Biography of

                                                       LYMAN F. MEAD

                                                 (transcribed by: L. Johnson)

 

     The gentleman under whose name this sketch is written is a native of New York, born on September 11, 1845.  When ten years old he moved with his parents to Ionia county, Michigan, where he helped clear and improve a farm on which he continued to reside for a period of twenty-four years, during the early part of which time he attended the public schools and otherwise fitted himself for the duties and responsibilities of life as a tiller of the soil.  In the year 1879 he chose a wife and helpmeet in the person of Catherine Long, of Ohio, and about the same time moved to Clinton county, Michigan, where he engaged in the pursuit of agriculture and where he made his home until his removal in 1889 to Isabella county.

     On coming to this county Mr. Mead bought forty acres of land in section 17, Nottawa township, which he at once proceeded to improve and to which he subsequently added from time to time until his realty now amounts to one hundred and twenty acres, sixty of which are in cultivation.  When he moved to his original purchase there was no road to the land and he was obliged to cut one through the woods for a considerable distance in order to reach the site of his future home.  The land being quite heavily timbered with a dense undergrowth among the trees, a great deal of hard work was required to get the soil in condition for tillage, but, being strong, energetic and in the enjoyment of almost perfect health, he labored early and late, cheered by the prospect of success that would ultimately attend his efforts.  In the course of a few years he had a goodly part of his place in cultivation and from that time to the present his advancement has been steady and certain and it is not presumptuous to claim for him at the present day a conspicuous place among the leading farmers and representative citizens of the township in which he lives.

     In the year 1902 Mr. Mead added greatly to the appearance and value of his farm by erecting a model barn in size forty by sixty feet with a commodious stone basement and six years later the present dwelling, an imposing two-story edifice, containing eleven rooms, was built and furnished with a full complement of comforts and conveniences.  Mr. Mead takes great pleasure in his home and has not been sparing of his means in beautifying and making it attractive.  In connection with general farming he pays considerable attention to fruit raising and at this time he has an acre in apples, pears and cherries which he selected with the greatest care and from which he receives no small part of his yearly earnings.  Being a practical horticulturist and satisfied that fruit is a more remunerative crop than the ordinary products of the farm, he proposes to enlarge his orchard ere long and go into the business upon a more extensive scale.  Mr. Mead is a Democrat in politics and, with his wife and family, belongs to the Catholic church at Beal City.  Mrs. Mead has been her husband’s faithful and efficient co laborer ever since assuming his name and to her assistance and co-operation not a little of his success is due.  She has borne him three children, namely:  George, who lives at home and helps cultivate the farm;  Mary married Pierce Summers and lives in Nottawa township;  Thomas, who married Mary Lay, lives on the home place, and James whose wife was formerly Marie Laubenthal, resides on the family homestead also.