CHARLES H. CARLYLE was born in Kalamazoo county, Mich., February 22, 184I, the third in a family of eight -four boys and four girls-born to John and Lillius (Howatt) Carlyle, of which family five are still living, viz: Charles H., whose name opens this paragraph; John, whose biography appears in full on another page; Mary, wife of Jacob Byers, a farmer of Courtland township; George, a harness maker of Detroit; and Fred, engaged in farming in Courtland township. John Carlyle, the father of this family, was born in Echlefechen, Dumfrieshire, Scotland, about I814 or I815, and was a brother of the justly renowned Thomas Carlyle, the essayist and critic. He married in his native land, but his children were all American born. He was a cabinetmaker by trade, and his son, Charles H., has in his possession the original chest of tools with which the father worked in his earlier life. John Carlyle and wife came to America in a sailing vessel in I840, landing in New York. They came via Kalamazoo to Kent county, where he entered I60 acres of land from the government, paying $[.25 per acre for it in state scrip. Wild animals and Indians roamed the forest, and a wonderful contrast was seen compared with bonnie Scotland. Still the prospects for the future were flattering, provided a sufficient amount of energy were exercised in clearing up the land; and this energy Mr. Carlyle possessed in no small degree. His first habitation here was a small log hut on section No. 32, but he afterward erected a more comfortable log house on section No. 28, in which he passed the remainder of his life. His farm implements were, of course, old fashioned. His nearest market was Grand Rapids, to which he frequently traveled on foot, bringing purchases home on his back. The only roads were Indian trails and the only conveyances were ox-carts. The first threshing-machine introduced was a simple box, inclosing a cylinder. The grain after passing the cylinder fell with the straw, which was shaken and thrown aside. The grain was then run through an old-style fanning-mill. But Mr. Carlyle, exercising the Scotch grit and common sense that has made his name so illustrious, overcame all obstacles and succeeded in securing a competency. Mr. Carlyle was well educated, was a friend of public instruction, and was instrumental in securing the erection of the first school house in the district, which was erected in 1844, on the spot, on section No. 2I,where the grange hall now stands. In politics he was an ardent democrat, and took an active part in the campaign of I840, in which his party met with an overwhelming defeat by the whigs, headed by William H. Harrison. He and wife were in sympathy with the Episcopal church, and like all of the Scotch of that generation was quite familiar with the Bible. He died August I0, 1873, his remains being interred beside those of his wife in Courtland cemetery, where his sons, Charles and John, have erected a beautiful monument to their memory. Charles H. Carlyle received a fair common-school education, to which he added by careful reading and home study. While yet in his 'teens he taught the Stinson school, where he had an enrollment of sixty-two pupils..... January 5, I86I, the steamer "Star of the West " had been fired upon and driven from Charleston (S. C.) harbor, whither she had gone with supplies for the relief of Fort Sumter, and civil war was imminent. In March of that year, Mr. Carlyle borrowed sufficient money to pay his way, accompanied with Daniel R. Slocum, to Will county, Ill., where he endeavored to enlist in the United States cavalry, but was rejected on account of his size, Slocum refusing to go on that account. He found employment as a farm hand, however, at $11 per month, and in the following fall returned to Michigan. He had no capital, but a determined will, and set himself to work to gain a place in the world. He husbanded his earnings, and in I865 made his first purchase of land, which consisted of forty acres in Courtland township. This he sold later and engaged as collector for the Harrison Wagon works, of Grand Rapids, with which he remained seven years. He was then employed as superintendent by Austin Richardson, a lumberman of Osceola county, but residing in Grand Rapids, who placed him in charge of all his mills and their output, and in trusted him with paying the employees. This position he filled twelve years-in itself a tribute to his attentiveness and integrity. May 15, I872, Mr. Carlyle was united in marriage with Miss Rosalie A. Hewitt, the union resulting in the birth of five children two sons and three daughters-of whom four still survive, viz: Nellie and Iva, students of the Rockford high school; Myrtle, attending the district school, and Kenneth, the youngest, at home. Mrs. Carlyle was born in Jackson county, Mich., November 24, I850, and is a daughter of W. L. and Rosanna (Parks) Hewitt. She graduated from the Rockford high school at the age of fifteen years, and was a teacher in Kent county until her marriage. Her father died in December, 1862, but her mother still survives, at the age of seventy two years. The second purchase of land made by Mr. Carlyle was in I875, mostly on credit. This tract consists of eighty acres, in section No. 32, Courtland township. This tract he has cleared and improved and has paid for in full from the proceeds of his industry and frugality. In 1894, he purchased sixty-five additional acres in section No. 22, which had been entered from the government by Barton Johnson. Mr. Carlyle has met with the success which invariably accompanies well-directed industry and intelligent endeavor; and is classed among the more progressive and enterprising agriculturists of the township. In politics Mr. Carlyle is a free-silver democrat. In 1879 he was elected township treasurer and has served as supervisor of his township three different times-1889, I890 and 1897. So great is the confidence of the people in his integrity, that he has been five times selected as administrator of estates. He is a member of Rockford lodge, No. 246, F. & A. M., having been made a Mason in I863, and he and wife are members of the Patrons of Husbandry. Mrs. Carlyle is a communicant of the Methodist Episcopal church, to the support of which Mr. Carlyle has always been a liberal contributor. The family are highly respected socially, and none deserve better the esteem in which they are universally held.