Person Page

     William Adelbert Johnson was born on 2 April 1852 in Monroe, Ashtabula Co., Ohio.^4,3 He was married by A. M. Buck, Minister, to Sarah Medora Taylor, daughter of William Taylor and Amorette Wason, on 1 January 1883 in Otsego, Allegan Co., Michigan.^1,5 He died on 24 June 1927 in Battle Creek, Calhoun Co., Michigan, at age 75 from an embolism, after prostate surgery.³ He was buried on 27 June 1927 at Mountain Home Cemetery in Otsego, Allegan Co., Michigan.^4,6,3
     He and his wife Dora lived in Otsego, Allegan Co., Michigan, where they are listed in the censuses from 1900 to 1920. In 1920 they had as boarders Grace Johnson, age 17, and Elasco Sherwood, age 80.^7,8,2
     He was a bridge carpenter by trade, working for the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railroad most of his career, until his retirement about 1922 at age 70. He was also described as a master craftsman, with homes, barns, and the interior work in the local school as evidence of his fine work.^1,7,8,2,3,4

     Cora Belle Swikert was born on 29 October 1873 in Trowbridge Twp., Allegan Co., Michigan.^4,5,6 She was married first, by Thos. Laity of the M. E. Church, to Irving Cooley, son of Egbert Cooley and Elizabeth Irving, on 28 September 1896 in Bloomingdale, Van Buren Co., Michigan. The witnesses were A. L. and May Burlingham.^7,1 She was married second, by Henry Abraham, to Elmer Elsworth Leighton, son of Samuel Leighton and Hannah Gulick, on 10 July 1901 in Otsego, Allegan Co., Michigan.^3,8 She married third Lowell Herbert, son of Andrus J. Herbert and Adelia Robinson, between 1920 and 1930.^4,1,9,10,11 She died on 9 February 1953 in Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo Co., Michigan, at age 79.⁴ She was buried on 11 February 1953 in Plainwell, Allegan Co., Michigan.⁴
     She and her second husband Elmer Leighton are listed in Otsego, Allegan Co., Michigan, in the 1910 census, along with their daughter Eileen, Elmer's children Natalie, Ruth, and William from his first marriage, and Cora's son Basil Cooley from her first marriage.¹² In 1920 they are listed in Otsego with their children Eileen and Everett, Elmer's son William, and two boarders.⁹
     She is listed in Otsego with her third husband Lowell Herbert in the 1930 census, along with her children Eileen and Everett Leighton.¹¹ They are again listed in Otsego in 1940. Living with them were Lowell's widowed father Andrew, and Cora's widowed sister Jessie.¹³

     Elmer Elsworth Leighton was born on 22 August 1861 (his death certificate actually says 22 August 1871, but 1861 is consistent with the age at death given on the death certificate and with his age at marriage) in Otsego, Allegan Co., Michigan.^2,3 He married first Minnie C. Richard.¹ He was married second, by Henry Abraham, to Cora Belle Swikert, daughter of Jesse Swikert and Amorette Wason, on 10 July 1901 in Otsego, Allegan Co., Michigan.^3,1 He died on 11 October 1920 in Otsego, Allegan Co., Michigan, at age 59 from arteriosclerosis, after being in declining health for four years.^2,1 He was buried on 13 October 1920 at Mountain Home Cemetery in Otsego, Allegan Co., Michigan.^1,2
     He and his second wife Cora are listed in Otsego, Allegan Co., Michigan, in the 1910 census, along with their daughter Eileen, Elmer's children Natalie, Ruth, and William from his first marriage, and Cora's son Basil Cooley from her first marriage.⁴ He ran a shop that sold pumps and drove wells.^5,4,6 He was a member of the International Order of Odd Fellows.¹ In 1920 they are listed in Otsego with their children Eileen and Everett, Elmer's son William, and two boarders.⁶

     William James Taylor was born on 16 February 1857 in Otsego, Allegan Co., Michigan.^1,2 He married first Hallie May Barnes on 30 September 1884 in Trowbridge, Allegan Co., Michigan.⁵ They were divorced on 29 March 1898 in Kalamazoo Co., Michigan (filed by Hallie on 18 November 1897, charging desertion and failure to support, and not contested).⁶ He was married second, by C. W. Jones, Minister, to Lorinda Babbit, daughter of Charles Babbit and Mary Healey, on 7 May 1898 in Trowbridge, Allegan Co., Michigan.^3,7 Lorinda filed for divorce on 28 June 1909. The divorce was contested, but nonetheless granted on 15 October 1909 in Van Buren Co., Michigan.⁸ However, they were remarried just over a month later, by Herman H. Cook, J. P., on 26 November 1909 in Allegan, Allegan Co., Michigan.⁴ Lorinda again filed for divorce, on 28 March 1910. This time the divorce was not contested, and was granted on 26 October 1910 in Allegan Co., Michigan.⁹ He married for the fourth time (but as his third wife) Arleva Hicks, daughter of Patrick Hicks and Elizabeth Carr, on 7 August 1915 in Allegan, Allegan Co., Michigan.¹⁰ They may have separated (or divorced), as they are listed separately in the 1930 census, both as widowed. Arleva's death certificate, however, lists her as Arleva Taylor, married.^11,12,13 He died on 6 March 1937 in Brower Hospital, Plainwell, Allegan Co., Michigan, at age 80.¹ He was buried on 9 March 1937 at Mountain Home Cemetery in Otsego, Allegan Co., Michigan.¹
     He also went by the nickname Cade.^7,11
     He is listed in the household of his mother Amorette and stepfather Jesse Swikert in the 1870 census in Otsego, Allegan Co., Michigan.¹⁴ He is again listed with them in the 1880 census in Trowbridge Twp., Allegan Co., Michigan, but with the surname Swikert.¹⁵
     He is listed in Otsego with his second wife Lorinda in the 1900 census, along with Lorinda's five-year-old son Clyde Herring from her first marriage.¹⁶
     He has not been found in the 1910 census, but he and his third wife Arleva are listed together in Otsego in 1920.¹⁷ In the 1930 census Cade is listed as a widower living with his widowed sister Dora Johnson at 309 Morrell St. in Otsego, while Arleva is listed as a widow living with her son Meoine just four houses away, at 329 Morrell St.^18,12
     He had several jobs throughout his life, initially including farming and painting, and later worked in a variety of positions in the paper mills in Otsego.^15,5,3,4

     Martha Sherwood was married by Col. Barnes of Gull Prairie to Oka Town on 11 October 1832 in Pine Creek, Allegan Co., Michigan. For the wedding, Col. Barnes and Oka Town walked to the bride's home, wading the Kalamazoo River at Aldrich's Crossing. The next day the bride's brother Edmund Sherwood took them back to the groom's home with his ox team.^2,1 She died in 1842.¹
     She was (probably) a witness to the marriage of Ann Sherwood and Philip Burlingham on 27 April 1836 in Otsego Twp., Allegan Co., Michigan.³

     Oka Town was born on 2 July 1806 in Stoddard, Cheshire Co., New Hampshire.² He was married first, by Col. Barnes of Gull Prairie, to Martha Sherwood, daughter of Hull Sherwood and Ann Eaton, on 11 October 1832 in Pine Creek, Allegan Co., Michigan. For the wedding, Col. Barnes and Oka Town walked to the bride's home, wading the Kalamazoo River at Aldrich's Crossing. The next day the bride's brother Edmund Sherwood took them back to the groom's home with his ox team.^1,2 He married second (?) White on 11 October 1845.² He married third Sarah A. Eldred on 17 October 1847.^2,3 He died on 24 March 1895 (an "About Towne" newsletter says 4 May 1895) in Allegan Co., Michigan, at age 88.^2,4
     He served during the Black Hawk War in Barneiz's Michigan Volunteers.^2,4, and received a pension for his military service (Pension No. SC-261 MI, dated 10 December 1892). After his death, his widow Sarah had widow's certificate WC-4217 MI.⁴
     He lived in Gull Prairie, Michigan, from 1 September 1831 to March 1834.² In March 1834 he moved to Pine Creek, Allegan Co., Michigan, where he settled on a farm in Otsego Twp., Section 27.² With the help of his father-in-law Hull Sherwood, he built a grist mill at Pine Creek.²
     He officiated at the marriage of his sister-in-law Ann Sherwood to Philip Burlingham on 27 April 1836 in Otsego Twp.⁵, and was appointed administrator of his brother-in-law Giles Scott's estate about 1843.⁶
     In 1834 he was appointed a Justice of the Peace by Gov. Mason², and later became the first probate judge in Allegan Co.³ He served as Allegan Co.'s representative to the first state legislature after the capitol was moved to Lansing (from Detroit, in 1847)³, and was Allegan Co.'s representative to the 1850 Michigan Constitutional Convention.³