In the book's own words, not ours, with obvious scanning errors fixed. Families often supplied these stories to the publisher, so check key dates.
Born 1858, Oronoko township
From A twentieth century history of Berrien County, Michigan (1906)
WILLIAM A. FEATHER, Sr., living on section 13, Lake township, is the owner of three good farms which are conducted along thoroughly progressive and modern lines and he is accounted one of the leading agriculturists of the community. He was born in Oronoko township, this county, January 15, 1858, a son of Joshua and Susie Anna (Harner) Feather, of Oronoko township, the father being a wealthy farmer of this county. In the family were six children: William A.; Stephen A., who resides in Oronoko township; and four who died in childhood.
Upon the home farm William A. Feather, Sr., was reared and in the public schools acquired his education. He gave his father the benefit of his services in the cultivation and development of the fields until twenty years of age, when he came to this township and took up farm work, turning his attention to the improvement of a farm given him by his father. He came to his present farm fourteen years ago and has forty-four acres of rich land in the home place on section 13, Lake township. This is equipped with all modern conveniences, including fine buildings and the latest improved machinery. He has a farm of one hundred and sixty acres on section 12, Lake township, and property elsewhere, including eighty acres on section 24, Lake township, where his son, William A. Feather, Jr., now resides. He has altogether two hundred and eighty acres of land and two lots in Baroda, together with a fine store building and a house and lot in the town. The home place is operated as a fruit farm, a specialty being made of the production of grapes, years, plums and cherries. Only the best nursery stock is used and good crops are annually gathered. All his farming interests are capable conducted and Mr. Feather ranks wath the leading agriculturists and horticulturists of this part of the State.
In 1878 Mr. Feather was united in marriage to Miss Mary Shafer, who was born in Lake township, July 8, -1859, a daughter of John and Katharine (Boyle) Shafer. This marriage has been blessed with two children, William A., Jr., and Bertha May. The son, a representative farmer of Lake township, is married and has two children, Edward and Joshua Andrew, while the daughter, B,bertha May, is now the wife of Henry G. Birkholz and they reside upon the home farm with her father.
In his political affiliation Mr. Feather is a Democrat and has held the office of township treasurer for two years, while for fifteen years he has been a member of the board of review of the township. He is likewise connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He is interested in all that pertains to general improvement and upbuilding, and his co-operation can be counted upon as a support to all plans and movements for the public good. In his business affairs he displays keen discrimination and enterprise and has today valuable property holdings.
As printed in A twentieth century history of Berrien County, Michigan (1906). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
The printed record stops around 1906. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.