John F. 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. 1022

This copy contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives.


************************************************
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm

http://www.usgwarchives.net/mi/mifiles.htm
************************************************



JOHN F. CARTWRIGHT. This prominent business man of Davison Township, 
Genesee County, who is valued highly in both commercial and social 
circles was born in this township December 19, 1846, and is a son of 
Calvin Cartwright who had his birth in New York in 1816. He came to 
this county in 1836 and first settled in Grand Blanc Township, but in 
December, 1842, removed to Davison. He had previously procured land and 
having built a shanty, proceeded to clear and improve the farm. 
Previous to his death, January 15, 1891, he had held every office in 
the township and had been Supervisor for eleven years.

   During the war Calvin Cartwright was very enthusiastic and helpful 
in sustaining the Government, and he was a member of the Baptist Church 
from the time he was twenty years old. His wife is still living and is 
now sixty-nine years old, having been born October 5, 1822. Her maiden 
name was Mary A. Fritz and she was born in New York. Of her six 
children four are living. A district school education in the old log 
school-house was supplemented by studies at Pontiac and Flint and then 
our subject undertook teaching. When only eighteen years old our 
subject enlisted in December, 1864, in the Thirteenth Michigan Infantry 
and was mustered out of service in June, 1865.

   In 1872 young Cartwright was married to Miss Nancy, daughter of 
Nathaniel Cole, of New York, who had been an early settler of Michigan 
and who died August 10, 1891. One child has blessed this union, namely, 
Charles I., who was born March 23, 1877. Mr. Cartwright is a Republican 
in his political views and has been Treasurer, Clerk and Supervisor of 
the township, and a frequent delegate to county and State conventions. 
He is a member of the Masonic order.

   Soon after his marriage Mr. Cartwright removed to Davison Station 
and continued there for three years in the mercantile business and 
opened a grist and sawmill. He then took a trip west and spent two 
summers at Great Bend, Kan., where he bought a quarter section of land. 
In 1880 he began operations with his father in the grain and produce 
business, being with him for three years and was in an independent 
business for three years. He finally took into partnership Edgar J. 
Seelye, and in 1886 he also started a bank which he has since carried 
on prosperously. It has now been merged into the Davison Baking 
Company, with Mr. Cartwright as President and was so re-organized in 
1889.



j