| Notes |
- Fulton County was not founded until 1850.
http://books.google.com/books?id=yW5ntLrIIvoC&pg=PA210&dq=abraham+f.+mcfarland+ohio&hl=en&sa=X&ei=OIGTU-SOLqqh8QGI6YCgDQ&ved=0CDcQ6AEwAw#v=onepage&q=abraham%20f.%20mcfarland%20ohio&f=false
"Portraits and Biographical Album of Hillsdale County Michigan Containing Full Page Portraits and Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens of the County", 1888
ABRAHAM F. McFARLAND, a general merchant at Waldron, is a native of Knox County, Ohio, where he began life on the 24th of February, 1849. His father, George McFarland, was born in Virginia, and was the son of Eleven McFarland, whom it is believe d was a native of Scotland. However that may be, he located in Virginia, purchasing a farm in Frederick County, and died there. George McFarland learned the trade of cooper in his youth, and about 1837 removed to Ohio, settling in the young tow n of Zanesville, where be followed his trade first, and then carried on business in a shop of his own. >From that place he removed to the portion of Williams County which is now included in Fulton, and settled in the midst of a timbered tract , eighty acres of which he had secured by purchase, and where he cleared a good farm. Of this, however, he only retained possession until 1848, removing thence to Knox County, where he followed farming three years, then returned to Zanesville, an d resumed coopering until 1855. During this year the father of our subject purchased another tract of timber land in Williams County, where he had again to cut away the trees in order to make room for the log house. Upon this he resided until hi s death, which occurred on the 25th of September, 1887, at the advanced age of eighty-four years. In the meantime he had eliminated a good farm from the wilderness, and in his later days was surrounded by all the comforts of life. Mrs. Sarah (Jen nings) McFarland, mother of our subject, was also a native of Virginia, is still living, and occupies the old homestead in Mill Creek Township, Williams Co., Ohio. The parental household included eleven children, eight of whom grew to mature year s. Abraham F. was six years of age when his parents settled among the pioneers of Williams County, Ohio. He attended the district school when a small boy, and as soon as large enough was required to make himself useful about the farm. When a yo uth of seventeen he began learning the blacksmith's trade at East Hamer, where he continued nine months, and after his employer sold out worked elsewhere as a "jour," being fully competent. He was thus occupied six years, then purchasing a shop i n Hamer continued there two years, at the expiration of which time he made his way to this county, and invested his little capital in a lot in Waldron, where he put up a shop, and presided at the anvil six years more. Failing health now compelle d him to abandon muscular labor, and renting his shop, he purchased a small stock of groceries, in which he began to build up a good trade. The following spring he was obliged to seek more commodious quarters, and a year later purchased ground an d erected his present buildings. His straightforward manner of doing business has secured him a generous patronage from the people of this section, and he now carries a large stock of clothing, dry-goods, boots and shoes, groceries (both fancy an d staple), and has, in connection with these, a drug department. The marriage of Abraham F. McFarland and Miss Sarah L. Seeley took place at the home of the bride, near Morenci, Mich., on the 30th of July, 1872. Mrs. McFarland was born in Erie Co unty, Pa., in August, 1855, and is the daughter of William and Mary (Weed) Seeley, natives of Springfield, Erie Co., Pa.; the father departed this life in 1872; the mother was born Jan. 30, 1831. Mr. Seeley was reared and married in his native co unty, where he purchased twenty acres of land, upon which he operated for two years, then sold out, and purchased fifty-six acres near the town of Springfield, where he continued with his family until 1867, then coming to Southern Michigan, he pur chased a farm on section 26, in Wright Township, upon which he lived and labored until called hence. The paternal grandfather of Mrs. McFarland, Austin Seeley by name, was a native of Vermont, and the son of David Seeley, who removed from the Gree n Mountain State to Erie County, Pa., about 1818, and there spent his last days. Austin Seeley took for his wife Miss Mary Hart, a native of New York State. He purchased land in Erie County, improved a farm from the wilderness, and there spent t he remainder of his life. The maternal grandfather of Mrs. McFarland, William Weed, Sr., was born in Luzerne, N. Y. His father was also named William Weed. He was of Welsh ancestry, and one of the early settlers of Luzerne. He removed from ther e to Attica, and thence to Chautauqua County, where his death took place. The great-grandmother in her girlhood was Miss Mary Selleck, a native of New York State. Their son William, the grandfather of Mrs. McF., was married, in Albion, N. Y., t o Miss Martha Peckham, a native of that place, and the daughter of Allen and Martha (Mattison) Peckham. After marriage he purchased a tract of timber land in Springfield Township, Erie Co., Pa., where he cleared a farm, and subsequently added mor e land, upon which he operated until resting from his earthly labors. The mother of Mrs. McF. resided with her parents until her marriage, and became an expert at spinning wool and flax and weaving cloth. She is still living, and occupies the ol d homestead with her youngest son and daughter. Abraham F. McFarland is ranked among the self-made men of Hillsdale County, and one who has contributed his full quota toward the development of its resources. Politically, he is a Republican. Mr . McFarland and wife have five children, viz.: William W., Frank W., Hermey, Abraham F., Jr., and Nevada.
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1848 - 1917 (69 years)
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