Alanson J. Mc Carn

Alanson J. McCarn, farmer and lumberman, located on section 8, Sylvan Township, was born March 17, 1842, in Plymouth, Wayne Co., N.Y. Jonas McCarn, his father, was a native of New York and removed his family in 1856 to Perry, Shiawassee Co., Mich., where he died, Sept. 11, 1884, aged 75 years. His mother Abbie McCarn, was born i the Mohawk Valley, in New York, and is living in Shiawassee County, aged 72 years.Mr. McCarn was a pupil in the common schools of his native place until the removal of the family to Perry, when he was 14 years old. A year later he took the direction of his career into his own hands, and when 17 years of age began teaching. He pursued that calling as a vocation until the second year of the war, when he entered the army. He enlisted Oct 31, 1862, in the Seventh Mich. Cav., Co. G, in which he was appointed Sergeant. His company was under Lieut Geo. W. Hill, and the command was assigned to the Army of the Potomac. He was in some of the hottest and hardest fought battles of the war, among which was the action at Gettysburg, where he received severe wounds. A shot passed through the right lung, emerging from his body under his right arm and crashing through the muscles of that member. He was transferred from the field hospital at Gettysburg to Finley Hospital, Washington, D.C., whence he was discharged June 2, 1865.

Soon after his return he was married and rented a farm in Perry Township, which he occupied about six years. In 1876 he sold his farming interests and bought village property at Perry Center, and established a mercantile enterprise which he continued to conduct until his removal to Evart in the autumn of 1874. He embarked in the same business at that place and managed its relations one year. At the end of that time he purchased 200 acres of unbroken forest land in Sylvan Township, becoming one of the earliest settlers north of the Muskegon River. He has since sold a small portion of his place and added 80 acres in Hartwick Township to his possessions. He has made many improvements on his property. In 1883 he became the proprietor of a saw-mill and has since managed an extensive lumbering manufacture. In political preference he is a Republican of decided opinions. He has held several important local official positions, as Supervisor, Treasurer, etc., and is present School Inspector. He is a member of the Order of Odd Fellows at Perry Center.

Mr. McCarn was married June 26, 1865, to Evelyn M. Durant. Their children were born as follows: Charles, May 14, 1866; Ernest, Jan. 8, 1872; Lynn, AApril 26, 1881. Their mother is the daughter of Nathaniel and Harriet (Bridger) Durant, and was born Nov. 3, 1842. Her father died in Huron Co., Ohio, when she was four years of age. Her mother was born in England and died in 1881 in Perry. Mrs. McCarn was carefully educated and began teaching when 18 years of age.

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