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HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE ARTICLE ON WILLIAM W. PARADINE

William W. Paradine is one of the self-made men of Branch County, who, while making his way with characteristic energy and pluck from poverty to comparative wealth, has in no small degree contributed to the material advancement of the community of which he is an important member.  In March, 1859, our subject, then in the very prime of life, came to Ovid Township and invested his hard-won earnings in a tract of wild land, of which but very little had been cleared.

Mr. Paradine is an Englishman by birth, born in Buckinghamshire, Aug. 26, 1837, and his father and grandfather, both of whom were likewise named William, were lifelong residents of the same shire.  The mother of our subject, whose maiden name was Elizabeth Saunders, was also born in Buckinghamshire.  Three years of her life she spent in America, and then returned to old England to die.  She and her husband were worthy, respected people, and were justly held in esteem by those who knew them.  They were the parents of eleven children, eight of whom grew to maturity, namely:  Ellen, William, George, Joseph, Esther, Charles, Thomas, and Harriet.  Four of these came to America.  Our subject; Joseph who settled in Branch County, but is now a resident of Lake County, Mich., Charles, who settled in Ovid Township, and subsequently died here; Thomas, who lives in Ovid Township.

The subject of this sketch was reared in his native shire, and as soon as he was large enough to be of assistance, he was set to work to perform his share in the maintenance of the family.  In 1856, ambitious to better his condition, and seeing in America a land of promise, where life seemed to hold forth more inducements and brighter prospects of success, our subject determined to try his fortunes here.  Accordingly, in the month of September, on the 25th day thereof, he bade a long farewell to his native isle, and set sail from Liverpool on board the vessel "William Tapscott", and after a voyage of six weeks and four days landed in the United States.  He proceeded to Cleveland, Ohio, and soon obtained employment ...... In the fall of that year, 1857, he went to Medina County, and resided there until March, 1858.  While there he met and made the acquaintance of Miss Sarah E. Higgins, who afterward joined hands with him to walk in the journey of life, their union being consummated Dec. 17, 1858, and to her faithfulness and devotion to his interests he and their children are greatly indebted for the pleasant home that they enjoy.  She was born in Brunswick, Medina Co., Ohio, Sept. 2, 1841, and is the daughter of Jonathan W. and Lucinda (Rosa) Higgins, natives of New York, the mother born in Allegany County.  They moved from their native State to Ohio, and settled in Brunswick Township, where Mr. Higgins carried on his trade of stonemason.  He finally moved to Wisconsin, and died there in 1847.  Mrs. Higgins is now living in Sylvania, Lucas County, Ohio.  The marriage of our subject and his wife has been blessed to them by the birth of eight children, of whom five are living.  Their record is as follows:  Laura A. married Fred Conkling, and lives in Kinderhook Township; Leona, Ralph; Melvina, the second child, born Sept. 7, 1861, died at the age of three years; Joseph, the third child, died young; William W., George H., and Susie, the seventh child, who was born in Sept., 1877, and died at the age of four weeks.

In March, 1858, Mr. Paradine went to Lucas County to work on a dairy farm, and was employed there until the following March.  He then came to Michigan to work on a farm in Coldwater Township, and in the same month he bought the land which is now included in his present farm...........

Mr. and Mrs. Paradine are worthy Christian people, and faithfully live up to the tenets of their church, the United Brethren. .........