History of Kent County, Michigan, together with sketches of its cities, villages and townships, educational, religious, civil, military, and political history, portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens, Part 133

Author: Leeson, M. A. (Michael A.); Chapman, Charles C., & Co. (Chicago)
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Chicago : C.C. Chapman & Co.
Number of Pages: 1434

USA > Michigan > Kent County > History of Kent County, Michigan, together with sketches of its cities, villages and townships, educational, religious, civil, military, and political history, portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens > Part 133

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Hilbrand Rozema was born Oct. 7, 1822, in the Province of Groningen. He was the son of Rudolph and Tryphena Rozema. He came to America in 1852, in the ship " South Carolina," and landed at New York. He lived one year at Buffalo, and came to Grand Rapids. A year after he bought 20 acres of land in Paris, and has continued to buy land at intervals until his farm contains 135 acres, which he estimates at $10,800. He was married in March, 1853, to Elizabeth De Vries, of Buffalo, N. Y. They have had nine children, born .as follows: Rudolph H., Jan. 31, 1854; Anna, Oct. 14, 1855; William, Sept. 16, 1857, died Mar. 18, 1864; Simon, July 17, 1859 ; Tryphena, Mar. 4, 1861; Jennie E, May 4, 1863; William, Aug. 9, 1865 ; Maggie, July 23, 1867; Fred. H., Aug. 9, 1869. Mr. Rozema is a Republican, and is greatly interested in the progress of schools and all institutions of our country. He was naturalized at Grand Rapids Aug. 6, 1853. Himself and wife and five eldest sons and daughters are members of the Baptist Church. His son, Simon. is preparing for the ministry.

M. A. Shafer, M. D., was born in Yates, Orleans Co., N. Y., Aug. 3, 1838. His parents, John and Eliza Shafer, came to Michigan in 1844. In 1860 Dr. Shafer commenced the study of medicine with Dr. James F. Grove, of Grand Rapids, and remained with him one year. In December, 1862, he was appointed Hospital Steward of the 7th Mich. Cav., and in July, 1863, re- ceived the appointment of Assistant-Surgeon of the same regiment. At the close of the war the regiment was ordered to the Rocky Mountain department, where Dr. Shafer remained eight months. He attended lectures at the University of Michigan in '66 and '67, and began the practice of medicine. In the fall of '72 he entered the Medical College at Detroit, and graduated in March, 1873, when he settled at Paris in the regular practice of his profession, which he has pursued with success. He was married Nov. 24, 1869, to Marion O., daughter of Thomas W. and Mary Ann Martin, of Paris, born Feb. 12, 1849. They have a son, Percy M., born Jan. 8, 1874. Dr. Shafer is a Republican.

John Shafer, father of Dr. Shafer, was born at Frederick City, Md., in 1787. He was a soldier of 1812, and served as Lieutenant in Capt. Wilson's Co., of N. Y. Militia, witnessed the burning of Buffalo, and was present at the battle of Lundy's Lane. Mr. Shafer is 94 years old, and boasts that he was never sick a day in his life and never swallowed more than three doses of medicine. He came to Michi- gan in 1844 with his family, and has cleared five farms "from the stump." His wife is in her 84th year and they have lived together 66 years.

Frederick Starnbeck was born in Germany about the year 1837. In 1872 he came America and went to Wisconsin, where he remained a year, and settled in Kent Co., Mich.' He was married Dec. 4, 1874, to Mrs. Louisa, widow of Hiram H. Darling, of Paris. They have three children-Wallace C., Minnie L. and

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HISTORY OF KENT COUNTY.

Roy W. Hiram H. Darling was born in Oswego Co., N. Y., March 9, 1814. He was married March 1, 1854, in the town of Paris, and died Jan. 27, 1872, leaving three children-Myrtle I., Freddie R. and Ralph V. Mr. Darling owned 80 acres of land on sec. 10. Mrs. Starnbeck was born in Buffalo, N. Y., in 1834, and came to Michigan with her parents when but two years of age.

Aaron M. Vanhoesen, gardener, was born at Delhi, Delaware Co., N. Y., Feb. 8, 1834 He is son of Aaron and Betsey Vanhoesen, both natives of New York, of Holland-Dutch extraction. About 25 years ago he went to Chester, O., 18 miles east of Cleveland, and while there was engaged in wagon-making. About 15 years after he came to Layton, Allegan Co, and bought 40 acres of land. He sold it in 1871 and removed to Grand Rapids, where he was in the employ of J. S. Dean & Son, manufacturers of agricultural implements. Three years later he came to Paris, where he had previously purchased five acres of land for a market garden. He erected his dwelling and outbuildings, and is doing an ex- tensive business in gardening. May 16, 1858, he was married to Sarah E. Ames, of Chester, O., daughter of Mason and Mary Ames, both natives of Massachusetts. They have two children-Edward, born Dec. 16, 1861, and Grace A., born Jan. 11, 1869. Mr. V. is a thorough-going Republican, and during the war for the Union was in the U. S. service at Nashville, engaged in making wagons. His wife be- longs to the Presbyterian Church.

Thomas Walker was born June 15, 1839, in the Province of Ontario, Canada. His parents, John S. and Margaret Walker, were natives of Canada. His father was born Jan. 2, 1812, and is still living; his mother was born about the year 1817. His grandfather, Thomas Walker, was a native of North Carolina. In 1867 Mr. Walker came to Chelsea, Washtenaw Co., and taught school one term, and engaged with his brother in the dry-goods trade, in which he continued two years. He then sold out and went to Benton Harbor and engaged in raising fruit, with which he was occupied until 1875, when he bought 60 acres of land in a state of advanced improvement near the city of Grand Rapids, where he is now extensively engaged in the manufacture of pickles, sauces, etc. His whole farm is planted with cucumbers, from which he expects the present year a yield of 2,000 barrels. His yearly use of salt amounts to 200 barrels, and of vinegar from 500 to 1,000 barrels. Mr. Walker was married Dec. 1, 1863, to Henrietta Sibbald, of Canada, born in Edinburgh, Scotland, March 1, 1842. She is daughter of Capt. James and Elizabeth Sibbald. Her father was a Captain in the Royal Navy of England, and was acting-midshipman at the battle of Trafalgar, when Lord Nelson was shot, and received from the hands of the dying hero a ring which had belonged to Lady Hamilton. His brother, General Sibbald, K. C. B., was com- mander of the British forces in India at the period of the Sepoy Rebellion, and lost his life at Cawnpore. Another brother was one of the captors of Napoleon Bonaparte, and was on board the "Bellerophon," Capt. Maitland, that conveyed the illustrious prisoner to St. Helena. The children of Mr. and Mrs Walker were born as follows: John S., Oct. 27, 1864; Clarendon S., March 3, 1866; Henry T., Dec. 2, 1867; George E. E., Sept. 26, 1870; Charles E., Feb. 7, 1872 (deceased) ; Frederick W., Feb. 26, 1873; Margaretta H., June 3, 1876; and Mary C. S., Aug. 1, 1878 Mr. Walker graduated at McGill College in Civil Engineering and Arts. Himself and wife are members of St. Mark's Episcopal Church, Grand Rapids.

Justus Winchell was born Jan. 8, 1816, at Canadaigua, N. Y. He is son ot Justus and Sarah (Watrous) Winchell, the former a native of Vermont, the latter of New York. He came to Michigan in 1856, reaching Grand Rapids April 11. His first acquaintance with Michigan soil was a mud hole in front of the Rath bun House, where the stage took up permanent quarters, and the passengers dis- mounted. He proceeded next day to Paris, and took on shares the farm owned by James Miller, where he remained three years. During this time he bought 12 acres on sec. 7, where he has since resided. It is pleasantly situated one mile from the city of Grand Rapids, near the county fair grounds. The barn of Mr. Winchell was the first frame dwelling-house built in Paris. It was the property of Barney Burton, at that time the owner of a quarter of sec. 7, where the house was built. In 1861 it was moved to the east part of sec. 7, and is yet in a fair state of preservation. Mr. Winchell is a Republican. He descended from

a strong Whig family, and his ancestors were interested in the freedom and prog- ress of the people. His father was a soldier of 1812, and his mother's father was in the war of the Revolution. He was married in 1844 to Lucy, daughter of John and Olive Madison, born May 27, 1827, in Hume, Allegany Co., N. Y.

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PARIS TOWNSHIP.

They brought up and educated as their own one of Mr. Winchell's sister's chil- dren, left fatherless-Addie O. Knecttle, born April 1, 1861.

Charles Yanson was born in 1827, in Schoharie Co., N. Y. His grandparents were natives of Germany, and his parents, Henry and Maria Yanson, were natives of New York. His father was born in 1806, and is still living. His mother was born in 1795, and died Sept. 1, 1879. His grandfather was in the Revolution. Mr. Yanson came to Michigan when four years old. His parents settled in Washtenaw county, where he grew to manhood, and at 22 came to Paris, buying 147 acres of land on sec. 18, at six dollars per acre. Four years after he sold it at $40, a fair advance on the purchase money. He bought 160 acres on sec. 21 for $25 per acre, where he now resides. About 12 years after purchase he paid $7,000 for 120 acres additional, which he has disposed of in small lots at a hand- some advance, until he has but 40 acres remaining, valued at $10,000. His house is handsome and substantial, and cost $5,000. The outbuildings are suitable and commodious, and the whole place has an appearance of good taste, good sense and thrift. . Mr. Yanson was married Nov. 16, 1856, to Martha Young, of Ionia county. She is daughter of Josiah and Olive Young, born in Ionia, June 11, 1839. Mr. Young was an officer in the Black Hawk war, and was born Aug. 18, 1779, of German and English parentage, and died April 16, 1865. Mrs. Young was born Aug. 1, 1813, of French and English ancestors, and died Feb. 7, 1875. Both were natives of New York. Mr. and Mrs. Yanson have a legally adopted daughter-Abbie, born May 18, 1862.

PLAINFIELD TOWNSHIP.

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS.

Plainfield presents many variations in soil and surface. High bluffs along Grand river, and the Rouge, present the beholder with many magnificent outlooks, over lowland, water course, hillside and plain, rarely excelled ; and no more beautiful spot can well be found than the little prairie set in hills, lying on the Grand Rapids and the Ionia State road, just north and east of the little village of Plainfield. There is a troublesome amount of stone in some portions, and some sand along the western line ; but as a general thing, the soil is a rich clay loam, rendering this a first- class agricultural town. Its timber is mainly oak, with some beech and maple, and considerable pine along its western borders. Its principal productions are wheat, wool, corn, oats and potatoes, all of which it exports in fair quantities ; but most of wheat, wool and corn. Its rich intervals of grass lands, its numerous spring brooks, and clear and rapid watercourses, peculiarly adapt it to dairy par- poses ; but no especial attention is paid, as yet, to this healthful and lucrative branch of husbandry.

It also lies within the great western fruit belt, and where the altitude is favorable, gives splendid returns of apples, peaches, cherries, currants, and the small fruits generally ; but in the bottom lands and low situations, the returns are by no means sure, the frosts destroying the peaches, and the winters killing the trees. It presents many fine locations for vineyards, and the hardier varieties of grapes ripen nicely here ; but nothing worthy of note is being done in this branch of horticulture.

There are several inconsiderable lakes in the town, but only two are worthy of note, namely : Scott's lake, lying on section 17, about three-fourths of a mile long, and half a mile wide, quite deep, and well stocked with fish; and Crooked, or Dean's lake, on sections 33 and 34, one mile long and half a mile wide. It has an island of one acre, is generally shallow and quite destitute of fish. These lakes are adjacent to no highway, hence are only visited by fishing parties, or hogs seeking aquatic sports. But for what it lacks in lake views, it makes ample amends in river scenery.

Grand river enters its borders by its eastern boundary, at the northeast corner of section 36, reaches the highest northern point at the exact center of section 23, where the bridge on the Grand Rapids and Ionia State road, crosses the stream ; then it sweeps away to the southwest, its banks adorned on either hand with billowy maples and grand old elms, that have shed their leaves for

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PLAINFIELD TOWNSHIP.

centuries on its waves, leaving the town by its southern line, on the southeast quarter of section 31.

The Rouge river, so called from the peculiar tint of its waters, enters the town from the north, on the west half of section 1, and runs southwesterly, debouching in Grand river, on the line of sec- tions 22 and 23. The G. R. & I. R. R., entering the town on section 1, and leaving it near Plumb's mill, on section 31, crosses this stream six times within two miles; hence as may readily be seen, it is very crooked in its course, and being very rapid, presents vast facilities for manufacturing purposes. In 1840, Gideon H. Gordon erected on section 15 the first mill placed upon the stream. It is only a saw-mill now, and owned by Mr. Waters, of Grand Rapids, but then it had a small grist-mill attached, and there the settlers and Indians carried their corn to be ground.

In 1847 a saw-mill was erected by Roberts & Winsor, on section 2, at a point then called Gibraltar. It is now owned by H. B. Childs & Co., who erected in its near vicinity a paper-mill in 1866, which was destroyed by fire in 1869, but rebuilt the second year by the enterprising proprietors. It is on the line of the G. R. & I. R. R., and the place is now known as Child's Mills Station.

In 1850 a saw-mill was erected by Robert Konkle some 40 rods from the mouth of the Rouge. It is now owned by Tradewell & Towle. Save the above, no use is made in this town of the im- mense water-power of the stream, amply sufficient to drive a con- tinuous chain of machinery several miles in extent.

Mill creek runs through the southwest corner of the town, and as early as 1838 a sawmill was erected on this stream on section 31, by Daniel North. It is now owned by Eli Plumb, who erected a flouring mill at the same place, in 1866. It lies on the. line of the G. R. & I. railroad, and is known as North's Mills Station. There is also a railway station at Belmont, about six miles northeast of Grand Rapids. It lies in the midst of a fine farming district, and has a large hotel, kept by Mr. Post, for the accommodation of parties of pleasure.

ORGANIC.

The township of Plainfield was organized in April, 1838. The freeholders assembled at the log school-house on section 23, with James Clark as Moderator, and Zenas G. Winsor, Clerk. The officers elected at that time were: Gideon H. Gordon, Supervisor; Esthel Whitney, Town Clerk; James R. Francisco, Collector; George Miller, Justice of the Peace for one year; Zenas G. Winsor, Justice of the Peace for two years; Samuel Baker, Justice of the Peace for three years; Daniel North, Justice of the Peace for four years; Geo. Miller, Township Assessor; Andrew Watson, Town- ship Assessor; Daniel North, Township Assessor; Esthel Whitney, School Inspector; Z. G. Winsor, School Inspector; Cornelius

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HISTORY OF KENT COUNTY.

Friant, School Inspector; William Livingstone, Highway Commis- sioner; Warner Dexter, Highway Commissioner; A. D. W. Stout, Highway Commissioner; Jacob Friant, Overseer of the Poor; Jacob Francisco, Overseer of the Poor; Esthel Whitney, Fence Viewer; James Clark, Fence Viewer; Ezra Whitney, Constable; Henry Gordon, Constable.

In the following list the names of the principal township officers from the date of organization to the present day are given :

SUPERVISORS.

Zenas G. Winsor 1838

Collins Leach. 1839-40

E. Whitney 1841

G. W. Gordon 1842

A. Watson. 1843-4

1868

H. C. Smith. 1845-6

H. Konkle 1869-75

H. D. Plumb 1876

H. Konkle. 1877

H. D. Plumb. 1878-9

N. Rice.

1880-1

CLERKS.

E. Whitney 1838

A. Wilson .. 1839-40

P. J. Whitney

1841

A. Watson. 1842

T. J. Friant .. 1863-7

E. Whitney. 1843

D. W. C. Burch 1868

H. C. Smith 1844

E. A. Morris 1869-70

E. Whitney 1845

B. L. Barker. 1846

Henry Hall

1847

J. W. Simms. 1848

P. B. Wilson.

1849

1850

L. P. Clark

1851-2

W. Hyser.

1853-8

H. C. Smith

1859

TREASURERS.

J. R. Francisco 1838

Geo. Miller ...

1839-41

Thomas Cranston. 1842-4

H. E. McKee. 1845

William Thornton 1846

H. C. Smith 1847

W. Livingston. 1848-50

C. Wilson. 1851

L. P. Clark. 1852

J. K. Morris.

1853-8

Henry Norris. 1859-60

Austin S. Richardson 1861

H. Konkle .. . . 1862-8

Andrew Richardson. 1869

James Crawford. 1870

H. D. Plumb. 1871-5

H. Konkle. 1876

N. Richardson .1877

John Post. 1878-9

Frank Gross

1880

John Post.

1881

H. C. Smith. 1856-8

J. K. Morris. 1859-60

H. C. Smith. 1861-6

A. Richardson. 1867

William Thornton 1847

Chester Wilson, jr 1843

H. C. Smith. 1849-52

John Harrington. 1853

John Hamilton. 1854-5

Daniel McNorton

1860

H. W. Hall. 1861

James Crawford. 1862

S. T. Eldred.

1871

Zera Whitney. 1872-4

E. Filkins 1875

C. E. Pixley 1876

Fred Livingstone. 1877

Herbert Everett. 1878

C. Cranston .

1879

H. W. Hyser

1880-1

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PLAINFIELD TOWNSHIP.

JUSTICES OF THE PEACE.

D. North. .1838

T. Friant. . 1866

S. Baker.

1838

J. C. Upson. 1867

Z. Windsor. 1838

W. Hyser 1868

Geo. Miller. 1838

S. Rath bun. 1868

Peter B. Wilson 1850

P. Welch .. 1869

D. Watson. 1850

Geo. S. Curtis 1870

Hiram Parkust. 1851

N. R. Johnson 1871

Geo. Miller 1852

A. Wise. 1872

F. P. Clark.

1853

N. Richardson. 1873

C. Wilson.

1854

N. R. Johnson 1873

John H. Drew

1855

E. G. Stone. 1873

O. F. Hyde.

1855-6

Zera Whitney. 1874

P. B. Wilson.

1857

A. Barrows.

1858

J. C. Upson.

1859

C. House. 1876

William Hyser

1860

James T. Smith 1877

P. B. Wilson.

1861

S. Gross. 1877

Ashel Barrows

1862

Geo. S. Curtis. 1878

A. Brace. .. 1863

T. B. Haines.

1878

James Crawford 1864

N. R. Johnson 1879

Benjamin Crevling. 1864

D. B. Elsbey. 1880

P. B. Wilson .. 1865

H. W. Hyser 1880

Geo. H. Curtis

1866

William Wall. 1881

EARLY LAND-BUYERS.

The first patentees of the lands in this township were: Drury Fairbanks, section 20, Nov. 7, 1835; Louis Genereau, section 23, Oct. 16, 1833; Mason Beals, section 22, July 31, 1839; Luke Sweetzree, section 25, Feb. 18, 1836; Lucius Boltwood, section 25, Feb. 18, 1836; Edward Robinson, section 26, March 24, 1836; Amaziah Carpenter, section 27, April 29, 1836; Daniel North, sec- tion 31, Aug. 2, 1839; Amos F. Royce, section 34, April 6, 1837; Billins Stockings, section 34, July 15, 1837; Samuel Mandell, sec- tion 27, April 6, 1837; and John Hart, section 27, April 6, 1837.

The pioneer settlers were William and Silas Livingstone, who built a shanty on the bank of Grand river, section 20, March 2, 1836. It appears that the Livingstone brothers engaged with the Kent Company to take out timber for their "Big Mill " at Grand Rapids. After their contract was completed, the brothers made the locality their home as squatters, purchasing the lands in 1839.

In the fall of 1836 Thomas Friant and his son Jacob, built a log hut on section 23. In March, 1837, Cornelius Friant and family arrived and settled on section 24. The same year George Miller located on section 23; James Clark, on section 24, and Warner Dexter on section 14. In 1838 Zera Whitney, on section 15; Gideon H. Gordon, on section 15; and Daniel North, on section 31; and in 1844 Samuel Post settled on section 8, while his father, Jacob Post, and seven other sons, settled about the same time. In 1845 Samuel Gross made his way with his family, by the aid of his ax, to a home on section 2; and in 1846 Chester Wilson settled on section 12.

Although the lands were being surveyed and rapidly located, they were not in the market, and it was no uncommon thing to see

N. R. Johnson, 1875

Geo. S. Curtis. 1875

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HISTORY OF KENT COUNTY.

white men and Indians tilling their corn in the same fields, in amicable proximity to each other. But in the fall of 1839 the great land sale came off, when the settlers secured their claims, and the red man vanished from the scene, leaving naught in memoriam but the bones of his dead, on section 23, where the burial mounds, worn by the attritions of the plow, are fast being leveled with the surrounding country.

The first family to settle in the woods of Plainfield was that of Cornelius Friant. The second family on the ground was that of George Miller, and the deprivations which fell to their share was the common lot of all who made their homes in this new land at that early day. Grand river was the only thoroughfare and means of communication with the outside world, hence the settlers de- pendea mainly on what they raised, and their own ingenuity, to prepare it for food. Pork, if imported, was $60 per barrel. The nearest flouring mill was 60 miles away, and the bread eaten in the family of Mr. Miller for 18 months, was ground in a coffee-mill.

The first marriage was performed by the giant Justice of the Peace. Samuel Baker, a huge piece of human architecture, molded like one of those basaltic pillars in the North of Ireland, near which he was born. The contracting parties were William Livingstone and Mar- garet Miller, daughter of George Miller, and the date May 13, 183S.

The first birth was that of Cornelia Friant, who married Henry Hall, of Grand Rapids. She was the daughter of Cornelius Friant, a settler of 1836, and was born in June, 1838. In the fall of 1838 the second birth occurred, in the family of George Miller, a twin girl and boy, living but a short time, making the first deaths, also, among the settlers; and the greatest delicacy loving friends were able to offer Mrs. Miller during her confinement, was boiled wheat.

Immediately after, in the winter of 1838, the accidental shooting and subsequent death of Peleg Barlow, who had come to seek a home, but had not located, cast a saddening gloom over the little band of pioneers. The event is fully noticed in the county history, in this volume.

The first church was erected by the Protestant Episcopal Society in 1852. The building is picturesquely situated on the bluff above the village of Plainfield, is a wooden structure 30x60 feet in size, painted brown, and has a tower 60 feet high. It wås erected in 1852.

Plainfield was organized in 1838, from townships S north. ranges 10 and 11 west, except what lies south of the Grand river. In 1846, township 9 north, range 11 west, was detached from Courtland and added to Plainfield; also, 1847, what of township S north lies south of Grand river.

The first school was in the winter of 1837-'S. in a log school- house, near Friant's. It was taught by Jonathan Whitney. The next summer the school was kept by Miss Mary Francisco. The school-house was this year burned and rebuilt.

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PLAINFIELD TOWNSHIP.

There are now (1881) nine school districts in Plainfield township (including the fractional), each with a frame school-house, 18 teach- ers, 451 school children; value of school property, $5,270; amount paid teachers for the year ending June 30, 1881, $1,540; total expenditures, $2,582.33.

BELMONT

village was platted for Garret A. Clement, June 29, 1874, by A. B. Coffinberry, Surveyor. A railroad station and postoffice are located there with Geo. N. Reynolds in charge of both offices. The hamlet is seven miles northeast of the northern limits of Grand Rapids, in the midst of a rich agricultural district, one mile north of the bend of Grand river. The village stores are oper- ated by Charles Filkins and I. Post, and a hotel is kept by the latter.

AUSTERLITZ

is pleasantly located at the confluence of the Rouge and Grand rivers, in section 23. It formerly bore the name of the town, and was settled at a very early day in the history of the county. The population of the hamlet is about 125. The trades, business and professional men of the village are named as follows: H. McCau- ley, blacksmith; L. E. Phillips and L. Sisson, carpenters; R. C. Sisson, wagon-maker; George Lamoreaux, grain-thresher; Wm. Stubbs, brick manufacturer; Jos. Cooper, painter; M. Brooks, postmaster and store-keeper; C. J. Frost, stock-dealer; H. W. Hysen, apiarist; Mrs. L. V. Miller, druggist; Castile Scoville, hotel operator; Wm. Hyser, physician; Rev. J. H. Donellon, Free- Will Baptist preacher.

MILL CREEK,

on section 31, is a village on the lines of the G. R. & I. and the G. R., N. & L. S. R. R., two and one-half miles north of the north- ern limits of Grand Rapids city. The flouring mill of the village is operated by Eli Plumb & Son, who have a general store in connection with their milling business. Lester Lamoreaux is the village blacksmith. There is a postoffice here.

BIOGRAPHIES.

Personal histories of some of the prominent residents of Plain- field follow for a few pages, as a most essential element of a full account of the character of the community.

Ezra Billings, a pioneer of Plainfield, was born in 1801, near Hartford, Conn. His parents were also natives of Connecticut, of English descent. He passed his early days in Broome Co., N. Y., and in Pennsylvania. In the winter of 1836-'37 he located in Clinton Co., near Lansing, where he did pioneer service for 12 years, and in 1848 located his present home in Plainfield. He was married in 1822 to Jane Lewis, of Broome Co., N. Y. They have two children-Abigail and Minerva.

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History of Kent County, Michigan, together with sketches of its cities, villages and townships, educational, religious, civil, military, and political history, portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens, Part 133

Author: Leeson, M. A. (Michael A.); Chapman, Charles C., & Co. (Chicago) Publication date: 1881 Publisher: Chicago : C.C. Chapman & Co. Number of Pages: 1434

Author: Leeson, M. A. (Michael A.); Chapman, Charles C., & Co. (Chicago)
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Chicago : C.C. Chapman & Co.
Number of Pages: 1434