JULIUS R. BORST, proprietor of the shingle mill on sec. 16, Hinton Tp., was bornJune 29, 1838, in New York. His parents, Henry J. and Anna (Vandebogart) Borst, were natives of the State of New York, where his father owned and managed a saw-mill, and brought up his son to the same vocation. Until he attained his majority Mr. Borst alternated study at the common schools with the labors of the mill, and for the nine years that followed he was employed in a lumber mill. He then moved to Pennsylvania where he was employed at Corydon's Dane, on the Allegheny River, in a lumber and shingle mill. Five years later he went to Allegheny City and passed 18 months there in the same business. He located in Kent Co., Mich., in the spring of 1875, and pursued his occupation about two years, and bought out the mill owned by Peter Benson, located on Pine Lake, five miles west of Cedar Springs. He operated this mill five years, then removed it to Mecosta County, locating on sec. 16 in Hinton Tp., and has since resided there, still running the mill, which has a capacity of 40,000 feet daily. He has 20 men in his employ and is doing a thriving business. By undeviating attention to business, Mr. B. has earned the reputation of runing his mill more continuously than any other mill-owner in the county. He owns 200 acres of timber land in Hinton Tp.
Mr. Borst is a Democrat in political faith. His earnest devotion and loyalty to his country was proven Dec. 19, 1863, when he enlisted in Co A., 50th N.Y., Engs' Reg, which consisted etirely of skilled mechanics. He served until the close of the war, a period of 19 months, and received honorable discharge June 28, 1865, at Fort Borney, Va. He belongs to the Masonic Order, and is a member of Cedar Springs Lodge, No. 213. He was married at Ceres, Pa., Dec. 6, 1861, to Mary, daughter of Henry and Ann (Marilla) Knight, born in Chemung Co., N.Y., Dec. 6, 1840. Her parents were natives of the State of New York, where her mother died. Her father lives with her, a hale old gentleman, aged 76 years. Mr. and Mrs. Borst have had three children: Julius T., born April 29, 1864; James H., July 13, 1866. One child died in infancy.
|
