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HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE ARTICLE ON WILLIAM ALGER

William Alger, a worthy and pioneer citizen of Branch County, is pleasantly located in Matteson Township, to which he came in 1859 and has been a continuous resident since that time.  Mr. Alger claims for his birthplace the Green Mountain State, and was born in Richland Township, Chittenden County, in July, 1816.  He is the eldest in a family of eight children born to Squire and Dorcas (Putney) Alger.  .... came to this state when just 19 years old with his family, and his father remained here until his death.  Prior to their removal to this state the family had spent two years Genesee Township, Livingston County, N.Y.  William assisted the government in the survey of the county.  In December 1838 he united in marriage to Miss Orphie Darwin, daughter of Russell and Almira (Campbell) Darwin.  Both parents are deceased.  The father was a native of Vermont and was married in Erie Co., N.Y., of which state his wife was a native, and the former died in Quincy when in middle life, while the latter died in Butler Township at the age of 75 years.  Orphie was born in Erie County, N.Y. Sept. 22, 1819, and in 1835 came to Michigan with her parents and located in Quincy in the autumn of that year. Her union with Mr. Alger was blessed by the birth of twelve children , four of whom are now deceased, as follows:  James enlisted in the Union army ..... he died of spotted fever at Mound City, Ky.; Burdette was married and died at the age of 28; the others were Julia A. and Edgar.  The surviving children are:  Rosette, Charles, Isaac, Jerusha, Loticia, Norman, Dellison and Mary.  All are married and living in Matteson Township, except Rosette and Loticia, who reside in Kansas.