Fremont Biographies M - Z

Alonzo B. Markham, attorney, was born in Plymouth, Wayne County, Mich., June19, 1845. His father was a farmer. He received an education at the high school in Northville, the Agricultural College at Lansing, and the Michigan University, graduating from the law department of the latter institution in the class of 1870. He was admitted to the bar at a term of the Supreme Court held at Detroit the same year. He commenced practice in July, 1870, in the village of Mayville, Tuscola County. Combined with his legal business he is also a real estate dealer and insurance agent. In the fall of 1870 he was elected circuit court commissioner, holding the office four years. Re-elected in 1880, continuing in office until January 1, 1883. Has also been a justice of the peace, township clerk, deputy clerk, and connected with the management of the schools. During the war of the rebellion he was a member of Company O., Twenty-fourth Michigan Infantry, serving nearly three years, being with the regiment during the term of its enlistment and until the close of the war. He was present at all of the engagements in which the regiment had a share, and it saw some very severe service. He was married in 1873 to Mary Van Riper, of Fowlerville, Livingston County, Mich. They have one child, a daughter. Mr. M. has in his possession the original patent, signed by President John Quincy Adams, certifying that Abraham B. Markham, his father, had paid for and granting to him eighty acres of land in what is now the township of Plymouth, Wayne County. It bears the date of April 1, 1826. This was the homestead on which he was born.

George B. Markham, was born in Plymouth, Wayne County, Mich. In 1856 he went to Illinois; returned in 1858. Followed farming there and in this State until 1860. Was afterward engaged in manufacturing patent corn planters, bedsprings, etc. Was also for a time in the foundry of Charles Harrington, Northville, manufacturer of agricultural implements, school furniture, etc. Came to Mayville in 1870 and started a planing-mill, the first in this part of the country. Continued in the business until 1881; when he opened a hardware and jewelry store. Is now (1883) closing up his business on account of ill health. Was school assessor four years. Married to Lucy A. Husted in 1866. They have two children. He is a brother of A. B. Markham, the attorney, and his aged father at present makes his home at this house.

Byron McCartney, farmer, was born in Wayne County, Mich., in 1836, in Plymouth Township. Was educated in the district schools. In 1858 he went to California by the Isthmus of Darien route, and remained there for twelve years, with the exception of a visit home in 1866-67. While in that State he was a miner a portion of the time. Worked in a wooden-ware factory, and teamed for four years between Sacramento and Virginia, and Gold City in Nevada. On the death of his father, February 15, 1871, he returned to Plymouth, having been appointed administrator of his estate. In February, 1874, he removed to Fremont Township, Tuscola County, and went on a farm. Married to Mrs. Harriet Burgess, January 9, 1872. They have three children. In 1853 he came to Watertown, in this county, with his brother James, but only remained a short time. The brother still lives in that township. Mr. McCartney was treasurer of Fremont Township in 1881 and 1882.

John Mead, deceased, was born in England, 1826; came to Oakland County, Mich., in 1853, moved to Indiana, in 1855, thence to Canada in 1856 and came to Fremont in 1860, where he settled on section 27, and remained until his death, in 1865. He was married in 1849, to Elizabeth Shivers, and had two sons and one daughter, John, Jr. Henry C., and Elizabeth Ann. Mrs. Mead survives her husband.

Harry H. Miller was born in Metamora, Lapeer County, Michigan in 1840, came to Fremont in 1877, and settled on section 20, where he now resides. In 1862 he enlisted in the Fourth Michigan Cavalry and served under General Rosecrans in Tennessee, was discharged in 1863 for disability. He was married in 1866 to Miss Anna Dawson.

Rev. Charles B. Mills was born in York County, Maine, May 5, 1823. He was brought up on a farm. He was educated at a neighboring academy and at Whitestown Seminary, in the State of New York. He was educated for the ministry, and began pastoral work as a Free-will Baptist clergyman, in 1849. September 18, 1851, he married Ann M. Morrison, of Sanford, Maine. They have eight children living, and have buried two. In 1854 he was preaching in Maine, and had been in poor health for several years. He was told by his physician that he must abandon menial labor before he could regain his health.

With a view of securing cheap land he finally purchased 200 acres in the present township of Fremont. In the spring of 1856 he moved his family to this new country. At Pine Run he hired a team to bring them to Wolverton’s, in the present town of Millington, and there got an ox team to transport them the remainder of the journey. They were two days going the last thirteen miles. They arrived upon the site of their new home in April, 1856, and first occupied a house that had just been built by David Fulton, one mile south of the present village of Mayville. He immediately built a log house, going a circuit of twelve miles to get men enough to raise it. Having studied navigation in his younger years, and finding that the services of a surveyor were needed he procured instruments, and for several years did all the surveying in that part of the county. He was also preacher, doctor and counselor. In the fall of 1860 he was elected probate judge, and held that office eight years. He was a member of the State senate at the session of 1868-69, and the extra session of 1870, and a member of the house in 1876-77. In August, 1877, he removed to Hillsdale, having accepted the office of treasurer of Hillsdale College, a position he still retains. Very soon after entering upon the life of a pioneer his health was restored, and for seventeen years he was pastor of the Baptist Church, in Fremont. Mr. Mills has always been very popular with the people of Tuscola County, and has contributed largely to its reminiscences and traditions, as well as to its fame.

John A. Morgan was born in New York, in 1833, and came to Washtenaw County, Mich., with his parents, in 1834. February 9, 1851, he came to Vassar, which , at that time contained by five buildings, and engaged in lumbering until 1879. He then came to Fremont and purchased a farm on section 28, upon which he now resides. October 2, 1862, he was married to Miss Maria Hall, a native of Yates County, N. Y., and has five children.

Nicholas R. Schermerhorn was born of American parents in Blenheim, Oxford County, Ont. His father was a native of New York State, coming from near Schnectady. The family came to Tuscola County in March, 1856, where the father bought land, clearing up a farm in what is now Fremont Township. The son, Nicholas R., in 1858 left here and went across the plains to California. While in that State he worked at the blacksmith trade. Also was a miner. In 1861 he enlisted in the Fifth California Infantry, in which regiment he served five years, lacking a few days, being in the service some sixteen months after the war closed. In his company he was first duty sergeant. His regiment saw service in California, Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas. After his discharge he remained in Santa Fe, New Mexico, until 1867, when he returned to Tuscola County. For two years he followed blacksmithing, and then went on a farm. In 1873 he engaged in mercantile trade, was burned out the same year, losing everything. Resumed business, however, and is an extensive dealer in dry goods, groceries, hardware, tinware, stoves, shoes, boots, clothing, notions, etc. Was township clerk, and also officially connected with the district schools. Married to Miss Harriet Lawrason, of Oxford County, Ont., in 1867. They have three children living.

Ezra Tripp was born in New York, in 1795, and came to Lapeer County, Michigan, in 1830. In 1856 he came to Fremont and settled on section 35, where he resided till 1874, when he removed to Lapeer County and resided there till 1876. He then came to reside with his grandson, Harry H. Miller, in Fremont. Mr. Tripp was the second settler in Fremont; was the first postmaster and merchant, and held the offices of supervisor and justice of the peace for several terms.

Walter Tubbs was born of American parents in the township of Blenheim, Oxford County, Ontario. The father brought his family to Michigan in 1842, and went to farming in Macomb County. Removed from there to Oakland County, and later to Rich, Lapeer County. The son, Walter, came to Mayville in 1867, and built the hotel now known as the "Fremont House." Sold it in 1869 and went to Kansas. Farmed it there; also kept a country store in Junction Township in Osage County. In 1876 returned to Mayville and followed butchering for some time. In 1878 he engaged in the undertaking and furniture business; sold that in 1882; was deputy sheriff for four years under John McPherson; married to Elizabeth Ingersoll in 1857. They have three children living.

James Turner was born in England, in 1814, and came to Quebec, Canada, in 1823. In 1856 he came to Tuscola County,and settled on a farm on section 23, in the township of Fremont, where he has since resided, and has cleared up a good farm, making himself a comfortable home. He was married in 1839, to Miss Jane McNicoll, and has raised a family of ten children, two of his sons serving in the late war. Mr. Turner has held many of the township offices, including that of supervisor, justice of the peace, treasurer and clerk.

William Turner, farmer, was born February 2, 1822, in Yorkshire, England. His parents emigrated to Canada when he was an infant, locating in one of the parishes near Quebec, where his father died. He then came West with his mother to Oxford County, Upper Canada, now Ontario. In January, 1856, he came to what is now Fremont, Tuscola County. At that date there were only two other settlers in the township, James Wells, and James Mead. He purchased land in section 23, town 11 north, range 9 east, afterwards settling in section 36, where he now resides. In the early days it was a difficult matter to get grain ground, mills being distant and roads at some seasons impassable. One year he and his neighbor were compelled to grind corn in a large-sized coffee mill he owned. He had held a number of township offices, having at times been supervisor, treasurer, justice of the peace, highway commissioner, pathmaster, etc. In 1848 was married to Catherine Spencer, a native of England. They have four children.

Arthur Veitch, postmaster at Mayville, Tuscola County, Mich., was born in 1850 in Embro, Oxford County, Ontario. He learned the trade of a printer, working for about four years in the office of the Guelph Mercury. In 1868 he came to Michigan, and for some months, was in the store of H. K. Crittenden as a clerk. In 1868 he went to Grand Haven, Mich., working in the News office there for some months. From there he returned to Mayville, and in company with his father engaged in mercantile business. June 19, 1873, their establishment was totally destroyed by fire. The firm was dissolved by the death of his father, May 17, 1875. The business which they carried on was formerly owned by H. K. Crittenden, and was purchased from him when he went to California. In company with his father-in-law the building now occupied by him was built, and they did a general mercantile business for about a year under the firm name of Choate & Veitch, when Mr. C. retired from the firm. He now deals in drugs, medicines, paints, oils, stationery, books, wall paper, shelf groceries, etc. Was married to Miss Mattic C. Choate in 1871. They have two children, both sons.