Cynthia (Fisher) Abbey, born in New York, Sept. 11, 1824. Five of six children are living. They were born as follows: Alta, April 16, 1852; Alexander M., May 5, 54; Lillian E., June 31, 56; Bertha L., March 31, 58; Lemuel F., June 20, '60. Ida Belle was born Aug. 24, '63, and died Sept. 3, '64. Mrs. Chipman resides on the place upon sec. 25 where she came with her husband and located many years ago. She received a good education in the common schools and seminary at Ann Arbor, and though not a communicant in any Church is a consistent Christian lady.

m. J. Wadsworth, lumberman and farmer, sec. 32, Mecosta Tp. (P. O., Stanwood), was born in Belmont Co., Ohio, May 1 1838. His parents, Josiah and Anna G (Parker) Wadsworth, were of English and and Irish descent, and natives of New York, early becoming residents of Ohio. His father abandoned the family, and his mother married again before he was 15 years old. At that age he went out into the world for himself. His first employ was as a diiver on the canal, which he followed until the fall of 1854, then engaging as hotel clerk; this position affording him a little leisure, he attended school and secured a moderate amount of education. Leaving his situation, he was employed as a farm laborer in Venango Co., Penn., there operating until 1865. In the winter of that year he acted as a teamster, next embarking in lumber trade and farming.

He was married Oct. 16, 1859, to Delia A., daughter of William and Permelia (Hancock) Jay, natives of New York, and lineal descendants of the Jays and Hancocks, of Revolutionary fame. Mrs. Wadsworth was born in Lorain Co., Ohio, Oct. 6, 1843. Her uncle took her to Pennsylvania when she was a mere girl. After his marriage Mr. Wadsworth was interested in oil speculation until the civil war broke out. July 16, 1861, he enlisted in the Third Reg. U. S. Cav., under Lieut. Spaulding. Soon after enlistment he broke his arm and was discharged from the service. As soon as he was sufficiently recovered to warrant the step, he enlisted again, enrolling Aug 11, 1862, in the 142d Pennsylvania Reg. Vol. Inf., Co. I, Capt. Hasson. During the time of his service he was under fire at Fredericks

Lurg, Chancellorsville and at Fredericksburg second, and Gettysburg, escaping unharmed. He received his final discharge, Aug. 30, 1865.

He returned to Oil City, and thence to Ohio, where he rejoined his wife and went back to the oil regions, where he was engaged in shipping oil until the summer of 1866. He returned again to Ohio and was engaged two years in farming, then coming to Michigan and finding a home in Mecosta Tp., in the fall of 1868. He at once entered heartily into the business of lumbering, and the next year homesteaded a tract of 90 acres of land, where he has since operated as stated.

Mr. Wadsworth is a zealous and active Republican. He has held various township and school offices. Himself and wife are members in full standing of the Free Methodist Church. They have six children, born as follows: William, June 8, 1862; Myrtle G., July 14, 1864; Edith N., April 18, 1868; Percy J., April 26, 1873; Lester V., Sept. 8, 1875, and Harley A., March 10, 1883.

sa Brockway, farmer, resident on sec. 20, Hinton Tp., is the son of Andrew and Elizabeth (Rossman) Brockway, natives of Pennsylvania, where the son was born, June 16, 1830.

When Mr. Brockway was quite young his parents moved to the State of New York, and there he resided until he was 19 years old. In the summer of 1849 he came to Michigan and settled in Livingston County. Six years later he sold his farm and came to Mecosta County, where he bought 80 acres of wild land in Hinton Tp., on which he now lives. The place is in fine condition, having 75 acres under cultivation. In politics Mr. B. is a Democrat and has held offices of trust in township and school affairs.

He is a pioneer of Mecosta County, having come here in 1855, five years before the organization of the township. His father, Andrew Brockway, was for some years the oldest resident living in the township.

Mr. Brockway was married in Washtenaw County, Oct. 9, 1855, to Lydia S., daughter of Samuel and Rhoda (Vanvelzer) Eaton. Mrs. Brockway was born in Onondaga Co., N. Y., Feb. 10, 1836. Four children were born of this marriage, as follows:

Eva M., Nov. 6, 1856; Emma E., April 16, 1857; Andrew S., July 21, 1861; Ida M., March 18, 1863. We give a portrait of Mr. Brockway in this work.

S

ilas Wright, farmer, sec. 7, Deerfield Tp., was born in Pennsylvania Dec. 29, 1843. His parents, John and Sarah (Evers) Wright, were also natives of the Keystone State, and in 1863 came to Barry Co., Mich., and a short time afterwards to Allegan County, where the father died soon after, and the mother is yet living.

Our subject received a common-school education and resided with his parents until the age of 27 years. He enlisted Oct. 16, 1862, in the 169th Pennsylvania Vol. Infantry, and received his discharge in July, '63, leaving the army with health much impaired by sickness and exposure. In '70 he left Allegan County and came to Mecosta County, where he bought 80 acres of timber land and upon it built a frame house, proceeding to clear and improve his land, of which he now has 50 acres under tillage.

He was married in Canada, March 29, 71, to Sarah T., daughter of James and Amelia B. Bell, nee Axford, the former a native of England, and the latter of New Jersey. They have three children-Frank M., Harry D. and Nora E., born respectively Feb. 23, 72, Oct., 10, '75 and July 4, '78. Mr. Wright is an adherent of the Democratic party.

ohn R. Campbell, hoot and shoe merchant at Big Rapids, was born in DeWitt Co., Ill., May 1, 1856. His parents, Barzillai and Rosanna (Sackett) Campbell, went to La Cygne, Kan., in 1865, where they engaged in farming, and became prominent in the social and political circles of that section, Mr. Campbell, Sr., being elected in 1877 to represent his district in the State Legislature.

The first business venture of Mr. Campbell was that of jobbing in canned goods at wholesale at Kan

sas City, Mo.; after three months he went to New Brunswick, N. J., and officiated one year as bookkeeper for the Home Valley Preserving Company. He then went to Indiana, where he engaged in the insurance business. In May, 1882, he came to Big Rapids and formed a partnership with P. Wait, in the sale of boots and shoes, which connection was dissolved Aug. 1, 1883, Mr. Campbell buying his partner's interest. His stock is valued at $4,500, and his business transactions amount to $1,200 monthly.

Mr. Campbell was married at South New Brunswick, N. J., Oct. 24, 1882, to Julia Van Deventer, who was born in New Jersey, Oct. 23, 1862.

artin E. Wilson, farmer, sec. 25, Deerfield Tp., was born in Genesee Co., N. Y., July 21, 1836. His parents, Warren and Naomi (Smead) Wilson, were natives of Vermont, but located in Genesee County in 1836. Four years later they settled in Ingham Co., Mich., where the mother still resides on the farm which was her first home in the Peninsular State. The father died April 10, 1877.

Mr. Wilson passed his boyhood and youth on the farm under the personal care of his parents, and at 18 went to Newaygo County, where he spent the winter months in lumbering and the remainder of the years was engaged in "breaking." In the spring of 1861 he came to Mecosta County and bought 80 acres of land, where he still resides. His land was then in a state of nature and he proceeded to put it in proper and comfortable condition for a home for his advanced years. He has 70 acres cleared and under tillage.

Mr. Wilson was one of the earliest settlers of Deerfield, and, from his integrity and constant zeal for the best interests of the public, has become a valuable and trusted citizen of the township. He has been Justice of the Peace 20 years. In '64 he was drafted into the Union service and assigned to the Fourteenth Mich. Vol. Inf., and was discharged at Detroit, July 10, '65, after ten months' active duty at Savannah, Brier Creek, and Bentonville, N. C., under Sherman. His regiment was mustered ont at Louisville, Ky. He was married in 1859 to Anna Chipman, who

was born in Livingston Co., Mich., and died in '73. Two of the three children born to them are living,Naomi A. and Adelbert E. George is deceased. Mr. Wilson again entered into the bonds of matrimony in 74. He married Eunice L. Royce, a native of Tioga Co., Pa. They have five children: Vernon R., Martin O., Alice M. and Helen. An infant child is unnamed. Mr. Wilson is a Republican.

ohn G. Gill, junior member of the firm of Roben, Bennett & Gill, insurance, realestate and loan agents, at Big Rapids, was born in Cornwall, Eng., Jan. 8, 1838. His parents, Richard and Mary (Glanville) Gill, were natives of Cornwall, born respectively in 1800 and in 1802. They came to the United States in 1842, and went to Hannibal, Mo., and two years. later to Illinois. They bought a small farm near Galena, where the father also became interested to a considerable extent in lead mines. Mr. Gill there obtained his elementary education, and at 14 years of age became a clerk in a dry-goods store, where he was employed one year. At 15 he went to Madison, Wis., and commenced a course of study in the scientific department of the University, remaining three years. Returning to Illinois, he passed four successive winters in teaching. He acted as clerk on the Mississippi river steamers two summers, and finally entered a claim of Government land in Kansas, which he improved to some extent.

In 1860 he went to Colorado and commenced staking claims near the "Gregory" mines. The

spring following he went to Delaware Flats, Breckenridge Co, and worked out a placer mine in the summer of 1861. He was in company with James McAllister, and continued his operations until the summer of 1862. At that date he formed a partnership with L. W. Woodruff, and went to Bannock City, Montana, where they were among the earliest comers. Here they took up a bar claim, which proved an advantageous project. They went thence to the site of Virginia City, and assisted in platting the city, of which they owned one seventh. They then went to Bevins' Gulch, where they again en

gaged in successful claim traffic, and in addition established a freight train to and from different points across the plains, consisting of 2.4 teams of six yoke of oxen each. They managed this latter enterprise two years. The winters of 1863-4-5 they spent in eastern cities, negotiating mining property. Mr. Gill next went to Des Arc, Prairie Co., Ark., and in company with his brother, R. G. Gill, engaged in the cotton trade. Two years later he went to Kansas, and bought another farm near the locality of his first agricultural investment, which, on leaving Kansas for Colorado, he had transferred to Mrs. Mary Elwell, his sister. He remained in Kansas until 1875, when he sold his farm and came to Big Rapids, and, associated with C. B. Lovejoy, founded a grocery firm styled Gill & Lovejoy. In 1877 the latter sold his interest to N. H. Beebe, and the new firm continued to transact the most extensive business of the kind in the city, until May 1, 1883, doing an annual business of $60,000. In June, 1883, he entered the house of Roben & Bennett as partner.

Mr. Gill was married in Lynn Co., Kan., Jan. 25, 1868, to Laura E., daughter of Hon. Barzillai and Rosanna Campbell, who was born in Clinton, Ill., March 19, 1850. They have three children-Cora E., Lewis C. and John G.

ewis Russell, proprietor of the shingle mill on sec. 4, Hinton Tp, is a son of Morris and Calista Russell, and was born at Glens Falls, Warren Co., N. Y., March 27, 1849. His parents are natives of Canada, where they now reside. At the age of 13 Mr. Russell went

to work on a farm, and was in the employ of one man three years. His next employment was in a cotton mill in Massachusetts, where he remained nearly two years, and a part of the time officiated as second foreman of the mill. He went back to the Empire State, where he passed a year working on a farm, and spent the year following on a farm in Vermont. In 1868 he went to Wisconsin, where he commenced his career as a manufacturer of shingles, which has since been his vocation. After operating four years in the Badger State, in the summer of 1872

he came to Montcalm County and there remained nine years. In the summer of 1881 he came to this county and located in the township of Martiny, where he bought and ran a shingle mill one year. He removed his works to Hinton Tp., in the fall of 1882, where he is now operating and employs 13 men. The daily product of the mill is 40,000 shingles.

Mr. Russell was married May 28, 1872, in Greenville, Montcalm Co., to Isabella, third daughter of Colin and Elizabeth (McCarthy) McIntyre. Her parents were natives of Scotland and settled in Canada, where the daughter was born Sept. 23, 1854. Thes came to Michigan about 1867, and have since died. Mr. and Mrs. Russell have had four children: Howard H., born March 3, 1873; Winnie L., born Aug. 12, 1875; Harry H., March 20, 1879, and Bessie L, Sept. 27, 1882. Mr. Russell is a member of the order of Masonry and in politics is a Republican.

ucius L. Osgood, general merchant at Big Rapids, was born in Steuben Co., N. Y., Aug. 22, 1834. His father, Lebbeus Osgood, died when he was about 12 years old, and his mother, Philene Osgood, removed to Penn Yan, Yates Co., N. Y., and there Mr. Osgood learned the shoemaker's trade. He enlisted in the service of the United States to quell the Rebellion, in the second year of the civil war, enrolling Oct. 3, 1862, in Co. C, 44th N. Y. Vol. Inf., as a private soldier, and served until the termination of the war. He was in action at Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Mine Run, Gettysburg, all the battles of the Wilderness, and at Cold Harbor, where he received a severe gunshot wound in the left hip. He was sent to Little York Hospital, Pa., where he was laid up 11 months. He obtained his discharge at Little York, May 15, 1865. He remained there, and commenced as a dealer in groceries and operated about two and one half years.

In 1867 he came to Big Rapids, and soon afterward began to sell groceries in the upper part of the city. In 1873 he relinquished his trade and bought a farm containing 60 acres near Paris, Newaygo Co. After carrying on agriculture about two and one-half

harles Hinman, farmer, on sec. 14, Hinton Tp., is a son of Curtis and Almira (De Witt) Hinman, who were natives of the Empire State, and went thence to Pennsylvania, coming afterward to Michigan; they first settled in Oakland Co., but soon after moved to Clinton Co., where they died. Mr. Hinman was born in Oakland Co., Mich., Oct. 23, 1838. He attended school and worked on his father's farm until the age of 22 years, then leased the farm of his grandfather for two years. The element of war was then abroad in the land, and the patriotic blood that courses in the veins of every man who loves his country beat high to act or die for the integrity of the Union. Mr. Hinman enlisted Aug. 11, 1862, in the 23d Michigan Vol. Inf., and was in the service till the close of the war, receiving honorable discharge June 27, 1865, at Washington, D. C. Among the engagements where he was under fire, were the battles of the Wilderness, Spottsylvania C. H., Cold Harbor, and at the siege of Petersburg. He was captured at the battle of the Wilderness, but was at once paroled. In that engagement, while storming the defenses of the enemy, he met with an accident that disabled him for several weeks. After the war he went to his home in Ionia Co. and resumed the pursuit of agriculture. After a residence of 12 years. he sold his farm and went to Clare Co. He purchased 160 acres of land, which he sold four years later, came to Millbrook, Mecosta Co., and bought the hotel property known as the Rowland House, which he soon afterward exchanged for another hotel