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| FREDERICK WALCH, farmer, sec. 13, Wheatland Tp., is the son of Michael and Margaret (Wolf) Walch, both of whom were natives of France, and of German descent. He was born in the Province of Auvergne, France, Aug. 20, 1839. He received a fair education in German, and was a laborer on the railroad and canal which were then in process of building through the section where he was born and reared. He left his native land in the spring of 1857, and came to Ontario, Can., where he was a farm laborer. He was married in Waterloo Co., Ont., in March, 1863, to Margaret, daughter of Jasper and Margaret (Horn) Otterbeign, natives of Germany, where Mrs. Walch was born, Aug. 15, 844. Her parents came to America and located in Waterloo Co., when she was ten years old. After his marriage Mr. Walch was a farmer at Waterloo County until 1865. In that year he removed to Montcalm Co., Mich., and settled at Greenville. He was there employed four years in a saw-mill. In 1869 he came to Wheatland Tp., and bought 40 acres of wild land, to which he has since added 80 acres. Of this land he has by his own exertions placed 60 acres under the best improvements. Mr. and Mrs. Walch have buried five of their nine children. The four surviving are as follows: Philip, born Feb. 14, 1862; Margaret, Oct. 2, 1865; Frederic, Nov. 15, 1872; Dora, Feb. 18, 1879. John died in infancy; Angeline, born July 5, 1868, died in August, 1880; MIchael, born Oct. 21, 1870, died Oct. 31, 1876; Laura, born Jan. 1, 1875; died July 25, 1879; Lillie M., born Nov., '76, died Aug. 1, 1879. Mr. Walch has not yet oricured his papers of citizenship; himself and wife are members of the German Lutheran Church. |