Other Events:

• Occupation: farmer
• Reference Number: *
• _UID: E2885283A697E74DB28725F9ECFD6BA0FB54

Notes:

Things to do:
1. Newspapers in Houghton
2. border crossings
3. reread letters and info from Clayton Sherman
4. Letters from Matilda for her records
5. tombstone in Lot 31, Section 10, Forest Lawn Cemetary, Detroit, Michigan,

Timeline for James Milton Sherman:

1857 Nov 26, James Milton born in Houghton, Ontario, Canada
1861 Census, James living in Houghton, Norfolk, Ontario, Canada, with parents Joseph & Matilda Sherman
1871 Canada Census, HoughtonNorfolk South, Ontario, Canada with parents
1879 Dec 24 James married Martha Madora Smith at Glenmyer, Ontario, Canada
1880 Nov 26, first son, Milton Kellum, born in Kingsmill, Cockran Dist., Ontario
1881 spring, moved to Lumberton, Michigan (may have missed 1880 US census & 1881 Canada census)
1882 Jul 15, daughter Alma Rolettie, born in Lumberton, Michigan
1883 bought 50 acres and old farm in Norfolk, Ontario, Canada
1883 Oct 28, son, Arthur Lewellyn born in Houghton, Norfolk, Ontario, Canada
1885 Jan 7, son Henry Clayton born in Houghton (James Milton was in Oscoda, Iosco, MI at the time)
1886 Apr 18, daughter, Mary Elizabeth born in Houghton
1887 May 1, son, Joseph Bernard born in Houghton
1888 May 29, son Frank Wesley born in Houghton\
1889 Sep 10, son Ira Hamilton born in Houghton
1891 Census of Canada, Houghton, Norfolk, Canada
1893 Jan 21, son William Austin born in Houghton
1894 Sep 14, son Lawrence Edmond born in Houghton
1895 Oct 20, son Earl Romain born in Houghton
1897 Jul 14, son Clarence Clifton born in Houghton
1899 Feb 5, daughter, Matilda Sepperal born in Houghton
1901 Census, living with family in Houghton
1910 Census, living with family in Oscoda, iosco, Michigan
1913 divorced Martha Madora.
1913 17 April, married Anna Reaume, in Harrisville, both of Greenbush, MI, both married 1 time before,
1916 moved to Detroit to work in car industry.
1921 quit working in Detroit
1930 Census living in Shelby, Macomb, Michigan with son, Milton K Sherman and Milton's family
1934 Sep 14, James Milton, age 76, died in Eloise, Michigan, poorhouse, buried in Detroit, Wayne, MI 1934. . Buried in Forrest Lawn Cemetery Detroit MI, arrangements were made by the widow of his son Henry Clayton Sherman

Joseph's grown son, James Milton, lived at Lumberton, Michigan, (1881-1883) then moved back to Fairground, Ontario, and lived there until he finally moved to Oscoda, Michigan (1900). It follows that family data for the period 1827-1900 may exist at either end of this Ontario-Michigan axis, particularly near the towns mentioned or along logical travel routes between them.

James Milton was the father of Milton Sherman who was the father of Bertha Sherman (Collis).
The following story was taken from the family genealogy by Vernon Sherman:

" James Milton was born November 26, 1857 at Houghton, Ontario, Canada. His wife was Martha Madora Smith whom he called "Dorie". She called him "Milt". They were married at Glenmyer, Ontario, Canada, Christmas Eve, 24 December 1879. Their first child was born eleven months later. Their thirteenth child was born twenty years later.
Martha's father was a Methodist minister for fifty years, and was sixty-one years old when Martha was born. He came from London, England and his wife from the vicinity of Glasgow, Scotland. He died at age 83. They lived on a farm east of Glenmyer at the time of Martha's marriage, having moved there from Walsingham Township.
During the period 1879-81, James Milton and Madora lived at Kingsmill, Ontario, 3 or4 miles northwest of Aylmer and about 30 miles northwest of Fairground. Their first child, Milton Kellum was born at Kingsmill. In the spring of 1881 they moved to Lumberton, Michigan, near Big Rapids, and here their second child, a daughter, Alma, was born. They moved back to Houghton, Ontario in the fall of 1883 and here the rest of their 13 children were born, none of them in the same house.
The town of Hemlock, Ontario consisted of three stores, a school, a church and a blacksmith shop. The gristmill was at Vienna, nine miles away. Fairground, Ontario, was the nearby location of the annual tounship fair and reunion. James Milton soon found need for additional money to support a growing family. He heard great talk of high wages in the Michigan woods and decided to work there during the winter months. About 1884, he left the winter management of the farm to his wife and children and went to the Michigan woods near Oscoda. He is known to have been in Oscoda during the winter of 1885, when his son, Henry Clayton, was born (7 January 1885).

In a letter (dated 13 Oct 1946) to his nephew, Vernon Sherman, Milton Kellum Sherman wrote concerning his father, James Milton Sherman.
"In 1883 he bought the north 50 acres of the old farm in Houghton Township, and built a 3 room house on it. While the plaster was drying, we went down to Uncle Charles Mercer, and there Arthur was born. We were there for about two weeks. In 1884, J. M. Sherman bought the south 50 acres of the farm, making his 100 acres of land. He had 30 sheep, 10 milch cows, and a good team of mares, also hogs and chickens, and farm tools. The land was swampy, wet and uncleared. Father worked very hard to clear and ditch that land, 'til he got rheumatism and was laid up for three years and six months. After the doctors got his farm, stock, and tools, they cured him of his rheumatism. He tried hard to recover the farm by working out. But he had a large family to feed, a lot of sickness and five deaths. He worked for 50 cents a day around our neighborhood. It was in Cleveland's administration and times were hard. He finally lost the farm and moved off. After Matilda (the last child) was born, father went back to Oscoda to work. He had worked there some before. We had one old mare left to do our work with. Clayton, Arthur and myself worked hoeing corn for Charlie Beech. We got 25 cents a day. We moved from the Sprag house to a house on the third concession across the road from Moris Fultons. From there we moved to the Pridle house, on the third concession just north of the third side road. While there, we traded the old mare for a little gray mare. She was a good horse. Art and I came to Oscoda and a year and a half later the rest of the family came over and brought the little gray mare with them. From that mare, father raised a mare colt, from that colt he raised three colts, one for your father (Henry Clayton), one for Art, and one for myself.
J.M. Sherman bought 80 acres of timber land at Handy, Michigan, near Mikado, on Pine River. Father, Art, Clayton, and Frank, cut the cedar off the land and sold the land, and bought 180 acres on the west side of Cedar Lake, 5 miles south of Greenbush and 6 miles north of Oscoda. About 1907 he bought a barn of Vern Sharky, of the Woods estate. He tore it down and moved it up to Cedar Lake to build a home there for himself and mother. But there was too much interference from A and F, 'til father had no home in Oscoda. And finally mother was persuaded to move back to Canada in 1911, just before the Oscoda fire. She was there only a short time, and moved to Detroit with Clarence and Matilda. Also A and F.
In 1913 father applied for a divorce and got it. I think he married Widow Reeves in the spring of 1914. He was living on her farm when World War I started. Her farm was 4 miles north and 1 mile west of father's farm. In 1916 father went to Detroit to work. In late fall of 1917 we both went to work for the Fisher Co. at Detroit plant # 7. He was a sweeper. He worked till the strike in 1921. Then he went back to the farm and moved his (then) wife to Detroit, and with the lumber that he had bought from Sharky, he built the two family flat in Detroit.
His second wife made him sleep in the attic. He got up in sleep one night and fell down the stair well to the basement, about 25 feet, and broke his hip. Several days later the police found him laying a short distance from the sidewalk in the grass and tall weeds near Mack Avenue on Conners Creek Road. He was taken to the hospital and the rest I think you know. The doctor in the hospital told me that father was not crazy, but worn out in mind and body."


James Milton is believed to have applied for his first U. S. papers in 1884 at Tawas City, Michigan. The declaration of intention is on file but bears no date. However, the order admitting him to citizenship shows 17 November 1900 as the date of application for the final papers. Final citizenship papers were signed 19 September 1904 by Judge J. Kennine at Tawas City, Iosco County, Michigan.
Those Michigan days were of tarpaper, sawdust and forest fires. Lumber Barons came into being overnight by the simple expedient of stealing timber from the boundless state forests. Later, fires set in the "slashings" removed all evidence of theft. What a forest fire did to Oscoda in 1911 is part of the Henry Clayton chapter in this story. Oscoda was a lumbering town and one of the most active lake ports. Sandy streets were surfaced with Cedar and Tamrack bark. The fresh smell of tar paper and of rough sawed new boards filled the air.
In the spring the Au Sable River ice broke and the "run" was on. The river was choked with logs. A system of river Bayous above the town stored the overflow of timber until the mills could handle it. Floating necklaces of chained logs, known as log-booms lashed timber shipments to river banks and lay in mill ponds. Other shipments of timber came down Lake Huron as huge rafts bound with chain were towed by tugs to mills at the lake shore. Still a third flow of timber arrived via the narrow-gage logging trains creaking and groaning out of the woods. The ringing whine of the great saws continued 24 hours a day. At 6 hour intervals the blasts of mill whistles told the change of shift.
Michigan was the Nation's lumber pile in those years. It was the country of Paul Bunyon, his famous "talking boots"; the Winter of the blue snow; and his mighty ox, Babe, whose eyes were as big as cartwheels and measured two ax-handles between centers.
In 1910, James milton Sherman took up farming on a place near Greenbush, Michigan, some 20 miles N.W. of Oscoda. His family remained by choice in Oscoda where Arthur and Frank headed it up. Most of the children were self supporting and when the family moved back to Fairground, Ontario, that same year, Henry Clayton and Milton Kellum remained in Michigan.
In 1914, James Milton married the widow Reeves. She was a small dark woman with eleven children, many of whom were at that time well grown boys. She was Catholic. They lived first on her farm but later moved to Detroit In 1934, when a Police Ambulance took James Milton to Detroit Receiving Hospital, all he would tell them was his name and that he was the father of 13 children. When advised that her husband was critically ill at the hospital, the ex-widow Reeves consulted with her sons (all now able to support themselves) and announced that they were not interested. She refused the hospital's repeated requests that she talk to them and so in a few days her husband was transferred to the County Poor House at Eloise, Michigan where he died 14 September 1934 in his 77th year.
When a person dies in the Poor House and the body is not claimed, the county's procedure is set by law. The cadaver is clothed in a suit of long underwear, put in a rough box, and buried in "Potter's Field" However, James Milton Sherman is buried in Lot 31, Section 10, Forest Lawn Cemetary, Detroit, Michigan, along with his son Henry Clayton. Arrangements were carried out by Henry Clayton's widow and son acting for Henry Clayton. James Milton's headstone reads, "Grandfather"

1861 Census of Canada about James M Sherman
Name: James M Sherman
Gender: Male
Age: 5
Birth Year: 1856
Birthplace: Canada West
Marital Status: Single
Home in 1861: Houghton, Norfolk, Canada West
Religion: Methodist
Film Number: C-1052
Page Number: 7
Household Members: Name Age
Joseph Sherman 34 farmer, born Canada
Matilda J Sherman 30 born Canada
William L Sherman 10 born Canada
James M Sherman 5 born Canada
Sarah E Sherman 2 born Canada

1871 Census of Canada
Name: James Sherman
Gender: Male
Age: 14
Birth Year: abt 1857
Birth Place: Ontario
Religion: Baptist
Origin: German
Province: Ontario
District: Norfolk South
District Number: 11
Division: 02
Subdistrict: Houghton
Subdistrict Number: a
Neighbors:
Household Members: Name Age
Joseph Sherman 43
Matilda Sherman 39
William Sherman 19
James Sherman 14
Sarah Sherman 12
Mary Sherman 9
Louisa Sherman 7
Lambert Sherman 3

Ontario, Canada Voter Lists, 1867-1900 about James M Sherman
Name: James M Sherman
Year: 1885
Locality: Houghton Township
Province: Ontario
Country: Canada

1891 Census of Canada
Name: James M Sherman
Gender: Male
Marital Status: Married
Age: 34
Birth Year: abt 1857
Birthplace: Ontario
Relation to Head of House: Head
Religion: Baptist
French Canadian: No
Spouse's Name: Martha M Sherman
Father's Birth Place: Ontario
Mother's Birth Place: Ontario
Province: Ontario
District Number: 97
District: Norfolk South
Subdistrict: Houghton
Neighbors:
Household Members: Name Age
James M Sherman 34
Martha M Sherman 30
Millon K Sherman 10
angelell L Sherman 8
Aurthur L Sherman 7
Henry C Sherman 6
Mary E Sherman 5
Frank W Sherman 3

1901 Census of Canada
Name: Milton Sherman
Gender: Male
Marital Status: Married
Age: 44
Birth Date: 28 Nov 1856
Birthplace: Ontario
Relation to Head of House: Head
Spouse's Name: Martha M
Racial or Tribal Origin: English
Nationality: Canadain
Religion: Methodist
Occupation: W E
Province: Ontario
District: Norfolk (South/Sud)
District Number: 94
Sub-District: Houghton
Sub-District Number: B-2
Family Number: 53
Page: 6
Household Members: Name Age
Milton Sherman 44
Martha M Sherman 40
Milton K Sherman 20
Alma R Sherman 18
Arther L Sherman 17
Claryton Sherman 16
Mary E Sherman 14
Frank W Sherman 12
Clarance C Sherman 3
Matilda S Sherman 2

*1910 United States Federal Census
Name: James M Sherman
Age in 1910: 52
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1858
Birthplace: Canada English
Relation to Head of House: Head
Father's Birth Place: Canada English
Mother's Birth Place: Canada English
Spouse's name: Martha M
Home in 1910: Oscoda, Iosco, Michigan
Marital Status: Married
Race: White
Gender: Male
Year of Immigration: 1902
Household Members: Name Age
James M Sherman 52
Martha M Sherman 49
Frank Sherman 21
Clarence Sherman 12
Matilda Sherman 11

1920 United States Federal Census
Name: James M Sherman
Age: 63
Birth Year: abt 1857
Birthplace: Canada
Home in 1920: Greenbush, Alcona, Michigan
Race: White
Gender: Male
Immigration Year: 1881
Relation to Head of House: Head
Marital Status: Married
Spouse's Name: Anna Sherman
Father's Birthplace: Canada
Mother's Birthplace: Canada
Home Owned: Own, farm
Able to Read: Yes
Able to Write: Yes
Neighbors:
Household Members: Name Age
James M Sherman 63 [43] immigrated 1881, naturalized 1900
Anna Sherman 45 [43]
Vernice A Reaume 15
Marie Reaume 14
Dennis H Reaume 12
Aloysious C Reaume 10
Elbert Reaume 8


1930 United States Federal Census
Name: James M Sherman
Home in 1930: Shelby, Macomb, Michigan
Age: 73
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1857
Relation to Head of House: Father
Occupation: Education: Military service: Rent/home value: Age at first marriage: Parents' birthplace:
Household Members: Name Age
Milton K Sherman 49
Zoey Sherman 39
Joseph Sherman 17
Henry C Sherman 14
Basil B Sherman 12
James M Sherman 73 father, came to US 1883, naturalized

Ontario, Canada Voter Lists, 1867-1900 about James M Sherman
Name: James M Sherman
Year: 1885
#484, Juror, yes lot W 1/2 5 conc 1 owner PO7
Locality: Houghton Township
Province: Ontario
Country: Canada

Ontario, Canada Voter Lists, 1867-1900 about James M Sherman
Name: James M Sherman
Year: 1886
#489, Juror, yes lot W 1/2 conc 1 owner PO7
Locality: Houghton Township
Province: Ontario
Country: Canada

Forest Lawn Cem. He died in Eloise
History of Eloise Westland, Michigan

http://www.sherman-roots.com/sherman/pioneers/sp'ott.doc
3. James Milton8 Sherman born Nov 28 1857 in Houghton [Twp] Norfolk Co Ontario Canada (mc/mp; GVWS p0). (Gen Refs: not in DPS, NES, SD, LDS/AF, LDS/IGI).
1871.
1879. James married at Glenmyer Ontario Canada to Martha Madora "Dorie" Smith, who was born c1860 [born 1861] (mc/mp), she and parents born in Canada (1910 Census; GVWS p1).
1879/81. James lived in Kingsmill Ontario (mc/mp).
1881/83. James lived at Lubmerton MI, near Grand Rapids MI (mc/mp).
1883/84. James moved to Fairground Ontario, and purchased 50 acres of land. He added another 50 acres in 1884 and built a 3 room house. He had 30 sheep, 10 milch cows, a good team of mares, hogs, chickens and farm tools. The land was swampy and uncleared; he worked hard to clear and drain the land. He got rheumatism and was laid up for 3 year and half years; the doctors took the farm for medical bills.
1884/85. James a farmer, left his family in Houghton Center Ontario, and worked the winter in the lumber mills in Oscoda MI Iosco Co (GVWS p1).
1893. James' son Henry, was kicked by a horse. James was so angry with the horse that he rushed into the house, got his Yankee musket, and shot the horse dead. He tanned "old Charlie's" hide and it was a rug on the floor in front of his bed all the rest of his life (GHCS p1).
1900. James move to Oscoda MI Iosco Co (mc/mp).
1901. James and family immigrated to Oscoda MI Iosco Co (GVWS p2).
1904. September 19th, James became a citizen at Tawas City MI Iosco Co (mc/mp).
xxxx. James purchased 80 acres on the Pine River at Handy MI Alcona Co, and cut the cedar and then sold the land (mc/mp).
1906. James's father Joseph died in Ontario, James lived in Oscoda MI (mc/mp).
1910. Census of Oscoda MI Iosco Co indicated: James age 52, carpenter working at odd jobs; Martha M Sherman, age 49 born 1861, married 31 years, 13 children 8 alive; children Frank, Clarence, Matilda; they lived on Lake Street (p278/d139/f140; nb/7.46).
1910. James purchased 180 acres, located on the West side of Cedar Lake about 5 miles South of Greenbush MI and about 6 miles North of Oscoda [this would be near the Alcona and Iosco county line (mc/mp, from GVMS).
1911. James and family experienced the great fire of 1911 (GVWS p5), Martha had moved back just before the fire (mc/mp from GVWS).
1913. James divorced Martha (mc/mp).
1913. James M age 56, a farmer of Greenbush MI Alcona Co, born in Canada; married in Harrisville MI Alcona Co to widow Anna Reeves/Reemes (uc) age 40 born 1873; 2d marriage for both; his parents Joseph Sherman and Jane Fick (ALC/MR 2-68).
xxxx. James was living on Anna's farm when WW-1 started, located 4 miles North and 1 mile West of his farm.
1914/16. James worked for the Fisher Co Plant #7 in Detroit MI as a sweeper, until the 1921 strike (mc/mp; GVWS).
1917. James built a two family flat in Detroit, and brought his wife there to live.
1920. Census of Alcona Co indicated: James M age 63, immigrated 1881 and naturalized in 1900; Anna Sherman age 45 born 1875 in MI, wife; five step-children named Resume (Soundex e3/p8).
1920. Census of Flint MI Genesee Co indicated: Martha age 59 born 1861 in Canada, mother-in-law, immigrated 1901; enumerated with Earnest Rathburn (Soundex e38/p14).
1921. James move to Detroit MI (mc/mp).
xxxx. Martha Sherman died in Dearborn MI Wayne Co (GVWS p0).
1934. Anna made him sleep in the attic, one night he fell down the stairway 25 feet to the basement and broke his hip and was taken to Detroit Receiving Hospital. Anna refused to accept James from the hospital, so he was transferred to the County Poor Farm at Eloise MI (mc/mp).
1934. Sep 13th, James Sherman died at the poor house at Eloise MI Wayne Co (GVWS p0; mc/mp; mc/tb). Buried in Forrest Lawn Cemetery Detroit MI, arrangements were made by the widow of his son Henry Clayton Sherman (mc/mp).

The history of Eloise actually begins in Detroit were a vote of the people on March 8, 1832, under the name of Wayne County Poor House, named the institution County House Infirmary, it was then located on Gratiot and Mt Elliott Avenues. After the county purchased The Black Horse Tavern, a Detroit-Chicago Stagecoach stop, in 1839 this became the location of the second County Poor House. Of the 146 people living in the original Poor House, only 35 transferred to the new location. The other 111, refused to go into what was than mostly wilderness. Eloise is often referred to as Eloise Sanatorium, Eloise Hospital or even, The Crazy Hospital. The Sanatorium was applied when the hospital opened a out-door treatment center for tubercular patients. The name, Eloise Hospital was adopted by the Board of Superintendents of the Poor on August 18, 1911. It would later become, again The Wayne County Asylum. The term, Eloise, was originally used, because the United States Government, set the Post Office located here in the general office building, it was named Eloise. Later the name, Eloise was applied to the Michigan Central Railroad depot here, the American Express Company located here, and the Detroit, Ypsilanti & Ann Arbor road, all became known with the name Eloise attached. 
But why Eloise ?
Prior to the year 1894, there were no post offices, express offices, or railroad offices, located at any institutions. This slowed deliveries in the Wayne, Westland and Detroit areas and the Superintendent motioned for a post office located at the County House May 1, 1894. The Postmaster General at that time, approved for the location, however to avoid any annoyance to his Department, he established the order that all newly established post offices, would have only short names, or names of one word, and none, could resemble closely to any other within the State. Freeman B. Dickerson, recent postmaster of Detroit, was then President of the Board. He was largely responsible for getting the new County House Center, built, and was very interested in the establishment of the post office. His only living child, a daughter, who was four years old, was called, Eloise. Members of the Board, submitted the name, Eloise, which was than sent to Washington, and approved. On July 20, 1894, the post office was established, under the name Eloise. (Eloise Dickerson, later married and became the wife of Harlow N. Davock, of Detroit. She died in 1982 at the age of 93.) Eloise evolved over time, and expanded and by the 1930's there were 78 building on almost 1,000 acres of land. It was a self-sufficent community, within Westland Township. It had it's own dairy farm, piggery (or pig farm), greenhouses, a fire department, power plants, bakeries, and its own Post Office. The main building, called "N Building" was over 380,000 square feet and housed 7,000 indigent persons. Over 3,000 of them, working throughout the large complex.
What Else did Eloise Have ?
Eloise was not only a General Hospital, and housing unit for the poor of Wayne County, but it is commonly referred to as the "Crazy Hospital." Eloise was a facility for mentally disturbed patients. In the small Eloise Museum located inside of the Kay Beard Building still standing on Michigan Avenue, are artifacts including leather arm restraints. Eloise also had a section for a morgue. There is said to be 7,145 former Eloise residents buried in the old Eloise Cemetery, which is located on the South side of Michigan Avenue, just across from the Kay Beard Building. The last burial is said to have occured in January 1948. ( SEE BELOW for VIEW of Eloise Cemetery and Markers) The Keeper's residence had originally been located in the west end of the main building, however in 1865, it was approved a new structure be built, for the keeper and his family. The building was drawn up by James Anderson, and built by Henry Metz, by contract. The building had a frontage of 46 feet and was 37 feet wide, and also two stories high. The first keeper to live here was A.L. Chase. This building was also used by the Board for meetings and office space, located on the second floor. The previous portion of the main building, that had been used by the keeper and his family, was turned into bedrooms, a dispensary, and nursery. By 1876, there were buildings for the Insane Asylum. The name used for these buildings was the Third County House. In 1839, there was also a school district with a school house located on the property. There were several children in the County House at the time it was first opened in Detroit, who's parents had died from cholera, and the County House was their only home. In Section 52 of Chapter 2 of the Laws of 1838, it stated that the Superintendent of the Poor, in every county, were obligated to look after the education of all children between the ages of five and sixteen. Therefore a room was set aside and apart where the children would assemble for school. In 1859, an old building, that had been used during a small pox epidemic, was made into a schoolhouse. The next year the Board erected a schoolhoues along Plank Road. Legislature later passed a bill stating that the Wayne County Farm, used for the benefit of the poor, would be named a school district, and should be numbered by the School Inspector of Nankin. This would later be named, School District No 10 of Nankin, and entitled to the school money provided to all the other school districts. The first teacher here was Chloe Walker, she was replaced in October of 1862 by Harriet Chase. The building however was destroyed in a fire, and the school had to be run , again from the main building. The Board elected to not erect a new schoolhouse located on the property, as another was being built in the area. The children on Eloise property began to attend the State Public School in May of 1874. The number of children inside the community here, outnumbered the limit to be excepted by the Public School, and by 1880, they had to erect a separate school building . The last recorded money recieved for school purposed was in 1887. There were at times, after 1887, that the State School could not take in the extra number of children from Eloise, and the Superintendent was in charge of educating those children that could not be placed, or adopted out. The Board approved a $5,000 appropration for a seperate "cottage" to be used for the children. They were to be completely seperated from any of the inhabitants of the main hospital area. The cottage was never built, because , massive and quick steps were taken to place every child in other institutions. The State Public School and State Institutions were from then, established to take care of these existing children and those that would become orphaned, or outcast. The schoolhouse built in 1880, was later used for special cases of male patients in the County House, and later as a laundry for the Asylum. The building was located on the north side of Michigan Aveaue, at Merriman Road. In 1825, the grounds in and around the Wayne County Poor House (or Eloise) were almost completely covered by trees of all types. Many of the older white oak trees stood over 130 feet high. These woods of course housed many wild animals such as fox, lynx, deer, bear, and wolves, as well as other smaller animals and birds. Joseph Moss surveyed this property for the Government, for the laying of Military Road. It would extent from Detroit to Chicago, and was then an old Indian trail. The Torbert family built a log house along this "road", cleared the land, and cultivated a small farm. In 1839, the County purchased the Torbert cabin, which Torbert had named and used as the Black Horse Tavern. They also purchased the 280 acres, four cows, a yoke of oxen, and vegetables seeds from Torbert, to run a farm for the County. In June of 1840, 2 horses and a harness were added, and that August, 3 plows, a fanning mill, and other farm tools were purchased. The first farm report to the County Commissioners produced the following:
600 bushels of corn, 35 bushels of beets, 180 bushels of rutabagas, 28 bushels of peas, 55 bushels of oats, 14 bushels of onions, and 2 bushels of pickles.
At the time the County purchased this property there is said to have been 2 log buildings, located north of the log house (or Black Horse Tavern). One was a barn and stable, and the other was a shed for teams of animals. There is some indication that the shed would later become mental health institution, and the barn remained standing until 1886, then was sold for its lumber and hay. In 1875 a grain barn was built south of the Michigan Central RailRoad, which was 56 feet long and 46 feet wide. Another barn was built in 1886 for hay, grain, stock, and other tools, it also had a horse and cow stable, and a wagon shed. This structure was 144 feet long and 36 feel wide. In 1886 an addition was added for a dairy, and a solo was added in 1904. In 1896, the County built another barn northwest of the County House originally intended for use by the Asylum farm. In 1884, a new root cellar was constructed and was built between the bakery building, and the gas house. It was 52 feet long and 20 feet wide and divided into seperate bins for vegetables and fruit. Another root cellar was built to house tubers in 1895, it stood on a small hill. It was tore down in 1922, to make room for a small street. In 1935, an underground root cellar was completed east of the farmhouse , and South of Michigan Avenue. This was 40 feet wide and 100 feet long, housing almost 5,000 bushels of produce. A second underground root cellar was built in 1942. At the beginning of the County House's existence, the farmers were the keepers. In 1842 T.T. Lyon was offered the position as keeper and farmer, but claimed he would starve to death on the salary of $300 a year. An investigative committee was form during the Civil War period, to establish the need, and importance of the County House. The farm embraced 280 acres of land, of which 180 were good for cultivation. Another 60 acres were cleared , well-fenced, and useful for pasturage, and 40 acres in timber land. They reported it to be a good arrangement for farming with a house, and out buildings situated in the center, on the south side of the Rouge River. The River was reported to be a valuable supply of water to the stock and water to the house and washrooms. They also found, however, that the population of the paupers was not sufficent to run the entire farm, and that renting or leasing out work on shares of the land, would be adventageous. In short, the committee felt to take away any of the farm would injure the value of the surrounded community. In 1872, they purchased 157 acres adjacent to the land, which was owned by the Cady family, for use of the Asylum. There were at this time, two seperate keepers, one was the Keeper of the Asylum, and one was the Keeper of the County House. There was a competitive feeling between the two Institutions and the Keeper of the Asylum felt there would be a more leveling of administration if this farm was placed under their direction. In 1893, Dr. E.O. Bennett, took charge of the Asylum and the Cady Farmland was placed under his jurisdiciton. In 1897 a new wire fence was built around both farms and all fields, and a deep well was sunk as well as a windmill and large tank. The two farms remained seperate and distinct from one another for several years. It wasn't until 1908 when they discontinued this, and both became a single unit, and remained so until the function of farmkeeper was discontinued in 1955. Other additions and enlargements were made after the purchase of the Cady farmland. 2 henneries were constructed; a blacksmith shop was installed in 1915; and several piggeries were built. In 1889 a County piggery was built north of the County House barn , but had to be removed in 1913, to make room for a railroad trestle. In 1895 an Asylum piggery was built north of the Keepers residence, but was dismantled in 1917. Cement piggeries with also constructed in 1917, a half of a mile south of Michigan Avenue. 
When Did This Become the Wayne County Psychiatric Hospital ? There was no distinction between the rational and the insane inmates in the County House until March 22, 1841. It was this date, that the first of five patients were registered as insane, her name was Bridget Hughes, an Irish immigrant, she remained a patient here until her death on March 8, 1895 it is likely that she is buired among the indigent in Eloise Cemetery. During these first years there was at least one and possibly two building located northeast of building "C". They were constructed to house the psychiatrically distrubed. The County House was at this time, the home of the criminally insane who were sent from the Detroit House of Corrections. For several years, the County House was the only place for an asylum in the State of Michigan. The only division of patients in the County House, was by sex. Other than that, babies, old men, the blind, as well as the insane, were all housed together. Finally with the assitance of the Wayne County Board of Supervisors, insistant on legislation regarding the insane, in 1848, an act was passed creating a State Asylum. The first asylum was planned on ten acres of land, in Kalamazoo, Michigan, the County House never showed an interest in having a seperate psychiatric Asylum on the property. However, they did continue to care for the insane and house them as best they could. In 1859, the Michigan Asylum in Kalamazoo, was ready to receive a limited number of female patients, however, they indicated that only the "curable" patients would be housed here. Over the years the number of insane people housed at the County Poor Farm, increased, until it was so intolerable, that the Hospital Board, determined to make an effort to provide a seperate building for the insane patients, approved the establishment in 1867 of a seperate building. In 1868, a two-story brick building was erected which was 42 feet long, 35 feet deep, with 57 feet of frontage. It was located 290 feet west of the Main County House. East and West wings were added in 1876 and in 1881 the management of the Asylum was transferred to a professional physician. Dr. E.O. Bennett, and his wife were employed as Medical Superintendent and Matron. After serving 19 years Dr. Bennett retired, and was replaced by Dr. John J. Marker. Marker's first act, was to erect a second Asylum Building, it was the year 1900. In 1882, the population of the Asylum was 307 patients, 224 of them resident patients. In 1887, a special building was contructed which combined the insane wards, the adminstrative headquarters, and the chapel. In 1885, the State of Michigan, passed a law for the insane, which basically stated any insane person continuously housed by the county of two years or more, would became a State charged patients, thereafter. This law was amended in 1891, stating that any insane person committed by a judge could be commit directly to the Wayne County Asylym, however, none would be confined there, if there was room in the State Asylum, but the State Asylum, could return patients to the County, when their beds were full. There was a devasting fire in 1892 at the Eastern Michigan Asylum located in Ypsilanti, and a large number of patients were moved to Eloise. The following year was the purchase of the Cady farmland and a "Women's Building" was erected west of the first Asylum building. Over the years there were additions, undates, and more buildings added to the main Asylum area. By 1907, alcoholics and drug addicts were maintained in State and County Hospitals. The population in 1913 was 576, with an employment of 22 males and 44 female attendents. By 1923, the population had grown to 1,700 patients, and additional buildings were erected. The first in 1921, another in 1923 with a new dairy barn and enlargment of the power plant, one in 1925, one in 1928 and one in 1929. The last psychiatric patient to leave Eloise was in 1979. Inside of the Kay Beard Building, still standing on Eloise property is a small museum run by Frank Rembisz, the director of the Wayne County Office on Aging. 
Eloise Cemetery in the News
An article published in the Observer in October 1999, located also in the historical reference file at the Public Library of Westland at 6123 Central City Parkway Westland, MI 48185, tells of Eloise's "ghostly activities." L. Keas who chases ghosts .. for fun, moved to Westland from Chicago in 1998, and now resides in Canton, where she works as a website builder, and also runs, The Michigan Ghost Hunters Society, founded by Keas. (http://www.tmghs.com) Keas seeks out locations throughout all of Michigan, that are known to have interesting histories, like the old Wayne County Infirmary, Psychiatric and General Hospital Complex, also known as Eloise. The complex itself, now houses the Wayne County Office on Aging, as well as some social programs such as "Meals on Wheels." It is located on Michigan Avenue, just east of Merriman Road. Keas is said to believe that she captured ghosts hovering over an Observer photographer while taking photos for the article done at Eloise. Below are two photos that I took this September (2000) of the area known as Eloise Cemetery. At the time, the grass had just been cut and volunteers from, The Friends of Eloise(734-727-7377 Frank Rembisz), had come in, and started uncovering the markers located here. There are apparently 593 markers in the cemetery itself, marked only by number. The Friends of Eloise is working on complying death records, Eloise records, and death indexes to try and determine who might be matched with these 593 stones. 

Looking across the entire field where the Eloise Cemetery is located. You can not see that there are any markers here at all, unless you enter the field. There is no gate, and are no signs. 
Here is a picture showing 3 of the 593 numbered markers. The area had recently been cut and cleared, or locating any of the stones may have been near impossible 1900 Census of Wayne County House & Insane Asylum Elijah McCoy, resident of Eloise Inventor and Ex-slave. Return to Wayne County Cemetery List Return to Wayne County MALHN Main Page

James married Martha Madora SMITH on 24 Dec 1879 in Clear Creek, Houghton, Norfolk, Ontario, Canada, and was divorced. Martha (daughter of Ephraim Kellum SMITH and Mary STEWART) was born on 15 Feb 1861 in Bayham, Elgin, Ontario, Canada; died on 5 May 1928 in Superior, Washtenaw, Michigan. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Ontario, Canada Marriages, 1857-1922 ancestry.comabout James Milton Sherman
Name: James Milton Sherman
Birth Place: Houghton
Age: 23 residence: Houghton
Father Name: Joseph Sherman
Mother Name: Matilda Sherman
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1856
Spouse Name: Martha M Smith
Spouse's Age: 18 residence: Middleton
Spouse Birth Place: Bayham
Spouse Father Name: Ephraim Smith
Spouse Mother Name : Mary Smith
Marriage Date: 24 Dec 1879
Marriage Place: Clear Creek, Norfolk (Methodist)
Marriage County: Norfolk , District of Houghton

Divorced
He filed for divorse on account of desertion Sep 25, 1912
Circut Courd, Alcona, Michigan

1. Milton Kellum SHERMAN was born on 26 Nov 1880 in Malahide, Elgin, Ontario, Canada; died on 25 Feb 1953 in Manton, Wexford, Michigan, United States; was buried in Caldwell Twp Cemetery Missaukee Co,Michigan, USA.
2. Alma Rolettie SHERMAN was born on 15 Jul 1882 in Lumberton, Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States; died in 1951.
3. Arthur Lewellyn SHERMAN was born on 27 Oct 1883 in Houghton, Norfolk, Ontario, Canada; died on 29 Jun 1951 in Macomb, Michigan.
4. Henry Clayton SHERMAN was born on 7 Jan 1885 in Houghton, Norfolk, Ontario, Canada; died in 1929 in Michigan, United States.
5. Mary Elizabeth SHERMAN was born on 18 Apr 1886 in Houghton, Norfolk, Ontario, Canada.
6. Joseph Bernard SHERMAN was born on 1 May 1887 in Houghton, Norfolk, Ontario, Canada; died on 5 Nov 1887 in Houghton, Norfolk, Ontario, Canada; was buried in Methodist Cemetary, Fairground, Ontario, Canada.
7. Frank Wesley SHERMAN was born on 29 May 1888 in Houghton, Norfolk, Ontario, Canada.
8. Ira Hamilton SHERMAN was born on 10 Sep 1889 in Houghton, Norfolk, Ontario, Canada; died on 30 Oct 1889 in Houghton, Norfolk, Ontario, Canada; was buried in Methodist Cemetary, Fairground, Ontario, Canada.
9. William Austin SHERMAN was born on 21 Jan 1893 in Houghton, Norfolk, Ontario, Canada; died on 18 Sep 1893 in Houghton, Norfolk, Ontario, Canada; was buried in Methodist Cemetary, Fairground, Ontario, Canada.
10. Lawrence Edmond SHERMAN was born on 14 Sep 1894 in Houghton, Norfolk, Ontario, Canada; died on 25 Mar 1897 in Houghton, Norfolk, Ontario, Canada; was buried in Methodist Cemetary, Fairground, Ontario, Canada.
11. Earl Romain SHERMAN was born on 20 Oct 1895 in Houghton, Norfolk, Ontario, Canada; died on 28 Mar 1897 in Houghton, Norfolk, Ontario, Canada; was buried in Methodist Cemetary, Fairground, Ontario, Canada.
12. Clarence Clifton SHERMAN was born on 14 Jul 1897 in Houghton, Norfolk, Ontario, Canada; died on 13 Oct 1978 in Battle Creek, Calhoun, Michigan, USA.
13. Matilda Sepperal SHERMAN was born on 5 Feb 1899 in Houghton, Norfolk, Ontario, Canada; died on 21 Jan 1979 in Detroit, Wayne, Michigan, United States.

James married Anna Menard on 17 Apr 1914 in Harrisville, , Michigan, USA. Anna was born on 22 Jan 1874 in Toledo, Lucas, Ohio, USA; died on 11 Dec 1944 in Detroit, Wayne, Michigan, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

familysearch.com"Michigan, Marriages, 1868-1925," James M. Sherman, 1913
***********************
Groom's Name: James M. Sherman
Groom's Race:
Groom's Age: 56 years
Groom's Birth Date: 1857
Groom's Birthplace: Canada
Bride's Name: Anna Reaume
Bride's Race:
Bride's Age: 40 years
Bride's Birth Date: 1873
Bride's Birthplace: Michigan
Marriage Type:
Marriage Date: 17 Apr 1913
Marriage Place: Harrisville, Alcona, Michigan
Groom's Father: Joseph Sherman
Groom's Mother: Jane Fick
Bride's Father: Menard
Bride's Mother: Unknown
Groom's Marital Status:
Groom's Previous Wife:
Bride's Marital Status:
Bride's Previous Husband:
Film Number: 2342700
Frame Number:
Digital Folder Number: 4209171
Image Number: 42
Reference Number: v 1 p 1 rn 995

Other Events:

• Occupation: Farmer, Carpenter, Mason
• Reference Number: *
• _UID: 0006918D81A6D34684DF2699A8D9784AC9D2

Notes:

Timeline for Joseph Henry Sherman:

1827 Jul 13, Joseph born in Berlin, Ionia, Mi
1845 Joseph went to Ontario Canada where his mother's relatives lived.
1850 Feb 4, Joseph married Matilda Jane Fick in Houghton, Norfolk, Ontario, Canada
1851 May 28, son, William Lewis, born Houghton
1854 May 6, son, Joseph Henry, born Houghton
1854 Sep, son Joseph Henry died Houghton
1857 Nov 28, son, James Milton, born Houghton
1859 Feb 12, daughter, Sarah Elizabeth,born Houghton
1861 Aug 10, daughter, Mary Jane,born Houghton
1863 Sep 13, Angeletta Louisa, born Houghton
1868 son, Lambert Lincoln, born Houghton
1871 Census canada, Houghton, Norfolk, Canada with family
1895 Dec 15, wife, Matilda Jane, died in Houghton, Norfolk, Ontario, Canada
1901 Canada census, Joseph is a widow living as a lodger in Houghton, Norfolk, Ontario, Canada
1906 Jun 3, Joseph died in Simcoe, Ontario, Canada, at age 79, from old age.

Is this right?
1851 Census of Canada East, Canada West, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia about Joseph Sherman
Name: Joseph Sherman
Gender: Male
Age: 21
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1831
Birthplace: N Brunswick
Province: Canada West (Ontario)
District: Wentworth County
District Number: 41
Sub-District: Saltfleet
Sub-District Number: 398
Household Members:
Name Age
Joseph Sherman 21

1861 Census of Canada about Joseph Sherman
Name: Joseph Sherman
Gender: Male
Age: 34
Birth Year: 1827
Birthplace: Canada West
Marital Status: Married
Home in 1861: Houghton, Norfolk, Canada West
Religion: Methodist
Household Members:
Name Age
Joseph Sherman 34 farmer
Matilda J Sherman 30 born Canada West
William L Sherman 10 born Canada West
James M Sherman 5 born Canada West
Sarah E Sherman 2 born Canada West

1871 Census of Canada about Joseph Sherman
Name: Joseph Sherman
Gender: Male
Age: 43
Birth Year: abt 1828
Birth Place: Ontario
Marital Status: Married
Religion: Baptist
Origin: German
Province: Ontario
District: Norfolk South
District Number: 11
Division: 02
Subdistrict: Houghton
Subdistrict Number: a
Neighbors: Jeremiah Fick age 23, Abagail Fick age 23, William age 7, Charles age 3, John age 6/12
all Presbyterian, born Ontario, German origin
Household Members:
Name Age
Joseph Sherman 43 farmer
Matilda Sherman 39 german origin
William Sherman 19
James Sherman 14
Sarah Sherman 12
Mary Sherman 9
Louisa Sherman 7
Lambert Sherman 3

1881 Census of Canada about Joseph Sherman
Name: Joseph Sherman
Gender: Male
Marital Status: Married
Age: 53
Birth Year: 1828
Birthplace: Ontario
Religion: Ch. of the Mesiah
Nationality: New Brunswick
Occupation: Farmer
Province: Ontario
District Number: 157
District: Norfolk South
Sub-District Number: A
Subdistrict: Houghton
Division: 1
Household Members:
Name Age
Joseph Sherman 53
Matelda J. Sherman 49
Lueza Sherman 17
Lambert L. Sherman 13
Elizabeth Burgar 21

1891 Census of Canada about Joseph Sherman
Name: Joseph Sherman
Gender: Male
Marital Status: Married
Age: 63
Birth Year: abt 1828
Birthplace: Ontario
Relation to Head of House: Head
Religion: messiah
French Canadian: No
Father's Birth Place: New Brunswick
Mother's Birth Place: Ontario
Province: Ontario
District Number: 97
District: Norfolk South
Subdistrict: Houghton
Neighbors: View others on page
Household Members:
Name Age
Joseph Sherman 63 Carpenter, father born New Brunswick, Mother born ontario
Matilda Sherman 60 born Ontario, father born USA, Mother born Ontario
Sarah E Sherman 32 born Ontario, father born Ontario, Mother born Ontario
Louise Sherman 27 born Ontario, father born Ontario, Mother born Ontario
Lambert L Sherman 23 born Ontario, father born Ontario, Mother born Ontario
Peter H Fick 88 father, born USA, his father born NS, Mother born USA

1901 Census of Canada
Name: Joseph Sherman
Gender: Male
Marital Status: Widowed
Age: 73
Birth Date: 13 Jul 1827
Birthplace: Ontario
Relation to Head of House: Lodger
Racial or Tribal Origin: German
Nationality: Canadian
Religion: Baptist
Occupation: R Far
Province: Ontario
District: Norfolk (South/Sud)
District Number: 94
Sub-District: Houghton
Sub-District Number: B-1
Family Number: 66
Page: 6
Household Members: Name Age
Joseph Sherman 73

Ontario, Canada Voter Lists, 1867-1900 about Joseph Sherman
Name: Joseph Sherman
Year: 1881
#387, Juror, yes lot wp14 conc 6 owner PO2
Locality: Charlotteville Township
Province: Ontario
Country: Canada

Ontario, Canada Voter Lists, 1867-1900 about Joseph Sherman
Name: Joseph Sherman
Year: 1885
#462 Juror no lot secor2 conc 2 owner PO7
Locality: Houghton Township
Province: Ontario
Country: Canada

Ontario, Canada Voter Lists, 1867-1900 about Joseph Sherman
Name: Joseph Sherman
Year: 1886
#473, Juror, no lot NE cor 2 conc 2 owner PO9
Locality: Houghton Township
Province: Ontario
Country: Canada

Ontario, Canada Voter Lists, 1867-1900 about Joseph Sherman
Name: Joseph Sherman
Year: 1890
#677, Juror, yes lot NE pt 3 conc 13 tenant mf PO18
Locality: Rear of Leeds and Landsdowne Township
Province: Ontario
Country: Canada

One source states that Joseph Henry was born at Houghton Center, BAltfleet Tnship, Walsingham Co.

He was a carpenter and mason. Matilda Fick was a school teacher at Houghton Center, Ontario. Early home of JHs, according to his neighbor, Minnie Patterson, was at Wainfleet near Hamilton, Ontario.

!NOTE: Berlin (now Marne) is near Coopersville, Michigan. Joseph was a farmer and also did carpenter and mason work. Tree grafting and bees were his hobbies. He also tamed bulls. As a boy, he lived in Berlin, Michigan. After 1845, he went to Houghton Township, Norfolk Co, Ontario, Canada to his mother's relatives. He was said to have great strength and was quite agile. He was 6 feet, 6 inches tall. He was a second cousin to Gen Wm. Tecumseh Sherman, General in chief of the US Army 1869-1883 and also to General W. T. Sherman's brother, John Sherman, Secretary of State (1897). Their father's fathers were brothers, 5th and 6th sons of Daniel Sherman I.

(The following was taken from notes of Vernon Sherman, great grandson of Joseph Henry Sherman: Vernon lived at "Apple Acres", M-42, Manton R2, Michigan 49663)
"Joseph Henry Sherman was the third child of Andrew and Hannah Sherman, born 13 July 1827 on a farm near Berlin, (now Marne), Michigan. He left Michigan as a boy of 17 or 18 about 1845, and went to Southern Ontario where he had relatives on his mother's side.
He married Matilda Jane Fick, 4 February 1850, probably at Houghton Center. Matilda was small, She weighed about 95 pounds. She could stand upright beneath her husband's outstretched arm. For three years after their marriage, Matilda continued to teach school at Houghton Center. Shortly after his marriage, Joseph bought a 10 acre piece of land two miles from Houghton Center and on the 3rd Concession Road. He built one of the first frame houses in that section of the Country. He became a carpenter and mason by trade, and many of the original frame buildings in that part of the country were the result, either wholly or in part, of his handicraft. During winter months when building was slack, Joseph did repair work and clock "tinkering".

He set out a 200 tree apple and peach orchard on his 10 acres. He was very successful in grafting of fruit trees. He had an apiary in the orchard to insure fertilization of his trees. His daughter, Sarah Elizabeth recalled that certain trees were regarded as the special property of each of the children. There was Lizzie's tree, Lew's tree, etc. Sarah Elizabeth related that in addition to the orchard, her father had four trees of sweet black cherries and three of the large red English cherry. Southward from the house was a garden plot with three rows of currant bushes, one red, one black and one of the white currants. Between the rows, sod had reformed and under it a swarm of bumble bees had built their nest at one particular spot.

Sarah Elizabeth and her brother James Milton delighted in tormenting this nest of bees. They would prepare for the escapade by pumping several buckets of water. Then one of the youngsters would rap sharply on the ground with a stick to arouse the bees and as they swarmed out, the other would douse them with water to wet their wings and prevent them from flying. Needless to say, this was a highly exciting sport, yet very painful when the bees scored.

Sarah Elizabeth's closest childhood friend was the neighbor girl, Eutachia Lutz. The little girls grew up agile as squirrels. Sarah told of bare foot races along the top of rail fences. Since every other top rail was free to roll, it was necessary to run such sections on the second rail down. That must have been quite a trick. Not all their time was spent in running rail fences. The women of those days had the house and garden to manage, blankets to weave, straw hats to make, etc.

Rye straw was used for hats because of its great strength. After cutting off the grain heads, the straws were soaked in water and bleached dry in the hot sun. They were then soakeed again to make them plyable and were braided into a long continuous cord. The straw cord was then coiled round and round and each coil sewed to the preceding one until the hat brim was reached and the job finished. It took a full day to make a man's hat for use in the fields, and Sarah Elizabeth said they sold for ten cents. To make milady's hat more time was required, since it was necessary to first slit the rye straw into three parts by pulling them over staggered pin points whech projected up through a little trough-like board made for that purpose. These finer straws were then woven into a continuous cord, carefully coiled and sewed to the shape desired. On the Ontario farm of 1865, making your own straw hat was not a hobby, it was necessary if you wanted a hat.

Sarah Elizabeth recalled that when she was 15 (about 1875), a cousin of about her age named William Sherman came from Coopersville, Michigan to help her father on their farm. This lad was a son of her father's brother William.
About 1872 a severe drought made it necessary for Joseph and all of his neighbors to haul water from Clear Creek, a half mile from his farm. The water was put into barrels at the Creek and dragged on a stone=boat to the house throughout the latter part of that summer.

Many stories are told regarding Joseph's great strength and agility. It is related that he could stand in a 1/2 bushel measure and from this position jump through a forward sommersalt and land with his feet back in the measure. He is also said to have fought and "broke" bulls for others. The procedure of "breaking" a bull is to hang onto the bull by his tail with one hand and to punish him mercilessly with a club, hay fork, hand saw or other convenient weapon until his spirit is broken and he evidences his fear of man by bellowing. This treatment though brutal was considered necessary to insure the future safety of people near the animal.

On one occasion, Joseph decided to "break" a neighbor's bull on a holiday morning in the late summer. People from nearby farms were on hand to see the show. Joseph Henry climbed over a fence into a small field with the bull, and began circling him so as to catch him by the tail. Neighbors yelled advice and caution as the man and the animal maneubered. Suddenly, during an attempt to seize the animal's tail, Joseph lost his footing, fell, and was promptly gored by the bull. Several ribs were broken and only the quick aid of his eldest son, William, and neighbors armed with pitchforks saved his life. His good wife accused him of "not having calf brains". In his own home, Joseph Henry is reputed to have been stern to the point of harshness in matters of family discipline.

Close friends and neighbors of the family at Houghton Center were the Pattisons. They had children, Minnie, Howard, Roland and Grace. According to Minnie Pattison, Joseph Henry's "old Home" was in Wainfleet Township, of Oxford County.

Joseph Henry entered the County Home at Simcoe, Ontario, Canada, on 4 December 1905 and died there on 3 June 1905, age 79. He was buried in Farm No. 7.

Because Joseph had died at Simcoe, I visited the County Home looking for facts. They were there. A handful of words scattered to the columns of an old record book, the original entries, the significant corrections. A surprising, pathetic, single line. The main building was unchanged, a two-story red brick, high off the ground and far back from the road. Its narrow dirt drive circled it then shot straight from the front door to the highway like the shortest possible escape. A hundred feet to either side of the long drive, and straight as guides in a copy book, ran two rows of Pine. It was August. The mowed strips were dusty and turning brown. The place looked deserted. No one was in sight as I drove slowly up, circled the building, and stopped below a long porch at the East end. But here were slow moving rockers and old eyes. Some looked toward the road. Some stared away at the fields of the Burial Farm. There seemed no interest in the visitor. Their worn mills of memory groun at the chafe of yesterday.

The old building was depressing, a thing set apart and muffled in time. Small sounds were distant. I climbed the steps to the main entrance. The screen door was large. There was no sing, no arrow, no bell. I went into a narrow, dark hall. It smelled of cabbage, urine, insinfectant. Here was a world behind doors. An inmate brought the nurse, white-starched and busy, busy. An efficient little red-head, helpful, but cocking one eye at the idea of anyone wasting a day on the one-line record of the long dead.

The books were various, old and misused. They'd been kept in several "hands". Someone had begun an index. I was lefyt with them and a story began. December 4, 1905. An old man sat on the edge of a hard chair, nervous, shakey. He was 78. Sixty of those years had known the cold and snow of Ontario's winters. Seemed they were a lot colder lately! Now he was "on the County". They'd brought him here "where he'd be taken care of". The sleigh ride had chilled him. The hot bricks were cold to the feet long before he and the County man had got here. Slowly the warmth of the room began to steal thru his pant legs. He still had his coat on. His big awkward hands fumbled with a heavy cap. His watery eyes sought the sky thru the high narrow windows. Still snowing. He shifted to better see the cluttered office, the "boughten" furniture, the wainscotting of mill lumber all smooth and shellaced like he'd always wanted for his place.

Three weeks to Christmas. Three weeks to excited kids. Their great day would be dead to him. Old wounds ached and loneliness weighed more at Christman. That was all. Christmas for him was buried under the snows of many years, gone with the days when he could do, when he and Matilda had their own place, when his kids were around him, and he had strength in his hands. He minded the time Milt and Dorie were married on a Christmas eve! And the belling. He thought of Matilda Jane and of their seven, and of their first house as he built it, and the planting of the orchard, and the bees. All gone! The kids grown and married and gone, all but Lambert, and the baby that died before the year was up.

He'd always managed, 'till now, and he'd always hoped to "go" with dignit - not here - not like this. He hated being at the mercy of a petty official, hated the lookk that said, 'you're an unwanted nothing". He had no illusions; the once "strongest man in the county, 6 foot 6 inches, was a shakey wreck, helpless, burdensome, and now, gotten-rid-of. He saw himself as they did, and old hulk being herded to the stall he'd die in, and he hated it in his helplessness. He was master of nothing but the trivial details they might want for the record they must keep in the big book just opened across the table from him. A book of a place he wanted no part of, a hated place, a hated book, and he was alone. He had nothing but loneness now and he decided to keep it that way. There was a satisfaction in choice, even as barren as that one was.

"Your name is?" "Leonard" (Leonard, indeed!). "Your age?" "60" (78) "Married?" "Single", "Religion?" "Baptist" And so his one line record began, "Leonard Sherman Age 60 Baptist Single Admitted Dec. 4, 1905. Six months later it was completed with "Died June 3, 1906 Buried Farm No. 07. Then later a correction in sharp hard strokes striking out "Leonard" and "60" to write "Joseph" and "75" And still not correct; because who ever came for what ever reason, after his death and burial by the County (Charles Mercier?), did not know he'd died exactly 39 days before his 79th birthday.

When Joseph died alone in the poor-house, 5 of his 7 children were alive. Of these 5 there were 3 living in Ontario: Sarah, wife of Washington Burger; Mary, wife of Charles Mercier; and Lambert, bachelor. According to Calvin Wilson, who lived there and knew all these people, Joseph had last lived with Mary and Charles Mercier before commitment to the County Home. William Lewis and family lived near Tawas City, Michigan: James Milton and family lived at Oscoda, Michigan. Joseph and I, a great grandson, had never met. I was conceived one month after his death and so commenced a new life-cycle derived from Joseph Henry by the mystery of the gene. And at 63 I'm typing this about him on this page.

The County Home at Simcoe is a two story, twenty-room, plain box-like structure set in the remote center of a flat forty acre piece. The road in is narrow and straight as a bullet aimed at the front door. Architectural beauty it has not. Landscaping it has not. It is at best an awful example of the necessary someplace, as out-of-sight, as out-of-mind, and as remote as can possibly be arranged by any fine Christian community. It hasn't changed since Joseph first saw it. Only the scrub pine along the straight road in has been added, like camouflage too sparingly applied to be effective.

I was glad that I'd come to search and learn and to imagine. I got a new feeling for Joseph that was warm and strangely real. He had become more than the frozen faced old man on a tin-type photograph, more than a big olld man in a heavy coat, wearing an old fashioned cap-hat with a peak over whispy white hair and straggly beard, and staring directly at you with his watery blue eyes and straight Sherman nose, and clutching a heavy cane with both hands for support. Yes, I see alot more; and feel it too. As I walked out into the bright sunshine it felt good. I turned my car around at the highway for a long look back at the building at the end of the long dirt road and the flat fields of 'Farm No. 07' ".

http://www.sherman-roots.com/sherman/pioneers/sp'ott.doc
3. Joseph Henry7 Sherman born Jul 13 1827 in Berlin MI Ottawa Co (mc/mp). Berlin MI named changed in the 1940s to Marne MI (mc/mp; mc/sp).
1831. Aug 24th, Matilda Jane Fick born in Houghton Twp Norfolk Co Ontario Canada (mc/mp; mc/sp).
1845. Joseph left MI went to Houghton Twp Norfolk Co Ontario Canada, where his mothers relatives lived.
1850. Feb 4th, Joseph married Matilda Jane Fick at probably at Houghton Center Houghton Twp Norfolk Co Ontario Canada (mc/mp); or in 1879 Joseph married Matilda Jane Fick at Glenmeyer Ontario (mc/sp).
. Shortly after marriage he purchased 10 acres near Houghton Center; he set out 200 trees, apple and peach, also 8 cherry trees
Joseph was a farmer, also did carpenter and mason work; tree grafting and bees were his hobby; he did clock "tinkering"; he also tamed bulls; he was 6ft 6in tall, had great strength and was very agile (mc/mp).
1895. Dec 15th, Matilda Sherman died at Houghton Twp Norfolk Co Ontario Canada; buried in the
Baptist Cemetery at Houghton Ontario Canada (mc/mp).
1904. Dec 4th, Joseph entered the County Home (farm #7) (mc/mp)
1906. Jun 3rd, Joseph Sherman died at the County Home (farm #7) Simcoe Ontario Canada; also
buried there (mc/mp). 7 Children:

Ontario, Canada, Deaths, 1869-1936
Name: Joseph Sherman
Death Date: 3 Jun 1906 c
Death Location: Norfolk, Ontario, Canada
Age: 75 widower
Gender: Male
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1831
Birth Location: American
Residence: County Home
Occupation: Resident - County Home
Single, Widower
Cause of Death: Nephritis 10 days
Religion: Babtist
Name of Person making return: JCC Grasett
Archives of Ontario Microfilm: MS935_126

Joseph married Matilda Jane FICK on 4 Feb 1850 in Houghton, Norfolk, Ontario, Canada. Matilda (daughter of Peter Henry FICK and Mary Fick) was born on 24 Aug 1831 in Houghton, Norfolk, Ontario, Canada; died on 15 Dec 1895 in Houghton, Norfolk, Ontario, Canada; was buried in Baptist Cem, Houghton, Norfolk, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• Reference Number: *
• _MARNM: Sherman
• _UID: DF69B03A49A85A42B3006C9EB79977BF02AD

Notes:

July 1, thirty-four million people will celebrate Canada Day. 145 years ago, in 1867, the British North America Act went into effect, united the provinces of Canada (East and West), New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia into a single country called Canada. Canada East and Canada West became the provinces of Québec and Ontario respectively. Although Canada had some autonomy, it was not until 1982 that the Constitution was patriated and they became fully autonomous, although they do remain a member of the Commonwealth of Nations.


!NOTE: (following taken from paper written by Vernon Sherman, great grandson of Matilda)
"Matilda Jane Fick weighed 95 lbs. and could stand upright under her husband's outstretched arm. She was a school teacher at Houghton Center Ontario for three years after her marriage. In her later years Matilda Jane had become far-sighted although she could still read without glasses. Her grand-daughter, Elizabeth recalled many times when she had seen Matilda jane, a little old woman, sitting hunched over a chair beside the box stove, during the long winter afternoons, reading from her Bible which was laying on the floor between her feet.
Matilda died 15 December 1895, and was buried in the Baptist Cemetary on Lake Road less that a mile east of Hemlock near Houghton, Ontario. (5 infant great grandsons of Andrew Sherman are also buried there."

Father of Matilda Jane Fick

1851 Census of Canada East, Canada West, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia about Peter H Fick
Name: Peter H Fick
Gender: Male
Age: 49
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1803
Birthplace: United States
Province: Canada West (Ontario)
District: Norfolk County
District Number: 25
Sub-District: Walsingham
Sub-District Number: 240
Household Members:
Name Age
Peter H Fick 49 agriculture
Mary Fick 42 baptist, born Canada
Elizabeth Fick 19 baptist, born Canada
Gilbert Fick 13 baptist, born Canada

1861 Census of Canada about Peter C Fick
Name: Peter C Fick
[Peter H Fick]
Gender: Male
Age: 59
Birth Year: 1802
Birthplace: Green U S
Marital Status: Married
Home in 1861: Walsingham, Norfolk, Canada West
Household Members:
Name Age
Peter C Fick 59
Mary Fick 50, born Norfolk, Canada West
Nancy Fick 8, born Norfolk, Canada West
Gilbert Fick 22, born Norfolk, Canada West, laborer

1871 Census of Canada about Peter H Fick
Name: Peter H Fick
Gender: Male
Age: 68
Birth Year: abt 1803
Birth Place: Ontario
Marital Status: Married
Religion: Baptist
Origin: Dutch
Province: Ontario
District: Norfolk South
District Number: 11
Division: 01
Subdistrict: Walsingham
Subdistrict Number: b
Neighbors: View others on page
Household Members:
Name Age
Peter H Fick 68 farmer
Mary Fick 61 born Ontario, Baptist
Nancy Fick 18 born Ontario, Baptist
Martha Fick 10 born Ontario, Baptist

1881 Census of Canada
Name: Peter H Fick
Gender: Male
Marital Status: Widowed
Age: 78
Birth Year: 1803
Birthplace: USA
Religion: Baptist
Occupation: Farmer
Province: Ontario
District Number: 157
District: Norfolk South
Sub-District Number: B
Subdistrict: Walsingham
Division: 2
Household Members:
Name Age
Gilbert Fisk 40 farmer
Sarah Fisk 32
James Fisk 13
Mary Fisk 11
Henry Fisk 9
Calista Fisk 8
Albert Fisk 5
Clarence Fisk 3
Laurie Fisk 2
Peter H Fisk 78

1891 Census of Canada about Peter H Fick
Name: Peter H Fick
Gender: Male
Marital Status: Widowed
Age: 88
Birth Year: abt 1803
Birthplace: United States
Relation to Head of House: fath
Religion: Baptist
French Canadian: No
Father's Birth Place: Nova Scotia
Mother's Birth Place: United States
Province: Ontario
District Number: 97
District: Norfolk South
Subdistrict: Houghton
Neighbors: View others on page
Household Members:
Name Age
Joseph Sherman 63 Carpenter, father born New Brunswick, Mother born ontario
Matilda Sherman 60 born Ontario, father born USA, Mother born Ontario
Sarah E Sherman 32 born Ontario, father born Ontario, Mother born Ontario
Louise Sherman 27 born Ontario, father born Ontario, Mother born Ontario
Lambert L Sherman 23 born Ontario, father born Ontario, Mother born Ontario
Peter H Fick 88 father, born USA, his father born NS, Mother born USA

Ontario, Canada, Deaths, 1869-1938 and Deaths Overseas, 1939-1947 about Matilda Jane Sherman
Name: Matilda Jane Sherman mechanic's wife
Death Date: 15 Dec 1895 Cause of death: paralysis
Death County or District: Houghton, Norfolk
Age: 64
Gender: Female Mechanics wife baptist
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1831
Birth Location: Canada
Informant: Ed Francis of Houghton

Notes:

Marriage Information
Date
02 APR 1850
Location
Ontario, Canada
to Joseph Henry SHERMAN

Other Events:

• Reference Number: *
• _UID: 106C18E4B444C14DACB77DA1AF3E65106197

Notes:

One source states that he was born 2 May 1797 in New York andHe married Hannah Nelson in New York and moved to Ontario Canada.

!NOTE: (from Vernon Sherman's transcripts)
Andrew Sherman was born 2 may 1797. He moved to Ohio with his father, Daniel, a farmer from the east, about 1800. The family is believed to have originally settled in the general vicinity of Mansfield. They may have later moved toward Toledo, possibly into Ottowa County. Insofar as we knew, their work was farming in the main and possibly canal work or work in the woods in the off season.

Andrew married Hannah Nelson in Ohio in1823. Andrew was 25 and Hannah 14 at the time. Her birthday was 19 November1808. In the "horse and buggy" era, it is quite certain that Andrew was living in the same rural community as the Nelsons when he met Hannah.

Hannah's father, Rodney Nelson, was said to have been born in England. Hannah's family, or a branch of it, appear to have settled later in and about Fairground, Ontario. 56 years later (1880), "Uncle Ruben" Nelson was the doctor who delivered Milton Kellum Sherman at Kings Mill just a few miles from Fairground. Milton recalls that his father, James, who was born and raised near Fairground, Ontario, had an "Uncle Rodney" Nelson. Uncle Rodney, born about 1810, was quite possibly Hannah's brother and his own father's name sake. He would know family history. In any case there was so much bitter animosity between James Sherman and his Uncle Rodney Nelson that the children were forbidden to call him "Uncle". Milton recalled that his great-uncle Rodney Nelson died a very old man about 1890, and that even after the old man was buried, Milton's father declared he "ought to go down and stomp in the old so and so's grave."

1825. Andrew and Hannah moved the Michigan Territory, had a farm near Berlin MI in Ottawa Co, about 15 miles northwest of Grand Rapids MI. He built a log house and barn with rail fences. Berlin MI named changed in the 1940s to Marne MI (mc/mp; mc/sp).

Hannah was not quite fifteen at the time her first baby, Adney, was born, 25 Aug 1823. Then Unas Ann was born 2 May 1825. Their five other children were born in Michigan. All of the children were raised in Ottawa County, Michigan.
Andrew and Hannah moved to the Michigan territory about 1825. There were several possible reasons for this move north and west. Times were not good, they were in fact deteriorating toward the great depression of 1837 when credit collapsed, trade became paralyzed and banks reneged on their circulating bank notes. By 1825, Andrew, married with a two year old son and baby daughter, needed a place of his own. This nearby Michigan Territory, (or Michillimackinac as it was also called), was top conversation among his friends and family.

John Sherman (U.S. Secretary of Treasury) speaking of his boyhood in Ohio said, "nearly every able-bodied man served in the Indian Wars or in the War of 1812". He mentions Shermans who fought at Detroit. Andrew or another of his family might well have been there. In any case, by the time he was 29, (1825), he'd heard a great deal about Michigan including the call for men to work on the new road from Detroit to Chicago.

Andrew and Hannah had a farm near Berlin, in Ottawa County, Michigan. It was a cross-roads rural center, about fifteen miles northwest of Grand Rapids. He built a log house and barn with rail fences. In later years (1860), the old Detroit and Milwaukee Railroad ran through Berlin, which was on the line from Grand Rapids to Grand Haven. Berlin was renamed Barne sometime aroung 1917 when the anti-German feeling of World War II was intense. Cooperville, the county seat, is the next town west along the rail line. Andrew's son, William (born 1841) is known to have lived in or near Cooperville around 1875.

Andrew's son Adney, became a physician of note and the Principal of a Medical College somewhere in Southwest Michigan. Andrew's daughter, Unas Ann is believed to have married a Dr. Harvey and to have lived in Chicago. Joseph Henry was the only one known to have gone to Southern Ontario, Canada, about 1848. This explains why so few Shermans appear in Ontario records. I found not one Sherman in the 100 year records (1850 to 1950) of Oxford County Coal at Woodstock, Ontario. The Sheriff at Woodstock in the old days served both Oxford and Norfolk Counties. I found only three in the records (prior to 1900) of the Norfolk County Home at Simicoe, Ontario, Canada.

During Andrew's first years in Michigan, He cleared his land and built a log house and barn. Split rail fences, stump fences and pole fences were built. Wire fence was unknown in the 1820's. His farm was noted for an exceptionally fine sugar bush. His neighbor and very good friend was a Frenchman, Andrew Chappella. Andrew Sherman reminisced frequently during his last years on the experiences they had shared. When Andrew and Hannah went to Michigani it was known as the Michigan Territory. On maps of the day it was frequently referred to as Michillimackinac, the original Indian name. As recently as 1813 the territory had been recovered from the British. Andrew and Hannah were there in 1837 when Michigan was admitted to the Union. They were truly pioneers.

Andrew and Hannah's Michigan was the nation's lumber pile. The people and its settlements followed the saw mills in their endless attack on the virgin forests. Birth and death records did not exist. Things were happening too fast, everything was too new. people were too unsettled to bother with records. The planned only against the deep snow of the coming winter. Strong green tea, heavy Mackinaw clothing, a barrel of flour, a side of beef, a sack of beans, yellow corn meal, and rolled oats were much more important. You would probably be snowed in and if you were not self-sufficient, you would certainly suffer the consequence. Michigan winters were long and cold. Water in the tea kettle would freeze before morning, when the match would be put to cedar shavings under a new pine fire. Every log house and rough lumber shack had its outdoor root cellar, dug well below the four foot frost line, for vegetables and canned goods. Everyone who could walk, went "berrying" when mother gave the word, for come winter, her jars had to be filled.

In his last years (around 1865) Andrew went to Canada to live with Joseph for a time. It is probable that both Andrew and Hannah had previously stayed with other children in Michigan at or near Cooperville, Lumberton, Hungerford or Big Rapids. By 1850, Grand Rapids was joined to Tilsonburg (some 300 miles away) by the Michigan Central railroad. Sherman families visited back and forth. For example, Joseph Henry's daughter, Mary Jane, had visited his brother William's family at Cooperville, Michigan, about 1879 when she was 18. There she met Charlie Mercier. He visited her in Ontario next year at which time they were married (1880). They raised their family of five children in Ontario near Fairground. Also about 1875 William's boy from Cooperville, Michigan, had visited his Uncle Joseph at Fairground, Ontario.

Andrew is said to have died at Tilsonburg, Ontario, Michigan about 1867. The exact date and place of burial has not been found. Hannah had died before him but again the date and place are unknown. She might be buried in the Baptist Cemetary on Lake Road less than a mile east of Hemlock, Ontario. A daughter-in-law, matilda Jane, and five infant great-grandsons of Hannah's are buried there. It is more likely, however, thet Hannah lies buried in a now forgotten grave near one of the Michigan towns mentioned above.

Joseph's grown son, James Milton, lived at Lumberton, Michigan, (1881-1883) then moved back to Fairground, Ontario, and lived there until he finally moved to Oscoda, Michigan (1900). It follows that family data for the period 1827-1900 may exist at either end of this Ontario-Michigan axis, particularly near the towns mentioned or along logical travel routes between them.

http://www.sherman-roots.com/sherman/pioneers/sp'ott.doc
1797. May 2d, Andrew born in CT (mc/mp; not in SD).
1800. About, Andrew moved with parents from CT to OH, probably in the vicinity of Marshfield OH, later moved towards Toledo OH possibly Ottawa Co. (mc/mp).
1808. Nov 18th, Hannah Nelson born, father Rodney Nelson (mc/mp).
1822. About, Andrew married Hannah Nelson in OH (mc/mp).
1825. Andrew and Hannah moved the Michigan Territory, had a farm near Berlin MI in Ottawa Co, about 15 miles northwest of Grand Rapids MI. He built a log house and barn with rail fences. Berlin MI named changed in the 1940s to Marne MI (mc/mp; mc/sp).
1863/64. Possible: A Sherman a harness maker of Lamont MI (MI Gazetteer & Business Directory p374).
1865. Andrew went to Canada to live with his son Joseph
1867. Andrew Sherman died Tilsonburg, Ontario Canada (mc/mp). 7 Children:

Andrew married Hannah NELSON on 28 Oct 1822 in Ohio, United States. Hannah (daughter of William NELSON and Eunice Young) was born on 18 Mar 1804 in Saltfleet, Lincoln, Ontario, Canada; died on 18 Dec 1864 in Lamont, Ottawa, Michigan, United States; was buried in Maplewood Cemetery, Lamont, Ottawa, Michigan. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• Reference Number: *
• _MARNM: Sherman
• _UID: 99C92829898DBA448072D33741AA7E002CE0

Notes:

findagrave.com
Hannah Nelson Sherman
Birth: Mar. 18, 1804 Ontario, Canada
Death: Dec. 18, 1864 Lamont Ottawa County Michigan, USA
Married Oct 28, 1822 to Andrew Sherman 1797-1867 Ontario, Canada, mother of Adna Sherman 1823-1895 Oneida, Idaho.
Burial: Maplewood Cemetery Lamont Ottawa County Michigan, USA Plot: Lot 66
Created by: Dennis Allen Record added: Jul 09, 2012 Find A Grave Memorial# 93347080

Notes:

One source states he married Hannah Nelson in New York and moved to Canada

Other Events:

• _UID: 2998DCFE50249C4494C38A9275A34432F0B0

Notes:

Time line for Peter H Fick:
1803 Peter H Fick born United States
? Married Mary
1831 daughter, Matilda Jane Fick born Canada
1833 daughter, Elizabeth, born
1842 son, Gilbert, born
1851 Census, living in Walsingham, Norfolk, Ontario, Canada
1853 daughter, Nancy, born
1861 daughter, Martha, born
1861 Census, living in Walsingham, Norfolk, Ontario, Canada
1871 Census, living in Walsingham, Norfolk, Ontario, Canada
? wife, Mary, died
1881 Census, widow, listed as father, living with son, Gilbert, in Walsingham, Norfolk, Ontario, Canada
1891 Census, widow, llsted as father, iving with daughter, Matilda & her husband Joseph Sherman, in Houghton,
Norfolk, Ontario, Canada
1892 Peter died in Norfolk, Ontario, Canada

Canadian Genealogy Index, 1600s-1900s about Peter Fick
Name: Peter Fick
Event: Living
Province: Ontario
Place: Norfolk County
Source: Illustrated Historical Atlas of the Norfolk County, 1877, Mika Silk Screening Limited, Belleville, 1972.
Volume/Page: 8
Note: The province and county are associated with the location of the record source and in some cases may not be the same as the place where the event occured.

1851 Census of Canada East, Canada West, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia about Peter H Fick
Name: Peter H Fick
Gender: Male
Age: 49
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1803
Birthplace: United States
Province: Canada West (Ontario)
District: Norfolk County
District Number: 25
Sub-District: Walsingham
Sub-District Number: 240
Household Members:
Name Age
Peter H Fick 49 agriculture
Mary Fick 42 baptist, born Canada
Elizabeth Fick 19 baptist, born Canada
Gilbert Fick 13 baptist, born Canada

1861 Census of Canada about Peter C Fick
Name: Peter C Fick
[Peter H Fick]
Gender: Male
Age: 59
Birth Year: 1802
Birthplace: Green U S
Marital Status: Married
Home in 1861: Walsingham, Norfolk, Canada West (frame house, one story, one family in home)
Household Members:
Name Age
Peter C Fick 59 f
Mary Fick 50, born Norfolk, Canada West
Nancy Fick 8, born Norfolk, Canada West
Gilbert Fick 22, born Norfolk, Canada West, laborer

1871 Census of Canada about Peter H Fick
Name: Peter H Fick
Gender: Male
Age: 68
Birth Year: abt 1803
Birth Place: Ontario
Marital Status: Married
Religion: Baptist
Origin: Dutch
Province: Ontario
District: Norfolk South
District Number: 11
Division: 01
Subdistrict: Walsingham
Subdistrict Number: b
Neighbors: View others on page
Household Members:
Name Age
Peter H Fick 68 farmer
Mary Fick 61 born Ontario, Baptist
Nancy Fick 18 born Ontario, Baptist
Martha Fick 10 born Ontario, Baptist

Ontario, Canada Voter Lists, 1867-1900 about Peter H Fick
Name: Peter H Fick
Year: 1874
Locality: Walsingham Township Concession A Lot 3
Province: Ontario
Country: Canada

1881 Census of Canada
Name: Peter H Fick
Gender: Male
Marital Status: Widowed
Age: 78
Birth Year: 1803
Birthplace: USA
Religion: Baptist
Occupation: Farmer
Province: Ontario
District Number: 157
District: Norfolk South
Sub-District Number: B
Subdistrict: Walsingham
Division: 2
Household Members:
Name Age
Gilbert Fisk 40 farmer
Sarah Fisk 32
James Fisk 13
Mary Fisk 11
Henry Fisk 9
Calista Fisk 8
Albert Fisk 5
Clarence Fisk 3
Laurie Fisk 2
Peter H Fisk 78

1891 Census of Canada about Peter H Fick
Name: Peter H Fick
Gender: Male
Marital Status: Widowed
Age: 88
Birth Year: abt 1803
Birthplace: United States
Relation to Head of House: fath
Religion: Baptist
French Canadian: No
Father's Birth Place: Nova Scotia
Mother's Birth Place: United States
Province: Ontario
District Number: 97
District: Norfolk South
Subdistrict: Houghton
Neighbors: View others on page
Household Members:
Name Age
Joseph Sherman 63 Carpenter, father born New Brunswick, Mother born ontario
Matilda Sherman 60 born Ontario, father born USA, Mother born Ontario
Sarah E Sherman 32 born Ontario, father born Ontario, Mother born Ontario
Louise Sherman 27 born Ontario, father born Ontario, Mother born Ontario
Lambert L Sherman 23 born Ontario, father born Ontario, Mother born Ontario
Peter H Fick 88 father, born USA, his father born ?, Mother born USA

Ontario, Canada, Deaths, 1869-1936 and Deaths Overseas, 1939-1947 about Peter H Fick
Name: Peter H Fick
Death Date: 23 Sep 1892 Cause of death: old age
Death Location: Norfolk County Division of Houghton
Age: 89
Gender: Male
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1803
Birth Location: United States
Informant: J Sherman
Archives of Ontario Microfilm: MS935_65

Could this be a daughter?
Ontario, Canada Marriages, 1801-1928 about Anne M Fick
Name: Anne M Fick
Birth Place: Canagnea Germany
Age: 18
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1853
Father Name: Peter H Fick
Mother Name: Mary Fick
Spouse Name: Thomas Overbaugh
Spouse's Age: 24
Spouse Birth Place: Walsingham
Spouse Father Name: Philip Overbaugh
Spouse Mother Name: Jane Overbaugh
Marriage Date: 26 May 1871
Marriage County or District: Norfolk

Peter married Mary Fick on 22 Sep 1830 in Woodhouse Twp, Norfolk, Ontario, Canada. Mary was born in 1810 in Port Royal, Walsingham, Norfolk, Ontario, Canada; died on 15 Feb 1881 in Walsingham, Norfolk, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• _UID: 67190144F507884095E23357DDD0BFBCB29B

Notes:

Ontario, Canada, Deaths, 1869-1938 and Deaths Overseas, 1939-1947 about Mary Fick
Name: Mary Fick wife of P H Fick
Death Date: 15 Feb 1881
Death County or District: Norfolk
Age: 70 yrs
Gender: Female
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1810
Birth Location: Port Royal, Ontario
Informant: Gilbert Fick of Walsingham
Religion: B

Other Events:

• Reference Number: *
• _UID: 6480787D78523542A9CA577AA91B2B55A20D

Notes:

!NOTE: Daniel Sherman II lived in Conneticut, New York State, and Ohio. He had been farming in the East and moved to Ohio about 1800, probably in the vicinity of Mansfield and perhaps later toward Toledo and Ottowa County.

Daniel married Elizabeth MITCHELL on 21 Dec 1782 in Woodbury, Litchfield, Connecticut, United States. Elizabeth was born about 1760 in Connecticut, United States; died on 3 Jan 1853 in Wakeman, Huron, Ohio, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• Reference Number: *
• _UID: 8C439CFDA72B3B4FB96E60779EA3DC8C6BD2

Notes:

Elizabeth Mitchell Sherman
Memorial
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Birth: 1761
Connecticut, USA
Death: Jan. 3, 1853
Wakeman
Huron County
Ohio, USA


Family links:
Children:
Peter Sherman (1794 - 1878)*

*Calculated relationship

Inscription:
Mother of Peter Sherman.
Aged 89yrs.

Burial:
Sherman Cemetery
Wakeman
Huron County
Ohio, USA

Other Events:

• _UID: 4F9E89341395564898AE59F75EA245B6818C

Notes:

U.S., Sons of the American Revolution Membership Applications, 1889-1970 about William Nelson Jr
Name: William Nelson Jr
SAR Membership: 61784
Birth Date: 2 Jun 1760
Birth Place: Dutchess County, New York
Death Date: 1840
Death Place: Saltfleet, Ontario, Canada
Father: William Nelson
Mother: Hannah Nelson
Spouse: Eunice Young
Children: Joseph Nelson
1. WILLIAM1 NELSON JR.1, 2, 3, 4 was born on 02 Jun 1760 in Dutchess Co, New York1, 3. He died on 27 Jun 1842 in Stoney Creek, Saltfleet Township, Ontario, Canada1, 3. He married Eunice Young, daughter of William Young and (--?--) White on 28 Apr 1791 in Coeymans Patent, Albany Co, New York1, 3. She was born on 13 Apr 1772 in White Plains, Westchester Co, New York1, 3. She died on 21 May 1860 in Brook Township, Lambton Co, Ontario, Canada3, 5.

Notes for William Nelson Jr.:

William was a drummer boy when 16 years old during the battle of White Plains and enlisted as a Private at 17 on Feb 11, 1777 for three years in Capt. Phillip de Bevier's 4th Company, in the Battalion of NY Forces commanded by Col. Lewis Duboys. He was transferred in May 1779 to Captain Johnson's 5th company, same regiment.He was discharged Jan 6, 1780 (Source: Nelson Family of NY, p.18)

The last Will and Testament of William Nelson of the Township of Saltfleet County of Wentworth District of Gore Province of Canada.

I William Nelson considering the uncertainty of this mortal life and being of sound mind and memory, blessed by Almighty God, for the same, do make and publish this my last Will & Testament in manner and form following, that is to say First, I give and bequeath unto my beloved Wife Eunice Nelson all my real and per- sonal estate for her sole use and benefit as long as she remains my Widow and at her decease the whole of my real and personal estate to be sold and the proceeds to be equally divided among my children. The estate consisting of 90 acres of No. 20 in the 6 Con. of Saltfleet aforesaid as follows. David Nelson, Aaron Nelson, James Nelson, Joseph Nelson, John Nelson, Reuben B. Nelson, William G. Nelson, Levania Cummin, Hannah Sherman, Sarah York. My eldest son David Nelson having deceased I give and bequeath his share of the aforesaid property to his surviving children to be equally divided between them, the eldest son to have only an equal share with his brothers and sisters. I hereby appoint as my executors Joseph Nelson & James Nelson of this my last Will and Testament. In witness where-of I have hereunto set my hand and seal the thirteenth day of December in the year of our Lord one Thousand eight hundred and forty one.

Prepared By: Jerre H. Chumley Address: 12 Chelsea Court
Phone: 386-447-2793 Palm Coast, FL 32137-9052
Email: chum523@bellsouth.net


Also Rutherford, Douglas, Bailey…

William Nelson and Eunice Young
William Nelson was born June 2, 1760 at Fishkill Landing, Dutchess County, New York.
Eunice Young was born April 13, 1772 in White Plains, New York.
They married on April 28, 1791 in White Plains. William and Eunice apparently settled in Coeymans Patent, New York. They had five children there between 1792 and 1800. They emigrated to Canada between 1800 and 1802, settling in Saltfleet Township, Wentworth County. They had there children there between 1802 and 1806, and their final three children were apparently born in Nelson, Ontario between 1808 and 1815 (they may have moved, or it may just have been a change in the name the area was known as). For those that like to keep track, that’s 11 children between the ages of 20 and 43 for Eunice! She seems to have outlived most of her children, perhaps living with or near her son Joseph in her final years.
William died June 13, 1844 in Stoney Creek, Saltfleet Twp., Wentworth Co, Ontario. Eunice died May 21, 1860 in Brook Twp, Lambton Co, Ontario.
William’s parents: William Nelson and Hannah (?).
Eunice’s parents: unknown.
Children: David (b. 1792), Elizabeth (b. 1793), Aaron (b. 1795), James (b. 1797), Lavina (b. 1800), Joseph (b. 1802), Hannah (b. 1804), John (b. 1806), Sarah (b. 1808), Reuben Bloomer (b. 1811), William York (b. 1815).
The 1852 census records for Brooke Twp, Lambton County are missing.
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William Nelson (1760-1844) and Eunice Young (1772-1860) With 9 comments
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6 Responses to “William Nelson and Eunice Young”August 14, 2009 at 7:50 am | Reply
Hello, did William and Eunice have any boys by the name William.
I am researching my family tree on both sides, my father being Orville A. Nelson and my mother was Grace Currier (Nelson). My fathers parents were William and Louise Nelson and her maiden name was Smith.
Ron.Nelson@rbc.com
Thanks.
November 20, 2011 at 11:52 am | Reply
Hi Ron;
For some reason I missed listing William and Eunice’s children, but yes, they did have William York Nelson, born April 5, 1815.
On Familysearch.org I found a death record for a 9-year-old Beatrice Dorothy Nelson, child of Wm Nelson and Louise Smith, who died in 1920. This will be your grandparents, but it’s unlikely that that William is the same William York Nelson born 1815; he would have had to be 94 when Beatrice was born. I suspect we will find that there is another generation in between. Family stories say that William York Nelson died in 1864 in Georgia, fighting in the Civil War. It’s difficult to know when he might have gone, and where, and whether he had family left in Ontario. It’s especially difficult since the first Canadian census wasn’t until 1852, and half of the records for Wentworth County are missing.
Kirsten
1. Lisa Saunders Says: January 21, 2010 at 2:53 pm | Reply
William and Eunice are my great, great, great, great grandparents. I would like to learn more about them. I am descended through their son John Elkanah, his daughter, Sarah Monica nelson olson, her daughter May Caroline Olson Wilks, her son Cecil Nelson Wilks, his son Darriel Lynn Wilks, who is my father.
0. kirstennelson Says: November 20, 2011 at 11:35 am | Reply
Thanks for commenting, Lisa! Unfortunately I don’t know any more about William and Eunice; I am posting everything I know, not just names and dates, to get it out in the world and available. I’ve added your line to my tree; are you in Ontario?
Kirsten
2. Ann York Simms Says: October 2, 2010 at 7:54 pm | Reply
I have a letter from a great-aunt, Georgia York, stating that William Nelson was a relative of ours. He served in the Revolutionary War from Feb. 1777-Jan. 1780. His daughter, Mary Nelson (October 9, 1808) married Stephen Edward York(e) who was born in New Brunswick Dec. 25, 1806. Stephen and Mary’s son, William Henry York - born December 13, 1844 in Brownsville Ontario, married Jane Jenkens in January 1869.
Just thought it was cool when I googled “William Nelson 1760″ I stumbled across this post and got to see a picture of my ancestor!!

William married Eunice Young on 28 Apr 1791 in Coeymans Patent, Albany, New York, USA. Eunice (daughter of William Young and Hannah White) was born on 13 Apr 1772 in White Plains, Westchester, New York, USA; died on 12 May 1860 in Brook Tnp, Lambton County, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• _UID: E5A25C877356F344BB0969AFB914534FB5B6

Notes:

Public Member Stories: ancestry.com
STORIES, MEMORIES & HISTORIES
TITLE: William Nelson
DESCRIPTION: http://kirstenfamily.wordpress.com/2008/05/13/ william-nelson-1760-1844-and-eunice-young-1772-1860/ bi...
ATTACHED TO: William Nelson (1760-1842)
William Nelson was born June 2, 1760 in Fishkill Landing, Dutchess Co, New York, probably the oldest son. (May also have been born in Westchester Co.)

Eunice Young (or Youngs) was born April 13, 1772 in White Plains, New York.

William and Eunice were married April 28, 1791 in White Plains or Coeymans Patent, New York. They had five children while in Coeymans Patent. Between 1800 and 1802 they moved to Saltfleet Twp, Wentworth Co, Ontario. Their next three children were born there. Between 1806 and 1808 they may have moved to Nelson, Ontario. In total they had 11 children.

William died June 13 or 27, 1842 or 1844, in Stoney Creek, Saltfleet Twp, Wentworth Co, Ontario. Eunice died May 21, 1860, in Brook Twp, Lambton Co, Ontario; she may have been living with her son Aaron at that time.

William’s parents: possibly William Nelson & Hannah ?.

Eunice’s parents: William Young & Hannah White.

Children: David (1792), Elizabeth (1793), Aaron (1795), James (1797), Lavina (1800), Joseph (1802), Hannah (1804), John (1806), Sarah (1808), Reuben Bloomer (1811), William York (1815).

Other Events:

• _UID: ABA13C91193ACE4FAFBC9F91BA46471E89D2

Notes:

The Town of Dover is located on the eastern boundary of the county; North of Pawling , South of Amenia , West of the State of Connecticut .
Top of Form 1 Re: Walsingham Canada Ficks
http://genforum.genealogy.com/fick/messages/172.html
Posted by: F.Sharon Swope (ID *****8536) Date: July 10, 2002 at 16:57:In Reply to: Walsingham Canada Ficks <171.html> by Augusta Fick of 262
Bottom of Form 1
My mother was Margaret E. Fick, daughter of Eston B. Fick, son of John E. Fick, son of Peter B. Fick, son of FrederickFick and Elizabeth Becker.Frederick was the son of Peter Fick, who was born around 1743-47 in Prussia. Peter and his wife had: John, b. 1773 (married Catherine Countryman); Frederick b. 1775 (married Elizabeth Becker); Catherine and Mary, twins, born 1778; George, b. 1780 (marrried Hannah Brizzey); Peter Henry, bo. 1789; Harriet, b. 1788 (married John Dedrick); and Anthony, b. 1796(married Juliana McMichael). Peter came to U.S. along with his father, John Peter, on the "Patience and Margaret" on Oct. 25, 1748 (Captain John Govan). Peter settled in N.Y. but was a Loyalist during Rev. War; during the war he took his family to Nova Scotia. After the war he returned to N.Y. but soon left for Ontario, along with John,and Frederick . Went back to N.Y. for the families and settled in Walsingham about 1808. Hope this helps.Top of Form 1 Re: Walsingham Canada Ficks
Posted by: Augusta Fick (ID *****2751) Date: July 12, 2002 at 13:03:33
In Reply to: Re: Walsingham Canada Ficks <172.html> by F.Sharon Swope of 262
Bottom of Form 1
It was great to hear from you so quickly! You and Murray are distant cousins, going back to your common grandfather, Frederick Fick. Thank you for the information you shared about Peter Fick's arrival in the U.S. with his father, John Peter, in 1748. Have you read The Long Point Settlers by R. Robert Mutrie? He is an authority on Norfolk County genealogy and has done extensive research. (His information can be found on states that Peter Fick came from Russia. (Not Prussia) "Joined the British Army and came to America with them during the Seven Years War. He settled in N.Y. and married his wife Sarah. During the American Revolution, Peter served in the Loyalist forces and then went to New Brunswick. After an interim period back in N.Y., they settled in Walsingham Township about 1813." I'm wondering if Prussia was at that time under the control of Russia. Do you know where he came from in Prussia? Do you have any further information about his father John Peter? Another helpful website that I have found with Fick genealogy is Thanks again, Gussie Fick



Possible son of Frederick
Ontario, Canada, Deaths, 1869-1938 and Deaths Overseas, 1939-1947 about Jacob Fick
Name: Jacob Fick
Death Date: 16 Apr 1886 old age
Death County or District: Norfolk
Age: 80
Gender: Male Gentleman Baptist
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1806
Birth Location: United States
Informant: Joseph A Fick


1851 Census of Canada East, Canada West, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia about Frederick Fick
Name: Frederick Fick
Gender: Male
Age: 77
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1775
Birthplace: United States
Province: Canada West (Ontario)
District: Norfolk County
District Number: 25
Sub-District: Walsingham
Sub-District Number: 240
Household Members:
Name Age
Frederick Fick 77 agriculture, Baptist
Elizabeth Fick 68 wife, born US, baptist
John B Fick 33 innkeeper, Canada, Baptist (possible son of Frederick & Elizabeth)
Nancy M Fick 25 wife, born US, baptist
Frederick Fick 8 born Canada, baptist
William L Fick 4 born Canada, baptist
Arthur W Fick 2 born Canada, baptist
Josephine Fick 1 born Canada, baptist

1861 Census of Canada
Name: Elizabeth Fick
Gender: Female
Age: 78
Birth Year: 1783
Birthplace: W S
[U.S.]
Marital Status: Widowed
Home in 1861: Walsingham, Norfolk, Canada West (Frame house, 1 1/2 stories, 1 family in home)
Religion: Baptist
Household Members:
Name Age
John B Fick 42 farmer, born Canada West, Baptist
Nancy M Fick 34 born US, religion W.M,
Allen Fick 17 born canada West, religion W.M,
Lewis Fick 13 born canada West, religion W.M,
Arthur W Fick 12 born canada West, religion W.M,
Josephine Fick 10 born canada West, religion W.M,
Quinton H Fick 8 born canada West, religion W.M,
Saml Fick 7 born canada West, religion W.M,
Jerome Fick 4 born canada West, religion W.M,
Ellis Fick 1 born canada West, religion W.M,
Elizabeth Fick 78 born US, baptist, Widow
Note on side of this census sheet: " Fredrick Fick died Sept 24th 1859 having born NY State, Jan 6th 1774"

findagrave.com
Frederick Fick
Birth: Jan. 10, 1775
Death: Sep. 23, 1859
Family links: Spouse: Elizabeth Becker Fick (1784 - 1869) Children: Frederick Becker Fick (1813 - 1890) *Calculated relationship
Burial: Port Royal Cemetery Haldimand-Norfolk Regional Municipality Ontario, Canada

Frederick married Elizabeth Becker. Elizabeth (daughter of Jacob Becker and Elizabeth Schneider) was born on 29 Aug 1784 in Catskill, Greene, New York, United States; died on 5 Sep 1869 in Walsingham, Norfolk, Ontario, Canada; was buried in Port Royal Cemetery, Haldimand-Norfolk Regional Municipality, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• _UID: 3EB860C490B2FB44BB9A6BE6A395D1D01A3F

Notes:

The Village of Catskill is in the northeast part of the Town of Catskill Catskill is the county seat of Greene County.
Most of the village land was purchased from the natives in 1684. At the end of the American Revolution there were only ten houses in the community. The village was incorporated in 1806 Catskill is one of only twelve villages in New York still incorporated under a charter



1861 Census of Canada about Elizabeth Fick
Name: Elizabeth Fick
Gender: Female
Age: 78
Birth Year: 1783
Birthplace: W S
[U.S.]
Marital Status: Widowed
Home in 1861: Walsingham, Norfolk, Canada West (Frame house, 1 1/2 stories, 1 family in home)
Religion: Baptist
Household Members:
Name Age
John B Fick 42 farmer, born Canada West, Baptist
Nancy M Fick 34 born US, religion W.M,
Allen Fick 17 born canada West, religion W.M,
Lewis Fick 13 born canada West, religion W.M,
Arthur W Fick 12 born canada West, religion W.M,
Josephine Fick 10 born canada West, religion W.M,
Quinton H Fick 8 born canada West, religion W.M,
Saml Fick 7 born canada West, religion W.M,
Jerome Fick 4 born canada West, religion W.M,
Ellis Fick 1 born canada West, religion W.M,
Elizabeth Fick 78 born US, baptist, Widow
Note on side of this census sheet: " Fredrick Fick died Sept 24th 1859 having born NY State, Jan 6th 1774"

Ontario, Canada, Deaths, 1869-1938 and Deaths Overseas, 1939-1947 about Elizabeth Fick
Name: Elizabeth Fick
Death Date: 5 Sep 1869 cause of death: general debility, 3 years
Death County or District: Norfolk
Age: 85
Gender: Female
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1784
Birth Location: NY, USA, America
Informant: Jacob Fick, farmer Walsingham

findagrave.com
Elizabeth Becker Fick
Birth: Aug. 29, 1784
Death: Sep. 5, 1869
Family links: Spouse: Frederick Fick (1775 - 1859) Children: Frederick Becker Fick (1813 - 1890) *Calculated relationship
Burial: Port Royal Cemetery Haldimand-Norfolk Regional Municipality Ontario, Canada