BIOGRAPHIES - Pages 587-597

     (587) DAVID O. DUTTON. This respected farmer residing on section 5, Unadilla Township, Livingston County, is a son of David Dutton, Sr., a native of Connecticut who was born August 4, 1792 and of Vashti Langdon, who was born in Southington, Conn., September 27, 1795. This worthy couple were married November 27, 1816, in Southington. The grandfather, Moses Dutton, of Southington was a soldier in the Revolutionary War and afterward an officer in the State Militia. In his later years he removed his family to Chautuaqua County, N.Y., where he was a pioneer, and died in 1855, at the venerable age of ninety-four years.

     The Dutton family originated from three brothers who came to Connecticut from Denmark in the early Colonial days. Our subject's maternal grandfather, Asahel Langdon, was a farmer and blacksmith in Southington and died in 1852, at the age of eighty-six. His was an old Connecticut family, as the Langdons have been known since the founding of the colony. After marriage David and Vashti Dutton removed to Vienna, Oneida County, N. Y., where they became pioneers and lived until 1834, when they came to Michigan. While in Oneida County Mr. Dutton operated both a sawmill and a farm.

     Upon emigrating to Michigan the Dutton family settled in Lima Township, Washtenaw County, but in 1837 made their home on section 5, Unadilla Township, this county. It was then all wild land and after building a log cabin the young man proceeded to fell the trees and prepare the land for tillage. Red neighbors were more plentiful than white, and wild animals abounded. He had but little more means than enough to buy forty acres of land, and, after improving this he added to it eighty acres more of forest. He was a temperate man in his habits, never using either liquor or tobacco. He took a lively interest in political matters voting with the Republican party, and was for a number of  years Assessor of Unadilla Township. Both he and his excellent wife were charter members of the Presbyterian Church at Plainfield. He died May 29, 1867, and his faithful companion survived him until December 21, 1881. Four of their nine children are now living.

     David O. Dutton was born April 13, 1827, in Oneida County, N.Y., and was therefore seven years of age when the family emigrated to Michigan, where he acquired a limited education in the log schoolhouse. He had to make himself useful upon the farm while very young, and helped to fence the first field here when so small that he and his brother were barely able to carry a rail between them. Hardships and privations were his lot through all those early years, and many a night he went to sleep crying from hunger. He was faithfully devoted to his parents and cared for (588) them and made his home with them until the day of their decease.

     The happy married life of Mr. Dutton began April 13, 1852, when it the home of his bride's parents in losco Township he was married to Mercy Jane Wright, a daughter of Samuel and Deborah (Bullis) Wright, natives of New York, where they were born in 1799. Mr. Wright was a cooper by trade and his grandfather, William Wright, was a Revolutionary soldier. Mr. and Mrs. Wright, came to Michigan in 1850, and after spending two years in losco Township they removed to Ingham County, and after a few years made their final home on eighty acres of unbroken soil in Woodhull Township, Shiawassee County. Mrs. Wright passed from earth June 19, 1882, and her husband died August 12, 1885. They were the parents of twelve children, eight of whom are now living. Mrs. Dutton's birth took place April 7, 1834, in the village of Jordan N.Y., and she was sixteen years of age when the family came to Michigan. She received her education at the parental fireside, and was well trained in both domestic and book learning.

     To Mr. and Mrs. Dutton have been born four children, namely: Charles O., born March 15, 1853, and married to Jane Longnecker; George H. born June 5, 1858, who took to wife Lillie Mapes; Asahel L., born February 15, 1863, and married to Minnie Glenn; Orin J. born July 24, 1868, who is unmarried and has devoted some time to teaching. Mr. Dutton has two hundred and twenty-five acres nearly all under cultivation. On another page appears a view of his residence which was built in 1861. He also put up the other buildings on the farm and is still actively carrying on the work.

     The Protestant Methodist Church is the religious organization with which our subject and his wife are actively connected and Mr. Dutton has served as Class-Leader, Steward and Trustee, besides being a worker in the Sunday-school, as he at one time superintended the school, and his wife has been a teacher therein. He has ever kept up his interest in political matters and is a member of the Republican
party. He has served his township both is Highway Commissioner and as Justice of the Peace, and has been a member of the School Board here. In his principles he is a strong temperance man. During all Mrs. Dutton's married life she has never kept hired help although she was not blessed with daughters to assist her.

     Charles R. Dutton, a brother to our subject, was a member of Company B, Twenty-sixth Michigan Infantry and served almost three years. He was wounded in the battle of the Wilderness and was captured and retaken, and was killed before Petersburg, June 17, 1864, leaving a wife and one child Carrie J., now the wife of Benjamin Bowers of Handy Township. The eldest brother of our subject was Timothy Dutton and was killed September 21, 1840 by a horse falling upon him. His sister Jane E. was burned to death March 22, 1838, in the log house on this farm. Allan C. is now a retired physician living at Eaton Rapids Mich; Asahel L. is a farmer of Unadilla Township. This is a family of true patriotism, as all the sons who did not enter the army sent substitutes which they provided personally.

     GUSTAV J. BAETCKE. From the earliest history there has been a medium and representative of values current in use in commerce, and money changers, as they were called in classic days, or bankers as they are now more generally known, set up their stalls with balances in the midst of every market place. Shylock was not by any means the first usurer to demand the pound of flesh, but we are all willing in the time of need to pay the pound to relieve pressing and present necessity, to whatever verge of desperation it may later push us. The German people have been among the foremost in commercial circles in reaping a rich harvest from the banking business and many of the largest and most important banking institutions are carried on by Germans.

     Mr. Baetcke, who is a banker in the village of Brighton, Brighton Township, Livingston County, although an American by birth and bringing up, having been born in Genoa Township, this county, June 7, 1842, is of German parentage. His father was also Gustav Baetcke, a native of Germany, there born in 1804. He came to America in 1836 and soon proceeded to the infant State that received the distinctive name, the Wolverine State, because of the great number of wolves found there in the early day. He came to this country with the expectation of finding a demand for his services in New York, as an architect and builder. About the time that Michigan was admitted to the Union as a State, general attention was attracted naturally in this direction, and Mr. Baetcke, finding extensive emigration hither, determined to himself come to this State and coming West by boat, landed in Detroit July 4, 1836.

     Our subject's father located in Genoa Township, Livingston County, and there took up a tract of Government land having concluded to engage in farming. The country was quite new and he was one of the first settlers. He at once bent his efforts to clearing and improving his farm, having before him the ideal of the beautiful farms in the Fatherland. He was a successful farmer, cultivating to the highest extent the tract which he had purchased, and after the German fashion, making it yield him successive crops in the same season. He was a highly respected citizen in the locality and much esteemed, not only for his acknowledged business ability, but for his courteous and gentlemanly dealings with his associates. He was a member of the Lutheran Church and was very influential in organizing the first church of that denomination in Genoa Township, not only encouraging it by word and deed, but by making himself one of its chief supporters during his lifetime.

     Our subject's mother was before her marriage Miss Ann C. Hartman, like her husband, a German, but having preceded him to this country by one year, coming to America in 1835. She is still living and although quite advanced in years, is in the full possession of her faculties and quite vigorous. She is a devoted member of the Lutheran Church, helping on the good work of the spread of the Gospel by word and deed. She has been the mother of three children, but only two of these are now living, our subject and R. E. Baeteke.

     The original of our sketch was reared on the farm which his father purchased and cleared on coming to this State. The rudiments of his education were acquired in the district school of the vicinity, namely,--in the log school house, where the assortment of books was heterogeneous, and the birch-switch was a more subtle persuader than the eloquence of the teacher. He enjoyed besides, one term of school at Howell and he also received the advantage of one term in the German school, perfecting the knowledge of his father's tongue which he had learned in the home circle, and which he has since found to be of the greatest advantage to him in the conduct of his business. About the time he of whom we write became of age, he enlisted in the War of the Rebellion, joining his regiment January 4, 1864, it being the Twenty-second Michigan Infantry. He served until September 20, 1865. His regiment meantime was brigaded with the First Michigan and Mechanics' Corps for about four months. They joined Gen. Sherman and marched to Atlanta, from which place they went with Gen. Thomas to Chattanooga acting as his headquarters guard.

     After his return from the war, Mr. Baetcke resumed his early avocation, that of farming, at the old homestead, and this he continued to pursue until March, 1891, when he moved to Brighton, having purchased the bank in the previous month. This institution was established by Dr. B. H. Lawson in 1871. It is now conducted as a private institution and under the present management merits the confidence that it enjoys. It is operated under the firm name of G. J. Baetcke & Co., and although it is in its infancy, under the present regime it has already acquired a high standing, not only in the immediate locality, but throughout the surrounding country and especially among the agricultural class with whom our subject has been associated for years.

     He of whom we write, inaugurated his domestic felicity in 1874, at which time he married Amelia F. Gartner, who was born near Detroit. She is a daughter of B. F. Gartner who was a boot and shoe manufacturer, and died February 3, 1888. Mr. and Mrs. Baetcke are the parents of three children who are Leora C.; Clara A., and Gustav G. Our subject is a Republican in his political affiliation.

     (560) He has been Supervisor of Genoa Township for five terms and has served in the capacity of Treasurer for two terms. He has several times been delegate to the State Conventions, and in 1888, was the Republican candidate for the Probate Judgeship for this county. His party was, however, in the minority to the number of about four hundred, and in consequence he was defeated, although at the expense of only one hundred and forty-seven votes. Socially our subject is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic. In his church relations he is a member of the Lutheran denomination in this town, and is one of the most generous supporters of that body in this place. Mr. Baetcke is the owner of two hundred and sixty acres of good land on sections 23 and 26, of Genoa Township. Upon it are the best of improvements.

     CAPT. WILLIAM M. HORTON. We are pleased to present to the consideration of our readers a citizen of Handy Township, Livingston County, who stands high in the estimation of his neighbors and is justly considered one of the most prominent men in the county. He is
a progressive and successful farmer whose splendid estate of two hundred and three acres lies on section 3, Handy Township, and his beautiful home which he erected in 1885, is admired as one of the greatest ornaments of the agricultural portion of Livingston County. Upon his farm he has a beautiful orchard which is exceedingly productive and most thoroughly cultivated.

     This gentleman was born in Hartland Township this county and is a son of John G. and Charlotte (Ormsby) Horton, both natives of the Empire State. The father came to Michigan as long ago as 1836, and settled upon a farm in Hartland Township, being one of the pioneers there. While living on the old homestead he was afflicted by the loss of his wife and he moved to Oceola Township somewhat later and there he died. In those early days he was obliged to go to Detroit for his supplies and thus had a trip of fifty miles to market. He was exceedingly useful as Justice of the Peace in his township and was also a preacher in the Methodist Episcopal Church, and rode the circuit.

     This pioneer couple were the parents of four children, but our subject and his sister Mary, Mrs. Robinson of Lansing, are all that remain of that once happy household. The parents of John G. Horton were William L. and Eunice Tracey Horton, both of whom were born in New York. William Horton was a farmer who made his home in Wisconsin about the year 1850, and was there engaged in farming until called from earth's activities by the angel of death. Four sons and three daughters filled this home and three of them are still living, namely: Sarah, Mrs. Nichols; Charlotte, Mrs. Sheppard, of Missouri; and Carrie, Mrs. Harmer, of Wisconsin.

     The maternal grandfather of Mr. Horton was William Ormsby; he and his wife were natives of New York and brought up upon their farm two daughters, Charlotte (Mrs. Horton) and Laura (Mrs. Kesler). They were people of deeply religious convictions and earnest life and Mr. Ormsby's views on political question led him into alliance with the Whig party.

     After growing up upon the farm and taking his education in the schools of Oceola Township, young Horton enlisted when only nineteen years old in the service of his country, joining Company E, Twenty-sixth Michigan Regiment. He entered as a private but during the three years of his service he was regularly promoted to the offices of Corporal and First Lieutenant, and placed in command in a colored regiment and continued with that body until the close of the war. He was more than ordinarily favored as he received no injuries with the exception of two scratches from rebel bullets. He was in the battle of Mine Run and all through the campaign of the Wilderness, Cold Harbor, siege of Petersburg, Reames Station, and in many skirmishes, and with his colored regiment he took part in the siege of Richmond and was present when Lee surrendered to Grant at Appomattox.

     Having received his honorable discharge at Brownsville, Tex., Capt. Horton came home and (591) devoted himself to recuperating his health and preparing for future usefulness. During the second winter he taught school in Oceola Township, and then for two years studied at Albion College, after which he attended the Commercial College at Grand Rapids, where he learned telegraphy and received his diploma. He now took a position as telegrapher at Rockford on the Grand Rapids & Indiana Railroad and after one year took the station at Fowlerville for the Detroit, Lansing & Northern Road. Here he served for thirteen years, after which he gave up railroading and devoted himself to agriculture.

     The bride who came to the home of Mr. Horton in 1873 was Loana L., daughter of Lewis and Clarissa (Mack) Leavens, New York people, who came to Michigan about 1867 and made their home near Corunna, Shiawassee County. After a while they removed into the city of Corunna, but later made their home in Fowlerville, until called hence by death. Their three children were, Mrs. Horton, Emory G. and Clara (Mrs. Fexer). Jay G. name of the little son who has come to brighten the little home of Mr. and Mrs. Horton and in his training and education the parents were united in true parental solicitude. Mr. Horton is an ardent Republican in his political views and prominently identified with the Grand Army of the Republic. He has well filled the office of Supervisor of the township and upon the School Board has done much for the cause of education.

     JOHN C. PHILLIPS, of Okemos, is a shoemaker by trade. He was born in the town of Verona, Oneida County, N.Y., in 1821, and hence is now able to look back over a period of seventy years of progress in which society has been benefited by the discoveries in science and arts, and the broadened view which the general public are taking of life in its broader aspect.

     Our subject's father, Joab Phillips, was born in Rensselaer County, N.Y., in 1792. He was originally a farmer but later in life learned the carpenter's and joiner's trade and worked at that. He died in Stockbridge, Mich., at a good old age. The maiden name of our subject's mother was Ruth Case. She was born in the town of Charlestown, Dutchess County, N.Y., in 1793, and died in 1865. When the original of our sketch was about five years old his parents removed to Lockport, N.Y., and when old enough he was induced to learn the shoemaker's trade. Never having received any educational advantages up to the time of learning his trade he sought to make up for this lack of opportunity by attending a night school where he received the rudiments of a common-school education. He remained in Lockport engaged in his trade until his twenty-third year, when he was married to Miss Esther L. Phillips, of the same place, a lady bearing the same family name but in no way related to him. Three children were born of this marriage--Abner P. was born in 1847; he is now living in Little Rock, Ark.; his daughter, Ida, is now keeping house for her grandfather, and to her Mr. Phillips is devotedly attached; John A., born in 1858, is a telegraph operator and the head of a large family.

     Soon after his marriage our subject left New York and bought a fine farm comprising one hundred and twenty-two acres north of Ann Arbor, this State. He lived there for nearly twenty-three years, spending a portion of the time engaged at his trade in Stockbridge. He finally sold his farm and in 1868 bought a place adjoining the Michigan State Agricultural College. He kept this for about twenty-two years, improving it greatly, and on selling it he moved to Okemos, where he has lived at four different times, coming here finally in 1889. Mr. Phillips lost his wife in 1881.

     During the war the original of our sketch was an enthusiastic Union man. He enlisted twice but for personal reasons was induced to hire a substitute each time. He was finally drafted but was thrown out. The hire of his substitutes and expense attending his drafting amounted to over $1,360. Mr. Phillips has now a very fine farm in Williamston County where he intends to reside in the near future. He is allied with several fraternities among which are the Odd Fellows, which he joined in Milan, the Free Masons, of which he (592) became a member in Stockbridge, the "No Nothings and the Fenians in Linden. In politics he is now an Independent although he has been connected with the Republican party and was once elected Town Clerk of Stockbridge. He now votes for the best man irrespective of party. Mr. Phillips has passed through some stormy scenes in life, battles but has always been honorable and upright in his dealings with his fellow-men.

     JOSEPH H. WILCOX. The fact that there are so many men who have not only been successful in commercial and agricultural life in the Wolverine State but who have accumulated large fortunes, speaks well for the resources of the State as well as the accumulative ability of its inhabitants. He of whom we write is a capitalist of no mean standing, being a power in commercial circles, not only in the immediate vicinity of Howell, Livingston County, but throughout the county. He is a native of Onondaga County, N.Y. and was there born November 7, 1809. He is a son of Joseph and Sibyl (Wright) Wilcox, natives of Rhode Island and Connecticut, respectively. The father was a farmer and had seven children. Of these only our subject is now living. The family names, however, in order of birth are Harry, John. Sally, Harriet, Joseph H. Marvin and Delilah. Our subject's paternal grandfather was Matthew Wilcox, a native of Rhode Island. He also was a farmer and a soldier in the War of the Revolution. The Wilcox family are of English ancestry and their progenitors are of the most honorable standing in the mother country.

     Reared a farmer lad, our subject did not enjoy many of the benefits of advanced education. He attended the common schools and acquired there what was necessary to a practical business education. He remained at home, assisting his father with the general farm work until he was twenty-four years of age and was then engaged in farming on his own account and also employed himself at carpenter work. His first real-estate deal was in Onondaga County, N.Y. and there he farmed until 1854, when he came to Michigan.

     On coming into the State the original of our sketch settled in Livingston County, where he purchased two hundred and fifty acres of land in the townships of losco and Marion, living on the same until 1865, when he moved to Howell and purchased a house and four lots, also eight acres of land in the southern part of village. This last named tract he platted and divided into city lots, calling it the Wilcox Addition to Howell. He has built three houses and bought and sold many others since coming to the village.

     In 1866 Mr. Wilcox opened the first lumber yard in Howell and continued in the lumber business for four years when he sold out. He also had charge of the railroad survey from Howell to Lansing and is the only man in Howell who gave money to the building of that road. He was elected a Director of the road was most generous in his donation, not only of money but of land for the carrying forward of the enterprise. He was also a Director of the Toledo & Ann Arbor Railroad and filled the same position on the Howell & Lansing Railroad, giving his time and attention for about three years to the work. It is an indisputable fact that Mr. Wilcox has done more to advance the interests of railroad enterprise than any man in the county. He has been the one to call meetings, take subscriptions, collections and endeavor in every possible way to interest the people at large in opening up the country by railroad.

     He of whom we write was for many years a middleman in the wool interests, buying the clippings of wool in this and adjoining counties and shipping to Eastern manufacturers, November 13, 1833, our subject was married to Miss Mary A. Bush, of Pompey, Onondaga County, N.Y. She is a daughter of William and Content (Grimes) Bush, natives of New York. Her father was there a farmer and the head of a family that numbered twelve children, nine of whom are still living. They are, Mrs. Wilcox, Mrs. Wright, Romaine, Thomas, Mrs. Strickland, Mrs. Wicks, Isaac, William and Mrs. Miller. The three who are deceased are Alexander, Charlotte and Lester. Mrs. (593) Wilcox's paternal grandfather was Conrad Rush, (Bush? perhaps a mistype?)  a Revolutionary soldier of German birth and parentage, having come to America when eighteen years of age. His wife was Mary Watson. He was the owner of one thousand acres of land and a very wealthy farmer for his time. His family numbered twelve children. The father of Content Grimes Bush was Thomas Grimes, and his wife, Mary Greenfield Grimes, both natives of the Eastern States. They had nine children, all of whom were daughters.

     Our subject had a family of five children; they are Candace who died in infancy; William H., Calvin; Charles who died at the age of twenty-one years and Rosette. The eldest son married Laura Smith and by this union is the father of five children--Charles, Joseph H., Belle, Mott and Maude. Calvin married Mary J. Horton;. Rosette is the wife of Adelbert F. Peavy and is the mother of six children-William, George, Homer, Calvin, Edith and Ethel. Politically he of whom we write affiliates with the Republican party. He with his wife has been identified with the Christian Church for many years and they have been liberal supporters of that body in the city. Mr. Wilcox has always taken an active interest in all the enterprises of the community and is well and favorably known both far and near.

     JAMES M. CHRISTIAN. Now in the meridian of his life and his business success, he of whom we write is one of the most prominent citizens in Leroy Township, Ingham County, where he is known as a pioneer, whose efforts in a philanthropic way, as well as the building up of a fortune for himself, are known and recognized by all who are willing to render justice to a good man. He resides on section 27, Leroy Township, where he has a beautiful home and all the comforts of rural life.

     Our subject is a native of New York State, having been born in Onondaga County, March 17, 1833. He is a son of Joseph and Margaret (Goodwin) Christian, his father a native of New York State. Our subject's Grandfather Christian, and a brother were Revolutionary soldiers. He of whom we write was reared to manhood in his native State and while still in early boyhood he was inculcated into the mysteries of agricultural life. The advantages of education were unfortunately denied him almost entirely, he receiving the rudiments of what he acquired in the common schools. He is in education as in financial standing a self-made man, having by nature a fondness for books and being a thoughtful and careful reader. To-day he is the owner of a fine library, and the latest works in the best class of literature are found on his reading table.

     Accepting Horace Greeley's advice to "go West, young man," he emigrated to Michigan and settled in Leroy Township, Ingham County, on his present farm. His constancy of nature is shown by the fact that he has never since moved, although there must have been many discouragements at various times in his career. He settled in the woods and cleared up the farm by chopping down the trees and burning out the stumps. He has made it what it is to-day by the hardest efforts and has, besides, done much pioneer work. The township had only forty voters when he came here and be has witnessed its growth to its present fine proportions.

     The original of our sketch instituted a home January 1, 1858, and placed there over as mistress his wife, Caroline Jones, a daughter of Nathan Jones, who was formerly a pioneer in Leroy Township, Ingham County. As the years passed by little ones grew up around them until their family numbered nine children, six of whom are living at the present time. They are Mary, Jenny, Wealthy, Ira, Blanche and Florence. The first named is the wife C. F. Teachout; Jenny is the wife of G. D. Mann, and Wealthy is the life companion of William Wygant. The younger children are still at home.

     The owner of one hundred and twenty acres of fertile and productive land, Mr. Christian has made his place a model farm, giving to it constant and unceasing attention. His present competency he has accumulated by his own efforts, as when he began life as a young man he had but $9 in money (594) to start out with. Our subject is a member of the Farmers' Alliance and is in favor of every measure that promises to be for the benefit of the class to which he belongs, believing that legislation should look as much to the betterment of the agriculturists as to that of the manufacturers. Mr.  Christian has served in positions of public trust having been Highway Commissioner for seven years, during which time he accomplished much improving the condition of these avenues of traffic and travel, and was Township Superintendent for five years. He has also been School Moderator for many years and is a progressive man in regard to educational matters. For many years he and his wife have been associated with the Methodist Episcopal Church and he is now acting as Class-Leader and also does the work of the Recording Secretary of the church. He of whom we write has acquired his success in life by a steady adherence to a fixed outline of purpose. He is justly classed among the intelligent, public-spirited and enterprising agriculturists of Ingham County.

     GEORGE SCHREPFER. The annals of the poor boys who become rich men are to be found everywhere in America and nowhere more than in the rich and fertile West, for here it is that the virgin soil gave of her wealth to the sturdy seeker after success. It is not alone to the
native-born that this good fortune has come, but many who came from the older countries of Europe (where generations of hardships and poverty had disheartened the people) have found in the New World the prosperity which they never could have looked for at home.

     Our subject who is now a prosperous resident of Cohoctah Township, Livingston County, was born August 5, 1832 in Byran, Germany, his honored parents being Henry and Catherine Schrepfer, who upon their farm reared five children to maturity. These children, Christie, Barbara, Rachael, George and John, have all established homes and families of their own, but our subject is the only one that has crossed the ocean and found his home in the United States. Before coming to America he took the advantages of a thorough German education which is given to every son of Germany, and at the age of nineteen he decided to emigrate and upon reaching this country, made his home in Philadelphia. After one year in that city and two years in Baltimore he decided to make a visit to the old home and spent the winter of 1858-59 in Germany. It was in the spring of 1859 that our subject returned from his native land and came to Detroit, whence he journeyed to Howell, by stage bringing with him his intended wife, to whom he was married the following year. Subsequent to this happy event the young husband purchased forty acres of land upon which he now resides on section 29, Cohoctah Township. This land was covered by dense forests and the young wedded couple moved into their log hut, which had but one door and one window and there they lived in humble contentment for many a year. Prosperity attended the efforts of Mr. Schrepfer and he was able by economy and thrift to accumulate a large property. He at one time had two hundred and forty acres, eighty of which he gave to his son, and he has himself with his strong right arm cleared the trees from about one hundred and twenty acres, and has placed substantial and fine improvements upon his farm. His beautiful residence and good barns form a striking contrast to the little log house in which he and his wife made their first home, but in the new home there is no more happiness and contentment than was to be found in the humbler abode.

     The happy marriage of' George Schrepfer and Mary Read took place in November 1860 and the bride, who was born September 25, 1838, is a daughter of Nicholas and Knutguinte (Bar) Read. Mr. and Mrs. Read reared to maturity three sons and six daughters and one son and four daughters came to America. Their mother died in Germany, but the father came to Michigan and ended his days here. He lost one son in the Franco-Prussian War and another son still resides in Germany. He of whom we write has ever cherished a warm (597) regard for the land of his adoption, and during the dark days of the Civil War he showed himself a loyal citizen, and enlisted March 29, 1865, in Company E, Fifteenth Michigan Infantry. He received his honorable discharge at Little Rock, Ark. in August, 1866, and then returned home and resumed his farming operations.

     The ten children who were born to George and Mary Schrepfer are: Henrietta, John, Maggie, Henry M., Mary E., Fred R., Anna, Carrie P., Laura and James. Henrietta is the wife of Albert Hetchler, and Maggie is Mrs. George Bush. The youngest son died at the age of three years and Fred R. has established his own household. Our subject and his wife are devout members of the Evangelical Church and have proved themselves both active and liberal. This successful man landed in New York with but $1 in his pocket and his success in life can only be attributed to his unflagging and persistent industry, his wise forethought and his prudent thrift. He has adopted the political views of the Republican party and is active in promoting its success, but is in no sense a politician.