History of Saginaw county, Michigan; together with ... portraits ... and biographies ... History of Michigan ...

KOCHVILLE TOWNSIIP.

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Erastus Purchase, farmer, sec. 19, was born in Ontario Co., N.
Y., in 1838, and is a son of E. and Lura (Griffin) Purchase, father
a native of Ontario county, mother native of Wayne Co., IN. Y.
Erastus received the greater part of his education in Micligan,
and in 1856 located in Saginaw county. He was engaged in the
lumber business in 1863-'5, but since then has followed agricultural
pursuits. By his own exertions and perseverance he has accumulated a good farm of 170 acres, one of the best farms in Koclhville
tp. He was married in 1864 to Emma M. Soper. They have 4
children, 3 daughters and 1 son. Their names are Mary A., Enma
A., Jennie L. and Alonzo M. Mr. Purchase believes in the
principles of the Republican party.
John Riegel, proprietor of the Michigan Hotel, Frankenlust,
was born in Germany in 1838, and is a son of Michael and Maggie
(Stahl) Riegel. He received his education in the " faderland," and
subsequently entered the Bavarian army, where he remained seven
years, during this period participating in three battles. Ie came
to this county in 1867, and operated a saw-mill for seven seasons.
He is a mason by trade, but is now proprietor of the Micligan
Hotel. He is a Republican in politics, owns 12 acres of land, and
has officiated as Justice of the Peace. Mr. Riegel was married
July 16, 1871, to Theresa Fisher. Both are members of the
Lutheran Church. She was born in Bavaria, Germany, Oct. 15.:
1845.
Rev. (George Christian Ernestus) Ferdinand Sievers is the son.
of Henry (Sigismund Frederic) Sievers, and Eleanor Lisette Florentine, nee von Borries, and was born at Lunenburg, Germany, May
18, 1816. His mother died in 1822 and his father a year later, and
the outlook for the poor orphan boy was very sad; but his uncle,
Rev. Ph. Sievers, took good care of him. He was educated at the
University of Goettingen, 1835-'38, where he studied theology some
time, then taught private school three and one-half years, studied
theology again at the Universities of Berlin and Halle, and taught
private school again three and one-half years; was ordained a minister in 1847, when he emigrated to this country to take charge of
Lutheran congregations here, and bought several hundred acres of
land from the Government at what is now South Bay City, with missionary means from the old country. The next year a number of
settlers came in from Germany and commenced to endure the privations of pioneer life. May 5, 1850, Mr. S. married Caroline Koch, in
New York city, while she was en route from her home in Germany
to her new home in the wilds of Michigan. She was the daughter
of Rev. Fr. Koch and Augusta, nee Bippart. Of the 11 children
born to Mr. and Mrs. S., 8 are living.
The settlement of Frankenlust, established by Rev. Sievers, has
grown to great proportions, and there is another flourishing settlement three miles southwest, also founded by Mr. S. in 1851. This
highly revered old gentleman has now enjoyed a long life of ul.efulness, and set an example of ministerial industry and faithtflnI nethat will be difficult for his successors to follow.
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