My Genealogy Hound

Edwin S. Waterbury, one of the prominent and substantial farmers of Springfield township, Oakland County, owning a fine, well improved farm of 280 acres in sections 14 and 15, was born August 4, 1862, in Rensselaer County, New York, and is a son of Orville B. and Sarah A. (Casey) Waterbury, both natives of Rensselaer County, the latter a daughter of Colonel Casey.

The parents of our subject spent their whole lives in their native locality. They were farming people, prominent and substantial, respected by all who knew them. Orville B. Waterbury was a Democrat in politics. In religious belief he was a Baptist and a man of strict integrity, one whom his neighbors always mentioned as one whose word was ever as good as his bond. Our subject had one sister, Hattie M., who died at the age of 23 years.

Edwin S. Waterbury was reared on his father’s farm and attended the common schools in his locality. At the age of 20 years he came to Michigan and settled at Ionia, where he later engaged in the business of manufacturing concrete sidewalks. Three years later he was made an attendant and still later general supervisor at the State Asylum, where he was settled for five years. Prior to locating in Springfield township and engaging in farming, he spent seven years as keeper of the county farm at Ionia. Mr. Waterbury has for the past four years, occupied his present property, where he engages in general farming, stock raising and dairying, his dairy being conducted with 15 high grade Jersey cows. His sheep and hogs are of the best standard stock, and the horses raised on his farm are the equal of any produced in the township. Mr. Waterbury has been fortunate in the choice of his farm, the land proving to be well watered and also well drained and productive to the highest degree. He makes his leading crop potatoes, producing also corn, oats and clover, his crops last season being 1,000 bushels of grain; 1,000 bushels of corn; 2,000 bushels of potatoes and 60 tons of hay. With 500 peach and 250 apple trees, Mr. Waterbury has done much to swell the vast export trade in Michigan fruit.

Mr. Waterbury was married, first, to Madge Wheaton, who was born in Montcalm County, Michigan, and at her death left one child, Roscoe. In 1891 Mr. Waterbury was married to Cora B. Gardiner, who was born in Steuben County, New York, and is a descendant of Lyon Gardiner, who first settled Gardiner’s Island, New York. The three children of this marriage are: Clifford G., George Maurice and J. Ronald.

In politics Mr. Waterbury is identified with the Republican party and he has been called upon by his fellow citizens to fill a number of township offices, serving as township treasurer at present. Fraternally he belongs to the Modern Woodmen of America and the Grange. In religious belief and attendance he is a Baptist. The members of the family are well known and are held in very high esteem in Springfield township.