JUSTUS B. SUTHERLAND, Gun Plain Twp., Allegan Co., Michigan

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History of Allegan and Barry Counties, Michigan, with Illustrations and 
Biographical Sketches of their Prominent Men and Pioneers.
Philadelphia:  D. W. Ensign & Co.  1880.  Press of J. B. Lippincott & 
Co., Philadelphia.

Reuben Sutherland was born at Horse Neck, on the seacoast, in the State 
of New York, where he grew to manhood.  (His father was born in 
Scotland, and wore the bonnet and kilt.)  Arrived at his majority, he 
went to Dutchess Co., N. Y., and bought a farm, and there he married.  
He was a strong Whig, and had unbounded faith in the Continental 
Congress and it financial policy.  To prove his faith he took entire 
pay for his farm (which he sold about the beginning of the Revolution) 
in Continental money, and which became worthless in his possession, 
thereby depriving him of his all.  He was not subject to the draft, but 
enlisted in the patriot army and served as a private.  Was present at 
the surrender of Burgoyne.  After the war he moved to Broome Co., N. 
Y., where he bought one hundred and ten acres of new land, which he 
partly improved, and where he died, Sept. 10, 1799.  His son, Justus B. 
Sutherland, the subject of this sketch, was born in the town of Lisle, 
Broome Co., N. Y., March 15, 1799.  Here he grew to man's estate, 
living with his mother until her death, which took place when he was 
twenty-two years old.  After his mother's death he bought a small farm 
of fifty acres, which was all new.  This farm he cleared, and upon it 
he lived until 1833, when he sold out and, leaving his family behind, 
came to Michigan in search of a home where land was cheap and plenty.  
Coming to what was then Allegan township, now Gun Plain, he bought the 
south half of the southwest quarter of section 35.  He then returned to 
Broome County, and the following spring, with his wife and six 
children, started for the new home in the wilderness.  They came by 
water to Detroit, where he bought a yoke of oxen, and with his goods 
and family loaded in the wagon started for Allegan, on the old 
Territorial road.  It was not then the road it is today.  Its bridges 
were of the most primitive kind, many of the little lakes and streams 
being bridged only with floating logs, which often rolled under the 
oxen's feet, looking at times as though a ducking, if nothing worse, 
awaited the whole family.
  The distance from Detroit to Gull Prairie, now made in five hours, 
then took Mr. Sutherland, with his ox team, as many days, and, although 
he traveled as cheaply as possible, it cost him sixty-four dollars.  
Arrived in the town, he stayed a few days with old Mr. Dunham while he 
built a log house on his farm.  There were then but a few families in 
the town, Mr. Arnold's family being the nearest one west, while east of 
him there was no one living in the towhship.  The house completed, he 
at once moved his family in, and life in the new home had begun.  
Around the house the deer and other game roamed by day, while the 
wolves made night hideous with their howling.  So thick were the latter 
that Mr. Sutherland found it impossible to keep sheep or calves unless 
in a high pen.  With the energy and perseverance for which the pioneers 
were noted, he at once commenced to clear and improve his farm.  His 
land and traveling expenses had taken nearly all his means.  Still, his 
family never went hungry or know want.  Clothing then was hard to get, 
and often buckskin to the place of cloth.  On the farm he then bought 
Mr. Sutherland has lived nearly half a century, and he intends to pass 
the remiander of his days where so many pleasant hours have been 
passed.  The then wilderness has changed to beautiful homes, churches, 
and villages, all of which changes he has done his share to create.  He 
is now in his eighty-second year, and a man respected and esteemed by 
all who know him.  In politics Mr. Sutherland is a Democrat.  When the 
town was first organized he was elected constable and collector, which 
offices he held at different times.  He has also been treasurer and 
school inspector.  For his first wife Mr. Sutherland married Elmira 
Bliss, daughter of Ebenezer Bliss.  She was born Oct. 10, 1803.  They 
had the following children: Bliss, born Jan. 1, 1824; Abraham K., born 
Dec. 12, 1825; Mercy, born March 1, 1827; Louisa, born April 30, 1829; 
Francis N., born March 12, 1831; Morris J., born Oct. 10, 1832; 
Lazetta, born Aug. 15, 1834; Pitt D., born Aug. 18, 1837, killed by a 
horse, Oct. 27, 1856; Emily M., born Dec. 18, 1839; Darwin D., born 
Dec. 28, 1841; Dewitt C., born Aug. 28, 1842; Mortimer W., born Oct. 
21, 1845.  Mrs. Sutherland died March 1, 1853.  For his second wife, 
Mr. Sutherland married his first wife's sister, Mrs. Esther Allen, who 
was born Oct. 11, 1796.