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SHERIFFS OF MONTCALM COUNTY
1850 to 2006


JOHN WESLEY GAFFIELD
Sheriff from1905-1908


John Wesley Gaffield was born in Northumberland County, Ontario, Canada, April 2, 1853 to John and Mary Moore Gaffield. On September 1, 1874, at the age of twenty one, he left Canada with his parents and they settled in Winfield Township, Montcalm County. He married the former Kate C. Bushley on December 11, 1877 in Montcalm County. They had four children - Elma, Bertha, Sidney C. and Avery. John and Kate lived on the home farm in Winfield Township until 1893 when he moved to Lakeview and worked as a grocer. He was elected sheriff of Montcalm County in 1905 and moved to Stanton during his time in office. After the expiration of his term he moved to Six Lakes and went into the general merchandise business. He also operated the grain elevator and flour mill, with the assistance of his two sons, under the firm name of J.W. Gaffield & Sons. He sold the store in 1914 and the elevator business in 1915. John was a member of the Free and Accepted Masons, served as supervisor of Winfield Township while he lived there, served as treasurer of Belvidere Township for two years and while living in Lakeview served on the town council. He died at the age of 91 at his son's home in Greenville on Sunday, September 24, 1944.

(Sources: History of Montcalm County, Michigan by John W. Dasef; Montcalm County marriage records; Ancestry - census records; Lakeview Enterprise - death notice, September 28, 1944)



SHERIFFS OF MONTCALM COUNTY
compiled by Stanton area resident Judy Hardy

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