Mecosta County MI Archives Biographies.....Darrah, James M. March 4, 1835 - 
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Jan Cortez http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00020.html#0004939 April 17, 2009, 8:34 pm

Author: Chapman Brothers


JAMES M. DARRAH, of the firm of Darrah Bros. & Co., proprietors of the City 
Flouring Mills at Big Rapids, 

was born in Luzerne Co., Pa., March 4, 1835.  His parents, Robert and Sinia 
(Mitchell) Darrah, went to 

Jefferson Co., Pa., when he was two years of age, and where his father engaged 
in farming and lumbering.  

His parents and brother came west in the spring of 1856, and in the fall he 
followed.  He found employment 

in the lumber woods and for some time worked by the month, engaging a part of 
the time in scaling logs.  He 

was in the service of the lumber firm of Roberts & Hull nine years, and during 
the three last of these he 

was in sole charge of their lumber interests.  The force of assistants 
numbered nearly 100 men.

At the end of nine years he bought timber land and engaged in the lumber trade 
on his own behalf, and also 

continued to fulfill contracts to furnish lumber for other parties.  In the 
winter of 1882-3 he managed the 

labors of 80 men, and put in nearly seven million feet of lumber.

In August, 1882, the Darrah Bros. (James M. and Charles M.) bought the City 
Flouring Mills in upper Big 

Rapids, and not long afterward the son of one member of the firm, W. E. 
Darrah, was admitted to the firm as 

a partner.  They are now engaged in building a new mill for their trade and 
willappropriate the old mill to 

custom work and feed.

Mr. Darrah owns a fine farm on sec. 33, of Green Tp., containing 80 acres of 
land; also one of 80 acres in 

the Township of Colfax, and 40 acres of land in Missaukee County, besides four 
lots in the city of Big 

Rapids.  He was married at Big Rapids, Oct. 11, 1874, to Emma L., daughter of 
Daniel C. and Rheuama Gore.  

Mrs. Darrah was born at Elkhart, Ind., Nov. 28, 1852.  Of her marriage to Mr. 
Darrah three children have 

been born, - Grace E., March 9, 1877; Ella R. and James Chester.  Only the 
first named child survives.  Mr. 

Darrah is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and was one of the charter 
members of the Big Rapids National 

Bank.  He was elected Director at its organization and is a member of its 
present Board.

As one of the representative citizens of this County, and a gentleman well 
worthy the position, we present 

the portrait of Mr. Darrah in this work.

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

File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/mi/mecosta/bios/darrah580nbs.txt

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