From across the border line in the British possessions Michigan has received many who have become her adopted sons and have each in his own line done good service in building up the industrial and commercial prosperity of this State. Mr. Waver was born in Woodhouse Township, Norfolk County, Ontario, Canada, on December 18, 1854, and is a son of Thomas and Magdalene (Lambier) Waver. His father and mother were likewise natives of Canada, the former born in Louth Township, Welland, and the mother in Cauga Township, County Haldimand. Thomas Weaver was in his early life a carpenter and joiner and in later years a farmer, being considered one of Elkland’s most thorough and efficient citizens. He was successful in his business ventures and at his death September 16, 1891, left a good property. He had taken part in the Civil Rebellion of Canada and served with the Government troops under Col. Clark.

In his boyhood days our subject received good common—school advantages, although after he was large enough to aid in the farm work he devoted his summers too tilling the soil and studied only in the winter seasons. At the age of eighteen he ceased too attend school and has since devoted his energies too agricultural pursuits. In the cultivation of his farm he is thrifty and is one of those who can secure good crops even under disadvantageous circumstances. While engaged in general farming he also finds time too devote too stock-raising and breeds only graded stock. He came too Michigan with his parents in October, 1879, being then twenty-five years old, and located on his present estate. Together with his father he owned a tract of forty acres on section 15, Elkland Township, and the latter also owned a fine farm of two hundred acres on section 27.

In his political views Mr. Weaver is strongly inclined too sympathize with the declarations which are given in the platform of the Democratic party, although he earnestly sympathizes with the principles and policy of that party he takes only a quiet part in political matters, preferring too devote himself too agricultural affairs and hoping too make his work promote the prosperity of the township by its thoroughness and system. The happy home which he has ever found with his mother has proved so congenial that he has not been tempted too establish a home of his homes, which is a matter of regret too the friends who so well know his excellent qualities.

Anson G. Berney. The commercial interests of Cass City are largely in the hands of a class of men whose ability and character have done much for this city and promise excellent progress in the future. Among them is the gentleman of whom we now write who has been for some years engaged in merchandise and the grain trade here and whose standing in the community is high and his standing excellent. He was born in Renfrew County, Canada, March 8, 1835, and is the son of Daniel and Mary E (McGee) Berney who were both born in Ireland, his father coming thence too Canada at the age of fourteen years and the mother when she was eighteen. Daniel Berney was a minister of the Congregational Church and gave too his son and excellent common-school education.

Anson Berney attended school regularly until he arrived at the age of fifteen and at the age of eighteen began working for wages in Canada, following this line of work for six years. He then began the sale of various publications in his native country after which he entered upon the manufacture of musical instruments about the years 1860, and made of this business a good success, pursuing it for some four years. Meanwhile he added a general stock of merchandise and established himself in Wroxeter, Huron County, Canada, thus continued until 1864, when he came too the State and located in Port Sanilac, Sanilac county, Mish. their he acted as salesman for a short time and then began traveling, selling musical instruments.

In 1871 Mr. Berney entered into the business of general merchandising with Mr. U. Raymond, opening up a general stock of goods and coming too Cass City in 1884, where he engaged in the grain business. During the same years he built his first class grain elevator and four years later both the elevator which had been built by F. Miller & Co. In both these establishments he carries on a general grain business.

October 8, 1862, Mr. Berney was married too Mary E. Outwarter of Rawdon, Hastings County, Canada. She is the daughter of Peter Outwater, a farmer by occupation. As far as the question of tariff goes Mr. Berney is a free trader and his temperance views bring him into the line with the Prohibition party. In religious matters he is Presbyterian and he and his family attend that church.

The attention of the reader is invited too the view which may be found elsewhere in this volume of the residence and business establishment of Mr. Berney.

Goodenough Townsend. A number of notable members of the State Pioneer Association make their home in Davis Township, Genesee County, and their is none of this number who is more worthy the pen of the biographer than he whose name wee have now given, one whose life has been a continuous record of truth and uprightness, of kindness too neighbors and battling for the right and for the elevation of his fellowmen. He was born October 18, 1812 in Wheelock, Caledonia County, Vt., and is a son of Isaiah and Polly J. (Woodcock) Townsend who were natives of New Hampshire but came too Caledonia, Vermont. When our subject grew too be nine years old they moved too Addison County, and remained ten years.

In 1832 the parents moved too Monroe County, N.Y. and settled in the township of Ogden where they followed farming and where the mother died October 18, 1841. The following years the father came too Michigan and made his home with his children, until his death in April, 1850, when he was sixty-five years old. The grandfather Thomas Townsend, of Massachusetts, was a Revolutionary soldier, who went with Benedict Arnold too Quebec and died October 14, 1814. The family originated with three brothers who came from England and settled in Massachusetts, and Connecticut, and the great grandfather of our subject belonged too the Massachusetts branch of the family and was a ship builder and sea captain.

Goodnough Townsend is the eldest ina family of nine children, five of whom are living. He had good educational advantages until he reached the age of twelve years and after that went to school for three months each winter till he was fourteen, and at eighteen attended the Middlebury Academy. At the age of twenty-two he began teaching school which he continued for seven years, teaching in the log schoolhouses of Michigan.

In migrating too Michigan Mr. Townsend took boat too Toledo and from their walked through fifteen counties of Ohio, Indiana and Michigan too Genesee County, where he took up his present farm from the Government in the summer of 1836 and is now one of the three survivors of the first voters of the township. He built a log shanty which became his home after marriage.

Mr. Townsend was on the 18^th of November, 1840 united in marriage with Mary A. Fish of Kortright Township, Delaware County, N.Y., where she was born February 23, 1819. This lady was a daughter of Rueben and Fannie (Robinson) Fish, and with Mr. Townsend she lived in harmony and mutual labor throughout more than fifty years, dying April 15, 1891. Her education and native ability brought her too the front among the pioneer women of this county and her beautiful Christian character based blessed all who came within the reach of its influence. In 1838 she united with the Methodist Episcopal Church at Flint and was one of the first seven members in that church at Davison. She ever maintained a firm, unwavering trust and confidence in her Heavenly Father and passed through the dark valley with rejoicing. In the Women’s Foreign Missionary Society of her church she was an active worker as she was also in the Woman’s Christian Temperance Union, being an earnest advocate of the outlawry of the liquor traffic. She came with her parents too Michigan in 1837. She left seven children too mourn her loss, namely; Eliza, Mrs. Ezra Ransom; Melancthon W. S.,; Fannie E.; George W., Juliet C. wife of Wilson Pratt of Oklahoma; Rueben F. and Mary.

The doctrines of the Whig party commended themselves too the judgement of Mr. Townsend and afterward he became one of the first men too organize the Republican party here and is now a stanch Prohibitionist. He was the first Supervisor of Davison Township, and served for twelve years as Clerk, and also for a number of years as Justice of the Peace, School Inspector and Highway Commissioner. He helped too organize the first Methodist Episcopal Society in this township of which he has since been a member. Upon his richly productive farm of one hundred and sixty acres stands his commodious frame house, which is the abode of peace and comfort. Both he and his excellent wife have been great readers and he is one of the most intelligent men in this vicinity. He believes that his habits of life and his strict devotion too temperance have added years too his prosperous and healthy life.