Genesee County MI Archives Biographies.....Paton, Mary ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/mi/mifiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com December 13, 2007, 10:44 pm Author: Chapman Bros. (1892) MRS. MARY PATON. The lady whose name appears above is one of the matrons of Flushing whose experience extends over a varied portion of the history of this vicinity. She is the widow of John Paton, a Scotch settler of an early day in this county. John Paton was born November 5, 1801, in Blackford, Perthshire, Scotland. He was a son of James and Mary (Menzies) Paton, natives of Scotland. They had three children—Ann, who was Mrs. William Duff, Mary, who was Mrs. W. Joice and John. John Paton was educated in Scotland, and early learned the art of manufacturing woolen goods. His emigration to America took place in 1827 and he secured employment at Paterson, N. J. and later engaged in the manufacture of woolen goods with Mr. Woodhouse, where he remained until 1834 when he came to Michigan and located in what is now known as Flushing Township, Genesee County, there purchasing a tract of three hundred and fifty acres on sections 22 and 27. He was the first settler in this township when the howl of the wolf and visits from the red men were not infrequent. He settled at a place on the river in what is now Flint Township. In 1837 Mr. Paton brought his family to Flushing Township and settled on the farm which he at first purchased. He improved it by erecting a comfortable frame house and began the work of clearing. It proved to be his home until his death which occurred April 12, 1886. He was a thorough farmer and made of his place a perfect agricultural tract. Several times he held the office of Treasurer. He was also Road Commissioner and held some other offices. He was a Republican in politics and in his religious sentiments held to the church of his country, being a strong Presbyterian, and was one of the organizers of the first church built in this place. He was not so bigoted, however, that he did not give generously to the support of other churches. Mrs. Paton tells the writer that she lived here without seeing a woman for six months. There were no roads at the time and their guide through the waste of woods was the blazed trees. There was plenty of game of all kinds and the larder needed never to be empty of meat supplyed by the rifle. Our subject was in her maidenhood Miss Mary Evans, the daughter of John and Mary (Abbott) Evans, natives of Ireland, but whose parents were from England. Her maternal grandparents were natives of England but resided in Ireland. Her paternal grandparents were Michael and Elizabeth (Coats) Evans, natives of England. The former was a retired surgeon. Our subject was married to Mr. Paton, November 22, 1835, and as the years passed became the mother of four children, three of whom are now living. They are—John, Mary and Annie. The first named married Sarah Beaty, and is the father of one child, a daughter, whose name is Fanny Eveline. He resides in Flushing. Mary is Mrs. Lutze and Annie is Mrs. Morfit. As a young lady Mrs. Paton received her education in the manufacturing town of Manchester, England. She came with her father to America in 1830 and in 1835 located in Flushing on a part of what is now the Paton farm. On reaching Detroit she and her father came to this place on foot. After the first day they found their way by the Indian trail, making eleven miles the first day and twenty-one miles the second. Mrs. Paton has many warm friends in this county and has lived to enjoy the comforts of a beautiful home in a country which was desolate on her advent here. Her son was the first white child born on this side of Flint Bridge and Mary M. was the first white girl born in Flushing Township. The latter, now Mrs. Lutze, is a talented and cultured woman, who is interested in everything that is progressive and enterprising. She belongs to the Literary and Scientific Circle of the Chautuaqua Club, having graduated with the Class of '84. She is also a talented artist and her home is beautified by the work of her own hands. She and her mother belong to 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 File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/mi/genesee/bios/paton936gbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/mifiles/ File size: 4.9 Kb