Person Page

     William D. Gibson was born about 1863 in Michigan.^1,2
     On 12 October 1872 George E. Swikert was appointed as his guardian. William had lived with him most of his life, after his father Thomas Gibson died on 10 May 1865, and his mother Margaret died on 28 Feb 1866. William's uncle Charles Gibson had petitioned to have George Swikert appointed guardian on 9 Oct 1872.¹ He is listed in George E. Swikert's household in the 1880 census in Otsego Twp., Allegan Co., Michigan, as a cousin. He is described as age 17, born in Michigan, father born in Pennsylvania, mother in Ohio.²

     Perry W. Williamson was born about 1911 in Indiana.²

     Elizabeth Monroe was born about 1826 in Indiana.²
     She is listed in the 1850 census with her mother Elizabeth and stepfather Joshua W. Williamson in Whitley Co., Indiana. Her surname is erroneously listed as Williamson.² She is listed in the 1860 census in the household of her mother Elizabeth Williamson in Cleveland Twp., Whitley Co., Indiana, along with her half-brothers Perry and Henry.¹ In 1870 she was living with her half-brother Joseph and his family in Cleveland Twp.^5,6,7

     William M. Town was born on 12 September 1804 in Connecticut (his son Otis's 1910 census entry in St. Joseph Co., Indiana, lists (probably erroneously) his birthplace as New York).^5,2,4,6 He married first Maria (?) on 15 August 1826.² He married second Mary L. Forbes, daughter of Phil Forbes and Nancy (?), on 11 April 1838.² He died on 27 February 1886 (his cemetery marker, which looks relatively unworn and may have been erected at a later date, says 24 February 1886) in Brighton, Livingston Co., Michigan, at age 81.^7,8 He was buried at Lakeside Cemetery in Livingston Co., Michigan.⁸
     In 1830 William M. Town and his first wife Maria were living in Ontario, Wayne Co., New York, not far from his father Alfred.⁹ He moved to New Hudson, Oakland Co., Michigan, in 1836.²
     On 19 September 1838 he and his second wife Mary, described as being of Lyons, Oakland Co., Michigan, bought land in Section 25 in Brighton, Livingston Co., Michigan.¹⁰ They apparently didn't move there at that time, however, as they sold this land to Evert Woodruff for $800 on 18 July 1841, when they were still described as being of Oakland Co., Michigan. In the deed, the land was described as "the west half of the south west quarter of Section No twenty five in Township number two north of Range number Six East containing eighty acres of land."^10,11 He is listed in the census of 1840 in Lyon Twp., Oakland Co., Michigan, along with one female 20-29 (his wife Mary), one female 10-14 (his daughter Mary), two males 5-9 (his sons Alfred and Ira), and one male under 5 (his son George).¹²
     In 1844 he and Mary moved to Cascade, Kent Co., Michigan, where they bought a 105-acre farm.² They are listed in the census there in 1850, along with Alfred, Ira, George, Nancy, and Edwin Town.⁵
     On 23 February 1855 he and Mary, described as being of Cascade, Kent Co., Michigan, bought land in Section 11 in Iosco, Livingston Co., Michigan. On the same date, they also bought land in Section 7 of Marion Twp., Livingston Co., Michigan.¹⁰ On 24 March 1856 they bought additional land in Iosco, in Section 7.¹⁰
     He and Mary moved to Marion Twp., Livingston Co., Michigan, in 1856.² By 1859 they owned 235 acres in Sections 7 and 8.¹³ They are listed there in the 1860 census, along with Alfred (age 28), Ira C. (24), Nancy M. (19), Edwin W. (13), Frances (8), Otis O. (6), Minerva (24), and William Town (3).¹ They are again listed there in 1870, along with Edwin W., Frances, and Otis Town. Also listed in the same household is Jennie McGran, age 27, a domestic servant.³
     In 1872 they sold some of their land in Section 7 in Iosco, and most of their land in Section 7 of Marion Twp.¹⁰ According to the 1873-74 Livingston County Directory, William was then living in Brighton Village, on the east side of Fifth, between State and Chestnut.¹⁴ He is listed in Brighton, Livingston Co., Michigan, in the 1880 census, next door (probably) to his daughter Nancy and her family. His daughter Frances, son Otis, and daughter-in-law Jenny were living in the same household. At the time he was suffering from spinal disease.¹⁵
     He was a farmer, with real estate valued at $1800, $5000, and $10,400 in 1850, 1860, and 1870, respectively. His personal property was valued at $2198 and $2700 in 1860 and 1870.^5,1,3
     He died intestate, and on 16 March 1886, in Howell, Livingston Co., Michigan, his son-in-law Cutting B. Wiley petitioned the court for administration of his estate, suggesting that Frank Judson be appointed administrator. His personal and real estate were estimated to be worth $1200 and $2000, respectively. This petition lists the heirs to the estate, their ages (which are consistently too low), and residences.
     On 9 April 1886 his daughter Frances E. Town was appointed administratrix. She posted an administrator's bond of $5000, with Thomas Hilton as surety.
     The estate was inventoried by Thomas Hilton and Frederick T. Hyne and the appraisal was filed on 13 April 1886. The estate was valued at $3794.06, as follows:
     Frederick T. Hyne and Frank Judson were appointed commissioners, for investigating and satisfying claims against the estate. They filed their report on 9 October 1886, and the claims totaled $50.16.
     The final account was filed on 2 August 1887. After adding in a gain of $411.77 on the estate, and deducting expenses (including $200.00 for the monument), $1703.08 remained to be distributed to the heirs. In August 1888, his sons Alfred Town, Ira Town, and Otis Town, daughters Polly Farnham, Nancy Wiley, and Frances Town, and grandson Edwin Town each received $274.66, which included rents of the estate through 14 April 1888.⁷

     Mary L. Forbes was born on 30 January 1817 (based on her age at death of 58 years, 4 months, 16 days), probably in New York.^3,4,5,6 She married William M. Town, son of Alfred Town and Polly Bartlett, on 11 April 1838.⁷ She died of cancer on 15 June 1875 in Brighton, Livingston Co., Michigan, at age 58.³ She was buried at Lakeside Cemetery in Livingston Co., Michigan.⁸
     On 19 September 1838 she and her husband William, described as being of Lyons, Oakland Co., Michigan, bought land in Section 25 in Brighton, Livingston Co., Michigan.⁹ They apparently didn't move there at that time, however, as they sold this land to Evert Woodruff for $800 on 18 July 1841, when they were still described as being of Oakland Co., Michigan.^9,10
     In 1844 she and William moved to Cascade, Kent Co., Michigan, where they bought a 105-acre farm.⁷ They are listed in the census there in 1850, along with Alfred, Ira, George, Nancy, and Edwin Town.⁴
     On 23 February 1855 she and William, described as being of Cascade, Kent Co., Michigan, bought land in Section 11 in Iosco, Livingston Co., Michigan. On the same date, they also bought land in Section 7 of Marion Twp., Livingston Co., Michigan.⁹ On 24 March 1856 they bought additional land in Iosco, in Section 7.⁹
     She and William moved to Marion Twp., Livingston Co., Michigan, in 1856.⁷ By 1859 they owned 235 acres in Sections 7 and 8.¹¹ They are listed there in the 1860 census, along with Alfred (age 28), Ira C. (24), Nancy M. (19), Edwin W. (13), Frances (8), Otis O. (6), Minerva (24), and William Town (3).¹² They are again listed there in 1870, along with Edwin W., Frances, and Otis Town. Also listed in the same household is Jennie McGran, age 27, a domestic servant.⁵
     In 1872 they sold some of their land in Section 7 in Iosco, and most of their land in Section 7 of Marion Twp.⁹

     Alfred Bartlett Town was born on 18 June 1831 in Lyons, Ontario Co., New York.¹ He married Minerva Jane Teeple, daughter of George W. Teeple and Samantha Cook, on 4 December 1855 in Cascade, Kent Co., Michigan.¹ He died on 14 July 1891 (11 July 1891 according to the Charles A. Towne microfilm collection) in Cascade Twp., Kent Co., Michigan, at age 60 from a strangulated hernia.^3,1
     He is listed in the household of his father William Town in the 1850 census in Cascade, Kent Co., Michigan.⁴ He is again listed in his father's household in the 1860 census, along with his wife Minerva and son William, this time in Marion, Livingston Co., Michigan.⁵ His occupation is given as farmer.^5,1
     He and Minerva apparently moved to Cascade, Kent Co., Michigan, sometime between 20 April 1863, when their son Elbert was born in Livingston Co., Michigan, and 5 March 1865, when their daughter Samantha was born in Kent Co.¹ They are listed there in the 1870 census with their children William (14), Bertie (7), Samantha (5), and Jennie (3).⁶ He is again listed as a farmer, with real estate valued at $3000, and personal property valued at $900.⁶
     They may have moved back to Livingston Co. for a time, since Alfred, at least, was living on the northwest corner of State and Fourth in Brighton Village, Livingston Co., Michigan, in 1873, according to the Livingston County Directory.⁷ On 28 April 1877 they sold land described as "Village Lots numbers one Hundred and eighty six (186) and one Hundred and eighty seven (187) on Smith and McPherson Addition" in Brighton, Livingston Co., Michigan, to their son William for $400. The deed was not recorded until 4 March 1886.⁸ In 1880 they, and all four of their children, were again living in Cascade, Kent Co., Michigan.⁹
     He received $274.66 in the settlement of his father William Town's estate on 2 August 1888.²
     On 21 June 1888 he was appointed by the court in Grand Rapids, Kent Co., Michigan, as guardian of his nephew Edwin W. Town.²
     Politically, he was a Democrat.¹

     Ira Clark Town was born on 5 May 1833 in Lyons, Ontario Co., New York.^2,1 He married Celinda Emergene Beach on 18 March 1862 at the residence of L. E. Beach (Emergene's father?) in Livingston Co., Michigan.⁴ He died on 5 February 1920 in Bloomer Twp., Montcalm Co., Michigan, at age 86 from a cerebral hemorrage, with arteriosclerosis as a contributing factor.² He was buried on 8 February 1920 in Crystal, Montcalm Co., Michigan.²
     He is listed in the household of his father William Town in the 1850 census in Cascade, Kent Co., Michigan.⁵ He is again listed in his father's household in the 1860 census, this time in Marion, Livingston Co., Michigan.⁶ His occupation is given as farmer.⁶
     In 1870 he and his wife Celinda are listed in Crystal Twp., Montcalm Co., Michigan, with their children Merton, Eddie, and Eulah. Their real estate was valued at $2000, and their personal estate at $400.⁷ They are listed there again in 1880 and 1900, along with their children Merton, Edward, Eula, Minnie, and Nina in 1880, and Nina in 1900.^8,9 In 1910 they were living in Bloomer Twp., Montcalm Co., Michigan.^10,11
     He received $274.66 in the settlement of his father William Town's estate on 2 August 1888.³

     Nancy Marie Town was born on 18 May 1841 in New Hudson, Oakland Co., Michigan.^1,4,5 She married Cutting Bagley Wiley, son of James Wiley and Submit (?), on 13 October 1865 in Howell, Livingston Co., Michigan.⁶ She died on 14 September 1908 at Bronson Hospital in Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo Co., Michigan, at age 67 from "obstruction of bowels due to cancer."¹ She was buried on 17 September 1908 at Lakeside Cemetery in Livingston Co., Michigan.^7,1
     She and her husband Cutting were living in Stockbridge, Ingham Co., Michigan, in 1870, along with their children Otis and May, and with Jessa Wiley, Cutting's daughter from his first marriage.⁸ In 1880 they were living in Brighton, Livingston Co., Michigan, with their children Otis, May, Elba, Fordyce, and Forbes, next door to her father William Town.⁹
     On 26 August 1884 she bought land in Brighton, Livingston Co., Michigan, described as lot numbers 229, 230, 144, and 146, all in the Smith and McPherson addition, for $200. The seller was William Town, but it's not clear whether this was her father or nephew (son of her half-brother Alfred).¹⁰ She was living with her daughter Elba (Wiley) Rickett's family in Brighton Twp., Livingston Co., Michigan, in 1900.¹¹
     She received $274.66 in the settlement of her father William Town's estate on 2 August 1888.³

     Edwin William Town was born on 9 December 1846 in Kent Co., Michigan.^3,2 He married Mary L. Prior, daughter of Chauncy Prior and Orill Thompson, on 23 November 1870 in Howell, Livingston Co., Michigan.² He died on 25 March 1871 in Marion Twp., Livingston Co., Michigan, at age 24 from a broken spinal cord suffered in a fall in his barn. Several days previously he told his wife that he would "show her a trick," and jumped up and grabbed a ring bolt used for tying up horses. The bolt pulled out and he fell, causing him to be paralyzed below his shoulders.^4,5 He was buried at Lakeside Cemetery in Livingston Co., Michigan.⁶
     He is called William Edwin Town in the Charles A. Towne collection, and in his death record, but Edwin or Edwin W. in all other records found online.^3,4
     The identification of his wife Mary L. Prior's parents as Chauncy Prior and Orill Thompson is based on circumstantial evidence.

• Their son Edwin moved to Floyd Co., Iowa, about 1881, at age 10. In 1886 he petitioned the court, asking that S. P. Wetherbee of St. Charles, Floyd Co., be named as his guardian.⁷
• The 1880 census for St. Charles Twp. lists the family of Samuel P. Wetherbee (43), with wife Emma A. (40, born in Michigan).⁸
• S. P. Wetherbee (27) married Emma A. Prior (22) on 2 November 1862 in Eckford, Calhoun Co., Michigan.⁹
• The death certificate for Emma Prior Wetherbee (born 17 December 1840, died 30 April 1928) names her husband Samuel P. Wetherbee, and parents Chauncy Prior and Orril Thompson.¹⁰
• The 1905 state census for Ward 2, Charles City, Floyd Co., Iowa, lists Aryl Prior (88), Emma A. Wetherbee (65), and S. P. Wetherbee (69), on adjacent cards.^11,12,13
• Orril Prior (1817-1905), S. P. Wetherbee (1835-1915), and Emma A. Wetherbee (1839-1928) are buried at adjacent sites (Block 5, Section 45, Row 7, Spaces 1-3) at Riverside Cemetery in Charles City, Floyd Co., Iowa.¹⁴
• The 1850 census for Albion Twp., Calhoun Co., Michigan, lists Chauncy and Orilla Prior with five children, including Emma A. (age 11) and Mary L. (2).¹⁵
• Chauncy Prior died 5 July 1852. His probate records list his widow Orril Prior, and children Edgar Davis Prior, Emma Abia Prior, Earl Webster Prior, Julia Imogene Prior, and Mary Lucinda Prior, all living in Albion Twp., Calhoun Co., Michigan.¹⁶

From the above evidence, it can be reasonably concluded that when Edwin and Mary's son Edwin moved to Iowa about 1881, it was because he had family there - namely his mother Mary Lucinda (Prior) Town's sister Emma Abia (Prior) Wetherbee - and that Mary's parents were thus Chauncy Prior and Orill Thompson.
     In the census he is listed in his father's household as late as 1870, when his occupation is given as farm laborer.¹⁷

     Frances Evelyn Town was born in November 1851 in Marion Twp., Livingston Co., Michigan. (Her obituary, and the Charles A. Towne microfilm collection, both list her birth date as 18 November 1851, but her death certificate says 8 November.)^3,1,2 She died on 4 March 1944 at the home of her grand-niece Mrs. James Toy in Granville Twp., Licking Co., Ohio, at age 92 from pneumonia.^2,1 She was buried at Lakeside Cemetery in Livingston Co., Michigan.^5,1
     Her mother died in 1875 when Frances was 23, and her father was 70.⁶ She cared for her father the rest of his life, and pledged not to marry until after his death.¹ She's listed with him in the 1880 census in Brighton, Livingston Co., Michigan, along with her brother Otis and his wife Jennie.⁷
     On 6 March 1886, about a week after her father's death, she bought land in Brighton Twp., Livingston Co., from her brother Otis and his wife for $500. The land is described as village lots 231, 232, 152, 153, 196, 197, 186, 187, and 93, all on McPherson's Addition.⁸ She received $274.66 in the settlement of her father's estate on 2 August 1888.⁴
     After her father's death she lived at times with a variety of neighbors for a couple of weeks each, making clothes for the family. She later lived with nieces and nephews, in particular her niece Elba (Wiley) Rickett and nephew Forbes B. Wiley.¹ She's listed in the census with the Ricketts in Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo Co., Michigan, in 1910⁹, and in Granville, Licking Co., Ohio, in 1920 and 1930.^10,11 Elba died in 1934¹², and Frances is listed in the 1940 census as a resident at the Licking County Home for the Aged Poor in Union Twp.¹³ She later moved in with the family of her grand-niece Ruth Toy (Elba's daughter) in Granville Twp., where she died in 1944.¹

     Celinda Emergene Beach was born in November 1841 in Livingston Co., Michigan.^4,5 She married Ira Clark Town, son of William M. Town and Maria (?), on 18 March 1862 at the residence of L. E. Beach (her father?) in Livingston Co., Michigan.¹
     At the time of her marriage, she was living in Iosco, Livingston Co., Michigan.¹ She and her husband Ira are listed in the census of 1870 in Crystal Twp., Montcalm Co., Michigan, with their children Merton, Eddie, and Eulah. Their real estate was valued at $2000, and their personal estate at $400.⁶ They are listed there again in 1880 and 1900, along with their children Merton, Edward, Eula, Minnie, and Nina in 1880, and Nina in 1900.^7,5 In 1910 they were living in Bloomer Twp., Montcalm Co., Michigan.^8,9