Genealogy and Family History Publications
About Henry Mead
From William Frank Arlington: Henry Mead moved from Seneca County, New York,to Oakland County, Michigan, in 1832, at the age of 21. He located on Sec. 27, purchasing over 300 acres, partly from the government. By 1874, he had obtained 860 acres. In 1855, he was Justice of the Peace and served as county superintendent of the poor in 1856.
From Oakland County, pages 412-13:
"Henry Mead. Among the men who have prospered in worldly affairs so that they are able in their declining years to retire from active life, secure in the thought that they have a competence sufficient to supply their wants, is Henry Mead, who has for some time past been living in Pontiac. He was formerly engaged in farming and still owns outlying property, but since 1874 he has lived in the city and contented himself with looking after his financial interests, while relieved from undue exertion. He occupies a pleasant residence on North Perry Street, in a good location, where he is supplied with all of the comforts heart could wish and whence he is able to attend such gatherings, as he desires.
"The paternal grandfather of our subject was Ezra Mead, of Vermont, who was of English descent, and his maternal grandfather was Moses Cole, a native of New York. Michael Mead was born in Rutland County, VT, in 1770, and Abigail Cole opened her eyes to the light in Saratoga County, NY in 1785. The marriage of this couple was solemnized in Seneca County and they settled on a farm there. Mr. Mead died March 4, 1834, and Mrs. Mead April 26, 1853. They reared a family of six children, named respectively, Ezra, Phi Linda, Lewis, Fanny, Henry, and Stephen, but only Henry and Stephen are now living.
"The birth of Henry Mead occurred in Seneca County, NY, May 28, 1811, and he spent his boyhood in Romulus Township, attending school during the winter months and working on the farm in the summer. He was accompanied by a bride of a few days -- Miss Maria Rattan, daughter of John Rattan. The young couple took up their abode in Waterford Township, this county, and opened up a new farm of two hundred acres. Good buildings were erected on the tract; the number being added to from time to time as the cleared land grew in extent and more storage room was necessary. Mr. Mead bought three hundred and sixty acres more and after a few years made another purchase of one hundred and twenty acres. He carried on general farming and raised sheep and cattle until 1874, when he traded one hundred and sixty acres of his land for city property and moved to Pontiac.
"The bride of Mr. Mead's early manhood died in June 1837, leaving one son, Delos, who is now a resident of Tuscola, Mich. In September, 1838 Mr. Mead made a second marriage, wedding Eunice C. Wilson, a native of Saratoga County, NY, who was at that time living in Niagara County. Her father was Alexander Wilson. This union resulted in the birth of five children, but only one survives to this writing. This is Linda, wife of Ebb Voorheis, whose home is in Pontiac and whose family consists of six children. The devoted member of the Presbyterian Church and was connected with that religious body forty years. She breathed her last November 1, 1890, after a wedded life of fifty-two years.
"Mr. Mead is politically a stanch Democrat and the list of Presidential candidates for whom he has voted was headed by the name of Gen. Jackson and closes with that of Grover Cleveland. He has been a member of the Presbyterian Church for forty-five years and has served as Deacon for a long time. In 1866, while living on the farm, he met with a serious accident. He had placed a ladder on a wagon and was standing on the rounds, pitching shocks to a party who was topping off a stack when the ladder slipped and he was thrown violently to the ground, breaking both legs. He was kept in bed sixty-five days, during which time he suffered a good deal, besides being punished by the confinement to the house."