USA > Michigan > Genesee County > Portrait and biographical record of Genesee, Lapeer and Tuscola counties, Michigan > Part 41
USA > Michigan > Lapeer County > Portrait and biographical record of Genesee, Lapeer and Tuscola counties, Michigan > Part 41
USA > Michigan > Tuscola County > Portrait and biographical record of Genesee, Lapeer and Tuscola counties, Michigan > Part 41
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
Our subject assisted his father as Deputy Post- master and was Justice of the Peace and presided over two or three suits. In the spring of 1837 he came to Flint which has been his home ever since. At first he engaged in the grocery and general merchandise business, his goods being all brought hither from Detroit. He built a store on Saginaw
١
7 5א
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
Street and carried on business there until it was burned, then purchased a place on the corner of Keardley and Saginaw Street, where the Fenton Block now stands. He here continued until 1850, then sold out the business to his brother and be- enuse of ill health took a trip to Mexico and Texas, following the Mississippi River to the Gulf, land- ing at Galveston and thence making the interior trip by horseback.
In 1851 our subject returned to Fhut, much im- proved in health. The same year he went to Eng- land in order to attend the World's Exposition at london. The trip to Liverpool occupied seven- teen days. After spending five months in London he returned to his home much benefited in health. April 1, 1853, he was appointed by Franklin Pierer, Is Receiver of puldie money at the General Land Office at Flint, which was one of the three stations in the State at that time. He was obliged to fur- nish bonds for $200,000. He was also disbursing agent at the same time. The business was one of great responsibility and he has frequently paid out *100,000 in gold at one time.
In 1851 the lands in this district were granted by Congress, making them at the following prices: $0.121, $0.25, 80.50, 80.75, and $1.25. A great deal of it was bought up at $0. 123. He then en- gaged in the real-estate business and his interests were devoted to this exclusively until the organi- zation of the bank. In 1838 he built the main part of his residence, clearing the lot from the heavy timber with which it was covered. Since that time he has added two wings. His home is located at No. 710 Beach Street. He spends a great deal of his time in New York City, himself and family usually passing two months of each year in the metropolis.
Mr. Bishop was first married in Flint to Miss Mary Thompson, an English lady whose birth place was Kendall Green, a sister of Col. Thompson. By this marriage he became the father of three chil- dren: Russell, a graduate of the law department in the University of Michigan; Lizzie, now Mra. Judge Stevens, of Port Huron and Arthur, Asistant Cashier of the Genesee County Savings Bank. Un the decase of his first wife our subject selected as the lady of his choice Miss Mary Franks, a native
of Detroit. She too passed away and he contracted another marriage at Bay City with Miss M. Frances Green, a daughter of Judge Green, one of the old- est ex-judges of the Supreme Court of the State. One daughter has been born of this union-Flor- ence Russell -- who resides nt home. Mr. Bishop is a Democrat in his political affiliations. He is one of the oldest settlers of the county and undoubt- edly the oldest resident of Flint.
EWTON F. CHAPEL. November 19, 1837, is the natal day of this representative pio- N neer of Grand Blanc Township, Geneser County, and Livingston County, N. Y .. is the place of his birth. That State was also the native home of his parents, Samuel B. and Amanda ( Reynolds) Chapel, who emigrated at an early day in the 'is to Michigan. They resided for a short time in Oakland County, and then removed to Grand Blanc Township, where for several years they re- sided in a log shanty with board roof. Nine chil- dren gathered in this happy pioneer home, of whom the following are still living: George 11., Newton F., Monroe W., Carrie, Emma (wife of David Webster), Louisa (Mes. Hiram De Hart), and Ellen (wife of Emmett Marsh). The two who have passed away were Sarah and Myron B. and of the latter we will speak more at length further on in this sketch. The parents were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
Pioneer life with its hard work. adventure and district school education, filled up the life of our subject during his early days. He was married April 21. 1861, to Mary 1 .. Hyatt, who was born May 20, 1816, in Livingston County, Mich., and is a daughter of John W. and Lydia Hyatt, who emigrated from New York to Michigan and settled on a farm in Livingston County about 1835. They endured the privations and hardships of pioneer life, and reared a family of nine children, sis of whom are still living, as is also the father, now (1891) cigliy years old. Our subject and his wife have four children: Ada, Ettie ( wife of Ira Cook),
858
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
Samuel B. and Charles F. Eighty aeres comprise the home farm and there are one hundred mul twenty-five in all in Mr. Chapel's estate. In the Methodist Episcopal Church, to which he and his wife belong, he has acted as Steward and also as Recording Steward and Mrs. Chapel has been active in the work of the church. His political views bring him into harmony with the movements of the prohibitionists and he is active in every cause which offrets the moral and social elevation of society.
1
Myron B. Chapel, a brother of the gentleman whose name initiates this sketch, was born February 15, 1812. His father, Samuel B. Chapel, was born in Livingston County, N. Y., in 180G, and in 1830 was married to Amanda Reynolds, who was born in Schenectady, N. Y., December 27, 1812. She is a daughter of Asa D. and Betsey (Ortlip) Reynohis, New Yorkers by birth, and her grandfather, Ortlip. served all through the Revolutionary conflict.
When the parents of Mr. Chapel erected their log cabin in the woods of Michigan, the wife aided in laying the Boor and in completing the work, and they endured the usual privations incident to that unsettled state of society. The father died many years ago and in that event the county experienced a great loss. He was a man of value in the com- munity and highly respected for his excellent pioneer work. His venerable widow still survives and is living at the old homestead.
The early training of Myron B. Chapel was re- veived in this county and he was given a district school education. He was married May 25. 1871. to Mary Ellis, the daughter of James and Sarah Ellis, natives of England. Mrs. Mary Chapel died February 25, 1873. Her only child, Willard E ... was born September 18, 1872. The marriage of Mr. Chapel. November 7, 1873, gave him a worthy helpmate in the person of Lottie Torrey, who was born in this county June 11, 1819. She is a daughter of Albert and Melissa ( Adam) Torrey, early settlers of Flint Township, where they still reside. Of the three children born to Mr. and Mrs. Torrey two survive, Dorr W., and Mrs. Chapel.
Mr. and Mrs. Myron Chapel were the parents of four children-Letta R., Fern W., Albert (de- ceased), and Grace. In the death of this husband
and father his family lost a kind and loving po- Certo, a generous provider and one who sought to train las children for lives of happiness and usefulness. He was a strong temperance advocate and voted the Prohibition ticket and was a useful and honored member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
8 EYMOUR W. ENSIGN. This hospitable and public-spirited gentleman, who is now the oldest settler in Montrose Township, Genesce County, was born near Batavia, Genesce County, N. Y., November 5, 1826. His father, Seymour W. Ensign. Sr., and his mother, Tamma (Husted) Ensign, migrated to Michigan about the year 1830, and made their home first in Groveland Township, Oakland County, for a year and then went to Saginaw County, which was their home until 1812, when they came to Genese County, and lived first in Flushing Township and then in Montrose Township, where they spent the remainder of their days. Few families were living in the county when they came here and none pre- ended them in Montrose Township.
Our subject is the oldest in a family of eight children, and after coming to Genesee County he remamed beneath the parental roof until his mar- riage which took place July 4, 1851. He then took to wife Hannah Vernon, who was born in Cheshire, England, June 22, 1831, and settled on section 22. Montrose Township, where they have since been residents. He here owns a farm of about seventy acres, upon which he has created comfortable buildings. Five living children remain about them, namely: Eugene, who married Mary Slafter; Isabelle, the wife of Wallace Weir; Ida, now Mrs. Thomas Miller; Alice, Mrs. Wesley Burle- son, and Cora, who married Burt Maine. The three children who have passed to the other world are, Anastia, who become the wife of Rufus Swart and died at the age of twenty-four; Clarence, who passed away at the age of sixteen; and Ada, who died in infancy.
Mr. Ensign has been placed by his fellow-towns-
1
J. Herrington
861
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
men in almost every office within the gift of the people, with the exception of Supervisor. For nearly ten years he was Township Clerk and High- way Commissioner, and was Justice of the Peace one year. He has taken an active part in political affairs and votes and works for the success of the Republican party. He entered the army September 201, 1861, becoming a member of Company I. Fif- teenth Michigan Infantry, and serving until the chee of the war, being mustered out of service at the National Capitol and taking part in the Grand Review. He is now a member of the James Brad- ly Pust, U. A. R. of Clio.
Although our subject bas followed farming chiefly, he has also taught school and followed that vocation for several winters. The parents of Mrs. Ensign, who bore the names of Joseph and Sarah Vernon, died in England, and their daughter came to America with her grandparents at the age of ten years. The elder Mr. Ensign died August 21, 1851, and his wife survived until February 12, 1872.
THEOPHILUS HERRINGTON. Descent from an honorable ancestry is something which may well be a cause of satisfaction, although it is only the shallow and foolish who feel that they can be carried through life on the merits of their progenitors. Our subject feels a justifiable pride in pointing to the carver of his grandfather, Judge Theophilus Herrington, of the Supreme Court of Vermont, a man who was of English stock and whose abilities were of no mean order. The father of our subject. Samuel W. Herrington, was: Vermonter by birth, and his mother, whose maiden name was Hannah Vinton, was born in Massachu- setts. Samuel Herrington removed with his par- ents to Niagara County, N. Y., and after growing to manhood located in Erie County, Pa., where he was a pioneer and did much chopping and clearing away of the forests. He could out and log an tere of land in four days.
In 1×35 the father of our subject came to tak- land County, this State, and settled in Waterford
.
Township, loenting on a new farm there and be" coming one of the first settlers. After clearing his . land he sold it and moved into West Bloomfield just across the line from Waterford Township, and there died August 17, 1858, at the age of forty- seven. He was twice married, his first wife dying shortly after their union and his second wife sur- viving till about the year 1861. Four of her six children are now living.
Our subject who is now a prominent and success- ful farmer of Burton Township, Genesee County, was born August 10, 1833, in Erie County, Pa. Most of his schooling was taken in the log school- houses of the district and he continued at home helping his father on the farm until the death of that parent when he took charge of the farm in West Bloomfield Township, Oakland County, and continued there until his marriage in 1863.
Mary Hiller is the maiden name of the young woman who became the wife of our subject in the year just named, and she was born in this town- ship in 1837, her parents being John and Mary (Sherman) Hiller, who were prominent pioneers in this township, as they came hither from New York in September, 1836. Here they took up Govern- ment land and cleared and improved the farm. Mr. Hiller still survives at the age of eighty-three, but he lost his good wife in 1889. Immediately after marriage Mr. Herrington came to the place where he now resides and purchased his present farm on section 12, Burton Township. It was then almost entirely new land, as only about thirty acres had been chopped over, and he has since continued to clear and improve the property, until he now has a splendid farm of one hundred and fifty aeres and upon it are located an excellent house and barn and all the appurtenances essential to ste- cessful agriculture.
This worthy couple had two children but both are now deceased. A beautiful baby was left on their doorstep one April morning, and with him a note that said he was born April 17, 1879. They have named him John Theophilus and he is now a bright lad of twelve years and a joy and comfort to his foster parents. Both Mr. and Mrs. Herring- ton are active and useful members of the Free Methodist Church, in which he has served as Stew-
12
1
1
62וא
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
ard for several years. They are liberal contributors to all beneyolent and church objects and ready to do their share in the upbuilding of religious and social institutions. Mr. Herrington was formerly a bonoerat. but is now a Prohibitionist and has always been an ardent advocate of the temperance care Since coming to this township he has been School Inspector and was Highway Commissioner in West Moomtield Township. Ilis success ar a farmer has been more than ordinary and the line appearance of his estate speaks welt for his system and theronghhless.
A litdiographic portrait of Mr. Herrington is presented on an accompanying page.
STEPHEN CROCKER, one of the prominent old settlers of Flint, came to this township in June, 1813. He was born in the parish of Framington, Devonshire, England, June 11, 1817. and received a good practical education in his native land. The father was a farmer and Stephen was one of a family of thirteen and was brought up upon a farm. This is not only a num- erous but a large family, as one brother weighs almost four hundred pounds and another three hundred and fifty-six pounds; one, three hundred and forty pounds, while our subject tips the beam at one hundred and eighty-live pounds.
With the exception of one brother, all the family who are living came to America, the first one to emigrate ling fivorge, who settled in this township in 1834, and was soon followed by the others. Our subject left England in 1813, and coming to this township, bought a farm of two hundred and fifty- three aeres upon which he lived for some time, having earned the means to pay for it by hard work. He put upon it excellent buildings and after living upon it for years moved into town and engaged in the meat business. He now is re- tired from active bisiness, except as he takes charge of his own affair -.
Besides the beautiful home in which our subject resides on the corner of Carland and First Stinal-, he owns live other houses, adjoining. He is very
centrally located in a fine part of the city. He has never been an office seeker but votes with the Dem- ocratieparts. He was in an early day Pathmaster when the country was all timlar.
Mr. Crocker married Miss Prudence Bullum of this township, in Ists, She was born in the same town as Mr. Cracker in England, October 17, 1818, and came to the United States with her brother. They have three children who live, and one died in infancy. The daughter Sophia, wife of James Pierson, died leaving one child-Harry. Those who are living are Ellen, Thomas and Emily. Ellen is the wife of Lester Henderson, and has one child-Chester; Thomas is married and lives m Chand Rapid -; he has two som -- George and Stephen; Emily is the wife of Edwin O. Wood of this city. She has one child-Dwight H. Our sub- ject has crossed the Atlantic Ocean nine times and has made frequent visits to his old home. At one time he was on the water seventeen weeks and two days and was nearly shipwrecked. Mrs. Crocker has also visited her native home twice. They are carnest and deyout members of the Episcopal Church.
OIIN W. HURD. This gentleman isa native son of Genesee County, being born in Vi- enna Township. April 8. 1858, and is now one of the prominent business men of Clio. Hi- father. Nelson Hurd, a native of Lenawee County, N. Y., was born in 1816 and died in 1879, in Vienna Township, this county. He came to Michigan in 1836 with his father, Russell G. Hurd, who took up three hundred and sixty acres of Gov- erument land near Pine Run and was thus one of the first settlers in the township. In these days he bad! to go to Pontiac, forty miles distant, to do his milling, and, before the road was surveyed het ween Flint and Saginaw. Nokon Hard was the mail car- vier between those two points, traveling on Indian ponies a distance of thirty one miles when there was no road save an Indian trail. At that time there was only a log store and log hotel in Flint and no building at all between Flint and Mr.
+
863
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
Hurd's farm. There was then only one log house on Cass River, between Pine Run and Saginaw. and that cabin stood where the village of Bridge- port now is. This pioncer was an earnest and act- ive Republican.
The maiden name of the mother of John W. Hurd was Sarah M. Harrison. She was a native of Lewiston, N. Y., and came to Michigan with her father, Dennis Harrison, in 1820, when he set- ted in Tusenla County. She is still living and has now reached the advanced age of seventy-siv years. John Hurd was educated in the public schools of Clio and Flint and afterward went to Janesville Business College in Wisconsin where he graduated from the business course, which included the art of telegraphy. After completing his stud- ies there he took a position with the Western U'n- ion Telegraph Company in Chicago and worked in seven different oflives, including the office of the Northwestern Passenger Depot. He then went to St. Paul, Minn., and took a position as operator with the Great Northern, and afterward became station agent at Carlisle, Minn., and later took charge of a wheat elevator and conducted it for three years. He then carried on the station at Carlisle another year and in 1885 be purchased a stock of goods in the store he now occupies and es tablished a business in boots, shoes and groceries. Healso manages the postal telegraph office and that of the Michigan Bell Telephone Company. He has established a successful and lucrative trade and has an extensive business.
John W. Hurd was married January 1. 1881. lo Mi- Roza, daughter of John Robinson, a farmer of Vienna Township. He is a native of Canada. who came to Michigan in 1876, and had previously lived for twelve years in New York and eleven years in Toledo, Ohio, where he tilled the office of Sheriff. He is at present on a fruit farm near Toledo. He and his good wife, where maiden name was Wealthy Hatch, had a family of four children, and Mrs. Hard is the youngest of the number. She was born in Lockport. N. Y., November 15, 1863, and is now the mother of one child -- Mereen J., boru May. 9. 1885.
The Vienna Lodge, No. 195, 1. 0. D. F., claims Mr. Hard as one of its members and he is at pies-
ent Noble Grand in that order. Heisalso a mem- ber of Vienna Lodge, F. & A. M. and belongs to the Knights of the Maccabees, being a member of the Iron Hall. In politics he is a stanch Republi- can and for two years he has been a Trustee of the village. Mrs. Hurd, who is a congenial companion is a woman of business ability and assists her hits- band in the care of his store.
6 HOMAS W. SMITHSON, editor and propri- ctor of the Cho Star, which is one of the lively weekly newspaper of fieneste County and independent in its politics, is a Canadian by forth. He was born at Weston, York County, August 25, 1850, and is the son of Hermon Smith- son, who was born in Norfolk, England, in 1829, and is still living in Stronach, Mich. The father i- a cooper by trade, and was brought up in Can- ada, whither he went with his parents when only seven years of age and where he remained until he came to Michigan in 1881. His wife, Jane Fin- lay, who still remains with him, was born in 1830, in County Down, Ireland.
Thomas Smithson attended the village school in his Canadian home until he reached the age of thirteen, after which he found employment in a cooper's yard for two years, and afterward learned the trade. He also acquired the trade of a printer but on account of his health did not follow it reg- ularly, alternating it with work in a cooper shop. He came to Michigan in the fall of 1880, and located in thisville, starting a job printingoffice, to which he soon added a newspaper which he called the Weekly Telegram. In January, 1882, he removed the outfit to Otter Lake and there conducted the paper until October, 1888, when he removed to Clio. where he now publishes the Clio Stor. This paper is on a successful financial basis and its outfit has been constantly improved from the beginning and is now an uncommonly good one for a country office. being run by steam power which was placed in the building in 1885.
Mr. Smithson was married in 1876, to Mrs. Eliza- beth (Oakley) Wickes of London, Ontario, the
1
804
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
widow of George Wickes, and daughter of the Hey. Abraham Oakley, now living in Sheffield. England. Mrs. Smithson is a member of the Prot- "tant Methodist Church at Clio, where she finds a broad field for influence. Mr. Smithson is identified with Tent No. I. R. O. T. M. of Clio, and also with the Vienna Lodge, No. 205. F. A. A. M.
The political views of our subject have brought him into cordial affiliation with the Republican party. He has been Village President for two years. still holding that position; is Secretary of the Clio Fire Department, and has also been a member of the School Board. For the year ending 1890 he was Finance keeper in the tent of the Maccabees. In his lapiness he has taken his wife into partner- ship and the name of the firm i. T. W. Smithson & ('0.
OBERT POTBURY. Original thought and opinion is so seldom encountered that it is refreshing to meet with a man who thinks for himself and does not fear to ex- press his opinion. Such an one is he whose name appear- above and who is a resident on section 29, Flint Township, Genesce County. He is one of the old settlers of this part of the county and is a loyal American citizen although of English birth and ancestry. The son of John and Elizabeth (Kelly ) Potbury, natives of Devonshire, England. our subject was born in the same shire as were his parents, his birth occurring February 25, 1823. He was reared to manhood in his native place and devoted himself to agricultural pursuits before coming to this country.
When thirty years old, Mr. Potbury came to America in 1853 and first located in Grand Blanc Township, Genesee County, this State. After a short stay there he purchased land in Flint Town- ship and settled on the section whereon he now lives. He has always followed agricultural pursuits and has some excellent ideas in regard to seien- tific farming. I'mon his place of nearly one bun- dred aeres be has created a first-class set of farm buildings and has a pleasant home that is both
comfortable and commodious. In Devonshire, England, he was married to Miss Harriet Pon-ford, and they became the parents of one son, William, who is a farmer in Flint Township and who mar- ried a Mi- Ramsey. Mrs. Harriet Potbury died in Hint Township. February 26, 1876.
Mrs. Mary Jane (Passmore) MetGlinchey, with whom Mr. Potbury was united in marriage Octo- ber 31. 1876, was a native of England and was first married to William L. MeGlinchey, who died December 25, 1870, leaving his widow with one son. Lewis E., now a resident of Flint. This mion of Mr. Potlatry was blessed by the birth of a daugh- top-Edith .. , and the mother departed this life March &, INT8, being at the time of her decease forty-nine year- und three months of age. The comfortable home which Mr. Pothury his t- tablished here is presided over by a lady of reline- ment and culture, who prior to her union with Mr. Pothing was known as Mrs. Eliza (Ca-well) Bump. She is the daughter of Gilbert and Polly (Eggleston) Caswell, who died in this State, and was born in lonia, Mich., September 23, 1838, Her union with our subject was solemized September 1. 1878, and has been one of mutual happiness. lu social circles she is highly esteemed both for her kindlines of heart and nobility of mind.
In his political liking Mr. Potbury is a Demo- crat and has as pronounced an opinion on that subject as un others. He and his wife are com- municants in the Episcopal and Methodist Episen- pal Church respectively, and possess that true benevolence to which the destitute never appeal in vain. A public-spirited and progressive citizen, there is no measure that tends to the promotion of the public good in which Mr. Pothury is not interested. and although the duties of his private life have been such that he has been averse to ac- cepting public honors, he nevertheless has aided materially in advancing the interests of Genesce County. That he has been successful in his agri- cultural work, the reader will conclude for himself when he observes the view of his attractive home on another page.
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.