William Chase

William Chase was born in New York state July 16, 1831, and died November 13, 1918. He came to Michigan with his parents, who first lived on the F. D. Merithew farm, long known as the Howe farm. He went to California in search of gold in 1852 and served as a policeman in San Francisco and mining camps. On his return, the ship was wrecked off Hatteras and he lost some of the gold saved in California but always said "he was thankful he saved his boots and other things."

He married Hannah Conklin. They had five children, one of which was Frances W. wife of Ed E. Root of Manchester. Mr. Chase was a farmer by occupation.