Thomas Huckleberry
1 Jan 1831 - 21 Jan 1915

Vitals

Thomas Huckleberry was a native of Canada, born 1 Jan 1831 or 1829 to Jacob and Susan (Boyle/Boyer/Boiles) Huckleberry. In 1840 or 1846 his family immigrated to the United States.

Land records show on Homestead certificate No. 832, Application 1470, a claim of Thomas Huckleberry for the SE quarter of the NE quarter and NE quarter of the SE quarter of Section 34 in Township 11 North of Range 10 West in the district of lands subject to sale at Ionia, MI, containing 80 acres. Dated 15 Sep 1871.

He settled in Montcalm County in 1865 and married Mary Jane Kinney 14 Apr 1867 in Pierson. She was a native of Schenectady, New York and daughter of Garrett Kinney. Mary Jane was born about 1841 and died before 1894.

Thomas and Mary Jane had the following children: Alice; Alta S. (1864-1930) wife of Walter Frederick Smith; Dudley Phillip (1868-1950) wife of Elizabeth Lillie and Emma E. Woodhall; and Garrett (1870-). There is a child of Thomas Huckleberry buried in Pierson Cemetery, death 1890.

Montcalm County marriage records have a record for 19 Sep 1894 Thomas married Ella Masters, born in 1867, daughter of Thomas Masters and Martha Hershaw, but it has been marked out. There is another record for the marriage of these two on 1 Jan 1895 in Pierson. Before Thomas, she had been married to Jonathan Shotwell in 1888. She married John Wertenberger in 1904. She then married John Rosen in 1907, George E. Darrows in 1923 and Frank Salyer in 1924. She died 15 Jun 1943 in Belding, Ionia County, MI. She is buried in Greene Cemetery, Belding, MI.

Mr. Huckleberry was a lumberman and a farmer. He died at the Michigan Soldier's Home Hospital in Grand Rapids, MI, fro acute bronchitis.
Service At the age of 30, Thomas Huckleberry enlisted for three years as a private in Company K, 21st Michigan Volunteer Infantry, on 8 Aug 1862. He mustered in 4 Sep 1862. He fought at Stone River, Chickamauga, Missionary Ridge, and Savannah. He was wounded in the Battle of Fentonville. He was detailed occasionally on detached duty, and was transferred at Big City to Company I, Illinois Volunteer Infantry. He received one furlough of thirty days, rejoining his command at St. Louis, Missouri. He mustered out 8 Jun 1865 in Washington, D. C. He was pensioned.
GAR J. T. Jones Post #252
Siblings Brothers, John and Jacob Huckleberry, the latter dying in service in Texas. A brother of his wife, Mangel, and her father Garrett Kinney were also in the war.
Records 1850 Census    
1860 Census    
1870 Census Pierson, Montcalm County, MI with wife and three children
1880 Census Pierson, Montcalm County, MI with wife, Dudley and Garrett
1890 Veteran Census Pierson, Montcalm County, MI varicose veins in right leg
1894 MI Census Pierson, Montcalm County, MI  
1900 Census Grand Rapids, Kent County, MI Michigan Soldier's Home, birth Jan 1829
1910 Census Grand Rapids, Kent County, MI Michigan Soldier's Home
Obit  
Death
Burial Pierson Township Cemetery
Pierson, Montcalm County, MI
Find A Grave #100819001
  Some biographical information from Presidents, Soldiers, Statesmen Vol II, 1892.
contributed by Paula Johnson