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Transcribed and submitted by Linda Talbott
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Formatted by USGenNet Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott
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Portrait and Biographical Album of
Huron County, Michigan
Pub. Chapman Brothers, Chicago, 1884

           [396-397]

           JOSEPH FRANTZ, farmer, section 31, Bingham Township, was born
        April 2, 1830, in Alsace (then belonging to France), near the River
        Rhine.  At the age of 23 years he left his native land to come to
        America.  He had received a good education in the French and Ger-
        man languages previous to the death of his father, which occurred
        during his minority.  On reaching this county he proceeded to the
        city of Buffalo, where he made but a brief stay, going thence to
        Ontario, where he located in Oxford County.  He was engaged in
        agricultural pursuits there three years, and in 1856 he set out for
        Michigan via Lake Huron, landing at Forestville, Sanilac County.
        He proceeded at once to the Government Land Office at Detroit,
        where he learned of the promising outlook of the Huron Peninsula;
        and, acting under the advice of PHILIP LINK, of Minden, he pur-
        chased 160 acres on section 31, Bingham Township, under the terms
        of the Graduation Act. He set out to make the acquaintance of his
        newly acquired possession, and found that it lay in the depths of
        the unbroken forest, with no roads of any description for many
        miles. But he had resolved on having a home at all hazards, and he
        began to "lap the bush," until he found the location of which he
        was the proprietor. He was the first permanent settler in Bingham
        Township, and carried all his provisions and supplies on his back
        from Forestville, a distance of 24 miles, often conveying 100
        pounds of flour in one day. He was in fine health and possessed
        remarkable powers of endurance. After getting fairly started, he
        purchased 120 acres additional, making a tract of 280 acres, all of
        which he has retained, and has improved 130 acres. In the fire of
        1881, he lost property aggregating $6,000, having at the time the
        best farm buildings in the township, including a large frame barn
        and a stone residence.
           MR. FRANTZ is a Democrat in political affiliation, and he has
        held various local offices in his township. He was married Nov. 2,
        1856, in Dereham Township, Middlesex Co., Ont., to ALMIRA GARDNER,
        and their nine children are all living. They were born in the order
        here named: ANTHONY, WILLIAM, JOHN, JOSEPH A., SARAH A., GEORGE,
        LEWIS, CLARA and AMBROSE.  MRS. FRANTZ was born Sept 24, 1837, of
        Canadian parentage. The family are Roman Catholics.

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