Thanks to Beverly Johnson (deanjohnson@torchlake.com) for sending this story about the John Sutter family. The typing errors, however, are mine.
John Sutter was born in Berne County, Switzerland, in 1838. In the year 1859 he was united in marriage to Miss Verina Widner, to which union were born 8 children, five boys and three girls, four of whom were born in the old country and four in Elk Rapids, Michigan. John Sutter was a blacksmith in his native county of Switzerland.
In the year 1866 he left his native country with his wife and 4 children (Fred, John, Emma and Lewis) and came to Elk Rapids, where he secured employment with Dexter & Noble as their general blacksmith. He served them faithfully for many years. He also purchased a farm in Milton Township in 1870 and with fortitude and determined will wielded the axe and cleared the farm and brought it into a good state of cultivation. Edwin was born in Elk Rapids and Laura, Pauline and Otto were born after they purchased the farm. The first farm house built near US-31 burned (1/15/1873) but soon another house was built, placed on top of the hill. That house is still standing proudly.
As his sons reached majority he turned over the farm to them and he and his wife went to Grand Rapids and workerd at his trade for several years. As age was creeping up on him and his wife, wishing to be nearer their children, they returned north and purchased a home at Torch Lake Village, where as his stength permitteed him, he worked at his trade until he tied in 1915 at the age of 77. Verine died in 1918 at the age of 83.
The Sutter Farm on Sutter Road is still in the family today and has the designation of a "Centennial" farm. To receive recognition as a centennial form, the farm must have been owned and operated by the same famly for 100 years or more. The Sutter Farm received the designation in December, 1978 from the Michigan Historical Commission. The farm was started by John Sutter, passed to son Edwin, son Mervin and now son Gary. The have given it a name of HiVuFarm because of the beautiful view they see situated high on a hill with a view of Lake Michigan in the distance. John Sutter arriving in the United States in 1866 would never have guessed that his dream of yesterday would still be alive today. The children of John and Verina Sutter:
Born Married Died
Fred 1859 ??? 1 child John 1860 never married 1945 Emma 1862 ____ Cameron* 1915 Lewis 1865 1897 to Lydia Arno 1950 9 children Edwin 1867 1898 to Louise Arno 1948 8 children Paulina 1870 1888 to H. Marvill 1931 5 children Otto 1872 1906 to Mable Duffell 1946 5 children Laura 1876 to Chris Gokey 1900 1 child * appears to have first married a John Smith in 1878
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