Branch County MI Archives Biographies.....Paradine, William W. 
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Burt Fuller burtf@msn.com May 4, 2005, 5:27 pm

Author: 1888 Portrait & Bio Album

HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE ARTICLE ON WILLIAM W. PARADINE

William W. Paradine is one of the self-made men of Branch County, who, while 
making his way with characteristic energy and pluck from poverty to comparative 
wealth, has in no small degree contributed to the material advancement of the 
community of which he is an important member.  In March, 1859, our subject, 
then in the very prime of life, came to Ovid Township and invested his hard-won 
earnings in a tract of wild land, of which but very little had been cleared.
Mr. Paradine is an Englishman by birth, born in Buckinghamshire, Aug. 26, 1837, 
and his father and grandfather, both of whom were likewise named William, were 
lifelong residents of the same shire.  The mother of our subject, whose maiden 
name was Elizabeth Saunders, was also born in Buckinghamshire.  Three years of 
her life she spent in America, and then returned to old England to die.  She 
and her husband were worthy, respected people, and were justly held in esteem 
by those who knew them.  They were the parents of eleven children, eight of 
whom grew to maturity, namely:  Ellen, William, George, Joseph, Esther, 
Charles, Thomas, and Harriet.  Four of these came to America.  Our subject; 
Joseph who settled in Branch County, but is now a resident of Lake County, 
Mich., Charles, who settled in Ovid Township, and subsequently died here; 
Thomas, who lives in Ovid Township.

The subject of this sketch was reared in his native shire, and as soon as he 
was large enough to be of assistance, he was set to work to perform his share 
in the maintenance of the family.  In 1856, ambitious to better his condition, 
and seeing in America a land of promise, where life seemed to hold forth more 
inducements and brighter prospects of success, our subject determined to try 
his fortunes here.  Accordingly, in the month of September, on the 25th day 
thereof, he bade a long farewell to his native isle, and set sail from 
Liverpool on board the vessel "William Tapscott", and after a voyage of six 
weeks and four days landed in the United States.  He proceeded to Cleveland, 
Ohio, and soon obtained employment ...... In the fall of that year, 1857, he 
went to Medina County, and resided there until March, 1858.  While there he met 
and made the acquaintance of Miss Sarah E. Higgins, who afterward joined hands 
with him to walk in the journey of life, their union being consummated Dec. 17, 
1858, and to her faithfulness and devotion to his interests he and their 
children are greatly indebted for the pleasant home that they enjoy.  She was 
born in Brunswick, Medina Co., Ohio, Sept. 2, 1841, and is the daughter of 
Jonathan W. and Lucinda (Rosa) Higgins, natives of New York, the mother born in 
Allegany County.  They moved from their native State to Ohio, and settled in 
Brunswick Township, where Mr. Higgins carried on his trade of stonemason.  He 
finally moved to Wisconsin, and died there in 1847.  Mrs. Higgins is now living 
in Sylvania, Lucas County, Ohio.  The marriage of our subject and his wife has 
been blessed to them by the birth of eight children, of whom five are living.  
Their record is as follows:  Laura A. married Fred Conkling, and lives in 
Kinderhook Township; Leona, Ralph; Melvina, the second child, born Sept. 7, 
1861, died at the age of three years; Joseph, the third child, died young; 
William W., George H., and Susie, the seventh child, who was born in Sept., 
1877, and died at the age of four weeks.

In March, 1858, Mr. Paradine went to Lucas County to work on a dairy farm, and 
was employed there until the following March.  He then came to Michigan to work 
on a farm in Coldwater Township, and in the same month he bought the land which 
is now included in his present farm...........

Mr. and Mrs. Paradine are worthy Christian people, and faithfully live up to 
the tenets of their church, the United Brethren. .........


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