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Oscar was a farmer in Ashland Twp., Newaygo Co., from 1866 until he retired and his son, Ai, took over the farm. Oscar went to Fremont and lived there until he died on October 2, 1923, at the age of 85. When Ai died on February 27, 1939, the farm went to his son, Raymond. Raymond rented the farm until the 1950s when he sold it. The farm is still there (1979) on McClelland Rd., Grant, MI.
Oscar was the seventh generation of Bloods in this country. The first was Robert Blood, born in England in 1622. He and his brother, John, came to Lynn, Massachusetts around 1649. They later owned large farms in Concord, Massachusetts. Oscar was born February 12, 1838, in Wolcott Township, Wayne Co., NY. His parents were James M. Blood and Mary J. Mudge.
James and his brother, Francis, bought land in Walker, Michigan in 1837. The farm house is still there on 3 Mile Rd. by Indian Creek in Walker. Sometime after Oscar was born in 1838, the family moved to this new home. At the time there were one hundred forty wigwams near their home. Oscar grew up on this farm. James and Mary's children were Amanda, born in 1836; Oscar born in 1838; Jennette born in 1840; L. Malcolm born in 1843 (died at the age of 5); James Milton born in 1845; Frances born in 1848 and Emma born in 1851.
James died in 1853 when Oscar was fifteen years old. He and his brother, James, worked the farm until Oscar enlisted in the 21st Regiment, Company G., in the Civil War in August of 1862. On December 28, 1862, Oscar was shot in the arm in the battle by the Stone River near Murfreesboro, TN. He was taken prisoner and taken to Murfreesboro Hospital. On January 4, 1863, Union soldiers marched in and raised the Stars and Stripes. He was in the hospital for a while until detailed for light duty for the rest of the war. He was discharged May 6, 1865. His army papers say "Gun shot through the left arm at the elbow, fracturing the bone so as to be wholly unusable".
Oscar farmed a while at home in Walker. On May 24, 1866, in Alaska, MI, he married Jane Clyne. She was the daughter of Sarah and Elias Clyne. At the time Oscar bought the land in Ashland Township, Newaygo Co. He was a successful farmer even with his bad arm, active in church, helped start a school in the area and helped his neighbors. His wife Jane (Jennie) died on Mary 27, 1889, at the age of forty one.
Oscar and Jennie's children were: James (Frank) born in 1867 and married to Georgie Reed; Raymond A. born in 1869, and died at the age of 17; Erwin born in 1871 and married to Helen (Dolly) Reed; Nelte born in 1872; Grace born in 1875; Laura Bell born in 1876; Ai born October 28, 1878 and Bertha born in 1879.
Ai married Claudia Finley on August 30, 1898 and Julie Ann Wilson February 8, 1931. Claudia was born April 2, 1880 in Indiana to Alice Ellen Coseman and Monroe Wellington Finley. Her family moved to Ashland Twp., sometime after her birth. Claudia died April 6, 1930, and Ai on February 22, 1939. Julie Ann was the daughter of Reuben Wilson and Anna Bradley. Julie was born about 1876 in Rockford, MI.
Ai and Claudia's children were Flossie married to Nick Dykman and later to Kyler Playter; Edith married to Fred Williams; Raymond James born Mary 8, 1903 married Zenith Hollinger, he died Ocober 2, 1969; Jane married to Randolph Powney and Mildred married to Audley Smith.
Buried in Ashland Center Cemetery, Grant, MI, are five generations of Bloods: Oscar, Ai and Raymond, their wives also. Oscar's uncle Francis Blood and his wife, their sons and grandsons; Ai's three brothers, Raymond, James (Frank) and Erwin Blood and their wives.
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