Bion D. Schoonmaker was born on 20 July 1860 in Ostwego County, New York. Bion's parents were Abijah and Charlotte Schoonmaker.   

Bion married Francis “Emily” Willson on 10 December 1884 in St. Louis, Gratiot County,  Michigan. Emily was born on 11 June 1865 in Pennsylvania, coming to the Merrill, Michigan area with her parents when a young woman.

Bion and Emily had the following children:

1. J.B. Schoonmaker was born 5 October 1886 in Syracuse, New York. He married Hazel Mae Moulton. J.B. died on 16 July 1974.  J.B. and Hzel are both buried in the Lakefield Township Cemetery.

2. S. “Clyde” Schoonmaker was born 2 March 1889 in Lakefield Township and died on 28 October 1908 in Lakefield Township of Typhoid Fever at 19 years old. He is buried in the Lakefield Township Cemetery.

3. Ralph A. Schoonmaker was born 20 October 1893 in Lakefield Township. He married Marie A. Tribfelner. Ralph died 30 December 1965. Ralph and Marie are both buried in the Lakefield Township Cemetery.

4. Eva Della Schoonmaker was born 25 January 1898 in Lakefield Township. She married William Douglas. Eva died on 4 October 1974. Eva and William are both buried in Roselawn Cemetery, Saginaw, Michigan.

In 1896, Bion and Emily were engaged farming owning 40 acres in Section 1 of Lakefield Township on the NE corner of Ederer and Steele Roads.

By 1916, Bion and Emily owned and operated a 92.11 acre farm in Section 1 of Lakefield Township on the NE corner of Ederer and Steele Roads. Their neighbors were: Thomas Sweeney; Jas. Emenhiser; Edward Siler, Steve Perry, August Rohn and Philip Potvin.

Bion was elected and appointed to Overseer of Highways Road District #1 from 1894 through 1899.

Bion died on 2 March 1926 and Emily on 27 May 1954. They are both buried in the Lakefield Township Cemetery.

SOURCES: 1896 1916 and 1920 Lakefield Township Plat Map; Lakefield Township Records; 1900, 1910, and 1920 Federal Census; S. Clyde Schoonmaker's birth and death record; Ralph and Marie Schoonmaker's obituary; Eva and William Douglas obituary; and Ralph and Marie marriage record and obituaries; photo's from Joe Betz.