1, 1854; Nora, March 25, 1856 (Mrs. Moses McCarty); David, Sept. 1, 1857; Mary N., Feb. 2, 1860; Joanna, April 10, 1862. The entire family are members of the Roman Catholic Church.

Andrew J. Pelton, son of James M. and Elizabeth Pelton, early pioneers of this county, was born May 19, 1842. He was reared on a farm and educated in the common school. He enlisted in the war for the Union in Co. K, 3d Mich. Vol. Inf., and was discharged Dec. 23, 1863. He re-enlisted the same day in the same regiment to fight once more for the re-establishment of the Union. June 10, 1864, the "Mich. 3d" was consolidated with the 5th Mich. Vet. Vols. Mr. Pelton was engaged in 45 encounters with the rebels, among them the following: Williamsburg, Fair Oaks, Seven Pines, White Oak Swamp, Charles City, Cross Roads, Second Bull Run, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Mine Run, Wilderness, Petersburg, two fights at Deep Bottom, Hatch's Run and Clover Hill. He was discharged July 5, 1865. Mr. Pelton married Elizabeth Pelton, and they have six children-Marilla J., Liberty M., Edith L., Ellwood J., Statira and Ruth.

William B. Pickett is a native of England, born in Bedfordshire, Sept. 28, 1818. His parents, William and Mary (Baston) Pickett, emigrated to Canada in 1827, and settled in Galt. Mr. Pickett, sr., met with an accident which disabled him from active business, and the support of the family devolved upon the son. There were eight children besides the parents, and it was a heavy burden upon a boy's shoulders, but it was borne uncomplainingly, and with the best results to the son who "honored" his father and mother. His industry and attention to the duties that came nearest to his hands, have brought him competency and comfort in the sunset of his life. He learned the joiners' trade, at which he worked 20 years. He came to this county Oct. 13, 1854, and settled on sec. 20, where he cleared 65 acres of wilderness in five years. He removed to Ionia county in 1863, and in 1865 came back to Kent county and settled on sec. 20 once more. In 1867 he fixed his residence permanently on sec. 33. He owns a valuable farm on secs. 33 and 34, including 280 acres of finely improved land. He was married May 15, 1849, to Susanna Wismer, born in Dumfries, Canada, Aug. 16, 1831. Their children are as followsElizabeth (Mrs. Cyrus Nogles), John, Joseph, Mary (Mrs. C. W. Wernette), Amos, George and Jesse. Mr. Pickett is a Republican, and served as Highway Commissioner. A portrait of Mr. Pickett appears on another page, from a photograph taken in 1869.

Orvil A. Riggs, farmer, was born in Brandon, Franklin Co., N. Y., May 15, 1836. His parents, James and Lucy J. (Bowen) Riggs, were natives of Vermont. The former was born Dec. 22, 1800, and the latter, March 20, 1800. They were married in 1824, and had five children, four of whom are living-David, George, Orvil A. and Volney. Mr. Riggs, of this sketch, was reared on a farm, and received an academic education at the St. Lawrence Academy, of New York. He was married Feb. 20, 1860, to Helen,

daughter of Elihu and Maria (Selleck) Smith, natives of Rutland Co., Vt., born in Avon, Wayne Co., N. Y., Jan. 25, 1838. Their children, three in number, were born as follows: Cora M., Dec. 24, 1863; Leo J., July 14, 1872; Mabel G., Oct. 18, 1879. Mr. Riggs settled on sec. 33 in the spring of 1861, and in 1866 on his present farm. In 1854 he went to Boston, Mass., where he was employed in a box factory six years, and then went to Jones Co., Iowa, and the next year to Johnson Co., Kan., and after a stay of one year to New York, and subsequently to Gaines, where he worked as a carpenter five years, and since at farming. He is a Republican in politics, and owns 200 acres of valuable land on secs. 31 and 32.

John Ross, a leading fruit-grower of Gaines, was born at Marshall, Calhoun Co., April 24, 1845; is a son of Peter and Bridget Ross, natives respectively of Scotland and Ireland, who emigrated to America about 1825,and settled in Marshall. In June, 1848, Mr. Ross, of this sketch, accompanied his parents to Grand Rapids, where his father was a grocer eight years, and then moved to the "Ten Mile Run House," on the plank road, and three years subsequently to Gaines. He has passed most of his life on a farm, receiving his education at the common school, and at Ann Arbor High School. He once commenced the study of medicine, but did not pursue it long. In 1872 he was a grocer at Big Rapids. In 1873 he settled onthe farm he now occupies on sec. 19, containing 120 acres, 30 of whichare in fruit trees. The location of the place is 11 miles from Grand Rapids, on an elevation from which that city is visible. Mr. Ross was married in June, 1872, to Josephine A. Cook, daughter of Orson and Marietta Cook, born in Gaines, Aug. 5, 1845. Mr. Ross is a zealous adherent to the principles of the National party, and is a man of more than ordinary enterprise.

William Ross, son of Peter and Bridget Ross, was born at Grand Rapids, Feb. 27, 1848. He grew to manhood in that city and graduated at the Grammar School. He was united in marriage Sept. 24, 1876, to Matilda, daughter of Alexander and Catherine Clark. This was the first family of whites that settled in Gaines. Mrs. Ross was born in this tp. March 15, 1851. They have two children -Minnie C., born Sept. 27, 1877, and Frank P., born Sept. 11, 1879. The family are communicants in the Roman Catholic Church. Mr. Ross is a National in politics. His farm of 140 acres is situated on secs. 19 and 20, and he is extensively engaged in fruit-growing.

Rodney C. Sessions, a prominent citizen of Gaines, was born in Windsor Co., Vt., Feb. 17, 1824. He is son of Orrin F. and Betsey (Fish) Sessions, natives of Massachusetts. His father died when he was seven years old, and in 1834 he came with his mother to Oakland county, and soon after to Shiawassee county, returning seven years later to Oakland county. In November, 1846, he went to Allegan county, settling in Dorr tp., removing in November, 1847, to his present location on secs. 28 and 29 in Gaines. He taught school three years in that tp. in that early day, and could well be named the "pioneer schoolmaster." He was married

March 16, 1851, to Rosanna, daughter of William and Jane Kelley, born in Middlebury, Wyoming Co.. N. Y., Aug. 17, 1834. They have had three children-F. Hale, born Aug. 24, 1863; Charles R., born Dec. 30, 1851, died Nov. 13, 1853; Eva, born March 24, 1855, died Aug. 24, 1864. In December, 1851, Mr. Sessions made a trip to California in the interests of gold-mining. He returned to his farm in January, 1853. His place contains 200 acres, and is estimated worth $75 per acre. Some years ago he erected a handsome residence at a cost of $2,000, then the finest frame residence in the tp. Mr. and Mrs. Sessions are both zealous members of the United Brethren Church. Mr. Sessions is a radical Republican, and is ranked as one of the most prominent and enterprising citi zens of Gaines.

Peter Van Lew, one of the oldest and most esteemed pioneers of this tp., was born in Seneca Co., N. Y., Feb. 18, 1803. His father, Frederick F. Van Lew, was born on Long Island, Feb. 5, 1755. He was a patriot of the Revolution and served three years and eight months under Gen. Washington. He died Dec. 31, 1838, aged 84 years. His wife, Penelope Van Lew, was born in New Jersey and died Jan. 18, 1841. They had 12 children, of whom Mr. Van Lew, of this sketch, was the eighth. He began an apprenticeship to the clothier's trade in Lodi, N. Y., at the age of 14, served seven years, and worked at the business 10 years, after which he kept a "tavern" about three and one-half years. He subsequently rented a fulling-mill, carding machine and oilmill, which he operated four years and then purchased them. Meantime he had signed as security for three men to the amount of $9,000, and by their failure was reduced to poverty. In November, 1845, he came to this county and settled on sec. 31, this tp., where he "took up " 311 acres of Uncle Sam's territory, still in its primitive state, and no road nearer than the "old Kalamazoo stage route." He began anew in the unbroken Michigan forest with little available means. He went to Battle Creek and worked through the harvest season, and with the proceeds of his four weeks' labor he bought three cows, a yoke of oxen, 10 bushels of wheat, a grain cradle and a dress for his wife. He returned with his riches to his home and family, who had spent the time of his absence in the woods two miles from the nearest neighbors. He worked three harvest seasons at Battle Creek, devoting the remainder of the years to the improvement of his farm. He has cleared in all 225 acres of his farm. In 1854 he built a tavern 40 feet wide by 65 feet long and two-stories high, which he continued to run as a hotel until 1876. In the early days Indians were numerous and Pete, a famous deer hunter, spent one winter with Mr. Van Lew and kept him supplied with venison. The copper-colored ramblers frequently camped on Mr. V.'s farm. He was one of the organizers of the tp. and was elected its first Supervisor, which office he held six successive terms and once since. He was married Dec. 30, 1829, to Anna Couch. She died in April, 1841,

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leaving three children-Silas H., Oscar G. and Mennaugh. Oscar was born in Lodi, N. Y., Sept. 10, 1834, and was married Aug. 24, 1870, to Mary E., daughter of Caleb and Delilah King, natives of N. Y., born June 4, 1844. Minnaugh was born at Lodi, April 17, 1841, and enlisted in the war of the Rebellion in the 126th Reg. N. Y. Vol., Aug. 8, 1862. He was in the engagements at Harper's Ferry (where he was taken prisoner), Auburn Ford, Briston Station and Gettysburg, where all but 50 of his regiment were killed. He was commissioned 1st Lieut. of Co. C, 2d U. S. Colored Cavalry; was wounded in a skirmish at Suffolk, Va., March 9, 1864, and died two days after. Mr. Van Lew was again married June 26, 1842, to Fanny, daughter of Elijah and Elizabeth Baker, born in Yates Co., N. Y., Sept. 10, 1810. They had one child--John, born in Lodi, Sept. 3, 1843. He was married Jan. 21, 1870, to Ellen, daughter of Wm. and Rhoda Barnum, born in Vermont, Dec. 30, 1847. They have three children-Nellie, born Dec. 11, 1871; Chas., born Aug. 6, 1874, and Fanny, born June 30, 1877. Mr. Van Lew has made a division of his estate among his sons and has retired from the burden of toil. He is an advocate of the principles of the National party.

GRATTAN TOWNSHIP.

The history of Grattan township is interesting on account of the moral which it bestows, and the precedents which it has established. Here we find a branch of the Celtic race living under laws which it respects, and under a form of government which it loves. Although the Celtic inhabitants of the township, up to 1848, were adopted citizens of the Republic, there was not one of them who could not boast of having a countryman of the same name and nationality in the ranks of the Revolution, whether on sea or land. From their childhood they could look westward to the horizon and say: "Beyond are our friends and our destined homes; tyranny has robbed us of all here, save our faith, and our ardent longing for the return of our nationality."

TOPOGRAPHICAL.

Grattan township is one of the eastern tier of towns, and its center is about 20 miles northeast of Grand Rapids, and nearly the same distance northwest of Ionia, and is on the State road from Grand Rapids to Ionia. The town has Oakfield township on the north, Ionia township to the east, Vergennes township on the south, and Cannon on the west.

Grattan, in the number and size of its small lakes, is not surpassed by any town in the county, unless it is Oakfield. There are at least 25 of these, varying in size from 30 to 300 acres each. Some eight or ten of these find a natural outlet through Seeley's creek, the only stream of note in the town, and which empties into Flat river in Ionia county. The town presents considerable inequality of surface, and great variety of soil. It has some pine lands, more oak openings, while a considerable portion is heavily timbered. Tauarack marshes are numerous, but agriculturally it ranks high among the townships of the county.

In 1850 Grattan had about 600 inhabitants, and in 1855 it was assessed at about $187,000. In 1870 we find it with a population numbering. 1,297, and appraised for the purposes of taxation at $533,148 in 1875. The population of the township has not increased since 1870, owing principally to the spreading out of the younger members of the community, and the prevailing tendency to possess large farms. The population, The population, as noted in the census returns of 1880, is only 1,238; but the valuation of property is very far in excess of the value in 1875.

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