Genesee County MI Archives Biographies.....Bickford, Lewis G. 1816 - 1884
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Author: Chapman Bros. (1892)

LEWIS G. BICKFORD. To record events of interest in the lives of those who have
aided in the development of any given section of country, affords the biographer
rare delight. Many of the courageous pioneers of Flint have passed to their
final rest, but they still live in the hearts of their descendants to whom they
furnish an example worthy of emulation. A number of years have come and gone
since Mr. Bickford departed this life, but his influence has not ceased. He was
born June 26, 1816, in Manlius, Onondaga County, N. Y., and was the son of
Dearborn and Roxana Bickford, natives of Massachusetts.

  Young Lewis was educated in the East and became a merchant of Manlius. In 1836
he purchased a stock of goods, which he brought to Saginaw and opened up a
general merchandise business, later carrying it on in partnership with Robert
Page. This partnership was, however, unfortunate, and after their dissolution
Mr. Bickford became Registrar of Deeds, serving for three terms, and then became
Justice of the Peace, which office he kept until his decease, a period of over
twenty-five years. Squire Bickford, as he was familiarly called, died September
18, 1884. Socially he was a Master Mason and was a charter member of the
Presbyterian Church. Originally he was a Whig, and later became as ardent a
Republican.

  May 9, 1839, Mr. Bickford was married to Miss Maria Gale, at the residence of
the bride's aunt, the Rev. Mr. Beach, a prominent Presbyterian divine,
performing the ceremony. Mrs. Bickford was born in Salisbury, Rutland County,
Vt., December 6, 1818, and is a daughter of Leonard and Lavina (Cummings) Gale,
both natives of Vermont. Leonard Gale served in the Revolutionary War. He was a
hotel man, who in 1821 located at Warsaw, N. Y., running a line of stages
between that city and Batavia, and Warsaw and  Buffalo.

  In 1830 Mrs. Bickford's father removed to Westfield, Chautauqua County, and
had a stage route between Westfield and Erie, and also between Westfield and
Buffalo. Successful in life and having accumulated enough to make him
comfortable during his last years, he died at the age of seventy-three 3Tears.
Mrs. Bickford's maternal grandsire, Ephraim Cummings, also served in the
Revolutionary War. He died at Westfield, as did also Mrs. Bickford's mother, in
1888, at the age of ninety-three years. Of five children born of the marriage of
Mrs. Bickford's parents, three are living, and of these Mrs. Bickford is the
eldest. Following her are Frances M. and Chauncy.

  Mrs. Bickford was reared in Warsaw until twelve years of age, then went to
Westfield, where she was a student in the academy. In 1838 she came to Michigan
with an aunt, Mrs. Harriet Disbrow, and located in Flint, on the Saginaw River.
There were at that time only a half-dozen buildings on Saginaw Street. They came
by steamer to Detroit and by horse to Pontiac, and thence by stage to Flint.
There were many of the Chippewa Indians still camped about the place and of
those old Mabin was chief, and so frequent was their dealing with the Indians
that Mrs. Bickford learned a little of the language, which enabled her to be
understood. It was not unusual to see deer and wolves in the streets.

  Mrs. Bickford has proved herself to be a capable business woman, for since her
husband's death she has carried on every branch of his business. She owns two
farms in Burton Township, Genesee County, aggregating two hundred and thirty
acres. They bear excellent buildings and are well stocked. She now rents the
places on shares. Her residence is at No. 633 Kearsley Street. She is one of the
oldest settlers of the city. She has been the mother of five children, whose
names are Julia, Mrs. Nathan Cash, who is deceased; Addison, who died at the age
of sixteen years; Frank, who died at the age of twenty-nine and whose two sons,
Harry and Arthur, live with Mrs. Bickford; Ella, Mrs. Gedley, who died in Flint;
and Mary, who died at the age of eighteen months. Mrs. Bickford is an ardent
member of the Presbyterian Church.


Additional Comments:

Extracted from:

Portrait and Biographical Record of Genesee, Lapeer and Tuscola Counties,
Michigan, Containing Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative
Citizens, Together with Biographies of all the Governors of the State, and of
the Presidents of the United States

Chicago:
Chapman Bros.
1892


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