Mecosta County MI Archives Biographies.....Gingrich, Peter B. August 25, 1839 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/mi/mifiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Jan Cortez http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00020.html#0004939 April 16, 2009, 1:47 am Author: Chapman Brothers PETER B. GINGRICH, farmer on sec. 7, Wheatland Tp., is a son of Jacob and Barbara (Burkhart) Gingrich, natives of Pennsylvania and of German descent, who went to Ontario, Can., in their childhood, where they were afterwards married. Mr. Gingrich was born in Waterloo, Can., Aug. 25, 1839. He had fair educational advantages, and in 1858 he apprenticed himself to F. G. Locknar, of Hawksville, to learn the art of blacksmithing. After serving his full time, three and one half years, he became manager in the same shop where he had been instructed, and conducted the business two years. He was married Oct. 4, 1860, in Waterloo County, to Mary, daughter of James and Leonora (Newton) McDonald, natives respectively of Scotland and New York, who went early in life to the Dominion, where they were married and where the daughter was born Sept. 3, 1841. After marriage Mr. Gingrich went into business on his own behalf in the town of Flora, Ont., where he pursued his trade until February, 1862, when he went to Winfield, Wellington Co., ONt. After operating there for a time his health became impaired and he sold out, starting in the spring of 1863, on a prospecting tour of Michigan, and worked to some extent at his trade. Prospects were not very flattering and he returned home and worked on a farm until the fall of 1867, when he again resolved on seeking a home in the Peninsular State. Himself and brother exchanged 100 acres of land in Ontario for 240 acres in Wheatland Tp., Mr. Gingrich becoming the possessor of 120 acres, to which he has made an addition of 20 acres more. Of this, 75 acres are now as well improved as any in the county, and the owner has recently erected some very fine farm buildings thereon. The family of Mr. Gingrich includes six children, born as follows: Leonora, July 5, 1861; Samuel A., Aug. 3, 1864; William A., Jan. 20, 1868; Henry W.B., Aug. 8, 1870; Franklin P., Jan. 31, 1875; Lillie G., May 25, 1878; Lavinia N., born Aug. 3, 1873, died Dec. 6, 1881. In politics Mr. Gingrich is a staunch Democrat, and has held nearly every office of any prominence in the local government of his township. He is actively interested in the work of the society of Good Templars, to which he belongs, and in which he occupies the chair of P.W.C. Additional Comments: 1883 Portrait & Bio Album of Mecosta Co. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/mi/mecosta/bios/gingrich514nbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/mifiles/ File size: 3.0 Kb