Fremont Biographies A - K

Eli Brooks was born in England, in 1837, and came to the township of Fremont in 1857. He settled on section 24, but soon thereafter removed to Tuscola, Tuscola County, where he remained until 1860, when he returned to Fremont, where he has since resided, with the exception of three years he served in the late war. In September, 1862, he enlisted in the Twenty-third Michigan Infantry, and was in the Western Army till the close of the war. Was with Generals Sherman and Thomas in all the prominent battles in that department. He was married in 1859, to Miss Anna Turner, and has four children. Mr. Brooks has held several important township offices, including supervisor, one year; commissioner of highways six years, and treasurer, four years.

Allison L. Bryant was born in Kirtland Township, Lake County, Ohio. His father moved with his family to Fremont township, in August, 1861. The son enlisted in Company G., twenty-third Michigan Infantry, in 1862, and served through the war with his regiment. Last two years was quartermaster’s clerk. Mustered out in 1865, at Salisbury, N. C., returned to Fremont, and in 1867 went into business at Mayville. Was burned out in the fire of 1873. Built his present store, corner Main and Fulton Streets, after the fire. Does a general merchandise business, runs a grist-mill, saw-mill, shingle-mill, and buys cedar and other timber. Is a member of the firm of Bryant & Fox, grain dealers and proprietors of an elevator. Held the office of township treasurer six years. Married and has a family of three children.

Nelson Cody was born in Canada, in 1831, and came to Lapeer, Lapeer County, Mich., in 1859, thence to the township of Fremont, in 1864, where he located on section 35, and engaged in farming and fruit raising, having a fine orchard of about 450 apple trees, about 150 plum, pear and cherry trees, and 300 peach trees. He was married in 1857, to Miss Emily Swift, of Lapeer, and has six children. Mr. Cody has served as supervisor and treasurer of the township.

Harmon K. Crittenden, was born in 1839, in Washington County. N. Y. His father came with his family to Michigan in 1855. They lived in Springfield, Oakland County until 1859, when they removed to Fremont, Tuscola County. In 1861 the son, Harmon K., enlisted in the First Michigan Engineers and Mechanics, serving with that regiment three years, and participating in a number of engagements. On one occasion four companies of his regiment, of which his own was one, numbering about 200 men, held four regiments of Wheeler’s rebel cavalry in check for a whole afternoon, for which piece of gallantry they were highly complimented by Major General W. S. Rosecrans, and a corps flag presented them. At the close of his term of service he returned to this county, and in 1865 put up about the first building in what is now the village of Mayville. Was postmaster of the village from 1865 to 1868, also held the office of school inspector for a term. He is engaged in a general merchandise business. In 1869-71 he spent some eighteen months in California. Married October 5, 1867. Has a family of five children.

W. B. Curtis, M.D., was born in Wayne County, in 1839, and in 1861 graduated from the Medical University, at Ann Arbor. He practiced his profession in Wayne, Wayne County, till 1876, when he came to Mayville, which he has since made his home, and where he is having a successful practice. He was married June 19, 1870, to Miss Mary A. (unreadable), who died October 30, 1881, leaving two children.

Benjamin D'Arcy, M.D.,  is a native of County Wicklow, Ireland. The D’Arcy family, according to tradition, on his father’s side, have always been farmers, and on the mother’s, either medical men, clergymen, or farmers. The doctor emigrated to Upper Canada in 1851, living for a number of years in Durham and Huron Counties, while in the township of Harwich, in the last named county, he taught school and also studied medicine. In 1864 he attended the normal school at Toronto, Ont.; also the literary department of Victoria University, at Cobourg, Ont. Matriculated in 1866. In 1868-69 he went to the University of Michigan, and in 1869 also went to the Detroit Medical College, at Detroit, graduating in that year. He then came to Mayville, Tuscola County, and commenced the practice of his profession. In addition to practicing he also carried on a drug store, dealing in drugs, groceries, notions, stationery, tobacco, cigars, etc. He has now (1883) in process of erection a brick veneered building, 54x62 feet, and three stories high, with a basement, on the corner of Main and Fulton Streets, in the village of Mayville. Was married to Miss Ellen McKay, a native of Ontario, in 1871. They have a family of four children.

Horace Fox, partner of A. L. Bryant in the grain trade, is a well-known farmer from Rich, Lapeer County. Came to Michigan in 1856 from Canada. He built the first steam grist-mill in Tuscola County. It was burnt down in 1866. Another was built on the same site by C. Kealand, in 1875. In 1882 he rented his farm in Rich and moved to Mayville. Is married, and has a family of six grown-up children. In Lapeer County he held a number of public positions: Was supervisor for Rich Township seven years, highway commissioner six years, and town treasurer two years.

Leonard Fox was born in Attica, Genesee County, N. Y. From there his parents went to Canada in 1831, living for a number of years in the townships of Blenheim and Dumfries, in Oxford County, Ontario. They were farmers, and he was brought up as one. In March, 1855, they left the province and came to Michigan, locating in Tuscola County in 1856, in what is now the township of Fremont. Mr. Fox bought the farm which he now tills from the United States Government. It is in section 25, town 11 north, 9 east. In 1862 he enlisted in Company D, Twenty-third Michigan Infantry, serving with that regiment until the war closed, being mustered out at Salisbury, N. C., in June 1865. He participated in all the engagements in which the regiment took part in the West, and also when it was transferred to the East, escaping without a scratch. In the township of Fremont Mr. Fox has held a number of offices, having been treasurer a number of terms, highway commissioner and pathmaster. Was married in 1856 to Eliza Vermilyea, of Brant County, Ontario, and they have a family of six children. Besides wheat and other cereals, Mr. Fox is also much interested in fruit raising, having a fine orchard of apple trees, and a young and promising peach tree, one of several hundred trees which are commencing to bear this (1882) year. In coming into this township the early settlers, of whom Mr. Fox was one of the first, came by way of Marathon, Lapeer County, and the way through the wilderness had been traversed by only one settler previous to the families which came in at the time he did. There was no grist-mill in this part of the county then, and they were at times compelled to grind their corn in coffee mills. It made pretty coarse meal, but the pioneers, judging from their personal appearance today seem to have thrived on it.

David Fulton was born in Clarion County, Pa., in 1820, and in 1844 went to Wisconsin, thence, in 1852, to Canada, and in February, 1856, came to the township of Fremont and settled on section 36, being one of four of the first settlers. He cleared up a fine farm, and has represented the township in the offices of treasurer, clerk, and commissioner of highways. He was married in 1845 to Miss Susan Roberts, who died in 1848; was a second time marriage, to Miss Jane Griffith in 1853, who died in 1854, and a third time to Miss Nancy Schermerhorn, April 7, 1855; and has four children.

E. F. Godfrey, was born in Clarence, Eric County, Ohio, in 1818. In 1859 he came west and settled on section 21, in the township of Fremont, and cleared up a farm upon which he now resides. He has served as justice of the peace twenty-three years, and supervisor, three years. Was married in 1843, to Miss Rhoda C. Clapp, and has a family of three children.

Rev. John Hass, was born in Switzerland, in 1831, and in 1856 was sent as a missionary to Africa, where he was located on the Gold Coast. In 1861 he returned to Switzerland, and the following year came to America. At first he preached in Allegan, Mich., a short time, then removed to Bay City, where he remained until 1865, following which he was in Adrian until 1869, and thereafter till 1877, at Owosso. He then came to Fremont and settled on section 26, since which time he has been a farmer and preacher. He has been twice married, first in Africa, in 18(unreadable) to Miss Eliza Stoll, by whom he had five children, and second to Miss Mary Krauss, in 1874, who also has five children.

George V. Ingersoll, undertaker and furniture dealer, was born in Sussex County, N. J.  Came to Orion, Mich., with his father and mother in 1854.  Lived there until his father's death, when the family went to Oxford, same county.  After two years, returned to Orion, and from there to Rich, Lapeer County.  In 1870 went to Junction Township in Liberty, Clay County, Mo., the home of the mother of the notorious James Boys.  Was there when Pinkerton's men are said to have thrown a hand grenade into her house, by which the old woman lost an arm.   Saw her the day she had it cut off and she was grit clear through.  Came back to Michigan in 1875.  Worked at farming until 1882, when he bought out W. Tubbs' furniture and undertaking establishment in Mayville.

Freeman H. Kitchen, farmer, was born in Blemheim, Oxford County, Ontario. His father was a native of New Jersey, and was also a farmer. His family came to Michigan in July, 1855, remaining at Flint until March, 1856, when they removed to Tuscola County, locating on section 36, township 11, range 9, at that time a part of Vassar Township, but now in Fremont. The son and subject of this sketch bought land in sections 35, 27, and 14, in township 11, range 9, where he now has a farm of about 140 acres. In 1862, he enlisted in Company D, Twenty-third Michigan Infantry, serving with it through the war, and was mustered out at Salisbury, N. C., in 1865. He saw service with the regiment in the Western and also in the Eastern departments. Was absent only eight days from his command from the day of his enlistment until his discharge, and escaped unwounded. In this township he has served as township treasurer two years, highway commissioner three years, and school director eleven years. In 1880 he was elected supervisor, and re-elected in 1881 and 1882. Was married in 1867 to Frances S. Root, of Rich, Lapeer County. They have a family of five children living.

Wilson N. Kitchen, farmer, was born in 1817, in New Jersey. His father, who was also a farmer, left the State when the son was about two years old, and moved to the county of Oxford, Upper Canada, living in the township of Blenheim, and afterwards Dumfries. Came to Michigan in 1855, and to Tuscola County in 1856, locating in what is now the township of Fremont. At the time of his settlement in the township there was only one area of land cleared, and that was a part of the land owned by James Wells, and opposite the farm now occupied by Mr. Kitchen. Mr. K. has not been an office-seeker – the only public position he ever accepted having been that of highway commissioner. Has been married twice, the present Mrs. Kitchen being a native of Canada. Her maiden name was Charlotte Ann Hamilton. Their marriage took place in 1859. In all he has had nine children. Two of his sons were members of Company D, Michigan Twenty-third Infantry. Lewis L. died in hospital at Chattanooga, and the other, Freeman H., is now a farmer in Fremont Township.