Background of Medbury Estate With Cameron Heirs In Wayne Co., Michigan

Notes extracted from the Wayne County, Michigan, Probate Surname Index [CAMERON surname] included information about Alex G. Cameron and his various relatives. Wayne County Probate File #26775 also included the surnames of Medbury, Strickland and Horton.

It was intriguing that Alex Cameron’s relationship to the estate in question was “step-father of the granddaughter-in-law.” Whose estate would include such a person? How large was the estate? Alex G. Cameron’s step-daughter was Nellie O. (Horton) Medbury. Who was her husband, and more importantly, her husband’s family?

One source to check : Medbery, James F., History and genealogy of the Medbury-Medbery-Medberry family : descendants of John Medbury, Swansea, Mass. 1680.

The Medbury family of Detroit was originally from New Berlin, New York, including Samuel Medbury and his son, Lewis. After learning that both Samuel and Lewis had been partners with K.C. Barker, my interest was really piqued. Barker, who had once been Detroit’s Mayor Barker, died in a yachting accident in 1875 near Grosse Isle, Michigan. Mr. Barker’s gardener’s 14 year old son, Peter Millar, also drowned in the accident. Peter Millar was my great-grandmother’s (Addie More Powers) cousin.

Lewis Medbury moved to Atlas Twp., Genesee County, Michigan. For more information see: Michigan County Histories [search term “Medbury.”].

According to the History of Genesee county, Michigan, by Franklin Ellis, 1879, the Medburys “…had early Rhode Island ancestors. Charles Medbury came to NY as a young man, settled at New Berlin, Chenango Co., and married Miss Lucretia Arnold. Samuel Medbury, the eldest of 10 children, was born 1808 at New Berlin. Samuel married Miss Lucretia Moss of New Berlin in 1836. In 1857 the Samuel Medbury family moved to Detroit – Samuel had previously become largely interested in several businesses in Michigan, such as banking, railroads, etc. Samuel Medbury died July 19, 1874, and left a widow and two children, Esther and Lewis.

Lewis O. Medbury, born July 9, 1937, in New Berlin, NY, was employed by the Peninsular Bank which was managed by his father and uncles, then worked in lumbering in Sanilac county for 4 years. He next spent five years with K.C. Barker & Co., in the tobacco business.

Lewis Medbury married Mary E. (Clark) Sherwood, of Union City, Pennsylvania, on July 19, 1866. They had five children: Lucy R., Truman M., Samuel, Julia and Mary. According to one record, Nell (Horton) married Truman Medbury.

In 1873 Lewis Medbury purchased the old Gould Davison farm consisting of approximately 300 acres in Atlas Twp. The Medbury property is now a golf course. Also see:

In 1880 an Alex G. Cameron was also living in Atlas Township,with a wife, Agnes. He is almost definitely the Alex Cameron included in the Lewis O.Medbury probate file. His future wife, Antoinette (Strickland) Horton, was living in New York in 1880 with her daughter, Nellie. When and why Nettie and Nellie Horton moved to Michigan is unknown at this time.

1880 NY Census Place: White Creek, Washington, New York
Nettie HORTON Self Female W W 33 OH Dress Making Fa: CT Mo: CT
Nellie O. HORTON Dau S W 8 NY Fa: NY Mo: OH
Anna BURNS Other Female S W 21 ENG Servant Fa: IRE Mo: IRE

Antoinette Strickland, who was born in Ohio,was the daughter of Bidwell & Elvira (Gleason) Strickland married Richard J. Horton in Ashtabula Co., Ohio. According to IGI files, Richard Horton was the son of Orlando Horton & Ruth Gould.

More information on Richard Horton's GOULD heritage can be found here: Gould, Benjamin Apthorp, The family of Zaccheus Gould of Topsfield Lynn, Mass.: T.P. Nichols, 1895, 364 pgs.

In the 1900 census taken in Kalamazoo there was an A. Cameron, b. 1840, with his wife, b. 1847, with son Don, b. 1889, with the notation "recently moved to Chicago." Probably Alex, Antoinette, and Nellie's half-brother, Donald.

Interments in Rensselaer Co., NY Cemeteries list the following:
Strickland Artimette A. 20 Apr 1847 16 Nov 1914 Richard J. Horton Sand Lake Union


WAYNE COUNTY PROBATE INDEX - MEDBURY

Wayne Co., MI, Probate
File # 26775
CAMERON, R. Donald
Half-brother of granddaughter-in-law of estate 1900
Nellie Medbury nee Horton

Wayne Co., MI, Probate
File # 26775
CAMERON, Alexander G.
1900
Died 1901
Step-father of granddaughter-in-law of estate
Step-father of Nellie O. Medbury, nee HORTON

Wayne Co., MI, Probate
File #26775
CAMERON, Antoinette A.
Nee STRICKLAND
1st Married Name HORTON
Mother of Nellie O. Medbury, nee Horton
Died: 1914
Remarried Alex G. Cameron (1887)