BIOGRAPHIES - Pages 210-224

     WILLIAM K. HOSLEY. We have here a representative of one of the first families of Livingston County, as the grandfather of our subject came hither from Madison County, IN. in 1836, and settled in Deerfield Township. Here he took seven hundred and twenty acres of Government land, all covered with heavy timber, and lived upon it for many years, subduing it from the condition of a wilderness to that of a highly cultivated farm. His first home was a log (211) house and his earliest neighbors were Indians while the best roadways which he found were Indian trails and blazed trees were the only sign posts,

     William Hosley, a son of this pioneer, is now retired farmer and has seen many years of experience and labor, as he was born in Sullivan, Madison County, N.Y., July 7, 1821, and is the son of Joseph and Sarah (Northrop) Hosley, who were natives of Vermont and New York respectively. They had two Sons, our subject's father, William and Holland. His political views brought him into alliance with the Democratic party and his religious convictions made him a member of the Universalist Church, while his wife was an earnest Methodist.

     William Hosley received but a limited education and remained at home taking charge of the farm until the death of his parents, when the property came into his possession. He lived on the same for many years and finally purchased a grist mill and a sawmill and now owns one hundred an forty acres of land besides having given a farm each of his sons. His seven children are Miner, Betsey, Elijah, Carrie, William, Esther and Emma. The children are all married and each one has presented their proud father with beautiful grandchildren. Miner married Miss Clara Kneeland and his three children are, Lula, Guy and Eda; Lula being now Mrs. Dickerson; Betsey is Mrs. Miller, who has two children, Belle and Stephen, and as Belle married Mr. Purdy and has one child, Claude William Hosley is now a great-grandfather. Elijah married Maria Lawther and has three children--William, Nellie and May; Carrie is now Mrs. Nickel and has one child, Millrose; Esther now Mrs. Beardsley, has five children--Ethel,  Maud, Claud, Lloyd, and an  unnamed infant, and Emma is Mrs. Green whose two children are Clyde and Mabel. The mother of this family to whom William Hosley was united in 1841, bore the maiden name of Miss Eliza Beach. She died in 1890, and Mr. Hosley is now united with Mrs. Deborah J. Cardell, daughter of Lemuel and Mary Fuller who had ten children. Only two of the number are now living, Mrs. McFarland of Jackson Mich., and Mrs. Hosley. This gentleman is a Prohibitionist in his political views and like his father is a Universalist in religious belief. He came to Michigan at an early day, being one of the first in Livingston County, and settled at Oak Grove where his son William K. was born. He had six hundred and forty acres of heavy timber and established a store, besides the mills of which we have already spoken, and in 1881 removed to a farm on section 13, where he resided until 1891, when he removed in to the village of Howell. He, like many others, had a very decided touch of the gold fever and in pursuit of that precious metal traveled to Pike's Peak and New Mexico. 

     William K. Hosley, who is farming on Section 13, of Howell Township, has a fine tract of one hundred and forty acres and is also a buyer of stock of  all kinds which he ships to Detroit and Buffalo. He has a beautiful home over which presides the lady who became his wife. She was known in her maiden days as Janet Millar, and her home previous to marriage was in Detroit. The birthplace of our subject was Oak Grove, Livingston County, and he first saw the light June 24, 1852. He had his education in his new home and started out when eighteen years old selling nursery stock and traveled for four years.

     Somewhat later our subject traveled to California as agent for a sewing machine and spent some two years upon the coast, and it was upon his return to Michigan that he established his home and took to himself a wife. Mrs. Hosley's parents, William and Janet Millar, are Scotch by birth and came to America about 1866, and settled in Detroit where Mr. Millar carried on a wholesale grocery store, but has now retired from business. His three children are Mrs. Hosley, Belle, (Mrs. William Cross), and  Lillia.

     After marriage the original of this sketch came onto the farm in where he now resides and has remained here, except as he has gone away occasionally to buy stock. He and his lovely wife are the happy parents of four children--Grace, Blanch, Carrie and William M. The mother of these little ones is a graduate of the High School of Detroit and is highly educated both in music and in a literary way and is a woman of more than ordinary (212) talent. Mr. Hosley is one of the prominent and leading men in the county and those who are associated with him in the movements of the Democratic party predict still greater success in life. He has already filled several minor offices and has been both successful and satisfactory in the discharge of his business.

     JAY CADY. This progressive, intelligent and thrifty agriculturist, who enjoys the confidence of the business community resides on section 31, Leroy Township, Ingham County. He is a native of Wayne County Mich., and was born January 11, 1834. His parents, David and Mary (Britton) Cady, were both natives of the Empire State, who became early settlers of Wayne County, Mich., and had born to them a large family of children, the following being the survivors; Lewis, David, Clinton, Jesse, George, Aruna,  Jay and William. The grandfather Cady was a Revolutionary soldier and his memory is highly honored in the family. During the early years of Wayne County, the father served as Justice of the Peace and was prominent in public affairs. 

     Jay Cady grew up amid the scenes of pioneer life and early took up the work of a farm. His early education fitted him for practical life, although he did not go beyond the curriculum of the district school. His wedding day was June 29, 1856 and he was then married to Martha Coykendall who was born in New York November 22, 1832. She was the daughter of B. Coykendall of the State of New York and of German extraction. When a child Mrs. Cady emigrated with her parents to Wayne County, Mich. where they became pioneers.

     To our subject and his worthy wife have come four children, only two of whom are now living, namely: Omar and Nelson E., while the two who have passed on to the other world are Clara and Wells. The brothers and sisters of Mrs. Cady are Jerome and Cyrus who lives in Branch County, Mich.; Nelson who lives in Montcalm County and Sophronia, wife of George Rash, whose home is in Washtenaw.

     In 1857 our subject came to Ingham County and made his home in the forest, where now lies his richly cultivated farm. He first built a log cabin 18x24 feet in dimensions and lived therein until 1886, at which time he erected the attractive residence which is now the family home. He now has fifty-five acres of rich and arable land and in the accumulation of this property he has been ably seconded by his faithful helpmate. He is a Democrat in his political convictions, and is earnestly devoted to the progress of that party, but has never been an office-seeker. Both he and his worthy wife are highly esteemed among their neighbors and his reputation for integrity and fair dealing is known throughout the county.

     CANFIELD W. COLE. During the dark days of the Civil War, Michigan did her full share in supplying troops to defend the honor of the old flag and maintain that union of States which has proved to be the strength and glory of our nation. The record of those sons, whom she sent forth, forms a story of hardships nobly borne, battles bravely fought, marches sturdily undertaken, and imprisonment nobly endured from motives of purest patriotism, and it is with pleasure that the biographer takes up his pen to give a life sketch of any one of these heroes, among whom we are glad to name the gentleman who is represented in this narrative.

     Mr. Cole was born April 12, 1831, in the State of New York and is therefore now sixty years old. His grandfather, Daniel Cole, was born in Connecticut and his father, Timothy Cole, was, like himself, a native of New York and a farmer. Betsey Canfield became the wife of Timothy Cole, and to them were granted ten children, three daughters and seven sons and our subject is the seventh child and fifth son.

     (215) The children of Timothy and Betsey Cole are as follows: Cordelia, born August 24, 1819, the wife of O. H. Brace and the mother of three sons; Charles (deceased), born October 15, 1820 and married to Margaret Patterson by whom he, had two children; Calista, born August 10, 1821, who married William T. J. Tucker of Wisconsin, is the mother of ten children; George H. who was born December 6, 1823 and married to Susan Gillett by whom he is the father of three children; E. M. born September 5, 1826; William H. born July 2, 1828, and lives in Kansas; our subject born April 12, 1831; James born March 11, 1832 and lives in Ohio; Temperance T., deceased, born April 19, 1834 and married Mr. Roper by whom she had one child; Albert A. born November 30, 1836.

     He of whom we write had his birth in New York. His first wife, Sarah Elizabeth VanBuren, by name, was a distant relative of President VanBuren. To her he was united upon Christmas Day, 1859, and their wedded life extended over a period of twenty years, as she died September 30, 1879. His second union brought to his home Mary A. Haskin to whom he was married in Michigan. She lived some ten years after her marriage with him, dying June 14, 1889. The present Mrs. Cole bore the maiden name of Emily J. Coon, and she became the wife of our subject in 1890. Her social intercourse is much restricted on account of her affliction by deafness, which is a great drawback to her enjoyment of society.

     In early life Mr. Cole learned the trade of a harness-maker in New York, but has not adhered to that business through life. While in Pennsylvania he carried on a farm and after he returned to New York he learned the trade of a carpenter which he worked at for some time after coming to Michigan in 1862. In 1864 he enlisted in the defense of his country's banner, joining Company G, Tenth Michigan Cavalry, and was a member of the army until the close of the war when he was mustered out and received an honorable discharge. 

     Our subject is carrying on general farm work and keeps upon his place the usual amount of good stock which is to be found upon a first-class farm but does not make a specialty of this branch of agriculture. In years past he has belonged to the Order of Odd Fellows, but is not now an active member of any society except the Grand Army of the Republic. He is upon the pension list of the United States which he richly deserves on account of the brave fighting he did during the war. He is a firm believer in the doctrines embodied in the platform of the Republican party but his interest in the cause of temperance leads him to cast his vote for Prohibition whenever he has an opportunity. He attends the Free Methodist Church.

     COL. FREDERICK SCHNEIDER, This gentleman is interested in several branches of business, viz: Notary public, conveyancing, real estate, insurance, foreign collections, exchange and passage agent, moneys loaned and invested, and titles examined. His office is located at No. 241 North Washington Avenue, Lansing, in his own block, which comprises Nos. 222 and 224 North Washington Avenue. This block is an imposing building, having stores below and flats and offices in the second and third stories. It is in the center of the business part of the city, and is in demand for every department for which it was built.

     Col. Schneider is loyal to the State in which he was born, and feels that having given him life, it will also give him a maintenance among the people with whom for years he has been associated. He was born at Saline, Washtenaw County, Mich., November 24,1840 and is a son of Peter Schneider now deceased, who was a farmer, and a man largely engaged in business at and near Detroit where he was a resident from boyhood. Our subject spent he first three years of his life at Saline, when with his parents he removed to the city of Detroit. His mother was before her marriage, Mary Ruehle, daughter of John Valentine Ruehle and his wife Susanne (Kronenwett) Ruehle. Our subject's paternal grandfather was Balthasar Schneider. Both paternal and maternal grandparents and five other German families came to this country in 1832 and settled at Detroit, they being, so far as is now (216) known, the first German families who came there to make their homes, or indeed, who settled in what was then the territory of Michigan. John Valentine Ruehle, Sr., was a distinguished citizen of Baden, Germany, having been an officer in the War with Napoleon, and also serving as Burgomaster of his native town for a number of years. He was a man of intelligence and energy, bound to succeed wherever placed.

     Shortly after his marriage, Peter Schneider removed to Saline, Washtenaw County, but soon returned to Detroit where he again engaged in business, living part of the time on his farm which is now incorporated in the city. There he engaged in dairying, stock-breeding, manufacturing and building. He remained until 1870, when he sold out all his interests and removed to White Bear Lake, Minn., ten miles north of St. Paul. There, with three of his sons, he engaged in farming on a large scale and carried on his agricultural interests very successfully until they were checked by his death which occurred December 31, 1878. The death of his wife had occurred three months before his decease. They left a family of seven children comprising four sons and three daughters, who are as follows: Frederick, the subject of our sketch, who is the oldest member of the family now living; John Henry, Peter and Charles William, Mary, Sophia and Caroline. Peter Schneider was a charter member of the old Washington Lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows of Detroit, the first lodge that was organized in this State, and an active member of the old Fire Department of Detroit and of the Detroit Scott Guards, and was an ardent Free Soil Whig.

     Our subject received both a common school and academic education in Detroit and afterward graduated from Bryant and Stratton's Commercial College, of the same city. When he had finished his education he went to Chicago, and was there employed as a traveling agent, and later became a shipping clerk for a wholesale grocery and commission house. Before leaving home he had become a member of the Detroit Scott Guards, an old military organization that had been first organized by his uncle, J. V. Ruehle, Jr., in 1840, he being its first Captain, afterward Major in the First Michigan infantry in the Mexican War, and later a Lieutenant-Colonel in the Sixteenth Infantry in the War of the Rebellion.

     Our subject remained in Chicago as a shipping clerk until the first call for troops made by President Lincoln, April 15, 1861, on which day he enlisted. He was not an untrained soldier for he had previously drilled with the Detroit Scott Guards and with the Ellsworth Zouaves of Chicago and was familiar with military drill. The next day after his enlistment at Chicago he received a telegram from the Secretary of the company in Detroit, of which he was still an honorary member, stating that that the whole company had enlisted, and that he (the writer) had saved one place for Mr. Schneider "Would he come? " Our subject immediately had his Chicago enlistment cancelled and wired back that he would come to Detroit by the next train, which he did. The call was for three months volunteers. The Chicago firm for whom he had been working assured him that his salary should go on, which they paid him, and if he came back he should have his position again. Young Schneider entered the company as a private and was soon after sent to the front, his company being the second to offer its service in this State, following the Detroit Light Guards by only twenty minutes. This early response to the call for volunteers, gained his company the option of second place in the First Regiment, or first place in the Second Regiment, and it was decided to take the first position in the Second Regiment, which was being formed simultaneously with the First Regiment. In the meantime, the War Department had ordered that only one regiment should be mustered from Michigan three months. All others must enter for three years or for the duration of the war, and thus his company was the first that enlisted for the three years' service.

     Mr. Schneider was mustered into the United States service on May 25, 1861. Prior to that time he was promoted to be Company Clerk and from that post to Corporal. He was advanced from that position to Sergeant and as such was mustered into the United States service in Company A, of the Second Michigan Infantry. He served with his regiment through the entire war, participating in (217) all its marches, skirmishes and battles, with the exception of two engagements that took place while he Was a prisoner of war and at the same time suffering from a wound. He held nearly every position in the regiment during its term of service, from private to Colonel and was the last Commander of his regiment. During the war he was twice wounded in battle, and once seriously hurt, while on a march, at which time his regiment was engaged in the famous seven days' fight during Gen. McClellan's change of base on the peninsula. Col. Schneider fell into the hands of the enemy at three different times, escaping twice. The last time, however, he was re-captured and held a prisoner of war at Petersburg, Libby Prison, Salisbury Stockade and Danville, and was finally exchanged February 22, 1864, rejoining his regiment the day after the storming of Petersburg. He would have taken part in this engagement had he not been restrained by order of the Provost Marshal, who ordered that all men arriving be held back until the first results of the grand advance were known.

     After rejoining and assuming command of his regiment, Col. Schneider was ordered after the surrender at Appomattox, to Washington and was assigned to duty with his regiment as Provost Guard at the Capitol. He remained at this post until finally mustered out of service with his regiment July 28, 1865, after which he came home with the men who had been associated with him so intimately throughout that desperate struggle. A joyous and grand reception awaited them on their return, and a few days after the regiment was paid off and disbanded, Col. Schneider having served for four and a half  years.

     On returning again to the life of a civilian, Col. Schneider was married August 22, 1865 to Miss Lizzie Strengson, of Detroit, a daughter of Christian Strengson. He had made arrangements to soon thereafter go into business at Kansas City, Mo., but was induced to relinquish the project and accepted the nomination of City Treasurer of Detroit. His acceptance was made by the urgent advice of his numerous friends and relatives on the Republican ticket, but the ticket was defeated the following November in the subsequent election. in January, 1866, a clerkship was offered him in the Auditor-General's office at Lansing, by Auditor-General Emil Anneke. This he accepted and entered on the duties of that office February 1, 1866, and after being an incumbent of that position for one year he was promoted to the position of Chief of the Abstract Department, which place he held until December 31, 1890, covering a period of twenty-five years, minus one month. There being a change of  administration, he resigned, his resignation to take effect December 31.  He went out with the old administration, having served the State for a quarter of a century.

     In 1867, Col. Schneider was appointed agent for Central Michigan of an old foreign exchange and banking house in New York, which appointment he still holds. Shortly afterward, he was appointed correspondent of the German Imperial Consulate, and has ever since been engaged in making foreign collections, outside of his official duties. In 1870 he, in company with his father and two of his brothers, invested in wild lands at White Bear Lake, Minn., and became interested in farming on a large scale. In the year of 1885, he sold out his land interests in the State of Minnesota and invested in Lansing city property, erecting the Schneider Block on North Washington Avenue. It is a handsome brick and stone structure, three stories and basement in height, having forty-four feet frontage and being one hundred feet deep. It compares favorably with any of the business blocks or this city.

     Since our subject's retirement from State service, he has greatly enlarged his business in foreign collections, and has added real estate, fire and life insurance, to which he devotes his attention at the present time. Socially Col. Schneider is as popular as he is well known in the city of Lansing. His wife is a whole-souled, intelligent, and cultured woman, whose presence would be in itself a means of inspiration and impetus to any man. She was born in Germany February 2, 1846, at Tuttlingen in Wurtemberg, and is a daughter of Christian Strengson formerly a merchant and Government official in his native city in Germany. He emigrated to the United States and settled in Detroit about 1850, where he engaged in business and remained until his decease which occurred in (218) 1888, he being at that time eighty-five years of age. Miss Strengson who came to Detroit in her infancy, was educated in Detroit in the same school in which our subject was a student and remained at home with her parents in that city until her marriage.

     Five children have been the issue of the marriage of our subject and his wife but only two still live, namely: Charles Frederick, born at Lansing August 14, 1866, who graduated from the Michigan Agricultural College, and was awarded the degree of Bachelor of Science in the Class of '85. He afterward took a post-graduate course, passed a creditable examination, and was admitted to the United States Signal School at Ft. Meyer, Washington, D. C., from which, after graduating he was assigned to duty as observer in the United States signal service at Colorado Springs and Pike's Peak. He there remained until October, 1888 when he was transferred to the station at Detroit, where he is still on duty. He has a home and family of his own, having been married May 6, 1890, to Miss Carrie Kast, of Detroit. The youngest of our subject's children is a daughter, Elizabeth Helen, who was born July 28, 1889. Col. and Mrs. Schneider are members of the Plymouth Congregational Church. They have a pleasant home at No. 716 Seymour Street, where they have lived since May 12, 1866.

     The attention of the reader is invited to the lithographic portrait of Col. Schneider, which is presented in connection with this sketch.

     ROBERT M. LAMOREAUX. The prosperity and progressiveness of Ingham County, and indeed of Michigan itself, is largely due to the unflagging efforts, of the newspaper men of this section, who from the time the first printing press was set up in the Wolverine State have persistently and intelligently called the attention of investors to the riches to be found in the soil, the waters, the mines and the climate of Michigan. The resources of the State were here just as much in that early day as they are now, but of what avail would they have been to the people of the overcrowded East had they not been advertised in the columns of these newspapers. It is therefore with peculiar pleasure that the biographer responds to the call to give a sketch of the life of any one of the newspaper fraternity.

     Mr. Lamoreaux, the editor of the Ingham County Republican, which is published at Leslie, was born in Steuben County, Ind., February 8, 1865, his honored parents being Henry and Martha (Jones) Lamoreaux whose native States are New York and Ohio respectively. They are married in Angola, Ind., and now make their home it Battle Creek, Mich. Henry Lamoreaux is in moderate circumstances and carries on a farm of eighty acres near Battle Creek, Mich. He has been a Republican all his life but has never been in office as he preferred to devote himself to his chosen vocation of a farmer. Both he and his good wife are earnest and conscientious members of the Methodist Episcopal Church and the parents of four children: Charles, Robert M., Lee and Anna.

     The subject of this, sketch is the second child in age in his father's family and grew up upon the farm in Scott Township, Steuben County, until he reached the age of eight years, at which time his parents moved to Fennville, Allegan County, Mich., and four  years later removed to Calhoun County. The district school gave this boy his elementary education, which was supplemented by attendance upon the High School at Battle Creek. He remained with his father, assisting him upon his farm and learning practical lessons of industry, perseverance and thrift until he reached his majority, when he determined to learn the printer's trade and entered the office of the Daily Moon, at Battle Creek, as an apprentice. He remained in that office for three years and subsequently worked at his trade in Kalamazoo, Decatur, and South Bend, lnd.

     Somewhat later the young printer conceived the idea of making an independent start in the newspaper line and going to Augusta, Mich., he purchased the Augusta Chronicle, which he published for a year and a half, after which he sold out and purchased the Galesburg Enterprise, at Galesburg, (219) Mich. After operating this paper for a few months Mr. Lamoreaux went to Detroit and worked on the Evening News for a short time, after which he came on New Year's Day, 1891, to Leslie, and bought out the Ingham County Republican, the organ of the Republican party in this section, having at the time a circulation of five hundred. By his purchase he took entire charge of the paper and is now sole editor and proprietor.

     Mr. Lamoreaux, as is natural to one in his position, takes a keen interest in public affairs and is especially interested in the movements of the Republican party, which he represents. He is a warm advocate of temperance and a member of the order of Good Templars. His marriage which took place September 8, 1891, brought to his home Clara B. a daughter of William and Maria (Connor) Wickham, of Calhoun County, Mich. Two years prior to her marriage, Mrs. Lamoreaux was graduated in stenography and type-writing and has become a faithful partner in business with her husband. On November 1, 1891, Mr. Lamoreaux ventured still further in the journalistic tide and established the Battle Creek Tribune, a firm advocate of Republicanism. His first issue came out the week of election giving Ohio's victory. In Battle Creek he has taken up his permanent abode with office and household, and already ranks among the foremost citizens of the place.

     GEORGE DUNCKEL, the present efficient and popular Supervisor of Locke Township, Ingham County, whose home is located on section 28, was born in Ontario, Canada, July 24, 1829. His parents were Nicholas F. and Catherine Dunckel, and both were natives of New York and of German ancestry on both sides. Their progenitors settled along the beautiful Mohawk Valley in New York several centuries ago and many of them were valiant soldiers in the Revolutionary War and also in the War of 1812.

     When but a small boy our subject emigrated with his parents to Michigan when it was yet a Territory, and for several years the family resided in Wayne County, whence they removed to Livingston County, and resided there for a time, coming to Ingham County in the fall of 1842. Here the family made its home in Locke Township, and both parents died in this new home. Of a large family of children born to them the following survive, namely: Mrs. Megineron, Oshea G., Daniel, George, William and Mrs. Cornelius Dietz.

     The father of our subject was one of the representative pioneers of this county, and had reached his eighty-sixth year when he passed from earth, his loss being greatly felt in the neighborhood. His son George was reared to manhood in Locke Township, amid the scenes of pioneer life and did his full share in the clearing of the forests, and breaking up of the virgin soil. His father was a carpenter and joiner, and at the age of eighteen the young man decided to learn his father's trade, and followed it for over a quarter of a century, becoming a contractor and builder, and employing at times a large number of hands. It is claimed that he has built as many barns and mills in Ingham County as any man who can be named, and much of his handiwork is still to be seen in the residences and barns of Locke Township.

     For the last few years Mr. Dunckel has devoted himself exclusively to agricultural pursuits. He received the rudiments of his education in the early district schools of this county. His own efforts have made of him a well-read gentleman and he has earnestly co-operated with every effort to advance the best interests of the community. His marriage with Lydia Hill, September 30, 1855, brought him eight children, of whom the following survive: Marcena, Lina, Robert, Edna and Stanley.

     The present Mrs. Dunckel became the wife of our subject in July, 1884, and she has borne him one son, Moses. Before her union with him she was a widow, Mrs. Henrietta Fairbanks. Mr. Dunckel now owns two hundred and seventy-six acres of land, most of which is well cultivated. He has served for a number of years as Treasurer of Locke Township, and is now upon his third (220) term as Supervisor, where he is serving with credit both to himself and his constituents. He is one of the leading agriculturists of Ingham County, and is a public-spirited and enterprising man and warmly interested in the movement of public affairs and the progress of the Republican party, to which he is deeply attached.

     MRS. MARY A. CURTIS. Until within a few years there has been a cruel practice in vogue in Hindostan in which the widow of a deceased husband immolated herself upon the funeral pyre of her deceased spouse in order to prove beyond a doubt her fidelity and loyalty. In more enlightened countries that same devotion is better proved by living, and taking up the dropped threads that have fallen from the nerveless fingers of the departed, the loving survivor completes the fabric, making it harmonious and lovely. Thus has done the lady whose name is above and whose biography it is our pleasant privilege to here chronicle.

     Our subject is the widow of Benjamin Curtis, who was born in Madison County, N.Y., August 21, 1816. His parents were Victory and Mary (Tucker) Curtis, natives of New York, whence they came West in 1836 and settled in the town of Howell, where they spent the remainder of their lives in farming, passing away at a good old age in this State. Mr. Curtis received his education in his native State and came West with his family. He was reared a farmer and became the owner of two hundred and eighty acres in this county. During his life he was honored by the appointment or election to various offices in the township of Handy. He lived here fifty years and during that time his interests became entirely bound up in the place; he died in 1874. For many years he had been an ardent Democrat, adhering strictly to the original principles of the party, in their purity.

     Mr. Curtis and our subject were married June 14, 1838. She whose name is at the head of this sketch was prior to her union with Mr. Curtis, Miss Mary A. Bush. She was born in Danby Township, Tompkins County, N.Y., February 26, 1816. She is the daughter of John and Hannah (Dykeman) Bush, natives of Pennsylvania and Connecticut, respectively. They were married in New York where he was engaged in farming and in 1837 came to Handy Township, where he first took up two hundred and seven acres of land from the Government. He at once built a comfortable log house, which, however, during the first summer was without doors or chimney. He cleared the farm and at the time of his decease owned over seven hundred acres of fine land. On first coming to the State the country was very wild and the shy denizens of the forest had not yet learned to be fearful of man. Mr. Bush frequently went out before breakfast and killed a deer. Politically he was a Democrat. His death occurred June 19, 1862, his natal day having been November 4,1793. Mrs. Curtis' mother died November 17, 1879; she was born October 5, 1794. Of four children she of whom we write is the oldest and only surviving one. The second one was Electa, who married Mr. A. Barnard David, and Maria who became Mrs. Sylvester Tanner.

     Mrs. Curtis was educated in New York at a district school and after completing her course she taught for five terms in her native State. She came West with her parents, they taking the lake route to Detroit, and thence coming hither by private conveyances. They stopped on the way in Brighton, Livingston County, Mich. at a store and while there Mrs. Curtis engaged to teach school, taking charge of the school two weeks, and having been the first teacher in that village. She taught for three months and received $1.50 per week and her board. Her first school was in Conway Township and was kept in a shanty with a bark roof and floor.

     The original of our sketch is a lady of unquestionable culture and refinement. After her marriage and giving up her teaching she engaged in farming with her husband, being his co-partner and worker until his death. Six children came as a pledge of their wedded affection, four of whom are now living and all being men and women grown who have homes of their own. The eldest daughter, Justina is Mrs. Enos Sowles, of Howell Township; she is the mother of two children--Mary and Rosa. Armintha is Mrs. C. Hopkins and has three children--Eva, Lottie and Amelia. Rual married Miss Harriet Winer. By a former wife, Hannah Hyne, he is the father of three children--Nellie, Myrtie and Lloyd. Frank H. married Julia Tompkins and is the father of three children--Fred, Clyde and Nellie. Permelia, who became Mrs. Adams, died in 1863, leaving one child, a daughter, Carrie. Mrs. Curtis rents her homestead and resides in a beautiful home in Fowlerville. She is known far and near and her friends are many.

     S. A. DARWIN. Among the families, who came to Michigan earl y in the '30s is the one represented by the gentleman whose name appears at the head of this paragraph. They went through with the usual experiences of early settlers, and bravely endured hardships and helped to build up a prosperous and intelligent community for future generations. Scarcely enough praise can be said in honor of those early families who builded better than they knew, and whose worth can only be appreciated by their children and by those who study deeply into the real root of the present wealth and high standing of the Wolverine State.

     Seth C. Darwin, the father of our subject, was a native of Massachusetts, who married a woman of his own State, Wealthy Merrill by name, and made his home with her in 1817 in Monroe County, N.Y. There they lived until 1835, when he came to Michigan and bought land in Marion Township, Livingston County, taking five hundred and sixty acres of wild land. He returned to New York and resided there for several years, and then came to Michigan and made his home for a year with his son S., after which he moved into a log house in Marion Township, where he lived for a number of years. After this he sold his property there and moved to Ann Arbor, where his daughter was making her home, having married Dr. Hutton, of the University, who, after leaving the University, practiced medicine in Detroit. Seth Darwin had lost his wife in 1843, and he survived her many years. They were the parents of eight children, four of whom are now living.

     He of whom we write was born in Pittsfield, Mass., March 28, 1813, and was granted a common school education and such advantages as his friends could secure for him, and came to Michigan when he was twenty-three years old. He settled upon one hundred and twenty acres in Marion Township, Livingston County, and here he brought his bride, to whom he was united in marriage March 13, 1836. This lady, Sarah Ann Bullard by name, was born in Ontario County, N.Y., in 1817. Before bringing her on he had built a log house, and as they were very poor, and Mrs. Darwin was anxious to help forward not only in the civilization of their new home, but in the family expense's, she taught School at Ypsilanti for one term. Their log cabin was of the most primitive kind as it had no floor and no gable end. They built the fire next to the logs, as they had no regular chimney. Indians and wild animals abounded and venison was easy to procure.

     Eight acres of land was soon cleared and wheat sown in it, and in winter he proceeded to fence his land. They were a robust and healthy young couple, land greatly enjoyed this camping-out kind of life, and, like the sparrows, trusted in their Heavenly Father that their food would not fail. During the few years that they lived there they put sixty acres under improvement, but finally sold out and coming to Putnam County, settled upon one hundred and twenty acres that had been partly improved and had upon it a comfortable frame house.

     In 1863 they had the misfortune of losing their home and everything it contained by fire, but Mr. Darwin promptly rebuilt and erected a pleasant and commodious home, in which he has lived ever since. One hundred of his broad acres are now under cultivation, and twenty still remain woodland. Although now much past his three-score years and ten, he carries on the farm with the help of a hired man. Two daughters and one son were granted to this excellent couple--Ellen A. and (222) Frances A. have both taught, and Frances is now the wife of Charles Stickles. The son, Edwin A., was killed by a tree falling upon him. when be was twenty-four years old. He left a wife and one child. The mother is an earnest and efficient member of the Congregational Church, but is now an invalid and confined to her bed, which is a severe trial to all the family.

     Mr. Darwin has filled a number of important official positions, having been a member of the School Board, and in Marion Township he was a Constable for two years. He is a temperate man in his habits, and in his political opinions sympathizes with the Republican party, in which he takes a great interest. He has been a hard worker all his life, but still enjoys excellent health. He began without means, as he received nothing from his father, and his success is entirely due to the combined efforts of himself and wife, who have worked in harmony for the success of every endeavor. He has some inventive genius, and has a bean planter which is entirely his own design, and which he has been using this year, operating it with a single horse, and planting ten acres per day with it, which is a great improvement upon the old methods.

     JOSEPH FRANK. Just, north of Fowlerville may be seen a beautiful farm, which is adorned by a handsome residence and has first-class farm buildings upon it. There is a beautiful orchard, and in its fields and its stock barns are to be seen the finest grades of stock, such as Short-horn cattle, Shropshire sheep and fine grade horses. This is the property of the gentleman whose name we have just given, who came to Handy Township, Livingston County, in 1874, and purchased one hundred and twenty acres of land.

     Our subject was born in England, February 22, 1845, and his parents were James and Sarah (Bradley) Frank, who came to America in 1852, and made their first home in New York, where for three years they engaged in farming. After that time they concluded to try their fortune farther west and coming to Michigan, purchased a farm of eighty acres in Conway Township, Livingston County. This new home was a heavily timbered property, and they took up their abode in a log house. This place is now finely improved, and upon it may be found as good a house and barns as may be seen in many a mile's ride.

     The father of James Frank was a farmer in England, and bore the name of John. Of his family of five children two still survive--Hawkins, who remained in the old country; and James, who became the father of our subject. The maternal grandfather of our subject was also an English farmer with a large family of children, only two of whom, Sarah, Mrs. Frank, and her brother, John, have come to this country. James and Sarah Frank had thirteen children, and eight of those are still pursuing their earthly career, namely: Our subject, William, Hannah (Mrs. Cassiday), Alice (Mrs. Gould), Elijah, James, Nelson and Sarah (Mrs. Kingsley). The father belongs to the Union Labor party, and is one of the prominent men of this belief in Conway Township. He has held various township offices, and his services have been uniformly satisfactory to his constituents.

     Joseph Frank was educated in the district schools of Conway Township, and lived at home until he was eighteen years old, when he began farming in an independent way, and bought in Conway Township eighty acres of timber land, which he proceeded to clear off. Somewhat later he sold that property and came to Handy Township. He has held various township and school offices, and has been especially useful as Commissioner of Highways. It was in 1871 that he married Miss Joycie Tanner, daughter of John A. and Nancy (Gould) Tanner, both natives of Michigan. Four children have blessed this happy home--Jay, Minnie, May and G. D.

     The Democratic party embodies in its declarations the principles which Mr. Frank believes to be most conducive to the prosperity of the country, and he therefore gives to it his vote and voice. He is prominently identified with the order of Odd (225) Fellows. Mrs. Frank is possessed of a liberal education, having completed her studies at Howell, and she is an active worker in the Sunday-school and church, being connected with the Methodist Episcopal Church.