USA > Michigan > Genesee County > Portrait and biographical record of Genesee, Lapeer and Tuscola counties, Michigan > Part 48
USA > Michigan > Lapeer County > Portrait and biographical record of Genesee, Lapeer and Tuscola counties, Michigan > Part 48
USA > Michigan > Tuscola County > Portrait and biographical record of Genesee, Lapeer and Tuscola counties, Michigan > Part 48
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After the war our subject came to St. Clair County, this State, and was there engaged in farm- ing. He was married to Susan Kilbourn, a native of Canada and a daughter of Timothy Kilbourn. and he and his wife became the parents of five children. Those who are living are Benjamin B. Philander H. and Flora D. Two children died in infancy.
In 1880 Mr. Kilbourn came to Vassar Township
and has since lived here. He now owns fifty-live aeres of land and has thoroughly improved his farm. He lelong- socially to the W. T. Sherman N'est, No. 10, 6. A. R., at Vassar. Politically be is a Republican. For two years he has been Jus- tive of the Peace, and has been Assessor and Di- rector of School District No. 2.
JAMES STONE JOHNSON, of Almont, was born at Bethel, Windsor County, Vt., April 2, 1827. He was early orphaned, as his mother, Cynthia Stone, died when he was seven years old, and he lost the father's care and affection at the age of ten. E'ntit he was fourteen he spent his life upon a farm, attending the village school during the winter season and then he began to learn the trade of harnes, saddle and trunk making at Montpelier. When eighteen years old he set out for Michigan on foot, having soll his school books and packed what few effects he had I in a valise of his own making, and crossed the Green Mountains on foot in March, 1815. He then went to Castleton, St., working there one year for $100. He next found employment in Troy, N. Y .. where he received $13 a month for his regu- lar work and by working overtime carved $102 in three months. After a year in Troy he resumed his Western journey and reached Detroit on the old stramer - Nik . " July 1. 1817.
Mt. Clemens was the objective point of the young man as he had relatives there but after visiting them be returned to Detroit and shortly afterward started a shop in Amont. On the 9th of October 1x18, he was married to Miss Mary Parmlee, a resi- dent of Almont who was born at Ludlow, Vi., April 28, 1×29. Mr. Johnson had now got a little start in bie and a home of his own, but he took the gold fever and on March 20, 1850, started overland to California by way of St. Joseph, Mo., touching at Fts. Laramie and Kearney and Salt Lake City. This trip was made on foot three- quarters of the way, the journey ending the 5th of August after one hundred and thirty-eight days of the road. He followed mining at langtown,
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now known as Placerville, and finally was able to command a salary of $170 a month as a common laborer, which was some recompense for the long and wearisome journey.
Ont subject returned Fast in the fall of 18.1. bringing ×700 with him, and in order to crono- mize he took passage on a schooner for the Isthinus but landing at Acapulco, Mexico, he walked to Mexico City. There he was finally joined by some of his slupmates and they managed to hire two of Gen. Scott's old army wagons and thirty-four mules with which they rigged up a conveyance to complete their journey across Mexico. This trip was made just after the close of the Mexican War und was filled with curious adventures among a people still embittered by the memories of defeat and manifold disaster. At Vera Cruz Mr. Johnson Shipped for New Orleans and thener came up the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers to Cincinnati, and from there overland to Michigan, being one hun- dred and thirteen days on the way from San Fran- cisco and having only $300 left when he reached home in December.
Mr. Johnson now undertook the cabinetmaker's business in which he was successful, and in 1853 secured three hundred and twenty acres in Good- land Township for &10 under the United States graduation act law. Upon this be placed a house which was the first one on the east side of Good- land. There he remained for something over a year with his wife and two children, clearing the land and dealing in pine logs and lands, in which he was greatly prospered. Returning to Amont be carried on the same line of lines, selling during one winter over $15,000 worth of logs to A. A. Dwight, of Detroit. During the winter of 1871 he with others purchased pine lands to the extent of $72,900 worth and put up mills and operated them. During the next twenty months he cleared $20,000 in this way.
At one time Mr. Johnson edited the Almont Herald, doubling its circulation, while under bi- charge and finally turning it over to his son. Ile has five hundred acres of improved land and as elegant a home as can be found in this part of Michigan. While deprived of educational advan- luges As a boy he now has an excellent library ol
about six hundred volumes of the very best in- thors. Among them are the works of Macauley, Scott, Gibbon, Buckley, Prescott, Bancroft, Mills, Lucky, Emerson, Voltaire, Home and Spencer. There are many other works of the same character together with the best writings in fletion and poetry, and encyclopedias and books of reference. With all of these Mr. Johnson is familiar, and they have served to make him a well-informed man, in spite of his early disadvantages.
The six children of Mr. Johnson are: Mary E ... now Mrs. D. M. Washer, of Ahnont and the mother of three children; D. Lve, a farmer of Almont; Alice L., who married Lieut. E. H. Brown, a gradu- ate of West Point, who is stationed at Ft. Sherman, Idaho; Frank, who has been editor of the May- ville Monitor and is the father of Your children; James Carl, a clerk in Amont, and Hugh Stone, who is still at home. Lieut. and Mr -. Brown are the parents of two children.
Our subject has been a Democrat and in his ear- lier days was active in politics. Three times against his wishes he was nominated for the Legi- lature and at one time he and his wife spent the season in Louisiana to get away from the canvass. He has never been anxious for office but only soli- citons for the sake of his country to see the prin- ciples of true Democracy succeed. He has served a. President of the Village Board, also a> Trustee and on the School Board. In religions questions he has been a thorough radical from early boyhood, and now in his old age rejoices that he is in step with all progressive minds of the past and present. He has always been a friend of schools and is known a> a free giver of his means for all worthy purposes, giving $1,500 to his adopted village and distribu- ting many thousands in more private way's.
The father of our subject, James Johnson, was born June 11, 1799, and his paternal grandfather .Inly 21, 1768, while the grandmother's birth was Iamuary 25, 1775, and they were married April 24, 1793. The great-grandfather, Fenn Johnson, was born August 5, 1711 and his wife Rebecca July 29, 1716. They were residents of New London, Com., when Arnold in 17x1 burnt the town. In Colonial times the Johnsons were seafaring men and several me .. ', of the family went down with their ships.
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Our subject is proud of his long line of American investors and claims to be a " Yankee" of the best blood. On the maternal side be traces his ancestry to tiregory Stone, who with his brother John came from England in 1631 in the good ship " herease." They settled in Framingham, Mass, buying land of the Indians. Some of the family owned what is now Mt. Auburn Cemetery and in a country graveyard near by scores of hardy pioneers of their name find rest. One of their number, a lieuten- ant, joined Washington's army under the old Cambridge chm, and in the Revolutionary War, the French and Indian Wars, and the Civil War, their names are enrolled as brave soldiers.
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M 11. SMITH is a farmer in Flushing Town- ship, Genesee County, where he has a tract comprising seventy acres of good and ara- ble land. He is a native of Tompkins County. N. Y., and was born December 20, 18:18. He is a son of Caleb and Wilempe (Hamilton) Smith, natives of New Jersey. The father was a day laborer. From New Jersey they removed 10 Tompkins County, thence to Schuyler County, N. Y., where the head of the family died. They had sven children, of whom five are now living, and who are by name -- William. Marcus. Cornelia. Mary J. and Elijah. The father was a Whig in his political principles, and a believer in the creed as held by the Presbyterian Church.
tur subject was educated in lauring Township. Tompkin- County, N. Y., and was reared a farmer boy. When twelve years of age he went to live with his uncle, Joshua Jennings, and remained with him for four years. He then went to Schuy- ler County, where he was engaged in working by the month, and contmued to be thus employed for some years. When twenty-six years old he was married to Mis Eliza Bailey, a native of New York.
After our subject's marriage he was engaged in working a farm on shares, and later they purchased n place in Schuyler County, N. Y., and devoted themselves to farming there for six years. He then
came to Michigan in 1868 and purchased the place where he mos lives, and which comprises eighty acres of land. It was at the time chopped over and bore a small frame house. He has since cleared off the place and put it in a perfect productive state. He has moreover built a fine house and two good barns. He here devotes himself to gen- eral farming. He has a fine orchard and also a good deal of stock.
Mr. and Mrs. Sunth are the parents of ten chil- dres, whose names are: Eddy, Clara, Myrtic, Lilly, Jenny, Frank and Fred, who are twins, Maude, Willie and Clyde. Mr. Smith is a Democrat in politics, and one of the stanchest upholders of his party. He has held the position of School Director and Pathmaster. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and are numbered among the most prominent people of the township. The original of our sketch has educated his chil- dren, giving them the best of advantages, and two of them have been engaged in teaching. Ile has a beautiful home and fine surroundings.
ARRIS W. ODELL. Prominent among the public-spirited and prosperous citizens of Mundy Township, Genece County, and well known as an old settler in these parts is Mr. Odell. He was born in Mundy Township, April 30. 1838, and is a son of the late Moses and Betsey (Seely) Odell, who came from Pennsyl- vania to Genesce County, Mich., in the old Ter- ritorial days carly in the 's and are therefore among the earliest settlers of Mandy Township.
This township remained the home of this estim- able couple until their death. Of their seven chil- dren our subject is the fourth in order of age. Here he grew to manhood, receiving his education in the district schools and taking his training upon the farm, and here he has ever lived with the ex- ception of ten years, when he made his home in Grand Blanc Township. The pursuits of agri- culture have entirely engaged his attention, and in them he has been successful. His home is a pleasant
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and attractive one and is well adapted to the com- forts of its household, while his barns and out- houses are Beat in appearance and kept up in good condition, and the general cultivation of the farm shows a thrifty farmer.
The marriage of Harris W. Odell and Esther Valentine took place in Fonton, Mich., November 12, 1861. She was born in Mundy Township, and is a daughter of Cornelius and E-ther ( Alger) Valentine, who were among the early settlers of Mundy Township, as they came here early in the '3Us.
To Mr. and Mrs. Odell have been granted seven children: George W., who has been united in marriage with Florence Wilkinson; Florence, who died in infancy; Charles C., who married Ora Granger; Myrtic, the wife of Charles Urmiston; Lottie, who died at the age of seven years; Beatrice and Elmer. Mr. Odell has taken an active part in political affairs and believes in the soundness of the principles and policy advocated by the Democratic party. He is ever alive to the interests of the com- munity and is an active promoter of all move- ments looking toward its progress on social of business lines.
ILLIAM OWEN. None among the time- honored pioneers of Genesee County; i- more worthy of attention from our read- ers than this resident of Alas Township, who was born in Megany County. N. Y., February 29. 1816. He is ason of Noah and Elizabeth ( Pixley ) Owen. and came with his parents to Michigan as early as 1831, settling at once on his farm where he now lives, as his father then purchased that prop- erty from the Government at $1.25 per acre. Our subject chopped the first trees that were follow upon this place and aided in building the log cabin in which the family settled the following spring.
Noah Owen was twice married. and was the father of six children, three of whom survive. namely: William, Orville and John. He passed from earth in February, 1811. The carly educa- tion of our subject was taken in the district
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school of Orleans County. N. Y., which was his home most of the time before coming to Mich- igan, and he has ever been a great reader and is a man of broad general information, an es- ellent talker and one who has ever been interested in politics. He was married in New York, October 9, 1×37. to Avis J. Tyler, a native of Cayuga County, who was born in 1816 and is a daughter of Elliott and Avis Tyler, New Englanders by birth. The children born to this union nre: Helen 11., Mary E. wife of Edwin Huntley and William E. In those early times our subject was esteemed one of the hardest workers in the town- ship and he did " big days work" in mail splitting and eradling wheat.
For over half a century William then and his wife lived together in harmony and happiness un- til January 1, 1889, when Mrs. Owen was called to her heavenly reward. Our subject has ever been deeply interested in educational matters and built upon his own farm the first schoolhouse in the district. His political views have made him it Republican and for a number of years he has ser- ved as Highway Commissioner.
Mr. Owen is a natinal mechanic and has him- self done the work on most of the buildings on his farm. His farm consist of one hundred and six- teen acres of well improved land and its splendid condition is a testimonial to his thoroughness and thrift. He is well known throughout this part of the county and it is the wish of all that he may live to see the return of many seasons. His daugh- ter. Helen, makes her home with her father and is a most estimable lady and an active and honored member of society.
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G RICE MATHEWSON. The farm of this resi- dent of Mundy Township. Geneve County, comprises one hundred and forty acres and upon it are to be seen excellent improvements, and good crops of various kinds are here raised. He was born in Franklinville. Cattaraugus County, September 19, 1812 and is a son of John and Car- oline (MeClare) Mathewson. They came from
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Cattaraugus County, N. Y. in 1818 to make their home in Mundy Township, Gender County, and there remained for the rest of their lives. They had eight children and of that minber Grice was second in order of age.
the subject came to this county with his parents nud made his home under the parental roof until he bermme of age. In 1858 he went to California and was there employed in the lime kilns of Santa Cruz. For most of the time during his residence in the Sunset State he was in the city just named.
l'pon his return after three years in the West the young man enlisted in August, 1862 in Com- pany C, Fifth Michigan Cavalry and served under the stars and stripes nearly three years. He was not really sick during his term of service but hi- health became considerably impaired. When he returned he settled on the farm where he now lives and with the exception of one year when he was employed in the jail at Bay City as turnkey he has resided here ever since.
On the Loth of March, 1873, Grice Mathew- son took to wife Abigail la Sigsby, who was born in Tuscola County, Mich .. and was at the time re- siding in Mundy Township. this county. One little daughter came to brighten their home, to whom they gave the name of Lara. The doe- trines and policy of the Republican party repre- . sent very fairly the political views of Mr. Mathew- son and he takes a keen interest in the movement of public affairs. Our readers will be pleased to find further details in regard to this interesting family in the sketch of Stephen Mathew-on on another page of this Korona.
C TRISTIAN RIPPE, mannfacturer of cigars and tobacco in the city of Flint, was born in Bremen, Germany, May 21, 1812. His father, John D. 1. 11. Rippe, was also a native of Bremen, where the paternal grandfather engaged is a farmer. John Rippe never crossed the ocean, but spent his entire life in the city of his birth, where he was in the hotel business until his death, which occurred at the age of sixty-five years. In
hi- religious belief he was a Lutheran, and a man of generous principles and upright life. The mother. whose maiden name was Margaret Keltenbeck, came from her native city, Bremen, to the United States many years ago, and died in New Orleans.
Of the seven children who were born to the par- ents of our subject, two are living: Henry resides in Minneapolis, Minn., where he is engaged as n dealer in musical instruments, and is the leader of a band in that city. Christian Rippe, who forms the subject of this biographical notice, was reared in Bremen, and at the age of fifteen years, having received a good common-school education in his native place, he sailed as a cabin boy in the sailing- vessel "Tusnalda." While serving in this capacity he visited many foreign ports, and among them were Bombay and the harbors of the East Indies, thence back to Port au Prince and the West In- dies. The voyage occupied two and one-half year's.
Upon returning to Bremen, Germany, Mr. Rippe was apprenticed to learn the cigar-maker's trade, and was thus occupied for two years, afterward do- ing journeyman work in Bremen. In October, 1865, he left there on the sailing-vessel "Hanca" which landed in New York, November 17, 1865. Immediately after reaching New York City, Mr. Rippe entered into business as a cigar-maker, and was corrupted in this way for eighteen months, thener proceeded to Philadelphia, where he so- journed one year. We next find him in the Em- pire State, where he successfully followed his trade two and one-half years in New York, and seven years in Troy. In Syracuse. the same State, he engaged at his trade and operated a grocery store for some time, natal he came West to Michigan in 1878.
In Michigan, Mr. Rippe remained for a time in Detroit, thence proceeded to Minneapolis, Inter to St. Loms, and from there back to Detroit, where he followed his trade three years. The year 1882 marked his arrival in Flint, where he has resided since. For three years he was in the employ of others, but in 1885 he embarked in business for himself as a manufacturer of cigars and tobaccos. In cigars he makes the very best brands, such as "Doctor's Regala,"Long Tom,"Doctor's Fife."
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and sells tobaccos bolle wholesale and retail. Since establishing himself in business here he has be- come known as one of the shrewdest business men of the city as well as a capable financier, and has accumulated a competency through his untiring
In 1879, in Syracuse, N. Y., Mr. Rippe was united in marriage with Mrs. Louisa ( Hanf) Baker, a na- tive of Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany. Mrs. Rippe had by her foruwr marriage three children, namely: George, who is a cigar-maker in Detroit; Lena and Charles, who reside with their mother. Three chil- dren have blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Rippe -Frederick, Pearl, and Arthur, deven-ed. Socially Mi. Rippe is identified with Friendship Lodge, I. 0.0. F., and the Knights of Pythias. His political affiliations are with the Republican party, and he is regarded as one of the most influential citizens of the place.
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EROME B. BUTLER, one of the represen- tative farmers of Burnside Township. La- peer County, was born in Livingston County. N. Y., October 22, 1827, and is a son of Isaiah and Louise (Reynold-) Butler. The father was born in May, 180G, and was the son of the Rey. Isaiah Butler, a Baptist mini- ter of Massachusetts. Our subject, who is the ser- und in a tataily of nine children, lived with his father in New York not his eighteenth year when they came West and remained a year and a half, after which the young man returned to the Fast.
The father continued his residence for three years in Oakland County and after living for three years in Ohio he came to Lapeer County and settled in Burnside Township whenve be removed to North Branch Township four years later, where he still resides. Upon returning to Michigan, Je- rome spent six months in Oakland County and then went to the Lake Superior region, where he was succesfully engaged in mining for wine of ten years. He now returned to Burnside Town-
ship and settled upon the land which he hul bought four years before and is now interested in about two thousand acres of land.
Mr. Butler was married January 6, 1851, to Mis Margaret J. Collins, who is a native of Eastport, Me., where she was born March 25, 1827. She is the daughter of Patrick and Margaret (Hickey) Collins, who left Eastport when this daughter was quite young nud lived in Boston until 1811 when they removed to Oakland County. Right of the ten children of Mr. and Mrs. Butler are still liv- ing. They are named Louisa, Hamilton J., Nellie, Horatio, Hattie, Jerome B., Josephine, Eugene and Benjamin F. The two oldest daughters have passed from earth and the chest son is engaged in farming and stock-denhng. Horatio and Robert are both farmers in Burnside Township and the latter is likewise engaged in merchandising. Jerome is also a farmer at Burnside and his twin sister, Josephine, is the wife of Samuel Simonds, a mer- chant in Wolverine, where the younger son, Ben- jamin F., also resides.
Mr. Butler is engaged in general farming and oversces all departments of his farm although he is not himself active in the hard work. He has been extensively engaged in lumbering and has a large sawmill adjoining his home. His father was the oldest settler in this township and has ever been a man of influence in the community. The Democratic ticket commands the vote of our subject under ordinary circumstances. but he pay's little attention to political matters.
e) ETER P. DAWSON, who is a native of Metamora, Lapeer County, this State, where he was born June 1, 1810, now has charge of a farm on section 16. Watertown Township. Turcola County. He is a son of Robert Dawson, a native of New York State, who came to Michigan when a young man and made his home on the spot which afterward became the birthplace of our subject. He was married in Oakland County, in 1835, to Jane Martin, a native of New York
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State, and to them were born six sons and three daughter ..
Mr. Dawson was a pioneer in Metamora Town- ship, and one of the two men who brought their families fare about the same time and were the first in the township. He was a life-long larmer and made his home on a farm of eighty acres in Meta- mora Township. He came to Tuscola County in 1×62 and bought property on section 23, where he resided until his death in 1879. His wife survived him for several years and passed away in 1887. He was a Republican politically and an carne-t member of the Sons of Temperance, and both he and his good wife were members of the Methodist Church.
Peter Dawson was reared in Lapeer County, and followed farming until 1860, at which time he undertook teaching and pursued that calling for a number of year. He is a graduate of Athion Commercial College and was educated in the com- mon schools of Lapeer County. In 1868 he came to Tuscola and bought eighty acres of land which he still owns. To it he has added forty acres so that he now has one hundred and twenty acres. From eighty acres of this land he has cleared the timber, and upon it he has placed many substantiat improvements.
lu 1868 our subject was united in marriage with Emma Sperry, a native .f Lapeer County, and the daughter of Benjamin Sperry, a New Yorker. The was an early settler of Watertown Township and completed his days here, passing away in 1883. Ilis bereaved widow is still living in this township. To our subject and his wife was born one soll, Austin B., and the mother of this child was called from the activities of earth in 1870. The second marriage of Mr. Dawson took place in 1871, and united him with Emiline Day, a native of Canada and a daughter of Lawrence Day who came from Canada and became a pioneer of Water- town Township, where he still resides. The chil- dren horn of this marriage are: Marshall Ney. May. Vernia, Leon C. and Jane E.
Clerk and also Supervisor for five years. He resigned that offlee and was elected County Clerk in 1886, and thus continued for four years, besides being School Officer most of the time since he come to the township. Frederick Dawson, the pa- ternal grandfather of our subject, was a soldier in the War of 1812, was wounded while on the march from Buffalo to Auburn and died in a ho,- pital at the latter place.
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