JOSEPH MISER.

George Miser, the father of the gentleman whose name appears above, was  born in Maryland in 1812 and when about eighteen months old was taken by his parents to Ohio where he spent his childhood and youth amid the wholesome discipline of country life, the meanwhile acquiring a limited education in the indifferent schools of those days. In 1858 he came to Isabella county, Michigan, and purchased the southwest quarter of section 5, Coe township, which he improved in due time and on which he carried on general farming until his death, in August, 1866. His wife, whose maiden name was Sophia Beidler, a native of Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, survived him until 1886, on June 14th of which year she too was called to her eternal rest. The family of this couple consisted of six children, of whom the subject is the oldest, the others in the order of their birth being as follows: Win, who married Abbie Wanch; Susan, who became the wife of George Ferris; Mrs. Salome Shaffrey; Solomon, who never married, and Mary, wife of Charles Bennett, of Mt. Pleasant, all deceased except Joseph and Mrs. Bennett.

Joseph Miser was born January 28, 1831, in Holmes county, Ohio, and when about four years of age was taken to Wayne county, that state. There he grew to maturity and while still young      learned the carpenter's trade. He worked at his trade in Tuscarawas county for a period of six

years and in 1854 entered the marriage relation with Wealthy Ann Minard, whose birth occurred in Bradford county, Pennsylvania, June 20, 1836, following which he came to Isabella county, Michigan, and in April, i858, settled on a farm in Coe township with his parents, with whom he lived one year.   He then purchased forty acres of land in section 7 of the same township, a. part of which he cleared, but in January following he discontinued work in the woods and took up his residence at Indian Mills, the oldest town in the county, where he entered the employ of the government to construct a bridge across the Chippewa river and erect a council chamber, in which the Indians and whites could hold their public meetings, i-nake treaties and transact other kinds of business.      He remained two and one- half years in that town, during which time he erected a store building and hotel in addition to the work mentioned, besides doing various other kinds of mechanical labor and proving one of the useful citizens of the place.

At the expiration of the period indicated, Mr. Miser, in i862, moved to Mt. Pleasant and built the first dwelling on the northwest corner of the courthouse square, which he occupied while attending to his duties as sheriff, having been the second man in the county elected to that office. Although a Democrat, his name was not placed on a ticket, the citizens indicating their choice by voting for whom they pleased, the result of the balloting showing a large majority for Mr. Miser, who appears to have been a favorite with the people of the county irrespective of party.       His term expired in1863, and shortly after quitting the office he entered the army enlisting on August 26th of, that year in Company M, First Michigan Engineers and Mechanics, in which capacity he served until, September, 1865when he was discharged on account of physical disability, after spending about four months in a hospital in Louisville, Kentucky. Returning home at the close of the war, he traded his property in Mt. Pleasant, for an eighty-acre farm in Union township on    which he lived an industrious and prosperous tiller of the soil, until about the year 1897, when he discontinued active labor to spend the remainder of his life in retirement.  Mr. Miser has ever manifested a commendable interest in public affairs, served one year as constable and four years as commissioner of highways, besides taking an active part in promoting enterprises for the material advancement of his township and county and the social and moral welfare of his fellowman. A firm believer in the Christian religion and a faithful member of the church of God, his daily life has been consistent with his profession and his influence is ever on the side of  right where moral issues are involved.  He stands for law and order and a high standard of manhood, and. as a citizen is enterprising, public-spirited, and always ready to lose sight of self in his efforts to help others. He was a prominent factor in county affairs in an early day and it was largely through his efforts that the seat of justice was moved from Indian Mills to Mt. Pleasant. In the fall of 1858 he helped gather three bushels of blackberries on the site of the present courthouse, and among his other early experiences was the making of a trip to Detroit to obtain money with which to purchase land, going as far as St. John on foot and there taking a train to his destination. With two thousand dollars tied in a handkerchief, which he fastened around his body, he returned in safety, but felt not a few misgivings lest somebody might learn of the sum in his possession and relieve him of the burden.      Mr. Miser has not only seen Isabella county developed from a wilderness    into its present proud position among the most prosperous counties of the state, but to the extent of his ability has contributed to the bringing about  of conditions that now obtain. He takes pride in the county, has faith in the future, and hopes ere long to see it the rival of the most enterprising and progressive counties of the commonwealth.

Mrs. Miser's parents were John and Mary (Hoagland) Minard, both natives of New York, born in the years 1812 and 1813, respectively, the father died in the year 1842. Mr. and Mrs. Miser have children as follows: Leander O., who married Mary Converse, and lives in Hillsdale county, Michigan; Ella, wife of Thomas Hannett, lives in Coe township, Isabella county; Ida May married Eli Farris, a farmer of Union township; Ely, who lives in Solon, this state, is also married, his wife having formerly been Carrie Teel; William D., the youngest of the family,. married. Celia Greacher, and resides in Coe.