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James C. Corbin |
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James C. Corbin, lumberman, resident at Leroy, was born June 10, 1845, in Van
Buren Co., Mich. He was left an orphan in
early childhood by the death of his parents, the demise of his mother
occurring when he was but two weeks old, and that
of his father a few years after his birth. He was in the care of one family
from the death of his mother until 1853,
being then eight years old. He lived in various families until he was 17, and
in the fall of 1862 he enlisted in
Merrill's Cavalry, as it was known, being an independent organization, doing
guard duty and being on scouting service.
Mr. Corbin was in battle only in the action at Little Rock, Ark., and was
honorably discharged at Nashville, Tenn.,
after the war was closed in 1865. After being mustered out, he returned to
Michigan and went to Holland, Ottawa County,
and obtained employment during three succeeding years.
He was married Sept. 13, 1868, in Wayland, Allegan Co., Mich., to Julia A.
Hill. She was born in 1850, in Grand Rapids,
and died Dec. 1, 1878, in Leroy. One daughter - Hattie May - died before her
mother. Burt E. is the only surviving
child. Mr. Corbin was married June 26, 1881, in Ithaca, Gratiot Co., Mich.,
to Miss L. Meade. Mrs. Corbin was born and
educated in Gratiot County.
The family came to Leroy Township in the fall of 1874. Mr. Corbin purchased
160 acres of land on section 17, and a
little more than a year after he exchanged it for 80 acres located in another
part of the township, of which he was the
owner two years, lumbering meanwhile in the interest of Hood, Gale & Co., of
Big Rapids. In the fall of 1879 he sold
his farm and embarked in a drug enterprise, which he prosecuted between two
and three years, selling in 1882 to his
associate in the business. He then entered quite extensively into the
manufacture of lumber, running a saw and
planing-mill. The former establishment was burned in August, 1883, and he has
since constructed an extensive business.
He is independent in politics.
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