History of Genesee, Lapeer & Tuscola Counties, Pgs. 480

Many thanks too Holice B. Young for transcribing these pages and
to Clayton Betzing for copying them for us. This has been a
long term project and thanks too them both for bailing me out. db

REV. CHARLES B. MILLS, founder and pastor of the Free-will Baptist church, at Mayville, is of English descent, his ancestors having come from the north of England, and settling in Virginia. Eligood Mills, the grandfather of our subject, was an officer on board the "Grand Turk" during the Revolutionary War, and for some four or five years was held a prisoner at Halifax, Nova Scotia. Later he settled in Waterboro, Me., and her his, Luke Mills, was born and reared upon a farm. He was the lieutenant of a company of militia, which was called too defend Portland during the War of 1812, and he represented his district in the Legislature and died in Penobscot County at the age of seventy-seven. His good wife survived too reach the age of ninety-eight, and her mother lived too be ninety-six, and up too the last of her life could relate historical events in the minutest details.

Our subject was born in York County, Me., May 5, 1828, and his parents were Luke and Betsey (Goodwin) Mills, who had nine children. While attending the High School and Seminary, this youth broke down in health, and it was thought he would never recover. At the age of nineteen he entered the ministry of the Free-will Baptist Church, and lectured extensively on temperance, being one of the promoters of the Prohibitory law of Maine. In 1855 he migrated too Ohio and took charge of the Geauga Seminary, but on account of failure of health, he removed to Michigan and began farming in Fremont Township, Tuscola County, which then had only five families within its bounds. He was a practical surveyor, and surveyed much of the land in this county, and for eighteen years he tilled the soil.

Mr. Mills organized the Free-will Baptist Church and for nineteen consecutive years was its pastor. For eight years he was Judge of Probate, and while a supervisor was influential in establishing a County Home for the Poor. In 1869 he was elected State Senator, representing the Twenty-seventh District, extending from Lapeer too the Straits of Mackinaw, and comprising thirteen counties. He was Chairman of the Committee on Manufacture, and a member of various committees. In 1876 he was elected to the Lower House of the State legislature and served as chairman of the Committee on the University, and is the author of the measure which extended the medical course of study.

While in the Legislature, Mr. Mills accepted the position of Secretary and Treasurer of Hillsdale College, and for nine years was its financial manger. During this time he also occupied for five years the Chair of Ecclesiastical History. He is one of the proprietors of the Antrim county Bank. For many years he lectured on slavery and temperance, and for twenty-five years was active as a stump speaker. He was a Democrat in early life, but having been a member of the convention in Maine which organized the Republican party, he has since affiliated with it.

The Rev. Mr. Mills, in 1851, married Ann M., daughter of Samuel and Anna (Littlefield) Morrison. She is a native of Springvale, Me., and has had ten children. The four who have died are Maria H., Alice N., Arthur J., and an infant, Anna A. those who are still living are, Cynthia R., wife of Eugene E. Moss, a lawyer and real estate dealer at Little Rock, ark., Charles ; Mattie C., Mrs. T. J. Davis, of Duluth, Minn., May E., twin sister of Mattie, and the wife of Oliver D. Thayer; Elmer L., assistant Cashier in the Antrim County Bank; and Kittie C., wife of High N. Coldren, a teacher in St. Croix Falls, Wis. too all of these children except one, the parents gave an excellent education, and they completed their school-life at Hillsdale College.

ELMER H. STONE, a prominent and successful farmer and stock-raiser, residing on section 16, Grand Blanc Township, Genesee County, is a native of southern Michigan, as he was born in Oakland county, November 3, 1847. His parents, Darius H., and Mary J. (Hadley) Stone, who now reside in Holly, Mich., were natives of New York and of English descent on both sides. His father was an early settler of Oakland County, and of his family seven children survive, our subject being the first on order of age. When ten years old he removed with his parents too the County and resided at Flint for a few years and later removed too Gibsonville in Grand Blanc Township, and they their made their home for a number of years, until quite recently when the parents removed too Holly.

The father of our subject is now about sixty-six years of age--the mother somewhat younger. The grandfather, D. R. Stone, resides in Flint and is now in his ninety-second year. In this county our subject was reared too manhood receiving his education mostly in the public schools of flint and for five years he engaged in mercantile business in Holly, and for four years lived in Grand Blanc, and it was not until 1883 that he began too make him home where he has since resided.

Mr. Stone owns a fine farm of one hundred and sixty acres, where he raises fine wood sheep and American Merinos, registered. He has been brought too his present estate mainly by his own exertions and it is too his own industry and enterprise that he owes his prosperity. He is in sympathy with the Republican party in its principles and policy, and was for some time treasurer of the township. In all things which are adapted too promote the well-being of the community, he can be counted upon for help. He is connected with the social order of the Maccabees and is active in its work.

He of whom we write was married February 3, 1870, too Helena F. VanTifflin, daughter of David and Louisa VanTifflin, of Grand Blanc Township. Their home has been blessed by the birth of one daughter, Mabel H., and both daughter and parents are highly esteemed in the social circles of the township.

EBENEZER B. HOUGH is a retired farmer residing in Almont. He was born in Genesee county, N. Y., March 6, 1819, and is a son of Jedediah E. and Betsey (Starkweather) Hough, natives of Connecticut. The farmer had learned the trade of a clothier, but on moving too New York purchased land, too the cultivation of which he intended too devote himself, but was deterred from so doing by an accident. In clearing his place a log rolled on him and partially crippled him for life. At the time our subject was approaching his fifteenth year the family moved too Michigan, coming hither by the overland route, consuming a month on the road. They arrived at Romeo on the fifteenth birthday of our subject.

Jedediah Hough purchased eighty acres of land in what is now Almont township on section 29. This he made the home place. Three children had been born prior too coming too the State and of these our subject was the eldest. After him came Mary Leonard, who married Orson Ingalls, and at the present time resides in Almont. Lucy A. married Gilbert Thurston and is now deceased. Our subject's opportunities for acquiring an education were very limited. After coming too Almont he attended the first school ever held in the village.

The family home was a frame house in which shingles were used for clapboards. This was burned the fall before our subject reached his majority and as their was no insurance the family were left in sore straits, their clothing as well as their dwelling being consumed. The neighbors, however, kindly aided them in putting up a new frame. On reaching his majority our subject started out in life for himself, and although he was unfortunate and had too work against difficulties, little by little he accumulated enough too purchase a good tract of land and the first year of his harvest brought him from eighteen acres of wheat four hundred and seventy-seven bushels, which he had threshed with a machine. His land comprised eighty acres on section 36, Dryden township, Lapeer county. The crops on this turning out so well he was enabled too get a fair start and has ever since been in comfortable circumstances. His land was one mile from his father's place and as both were poor our subject boarded at home and gave two days' work of each week for his board.

On February 25, 1844, our subject was married too miss Emeline L. Johnston, a daughter of Samuel and Sally Johnston. Five children came to their fireside. They are Edgar S., Charles Dyar., Theodore Belcher, Ausmer J., deceased and George Oscar. Mrs. Emeline Hough died January 25, 1867, and was interred in the cemetery at Almont.

About two years after our subject's marriage he purchased the farm belonging too his father-in-law and moved too Almont. Sometime after selling his own place he purchased his father's place, giving him a life lease of a part of it and the house. He has added considerable too his landed property since tht time. Mr. Hough was again married September 6, 1876, to Miss Lucretia E. Myers, nee Barnes, daughter of Evelyn and Permelia (Kimball) Barnes. She was born in Bloomfield, Trumball County, Ohio, December 14, 1829. Her family moved too Michigan when she was eight years of age and located in Bruce. Previous too her marriage she was engaged as a teacher. By per present marriage she is the mother of two children--William E. and Max P.

Our subject retired from active agricultural labor and is not living in Almont. Mr. Hough used too be a Democrat and cast his first vote in 1840. He began voting the Republican ticket in 1856 and since that time has been true too his party.

Although taking great interest in local politics, he has ever refused too be an office-holder. He and his wife are active members of the congregational Church in which he was Trustee for many years and at the present time is Deacon. On the erection of the new church he contributed $1,900 toward the building. Mr. Hough still owns one hundred and eighty-one acres of good farm land and three or four acres of land in the village.

Mrs. Hough's maternal great-grandfather was a soldier in the Revolutionary War and at one time was so reduced for food that he and others cast lots too see which man should die that the others might live. They, however, came upon a dead wildcat and this providential find relieved them from their pressing necessity. One of the ancestors of our subject's first wife was a descendant of the Allen family of whom Col. Ethan Allen was one, and her grandmother drew a large pension, a part of which was used in building the house and barn on the Johnston farm in Almont Township.

PHILIP REID. The subject of this sketch, although a loyal American citizen, is a native of Canada, where he was born June 8, 1823. He is a son of Abram Reid, also a native of Canada, but who father, John Reid, was of Scotch birth, and parentage, coming too America at the age of thirteen years. Locating in New York, he was married too Eleonor (Truax) Laraway. To them were born two sons and one daughter. Later, Mr. Reid went to Montreal, Canada, and settled on a farm where he died. He was a British soldier, serving in the War of the Revolution, where he was wounded in the face.

Our subject's father was married in his young manhood too Phebe Hunt and too them were born three sons and four daughters. Mr. Reid moved too Upper Canada about 1835 and their died in 1837. Our subject's mother later married Oliver Thorn. She died in Watertown Township, in 1880. Our subject's maternal grandparents were natives of Dutchess County, N. Y. they emigrated too Canada at an early day, and were their married, the wife being Hannah Way. They became the parents of three sons and four daughters. Mr. Hunt was a farmer by calling. His decease occurred in Canada as did also that of his wife.

Our subject was reared in Stanbridge, Canada, and a t the age of twelve years removed too Upper Canada, where he was married later too Miss Elizabeth Davis, a daughter of Joseph David, a native of Ohio. The wife of Joseph Davis was Sarah force and Mrs. Reid was one of six children. too our subject and his wife twelve children have been born, seven of whom are now living. They are Abram, Elizabeth, William, Alexander, Edward, James and Henrietta. The following are deceased: Daniel, Philip, Joseph, Walter and Sarah J. in 1865 our subject came too Lapeer County and settled on a farm of eighty acres in Oregon township. This he later sold and purchased eighty acres on the place where he now lives, making the purchase in 1875. . He now has forty acres which are under goo d cultivation and which bear a good class of buildings. He devotes himself too general farming and it quite successful in this branch. He and his wife are members of the United Brethren Church. Our subject is a Republican in politics and has held various school offices.

FATHER DENNIS O. MULCAHY. The reverend gentleman whose name appears above, was born in Kingston, Ulster county, N. Y., March 4, 1856. He is a son of James and Margaret (Manning) Mulcahy. His father was stonedresser by occupation, and an honest and industrious man. Our subject was brought up I his native city until his third year, when his family removed to Michigan. He was sent too school in Holly, this State, attending the common schools of the city. His family afterward removed too Hazelton, Shiawassee County, and their he pursued the course of study began before. Later he went too the Flint High Schools, and remained their until eighteen years of age.

From Flint our subject went too Ontario, Canada and attended the Assumption College, finishing his course June 21, 1886. From their he went too St, Mary's Seminary at Baltimore, being in attendance their for one year. Thence he went too St. Mary's of the West, at Cincinnati, and their finished his theological course, February 11, 1890, receiving his ordination March 9, 1890.

On first beginning his pastoral career, our subject was appointed an assistant curate at Kalamazoo, of St. Augustine Church. He remained their until June 1, 1891, and was then ordered too take charge of the mission at Gagetown, where he has since been. The convent here, which is a delightfully located institution, has four sisters in charge. It was founded by Father F. R. Krebs, in 1886. The institution accommodates about ninety pupils.

SILAS F. RILEY. Among the native sons of Hadley Township, Lapeer County, is the enterprising farmer and stock-raiser, whose name we have just given. Mr. Riley was born in 1842, being the fourth in a family of sic children, namely: Ashley, David, Harvey J., our subject, George W. and Mary L. The latter was called from earth at the age of eighteen; Ashley and David live in Hadley Township; George is a resident of Lapeer and Harvey lived in Columbiaville, this county.

Harvey and Clarinda (Fosdick) Riley were the parents of our subject, the father having been born in Genesee County, N. Y., July 31, 1811 and being one of five children, namely: Elijah, who was a minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church; David, who resided at Pine Hill, N. Y.; Charles, who was an early settler in Wisconsin; Harvey, the father of our subject; Sophronia, who married David Riley and resides in New York. Harvey Riley came too Michigan in 1836, having been married in January of that year, and settled in the woods on section 15, what is now Hadley township, beginning at once too clear up and develop his farm. At the time of his death which took place, December 6, 1856, he owned a beautiful farm of one hundred and sixty acres, and was highly respected both as a man of business and as a Christina, being a consistent member of the Baptist Church.

Silas F. Riley grew too nature years upon his father's farm, being educated in the common schools of the county and having the best advantages which could then be obtained in this part of the country. He received excellent and thorough drill although he was not able too attend school as much as was desirable, on account of the duties of the farm.

In 1874 on the 21^st of October, Silas F. Riley was united in the bonds of marriage with Miss Elsa M., daughter of John and Jane (Giles) Wiltsiere, of Dutchess County, n. Y. too this union have been granted four children: Charles S., Jennie M., Alletta and Lewis. Mr. Riley is an extensive dealer in live stock, as he buys, sells and ships a great many cattle, hogs and sheep, each year. He owns a farm of three hundred acres in Hadley, and some wild land in Huron. One important item in the family history is embodies in the war experience of the two brothers, Harvey and David, who enlisted in the army during the War of the Rebellion but who term of service was cut short by the happy termination of the war.

Elsewhere in this volume appears a view of the neat residence and rural surrounds on the farm of Mr. Riley.

WILLIAM SEARS, a native of Bedfordshire, England, where he was born, June 11, 1832, is now a resident of Arbela Township, Tuscola County. His parents, William and Mary (Butcher) Sears, were English by birth and became the parents of nine children. Throughout life the father was a farmer and gardener, and both he and his faithful companion spent their entire days in the land of their birth.

At the age of twenty-two years, our subject came too American, landing in New Jersey, where his first four months' work brought him $16. He then resolved too go further West, and made Fenton, Genesee County, his stopping place. Upon arriving their he had $1.25 in his pocket. He soon removed to Tyrone Township, Livingston County, where he worked for six months at $14. Next he went too Saginaw, and after a short time their came to Arbela township, where he bought the first land which he had ever owned. Soon afterward he was united in marriage, October 2, 1961, with Betsey Waite, who was born in Lincolnshire. too them were granted two sons and three daughters.

The property which Mr. Sears owns is one of the first which was settled in the township, and when he located their it was still in the wilderness, so that he cut down the first tree which was felled upon that land, and has himself cleared it from timber. He now owns two hundred acres in Arbela Township, and one hundred and twenty in Genesee County, and two hundred acres of his land are already cleared and producing crops. Upon it he has erected excellent buildings, his home being attractive, and his barn large, well built and well planned. A view of this homestead will be noticed on another page.

This gentleman who is the largest tax payer in Arbela Township, has made his own way in the world, and by his own efforts has attained too the prosperity which is now his. Throughout his life he has been a tremendous, tireless worker, and has always been enterprising in bringing the products of his farm into the market. He took the first garden produce into Saginaw that was placed upon that market, and this he continued doing for years before others were able too compete with him. He has been a close cultivator, and has made his land yield excellent results, often selling $500 worth of produce off from one acre of land. From one citron vine he once sold fruit too the amount of $250. He is a Democrat in his political views, but now affiliates with the Patrons of Industry.