History of Livingston County, Michigan, with illustrations and biographical sketches, Part 52

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In business pursuits the people are active and enterprising, and in the adornment of their homes and surroundings much taste and refinement are displayed.

The village now contains two church edifices,- Methodist Episcopal and Baptist,-a union graded school building, two grain-elevators, steam grist- and saw-mills, planing-mills, an exchange bank, a weekly newspaper,-The Review,-an iron-foundry, some fifteen or twenty stores, where goods of all descriptions are sold, four hotels, various and many small mechanical shops, and a population of 1200 inhabitants.

It is an important station on the line of the Detroit, Lansing and Northern Railroad, and is distant sixty miles from Detroit, and nine miles from Howell, the county-seat.

The following comprises a list of the village officers from 1872 to 1879, inclusive :

PRESIDENTS.

1872, Caleb T. Powers ; 1873, Jared L. Cook ; 1874-75, William W. Starkey; 1876, W. M. Horton ; 1877-78, George W. Palmerton; 1879, Wm. M. Horton.

CLERKS.

1872-74, Benjamin F. Button; 1875-78, Frank G. Rounseville ; 1879, William B. Gale.

TREASURERS.

1872-73, Walter Fowler; 1874-75, John C. Ellsworth ; 1876-79, Frank H. Starkey.

TRUSTEES.

Uriah Coffin, Charles Moore, Byron Defendorf, Albert D. Benja- min, George W. Palmerton, Hiram Bodine, 1872; Eri M. Spencer, Byron Defendorf, John M. Tucker, George L. Fisher, Walter J. Webb, George W. Place, 1873; Albert D. Benjamin, Daniel E. Watts, Andrew D. Cruickshank (full term), William F. Close (to fill vacancy), 1874; Uriah Coffin, William F. Close, Nelson B. Green (full term), Daniel R. Glenn (to fill vacancy), 1875; Andrew D. Cruickshank, . Stephen Daley, Henry Greenaway, 1876; James P. Spencer, James Bean, Christopher Y. Peek, 1877; Ilugh Conklin, Rus- sell E. Bell, Charles J. Glenn, 1878; Edwin E. Walton, Isaac Page, Frank G. Rounseville, Charles E. Spencer, 1879.

STREET COMMISSIONERS.

Edwin E. Walton, John M. Tucker, Freeman Rohrabacher, 1872; Frederick C. Hyne, 1873; John A. Tanner, 1874; Caleb T. Power, 1875; Millen J. Dunn, 1876-78; James H. Place, 1879.

ASSESSORS.

John A. Tanner, 1872-73; Walter J. Webb, 1874; Albert D. Benjamin, 1875; John A. Tanner, 1876-79.

FIRE-WARDENS.

Jared L. Cook, 1872; William H. Spencer, 1873; Albert S. Le- land, 1874; Caleb T. Power, 1875; John A. Tanner, 1876; Christopher Y. Peek, 1877-79.

MARSHALS.

Jared L. Cook, 1872; William H. Spencer, 1873; Albert S. Le- land, 1874-75; William Head, 1876; Conrad C. Hayner, 1877-79.

ADDITIONS TO ORIGINAL VILLAGE PLAT.

Since the survey of the original plat several additions have been made, viz., Ralph Fowler, May 27, 1858. Ralph and Charles Fowler, June 9, 1868. George W. Palmerton, Dec. 6, 1870. Albert D. Benjamin, Dec. 6, 1870. Richard A. Hale, June 2, 1871. Ralph Fowler, June 20, 1871. Ralph Fowler, Aug. 20, 1871. Albert D. Benja- min, Dec. 26, 1871. A. M. Abbott, March 29, 1872. John W. Galloway and Martin W. Camp, April 19, 1872. Albert D. Benjamin, Oct. 29, 1872, and Harvey C. Button's alteration, May 24, 1873.

FIRE DEPARTMENT.

The village has been visited by several disas- trous fires, though none of a general nature. Of those occurring in recent years, was the burning of the planing-mills in 1874, and in February, 1877, the destruction of the Reason House, the new name for the time-honored institution long known as "Independence Hall."

Fire apparatus, consisting of hooks, ladders, ropes, and buckets, were early supplied by the village authorities, cisterns were dug, and on March 23, 1874, the following resolution passed the Coun- cil :

"That every business place in the village of Fowlerville be required to keep a barrel of water and a pail in readiness to be used in case of fire."

Yet no fire company was regularly organized until July 2, 1879, when Protection Hook-and- Ladder Company, No. 1, was formed and officered as follows : Christopher Y. Peek, Foreman ; John McLeod, Assistant Foreman; Henry F. Higgins, Secretary ; Ruel Curtis, Treasurer; A. H. Cum- mings, Steward. The company numbers 30 mem- bers.

EARLY HOTEL-KEEPING.

As previously mentioned, Independence Hall was the first hotel erected in the village, and for a. decade or two was the only one, Its proprietorship

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HANDY TOWNSHIP.

changed frequently, yet the habitués of the village tavern, their faces and manners, remained nearly the same until the advent of the locomotive, in 1871, instituted the beginning of a new era.

Fowlerville at an early day in its history was noted in all the country around for its balls, and the spirit which animated the hotel proprietor and his guests during such festivals of mirth and jollity.

Jerome W. Turner, Esq., of Owosso, in an ad- dress delivered before the Livingston County Pio- neer Association, June 19, 1878, related the follow- ing incident descriptive of one of these assemblages. Its humor is suggestive, and we deem it appropriate to this place in the village annals.

" Fowlerville wore the belt for the promiscuous country-dance. I must confess to a liking for those old balls. There were no tame walk-arounds in those days. Feet had to go somewhere, and they went. White ankles flashed like calcium lights; and over all, and under all, and bearing all, came the waves of music from the fiddlers' stand. One class went to dance good square dancing, and get tired out. Another class intended to, but never got any farther than the bar-room. One sitting in the ball-room could now and then hear an ominous crash of glasses in the room below, or a particularly sharp exclamation of somebody who was just going to take ' one more.' In the morning the ' one-more' boys, as the saying is, ' lay in all shapes.' It was in the morning that I went into the bar-room on the occasion referred to, and the bodies were lying around, as they might have lain in the gray dawn on the heights of Inkermann. One man survived, but he stood against the outside of the bar to hold himself up, while the landlord braced himself on the inside for the same reason. They stood there look- ing in a dazed and distant way at each other. The pupils of their eyes swam along on the edges of their upper eyelid, like a feeble sun on the horizon, and their long slow winks were little more than efforts at consciousness. The one on the outside at last said, ' I've mixed drinks all night, and tried to get a man to stand afore me, but's just my confounded luck, couldn't find nobody.' 'Sam,' said the proprietor, in a mysterious way, ' do you want an almighty thrashin' ? No man ever stopped with me and wanted anything but what he got it, and I'm d-d if I let the reputation of the house suffer just after a big dance; so if you want a lickin', you can hev it just as quick 's a meal of vittles.' Simultaneously they tried to start towards each other, and at the same time each fell on the floor, while I made my way out, and am unable to say whether they ever got up or not."

PROFESSIONAL MEN.

The first resident to attend the wants of those whose bodily ailments required attention was Ruel Randall. He was termed a Thomsonian, and was not a regularly educated physician. However, we may believe that he often did much good, and in cases where he failed he certainly did not make them much worse.

Dr. Henry N. Spencer was the first physician to settle in the village, and came here as early as 1853. Those who have since practiced here at various periods were Drs. James A. Brown, J. M. Long, Ezra J. Bates, Byron Defendorf, - Fitch, H. N. Hall, Abel S. Austin, Aaron W. Cooper, and Wil- liam R. Mead.

The physicians of the present are Drs. Brown, Defendorf, Austin, Cooper, and Mead.

The first lawyer, Benjamin F. Button, settled in the village in 1871. The fraternity are represented at the present time by Messrs. B. F. Button, Henry F. Higgins, Andrew D. Cruickshank, John Connor, and Fred. Warren.

BANKING.

In March, 1873, Messrs. Gay & Ellsworth estab- lished the banking institution which they still con- trol. It has been of great assistance to those doing business in the village and its vicinity, and has added materially to the development and growth of Fowlerville. This firm does a general ex- · change and banking business, their correspond- ence extending to all the commercial centres of the Union.

FOWLERVILLE CORNET BAND.

This band was first formed in June, 1874, and Henry Greenaway elected leader. In March, 1877, a reorganization took place, and John C. Ellsworth became the leader. It is now composed of eigl.teen pieces, and the names of the members are as fol- lows: John C. Ellsworth, Frank Curtis, Henry Greenaway, I. B. Turner, W. C. Hyne, Elmer Chambers, Fred. Greenaway, J. Walton, A. J. Beebe, Charles E. Spencer, Hawley Pullen, John Van Verst, George L. Adams, Fred. Warren, Charles Bush, Frank Palmerton, Richard Fowler, Edward Greenaway.

A commodious band hall is now in course of construction. The citizens have responded liber- ally when called upon to assist in uniforming and equipping the members of the organization, and they are now in the possession of one of the most elegant band uniforms in the State.

SHOOK-MANUFACTORY.

This, the most important manufacturing enter- prise in the village, was established by William W. Starkey, in July, 1871. Mr. Starkey is an exten- sive dealer in red and white oak staves, and manu- factures shooks for sugar, molasses, fish, cart, and rum hogsheads. Power is derived from a forty horse-power steam-engine, and the capacity of the works amounts to from 75,000 to 100,000 shooks per year, all of which are shipped to the West India Islands. Steady employment is here given to twenty-five men, while as many others are en- gaged in various parts of the State getting out material. A fire in October, 1878, destroyed prop- erty to the amount of $4000, but its ravages were immediately repaired, and the factory is now run to its fullest capacity, night and dayOgle

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HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN.

Mr. Starkey is also the owner of a valuable stock-farm of 240 acres, situated within the village limits, and is becoming well known throughout the State as the breeder of fine horses. Chief among his stock is a Kentucky brood-mare, by Duvall's Mambrino, and two fillies, the get of the famous trotting stallion Pasacas, also owned in Fowlerville, and who took the stallion trotting- race at the Michigan State Fair in Detroit, Sep- tember, 1879.

NEWSPAPERS.

The Fowlerville Review was established by Wil- lard H. Hess and George L. Adams in 1874, the first issue bearing date June 19th of the same year. The paper was continued under this management until Oct. 1, 1877, when Mr. Adams transferred his interest to Mr. Hess. The latter continued alone until Jan. 1, 1879, when Mr. Adams again became connected with the paper as sole owner and publisher, and continues the same to the pres- ent time. The paper was first issued in the form of a four-column quarto, was changed to a seven- column folio in January, 1874, and to its present form, a five-column quarto, in October, 1877.

It is neutral in political matters, is published . on Fridays, and has a weekly circulation of 550 copies.

MASONIC.

Fowlerville Lodge .- The first meeting of Fowler- ville Lodge, No. 164, F. and A. M., was held Oct. 29, 1864. A charter was granted by the Grand Lodge of the State of Michigan, Jan. 13. 1865. There were nine charter members, and the fol- lowing-named comprised the first board of officers, viz. : Henry N. Spencer, W. M .; R. M. Cadwell, S. W .; E. E. Walton, J. W .; Geo. W. Palmerton, Treas .; A. H. Benedict, Sec .; S. H. Judd, S. D .; Hiram Pearsons, J. D .; P. P. Carmer, Tiler.

Henry N. Spencer continued as W. M. until 1872. He was succeeded by James A. Brown, who held the office during the years from 1872 to 1875, inclusive, and from the latter period until the present time, Joseph L. Cook has officiated in the same capacity.

The officers for 1876 are Joseph L. Cook, W. M .; M. W. Davison, S. W .; J. P. Spencer, J. W .; D. A. French, S. D .; F. G. Rounseville, J. D .; A. H. Hughes, Sec. ; H. Pearsons, Treas. ; and James Reed, Tiler.

Regular communications are held in their lodge- room, in the village of Fowlerville, Tuesdays on or before the full moon of each month.

INDEPENDENT ORDER OF ODD-FELLOWS.

Fowlerville Lodge, No. 86, I.O.O.F., began work under a dispensation granted by the Grand Lodge

of the State of Michigan, June 2, 1862. The first board of officers were installed by Grand Master B. W. Dennis, and were as follows: Henry N. Spencer, N. G .; James A. Armstrong, V. G .; N. R. Glenn, Past Grand; Eri M. Spencer, Rec. Sec .; David Bush, Per. Sec .; Ruel Randall, Treas. A charter was granted Jan. 21, 1864, and those named . as charter members were Henry N. Spencer, Benj. W. Lawrence, Marvin Gaston, Eri M. Spencer, David Bush, Nelson R. Glenn, J. A. Armstrong, Ruel Randall, S. O. Sowle, and Jesse Pulver.

The following comprises a list of the presiding officers of the lodge from its organization to the present time : Henry N. Spencer, 1862-63 ; Eri M. Spencer, 1864; Marvin Gaston, 1865 ; David Bush, 1866; Amos Barnard, 1867; John P. Hildreth, 1868; William C. Spencer, 1869; Jesse Pulver, 1870; James A. Brown, 1871; Guilford Randall, 1872; Jos. L. Cook, 1873 ; Hiram B. Davis, 1874; William H. Pullen, 1875 ; Truman Randall, 1876; Andrew D. Cruickshank, 1877 ; Joseph L. Cook, 1878; Miles W. Davison, 1879. The present board of officers are Miles W. Davison, N. G .; Charles E. Spencer, V. G .; Joseph Franks, Rec. Sec .; Jared L. Cook, Per. Sec .; Albert H. Tanner, Treas. The lodge includes a present member- ship of 60, and regular meetings are held in their hall in the Palmerton Block alternate Saturday evenings. The hall is elegantly furnished, and is occupied jointly by the Masons and Odd-Fellows.

ANCIENT ORDER OF UNITED WORKMEN.

Handy Lodge, No. 39, A. O. U. W., was organized with 22 charter members, by W. H. Jewett, Grand Master Workman of the State of Michigan, March 4, 1878. The officers first installed were D. E. Hills, P. M. W .; William M. Horton, M. W .; Geo. L. Fisher, G. F .; Joshua Dodge, G. O .; Hugh Laughlin, G. R .; A. H. Benedict, G. R .; A. W. Cooper, G. F .; William H. Spencer, G. G .; Ruel Curtis, I. W .; W. A. Benjamin, O. W. The present officers are George L. Fisher, P. M. W .; Andrew D. Cruickshank, M. W .; Joshua Dodge, G. F .; Ruel Curtis, G. O .; George Bush, G. R .; Hugh Laughlin, G. R .; William M. Horton, G. F .; Chas. Hopkins, G. G .; Mathew Alsbro, I. W .; and Wm. A. Benjamin, O. W.

Regular meetings are held in their hall, in the Palmerton Block, every Wednesday evening, ex- cept during the months of June, July, and August, when the meetings are held the first and third Wednesdays.

ORDER OF IMPERIAL KNIGHTS.

Lodge, No. 36, O. of I. K., was instituted by District Deputy, Dr. Sanborn, Oct. 9, 1879, and

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the officers installed were as follows : D. R. Glenn, Director-in-Chief; Emeline Baldwin, Senior Direc- tor; Theron Metcalf, Junior Director; Ellen E. Glenn, Past Director-in-Chief; Giles G. Tucker, Recorder ; B. F. Button, Financier ; H. D. Glenn, Treasurer ; Orlando Philo, Senior Sentinel ; Joseph Tunnard, Junior Sentinel.

PATRONS OF HUSBANDRY.

West Handy Grange, No. 613, P. H., was granted a dispensation Jan. 5, 1876, a charter April 4, 1876, and was regularly incorporated according to the laws of the State Sept. 11, 1878. Those mentioned in the articles of incorporation were Joel S. Briggs, Frank B. Osborn, John W. Smalley, E. W. Noble, Oscar D. Weller, John Cole, Judson A. Canfield, of Handy, and Daniel Herrick, H. H. Warren, Wells Warren, Charles Warren, Almon A. Huston, Thomas B. Frear, of Ingham County.

VILLAGE POSTMASTERS.

The first postmaster was David Lewis, who re- ceived the appointment in 1849. John T. Watson succeeded him, who in turn was succeeded by Truman D. Fish. In April, 1861, William P. Stow received the office from Fish, and continued in the performance of its duties until May, 1866, when William H. Pullen became his successor. Mr. Pullen held the office until November, 1875, when George L. Fisher, the present incumbent, received the appointment. It is a money-order office. Mails are received twice daily, and it is the distributing office for those residing in the townships of Handy and Conway.

EDUCATIONAL.

The following statistics are from the directors' annual report of school district No. 6, for the year ending Sept. 1, 1879:

Number of children of school age residing in the district.

327 1

Value of school property.

$2100

Male teachers employed during the year .. I

Female teachers employed during the year. 3 Months taught by males. IO

Months taught by females

$600 Paid male teachers

Paid female teachers.

$840

RECEIPTS.

Moneys on hand Sept. 2, 1878 ..

$115.59

From primary-school fund.

172.81

From tuition of non-resident scholars.

48.65

From two-mill tax and district taxes for all purposes in- cluded

2215.00

From all other sources

200.00

Total.

$2752.05

EXPENDITURES.

Teachers' wages.

$1440.00

Building and repairs.

528.30

Bonded indebtedness. 560.00

Other purposes

177.47

Cash on hand Sept. 1, 1879 .. 46.28

Total. $2752.05 Total bonded indebtedness of the district Sept. 1, 1879. $1400

RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES.

FIRST METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.

Here, as in many other localities, the circuit preachers of the Methodist Episcopal Church were the pioneers in religious matters. Elder John Co- sart, of the above-mentioned church, who resided in the township of Hartland, held the first religious services in the house of Richard P. Bush in 1838 or 1839. He visited the people in this and adjoining settlements once in four weeks. After the building of the first school-house a majority of the early meetings were held there, yet quite frequently at the residences of John B. Fowler, Ralph Fowler, and others. A Methodist class, quite strong in numbers, was formed soon after Elder Cosart began his preachings, among whom were John B. Fowler, leader, who continued the same until his death, in 1842; Richard P. Bush and wife, John Bush, wife, and children, Ralph Fowler, Mrs. Cal- . vin Handy, Mrs. Elijah Gaston, John B. La Rowe, Martin W. Randall and wife, and James E. Head. This class existed for a brief number of years, and then went down. A sect called the Unionists then took the field, and flourished for a short time. They were followed by the Wesleyan Methodists, who also enjoyed but an evanescent life. After the platting of the village of Fowlerville, in 1849, and the donation of a site for a Methodist house of worship by Ralph Fowler, a new interest was aroused in religious circles, which culminated in the reorganization of the Methodist Episcopal society as the First Methodist Episcopal Church in the village of Fowlerville. The earliest written records obtained concerning this society are from the miscellaneous records on file in the office of the county clerk, which shows that on the 16th day of November, 1853, Thomas Wakelin, preacher in charge, appointed Phineas Silsby, Joseph Ogle, Levi H. Bigelow, John A. Stout, George Stout, Henry N. Spencer, and Lott Pratt a board of trus- tees of the First Methodist Episcopal Church in Fowlerville, "for the purpose of erecting a house of worship on a lot in the village of Fowlerville."

The stewards' book begins Oct. 22, 1855, and informs the reader that at the first quarterly con- ference-meeting of the Fowlerville District, Flint Circuit, held at the Parsons school-house, on the day mentioned, George Smith, presiding elder, was present, and opened the meeting with singing and prayer. On motion, Cecil D. Parsons was ap- pointed secretary. Others present were C. W. Murray, Circuit Preacher; Thomas Stanfield, Ex- horter; Cecil D. Parsons and Phineas Silsby, Stewards; Frederick B. Parsons and George L. Wilson, Leaders. The Conference then proceeded to form a board of stewards, which was composed

Frame school-houses.

250

HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN.

of Henry N. Spencer and Levi Bigelow, Stewards, and Cecil D. Parsons and Phineas Silsby, Record- ing Stewards. It was estimated that the salary of the preacher in charge and other expenses would amount to $450, which was apportioned among the different appointments as follows : Fowlerville, $100; Silsby's, $75 ; Boyd's, $75 ; Pratt's, $50; Par- sons', $100; North Conway, $50.

In 1867 the church edifice was commenced and the society regularly incorporated. Those named as trustees in the articles of incorporation were Ard. K. Smith, Isaac T. Wright, Martin R. Foster, Benjamin W. Lawrence, Phineas Silsby, Adam Rohrabacher, and John M. Potts. The church edifice was dedicated March 14, 1869. Rev. J. S. Smart, of Adrian, conducted the services, assisted by Revs. T. J. Joslin and William Fox, of Fenton- ville. In 1874 a parsonage was built, and the church repaired to some extent, after which a re- dedication took place, the services being conducted by Rev. B. I. Ives, of Auburn, N. Y. The church cost originally about $3500, and has sittings for nearly 400 people. The property owned by the society at the present time is valued at $4000, and the present members are 90 in number.

The following is a list of the pastors who have officiated in the Fowlerville district since 1855, showing also the year of their settlement: C. W. Murray, 1855 ; William Goss, 1857; Lyman Dean, 1858; S. P. Lee, 1858; J. H. Castor, 1860; James Armstrong, 1861; Jesse Kilpatrick, 1863; C. M. Anderson, 1864; P. L. Turner, 1865; Samuel J. Brown, 1866; R. C. Crane, 1867; William H. Brockway,* 1869; C. W. Austin, 1872; S. P. War- ner, 1873; N. W. Pierce, 1874; F. W. Warren, 1876; H. O. Parker, 1879.

This district includes the South Handy class, the members of which hold meetings in the "Mor- mon School-house." The two classes include a total membership of about 150 communicants. The official members at the present time are Byron Defendorf, William Craig, John M. Potts, Lyman Stewart, Isaac Page, William Macox, Uriah Coffin, Milo Davis, Amasa Bowen, Stewards ; and Byron Defendorf, William Craig, Uriah Coffin, John M. Potts, Isaac T. Wright, Amasa Bowen, Isaac Page, Trustees. Flourishing Sunday-schools exist, of which Dr. Byron Defendorf is superintendent.

FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH.

This society was organized May 27, 1869, the constituent members being Lewis Dean' and wife, John Swartwout and wife, Mary Dean, William H.

Faunce, Sophia J. Faunce, Olive Van Buren, Charles Mastick, Delia Mastick, and Orlando Bushnell.

June 29th of the same year the society was reg- ularly incorporated, and S. C. Dean, Edward Bailey, Theron Metcalf, William H. Faunce, John Swart- wout, Charles Moore, Charles Mastick, Graham N. Barker, and Martin Van Buren were named as trustees. The first meetings were held in the old school-house, which was situated just south of where the Reason Block now stands. Their pres- ent church edifice was completed in 1873, and dedicated September 7th of the same year. It has sittings for 200 persons, and cost $1100.

The pastors who have officiated here are named in the order of their succession, as follows : George W. Jenks, William Bassett, Charles F. Weston, David E. Hills, and T. H. Cary, who is the pres- ent incumbent. The present members of the so- ciety number 70. An interesting Sunday-school of 85 scholars is maintained, of which Graham N. Barker is the superintendent.

MORMONS.

It may properly be mentioned in this connec- tion that, during the years from 1840 to 1842, apostles of the Mormon Church held meetings in the house since known as the " Mormon School- house." Their proselyting resulted in inducing 13 families to leave their homes in Handy and Iosco, and join the Latter-Day Saints, then colo- nized at Nauvoo, Ill.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

JAMES CONVERSE.

Elias Converse was born in Vermont. In his boyhood he went to the State of New York, where he followed farming for a livelihood. In 1840 he moved to the town of Commerce, in Oakland Co., Mich. Here he remained but one year, when he came to the town of Conway, Livingston Co., Mich., and bought a new farm, which he improved. This farm he sold, and then returned to Oakland County. Seven years later he again sold, and re- turned to Conway, purchasing a farm, on which he lived until his death.

James Converse, the subject of this sketch, was born Sept. 30, 1838, in the town of Conquest, Cay- uga Co., N. Y. He lived with his father until he was of age, when he started out in life for himself. He worked by the month on a farm one year, then rented a farm, by which means he obtained his start in life. In 1864, Mr. Converse purchased a

* In 1836, an Indian missionary and the only preacher of the Methodist Episcopal Church in the counties of Lapeer, Genesee, Shiawassee, and Saginaw.'

HANDY TOWNSHIP.

251

wild tract in the town of Cohoctah, which he soon traded for an improved farm in the town of Con- way. This he sold in 1867, buying the farm on section 5, in Handy, which he now owns. It was then nearly new, with only log buildings. He has improved the land and built fine buildings, and although his farm is small, consisting of but forty- five acres, he has done better than many on farms of three times the size. That he has now so fine a place is due solely to the energy and industry of himself and wife. Mr. Converse has never taken an active part in politics, but votes with the Dem- ocratic party. He was married July 15, 1860, to Miss Emily Miner, who was born Sept. 28, 1838, in Hartland, Mich. She is a daughter of Ezra and Anna M. (Skidmore) Miner.

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History of Livingston County, Michigan, with illustrations and biographical sketches, Part 52

Author: Publication date: Publisher: Number of Pages: 617

Author:
Publication date:
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 617