Portrait and biographical record of Genesee, Lapeer and Tuscola counties, Michigan, Part 44

Author: Chapman bros., Chicago, pub
Publication date: 1892
Publisher: Chicago : Chapman Bros.
Number of Pages: 948

USA > Michigan > Genesee County > Portrait and biographical record of Genesee, Lapeer and Tuscola counties, Michigan > Part 44
USA > Michigan > Lapeer County > Portrait and biographical record of Genesee, Lapeer and Tuscola counties, Michigan > Part 44
USA > Michigan > Tuscola County > Portrait and biographical record of Genesee, Lapeer and Tuscola counties, Michigan > Part 44

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le 2 Harrell, MA

883

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

His wife has been a model home-maker and his children have risen up to call him blessed. He is the father of the following children: Edward, decensed; Rachel, widow of Mr. Yale; Elizabeth, Mrs. Philip Myers, of Petoskey; Eliza; Sarah, widow of J. J. Johnson. Mr. Eldridge was bereaved of his wife, who died April 11, 1875. His son, John W., now resides on a part of the old farm, while James, the youngest of the family. lives in Indiana, where he is engaged as an engineer. He has given each of his daughters also a good setting out in life and $1,600 in money besides. Best of all, they have all received excellent educational advan- tages. Mr. Eldridge politically in early day's was a Whig, and on the organization of the Republican party became a stanch supporter of the same.

The father of our subject came to this place about 1850 and bought what is known as the Kersley Mill, farm, cte. He remained there until his de- rense. Our subject never engaged in politics, but has once been elected a Justice of the Peace, al- though even then he refused to quality. For the past fifty years he has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church and at an early day his home was not an infrequent place of meet- ing for the good people of that persuasion. Mrs. Eldridge was a woman of noble traits, where com- forting word and cheery smile greatly encouraged her husband in all of his work. He later married Mrs. Sus (Farrand) Begle, December 12, 1877 -the is still living. She is a native of Waterloo, N. Y. She was the widow of Ira S. Begle, who was a merchant and lumber dealer, also a lawyer.

C HAUNCEY L. HOWELL, M. D. This well- known and influential professional man of Flint, who is now Secretary of the Board of the United States Pension Examining Surgeons, was born at Hillsdale, Mich., in 1811, on the 20th of June. His father was a New Yorker who had settled in Hillsdale in 18:15, and there carried on a a farm, but later removed to Roxanna, Eaton County, where he died at the age of seventy-one. The mother, whose maiden name was Lydia Coomer,

was a New Yorker by birth and a daughter of a farmer of Hillsdale County, Mich. Their nine children all grew to maturity, and besides our sub- jeet two other sons were in the army, in the same regiment with the Doctor.

Dr. Howell was only twenty years of age when in September, 1861, he enlisted in Company G, Second Michigan Cavalry, and was sent with his regiment to Missouri and afterward to Kentucky and Tennessee. He took part in the battles of New Madrid, Corinth, Perryville, Murfreesboro, Nashville, Chattanooga and Chickamauga, being in constant fighting for weeks. At Franklin his horse was shot beneath him and he was entangled so that he had to have help from a comrade to get out from under the fallen animal. Later he took part in the Wilson raid, going as far south as Macon, Ga., and was there mustered out of service in August, 1865. He was promoted from time to , time until he reached the rank of Second Lieutenant in 1865.

I'pon returning home the young veteran spent a short time in Roxanna, and then went to Man- kato, Minn., where he formed a partnership with Dr. Chubb, starting in the drug and medicine business and finally took up the study of medicine. In 1871 he entered Rush Medical College at C'hui- cargo and later resumed business again, combining with it the practice of medicine. In 1871 be sold out las establishment in Minnesota, and coming to Michigan, located at Potterville, Eaton County, but removed shortly to Hilldale. In 1881-82 he took another course of lectures at Rush Medical College, smee which he has devoted him- self to his practice, locating first at Goodrich, in this county, and coming thence to Flint in the fall of 1882.

The subject of this sketch was married at Grand Ledge. this State, in 1866, being then united with Miss Dell Capwell, a native of New York. To them has been born one daughter to whom they have given the name of Pearl, and this young lady, who is at home with her parents, graduated at the Flint High School in the Class of '91. The Doctor is Super- intendent of the Sunday-school of the Methodist Episcopal Church on Court Street, of which he is a member, and besides being identified with the

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PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Masonic order and the Knights of Pythias, he is n member of the Grand Army of the Republic and has been Surgeon of Crapo Post. He is a Demo- erat in his politics and is frequently a delegate to the county and State conventions. A. will be inferred from the accompanying portrait, he is a man of commanding appearance and tine physique and is powered of a mod excellent constitution.

E %R. K. JENKINS, a dealer in pianos, organs and musical merchandise, has the oldest music house in Genesee County. When he enme to Flint he had barely money enough to begin Inisiness on a very small scale, and his excellent success is entirely owing to his undaunted energy, his excellent business methods and his thorough knowledge of his branch of trade. He was born in Cazenovia, Madison County, N. Y., July 21. 1821. and his father, Gilbert T., was a native of the same place, while his grandfather, Ezra, was an early set- tler there and a native of Dutchess County.

The parents owned a farm of twenty-five acres at Cazenovia and the mother, Judith, was a daugh- ter of bane Rice, a drover and farmer who became very wealthy through his trade with New York City and Albany. She died in Oswego County. N. Y .. at the home of a daughter in 1890 and was then in her nmety -first year.

Our subject was one of live children, and after attending district school he studied in the academy of New Woodstock. His training was upon the farm and be used to accompany his Grandfather Rice on his drover expeditions, walking the whole one hundred and twelve miles. From boy hood he was a natural musician, both vocal and instrumental, and began teaching singing school at the age of nineteen. He was married in 1815 to Miss Mary M., daughter of Amasa Borden, a carpenter of Cazenovia, whose daughter was born in Rhode I- land.

In 1863 Mr. Jenkins sold out his line farm of one hundred acres at Cazenovia and removed to Cuba, Allegany County. N. Y., where he engaged

in a musical trade until 1867. He then came to Flint and started with a small stock and for the first two years traveled with a wagon, making sales, and now keeps a man on the road. In those early days he found it necessary to teach muste also in order to supplement his income. He handles all the leading instruments such as the Hallet & Davis and Ivers & Bond pianos, and among organs his favorites are the Estey, the Packard, the United States and the Chicago Cottage Organ.

Our subject has been a leader of music in the Baptist Church since he joined it at the age of eighteen and in politics is a true-blue Republican. For one year he occupied the position of City Treasurer, in which he gave good satisfaction. His three children are, Zilla A., now Mrs. Newman, of Flint, Frances J., the wife of J. B. Wilson, and Gilbert T. who is in business with his father.

IL.I.AM A. PADDISON. The British- American citizens of Atlas Township, Cien- esce County are a sturdy and self-respect- my class of men from whom we select repre- sentative individuals to be presented in this Record. Among them none is more worthy of our choice than Mr. Paddison. Lincolnshire, England, is his native place, and February 8, 1827 his natal day. His parents. Thomas and Elizabeth Paddison, are both natives of England, and in their family he is the seventh son. He grew to manhood in his na- tive country and early was set to work upon the farm receiving only a common-school education. From the time he was fourteen until he emigrated to America in 1831 he was employed as a laborer upon a farm. He landed in New York City and after spending some time in Canada came in the fall of 1852 to Geneser County, Mich., where for a number of years he worked for farmers.

In 1857 this young man bought fifteen acres of land. a part of his present farm. and while getting it mider cultivation he spent a good deal of time in farm labor for others. To his small farm he has added by subsequent purchase- until he now owns eighty two neres. He has done much hard pioneer

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PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

work and has made his farm what it is to-day. He was married April 9, 1863, to Elvira Cooledge, daughter of Freeman and Edna Cooledge. She was born in Genesce County, N. Y .. April 25, 1830. At the age of seven years she removed to tieneste County, Mich. with her parents. The chikiren who have come to Mr. and Mrs. Paddison are: Harriet A., wife of Abram Haddrill, and Thomas F. His wife, who had been his devoted helpimate and counselor for years, departed this life, March 28. 1×88. In her death the township lost one of its noblest citizens and one of its early pioneers.

Our subject has never taken an active part in polities but in his political views he sympathizes with the declarations of the Democratic party. His son, Thomas F., resides at home. He was born in Genesee County, May 21, 1865, and was educated in the same county. Like his father he is a Demo- erat and well respected by all who know him. He has a tract of sixty acres of land in Lapeer County, but has always made his home here. He is a mem- ber of the Knights of the Maccabees. The honesty, sterling entegrity and hospitality of William Paddi- son have given him not only the exterm but the warm regard of his neighbors, and all have for him a word of appreciation.

M RS. MARY J. ROBINSON is the proprietor of one hundred and seventy acres of good land on section- 22, 23 and 26. Burton Township. She was born in Thetford Township, Genesee County, April 15, 1837, and is a daughter of Nelson VanTuyl. Her grand- father, Isaac VanTuyl, was a New Englander by hirth but removed to New York and at an early day came to Oakland County, Mich., and located five miles west of Pontiac. In 1836 he removed to Thetford Township, Genesee County and sub- sequently to Pine Run, thence went to Burns, Shia- wasser County where he died.

Our subject's father was married in Oakland County. In 1836 be removed to tienere County where he was one of the first settlers in Thetford Township. He here improved a farm, but later

removed to Burns. He subsequently purchased a farm a few miles south of Flint, thence went to Hay City nud was engaged in the produce busi- ness for a few years. le finally located nt Ban- croft, where he has since been engaged in the lamber business. He was one of the organizers of Thetford Township and hell various officed po- sitions, having been Supervisor of the township. Our subject's mother was Miss Eliza Cole in her maiden days.

Mrs. Robinson is the second in order of birth of her parents' family. She was reared in Thetford Township and was a student in the district school which was held in a log schoolhouse. Her marriage : took place June 23, 1856 and the knot was tied by the Rev. B. Foy who was a professor in the the deaf and dumb institute at Flint. Her husband was George 11. Robinson, who was born in Jefferson County, N. Y., July 21, 1831. He was a son of . Asel nud Lydia Robinson.

George Il. Robinson was reared for the most part in Burton Township on a farm, having come here when he was two years old. He was educated in the district school of the vicinity and finished at the High School in Flint. When he was eighteen . years of age he went to Ohio and was there em- ployed for some time as a clerk with his brother- in-law near Cleveland. On his return from Ohio ) he purchased eighty acres of land on section 23, Burton Township. This he improved and added to from time to time until he became the owner of ! one hundred and seventy acres, all being well im -! proved. His decease occurred August 13, 1887 .; He was one of the most devoted members of the Protestant Methodist Church and an netive and zealous worker. He was a Republican in politics originally. although he finally became identified with the Prohibitionists.

Since her husband's death Mrs. Robinson has conducted the work of the farm and by the intelli- gence which she has brought to bear has shown of what her sex is capable. The place which she car- ries on is one of the finest in the township. She! has a good residence which is tastefully furnished .! She is the mother of six children-Clinton. Clara, Willi-, Clifton. Frank and Floyd. Clinton is al farmer residing near Bancroft, Shinwassee County;

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Clara is Mr-, Pettis and lives in Grand Blanc Town- ship; Willis is now engaged with a sanitary com- pany at Syracuse, N. Y. The three youngest sous are still at home. Mrs. Robinson is identified with the Burton Methodist Episcopal Church. She net. as Vice-President of the Ladies' Missionary Society. and her voice is always raised in favor of prohibi- tion.

E RASTI'S D. GILBERT. One of the old set- tlers in this portion of the State who has done much to improve the condition of the country is he whose name appears above. He is a resident on section 6. Flint Township, Genesce County, and there has a fine farm that is one of the pleasing features of this vicinity. Mr. Gilbert was born in Flint Township on the farm where he now lives, October 6, 1813; hw is a son of the late An- son Gilbert, who was born in Saratoga County. N. Y. His mother was Judith \. Garland, who was a native of New Hampshire. They setthat in Flint Township in 1838, coming here from Saginaw. Previous to that they had lived in Detroit for two years. Their decease took place in Flint Town- ship.

Our subject was one of three children born to his parents, and was brought up on his father's farm, receiving a common-school education in his boyhood. His attention has from his youth been directed to agriculture, and he has always been a resident of Flint Township. Mr. Gilbert was mar- ried in Flint, Mich., February 20, 1878, his bride being Miss Lottie Hoskins, a daughter of Roswell and Calista (('raig) Hoskin, The former was born in New York, and the latter in Canada, where they were married. coming to Genere County. Mich .. about 1851. They first settled in Flushing Town- ship, afterward moving to Maple Grove, Saginaw County.

Mr. and Mrs. Hoskins were the parents of ten children, of whom Mrs. Gilbert was the sixth in order of birth. She was born in Canada Fast, Au- gust 29, 1853. Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert are the par- ents of three children, the oldest of whom died in

infancy, as did also Ernest ti .; and Louie A., now right years ohl, is with his parent -. Our subject and his wife have an adopted daughter, who is by name Grace A. Mrs. Gilbert is a most estimable lady who has been an inspiration to her husband in his career as a farmer. She is an attendant of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and one who may be depended upon to fulfill most ably all duties that tend toward establishing the best order and conditions of society. Mr. Gilbert is the owner of eighty-six acres of land, and has good buildings upon his place.

On another page of the Reconn will be noticed a view of the commodious residence and surround- ings on Mr. Gilbert's estate.

8 AMIT'EL N. WARNER. Mr. Warner has retired from active engagement in agri- cultural life and now resides in Flushing, enjoying the advantages and comforts of his pleasant home. He was born at Woodhull, Steuben County, N. Y., February 8, 1826, and is a son of Nathaniel .. and Huldal (Tubbs) Warner, natives of Connecticut. The former was a cooper by trade and resided in the Empire State for some years, removing thence to Potter County, l'a., where he was engaged in farming and in coopering. lle removed to Michigan 1816 and settled on a farm of one hundred and fifty deres near Flint. That was his home until his death August 28, Isbn. His wife died June 6. 1876.

Our subject's grandfather on the paternal side was Samuel and his grandmother. Mary (Jerome) Warner. They were natives of England and coming to America settled in Connecticut and later in Potter County, Pa., where they lived and died. They had a family of five children. Our subject's father was a soldier in the War of 1812, and was appointed to the office of Lieutenant while a State militia-man. Of a family of nine children of which he was the father, four still live-Simon 1 ... Samuel N .. Diadema and Eliza- beth 11.

Samuel Warner was reared and eduented in

CITY RESIDENCE

CITY R.ES. & FARM PROPERTY, OF S. N. WARNER, FLUSHING , MICH.

RES. CF E. C. GILBERT, SEC. G. , FLINT TP, GENESEE CO., MICH.

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PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Pennsylvania and early learned the duties inci- dent to a farmer's life. He came with his parents to Michigan and made his home with them until their dercase. He lived on the farm until 1862 and then traded it for a farm in Clayton Town- ship, compromising one hundred and twenty acres. That was his place of residence until January, 1891, when he moved to Flushing and built a fine home on Emily Street, where he now live. view of this residence with the tasteful surround- ings is presented on another page.

In 1861 our subject was married to Miss Hannah Baldwin of Cattaraugus County, N. Y. She was born in 1813 and was a daughter of Hiram and Elizabeth ( Packard) Baldwin, natives of New York and Massachusetts respectively. Un coming to Michigan he engaged in farming until 1877 when he took up his residence with his daughter, Mrs. Warner, remaining with her until his death, which took place in 1889. Her mother died in 1891. Mr. Warner's maternal grand- parents were Willard and Hannah Packard. natives of New York and substantial farmers, who late in life went to Ilinois and lived with their children. Mrs. Warner was one of the fourteen children, nine of whom are now living. They are by name, Marion, now Mrs. Latimer, Hannah, Mrs. Warner; Benjamin; Nancy, Mrs. V. D. Star; Rhoda, Mrs. W. S. Mulkins; Charles; Nettie, Mrs. ... Robinson; Julia, Mrs. William Ball and Lizzie, Mrs. .. Gorton.

Mr. and Mrs. Warner are the parents of two children: Nellie ... horn November 20, 1861, and died January 6, 1882; Elizabeth A. horn June 27, 1870, married Albert Jones, of Flint, October 11, 1888 and is the mother of one child-Verna M. born May 27, 1889.

ARRES BALCH. Among those who have ben prominently identified with the basi- ness interests of Lapeer County, and who have helped forward in various ways the de- velopment of Dryden Township. we are planalto name Mr. Balch, where fine farm is to be seen on

section 28, of this township. He was born in New Mandon, N. Y., October 26, 1826, and his father, Aaron Balch, a native of Vermont, was reared im New York, and there married our sulbjeet's mother, whose maiden name was Betsey Wilbur, alsoa New Yorker by birth.

The family enve to Michigan in 1831 and made their home in Almont Township, this county, where the mother died in 1812, and the father after he had reached his seventy-eventh year. Their five children are Warren; Harris and Elizabeth, dercased; Jane, the widow of Mr. b. White; and Jerome, who reside in Arcade. Mich. Our subject was a little lad of eight years when he came to Michigan with his parents and he had already begun his school education which was afterward carried on in the district schools of Almont Town- ship. At the age of eighteen be commenced work- ing upon the farm receiving during his first year $9.50 per month, increasing from year to year to a monthly stipend of yll and $12. In 18IT, when he was twenty -one years old, he bought a tract of partially improved land im Almont Township.

The marriage of Warren Balch with Sarah Ma- tilda Havens was solemnized November 5, 1852. She was a native of New York who had come with her parents to Michigan when a little girl. After marriage the young couple settled in Dryden Township, where our subject carried on a brick yard and threshing machine for some two years, after which he sold his farm and bought another on section 22, where he remained for ten years, after which be removed onto the place where he now resides. They have three daughters and one son. namely: 0. Vice, the wife of the Rev. J. II. Thomas of Gratiot County, Mich .; Frederick V .; Louisa Adell, wife of Edwin Merritt; Flor- once E.

The three hundred and eight acres of land in the possession of our subject in Dryden Township, forms a line estate and he has besides this one hundred and twenty avres in Tuscola Township. The home farm is mostly under cultivation and upon it he is doing general farming. le vas al one time engaged in the lumber business, shipping to Detroit and he also owned a sawmill in Dryden and one in Oakland County. Upon has farm he

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PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

has two good grade horses and he has been the largest tax payer in the township. He is a Demo- erat in his political affiliations but is not tied by party leaders, as he makes it a point of voting for the best man for office.

Mr. Balch was for three years Highway. Com- missioner and for the same length of time School Director, and at various times has been identified with the orders of Masonry, the Patrons of In- dustry and that of the Grange. He is a member of the Protestant Methodist Church at Dryden Center in which he has also been Trustee, one of the Judiciary Committee and a Clay-Leader. Il. has ever been a liberal contributor to church pur- posts and a worker in its ranks. He gave $150 to build the Dryden Center Church and $100 to the college at Adrian, and has always sustained by his influence and means all educational and religions movements.

RANK T. HADLEY. The farming inter- ests of Hadley Township, Lapeer County, are well represented by a class of men w hose character, influence and ability are such as to rise them above the level of the ordinary farmer und to give them a standing both in business and agricultural circles. He whose name heads this paragraph has his tine estate on section 2, Hadley Township, and was born in Rosendale, Fond du La County, Wis, June 1, 1851. He is the third in a family of five children born to Stephen and Mahala ( Moore) Hadley. The father was born in New York in 1818, and there lived for some years before removing to Wisconsin. The mother had her nativity in New Hampshire and her early training in Vermont, but was in New York at the time of her marriage.

dren have blessed this union-Benjamin F. and Florence. Our subject now resides upon the farm inherited by his wife in 1882, and it is a beautiful tract of one hundred and sixty actes, showing in it- well-kept arrangement and prosperous con- dition that it is under the hand of a systematic and thorough-going agriculturist.

In his youth our subject remained upon the farm until he had reached the age of sixteen years, after which he determined to give himself better educational advantages and began attend- ing school again, continuing his studies until Inc reached the age of eighteen, when he met with a serious accident, by which he lost his left arm. Ile afterward resumed his studies at Beloit, Wis., where he continued for a year and a half mid then entered the Northwestern Business College at Oshkosh, whence he graduated in 1873.

After completing his studies Frank Hadley kept books for Tomlinson, Waterbury & Co., in La- peer for two years and then became bookkeeper for Morton & Hamlin's machine shops in St. Clare. Here he continued for something like three years, and then was a year and a half with Canada & Waycutt, at Romeo, after which he re- turned to Lapeer County and engaged in farm- ing, which business he has since followed success- fully. He and his wife are both active and inter- ested members of the Baptist Church at Hadley, and among the social orders he has chosen the Knights of the Maccles as most congenial to him. His political views have led him to ally himself to the Republican party, and in its prin- riples and policy he believes will be found the true solution of the problems which are agitating the minds of the people of our nation.

0 SCAR I. MUDGE, one of the best farmers of Ella Township. Lapeer County, was born near Farmersville, N. Y., in 1831, being the seventh in a family of eight children. The brothers and sisters of this family are: Westel W ..

This worthy couple emigrated to Wisconsin in 1850, and there lived for twenty-four years, after which they came to Lapeer County, where the fa- they died in 1875. Their son, Frank, married Emogene Moore, daughter of Benjamin F. and now a resident of Genere County; Alvira, who Hannah ( Martling) Moore, of Lapeer. Two chil- became the wife of Jchial Powellson, now de-

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censed; Laura, who first married William Lowell, and after his death became the wife of Israel S. Bird, of Oakland County, tus State; Polly, who died in childhood; Sarah, wife of Archibald Stevens, of Oakland County; Orplus, wife of dolan Bird, of Oakland County; our subject; Elizabeth, who married James E. Smith, of Oakland County, and died leaving no children.

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Portrait and biographical record of Genesee, Lapeer and Tuscola counties, Michigan, Part 44

Author: Chapman bros., Chicago, pub Publication date: 1892 Publisher: Chicago : Chapman Bros. Number of Pages: 948

Author: Chapman bros., Chicago, pub
Publication date: 1892
Publisher: Chicago : Chapman Bros.
Number of Pages: 948