USA > Michigan > Genesee County > Portrait and biographical record of Genesee, Lapeer and Tuscola counties, Michigan > Part 58
USA > Michigan > Lapeer County > Portrait and biographical record of Genesee, Lapeer and Tuscola counties, Michigan > Part 58
USA > Michigan > Tuscola County > Portrait and biographical record of Genesee, Lapeer and Tuscola counties, Michigan > Part 58
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Mr. Frise owns considerable real estate in this
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city and is prominent in business circles. He is n member of Genesee Lodge, No. 171, F. & .A. M., Washington Chapter, No. 15, Flint Council, No. 56, Royal and Select Masters, and Genere Valley Commandery, No. 15, K. T. The Order of For- esters counts him as one of its best known and most influential members, as he is at present the High Chief Ranger of the order in Michigan, the highest office to which he can attain. He is a demitted member of the order of Odd Fellows, and also belongs to the Knights of the Maccabees. In his polities he is a Republican, and i- indueu- tial in the ranks of his party.
11.1.IAM A. SLEEMAN. We are gratified to lay before our readers a sketch of this well-known citizen of Inlay City, who was born in London, Canada, September 15, 1817. and who is a son of William and Catherine (Hicks) Sleeman, natives of Devonshire, England. They were born in the same parish and were mar- ried in England, after which they removed from their native home and came to Canada.
The father of our subject was a farmer and his son was trained upon the farm until he was about seven years of age, after which he was in London for live year- and afterward returned to the conn- try. He received a common-school education and at the age of fifteen began to learn his trade in London, serving a regular apprenticeship, receiving his board and clothes the first year and during the last year being paid $125. He became a thorough and practical blacksmith and after leaving his ma -- ter worked in various place, in Canada a, a jour neyman, and came to Michigan in the fall of 1867. He found employment first in Detroit and after. ward spent a year in Flint. He also spent some time in Grand Rapid, and Romeo. In Bay City he started a shop of his own and there he was mar- ried on the 5th of March, 1872, to Miss Minnie Cooper. This lady was born in London, England, November 1, 1852. She is a daughter of John and Margaret Cooper.
employ of A. W. Sage & Co., well-known lumber- men of West Bay City, and did all their black- smithing. He lived at Lindon, Genesee County, for two years and care to Imlay City in 1885. Here he has a good home and also owns his own shop. He is a man of intelligence and more than ordinary observation and thought and he has the reputation of doing the best work in the county.
Our subject and his worthy wife have three bright, interesting daughters. Blanche graduated from the High School here in 1891 and expects to be a teacher; she was born in West Bay City, July 16, 1873. Grace was born July 8, 1875, and is a member of the Class of '93 in the High School, and Margaret, who was born October 7. 1879, will be a school girl for some years to come.
The doctrine of the Republican party commend themselves to the judgment of Mr. Sleeman and he is a member of the Village Board of Tru. tees and i- serving his second term thereon, and in the In- dependent Order of Odd Fellows he has held all the offices and represented the Lodge at the Grand Lodge at Saginaw in 1891. He is also a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen. The mother of the highly estermed citizen makes her home with him most of the time as she has been for many years a widow, having been bereaved by the death of her husband in May, 1872.
2 HEODORE STICKLE, a farmer residing in Koy lton Township, Tu-cola County, was born in 1838 in Dutchess County, N. Y., and is a son of Heury 1. and Sophia Stickle. The father, who was born in 1800 in the same county which became the birthplace of lus son, was reared on a farm and always followed agricultural pur- suits, In 1851 be removed his family to another part of his native State and there passed away in 1876. His wife was the daughter of Henry Coopernail, of Dutchess County, and survived her husband five years. This worthy comple held membership in the Lutheran Church.
The paternal grandfather of our subject was Mr. Sleeman was for a number of years in the į Andrew Stickle, who was born in Dutchres County,
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N. Y., and led the quiet, mueventful life of a former. Great-grandfather Nicholas Stickle was one of seven brothers who emigrated from Germany and enlisted in the Revolutionary War, one being killed while in servier. Theodore Stickle, of this sketch, began life for himself at the age of mineteen years, settling on a farm in Wayne County, N. Y., where he remained until 1856. At that time be removed West, and coming to Michigan, settled in Genesce County, where he remained on a farm until he came to his present home in To-cola County in
Upon his arrival in this county Mr. Stickle pur- chased one hundred and twenty acres of umber land and in the lapse of ten years we see the forest swept before his as and instead of the mighty pine claiming the soil we find the most flourishing crops. In 1860 Mr. Stickle was married to Clarissa, the daughter of Paul and Clara Scovel, and of this union six children have been born. three of whom died young. The surviving ones are Nelson, MI- bert and William.
G RUSSELL PARKER. Prominent in social and agricultural circles is the family repre. sented by the name at the head of this par- agraph. This well-known farmer and stock- raiser residing on section 28, Grand Blane Town- ship, Genere County, is a native of Oakland County, and was born November 6, 1x39. He is a son of Jonathan D. and Abigail (Case) Parker, the latter being a native of Connecticut and the former of Massachusetts. Jonathan Parker emi- grated with his family to Oakland County, Mich .. in 1837, and buying land from the Government at $1.25 per acre, established himself here, carrying on the farm until his death in June, 1888. Five of the six children survive, namely: Sarah, wife of 11. H. Cook; G. Russell, Willis, Abigail, wife of Edward Parsons; and Henry. The family made its home in a log cabin and undertook pioneer work and here our subject was reared to manhood and received his antly education in the district
schools supplementing his studies there by a short course in the High School nt Flint, after which he taught school for several winters. For four years he engaged in buying and shipping grain at Grand Blanc, previous to which he had carried on mer- cantile business in that village, and somewhat later he was also in the grain business at Fenton.
In the spring of 1877 Mr. Parker settled upon a farm on section 17. Grand Blanc Township. where his son, Walter, now lives, and it was in the spring of Je90 that he established himself where he now resides upon a property of our hundred and twenty-live acres. His first marriage brought him a true helpmate in the person of lelen King. and by her he had one son-Walter. After her death he married Alura Parsons, to whom have been granted four children, one of whom has passed away. The three who are living are James W .. Clare IL .. and Sarah .1.
The original of our sketch has served the town- ship of Giraud Blane as Clerk and for several years was Justice of the Peace. He is earnestly in favor of all movements for the purification of society and the elevation of the commonwealth, and in his political views is in sympathy and in work with the Prohibition party. He is a member of the Farmers' Alliance, and the Congregational Church county both him and his family among its prom- inent members. In the work of the Sunday- whool he is unusually efficient and has acted as Superintendent. He is considered as among the leading and prosperous agriculturists of tienesee County.
W ILLIAM E. BEST. M. D., of North Branch Township, Lapeer County, was born in Oxford County, Dercham Township. Can- ada, January 20, 1810, and is the son of Conrad and Catherine ( Louks) Best. The father was born and reared in Germany and the mother wa- a na- tive of the Green Mountain State. Conrad Bo-1 came to this country when only a lad and here undertook farming and it was upon his father's farm that our subject had his early training and
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education, attending first the common-schools and when twelve years of age entering Victoria Col- lege at Coburg, of which institution his father was one of the founders. A year later he entered the I'niversity of Toronto where he went to prepare himself for the ministry, but after two years in that institution he came to the decision that he was not a fit subject to undertake the sacred duties of the profession and changed his object in life.
The young man now took a course of study at at Ralph's Medical School in Toronto after which he entered the University of Philadelphia whence he graduated in 1860, being then less than twenty- one years of age. Having now received Ins de- gree of Doctor of Medicine, he returned to Can- ada, and as his father had died during the year he devoted himself for some time to settling up the es- tate und remained there for two years. In 1863 he returned to the States and took a position : Assistant Surgeon at St. John's Hospital in Little Rock, Ark., where he was retained for six months, but as he was dissatisfied here he sought and ob- tained another position as Assistant Surgeon in the I'nited States Navy which he tilled until the close of the war.
In the fall of 1865 the young doctor came to North Branch and began the general practice of medicine which he has since continued here with- out change of residence. He was married Febru- ary 22, 1868, to Elizabeth Dunham of North Branch, a daughter of Nathan Dunham, of this place. To her was born one child-Elizabeth B., but when this unfortunate little one was but three days old it was bereaved of a mother's love and care, as Mrs. Best died April 5, 1870. Dr. Best's second marriage took place December 25, 1871, and she who became his wife was Rachel Jane Lammerman of North Branch. She is now the mother of one child-Alena Maud, who was born March 11, 1873. They have lost three children, all dying in infancy.
The doctrines of the Republican party are those which Dr. Best considers most conducive to the ultimate prosperity of the country. He now holds the office of County Physican of Lapeer County, besides being Inspector of Schools, and Pension Examiner for the Government. Every one of the
minor offices in the gift of the people of this place has been given him, and his popularity is on- doubted. On two diferent occasions he has lost nearly all his property by fire, at one time his resi- dence, lara, opera house, etc .. being destroyed and the second time he lost his office, library and in- struments, but he has rallied from these misfor- times and i a successful man.
ICHOLAS S. SHIPPY was born in Adams Township, Jefferson County, N. Y. on the 25th of August 1821, and is now a resident of North Branch Township, Lapeer County. Pas- cong, R. I., was the native town of his parents, Stephen and Abigail (Salsberry) Shippy. When our subject was but nine months old his parents came in 1822 to Michigan, locating in Oakland County, thus becoming pioneer farmers of that re- gion. During the winter terms the boy attended the common schools and had to make the most of the advantages thus obtained, as his help was needed on the farm during the summers. His carly experiences accustomed him to privations, hardships and hard work, and he assisted his par- ents in carrying on the farm until he reached the age of twenty-one, at which time he bought a place for himself.
Here the young man lived until 1851 when he come to Lapeer County and settled on section 2, of North Branch Township. He claims that he chopped the first free for the improvement of the land. He took up his land from the Government under the second graduation act at fifty cents per acre and having built a log cabin he began to make clear- ings. During the first year be succeeded in clearing only forty acres hut continued his work in this direction until he now has it all cleared but sixty
Christmas Day, 1810, is the date of the marriage of our subject with Miss Sarah M. Follows, of Dryden, this county. Their two children, Charles W and Priscilla have both left the parental home and gone to establish families of their own. One child, a girl, died at the age of two years. Mr.
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Shippy holds that the Democratic faith embodies the doctrines which are safest for the country and best adapted to secure its prosperity and he has ever taken n lively interest in politics. He has filled the offices of Commissioner of Highways, Supervisor and Treasurer.
He of whom we write is a thorough and practi- cal farmer and has a variety of crops besides mais- ing a good grade of live stock on his place. The improvements upon his farm have all been put there by himself as it has been his since it came from the hands of the Government, and its line cultivation reflects great credit upon him.
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IL.LIAM D. PENOYER. The portrait pre- sented on the opposite page perpetuates the lineaments of this gentleman, who is the oldest pioneer settler in Flushing Township, having resided here fifty-live years, a period longer than any man in its bounds. The greatest regard and esteem is due him from the people of to-day who enjoy the advantages which he with other early pioneers struggled and denied himself in or- der to get. He has been connected and promi- nently so with the building up of Flushing. At the present time he is enjoying the result of his early labors in his beautiful home, which is one of the best farms in this township. His place com- prises two hundred and five acres of land on ser- tions 22 and 23, Flushing Township, Genesce
Mr. Penoyer was born in Onondaga County, N. Y., January 20, 1821, and is a son of David and Levina ( Nichols) Penoyer, natives of the En- pire State. His father held various positions of trust prior to his coming West, and he was Sherif of Onondaga County for some time. He was en- gaged in the handling of live horses and came to Michigan in 1834. He returned home, however, but in 1836 came back to Michigan to make a per- manent settlement. He came on the steamer " Rob- ert Fulton" to Detroit and spent three months in Oakland County. Our subject came on in the meantime with another family, as he was to live
with Jarvis Bailey. He drove the first house team that ever came to what is now Flushing Township, They first stopped cast of Flushing village, two miles up the Flint River and remained there for three months, thence taking the beat down the river five miles. They located on the farm now known as the Failing place and there re- mained two years.
Our subject then became engaged with his father in chopping and clearing a place, for which he was to receive one hundred and sixty acres on the Flint River two miles cast of Flushing. Their home wasn log house and in it they lived for eight year -. They then moved to Flushing, where the father died in September, 1816. The mother passed away in September, 188. Our subject's father was a Democrat. He had nine children, of whom sis me now living. They are William D., Lewis, Charles IT., Homer, Esther and Ellen. Lewis lives in Sag- inaw City; Charles Il. in Mt. Morris; Homer in MIushing; Esther is Mrs. O. F. Clark, of Flushing and Ellen as Mrs. A. N. Niles, also of Flushing.
On first coming into the country the work was rough and hard .. They had roads to cut out and the nearest trading point was at such a distance that the settlers learned to do without many things that most people consider necessities. At that time they paid $18 per barrel for flour and $30 per bar- rel for pork and the journey to and from the near- est trading point, which was Detroit, took ten days. Venison was their staple article of mwst food. Our subject was educated in the løg schoolhouse in Flushing Township. He remained at home until twenty-one years of age and then purchased forty avres which was the nucleus of the farm whereon he now lives. He paid for the place $7.50 per acre and gave his house in trade. The place was heav- ily timbered and about a fourth of it pine land. There was a little shanty. 12x21 feet in dimensions in which he hved for eight years and then built a frame house which was his home until 1871. when be built his present beautiful place.
Meantime Mr. Penoyer added to his original purchase, until it is now of no inconsiderable size. He has held various offices in the township having been Constable for twelve years. Our subject was married in 1819 to Miss Sarah A. Martin of Flint,
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a daughter of George 1. Martin. This union was blessed by the birth of three children-George, le- man and Ada. George married Mes Adell Torner; Vda married E. L. Beecher, of Clayton Township. Mrs. Sarah Penoyer died February 9, 1887. Mr. l'envoyer was united to his present wife December 20. 1887, she being Miss Louise Delbridge of Genesce County. She is a daughter of William I .. and Grace ( Delbridge) Delbridge, natives of Eng- land, who came to America in 1835, In 1841 they came to Michigan and settled at st. John's, ('lin- ton County, and thener came to Flushing Town- ship where they lived for five or six years and then moved to Flushing village. Our subject is a Re- publican in politics and has always held to those principles. He has always been a very good shot and has often killed deer while running through the woods, at one time killing two before breakfast. He takes great delight in telling that Mrs. Harri- son, the oldest lady pioneer in the township, made for him two pair of deerskin trousers from the hide of deer killed by himself and tanned by the l'- dians.
R EV. JAMES ELLIS. This venerable and estimable clergyman was born in Devon- shire, England, August 28, 1818, and there had training as a farmer's boy, and re- mained in England until he was thirty years of age at which time he came to America with his wife and settled in Oakland County, Mich., where he worked out by the month for some time. Later he one to Flint where he was in the employ of I. M. Henderson for several months, and then bought a small farm in Flint Township, which he improved and cultivated and resided upon for seven years. He then exchanged that property for a part of that where he now lives in Mundy Town- ship and settled upon this farm, where he has since resided. Upon his two hundred and eighty acres he has excellent improvements.
Sarah Pound was the maiden name of her who became the wife of our subject in Devonshire, 1 England; she is a native of that shire and after
coming to this country became the mother of two children, one of whom died in infancy and the other, Mary, became the wife of Myron Chapel. and died in Mundy Township, leaving one clid. Withard E. Mr. Ellis les served his townsmen as Highway Commisioner and has held various school offices. Local political affairs have inter- ested him and he has been active in the support of the Prohibition cause although loyal to the prin- viples of the Republican party.
The Methodist Episcopal Church is the religious body with which this truly good man has been identified from boyhood, having been a member of it and a local preacher in its service for about fifty years. While living in England he worked six days in the week and on Sunday he walked twenty miles to preach and never received any money as a salary. His preaching of the gospel has been blessed to the spiritual benefit of the people among whom he has labored and he is ever ready to spend and be spent in the service of the Master. He has preached for a long time in the vicinity where he now lives and is most useful in this work. Before coming to America his connection was with the Wesleyan Methodist Church but he is now a member of the Conference of the Methodist Epis- copal denomination. This worthy member of society and laborer for the good of the com- munity met with a severe bereavement in the death of his wife, May 11. 1883. but he bears his affliction with true Christian fortitude and devotes himself even more faithfully to the good of others.
B AKER MCNEIL,, a prominent farmer of La- peer County, resides on his linely improved homestead on section 13, Attiva Township. Hle was born in the town of Wales, St. Clair County, this State, February 12, 1818. John. MeNeil, father of our subject, was born in Batavin, Genesee County, N. Y., In 1812 and came to Michi- gan in an early day. Emeline (Dutton) MeNell, mother of our subject, was a native of the place in w5; 1. her husband first saw the light, Baker
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staid at home until he was fourteen years oldl, in the meantime attending the district school and assisting his father. Afterward he worked out at different places and attended school as opportunity offered.
At the opening of the Civil War John MeNeil enlisted in 1861 in Company F, Fifth Michigan Cavalry, and endured all the horrors of war. For almost one year he was a prisoner in Andersonville, and when liberated was in a starving condition. The day after he was paroled Perry MeNeil. brother of our subject, enlisted in the Fifteenth Michigan Infantry, m Company C. and was killed at tu battle of Pittsburg Landing. In 1861 Baker en- listed in Company C, Twenty-second Michigan In- fautry, and was discharged for disability July 7. 1865. He draws a pension of $30 per month.
After the close of the war Mr. MeNeil entered a store in Dryden as a clerk and there and in hinlay City he remained thus engaged until 1881, when failing health induced him to buy his present farm of twenty-three acres. Since living on his farm he has clerked in Imday City about three years for J. C. & H. Lamb. He was married in 1867 to Miss Frances. daughter of Joseph Huggins, of Wiscon- sin. One child, Ada, born of this union, died in infancy. In politics, Mr. MeNeil is a Republican, and served n> Township Clerk of Dryden for four years. Mrs. McNeil is identified with the Sev- enth Day Adventists of Italy City, and both she and Mr. MeNeil are very popular in this section of country, having a host of warm friends.
2 ACITUS P. ZANDER. We have here a brief sketch of a prominent attorney-at-law. who is residing at I'nionville, and is the son of A. P. and Lucinda (Hutchinson) Zander, who were natives of Troy, N. Y., and Brock ville, Canada, respectively. His grandfather Hutchinson was also born in Canada, and was one of the Hutchinson family of Connecticut and of English descent. A. P. Zander removed to Wisconsin about the year 1811, engaging there in the carpen- let's and joiner's trade in Milwaukee, and was mar-
ried February 11, 1816. He was born February 20, 1822, and his wife October 15, 1827. Of their seven children tive are still living.
The brothers and sisters of our subject are as follows: O. M Zander who was born October 7, 1818, and is an architect by profession. He mar- ried Mary T. Beach, and resides at Omaha, Neb. Florence T. was born on Christmas Day, 1856, and married Charles Andrews, of Columbia Township, Tuscola County; Frances E, who was born Feb- ruary 1. 1859, and married A. Phelps, of Co- lumbia Township, and Gertrude O., who was born October 12, 1x68, is unmarried and resides at Elgin. I. The father served in Company K, Thirty- first Wisconsin Infantry, and was in the army for three years. He engaged in all of the conflicts experienced by the Army of the Cumberland. He was a resident of Ellington at the time of his death. April 19, 1891; his good wife had been called from his side by death in 1882.
The subject of this sketch was born October 3, 1853, at Ottawa, 1H., and was reared upon a farm until he reached the age of ten, when the family removed to Prairie du Chien. In his boyhood he attended the district schools and took a High School education, studying there until be reached the age of nineteen, when the family removed to Tuscola County. He then attended Cook County Normal School at Chicago. from which he was graduated at the age of twenty after which he en- gaged in teaching for eight years, three years at Madison and four years in South Chicago, and was invited to return for the fifth year but declined.
The young man in 1882 entered the law ofhier of Black & Quinn, at Caro, Mich., and there read law, and was admitted to the bar May 31, 1883. He then located at Cass City for a year and at the end of that time was elected Circuit Court Com- missioner and removed to Caro. He was ie- elected in 1886 and 1888 but by a combination of the Patrons of Industry with the Democrats he was defeated. At I'nionville, to which he removed in April, 1891, he established himself in a very fuera- tive practice. He is a stalwart Republican and has taken great interest in politics and has aided the party with his pen during campaigns.
Mr. Zander was happily married August 21,
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1879, to Addie E. daughter of James and Lois (Thompson) Brooker, natives of Canada. This union has been blessed by the birth of four chil- dren, namely: J. Morleigh, Archie, Lola M., and Bessie. This gentleman is a member of Tent Justi- tia. No. 75. K. O. T. M., and was the representative of his tent at the Great Camp at Jackson in An- gust Inst. Mrs. Zander is a lady of social influence and an active member of the Presbyterian Church.
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