Dexter Douglas, a retired farmer of Mt. Morris, a
veteran of the Civil War, former president of the village and present
(?1916) justice of the peace, was born in Orleans county, New York, April
29, 1842, the son of Wright and Elizabeth (Bassett) Douglas.
Wright Douglas was born at Riga, New York on May 30, l807, and died at
Mt. Morris on January 12, 1899. While living in New York state, Wright
Douglas was engaged in farming, and in this vocation he continued on
coming to Genesee coumty and settling at Fayville, a small town, two
miles north of Mt. Morris. In 1865 he moved to Mt. Morris and built and
managed the first hotel in that place. In 1867, the village was
incorporated, and at an election held in the hotel, Wright Douglas was
elected the first president, which position he held for two years. After
managing the hotel for three years, Mr. Douglas returned to his farm, on
which is now built a part of the town of Mt. Morris. The house in which
he lived was the first frame house to be erected in the town and is now
occupied by Dexter Douglas.
Elizabeth (Bassett) Douglas was born
in the state of New York on February 23, 1823, and died at her home at
Mt. Morris on February 12. 1908. The parents of Elizabeth, soon after
her marriage to Wright Douglas in September, 1840, removed to Utah,
where they died some years later. Mary Douglas was one of two children.
She was born on July 14, 1844, and married Henry Tibbets, a lumber
inspector of Grand Rapids.
Dexter Douglas was educated in the
district schools, of his township and grew to manhood on his father's
farm. On March 10, 1862, he enlisted in the Tenth Regiment, Michigan
Volunteer Infantry, and served in the army for three years. During his
service he was in a number of important engagements and was with Sherman
in the march to the sea. After his return home, he managed the hotel at
Mt. Morris, as his father's age and health would not permit of further
activities in that line. In 1872, Mr. Douglas engaged in engineering, at
which he worked for three years. He then clerked in a general store at
Mt. Morris until his appointment as post-master, on July I, 1897, which
position he held until March 30, 1915.
Dexter Douglas married
Mary Granger, who was born on March 12, 1844, and died in October, 1906.
To this union two children were born, Minnie, the wife of Frank
Crandall, born in 1867, and Mattie, the wife of N. N. Davison, born in
1872. On February 5, 1907, Dexter Douglas married Mrs. Victoria (Bartkowiak)
Kinney, who was born in Gifford township, Tuscola county, this state,
November (?25th), 1884, daughter of Casper and Valentine Barktowiak, natives
of Germany, who came to the United States in 1877 and settled in Bay
City, this state, where they lived for three years, at the end of which
time they removed to Tuscola county, where they purchased a farm and
remained for fourteen years. They later removed to Saginaw and then to
Flint where they now reside. To Dexter and Victoria Douglas have been
born four children, Dexter, born on March 4, 1908; Mary Victoria, March
2, 1910; Carl, May 18, 1912, and Lynn Mark, January 6, 191 5. By her
marriage to Patrick Kinney, a farmer of Saginaw county, who died on
March 26, 1905, Mrs. Douglas is the mother of two children, Marie
Valentine, born on October 21, 1903, and Casper Patrick, on August 2,
1905.
Dexter Douglas is a Republican and was the first village
clerk of Mt. Morris. He has served as trustee and as president of the
village and for a number of years was a member of the school board. He
has also served as clerk of both Genesee and Mt. ATorris townsliips and
is at present justice of the peace of Mt. Morris township. Mr. Douglas
is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons of the Independent Order of
Odd Fellows and of the Grand Army of the Republic, in the affairs of all
of which organizations he takes a warm interest.
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