George F. Brondige

George Fenwick Brondige. The city of Pontiac has no firmer admirer or supporter than one of its native born residents, George F. Brondige, a man whose activities are of a constructive order which add to and develop a community. Both in his public and private life Mr. Brondige has been known as a citizen who might always be depended upon to support and cooperate in any movement which promised well for his home town. Mr. Brondige served a number of years in the office of register of deeds, since which time he has given his attention to a well developed insurance, real estate and abstract business.

Mr. Brondige was born in Springfield township, Oakland county, Michigan, on October 15, 1855, a. son of Eli and Margaret A. (Fenwick) Brondige. His paternal ancestors were of Holland origin. Eli

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Brondige, his father, was born in or near to Lockport, New York, on February 2, 1828, and died June 21, 1895. When three years of age Eli Brondige's mother died and he was taken to the home of an uncle, Eli H. Day, whom he accompanied to Michigan in 1838. Reaching man's estate, he engaged in farming, and in 1854 he settled on the farm in sections 5 and 8, Springfield township, there residing until death claimed him. He married, on July 4, 1850, Margaret A. Fenwick, of Rose township, who was born July 8, 1831, in the village of Clyde, and who came to Michigan in her childhood days from the Empire state. Her parents were natives of England, who located first in Seneca county. New York, coming to Michigan in 1836. Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Brondige: Eugene E., born May i, 1852, of Pontiac, married Alice Foster, a sister of Mrs. George F. Brondige, and she died on December 12, 1908; George F.; Mary E., the wife of Rev. Eugene Yager, of Midland, Michigan; and John E., an attorney in Pontiac. The mother died on January 5, 1912, having survived her husband for almost twenty years.

George Fenwick Brondige received a fair education, passing through the schools of Oakland county and later completing a thorough course in business training in the Detroit Business College. When he was eighteen years old he taught school, that being his first independent work, and he continued thus engaged for a number of years. He then became interested in the operations of a party of Detroit financiers, and took employment with them as their traveling representative, purchasing lands in western Iowa and other sections, returning to Michigan in 1 88 1. The following spring he engaged in farming, following the purchase of a farm of eighty-five acres in Rose township, about three miles east of Holly village, to which he later added forty acres from the John Fenwick farm in section t6, Holly township. Mr. Brondige during the years that he devoted to farming proved himself as thorough in that line of industry as he had in previous matters, building up a reputation for the most progressive of methods and winning splendid success in the breeding of thoroughbred livestock. He continued his farming operations until 1903, in which year he moved his family to Holly and accepted a position with a mercantile firm in Detroit, in which he continued for a number of years. In 1897 he removed to the city of Pontiac, that year making the beginning of his connection with the public affairs of Oakland county.

In January, 1899, i*- Brondige accepted a position as deputy register of deeds under Albert G. Griggs, and while thus occupied he showed himself to be a capable and progressive man in the matter of handling the affairs of the office, and so excellent was the showing he made in that capacity that he was elected to fill the office in the fall of 1902, assuming the duties of the position on January 2, 1903. Among other things which marked his service in that ofce was the inauguration of a new system of record keeping, which proved highly successful, as well as making suggestions of a valuable nature that extended to other departments of the public work. Following the close of his seance as register of deeds, Mr. Brondige turned his attention to matters of another nature, and became identified with the insurance and real estate business, also dealing in abstracts of title. He is now conducting one of the most thriving offices in this section of the country, and is constantly increasing his operations in the field. He is also secretary of the

Columbia Casualty Company, is secretary and treasurer of the Pontiac Land and Home Building Company and trustee of the Long Lake Land Company.

On October 5, 1881, Mr. Brondige was married to Miss Letitia Foster, who was born June 19, 1859, the daughter of Samuel and Sarah (Parker) Foster. Her mother died on November 20, 1910, at the age of almost ninety-two years. She was the descendant of a distinguished family, and the daughter of William and Elizabeth (Yeomans) Parker, natives of England. Records exist today showing that the first William Parker was a general under Alfred the Great, and that he was rewarded for bravery in action by the gift of Alfred's sister, and a valuable estate, known as Warwich estate. Sarah (Parker) Foster was born in Leicestershire, England, on January 15, 1819, and her husband was born in county Kent, England, on April 17, 1820; he died June 12, 1878. He came to America in 1828 and settled in Oneida county. New York, removing in 1836 to Michigan. It was in 1845 at he married Sarah Parker. They were the parents of seven children: Samuel, born September 20, 1847, and for the past twenty years a resident of Chicago, engaged in the insurance and real estate business, died July 8, 1912; Sarah A., the wife of Nolton Bigelow, of Cass City, Michigan; Charles T., of Rose, Michigan; Alice, who is deceased; Horatio, of Midland Michigan; Letitia, the wife of George F. Brondige, of this review; and a seventh child who died in infancy. Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Brondige: Mabel Letitia, is employed in the register of deeds office, Georgina Margaret is assistant in her father's office, and twin daughters, Gladys Foster and Glennie Fenwick.

Mr. Brondige maintains various fraternal affiliations, being a member of the Knights of Pythias, Maccabees and Modern Woodmen. He is a Republican, like his father before him, and is an attendant of the Baptist church with his family.

Bert A. Odell has kept to his original occupation of engineer and electrician throughout his life, but he has worked for many different companies and in several towns. Always alert to seize every opportunity that presented itself, and ready to take a chance, he has thus been able to climb steadily in his profession. An alert, capable man, who can originate ideas as well as carry them out, he has been eagerly sought after by many firms in his business.

Mr. Odell was born on a prairie farm in Carr county, Missouri, January 13, 1871, a son of John and Mary Odell. His father was born in Michigan, and in 1861 enlisted in Company D, Third Michigan, and served in the army for over four years. When his discharge came he returned to Michigan and was married to Mary Manypeny. At first they made their home in Missouri, but nine years later decided that their home state was better, and came back to Michigan. Bert A. received his education at South Lyon and worked at various odd jobs until in 1887 he started in as an engineer in the Case Feed Mill of South Lyon. After four years there, and three years with the Lamson Town Bending Works as assistant engineer he took full charge in 1895 the engine room. In 1899 he went to Pontiac as machinist for O. J. Brandetts & Company. During his three years' work there he took up the study of electricity, continuing it after he went to Kalamazoo to engage in carpenter work. His next position was with the Sturges

Sanitary Works, of Sturgis, Michigan, where he had charge of the finishing room. He then returned to South Lyon and opened a bicycle repair shop. The village soon afterward engaged him to look after their interests in the matter of electric lighting. At that time the village was getting its power from James Blackwood, but later they purchased his plant and put Mr. Odell in full charge of it, a position which he still holds.

In 1901 Mr. Odell and Jenny Neidy, daughter of John and Mary Neidy of Sturges, Michigan, were married, and they have had one child, [name withheld], born November 21, 1906. Mrs. Odell was born in Kalamazoo, and her father was a comb maker. Mr. Odell is a member of the Woodmen and of the Maccabees, and with his family attends the Presbyterian church. He is independent in politics.

As printed in History of Oakland County Michigan a narrative account of its historic progress, its people, its principal interests (1912). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.