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

HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.

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material interests of either his town or county, but what
has found in him a liberal supporter. Mrs. and Mrs.
Bunday are consistent and worthy members of the Congregational Church, and both are exemplars of long lives well
spent. Mr. Bunday is now in his seventy-eighth year, and
still possesses much of his former energy and vigor. He
has not only witnessed the transition of a semi wilderness
into one of the most prosperous and fertile counties in the
State, but in his own person has typified so admirably the
agencies that have wrought many of these changes that no
history of Hillsdale County would be complete without some
sketch of his life, labors, and character.
LABAN A. IOWARD, M.D.
Dr. L. A. Howard was born in Livonia, Livingston Co.,
N. Y., Sept. 22, 1841. His father, who was a farmer,
moved to Michigan, and settled on a farm at Allen's Prairie, in 1853, when the subject of our sketch was twelve
years of age. From that time until he was eighteen
years old he worked on his father's farm summers, and
attended school winters. At eighteen, feeling competent
to teach, he commenced teaching, and taught some six
terms in different parts of the county. He afterwards
entered as a clerk and book-keeper in the hardware-store of

ment, where, by faithful attention to his duties in the care
and attention of his sick comrades, he was (after about a
year's service) promoted to be first assistant surgeon of the
3d Michigan Infantry Regiment, which position he ably
filled until the war closed and his regiment was mustered
out. He was at the battle of Nashville, when General
Hood met his defeat, and where he did good service in the
care of the sick and wounded. After this battle he was
stricken down with typhoid fever, which came near ending
his days. Upon returning from the army, he attended the
Eclectic Medical Institute, at Cincinnati, receiving two
courses of lectures, and graduating with high honors. He
then returned home and settled in Litchfield, where he has
remained up to the present time. Soon after his return he
became acquainted with and married Miss Carrie E. Stilwell, a resident of Litchfield.
By his own unaided exertions Dr. Howard has built up
a reputable practice, and ranks among the first physicians
in the county. In 1875 he built a fine store, and stocked
it with drugs and medicines; he conducted it with his
practice until quite recently, when he sold the store, but
continues with his practice. In 1877 he built himself a
fine residence, where he at present resides. He was quite
active in the matter of getting his village incorporated, and
was elected its first president, receiving the support of both
parties; this position he filled acceptably to the people. He
is at present vice-president of the State Eclectic Medical
and Surgical Society. He is also a prominent member of
the First Baptist Church, filling the office of one of the
deacons. lie is not alone an enterprising, successful physician, but is a man ever ready to give to the needy and
afflicted, and who has the respect and esteem of his fellowcitizens.
S. SABIN FAIRBANK.
This gentleman, one of the prominent citizens of Litchfield, was born in the town of Union, Tolland Co., Conn.,
Oct. 15, 1822. His father, the Rev. Stephen Fairbank,
was a native of the same place, where he preached until his
removal to Hillsdale County in 1839, Sabin being then a
young man of nineteen. The elder Fairbank purchased
one hundred and sixty acres in section 17; here he resided
until his death. Sabin, as was the custom in those days,
acknowledged obligation to his father in his labor until lie
had attained his majority, when he started in life for himself as a farm-hand. He soon purchased forty acres of land,
and to this small beginning he has made repeated additions,
until he has now a beautiful farm of one hundred and fifty
acres near the village of Litchfield, a view of which we
present elsewhere. April 21, 1853, Mr. Fairbank was
united in marriage to Miss Lucretia, daughter of Ira and
Rebecca (Calkins) Allen, of Munson, Ohio. They have been
blessed with five children,-M. Augusta, born Aug. 4,1854;
Ida R., born Aug. 2, 1856; Ira A., born July 4, 1860;
Belle S., born April 3, 1863; Roy Wilford, born March
23, 1877. Mr. Fairbank, in his religious and political

belief, is a Methodist and a Republican, and is justly considered to be among the prominent farmers and valuable
citizens of the town of Litchfield.

Photo. by Carson & Graham, Hillsdale.
LABAN A. HIOWARD, M.D.
John S. Lewis, of Jonesville, Mich.; but this business
not being congenial he left after three months, and entered
the office of Dr. E. M. Shaw, of Allen, and commenced
the study of medicine. Here he applied himself diligently until the fall of 1864, when he enlisted as private
in the 4th Michigan Infantry Volunteers, receiving the
appointment of hospital steward when the regiment was
organized. Having recruited some twenty-five men, a commission was offered him, which he refused, preferring the
position of steward. He went to the field with his regi