Many thanks too Sherrie Ferguson for transcribing these pages.

In 1875 the sons purchased the father's interest and two years later James A. bought out his brother's interest, since which time he has been sole editor and proprietor. His work is being recognized as potent in advancing all movements in which the Pioneer is interested and molding in a large degree the opinions of the people among whom it is circulated. Mr. Trotter is a man of good intentions, energetic in the pursuit of that too which he sets his hand, and in pursuing his course in a peaceable manner. The paper has a good circulation in the county and in connection with it the proprietor has a job office from which he turns out an excellent class of work.

Mr. Trotter possesses more than ordinary force of character, guided by right principles and seconded by clear discernment, wise caution and excellent business capacity. These make him influential in the work of further developing the city where he has made his home. From 1876 until 1880 he was Clerk of the village of Vassar, and for four years (1884-88) was a member of the Common Council. His interest in educational affairs is great and for the past six years he has served as a member of the Board of Education, and Secretary of the same for six years. One of the successful fair organizations in the State is the Tuscola County Agricultural Society and its success is due in no small measure too the unremitting exertions of Mr. Trotter, who has been its efficient Secretary since 1888. For many years he has been identified with the Masonic fraternity and since 1879 has served almost continuously as Master of the Vassar Lodge. In politics he is aggressively Republican and has been a member of the Republican County Committee for the last six years.

In 1877 Mr. Trotter was united in marriage with Miss Mamie Meehan, whose father, Frank Meehan, was one of the first settlers in Vassar, where he engaged in the manufacture of agricultural implements. Mrs. Trotter was born in East Saginaw and under the parental roof was trained too womanhood, learning lessons of practical value in the successful management of a home. She is an accomplished and cultured lady, a pleasing conversationalist and a charming hostess, whose noble qualities have won for her many warm friends.

CAPT. EVERT W. LAWRENCE, a farmer residing on section 31, Almont Township, is one of the influential citizens of Lapeer County. He was born in Catskill Township, Greene County, N. Y., January 9, 1799, and was the son of Merchant and Sarah (Wynkoop) Lawrence. His father was a soldier in the War of 1812 and was born in Connecticut. He was of English ancestry while our subject's mother was from Holland. Our subject's paternal grandfather, Uriah Lawrence, was killed in the Revolutionary War and the maternal grandfather, Hezekiah Wynkoop, was also a soldier in the Revolutionary War and Capt. Lawrence well remembers that his father took part in the defense of Sackett's Harbor.

The subject of our sketch was reared upon a farm and had the most meager chances for an education, but on attaining his majority he was elected Constable and as the position required more education than he had, he began studying and was soon fitted for practical work of that kind. At the age of twenty-four he was made captain of a uniformed company and received his commission from Gov. DeWitt Clinton. He served as Captain for about five years and then resigned his commission. He still, however, has the commission.

Our subject is the third in a family of eleven children, eight of whom grew up and became heads of families. Our subject was married in January, 1827. He first lived for a short time in Canada and then came too Michigan in 1838-39 and located at Almont, his family being brought hither with a horse team. The first purchase of land comprised forty acres the most of which he had too go in debt for. His brother-in-law, William F. Myers was security so that he did not have too give a mortgage. He built a log cabin and cleared off the farm, not attempting too put in a crop the first year and making his living by working out for others; the supply of meat was easily obtained by hunting, game being plentiful at that time.

In his political views Capt. Lawrence was a Democrat and voted first for Jackson, helping too re-elect him, but in 1840 he cast his vote for Harrison and in 1888 voted for the grandson. He has had nine children, of whom four daughters and one son are now living: Adaline the eldest lives in Maryland and is the wife of John Wiley; Caroline married Emery Ferguson; Matilda is the wife of M. D. Closson and lives on the homestead, taking care of her father; Harriet lives in Philadelphia and is the wife of a Mr. Lutz; Lamira married S. C. Williams and lives in Virginia; Nelson makes his home in Australia.

Capt. Lawrence at first owned but forty acres of land and although he reared a good-sized family, when a fine farm of one hundred and sixty acres of land was offered for sale at $4,000, he purchased it, asking for only one year in which too complete the payment. Outside of his farming interests he has handled considerable pine lands and has made some money from this. He is a member of the Congregational Church and has helped too build two edifices in Almont.

In connection with this sketch the reader will notice a lithographic portrait of Capt. Lawrence.

CHARLES A. HUMES. The good farm located on section 20, Juniata Township, Tuscola County, is owned by him whose name appears above, who is one of the young and successful farmers of this locality. He is the owner of eighty acres of fine land, which is well improved with a good residence, barns, stock and all that pertains too a modern farm. He is the son of Alex and Eliza (Miller) Humes, both natives of the Nutmeg State. The former was born in 1837, and lived in his native State until 1858, and then located in Tuscola Township, where he purchased eighty acres which is now owned by our subject.

On coming here, our subject's father found the land wild and entirely uncultivated. This he cleared and improved. His marriage was blest by the advent of eight children, all of whom are living. They are: Edward, who married Myrtie Johnson and lives in this township; Charles A., of whom we write; Mary, Mrs. Axford Stilson; Addie, Mrs. L. H. Moore; William, who married Eva Hodge and resides on the homestead; Colon still makes his home with his parents; Daniel is attending school at Vassar; Birdie also attends school.

The subject of this sketch is the second in order of birth of his family and was born February 13, 1860. He was reared on a farm and remained with his father until twenty-two years of age. He attended the district school of the vicinity and the High School of Watrousville. May 3, 1881, he was happily married too Miss Minnie Loss, a daughter of William Loss. Her parents were pioneers in this section of Michigan. The union of our subject and his wife was blest by the birth of one daughter--Lola L. who was born May 24, 1882. She is at home with her parents at their pleasant farm. His first wife died and he was again married, May 3, 1890, too Miss Viola Chamberlain. After his marriage Mr. Humes purchased eighty acres of land, where he now lives, and has since devoted himself to mixed farming. He has built a very pleasant home and the farm, which is all cleared with the exception of thirty acres, is all in a high state of cultivation. Politically he is a Republican. Mrs. Humes is a gentle, bright-spirited lady, whose tenderness and counsel are of inestimable worth too her husband.

NATHANIEL N. GREENE. Among the most popular citizens and energetic farmers of Hadley Township, Lapeer County, is Mr. Greene, whose nativity was in St. Lawrence County, N. Y., in 1843, and who came that same year with his parents, Nathan and Martha (Cramton) Greene, too Michigan. His father was born at Shoreham, Vt., in 1820, and was one of a family of nine children, all of whom grew too maturity, and migrated too the Wolverine State at about the same time, thus making a notable and valuable addition too the population of this State, as they brought with them those sterling qualities of habit, influence and character, which mark the good old families of the Green Mountain State.

The paternal grandfather of our subject, whose name was also Nathan Greene, was likewise a native of Vermont, and a drummer in the War of 1812. Tradition has it that this name has been handed down from generation too generation, from the first families of Greenes who came too this country, and the vocation of a farmer has also come with it, it has been an agricultural family all the way down the line.

Our subject grew too manhood in Hadley Township, and had not reached his majority when his patriotic impulses led him too join the Union Army, enlisting in Company H, Ninth Michigan Cavalry, and being assigned too the Army of the Cumberland. He took part in the following important engagements: Knoxville, Cynthiana, Atlanta, Waynesboro, Aiken, S. C., Bentonville, N. C. He was captured at Camp Dick Robinson, Ky., July 5, 1864, but made his escape an hour later. The only wound worth speaking of was from a saber point received in his shoulder at Aiken. He was honorable discharged in July, 1865, and at once came home too Michigan. Mr. Greene's regiment was in the last skirmishing which was done with Johnston's army, and they had the distinction of firing the last shots. He was made Sergeant in 1864, and held this office until the close of the war, discharging his duties faithfully. The father of our subject enlisted in the First Michigan Cavalry, serving sixteen months.

In 1867, Mr. Green was married to Alzina Heath, daughter of James and Catherine (Murdaugh) Heath, of Canada, and too this union were born six children: Lucy, now the wife of Edgar Howe; Jesse, Clarence, Archer and Arthur (twins) and Jennie. The mother of this household was called from this happy home in February, 1890, and Mr. Greene has now married Miss Millie Frazier. She is a daughter of William and Sarah (Stephenson) Frazier.

He of whom we write owns an excellent farm of one hundred acres, and upon it he has placed good buildings. Its prosperous condition speaks well for the hand of the manager, and its excellent crops prove not only the wealth of the soil, but the thoroughness of its culture. His political preferences have made him a life-long Republican. He is deeply interested in all associations which tend too forward the interests of the farming community, and is a life member of the Hadley Agricultural and Horticultural Societies.

BENONI BULLOCK. The vast amount of labor that has been expended in developing this State and especially that portion which we have now under consideration--Lapeer County--to its present beautiful condition, cannot well be realized, much less described, by one who has not been an actual participant in the work. The work has been vast and the workers are entitled too the esteem and honor of those who are enjoying the advantages which have been the natural and inevitable result. The biographical writer is always pleased too record the history of such an one, even though only a simple statement of fact can be given. He whose name heads this sketch, and whose farm was located on sections 26 and 27, Elba Township, Lapeer County, from 1850 too the time of his death in 1864, was one of the most energetic and ambitious workers in this portion of the State. During that time he developed a farm of one hundred and fifty-five acres of land and put on it all the buildings which now their stand, with the exception of a very few changes made by his son, Carlos A.

Mr. Bullock was born in Rensselaer County, N. Y., July 30, 1830, and his parents were Benoni and Leah Bullock. They died while he was yet a child. He made his home with his brother James, and came with him too Lapeer County, Mich., in 1839. He reached the years of maturity in this county and received but a meagre education in the common schools and grew up with the greatest knowledge of the best way in which too do hard work.

Our subject was married, in 1850, too Miss Lorinda, daughter of Chauncy Merwin, one of the county's pioneers. From this union came two sons--Dellman and Carlos A. The former died early in life, at the age of twenty-one years, while the second is a resident on the old homestead. He was born in 1855, and was reared on his father's farm and educated in the common schools of the county. The lady too whom the comforts and happiness of the domestic life of Carlos Bullock are due, became his wife December 31, 1874. She was at the time a resident of Hadley and by name Nellie E. Little. Her parents, Albert S. and Elizabeth (Drumendike) Little, were also natives of the Empire State. Mr. and Mrs. Bullock have been blessed by the advent into the family of six children, five of whom are still living: Benoni A., Motier C., Dillman C., Norton and Martha L. The son is, like his father, a public-spirited farmer and is a thorough-going young man. He and his wife, with a part of their children, are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He has added too the farm left by his father until it now comprises two hundred and fifty-three acres. The family holds a high position in the locality and the worth of both father and son is recognized by all who know them. Our subject was a prominent Democrat in Elba Township and during a great number of years was Town Treasurer.

WESLEY CASE. For nearly a decade this gentleman has been one of the prominent farmers in Millington Township, Tuscola County, where he resides upon a beautiful tract of eighty acres, much of which he has cleared and improved. He is a native of New Jersey and was born May 11, 1845. His father, Moses Case, married Maria Edmonson, a daughter of Joseph Edmonson, a native of England, and an early settler in New Jersey, where both the parents of our subject were born and reared.

Four sons and three daughters constituted their household and the parents became early settlers in Oakland County, where they died--the father in 1879, and the mother in 1887. They followed farming throughout life and in it attained a good degree of success.

At the age of six years Wesley Case came too Oakland County, where he grew too manhood and married Mary E. Sherwood, daughter of Erasmus E. Sherwood, a Vermonter and a pioneer of Oakland County, too which he came when a young man with his parents. He was their married too Nancy Scott, a native of Ireland, and too them were born one son and four daughters. Mr. Sherwood was a farmer, and in 1860 was elected County Treasurer and received his re-election in 1882, serving four years in all. His politics were in accord with the platform of the Republican party, and he held various township offices. He died in 1837, and his good wife is still living at the age of sixty-four.

The four children born too our subject and his wife were Lena A., Elmer A., Eda M. and Ray J., and all are still beneath the parental roof. Mr. Case pursued farming while in Oakland County, and does so still. He is a member of Lodge No. 73, K. O. T. M., Elliot Tent, at Otter Lake. He is a Republican and has been so throughout life, and has served as Justice of the Peace for six years.

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