Ephraim Pelton Pages 224, 225 - EPHRAIM PELTON. The observant traveleras he wends his way along the pleasant roads of Ottawa County finds plenty tooccupy his attention and awaken his admiration. On every hand appear evidencesof prosperity. Here are fields of waving grain; there nestle busy, bustlingcities. Probably in his travels he observes no finer farm than that which isowned and occupied by the subject of this brief biographical review, who isrecognized as one of the most capable and prosperous farmers of TallmadgeTownship. Born in Canada in 1832, our subject is the eldest child of Rollin H. andAbigail (Pelton) Pelton, natives of Vermont and Canada respectively, of whomfurther mention is made in the sketch of Rollin Pelton, presented on anotherpage. He was a pupil in the common schools of Canada, where he acquired a faireducation, being an apt and diligent scholar. He remained in the land of hisbirth until he was a youth of nineteen, when he came to Michigan, and for a timeresided near the city of Grand Rapids. For six months he engaged in lumberingabout the river, after which he accompanied his parents to Ottawa County andsettled with them on a farm in Tallmadge Township. After working on the farm for a period of twelve years, our subject beganlumbering for the firm of Hopkins & Monroe, of Grand Haven, this State, andcontinued thus engaged for five years. He then purchased the beautiful farm uponwhich he has since made his home. At the time of buying the property, it was awilderness, upon which scarcely a furrow had been turned and no attempt whatevermade at improvement; but through the diligent exertions of the owner it isto-day one of the best-improved farms in Ottawa County. Mr. Pelton uses goodjudgment in the cultivation of the soil, and makes a specialty of the cerealsfor which the land is best adapted. He makes of farming not only an occupation,but also a science. In Grand Rapids, on the 1st of January, 1861, Mr. Pelton wasunited in marriage with Miss Etta Quigley, who was born in New York, being thedaughter of William G. and Mary (Franklin) Quigley. To this marriage there havebeen born four children: R. H., who married Miss Helen Willet and resides inLowell, this State; Abbie, who is the wife of W. J. Craik, of Sparta; and Josephand Etta, who live with their parents. While the life of Mr. Pelton has not beencharacterized by any stirring events or thrilling episodes, his labors, whilequietly done, have been no less effective toward securing the advancement of thesocial and business interests of his community, and while gaining personalsuccess he has also promoted the welfare of the township and county. TheDemocratic party finds in him a firm adherent and ardent champion, and he castshis ballot and gives his influence toward promoting the success of thispolitical organization.

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

Transcriber: Susan Gates Davis
Created: 3 April 2003
URL: Biographies