USA > Michigan > Genesee County > Portrait and biographical record of Genesee, Lapeer and Tuscola counties, Michigan > Part 65
USA > Michigan > Lapeer County > Portrait and biographical record of Genesee, Lapeer and Tuscola counties, Michigan > Part 65
USA > Michigan > Tuscola County > Portrait and biographical record of Genesee, Lapeer and Tuscola counties, Michigan > Part 65
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In that way William Baker was employed about twenty years, when he entered the ministry and was on the circuit of the Methodist Episcopal Church for many years. He is now retired and makes his home in Gagetown, this State, L'uto him and his wife six children were born, namely: Pollic, the wife of JJ. 11. Cook of Saginaw County; Jeunic, who married Nelson Malloney of Saginaw County; William R .. whose home is in Saginaw County; ti. Wesley, of Kingston; Charles E., the subject of this sketch; Sarah, wife of 11. Dash, of Romeo, this State. While still quite young Charles E. learned the trade of a blacksmith and at the age of twenty started a shop of his own in Saginaw County, where he sojourned two years.
Thence Mr. Baker came to Tuscola County and was located at Hard's Corners until 1881, when he removed his shop and opened his factory at King- ston. In 1882 he married Mary Hunt, and after her death was married to Miss Mary, the daughter of William and Anna Wilson. Mr. and Mrs. Baker ure the parents of one child, William E. In his social relations Mr. Baker is identified with New. berry Lodge, No. 216, 1. O. O. F., and he and his estimable wife are members of the Methodist Epi -- copal Church at Kingston.
HARLES PALMER, President of the Charhe's Palmer Banking House at Imlay City. was born in Saratoga County, N. Y., September 27 1831. Ile is the son of Ashbel and Elizabeth Palmer. The grandfather and great-grandfather of our subject lived in Saratoga before the Revo- lution and the famous battlefield of Saratoga was only a mile and a half from their home. Our sub- jeet's father was a soldier in the War of 1812 and his grandfather was in the Revolutionary War.
Mr. Palmer was reared in the village of Still- water where he attended the village schools and at the age of seventeen began working on the rail- road as a civil engineer. In September, 1851, he wert to Toledo, Ohio, where he was connected with the Toledo, Norwalk & Cleveland Railroad as civil engineer, having charge of the construction of twenty miles of the road from Toledo east. Hle remained there untit 1853, when he went to Wis- consin where he was engaged in the construction of several roads,
In 1870 Mr. Palmer platted Imlay City, erecting the first building, which was called the Bancroft House and which was burned in 1873. He hans been a resident of this city since his first coming here and is one of its most prominent and influ- ential citizens. In politics he is a Republican. He east his first Presidential vote for Franklin Pierre, but when Lincoln was nominated, becamea Repub- livan. He has served on the School Board for twelve years and was Village Trustee for a num- ber of years, He has taken the Royal Arch degree in Masonry. Mr. Palmer is a purely self-made man and is an extensive landowner, being the largest taxpayer in Imlay City. Our subject is the father of eight children, seven of whom are living.
ON. ANTHONY WILLIAMS, who owns and operates a line farm of two hundred and seventy-five acres in Attien Township, Genesee County, is residing in Attica Vil- lage where he has a beautiful home. He was born in Superior Town-hip, Washtenaw County. this State, September 20, 18:16. He is the son of Wil- liam Williams, a native of Chautauqua County, N. Y., whose birth occurred in 1801, and who died in 1881. Ile was a blacksmith by trade and at an carly day in 1831 came to Michigan and located in Washtenaw County.
The father of our subject lived in Washtenaw County for nine years, living eighteen months of that time in Ypsilanti. He then came to Lapeer
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County and locating in Dryden Township lived there for seven years engaged in forming and working at his trade. In 1851 be came to Gene- ser County and built the first house where the vil- Inge of Attica now stands, being the first perman- ent settler in that place. He erected the first mill in Attien Township, swing pie lumber which he sold in Pontiac, Detroit and Romeo. The first saw-mill burned down within four weeks after it was erected, but he immediately set about to rebuild and in ninety days another mill was in operation. In four years, however, that burned and another was created which in turn was destroyed by fire in 1876. Notwithstanding all these losses Mr. Williams was very successful in business.
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The township meeting, were held for some time at the residence of William Williams, he being very active in local politics. The maiden name of our subject's mother was Betsey Brockway. Mr. William- of this sketch received an excellent edu- cation, attending first the district school of Dry- den and later one term in the Almont graded schools and then entered Dickinson Institute at Romeo where he remained two terms. After leaving school he engaged in the milling business with his father, which he has followed off and on ever since.
In 1862, the lon. Anthony Williams was united in marriage with Miss Sarah Jane Briggs of Attiva. Mrs. Williams is a daughter of John S. Briggs, who was the first man buried in the Attica cemetery. To our subject and his wife have come a family of seven children, viz: Minnie, who is residing at home; Byron, who died when one year old; Katie, who is a successful teacher in the Attica public schools; she received an excellent education in the Normal School of Ypsilanti, also at Fentonville and Ft. Gratiot. Blanche A., who died in infancy; Jennie M., who lives with her parent- ; Elva. who is a student in the Attica schools; Herbert D .. also attending school in Attica.
Socially, Mr. Williams is a member of the Masonic fraternity, being identified with Attica Lodge, No. 295, and now holds the position of Worshipful Master; he is also an Odd Fellow. He is a l'atron of Husbandry, belonging to Fine Studi
Grange and is a Patron of Industry. In politics, he is r stanch Democrat. He has been the incum- bent of various township offices, among which was Supervisor. In 1883, Mr. Williams was elected to the State Legislature by a majority of eighty-eight in a Republican district. He has been a member of the committees on Railroads, Insane Asylum at Kalamazoo, and on Supplies and Expenditures. He also introduced bills to classify railroad freight, to prevent discrimination in freights, to extend the boundary line of the village of North Branch and various other bills.
The grandfather of our subject was Thomas Williams, a native of Vermont. The family are direct descendants from William Williams, one of the signer- of the Declaration of Independence.
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BRAM LINK. Among the enterprising and successful farmers of Flint Township Genessee County, is the gentleman whose name appears at the head of this sketch. His beautiful farm and comfortable home consti- tutes one of the ornaments of the township and is located on section 19. Our subject is the son of John Link of German descent. His mother was Sarah B. Link, a native of Genesre County, N. Y. They passed away in Flint Township after having Iwcome the parents of nine children, five sons and foir daughters.
The gentleman of whom we write was the old- est son of his parents' family was brought by them to Genesce County in 1836. They located in Flint Township. Abram Link was born in New York, December 11, 1835, hence was only one year old when his parents came West. He grew to manhood in Flint Township which has since been his home. He learned the trade of a blacksmith in the city of Flint, which occupation he followed for several years, or until be purchased the farm on which he now resides, in 1861.
Mr. Link owns eighty acres of admirable land. all of which is in an excellent state of cultivation. He was married in Flint, February 27, 1859, to Miss Permelin, daughter of John and Anna Mar-
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shall, natives of England. The parents came to America some time in the '40s'; the mother died in Flint Township and the father in Clayton Town- ship, Genesee County.
Mrs. Permelia Link was born in Devonshire, England, May 7, 1839 and by her umion with our subject has become the mother of four children,- Jennie, who is the wife of Marion Dye; Corn, who is the wife of Fred Brown; Henrietta, Mrs. Clar- ence Brockway and Rutha A. who died January 23, 1881. Mr. Link has held the office of High- way Commissioner and in polities is a firm Prohi- bitionist. Together with his wife, he is an active and concientious member of the Methodist Epices- pal Church. He has held many of the offices in his denomination among which was that of Class. Leader, Socially he is a Mason.
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ICHOLAS R. SCHERMERHORN, Post- master at Mayville, located in Tuscola County, March 12, 1858. He was born in the county of Brant, Canada, June 16, 1838, and is the son of Lawrence C. and Elizabeth (Coon) Schermerhorn, natives of New York State. The parents were born in the Dominion and on coming to Michigan, in 1856. located in Fremont Town- ship, Tuscola County, on land which was slightly improved. At the time of his devant which oc- eurred in January, 1858, the father owned three hundred and twenty acres of land. His wife pre- coded hun to the better land by some yours. in Canada. The parental family numbered eleven children, all of whom grew to maturity. The father had by a previous marriage become the parent of two children.
Our subject was the youngest child of his parents and as they were in very limited circumstances he was allowed to attend school only nine months in C'annda. He accompanied his parents to Michigan and after the death of his father went by overland route to California where he worked for a time in the mines, then followed blacksmithing. The Civil War breaking out about that time he enlisted, and October 3, 1861, he was mustered into service in
Company G, Fifth California Infantry and did duty in New Mexico, Arizona and Teens, lighting the Indians, His term of enlistment expiring, he re-enlisted and served until September 15, 1866.
At the close of the war Mr. Schermerhorn re- turned to Mayville and engaged in blacksmithing. In 1868 he began cultivating the farm left by his father and tilled the soil until 1872, when he sold out and engaged in the hardware business at May- ville. Ile was so unfortunate, however, as to be burned out six weeks after establishing there los. ing his entire stock of goods. He rebuilt and was soon in a shape to renew his business which he conducted, together with a general store erected in 1880, until 1889, when in March of that year he was again burned out, losing both stores which were but lightly insured. In 1888 he took the contract and built the public school building nt Mayville. In 1890 he was appointed Postmaster. He has created the post-office building, the Com- mercind Bank Block and has been engaged in doing some of the linest contract work in Mayville.
The gentleman of whom we write was married October 11, 1867. to Harriet A., daughter of James Lawrason, a native of Canada, where Mrs. Scher- merhorn was also born and resided until her mar- riage. Three children have been born to our sub- jeet and his wife-Wallace J., Etta and Centennia M. Mrs. Schermerhorn is a member of the Free Will Baptist Church. Our subject is identified with the Odd Fellows, is also a Knight of Honor, a Maccabee, and belongs to the Grand AArmy Post. In politics he is a firm Republican. He has been President of the village and a member of the School Board.
ICHOLAS CASHIN. The agricultural ele- ment that has been so largely instrumental in the upbuilding of Genesce County, has no better representative than thisgentleman. For many years he has been a resident of this county, has become a man of wealth, and one of the prin- vipal farmers of Thetford Township, where he has large farming interests and a commodious resi-
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dente. By years of hard and persistent toil, he has brought his land to a fine state of cultivation, and has become well known as one of the most influential residents of the community. He was reared to habits of industry, and early displayed those strong characteristics which have made him successful in currying on extensive farming operations on his estate of one hundred and sixty acres.
Mr. Cashin was born in Ireland. August 15, 18:30, and is the son of John and Anastacia (Harper) Cashin, both natives of the Emerald Isle. By occupation John Cashin was a farmer, miller and trader, and as an honest and reliable citizen was well known throughout County Wex- ford, Ireland, in which he made his home. Worldly prosperity never came to him, although he was able to keep his wife and children in comfort un- til his death, which came when he was yet in the prime of life. When that sad event occurred our subject was a lad of thirteen and afterward he was compelled to work his own way in the world. At the age of twenty-one he crossed the broad At- lantic, landed in Quebec, thence came to Michigan and settled in Genere County. Having been the recipient of an excellent common-school educa- tion, he was enabled to bring to his work a discip- lined mind. good judgment and the best ideas of eminent men in his calling.
Immediately after his arrival in this county Mr. Cashin commenced to work for wages and also was engaged at the carpenter's trade for a time. When ready to establish home ties of his own he was married in 1870, to Miss Eliza Donaly who resided in Jh. Morris Township. Their welded life was brief, as the wife died in 1871, lenving one child-Katie. Mr. Cashin was again married in 1877, choosing as his wife Miss Mary A. Daily. of Mt. Morris Township, this county. Their congenial union has been blessed by the birth of four children, namely; John, Fannie, Me.\r- thur and Julia. The children still remain under the parental roof and are receiving excellent edu- cations which will prepare them for responsible places in burmes and society.
After his marriage Mr. Cashin resided in Mt. Morris for more than twenty-live years, buying
and selling staves and square timber. He owned and managed a grocery store for about five years, und was engaged in the wholesale liquor business in Flint, where he now owns a lot. He is besides the owner of three stores and three neres of land in Mt. Morris Village. For more than thirty years his principal business was buying staves nud square timber, shipping and selling in Europe, but be deemed it prudent to quit that business on ne- count of the scarcity of oak timber. In 1887 he removed from the village of Mt. Morris to his present farm, which he had owned for over thirty years and cultivated by hired help. He has bought and sold land in Genesve County, mostly for the timber, but is now chiefly engaged in gen- eral farming and stock-raising.
Politically Mr. Cashin is a Democrat and has served efficiently as Trustee of Mi. Morris Village. Ilis many years' residence in this country has gained for him a host of warm friends who have been at- tracted to him by his genial and kindly nature. He has displayed great enterprise in the manage- ment of his affairs and yet finds time to keep him- self well informed regarding the political issues of th : dav.
ORRIS ANDERSON is a prosperous farmer who makes his home on section 16, Flint Township, Genesee County. He is a na- tive of the Empire State, having been born in Newstead, Erie County, July 10, 1820. His parents were Lemuel and Jane (Morris) Ander- son, who after their marriage located in Madison County, N. Y., and from that place removed to Erie County, where they continued to reside until 1850, when they came to Michigan and located in Flint Township. Here the parents made their home until death.
The parental family included five children, of whom Morris was the eldest but one. He grew to manhood in his native county and when his parents enme to Michigan he came with them und aided his father in the work of clearing the farm.
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He remained here only a twelvemonth, however, when he returned to New York, and made Genesce County his home for the succeeding ten years. At the expiration of that time he again cume West, and lived for a year on the old homestead and later settled on section 16, which has since been his home, with the exception of eight years when he resided in the village of Flint, at the same time carrying on the work of his farm. Ilis landed possessions aggregate one hundred acres, all of which is improved and embellished with good buildings.
Mr. Anderson was united in marriage May 25, 1817, in Erie County, N. Y., to Miss Mary Ann Jewell, a native of Dutches- County N. Y. Her father was Abraham Jewell. To our subject and his estimable wife has been granted a family of nine children of whom we make the following mention: Cecelia M. is the wife of Nelson Evans; Cynthia d. is the wife of W. J. McAllister; Augusta died in infancy; Edwin married Eda Carpenter; Ida W. is the wife of R. H. Aitken; Harley is also married; Homer married Orn I'dley; AAdelaide .A. and Hattie Gertrude. In polities Mr. Anderson i- n true-blue Republican and is regarded as one of the well-to- do farmers of Flint Township.
S EYMOUR PERRY. Among the influential and prominent pioneers of tienesee County, selected for representation in this volume, we introduce to our readers the worthy subject of this sketch, who is a septuagenarian. He is residing on section 14, Grand Blane Town- ship and was born in Monroe County, N. Y., March 13, 1818. He was the son of Edmund and Mercy Perry and in 1826 accompanied his parents and other members of the family to Michigan. coming hither via the Erie Canal and the lakes to Detroit and overland to Grand Blanc Township. Genesee County.
Our subject was reared amid pioneer scenes and has witnessed the marvelous growth of the coun- try since his location bere. Mr. Perry was married to Many A., daughter of Samuel and Anne John-
son of New York State, and to them have been born eight children, the following of whom are living: Lee, Joshua K., Ida (Mrs. Henry Mason), Nellie (Mrs. George R. Mason), Ella, and Lizzie (Mr -. Frank Swift.)
Mr. Perry is the owner of two hundred and forty-three neres of excellent land, which by hard work and perseverance he has brought to a good state of cultivation. His form is made further valuable by the erection upon it of substantial buildings and indeed every convenience which goes to make it a first-class estate. In politics Mr. Perry is a high-tariff Republican, believing that party to be in the right. He is one of the leading pioneers in the county and his tine farm is a standing monument to his industry and good management.
E NON GOODRICH. In the fall of 1835 our subject, with his brother, Moses Goodrich, cand from Erie County. N. Y. and pur- chased one thousand neres of land from the Government, which was located in the central por- tion of Atlas Township, Tuscola County. They. erected a small log house on section 20, after which they returned to Clarence, Erie County. The fol- lowing February, accompanied by their mother and brothers, Reuben, Levi W. and John S. besides other members of the family. they returned to Michigan.
Levi H. Goodrich, the father of our subject. joined his family in Michigan the fall following their location here, and from that period the name of Goodrich has been interwoven with social, com- mercial and political history of this section. They erected mills, stores, and cleared up and put into excellent condition some of the finest land found in this part of the State. The now beautiful and thriving village of Goodrich was founded by them and is among their most enduring monuments.
In the fall of 1816 Enos Goodrich was elected to represent this constituency in the Lower House of the Michigan Legislature. The session of Ist? was memorable for being the last one held in De- troit. He took an active and conspicuous part in
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the struggle which ensued for the removal of the State Capital to Lansing, and in 1852 was elected to represent this county in the State Senate. The post-office in Goodrich was established in 1816 and our subject was commissioned its first Post- master. It was first known as Atlas post-office, but in 1819 its name was changed to Goodrich.
The first dwelling erected in Goodrich was a small one-story structure which our subject built in 1838 and the first land entered upon the pres- ent site of Goodrich was by Levi and Enos Good- rich in 1835. The mill site, including n tract of forty acres, was entered in the name of Enos Goodrich and the grist and touring mill, known as the Goodrich Mill was built in 1811 by the Goodrich Bros. Our subject was likewise the founder of what was known in that early day as the Goodrich Bank, an institution which honor- ably redeemed its circulation and procured the full discharge of its securities from the AAuditor- General.
That the subject of this sketch was one of the most prominent and enterprising citizens of his time the reader will readily observe. AAmong the many prominent publie-spirited and influential pioneers of Atlas Township, there are none more worthy of representation in this Recony than the Hon. Enos Goodrich.
el ROF. GEORGE H. BROESAMLE, Princi- palof the Imlay City High School, was born at Little Falls, Herkimer County, N. Y., January 10. 1856. He is the son of George Broesamle, a native of Wurtemberg, Gier- many, where his birth occurred in 1831. He came to the I'nited States when eighteen years of age and located at Little Falls, N. Y., where he re- mamed until 1866. During that time he worked at the trade of carpenter and joiner, and in the above-named year came to Bloomer Township, Lapeer County, near Carson City, this State, where he purchased a farm. The mother of our subject wa- before her marriage Caroline Miner. n native of Saxony, Germany. She came to the United
States with her parents when sixteen years of age, and met and married our subject's father at Little Falls, N. Y .; she is still living.
The gentleman of whom we write remained at home until reaching the age of nineteen years when he worked on a farm one summer in order to get the wherewithal to attend school. He en- tered the Greenville High School and was a stu- dent there off and on for two years, his irregular- ity being ocensioned by his teaching every alter- nate term, in the meantime keeping up his classes in the High School. After graduating from the High School he entered the Agricultural College, in 1878, and took the equivalent of one year's study. He taught the succeeding winter, and m the spring of 1879, entered the State Normal School at Ypsilanti, from which he was graduated in 1880. After teaching for n time he was appointed Principal of the Marlette school, a position which he held satisfactorily for three years. He then came to Imlay City in 1885 where he has since been Principal.
Mr. Brocsamle was married August 22, 1883, to Miss Mary E. Lee, of Marlette, this State. Mrs. Broesamle was a daughter of Samuel Lee, a Methi- odist minister. Her father died in 1881; he was a native of Little Falls, N. Y. Mr. and Mrs. Broe- sunle have two children-Sarah and Paul. Prof. Brocsamle and his wife are members in good standing of the Methodist Episcopal Church, of Imlay City. Oursubject is a member of the Masonic fraternity, belonging to Imbay City Lodge, No. 311. In politics he is independent, reserving the right to vote for the best man.
R OBERT V. BRAY, the owner and proprietor of the Jewell House at Vasser, the best hotel in Northeastern Michigan, was born in County Cornwall, England, May 6, 1851. le is a son of Thomas and Frances ( Vial) Bruy. He had but limited opportunities for an education no his labor was needed to aid in the family sup- port when only eight years old. At the age of
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thirteen he began working in the tin and copper mines of his native place and he left England for America when twenty-two years of age.
Georgetown, Col., was his first objective point and there he engaged in mining and railroading until twenty-eight years of age, after which he went to Virginia City, Nov., and worked in the Belt-hire Mine, doing the final sinking of the shaft which had a vertical depth of three thousand and ninety-five feet, and was at that time the deepest in the world. From that time on he has execupied the position of Superintendent or fore- man wherever he has worked. He left Virginia City m 1879 and went to Sheep Rauch, Calaveras County, Cal., and was there engaged for some nine months in sinking a shaft for gold, after which he went to San Francisco and from there was sent by the Canadian Pacific Railroad Company to put a fun- nel through the Caseade Mountain in BritishColum- bia. He was there over a year and realized during that time $200 per month. This tunnel was then the longest in the world and on account of his skill, another tunnel which had been attempted was turned over into his hands and upon its com- pletion he undertook a third.
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