Hello, These are not my relatives, but I thought someone might like to have the history for their records. It came from the: "1892 Portrait & Biographical Album of Genesee, Lapeer & Tuscola Counties, Chapman Bros", in Michigan. Hope it helps someone. Colleen myscolleen@hotmail.com LEVI FAILING. One of the most beautiful rural homes in Flushing Township, Genesee County, is owned by the gentleman whose name is quoted above. It is an encouraging example to ambitious young men of small means and unpromising prospects, that the owner of so beautiful a place and such a successful man in commercial life and one who has made himself a position in the cominity should have begun most humbly and have won by his perseverence and energy every foot of ground which he now holds. His place is located on section 3, Flushing Township, and comprises two hundred and forty-four acres of land. Mr. FAILING was born in Genesee County, N.Y., January 30, 1819, and is a son of Henry and Nancy (NELLIS) FAILING, both natives of the Empire State. Our subject lost his father when very young and when only six years old, was bound out on a farm to Mr. Chaney BIRD. He was with him for eight years and then began working for himself at black-smithing in the town of Byron, N.Y. He was engaged as a journeyman for some time. Our subject came to Michigan in the fall of 1844 and settled in Gaines Township, Genesee County. He employed himself at his trade and had a small piece of land upon which he lived for two years. He then went to Bloomfield, Oakland County, and there lived for four years working at this trade. He later purchased eighty acres of land near Davisonville, Genesee County, and while improving the place was engaged also at his trade. He then moved to Flint and started in business with Mr. WICKS and continued the partnership for one year. After the dissolution of the partnership our subject started for California and was gone three years. While there he secured a gold mine, which he had worked by others while he devoted himself to his trade. On returning to Flint he built a shop and conducted the blacksmithing work. He sold out and in 1880 he purchased whereon he now lives. Mr. FAILING was married in 1836 to Miss Jane KESLER, a native of Orleans County, N.Y., and a daughter of John and Polly (EVESON) KESLER, native of the Mohawk Valley. They moved to Michigan in 1847 and settled in the township of Davison, this county, and were there employed in farming until the decease of the father. They had a family four of children, who are: Mrs. FAILING, Beers, Jerome, and Elsie, (Mrs. TAYLOR.) Our subject's father's family comprises only two living children - Maria, now Mrs. ROGERS, and he of whom we write. Mr. and Mr. FAILING have had six children - Polly, Nancy, Orcelia, and Rosetta. Polly, now Mrs. WRIGHT, has one child - Claud; Nancy, Mrs. H. CROW, has two children - Henry E. and Winnie Mary; Orcelia, Mrs. JOHNSON, has one child - Fern F.; Rosetta is at home; two children died in infancy - Julia Ann and Alice Locadie; they are all finely educated and are exceptionally good musicans. Our subject is a Republican. He and his family are Christian people, who are generous in their support of churches and schools. Mr. FAILING breeds fine Clydesdale horses. He also breeds Durham cattle and has a fine flock of Saxon Down sheep. His home is a model of neatness and artistic arrangement and his barns are capacious and well built. Betty bettythomas@charter.net Wicks,Hammond, Heintz,Bradfield,Walbridge - http://BettyT.tripod.com Boylston Historical Society & Museum http://www.boylstonhistory.org GenWeb County Coordinator for: Genesee, NY http://www.rootsweb.com/~nygenese Wyoming, NY http://www.rootsweb.com/~nywyomin Worcester, MA http://www.rootsweb.com/~maworces