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Putney-Powers Families Orlo E. Putney [Phoebe, Roswell], b. 17 MAR 1852 in Ashtabula County, Ohio, a child of Rufus Putney and Phoebe Powers; m. Viola P. "Ola" Bouman, September 21, 1871; d. September 26, 1929, Benzie Co., MI He married Ola, whom he met in Benzie County. The marriage ceremony was performed by Mr. Bouman (a relative, no doubt). Ola was born in Ohio in August, 1855. The preceding photo is of Orlo and Ola with children, Bertie, Loren, and Effie. According to Dahlgren, Orlo was the only one of his brothers who did not settle on his father's property in Benzie County. He sold it to his cousin High Putney, son of Orlo’s Uncle Ashley Putney (brother of Rufus). High later settled in Platte Township, Benzie County. Orlo went to live at Dry Hill, where his wife's people lived, and built an octagon, cement house there. In June, 1876, his name showed up on a petition to create a new township in Benzie County known as Blaine. Orlo and Viola were living in Blaine Township, Benzie County, in 1880. The census that year showed the Putney’s with their sons Loren and Bertie in the home, as well as a 21-year old farm hand, John Ebal (b. Germany).
One of Orlo and Ola's infant sons was born and died November 29, 1887. He was buried in the Gilmore Township Cemetery, Elberta, MI. Orlo was indexed by ancestry.com as “Arla E. Bitney” in 1900. Orlo and Viola were shown in Blaine Township at the turn of the century with their son, Bert F. He was appointed an elder of the Blaine Christian Church September 8, 1903. The 1910 census shows Orlo and Viola in Blaine Township with their daughter, Etha, and her husband, David Lemley. Orlo and Viola were living in Blaine in 1920's federal census. Orlo died 26 SEP 1929. Children:
Travilla "Villa" Austin Putney [Phoebe, Roswell], b. April 28, 1856, Ashtabula County, Ohio, a child of Rufus Putney and Phoebe Powers; m. Ida O Hopkins, February 22, 1876; d. February 9, 1936, Benzie Co., MI He married Ida (b. 1857), whom he met in Benzie County. The ceremony was performed by Charles Parker. Ida was born in Indiana in August, 1856. Ida served the Blaine Christian Church for many years, beginning perhaps as early as 1887. She used to walk with her daughter Lottie to the Herring Lake School whenever there was preaching there. Travilla and Ida were shown in the 1900 census near in Blaine Township, with their daughter, Ethel M. Putney. In 1910, Travilla and Ida were living next to their niece Lena (Putney) Lawrence in Blaine Township. They had two daughters still in the home: Pearl and Monique. Pearl was a student at a university. Ida died in 1919. The 1920 federal census shows Travilla at age 63 in Blaine Township with his daughter, Monique (19), still at home. Monique married to Verne D. Hopkins within a year after the census was taken in 1920. The 1930 census shows Travilla living alone in Blaine Township, next to his daughter and son-in-law, Verne and Monique (Putney) Hopkins. At the age of 74, he was still working as a fruit farmer. Villa died 09 FEB 1936. Both were buried in the Blaine Township Cemetery. Children:
Lester "Let" King Putney [Phoebe, Roswell], b. March 19, 1858, Ashtabula County, Ohio, a child of Rufus Putney and Phoebe Powers; m. Julia A. Smith, May 20, 1883; d. June 28, 1936, Benzie Co., MI He married Julia A. Smith (24 MAR 1863-03 JUL 1930), whom he met in Benzie County, Michigan. The ceremony was performed by J. B. Collins. Julia was born March 24, 1863 in Warren, MI, a daughter of Henry Smith and Julia Carroll. Her brother, Will, married Fannie Gemmell. Let owned a store and mill at Putney Corners that played in important part in the region. The store was first kept by John Gemmell. After Let owned it, it was usually only open after supper when people came to buy things. During the day, though, when Let was working in the mill, Julia often had to stop her household chores to take care of customers. Eventually, their son, Ralph, began helping out. He enjoyed the work and often brought customers home with him for dinner and lodging. Dahlgren wrote, "Anyone at the store when Ralph locked up at noon went home with him" (p. 35). Supplies were taken by a team of horses from South Frankfort (Elberta), MI. It was young Rufus' job to drive the team. If there was a large supply, Let would join him. Rufus helped mostly at the mill. Julia would send a hot lunch over to the boys at the mill and the store every day. On October 26, 1887, Let bought land from Arthur Fenwick Sawyer, husband of his cousin Lavancha. The photo to the left is of twin children: Harry and Harriet Putney, born in 1898. In 1900, Lester and Julia showed up in the census in Blaine Township with nine children.
Let built a
new store in 1914 and used the old one to store kerosene oil and farm machinery.
It burned down in 1918. Let's mill was used to cut lumber and grind grain for
stock feed on Fridays. Maude Dahlgren remembered playing in the little car that ran along the track by the mill when it was empty, but her Uncle Let would chase them away. The 1910 census shows Lester and Julia in Blaine with eight of their nine children in the home (Florence had already married and moved out). They also had a hired man, Otto Sleeper, living there. Let and Julia were living in Blaine Township in 1920's federal census with children Ralph W. (34), Harry J. (21), Harriet (21), and Ruth S. (10). Ruth was probably the daughter of Victor and Sybella Putney. Also in the home was Julia's widowed mother, Julia Carrolll (80). The Benzie Banner, January 13, announced that L. K. Putney had a team of mules purchased from Fred Small from Beulah. The 1930 census showed Lester and Julia in Blaine with their son, Ralph. Two and a half months after the census was taken, Julia died on July 3, 1930. Let died on June 28, 1936 of a perforated ulcer and was buried in the Blaine Township Cemetery, near Julia. Children:
Wesley R. Putney [Phoebe, Roswell], b. 11 AUG 1863, Ashtabula County, Ohio, a child of Rufus Putney and Phoebe Powers; m. Nettie V. Boss, May 30, 1885; d. July 13, 1911, Benzie Co., MI; Blaine Township Cemetery. He married Nettie V Boss in a ceremony performed by Rev. Stephen Cornell. Nettie was born in Michigan in July, 1866. In 1900, Wesley and Nettie were in Blaine Township with three boys. Wesley was a farmer. Their son, Frank, died in 1909 around the age of 17. The 1910 census shows Wesley and Nettie with three sons and a daughter-in-law (Elsie) in Blaine Township. Wesley died in Benzie County, Michigan, 13 JUL 1911 and was buried in the Blaine Township Cemetery. Nettie was listed in the 1920 federal census of Blaine Township, Benzie County, as a widow with her son, Garold W. (18), still at home. In 1920, Nettie was shown in Blaine with her son, “Gerald.” Nettie died in 1954 and was buried near him. Children:
Victor L. Putney [Phoebe, Roswell], b. 21 JUN 1865, Ashtabula County, Ohio, a child of Rufus Putney and Phoebe Powers; m. (1) Isabella “Sybella” L. Gemmell, March 9, 1892; m. (2) May (___) Linkletter; d. January 31, 1934, Benzie Co., MI He married Sybella L. Gemmell in a ceremony performed by Rev. Stephen Cornell. Sybella was born in Scotland in 1872. On October 26, 1887, he bought land from his cousin, Lavancha Ghastin-Phelps Sawyer just east of Putney Corners. May was born in Nebraska, June 20, 1885. She has been married previously and brought two children with her into the Putney home. In 1900, Victor and “Isabella” were living next to Victor’s brother, Lester, in Blaine Township. They had three of their own daughters living in the home: Gladys, Maude and Alice. Also in the home were their niece Bernice Fuller and a lodger, Betsey Cutler. Betsey was Victor’s Aunt Betsey (Putney) Cutler, widow of Albert Cutler. Sybella died in 1909. The 1910 census shows Victor as a widower in Blaine. Children in the home were Gladys, Maude, Iris, Alice and Ruth. There was also a 21-year old housekeeper, Vira B. Beaton, living in the home. Victor was a fruit farmer. The Benzie Banner in February, 1920, claimed, "Men around Putney Corners enjoying boxing on Wednesday and Saturday evenings. V. L. Putney and Jake Green show the most science." The 1920 federal census shows Victor in Blaine Township, Benzie County, with his wife, May (36), daughters, Maude M. (23) and Iris F. (15), and step-children, Willard G. (15) and Norma (8) Linkletter. Norma Linkletter would later marry Arthur Hull, son of George W. and Kity E. (Sawyer) Hull. Willard Linkletter, married Nancy Erickson. Victor and May were in Blaine in the 1930 census with Victor’s daughter, Maude; May’s daughter, Norma Linkletter; and Cora B. Arnold, Victor’s mother-in-law. Mrs. Arnold had lost her husband, George, between 1920 and 1930. Victor died 31 JAN 1934 in Benzie County and was buried in the Blaine Township Cemetery, near Sybella. May died in August, 1964 and was buried in the Blaine Township Cemetery, next to "Baby Eva Linkletter" (1908-1909). Children of Sybella:
When Martha was 18 years old, she married John L. Spoor (b. Canada or Vermont). John was born in Canada around 1824. He was working as a carpenter in Elbridge Township, Oceana County in 1860. They had three children together, before Mr. Spoor either died or divorced Martha (c. 1868).
Martha remarried to Erwin (or Edwin) Fuller around 1879. Erwin was
born in Ohio around 1844. They were living in Hart, Oceana Co., MI, in 1870,
with Martha’s three children by her first
In 1880, “Edwin” and Martha “Fullar” were in Springfield Township, Kalkaska Co., Michigan, with “step-sons” “Willis S.” and Henry J. Spoor and other sons “Hary H.” and Wesley B. Fuller. The 1900 census shows Martha living on Bond Street in Kenosha Wisconsin. She was a restaurant keeper, and her son Wesley was a cook there. Martha’s parents lived with her. Martha claimed to be the mother of only three living children. Her son, Henry Spoor, lived nearby with his family. By 1910, Martha had moved to Benton Township, Lake Co., IL, where she was the proprietor of a business. The census record is difficult to read, but it appears to be some sort of factory. She claimed that three of her seven children were still living. Children:
Orange Powers [Charles, Roswell], b. September, 1849, Farmington, WI, a son of Charles S. and Rowena Powers; m. Clara T. Matthews August 12, 1876, Benona, MI; d. August 20, 1904, New Orleans, LA. When Orange was 26 years old, he married Clara Matthews in a ceremony performed by Rev. George L. Mount. Witnesses were Louie D. and Rhoda Miller. Clara was born in Michigan in December, 1856, a daughter of Lyman and Cynthia Matthews of Shelby Township. We’re not sure where Orange was in the 1870 census. By now, he was 21 years old and not listed in his father’s home in Oceana County, Michigan. There was an Orange Powers in Allegan County, Michigan, with a wife, Sarah (Newman) Powers and three-year old son John. He was born in Ohio around 1845, a son of Howard Powers. This may have been a cousin of Orange’s, for he seems to have been connected to the Hiram Powers family from the same township (Heath). Orange and Clara showed up in the 1880 census in Springfield, Greene Co., Missouri. They had two children: Leon G. () and Lena (). Orange’s mother, Rowena, also lived with them. Orange was a gardener. Orange and Clara had also opened their home to a German cabinet maker, Jacob Gerock (age 75). In 1900, Orange and Clara were living in New Orleans, Louisiana with their four children. Orange was a carpenter. Orange died in 1904. The 1910 census shows Clara as a widow at the age of 50, operating a boarding house with her daughter, Lena (Powers) Newland, in New Orleans. Her son, Godfrey, also lived there on Lafayette Street. Clara claimed that all four of her children were still living. Interestingly, Orange H. and Sarah Powers (from Allegan County 1870) showed up in 1910 in Oceana County. Sarah claimed to be the mother of eight children, but six survived. They were, of course, not our Orange and Clara. They stayed in Oceana County for awhile and raised their families there. In fact, he died there on March 25, 1927 at the age of 81 years, 6 months, 8 days. Sarah died in Golden Township in 1932. Children:
Eva J. M. Powers [Charles, Roswell] b. around 1859, Fenton Twp., Whiteside Co., IL, a daughter of Dr. Charles Powers and Rowena __; m. John H. Saxton, December 16, 1879; d. December 26, 1880, Arcadia, MI; Gilmore Twp Cemetery, Benzie Co., MI. The 1870 federal census of Oceana Co., MI, shows Charles and "Rosena" in Elbridge Township with their daughter E.J.M. (11). E.J.M. was born in Illinois. Eva was the first wife of John H. Saxton. He was born in Missouri on October 3, 1856. Eva died eight days after giving birth to their son, Harris (1880). Unfortunately, Harris also died young – at the age of 6. John later married Eva's cousin, Lavancha Ghastin-Phelps Sawyer. (See biography of Lavancha Ghastin.) Child:
William Wallace Powers, Sr. [Ephraim, Roswell] b. May, 1850, Richmond, Ashtabula County, Ohio, the first child of Ephraim and Mary J. Powers; m. Emma E. McNutt, May 1, 1870; d. June 9, 1930, Ferry, Oceana Co., MI; His father was a prosperous lumberman and probably fought in the Civil War. The 1870 census shows William living in his father’s home in Richmond, Ashtabula Co., OH. The record claims William was married in May that year. In fact, a few doors down from them in the census record was the home of E. S. and Matilda Sanborn, which included a 19-year old newlywed Emma Powers, who was also married in May that year. William married Emma E. McNutt in a ceremony performed May 1, 1870. Emma was born in Jefferson, Ohio, on December 18, 1848. Around 1871, when wood became scarce in Ohio, William’s parents moved from Ohio to Ferry Township, Oceana County, Michigan, and William and his new wife went along. Emma owned an organ and brought it along so could play at special occasions. Their first child, Willie, was born in July, 1872, but died less than three months later of a congestive chill. William helped his father build a dam, a sawmill and grist mill in Ferry Township in the 1870’s. The Powers family business manufactured doors, windows, bedsteads and tables. In 1887, they added a flour mill and William became the manager of Ferry Flouring Mills. The 1880 federal census of Oceana County shows him and Emma in Ferry Township with children Lindsey W. (5), May E. (3), and Amy S. (b. August, 1879). His occupation was listed as "sawmill." William served as surveyor, township clerk and treasurer (1887-94), while Emma became the first schoolteacher in Ferry Township (1879). William built the brick church in Ferry, which still stands today. He and Emma were heavily involved in the Wesleyan Methodist Church. Three years after his father’s death, William became the owner of the Powers mill, although his brother Charles owned a part of the business. In the Spring of 1895, he was elected as the township supervisor. The 1900 federal census shows William and Emma in Ferry Township with children William Jr., Charles W., and George W. William was listed as a flour miller. In 1910, William and Emma were in Hart with children Charles and George still living with them. They also had a five-year old granddaughter, Eleanor M. Putney, in the home. Next to them was William Jr. with his wife and another granddaughter, Elizabeth Putney (9). William and William Jr. were listed as millers at a grist mill. In 1915, William leased the Powers mill to White River Power company. In 1920, William was living next to his son, William Jr., in Ferry Township. Also in the home were Emma (69), granddaughter Eleanor E. Putney (15), and mother Mary J. (Landon-Powers) Tennant (89). William worked with his son, William Jr., as an electrician at the power plant – likely located at their mill. The 1930 census shows William and Emma in Ferry, next to their son, William Jr. Their daughter, May E. Weyant (53), was living with them. May’s daughter, Arta, was listed in the home of William Jr. William died of valvular heart disease on June 9, 1930. He was 80 years, 5 months, 26 days old. Emma died in Hart of cancer of the left ovary on September 23, 1939. She was 90 years, 9 month, 10 days old. She was laid to rest in the South Ferry Cemetery. Children:
Charles Wesley Powers [Ephraim, Roswell] b. 1853, Richmond, Ashtabula County, Ohio, a son of Ephraim and Mary J. Powers; m. Amelia “Millie” V. Rice, January 1, 1874, Ferry, Oceana Co., MI; d. 1942; South Ferry Cemetery, Oceana Co., MI. His father was a prosperous lumberman and probably fought in the Civil War. Around 1871, when Charles was 17 years old, the Powers family moved from Ohio to Ferry Township, Oceana County, Michigan. Charles became a saw mill operator in Oceana County. On January 1, 1874, he married Amelia “Millie” V. Rice in a ceremony performed by Rev. A. Stitson. Witnesses were William W. Powers and Theodore Landon. Charles was 25 years old; Millie was 28. Millie was born in Ohio in December, 1850. He worked the family sawmill, according to the 1880 federal census. He lived in Ferry Township, with his wife, Amelia V. (29). He became the township clerk for Oceana County on June 9, 1881. The 1900 federal census of Oceana County shows Charles and "Millie" in Ferry Township with their only child, Gertie (age 18). Charles was working in a sawmill at the time, as was his brother, Eugene. Charles and Amelia were still in Ferry in 1910 with their daughter, Gertrude (Powers) Critchett, and her family. Charles and his son-in-law, Jonathan Critchett, were millers. They were living next to Charles’ brother, Eugene, who was the head sawyer at their mill. Neither Charles nor Millie show up in the 1920 census.
Millie died in 1928 and
was buried in the South Ferry Cemetery. Charles survived Millie for 14 more
years. He died in 1942 and was laid to rest next to her.
Mary Ellen Powers [Ephraim, Roswell], b. January, 1861, OH; m. Adam Martin “Mart” Whitcomb, April 2, 1881, Ferry, Oceana Co., MI; d. 1900-1910, Ferry, Oceana Co., MI When Mary was 20 years old, she married 23-year old Adam M. Whitcomb in a ceremony performed by Rev. R. H. Ross. Witnesses were William A. Young of Ferry and James Shigley of Hart. Adam was born January 20, 1858, in Defiance, Ohio, a son of William Whitcomb and Agnes Anderson. His parents divorced when he was still young. He moved to Michigan around 1871, with his mother and step-father, John and Agnes (Anderson) Heim. He was known by his family as Mart and worked in local saw mills, then became a farmer. Mary Ellen became a member of the Methodist Church ten years before her death. Adam and Mary Ellen were shown in the 1900 census in Ferry with their daughters, Laura and Estella. They were living next to Mary’s brother, Charles Powers. Adam was a farmer. The ten years that followed were filled with both sorrow and celebration. In 1908, both of their daughters were married. However, sometime between 1900 and 1910, Mary Ellen died. Adam showed up in the 1910 census as a widow. His daughter and son-in-law, Alonzo Page, were living with him, along with their first child, Merwin. Adam was working as a machinist at a factory. Alonzo Page was listed as the head of the house in 1920, with Estella and three children. Adam was still working with them, working as a laborer at a canning factory. We have not found Adam in the 1930 census. Children:
Ida May Powers [Ephraim, Roswell], b. May, 1862, OH; m. William A. Young, May 20, 1879, Ferry, Oceana Co, MI; d. after 1930, probably Muskegon, MI When Ida was 16 years old, she married 21 year old William A. Young in a ceremony performed by Rev. C. G. Fero in Ferry. Witnesses were Charles and Amelia Powers. William was born in Missouri in December, 1858. He came with his parents to Michigan around 1860. The 1880 census shows the newlywed couple living in Otto, Oceana County. William’s brother, Charles (18, b. MI), was living with them. By 1900, Ida and William had moved to Benzonia, Benzie County, Michigan. It appears that William and two of his children, Dennie and Nellie, were in the same line of work: telephone operation and engineering. In 1910, William and Ida were in Weldon Township, Benzie County with children Alida, Gertrude, Valdar, Bert and Irene. The Youngs were landlords of a hotel in Thompsonville. Ida claimed to be the mother of eight children, but seven survived. Their son, Dennie, was still in Benzie County, working as an electrician for a telephone company. He lived in Crystal Lake Township. This would suggest that either Nellie or Lottie died before 1910. In 1920, William and Ida were living on Fifth Street in Muskegon with their daughter, Irene. William was working as a machinist for a phonograph company. Ida was a retail merchant, selling confectionaries. By 1930, William and Ida were alone, now in Wolf Lake, near Muskegon. They owned a home valued at $2,000. William was an insurance agent. Children:
Eugene E. Powers [Ephraim, Roswell] b. February, 1866, in Richmond, Ashtabula County, Ohio, the first child of Ephraim and Mary J. Powers; m. Mary J. Thompson, July 1, 1889, MI His father was a prosperous lumberman and probably fought in the Civil War. Around 1871, when Eugene was only 5 years old, the Powers family moved from Ohio to Ferry Township, Oceana County, Michigan. When he was 23 years old, he married 23-year old Mary Thompson in a ceremony performed by Rev. George Smith. Mary was born in Ontario, Canada in August, 1861, a daughter of Aaron Thompson. The 1900 federal census of Oceana County shows Eugene and Mary in Ferry Township with their children, Gerald, Harold, Cecil, and Olive. Eugene was working a sawmill with his brother Charles. Eugene and Mary were shown in the 1910 census, living next to his brother, Charles, in Ferry Township. Eugene was the head sawyer at the Powers’ mill. They had five children in the home and a 60-year old servant, Etna C. Gardner. Eugene’s son, Gerald, was a schoolteacher. Mary died of apoplexy in Hart on November 10, 1914. The 1920 census does not list Eugene in Oceana County. Instead, he and his cousin, William Putney (b. around 1875, MI-OH-NY), were boarding in the home of Hiram and Ida May Dodge in Caldwell County, Louisiana. He was a widower, working as a laborer for a lumber company. There was no sign of his five children in the vicinity. Eugene’s oldest son, Gerald, showed up in Sanilac County, Michigan, in 1920. Olive lived in Gerald’s home. Gerald’s wife was the superintendent of a public school. Gerald was the captain of a flag ship. In 1930, Gerald lived on Penrod Avenue in Detroit in a home valued at $15,000 at the start of the Great Depression. He was the secretary treasurer for a chemical plant. Children:
Wellman A. Putney [Lucy, Roswell] b. August, 1848, Ashtabula Co., OH, a child of Lucy Powers and John S. Putney; m. Sarah E. Matthews, around 1884, Hart, MI; Wellman spent his early years in Ashtabula Co., Ohio, but after the Civil War, he traveled with his parents to Oceana Co., MI. He stayed with his parents until after 1880. Sarah was born in Pennsylvania in September, 1848, a daughter of Robert and Esther Matthews of Golden Township, Oceana County. Wellman and his wife were living in Hart, Michigan, in 1900’s census. They had one son in the home. After the death of his parents, Wellman moved to Platte Township, Benzie Co., MI, to be closer to other members of his family – his brother Hiram and sister Martha (Putney) Kerr. He showed up in Martha’s home in the 1910 census. He claimed to still be married and to be a worker of odd jobs. One child:
Martha M. Putney [Lucy, Roswell], b. November, 1852, Ashtabula Co., OH; m. Willis Kerr, around 1886; Martha married Willis Kerr around 1886. They were living near Hiram Putney (her brother) in Platte Township, Benzie Co., MI, in 1900. Willis was born in Pennsylvania in April, 1858. In 1910, Willis and Martha were living in Platte with Martha’s brother, Wellman. Children:
Last update March 07, 2018 |
marriage: Florence, Wesley and Henry.
“Erwin” owned a farm valued at $2,500. 