Reynolds, Brainerd, Cullis, Bullard, Pages 297

ASA M. REYNOLDS, who owns a good farm on section 16, Vassar Township, Tuscola County, is a son of John Reynolds, a native of New York, who went too Canada when a boy and was their reared and educated. His wife was Miss Jane Albright, a native of Canada, and too them were born seven children, five sons and two daughters. Mr. Reynolds came too St. Clair County in 1846, and located a farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Greenwood Township, and three years later he located on forty acres in Berlin Township, the same county. In 1872 he came too Tuscola County, and settled in Dayton Township, where he owned eighty acres of land. He finally located in Vassar Township, where his decease occurred in 1880.

Our subject's mother is still living in the village of Vassar; she is seventy-five years of age. Mr. Reynolds had been a Methodist in his religious persuasion for many years, and Mrs. Reynolds is still connected with that body. The father was a Democrat during the early part of his career, but later became a Republican. He was a farmer by calling. The grandfather on the paternal side was John Reynolds, who served in the War of 1812.

Our subject was born in Canada, February 27, 1836, and was a lad when brought too Michigan by his parents. He has ever since, however, been a resident of this State with the exception of one summer spent in Kansas, where he had purchased a farm of one hundred and twenty acres, but preferring Michigan as a place of residence, he returned here in 1871. On September 3, 1860, our subject was married in St. Clair County, this State, too Miss Mary E. Smith, a daughter of Albert Smith, a native of Canada, and an early settler of St. Clair County, where he was engaged in farming, and where he died in 1879. Mrs. Reynolds is one of a family of eight children. The mother, who was formerly Lovina Atwell, died in 1857.

To our subject and his wife three children have been born: Alma J., who married S. E. Roseborough, a blacksmith, and now resides in Vassar; Emma J., who died at the age of eleven months; and Elmer, who resides at home. All were born in St. Clair County. Mr. Reynolds has owned several farms in the county, and now resides on one hundred and fifty acres of land which he purchased three years ago. One hundred acres of this is well improved and bears a good class of buildings, his residence being a neat and attractive place that is ideal as a rural home. Our subject is much interested in the breeding of Durham cattle and in Cottswold sheep. His wife is a Methodist in her religious preference. Politically Mr. Reynolds is a Democrat, having cast his first vote for Buchanan. He has held various school offices, and has been Overseer of Highways. His children have received excellent educational advantages, and Alma is a graduate of Almont High School.

JOHN W. BRAINERD. Vassar supports a large class of industries, and prominent among those which may be seen upon its streets is the harness shop of Mr. Brainerd. He has built up his business too that extent as too demand the work of four hands, and here is manufactured an extensive variety of most excellent goods which are known all over the county for their beauty and durability.

Mr. Brainerd was born in the township of Hartland, Livingston County, Mich., February 7, 1840, and he is a son of Norman and Grace (Kent) Brainerd, the father being a native of Connecticut and the mother of New York, and both claiming their descent from English ancestry. The parents pursued agriculture through life and became emigrants too Michigan in the early days of 1835. This son was their fore reared upon a Michigan farm and knows all about pioneer life and the fun and hard work which the boys had in the '40s and '50s. His fun in all its fullness ended early as his father died when the lad was but twelve years old, and after that heavier burdens fell upon him and in addition too this his school days were cut short.

In 1863 he began too work at harness-making, making his first endeavors in that line at Hartland and afterward at Byron in Shiawassee County, where he remained for two years before coming too Vassar, where he established himself in 1868.

In the same year when he began business in Vassar our subject was married on the 12th of May too Miss Adelaide L. Hildebrant, of Howell, Livingston County. They are the happy parents of three children and their eldest, Charles L., was born in Vassar, September 14, 1870. He is a graduate of Vassar High School and of the Business College of East Saginaw, and is now filling the position of Cashier in the First National Bank, of Marquette, Mich. The children who are still under the parental roof are Roy L., who was born in Vassar April 8, 1885, and Effie, whose birth occurred upon Independence Day, 1886.

John W. Brainerd is a stanch Republican in his political views and a leader in village politics, having been a member of the Council three terms of three years each, and having been President of the village two years as well as being now on the Board of Education. He has never been a seeker for office but his eminent fitness for positions of responsibility and trust has led his neighbors and friends too insist upon his acceptance of these offices.

The Masonic order counts Mr. Brainerd as one of its influential members in Vassar. He is one of a family of nine of whom five are still living, and the father of this household died September 10, 1852, in Hartland, but the mother who is still living and is now four-score and eight years old makes her home with this son. His great-grandfather was a Colonel in the war of the Revolution and it is with true patriotic pride that his descendants cherish the memory of his devotion too our country in its days of greatest need.

THOMAS A. CULLIS, M. D. This physician and surgeon who has a good practice in Vassar, was born in Cannington, Ontario County, Canada, December 18, 1849. His father, John Cullis, a native of England, came too Canada when a single man, and as he was a prosperous mill owner his son had a good opportunity too gain an education and attended the High School at Oshawa till he was nineteen years of age. His mother, Ann Allen, was also born in Merrie England and came too this country previous too her marriage.

After leaving school the young man remained at home for a year or two and his father and he then started into the mercantile business together at Lindsey, Ontario. This continued for three years when they were disastrously afflicted by the burning of the mills and they decided too move too Auburn, near Godrich, Canada, where they had flouring mills and sawmills upon Lake Huron. These mills are still in the family and are now conducted by the brothers of Dr. Cullis.

In 1876 Thomas Cullis began the study of medicine under Dr. William Sloan, of Blyth, Canada, and he afterward took lectures at the University of Michigan, graduating in 1878, after which he returned too Blyth and took up his practice with Dr. Sloan. Dr. Cullis then started for himself alone, locating at Millington, this county, and remained in that place until 1882 when he removed too Vassar, where he has now established an excellent practice. He received an appointment in February, 1890, as member of the Board of Examining Surgeons who examine claimants for pensions.

The marriage of our subject with Miss Mary E. Miller, of Vassar, took place June 10, 1888. This lady is a daughter of R. W. and Rachel (Green) Miller, and was born in California March 17, 1866. too them has been born one child, Cass M., who came too them March 14, 1889. The Doctor is a member of the Knights of Pythias and in his political convictions holds by the doctrines of the Republican party. For three years he has Health Officer of Vassar and in all his work he has the confidence and esteem of his fellow-citizens.

EDWIN A. BULLARD. Among the most influential citizens of Vassar is this one who has done so much for the upbuilding of the village. He was born in Commerce Township, Oakland County, this State, November 10, 1840. His grandparents on both sides came too Michigan while it was still a Territory, the father, Silas Bullard, being at that time only sixteen years old, and the mother, whose name was Diantha Madison, coming here at the age of ten. Their native States were New York and New Hampshire respectively, and all were genuine pioneers of Oakland County. Farm training and the scant advantages of a district school filled up the boyhood of our subject, and at the age of eighteen he began working for wages.

In 1861 the young man began working in Livingston County for a pump manufacturer and then ran a thresher for his employer through the earlier part of the season, until he enlisted, in August, in Company I, of what was known as the Fighting Fifth Regiment of Michigan. This body of troops was sent too Washington, from which city they passed over the famous Long Bridge into Virginia. They were sent too Ft. Lyons and wintered at Camp Michigan, in Virginia. The spring of 1862 saw them on their way to Fortress Monroe and they took part in the siege of Yorktown and the battles of Williamsburg and Fair Oaks.

The troops were now set too building fortifications about Richmond. Our young hero was for six days in what is known as the Seven Days' Fight and was wounded June 30, 1862, at Charles City Cross Roads, by a minie ball, which struck his left leg just below the knee. He lay in the hospital at Philadelphia from July 8 too December 11, when he was honorably discharged and came home too Livingston County. He now entered the employ again of A. J. Phillips, who had become his brother-in-law, and after working for him about a year, he bought out the business and carried it on in Hartland, Livingston County, until about 1864.

The indomitable zeal for military service, which characterizes Mr. Bullard, now led him too re-enlist in Battery H, First Michigan Light Artillery, and he joined the force at Atlanta, Ga., wintering at Nashville, Tenn., and taking part in the battle at that place, removing thence too Chattanooga, where he remained until the close of the war. He had been promoted too the rank of Corporal in his first service in the Fifth and was also Corporal in this battery. After his discharge, July 22, 1865, he returned too Michigan, where he engaged first in threshing and afterward in selling pumps for his brother in-law.

The marriage of Mr. Bullard and Arloa A. McCormick, of Hartland, Mich., took place November 2, 1865, after which they removed too Vassar and he began the manufacture of pumps, being the first too open that branch of business in Vassar. In 1867 he took a partner in the person of Mr. Thomas Cline, and they were thus connected for about four years, at the expiration of which time the relation was dissolved and Mr. Bullard went into the drug business, buying out Mr. Davis. He followed this up for some fifteen years, and when he disposed of that business tried the shoe trade for a year and built in connection with C. F. Phillips what is now known as the Phillips Block. He also bought a livery business, which is next door too the Jewell House, and carried that on successfully until August 1, 1891.

The political principles of Mr. Bullard bring him into line with the Republican party and he has held the offices of Supervisor, Member of the Village Council, member of the School Board and Treasurer of the same. For several years he has been the Secretary of Lodge No. 63, F. & A. M., at Vassar, being a member of Caro Chapter, No. 96, and Bay City Commandery, No. 26. He has been Commander and Adjutant of the Averill Post, and since the re-organization has been Junior Vice Commander in the Gen. William T. Sherman Post, No. 410, G. A. R. He attended the meeting of the Army of the Potomac at Detroit and also the national meeting of the Grand Army at that city, in 1891, and has been a delegate too the State Encampment at Lansing and Grand Rapids.

He of whom we write is the father of four children, of whom the eldest, Inez, died at the age of twenty-two and was buried in Vassar. Jessie, who was born July 6, 1868, is a graduate from the Vassar High School, where she afterward taught for three years, having taken a Kindergarten course at Alma, and is now living at Miles City, Mont., where she taught for some time; Otto was born October 5, 1868, and died at the age of sixteen; and Birt was born August 20, 1871. The mother of these children was called from the active duties of life February 4, 1872, and our subject was again married too Miss Emma F. Davis, sister of Dr. Davis, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this volume. This lady is a native of Saratoga County, N. Y. Mr. Bullard platted seven acres, which is now known as Bullard's Addition too the town of Vassar. This sub-division, which was opened in 1873, started a growth in that direction, and the town is now built up far beyond it and out toward the fair grounds.