Dear Barbara,
Did your grandmother Delia have a brother, Arthur H?
Your grandmother was named for her Mother's sister, Blanche SQUANCE born 1877 in Michigan, shown here in the 1920 census with her husband and mother, Martha SQUANCE:
Michigan DELTA 2 WD-GLADSTONE Series: T625 Roll: 762 Page: 240
Wm. Skelberger? Head 43 Married b. Michigan
Blanche Skelberger Wife 43 Married b. Michigan
1 daughter & 4 sons
Martha SQUANCE Mother/Law 71 Widowed b. Canada
Moses Denny SQUANCE was born Feb 1839 in Canada, and married Martha M. WINEGARDEN 16 April 1870, Norwichville, Ontario, Canada.
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The family is shown in the following censuses:
n 1880:
Census Place: 4th Ward, Big Rapids, Mecosta, Michigan
Source: FHL Film 1254594 National Archives Film T9-0594 Page 664D
Relation Sex Marr Race Age Birthplace
Moses SQUANCE Self M M W 41 CAN
Martha SQUANCE Wife F M W 31 CAN
Mary D. SQUANCE Dau F S W 7 MI
Blanche SQUANCE Dau F S W 3 MI
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Directory of Big Rapids City, Mecosta County : Cadillac, Cedar Springs, Cheboygan, Fife Lake, Harbor Springs, Howard City, Kalkaska, Mackinac, Mackinaw, Petoskey, Reed City, Rockford, St. Ignace, and Traverse City : including also, Alanson, Alba, Ashton, Belmont, Boyne Falls, Crofton, Edgerton, Elmira, Kingsley, Leetsville, LeRoy, Lockwood, Luther, Mancelona, Manton, Maple Hill, Mansfield, Milton Junction, Pierson, Sand Lake, South Boardman, Tustin, Walton, and Westwood : embracing a complete alphabetical list of business firms and private citizens, city officers, churches and public schools, benevolent, literary and other associations, and a complete classified business directory of the above named places.
Detroit, Mich.: R.L. Polk & Co., 1884, 489 pgs.
SQUANCE Moses D. laborer, res e s State 1 s of William
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In 1900:
1900 ED 97 Pg 9b Line 71 127 Bronson St, Big Rapids, Mecosta, MI
age 61 Night Watchman born Canada with wife & child Martie M(f)
51 Bennie 13
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In 1910:
Michigan MECOSTA 5-WD BIG RAPIDS Series: T624 Roll: 663 Page: 75
SQUANCE Moses D. Head 71 Married 40 years b. Canada; Parents: England & New York; Immigr. 1870
SQUANCE Martha M. Wife 61 b. Canada; Parents: Canada & New York (3 children, 2 survived)
ORTON Arthur H. Grandson 17 b. Michigan; Parents: US & Michigan
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Moses Denny SQUANCE was the oldest of 5 children born to James Jeffery SQUANCE and his wife, Julia, Ann DENNY.
James Jeffery was baptised 4 October 1812, in Northam, Devon, England, oldest child (of 3) of Charles SQUANCE and his wife Elizabeth JEFFERY. I can trace the family back to John (S)QUANCE who married Elizabeth PECKARD 20 January 1703 at Parkham in North Devon, England.
If you e-mail me off list (click on my name above to find the e-mail address), I'll then send you your history as an attachment - virus scanned of course!!!
Far from being Native American, the family is a very old Devonshire name, whcih originated as QUANCE, which in turn originated from the French, Le Cointe or Qweynte.