John H. Cartwright Biography, Genesee County, Michigan

This Biography extracted from “Portrait and Biographical Record of 
Genesee, Lapeer and Tuscola Counties, Michigan…”, published be Chapman 
Bros., Chicago (1892), p. 1016-1018


This copy contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives.


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JOHN H. CARTWRIGHT. The head of a family that is numbered among the 
representative people, socially and otherwise, of 1 Grand Blanc 
Township, Genesee County, is a native of this portion of the State, 
being born in this township, May 29, 1836. He is the son of Nathan and 
Elizabeth (Hollenheck) Cartwright, both of whom were natives of New 
York. His paternal ancestors are said to be English and those ox-team 
for such work. His limited advantages on his mother's side of Holland 
extraction. An uncle of our subject, Aaron Cartwright, was a soldier in 
the War of 1812 and bore away an honorable wound.

   Nathan Cartwright, emigrated to Genesee County, this State, in the 
spring of 1830, coming by lake to Detroit, and from there proceeded on 
foot to Genesee County. After remaining here a short time he went to 
Ft. Gratiot and was there engaged in labor for a short period when he 
returned to Genesee County and purchased a tract of Government land, 
his patent bearing the signature of President Jackson. He erected a log 
cabin in the midst of the woods and there settled. Their first home was 
very tiny, being only 12x24 feet in dimensions and only twelve feet 
high. Later in life he built a better residence.

   On first corning here the father of our subject found the Indians 
still in possession of much of the land. He was very poor at the time 
but there were numerous chances for an energetic and ambitious man to 
succeed at. He and his wife became the parents of two children-John H. 
and Calvin. He died May 4, 1876, and in his decease the county lost one 
of its fast disappearing generation of pioneers, who were familiar with 
the howl of the wolf and the war whoop of the aborigines, and who by 
their industry and integrity made the wilderness literally, morally and 
intellectually to bud and blossom. Forty-six years previous to his 
death he arrived in Grand Blanc and soon after purchased of the 
Government the farm where he afterward resided. He was born in East 
Avon, N. Y., and although not occupying so prominent a position as many 
others, yet he possessed those sterling qualities that made him an 
honest, upright citizen, a kind friend and neighbor and an affectionate 
husband and father. His wife survived him until January 31, 1880, when 
she too was taken away to her long home. To her wise and tender 
maternal care the children owe all that they are to-day.

   The original of our sketch was reared to manhood in this county and 
united his strength and growing judgment to his father's efforts in 
clearing and improving his place. At an early day he was engaged in 
breaking land, using the old time ox-team for such work. His limited 
advantages in an educational way were received at the district school 
in the township, and from the books that the family library contained 
he absorbed, in the light of the blazing logs of the fireplace, many of 
the treasures of English literature.

   October 17, 1866, Mr. Cartwright was united in marriage to Miss 
Fannie A. Smith, a native of this county. She is a daughter of Silas 
and Cornelia Smith, who settled in Grand Blanc Township in 1831. Mrs. 
Cartwright's father was born in Waterford, New London County, Conn., 
April 13, 1802. He removed in early manhood to Avon, N. Y., and was 
there married in 1828, to Miss Cornelia Coy of the same place. In 1831 
they removed to Grand Blanc, where he gave himself with enthusiasm and 
success to the calling of agriculture. They were the parents of four 
children - George E., Mary A., Sophia S., and Fannie A.

   An Indian trail ran near his log house in the clearing and along 
this for several years the tribes took their way to Detroit to receive 
an annuity from the Government. They rode their ponies single file on 
the path worn deep by frequent travel, a whole tribe from the oldest to 
the youngest. Mr. Smith died at his residence, August 9, 1880. His wife 
survived him three years, her death taking place March 14, 1883. She 
had contributed her full share with her husband in making Genesee 
County the beautiful garden spot which it is at the present time.

   Mr. Cartwright engaged in active farming until 1875, when he removed 
to Grand Blanc village and has since made this his home. In him has 
been developed by circumstances and his position in life, the 
sturdiness and manhood necessary to one who would combat successfully 
with the difficulties of pioneer experience. He has served for three 
years as Clerk of Grand Bland Township and is politically an adherent 
of the Prohibition party. His wife is a member of the Congregational 
Church and both are actively interested in the social life of the 
community. Mr. Cartwright is public-spirited and eagerly embraces every 
opportunity to help his fellow-creatures. Mrs. Cartwright is Secretary 
of the woman's Christian Temperance Union of Grand Blanc, and holds the 
office of Treasurer of the Home and Foreign Missionary Society and is 
also a life member of the Home Missionary Society.

   To our subject and his wife was given one son, Howard Smith 
Cartwright. May 30, 1888, he would have been sixteen years of age but 
attacked by the fell disease, pneumonia, it did its fatal work and he 
died April 8, 1888. We here make some extracts from the sermon that was 
preached at his funeral, which took place in the Congregational Church.

   "About two years ago Howard Smith heard the voice of our loving 
Father calling him to religious duty and active service, and in 
obedience to that voice he chose the Lord's people to be his people and 
their hope to be his comfort, and he united in covenant with this 
church. In his untimely death the church loses a life full of promise, 
the Sunday-school an attentive learner and the young people a genial 
companion. In disposition he was very playful and happy. He was subject 
to his parents with that true obedience which springs from reverence 
and affection. Their association and the joys of the Christian home he 
prized, and ever strove to lead a noble life. His choice of reading, 
like his choice of friends, was of a pure and noble kind and indicated 
the quality of his mind.

   "That he was loved and prized by the young there was abundant 
evidence in the bitter sobs in the Sunday school when it was announced 
that his spirit had, even while we studied the lessons, taken its 
flight to the school above. The following resolutions adopted by the 
Sunday-school Committee express the young people's sentiments:

   "Whereas, God has seen good to call from us the spirit of our friend 
and fellow-learner in the School of Christ,

   "Resolved, that we as representatives- of the Church and Sunday-
school express our sense of deep sorrow and great loss, and that we 
tender our Christian sympathy to the parents bereaved of their only 
child in the morning of life's usefulness, and that we bow reverently 
to the rule of Him whose strange providences are always directed to 
some wise purpose.

   "Howard's reverence and affection for his parents was worthy of 
imitation by every boy and girl. That boy who enjoys the society and 
intimate friendship of a pure and pious mother is safe from the world's 
pollution, and that girl whose secret thoughts and life are good enough 
for father and mother to know will escape every snare of the evil one 
and gain womanhood's precious goal. When the clouds have rolled away 
and we stand on the evergreen mountains of life, surveying all the 
devious ways in which God in His mercy has led us then we can 
undersrand the promise: 'What I do ye know not now, but ye shall know 
hereafter.' "



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