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| This bio spans three (3) pages: 447-449 EDWARD VINCENT The history of a county or state, as well as that of a nation, is chiefly a chronicle of the lives and deeds of those who have conferred honor and dignity upon society. The world judges the character of a community by those of its representative citizens and yields its tributes of admiration and respect to those whose works and actions constitute the record of a state's prosperity and pride. Prominent among the citizens of Clyde township who are well known because of the part they have taken in the affairs of the community is Edward Vincent, one of the best known and most respected men in the county. He was born in St. Armond, Canada, October 31, 1825, and is the son of James I. and Drusilla (Austin) Vincent, both of whom were natives of Canada. The father was a farmer and land owner until he came to Port Huron, in 1836, where he established his family at Wadhams. For three years he worked in that place and on March 20, 1839, he bought his first eighty acres in section 24, Clyde township. At this time the country was devoid of roads and the tract in question was a veritable wilderness. On this land a small shanty had been built and this served for a home for the family for some time. They lived in their new home but one year, when the father was taken ill with a malady from which he never recovered and after lingering for ten years he died, March 1, 1847. Mr. Vincent was prominent in the affairs of the community, for many years being a justice of the peace and school inspector. He was a Whig and was active in the interests of the party, as he was also energetic in the work of the Episcopal church, and was one of the most respected and influential citizens of the county. His father, Addi Vincent, was a resident of Dutchess county, New York, and married a Miss Hannah Esmond. Immediately after their marriage they settled in Canada, where they remained until their deaths. They were the parents of five children, Michael, Lettie, Margaret, James I and Hannah. The wife of James I. Vincent was a daughter of Joseph Austin, a native of New York state. The Austin family had early settled on the Canadian border, near the Vincents, and it was here that the children grew up and married. They reared four children, viz: Edward is the subject; Addi, who was a lumberman here, went wet in 1856, and was in Iowa for one year, then went to Colorado and later to Montana, where he has been a miner and ranchman; Jothan A., a retired farmer at Yale, Michigan, married Julia Michael, and Jane, who married David Newstead, both being now deceased. After the father's death, Mrs. Vincent was married to Arnold Kinney, of Clyde township, who died in 1872 and was survived by her for twenty-four years, she being in her ninety-fourth year at the time of her death. Edward Vincent was educated in the schools of St. Clair county, but on account of his father's ill health he was permitted to attend but irregularly and at the age of ten had to practically give up his studies in the school room. He kept steadily at work and when a young man he taught one school for sixteen dollars per month. He was the only support of the family after his father's illness and when the latter died there was but forty acres of the land cleared and a debt of three hundred dollars to be paid. After her mother's second marriage he kept the other children together on the home place until his own marriage, March 23, 1853, to Agnes G. Atkins, the daughter of John and Marian (Gibbs) Atkins, both natives of Scotland. Her mother and family came to St. Clair county about 1835. They have had thirteen children: Marcia E. lives at home; James I. is also at home; Nellie M. is the wife of Henry McNutt, a merchant of Port Huron, and they have two children, Edith and Agnes; John A. died in infancy; Edward L. is the husband of Florence Moore and is connected with the St. Clair Savings Bank at Port Huron and is also identified with the milling business; Charles S. is still at home; Leonard M. married Ada Moore and is in the county treasurer's office at Port Huron; Grace A., Webster R. died in youth, and his twin brother, Wesley R., is at home; Blanche E. is the wife of F. G. McNutt, of Port Huron; Fred A. resides at home, and Bernard C. is deceased. Until his marriage Edward Vincent taught school and did other work, making his home on the eighty acres of the homestead. With this start he struggled along and added to his possessions until he now has four hundred and eighty acres in the home place, besides two hundred and forty-three acres in two other farms, of which two hundred acres are in cultivation. He has made many improvements and has succeeded in converting a wilderness into one of the finest estates in the country. When he began farming the tiller of the soil had more to do than to prepare the soil and tend the crops. Blacksmithing, harness repairing and such matters, besides the clearing and building, were all done by the "gritty" pioneer, who had no thought that he was building for the succeeding generations a country such as has never been surpassed. Mr. Vincent has always been a general farmer, but has also given much attention to the raising of fine cattle, sheep and draft and road horses. Besides his farming interests he has for years been much interested in the political, religious and business affairs of the community. He first cast his influence with the Whig party and after its disorganization he became a Republican. Under the administration of this party he has held many offices and has filled his charge with credit to both himself and honor to his township and county. In 1848 he was clerk of Clyde township, and for twenty-nine years he was its supervisor. In 1877 he was treasurer of the county and held this office for four years, and for nearly forty years he was school director. He was a member of the state legislature in 1882-3 and discharged his duties to the entire satisfaction of his constituents. Besides being a politician, Mr. Vincent is a respected lodgeman, holding, as a Mason, membership in the Blue Lodge No. 58, and in the chapter and commandery. For many years he was interested in the mills of the county, but has of late years devoted himself more to agriculture, in which he has prospered even beyond his expectations. During the war he was enrolling officer, which position he held for four years, serving faithfully in that capacity. Mrs. Vincent died September 29, 1902, on the seventieth anniversary of her birth, after nearly fifty years' companionship with her husband, to whom he had been a devoted helpmate. ============================================ PLEASE NOTE: I do not have any personal interest in researching the VINCENT surname or the St. Clair county, Michigan location. I am merely posting a select number of the biographical sketches found in the above-referenced book *upon specific written request* as a service to the genealogical community. Therefore, please do not contact me with regard to research interests in the above. I am not related to this family. Thank you. d victories. |