Ottawa County has no homestead more pleasantly situated than that owned and occupied by the subject of this sketch, Rollin H. Pelton, who is one of Tallmadge Township’s most enterprising farmers and fruit-growers. At the present time he cultivates about three hundred acres of land, fifty of which are planted to fruit trees, and the balance devoted to the raising of cereals. In cultivating the soil, Mr. Pelton displays the possession of excellent judgment and good business qualities, and to these characteristics is due no small measure of his success.

In referring to the parental history of our subject, we find that he is the son of Rollin and Abigail (Pelton) Pelton, natives respectively of Vermont and Canada. The former was educated in the Green Mountain State, where he was for some time a student in an academy. Upon attaining maturity he migrated to Canada, and engaged in business as a lumber dealer until 1848, when he removed to the States and, locating in Michigan, settled in the vicinity of Grand Rapids. Later he removed to Ottawa County, and upon the home he there established he conducted farming operations until his demise, which occurred in 1868. He was a man of upright character, firm in his convictions and courageous in the defense of his opinions. He and his wife were the parents of five children, of whom the subject of this notice is the youngest.

Born in Canada in 1844, Rollin H. Pelton was a child of four years when brought by his parents to the States, and he grew to manhood amid the scenes of Kent and Ottawa Counties, Michigan, where he availed himself to the utmost of such educational advantages as the common schools afforded. As he was observant and thoughtful, he supplemented his schooling by self-culture, and in that way became the possessor of broad information upon all subjects of general interest. He was still quite young when he came to Ottawa County, and here he also prosecuted his studies in the public schools. From boyhood he has been familiar with agricultural pursuits, and upon choosing an occupation in life, selected that to which he had been reared.

Remaining an inmate of the parental home until the death of his father, our subject then assumed charged of the home farm, and has ever since conducted agricultural operations upon an extensive scale. Success has crowned his labors, and he is now recognized as one of the substantial farmers of the county. He has also met with considerable success in the raising of small fruits, for which he find ready sale at the neighboring markets. In his political belief, he adheres with fidelity to the platform and principles of the Democrat party, of which he is one of the leaders in this section. He has held the office of Supervisor for a number of years, representing Tallmadge Township upon the Board of Ottawa County.