The deceased was born in Ulster county, New York, March 9, 1798. He came to Michigan with two brothers, who afterwards returned, in 1823, locating the farm upon which he died, having been the continuous owner of the same farm for 63 years. After locating his land he returned to Ulster county, where he was married the same year, 1823, to Miss Philanda Beach. They lived together 49 years, when she died in the spring of 1873, aged 72. We add a brief personal experience of this old pioneer, as published in the Pontiac Gazette Feb. 27, 1874.

"I took up a farm, upon which I now live, of 80 acres, in the township of Troy. Shortly after I went back to New York, where I was married to Miss Philanda Beach, with whom I shared the pleasures and sorrows of life until last March, when she was taken from us, to a better land, I trust, in her 72d year.

It is needless for me to give an account of all the incidents of pioneer life with which I am familiar, it would only be repeating the same old story of toil and hard time. Suffice it to say that no one can realize what pioneer life is until they have experienced it, until they have left their home and friends, and gone into the wild forest, constructed for themselves a dwelling from the sturdy oak, and manufactured for themselves furniture from the saplings of the surrounding forest.

When I first moved upon my farm I had nothing but good health and strong muscles to support myself and family, but by hard work and strict economy, I managed to buy a cow the first summer for eleven dollars. I also raised two acres of corn upon Mr. Satterlee's farm, the same summer, and I often sat down to a meal prepared from the productions of that cornfield and our limited dairy, which, in those days, I thought was good enough for any man. After we had been upon our farm about three years we had the misfortune to lose our house by fire, one cold January night, as we were visiting Mr. Alanson Goodrich's, with James Bailey and their families. But my neighbors, showing the true pioneer spirit, helped me to build a new house, which was completed in a week; they also contributed household goods and provisions enough to enable us to keep house for the remainder of the winter. I have in my house to-day some of the dishes given to me upon this occasion."

JOHN MARTIN.

"Rev. John Martin died at his residence in Ovid, Clinton county, Michigan, Feb. 4, 1887, aged 89 years.

Rev. John Martin was born in Cayuga county, New York, in 1797. Trained by parents who needed his earlier services, at the age of thirteen he

set out from home, having one suit of clothes, his sole earthly possession. Following the year 1817, which marked the beginning of his christian experience, a devout and energetic spirit bore him up during many seasons of privation and hardship. In the next year he was married to the one who, for more than 50 years, has stood faithfully by his side through all that life hath brought him.

To meet the imperative needs of a rapidly growing family of six children, in 1831 he sold his possessions in New York state, and, on the 2d of August, set out for the territory of Michigan. After a three weeks' journey they settled in the township of Troy, Oakland county, having just $2 left (after paying traveling expenses) for a cow and a few acres of land. At that time, as the deceased has often said, the ground now covered by Detroit was occupied only by French farms and a few post traders' huts.

When Father Martin first settled there were only 27 ministers of all denominations in the territory, himself being the only one in his county. He at once gave all his spare time to the work of the Gospel, and so continued until 1846, when failing health compelled his release from public labor. The largest annual salary that he ever received was $70. During that year he attended 24 covenant meetings, broke bread as many times, baptized, visited, addressed a Sunday school once in two weeks, attended 4 ministerial conferences, 4 councils, 1 association; preached in 22 school houses, 14 dwelling houses, 2 meeting houses and one grist mill. In performing this labor he traveled 1,500 miles on foot and horseback.

As a fitting close of a life of 90 years so full of good works, he goes to his rest in peace, firmly trusting that 'He is faithful that promised.'

The subject of the above notice from the Ovid Register and Union was one of the earliest and best known settlers in Clinton county. He was not a cultured preacher, but a practical minister, with words and advice suited to the times and the field he worked in. His temperament and social nature peculiarly fitted him for the pioneer work he followed so devotedly. He was one of old Ben Franklin's kind of men, whistled while he worked, was always happy himself, and his cheerful nature was an inspiration in every log cabin he entered. In every pioneer home Elder John Martin was welcome, and the altar fires in every family with whom he tabernacled for a night were brightened by his coming.

Measuring his reward by the sacrifices made, there are many jewels in the crown of his rejoicing.

COL. JOHN P. FOSTER.

The death of John P. Foster, November 5, 1886, was an anticipated event.

His sickness being caused by Bright's disease his death was considered certain at a not very remote day, and the family and friends were in a measure prepared for the summons; none more so than himself, who talked of his departure and planned for his funeral as he would transact a matter of business.

In all matters pertaining to the welfare and growth of Pontiac Mr. Foster always put his shoulder to the wheel of progress, doing his full share in the advancement of the material interests of the city. His active and earnest efforts in public affairs led to his political preferment and he served as alderman one term, was township treasurer several years when the duties of the office extended over the city, was several times elected ward treasurer, was also constable for a number of terms, and deputy sheriff under one or more administrations. His pet interest in the city government was the fire department, which he patronized and served during his entire residence in the city, having been its head and chief some 27 years, resigning last season on account of poor health. To this department he devoted special attention, was its head in the change from the volunteer to a paid department, and in the organization of the present force, in the purchase of steam and other apparatus he was the leading spirit and manager, and may be considered the founder of the present efficient department. He always possessed the confidence of the firemen and in emergencies his orders were promptly obeyed and executed. In his death the boys feel they have lost their best friend and ablest adviser and leader. He was a prominent and respected member of all the Masonic bodies in the city, and had been anointed in the order of high priesthood. In the local orders he had filled the offices of master of the lodge, high priest of the royal arch chapter, and eminent commander of Pontiac Commandery. From the tessellated pavement to the temple he was an active and earnest worker, attached to the order and its principles. He was also an Odd Fellow, but in late years had not been in intimate affiliation. In 1861 he enrolled himself in the 14th Michigan infantry Co. I, with the commission of first lieutenant under Cols. Shoemaker and Robert W. Davis. After an organization and brief camp in Ypsilanti, the regiment joined the department of the Tennessee.

After a few months spent in active service he was taken sick, resigned and came home. From this time to the day of his death he never recovered from the seeds of disease engendered by climate change and exposure.

Mr. Foster was born in the county of Kent, England, January 1, 1826, making his age nearly 61 years. When a child of about two years his parents emigrated to America, stopping at Utica, New York, when they came to Michigan and Oakland county, where the father, Horatio, located 40 acres of land in Independence. From the humble log house home with all its

embarrassments and privations he began his limited schooling in the old pinery school house which his father built near the village of Clarkston.

At the age of 16 years he entered the shoe shop of William Blake, as an apprentice, working a couple of years, when he changed his occupation to that of carpenter, working for his elder brothers, Samuel and Frederick. He remained with them two years, when he went to Detroit and entered a joiner's shop for instruction in the fine arts of the trade. He remained in Detroit a year when he came to Pontiac in the fall of 1849, entering the employ of Samuel Brotherton, the leading builder in the village of Pontiac. He was married in Detroit, October 24, 1850, to Delia E. Whitman, who survives him. From 1849, except when absent in the army, he lived continuously in Pontiac until his death. At the time of his decease his death was the first in the family, making the loss one of inexperienced family grief, increasing the weight of sorrow and mourning. The deceased leaves a widow and four adult children, three daughters and one son. He leaves one brother, Frederick Foster, of Springfield, the only surviving member of the elder Foster family. By care and industry he accumulated sufficient of this world's goods for the support of his widow and dependent children.

HON. WILLIAM AXFORD.

The Hon. Wm. Axford, one of the earliest settlers of eastern Michigan, and in an early day one of the most prominent business men in northern Oakland, died at his late home in Clarkston, Thursday morning, September 16, 1886, after a lingering illness of Bright's disease, with paralysis as the immediate cause of his death.

The deceased was born in Windon, Ontario, March 28, 1813. He came to Michigan and to Macomb county in 1822 at the age of nine years, settling with his parents about three miles east of the now village of Rochester. In his young manhood he taught school for a short time, afterwards going into. mercantile trade in the town of Avon.

In 1842 he located as a merchant in Clarkston, doing a successful business for some 25 years, when he retired from active life, in order to look after his landed estate which was quite large.

During his residence in Independence he was supervisor for several terms, and for several terms chairman of the county board. He represented Oakland county in the legislature of 1849, and was a member of the constitutional convention of 1850, a body which formed our present organic law. He was married in 1844 to Ellen C. Axford, of Oxford, Warren county, New Jersey, with whom he lived until his death.

He had no children, but leaves many more remote relatives, his nearest of living kin being Livingston Axford, Esq., of Holly.

He was a man who impressed himself on a community; possessing the elements of leadership, which at times were strongly manifested, to a degree of dictation. It was not easy for him to love his enemies, but to those he liked he was a true, sacrificing friend; one who would protect and defend with his substance those to whom he was socially and in business attached. He was a clear headed man in the performance of public duties, and in his own affairs his books were always honestly balanced. He was always ready to render to every man his due, and was rigid in a like demand from those indebted to him. Right wrongs no one, and he dies free from the stain of demanding more than his own. He was a man of strong convictions on all social and political questions. Politically he affiliated with and was attached to the old school democratic party, whose traditions and principles he clung to as an inherited political treasure, which he never parted with, or made political traffic of. Socially his fellowship did not cover a wide range; he was devotedly attached to home and locality, in the latter years of his life seldom leaving the home hearth, or aberrating from the beaten local trail of associa tion. He was intimately identified with the growth of Clarkston, and did much in a substantial and advisory way to advance the material interests of the village.

Six nephews, all Axfords, were, at the request of the deceased, selected as his pall bearers.

HON. CHARLES H. PALMER.

The end of a great life of mental struggle was reached when our fellow citizen, Charles Henry Palmer, turned upon his side Saturday morning, April 9, 1887, and passed away. When he added three years to the alloted three score and ten, his prospects for many years of vigorous, healthy life, and absolute freedom from the anxieties attending finance and business, were at their very zenith; but alas, when prepared to live, the seeds of disease, long hidden, germinated and hedged him around with difficulties unknown to his before unconquerable will, and he waged the unequal contest with courage and determination. For several hours previous to his death he was painless, and greatly encouraged, and talked cheerfully of future plans for travel and enjoyment, and from these cheerful anticipations he turned in bed and was dead.

Mr. Palmer was born in Lenox, N. Y., in 1814, graduated from Union College, N. Y., in 1837, became principal of the Fredonia (N. Y.) Academy soon after graduating, and was afterwards principal of Geneseo Academy.