Edward C Baumgardner, farmer section 33, Richmond Twp, is theson of Jacob & Catherine (Koutz) Baumgardner, natives ofSwitzerland & Pennsylvania respectively. After their marriagethey settled in Ohio, and subsequently moved to Van Buren Co,MI, going thence to Ionia Co, where they remained until death. They had four children, Edward C, Noah and Seymour. One died ininfancy. Mr Baumgardner was born Sept 16, 1852 in Van Buren Co.MI. He was a student at public schools until he was 18 years ofage. He remained at home 3 years after after that age, whenhe began to work month by month, in which method he operatedseven years, farming summers and in the lumber woods winters. In 1876 he bought 80 acres of land in Richmond Twp, under someimprovements, on which he settled in the spring of 1882. Twothirds of the place is now in a good state of cultivation. Inpolitical connection he is a republican and has held the officeof school assessor.
He was married in Richmond Twp April 10, 1879, to Mary JRobbins, and they have two children, L.J. born Jan 24, 1880, andLeo V. born Dec 18, 1882. Mrs Baumgardner is the daughter ofJames G and Olive E Robbins. (See Sketch of J G Robbins.) Shewas born June 4, 1861 in Richmond Twp and is the first whitechild born in Osceola County.
Family note- Edward's parents were settlers in Cambell Twp,Ionia Co, Mi in the early 1850's. His mother died in 1856 there.
Platt book of Osceola County, MI. PA & JW Myers & CH Cameron1900. Richmond Township p. 49 :
Baumgardner, E. C., Farming. Born in Van Buren Co, MI, Sept16, 1850, the oldest son of Jacob & Catherine Coutz Baumgardner.Came to Osceola Co. in 1873, in 1878 he purchased a farm onsection 33, Richmond Twp. Married April 10, 1879 to Mary J,daughter of James A & Olive E. Robbins. Mrs Baumgardner wasborn in Richmond Twp and was the first white girl born inOsceola Co. Her parents came to Mich Feb 22, 1856 and locatedon section 34, Richmond Twp, where they still live. Mr Robbinswas the first settler with a family to locate in this countyliving some time in a brush shanty in the dead of winter.
Mr. Baumgardener has four children, two boys and two girls.L.J., born Jan 24, 1880, Leo Valdy, Dec 18, 1882 (Valdy'sTombstone says b.1881.), Myrtie E, March 23, 1886, and Hattie L.Feb 7, 1891.
