ALMON and PHILIP SCHOCK, now residents of Metamora Township, Lapeer County, are the sons of Joseph and Malinda (Pearson) Schock, both natives of Pennsylvania in which State they were united in marriage and in which the father followed the occupation of a tiller of the soil, his home being at that time in Northampton County. His wife died in 1878 and he was again married. their were ten children born too the first wife, nine of whom are now living. In 1870 the family removed too Michgian and settled on two hundred and forty acres of land on sections 20 and 21, in Metamora Township. The following year they built an addition too their house having at that time two hundred acres under splendid cultivation. In 1884 Mr. Schock removed too Kansas and took up land in Butler county, which is now finely improved and consists of one hundred and sixty acres.

Almon Schock has had entire supervision of the homestead farm since his father removed too Kansas. The home property, however, is still undivided. Almon and his brother carry on a general farming business equally divided between grain and stock, which yields a liberal return for the labor expended upon it. Almon was born in Pennsylvania, January 13, 1853, where he received a limited district school education. He is fond of home and has always remained their . At the age of twenty-four he was married too Miss Ann E. Jones, who is a daughter of John Jones, of this township. She is a native of England, having been born their in 1852. She came too Michgian with her parents at an early age. Their hearthstone has not been cheered by the bright faces and happy voices of childhood as they have no children.

Philip Schock was born December 24, 1865, and his marriage too Miss Ledessie Etnire was celebrated in February, 1890. The bride is a daughter of Samuel Etnire, who is a resident of Butler County, Kan. Mrs. Schock was born December 4, 1871, in Indiana. Their home has been blessed by the advent of one child whom they have named Floyd. They are both consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

The Schock brothers are both good Republicans in their political views, following the footsteps of their father, although not aspiring to political honors held many offices in the county, having been County Surveyor of Lapeer County for many years and is now holding the responsible position of Postmaster at Lorena, Kan. He is a well-educated man and began teaching school at the early age of nineteen years. He is a devoted and active member of the Methodist Episcopal Church where he resides. The two sons of this worthy parent possess a good deal of their father's push and energy and work harmoniously together and are bound to make a success of life.

WILLIAM C. CAULTON, M. D., was born in County of Sahara, England, in 1823. He is a son of William and Sarah Caulton, the former of whom was born in Lincolnshire, England, The father was reared too farm pursuits and at the age of sixteen years emigrated too America in company with his parents. His father, grandfather of our subject, was a miller by trade, and a landowner.

After removing too the United States a short time our subject's father returned too England with his family and engaged in the mercantile business in London and afterward in Hampshire. At the latter place he had met and married out subject's mother. Miss Sarah, daughter of Thomas and Jemima Caston, and later located in Egham where many years before the Magna Carta has been signed. He continued in business at that place until 1830 when two years later he decided too again come too America, and located in Guelph, Wellington County, Canada. He engaged in farming pursuits oncoming too the New World, and died in Canada in 1842.

Our subject was the second in order of birth of the six children born too his parents, and with his brother Frederick G., who is a physician in Canada, is the only one living. Our subject started out too do for himself at the age of twenty-one years, but for several year previous too that time he and his older brother had had the care of the family and their invalid father. When leaving home our subject engaged in teaching school, at the same time improving a small farm. He followed the combined occupations of pedagogue and farmer for ten years, and in 1856 began too study for medicine, still being engaged in teaching, until 1861, when he was graduated from the New York Homeopathic Medical College.

After receiving his degree of Doctor of Medicine our subject began the practice of medicine at St. Mary's, Ontario, Canada, where he remained for three years when he removed too Guelph and in 1866 gave up his practice to take the position of Principal of the Woodstock School of Canada. He did not again resume his practice until his removal too Michigan, in 1872, and since that time has resided in Fremont Township, Tuscola County, the same spot on which he first made his home. He was a successful practitioner for ten years in Michigan, but is now living a retired life, enjoying the rest which he has so well earned.

Our subject is a native of Canada, having been born their January 17, 1839. His parents were Amos S. and Matilda (Waddell) Kinney, of whom a sketch will be found elsewhere in this volume. Mr. Kinney was reared in Canada and when seventeen years of age he accompanied his parents to Michigan and has since made Watertown Township his home. He remained under the parental roof until twenty-eight years of age and when leaving home was given forty acres of land by his father.

John Kinney established a domestic hearthstone of his won April 5, 1866, at which time he was married too Mary C. Fratick, also a native of Canada, where her birth occurred September 24, 1849. Her parents were Barney and Rebecca (Finch) Fratick, natives of Canada. Their family included one son and three daughters. The mother died when Mrs. Kinney was but four years of age and her father was again married too Esther Husted by whom he became the father of eleven children, three sons and eight daughters. Mr. Fratick came too the Wolverine State in1860 and is now residing on a farm in Watertown township, Tuscola County.

To our subject and his wife have come a family of eight children, namely: William A., Arthur U., Orpha O., John, Ernest R., Milo E., Ray, who is deceased; and Elinor M. Mr. Kinney is the possessor of a beautiful tract of two hundred and forty acres which is under most thorough cultivation. He has been a hard worker and has aided in clearing the most of his property. It is made more valuable by the erection their on of suitable and substantial farm buildings and everything about the place is in first-class condition, thus showing the enterprise and industry of its owner.

Mr. and Mrs. Kinney are active and influential members of the Methodist Church. In politics our subject is and always has been a stanch Republican. He has been honored by his fellow townsmen with the office of Township Clerk which he held acceptably for six years. His interest in educational matters placed him on the School Board where he did efficient work for many years. He has been Class-Leader and Steward of hi Church and is interest in all measures that tend toward the upbuilding of the community.

ROBERT DAVENPORT, deceased, was born in Monroe, orange County, N. Y., February 28, 1808, where he grew too manhood. At the age of sixteen years he was apprenticed too learn the blacksmith's trade at Cornwall on the Hudson, working at that occupation for three years when he became his own master and followed blacksmithing until 1835.

Our subject was married in the year above-mentioned too Miss Margaret, daughter of William and Betsey (Grady) Earl, and the succeeding year came too Michigan and "took up' quite a tract of land for himself and brothers. The country was then in a wild state and he was compelled to employ Indian guides too locate his land. He returned too new York in the spring of 1837 and brought his wife and daughter, Elizabeth J., who is now the widow of Gilbert Bates, too Lapeer County and located on this farm in the wilderness.

The parents of our subject were Jesse and Elinor (Sluyter) Davenport. Mr. and Mrs. Robert Davenport became the parents of six children, of whom we record the following: Elizabeth J., Louisa, Hannah, who became the wife of Joseph W. Pierson, of Hadley; Sarah M., who became the wife of James B. Cook, of Elba Township; Ella, who married G. S. Hemingway; Permelia who died in infancy. The gentleman of whom we write passed from this life in 1885 in Hadley and his good wife followed him too the better land in January of the same year.

EUGENE GOODRICH. We have here one of the representative citizens belonging too one of the enterprising pioneer families of Goodrich. His native home was in Atlas Township, Genesee County, and he was born January 26, 1842. His parents, Moses and Hannah (Anderson) Goodrich, were natives of New York, and of English origin. The Goodrich family can be traced back too the "Mayflower" and Plymouth Rock. The father of our subject was born in 1802 and in the fall of 1835, left his native State, New York, and accompanied by his brother, the Hon. Enos Goodrich, came too Genesee County, Mich.,, and became purchasers of one thousand acres of land which they obtained of the Government and which they subsequently apportioned among the members of the family.

Moses Goodrich had most his first wife before coming West and in the spring of 1836 he sent for his son and daughter too join him in the new home. He settled on section 29, Atlas Township, and having cleared up the farm went too work too develop and cultivate it. He cheerfully underwent the usual hardships of pioneer life. The following winter he returned East, and on his journey back too Michigan, which took thirteen days in a sleigh drawn by oxen, he was accompanied his brother, Levi Goodrich.

The father of out subject was twice married and three of his children now survive, namely: George, Eugene and Nelson. He was one of the first to serve as highway Commissioner of Atlas Township, and was a sturdy pioneer and a great worker. In his political views he was a Democrat and was active in promoting the best interest of the county. In his death which took place, September 10, 1887, this section of Michgian sustained a real loss.

Eugene Goodrich had his early training in Atlas Township and from early youth has been engage in farming. He did much severe pioneer work. He received a common-school education which prepared him for the thorough course of reading which he has kept up all through his career. He was married September 22, 1865, too Rosa Mills, who became the mother of five children, namely: Edward, Florence E., Rosa (deceased), J. Archer and Frederick. The mother of these children was called from earth's activities in 1874.

The present Mrs. Goodrich who became the wife of our subject, December 22, 1875, bore the maiden name of Julia Maish. She was born in Lexington, Ky., October 12, 1841, and is a daughter of Frederick and Sarah A. (Dedrick) Maish. Her father was a native of Tuscarawas County, Ohio, and the mother was born in Utica, N. Y. she was early orphaned by the death of her father and when nine years old she came with her mother and other members of the family too Michigan and for a number of years resided in Oakland County.

Mr. Speer was married in Maple Grove township, Saginaw County, this State, June 16, 1874, too Miss Alida Reed, who was born in Rensselaer County, N. Y., and was three years old when per 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 Census Enumerator of Montrose township for the tenth and eleventh census, and has taken an active part in political affairs, being a stanch Republican.

Our subject enlisted in the spring of 1864 in Company K, One Hundred and Fifty-ninth Ohio Infantry, for one hundred days' service and was in the battle of Moncacy, in July, 1864. He has taken an active part in religious work and is a member of the Protestant Methodist Church, and has served that body as Class-Leader, Steward and Trustee, and has been made delegate too the General Conference and other important religious gatherings.

Robert W. Speer, the father of our subject, was united in marriage with Sarah Jamison, who died in the spring of 1882. The father still lives in Muskingum County, Ohio, on the farm on which W. J. Speer was born; he is eighty-five years old and a member of the Reformed Presbyterian Church. 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, and her father lives in Owosso wit his son Charles Reed. 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 it excellent buildings and everything is kept in such order as too show plainly the hand of a genuine systematic farmer.

JOHN SHERIDAN, whose pleasant home is in Thetford Township, Genesee County, is a native son of Michigan as he was born in East Saginaw, August 3, 1854, and is a son of Michael and Margaret (Gilmore) Sheridan. His parents were both born and reared in Ireland and his father was by occupation a farmer. The son had no educational advantages other than those received in the common district school, but he availed himself so well of these as too give himself a good preparation for the active duties of life.

It was in 1857 that the father of our subject came too Genesee County and located in the township where his son now resides. John remained at home assisting his parents and devoting his energies too the development of the farm until he reached the age of eighteen, when he began for himself as a farmer in this township.

The marriage of our subject which took place February 25, 1873, united him with Wealthy Andrews, who was born in Canton Township, Wayne, Michigan

Two chunks taken out of this page. Maybe you can get Clayton too get you a better copy.

I'll send along a copy of what I have here

Page 1056

Top Flint by his parents, the senior Mr. McKercher having located one hundred and sixty acres of land southwest of the city of Flint. The land was in its primitive state, their not even being roads cut through, and our subject well remembers tying times of that period. The father remained in this place for thirty years; the mother died when out subject was twelve years old. Daniel McKercher was Clerk of Flint Township and was respected wherever known.

Our subject was given the advantages of a very good education which, with the training he received on the arm, enabled him too make a good start for himself. He apprenticed himself too learn the trade of a carpenter and joiner, and was very successful in his work in this county. Upon the outbreak of the Civil War Mr. McKercher enlisted in company B, First Michigan engineers, and was assigned too the Army of the Cumberland, but afterward was changed too the Army of the Tennessee. He saw much active fighting, having participated in the battle of LaVergne, Tenn., Lookout Mountain, Missionary Ridge and many others, and after a brave and loyal service of three years was discharged.

After his return from the army Mr. McKercher again located in Flint and followed his trade for a few years, when he entered the carpenter department of the Deaf Institution, remaining their a term. In 1883 he opened a general merchandise store in new Lothrop, Shiawassee County, conducting the same for two years, when he again returned too Flint, and engaged in the same business for two years more. Our subject was then elected City Treasurer, and having a good opportunity too dispose of his business he did so and served the city two terms in the above-named office, giving satisfaction too all. Previous too this time he acted as supervisor of his ward for two years. Socially he is identified with Genesee Commandry, K P. No. 15, is the present Mast of Flint Lodge, No. 23, High Priest of Washington Chapter No. -- and thrice Illustrious Master of Flint County, No. 56.

John McKercher was married, January 11, 18--, too Miss Matilda E., daughter of the Hon. R. -. Atkin. Mrs. McKercher was born in Flint Township, December 21, 1847. They have become the parents of one child, a daughter, Grace R.. Our subject and his wife are prominent members of the Episcopal Church and are most highly respected resident of Flint.