. After he closed out that business he went to New York, where he engaged in dealing in machinery. For ten years he was in two New York offices of his own and transacted a large amount of business, having customers all over the United States.
Closing out that business in 1870, Mr. Stockdale came to Flint, Mich., where he has since resided, und at once began to operate as a money loaner and real-estate agent. He has made large loans of money in this city and county, principally farm loans. As prosperity crowned his efforts he in- vested his money in farm property, having at dif- ferent times owned many farms; his wife is the owner of four hundred and fifty acres of line land adjoining the city, a portion of it being within the corporate limits of the city of Flint, This he Ises as a stock and grain farm and makes his home. It is a beautiful place, improved and cultivated, while a first-class set of farm buildings has been erected to suit the convenience of the proprietor. Mr. Stockdale also owns eighteen other farms in Genesce County, besides considerable city property. Included among his other pieces of property is the Normal School and two blocks around it, some fine business structures and some lots on Fifth and Gar- land Streets. All of these are for trade or sale.
Beside his property in Genesee County MIr. Stockdale owns land in Lapeer, Tuscola and Sag- inaw Counties, and odd lots in other counties. Ilis business interests have so entirely engrossed his attention that he finds no time to devote to poli- ties, and aside from voting the Republican ticket he takes little interest in political affairs. llis beautiful home is presided over by his estimable wife, who was formerly Mrs. Mary Hartshorn, of this city. Their marriage was solemmized October 11, 1x70, and they have become known as benevo- lent, charitable people, tilling the duties of their position in life in such a way as to win the condi- denve of the community.
RANGE S. THOMAS. Living a modest life in the rural districts are many of the men who fought most bravely Cand fear- lessly during the war which saved our country from decimation. He of whom we write, who has n comfortable farm of one hundred neres located in Burton Township. Genesce County, was one of the famous First Michigan Cavalry and fought
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under Custer. He enlisted when a mere boy of Ifteen years and served live years in the war, six montie of which time he passed in the dreary Confederate prison of Andersonville.
Mr. Thomas was born in Kendall Township, Orleans County, N. Y., May 3, 1816. He is a son of Nelson Thomas, of Jefferson County, N. Y., and his father was born in 1812 and adopted the call- ing of farming, which he pursued throughout his early career in the Empire State. He emigrated with his family to tieneser County in 1816 and at once located in Burton Township where his de- rene wecurred in 1861. Here he cleared and im- proved a farm. Our subject's mother was in her maidenhood a Miss Betsey Ann Smith. She died in 1870. The parents were devoted members of the Protestant Methodist and Episcopal Churches.
Our subject was six months old when brought to this State and was reared in the woods. llis first knowledge of the three R's was gained in a log schoohouse a mile and three-quarters from his home. Ile remained at home until the breaking out of the war and September 1, 1861, he enlisted in the First Michigan Cavalry in Company II, under Col. Thornton Broadhead. He participated in a great many skirmishes but the first important battle in which he took part was the second engagement at Bull Run. He was also at Harper's Ferry, Winchester and Cedar Mountain in 1862. In the fall of the same year he was at Chantilly. lle was wounded in the battle of Gettysburg, both in the arm and in the left side, and was sent to Philadelphia to the hospital. In the fall of 1863 he participated in all the battles of the Rappahan- nuck and during the winter came home on a fur- lough. Later, as Grant's advance guard, his regi- ment participated in the battles of the Wilderness and Spotsylvania Courthouse. Sheridan was at the time in command of the cavalry and soon after went on his famous raid to Richmond. Thereafter our subject was in twenty-one battles m as many days. Mr. Thomas was taken prisoner in the battle of Trevilian Station by a force under Fitz-Hugh la. He was held for two days in Libby prison, thence was taken to Andersonville, where he remained for three months, then was transferred to Florence, S. C., where he was con-
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Ined for three months, and later was released on parole. After various experiences he reported nt Cump Chee, Ohio, and remained there until April 11, 1865. His regiment was sent down the Ohio and up the Mississippi to Ft. Leavenworth, Kan. Thence our subject started across the plains to Salt Lake City where he spent one year and was there discharged March 10, 1866. His regiment met the enemy thirty-two times with sabres and participated in sixty-four pitched battles.
After returning home our subject resumed his early occupation and began farming. December 18, 1867, he was married to Miss Melissa L. Clark, a native of this township. Of this umon there are six children-Frederick 11., Hattie D., Arthur B. Leroy. Bertha M. and I'lyses. Mr. Thomas is a Republican and has been Treasurer of the town- ship for one term. He is naturally monch interested in the organization of the Grand Army of the Re- public and socially belongs to the Patrons of In- dustry and also to the Good Templars. Both he and his wife are members of the Protestant Metho- dist Church and have been so connected for twenty years. The broad acres which he owns are fertile and productive.
ILLIAM B. SUTTON, a prosperous farmer located on section 36, Inpeer Town- ship, Lapeer County, was born in Genesee County, N. Y., June 17, 1833. He is a son of John and Susan ( Williamson ) Sutton, the former a native of Herkimer County, N. Y., who served a regular apprenticeship in the saddlery and harness trade, which he worked at until he came to Michigan in 1846. Our subject's mother was a native of War- ren County, N. J. They were married in the latter State, thence removed to New York State making a a stop in Genesce County, after which they settled in Orleans County and purchased a farm in the well-known " Holland Purchase." In 1835 they sold out and ten years later came to Michigan.
On coming to this State our subject's family staid for one winter in Oakland County, thence
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came to Ella Township. Lapeer County, and !- Hled upon a farm of rights acres which was partially improved. In December, 1×17. he purchased a farm of three hundred and twenty acres which was partly on section a. Lapeer Township, and partly un section &t. Attra Township. It was all virgin land which was only occasionally visited by the Indians, Our subject and his brothers put in sixty acres of wheat, having cleared the land the previous winter. They built a frame house and this because their parents' home. The father died in 1856. The mother survived until 1889. 'They were the parents of seven children, four of whom are now living and of these our subject is the oldest. By a previous marriage he had six children.
The original of our sketch was thirteen years of nge on coming to Michigan. He attended the dis- triet schools, walking three miles in order to reach the building. He later became a student at .Al- mont and on finishing hi- course devoted himself to farming, always remaining at home during the time. He had to look after the work when quite young and after his father's decrase he bought out the equities of the other heirs and secured the home farm, since which he has resided here. He now has two hundred and fifty seres of fertile land, of which two hundred and ten acres are under cultivation.
Since coming into full proprietorship of the farm our subject has built a large barn, a line ice- house and other outbuildings. His present rt -i- dence was built twelve years ago at a cost of $1,- sub and is a comfortable and commodious build- ing. Mr. Sutton carries on general farming. mai- ing much grain and good graded stock. In De- cember, 1859, he was married to Miss Lois Bolton, a daughter of David Bolton, an early set- tler in Michigan, coming luther from New York State. Mrs. Sutton was born September 21, 1835, in Macomb County, this State. She was a teacher for several years previous to her marriage and died April 20, 1887. She and her husband were the parents of four children whose names are ( a- sius C., Jonathan R., John B. and Mary F. John B. is now a student in the I'niversity at Ann Ar- lor, taking a course in pharmacy; Jonathan R.
graduated at the Dryden High School and has taught for several terms. The family are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church at South At. tra, in which Mr. Sutton has been Steward for years, and gave his aid in erecting the church building. He has also been active in Sunday school work. For a muober of years he has been a mem- ber of the local School Board. Fraternalty he be- longs to the Masonicorder at Dryden. Politically he is a Republican and has been a delegate to State, Senatorial and Congressional conventions. He hold the office of Supervisor for several years and has also been Highway Commissioner. He lives in the extreme southeast corner of Lapeer Township.
RS. SARAH A. (OTTAWAY) STONE, the widow of Judson A. Stone, resides on section 1. Clayton Township, Genesce County, where her beautiful home stands amidst such surroundings as make it noteworthy to any passerby. She is the representative of one of the first and foremost families in this part of the county, and has the universal esteem of her neigh- bors. Her husband was born in t'ommerce Town- Ship, Oakland County, this State, February 2, 1811, and was a son of William and Betsey A. (Alba) Stone. They were natives of New York, and came in the early days to Oakland County. Mr. Stone was educated in tieneer County.
At the age of eighteen years hudson Stone en- listed in 1862 in Company B. First Regiment of Michigan Engineers and Mechanics. He spent two years and nine months in the service of his coun- try, and after the war returned to Michigan and came to Clayton Township. Genesee County, where he worked at the carpenter's trade In 1867 he married Miss Sarah A. Ottaway, daughter of George and Harriet (Bouteher) Ottaway, an Eng- lish couple who came to this country in 1839. A sketch of their lives will be found in the biography of Thomas Oftaway, which our readers will lind elsewhere in this volume.
After marriage Mr. Stone combined work at his trade with farming on his forty acres of land on
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section 10, Genesee County, upon which he made his home for fifteen years. After selling this prop- erty he bought the farm where his widow now re- side, which comprises eighty aeres. This property was already in an improved condition, and be put It under thorough cultivation, and brought it up to a high standard of productiveness. Besides do- ing general farming, be kept a fine quality of stock. For about nine years he filled the office of Deputy Sheriff and besides that held other town- ship offices. In his political views he wasa Repub- lican, and he belongs to the social orders of Odd Fellows and Royal Templars,
Mr. Stone lost his health during his military ser- vice, and during the last year of that period he was unable to be active. He was highly respected by all who knew him, and had not an enemy in the world. In his religious belief he was a Methodist and when he died March 3, 1891. his loss Wals greatly felt by his Christian brethren. His widow is also a Methodist in her faith, and has been a member of that church since she was fourteen years old. Thoroughly educated and well-equipped she is a woman of induence and one of the most premiuent in the township. System and thor- oughness mark her work in carrying on the farm and she is keeping it up to it- old standard. Their three children are Elmer E., Hattie B. and Iniz.
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EWIS TAYLOR. M. D. In no profesion is it more needful to find the true milk of human kindness than in the medical pro- fession, where personal influence is a medicine in itself of no small potenes. He of whom we write has a reputation far and near of being one of the kindest of men, as well as a skilled physician. Is purse as well as his heart is always open to the poor, the sick and the needy, and no better mem orial can be raised to him in time to come than the fact that he was loved by all.
On the opposite page is presented a portrait of Dr. Taylor who is a practitioner of the homes- pathie school in Flushing. He was born in the , store here;
township of London, Cheshire County, S. 11., Ortolar 2. 1818. He is a son of Theodore and Lucy (Ballow) Taylor, natives of New Hamp- shire ml Rhode Island respectively. His father, a manufacturer of hoots and shoes, came to Mich- igan in 1812 and settled in Branch County. His derease occurred August 11. 1815, when at the age of sixty-three years. His wife died in Lenawee County. this State. July 15. 1857, being at the time sixty-two years of age. 'The father had served in Hu War of 1812.
The parents had a family of fourteen children. when in last were all living, although widely seattered. Seven of them still survive. They are-Theodore; Lewis, of whom we write; Jane, Mrs. Maxwell; Mary, Mas. Southard; Phila, Mrs. Albertson: Martin, a physician, and Steward. Ran- som Taylor, one of our subject's older brother, who was born in Smithfield. R. I., in 1807, grad- unted from the University of New York, and re- ceived the appointment of professor in the Deaf and Dumb Institute in New York City. He Inter studied theology and gave promise of being a bril- liant theologian as he had been a intelligent stu- dent. He died at AAugusta, Ga. February 1, 1838, at the age of thirty years, eight months, and eigh- teen days. Another brother. Heury Milton, who was born June 2. 1833. died April 13, 1831.
Our subject was reared on the farm until sixteen Acar's age when he began to take care of himself, supplementing that work with his labor on the farm. He continued that way for two years spending the following two years in Orleans Counts. N. Y .. where he was engaged in selling and putting up farm machinery, and at the same time he was studying medicine. He continued to be so employed until 1817 when he came to Michigan and settled first in Rome Township. Lenawee County. entering eighty acres of land which was heavily timbered. He was engaged in the rai-ing of wheat and improving his place which he sold at the end of two years. After ie- maining at Adrian for one year he traveled as agent, and engaged in collecting and selling libraries and law books. Thener he came to Flushing, at a time when there was but one small
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In 1818 Dr. Taylor began studying medicine with Dr. Henry Knapp as preceptor, giving atten- tion to the homeopathic treatment. He was with him for two years and then he began the practice of medicine nt this place, whither he came in 1852. He has a very fine library, comprising rare and costly medical works, works on theology und a tine historical library. In 1862 he with others, organized a Homeopathie Medical Society at Detroit. The censors were the following gen- themen, Dr. Charles Hempel, Dr. Edwin M. Hale, und Dr. A. Il. Botsford. These gentlemen were all practical and experienced men, who were lead- ing homeopathists and were the originators of useful and practical medical works. Dr. Taylor has been a hard worker for the School of Homeo- pathy in this State and through his endeavors and labors he has lived to see this branch of medicine take a high position in scientific circles, and has felt that it is a victory gained for the school in that they have secured the establishment of a Chair in University at Ann Arbor.
Dr. Taylor has been very successful in his work and has had a circuit whose radius extends from fifteen to twenty-eight miles. Frequently the poor and unfortunate have been richer in store and larder after one of his visit -. He has been in the practice of medicine for many years, being at the present time seventy-three years of age. Ile is a self-made man, his school years extending only until fourteen years of age. The Doctor has a beautiful home on the line of the Cincinnati, Saginaw & Mackinaw Railroad.
Dr. Taylor was married February 3, 1811, to Miss Ellie 1. Bird, of Westchester County, N. Y. She is a daughter of Edmund and Sarah (Howes) Bird, natives of the Empire State, and the parents of ten children of whom six are now living; Eliza, George W., Ellie 1 .. , Edmund, James, and Elijah. The eldest daughter is Mrs. Hammond. Etlie is Mrs. Dr. Taylor. Our subject and his wife are the parents of six children, three of whom sur- vive: Sarah. who is Mrs. Rezean, and the mother of two children; Lucy. Mrs. Green, also the mother of two children, and Ellie, Mrs. Green, having two children. Those who died were Louise, born May 11, 1851, died February 23,
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