and cages of wild animals. On the highest point on these paradisiacal grounds he erected a beautiful church. He continued to take a prominent part in literature and science, being a member of learned societies, and he owned a large cabinet of minerals and shells, considered the best private collection in Germany at that

time.

Two of Mr. Koch's children met with serious accidents, injuring the reason of one, and ultimately destroying the life of the other; and the Revolution of 1848 came on, but Mr. Koch came through unscathed. Then he emigrated to America with his daughter Caroline, who was betrothed to Rev. F. Sievers, a Lutheran minister in the Saginaw Valley; he went to the Lake Superior region to examine the resources and conditions of mineral interest there, with a view of bringing over his old employes and friends from Germany; and although he found the resources surprisingly abundant, the art of mining was so crude, and American institutions so republican, that he decided not to bring on the immigrants immediately; he then visited the lead mines of Wisconsin and Illinois; still his decision was that it would not do to bring miners over from the old country to work in America under European control. Mr. Koch died March 12, 1862, greatly respected by all the community. The tp. of Kochville was named after him. Mrs. Koch died April 5, 1875. She was a very estimable lady, full of Christian faith and good works.

John A. Leinberger, farmer, sec. 1, was born in Germany, July 19, 1830, and is a son of Frederick and Catherine (Schenter) Leinberger. John received a common-school education in his native land, and in 1847 emigrated to the United States. In 1848 he located land on sec. 1, Kochville tp., where he now possesses 180 acres. He is Republican in politics, and served as Tp. Treasurer 14 years, Clerk 7 years, School Director 14 years, and Assessor. He is an enterprising citizen, and was prominently identified in the movement attaching half of Kochville tp. to Bay county. He was married in 1849 to Mary Katherine Drulein. Eight children have been given them, all living. Mrs. Leinberger died March 3, 1880. She was a member of the Lutheran Church, as is also her husband.

Rev. J. F. Miller, Pastor of the German Reformed Church at Kochville, was born in Washtenaw Co., Mich., May 11, 1844, a son of Charles and Rosena (Stueter) Miller, natives of Germany, who emigrated to this country in 1830, settling in that county. The subject of this sketch received his education partly at Fort Wayne, Ind., and at St. Louis, Mo. He entered the ministry in 1862, at Terre Haute, Ind., and since 1868 has occupied his present position. He was married in Lenawee Co., Mich., in 1864, to Anna M., daughter of George and Dorothy Miller, who was born in Bavaria, Germany, in 1844. They have 9 children, 8 of whom are living Charles A., August II., Caroline, Carl, George, Adolph, Edward and Emil F. The deceased is Emma. Rev. Miller is at present Superintendent of Schools of Kochville tp.

Erastus Purchase, farmer, sec. 19, was born in Ontario Co., N. Y., in 1838, and is a son of E. and Lura (Griffin) Purchase, father a native of Ontario county, mother native of Wayne Co., N. Y. Erastus received the greater part of his education in Michigan, and in 1856 located in Saginaw county. He was engaged in the lumber business in 1863-5, but since then has followed agricultural pursuits. By his own exertions and perseverance he has accumulated a good farm of 170 acres, one of the best farms in Kochville tp. He was married in 1864 to Emma M. Soper. They have 4 children, 3 daughters and 1 son. Their names are Mary A., Einma A., Jennie L. and Alonzo M. Mr. Purchase believes in the principles of the Republican party.

John Riegel, proprietor of the Michigan Hotel, Frankenlust, was born in Germany in 1838, and is a son of Michael and Maggie (Stahl) Riegel. He received his education in the "faderland," and subsequently entered the Bavarian army, where he remained seven years, during this period participating in three battles. He came to this county in 1867, and operated a saw-mill for seven seasons. He is a mason by trade, but is now proprietor of the Michigan Hotel. He is a Republican in politics, owns 12 acres of land, and has officiated as Justice of the Peace. Mr. Riegel was married July 16, 1871, to Theresa Fisher. Both are members of the Lutheran Church. She was born in Bavaria, Germany, Oct. 15, 1845.

Rev. (George Christian Ernestus) Ferdinand Sievers is the son of Henry (Sigismund Frederic) Sievers, and Eleanor Lisette Florentine, nee von Borries, and was born at Lunenburg, Germany, May 18, 1816. His mother died in 1822 and his father a year later, and the outlook for the poor orphan boy was very sad; but his uncle, Rev. Ph. Sievers, took good care of him. He was educated at the University of Goettingen, 1835-238, where he studied theology some time, then taught private school three and one-half years, studied theology again at the Universities of Berlin and Halle, and taught private school again three and one-half years; was ordained a minister in 1847, when he emigrated to this country to take charge of Lutheran congregations here, and bought several hundred acres of land from the Government at what is now South Bay City, with missionary means from the old country. The next year a number of settlers came in from Germany and commenced to endure the privations of pioneer life. May 5, 1850, Mr. S. married Caroline Koch, in New York city, while she was en route from her home in Germany to her new home in the wilds of Michigan. She was the daughter of Rev. Fr. Koch and Augusta, nee Bippart. Of the 11 children born to Mr. and Mrs. S., 8 are living.

The settlement of Frankenlust, established by Rev. Sievers, has grown to great proportions, and there is another flourishing settlement three miles southwest, also founded by Mr. S. in 1851. This highly revered old gentleman has now enjoyed a long life of usefulness, and set an example of ministerial industry and faithfulness that will be difficult for his successors to follow.

Fred Wellington, farmer, sec. 25, is a life resident of this county. He was born in March, 1844. He is a son of Dr. Luke and Nancy M. (Freeman) Wellington, father a native of New Hampshire, and mother of New York. Dr. Luke Wellington came to this State in 1836, locating at Flint, and in 1850 settling in Saginaw county, where he now owns 500 acres of land. Fred was educated in the public schools of Bay and Saginaw cities, and at Bryant & Stratton's Commercial College, of Detroit. He was a bookkeeper for 8 years, and is Republican in politics; has been School Inspector, Superintendent and Assessor. He was married in 1869 to Rosetta M. Lewis, who was born in Utica, N. Y., Feb. 11, 1849. Her parents were of English and Welsh descent. They formerly lived at Detroit, but now reside in Saginaw county. Two children have been given to bless this union-Mary L. and James A.; and 2 deceased, Fred L. and Martha R.

LAKEFIELD TOWNSHIP.

This section of the county may be said to be still in its primitive state. South of Beaver creek it is occupied with but a few settlers; while the road leading into the settled sections is so strangely rude that one who ventured to travel over it once, and succeeded in reaching a dwelling-house, is surprised at the courage and perseverance which enabled him to battle with and conquer the difficulties of travel in that western township.

The head-waters of the north branch of Bad river pertain properly to this township. This tributary of the river waters its southern sections; while the more important stream known as Beaver creek courses through sections 4, 9, 16, 15, 22, 23 and 24. The only manufacturing industry in Lakefield is the saw-mill on

section 3.

In the summer of 1875 the settlers of Northern Lakefield met to consider the advisability of seeking local government. The result of that meeting was an application to the Supervisors' Board, signed by 21 freeholders of the township of Fremont, asking the board to order the organization of fractional township 11 north, of range 3 east, into the township of Lakefield. The board ordered, under date Oct. 16, 1875, "that all that part of the township of Fremont, as now heretofore last organized, to-wit: fractional township 11 north, of range 1 east, be, and the same is, hereby set off from the township of Fremont, and organized into a separate township by the name of Lakefield, and the first township meeting in the said township of Lakefield shall be held at the dwelling house of H. C. Fessenden; that the first township meeting of the said township of Lakefield shall be holden on the first Monday of April next, and that H. C. Fessenden, Thomas M. Gould and William C. Dickinson be, and they are, hereby appointed Inspectors of said township meeting, whose duty it shall be to preside at such meeting, appoint a clerk, open and keep the polls, and exercise the same power as the inspectors of elections at any township meeting; that Thomas Gould be and is hereby appointed to post up notices, according to law, of the time and place of holding the first township meeting in the said new township of Lakefield." This resolution to organize was opposed by one member of the board against forty supporters. The principal officers of the town, since its organization, are named as follows:

SUPERVISORS.

Herbert C. Fessenden..

1876-9 William C. Galloway.......

1880-1

William Yule.

1879

1880

William Yule, T. M. Gould and

Gilbert Bastido.... .... 1876-7 T. M. Gould.

W. C. Galloway, T. M. Gould..1878

Up to the present time very little has been done toward the development of this section of the country. That it is capable of high cultivation cannot be doubted. It only awaits the labor of the husbandman to yield up its store of wealth. Within a few years this primeval land will be dotted with the homesteads of a prosperous people, and all the obstacles which the wild state of the township now offers removed.