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 Page 249 - 250 CALEB S. THOMPSON Caleb S. Thompson of whom this brief sketch is written, was born in North- bury, Worcester Co., Mass., April 23, 1805. His father, who was a tanner and currier by trade, moved into Oneida Co., N. Y., when Caleb was five years old, and followed his trade and also farming. In 1816 he moved to Avon, N. Y. Here Caleb grew to manhood, and although he went only to a common school, he acquired more than an average education. He was a great student, and having free access to the library of Dr. Little, he made good use of it and stored his mind with much useful knowledge. On the 30th day of May, 1829, he, in company with Jonathan Dayton and Caleb Embury, started for Grand Blanc (then called Grumlaw), in Genesee Co., Mich., going by canal-boat from Rochester to Buffalo, and thence to Detroit by the steamer "William Penn." From Detroit to Grumlaw they went by team. There they found the Riggs, Stevens, Spencer, and Perry families. At that date Genesee County contained but forty-seven inhabitants. Soon after his arrival he bought of the government the east half of the northwest quarter of section 23, in Grand Blanc, and subsequently the west half of the northwest quarter of the same section. On this tract he settled and commenced its improvement. The next fall he returned to New York, and taught school through the winter, having previously taught, — an employment which had given him his start in life. In February, 1830, he again came West, this time with his own conveyance, —an ox-team,— going through Canada. The following summer he cleared and sowed sixteen acres, and the next season harvested one hundred and sixty bushels of wheat; from that time he considered starvation out of the question. During the next six years he so added to his farm that he owned four hundred acres of land, two hundred and ten acres of which he had plowed and three hundred acres fenced. He had six hundred bushels of wheat, and owed no man. From ========================================================================== Page 250 this time on be continued to improve his farm, each year adding to his wealth and to his reputation as a successful business man. In 1856 the subject of a plank-road from Holly to Grand Blanc was being agitated, and finally became a fixed fact through the enterprise and energy of Mr. Thompson, who took the contract of building the road; he did build it, although he lost many thousands of dollars by so doing. But what was his loss was the people's gain, as the road was the means of finally securing to Grand Blanc a railroad, which has been of incalculable value to not only its people, but to those of Holly and the surrounding country. Mr. Thompson's loss in this enterprise resulted prin- cipally from his inability to manage the affairs of the road personally, by reason of his being stricken down with the rheumatism, which finally resulted in his becoming a helpless invalid. For more than twenty years he has not been able to get out of his chair or turn over in bed without assistance. This great affliction deprived the county of the active services of one of its most enterprising and public-spirited citizens, and Mr. Thompson of the pleasure to be derived from an active and successful career. Still he bears his sad lot with patience, watched over and cared for by an affectionate and faithful wife and a loving daughter. On the 4th day of February, 1832, he married Miss Clarinda Perry. Their union was blessed with the following children: Susan, born Dec. 4, 1834, and Rush, born April 4, 1836. Mrs. Thompson died June 4, 1840. For his second wife Mr. Thompson married, May 9, 1848, Miss Ermina C. Wilson, who was born March 5, 1824. There has been born to them one daughter, Clara C, born April 9, 1849. In politics Mr. Thompson was first a Whig and later a Republican; he has always taken great interest in political matters, and was an active worker before his sickness. He has held most of the township offices: was clerk for twenty years, and for a considerable period held the office of deputy sheriff. ========================================================================== If you've reached this file through a SEARCH, you can access more of our free online information by going to the following url: http://www.us-data.org/ ==========================================================================