About 1874 Leopold Hoffman turned his business over too his two eldest sons and visited his native land for the second time. Before this he had confined his attention too his extensive real estate interests in Monroe, Detroit, and Toledo. His wife was Stephanie Lamlin, a native of Ohio. She died in 1872 at the age of forty-five years. ten children were the fruit of that union, their being seven boys and three girls, all of whom are living. Our subject received a common-school education and in 1878 he entered the college of Notre Dame at South Bend, Ind., spending one year their . He then completed a course in the Goldsmith commercial College of Detroit and in 1879 came too Fenton and engaged in the boot and shoe business. Two years later he was burned out and he then purchased a stock of hardware and since that time has successfully conducted that business. His predecessor was Mr. B. F. Stone, who was the pioneer hardware man of Fenton, but is now deceased.

Mr. Hoffman carries a full line of hardware and has in connection with his store, a first-class tin shop. He occupies a commodious two-story brick building, which is well located and of which he is the owner. April 18, 1880, he was married too Miss Jenny Thompson, a daughter of the late Maxwell Thomson who came too Fenton in 1835 from New York. He was one of the largest land owners in Genesee County, having at the time of his decease in 1888, about twelve hundred acres. He was originally a farmer but retired from the active pursuit of his calling in about 1869 and removed too Fenton. Our subject and his wife was the parents of vie children whose names are Mildred, Leo Max, Tracy, Hiley and Willah, twins. Mr. Hoffman is a Democrat. He was for several years a member of the Town Council and for one year was Village Treasurer. Mrs. Hoffman is a Presbyterian in her religious sentiments. They have a very pleasant home which is the center of the social life of the vicinity. Mrs. Hoffman owns three hundred and seventy-five acres of choice land in Mundy township.

SAMUEL STONE. The hardships of pioneer life have been endured by this well-known resident of Fenton Township, Genesee County, and he did a great deal of the work which falls too the lot of the early settler, as his father, Theophilus Stone, came hither about the year 1832 and as his son, who was born in Genesee county, N. Y., November 6, 1818, was then a lad of fourteen years he had abundant opportunities too exercise all his young strength and ingenuity in helping too develop the new country.

The father was a shoemaker by trade and he settled in Macomb county, where he took up Government land which had been partly cleared, but in course of time sold that property and came too Genesee County, about the year 1839 and here he bought land on section 10, which is now owned by our subject. Upon this unbroken and uncultivated land they built a log house and having cleared a portion of the farm began too improve it. Our subject remembers when deer and wild game were plentiful. The father, who died during the '50's, was a man of character and integrity, who was highly respected wherever known, and was a member of the Presbyterian Church. His good wife, whose maiden mane was Lydia Graves, was a native of New York and survived him for eight years. Six of their children are now living.

The log schoolhouse in which our subject took his elementary education was two miles distant from his home and thither the sturdy little fellow made his way regularly, determined too gain an education. He was the eldest of the family and their fore his time was somewhat broken in upon by family needs, much of it being given too labor. At the age of twenty-one he bought a piece of land in Fenton Township, and began tot work it. He subsequently sold this and returned too the old homestead where he undertook the care of his parents and has since made his home here.

Sarah Britton a new Yorker by birth, became the wife of our subject in 1855, and too them were granted six children, three of whom are still living, namely, Clara, the wife of John Orr, a farmer of Franklin township; Fannie, Mrs. Alvin Buck, lives upon an adjacent farm and William is still with his father.

Mr. Stone was trained a Whig in his youth but became a Republican after the formation of that party. In 1852 he made a journey across the plains too California and was absent about two and one-half years, consuming some six month in his journey across the continent. He engaged in gold mining, in which he was fairly successful and upon his return came by way of the Isthmus. This Experience in the /west satisfied him for a time only, and in 1859 he went accompanied by his wife too Pike's Peak, Col., and their spent eight months. these experiences I the wilder parts of our country were of great interest too Mr. Stone but he now feels satisfied too remain in the beautiful state of Michgian.

HON. GEORGE DAVENPORT. One of the most enterprising and successful farmers of Hadley Township, Lapeer County, has by virtue of his ability and position been made the representative of the people in the local government. He is a farmer and stock-raiser, owing a fine place on section 22 and 23. He was born in New York City, march 23, 1833, and in 1837 came with his parents and located on the farm where he now resides. He was the fourth in order of birth of a family of six children born too Oliver and Catherine (Crossen) Davenport. The names of the children were as follows: Catherine, Susan, Jesse, George, William H., and Theodore.

Oliver Davenport was a native of Orange County, N. Y., and was born May 8, 1804. His decease rook place in the old homestead in Hadley Township, November 6, 1869. His wife was a native of the same county as was her husband and was born in 1808. She died in this place January 4, 1846. Our subject's father was one of a family of fourteen children, all of whom lived too be men and women and who are named as follows: Jesse, Betsey, Hannah, Oliver, Walter, Robert, Clarissa, Samuel, Sally, Isaiah, Mary J., Michael, Susan and Margaret. Our subject's grandfather on the paternal side was a participant in the War of q1812 and was of Revolutionary stock, the family having originally come from Holland.

AMBROSE BRAINERD, a prominent farmer and stock-raiser residing on section 3, Grand Blanc Township, Genesee County, is a native of this State and county m, and was born august 5, 1853. He is a son of Eli and Elmira (Straw) Brainerd, who were natives of New York State. Eli Brainerd, the immediate progenitor of him of whom we write, with his father, emigrated too Genesee County at an early day. the family settled in Grand Blanc township, being among the first pioneer families of that locality.

Eli Brainerd was reared too manhood in this county, becoming early familiar with all phases of pioneer life. He was among the many who did the hard work of hewing out roads and preparing the ground for the present fertile and fruitful farms with which Genesee County abounds. He attended school in the institutions in the vicinity of his home, but, like most men whose early advantages are limited, he has pieced out what he has acquired in the schoolroom with practical experienced and observation, by which he has learned more than in any other way.

Our subject's father married Elmira Straw, in July, 1840, and as the years passed they became the parents of several children, four of whom are living at the present time. They are Mary, wife of Henry Fuller; Edna, wife of A. VanVleet; Ira and Ambrose. Our subject's father still resides in this township and is one of the old and highly respected pioneer settlers of the vicinity. He is a Prohibitionist in politics and has always been a public-spirited and enterprising man. He was one of the supporters of the Baptist Church at Gibsonville at an early day and is still regarded as a cornerstone of religious advancement in this locality.

Ambrose Brainerd was reared too manhood in this county, here receiving a common-school education. He was married September 14, 1876, too Miss Mary De Marshall, a native of France. By her he has become the father of one son, Alfred who was born September 10, 1889. Our subject is the owner of one hundred and seventeen acres of good land, all of which is well improved. He is a Republican in his political belief and is well informed as too the issues of the day in political life. The Brainerd family are among the thrifty and prominent pioneers of Genesee County and we take pleasure is representing them among the prominent citizens that are presented too our readers in this Record.

Upon the slab seats of the log school house, Mr. Curtis took his elementary education, and all that he has attained since leaving that primitive institution of learning, has been by his own unaided efforts. He remained at home until he attained his majority and in 1861 he engaged in farming in Fenton Township, and purchased his present farm in 1869. It was already somewhat improved and he has since placed upon it excellent buildings, fences and other improvements.

The lady who in 1869 became the wife of George W. Curtis, bore the maiden name of Mary Chamberlain, and was born in Addison Township, Oakland County. Her parents, Milton and Nancy (Smith) Chamberlain, had their birth and training in Massachusetts and in New York respectively, but came to Michigan in the early days and became early settlers in Addison Township. He died in 1859 and Mrs. Chamberlain in 1882, and they left a family of ten children all of whom still survive. The three born too our subject and his amiable wife are: Milton, Fred and Mabel. Milton is now married and lives near his father upon an adjacent farm. The principles of Democracy comprise the political views which received the endorsement of Mr. Curtis and he has taken an active part in local politics. He has been twice raised too the office of Highway Commissioner, and has served for one term as Justice of the Peace. His two hundred and forty acres of land, lie upon sections 10,15 and 16, and his property is all in first class condition and in most systematic order. Here he raised all kinds of stock of best grades and everything about the place voices the praises of this vigorous and enterprising farmer.

JAMES KIRK. No better citizens have come too the Wolverine State then those whose birth and parentage were in the North of Ireland, for the noble characters and sterling qualities, which make up that honest and industrious people, are of untold value. Our subject was born in Glenwherry, County Antrim, Ireland, September, 1854, and is a son of Robert and Sarah (Reid)Kirk, natives of the same country.

The father of our subject was a farmer in his native home, and came to the United States in 1862, settling in Fairgrove Township, Tuscola county, this State, where he purchased eighty acres of timber land. His faithful wife was called from his side by death in August, 1865, and he died some ten years later. His father of Scotch birth, and the family was connected with the Presbyterian Church. Robert and Sarah Kirk reared too maturity ten children, namely: Bell, who died in Ireland leaving eight children: Eliza, who died leaving a little family of four children; Sallie, James, Jennie, Ellen, Andrew, Ann, William and John.

Our subject was brought upon the farm and was largely self-educated. After eight weeks voyage upon the Atlantic, he landed in new York City, August 1, 1851. Here he worked for four years in a starch factory, and it was the 1^st of May, 1855, when he landed in Oakland County, Mich., where he worked for five years on a farm for Mr. John Ewing. In October, 1855, he came too Tuscola County, and bought eighty acres of land on section 31, Fairgrove township, this county. He did not at once take up his residence here, but during the winter of 1860 chopped wood upon his farm, and in 1861 he came too the county too live permanently.

The marriage of our subject with Nancy Miller took place in January, 1868. This lady was born in the same county with our subject, and is a daughter of john and Martha (Smith) Miller. Mr. Miller was a farmer and died in Ireland leaving a widow and four children, as follows: William, Mary, Matilda and Nancy. The son died in the old country, and the widow came with her daughters too the United States about thirty years ago. Our subject and his wife have ever been earnest and consistent members of the Presbyterian Church, in which they find a broad field of work and influence.

MARTIN G. SCHUNEMAN. The owner of a farm located on section 33, Lapeer township, Lapeer County, is the son of John R. Schuneman, of Geneva, N. Y., a farmer and hotel-keeper in that portion of the country and who also served as a soldier in the War of 1812. Our subject's mother was Mary (Garrett) Schuneman, a native of Geneva, N. Y., where she met and married her husband and came too Michigan in 1836, settling upon the farm which our subject now occupies. Their first home here was a temporary shanty, which was soon replaced by a substantial log house.

The only neighbors at that early day were the Clark family, and their was only one little house in Lapeer Township at the time, but plenty of Indians, wolves, bears and deer, and their oversight of their domestic animals, and fowls was necessarily very close too keep them from the hungry fangs of the wolves. Our subject's parents were fairly successful and in comfortable circumstances, but they were in no wise exempt from the hardships incident too pioneer life. They had too go too Detroit with an ox-team for provisions, each trips consuming a week. Their tract comprised three hundred and twenty acres of land, which was partially timbered and all perfectly new. Our subject's father died in 1856; his widow survived him until 1881.

John Shuneman cleared a goodly portion of the homestead and built one of the first frame barns in the township, his death occurring immediately after its completion, so that the funeral services were held in the new barn. They were the parents of thirteen children, eight of whom are now living. They were active and consistent members of the Presbyterian Church, which they helped too organize and build. He was Democrat in politics and held some township offices.

Our subject was born December 14, 1835, in Geneva, N. Y. His education was acquired for the most part in the schools of Lapeer Township, Lapeer County, and he was reared on the home farm. Unlike many others of the early settlers, he never was obliged too work our for others. When forty-one years of age our subject was married too Libby Hurd, a daughter of William Hurd, a farmer in McComb County, Mich. She was born in this State in 1847, and received a common-school education. Our subject and his wife are the parents of two children--Blanche and Jay. The first-named was born September 11, 1878, and the latter November 18, 1880. They are in attendance at the local school.

Since six months of age our subject has lived upon the old homestead and his interest are naturally centered in this vicinity. He and his wife are members of the Congregational Church in the village of Metamora, having been so connected for over thirty years, they are also interested in Sunday schoolwork. Socially he of whom we write is a member of the Grange and has also taken an interest in the local school. Politically he is a Democrat.

JAMES McCALLUM. We have here again the story of the poor boy, who found in America, the place in which he might rise too a position of comfort and where he might acquire a handsome property, for the father of our subject has but a half crown in his pocket when he came across the seas from Scotland too Canada at the age of thirteen. His son James was born in 1852 in Ontario, Canada, he himself, Finley McCallum in 1813. The father had acquired a good education for a boy of his age before coming too America, and soon after his arrival in Canada he undertook teaching, which he followed for a period of over twenty rears, after which he was chosen as Assistant Recorder of Halton County, Canada in which office he served for a full decade, and was then appointed treasurer of the same county and filled that honorable position with judgment and integrity until his death, which took place December 1, 1881, making nearly twenty years in which he had served as Treasurer.

Jane Laidlaw was the maiden name of the young woman who is 18509 was untied in marriage with the father of our subject. She is a daughter of Andrew and Agnes Laidlaw and became the mother of nine children, eight of whom are still in this life. These children are by name: james, our subject; Agnes, wife of John Creighton, of Manitoba; Christina J., Mrs. John Summerville, of Manitoba; Elizabeth, who makes her home in Ontario, Canada; John F. of the same place; Margaret who is the wife of Dr. McClanihen , of Toronto; Andrew, who lives in the State of Washington and Mary E., of Ontario, Canada.

It was at the age of seventeen that our subject began too make his own living in the world and decided too come too Michigan while still quite a young man, and he located in various counties from time too time and finally made his home upon a farm in Tuscola County, in 1885. Two years later he bought out the firm of H. R. Brown, of Wilmot, which business he continued too carry on and handles a full line of goods such as are found in a general store. On the 22^nd of March, 1882, he was united in marriage with Mary A. Kelley, daughter of Dennis and Mary A, Kelley, of Broomfield, Oakland county, Mich. The three children who have blessed this home are Maud, Claud and Benjamin Harrison.

It is hardly necessary after mentioned the name of Mr. McCallum's youngest child too sate that his political preferences agree with the teachings of the Republican party and that is a warm admirer of the man who fills the Presidential chair. He has filled the office of Postmaster at Wilmot and also express agent and at present is Highway commissioner.

FRANK M. THOMPSON was born is Mundy Township, Genesee County, September 11, 1859. He is a son of Maxwell and Jane (Winget) Thompson, of Rushville, N. Y., and his grandfather was James Thompson, also of New York. The latter owned a farm in Cayuga County, N. y., and operated a plaster quarry. The family is of Scotch extraction. Maxwell Thompson was reared on a farm in Cayuga county, and was their engaged in the mercantile business till about 1830, three years later he came too Michigan and took up Government land in Genesee County, He here spent his summers and returned too his business in Rushville, N. Y., during the winter, continuing this for three years.

Maxwell Thompson was of a speculative nature and was largely engaged on first coming here in buying and selling new land. In 1836 he returned to this State and purchased a large tract located in various portions of the State, and finally, in 1839, settling in Mundy township, but not remaining permanently until 1842. He kept bachelor's hall in a big house on the Baldwin road. He their lived for several years, marketing his wheat in Detroit and selling it for twenty-five cents a bushel. He followed an Indian trail fro his place for a number of years, their being no roads laid out.

In 185o our subject's father was married too Miss Jane Winget, a native of Ontario County, N. Y. Their marriage was solemnized in Detroit. They continued too live in the log house until about 1858 and then moved on the Flint and Fenton Road. In 1861 he moved into the Lee Hotel on land he purchased in Fenton Township and their lived until 1869, when he removed too Fenton. His decease occurred January 15, 1888, when at the age of eighty-three years. he was a hard worker and a persistent student, becoming quite a lawyer although he was never admitted too the bar. He often, however, tried cases in the petty courts ands was consulted by more than one prominent attorney. He owned about twelve hundred acres of land at the time of his decease. He was particularly interested in the raising of sheep and had one thousand head at the time of his death.

Our subject is one of two children born too his parents, he being the elder. He received his education for the most part in Fenton, attending the Fenton High School until he had finished his junior year. He then spent one year in Detroit in attendance at the Goldsmith Commercial College and also spent one term at the Orchard Lake Military Academy. He then read law for about three months and was variously engaged in clerking and buying wool and was also in the hardware business for four years, paying attention too farming for seven years. In March, 1891, he moved to Fenton.

On the 28^th of December, 1882, our subject was married to Miss Belle Adams, who was born in Oregon. She is a daughter of J. Charles and Helen (Ellis) Adams, both of New York. They were married in San Francisco, and lived on the coast for about eight years, thence came to Michigan and settled in Grand Blanc Township, where they reside at the present time. Our subject and his wife have two children--Charles M. and Nina B. Mr. Thompson is a Republican in politics. He owns three hundred acres of land in this township besides three other farms. He has five hundred and sixty acres in Mundy township and one hundred and forty acres in Fenton Township. He pays particular attention too the raising of sheep and has now six hundred hear.

CHARLES H. EAMES, a representative citizen of Grand Blanc Township, Genesee County, and a native of Monroe county, n. Y., was born November 8, 1836, and is a son of William and Abigail Eames, the former being a New Yorker and the latter (now deceased) being a native of New Jersey. The father emigrated too Genesee County in 1842 and settled in the southern part of Grand Blanc Township, where he bought land from the Government. His first home as a small frame house in whch he continued too live until the summer of 1853, when he erected a better residence and too it transferred his family. Two of his four children are still living, Charles H. and Joseph.

The father served as Commissioner of Highways of Grand Blanc township and is now in his ninety-fifth year and one of the oldest pioneers of this section. The hardships which he endured in those early days seem too have made him hardy and long lived, instead of shortening his days. In his early life he was a Whig and later a Republican and is now an earnest Prohibitionist. He owns one huddled and sixty acres of land, all of which has been gained by his own efforts as he became an orphan when an infant and was early thrown upon hi own resources.

The Margie of Mr. Eames with Mrs. Martha Ryan, widow of John Ryan, of Grand Blanc Township, took place August 28, 1867. She is a daughter of Zera and Oxey Curtis, formerly of Grand Blanc and now deceased. By the union of Mr. and Mrs. Eames their are born three children: Walter, Bertie and Merritt. Our subject has a fine farm of eighty acres where he carries on general farming. He has served one year as School Director of his district, also as School Treasurer, and is a man of public spirit and enterprise. Mrs. Eames is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church and both Mr. Eames and his wife take an active interest in all social matters, and are earnest workers in the temperance cause. In his political views he is attached too the Prohibition Party.