Osceola County MI Archives Biographies.....Slosson, Willis M. March 17, 1842 -
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Author: Chapman Brothers, Chicago
Willis M. Slosson, member of the business firm of J.M. Reed & Co. at Reed
City, was born May 25, 1849, in Newark Valley,
Tioga Co., N.Y. Ozias J. Slosson, his father was born in 1805, at Great
Barrington, Mass. Associated with James M. Reed
and Charles Higbe, he came to Northern Michigan in 1856 and aided in the
location of Reed City, the firm consisting of
Messrs. Reed, Higbe and Slosson, becoming by purchase the proprietors of more
than 4,000 acres of land lying in Osceola
and Newaygo Counties. They platted the city, and two of its thoroughfares -
Slosson Avenue and Higbe Street - now
perpetuate the memory of their names. The senior Slosson retained his
citizenship in Tioga Co., N.Y., but aided in the
development of this portion of Osceola County, and at the date of his death
was still one of the leading
property-holders in the county. He died in Newark Valley, Feb. 11, 1862. The
demise of his wife, Mrs. Ann F. (Fisher)
Slosson, took place Feb. 7, 1872. She was a native of Francistown, N.H.
Their family consisted of five children -
three sons and two daughters. Mr. Slosson of this sketch is the youngest
son. Arthur B., the oldest, is present Deputy
Sheriff of Osceola County, and resides at Reed City. Edwin Slosson, second
son, is a grain merchant at Sabetha, Kan.
Willis M. Slosson was reared to manhood and trained in the business habits of
his father, remaining on the homestead at
Newark Valley until the age of 22 years, when he went to Kansas, and in
partnership with William B. and Samuel Slosson,
his cousins, established the business to which his brother Edwin succeeded by
an exchange of interests, the younger
brother taking his place in the real-estate firm at Reed City, where he
engaged un furthering the interests of the
business house of which his father was one of the primary members, and which
is engaged in the sale of its landed
tracts. (The brothers Slosson purchased the claims of their sisters.)
Mr. Slosson owns also individual property at Reed City, including a business
byulding on Upton Avenue, occupied as a
drug store and photograph gallery, a half interest in the lot and building
leased as a law office by Messrs. Bellows &
Stone, attorneys, and other village property. He is officiating for the
second time as President of the village, of
whihc he has been Trustee, two years. He is prominent in the Order of
Masonry, belonging to the several bodies, - Blud
Lodge, Royal Arch Chapter and Commandery. He is also connected with the
American Order of United Workmen.
His marriage to M. Ella Butler occurred May 20, 1874, in Newark Valley. she
was born Nov. 20, 1854, and is the daughter
of John and Jane Butler. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Slosson were born s
follows: Leonard B., April 13, 1875;
Lawrence M., Oct. 25, 1878; and Edna E., April 21, 1880, at Reed City. the
two elder children were born at Sabetha,
Kan.
The portrait of Mr. Slosson, which is presented on the opposite page, is
eminently fitting and appropriate as an
accompaniment to his biography, as he represents a name inseparably connected
with Reed City from its incipiency.
Additional Comments:
1884 Portrait & Bio Album of Osceola Co.
Chapman Brothers, Chicago
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