German Sypher’s biography, Olive Township, Clinton County, Michigan

Copyright © 1999 by Jan Sedore. This copy contributed for use in the USGenWeb 
Archives.  

 



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PAST AND PRESENT OF CLINTON COUNTY
Page 419
GERMAN SYPHER

German Sypher, living on section 36, Olive Township, is classed with the 
prosperous farmers of his community and moreover he owes his success largely to 
his own well-directed labors. He now has one hundred and fifteen acres of land, 
which is rich and arable on section 36, and he dates his residence in the county 
from 1869. A native of New York, he was born in Dutchess County near Poughkeepsie, 
April 4, 1825, and is therefore at this writing more than eighty years of age but 
is yet a hale and hearty man of bright mind and steady hand. His father, William 
Sypher, was also a native of Dutchess County, New York, and the grandfather Samuel 
Sypher, who came of German ancestry. The family was established at a very early 
day in Dutchess County, where some of the representatives of the name still 
reside. In the place of his nativity German Sypher was reared and after arriving 
at years of maturity he was married to Miss Mary Elizabeth Risley, who was born in 
Hyde Park, Dutchess County, New York, January 13, 1832. Her father, William  
Risley, was likewise a native of that locality, while her grandfather, Andrew 
Risley, was a pioneer settler there. William Risley married Amelia Sleight, who 
was also born and reared in Dutchess County. Following his marriage Mr. Sypher 
took up his abode on a farm in the county of his nativity. In early life he had 
learned the blacksmith's trade, which he followed for a number of years but 
eventually he turned his attention to agricultural pursuits and was thus engaged 
until 1872, when he left the Empire State and came to Michigan. In that year he 
purchased the farm upon which he now resides and with the aid of his sons he cut 
down the trees, cleared the land and plowed and planted the fields, thus in course 
of time opening up a good farm. For a number of years he lived in a log house but 
later built a good, neat and substantial residence also built a commodious barn 
and other outbuildings, planted ornamental trees and set out an orchard. In early 
days the family experienced many hardships and privations incident to frontier 
life but in the course of years these gave way before the improvements of an 
advancing civilization. Ox teams were used in early years for all the work of the 
farm but now the land is well cleared of timber and stumps and the fields yield 
abundant crops, giving a rich harvest for the labor bestowed thereon.

Mr. and Mrs Sypher became the parents of four children: William E., who is 
assisting to carry on the home farm; Carrie, the wife of Joseph Graham, of 
Lansing; Esther Doty, the wife of John T. Bird, of Dutchess County, New York, 
their home being at Rhinecliff; and Milton, who is married and is a substantial 
farmer of Olive Township. They also lost a daughter, Sarah, who died at the age of 
five years. One of the treasured possessions in the Sypher home is a Bible, which 
is an old heirloom in the family and contains the family record written in the 
German test. The pages are yellow with age, for the Bible has had an existence of 
one hundred and seventy years, having been published in Berlin in the German 
tongue. It is a large and well-bound volume, the covers fastening with clasps and 
well may be prized in the family. Mr. Sypher and sons are stanch republicans
and never falter in their allegiance to the principals of the party but they do 
not care for office, preferring to give their undivided attention to their 
business interests. They are also members of the Maccabees tent and Mrs Sypher is 
a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Sypher has led an upright, 
honorable life and now at the advanced age of eighty years receives the veneration 
and respect which should ever be accorded one who has traveled thus far on life's 
journey.

dz