History of Saginaw county, Michigan; together with ... portraits ... and biographies ... History of Michigan ...

SAGINAW CITY.

685

Valorous A. Paine (deceased) was born il Otsego Co., New York,
July 22, 1813, and was a son of Asa Paine, wkho removed witli his
family to the Holland Land Purchase, in Western New York, in
1817. In 1833 he went to Albion, N. Y., and clerked in the
store of Alderman Butts, who afterward became his father-in-law.
He afterward, in company with Mr. Clark S. Potter, bought Mr.
Butt's stock of goods, and carried on the business for several years.
He came to Albion, Calhoun Co., Mich., in 1846, but only remained one year, when he returned as far as Cleveland, Ohio, and
located within 21 miles of that place, and sold goods in the same
building in which Brown, the noted counterfeiter, once carried on
his work of coining his bogus money; and be it to Mr. Paine's
credit, lie was the means of bringing that noted rascal to justice
for the first time. Mr. Paine remained but a few months in that
place when he removed to Cleveland, and there engaged in traffic
for 10 years. He rented and operated the elevators there during
that time, and in 1848, in company with others, established a lumber yard there. It was the interests of the lumber trade that
caused him to return to Michigan, which he did about the year
1850, locating in Saginaw, and followed lumbering until his death.
He was married in 1835 to Miss Harriet Butts, by whom he had 3,children, viz.: Lydia B. (deceased), Alderman B. and Kittie.
During the late war Mr. Paine took active part in favor of the
Union, and spent much valuable time and large sums of money to
support the war, and for the support of the soldiers' families. Although some of his political enemies have dared to accuse him of
being a Southern sympathizer, a more unjust and willful falsehood
could not have been perpetrated upon any one. But he was
always a very unostentatious man, not caring to tell the world at
large of his commendable traits and benevolent acts. He died
March 6, 1867, loved and respected by hosts of friends and acquaintances. He was a worthy member of the Baptist Church,
and an ever faithful and earnest Christian worker. Saginaw lost
a valuable citizen in the death of Mr. Paine. The only living
daughter, Kittie, married Major N. S. Wood, a prominent attorney of Saginaw, and a gentleman who distinguished himself during
the late war, in the service of the United States. After the war
he returned to his native State, New York, and was admitted to
the bar at Buffalo in 1866, and the same year located in Saginaw.
Thomas Parker, farmer and manufacturer of brick, was born in
Scotland, Aug. 22, 1819; parents were Isaac and Elizabeth Parker;
subject of sketch came to America in 1849, and settled in Saginaw
county; owns 140 acres of land in sec. 19, where he las a brickyard; turns out nearly 2,000,000 of brick per year, and gives employment to 18 persons; was married in 1843 to Jessie Beard, who
was born in Scotland in 1824. Two children were born to themMary and Elizabeth (deceased). Mrs. Parker died in 1849, and in
1857 Mr. P. married Ellen Garden, who was born in Scotland,
Aug. 23, 1818. Mr. Parker has acquired his proprrty only by long
vears of energy and perseverance.