Osceola County MI Archives Biographies.....Shank, Joseph January 26, 1821 - 
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Jan Cortez http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00020.html#0004939 January 12, 2008, 10:01 pm

Author: Chapman Bros., Chicago

Joseph shank, farmer, sherman Township, resident on section 14, was born Jan. 
26, 1821, in Portage Co., Ohio.  His 

father was a native of New York, lived most of his life in Virginia, and died 
in 1842, in Portage Co., Ohio. His mother, 

Mary (Cliff) Shank, was born in Virginia, and died in May 1870, in Allegan 
Co., Mich.

Mr. shank remained under the parental care through his minority and attended 
school most of the time until he was 22.  

After arriving at that age he was occupied as a farm laborer by the 
agriculturalists in the vicinity where he was 

reared, and operated in that capacity until his marriage, in March 1848, to 
Sarah Crow. Nine children have been born to 

them, two of whom are deceased, - Joseph L. and Samuel B.  Those who survive 
are Martha M., Alonzo M., John W., William, 

Nicholas B., Mary A. and Albert M.  The mother was born July 31, 1827, in 
Portage Co., Ohio, and is the daughter of 

Samuel and Martha (McCullough) Crow.  Her father was born in Virginia and died 
in Ohio.  Her mother lives with her 

children in Osceola County.  She is 84 years of age and was born in 
Pennsylvania.

Mr. shank was for some time after his marriage a farmer of Portage County.  He 
came thence in 1851 to Allegan co., 

Mich., where he was a resident a number of years, and while there exchanged 
his farm for another in the same county.  In 

1867 he secured a homestead claim of 80 acres in Sherman Township.  Three 
families only preceded their settlement in 

this part of Osceola County, and the nearest market for necessary supplies was 
Big Rapids.  Mr. Shank has improved 40 

acres of his farm.  He was active in establishing the municipal regulations of 
the township, of which he was elected 

second Supervisor.  He has been Highway Commissioner and held minor official 
positions.  He is a Democrat in political 

views, and is regarded as an upright and reliable citizen.  He is a member of 
the Methodist Episcopal Church, as is also 

his wife.

Additional Comments:
1884 Portrait & Bio album of Osceola Co.

Chapman Brothers, Chicago

File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/mi/osceola/bios/shank993gbs.txt

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