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Below is a family biography included in Biographical Record of Oakland County, Michigan published by Biographical Publishing Company in 1903.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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John B. Auten, who has resided in a fine home at Ortonville, Michigan, since 1886, when he retired from active farming, also owns one of the well improved farms of Groveland township, consisting of 170 acres. Mr. Auten was born November 7, 1832, in Somerset County, New Jersey, and was brought to Michigan a babe in arms. He is a son of Ezra and Jane (Brokaw) Auten.

Ezra Auten was born July 22, 1799, in Somerset County, New Jersey, where his father was engaged in the manufacture of axes, augers, etc., and Ezra learned the trade and after he came to Michigan established a shop in Oakland County, his smithy long being the place for various neighborhood gatherings. In 1826 he was married to Jane Brokaw, who was born at Somerville, Somerset County, New Jersey, in 1808 and died March 6, 1885, in Oakland County. In 1833 Ezra Auten, with his wife and family, moved to Western New York, and came to Michigan in 1834, settling in Orion township, Oakland County, where they lived 10 years. They then removed to Brandon township and took up 160 acres in the woods, near Brandon Centre, and built thereon a log house which protected them not only from the elements but also from the wild animals still roaming the forests. Ezra Auten probably spent one-half of his time in his shop, often working industriously far into the night and our subject, then a lad, remained with him to work the forge. He died February 20, 1889. A family of 11 children were born to Ezra Auten and wife, namely: Isaac, who at the age of 77 years resides in Brandon township, with his wife (formerly Ann Bird) and six children; Esther, 75 years old, who is the wife of Elisha Bird, has six children and resides near her brother; John B.; Thomas, born in 1834, who resides with his family in Ortonville; Catherine (Truax), a widow, who resides in Brandon township and has five children; Ezra, born in 1836, who resides in St. Johns, Michigan, and has three children; Nathan, born in Orion in 1841, who resides in Ortonville and has one son; Hannah, born in 1843, who is the wife of Albert Von Wagoner of Oxford — their one child is deceased; Libbie, who married Ralph Baldwin, a farmer of Hadley township, Lapeer County, and has two daughters; Richard B., familiarly known as “Doc. Auten,” who is a farmer of Brandon township and has three children; and Levi, whose home is in Oxford.

John B. Auten was reared in Brandon township, where at the time educational opportunities were very limited. He remained with his father until the age of 22 years and then began for himself as a thrasher, owning part of a thrashing outfit for some four years. He then began farming for himself, buying his farm in Groveland township, which is now operated by his son.

Mr. Auten was married in 1856 to Zylpha Irish of Brandon township, who died June 14, 1870, aged 32 years, leaving three sons, viz: Newton J., born April 27, 1859, residing on a part of his grandfather’s old farm in Brandon township, who married Mary Smith of Bay County, Michigan, and has six children — Zylpha, Katie, Martha, Arthur, Deana and Carrie; James E., born January 28, 1863, who was married to Betsey Richmond, in October, 1885, has eight children — Ralph, John B., Grover, Frank, Helen, Leslie, Glenn and Jay, and resides on the farm in Groveland township; and Edgar N., born October 19, 1868, who was married September 13, 1893, to Nellie Funnell has four children, Ruth (deceased), Clyde, and Hazel and Hazen (twins), and reside at Pontiac.

Mr. Auten was married February 22, 1871, to Martha Blodgett, who was born February 14, 1845, in the State of New York, and died in Groveland township, Oakland county, January 1, 1894, leaving one child, Lizzie E., born June 21, 1879, who married Charles Kipp, April 23, 1902. For the past six seasons Mrs. Kipp has successfully conducted a millinery store at Ortonville. She favors the Free Will Baptist Church, but her mother was a consistent Methodist.

In politics Mr. Auten has always been a Democrat, this being the political faith of the family. He has frequently refused office and when elected drainage commissioner of Groveland township refused to qualify.

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This family biography is one of numerous biographies included in the Biographical Record of Oakland County, Michigan published in 1903. 

View additional Oakland County, Michigan family biographies here: Oakland County, Michigan Biographies

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