#49 Seneca W. Everitt

The children of G. B. and Roseann Everitt. One of the men in this photo is Seneca W. Everitt. The only identified individuals are Mary J. Everitt Bolt (seated), Rachel Everitt Westfall (standing), and William Harrison Everitt (seated to Mary’s right).

This week, I’ll be looking at my 4th great-uncle, Seneca W. Everitt, who was born on December 26, 1838 in Portage, Ohio. He was the son of George B. Everitt and Roseann Elrick/Eldridge. He was the brother of my great-great-great grandmother, Mary J. Everitt Bolt (1837-1918). By 1850, the family, including 8 children, were living in Livonia, Michigan. Seneca was 11 years old.

In 1860, Seneca was 22 years old and was a houseman for Henry O. Hanford. Hanford, whose real estate was valued at $7,430 and personal estate was valued at $3,944 at the time, lived in Plymouth with his first wife Margaret, their son James, and his parents Jesse and Eunice. Also living in the household was a housegirl, Henriette Phelps, and two more housemen, William Rhoads and John Pool. According to Silas Farmer, Hanford owned a nearly 300-acre farm, was Township Clerk of Plymouth, Justice of the Peace of Canton, and chairman of the executive committee of the Michigan State Agricultural Society.

In 1870, Seneca was living with his parents and his youngest brother Edward in Livonia. Seneca worked on a farm and had a personal estate value of $600. On January 5, 1874, Seneca married Jennie Adams (Jane Westfall Adams) in Northville. Jennie had been previously married to William J. Adams and had three children.  Jennie was also the first cousin of the spouses of two of Seneca’s siblings. His sister Rachel had married Orson Westfall and his brother Isaac had married Orson’s sister Mary Jane Westfall.

In 1880, Seneca and Jennie lived in Plymouth and he was employed as a carpenter. In 1893 and 1905, Seneca’s property can be seen on land ownership maps on Plank Road (now Main Street) in Plymouth, next to the Markham Air Rifle Works.

In 1910, Seneca and Jane were living on South Main Street in Plymouth. In 1920, they were living at 412 Starkweather Street in Plymouth. Seneca died of senility and apoplexy on March 3, 1924 at the age of 85. He was buried in Plymouth’s Riverside Cemetery. Jane died in May 1927 at the age of 91.

1893 map showing Seneca’s property

Week 49 (December 3-9): Winter

#8 – George Baxter Everitt

He led the quiet, orderly life of a farmer, and was a strong advocate of temperance, belonging to the Sons of Temperance.  In politics he was a Democrat.

– About G. B. Everitt from his son William H. Everett’s entry in Biographical Sketches of Leading Citizens of Oakland County, Michigan, 1903.

George Baxter Everitt was born in New Jersey on May 29, 1803 to Isaac Everitt and Mary Davis.  Isaac and Mary are buried in the Montague Dutch Reformed Churchyard in Sussex County, New Jersey.  George married Jane Hornbeck on December 5, 1824 in Sussex County.  They had two children, Hannah (born October 19, 1828) and Francis (born about 1824), both born in Pike County, Pennsylvania.  Sometime after 1828, George left his family in Pennsylvania. George married again in Portage County, Ohio in December 1835 to Rosanna Elrick/Eldred/Eldredge.  Their first six children were born in Ohio and their last four were born in Michigan.  George and Rosanna settled in Livonia, Michigan in 1847.  George was the only one of his siblings who ended up in Michigan.  His uncles Marshall Everitt (died in Michigan on Nov. 30, 1833, buried in Livonia) and George Everitt (elected highway commissioner in Michigan in 1835, died Oct. 30, 1854, buried in Livonia) seem to be the only ones’ of his father’s generation to go to Michigan, which may be why George ended up there. George and Rosanna had ten children: William Harrison (born 1835), Mary Jane (born 1837), Seneca (born 1838), Isaac (born 1840), Rachel (born 1843), John Allen (born 1845), Catherine (born 1847 – died young?), Matthew Lindley (born 1849), Martha (born 1854 – died young?), and Edward (born 1857).

Orson (1838-1920) and Rachel (Everitt) Westfall (1843-1924), with daughter Ada (1876-1910)

In the 1850 U.S. Census, George and Rosanna (born in Pennsylvania) were living in Livonia Township.  Harrison was 15, Mary was 13, Seneca was 11, Isaac was 9, Rachel was 7, John was 5, Catherine was three, and Matthew was less than a year.  In the 1850 Agriculture Schedule, George had 25 improved acres and 33 unimproved acres valued at $1000 with $156 in farm implements and machinery.  He had 2 horses, 2 milk cows, 4 other cattle, 35 sheep and 5 pigs – all valued at $195.  During the year, the farm produced 25 bushels of wheat, 250 bushels of Indian corn and 300 bushels of oats. In 1860, they were still living in Livonia; George was 58 and Rosanna was 43.  Rachel (17), John (14), Martha (6), and Edward (3) were living with them.  George’s real estate was valued at $5000 and his personal estate was $805.  Their daughter Mary Jane had married William Dillon Bolt during the previous year – they were living in Plymouth, Michigan (they are my great-great-great grandparents).

William (1835-1901) and Mary (Everitt) Bolt (1837-1918)

In Livonia, in 1870, George was listed as 67 and Rosanna was listed as 62.  Their sons Seneca (30) and Edwin/Edward (12) were living with them.  Emma Barlow, a 21-year-old schoolteacher, was also living with them. George died on May 22, 1874 and is buried in Riverside Cemetery in Plymouth, Michigan.  Rosanna (also listed as Rosannah, Rose Ann, Roseann) died February 14, 1899 in Detroit.  She is also buried in Riverside Cemetery.

52 Ancestors #8 – Good Deeds

Tombstone Tuesday – Back to Nature

I don’t know who this tombstone belongs to.  I could find no name or dates.  They are most likely facing the tree stump now.  This stone is located in Newburgh Cemetery in Livonia, Mich.  http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=cr&CRid=1197

A visit to Briggs Cemetery

This cemetery is so strange to visit.  It is behind a building that used to be a church (?) and is now a theatre.  It has no fences and is located on a very busy road with lots of traffic noise.

Here’s a link to the complete cemetery transcriptions and pictures!  Very handy!  http://www.usgwarchives.org/mi/tsphoto/wayne/briggs.htm

Ancestors in this cemetery are all Everitts, uncles, aunts and cousins of my 4X Great-Grandfather George Baxter Everitt.

Above: Marshall Everitt, uncle of George B. Everitt

Above: Catherine VanGorden Everitt, wife of Marshall

Above: The backs of Marshall and Catherine’s tombstones.  His says “Our Father” and her’s says “Our Mother.”

A visit to Newburgh Cemetery

Newburgh Cemetery is an old cemetery located on Ann Arbor Trail in Livonia, Michigan.   Many members of my Everitt ancestors (and one Bolt that I know of) are buried in this cemetery.  Apparently, Everitts were early settlers in the area.    The cemetery dates from 1827, when Salmon Kingsley, a Revolutionary War veteran, was buried here.

Above:  Tombstone of George Everitt (1778-1854), Uncle of my 4x Great-Grandfather George Baxter Everitt

Above: Elizabeth VanGordon Everitt (1786-1872), wife of Uncle George. Her sister Catherine married George’s brother Marshall.  They are buried in another Livonia Cemetery that I’ll talk about next time.

Above: Isaiah Bolt (1799-1856), my 4x Great-Grandfather.  His son, William Dillon Bolt, married the above-mentioned George Baxter Everitt’s daughter, Mary Jane Everitt in 1860.