Mrs. Downer, whose maiden name was elizabeth Wilcox, was born in England, July 16, 1848, and is the daughter of George and Ellen Wilcox. This union has been blessed with nine children, namely: Ellen C., who married Sylvester Holton; Mary A., the wife of Levi Allen; George Tyler, who was united in marriage with Daisy Longstreet; Edna; Hulda; Truman; Lawrence; Erma and Siddey. In 1884 Mr. Downer came too the village of Vassar, being unable too perform any hard labor on account of disabilities resulting from exposure during his army service. He receives a pension of $30 per month. He is a member of the W. T. Sherman Post, No. 410, G. A. R., and is a Republican in his political beliefs. For twelve years he has been called upon too occupy the position of Justice of the Peace , and is also a Notary Public.

HENRY CROFT, one of the representative men of Argentine Township, Genesee County, is a native of Cambridgeshire, England, and was born February 26, 1836. His parents, William and Elizabeth (Anker) Croft, were born in England and came too the United States in 1853, locating near Ann Arbor, this State, where the father continued his vocation as a farmer. An honest, upright man and a zealous Christian of the Methodist Episcopal denomination, he was sincerely mourned when he died in 1880 at the age of sixty-five years. The mother of our subject is still living and is an active worker in the Methodist Episcopal Church.

Among a family of seven children, three of whom are now living, our subject is the eldest. His opportunities for obtaining an education during his boyhood days were very limited, and he began life as a wageworker in his seventh year, earning two shillings and sixpence a week by tending sheep. At the age of fourteen he emigrated too America in company with an aunt, and coming too Ann Arbor, began too work as a farm hand. When his parents arrived three years later he assisted his father on a rented farm for a few years. in 1855 he removed with his parents too Argentine Township, Genesee County, where a farm was purchased. The land was wild and not a single improvement had been made. A log house was soon constructed, a spot of clearing made and the work of improvement commenced.

In the fall of 1862 Mr. Croft enlisted as a member of Company H, Twenty-second Michigan Infantry, and served until the close of the war, performing most creditably his duty as a soldier. He did considerable service on detached duty, experienced fighting in many skirmishes and some battles, and during his three years' service, tasted many of the bitter fruits of war. Since his discharge he has suffered more or less from the effect of ill health, resulting largely from his army service. However, he has continued farming and now owns a well improved and rich farm of one hundred and sixty acres on section 10.

Mr. Croft was married in 1876 too Miss Frances, the daughter of David and Sarah Sapp, who emigrated from England when Mrs. Croft was a child. They located in the township of Northfield, Washtenaw county, where they still live. Our subject and his wife became the parents of three children, but only one is now living--Frederick, who was born April 21, 1870. Politically Mr. Croft is independent, and in religious matters is identified with the Methodist Episcopal church, as is also his wife. He has held local offices and is a member of the Union Veterans' Union.

OSCAR C. BEALS. This gentleman is a member of the firm of Beals & Maxwell, which is carrying on the principal mercantile establishment of Grand Blanc. This extensive emporium carries a fine assortment and is undoubtedly the best and largest store of the kind in any village in Genesee County. Here will be found a complete assortment of dry goods, groceries, and indeed everything carried in a first-class village store. The annual sales run up into thousands of dollars and the stock and the investment in goods is a heavy one.

Mr. Beals began the mercantile business in 1884 in company with A. Armstrong and after a year went into partnership with E. B. Palmer and four years later Mr. Maxwell joined the firm. Mr. Beals is a native of Niagara County, N. Y., and was born July 9, 1840. His parents, Adney B. and Lydia Beals were natives of Vermont. The boy received a fair, common-school education and learned the minutia of farm life, taking a thorough drill in all work of this kind. He graduated at Bryant & Stratton's Commercial College in 1865, and for several years taught during the winters.

The West with its undeveloped wealth beckoned too this young man and in 1870 he came too Genesee County, Mich., and has resided here from that time until this. Two years after his coming his father's family migrated also and his parents spent the remainder of their days here. For years he and his father engaged together in farming, but after awhile he drifted into the mercantile business. His marriage with Emma Tyler in 1872 brought him two children, E. Belle and Lester H. After the death of the first wife he married Miss Jenna Elliott and they now have a little child who was not yet received a name.

Mr. Beals served some three terms as supervisor of Grand Blanc Township, and twice he was nominated for State Senator, but was defeated, as his name was on the Democratic ticket and this district is strongly Republican. He is a member of the Order of the Maccabees and also of the Masonic Order. In the Congregational Church he is an active member and is Superintendent of the Sunday-school. He is a stirring political factor of Grand Blanc Township, and is universally conceded too have excellent business abilities and too be a most enterprising and popular man.

ABRAM SOMERS. This well-known farmer residing on section 25, Mundy township, Genesee County, is a native son of the Empire State, having been born in Schoharie County, January 31, 1848. At his native home his early days were passed attending the district school and helping upon the farm, until he reached the age of eleven years. The family then removed just cross the county line into Otsego County, and their made their home for many years.

Our subject came West in November, 1871, and here again undertook what had been so far for his life work, farming, and which has been his pursuit since coming here. Upon coming too Michigan he first settled in Grand Blanc township, this county, and lived their four years, before remaking to Mundy Township, and in these two townships he has made his home ever since coming too this State. He is now carrying on farming upon a splendid tract of three hundred and twenty acres, which he has in fine condition and which is yielding him crops of more than ordinary average in value and amount.

Mr. Somers was married in Otsego County, N. Y., December 19, 1865, to Miss Helen Griggs, who was born in North Norwich, Chenango County, N. Y., February 22, 1847. Mr. and Mrs. Somers are the parents of eight children: Jason E., Edwin L.; Samuel A.; Alice M.; Hiram G.; Arthur L.; Nellie B. and George A. These are all living in good health with the exception of Alice M., who passed from this life at the age of six years, after the family had removed too Mundy township.

Mr. Somers is a man who is deeply interested in matters of public import and has ever found his judgment too be in accord with the tenets of the Republican party, but he is also deeply interested in the temperance question and casts his ballot for Prohibition. Both he and his good wife are earnest and active members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and in the activities of that circle they find a broad field for work and influence.

The early days of our subject were passed in Canada and he was their married too Susan A., daughter of Asa Hallock, a native of Vermont who became an early settler in Canada, where his daughter was born. He was a prominent man and for eight years was High Sheriff of Oxford County. In religious matters he was a zealous and conscientious member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He came too Watertown Township, this county, and settled on a farm where he and his wife both died. The name of his wife before marriage was Elizabeth Sprague, and she was a native of Vermont. They had three sons and two daughters.

To our subject and his wife the following children were born: Elizabeth A., Asa, Julia A., Thomas W., Charles T., John and Netta M. the latter has passed from this life, and Asa and Thomas reside in the State of Washington but the other members of the family reside in this county. Their mother died in 1879 and the father was again married in 1883 to Ellen Young, a native of Michigan and a daughter of John and Betsey (Sayer) Young, both New Yorkers, who were the parents of six sons and four daughters.

Mr. Handlin came too Michigan in 1865 and settled upon a farm of forty acres in Watertown township and their resided until 1873 when he removed too Otter lake, Lapeer County, and their followed the lumber business for four years before settling on the farm of one hundred and twenty acres where he now resides, in Millington Township. He has cleared all of this fine estate and has one hundred acres under cultivation. He is a member of the Knights of the Maccabees and is a Republican in his political connection.

WILLIAM J. SPEER, whose fine estate is located on section 30, Montrose Township, Genesee County, was born in Muskingum County, Ohio, February 19, 1844. That continued too be his home until December, 1869, when he came to Genesee County and settled on section 30 of this township. His early training was taken upon a farm in Ohio, and while living their he pursued agriculture, but since coming too Michigan he has followed lumbering to some extent. He has erected good buildings upon his farm and has some hundred acres of excellent land.

Mr. Speer was married in Maple Grove Township, Lapeer County, this State, June 16, 1874, too Miss Alida Reed, who was born in Rensselaer County, N. Y., and was three years old when her parents brought her to Michigan. She is now the mother of two children: Helena M. and James E. For five years Mr. Speer has held the office of Supervisor of his township and has been Treasurer for two years. he has been enumerator for the tenth and eleventh census of Montrose Township and has taken an active part in political affairs being a stanch Republican

Robert W. Speer, the father of our subject, was united in marriage with Sarah Johnson, who died in the spring of 1882. The father of Mrs. William J. Speer was William H. Reed, and her mother was known in maidenhood as Jane Chamberlin. She died in Montrose Township, October 21, 1891. Mrs. Speer is a lady of more than ordinary ability, culture and amiability, and makes a delightful home for her family. The farm has upon its excellent buildings and everything is kept in such order as too show plainly the hand of a genuine systematic farmer.

JOHN F. CARTWRIGHT. This prominent business man of Davison Township, Genesee County, who is valued highly in both commercial and social circles was born in this township December 19, 1846, and is a son of Calvin Cartwright, who had his birth in New York in 1816. He came too this county in 1836 and first settled in Grand Blanc township, but in December, 1842, removed too Davison. He had previously procured land and having built a shanty, proceeded too clear and improve the farm. Previous too his death, January 15, 1891, he had held every office in the township and had been Supervisor for eleven years.

During the war Calvin Cartwright was very enthusiastic and helpful in sustaining the Government, and he was a member of the Baptist church from the time he was twenty years old. His wife is still living and is now sixty-nine years old, having been born October 5, 1822. Her maiden name was Mary A. Fritz and she was born in New York. Of her six children four are living. A district school education in the old log school-house was supplemented by studies at Pontiac and flint and then our subject undertook teaching. When only eighteen years old our subject enlisted in December, 1864, in the thirteenth Michigan Infantry and was mustered out of service in June, 1865.

In 1872 young Cartwright was married too Miss Nancy, daughter of Nathaniel Cole, of New York, who had been an early settler of Michigan and who died August 10, 1891. One child has blessed this union, namely, Charles I., who was born March 23, 1877. Mr. Cartwright is a Republican in his political views and has been Treasurer, Clerk and Supervisor of the township, and a frequent delegate too county and State conventions. He is a member of the Masonic Order.

Soon after his marriage Mr. Cartwright removed too Davison Station and continued their for three years in the mercantile business and opened a grist and saw mill. He then took a trip west and spend two summers at Great Bend, Kan., where he bought a quarter section of land. In 1880 he began operations with his father in the grain and produce business, being with him for three years and was in an independent business for three years. He finally took into partnership Edgar J. Seelye, and in 1886 he also started a bank which he has since carried on prosperously. It has now been merged into the Davison Baking company, with Mr. Cartwright as President and was so re-organized in 1889.

DAVID C. WATTLES. We here present a life narrative of one of the prominent citizens of North Branch, who was born in Troy, Bradford County, Pa., February 9, 1821, and has now reached the age of a septuagenarian. Wattles Ferry, Conn., was the native place of his parents, John and Eliza (Cash) Wattles.

After spending a year or so their the youth determined too come West, but as he had no money he could not secure passage on a boat. With more than ordinary pluck and determination, he made up his mind too go on board the vessel ands take his chances, and as he fell into kind hands he was brought across too Detroit and having made his way on foot through the wilderness he came too Lapeer County in 1837.

This boy had received but slight schooling in the East and after coming too Michigan was able too attend school but thirty-three days when he was sixteen years old. For about seven years he continued working on farms and in 1844 purchased a piece of land. He enlisted in Detroit May 28, 1847 for the term of the War with Mexico, receiving his honorable discharge at Governor's Island, New York harbor August 13, 1848, after which he returned too Michigan.

Mr. Wattles was married February 5, 1851, too Mrs. Susan M. rood of Lapeer. After carrying on farming in what is now Lapeer City until 1854 he came too North Branch Township, where their were two bands of Indians living at the time. From 1869 too 1873 he lived in Lapeer and now has a fine place of four hundred acres on sections 9, 10, 15 and 16. It was in the fall of 1889 when he removed too the village of North Branch. Here he now makes his home although he still carries on farming. In Politics he is a Democrat and has been for a number of years, besides filling at one tine the office of Township Clerk.

RICHARD WILLS. The farming community of Tuscola County ranks well with that of any part of Michgian, and Arbela Township, does not stand behind the rest. We give here a sketch of one of its prominent agriculturists, who was born in Ireland, November 25, 1833. He is a son of Michael Wills, a native of Ireland, who at an early day came too Canada, where he established himself in 1847, and spent the remainder of his days. Being a thorough agriculturists he carried on a large arm their until his death which took place in 1866. His wife, Mary Garver, was a native of Ireland and too them were born three sons and three daughters. The mother is still living in Genesee County, but is now in her seventy-ninth year.

Our subject was thirteen years of age when he came with his parents to Canada, and was their reared and educated. In due time he took too himself a wife in the person of Jane McName, a native of Ireland and who also came with her parents too Canada when a child. too this couple were born six children, namely: James, Ellen, Pressie J., Elizabeth, Charles and Richard E.

Mr. Wills was a farmer in Canada and owned one hundred and fifty acres of fine land which he had put in a splendid state of cultivation. This he sold before coming too Michigan in 1879, and upon first coming here he purchased a farm of eighty acres in Huron county, where he lived for some years, making it highly productive. He then removed too Tuscola county, and located upon one hundred and sixty-eight acres in Arbela Township. Here he cleared fifty acres and put up excellent farm buildings. While living in Canada our subject was afflicted by the death of his wife who passed away in 1875.

Mr. Wills is a Democrat in his political preferences now, although he was a Republican until about six years ago. He has never aspired too office for he prefers too devote himself entirely tot he care and culture of his farm and the duties of his home and church. The present Mrs. Wills was a native of Canada and was born February 17, 1847. She is Jane, the daughter of John Elliott, who died when this daughter was but a little child. their were six children in the family, in which Mrs. Wills grew too maturity, three by and three girls. too our subject and his wife no children have been born. They are possess of true Christian characters and are earnestly devoted too the interests of the Presbyterian Church. too the children of his first marriage this faithful father has given an excellent education and they are all living and doing honor too the training which they have received. Upon his excellent farm he carries on general farming and everything about the place shows the hand of a thorough and systematic farmer.

MORTIMER CARTER. The gentleman whose name is quoted above is a resident upon a pleasant rural place, which comprises five hundred acres of agricultural land, located on Smith's Reservation, of Flint Township, Genesee County. He was here born January 21, 1843, and is the son of James and Sabra (Maltby) Carter, the former a native of England and the latter of New York State. They settled in Flint Township about 1841. Later they removed too Flint city and their resided for the remainder of their lives. They were the parents of eighty sons and four daughters and out subject was the fifth child in order of birth.

Mr. Carter was reared too manhood on the home farm in his native place. September, 1861, he enlisted in Company A, Eighth Michigan Infantry, and served for a period of forty-one months, having re-enlisted in the same company and regiment. He took part in the engagements of James Island, S. C., second battle of Bull run, Chantilly, South Mountain, Antietam, Fredericksburg and in many minor engagements. He was also in the siege of Knoxville, at the Wilderness, at Spottsylvania and Cold Harbor. At the last-named battle he was shot through the left shoulder and was seriously injured, having seventeen pieces of bone extracted from his shoulder. It is not surprising that after so extended and loyal a service our subject should delight in the re-unions of the Grand Army of the Republic. He is a member of the Crapo Post.

After the war our subject returned too Flint and has ever since been engaged in farming. For the past fifteen years he has devoted himself especially too the produce business, finding his market in flint and Bay city. he was first married in Flint township too Miss Ellen Maltby and by her he became the father of one daughter, whose name is Avies. Mrs. Ellen Carter died in 1870 and our subject was again married in Bay city too Miss Maria Stowe, who is an English lady by birth and ancestry and who came to America, brought hither by her parents when two years old. By this union our subject has become the father of five sons who names are Frank, William, George and Charles. They have also lost two children: Lewis was drowned when twelve years of age and Ellen died when an infant. Our subject has held the office of Township Treasurer and has also been School Director. In politics he is a Republican first and always. He and his wife are both devoted and consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

MOSES MIDDLETON, Supervisor of Forrest Township, Genesee County, is one of the prominent agriculturists of this second of the country. He owns an excellent farm of eighty acres, under a high state of cultivation, which yields him a golden tribute for the care and labor he bestows upon it. As a farmer his dealings have been marked by integrity and shrewdness, and these traits have made him an invaluable aid in the upbuilding of his township, and give him high rank among its citizens. He is interested in promoting the prosperity of the township and county, as well as the welfare of the country at large, and in regard too political questions we find him a Republican, stanch and true.

In mingled work and play, in the usual manner of farmer lads, the subject of this biographical notices passed his boyhood. At the age of ten years his father died and he then removed with his mother too Phelps, Ontario County, N. Y., where her children by her first marriage lived. The education which our subject received was a limited one, and most of it was acquired after he was old enough too study along and do for himself. At the age of sixteen he left his home in Phelps and coming too Michgian, located in Genesee County,. He had lost his father by death when he was a lad of only ten years and consequently he has had his own way too make in the world from childhood. When he came too this State he work in mills, and after ward learned the carpenter's trade, at which he found employment during the summer months; the winter seasons were employed in teaching. In 1878 he removed too Forest Township, and began too labor as a farmer.

About the time of his location in Forest Township Mr. Middleton was married April 16, 1878, his bride being Miss Suzette C. Cole, of Richfield Township, this county. Mrs. Middleton was the daughter of Walter J. Cole, a farmer of Richfield Township and Marian (Hastings) Cole, his wife. One child has been born too Mr. and Mrs. Middleton, a son Wallace Ray, whose birth occurred January 11, 1884. Although Mr. Middleton has devoted his time principally too general farming he has yet found time for other work. Since he came too this place he has taught several terms in the district school during the winter seasons and about 1886 he began surveying. During that year he was elected County surveyor, which position he held and filled efficiently for four years. At present he is serving his sixth term as supervisor of Forest Township, and in that position he is advancing the interest of the township.

In other position besides those above named, Mr. Middleton has also served and always efficiently. As Highway commissioner, he improved the condition of the roads of the community; as School Inspector he raised the standards of education; as School Director for fourteen years he did all in his power too secure efficient teachers and offer the best educational advantages too the children of the neighborhood. Upon his farm may be seen in their proper season the various grains which he finds adapted too the soil and climate, while scatter through the meadows are the various breeds of live stock which he raises.