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| Joseph West, farmer on sec. 27, Green Tp., was born in Wiltshire, Eng., Nov 7, 1829. His parents, William and Sarah (Bimester) West, were English by birth and belonged to the agriculture class in their native country. He was the only son, and when two years old his father died. The education of Mr. West as such as is acquired by the majority of men similarly situated in youth. His father and step father were men of the class who bear the brunt of the world in their native land, those on whose efforts and needs the so called upper classes thrive, and his labors were necessary for the family support. Thomas Beasent was a widower with children when he became the husband of Mrs. West. In 1853 Mr. Beasent came to the United States and settled in Mecosta County, the children on both sides accompanying him. Mr. West married Mary Ann Beasent, Oct. 23,1851, she was a daughter of Thomas and Mary (Gay) Beasent, and born Oct. 27, 1836. Mr. Beasent died in Mecosta County. Mr. West obtained employment as a lumberman a few months after coming to America, and in the spring of 1854 came to Big Rapids and soon after located on sec. 33, in Green Tp., where he bought 80 acres of land under the Gradation Act, paying 75 cents per acre. There he labored and resided until 1867, when he purchased the farm where he now resides, containing 160 acres of land. Mr. West is a Republican and an honored citizen of Green Tp. His thrift and preserving industry have met with the reward of well-directed effort, and he is in the possession of substantial evidence of wisdom of his purposes of life. The landholder is a sovereign by primal kinship to the first man, endowed divinely with all the lands of the earth. William L., eldest son of Mr. West, was born in 1852, in England, married Clara Hovey, of Green Tp., and lives in Dakora. The remainder of Mr. West’s children were born in Michigan. Eliza M., married William Dalziel. The others are: Charles E., Anna J., George W. and Eddie. Chester E. and Louisa are deceased. We give a portrait to Mr. West in this volumn as one of the pioneers of Mecosta County. |