Copyright USGenNet Inc., 2013, All Rights Reserved U.S. Data Repository Please read U.S. Data Repository Copyright Statement on this page: Transcribed and submitted by Karen D. Foster for the US Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ ========================================================================== U.S. Data Repository NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization. Non-commercial organizations desiring to use this material must obtain the consent of the transcriber prior to use. Individuals desiring to use this material in their own research may do so. ========================================================================== Formatted by U.S. Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott All of the above information must remain when copied or downloaded. ========================================================================== SOURCE: History of Genesee County, Michigan pub. Everts and Abbott - 1879 Unnumbered Page between 282 and 283 JOSIAH ALGER AND FAMILY The family of Algers, which are widely scattered over the States, sprang, acoording to the best genealogical records, from three brothers who came to this country from Wales during the seventeenth century, settling in Massa- chusetts, — the home of the Pilgrim Fathers. Josiah Alger, the subject of this sketch, and Ira Alger, twins, were born in Massachusetts, June 3, 1782, coming with their parents to Bloomfield, Ontario Co., N. Y., in 1793, then a wild and unbroken wilderness, — their sister being the first white woman married in that vicinity. Mr. Alger was married, in 1803, to Esther, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Scovel, of Vermont. They reared a family of ten children, of whom but two are now living, Josiah H. and Lewis. He emigrated to Troy, Oakland Co., Mich, November, 1823, where he located lands, clearing up a large farm. Selling out in 1835, he, in company with others, took a ramble through Livingston, Shiawassee, and Genesee Counties, locating eleven lots of land in the town of Mundy, Genesee Co., and moved on to it in May, 1830. He was one of the first settlers, being one of the organizers of the township then comprising the townships of Gaines and Mundy, with but eighteen voters in both. The first town-meeting was held at his house in 1837, and he was the first supervisor, which office he held for several years. In profession Mr. Alger was a physician; in politics, a Democrat; and in religion, a strong Universalist to the last. He suffered the change called death, March 6, 1852, but from information gleaned of old residents, and incidents recited by their children, he died not out of the memory of any who were so fortunate as to have made his acquaintance. He is accredited by the remaining pioneers — Mr. Glover, Thompson, Baldwin, and others — as being a man without an enemy, and they relate many incidents of his benefaction; among which was sending a team to Pontiac several times for flour and meal to feed those in destitution, refusing to sell to the above relators and others because of their having the means of purchase. Mr. Alger was most truly a benefactor to his countrymen, always dispensing justice, and where most needed. He was a soldier in the war of 1812, as was his father, Josiah, in the Revolution, of whom there still remain among the relatives mementos of his chivalry and art. Mrs. Alger was a most estimable woman. Was born in Vermont, Aug. 19, 1785, and died in Mundy, of consumption, Jan. 21, 1843. Ira Alger, the twin brother, settled near Holly, Oakland Co., and died there about 1848. Josiah H. Alger, son of Josiah, was born in Ontario Co., N. Y., Dec. 3, 1809. Came to Michigan with his parents in 1823; he remained at home, helping to clear up the farm, until tne age of twenty-two. He then started out for himself with a fair education, mostly self-acquired, and an abundant capital of physical strength and energy, which have made their record all along his line of march. He commenced by taking jobs of chopping, rail-splitting, etc., until he acquired the means to buy one hundred and sixty acres of land in Macomb County. In the spring of 1836 he located four lots of land on sections 29 and 30, in Mundy, Genesee Co. He was married, April, 1837, to Mary A., daughter of Wm. and Susan F. (Howland) Stanley, of Troy, Oakland Co. Worked his father-in-law's farm for four years. Selling his Macomb lands, he moved on his own lands in Mundy, in March, 1841, being compelled to cut a road one and a half miles in order to reach it; but, by dint of persevering energy and the impetus of a strong will, he soon had a trail to his land, a log house staked, chinked, a stone and mud fireplace, to which he improvised a mud and stick chimney, a floor of split-stuff, doors, etc., after occupancy. The first year he grew of potatoes, roots, corn, and oat fodder sufficient for self-use, and some to spare. In the fall he sowed some twenty acres of wheat, which, when harvested, he threshed with a flail on a ground- floor, taking it to Pontiac and Detroit, and exchanging it for store pay at three shillings and sixpence per bushel. Those were the times that tried the souls of men, even of iron nerve, to meet the demands of nature and taxation, — the latter of which often periled all. As but little of the wild-cat money had an exchange value, and nearly all business was conducted by barter and exchange of produced commodities, the pioneers experienced trials which only an indomitable courage and an abiding faith in the future enabled them to meet, and to persevere until the dawn of "better times." In those days there was no social ostracism. The crotch dray and ox-sled were the principal means of transit, and with these neighbors used to get together, winding their way through the woods to each other's homes on winter evenings to dance, scrape a turnip, exchange hunting tales, and other life- scenes; speculate on new projects, public and private, and after the midnight banquet of biscuit (baked in a tin-oven — there being no stoves) and wild honey, with a bit of dried venison, or perchance bear, they repaired to their several homes, without bickering, happy and content with each other and their surroundings. The men and women then wore homespun for common and nice, with factory, colored with batternut and oak-bark, for a change. Calico then filled the place that silks and worsteds do now, with from ten to twenty less yards in a pattern. They had no use for hippodromes and other paraphernalia, simply the naked requisites. Their Doots and shoes were made of cowhide, and of home manufacture, as nearly every pioneer was a cobbler. Thus Mr. and Mrs. Alger, by dint of their united efforts, perseverance, and economy, soon had cleared a large farm, and had otherwise given to that which but a few years before was a wilderness and Indian hunting-ground the appearance of a home of plenty. They are spoken of as very estimable neighbors, and universally esteemed by all in their old home, where they resided for sixteen years, during which time Mr. Alger filled the office of supervisor and that of commissioner for several years. Having, in 1849, by heirship and purchase, become owner of the Wm. Stanley farm, in Troy, two hundred and fifty acres, he rented his Mundy farm, four hundred and forty acres, and removed there in 1857, where he remained until 1870, when he purchased a fine residence in Birmingham, — three miles from his farm, — where he intends to spend his days. Mrs. Alger was born Feb. 29, 1820, in Richmond, Ontario Co., and died Nov. 26, 1874, of heart-disease, leaving many bright oases along the pathway of her busy life, as lasting memorials to her relatives and numberless friends who still miss and mourn her demise. Mr. Alger, for his second wife, married Mrs. Clarissa Armstrong, Nov. 1, 1875, a most estimable widow lady, with whom he now lives, surrounded by a host of friends, and with every needful comfort in their declining years. William R. Alger, son of Josiah H., was born May 10, 1838, in Troy, Oakland Co., Mich. He came with his parents to Mundy in 1841, and returned with them to Troy in 1857. Having obtained a good academic education, he commenced teaching in 1859. During 1860 he roamed over the South and West, traveling through nine States. Returning in January, 1861, he taught school in the village of Big Beaver, Oakland Co., three months. During the summer he worked his farm of forty acres and a part of the homestead, teaching the same school the following winter. In the fall of 1861 he exchanged his farm with his father for eighty acree of his Mundy farm, and rented the balance for five years. On the 8th day of March he was married, at the Antisdale House in Detroit, to Miss Julia Jenette, daughter of John and Rachel Bookham. The next April he moved to Mundy. In 1866 he purchased the eighty -acre meadow adjoining his farm for two thousand five hundred dollars. The following year he sold the one hundred and sixty acres to J. M. Peck for five hundred dollars, and the same day purchased the old homestead. On this farm Mr. Alger has built an elegant residence, repaired the outbuildings, cleared twenty- five acres, and put in six miles of underdrain, making his farm one of the finest in the county. Mrs. Alger was born in Troy, Oakland Co., Dec. 25, 1842. Was one of a family of seven children. Her parents emigrated from Manchester, England, in 1841. There have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Alger two children, — John J., born Aug. 14, 1863, and Agnes A., born Dec. 12, 1864. In religion and local politics Mr. Alger can well be called a liberalist. In national matters he votes the Democratic ticket. He is one who makes friends among all classes, and especially among the poor and unfortunate, to whom he has ever extended a helping hand. He has been supervisor three terms, having been elected on the People's ticket by a large majority, in the strongest Republican town in the county, and has filled the office with credit to himself and his constituents. He is a strong temperance man and a moralist. Is well read historically and other wise, and possesses the traits necessary to make him a leader among men. ==========================================================================