Biographies from the Village of Cass, Tuscola County, Michigan Copyright © 1998 by Bonnie Petee. This copy contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives. USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be freely used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organizations. _____________________________________________________________________ Cass City Village Biographies Taken from The History of Tuscola County, Biographical Sketches and Illustrations, H. R. Page Co., Chicago, 1883. Thanks to Bonnie Petee. James W. Adamson was born in Lorain County, Ohio, June 15, 1850, and about 1856 moved with his parents to Fulton County, where he remained until 1871. He then came to Cass City and taught school three terms, when he made an engagement with J. C. Laing, merchant, remaining in his store two and one-half years. In 1875 he went to East Saginaw and worked in a store till 1878, when he returned to Cass City and again worked for J. C. Laing about two years. In 1881 he purchased a store and stock of drugs of Doctor Deming, and opened business with Theodore Fritz. The partnership continued till February, 1882, when he bought Mr. Fritz's interest and formed a partnership with his brother. He was married October 10, 1877, to Miss Amelia Meartz, of East Saginaw, and has one child, Edward, born September 23, 1879. He has held the office of treasurer for Elkland two years. Alfred W. Carey, M.D., was born in Lambton, Ont., in 1852, and like most children in Canada, where an excellent school system prevails, attended the district school and afterward the Baptist College at Woodstock. He afterward taught school in Kent County for three years, when he went to Detroit and studied in the Michigan College of Medicine, from which he graduated in 1881. He then went to Columbiaville, Lapeer County, and in February, 1882, came to Cass City and established himself in business. March 7th, of that year, he entered into partnership with Dr. J. H. McLean, and is having a first-class practice. He married Miss Phoebe C. Brown, of Kent County, Ont., and has two children. Edgar Davis was born in Island Pond, Essex County, Vt., in 1848, and when old enough to carry a slab, began work in a saw-mill, and has since followed the business. In fact he is proficient in every department of saw-mill work, having had experience in every capacity connected therewith. In 1804 he came to Genesee County, Mich., going from there to Saginaw, where he was with William A. Heart six years. In 1872, he bought a piece of land on section 34 in the township of Elkland, Tuscola County, and is running a saw-mill at Cass City. L. A. DeWitt, of Cass City, was born in New York in 1838. He remained at home until September, 1861, when he enlisted in the Eighty-sixth New York Infantry, and served in the Army of the Potomac until July,1866. His regiment belonged to the famous Third Army Corps, commanded by General Daniel E. Sickles. Mr. DeWitt was twice badly wounded at the battle of Chancelorsville, Va., May 3, 1863. In 1869 he came to Elkland and bought a farm on which he lived one year, after which he moved to Cass City, and worked at carpenter and cabinet work until December, 1876, when he bought a half interest in the planing-mill. In 1880 he bought his partner's interest, and since that time has carried on the business alone. In addition to the planing-mill he also manufactured sash, doors, and blinds, and is also engaged in the furniture and undertaking business. He was married January 1, 1866, to Mary E. Schenck. A. D. Gilles was born in Elgin County, Ontario, February 22, 1855, and remained on his father's farm until 1873, when he went to the village of Duart and engaged in mercantile business. In February, 1881, he came to Cass City and opened a general dry goods store, which he is conducting under very favorable circumstances. He was married May 16, 1883, to Miss Anna Walmsley, of Cass City. Frank Hendrick was born in Saybrook, Ashtabula County, Ohio, January 7, 1851. He spent his boyhood days at home on his father's farm, and had the advantages of a common school education. In September, 1867, he came to Tuscola County and located in the township of Ellington, on section 1, and helped to clear eighty acres of land. In the spring of 1871 he came to Cass City and worked with James E. Withey at the watch-makers trade. He afterward took the business which he continued for a while, when he went back to the farm in 1873, remaining there till 1877, when he again came to Cass City and opened a jewelry store, which he has since continued. He keeps a large stock and an assortment that would do credit to a much larger town. He was married in 1873 to Miss Margaret A. Higgins, of Elmwood, formerly of Hagerville, Haldimand County, Ont., where she was born in 1852. They have had one child, Cora Viola, born April 28, 1875, and died March 28, 1881. James L. Hitchcock was born and educated at Oriskany Falls, Oneida County, N. Y.,and is a son of Hiram and Lucinda Hitchcock. When he became of age he learned the tinsmith's trade, with Amos M. Hitchcock, a practical workman and dealer in hardware. September 10, 1858, he purchased from the government 120 acres of land in what is now known as the townships of Koylton and Dayton, Tuscola County. February 2, 1859, he purchased his first bill of goods in the State of Buhl & Ducharme of Detroit, and moved on his land. He built a log cabin which he covered temporarily with sheet iron and which he afterwards made into camp kettles, and sold to the Indians and a few white settlers. He was the pioneer hardware man of central and northern Tuscola, his tin shop being located in a dense forest, which abounded in deer, wolves, and other wild animals. He built the first frame house in the township, and manufactured tinware which he traded with the Indians. He was married September 14, 1862, to Miss Carrie M. Turnbull of North Jackson, Ohio, a daughter of Robert and Margaret Turnbull. She attended Hiram College when James A. Garfield was it's president, and completed her education at the Female Seminary in Steubenville, Ohio. She taught school two years in Tuscola County, after she was married, walking two miles to and from her school night and morning. March 21, 1864, he moved to Wahjamega, and built a store and dwelling, and while he worked at his trade, his wife acted as clerk. He resided there upward of eight years, and September 6, 1872, he removed to Cass City, where he has since been engaged in mercantile business and farming. Rev. John Kelland was born in County Devon, England, November 21, 1880. He received a common school education, and at the proper age was apprenticed to the printer's trade. After serving his time he came to America in 1855, and for a year and a half worked in the Citizen office in Flint. He then entered the University in Detroit from which he graduated in 1861, and also took a full course in the Auburn Theological Seminary from which he graduated in 1864. His first pastoral charge was the Presbyterian church in Angola, Steuben County, Ind., from which he went to Omro, Winnebago County, Wis., thence to Lawton, Van Buren County, Mich., and in 1871 returned to England for a visit. After his return to the United States he took charge of the Presbyterian churches at Southfield and Franklin, Oakland County, Mich., where he spent five years. He then went to Flushing, Genesee County, and in 1878 came to Tuscola County and located in Cass City as pastor of the Presbyterians there. At the time there were three adherents but no church edifice of any kind in the place. A subscription had been circulated to raise funds to build a church edifice, but nothing had been done practically. He at once took hold of the matter earnestly and energetically, and the edifice was built under his direction and dedicated in October, 1878. In February, 1883, he purchased the main interest in the Cass City Enterprise, and is its editor. He has purchased five acres of land within the corporation, upon which he has erected a fine dwelling. He married Miss Fanny E. Sharland, of County Devon, England. She was born in 1829. E. B. Landon, one of the enterprising farmers of Elkland, was born in Oakland County, Mich., January 31, 1842. He received a common school education, and in 1859 commenced his studies at the Oxford Academy, which he attended several terms until 1863. In 1860 he commenced teaching school and when not so employed was working on a farm. During the winter of 1865 he attended the law department of the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, and in the spring of 1878 passed an examination at Caro, and was admited to the bar. The same year he purchased a farm on section 24, in Elkland, and moved to Cass City, where he opened a law office and commenced the practice of his profession. He was married march 25, 1878, to Mrs. Lydia A. Johnson, whose maiden name was Smith; she was born April 11, 1850, and was a resident of Oakland County; was married first to A. Johnson, of Dryden, August 5, 1868, and who died February 23, 1870. She has two sons, A. Johnson and Richard Landon. Charles J. Lowrie, was born in 1856 at Russell, Geauga County, Ohio. His father's farm was about three miles from where the late President James A. Garfield was born, and with whom Mr. Lowrie enjoyed personal acquaintance. A part of his education was acquired at the National Normal School at Lebanon, and the schools at Chagrin Falls, Ohio. In 1870 he commenced reading law in the office of D. W. Canfield, at Chardon, in Geauga County, teaching school in the winters. Was admitted to the bar at Cass in 1882, and commenced practice at Cass City. Is unmarried. Norman L. McLachlan M.D., was born in township of Williams, Middlesex County, Ontario, November 26, 1854, and moved with his parents to Argyle, Sanilac County, Mich., when seven years of age, remaining there till the spring of 1864. He then returned to Canada and attended the Kent Bridge School two and one-half years; then came home and attended school summers, working winters in the woods. He lumbered a while on his own account, and when twenty years of age came to Cass City and commenced the study of medicine with Dr. Graves, remaining in his office about nine months. In the fall of 1875 he went to Toronto, Ontario, and studied with Dr. John McConnell till spring, then went to Watford, where he was with Dr. Harvey. the next fall he became a student in the University of Michigan, from which he graduated, from its medical department, March 27, 1878, but in the mean time had spent six months in Dr. Harvey's office. He then visited Cass City, with no intention of locating there, but being persuaded by his friends did so, and June l, 1878, commenced practice. The doctor s in every sense a self-made man, and has succeeded beyond his expectations, standing high in the ranks of his profession with an increasing business. He was married in November, 1878, to Miss Emma Jackson, of Blenheim, Ontario, and has one child. Robert G. Orr was born in County Down, Ireland, in September, 1847, and came to America in the spring of 1860. He landed in Philadelphia, and went to Central Pennsylvania, where he remained till the spring of 1868, when he went to Ohio and lived in Cincinnati till the spring of 1864. He then came to Tuscola County, and worked in the lumber woods and on a farm till the next spring, when he purchased land in Elkland on section 27, and the next year commenced clearing. When he first came to the township he had to go to Vassar and Wahjamega to mill and for his supplies, and where Cass City now stands was almost an unbroken wilderness. He was married in 1870 to Miss Jennie Davidson, of Erie County, N. Y., who died January 16, 1871, and was again married to Miss Emma Petit, of Cass City, in 1878. She was born in Middlesex County, Ontario. John B. Peterson was born in York County, Ont., in June, 1881, and is by occupation a carpenter and joiner. He followed his trade in Canada till 1865, when he went to Iowa and settled in Sac City, where he engaged in building, remaining there fifteen years. He then came to Tuscola County and located near Cass City, buying land on sections 21 and 26, township of Elkland. He has since purchased land in the corporation of Cass City, upon which he has built a residence, and is about engaging in market gardening and the raising of small fruits. In 1854 he married Miss Jane Beebe, of York County, Ont., and has nine children. William E. Randall, was born in Canada in 1848. He remained on his father's farm until he was twenty years of age. In 1868 he went to Mayville, Tuscola County, Mich., and was there employed in at farming. In 1860 he moved to Elkland and settled on section 29, on land which his father had bought in 1856. This farm he cultivated most of the time until the spring if 1882, when he moved to his present home on section 8, where he owns 320 acres, of which 100 are under improvement. He married in 1878 to Mary E. Pillen. They have six children. Travis Schenck was born in Steuben County, N. Y., September 15, 1856, and when twelve years of age came to Tuscola County with his parents and settled in the township, where they purchased land on sections 21 and 28. Mr. Schenck has seen the forests disappear by the hand of the sturdy pioneer, and fruitful fields succeed the dense forest, shanties give place to more commodious dwellings, domestic animals feeding in green pastures, where wild animals previously prowled in trackless jungles, trackless wilds now intersected by wagon roads and railroads, and the wilderness once roamed over by savages, now teeming with busy, energetic and enterprising men. He was married October 2, 1878, to Miss Hattie Eno, of Elkland, and has two children. George F. Sherwood, of Cass City, was born in Norwalk, Fairfield County, Conn., in 1838. In 1848 his parents moved to Ohio. He remained at home until 1856, when he went on to the Cleveland & Toledo Railroad as fireman, and in 1857 commenced running an engine on the same road. He continued in that business until September, 1861, when he enlisted in the Third Ohio Cavalry, and remained with his regiment in the Army of the Cumberland until the fall of 1862, when he was sent home on sick leave. He was discharged for disability in the spring of 1868. Came to Novesta, Tuscola county, in 1870, and settled on eighty acres of land in section 16. There he remained until the spring of 1888, when he moved to Cass City, his present residence. He was married in 1866 to Caroline Knapp, a native of Ohio. They have five children. George Tennant was born in Leeds County, Ont., November 11, 1838, residing in that county until he was twenty-four years of age. He left there in 1863 and came to Tuscola County and settled in the township of Indian Fields. In the fall of 1869 he sold out and removed to Cass City, where he purchased a hotel and engaged in that business. He afterward purchased a farm near the village, and has been engaged in lumbering. In 1877 he bought a saw-mill in the township of Colfax, Huron County, which has a capacity of 10,000 feet of lumber per day. Mr. Tennant is a thorough, practical, enterprising citizen, and keeps a good house. He was married in 1870 to Miss Maria Utter, of Caro, and has three children. Henry Wickware was born in Millington, Leeds County, Ont., June 22, 1849, and when nine years of age moved with his parents to Abinger, Addington County, where he remained till 1868. He then came to Tuscola County and resided in Caro a year when he came to Cass City. Mr. Wickware is a carpenter and builder by occupation and has established a wagon making business in Cass City, employing several men. In the fires of 1881 he lost a saw-mill and 75,000 feet of lumber, beside having his farm swept clean of all improvements. September 7, 1878, he married Miss Vanie Alvers, of Cass City, formerly from near London, Ont, where she was born. They have one child, Oracle, born June 28, 1881. P. R..Weydemeyer was born in Warren County, Ohio, in 1837, and came to the State of Michigan with his parents in early life, and settled in Oakland County. He resided there about twenty years, and then moved to the township of Elmwood, Tuscola County, and settled on section 36. In 1861 he enlisted in the First Michigan Cavalry and served over four years. In 1807 he entered into partnership with J. C. Laring, for the purpose of carrying on a general mercantile business in Cass City, which he continued until 1877, when he went to Texas and engaged in the cattle trade until 1879, when he returned to Cass City and opened a hardware store. He was married in 1864 to Miss Mary E. Nash, of Elmwood, a native of Wayne County, Mich., and has four children. Copyright Bonnie Petee April 1998 dz