Frederick Foster

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The father of the subject of tlis sketch emigrated to America in 1826 and settled inUtica,N. Y. Here he resided until 1837 when he brought his family to Michigan and located on section 29, Independence Township, Oakland County. Our subject remained with his father on the farm until he was twenty-one years of age, and had very little opportunity to obtain an education. At the age of twenty-three he was happily married to Ann Parker, daughter of William and Elizabeth Parker, also natives of England, who, at the time of the marriage resided in Erie County, N. Y. The wedding was celebrated October 20, 1845.

Five children have blessed this home; Edmund, who is married to Alice Anderson, and resides in Springfield Township, this county; Frederick H., who died at the age of twenty-two years nine months and twelve days; Adelaide who married Cassius M. Beardsley, a prominent member of the bar, and resides in Hersey, Mich., and Clara who is unmarried and resides with her parents in their beautiful home on Main Street in Clarkston.

Mr. Foster owns beside his town property, one of the most highly improved farms in Springfield Township. This farm is conducted by his son but Mr. P'oster drives out almost every pleasant day and takes great pride in superintending the details. It comprises three hundred acres of arable land in a high state of cultivation. He has been very successful in accumulating a good share of this world's goods, and enjoys the comforts of life which he so richly deserves. The family are members of the Baptist Church of Clarkston. Mr. Foster is an independent in politics and votes for men who will practice what they advocate, and strives to promote the election of such as have been tried and found true. He himself is frequently called to occupy positions of trust in the township, and has been a Notary Public for about twenty years.

OHN H. DRESSER is favorably known by every citizen of Independence Township and is respected by all. He has for some years been living in Clarkston, engaged in various business pursuits, but for a score of years has given his attention principally to fire insurance. Prior to that time he carried on the sale of merchandise for a decade and at a still earlier period he owned and conducted the Clarkston Hotel. In whatever pursuit he engaged he endeavored to

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make a success and he brought to bear upon his work a more than ordinary degree of intelligence and mental training.

Mr. Dresser was born in Cayuga County, N. Y., June 30, 1825, his parents being Harvey and Huldah (Gibson) Dresser. He was reared to the age of twenty years on a farm and his education such as was to be obtained in the district schools of that day except one term at Moravia Academy. His knowledge was practical and at the age of twenty he began teaching, a profession that he followed during the winter months for seven years. He spent the summers in work of a more physical nature. In 1847 he came to this county and spent the winter teaching in Independence Township, returning to his native State in the summer. For three years he continued this manner of life, spending the summers in the employ of the Union Transportation Company as Captain of one of their boats on the Erie Canal. In 1850 he became a permanent resident in Independence Township and four years later he bought the Clarkston Hotel, which he carried on three years. Selling out, he became a merchant and finally turned his attention to his present business.

The marriage of Mr. Dresser to Miss Elizabeth C. Yliet, daughter of William and Martha Vliet, who came to this State from New Jersey, was solemnized in 1852. Mr. Vliet served in the War of 1812; although he was under the age liable to draft he filled the place of a neighbor who was drafted but could not well leave home. The Vliet family has been one of great patriotism from Colonial times. One of the direct ancestors of Mrs. Dresser fought during the Revolution, serving under the immediate command of Gen. Washington at Valley Forge and Trenton, and four of her brothers were in the Union Army and two gave up their lives to save the old flag intact.

To Mr. and Mrs. Dresser four children have come, of whom we note the following: Charles H. was born April 20, 1854, and died October 19, 1855; Charles C. was born July 9, 1856, married Emily Tiffany and resides in Clarkston; William H. was born October 24, 1860, and is in the employ of the Michigan Central Railroad Company, located at West Bay City; George E., born June 6, 1866, lost his life at the age of thirteen years, by drowning in Park Lake.

For a la number of years Mr. Dresser served the community in the capacity of Justice of the Peace, and left the office by resignation. He was Township Supervisor one term. He has always been a Democrat and from President Cleveland he received the commission of Postmaster and discharged the duties of the office for four years and five months. He is a Master Mason and has passed the Chairs, being Worshipful Master of Cedar Lodge, No. 60, seven years. He belongs to Lodge No. 85, K. O. T. M. also. In worldly affairs he has been prosperous, and has a beautiful home in which lie and his estimable wife enjoy the companionship of warm friends, many a time and oft.

\fIULIAN S. PETERS, Justice of the Peace at Rochester, was born in Troy, this county, December 4, 1841. He is of German ancestry in the paternal line and his mother's family is traced to Scotland. His parents, Pliney v., and Eleanor L. (Kintner) Peters, were natives of New York and Vermont, respectively, and the former died in his native State early in the '60s. He was a farmer in his earlier years and after he abandoned the work he was quite active in the position of a magistrate. Upon the occasion of the annual muster day in Franklin County he became chief butler.

The subject of this biographical notice has passed an uneventful life, as far as incidents of a peculiar nature are concerned, his experiences having been those common to the mass of mankind. He pursued his studies in the common school and began the work of life when he had reached a suitable age. March 16, 1865, he enlisted in the Twenty-second Michigan Infantry and was enrolled in Company G, but later transferred to Company G, Twenty-ninth Regiment. Having received a detail, a greater portion of his enlistment was spent as Clerk in the General Court-Martial Office at Murfreesborough,Tenn., where a great many vital and. important cases wer Qn trial, which required more than an ordinary degree of clerical ability to record. Being mustered out of service September 20, be returned to Rochester, where he resumed his trade, at which he worked until 1880, when he embarked in the carriage painting and repairing business. By careful attention to the wants of his patrons and a determination to merit their confidence by looking to their interests, he has worked up a most successful business. His connection with the Union Army is held in remembrance by his membership in the Grand Army of the Republic. In political matters he acts with the Democratic party. In 1890 he was elected Justice of the Peace and he is giving his earnest attention to the duties that certain to his station. He has also filled other local offices with honor to himself and satisfaction to his constituents.

[This passage is too damaged in the scanned book to reproduce. See the original book.]

As printed in Portrait and biographical album of Oakland county, Michigan (1891). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.