Cass City Village Biographies

A - H

James W. Adamson was born in Lorain County, Ohio, June 15, 1850, and about 1856 moved with his parents to Fulton County, where he remained until 1871. He then came to Cass City and taught school three terms, when he made an engagement with J. C. Laing, merchant, remaining in his store two and one-half years. In 1875 he went to East Saginaw and worked in a store till 1878, when he returned to Cass City and again worked for J. C. Laing about two years. In 1881 he purchased a store and stock of drugs of Doctor Deming, and opened business with Theodore Fritz. The partnership continued till February, 1882, when he bought Mr. Fritz's interest and formed a partnership with his brother. He was married October 10, 1877, to Miss Amelia Meartz, of East Saginaw, and has one child, Edward, born September 23, 1879. He has held the office of treasurer for Elkland two years.

 Alfred W. Carey, M.D., was born in Lambton, Ont., in 1852, and like most children in Canada, where an excellent school system prevails, attended the district school and afterward the Baptist College at Woodstock. He afterward taught school in Kent County for three years, when he went to Detroit and studied in the Michigan College of Medicine, from which he graduated in 1881. He then went to Columbiaville, Lapeer County, and in February, 1882, came to Cass City and established himself in business. March 7th, of that year, he entered into partnership with Dr. J. H. McLean, and is having a first-class practice. He married Miss Phoebe C. Brown, of Kent County, Ont., and has two children.

Edgar Davis was born in Island Pond, Essex County, Vt., in 1848, and when old enough to carry a slab, began work in a saw-mill, and has since followed the business. In fact he is proficient in every department of saw-mill work, having had experience in every capacity connected therewith. In 1804 he came to Genesee County, Mich., going from there to Saginaw, where he was with William A. Heart six years. In 1872, he bought a piece of land on section 34 in the township of Elkland, Tuscola County, and is running a saw-mill at Cass City.

L. A. DeWitt, of Cass City, was born in New York in 1838. He remained at home until September, 1861, when he enlisted in the Eighty-sixth New York Infantry, and served in the Army of the Potomac until July,1866. His regiment belonged to the famous Third Army Corps, commanded by General Daniel E. Sickles. Mr. DeWitt was twice badly wounded at the battle of Chancelorsville, Va., May 3, 1863. In 1869 he came to Elkland and bought a farm on which he lived one year, after which he moved to Cass City, and worked at carpenter and cabinet work until December, 1876, when he bought a half interest in the planing-mill. In 1880 he bought his partner's interest, and since that time has carried on the business alone. In addition to the planing-mill he also manufactured sash, doors, and blinds, and is also engaged in the furniture and undertaking business. He was married January 1, 1866, to Mary E. Schenck.

A. D. Gilles was born in Elgin County, Ontario, February 22, 1855, and remained on his father's farm until 1873, when he went to the village of Duart and engaged in mercantile business. In February, 1881, he came to Cass City and opened a general dry goods store, which he is conducting under very favorable circumstances. He was married May 16, 1883, to Miss Anna Walmsley, of Cass City.

 Frank Hendrick was born in Saybrook, Ashtabula County, Ohio, January 7, 1851. He spent his boyhood days at home on his father's farm, and had the advantages of a common school education. In September, 1867, he came to Tuscola County and located in the township of Ellington, on section 1, and helped to clear eighty acres of land. In the spring of 1871 he came to Cass City and worked with James E. Withey at the watch-makers trade. He afterward took the business which he continued for a while, when he went back to the farm in 1873, remaining there till 1877, when he again came to Cass City and opened a jewelry store, which he has since continued. He keeps a large stock and an assortment that would do credit to a much larger town. He was married in 1873 to Miss Margaret A. Higgins, of Elmwood, formerly of Hagerville, Haldimand County, Ont., where she was born in 1852. They have had one child, Cora Viola, born April 28, 1875, and died March 28, 1881.

James L. Hitchcock was born and educated at Oriskany Falls, Oneida County, N. Y.,and is a son of Hiram and Lucinda Hitchcock. When he became of age he learned the tinsmith's trade, with Amos M. Hitchcock, a practical workman and dealer in hardware.

September 10, 1858, he purchased from the government 120 acres of land in what is now known as the townships of Koylton and Dayton, Tuscola County. February 2, 1859, he purchased his first bill of goods in the State of Buhl & Ducharme of Detroit, and moved on his land. He built a log cabin which he covered temporarily with sheet iron and which he afterwards made into camp kettles, and sold to the Indians and a few white settlers.

He was the pioneer hardware man of central and northern Tuscola, his tin shop being located in a dense forest, which abounded in deer, wolves, and other wild animals. He built the first frame house in the township, and manufactured tinware which he traded with the Indians. He was married September 14, 1862, to Miss Carrie M. Turnbull of North Jackson, Ohio, a daughter of Robert and Margaret Turnbull. She attended Hiram College when James A. Garfield was it's president, and completed her education at the Female Seminary in Steubenville, Ohio. She taught school two years in Tuscola County, after she was married, walking two miles to and from her school night and morning. March 21, 1864, he moved to Wahjamega, and built a store and dwelling, and while he worked at his trade, his wife acted as clerk. He resided there upward of eight years, and September 6, 1872, he removed to Cass City, where he has since been engaged in mercantile business and farming.