Biographies of Fremont, Fremont, Tuscola County, Michigan

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Taken from, "The History of Tuscola County," H. R. Page and Co., 1883.
Contributed by Bonnie J. Petee.

ELI BROOKS was born in England, in 1837, and came to the township of Fremont in
1857.
He settled on section 24, but soon thereafter removed to Tuscola, Tuscola County, where
he remained until 1860, when he returned to Fremont, where he has since resided, with
the exception of three years he served in the late war. In September, 1862, he
enlisted in the Twenty-third Michigan Infantry, and was in the Western Army till the
close of the war. Was with Generals Sherman and Thomas in all the prominent battles in
that department. He was married in 1859, to Miss Anna Turner, and has four children.
Mr. Brooks has held several important township offices, including supervisor, one year;
commissioner of highways six years, and treasurer, four years.

ALLISON L. BRYANT was born in Kirtland Township, Lake County, Ohio. His father
moved
with his family to Fremont township, in August, 1861. The son enlisted in Company G.,
twenty-third Michigan Infantry, in 1862, and served through the war with his regiment.
Last two years was quartermaster's clerk. Mustered out in 1865, at Salisbury, N. C.,
returned to Fremont, and in 1867 went into business at Mayville. Was burned out in the
fire of 1873. Built his present store, corner Main and Fulton Streets, after the fire.
Does a general merchandise business, runs a grist-mill, saw-mill, shingle-mill, and
buys cedar and other timber. Is a member of the firm of Bryant & Fox, grain dealers
and proprietors of an elevator. Held the office of township treasurer six years.
Married and has a family of three children.

NELSON CODY was born in Canada, in 1831, and came to Lapeer, Lapeer County,
Mich., in
1859, thence to the township of Fremont, in 1864, where he located on section 35, and
engaged in farming and fruit raising, having a fine orchard of about 450 apple trees,
about 150 plum, pear and cherry trees, and 300 peach trees. He was married in 1857, to
Miss Emily Swift, of Lapeer, and has six children. Mr. Cody has served as supervisor
and treasurer of the township.

HARMON K. CRITTENDEN, was born in 1839, in Washington County. N. Y. His
father came
with his family to Michigan in 1855. They lived in Springfield, Oakland County until
1859, when they removed to Fremont, Tuscola County. In 1861 the son, Harmon K.,
enlisted in the First Michigan Engineers and Mechanics, serving with that regiment
three years, and participating in a number of engagements. On one occasion four
companies of his regiment, of which his own was one, numbering about 200 men, held
four regiments of Wheeler's rebel cavalry in check for a whole afternoon, for which
piece of gallantry they were highly complimented by Major General W. S. Rosecrans,
and
a corps flag presented them. At the close of his term of service he returned to this
county, and in 1865 put up about the first building in what is now the village of
Mayville. Was postmaster of the village from 1865 to 1868, also held the office of
school inspector for a term. He is engaged in a general merchandise business. In
1869-71 he spent some eighteen months in California. Married October 5, 1867. Has a
family of five children.

W. B. CURTIS, M. D., was born in Wayne County, in 1839, and in 1861 graduated from
the Medical University, at Ann Arbor. He practiced his profession in Wayne, Wayne
County, till 1876, when he came to Mayville, which he has since made his home, and
where he is having a successful practice. He was married June 19, 1870, to Miss Mary
A. (unreadable), who died October 30, 1881, leaving two children.

BENJAMIN D'ARCY, M.D., is a native of County Wicklow, Ireland. The D'Arcy
family, according to tradition, on his father's side, have always been farmers, and on the
mother's, either medical men, clergymen, or farmers. The doctor emigrated to Upper
Canada in 1851, living for a number of years in Durham and Huron Counties, while in
the township of Harwich, in the last named county, he taught school and also studied
medicine. In 1864 he attended the normal school at Toronto, Ont.; also the literary
department of Victoria University, at Cobourg, Ont. Matriculated in 1866. In 1868-69
he went to the University of Michigan, and in 1869 also went to the Detroit Medical
College, at Detroit, graduating in that year. He then came to Mayville, Tuscola County,
and commenced the practice of his profession. In addition to practicing he also carried
on a drug store, dealing in drugs, groceries, notions, stationery, tobacco, cigars, etc. He
has now (1883) in process of erection a brick veneered building, 54x62 feet, and three
stories high, with a basement, on the corner of Main and Fulton Streets, in the village of
Mayville. Was married to Miss Ellen McKay, a native of Ontario, in 1871. They have a
family of four children.

.
HORACE FOX, partner of A. L. Bryant in the grain trade, is a well-known farmer from
Rich, Lapeer County. Came to Michigan in 1856 from Canada. He built the first steam
grist-mill in Tuscola County. It was burnt down in 1866. Another was built on the same
site by C. Kealand, in 1875. In 1882 he rented his farm in Rich and moved to Mayville.
Is married, and has a family of six grown-up children. In Lapeer County he held a
number of public positions: Was supervisor for Rich Township seven years, highway
commissioner six years, and town treasurer two years.

LEONARD FOX was born in Attica, Genesee County, N. Y. From there his parents went
to Canada in 1831, living for a number of years in the townships of Blenheim and
Dumfries, in Oxford County, Ontario. They were farmers, and he was brought up as one.
In March, 1855, they left the province and came to Michigan, locating in Tuscola County
in 1856, in what is now the township of Fremont. Mr. Fox bought the farm which he now
tills from the United States Government. It is in section 25, town 11 north, 9 east. In
1862 he enlisted in Company D, Twenty-third Michigan Infantry, serving with that
regiment until the war closed, being mustered out at Salisbury, N. C., in June 1865. He
participated in all the engagements in which the regiment took part in the West, and also
when it was transferred to the East, escaping without a scratch. In the township of
Fremont Mr. Fox has held a number of offices, having been treasurer a number of terms,
highway commissioner and pathmaster. Was married in 1856 to Eliza Vermilyea, of
Brant County, Ontario, and they have a family of six children. Besides wheat and other
cereals, Mr. Fox is also much interested in fruit raising, having a fine orchard of apple
trees, and a young and promising peach tree, one of several hundred trees which are
commencing to bear this (1882) year. In coming into this township the early settlers, of
whom Mr. Fox was one of the first, came by way of Marathon, Lapeer County, and the
way through the wilderness had been traversed by only one settler previous to the
families which came in
at the time he did. There was no grist-mill in this part of the county then, and they were
at times compelled to grind their corn in coffee mills. It made pretty coarse meal, but the
pioneers, judging from their personal appearance today seem to have thrived on it.

DAVID FULTON was born in Clarion County, Pa., in 1820, and in 1844 went to
Wisconsin, thence, in 1852, to Canada, and in February, 1856, came to the township of
Fremont and settled on section 36, being one of four of the first settlers. He cleared up a
fine farm, and has represented the township in the offices of treasurer, clerk, and
commissioner of highways. He was married in 1845 to Miss Susan Roberts, who died in
1848; was a second time marriage, to Miss Jane Griffith in 1853, who died in 1854, and a
third time to Miss Nancy Schermerhorn, April 7, 1855; and has four children.

E. F. GODFREY was born in Clarence, Eric County, Ohio, in 1818. In 1859 he came
west and settled on section 21, in the township of Fremont, and cleared up a farm upon
which he now resides. He has served as justice of the peace twenty-three years, and
supervisor, three years. Was married in 1843, to Miss Rhoda C. Clapp, and has a family
of three children

REV. JOHN HASS was born in Switzerland, in 1831, and in 1856 was sent as a
missionary to Africa, where he was located on the Gold Coast. In 1861 he returned to
Switzerland, and the following year came to America. At first he preached in Allegan,
Mich., a short time, then removed to Bay City, where he remained until 1865, following
which he was in Adrian until 1869, and thereafter till 1877, at Owosso. He then came to
Fremont and settled on section 26, since which time he has been a farmer and preacher.
He has been twice married, first in Africa, in 18(unreadable) to Miss Eliza Stoll, by
whom he had five children, and second to Miss Mary Krauss, in 1874, who also has five
children.

George V. Ingersoll, undertaker and furniture dealer, was born in Sussex County, N. J.
Came to Orion, Mich., with his father and mother in 1854. Lived there until his father's
death, when the family went to Oxford, same county. After two years, returned to Orion,
and from there to Rich, Lapeer County. In 1870 went to Junction Township, Osage
County, Kansas, afterward to Russell County, where he took up a homestead. Lived
afterward in Liberty, Clay County, Mo., the home of the mother of the notorious James
Boys. Was there when Pinkerton's men are said to have thrown a hand grenade into her
house, by which the old woman lost an arm. Saw her the day she had it cut off and she
was grit clear through. Came back to Michigan in 1875. Worked at farming until 1882,
when he bought out W. Tubbs' furniture and undertaking establishment in Mayville.

FREEMAN H. KITCHEN, farmer, was born in Blemheim, Oxford County, Ontario. His
father was a native of New Jersey, and was also a farmer. His family came to Michigan
in July, 1855, remaining at Flint until March, 1856, when they removed to Tuscola
County, locating on section 36, township 11, range 9, at that time a part of Vassar
Township, but now in Fremont. The son and subject of this sketch bought land in
sections 35, 27, and 14, in township 11, range 9, where he now has a farm of about 140
acres. In 1862, he enlisted in Company D, Twenty-third Michigan Infantry, serving with
it through the war, and was mustered out at Salisbury, N. C., in 1865. He saw service
with the regiment in the Western and also in the Eastern departments. Was absent only
eight days from his command from the day of his enlistment until his discharge, and
escaped unwounded. In this township he has served as township treasurer two years,
highway commissioner three years, and school director eleven years. In 1880 he was
elected supervisor, and re-elected in 1881 and 1882. Was married in 1867 to Frances S.
Root, of Rich, Lapeer County. They have a family of five children living.

WILSON N. KITCHEN, farmer, was born in 1817, in New Jersey. His father, who was
also a farmer, left the State when the son was about two years old, and moved to the
county of Oxford, Upper Canada, living in the township of Blenheim, and afterwards
Dumfries. Came to Michigan in 1855, and to Tuscola County in 1856, locating in what
is now the township of Fremont. At the time of his settlement in the township there was
only one area of land cleared, and that was a part of the land owned by James Wells, and
opposite the farm now occupied by Mr. Kitchen. Mr. K. has not been an office-seeker -
the only public position he ever accepted having been that of highway commissioner.
Has been married twice, the present Mrs. Kitchen being a native of Canada. Her maiden
name was Charlotte Ann Hamilton. Their marriage took place in 1859. In all he has had
nine children. Two of his sons were members of Company D, Michigan Twenty-third
Infantry. Lewis L. died in hospital at Chattanooga, and the other, Freeman H., is now a
farmer in Fremont Township.

ALONZO B. MARKHAM, attorney, was born in Plymouth, Wayne County, Mich.,
June19, 1845. His father was a farmer. He received an education at the high school in
Northville, the Agricultural College at Lansing, and the Michigan University, graduating
from the law department of the latter institution in the class of 1870. He was admitted to
the bar at a term of the Supreme Court held at Detroit the same year. He commenced
practice in July, 1870, in the village of Mayville, Tuscola County. Combined with his
legal business he is also a real estate dealer and insurance agent. In the fall of 1870 he
was elected circuit court commissioner, holding the office four years. Re-elected in
1880, continuing in office until January 1, 1883. Has also been a justice of the peace,
township clerk, deputy clerk, and connected with the management of the schools. During
the war of the rebellion he was a member of Company O., Twenty-fourth Michigan
Infantry, serving nearly three years, being with the regiment during the term of its
enlistment and until the close of the war. He was present at all of the engagements in
which the regiment had a share, and it saw some very severe service. He was married in
1873 to Mary Van Riper, of Fowlerville, Livingston County, Mich. They have one child,
a daughter. Mr. M. has
in his possession the original patent, signed by President John Quincy Adams, certifying
that Abraham B. Markham, his father, had paid for and granting to him eighty acres of
land in what is now the township of Plymouth, Wayne County. It bears the date of April
1, 1826. This was the homestead on which he was born.

George B. Markham, was born in Plymouth, Wayne County, Mich. In 1856 he went to
Illinois; returned in 1858. Followed farming there and in this State until 1860. Was
afterward engaged in manufacturing patent corn planters, bedsprings, etc. Was also for a
time in the foundry of Charles Harrington, Northville, manufacturer of agricultural
implements, school furniture, etc. Came to Mayville in 1870 and started a planing-mill,
the first in this part of the country. Continued in the business until 1881; when he opened
a hardware and jewelry store. Is now (1883) closing up his business on account of ill
health. Was school assessor four years. Married to Lucy A. Husted in 1866. They have
two children. He is a brother of A. B. Markham, the attorney, and his aged father at
present makes his home at this house.

BYRON MCCARTNEY, farmer, was born in Wayne County, Mich., in 1836, in
Plymouth Township. Was educated in the district schools. In 1858 he went to California
by the Isthmus of Darien route, and remained there for twelve years, with the exception
of a visit home in 1866-67. While in that State he was a miner a portion of the time.
Worked in a wooden-ware factory, and teamed for four years between Sacramento and
Virginia, and Gold City in Nevada. On the death of his father, February 15, 1871, he
returned to
Plymouth, having been appointed administrator of his estate. In February, 1874, he
removed to Fremont Township, Tuscola County, and went on a farm. Married to Mrs.
Harriet Burgess, January 9, 1872. They have three children. In 1853 he came to
Watertown, in this county, with his brother James, but only remained a short time. The
brother still lives in that township. Mr. McCartney was treasurer of Fremont Township
in 1881 and 1882.

JOHN MEAD, deceased, was born in England, 1826; came to Oakland County, Mich., in
1853, moved to Indiana, in 1855, thence to Canada in 1856 and came to Fremont in
1860, where he settled on section 27, and remained until his death, in 1865. He was
married in 1849, to Elizabeth Shivers, and had two sons and one daughter, John, Jr.
Henry C., and Elizabeth Ann. Mrs. Mead survives her husband.

HARRY H. MILLER was born in Metamora, Lapeer County, Michigan in 1840, came to
Fremont in 1877, and settled on section 20, where he now resides. In 1862 he enlisted in
the Fourth Michigan Cavalry and served under General Rosecrans in Tennessee, was
discharged in 1863 for disability. He was married in 1866 to Miss Anna Dawson.

REV. CHARLES B. MILLS was born in York County, Maine, May 5, 1823. He was
brought up on a farm. He was educated at a neighboring academy and at Whitestown
Seminary, in the State of New York. He was educated for the ministry, and began
pastoral work as a Free-will Baptist clergyman, in 1849. September 18, 1851, he married
Ann M. Morrison, of Sanford, Maine. They have eight children living, and have buried
two. In 1854 he was preaching in Maine, and had been in poor health for several years.
He was told by his physician that he must abandon menial labor before he could regain
his health.
With a view of securing cheap land he finally purchased 200 acres in the present
township of Fremont. In the spring of 1856 he moved his family to this new country. At
Pine Run he hired a team to bring them to Wolverton's, in the present town of
Millington, and there got an ox team to transport them the remainder of the journey.
They were two days going the last thirteen miles. They arrived upon the site of their new
home in April, 1856, and first occupied a house that had just been built by David Fulton,
one mile south of the present village of Mayville. He immediately built a log house,
going a circuit of twelve miles to get men enough to raise it. Having studied navigation in
his younger years, and finding that the services of a surveyor were needed he procured
instruments, and for several years did all the surveying in that part of the county. He was
also preacher, doctor and counselor. In the fall of 1860 he was elected probate judge,
and
held that office eight years. He was a member of the State senate at the session of 1868-
69, and the extra session of 1870, and a member of the house in 1876-77. In August,
1877, he removed to Hillsdale, having accepted the office of treasurer of Hillsdale
College, a position he still retains. Very soon after entering upon the life of a pioneer his
health was restored, and for seventeen years he was pastor of the Baptist Church, in
Fremont. Mr. Mills has always been very popular with the people of Tuscola County,
and has contributed largely to its reminiscences and traditions, as well as to its fame.

JOHN A. MORGAN was born in New York, in 1833, and came to Washtenaw County,
Mich., with his parents, in 1834. February 9, 1851, he came to Vassar, which , at that
time contained by five buildings, and engaged in lumbering until 1879. He then came
to Fremont and purchased a farm on section 28, upon which he now resides. October 2,
1862, he was married to Miss Maria Hall, a native of Yates County, N. Y., and has five
children.

NICHOLAS R. SCHERMERHORN was born of American parents in Blenheim, Oxford
County, Ont. His father was a native of New York State, coming from near Schnectady.
The family came to Tuscola County in March, 1856, where the father bought land,
clearing up a farm in what is now Fremont Township. The son, Nicholas R., in 1858 left
here and went across the plains to California. While in that State he worked at the
blacksmith trade. Also was a miner. In 1861 he enlisted in the Fifth California Infantry,
in which regiment he served five years, lacking a few days, being in the service some
sixteen months after the war closed. In his company he was first duty sergeant. His
regiment saw service in California, Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas. After his
discharge he remained in Santa Fe, New Mexico, until 1867, when he returned to Tuscola
County. For two years he followed blacksmithing, and then went on a farm. In 1873 he
engaged in mercantile trade, was burned out the same year, losing everything. Resumed
business, however, and is an extensive dealer in dry goods, groceries, hardware, tinware,
stoves, shoes, boots, clothing, notions, etc. Was township clerk, and also officially
connected with the district schools. Married to Miss Harriet Lawrason, of Oxford
County, Ont., in 1867. They have three children living.

EZRA TRIPP was born in New York, in 1795, and came to Lapeer County, Michigan, in
1830. In 1856 he came to Fremont and settled on section 35, where he resided till 1874,
when he removed to Lapeer County and resided there till 1876. He then came to reside
with his grandson, Harry H. Miller, in Fremont. Mr. Tripp was the second settler in
Fremont; was the first postmaster and merchant, and held the offices of supervisor and
justice of the peace for several terms

WALTER TUBBS was born of American parents in the township of Blenheim, Oxford
County, Ontario. The father brought his family to Michigan in 1842, and went to
farming in Macomb County. Removed from there to Oakland County, and later to Rich,
Lapeer County. The son, Walter, came to Mayville in 1867, and built the hotel now
known as the "Fremont House." Sold it in 1869 and went to Kansas. Farmed it there; also
kept a country store in Junction Township in Osage County. In 1876 returned to
Mayville and followed butchering for some time. In 1878 he engaged in the undertaking
and furniture business; sold that in 1882; was deputy sheriff for four years under John
McPherson; married to Elizabeth Ingersoll in 1857. They have three children living.

JAMES TURNER was born in England, in 1814, and came to Quebec, Canada, in 1823.
In 1856 he came to Tuscola County,and settled on a farm on section 23, in the township
of Fremont, where he has since resided, and has cleared up a good farm, making himself
a comfortable home. He was married in 1839, to Miss Jane McNicoll, and has raised a
family of ten children, two of his sons serving in the late war. Mr. Turner has held many
of the township offices, including that of supervisor, justice of the peace, treasurer and
clerk.

WILLIAM TURNER, farmer, was born February 2, 1822, in Yorkshire, England. His
parents emigrated to Canada when he was an infant, locating in one of the parishes near
Quebec, where his father died. He then came West with his mother to Oxford County,
Upper Canada, now Ontario. In January, 1856, he came to what is now Fremont, Tuscola
County. At that date there were only two other settlers in the township, James Wells, and
James Mead. He purchased land in section 23, town 11 north, range 9 east, afterwards
settling in section 36, where he now resides. In the early days it was a difficult matter to
get grain ground, mills being distant and roads at some seasons impassable. One year he
and his neighbor were compelled to grind corn in a large-sized coffee mill he owned. He
had held a number of township offices, having at times been supervisor, treasurer, justice
of the peace, highway commissioner, pathmaster, etc. In 1848 was married to Catherine
Spencer, a native of England. They have four children.

Arthur Veitch, postmaster at Mayville, Tuscola County, Mich., was born in 1850 in
Embro, Oxford County, Ontario. He learned the trade of a printer, working for about
four years in the office of the Guelph Mercury. In 1868 he came to Michigan, and for
some months, was in the store of H. K. Crittenden as a clerk. In 1868 he went to Grand
Haven, Mich., working in the News office there for some months. From there he
returned to Mayville, and in company with his father engaged in mercantile business.
June 19, 1873, their establishment was totally destroyed by fire. The firm was dissolved
by the death of his father, May 17, 1875. The business which they carried on was
formerly owned by H. K. Crittenden, and was purchased from him when he went to
California. In
company with his father-in-law the building now occupied by him was built, and they did
a general mercantile business for about a year under the firm name of Choate & Veitch,
when Mr. C. retired from the firm. He now deals in drugs, medicines, paints, oils,
stationery, books, wall paper, shelf groceries, etc. Was married to Miss Mattic C. Choate
in 1871. They have two children, both sons.