Paul Jackson 1900-1986

Paul Jackson was said to be born 22 Feb 1900 in Newaygo, Michigan. He was the son of Mary Jackson and an unknown father.

On 30 Sep 1903 in Petoskey, Mary Jackson married Peter Makomenaw/McMillin/McMillon

Sister Agnes was born 15 Jan 1904 in Petoskey, Emmet county

Sister Louise was born 19 Jun 1906 in Petoskey, Emmet county

Sister Arvella was born 19 Sep 1908 (from her death record).


The Durant Roll field notes - 1908 gave a picture of the family.

Line 7 page 26 gave the parents Peter.

Head of household in 1870 was Maw-co-me-won, now dead; his wife Angeline, age 65, resides in Petoskey. Their children were:

1. Mary Peck, 47, resides the T.C. Asylum, married to Joe Peck

2. Elizabeth, dead

3. Susan, dead, married 1) Fred Harrington, white, children Jay, 24 and Mary 19.
Susan married 2) Jake Adams, white, son Thomas, 11

4. Lucy Stewart, 37, husband white; children Bessie, 18; Bertha, 16; Jennie, 14; Kerim, 12; Levi, 10.

5. Peter Makomenaw, 30, wife Mary nee Jackson, 30, see 10-59; children Agnes, 5; Louise, 3;  Arvella, born Sep 1908; Paul, oldest, lives with David Fox, see 10-59

Line 10, page 59, gave the parents of Paul's mother Mary Jackson.

Moses Aw-zhe-watch or Jackson, dead; wife now wife of David Fox; children Agnes, dead; and Mary, 30, wife of Peter Makomenaw.

Line 3 page 56 gave the name of Moses' wife (Paul's grandmother) and the name of her father.

James Tay-Gwaw-Sung, dead; wife dead; child #10 Mary or Hariet Aiken Fox, 50; married 1) Moses Jackson see 10-59; married 2) David Fox, 59, resides Hartford, see 11-53

Line 11 page 53 gave Paul's grandmother and step-grandfather

David Fox or How-de-do, 60; married 2) Mary, 55, see 3-56; note on bottom says David Fox has three other children: Mary Ann Fox, 10; Paul Jackson, 7; Martha Jackson, 4; step children, see 3-56.

1910 Federal Census - Bear Creek township, Emmet county
Peter McMinion, head, 33, married once, married 7 years, farmer on general farm
Mary, wife, 28, married once, married 7 years, 3 children born, 3 children living
Agnes, daughter, 6
Louise, daughter, 3
Arvilla, daughter, 1
Louis Jackson, nephew, 16

Brother Patrick was born 17 Mar 1911 (from death record).

Brother Moses was born 19 May 1913; he died 12 Mar 1914

Brother Archie was born 3 Feb 1918 (from his obituary)

Paul registered for the draft 12 Sep 1918 in Allegan county. His birth date was given as 24 Feb 1900, nearest relative as Mary McMillon. Paul was described as medium height, slender build, brown eyes and brown hair.

On 12 Nov 1918 in Muskegon county Mary McMillon filed for divorce. Record states the couple had four children. Final action was 4 Dec 1920.

The 1920 Federal Census - Wayland township, Allegan, Michigan
Fox, David, 80
Fox Marion, wife, 70
Jackson, Paul, grandson, 19, laborer on farm

On 5 Apr 1922 Paul's mother, Mary MacMillon, married Samson Pigeon in Allegan. She gave her parents at Moses Jackson and Harriet Laurence.

Paul, age 23, was married to  Mary Cecelia Alexis, age 21, on 18 Oct 1923 in Kalamazoo. Paul's parents were given as Moses Jackson and Mary Harriet [These are actually his grandparents]. Mary Cecelia' parents were given as Charles Alexis and Lucy Augusta. Ceremony was officiated by John R. Hackett, clergyman. Witnesses were David Alexis and Cecelia Morcean. [Charles was listed as #103 on the Cadman roll. Lucy was listed as #220 on the Cadman roll]

Daughter Marceline was born 8 Mar 1925 (from her death)

Son Benedict was born 1925

On 5 Apr 1926 in Battle Creek, Calhoun, Michigan, sister Louise married Orville J. Laird.

Paul's mother, Mary Jackson McMillin Pigeon, died 11 Oct 1926 in Allegan county.

On 20 Dec 1926 in Emmet county, sister Agnes married Amos Kahgee.

Son Charles was born 1928.

Brother Patrick died 3 Aug 1928

1930 Federal Census - Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo county.
Paul Jackson, rents house $20 per month, 29, married at 22,  truck driver for foundry
Mary, wife, 28, married at 21
Marceline, daughter, 7
Benedict, son, 5
Charles, son, 2

Son Paul Jr. was born in 1931.

Son Eugene David was born 7 Apr 1934.

Son Andrew was born 1 May 1937. Sadly he died 14 Jan 1938.

Sister Arvilla died 4 Nov 1938 in Petoskey, Emmet county.

Son Leon Thomas was born 20 Apr 1940. Sadly he died 21 Sep 1940

1940 Federal Census - Wayland, Allegan county
Paul Jackson, 40, lived in same house in 1935, laborer on farm
Mary, wife, 38, gave the information
Marceline, daughter, 15
Benedict, son, 14
Charles, son, 12
Paul Jr., son, 9
Eugene, son, 5

Paul registered for the draft on 16 Feb 1942 in Allegan county. He gave his birth date as 24 Feb 1899, employment as Ideal Foundry. He was described as 5'7", 145 pounds, grey eyes, brown hair, dark complexion.

Son Leon Joseph was born 19 Dec 1942. Sadly he died 25 Nov 1943.

On 22 Jun 1946 in Grand Rapids, Paul married Rose Lillian Engstrom. He gives his parents as Mose Jack and Mary McMillin.

Son Eugene died Jun 1947 in an accident while playing baseball.

Eugene (and later brother Charles) was buried at the Bradley Indian Mission Cemetery, Wayland, Allegan county.

Wife Lillian Rose died 1955 and was buried in the Bradley Indian Mission Cemetery, Wayland, Allegan county.

Sister Agnes Kahgee died 2 Jun 1977 in Petoskey, Emmet county. Her obituary was printed in the Petoskey News-Review, 6 Jun 1977.

Paul died 2 Mar 1986 and was buried in Bradley Indian Mission Cemetery, Wayland, Allegan county.

Copyright (c) 2020 Vicki Wilson

Emma Wesley 1894-1964

Emma Wesley was born 23 Dec 1894 in Freesoil, Mason, Michigan, the youngest of eight known children of John Wesley and Mary Baily. More info on John is here.

The first found record of Emma is the 1900 census.

1900 Federal Census - Grant township, Mason, Michigan
John Wesley, 60
Mary, wife, 40
John, son, 14
Jennie, daughter, 5
[The children are actually Frank and Emma.]

The Durant roll field notes for #27 page 52 - John Wesley or Naw-yaw-waw-sung, 67, residing in Freesoil. Wife Mary, 56, on 1870 roll with her husband. Children are Frank, 22, unmarried; Amy [Emma], 14; Lizzie, 32, widow of James Wilson, lives in Freesoil with sons Roger,13, Chas. 11, Wm. 9, and daughters Nancy, 4 and Sarah born Jul 907.

Father John died 26 Sep 1908

Emma married Thomas Nelson Ransom, son of Thomas Ransom and Phoebe J. Elliot on 6 Jun 1918 in Alba, Antrim, Michigan.

Daughter Mabel Delores Ransom was born 19 Aug 1919 in Mancelona, Antrim, Michigan.

1920 Federal Census - Mancelona, Antrim, Michigan - taken 6 Jan 1920.
Charles S. Baily, head, 52, single, sawer in lumber woods
Lucy Baily, mother, 73, married
John Pasha, uncle, 75, single
Mary Wesley, aunt, 71, widowed
Emma Ransom, cousin, 25, married
Mabel Ransom, 2nd cousin, 5 months

1920 Federal Census, Rapid River, Kalkaska, Michigan
Albert Ransom, 32, farmer on general farm
Sarah, wife, 36
Nelson, brother, 45, single, born in Canada, to US 1878, naturalized citizen

Nelson Ransom died 20 Mar 1920 in Leetsville, Kalkaska, Michigan. He was single, 47, a farmer, son of Thos. Ransom and Phoebe Elliot.

Emma met George Albert. Their son Clarence was born 17 Dec 1921. Sadly he died 8 May 1922 in Freesoil, Mason, Michigan. Cause of death was acute indigestion, with premature birth as a secondary cause. Burial was in Free Soil Cemetery. Informant was Emma Wesley.

Emma married William Thomas, son of Louis Thomas and Mary Smith on 7 May 1923 in Ludington, Mason, Michigan. Both were married once before. The ceremony was performed by A. M. Johnston, justice of the peace, witnesses were O.A. Zook and Lizzie Wilson (Emma's sister).

Emma's mother, Mary, died 4 Jul 1925 in Grant township, Mason, Michigan, after an auto accident. Her parents were given as Phillip Bailey and Mary Blackjacksmith. Birth as July 1836, burial in Freesoil Cemetery. Informant was Lizzie Wesley. 

Emma received a license to marry Daniel Shawano, son of James Shawano and Sarah Fisher on 12 Nov 1925 in Kalkaska county, Michigan. She was married twice before. The ceremony section was not returned.

According to a letter from 1942 Mary Russett Smith adopted Emma's daughter Mabel in 1925 while residing in a Woods Brothers Camp in Kalkaska County.  It was not a legal adopting and caused confusion. [Source National Archives, Chicago.]

 Mabel attended school in Kalkaska county in 1928. [Source National Archives, Chicago.]

In Aug 1928 the State Welfare Department asks to have Mabel enrolled at the Mount Pleasant Indian Industrial Boarding School. The letter also mentions that Mabel attended the Coldwater State Public School. [Source National Archives, Chicago.]

1930 Federal Census, 515 St. Paul Street, City of Sault Ste Marie, Chippewa, Michigan. Emma Wesley, 35, single, is boarder in the home of Norman Williams.

1930 Federal census - Hayes township, Otsego, Michigan
Smith, Will, 58
Mary, 53
Elden, son, 21
Wallace, son, 10
Moses, son, 8
Mabel, daughter, 10

On 28 May 1930 William writes that they will be over on 1 Jun 1930 to pick up Mabel from school. The school replies to wait until June 5th. [Source National Archives, Chicago.]

A note dated 24 May 1932 states William K. Smith would like Mabel to remain at school that coming summer and that someone might try to take her. [Source National Archives, Chicago.]

Mabel's medical records at the Mount Pleasant Indian Industrial Boarding school - 1932. [Source National Archives, Chicago.]

September

November

December

The Mount Pleasant Indian Industrial Boarding closed its doors for good on 6 Jun 1934.

Emma met David Clinton Marshall, son of Charles Marshall and Ellen Perrault. Daughter Geraldine E. Marshall was born 21 Jan 1935 in Bay Mills, Chippewa, Michigan

Daughter Mabel married Alfred Sands, son of George Sands and Lucy Bishkogijik on 22 Feb 1938 in Northport, Leelanau, Michigan. Mabel lists her adoptive parents as her parents.

Letters from 1942 try unsuccessfully to determine Mary Russet Smith's age. Confusion results from the mistaken belief that Mabel was Mary's child and adopted by Mary's sister Alice [who was married to Frank Wesley, Emma's brother] and that the Mary Russett age 17 in the 1910 federal census is the same person. Add the fact that Mary Russett states she was only married once, to William K. Smith in 1921. Yes they married in 1921, but they were already grandparents when they married. Mary was actually born in 1878.

The Traverse City Record-Eagle of 23 May 1952 tells of Emma doing a demonstration on basket making.

The social security application index shows daughter Mabel listed Nelson and Emma as her parents when applying in October 1959. [Source Ancestry.com]

Emma died 12 Oct 1964 in Traverse City, Grand Traverse, Michigan.

Traverse City Record Eagle 13 Oct 1964.

The obituary shows that family is unaware of Mabel's address, unaware of Mabel's her marriage to Warren Hamilton (as she is referred to as Mrs. Sands) and Mabel's children in Minnesota are unknown as only three grandchildren are mentioned.



Stories/memories of Emma told by Leonard Wilson (born 1951), great-grandson of Emma's sister Lizzie, and of William and Mary Russett Smith.

Emma was medium built, had gray hair which was either cut short or worn in a bun, Leonard only remembers no long hair. She always wore dresses, granny stockings and black shoes with big heels. She used to serve rice and raisins as cereal.

Leonard says when he was real little Aunt Emma would babysit him and his siblings all day. Then when his folks came home it was party time.

Once when everyone was drunk, including Emma, she threw a live turtle into a pot of boiling water. She later fished out the shell, skin, etc., but Leonard didn't eat any of the soup. According to Leonard's mother, Elsie Mark Wilson, what Leonard saw was Emma cleaning a turtle in scalding water before she made soup, but his older cousin, Darlene Antoine Sineway (born 1944), said Leonard was right about the soup.


Copyright (c) 2020 Vicki Wilson

Updated May 2026

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