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			WILLIAM & BETSEY ANN (STEVENS) CASTEL

	William Castel was born in Gorham, Ontario Co., N. Y., June 2, 1812.  His grandfather was
born in England, and emigrated to America and settled in New England, where Amos, William's 
father, was born, and from where he moved to Ontario County prior to the birth of his children.  
From Ontario he went to Monroe County, where he cleared up a new farm, on which he spent the 
remainder of his days.  William's chance for an education was very limited, receiving hardly a 
common-school education as then taught.  In 1835 he came to Michigan and settled in Washtenaw 
County.  There he bought a new farm and cleared it up, and upon it built a nice house, and was 
doing well when, in 1843, his house caught fire, and with its entire contents and an infant child
was burned.  This, with the failure of a wheat-crop of fifty acres, gave him such a set-back that
he could not recover his footing, and he lost it all.  He then for several years bought and sold 
land, and followed different kinds of business until 1850, when he came to Bushnell and located 
one hundred and sixty acres of land, on which he now resides.  Here he has again cleared up a 
new farm, and undergone the discomforts and hardships of a pioneer life.  Mr. Castel is a man of 
very positive character, a warm, true friend, and an implacable enemy. Although a Democrat, he 
never votes a straight Democratic ticket, but supports with might and main the best men.  He was 
elected supervisor in 1851, and held the office many years, and, it is said, at times controlled 
the board.  He was very much in favor of Stanton as the county-seat, and did more than any other 
man towards establishing it there.  During the late war he was a War Democrat, and did much 
towards filling the different calls for men, two of his own sons helping by enlisting for three 
years. It was through his means that Bloomer and Evergreen were organized, and he named them 
both.  He has never been admitted to the bar, but the attorneys find him well worthy of their 
best efforts in trying cases, which he has done for years.  He was married, Feb. 23, 1841, to 
Miss Betsey Ann Stevens; she was born May 22, 1819.  Their children are Francis M., born Jan. 7, 
1842; he enlisted in Company F, First Michigan Cavalry; served his term, then re-enlisted as a 
veteran; he was at Winchester, Gettysburg, and in many other battles, and was a prisoner of war 
at Belle Isle.  Harriet F., born Aug. 17, 1844; burned as above set forth.  William H., born 
March 19, 1846; enlisted in Company F, First Cavalry; was wounded and discharged.  Jerusha, Aug. 
16, 1848, and Melvin R., Aug. 7, 1853.
 


This biography is taken from "HISTORY OF IONIA AND MONTCALM COUNTIES, MICHIGAN" 
by John S. Schenck. Philadelphia:  D. W. Ensign & Co., 1881.  Page 414, Bushnell Township.