Among the truly representative men who contributed to make Lansing what it is was Edwin Bement, the founder of one of the most important industries in Central Michigan. He was of New England origin, born in Westfield, Mass., Aug. 26, 1811, and was the oldest of four children.

Jan. 1, 1820, his parents left the old home, with their children and household effects, in a lumber-wagon, for the then remote frontier of Northern Ohio, and after a month's journey arrived at Randolph, Portage Co., where they setled. In this vicinity Edwin Bement spent his boyhood, serving an apprenticeship as a millright. In 1837, at the age of twenty-six, he removed to Fremont, where he and his brother Orson erected a grist-mill and an oil-mill. Two years later Mr. Bement married Miss M. Louisa Roberts, and in 1842 they removed to what is now Fostoria, Ohio, where he and his brother built the first grist-mill in the vicinity, and also purchased a small foundry. Here Mr. Bement resided some twenty-six years, six years of which he was engaged in the stove and hardware trade. In 1869 he sold his business in Fostoria and removed to Lansing, erected a foundry for the manufacture of agricultural implements, etc. In this enterprise he associated with himself his three sons, Arthur, Willis, and Clarence. This business undertaking has been eminently successful, and is today one of the most important manunfacturing establishments in Central Michigan.

Mr. Bement died March 8, 1880. The sons continue the business established by their father, who was a man of fixed principles and high moral character. Honesty and industry were the essential media of his success. He had a good business education, in his younger days attending the best schools in that portion of Ohio where he lived, and was a successful school-teacher for several winters. At an early age Mr. Bement united the Congregational Church at Randolph, Ohio, and from that time to the day of his death was an active and consistent member. He was instrumental in forming the First Presbyterian Church in Fosteria, superintending personally the construction of the church edifice and contributing largely to meet the expense. He was an elder in this church from its organization until coming to Lansing, when be became identified with Plymouth Congregational Church as one of its deacons, and was at one time superintendent of the Sunday school. Mr. Bement was an outspoken and fearless temperance worker, and exemplified in his person the principles he advocated.

Politically, he was an uncompromising Abolitionist. Having in him the inherent love of freedom and a natural hatred of oppression, he took strong grounds in favor of emancipation, and at a time, too, when public sentiment was largely pro-slavery.




Taken from:
"History of Ingham and Eaton Counties Michigan, with Illustrations and Biographical Sketches of Their Prominent Men and Pioneers", by Samuel W. Durant.
Published by D. W. Ensign & Co., 1880.
Pages 188

Biographies Michigan Biographies Project

Sondra Higbee