Edward C Baumgardner, farmer section 33, Richmond Twp, is the
son of Jacob & Catherine (Koutz) Baumgardner, natives of
Switzerland & Pennsylvania respectively. After their marriage
they settled in Ohio, and subsequently moved to Van Buren Co,
MI, going thence to Ionia Co, where they remained until death.
They had four children, Edward C, Noah and Seymour. One died in
infancy. Mr Baumgardner was born Sept 16, 1852 in Van Buren Co.
MI. He was a student at public schools until he was 18 years of
age. He remained at home 3 years after after that age, when
he began to work month by month, in which method he operated
seven years, farming summers and in the lumber woods winters.
In 1876 he bought 80 acres of land in Richmond Twp, under some
improvements, on which he settled in the spring of 1882. Two
thirds of the place is now in a good state of cultivation. In
political connection he is a republican and has held the office
of school assessor.
He was married in Richmond Twp April 10, 1879, to Mary J
Robbins, and they have two children, L.J. born Jan 24, 1880, and
Leo V. born Dec 18, 1882. Mrs Baumgardner is the daughter of
James G and Olive E Robbins. (See Sketch of J G Robbins.) She
was born June 4, 1861 in Richmond Twp and is the first white
child born in Osceola County.
Family note- Edward's parents were settlers in Cambell Twp,
Ionia Co, Mi in the early 1850's. His mother died in 1856 there.
Platt book of Osceola County, MI. PA & JW Myers & CH Cameron
1900. Richmond Township p. 49 :
Baumgardner, E. C., Farming. Born in Van Buren Co, MI, Sept
16, 1850, the oldest son of Jacob & Catherine Coutz Baumgardner.
Came to Osceola Co. in 1873, in 1878 he purchased a farm on
section 33, Richmond Twp. Married April 10, 1879 to Mary J,
daughter of James A & Olive E. Robbins. Mrs Baumgardner was
born in Richmond Twp and was the first white girl born in
Osceola Co. Her parents came to Mich Feb 22, 1856 and located
on section 34, Richmond Twp, where they still live. Mr Robbins
was the first settler with a family to locate in this county
living some time in a brush shanty in the dead of winter.
Mr. Baumgardener has four children, two boys and two girls.
L.J., born Jan 24, 1880, Leo Valdy, Dec 18, 1882 (Valdy's
Tombstone says b.1881.), Myrtie E, March 23, 1886, and Hattie L.
Feb 7, 1891.
