There are men in every community who are regarded as leaders, upon whom devolves the duty of inaugurating every new movement, and who must bear the brunt of every new work and improvement. Such a man is Peter Voorheis, and the record of his life teaches us what may be accomplished by a determined purpose. He is a son of Peter D. Voorheis, and was born in Sussex county, New Jersey, August 14, 1812. When Peter was three years old his parents moved to Seneca county, New York, and subsequently to Ogden, Monroe county, in the same State. Here they resided until their removal to Michigan, in 1832. They located on section 35 of the present township of Independence, Peter remaining with his parents until the next year, when he, then not quite twenty-one years old, began making a home for himself, by locating a piece of government land on section 22. On this he lived the life of a pioneer for nine years, when he purchased his present farm on sections 26 and 27.

After having built himself a humble home young Peter took unto himself a helpmate, in the person of Mary Fisher, on the 27th of November, 1834. This lady is a daughter of Adam Fisher, of Warren county. New Jersey, and came with her father from that State in 1833. She is now the only surviving member of that family.

Mr. Voorheis' marriage brought a family of ten children to cheer and bless his home : Fisher A., John, Margaret, Nancy Ann, now Mrs. E. H. Tompkins, Elizabeth, now Mrs. Mark Hixson, Mariette, now Mrs. Luke Voorheis, Ruth Ann, now Mrs. Gideon Gates, Peter, Elisha S., and Isaac I. Three of these have died, John, Margaret, and Nancy Ann, the others have grown up useful men and women, and have been aided in life's conflict by the provision made for them by Mr. Voorheis. Although thus mindful of the welfare of his family, Mr. Voorheis has not neglected the duties pertaining to his citizenship. He participated in the organization of his township, and has held various offices, as supervisor, justice of the peace, etc. He is a member of the Presbyterian church, and helped to organize the Sashabaw society and the Cemetery Association at that place Under his able superintendence the cemetery has become one of the finest in the county, and is, aside from the esteem in which his neighbors hold him, a fit monument of his worth as a man and citizen.