Leonard Behler, deceased, late of Lowell township, was born in Wurttemberg, Germany, May, 1819, and died September 20, 1897. In 1844 he came to the United States, and for ten years resided in Crawford county, Ohio. He was united in marriage, in Germany, to Miss Margaret Mick, who bore him two children. On coming to Ohio, he rented land in that state, and in 1854 came to Kent county, Mich., where to took up eighty acres of land, under a soldier’s claim. At that time he had a capital of some $300, $175 of which he paid for the land and was able to live on the remainder until he erected a house on his own farm. He then was compelled to work out for a livelihood and engaged in any kind of work he was able to obtain. His first house was a one room log cabin, all made out of rough material and put up with ax and auger. The old structure still stands, unoccupied. Mr. Behler is now engaged in general farming, having made an addition of forty acres to his farm and put about 100 acres in a good state of cultivation and improvement. He was a weaver by trade, having followed that in German, and upon coming to America was kept busy, especially during the war and in winter season, which employment was a great help to him in getting a start. In politics he was a republican, and took an active interest in political affairs. He nearly always used the German language, and the Methodist class was first held in his house, so he was one of the original class that grew into what is the German Methodist church in West Lowell. He always held church offices, such as steward, trustee, class leader, and Sunday school superintendent. He retained all his mental faculties and was active until the time he died, and settled his estate to suit himself. His wife still survives him, and is the mother of seven children, viz: Chistie, who served in the Second Michigan cavalry and died at twenty years of age on the march, of dysentery contracted in the service; John V., of St. Louis, Mich.; Jacob F., of the same place; Adam F.,  Mary A., the wife of Leander Cline, a resident of Lowell; Elizabeth, who died in childhood, and Lydia, who died in April 1899, at the age of thirty-five, and was the wife of Charles O’Harrow. 

Adam F. Behler was born in Crawford county, Ohio, August 7, 1853, and passed his boyhood days on the farm, which he rented for nine years, and then bought the homestead of 120 acres. In his political predilections, he is a republican, and has often been delegate to various conventions. He was united in marriage on March 24, 1881, to Miss Sarah Helrigel, who was born in Ontario, and came to Michigan when a child. His family consists of Minnie, Earl, Lloyd, Glen, Allen, John, Harold and Pauline, all of whom are living at home. They are members of the South Lowell Methodist Episcopal church, where Mr. Behler is superintendent of the Sunday-school, and has served as such for six years.