Saturday, February 29, 2020

Amos John 1878-1954

Amos said he was born on 3 Aug 1873 (WWI draft) or 18 Sep 1878 (WWII draft) in Leelanau county, Michigan, the son of Sam John and Mary Sam or John Na-be-nea and Mary Sam (from his marriage records).



The 1880 Federal Census has not yet been found for this family.

Amos married Minnie Smith on 17 Jul 1900 in Burgess, Charlevoix county. He was 24, born Leelanau county, son of Sam John and Mary Sam. She was 18, born Hayes, Charlevoix county, the daughter of William and Marion Smith.  Both reside in Hayes, Amos' occupation was farmer, Minnie was a housewife. The ceremony was performed by Horase S. Newson, Justice of the Peace.



Daughter Mabel Willis was born 6 Nov 1900 in Charlevoix. Parents were Amos John, farmer, and Minnie John.


Wife Minnie died 24 Feb 1902 in Hayes, Charlevoix county. Her age of 19 years, 8 months, 14 days, sets her birth as 10 Jun 1882. Parents were listed as William Smith and Mary Appletree.


Amos married Alice Was-A-Quam on 5 Dec 1904 in Bay Shore, Charlevoix county. He was 29, resided in Horton Bay, the son of John Wa-be-nea and Mary Sam. She was 19, resided in Northport, parents not given. Minister W. A. Elias performed the ceremony. Lazrus and Lucy Willis were the witnesses.



Photo of Amos and Alice, date unknown.



Daughter Annie was  born 9 Apr 1908 in Homestead, Benzie county.



Daughter Annie died 10 Apr 1908 in Homestead, Benzie county. Place of burial was given as Northport.


Durant Roll Field Notes:

Line 1 page 38

Waw-say-quo-um, age 92, Northport

Child 3 - George Waw-say-quo-um Jr, age 57, Northport
wife Julia (Kah-ge-gay-be), age 55
their first child - Nancy, age 27
their second child - Alice, age 25, married to Amos John, age 34, Northport, daughter Annie John, died Apr 08, lived 10 hours.


Line 2 page 30
Paw-ke-caw-naw-naw-quot, dead

child - Joseph Jackson, age 54, Charlevoix; wife Mary Ann Jackson, nee Smith, age 46; child not named, dead; child's husband Amos John; daughter Mabel John, age 7, lives with grandfather.



Son Silas was said to be born 25 May 1909.  He died 2 Sep 1909 in Leelanau township.



Correspondence for the Durant Roll states Alice John is the daughter of #1 page 38 on the 1870 roll; her husband enrolled by authority of chiefs. [Unfortunately it doesn't give an 1870 number for his parents.]

The 1910 payroll for the Durant Roll shows Amos and Alice each received $21.16, plus $1.74 for baby Annie.

The 1910 Federal Census - Leelanau township, Leelanau county lists Amos and Alice living with her parents. Amos, age 30, born Michigan, occupation labor at farming; Alice, age 26, 5 children born, no children living.


The 1910 Federal Census - Hayes Township, Charlevoix county shows Amos' daughter Mable being raised by her grandmother and step-grandfather.

Jackson, Joseph, head, age 56, married 4 times, married for 10 years, laborer at odd jobs
Mary, wife, 52, married twice, married for 10 years, 6 children born, 2 children living
John (crossed out and Jackson written over), Mable, granddaughter, age 9



Daughter Elisa was said to be born 23 Jul 1910. She died 20 Jun 1911 in Leelanau township.


Daughter Mabel (mother Minnie Smith) died 24 Aug 1911, Hayes township, Charlevoix county of measles.


Daughter Mabel (mother Alice) was said to be born 1 Jun 1912 in Northport.

Son Percy was born 3 Mar 1915 (from draft registration)

Son Harry was born 3 Apr 1917 (from draft registration)

On 12 Sep 1918 Amos registered for the draft in Leelanau county. He gave his birth as 3 Aug 1873, occupation as laborer, nearest relative as wife Alice. Amos was described as medium height and weight, brown eyes, black hair.



Amos moved his family to a logging camp near Soo Junction, Luce county in the Upper Pensinsula. The families of Peter Sam, John Sheilding, Mary Chippeway, John Denemy and Jacob Deverny, neighbors in Leelanau county were also neighbor in Luce county.

Photo from Karl Bahle collection, Leelanau county.


1920 Federal Census - Pentland, Luce county

Amos, John, 46, can not read or write, occupation piece worker at lumber camp
Alice, 37, can read and write
Mabel, 7
Percy, 4
Harry, 2 9/12



Daughter Erma/Emma was said to be born 11 Feb 1921. She died 8 Sep 1921 in Leelanau township


Daughter Evelyn was born in 1922

Daughter Tillie was born 3 Jan 1926

Daughter Mabel died 28 May 1927 in Northport.



1930 Federal Census - Leelanau township, Leelanau county- all members of the family are listed as full blood Ottawa

Amos John, 52, age at first marriage is 25, farm laborer on general farm
Alice, wife, 45, age at first marriage is18
Percy, son, 15
Harry, son, 13
Evelyn, daughter, 8
Tillie, daughter, 3


Son Harry was married 3 Jul 1938 in Kewadin, Antrim county, to Ida Mae Anderson


Granddaughter Mabel was born 28 Apr 1938. Sadly she died 22 Dec 1938 in Traverse City, while her mama was in a sanitarium ill with TB.


1940 Federal Census - Nonresident schedule - taken 22 Apr in Elk Rapids.

Percy John, 25, last grade finished - 8th
Harry, brother, 23, last grade finished - 7th.
On 1 Apr lived in Northport - lived on farm at home, here no.



1940 Federal Census - Leelanau township, Leelanau county, taken 1 May.

Amos Johns, gave the information, 63, family lived in same house in 1935, farmer on farm
Alice, wife, 54
Percy, son, 25, laborer on farm
Harry, son, 23, laborer on farm
Evelyn, daughter, 17
Tillie, daughter, 13

On 15 Oct 1940 Percy registered for the draft.  He gave his birth as 3 Mar 1915 and was described as 5'8", 140 lbs, brown eyes, black hair, light brown complexion. Employer is Seth Garthe, Northport.





On 15 Oct 1940 Harry registered for the draft. He gave his birth as 3 Apr 1917 and was described as 5'8", 136 lbs, brown eyes, black hair, light brown complexion. Employer was Colin Munro of Williamsburg.




On 27 Apr 1942 Amos registered for the draft. He gave his birth as 18 Sep 1878. Employer was Seth Garthe. He was described as 5'7", brown eyes, black hair, dark brown complexion.





Amos died 22 Apr 1954. From the Traverse City Record Eagle, 23 Apr 1954



Traverse City Record Eagle 27 Apr 1954



Alice died 15 Aug 1971. From the Traverse City Record Eagle 31 Aug 1971.





Copyright (c) 2020 Vicki Wilson




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