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HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE ARTICLE ON FRANCES G. SCRIBNER

Francis G. Scribner.  The subject of this biography holds a good position among the well-to-do farmers and stock-raisers of Batavia Township, where he is owner of the undivided half of 164 acres of land on section 31.

The farm of our subject has been the property of the Scribner brothers for a period of thirty years, during which it has been transformed from an uncultivated tract covered with timber to one of the most beautiful and productive farms in this section.  John H., the senior of the two brothers, was born in Hampton Township, Montgomery Co., N.Y., Jan 26, 1815, Francis G., our subject, was born in Penfield Township, Monroe County, that State, Sept. 20, 1838.  The father, John Scribner, Sr., was also a native of the Empire State, and was the son of Abel Scribner, a native of Connecticut, who married a Miss Boliman, a New England Lady of Dutch ancestry.  They settled in Montgomery County, N.Y., where they spent the remainder of their lived, living to an advanced age.  John Scribner, Sr., the father of our subject, was one of the family of eight sons and two daughters, who were conspicuous for their magnificent stature and great strength, eight of the ten weighing over 200 pounds.  They all lived to be aged people.  John was reared to manhood in his native county, and there married Miss Hannah Hartsough.  She was also born in Montgomery County, were she was reared to womanhood.  Her father, Henry Hartsough (now spelled Hartsuff?) was also a native of New York, and of Holland-Dutch descent.  He married Miss Sally Van Ness, of Holland-Dutch parentage.  Henry Hartsough and his wife died in Montgomery County.

John Scribner, after his marriage, settled in Hampton, and there followed his trade of a stonemason and farming combined, until 1844.  Then, with his wife and the younger members of the family, he set out for Southern Michigan, up to a farm in Scipio Township, Washtenaw County, this State.  Their eldest son, John H., had located two years before at Ann Arbor.  In 1847 the parents and most of their children, moved to Raisin Township, Lenawee County, where they made their home until 1858.  Theat year they changed their residence to this county.  Here also the parents spent the remainder of their lives, the father dying Jan. 27, 1862, at the age of seventy-eight years, and the mother Aug. 5, 1872, when seventy-five years old.

The subject of this biography was but a child when his parents came to Michigan, and he acquired his early education in the schools in Lenawee County.  The first most important event of his life was his marriage, which occurred at the home of the bride in Adrian Township, Lenawee County, March 21, 1857, the lady of his choice being Miss Emma Houghton, who was born in Lyons Township, Wayne Co., N.Y., Sept. 29, 1840.  Her parents Jonathan and Catherine (Wright) Houghton, were also natives of the Empire State, reared and married in Wayne County, where their nine children were born.  These included two sons and seven daughters.  Mrs. Scribner was the youngest daughter, and the youngest of the family.

In 1844 the Houghton family came to Michigan, and located on a farm in Adrian Township, Lenawee County, where they lived a number of years.  The parents then moved to Hillsdale Township, near the city limits, where the mother died Dec. 31, 1886, at the age of eighty years.  The father is still living, being now eighty-six years old, and continues a resident of Hillsdale Township.

Mrs. Scribner obtained her education in the schools of Adrian, and remained under the home roof until her marriage.  Of her union with our subject there have been born seven children:  Ida F. is the wife of Paul Crippen, of Chicago, where Mr. C is engaged as stationary engineer; Mae, Bessie E., and Charles H., are at home with their parents; three died in infancy.