Moses Middleton 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. 1024-1025

This copy contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives.




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MOSES MIDDLETON, Supervisor of Forest Township, Genesee County, is one 
of the prominent agriculturists of this section of country. He owns an 
excellent farm of eighty acres, under a high state of cultivation, 
which yields him a golden tribute for the care and labor he bestows 
upon it. As a farmer his dealings have been marked by integrity and 
shrewdness, and these traits have made him an invaluable aid in the 
upbuilding of his township, and give him high rank among its citizens. 
He is interested in promoting the prosperity of the township and. 
county, as well as the welfare of the country at large, and in regard 
to political questions we find him a Republican, stanch and true.

   A native of the. State of New York, Mr. Middleton was born in Sodus 
Township, Wayne County, April 16, 1851 and is therefore at the present 
writing (1891) in the prime of life. His parents, John and Charlotte 
(Miller) Middleton, were natives respectively of England, and the 
vicinity of Albany, N. Y. The father was reared in England, and thence 
emigrated to America when he was about thirty years old. He devoted his 
attention to farming in his native land and was thus engaged in the New 
World. He was married in England, and became the father of two children 
by that union. After his wife died he married again and two children 
were also born of that union. Some years after coming to America his 
wife died and later he was married to Mrs. Charlotte Drumm, the widow 
of James Drumm. Our subject was the only child born of that union.

   In mingled work and play, in the usual manner of farmer lads, the 
subject of this biographical notice passed his boyhood. At the age of 
ten years his father died and he then removed with his mother to 
Phelps, Ontario County, N. Y., where her children by her first marriage 
lived. The education which our subject received was a limited one, and 
most of it was acquired after he was old enough to study alone and do 
for himself. At the age of sixteen he left his home in Phelps and 
coming to Michigan, located in Genesee County. He had lost his father 
by death when he was a lad of only ten years and consequently he has 
had his own way to make in the world from childhood. When he came to 
this State he worked in mills, and afterward learned the carpenter's 
trade, at which he found employment during the summer months; the 
winter seasons were employed in teaching. In 1878 he removed to Forest 
Township, and began to labor as a farmer.

   About the time of his location in Forest Township Mr. Middleton was 
married April 16, 1878, his bride being Miss Suzette C. Cole, of 
Richfield Township, this county. Mrs. Middleton was the daughter of 
Walter J. Cole, a farmer of Richfield Township, and Marian (Hastings) 
Cole, his wife. One child has been born to Mr. and Mrs. Middleton, a 
son Wallace Ray, whose birth occurred January 11, 1884. Although Mr. 
Middleton has devoted his time principally to general farming he has 
yet found time for other work. Since he came to this place he has 
taught several terms in the district school during the winter seasons 
and about 1886 he began surveying. During that year he was elected 
County Surveyor, which position he held and filled efficiently for four 
years. At present he is serving his sixth term as Supervisor of Forest 
Township, and in that position he is advancing the interest of the 
township.

   In other positions beside those above named Mr. Middleton has also 
served and always efficiently. As Highway Commissioner, he improved the 
condition of the roads of the community; as School Inspector he raised 
the standard of education; as School Director for fourteen years he did 
all in his power to secure efficient teachers and offer the best 
educational advantages to the children of the neighborhood. Upon his 
farm may be seen in their proper seasons the various grains which he 
finds adapted to the soil and climate, while scattered through the 
meadows are the various breeds of live stock which he raises.




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