Ralph Henry Van Deusen
of Elsie, Clinton County, Michigan, was born June 20, 1825, in Sheridan, Chautauqua County, New York; and is the sixth in a family of eleven children. His father, Andrew Van Deusen, of Dutch descent, was born and educated in Massachusetts, where he engaged in farming and milling. His mother, Orpha (Joyner) Van Deusen, also a native of Massachusetts, is now--1877--living in Hinckley, Medina County, Ohio, at the advanced age of eighty years. To this place the family removed, in 1829, and settled on an unimproved farm. There Mr. Van Deusen received his primary education. He was always an active, industrious boy; and the death of his father, in 1839, tested his manliness and self-reliance. From that time until he was twenty, he conducted his father's saw-mill successfully, and contributed his earnings to the support of his widowed mother. In 1844 he sold the mill, and purchased one hundred acres of wild land. He cleared and improved the greater portion of this farm, and lived there, with the family, until 1855. In that year, he sold his interest, and removed to Michigan. He settled on the meridian line between Shiawassee and Clinton counties, and purchased a quarter section of wild land in the township of Fairfield, Shiawassee County, one mile east of the village of Elsie. He has now three hundred and fifty-three acres of wellstocked land under cultivation. He owns, also, one hundred and twelve acres of improved land in Duplain Township, which he works in connection with his home farm. He makes a specialty of the dairy business, keeping, on an average, thirty-five cows; and has, also, a large flock of sheep, and other necessary stock. In politics, he was at first a member of the Free-soil party, but associated himself with the Republican party when it came into power. Mr. Van Deusen was elected Supervisor and Justice of the Peace; but refused to accept the offices, as he knew that the successful management of his farm required his personal attention. He has, however, been interested in the enterprises calculated to promote the welfare of Elsie; and has contributed largely for this purpose. In religious matters, he contributes to the support of the Gospel, but is not a member of any church. He united with the Odd-Fellows in 1866, and has taken all the degrees of the subordinate lodge. Mr. Van Deusen delights in looking after the interests of his farm; and is always at home and at work. He is probably, to-day, one of the richest farmers in Shiawassee or Clinton County. He married, September 30, 1846, Maryette M. Rockwell. They have had ten children. Of the five living, three--one daughter and two sons--are married, and settled on neighboring farms. One daughter and one son live at home.*1887