perseverance he is acquiring a nice property. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity. We give his portrait in this work.

John Symes, farmer and mason on sec. 26, is a native of England, born in 1817' and son of Henry and Elizabeth Symes. He came to Mass. in 1836, and resided three years on what is known as Indian Hill farm. He traveled a year afterward and went to work in Ohio, and three years after to Canada, where he worked the same length of time on the canal, serving one year as foreman of the stone delivery. In June, 1841, he purchased 120 acres of forest land remote from highways or settlements, to which he was obliged to cut a road, a difficult and laborious undertaking for a man bred to the vocation of mason, as was the case with him. But he has cleared 70 acres and placed it under good cultivation. He has held the position of Tp. Clerk two years, and is at present Highway Commissioner. He was married in 1839 in Miami Co., O., to Harriet Abbott, born in Steuben Co., N. Y., in 1811; was the daughter of James Abbott. They have one child-James A. Mr. Symes is a member of both the Masons and Grangers. Mrs. S. taught the first school in Sparta tp., and she practiced obstetrics 30 years. We give Mr. Symes' portrait in this work.

His

Hon. Wm. H. Taylor was born in Cayuga Co., N. Y., April 20, 1816. father, David Taylor, was born in Connecticut, of English descent; his mother in the same State, of Welsh ancestors. She died in Calhoun county in 1870, aged about 92. The senior Taylor died in New York in 1849, aged 75. Mr. Taylor was reared to the occupation of farmer, which he pursued until elected to represent the 3d district of Kent county in the State Legislature; served one regular and two extra sessions. He was appointed Assistant Assessor of Internal Revenue, and filled the position five years, resigning because he became dissatisfied with the administration of Andrew Johnson. He was engaged in trade during the years 1866-'7-'8 at Sparta Center, when he returned to his farm. He settled in this county, on sec. 9, in 1854, where he purchased 120 acres, all timber except 10 acres, with no buildings or other improvements. He has cleared 70 acres, and, among other notable things he has accomplished for the benefit of his own and future generations, has set out six orchards in different localities. He has held the positions of Supervisor, School Inspector, Justice of the Peace and Road Commissioner, each several terms. He was married in New York in 1840 to Ursula A. Sprague, a daughter of Parmenius and Mary A. Sprague, of Pennsylvania. She is of English descent, and was born in Cayuga county, March 30, 1816. They have two living children-Susan M., born Feb. 2, 1843, wife of H. H. Wiley, and Franklin A, born in 1859. Lois S. died Oct. 24, 1850, and Harmon C., born March 6, 1848, died in 1862. Mr. and Mrs. Taylor are members of the United Brethren Church. P. O., Sparta.

William M. Teeple, farmer, was born in Wayne Co., Mich., in 1840. He came to Kent county in 1862, and was married the same year at Milford to Evaline Anderson, born in Sweden in 1840. They have two children-Theodore and Mildred. Mr. Teeple owns a farm of 80 acres, sec. 15. P. O., Sparta Center. Samuel Tucker, retired farmer, is a native of England, born in 1814. He came to America in 1842 and settled in Ohio, and in 1849 removed to Kent county, where he first purchased 80 acres of land in its original state of primeval forest.. He built a house 18x24 feet, finished it in two weeks, and lived in it 10 years. He was obliged to go to Grand Rapids for milling, provisions, etc., a trip consuming two days. All transportation was effected by ox teams that were owned by Mr. Tucker, being the second driven into Grand Rapids from Sparta. But one house was on the site of Sparta Center when he made his location, and he went four miles to Church. He was married in Medina Co., O., in 1845, to Abigail D. Mills, born in New York in 1824. They have five children living-Solomon J., Joseph D., Charles E., William R. and Minerva C., now Mrs. Loyal Taylor. The following are deceased-Samuel P., Fletcher, Frank and an infant. Mr. Tucker now owns 150 acres of land on sec. 10. P. O., Sparta Center.

Michael Van Wiltenburg was born in Holland in 1847, and was brought to America in 1849. He settled in Ottawa county when he was 20 years of age, and came to Sparta, Kent Co., in 1872, where he established a steam saw-mill, in the operation of which he is associated with William Dresser. He was married in this county in 1872, to Lovema E. Huse, daughter of Carl and Lydia P. Huse, pioneer settlers in Kent county. She was born in 1850. They have two chil dren-Delbert and Genie. Both are members of the Free-Will Baptist Church. Mr. Van Wiltenburg has made his property by his own exertions, and acquired

most of his education by experience. He has served as Town Clerk and School Trustee. He owns a town lot, on which he is building a house at an expenditure of $2,000.

Porter Vinton, miller, was born in Syracuse in 1819. His parents, John and Catherine Vinton, were natives of New York. He was brought up in Syracuse, and worked 40 years of his life at the business of a mason, and during the time owned and managed a large farm. In 1849 he went to California and was there six years. A part of the time he worked as brick-layer, receiving $16 per day. He made two trips to South America; the first in 1852, the second in 1855. On his return to Michigan he located at Kalamazoo, where he resided 12 years. He was married at Rochester in 1842, to Sarah J. Huff, born in 1817 and died in 1857. They had four children. Jerome and Nicholas are still living; William and Charles are deceased. Mr. Vinton was a second time married, in 1858, to Elizabeth Staley. She was born in Buffalo in 1838, and died in 1873; had four children, three of whom are living-Frank, Walter and Porter. The deceased son was named William. Mr. Vinton was married a third time, in 1874, to Mattie Bowen, born in Canada in 1852. He owns a farm of 90 acres, near Alpine Station, and built the first grist-mill at Sparta Center, in 1880. It is worth about $6,000, and was in complete running order in two and one-half months from the time it was begun. It has two run of stones.

Wm. C. Vond was born in Vermont in 1822, and went to New York State in early life; at 21 he went to Muskegon, Mich., where he was engaged in lumbering four years, and in 1851 moved to his present location, sec. 9, where he owns 80 acres, worth $4,000. He made his purchase in 1847, when almost the entire country hereabout was in a wild state. No roads made it easily accessible, and Mr. Vond cleared and laid out a passage way to his property, two and half miles in extent. All supplies were brought from the "Rapids." Mr. Vond made his payment on his purchase with money saved from his monthly earnings. was married in New York in 1851, to Charlotte Varnum, born in 1827. have four children-George W., Frank, John H. and Sarah A. Mr. Vond has been School Treasurer two terms and is a Mason. P O., Kent City.

He

They

Asa P. Wolcott, farmer on sec. 10, was born in Genesee Co., N. Y., in 1814. His parents, Elijah and Sarah Wolcott, were natives respectively of Vermont and New Hampshire. He spent the early years of his life as a farmer, and at 21 learned the cooper's trade, working at it five or six years, and at 27 learned the business of a carpenter, following it for five years. In 1844 he came to this county, with but little means. His first location in Michigan was in Ottawa county, and then on sec. 5, Alpine tp., and in 1865 in Sparta. When he first entered the county he cut his road through for 10 or 12 miles. His trade stood him in good stead at this early period, and he "got out" nearly all the barn timber for some distance. He was married in Ottawa county in 1846, to Sarah Spangenberg, born in Wayne Co., Pa., in 1827, They have seven children-George (Sparta), Henry E., John, Hiram W., Ezra A., Mary E. and Myrta. Mrs. Wolcott has been a teacher several years. Mr. W. owns 110 acres of land, worth $65 per acre. P. O., Sparta. G. R. Wolcott, proprietor of planing-mill, was born in Ottawa county in 1850. His parents, Asa and Sarah (Spangenberg) Wolcott, were pioneers of Kent county. He was occupied on a farm until 1874, when he began working at carpentry, and continued until he met with an accident which rendered him unable to work for a year. He has owned his present business since Jan. 1, 1881; is a Mason, and acting Senior Warden of Blue Lodge, No. 334. He is also a Good Templar.

R. H. Woodin, merchant and grain dealer, was born in Warren Co., Pa., in November, 1830. He spent his early life on a farm, and in 1864 settled in Sparta. Previous to engaging in his present business he followed lumbering for a time. He has $10,000 invested in a stock of general merchandise, and carries on quite an extensive grain trade. His elevator was built at a cost of $1,800, and has a capacity of 6,000 bushels. He was married in Warren Co., Pa., in 1854, to Emeline Alexander, born in New York in 1886. They had two children-Orris H. and Estella (deceased). He was married a second time in New York, to Adeline Alexander. They have one child-Dana M. Mr. Woodin has held the position of Highway Commissioner and is a Mason. He owns 40 acres of land and has acquired his property by effort and careful management.

Nathaniel H. Woodman, farmer, was born in Belknap Co., N. H., in 1817; is son of John and Sarah Woodman, natives of the same State. He came to Kent

county about 1841 and purchased 120 acres of land on sec. 15, in 1846. He was brought up a farmer until 20 years old, when he learned the blacksmith's trade and followed it 30 years chiefly; at intervals was connected with a butcher's establishment at Grand Rapids. He settled on his farm in 1856, and was married in 1857 to Melinda Downs, born in Maine in 1827. They have three children— John W., Llewellyn M. and Clara G. Mr. Woodman obtained his start in life by saving his earnings at his trade and from his labor by the month on a farm; has cleared about 50 acres where he resides and owns 40 acres on sec. 13. He belongs to the Grange. P. O., Sparta Center.

This division of the county is comparatively new, its resources scarcely known, and its population only 1,196. Originally it was heavily timbered with pine; but day by day the forest is disappearing, and fields and farm houses are springing into existence, where only a few short years ago the wilderness existed. The soil is generally good, and the farms now under cultivation give promise of equaling those of the older settlements.

Of the lakes in this township, Lincoln is the largest. It is a fine sheet of water, situated a short distance east of the center of the township, and is nearly one and one-half miles in length by one-half mile in width. Cooper lake, in the easterly part of section 35, is a narrow strip of water, surrounded by a marsh. There is a lake in the southwesterly part of section 34, composed of two distinct sections, connected by a narrow neck. Conjointly they are about one-half mile in length. North of Lincoln lake is an assemblage of small lakes, extending through the township into Maple Valley, in Montcalm county.

Black creek is the principal stream that flows through Spencer. It enters from the northwest, and passes southeasterly through the township. It is of sufficient width and depth to float logs, and a number of millions of feet are run out every year. It has several small tributaries, among which are Clear and Butternut creeks.

The first lumbering establishment on Black creek was commenced in 1853. During the year 1870, one million feet were run out of that stream. The Van Wickle saw-mill is located on the same creek, near the south line of section 25. It was built in the year 1856; H. Van Wickle, proprietor. The Powell steam saw and shingle mill, combined, is situated on the bank of Lincoln lake, on section 27. It was built in 1867; Wm. B. Powell, proprietor. The Parks steam saw-mill, near the center of section seven, was built in 1868; E. H. Gibbs, proprietor. The Griswold steam saw and shingle mill, combined, is located near the southwest corner of section 29. It was built in the year 1868; Jabez W. Griswold, proprietor. The Spencer Mills, from which the postoffice and settlement derived its name, was built in 1855, by Thomas Spencer, near the southeast corner of section 27. It was burned in the year 1861. The old mills of the southwestern part of the town were burned in 1879. The Pennsylvania mills were built in 1879. These mills are divided into lumber, shingle, lath and planing-mills, and manufacture very extensively, giving enployment to about 30 men annually. The Graham lumber-mill was built in 1876, by Graham & Co. This industry employs 15

men.

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