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Elza B. Porter was Lorn July 17, 1855, in Alpine, Kent Co, Mich.; is son of Henry B and Malvina Porter, natives of New York. He came to Oakfield in 1880 and settled on the Stevens farm on sec. 17. He was married April 14, 1878, to Lida Garlick of Plainfield, daughter of Robert and Catherine Garlick, natives of New York. They have one child-Ethelyn Lena, born June 24, 1879. Politically Mr. Porter belongs to the National party. P. O., Oakfield Center.

Myron A. Potter, Town Treasurer of Oakfield, was born in the house where he now lives, April 20, 1848; is son of Benj. and Abigail Potter, the former a native of Vermont, the latter of New York. He owns 107 acres of land on sec. 1, among the best farms in town. He was married Feb. 27, 1867, to Rebecca Filkins of Plainfield, Kent Co. They have three children-Charles H., born Aug. 24, 1870; Clarence C., Nov. 13, 1874, and Katy M., June 9, 1877. Politically he is a Democrat; is a member of the Masonic Lodge of Grattan, No. 196. P. O. Oakfield Center.

Lyman Spaulding was born Sept. 23, 1833, in Cohocton, N. Y.; is son of Hiram and Miranda (Quimby) Spaulding. His grandfather, James Spaulding, was born in England in 1772, his wife was a native of Steuben Co., N. Y., born in 1777. Hiram Spaulding was born in New Hampshire Feb. 19, 1795; Miranda Spaulding, his wife, was born in Connecticut, Aug. 18, 1800. They had four sons and three daughters. David Spaulding is a resident of Cincinnati, O., Ira J. of Almo, Mich., Stephen T. of Cohocton, N. Y., Louisa of Alamo, Mich., Rhoda of Orange. ville, Barry Co., and Martha of Larkspur, Douglass Co., Col. Mr. Spaulding was married May 23, 1858, to Hester Ann, daughter of Joseph and Charlotte Adams, of Candice, Ontario Co., N. Y., born Sept 27, 1832. Her father was born July 17, 1804, in Decker, Sussex Co., N. Y., and died Sept. 6, 1837; her mother was born Sept. 13, 1804, in the same town. Mr. and Mrs. Spaulding have had one daughter-Jennie, born Aug. 18, 1864, in Cohocton, N. Y., and died Feb. 22, 1876, in Oakfield. They settled in Nunda, Livingston Co., N. Y., and two years after went to Cohocton, Steuben Co. In December, 1866, they came to Otsego, Allegan Co., Mich., where they lived a year, went to Plainwell, and thence to Oakfield, where they located on 100 acres on secs. 15 and 22. In 1857 Mr. Spaulding entered the ministry, and was a local preacher in the Methodist Church until May, 1880, when he joined the United Brethren of Christ and soon entered the traveling connection of the Church, and is at present acting minister of the society at Oakfield Center.

Morris N. Streeter was born in Napoleon, Jackson Co., Mich., Sept. 9, 1847; is son of Thomas and Maria Streeter, natives of New York. In 1849 they came to Kent county and settled in Cannon, buying 120 acres on sec. 2. The former was born Oct. 8, 1823, and died Feb. 20, 1856; the latter was born June 26, 1828, and died April 17, 1871. Mr. Streeter remained on the homestead after his father's death, while his mother lived, and in February, 1878, bought 164 acres on sec. 15, where he has since been engaged in general farming. He was married Feb. 15, 1871, to Surah E., daughter of Harmon and Avice Bennett, born Oct. 11, 1850, in Courtland. Her father and mother are natives of New York, the former born Sept. 8, 1808, the latter May 23, 1817; both are now living. Mr. Streeter is a Democrat. P. O., Oakfield Center.

His parents,

Stephen S. Tower was born in Springfield, Vt., Aug. 16, 1812. Isaac and Susanna Tower, were also natives of Springfield. His maternal and paternal grandfathers were soldiers of the Revolutionary war: the latter was in the engagement at Bunker Hill. Mr. Tower settled in Oakfield in 1839, and owns 136 acres of land on sec. 29, where he resides. He was married Nov. 2, 1837, to Mary F. Eddy, of Springfield, Vt., daughter of Rensselaer and Sarah Eddy, born in 1818. The following children were born to them-Susan F., Oct. 7, 1838; Sarah, Jan. 6, 1841; Stephen Schuyler, Sept. 14, 1843; Henry Clay, Nov. 7, 1844 (died Sept. 19, 1863); James W., May 1, 1817 (died April 12, 1848); Isaac, Feb. 19, 1850. The latter was killed Oct. 30, 1880, by the caving in of a well. Mr. Tower's first wife died March 6, 1850, and he was married Jan. 6, 1851, to Mary A Muma, of Oakfield, born in Canada Oct. 18, 1830. Six children from this marriage are living-Emma, born Nov. 4, 1851; Ida M., Aug. 10, 1855; Clyde Q., Feb. 7, 1858; Gertrude E., March 30, 1864; Job Arthur, Aug. 14, 1868; Ernest Alton, Dec. 28, 1872. Mr. and Mrs. Tower are both members of the Oakfield Baptist Church, of which they were charter members. Mr. Tower is a Republican; has held the offices of Treasurer and Justice of the Peace. His son Henry was a soldier in the 13th Reg. M. V. I. in the war.

John S. Watson was born in Yorkshire, England, Dec. 12, 1840; is son of William and Sarah Watson, the former born Aug 22, 1808, and died Aug. 22, 1847; the latter Feb. 14, 1812. About three years after the death of her husband, she came to America with three children-Henry, Thomas and John-and settled in Oakfield, where she had friends, and soon after married Joseph Denman of Oakfield. She died July 14, 1874. Mr. Watson lived with his mother until he was of age, and was married Jan. 1, 1862, to Abigail A. Jones, of Oakfield, born Nov. 23, 1844, in Jackson, Mich. She is daughter of Thomas and Sarah A. Jones; her father was born in Hertfordshire, England, May 4, 1810, and died March 25, 1879; her mother was born July 26, 1825, in Saratoga, N. Y., and is still living in Oakfield. Mr. and Mrs. Watson have had four children-Lizzie, born May 9, 1865; Elton J., May 10, 1869 (died May 15, 1871); Thomas A., Aug. 19, 1872; an infant son born Sept. 29, 1876, and died Aug. 6, 1877. In 1863 Mr. Watson bought 100 acres of land on sec. 2, Oakfield, and until 1870 operated a lumber mill at Gowan, also the Underhill Mill in Montcalm county. He disposed of the above land in 1880. In 1873 he became possessor of the homestead located on sec. 21, where he now resides. Himself, wife and daughter Lizzie are members of the Baptist Church of Oakfield; he is Deacon and Treasurer of the society. Politically he is a Republican. P. O, Oakfield Center.

Walter Williams, of the firm of Peterson & Williams, was born at Jamestown, Ottawa Co., Mich., Feb. 17, 1860; is son of Daniel M. and Mary J. Williams. His father was a soldier in the Civil war, and died Jan. 27, 1863, in the hospital at Nashville, Tenn. In 1865 his mother sold the farm and moved to Grand Rapids. In 1867 she went to Oakfield, and a year later to Ludington. Walter began to acquire his education in Grand Rapids, and Nov. 15, 1872, went to live with his uncle, George Leman, at Evart, where he remained seven years and attended the Evart High School six terms. He returned to Oakfield Dec. 15, 1879, and was in the employ of his brother-in-law thirteen months, when he bought the stock of goods of A. A. Stevens, and conducted a mercantile enterprise alone one month, when he consolidated with his present partner. Peterson & Williams are doing a general mercantile business adapted to a country trade; their stock includes dry goods, groceries, boots and shoes, etc.; the postoffice is also connected with the store. The business was organized March 14, 1881.

PARIS TOWNSHIP.

As early as 1833 this township was settled by Barney Burton, Joel Guild, Edward Guild, Daniel Guild and James Vanderpool. Two years later Abram Larraway and Benjamin Clark located there. In 1836 came Miner Patterson, James Patterson, Jacob Patterson, Orleans Spaulding and Philanzo Bowen. Nicholas Carlton came in 1837 and Hiram H. Allen in the year 1838. Among the other early settlers were De Witt Shoemaker, Clinton Shoemaker, Robert Shoemaker, Alvin H. Wansey, Jared Wansey, James Ballard, Stephen Hinsdill and Robert Barr. We would here also make special mention of "Captain Davis," as he was familiarly called, who was the father of Ezekiel W. Davis, commonly known as "Judge. He settled in the township in the year 1834, and remained a resident up to the time of his death, about 1850.

Mr. Burton built the first log house in the township of Paris, and erected the first barn in the county. He also erected the first frame house in the township, upon the site of the present fine residence of S. M. Garfield.

In the year 1835 or 1836 a man by the name of Sizer was shot by an Indian, near Plaster creek, on what are now the premises of Henry Allen. At that place on the creek was a deer lick, which, of course, was watched by the early settlers as well as by the natives. The parties concerned in the affair to which we refer were both looking for deer, the one not knowing of the presence of the other. As the white man was moving about in the bushes, the eye of the Indian caught a glimpse of his white shirt bosom, which he mistook to be a spot upon a deer about to run. A second more, and the white man fell dead, with a bullet through his heart. You can imagine the terror of the Indian when he discovered what he had done, as he supposed his own life must pay the forfeit.

It seems to have been the custom of the Indians to demand a life for a life. One time, while a little Indian girl was taking care of an infant white child, near what is now the city, she accidentally let it fall from her arms upon the ground, and it was taken up dead. The Indians took the girl with the intention of executing her; but upon the earnest solicitation of Uncle Louis Campau and Joel Guild, and the offer of an amount of money for her life, she was spared.

When Benjamin Clark came into the township, in 1835, he selected a piece of land on section 12, located upon it, and has ever since made it his home. When he settled, no one was living in that part of the township, except Alexander Clark.

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