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William H. Ostrom, farmer, Brooks Township, section 15, was born March 25, 1837, in Lima, N. Y. He is a son of Abram and Jerusha (Porter) Ostrom. The father was born in 1794, of German origin, in the State of New York, and died in 1838. The mother was also a native of the Empire State, born of English parentage in 1799, and died in 1873.
Mr. Ostrom was an infant of nine months when his father died, and remained under the management and care of his mother until he was 11 years old, when he was confided to the control of a man named Nelson Wellman, with whom he was to reside until he was 18 years old. The contract was terminated two years earlier, and, after working a season by the month in his native State, he came to Michigan, in 1854, being 17 years of age. He made a location in Lansing and operated there as a farm laborer until one year before the outbreak of the Southern Rebellion, when he went to Conway, Livingston Co., Mich.
He became imbued with the spirit which impelled the North to contend with the element that had determined to force disruption at all costs, and in September, 1861, he enlisted on Co., K, Ninth Michigan Vol. Inf., for three years during the war. On the requisition for veterans being made, he responded and was discharged to re-enlist in December, 1863. He received his final discharge in September, 1865, at Jackson, Mich., and went to Lansing and engaged in farming.
He bought his farm in Brooks Township in 1879. It consisted of 80 acres of unimproved land, of which 35 acres are now under cultivation. He has erected substantial farm buildings, and set out a well selected assortment of fruit trees. In political relations Mr. Osborn is a Republican, and he belongs to Post "Samuel Judd," G. A. R., at Newaygo.
Mr. Ostrom was married Aug. 2, 1860, at Lansing, to Mary, daughter of Moses and Ruth R. (Wood) Gidley. She was born Aug. 2, 1844, in Ohio. Her parents were born in the State of New York, her father being of French descent and born Nov. 23, 1815, and died Dec. 10, 1866. Her mother is still living at Grand Ledge, Mich. Clara B., Ida M., Charlie P. and William H. Jr., the four children born to Mr. and Mrs. Ostrom, are all living.
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