James Green's biography, Vermontville, Eaton County, Michiagn

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SUBJECT: James L. GREEN
SUBMITTER: Jan Lubitz Sedore
EMAIL: am0773@a1access.net
DATE: Dec 27, 1999
SURNAMES: GREEN, LOCKWOOD, SPRAGUE, CHILCOAT, PERRY, CAMPBELL, RULISON,
DYKEMAN, DOWNS
PAST AND PRESENT OF EATON COUNTY
EATON COUNTY, MICHIGAN
Page 330
Photo available
JAMES L. GREEN

James L. Green is one of the honored pioneers of Eaton county and is now
living retired in the village of Vermontville, having attained a competency
through his identification with agricultural pursuits in this county, which
has been his home for more than half a century. Mr. Green was born in Perry
township, Lake county, Ohio, October 3, 1830, and is a son of Amos M. and
Sarah N. (Lockwood) Green, both native of the state of new York, where
the former was born in 1808 and the latter in 1806. Both passed the closing
years of their lives in Vermontville township, Eaton county, Michigan,
the father having been fifty-five years of age at the time of death and
the mother sixty four years. They were married in Lake county, Ohio, where
they were reared, the respective families having located in that section
of the buckeye state in the early pioneer era. Amos M. Green was engaged
in farming in Lake county until 1853, when he sold his property there and
came to Eaton county, Michigan, purchasing a farm in Vermontville township,
and on this homestead he and his devoted wife passed the remainder of their
lives. Of their eight children the first two died in infancy; James Lorin,
subject of this sketch was the next in order of birth; Zilpha is the widow
of Henry Sprague, a pioneer of Vermontville township, where he died in
1891, and she still resides on the home farm, having four daughters and
one son; Philip L., M. D. who has been engaged in the practice of his profession
in Vermontville since 1870; Andrew B., who died in Charlotte, in 1892,
was a prominent and influential citizen, having served eight years as register
of deeds of the county, while he also served throughout the civil war,
having been a member of Company H, Sixth Michigan Volunteer Infantry, in
which he was promoted lieutenant: he married Lydia Ann Sprague, who now
resides in the city of Kalamazoo; Abigail, who died several years ago,
leaving three daughters, was the wife of John Chilcoat, who now resides
in Indiana; Louisa, widow of Thomas Perry, resides in the city of Lansing,
and has three daughters. James L. Green passed his childhood and youth
on the home farm in Ohio, receiving a common-school education. He continued
to assist in the work of the farm until 1850, when he began working by
the month for others, thus continuing two years. His father then "gave
him his time" and he turned over to his parents all he had saved from
his earnings during the two years, retaining only a Canadian two-cent piece,
and he then, in 1852, in company with another young man, made his way to
Michigan, coming to Eaton county and being so favorably impressed that
he decided to locate here. He accordingly purchased eighty acres of wild
land, in Vermontville township, the tract lying in the dense forest, one
and one-half miles from any opening. He started to clear the land and erected
a small log house and stable, and after he had cleared fifteen acres he
disposed of the place at a profit, being desirous of locating on land contiguous
to or accessible to an opened road. He succeeded in finding such a location,
purchasing eighty acres, in the same township, on a good road. He erected
buildings and began clearing the land, which he sold about six years later,
and within the next few years he bought and sold several farm properties,
making greater or less improvement, and each time selling with a margin
of profit. In 1861 he purchased eighty acres, and on this homestead he
continued to reside until the spring of 1905, when he removed to Vermontville,
in which village he has a pleasant home and is living practically retired.
At the time when he located on the farm last mentioned about ten acres
had been cleared, and a log house and stable had been build. He developed
an excellent farm, eventually erecting good frame buildings, and practically
the entire tract is now under cultivation, the property being still held
in his possession. He has added to his original place until he is now the
owner of more than two hundred and forty acres of as good land as can be
found in this attractive section of the state. He has always been an indefatigable
worker, and has cleared a total of nearly three hundred acres of land in
this county. He purchased a nice residence property in Vermontville, and
is content to relegate the heavy work and responsibilities of the farm
to others, though his natural energy and the habits of years prompt him
to assist in haying and harvesting on his farm. He is free from indebtedness
and has accumulated a competency through his own efforts, being an excellent
type of the self-made man and having the satisfaction of knowing that his
success has been won by honorable methods and through his own labors. On
one occasion he made a clearing and completed the erection of a log house,
ready for occupancy, within a period of eleven days. He reverts with pleasure
to the pioneer days and to the friendly associations, which were then in
evidence on every side, each settler being ready to help his neighbor when
necessity required, while hospitality, though simple in details, was sincere
and cordial. Mr. Green has been identified with the Republican party from
the time of its organization, but had had neither time nor inclination
for office seeking or holding. His wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal
church, of which he is a regular attendant and supporter. He has never
had a lawsuit or been compelled to pay court costs, striving to live at
peace with all men and to be law-abiding in every respect. In 1854, Mr.
Green was united in marriage to Miss Mary Ann Scott, who was born and reared
in this state, and who died about three years after her marriage, being
survived by her only child, Lillian, who was born April 17, 1855, and who
is now the wife of William Campbell, a farmer of Vermontville township.
On Christmas day, 1857, Mr. Green wedded Miss Catherine M. Rulison, who
was born in the state of New York, December 4, 1840, being a daughter of
William and Mary E. Rulison, the former of whom now resides in Sunfield
township, venerable in years, his wife having passed away several years
ago. To Mr. and Mrs Green have been born eleven children, all of whom are
living: Homer, born January 11, 1859, is engaged in the blacksmithing business
at Cloverdale, Barry county; Andrew O., born August 31, 1860, resides on
his father's old homestead farm; Mary A., born July 25, 1862, is the wife
of Hollis Dykeman, a farmer of Vermontville township; Ellen, born September
27, 1867, is the wife of George Downs, of Traverse City; Philip L., born
February 20, 1871, is a farmer of Sunfield township; George, born January
27, 1869, is a farmer in Roxand township; Jesse, born January 27, 1876,
is farming in Vermontville township; Charles, born July 18, 1879, and Albert,
born January 28, 1882, are farmers in the same township; Lovina, born September
19, 1886, is the wife of Edmund Sprague, of Vermontville; and Alice, born
April 7, 1888, remains at the parental home.