Alfred Mark was the first born child of Peter Mark Nah-we-ke-zhick and Anna Sha-wa-da-se. His birth is recorded as 2 Aug 1871 in Milton township, Antrim county, Michigan.
On 28 Aug 1894 in Clearwater township, Kalkaska county, Michigan, Alfred, 23, married Nancy Cynthia Walker from Allegan county, Michigan. She is 19, the daughter of John Walker and Betsy Wezoo/Waukazoo.
The family moves to Allegan county where they have three children. Jennie is born 20 Sep 1895, Albert is born 15 Feb 1897, Angeline is born 19 Nov 1898. Son Robert is born about 1900, place unknown.
The 1900 census has Alfred with his parents in Clearwater township, Kalkaska county. He is listed as single. Where are Nancy and the children? Did whoever answered the census takers questions misunderstand and list all the children whether living there or not? [Alfred's sister Lily is married and Josie is at school in Pennsylvania. Both should also not be listed with their parents.]
Alfred, Nancy and children move back up north where a son, Simon, born 21 Sep 1902, died 23 Oct 1903 in Clearwater township, Kalkaska county, Michigan.
In 1906 they are back in Allegan county. An unnamed son is born on 4 Aug 1906 and dies 6 hours later (5 Aug 1906) of heart disease. Son Thomas is born 5 Aug 1906 and dies on 16 Aug 1906 of marasmus / undernorishment.
After the lose of two children sadness strikes again nine days later, when Alfred's mother, Anna, died 25 Aug 1906 in Clearwater, Kalkaska, Michigan.
Durant Roll Field Notes 1908
No. 10 page 46 - Alfred is listed on his father's page as child one, age 34, residing in Bradly, wife Nancy, nee Walker, see 12/53.
No. 12 page 53 - Nancy is listed on her parents' page as child #4, age 32, resides in Bradley, husband Alfred, age 34, resides Bradley note to see 10/46, children Albert, 12, Geona, NE, Robert, 10, Geona, NE, Stephen, 8, Jennie, 13, Angeline, 30 (error - she is 9), Peter, born Jan 08 on second roll.
Son Peter is born 11 Jan 1908 and Guy is born 25 Sep 1909, both in Allegan county, Michigan.
In 1910 they are living in Wayland township, Allegan county, Michigan. Alfred is 36 and a farmer. Nancy is 32, says she has given birth to nine children, seven children are living. These seven are Jennie, 14; Albert, 12; Angeline, 10; Robert, 8; Stephen, 4; Peter, 2 and Guy, 6 months.
The 1910 census for the Genoa Indian School, Genona, Nance, Nebraska lists Albert Marks, 13 and Robert Marks, 9, both born in Michigan as being students.
Son Guy died 9 Sep 1910.
Daughter Phoebe is born 30 May 1911. Son Colbert is born 1 Jul 1912. Both in Allegan county.
Son Robert died 5 Jan 1912 at the Mt Pleasant Indian School in Isabella county of tuberculosis. He is buried in the school cemetery.
Daughter Jennie died 14 Aug 1915 in Wayland, Allegan county of tuberculosis. She is listed as married, surname Miller, but no marriage record has been found.
1918 a difficult year, with three children dying.
Andrew died 21 May 1918 in Bradley of whooping cough.
Albert died the next day, 22 May 1918 of tuberculosis
In September 1918 Alfred registered for the draft.
Daughter Phoebe died of acute nephritis on 24 Oct 1918.
Angeline married Peter Pokagon Stevens on 11 May 1919 in Salem, Allegan county.
The 1920 census was taken on 2 Feb. 1920. Listed are Alfred, age 46, farmer, wife Nancy, age 42 and son Colbert, age 7.
On 27 Jun 1920 son Colbert dies of tuberclosis.
Alfred's father, Peter, died on 14 Jun 1926 in Solon, Leelanau county.
On 20 Aug 1928 son Stephen married first wife, Rose Pigeon.
Rose died 5 Mar 1929 in childbirth - twin boys - death record not yet found. The babies were adopted by Fred and Jennie Webb. Neil Ogmuu Webb (original name unknown) died 29 Oct 1929. His death certificate has Steven Marks and Rose Pigeon given as his parents, with Fred Webb as informant.
The other child, Herbert Sampson Mark, had his name changed to Noel Fredrick Webb, and was raised by the Webbs.
1930 Federal Census, Wayland Township, Allegan county lists Alfred, 57, married at 21, occupation farmer crossed out and basket marker written; wife Nancy, 53, married at 16, no occupation; daughter Angeline, 29, married at 20, laborer - odd jobs; son Stephen, 23, laborer - odd jobs; son Peter, 20, laborer - odd jobs; daughter Grace, 9, no occupation. It is unknown why Angeline is listed with her parents. Perhaps she was visiting their house when the census taker came. She is also listed with her husband Peter Stevens and their children.
Link to Mt. Pleasant school records from National Archives in Chicago. These are not actual school records, more like social service records in the files. From these letters it is learned that Nancy has gone blind.
Daughter Angeline Stevens died 8 Jul 1938 in Plainwell, Allegan county after childbirth.
1940 census Wayland township, Allegan county lists Alfred, 66, wife Nancy 63, and granddaughter Rose, 10. They lived in the same house in 1935. No occupations are listed.
Nancy Walker Marks died 19 Mar 1949 in Bradley, while Alfred died 22 Apr 1952 also in Bradley.
Out of 14 children, only three survived the parents. Stephen died Mar 1959. Peter died 21 Jan 1962 and the youngest Grace died 8 Oct 2001 in Benzonia, Benzie county.
This public notice regards a tax sale held in 1938, 1939, 1940 for land in Kalkaska County and owners Alfred Mark, his wife Nancy and sister Jane George. It was published in the Leader and Kalkaskian on March 3rd, 5th, 10th, 12, 17th, 19th, 24th and 26th in 1977. Alfred, Nancy and Jane had all died over 20 year prior.
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On 28 Aug 1894 in Clearwater township, Kalkaska county, Michigan, Alfred, 23, married Nancy Cynthia Walker from Allegan county, Michigan. She is 19, the daughter of John Walker and Betsy Wezoo/Waukazoo.
The family moves to Allegan county where they have three children. Jennie is born 20 Sep 1895, Albert is born 15 Feb 1897, Angeline is born 19 Nov 1898. Son Robert is born about 1900, place unknown.
The 1900 census has Alfred with his parents in Clearwater township, Kalkaska county. He is listed as single. Where are Nancy and the children? Did whoever answered the census takers questions misunderstand and list all the children whether living there or not? [Alfred's sister Lily is married and Josie is at school in Pennsylvania. Both should also not be listed with their parents.]
Alfred, Nancy and children move back up north where a son, Simon, born 21 Sep 1902, died 23 Oct 1903 in Clearwater township, Kalkaska county, Michigan.
In 1906 they are back in Allegan county. An unnamed son is born on 4 Aug 1906 and dies 6 hours later (5 Aug 1906) of heart disease. Son Thomas is born 5 Aug 1906 and dies on 16 Aug 1906 of marasmus / undernorishment.
After the lose of two children sadness strikes again nine days later, when Alfred's mother, Anna, died 25 Aug 1906 in Clearwater, Kalkaska, Michigan.
Durant Roll Field Notes 1908
No. 10 page 46 - Alfred is listed on his father's page as child one, age 34, residing in Bradly, wife Nancy, nee Walker, see 12/53.
No. 12 page 53 - Nancy is listed on her parents' page as child #4, age 32, resides in Bradley, husband Alfred, age 34, resides Bradley note to see 10/46, children Albert, 12, Geona, NE, Robert, 10, Geona, NE, Stephen, 8, Jennie, 13, Angeline, 30 (error - she is 9), Peter, born Jan 08 on second roll.
Son Peter is born 11 Jan 1908 and Guy is born 25 Sep 1909, both in Allegan county, Michigan.
In 1910 they are living in Wayland township, Allegan county, Michigan. Alfred is 36 and a farmer. Nancy is 32, says she has given birth to nine children, seven children are living. These seven are Jennie, 14; Albert, 12; Angeline, 10; Robert, 8; Stephen, 4; Peter, 2 and Guy, 6 months.
Daughter Phoebe is born 30 May 1911. Son Colbert is born 1 Jul 1912. Both in Allegan county.
Son Robert died 5 Jan 1912 at the Mt Pleasant Indian School in Isabella county of tuberculosis. He is buried in the school cemetery.
Daughter Jennie died 14 Aug 1915 in Wayland, Allegan county of tuberculosis. She is listed as married, surname Miller, but no marriage record has been found.
1918 a difficult year, with three children dying.
Andrew died 21 May 1918 in Bradley of whooping cough.
Albert died the next day, 22 May 1918 of tuberculosis
In September 1918 Alfred registered for the draft.
Daughter Phoebe died of acute nephritis on 24 Oct 1918.
Angeline married Peter Pokagon Stevens on 11 May 1919 in Salem, Allegan county.
The 1920 census was taken on 2 Feb. 1920. Listed are Alfred, age 46, farmer, wife Nancy, age 42 and son Colbert, age 7.
On 27 Jun 1920 son Colbert dies of tuberclosis.
Alfred's father, Peter, died on 14 Jun 1926 in Solon, Leelanau county.
On 20 Aug 1928 son Stephen married first wife, Rose Pigeon.
Rose died 5 Mar 1929 in childbirth - twin boys - death record not yet found. The babies were adopted by Fred and Jennie Webb. Neil Ogmuu Webb (original name unknown) died 29 Oct 1929. His death certificate has Steven Marks and Rose Pigeon given as his parents, with Fred Webb as informant.
The other child, Herbert Sampson Mark, had his name changed to Noel Fredrick Webb, and was raised by the Webbs.
1930 Federal Census, Wayland Township, Allegan county lists Alfred, 57, married at 21, occupation farmer crossed out and basket marker written; wife Nancy, 53, married at 16, no occupation; daughter Angeline, 29, married at 20, laborer - odd jobs; son Stephen, 23, laborer - odd jobs; son Peter, 20, laborer - odd jobs; daughter Grace, 9, no occupation. It is unknown why Angeline is listed with her parents. Perhaps she was visiting their house when the census taker came. She is also listed with her husband Peter Stevens and their children.
Link to Mt. Pleasant school records from National Archives in Chicago. These are not actual school records, more like social service records in the files. From these letters it is learned that Nancy has gone blind.
Daughter Angeline Stevens died 8 Jul 1938 in Plainwell, Allegan county after childbirth.
1940 census Wayland township, Allegan county lists Alfred, 66, wife Nancy 63, and granddaughter Rose, 10. They lived in the same house in 1935. No occupations are listed.
The following photos of Alfred's bible were shared online by granddaughter Erma Peters 18 Oct 2020
Nancy Walker Marks died 19 Mar 1949 in Bradley, while Alfred died 22 Apr 1952 also in Bradley.
Out of 14 children, only three survived the parents. Stephen died Mar 1959. Peter died 21 Jan 1962 and the youngest Grace died 8 Oct 2001 in Benzonia, Benzie county.
This public notice regards a tax sale held in 1938, 1939, 1940 for land in Kalkaska County and owners Alfred Mark, his wife Nancy and sister Jane George. It was published in the Leader and Kalkaskian on March 3rd, 5th, 10th, 12, 17th, 19th, 24th and 26th in 1977. Alfred, Nancy and Jane had all died over 20 year prior.
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