History of Clinton County, Michigan, 1980, pp 70-71
         
91.  DOROTHY BECK CRESSMAN FAMILY
                                                                       
Dorothy Marie Beck was born on June 4, 1913.  She was the only daughter of 
Frank H. and Edna Crom Beck, who resided in Greenbush Townshipo, Clinton County.
Frank and Edna also had twin sons, Maynard J. Beck and Gaylord G. Beck, 
born on August 9, 1908.

Dorothy attended grade school at Sherwood School for seven years and the Union 
Home School for one year.  She graduated from Rodney B. Wilson High School in 
St. Johns in 1931 and Clinton County Normal School in 1932.  Later she received 
her Bachelor of Science Degree in elementary education from Central Michigan
University.  Dorothy started her teaching career at Sherwood School in 1932, 
at a salary of fifty dollars a month.  She taught there for two years.

On December 25, 1933 Dorothy became the wife of Almond B. Cressman, a young 
farmer from Olive Township; and the couple took up residency on a forty acre
farm that Almond owned in Bingham Township.

After teaching for three years, Dorothy turned her full attention to being 
a farmer's wife and to raising a family.  The Cressmans have three children: 
[deleted for privacy].

The family outgrew the small farm in Bingham Township and purchased a one hundred
acre farm in Olive Township from Almond's parents, Edmund and Nellie Cressman.
This became the Cressman's permanent home.

In 1952 teachers were scarce, and Mrs. Cressman took a position teaching 
Kindergarten through eighth grades at the Plowman School.  Wages were now about 
twenty-five hundred dollars a year.  She taught at the Plowman School for three 
years, the Chapman School for three years, and then went to the Gunnisonville 
School in DeWitt Township where she taught second grade.  She was always 
dedicated to helping each child achieve his greatest potential.  In 1975 after 
twenty-five years of loyal service to the teaching profession, Mrs. Cressman 
retired and again became a full-time homemaker.

[more children info deleted for privacy]

Organizations have played an important part in Mrs. Cressman's life.  At the 
age of fourteen, she joined the Greenbush Grange; and after marrying Almond, 
she transferred to the Olive Grange, holding many offices there.  The Cressmans
were Assistant and Lady Assistant Stewards of the Clinton County Pomona Grange 
Degree Team for many years.  They were also active in Michigan State Grange and 
were Seventh Degree Members.

During Mrs. Cressman's teaching career she was active in Clinton County Rural
Teachers Club and now she belongs to the Clinton County Retired Teachers Club.

Mrs. Cressman joined the Order of the Eastern Star in 1949 and has held various
offices.  She was Worthy Matron in 1976 - 1977 and is presently President of the
Past Matron's Club.

The Cressmans belong to the First Congregational Church of St. Johns and have
been very active members.  They belong to the Clinton County Historical Society
and help in various ways.  Mrs. Cressman is presently active in recording the 
history of the various ancestral families.

Dorothy Cressman