John Briton McFarlane - July 9, 1835 -
June 25, 1882
Notes: Said to be a champion "fighter" in
his state (bare knuckle boxing).
John B. McFarlane, lumberman & farmer, section 2,
Sylvan Township, was born July 9, 1835 in Beauharnais Co., Quebec. Andrew McFarlane,
his father, was a native of Scotland, and came to America soon after his marriage to Jane
Bryden, settling in the Dominion of Canada. Later he came to Lapeer Co., Michigan,
where he died about the year 1869. The mother was born in Ireland, and is still
living in Lapeer County, aged 82 years. They had 10 children.
Mr. McFarlane has been a resident of the Peninsular State
since the age of 12 years. His first labor was in the lumber woods at Mill Creek,
Lapeer County, in the employ of Wm. ellison. Subsequently he went to Wisconsin and
later to Minnesota, where he was occupied in lumbering. In 1854 he made a trip down
the Mississippi River on a raft of logs, stopping at Vicksburg. He commenced
operations there as a wagon-maker, which business he prosecuted until the succession of
the State. He was one of the first to enter the Confederate service as a measure of
policy and safety, and enlisted in co. I, 20th Miss. Vol. Inf., known as the "Jasper
Rifles", under colonel Russell, General Floyd, Brigade Commander. He was in
active service until the fall of Fort Donelson, when he was taken prisoner and sent to
Camp Douglas, Chicago. He made his escape from that place by scaling its walls, and
returned to Lapeer county, glad to find himself once more under the protection of the
Stars and Stripes, and with no love for the Confederacy. Soon after his return he
came up the Muskegon River and resumed his wonted occupation as a lumberman in the
interests of Green & Mason, of Mecosta County, MI. He was married in 1864, and
with his wife, went to Wisconsin. From there he returned a few months later to
Osceola and Mecosta Counties, where he has since operated extensively in timber lands and
in lumbering as a jobber and contractor. He was engaged some years in the
manufacture of lumber at Evart, but the crisis of 1873 caused such a shrinkage of values
that it crippled his business at the point of operation. He is the owner of 4,000
acres of land situated in various portions of Osceola County, which includes 220 acres of
improved land, nearly all of which is comprised in the homestead estate. Mr.
McFarlane is a Republican in political preferences. He was one of the first
Supervisors in Osceola County, and has officiated in that position two years in Middle
Branch Township MI. he was married March 20, 1864 in Barton Township, Newaygo
County, MI to Hattie Marsh. They have six children - Archibald L., St. John., Edmond
P., Aloney C., infant (deceased) and Winnie M. Mrs. McFarlane was born January
7, 1864, in Dundee, Monroe co., Mich. She is the daughter of Carlos Marsh, a native
of Vermont, and the first permanent settler in Barton Township, Newaygo County. He
died in Middle Branch, June 25, 1879. The mother, Phoebe Ann (Palmer) Marsh is still
living.