USA > Michigan > Jackson County > History of Jackson County, Michigan > Part 119
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John Buyer was born in Waterloo Sept. 3, 1845, and is the second son of Jacob and Katherina (Speedel) Bayer, natives of Germany, who emigrated to America in 1831. Jacob Bayer died July 28. 1877. Mrs. Bayer is still living, a vigorous and intelligent old lady. John was educated in the common schools, and has always been engaged in farming upon the old homestead. He was married Aug. 24, 1876, to Agatha Heselschwerdt, born in Germany Nov 25, 1850; they were the parents of 1 daughter-Matilda Elizabeth, born Nov. 16, 1879, and died July 25, 1880. Mr. B. purchased the interest of the other heirs of his father's estate and is the owner of 2.0 acres of fertile land. His mother relates many incidents ot pioneer lite; their first residence in Waterloo was in the log house of Caspar Artz, while their house was being bniit. The nearest mill was 18 miles distant; wolves were plenty; they were frequently heard in the night. Mrs. B. (formerly Mrs. Jacob Hayes) is the mother of 3 children. Mr. and Mrs. B. are members of the Lutheran Church.
Thomas Bott, farmer, sec. 9, was born in England Sept. 17, 1828, son of William and Anna Bott. In 1830 his parents emigrated to Washtenaw county, where his father worked out by the day to feed and clothe his family; he afterward purchased a farm, consisting of 160 acres of land, on which he lived until his death in 1859. Thomas received his education in the common district schools, and remained at home on the farm until 25 years
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of age; he then bought a farm of 80 acres in Jackson county, and in 1854 was married to Louisa Foster, daughter of Freeman and Nancy V. Foster, and they have had 5 children; 4 are now living, viz .: Edward J., Benjamin F., Norris J., Elizabeth H .; William is deceased. Mr. B, now owns 188 acres of land on, which he lives and has improved, worth $45 an acre. They are members of the United Brethren Church; in politics he is a Democrat.
Wesley Burchard was born in Albany county, N. Y., April 22, 1834, the second son of Lyman and Hannah (Frisbee) Burchard, natives of New York State and Connecticut respectively, and of New England ancestry. Wesley received a very fair education, then followed clerking for some years. Feb. 24, 1853, Mr. Bur- ehard married Miss Eveline Pratt; they have 1 daughter-Ella C., born in New York State Sept. 18, 1856, now Mrs. H. T. Du Bois, of Grass Lake. Mr. B. condueted a mercantile business in Liv- ingstonville, Scoharie Co., N. Y., for about two years. In 1857 he came to Michigan with his father-in-law, and located in Sylvan, Washtenaw Co., where they conducted an extensive and successful mercantile business for 12 years. Mr. Burchard commenced busi- ness in Grass Lake in 1869 as a member of the firm of Branch & Burchard; after three years they dissolved, and he connected him- self in business with Mr. Pratt four years; disposed of a certain interest in the business to Mr. Du Bois and O. F. A. Spinning; afterward purchased Mr. Spinning's interest; a new partnership was formed under the firm name of H. T. Du Bois & Co., which is a well-known house, doing a business of 845,000 to $50,000 the past year. Messrs. Pratt & Burchard opened their banking house in Grass Lake in 1877. It is an institution that was needed and is fully appreciated by the business public. Mr. B. declines official positions, but was prompted by the interest he took in popular education to serve as member of the Board of Education.
Jacob Call, farmer, sec. 7, was born in Columbia county, N. Y., Jan. 17, 1819, son of Christoper and Elizabeth (Simmons)Call; his father was a native of New Jersey, and mother of New York. Jacob received his education in the common schools, and was brought up on a farm; was married Jan. 10, 1848, to Mary Ann Ford, born in Columbia county, N. Y., April 13, 1828, and daughter of Warren and Abigail (Pixley) Ford. In 1855 he came to this county, and purchased a farm for $16 per acre, on which he lives. He owns 120 acres, worth $50 per aere. Mr. and Mrs. Call have had 6 children, viz .: Edgar W., Marion E., now Mrs. Wm. Moe; Charles H. and Dora A. Mary E. and Franklin are deceased. They are members of the M. E. Church, and Republican in politics.
Abram Croman, farmer, sec. 10, was born in Luzerne county, Pa., Oct. 8, 1818, son of Abraham and Christina (Harp) Croman, natives of Pennsylvania. His father was a shoemaker by trade; he also farmed to some extent in Pennsylvania; in 1825 he moved to Livingston county, N. Y., where he worked at his trade during the winter months, and on the farm in summer; in 1828 he moved
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HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
to Washtenaw county, where he carried on his trade for two years. He then sold out, and bought 80 acres of land; in 1835 he sold out again, and eame to this county, where he purchased a farm of 200 aeres. His wife died in 1861, and he afterward married Mrs. Salome Croman, with whom he lived until his death, April 4, 1866. The subject of this sketch received sufficient education to enable him to do business; was raised on a farm and stayed at home with his father until he was 24 years of age. In 1843 he was married to Susan Lincoln, born in Vermont, Ang. 16, 1822, and was the daughter of Abiathar and Louisa Lincoln, nee Castle, natives of New Hampshire; eame to Michigan in 1828, where they resided until their death. His first farm was near the village of Waterloo, and consisted of 80 acres of land, which he bought on eredit; he paid his debt, then sold out and moved into Waterloo village, where he engaged in the mercantile business two years; then traded his store and goods for a farm in Washtenaw county, and farmed two years; sold out and moved to Newaygo county, where he pur- eliased 160 acres of land; broke up 23 aeres; sold out in the fall, making $300; purchased 40 acres of land south of Waterloo vil- lage; sold that land in May, 1849; bought the farm he now owns, consisting of 100 acres of land, which he has under a fair state of cultivation, worth 850 per acre. Mr. and Mrs. C. have had 6 children; 5 are now living, viz .: Mary E., now Mrs. Lorenzo Dewey; Anson, David A., Ella A., now Mrs. E. Parks, and Clara R .; Henry is deceased. Mr. C. is one among the old pioneers of Waterloo tp., generous in principle, and a Republican in polities.
George Croman was born May 12, 1822, in Northampton county, Pa., and is the 3d son of Abraham and Christina (Hart) Croman, natives of Pennsylvania, and of German ancestry. His father served in the Revolutionary war, and was also an early pioneer of this eounty; he died Feb. 4, 1876. Mr. C. was brought up on a farm, and received a limited common-school education. He came to Michigan, October, 1827, and located in Ann Arbor; entered land in Scio tp., Washtenaw county, where he remained some six or seven years. The family came to Waterloo, this eounty, in the summer of 1835, and purchased 200 acres of land, the site of their present home. Mr. C. was united in marriage Oct. 5, 1851, to Miss Delia Leek, daughter of Horace Leek, an early settler in Scio tp., Washtenaw county. They are the parents of 4 children, 2 now living, viz .: Eddie A., born Nov. 24, 1857; and Charles A., born Sept. 7, 1866. After marriage, he resided with his parents and took charge of the place, ereeted fine buildings and made other improvements. When Mr. C.'s family eame to Waterloo, the nearest neighbor on the north was four miles distant; Indians were numerous but peaceable; he would trade potatoes, tobacco, etc., for deer meat and wild honey, with them. He was aetive during the Rebellion in raising funds, and to get the quota of volunteers for Waterloo tp. There was a draft finally made of about 20, of which Mr. C. was one; he furnished a substitute at an expense of $700. He is the oldest living resident
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of Waterloo tp .; was Tp. Treasurer one term. Mrs. C. is a mem- ber of the Baptist Church. Mr. C. has been an industrious man all his life.
Samuel E. Dewey, farmer and stock-dealer; was born in Steuben county, N. Y., Oct. 19, 1834. He was the second son of Solomon T. and Mary Ann (Shorey) Dewey, who were natives of New York State, and farmers by occupation. His mother died in New York, April 22, 1836, and his father afterward married Mary Ann Blake, of the same State. born Oct. 27, 1805. In 1844 they came to this county and located in Waterloo tp., where they resided until their death. His father died July 16, 1863, and his step-mother, Ang. 20, 1875. Samuel received his education in the common schools of New York, and was raised on a farm. At 21 years of age he began for himself, by working out by the day and month one year; then farmed on shares a number of years; ran a thresh- ing-machine during the fall months. Jan. 1, 1864, he was mar- ried to Loretta A. Field, born in Orleans county, N. Y., Nov. 12. 1844, and was the daughter of Chester and Martha Field, who came to this county in 1855, and now reside in Ingham county. In 1863 Mr. Dewey bought his present farm, consisting of 126 acres of land, which he has under a good state of improvement; it is worth $40 per acre. Mr. and Mrs. D. have had 7 children, of whom + are living-Faye, born July 13, 1866; Edna, April 22, 1868; Anna, May 25, 1870, and Samuel S., Nov. 5, 1878. The deceased were: Edna B., born Nov. 10, 1864, and died Ang. 26, 1866; Katie B., born March 3, 1875, and died May 14, 1876; 1 died in infancy, born May 5, 1872, and died May 7, 1872. He has been for a number of years engaged in the sheep and stock trade with A. McCloy; has held the office of Drain Commissioner and at pres- ent holds the office of Justice of the Peace. Politically he is a Democrat.
Daniel T. Emmons was born April 9, 1820, in Burlington county, N. J., and is the eldest son of Michael and Jane (Tilton) Emmons, natives of New Jersey, and of English descent. He was reared on a farm and received a fair education in the common schools; his father died while Daniel was young, which compelled him to seek a living elsewhere. He worked a farm on shares for six years in his native State; he then came to Michigan in the spring of 1852. and located on the site of his present home, which was the home of Abram Croman. Mr. E. has improved the farm by erecting a handsome residence in 1866. He was united in marriage Sept. 12, 1852, to Miss Abigail Croman, daughter of Abram Croman, an early settler of Waterloo tp. They are the parents of 3 children, 1 of whom is living-George W., born May 6, 1863, now attending school i - Waterloo. Abont 1863 Mr. E. was elected Justice of : declined the office. Mr. and Mrs. E. are worthy members of the Baptist Church. He is self-made, has been a hard- working, ind trious man all his life, and is a highly respected citizen of his nmunity.
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HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
Peter Finch was born Feb. 15, 1815, in Columbia county, N. Y. and is the oldest son of Robert and Maria ( Brazel) Finch, natives of New York, of English- French descent. He was brought up on a farm, and educated in the common schools; was united in marriage Sept. 20, 1835, to Miss Mary Showerman, born in Wayne county, Jnne 5, 1815. They are the parents of 5 children, viz .: Adeline, born June 18, 1837, died Dec. 5, 1876; Reuben E., born Sept. 9, 1838, now a resident of Pinckney, Mich. ; Caroline, born March 23, 1844, now Mrs. Edward Riggs, of Dexter; Delevan, born March 31, 1846, a farmer in Waterloo tp .; Mary E., born April 25, 1852, now Mrs. Engene Quigley, of Ohio. Mr. F. came to this State immediately after marriage in 1835; he resided in Washtenaw county abont three years, then removed to Clinton, and entered 160 acres of wild land, built a house and made many improvements; he remained there four or five years, sold out and removed to Waterloo in 1843, where he purchased the site of his present farm, a portion of the farm lying inside the limits of the village. He has held several minor tp. offices. Mr. and Mrs. F. are worthy members of the United Brethren Church. He contributed liberally toward the erection of the new edifice recently built by that denom- ination, and is a very popular gentleman. He owns 187 acres of land ..
H. E. Francisco was born in Tompkins county, N. Y., Jan. 6, 1837; is the second son of Benjamin and Rachel Jane (Eails) Francisco, natives of Vermont, and of French-German origin. His early education was rather limited. He came to Michigan with his parents in the fall of 1845; they located in Barry county, where Henry E. remained until 17 years of age; he then came to Grass Lake, where he was employed at farming summers and going to school winters. At the age of 20, he entered the Kalama- zoo Baptist Institute, where he remained a student three years; also attended the Kalamazoo Commercial Institute one year, thus acquiring an education quite liberal and comprehensive; was en- gaged in the ambrotype business at Hastings, Mich., in which occupation he cleared in one year $1,000. April 3, 1861, he married Frances A. Babbitt, born in Niagara county, N. Y., Ang. 12, 1834. Mr. and Mrs. F. had 1 daughter-Ida May, born Jan. 13, 1862, and died Dec. 28, the same year. After his marriage, Mr. Francisco located in Grass Lake, east of the village, where he resided until 1876; with Mrs. F. he traveled extensively, visiting among other places San Francisco, Los Angeles, stopped at Salt Lake City, Denver, and other points of interest; was absent six months. On his return he purchased a farm of 200 acres, the site of his present home, nearly four miles south of Grass Lake village, where he is very pleasantly situated. Mrs. Francisco is the daughter of Levi Babbitt, a pioneer of Grass Lake, and the granddaughter of a Revolutionary soldier, Winchester by name. Levi Babbitt died Oct. 20, 1860. Mrs. Francisco has many interesting recollections of pioneer life; she remembers vividly the attack made by a
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hungry bear upon the family of their nearest neighbor, and of her father having been hastily summoned to the scene. The bear upon his exit from the house, was dispatched by the unerring ball from the rifle in her father's hands. She was formerly a member of the M. E. Church; since 1877 she has been identified with the Seventh- Day Advent Church.
John Freiemuth was born June, 1817, in Baden, Germany; his parents were Jacob and Louisa (Kirchner) Freiemuth. He was reared on a farm, and received a fair education in the Government schools; he remained at home until 21 years of age, then worked for numerous persons at farming. Mr. F. came to this country in 1845, direct to Waterloo. He taught sehool one winter after his arrival, and followed farming during the summer. May 16, 1847, he was married to Barbara Sehrah, boru in Germany Jan. 18, 1826, daughter of George Sehrah, an early settler of Waterloo. They are the parents of 9 children, of whom 6 are now living, namely : Lonisa, born Dee. 20, 1851; Mary E., Dee. 14, 1854; George, Oet. 31, 1856; Anna C., Ang. 21, 1859; John, Feb. 7, 1866, and Clara B., May 17, 1870; The year of his marriage he purchased his present place, then wild land; he has since erected a comfortable building, in 1858. Mr. F. owns a farm of 220 acres.
John E. Gibbins was born Sept. 1, 1822, in Berkshire county, Mass., only son of Patrick and Pamelia (Sperry) Gibbins, the for- mer a native of Ireland and the latter of Massachusetts, of Irish-Welsh deseent. He was reared on a farm and received a common-school education; he remained with his mother until coming West the fall of 1841, and purchased the site of his present home, but resided temporarily in Livingston county about one year, and returned East after his parent. He returned overland through Pennsylvania and Ohio, taking them four weeks to come from Ontario county, N. Y. A log house had been erected, trees girdled and some little im- provements made; it was then a hard country, sparsely settled. Mr. G. was quite a hunter and killed three bears during his early residence. He wasnnited in marriage Jan. 7, 1848, to Miss Fidelia A. Lathrop, daughter of George C. and Mary E. Lathrop, who were among the early pioneers of Washtenaw county, having set- tled in Ann Arbor in 1828. He has resided on the same premises ever sinee; he held the office of Supervisor in 1871. He received an inheritance of $500, but through his own exertions has accumu- lated considerable property. Mr. and Mrs. G. are members of the M. E. Church, in Waterloo.
Aaron F. Gorton was born Dec. 3, 1811, in Steuben county, N. Y., the youngest son of Rufus and Elizabeth (Towner) Gorton, natives of Connecticut, and of English ancestry. Mr. G. attended the common school, received a fair education, and read law until 18 years of age, intending to fit himself for that profession. After that time he commeneed clerking for his brother, a merchant of Corning, N. Y., and followed this occupation until coming to Mich- igan in June, 1833, stopping temporarily at Dexter, Washtenaw Co., and the following year bought a place in London, Monroe 67
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HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
Co., of 120 acres; entered the land wild, and got his logs ready to build a house. He had paid out all his money, 8150, on his land, and borrowed 832, to return to Corning, N. Y., to enter into mat- rimony with Miss Marietta Gardner, which event took place Sept. 30, 1835. They were the parents of 1 daughter-Marion, born March 28, 1838, now Mrs. Frederick R. Snyder, of Lyndon, Wash- tenaw Co. They came to Detroit by way of the lakes; were five days coming; had a rough time coming from Ypsilanti; went to the bottom of the mud, where hand-spikes were necessary; stayed in Monroe county three years; had a hard time, got in debt and was obliged to sell out; in the spring of 1838 returned to Washte- naw county and rented a farm one year; in the fall of the same year purchased the site of his present home, where a log house had been erected and seven acres of land partially cleared. After his purchase at Waterloo, and before removing his family, Mrs. G. died. Nov. 21, 1838. With his brother and family, he came to Waterloo in December of the same year. He remained a widower three years. Dec. 2, 1841, he was married to Miss Mary Ann Paddock, born in Onondaga county, N. Y., in October, 1819, daughter of William Paddock, an early settler of Waterloo tp .; they have liad 6 children, of whom 5 are now living-Aaron F., born Dec. 19, 1842, enlisted March 20, in the Vol. Inf. : in August, 1862, participated in numerous skirmishes and the battle of Fred- ericksburg. and died in camp Jan. 13, 1863; Henry, born Sept. 26, 1544, now living in Lyndon, Washtenaw Co .; George, born April 6. 1848, now a well-known resident of Waterloo; Orville, born June 20, 1850, now working his father's farm; Sarah E., born Jan. 1. 1855, wife of Moses N. Avery, of Ann Arbor; Lewis G., born Nov. 18. 1859, a teacher in the high school in Detroit, and a graduate of the State Normal School of Ypsilanti. Mr. G. was elected Township Clerk and School Inspector, during his first residence here; also Supervisor in 1842, one term; Justice of the Peace, four or five terms; Associate Judge about 1844, which office he filled until the law abolishing that office was passed; in later years, has declined all office; was President of the Eastern Jackson Farmer's Mutual Insurance Company. Mr. and Mrs. G. are mem- bers of the United Brethren Church in Waterloo, and contributed liberally toward the erection of the new edifice. His present resi- dence was built about 1857. He owns 280 acres of land. On page 1075 of this work will be found a portrait of Mr. Gorton. David Grimes was born in Cortland county, N. Y., March 16, 1820, the second son of James and Mary T. (Whitney) Grimes, natives of Vermont and New York respectively, and of English origin. David received but a limited education; the death of his mother, which occurred when he was 12 years old, threw him up- on his own resources. When 15 years of age, in 1835, he came to the then Territory of Michigan; worked by the month in Wash- tenaw county during the summers; went to school winters, acquir- ing such an education as fitted him for teaching, which profession he followed four summers. He had bought a place in Lyndon about
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WATERLOO TOWNSHIP.
1843, containing 80 acres; he married Jane S. Denton in Jannary 1844; they have had 8 children, as follows: Daniel J., born Oct. 7, 1844, now of White Oak, Ingham Co .; Andrew D., April 26, 1846, a resident of Stockbridge, Ingham Co .; David S., Oct. 19, 1847, also a resident of White Oak; Caroline M., Sept. 6, 1849, now Mrs. Nelson De Camp, of Bunker Hill; Samnel T., June 6, 1852, a school-teacher by profession, now residing with his parents; Auson D., Dec. 20, 1858, a resident of Waterloo, married April 3, 1862, died Aug. 31, 1865. Mr. G. resided in Lyndon about two years. In the fall of 1846 he purchased a farm in Waterloo, upon which he lived some 20 years; this he improved, haring cleared over 100 acres. Mrs. Grimes died Sept. S, 1865, and in Angust, 1866, Mr. G. married Mrs. Ruth Cadwell, born in Genesee county, N. Y., Dec. 25, 1870. Mrs. Grimes, at the time of her marriage with Mr. G., was the mother of 3 children, viz .: Mary M., born Feb. 7, 1847, died Ang. 31, 1863; John A., Oct. 13, 1850, engaged in the hardware trade in Pinckney, Livingston Co., Mich .; Wm. H., March 20, 1863, and died July 26, 1865. Immediately after his marriage, Mr. Grimes removed to his present residence, which he has since occupied; it is a pleasant location with fine surround- ings; has been the home of Mrs. Grimes since 1848. Mr. and Mrs. G. are members of the first United Brethren Church in Waterloo. He has been Tp. Clerk; also held other minor tp. offices.
Joseph Hurwley, farmer, sec. 4, was born in Lancashire county, England, March 8, 1811, son of Emannel and Margaret Hawley, nee Leece. His father was born in Derbyshire county, and the mother in Lancashire; his father died when he was only four years of age, and his mother afterward married Robert Braith- waite, a native of Lancashire and a shoemaker by trade. They removed to Westmoreland county, where he received his education and learned the shoemaker's trade of his step-father; then worked for his uncle eight years. He was married in 1849 to Elizabeth Backhans, born in Yorkshire county, England, June 25, 1814. He then began business for himself, and after obtaining enough to make a start, he came to America and landed in Detroit; from De- troit he came to this county in 1843 and located on 40 acres of land near Waterloo village; remained there two years; sold ont, and in 1845 moved upon his present farm of 189 acres of land in the woods, which he at once commenced to clear and improve. They have had 5 children, 2 of whom are now living-Emannel and Edwin R .--- both of whom are married; 3-Mary, Joseph and an infant-are deceased. Mrs. Hawley died March 24, 1879, and Mr. H. resides with his son, Emanuel, who carries on his farm. His early life was one of toil and hardships; he now owns 389 acres of land in Jackson and Ingham counties, which is well improved and worth $75 per acre. His home farm is one of the finest in Waterloo. He is connected with the Episcopal Church, and a Republican in politics.
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HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
Gottlieb Heydlauff, farmer, sec. 30, was born in Germany, Oct. 23, 1837; son of Andrew and Christina (Riethmiller) Heydlauff, natives of Germany; was raised on a farm; in 1857 emigrated to America and located in Montcalm county, Mich., where he worked on a farm four years; then entered 80 acres of State land which he began to improve; at the outbreak of the late war he enlisted in the 16th Mich. Inf. Vol. under Col. Stockton and served four years; was in 35 battles during the service; among the most prominent were Gettysburg, Wilderness, Petersburg, Five Forks, and the last Appomattox Court-House, when Gen. Lee surrendered his army to Gen. Grant, and was one of the flag-bearers who held the stars and stripes while the army passed under and stacked their arms; he was discharged July 10, 1865. He then came to Waterloo tp., where he bought 180 acres of land on which he lives; paid 82,900 for it; he now has it well improved, and it is worth $50 per acre. He was married Jan. 14, 1866, to Catherine Moeckel, born in this tp. May 20, 1843,and the daughter of George and Mary Moeckel. Their family consists of 7 children-Clara K., Louisa M., Char- lotte, H. Fricktor W.,. and Carl F. They are members of the Lutheran Church, and politically is a Republican.
John Heydlauff was born Feb. 27, 1835, in Herkimer county, N. Y. He is the second son of Martin and Elizabeth Heydlauff; the former died Nov. 6, 1868. He came to this State with his par- ents in the spring of 1836, and located in Scio tp., Washtenaw county, where the family remained about five years. In the spring of 1842, he came to Waterloo and entered 180 acres of land about one-half mile north of his present home. He attended the common school in Waterloo and received a limited education; he afterward attended the German school at the Jacob Society nntil he was 21 years of age. He learned the carpenter and joiner's trade, and followed that occupation for five years in Waterloo; he built many residences in that place, and elswhere throughont the county; was united in marriage April 15, 1860, to Miss Christina Riethmiller, born in Germany in 1842, by whom he has had 7 children; 6 are now living, namely-Emanuel, born March 9, 1861; Panlina M., Aug. 23, 1862; Lydia C., Oct. 22, 1864; Saralı A., Nov. 23, 1868; Louis H., Sept. 2, 1871; Augustus, Aug. 3, 1873. After marriage Mr. H. purchased a place in the vicinity of the old homestead on sec. 27, it being a portion of the old John Riethmiller place, containing an old log house and fair improvements. Mr. Heydlauff has since made many improvements, built a very handsome residence and other buildings snitable for farming occupation. He was High- way Commisssoner for five years; his success in life is dne mostly to his own industry, receiving a small inheritance. Mr. and Mrs. H. are members of the German Lutheran Church at Waterloo.
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