BIOGRAPHIES - Pages 385-395

     (385) WILLIAM K. PRUDDEN. There is something in the impulsive Southern nature that has an understanding of horseflesh aside from the appreciation of its value in dollars and cents, and our subject, who is a Georgian by birth and bringing up, comes naturally by his taste in this direction. He is deeply interested in breeding and raising standard-bred horses, and has some of the finest horses in the State. He is also largely engaged in dealing in pine lands, from which such large fortunes are at present realized both in the far North and in the South.

     Mr. Prudden was born in Macon, Ga., January 29, 1859. He is, however, of New England parentage, his father having been Nathan S. Prudden of Milford, Conn., while his grandfather was an old Eastern settler, of Scotch and English descent. His ancestors located in Connecticut in 1654, and the family are still well and honorably known there. Our subject's father was engaged in business as a dry-goods merchant, and about 1850 removed to Eatonton, Ga., and thence to Macon, remaining there until about 1865. During the war he lost the greater part of his property and in 1865 returned to his native State, sick both in heart and body. He died at West Haven, at the age of forty years. Our subject's mother was, prior to her marriage, Miss Amelia Keith. She was born at Clifton Springs, N.Y. She was a daughter of George Keith, who was also a native of New York, but went South and became a merchant in Columbus, Ga.

     When a youth Mr. Prudden removed to Utica, N.Y., with his mother and there he had the advantages offered by the public schools of the city, which were remarkably good, until he was twelve years of age. He then went to Indianapolis with her and there was graduated from the High School. In 1875 he entered the Agricultural College at Lansing and graduated in 1873, taking the degree of Bachelor of Science. The honor was conferred upon him of delivering the class oration and he produced a masterly effort, both from a literary standpoint and oratorically. After leaving college he entered the office of J. M. Turner, who is engaged in the land business, and remained with him until 1882, when he went into business for himself, dealing in timber lands, especially pine lands, since which time he has continued in the business giving to it his whole attention until 1888. At that time he purchased a one-half interest in the Lansing Wheel Company and became its Secretary and Treasurer, in which position he remained for three years. In 1890 he sold out his interest and now devotes himself to dealing in real estate and pine lands. The lands which he handles are mostly located in the Northern Peninsula. He has forty acres adjoining the city of Lansing which is admirably located and bound to be in time, one of its most valuable and attractive additions.

     He of whom we write is President of the Michigan Knitting Company, having been instrumental (386) in re-organizing this company and in giving this industry a broader opening than it has ever before enjoyed. He is also a stockholder and Director in the Ingham County Savings Bank. His taste for horses is to him a luxury, and he breeds blooded animals, especially the Hambletonians. He is the owner of "Nellie B.", whose record is 2:24. Mr. Prudden is a member of the Lansing Driving Club, and no one handles the ribbons with more skill and dexterity than does he when on the road with one of his favorite horses.

     Mr. Prudden was married in the city of Lansing, January 2, 1883, to Miss Jennie E. Whitney, who is a native of this city. She is a graduate of the High School here and a lady of striking accomplishments and talents besides great personal attractions. She is the mother of two children, whose names are respectively Amy and Edwina. Mr. and Mrs. Prudden are both communicants of St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Mr. Prudden being a Vestryman in that body. Politically he is a Republican, casting his vote and influence with that party.

     JOHN B. VOISELLE, the senior member of the firm of Voiselle & Larose, decorators and frescoers of Lansing, Ingham County, also carries a fine stock of wall paper, will do shades and room moldings, and is a contractor in house and sign painting. This gentleman who was born in Quebec, May 27, 1844, remained there till he reached the age of seventeen, and being brought up among the French-Canadians, reads and speaks French like a native.

     John Voiselle the honored father of our subject was born in Quebec and became engaged as a stevedore, most, of his work being in the line of handling square timbers. In the year of 1815 he made a trip to Detroit, but remained only a few years, as he returned to Quebec and resumed his former work. The grandfather also bore the name of John and was born in Normandy, France, and was driven front the country during the Revolution of 1793, because of his noble birth and blood. The name was originally Vaiselle. The grandfather came to Quebec by way of England and brought with him property. During the early conflicts he was an officer of the English army in the old fort at Detroit, but finally died at Quebec. The father in his early days was engaged in the grocery business, but finally became as we have said a stevedore and died in Quebec in 1886. The mother of our subject bore the maiden name of Sophia Bedaur, and was a native of Quebec and a daughter of Joseph Bedaur. She also spent her days in that old French-American city and died in the faith of the Roman Catholic Church, July 5, 1866. Of her seven children, our subject is the eldest.

     John was educated in the Christian Brothers School at Quebec and when he reached the age of thirteen Years he was apprenticed to learn the painter's trade and remained with his master until seventeen years old. In 1863 he went to Ontonagon and took charge of the painting of the Bigelow Hotel and somewhat later worked in the copper mines. In 1865 he went on a trip to the far West by the way of Lawrence, Kan., and Denver to the coast, after which he returned to Quebec.

     In 1865 the young man enlisted as a volunteer in the Ninth battalion of Quebec Volunteers to put down the Fenian Raid. These troops were disbanded in July of the succeeding year and Mr. Voiselle then went to work at Montmorency Falls, until the great fire, at which time he first met his partner. He worked at his trade in Troy, N.Y., for eighteen months and then traveled in various cities in the East and South, touching Savannah, Ga., London, Conn., Boston, Mass., and Portland, Me., and in 1868 he went into business with Mr. Larose, at Woonsocket Falls, R.I., and later tried business ventures at Chicago and Detroit.

     Lansing finally became the home of Mr. Voiselle as he came here September 17, 1877 to take the position of foreman for Dean, Brown & Godfrey in painting the State Capitol. He had entire charge of the work and he and Mr. Larose, with whom he again engaged in business in 1879, executed the finer parts of the work themselves.  

     This flourishing firm which began with a small (387) capital and in a quiet way has gradually increased its business until now they are able to handle anything in their line. They have a pleasant place of business and keep in stock a full and well selected line of wall paper, paints and oils, molding and window shades. They never have less than six assistants at their work and sometimes employ as many as twenty men, and are the oldest firm in this business in Lansing.

     Mr. Voiselle owns five residences on Allegan and Pine Streets and devotes considerable attention outside his business to real estate, owning property both in Petoskey and Detroit. In his political views he is a Democrat, but is not active in public matters. In 1889 he took a trip to Europe, sailing from New York, July 6, by the steamer "LaGoskine" and had a very pleasant voyage, landing at Havre and visiting not only Paris but also the French Provinces, as well as Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Belgium, England and Scotland, and on his way back to Lansing, stopping for sometime at his old home in Quebec. On this journey Mr. Voiselle had abundant opportunity to study his craft and see what others were doing in his line of work among the most artistic nations of the world.

     REV. JULIUS S. VALENTINE. When we see a good man prematurely old through service to his God and his country, we are filled with true and tender emotions which are honorable to our humanity and a just tribute to the worth of the man before us. Such are the experiences of those who know the gentleman whose name appears at the head of this sketch who now calls himself a superanuated minister but who, had it not been for the brave service which he has done both in the ministry and the army, would still be active in his calling.

     Our subject was born in Lima, Allen County, Ohio, August 11, 1839. His father, Crane Valentine, was born in Essex County, N.J., October 28, 1797, and his grandfather, William, also a native of New Jersey and a farmer in Essex County, took part in the War of 1812 and afterward removed to Champaign County, Ohio, where he spent the remainder of his days. This family in America is descended from three brothers, who were sons of Lord Valentine a member of Parliament in England. These sons settled in New Jersey and the grandson of one of them was the grandfather of our subject. The name is a very old one in England dating back to the year 140.

     The father of Julius Valentine was a farmer in Ohio and had come to that State with his parents, settling in Champaign County when it was called Allen County. In 1845 he came to Michigan and located in Watervliet, Berrien County, where he bought and improved a farm. This successful man who was prominent in public affairs, being first a
Whig and afterward a Republican in his political views, died in 1886. He was a Presbyterian in his church connection and had been an Elder in the church.

     The mother of our subject bore the maiden name of Nancy Musser and was born in Lancaster, Pa., February 28, 1800. Her father, Daniel, was born in the Keystone State and became an early settler in Ohio. His good wife was Betsey Crane, being a daughter of Nathaniel Crane, of New York, who was seven years in the Revolutionary Army, much of the time as a spy, and being a Lieutenant and an Aid-de-Camp to Gen. Washington. He died in New York. The mother of our subject passed away June 11, 1887, leaving five children of whom our subject was next to the eldest.

     Julius Valentine came to Michigan when six years of age, traveling with a family with team. He was reared upon the farm and remained there until he reached the age of  twenty-eight years, having received the best advantages which were to be obtained in the district schools.

     The call of Abraham Lincoln in the year 1861 awakened a spirit of brave devotion in many a loyal young heart, and among these young men was our subject, who enlisted in September of that year in Company B, Twelfth Michigan Infantry. He was at once sent South and took part in the battle of Shiloh and other conflicts. After one year's service he was taken ill and spent some time (388) in the hospital and finally received his honorable discharge at the hospital at Detroit and came home. His eyes have always suffered from the exposure to which he was subjected during his term of service, and he is now almost blind. 

     Mr. Valentine at once engaged in teaching and when a year later he was drafted he responded cheerfully to the call but was rejected on account of his physical disability, and resumed teaching. Eight months later he re-enlisted in the Eleventh Michigan Cavalry and was rejected again, but quite undaunted he applied for enlistment in the Twenty-sixth Michigan Infantry and was a third time rejected.

     Teaching now engrossed the attention of the young man and while pursuing his profession he continued his own higher education, and is in this respect a thoroughly self-made man. He was the Principal at the Colomo Schools at the time when he determined to enter the ministry. He became a local preacher at Three Rivers and a member of the Conference, and had his first pastorate of one year at Waverly, Van Buren County, after which he was two years at Stevensville, and was ordained as minister at St. Joseph in 1871. He then preached at New Buffalo for one year and in 1873 went to Byron for two years and while there built the church at Byron Center; he then took charge of the church at Cooper, Kalamazoo County, for one year, after which he was one year at Bedford, two years at Plainville, Allegan County; one year at Berrien Springs and one year at Grand Rapids, where he built the Ames Church.

      In 1882 Mr. Valentine came to Lansing, and was over the First Methodist Episcopal Church for three years, subsequent to which he took charge of the church at Shelby, Oceana County, for two years and then retired from active ministry on account of his eyesight. He built the pleasant home in which he lives on Capital Avenue, No. 717. This good man has earned and receives the respect and affection of thousands of friends in the various parishes to which he has ministered in this State, and his noble character, his unflinching devotion to duty and his true spirituality have made him a power for good in every place to which in the providence of God he has been called.

     In 1870 Mr. Valentine chose a companion for life in the person of Miss Lottie E. Elms, of Van Buren County. She was born in Fayetteville, N.Y., in 1845 and is a daughter of J. C. Elms, who was an early settler and successful farmer in Van Buren County. One child, Arthur, has been granted to him and his good wife. He is a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen, of the Independent Order of Good Templars, of the Modern Woodmen of America and of the Grand Army of the Republic. In Foster Post he has served as Chaplain. He still occasionally preaches and is often called upon to attend funerals as those who have known and loved him for years feel that they need his gentle ministrations in their hour of sorrow. He is a Republican in his political convictions but feels that ordinary issues pale into insignificance at the present time, in comparison with the problem of how to dethrone the liquor power, and he is therefore in hearty sympathy with Prohibition movements.

     OSCAR A. CLARK. A man who has for a series of years filled wisely, judiciously and conscientiously the office of Justice of the Peace, has seen opened and broadened before him a grand field of work for the good of his fellow citizens. Our subject has thus served the First and Fourth Wards of the city of Lansing, Ingham County, since April, 1879, when he was first elected to fill a vacancy of one month. In his incumbency of that office he has by means of his thorough study of the cases which have fallen within his jurisdiction and of the statutes of Michigan and the rulings of the common law, adjusted satisfactorily thousands of cases which might else have resulted in tedious, expensive and harassing suits at law, and he has thus exerted a beneficent influence in the community. His last election, which has only recently transpired, brings him to the opening of another four years' term, which will make a total of sixteen years in this office. In this last campaign (389) all parties united in making him their candidate, thus giving him all endorsement of which any man might feel proud.

     Mr. Clark was born in Webster, Monroe County, N.Y., May 13, 1829, and is the son of John G. Clark, who went to that locality in 1805, having been born near Auburn, N.Y., in 1799. With his faithful and beloved wife, Harriet (Peet) Clark, of Dutchess County, N.Y., they lived in harmonious wedded life for over sixty-three years, and she was then bereaved of his companionship by death in 1884, and she passed away in 1887. He and Mr. Peet, a brother of his wife, were the first settlers of Rochester, Lorain County, Ohio, to which place they removed in the early days of that region.

     Our subject left Rochester in 1861, having had charge of his father's farm from the time he was eighteen years old. His wife bore the name in her maidenhood of Carrie Sears, and was born in Greenwich, Hampshire County, Mass., and was the daughter of Turner and Mary E. (Marcy) Sears. Mrs. Sears lived until quite recently in this city, and died in 1885, at the age of eighty-five years. The wedding day of our subject was May 20, 1856.

     In 1861 our subject removed to Benzonia, Benzie County, this State, which was then a perfect wilderness; here he remained for one year, erecting for himself the first good house that was built in Benzie. The following year he came to Duplain Township, Clinton County, and located near the village of Elsie, taking a farm and entering into the lumber business. After three years there he removed to Lansing in October, 1865, and engaged in the lumber trade. In this he remained until he was elected to the office of Justice of the Peace, his yard being on Franklin Street and having a mill at the west end of the mill dam. Since 1879 he has given his whole attention to official duties.

     Mr. Clark still resides at No. 1209 Walnut Street, N., the same house which he bought in March, 1865, and it is situated in an attractive and well-settled part of the city. To this happy home one daughter was granted, Cora, who is now the wife of John I. Carpenter an attorney who resides on Franklin Street. They are the parents of one living child, Dwight Clark. The Franklin Street Presbyterian Church is the religious body with which Mr. and Mrs. Clark have long been identified, find in which they have found an abundant field for usefulness and labor. Their influence for good is felt in the community, and they are loved and respected for their sterling character and true neighborly kindness.

     ELMER D. NORTH, M. D. Among the men of Lansing, prominent in social and educational and professional circles we find the gentleman of whom we speak in this writing. He has filled a number of responsible positions here, having been County Superintendent of Schools from 1871 to 1875. He was born in Delhi Township, Ingham County, February 18, 1841, and is a son of H. H. North, who was a native of the township of Lansing, Tompkins County, N.Y. The grandfather, Joseph E., was a native of Pennsylvania, and was a farmer on the Schuylkill River. He served in the War of 1812 and came to Michigan in 1838, locating in the township of Lansing which he named from the township from which he came. In the fall he walked back home and in 1839 brought his family to the new home. He entered land on section 33, which was covered with a splendid grove of beech and maple trees, and having built a log house, he proceeded to improve the farm. He was Supervisor for fourteen years and for much of that time acted as Chairman of the Board. He died November 5, 1862, having reached his seventy-first year. The family traces its lineage back to England but the descendants have been for generations in this country.

     H. H. North came to Michigan with his father, and being a mason by trade found abundant opportunities for employment, engaging largely in building as well as entering and improving land in Delhi Township, which was then a part of Lansing Township. When that portion was set off as a separate corporation he gave to it the name of Delhi. He died on his farm in 1885, aged sixty-nine years. He had been Supervisor of the Township and was a man of prominence and influence (390) in the community. His wife, whose maiden name was Almira Buck, was also a native of Tompkins County, N.Y., and a daughter of Daniel Buck, of Lansing Township. She was a sister of Mr. Daniel W. Buck, whose biographical sketch will be found elsewhere in this volume. She died in Delhi Township in May, 1890, having reached the age of seventy-three years. Both she and her husband were earnest, and active members of the Presbyterian Church.

     Nine children were granted to the excellent couple of whom we have just been speaking, and eight of them grew to man's and woman's estate, of whom seven are now living, namely: Marian L., Mrs. Holmes, who died at Delhi; Dr. North, our subject; Albert E., who belonged to the Seventh Michigan Veteran Cavalry, having enlisted in 1864 and served until the close of the war; he now resides in Dakota; Henry E., who was a member of the Eighteenth Michigan Regiment but being disabled was discharged after one year's service and now lives in Delhi Township; Dr. James S., of Delhi Township; Myra L., Mrs. Field, of Dansville; Hattie B., Mrs. Wilcox, of Lansing Township; Howard, who died at the age of four years; and Theron C., of Delhi Township,

     The childhood of our subject was spent on the farm and in the district schools of the neighborhood, which were then held in private houses. He was able to attend only the winter schools but when a little older attended Taylor's Academy at Lansing. At the age of eighteen he engaged in teaching in Delhi Township and the next year in Delta, Eaton County. He entered Michigan Agricultural College in the spring of 1861 but did not remain there long, as in the fall his patriotic impulses got the better of his love for learning, and he laid his opportunities for education upon the altar of his country.

     It was in Company E, Eighth Michigan Infantry that this young man began service as a private, being mustered in at Ft. Wayne, Detroit, but he was afterward transferred to the Fourteenth Michigan Infantry, in Company D, in which he served as Sergeant. This regiment was placed in the Fourteenth Army Corps in the Army of the Cumberland and was active during the siege of Corinth. He served three years and seven months and received his discharge March 14, 1865.

     Returning home, the young veteran again attended school for a short time at the old academy in Lansing. In April of 1867 he entered Albion College, where he took the degree of Bachelor of Sciences in 1870. After teaching seven months in Leslie, this county, he was elected County Superintendent of Schools, in which office he served four years. After this he taught for a number of years at the Dansville High School after which he took up the study of medicine. In 1879 he entered the Detroit Medical College where he took the degree of Doctor of Medicine in 1881, and then located in Lansing and took up his practice here. He devotes his whole attention and time to his profession and is a member not only of the Lansing Medical Society but of the State Medical Society. He is Secretary of the Board of Examining Surgeons for Pensions and has been on that board for six years. He is a lover of fine horses and still retains a part of the old homestead, a handsome tract of one hundred and sixty acres. He is identified with the Charles T. Foster Post, G. A. R. He is often appointed delegate to county and State Democratic Conventions and is stanch in his allegiance to that party.

     HON. DANIEL W. BUCK. He of whom we write is one of the men who give dignity and tone to the community by the honorable advantage of their age. He is one of the earliest pioneers and his career has been closely associated with that of the capital city since its location, he having settled here in October, 1848. He is the proprietor of Buck's furniture and undertaking rooms at the corner of Washington and Ionia Streets, a building that is conspicuous, not only in in the city, but it is known throughout Central Michigan as one of the finest in this portion of the State.

     Mr. Buck was born in the town of Lansing, N.Y., April 21,1828. He is the son of Daniel Buck, Sr., (393) who was one of the early settlers of that county and there our subject attained to manhood, remaining in his native county until 1843, and then removed to Ithica, Tompkins County, and there he learned the trade of a cabinet-maker. After becoming proficient in his chosen profession he came to Michigan and settled in Lansing, locating in business for himself in 1848. His place of business was where the City National Bank now stands and at that time it was in the midst of the woods. There were only a few families here, the population all told not counting probably two hundred and fifty. The subject that the people were at that time most interested in was the cutting out of roads, which was no small task as the country was densely wooded and dynamite had not been discovered by which the stumps and roots could be torn from the ground. The process of clearing was the slow one of chopping and burning, and so endless did the supply of wood seem to the early settlers that they burnt the timber that they cut down most ruthlessly.

     Mr. Buck first located at the corner of Washington and Michigan Avenues, at the present time the business center of the city. Them he remained eight years and in 1856 came to his present location in order to get more room, and since changing he has carried on his business here ever since, being the oldest firm in this branch of business in the city by many years. Public spirited and interested in the growth of the town the gentleman of whom we write allowed no opportunity to pass in which he could by word or deed help in the upbuilding of the place. He was one of the most prominent agitators in the subject of erecting an opera-house, contributing largely to the amount required from his own resources. Outside of this he has given his exclusive attention to his business.

     Mr. Buck was elected Mayor of the city in the spring of 1874 and re-elected in 1875 and again in 1886. Before that he had been a member of the Council and one of the aggressive sort, never backward in suggesting or taking advantage of what appeared to be of benefit to the city. He. is a member of the Masonic order, Lansing Commandery No. 25, and Lodge No. 33. Although one of the most prominent men of the city and deservedly popular, he is naturally modest and retiring, loth to accept office when it can be avoided, that is to say, when there is some one else who is loyal to the interests of the municipality who is eligible to the position.

     May 11, 1863, Mr. Buck married Miss Nancy M. Russell, of Crown Point, Essex County, N.Y. This union has been blessed by the birth of five children, all of whom are living and have risen to call their parents blessed. They are by name, Mayton J., Florence A., Mary E., Bailey M. and Martha E. Mr. Buck leaves the management of his business almost entirely with his sons, M. J. and B. M. Buck. The daughters are still at home and draw about them a delightful social circle. in 1890 Mr. Buck modernized his business place by putting a fine new storefront. He also introduced an elevator with other modern conveniences. Politically he is a stanch supporter of the principles of the Democratic party and influential in its councils in this part of the State.

     JUDGE WILLIAM H. PINCKNEY. The gentleman whose name is quoted above and whose portrait is shown on the opposite page is numbered among the oldest attorneys in the city of Lansing, Ingham County, he having located here in 1850. He was born in the township of White Plains, Westchester County, N.Y., March 18, 1822. A believer in astrology would tell us that our subject's career has been presided over by, the same planetary influences that were in the ascendant at the time of his birth and that have led the history of our country from, a time of peace, though commercial struggles through the tempests of war, to unparalleled prosperity. We can only hope that the parallel will be continued and that Judge Pinckney's honorable position may be characterized in the same way and proportion in which our Government has grown.

     Judge Pinckney is the son of James and Esther (Griffin) Pinckney, who were farmers by occupation (394) and calling. They moved to Cayuga County in 1823, the year following our subject's birth and there he passed his boyhood. His father's farm was only three and a half miles from the beautiful town of Auburn, Cayuga County, N.Y., which even then had a high reputation for its educational advantages. There he received his academic training. The father of our subject had nine sons and two daughters and these he allowed to go to the city and to enjoy such advantages as were offered, provided they thought enough of the advantages to make all effort to get through the work incident to the farm and to walk the distance to the academy, which was four miles. The fact that our subject never missed a day and was never tardy at school shows that he was indeed anxious to acquire an education. He had for a classmate in his school life here the afterward celebrated statesman, Roscoe Conkling, who like himself was a student at the Auburn Academy.

     After finishing School Mr. Pinckney read law with Stephen A. Goodwin for a period of four years. At the expiration of that time he passed a most creditable examination and was admitted to practice before the full bench of the Supreme Court. He is still proud of the record that he made in his examination. Dr. Shank, an old friend and former schoolmate, had located in Lansing and sent back glowing accounts of the future that he felt was in store for the infant city. Therefore our subject decided to cast his lines in Lansing and has since first coming here pursued the practice of his profession, being at the present time the oldest attorney in practice who was here at that time. In 1856 he was elected Judge of the Probate Court and was re-elected in 1860, serving for eight years. Since that time he was City Attorney for one year and first Private Secretary to the Attorney-General of the State, who was Jacob M. Howard. He also served as Secretary of the Board of State Auditors for three years. He has also once been Supervisor and twice Alderman of the city.

     At one time our subject filled the office of Recorder and was at another Deputy United States Assessor for this county, continuing in that post for two years. For the past ten years he has been Justice of the Peace and is now employed in the practice of his profession. During the war he was employed by the Government as enumerator. Judge Pinckney is a member of the Masonic order of the Lansing Lodge of Strict Observance, No. 66.

     Our subject's domestic life began with his marriage with Miss Maria B. Comstock, a native of his boyhood home. Their nuptials were celebrated January 17, 1849. Mrs. Pinckney has presented her husband with three sons who have grown up to be prominent young men, and one daughter, a highly estimable lady who now has a home of her own. The eldest son is Charles S., of Charlotte, Mich. Following him comes Fred C., then Jesse M. The daughter Nora A., is now Mrs. Frary, of Medina, N.Y. She has two sons, William A. and Fay.

     C. C. CASTERLIN. The divine spark in man is at no time so apparent as in one who, in early life, lacking the prestige that fortune gives and the advantages and tastes that fortune call foster, rises above the barriers that stop the way and with a will to become as great as is in the power of the man to be, he sets his mark high, and in the roundness of his being is reflected the power of the Omnipotent; as Durzhaven expresses it: "But Thy presence shines in me as shines the sunbeam in a drop of dew." Our subject from earliest childhood was thrown upon his own resources and the fiber that he, is well as his brothers, was made of is shown by the fact that they earned their own way, and not only supplied themselves with the necessities of life, but sanctified their intelligence by also acquiring excellent educations.

     Our subject was born in Seneca County, N.Y. October 24, 1850. He is a son of Charles S. and Harriet E. (Lyon) Casterlin, natives of New Jersey. Of a family of nine children, he of whom we write was the seventh in order of birth. All of the children obtained good educations by their (395) own exertions, four of them graduating at Ovid, N.Y., at the East Genesee Conference Seminary, and five afterward becoming teachers. He of whom we write was but sixteen years of age when he began the business of teaching, which calling he followed six years, after which he came to Michigan, locating in Clare County. His worth soon made itself felt in the community, and his ability as a man and scholar was apparent. He was elected Registrar of Deeds, in which capacity he served the county for two terms. The succeeding two terms he filled the office of County Clerk, and in 1875 was admitted to the bar, and was Prosecuting Attorney for one term.

     Mr. Casterlin has filled most of the local offices, having served as Supervisor, Justice of the Peace, Alderman, Assessor, and in other minor offices. In 1880 he was candidate for the State Legislature on the Democratic ticket, and with a Republican majority of over eight hundred in the district, he came within one hundred and thirty of being elected, a fact that in itself must be gratifying to any man with an ambition for public life, for the conditions of this failure foretell future success. Had it been left to his own county he would have have been elected to the Legislature but in an adjoining county he was less well known, and hence the defeat. Although his township and village were both largely Republican, he was never defeated in them when a candidate for office.

     Feeling that it is not good for man to be alone, our subject took unto himself a wife and companion. Their marriage was solemnized December 28, 1875, the bride being Miss Hattie W. Kittredge, the only daughter of Rev. Hosea and Mary B. (Daggett) Kittredge. She was born at Palmyra, N.Y., December 12, 1860. Her father was a native of Muir, and her mother of Palmyra, N.Y. The original of our sketch has not only made the struggle of life successfully for himself, but has been instrumental in helping the younger members of his family to good and profitable positions.

     In 1881 the gentleman of whom we write removed to Mason, and since that time he has not engaged in the practice of his profession. He owns property in various parts of this and other States; and his care of this occupies the greater portion of his time and attention. Three children have come to bless the union of Mr. Casterlin and his amiable and attractive wife. They are C. Gay, Earl H. and Don M. D. The eldest child was born February 10, 1877, at Farwell, Clare County, this State. Earl H. was born May 31, 1884, in Mason, and Don made his advent into the world March 4, 1888. He of whom we write is a Democrat in his political preference and has ever taken an active interest in local politics as well as having watched attentively and thoughtfully the trend of national political life. He has been appointed Chairman of the Democratic County Committee, which place he has filled for the last six years, and has dignified the chair by the manliness and intelligence brought to bear upon the question of State government. He has been a delegate to nearly all of the important Democratic conventions. He is also a member of various secret societies, especially those that purport to be for the fellowship and aid of men. Mr. Casterlin is a man who is well and favorably known throughout the State, a man of position and affairs.