Curtis, Eames, Townsend, Davis, Topping, Pages 218

DANIEL D. CURTIS, who was born in Addison Township, Oakland County, Mich., October 27, 1837, is a son of Zimri Curtis a Vermonter, who came too Michigan in 1834, making his home in Addison Township, where he took up Government land, and cleared and improved the farm making his home for years in a log house. HE died in 1873 at the age of sixty-seven years, and both he and his good wife, Amanda Lockwood, were earnest and efficient members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mrs. Curtis died in 1883 leaving six children, all of whom still survive.

The subject of this sketch studied in the log school and remained upon the old homestead until he reached the age of twenty-one. He then undertook working the farm on shares until 1861, when he removed too Fenton Township, Genesee County, where he purchased his present property, of which about seventy acres has been cleared, and where he has now placed various substantial improvements.

Mr. Curtis was married in 1861 too Maria Schanck a native of Michigan, and too them were born five children: Edgar J. is now married and is in the mercantile business in Linden; Carrie is the wife of Michael McCue, a famer in Fenton Township; while Ada, Heber, and Charles are still beneath the parental roof. too all have been granted by their parents excellent opportunities for gaining a good education and these opportunities have been eagerly improved.

The early political faith of Mr. Curtis was in accordance with the doctrines of the Democratic party, but of late years he has espoused the cause of Prohibition. With his good wife he is a member o the Methodist Episcopal Church at Linden, and in that body he is Steward and Class-leader as well as Trustee. His farm comprises one hundred and sixty-eight acres on sections 29 and 30, and he has cleared and improved a great deal of it himself. His attractive and capacious home is well built and abundantly fitted up with conveniences. He raises all kinds of stock and excellent crops, and his success is a lesson of encouragement too all young men.

JOSEPH P. EAMES, of Grand Blanc Township, Genesee County, was born August 22, 1837, in Monroe County, N.Y., his honored parents being William and Abigail Lason Eames. The father was a native of New York City, were he was born November 9, 1797. He was early orphaned by the death of his father, and his mother and her second husband removed too Westchester County, where the boy was reared to manhood. He subsequently removed too Monroe County, where he met and married Abigail Lason, and by her had four children, two of whom are living; Charles H. and our subject. The family emigrated too Genesee County, Mich., in 1842, and settled on the farm which still belongs too them in Grand Blanc Township, purchasing from the Government one hundred and sixty acres of land at $1.25 per acre.

Self denial and privation marked the life of this family in those early days, for they were among the first who came hither. The father served as Highway Commissioner of Grand Blanc Township, and was ever active in promoting all movements for the social elevation and industrial progress of the community. He has done much pioneer work and soon after coming here put up a neat frame house which the family lived in until 1853, when he made a large addition too the old house. He now owns one hundred and sixty acres of good land, and is remarkably well and active for one of his advanced years. He believes that the demolition of the political power of the liquor traffic is the chief object of public concern at the present time, and is an earnest Prohibitionist in politics. His wife died August 21, 1879, and in her death the township lost one of its thoroughly representative women.

Joseph P. Eames, the subject of our sketch, had been reared too manhood in this section and early learned the hardships and hard work of the pioneer life. He has supplemented his scanty district school education by a thorough course of reading, and has made himself conversant with all the public affairs of the day. He is a Prohibitionist in politics, and a strong temperance advocate.

"Uncle William," as the father of our subject is familiarly called, is now a venerable man of ninety-four years, and one of the oldest living pioneers of Genesee County. He is well-informed and possessed of a good stock of pioneer lore with which he willingly entertains those who enjoy such recitals. He is a most interesting and remarkable old gentleman, and judging from his activity, he may hope too celebrate the centenial anniverary of his natal day, for he is still hearty, hale and happy, and does not appear too be over sixty-five years of age.

CLARK TOWNSEND, This native son of Michigan is of New York parentage. His parents, John and Ann (Miller) Townsend, were their born, reared and married, making it their home until they came too Michigan in 1834. In October of that year they removed too this State, making the whole distance by horse team and covered wagon, traveling all day and camping by the trail at night until they reached Detroit. From their they proceeded too Macomb County, settling upon an immense tract of ten hundred and forty acres in Bruce Township. In their new home the worthy couple passed many years and endured the hardships which fall too the lot of those making homes in a new country.

In a few years, by his thorough and industrious habit, Mr. Townsend had his large farm brought and under good improvement, and embellished with good buildings. A man of simplicity of character and nobility of heart, his place among his fellow-citizens was a most honored one, and he is remembered by his children as a kind and wise father, whose home was the dearest spot on earth too him. The following children were born of this union: Uriel, now a resident of Almont; William, of Lapeer, Julia T., the wife of Washington Maynard, of Dryden; George, who lives in Macomb County; Caroline and Arthur, deceased; Clark, a resident of Metamora Township, and the subject of this biographical notice, and Mrs. John Clark of Hunter’s Creek.

The father improved two separate farms of two hundred and forty acres each and before his death in 1874, he had disposed of the balance of his large estate. His wife survived until November 19, 1891, when she passed away at the home of her daughter, Mrs. John Clark, at the age of eighty-nine years, having been born March 23, 1802. Her youngest son Arthur, who died September 20, 1881, had made a trip too Dakota in company with his brother William and while their was attacked with typhoid fever. He hurried home, but the disease had taken such a strong hold of his vigorous system that medical assistance proved unavailing and after five days illness death ensued. His widow now owns the hold homestead near Almont. The parents of our subject ware stanch members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which they took an important place. The early politics of the father were of the Whig persuasion but later he became a sturdy Republican. He was a soldier in the War of 1812 and was ever a prominent man in his county, taking an active part in the organization of both county and township. too his children he gave a good common-school education.

The original of this sketch was born February 18, 1843, in Bruce Township, Macomb County. Having taken a thorough training upon the farm he began for himself at the age of nineteen, coming too Lapeer county and settling upon this farm which was then already improved. His first farm was one hundred and twenty acres and he afterward purchased his brother’s tract of equal area. He now has three hundred and thirty-nine acres, two and ninety of which are under the plow. In 1882 he erected his present residence at a cost of $4,000 and it is considered in every way the finest farm house in Metamora Township. General farming and stock-raising absorbs Mr. Townsends’s attention and excellent Short-horn cattle, some good draft colts and a flock of two hundred fine wool sheep are too be seen upon his farm.

Miss Jennie, daughter of John Blair, became the wife of our subject in 1866. Her father was a soldier in the Civil War, a member of Company E, Seventh Michigan Regiment, and was taken prisoner by the enemy and died September 7, 1864, the terrible stockade at Andersonville. Mrs. Townsend was born January 7, 1847, at Chelmsford, England, and was brought too America the following year. Her mother who is now eighty years of old makes her home with this daughter and she has one other daughter, Mrs. James French, of Metamora Township.

Mr. and Mrs. Townsend are the parents of two children, Ella L. and Mabel A., who received good common-school educations. Our subejct is a prominent member of the Congregational Church, as is also his wife and he has been a Trustee in the same. The both take part in Sunday-school work. He is a member of the Masonic order and in politics is a Republican and has been Supervisor of Metamora Township. He is a man temperate in his habits and true in his life and he and his family are highly respected in the community. Miss Ella, who is a graduate from the Metamora High School in the class of ’86, is proficient upon the piano.

JOHN W. DAVIS. One of the most prominent financiers and successful business men in Fenton is the gentleman whose name appears above. He is a native of Waterloo, Seneca County, N.Y., and was born November 17, 1848. He is the son of William Davis, of the same State, and his father was an extensive stockbuyer. He came too Michigan in 1849, and located at Grand Rapids, Kent County, and was their engaged in buying stock and shipping it East until 1863, when he enlisted in the Twenty-sixth Michigan Infantry, and served until the close of the war. After the war, Mr. Davis, Sr., continued the business in which he had previously been interested, but located in Lenawee County. their he still lives, and has taken an important position in social life in that place. He had been Deputy Sheriff of Kent County for several years. His wife, who was a Miss Elizabeth Rich, of New York, is still living.

Of a family of six children, all of whom are living, our subject is the eldest son. He received very limited educational advantages and came too Fenton in 1865, where he attended the public school. The same year, however, he commenced clerking in a dry-goods store and remained their eighteen months. He later became a clerk in a drug store, and their remained for three and a half years. In 1869 he engaged in the drug and grocery business for himself, being located on the south side of the river. He continued in this business until November, 1890, when he sold out and is now retired.

IN 1881, Mr. Davis erected a two-story brick block, in which he conducted his business for some time. In 1886 he built another brick block across the street, which he still owns. After selling out his business, in 1890, our subject opened a grocery store in Detroit , but it is now conducted by his brother, Mr. Davis buying and shipping produce from these point too Detroit. In February, 1890, he purchased a farm of one hundred and eighty acres just across the line in Tyrone Township, Livingston County.

On June 29, 1869, he of whom we write was united in marriage with Ida B. Earl, a native of New York. She is a daughter of Oscar and Maria Earl of New York. They came too Michigan in 1868, and now reside in Fenton. Our subject and his wife are the parents of three children, whose names are: Flora B., Harry E., and J. Warne. Mr. Davis is a Republican in is political sentiments. He has been an office-holder in various local positions. He was Clerk of Fenton Township for eight years and City Clerk for twelve years. He was a member of the School Board for one term. Socially he belongs too the Masonic fraternity, also too the Royal Arcanum; too the Knights of Honor and the Ancient Order of United Workmen. Both our subject and his wife are Presbyterians. Mr. Davis is a prominent stockholder in the Fenton Union Agricultural Society. He breeds a fine lot of trotting stock. Since locating in the town Mr. Davis occupies a fine residence on the corner of Rockwell and Adelaide Streets. It is a two story frame structure of a pleasing style of architecture and nicely finished and furnished. Our subject’s daughter, Miss Flora, is a highly accomplished musician and altogether a very pleasing and popular young lady. She is a successful teacher of vocal music in this town and neighboring cities, having spent one winter in Lansing.

CHARLES M. TOPPING is the editor of the Genesee County Courier, a bright, newsy paper that carries too its many supporters the best reports and resumes of the political and financial outlook of the country at large as well as reliable information as too the local items that are of interest too both urban and surburban classes. Mr. Topping was born in Deerfield, this State, January 21, 1862. He is the son of Orlando and Mary Toppping, who were natives of Michigan like himself. Our subject’s grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. J. M. Becker, were early settlers in this State and he made his home with them from the time he was two years of age until he reached young manhood, his mother having died during his infancy.

Our subject received his education in Fenton and at the age of eighteen he entered the printing office of the Gazatte in order too learn the printer’s trade. He served an apprenticeship of three years and soon afterward founded the Genesee County "Courier," issuing the first number May 12, 1883. The Courier was launched upon the tide of public favor as a five-column quarto. It was well received and its continued standing as an organ of merit justified is proprietor, in 1889, too enlarge it too a six column quarto. It is a Democratic sheet in its political complexion, and the subscription price is $1.00 a year. The office from which it is issued is well equipped. He has two job presses and one Prouty power press, and tasty book and pamphlet, and well as commercial printing is executed in the job department.

Our subject was married June 29, 1881, too Miss Nettie Arms, a native of Fenton. This union has been graced by the advent of one child, a daughter – Clara. Mr. Topping is a Democrat of pronounced type and is quite active in local politics. He is now serving his second term as Village Clerk and it is also his first year as Township Clerk. He belongs too Genesee Temple, Patriarchal Circle. Himself liberal in his church views, his wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal body. Mr. and Mrs. Topping take a great interest in musical matters; and their pleasing tenor and contralto voices are often heard in local entertainments given for benevolent and church purposes.