Genesee County MI Archives Biographies.....Underhill, William H. 1842 - ************************************************ 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 November 23, 2007, 12:28 am Author: Chapman Bros. (1892) WILLIAM H. UNDERHILL. The fact of a man being well spoken of by those among whom he has spent the greater portion of his life, is a sufficient indication of his character, and thus Mr. Underhill may be mentioned as a representative of the best element of his community—a man of strictest integrity, and one who, by a life of industry and the exercise of economy, has obtained for himself a competence. He now resides in a pleasant home in Clio, whither he removed in 1891. Prior to this time he resided in Thetford Township, where he was engaged in farming operations, and where he became well known as a man of probity and honor. For the past ten years he has been preparing himself during his leisure hours for the ministry, to which he wishes to devote his remaining years. A sincere and earnest member of the Christian or Disciples' Church, at Pine Run, he has officiated in the capacity of minister there since 1886. In Niagara County, N. Y., Mr. Underbill was born July 1, 1842. When he was only two years old he was orphaned by the death of his father, Charles, who was a native of Canada and a farmer by occupation. The mother, Julia (Whitehouse) Underbill, a native of New York State, was also removed by death during the childhood of our subject, and thus doubly orphaned he was taken into the home of his uncle, Mr. Whitehouse, in Vienna Township, Genesee County. During his youth he attended the common school in the village of Pine Run and gained a rudimental knowledge of the "three R's". Subsequent study has greatly enlarged his fund of knowledge and he is now well informed on all topics of local and general importance. When ready to begin life for himself Mr. Underbill chose farming as his occupation, and at the same time learned the trade of a mason, at which he was engaged until about 1883. However, he did not neglect his farming interests, which he carried on in Thetford Township on an eighty-acre tract of land, half of which has been improved by himself. His success in agricultural pursuits was due chiefly to his determined perseverance of character and his wise judgment. When the call came for soldiers in the summer of 1862, Mr. Underhill enlisted in the Twenty-third Michigan Infantry, and with his regiment was incorporated in the Army of the Cumberland. He served nearly three years, taking part in a number of important engagements, among them the battles of Nashville, Blair's Cross-Roads, Atlanta and Buzzard's Roost. In 1864 he was taken sick and was sent to the hospital at Frankfort, Ky., where he remained for four weeks. When peace once more came to our country, and the soldiers were honorably discharged and sent to their various homes, our subject, among others, was mustered out in the fall of 1865, and at once came to Michigan. After his return he was married, May 10, 1866, to Miss Ellen Tinker, a native of Ashtabula County, Ohio. The family born to this worthy couple comprises ten children, namely: Charles, Elmer, Clayton, Ada, May, Fred, John, Jessie, Ella and Blanche, all of whom survive. The son Charles is engaged in a machine shop at Pine Run, while the remaining sons operate the old homestead. The daughters have been given excellent educations and are accomplished young ladies, very popular in the social circles of the community. Mr. Underhill possesses in a rare degree those qualities which mark a man of honor and veracity, one in whom his fellow-citizens can safely trust. He is greatly interested in the welfare of his adopted county, and takes an active part in everything that tends to promote its moral elevation or educational status. As above mentioned, he is especially active in religious affairs. His lithographic portrait is presented in connection with tills biographical notice. 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/underhil887gbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/mifiles/ File size: 4.7 Kb