History of Wexford County, MI. Compiled by John H. Wheeler Published in 1903 by B. F. Bowen Biography Page 117 - 118

WILLFORD D. FALES

 

A lifetime spent in the pursuit of one calling will usually result in substantial success. Such is found to be the case in the life of Willford D. Fales, one of the substantial citizens of section 6, Cedar Creek township. He was born in the town of Pembroke, seven miles from Niagara Falls, New York, January 29, 1848. His parents were Dexter and Sarah (Wood) Fales, natives of New York, good, industrious people who always merited and received the good opinion of every community in which they lived. The subject of this article was the second of a family of three children and when he was but an infant his parents moved to Pennsylvania where they remained until the subject was four years of age. He was then taken to New York and for the next three years lived in Steuben county, and at the age of nine years came to Kent county, Michigan, where he grew to manhood, his time being occupied in the ordinary labor of the farm. From Kent county he went to Muskegon, where he resided for two years, being engaged in the same pursuit, spending, however, his winters in the woods lumbering. His mother died in 1852 and his father in 1874. In the spring of 1869 Mr. Fales came to Wexford county and located upon eighty acres of land in section 6, Cedar Creek township, which he still owns and upon which he resides. This little farm he has since splendidly improved, erected upon it good, substantial buildings, set out an orchard of four and one-half acres, embracing fruit trees of all kinds suitable for this climate, the greater part, however, being many fine varieties of apple trees. Sixty acres are now clear and in a splendid state of cultivation, and no more desirable little farm home is to be found in the county of Wexford. On the 5th day of April, 1871, Willford D. Fales was united in marriage to Miss Mary Ann Blackall, a native of Kent county. The ceremony took place in the city of Grand Rapids, and the contracting parties immediately thereafter took up their abode on the subject's farm in Cedar Creek township. One child was born to this union, Marion B., but the faithful wife and mother did not long survive, as she died in 1872 after a brief illness, leaving her beloved babe to the care of its sorrowing father. In Ottawa county, Michigan, on the 3d day of August, 1873, Willford D. Fales was again married, his bride on this occasion being Miss Julia E. Gillat, a native of Ottawa county, where she was reared and educated. They took up their residence soon after the ceremony on the subject's Cedar Grove township farm, and there they still reside. To this union four children were born, viz.: Herman C.; Lottie M., wife of William Moffitt; Ira D. and Grace E. In all local affairs, particularly contemplated improvements, Willford D. Fales takes a deep interest and he has always done his full share toward advancing the welfare of the county. Mr. and Mrs. Fales are members of the Freewill Baptist church, devout worshippers and active and zealous in the cause of religion. He is a public-spirited enterprising citizen who always conscientiously performs the duties required of him, both public and private, and his character in the community where he has lived so long is above reproach. He is a Prohibitionist and takes high ground on the subject of temperance.