JUSTUS STILES Justus Stiles, the oldest living settler in Polkton Township, who voted at the organization of the township, and was in fact the first settler in town 8, range 14 west, with the exception of the trappers and hunters along the river bank, has been a resident of the State of Michigan almost three-score years, and has been a dweller within the county of Ottawa since 1844. Our subject, a native of St. Lawrence County, N.Y., was the second of ten children born unto Justus and Aurillia (Clark) Stiles, both natives of New England. The father was born in 1778 in Vermont; the mother’s birthplace was Massachusetts. The paternal ancestors were of English birth. The responsibility of the care and training of the younger sons and daughters of the parents devolved mainly upon the son Justus, who, with enterprising and self-reliant effort, assumed the burdens of the day in early boyhood. Nancy L., the eldest of the family, became the wife of George Cass and made her home in Battle Creek; Justus came next; Amos lives in Calhoun; Chauncey S. died in Ottawa County; Richard C. also passed away in Ottawa County; Mary A. is the wife of H. Hall, of Battle Creek; Cynthia, deceased, was the wife of John Dickenson; Alma J. is the wife of Edwin Van Winkle, of Battle Creek; Julia A. married Henry Hall, of Battle Creek; and Harvey C. died young. Our subject accompanied his parents to Battle Creek in 1835, and they found but one frame house where the city now stands. The father not long after died, leaving to the care of the widow a large family of little ones. In 1844 Mr. Stiles was united in marriage with Miss Ann Streater, and with his wife soon after made his home in Ottawa County. They located upon the identical spot where their first house stood nearly a half-century ago, and there our subject, toiling industriously, cleared the eighty acres of land of heavy timber, and erected a log cabin beside the very stumps of the trees felled for that purpose At the organization of the township sixteen voted in the first election held at Scranton, now Eastmanville. Mr. Stiles declined to accept many offices of the township which were tendered him, but when he did occasionally permit the use of his name he was invariably elected. He and his excellent wife, sharing in the toils and privations of pioneer life, buried five little ones in infancy and reared to adult age five sons and daughters. The eldest surviving child is E. H. , now Postmaster at Coopersville; Josephine is the wife of R. Olson Dodge, of Newyago; Jane, deceased, was the wife of Edgar Hamilton, of Coopersville; Henry J. lives upon the old home farm; and Hezza is the wife of Harrison Averill, of Ottawa County. Mr. and Mrs. Stiles are both remarkably well preserved, being hale and hearty and enjoying their many daily blessings. Our subject , who is in his seventy-fourth year, has witnessed the remarkable changes incidental to the life of the frontiersman. Politically, he and his sons are strong Democrats and deeply interested in both local and national issues. Mr. Stiles has until recently taken an active interest in the schools of the county, and is a well-known friend to educational advancements. He gave his children a good common-school education, and his eldest son taught school many years. Our subject, although a man of sterling integrity of character, has never been connected with any church organization or fraternal society. E. H. Stiles, the eldest living son of our subject, was born in Polkton Township in 1849, and, growing up to manhood on his father’s farm, assisted in the summer and in the winter attended the district school. When about twenty-two years of age he engaged in teaching school and, continuing for five years a successful instructor, in the mean time attended the Grand Rapids Business College. Until the winter of 1892-1893 he taught continuously, and during the summer months, as in youth, engaged industriously in pursuit of agriculture. He was married in 1876 to Miss Mary A. Coburn, of Zeeland, and a daughter of Milan Coburn. This excellent and accomplished lady was always delicate, and upon July 2, passed away mourned by all who knew her. Mr. Stiles has been active in the local politics of Ottawa County and ably served as Clerk of Polkton Township. In June 1893, he was commissioned under President Cleveland Postmaster of Coopersville, an office whose duties he is well adapted to discharge to the great satisfaction of his fellow townsmen. Fraternally, Mr. Stiles is a Knight of Honor, and socially is a popular man, enjoying the high regard of many friends.

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

Transcriber: Charles Armstrong
Created: 6 May 2003
URL: Biographies