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Tompkins |
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| Alexander N. Tompkins, lumberman, resident of Altona, Hinton Tp., was born in Canada, Aug. 12, 1848. His father was Geo. L. Tompkins, was a native of the State of New York, and the mother of Canada, in 1867 they came to Michigan and located in Ottawa Co., coming thence to Big Rapids, where the mother died, March, 1871, the father is living in Wexford Co. At 14 years of age Mr. Tompkins was apprenticed to learn the blacksmith trade, but after eight months was compelled to abandon the project on account of difficulty with his eyes, and he remained at home one summer. The next season he worked on a farm and after that was engaged in lumbering for two years. When he was 19 years old, in the fall of 1867, he came to Michigan, and in the fall of 1868, to Mecosta Co., where he has since lived, engaging in milling and lumbering. He is now operating the shingle mill, owned by H.J.Brown in Altona and employs nine men. He is working under a four years contract and the mill product is about 35,000 shingles daily. Mr. Tompkins in identified with the Republican Party, and is member of the I.O.O.F. Mr. Tompkins was married at Cadilac, Mich., in November 1877, to Martha E., second daughter of Levinas and Velinda (Scouten) Engle. Her parents were natives of the State of New York, who came to Allegan, Mich., in its pioneer days and afterwards went to Wexford County, where they now reside. Mrs. Tompkins was born in Allegan County, July 24,1854, and after she was 14 years old supported herself until her marriage. One child was born of this marriage, Carrie, July 23, 1879. |