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Submitted by Cheryl VanWormer 






				ISRAEL M. AND ELSIE (WACKMAN) WOLVERTON.

	I. M. Wolverton, from the town of Conquest, Cayuga Co., N. Y., came to Michigan in 1848, 
and purchased forty acres of land in the township of Eureka, Montcalm Co.  He remained there 
until 1863, holding the office of justice of the peace one term, and in the year last named moved
to Orange township, Ionia Co., in the month of February, purchasing one hundred acres on section 
8.  In the spring of 1864 he assisted in organizing the Methodist Episcopal Church of Orange, the
second religious society in the township, the Free-Will Baptists having organized the previous 
winter.
	Mr. Wolverton's father, John Wolverton, was born at conquest, N. Y., Jan. 6, 1802, and in
the spring of 1848 brought his family to Michigan, settling in Montcalm County, where he died May
1, 1852.  He had been twice married, first to Miss Drusilla Christian, Dec. 6, 1822, having four 
children by her, and second, June 10, 1829, to Betsy Beebe, who bore him six children.  Six 
children accompanied him to Michigan.  John Wolverton, during the administration of Governoor 
William C. Bouck, of New York was guard at the State penitentiary at Auburn.
	Israel M. Wolverton was born at Conquest, Cayuga Co., N. Y. , July 13, 1826, and came to 
Michigan with his father, being the only survivor of the latter's children by his first wife.  
He made some improvements on the forty acres he had purchased, and in September, 1849, returned 
to Cayuga Co., N. Y., and married Elsie Wackman, Sept. 1, 1850.  Her parents were natives of the 
county named.  October 7th following, Mr. Wolverton brought his bride to Michigan.  In November, 
1862, he exchanged his first purchase for one hundred acres of the farm he now owns, and 
proceeded at once to put the latter in excellent shape.  Sixty acres have since been added to it,
and one hundred and twenty are under cultivation.  Besides assisting in the formation of the 
first Methodist Episcopal Church in the township, Mr. Wolverton aided in building the Le Valley 
church-edifice.
	Politically, he was a Democrat of the Jeffersonian school, although at present working 
with the Democratic party.  He is trustee, class-leader, steward, and recording steward in his 
church, and has held also civil offices.  His children have been four in number,--viz., Drusilla 
A., born Oct. 5, 1851; Sarah J., born Aug. 22, 1853, now Mrs. Emerson F. Benedict, of same 
township; Elmer S., born May 19, 1855, married, June 1, 1877, to Miss Mattie Rankin, and residing
upon the home-farm; and a son, born Jan. 14, 18--, and died Jan. 19th.  Miss Rankin's parents 
were natives of Jefferson Co., N. Y., and are now residents of Belleville, Ontario, Canada.  Mrs.
Israel Wolverton united at the same time with her husband with the Methodist Episcopal Church, 
about 1857.



This biography is taken from "HISTORY OF IONIA AND MONTCALM COUNTIES, MICHIGAN" 
by John S. Schenck. Philadelphia:  D. W. Ensign & Co., 1881.  Page 302.  Orange.