DAVID R. WATERS David R. Waters, a prominent citizen of a high order of business ability, whose prosperous career as a lawyer, editor and gallant soldier of the last Civil War is widely known, is now President of the Grand Rapids Standard Bed Company, but devotes his time principally to fruit culture, and makes his home upon an Ottawa County farm not far from Spring Lake. Our subject, born in Lycoming County, Pa., December 3, 1836, attained to manhood in his native place, but journeying to the broader West began life for himself in Oquawka, Henderson County, Ill., where he studied law, and in 1858 was admitted to the Bar. Answering to the call of his country, Mr. Waters enlisted in the army in 1861, and joining Company G, tenth Illinois infantry, was upon November 19, 1861, sworn in as a private. Shortly after, our subject received promotion as Second Lieutenant and then soon after became First Lieutenant, and upon the first of July,1862, was made a captain. Under the command of Gen. Grant at Mound City, under Gen. Pope at New Madrid, at Corinth under Hallock, our subject actively participated in the leading engagements of those perilous days. Later, transferred to the command of Gen. Payne, he went from Corinth to Tuscumbia and from there proceeded to Nashville, where he passed under the command of Gen. Palmer. Mr. Waters was next sent to the South, and remained with Gen. Rosecrans until he resigned in 1864. Our subject was aid-de-camp on the field under Gen. Davis and served as Judge Advocate under the same general. After he resigned from military duties Mr. Waters resumed the practice of law at Aleda, Mercer County, Ill., and was in partnership with Charles M. Harris, a member of congress from the Quincy District. About this time, afflicted with a disease of the eye, our subject practically gave up law and went into the newspaper business at Aledo, then becoming editor of Mercer County Press. In the spring of 1869, Mr. Waters located permanently in Michigan and; a constant resident of the State for twenty-four years, has been a leading business man and active politician. Soon after his arrival within the Wolverine State he purchased eighty-five acres of land north of Spring Lake, formerly owned by Mrs. E. L. Craw, and although giving a portion of his time to a variety of occupations has always been engaged in the pursuit of agriculture. During 1872 and 1873 Mr. Waters edited the Spring Lake Independent, and in 1875 was elected Supervisor of Spring Lake Township, and was likewise Assessor of that township during the years 1873, 1874 and 1875. At about this time our subject settled in Grand Rapids and took a position on the Grand Rapids Democrat, resigning in 1876. He afterwards became the editor of the Allegan County Democrat and remained with this paper until February, 1881, when he received the editorial charge of the Grand Rapids Evening Leader, continuing in this latter editorial position until the 1st of February 1863. Mr. Waters then accepted a Wardenship of the State House of Correction and Reformatory, at Ionia. In February, 1885, he returned to the Leader and remained the editor of that paper from then until the spring of 1890. In the mean time he had been appointed United States Marshall for the Western District of Michigan. In 1890 our subject with others established the Morning Press, of Grand Rapids. Mr. Waters continued as editorial writer until December, 1892. Upon the organization of the Grange at Spring Lake he was elected secretary of the society and retained his official position as long as he was connected with the association. The parents of David R. Waters were native Pennsylvanians, and descendants of a long line of sturdy and industrious ancestry. Our subject, entering matrimonial bonds December 18, 1866, was then united in marriage with Miss Alice Latcha, a native of Lycoming County, Pa. Of the two children who blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Waters but one survives, Albert Latcha Waters, a graduate of the State Mining School at Houghton and the Agricultural College at Lansing. He was born on the 2d of March, 1869, and is a young man of brilliant promise. Ever a leader in the local councils of the Democratic party, our subject may review with pride the exceptional record of his life, which, spent in various fields of action, has been filled with useful effort. As a soldier, advocate and editor Mr. Waters has achieved success and, respected for his qualities as a man and citizen, he enjoys the hearty good wishes and high esteem of a host of friends.

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

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