History of Hillsdale county. Michigan, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers.

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HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.

was the father of John W., who says, " When we were
boys in the wilds of New York State, often have we seen
and hunted with those old Springfield muskets, with the
name of R. Falley on the locks, and though not having the
finish of our present arms, they were very correct, and powerful shooters with either shot or ball, as many a bear or
deer in the wilds of New York could testify fifty or sixty
years ago. We well remember that the boys who stood
with their shoulders at the breech of the musket felt it a
power when fired with a full charge."

ARVIN F. WHELAN, M.D.
Dr. Whelan is of English and Irish descent, his ancestors having early emigrated to New England. He was
born, however, in Oneida Co., N. Y., and received in his
early years such an education as the common schools afforded, supplemented by instruction from his father, who
was a man of intelligence, and an engineer by profession.
He was not satisfied, however, with these limited opportunities, and devoted all of his leisure time to study and improvement, and in 1851 came to Michigan, with a view to

Photo, by Carson & Graham, Hillsdale.
ARVIN F. WHELAN, M.D.

JOHN W. FALLEY.

In 1819, Richard Falley, Jr., with his family, moved to
Ohio, and settled near the " Ogontz Place," now Sandusky
City. As there were no school privileges, John was, in
June, 1821, sent back to Oswego Falls, now Fulton, N. Y.
In 1832 he returned to his father's, in Ohio, and after
spending three years at the Huron Institute, studied medicine, graduating at the first session of the Cleveland Medical College.
He first located at Greenfield, 0., where he practiced
medicine three years. In October, 1844, he removed to the
new and busy village (now city) of Hillsdale, Mich. In
this place he labored in his profession most assiduously for
the first twenty-five years, enduring in himself, and seeing
in others, all the hardships and privations as well as pleasures (which are not a few) of a new country.
For several years he acted as trustee of the village, and
for twenty years has been a member of the Board of Education. For nineteen years he has been elected county superintendent of the poor, for sixteen years has held a commission as United States examining surgeon, and for nine
years has been secretary of the Farmers' Mutual Fire Insurance Company, yet he still lives, eats heartily, sleeps
soundly, and tips the beam at two hundred and twenty-six
pounds.

establishing himself in the medical profession, having already
made some progress in his professional studies. After a
thorough medical course he associated himself with Dr. E.
D. Cone, of Hillsdale, and two years later by his death succeeded to his practice. In August, 1861, he entered the
army as assistant surgeon of the 11th Michigan Infantry,
and was later made surgeon of the 1st Michigan Sharpshooters. From that time, during his service in the army
he continued to fill successive positions of trust until finally
promoted to the position of surgeon-in-chief of division, and
attached to Gen. Hartranft's staff, with the brevet rank of
colonel. At the close of the war he returned to his home
in Hillsdale, and engaged in the pursuit of his profession,
where he enjoys a large practice. He has also devoted
himself with much energy to public enterprises, and has
filled the offices of alderman, president of the village, and
county treasurer, throwing his accustomed earnestness into
each department of labor. Dr. Whelan is a prominent
member of the State Medical Society, and was the first
president of the Southern Michigan Medical Society. He
is a ready speaker on professional topics, and his medical
lectures before the students of Hillsdale College are listened
to with much interest. He married, in 1857, Miss Delle
H. Anderson, of Genesee County, and has two children,a son and daughter.

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