HORACE H. CHILDS, proprietor of the Childsdale Straw Board mills at Childsdale, Kent county, Mich., was born in Paris township, Kent county, April I, 1852, a son of Henry B. and Emeline (Hawks) Childs, of whom a biographical sketch is given on another page. Horace H. was educated in the schools of Grand Rapids. At the age of twenty years he undertook the management of the straw-board and paper-mills owned by his father in Plainfield, and after superintending them five years purchased a half-interest in the plant. Five years later, when thirty years old, he married Miss Frankie M. Lockerby, of Rockford, and this marriage has been graced with three children, two girls and one boy, Ida, Eva, and Henry Baxter-all attending school at Grand Rapids. Mrs. Childs was born in New York, April 28, 1864, and was brought to Michigan by her parents in I869. She was a member of the first graduating class of Rockford high school, and is a lady of estimable qualities. In I885 Mr. Childs purchased the remaining interest his father held in the mills, since when he has operated them on his sole account. These mills constitute the leading manufacturing industry in the township and give employment to a large number of men. Twice they were destroyed by fire-in 868 and I898 -their destruction entailing a loss of $75,000 31 to the proprietor and a sore inconvenience to the employees, but in the first instance they were soon restored to their activity, and in the second increased in siz2, making a fifteen-ton mill. The new buildings are erected as nearly fire-proof as material and skill can make them. The plant contains one sixty-two-inch board machine, containing forty-one driers and all the necessary adjuncts or appliances, and turning out first-class material. Other machinery is devoted to the manufacture of pulp-lined boards, sizing, largely wood pulp and sulphite, for lining purposes, and comprises three 1200 -pound beaters, two Jordan engines, rotary bleachers, machines for sheet and cylinder-lining boards, and one Cross compound condensing steam-engine, with boiler capacity for doing all the drying and also for furnishing all the motive power when water power is not available. The cost of the new plant reaches about $75,ooo. Mr. Childs, in connection with the nills, owns a fine stock farm of 700 acres, known as the Childsdale stock farm. He breeds shorthorn cattle from imported English stock, and has the finest herd in this section of the country. His Shropshire sheep are registered, and some of his horses are thoroughbred animals. Mr. Childs also owns a cattle ranch of 3,000 acres in Texas, and has 400 head of horses and, cattle. Mr. Childs, like his father, is a friend of public improvements and is very liberal in his contributions to the support of church and school.