William Poppleton was born at Poultney, Vermont, in 1795. When but seventeen years old he removed to Richmond, Ontario county, New York, with his parents, where he was married in 1814 to Zady Crooks, with whom he lived happily for forty-eight years, and in whom he found a most faithful helpmate.

In 1823 he visited Michigan, then almost a wilderness, and located from government the west half of the southeast quarter and the east half of the southwest quarter of section 20, in the township of Troy, in Oakland County, and two years later, with his little family, consisting of his wife and two children, Orrin and Sally (aged respectively eight and seven years), he took a final leave of western New York and resolutely pushed out with a team for newer and wilder scenes, for larger and grander prospects.

In December, 1825, after thirty-two days of toilsome journey through Canada in a covered emigrant wagon, straggling along over rough pathways of the almost unbroken forests, much of the way frozen and covered with snow, he arrived safely at his homestead, and at once, with axe in hand, began unflinchingly to fell the giant forest and to carve out a fortune and a name, with an intensity of purpose which never for one moment wavered.

Little by little he added to his first purchase, now of the government, then of some weary and homesick settler, until, in 1845, just twenty years from the time he had bidden his friends in the east goodby, he was the undisputed owner of twelve hundred acres of land, much of which was in good tillable condition. Upon this large tract (the most of which was in one body) he went on rapidly making improvements, until from the dense forest of Michigan there had been made farms as fair to look upon and in as high a state of cultivation as any in the far famed Genesee country he had so recently left. In 1856 he moved upon one of his farms adjoining the village of Birmingham, and abandoned almost entirely all personal connection with farming operations. Here in his pleasant village retreat, with his faithful partner in life,. he enjoyed a well earned repose, until her death, in December, 1862. After that bereavement he seemed to lose much of the vigor of constitution which he had previously enjoyed, and, although the fire in his soul was not one whit abated, the " earthly tabernacle" was slowly but surely going to decay.

Of the confidence of the people of his township he always possessed a large share, and in all matters which affected the material welfare of his section he was first and foremost. To him the present excellent and superior condition of the public highways of the township are due ; his early interest and example in improving them certainly merits the commendations of the present and future generations. His counsel was taken into the highest consideration, and if not in the beginning, at the end was almost invariably acknowledged to be the soundest and best. Although his education from force of circumstances was limited, still, his indomitable energy and superior judgment frequently placed him in positions which those of far better advantages might well have been proud.

He was often in possession of the highest offices in his township, and in 1842 represented his county in the State legislature, which then held its sessions at Detroit.

His compeers were Governors Fitch, McLelland, Richardson, Barry, and many others known to the early settlers, whose names are identified with the pioneer legislature of Michigan.

He was always an unflinching and uncompromising Democrat, true to his party when in the right and the land which gave him birth.

Being the son of a Revolutionary sire, he placed a just estimate upon the value of liberty, and having been educated in the Jefiersonian school of politics, it was impossible for him to do otherwise than square every political measure with those immortal principles which, in years gone by, had brought prosperity to his country.

Mr. Poppleton was the father of seven children, two of whom died in infancy, two in ripe womanhood : Hannah E. married R. P. Bateman, and died in March, 1854 ; Carrie J. married Judge George B. Lake, of Nebraska, and died in February, 1860.

The remaining two sons and one daughter are yet living. Mr. Orrin Poppleton, the eldest survivor, prominently known in business circles in this section of the State, of unblemished private and public character, is residing at Birmingham, where he has been engaged in mercantile business continuously since August, 1840, being, perhaps, the only merchant in the county dating that far back. He has met with far more than ordinary successfully illustrating the invariable rule that success is attendant upon a persistent and untiring pursuit of a single calling. The next in age, a daughter, married D. Hoxsey; is a substantial, matronly woman, and living upon a large, finely cultivated farm in Troy.

The other surviving son, Andrew J. Poppleton, of Omaha, Nebraska, just past the meridian of life, is a man of unchanging purpose, and to contemplate whose life and character would be a just scarce of pride to the most ambitious parent. Having been liberally educated in a school that has given such men to the country as Seward, Dix, Wright, etc., and having adopted the profession of law for his pursuit in life, he set out, in 1851, in company with Governor Richardson, upon a pilgrimage westward, being the first to plant permanently the standard of civilization upon the farther banks of the Missouri, at Omaha, where there was not even a cabin to indicate that human life existed in all that vast prairie wilderness, a poor spot, indeed, to gratify the high hopes and lively imaginations of youth! But he had an unfaltering trust in the ultimate prosperity of his adopted home, and today he excels in rapidity of advancement, even in the city where he lives and labors, unrivaled in his profession in all that region, and known as its attorney wherever extends the interests of that last great work of our country, the Union Pacific railroad. In addition to these honors, following closely the footsteps of their sire, the sons have each held the responsible and honorable positions of legislators and other public trusts in their respective States.

We speak thus freely of the living, bcause they constitute the best illustration of industry, economy, and temperance, infused by a will with which there was not even a " shadow of turning." Such was the discipline of the elder Poppleton, not tyrannical, but severely just; not unparentd, but dutiful; not exacting, but keenly alive to the best interests of his offspring. He tried to cut his "jewels" a parent's greatest work with a master hand, sparing no defect, wasting no lustre. Far seeing, earnest, cautious, persevering, unconquerable, was this prominent landmark and pioneer in the history of Oakland County. That he was faultless his best friends would not for a moment pretend, but while he had a few imperfections, he possessed innumerable virtue, virtues of such endearing and sterling quality that they challenged even the admiration of his enemies. In his sphere. he had planned great things, and successfully executed them; where countless numbers would have failed, he has been more than triumphant. His indomitable spirit overturned every obstacle m the conflict of life ; he out-rode every storm upon its troubled sea ; and, having gone to his rest, passed forever from the busy stage of human action, let the faults, if there were any, be covered, that the story of more than a common career may stand as an example to the present and coming generations, beautiful and useful.

Alas I has stern Death the old house once more invaded, Although garner'd are the buds, the bloom, and the vine? Yet the oak which so many long years has shaded The hearthstone, grim monster, must this also be thine? Oh, too true! must the charm of the fireside be broken; The dear ones who hare met there can linger no more. For the last loving word of affection is spoken, The greeting, the blessing, and the parting is o'er. But, away down the future, when time shall have ended, And eternity begins its unending rounds. Shall the vase, sadly shattered, be cunningly mended, And the harp, all unstrung, then regain its sweet sounds.