Portrait and Biographical Record, Pages 544, 545

BENJAMIN LILLIE, a highly esteemed pioneer citizen and prominent general agriculturist of Ottawa County, Mich., came with his brother Timothy to this State in 1843, and, locating three miles north of where Lamont now stands, they were the first white settlers of Wright Township. The brothers made their own road from Lamont, then only a landing place, known as Steele’s Landing, to their farms, which at first were heavily timbered claims of a quarter-section each, covered with a dense growth of beech and maple. The brother later died on his homestead, leaving a large family.

Our subject was born in St. Lawrence County, N.Y., where he received an education, and attained to manhood. He was married there to Miss Philena Dickenson, and soon after, determining to try his fortune in the West, left her in the old home while he came to Michigan to prospect and secure some place to which he might bring his young wife. In the fall of 1843 Mrs. Lillie joined her husband in Ottawa County, and the two, reunited, entered with ambition into founding a new home amid the pioneer scenes and yet almost wilderness of this part of the State. Year after year Mr. Lillie devoted himself to the pursuit of agriculture, and, as the woods yielded to his axe and the cultivated soil responded to a bounteous harvest, financial prosperity crowned the industry and thrift of husband and wife.

Ten children with their bright presence blessed the home of these early settlers of Michigan. After many years the faithful companion, who had shared the early struggles of our subject, passed away, mourned by all who knew her. Mr. Lillie after some time wedded again, and, once more bereaved by the death of a wife, a third time entered into matrimonial bonds and became the father of a numerous progeny. Until 1889 Mr. Lillie continued to make his residence in Ottawa County, but at that date removed to New Iberia, La., where he is now engaged in the cultivation of sugar-cane.

Roswell Lillie, the second son of Benjamin and Philena (Dickenson) Lillie, a very successful attorney-at-law and a prominent citizen of Coopersville, was born in Wright Township and grew up to a self-reliant and enterprising manhood in Ottawa County. Having first enjoyed the benefit of a good common-school education, Mr. Lillie afterward graduated with honor from the State Agricultural College, and later read law in Lansing, Mich. While pursuing his legal studies he taught school, and through his own efforts has steadily won his upward way to assured success. In 1873 he opened a law office in Coopersville, and has since continued his residence in the locality.

In 1873 were united in marriage Roswell Lillie and Miss Mary Bennett, of Ann Arbor, in which latter place Mr. Lillie attended law lectures at the University, after being admitted to the Bar in Lansing in the year 1872. Settling in Coopersville in the spring of 1873, he associated himself in the mercantile business with E. J. McNaughton. Afterward he sold out and spent four years in Mississippi, where he handled merchandise, but in January, 1893, he sold out there and returned again to his early home.

Mr. Lillie is a stanch Democrat and held the office of Postmaster under the first administration of Cleveland, resigning in 1889 to go into other business. He has held with ability nearly every office within the gift of the people of Polkton Township, and in the spring of 1893 was elected to the office of Supervisor. For nine consecutive years his father held the responsible position of Supervisor of Wright Township, and as a public officer commanded the confidence of all who knew him. Roswell Lillie has two children, a son and a daughter, Ella and Hal. The parents are valued members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and are active in good work. Fraternally, Mr. Lillie is connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and, prominently identified with the growing interests of the home of his youth, is a popular man, possessed of a wide acquaintance and a host of friends.