Portrait and biographical record of Genesee, Lapeer and Tuscola counties, Michigan, Part 55

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 55
USA > Michigan > Lapeer County > Portrait and biographical record of Genesee, Lapeer and Tuscola counties, Michigan > Part 55
USA > Michigan > Tuscola County > Portrait and biographical record of Genesee, Lapeer and Tuscola counties, Michigan > Part 55

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

NDREW J. PHILLIPS, one of the most prominent citizens of Fenton, and one of the leading manufacturers of the State, was born in Hartland Township. Living- ston County, Mich., October 9, 18:17. His father, Charles B. Phillips, who was a New York farmer, came to Michigan in 1835 and became a pioneer in Hartland Township. He is now spending his hat- ter days in Fenton as he has passed his eightieth milestone. He was the son of a senfaring man who did a good mercantile business on the seas for some years. The mother of our subject bore the manden name of Mary E. Morse. She became the mother of seven children, and died in 1850. An- drew was born in a log house which was created by his father, and until he was seventeen attended the log schoolhouse but after that time was sent to the I'nion Schools at Milford. At the age of twenty he went to Calhoun County, where he

worked for a pumpmaker, whose methods in ma- chinery he was able to greatly improve. About the same time he was engaged for several years in operating a thresher during the season.

In 1861 Mr. Phillips was married to Mias .Julia Bullard, and the following year be removed to Milford, where he engaged in the manufacture of renpers and mowers in partnership with Wells Bros. As the machinery at that time was almost entirely of iron and steel, the complications follow- ing the Civil War impaired the success of hi- business, and he returned to the manufacture of pumps. He sold out his outfit in the fall of 1869 and came to Fenton, where he enlarged his business and purchased steam power, adding milk safes to his output. About this time he invented and made the first bent snow shovel ever made, and in his endeavor to perfect this invention he botled the timber for the first shovel in a boiler in his own kitchen and thus was able to bend the wood. This novelty sold from the start and his trade in it increased until he sold seventy-live thousand a year. About this time he also invented a new style of adjustable window screens of which he now manufactures a large stock.

In 1888 our subject organized the firm of A. J. Phillips & Co., with capital stock paid up, and took his two sons, Winfield B. and E. Ashley, and also his brother, Judson B. into the firm. They have several large buildings, the one Imuilt last your containing more than twenty-six thousand square feet of flour and another is four stories high with dimensions of 80\ 100 feet. From seventy- live to one hundred men are here constantly em- ployed and the product of this establishment is shipped to every State in the Union. The young men of this firm are active and enterprising and cach has charge of a separate department in the business. They manufacture goods to the extent of $150,000 annually and they utilize over lifty- thousand square feet of floor space. One million five hundred thousand feet of wire screening are used by them annually. and between three and four million feet of lumber. They employ travel- ing salesmen and pay over $10.0000 a year in freights.

" Not how much, but how well " is the motto of

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this fim, as is shown by the fact that they have the reputation of making the best goods in the market. They have a free library for the use of their workmen and look after the interest of those who are their hetpers. They have now four ware- houses and have recently purchased seven acres of land, to be used for storage.

The three children of our subject are Winfield R., E. Ashley and Harry J., and to each has been given a good commercial education. Mr. Phillips is a Republican in politics and was on the common council for several years, besides being a member of the Water Works Commission which put in the line water works at Fenton. He has for a number of years been a member of the Masonic order. He visited in Europe at the time of the Paris E's- position. In 1890 he created one of the finest. and most imposing residences in tienesce County. He is prominent and well respected and is a lib. erat contributor to any enterprise tending to the uplmitding of Fenton and his business is a great advantage in every way to the town.

OHIN BURLESON, who farms one hundred acres of land on sections 26 and 27. Clay- ton Township, Tienece County, was born m Macomb County. this State, April 11, 1511. His parents, John W. and Nancy (Cald- well) Burleson, were natives of Canada, and were there married. In Territorial days the elder Mr. Burleson came to Michigan with his father and made a settlement in Macomb County, taking up one hundred and sixty acres of land. He sale- quently lived in Ray Township, that county, and Plainfield Township, Kent County, and on the 24th of October. 1857, he came to Clayton Town- ship and settled upon a portion of this land, where his son now lives Here he resided untit 1891. when he removed to Tima Township, Saginaw County, where he is engaged in farming.

The paternal grandparents of our subject. John and Many (Brown) Burleson, were natives of Ver- mont and Ireland respectively. After coming to

Michigan the grandfather spent the remainder of his days here on section 21, Clayton Township. He was a Democrat in his political belief. They had a farmly of thirteen children, and all but two of them are still living The maternal grandpar- ents were John and Mary ( Miller) Caldwell, both of whom were Canadians and spent their lives in that province. Seven of their nine children are still living.

The large family of children to which our sub- jeet belonged numbered eight. Their names are: John, William 11 .; Margaret, Mrs. James Decker; Nelson, David, Wesley; Arrilla, Mrs. II. Bristol, and Andrew J. The carly training and education of John Burleson were obtained in this township, and he lived at home until he reached the age of twenty-two. On the 20th of September, 1861, he enlisted in Company E. Twenty-third Michigan Infantry, and was in the service for nine months, being sick most of the time, so that he did not take part in any battle. He was taken sick at Chat- tanooga and returned to Nashville, thener to New Albany, Ind .. and had his discharge at Louisville, June 6, 1865.

After returning home, this young man spent two winters in the pine wood- in the northern part of the Mate, and between the years of 1865-75 purchased and sold three farms. In the year 1875 be purchased forty acres of land where he How lives, and added to it until he now has one hundred neres. This he proceeded to clear and to provide with good buildings, and it is now in an excellent condition. In 1867 he married Annie M., daughter of Jonathan W. and Phabe .A. (Cald- well) Rock, natives of Nova Scotia and Canada. The brothers and sisters of Mrs. Burleson are: . lo- sinh; Naomi, Mrs. George MeKinzie; James E., John; and Lovina, Mrs. I. C. Packard.

The five children of our subject and his worthy wife are: Cora A., Mrs. Abraham Brewer, of Swartz Creek, this county; Naney 1 ... Eliza M., Sie L. and Cassie B. Mr. Burleson is a Democrat in his po- litical views and a member of the Order of Odd Fellows. He has been a Constable and a Director and Assessor of the School District for the past twenty years, and is now a Director of the tiene- see County Farmers' Hogy Fire Insurance Com-

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pany. He is a charter member of Ferren Post, No. 208, G. A. R., and takes a great interest in the old soldiers' reunions. I'pon his farm may be found fine stock and everything in excellent con- dition, and he is counted as one of the prominent farmers of the township.

b ENRY R. CASE, M. D. Among the prom- inent and successful physicians and sur- grons in practice m Genesee County, this State, whom the publishers of this Reconn take pleasure in presenting to his fellow-men and associates, is he whose name is above. He is a res- ident of Grand Blanc, where he enjoys a large and lucrative practice, having extensive patronage not only in the town of which he is a resident, but also in the surrounding country. He was born August 5, 1818, and is a son of Richard and Caroline (Clark ) Case, both of whom were natives of New York State. They came to Oakland County, this State in the 'Ils and were here early settlers.

The youth of our subject was spent on a farm and his primary education was acquired in the district school and on finishing his comse he be- came a student at the Flint High School. I 1869 be entered the National Medical College, a branch of the Columbian College, located at Washington, D. C. Here he took a four years' come and graduated therefrom in 1873. Ile subsequently became a resident physician of the Children's Hospital at Washington, D. C', but old associations and ties had not relinquished their hold upon his memory, and he determined to re- turn to Michigan, which he did in 1871.

At the date nhove mentioned Dr. Case located in the pretty town of Grand Blane and has since that time been in constant and active practice of his profession. During his residence in Washing- ton, he was for three years connected with the In- terior Department in the Civil Service office, at the same time pursuing his studies and taking lectures. The man who has will power enough to pursue n fixed purpose in this way, while being under the necessity of supporting himself by such

arduous work as was that Dr. Care took up, could not but make a success in a professional way, not has he disappointed his friends in this respeel.

The marriage of Dr. Case was solemmized October 21. 1876; his bride was Frances A. Gibson, the daughter of the late C. D. W. Gibson, an early settler of Grand Blanc Township. Dr. Care is a be- liever in the advantages of the Republican party, it to him being the exponent of all that is must reasonable in Governmental science. Our subject and his wife are in their church relations met- hers of the Methodist Episcopal denomination and are actively interested in the social life of the church as well as in its spiritual development. Dr. Case is a member of the Genesee County Medical Association, and moreover a member of the Amer- ivan Medical Association. Although still a young man the carver of our subject has already been marked with so great a degree of success that it is only reasonable to expect of him great things for the future. The discoveries in the science of medi- eine have not been exhausted. There are still new and untried fields for skilled practitioners and theorists to work upon.

ON. MARVIN L. SEELEY. The son of Daniel H. Seeley, who is one of the vener- able pioneer residents of this portion of the county, was born in Flint, April 15, 1810. Ile is the fifth child in order of birth of his parents' family. After finishing his education in the town of Flint he studied law with . William M. Fenton as preceptor. After he was admitted to the bar he went to Ann Arbor nad entered the law department of the university in which he pursued a student's course for six months. In 1867 he began his law practice in Flint and continued in it with gratifying steres until com- ing to take charge of his father's business.

Marvin I. Seeley was married June 12, 1871, to Jeane I. Brown, who was born in Yorkshire, England, .hun 13, 1813. She there remained until six years of age and then came to the I'nited States and settled at Niagara Falls, and in 1862

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came to Michigan. Mr. and Mrs. Seeley are the parents of Circe children, two sonsand one daugh- ter. They are. Burton T., who was born December 25, 1872,and isattending the State Mining School in the Upper Peninsula; Barns l., was born June Il, 1875, and is at present in attendance at the High School at Flint; Thyra B., was born March 19, 1880, and is attending school at home. Our sub- jeet follows the traditions and example set by his family in a political way, being a stanch Democrat practically and theoretically. For eight years he held the office of Justice of the Peace and for four years was Supervisor. He is a member of the Leg- islature, representing the Second District of Tiene- see County. He was appointed on the drainage commission and was Supervisor to fill a vacancy. He has also held various school offices and has been on the Board of Directors for ten years.

Mr. Seeley has accomplished muchas a representa- tive of this vicinity. It was through him that the city hall of tienece Township and also the brick schoolhouse were built. He was also appointed Chairman to the auxiliary committee of the State Board of Managers of the World's Fair, including the Sixth Congressional District.

C HAARLES CHURCHILL PIERSON. Our sub- jeet is one of the oldest settlers in Genere County, and is a prominent and much respected man. Although early in life he suffered a great disappointment in being the victim of an accident that resulted in a personal blemish, so ambitious and energetic has he been that he has conquered fate, and has necumulated a snug fort- une and has a beautiful home. He is the head of the firm of C. C. Pierson & Son, general produce dealers, located at No. 119 Kearsley Street. He is a Director also of the tienesce County Savings Bank. He was born in East Avon, Living-ton County, N. Y., January 18. 1818, and is n son of David Pierson, and a grandson of Jesse Pierson, a native of Connecticut and a soldier in the Revolu- tionary War, who served under Gens. Washington

and Putnam. He was also part of the time upon a privateer on the ocean, and was on Long Island the night it was surrendered to the British. Like many of the other Revolutionary soldiers he suf- fored severely from privations, both of clothing and food during a severe winter.

After the war our subject's grandfather located in Wells Township, Vermont, and there improved a farm. At a later period he moved to Avon, .V. Y. His decease took place when seventy-two years of age. His father was a native of England. Our subject's father resided on the original homestead in Avon, N. Y., and there died at the age of sixty- right yous. His wife's maiden name was Huldah Churchill, a native of Hubbarton. \'t. She too was of English descent. The Churchills were promi- nent people in Vermont. The family later went to New York and settled in Livingston County. Our subject's mother died in Leroy, Genesce County. N. Y., at the age of seventy-six years." She was the mother of eleven children, there being eight girls and three boys, ten of whom are now living, and the youngest is sixty-two years of age. They are by name: Ruhan. Mrs. Habey; Adelin. Mrs. Smith: Ann. Mrs. Bainbridge; our subject; Jane, Mr -. Lacey; Mary, Mrs. Johnson; Ephraim J .; Laura, Mrs. Rust; Media, Mrs. Day, and De. 10: 1) .

Our subject was reared in his native place. le attended the district school at Avon for one winter and then went to West Avon Academy, In 1810 he made a trip to Michigan to attend to some land belonging to his father in Livingston County. After spending some time in this locality be re- turned to New York and there remained until the fall of 1812, when coming to Michigan he located permanently, first settling in Grand Blanc, In 1813 he traded the Livingston County land for land in Grand Blanc, Genesee County, securing one hundred and thirty-five acres, which was par- tially improved, tifty neres of it having been fenced, and an orchard having been planted. There was also an apology for a house.

Going energetically to work our subject grubledl out the land and added fifty neres to it. In 1817 he lost his arm by an accident, it being caught in the cylinder of a thresher, necessitating its ampa-

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tation half way between the elbow and shoulder. He then rented his farm and engaged in teaching, having been so employed three winters previous to this. He taught for five winters and then went back to his tain. There were deer here at the Time of his coming that were so tame that they would come to the door and feed in the wheat. There were also shakes, our subject having him- self killed a black snake that was seven and one- half foot in length. They hauled all their wheat to Pontiac, and it took two days to make the trip. The first shearing of wood was sold in De- troit at twenty-five cents per pound. In the fall of 1818 om subject, with Mr. G. Davidson and Eno- Goodrich, purchased eighteen pure-bred Me- rino Vermont sheep, bringing them from New York, also a purebred short-horn male, the first one in the county. So greatly has the sentiment changed in regard to fine-bred animals that Mr. Ephraim Harvey, of Livingston County, who years ago de- clared to our subject that he would never pay more than $5 for any buck, has since paid $100 or $500 for a single animal, and is now one of the greatest sheep men in the State.

Our subject was very successful in raising sheep, taking from the first Book three pounds to the head. By improving them with the Merinos they soon averaged over six pounds to the head. At one time he had tive lumdred head of sheep, and has been one of the most successful sheep-misers of this part of the country. He sold in 1863 fifteen hundred and sixteen pound- at $t per pound.

Mr. Pierson was one of the organizers of the Generer Agricultural Society. He was also one of the organizers of the Genere County Mutual Fire Insurance Company, which is one of the richest companies in the State. Our subject lived on his farm outil 1861, and in April of that month he moved to Flint, since which time he has engaged in his present business. He and his son are dealers in all kinds of produce, and make large shipments of grain and hay. He was the owner, with C. (. Belan, of the first Diedrick Press in this county, and has shipped as many as one hundred car loads of hay to one man in a single winter. He is also agent for the Champion machine and the Bean Harvester. He is the owner of one hundred and

eighty-five acres of land in Grand Blanc Township, which his son, Charles S., operates. He has besides some valuable real estate in Flint. He owns twenty- three acres inside the city limits.

Our subject was married in Ation, Calhoun . County, this State. December 19, 1812, to Miss Martha A. Dutton, a native of New York and a daughter of Enos Dutton, who was an early settler in this State. Mrs. Pierson was educated at Albion College and is n cultured and lovely woman. She is the mother of six children-Martha J., Mrs. Pier; Enos D. is a graduate of the University of Michi- gan. and engaged with his father; Charles S. is on the farm; Anna 11., Mrs. William Edwards; Fred J., who is in partnership with his father, and is also n job printer in the city; Mier A. will graduate with the class of '93 from the High School. In their religious preference the family are Baptists. He has always been a teacher in Sunday school, and was Superintendent of the Mission. He is a Republican.

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SAAAC L .. HEMINGWAY. The wealth of fun- her in Michigan has furnished the material out

- of which many a man has carved his fortune and many more have made for themselves and families a comfortable support. This line of industry is one in which Mr. Hemingway, of Mar- athon Township. Lapeer County, has long been engaged. and in it he has been successful. He has at the same Ome carried on farming and is a native of the Wolverine State, as he was born in Oakland County, Angust 19. 1836. His parents, Col. S. and Merrilla (Potter) Hemingway, had a family of eleven children, and this son remained at home with them until he was twenty-four years of age.

The father was a native of New York, and a mitl man by trade, who came to Michigan as early as 1823, and look up Government land. He did not devote himself entirely to milling but more fully to farming. At the age of sixteen base was quite an expert as a loviness man and attended to most of his father's outside affairs, and upon attaining hi- majority he went into partnership with his

Truly Yours N. A. Beecher

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father nud his brother Henry in the lumbering business.

In 1865 these young men built an extensive sawmill which they operated under the firm name of I. 1 .. & 1. 1 .. Hemingway. For twelve years they carried this on successfully and profitably. but at that time the estate was divided and some eight years ago Isaar sold the mill and now lives on section 16. He has a two-story frame house in process of erection which will be, when completed, one of the best houses in that part of the township, ns it has many modern improvements and will be heated by a furnace.

New Year's Day, 1861 was a notable date in the life of Mr. Hemingway, as upon that day he was united in marriage with Miss Mary A., daughter of Charles and Laura (Tower) Summers, Mrs. Hemingway was born in Oakland County, this State, March 26, 1810, and to them have been granted five children, one of whom has been called from their arms by death. Mr. Hemingway has held many township offices and has been Justice of the Peace for twelve years and has just been re- elected for a term of four years. He has also filled with satisfaction the office of Supervisor.

h ON. NORMAN A. BEECHER, whose por- trait is presented on the opposite page, was born in Albany County, N. Y., at Rens- selaerville, April 22, 1830. His parent-, Calvin and Emeline (Stebbins) Beecher, were natives of New York, the former born in Albany County and the latter in Westchester, Dutchess County. They were married in Albany County, Devem- ber 16, 1821, and in 1831 moved to their beau- tiful farm in Owego, Tioga County, where they spent the latter part of their lives.

The early history shows that all the Beechers emne from Isaac, the son of Hannah, who came over to New Haven, Conn., in 1638. The great- grandfather of our subject of the paternal side was Capt. Amos Beecher, who was born in Wal- cott, Conn .. . hume 10, 17 Et, and served as a Captain in the Revolutionary War. In 1795 he removed to Rensselaerville, N. Y., where he died september 6, 1818. Ile was an own cousin of Dr. Lyman Beecher, the father of Henry Ward Receber. By his first wife his chileren were-Samuel, Lucy. Amos, Rebecca and Salmon I. He was a second time married and by that union became the father of one son-Joseph Abbott.

The paternal grandparents of our subject were Salmon I. and Lovisa (Sheklon) Beecher, who were

natives of Connecticut nud were there married September 26, 1799. Their four children hore the unmes of Calvin, Huldah, Polly and Amanda, and the last named is now living at Fleming ville, Tioga County, N. Y. The children comprising the family to which our subject belongs were Julia (Mrs. James A. Dean ), Isaac S., Norman A., Salmon 1., Warren, Sarah J. ( Mra. William Burgett), Rollin 1., Lyman, and a half sister. Emily Beecher, by second marriage. Calvin Beccher was n prominent farmer of Tioga County and in his religious views was connected with the Methodist EpiscopalChurch. The maternal grandfather of our subject, Isane Stebbins, was born in Connecticut in 1776 and was a carpenter and millwright by trade. Reli- giously he was a member of the Presbyterian Church. He was married to Sallie Sutherland, and they became the parents of six children, viz: Emeline, Elon, William, Betsey, Jane and Lewis. Grandfather Stebbins died at the age of forty-nine year's.

The education of our subject was obtained in the common schools and in the Academy at Owego, N. Y. At the age of seventeen he began teaching and spent fourteen terms at the profesion in New York and Michigan. When he attained to his majority he went to Orleans County, N. Y., whence in 1857 he came to Michigan and settled on section 10, Clayton Township, Genesce County, where he now resides. To his original purchase of eighty acres he added until he now has a fine farm of two hundred and twenty acres, conceded to be one of the finest estates in the county. As a fruit grower and nurseryman, Mr. Beecher is well known, being a thorough horticulturist and having written many articles on that subject. For more than twenty years he has raised and sold fruit trees and to-day has twelve hundred trees in bearing condition.

With the public life of the township and county Mt. Boucher has been choreiy identified, and for several years served as Township Superintendent of Schools, In 1885 he was elected by the Repub- lican Party as the Representative of the First Dis- trist of Generer County in the State Legislature, and served so acceptably that he was re-elected for a second term. He served as Chairman of the Committee on the Agricultural College und in 1887 was made Chairman of the Committee on Normal School. He was the father of the "For- "story" bill for the protection of timber through- out Michigan and in that work received the support of the best men in the State. His first ballot was rt for President Buchanan but since then he has voted the Republican ticket.

September 19. 1855, Mr. Beecher was married to Miss Lovernu D. Billings, of Albion, N. Y. This

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Portrait and biographical record of Genesee, Lapeer and Tuscola counties, Michigan, Part 55

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