Biography of Zera Rawson, Vermontville, Eaton County, Michigan

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


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Source:  Portrait & Biographical Album of Barry & Eaton Counties, by
Chapman Bros. 1891.


ZERA RAWSON, a respected citizen and farmer residing on section 18, town of
Vermontville, Eaton County, was born in Gill, Mass., April 14, 1819, and is
a son of Bela and Mary Rawson, who were also born in the Bay State.  With
their family they left Massachusetts about 1820, and removed to Wilmey,
Jefferson County, N.Y., where they made their home until their emigration
in 1838 to Lorain County, Ohio, where the death of both parents occurred. 
While a resident of Massachusetts and New York, Mr. Rawson followed milling
but during his stay in Ohio devoted his attention to agricultural pursuits.
 He became possessed of a comfortable competence but met severe financial
reverses on account of going security for friends and died a poor man.  He
was a Whig in politics and a Universalist in religious belief.  His wife
was a member of the Methodist Church.  His death occurred at the age of
seventy four years and his wife died in her seventy eighth year.  Unto them
were born nine children--Zera who was drowned at the age of eight years;
Ropha who died in Lorain County, Ohio, aged sixty years; Francis died in
Ohio, in 1890, at the age of eighty-one; Lucretia is the widow of Henry
Hubbard and resides in Missouri; Mary, deceased wife of Henry Hornby of
LOrain County, Ohio; Zera, our subject; Bela who died in Ohio, at the age
of forty-eight years; Ara, a farmer of the Buckeye State; and one child who
died in infancy.

     As Zera Rawson was only a year old when his parents left
Massachusetts, the greater part of his boyhood days was spent in Jefferson
County, N.Y., where he received his education in the common schools of the
neighborhood and was reared to manhood on his father's farm.  He went to
Ohio in 1835, but after a year passed in Lorain County returned to the
Empire State, going again to Lorain County in 1841.  He there followed
farming until 1883, when he disposed of his interests and business and came
to Eaton County, Mich., wishing to be near his children who had found homes
in this vicinity.  He purchased a farm of one hundred and twenty acres on
section 18, town of Vermontville and resumed the occupation which he has
followed the greater part of his life.  He also during his earlier years,
carried on milling for a quarter of a century in connection with his other
work.  In every sense of the word Mr. Rawson is a self-made man.  He began
life a poor boy, borrowed the money with which to embark in business and
then, bending every energy to the task before him, worked his way steadily
upward to a position of wealth and affluence.  He is now living a retired
life, having rented his farm to his son and in the enjoyment of the fruits
of former toil expects to spend his declining days.  He has never taken any
very active part in public affairs, except to encourage and aid in the
advancement of such interests as would benefit the community.  In politics
he is independent and, hampered not by any party ties, he supports the best
men and measures.

     For fifty years of his life, his trials and adversity, his joy and
prosperity have been shared by one who has proved to him a true helpmate. 
On November 23, 1840, Mr. Rawson and Miss Martha Ames were married in
Jefferson County, N.Y., and on November 23, 1890, they celebrated their
fiftieth wedding anniversary at their home in Vermontville Township where
were present their nine children and all of their grandchildren.  Mrs.
Rawson was born in Jefferson County, July 13, 1823; and is a daughter of
Dexter and Olive (Gardener) Ames who were natives of New York and spent
their last days in Lorain County, Ohio.  The family of our subject and his
wife numbers the following children:  Benjamin F., a farmer of Vermontville
Township, married Miss Ellen Freemire, by whom he has six
children--Charlie, Cassie, Frankie, Hattie, Harrison and Daisy.  John W.,
who married Anna Young, by whom he has three children, Dora, Ernest and
Byron, is a resident farmer of Sunfield Township.  Edmund E., a farmer of
the town of Vermontville, married Nancy L. Monroe, of La Grange, Ohio, and
their children are Nellie and Freddie.  Addie is the wife of Lucian
Richmond, a merchant of La Grange, Ohio, by whom she has four
children--John, Lucy, Roy and Meda.  Bela, who wedded Miss Maud Wheeler, is
engaged in agricultural pursuits in Vermontville Township.  Sarah E. is the
wife of William Avery, a farmer of Pittsfield, Lorain County, Ohio, by whom
she has three children, Lula, Edith and Winfield.  Laura E. is the wife of
Charles A. Newton, a farmer and teacher of Hastings, Mich., and their
children are Charles, William and Leonard.  Frederick E., who is operating
the home farm, married Miss Mettie Hurd and they have one daughter, Luella.
 Henry H., of La Grange, Ohio, married Miss Lena Johnston, and unto them
have been born a son and daughter, Thad and Hazel.  In this large family
there has been but one death, that of a grandchild, in half a century. 
Respected and useful citizens of Eaton County where they have so long
resided, they well deserve a representation in this history.

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