Mecosta County MI Archives Biographies.....Rathvon, Charles March 11, 1850 - 
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Jan Cortez http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00020.html#0004939 April 7, 2009, 11:11 pm

Author: Chapman Brothers

CHARLES RATHVON, of the firm of Rathvon Bros., proprietors of the Mecosta 
Planing Mill, was born in 

Welland, Ont., March 11, 1850.  He is a son of Jacob and Elizabeth (Alward) 
Rathvon.  The father was a 

carpenter and joiner, and a native of Canada; he died in 1855, in his 34th 
year.  TYhe mother was a native 

of the Dominion, and died in Elgin Co., Ca., July 20, 1883, aged 54 years.  
Until he was 18 year old Mr. 

Rathvon was engaged as a farm assistant, and was after that employed with his 
brother in working as a 

bulder, in which occupation his brother had extensive interets.  Four years 
later he went to New York and 

found employment as a builder at Tonawanda, where he operated four years.  One 
summer he spent in the 

employment of the Government, building lake shore survey stations.  His next 
remove was to St. Thomas, 

Can., and two years later he went to St. Johns, Clinton Co., Mich., and was 
wmployed by the St. Johns 

Manufacturing Co., two years.  In August 1881 he came with his brother 
Benjamin, to Mecosta village, and 

engaged in contracting and building.  They built a planing mill in November, 
1882, and are now turning out 

the customary products, planing, matching, siding, ceiling, moldings, etc.  
They generally employ about 

ten men and operate considerably in contracting and building.

Mr. Rathvon was married in Welland Co., Ont., June 26, 1872, to Ida A. 
Hershey, daughter of George and 

Sarah Hershey, born at Loville, Can., in October, 1850.  Of this marriage 
three children have been born as 

follows:  Cora B., at Welland, April 18, 1872; Ida May, at Tonawanda, N.Y., 
Feb. 6, 1874, and Gracie, at 

St. Johns, Mich., Dec. 10, 1879.  The parents attend the M. E. Church.

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

File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/mi/mecosta/bios/rathvon484nbs.txt

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