PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD (History of Berrien and Cass County Michigan -published 1893- by: Biographical Publishing Company) p.699-700 HENRY NELSON CAMERON, a prosperous general farmer of Cass County, resides section 8, Howard Township, and is well known and highly respected among the citizens of the community. He is a native of Pennsylvania and was born in Juniata County, on the 11th of October, 1824.
His father, Joseph Cameron, was born in Lebanon County, Pa., being the son of Lewis Cameron, a native of Scotland, who emigrated to America when a mere boy. The mother of our subject was Mary, the daughter of Peter Burris, both natives of the Keystone State, the mother having been born in Juniata County. In Juniata County, Joseph Cameron and Miss Mary Burris were united in marriage, and, locating there, they commenced housekeeping on a modest scale. He was a carpenter and followed that trade with considerable success. In 1854, accompanied by their children, they started on the long journey to Illinois, expecting to locate in that state permanently. On the day of their arrival in Galena, the wife and mother died, also one of the children, the victims of that dread disease, cholera. After this heavy bereavement the father proceeded to Stephenson County, Ill., and in the fall of 1854 came to Berrien County, this state.
He died in Clay twp.St.Joseph Co., Ind., at the age of sixty-five. In the parental family there were four children who grew to mature years. They were: Henry N., of this sketch; Catherine, deceased; Mary Ann, the wife of George Kizer, of Clay County, Ind.; and Susan, widow of Roy Eastwood, of South Bend, Ind. Our subject, the eldest of the family, was reared in Juniata County, where he attended the district schools, and worked during the vacation seasons on the farm. In 1853 he came to Michigan, and, locating in Berrien County, worked at the trade of carpenter during one summer. Afterward he rented a farm belonging to David Rough and located in Bertrand Township. For one year his sister was his housekeeper, but at the expiration of that time he brought a wife to his cozy home. The lady who on the 11th of April, 1854, became the wife of Mr. Cameron was formerly Miss Mary R. Williams, and was born in Cass County, Mich., April 1, 1838. Her parents, William H. and Ann (Parmer/Palmer?) Williams, were natives of Delaware, and died at the respective ages of eighty-one and seventy-nine. They had nine children, all of whom married and reared families. After his marriage, our subject rented a farm in Bertrand Township, remaining there for four years. When he located on that place he was in debt to the amount of $80, but he prospered to such an extent that at the expiration of four years he was the possessor of $2,300 in cash, four head of good horses and nineteen head of cattle.
From Berrien County Mr. Cameron removed to Iowa, where he invested in lands and remained for two years. Later he rented a farm consisting of one hundred and sixty acres in Berrien County, residing there for four years. Next he purchased a farm of one hundred and sixty acres on section 17, Howard Township, Cass County, and continued to cultivate this property for a period of fifteen years, when he sold a portion of the estate and located at his present place of residence. Here he owns three hundred and thirteen acres, all under cultivation with the exception of fifty acres of timber-land. Mr. and Mrs. Cameron have been the parents of fifteen children: William J., of Marcellus, Mich.,; Sarah J., formerly a school teacher, now the wife of W.D. Young, of Dakota; Mary A., the wife of Solomon Walker, a resident of Berrien County, Mich.; Alice A., Mrs. Arthur Walter, of Washington; Edwin S., who formerly followed the profession of a teacher and is now a prominent citizen of Kettle Falls, Wash.; George B., who resides in Howard Township, Cass County; Cora B. and Carrie M., who are successful teachers; Charles A. and Frank N., who reside with their parents; Maud E., wife of Lewis Moore; Henry W., Simon, Frank and Rosa Z., the four last-named being deceased. The surviving children have received the best educational advantages possible, and five of them have been teachers. In politics a Democrat, Mr. Cameron has served as Justice of the Peace and Road Commissioner. In his religious convictions he is an earnest Christian and a devote member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He is a man who carries his religious belief into his practical everyday life, proving by the uprightness and honor of his life the sincerity of his belief. As a citizen, he is public-spirited and energetic, always favoring the measures which in his judgment will benefit the community.
1 Joseph* Cameron ---------------------------------------- Birth: 28 Feb
1795, Mifflin Co., PA now Juniata Co. as of 1831 Death: 31 Jan 1864, Clay Twp.,
Saint Joseph Co., Indiana
Burial: Smith Cemetery, Milton Twp., Cass Co., MI
Occ: Carpenter Father: Lewis Cameron (<1770-~1846)
Mother: Ms.*(Susan?)
Wolf (<1780-~)
Find Joseph Cameron family next to Peter Burris in
Greenwood Twp.,Mifflin Co.,PA in 1830,then in 1840 Greenwood is in Juniata Co
census.The 1850 Greenwood census shows John Cameron as head of household with
Mary,Henry,Mary,Susan next to the Rush family. Story varies between 1850-54
about this trip west down the Ohio river to Illinois,Joseph (Mary,Catherine and
her husband John Rush and their two girls & Mary Ann started the long trip
to Galena, IL expecting to locate permanently.On the day of their arrival on
the banks of the Mississippi,Mary"Polly" died of Cholera,Catherine and Mr.Rush
died a few days later.Joseph proceeded 30 miles east on to Stephenson Co.,IL
then in the Fall of 1854 came to join his son Henry in Bertrand Twp.,Berrien
Co.,MI.Joseph was a Carpenter.
1850 census shows them living in
Greenwood,Juniata Co.,PA.near the Rush family Marker in Milton Twp says 68
years 11 months. Juniata county was created in 1831,see also Mifflin Co.,PA
1900 census for Henry N. Cameron shows his father born in Scotland?
Spouse: Mary Ann* "Polly" Burris Birth: 2 Oct 1804, Juniata Co., PA
Death: 1854, Ohio/Miss River/Galena, IL- of Cholera
Father: Philip* Burris
(~1760-1841) Mother: Catharine * Gabel (~1770->1830)
Marr: abt 1822,
Juniata Co., PA
Children: Henry Nelson* (1824-1911)
Catherine
(1828-1854)
Mary Ann (1836-1898)
Susan (1842-1928)
1.1 Hon. Henry Nelson* Cameron
Birth: 11 Oct 1824, Greenwood,
Mifflin Co., Pennslyvania - Death: 2 Nov 1911, Howard Twp., Cass Co., MI
Burial: Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles, MI Occ: Carpenter, Farmer,Justice of
the peace,road commissioner,320 acres in Howard twp-1896.First settled in
Bertrand about 1853 Reli: Medodist Episcopal
PA PA PA
Schooled in Junitia Co,PA,came to Niles area in the early 1850's as a
carpenter, rented a farm in Pokagon Prairie from David Rough in Berrien
Co.,MI,Met and married Mary Williams of Edwardsburg.After 4 years and $2,300 in
cash later family moved out to Charles City,Chickasaw Co., Iowa for 2 years
investing in Land.Then came back to Bertrand Twp.,Berrien Co.,MI in 1860
census.then 60 acres/Howard Twp.,Cass Co.,MI 160 acres section 17.Died of
Cereberal Hemorage.His father Joseph came to Niles after the deaths in Illinois
from Cholera,then removed to Niles & Howard Twp and 320 acres which part
became the Michigan Central RR Terminals(White street and Thompson rd).Cass
county land in 1872 -CAMERON,H N HO 8-17 1870 in Howard Twp.,Cass Co.,MI 1910
living in Niles city 3rd ward dist 81,Berrien Co.,MI
11/2/1911 - pg 1 Niles
Daily Sun - death record states Cerebral Hemorrhage
Spouse: Mary Anne* Williams - Birth: 1 Apr 1838, Edwardsburg, Cass Co.,
MI - Death: 28 Jan 1911, Howard Twp., Cass Co., MI
Father: William Henry*
Williams (~1806-1887)
Mother: Nancy Ann* Palmer (~1801-1880) - Marr: 11 Apr
1854
Children:
William Joseph (1855-1938)
Sarah Jane (1856-1927)
Mary Ann* (1858-1943)
Alice Ann (1859-1917)
Edwin S. (1863-1939)
George Burris (1866-1955)
Cora B. (1867-1902)
Carrie M. (1870-1942)
Maude Ester (1871-1894)
Charles A. (1876-1901)
Frank Nelson
(1879-1967)
Henry Williams (1860-1862)
Simon Peter (1864-1869)
Frank (1879-)
Rosa Zell (1874-1877)
1 William Joseph Cameron -- Birth: 3 Feb 1855, Howard Twp., Cass Co., MI
Death: 25 Jul 1938, Niles , Berrien Co., MI Burial: Youngs Prairie Cemetery,
Cassopolis, MI Occ: farm implement store
operator
lived in Marcellus, MI for a time.1880
living in Howard Twp.,Cass Co.,MI.
Spouse: Laura
Adda Nixon Birth: 13 May 1853, Penn Twp., Cass Co., MI Death: 28 Oct 1930,
Niles , Berrien Co., MI Father: John Nixon (1808-) Mother: Esther Jones (1814-)
Marr: 15 Oct 1878, Cassopolis, Cass Co., MI
Their Children:
Don or Dan
(1879-1896) - Birth: 26 Apr 1879, Howard Twp., Cass Co., MI Death: 9 Jun 1896
Burial: Youngs Prairie Cemetery, Cassopolis, MI
Lula (1880-1884) - Birth:
1880 Death: 1884 Burial: Youngs Prairie Cemetery, Cassopolis, MI
Phineas
(1881-1882) - Birth: 11 Nov 1881, Penn twp.,Cass Co.,Michigan Death: 10 May
1882, Penn twp.,Cass Co.,Michigan Burial: Youngs Prairie Cemetery, Cassopolis,
MI - 8 months old Spring fever
Carl Frank (1888-1959) - Birth: 22 Sep 1888,
Genesee, Idaho Territory Death: 16 Feb 1959, Pharr, TX Occ: Niles city
clerk,Kawaneer Supertendant 524 Cedar St. WWI Vet,adopted Clydene Hallam.
2/18/1959 - pg 2 Star
Maude Ester (1890-1975) - Birth: 27 Dec 1890, Hoquiam,
Washington Death: 21 Jul 1975, South Bend, IN? Burial: Youngs Prairie Cemetery,
Penn Twp., Cassopolis, MI - Occ: Ellsworth Dept.Store - never married,worked at
Ellsworth dept. store in S.Bend,IN. - 7/22/1975 pg 2 Niles Daily Star
Carl Frank (William Joseph Cameron's son)
Spouse: Ethel Rhoda
Higgens Hallam - Birth: 13 Feb 1894, Columbus, KA Death: 28 Apr 1963, Niles
Berrien Co., MI - Father: Henry Cooper Higgens - -Mother: Lizzie May Cowell
Marr: 2 May 1920 Children:
Thelma Mae