09 November 2008

Items From Papers of Silas Gaskill, Lawyer, of Lapeer County, Michigan - Post One

Several years ago in a quest for any information about my Thomas & Laura (Backus) Richmond, last "seen" in Lapeer County, Michigan (Thomas ca 1863; Laura ca 1870), I went to the Bentley Historical Library at the University of Michigan to search through the Silas Gaskill papers. Silas Gaskill was a lawyer in Lapeer County whose papers (specifically "Business records of the Gaskill and Geer law firm, 1864-1877; accounts, wills, and account books, 1833-1839, 1864-1870") were housed at the Bentley Library. Didn't find Thomas and/or Laura, but thought I'd post a few items I did find.

Most of the Silas Gaskill notes taken from his account book are sketchy -- I've done additional research for the post.

From The Silas Gaskill Account Book 1864 - 70:

Hurd, Lovell, Retained in Genesee Circuit Court (ca January 14, 1864)

A long-running property dispute was found involving Lovell Hurd; was Silas Gaskill involved in it? Don't know, but it is possible.
"BARR, District Judge. This is an action of ejectment brought by William Graydon, a resident and citizen of the state of New Jersey, against Lovell Hurd, a resident and citizen of Michigan, to recover possession of a fractional quarter of at section of land lying in Genesee county, Mich."

Lovell Hurd, b. 1812 in either NY or VT, was living in Davison Township, Genesee Co., Michigan, in 1850, with wife Eliza, daughter Laura, son William and Hunt, James (unknown relationship).

In 1860 Lovell Hurd was living in Genesee County, Atlas Township, Davisonville P.O., as a farmer & hotel keeper. Wife Eliza and children William, Phebe and Adeline were with him and also James Lingale?, a blacksmith.

In 1870 The Hurd family wasliving in Grand Blanc, Atlas Twp., Genesee County. Lovell was still a hotel keeper; living with them was George Titus, age 21, hotel clerk. In 1880 George Titus was living with the Hurds and listed as son-in-law (whose wife, Addie Hurd Titus, had died April 1874).

In 1888 Lovell Hurd remarried.

4 comments:

Miriam Robbins said...

Hi, Cathy,

Just a small correction: in 1870 Lovell HURD and family were living in Atlas Township, Genesee County, Michigan, but not in Grand Blanc. They received their mail at the Grand Blanc post office. The village of Grand Blanc was in Grand Blanc Township (not Atlas Township) which borders Atlas Twp on the north.

It would have been easier for rural residents of the northern part of Atlas Twp to cross the township lines and go to Grand Blanc to get their mail, instead of down to Goodrich or Atlas villages. The brother of my great-grandfather did so in 1920.

Happy Hunting!

PalmsRV said...

Hi Miriam,

Thanks for the correction -- feedback is good! So the Hurds are part of your Atlas Twp clan.

Cathy

Anonymous said...

Wow! This is my family. My line comes down through Lovell's daughter Phoebe who married Seth Johns(t)on Wicker, son of Seth Wicker and Deborah Seelye of Davison twp. Thanks you for posting the information. I'm trying to find Lovell's parents and will be looking in VT.

PalmsRV said...

Hope this helps!