Mecosta-Lenawee County MI Archives Biographies.....Cannon, Edwin November 17, 1837 - 
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Jan Cortez http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00020.html#0004939 March 31, 2009, 1:01 am

Author: Chapman Brothers

EDWIN CANNON, manufacturer at Big Rapids, is a native of England, and a son of 
Charles and Nancy 

(Matthews) Cannon.  He was born in Buckinghamshire, Nov. 17, 1837.  His father 
came to the United States 

in 1847, accompanied by his two sons, George and Edwin, the latter a lad of 
ten years.  They went to 

Lenawee Co., Mich., where, two years later, Mr. Cannon (Sr.) bought 80 acres 
of land in a wild state.  The 

wife and mother joined her family in Blissfield Tp., about this time, bringing 
with her the remaining 

children, Jane and James.  They experienced all the inconveniences of first 
settlers, but, appreciative of 

their privileges under a popular government, went heartily to work to secure 
all the benefits accruing to 

them from independent citizenship.  Their log cabin was humble and deficient 
in modern appliances, but it 

was their own, and the privations of that period are less in their memories 
than its charms and freedom.  

Mrs. Nancy Cannon deid in 1879.  At 19, Mr. Cannon went to Blissfield, Lenawee 
Co., to learn wagon-making, 

where he worked two years, and then engaged in agriculture four years.  In 
1862, in company with Mark 

Cannon, a cousin, he bought a steam saw-mill, which they managed together 
about five years.  The 

enterprise was prosperous and Mr. Cannon sold his moiety to his partner and 
proceeded to establish a new 

mill in the vicinity.  Six months after its completion, he formed a 
partnership with James Tibbals and 

removed the mill and fixtures to Hastings, Barry Co., Mich.  This was about 
the year 1869, and the mill 

was utilized in sawing ties for the Grand River Valley R.R., then in process 
of construction.  Afterward 

the mill did custon work at Hastings until 1871, when a second transfer was 
made to Byers, of this county, 

and the power evoted to the same line of business.  In the winter of 1873 the 
firm took a contract to saw 

lumber for Charles Barstow, at Hungerford, and the mill was again removed. Mr. 
Cannon bought the interest 

of Mr. Tibbals in the summer of 1876, and Aug. 1, 1881, the mill was destroyed 
by fire, entailing a loss 

of $6,000.  He came to Big Rapids soon after, and in partnership with Geo. M. 
Gotshall became proprietor 

by purchase of the manufacturing establishment of F. Fairman, and has since 
been engaged in constructing 

edgers, tram-cars, engines, and mill machinery.  The annual transactions reach 
an aggregate value of 

$90,000.

Mr. Cannon owns a half interest in 600 acres of land in HUngerford besides his 
residence, and eight city 

lots on S. State street at the west end of Oak Street.  He was married at 
Mattawan, Van Buren Co., Mich., 

April 20, 1872, to Leavana, daughter of Levi Butler, a farmer and carpenter of 
Mattawan, who was born Nov. 

21, 1845.  Mr. Cannon is a member of the Order of Masonry.

Additional Comments:
1883 Portrait & Bio Album of Mecosta Co.

File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/mi/mecosta/bios/cannon423nbs.txt

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