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Ancestors of Lester H. Brown

Generation No. 4


      8. John E Brown, born 17 Nov 1822 in New York State, USA; died 13 May 1902 in Meridian, Lansing, Ingham County, United States. He was the son of unknown Brown and Lydia Unknown. He married 9. Anna Maria Andrews 15 Aug 1852 in Sandstone, Jackson County, Michigan.

      9. Anna Maria Andrews, born Aug 1833 in Possibly Pendleton, Niagara County, New York State, United States; died 01 Dec 1901 in Leslie, Ingham County, Michigan, United States. She was the daughter of Joseph Andrews and Sarah unknown.

Notes for John E Brown:
Census:
--From New York but have not found in census
--1850-Richfield Twp, Lucas County, Ohio (labourer)
--1860-Henrietta Twp, Jackson County, Michigan (farmer)
--1870-Thompkins Twp, Jackson County, Michigan (stone mason) middle initial is "E"
--1880-Onondaga Twp, Ingham County, Michigan (stone mason) PLEASE NOTE ERROR in INITIAL,
it looked like a "C" but it is an "E". reference 1870 census, 1900 census, marriage registration, death notice
ALSO: error 1880 census says his father & mother born in Vermont but 1900 shows New York
his 2nd wife Anna shows father & mothe born in Vermont and in the 1900 census
--1900-Onondaga Twp. Ingham County, Michigan (farmer) middle initial is "E" same as marriage
and death certificate and 1870 census
-- Hattie Abigail Brown, John's youngest child, said that she was Scot, Irish, English and the devil.


--I have many copies of original documents to share/swap. Census since 1850 to 1900, death certificate, pictures of graveyard where he is buried, picture of himself,
newspaper clippings etc.

--Calculated birth date by his death record which said he was age 79 5 months and 26 days when
he died in May 13, 1902

More About John E Brown:
Burial: Lesley Cemetery,Onondaga, Ingham County, Michigan, United States
Cause of Death: congestion of the brain

Notes for Anna Maria Andrews:
--Possibley born in Penddleton, Niagara County, New York State that is where family lived before moving to Sandstone Michigan. Anna married John E Brown in Sandstone, Jackson County, Michigan
-- Anna died at the home of her son Adna at age 68 years and 4 months.
--Jean M Scott (granddaughter) said that Anna was mostly English but also Dutch and French. Census show Anna's family was from England in particular the 1930 census
--In the Ingham Co Democrat newspaper this article was written after the funeral.--- Mrs. Brown, an
old and respected resident of this Community (found under Northeast Onondaga News) died
last Friday night at the home of her son Adna of heart and lung trouble. The funeral was held
at the house Monday and the remains were laid to rest in the Leslie Cemetery.

OBITUARY: newpaper clipping
Died, at the residence of her son, Adna L. Brown in Onondaga Township, Ingham County, Michigan.
December 1, 1901, Mrs. Anna M. Brown, beloved wife of John E Brown, of heart disease, aged
68 years and 4 months. Interment took place in Leslie Cemetery. She was beloved by all who knew
her for her pure Christian character and gentle patience in sickness. She suffered greatly but bore
it patiently and murmured not. She leaves to mourn her loss a husband, John E Brown, three sons
Adna L, Baughten J and Andrew K Brown, all of Ingham County and two daughters, Mrs. Ellen
M Finch of Onondaga Township and Mrs. Hattie A Woodhurst of Jackson, Michigan and a large
number of friends. (no mention of step sons Aaron and Cyrus) I believe Ellen M is really Mary E
as they often went by middle names. Also, no mention of her sons Lafayette, Horace or Anson.

(handwritten note adjacent)
Bee Wightman's grandmother's obit (maternal--she had 2 other children: Lafayette, who ran away
and Lucy who died at age 16
--I have a picture of Ann M. Andrews and her husband John E Brown.
-- It seems that people back then had a given name but often used another name or a middle name instead. Anna Mariah herself went by Sarah late in life and that is the name used for the burial.
--Her burial plot and her husband's was purchased by her son Baughton or Boughton (spelling
is shown in different documents). The document is the Interment Record Woodlawn, Cemetery
Lot 99, Leslie, Ingham County, Michigan, Notes: Book: sec. 2 Pg. 2

--As you can see this following letter was provided by Diana Oxenford, a decendant of
John Andrew born 1822 Herkimer Co, NY died 1902 in Oregon. He was a brother to Anna
M. Andrews who married John E Brown
Boards > Surnames > Andrews
URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec?htx=message&r=an&p=surnames.andrews&m=2227


Subject: Andrew, John - 1872 - Family Letter
Author: Diana Oxenford
Date: 15 Jan 1999 12:00 PM GMT
Email:

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The following letter was written to John ANDREW from his sister, Ruth E. SEARLS. It is dated November 10th, 1872 and bears a postmark of November 12, 1872 in Jackson, Michigan.
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November 10, 1872

Dear Brother:
I received your letter of Oct 18 and was very glad to hear from you again after so long a time and thankful for your likeness. I sent you Olive's picture in my letter or rather she sent it but I forgot to tell you whose likeness it was.

Olive's health is a little better this fall than it was through the summer but she is not able to go about the house to work any. My health is about as good as common now only a slight lameness from an accident.

About the first of September I was thrown from a buggy and hurt so I could not bear my weight on one foot for 3 or 4 weeks and have not been able to stand any hard work until 2 or 3 weeks past. I have not the strength now that I had before the accident but I am thankful for so much of health and can appreciate the privilege of going about without a cane as I thought once I should perhaps never again.

I was at Anna's when I received your letter. She has been very sick. John BROWN came after me to take care of her and oversee the work. I could not do much of the work but their girls are old enough to do a good deal of her work. I stayed with them 3 weeks when Anna got able to be about and then came back to Olives as she has only a little girl 13 years old that she has taken.

Mother is with Anna yet. She keeps busy most of the time knitting or some light work but she has not the strength she had before her sickness last winter. Anna has a hard lot with her large family to do for and mother tries to help all she can. It is a daily burden to me that I cannot provide a more quiet home for her in her old age but we can only do what is in our power and trust God for the rest.

I am sorry that you have such hard times. I hope God will bless you with all needful blessings both spiritual and temporal. Write often as you can, good bye from your sister.
.............Ruth E. SEARLS

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Note: I have a photocopy of the original letter and envelope. I also have pictures of the three sisters, Ruth, Anna, and Olive. Unfortunately, I do not know which is which. Perhaps someday. I also have a picture of the mother who is mentioned, but again I don't know her name. I also have the original charcoal drawings of John ANDREW and his wife.

From the above letter, I was able to find Anna and John BROWN, and traced their family for several census years. The mother was not living with them when I found them.











More About Anna Maria Andrews:
Burial: 02 Dec 1901, Lesley Cemetery, Leslie, Ingham County, Michigan, United States
Cause of Death: Disease of the heart and lungs
     
Children of John Brown and Anna Andrews are:
  i.   Lafayette Brown, born 1853 in Jackson County, MIchigan, United States.
  Notes for Lafayette Brown:
--Lafayette left home when he was 16 years old and never returned. Greatgrandfather Aaron Charles
Brown ( his oldest half-brother) said he came to visit him in Freelton, Ontario. This information is in
a letter my grandfather Charles Herbert Brown wrote to one of his sons giving him all he knew
about the ancestry of the family. As of September 2005 still have found no trace of him.

--Lafayette's mother had a brother named Lafayette, so am assuming he was named for him!

  ii.   Horace Brown, born 1854 in Michigan; died in Unknown.
  Notes for Horace Brown:
--Horace showed in the 1860 Michigan census but not the 1870. He either died or left home and was
never heard of again like his brother Lafayette.

  iii.   Anson Brown, born 1856 in Michigan; died in Unknown.
  Notes for Anson Brown:
--Anson showed in the 1860 census but not the 1870 census of Michigan. He either died or left home like his older brother Lafayette and was never heard of again. As of September 2005 I have not
been able to find anything on him.

  iv.   Sarah E Brown, born 1858 in Michigan; died in Unknown; married Ed Finch.
  Notes for Sarah E Brown:
--In a newpaper clipping for her mother Anna Mariah Andrews it states. She leaves to mourn
her loss a husband, John E Brown, three sons, Adna L., Boughton J. and Andrew K. Brown,
all of Ingham County and two daughters, Mrs. Ellen M. Finch of Onondaga Township and
Mrs. Hattie A. Woodhurst of Jackson, Michigan and a large number of friends. From this
article it looks like Sarah is now going by Ellen and she married a man with the last name
Finch! It is strange how people back then started using other first names or their middle
names. Her middle name started with "E" Sarah's mother did the same thing and so did my ggrandmother Shearing.

  v.   Mary E Brown, born 1862 in Michigan; died 1878 in Ingham County, Michigan, United States.
  4 vi.   Adna L Brown, born 1864 in Jackson, MIchigan, United States; died Aft. 1932 in Michigan, United States; married Bessie Elizabeth Townsend.
  vii.   Baughten J Brown, born Jan 1867 in Michigan; died Bef. 1930 in Los Angeles,California, USA; married Ada M unknown 1893; born Jul 1873.
  Notes for Baughten J Brown:
--Living in Leslie, almost next door to brother Adna when his father John E Brown died in 1902. --Baughten was still living in Leslie Twp., Ingham County in the 1910 census.
-- Sometime between 1910 and 1920 he moved to California according to the census of 1920. I found his son Paul in the 1930 census in Los Angeles, California and his wife but not him. I assume he died. he was age 57 in the 1920 census. Does not show in the 1930 census that I could find.

--His name has been spelled several ways in the census but because of his family members and
other legal documents/newspaper clippings I was sure it was him. Examples are Bautten, Boughten and I presume the actual is Baughten from the 1910 & 1920 census. People were better educated then than in the earlier 1800's. They spelled names as they heard them and sometimes it is the writing of the
person taking the census.

  More About Baughten J Brown:
Occupation: Stone mason

  viii.   Andrew K Brown, born Dec 1869 in Jackson County, MIchigan, United States; died Aft. 1930 in Eaton Rapids, Eaton County, Michigan, USA; married (1) Nina M Unknown; born 1866 in Michigan; married (2) Elizabeth Medsker Abt. 1896 in Jackson Michigan, United States; born 1872 in Ohio, USA; died 26 Mar 1920 in Rose Hill, Eaton County, Michigan; married (3) Blanche L Smith 20 Aug 1922 in Eaton Rapids, Eaton County, Michigan, USA.
  Notes for Andrew K Brown:
--Andrew married three times
-- He was a carpenter by trade.
--married to Lizzie Metzger about 1896
--married Blanch Smith in 1921, his 2nd wife- Blanche Smith was a widow. When they married she was age 48 & Andrew was age 52. Married in Eaton Rapids, Michigan.
--married to Nina M. in the 1930 census
1900 census: Onondaga, Ingham County Michigan, age 30
1910 Eaton Rapids, Eaton Co, Michigan
1920 Eaton Rapids, Eaton Co, Michigan (confirms parents born New York) age 50
1930 Clarence Twp., Calhoun Co, Michigan (he was age 61) shows wife as Nina M.


  More About Andrew K Brown:
Occupation: Carpenter, 1930 census

  Notes for Elizabeth Medsker:
--1880 census shows parents were C.T. Meddsher & Kate Meddsher (note last name is
spelled different ways, refer to mother and Kate's first name was Catherine.

--Newspaper clipping Eaton Rapids:
Mrs. Andrew K Brown passed away at her home on Water Street last Friday morning after
several weeks of illness of diphtheria followed by gangreen and the funeral was helad athe house
Sunday afternoon with burial at Rose Hill Cemetery. Mrs. Brown was a most estimable lady and
is survived by her husband , a daughter Mrs. Catherine Hunt, and twol little boys.

--Same newspaper, Cards of Thanks,
We wish to thank each of the friends and neighbors for their assistance and helping hands to
us during our recent sick-bereavement. Also, for the flowers sent to the sick room and those
sent later. We wish to express our hearfelt thanks and wishes.
A.K. Brown and Brothers and Sisters

  More About Elizabeth Medsker:
Cause of Death: Diphtheria and gangreen
Medical Information: Information shown on City of Eaton Rapids, Eaton County, Michigan. county returns for Deaths 1920. Vol 6 pg 543 #19

  ix.   Hattie Abigail Brown, born 28 Sep 1872 in Spring Arbor,Jackson,Jackson County Michigan, United States; died 11 May 1929 in Jackson, Jackson County, Michigan, United States; married Albert Henry Woodhurst 02 Sep 1894 in Jackson Michigan, United States; born 10 Oct 1867 in Grange Farm, Tonbridge, Kent, England; died 01 Jul 1938 in Jackson, Jackson County Michigan, United States.
  Notes for Hattie Abigail Brown:
Hattie first met her husband when she left Onondaga, Ingham County, Michigan in May 1894 and
arrived in Jackson, Jackson County, Michigan where her brother Adna L. Brown was the foreman
on the farm owned by John Root. Hattie was introduced to Albert at breakfast. They became great
friends according to Albert (wrote all of this in his autobiography) and that friendship rippened
into love. He said it was the most lucky and happiest day of his life. God was good to him by giving
him such a woman as his wife and there was no better Christian woman than her. She lived it
evey day. She was honest and always willin to help others and would give, when a great many
times she needed what she gave much more than they did that received.

Hattie had two children with Albert. She almost died after Bertha was born. The doctors said
she was dead but she lived. Some time later Albert bought Jackson Key Works but he had bad
asthma and they went to Oklahoma City then to Tulsa, Oklahoma. It was here that his bowel
trouble started (cancer). Hattie looked after him day and night. He was told by the doctor he had
to leave or the water would kill him, so back to Jackson they went. His asthma got much worse
so he alone went to Denver, Colorado where he got pneumonia, Hattie immediately went to him
and nursed him better. They went back to Jackson by train. Finally he got some medicine
that stopped the asthma. Hattie had been working in a shop, inspector for a corset factory
Finally in 1929 Albert got work so she could quit. Hattie went into the hospital for an operation on a Saturday and after a week of suffering she died May 11, 1929. Albert said it was the saddest day of his life. Albert had several operations, being bed ridden for two years, then he too died of rectal cancer.

The 1900 census shows them living at 229 Oak Hill Avenue Jackson City, he was a coachman.
The 1920 census shows them living at 3rd Precinct of Jackson City.

Hattie Abigail always said she was Scot, Irish, English and a little of the devil, according to her grand
daughter Jean M. (Storm) Scott.

ALSO: refer to the Notes for her husband Albert for a lot more information.


  More About Hattie Abigail Brown:
Burial: Woodland Cemetery, Jackson, Michigan, United States
Cause of Death: Possible complications of the surgery (unknown)

  Notes for Albert Henry Woodhurst:
Brief biography
Albert Henry (1) Woodhurst was born in 1867 of parents Daniel Woodhurst and Priscilla Hales. His birth certificate [Birth Index: Tunbridge 2a 506, 1867 (Dec)] states that he was born on October 10th 1867 at his parental home Grange Farm in Tonbridge, Kent. His mother was the informant and his father was occupied as a general labourer.

The 1871 Census finds him at age "3" living with his parents at 20, Springfield Road in Tunbridge, Kent.

The 1881 Census finds him at age "13" living with his parents at 210, Shortlands Road in Sittingbourne, occupied as an agricultural labourer. His birthplace is given as Tunbridge Wells.

A descendant's report states the following: Grange Farm was situated near Pembury Road in Tunbridge Wells; Albert Henry (1) attended school at both Murston and Sittingbourne; in 1883 he emigrated with his father to America; he married Hattie Abigail Brown in Michigan on September 2nd 1894; he bought a house for his parents to live in and cared for them throughout his life; he died in Jackson, Michigan from rectal cancer on July 1st 1938, after being bed-ridden for two years; his daughter Hattie Anna was born on November 12th 1895, married George Clinton Storm and died on June 28th 1955; his other daughter Bertha Bess - who preferred to be known as "Bee" - was born around 1902, married Clifford B. Wightman and died in October 1997; he and Hattie Abigail were buried in the Woodland Cemetery in Jackson.

Hattie Abigail was born to parents John E. Brown and his second wife Anna Mariah (nee Andrews), who had married in Jackson County, Michigan in 1852. A great-great-grand-daughter, Carol Brown Parker, of John E. Brown has kindly supplied to the site author photographs variously depicting Hattie Abigail, her parents, her husband Albert Henry (1) and their daughter Hattie Anna.

The US 1880 Census appears to find Hattie Abigail at age "7" in the household of her parents John and Ann in Onondaga, Ingham County in Michigan. The record states that John (a stone mason aged "57") and Ann (aged "47") were born in New York and that their own parents were born in New York.
(1880 census incorrectly showed Vermont which has been proven by previous census & 1900).

A fuller account of Albert Henry (1)'s life is given in his autobiography, written not long before he died.

The US 1900 Census finds him at age 32 living with his wife and first child at 229, Oak Hill Avenue, Jackson City in Jackson County, and occupied as a coachman. The record states that he had immigrated in 1884 (but the autobiography is very clear that the true year was 1883) and that he had filed his first papers for naturalization. It describes his wife as born in Michigan in September 1872 of parents who were both born in New York.

The US 1920 Census finds him at age 52 living with his wife in the 3rd Precinct of Jackson City in the household of his married daughter Hattie Anna. The record cites no employment for him and states that he was not naturalized. Hattie Abigail was working as an inspector in a corset factory. Here her mother's birthplace is given not as New York but as Michigan.

His children by Hattie Abigail Brown
Hattie Anna Woodhurst
Bertha Bess Woodhurst

Albert Henry (1) Woodhurst - Autobiography

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The autobiography was originally written in longhand by Albert Henry (1) Woodhurst in the 1930s. His manuscript was first rendered into typescript by the wife Ruth of his grandson Donald George Storm. A copy of this was supplied to the site author by Donald's sister Jean Marie Scott (nee Storm), and the transcription of it below is presented here by her kind permission.


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The Life Story of Albert H. Woodhurst
Born Oct. 10, 1867 at Grange Farm, Pembury Road, near Tonbridge Wells, Kent Co. England.

Went to school at Murston, also at Sittingbourne. At the age of nine I started to work in a brick yard. I worked half days and school half days. I carried the same studies as the other scholars. Every year I passed government examinations and would have won Queen Victoria's prize of having her pay three years' schooling or I could have quit school. It was a prize that few scholars got, but my father kept me away from one exam which made me stay in the same grade for another year, therefore I lost the prize. I quit school at the age of 13 and I went to work in a general store. From there I went to work in a nursery. The man I worked for also bought the fruit of several orchards which he shipped to London. I liked the work very much. Part of the time I drove a horse on a big cart.

On Nov. 6th I left England to come to America. I was 16 years old. We went to London from there, [then] to Harwich. From there we sailed to Rotterdam, Holland. We stayed there a week, taking in the sights. From there we went eighty miles by train to Amsterdam. There we [went] aboard steamship Zaandam for New York where we were supposed to arrive in fourteen days, but it was twenty-one days before we arrived there. It was a very rough voyage with headwind all the way. Some of the top deck was washed overboard. The bakery was broken and for some days we had to live on sea biscuits (which are as hard as bricks) because they did not dare open up to get flour etc. Something broke down in the boiler room or the engine, anyway all power was shut off and we were drifted back, and the lifeboats were got ready to launch twice. We were given up as lost three days before we reached New York, which was the 6th day of Dec. 1883. We stayed in New York City two weeks. From there we went to Toronto, Canada. After a few days I left my father and brother there and went by train ninety miles north-west to South Zora, which was nothing but a road-crossing where trains stopped if there was someone to get off or on. It was dark when I got there, snow on the ground and quite cold. I found that I had eight miles to go.

I had my little belongings in a long bag (which my mother made) that had a draw-string in the top to close it. It was made of white cotton cloth. I carried it on my back with the string over my shoulder. So I started down the road - and scared, oh yes, boy. I had studied in school that there were wild animals in Canada, and so I expected that at any second one or more of them might show up (and before leaving England I had never slept a night away from home in my life), but anyway I was lucky, for a farmer with a team and wagon caught up with me and gave me a ride. Finally he said "Well, here is where I turn." He said "You see that light way across there, well that is the farm you are looking for, it is a mile and a half across there and three miles around the road." I thanked him. I was nearly frozen, especially my feet. I decided to go across the fields and keep the light in sight. I thought wild beasts would get me if they were around, either way I went. I had to cross a ditch, there was ice and snow on it but I broke through and went in to my crotch and my leather boots got full of water. But I got there, got some dry pants on and shoes, and they gave me some supper.

I was supposed to be at least eighteen years old and there I was, about two months past sixteen. Of course I had been told to lie and say I was 18 past, but the farmer said "Well, you sure don't look it." I worked very hard there, early and late, Sundays too.

After several weeks another Englishman came there to work. He didn't like it, so one day the farmer went to town and we both took our belongings and went to Woodstock. I never saw the farmer again and so neither of us got any money. I got a job in Woodstock in a wagon factory. I worked in the blacksmith department. I got four dollars per week. I had to pay three dollars-and-a-half a week for board and room, which left me fifty cents to pay for washings, etc. The woman where I boarded and roomed was a widow and she would give me fifty cents for cutting the grass on her husband's grave and the lot, which I would do nights with sheep-shears.

My father wrote to me to come to Jackson as he had a job waiting for me. I wrote to him that if it was farm work I didn't want it. He wrote again "Come at once." I told my foreman at the factory. He went to the office and came and offered me a raise of one dollar per week, which would have been five per week. I said no, that I had my R.R. ticket, which he said they would sell so that I wouldn't lose a cent on it. I write this so that you will know that my work was satisfactory. I believe now and always will that my leaving the job where I was learning a good trade was one of the big mistakes of my life.

I arrived in Jackson, Michigan June 23rd, 1884 at 7.10 pm. No one was at the depot to meet me. I inquired my way to the Clinton Road and then found out that I had five miles to go. Then I knew well enough that it was farm work that I was to do. I sure was discouraged and downhearted. If I had been sure that I could have got my job back again at the factory at the six dollars, I would have taken the first train back to Woodstock. The five miles was very bad. The road was very muddy. When I got at the end of my journey I found everyone had gone to bed.

I worked there through haying and harvest, then I went to another farm to work for an old man. I bought off him a young sow which I gave to my folks. While there I ploughed a field which was next to the road, it was sod which cut up and shone. It drew a lot of attention. Some people drove and stopped just to see the ploughing. One old farmer came and asked me if that was the way they ploughed in England. I cut wood that winter.

The next spring in March I went to work for Thomas Jilkes at $16.00, and I worked there till the first of December. That summer I bought a cow, paid $45.00 for her, and gave her to my folks. I also bought them four or five dressed sheep and I bought a nice colt, gave $125.00 for him.

I was eighteen that October, cut wood again that winter. The next spring I worked in Bennett's claypit, which was very hard work. I got a dollar and a quarter for ten hours. That Fall we moved into town. I went to work in C.C.Lathrap's timber yard, after which I worked for Mr. Thomas Westron, then for Dr. Mitchell. The doctor was blind, we got along fine.

I quit there and went to Portland, Oregon. I was there some time before I got work. I went to work in the largest livery stable in Portland. I worked on the wash rack. I would start washing about three o'clock in the afternoon. I would then wash between thirty and forty buggies and carriages a day, getting through about 10 pm. In a short time a friend of my brother-in-law got me a job in a wholesale grocery at fifty dollars per month. I liked it there very much but the times were hard and they laid four of us off. They told me that as soon as times picked up they wanted me back, but I couldn't bear the thought of being out of work again, so I came back to Jackson. I came back through North-West Canada to Winnipeg, from there to Port Arthur on the north shore of Lake Superior, there went aboard a nice steamer, crossed the lake through the Soo, into Lake Huron to Owen Sound. From there by train to Toronto, Canada, then to Detroit [and] to Jackson. That was during August 1893.

The next spring I went to work by the month for the summer for John Root on his farm. Adna L. Brown was the foreman with whom I roomed and boarded. In the month of May his sister came there to work. When I was introduced to her while in for breakfast one morning, little did I think that I was seeing the woman who would be my wife. We became great friends. Our friendship ripened into love and on the second day of September we were happily married. It was the most lucky and happiest day of my life. From that day on my life was entirely different and more cheerful. God was good to me to give me such a woman for my wife. There was no better Christian woman than her. She lived it every day. She loved her God and served Him every day. She was honest and always willing to help others and would give, when a great many times she needed what she gave much more than they did that received. Well, soon after we were married the work for the year was at an end, so to speak. Mr. Root at different times showed that he liked my work. He asked Mr. Brown if there couldn't be enough work to keep me, but Adna Brown was jealous of me and afraid that when spring came again I would get his job, and he wasn't the only one who thought so. We then went to housekeeping in a nice cottage on Cooper St. Then real happiness for us began. I went to work for the Bennett Sewer Pipe Co., worked on the narrow gauge railroad bringing in fire-clay for the pit to make into tile and sewer pipes.

The next year in the month of November our little girl baby was born. I named her Hattie after her mother. Then our cup of joy was filled. At that time I was engineer on the locomotive, also engineer of a double-drum hoisting engine. I also laid brick at the factory, building and repairing kilns. Next job I went to work at the Jackson Cart Co., wages one dollar per day, ten hours, Saturdays we worked nine hours, ninety cents - $5.90 per week. In a short time I heard that Mr. Thomas Westron wanted a man and, having worked for him once before, I went to see him. He hired me, wages nine dollars per week and house, which made it a good change from $5.90 and house rent to pay. I was there two years and a half. I worked long days there and very hard, and seven days per week. Went back to the Bennett Sewer Pipe Co. as a bricklayer. From there I went to work for C.C.Bloomfield, wages eight dollars per week and house. In a short time my wages were raised.

The next year our daughter Bertha was born and I came very near to losing my good wife by death. Two doctors said that she was dead, but God was good to us and let her get well. We were there sixteen years and I was receiving nineteen dollars per week when we quit there.

We bought the Jackson Key Works and rapidly increased the business, but owing to my health (I had a bad case of asthma) the doctors said I should leave Michigan. So we sold at a good cash price and went to Oklahoma City, Okla. to live. There I went to work in the street car barns. Then went next to work at a truck factory. Then moved to Tulsa, Okla. There I went to work for Cadillac Gaston Co. in charge of the place [at] nights. I then got sick with bowel trouble. Came very near to passing over. My dear wife took care of me night and day. I got some better after my wife changed doctors. The doctor said I must leave Oklahoma or the water would kill me. So we came back to Jackson, Michigan. My asthma continued to be very bad, then I went to Denver, Colorado. I was there only a short time and I went down with pneumonia. They wired to my wife who came on the first train and took care of me for several nights. She never went to bed. Then after being up about two weeks, I was taken down very sick again. The doctor told my wife there was no hope of me pulling through, but I did. Again we returned to Jackson, Michigan, but I was very sick on the train and afterwards. I finally got down some medicine that stopped the asthma and I got stronger, and in the spring of 1929 I got work, and would have been able to again support my wife so that she would not have to work in the shop any more. But she went to the hospital for an operation which she had on a Saturday, and after a week of great suffering she passed over to be with her Saviour and her God, May 11th 1929. It was the saddest day of my life. She passed away quietly and peacefully. I have never been happy since that year, and the next I was able to - and had - work, in January 1931, it was necessary for me to go to the hospital for an operation. Since then I have had other operations, suffered considerably and am now in the hospital awaiting the time when I too shall pass on to that mansion that my Saviour has gone to prepare for me.

Albert H. Woodhurst

He died on July 1st 1938



  x.   <Unnamed>


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