Copyright USGenNet Inc., 2013, All Rights Reserved U.S. Data Repository Please read U.S. Data Repository Copyright Statement on this page: Transcribed and submitted by Linda Talbott for the US Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ ========================================================================= U.S. Data Repository NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization. Non-commercial organizations desiring to use this material must obtain the consent of the transcriber prior to use. Individuals desiring to use this material in their own research may do so. ========================================================================= Formatted by U.S. Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott All of the above information must remain when copied or downloaded. =========================================================================== Portrait and biographical record of Muskegon and Ottawa Counties Biographical Publishing Co., Chicago - 1893 Page 127-128 CHARLES H. PROCTOR, a successful general agriculturist located on section 3, Holton Township, Muskegon County, Mich., has held with ability nearly every official position of trust within the gift of his fellow-townsmen, and, a man of excellent judgment and superior attainments, has been an especially prominent factor in the edu- cational advancement of his home neighborhood and vicinity. As a member of the Board of Supervisors, and as a School Inspector, with the exception of two years since the organization of the township, Mr. PROCTOR has materially aided in the promotion and rapid develop- ment of the best interests of Muskegon County. Our subject, a native of Roscoe Township, Ohio, and born in 1836, was the son of HASCAL and NANCY (SHEPHARD) PROCTOR. The paternal grandparents, ASA and ALICE (DANE) PROCTOR, were long-time residents of the Green Mountain State. The paternal great-grandfather died when ASA was about seven years of age, and the grandfather was reared by THOMAS PARKER, of Lowell, Mass. ASA received a good common-school edu- cation and learned the carpenters' trade, being a wooden-plow and yoke-maker as well as a farmer. He married and settled in Vermont, and into his peaceful home came nine sons and daughters, all of whom survived to reach maturity. The children of the paternal grandparents were, SARAH, a cripple; HASCAL D., the father of our subject; SAMUEL C. and ALONZO, deceased; MANDANA, wife of HENRY STEVENS; ORVILLE, deceased; HORATIO, a resi- dent of Ingham County, Mich.; and HORACE and MERRILL, deceased. Serving bravely in the War of 1812, the grandfather fought at Benning- ton. Politically, he was a Whig and a man of strong views. Reared upon a farm, his son HASCAL received but a limited education, and at the age of fourteen was bound out to learn the trade of a tool-maker and blacksmith. Serving a faithful apprenticeship for four years, the father then began life for himself, and at about the age of twenty-one was united in marriage with the daughter of WILLIAM and NANCY SHEPHARD. Ambitious and enterprising, he later removed to Ohio, and in Cleveland worked as a tool-maker. He died in 1847, mourned by many friends. Politically, he was a strong Democrat, and was esteemed as a true and loyal citizen. Of his two children, but one survived; the other died in infancy. The mother passing away three weeks after the death of the father, our subject was left an orphanat the age of eleven years, and began life for him- self. A mere lad, cast entirely upon his own resources, CHARLES PROCTOR at once found his way to the country, and for one year worked upon a farm for his food and clothes. At twelve years of age our subject joined his grandparents, PROCTOR, in Stockbridge, Mich., to which part of the Wolverine State the venerable pioneers had emigrated in a very early day. Mr. PROCTOR remained with his grandparents until twenty-three years of age, and received a good education in the schools of Lansing, and, possessing musical ability, fitted himself for a teacher, and for four years gave instruction in vocal music. Miss ELIZABETH, daughter of JOHN SNYDER, and a native of Wash- tenaw County, Mich., was married to Mr. PROCTOR in Ann Arbor. Five children blessed their union. FLORA is the wife of GEORGE L. BULL, of Wisconsin; FRANK was the second born; EDITH married HERMAN L. BLACK, of Laketon, Mich.; LEWIS D. and MONIE complete the list of sons and daughters who have brightened the home. Mr. PROCTOR having remained upon the farm of his grandparents until their death, then located in the dense woods of Muskegon County. There were no roads, but the trees were blazed for section lines. The family settled in Holton Township in oak openings. At the expi- ration of two years Mr. PROCTOR purchased his present valuable farm of eighty acres, which our subject cleared, logged and im- proved himself. Mr. and Mrs. PROCTOR were both members of the Presbyterian Church, but the estimable wife of our subject later joined the Baptist Church. The daughter FLORA was graduated at Fremont, and for years successfully taught in Muskegon County. Fraternally, Mr. PROCTOR is associated with the County Grange, and politically is an ardent Republican. Continuously engaged in the service of the public in an official capacity, our sub- ject has amply demonstrated his ability to hold office to the great satisfaction of the community by whom he is surrounded. When the Civil War broke out he twice endeavored to enlist, but was refused for physical disability, and then patriotically gave $75 and later $90 to clear his township of the draft. Al- though absent by force of circumstances from the battlefield, the loyalty of our subject was unquestioned, and no man in his locality to-day has a firmer hold upon the true esteem of his friends and neighbors than CHARLES H. PROCTOR. ===========================================================================