MARQUIS DE LAFAYETTE, known as M. D. L., was born December 8, 1823. He attended school until the age of twelve when he met with a physical affliction but he did acquire a good common education by becoming an avid reader of history, and kept himself well posted on affairs in the weekly newspaper.
He taught vocal music, was a farmer and stock raiser. He was also able to fill the office of Constable satisfactorily and was Hillsdale Co. highway commissioner for three years. He was a member of the school board most of the time during the last forty years of his life. Besides the acreage given him upon his father’s death he purchase additional land totaling 160 acres.
He married Clarissa PAYNE at her parent’s home in Lenawee County on July 3, 1853. She bore him two children. Clarissa died at home in Jefferson Township on November 17, 1858.
Albert b. unk, married and moved to Kansas, died before 1937.
Ella b. abt 1854, married Charles ZELUFF who was a brother of Phoebe Ann, the wife of Phylandcourt and M. D. L.’s sister-in-law; in other words Ella married her Aunt Phoebe's brother. Ella and Charles had one daughter and two sons who served with Teddy Roosevelt’s Roughriders.
On April 5, 1863, MDL married Miss Eunice FIELDS from Crawford County, Ohio. She was the daughter of Seldon and Lydia Ketchum FIELDS, natives of Connecticut and New York respectively. Eunice was one of the early teachers at the Black School. To this union were born nine children.
MDL cast his first presidential vote for Zachary Taylor (election of 1848, canidates were Taylor as Whig and Lewis Cass [D] of Michigan) and was an ardent supporter of democratic principles. In religious matters he belonged to the Methodist Church, while his wife was an estimable Advent. They were greatly respected by their neighbors.
