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Nathaniel D. Macumber, farmer, section 27, Denver Township, was born in Bristol, Ontario Co., N. Y., Feb. 6, 1817. His parents were Nathaniel and Mary (Clark) Macumber, natives of Massachusetts, and of Scotch descent. Soon after their marriage they moved upon a farm in Bristol, N. Y., and in 1827 emigrated to the then Territory of Michigan, and settled in Oakland County, upon a farm of 80 acres in the township of Novi, near the present site of Novi village. In one month after their arrival in Michigan his father died, leaving a wife and five children; their names were: Hannah, Jason, Mary, Nathaniel D. and John C.
After the death of his father, Nathaniel was "bound out," and suffered more hardships and privations than usually fall to the lot of so young a man. After serving three years he sought his liberty, not by way of "coaxing off," but by suddenly breaking the bonds of tyranny that were crushing out his manhood. Accompanied by another young man, he started out to encounter the vicissitudes of life free from all restraint. He earned his first dollar by digging potatoes four days; and with this little sum he set out for Monroe County, which he reached in due season. Here he engaged as errand boy for a man named Baten, with whom he remained for some time. His industry and fidelity won for him the love of his employer, and he always reverts to those days as an oasis in life's desert.
Upon leaving Mr. Baten, he went to Cleveland, Ohio, with a broom peddler; but the season being dull he found it difficult to find work. He finally accepted a place in a blacksmith shop and learned the trade, working at it during the winter season, and spending the summer on the toe-path of the Ohio canal, for three years. When 17 years old he returned to his old home Oakland County, where he worked on a farm until 21 years of age. He saved $100, with which he purchased 80 acres of land in Clinton County, where he built a shanty and began to improve his farm. Feb. 17, 1840, he married Amorette Higbee, daughter of Girard and Electa (Isham) Higbee, natives of Vermont, who was born in that State in 1817. They immediately settled upon the farm, which by severe toil was soon all improved.
In 1853, in company with an experienced "land looker," Mr. Macumber took a tour through the northern portion of Michigan. They explored various portions of the country, finding no living object to attract attention, except occasionally a timid deer; but they found an unbroken forest, embellished with beautiful, fragrant wild flowers. They finally located the N. W. ¼ of section 27, in the present township of Denver, Newaygo County, it being the first land that was taken in the township; this does not include the pine lands, however, a portion of them having been previously taken. In March, the following year, he built a board shanty. Mr. Daniel Weaver had established a sawmill at Fremont, and offered a reward to the person that would open a road from that town to White River, a distance of 13 miles. Mr. Macumber accomplished this work with a yoke of oxen, and secured the reward. After completing his little shanty, 14 x 24, he went for his family, which then consisted of his wife and seven children, and moved them to his new home, arriving on a very cold day in March. His shanty had only three sides enclosed, and consequently there were 24 feet of doorway; but being well supplied with wood they were able to keep warm by hanging blankets around the stove. Inside of this little enclosure his family slept, while he kept up the fire. The next day he closed the extensive aperture in his dwelling, and from that time forward they were very comfortable for pioneers.
At the close of the second day he found that his ready cash amounted to $2.50. With this meager sum, he started out to make a home in a dense forest and rear a large family of children. In order to obtain seed wheat for his first crop, he had to drive a cow to Newaygo, kill her and peddle the beef. And thus, step by step, he pursued his arduous undertaking to make a nice home, and sufficient means to maintain himself during his last days. He had been successful; and from a primitive forest of 160 acres, he produced a magnificent farm, which now consists of 220 acres, well improved. To perform this arduous task he had but little aid except that of his own son. Upon this farm he built an elegant residence, costing $5,000.
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