J. GILBERT DALE

    J. GILBERT DALE was one of the honored pioneers and prosperous business men of Eaton county, having been prominently identified with farming and other industrial and business enterprises, and having made his life count for good in all its relations, so that when he was called from the scene of life's endeavors he left the heritage of a good name and the record of many worthy deeds. He was born in the state of Vermont in May, 1832, and was a child at the time of his parents' removal to Ohio, where he was reared and educated and where he continued to reside until he had attained his legal majority, when he came to Eaton county, Michigan, in 1853 or 1854, and took up several tracts of wild land. He took up his abode in the little village of Charlotte soon after his arrival in the county, and he opened here a cabinet shop, which was located on the site of the present Munger store. After four years he removed to a farm south of town, but two years later he returned to Charlotte and purchased the property upon which the present attractive residence of his widow is located. He was engaged in the livery business for a few years, and for a time he operated a stage line between Charlotte and Eaton Rapids. He acquired valuable farm properties in the county, and devoted much attention to the supervision of the same, giving special attention to the raising of fine live stock and having been also a buyer and shipper of stock. In politics he was a real and loyal Republican, and he ever showed a deep interest in all that concerned the prosperity and progress of his home city and county. He served two terms as representative of his ward in the board of aldermen. He was well known throughout the county, and his name is held in lasting honor in this section of the state, where he so long lived and labored to goodly ends. He died at his home in charlotte, February 19, 1885, in the state of Ohio, Mr. Dale was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Perkins, who was born in that state, being a daughter of Truman H. and Esther Perkins, the former of whom was born in Otsego county, New York, and the latter in Cortland county. They became pioneers of Ohio, whence they came to Michigan in 1865, taking up their residence in Charlotte, where they remained two years, a the expiration of which they removed to a farm three miles east of the city, where they passed the reminder of their lives, the father's death occurring April 11, 1888, while the mother passed away in 1877. Of their four children only two are living, Ebenezer, who is a farmer of Eaton County; and Mrs. Dale widow of the subject of this memoir. Mr. and Mrs. Dale became the parents of three children, one of whom died in infancy. Cora E. is the wife of George Rue and they reside with her mother; and Nettie is the wife of John S. Moon, of Plymouth, this state. Mrs. Dale is member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.