Charles Wilbur's biography, Eaton Rapids Township, Eaton County, Michigan ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/mi/mifiles.htm ************************************************ SUBJECT: Charles H. WILBUR Biography SUBMITTER: Linda C. Driscoll EMAIL: lcdris@burgoyne.com DATE: Feb 27, 1999 SURNAMES: WILBUR, SCHLAPPI, HITCHCOCK, BENNALLACK Taken from PAST AND PRESENT OF EATON COUNTY p. 641-42 *** CHARLES H. WILBUR, a prosperous farmer and highly esteemed citizen of Eaton Rapids township, and an honored veteran of the civil war, claims the old Buckeye state as the place of his nativity, having been born in Medina county, Ohio, December 17, 1841, and being a son of Herman and Rebecca (Hitchcock) Wilbur, the former of whom was born in the state of New York and the latter near Canfield, Mahoning county, Ohio. They continued resident of Ohio until 1865, when they came to Eaton county, Michigan, and settled on the homestead now owned and occupied by the subject of this sketch. The place was partially improved and the father started to further develop the farm, but died within the same year which marked his arrival in the county. His widow survived him by many years, passing the closing days of her life in the city of Petoskey, Michigan, where she died in 1898. Of the eight children in the family three are living: Albert, who is a successful farmer of Windsor township, this county; Charles H., who is the immediate subject of this sketch, and Clara, who is the wife of John Bennallack of Petoskey. Charles H. Wilbur was reared to maturity in the state of Ohio, where he received a good common school education. He was among the first to tender his aid in defense of the Union when its integrity was menaced by armed rebellion. In 1861 he enlisted in Company I, Thirty-eighth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, which was assigned to the Army of the Cumberland. He saw protracted and arduous service, taking part in many important engagements and having been with General Sherman in the historic march from Atlanta to the sea. He was wounded in the head and hand in the battle of Jonesboro, Georgia, in which engagement from the total of four hundred men in his command one hundred and seventy-five were killed or wounded. He continued in active service until victory had crowned the Union arms, having been mustered out in Louisville, Kentucky, July 12, 1865, and having received his honorable discharge in Cleveland, Ohio, on the 26th of the same month. Mr. Wilbur then joined his parents in Eaton county, where he engaged in farming, purchasing a small tract of land. After the death of his father he purchased the interests of other heirs to the estate and thus came into possession of his present fine farm of eighty acres. He has made admirable improvements on the place, which gives patent evidence of thrift, prosperity and good management. The buildings are of substantial type, including an attractive residence. Mr. Wilbur takes an active interest in all that concerns the welfare of his township and county, and he has been called upon to serve in various local offices, the tenure of which indicates the high esteem in which he is held in the community. He held the office of township treasurer for one term and is now school inspector, an incumbency which he has held several terms. He is a man of the highest ethical principles, steadfast and sincere in all the relations of life and respected by all who know him. In politics he is a stanch Republican, having cast his first presidential vote for Abraham Lincoln, and in a fraternal way he is identified with the Grand Army of the Republic. Both he and his wife are zealous and devoted members of the United Brethren church, in whose work they are specially active and prominent in their community. In 1896 was erected the handsome church edifice of the denomination in the vicinity of their home, and Mr. Wilbur designed the building, both exterior and interior, its consistency and attractiveness standing as evidence of his skill as an architect. He has been superintendent of the Sunday school for the past eleven years and is a member of the official board of the church. In August, 1866, Mr. Wilbur was united in marriage to Miss Hester A. Schlappi, daughter of Samuel and Mary Schlappi, who removed from Ohio to Barry county, Michigan, in 1864. Mr. and Mrs. Wilbur have three children, namely: Nina G., who is the wife of Will J. Olmestead, of Jackson; Leon A., who is associated with his father in the work and management of the home farm, and Samuel C., who resides in Lansing.