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Submitted by Cheryl Van Wormer.



				RANSOM AND SARAH A. (RICHMOND) RATHBUN.

RANSOM RATHBUN.  Among the representative agriculturists of Ionia County, 
may be mentioned Mr. Rathbun, who owns and occupies a fine farm on section 
30, Easton Township.  His estate consists of one hundred and twenty acres, 
mostly under cultivation, and partly cleared by himself when he was living 
under the parental roof.  He accompanied his parents hither in 1853, and
aided in reclaiming the quarter-section bought by his father, before he 
established a household.  since he took a man's place in the world, he has 
made his mark as a thorough farmer, a public-spirited and reliable citizen, 
and an esteemed member of society.
	The parents of our subject were Cornelius and Clarissa Rathbun, both 
born in Connecticut.  His paternal grandfather was born in North Carolina, 
and was a sailor engaged in the merchant marine service during the 
Revolution.  Cornelius Rathbun was in the American army in the War of 1812, 
and stationed at Black Rock.  For nine years he was a commissioned officer 
in the New York State militia.  In 1853 he brought his family to Ionia 
County from Canada, where he had been living for some years.  He settled on 
the tract, a part of which is now owned by our subject, his first dwelling 
here being a log cabin 20x24 feet in the heart of the forest.  He had been 
obliged to chop away trees to make a building site, so dense was the growth.
  He undertook the work of reclaiming the land from its original condition, 
and when he died in 1862, he left a fine farm.  His wife survived him and 
entered into rest in 1867.  They had six children, but all who are now 
living are Ransom, and Deborah, widow of John Reid, of Ionia.  Mr. Rathbun 
voted with the Republicans, and worshipped in the Second Advent Church.
	The birthplace of Ransom Rathbun was County Lambton, Province of 
Ontario, and his natal day November 6, 1836.  His education was received in 
the common schools of Canada and this State, and supplemented by reading in 
mature years.  He was married December 30, 1857, to Sarah A. Richmond, a 
native of the Province of Ontario, born near Hamilton, April 3, 1836.  She 
is a daughter of Benjamin and Margaret (Pickersgill) Richmond, both born in 
England.  she has three sisters and a brother, namely:  Mrs. Mary Hoskin, 
living in Ontario, Canada; Mrs. Margaret Shepherd, in Manitoba; Mrs. 
Elizabeth Langford, near London, Ontario; and Benjamin, in County Lambton.  
Her own family includes four living children and one deceased.  The survivors
are Lorenzo D., Elvira, Edwin R. and Guy W.  The daughter is now living in
Allegan, having married W. G. Born.  Emma died in infancy.
	Mr. and Mrs. Rathbun find their religious home in the Wesleyan 
Methodist Church.  The husband is especially active in Sunday-school work,
and is now Superintendent of the Union Sunday-school held in the Dexter 
schoolhouse.  Mrs. Rathbun is connected with the Women's Christian 
Temperance Union, and has officiated as Vice-President and Treasurer.  
Intelligent, social and kind, both husband and wife are active in social 
affairs, and dispense the hospitality of their own home with right goodwill. 
Mr. Rathbun is independent in politics of which he has made quite a study, 
advancing many original ideas which, if put in force, might to a degree 
banish some of the evils now so wide spread.  He has the confidence of the 
business world as a man of sterling integrity, and every acquaintance
recognizes the public spirit which he considers a duty of every loyal 
citizen.  His well-improved farm is a standing monument to his superior 
management, industry and economy.



This biography is taken from "PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM OF IONIA AND 
MONTCALM COUNTIES, MICHIGAN."  Chapman Brothers.  Chicago, Illinois.  1891. 
Pages 197-198. (Ionia County.)