Ranson Button, D. D. S. Ranson Button, D.D.S., one of the oldest and most experienced dentists of Grand Rapids, Michigan, is a native of Rensselaer county, N.Y., was born February 24, 1820, and is a son of Ranson and Maria Button, both born in the Empire state. They were the parents of ten children, of whom five only are now living, viz: Anthony, Ranson, Isaac, Jacob, and Lucy. Of these Jacob is a resident of Shepardsville, Clinton county, Mich., and Lucy is now Mrs. Groesbeck, of Genesee county, this state; Anthony and Isaac still make their home in Rensselaer county, N.Y. The father was a farmer and passed all his life in his native county of Rensselaer, and died at the age of sixty years, where the mother also died at about the same age. Ranson Button, the subject of this sketch, received a good common-school education in his native county, and in 1850 began the study of dentist in Troy, N.Y., and the following year was so well prepared that he commenced the practice of his profession in his home neighborhood. He then entered upon an itinerancy, and operated in Stillwater, Saratogo county, N.Y., Saratoga Spring, Glenn’s Falls, Hoosick Falls all in the same state, and in Manchester, Vt. From the last-named place he came to Grand Rapids, Mich., in 1869, and for twentyfive years did a lucrative business on Canal street, and for the past four years has occupied his present office on West Bridge street, thus having been in the active practice in the Valley city for thirty consecutive years. Dr. Button was joined in matrimony, in Grand Rapids, in 1873, to Mrs. Jane Watson, a native of England, who came to America in childhood, but to this union no children have been born. They have their cozy and comfortable home at No. 63 Fourth street, in which the spirit of piety ever reigns. The doctor was made a Mason at Hoosick Falls, N.Y., early in the ‘sixties, and is now in good standing in the Blue lodge in Grand Rapids. In politics he is a republican, and has always been an ardent advocate of the principles of his party, but has never sought public office. For fifty-eight years he has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and is devoted to its interests. He is always most happy in the society of religious people, and in taking an active part in church services. His pew in never vacant on Sunday or on any occasion when religious services are held during the week, if he be able to attend, and he is equally ardent in Sunday-school work. Although past the ‘three-score and ten’ allotted to man, he is still in the enjoyment of good health, and in full possession of all his mental faculties, and during his long resident in Grand Rapids has made friends after friends, but has never made one enemy.

Transcriber: Barb Jones
Created: 14 August 2006