Born in Bristol, Ontario, New York the son of Nathaniel Macomber and Mary Clark (Macumber Tenny). He was the husband of Amorette Higbee and Nancy Civin.
After the death of his father, Nathaniel was "bound out," and suffered more hardships and privations than usually fall to the lot of so young a man. After serving three years he sought his liberty, not by way of "coaxing off," but by suddenly breaking the bonds of tyranny that were crushing out his manhood.
Accompanied by another young man, he started out to encounter the vicissitudes of life free from all restraint. He earned his first dollar by digging potatoes four days; and with this little sum he set out for Monroe County, which he reached in due season. Here he engaged as errand boy for a man named Baten, with whom he remained for some time.
His industry and fidelity won for him the love of his employer, and he always reverts to those days as an oasis in life's desert.
Upon leaving Mr. Baten, he went to Cleveland, Ohio, with a broom peddler; but the season being dull he found it difficult to find work.
He finally accepted a place in a blacksmith shop and learned the trade, working at it during the winter season, and spending the summer on the tow-path of the Ohio Canal, for three years. When 17 years old he returned to his old home in Oakland County, where he worked on a farm until 21 years of age. He saved $100, with which he purchased 80
acres of land in Clinton County, where he built a shanty and began to improve his farm. On Feb. 17, 1840, he married Amorette Higbee, daughter of Jared and Electa (Isham) Higbee, natives of Vermont, who was born in that State in 1817. They immediately settled upon the farm, which by severe toil was soon all improved.
In 1853, in company with an experienced "land looker," Mr. Macumber took a tour through the northern portion of Michigan. They explored various portions of the country, finding no living object to attract attention, except occasionally a timid deer; but they found an unbroken forest, embellished with beautiful, fragrant wild flowers.
They finally located the N.W. 1/4 of section 27, in the present township of Denver, Newaygo County, it being the first land that was taken in the township; this does not include the pine lands, however, a portion of them having been previously taken. In March, the following year, Mr. M. built a board shanty. Mr. Daniel Weaver had established a saw-mill at Fremont, and offered a reward to the person
that would open a road from that town to White River, a distance of 13 miles. Mr. M. accomplished this work with a yoke of oxen, and secured the reward. After completing his little shanty, 14 x 24, he went for his family, which then consisted of his wife and seven children, and moved them to his new home, arriving on a very cold day in March.
NOTE: N.D. Macumber's mother was Mary Clark, daughter of Richard Clark and Lydia Cudworth. She remarried William Tenny.
After the death of his father, Nathaniel was "bound out," and suffered more hardships and privations than usually fall to the lot of so young a man. After serving three years he sought his liberty, not by way of "coaxing off," but by suddenly breaking the bonds of tyranny that were crushing out his manhood.
Accompanied by another young man, he started out to encounter the vicissitudes of life free from all restraint. He earned his first dollar by digging potatoes four days; and with this little sum he set out for Monroe County, which he reached in due season. Here he engaged as errand boy for a man named Baten, with whom he remained for some time.
His industry and fidelity won for him the love of his employer, and he always reverts to those days as an oasis in life's desert.
Upon leaving Mr. Baten, he went to Cleveland, Ohio, with a broom peddler; but the season being dull he found it difficult to find work.
He finally accepted a place in a blacksmith shop and learned the trade, working at it during the winter season, and spending the summer on the tow-path of the Ohio Canal, for three years. When 17 years old he returned to his old home in Oakland County, where he worked on a farm until 21 years of age. He saved $100, with which he purchased 80
acres of land in Clinton County, where he built a shanty and began to improve his farm. On Feb. 17, 1840, he married Amorette Higbee, daughter of Jared and Electa (Isham) Higbee, natives of Vermont, who was born in that State in 1817. They immediately settled upon the farm, which by severe toil was soon all improved.
In 1853, in company with an experienced "land looker," Mr. Macumber took a tour through the northern portion of Michigan. They explored various portions of the country, finding no living object to attract attention, except occasionally a timid deer; but they found an unbroken forest, embellished with beautiful, fragrant wild flowers.
They finally located the N.W. 1/4 of section 27, in the present township of Denver, Newaygo County, it being the first land that was taken in the township; this does not include the pine lands, however, a portion of them having been previously taken. In March, the following year, Mr. M. built a board shanty. Mr. Daniel Weaver had established a saw-mill at Fremont, and offered a reward to the person
that would open a road from that town to White River, a distance of 13 miles. Mr. M. accomplished this work with a yoke of oxen, and secured the reward. After completing his little shanty, 14 x 24, he went for his family, which then consisted of his wife and seven children, and moved them to his new home, arriving on a very cold day in March.
NOTE: N.D. Macumber's mother was Mary Clark, daughter of Richard Clark and Lydia Cudworth. She remarried William Tenny.
Born in Bristol, Ontario, New York the son of Nathaniel Macomber and Mary Clark (Macumber Tenny). He was the husband of Amorette Higbee and Nancy Civin.
After the death of his father, Nathaniel was "bound out," and suffered more hardships and privations than usually fall to the lot of so young a man. After serving three years he sought his liberty, not by way of "coaxing off," but by suddenly breaking the bonds of tyranny that were crushing out his manhood.
Accompanied by another young man, he started out to encounter the vicissitudes of life free from all restraint. He earned his first dollar by digging potatoes four days; and with this little sum he set out for Monroe County, which he reached in due season. Here he engaged as errand boy for a man named Baten, with whom he remained for some time.
His industry and fidelity won for him the love of his employer, and he always reverts to those days as an oasis in life's desert.
Upon leaving Mr. Baten, he went to Cleveland, Ohio, with a broom peddler; but the season being dull he found it difficult to find work.
He finally accepted a place in a blacksmith shop and learned the trade, working at it during the winter season, and spending the summer on the tow-path of the Ohio Canal, for three years. When 17 years old he returned to his old home in Oakland County, where he worked on a farm until 21 years of age. He saved $100, with which he purchased 80
acres of land in Clinton County, where he built a shanty and began to improve his farm. On Feb. 17, 1840, he married Amorette Higbee, daughter of Jared and Electa (Isham) Higbee, natives of Vermont, who was born in that State in 1817. They immediately settled upon the farm, which by severe toil was soon all improved.
In 1853, in company with an experienced "land looker," Mr. Macumber took a tour through the northern portion of Michigan. They explored various portions of the country, finding no living object to attract attention, except occasionally a timid deer; but they found an unbroken forest, embellished with beautiful, fragrant wild flowers.
They finally located the N.W. 1/4 of section 27, in the present township of Denver, Newaygo County, it being the first land that was taken in the township; this does not include the pine lands, however, a portion of them having been previously taken. In March, the following year, Mr. M. built a board shanty. Mr. Daniel Weaver had established a saw-mill at Fremont, and offered a reward to the person
that would open a road from that town to White River, a distance of 13 miles. Mr. M. accomplished this work with a yoke of oxen, and secured the reward. After completing his little shanty, 14 x 24, he went for his family, which then consisted of his wife and seven children, and moved them to his new home, arriving on a very cold day in March.
NOTE: N.D. Macumber's mother was Mary Clark, daughter of Richard Clark and Lydia Cudworth. She remarried William Tenny.
After the death of his father, Nathaniel was "bound out," and suffered more hardships and privations than usually fall to the lot of so young a man. After serving three years he sought his liberty, not by way of "coaxing off," but by suddenly breaking the bonds of tyranny that were crushing out his manhood.
Accompanied by another young man, he started out to encounter the vicissitudes of life free from all restraint. He earned his first dollar by digging potatoes four days; and with this little sum he set out for Monroe County, which he reached in due season. Here he engaged as errand boy for a man named Baten, with whom he remained for some time.
His industry and fidelity won for him the love of his employer, and he always reverts to those days as an oasis in life's desert.
Upon leaving Mr. Baten, he went to Cleveland, Ohio, with a broom peddler; but the season being dull he found it difficult to find work.
He finally accepted a place in a blacksmith shop and learned the trade, working at it during the winter season, and spending the summer on the tow-path of the Ohio Canal, for three years. When 17 years old he returned to his old home in Oakland County, where he worked on a farm until 21 years of age. He saved $100, with which he purchased 80
acres of land in Clinton County, where he built a shanty and began to improve his farm. On Feb. 17, 1840, he married Amorette Higbee, daughter of Jared and Electa (Isham) Higbee, natives of Vermont, who was born in that State in 1817. They immediately settled upon the farm, which by severe toil was soon all improved.
In 1853, in company with an experienced "land looker," Mr. Macumber took a tour through the northern portion of Michigan. They explored various portions of the country, finding no living object to attract attention, except occasionally a timid deer; but they found an unbroken forest, embellished with beautiful, fragrant wild flowers.
They finally located the N.W. 1/4 of section 27, in the present township of Denver, Newaygo County, it being the first land that was taken in the township; this does not include the pine lands, however, a portion of them having been previously taken. In March, the following year, Mr. M. built a board shanty. Mr. Daniel Weaver had established a saw-mill at Fremont, and offered a reward to the person
that would open a road from that town to White River, a distance of 13 miles. Mr. M. accomplished this work with a yoke of oxen, and secured the reward. After completing his little shanty, 14 x 24, he went for his family, which then consisted of his wife and seven children, and moved them to his new home, arriving on a very cold day in March.
NOTE: N.D. Macumber's mother was Mary Clark, daughter of Richard Clark and Lydia Cudworth. She remarried William Tenny.
Inscription
First Pioneer of White River Valley
Family Members
Siblings
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