Deacon Bennett.  One of the "whitest men" at White River, according to the testimony of all the old settlers, was Deacon Abner Bennet, a colored man, and one of the earliest settlers in the township. The Forum of September, 1879, says: "Mr. Abner Bennett, of White River Township, was 80 years, 2 months and some days old. Mr. Bennett had been a resident of this vicinity for 31 years, was a member of the M. E. Church, and for many years the only preacher in this section, often going from fifteen to twenty-five miles up White River to assist in the last sad rites of some early settler, having been a licensed exhorter for 39 years in the M. E. Church; was the first person to establish religious services in this vicinity, and has always given freely to all benevolent enterprises. The first Sabbath school ever held in this vicinity was started by Mr. and Mrs. B., and for fifteen years they gave the use of their house for this purpose. Mrs. Bennett has been an extensive traveler in her younger days, having been a ladies' maid for the wife of the Captain of a Merchant Trader on the Atlantic for five years, visiting nearly all the European ports in this time. Mr. B. leaves a host of warm personal friends.

    William F. Bruce. Among those who were destined to meet the inevitable hardships incident to pioneer life may be mentioned Wm. F. Bruce. His parents are of Prussian origin, his father, John Bruce, being a soldier in the Seven Years War between Prussia and Austria. His mother, formerly Charlotte Marks, was born in Berlin in the year 1816, but being desirous of securing the advantage which America has ever offered the citizens of other countries they emigrated thitherward and located for some time in the State of Ohio, in which place Wm. F. was born on the 5th day of July, 1842. In 1843 his parents moved to Milwaukee. At the age of fourteen years he shipped on board the schooner America, Capt. Hanson, and started on his first experience "before the mast." The vessel was stranded a short distance below Pigeon Hill on the Muskegon shore, where it remained until Spring before being taken off. The crew, however, was rescued, and Mr. B. landed near Whitehall in this county, where he has resided mostly up to the present time. This vicinity was but a wilderness without improvements of any nature or facility of travel save in so far as the beach of the lake could be utilized as a highway. With his native pluck he went to work in a sawmill, but the company becoming involved went into bankruptcy, and Mr. Bruce's "settlement" consisted of one pound of tobacco on a basis of $7 per month, which was the salary for which he was laboring. Not discouraged, however, he repaired to the clay banks about nine miles north, where he worked two years and nine months, after which he engaged in mercantile business for himself at "The Mouth" of White River. About this time he was appointed Postmaster for that locality, which office he conducted in a faithful manner for five years. He was married in the year 1861 to a very estimable lady, Miss Mary Harty, born on the 18th day of February, 1845. This union lasted thirteen years, when consumption removed the wife on the 13th day of September, 1874, leaving four children; Nellie, born Aug. 19, 1865; Willie B., April 13, 1869; Albert B., April 1, 1871, and Emma B., Oct. 5, 1872. About this time Mr. Bruce sold out his store and engaged in buying and selling farm stock. He became very much depressed during the illness of his wife, both mentally and financially, as he had employed the most noted physicians from Milwaukee, Chicago and other prominent places. Mrs. Bruce was buried by the Order of Odd Fellows of Montague. He was united in marriage the second time to Miss Lena Mok, who was born February 6, 1853.
    
    James H. Crosby was born in the town of Compton, Quebec, in 1848, and was about five years of age when his parents removed to Chicago, Ill. In 1849 they removed to Grand Haven, in 1852 they came to White River Township. At thirteen years of age Mr. Crosby's father died, and he resided first with a sister a year, and with a brother until 1861, when he went to work in the sawmills. On the 19th of July, 1862, he enlisted in Co. F. 5th Mich. Cavalry, and after serving eleven months he was discharged for physical disability. In 1866 he took up a farm on Section 1, White River, and the same year married Laura A. Crosby, of White River, by whom he has one child.

    S. J. B. Watson, farmer, is one of the oldest and most prominent citizens of White River, and has filled many public offices, but is now retired to his fine farm. He was born June 20, 1814, in Hartford, Conn., moved when three years old to Watertown, N. Y., and in 1855 came to White River as carpenter to the Ferry's. He was postmaster from 1858 to 1864, receiving about $300 annually; was Supervisor for over ten years, also County Superintendent of the poor, Deputy Sheriff under Gray of Ottawa, Justice of the Peace twenty years, and is still Superintendent of Schools, also Treasurer and Assessor for two years. in politics he is an old time Democrat. He married first Silvia Slate, in 1836, at Watertown, and the only issue is T. S. Watson, of the Mears Hotel. About 1840 he married Mary Hewitt, by whom he has Sanford Watson, of Montague.

    Job B. Kinnison, son of John J. and Betsey Kinnison, was born in the town of Parny, Monroe County, State of New York, on the 18th day of August, 1826. At the age of fourteen, he bound himself as an apprentice to a cabinet maker. He remained  in this position for five years,- giving the closest attention and untiring energy to mastering the details of the trade. The first practical account to which he turned his knowledge of cabinet making was at Munday Valley, whither he went and engaged to work for Edward and Samuel Swayne, but after one year and a half in their employ his health became seriously affected from the inhalation of dust arising from black walnut turnings. After two years of suffering he was sufficiently recovered to resume business, but not daring to risk another attack by working in contact with walnut he purchased a boat on the Genesee Valley Canal and conducted that business during the ensuing season. It was at this time that Mr. K. met Miss Ellen Marks, of Old Dansville, Livingston County, N. Y., and on the 7th day of June, 1848, they were united in marriage. Mr. K. removed to Michigan three years afterwards and has been a resident of the State ever since, residing in various portions. Mr. K. enlisted Aug. 5, 1861, in Co. G, 6th Mich. Infantry Volunteers, under Col. Curtemas. He was mustered into the service at Kalamazoo on the 21st day of August, 1861. The regiment was enlisted for three years. It was sent to Baltimore, thence to Newport News, and was at Forts St. Philip and Jackson during the siege of those noted places. His regiment was the first to unfurl the union colors in the city of New Orleans. He was afterwards sent to Vicksburg, Baton Rouge and Alexandria, where he partook of two sharp engagements; also Brazin City, La., Pattersonville, and in capturing the rebel gunboat, William H. Cotton, while on a scouting expedition near Lake Pontchatrain. Mr. K. received injuries from which he has never recovered and for which he is now drawing a pension of $18 per month. These injuries were caused by falling through a railroad bridge while in the pursuit of the retreating rebels. Soon after returning from the army Mr. K. came to White River Landing, on the 9th day of June, 1866, and has lived there ever since. His occupation at present is fishing. He has represented the interests of the town to a considerable extent during his residence there, holding the offices of Town Clerk, Justice of the Peace and Postmaster, to which office he was appointed April 1, 1880. His family consist of the following named: Mary H., born April 6, 1853; Lucretia B., born July 20, 1856; Mary Ann, born Aug. 10, 1858; John S., born Sept. 24, 1860; Eliza E., born Dec. 28, 1861. Of this number Mary Ann died Sept. 6, 1960, at Cheshire, and John S. , died September 24, 1860. There was also one child Mand H., which died in its infancy. Lucretia B. is the wife of Frank S. Nickett, married at Clay Banks, Jan. 22, 1871; and Eliza E. was married Feb. 21, 1821 <?>, to Benj. F. Johnson. Both of the latter named gentlemen are at present residing in White River.

    Chas. P. Cushway, sawyer, at Heald's mill, Montague, was born in Saginaw in 1829, is of French extraction, and the son of an Indian trader, who was born in Michigan. After various moves with his parents, at eighteen Charles came to Grand Haven and shipped on the schooner "Honest John," and also the sloop "Ranger," both belonging to Charles Mears, the latter carrying but fifteen cords of shingle bolts. He also sailed a coaster called the Ocean, and worked for years for the Ferry's at "the mouth," and for the last nine years for Heald & Co. He married in 1855 Esther Louisa Storms, whose decease a few years ago he had to mourn, and who for the last ten years of her life was an intense sufferer. He is the father of four sons and two daughters. Mr. C. is of a small but wiry and well-knit frame, capable of enduring great hardships, is yet vigorous and delights in telling tales of his early pioneer days. We are indebted to him for help in picturing these times.

    Thomas Hawks was born in Devonshire, England, March 10, 1824. As a boy he worked round for the farmers of the vicinity, until he concluded to try his fortune in the New World. In 1847 he landed in Quebec, went thence to Port Hope, Ontario, and finally to Janesville, Wis., where he remained six months, when he went into the employ of Charles Mears, with whom he remained nine years. In 1858 he purchased land in Section 11, of White River Township. Mr. H. desirious of selecting the very best locality, had tried Canada and Wisconsin and found nothing to suit him better than his present place, which he purchased on the advice of Mr. Mears. It was a wilderness when he moved on it with his family into the log cabin he had built. It is now one of the finest farms in the township. He has purchased in all 280 acres. In 1856 he married Miss Angeline Harder, of Woodstock, Ill., by whom he has six children, four of whom survive.

    Robert Hawks was born in Cornwall, England, in 1828. in 1849 he came to Quebec, and thence he shortly removed to Port Hope, Ontario, and in two weeks removed to Milwaukee, going thence to Janesville, Wis. In the fall of 1850 he went to work for Charles Mears, remaining in his employ thirteen years, part of which time he was in Canada and also in Chicago. After this he lumbered two years, then worked for Mr. Mears, and in 1859 he bought a farm in Sections 10 and 15, in what is now Fruitland, living on it three years, after which he worked in Whitehall for several parties for four or five years. For four summers he wooded steamers for the Lake Shore line, and for three summers he wooded for various boats. In 1872 he purchased a farm in Section 11, White River Township. June 5, 1856, he married Miss Elizabeth Harder, of Woodstock, Ill., by whom he has six children, of whom three survive. In 1862 Mr. Hawks purchased six lots in Whitehall village, on which he built, and was offered for the property $4,000, a part of which he still owns. He has a very fine farm with soil of a clay loam, and he has about the best fruit farm in the vicinity. In 1881 he realized quite a snug sum from his fruit. He has endured many hardships in the various callings in which he has engaged.