L. D. MOSHER L. D. Mosher, one of the old settlers of Michigan and one of leading farmers of Blendon Township, is a native of the Empire State, born May 4, 1835. His father, William Mosher, as well as his grandfather, James Mosher, were natives of New York State, the latter being one of the early settlers of the same. William Mosher left his native State in 1837 and came to Michigan, settling first in Oakland County, where he tilled the soil for some time. From there he moved to Clinton County, Mich., purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land from the Government, and remained there for eleven years. Selling out, he moved to Ionia County, Mich., where he passed the closing years of his life. His wife’s maiden name was Samantha Lawrence, and she passed her last days in Ionia County also. They were the parents of eight children. Lucy, deceased, was the wife of Jackson Cronket; Laura, deceased, was the wife of N. Lake; Louisa, deceased, was the wife of Eden Smith; L. B., deceased, resided in Ionia County, and his widow still lives on the old homestead there; L. D., our subject is next; L. V. resides in Greenville, Mich., and Wallace is deceased. The scholastic training of our subject was received in Clinton and Ionia Counties, and he was reared in the pioneer days of that State, when the opportunities for getting an education were anything but good. He left the parental roof when twenty-one years of age, and began farming on rented land, continuing this for two years. After this he engaged in the carpenter’s trade, which he followed for a number of years, and then moved to Gratiot County, where he was one of the first settlers, only four other families living in the township of Arcadia. For two years he remained there, but not caring about pioneer life he sold his claim for quite a handsome sum for those days and returned to Ionia County, settling close to the town of Reynolds. He there purchased an unimproved farm, which he improved and soon after sold. From there he moved to Ottawa County, and bought a portion of his present property; forty acres, and to this he has since added, until he now owns one hundred and twenty acres, with thirty four acres under a fine state of cultivation. Mr. Mosher owns a steam-thresher, also saws some timber, and has a great deal of farm machinery. He was married in 1855 to Miss Sarah Grow, a native of Montcalm County, Mich., and the daughter of Eddison and Charlotte (Hill) Grow, a native of New York, and old settlers of Michigan. To Mr. and Mrs. Grow were born eight children, six of whom lived to be grown. Melissa, deceased, the wife of David Walker; Sarah, deceased, the wife of our subject; Cerena, wife of Richard Murry; of Hastings, Mich.; Derius, of this county; Mary E., wife of James Murry, residing near Hastings; Gertrude, the wife of Horace Weeks, residing in Kent County; Geraldine, wife of William Smith, of St. Louis, Mich.; and Wallace, who died when quite young. To Mr. and Mrs. Mosher were born the following children: Ellis, who resides in this county; Addison, deceased, who left a wife in Berlin, Mich.; Leanora; Ralph, of this county; Benjamin; Horace; and an infant who died unnamed. Mrs. Mosher died on the 22d of November, 1891, when fifty-six years of age. She was a member of the Christian Church of Ionia County. Mr. Mosher is a member of the same church. He was a member of the Georgetown Grange, and, like his father, has always voted with the Democratic party.

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

Transcriber: Charles Armstrong
Created: 6 May 2003