BIOGRAPHIES - Pages 525-535

      GEORGE L. CARTER. This prominent agriculturist residing on sections 28 and 29, White Oak Township, Ingham County, has a handsome estate of four hundred and twenty acres of land in an excellent state of improvement. He has lived in this county for many years and has done much to build up its institutions and to aid in its development. We are pleased to present to our readers his portrait and the following brief account of his life.

     Our subject was born in Genesee County, N.Y., in 1818, and in that vicinity received his education and was reared to manhood. He came to this place before his marriage and when about thirty-three years of age. The bride whom he brought to his home was Abigail Harris and to her were born two children, namely: Ella A., who married Thomas Gilliam and Grant G., who took to wife Nettie Smith. After the death of the mother of these children, which occurred May 3, 1882, Mr. Carter was, in 1887, united in marriage with Mrs. Emeline Hicock, whose maiden name was Smith.

     The father of our subject, Barzilla Carter, was a native of the Wooden Nutmeg State, as was also the mother whose maiden name was Mary Carrey. To them were born eight children, two daughters and six sons, George being the youngest of the family. Only two of this household are now surviving. Joseph T. married Olive Fuller, a native of Connecticut; Cinderella married Ezra Clark, a native of Connecticut, and is the mother of eight children; Norman B., who was born in Connecticut married Mentha Braddish, who is the mother of two children;, William H. was born in Connecticut and married Harriet Hanan, by whom he had five children; Lorenzo D. was born in Connecticut and married Lunia Beardsley; Russel A., who was born in New York in 1811, married Rebecca Quackenbush for his first wife; Mary R. who was born in New York, married Heman Harris; our subject completes the family circle.

     George Lewis Carter has made a success of agriculture. His broad acres yield him a handsome income and upon his farm he raises many fine specimens of stock, as he makes stock-raising his main business and devotes himself especially to thoroughbred cattle, hogs and horses. He now lives near the old homestead where he first located; there was a log house and barn on the place when he settled there. At that time wild animals were abundant throughout this part of Michigan and he has seen many packs of wolves and herds of deer. Mr. Carter cast his first vote for William Henry Harrison and he has been from that day to this a consistent Republican. His wife is an earnest and devoted member of the Methodist Episcopal Church in which she finds a broad field for activity and usefulness.

     HON. ALONZO T. FRISBEE. Among the native sons of the Wolverine State, we can point to few whose record is more honorable and more bright than that of him whose name we here present. His private life is unexceptional and his public life is marked with more than ordinary success, for of the nineteen times when his name has been before the people for their suffrages he has been successful sixteen times, (526) although on many occasions his party was in the minority. His home is in Cohoctah Township, Livingston County, and his birth was in Howell, October 12, 1840. His parents Ezra and Lucinda (Thompson) Frisbee, were natives of Montgomery and Herkimer Counties, N.Y., respectively.

     Roswell Frisbee, the grandfather of our subject, was of Welsh origin, and a farmer in Canaan, Columbia County, N.Y., who served in the War of 1812. His good wife Phoebe Dorr, who bore to him six children, was of English descent. Their children were Susan, Edward, Ezra, Judith, Alexander and Phoebe. He entered the regular army of the United States, and died in Florida during the Seminole War.

     The father of our subject was born August 14, 1812, in Canaan, Columbia County, N.Y., and passed his boyhood upon a farm; after he reached the age of seven years he went to live with an uncle, with whom he continued until he attained his majority. He settled on three hundred and twenty acres of land near where Howell now stands, and nineteen years later removed to Cohoctah Township, which has since been his home. In his earlier years his political affiliations were with the Whig party, and later he became a Republican and a Greenbacker, while his religious convictions have brought him into sympathy with the Universalist Church. His three children are, Alonzo T., Margaret E., now Mrs. Vandercook, and Edward A.

     Alonzo T. Frisbee received an excellent education through the facilities afforded by Michigan's admirable school system, and completing his course at the Howell High School, there took the highest honors of his class. He entered Bryant & Stratton's Commercial College, and was graduated from this institution in February, 1864. At the age of twenty-one years he entered into an arrangement to work for his father, and thus continued until he was twenty-eight years old, when upon settling up their accounts it was found that the neat sum of $2,000 was his as the result of his seven years labor.

     The young man took a tour through the States of Iowa and Minnesota prospecting for a now home, but finally decided that Michigan was good enough for him, and here he has since remained. In 1871 he went to Isabella County, expecting to buy land from the Indians, as the Government had issued titles, but not succeeding in this plan, he purchased instead four hundred acres on the school section, and four years later returned there and obtained of the Indians some five hundred acres more. There he lived for three years in true pioneer style and besides improving his own land and buying and selling farms in Isabella County, he built a store and established a flourishing trade with the Indians and a few white settlers. His first home there was a mere log shanty, roofed with basswood troughs and corked with moss. His first wheat crop yielded him twenty-three bushels to the acre. It had been cleared by the help of the Indians, and it was put in without plowing, as the grain was simply sowed on the ground, and dragged over three times.

     In 1878 a request came to Mr. Frisbee from his parents that he should return to the old homestead and take care of them in their declining years. Realizing that he owed them a debt of gratitude which he could never repay, he rented his farm in Isabella County and returned to his old home where he still resides and faithfully cares for his parents in their old age. To him they have deeded the homestead, and he now carries on farming operations there. He was recently married to Anna B. Listerman, and they enjoy the society of his parents. He is an agreeable gentleman of polished manners, and makes friends with all whom he meets.

     The official life of our subject began at the age of twenty-one, when he served as Clerk and afterward was for five terms Supervisor of Cohoctah Township, and for three terms Supervisor of Notaway Township, Isabella County. He was elected to the State Senate in 1882, and in 1888 and 1890 he was elected Registrar of Deeds of Livingston County, which office he now fills. His early voting was with the Republican party until 1875, when he allied himself with the Greenback party, and is now a Democrat. He is one of the pioneer Greenbackers of the State, believing that law makes money, and not the material of which it is made; that gold and silver are too expensive and cumbersome for money, and that the greenback is a representative of value and also of our national (527) struggle when it came into existence. He believes that the greenback is a token to the people that they had done something for their Government, and is redeemable by all as a token of its worth in labor and material.

     The mother of our subject was born November 5, 1815, in Herkimer County, N.Y., and is a daughter of Moses and Margaret (Morris) Thompson, who came to Michigan in 1835. Mr. Thompson was an extensive farmer and miller, and owned some three thousand acres where Howell now stands, and passed from earth's activities about the year 1840. With all of Mr. Frisbee's successes in life, he has also had his misfortunes, principal among which was that caused by a tornado that swept over his farm in Isabella County on the 19th of September, 1878, which laid his farm waste, destroyed his store and left nothing behind but ruin and desolation. He is a man of fine judgment, and is often asked to settle estates for his neighbors, and is of a generous and liberal nature, ever having an open hand for the necessities of others.

     WILLIAM H. McENALLY, Justice of the Peace and Pension Attorney, at Williamstown, Ingham County, is a son of John, whose father, Terrance, was a native of Ireland, and came to America when a young man and settled in Lycoming County, Pa. Here the emigrant married and reared a family of three sons and three daughters. His son, John, was born there in 1805 and made it his home until the year of his death, when he removed to Mt. Vernon, Ohio, a few months before his demise.

     The father of our subject was married in his native county to Lydia Dimm, a daughter of Will Dimm, a Pennsylvanian of German descent. The children of Rev. John McEnally were Charles P., William H., John C., Mary C., Martha, and one who died in infancy. The father was a Methodist minister having had his education at Baltimore, Md. and being a member of the Baltimore Conference. He died in 1845 and the mother was afterward married to John Chamberlain by whom she had six children. She later removed to Clyde, Ohio, where she died in 1883.

     Our subject was born July 31, 1839, in Lycoming County, Pa., and when fifteen years old went to Toledo where he worked in a hotel. Two years later he went to Chicago and secured a position as newsboy on the Illinois Central Railroad in which he continued for two years and then took a situation on the Mississippi River as cabin boy and porter on a steamboat plying between St. Louis and LaSalle, and for one season between St. Louis and New Orleans.

     The young man returned home in 1860 and in October, 1861 enlisted in Company G, Seventy-second Ohio Infantry and served until November 11, 1865. He entered as First Corporal and was promoted to a Sergeancy and after two years' service was detailed as Orderly under Gen. McMillan, whom he served until the close of his term. He was wounded in the battle of Shiloh and was sent to the hospital at Louisville for two weeks, after which he was at home during a ninety days, furlough.

     After returning to his regiment the young soldier took part in the following battles: Ft. Gibson, Mississippi Spring, Raymond, Jackson, Vicksburg, the siege of Jackson, and the battle of Brandon. His regiment belonged to the Sixteenth Army Corps under A. J. Smith, and they were known as Smith's Guerrillas or the Wandering Tribe of Israel. They made a twelve hundred mile march after Gen. Price and at the battle of Guntown our subject was taken prisoner, but after five days made his escape and traveled one hundred and ninety miles to join his regiment. He was recaptured at Pontotoc, Miss. by the guerrillas, but was paroled and continued on his way to Memphis. He was then engaged in battle at Tupelo, Spanish Fort and Montgomery, Ala., and at Meriden, Miss. helped in receiving the surrender of Dick Taylor's men, soon after which they were mustered out at Vicksburg. Our subject had two brothers in the service, one in the Eighth Ohio Infantry, one in the Tenth Illinois Infantry.

     For one year after the close of the war Mr. McEnally (528) was engaged in farming near his home in Ohio, and in 1867 he came to Leslie, Mich., and on Christmas Day of the following year he was married to Mary Delamater, a daughter of Benjamin and Elizabeth Delamater, natives of Canada. The only child of this marriage is Cora E., who is now Mrs. Brusselback and resides in Williamstown. Her mother died in 1874 and her father was again married in 1882 to Flora E. Hills, a daughter of  Mr. John E. Hills who is a farmer near Holly, N.Y. This marriage has resulted in the birth of one son, Arthur W. Mr. McEnally is senior Vice Commander in the Grand Army of the Republic and has been Justice of the Peace for fourteen years, besides filling the office of Village Clerk for five years. He is an earnest Republican in his political views and active in the support of the party.

     JOHN B. PARK, M. D. The characteristics which distinguished our subject's ancestors mark the representative of the present
generation. As Scotchmen ever have and always must, he must go to the bottom of things--know the reason why and philosophize on every
subject that he takes up. As intimated above, the ancestors of the gentleman whose sketch we here give, on his father's side came originally from Scotland. His grandfather, Alexander Park, was
a native of New Jersey and combined the trade of carpentry with his calling as a farmer. Our subject's grandmother, Maria Van Bergen, was a descendant of one of the old Dutch families.

     The father of our subject was David Park, who was born near Whitehouse, N.J., in June, 1822. He was engaged in farming and stock-breeding and died in the old home in 1873. Dr. J. B. Park was born in Blairstown, N.J., May 6, 1851. He is one of six children born to David and Mary A. (Crane) Park, natives of New Jersey. Mrs. Park was born in June, 1821 and died at Whitehouse, N.J., October 13, 1891. Our subject remained at home until he was sixteen years of age, dividing his time between work on the farm and attendance at district and select school. In 1867 he came to Michigan and spent one year in attendance at Prof. M. V. Park's school in Lansing, after which he spent two summers in the Lansing High School, teaching during the winter terms of 1868-69 and '69-70 in Clinton County, when he was very successful in his work.

     Returning to the old home in New Jersey in 1870 the subject of our sketch commenced studying medicine with Dr. Pennington, under whose tutelage he prepared himself for admission to the University of Pennsylvania, which he entered in the fall of 1871. This institution has a high reputation in its medical department throughout the United States and from it Mr. Park graduated with the degree of M. D. in 1873. He first located for the practice of his profession in Evartstown, N.J., and after a few months moved to Lansing. Mich., where he remained about a year. In October, 1874, our subject moved to Okemos where he has ever since lived, having acquired a wide reputation as a skillful and successful practitioner in medicine and surgery.

     Dr. Park abandoned the bachelor ranks in 1876. His union with Miss Emma Everett took place the 22nd of March of that year. The lady was a native of Lansing Township. Together they enjoyed but one year, of domestic happiness, Mrs. Emma Park's decease occurring August 5, 1877. Two years later the Doctor again entered into the matrimonial relation. His nuptials with Miss Mary F. Phelps were solemnized March 2, 1879. Mrs. Mary Park is a native of Okemos; and a daughter of Noah Phelps, an old resident of Meridian Township, Ingham County and one of it most prominent and progressive farmers. Dr. Park is the owner of a fine tract of land comprising one hundred and ten acres on sections 2, 3, 9, and 10 in Alaiedon Township. A large portion of this tract was impracticable for cultivation at the time of his purchase, but by putting in two miles of tile he has reclaimed seventy acres which was before considered unprofitable swamp land.

     Dr. Park is a member of the Farmer's Alliance of Okemos and affiliates with the Free and Accepted Masons of Okemos, belonging to Lodge No. (529) 252, and at present holds the office of Worshipful Master. Politically he casts the weight of his vote and influence with the Democratic party and is one of the most active representatives of that political body in this vicinity. He is now Clerk of Meridian Township, and has been urged to accept other positions, but having only a general interest in politics has declined. Mrs. Park is member of Congregational Church of Lansing

     She is an estimable lady who commends herself  most graciously to whoever she meets. Dr. Park is visiting Physician of the Poor House of Ingham County. Both professionally and financially he has been very successful. His home is an attractive and comfortable brick house which he has built since coming to Okemos.

     JAMES BEAN. Most men find the successful pursuit of agriculture sufficient to employ their time to the exclusion of other interests, but he of whom we write unites successfully with this occupation that of a livery man and merchant, being located in Fowlerville, Livingston County, where he has a large patronage in both branches of his employments. He is a native of Ontario Township, Wayne county N.Y., being there born December 25, 1849, and  a son of Joseph and Eliza (Waters) Bean, natives of England, their marriage having taken place in that country, after which they came to America in 1836, and settled in Wayne County, where the father was engaged in farming.

     In 1856, when there was a spirit of unrest pervading every branch of social and commercial life not only in this country, but in foreign lands, the older Mr. Bean removed his family to Michigan and settled in losco Township, where he engaged in farming. Thence he removed to Ohio, and there remained for ten years, returning, however to Michigan, where his decease took place in 1888 surviving his wife by eight years, she having passed away in 1880. Our subject's father had great faith in Republican principles. He and his wife were the parents of seven children, four of whom are now living. They are: Mary , who is now Mrs. Press; John, James; Sophronia, Mrs. Roney.

     Our subject received his education in this State, which in his boyhood was stimulated to secure the best advantages in this direction, and therefore at comparatively an early period in its history it compared favorably with older States in an educational point of view. Mr. Bean was reared on the home farm. His start out in life for himself was at the time of his marriage, when he realized that the welfare of another person depended upon his energy and progress in a business way. In 1862 he pledged his faith and protection to Miss Chloe Lockwood. Their nuptials were solemnized in losco. She is a daughter of Zacheus and Elizabeth (Tracy) Lockwood, natives of New York, who came to Michigan in 1845, and settled in losco Township, Livingston County. Here they engaged in farming, being reasonably successful in that line of work. Mr. Lockwood affiliated with the Democratic party and gave them the weight of his vote and influence. Both parents spent the remainder of their lives here, and here passed away. Four children that were born of this union are now living. They are: Mrs. Bean, John; Sarah, who married A. Smock; and Jenny, who is now Mrs. Gorton.

     After marriage the gentleman of whom we write was engaged in farming eighty acres of land in Marion Township. He lived on the same for eight years, and then sold out and came to Fowlerville, where he engaged in the livery business, also being the proprietor of the Commercial Hotel. Later he engaged also in the mercantile business. As is evident, he is a man of varied capabilities and of broad plans. He has built a double brick store on Grand Avenue that adds greatly to the value of the property in that vicinity. He is now building another handsome block adjoining the first, which is to contain two stores.

     The owner of two fine residences in Fowlerville, Mr. Bean's own home is indeed a charming place; attractive, commodious and elegant in all its appointments, it compares, favorably with the most modern residences in our metropolitan cities.

     (530) The owner of a farm of one hundred and forty acres of land near Fowlerville, as will readily be conjectured, Mr. Bean finds but little time to give it his personal attention. It is, however, successfully carried on and yields him a handsome income. Besides his property in Fowlerville our subject owns two stores at Byron, which bring him a generous rental.

     He of whom we write has been the incumbent of many positions and offices within the township's gifts and has been one of the most active members in the village Council. Our subject's family comprises only one son, Ira, who married Miss Ida Ripley. He is a druggist, engaged in business in Detroit. Mr. Bean is a Democrat in political following. Socially he is an Odd Fellow, and is one of the prominent men and active promoters of the interests of this place.

      EDWARD WILLIAMS. Among the British-American citizens who are doing good work in Tyrone Township; Livingston County, is the above named who owns and operates a farm on section 15. He seems to possess all the qualities necessary to prosperity in this line of work, being industrious, thrifty and observing, noting even, change in the condition of the soil and in the climatic influences, and being quick to take advantage of each.

     He of whom we write was born in Monmouth, England, September 4, 1809 and is a son of William and Ann (Williams) Williams both natives of Monmouthshire. The father was a shoemaker by trade and he and his good wife brought to man's and woman's estate seven sons and four daughters. Our subject and his eldest brother, Thomas, both reared families and two of the daughters, Elizabeth and Ann each had two children: Elizabeth, Mrs. Combs, having a son and a daughter; and Ann, Mrs. Wright, having two daughters.

     The family all remained in their native home with the exception of Edward Williams who came to the United States in 1850, spending five weeks upon the Atlantic and landing in New York in June of that year. He had heard in his native home of the wealth of climate and soil of the fair State of Michigan, and hither he came at once making his home in Waterford Township, Oakland County, where he rented a farm for three years. In the spring of 1853 he removed to the home which he now occupies on section 15, Tyrone Township, purchasing at that time sixty acres, to which he has added by purchase until now he has ninety acres, all of which is highly improved and richly productive.

     The marriage of Edward Williams and Sarah Roberts took place June 17, 1844. Mrs. Williams is a daughter of William and Sarah (Roberts) Roberts. To her were born in England two children, Ann, wife of George Lockwood, and William, and three were born after the migration of the family to this country, who were, George, Elizabeth who died unmarried, and Mary who was the wife of Ernest Winters and is now deceased. Mrs. Sarah Williams was called away from her earthly duties and cares January 31, 1882, and her loss has been most deeply felt by her family and friends. She was an earnest and active member of the Methodist Episcopal Church and useful in society. This family is one of the most highly respected and efficient in the township, as the father is looked upon as a leader in many ways, and all of the household have well fitted themselves for spheres of usefulness. The son-in-law, Ernest Winters served his country for over three years in the Third Michigan Infantry.

     MARTIN JOHN McPHERSON was born in Howell, Livingston County, Mich., May 1, 1841. He was the third white male child born in the village of Howell. His parents were William and Elizabeth (Riddle) McPherson, natives of Scotland. They came from Scotland to Livingston County and settled in what is now the village of Howell, in the year 1836.

     Our subject attended school in Howell until (531) fourteen years old. After this he attended the State Normal School at Ypsilanti, Mich., for two years, from September, 1855, to June, 1857. During the winter of 1857-58 he taught a district school in the township of Handy, Livingston County. In April, 1858, he entered, as clerk, the store of which his father and brother (W. McPherson, Jr.,) were proprietors, and continued in their employ until January 1, 1864, when he became a member of the firm.

     The style of the firm it that time became W. McPherson & Sons, since which time although there have been changes in its membership the name of the firm has remained unchanged. The business was established by William McPherson, Sr., in 1843. It has since then grown to correspond with the increase of wealth and population in the county until it now occupies three large stores and is one of the most extensive business houses in the county. The firm is noted for its honorable business methods. Besides his business interests in Howell Mr. McPherson is a partner in the firm of G. S. Burgess & Co., in Brighton, Mich., and special partner in the firm of H. H. Mills & Sons, Topeka, Kan.

     August 14, 1872, Mr. McPherson was married to Miss Frances P. Foster, a daughter of the Rev. Gustavus L. and Caroline (Rasch) Foster, Mr. Foster being at that time pastor of the Presbyterian Church in Howell. Mr. McPherson has always been a Republican in politics. His first vote for President was cast for Abraham Lincoln in 1864. He is a member of the Presbyterian Church of Howell, of which he is one of the Trustees. He is greatly interested in Sunday-school work and has been Superintendent of the Presbyterian Sunday-school since 1868.

     WILLIAM H. FAUNCE. A traveler passing along the highway near section 27, Handy Township, Livingston County, cannot but notice the highly cultivated farm, beautiful farm residence, and excellent outbuildings belonging to Mr. Faunce. He came here forty-four years ago when there was no Fowlerville and no postoffice and when till this district, was a densely timbered region, and here he has made his mark and has done splendid pioneer work.

     Our subject is a native of New Bedford, Bristol County, Mass., and was born in 1819. His parents James and Rebecca (Hathaway) Faunce, were also natives of the old Bay State, and the father who was a farmer there was a son of Nathaniel and Abigail A. (Snell) Faunce. James and Rebecca Faunce had a family of nine children, and six of these have passed over the dark river. Those who are still living are: our subject, Sumner and John.

     Having received his education in Massachusetts, our subject remained at home until the age of fifteen, when he began working for neighboring farmers and later entered the ship yard at New Bedford, where he remained for seven years and was also employed in the same line of work in New York City. After a fire which destroyed his business he came to Michigan and purchasing land, established a home and brought to it his bride Julia A. Bowen, who was then living in Handy Township. The young man then proceeded to swing the axe and clear the forest trees from off his land. Four children blessed this union, and three of these have passed to the better world. The son Sumner M. is married and is living near Atchison, Kan., upon a farm. The mother of that son was early taken from her husband and child passing away at the age of thirty-two years. The second wife whose maiden name was Sophia J. Andrews has one daughter named Retta E.

     The parents of Mrs. Sophia J. Faunce are Lorenzo D. and Permilia (Andrews) Andrews both of whom are natives of the Empire State. Livingston County, N.Y., was the family home and these parents were blessed with six children, four of whom are now living namely: Russell A., Mary A., Mrs. Wright; Mrs. Faunce and Harriet A., Mrs. Perry.

     James Orson Faunce, the brother of our subject, who has now passed to the other world, was a soldier in the late war and was wounded by a shot through the right arm in the first battle of Bull Run and taken prisoner during that conflict. For nine months he was kept prisoner in the Andersonville prison pen but was finally exchanged. Our (532) subject has held the office of School Director for sixteen years. He has built the beautiful home in which he now resides and has placed upon his farm the outbuildings which so well adorn it. Mr. Faunce has been a Deacon in the Baptist Church for some fifteen years at Fowlerville, and is looked upon as one of its most efficient and reliable members. His political views have brought him into affiliation with the Republican party and he takes an intelligent interest in all that pertains to the welfare of our country.

     WILLIAM McPHERSON, JR. The subject of this sketch was born in Inverness, Scotland, March 9,1834. His parents were William and Elizabeth (Riddle) McPherson. They came to this country in 1836 and settled in Howell, Mich. The village at that time boasted but one frame building, a hotel, which also contained the county offices and a general store.

     Mr. McPherson's father was by trade a blacksmith and pursued that avocation until 1843, when he engaged in the mercantile business. He was a man of exceptional business ability, and was endowed by nature with excellent judgment and good common sense. With the hearty co-operation and assistance of his sons he built up and extended his business until having established an enviable reputation for progressiveness honorable dealing, and integrity he was recognized as one of the most successful merchants in the interior of the State. At an early day in the history of the town he and his wife, who died September 7, 1874, assisted in the organization of the Presbyterian Church of Howell, of which they were ever after honored members. They were always active in every effort to promote the moral welfare of the community in which they lived, and the influence of their example and of their conscientious devotion to duty is best shown in the character of the children who revere their memory. On the 16th of March, 1891, surrounded by his eight children, four sons and four daughters, William McPherson, Sr., died, loved, respected and mourned by all who knew him.

     During the boyhood of the subject of our sketch he enjoyed such educational advantages as the village school afforded and at the age of sixteen be entered his father's store in the capacity of a clerk. In 1856 he was admitted as partner with his father in the mercantile business, under the firm name of William McPherson & Co. Later his brothers, M. J. and E. G. became associated with the firm, the name of which was changed to William McPherson & Sons. For several years Mr. McPherson has been largely interested in pine and timber lands in Michigan and other States, besides conducting stock-raising and general farming on several fine farms in Ingham and Livingston Counties. He has also for the past thirty years been an extensive local dealer in wool. These varied interests requiring so much of his time, he decided to retire, on January 1, 1884, from the mercantile business.

     Upon the removal of his brother Alexander to Detroit in 1890, Mr. McPherson became partner in and assumed the management of the banking house of Alexander McPherson & Co., which was established by his brother in 1865. In politics Mr. McPherson is a stanch Republican, having cast his first Presidential ballot for John C. Fremont. In 1885 he was appointed State Railroad Commissioner by Gov. Alger and served during his administration. He was a delegate from the Sixth Congressional District to the Republican National Convention held in Chicago in 1888, and was chosen by the State delegation to represent Michigan on the committee which was to formally notify President Harrison and Vice-President Morton of their nominations to their respective offices. He has often been a delegate to State and county conventions and has represented his constituents with a dignity that has redounded to his own honor and credit.

     In 1859 Mr. McPherson married Miss Jennie M. Ranney, of Rochester, N.Y. A lady of intelligence and refinement, Mrs. McPherson dispenses, the hospitalities of their beautiful home with grace and dignity. They have had four children, three of whom, two daughters and a son, are still living, the eldest son having died in 1878, in his nineteenth year. From his parents Mr. McPherson inherited habits of untiring energy, persistence and strict integrity, those sterling qualities which have made the Scotch character so famous in song and story. To these characteristics, no doubt, is due the success which has so generously rewarded his labors.