This gentleman was born in the town of Fayette, Seneca county. New York, January 7, 1815. He came to Michigan in 1836, and for three years lived in the neighborhood of Ypsilanti, Washtenaw county. His father, Peter Voorheis, had come to the State about 1828, and purchased land in the township of Van Buren, Wayne county, but never settled upon it, and never in fact settled in the State.

Sebring Voorheis was married on the 11th day of September, 1839, to Sarah Bachman, in Steuben county. New York, he having returned to that State after a stay of three years in Michigan. Soon after his marriage he brought his wife to Michigan, and located the same year (1839) in White Lake township. After residing one year on the farm belonging to his cousin, Harrison Voorheis, he settled on the place where he now lives, section 8. He also owns land in section 9. The property was purchased from second hands, although he made the first improvement upon it. He erected a log house, sixteen by twenty-four feet, in which he lived a number of years. He now occupies a brick dwelling, which stands some forty or fifty rods east of the site of the old log house, which gave way to the ravages of time and the elements about 1871-72, and has been removed.

Mr. Voorheis has been twice married. By his first wife he was the father of two children, both sons: Myron, born December 10, 1840 ; now living in White Lake township. Peter, born September 11, 1843, is a graduate of the State university at Ann Arbor, and now engaged in the practice of law at Grand Rapids. Mr. Voorheis' first wife died April 14, 1866, and on the 11th of September, 1867, he was married to Julia A. Yerkes, of Plymouth, Wayne county. Since this union a son, Carl Stewart Voorheis, has been born to them, his entrance into life occurring March 29, 1872. Mrs. Voorheis' father, John Yerkes, was one of the pioneers of Plymouth township, Wayne county, Michigan, having settled there in 1826. He was one of a party of sixteen persons who came at that time, part of the number being the family of his brother, William Yerkes. They were from Romulus, Seneca county. New York. Mr. Yerkes died February 14, 1877, aged seventy-eight years. Mrs. Voorheis was born in Plymouth, Michigan, February 20, 1832.

Mr. Voorheis' first wife was born December 6, 1818, in the township of Pultney, Steuben county, New York, where her father, Jacob Bachman, was an early settler. Mr. Voorheis has always followed general farming. Owns one hundred and fifty acres of finely improved land where he lives. He and his wife are members of the First Presbyterian church of White Lake, he having united with that organization in 1840.

In politics he is a Republican, and in 1876 was elected supervisor of the township, although it is usually strongly Democratic. Has held the same office a number of terms previously, having been elected first in 1843. In the fall of 1862 he was chosen to represent his district in the lower house of the legislature, and served one term.

Mr. Voorheis' life has been void of over-excitement upon any cause outside of deaths in his family, and his years rest lightly upon him. He is much esteemed by all who have an acquaintance with him, and when the grim " reaper whose name is Death" calls fur him, he will take to his final home one of the best of White Lake's citizens.