USA > Michigan > Genesee County > Portrait and biographical record of Genesee, Lapeer and Tuscola counties, Michigan > Part 5
USA > Michigan > Lapeer County > Portrait and biographical record of Genesee, Lapeer and Tuscola counties, Michigan > Part 5
USA > Michigan > Tuscola County > Portrait and biographical record of Genesee, Lapeer and Tuscola counties, Michigan > Part 5
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The marriage of Mr. Russel was to Miss Emily Warren, who like himself was a native of New York. They are both members of the Baptist Church in Grand Blanc and he is now serving as Clerk in the church. He has been a School Diver- tor and is independent in his political views with Republican proclivities. While residing in Flint he served as Constalde and was efficient and ste- cessful in his work. He enjoys the full confidence of those with whom he is brought into business relations, and is among the prominent and most highly respected farmers of the township. He is possessed of a vast fund of pioncer lore and is a most entertaining man in conversation.
ILLIAM STANTON was a Christmas gift to his parents, having made his advent in the home circle December 25, 1816, his parents being at the time residents in Bedfordshire, England. His father was William Stanton, a native of Northamptonshire, England, and his mother Sarah (Hall) Stanton, was born in Bedford-hire, England; both lived and died in their native land. the mother being nearly ninety years of age before her decrease. The family was rich only in children and in kindly family feeling; there were nine little ones, and of these our subject alone lives now in America. He was the second child in order of birth and was denied all school privileges, his hoy,
ish strength being taxed as soon as he had any muscular power at all. Hecut loose from the home circle at the age of fourteen, when he began the work of self-support and was employed as a com- mon lataner. In these unhappy days he traveled over all parts of England looking for work, and assures the writer that he has walked sixty miles a day many a time.
Our subject has all his life been a hard worker. At twenty-nine years of age he took upon himself the duties and responsibilities of married life, his wife being Charlotte Taft, a native of Bedford- shire, England. She was born January 19, 1820 and died in 1819. They were the parents of three children, two of whom are now living-John and William. John married Mary Newman and resides in Clinton County. William is still a single man and lives at home.
In August, 1865 our subject again married, his bride being Lucretia Gettess, a native of Canada; she was born May 7, 1825. Our subject came to America in 1819, proceeding directly to Michigan. He was at that time very poor and on arriving in Lapeer County was not only without funds but *t90 in debt. For ten year- he made his home m Oakland County and worked out for others, being principally engaged in ditching. He there bought a quarter of an acre of land and upon it built a house which served as homme.
The original of our sketch came to Lapeer County some twenty-seven years ago and settled upon his present farm. It was at the time nothing more than a wilderness and this period has been spent in placing upon it the improvements that it now bear -. He is now the owner of eighty acres of land, sixty acres of which is in a good state of im- provement and all being done by his own hard labor. The work has been tedious but success has crowned his efforts and he is now m the possession of a competeney that enables him to live com- fortably. He has done more hard work than gen- erally falls to the lot of man and by his own deprivation of advantages, appreciates the lack and has tried to supply it to his children. Him- MAf liberal in his religious belief. Mrs. Stanton is a member of the Baptist Church, He is a Republican in politie. Although receptysix years of nee, he
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is still hate and hearty and works every day. I his health doubtless being due to the fact that he has always been a steady and moral man.
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M ISS ANTOINETTE COMSTOCK. In edu- rational and professional lines there is no family better known throughout this part of Michigan than that represented by the lady of whom we write. Since the family first settled in America there has been a physician in each and every generation. Dr. Jeremiah Comstock was the father of this lady and was born April 2, 1813, near Providence, R. 1. He was a son of Isaac Comstock, who was a brother of the Hon. O. C. Comstock, formerly State Superintendent of Public Instruction of Michigan, in 1813 to 1815. He was a Baptist minister and was one of the 1 founders of Kalamazoo College.
Isane Comstock was a native of Rhode Island and a descendant from an Irishman who served as Surgeon in the Irish brigade during the Revolu- tionary War and lies buried in the old historie cemetery at Providence. R. I. Comstock, in Kala- mazoo County, this State, lakes its name from the Hon. O. C. Comstock and a number of his descen. dants now live in this State, Lane removed to Tioga County, N. Y., and died there about the year 1821.
The mother of our subject was a native of Mad- ison County, N. Y., mid was Elizabeth C., daughter of Joseph B. Morse, a native of Massachusetts who came to Michigan in 1831 and settled where now is Lapeer. He built the first frame house in that city and was one of the first settlers there. He remained in the city of Lapeer until 1831 and then removed to his farm and put up a house, re- siding there until his death in 1854. He was a prominent man in church. school and political affairs, and was very public spirited. He was a carpenter by trade and built the first school-house in the township. His daughter, the mother of our subject, was born February 2, 1821, in Eaton. Mad- ison County, N. Y., and was married to Mr. Com- Stock at Farmer's Creek, Mich., September In. 1811
Dr. Comstock came to Michigan in 1839 before his marriage, and settled where our subject now lives. He is a graduate of Geneva College in New York in the Class of 23%, and practiced medicine for a year in Ontario County before counng to Michigan. After marriage be made his permanent home here and became the pioneer physician in the Southwestern part of Lapeer County, being in practice here for some forty-five years. In those early days he had extensive rides to take on horse- back and the Indians as well as the whites were among his patients. Mrs. Morse, the maternal grandmother of our subject is a woman of great force of character and had many tilts with the Indians in which she was always victorious.
Three daughters and one son formed the house- hold of which our subject was one. The son, Ostor, was a soldier in the United States Construc- tion Corps and started with Gen. Sherman in his march to the sea, but being taken sick at Atlanta was sent to Chattanooga, where he died June 29, 1861. The daughter. Sarah, was born in September, 1851. and is the wife of F. W. Goodale, of Farmer's Creek. Their four children are, Arthur, Albert, Elizabeth and Lynn. To all of the children the parents gave an excellent education and the mother who was a Presbyterian brought them up in the faith and doctrine of the Christian religion.
Dr. Comstock was prominent in political matters and cast his first vote for Martin VanBuren and his last vote for Grover Cleveland. In early life Iwr was prominently connected with school interests and was a member of the Township Board for ten years. besides being for twelve a Justice of the Peace and Notary Public. He was bereaved of his wife in 1871 and in 1876 he married a second time Mrs. Sophron Wetherill of Mt. Morris, Mich. She survives him but has no children. He was much absorbed in his profession although he had a large farm of one hundred and twenty acres. Scientilie and literary matters also engaged his attention and he was a writer for the Detroit Med- ical Journal. The Lapeer Medical Society as well as the Northeastern Medical Society claimed him as among their foremost members, and he was fre- quently a delegate to the State Medical Society.
She of whom we write was born August 28,
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1811, and after a thorough training in the common schools she took a comse in Ann Arbor, graduating from the seminary. She holds a first-grade certiti- cate as a teacher and has taught for many years. Her mother was a woman of mmusual nobility, weak physically, but mentally very strong, and possessed of great patience which she exhibited notably in the last fifteen years of her life, during which epoch she was suffering with that dire dis- case, consumption. She was a grand helper to her husband and a most perfect example as a wife and mother.
Miss Comstock is Secretary of the Lapeer County Old Settlers Society and is a well-educated and talented lady, a member of the Baptist Church at Hadley and a worker in the Sunday-school, and well carries out the reputation which her family has ever maintained. Her father's death occurred in 1885. Mr. F. W. Goodale, who married Miss Comstock's sister Sarah was a member of Company F, Fifth Michigan Cavalry during the Civil War, but after a short time was transferred to Company M, First Michigan Cavalry. In this he served for a year as a private and was discharged June 30. 1866, after having with thousands of others passed through the Grand Review at Washington at the close of the war.
OIN S. BORDEN, who is a native of Knox County, Ohio, has a fine fruit farm in Fen- ton Township, Genesce County. He was born Angust 11, 1838, and experienced the usual life of a farmer's lad, taking his education in the district schools. He remained at home until he reached the age of twenty-one and then went upon the Cincinnati, Sandusky & Cleveland Railroad as an engineer for three years and afterward came to Michigan and settled in 1859 in Fenton Town- ship.
In 1861 young Borden enlisted in the Union Army for three months as a member of Company (. Twenty-first Ohio Regiment, and after the ex- piration of that term of service he returned to Phiv and in Angyst following le came to Michi-
gan and re-euhsted in the Fifth Michigan Cavalry, Company (, under Col. Copeland. He saw the smoke of battle at Culpeper, Frederickslang, Buckland Mills, Williams' Station, Brandy Station, Frederick, Md., and was in the three days' tight at Gettysburg. Thence he returned to the Shenandoah Valley and Petersburg, and was in the three days' battle of the Wilderness. After this he was with Sheridan in the Shenandoah Valley and the battles of Winchester. Cedar Creek and Trevilian, and then joined the main army in front of Petersburg. He was commissioned Second-Lieutenant just before being mustered out and participated in the Grand Review. During his service he was never sick a day. After the review he was sent to Leavenworth, Kan., and thence to Detroit where he received his discharge.
After the close of the war Lient. Borden spent two years in Knox County, Ohio, in farming and two years more in Livingston County, Mich., after which he took charge of his present farm for five years. He then purchased a farm near Durand, but after three years there he returned to the place where he now lives. He was married in June, 1867, to Jane, daughter of Samuel Day, of New York, who came to this State in the territorial days and became one of the first settlers of Fenton Town- slap; he died in 1880. The two children who came to crown this union were Frank Il., who has now passed to the other life, and Allen D.
In political matters our subject is not a strong party man but votes for the best man for the office and is always an ardent temperance man. Ilis wife is an earnest and devoted member of the Free Methodist Church. They reside upon the property which has been known for thirty-five years as the Day fruit farm, which was started by Mr. Day the father of Mis. Horden. It is a tract of one hun- chred and eighty acres on sections 27 and 28, and upon it there are fifteen hundred peach trees and six acres of grape vineyard from which the annual product is from eighteen to thirtysix tons of grapes. Besides this he has plums, strawberries, and soven aeres in raspberries and two in black- berries. He began life with no financial means but with the best of training from his excellent parents. Horner R. and Mary (Harveston) Borden. The fall
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ther was n Vermonter who has spent much of his life in Ohio as a farmer and died in 1863, and the mother, who was born in New Jersey, died in 1887, leaving five of her ten children.
I 'RA A. SPRAGUE is a former residing on sec- tion 7, Millington Township, Tuscola County. He is a native of New York, and was born January 11, 1838, being a son of John T. and Sally (Littlefield) Sprague, both natives of New York. They were the parents of seven children, two souls and tive daughters. John T. Sprague came 10 Michigan and settled on a farm in Livingston County and thence went to Hartland Center where he was engaged at the cooper's trade. He came to Tuscola Township in 1851 and there lived and died, his decease occurring in January, 1861; his wife survived until November, 1879. Although John Sprague was always more or less engaged as a farmer, he united with that the occupation of a cooper.
Our subject was reared in Livingston County, this State, after he was a lad of seven years, until seventeen years of age. He remained at home with his parents until their decease. He purchased the farm whereon he now lives in March, 1861, and here has one hundred and sixty acres, most of which is well improved. He has done much pio- neer work, having redeemed the place that is now so beautifully cultivated, from a state of utter wildness.
Mr. Sprague was married in Flint February 25, 1868, to Miss Emily A. Neff, of Vienna Township, Genesee County. She is a daughter of W. W. Neff, a native of Connecticut and an early settler in the place where the daughter was born, Febru- ary 25, 1838. To our subject and his wife two children have been born: Ray W., who died in infancy, and E. dane, who died at the age of nine years. Mr. Sprague is a member of the Independ- ent Order of Odd Fellows, and the Grand Army of the Republic. In politics he is a Republican, and has served as Supervisor of the township for
four terms and as Township Treasurer for six years. He has been Justice of the Peace, Township Clerk and Highway Commissioner and has been in one office or another for the past twenty years.
Our subject enlisted in the United States service in August, 1862, and after brave and loyal service was honorably discharged in July, 1865. He was a participant in all the battles in the Atlanta cam- paign; was also at Nashville. Wilmington and Town Creek. He enlisted as a private but was promoted, first to the post of Corporal and later to that of Orderly Sergeant, which position he main- tained until the close of the war. Prior to the Atlanta campaign he took part in the battles of Perrys ville, Campbell Station and Knoxville, and was also at Strawberry Plains and Franklin, Tenn.
The attention of the reader is invited to a view of the pleasant homestead of Mr. Sprague, which appears in another portion of this volume.
G FORGE FOSTER. This enterprising and worthy farmer of section 22, Watertown Township, Tuscola County, is a native of Ontario, Canada, where he was born December 21, 1×15. His father, John Foster, a native of Ireland, beenme an early settler in Canada when only a boy, and his mother was one of the very first who set- fled in Nelson Township, Halton County, Canada. The marriage of the father of our subject to Mary .1. Blagdon, a Canadian by birth, took place in 1811, and four sons and four daughters were sent to cheer their home.
When a young man John Foster was a sailor, but during the most of his active life has followed agriculture. He is one of the prominent men of the township and filled the offices of Assessor and Appraiser for a number of years while living in Nelson Township. Our subject was reared in Canada and after coming to Tu-cola County worked in Millington Township, for Avery & Murphy. In 1871 he bought the farm of eighty actes which is now his, and at present own one hundred and sixty acres of land.
In Watertown Township, Tuscola County, our
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RESIDENCE OF IRA A. SPRAGUE, SEC .7., MILLINGTON TP., TUSCOLA CO., MICH. .
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RESIDENCE OF GEORGE FOSTER , SEC.22., WATERTOWN TP., TUSCOLA CO., MICH
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subject was married July 1, 1878, to Sophia .. Don- can, a daughter of James Duncan of whom more is said elsewhere in this volume. To our subject and his wife have been born two children, George W. and Mary J. The Methodist Church is the religious body with which Mr. and Mrs. Foster have connected themselves and in which they are active and useful members. The political views of our subject bring him into affiliation with the Repub- lican party and in its prosperity he feels deeply interested, yet he cannot be called a politician as he prefers the quiet of home life to the excitement of the political arena.
The citizens of Watertown Township are justly proud of the many beautiful homesteads which their section of country boasts, and among them one of the most attractive is that of Mr. Foster, which with its neat residence and well-kept build- ings, indicates the thrift of the proprietor. A view of this place is presented elsewhere in this volume.
D AVID P. DEWEY, whose fine stock farm is situated on section 11, Grand Blanc Township, has acquired not only a local but a State reputation as a stock-breeder and we take pleasure in presenting this brief biog. raphy to our readers. He is a son of Joseph and Maria (Ranney) Dewey, and was born in Monroe County, N. Y. November 2, 1811. His home is now in Grand Blane Township, Genesee County. His grandfather, Thomas Dewey, was a soblier in the War of 1812. Of the eleven children born to the parents our subject is next to the youngest, and of that number the following survive : George R., William 11., Mary, wife of A. R. Hincher; dese 1., James V., Hezekiah R., Martha, wife of J. 1 .. Bangs; Thomas D., David P. and John.
David Dewey received his education in the public schools of Monroe County, N. Y. and then took a course in Eastman's Mercantile College at Rochester. For six terms he taught in Monroe County and then for one form in Woodbury County, lowa. He was first married in New York
Minnie, who is a muste teacher in Detroit. Mrs. Minnie Dewey died June 29, 1869. He had emigrated to Michigan the year following in com- pany with his brother, the Hon. H. R. Dewey, and they bought a tract of two hundred aeres in Grand Blane Township, which they cultivated together for three years.
Our subject then settled on his present farm of one hundred aeres which is under good cultivation, and he has made by his own energy and industry the property which he now owns. Fine American- Merino sheep, registered, are a specialty with him and he is one of the founders of the registration of sheep in Michigan. For a number of years he has been Chairman of the Pedigree Committee of Michigan. He also rises Percheron horses in which he is unusually successful.
Rachel Bates, a daughter of Charles Bates, an carly settler of Grand Blaue Township, became the wife of our subject October 12, 1871, and she is now the mother of four children. Addic, Dell, Woodworth, and Beatrix. This gentleman is an carnest Republican in his political views and an active promoter of every movement looking to the betterment of the community. He is also a mem- ber of the Knights of the Maccabees and is now Past Commander. Mr. and Mrs. Dewey are highly esteemed members of society, and affable, cultured people, whose warm hospitality commends them to all who visit their home. Mock-breeding has been the life study of Mr. Dewey and his reputation attests his success in this.
ILLIAM W. CARMER. a representative pioneer of tieneser County, who resides on section 36, Atlas Township. is a native of Erie County, N. Y .; January 6, 1836, was the date of his birth. His parents, Elijah and Mar- garet (Wilson) Carmer, were natives of New Jersey, and his paternal grandfather was a Revolutionary soldier.
When only six months old our subject came with his father's family to Michigan and located two miles west of l'ontine, in Oakland County, but
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after a short time removed to tieneser County and at one time lived where d. H. York now resides. They finally settled on the farm which is now the home of our subject and remained there from IsIt until the death of the father in the spring of 1861. The mother survived ten years longer. Four of their children are living, namely : Sarah .A., now . the widow of Charles Vaughn; Jemima, the wife of Mr. Porritt; William W., and Orpha, Mrs. Henry Burt.
Amid the scenes of pioneer life our subject grew to manhood and had his full share of hardships and privations and took his education in the district school. His marriage with Matilda Cantine, or- curred February 16, 1862. She was born in this county March 31, 1812, and is a daughter of Al- best and Elizabeth Vantine who were pioneers . here. To Mr. and Mrs. Carmer have liven horn seven children and they have been so blessed as to redain all but one of them in this life. The oldest. Flora, is now the wife of Charles Cheney, and the others are George, Elmina, William. Archie and Nettie.
Hle of whom we write showed his devotion to his country during the hours of trouble and dis -- ter by enlisting in the army in Felnuary, 1863. joining Company I, Thirteenth Michigan Infantry us a private. This regiment was placed in the Army of the Cumberland and took part in the battle of Chickamauga. In that terrible conflict our young hero was wounded in the right knee and he was discharged honorably November 10, the same year and returned to Michigan. Our subject is not drawing a pension not withstanding he was wounded in the service of his country. Soon after his re- turn Mr. farmer rented the farm where he now lives which has been his home ever since, and here he owns one hundred and thirty-five acres of line land which he has gained by his own industry and en- ergy, supplemented by the prudence, economy and thrift of his worthy wife. He is a public-spirited citizen, ever helpful in movements designed to forward the social and business interests of the community. In his political views be is in har- mony with the Democratic party and is a member of the Grand Army Post at Ortonville. He is com- eintly interested in educational progress and has
served in various school offices. Mrs. Carmer is a devont and active member of the Protestant Meth- odist Church and is highly esteemed in social
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JACOB R. WINGLEMIRE, a rising young business man of Fenton, Genesce County, and member of the manufacturing firm of Winglemire de Albertson, is also an exten- sive retail dealer in furniture. He was born in Syracuse. N. Y., Aprit 11, 1856 and is a son of Joseph and Christine Winglemire, both of German birth. The father was a tailor who served nine years in the German army, five years for himself and afterward four years for another man. Hle came to America in 1852 and followed his trade in Syracuse, N. Y. Six years later he removed to Holly, Mich., where for some time he worked at his trade and afterward undertook calnet-making.
The parents of our subject are both living, as are also their four children, and of this household our subject is the oldest. He received a common. school education and learned the cabinet-making trade of his father at which he has worked. In 1878, bring then twenty-two years old, he located al Fenton, and engaged in the furniture business in which he has since continued. He now occupies a two-story brick building which he owns, and which is entirely filled with his stock.
Mr. Winglemire had associated with himself in business Emery Fretenburg and William Albertson but now the firm is known as Winglemire & Albert- son and they have bought a building and grounds and put in machinery for the manufacture of furniture, making a specialty of bedsteads, and shipping their goods mostly to Brooklyn and New York City.
Mr. Winglemire was in 1X81 united in marriage with Vina Davis who was born at Davislong, Oak- land County, Mich., and is a daughter of Isaac L. Davis who was also born in Davidburg. The place was named for his father who was one of the very earliest settlers there, Mr. Davis died In 1881 and his wife is still living. The two children who
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have been born to our subject and his worthy wife are Mabel H. and Agues. He is a Republican in his political views but is not in any sense a poli- tician. He started out in life without means and besides the business he has built up in Fenton he owns one hundred and fifty avres of fine timber land in Isabel and Otego Counties, Mich.
NDREW FERGUSON is a prominent farmer resident on section 33. Atlas Township, Coneste County. He is a native of the land whose sanguine and sunny-tempered sous have done a great deal toward building up the public confidence in various departments of com- mercial life. He was born in Londonderry County, Ireland, in July, 1822, and is n son of Daniel and Hannah ( Hassin) Ferguson, who were both also natives of Ireland though of Scotch origin. Our subject was reared to manhood in his native coun- try upon a farm,
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