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Submitted by Cheryl VanWormer 






					JOHN FRIEND.
			MRS. POLLY ANN (MEACHUM) FRIEND (1st wife).
			 MRS. SARAH J. (CRAMER) FRIEND (2nd wife).
		     MRS. LOU A. (_________) FARRAL FRIEND (3rd wife).

	John Friend was born in Devonshire, England, March 4, 1825.  His parents, John and Betty 
(Comb) Friend, were also natives of England.  Mr. Friend's ancestors were landowners and farmers.
In a April, 1833, the family emigrated to America, settling at Royalton, Cuyahoga Co., Ohio, 
where Mr. Friend followed the occupation of farming.
	June 17, 1843, John Friend married Miss Polly Ann Meachum, of Brunswick, Medina Co., 
Ohio, who was born Dec. 22, 1826, at Shelby, Mass.  By this union were born four children,--viz.,
Francis N., May 20, 1844, now engaged in merchandising; George E., Feb. 18, 1846, who follows the
occupation of farming; Phebe M., Dec. 30, 1847; and Emma A., June 4, 1850.
	In April, 1854, Mr. Friend removed with his family to Sebewa township, Ionia Co., Mich.  
dec. 17, 1857, he was afflicted by the death of his estimable wife.  During this time Mr. Friend 
conducted a general store at Sebewa, in connection with his farm and grist- and saw-mills.
	Dec. 24, 1858, he married for his second wife Miss Sarah J. Cramer, of Herkimer Co., 
N. Y., where she was born Feb. 10, 1839.  Her father was a farmer by occupation.  By this union 
were born the following children,--viz., Estella Edith, July 17, 1861, died Oct. 24, 1861; 
Bertha, Nov. 11, 1862; Judson Zach, Oct. 6, 1865, died May 7, 1866; Mornie Bell, July 16, 1867; 
and Ethel Rose, July 9, 1871.
	July 5, 1875, Mr. Friend was again afflicted by the death of his second wife, who was an 
excellent mother, as well as an intelligent business woman.
	Nov. 12, 1876, he married for his third wife Mrs. Lou A. Farral, from whom he was 
divorced Nov. 15, 1880.
	From 1859 to 1862, Mr. Friend engaged in business as a drover and stock-raiser.  From 
1862 to 1867 he followed the occupation of lumbering, and from 1868 to 1871 was engaged in the 
hard-lumber business.  From 1871 to 1875 he resumed the business of stock-raising, and from 1875 
to 1879 kept a general assortment store at Sebewa, during this time continuing the management of 
his extensive farms.
	He was an ardent supporter of the Union in the war of the Rebellion, and has been a 
Republican since the organization of that party.
	Mr. Friend is now located on sections 24 and 25, Sebewa township, and possesses three 
hundred and sixty-one acres of well-stocked land, embracing a beautiful and productive region of 
country, a view of which appears on another page of this work.  Mr. Friend has been a member of 
the Methodist Episcopal Church for nearly three years.



This biography is taken from "HISTORY OF IONIA AND MONTCALM COUNTIES, MICHIGAN" 
by John S. Schenck. Philadelphia:  D. W. Ensign & Co., 1881. Pages 354-355.  Sebewa.