USA > Michigan > Genesee County > Portrait and biographical record of Genesee, Lapeer and Tuscola counties, Michigan > Part 39
USA > Michigan > Lapeer County > Portrait and biographical record of Genesee, Lapeer and Tuscola counties, Michigan > Part 39
USA > Michigan > Tuscola County > Portrait and biographical record of Genesee, Lapeer and Tuscola counties, Michigan > Part 39
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
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
James Davi- was married in 1859 to Lucy D., daughter of George W. and Emma Eliza Wait. She was born in Niagara County, N. Y., and became the mother of eight children, live of whom are still living, namely: Mary E., born August 2, 1860, and now the wife of Olden E. Lawrence; George W., born February 11, 1862; William S., May 1, 1866; Arthur E., October 20, 1868; John 11., Sep- tember 11, 1872; Blanche E., deceased, born July 30. 1871; JJenny N., deceased, born November 5, 1876; Richard T., deceased, born September 8, 1877. With the exception of the eldest daughter all the surviving children still make their home under the parental roof.
Our subject enlisted August 11, 1862, in Com :- pany (. Twenty-third Michigan Infantry. He enlisted as a private and was promoted through the grades of Corporal and Sergeant to that of Orderly Sergeant. When Morgan was making his famous raid through the North this young officer, who was then under Gen. Burnside's command, was sent after the raider, following him through Kentucky, In-
diana and Olno, and saw him when he was brought into Cincinnati. He took part in twenty-five hard- fought battles, among which were Rocky Face, Ressaca, Altoona, Burnt Hickory. Peach Tree Creek, Kenesaw and siege of Atlanta. He was also on the defense during the sieges at Knoxville and Nashville and took part in the battles which were waged December 15 and 16, 1865.
Sergeant Davis afterward participated in the rupture of Ft. Anderson on the Cape Fear River, and his regiment, the Twenty-first, was the first to enter that fort. He took part in the engagements at Williamstown, Kingston, Goldsboro and Raleigh, and was in the field when Johnston surrendered at Chapel Hill. By the bursting of a shell he was injured at Campbell Station, Tenn., and also in- eurred serious disabilities through an attack of typhoid pneumoma, and weighed only ninety
1
-
٠١٠
8.13
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
pounds when he was brought home from the war. Hle resumed farming after recovering his health and in this he has been successful. In politics be has always been a strong Republican and is ever ready to work for the success of his party.
This gentleman has ably filled the offices of Highway Commissioner, Township Clerk and School officer in this district. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity at Flint and of the Fred W. Walker Post, No. 131, G. A. R. Of this post he was the organizer and for two years was its Commander. The Independent Order of Odd Follows of Mt. Morris also counts him as one of its influential members. He is a member of the Episco- pal Church and his wife is connected with the Baptist Church, Mr. Davis is one of the best known men in Mt. Morris and is both intelligent and pro- gressive. His friends are justly proud of his war record, which shows him as a man of true patriot- Ism, valor and discretion.
+
LEXANDER CAMPBELL. This promi- nent and highly esteemed resident of Davison Township. Geneste County, was born in Columbia County, N. Y., Septem- Ir 1, 1812, and is a son of a Scotchman, John Campbell, who was a machinist and came to Amer- iva in 1826. He worked at Paterson, N. . I., for several years and subsequently at Stockport, N. Y .. where a large machine shop and print works was lo- cated, but afterward went onto a farm until his removal in 1855 to Michigan.
The first settlement of the Campbell family in this State was in Groveland, Oakland County, and in 1861 the father purchased property in Davison Township, this county, which continued to be his home until his death in 1868 at the age of seventy- six years. lle was for many years a member of the Presbyterian Church and was a prominent man in his Eastern home. Barbara Russell, a native of Scotland, became the wife of John Campbell about the year 1836. She died in 1850, leaving five sons. A district school education was obtained by our
subject at Stockport and he also pursued his sind- ies after coming to Michigan. At sixteen he Ix-
on farms, and in the spring of 1861 he visited Pennsylvania and while there his friends procured for him a position as fireman on the Erie Railroad, which work he continued only three months, as he determined to enter the army. Returning to Mich- igan he enlisted in September of that year in the first Regiment of Michigan Engineers, joining Company F, and being under the command of Col. William P. Innes. He was in the battles of Mills Springs, Ky., and in that of Shiloh under Buell's command. All through the summer of 1862 this regiment was along the Memphis and Charleston Railroad and went as far East as Stephenson and Bridgeport, Ala., thence retreating to Louisville, Ky
From this point the regiment started on the Eastern Kentucky campaign which culminated in the battle of Chapman Hills and after that went to Nashville, where they took part in the Stone River campaign, where he received a sabre wound in the left hand. After this he took part in the Chickamauga campaign and was in both the Sep- tember battle of 1863 and the November battle of 1861, and spent a winter in that vicinity, being all through the Atlanta campaign during the next season with Sherman. He saw the smoke of battle at Resaca and at Altoona Gap was under fire every day. On August 23, he took part in the battle of Atlanta and went with Sherman to Say- annah, Goldsborough, Raleigh and thence by way of Petersburg and Richmond to Washington, where he participated in the Grand Review, after which he was sent to Louisville and thence to Nashville, where he received his honorable discharge, October 1, 1865, being mustered out with the rank of See- and Lieutenant, to which he had been promoted after the battle of Atlanta.
Coming home at the close of the war, Lient. Campbell purchased in partnership with his brother the old homestead, and after a few years bought out his brother's interest. He was married Decem- ber 23, 1868, to Emma 1. Preston, a native of this county and a daughter of Roswell Preston, a Ver- monter, who came to Michigan in 1836 and now
F
m
-
844
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
lives in Atlas Township. The three children of our subject are Ross ... Inez E., and Barbara who has died. The daughter Ines has attended a school in Flint and has already taught for four years, com- mending at the age of littern.
. Mr. Campbell is a Republican in his political convictions and cast his first vote for Abraham Lincoln at Atlanta during the War. He takes an active part in local politics and has been a delegate to county, district and State conventions. Ile has been Justice of the Peace for twenty-two years. Supervisor and Drainage Commissioner for four years and Highway Commissioner for three years. He began lifeanew with no means after coming ont of the war, yet has now a fine estate of two hundred and fifty acres situated on section 31. Davisen. Township, and on section 3, Atlas Township.
*****
0 RVILLE D. PRATT. One of the neatest and best-equipped farms in this locality is owned by the gentleman whose name ap- pears above. He is a veteran with a very com- mendable record for bravery and loyal service. Mr. Pratt was born in Shenango County, N. Y., December 2. 1838. He is a son of Peter Pratt, who was born in New York in 1807. Our subject's father originally learned the carpenter trade and followed that to some extent, but later became a farmer and devoted himself chiefly to that calling.
The maiden name of our subject's mother was Susan Dort. She died about 1813. leaving a family of tive children, four of whom are still living. Our 1 subject's father married the second time and had four children by that marriage. The original of our sketch was reared upon a farm. He at- tended the district school and after finishing his own course .was engaged in teaching for seven terms, beginning at the age of twenty.
August 12, 1862, Mr. Pratt enlisted in the Six tenth New York Light Artillery under Capt. Milo W. Lock. It was an independent battery and our subject enlisted as a private, but was soon promoted to the position of Corporal and next to that of Sergeant and later became Quartermaster. The
first engagement in which he took part was the battle of Suffolk. Va., and also at Bermuda Hun- dred, Va. He was in the siege of Petersburg, where the soldiers were under fire nearly all the summer of 1863. During the winter of 1868-64 our sub- jeet went to Ft. Fisher, N. C., and was in the siege that resulted in the capture of that fort. Itis regiment then moved North und joined Sherman's army at Raleigh, N. C. He received his discharge at Elmira. N. Y., in June, 1865. While on gen- oral review near Raleigh, N. C., Mr. Pratt was wounded, but did not enter hospital. Ile suf- suffered a siege of typhoid fever at Norfolk, Va., and was compelled to be in hospital two months.
In the fall of 1865 our subject came to Genesce County. Mich., and here taught school for some years, filling in the intervals with farm work. When he married he located, farming on shares, in Grand Blanc Township, for five years. He finally . purchased a farm here, but later removed to Flint and was there engaged in the grocery busi- ness. In 1886 he purchased his present farm on section 35, Burton Township.
Mr. Pratt was married January 13, 1863, to Miss Mary J. Meyers. She was born in Otsego County, N. Y., and was the daughter of George I. and Naney (Summers) Myers, natives of New York, who came to Michigan in 1867. Our subject and his wife have never been blessed with children. Mr. Pratt is a Republican in politics and has been a delegate to county conventions and for the past four years has acted as Township ('lerk. He he- longs to the Grand Army of the Republic.
IL.LIAM W. MERRILL was born in Monroe County, N.Y., October 28, 1841, and is a di- reet descendant of Nathaniel Merrill who une to this country from Salisbury, England ia 1631, fourteen years after the landing of the Pil- grims; be settled at Newbury, Mass. His son, Daniel Merrill, died in Salisbury in 1718. 10 was so named by him from his father's native place. His son was Dencon Moses Merrill and his son was Deacon Moses Merrill, Ir .; and his son was the Rev. Giles
815
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
Merrill, who was a Congregational clergyman. His Un large double frame barn, the main part of it be- son, Moses Merrill, is the grandfather of our sub- ing ninety feet long. The improvements all told are first-class. Jest. He was a farmer in the old Bay State and of the State and served continuously for nearly sixty years.
Our subject's father, William ti. Merrill, was the eldest son of his father's family and was born in Haverhill, Mass., June 9, 1800. He was reared on a farm and spent most of his young days in atten- dance at Atkinson Academy of New Hampshire where he graduated. He then went to school at Bangor, Me .. and studied law with the intention of entering the legal profession, but he began teaching at the age of sixteen and followed that profession throughout the greater portion of his life. He came to Michigan in 1817 and settled in Davison Township, where he purchased land and cleared a farm. He taught several terms and hell various township offices. He was exceptionally well educated for those pioneer days and well and favorably known among his town-men; he was modest and unassuming. His marriage to Miss Angelina Morgan was solemmized in April, 1835. She was born in Monroe County, N. Y. in 1811. Nome children were born of this union, three of whom are living. Mrs. Angelina Merrill died Jan- mary 30, 1881. The father passed to the better land January 8, 1863.
Our subject is the eldest son of his father's fam- ily. He was reared on a farm and was six years old when he came to Michigan. He was a student in the pioneer schools of the district. His school your was limited to three months in the winter. After finishing his course he was engaged in teach- ing for seven terms, beginning when he was twenty- me. His father's health was poor and he assumed the greater work of the farm. The old homestead in Davison Township was sold in 1873 and then Mr. Merrill purchased his present farm on section 27, Burton Township, Genesee County. It was in n dilapidated condition and boasted of poor im- provements although the soil is rich. He has be- stowed upon it the greatest care and attention and it is now one of the finest and most productive places In the county. He has created upon the place a fine house which was built in 1888, and also
Mr. Merrill was married March 17, 1866 to Miss Eliza A. Olmsted. She was born in Ontario, Canada, and came with her parents to Michigan when nine years old. She isn daughter of William 1. and Elizabeth P. Olmsted, the former a native of Canada and the latter of New York. Our subject and his wife have had four children-Sarah E., Clara E. Emma C. and Fred W. The oldest is deceased; all the others are at home, and they are bright and well educated young people. They graduated at the Fiin! High School and have had extra advantages, and all of them have been en- gaged a- teachers. Fred took a business course at Albion College. Mr Merrill was reared a Demo- erat and remained so until 1872, when he became a Prohibitionist. He has been candidate for Regis- trar of Feeds and has served in several instances in the settlement of estates, also acting as guar- dian. Mr. and Mrs. Merrill and their children are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church of which he is a Class-Leader. Our subject owns one hundred and twenty acres of land and raises all kinds of stock and products.
H
G I BORGE TIESWORTH. The subject of this sketch, now a citizen of Lapeer Town- -hip. Lapeer County, came from good old stock, his father, Jacob Titsworth, having served his country in the War of 1812. He was a native of Pennsylvania where he carried on farming. His grandfather, Marcus Tits worth, was also a pa- inot, having been a Revolutionary War veteran. and lived to the good old age of ninety years. The mother of our subject was slane Vantine Tits- worth, a native of Cayuga County, N. Y. She was descended from old Dutch stock and was born in New York. Mr. and Mrs. Titsworth were married in Cayuga County and emigrated to the western part of the State, before the Warof 1812. in Erie County, where they remained until they came to Michigan
1
1
816
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
in 1836, settling in Oakland County on a raw farm of one hundred and sixty avres in Groveland Town- ship. He improved the farm very much and died in 1861. They were the parents of six children, three of whom are now living-our subject, Ellen Russell (n widow ) und Jacob Titsworth of Good- rich. The parents were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church in which they were active and beloved members. Mr. Titsworth is also active in polities, being first a Whig and then a Republican.
Our subject was born December 30, 1821 in Erie County, N. Y. He came to Michigan at the age of thirteen. His early education was received in New York previous to his moving to Michigan. Start- ing on his own resources at the early age of sixteen years, he worked on a railroad for one year, after- ward working on a farm until he was married and obtained means to settle for himself. He was mar- ried October 9, 1812 to Mary Ann Parker, daugh- ter of Lyman Parker, an early settler of Oakland County, settling there in 1836 and a prominent farmer in his day. Both parents have been dead for many years.
Mrs. Titsworth was born October 21. 1822 in the State of Ohio and was there educated in the district schools. Her death wveurred May 19, 1891 and she lies peacefully at rest in the Clark Ceme- tery near Hunter's Creek. Mr. Titsworth and his estimable wife were the parents of four children, two of whom are now living: Milton was married to Lucy Morris and lives in Lapeer Township; they have a family of six children. Chauny L. was united m marriage with Libby Walker, and lives on the home farm; they have two daughters.
Our subject after marriage settled on las little farm of sixty acres in Atlas Township, Gene- see County, this State. It was all raw land and covered heavily with timber. He built a log house there and sturdily began life, determined to sue- eced. He remained on this farm until 1866 at which time he had one hundred acres, all of which he had improved himself. He sohl it in 1866 and removed to his present farm, which was but roughly improved when he bought it. With hard work and perseverance he now has acquired a fine property of one hundred and sixty acres, one hun- dred and ten of which are under line cultivation,
This was stumped, stoned and cleared by his own hard und persistent labor. He huis a fine barn which cost him $1,600 and a comfortable residence conting *750.
The residener in which the son of our subject resides, was standing on the farm when Mr. Tits- worth bought it, and there was also a windmill and well on the place. Mr. Titsworth carries on gen- erul farming dividing his land between grain and stock. Eight years ago he engaged extensively in the sheep business having a line stock of Spanish Merinoes and thoroughbreds. Out of his flock of sixty, many are registered. After a life of arduous labor he is now reaping the reward of his efforts, having retired from active work and living in peace and comfort.
In addition to his farming operation-, Mr. Tits- worth successfully engaged as a Veterinary Sur- geon for thirty years or more, and was sought after in many townships around. He and his deceased wife were honored and active members of the Meth- odist Episcopal Church for thirty years during which time the husband acted as Class-leader and Steward of the church. His present membership is at Metamora. His son, Milton, is now Superin- tendent of the Baptist Sunday-school at Hunter's Creek and is much thought of for his work's sake. Mr. Titsworth gave all his children a good practi- enl eduention. In polities he always casts his vote with the Republican party. Mrs. Titsworth was a good Christian woman and a most devoted wife and mother. kind and tender hearted and beloved hy all who knew her. As a wife the thirty-first chapter of Proverbs aptly describes her. The fol- lowing verses are dedicated to her memory :
"Religion filled her soul with peace Upon her dying bed; Let faith look up, let sorrow care, She lives with Christ o'er hvad.
"Yes, faith behohleth where she sits, With Jesus clothed in white. Our loss is her eternal gain, She dwells in cloudless light."
The oldest son of Mr. Titsworth enlisted in the Thirtieth Michigan Regiment at the beginning of the late war and served six months. Becoming sick he obtained a furlough and was taken home
1
1
-
817
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM.
where he died October 26, 1865 at the youthful age of twenty-one years, surrificing his life for the goud of his country.
On November 21, 1891, Mr. Titsworth was a second time married, taking as his wife Mrs. Fan- Bie M. Dove of Oxford, Oakland County, Mich. Mrs. Titsworth, whose maiden name was Fannie M. Cole, was born in Ray, Macomb County, Mich .. May 23, 1837. She had two children, born of her first husband: Ella %. and Thankie C. The former married O. J. Price and resides in Detroit, Mich.
E DWIN B. WEBSTER. This farmer of Had- ley Township, Lapeer County, was five years old when he came with his parents to Romeo, which was then in Lapeer County, but is now in Macomb County. He was born in Oswego County. N. Y., November 7th, 1826, and was carly orphaned by the death of his father, who passed from earth after a residence of four months here, dying in the fall of 1832.
Our subject is the eldest in a family of three children born to Dr. Daniel and Julia AAnna ( Ball- win) Webster. His mother was the eldest daugh- ter of Dr. Cyrus and Susan ( Dorr) Baldwin, and she was born in Hebron, Washington County, N. Y., in September, 1802. It was in February. 1826, that she was united in marriage with Daniel, the youngest son of Josiah Webster, and his only child by a second wife, whose maiden name was Sarah Bacon. This son, the father of our subject, was born in the township of Warren, Herkimer County, N. Y., October 7th, in the year 1800.
The Welter family came from England to Amer- ica, and tradition says that the musket which was carried by Josiah Webster during the Revolution- ary War, was brought over to this country in the "Mayflower." Joseph Doir, the great-grandfather of our subject, was one of those daring men who took part in the famous Boston Tea party.
twelve children,' six of whom are still living. Mr. Webster owns two hundred and forty arres of land, all of which property has been accumulated by himself and his family. In 1815 he sailed from Nantucket in the shop "Orion" on a whaling voy- age, suling around the Cape of Good Hope, and through the Indian Ocean, and across the Pacific Ocean, coming home around Cape Horn, being ab- sent from America for four years. This long journey on the water had not quenched his thirst for this kind of life, and in 1819, after his return home, he sailed on the lake, for two seasons, and m November, 1850, came home to be married, and then settled upon the place where he now resides.
We are pleased to mention the surviving chil- dren of Mr. Webster, who are in their various call- ings showing themselves as worthy of their honor- able parentage. H. Dort is a photographer of Larame, Wyo .; Willis resides on the home farm; Frederick .A., is a photographer of Oakland, Cal .; Nelson C., makes his home in Flint; Mary I., who is at Laramie, Wyo., is short-hand reporter for the Circuit Court, and Edna S. is still beneath the parental roof. Mr. Webster worships with the Free Methodists, and is in full sympathy with that church in regard to its stand on the subject of secret societies, opposing them strongly, as he be- lieves their tendency is not for good.
B ERT U. ALKEMA. A goodly number of the prominent business men of Lapeer have their nativity across the seas, and the gentleman now named who is carrying on business as a merchant tailor here, was born in the Province of Friesland at Sneek, Holland, May 11, 1861. Ile is the son of Henry and Bouwkje (Van der Woude), Alkema. Heury Alkema died when his son Bert was ouly about eleven years old. and during the next year the boy and his mother emigrated to America, locating in Muskegon. Mich.
Hle of whom we write grew to manhood in Mich- igan, taking the usual education to be obtained in the district schools, and was married in January, This lad has received a fair common -- chool edu- 1851, 10 Miss And White, unto whom were born | cation in Holland, and after studying about a year
1
818
PORTRAIT AND BOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
and a half in Michigan, he commenced to learn the trade of tailoring. He received small wages at first, and indeed until after he had done about three years' work. Ile traveled as n journeyman through some of our largest cities and towns until he came to Lapeer, where in 1887, he began work for Gilson & Co., and two years later entered into a partnership with Mr. Sherwood, continuing thus until 1891, when our subject bought out his part- ner's interest. He does a good business, and now employs five hands in his establishment.
Mr. Alkema was married in Pontiac December 27. 1888. to Miss Ella May, daughter of Charles and Angelina Button. One child, little Ruth, has come to bless this union, and she was born in Lapeer, August 15, 1891.
The record which Mr. Alkema has made in this city, brings him mto a high place in the esteem of his fellow-citizens who know how to appreciate industry, enterprise and a thorough understanding of the line of work in which he is employed. He is one of those foreign-born citizens who has he- come thoroughly Americanized in his sympathies and intents, and takes a genuine interest in the `affairs of the nation where he has made his home.
.
ALAL, BOUTWELL. The Empire State has contributed largely of her best elements to the developement of the Great West, numbers of men coming hither at all ages and un- der all conditions, the great majority doubtless of those who were dependent on their own resources and just starting out in life to carve their fortunes by the labor of their hands. The homes of these men are among the finest in Michigan. The farm of Mr. Boutwell finely situated in Thetford Town- ship, Genesce County, invariably attracts the atten- tion of the passing traveler, and gives ample evi- dence of being under the control of a man of more than ordinary ability. It will be acknowledged that he has the true conception of the manner in which to conduct agriculture and possesses the cultivated tastes which have enabled him to con- struct a home second to none in this region.
The parents of our subject, Orias and Lucinda (Dunmick) Boutwell, were natives of New York State, where in the village of Pennsylvania Vaial was born February 1, 1815. At an early age he was orphaned by the death of his father and thus thrown upon his own resources, he had few oppor- tunities of receiving even a common-school educa- tion. He grew to a stalwart manhood in his native place, but feeling that the great and unexplored West contained fortunes for those who had the hardihood to brave its privations and dangers, he resolved to locate here. In 1838 he came to this State, settling in Genesee County and entering the land which now comprises his homestead. For about two years after coming hither he worked by the month and afterward commenced to clear his farm of the heavy growth which made the soil unavailable for sowing seed. The country was at that time exceedingly wild and deer and other wild game were plentiful, Mr. Boutwell had to open the road to his place, which comprised eighty acres, and he also erected a log house which for twenty years remained the home of his family. In about the year 1860 he erected the cozy structure which is his present residence.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.