Tuesday Treasure | September 14, 2010

A couple of months ago, my wife’s Harvey family had a family get-together. Her grandfather, Wayne Harvey, died last December, and there were lots of old photos being passed around. As we were leaving, I gathered most of the photos to take home and scan. I also grabbed an old scrapbook.

I finally pulled the photos out yesterday and spent some time scanning. I then began to leaf through the pages of the scrapbook. It appears to have been put together by my wife’s great grandmother, Martha (Musbach) Harvey, Wayne’s mom. It contains page after page of family and friend-related newspaper clippings from the early 1900′s to the mid 1940′s. The Harveys and Musbachs lived in the areas between Jackson and Chelsea, MI.

What a treasure trove of information! Articles announcing weddings, deaths, anniversaries and family get-togethers. I spent the next several hours adding dates and places and other facts to people in my family tree, and also discovering some new names and stories that I knew nothing of.

I’ve really enjoyed leafing through the scrapbook and immersing myself in the happenings of the Harvey and Musbach families, and their friends, as they went about their daily lives during the first half of the 20th century.

Streets and Signs

It’s neat to come across streets that were named in honor of my families’ ancestors. It’s adds to their stories and certainly indicates that they were well thought of in their communities! He are some pictures of the street signs I’ve found.

The first one is located in Plymouth, MA. Bradford Street is named after one of my most famous ancestors, Governor William Bradford of the Plymouth Colony. He is my ninth great grandfather.

My wife’s maiden name is Harvey. Harvey Road, in Jackson Co., MI, is named after her great grandfather Herbert Harvey, who farmed there.

Another ancestral line of my wife’s is Notten. Her third great grandfather, Ehlert Notten, came to America from England and farmed in Waterloo Twp., Jackson Co., MI.

My 4th great grandfather, Isaac Ormsbee, settled in north of Greenfield, near Porter Corners, Saratoga Co., NY in 1796. The old family cemetery is along Ormsbee Rd.

Musbach Rd. in Washtenaw County, MI, is name after my wife’s Musbach family, who farmed nearby.

Hienrich Heinke, my 2nd great grandfather settled and farmed in Royalton Twp., Waupaca Co., WI.

My wife’s 2nd great grandfather, Damien Heim, came from Germany and settled in Sylvan Twp., Washtenaw Co., MI

This last one wasn’t exactly named after one of my family members (at least we haven’t proven it yet). Thibeau Voiland came to America from Cravanche, Belfort, France and settle in Erin Twp. (Roseville), Macomb Co., MI.

I also descend from Voilands who came from an area very close to Cravanche, but we haven’t been able to connect the two families! Maybe the addition of the sign here with help to prove or disprove the connection.

Surname Sunday | HARVEY

Our Harvey family emigrated from England about 1860. George Harvey and his wife, Elizabeth Lowden, settled in Leoni Twp., Jackson Co., MI, on property located at the corner of present day Wooster and Seymore Roads. Their son, Herbert, who is my wife’s great grandfather, bought the Musbach farm on Harvey Rd., Jackson Co. The farm remained in the family until their son Wayne sold it in 1970.

This Week’s Family Anniversaries | April 19 – April 25, 2009

Joseph Benjamin II – Born April 19, 1673 in Yarmouth, Plymouth Colony. He died in June 1738 in Preston, New London Co., Connecticut Colony. Joseph married Elizabeth Cooke on August 25, 1698 in Preston. He is my 7th great grandfather.

Katarzyna (Catherine) Cujak – Born April 20, 1823 in Pozen, Poland. She died on March 28, 1914 in Mecan Twp., Marquette Co., WI and is buried in St. John the Baptist Cemetery, Princeton, Green Lake Co., WI. She married Stephen Soda in 1840 in Poland. Catherine is my 3rd great grandmother.

John Jacob Musbach – Died April 22, 1905 in Waterloo Twp., Jackson Co., MI and is buried in Salem Grove Cemetery, Grass Lake, Sylvan Twp., Washtenaw Co., MI. He was born on May 30, 1839 in Wurtemburg, Germany. John Jacob is my wife’s 2nd great grandfather.

The above is based on information from several sources and isn’t fully verified at this time.

Tuesday Treasure | April 14, 2009

This hand corn planter belonged to my wife’s great grandfather, Herbert Harvey. Herbert’s farm was located on Harvey Rd. in Waterloo Twp., Jackson Co., MI. He bought the farm from Elhert Musbach, his brother-in-law, in the early 1900s. Herbert’s initials are carved in the back of the planter.

Hand Corn Planter - Herbert Harvey c.1900

Herbert Harvey's Initials

This planter was patented in the 1890′s and manufactured by the Sheffield Manufacturing Company of Burr Oak, MI. Earlier in his career, George Sheffield built gasoline and battery powered passenger cars for street, interurban and steam railways with his company, the Sheffield Velocipede Car Company.