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Compiled by John H. Wheeler Published in 1903 by B. F. Bowen Biography Page 141 |
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JAMES WHALEY
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James Whaley dates his residence in Wexford county since 1869. Coming here in pioneer times, he entered upon what has proven a very successful career and is today one of the most prosperous farmers of the county, possessing valuable landed possessions, well improved, which he has secured through untiring energy and indefatigable industry, prompted by a laudable ambition. Mr. Whaley is a native of Perth county, Ontario, and is the second in order of birth in a family of eleven children, whose parents were Thomas and Jane (Whaley) Whaley. They were natives of Maryland, and for some years resided in Ontario, whence, in the year 1869, they came to Michigan, casting in their lot with the earliest settlers of Clam Lake township, Wexford county. Under the parents' roof James Whaley was reared and in the public schools he acquired his education. In the year of his parents arrival in Wexford county he also came to Michigan and has since been identified with the agricultural interests here. He entered a tract of eighty acres of land from the government and at once began the development of a farm. Not a furrow had been turned or an improvement made upon the place at that time, but soon the track of the plow was seen across the fields, which in the autumn returned good harvests as a reward for early spring planting. The work of development has since been carried on by Mr. Whaley, with the result that he is now owner of a very productive and fine farm. Year by year his capital increased as the result of his careful management, his enterprise and economy, and he made further investments in real estate until he is now the owner of between three and four hundred acres, of which two hundred acres are cultivated. Well kept fences divide the place into fields of convenient size and there are rich pastures upon which the stock grazes and good meadows which furnish food for the stock in the winter months. The buildings upon the place are modern, commodious and substantial and stand as monuments to his well-directed labor. Mr. Whaley was married in Cadillac, Michigan, to Miss Isabelle Gane, who was born in Illinois, and they now have four children: Ella. Edward. Ida and Ernest. Of these the daughter, Ida, is married, being the wife of Albert Hollenburg. In public affairs Mr. Whaley has been prominent and influential and has several times been called to office. He was elected and served as supervisor of his township, was also highway commissioner and has held school offices, the cause of education finding in him a warm friend, for he realizes its value as a preparation for life's practical duties. For more than a third of a century he has made his home in Wexford county and has therefore witnessed almost its entire growth. He has seen its wild lands transformed into productive farms, dotted here and there with attractive homes, good schools and churches. He has seen its villages founded and grow into thriving towns and in all matters of substantial progress leading to the prosperity of the county he has taken a deep and abiding interest. He is a careful man of business, possessing keen foresight and executive force, and by his earnest effort he has gradually added to his possessions until he has gained a very creditable and desirable competence, making him one of the well-to-do citizens of Clam Lake township. |