History of Branch county, Michigan, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers. Philadelphia, Everts & Abbott, 1879

EZRA BOSTWICK was born in Otisco, Onondaga Co., N. Y., Feb. 27, 1826. He was the son of Oliver and Hannah Bostwick, who had a family of eight children. The elder Bostwick was a native of New Milford, Conn. But little is known of his early history further than that his parents were poor, and he thrown upon his own resources at an early age. Shortly after he attained his majority he married Miss Hannah Goodwin, emigrated to Onondaga County, and settled in Otisco, where he resided until his death, in 1866. He was possessed of more than ordinary amount of business ability, and was a man of inflexible integrity, and extremely energetic and industrious. In 1835 he came to Michigan and purchased two thousand acres of land in the town of Union. Ezra spent the early part of his life upon his father's farm, and, like many of the prominent and successful business men of today, received the rudiments of his education at the district school ; and although the educational advantages of those early days were meagre, still he succeeded well, and subsequently entered an academy where he acquired a thorough education that well fitted him for his subsequent successful business career. After completing his education, he worked as a farm hand by the month until 1846, when he was married to Miss Marietta McFarlin, of his native county, and came to Union, and settled upon his farm previously purchased. The land was entirely new and heavily timbered, and the construction of a farm and a home was a task of no small magnitude. As showing what can be done by energy and industry, it can be said that he has improved over one thousand acres of new land, most of which is in the town of Union. Mr. Bostwick has been prominently identified with Union City and township, and has filled many positions of trust and responsibility, the duties of which he has discharged with fidelity, with honor to himself, and to the satisfaction of the public. In 1869 he was elected to the representative branch of the Legislature. Four years he represented Union upon the Board of Supervisors, and for the same length of time has officiated as the president of the village. Mr. Bostwick is possessed of more than an ordinary amount of perseverance, industry, and ambition. He has conquered success, and it may be truly said of him that his entire career is one worthy of the emulation of young men. He has not only witnessed the transition of a thin settlement into a busy and populous community, of a semi-wilderness into a fertile and productive region, but in his own person has typified so admirably the agencies which wrought many of these changes, that no history of Union would be complete without some sketch of his life.

History of Branch county, Michigan, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers. Philadelphia, Everts & Abbott, 1879

EZRA BOSTWICK was born in Otisco, Onondaga Co., N. Y., Feb. 27, 1826. He was the son of Oliver and Hannah Bostwick, who had a family of eight children. The elder Bostwick was a native of New Milford, Conn. But little is known of his early history further than that his parents were poor, and he thrown upon his own resources at an early age. Shortly after he attained his majority he married Miss Hannah Goodwin, emigrated to Onondaga County, and settled in Otisco, where he resided until his death, in 1866. He was possessed of more than ordinary amount of business ability, and was a man of inflexible integrity, and extremely energetic and industrious. In 1835 he came to Michigan and purchased two thousand acres of land in the town of Union. Ezra spent the early part of his life upon his father's farm, and, like many of the prominent and successful business men of today, received the rudiments of his education at the district school ; and although the educational advantages of those early days were meagre, still he succeeded well, and subsequently entered an academy where he acquired a thorough education that well fitted him for his subsequent successful business career. After completing his education, he worked as a farm hand by the month until 1846, when he was married to Miss Marietta McFarlin, of his native county, and came to Union, and settled upon his farm previously purchased. The land was entirely new and heavily timbered, and the construction of a farm and a home was a task of no small magnitude. As showing what can be done by energy and industry, it can be said that he has improved over one thousand acres of new land, most of which is in the town of Union. Mr. Bostwick has been prominently identified with Union City and township, and has filled many positions of trust and responsibility, the duties of which he has discharged with fidelity, with honor to himself, and to the satisfaction of the public. In 1869 he was elected to the representative branch of the Legislature. Four years he represented Union upon the Board of Supervisors, and for the same length of time has officiated as the president of the village. Mr. Bostwick is possessed of more than an ordinary amount of perseverance, industry, and ambition. He has conquered success, and it may be truly said of him that his entire career is one worthy of the emulation of young men. He has not only witnessed the transition of a thin settlement into a busy and populous community, of a semi-wilderness into a fertile and productive region, but in his own person has typified so admirably the agencies which wrought many of these changes, that no history of Union would be complete without some sketch of his life.