Cass City Village Biographies:

I - Z

Rev. John Kelland was born in County Devon, England, November 21, 1880. He received a common school education, and at the proper age was apprenticed to the printer's trade. After serving his time he came to America in 1855, and for a year and a half worked in the Citizen office in Flint. He then entered the University in Detroit from which he graduated in 1861, and also took a full course in the Auburn Theological Seminary from which he graduated in 1864. His first pastoral charge was the Presbyterian church in Angola, Steuben County, Ind., from which he went to Omro, Winnebago County, Wis., thence to Lawton, Van Buren County, Mich., and in 1871 returned to England for a visit. After his return to the United States he took charge of the Presbyterian churches at Southfield and Franklin, Oakland County, Mich., where he spent five years. He then went to Flushing, Genesee County, and in 1878 came to Tuscola County and located in Cass City as pastor of the Presbyterians there. At the time there were three adherents but no church edifice of any kind in the place. A subscription had been circulated to raise funds to build a church edifice, but nothing had been done practically. He at once took hold of the matter earnestly and energetically, and the edifice was built under his direction and dedicated in October, 1878. In February, 1883, he purchased the main interest in the Cass City Enterprise, and is its editor. He has purchased five acres of land within the corporation, upon which he has erected a fine dwelling. He married Miss Fanny E. Sharland, of County Devon, England. She was born in 1829.

E. B. Landon, one of the enterprising farmers of Elkland, was born in Oakland County, Mich., January 31, 1842. He received a common school education, and in 1859 commenced his studies at the Oxford Academy, which he attended several terms until 1863. In 1860 he commenced teaching school and when not so employed was working on a farm. During the winter of 1865 he attended the law department of the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, and in the spring of 1878 passed an examination at Caro, and was admited to the bar. The same year he purchased a farm on section 24, in Elkland, and moved to Cass City, where he opened a law office and commenced the practice of his profession. He was married march 25, 1878, to Mrs. Lydia A. Johnson, whose maiden name was Smith; she was born April 11, 1850, and was a resident of Oakland County; was married first to A. Johnson, of Dryden, August 5, 1868, and who died February 23, 1870. She has two sons, A. Johnson and Richard Landon.

Charles J. Lowrie, was born in 1856 at Russell, Geauga County, Ohio. His father's farm was about three miles from where the late President James A. Garfield was born, and with whom Mr. Lowrie enjoyed personal acquaintance. A part of his education was acquired at the National Normal School at Lebanon, and the schools at Chagrin Falls, Ohio. In 1870 he commenced reading law in the office of D. W. Canfield, at Chardon, in Geauga County, teaching school in the winters. Was admitted to the bar at Cass in 1882, and commenced practice at Cass City. Is unmarried.

Norman L. McLachlan M.D., was born in township of Williams, Middlesex County, Ontario, November 26, 1854, and moved with his parents to Argyle, Sanilac County, Mich., when seven years of age, remaining there till the spring of 1864. He then returned to Canada and attended the Kent Bridge School two and one-half years; then came home and attended school summers, working winters in the woods. He lumbered a while on his own account, and when twenty years of age came to Cass City and commenced the study of medicine with Dr. Graves, remaining in his office about nine months. In the fall of 1875 he went to Toronto, Ontario, and studied with Dr. John McConnell till spring, then went to Watford, where he was with Dr. Harvey. the next fall he became a student in the University of Michigan, from which he graduated, from its medical department, March 27, 1878, but in the mean time had spent six months in Dr. Harvey's office. He then visited Cass City, with no intention of locating there, but being persuaded by his friends did so, and June l, 1878, commenced practice. The doctor s in every sense a self-made man, and has succeeded beyond his expectations, standing high in the ranks of his profession with an increasing business. He was married in November, 1878, to Miss Emma Jackson, of Blenheim, Ontario, and has one child.

George F. Sherwood, of Cass City, was born in Norwalk, Fairfield County, Conn., in 1838. In 1848 his parents moved to Ohio. He remained at home until 1856, when he went on to the Cleveland & Toledo Railroad as fireman, and in 1857 commenced running an engine on the same road. He continued in that business until September, 1861, when he enlisted in the Third Ohio Cavalry, and remained with his regiment in the Army of the Cumberland until the fall of 1862, when he was sent home on sick leave. He was discharged for disability in the spring of 1868. Came to Novesta, Tuscola county, in 1870, and settled on eighty acres of land in section 16. There he remained until the spring of 1888, when he moved to Cass City, his present residence. He was married in 1866 to Caroline Knapp, a native of Ohio. They have five children.

George Tennant was born in Leeds County, Ont., November 11, 1838, residing in that county until he was twenty-four years of age. He left there in 1863 and came to Tuscola County and settled in the township of Indian Fields. In the fall of 1869 he sold out and removed to Cass City, where he purchased a hotel and engaged in that business. He afterward purchased a farm near the village, and has been engaged in lumbering. In 1877 he bought a saw-mill in the township of Colfax, Huron County, which has a capacity of 10,000 feet of lumber per day. Mr. Tennant is a thorough, practical, enterprising citizen, and keeps a good house. He was married in 1870 to Miss Maria Utter, of Caro, and has three children.

Henry Wickware was born in Millington, Leeds County, Ont., June 22, 1849, and when nine years of age moved with his parents to Abinger, Addington County, where he remained till 1868. He then came to Tuscola County and resided in Caro a year when he came to Cass City. Mr. Wickware is a carpenter and builder by occupation and has established a wagon making business in Cass City, employing several men. In the fires of 1881 he lost a saw-mill and 75,000 feet of lumber, beside having his farm swept clean of all improvements. September 7, 1878, he married Miss Vanie Alvers,, of Cass City, formerly from near London, Ont, where she was born. They have one child, Oracle, born June 28, 1881.

P. R..Weydemeyer was born in Warren County, Ohio, in 1837, and came to the State of Michigan with his parents in early life, and settled in Oakland County. He resided there about twenty years, and then moved to the township of Elmwood, Tuscola County, and settled on section 36. In 1861 he enlisted in the First Michigan Cavalry and served over four years. In 1807 he entered into partnership with J. C. Laring, for the purpose of carrying on a general mercantile business in Cass City, which he continued until 1877, when he went to Texas and engaged in the cattle trade until 1879, when he returned to Cass City and opened a hardware store. He was married in 1864 to Miss Mary E. Nash, of Elmwood, a native of Wayne County, Mich., and has four children.