Copyrighted 1996-2001 by Norman M. Vance.Member:
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My great grandfather was in Branch County about 1870
to about 1882. He bought a farm in Ovid Township. His name was Washington Dunten.
He was born 1841 in Allen County, IN, and died 1931 in Allen County, IN. His half
brother, Daniel I Dunten/Dunton was in the Detroit area also. Daniel's grandson
Chester Arthur Dunton was into real estate in Oakland County espically in Berkley.
He is now buried in the mausoleum at Roseland Park Cemetery.He was born 1883, died
1928. His only daughter, Marjorie D. Dunton married a M J Hickerson. I would like
to find out if they had any children. I have information on Chester Arthur Dunton
they may be interested in.
Submitted by:
Joseph F. Dunten
223 Clark Dr.
La Marque, TX 77568-4732
John McDonald came to Butler township in the early 1860 with his second wife, Cordelia Horton, and children from his first marrage to Mary Clark in Oswego County, NY. They lived in the Butler township area for approximately ten years before stricking out for Texas, leaving most of the older children, Roland, George and James behind in Butler township.
Submitted by:
D. L. McDonald
Born Dec. 27, 1896 in Halls Corners, California Twp., Branch County, Michigan. Died Aug. 04, 1972 in Coldwater, Branch Co., Michigan.
When Arlin was about 1 year old the family left the original "home farm" and moved to a farm in Hillsdale County. Later they moved to a farm at Halls Corners, Calif. Twp., Branch Co., MI.
On June 20, 1918 he married LYLLA MAY ADAMS of Hillsdale County. He enlisted in the Navy on June 24, 1918 and spent several months in Bordeaux, France during World War I. He was discharged on July 3, 1919 and then spent some time in the U.S. Naval Reserve being discharged on Sept. 30, 1921.
My father did not always go to church but I have yet to meet a finer Christian person. He always could find the "good" in people and was always ready to lend a helping hand to anyone in need. This was undoubtedly instilled in him by his father, Mathew Vance, and his mother, Rose Steele Vance.
Mom and Dad did not have an easy time of it during the depression but they always provided the basic necessities to my brother, Lee, and myself. We always had plenty of food which was grown on the farm (my memories are from the Coldwater Lake farm where I was born).
Mom made almost all of my clothes to help make ends meet. I can remember how excited I would be in August, just before the beginning of school, because that is when I would get the one pair of new shoes for the school year (they would have to last me until the next August). I remember very well going barefoot during the Summertime---by necessity.
They were tennant farmers all their lives and worked very hard. They made good friends and their social life was mainly meeting with another couple for an evening cards once in a while and attending the Branch County Grange Hall monthly meetings.
Dad had a wonderful sense of humor and he loved radio shows such as The Great Gildersleeve, Fibber McGee & Molly, Amos & Andy, Bob Hope, Red Skelton, etc.
Many of these shows came on during the time he would be milking cows, so he had an old radio in the barn. He always said (with a wry grin) that it was there for the cows, and not for him.
He was also a very talented artist and could draw cartoon characters of the day perfectly (Blondie & Dagwood, Popeye, and others). Very few people knew of these talents as he was not a person to brag.
In 1946 Dad & Mom left the Coldwater Lake farm and moved to Dad's parents farm, Mathew & Rose Vance, at Hall's Corners as they were elderly and not able to do all the farm work any longer.
They farmed there for 1 year and then Dad could no longer do the heavy lifting associated with farm work and we moved to Reading, MI. in 1947 and lived there for 4 1/2 years. Mom began teaching in "One Room schools" in the rural Hillsdale County area and Dad got a job as custodian of the athletic Field House at Hillsdale College, Hillsdale, MI.
We moved to Jonesville, Hillsdale Co., MI. in 1951 which was only 5 miles from Hillsdale, Mom continued working on her teaching degree while she taught, and Dad worked at Hillsdale College for 15 years and finally reached retirement age. In 1957 Mom and I both graduated from Hillsdale College and at this time she was teaching in the elementary school in nearby North Adams. I became the band director there.
After retirement, they moved to a home in Coldwater, Branch Co., MI. and lived the rest of their lives there. Dad worked in the yard and grew beautiful roses. Besides his grandchildren, his pride and joy was his lawn...not one Dandelion ever grew in it, nor did one mole ever dare to trespass.
Comments by his youngest son, Norman M. Vance
175 N. Michigan Ave., Lot 127
Coldwater, Branch Co., MI. 49036
nvance@cbpu.com
http://members.tripod.com/~nvance/
http://geocities.datacellar.net/Heartland/Plains/5666/index.html
Copyrighted 1996-2001 by Norman M. Vance.
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