A John Backus of Saginaw, Michigan, Who Was Born In Germany

John Backus & Gottfried Backus, both of Saginaw, Michigan, were found in the "Acts of the legislature of West Virginia." I found this information while doing a "Google" search for my ancestor, John Backus, a lineal descendant of William Backus of Saybrook, Connecticut, who was an early New England ancestor. John & Gottfried were born in Germany and therefore I knew they were not related to me. However, I found the combination of "John Backus" and Michigan irresistible.

Gottfried Backus, born in 1841 in Germany to John & W. (Browell) Backus, according to his Michigan marriage record (where he married 2nd Anna Boelke). His mother was "Mina Backus" in the 1880 MI Census taken in Saginaw Co.:

John J. BACKUS Self W W 35 BREMEN Lumber BRE BRE
Gotfried BACKUS Bro M W 39 BRE Lumber BRE BRE
Helena BACKUS SisterL M W 25 MI PRUSS PRUSS
Mina BACKUS Mother W W 74 BRE BRE BRE
Emma ROESER Other S W 20 MI PRUSS PRUSS

Source Information: 4th Wd, Sag., Saginaw, Michigan

John's wife, Alma Backus, who died in 1880, was found on the Saginaw Library's Obituary database website:

Index: SAGINAW MORNING HERALD
Monday, April 26, 1880
(2) Name:BACKUS, ALMA
Spouse's Name:JOHN
Death Date:04/00/1880
Death Place:SAGINAW, MI
Misc:FUNERAL FROM HOUSE ON STATE ST.
John Backus named as a competitor in a Michigan Legislature election can be found here.

Also found in the West Virginia legislature records with the Backus brothers were Willie Binder of Saginaw and William Binder of Saginaw. An obituary for William Binder was found in the Saginaw Library database:

Index: SAGINAW COURIER HERALD
Wednesday, March 10, 1915 (5)
Name:BINDER, WILLIAM
Age:90
Death Date:02/07/1915
Death Place:HERSAU, WURTEMBERG, GERMANY
Miscellaneous Misc:ONE TIME PROMINENT LUMBERMAN AND SALT MANUFACTURER