Zina Pitcher, A Many Faceted Man of Michigan

Zina Pitcher……

……surgeon of the 3rd Regiment who was accompanied by Whittmore Knaggs from Detroit to Saginaw…

Mayor of Detroit…..

….. second husband of Mrs. Emily (Montgomery) Backus…

Lapeer Co., MI, Deeds
Liber O, Page 455
Recorded: 20 March 1858
Frederick W. Backus and Emily Louisa, his wife, of Detroit
Warranty Deed to
Gerit Smith, of Peterboro, Madison Co., New York
Witnesses: Susan M. Hale & Addison Mandell, Notary, Wayne Co., Michigan

Lapeer Co., MI, Deeds
Liber K, Page 147
Recorded: 11 January 1854
Made: 5 July 1853
Frederick W. Backus & Emily, his wife, of Detroit
Warranty Deed to
Samuel W. Whitwell of ___ Michigan
Frederick W. Backus's signature was notarized in Wayne Co., Mich,5 July 1853
Emily Backus's signature was notarized in Monroe Co., NY, 8 July 1853

Miscellaneous orders of Captain Frederick W. Backus (1st Michigan Cavalry), first husband of Emily Montgomery Backus, are kept in the Zina Pitcher Collection at the University of Michigan’s Bentley Library.

Zina Pitcher, MD

• One of the first regents of the University of Michigan


• A founder of the U of M Medical School


• Founded the Historical Society of Michigan