USA > Michigan > Genesee County > Portrait and biographical record of Genesee, Lapeer and Tuscola counties, Michigan > Part 51
USA > Michigan > Lapeer County > Portrait and biographical record of Genesee, Lapeer and Tuscola counties, Michigan > Part 51
USA > Michigan > Tuscola County > Portrait and biographical record of Genesee, Lapeer and Tuscola counties, Michigan > Part 51
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The grandfather of our subject was Joseph Dwelley, ako a native of Maine. He followed the honorable calling of an agriculturist. Stephen Dwelley, the father of our subject, was a prominent man in his locality and held several township offices. De and his wife were liberal and inten- tial members of the Methodist Episcopal Church and were respected wherever known.
The gentleman of whom we write was reared in his native State and there received a fair educa- tion. In 1861, when twenty-three years of age he came to Michigan and resided in East Saginaw for four years, following during that time the occupa- tion of a lumberman. He was married in Flint to Miss Betsey J. Harris, a native of Maine, and a daughter of Stephen Harris, a native also of the Same State. Mrs. Dwelley was one of a family of live sons and three daughters born to her parents. and her father combined the occupation of a far- mer with that of surveyor and scaler. He lived and died in his native State.
Mr. Dwelley of this sketch beenme the father of
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
three children-Mary E., Bessie IL. and Arthur, all of whomare living. Mary E. is a student at Albion College; the other children remain at home with their parents. Mr. Dwelley came to Watertown Township in 1869, and settled on eighty acres of land. This be sold soon after and purchased an- other tract of two hundred seres which he now owns. He has cleared this last acreage with the exception of sixty acres and has created upon the place a good residence built in 18ss. and carries on the work of a general farmer.
In a social way Mr. Dwelley is a Knight of the Maccabees, being identified with Dewitt Lodge at Millington, of which he has been a member about ten year. Our subject and his amiable wife are Methodist in their religious beliefs, in which body they are active members. The Democrats number him among their enthusiastic followers and he has been honored with various school offices in his dis- triet. Mr. Duelley enlisted in Company 11. Twenty-eighth Maine Infantry, in September, 1862, and served bravely and faithfully one year, when he was honorably discharged. le pentici- pated in the following well-known engagements: siege of Port Hudson, Ft. Butler, and numerous skirmishes through Louisiana and Florida. He enjoys the confidence of the business community and is regarded as one of the most trustworthy citizens of the township.
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R EUBEN W. SAGE, the Postmaster of Mundy, Genesee County, was born in Erie County, N. Y., July 30, 181. When about two years old be removed with his parents to Michigan, settling in Macomb County, and he lived there until he was some sixteen years old, passing his boyhood days upon the farm. At that age he came with his parents to Oakland County and set- tled in Addison, where he lived with them until 18.52, at which time be purchased sixty acres in the south part of Mundy Township, and the following spring built a log house upon his property, which he occupied for twenty-five years, At the end of
that time he created a modern and attractive home, which is now his place of residence.
Farming has been the chief business of Mr. Sage's life and he now owns one hundred and sixty acres of rich and arable land. He was married in Ad- dison, Oakland County, this State, Chetober all, 1851, to Fammie 1. Kingsbury, who was born in Siden, August 3, 18:17. The following children have blessed this home. Edwin ., who married Ardilla Covert; James 1 .. , who took to wife Nancy Kelley (now deceased); Charles W., who married Maggie Penny; and Elvert E., who was killed June 2, 1891, while assisting in raising a barn on his father's farm in Mundy Township, being then nineteen years old.
For eight years Mr. Sage has filled the office of Justice of the Peace and he was appointed Post- master under Cleveland's administration, in 1886, and has held that office since. He formerly acted with the Republican party, but of late years has been a Prohibitionist, and takes an active part in political movements. The Methodist Episcopal Church is the religious body with which Mr. and Mrs. Sage are connected and he has held the office of Clas- Leader since 1872.
Mr. Sage enlisted in July, 1862, m Company (', Twenty-third Michigan Infantry, and served for thurve years, taking part in all the battles in which that regiment was engaged. Among them we may mention Campbell Station, siege of Knoxville, Rocca, Dallas, Lost Mountain, Kennesaw, the siege of Atlanta, Columbia, Franklin, Nashville, Spring Hiil, Goldsboro, Ft. Anderson and Wilmington. He was promoted to the rank of Corporal and was mustered out of the service at Salisbury, S. C. re- Giving his discharge at Detroit, and left the ser- vice with greatly impaired health.
The father of Mrs. Sage was the Roy. Leonard Kingsbury, and her mother bore the maiden name of Esther Wilson. Both of them were New York- ers, the mother being born at Crown Point. Mr. Kingsbury was a minister of the Free Will Baptist Church. They both died in Addison, Oakland County, and left right children. of whom Mrs. Sage is the youngest.
The parents of Mr. Sage were James and Nancy (Spofford) Sage, the former a native of Conperti-
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cut and the latter a New Yorker. He was a weaver by trade, but devoted his life mostly to farming. He died in Addison, but his faithful companion, who survived him, expired at the home of her son, our subject, in Mundy Township. They were the parent- of six children and their son Reuben was the third in order of age. The beautiful home of Mr. and Mrs, Sage is the center of a delightful so- cial life and the members of this family are de- servedly popular and esteemed by their neighbors throughout the township and the county.
C YRUS PHELPS is engaged in the hardware business in Flushing. Genesee County, and without doubt has the largest establishment of the kind in the town. Mr. Phelps was born in Genesee County. N. Y., in 1837, and is a son of Cyrus, Sr., and Sarah M. ( Bailey) Phelps, native- of Conneetient. Our subject's father was engaged in farming in Genesee County. N. Y., where he lived throughout his life. He held the office of Supervisor at the time of his death, and has been Assessor for a great many years. He was a Repub- lican of pronounced Cype, and Captain of a militi company in Connecticut, always going by the name of Capt. help, He and his wife were members of the Universalist Church.
Cyrus Phelps, Jr., is one of a fonily of nine chil- dren. six of whom are now living. They are: Henry, Louisa. Sarah. Harvey, he of whom we write and Esther. Our subject was educated in his native county, in the township of Corfu. He was reared a farmer boy and lived at home until twenty-two years of age, at which time he went to Southern Illinois, and was engaged in Washington County in work on a farm. He remained there until the fall of 1861, when he enlisted in the month of May in Company E, Tenth Hinois Infantry, in which he was appointed Corporal. He served for three years, and in 1863 was promoted to the office of Sergeant. He took part in the following battles: Raymond, Miss., Jackson, Champion Hills, and was all through the Siege of Vicksburg and Mission Ridge, and was also in many skirmishes. He was
in the hospital two or three times, and at Vicks- ling received a close call, his hat being shot of his head, and he himself being knocked down.
On his discharge from the army our subject went to Buffalo, N. Y., and there worked for the United States Express Company for fourteen years. His health failing he went to Illinois and located about eighty miles south of Chicago, in Iroquois County. and was there engaged in farming, remaining nutil 1888. He then sold his farming interests and cane to Flushing, and the next spring became engaged in his present business. He has a large trade in both village and country.
Our subject was married in 1866 to Miss danie Davis, of Hlinois, The lady is a daughter of Cor- nelins and Sibyl A. Davis, natives of New York. They removed to finois and became engaged in farming in Will County, and later in Southern Illi- nois, where they remained until their dercase. Our . subject is the father of two children-Nettie M. and Merton D. He is a Republican in politics, and belongs to the firand Army of the Republic. Hle is one of the most enterprising and prominent basi- ness men of Flashing.
R EUREN E. WATSON is an enterprising and stevessfid farmer and stock-raiser of Atlas Township, Genesee County. His farm is located on section 12. He is a native of Ontario, Canada, and was born April 17, 1837, be- ing a son of Joseph and Priscilia (Laves) Watson. His father was a native of London, England, and the mother a native of Pennsylvania. The former died in Canada and the latter at the home of our subject, since he came to Atlas Township.
Reuben E. Watson was reared to manhood in his native country. When about nineteen years of age he began to learn the blacksmith's Trade and followed it for about four years, spend- ing the remainder of his life thus far in farming. He received the rudiments of his education in the district school- of Canada and grew up there to sturdy young manhood. He was married Decem- ber 9, Ist8, to Miss Isabella tions, a native of the
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same place as himself. She was a daughter of Jane and Margaret Gonn. By this union there have Ixen born three children, John .L., Herbert T. and Mary K.
In the summer of 1883 our subject with his fam- ily came to Genere County and settled on his present farm, where he has ever since been a resi- dent. He here owns eighty acres of good land. Ile is a Republican in politics and a profound that party. He and his wife are members of the Baptist Church of Hadley, in which they are both nelive and efficient. Socially Mr. Watson belongs to the Ancient Order of United Workmen. He is a public spirited and enterprising man and is now serving as School Director in Jas district. He and his wife are both favorites in society.
2 EIL. MATHESON. This representative farmer of Marathon Township, Lapeer County, had hi- nativity in the Highlands of Scotland April 20, 1826, his early home being in Southerlandshire. His parents, Hugh and Janet (Mckay) Matheson, were both Scotch by birth and time to Oxford County, Canada, in 1835, bring- ing this son with them. In that province they remained until after the death of the father, who passed from life at the age of sixty-six. Neil was the fourth in the order of birth ina large family of cleven children, and all of these are now living with the exception of two.
Our subject commenced working for himself after reaching his majority and was generally em- ployed in sawmills. Upon the 8th of May, 1855, he came to lapeer and bought one hundred and forty acres, bring the north-west quarter of section 1. This was Government land and was still in its wild condition. A year later he moved onto this farm and to it he has added from tune to time by purchase until he now owns four bun- dred acres entirely unincumbered, the land lying in three different townships.
Matheson consists of a large two-story brick house built in three divisions, one part measuring 18x18 feet, another 18×26 and the larger part 18x28. It has a collar underneath the whole house and is heated by a furnace. An eight-foot stone wall is underneath both of his fine large barns, the larger one of which measures 10x70 feet and the smaller one 38x 10.
This fine estate of two hundred and forty-tive believer in the protective policy as advanced by I acres is rich and well cultivated land and upon it he carries on general farming and stock-raising. He keeps good stock and has an English-shire horse and has raised some of the fastest horses in the State, a branch of business in which he takes great interest and in which he has a justifiable pride.
Our subject was married in 1851 to Miss Mar- garet Brown, daughter of William Brown. Mrs. Matheson is a native of Ireland and she has been the mother of three children, only one of whom is now living, namely: Hugh, who is living on his father's farm. Mr. Matheson has been identified with every movement of importance for the im- provement of the township and county and is a truly publie-spirited citizen.
OHN SMITHI. By long years of arduous work Mr. Smith was able to accumulate n handsome property and in his last years lived retired from the active pursuits of his former calling, that of a farmer. In his pleasant home in Grand Blanc he enjoyed the good things of life, and with genial neighbors communed over what was past as well as the present and the future. His death occurred November 19, 1891. Mr. Smith was a native of New Jersey, Having been born in Sussex County, November 10, 1813. Hle was a son of Estel and Mary ('Tisdale) Smith. Ilis maternal grandsire was an Englishman and a Baptist minister, who emigrated to Sussex County. N. J., from his native land and there died at au advanced age.
Our subject was reared to maturity in his native The commodious and pleasant home of Mr. county and State. His father was a blacksmith and
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the sound of his hammer might be heard ringing against the anvil from early morn until dewy eve. He remained under the parental roof until he was seventeen years old and then began to learn his father's trade, which he followed for several years. He had previously received a fair, common-school education. Although denied advanced educational work, he was well read and was posted on all the current events of the day and an intelligent con- versationalist.
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Our subject was married October 2, 18:1, his bride being Miss Adelia Pierson, who was born in Avon, N. Y. She is a daughter of David Pierson, and a sister of C. C. Pierson of Flint; Mich. By this union there have been born three children- Charles P., Rose and Dimis C. In the fall of 1853 with his family, our subject removed to Genesce County and located in Grand Blanc Township on section 8. He purchased and improved the farm and made it the place of beauty that it is to-day. Mr. Smith was a self-made man in the truest sense of the word, having in carly life made his first and best start unaided and without special encourage- ment. At the time of his death he owned a tine farm of ninety acres, besides having given his chil- dren one hundred and seventy acres. He and his wife, who was his able co-worker, accumulated the greater part of their property since becoming resi- dents of this county. Although Mr. Smith fol- lowed farming all his active life, at times he did odd bits of blacksmithing for friends and neigh- bors, having set up has shop on his own farm in which he did all of his own repairing of machines and showing of horses.
Mr. Smith affiliated with the Republican party. finding in it principles and theories that to him were most practical. Mr. Smith was not only en- terprising, but publie-spirited. All progressive movements appealed to him strongly and found from him support. He was a member of the Bay- tist Church, to which his wife belongs. Socially he was very popular in the community, being hos- pitabie, warm hearted and generous. He served as Deacon and Clerk in his church and was ready to till any public position for which he felt him- self fitted.
Mrs. Smith was born in Avon, N. Y., June 30,
1815. and is a daughter of David and Huldab (Churchill) Pierson. Her parents were natives of Vermont and of the cleven children born to them the following only survive: Mrs. R. Halsey of Grand Blanc; Mrs. Smith, Mrs. A. J. Brainbridge, Charles C., Mrs. D. Lavey, Mrs. Johnson, Mrs. E. B. Rust, Mrs. Day, Delos D. and Ephraim J. Mrs. Sinith received a good common-school education which fitted her well for her sphere in life. She came with her husband to this State in 1853.
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AMMES POLLOCK. Our subject is a resident of Flint Township, Genesce County, having a valuable farm lomited on section 22. 11. was born in Amsterdam, Montgomery County, N. Y., August 31, 1820, and there lived until he was about seventeen years of age, when he removed to the western part of New York State, and soon afterward came to Oakland County. Mich., which was his place of residence until August, 1865, when he came to Genesce County and settled on his present farm.
Mr. Pollock was married in Orion, Oakland County, this State, March 10, 1852, to Miss Susan E. Parkhurst. The was born in Orleans County, N. Y., May 22, 1831. They have been the parents of three children-Charles H., Margaret J. (Mrs. Warren Sheldon) and Franklin A. He hasalways followed agricultural pursuits and at the present time is the owner of eighty acres of land which is in every way in an excellent condition. He has erected upon it a good house and has thereon a comfortable and well-built set of buildings.
In politics our subject is a Republican, believ- ing that party to be the exponent of the best governmental principles. He is liberal in his re. ligious views. His wife is a member of the Meth- odist Episcopal Church, to the support of which he is a liberal contributor. Mr. Pollock is a son of George and May Pollock. Their decease occurred in Amsterdam, N. Y. Mrs. Pollock's parents were Henry and Margaret ( Weldon) Parkhurst. They died in Flint Township where they had been old settlers for several years. Their children are
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substantial and worthy representatives of a good family. Both son are heads of families, Charles 1. having married Minnie Ditslock; Franklin .A. married Cora May field.
L.FRED E. PERRY. The gentleman whowe name heads this sketch is one of the firm of Perry Bros. & Co., dealers in dry-goods and groceries in the village of Flushing. Mr. Perry is a native of Alden Township, Eric County, N. Y., and was born October 15, 1823, and is a son of Chester and Cynthia (Davis) Perry. The mother was a daughter of tien. Davis who figured conspicuously in the War of 1812. They were natives of Massachusetts and New York respect- ively. Our subject's father was a clothier and came to Ypsilanti in 1821. For twenty years he was the proprietor of an hotel in that city, which then contamed only three or four log shanties. During the latter part of the old gentleman's life he was engaged in farming four miles from Toledo, Ohio. He remained there until his death, which occurred in 1888, he being at the time eighty-seven years of age. The mother died in Ypsilanti at the age of eighty-one years. Our subject's grand- parents were laac and Mary ( Tiffany ) Perry, natives of Massachusetts. The father was a Revolutionary soldier and had live children. He was of English descent and a strong Jackson man. In his religious belief he held to universal salvation for all men.
Our subject's maternal grandparents were tien. Daniel and Naomi (LaBaron) Davis, natives of Massachusetts and Connecticut respectively. He was a large farmer and was killed at Ft. Erie in 181.1. He was of Welch descent and his wife of French extraction. Our subject's father was a prominent man in his locality and widely known. He had a family of five children three of whom are living-he of whom we write. Imogene and Adelaide.
Alfred Perry came with his parents to Ypsilanti when but eleven months old. He was educated in that town and lived at home until reaching Is majority. In 1819 he took a trip to the gold fields
and returned in 1852, having been reasonably sue- cessful. Later he came to Flushing and was ex- tensively engaged in the lumber business. He built a sawmill on the Flint River at Flushing and continued in that business for about twenty-five Scar ..
For the past ten years Mr. Perry has been en- gaged in the mercantile business in partnership with his sons. They built their line block, which is 22x80 feet in dimensions and two stories in height. It is constructed of brick and is an im- posing building. They have besides built two fine dwellings. Our subject was married in 1818 to Miss Susan Welsh, of Pittsfield, Washtenaw County. She is a daughter of Isaac and Fanny Welsh. By this union our subject has become the father of live children. They are Arthur, Walter, Edmund, Ada and Minnie. The original of our sketch is a Democrat in his political convictions. Socially he is a Mason. He is a man of strong temperance principles and is one whose influence for good is felt throughout the community.
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OUN MARSHALL is a farmer on section 12, Almout Township, Lapeer County, where he has three hundred and twenty acres of good and arable land. He was born in the city of Edinburgh, Scotland, June 25, 1812, and is the son of Charles and Mary ( Baird) Marshall. His father moved from Edinburgh to l'ai-les, a manu- facturing town in the southwestern part of Soul- land. Our subject, however, returned to Edin- burgh where his brother Charles was attending college, and in that city learned the art of pattern- drawing which he followed a number of years. He was also engaged in the manufacture of shawls, for which the city to which his parents had re- moved is famous.
lle of whom we write was united in the bonds of wedlock when about twenty-five years old to Miss Janet Spiers, their marriage being solemnized .hume 25, 1839. He and his wife with their infant child Charles, come to America in 1×12, proceeding direct to Michigan and settling in Almont Town-
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ship, Lapeer County, where they purchased forty neres of Government land. This our subject began to clear, although he was entirely inexperienced in agricultural work and found some difficulty in learning to mer un ns. He, however, learned gradually and in adunit four years sont his place for $100 and purchased eighty acres where he now hves. Since coming to this location he has added piece by piece other land and has cleared off about one hundred acres.
Our subject and his wife are the parents of six sons and two daughters, whose names are as fol- lows: Charles S., John S., James S., William S. David S., Joseph S., Janet S., Elizabeth S. John runs a sawmill in Imlay City, his brother Joseph being partner in the same; James died in the Col- orado mines, losing his life in a snow slide; William and his brother Charles are millers in Inday City; David is a storekeeper in the same place; Janet married George 11. Hallock and makes her home with our subject; Elizabeth married Edward Hal- lock who is a farmer in Almont Township. Our subject's wife died July 6, 1878. lle voted the Democratie ticket until 1800, when he cast his vote for Abraham Lincoln and has ever since been a Republican. He was once elected as Highway Commissioner, but refused to serve, and was also elected Drain Commisioner. Our subject is a member of the Church of the New Jornalem, as are also his children.
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R EV. HENRY HORATIO NORTHROP AS a preacher is a well-balanced, deeply-feeling, deeply-thinking man, one who reasons so- belly and evenly and never runs to ex- tremes; he is very straightforward in his manner of reading, praying and preaching. He strives not for effect, beyond giving the fuli meaning and spirit of the Word. His heart is filled with love for his fellow-men. and his creed is that all the doctrines and duties of religion are from the heart of a loving Father and Redeemer. He is now the pioneer Presbyterian minister of Michigan, and al- though now having no pastoral charge, is a P'res-
byterial misummary of the Presbytery of Flint. l'ersonally, la is strongly built, and of a healthy wide awake temperament. His voice is of great distinctness and volume and can be heard in the largest auditorium and is unusually phasing. In connection with this notice his portrait appears on another page.
The Rev. Mr. Northrop was born in Galway. Saratoga County, N. Y., June 13, 1811. He is a son of Dr. Booth and Holdah (Shepard) Northrop. who were natives of Newtown, Conn., and of English descent. Dr. Northrop was a student under Dr. Shepard of Connecticut and in 1810 wa- licensed a physician and surgeon and located at Galway, N. Y. He practiced there twenty-seven years and then removed to Medina, Orleans County, N. Y., where he died at the age of forty-nine years. Ile was a darksonian Democrat in his political belief, and an Old School Presbyterian. Our sub jeet's mother was a daughter of Amos Shepard. a farmer by calling and of English descent, his ancestors having come from England about 1610. Mrs. Northrop, died in Elgin, I., and is interred at Medina, Orleans County, N. Y. She was the mother of six children, there being three boys and three girls. Their names are: Amelia, Reberes, George C., Huldah, Byron B. and our subject, who is the oldest of the family.
After taking a preparatory course at Fairfield Academy, Mr. Northrop entered I'nion College at Schenectady, N. Y., two years in advance, when eighteen years of age. He graduated there in the Class of at when twenty years old, taking the highest honors of his class of sixty-ix members and receiving the degree of Bachelor of Arts. He then became Principal of the academy of Guilford in Chenango County, and in 1831, after teaching six months. entered the Auburn Presbyterian Theo- Jogical Seminary from which he graduated in 1837 and was licensed to preach in April of the stone year, not yet being twenty-three years of age. Ilis ministerial career began at Millville, near Medina, N. Y., and while there he received a call from Dex- tor, Mich., which he accepted. He journeyed in primitive fashion by boat and stage for over three days. He preached in Dexter and in Lima for three years and then accepted a call to White l'ig-
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