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 FREDERICK PLUMMEL CURRIER is a capitalist, residing in Almont. He was born in the township of Newberry, Orange County, Vt., November 11, 1812, and is the son of Moses and Mary (Carter) Currier. Our subject was reared upon the home farm until nineteen years of age. He did not receive during his boyhood very extensive educational advantages nor were the opportunities of self-education as great then as now, for books and papers were comparatively few. Our subject began for himself at the age of nineteen years, working out by the month for a time. He later attended the Newberry Seminary, and was also a student at Adkinson Seminary, N. H., He learned the carpenter's and joiner's trade and followed that for a long time. From the age of twenty-one to twenty-five our subject lived at Haverhill, Mass., and while there learned the shoemaker's trade, devoting himself to this during the winter months and thus became an expert workman and soon extended his efforts in this direction by hiring a number of skilled workman and running a shop of his own. During the summer he devoted himself to the work of masonry. Our subject returned to Newberry and went into partnership with a Mr. Keys, for the manufacture of brick. He was married at the age of thirty-five, November 7, 1837, to Miss Mary P. Clark. Later our subject went to Topsham and in partnership with his brother built a large tannery, afterward selling out his interest to his brother. He then engaged in farming for one year and then came to Michigan in 1844. He remained here also for one year and then returned to Vermont and went from there to Connecticut and was variously engaged, part of the time in a paper mill and part of the time building. In 1846 Mr. Currier came back to Michigan and built a large starch mill for the manufacture of starch from potatoes. He brought his family here in 1847, and from that time until 1851 he engaged in building mills. He then became interested in the furnace and machine business, which he followed in company with various parties until 1869. He was the principal one in the enterprise and furnished the greater part of the capital. He later withdrew from these various undertakings and started a bank under the firm name of Currier & Townsend, putting in 130,000 with Messrs. Johnson, Stephen, Townsend & Co., and in less than two years sold out for $60,000. He then began to speculate in real estate, in which he is still interested. Our subject has only two children now living, although he has been the father of four. One died in infancy; one, Henry, was in the flower of his manhood when he died. He left one child, a daughter, Jenny, who is now a young lady; the surviving son, Frederick P. Currier, Jr., lives in St. Clair County; the daughter Sarah, married William Ovens, and lives in Yale, St Clair County. Our subject has given to each of his children $12,000 in lands, money and machinery. He is a Republican in politics, has been appointed to various public offices and is a generous upholder of all enterprises that promise to be for the advantage of the locality. He is a member of, and a Deacon in the Congregational Church. After the death of his first wife our subject married his brother's widow, Mahala Currier, nee Doe. To our subject's efforts and liberal aid is largely due the completion of the railroad, a branch of the Pan Handle & Northwestern Railroad which has contributed so materially to the growth and prosperity of the town. Portrait & Biographical Album of Genesee, Lapeer & Tuscola Counties (1892) pp. 420-1 |
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This page was last revised 25 Nov 2020 by William Haloupek.
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