#7 Wm L. Marsh

Michigan Probate Records, 1797-1973  Roscommon Probate packets 1874-1917...:

 #7

Wm L. Marsh, deceased

Image 198

Dildine, undertaker

Image 206, Heirs

#8 James Robinson

 Michigan Probate Records, 1797-1973  Roscommon Probate...:

#8

James Robinson

Image 208

Died in Detroit 22 April 1888

#4 Louis Luman

  Michigan Probate Records, 1797-1973  Roscommon Probate packets 1874-1917...:

#4

Louis Luman

Image 143

John Tracey, Roscommon County Probate

Roscommon County, Michigan

Probate File #2

John Tracy/Tracey (1846 - 1884)

Image 25

Letters Testamentary document to Thomas H. Tracy and John Tracy indicated that John Trac(e)y...being at the time of his death an inhabitant of Roscommon County and being temporarily in London, Ontario at the time of his decease [Image 34]

Names of Claimants Creditors Image 42

John Tracey's Date of Death [Image 51]: 29 July 1884

Place of Death: London, Ontario, Canada

Heirs [Image 52]: Father, John Tracey, age 70, of London, Ontario; Mary Tracey, Mother, about age 70, resides in same; Maria Jane O'Brien, the only sister, age 33, resides at same place; Sarah Louie Tracey, daughter of Thomas H. Tracey, your petitioner, age 6, residence of the same place; and Amanda O'Brien, age 2, Jane O'Brien, age 6, William O'Brien, age 8, Florence O'Brien, age 10; John T. O'Brien, age 12, all children of the sister of the deceased, Maria Jane O'Brien, and residing at London, Ontario.

Image 60

John Tracy, Senior, and family in the 1861 Canadian Census and here in the 1871 Canadian Census.

Misc. Roscommon News

Roscommon County, Michigan

Roscommon [Mich.] News

1 June 1888
General Alger - front page

Local
D. Cameron was in during the week and reports everything booming in his vicinity.
--The many friends and acquaintances of J. O. Dildine....go to Mulliken to locate....

8 June 1888
Re: Alger

15 June 1888
Steckert family -- South America

William Allen of Whittemore pleaded guilty of shooting a deer out of season in Iosco County, and was fined $5.00 and $10.00 costs.

22 June 1888
James Raizon, of Wakefield, Ontonagon County, is in the village shaking hands with old friends.  He is the same jovial fellow he was when a resident of the village.

Latest convention news -- Alger

More McCrea news here.

John J. Ward's File In Probate

Michigan, Probate Records, Roscommon Probate packets 1874-1917...:

Probate File #44

Image 6

John J. Ward

Indigent

8 Apr 1898

Name: John J Ward

Event Type: Census

Event Year: 1900

North Michigan Asylum, Grand Traverse, Michigan

Gender: Male

Race: White

Relationship to Head of Household: Inmate

Birthplace: New York

Son, Colen Ward was mentioned as well.

Name: Colen Ward
Age (Expanded): 21 years
Birth Year: 1876
Birthplace: Chemong Co., N.Y.
Spouse's Name: Susan Barney
Spouse's Age (Expanded): 16 years
Spouse's Birth Year: 1881
Spouse's Birthplace: Roscommon Co., Mich.
Event Date: 30 Jun 1897
Event Place: Houghton Lake, Roscommon, Michigan
Father's Name: John J. Ward
Mother's Name: Sarah Newton
Spouse's Father's Name: Wm. Barney
Spouse's Mother's Name: Mary E. Gleason

General Alger's Presidential Prospects

His prospects in 1888 must have dimmed since there was no President Alger.   Russell A. Alger married a Squier descendant.  Mrs. Alger's mother was Huldana (Squier) Henry.

An 1888 article in a Roscommon County, Michigan, newspaper

"He is a man, as Whitelaw Reid said, 'self-made, able clear-headed, and a gallant soldier."'

The McCrea Family In Montague

The McCrea Family story in the History of Leeds and Grenville:

This family of United Empire Loyalists was originally from Stillwater, New York, but removed to Canada at a very early date. Samuel McCrea was accompanied by his sons, the family receiving a large grant of land from the government. The McCreas first located in Augusta, where James remained until his death.

Samuel, John, Edward, and Thomas settled in Montague, while Alexander, after a short residence at Burritt's Rapids, removed to the vicinity of Easton's Corners.

John occupied Lot No. 12, in the 1st Concession of Montague. He was born in 1777, and married Phoebe Edmunds. 

My Grandmother's cousins were descendants of John and Phoebe (Edmunds) McCrea (see below).

James B. McCrea (James Edmunds McCrea3, Phoebe Edmunds2, William Edmunds1) was born 4 Sep 1850 in Montague Twp., Lanark, Ontario, Canada, and died 3 Dec 1934 in Muskegon Co., MI. He married Isabelle Cameron Abt. 1877, daughter of Duncan Cameron and Ellen Cameron.

Children of James B. McCrea and Isabelle Cameron:

  i. James Edmonds McCrea 

  ii. Adelia McCrea 

  iii. Infant McCrea

  iv. Ellen McCrea w

  v. Duncan C. McCrea 

  vi. Sarah McCrea 

  vii. Mary McCrea 

  viii. Jessie B. McCrea

Mr. & Mrs. James B. McCrea In The News

As published in a Roscommon County, Michigan, newspaper:

30 March 1916
Mrs. James B. McCrea* of Richfield Township left Wednesday afternoon for Detroit where she will undergo an operation for gallstones at Harper Hospital.
*Second wife; first wife was Isabelle Cameron


Another article, this time from the Houghton Lake Resorter newspaper:

100 YEARS AGO-JANUARY 30, 1913 ST. HELEN NEWS
J. B. McCrea has purchased a new seven passenger Buick automobile, which was driven here from Saginaw last week. The run from St. Helen to the McCrea farm, seven miles, was made in thirty-one minutes. Mr. McCrea will drive the car himself next spring.

American Lumberman

Lumber was a very important part of Michigan's economy.  My Cameron ancestors immigrated from Canada to Roscommon County to harvest lumber.  It's been told to me that my great-grandmother, Anna (Cameron) Johnston, worked in a lumber camp when she was a young widow.

One of the important players in the lumber industry was Russell Alger.  He was an associate of Martin S. Smith, whose obituary was found in the American Lumberman.  Russell Alger's history is of interest to me because his wife was my grandkids' first cousin, 5x removed. 

Source

The obituary of Martin Snyder Smith, who died 28 October 1899 :

"In the death of Martin S Smith, of Detroit Mich., which occurred in that city on Saturday last, October 28, the lumber industry of the northwest loses one of its heroic figures.  A pioneer in the lumber industry of Michigan and who for years has been regarded as of the mainstays of the business interests of and for twenty five years past a partner in the lumbering firm of Alger, Smith & Co., his name been a household word among lumbermen.  During recent years owing to the fact that his partner, General Alger, has been greatly engrossed in political life. Smith was the managing director of the vast business."

"Martin S. Smith was born at Lima, Livingston, NY, November 12, 1834.  When he was ten years old his parents removed to Pontiac, Mich.  His father, being a farmer, his education was obtained in the haphazard way of pioneer days attending school in the winter and working on the farm in the spring and autumn.  At the age of fourteen he entered a store and shortly afterwards worked in a newspaper office...".

"Mr. Smith leaves, besides his widow, a daughter, Miss Helen Smith; two brothers, C.A. Smith, Pontiac, Mich., and F.B. Smith, of Detroit, and nephews and nieces. The funeral, which was one of most largely attended events of its kind ever witnessed in Detroit, was held from the family residence, 120 Lafayette avenue, that city, at 11 o'clock on Tuesday last." [Bio of brother Thaddeus Smith]

For some background about the lumber industry see a blog post at the Archives of Michigan entitled "Life in a Logging Camp."

Homer Ferguson's Revenge?

The story of Homer Ferguson's troubles in Roscommon County, Michigan (Daily Telegram published September 6, 1902), caused me to wonder if I'd stumbled upon a possible ulterior motive for the Homer Ferguson grand jury indictment in Detroit several years later of Roscommon native Duncan McCrea (my Cameron grandmother's cousin).  Did any of Duncan's friends or family members set-up Homer for political gain?  (At the very least they probably knew of each other -- Duncan lived in Roscommon County in 1900 and 1910.)

Here's the 1902 story:

Sheriff Johnson of Roscommon wired the authorities here [Lapeer] yesterday afternoon to arrest Attorney Homer L. Ferguson, who is wanted on a warrant issued on complaint of Hattie Clark (she also accused him of embezzlement).
He also to the officer he was a candidate for prosecuting attorney and that his opponent was trying to put up a job on him.  The prisoner formerly lived in Almont township.  He...was located in Cheboygan before going to Roscommon.  His people are among the most wealthy in Lapeer county and are highly respected.  Ferguson is thirty years old.

The Homer L. Ferguson who was arrested in 1902 was born in Michigan in March of 1869 according to the 1900 Census.  At that time he was listed as an attorney and a widower living in Cheboygan, Michigan.  In 1935 Homer L. Ferguson was a college educated taxidermist in Homosassa, Citrus County, Florida and living with his wife Edna.  Homer Lawrence Ferguson died in Citrus County, FL, in 1953/4.

It was a different Homer Ferguson who became the nemesis of Duncan C. McCrea.  That Homer Ferguson, a judge living in Detroit in 1940, was born in Pennsylvania in 1889.  He died in 1982.

Source

Darn. A perfectly good conspiracy theory spoiled by inconvertible facts!  The prosecution of Duncan McCrea had no connection to the 1902 troubles of Homer L. Ferguson in Roscommon County.

A blog post about Detroit Mayor Richard Reading who, along with Duncan McCrea, was ensnared by Homer Ferguson's probe.

Mrs. Mabel Funck Obituary

Published in the Flint Journal on October 15, 1965:

FUNCK, Mrs. Mabel--125 E. Gracelawn, age 81, died Friday, October 15, 1965, at Kith Haven Convalescent Home.  Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Monday at the Floral Chapel, Dodds-Dumanois Co. Funeral Home.  Rev. William G. Wager officiating.  Burial in Higgins Township Cemetery, Roscommon, Michigan, where the committal service will be held at 2 p.m.  Mrs. Funck will remain at the Dodds-Dumanois Co. Funeral Home.  She was born in Roscommon, Michigan in February, 1884, and was a resident of Flint for the last 49 years, coming here from Roscommon.  Surviving are:  Husband, Fred Funck; son, William Funk of Flint; 2 grandchildren, Don Funk of Flint and Mrs. Richard (Jean) Rudd of Chicago, Illinois. [Son and grandson's last name was spelled Funk in the obituary]

There was a Mabel Orcutt who was born in Roscommon, Michigan, in February of 1884.  Possibly this Mabel?

1920 MI Census Genesee, Flint

Funck, Fred, 30, MI MI MI

"  , Mabel, wife, MI MI MI

", Lillian, daughter, 3, MI MI MI

", William, son, 2 ?/12, MI MI MI

Social Security Card Issued: Michigan

Birth Date: 22 Oct 1889

Last Residence: Flint, MI

Death Date: Jan 1971

Person Full name: Fredrick Funck

 

[Not related; no further information]

A View Of Higgins Lake

The view of Higgins Lake, Michigan, From The Whites' House

Higgins Lake Camping

One of our camping trips to North Higgins Lake State Park was memorable because as we kids were busy setting up camp, one of us (not me!) was invited to go boating with the campers at the site next to us.

The Powers kids and Dad (I'm the oldest in the dark orange bathing suit)

Eggleston Probate File From Roscommon Co., MI

A few years ago I abstracted information from the Roscommon County records, including the probate file for Charles B. Eggleston, whose obituary was noted in The Economist:.

A Probate Abstract From Roscommon County, Michigan:

Page 153 - EGGLESTON, Charles B., Estate of; died 18 May 1919.  
Heirs: Mary Ellen Eggleston, widow, Drexel Arms Hotel, Chicago, IL (temp address Pasadena, CA); Ella Randall Malone, cousin, Dayton, OH; Beriah Randall, cousin, New Plymouth, OH; Blanche Stolworthy, cousin, Norwood, Cincinnati, OH; Susie E. Smith, cousin, Norwood, Cincinnati, OH; Amy E. Fin(n)?, cousin, Cleveland, OH; Eva Eggleston Smith, cousin, Rockford, IL; Mary Eggleston Wilcox, cousin, Rockford, IL; Mary Williams McCune, cousin, Sugar Creek, OH; Asabel O'Neil, cousin, New Plymouth, OH; Benjamin O'Neil, cousin, New London or New Plymouth, OH; Eva Sackett, cousin, New London, OH
Page 154 - EGGLESTON Cousins (Continued from Page 153): Cousins of Charles B. Eggleston:Hattie Cann, Oberlin, OH; Viola Edwards, Oberlin, OH; Darius Edwards, Delaware, OH; Lafayette Eggleston, Jr., New Plymouth, OH; Lavinia O'Neal, New Plymouth, OH; Esther E. Bay, New Plymouth, OH; Woman McLaughlin, Kansas City, MO; Elizabeth M. Roades, Kansas City, MO; Capt. McConaha, Kansas City, MO; Major McConaha, Kansas City, MO; Rachel Cowden, Decatur, IL; William McClintoch(k), Decatur, IL; Jay Teachout, Grand Rapids or Big Rapids, MI; Winifred Teachout, Grand Rapids or Big Rapids, MI; William Teachout, East Toledo, OH; Fred Teachout, Rockford, IL; Clara T. Price, Rockford, IL; Hattie Weeks, Tulllahoma, TN; George Lewis, 308 S. Wabash, Chicago, IL.

Ohio Deaths and Burials, 1854-1997

name: Charles B. Eggleston

burial date: 26 May 1919

death date: 18 May 1919

death place: Pasadena, Ca.

birth date: 23 Aug 1849

birthplace: Cincinnati, Ohio

father's name: Darius

mother's name: Lydia

United States Census, 1910

name: Charles B Eggleston

Charles B Eggleston M 60y

spouse Mary E Eggleston F 50y

Kittie L Flynn F 25y

Ellen M Bodine F 26y

In 1860 Charles B. Eggleston, age 10, born in Ohio, was enumerated in Cincinnati, Hamilton Co., with his parents, Darrell (Darius), a commission merchant, age 38, who was born in New York, and Lydia, age 33.  The family was still living in Cincinnati in 1870.  Charles married Margaret Wade in 1871.  In 1880 and 1900 Charles and Margaret were living in Chicago.

Darius Eggleston (1821-1877), Charles's father, belongs to this family.  Check the family tree for corresponding names in the probate file.
159. Benjamin EGGLESTON (1787-1856).  He married Esther ARCHER in 1808 at Saratoga County, NY. She died in 1860.  282. iii. Darius EGGLESTON.

At the time of Charles B. Eggleston's death, his widow was Mary Ellen (nee Farmer), whom he married in 1907.  She was living with her mother, Mary (Marion nee Kent), and sister Marion Winifred, in Chicago in 1900.  In 1870 the family included her father, Jefferson Farmer (here).

United States Census, 1920 

name: Mary E Eggleston

residence: Pasadena, Los Angeles, California

birthplace: Vermont

marital status: Widowed

 Mary E Eggleston  F 60y

[Marion] Winiferd Farmer F  61y [single sister]

Mary Ellen Eggleston died in Ogemaw County, Michigan in 1940.

Roscommon, MI News Items Of March 9, 1916

Published in the Roscommon [MI] News on March 9, 1916:

9 March 1916

Maple Valley -- Frank Cameron of Charlotte arrived Tuesday to spend the summer here.

This one?

United States Census, 1910
Name:     Frank B Cameron
Birthplace:     New York
Residence:     Charlotte Ward 3, Eaton, Michigan
Father's Birthplace:     Canada
Mother's Birthplace:     Canada
Family Number:     210
Page Number:     8
     Household    Gender    Age
      Frank B Cameron     M     49y
Spouse     Lottie I Cameron     F     45y
Child     Carry Cameron     F     23y
Child     William Cameron     M     18y
Child     Susie Cameron     F     14y
Child     Marry Cameron     F     9y
    Matilda Griest     F     74y

Keno News
Arthur Johnson left this week for Galesburg, Illinois, where he expects to make his future home.

Obituary of Nathaniel T. McDonald

Published in the Roscommon Herald-News [Michigan] on March 2, 1916:

Last Friday afternoon marked the passing away of another of Roscommon County's pioneers, in the person of N. T. McDonald, who died at his home here following a short illness.  Deceased was 73 years old and had lived here about 35 years.  He was well known all over the county and for several years was caretaker of the county farm at Roscommon.  He is survived by his wife and one son, Francis.  The funeral was held Sunday afternoon and the remains laid to rest in Houghton Lake Cemetery.

Obituary Of William J. Owens

Roscommon [Michigan] Herald-News
2 March 1916
Houghton Lake

William J. Owens, mention of whose death was made last week, was born in Belfast, Ireland, 30 November 1835 and died at Houghton Lake, Michigan, February 21, 1916, age 80 years, 2 months and 21 days.  He came to America at the age of 10 years with his parents who settled at Pontiac, Oakland County, where he lived until 1885 he moved to Roscommon where he resided until his death.  He united in marriage to Carrie A. Merrill, of Pontiac, June 19, 1866.  To this union nine children, 5 boys and 4 girls were born.  Ruby, Charles and William, who died while young; E. Page Owens of Houghton Lake; Reuben F. Owens of Farmington and 4 girls, Mrs. Ray Murray of Northville, Mrs. Francis McDonald, Sadie and Callie of Houghton Lake, are left to mourn his loss.  The remains were laid to rest in the Prudenville Cemetery beside those of his wife who passed away December 11, 1895.

Also published on that date in the same column:  Reuben Owens and family returned to their home in Farmington.

William Bowman And His DPD Furlough In Roscommon Co., MI

ROSCOMMON HERALD - NEWS

24 February 1916

Loxley News

William H. Bowman of the Detroit Police Force is spending his furlough at the farm home of his father, John R. Bowman.

Posted because of our former employer, the DPD.  See Jim here.

Drowned In Higgins Lake In 1921

A University of Michigan student drowned at Higgins Lake in August of 1921. Some of my favorite childhood memories were from Higgins Lake. I always thought of it as "safe" since one could venture out far from shore and still find shallow water. But it was not safe for Emerson William Jones who drowned at Higgins Lake in Roscommon County, Michigan, on 7 Aug 1921 and was buried in Toledo, Ohio.

Higgins Lake from the porch of B & A White's former summer home

A search of the Necrology File Index for the University of Michigan found the following results:

Full Name Death Date Degree Supp. File Box
Jones, Emerson William Aug. 7, 1921 a 1919-21, m 1920-21 351
a = College of LS&A m = Medical School