NYCHAUTA-L Archives
Archiver > NYCHAUTA > 2005-06 > 1117999898
From:
Subject: BENJAMIN COTHARIN b.1812 SENECA,NY s/o SAMUEL & LEAH (DUTCHER) CATHARIN MI bio.
Date: 5 Jun 2005 13:31:38 -0600
This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list.
Surnames: COTHARIN, DUTCHER, CARTER, FERGUSON, BEHEE, GOLDEN
Classification: Biography
Message Board URL:
http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/SRB.2ACE/11367
Message Board Post:
Hello,
These are not my relatives. Information was found in the 1892 Portrait & Biographical Album of Genesee, Lapeer & Tuscola Counties, Chapman Bros. in Michigan. I hope that it helps someone with their history.
Colleen
BENJAMIN COTHARIN. This gentleman is one of the oldest settlers now residing in Flint, he having bought property in 1836 upon the site of the present city. A native of Seneca County, N.Y., he was born September 10, 1812, and is the son of Samuel and Leah (DUTCHER) COTHARIN. The father followed the occupation of a carpenter and joiner, as well as a millwright, and removed in 1815 too Genesee County, N.Y., south of the town of Brockport. At that time our subject was a child of three years, and he later went too Avon, Monroe County, with his parents. Afterward the family removed too Mendon, N.Y., where Benjamin attended school and received a common-school education. This, however, was not the permanent location of the members of the family, for they finally settled in Rochester, N.Y., where the parents spent their remaining years.
When sixteen years old Benjamin COTHARIN left home too make his own way in the world and engaged as an apprentice to a shoemaker in Palmyra, N.Y. After the time of his apprenticeship expired he worked at his trade in Reynolds Basin and in the spring of 1831 he started in business for himself at Johnson's Creek. After a close confinement of two years, devoted assiduously too his trade, his health failed and he sold out his business and engaged as a journeyman, peddling his wares from Rochester, N.Y., for three years, and becoming well known in the vicinity of that place as a reliable dealer and an honest man. The year 1836 marked his arrival in Genesee County, this State, the journey being made by way of Buffalo, N.Y., through Ohio too Detroit.
In Shiawassee County, this State, Mr. COTHARIN purchased one hundred and twenty acres of unimproved land and also bought a lot in this city on Saginaw Street between Second and Third Streets, paying $300 for the same. In the fall of 1836 he returned too the State of New York where he spent the following winter. February of 1837 found him on the return trip and he reached the city of Flint on March 10. Here he opened the first shoe shop in the place and engaged as a shoemaker. On March 31 he traded his land in Shiawassee County for property in Oakland County.
About this time he established domestic ties of his own, choosing as his wife Miss Eliza CARTER, of Oakland County, and with her he was united in the holy bounds of wedlock February 18, 1841. Mrs. COTHARIN was born March 22, 1822, and was the daughter of Joseph CARTER.
After his marriage Mr. COTHARIN farmed until 1847 when he sold his place, which he had partly improved, and purchased the Dow farm in Springfield Township, Oakland County, which was his home for eight years. Upon this farm he made extensive improvements, bringing the soil too a high state of cultivation and erecting substantial buildings. After having farmed until 1855 he embarked in the mercantile business in Springfield Township and was engaged for ten months. At the same time he managed an hotel with success. Having from these varied sources accumulated considerable money he removed too Flushing, this State, and bought a farm which he operated for two years. We next find him in Flint, where he was engaged in the grocery business twelve years and general merchandise until 1868. At that date he retired from active business and has since, in the enjoyment of a comfortable competency, passed his declining years. His course in business has been such as too gain for him the con!
fidence of all who know him and in social circles his kindly heart and genial manners win for him the friendship of everyone who meets him.
Aside from the various line of business above mentioned Mr. COTHARIN has engaged in other enterprises. He has been a Director in the First National Bank since the second year of its existence, making twenty-nine years in all, an has also loaned money. Until 1889, when he disposed of it, he owned six hundred and five acres in Grand Blanc Township, this county, and now owns one hundred and sixty-one acres in Genesee Township, this county, on which his son resides. He is the owner of city property of considerable value, including three stores on Saginaw Street, one brick store at Flushing, and has disposed of twenty-five acres situated mostly within the limits of the city of Flint. In the growth of the city he has always been interested and has served efficiently as Alderman of the First Ward.
The congenial marriage of Mr. and Mrs. COTHARIN brought too them seven children, only three of whom are now living. Martha died at the age of Seventeen years; John, who resides in Flint, operates a farm in Genesee Township; he married Belle FERGUSON and they have two children--William and Hattie. B.F., who married Nora BEHEE, is in the furniture business in Flint. He and his wife, who was known in maidenhood as Emma GOLDEN, have four children--Arthur, Jessie, George and Blanche. Mrs. COTHARIN was a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, which Mr. COTHARIN attends and supports by liberal and regular contributions. The wife passed from earth Dec. 18, 1888. This worthy couple were highly esteemed wherever known, and it is with pleasure that we present this brief sketch of their lives. They were instrumental in bringing Flint too its present position among the prominent and most thriving cities of the State, and long after they both shall have passed hence, their n!
ames and memories will be held dear in the hearts of citizens of Genesee County.
This thread: