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LEWIS C. WALDREN. The citizens native to the soil of Southern Michigan, reared in pioneer homes, inheriting the strong virtues of brave sires, who dauntlessly face the perils of an unknown wilderness that they might be enabled to provide more substantially for their children, have now for many years borne a prominent part in the agricultural, commercial and manufacturing interests of the State; they are public-spirited, ever zealous in promoting the welfare of the community in which they reside , and as members of the body politic of the commonwealth of Michigan, they are proud of her high standing among her sister States. They they are not lacking in patriotism and devotion to their country was well proved by their conduct in the late Rebellion, when the regiments of Michigan were distinguished on the field of battle for their many heroic and daring deeds, and for faithful service throughout the entire war.

In the subject of our sketch we have a fine representative of the class of citizens mentioned. He has for several years been extensively identified with the lumber interests of Branch County, Ovid Township being the seat of his business. He was born Aug. 30, 1834, in the city of Adrian, Lenawee County, of which his father was an early settler. His grandfather, Lewis Waldren, was for many years a resident of Vermont, but in 1844 he took up his abode in Peoria, Ill., and, so far as known, spent his last years there. The parents of our subject, Joseph and Elizabeth (Pound) Waldren, were natives respectively of Vermont and New Jersey, and the latter was a daughter of Jacob and Elizabeth (Wright) Pound, likewise natives of New Jersey. The father of our subject was but thirteen years old when he started out into the world to fight life's battles on his own responsibility, and soon found himself in Cattaraugus County, N.Y., a stranger in a strange land, but he shortly found employment whereby he was enabled to earn his own living. He married and lived there until 1830, when he came with his family to the Territory of Michigan, he and his brother-in-law coming by way of Lake Erie with the household goods, and their families coming with teams. They stopped four miles south of Adrian, and the father of our subject bought forty acres of land, built a log house, and commenced to clear away the trees to prepare for the tilling of soil. He lived there two years, then sold and moved to the village, where he engaged in the grocery business, being the first one to establish himself in that line. This was in the very earliest days of the Settlement of Southern Michigan, and the country was in a primitive condition, having no indications of its present wealth and importance. There were no railways, and all his goods were drawn from Toledo with team. Mr. Waldren continued in business in that city, until 1838, when he went to Tecumseh and built a grocery store, which, after managing a few months, he sold and went to Cambridge. He bought a sawmill, or an interest in it, in that place, and was engaged in the manufacture of lumber for three years, and at the expiration of that time he turned his attention to farming. Moving to Jackson County, he purchased a farm, on which he lived, with the exception of three years, until 1858. In that year he came to Ovid Township and bought a tract of land, with good water-power and sawmill, and resided here until his death, in March 1864. He was much missed in this community, and he had been esteemed a good citizen, being a man of enterprise, energy, and strict integrity. The good wife, who had shared his pioneer labors, and had always devoted herself to the highest interests of her family, died on the home farm in November 1875. There were five children born of this marriage, of whom the following is recorded: Levi lives in Alagansee Township; Phebe is the wife of J.L. Maxon, of Ovid Township; Leroy died at the age of fifteen; Lewis C.; Loren lives in Ovid Township.

Lewis C. Waldren was eight years of age when he went to Jackson County with his parents, and he completed in the schools of that county the education begun in the early schools of Lenawee County. As soon as large enough, his father required his services in his business, and in the farm work. He lived in the home of his parents untila year before his marriage, and in the year of his marriage he came to Branch County and rented a farm in Algansee Township, and was there very profitably engaged in farming operations when the war broke out, and in the second year of the Rebellion, when all looked dark and doubtful, and the fate of this great Nation seemed trembling in the balance, he laid aside his work, prepared, if needful, to sacrifice his all in the cause of his country, and on the 7th of August, 1862, enlisted in Company H, 19th Michigan Infantry, marched to the front, and served until the last battle was fought, and the cruel war was over. He was in the battle of Spring Hill, March 5, 1863, and was captured and imprisoned in Libby Prison for a few days, and after being in the hands of the rebels a few weeks, was exchanged and joined Sheridan's army at Chattanooga. He was under that famous General in his celebrated march from Atlanta to the sea, thence upward through the Carolinas, still on to Richmond, and then to Washington, where he took part in the grand review. He was honorably discharged from service June 10, 1865, and on his return home entered into the lumber business with two of his brothers. In 1869 they completed a large steam sawmill at an expense of $3,000, but on the 19th of January, 1872, that building was destroyed by fire, and then the present mill was built. They are doing an extensive business, and have made a great financial success of it.

Mr. Waldren has been twice married. His first marriage took place in 1859, at which time he was united to Miss Sarah E. Potter, a native of New York State, and daughter of Godfrey and Lavinia (Vandercook) Potter. After a few years of pleasant married life, Mrs. Waldren died, April 29, 1866. The second marriage of our subject was to Miss Sarah E. Jordan, who was born in Algansee, Branch County. To her and her husband have been born two children: Lillie E., wife of John McMurray, of California, and Verne J. There were two children of the first marriage, who died in infancy. Mr. and Mrs. Waldren have a very pleasant home, to which many friends are attracted by the generous hospitality extended to them by the genial and courteous host and hostess.

The extensive business interests of our subject have brought him a wide acquaintance throughout Branch and adjoining counties, and wherever known he has acquired a fine reputation as a straightforward man, whose dealings are conducted on strictly honorable principles, and his frank, manly bearing has made him hosts of warm friends. Socially, he is a member of Butterworth Post No. 109, G.A.R.; politically, his record will show that he has been a staunch Republican since he crossed the Ohio River into Kentucky to subdue the enemy opposing the Union, and trying to pull down the glorious stars and stripes.