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

CHESANING TOWNSHIP.

821

Nelson, and of the 6 children given them, 5 are liviing-Gaylord
F., Clarence D., Rudolph J., Lilian L. and Nellie. William is
deceased. Mr. Colby's father resides at Oswego, N. Y., aged 82
years. His mother died in August, 1874, aged 74 years.
R'allph D. C(rtis, was born at Pompey, Onondaga Co., N. Y.,
July 19, 1808, son of Comfort and Catherine Curtis, natives of New
York; subject was reared on a farm; educated at Gaines' Academy,
Orleans Co., N. Y.; also took lessons in portrait painting; graduated in 1828; went to Oswego,. N. Y, and worked at painting for
eight years; in 1844 went to Flint, Mich., lived there until 1865, then
went to Upper Canada and disposed of a farm lie owned;
subsequently came to Chesaning, where he still resides; was
married Oct. 1, 1834, to Alice Ann Wood, a native of Onondaga
Co., N. Y.; 2 children given to this marriage-Ralph Edwin,
born at Oswego, N. Y., July 15, 1838, was a soldier in the late war,
received wounds at Richmond, Va., July 9, 1864, and died at City
Point; Mary Louisa, born May 1, 18-, and died Oct. 1, 1841;
wife died in November, 1850, aged 30 years; subject is a member of
Republican party. Mr. Curtis has followed the business of portrait
painting since the age of 19 years, nearly continuously, though
attimes has followed farming, and has owned in this tp., three
farms.
Ephraim Damon, farmer, sec. 20; P. O., Chesaning; was born in
Windsor Co., Vt., April 3, 1817; parents were Loring and Rebecca
(Esterbrook) Damon, natives of Vermont and New Hampshire;
subject was reared on a farm; received a good education; at 18 years
of age went to Bellows Falls and learned the carpenter's trade; in
1855, camne to Chesaning; entered 40 acres of timbered land on
sec. 20; sent for family same year; was married Dec. 15, 1841,
to Amanda Cole, daughter of Hezekiah Cole, of Vermont; wife
born in New York, Aug. 9, 1817; 4 children born to them, 3 living-Orion W., Brazill M. and Leroy L.; the first was a soldier
in Co. F, 16th Reg., Mich. Vol. Inf., and is now station agent for
C. S. R. R., at Detroit; second son was also a soldier; subject of
sketch is a member of Masonic fraternity and Greenback party.
I B. T. Damon, Chesaning, was born in Hampshire Co., Mass.,
July 2, 1826. His parents were Jotham and Naomi Damon, also
natives of the "Bay State." Mr. Damon was educated at the
Franklin Institute, of Shelburn Falls, where at the age of 20 years
he could speak six different languages. His father was a wealthy
man, and Mr. Damon built a factory in Massachusetts, which lie
operated for two years. After following shipping for one year, from
Connecticut to New York, on his own vessels, he came to Wayne
Co., Mich., and for two years traveled for the N. Y. C. R. R., from
Hamilton, Canada West, to Chicago. After a year's service as
manager of the financial department of the Detroit Free Democrat,
he obtained the position of tobacco collector with Scotten, Granger & Lovett, of Detroit, remaining with them for 17 years. He
was engaged in business at Memphis and Lansing, Mich., and for
some years was engaged in farming in Jackson and Lenawee