FAMILIES OF THE PICKFORD AREA |
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George A. and Bernice M. Tabor came to Pickford in L89~. Mr. Tabor and Lawtence Lee came up from Elsie, Michigan, with a government contract to carry mail from Pickford to the Soo with Mr. Tabot taking the route from Pickford to the Half-way House at Donaldson, and Mr. Lee taking the other half of the route from there to the Soo. When they came to Pickford, the Tabors had two children, LYLE age 6 and AURA aged 3. At this time the transportation was truly "horse power" and in winter fur robes and heated soapstones kept passengers warm. Eventually Mr. Tabor builta completely covered conveyance. After sometime Mr. Lee opened a store in Dafter and Mr. Tabor kept up the stage route alone.
Mr. Tabor also operated a small grocery in a comer of which Mrs. Tabor made and sold ladies' hats. This store was located in what was once known as the old bank on the south side of Main Street west of the old Cameron Drug Store.
In 1901 IRENE was born. ELSIE was born in 1903 and MIRIAM in 1915. Mr. Tabor bought a 160-acre farm about one and one-half miles north of town and spent many winters working in the lumbering industry in the Upper Peninsula. For a few years the Tabor family lived in a house next to Draper's Garage on Main Street. Still later they moved out to live on the farm.
In the early 20th Century Pickford had no educational facilities beyond 8th grade, so Lyle and Aura had to take state examinations to enter high school at the Soo. Irene and Elsie had to complete the last two years in the Soo. By the time Miriam was ready, Pickford had an accredited High School and she graduated in 1933 in a class of twelve.
Mr. Tabor was Township Supervisor for a few years and walked many miles making assessments. He also operated the county road grader (horse-drawn) and helped put in culvorts and repair roads in the area. In November of 1933, the Tabor family moved to Pontiac where AURA still resides. ELSIE (Mts. T. O. Allen) lives in Berkley, Michigan. MIRIAM(Mrs. Lloyd Mason) lives in Wayne. But Pickford draws them back occasionally to visit old friends.
Mr.Tabor died in February, 1952, at the age of 91. Mrs. Tabor died in 1965 at the age of 93. LYLE died in 1950 at 59 and IRENE in 1965 at 64.
UPDATE 2/22/00: Submitted by Dee Mason MASONTABOR@aol.com
Miriam Bernice Tabor died Sept. 4, 1997 in Wayne, Michigan, being widowed by her husband Lloyd W. Mason who died in 1993. They had five grown children, Lawrence, Dallas, Wenda, Philip, and Tria and 15 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. Miriam had been a teacher before her marriage in Carleton, Mich. and in the Wayne County School system after her marriage. She held one of the last "Life time Certificates for Teaching" from what is now Eastern Michigan University.
Elsie May Tabor died Dec. 31, 1997. She is survived by her son Theodore Allen and 10 grandchildren. She had lived in Oakland County for many years with her husband Ted Allen. Irene Arvilla Tabor Mair's daughter Lillias Krezel lives in Pasadena, Ca. . Irene has three grand-daughters and one great-grandson.
Patrick Taylor, one of the first settlers in Pickford, came here from Arnprior, Canada, in 1882. He was married in Canada to Jane Allison who was born in Quebec in 1835. He took out homesteads for each of his sons before his death which was 21/2 years after coming here in the fall of 1884.
His wife, Jane Allison Taylor, must be mentioned here because after his death she kept their family together until one by one they gained homes of their own. When a small child she was left fatherless and motherless, but was raised in the good home of friends of the Allison family, the Frank Farrishes of Quebec. She was converted when a mere child to the Church of England faith and lived a truly devoted Christian life. At the time of her marriage to Patrick Taylor she left this church and united with the Methodist Epsicopal Church. Until her death in October, 1911, she lived with her son, John, and family in the old home south of Pickford village.
The following was taken from her obituary from the October, 1911, Pickford Clarion: Grandma Taylor's life has been a blessing to all who knew her. She was a devoted and self-sacrificing mother, her only thoughts being to find favor with her Savior and for the welfare and salvation of her children and alleviation of others' sorrows. Hers was a pure, Christian character, and her thoughts expressed with sincere reverence and sympathy, always gave encouragement to the disheartened. No words can justly portray what her life meant to those with whom she came in contact."
Following are the children of Patrick and Jane Allison Taylor: MARY ANN TAYLOR, botn Jan. 23, 1863, in Amprior, Ontario, she came to Michigan in 1882 at the age of 19. She remembered that they came via the Munuscong, River on a light draft steamer owned and operated by William P. Stirling, the John Auger. On Feb. 18, 1885, Mary Taylor married William H. Gough and to them were bom 10 children: Taylor (deceased), John, Fred, and Frank of Pickford, George (deceased) of the Sault, Lyla (Mrs. P. A. Tate, deceased), Edna (Mrs. John MacInnis, deceesed), Helen Gough, e Thelma (Mrs. Howard Adams), and Mildred (Mrs. Worden Rowse, deceased) all of Pickford. In time their second youngest son, Fred, took over the farm. Mr. Gough died in January, 1943, and a few months later, Mrs. Gough moved to the village of Pickford to live with her youngest son, Frank. Sle died Dec. 23, 1952, at the age of 89 years 11 months. She had been in good health until a few months preceding her death. Her outlook on life was cherry and very optimistic and, like her mother, she was a woman of fine Christian character.
GEORGE TAYLOR was born in Arnprior in October, 1869. He lived most of his life in Pickford, having at one time owned the Emporium Store. He sold his store about 1928 to George Wilson and Ray Askwith. The store burned, but the lot where it stood was still owned by Minnie and George Taylor and they sold it to Jim Watson and Ham Hamilton. The store that Watson and Hamilton built on the lot still stands. Mr. Taylor spent his later years in Florida. He was married in December, 1894, to Miss Minnie Stillwell, a school teacher. They had three sons, Raymond A. Taylor (deceased), Carlyle M. Taylor (deceased), and Huno Taylor of Tallahassee, Florida. Mr. and Mrs. Taylor died at their Florida home in Panama City. She died April 12, 1955, and he died April 6, 1957, at the age of 87.
EDMUND TAYLOR was the youngest child of Patrick and Jane Taylor. Most of his life was spent in Pickford where he worked when a young man as a clerk and later owned and operated a grocery store. He sold out the business to Watson and Hamilton and moved to Chicago. He married Ada Mackie of Sault Ste. Marie and they had six children: Marion Taylor Osborn Moore of Vero Beach, Florida; Glen Taylor of Palo Alto, California; Ronald Taylor of San Jose, California; Gladys ODNeil of Napa Valley, California, Earl Taylor of Muskegon; and Catherine Herrs of Chicago, Illinois.
ELLEN TAYLOR, second daughter of the Taylors, married James McDonald in June, 1899. Their four sons were Lester, Otto, Earl, and Frederick. Early in their marriage they lived in Pickford, but in later years lived in Detroit where Mr. McDonald worked for the U. S. Mail Service. Ellen died some years ago and was preceded in death by her son, Earl. Mr. McDonald is deceased Frederick still lives in Detroit and Lester, a minister, lives in Lake Wales, Florida.
FRANK H. TAYLOR was the fourth child and third son of the family, born Dec. 17, 1866. He did not come to Pickford in 1882 with his family, but stayed in Arnprior to finish high school. He married Martha Ellen Salkeld Mar. 6, 1889, in Goderich, Ontario. He was in business most of his life in Pickford, having organized the Pickford Telephone Company. He retired to do missionary work in his community at the age of 71. His last years were spent in Berkeley, California. where he owned a home. He died Sept. 21, 1955. Mrs. Taylor died May 19, 1935. They had 7 children: Alma (Mrs. D. W. Brownlee of Berkeley, California), Lela Tane Taylor (deceased), Herbert J. Taylor of Chicago, Percy E. Taylor of Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, F. Harold Taylor of Pickford, Ferne (Mrs. J. D. Hatson of Ft. Lauderdale, Florida), and Helen (Mrs. D. W. Butner of San Angelo, Texas). Mr. Taylor was the third supervisor of Pickford and platted four additions to C. W. Pickford's original platt of the village of Pickford. Three of the streets, John, Elmo, and Harold, bear the second names of his three sons.
FRED TAYLOR was born in Arnprior in 1872. He attended school in Pickford and wotked as a clerk until he went into business for himself. He started a hardware business which grew and at the time of his death was taken over by his son and business partner, William Aldten Taylor. He married Etta lrene Best, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William Best, early pioneers of Pickfotd from Goderich, on June 25, 1902. They had two sons, FrePerick (who died in 1921 at the age of 14) and William Aldren (born May 13, 1913). Both Mr. and Mrs. Taylor were active workers in the Pickford Methodist Church.
ANDREW TAYLOR, eldest son, came with his parents to Pickford in 1882. He was a stone mason by trade and worked on the lock construction in the Sault. He was Pickford's fitst Postmaster. He married Miss Millie Earl, first teacher of the organized Pickford School. Andrew was noted for his humor and colloquial stories. They had four children: Alice, a retired teacher now living in South Carolina; Jean Taylor Sinclair of Clearwater, Florida; Waldon Taylor of Tampa, Florida; and Harry Taylor, deceased.
JOHN A. TAYLOR was born Aug. 17, 1861, in Arnprior. After coming here with his parents, he remained and began farming when a young man. He farmed most of his life and later took over the original Taylot homestead where he continued to live until his death in 1935. He married Mary McKee (born July 12, 18~2) in Donaldson, Oct. 11, 1899. Fred Taylor, his brother, and Suzie McKee, Mary's sister, who later married Ephraim Sawyers, were their attendants. The Rev. W. J. Passmore married them. They were both active members and workers in the Methodist Church They had three children, Clifford, Jennie(Mrs. Clayton T. Morrison), and Russell who died in infancy. Mary Taylor died in 1938.
Clifford, John's son, married Olive Rye and had three children. Vern is deceased. Kathleen is Mrs. Duane Graham of the Sault and has five sons, Gary, Thomas, Daniel, David and Douglas*. John married Cynthia Cox, lives in Alpena and has Cheryl and Christopher*. Jennie (Mrs. Morrison) has three daughters. Audrey married James K. Norton of Pontiac and they have five children: James, Kathleen, Thomas, Bryce, and Joseph*. Dorthea married Webster R. Callway, Burbank, California and they have four children: Ray, Kevin, Rayna, and Karen*. Ernest married June Peffers of Pickford and they are the parents of Steven, Marcia, Neal, and Joseph.
Frank Harold Taylor, son of FRANK H., SR., married Genevieve Patrick and they have three children. Frank H. III married Sara Arnold of Birmingham, Michigan and they have four children:Kathryn, Curtis, Carol,and Sara*. David P.of Berkeley, California, married Christine Andreae of Birmingham, Michigan and they have four children: Tracey, David, Andreae, and Frank Harold IV*Jane Allison married Franklin W. Andreae II of Ann Arbor and they have two children, Franklin W. III and Ashley Taylor*. (Frank H. III lives in Cedarville).
W. Aldren Taylor, son of FRED TAYLOR, married Jean Patrick and they have two children.
Richard H. married Marcia Bacon and they live in Flint. Bruce CÄ is a captain in the Air Force, married t~'Suzanne Allen. arr
Percy E. Taylor, another son of FRANK H., married Ethel Clark of Sault Ste. Marie and they have two children. Dr. Clark E. Taylor married Vera McDonald of Pickford and they have five children: Dennis, PamelaJoai;J-~lickie, Mark, and Angela*. Jacqueline married Stephen P. Upjam, Jr. of Mount Vernon, Ohio, and their children are Stephen III and Stephanie*.
The Thompson family originally came from Canada. Andrew Thompson was of Irish descent and his Canadian home was a farm near Meaford, Ontario. His moving to the States came about in the early 1880's when he came to Pickford as a young man and with his mother, settled on a farm two and one-half miles north of Pickford. This farm is known as the Rowse farm.
Mary Desette Smith came to Pickford with her first husband, George Smith, in the 1870's, and they took up a homestead on what is now known as the Thompson homestead, located four miles north and one mile west of the village. Three daughters were born to the Smiths.
George Smith died before the homestead was proved and his wife had to support three daughters and finish up the homestead claim. After a few yeat~s, about 1885, Mary and Andrew Thompson met and weR soon man and wife. JOHN S. was born in 1888; LORN in 1891; LOTTIE (Seyl~our, wbo lives in Charlevoix) in 1894; CECIL R. in 1898 (who died of the flu epidemic while in the Army at Fort Riley, Kansas, in 1918; and HULDA (Cross) in 1908, who lives in Charlevoix and and whose husband is a commercial fisherman.
The couple moved from the homestead to a farm, now the home of Norman Thompson, and after a few years there, purchased the home now owned by Roland Hill, Jr., and moved to Pickford for retirement. Andrew died in 1923, as did Mildred, a granddaughter. Mary died in 1938 following an operation.
JOHN S. married Martha Leach born Nov. 18, 1893) and they had five chifdren: Morrell, Mildred (deceased), Shirley, Cecil (Pete), and Geraldine. John Thompson purchased the lot where the school first stood and built a Ford garage in 1928, operated today by his sons, Morrell and Cecil. He died in 1946 at the age of 58 and Mrs. Martha Thompson still lives in her home up and across from the garage.
Morrell married Leila Shoberg and they have four children: Barbara, Lyndean, Don, and Steven. rre Barbaramatried Carl Hanna and they have one son, Brian*, and live in Pickford. Lyndean married Daryl Bosely and has one son, Michael Todd*. Don married Trinda Harrison and they live in Traverse City with their children, Robin, Steve, and Sarah*. Steven is married and working with his father.
Cecil married Mona Jean Staley and they have four boys: David, Gene, Jack, gnd Larry. Gene married Jane Moore and their children are Wendy Sue and Debbie Marie*. Jack married Marcia Smale and they are both teaching in Cedarville. David married Linda Galer and their daughters are Candy Lynn and Cherri Marie*. Larry is a student at Alma College.
Shirley married Robert Stevenson and they live in Hawaii with their four children: Robert,Jr., Cheryle, Mary Sue, and William Malden. Geraldine married Rudy Nayback and is a nurse at War Memorial Hospital. Their six childen are Cynthia, Janis, Ruth Ann, Linda, Ronnie, and Paul.
LORN THOMPSON married Bessie O'Brien (born Mar. 2, 1903) and they had 12 children: Otto, Norman,Milford (deceased), John, Beatrice (Mrs. Ronald McDonald), Mary (Mrs. Jim Wellington), Thelma (Mrs. Norman Wood), Roy (deceased), Loran Smith, Ethel (Mrs. Roger Gill), Howard, and a baby who died in infancy. Lorn farmed all his life and also did a lot of trapping. They lived where their son, Norman, lives, until theypurchased a farm two miles north and three-quarters mile west of Pickford, where they still reside today.
Robert Walker left Belfast, Ireland, in 1831 after the Second Potato Famine. He was a hand cloth weaver by trade. He came to Goderich, Ontario, where he married and homesteaded 100 acres. From this marriage came nine children, with Robert, Jr., the second youngest. After Robert, Sr.'s wife died, leaving him broke, he heard of free land south of Sault Ste. Marie, Michtgan. He settled on the south bank of the Munuscong at Kelden. Thete he raised the three youngest children, Thomas, Robert, Jr., and William. He earned a living cradling grain and scything hay from Kelden to Hay Lake between the tree stumps. He died in 1902 and is buried in Bethel Cemetery.
ROBERT, JR., grew up and went to the Saginaw Valley where he worked in the woods and on the river. He then went to work in the harvest fields following the threshing crew from Kansas to Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan. He went back to his old hometown in Canada and met and married Margaret Kennedy. From this marriage came 7 children: Martha, William, Albert, Ethel, John, Harold, and Grace. They settled in Kelden in 1879 and in 1908 moved to a farm one and one-half miles south of Pickford. There he farmed till 1922. He then drove the mail from Pickford, Cedarville, and Hessel for 12 years and from Pickford to the Sault for 4 years. He was a member of the Pickford Presbyterian Church, the Masons, and the Orange Lodge. Robert Walker died in October, 1948, and Margaret in February, 1958.
Martha mairied George Portice and had three children: Elsie, Junior, and Irene. Elsie works at the War Memorial Hospital. Junior married Helen Cruickshank and their children are George, Robert, Nancy, Linda, and Tommy. Irene married David Martin and their children are Donna and David.
William married Rosila Dunbar and their children are Emma, Phyllis, Bob, and Bill.
Albert married Marion McKenzie and had one son, Lloyd. Lloyd is married and has three boys, William, Jack, and Albert*. He works in the prison at Jacksson.
Ethel married Jim Portice and had three children: Margaret, Cecil, and Roberta. Margaret married Curtis Boylen and their children are Alice, Jimmy, and Bruce*. Cecil married Arlene Wice and their children are Mary Jean, Jimmy, and Calvin*. Roberta married Calvin Hall and theit children are Robert, Randy, and Joyce*.
Harold married Julia Zwolinski and they have two daughters, Delores and Valarie. Delores married Raymond Dodds and their two daughters are Kerry Kathleen* (Mts. Cary Hipps) and Donna* (Mrs. Jack Donnelly). The Donnelleys have a daughter, Jennifer Lynn**. Valarie is married to William Sanderson.
Grace married Wesley Eveleigh (deceased) and they have two children.
In 1884 Allen Warren was married to Sarah Kinnee in Palmerston, Ontario. They had 9 children: Lionel, Armand, Wellington, Ethel, Etta, Victor, Ada, and Ida. He had come to Pickford in 1877 at the age of 27 and settled on a farm one mile north and one and one-half miles east of Pickford. Before that he worked as a foreman in the timber business in Hamilton, Ontario.
He was one of the organizers of the Pickford Agricultural Society, a highway commissioner for several terms, township treasurer, deputy sheriff, and for 15 years served as a conservation officer. He was 97 at the time of his death in 1947.
LIONEL, the oldest, was married to Mae Johnston and both are now deceased. They had two children, Ervadine and Johnston. Ervadine married Cecil Taylor (deceased) and had four children: Gerald (deceased); Bonita (Mrs. John Rutcie) with three children and living in Williamston, Michigan; Rodrick, married with two children and living in Brighton, Michigan; and David (deceased). Johnston married Millie Crisp and has two daughters. He lives at Stalwart. Shelna married Lawrence Johnston and has one daughter. Brenda Perkins has two children and lives in Wisconsin.
ARMAND married Anna Pennington and they had five children.
WELLINGTON married Mabel Reynolds and they are both deceased. They had nine children, five of whom are still living. Ethel married Alex Lamont and lives in Dawson Creek, British Columbia. Edith married David Knowles and also lives in Dawson Creek. Edna married Frank Parr and lives in Groundbirch, British Columbia. Elsie Ferris lives in Oklahoma. Bert is not married and lives in Cherwynd, British Columbia.
ADA WARREN married Wilbert Reynolds. They had no children and she is deceased.
IDA WARREN (deceased) married Fred Fazakerly and had no family.
VEVA WARREN married Joseph Hill and they have three children. Warren Hill married Elizabeth Harrison and they have one daughter, Carolyn. Carolyn married John Witbrodt and has one child, Kerri Lynn*. James Hill married Barbara Nicholas and they have four children. Linda married John Merrill and is teaching in Augusta, Maine. James, Nicholas, and Maxine are all in college - James in law school. Maxine married Calvin Wonnacott and they have two daughters, Pamela and Lisa.
ETHEL (deceased) married Isaac Watson and had one daughter, Shirley. Shirley married Albert Crawford and has two children, JoAnn (Mrs. Robert Allen) and Bill in college.
VICTOR WARREN is not married and lives in Detroit.
ETTA WARREN married Henry MacFadden and has no children. They live in Detroit.
James R. Watson was born in Stayner, Ontario, on June 10, 1875, to Isaac Watson and Rose Kelly Watson. He came to the United States as a small boy and worked with his father in farming, carpentry, and barn-framing. They settled on a farm in the Stirlingville area. On Nov. 8, 1899, he married Hannah Rye (born 1876) and three children were born to them: Otto in 1900, Violet in 1902, and Roy in 1905. All are now deceased - Violet, 1919; Roy in 1922; and Otto in 1955.
Mr. Watson went to work for Mr. F. H. Taylor in 1907 in the Taylor Grocery a~d Shoe Store. In 1920 he and H. M. Hamilton formed a partnership and bought out Mr. Taylor's grocery business, changing the name to Pickford Grocery. In 1921 they bdught the shoe business and renamed it the Pickford Shoe Store. Then in 1922 they bought the building.
In February of 1929 the brick building housing the Pickford Grocery, the Pickford Shoe Store, and the Emptoium (G.P. Taylor's Dry Goods Store) burned to the ground. It was rebuilt the same year with the partnership buying out the Emporium and challging the name to Pickford Dry Goods Store. In 1933, after working in the store for approximately six years, Otto Watson bought the Pickford Shoe Store. He managed the store until his death in July, 1955. His son, William, who had worked with his father since July, 1954, now operates the business, changing the name in 1958 to Watson's Shoe Stote.
In 1945 Mr. James R. Watson retired after 35 years in the store business. He died on July 6, 1949, at the age of 74. His son, OTTO, married Margaret Miller and they had two children, William and JoAnn. William married Vema Galer and they have two daughters, Shelley and Lori. JoAnn lives in Chicago. Mrs. James Watson died in 1941 at the age of 65.
Thomas Watson and wife, Elizabeth, and family came from Stayner, Ontario, to Kansas. A few years later they came to Pickford and farmed one mile south and one-half mile west of Pickfqtd.
Some of his brothers, half-brothers and half-sisters also came here. Many of his btothers and sisters remained in Canada. Many years later Thomas Watson and part of his family went to Everett, Washington, to live.
Their family included ROBERT, who married Esther Morley and they had four children:
WILLIAM WATSON married Julia Smith and farmed for many yeats one and three-quarters miles northwest of PicMord and later went to Detroit. Their children Russell, David, and Millie Pouch who grew up in Pickford and now live in Arizona.
MARY WATSON (Mrs. William Belcher) had two children, Earl and Ford, Later she married Henry Bartman and their children are Albert and Estella.
MARGARET WATSON married Nathaniel Smith and they farmed two miles northwest of Pickford (the Fotrest McCord farm), until they retired and came to Pickford. Their children were Cora Stirling, Verna Armstrong, and Milford. (deceased)
WARREN WATSON married Bessie McKnight and at one time farmed northwest of Pickford, then moved to Washington. They had one son, Thomas.
DOLLIE WATSON married Joseph Weingartner and has lived most of her life in Gladstone, Michigan. Their family were Ralph, Ruth Norick, and Joe.
Other children who went to Washington with their parents were NELLIE (Mrs. Gust. Zunke),James, and Belle (Mrs. Robert Hawkins).
Isaac Watson, a brother of Thomas, farmed in Stirlingville and finally lived in Pickford for many years. His wife was Rose Kelly. Their family included Margaret (Mrs. Chtistie), Belle (Mrs. Frank Smith), and James R. Watson.
George Watson, half-brother of Thomas and married to Grace Adams, farmed on the farm adjoining the east side of Munuscong Golf Course. He also lived in the village of Pickford and was deputy sheriff of Pickford Township for many years. He was also supervisor. They had one adopted son, David.
Andrew Wilson was born in Glasgow, Scotland, and emigrated to Canada where he married Margaret Gordon. In 1880 they came to Pickford and homesteaded a farm one mile west of town. They had seven children: THOMAS, CHARLES, GORDON, DANIEL, MARGARET, CLARA(Mrs. Fred Green), and AGNES (Mrs. Robert Harrison). All are deceased.
The Wilsons had the Post Office during President Cleveland's administration. Clara Wilson Green and F. H. Taylor wrote Washington, D. C., and secured the first daily mail service ftom Sault Ste. Marie. Andrew Wilson died in 1907.
THOMAS martied Ellen O'Neil and had five children: Ellen. Charles married Merle McKenzie Harrison.Charles, Esther, Maridn, Ethel, and married George Fountain of DeTour. Marion married Glen Crawford and had four children: Gary (deceased), Larry (deceased), Linda(deceased) and Joyce. Steve, and Kerri*. (Gary married Karlene Materna adn their children are Randy, Steve, and Derri. Ethel (Mrs. Orville Izzard) lives in Texas. Her children are Arla Jean, Carol, Fleda, and George. Ellen married William Shobbrock and they have one daughter, Geraldine (Mrs. Dvid Hewer.)
William F. Wise, first settler of Blairville and of Marquette Township, was born Oct. 15,. 1845, in Kent County, England. He was the eldest son of William and Mary Hartrup Wise. He was brought to Clinton, Ontario, by his parents in 1849 via sailing vessel to New York, thence by by ox team into southern Ontario. In 1877 he married Annie Blair and in 1880 came by sailing vessel to Stirlingville, walked to Pickford. He was advised that there was good farming land southwest to be homesteaded. He built Blairville’s first home where Don Nettleton now lives. A year or so later, his father-in-law moved his family to this new land. At that time the Blairs took the place where William Wise had built the cabin and he moved one mile further west where Harold McCord now lives. 7 children were born to this family.
Frederick married Sadie Harrison and had three children: Izetta (Mrs. Conrad Galer), Marie (Mrs. Harold Lockhart) and Harrison. Izetta's children are Willis, Merlin, and Connie. Marie had two children, Ronald and Donna. Harrison's daughter is Sandra. Nellie married Alex Crawford and had one daughter, Aleyn (Mrs. Louis Cowan). Lawrence married Emily Beadle and had five children: Thelma (Mrs. James Yeack), Dorothy (Mrs. Oren Barber), Morrell, Pearl (Mrs. John Burtt - deceased), and Lois is married. Carrie married C. Alex Harrison nd had seven children: Reta (Mrs. Russell Cottle), Kenneth, Edwin, Isabelle (Mrs. John Rye), Stanley, Elizabeth (Mrs. Warren Hill), and Roy. Ivy married James Crawford and had four children: Jay, June (Mrs. Russell Bye), Annetta (Mrs. John Allen), and Reid. Minnie married Vernon Wood and after his death she married Harold Alwood. She raised a foster daughter, Marion Wise. Charles married Josephine Wilson and they had five children: Charles W., Emery, Joann (Mrs. Tony Garish), Donald, and Marion.
First township records to be found show that Marquette Township was organized before 1892 and William Wise was the first supervisor. He built the first schoolhouse in this settlement. Com-munity affairs were held here, including church, school, Sunday school, and town meetings. Marquette Township paid first school tax in 1892 and was charging Pickford Township tuition for Herb Pryce, William and Nelson Wonnacott, and Joseph Rye in 1901.
Pickford's first fair was held on the Garbe farm, where Leonard Rutledge's family now live and William Wise was instrumental in its organization. Mr. Wise died April 2, 1922, in the Sault.
Frederick W. Wise was William's youngest brother, born in Goderich Township Sept. 26, 1964. He came to Blairville to visit his brother in 1882 when he was 18. The pioneer spirit was in his blood, he liked what he found, and after a trip home, came back in 1886 to buy the 160 acres directly north of William's. He bought this clay farm, still in brush, from the Marquette Railroad Company. At this time in Michigan's history, the state would deed vast acres of land to railroad so they could sell the land and use the money to build their roads. He made this land tillable with ox, match, and dynamite.
Frederick W. Wise married Margaret J. Clegg March 29, 1893, and to this union were born 13 children. The oldest son, William H. saw rugged service in World War I, and the youngest, Keith, in World War II. Frederick Wise's vocation of farming produced the best in livestock breeding. His cattle were Shorthorns, his sheep Lincoln. His sires were imported from Canada. He owned fine hotses, drove a 1914 Ford, one of Pickford's first cars. He was a school board member in Marquette Township for 25 years, and Pickford Fair Board Director nearly that long. He promoted the telephone for Blairville by helping to build the lines.
WILLIAM H. died Jan. 30, 1926; MILLARD, Oct. 18, 1959; ALMER, May 3, 1940; HARRY, September, 1897; MARY ELIZABETH, Oct. 29, 1919. FRANCES HUNT is a retired elementary teacher in Portland, Michigan. JESSIE INGRAHAM lives in Portland, Michigan. CARRIE WISE is a secretary in the Department of Natural Resources in Lansing. F. JAY WISE is Personnel Manager and Secretary of Abrams Aerial Survey in Lansing. KEITH WISE is an engineer in Jackson. GLADYS WISE RUTLEDGE and JOHN H. WISE live in Pickford.
JOHN H farmed the original homestead from his father's death Nov. 30, 1923, until November 1955. His sons, William and Dean, each have a home there and are farming with a Holstein herd.
Their families make this farm a fourth generation home. William married Geraldine Batho and they have three children: Mike, a student at the U. of Michigan, Beth-Anne, and Kelly. Dean married Marjeen Sawyers. Their children are Kaye, a student at Northern Michigan University, Alan and Lori.
GLADYS WISE RUTLEDGE lived on a pioneer homestead too, settled in 1882, one-half mile south of the original school site on the William Rutledge farm. They sold theit farm to Robert Fick in 1971 and moved into their new mobile home in Pickford. Their daughter, Gloria (Mrs. Harry Smith) has three children, Cathy and Cindy, students at L.S.S.C. and Chris.
Mrs. Margaret J. Wise, wife of Frederick Wise, died Aug. 4, 1955, on the farm to which she came as a bride in 1893.
Great-grandmother Maitland was married three times. The first time was to a man named Maitland. They had two children, James and Flo. Her second marriage was to Richard Wonnacott. Richard had been previously married too and had three children, Susan, John and James. John was a dentist and lived near Dunganon in Canada. He was killed while serving in the Canadian army. Susan married a man by the name of Yoe. Richard and Great-grandmother Wonnacott had two children, Richard and Flora. Richard Wonnacott, Sr., died as the result of an accident at a logging bee. Her third marriage was to John Hancock. They had three children, Agnes, Lizzie, and John.
JOHN HANCOCK married Ellen Myra Rye, daughter of Richard and Sarah Rapson Rye in 1878 and they came to Pickford in 1882. AGNES married Henry Cook. LIZZIE married Henry Johnson and they had a daughter, Lizzie.
RICHARD WONNACOTT married Anna Wheeler. They moved to Pickford about the same time as his half-brother, John Hancock. They had nine children: Harriet (Hattie), Louiva Amelia, Ellen ~Vellie) Flora, Richard (Dick) John, Susan Ann, Nora Sophia, Minnie Maitland, Nelson Henry, and William.
Harriet Wonnacott married Hugh Leach. They had six children: Lottie, Mildred, Martha, George, Hugh, and Minnie. Lottie married John Little and had 8 children: Alma (Mrs. Charles Rye), Howard, Etta (Mrs. Clarence Smith), Herbert, Hazel, Ilene, John (deceased), and one son who died. (See LITTLE family.)
Mildred Leach married Howard Barber, then later William Mercy. She had Thelma, Ralph, Deloris, and Dale Barber.
Martha Leach married John Thompson (deceased) and they had 5 children: Morrell, Mildred (deceased), Shirley, Cecil (Pete), and Geraldine*. George Leach married Mildred McDowell. Their children were Ivan, Vern, Howard, Dorothy, and Ruby*.
Hugh_ Leach married Marie McLaughlin. They had 8 children: Hattie, Betty, James (deceased), Terry, Janice Irene (deceased), Robert, Phyllis, Gerald (deceased)*.
Minnie Leach married Andrew Smith (deceased) and later married Walter Hasse and now lives in Pickford.
Louiva Amelia Wonnacott married John Roberts. They had 5 children: Maude, John, Frank, Edith, and Glen.
Maude married Alfred Rowan. Their children were Etta, Roy, Lela, Melvin (deceased), Jean, William, Rita, Thelma, Frederick, and Donna*. Etta Rowan* married Wm. P. Campbell and had a stepson, William P. Campbell, and grandchildren, Katrina and William P. Campbell IV. Roy Rowan* (deceased) married Mae Croker and lives in Flint. They have two children, Judith Ann and Jerald** and four grandchildren. Lela Rowan* married Wm. Goehle (deceased) and they had three children, William, Pamela, and Patricia**. Jean Rowan* married Charles Lee of Alpena. He is deceased. Their children are Barbara(deceased), Charles, James, David** and a grandchild, Charles*** William Rowan* married Jean Bagnell and they live in Davison. Their four children are Marsha, Connie, Kathleen, and Mark** Rita Rowan* married Clayton Richards and lives in Pickford. Their children are Beverly, Gary, and Ronald**. Thelma Rowan* married Harold Kirby (deceased). Their children were Hichard, William, Maryann, Rebecca, and John**. Frederick Rowan* married Nyla Schmitt and lives in St. Ignace. They have two children, Timothy and Gregory**. Donna Rowan* married Donald Rye and lives two miles north, one-half west of Pickford. Their children are Bruce, Dennis, Thomas, Sally, and Robert**
John Roberts (1890-1919) married Olive Kencrick (died in 1919). Their children were Opal* (deceased when a young child); Mervin*, who had two sons, Mervin, Jr., and Rodney**; Morrell* married Mabel Kerr and lives in Pickford with their daughter, Linda**; June* who was manied three times (first to Terry Schaffer, second to Glen Arter (deceased) with one son, Douglas**, and third to Melvin Heger). Frank Roberts married Modelle Rye alld lives in Saskatchewan, Canada.
Edith Roberts married Frederick Hancock (1878-1963). Their children were Hazel, Carlyle, Josephine, Effie, Ruby, Eva, Doris, John, Melba, Della, Stanley, Wilna, and Ethleen*. Hazel* married Harry Nettleton and had four children: Linda, Frederick (deceased), and CharleenÄand Colleen (twins)**. Linda** married George Burick and had four children: Michael, Nancy, Paul, and Windy Sue (deceased)***. Carlyle* married Ellen Evans Wonnacott and had a daughter, Beth** She married John Earl. There were also three stepchildren, Marion, Linda, and David Wonnacott. Josephine Hancock* married John Steele and had six children and 13 grandchildren. Effie Hancock* married William Raynard (deceased) and had one daughter, Arlene**, and two grandsons, David and Edward***, who make their home with her. Ruby Hancock* married Wilbur Earl and had two sons, Bernard and Gordon**. Eva Hancock* married Anthony Hanchera (deceased). Doris Hancock* married Charles McLean (deceased) and they had four children: Shirley, Sharon, Martha, and Debra** John Hancock* married Florence Nevenski. Melba Hancock* married Herbert Little. Della Hancock* married Raymond Fountain. Stanley Hancock* married Shirley Slocum, then Margaret Umphrey (deceased) and had three children. Wilna Hancock* is not married. Ethleen* (Skip) lives in Los Angeles, California.
Glen Roberts married Zella Hoath. They had two children. Ray* married Francene Kaiman and they have three children: Ray, Dick, and Raeshelle**. They live in Rockford, Michigan. Vivian Mae Roberts* married George Johnson and they live in Colorado Springs. Their two boys are Gary and Robert**
Ellen Wonnacott (1871-1943) married Conrad Galer who died in 1933. Their children were Frederick, Annie, Minnie, Kate, Conrad, and Lisabelle.
Richard Wonnacott married Sarah Lord Howell. They had two sons, Charles (deceased) and John T. (deceased, 1921). There were also two stepsons, Percy and Carl Howell.
Susan Wonnacott married David Lord. They had two children, Beatrice and Donald and three grandchildren, Edward, Fay, and Kay Hamilton*.
Nora Wonnacott marrid Edward Steele.They had 7 children, all born in Pickford except for the last two, who were born after they moved to Alberta, Canada.
Minnie Maitland Wonnacott (1881-1956) married William Allen (1866-1947). They had four children, eight grandchildren, and fifteen great-grandchildren. Thorp and Clark are deceased, Clifford is at Barbeau, and Harold at Garden City, Michigan.
Nelson Henry Wonnacott married Jessie Mae Kibble. Their children were as follows: Bertha (Mrs. Howard Rye), Etta (Mrs. Harold Hill), and Anna Elizabeth (Mrs. Clifford Roe), live in the Pickford area. Etta's children are Carol (Mrs. Robert Pickett), Charles, Nancy, and' Paula*. Dorothv Ma_ and Helen died in infancy and Everett lived from 1920-1922. Ila Pearl Wonnacott married Jacob Ahola. Their children were Beatrice, Gladys, Mary, John, and Anna*. Beatrice* married Thomas Baker, then Edward Poloczyk. She had Thomas, Patricia, and Charlene Baker** and stepchildren, Edward, Sharon, Harold, John, Richard, Cathy, Joyce, and Leo Poloczyk. Gladys* married J. B. Smith and had one child, Laura** Mary married Oscar Keith and had two sons, John and Gerald**. She then married Russell Williams and had two children, Russell and Kathy** She later married Valentino Cary and had one daughter, Tina**. John* married Patricia Hencheck and their four children are Kenneth, Paul, John, Jr., and Denron**. Ivan Wonnacott is not married, Gerald Wonnacott married Joyce Robinson. They live in Lansing and their children are Thomas, Dorna (deceased), Kenneth, Jerilyn Joyce, and Kathleen*. Beatrice Wonnacott lived from July to August, 1929. Harvey L. Wonnacott married Mildred Tuttle. Their children were Robert, Jeffery, Pamela, Anthony, and Sheila*. Kenneth Wonnacott married Ellen Evans. Their children were Marion, Linda, and David* and they have 7 grandchildren.
William Wonnacott married Hannah Eliza Kibble (deceased). They had two children, Earl and Emily. Earl married Virginia Sawyers. Their children are William, Zandra, Robert, Ricky, Roger (1953-1958)Brenda (1957-1965), and Janis (1961-1968)*. Emily married Harry Hamilton and they have two children, Paula* (Mrs. Daniel Kellan) and Joel Harry*.
After Hannah Eliza's death, William married Elsie Stewart. Their children are Levi, Merle, Calvin, Darlene, Vernus, and Wayne. Levi married Margaret Gilker, then Gladyas Brophil. He has a stepgrandson, Tracy Lee. Merle married Frederick Sylvester and had three children, Frederick, Terrance, and Daniel*, and 7 grandchildren. She later married Herb Lind, and then George Wilson. Calvin Wonilacqt_t married Maxine Hill and lives five miles north of Pickford. They have two children, Pamela and Lisa*. Darlene Wonnacott married Darell Jarvie of Rudyard. Their children are Wayne, Dareld, Ronald, and Randall*. Vernus Wormacott married Donald J. Kelly and they live in the Soo. Their children are Michael, Christine, Candace, Donald, and Cathy*. Wayne(Micky) married Arleen Nielsen and they have one son.
Wesley Wynn (1847-1920), brother-in-law of Samuel Roe, and his wife, the former Annie Darrock (185e1933) of Harrison, Ontarip, moved to PicMord in 1877 and settled on a homestead four miles north of Pickford. They had 9 children: AGGIE, AUSTIN, ANNIE LAURINDA, LILLIAN, MABEL, JOHN W., ALVIN, PEARL, and FLOSSIE.
AGGIE (1878-1967) married Eric J. McKiddie and had 7 children: Millard of Dafter had one daughter; Annie (Shaw) lives in Jackson; Edna B. (Watson), deceased 1960; Illa Pearl (McGee) of Jackson, deceased, had one son and one daughter; Alma(Armstrong) of Dafter had one daughter and two sons; Flossie May (deceased 1960); and Alvin of Dafter with one son and one daughter.
AUSTIN (1880-1967) married Gertrude E. Caldwell (deceased, 1971) and had four childten. Anna M. died in 1953. William A. lives in Swartz Creek and had two daughters and one son. Everett lives at Whitmore Lake and has one daughter and one son. Raymond lives at Pickford.
ANNIE LAURINDA (1822-1911) married Samuel E. Boweman of Rosedale and had three children. E. Thelma Sawyers of Detroit had tow daughters. myrtle Hermanson of Duluth, Minnesota had two daughters. A. Edward of the Sault had one daughter.
LILLIAN married Henry M. (Hank) Johnston of Dafter and had three sons. O. Harold of the Sault had three sons and one daughter. Lester of the Sault had 3 sons.
MABEL (1886-1949) married William Otis Johnston of Rothdrum, Idaho, and had four children. Annie B. lived in Alaska. Flossie Hegge lived in Spirit Lake, Idaho. Harry V. of Bremerton, Washington, had one son and two daughters. James H. of Rothdrum, Idaho, had one son and one daughter.
JOHN W. (188-1949) drowned in the Columbia River at Rainier, Oregon.
ALVIN married Ethel Carter of the Sault and lived on the original homestead until 1965 when it was sold to Reid Crawford.
PEARL married William Harold Campbell of the Sault and had five children. Lloyd lives in the Sault. Glenn of Big Rapids had three sons and one daughter. Wilda Rudd of the Sault had one son and two daughters. Vernon of Denver, Colorado, is deceased. Ivan of Grand Rapids has two sons.
FLOSSIE married S. Paul Caldwell and had one daughter and one son. H. Elva Arnhill of Iron Bridge has two daughters and one son. Wesley P. of Flint has four sons and one daughter.