(677) MISS L. ANNA BALLARD, M. D. In the capital city of Michigan there is no more popular or well-known physician than the lady whose name initiates this sketch, and whose portrait is presented on the opposite page. She is a woman of intellectual superiority, of
pleasing presence and manners, yet of striking individuality. In the twelve years which she has devoted to her profession in this city she has earned an enviable reputation in the community and State and among the profession, as well as a profitable and extensive practice which calls her to all parts of the State for counsel among women.
Her success in business has been such that at the death of her father the family made her their choice to administer the affairs of the estate.

     Dr. Ballard's paternal grandfather was Frederic Ballard, who was born in New Hampshire and died in Sparta Ohio, at the good old age of eighty-nine years. His eldest son, Appleton Ballard, was born in Hanover, N. H., July 1, 1809. When he was a boy the family removed to Vermont. Here he met Epiphene Ellenwood, to whom he was married in 1830. In 1836 the family removed to Sparta, Ohio. In 1848 they came to Lansing, Ingham County, before the clay of railroads in this State, spending two weeks on the road. Four sons enlisted when the war broke out, one being but seventeen years old. One found a grave in Virginia, the others returned, all with battle marks.

     Mr. Ballard spent the early years of his manhood as a shoemaker, later as a merchant, and the last years as a vegetable gardener, paying unusual attention to the propagation of choice new varieties of vegetables. He was the owner of forty acres of land in the northeastern part of the city. Before he died he had platted this into city lots, and the farm is now known as Ballard's Addition to the city of Lansing. In his political preferences he was a Republican and a strong advocate of temperance, even radical on that subject. He became a Christian at twenty years of age and during the greater part of his life was connected with the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which body he was for many years a Class-Leader. His whole life was marked by his Christian faith and zeal. His honesty and integrity were unimpeachable. A man of large sympathies and generous impulses, he was charitable, both in his opinion of others and his conduct toward them. His last words were, "I am near the end, my soul is ready." He died October 26, 1885.

     Epiphene Ellenwood was born in Halifax, Nova Scotia, September 9, 1809. She was the only daughter of David Ellenwood, who was Captain and owner of a merchant sailing craft between the West Indies and Nova Scotia, and whose death occurred on the sea. Some years after the death of the father the Ellenwood family removed to Vermont where the daughter married Appleton Ballard. Mrs. Ballard was the mother of ten children and cared for three motherless grandchildren during their early years. She was a wise, tender, patient, faithful wife and mother. She died (678) March 31, 1888, at the residence of Dr. Ballard with whom she had made her home after her husband's death. Mr. and Mrs. Ballard celebrated their golden wedding, on Thanksgiving Day, November 26,1880, at which time they were the recipients of sincerest congratulations and substantial remembrances from hosts of friends.

     The entire family of ten children lived to manhood and womanhood. James Allen, the eldest, enlisted in 1861 in the Third Michigan Infantry' serving his country faithfully until he dropped dead on one of those Virginia marches, a victim of heart disease. May 5, 1864; Sindenia A. married Dr. G. W. Topping, of DeWitt, Clinton County, Mich.; David E. became a pioneer settler of Kansas. After seeing that State through its troubulous times he enlisted early in the war and was made Quartermaster-General of his regiment. He has continued a citizen of Kansas, being twice elected to the Legislature. For some years he has resided at Ballard's Falls, Washington County, owning there a magnificent farm of eighteen hundred acres, besides valuable property at the county seat. He has a family of nine children; Henry D. also enlisted in 1861, in the Second Regiment, Michigan Sharpshooters, in which he did faithful service until disabled by a bullet wound in the shoulder, when he was transferred to hospital service until the close of the war. He is engaged in gardening near Oshkosh, Wis.; Eunice, who was possessed of an adventurous spirit and missionary zeal, for some years taught Government Indian schools at Sault St. Marie, and at Mt. Pleasant. At the latter place she married Albert Bowker. After removing to a farm in Oliver, Clinton County, she died leaving a young child; Alonzo, who went to the war at the age of seventeen, in the First Regiment of Michigan Sharpshooters, has also adopted Kansas for his home and is a successful merchant in Barnes, Washington County; Everett, the youngest son, is still a resident of the old home place in Lansing; Dr. Ballard is the next in order of age; Sarah M. married William E. West, and is living at Lansing; Alice, the youngest of the family, after graduating from the Lansing High School, took a select course in Boston University, and while there married her cousin, W. O. Crosby, professor of geology in the Massachusetts School of Technology. Their home is a few miles out of Boston.

     Dr. L. Anna Ballard was born in this city July 21, 1848, the family having come to the State the April previous. Her early life was spent here and she was educated in the city schools and in the Misses Rodger's Female College which in those years was a center of culture, and from which her eldest sister had graduated before her. After engaging in teaching for two years she entered the drug store of Dr. Topping, at De Witt, where she continued for three years as drug clerk and student of medicine. Then taking a course in the medical department of Michigan University, she went to Chicago and continued her studies, spending six months as dispensary physician in the Hospital for Women and Children, which is under the supervision of Dr. Mary H. Thompson. Following this she entered the Woman's Medical College of Chicago, from which she was graduated in the spring of 1878, receiving the degree of Doctor of Medicine. On competitive examination she was given the position of resident physician in the Hospital for Women and Children, which she retained six months. To acquire still more knowledge and skill to administer to the ills of humanity, she devoted a few months more to the work of dispensary visiting physician, visiting those destitute women who were too ill to go to the dispensary.

     Thus equipped for her life work, in April, 1879, Dr. Ballard returned to her childhood's home where she could give that care to her aged father and mother that their declining health required. She opened an office as physician and surgeon in the central part of the city and with persistence won, and zealously maintained her position in the front rank of the profession in the city. She was one of the organizers of the Lansing Medical Society in 1882, at which time she was elected Secretary and was continued in the position for seven years, after which she was elected President, holding the chair for one year. At the death of Dr. Shank, the oldest physician of Lansing, the peculiar honor was paid Dr. Ballard of being selected by him, and his selection being endorsed by the Medical Society to deliver an address at his funeral in behalf of the medical profession. In this effort she (679) distinguished herself by the eloquent eulogy paid the deceased friend and old physician, and the noble plea made for the profession. For further particulars in regard to this see sketch of Dr. Shank in another portion of this ALBUM.

      Dr. Ballard has always taken an active part not only in all progressive movements relating to science and art but also in everything that promises to further the advancement of womankind in every avenue of life. She identified herself with the work of the Lansing Industrial Aid Society in 1879 and for several years has been the First Vice-President and member of the Board of Trustees. She is associated in the Lansing Chapter of the Eastern Star. She is a promising member of the Lansing Woman's Club, an old literary society that has been a potent agent in the community for the elevation of literary tastes and in educating its members in business ventures, as it owns its building, a handsome edifice in the center of the city, erected in 1890, and in which property each member is a stockholder.

     More than ten years ago Dr. Ballard found a large field for thought and effort in the Woman's Christian Temperance Union. She has given earnest labor to this work and occupied honorable positions. From 1887 to 1891 she was President of the Central Union of Lansing. In the State organizations she has filled the Superintendencies of Social Purity and Legislation. In the winter of 1887 she led the effort with the State Legislature to amend the law on "age of consent," and succeeded in getting the age raised from ten years to fourteen years. Her address at this time before the Joint Judiciary Committee was an earnest eloquent appeal, and was so highly esteemed that one of the ablest lawyers in the Senate asked that it be published in leaflet form and assisted in its distribution to the legal fraternity of the State.

     Dr. Ballard's church relations are with the Methodist Episcopal body, being a member of the Central Church of this city. Here too she has not hesitated to exert her influence in a progressive way, and with a logical paper took part in a public discussion on the admission of women to the Methodist General Conference. The Young Woman's Christian Association finds in her an enthusiastic worker and liberal supporter, and with her religious tendencies she finds in this organization an ideal avenue for work of heart and brain. With the pen she is at home and is a fluent writer. The Transactions of the State Medical Society of 1886 contains a valuable paper presented by her to the society, recording original work and study. She is the author of some of the best literature circulated by the Woman's Christian Temperance Union. She takes the delight of an educated and cultivated woman in current literature, and being an advanced thinker with decision of character and opinions, but with modesty and deference of manner, she is an interesting conversationalist. Her life is characterized by simplicity and integrity, which with her earnestness of purpose is endearing her to a large circle of associates socially as well as professionally.

     WILLIAM J. McHENCH, M. D. The gentleman of whom this sketch is written, is a physician whose reputation as a practitioner of the healing art, extends far beyond his own locality, being of an intellectually assimilative nature that readily absorbs the pith and truth of every new and important discovery in the fields of pharmacy and chemistry. A scholar by nature, with a love for research, our subject is moreover, a humanitarian whose pleasure is in relieving suffering and pain rather than the acquiring merely of a reputation. So in touch with Nature is he of whom we write, that he "finds tongues in trees, books in the running brooks, sermons in stones, and good in everything."

     Dr. McHench is a native of the Empire State, having been born in Schoharie County, September 16, 1831. He was reared on a farm and acquired the rudiments of his education in the district school in the vicinity of his home, subsequently taking a two years' course in Malone Academy. In the fall of 1853, after completing his academic course, our subject came to Michigan, and was engaged in (680) teaching during one term of school in Green Oak Township, Livingston County, the following year being engaged in the same way in Brighton Township. In the meantime his plans for studying medicine were being matured, and all his subsequent work was with that object in view.

     In the spring of 1854 the young man began reading medicine with Dr. Ira P. Bingham, of Brighton. In the fall of 1855 he entered the medical department of the State University at Ann Arbor, and there spent three years in the pursuit of his professional studies , graduating with the Class of '58. During this course of instruction he of whom we write embraced, not only every opportunity offered in the regular curriculum, but carried on special studies. During the summer of 1856 he took a special course in analytical chemistry, and also gained an insight into the revelations of microscopy.

     Dr. McHench associated himself in 1857, with Dr. Bingham, of Brighton, in the practice of medicine, and continued with him until January, 1859, when, he removed to New Hudson, Oakland County, where he practiced until the following October. In the fall of 1859 he went to Philadelphia, where he took a course of lectures in the Jefferson Medical School and Hospital; his many friends in Brighton, however urged him so strongly to return to that village that he did so in the spring of 1860, and here he has since made his home, absenting himself at intervals that he might pursue his studies in the Eastern cities.

     The original of this sketch went to Baltimore, July 1, 1864, and passing an examination, entered the army on contract as acting assistant surgeon. During his service in this capacity, he had sole charge of four wards in the hospital for some time and here he gained a valuable experience in surgery. At about the close of the war, Dr. MeHench returned to Brighton and resumed his practice. In 1870 he went to New York and took a special course of lectures on diseases of the eye, ear, heart and lungs, and also paid especial attention to physical diagnosis generally in the Bellevue Hospital, enjoying at this time dissertations on these subjects by the most eminent specialists.

     In the year 1880, our subject again visited the American metropolis, again taking a like special course upon the diseases of the throat, etc. Dr. McHench, as is seen from this synopsis of his professional career, is thoroughly well skilled and he now enjoys the entire confidence of the populace, and has a most profitable practice in the town of Brighton. The gentleman of whom we write, has moreover many advantages of mind and person; he is a well-read and highly cultivated man. In 1876 he was appointed as one of the four delegates from Michigan to the Centennial Medical Convention that convened at Philadelphia. He is a member of the Oakland Academy of Medicine; is a member of the State Medical Society, and also of the American Medical Society. He was appointed a delegate by the Oakland Academy of Medicine to the Medical Association which met in Philadelphia in 1876, and was also appointed by the State Association as delegate of the convention which met in New York City in 1880.

     Dr. McHench's wedded life dates from November 18, 1868, when he married Miss Margaret E. Sowle, of Livingston County, this State; their union has been blessed by the advent of one daughter, Gertrude, who is an accomplished young lady. She has attended the High Schools of Brighton and Armada, and has attained great proficiency in music, painting and French at the school at St. Clair, this State. The Doctor is the fortunate possessor of a beautiful home in Brighton; it is a frame house of imposing size and style of architecture, and its interior arrangement and furnishing, is marked by a refined yet rich elegance, giving evidence that it is the home of culture. Our subject is a follower of the political doctrines of promulgated by the Republican party. In his religious opinions he is liberal, although his wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

     The father of our subject was William McHench, a native of Massachusetts. He removed to Schoharie County, N.Y., with his parents when about twelve years old, and lived there until his death, which took place in 1867. He was a soldier in the Patriot's War, having the post of Captain in a New York regiment. He was a farmer by occupation. Doctor McHench's grandfather came to this country directly from Ireland, although his grandson (681) believes that he was a native of Scotland, as his grandmother was a native of that country. After coming to the New World, he first settled in New Jersey, thence he removed to Massachusetts, and finally settled in New York. Our subject's mother was in her maiden days Miss Ann Ferguson, a native of New York. He was appointed for three years by Directors of the Detroit Medical College as one of the Counselors whose duty it was to examine students for graduation.

     THEODORE R. STALEY. Among the extensive and prosperous farmers of Howell Township, Livingston County, we are gratified to place before our readers the gentleman whose name we now give, and whose pleasant farm house will be found on section 13, of the township just named. He is of Eastern birth, having come from Montgomery County, N.Y., and his natal day was April 29, 1825.

     John and Rebecca (Devonpeck) Staley were the parents of our subject, and they were natives of New York, who had in extensive farm of five hundred acres in the township of Florida, Montgomery County, N.Y., and in this home they lived and died. The parents of John Staley were Hendrick and Rachel Staley, both natives of Germany, who after coming to America made their first home in New Jersey and later removed to New York, where they passed the remainder of their days. They had one of those magnificent farms which are to be found in the Empire State. Hendrick Staley although a foreigner by birth was a true patriot, who when Washington called the friends of liberty to arms, left his plow in the furrow and shouldered his musket leaving his wife and two children to the providence of God. This heroic wife sheltered and cared for her children during his absence, and when the Indians passed through
that section, burning and raiding the homes and killing the whites, she sheltered herself and her children on the hillside amongst the underbrush.

     Rebecca Devonpeck was a daughter of John and Susan Devonpeck who were natives of Holland and came to America after their marriage, and carried on a large farm in Montgomery County where John Devonpeck also pursued the trade of a carpenter. John and Rebecca Staley had a family of seven children, only four of whom are now surviving. Their names were Rachel, now Mrs. DeGraff; John H.; Garrett, deceased; Theodore R.; Abraham, who died in the war; Winslow P., deceased; and Jacob who lives in New York. The father was a Whig in his early days and later a Republican and both he and his worthy wife were members of the Dutch Reformed Church of Minerville, N.Y.

     The original of this sketch was reared a farmer boy and received a common-school education, remaining at home until he reached the age of twenty-two. He then undertook farming on his own account in Montgomery County, N.Y., and in the spring of 1855 he came to Howell Township and purchased a farm. Upon this estate he has placed a beautiful home and fine farm buildings and has richly adorned it with shade and ornamental trees. In this home he dwells with his beloved and faithful wife who was united with him in 1849. Her maiden name was Mary McMillen and she is a daughter of John and Anna (Hanna) McMillen, of Montgomery County, N.Y. Their life together has been an unbroken period of harmony and domestic bliss, shadowed only by the death of one son, William A. H., who died at the age of thirty-three years. The remaining children are: Anna, now Mrs. Moody, who is the mother of four children--Mary B., Maud H., Ole and Olie twins; Alberta, now Mrs. Warner, the mother of two children, Howard and Luella; Hattie, Mrs. Wilcox, whose two children are May and Theodore; Susan, Mrs. Lare; Mary and Luella.

     Both Mr. and Mrs. Staley are active and efficient members of the First Presbyterian Church of Howell and with them their children are united in a true and happy Christian faith. The Republican party receives the allegiance of this gentleman and he is an enthusiastic member of the Grand Army of the Republic belonging to Waddell Post, No. 115. His war experience gives him a special interest in this organization and he delights in reunions (682) with his old comrades. He belongs to Company F, Fifteenth Michigan Regiment in which he took service for three months, beginning April, 1865. He went as far South as Goldsboro, N. C., and was mustered out of service at the hospital at Alexandria, Va. He has filled various minor offices and has been Assessor, School Director and Treasurer. He is one of the prominent and thoroughly successful farmers of the county and owns forty acres of fine land in Cohoctah Township.

     MYRON H. WASSON. Patriot blood flows freely through the veins of the man whose name we have just given, and he feels that he does indeed love more truly the country for which his ancestors suffered in past times. His father was Samuel Wasson, a Vermont farmer who did valued service as a soldier in the War of 1812, and the father of that parent was one of Washington's troops in the war of the American Revolution.

     Samuel Wasson was united in marriage with Sarah Moon, a daughter of Thomas Moon, a Rutland, Vt., farmer, who passed his later years in Cattaraugus County, N.Y. The parents of our subject were married in Vermont and removed to New York where they lived a number of years, then removed to Michigan in June 1837, making their home on an unbroken tract of two hundred and fourteen acres of Unadilla Township, Livingston County. Their log house was a distance of one mile from a neighbor, Mr. Beale who kept the Post-office at Plainfield. There were then no roads except as the pathway was marked out by blazed trees between this pioneer home and Dexter. Two log houses were it that time used as hotels in this vicinity one being kept by Mr. Dunn and another by Mr. Dyer. This early settler began life herewith more means than many of his neighbors, as he was able to pay for his land to provide himself with a team of horses and a yoke of oxen and had some money still remaining for the necessities of life. It is now thirty-five years since he passed away from this life at the age of seventy-two years, and his good wife who survived him for three years died at the same age.

      Of the eleven children of this worthy couple three are now living: John, our subject and Polly (Mrs. House). The parents were possessed of genuine Christian character and were charter members of the Presbyterian Church of Plainfield, where Mr. Wasson was a Deacon and Elder for many years, and often supplied the pulpit by reading a sermon when no clergyman could be obtained. He was an old-line Whig and a man who was deeply interested in both temperance and education.

     The birth of Myron Wasson occurred in Genesee County, N.Y., February 17, 1821, and he was therefore sixteen years old when he came to Michigan. As it was necessary for every one who was  able to labor to put his shoulder to the wheel, this lad's education was cut short and he turned in to help clear up the new farm. He remained at home until he reached his twenty-second year, and was then married November 13, 1842, to Margaret Clawson, a daughter of Levi and Christine (Gates) Clawson, a New Jersey couple, who moved to Ohio in 1835 and in 1837 made their settlement in Unadilla Township, Livingston County, Mich. Mr. Clawson was in independent circumstances and built for his family a comfortable frame house before clearing up his farm. He passed away from earth in 1880, having completed eighty-four years of upright living and his faithful and devoted wife survived until 1889, when in her ninety-fourth year she departed in the odor of sanctity. Mrs. Wasson is the only survivor of their nine children.

     Mr. and Mrs. Clawson were charter members of the Presbyterian Church here and Mr. Clawson had held his membership in that body for over fifty years. His political views led him into alliance with the Democratic party, and he was an earnest advocate of movements directed toward the maintenance of temperance, he filled the office of Road Commissioner but cared little for office. To his children he gave a good district school education and advanced them in every way in his power. His father, Abram Clawson, and his grandfather, John Gates, were both New Jersey farmers; the father died in his native State and the latter (683) passed away in Ohio, after a long resilience there.

     Mrs. Wasson was born July 11, 1820, in Sussex County, N.J. and was seventeen years old when she came to Michigan. The young couple started out empty handed and established their home upon the little farm of fifty acres, which he had from his father. They were much restricted in circumstances, as will be shown by the fact which is related that their winter supply of sugar was only three pounds. Besides the old homestead of two hundred and forty acres, which is in the hands of a tenant, Mr. and Mrs. Wasson own ninety-three acres on which they reside.

     Five of the nine children of our subject are now living, namely: Levi C. who married Emma May and lives in Topeka, Kan., with his wife and three children; Samuel T. who with his wife, Viola Wood and his one child, lives on the old Wasson homestead; Edwin S. who is married and lives in Ottawa, Kan.; Robert A. who took to wife Mary Sherman and lives in Ottawa, Kan.; Milton L., who married Carlie Bullis and with his wife and two children lives in this township. To all of their offspring our subject has given good education.

     The Presbyterian Church is the religious body with which our subject and his wife are actively connected, and they have done much good service in the Sunday-school. Mrs. Wasson is a member of the Foreign and Home Missionary Society, over which she at one time presided, and Mr. Wasson has been a member of the School Board. He is a Republican in his political views and a man of correct habits of life, as he never uses either tobacco or whiskey. The health of both is good with the exception of occasional attacks of rheumatism.

     JOHN HOWE (deceased). There is always a greater interest in a history where one finds written "finis" at the end, than one in which the reader is left to wonder what will come next. Our subject has finished the story of life and the seal of approval of the Great Librarian has been set upon it. Belonging to the class of men who from earliest youth are bread winners, winning their night's repose and the sufficiency to support life by the hardest labor, our subject faced the problem sturdily and accepted the result with content.

     Mr. Howe was born in the manufacturing town of Carlisle, England, April 19, 1814. He was a son of John and Elizabeth (Steele) Howe. His exodus to the United States took place in the spring of 1821, when he landed in New York City, where he spent one year, thence going to Westchester County, N.Y. He was a machinist by trade, having grown up, as one might say, to the business in his native town, which is noted for its great cotton manufactories. On settling in Westchester County he was employed as a machinist in a cotton factory and there remained for several years. The business at that time, however, was not so profitable as in later years and the promise for advancement was greater in the Western country than in the Eastern town, hence our subject came to Michigan in 1834 and settled at Deer Creek, where he entered a tract of land from the Government setting himself with great energy to improving the same. His was the first sawmill ever built on Deer Creek. He continued business at this place until 1848, at which time he died. Our subject was one of six children born to his father, their names being John, Jonathan, William, Thomas, Susannah and Mary.

     The original of our sketch was employed in the factory until coming to Michigan in 1834, when he engaged in farming. His father gave him his first start in life, presenting him with one hundred and sixty acres of land that was located on section 8. This he cleared and improved and his widow now owns the original homestead of one hundred and thirty acres. Mr. John Howe died August 13,1887 and was greatly mourned by friends as well as relatives. He served in several township offices and was Supervisor and also represented his county in the legislature in 1857. His marriage took place January 14, 1841, when he was united to Miss Eunice Jones who was born in the town of Middlefield, Otsego County, N.Y., February 23, 1822. She is a daughter of Levi and Elizabeth (Bennett) (684) Jones. The former was a chair-maker by trade and came to Michigan in June, 1829 at which time he settled in Salem, Washtenaw County, where he engaged in farming. He lost his wife here in 1833 and he himself passed away later.

     Of eight children born to himself and wife seven survive there being three sons and four daughters, as follows: Martha, Alonzo, William, Aurelia, Eunice, Betheny, and Alfred. Mrs. Howe made her home among strangers from the time she lost her mother and as a young girl she suffered some bitter experiences. Our subject and his wife were the parents of three children--James, Elizabeth, who was the wife of R. F. Patterson and is now deceased, and Amelia, who died in early childhood.

     LUTHER C. KANOUSE. A grateful nation will ever hold in honor those who, in times of peril, offered themselves upon their country's altar and faced death on many a bloody battlefield. In their memory will poems and songs be written, anniversaries remembered with flags and banners flying in the air, and patriotism exalted in a million throbbing hearts On Decoration Day we pay our tributes of love to our honored soldier dead, while those who survive are the objects of our highest esteem. Not only did Mr. Kanouse serve with valor in many a hard fought engagement, but his efficiency received merited recognition, and while he entered the service in the ranks he was honorably discharged at the close of the war, a commissioned officer.

     Upon the battlefield of life, where heroism is called for no less than when facing ghastly death at the cannon's mouth, Mr. Kanouse has made an honorable record. Just and honest with all, generous and kind, a close acquaintance reveals more and more those exemplary traits of character which makes him influential among the residents of Livingston County. His home is pleasantly located on Section 5, Cohoctah Township, and comprises one hundred and eighty acres of good land, more than one hundred of which have been cleared by the personal effort of the owner. By a proper rotation of crops the land has been brought to an unusual fertility, while substantial rural structures have been erected to serve the varied purposes of modern farm life. A view of this fine homestead appears on another page.

     A native-born citizen of Michigan, Mr. Kanouse was born in Burns, Shiawassee County, June 29, 1842, and is the son of Jacob and Mabel (Drake) Kanouse. During his youth the schools were scattered at remote distances on the prairies or in the timber land, and educational privileges were few. However, such as they were, Mr. Kanouse took advantage of them and extended his fund of information beyond the proverbial "Three R's." After he had completed the course of instruction in the common school he was a student in the State Normal and made use of his knowledge thus acquired in the profession of a teacher, which he followed one winter. It the meantime he gained a practical training in the duties of agricultural life and early learned the habits of industry and economy which contributed in no small degree to his success in later years.

     The breaking out of the Civil War caused Mr. Kanouse to abandon teaching, and on September 4, 1862, he enlisted in Company D, Sixth Michigan Cavalry, as a private. Among the engagements in which he participated are the following: Hanover, Hunterstown, Gettysburg, Monterey, Boonesboro, Snickers Gap, Kelley's Ford, Culpeper, Raccoon Ford, White's Ford, Jack's Shop, James City, Buckland Mills, Brandy Station, Stephensburg, Morton's Ford, the Wilderness, Beaver Dam Station, Yellow Tavern, Meadow Bridge, Milford, Hawes Shop, Baltimore Crossroads, Cold Harbor, Trevilian Station, Winchester, Shepardstown, Berryville, Opequan, Louisa Courthouse, Five Forks, South Side Railroad, Ducks Pond Mills, Riggs, Sailor's Creek and Appomattox Courthouse.

     As might be expected, Mr. Kanouse did not pass through all these engagements uninjured. At Boonesboro, Md., he was wounded in the left arm and placed in the hospital. This not being a very desirable place to stay, he left without permission after remaining three weeks and joined his regiment, preferring active camp life to the tedium (687) and unpleasantness of the hospital. At Trevillian Station he was again wounded, and receiving a sixty days' furlough, returned home. At the expiration of the time he rejoined his regiment. At Winchester the bursting of a shell knocked his horse down and in the fall Mr. Kanouse had his left arm broken. He was then only a few feet from the enemy's line. Another furlough of sixty days was given him and he again joined his regiment at its expiration.

     Altogether, the regiment to which Mr. Kanouse belonged participated in sixty-two engagements. The horse which he rode passed through all unscathed, and at the return of peace was brought home and kept until death came to him from old age. When the regiment left Michigan for the field of action Mr. Kanouse was made Duty Sergeant, and after the battle of Gettysburg was commissioned Orderly. In September, 1863, he was promoted to Second Lieutenant but never received his commission. In May, 1864, he was commissioned First Lieutenant, and in this capacity was discharged November 24, 1865, at Fort Leavenworth, after making a tour through the West fighting Indians, etc. With others who had helped to save the flag of our country he participated in the Grand Review at Washington and then came home, having received pay for a service of three years and three months. In 1864 be held an election at Harper's Ferry, when his father was appointed to collect and carry the votes home to be counted.

      Since the close of the war Mr. Kanouse has been engaged in farming on section 5, where he now resides. He first purchased forty acres to which he afterward added as he was able. While devoting himself principally to agriculture he has not overlooked his duties as a citizen and is in active Republican, having a firm faith in the principles of that party. His fellow-citizens, recognizing his abilities, have elected him to all the minor offices of the township and he has also served two terms as Supervisor. He has been delegate to several State conventions, and in every position has endeavored to advance the interests of the community where he resides. Socially he is a member of the Masonic fraternity, F. & A. M., and also is identified with the I. O. O. F.

     The pleasant home belonging to Mr. Kanouse is presided over by a lady of refinement and culture, whom he brought hither as his bride many years ago. Mrs. Kanouse was known in maidenhood as Vianna Gaston, and was born in Livingston County, this State, to Marvin and Philinda (Parsons) Gaston, natives of Madison County, N.Y., and Conway, Franklin County, Mass., respectively. The paternal grandparents of Mrs. Kanouse were Elijah and Susannah (Sears) Gaston; the former, who was born in Massachusetts, moved to New York, and thence to Michigan where he died in 1841. He was twice married, his first wife dying in New York in 1828, and his second wife being Mrs. Polly (Sears) North, a sister of the first wife. Tracing the lineage back still further we find that Elijah Gaston was a a son of Robert Gaston, whose father emigrated from Ireland to America at an early day.

     In May, 1836, Marvin Gaston emigrated to Michigan and settled three miles north of Howell. One year later he removed to Handy Township where his father had entered eighty acres. After remaining there many years and improving a fine farm, in 1888 he came to the home of our subject and there he receives the devoted attention of his children and grandchildren. He was deeply bereaved by the death of his wife, who passed away in May, 1888. The ceremony which united the destinies of Mr. Kanouse and Vianna Gaston was solemnized July 10, 1864, and their wedded life has brought to them no sorrow save the loss by death of three children. The two who survive are Nellie M., the wife of Edward House, and Birney G.