RAY COURTRIGHT. Since he was twenty-one years old, Ray Courtright has been independently engaged in farming; at first, operating another man's land on shares, and since 1904 running his own farm, which his father deeded to him at that time. Mr. Courtright was born on the farm he now owns and occupies in November 18, 1873, and is the son of Leonard Courtright and his wife, Mary Anne (Lamb) Courtright. The father was born in the township of Butler, Wayne county, New York, on August 1, 1827, while the mother was a native of Cayuga county, New York, born there in 1831. In 1844 Leonard Courtright came to Michigan with his parents, who located in Clarence township, near the farm on which the subject now lives. Here he married his wife, who came to Michigan with her parents as a young girl, they also settling in Clarence township. Six children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Courtright, as follows: May married Louis North, and is now deceased; H. June is a resident of Dallas, Texas; Eva is dead; Cass Juan is engaged in the monument business in Springport; J. L. is a resident of Albion; Ray, of this review. Leonard Courtright bought this farm from the government. He cleared the land, and built upon it a log house, which he furnished complete with furniture made from the logs he cut on the place. He started life with nothing but his strength, his courage and determination, and the splendid character that came by endowment to him from his sturdy ancestors. By the application of those qualities, he has risen front comparative penury to the position of a well-to-do man. His first farm of one hundred and twenty-five acres he added to from time to time until it represented an acreage of three hundred or more acres at one time, which he operated up to its limit. In later years he built upon this place one of the finest brick houses in the township, with fine large barns and stables suited to his needs. He was ever a hard-working man, and though small of stature, never weighing more than one hundred and forty pounds, he was capable of performing more actual labor, with greater powers of endurance than many a man by far his physical superior in weight and size. He was a Democrat, but not more than ordinarily active in the political affairs of the community. He died on January 19, 1909, while his wife preceded him on August 14, 1894.
The boyhood of Ray Courtright was one of unusual freedom for a farm lad, and it was not until he was twenty-one that he settled down to actual responsibility. In that year he began to operate his present farm on shares, and after a year thus engaged he took another farm of 120 acres in the northern part of the township, which he continued to work for two seasons. In 1900 he returned home and his father deeded him his present farm, consisting of seventy-five acres in the finest part of the township. He does a general farming business and raises some stock, as well.
On December 25, 1894, Mr. Courtright married Rena Augusta Starks, the daughter of D. C. and Emma (Williams) Starks. Her family is one of the oldest in the state, her grandparents having come to Michigan in the early territorial days. The family was founded in Michigan by Samuel C. Stark, who was born in Whitehill, Washington county, New York, on January 16, 1818, dying in Michigan in 1892. He settled in Michigan in 1844, locating in Branch county, and a year later moving to Calhoun county. He first bought property in Albion, which he later traded for eighty acres of land in Clarence township, that place now being owned by A. J. Cortright. The last years of his life were spent on a small farm in the southern part of the township. His son, D. C. Starks, attended the district schools of Clarence township, and in 1872 was employed as a fireman on the Michigan Central Railroad. Later he became interested in the saw mill business in Brookfield, in which he continued for fourteen years. His parents then were in their old age and needed his care, and he accordingly went home and looked after them until their death. During the last 18 years he has lived in Springfield, engaged principally in the elevator business. He was married in 1874 to Emma Jane Williams, the daughter of Vine and Phylinda Williams, and they became the parents of three children: - George Riley, of Springport; Rena Augusta, who married Ray Courtright, and Eva Maude, the wife of J. E. Hoag, a bookbinder of Springport. Mr. and Mrs. Courtright have one child, - Eva May, in school at present.
Contributor: Dave Randall (46866800) • [email protected]
The boyhood of Ray Courtright was one of unusual freedom for a farm lad, and it was not until he was twenty-one that he settled down to actual responsibility. In that year he began to operate his present farm on shares, and after a year thus engaged he took another farm of 120 acres in the northern part of the township, which he continued to work for two seasons. In 1900 he returned home and his father deeded him his present farm, consisting of seventy-five acres in the finest part of the township. He does a general farming business and raises some stock, as well.
On December 25, 1894, Mr. Courtright married Rena Augusta Starks, the daughter of D. C. and Emma (Williams) Starks. Her family is one of the oldest in the state, her grandparents having come to Michigan in the early territorial days. The family was founded in Michigan by Samuel C. Stark, who was born in Whitehill, Washington county, New York, on January 16, 1818, dying in Michigan in 1892. He settled in Michigan in 1844, locating in Branch county, and a year later moving to Calhoun county. He first bought property in Albion, which he later traded for eighty acres of land in Clarence township, that place now being owned by A. J. Cortright. The last years of his life were spent on a small farm in the southern part of the township. His son, D. C. Starks, attended the district schools of Clarence township, and in 1872 was employed as a fireman on the Michigan Central Railroad. Later he became interested in the saw mill business in Brookfield, in which he continued for fourteen years. His parents then were in their old age and needed his care, and he accordingly went home and looked after them until their death. During the last 18 years he has lived in Springfield, engaged principally in the elevator business. He was married in 1874 to Emma Jane Williams, the daughter of Vine and Phylinda Williams, and they became the parents of three children: - George Riley, of Springport; Rena Augusta, who married Ray Courtright, and Eva Maude, the wife of J. E. Hoag, a bookbinder of Springport. Mr. and Mrs. Courtright have one child, - Eva May, in school at present.
Contributor: Dave Randall (46866800) • [email protected]
RAY COURTRIGHT. Since he was twenty-one years old, Ray Courtright has been independently engaged in farming; at first, operating another man's land on shares, and since 1904 running his own farm, which his father deeded to him at that time. Mr. Courtright was born on the farm he now owns and occupies in November 18, 1873, and is the son of Leonard Courtright and his wife, Mary Anne (Lamb) Courtright. The father was born in the township of Butler, Wayne county, New York, on August 1, 1827, while the mother was a native of Cayuga county, New York, born there in 1831. In 1844 Leonard Courtright came to Michigan with his parents, who located in Clarence township, near the farm on which the subject now lives. Here he married his wife, who came to Michigan with her parents as a young girl, they also settling in Clarence township. Six children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Courtright, as follows: May married Louis North, and is now deceased; H. June is a resident of Dallas, Texas; Eva is dead; Cass Juan is engaged in the monument business in Springport; J. L. is a resident of Albion; Ray, of this review. Leonard Courtright bought this farm from the government. He cleared the land, and built upon it a log house, which he furnished complete with furniture made from the logs he cut on the place. He started life with nothing but his strength, his courage and determination, and the splendid character that came by endowment to him from his sturdy ancestors. By the application of those qualities, he has risen front comparative penury to the position of a well-to-do man. His first farm of one hundred and twenty-five acres he added to from time to time until it represented an acreage of three hundred or more acres at one time, which he operated up to its limit. In later years he built upon this place one of the finest brick houses in the township, with fine large barns and stables suited to his needs. He was ever a hard-working man, and though small of stature, never weighing more than one hundred and forty pounds, he was capable of performing more actual labor, with greater powers of endurance than many a man by far his physical superior in weight and size. He was a Democrat, but not more than ordinarily active in the political affairs of the community. He died on January 19, 1909, while his wife preceded him on August 14, 1894.
The boyhood of Ray Courtright was one of unusual freedom for a farm lad, and it was not until he was twenty-one that he settled down to actual responsibility. In that year he began to operate his present farm on shares, and after a year thus engaged he took another farm of 120 acres in the northern part of the township, which he continued to work for two seasons. In 1900 he returned home and his father deeded him his present farm, consisting of seventy-five acres in the finest part of the township. He does a general farming business and raises some stock, as well.
On December 25, 1894, Mr. Courtright married Rena Augusta Starks, the daughter of D. C. and Emma (Williams) Starks. Her family is one of the oldest in the state, her grandparents having come to Michigan in the early territorial days. The family was founded in Michigan by Samuel C. Stark, who was born in Whitehill, Washington county, New York, on January 16, 1818, dying in Michigan in 1892. He settled in Michigan in 1844, locating in Branch county, and a year later moving to Calhoun county. He first bought property in Albion, which he later traded for eighty acres of land in Clarence township, that place now being owned by A. J. Cortright. The last years of his life were spent on a small farm in the southern part of the township. His son, D. C. Starks, attended the district schools of Clarence township, and in 1872 was employed as a fireman on the Michigan Central Railroad. Later he became interested in the saw mill business in Brookfield, in which he continued for fourteen years. His parents then were in their old age and needed his care, and he accordingly went home and looked after them until their death. During the last 18 years he has lived in Springfield, engaged principally in the elevator business. He was married in 1874 to Emma Jane Williams, the daughter of Vine and Phylinda Williams, and they became the parents of three children: - George Riley, of Springport; Rena Augusta, who married Ray Courtright, and Eva Maude, the wife of J. E. Hoag, a bookbinder of Springport. Mr. and Mrs. Courtright have one child, - Eva May, in school at present.
Contributor: Dave Randall (46866800) • [email protected]
The boyhood of Ray Courtright was one of unusual freedom for a farm lad, and it was not until he was twenty-one that he settled down to actual responsibility. In that year he began to operate his present farm on shares, and after a year thus engaged he took another farm of 120 acres in the northern part of the township, which he continued to work for two seasons. In 1900 he returned home and his father deeded him his present farm, consisting of seventy-five acres in the finest part of the township. He does a general farming business and raises some stock, as well.
On December 25, 1894, Mr. Courtright married Rena Augusta Starks, the daughter of D. C. and Emma (Williams) Starks. Her family is one of the oldest in the state, her grandparents having come to Michigan in the early territorial days. The family was founded in Michigan by Samuel C. Stark, who was born in Whitehill, Washington county, New York, on January 16, 1818, dying in Michigan in 1892. He settled in Michigan in 1844, locating in Branch county, and a year later moving to Calhoun county. He first bought property in Albion, which he later traded for eighty acres of land in Clarence township, that place now being owned by A. J. Cortright. The last years of his life were spent on a small farm in the southern part of the township. His son, D. C. Starks, attended the district schools of Clarence township, and in 1872 was employed as a fireman on the Michigan Central Railroad. Later he became interested in the saw mill business in Brookfield, in which he continued for fourteen years. His parents then were in their old age and needed his care, and he accordingly went home and looked after them until their death. During the last 18 years he has lived in Springfield, engaged principally in the elevator business. He was married in 1874 to Emma Jane Williams, the daughter of Vine and Phylinda Williams, and they became the parents of three children: - George Riley, of Springport; Rena Augusta, who married Ray Courtright, and Eva Maude, the wife of J. E. Hoag, a bookbinder of Springport. Mr. and Mrs. Courtright have one child, - Eva May, in school at present.
Contributor: Dave Randall (46866800) • [email protected]
Gravesite Details
b. Clarence Twp. d. Marshall. Parents Leonard & Mary (Lamb) Cortright. Wife: Rena Augusta Starks m. 12/17/1894.
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