Andrew Jackson Stebbins Andrew Jackson Stebbins, the well-known real-estate dealer and insurance agent at Grand Rapids, was born in Madison county, N.Y., October 14, 1840. In October, 1846, he came to Michigan with his father, Galus P. Stebbins, who settled in Kent county, two miles south of Sparta village. Charles D. Stebbins now owns and lives on the farm first taken by his father, on section 26, in Sparta township. Andrew J. Stebbins in youth attended the common school. When the war of the Rebellion came on, he enlisted in company B, Twenty-first Michigan infantry, and had charge of medical supplies at hospitals No. 1 and No. 4, Nashville, Tenn., and was hospital steward until the close of the war. After his return he worked on a farm two years, and then engaged in the lumber trade for several years, owning and operating mills on section No. 1, Sparta, known as Stebbins’ mills; also lumbered several years for William T. Powers. He then built an elevator at Sparta Center, and bought grain for some time. Afterward, in 1880, he went to Dakota, and spent a year at Deadwood, lumbering there for W. T. Powers. Mr. Stebbins is mainly a self-educated man, but has always taken great interest in schools. At his mills in Sparta, after two years of hard work in that behalf, and several defeats, he succeeded in securing the organization of a school district, formed of territory taken from the four towns of Sparta, Algoma, Tyrone and Solon; also in having a good school-house built and nicely furnished with patent seats and desks. While he lived there he managed to have at least nine months of school each year, often making personal contributions for the maintenance of the schools, and frequently giving presents to the small scholars for constant attendance and faithful work in their studies. For several years in Sparta he held the office of justice of the peace. IN 1882 he was elected treasurer of Kent county, since which time he has resided in Grand Rapids, and was re-elected in 1884, thus holding the office four years. In 1889 he was elected a member of the common council—alderman from the Fourth ward—serving as president of the council during the administration of Edwin F. Uhl as mayor. Mr. Stebbins married, in 1866, Mary V. Gillam, of Sparta. They have three children—Miss Elsie, born in 1869, teacher; Orson D., born in 1870, bookkeeper, and Leo A.J., born in 1888. Mrs. Stebbins died in this city on March 23, 1895, and was buried in Greenwood cemetery. On August 11, 1898, Mr. Stebbins married Elizabeth A. Pierce, of Grand Rapids, who had been a teacher in the public schools of this city for many years, and at the time of her marriage was principal of the Straight street school, which position she resigned upon her marriage. Politically, Mr. Stebbins is a democrat. He was a charter member of Kent chapter of royal arch Masons, and was high priest therein until he removed to Grand Rapids. For many years he has owned a fine farm in Sparta, but never lived on it. At present he is engaged in the real-estate and insurance business, and is a leader in this line.