Granny Pam's Genealogical Trials and Triumphs
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This entry is part 6 of 9 in the series Treasures and Curiosities

In a big bag on the back shelf in my store room is a toy remaining from Papa’s childhood. The bag is made from some fabric M-in-L had around. A quick search on E-bay shows that many sets of these hard plastic bricks have survived.

bag

The original can was long gone when Papa and I married almost forty-one years ago. These bricks hold special meaning for us, F-in-L was a bricklayer. Papa took an apprenticeship beginning at sixteen, and laid brick during his college years, and for some time after his graduation. In those days, as now, jobs were hard to come by, and we were glad he had his trade to fall back on. I remember asking him how his day went, and he would say, “One on top of two, all day long.”

1 on 2

These toy bricks have been enjoyed by our children, and our grandchildren. I wonder how many more generations will consider them worth keeping?

I am sharing funeral cards on Friday, following a Facebook meme which you an see here. Today’s card is from the service of Papa’s uncle, Aldis Pratt. You may click the thumbnail to enlarge it.

Aldis Pratt funeral card

Aldis and his wife Laura (Fenton) farmed and raised a family west of Saginaw, Michigan in Gratiot County. Uncle Aldis was a real gentleman. I remember going to a National Farmer’s Organization dance somewhere near his home about forty years ago. Papa was in the Army, I think it was when he was in Korea. Uncle Aldis danced with every lady in the place. He would bring one back, wait for the band to start again, and ask the next one to dance. It was probably the only time I danced the entire evening.

I remember being at the funeral, but I did not remember until I re-read the card to prepare this post that the funeral was on July 28, 1982, the day, but not the year, that Papa and I married.

This entry is part 93 of 99 in the series Deeds in the Family

I am posting information gleaned from land records in the areas where our family’s ancestors resided. You can read more about this project in the overview. You may also check my deed record listing, which I will update frequently, but probably not every day. This group pertain to early residents of Wexford County, Michigan with the surname Abbott. Papa’s second great-grandmother was Mary Jane Abbott; I have undertaken a study of the early Abbott deeds to look for connections to her and her family. I know that her brother Erasmus D. [E.D.] Abbott was in Wexford County, but have not connected any others to her at this time.

Date: 21 Oct 1876
Liber: 4
Page: 450
Location: Wexford Co MI
Grantor: E.E. Abbott and Sarah Abbott his wife of Wexford Co MI
Grantee: Thomas Ferguson of the same place
Witnesses: Victoria R. Marr and Charles S. Marr
Type of deed: Warranty
Rec’d and recording: 23 Oct 1876
Clerk/registrar: Strutevant
Location of land: Colfax, Wexford, MI
Consideration: $600
Notes:
Description: W 12/ of the NW 1/4 Section 10 T23N R10W

This description is from the land patent certificate #1312, issued 20 August 1873, application #2795 on for land described as: W1/2 of the NW 1/4 Section 10 T23N R10W. I discussed both of E.D. Abbott’s Wexford County land patents here. It is outlined in red on this small portion of the Colfax Township map from the old Atlas1.

abbott patients

  1. E.L. Hayes & Co., Atlas of Wexford County, Michigan / compiled by Eli L. Hayes from government surveys, county and township records, and personal investigations and observations , Eli L. Hayes, (Chicago, Ill.: E.L. Hayes & Co., 1889), page 29; digital images, The University of Michigan. Michigan County Histories and Atlases. http://name.umdl.umich.edu/3928170.0001.001 : accessed 28 April 2010.
This entry is part 92 of 99 in the series Deeds in the Family

I am posting information gleaned from land records in the areas where our family’s ancestors resided. You can read more about this project in the overview. You may also check my deed record listing, which I will update frequently, but probably not every day. This group pertain to early residents of Wexford County, Michigan with the surname Abbott. Papa’s second great-grandmother was Mary Jane Abbott; I have undertaken a study of the early Abbott deeds to look for connections to her and her family. I know that her brother Erasmus D. [E.D.] Abbott was in Wexford County, but have not connected any others to her at this time.

I am shifting gears for on post to the Bureau of Land Management Land Patent records. Although I have found many of the purchases from the U.S. government later recorded in the local records, the two documented purchases by Erasmus D. Abbott have escaped my scrutiny to far. Before I cover deeds under which he sells property he bought from the US, I want to show the locations of the grants.

I have found two at this time.

The first, certificate #1312, issued 20 August 1873, application #2795 on for land described as: W1/2 of the NW 1/4 Section 10 T23N R10W.

The other was certificate #1766, issued 1 November 1880, application 6162, for the #1/2 of the NE 1/4 Section 4, T23N R10W. Erasmus sold this land to his brother-in-law, Papa’s ancestor, George W. Burdick in 1874. I described this sale on at the beginning of my series. I do not understand the sequence of events regarding this piece of land. Erasmus D. Abbott appears to have sold it to Burdick before he actually held a title. It would be interesting to see the application, payment receipts and proof in the land patent file. However, since the price for the files is so high, I am not likely to order the fine any time soon. Perhaps Erasmus decided he owned the land as soon as he filed the application; then later realized he needed to file the final papers. Proof was required that the land was improved, and constantly occupied. Applicants typically noted the number of acres cleared, the permanent plantings made, the house and any other buildings. The also swore they had continuously occupied the land.

Here are the location of the two pieces, marked on a thumbnail I created from the old 1889 Atlas1. You can see George Burdick’s name on the land in section 4, marked in blue.

abbott patients

  1. E.L. Hayes & Co., Atlas of Wexford County, Michigan / compiled by Eli L. Hayes from government surveys, county and township records, and personal investigations and observations , Eli L. Hayes, (Chicago, Ill.: E.L. Hayes & Co., 1889), page 29; digital images, The University of Michigan. Michigan County Histories and Atlases. http://name.umdl.umich.edu/3928170.0001.001 : accessed 28 April 2010.
This entry is part 91 of 99 in the series Deeds in the Family

I am posting information gleaned from land records in the areas where our family’s ancestors resided. You can read more about this project in the overview. You may also check my deed record listing, which I will update frequently, but probably not every day. This group pertain to early residents of Wexford County, Michigan with the surname Abbott. Papa’s second great-grandmother was Mary Jane Abbott; I have undertaken a study of the early Abbott deeds to look for connections to her and her family. I know that her brother Erastmus D. [E.D.] Abbott was in Wexford County, but have not connected any others to her at this time.

Date: 13 March 1878
Liber: 4
Page: 98
Location: Wexford Co MI
Grantor: E.D. Abbott & Wife
Grantee: Perry Hannah
Witnesses: Jennie Skinner, Leroy T. Chamssionis
Type of deed: Warranty
Rec’d and recording: 10 April 1878
Clerk/registrar: Perry Hannah
Location of land: Antioch, Wexford, MI
Consideration: $110
Notes: Erasmus was Susie Burdick’s uncle.
Description: Starting at a point 38 rods east and 22 rods south of the NW corner of Section 6 T23N R11W and running south 8 rods, west 4 rods, north 8 rods and east 4 rods to the start

This is the same piece of land described on the deed I analyzed (to death) yesterday. That deed was dated 6 April 1875 and recorded 7 April 1875, and this one was three years later. I do not know if the Anson and Eliza Hanna on the previous deed were connected to Perry Hannah on this deed, but it seems likely. Here is the location, marked on the old 1889 atlas1, in case you do not want to look back.

4-197

  1. E.L. Hayes & Co., Atlas of Wexford County, Michigan / compiled by Eli L. Hayes from government surveys, county and township records, and personal investigations and observations , Eli L. Hayes, (Chicago, Ill.: E.L. Hayes & Co., 1889), page 37; digital images, The University of Michigan. Michigan County Histories and Atlases. http://name.umdl.umich.edu/3928170.0001.001 : accessed 28 April 2010.
This entry is part 90 of 99 in the series Deeds in the Family

I am posting information gleaned from land records in the areas where our family’s ancestors resided. You can read more about this project in the overview. You may also check my deed record listing, which I will update frequently, but probably not every day. This group pertain to early residents of Wexford County, Michigan with the surname Abbott. Papa’s second great-grandmother was Mary Jane Abbott; I have undertaken a study of the early Abbott deeds to look for connections to her and her family. I know that her brother Erastmus D. [E.D.] Abbott was in Wexford County, but have not connected any others to her at this time.

 

Date: 6 April 1875
Liber: 4
Page: 197
Location: Wexford Co MI
Grantor: Anson D. Hanna and Eliza E. Hanna his wife of Wexford Co MI
Grantee: Erasmus Abbott
Witnesses: H.B. Sturtevant, J.N. Hanna
Type of deed: Warranty
Rec’d and recording: 7 April 1878
Clerk/registrar: Sturtavant
Location of land: Antioch, Wexford, MI
Consideration: $225
Notes: Erasmus D. Abbott was Susie Burdick’s uncle, and Papa’s second great granduncle
Description: Starting at a point 38 rods east and 22 rods south of the NW corner of Section 6 T23N R11W and running south 8 rods, west 4 rods, north 8 rods and east 4 rods to the start

This piece of property is in or near Sherman, an early settlement in, and the first seat of Wexford County. I do not understand why the deed was not recorded until 1878, and I do not know if Abbott actually lived on this land, or used it in any way. I did fiddle around waste spend quite a bit of time looking at the area on today’s standard maps of Wexford County. The area is currently divided into lots, but none exactly match the description given on this deed, even after converting rods to feet. The best I can say is that the lot is located south of 14 mile road and north of East Church Street, between Sherman Street on the west and Nelson Street on the east. The land may have been redivided in some way, since no description starts 8 rods (627 ft) east and 22 rods (363 ft) south of the section corner. A rod is 16.5 feet.

It is probably worth noting that this is a fractional section, where allowances were made for the earth’s curvature. Some other strange things seem to have been done with the survey, you can see that the forty on the edge of the section is actually 42.20, the the next two forts toward the east are 44 acres each. I would check out the edge of Hanover township that meets Antioch to see what the acreages there are, but I would get lost looking at fooling around studying the maps and spend another half hour hour doing something that really wouldn’t benefit my search for Abbotts in Wexford County. As illustrated on a portion of the old 1889 atlas1, the land is approximately where the red dot is.

4-197

  1. E.L. Hayes & Co., Atlas of Wexford County, Michigan / compiled by Eli L. Hayes from government surveys, county and township records, and personal investigations and observations , Eli L. Hayes, (Chicago, Ill.: E.L. Hayes & Co., 1889), page 37; digital images, The University of Michigan. Michigan County Histories and Atlases. http://name.umdl.umich.edu/3928170.0001.001 : accessed 28 April 2010.
This entry is part 88 of 99 in the series Deeds in the Family

I am posting information gleaned from land records in the areas where our family’s ancestors resided. You can read more about this project in the overview . This group pertain to Papa’s Fellows ancestors who resided in Newaygo County, Michigan.

Date: 6 Oct 1905
Liber: 59
Page: 363
Location: Wexford Co., MI
Grantor: Belle Fellows of Manton, Wexford County MI surviving joint tenant of Henry H. and Belle Fellows.
Grantee: Samuel D. Clay
Witnesses: Frank E. Angeline, Josephine Paquette
Type of deed: Warranty
Rec’d and recording: 7 Oct 1905
Clerk/registrar: Phillips
Location of land: Denver township and village, Newaygo Co., MI
Consideration: $300 and other valuable consideration
Notes:
Description: SW 1/4 of the SW 1/4 Sec 22 T14N R14W and lots 4,5,6,8,9,10,11,12,13 a cording to the village plat of Denver.

Henry H. Fellows died 19 September 1905 at the hospital in Big Rapids, Mecosta Co., Michigan. Belle had the need for some cash; apparently she sold her Newaygo County property to obtain it.

The village of Denver was located just north of the 40 acres owned by Henry and Belle. You can click on the thumbnail to better see the location of the land is illustrated on the Ashland Township map from the old Newaygo County Atlas1 .

59-363

 

 

  1. C. O. Titus, Atlas of Newaygo County, Michigan / compiled and drawn for the publisher by E. L. Hayes ; H. H. Avery, assistant, W. B. Patterson, assistant. (Philadelphia, PA : C.O. Titus c1880), page 57, The University of Michigan. Michigan County Histories and Atlases. http://name.umdl.umich.edu/3927793.0001.001 : accessed 15 February 2010.

I am sharing funeral cards on Fridays, following a Facebook meme which you an see here.  I know the meme was for “First Fridays, but I have quite a few, and I like to move ahead when I hear a good idea. Today’s card is from the service of Papa’s grandmother, Edna Rose Fellows. You can click to enlarge the card.

Edna Fellows funeral card

Edna Rose Fellows was born on 2 December 1892 in Newaygo County, Michigan. Her parents were Henry H. Fellows and wife Belle Lamunion. Edna was the seventh child of Henry and Belle.

Edna married Ross P. Fenton on 11 Sept 1909, and they raised a family of six children. You can see a photo of Edna’s final resting place in my cemetery series.

This entry is part 87 of 99 in the series Deeds in the Family

I am posting information gleaned from land records in the areas where our family’s ancestors resided. You can read more about this project in the overview . This group pertain to Papa’s Fellows ancestors who resided in Newaygo County, Michigan.

Date: 22 May 1896
Liber: 65
Page: 582
Location: Newaygo Co., MI
Grantor: Henry H. Fellows & Belle Fellows his wife of Grant, Newaygo Co., MI
Grantee: Albert G. Day of Grant village & County of Newaygo
Witnesses: John Bailey, John A. McKinley
Type of deed: Warranty
Rec’d and recording: 25 May 1896
Clerk/registrar: Carter
Location of land: Grant Twp., Newaygo Co., MI
Consideration: $25 and other valuable consideration
Notes:
Description: NE 1/4 of NE 1/4 Sec 7 T11N R12W

This deed states, “Reserving all crops now in the ground that can be harvested before 1 November 1896 and possession of the house until 1 November 1896.”

This appears to be when Henry and Belle left Newaygo County and headed north. They would have been following the work available in the lumber woods. Although the family farmed, the men also worked in the woods in the winter. Belle and Henry and their children appear on the 1900 census of Orange Township, Kalkaska County, Michigan in the home of George McAfee. Henry was a “hired man”, and Belle and their oldest daughter Bertha are listed as servants. The other children who were old enough are “attending school.”

The location of this land is illustrated on the Ashland Township map from the old Newaygo County Atlas1 . Click thumbnail if you wish to enlarge the map.

65-582

  1. C. O. Titus, Atlas of Newaygo County, Michigan / compiled and drawn for the publisher by E. L. Hayes ; H. H. Avery, assistant, W. B. Patterson, assistant. (Philadelphia, PA : C.O. Titus c1880), page 27, The University of Michigan. Michigan County Histories and Atlases. http://name.umdl.umich.edu/3927793.0001.001 : accessed 15 February 2010.
This entry is part 86 of 99 in the series Deeds in the Family

I am posting information gleaned from land records in the areas where our family’s ancestors resided. You can read more about this project in the overview . This group pertain to Papa’s Fellows ancestors who resided in Newaygo County, Michigan.

Date: 4 April 1882
Liber: 34
Page: 544
Location: Newaygo Co., MI
Grantor: Henry H. Fellows & Belle Fellows his wife of Ashland, Newaygo, MI
Grantee: Joel B. Fellows of the same place
Witnesses: John Newman, H.H. Fellows
Type of deed: Warranty
Rec’d and recording: 4 Oct 1882
Clerk/registrar: Taylor
Location of land: Ashland, Newaygo, MI
Consideration:
Notes:
Description:

The land conveyed was: All of the E 1/2 of the SW 1/4 of Section 13, T11N R13W that is south of the state road running through said land except a strip on the south end starting at the SW corner and running north 20 rods and 4 feet, then east to the Newaygo & Lake Shore RR, then on the line of the RR S 20 rods and 4 ft., then west to the start. This is the land which Henry H. (b ca 1859) purchased from his uncle, also Henry H. (b. ca 1839) just after the younger Henry turned 21.

I do not know which Joel B. Fellows purchased this land from the younger Henry H. Fellows. There is evidence two men by that name resided in Newaygo County. At the time of the 1880 census, Joel Fellows, the younger brother of Henry H. Fellows “Jr.”, was enumerated as a boarder, “Works in Woods” in Alleyton, Newaygo Co., MI. This younger Joel and the younger Henry were sons of Erastus G. Fellows and Mary Scofield. This Joel was born 9 October 1860, according the his father’s pension file, and would have been over 21 and old enough to purchase land in April, 1882.

Also on the 1880 census, the following listing appears in Ashland in the home of James M. Britton, family 22, dwelling 22: Fellows, J.B., white, male, 58, boarding, single, no occupation, born New York, both parents born Connecticut. This man may be the same Joel who purchased property from the estate of Erastus G. Fellows, the father of the younger Joel. He also appears on the 1884 census of Newaygo County, and his death is recorded in Ashland Township, Newaygo County, MI 21 January, 1892.

I will need to make a very thorough review of the land records and probate records to determine which Joel purchased this land.

The location of this land is illustrated on the Ashland Township map from the old Newaygo County Atlas1.

34-544

 

  1. C. O. Titus, Atlas of Newaygo County, Michigan / compiled and drawn for the publisher by E. L. Hayes ; H. H. Avery, assistant, W. B. Patterson, assistant. (Philadelphia, PA : C.O. Titus c1880), page 37, The University of Michigan. Michigan County Histories and Atlases. http://name.umdl.umich.edu/3927793.0001.001 : accessed 15 February 2010.