Harley C. Bement, an honored pioneer settler and representative general agriculturist of Allendale Township, Ottawa County, Mich., is a native of Steuben County, N. Y., and was born January 3, 1835. He was the seventh child of a family of ten children born unto the union of Harley and Eliza (Briggs) Bement, natives of New York. The father, a farmer, left the Empire State for Michigan in 1836, and, arriving safe and sound at his destination, located in Macomb County, being one of the first settlers within its limits. Michigan was yet a Territory, and the nearest neighbor was four miles away. He purchased land of the Government and as rapidly as possible transformed his acres into a productive farm. At first the family were obliged to go to Mt. Clemens for their flour, and the father frequently carried it on his back the long distance of fifteen miles. The Indians, who were numerous, were usually harmless, although given to dishonesty, and upon one occasion during the absence of the family stole everything the house held, even carrying away the clothing of the mother and children. The father followed the Indians two days and recovered their table-knives, all ground to fine points, and his wife’s silk dress, which had been cut short in the skirt to be worn by the Indians. The daughters’ dresses were served in like manner, and everything which had been carried away was more or less injured.

Being a great hunter, the father was enabled to furnish meat for the table fresh from the woods, which abounded in game. In 1839 or 1840, the family removed to Ingham County, then one of the new counties of the State, the Bements being also pioneers of this locality. Her the husband, wife and children lived much the same as before for a time. The father assisted in building the first sawmill erected in Hardy, Livingston County, and which was on the county line of Livingston and Ingham Counties. He placed the largest log in that mill ever used in the construction of any building in the State, the said log being sixteen feet in length and six feet through at the top or small end. Remaining there until 1853, the father then made his home with his family in Georgetown, where he engaged in farming and lumbering. He followed these various pursuits until the breaking out of the War, in 1860, then, fired with patriotic enthusiasm, enlisted in the service of the Government. Born in about 1791, and his first wife in 1800, he was only a lad of eighteen when he joined the Sixth New York Infantry, and fought with courage in the War of 1812. He engaged with valor in the battle of Plattsburgh and took an active part in other fights, in one of which he was slightly wounded. He served throughout the period of the war and was honorably discharged at the close. Now, when again the country had need of him, although no longer young, he promptly responded, entering Company D, Seventh Michigan Cavalry, and enlisting as Veteran Surgeon of the company. He was attached to the Third Corps of the Army of the Potomac but only engaged in one battle, which was fought in Virginia.

The father was one of the most robust men in the county when he entered the service, but when discharged from the hospital in Washington, D.C., having served one year, his constitution was so shattered by exposures and privations that he was a physical wreck, and upon his return home was not able to do a day’s work. Although then in his seventieth year he survived the scenes of the war until March 3, 1882. For eight years prior to the war he ably administered the law as Justice of the Peace, and in this office gave universal satisfaction to the general public. He was twice married. The first wife lost her life by the burning of their house in the township of Groton, she being alone at the time. This was in June, 1856. The father and mother were both devout members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Of the ten children who brightened the old home, all lived to maturity. Harriet married L. Brown, and resides in Olive Township; Levi is deceased; Naomi, deceased, was the wife of J. J. Christian; Lavina is the wife of Pat Roe, of Grand Rapids; Silas, who lives in Isabella County, Mich., served with courage nearly two years in the late war, and was wounded in the fight at Seven Pines or Fair Oaks; Eliza, deceased, was the wife of Moses Buxson; Harley C., is our subject; Clemons died in the army at Chattanooga, Tenn., in 1863; and Priscilla and Silas are deceased. The father, a second time marrying, was then wedded to Mrs. Annie (Wood) Parker, who still survives and now, in her eighty-fifth year, makes her home with our subject.

Harley C. Bement was educated in the common schools and mainly reared upon a farm, although he had engaged in lumbering as well prior to the war. Upon June 10, 1861, he enlisted in Company I, Third Michigan Infantry, and was in the Third Corps. Army of the Potomac. At the time of enlistment he was made a non-commissioned officer and received promotion as Sergeant. He actively engaged in the decisive engagements of Bull Bun, Yorktown, Williamsburgh, Fair Oaks, Seven Days’ Fight, and around Richmond, and also participated in the second battle of Bull Run, in which encounter he was three times wounded, first through his left hand. Before he would get off the field he was shot in the fleshy part of the right thigh, the third wound being given by a grape shot, which struck him in the back, tearing his cartridge box into pieces. From the effects of this latter shot our subject has never entirely recovered. Mr. Bement was then sent to Bellevue (N.Y.) Hospital, from which place he was discharged in November, 1862, and returned at once to his home and family in Michigan. Since then he has devoted himself to farming and threshing, and for seven years framed for Edward Cole, of Ottawa County, hauling logs and lumber from the woods to the sawmill.

In 1875, our subject went to Utah for the purpose of mining, first stopping at Salt Lake City. He remained in Utah one summer, but not finding his mining venture a success returned home and engaged in farming in the township of Groton, from where he later removed to his present farm of eighty acres in 1882. At the time Mr. Bement purchased his Allendale Township homestead, the land was entirely unimproved, but the farm now contains fifty highly cultivated acres. In February, 1892, the residence and contents were entirely destroyed, and since then our subject has erected a handsome two-story frame building at a cost of $1,100.

In 1857, were united in marriage Harley C. Bement and Miss Marinda Parker, a native of Ohio, and daughter of E. W. and Annie (Wood) Parker, who came to this State in 1855. Mrs. Parker later became the wife and widow of the father of our subject. Mr. and Mrs. Parker were the parents of seven children: Andrew, who resides in Ingham County; Amanda, deceased, who was the wife of J. Corlis; Herrick, deceased; George, a citizen of Butler County, Mo., Marinda, the wife of our subject; Ezekiel, who lives in Denison, Tex., and Benjamin, who died in 1893, at Tucson, Aria. Our subject and his estimable wife have been blessed by the birth of ten children. Lemuel was the eldest born; Medora is the widow of Seth Barager, of Grand Rapids; Clemons, Pearl, Benjamin C., Annie, Albert, Charles and Maude complete the list of intelligent sons and daughters who gathered at the family fireside.

Mr. and Mrs. Bement are both valued members of the First Christian Church of Georgetown. Fraternally, our subject is a member of W. Thuskittle Post No. 388, G. A. R., of which Bement was Commander two years and is Senior-Vice. In 1883, Clemons was thrown from a horse, and, his head being injured, was invalid five years, and two years of the time upon his back in bed and could not be turned or moved. Science restored him in a great me—to health, but excellent care and a large outlay of money were needed to save his life and give permanent relief. The family of our subject widely known and highly esteemed, occupy ---ions of useful influence and command the evidence of many sincere friends.