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Portrait and biographical album of Newayco (sp) County, Mich.
containing portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and
representative citizens of the county, together with portraits and
biographies of all the governors of Michigan and of the presidents
of the United States: also containing a complete history of the county,
from its earliest settlement to the present time.

Published by Chapman Bros., Chicago, IL, 1884

Transcribed by Linda Talbott

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Page 198-201 (Page 199 is blank.  Page 200 is a portrait of Philip P.
Hoffman)
WATERS, Thaddeus L.
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Thaddeus L. Waters was born in New York, June 29, 1835.  His parents,
Harvey and Sarah (Dunning) Waters, were also natives of New York, where
they were married and immediatly went to Ohio.  After living in that State
for nearly 18 years, they moved to Hillsdale Co., Mich., where they passed
the remainder of their lives.  Thaddeus spent his boyhood days in Ohio,
attending the common schools of that State, and at the age of 18 years
came with his parents to Michigan.  He taught school the last year he
lived in Ohio and for two years after he came to Michigan.  In the spring
of 1855 he came to Fremont, this county, purchased 40 acres of wild land,
and at once commenced to clear it and build a log house.  He spent most of
his time in locating lands, and nearly all of the old settlers were
conducted through the vast forest, there being no roads leading to the
north and west.

Mr. Waters was married in Fremont, this county, May 27, 1855, to Laura J.,
only daughter of Daniel and Emily A. (Salisbury) Weaver, the former a
native of Massachusetts and the latter of New York.  They were married in
the latter State and went at once to Michigan, then a Territory, settling
in Adrian.  In 1855 they came to Newaygo County, where Mr. Weaver built
the first log house of Fremont, which was used as a hotel, store and
postoffice; it was also used as a school-house, and the first couple ever
married in Fremont was married in this same log house, the couple being
Mr. and Mrs. T. L. Waters.  The house was built on the lot nearly opposite
the new brick school-house on Main Street.  Mr. Weaver also built the
first frame house in the town, which now stands directly opposite the
brick school-house, and the first frame barn, which stood on the spot
where the brick school-house now stands.  Mrs. Weaver died in Hesperia,
this county, Dec. 22, 1879; Mr. Weaver still resides in Hesperia.

Mr. and Mrs. Waters have had five children; Alpha F., born Jan. 20, 1857;
Theron D., May 1, 1858; Albert J., July 4, 1860; Frankie E., Aug 3, 1868,
and Hiram J., March 30, 1878.  Mr. Waters enlisted Aug. 15, 1862, in Co.
G, 2d Mich. Cav., and served nearly three years.  He was in the battle of
Perryville, Ky., Thompson's Station, Tenn., and the battle of Chickamauga.
At the last named battle, Sept. 20, 1863, he was taken prisoner, and was
retained until the close of the war, being confined at Richmond, Va., two
months, Danville, Va., six months, and ten months in that terrible prison
at Andersonville, where so many of our brave soldiers were sacrificed; he
was in the last squad of men that passed out of that dismal den of
horrors.  He received a bayonet would in the hip by a rebel guard, while
in Danville.  He now receives a pension, which he justly deserves.

Mr. Waters has been engaged in surveying since 1867.  He surveyed and laid
out the town of Hesperia, this county.  He has held the office of Township
Clerk three years, and is now Drain Commissioner of Sheridan Township.
Mr. and Mrs. Waters are members of the Seventh-Day Advent Church.  In
politics Mr. Waters is a prominent member of the Greenback party.