Philo Borst, one of the gallant defenders of his country’s flag during the late Civil war and well known as a prosperous farmer of Nelson township, Kent county, Mich., was born in Steuben county, N. Y., November 18, 1841, a son of Henry J. and Anna (Vanderbogart) Borst, parents of six sons and five daughters, of which family Philo is the seventh, and of which five, besides himself, still survive, viz: Lydia, wife of Henry Smith; Ezer and Jabez, all of Weston’s Mill, N. Y.; Julius R., of Lake George, Mich., and Edward, of Corning, N. Y.—all the sons having been reared as mill men. The father, also a native of New York, was liberally educated and was a school teacher. In politics he was a democrat and in religion a Presbyterian, and the mother, a native of Schoharie county, N.Y., was of old Mohawk Dutch decent. Both parents are now deceased.

Philo Borst was educated in the common schools of his native state, and July 9, 1862, enlisted in company C., One Hundred and Seventh New York volunteer infantry, which was assigned to the army of the Potomac, but later, was transferred to Sherman’s command about the time Mr. Borst was transferred to another regiment. Mr. Borst’s leading engagement was at Antietam, September 17, 1862, and December 19, 1863, he was transferred to company A., Fiftieth New York engineers, of the same army corps, and fought with General Grant until honorably discharged June 13, 1865, greatly injured in heath.

On his return home he resumed work at his trade, that of manufacturer of lumber, etc., in Steuben county, N. Y., and March 21, 1866, married Miss Maggie A. Kelley, which union resulted in the birth of six sons and two daughters, of whom the following are still living: William Lawrence, a shingle manufacturer; Henry J., also operating a shingle mill; Anna, wife of Henry Sipple, a farmer of Courtland township; Charles Edward, a graduate of Ferris Industrial college, of Big Rapids, and a school teacher; Frances H., a farmer, with his father; and Custer, who enlisted in company L., Thirty-third Michigan volunteer infantry, for the war in Cuba, and passed through the entire Santiago campaign, being on July 1 and 2 in the battle at Aguadores, and on his return homeward was seized with fever in New York and lay fifty-one days in Bellevue hospital. He received an honorable discharge December 31, 1898. Mrs. Maggie Borst, the beloved mother of this respected family, passed away January 27, 1892, and her loss is still deeply mourned by the bereaved husband and children.

When Mr. Borst settled in Kent county in February, 1877, Nelson township was almost covered by a dense forest; but he has succeeded in hewing out a profitable and comfortable farm and is now classed among the most respected and prosperous agriculturists in the community. In politics he is a democrat and a great admirer of William J. Bryan's free-silver policy, and is also a strong advocate of public school instruction. Fraternally he is a member of Jewell post, No. 62. G. A. R., at Cedar Springs; Evans tent, No. 785, Knights of the Maccabees, and at Evans, which is his post-office. All his sons are members of the Maccabees. Frank is assistant steward of the grange, and those who have reached their majority are free-silver democrats. All are recognized as useful and enterprising citizens and well deserve the high esteem in which they are universally held.