John Paul, farmer and dealer in real estate, is an illustrious example of that successful class of individuals known as self-made men . His father, also named John Paul, was born in Whithorn, Wigtonshire, Scotland, November 15, 1822, and in 1852 became a resident of Grand Rapids. He lived in Kent county from that time until his death, November 8, 1893, spending the last twenty-five years of his life at Reed’s Lake. He was one of the leading spirits of East Grand Rapids, and it was through his influence that a post-office was secured and named in his honor, and the place brought to the notice of the public. He was twice married and left a family of five children, four sons and one daughter, his second wife dying several years prior to his own departure. The subject of this sketch is the only child of the first marriage; the other children are Henry B., a carpenter of East Grand Rapids; William W., a painter; Edwin S., carpenter and builder, and Margaret Jane, wife of Charles Davis, who resides at Pasadena, Cal.

John Paul, Jr., was born on the 1^st day of April, 1850, in the town of Whithorn, Wigtonshire, Scotland, and at the age of three years was brought to Kent county, Mich., where he has since resided. While he was quite young his parents moved from Grand Rapids to a farm near, what the old settlers call ‘The Saddlebags Swamp,’ and there he grew to manhood, assisting his father in the rough work of clearing land and attending in the winter seasons such indifferent schools as the county afforded. Notwithstanding his meager educational advantages, Mr. Paul early manifested a decided taste for study, and he eagerly read such books as fell into his hands, and long ere reaching manhood’s estate he was the possessor of a fund of knowledge much greater than many obtain in long courses in the schools. Additional to his general love of literature, his inquiring mind led him into the domain of the practical, and this, with his strong and vigorous physique, in due time, made of him a splendid specimen of symmetrically developed manhood.

When quite a small child, Mr. Paul lost that best of all earthly friends, mother, and one of the pathetic phases of his life is that he retains no recollection whatever of her. When sixteen years old he began life for himself, and the position he has since attained is due to his unaided exertions; in fact, it may be truthfully observed that he is indeed the ‘architect of his own fortune.’ With an energy born of determination to succeed, he accomplished within a few years what many do not achieve in a much longer life, and in due time he became the possessor of valuable real estate in the vicinity of Reed’s Lake, which he has since platted as an addition to East Grand Rapids. The territory embraced within the present limits of the place was then in its primitive condition, and it seemed like a long ride from the subject’s home to Grand Rapids, a trip which now requires but fifteen minutes’ ride on the electric line to the very heart of the city.

Mr. Paul has in his possession the original deed issued by Andrew Jackson, January 20, 1836, conveying the tract of land he now owns from the government to Ezekiel Davis, and upon this land he has made his home continuously for over forty years.

In addition to agriculture, Mr. Paul, some years ago, became interested in real estate, and to him more than to any one man is due the credit of inducing investments in land in and around East Grand Rapids, until the town has become one of the handsomest and most desirable suburbs of he metropolis of west Michigan. He has erected, in all, over thirty residence in Paul’s addition and disposed of the same on terms to suit purchasers, thus bringing to the place an intelligent and desirable class of citizens. He has been an accommodating dealer, favoring in every reasonable way the purchaser of moderate means, until it is now possible for almost any man, possessed of thrift, to obtain comfortable home in East Grand Rapids.

Mr. Paul was largely instrumental in inducing the Consolidated Street Railway Company, of Grand Rapids, to extend their line eastward and otherwise make substantial improvements, which finally led to the establishment of the well known and popular pleasure resort of Reed’s Lake. He has been indefatigable in his efforts to give this lake a wide publicity, and not without encouraging results, for every summer the village is thronged with tourists, who find it indeed one of the most pleasant and most restful resorts in a state noted for such places.

Mr. Paul has been called by his fellow citizens at different times to fill positions of trust, among which may be named those of justice of the peace and treasurer of Grand Rapids township, president of the village board and member of the school board of East Grand Rapids. He was reared in the political faith of the republican party and still believes its principles to be to the best interest of the county; consequently he takes an active part in every campaign involving party measures and has contributed much to the success of his ticket. He is a member of Valley City lodge, No. 86, F. & A. M., and with his wife belongs to Oriental chapter, No. 32, O. E. S.

The marriage of Mr. Paul was solemnized June 7, 1876, with Miss Agnes Gilmore, of Grand Rapids, Rev. J. Morgan Smith officiating at the ceremony. Mrs. Paul was born in the same town in Scotland where her husband first saw the light, but had never met him until the year 1873 in Grand Rapids. She is the mother of three living children, the eldest of whom, Mary A., is the wife of Fred Van Bloois, an employee in a wholesale house of Grand Rapids; the second, Elizabeth Agnes, is still under the parental roof, and the only son, William J., is a bright lad of ten years.

The mother and two daughters are members of the Park avenue Congregational church; Mr. Paul, although a friend and contributor to the cause of religion, does not subscribe to and creed or article of faith.

The brief outline of the leading facts of Mr. Paul’s life and business career is given because the world claims a certain property in the lives of all its people, and biography is the lamp of experience to guide and encourage others in the path of success. He is regarded as one of many public spirited and enterprising citizens of Kent county, and for years has been foremost in every project for advancing the material interests of its flourishing seat of justice. In every relation of life his character has been above adverse criticism, and his past reflects the greatest credit upon him.