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Note: Said to be champion "fighter" in his state. ( bare Nuckles boxing) !Portrait & Biographical Album Of Osceola County Michigan, February 1885 by Chapman Brothers, Chicago, cite pp. 247 & 248. John B. McFarlane, lumberman and 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., Mich, 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 secession 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., and infant (deceased) and Winnie M. Mrs McFarlane was born Jan. 7, 1846, 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. !1880 CENSUS. Vol 22, Ed 227, Sheet 8, Line 22. 1880 Mich. Sylvan Twp. Osceola County, Mich. (192)
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