Looking for descendants of Thomas Houston, born in Scotland about 1815-1820. Came to Michigan about 1855 or so. Children were James, Robert, George, Mary and Arvilla. George is my great grandfather. George was married to Ella Beebe, with whom he had 4 children, Claude Ross, Ida, Blanche and Floyd. He then divorced, and married a Cora? and had one son, Earl.

Thomas was a farmer and I find him in the 1870 census with his children but no wife.

I have also found out that George was a Water Commissioner for about 4-6 years about 1905 or so. Family stories say he was also a teacher but no records that I can find as yet.

If anyone is related to this family , I would love to talk to you

Not related but if you don't have the 1860 census it lists the following.
Thomas age 40 born in Scotland
Ann C. age 32 born in Scotland

James age 7 born in N.Y.
Robert age 5 born in Mi.
George listed in the 1870 was 19 so he would be 9 in the 1860 but he's not there, where was he?

http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/mi/kalamazoo/census/1850/



The above is the 1850 census, Portage Twp. is numbers 068A through 076B.
Jeff

Jeff,

Thanks for the reply. George for some reason is evidently not at home. Your math is a little short there. If you read George's age as 19, (in 1870) then he should have been born in 1851. However I have him as being born in1858. Whatever the case thats a lot of help.

Never knew what his wifes name was . So he was married at the time of the 1860 census. Wonder what happened by 1870?

Thanks for the help,

Bill Marshall

Bill,
I checked the Mi. 1870 census and its 12 or 13 for Georges age. I looked at it on Heritage Quest and they had it as age 19 which I can see from the writing it would be easy to make a mistake. The 1858 DOB must be correct. I have Thomas listed up to 1910 age 89, in 1920 George is with Cora "age" 43 with no children. Hopefully the volunteer's at the Co. Clerk's office will check some vitals for you. Thomas' daughter Mary was listed as living with him until 1910 then both were gone by 1920. The 1910 census has George as 2nd marriage and Cora 1st. "and they had been married 20 years" with George listed as water commissioner. Cora's father Edwin Shirley was living with them in 1910. That 1850 census I sent won't do you any good as they were in N.Y. then cause James was born in N.Y. about 1853. If you need any of these other census pages let me know and i'll send them.
Jeff

Just got an e-mail on my regular account from a Scott in Pennsylvania. Says he has a Cora Jane Shirley that fits the info I gave. We are corresponding about his info now.

And yes, can you e-mail me the 1910 census file. Your help has been great. Thanks,

Bill

Kalamazoo County Clerk’s Death Record Book 1947, page Texas Twp 5. George HOUSTON; age 89 yrs 9 mos 20 days; DOD 1 Dec 1947; POD 3138 Colony Farm Rd.(5 months residency); DOB 11 Feb 1858; POB Portage Twp. Mich; marital status Widowed; spouse Cora HOUSTON; occ. Retired City Water Commissioner; cause Undetermined-sudden; father Thomas HOUSTON born Scotland; mother Ann STEWERT born Scotland; burial 4 Dec 1947 at Riverside Cemetery (Kalamazoo) by Truesdale's Funeral Home; informant Floyd E. Haynes of 3138 Colony Farm Rd.
(Posted by a volunteer-no family connection)

Kalamazoo County Clerk’s Death Record Book 4, page 39. Thomas HOUSTON; age 90 yrs 6 mos 5 days; DOD 29 Oct 1910; POD Portage; POB Scotland; marital status Widower; occ Farmer; cause Apoplexy; father Andrew HOUSTON; mother Elizabeth CASWELL. (Posted by a volunteer-no family connection)

Kalamazoo County Clerk’s Death Record Book 1926, page Schoolcraft Twp 2. Cora Jane HOUSTON; age 59 yrs 7 mos 22 days; DOD 2 April 1926; POD Schoolcraft Twp; POB Indiana; marital status Married; occ Housewife; cause Apoplexy; father Edwin SHIRLEY born New York; mother Sarah HALL born NEW YORK. (Posted by a volunteer-no family connection)

Kalamazoo County Clerk’s Marriage Record Book 4, page 272, doc. no. 4192. Groom George HOUSTON (found as Huston in index-had been corrected,in pencil, to HOUSTON in record); age 22; occ Farmer; res Portage; POB Portage. Bride Ella M. BEEBE; age 18; res Schoolcraft; POB Schoolcraft. DOM 12 May 1880; POM Schoolcraft; official E.M. Loof, Minister; wits Henry E. Walbarn & Lucinda Walbarn both of Three Rivers, Michigan. (Posted by a volunteer-no family connection)