Eleazer Luce

Eleazer Luce

Eleazer Luce, farmer, section 6, Barton Township, was born Aug. 10, 1814, in Tompkins Co., N. Y., and is a son of David and Sophia (Raynord) Luce. His parents were born on Long Island and are both deceased. The son was "bound" to a farmer named Thomas George, and was under his management until he was 19 years old, receiving a fair degree of education.

Mr. Luce was married in 1837, to Mrs. Sarah (Edwards) Moore, a native of Steuben Co., N. Y. born March 30, 1817, and daughter of Stephen and Nancy (Johnson) Edwards. Her father was born in Connecticut, her mother in Orange Co., N. Y. Mr. Moore died in 1837 and left one child, Loretta. Five children born to Mr. and Mrs. Luce are living, namely: Eliza J., Andrew J., Eleazer S., Eleanor L. and Sarah Unica. Five are deceased.

Mr. Luce passed a number of years on a farm in Steuben County and went thence to Pennsylvania, where he followed the same pursuit three years. In the fall of 1856 he set out for Michigan and stopped in Ohio to spend the winter. In February, 1867, he arrived in Newaygo County, where he exchanged his team, wagon, harness etc., for 80 acres of land on section 6, Barton Township. The title proved worthless and he came very near losing it, and he entered the claim as stipulated under the provisions of the Homestead Law. The deed of conveyance bears the signature of U. S. Grant, then Chief Executive of the United States. The land was a wilderness of heavy timber, and its proprietor has placed it under fine improvements. He is a Republican and warmly esteemed by his fellow townsmen.

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