He resided for more than 63 years in Kent County and was a long time resident of Cedar Springs. He was born in Gainesville Twp., Genesee County, NY on 6 Dec 1832, the son of Amos C. Mabie.

Amos C. Mabie was born in Dutchess County, NY about 1800 and followed farming there and later in Genesee County until 1855 when he emigrated and settled in Solon Township, Kent Co., Michigan. He was the son of Elias Mabie of New York.

Amos married Ainor Fisher, daughter of Joseph and Sarah Fisher, also of New York. Mr. Fisher was thought to have been a shoemaker and never came to Michigan. Amos and Ainor had ten children: Phoebe, Nancy, Allen, John, Sarah, Jonas, Nelson, Elias, Susan and Edward.

Nelson Mabie was educated in the public schools in New York He was 21 years old when he came to Michigan in November, 1854. For a short time he worked by the month for others but soon decided to become a land owned himself and purchased 160 acres of land from the government at seventy-five cents an acre. After clearing all of his land, he sold 80 acres but later bought another 40. He married Catherine Young, daughter of Edward and Sarah (Cassner) Young, some of whose family came from Canada to Grattan, MI where Mr. Young was a farmer and blacksmith. His wife died in Canada in 1830 and he died in Solon in 1882. Nelson and Catherine have no children. He was drafted for service in the Civil War but never called up. His younger brother, Edward, served in the war. He was one of a party detailed to capture Jefferson Davis, for which each member received $200.

Nelson has been identified with public affairs in his township. He has been a member of the board of school directors, commissioner of highways and other offices. He exerted much influence in the building and improving of highways in his locality. He strongly supports temperance and in politics is a Prohibitionist. He was a member of the Cedar Springs Lodge No. 213, A.F. & A. M. and belongs to the Wesleyan M. E. Church

(1881 Chapman’s – Pages 239-240)