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THE
BLAISDELL
FAMILY
0 F
MICHIGAN
DESCENDANTS OF THOMAS BLAISDELL (1815-188U) OF BARRY COUNTY
AND JOHN BLAISDELL (1820-1901) OF VAN BUREN COUNTY
By V. Leora Blaisdell - Paw Paw, Michigan
EARLY HISTORY OF THE
BLAISDELL FAMILY
IN AMERICA
RALF BLEASDALE, a Puritan of England, and the first of the Blaisdell name in
America, sailed for the New World, together with his wife Elizabeth, and three year
old son Henry, from Milford Haven, a Welsh port, aboard the "Angel Cabriel," on June
14, 1635. the voyage originated at Bristol, England and the chief port of destina
tion was Pemaquid, Maine. The "Angel Gabriel" was one of a fleet of vessels owned
by Sir Walter Raleigh. She was of Dutch design, "of 240 tons burthen" and "carried
a heavy armament of sixteen guns." Accompanying the "Angel Gabriel" when she sailed,
was another ship, the "King James." But soon after leaving Milford Haven, the ships
separated, and the "Angel Gabriel" made the rest of the voyage alone. Whether the
Bleasdales intended to disembark at Pemaquid, or to go on to Plymouth, is not known,
but, as it turned out, any choice they may have had as to their place of debarkation
was taken out of their hands.
On August 15, 1635 9 the "Angel Gabriel" made port at Pemaquid. But even as she
lay at anchor she was overtaken by the "Great Storm" of that date, and was literally
pounded to pieces on the rocks of Pemaquid Point. Concerning her arrival, early
Pemaquid Papers from Original Documents have this to say: "Mr. Shurt had scarcely
welcomed the good ship ’Angel Gabriel’ to her anchorage before the fort, when in the
fury of an easterly storm, the vessel and cargo were totally lost, some of the pas
sengers not escaping death • . • This shipwreck has ever been remembered as one of
the most disastrous events in the annals of Pemaquid." The "King James" was also
overtaken by the storm, and sought refuge off the Isle of Shoals, barely escaping
with her sails in shreds.
The Bleasdales were among those "Gabriel" passengers who escaped the sea,
shortly after their landing at Pemaquid, we find Ralf and his family, together
a number of. their shipboard associates, settled at York, Maine,, which was then
as "Agamenticus." In 1640 Ralf moved his family to the new town of Salisbury,
achusetts, and in 1642, he sold his farm at York, to Mr. Robert Knight.
and
with
known
Mass
Ralf obviously was possessed of more than a’ common education and held positions
of prominent civic responsibility in both York and Salisbury. Also, according to
the standards.of the day, he appears to have been a man of considerable means. There
is a tradition that late in life he moved to lynn, Mass., and that his death occurred
there between 1648 and 1650. His wife, Elizabeth, thought to have been born Eliza
beth Carpenter, survived him, and died in Salisbury, his widow, "about ye middle of
August, 1667.” He left one son, Henry, who was one of the original settlers of Ames
bury, Mass., which was long the family center before numbers of its members began to
trek westward along the early trails and to spread across the country. A second son,
Ralf, died, unmarried, at about the age of twenty-four. A daughter, Sarah, born be
tween 1635 and 1641, died Nov. 17, 1646, in Salisbury. Mary, a second daughter, was
born January
1641, and died in Haverhill, Mass., on May 29, 1681. She married
(1) Joseph (or John) Stowers, and (2) William Sterling (or Starling), and had ten
children, five by each marriage. Their names were Mary, Samuel, Joseph, Richard and
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John Stowers; and Jonah, Jacob and Ruth Sterling; and twins whose names and sex are
unknown. One of Ralf’s early descendants returned to Maine, and. became the progen
itor of the great company of bfaine Blaisdells.
The Blaisdell name has been variously spelled. The April 1905 issue of the
Essex Antiquarian, published-at Salem, Mass., included the first published Blaisdell
genealogy and very pertinently gave a list of most of the various spellings of the
name as shown in early records in Essex County, as follows: Blasdell, Blaisdell,
Blaisdill, Blasdale, Blasdel, Blasdill, Blasedill, Blassdell, Blazdale, Blazdel,
Blazdell and Blesdale. Other spellings of the name have also been found* Indeed,
Ralf himself, after arriving in America, appears to have adopted the "Blasdell11 spell
ing, or at least to have accepted it. The Essex Antiquarian, identifying him as
"the American ancestor of this family," refers to him as *rRalph Blasdell, a tailor.”
Uniformity of spelling was evidently not a concern of those days.
THE BLAISDELL FAMILY ASSOCIATION
On August 15, 1935/ the 300th anniversary of Ralf Bleasdale’s arrival in Amer
ica, members of many Blaisdell lines met at York, Maine, organizing there a nation
al association of Blaisdells, called THE BLAISDELL FAMILY ASSOCIATION.. This or
ganizational meeting of Ralf’s descendants was held chiefly through the dedicated
efforts of Dr. James Arnold Blaisdell, then president of Claremont Colleges, Clare
mont, California, Dr. J. Harper Blaisdell, M. D., of Boston, Mass., and Lowell Shep
ard Blaisdell, then of Elmhurst, Illinois, and later, of Phoenix, Arizona. These
three founders of the Association are now deceased, but they will ever be remember
ed with deep appreciation by Blaisdell descendants, all of whom have drawn upon
their vast knowledge of the general family, .and depended upon their guidance and in
spiration over the years.
*
National meetings of the BFA are held every fifth year, while local units of
the organization convene annually. The members are kept in interim touch through
the regular publication of an official organ entitled Blaisdell Papers.
The last national meeting of the BFA was held August 6, 7 and 8, 1965 at York
and Pemaquid Point, Maine. The highlight of this quinquennial meeting was the un
veiling of a bronze Memorial Plaque to "Old Ralf," as he is often referred to with
respect and affection. The plaque, bearing the inscription and the Blaisdell emb
lem, is set in an outcropping of rock in Permaquid Park, near the lighthouse, fac
ing the sea from which Ralf and his wife and small son so dramatically escaped on
that long-ago day of August 15, 1635* There, this Memorial, placed by his descend
ants, will do Ralf honor as long as the rock-bound coast of Maine endures.
In keeping with the goals envisioned by our Founders, plans for the complete
protection and perpetuation of the records of the Blaisdell Family Association are
now being implemented. Without involving the Association or its members religious
ly, arrangements have been made for the microfilming of all Blaisdell records by the
Genealogical Society of the Church of Jesus Christ Latter Day Saints, and for the
storage of these microfilmed records in the vault of their underground Genealogical
Library. This fire and bomb-proof library, with its 65,000 square feet of floor
space, is located high in the rugged Rocky Mountain country, near the mouth of litt
le Cottonwood Canyon which is 20.2 miles from downtown Salt Lake City.
We herewith present (1) the ancestors and descendants of Thomas Blaisdell of
Castleton Township, Barry County, Michigan, and (2) of John Blaisdell of Arlington
Township, Van Buren County, Michigan.
�19
THE THOMAS BLAISDELL LINE
The ancestry of Thomas and John Blaisdell, half-brothers, who came to Michigan
in the 1840’s and 1850’s, is taken from ”A Working Outline of the Descendants of
Thomas Jeremiah Blaisdell who Lived Late in the Eighteenth Century and Most of
Whose Descendants Settled in New York State, to 1940,” by James Arnold Blaisdell,
DD., LLD.
1
THOMAS JEREMIAH BLAISDELL resided in Redding, Fairfield Co,, Connecticut from
1786 to at least 1795; I*1 Vermont, Smith’s Basin, Town of Kingsbury, Washing
ton Co., New York and Savannah, N. Y. He is believed to be a fifth generation
(or possibly sixth) descendant of the original Ralf Bleasdale, the immigrant.
Much time has been spent in an effort to find Thomas‘ precise place in the
line of descent, but so far, we have been unsuccessful. He m. Isabel Finne.
Children:
i John Blaisdell b. 1782 (1850 census) resided in New York City and
New Orleans, La., but mostly at Smith’s Basin, N. Y. He m.
Louise Collins at Cornwall, N. Y. They were the parents of six
children: Jay, John Collins, Louisa, Saraph, Edgar and Jane*
ii Thomas H. Blaisdell b. 1784 (1850 census) lived at Goodchild’s
Hotel in Savannah, N. Y., in 1850, unmarried.
iii Dolly Blaisdell b. 1785, was in Savannah, N. Y., in 1850, age 65*
She had a son, Samuel Allen.
iv Lucretia Blaisdell m.
Allen, brother of Dolly’s husband.
2
v Medad Blaisdell b. 1778 or1781, of whom further:
vi Peter Blaisdell m. Nancy Sherman
vii Jerry Blaisdell
viii Amelia Blaisdell b. 1798, d. unmarried in Savannah, N. Y., 1850,
age 52; she lived with Dolly Allen’s family.
ix Libyus Blaisdell m. Christian
2
MEDAD-2-BLAISDELL (Thomas Jeremiah-1) was b. 1778 or 1781, resided at Genoa,
Cayuga Co., N. Y., Clyde and Savannah, Wayne Co., N. Y.; d. March 25, 1845,
”in 67th year” (gravestone) or March 25, 1848 (Savannah Town Clerk’s record).
He is buried in a private cemetery on his farm, near Savannah, located on
what is now known as ”Reed Road." The present owner of the farm is Arthur
Reed. Medad Blaisdell was a farmer. He m. (1)
_ (possibly Pomeroy); m.
(2) lydia Main, b. 1796, Mass., d. 1875, Savannah, N. Y. Children, first
two by first wife:
i Pomeroy Blaisdellb. 1814, presumably at Genoa, N. Y.; res. at
Savannah and Clyde, N. Y.; m. ca 1837, Catherine
; two
children, lydia b. 1848, d. 1866, bur. Ferris Cemetery, Savannah
and Charles; there were probablv others.
3
ii Thomas Blaisdell.b. April 12, 1815 at Genoa, Cayuga Co., N. Y.,
of whom further:
4 iii John Blaisdell b. Jan. 14, 1820, at Savannah, Wayne County, New '
York. His descendants are carried out in the second part of
this work.
iv Jerry Grey Blaisdell b. Nov. 30, 1828 at Savannah, N. Y., resided
at Clyde, N. Y., Reno, Nevada, and Sanger, California. He m.
Julia A. Kipp. She was b. June 10, 1835 in Wayne Co., N. Y.,
and d. Jan. 7, 19H at Reno, Nevada. Children: Matilda, Theo
dore Harvey, Henry Eugene, Julia Melissa, and John K., b. Jan.
7, 1869; d. October 25, 1871.
�20
v Isabel Blaisdell b. 1832, Savannah, N. Y.; m. William Gay (a boat
man), 1850. Child, Arvilla, d. April 9, 1866, aged 1-1-2.
vi . Medad Blaisdell, Jr., b. 1834, Savannah, N. Y.; d. there 1891; oc
cupation, farmer; m. Catherine Berger, Savannah, N. Y., Jan. 1,
1852; she d. June 5, 1899* No record of children. Medad, Jr;,
enlisted in the Union Army, August 14, 1862, at Brighton, Michi
gan, and served in Co. I, 22nd Michigan Infantry; discharged
June 22, 1865.
vii . Harvey Blaisdell b. 1836, Savannah, N. Y.,“ resided at Montezuma,
Cayuga Co., N. Y., and probably at Savannah. He m. (1) Rebecca
; m. (2) Louisa
. Child by second fcife, William.
viii George W. Blaisdell b. 1839,' Savannah, N. Y., resided there and
■■ • .at Montezuma. He m. Mary Kipp. 'Children: Delason and Eugene.
ix Cynthia Blaisdell was b.- at Savannah; m. Alonzo Perkins and had
a daughter, Sarah A., b. 1849-
•
„
'
3 ,
•
THOMAS-3-BLAISDELL (Medad-2: Thomas Jeremiah-1) was b. April 12, 1815 at Genoa,
Cayuga Co., New York, and died Feb. 12, 1884 at Nashville, Michigan, ae 6810-0. He is bur. in Lakeview Cemetery, Castleton,Twp., Barry County, Michi
gan. He resided at Genoa and Savannah, Wayne Co.., N. Y., at Plymouth, Wayne
County, Michigan, from 1837-1840, at Clyde, Wayne Co., N. Y., and Seneca
Falls, Seneca Co.-, N. Y., from 1840-1846, and at Nashville, Barry County,
Michigan, from 1846 to 1834. Thomas Blaisdell was a farmer, but was also
skilled in the milling, carpentry, and stone and brick masonry trades. He
m. (1) Alice Hall, Dec. 31, 1840, presumably in Wayne’Co., N. Y. She was b.
Nov. 30, 1818 in New York State and died at Nashville, Michigan, March 26,
1861, ae 42-3-27; she is bur. in Lakeview Cemetery, Nashville.. Thomas m. (2)
Charlotte Burdick, Feb. 19, 1865, presumably at Nashville; she d. in 1867•
He m. (3) Mrs Tryphena (Gregg) Gillis, in 1869, at Kalamazoo, Michigan. She
r -was the dau. of George Gregg. She d. / a suicide by hanging, at the Kalama,zoo State Hospital, March 28, 1878, age 51-2-16; bur in Castleton Twp., Barry
• Co., but not in Lakeview Cemetery; Qhomas m. (4) Bertha D. Bock, Dec. 18,
187% at Nashville. Daughter of John F. and Dorothea L. (Von Hauk) Bock, she
was b. Dec. 15, 1858, near Berlin, Germany. Bertha survived her husband and
remarried after 13 years. Children, first four by first wife, 5th child by
fourth wife;
'
.
* •
5
i DeWitt Blaisdell b. Jan. 29> 1842 at Clyde, New York
6
ii . Hannah Blaisdell b. Oct. 23,- 1843 at Seneca Falls. N.Y.
7
iii Polly Blaisdell was b. July 3/ 1849’(Bible record) at Nashville,
Michigan; July 21, 1849 (gravestone)
iv Thomas Blaisdell b. Dec. 6, 1851 at Nashville, Michigan; d. there
’
Jan. 10, 1852, ae 0-1-4; bur. Lakeview Cemetery.
v Bertha Jfethilda Blaisdell was b. Dec. 27, 1880 at Nashville,
•,
Michigan; d. unmarried July 1, 1905, at Memphis, Macomb Co.,
Michigan; bur. Memphis Cemetery, South Ridge Road; gravestone
inscription, "B. M. Blaisdell.,l
..
5
THIRD GENERATION.
.
FOURTH GENERATION .
DEWITT-4-BLAISDELL (Thomas -3; Medad-2; Thomas Jeremiah-1) was b. Jan. 29, 1842
at Clyde, Wayne Co., N. Y.; d. July 19, 193^ at Hastings, Barry Co., Michi
gan; bur. Yankee Springs Cemetery. He resided at Nashville, Barry Co., Cer-
�21
esco, Calhoun Co., Inland Twp., Benzie Co-, Sparta, Kent Co., and Hastings,
Barry Co., Michigan^ He was a farmer. He enlisted in the Union Army in the
Civil War, May 15, 1862, at Hastings, and was assigned to Company G, 8th.,
Michigan Infantry Volunteers; reenlisted for unexpired term, Oct. 25, 1862,
and was assigned to Company L, 3r^. Regt., U. S. Artillery; honorably discharg
ed at Alexandria, Virginia, May 15, 1865- He m. (1) Josephine Miller, August
1865, at Nashville, Michigan. This marriage ended in divorce; there were no
children. He m. (2) Margaret Ann (Mitchell) Franck, a widow, Feb. 5, 1879,
at Battle Creek, by Rev. E. D. Young /See MICHIGAN HERITAGE VI: 207/. She
was the dau. of Richard and Mary (Thompson) Mitchell, and was b. Oct. 15,
1849 in Canada; d. March 4, 1926. She is bur. in the Yankee Springs Cemetery.
Children:
8
i Mary Jane ("Mae") Blaisdell b. Nov. 19, 1879
ii William Thomas Blaisdell b. Feb. 15, 1887; d. March 2, 1887; bur.
Stony Point Cemetery near Nashville, Michigan.
6
HANNAH-4-BLAISDELL (Thomas-3; Medad-2; Thomas Jeremiah-1) was b. Oct. 23, 1843
at Seneca Falls, N. Y., where she resided until 1846 when bhe moved to Nash
ville, Barry County, Michigan, where she d. on April 23, 193^, and is bur. in
Lakeview Cemetery. She m. (1) Dorrance Burdick, in 1865; divorced 1867. She
m. (2) in 1874, Samuel John Robinson, at Nashville where he d. in March 1896;
bur. in Lakeview Cemetery. Children:
i Alice (’’Allie”) Julia Burdick was b. Sept. 30, 1866 at Nashville;
d. there Feb. 25, 1932; bur. Lakeview Cem. Besides Nashville,
she resided at Bear Lake and Plainwell, Michigan. She m. (1)
Ernest Flewelling of Bear Lake, Michigan, in 1897; he d. in
1910. She m. (2) in 1917, Eugene McFarland of Plainwell, Michi
gan; he d. in 1922. No children by either marriage.
9
ii Bertha May Robinson b. June 10, 1876 at Nashville
10
iii Jessie June Robinson was b. April 27, 1878 at Nashville
7
POLLY-4-BLAISDELL (Qhomas-3; Medad-2? Thomas Jeremiah-1) was b. either July 3 or
or 21, 1849, at Nashville where the d. either August 7, 1942 or 1943 (grave
stone and Bible records do not agree)• bur. Lakeview Cem.• She resided at
Nashville, Hastings and Honor, Michigan, and Canton, Ohio. She m. Reuben
Kuhlman, April 21, 1.867, at Nashville. He was b. Oct. 4, 1.846 at Canton,
Ohio; d. April 25, 1920 at Nashville where he is bur. in Lakeview Cemetery.
He served in the Union Army during the Civil War; he enlisted Oct. 10, 1861,
as a Private, and was assigned to the 64th Regiment, Co. I, Ohio Infantry
Volunteers, and was honorably discharged as a sergeant, October 3, 1865.
Children:
11
i William Thomas Kuhlman was b. Sept. 23, 1873
ii Harriet May Kuhlman was b. Sept. 17, 1.880; d. Aug. 19, 188l at
Nashville: bur. Lakeview Cemetery
iii Ray Duane Kuhlman was b. March 19, 1883 at Canton, Ohio; d. there
Nov. 20, 1883; bur. Canton.
FIFTH GENERATION
8
MARY JANE-5-BLAISDELL (DeWitt-4; Thomas-3; Medad-2; Thomas Jeremiah-1) was
called "Mae” and was b. Nov. 19, 1879, at Ceresco, Calhoun Co., Michigan.
Her other places of residence were Nashville and Hastings in Barry County,
Inland Twp., Benzie Co., and Sparta, Kent County, all of Michigan. In 1963
she was living at R. R. #1, Hastings, Michigan. On Aug. 22, 1906, she m.
�22
Carl Potter at Frankfort, Benzie Co., Michigan. Son of Myron and Alice (Dean)
Potter, he was b. Dec. 20, 1881 at Yankee Springs, Barry County. Children:
i Ronald Dean Potter b. April 5, 1908 in Homestead Twp., Benzie Co.
Michigan; resided also in Sparta, Kent Co., and Rutland Twp.,
Barry Co., Michigan; occupation, custodian; residence (1963)
115 West Center Street, Hastings; unmarried.
12
ii Alta Potter b. August 5, 1910 in Homestead Twp., Benzie Co.,
Michigan
9
BERTHA MAY ROBINSON-5 (Hannah-4-Blaisdell; Thomas-3; Medad-2; Thomas Jeremiah-1)
was b. June 10, 1876 at Nashville; d. Jan. 4, 1948 at Battle Creek; bur. Lakeview Cemetery, Nashville. Resided at Nashville, Clare, Clare Co., and Kalam
azoo, Michigan. She m. Stephen Benjamin Mater, Dec. 4, 1895 at Nashville.
He was b. March 9, 1872 at Canal Fulton, Ohio, and d. Dec. 19, 1941 at Marsh
all, Michigan; bur. lakeview Cemetery. Children:
13
i Vada Edessa Mater b. Nov. 17, 1896 at Nashville
14 - ii Lila Merrine Mater b. Sept. 15, 1898 at Nashville
10
JESSIE JUNE ROBINSON-5 (Hannah-4-Blaisdell; Thomas-3; Medad-2; Thomas Jeremiah 1) was b. April 7, 1878 at Nashville; d. there Feb. 20, 1928; bur. Lakeview
Cemetery. She spent her entire life in Nashville and Woodland, Michigan. SJje
m. (1) A. Hall, Feb. 9, 1098; divorced 1900; no children; m. (2) Arthur V.
Meade, in 1901 at Woodland. He d. Oct. 25, 1958 at Nashville; bur. Lakeview
Cemetery. Children:
15
i Kenneth Arthur Meade b. Oct. 9, 1904 at Nashville
ii Mabel Alice Meade b. March 3, 1907 at Nashville;:d, unmarried,
January 1, 1959 at Flint, Michigan
11
WILLIAM THOMAS KUHLMAN-5 (Polly-4-Blaisdell; Thomas-3; Medad-2; Thomas Jeremiah1) was b. Sept. 23, 1873 at Hastings, Michigan and d. at Nashville, July 11,
1953; bur. Lakeview Cem. Places of residence: Hastings, Honor, Detroit and
Nashville, Michigan, Canton, Ohio, and winters at St. Petersburg, Florida;
occupation, railway mail clerk on Michigan Central Railroad, Detroit to Chi
cago run, 1902-1932. He m. Adeline Lentz, Oct. 11, 1898, at Nashville. She
was the dau. of Albert and Mary (Garlinger) Lentz; was b. July 27, 1876 at
Nashville and d. there June 23, 1966; bur. Lakeview Cem. Children:
16
i Paul William Kuhlman b. May 15, 190& at Detroit, Michigan
ii Elizabeth June Kuhlman b. June 3, 1914 (twin of Frank Stuart),
resided in Detroit and Grand Rapids: occupation, secretary at
Lear Sigler,’ Inc., Grand Rapids; m. (1) June 5, 1937, Percival
Clayton Traies-Green at Detroit. He was b. at Kingsville, On
tario, Canada; divorced 1942; no issue. She m. (2) 1944, Carl
Virgil Ware, b. Howard, Michigan; divorced 1954; no issue. She
resumed her maiden name.
17
iii Frank Stuart Kuhlman (twin of Elizabeth) b. June 3, 1914.
SIXTH GENERATION
12
ALTA POTTER-6 (Mary Jane Blaisdell-5; DeWitt-4; Thomas-3; Medad-2; Thomas Jere
miah-1) was b. Aug. 5, 1910, in Homestead Twp., Benzie Co., Michigan. She
also resided at Sparta, Kent Co., and Rutland Twp., Barry Co., Michigan,
where she was living at Rte. #1, Hastings, in 1963; occupation, housewife
and bookkeeper at Consumers Power Co., Hastings. Alta m. (1) Harry Lee
Knickerbocker, Dec. 22, 1934, at South Bend, Indiana. He was b. Sept. 15,
�23
1905 in Rutland Twp. They were divorced. She m. (2) Paul Campbell Cackler,
April 18, 1953} at Trinity M. E. Chapel, Grand Rapids. He was b. May 18,
1916 at Stanwood, Mecosta Co., Mich., and is the adopted son of Mr. and Mrs.
Andrew Gackler. Child:
18
i Gerald LaMont Knickerbocker b. Jan. 6, 1936
13
VADA EDESSA MATER-6; Bertha May Robinson-5; (Hannah-4-Blaisdell; Thomas-3;
Medad-2; Thomas Jeremiah-1) was b. Nov. 17, 1896 at Nashville where she
lived until 1900 when she moved to Clare, Michigan where she remained until
1905 when she returned to Nashville where she lived until 1907; in Kalamazoo
1907-1912; in Marshall 1912-1922; 1922-1925 at Columbus, Ohio, 1928-1934 at
Dayton, Ohio, 1934-1935 at Cincinnati, and since 1935 at Marshall, Michigan;
occupation, housewife and cashier. July 9? 1920 she m. Aura Estes Smith of
Marshall where he was b. Sept. 14, 1896, son of David A. and Mary (Estes)
Smith. He is manager of a heating and air conditioning company. Children:
19
i Philip Robert Smith b. Feb. 24, 1923 at Columbus, Ohio
20
ii Carol Jessie Smith (twin) b. Sept. 3, 1928 at Dayton, Ohio
21
iii Mary Lou Smith (twin) b. Sept. 3> 1928 at Dayton, Ohio
14
LILA MERRINE MATER-6; Bertha May Robinson-5 (Hannah-4-Blaisdell; Thomas-3;
Medad-2; Thomas Jeremiah-1) was b. Sept. 15, 1898 at Nashville where she liv
ed until 1900, at Clare, Michigan I9OO-I9O5, Nashville, 1905-1907, Kalamazoo
1907-1912, Marshall, 1912-1919, Detroit, 1919-1920, Marshall, 1920-1923,
Battle Creek, 1923-24, all in Michigan; in Oregon and Washington, 1924-1928,
Marshall, 1928-1930, Grass Lake, 1930-1942, and Howell, Michigan, 1942 to
date. She is a housewife and retail sales clerk. She married Harlow C.
Ga?ey, June 21, 1919, at Marshall. .He was b. June 16, 1896 at Ann Arbor, son
of/Alfred and Ancy R. (Mills) Grey. Children:
22
i Anita Joan Grey b. Nov. 18, 1920
23
ii Shirley Jean Grey b. Aug. 1, 1922 at Marshall, Michigan
15
KENNETH ARTHUR MEADE-6; Jessie June Robins on-5 (Hannah-4-Blaisdell; Thomas-3;
Medad-2; Thomas Jeremiah-1) was b. Oct. 9, 1904 at Nashville. His other
places of residence are Ypsilanti, Kalamazoo, Flint and Franklin, Wayne Co.,
Michigan where his address, in 1963 was 26725 Captains Lane. By profession
a teacher, he was long associated with General Motors Corporation of Detroit
where he was manager of the Educational Relations Section of their Public
Relations staff, until his retirement, June 30, 1967• This autumn (1967)
he will Join the Continuing Education staff at Oakland University, Rochester,
Michigan, as Director of Postgraduate Professional Education programs relat
ed to science and engineering, thus furthering a lifelong career in the field
of education. A complete biography of Kenneth Arthur Meade is found in
Who's Who in America, Vol. 32, and in Who's Who in the Midwest. He m. (1)
Gladys Louise Everts, Jan. 10, 1921, at Hastings, Michigan. She was b. Jan.
25, 1901 at Assyria, Barry Co., Mich., dau. of Floyd Fuller and Nora Belle
(Bivens) Everts. This marriage ended in divorce in 1937* He m. (2) Adel
aide Busse, Feb. 4, 1938, at Detroit. She was b. May 21, 1902, dau. of Will
iam Frederick and Elizabeth Ernestine (Kressien) Busse. Children, first four
by first marriage:
24
i Robert Arthur Meade b. Aug. 22, 1921 at Nashville, Michigan
25
ii Kenneth Floyd Meade b. Aug. 3, 19^5 at Ypsilanti, Michigan
26
iii Gerald Everts Meade b. Feb. 9, 1927 at Kalamazoo, Michigan
27
iv Carroll Richard Meade b. Sept. 12, 1928 at Kalamazoo, Michigan
v William Arthur Meade b. Oct. 6, 1943 at Detroit, Michigan
�24
16.
PAUL WILLIAM KUHLMAN-6; William Thomas Kuhlman-5 (Polly-4-Blaisdell; Thomas-3;
Medad-2; Thomas Jeremiah-1) was b. May 15, 1906 at Detroit. He lived, also,
. , in Venezuela, S. A., Rantoul, Illinois and Dayton, Ohio, where, in 1963, his
address was 310 East Melford. His occupation - U. S. Radar instructor at
Rantoul, Illinois and Wright Field, Dayton, Ohio. He m. Minta Hazel Spees,
Aug. 20, 1936 at Fulton, Tennessee. She was b. Nov. 7> 1916 at Palmerville,
Tenn., dau. of Walter*and Eliza (Perry) Spees. Minta d. Jan. 29> 1958 at
Jackson, Michigan where she is bur. in Hillcrest Memorial Park. Children:
i David Paul Kuhlman b. Aug. 31, 1940 at Rantoul, Ill., and has
also livdd at Dayton, Ohio and Buffalo, New York, where he is
a chemistry major at the University of Buffalo. He m. June 26,
1961 at Fairborn, Ohio, Glenda Joyce Combs, dau. of Burly and
Dorothea Combs. Glenda was b. Oct. 20, 1943 at Lexington, Ky.
17
FRANK STUART KUHLMAN-6; William Thomas Kuhlman-5; (Polly-4-Blaisdell; Thomas3; Medad-2; Jeremiah Thomas-1) was b. June 3j 1914 at Detroit. He resides
in Jackson, Michigan at 6888 Ann Arbor Road. He served in World War II in
the U. S. Reserves in India, 3105th Signal Service Battalion, in the 236th
Signal Service Co., Assam, the 3150th Signal Service Co., Pauys Kalsi and
the 835th Signal Service Battalion, Karachi. He is a draftsman for the Con
sumers Power Co., at Jackson. He m. Amy Cecelia Parker, April 16, 1952 at
Barnstaple, Devon, England. She was b. Nov. 7> 1914 at Oxford, England, dau.
of Ernest and Lucy Parker. Children:
i Peter William Kuhlman b. Aug. 9> 1953 at Jackson, Michigan
ii Frances Jeanne Kuhlman b. Feb. 23, 1956 at Jackson. •
/To be continued/
FAMILY REUNIONS
IN SAINT CLAIR COUNTY AND THUMB AREA
JULY - AUGUST 19&7
Sent by Cecile Keister - Marine City, Michigan
Mrs. Keister has sent us newspaper clippings from the Port Huron Times-Herald
of family reunions held in the area. We will hold these items on file for a limited
.time, and will gladly forward any that are of interest to readers, upon receipt of an
addressed, stamped envelope.
Ackerman - Port Austin
Kreiner - Brown City
Andereon - bfetamora
lamiman - Croswell
Arnold (16th) - Carsonville
Leipprandt - Harbor Beach
Artman - Port Huron
McDonald - East China
Bailey - Goodells
McVety - Cass City
Bennett - Marlette
Miller - Applegate
Briolat - Ubly
Miller (Eugene) - Sandusky
Clor - Ruth
Mousseau - Kinde
Neal - Fort Huron
Collins (24th) - Yale
Pohl-Nehmer - Yale
Cowley - Peck
Ross - Goodells
Edgerton - Yale
Edwards - Harbor Beach
Schommer-Ganley - Port Sanilac
Fullmer (9th) - Sanilac
Sheldon • Marysville
Stanton (18th) - Yale
Graves - Sandusky
Howey-McLennan - Yale
Sutton - Goodells
Johnston - Peck
Van Buskirk - Marysville
Kaercher - Buffalo, N.Y.
Voelker - Port Austin
Kalbfleisch - Brown City
Wedge - Applegate
Kammer - Yale
Wellington-Jex - Sanilac
King - Peck
Wilson - Peck
�89
THE
BLAISDELL
FAMILY
0 F
MICHIGAN
DESCENDANTS OF THOMAS BLAISDELL (1815-1884) OF BARRY COUNTY
AND JOHN BLAISDELL (1820-1901) OF VAN BUREN COUNTY
By V. Lecra Blaisdell - Paw Paw, Michigan
Part II — Continued from Volume IX-1: 24
SEVENTH GENERATION
18
GERALD LAMONT KNICKERBOCKER-7; Alta Potter-6 (Mary Jane Blaisdell-5: DeWitt-4;
Thomas-3; Medad-2; Thomas Jeremiah-1) was b. Jan. 6, 1936 at Hastings, Mich.
He. also resided at Freeport, Barry Co. He is an industrial worker with the
E. W. Bliss Co., at Hastings where, in 1963, he resided at 2815 Heath Road,
R. R. $L. He a. in 1955> Vivian Yvonne Blough who was b. Aug. 31, 1941 at
• Freeport, dau. of Roy and Beatrice Nora (Clun) Blough. Children:
• i Dole Lee Knickerbocker b. April 5> 1956 at Hastings
ii Bruce Gene Knickerbocker b. May lo, 1957 at Hastings
iii Mark Gerald Knickerbocker b. Oct. 3, 1959 at Hastings
19
PHILIP ROBERT SMITH-7; Vada Edessa Mater-6; Bertha May Robinson-5 (Hannah-4Blaisdell; Thomas-3; Medad-2; Thonas Jeremiah-1) was b. Feb. 24, 1923 at
Columbus, Ohio where he lived until 1928; at Dayton, 1928-193^, and Marsh
all, Michigan, 1935-1959. He d. there April 18, 1959; .bur. Marengo Cem.,
Marengo Twp. He served in World War II as Technician, Grade 5, 433rd Eng
lish Depot Co. He was inducted into service at Kalamazoo, March 19, 1943,
and was stationed at Capp McCoy, Wisconsin, Alaska, and India. He n. Elean
or Louise Wilbur, June 6, 1953 at Marshall, Michigan. She was b. Jan. 22,
1920 at Union City, Branch County, Michigan, dau. of Lisle S. and Vera B.
(Doolittle) Wilbur. Child:
i Julie Ann Smith b, Feb. 5, 195^ at Marshall, Michigan
20
CAROL JESSIE SMITH-7; Vada Edessa Mater-6; Bertha Muy Robinson-5 (Hannah-4Blaisdell; Thomas-3; Medad-2; Thonas Jeremiah-1) was b. Sept. 3, 1928 at
Dayton, Ohio where she lived until 193^, at Cincinnati 193^-35, and since
1935 at Marshall, Michigan. She m. Lloyd Duane Wood, Oct. 6, 1951 at Trin
ity Episcopal Church, Marshall. He was b. there April 10, 1928, son of
Clarence L, and Mildred I. (Maurer) Wood. He owns an insurance agency.
Children:
....
i Cynthia Ann Wood b. July 29, 1956, Marshall, Michigan
ii David Lloyd Wood b. Oct. 13, i960 at Marshall, Michigan
iii Theresa lyn Wood b. June 2, 1962 at Marshall, Michigan
21
MARY IOU SMITH-7; Vada Edessa Mater-6; Bertha Moy Robinson-5 (Hannah-4Blaisdell; Thomas-3; Medad-2; Thonas Jereniah-1) was b. Sept. 3, 1928
at Dayton, Ohio where she lived until 193^- when she moved to Cincinnati
where she remained until 1935, going to Marshall, and in 1951 to Jackson,
Michigan. She has resided in Long Beach and Michigan City, both in Indiana,
from i960 to date. She m. William Anthony Van Lanen, April 21, 1951 at St.
Mary’s Ronan Catholic Church, Marshall. He was b. Jan. 2, 1926 at Wrights
town, Wisconsin, son of Frank P. and Catherine (Van Der Heiden) Von Lanen.
William is a sales engineer for the Clark Equipment Company, Children:
�90
i
ii
iii
iv
v
Carol Jean Van Lanen b. Moy 31, 1952 at Jackson, Michigan
Jones Gregory Von Lanen b. Jan. 27, 1954 at Jackson, Michigan
Mary Kay Van Lanen b. July 0, 1955 at Jackson, Michigan
Susan Marie Van Lanen b. Nov. 25, 1957 at Jackson, Michigan
Barbara Zinn Van Lanen b. Nov. 24, 1961 at Michigan City, Ind.
22
ANITA JOAN GREY-7; Lila Merrine Mater-6; Bertha May Robinson-5 ( Hannah-4-Blais
dell; Thomas-3; Medad-2; Thomas Jeremiah-1) was b. Nov. 18, I92O, Detroit,
Michigan. She resided in Marshall, I92O-I923, in Battle Creek, 1924, in
Oregon, 1924-1928, Marshall, I928-I930, Grass Lake, Michigan, 1930^-1942,
Leoni, Jackson Co., 1942-1946, and Grass Lake, 1946-1963. She practices her
profession as a registered nurse. She m. William Alton Dakin, Jan, 24, 1942
at Leoni, Michigan. He was b. Sept. 23, 1920 at Michigan Center, Jackson Co.
son of Vern and Ethel (Putman) Dakin, and is a mechanic. Children:
28
i David William Dakin b. Dec. 27, 1942 at Jackson, Michigan
29
ii Donald Vern Dakin b. Sept. 18, 1944 at Leoni, Michigan
30
iii Jean Anne Dakin b. Sept. 17, 1946 at Leoni or Grass Lake
iv Susanne Jane Dakin b. April 22, 1948 at Grass Lake, Michigan
v Philip Stephen Dakin b. Aug. 21, 1949 at Grass Lake
vi Janes Alon Dakin b. May 19, 1955 at Grass Lake
23
SHIRLEY JEAN GREY-7; Lila Merrine Mater-6; Bertha May Robinson-5 (Honnah-4. Blaisdell; Thomas-3; Medad-2; Thomas Jeremiah-1) was b. Aug. 1, 1922 at
Marshall, Michigan. She resided there in 1922-23, Battle Creek, 1923-24,
Oregon and Washington States, 1924-1928, Marshall, Michigan, I928-I930,
Grass Lake, 1930-1942, Rogers City, Presque Isle Co., Michigan, 1942-1952,
and Hawks, Presque Isle Co., 1952 to date. She m. Earl Fairbanks, III, Oct.
17, 1942 at East Lansing, Michigan. He was b, Nov. 1, 1918, son of Earl II
and Georgia (Sekanina) Fairbanks. He is a veterinarian in the service of
the State of Michigan. Children:
• i Robert Earl Fairbanks b. July 24, 1943 at Rogers City; now a
student at Ferris Institute, Big Rapids, Michigan
31
ii Michael Bruce Fairbanks b. Aug. 31, 1944 at Rogers City.
iii John Grey Fairbanks b. Feb. 13, 19^7 at Rogers City.
iv Mark Grover Fairbanks b. Sept. 19, 19^9
Rogers City
v Charles Jay Fairbanks b. Nov. 1, 1950 at Rogers City
vi Randy Brian Fairbanks b. May 17, 1952 at Rogers City
vii Jack Edward Fairbanks b, Dec, 15, 1953 at Hawks, Michigan
viii Joseph Alan Fairbanks b-. May 30, 1955 at Hawks, Michigan
ix Russell Austin Fairbanks b. June 25, 1956 at Hawks, Michigan
x David Lee Fairbanks b. Feb. 19, 1958 at Hawks, Michigan
xi Kathleen Ann Fairbanks t. June 10, 1959
Hawks, Michigan
24
ROBERT ARTHUR MEADE-7; Kenneth Arthur Meade-6; Jessie June Robinson-5 (Hannah4-Blaisdell; Thomas-3; Medad-2; Thomas Jeremiah-1) was b. Aug. 22, 1921 at
Nashville, Michigan. He resided at Nashville, Ypsilanti, Kalamazoo, Detroit
Flint, Flushing and Troy, Michigan, and Warren, Ohio where he lived at 3090
Foster Drive, N. E. in 1963. His occupation is Product Manager of the
Sales Department of the Packard Electric Division of General Motors. He m.
Susan Joyce Rothaar, Sept. 1, 1940. at Napoleon, Ohio. She was b. May 19,
1921, dau. of Earl and Aletha Mae (Seward) Rothaar. Children:
i Susan Wendy'Meade b. Oct. 24, 1945’ at Highland Park, Michigan
ii John Seward Meade b. Aug. 5, 19^9
Highland Park, Michigan.
�91
25
KENNETH FLOYD MEADE-7; Kenneth Arthur Meade-6; Jessie June Robinson-5 (Hannoh4-Blaisdoll; Thomas-3; Medad-2; Thomas Jeremiah-1) was b. Aug. 3, 1925 at
Ypsilanti, Michigan, and also lived in Kalamazoo, Flint, Nashville, East
Lensing, and Detroit, Michigan, His present occupation is sales represent
ative for General Motors Photographic Division of Detroit, He served in the
Air Force as Staff Sergeant of the 1498th Bomb Group and 509th Bomb Wing,
from Nov. 23, 1943 to Feb, 2, 1950. He- m. Bette Jean Hosner, Feb, 27, 1944
at Fort Worth, Texas; She was b. June 3, 19?4, da.u.
Paul Burly and
Frances (Robinson) Hosner. Children:
‘ i Vicky Jean Meade was b. Aug, 4, 1944 at Belleville, Illinois,
and also lived in Nashville and Detroit, Michigan. She n.
Claude Francis Townsend, Jr,, Jan. 26, 1963 at Detroit. He
was b. there Dec. 28, 1943, son of Claud Francis and Eva
Mary (Urka) Townsend, Sr,
ii Pamela Anne Meade b, Jan. 10, 1946 at Battle Creek. Lived at
Belleville, Illinois, Nashville and Detroit, Michigan; n.
Kenneth Walter Danner, Aug. 28, 1964, at Livonia, Michigan.
He was b. April 28. 1946 at Detroit, son of Hubert Kenneth
and Dorothy Marie (Baily) Danner,
iii Kenneth Floyd Meade, Jr., b. Feb. 20, 19^9 at Battle Creek,
iv Michael Paul Meade b. May 20, 1956 at Highland Park, Michigan
26
GERALD EVERTS MEADE-7; Kenneth Arthur Meade-6; Jessie June Robinson-5 (Hannah4-Blaisdell; Thomas-3; Medad-2; Thomas Jeremiah-1) was b. Feb. 9, 1927 at
Kalamazoo. His other places of residence have been Flint, Detroit, Reno,
Nevada and Sacramento, California; present occupation, driver for Western
• Greyhound Lines. In World War II he served as a corporal in the Sixth Army
from April 4, 19^9 at Camp Moxie, to Sept. 1946 at Camp Beal, California.
He m. (1) Bonnie Jean Larsen, 1946; divorced 19^; no children; n. (2) Mary
Sheldon, 1949; divorced 1952; m. (3) Edith Wilkson, 1953; divorced 1957;
(4) Maxine McCormack, July 29,’ 195$ at Reno, Nevada. She.was b. Aug. 18,
1926, dau. of Edd and Eva McCormack. Children:
■ i Annette Louise Meade b. Dec, 7, 1950, Sacramento, Calif.
(Child of second marriage)
ii Michael Gerald Meade b. May 20,. 1952, Sacramento (2nd. marriage)
iii Karen Lee Meade b. Aug. 31, 1954, Sacramento (3rd marriage)
iv David Ray Meade b. Jan. 14, 1959 at Woodland, Calif. (4th narr.)
v Gerald Everts Meade, Jr. b. Sept. 5, i960, Sacramento (4th marr)
27
CARROLL RICHARD MEADE-7; Kenneth Arthur Meade-6; Jessie June Robinsori-5 (Hann
ah-4-Blaisdell; Thomas-3; Medad-2; Thomas Jeremiah-1) was b. Sept. 12, 1928
at Kalamazoo, and also resided at Flint, Detroit, Marshall,* and Birch Run,
Michigan; present occupation, Superintendent of Maintenance, Foundry, Buick
Motor Division of General Motors; m. Janice Elizabeth Chestnut, Aug. 14,
1948 at Marysville, Michigan. ’ She was b. December 9, 1928, dau. of Chester
Howard and Bernice (Graham) Chestnut. Children:
i Douglas Richard Meade b. Nov. 27, 19^ at Flint, Michigan; d.
June 2, 1967 c^t Frankenmuth, Michigan
ii . Randall Howard Meade b* Oct. 31, 1951 at Flint, Michigan
�92
•EIGHTH GENERATION'
23
DAVID WILLIAM DAKIN-0;-Anita Joan Grey-7; Lila Merrine Mater-6; Bertha May
Robinson-5 (Hannah-4-Blaisdell; Thoms-3; Medcd-2; Thomas Jeremiah-1) was b.
Doc. . 27,- 1942 at Jackson, Michigan. He resided at Leoni, 1942-1946, Grass
Lake, 1946-1961, Ogden, Kansas, I96I-I962. In military service and station*
ed from 1962-1964,. Fricdburg, Hessen, Germany, Private First Class, assign
ment, Tank Gunner, Third Armored Division. He m. Lola May Cook, June 17,
1961 at Grass Lake, Michigan.’ She was b. Sept. 21, 1943 at Hastings, Michi
gan, dau. of Gaylord Raymond and Grace Lavon (Taylor) Cook. Children:
i David William Dakin, II b. Jan. 26, 1962 at Fort Riley, Kansas
ii Wade Philip Detkin b. Jan. 29, 1964 at Lansing, Michigan.
29
DONALD VERN DAKIN-8; Anita Joon Grey-7; Lila Merrine Mater-6; Bertha May Rob
inson-5 (Hannah-4-Blaisdell; Thomas-3; Medad-2; Thomas Jeremiah-1) was b.
. Sept. 18, 1944 at Leoni, Michigan; m. Sept. .21, 1963, Mary Mice Hashley, at
. Grass .Lake, Michigan. She was b. March 21, 1945 at Jackson, Michigan, dau.
..; of Millard Albert,Ulia Muy (Cook) Hashley. Children:
i John Richard Dakin b. Aug. 15, 1964 at Jackson
ii Katherine Joan Dakin b. Sept. 8, 1966 ut Jackson
30
JEAN ANNE DAKIN-8; Anita Joon Grey-7; Lila Merrine Mater-6; Bertha May Robinson-5 ( Hannah-4-Blaisdell; Thonas-3; Medad-2; Thomas Jeremiah-1) was b, Sept.
17, 1946 at Leoni or Grass Lake, Michigan; m. July 18, 1964, Clarence Neeley,
at Grass Lake. He was b. Dec. 22, 1942 in Floyd Co., Kentucky, son of Burnos
and Myrtle.(Patrick) Neeley. Residence, Grass Lake, Michigan. Child:
i 'Brian Clarence Neeley b. June 9$ 1965 at Jackson.
31
MICHAEL BRUCE FAIRBANKS-8; Shirley jean Grey-7; Lila Merrine Mutex*-6; Bertha
May Robinson-5 (Hannah-4-Blaisdell; Thomas-3; Medad-2: Thonas Jeremiah-1)
. was b. Aug. 31, 1944 at Rogers City, Michigan; is now a student at Western
Michigan University, Kalamazoo. He m, at Moltke, Michigan, July 20, 1962,
Geraldine Marie Torno, dau. of Carl and Mary (Carlson) Torno of Moltke
Children:
i Troy Michael Fairbanks b. Dec. 6, 1962 at Rogers City, Michigan
ii Tracy Marie Fairbanks b.- Oct. 19, 1964 at Kalamazoo
Acknowledgments:
.
> *
*
•
Caldwell, Mrs, Wilbur, 12706 Strasburg, Detroit, Michigan: information about
Bertha Mathilda
Fairbanks, Mrs, Earl, Hawks, Michigan: Hannah Blaisdell Line
Grey, Mrs. Harlow C.j 410 East Grand River, Howell, Michigan: Hannah Blaisdell
Kuhlman, Mrs. W. T., 120 43rd Street,- S. E., Grand Rapids, Michigan: Hannah
Blaisdell line
Meade, Kenneth A., 26725 Captains Lane, Franklin, Michigan: Hannah Blaisdell
line
Potter, Mrs, Carl, R. R, #1, Hastings, Michigan: DeWitt Blaisdell line
Smith, Mrs. Aura E., 901 North Mulberry, Marshall, Michigan: Hannah Blaisdell
line.
�93
ADDENDA
•We ore told by Kenneth A. Meade, great grandson of Thomas Blaisdell, and pre
sent owner of the Blaisdell Homestead, that Thomas purchased the property in 1838.
However, no available record has revealed that he made any effort to clear any of
the acreage prior to 1846. It would be interesting to know how it happened that
Thomas purchased property in Barry County while living, as he apparently did, in
Wayne County. In other words, what brought Thomas to Barry County? Wo have wonder
ed if he might not have been attracted to that specific area by "relatives,11 (probab
ly of the cousin-uncle-aunt relationship). This is just a thought based upon the
following, which is of research record:
Lowell S. Blaisdell (one of the early genealogists of the BFA) has discovered a
Mrs. /uin Blaisdell and daughter, /inn (m. Rufus Morris at the age of 50; he was b.
Oct. 1354) and Elizabeth who m. Theodore Brownson or- Cranson, in 1844, all of Assyr
ia Township,’Barry.^County, Michigan, in which county Thomas Blaisdell lived. These
Blaisdells, however, were probably relatives of a Joseph. S. Blaisdell, a prominent
Freewill Baptist, and the first settler (1836) in Assyria Township, who came from
Vermont. He died March 10, 1848, and is buried in the South Assyria Cemetery.
History of Allegan and Barry Counties, p. 388, ff.
It will be observed that Joseph come from Vermont; that the family founded by
Thomas Jeremiah came, according to family tradition, "immediately from Vermont,"
into eastern New York - Smith’s Basin, Washington County; that Joseph came to Barry
County in 1836, and that Thomas came to Plymouth, Wayne County, in 1837, thereafter
going to Barry County. Could there have been a family connection? Perhaps the des
cendants of Thomas will have some recollection that will be a contribution here.
In Thomas* obituary there is a statement which is in obvious error, that "In
1840 he again came to Michigan ..." The supported record shows that on December
31, 1840, after returning to New York, he married Alice Hall; that, at Clyde, Wayne
County, New York, on Jan. 29, 1842, their first child, DeWitt, was born; that at
Seneca Falls, Seneca County, New York, on Oct. 23, 1843, their second child, Hannah,
was born, and that Thomas did not return to Michigan, with his family, until Hannah
was three years old - perhaps in late 1846, but more likely not until the weather
became settled in the spring of 1847. One record does specify 1846.
SUDDEN DEATH OF THOMAS BLAISDELL
Copy of the following clipping of the obituary of Thomas Blaisdell was found in
the family Bible of his half-brother John and his wife, Lydia Louisa. The name and
date of the newspaper were trimmed away; it was undoubtedly a Nashville, Michigan
newspaper. VLB
At six o’clock Tuesday morning Mr. Blaisdell arose, and while yet seated upon
the side of the bed, suddenly fell forward to the floor, striking upon his face. Mrs.
Blaisdell, awakened by his fall, arose .quickly, but only in time to see him gasp for
breath and expire. Dr. Barber was summoned at once, and it was ascertained that
life was indeed extinct.
Justice Feigner, acting in the capacity of coroner, empaneled a jury and prov
cceded to hold an inquest over the remains, to determine, if possible, the cause of
death. Upon hearing the testimony of Mrs. Blaisdell, bearing upon the manner of his
death, and .the expert testimony of Drs. Barber and Young, the jury brought in a ver
dict-to the effect that death resulted from heart disease. The funeral will be held
from the M. E. Church at 1 o’clock this afternoon.
�Thomas Blaisdell was born in Genoa, Cayuga County, New York, April 12, 1815.
His father was a farcer of limited neons, unable to give his children more than the
rudiments of an education. Thomas worked upon the farm until he attained his major
ity when he apprenticed himself to a miller to learn that trade, and subsequently
followed that celling for several years.
In 18379 having heard favorable reports of the young and growing Wolverine
State, he came to Plymouth, Wayne County, and entered the employ of a miller named
Holbrook, where he remained three years. He then returned east, and on the 31st of
December 1840, was married to Miss Alice Hall. In 1840 he came again to Michigan
and settled upon 160 acres in Section 15, Castleton, which he had purchased several
years before, and which had remained unimproved until his arrival. With the aid of
a carpenter, he built a house in the fall and having hired ten acres cleared, sowed
it to wheat. The following spring he built a barn and began active warfare upon the
forest which covered his possessions. In 1361 his wife died. She* hod borne him'
four children - two sons and two daughters, three of whom are now living.- They are:
DeWitt E., living near Battle Creek, Hannah, wife of S. J. Robinson of this village,
end Polly, wife of Reuben Kuhlman. On the 19th of February, 1865, Mr. Blaisdell
married Charlotte Burdick, but was again left a widower in 1867.. In 1869, he n.
Mrs. Phonic Gillis who died in 1878, and on December 18, 1879, he married. Bertha D.
Bock who survives him, and by whom he had one child * a daughter now three years old.
In 1831, Mr. Blaisdell moved from his form to the village where he has since lived.
Mr. Blaisdell was a man of integrity, and was recognized as a successful farmer and
good citizen. •
HANNAH BLAISDELL ROBINSON
Obituary from the Nashville Nows, April 30, 1936. Mrs. Hannah Robinson, 92,
died at her home here. Came to Castleton nearly 90 years age; original Blaisdell
form remains in family.
Mrs. Hannah Blaisdell Robinson, who came with pioneering parents to Castleton
Township nearly 90 years ago, and for the post 20 years has resided in Nashville
where, living alone, she has actively and capably carried on her housewifely duties
until the last few days of her life, passed away at her Phillips Street home at 7
p. m. Thursday, after a brief illness, at the age of 92.
Born in Seneca Falls, Now York, on October 23, 1043, Mrs. Robinson, as Hannah
Blaisdell, a little three year old girl, came with her parents, Thomas and Alice
Blaisdell, by train, and by boat across Lake Erie, then by stage coach to Hastings,
then a tiny village, to pioneer on land taken up from the government and located in
Castleton, about five miles northwest of Nashville, her earliest remembrances of
which were of. Indian inhabitants and of a sawmill.
They hod ordered a place cleared for a homesite, but through a misunderstand
ing the clearing was not on their land, so they had to make a place in the woods for
this first home, a log cabin without floors or windows. The barn which her father
built on the cleared 160 acres, is still standing. Like the stone house which fol
lowed the earlier cabin as the Blaisdell home, it now is the property of Mrs Robin
son’s son-in-law, Arthur Meade, who is himself a grandfather, making the fifth gen
eration from the original pioneer owners.
When Hannah Blaisdell was 15 years of age, her mother died, and for 18 months
she cooked for the laborers who wore building her father’s new stone, house. All
the timber was hewn by hand and the stones and sills hauled from the quarry near
Ceresco. They , went to Hastings for the mail and to Battle Creek to trade and to
sell their produce. She received her education in the schoolhouse near her home.
In 1865 she was united in marriage with Dorrance Burdick, and to this union
�was Lorn one child, Alice Julia who passed away in 1932,. In 187^ she was married *
to Samuel J. Robinson who died in March 1896. Two daughters were born to then:
Bertha May (Mrs. Stephen Mater of Marshall) and Jessie June, deceased, former wife
of Arthur Meade, the latter dying in 1928.
The greater part of her life was spent on the farm to which she came as a lit
tle girl. Mrs. Robinson was always interested in agriculture, and managed the farm
for her husband who was employed by the Michigan Central Railroad. She was very ac
tive and enjoyed reading, sewing and taking care of her home. Although not affil
iated with any church, she attended in former years and always read her Bible.
Surviving this truly remarkable woman are one sister, Mrs. Polly Kuhlman of
Nashville; one .daughter, Mrs. Stephen Mater of Marshall, four grandchildren, Mrs.
Aura Smith of Marshall, Mrs. Harlow Grey of Grass Lake, Kenneth Meade of Detroit,
and Miss Mabel Meade of Flint, nine great grandchildren, and other more distant
relatives.
Funeral services were conducted Sunday afternoon at 2 o’clock, from the home,
with arrangements by Waldorff of Hastings. Rev. M. E, Hoyt, pastor of the Method
ist Church, officiated, and Mrs. Lykins sang. The bearers were relatives, the two
sons-in-law, Stephen Mater and Arthur Meade, a grandson, Kenneth Meade, a nephew,
Will Kuhlman, while a great grandson, Robert Meade, was at the foot of the casket.
The burial’ was at Lakeview cemetery.
Among those present from a distance were Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Mater and Mrs.
Aura Smith of Marshall, Mrs. Harlow Grey of Grass Lake, Miss Mabel Meade of Flint,
Kenneth Meade of Detroit, Mr. and Mrs. Will Kuhlman of Detroit, Mr. and Mrs. Tom
Teeplc and Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Morrow of Keogo Harbor, Mr. and Mrs. San Crabb of
Pewamo, Mrs. Libbie McKibben and Mrs. Doris Saunders of Cloverdale, and others.
[To Be Continued]
DEATHS • IN CALHOUN COUNTY MICHIGAN DURING YEAR ENDING 1 JUNE 18 50
[Continued from page 38]
SEX
age
name
M
10/12
Compton, C.
M
Cook, Samuel
52
F
Cooley, Arabella
17
M
Ccrelaine, Charles
55
F
Cowles, Ruth
27
F
3
.
Cox, Anna Jewett
M
Crain, Charles
5
F
Cripman, Cristina
6
Cross, E.
73 . F
F
Darling, Augusta
3
M
Davis, Jesse S.
20
M
Davis, Simeon
27
M
Day, Abraham
23
M
10/12
Day, Artemus
F
Doan, Elizabeth
6/12
F
DeWitt, S. C.
10/12
M
Dickinson, Adnem
44
F
Doty, Rachel
30
M
Dwinncll korioske T.
2
F
Dyer, Lucinda
26
F
Dyrc, Sophia
17
BIRTHPLACE D/iTE
Michigan
. Apr. TJ50
Illegible
Apr. 1850
M
New York
Aug. 1349
M
Aug. 18^9
M
England
New York
Dec. 1849
M
Mor. 1850
Michigan
Michigan
Apr. 1850
Michigan
May 1650
Dec. 1849
C. T.
W
Michigan
Aug. 13^9
Feb. 1350
New York
Oct. 1349
New York,
M
Apr. 1850
New York
M
Michigan
July 1349
Michigan
New York
New York
Nev. 1049
New York
Apr. 1850
M
Michigan
July 1849
New York
May 18 50
M
New York
Auc. 1849
[To Be Continued]
MS
RESIDENCE
Albion
Marengo
Convis
Battle Creek
Miller
Battle Creek
. Battle Creek
Battle Creek
Marengo
Sheridan
Burlington
Sheridan
Sheridan
Farmer
Homer
Farmer
Homer
Marshall
Marshall
BlacksmithBattle Creek
Eckford
Emmett
Sheridan
Clarence
OCCUR
�95
THINGS • YOU MIGHT LIKE TO KNOW
¥hE
MICHIGAN
STORY
The Michigan Gazette, Volume I, No. 1, published by the Historical Collections
of the University of Michigan, made its debut in August 1967. The first issue is
appropriately dedicated to Dr. F. Clever Bald, retiring Director of the Collections.
This issue also carries news of the progress of the building program, the year’s
activities, including the publication of A Pictorial History of the University of
Michigan by Ruth Bordin, previously reviewed in MICHIGAN HERITAGE. A display using
120 pictures that illustrated this work, was made into an exhibit in the Rackham
Building galleries to portray University history. The Chase Salmon Osborn papers,
consisting of 180,000 documents, 267 scrapbooks, and diary volumes, covering the
years 1889 to 19^9 are described. The Mid-Michigan Genealogical Society: We have received a copy of the By-Laws
of this society of Lansing which begins its second year on January 1, 1968. Member
ship is open to anyone interested in genealogy, history or biography. Meetings are
held on the fourth Wednesday of each month except June, July, August and December,
in the conference room of the Lansing State Journal Building. Dues are $3.00 per
year. The President is Dr. Joseph Druse, 667 Virginia Street, East Lansing.
CONTINUING EDUCATION
’
. • ’
•
* *
The State University College at Oneonta and the New York State Historical Assoc
iation, Cooperstown, New York, announce two Cooperstown graduate programs for 1967-68; one is in history and the other in American folk culture. These one-year pro
grams arc presented by an outstanding faculty. For brochure, write Louis C. Jones,
Director Cooperstown Graduate Programs, State University College Oneonta, Coopers
town, New York. .13326.
Pennsylvania Germans: Dr. Arthur Graff publishes a thrice-weekly column in the
Reading Times, Reading, Pennsylvania, about the German people of that area. One col
umn gave a bibliography•of source material on Pennsylvania-German immigration. Some
references are to not well-known works but are available by search;
The Eleutherian Mills-Hagley Foundation and the University of Delaware Jointly
sponsor a program of graduate study leading to a Master of Arts or a Doctor of Phil
osophy degree in United States History for students who plan careers in college
teaching, or researchers in business., economic or technological history, or in hist
orical agencies, societies,' libraries, and restorations. The Hagley program com
bines the degree program of the University with the unique opportunities of the
Foundation to ’do primary research. For further information, write Hagley Program,
Department of History, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware I97II
18^0 ‘CENSUS PROJECT
The National Genealogical Society announces a discontinuance of the 1850 Tenn
essee Census Project, a pilot program which was described in these columns last
year. The Society has withdrawn its sponsorship because the cost was of such mag
nitude that it could not be continued. Additional information will be published
later.
�131
THE
BLAISDELL
FAMILY
0 F
MICHIGAN
DESCENDANTS OF THOMAS BLAISDELL (1815-1684) OF BARRY COUNTY
AND JOHN BLAISDELL (1820-1901) OF VAN BUREN COUNTY
By V. Leora Blaisdell - Paw Paw, Michigan
Part III - Continued from Volume IX-2: 95
JOHN BLAISDELL (1820-1901)
OF VAN BUREN COUNTY
’’John Blaisdell: Passing years have brought to this gentleman a goodly amount
of this world’s possessions, as the reward for continuous and well-directed labor
in his chosen vocation. A member of the agricultural community, upon whom the pros
perity of the world depends, he has devoted his life to securing an independence
for his old age and has also aided in the development of Van Buren County, where
he has a fine farm in Arlington Township. Not only as an enterprising farmer, but
also as a valiant soldier who enlisted during the dark days of civil warfare and
offered his life in defense of his country, he deserves to have his name perpetuated
for future generations.
’’The family of Medad and Lydia (Main) Blaisdell consisted of nine children,
as follows: Thomas, who died in Barry County, this State; John of this sketch;
Pomeroy, a resident of Clyde, New York; Jerry; Cynthia, who is the wife of Alonzo
Perkins; Medad; Isabel; Harvey; and George. John was born in 1820 (January 14)
in Wayne County, New York and grew to mature years in his native county, spending
his youth in attendance at the common schools and aiding his father as his maturing
strength would permit. In 1844, he was united in marriage to Miss (Lydia) Louisa
daughter of Hezekiah and Jerusha (Bunce) Nichols, the former a native of Connecti
cut, b. 1780, and the latter born in Tully, N. Y., in 179^•
“Prior to her marriage, and for some years afterward, Mrs. Blaisdell resided in
Wayne County. She was one of nine children, namely: James, deceased; Bartholomew;
Chauncey; Phoebe A.;John W.; Daniel B.; Lydia L.; Harlo K.; and Sarah M. John W.
served in the Mexican War, in 1846, and died on his return home.. Mrs. Blaisdell is
a lady of refinement, a devoted wife and tender mother. She has borne her husband
two children: Sarah M.-, the wife of Christopher Staley, and William Henry who re
sides near the old homestead. In January 1859, Mr. and Mrs. Blaisdell removed West
to Michigan, settling near where they now reside.
“In September 1861, Mr. Blaisdell enlisted as a Corporal in the Union Army, in
Company C., Third Michigan Cavalry, and served in various important engagements,
among them the Battles of Nev Madrid and Island No. 10. On account of general disabilitjr he was honorably discharged at Jackson, Tennessee, about 14 months after
his enlistment and was placed upon the U. S. pension rolls. Since his return home
he has devoted his attention closely to the. supervision of the work on his farm
and has brought his place of loO acres to a high state of cultivation. He is a
staunch Republican and is accorded a high place among his fellow-citizens as his
character is above reproach and he is kindly disposed toward all. He does all in
his power to promote the best interests of his township, materially, socially and
morally, and has aided in bringing the county to its present high development. He
is a member of Lincoln Post No. 19 GAR at Bangor, Michigan.” (Portrait and Biograph
ical Record of Kalamazoo, Allegan, and Van Buren Counties . . . .pp. 551-552.
Chicago. Chapman Bros. 7 1892.
�132
NOTE: From John Blaisdell’s army papers, from accounts of Regimental records,
and from correspondence concerning this Regiment, which is housed in the archives
of the Michigan Historical Commission, one is led to what seems a well-based con
clusion relative to the cause and extent of his illness and, finally, his. disabil
ity discharge from military service. According to his army papers, his illness
originated at New Madrid, Missouri, and was followed by a number of complications
which hospitalized him for several months.
In a letter to the writer, from the archives of the Michigan Historical Commiss.
sion dated 24 September 1962, appears the following: "You will note that Mr. Blais
dell’s record shows he was sick for several months and finally discharged for dis
ability* We find mention in the correspondence relating to this regiment of an epi
demic of measles suffered by many men at about the time of their arrival at New Mad
rid, Missouri* Since the record does not list his name in this connection, we can
only assume that this was the cause of Mr, Blaisdell’s illness, and that he may not
have recovered from it. You will note on the report the large number of men in
this regiment who died from disease."
From the above it seems logical to suspect that John succumbed during the meas
les epidemic and that with the following complications, he could not withstand the
rigors of combat. One regimental record shows that at about this point, the men
were in the saddle for three days without intermission, (V. L. B.)
• THIRD GENERATION
3
JOHN 3-BLAISDELL (Medad-2; Thomas Jeremiah-1) was b. January 14, 1820, in the
Town of Galen, near Savannah, Wayne Co., N. Y., the son of Medad and Lydia
(Main) Blaisdell, and grandson of Thomas Jeremiah and Isabel (Finne) Blais
dell. He came to Michigan in January 1859, with his wife and two children,
and settled in Arlington Twp., Van Buren County, near Lawrence, where he
was a farmer. John was the brother of Thomas Blaisdell who preceded him to
Michigan and settled in Castleton Twp., Barry County, near Nashville, and
whose genealogy was presented in the Autumn and Winter 1967 Issues of MICHI
GAN HERITAGE, John’s grandfather, Thomas Jeremiah, was the founder of this
family line and was believed to be, by the early genealogists of the Blais
dell Family Association, a fifth-generation descendant of Ralf (Bleasdale)
Blaisdell, the first, of the Blaisdell name in America, where he arrived at
Permaquid, Maine, on August 15, 1635, with his wife Elizabeth and three year
old son, Henry, who was destined to carry on the family name. John Blais
dell c., Jan. 7, 1844, (Lydia) Louisa Nichols, dau. of Hezekiah and Jerusha
(Bunce) Nichols, at Red Creek, Wayne Co., N. Y., by Elder Coup. She was b.
Nov. 8, 1827; d. April 27, 1901 and is bur. beside her husband in Colburn
Cemetery, Arlington Township, John Blaisdell was a corporal in the Civil
War; he enlisted 17 Sept. 1861, in Co, C., Third Regiment, Michigan Cavalry
Volunteers, and was honorably discharged due to disability 15 Nov, 1862 at
Jackson, Tennessee, and placed on the pension rolls. Children:
4
i Sarah M. Blaisdell b. Nov. 2, 1844, Wayne Co*, New York
5
ii William Henry Blaisdell b. April 2, 1847 at Savannah,
Wayne Co., New York,
FOURTH GENERATION
4
SARAH M.-4-BLAISDELL (John-3$ Medad-2; Thomas Jeremiah-1) was b. Nov, 2, 1844
in Galen Township, Wayne Co., N, Y., where she lived until January 1859
�JOHN AND LYDIA LOUISA
(NICHOLS) BLAISDELL
�134
when she came with her parents to Arlington Township, Van Buren Co., Michi
gan. She later resided in Lawrence Village and in Nashville, Barry Co.,
where she died August 30, 1920, and is bur. in Colburn Cemetery in Van Bur
en County. Sarah m. (1) Nov. 2, 1862, Christopher Staley, a farmer of Law
rence, Michigan. He was b. Jan. 28, 1840 in New York State, and came to
Ann Arbor, Michigan in 1849, and to Lawrence, in 1861, where he d. May 27,
1904, and is bur. in Colburn Cemetery. She m. (2) in 1916, Livingston
McKinnis of Nashville, who d. in I9I9. Child:
6
i Arthur Eugene Staley was b. Aug. 14, 1863 at Lawrence, Michigan.
From The Nashville News, Nashville, Michigan, Wednesday, August 20, 1930:
OBITUARY
Sarah McKinnis died this a. m. following stroke; aged woman was found early
this morning by neighbors who noticed lights. Mrs. Sarah McKinnis, aged 36 years,
who lived alone at her home on Phillips Street, died at nine o’clock this Wednesday
morning, a few hours after she had suffered a stroke of paralysis. Neighbors, not
icing a light in the home at an early hour, called Deputy Sheriff Gail lykins, who
investigated and found Mrs. McKinnis in a serious condition. A physician was call
ed but the stricken woman was beyond medical aid. A grandson, Leon Staley, of Dow
agiac, was called but Mrs. McKinnis passed away before he arrived.
Mrs. McKinnis is survived by a step-daughter, Alice McKinnis, who now is on a
tour of Europe, three step-sons, Charles and Eber McKinnis of the State of Washing
ton, and Clarence McKinnis in a Kalamazoo hospital.
Funeral services will be held at the Hess Funeral parlors at ten o’clock Fri
day morning, Rev. A. L. Bingaman, pastor of the Evangelical Church, officiating.
Burial will be in Colburn Cemetery, near Lawrence.
Unfortunately, the above reveals little of the circumstances or statistics
covering the second marriage of Sarah ("Sally" or "Sate")(Blaisdell)(Staley) McKinn
is. The information here was obviously furnished by some one in Nashville, who
knew nothing of Sarah’s Lawrence years, or of her own family, as none of her seven
grandchildren, or great-grandchildren are mentioned among her survivors. We have
learned, however, that Sarah was still residing in Lawrence, Michigan, in 1914, and
that in 1916, she had become a resident of Nashville, Michigan. (VLB)
The following partial obituary, in Sarah’s own handwriting, was written on the
back of a circularizing letter mailed out by the Consumer’s Power Company, from its
Nashville (Michigan) office, on May 28, 1926. For some reason, Sarah did not com
plete the obituary, but left it to her grandson, Leon Staley, to do so. This paper
was received by V. Leora Blaisdell, on January 16, 1964, from Sarah’s great grand
daughter, Ruby (Staley) Cushing. We do not know what the initial "M" stands for.
"Sarah M. Blaisdell was born in Galon Twp., near Savannah, Wayne Co., New York,
Nov. 2, 1844, and came to Michigan with her parents (and her brother, William Henry)
in January 1859. The family home was established in Arlington Twp., in Van Buren
County, near the Village of Lawrence.
"She was married to Christopher Staley, in 1862 (Nov. 2). To this union, a son
Arthur, was born, he dying at the age of 62, in 1925.
"In the year 1916, she was married to Livingston McKinnis of Nashville, Barry
Co., he dying in 1919- Since that time she has lived in the home at Nashville, Mich
igan, alone. Leon, finish this —."
�135
Apparently, Sarah felt this "skeleton" outline was all that was necessary, and
wanted Leon to complete her story from May 1926^ on. However, no entries of Leon’s
appear to be of record.
The above is important, as it pinpoints: (1) the date that John Blaisdell
brought his family to Michigan (various findings had implied, rather than stated,
that it was i860) (2) the year Sarah was married to Livingston- McKinnis, and defin
itely what his first name was, also the year of his death. (The Barry Co. clerk re
ported that he had no record of this marriage).However, Sarah’s granddaughter, Hazel
(Staley) Chapman, says she knows the marriage took place in Nashville, and that she
remembers her father and mother going there for the wedding.
Obituary from The Kalamazoo Gazette, October 29, 1962:
Mr. Raymond C. ("Ray") Staley, King Highway, Comstock [Kalamazoo suburb] passed
away Sunday evening, October 2u, at Bronson Hospital. Mr. Staley was born August 6,
1905 in Arlington Twp., Van Buren County, the son of Leon and Julia (Wiley) Staley.
He moved from Dowagiac to his present home in 1957. Mr. Staley was a member of the
First Christian Church of Dowagiac. He was united in marriage to Grace Brill of Hast
ings, July 20, 1940, who survives; also surviving are a son, James, and a daughter
Janet, both at home, two brothers and one sister, Mrs. Robert Cushing, Rex and Rich
ard, all of Dowagiac. Funeral services will be held Wednesday at two o’clock from
the McLauchlin Funeral Hone, Dowagiac, Rev. Charles Willard officiating. Interment
in Riverside Cemetery. [Raymond was a greatgrandson of Sarah, and according to the
family records, the Gazette has reversed the order of the first and middle names].
5
WILLIAM HENRY-4-BLAISDELL (John- 3; Medad-2; Thomas Jeremiah-1) was b. April 2,
1847, at Savannah, Wayne Co., N. Y., from whence he moved with his parents to
Arlington Twp., Van Buren County, Michigan, where he was a farmer, and died
• April 23, 1923. William Henry m., Aug. 1, 1869, Alida Francisco Barrett, dau.
of Captain E. L. and Polly (Watrous)(Bristol) Barrett, of Paw Paw, Michigan,
by Darius Barker, Presbyterian minister. She was b. July 2, 18 pl, at Paw Paw,
and d. in Arlington Twp., April 17, 1934; bur. Colburn Cem. Children:
'
7
i Marian (called "Mae") Blaisdell b. July 23, 1871, Arlington Twp.
3
ii Jay Blaisdell b. Feb. 23, 1373, Arlington Township
iii Neva Lena Blaisdell b. Dec. 9, 1885, Arlington Twp.; d. Lawrence
Twp., May 11, 1956, uno. bur. Colburn Cemetery.
FIFTH GENERATION
6
ARTHUR EUGENE STALEY-5 (Sarah M.-4-Blaisdell; John-3; Medad-2; Thomas Jeremiah1) was b. Aug. 14, 1363 at Lawrence, Arlington Twp., Van Buren Co., Michigan,
and resided at Route $2, Lawrence, where he d. June 25, 1925, and is bur. in
Colburn Cem. He was a farmer. He m. (1) Ella Rhoades, probably at Lawrence.
This marriage ended in divorce in 1888. Ella d. Aug. 28, 1946, and is bur. in
the Hill Cem., Lawrence. Arthur m. (2) Aug. 14, I089, Nellie May Leighty, pre
sumably at Paw Paw where she was b. Sept. 17, 1868, dau. of Michael and Sarah
(Beales) Leighty; she d. Jan. 20, 1956 and is bur. in Cuddeback Cemetery, Paw
Paw. Children, all except first, by second wife, and all b. at Lawrence:
9
i John Leon Staley b. Aug. 2, 1884
. 10
ii Zell Lloyd Staley b. March 5, 1891
iii Ruth Ann Staley was b. Oct. 21, 1892, and resided at Lawrence from
1892 to 1936; Chicago, Ill., 1936-1946; Hartford, Michigan, 1946
48, and since then in Sarasota, Florida; occupation, housewife
and retired registered nurse; m. June 20, 1936,Bryant Stanwood
Procter, at Christ Episcopal Church, Waukegan, Ill., by Rev.
Harold E. Gauster. Bryant was b. Oct. 12, 1889. No children.
�135
iv Hazel Ada Staley was b. May 29, 1896 in Arlington Twp., Route
#2, Lawrence, where she resided until 1920 at Bangor; 1920-24
in Grand Rapids, Michigan; 1924-1931 in Cleveland, Ohio; 19311935 in Twinsburg, Ohio, and since 1935 at Sarasota, Florida;
She m. Oct. 14, 1920, William Alvin Chapman, who was b. May 20,
1895. No children.
11
v Grace Aileen Staley was b. June 3, 1900
12
vi Paul Clayton Staley was b. Aug, 14, 1902
vii Donna Staley b. August 26, 1906; died the same day
13 viii Gladys Reta Staley b. June 5, 1907
7
MARIAN- 5-BLAISDELL (William Henry-4; John-3; Medad-2; Thomas Jeremiah-1) was b.
July 23, 1871, in Arlington Twp., Van Buren Co., and also resided in Lawrence
Twp., where she d. Oct. 12, 1951; bur. Prospect Lake Cemetery; ra. Sept. 12,
1894, Charles Edward Denton, a farmer, of Lawrence Twp. He was b. Feb. 1,
1869/ son of John and Alice (Dowd) Denton, and d. Nov. 15, 19^2; bur. beside
his wife. Children, all b. Lawrence Township:
i Blanche Edna Denton was b. March 18, 1898, has resided all her
. life in Lawrence, except for brief periods when she taught in
other areas. She received her teacher’s certificate from West
ern State Teacher’s College, Kalamazoo, Michigan, in 1922, and
her A. B. degree in Rural Education from Western Michigan Uni
versity, Kalamazoo, in 1931. Majors for this degree were in
Social Sciences, Geography and History. The minor was in Eng
lish. Extension courses were later taken in 1938, 1951, 1952,
1954, 195o and 1959- Miss Denton taught 18 years in five rur
al schools in Van Buren County, Michigan, and in the fifth and
sixth grades in Capac, Michigan, 1937-38; at St. Charles, Mich
igan, 1939-40, Covert, Michigan, 1922-27; Pine Mountain Settle
ment School, Kentucky, 1927-29, and Lawrence, Michigan, I95II96O. She retired in June i960., She is affiliated with the
Michigan Educational Association.
ii Beatrice Irene Denton was b. Sept. 30, 1900 in Lawrence Township.
She received her A. B. degree from Albion College, her M. A.
from the University of Michigan, and did considerable graduate
work at Western Michigan University and the University of Colo
rado. She taught social studies in Grant, and Holland, Michigan,
and psychology and sociology in the Community College of Benton
Harbor. At her semi-retirement in 1963, she started work as a
teacher, and then director of Adult Basic Education, given for
those persons who had little or no opportunity for skills in
reading, writing, and arithmetic. Miss Denton is a member of
the National Education Association, the Michigan Education As
sociation, and Delta Kappa Gamma, an International Honorary
Society for'women teachers. She gives many book reviews and is
president of the Women’s Society of her church. She and her
sister have enjoyed trips to Alaska, Mexico, Europe and New
Zealand. She lives with her sister Shirley in Benton Harbor.
14
iii Doris Alice Denton was born November 13, 1902
iv Shirley Mae Denton was b. Feb. 5, I905 in Lawrence Twp. Other
residencies in Michigan have been Grant, Marencisco, KalamazooCo., Byron, Rochester and Benton Harbor. In June 1933, she
received her A. B. degree from Western Michigan University, and
in August 1946, her M. A. After having taught early elementary
�137
grades in the above places, she.retired in June 1967. She is
active in community and church work, and enjoys sharing her
slides from her travels, with friends and community groups.
She is a member of the Michigan Education Association, the
National Education Association, and the Delta Kappa Gamma
Society.
8
JAY-5-BLAISDELL (William Henry-4; John-3; Medad-2; Thomas Jeremiah-1) was b.
Feb. 23, 1878 in Arlington Twp., where he d. June 2, 1941; bur. Colburn Cem.
He m. (1) Alice Julia Parker, b. Oct. 12, 1874, dau. of Theodore C. and F.
Adelaide (Hyde) Parker; divorced-Nov.I905. [Alice Parker (Blaisdell)
Leighty d. Nov. 5, 1961, at Paw Paw, age 67; bur. Hill Cem. Lawrence]. Jay m.
(2) Dec. 6, 1905, Mildred Wiley of St. Joseph, Berrien Co., Michigan. She
was b. March 17, 1887', at Cleveland, Ohio, dau. of Charles M. and Mary Lou
ise (Broughton) Wiley. She d. Aug. 30, 1961 at Dowagiac. Cass Co.; bur. River
side Cem., Kalamazoo. Children/first two by first wife) all b. Arlington:
i (Velva) Leora Blaisdell b. Sept. 23, 1895
•’ • '
ii (Mark) Ray Blaisdell b. June 27, 1903; d, Feb. 5, 1904; bur.
Colburn Cemetery.
15
iii Lynn Jay Blaisdell b. May 20, 1907
15
iv Gordon Wayne Blaisdell b. June 22, 1910.
[To Be Concluded]
DEATHS IN CALHOUN COUNTY MICHIGAN DURING YEAR ENDING I JUNE 18 $0
Compiled from Federal Mortality Schedules
Continued from Volume IX-2: 95
WE
AGE
Eavins, E. E.
7/12
Edwards, Clarissa
23
Eldridge, Mary
61
England, Jobe
8/12
Fealy, Margaret
3/12
Plansburgh, Cornelius 46
Flood, John
38
Freeman, Elias
56
French, Loney
9
Force, Henry
15
Furman, Elizur
21
12
Gay, Amos
1
Goodrich, Clara
Goss,
I.
1/12
Graves, lydia L.
23
Gregg, Mary E.
9/12
24
Grinnell, Charlotte
Goodacre, Mary A.
57
Hall, Omer C.
3
Hall, Sarah A.
23
Hamilton, John
43
Hampton, Anna M,
63
SE5C MS BIRTHPLACE DATE
OCCUP
F
Michigan
Sep. 1849
F
Connecticut Feb. 1850
F M Rhode Island Oct. 1849
M
Michigan
F
Michigan
Oct. 1849
M M New York
Mar. 1850 Farmer
M
Penna,
Shoemaker
M W Vermont
Apr. 1850
M
New York
June 1849
M
New York
M M Mass.
M
New York
Aug. 1849
F
Michigan
July 1849
M
Michigan
Feb. 1850
F M New York
Apr. 1850
F
Michigan
F M New York
Feb. 1850
F M Mass.
Sep. 1849
M
Michigan
Sep. 184-9
F M New York
May 1850
M M New York
Jan. 1850 Farmer
F W Penna.
Apr. 1850
[Continued oh Page 140]
RESIDENCE
Marengo
Convis
Tekonsha
Marshall
Eckford
Sheridan
Marshall
Marengo
Newton
Marshall
Eckford
Sheridan
Sheridan
Convis
Battle Creek
Tekonsha
Convis
Albion
LeRoy
Emmet
Bedford
Battle Creek
�138
PIONEER
WOMEN
TEACHERS
0 F
MICHIGAN
MARY JANE BACON
By Hilda MacGregor and Jo-An Kelley
Contributed by International Delta Kappa Gamma Society - Beta Gamma Chapter
"What do they want? My pedigree?” This was the question posed by Mary Jane
Whitmer Bacon of her son when Hilda MacGregor and Jo-An Kelley attempted to inter
view her relative to .her experiences as a teacher.
Mary Bacon was 107 yeufs old on October 12, 1967*
dedication to education, her family, her church.
Her life has been one of
After finishing two years of high school, she began teaching in 1877 at the
Burr Oak Elementary School located northeast of Sturgis, Michigan, which she had
attended as a student. She was paid ten dollars a month for her services as a
teacher and “boarded around” with the various families whose sons and daughters
were her pupils. She taught only during spring terms because the older boys came
in winter, and a girl of seventeen was not considered able to cope with them. The
schools at the elementary level were ungraded at that time, and the pupils progress
ed individually through the various readers.
Mary taught for three years and then stayed home to care for her mother. After
her mother’s death, she went to Valparaiso University for several summers. She paid
two dollars a week for room and board and furnished her own wood. She is currently
the oldest living alumnus of that university.
Later Mary Jane went to Paw Paw to teach a third grade where approximately ten
other teachers were employed. The Bacon family has a photograph of the board of
education members and the teachers at Paw Paw taken in 1891. The dress is of a dif
ferent era, but the expressions of sincerity, hopefulness, and dedication on the
faces of the young teachers look much like those on the faces of today’s earnest
novices. Mrs. Bacon stated that boards of education, wherever she was employed,
were reluctant to raise salaries of teachers even as much as a dollar.
With the true professional spirit, Mary Whitmer attended teacher’s conventions.
Once, while riding the train to one of these meetings, she met Frank A. Bacon, who
was superintendent of schools at Decatur. This friendship ripened and resnlted in
marriage. Mr. Bacon became superintendent of schools at Paw Paw, where Mary con
tinued to teach in the early elementary grades.
From the time of her marriage, Mary Bacon subordinated her own talents to
those of her husband. For a time Mr. Bacon was superintendent of schools at Wheat
on, Illinois, and she did teach in the early elementary grades again. However, they
soon decided to go to Illinois so that he could attend the University of Chicago,
and this move ended her actual teaching experience. Vicariously, she has always
been in education, sharing the experiences of her husband, and later, those of her
son, and still later, those of her granddaughter.
After several intermittent moves, the Bacon family came to Grand Rapids, Michi
gan, where Mr. Bacon taught history at Central High School for thirty-five years,
�189
THE
BLAISDELL
. F AMI LY
0 F
MICHIGAN
DESCENDANTS OF THOMAS BLAISDELL (1815-1884) OF BARRY COUNTY
AND JOHN BLAISDELL (1820-1901) OF VAN BUREN COUNTY
By V. Leora Blaisdell - Paw Paw, Michigan
Part IV - Continued from Volume IX- 3; 137
LINE OF JOHN BLAISDELL,
CONTINUED
SIXTH GENERATION
9
JOHN LEON STALEY-6; Arthur Eugene Staley-5 (Sarah M.-4-Blaisdell; John-3;
Medad-2; Thomas Jeremiah-1) was b. August 2, 1884 in Arlington Twp., Van
Buren Co., and resided at Lawrence, Michigan, 1884-1926, and at Dowagiac,
Michigan from 1926, until his death, April 14, 1942. He is bur. Riverside
Cemetery, Dowagiac. . He was a farmer until 1926, and after that, an industr
ial worker at the Round Oak Stove Co., Dowagiac. He m. July 2, 1904, Julia
Louise Wiley who was b. Dec. 14, 1886, at Royalton, Ohio, dau. of Charles
Milton and Mary Louise (Broughton) Wiley. She d. Dec. 18, 1951 at Dowagiac
and is bur. beside her husband. Children, all b. Lawrence, Michigan:
17
i (Cecil) Raymond (called "Ray”) Staley b. Aug. 6, 1905
18
ii Rexford ("Rex”) Lisle Staley b. April 27, 1908
19
iii Ruby Louise Staley b. April 13, 1912
20
iv Richard Milton Staley b. June 14, 1922
10
ZELL LLOYD STALEY-6; Arthur Eugene Staley-5 (Sarah M.-4-Blaisdell; John-3;
Medad-2; Thomas Jeremiah-1) was b. March 5, 1891 in Arlington Twp.; d. April
27', 1928. He m. Ruby Mason of Kilbourne, Wisconsin, who was b. Nov. 5, 1893
Children:
i Kenneth Staley b. Jan. 1, 1917, and in 1963 lived at 4383
Deland Road, Flushing, Michigan.
21
ii Myrna Staley b. June 22, 1919
11
GRACE AILEEN STALEY-6; Arthur Eugene Staley- 5 ’(Sarah M.-4-Blaisdell; John-3;
Medad-2; Thomas Jeremiah-1) was b. June 3, 1900 in Arlington Twp., and resided at Lawrence, I9OO-I92O; at Grand Rapids, 1920-1950; at Bostwick Lake,
Rockford, I95O-I963; d. there March 10, 1963; bur. Greenwood Cemetery, Grand
Rapids; m. (1) 1918, Edward Bailey; divorced; no children; m. (2) Aug. 18,
1921, John Martin Klap, son of Peter and Nellie (Molhoek) Klap, at Grand
Rapids. Child:
22
i John ("Jack”) William Klap b. May 7, 19^5 at Grand Rapids.
12
PAUL CLAYTON STALEY-6; Arthur Eugene Staley-5 (Sarah M.-4-Blaisdell; John-3;
Medad-2; Thomas Jeremiah-1) was b. August 14, 1902, in Arlington Twp., at
Lawrence, and lived in Hartford, Van Buren Co., from 1923 to 1929; at
South Bend, Indiana from 1929 to 1933; at Lawton, Van Buren Co., 1933-19^5;
at Paw Paw, 1945-1951, and at Kalamazoo since 1951, where he is a mechanic
at the Yellow Cab Company. He m. (1) Violet Shaw; divorced; no children;
m. (2) abt. 1923, Mary Ryan, at Watervliet, Michigan; divorced; she was b.
I90J and d. Aug. 13, i960, at Winslow, Arizona; presumed to be buried in
South Bend, Indiana; m. (3) Ruth Packer; divorced; no children; married (4)
Ladorna Jean Ellis, May 11, 1946, at Angola, Indiana. She was b, June 21,
�190
1925, dau. of Thomas I* and Anna F. (Parrish) Ellis, and is the owner-oper
ator of a beauty shop at Parchment. Child (by second wife);
23
i Paula Joyce Staley b. May 13, 1924 at Hartford, Michigan.
13
GLADYS RETA STALEY-6; Arthur Eugene Staley-5 (Sarah M.-4-Blaisdell; John-3;
Medad-2; Thomas Jeremiah-1) was b; June 5, 1907 at Lawrence, Michigan where
she lived until 1920; at Hartford, Michigan, I92G-I928; at Chicago Heights$
Ill., I928-I936; and at Peatone, Illinois, since; practical nurse; she m.
(1) March 2, 1924, Clyde Selter, son of Frank and Ora (Smith) Selter, at
Paw Paw where they were divorced in 1926; m. (2) Aug. 16, 1928, Charles
William Schroeder, at South Bend, Indiana. He was b. Dec. 16, 1889 at Frank
fort, Illinois, son of Louis and Elizabeth (Felton) Schroeder; d. April 20,
1958 at Peatone, Ill., where he is bur. in the geatone Cemetery. He was a
rural mail carrier. Children:
i Ruth LaJean (Selter) Schroeder was b. Feb. 22, 1926 at Hartford
Michigan. She was not adopted by her stepfather but used his
name. She resided in Hartford until 1929 when she went to
. Chicago Heights, Illinois where she remained until 1936; in
. Peatone, Illinois, 1936-1945; Chicago, 1945-1950; Cicero,
Ill., 1950-1954; Stickney, Illinois, 1954 to date; a regis
tered nurse, she m. July 1, 1950, Andrew Chervinko, at Saint
Dionysius R. C. Church, Cicero. He is the son of Mathew and
Marie (Truhan) Chervinko, both b. in Czechoslovakia. A
machinist, Andrew served in World War II, Ordnance, European
Theatre.
24
ii Charlotte Loraine Schroeder was b. July 11, I929
25
iii Dixiana Maxine Schroeder was b. Nov. 7$ 1930 at Chicago Heights
26
iv Nellie Jo Schroeder was b. June 17, 1938 at Peatone, Illinois.
14
DORIS ALICE DENTON-6 (Marian-5-Blaisdell; William Henry-4; John-3; Medad-2;
Thomas Jeremiah-1) was b. Nov. 13, 1902 in Lawrence Twp. She m. Llewellyn
Fabian Williams at Flint, Michigan, March 21, 1925. He was b. May 25, 1894
at Houghton, Michigan; d. Sept. 7, 1964*at Flint where he is bur. in Crest
wood Memorial Gardens. Doris m. (2) Carleton J. McNaney of Jackson, Mich.
17 June 1967, at Flint. He was b. July 8, 1900 at East Grand Forks, Minn.,
son of Frank James and Cecelia Elizabeth (Foster) McNaney. Children, all
born Flint, Michigan:
27
i Vivian Ann Williams b. Sept. 14, 1928
28
ii Kenneth Morgan Williams b. July 28, 1931
29
iii Patricia Mae Williams b. Feb. 13, 1933
30 •
iv Dorothy Jean Williams b. Jan. 3, 1936
15
LYNN JAY BLAISDELL-6 (Jay-5; William Henry-4; Johi^-3; Medad-2; Thomas Jeremiah
-1) was b. May 20, 1907 in Arlington Twp.; also lived in Comstock, Michigan
and is a retired manufacturer of office equipment; m. (1) Lily Ann Strong
at Kalamazoo, Michigan. She was b. Jan, 25, 1912 at Gobles, Michigan, dau.
of Lee and Pearl (Becker) Strong. This marriage ended in divorce; he m. (2)
Ruth Eleanor McCarty, Jan. 9, 1937, at Fort Wayne, Indiana. She was b. Apr.
23, 1911 at Kalamazoo, dau. of Earl and Faye (Tucker) McCarty. Children,
first two by first wife, all b. Kalamazoo:
31
i Lewis James Blaisdell b. March 6, I929
ii Jerry Douglas Blaisdell b. June 14, 1933; d. Kalamazoo, Feb.
10, 1934; bur. Riverside Cemetery.
32
iii Barbara Faye Blaisdell b. April 25, 1938
�191
33
34
16
iv David Lynn Blaisdell b. September 8, 1940
v Donald Keith Blaisdell b, Jan. 9, 1943
GORDON WAYNE-6-BLAISDELL (Jay-5; William Henry-4; John-3; Medad-2; Thomas
Jeremiah-1) was b. June 22, 19IO in Arlington Township, near Lawrence. Other
places of residence in Michigan are Dowagiac, where he graduated from high
school, Kalamazoo, Gobles, Bloomingdale, and again, Kalamazoo. In California
he has resided at Deep Springs, Independence, lynwood, Palmdale, Los Angeles
Los Alamitos and Apple Valley where he presently resides. A professional
teacher in the fields of science and mathematics, he received his B. A. de
gree from Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo in 1933. and his M. A.
degree in Education from the University of Michigan, in 1943. More recently
he has taken advanced Education courses at the University of Southern Cali
fornia, thereby earning credits applicable to his doctorate degree. At West
ern Michigan University, he was affiliated with Omega Delta Phi (forensic
and fraternal group) and Faculty selection on the basis of his scholastic
accomplishment in science and mathematics gave him a membership in Kappa
Rho Sigma, honorary campus society. Also, he was a charter member and Vicepresident of Beta Eta Chapter, Phi Delta Kappa, National Professional Educeu
tion fraternity. His professional organisation memberships include: American
Association of Physics Teachers, American Institute of Physics, American
Society of Training Directors, Human Factors Society, Institute of Aeronaut
ical Sciences, Michigan Education Association, and Michigan Industrial Edu
cation Society.
In Michigan, he has taught at Nashville, Augusta, Bloomingdale where he
was high school principal for two years, and at Western Michigan University.
In California he taught science and mathematics at the Owens Valley Unified
Schools, at Independence and at Deep Springs Junior College. From August
19^7 to June 1961, he was on the teaching and administrative staffs of the
several departmental facilities of Northrop Aircraft, Inc., now known as
Northrop Corporation, where he was successively instructor of science and
mathematics courses in their Institute of Technology, Coordinator of Indus
trial training, and Technical Training Coordinator, Human Factors Engineer
and Training Specialist, in that order for ”Nortronics.”
Mr. Blaisdell’s textbook, "The Engineering Method: An Introduction,”
designed to facilitate a more rapid presentation and assimilation of the
principles of mathematics and physics required in pre-engineering courses,
is given high merit in Northrop’s Institute of Technology. In September 1962,
Mr. Blaisdell returned to teaching on the college level, becoming head of
the Department of Physics at Victor Valley College, Victorville, California,
and in August 1965> he became Dean of Instruction at this Institution.
Mr. Blaisdell m. (1) Esther Lyle Huntington, Dec. 1, 1934 at Charlotte,
Michigan. She was b. abt. 1907 in Chicago, Illinois, dau. of Louis and Adah
(Lyle) Huntington. This marriage ended in divorce in 1945. He m. (2) Nellie
Mae Robinson, June 14, 1945, at Fort Wayne, Indiana. She was b. July 4, . 5
1905, at Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, dau. of William L. and Emma (Parks) Robin
son. Child:
35
i Philip Wayne Blaisdell b. March 23, 1936 at Kalamazoo,
Michigan
�192
SEVENTH GENERATION
17
CECIL RAYMOND STALEY-7; John Leon Staley-6; Arthur Eugene Staley-5 (Sarah M.4-Blaisdell; John-3; Medad-2; Thomas Jeremiah-1) was b. August 6, 1905 in
Arlington Twp., where he resided until 1926 when he removed to Dowagiac to
remain until 1958 when he moved to Kalamazoo where he d. Oct. 28, 1962; bur.
Riverside Cem., Dowagiac; he m. July 20, 1940, Grace Thelma Brill, by Rev.
Albert Butterfield of Hastings, Michigan. She was b. at Hastings Feb. 28,
I9I0, dau. of Albert L. and Esther (Lahr) Brill. She is a practicing reg
istered nurse. Children b. at Dowagiac:
i Janet Esther Staley was b. Feb. 20, 1942 and in 1958 moved to
Kalamazoo where she is an office secretary; m. May 25, 1963,
at Central Christian Church, Kalamazoo, Lee Douglas Hoke who
was b. March 31, 1938 at Allegan, Michigan, son of Walter and
Ethel (Belden) Hoke; Lee is an industrial worker; no children
ii James Leon Staley was b. July 11, 1944, and moved in 1958 to
Kalamazoo. He served in the U. S. Navy, Naval Reserve Group
for two years; m. Aug. 29, 1963, at Central Christian Reform
ed Church, Kalamazoo, Donna Sharon Elkins, dau. of Donald and
Lillian (Perkins) Elkins, who was b. June 15, 194? at Spring
field, Missouri. No children.
13
REXFORD LISLE STALEY-7-; John Leon Staley-6; Arthur Eugene Staley-5 (Sarah M.-4
-Blaisdell; John-3; Medad-2; Thomas Jeremiah-1) was b. April 27, 1908 in
Arlington Twp. In 1926 he moved to Dowagiac, Cass Co., where he resides and
is an industrial worker. He m. Sept. 12, 1928, at South Bend, Indiana, Gale
Frances Beeching, dau. of Frank and Jessie (Cross) Beeching. Children, all
born at Dowagiac:
35
i Roger Rex Staley b. April 27, 1929
37
ii Marilyn Jean Staley b. Nov. 1, 1932
19
RUBY LOUISE STALEY-7; John Leon Staley-6; Arthur Eugene Staley-5 (Sarah M.-4.Blaisdell; John-3; Medad-2; Thomas Jeremiah-1) was b. April 13, 1912 in Ar
lington Twp., and lived at Lawrence until 1926, and since then at Dowagiac.
She m. April 11, 1931, Robert Roscoe Cushing, at South Bend, Indiana. He was
b. at Dowagiac Nov. 21, 1908, son- of Claude D. and Maude (Heck) Cushing.
Children, all born at Dowagiac:
38
i Thomas Edward Cushing b. Dec. 3, 1936
39
ii Nancy Louise Cushing b. Feb. 18, 1940
20
RICHARD MILTON STALEY-7; John Leon Staley-6; Arthur Eugene Staley-5 (Sarah M.4-Blaisdell; John-3; Medad-2; Thomas Jeremiah-1) was b. June 14, 1922 at
Lawrence, Michigan where he resided until 1926 when he moved to Dowagiac
where he m. June 14, 1947, Charlotte Grace Hodgson, by Rev. Norvel Lyons.
Her parents are John and Grace (Slack) Hodgson; she was b. Dec. 21, 1928 at
Wakeley, Cass Co., Michigan. Children, all born at Dowagiac:
i Ruth Ann Staley b. January 13, 1948
ii Sandra Jean Staley b. Jan. 21, 1951
iii Robert Michael Staley b. June 18, 1953
iv Sharon Louise Staley b. Dec. 17, 1955
21
MYRNA STALEY-7; Zell Lloyd Staley-6; Arthur Eugene Staley-5 (Sarah M.-4-Blaisdell; John-3; Medad-2; Thomas Jeremiah-1) was b. June 22, 1919 and now re
sides at Okemos, Michigan. She m. March 18, 1939, Fred R. Hoskin who was
b. Nov. 9, 19i3 at Scheiber, Ontario, Canada. Children:
�193
i Richard Roy Hoskin b, Dec. 29, 1942, Flint, Michigan
ii William Arthur Hoskin b. July 1, 1944 at Flint, Michigan
22
JOHN WILLIAM KLAP-7; Grace Aileen Staley-6; Arthur Eugene Staley-5 (Sarah M.4-Blaisdell; John-3; Medad-2; Thomas Jeremiah-1) was b. May 7, 1925 at Grand
Rapids, Michigan where he resides and is an insurance salesman. He served in
the U. S. Air Force as First Lieutenant; m. Aug. 3, 1963, Janette A. Thurs
ton, dau. of Benton and Evelyn (Stacey) Thurston; She was b. Nov. 23, 1940.
Children, all b. Grand Rapids:
i Fletcher Thurston Klap b. Dec. 15, 1964
ii Stacey Janette Klap b. Dec. 1, 1965
iii Jordan Chappan Klap b. April 9, 1967
23
PAULA JOYCE STALEY-7; Paul Clayton Staley-6; Arthur Eugene Staley-5 (Sarah M.4-Blaisdell; John- 3J Medad-2; Thomas Jeremiah-1) was b, May 13, 1924 at
Hartford, Michigan where she lived until I927 when she moved to South Bend,
Indiana, and in 1947 to Kalamazoo, Michigan and back to South Bend in 1951.
In 1952 she moved to Plymouth, Indiana where she now resides. She m. (1)
Feb. 14, 1942, Louis Edward Miller, at South Bend. He was b. Nov. 17, 192122, near Detroit, son of Louis Arnold and Lelia (Gutman) Miller. Divorced
Oct. 1946. She m. (2) Aug. 24, 1947, at South Bend, Jay R. Buchtel who was
b. Apr. 18, I925 in Kosciusko Co., Indiana, son of Arthur Hart and Florence
(Reed) Buchtel; co-owner of Buchtel’s Hardware. Children, all born South
Bend, Indiana:
40
i Mary Kaye Miller b. May 30, 1944
ii Jay Robert Buchtel b. Jan. 15, 1949
iii Ronald William Buchtel b. April 1, 1954
24
CHARLOTTE LORRAINE SCHROEDER-7; Gladys Reta Staley-6; Arthur Eugene Staley-5
(Sarah M.-4-Blaisdell; John-3; Medad-2; Thomas Jeremiah-1) was b. July 11,
I929 at Hartford, Michigan; lived in Chicago Heights, Ill., 1929-1937J Pea
tone, Illinois, 1937-1947; Chicago, 1947-1951; Los Angeles, California,
1951-1953; Peatone, Ill., 1953 to 1961, and Joliet, Ill., since; housewife
and office secretary. July 17, 1954, she m. Henry Warren Reed, II, son of
Henry Warren and Katie B. (Minninger) Reed. He was b. August 2, 1932 at
Harleysville, Montgomery Co., Penna., and served in the 73rd Company, First
Signal Group, Signal Corps, Korean War. Children:
i Henry Warren Reed, III b. Aug. 25, 1955, Manteno, Illinois
ii Katie Ann Reed b. Aug, 3, 1956, Joliet, Illinois
iii Sandra Ruth Reed b. May 1, 1961, Hazelhurst, Illinois
iv Debra Joan Reed b. Oct. 2, 1962, Joliet, Illinois
25
DIXIANA MAXINE SCHROEDER-7;Gladys Reta Staley-6; Arthur Eugene Staley-5 (Sarah
M.-4-Blaisdell; John-3; Medad-2; Thomas Jeremiah-1) was b. Nov. 7, 1936 at
Chicago Heights, Ill., where she lived until 1936; Peatone, Ill., 1936-1952,
and Steger, Ill,., 1952 to date; she is a housewife and dancing instructor.
Oct. 25, 1952, she m. Raymond John Butz at Peatone. He was b. July 8, 1923,
son of Anthony and Anna (Yuskevitz) Butz. He is a draftsman and served in
World War II as Technician 5th grade. Children all b. at Chicago Heights:
i Raymond John Butz, Jr. b. Feb. 8, 1954
ii Anthony Charles Butz b. Feb. 13, 1956
iii Joseph Edward Butz b. Sept. 18, 1957
iv Susan Jane Butz b. Oct. 9, 1959
v James Andrew Butz b. April 29, 1961
;
�194
25
NELLIE JO SCHROEDER-7; Gladys Reta Staley-6; Arthur Eugene Stale}'-5; (Sarah M.
-4-Blaisdell; John-3; Medad-2; Thomas Jeremiah-1) was b. June 17, 1938 at
Peatone, Ill., where she is a housewife, news reporter and baton twirling
instructor. She m. March 2; 1957 Gerald Frank Gersch, at Peatone who was b.
at Kankakee, Ill., Sept. 1, 1937? son of Albert and Erma (Nolte, b. Germany)
Gersch. [Erma Nolte was a sister of Konrad Adenauer’s mother], Gerald is an
auto mechanic and served in World War II as a private in the 513th Engineer
ing Company, Fifth Army. Children:
i Gerald Joseph Gersch b. Oct. 15,1962, Hazelhurst, Illinois
ii Carolyn Sue Gersch b. Oct. 31, 1966 at Peatone, Illinois.
27
VIVIAN ANN WILLIAMS-7; Doris Alice Denton-6; (Marian- 5-Blaisdell; William
Henry-4; John-3; Medad-2; Thomas Jeremiah-1) was b. Sept. 14, 1928 at Flint,
Michigan and also resided in Cleveland, Ohio. She is a dental technician and
m. Aug. 20, 1949, Edward Patrick O’Brien who was b. Nov. 8, 1925. Children,
all born Cleveland, Ohio:
i Kathryn Marie O’brien b. March 2, 1952
ii James Edward O’brien b. Nov. 14, 1953
iii Thomas Patrick O’brien b. Jan. 22, 1955
28
KENNETH MORGAN WILLIAMS-7; Doris Alice Denton-6 (Marian-5-Blaisdell; William
Henry-4; John-3; Medad-2; Thomas Jeremiah-1) was b. July 28, 1931 in Flint,
Michigan where he is an industrial worker. He m. Sept. 2, 1950, at Angola,
Indiana, Geraldine Lucille Darling who was b. Sept. 1, 1931 at Flint.
Children, all born at Flint:
i Michael Kenneth Williams b. June 6, 1951
ii Terri Lynne Williams b. Oct. 2, 1953
iii Mark Llewellyn Williams b. July 1, 1963
29
. PATRICIA MAE WILLIAMS-7; Doris Alice Denton-6 (Marian- 5-Blaisdell; William
Henry-4; John-3; Medad-2; Thomas Jeremiah-1) was b. Feb. 13, 1933 at Flint;
a teacher, she.has resided in Flint and Mt. Pleasant, Michigan. She m. Aug.
25, 1956 at Flint, RT Paullin, II who was b. March 7, 1935. Children, all
born at Mt. Pleasant:
i Cathryn lynn Paullin b. June 6, 1958
ii Linda Ann Paullin^ b. July 21, i960
iii Cynthia Renee Paullin b. April 15, 1963
iv RT, III Paullin b. Dec. 2, 1964
30
DOROTHY JEAN WILLIAMS-7; Doris Alice Denton-6 (Marian^5-Blaisdell; William
Henry-4; John-3; Medad-2; Thomas Jeremiah-1) was b. Jan. 3, 1936, at Flint.
She m. Feb. 9, 1957, Carl Thomas Pendell who was b. at Flint Jan. 24,1937.
Children, all born Flint, Michigan: •
•
i Michele Jean Pendell b. Jan. 29, 1959
ii Sheryl Suzanne Pendell b. Jan. 29, 1959
iii Timothy Scott Pendell b. July 19, i960
iv Bethany Ann Pendell b. Nov. 6, 1962
v Patrick Thomas Pendell b. Sept. 28, 1964
31
LEWIS JAMES-7-BLAISDELL;(lynn Jay-6; Jay-5; William Henry-4; John-3; Medad-2;
Thomas Jeremiah-1) was b. March 6, 1929 at Kalamazoo, Mich., where he is now
a sales manager. He served as a Paratrooper in the Pacific Theatre in World
War II. He m. Sept. 10, 1950, Gloria Yrea Hutchinson who was b. April 12,
1929 at Kalamazoo. Children, born, at Kalamazoo:
�195
i Jerry lynn Blaisdell b. Jan. 25, 1956
ii Bonnie Carol Blaisdell b. Jan. 25, 1956
32
BARBARA FAYE-.7-BLAISDELL (Lynn Jay-6; Jay-5; William Henry-4; John-3; Medad-2;
Thomas Jeremiah-1) was b. April 25, 1938 at Kalamazoo and has since, resided
there and at Comstock and Richland. She m. Jan. 26, 1957, Robert Henry Rut
ledge at Comstock. He was b. July 29, 1936. Children:
i Robert Lynne Rutledge b. Sept. 5, 1957
ii Barry Lee Rutledge b. Jan. 15, i960
iii Brenda Lou Rutledge b. Dec. 12, 1961
iv Bradley Lowell Rutledge b. April 17, 1964
33
DAVID LYNN-7-BLAISDELL (lynn Jay-6; Jay-5; William Henry-4; John-3; Medad-2;
Thomas Jeremiah-1) was b. Sept. 8, 1940 at Kalamazoo where he has since re
sided; occupation, heavy equipment operator. He m. Sept. 18, 1959, Nancy
Elizabeth Woodin who was b. Dec. 13, 19^2. Children:
i Brian Keith Blaisdell b, June 29, i960
ii Karen Joy Blaisdell b. Sept. 12, 1962
iii Kelly Ann Blaisdell b. March 18, 1964
34
DONALD KEITH-7-BLAISDELL (Lynn Jay-6; Jay-5; William Henry-4; John-3; Medad-2;
Thomas Jeremiah-1) was b. Jan. 9, 1943 at Kalamazoo where he is a sales sup
ervisor. He m. Nov. 10, 1961, Mary Jane Kingsbury who was b. March 10, 1943
Children:
i Keith Elliot Blaisdell b. Sept. 1, 1964 at Comstock.
35
PHILIP WAYNE-7-BLAISDELL (Gordon Wayne-6; Jay-5; William Henry-4; John-3;
Medad-2; Thomas Jeremiah-1) was b. March 23, 1936 at Kalamazoo; now resides
in Hemet, California where he manufactures mobile homes. He m. Loraine Lee
Shugers, dau. of Laurel and Jennie Shugers, Dec. 10, 1954 at Kalamazoo. She
was b. March 23, 1936. Children, all born at Kalamazoo:
i Debra Lee Blaisdell b. Feb. 2, 1956
ii Scott Reed Blaisdell b. May 22, 1958
iii Michael Wayne Blaisdell b. July 10, 1961
EIGHTH GENERATION
36
ROGER REX STALEY-8; Rexford Lisle Staley-7; Leon Staley-6; Arthur Eugene Stal
ey-5 (Sarah M.-4-Blaisdell; John-3; Medad-2; Thomas Jeremiah-1) was b. Apr.
27, I929 at Dowagiac and m. there Sept. 16, 1950, Beatrice Irene Charlotte
Bray, dau. of John Russell and Rosena (Schuyler) Bray, by Rev. Norvel Lyons.
She was b. Aug. 13, 1928 in Chicago. Children, all b. in South Bend, Indiana:
i Ellen Jean Staley b. Jan. 1, 1953
ii Mark Rex Staley b. Aug. 20, 1953
iii Lois Ann Staley b. Nov. 15, 1956
37
MARILYN JEAN STALEY-8; Rexford Lisle Staley-7J Leon Staley-6; Arthur Eugene
Staley-5 (Sarah M.‘-4-Blaisdell; John-3; Medad-2; Thomas Jeremiah-1) was b.
Nov. 1, 1932 at Dowagiac. She m. there by Rev. Frank Kruger of Dowagiac, Oct
24, 1953, William Carrol Smith, b. Aug. 21, 1929 at Batesville, Arkansas,
son of Clarence and Elsie (Langston) Smith. Child
i Judy Ann Smith b. Oct. 10, 1955, Dowagiac, Michigan.
�196
Ruby Louise Staley-7) John Leon Staley-6; Arthur
M.-4-Blaisdell; John-3; Medad-2; Thomas Jeremiah-1)
Dowagiac where he m. Carol Judy Pond who was b. there
Dick and Bessie (Keene) Pond. Child:
Cushing b. Oct. 9, 19^3 at Dowagiac.
38
THOMAS EDWARD CUSHING-8;
Eugene Staley-5 (Sarah
was b, Dec. 3, 1936 at
Sept. 1, 19^3, dau. of
i Julie Ann
39
NANCY LOUISE CUSHING-8; Ruby Louise Staley-7; John Leon Staley-6; Arthur
Eugene Staley-5 (Sarah M.-4-Blaisdell; John-3; Medad-2; Thomas Jeremiah-1)
was b. Feb. 18, 1940 at Dowagiac and now lives at Decatur, Michigan. Jan. 19,
1956, she was m. by Rev. Fr. Burger, to Bernard August Schonbok who was b.
at Decatur, Sept. 9, 1934, son of Joseph and Frances (Lohroff) Schonbok.
Children:
i Jeffrey Robert Schonbok b. June 27, 1957, Niles, Michigan
ii Debra Louise Schonbok b. Dec. 15, 1958, Dowagiac, Michigan
iii Douglas Joseph Schonbok b. Sept. 20, 1961, Niles, Michigan
40
MARY KAYE MILLER-8; Paula Joyce Staley-7; Paul Clayton Staley-6; Arthur Eugene
Staley-5 (Sarah M.-4-Blaisdell; John^-S; Medad-2; Thomas Jeremiah-1) was b.
May 30, 1944 at South Bend, Indiana where she lived until 1947; at Kalamazoo,
Michigan, 19^7-1951; at South Bend, 1951-1952; Plymouth, Indiana, 1952 to
1962, and at Lafayette, Indiana, since; housewife and insurance claim clerk.
• She mi June 3, 1962, at Plymouth, Dennis Ralph Bollman who was b. there June
13, 1940, son of Ralph and Mary F. (Cain) Bollman. He is a student in the
School of Engineering at Purdue University. Children b. at Lafayette, Ind.:
i Dennis Randall Bollman b. Feb. 7, 19^4
ii Mary Katherine Bollman b. Sept, 14, 1966
Acknowledgments:
Blaisdell, Mrs, Lynn J,, 24-3 Parcom, Comstock, Michigan:
William Henry Blaisdell Line
Blaisdell, Gordon Wayne, 20861 Highway 18, Apple Valley, California:
William Henry Blaisdell Line
Buchtel, Mrs. Jay, 209 West St,, Plymouth, Indiana: Sarah M. Blaisdell Line
Chapman, Mrs, William A., 1235 Brink Ave,, Sarasota, Florida:
Sarah M. Blaisdell Line
Cushing, Mrs, Robert R., 418 Railroad St,, Dowagiac, Michigan
Sarah M, Blaisdell Line
Klap, John, Bostwick Lake Rte$2, Rockford, Michigan: Sarah M, Blaisdell Line
McNaney, Mrs. Carleton J., 2505 Begole St., Flint, Michigan:
William Henry Blaisdell Line
Procter, Mrs. Bryant, 1042 Pomelo St., Sarasota, Florida:
William Henry Blaisdell Line
Schroeder, Mrs. Charles W., P. 0, Box 165, Peatone, Illinois:
Sarah M. Blaisdell Line
Staley, Paul C,: 314 Wall Street, Kalamazoo, Michigan:
Sarah M, Blaisdell Line
Staley, Mrs, Raymond C., 6185 Kings Highway, Kalamazoo, Michigan:
Sarah M, Blaisdell Line,
[Concluded]
�
Dublin Core
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Title
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Family Histories
Subject
The topic of the resource
MI.BarryCounty.FamilyHistory
Description
An account of the resource
A collection of family history documents for families with connection to Barry County, MI. All histories were donated to the library and are presented "as is" with no guarantee to accuracy or completeness.
HPL cannot ensure the authenticity of any specific data point. Users should validate their research and cross-reference available information.
Text
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Dublin Core
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Title
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Blaisdell Family Genealogy
Subject
The topic of the resource
MI.BarryCounty.FamilyHistory
Description
An account of the resource
Blaisdell Family Genealogy
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
PDF
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
text
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
V. Leora Blaisdell
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
unknown
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/UND/1.0/
Rights Holder
A person or organization owning or managing rights over the resource.
V. Leora Blaisdell and Hastings Public Library