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HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE ARTICLE ON JOHN SEBRING

John Sebring, numbered among the substantial farmers of Branch County, is an honored resident of Quincy Township, where he owns on section 27 as fine a farm as this region can boast.  Mr. Sebring was born in Wayne County, N.Y., April 10, 1824.  His grandfather was a Revolutionary soldier, but aside from the knowledge of that fact, little is known of him or his ancestors, as his son John, father of our subject, was the youngest in a large family, and could transmit but little of the genealogy of his ancestors to his descendants.

John Sebring, Sr., was born in Eastern New York, and there reared and married, Nancy Dungee, of Vermont, becoming his wife.  After marriage they continued to make their home in that part of  New York for some time, Mr. Sebring being actively engaged in his occupation of farmer.  Subsequently they moved to Wayne County, in the same State, and spent their declining years there.  His wife, who was a most excellent and amiable woman, died on the old homestead there, leaving seven children, of whom our subject was the fifth.  The record of the others is as follows:  Moses died at the age of eighteen yeas; Eunice married Richard Patton, and died in Quincy; Jeanette married Martin Hawley, and died in Quincy; Sarah married John Seccomb, of Auburn, N.Y.; Permelia married Cyrus Hawley, and died in Sturgis, Mich.; Catherine married Philo Seacomb, who died in the late Civil War, and she is now living in Kalamazoo.  Mr. Sebring was a second time married.  Miss Sally A. Reynolds becoming his wife, and by their union eight children were born.

Our subject was reared to manhood on his father's farm, and secured a fair education in the common schools.  He was seven year of age when his mother's death deprived him of her kindly care.  He continued ...... He then worked in a sawmill, which employment he followed for fourteen years, during which time, in 1854, he came to Michigan and operated a sawmill, and carried on a lumber trade, being associated with his brother-in-law, Martin Hawley.  They erected the first sawmill in Quincy ....

Mr. Sebring was married, in 1852, to Miss Mary A. Pettys, daughter of Benjamin and Deborah Pettys, natives of New York State, where Mrs. Sebring was also born, in Wayne County, Dec. 27, 1825.  Their marriage has been productive of four children, as follows:  George D., a farmer and merchant in Hold County, Neb.; Calphurn is at home:  Eugene, a farmer in Holt County, Neb.; Deborah J. married Enos Allen of St. Joseph County, Mich., they live at Burr Oak. 

Mr. and Mrs. Sebring are people of high character and standing in this community, among whose people they so many years ago cast their lot, and they possess in an eminent degree those traits which make them desirable as friends and neighbors.  Mr. Sebring is a member of the Quincy Horse Thief Dectective Association.  In politics he is a sound Republican.