Leander D. Shirtliff, Notary Public and real-estate dealer of Bear Lake, is the Coroner of Manistee County, and has served in that capacity for two terms of two years each. For twelve years he was Justice of the Peace in Pleasanton Township, this county, and is quite a leader in local affairs. Though affiliated with the Democratic party, he does not confine himself to narrow views, but if a better man is put up by the opposition that man receives his support.

The paternal grandfather of our subject was a soldier in the Revolutionary War. Leander D. is a native of Novi, Oakland County, Mich., and was born April 17, 1841. His parents were Sylvanus and Mary (Durfee) Shirtliff, natives of Connecticut and New York State, respectively. They were pioneers of Oakland County, Mich., where they removed in 1831, and both died in Novi Township. They reared a family of five children, two sons and three daughters: Elizabeth, Eleanor J., Daniel A., Huldah and our subject. Eleanor has never married, and is still living in her native county. Daniel A. was a resident of this place at the time of his death, and was engaged in running a shoe and harness shop. He left a wife and two children to mourn his loss. The early years of Leander D. Shirtliff were passed in his native county, where he received a public school education. He pursued his higher studies in the normal school at Ypsilanti until the senior year, when he was obliged to leave school and start out in the battle of life. For several years subsequently he was successfully employed in teaching school.

In 1866 Mr. Shirtliff came to this county and took up a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres in Pleasanton Township. This place he still owns, and for about sixteen years he gave all his energies to the development and improvement of the farm. Then, on account of failing health, he was obliged to seek less arduous work, and in 1882 removed to this village. Two years later he was honored by being elected Justice of the Peace, and served as such for four years. He was soon afterward commissioned Notary Public, and has been extensively engaged in buying and selling real estate, loaning money on good security, conveyancing, and also obtaining pensions.

In Oakland County Mr. Shirtliff was married, February 8, 1863, to Charlotte L. Snyder, a native of that county, where she grew to womanhood and was educated. The union of Mr. and Mrs. Shirtliff was blessed with only one child, Leo S., who died at the age of three years and one month.

In all worthy public enterprises Mr. Shirtliff is greatly interested and is always ready to lend a helping hand. He is a member of the Bear Lake Coronet Band. Socially he is Past Grand of Bear Lake Lodge No. 35, I.O.O.F., and is also a member of the Rebekah Degree. In religious matters he is a liberal and was reared in the Universalist faith.