James Backus & Martin Backus, WWI Veterans With Michigan Roots

The Archives of Michigan in Lansing, Michigan, has what can be described as a voluntary and self-reporting "census" of World War I veterans. Two found were:

Backus, James Harold
Son of W.M. & Josephine
Jackson County

Backus, Martin J.
Son of W.M. & Josephine
Jackson County

A check for "Backus" in Jackson County, Michigan:

1910 MI Jackson
Backus, Wm, 46, m1, 23yrs
“, Josephine, 5children/4living
“, Martin J
“, James H
“, Ellen
“, Hazel

The family was living in Ingham County, Michigan, in 1900:

1900 MI Ingham
Backus, W. M., June 1863, m12 MI MI MI
“, Sarah J., Feb 1861
“, Martin J., son, June1889
“, James, son, 11, July 1890
“, Ellen L., dau, Feb 1893, 7
“, Hazel, dau, June 1899, 1

William Backus married Sarah Josephine Carrier and were the parents of WWI veterans James Harold Backus & Martin Backus.

William Backus in the 1880 census:
(familysearch.org)
James P. BACKUS Self M Male W 42 MI Hotel Keeper NY NY
Almira BACKUS Wife M Female W 40 MI Keeping House NY CAN
William BACKUS Son S Male W 15 MI Farm Laborer MI MI
Alta BACKUS Dau S Female W 13 MI At School MI MI
Artie BACKUS Dau S Female W 13 MI At School MI MI
Source Information: Census Place Leslie, Ingham, Michigan

1870 MI Census, Ingham Co.

Backus, James, 32, MI
“, Almira, 29
“, William, 6
“, Alvin
“, Artie, 3
Next door:
“, Edwin
“, Mary
“, Nelson, son
“, Fred (brother)

William Backus's father James Backus can be found here in the 1860 census:

1860 MI Ingham Co.
Backus, N B, 50, NY
“, N., 41, NY
“, E. , 13, MI
“, F, 7
“, Jas, 23
“, ?, 20
Backus, S., female, 70, b. NY

And the 1850 MI Census, Ingham Co., Leslie Twp.:

Backus, Nelson, 40, NY, farmer
“, Nancy, 34, NY
“, James P., 12, MI
“, Ellen C., 9, MI
“, Edwin N., 5, MI

From an Ingham Co., MI, history [Vliet, Mina Alice, History of the early life and business interests of the village and township of Leslie, Ingham County, Michigan, Leslie, Mich.: Elijah Grout Chapter, D.A.R., 1914, 122 pgs.]

Nelson Backus married Nancy Bugbee, moved to Leslie, Ingham Co., MI, in 1837. Son James born following February and was thought to be the second white child and first white boy born in the area. James married Almira DeLamater 22 Feb 1860. Children (of James): William, Alta, Artie and L.C. (died as a child)

Next child (of Nelson): Ellen m. William DeLamater; 1 child, Cora, who died as an infant
Next child: Edwin N. married Mary Wilcox; had son, Nelson
Next child: Fred m. Celia Miner in 1877; son Victor; died 1912

Nelson & Nancy (Bugbee) Backus were buried at Woodlawn Cemetery, Ingham Co., MI; their gravestones were recorded at FindAGrave.

WWI Veteran Martin Backus's Social Security Death Record:

Name : Martin Backus Birth date : 01 Jun 1889 Death date : Jul 1969 Last residence : Cook, Illinois Zip code last residence : 60632 Last benefit : Zip code last benefit : Social security number : 325-03-2188 Issued : Illinois Source of death record : 14 Estimated age at death : 80 Collection : U.S. Social Security Death Index

A death certificate for WWI veteran James H. Backus can be found here in the Ohio Deaths online. See image below that was copied from that website.

Click on Image To Enlarge