 |
|
Thaddeus L. Waters was born in New York, June 29, 1835. His parents, Harvey and Sarah (Dunning) Waters, were also natives of New York, where they were married and immediately went to Ohio. After living in that State for nearly 18 years, they moved to Hillsdale Co., Mich., where they passed the remainder of their lives. Thaddeus spent his boyhood days in Ohio, attending the common schools of that State, and at the age of 18 years came with his parents to Michigan. He taught school the last year he lived in Ohio and for two years after he came to Michigan. In the spring of 1855 he came to Fremont, this county, purchased 40 acres of wild land, and at once commenced to clear it and build a log house. He spent most of his time in locating lands, and nearly all of the old settlers were conducted through the vast forest, there being no roads leading to the north and west.
Mr. Waters was married in Fremont, this county, May 27, 1855, to Laura H., only daughter of Daniel and Emily A. (Salisury) Weaver, the former a native of Massachusetts and the latter of New York. The first couple ever married in Fremont being Mr. and Mrs. T. L. Waters.
Mr. and Mrs. Waters had five children; Alpha F., born Jan, 20, 1857; Theron D., May 1, 1858; Albert J., July 4, 1860; Frankie E., Aug. 3, 1868, and Hiram J., March 30, 1878. Mr. Waters enlisted Aug. 15, 1862, in Co. G, 2d Mich. Ca., and served nearly three years. He was in the battle of Perryville, Ky., Thompson's Station, Tenn., and the battle of Chickamauga. At the last named battle, Sept.20, 1863, he was taken prisoner, and was retained until the close of the war, being confined at Richmond, Va., two months, Danville, Va., six months, and ten months in that terrible prison at Andersonville, where so many of our brave soldiers were sacrificed; he was in that last squad of men that passed out of that dismal den of horrors. He received a bayonet wound in the hip by a rebel guard, while in Danville.
Mr. Waters was engaged in surveying. He surveyed and laid out the town of Hesperia, this county. He held the office of Township Clerk three years, and Drain Commissioner of Sheridan Township. Mr. and Mrs. Waters were members of the Seventh-Day Advent Church. In politics Mr. Waters was a prominent member of the Greenback party.
Return to Home Page
Return to Pioneers