WALTER M. RACE, Postmaster and Township Clerk, resident at Croton, was born in Taghkanick, Columbia Co., N.Y., Jan. 15, 1842. His father John W. Race, was also a native of the same county and was born of German and Holland Dutch parentage, Feb. 22, 1803. Margaret (Thompson) Race, the mother, was born in 1808, in the same place, of German lineage.
In 1868 Mr. Race came with his paents to Kent Co., Mich. He received his elementary education in the common schools of his native State, and in 1864 was graduated at Hobart College at Geneva, N.Y. He at once entered upon the study of medicine, reading three years in the office of C.S. Hoyt, M.D., at Potter Centre, Yates Co., N.Y. On coming to Michigan he engaged in teaching and discharged the duties of a pedagogue 14 miles south of Grand Rapids. He attended medical lectures at Ann Arbor, and opened his career as a practitioner in Kent County, where he operated until 1871. In that year he came to Croton, and in connection with his practice embarked in a mercantile enterprise, and continued the management of both one year, when he returned to Kent County and resumed his practice, following it until the fall of 1879. At that date he returned to Croton and engaged in local practice and as a clerk in a store. He became owner of an interest in the mercantile business, which he retained until 1882, when he sold out. He has since applied his time and energies to his profession and the duties of his official positions, which, besides those named, includes those of Justice of the Peace. He received his appointment as Postmaster under President Garfield's administration. In political relations he is an arden Republican, and has always taken an active and zealous interest in the issues of the party.
Mr. Race was married March 30, 1871, in Big Prairie Township, to Sarah J.M., daughter of ?? and Eunice (Goff) Krusen. She was born in Kalamo Township, Eaton Co., Mich., Sept. 19, 1852. Her father was born of German lineage March 16, 1820, in New Jersey; her mother was born Jan. 27, 1824, in Licking Co., Ohio. The three children, born to Mr. and Mrs. Race are all living. Their names are Hubert DeForest, Edna Earl and Myrtle Maud.