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Submitted by Cheryl VanWormer 

			RICHARD AND POLLY (WELCH) DYE

	Among those adventurous individuals who nearly a half century ago laid the foundation for
the present wealth and prosperity of Ionia County is the subject of this biography, Mr. Richard 
Dye.  He was born in Herkimer village, N.Y., Oct. 23, 1810, and was the son of Jonathan and 
Rebecca (Steel) Dye, who reared a family of three children,--two sons and one daughter.  The 
elder Dye was a carpenter and joiner by occupation, a thrifty and industrious man, and one of the
pioneers of that county, whither he had removed from Rhode Island when a young man.  He served 
with distinction in the war of 1812.  He was highly esteemed for his integrity, adn died in 
Herkimer at an advanced age.  Richard lived under the parental roof until he was fifteene years 
of age, when owing to some reverses in his father's affairs, he was thrown upon his own 
resources.  He was apprenticed to the trade of a cabinet-maker, and completed his indentures 
about the time he attained his majority.  In March, 1832, he was married to Miss Polly, daughter 
of Vine Welch, one of the substantial farmers of Herkimer County.  After their marriage Mr. Dye 
followed his trade, working in Herkimer until 1836, when he decided to try his fortunes i the 
Territory of Michigan.  He came to Ionia, whither some of his old neighbors had already preceded 
him, and being favorably impressed with the soil and natural advantages, and foreseeing that it 
would ultimately become a more prosperous country than the one he had left, he made a purchase of
one hundred and sixty acres of government land on section 19 in the town of Easton.  In the fall 
of that year he returned East and the following spring came back with his family, which 
consisited of his wife and two children,--George H. and Mary E.,--and commenced thedevelopment 
of his purchase.  A substantial log house was erected and twelve acres wer cleared and prepared 
to receive a crop.  Mr. Dye brought with him a lathe and such tools as were necessary for the 
manufacture of ordinary cabinet-ware.  The lathe was placed in the garret, and the most common 
aritcles of household furniture were made, which found a ready sale among the settlers.  In 1839 
his business had so increased that he decided to remove to Ionia, then a little hamlet of perhaps
one hundred and fifty inhabitants, and give the business his entire attention.  He built a shop 
on what is now the corner of Dye and Washington Streets, and for many years prosecuted a 
successful business.  In 1859 he engaged in merchandising in company with his brother Nelson.  
Two years later A. F. Carr became associated with them, and the firm did an extensive business 
for seven years, when Mr. Dye withdrew, and since this time has been retired from active business
pursuits.  He has taken an active interest in everything that pertains to the welfare and 
advancement of Ionia, and has filled several positions of trust and responsibility, although he 
has never courted political preferment, preferring to give his undivided attention to the demands
of his business.  In 1850 he was appointed postmaster, and for many years has been a prominent 
member of the city council.
	Mr. Dye is emphatically a self-made man.  Starting in life with only a robust 
constitution and an indomitable will as his capital, he has attained a prominent position among 
the successful business men of the county.  Honesty and a firm desire to succeed have been the 
essential media of his success.  He has evinced excellent judgment in all his transactions, and 
sterling honesty has been the basis of his operations.  This is high testimony, but it is only 
the reflex of the prominent traits of Mr. Dye's character, and what to the strangereader may seem
peculiarly the language of eulogy will be readily recognized by all who know him as a plain 
statement of the salient points of his character and features of his commercial career.  Mr. Dye 
never enjoyed the advantages of education, but being naturally intelligent and endowed with a 
large amount of common sense, industry, and ambition he has succeeded in building an enviable 
reputation.  Indeed it may be truly said of him that his career is one worthy the emulation of 
the young, and a fitting example for all sorts and conditions of business men to follow.  This 
biography would not be complete without special mention of his estimable, wife who has shared 
with him the privations and hardships of the early days.  For nearly fifty years she has been 
his faithful friend and adviser, and to industry, sage counsel and advice he attributes much of 
his success.  She was born in the town of Middleburg, Schoharie Co., N.Y., Jan 29, 1814.  Her 
mother, whose maiden-name was Ruth Squires, was born in Vermont.  Her father was a native of 
Massachusetts, and emigrated to Schoharie County about 1800.  He leased an unimproved farm of 
Peter Smith, father of Gerrit Smith, upon which he remained until about 1825, when he removed to 
Herkimer village, where he resided until his removal to Ionia.  In the fall of 1836 he settled 
upon the lands adjoining the farm of Mr. Dye.  He was one of the prominent old settlers of the 
county, and died in Ionia in 1858.  Mrs. Dye is a lady of rare personal excellence and a fine 
type of the pioneer woman.  As illustrative of her pioneer experiences we append the following 
incident which occurred in the spring of 1838.  At this time Indians were frequent visitors, and 
were generally peaceful excepting when crazed with liquor.  They wer in the habit of visiting the
settlers and bartering maple-sugar and peltry for various articles.  One day, while Mr. Dye and 
the male portion of the household were absent, two or three stalwart Indians with their squaws 
came and desired to exchange sugar for turnips.  Mrs. Dye had acquired a slight knowledge of the 
Indian language, and gave them to understand that she would give them two baskets of turnips for 
five pounds of sugar.  The sugar was weighed, and Mrs. Dye, followed by one of the Indians, 
started for the cellar, which was back of the house, leaving her mother to watch the squaws, who 
were much given to theft.  She measured the turnips according to the bargain, giving him two 
baskets for every five pounds of sugar.  He insisted that he was to have three.  She told him in 
a very decided way that two was the number.  He shouted three, and, drawing a long knife, jumped 
towards her and reiterated the assertion.  Mrs. Dye, having much presence of mind and an insight 
into Indian character, looked him squarely in the face and gave him to understand that he could 
have but two.  Seeing that she was not to be intimidated, he placed the vegetables in his bag and
the party went away.
	On another occasion two drunken Indians visited the house at night with the idea that 
they could obtain whisky.  The family had retired, Mr. Dye being absent, and by neglect the doors
were left unfastened.  The first intimation that Mrs. Dye had of their presence was being 
awakened by a bright light.  She drew aside the curtains of the bed, and there in the centre of 
the room, with torches above their heads, were two tall savages who demanded whisky.  She told 
them that there was none in the house, and in such a way that they were convinced, and by a neat 
little ruse got them out of the house and closed the doors.  As a wife, mother, neighbor, and 
friend, Mrs. Dye has performed all her duties and obligations with a scrupulous regard to the 
right and with a personal unselfishness.  Both she and Mr. Dye are prominent members of the 
Church of the Disciples, and are in every way worthy of the prominent position they hold among 
the representative people of the county.  Both are past the meridan of life, and, surrounded by 
their children and a large circle of friends, they feel that they have been in a measure rewarded
for the hardships and privations of their pioneer life.



This biography is taken from "HISTORY OF IONIA AND MONTCALM COUNTIES, MICHIGAN" 
by John S. Schenck. Philadelphia:  D. W. Ensign & Co., 1881.  Facing page 150.