USA > Michigan > Genesee County > Portrait and biographical record of Genesee, Lapeer and Tuscola counties, Michigan > Part 6
USA > Michigan > Lapeer County > Portrait and biographical record of Genesee, Lapeer and Tuscola counties, Michigan > Part 6
USA > Michigan > Tuscola County > Portrait and biographical record of Genesee, Lapeer and Tuscola counties, Michigan > Part 6
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As a lad Mr. Ferguson received a good English education in his native land. His aims have ever len above the average and he has become a very well-posted man. In 1818 he emigrated to America, taking passage at Londonderry on a sailing vessel und after a voyage of seven weeks and three days landed in New York City. The first year after arriving here he lived at Newburg on the Hudson, and the next two years be spent on a farm in Orange County, N. Y., thener going to Brockport, N. Y., where he learned the foundry business and served an apprenticeship of two years, after which he followed the trade continuously for some time.
In 1859 he returned to Ireland and was married May 26. to Miss Anna E. Young, who was born in County Donegal, November 11, 1831. She was a daughter of James S. and Mary E. Young. The par- ents were natives of the North of Ireland, although her paternal great-grandfather was a Scotchman and her maternal ancestors were English. In 1859 shortly after their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Ferguson returned to America, taking passage at Belfast on the steamer "City of Manchester" and aftera voy. age of twelve days they landed in New York. They
ende directly to Goodrich, Mich., and in the fall of 1859 settled on the farm where they now live, where Mr. Ferguson had come several years pre- viously, having worked in the foundry at Good- rich for a number of years. He had purchased land from the Government in Tuscola County and owned a farm and resided there a portion of several
Of nine children born to Mr. and Mrs. Ferguson seven still live. They are Mary L., wife of W. J, Lender; Estella, wife of John Layman, a clerk in a store; Margaret E., a teacher; Martha I, wife of Ed- ward Goodrich; AAndrew J .; Jesse V., a teacher; and James V. Mr. Ferguson has done much bard work in developing his farm. He now owns two hundred and one acres of land which is under a good state of cultivation. He has been very sue- cessful in the accumulation of his property and has been ably assisted by the encouragement, the pru- dence and economy of his amiable and estimable wife.
Mr. Ferguson is a Democrat in his political liking and a man of excellent judgment as to the state of Governmental affairs. He and his wife are mem- bers of the Presbyterian Church. Previous to coming to America Mrs. Ferguson was engaged in teaching in the national schools of Ireland. She is a most intelligent and interesting lady and both her husband and herself have a large circle of friends of which they are the center.
C HARLES G. WESTOVER is a farmer resid- ing on section 8, Genesee Township, Gene- see County. He was born in Canaan, Conn., December 29, 1839, and is a son of James and Ju- lia (Hall) Westover, both natives of Massachusetts. The father was a farmer by occupation and after marriage they located on a farm in their native State and pursued their chosen calling. Thence they removed to Connecticut in 1838 and located in Canaan. After living there for a few yours they moved back to Masolorotts and spent five yours on the farm, thener moving to Indiana where the
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head of the family died at the age of about forty- two years. He was the victim of the dread disease -consumption-which he had contracted while working in an ax factory in Collinsville. Com. Our subject's mother sull survives and makes her home in Indiana.
Our subject's paternal grand-ire. Luther West- over, lived and died in the old Bay State. James and Julia Westover were the parents of six chilthen, live sons and one daughter. All grew to manhood and womanhood and were named as fol- low: George (., Warren D., James P., Charles ti. John W. and Juliette. John isa resident of San Francisco and has been engaged in the I'nited States mint for the past fifteen years.
Oursubject was created in Massachusetts and there received his schooling at the village of Sheffield. He lived for the most part with his grandmother, Catherine Westover, but when twenty-one years of age he started out for himself. He first worked by the month on a farm receiving for his labor $12 per month. He was this engaged for seven months and during that time saved money enough to take him to Canada. He located almut sixty miles south of London and there carried on his uncle's farm for four years. In 1865 he returned to the States and came to Michigan. He first located at Bay City and there ran a sawmill for one season. He was also engaged in lumbering and in the grain business, remaining at that place until 1869.
At the above mentioned time our subject re- turned to Canada and was married to Mary E. Car- penter, a native of Norfolk County, Canada, who was born September 1, 1858. She was the fourth in order of birth of eleven children, of whom John B. and Rachel (Sterling) Carpenter were the par- ents. Immediately after marriage Mr. Westover and his bride located on the farm where they now reside and which has been their home ever since. They have four bright children, three sons and one daughter. The oldest is Clarence I., who was born August 13, 1870 in Bay City and is now I- sistant Teller of the First National Bank there; William E ... born August 21, 1872, is an atten- ant at the Business College at Flint; Bessie M .. born October 26, 1878, and .. Brock, October 27. 1881, are at home,
Mr. Westover is the owner of one hundred and seventeen acres of well improved land. He does a general farming busines and has been very she- cessful. He has upon the place a fine two-story frame residence that was created at a cost of $2,500. He also has two good barns and other valuable im- provements. Politically he has always been a Republican. He, however, favors the Prohibition party at the present time. He has been School Inspector and is a member of the Congregational Church of which he is Deacon and Clerk. Socially he belongs to the Knights of the Maccabees.
I.LLAM R. WILSON. The gentleman whose name appears above is the efficient Postmaster who presides over the incom- ing and outgoing mails of Mt. Morris. He is a native of this State, having been born in Saginaw October 2. 1860. He is a son of Richard Wilson, an Englishman by birth and rearing. When twenty-three years of age our subject's father came to America and settled in Saginaw, this State. He was drowned in the Saginaw River in 1862, a tag running into the skiff in which he and his brother were crossing the river.
Our subject's mother was in her maiden days a Mi- Anna Graham, like her husband a native of England. They were married in Saginaw and be- came the parents of two children. Of these our subject alone survives. His mother still lives and makes her home in Mt. Morris. Only a year and a year and a half old when bereft of his father, Mr. Wilson could scarcely realize the calamity that had befallen him. His mother later married Joseph Barber, who brought his wife and little stepson to Mt. Morris when the latter was but three years old. He here received his educati m and at the age of sixteen went to live with Dr. Bardwell and remained with him until he was twenty-one. I'mder this able preceptor-hip he learned the drug busi- ness and then went to work for Mr. 11. D. Mann and remained with him as clerk in his general store for seven years. In taxy our subject was appointed Postmaster of the village, receiving his
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notification of appointment in the month of May.
Mr. Wilson has in connection with the postoffice a lundware business, which proves to be very re- munerative, July 8. 1882, our subject assumed the responsibility and duties of married life. taking ns his partner Mis Nellie Patterson, daughter of George L. Patterson of Clio. She was horn in Canada and came to Michigan when young. Our subject and his wife are the parents of three daugh- ters, 'Zola, Grace and Bernice.
Mr. Wilson is a Republican in his political sentt- ments and is one of the stronghold of his party in this vicinity. He now fills the office of Village Treasurer. Socially he is a member of the Knights of the Maccabees and Iron Hall of Mt. Morris.
EWIS V. CURRY, the Postmaster of Fenton and a prominent hardware merchant, was born in Brighton. Livingston County, Mich .. October 25, 1837. lle is one of the most silecess- ful inisiness men of this village and everis a broad influence in the community. His father, Lewis M. Curry, was born in New York, January 31. 1807, and died at Brighton, July 11. 1812. The grand- father, Johu Curry, was a native of New York. and like his son. passed his last days at Brighton. The ancestry is supposed to be of Scotch extraction but the family for generations has lived in the North of Ireland. The great-grandfather of our subject, William Curry, was a soldier in the Revo- lutionary War and lived to be almost ninety-si years okl.
The grandfather of our subject came to Michigan about the age of forty-four. He was a highly re- spected citizen and a valuable member of the Meth- odist Episcopal Church. His son, Lewi- M., became liest a teacher and then a lawyer. graduating at Owego. He was married February 25, 1835, to Sarah A. Mayuard and the following year came West, where he engaged in the mercantile busines in Brighton, Livingston County. On account of ill health be subsequently removed to Smithfield Pu., but returned to Michigan and underfunk teach-
ing, and died in 1812. He was a man of marked ability and had purposed to practice law eventually. The mother of our subject still lives in Brighton at the age of seventy-three, and she is now the wife of David Thompson. She is well known as n stanch Presbyterian. There were two children by the first marriage and three by the second.
Mr. Curry was the first white child born in Brighton and was quite young when his father died. He took a course at the Normal School, Ypsilanti, al-o at the Commercial College at Detroit, and until he was fifteen years old he worked in his Stepfather's foundry, thus obtaining a good knowl- edge ofthat business. He spent live years clerk- ing in a store and somewhat later clerked for a year in Brighton. In 1852 he went to Colorado across the plains and saw much of the various tribes of Indiaus and thousand of huffaloes. They located at Boulder and mined on the Boulder River which they changed from its natural channel, and were successful for about six months. Denver had then but one log house " The house that Jack built." Returning to the East he again restned clerking.
In June. 1861, Mr. Curry enlisted in the army. Hle raised nearly the whole of Company K, Ninth Michigan Infantry and was made its Second Lacu- tenant. The Ninth built forts at the junction of the Salt River with the Ohio, and at various other points. This regiment was placed mostly in posi- tions of trust and did not see much active service. In 1862 it was sent to guard the Nashville and Louisville Railroad, and took part in the battle of 11. Donaldson. It had the honor of encountering the great raider. Morgan, May 3, 1862, and drove him from point to point. Lieut. Curry was in charge of a foree of about three hundred men at Murfreesboro, previous to the time when Gen. Forrest attacked that city with three mounted av- alry, and our subject was captured with the entire Torre, but he slipped omt through the lines and escaped. Having reported to Nashville he was sent to Camp Chase at Columbus, Ohio, to take charge of the paroled prisoners, but in October he returned to Nashville in time to participate in the battle of Stone River, after which he resigned on account of being attlicted with inflammation of the eyes and was nearly blind for four years. He
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was offered a captainey if he would return to the army, but ill health prevented an acceptance of this honor.
In February, 1863. lacut. Curry located at Fenton and engaged in the grocery business and two years later took up the drug business, In the fall of 1867 be purchased a hardware store in which lari- ness he still continues. He was married AAugust 12, 1862, at 199 Cass Street, Detroit, to Miss Abbie .I., daughter of Chamberlain and Lucy (Thompson) Barry.
Mrs. Curry was born in Sodus N. Y., May 16, 1812. Mr. Barry now lives Fowlerville, Mich., Mr. and Mrs. Curry have seven children, Ira Gi., who graduated at the Michigan University in the ('lass of '86 and is in the hardware business at Owosso; Arthur 1 .. , who is in the same line of bus- iness here; Herbert V. (deceased); twins who died in infancy; Lura May and Grace A., and to all of these has been granted an excellent education.
Mr. Curry has been active politically and is fre- quently a delegate to Republican conventions. Be- sides being Chairman of the township Committee he has been Marshal of Fenton Township, Clerk, and a member of the Common Council, and was appointed Postmaster of Fenton in July, 1890. The Fenton I'nion Agricultural Society has for eight years budd his services as Treasurer. He is a member of the Board of Trustees in the Methodist Episcopal Church, to which he and Mrs. Curry both belong, and he is identified with the Knights of Honor and the Grand Army of the Republic, of which he is Commander at present.
married in Vermont, and there they resided until they came to Michigan in 1832. They might be called pioneer of this county, as very few people then lived here. He bought his farm of one hun- dred and sixty acres from the Government and settled upon it, moving his family on it in 1833. They came from Vermont through Canada, hy team all the way. He was in fair circumstances for those times. He first built a board shanty then a log house, which later he occupied for sey- eral years, when they progressed to a frame house. He had two hundred and forty acres, all wild and raw, of which he cleared one hundred and eighty. lle was also engaged in the lumbering business, owned a watermill and operated it for custom work. His wife died November 18, 1855, at the age of sixty years, and he survived untit April 1, 1868, when he too passed away at the age of seventy-nine Years.
This worthy couple were the parents of eleven children, seven of whom are now living: William S., Mary E. Y. T., George W., Ellen M. Kellogg. Marian A. Morse and Alice Chipman. The parents were members of the Congregational Church. In polities Mr. Higby was a Whig, a very strong Abo- litionist and later a stanch Republican. He was Sheriff of this county and acted as Registrar of Feeds, in lieu of his eldest son.
Our subject was born in Vermont, May 30, 1830. He was an infant when his parents came to Michigan. He received his education at the Ln- peer schools, also became a student at the State Normal School at Ypsilanti. and afterward taught school for a short time. He worked on his father's farm until he was twenty-seven years old, caring for the place then began business for himself by buying some land one and one-half miles south of here. It was pine land with which his father's mill was supplied. He continued to operate this mill until 1876, and also carried on the farm, having bought out the estate when his father died.
G FORGE W. HIGLEY is a prominent farmer, resi ding on section 10, Lapeer Township, Lapeer County, and is the son of William Simpson Higley, a native of Massachusetts, who, previous to his coming to Michigan, carried on the In 1880 Mr. Higley entered the mercantile busi- ness in Lapeer in which business he continued for six years after which he sold out, since which time 1 he has devoted himself to his farm, now owning four hundred acres of land, three hundred and occupations of a farmer and merchant. The father was the son of Jesse Higley, who was a soldier in the Revolutionary War. The mother was Lois Turrell, a sister of the Hou. James Turrell, for a history of whom see the sketch of U. S. Turrell. They were , fifty of which are under good cultivation. Two
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hundred and seventy acres are under his own special supervision, and the rest of the land is leased. He built a residence and one barn during his father's life, all the rest having been built siner then. He carries on general farming and is inter- ested in thoroughbred Marino sheep. He has some very fine specimens which have been registered in the Vermont State Registry book. He was one of the School Board for many years. In politie- Mr. Higley is a Republican. At present he is Highway Commissioner of Lapeer Township, this being his third year. He was a candidate for Supervisor three times but, his party being in the minority, he was defeated. He has been delegate many times to conventions.
H.LIAM LEWIS. The secrets of brewing malt liquors have been brought to this country from Germany and England. Probably the largest interest- in this country are not surprising that our subject should be the pro- prietor of the large brewery located on the Thread River, in Flint, and that he is an Englishman, a native of Harwell village, Berkshire. He was born May 8, 1829, and is a son of William and Hamalı (Dines) Lewis, the former a brewer in our subject's native place.
Our subject's father accumulated a comfortable fortune before his dercase, which occurred in 1836. when forty -four years of age. He of whom we write was the youngest of seven children who were born to his parents. Four of these three boys and one girl, came to America, but with the exception of our subject all are deceased. Two of the chil- dren still live in England. William attended school in his native land but knew nothing of the free school system as we have it here. When ser- enteen years of age he came to America alone, leav- ing London, February 21, 1816, and coming on the sailing vest -St. James," the voyage ocenpring thirty-eight days. After landing in New York City be proceeded to Monroe County and was en- gaged in various occupations until the fall of 1816,
when he rune to Waterford Township, Oakland County,
While in Rochester, Mich. our subject was ch- waged in the brewing and distilling business. In 1851 he made a trip to Flint to see his sister, and in the spring of that year returned to England and after a visit to his home and having enjoyed the sights of the World's Exposition in London, he returned to America. He was in Rochester, Mich. until 1852, when he came to Flint and was engaged in Grade here for four years, serving as foreman of the brickmaking business in use in the mute insti- tute. He then went into partnership with Samuel Elston, manufacturing brick, and two years later he began to manufacture barrels, then resumed his early trade, which was that of brewing. In Ixxo be purchased the brewery from Burroughs; it was founded in 1851 by Beasley. Since Mr. Lewis has had charge of it he has greatly improved it. It now occupies one and a half acres of land on the Thread River, and on the corner of Saginaw and Fifteenth Streets,
The original of oursketch was married September now owned by the latter nationality, hence it is | 20, 1855, in Flint to Miss Latina Buchanan, a daughter of George Buchanan, a native of Bath, N. Y. The Buchanan family traces its ancestry back to England and its representatives in this country have been well-known patriots. The father of Mrs. Lewis was a cooper in Danville, N. Y. Ile came to tenere County in 1×15 and located in Flint, where he wasengaged in the manufacture of barrels. His wife was in ber maidenhood Miss Sarah Washburn and a native of Reading, Schuyler County. S. Y., and a daughter of Nathan Wash- hun. a native of Holland, Vt. He served in the War of 1812 and his father was a Revolutionary soldier. Mrs. Lewis' mother died while an mmate of her daughter's family, June 22. 1890, at the age of seventy-eight years She was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
Mr. and Mrs. Lewis are the parents of three chil- dren-George M. who is an engineer at Alpena; Isabelle, the wife of Clark B. Dibble; and JJulia W., who died at the age of twenty-one years, her de erase taking place February 23, 18XX. Mr. and Mrs. Lewis have a very pleasant home at No. 1136, Church Street. Mrs. Lewis is a member of the
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Methodist Episcopal denomination. Her parents were among the first organizer of the Bath Meth- odist Church. Our subject is a firm believer in thu efficacy of the Democratic party.
RED D. LANE. Superintendent of the People's Electric Light and Power Com- pany, was born August 15, 1867, in Flint, and is the son of John and Ellen ( Mackin). Lane, natives of Queens County, Ireland. His grand- father, John Lane, Sr., was also born there but emigrated to Ameca, coming directly to Michigan, where be purchased a farm in Flint Township, Genesee County, some time in the '50s. This place he improved with a substantial set of buildings. and cultivated the soil, bringing it to a splendid condition through proper rotation of crops and the planting of the cereals best mapted to the land. He died in Lewiston, N. Y. John Lane, Jr., the father of our subject, accompanied his parents to America, when a youth of fifteen years, and spent the remainder of his life in Mich- igan. He was a prudent, industrious man, honored by the people wherever he resided and a successful fariner.
Fred D., of this sketch, who is now in his early manhood, is already well established as an enter- prising business man. He was reared in Flint, at- tending the grammar and High Schools of this city until he was fourteen. He then entered the tele- phone office, beginning at the bottom round of the ladder and working up through various promotions until after three and one-half years spent in the office, he became inspector of the various lines, and then inspector of the Michigan Bell Telephone Company, for the greater portion of this State. In 1881 he became an employee of the Electric Light Company, accepting at first a position of minor importance and by steady industry and faithful- ness to his employers' interests he was promoted to the position of Superintendent of the company. This important position he has bell since 1885 with marked success.
Mr. Lane is a member of the National Assain-
tion of Engineers and is Vice-President of the Flint Association. The electric light plant is loen- ted on Flint River nt the head of Saginaw Street and is on a firm financial basis, with a capital stock of $100,000. It is run by steam with two hundred borse power, and consists of one hundred and thirty are and twelve hundred menndescent lights. Since 1886 Mr. Laue has been a member of the " Fire Department of Flint. He is a Knight of I'Sthias, and a member of the Presbyterian Church. In his political affiliations he is a Republican, and believes that the principles of that party are for the highest good of the Government. His mar- riage in Flint August 12, 1890, united him with Miss Helen Van Wormer, daughter of C. W. and Billie (Clapp) Van Wormer. Mrs. Lane is a cul- tured lady with many graces of character and ot- enpies a high place in the social circles of Flint.
G EORGE NIGHTINGALE, of Burlington Township, Lapeer County, is one of those men who honor any calling in which they may find themselves. He is an honest, intelligent farmer, who has achieved true success and has hey conomy and attention to business amassed a valuable property. He was born in Lancaster, N. 11., in 1826, and came with his father and two brothers to Lapeer County in 1837, taking up a farm of eighty acres, cast of the village of Lapeer. Here it was he grew to maturity and was married in 1816 to Delia, daughter of Sherman Rock well.
The young couple resided in Arcadia Township, until they came to Burlington Township, which hats since been the family home. Unto them were born eight children, seven of whom grew to ina- turity, namely: Charlotte E., became the wife of Richard Simmonds, who has departed this life; Myra, married JJames English of Tuscola County; Melissa, wife of James Mitchell. of North Branch Township; Willud, deceased; Rose, now the wife of Frank Landon of Burlington; Harriet, Mrs. Charles Gates, of North Branch; Walter, who is at home, married Rosella V. Pork, December 28, 1881; and G. Mateland, derva-ed.
Jours July Sarah Laley.
yours Truly Thomas Cally
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The parents of our subjeet were Daniel and Nancy ( Morgan) Nightingale, the father being born in Massaclassetts in 1778, and the mother is supposed to have been born in the same State, for parents being Virginians. The parents of Daniel Morgan were born in England and came to Amer- ica when young. Our subject is a Democrat in his political convictions and has been one all through his life. He owns a beautiful farm of one hundred and twenty aeres and has upon it good. substantial buildings and other improvements,
Mrs. Nightingale died in February, 1890, on the home farm in Burlington Township. She was born in Tittin, Ohio, and lived to be fifty-eight years od. Her parents were also native- of Tittin, and there her father died. After his death the widowed mother brought the family to Lapeer County; and her daughter Delia became Mrs. Nightingale when she was only fifteen years old.
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