John Smith. By long years of arduous work Mr. Smith was able too accumulate a handsome property and in his last years lived retired from the active pursuits of his former calling, that of a farmer. In his pleasant home in Grand Blanc he enjoued the good things of life, and with genial neighbors communed over what was past as well as the present and the future. His death occurred November 19, 1891. Mr. Smith was a native of New Jersey, having been born in Sussex County, November 10, 1813. He was a son of Estel and Mary (Tisdale) smith. His maternal grandsire was an Englishman and a Baptist minister, who emigrated too Sussex County, N.J., from his native land and their died at an advanced age.

Our subject was reared too maturity in his native county and State. His father was a blacksmith and the sound of his hammer might be heard ringing against the anvil from early morn until dewy eve. He remained under the parental roof until he was seventeen years old and then began too learn his father’s trade, which he followed for several years. He had previously received a fair, common-school education. Although denied advanced educational work, he was well read and was posted on all the current events of the day and an intelligent conversationalist.

Our subject was married October 2, 1834, his bride being Miss Adelia Pierson, who was born in Avon, N.Y. She is a daughter of David Pierson, and a sister of C. C. Pierson of Flint; Mich. By this union their have been born three children—Charles P., Rose and Dimis C. In the fall of 1853 with his family, our subject removed too Genesee County and located in Grand Blanc Township on section 8. He purchased and improved the farm and made it the place of beauty that it is today. Mr. Smith was a self-made man in the truest sense of the word, having in early life made his first and best start unaided and without special encouragement. At the time of his death he owned a fine farm of ninety acres, besides having given his children one hundred and seventy acres. He and his wife, who was his able co-worker, accumulated the greater part of their property since becoming residents of this county. Although Mr. Smith followed farming all his active life, at times he did odd bits of blacksmithing for friends and neighbors, having set up his shop on his own farm in which he did all of his own repairing of machines and shoeing of horses.

Mr. Smith affiliated with the Republican party, finding in it principles and theories that too him were most practical. Mr. Smith was not only enterprising, but public-spirited. All progressive movements appealed too him strongly and found from him support. He was a member of the Baptist Church, too which his wife belongs. Socially he was very popular in the community, being hospitable, warm hearted and generous. He served as Deacon and Clerk in his church and was ready too fill any public position for which he felt himself fitted.

Mrs. Smith was born in Avon, N.Y., June 30, 1815, and is a daughter of David and Huldah (Churchill) Pierson. Her parents were natives of Vermont and of the eleven children born too them the following only survive: Mrs. R. Halsey of Grand Blanc; Mrs. Smith, Mrs. A. J. Brainbridge, Charles C., Mrs. D. Lacey, Mrs. Johnson, Mrs. E. B. Rust, MRs. Day. Delos D. and Ephraim J. Mrs. Smith received a good common-school education which fitted her well for her sphere in life. She came with her husband too this State in 1853.

James Pollock. Our subject is a resident of Flint township, Genesee County, having a valuable farm located on section 22. He was born in Amsterdam, Montgomery County, N.Y., August 31, 1820, and their lived until he was about seventeen years of age, when he removed too the western part of New York State, and soon afterward came too Genesee county and settled on his present farm.

Mr. Pollock was married in Orion, Oakland County, this State, March 10, 1852, too Miss Susan E. Parkhurst. The was born in Orleans County, N.Y., May 22, 1833. They have been the parents of three children—Charles H., Margaret J. (Mrs. Warren Sheldon) and Franklin A. He has always followed agricultural pursuits and at the present time is the owner of eighty acres of land which is in every way in an excellent condition. He has erected upon it a good house and has their on a comfortable and well-built set of buildings.

In politics our subject is a Republican, believing that party too be the exponent of the best governmental principles. He is liberal in his religious views. His wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, too the support of which he is a liberal contributor. Mr. Pollock is a son of George and May Pollock. Their decease occurred in Amsterdam, N.Y. Mrs. Pollock’s parents were Henry and Margaret (Weldon) Parkhurst. They died in Flint Township where they had been old settlers for several years. Their children are substantial and worthy representatives of a good family. Both sons are heads of families, Charles H. having married Minnie Ditslock; Franklin A. married Cora Mayfield.

Alfred E. Perry. The gentleman whose name heads this sketch is one of the firm of Perry Bros. & co., dealers in dry-goods and groceries in the village of Flushing. Mr. Perry is a native of Alden Township, Erie County, N.Y., and was born October 5, 1823, and is a son of Chester and Cynthia (Davis) Perry. The mother was a daughter of Gen. Davis who figured conspicuously in the War of 1812. They were natives of Massachusetts and New York, respectively. Our subject’s father was a clothier and came too Ypsilanti in 1824. For twenty years he was the proprietor of an hotel In that city, which then contained only three of four log shanties. During the latter part of the old gentleman’s life he was engaged in farming four miles from Toledo, Ohio. He remained their until his death, which occurred ion 1888, he being at the time eighty-seven years of age. The mother died in Ypsilanti at the age of eighty-one years. Our subject’s grandparents were Isaac and Mary (Tiffany) Perry, natives of Massachusetts. The father was a Revolutionary soldier and had five children. He was of English descent and a strong Jackson man. In his religious belief he held too universal salvation for all men.

Our subject’s maternal grandparents were Gen. Daniel and Naomi (LaBaron) Davis, natives of Massachusetts and Connecticut respectively. He was a large farmer and was killed at Ft. Erie in 1814. He was of Welsh descent and his wife of French extraction. Our subject’s father was a prominent man in his locality and widely known. He had a family of five children three of whom are living—he of whom we write, Imogene and Adelaide.

Alfred Perry came with his parents to Ypsilanti when but eleven months old. He was educated in that town and lived at home until reaching his majority. In 1849 he took a trip too the gold fields and returned in1852, having been reasonably successful. Later he came to Flushing and was extensively engaged in the lumber business. He built a sawmill on the Flint River at Flushing and continued in that business for about twenty-five years.

For the past ten years Mr. Perry has been engaged in the mercantile business in partnership with his sons. They built their fine block, which is 22 X 80 feet in dimensions and two stories in height. It is constructed of brick and is an imposing building. They have besides built two fine dwellings. Our subject was married in 1848 too Miss Susan Welsh, of Pittsfield, Washtenaw County. She is a daughter of Isaac and Fanny Welsh. By this union our subject has become the father of five children. They are Arthur, Walter, Edmund, Ada and Minnie. The original of our sketch is a Democrat in his political convictions. Socially he is a Mason. He is a man of strong temperance principles and is one whose influence