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Submitted by  Cheryl VanWomer

				

					GEORGE HOSFORD
			     MRS. HARRIET (ABBOTT) HOSFORD (1st wife)
			     MRS. ANNA (VANDORAN) HOSFORD (2nd wife)

	This gentleman was born July 11, 1823, on the eastern shore of Cayuga Lake, in the State 
of New York.  His parents were of German descent, and their circumstances were meagre.  The boy 
became inured to a life of poverty, and at the age of eight years we find him working for his 
board among farmers, and attending school whenever opportunity presented.  His mother gave him 
into the keeping of one Dr. Swett, with whom he remained until he was fifteen years of age, and 
then determined to try his fortunes in the West.  Accordingly he walked to Buffalo, took passage 
on the "Constitution," and arrived at Detroit, after a perilous trip, in the last of November, 
1838, with fifty cents in his pocket.  Starting to reach friends in Ionia, he stopped for a week 
ten miles west of Detroit, and then proceeded on his way through a country at the best but thinly
populated, and often through an almost trackless wilderness.  For about three years he worked in 
the employ of his stepfather, Ezra Winslow, then a resident of this county (Ionia), then at 
various occupations until the spring of 1845, when he purchased forty acres of land in Easton 
township, on section 4.  He had learned the trade of a mason, and about the last-named date 
returned to New York, worked at his trade, and attended school for three years.  He finally 
returned to Michigan, bought forty acres of land adjoining his first purchase, cleared five 
acres, erected a small cabin, and on the 5th of May, 1849, married Harriet J. Abbott, daughter of
Gilbert and Charlotte Abbott, of Saranac.  In 1859 he journeyed to California <I>via</I> New 
York, returning in 1860.  In 1862 he became indebted for a purchase of eighty-eight and a half 
acres of land, included in his present home.  About ten acres only were cleared, all other 
improvements and changes having been made since, and he is now enjoying life in a beautiful home.
His wife died July 27, 1876, leaving five children,--viz., Orvis, born May 25, 1850; Ellen, born 
Aug. 5, 1852, married Dr. Wilson, of Branchport, N. Y.; Warren, born April 25, 1854, now a 
resident of Medina Co., Ohio; Numie, born March 12, 1856, now Mrs. Byron Weeden, of Berlin 
township; Burt, born Dec. 5, 1868.  Mr. Hosford and his wife were both members of the Disciples' 
Church, which they assisted in organizing.  The parents of the present Mrs. Hosford were natives 
of New Jersey, and were named Samuel and Sally Vandoran.  The daughter, Anna E., was born in 
Kalamazoo Co., Mich., Sept. 11, 1837, where her parents were early settlers.  When she was nine 
years of age they returned to New York (Yates County).  In 1876 Anna came to Palo, Ionia Co., 
Mich., on a visit to a brother, and there met Mr. Hosford, to whom she was married Oct. 14, 1876.
She had previously been twice married,--first to Edwin Besemer, of Port Byron, N. Y., and second 
to Marvin Harris, of Dresden, N. Y.  She is a most estimable lady, and is in possession of the 
sincere regard of those who know her.



This biography is taken from "HISTORY OF IONIA AND MONTCALM COUNTIES, MICHIGAN" 
by John S. Schenck. Philadelphia:  D. W. Ensign & Co., 1881.  Page 190.  Berlin.