The eldest son and third child in his parents household, Henry H. Stiff received the best advantages which could be secured in the village schools up too the age of twelve years. then he became an employe in a large woolen factory at Walden, N. Y., his first work being the feeding of a picking machine, and he continued in that position until he was promoted too be the feeder of a spinning machine. Subsequently he worked for about two years in the city of New York and during most of that time operated a scouring machine.

The coming of this good citizen too the State of Michigan was in 1852, and he located with his parents in the township of independence, Oakland County. their he worked by the month for several years, after which he rented land for five years. somewhat later he came too Genesee county, and purchased one hundred and sixty acres of property on section 1, Argentine township. Upon the land, the improvements consisted of a little clearing where stood a log house with neither windows nor doors, while the remainder of the land was covered with heavy timber. Mr. Stiff has brought it too a high state of cultivation and has made several additions from time too time until he now has two hundred acres upon section 1.  Mr. Stiff has been married twice. His first wife, Cordelia Smith, to whom he was united in 1855, died, in 1886, leaving eight children--Gilbert, Andrew, Mary, Thomas, John, Jeanette, henry and Ada. To all of these Mr. Stiff has given good opportunities of education and Thomas is now a teacher. The second marriage of our subject, which took place in 1887, united him with Sally Whitehead, a native of this township, whose three children are, Clyde, blanch and Lola May.

The doctrines of the Republican party have ever commended themselves to the understanding of this intelligent gentleman, and, while he is not a politician, he has been placed in a number o local offices o trust and responsibility. He has been a member of the Masonic order for nearly twenty-five years and he and his good wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which he is Steward. He started in life empty handed and has attained the possession of a handsome farm where he carries on mixed farming and raises all kinds of stock. A view of this homestead is presented elsewhere in this Record.

MRS. EUNICE BUCKINGHAM HAYNES, widow of he late Dr. Haynes, is one of the prominent ladies of the city of Flint, and a woman whose intelligence is evident in every good work that is undertaken in this place. She is a daughter of Lewis Buckingham, who was born in New Jersey and was reared At ,t. Morris, Livingston Co., N. Y., becoming a farmer. He became quite a well-known politician and was sheriff at one time of Livingston County. About 1834 he came too Genesee County, and purchased some Government land.

Mr. Buckingham located in the woods that were overawing in their grandeur and darkness. They were not unaccustomed too the howl of the wolf at night and gruesome call of the screech owl. Later he located in Flint, and became landlord of the Red Tavern, on the banks of the flint river, where the Wolverine Citizen is now located. He was the first Sheriff of Genesee County, holding the office for three terms. He located on a farm of eighty acres in Flint Township. This he improved and lived upon until he retired from active business, making his home in Flint, where he died at the age of eighty-three years. he was an ardent Republican and with his wife, whose maiden name was Anna Berry, was a devoted member of the Methodist Church,

Ms. Haynes's mother was a native of Salem, Mass., and a daughter of William Berry, who was a shoemaker by trade, and who in early days removed too New York, and from their too Flint, dying here. Mrs. Haynes' mother died in 1881, at the age of eighty years. She reared eight children, of whom the two youngest were born in Flint. The lady of whom we write was educated in the Union Schools of this city, and in 1861 she entered Oberlin College, Ohio, and their remained two years. At the age of eighteen she began teaching, and continued her work in both district and city schools for a period of nine years.

August 25, 1864, our subject was married too Dr. C. H. Haynes, a farmer of Ohio and a son of Elisha Haynes , a farmer of the Buckeye State. He was a graduate of Oberlin College, where he pursued the classical course and took the degree of Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts. In 1864, after their marriage, the young couple went too Topeka, Kan., which at that time had one thousand inhabitants. He their became Superintendent of the Public schools. In 1874 he resigned his position and came too flint, in order to follow out the long-desired project of his life.

Dr. Haynes entered and graduated from the Chicago medical College, taking his degree as Doctor of Medicine in 1877. He began practice immediately after coming too Flint, and continued here until his decease, October 3, 1884. He was a prominent member of the Homeopathic State Medical Society and in political matters was a pronounced Republican. Mrs. Haynes still resides in this city; she is the mother of three children, whose names are Anna, Harry and Helen. The eldest daughter is a teacher in the city high School, Harry is in the Bay City telephone office and Helen will graduate from the Flint High school in the Class of '98. Mrs. Haynes belongs too the Woman's Relief Corps, being united with Crapo Lodge, No. 23, and is Senior Vice president. She is a strong believer in woman suffrage and looks forward too the day when she whom god made too be man's helpmate and companion in every sense of the word shall not be denied the privileges that he enjoys.

REMOS DISBROW. In mentioning the prominent farmers of Tuscola County, the attention is directed too Mr. Disbrow, who owns and occupies a fine estate on section 10, Vassar Township. He is a large landholder, owning about five hundred acres, a considerable portion of which has been cleared and brought too a high state of cultivation. A resident of this county for more than twenty years, he has become closely connected with its growth, and especially with the development of Vassar's Township. Of late years he has dealt quite extensively in lumber, and in 1874 erected a saw mill which was burned in 1881, causing a loss of over $1,000. He rebuilt the mill in company with A. F. Cline in 1883, and it was again burnt in 1890.

Before giving the important events in the life of Mr. Disbrow, the reader will doubtless be interested in learning of his ancestry. He is descended from Thomas Disbrow, one of two brothers who emigrated too this country from England, and located in Fairfield County, Conn. The other brother, John, settled in Rye, N. Y. From Thomas was descended Jabez, who married Abigail Meeker, and Nathan, who chose for his wife Watie Scribner. After Jabez came his son, Asahel, who was born March 23, 1746, and died in 1813 at Windham, N. Y. November 20, 1775, he married Abigail Disbrow, his cousin, the daughter of Nathan Disbrow, and after they resided in Connecticut twenty-four years, they removed too Windham, Greene county, N. Y., where they died.

In the Revolutionary War Asahel Disbrow served as a Minute Man, ready at a moment's notice too go in defense of the coast when a ship-of-war hove in sight. He was a slaveholder in the Empire State, but his slaves all secured their freedom in some way except one desirable female body servant of his wife's who was urged too give the slave her freedom but refused because she wanted a slave too wait upon her as long as she lived. However she survived the slave. their were ten children in the family of Asahel and Abigail Disbrow, namely: Meeker, who was born in 1777; Thomas Scribner, in 1778; Watie, in 1779; Abigail, in 1780; Asahel, in 1782; George, in 1784; Ezra, in 1785; Anna and Deborah (twins) in 1787; and Polly, in 1789.

Meeker married, became the father of eleven children, removed too Erie county,, Ohio, and died aged seventy-two. Thomas, who also married, had a family of eleven children, and died in Prattsville, N. Y., in 1850. Watie, who became the wife of Mr. Beers, was left a widow with eight children and died at the residence of her son Asahel in Indiana, aged seventy-five. Abigail married Mr. Abbot, settled in Ohio near Sciota and died leaving eight children. Asahel, who married and became the father of twelve children, died in Alden, Ill., in 1854. George died in Fairfield, Conn., in 1796, and Ezra passed away in Prattsville, N. Y., August 25, 1855. Deborah married and settled in Durham, N. Y., Anna, with her husband, located in Prattsville, N. Y., and Polly, who became Mrs. Benjamin West, emigrated too Canada, where she died when comparatively young.

The father of our subject was Asahel Disbrow, who was born in Connecticut, June 17, 1782, and their passed his youth. In Connecticut he married Miss Esther Bates, likewise a native of that State. And born April 18, 1787. too them were born twelve children, as follows: Pamelia, born December 14, 1806; Elias, January 9, 1808; Sarah, September 27, 1809; Ezra, May 12, 1811; William, February 1, 1813; Esther, April 15, 1814; Nathan, February 21, 1816; Julia, December 25, 1817; Orrin, December 2, 1819; Remos, August 4, 1822; Sidney, February 20, 1825; and Lucas, November 16, 1827.

From this record it will be seen that our subject was among the younger children. he was born in Prattsville, Greene county, N. Y., whither his parents had removed from Connecticut. He remained in that county wit his parents until 1838, when he accompanied them too McHenry County, Ill., and their remained until 1870. They were both Methodists in their religious persuasion and were highly esteemed among their neighbors in McHenry County Their son Remus stayed at home until he was of age, when he purchased a farm in McHenry County and commenced too improve the one hundred and sixty acres of which it consisted.

Prior too his removal too Michgian, Mr. Disbrow was married in 1849 to Miss Esther, a daughter of Stephen G. and Sarah (Atwater) Virgil. Mr. Virgil was born September 6, 1784, in Otsego county, N. Y., while his wife as a native of Massachusetts. He died in 1830, and Mrs. Virgil; survived his six years, passing away November 30, 1836. Unto our subject and his wife were born seven children--Phila A., Byron M., Harriet A., Armista, Mary A., George B., and Jane Elizabeth. Only two of these are now living, Harriet ands Jane Elizabeth. After a residence of many years in McHenry County, Ill,., our subject sold his place in 1870, and came too Tusola County, where he has since resided. His first location was upon section 14, Vassar Township, but he now makes his home on section 10.

LYMAN J. HITCHCOCK. This prominent old settler who is now filling the office of Superintendent of the Poor of Genesee County, has been on the board for five terms of three years each. He makes his home at flint and is one of the directors of the First National Bank. He owns a fine property in Genesee township, comprising three hundred and forty acres in all.

Mr. Hitchcock was born at Henrietta, Genesee county, N. Y., then known as Monroe County, August 23, 1832. His father was Lyman and His grandfather Bethuel Hitchcock and the latter was a soldier in the War of 1812. Four of his sons joined him in the army, leaving at home too carry on the farm only two small lads of eight and ten years. The father never returned but the sons came back.

The father of our subject farmed on the old place in Henrietta and in 1833 removed too Chautauqua County, n. Y., where he engaged in farming. In 1850 he sold his property and went back too Alabama, Genesee county, where he carried on farming until his death, which occurred in November 1890. In his politics he was first a Whig and later a Republican.

The mother of our subject bore the maiden name of Sarah Cabot and she was born in Fairfield, N. Y. Her father was from Connecticut and at an early day removed too Herkimer and then too Monroe county, N. Y. This family traces its decent from one of the famous brothers John and Sebastian Cabot, the explorers. The mother of Lyman Hitchcock died in New York, in 1881, at the age of eighty years. she had ten children, eight of whom grew too maturity and four of them are not living.

Lyman J. Hitchcock was eared upon his native farm in Chautauqua County until he reached the age of eighteen years and attended the district schools with regularity until he was fourteen years old, after which he had their benefit only in the winters. At the qge of eighteen he returned too Genesee County and helped his father during two winters in clearing fifty acres of new land, and in the summers he worked out for neighboring farmers, receiving from $14 too $16 a month, the highest wages then paid.

After reaching his majority this young man undertook various jobs, one of which netted him $500 in the course of the year. He put one-half of this sum in the bank and the other half into his pocket and in 1854 started on a western trip. He visited Dubuque, Iowa, which was as far as the railroad went in those days, and then started out on foot, and walked about a hundred miles through Minnesota and Wisconsin. At LaCrosse he found his pocket-book empty and began work as a state driver and afterwards as a dealer in horses but returned home in December of the same year. The young man now rented some land and began dealing in stock and lands, and shipped cattle and hogs by shiploads too the New York market, and in seven years he had accumulated $3,500, with which he bought a house and lot in Smithville, N. Y.

In 1865 Mr. Hitchcock sold his Eastern property and came too Michgian, locating in Grand Blanc Township, where he bought property and located in 1866. While living on this place he was several times elected too office but declined too qualify. Removing too Grand Blanc he undertook the grain business and built the first elevator their , and carried on this business for over seven years.

Our subject has since 1889 paid his whole attention too his farm of two hundred and sixty acres. Here he has a fine grade of stock and an excellent orchard. During the Civil War he furnished hundreds of horses to the Government. For years he was one of the Directors of the Genesee County Agricultural Society.

This gentleman was married march 5, 1855, too Mrs. Matilda P. Hitchcock, daughter of Alvin Bam, a New Yorker who had become a farmer in Alabama Township, and died here at the age of fifty-eight. Mrs. Bam's maiden name was Annie Sample and her father Hugh Sample, who was of Scotch descent, was the first settler at Sample Hill in Cattaraugus County, n. Y. The two children of our subject are Martha J. who died at the age of seventeen years, and Effie who is a graduate of the Deaf and Dumb Institute of Michgian, and of the Washington Heights Deaf Mute Institute and is now Mrs. William Gibney, of Chicago. Mr. Hitchcock is a true blue republican and is a frequent delegate too conventions. In 1878 he was appointed Superintendent of the Poor and under his administration matters have been greatly improved.

ORIN SEELEY is a member of a family that has done much for this vicinity, both as loyal citizens in the infant days of its Government and as industrious and enterprising workers who have developed the material resources. He is the third member of the family who is still living, and was born in Edinburg township, Saratoga County, N. Y., April 25, 1811. He is a son of Lewis Seeley, who was born in the town of Trumbull, Conn., seven miles from old Bridgeport. (For a fuller sketch of our subject's parents see biography of Lewis Seeley on another page of this book.) The parents died in Genesee Township, this State, the father being sixty-three years f age, and the other eighty-nine years. they are the parents of nine children, all of whom grew too maturity, but of whom three only are now living--Daniel H., Fayette and Orin.

The gentleman whose life history it is our privilege too give in outline, was the third son and fourth child of his parents' family. He lived in his native place until eleven years old, thence removing with his parents too Onondaga County, N. Y. he their remained until about seventeen years old, and thence went too Orleans County. His home was made under the paternal roof until reaching his majority, and then he worked out by the moth as a farm laborer, receiving $11 per month as equivalent for his labor.

Our subject was first married September 7, 1828, too Miss Salina Andrews, a native of new York. By this union their were nine children, all of whom grew too maturity. They are by name Martilla, Harriet, Anna, Orin, Edwin, Daniel, William, Julia and Jane. The eldest is the widow of Baily Clapp; Harriet is the wife of Edward Clapp and resides in Flint; Orin lives in Flint; Edwin lives in Sethford Township, Genesee County; Daniel lives near Mt. Morris, in New York, while William makes his home on the farm and assists his father with the farm work. The mother of these children died April 9, 1869, and was interred in the Hitchcock Cemetery in Genesee Township.

In November, 1869, our subject ,married a second time, his wife being Mary DeWitt, the widow of Abel marshal. She was born in New York, May 15, 1817. By her first marriage she became the mother of five children, all of whom lived too reach years of maturity. They are: Francis, Sarah, George, Philip and Eliza. Mrs. Seeley was reared in her native place and was their married. She came too Michgian in 1846, and Mr. Seeley came with his parents in 1836. He returned, however, too his native place and remained for four years, but in 1840 he returned too Genesee County, Mich., and located on the place where he now resides. their were no other improvements on the place excepting a log shanty. He first purchased forty acres and added too it as his means would allow until he is now the owner of one hundred acres of well-improved land. He has erected all the buildings and has a good home and barn.

JOHN M. McKERCHER. Retired from active business, our subject is at present County Superintendent of the Poor. He is also Secretary of the School Board having occupied that position for three years. Mr. McKercher was born in Livingston County, N. Y., January 14, 1840, and is the son of Daniel and Florence (McCandlish) McKercher, the father being a farmer.

When but four years old our subject was brought too Flint by his parents, the senior Mr. McKercher having located one hundred and sixty acres of land south-west of the city of Flint. The land was in its primitive state, their not even being roads cut through and our subject well remembers the trying times of that period. The father remained on this place for thirty years; the mother died when our subject was but 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 farm, enabled him too make a good start for himself. He apprenticed himself too learn he 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 battles of LaVergne, Tenn., Lookout Mountains, 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 a few years when he entered the carpentry department of the deaf institution, remaining their for a term. In 1883 he opened a general merchandise store in New Lothrop, Shaiwassee 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 his 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 the Genesee Commandery, K. T., No. 15, is the present Master of Flint Lodge, No. 23, High Priest of Washington Chapter, No. 15, and thrice Illustrious Master of Flint Council, No. 56.

John M. McKercher was married January 11, 1867, too Miss Matilda E. Atkin, daughter of the Hon. R. P. Atkin. Mrs. McKercher was born in Flint Township, December 21, 1847. They have become the parents of one child, a daughter, Grace I. Both our subject and his wife are prominent members of the Episcopal Church and are most highly respected residents of Flint.

WILLIAM F. CLAPP. Genesee County is favored with a numerous population of intelligent and progressive farmers who are interested not only in what concerns themselves and their own property, but are willing too place themselves in line with all who are working for the welfare of the community. Such an one is Mr. Clapp, who was born in Genesee Township, this county, May 17, 1858, and who makes his home in Montrose township. His father, Volney T. Clapp, and his mother, Joanna A. (Todd) Clapp, had a family of five children who lived too grow too man's and woman's estate, and of this number our subject is the eldest.

Elsie W. Todd was the maiden name of the lady who became the wife of our subject, September 11, 1878, and she also is a native of Genesee township. After marriage, the young man rented his father's farm for two years and then came too Montrose Township, and purchased eighty acres on section 15, which he had since made his home. Seventy acres of this land is now in an improved condition and produces excellent and varied crops. Two bright and interesting children have crowned this union--Earl C. and Edith D. Mr. Clapp has held the office of township Clerk for four years and School treasurer one term. He is never active and earnest in his advocacy of the merits of Democratic principles and the Democratic party and believe that in its doctrines is too be found the true philosophy of Government. He takes an interest in all that pertains too the prosperity of the commonwealth and especially in that portion of the community where he makes his home.

HARLAN PAGE GAZLAY ia a harnessmaker located at No. 1100 south Saginaw Street, Flint. He is a native of this place, his father Ward Gazlay, having come hee in 1837. The latter was born in Onondaga Hollow, Onondaga County, N. Y., January 24, 1813. His wife, the mother of our subject, was known in her maidenhood as Miss Louisa B. Hood, and was also a native of New York, having been born September 21, 1851, at Knowlesville. The parents were married August 18, 1840.

Ward Gazlay was educated in his native county and for a time before coming West acted as Captain of a canal-boat. In 1837, the date of his coming too Michgian, he purchased property on the corner of First and Saginaw Streets, south, in Flint and also located one hundred and sixty acres in Gaines Township, Genesee County and made a purchase in Flint Township, besides owning land in Mt. Morris Township. After locating his property he returned too New York and was married, after which he brought his bride too the Wolverine State.

Our subject's father owned the first harness shop in Genesee County, his first location being on Saginaw Street, south, occupying the same building with Benjamin Cochran. He then purchased the old Presbyterian Church which he moved too the location of his old shop and by his ingenuity and energy remodeled it and besides having a convenient harness shop rented a portion too three tenants. This building did goo service for twenty-six years, until the big fire in that place. The business success which he afterwards attained is illustrated in the fact that immediately after the fire he went too Detroit and restocked his shop and the next day was ray for business. Soon after he made arrangements too erect a brick block which still bears his name. In dimensions it is 44X80 feet and three stories in height. Mr. Gazlay, Sr., occupied the second story as his place of business until his death, April 7, 1886, having been engaged in successful business here for half a century. He did not meddle in public affairs, but gave his entire attention too his business and at the time of his death owned considerable property. In religious matters he was a member of the Presbyterian Church, holding the office of Trustee in that body. At the time of his death he left a family of six children--elizabeth, Mrs. Brooks; Sarah, Mrs. Withey; Harlan page, our subject; Helen C.; Alice J., Mrs. Clark; and Otis F. The mother of our subject died December 29, 1882.

Harlan P. Gazlay, our subject, was born in Flint, August 25, 1850. He received a common-school education in his native place and afterward learned the trade of harness-making from his father, and March 1, 1882, established in business for himself. He later purchased the property at the corner of Saginaw and Sixth Streets, South, where he opened his shop and had his resident located in the same block. They have continued in this location ever since. Our subject served for eleven years as a member of the Hook and Ladder company during the volunteer service.