ROBERT W. VALCOLM is a prominent and well to do farmer in West Bloomfield and Commerce townships, his residence being maintained in Commerce village . His farm consists of seventy-two acres in West Bloomfield township and one hundred and forty acres in Commerce, and is one of the highly productive and valuable places in the county. It was a government homestead, of whichi Robert Malcolm's father, George Malcolm, became the owner in 1832, and on this place the subject was born on February 18, 1844, his parents being George and Janet (Andre) Malcolm , both natives of Scotland , who came to America in their young days. George Malcolm played an important part in the affairs of his community all his life, and when the dispute between Michigan and Ohio over the city of Toledo arose, in 1835, and known to history as the Toledo War, he was one of those who organized a company of militia, but it was never mustered into service.

Robert W. Malcolm attended the district schools as a boy, and on August 11 , 1862, he enlisted in Company I of the Twenty-second Michigan Infantry. He left the state with his regiment on September 4th, following, and at the battle of Chickamauga, on September 19th and 20th, 1863, was taken prisoner and removed to Richmond, Virginia, thence. to Danville, Andersonville and Florence. He was a prisoner of war for more than fifteen months, after which he was released and returned to his regiment, being discharged from the service on July 1, 1865. Returning home, he gave his attention to study and attended school during the winter for a short time, which ended his schooling. Thereafter Mr. Malcolm directed his energies to the care of the home farm, of which he is now the owner. He prospered as a farmer, and has long been prominent in his community in politics and general public life. The list of offices he has held in Bloomfield township is a large one, and represents practically positions of importance in the gift of his fellow townspeople. He was supervisor two years; town clerk of West Bloomfield township for two years, school moderator for twelve years and a director of the school board for nine years; he was a member of the board of review for twenty-three years; and in 1884 was sent by his district to the state legislature for a two year term . He has always been a man of weight and influence in his community, and as a citizen concerned in the common weal he has done his full share in the service of his towns people.

On November 11 , 1874, Mr. Malcolm married Miss Sarah Long, of West Bloomfield township . She was born in Detroit, Michigan, the daughter of Joseph and Harriet (Atwood ) Long. Mr. Long was for years engaged in the boot and shoe business in Detroit, but later bought a farm and devoted hiniself to agriculture in West Bloomfield. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Malcolm ; Harriet, the eldest, is the wife of Roy Gamble, a farmer of Milford, where they live. George G. is superintendent of schools at Norway, Michigan, one of the prominent mining towns of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, and is married to Miss Grace White; they have two sons, Gordon G. and Robert W. The youngest child of Jr. and Mrs. Malcolm is Bert W., who makes his home on the farm . He married Miss Edith Crook.

Mr. Malcolm is a member of the Masonic order, holding membership in Commerce Lodge, No. 121 , Milford Chapter and Pontiac Commandery. He is also a member of the Eastern Star, No. 301, of Commerce, as is also his wife, and both are members of the Methodist Episcopal church of their home town.