Benjamin Lillie Portrait and Biographical Record, Pages 544, 545 BENJAMIN LILLIE, a highly esteemed pioneer citizen and prominent generalagriculturist of Ottawa County, Mich., came with his brother Timothy to thisState in 1843, and, locating three miles north of where Lamont now stands, theywere the first white settlers of Wright Township. The brothers made their ownroad from Lamont, then only a landing place, known as Steele’s Landing, totheir farms, which at first were heavily timbered claims of a quarter-sectioneach, covered with a dense growth of beech and maple. The brother later died onhis homestead, leaving a large family. Our subject was born in St. Lawrence County, N.Y., where he received aneducation, and attained to manhood. He was married there to Miss PhilenaDickenson, and soon after, determining to try his fortune in the West, left herin the old home while he came to Michigan to prospect and secure some place towhich he might bring his young wife. In the fall of 1843 Mrs. Lillie joined herhusband in Ottawa County, and the two, reunited, entered with ambition intofounding a new home amid the pioneer scenes and yet almost wilderness of thispart of the State. Year after year Mr. Lillie devoted himself to the pursuit ofagriculture, and, as the woods yielded to his axe and the cultivated soilresponded to a bounteous harvest, financial prosperity crowned the industry andthrift of husband and wife. Ten children with their bright presence blessed the home of these earlysettlers of Michigan. After many years the faithful companion, who had sharedthe early struggles of our subject, passed away, mourned by all who knew her.Mr. Lillie after some time wedded again, and, once more bereaved by the death ofa wife, a third time entered into matrimonial bonds and became the father of anumerous progeny. Until 1889 Mr. Lillie continued to make his residence inOttawa County, but at that date removed to New Iberia, La., where he is nowengaged in the cultivation of sugar-cane. Roswell Lillie, the second son of Benjamin and Philena (Dickenson) Lillie, avery successful attorney-at-law and a prominent citizen of Coopersville, wasborn in Wright Township and grew up to a self-reliant and enterprising manhoodin Ottawa County. Having first enjoyed the benefit of a good common-schooleducation, Mr. Lillie afterward graduated with honor from the State AgriculturalCollege, and later read law in Lansing, Mich. While pursuing his legal studieshe taught school, and through his own efforts has steadily won his upward way toassured success. In 1873 he opened a law office in Coopersville, and has sincecontinued his residence in the locality. In 1873 were united in marriage Roswell Lillie and Miss Mary Bennett, of AnnArbor, in which latter place Mr. Lillie attended law lectures at the University,after being admitted to the Bar in Lansing in the year 1872. Settling inCoopersville in the spring of 1873, he associated himself in the mercantilebusiness with E. J. McNaughton. Afterward he sold out and spent four years inMississippi, where he handled merchandise, but in January, 1893, he sold outthere and returned again to his early home. Mr. Lillie is a stanch Democrat and held the office of Postmaster under thefirst administration of Cleveland, resigning in 1889 to go into other business.He has held with ability nearly every office within the gift of the people ofPolkton Township, and in the spring of 1893 was elected to the office ofSupervisor. For nine consecutive years his father held the responsible positionof Supervisor of Wright Township, and as a public officer commanded theconfidence of all who knew him. Roswell Lillie has two children, a son and adaughter, Ella and Hal. The parents are valued members of the MethodistEpiscopal Church, and are active in good work. Fraternally, Mr. Lillie isconnected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and, prominently identifiedwith the growing interests of the home of his youth, is a popular man, possessedof a wide acquaintance and a host of friends.

Portrait & Biographical Record of Muskegon & OttawaCounties, Michigan 1893, Chicago: Biographical Publishing Company

Transcriber: Susan Gates Davis
Created: 28 April 2003
URL: Return to Bios Index