NELSON WHITBECK, farmer, sec. 22, Mecosta Tp., was born in Wayne Co., N.Y., Jan. 26, 1834. His parents, Jasper and Mary (Ropp) Whitbeck, were natives of the State of New York. His mother died in Michigan, in the spring of 1878, aged 93 years. His father died in Oakland Co., Mich., in the fall of 1882. He was a centenarian, and distinctly remembered the first election of Washington to the Presidency of the United States by ballot. He ws a soldier of 1812, and lived to see the fifth generation of his descendants grow up about him. The family removed from New York to Michigan, leaving the Empire State, Nov. 4, 1838, where the boyhood, youth and early manhood of Mr. Whitbeck were passed. After reaching his majority he attended to the conduct of his father's farm, and finally the old homestead passed into his possession. In the fall of 1882 he came to Mecosta Tp., and bought 160 acres of land, with 120 acres in good condition for farming purposes. On this Mr. Whitbeck is at present engaged in progressive farming.
He was married March 19, 1857, to Sarah, daughter of Horace and Annie (House) Atwood, of Roe, Oakland Co., where she was born June 16, 1838. Her father was born in New York and is still living. The mother was a native of New Hampshire. Ada G., born April 27, 1859, and Howard M., born Feb. 1, 1852, are the two children of Mr. and Mrs. Whitbeck.
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