1907 History of Allegan County, Michigan Illustrated Compiled under the Editorial Supervison of Dr. Henry F. Thomas Allegan Lewis Publishing Company Transcribed by Sue Baroski

Alby Rossman

Alby Rossman was for many years a prominent and honored resident of Allegan and his life was one of such signal usefulness to his fellowmen as to cause his death to be the occasion of deep and widespread regret. At all times he was mindful of the public interests and his efforts w! ere of direct benefit in the community. Born in Aurelius township, Cayuga county, New York, on the 14th of June, 1812, he was a son of George and Ruth (Wood) Rossman, natives of New York and Canada respectively. The father had served as a soldier in the Revolutionary war and his life was devoted to farming and mechanical pursuits. On leaving the Empire state he removed to Ohio at an early day and his wife died there in Madison county. Subsequently he returned to New York and his death occurred at Mount Morris in Genesee county.

Alby Rossman, the youngest of the six children, was thus early left an orphan and was eight years of age when he went to live with a sister at Springport, new York, where he remained for a year, during which time he attended a school that was two miles distant from his home. After leaving his sister he went to Auburn, New York, and was there apprenticed to learn the trade of a machinist. He worked in a furnace and machine shop for th! ree years and afterward continued at his trade as a journeyman until 1836. In that year he came to Michigan, locating first at Marshall, Calhoun county, where he remained for six months, during which time he built and operated a furnace. In it he ran the first iron and cast the first plow made in Michigan. He then came to Allegan and established a furnace, in which he made the first sled manufactured in this county. Subsequently he enlarged the scope of his activities by adding to his plant a machine shop, which he established and conducted in connection with his furnace for twenty-nine years. He was thus a most prominent factor in industrial life of the community and he belonged to that class of representative men who, while promoting individual interests, also advance the general welfare. After continuing in the machinist’s business for twenty-nine years he sold out and built a small store and several houses. He was one of a company that erected the Chaffee Block, which at that tim! e was the finest in the village. In 1869, however, the building was destroyed by fire and he thus suffered a severe loss. In that year he removed to his farm which he had purchased of the Boston Company, and he laid out fifteen acres in village lots called the Rossamn addition. He was thus connected with the material development of the city and his labors were of immense benefit in its growth and progress. Moreover he figured prominently in other ways in connection with welfare and progress of the town. He was elected justice of the peace and held the office for five years, rendering decisions which were strictly fair and impartial and won him the commendation of all law abiding citizens. He also served as alderman and village marshal and was superintendent of the water works, the building of which was done under his supervision.

Mr. Rossamn was married in 1832 to Miss Angeline Dickinson, a native of New York, and unto them were born two children. The son, George W., mar! ried Elizabeth Newcomb, of Ganges, Michigan, a daughter of John and Jane (Harrison) Newcomb, who were natives of England. George W. Rossman passed away in January, 1889, and his wife died in September of the same year. They left one daughter, Kate E., who is now the wife of Franz Le Isle, of Allegan and she was two children, Elizabeth Camilla and Mary Rossman. Mary A. Rossman is the widow of Captain Frederick Hart, who was the secretary of the Michigan State Insurance Company at the time of his death in 1877, and he won his title as captain of the Adrian Guards. He was also prominent in Masonry and attained the Knight Templar degree. In 1848 Mr. Rossman was called upon to mourn the loss of his first wife. He afterward wedded Mrs. Electa Dickinson, the widow of George W. Dickinson. Mrs. Dickinson had daughter, Cynthia, now the wife of Henry C. Smith. Mrs. Rossman’s parents ere Chester and Cynthia (Granger) Hooker, natives of Cayuga, county, New York. She has three grandchildren, ! Dr, Charles H. Smith of Chattanooga, Tennessee, married Edith Hyde and has one son, Lawrence H; Annie E., the wife of G.H. Buchanan, by whom she has three children, A. Louisa, Laura E. and Lillian Lucile; and Glenn D., married Louie Myers, of Springfield, Ohio, and they have one son, Roger L. Mr. Rossman was a strong advocate of Democracy, giving unfaltering support to the party from the time he cast his first presidential ballot for Andrew Jackson. His last vote was cast for Grover Cleveland. He was a most liberal and public spirited man and contributed largely to the erection of the churches and schools of his community, being deeply interested in everything pertaining to the upbulding and welfare of village and county. He died in Allegan in 1893, at the age of eighty - a most venerable and honored man, whose life at all times had commanded the confidence, trust and respect of his fellow citizens and who left behind an untarnished name.






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