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Submitted by Cheryl VanWormer

					SAMUEL W. WEBBER*
				  MRS. MARIETTA (BOWEN) WEBBER
				  MRS. MARIAN N. (BOWEN) WEBBER

	Samuel W. Webber, banker and capitalist of Muir, Ionia Co., was born in Newbury, Vt., May
25, 1823.  His parents, Andrew J. and Sophia (Wilkins) Webber, were both descended from early 
settlers in Vermont.  His father was engaged in farming, and when Samuel was four years old moved 
from Vermont to Steuben Co., N. Y.  He was one of a family of six brothers, and until he was 
twenty-three years old spent his time in farm-work and in attending the common school in winter.
In 1846 he was enabled, by running a little in debt, to buy his father's farm.  In the same year,
June 27th, he married Miss Marietta Bowen, who after sharing his burdens until April 2, 1859, 
died, leaving two sons.  After spending a year in mercantile business in Steuben County, Mr. 
Webber sold his land and with his family joined the great tide of Western emigration.  He had
never visited that part of the county, but, attracted by the glowing accounts of the Grand River 
valley, decided to settle in Portland, Ionia Co.  there he located some new land, and spent four 
years in bringing it under cultivation.  This he considers the hardest work of his life.  During 
this time occurred his wife's death.  Shortly after, he sold his Portland farm, and in 1859 moved
to the village of Lyons and engaged in general mercantile business.  He soon bought a farm of one
hundred and sixty acres, which he cultivated in connection with his other occupations.  By 
subsequent purchase this farm had been increased to seven hundred acres.  In 1868, he opened a 
private bank in Muir.  This partnership continued four years, when Mr. S. W. Webber bought his 
brother's interest.  The next year he bought a controlling interest in the First National Bank of
Muir, with which he has since been connected as president.  He still cultivates his farm in 
Lyons, and spends much of his time there in summer.  Although he is a successful business man, he
experiences keen delight in attending to his farm-labors.
	At Lyons, in June 1861, he married Marian N. Bowen, sister of his first wife.  They have 
one son, who is now ten years old.  The eldest son, George B. Webber, died in 1871, at the age of
twenty-four; he was at that time cashier of the bank.  His second son, William A. Webber, is now 
twenty-seven years old, and is engaged in the bank with his father.  Mr. Webber professes no form
of religious belief, although he is a liberal supporter of churches of every denomination.  He 
has invariably and consistently avoided the responsibilities of public life.  He is a man of 
medium height, kindly expression, and shrewd, penetrating gaze.  He is universally respected and 
esteemed.



* From "Representative Men of Michigan."

This biography is taken from "HISTORY OF IONIA AND MONTCALM COUNTIES, MICHIGAN" 
by John S. Schenck. Philadelphia:  D. W. Ensign & Co., 1881.  Page 260.  Lyons.