Norman Newton Pringle (1854 - 1921)

Born 15 Mar 1854 in Richmond Township, Canada West

Ancestors

Husband of Elvie M. Braford — married 6 Jan 1881 in Solon, Kent Co, Michigan

Died 13 Jan 1921 at age 66 in Sand Lake, Kent, Michigan, United States

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Biography

NORMAN N. PRINGLE, the leading hardware merchant of the northern part of Kent county, Mich., and one who stands high in the respect of the people and business men of Sand Lake, is a native of the province of Ontario, Canada, and was born twenty-five miles from Kingston on March 13, 1854, the third of a family of thirteen children born to Alfred and Sarah A. (Fritz) Pringle. What the exception of the meager education he received by attending public school for a short time, his instruction has been acquired through his contact with business men, but being an apt scholar, he has learned fully as much as if he had passed more time in school.

In 1882 Mr. Pringle, a penniless young man, came to Sand Lake, the surrounding country at that time being an almost unbroken wilderness. Although he possessed no cash, he had unbounded, or unlimited, energy, and a will that carried with it success. For five years, or until 1877, he worked as a carpenter and manufacturer of shingles in the vicinity of Sand Lake, and was then able to purchase a forty-acre tract of heavily-timbered land in Solon township, Kent county, and of this he cleared twenty acres of the timber and converted it into shingles and lumber. He next sold twenty acres and purchased an additional tract of forty, relinquished the manufacture of shingles and lumber, and soon afterward bought another tract of 160 acres of improved land in Solon township; two years later he sold all this property and purchased fifty acres in Nelson township, nicely improved with good buildings. Eventually, he disposed of this property, and with the capital thus realized entered into a partnership with M. J. Blanchard, at Sand Lake, purchased a stock of hardware, furniture and undertaker's goods, and carried on business with him until 1893, when he assumed entire charge and conducted the business alone until the great fire of 1895, when he lost building and stock, valued at $4,500. But the fire did not destroy Mr. Pringle's energy and indomitable will, and in February, 1896, he purchased a half-interest of E. J. Moody in the hardware, agricultural implement, buggy and wagon trade, and together they conducted this business until the fall of 1898, when Mr. Pringle again became sole proprietor. His success is due to his unswerving integrity, and his determination to please his patrons, and this course has won for him the unshaken confidence of the community, which Mr. Pringle values more than all things else.

The marriage of Mr. Pringle took place January 6, 1880, to Miss Alva M. Brayford, a native of Kent county, and this happy union has been blessed with seven children — six sons and one daughter — of whom four still survive, viz: Ray, who graduated from the Sand Lake high school with the class of 1899, Lee, Linn and Manley.

Politically Mr. Pringle is a republican, and has served in the town council of Sand Lake. Fraternally he is a member of the K. O. T. M., tent No. 442, and he and his estimable lady hold a high place in the esteem of the people of the village. Besides his commercial interests in the village, Mr. Pringle owns ninety-four acres of choice land in Nelson township, and when it is remembered that he began his life here without ten dollars that he could call his own, no wonder need be excited from the fact that his enterprise and determination to succeed have gained for him the enviable standing he now enjoys.

Quoted from: The City of Grand Rapids and Kent County, Mich.: up to date, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens. A.W. Bowen & Co. [Logansport, Ind.]: A. W. Bowen, 1900.

Census: 1861

In 1861, Alfred Pringle 37, was living in Richmond, Lennox, Ontario, farming with his wife Sarah A 32 and their children, John 11 Laborer attending school, Alvira 9, Norman 7, Both attending school, Alma 5, Chas 3, Sarah E. 1, with an out of towner Nancy Heafus of Fredericksburg. Their home, is a 1 story frame house, next door is brother George Pringle with mother Martha and other sons listed a few families away.<

Census: 1871
Napanee, Lennox and Addington, Ontario, Canada. Note: The Alfred Pringle Family in the 1871 Census of Ontario. Alfred is listed "no occupation"; all members of the family are listed as Wesleyan Methodist, with the exception of the eldest daughter Martha, who is Episcopal Methodist.

Immigration: 1872

Died
13 JAN 1921.
Note: Name: Norman Pringle.
Event Type: Death.
Event Date: 13 Jan 1921.
Event Place: Sand Lake, Kent, Michigan, United States.
Gender: Male.
Age: 66.
Marital Status: Married.
Birth Date: 15 Mar 1854.
Birthplace: Canada.
Birth Year (Estimated): 1855.
Father's Name: Alfred Pringle.
Mother's Name: Elvia Braford.
GS Film number: 1972809.
Digital Folder Number: 005237774.

Buried

JAN 1921.
Ensley Township, Sand Lake, Newaygo Co., MI.

http:/www.findagrave.com/cgi-binfg.cgi?page=gr&GSvcid=495805&GRid=91729901&
Note: Informant has his wife's name in place of his mothers ^[1]

Sources

1. ↑ "Michigan, Death Certificates, 1921-1952," Database, FamilySearch (https:/familysearch.org/ark:/619031:1:KF3F-6MG : accessed 25 June 2015), Norman Pringle, 13 Jan 1921; citing Sand Lake, Kent, Michigan, United States, Division for Vital Records and Health Statistics, Lansing; FHL microfilm 1,972,809.