Michigan

WILSON S. PAUL
One of the most familiar names in southern Branch county, and particularly
in California township, is that of Paul. Members of the Paul
family were among the early settlers of this section, where they had an important
influence upon
the early history, improvement and development of the township, while today their descendants are numerous in this and adjoining
townships, where they are people of property and influence.
John Paul, the paternal grandfather of our subject, was born in Bal-
lybar, county Cavin, Ireland, in 1780, and when seventeen years old came
to America with two sisters, Margaret and Nancy, they also leaving a
brother, Thomas, and sister, Jane, in Ireland. John Paul was married in
1803 to Jane Allen, also a native of Ireland, born in 1780, who came to
America when a child with her parents, John
Allen and Elizabeth Riddle Allen, they locating first in Philadelphia and afterward removing to Argyle,
Washington county, New York. Here John Paul died, leaving his wife a
widow at forty-nine and with ten children. Seven years after his death
she removed to Pembroke, New York, and afterward to York. That Jane
Allen Paul was a woman of undaunted courage is evidenced by the fact
that about the year 1840 she made the trip from Pembroke, New York, to
Constantine, Michigan, going on foot from Detroit to Constantine and return,
following Indian trails through southern Michigan. The object of
this arduous journey was to secure justice and money belonging to herself
and children which was in danger of being lost through confidence in others.
She was married again in 1849 to David Armstrong, and spent her later
years
in California township, where she died in 1859. Mr. Armstrong died in Illinois in 1890.
John and Jane Paul had twelve children, of which family our subject’s
father, David Paul, was a younger member. David Paul was born in Argyle,
New York, April i 6, 1819, and he grew to manhood there. He was
also married there, March n, 1841, to Jane E. Hall, a native of Argyle,
New York, where she was born August 31, 1822, she being the daughter
of Mr. and Mrs, John Hall. David Paul was a resident of New York state
until 1844, when he came to Michigan, locating on section sixteen, California
township, of this county, where he spent the remainder of his life.
He had in early life learned the trade
of carpentering, although the most of his time was given to farming, in which he was eminently successful, he
being at the time of his death the largest land owner in the towrnship, possessing
nearly six hundred acres. Mr. Paul was a leading figure in the early
history of California township and lie did much in the way of improvement
here. He was upon many occasions called to public office, he being an early
township supervisor here and holding other offices.
Unto David and Jane Paul twelve children were born, two of whom
died in infancy, the others being as follows : John, died in October, 1901 ;
Elizabeth Quimby, lives in Ovid; James B., lives in this township; David .
and Albert live at Seattle, Washington; George W. died September 16, 1902;
Wilson S. is the subject of this review; Frank H. is in Seattle, Washington ;
Emma J. Vance
and Allen W. Paul live in this township. David Paul and his wife were people who stood very high in the regard
of the residents of this section, where the greater part of* their lives were p
assed. They reared a large family of children, giving them every advantage possible. The parents
led long and useful lives, Mr. Paul dying here November 20, 1891, and
Mrs. Paul passing away December 13, 1903.
Wilson S. Paul, born February 22, 1860, grew to manhood upon the
home farm, securing in the meantime a, good practical education, which he
has supplemented with wide reading and intelligent observ
ation, He lived at home until he had reached the age of twenty-three years, although he
worked for himself after he was nineteen, laboring and working land on
shares. He also taught school in 1881-82. He was married, April io, 1883,
to Sarah J. Vance, a native of Maryland, where she was born August 21,
1862. The Vance family came originally from Ireland and a brief review
is as follows: The Vanees were farmers in their native county in Ireland
for many generations, Mrs. Paul’s paternal great-grandfather being John
Vance, who married Mary Allison. One of their sons, Robert Vance, was
Mrs. Paul’s grandfather and his wife was Mary Ramsey. They had twelve
children, one of whom was Mrs. Paul’s father, Alexander
Vance. Alexander Vance was born in Ireland, November 28, 1833, and he was married
there in 1852 to Mary Barnhill. They came to America soon after marriage,
living in Brooklyn, New York, for three years and then removing
to the vicinity of Baltimore, Maryland, where they lived for ten years and
where Mrs. Paul was born. In 1864 the family came to Michigan, locat
ing in California township, Branch county, which place has since been their
home. Ten children were born unto Mr. and Mrs. Vance: Robert, Alexander,
Martha and Hugh dying in childhood. The others still living are:
Ellen Dun-lap, Sarah Paul, Matthew Vance and Andrew B. Vance, of this
township; William Vance, of Cleveland, Ohio; and Anna McLouth, of
Fremont, Indiana. Mrs. Vance died in September, 1888, while Mr. Vance
is still living and a resident of this township.
The union
of Mr. and Mrs. W. S. Paul has been blessed with the birth of two sons: David Earl Paul, born February 9, 1884, and Ivan A. Paul,
born July 8, 1888. • Both live at home with their parents. Mr. and Mrs.
Paul are members of the United Presbyterian church.
The esteem in which Mr. Paul is held by his townsmen is shown in that
he has so many times been called to public office. He was supervisor of
California
township four years, 1896-97-98-99«; township clerk in 1884-85; township treasurer two terms and school inspector for several terms. In addition
his well known interest in educational affairs has led to his selection
as school officer, he being director and moderator for a period of eight years.
In agricultural matters he has also been highly successful* He became
an owner of real estate after the death of his father and now has a fine farm
of one hundred and forty acres on sections nine and ten, with excellent build-
ings and complete equipment, the whole forming a model farm home. The
Pauls have long been honored residents of this part of the county, and the
present living generations are upholding the unsullied name of their worthy
ancestors. Mr. and Mrs. Wilson S. Paul have in their possession a parchment
deed executed by President James K. Polk, elated February i, 1849.
This is the twelfth one of the kind found in old Branch county. They have
four old almanacs of 1812, 1813, iSn and 1815, which are souvenirs/ Also
they have one of the old flax hackles which was used by his grandfather, and
it is over a hundred years old. Mr. Paul can also distinctly recall his mother
spinning the yarn for the use of a family of twelve, while his first straw hats
were woven or braided by his mother and oldest sister. He has often heard
his father tell of cultivating corn with the same plow he used in first plowing
the ground, afterward using a one, or single shovel plow, but never used
one with two shovels,, though his sons used them as they became old enough
to work in the corn.
Mr. P’aul was converted at twenty years of age and became a member
of the United Presbyterian church immediately. He began teaching in the
Sabbath school when twenty-one years old, and has taught most of the time
since, having also been superintendent for fifteen years. He has been identified
with the First District Convention work for eighteen years, being
president two years, and taking an active part in its conventions. He was
elected to an eldership at the early age
of twenty-four, and has been clerk of session all the time since, a period of twenty-two years.

FROM:

A Twentieth Century History and Biographical Record of Branch County, Michigan

by Henry Park Collin – 1906