Tittabawassee Township

Tittabawassee History Landowners  |  Tittabawassee Personal Sketches

PERSONAL SKETCHES

In the following pages the personal sketches of many old settlers and prominent men of this ancient township, are given. As they made the subject for its history, so also will their biographies lead the reader to a true conception of all that courage, energy and industry have done to lift up the country from its primitive condition.

Horace S. Beach is one of the oldest and most respected pioneers of Saginaw county. He was born at New York city, Jan. 16, 1806, and his boyhood was mostly passed in Delaware. At the age of 15 years he went to Livingston Co., N. Y., where he subsequently taught school for 12 or 14 years in different counties, he came to this county in 1837, and the same year taught the first school in Saginaw City under a certificate or by a certificate. He was a surveyor, and was engaged in that business more or less until 1855. He moved to his present farm in 1849. He cast his maiden vote for John Quincy Adams, but of late years has been a firm advocate of the principles set forth by the Republican party. He has been elected to fill several different offices in Saginaw tp. and city, and in 1842 and '44, served his fellow men as county Register of Deeds. He was married at Saginaw City, in 1840, to Catherine F. Malden, who was born in Newfoundland, in 1818. Her father came to this county in 1834, locating on sec. 34 of this tp., on land bought of Government. Nine children have been given to Mr. Beach and wife, 4 of whom are living—the remainder having all died under 12 years of age, except Minnie, who was 19 years old at date of her departure from this earth. Two sons served in the late war, both of whom still survive. The children are M. Malden, a farmer of Isabella Co., Mich.; Charles, a captain, Theodore J. and Horace F., both farmers. Theodore J. was born Nov. 10, 1851. He was educated in the public schools of Saginaw City, and has spent considerable time in sawmills, etc.; was sailor on the lakes for some period; was also in the employ of the Tittabawassee Boom Co. for four seasons; is Republican in politics; was married Jan. 1, 1879, to Eliza, daughter of James Major, and a native of Michigan.

Henry Beythan, farmer, sec. 28, was born in Germany, in 1839; parents were Ferdinand and Barbara (Linchman) Beythan, mother died in Germany; subject of sketch received his education mostly in native land; in 1852 accompanied father to America, locating in this tp., where he has since resided; by hard labor has succeeded in accumulating a nice farm of 100 acres; is a Republican and member of the Lutheran Church; was married in 1864 to Jennie Crosby; of their 6 children, 3 are living—Lillie, Henry and May; wife is member of the Baptist Church.

W. A. Crane, farmer, sec. 24, is a life resident of this county. He was born in Saginaw tp. in 1835. His parents were Obadiah and Mary (Chichester) Crane, the former of whom settled in Saginaw county, in 1830, when only one building was erected on the site of the present city. His parents were both natives of New York. W. A. was educated in an academy at Rochester, Mich., and has taught school for 25 successive winters, only missing one.

Mathematics is his favorite study. He owns 180 acres of land, 110 of which are well improved. His residence is valued at $3,000, and is heated by a furnace in the cellar. Mr. Crane was married, in 1857, to Miss S. E. Purchase, who was born in Ontario Co., N. Y., Nov. 12, 1841, and was the daughter of Erastus and Laura Purchase (Griffin). Six children have come to cheer their home—William E., Riley L., Ambrose, Mary, Milo and Franklin. Mrs. Crane is a member of the M. E. Church. Mr. Crane formerly lived in Kochville tp., where he was Superintendent of the schools. He moved upon his present farm in 1862. He is Republican in politics.

Hugh Garrett, farmer, sec. 31, was born in Ireland in 1831; is a son of Hugh and Mary (Williams) Garrett, natives of Scotland; subject of sketch received his education in his native land and Canada; came to this county in 1863, and now owns 140 acres of land; is a member of Democratic party; was married in 1852 to Mary Thurlow, 9 children have been sent to bless this union, 4 daughters and 5 sons; subject and wife are Members of Wesleyan M. E. Church, of which body he has officiated as Steward. Wife died June 21, 1881.

James Gifford, farmer, was born in England in 1831; is a son of John and Charlotte (Cole) Gifford; subject of sketch received his education in England; came to this county in 1865; was employed in saw-mills for 20 years; since then has been engaged in farming; owns 60 acres of land, and is a member of Democratic party; has been twice married; first wife was Salenia Allum, who bore him 1 child; wife was drowned in Lake Michigan, in 1863; second wife was Mary Marshall; they were married in 1867, and have 2 children.

Edward F. Gould, merchant, Freeland Station, was born in Canada, Feb. 20, 1840; is a son of Seth B. and Julia A. (Crandle) Gould, natives of New York, who emigrated to Canada at an early day; subject of sketch was reared in his native land, and in 1860 located at Midland, Mich., as general superintendent of John Larkin's lumber business, remaining in such position 14 years; was in partnership with Sherman Olmstead, in a shingle-mill, for four years, and one year alone; then sold out, and engaged in farming; in September, 1880, established present business; was elected Tp. Clerk, in spring of 1881; is member of I. O. O. F. and Masonic fraternities; was married July 5, 1869, to Harriet C., daughter of J. A. and Elizabeth Munger, who was born March 26, 1848; 3 children, Seth B., Lottie E. and James A.

William Hackett, farmer and stock-raiser on sec. 36, born in Livingston Co., N. Y., May 21, 1843, is a son of Bernard and Bridget (Murray) Hackett, who located on subject's farm in 1843. William now owns 590 acres of good land, and was engaged in the lumber traffic over 11 years; was married, Oct. 2, 1871, to Mary Keller; 5 children have been born to them—William, Catherine B., James F., Mary I. and Jennie; subject's post office address is Saginaw City.

Rev. J. H. Lewis, farmer, sec. 21, was born in Dutchess Co., N. Y., Sept. 30, 1827; is a son of Gershon and Hannah (Van Vradenburgh) Lewis, who settled in Genesee Co., Mich., in 1836, where father still resides; mother deceased; subject obtained an education by his own individual efforts, and at 19 years of age began to teach school, at which he labored for 15 years; since then has been engaged in farming; is a minister of the gospel, of the Wesleyan M. E. Church, and has charge of the Midland Circuit; settled in this tp. in 1855, where he has since resided; was married Dec. 17, 1848, to Mary L. Surryhue, who was born in New York city, March 25, 1821; 4 children have been given them—Mary A., William H., Watson A. and Florence E; wife died March 28, 1864; he was again married June 15, 1865, to Aurora Jaquith, who was born in this county March 19, 1843; subject has been Supervisor and Tp. Clerk; owns 93 acres of land.

Thomas McCulloch, farmer, was born in Scotland in 1833; is a son of Thomas and Jane (Martin) McCulloch, natives of Scotland; subject of sketch received his education in this county; owns 200 acres of land. 130 of which are tillable; is a Democrat and has been Tp. Commissioner and School Director; was married in 1848 to Margaret Glover, who bore him 2 children, and died in 1869; was again married in July, 1870, to Jane Garrett; they have 1 child, Mary Bessie; wife is a member of the M. E. Church.

John A. McGregor, farmer and stock-raiser, sec. 28; P. O., Freeland Station; is a life resident of this county, and was born Sept. 7, 1840; parents were John and Janett (Thomson) McGregor, who located at Detroit, Mich., in 1835, remaining one year, and then to this county, where they resided, with the exception of three years in Kent county, till their deaths; father was a mason, and assisted in the erection of the first lighthouse at the mouth of the Saginaw river; was killed by a falling tree (while chopping) Feb. 23, 1850; mother died Oct. 6, 1874; subject of sketch has been a farmer through life, and at one time suffered a loss of $1,200 in the lumber business; has been Tp. Treasurer two terms; and is a member of the Masonic order; is present Supervisor of this tp.; was married Oct. 30, 1866, to Elizabeth Davinson, who was born in Niagara Co., N. Y., Jan. 14, 1841; they have 1 child, Etta E.

John McGregor was born in Scotland, March 23, 1840; is a son of Peter and Margaret (Reid) McGregor, who came to the United States in 1843, and to this county the same year; subject of sketch received a fair education and was reared on a farm; has been a farmer through life, and in 1879 engaged in present business; has been School Inspector and Commissioner of Highways, and is a member of the Adventist Church; owns 96 acres of fertile land on sec. 17; was married Dec. 7, 1869, to Atressa Simmons, who was born in Canada, March 9, 1847; 2 children are living—Maude and Raymond; subject of sketch is making extensive preparations for the keeping of bees and the manufacture of honey.

Peter McGregor, sec. 27, was born in Scotland in March, 1809; parents were Alpine and Grace (McDonald) McGregor, both of whom died in Scotland; subject of sketch grew to manhood in Scotland, and in 1843 came to America with $200 in money; his brother had come 10 years previous; subject settled on present farm of 232 acres, which he has cleared and improved; has been Justice of the Peace two terms and Tp. Treasurer same length of time; was married July 23, 1839, to Margaret Reid, who was born in Scotland in 1812; of their 7 children, 4 survive—John, Grace, Margaret and Jane; wife died Sept. 29, 1870.

Frank McLellan, agriculturist, sec. 13, is a life resident of this county, and was born Oct. 10, 1850; parents, Benjamin and Emeline (Ballmer) McLellan, are natives of New Hampshire and New York; father came to Saginaw county in 1834 or 1836, and has resided here since; subject of sketch received his preliminary education in the public schools, and subsequently attended Bryant & Stratton's Commercial College of Detroit, Mich.; at present is Drain Commissioner, and owns 160 acres of land; was married Dec. 8, 1875, to Mary H., daughter of John and Margaret Smith, who was born in this county June 12, 1850; they have 1 child, Melbourne.

James A. Munger, physician and merchant, Freeland Station, was born in Monroe Co., N. Y., Oct. 6, 1825; parents, Daniel and Lucy (Agard) Munger, removed to Jefferson Co., Pa., when James was quite young, where he remained until 18 years of age; was engaged in lumber business several years; in 1870 entered into the mercantile trade, the last eight years being located at this point; has practiced medicine over 15 years; in 1863, in company with John Lee, threshed the greater portion of the grain raised in this and Midland counties; has been Supervisor, Commissioner of Highways, and is at present Justice of the Peace of this township; is connected with the Adventist denomination; was married Jan. 7, 1847, to Elizabeth Crispen, who was born in Jefferson Co., Pa., Sept. 6, 1826; 6 children—Harriet, Lucius, John, Adaline, Emily and Clorra.

John Munger, an old and respected settler of this township, was born in New York in 1820, and is a son of Daniel and Lucy (Agard) Munger, natives of New York, father of English descent; subject of sketch received a fair education in his native State, and in 1858 located in Saginaw county; had but one "grip sack" and no money when he arrived, but went resolutely to work, and the result of his labors are shown in the 80-acre fertile farm he now possesses; is Republican in politics; was married in 1841 to Almira Spencer, who bore him 7 children, 6 living; wife died in 1855; was married again in 1857 to Sarah Clark, a native of New York; have 2 children; subject and wife are members of the Wesleyan M. E. Church, in which body he has been class-leader. The 2 children's names are Oscar E. and Frankie V.

Morris Mulkins, farmer, sec. 23, was born in Otsego Co., N. Y., March 19, 1820; parents were John and Sally (Lovejoy) Mulkins, natives of Connecticut; in 1855 they located in Oakland Co., Mich., where Mrs. Mulkins died; father subsequently returned to New York, where he departed this life some years ago; subject of sketch spent his early life in a woolen factory, and in 1849 located in Oakland Co., Mich.; in 1854 he settled on his present farm of 40 acres; has been Township Commissioner, and is a member of the Masonic order; was married Aug. 23, 1842, to Rosanna Wellman, who was born in New York May 15, 1823; 4 children—John, Flora L., Rhoda A. and Olive.

David B. Olmstead, farmer, sec. 22, was born in Norfolk Co., Canada West, March 23, 1818; parents were Stephen and Mary (Barber) Olmstead, natives of New York and New Jersey; father died in Canada, in 1855, mother later; subject of sketch went to live with uncle when 14 years of age, as his parents were poor; bought a piece of land, but had to give it up, as could not pay for it; lived on rented land six years, and in 1856 came to this county; bought a timbered farm at $6 per acre, paying $250 cash down; expected to get money of party in Canada, who owed him, to pay the remainder; party ran off, and money was never paid; subject had only one horse and a few dollars to commence life here, but has succeeded admirably; now owns 160 acres, valued at $50 per acre; was married April 17, 1844; wife was native of England; bore him 1 child (deceased), and died Feb. 17, 1845; subject was again married, March 10, 1847, to Mary Murray, who was born in Canada, March 22, 1827; of their 6 children, 5 are living—Sophia, Mary A., John B., James M. and Stephen G.; subject and wife are members of Baptist Church, and he has been Tp. Treasurer; has also been member of School Board for several years.

Franklin Henry Pierce, farmer, was born in Saratoga Co., N. Y., in 1843; parents are Phineas Peter and Mary (Chase) Pierce, natives of New York, father of French, mother of German parentage; subject of sketch accompanied parents to this State in 1856, his father locating 80 acres of land on sec. 18, of this tp.; was educated in this country, and learned the blacksmith's trade; in 1861 enlisted in Co. B, 10th Reg. Mich. Vol. Inf., and was along "when Sherman marched down to the sea;" was wounded at battle of Buzzard's Roost, in Georgia, also wounded in head, by bayonet, at battle of Jonesboro, Ga., Aug. 31, 1864; is a Republican; owns 80 acres of land; was married in 1866, to Esther Hall, a native of Michigan; 5 children have been given them—William, Allen A., Charles F., Eva and Harriet; wife is a member of Episcopal Church.

William Roeser, merchant and dealer in farming implements, Freeland Station, was born in Germany, Jan. 4, 1825; is son of Frederick and Johanna (Schmieder) Roeser; in 1850 accompanied two brothers, Otto and Gustave, to this country, all locating in this tp.; subject of sketch has a good mercantile education; has been engaged in business since 1855, besides owning and operating a farm; laid out Freeland Station in 1867, and has been instrumental in settling up this village and tp.; has filled various tp. offices; was married, Feb. 14, 1851, to Therese Von Vasold, who was born in Germany, in 1829; they have 9 children—Oscar, Herman, William, Clara, Charles, Francis, Albert, Henry and Frederick.

Albert H. Stolze, farmer, sec. 28, was born in Germany, in 1840; parents were John Henry and Elizabeth (Schilling) Stolze; mother died in Germany; subject of sketch was educated in his native land, and in 1854, accompanied his father to America; he has been engaged in agricultural pursuits through life, and now owns 30 acres of good land; is a member of the Lutheran Church; was married in 1865, to Melissa Crosby, a native of Michigan, of English descent; have 1 child—Ella, born May 16, 1866; wife is a member of the Baptist Church.

David Thomson, farmer and stock-raiser, sec. 22; P. O., Freeland Station; was born in Saginaw Co., Feb. 16, 1845; is son of John and Jane Thomson, natives of Scotland, who located at Detroit, Mich., in 1837; subsequently removed to this county; subject of sketch was reared on a farm and received his education in the common schools; served one and a half years in Co. L, 16th Reg. Mich. Vol. Inf., in the army of the Potomac; owns 100 acres of good land; was married in January, 1874, to Mary Olmstead, who was born Dec. 23, 1853; they have 3 children—John W., Bertha C. and Nellie M.

John Thompson, agriculturist, sec. 27; P. O., Freeland Station; was born in Scotland, Jan. 31, 1833; parents were John and Jane (Murray) Thompson, who located at Detroit, Mich., in 1835, where they remained five years, and then settled on farm occupied by subject of this sketch; father died Feb. 9, 1879, and mother Sept. 24, 1860. John was reared on a farm, receiving a common-school education; was Tp. Treasurer two terms, and Justice of the Peace one term; is a member of M. E. Church; was married Aug. 31, 1856, to Sarah J. Pinkney, who was born in Sandusky Co., O., Feb. 14, 1840; 6 children have been sent to them—Euphemie J., Mary E., William S., Irene, Carrie A. and Lydia M.

George Turnbull, farmer, sec. 27, was born in Scotland, Nov. 12, 1826; parents were David and Margaret Turnbull, who, in 1854, located in New Brunswick, where the father died March 10, 1873; mother still survives; subject of sketch left New Brunswick at age of 18 years, and went to Canada; after three years' residence there, he came to Michigan, and in 1852, to Saginaw Co.; located on present farm of 120 acres in 1854; received only a common education, and began life with nothing; has made all he possesses by indomitable will and energy; was married Nov. 8, 1853, to Juial Thompson, who was born Mar. 17, 1829; 9 children have been given them, 8 of whom are living—David, John, George, Jarsan J., Mina, Thomas, Sarah and Theodore.

Augustus Vasold, sr., farmer, was born in Germany in 1804. He came to America in 1850, and located in this tp. the same year. He is now the oldest living settler within the border of tp. He married Ernestine Walchter, who was born in Germany in 1804, and came to this tp. the same year as her husband. Mr. Vasold owns 120 acres of good land. He has 4 sons, all farmers of this tp. Henry was born in Germany in 1831, and accompanied his parents to this county, locating on sec. 28, of this tp. He received a common school education, and has been a farmer through life. He is a Republican, and owns 80 acres of land. He was married in 1876 to Adelaide Merritt, who has given him 2 children—Henry Lewis and George Whitman. Mr. V. is a member of the Lutheran Church, and his wife is connected with the M. E. denomination. Augustus, jr., another son, was born in Germany in 1834, and received a collegiate education in his native land. He accompanied his parents to America in 1850, and now owns 90 acres of well improved land. He is a Republican, and has been Supervisor one term, and Justice of the Peace 16 years, also a school officer. He was married in 1868 to Augusta Van Vliet, a native of Germany. They have 6 children—Lina, Ernst, August, Elm, Augusta and Minnie. Mr. Vasold and wife are members of the Lutheran Church. Otto Vasold was born in Germany in 1847; when 15 years of age he began to raise bees and manufacture honey, and has continued that business till the present time. He usually keeps 50 or 60 swarms on hand, but the cold winter of 1878–'9 destroyed about 54 swarms. He owns 135 acres of good land; is a member of the Lutheran Church; a Republican, and has been Assessor and School Inspector of tp. Hugo Vasold was born in Germany, Feb. 19, 1837, and was there educated. He has been a farmer through life, and was given 40 acres of land, by his father, to start on. By industry and thrift he has increased his farm to 190 acres, 100 of which are well improved. He is a Republican, and has been Road Commissioner and Assessor. He was married April 3, 1867, to Natalie Huene. They have 5 children living—Charles A., Julia, Ernestine, Oscar and Salame; Walter is deceased. Mr. Vasold and wife are members of the Lutheran Church.

Tittabawassee History Landowners  |  Tittabawassee Personal Sketches

BACK TO LIST OF TOWNSHIP HISTORY 1881

Source: History of Saginaw County Michigan, By Michael A. Leeson, Damon Clarke, Published 1881 Chas. C. Chapman & Co., Chicago pages 944-956.

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