Reading Time: 2 minutes

Thomas Welch

24 Feb 1819 — ?

---

Bio

The following is an excerpt from a book published by Chapman Brothers, 1884.

Thomas Welch, farmer, section 19, Flynn Township, was born Feb. 24, 1819, on Grand River, in Chatham, Province of Lower Canada, and is the son of William and Mary Welch. His parents moved to Upper Canada when he was 12 years old, and at the age of 17 he came to Chicago and Galena, Ill., where he spent 12 years. He was employed about 14 years in the lead mines at the latter place, afterward returning to Canada. He was married at Malahide, Ont., Oct. 20, 1850, to Mary Brooks, a native of that place, where she was born Jan. 6, 1829. Eleven children have been born of her marriage, four of whom are deceased. They were named Mary G., Charles, Daniel, Walter, Alma, Catherine E., Levi, Junius, Andrew, Ellen, and Laura. The four last named are deceased. Mr. Welch was a resident of Elgin Co., Can., after his marriage about 20 years, and operated as a farmer on 100 acres of land of which he was the proprietor. He removed thence to Lambton County, where he remained until 1882. He owned 70 acres of land and at the date named disposed of his property by sale and came to Flynn Township, where he purchased 80 acres of land situated on sections 18 and 19 and where he has since been vigorously and successfully engaged in improving his farm. He is a Republican in political sentiment.

Portrait and Biographical Album of Sanilac County; Containing Portraits and Biographical Sketches of Citizens of the County. Chicago, Chapman Brothers, 1884.

Reading Time: 3 minutes

Morris Rockwell

13 Nov 1830 — 15 Feb 1914 (aged 83)

---

Bio

The following is an excerpt from a book published by Chapman Brothers, 1884.

Morris Rockwell, farmer, section 19, Flynn Township, was born Nov. 13, 1830, in Ridgefield, Fairfield Co., Conn. His parents, Charles and Sarah A. (Brotherton) Rockwell, were also natives of the same section of the “land of steady habits,” Yankees by birth but of a line of descent which originated in the “land of the shamrock.” The father was a farmer in his native State, and in 1849 removed with his family to Oakland Co., Mich., where the parents resided the remaining portion of their lives; the demise of the father occurred June 9, 1851, that of the mother, Oct. 1, 1882. Their family comprised ten children, all of whom are still living, and eight of them are residents of the Peninsular State.

Mr. Rockwell is the eldest son and second child of his parents. He was reared to the vocation of farming and obtained a reasonably fair education in the common school. He was 19 years of age when his parents became residents of Michigan, and he remained under their control until the period of his majority. He then entered upon the contest of life on his own behalf, engaging at first as a common laborer on a farm. He continued to operate in that manner until his marriage, Dec. 10, 1862, in Washtenaw Co., Mich., to Eunice Eaton. She was born in that county and was the daughter of Hosea Eaton. She died in her native county May 29, 1865. Mr. Rockwell was again married Jan. 1, 1868, in Oakland Co., Mich., to Mary E. Beaumont, daughter of Francis and Maria (Rosebone) Beaumont. Her parents were natives of England and New York and of English and German descent. They are still living in Oakland County, and are actively engaged in farming. They are aged 74 and 70 years. Mrs. Rockwell is the eldest daughter of her parents, whose family included nine children. She is the fourth in the order of birth and was born in Highland, Oakland County, Aug. 26, 1845. She was reared and educated in her native county. Five children are now included in the household of Mr. Rockwell, who were born as follows: Charles G., April 7, 1870; Walter L., Sept. 16, 1872; Elsie, June 28, 1874; Elmer A., Jan. 24, 1880; Harry H., June 25, 1883.

After marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Rockwell remained two years on a farm in Oakland County, and in December 1875, they removed to Sanilac County and entered a claim of 142 acres of land on section 19 of Flynn Township. To this, they have added 40 acres by later purchase. The place is now in prosperous condition, with 40 acres under the plow and a fine young orchard. It is supplied with a good house and suitable farm buildings. In social standing the family rank with the community of which they are members, and they are an influential element in the local matters of the township. Mr. Rockwell is a Republican and has been Justice of the Peace eight years.

Portrait and Biographical Album of Sanilac County; Containing Portraits and Biographical Sketches of Citizens of the County. Chicago, Chapman Brothers, 1884.

---

Morris Rockwell on FindAGrave

Reading Time: 2 minutes

William Kerr

7 Oct 1843 — 27 Apr 1924 (aged 80)

---

Bio

The following is an excerpt from a book published by Chapman Brothers, 1884.

William [Wrex] Kerr, farmer, section 7, Flynn Township, was born Oct. 7, 1843, in “Old Cambridge,” Mass. His parents, Joseph and Ann (Campbell) Kerr, were born respectively in Ireland and Scotland. The father was a farmer, and when the son was but a few months old the family removed to Huron co., Ont, where the senior Kerr was again engaged in that pursuit until his death, Dec. 7, 1883, at the age of 80 years. The mother is 68 years of age and is a resident of Ontario.

Mr. Kerr was reared to the vocation of a farmer and obtained a good education in the district schools. He remained with his parents until he was 24 years of age when he was married to Tabitha E. Ervin. She was born June 21, 1851, in Oxford Co., Can., and remained with her parents until her marriage. Her father and mother, Alfred and Anna E. (Carroll) Ervin, were born in Ontario and Germany, descended from German and Irish parentage. The father died about 1873 in Marlette, Mich., when he was 47 years of age. The mother resides in Marlette and is 53 years of age. Eight children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Kerr, in the following order: Mary J., James D., Alfred A., Anna E., Joseph, William G. and Ogle V. C.. At the expiration of the first year of their marriage the parents removed to the village of Marlette, then in its incipiency, where they resided 12 years, the father being engaged in farming. In 1880 he exchanged his property for 160 acres of land, on which some improvements have been made, on sections 7, 12 and 18, in Flynn Township, of which he at once took possession and entered vigorously into the work of putting the property in first-class condition. He now has 60 acres under the plow. Mr. Kerr is a Republican in political connection and has held the minor offices in his township. He and his wife are members of the Baptist Church.

 

Portrait and Biographical Album of Sanilac County; Containing Portraits and Biographical Sketches of Citizens of the County. Chicago, Chapman Brothers, 1884.

---

William Kerr on FindAGrave

Reading Time: < 1 minute

John Beckton

28 Feb 1851—?

---

Bio

The following is an excerpt from a book published by Chapman Brothers, 1884.

John Beckton, farmer, located on section 26, Flynn Township, was born Feb. 28, 1851, in Dumfriesshire, Scotland. When he was 18 years old his parents emigrated to America and became residents of Middlesex Co., Ont., where they have since resided.

The first event in the life of Mr. Beckton, out of the common routine of his youth and early manhood, was his marriage to Anna E. Lodge [(or possibly “Large”)], which occurred May 9, 1878, in Middlesex co., Ont. She was born Jan. 17, 1859, in England. She was 16 when her parents removed from their native land to America, and she remained with them in Ontario until her marriage. Mary E. and George H. are the names of the children which have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Beckton. The year following their union in wedlock, they came to Michigan and located on a tract of 80 acres of land which Mr. Beckton had purchased the previous year. He has placed 25 acres in fine tillable condition. In political sentiment, he is in sympathy with the Republican party but is not yet a citizen of his adopted country. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

Portrait and Biographical Album of Sanilac County; Containing Portraits and Biographical Sketches of Citizens of the County. Chicago, Chapman Brothers, 1884.

---