Biography of Joseph A Bale, Sunfield Township, Eaton County, Michigan

Copyright © 1998 by Sue Outman-Wells. This copy contributed for use in 
the USGenWeb Archives.  


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JOSEPH A. BALE is one of the prosperous and progressive farmers of Sunfield
township and is a citizen who commands unqualified esteem in the community.
 He was born in Niagara county, New York, May 15, 1850, being a son of
Charles G. and Anna (Shippy) Bale, both natives of the state of New York,
and the latter being now deceased.  Charles G. Bale now lives retired in
the village of Vermontville, this county.  He served twenty months in the
Civil War, having enlisted as a private in Company L, Eighth New York Heavy
Artillery, in which he was promoted orderly sergeant.  In 1865 he sold his
farm in New York and came with his family to Eaton county, arriving in
Vermontville on Christmas day.  He bought eighty acres of land, in
Vermontville township, improving the property and there continuing to
reside until within the past few years; he removed to Vermontville and is
now living retired, enjoying the rewards of former years of earnest toil
and endeavor.  His wife died on the old homestead.  Of their children three
died in infancy, and concerning the others the following data are
available:  Ella, who became the wife of James McNabb, a farmer of Sunfield
township, is now deceased; Eliza is the wife of Washington Barnum, of this
township; Joseph A. is the immediate subject of this sketch; Amanda is the
wife of Frank Bailey, of Vermontville; Charles W. is a resident of
Fenville, Allegan county; George W. and Samuel are residents of South
Dakota; Gideon is a farmer of Sunfield township; Mary is the wife of Loren
Blanchard, of Gaylord, Otsego county; Homer E. is a farmer of Vermontville
township; and Perry O. resides in Montmorency county.  Joseph A. Bale, the
immediate subject of this review, was afforded the advantages of the common
schools in his native county in New York and was fifteen years of age at
the time of the family removal to Eaton county, Michigan, where he was
reared to maturity, and where he has since maintained his home.  He
assisted in the clearing and other work of the home farm and remained with
his father until he had attained the age of twenty years, when he began
working by the month, as a farm hand.  February 21, 1872, Mr. Bale was
united in marriage to Miss Eva Wells, who was born on the farm which is now
their home, the date of her nativity having been October 14, 1851.  She is
a daughter of William A. and Mary (Chatfield) Wells, concerning whom more
specific mention is made in the sketch of the career of their eldest son,
John, appearing elsewhere in this volume.  They were numbered among the
first settlers in Sunfield township and Mr. Wells was a citizen of
influence and prominence, honored by all who knew him.  Mr. and Mrs. Bale
have eight children, concerning whom the following data are properly
incorporated:  Charles W., who was born August 8, 1875, and who was
educated in the Michigan State Agricultural College, near Lansing, is now
an expert draftsman for a leading shipbuilding concern in the city of
Detroit; he married Miss Minnie Day, and they have one child, Verna Mae; 
Roy H., who was born July 14, 1878, and who is now a successful farmer of
Barry county, married Miss Alice Downing, and they have six children,
Stanley, Grace, Bertha, Bernard, Letha and Carlton;  Grace E., who was born
January 15, 1881, is the wife of Henry Carey, of Sebewa, Ionia county, and
they have two children, Opal and George J.;  Bertha B., who was born
December 8, 1883, is the wife of Louis B. Allen, and they remain at the
home of her parents;  Joseph A., who was born May 8, 1886, is in the employ
of a prominent manufacturing concern in the city of Detroit;  Leslie, born
August 22, 1889;  Nellie, born March 23, 1892, and Shirley born September
12, 1893, are the younger members of the home circle.  For several years
after his marriage Mr. Bale worked the homestead farm for his
father-in-law, he and his wife having resided on the place from the time of
their marriage and being now owners of the property, into possession of
which they came in 1901, having purchased the interests of the other heirs.
 They also own seventy acres on the opposite side of the road, in
Vermontville township, making the total area of their landed estate one
hundred  and ninety acres.  The old homestead is equipped with a large and
attractive residence and other substantial buildings erected by the
original owner, and since coming into possession of the property Mr. Bale
hs built a large horse barn, with the best of equipment.  He is a man of
progressive ideas and keeps his place up to the highest standard in all
particulars, and both he and his wife enjoy unqualified popularity in the
community.  He is a stanch adherent of the Republican party, but has never
had ambition for public office.

Source:  The Past & Present of Eaton County, MI

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