Sophia Pontiac

 Sophia Pontiac was said to be 10 Aug 1849. the daughter of Louis Pontiac and Sheobonequa. She joined sister Catherine born 1846.

Brother Tonsain was said to be born in 1850.

Sister Elizabeth was said to be born 1858 (age 12 in 1870, but not listed in 1860 census.)

1860 Federal Census - Centerville, Leelanau, Michigan

Pontiac, 34

Sheobonequa, 31

Catherine, 14

Sophia, 12

Tonsain, 10

1860 Federal Census Agricultural schedule

Son Thomas Shawkoo/Jacko was said to be born in 1864, the son of John Shawkoo/Jacko.

Sister Mary was said to be born 1866.

Brother Lewis was said to be born 1868. He is age 12 in 1880, but not in the 1870 census.

1870 Annuity Roll         

 #5 Pontiac, one man, one woman, five children, received $107.10, under Chief Naw-o-quay-ke-zhick

1870 Federal Census - Sophia not yet found

1870 Federal Census - Leelanau, Michigan

Pontius, 45

Mary, 40

Elizabeth, 12

Mary, 4

1870 Federal Census Agricultural schedule

Sister Emma was born 20 Sep 1872

Son Samuel Pontiac was said to be born Feb 1874 (from death record.)

1880 Federal Census - Sophia not yet found

1880 Federal Census, Bingham, Leelanau, Michigan

Lewis, 65

Theresa, 55

Mary, 17

Lewis, 12

Emma, 8

Sister Mary died 18 Nov 1881 of small pox. Her age was given as 16 years 5 months, her parents as Louis and Angelique.

Son Charles was born Jul 1883. He died 1 May 1886 at the age of 2 years, 10 months of croup.

Son Peter was born 22 Dec 1886 and died 24 Dec 1886. Cause of death was weakness.

Son Basiline was born 10 Apr 1887 and died 20 Apr 1887.

Son Benedict Pontiac was born 25 Jul 1888. He died 29 Aug 1888 in Peshawbestown of cholera.

Son Thomas Jacko and wife Mary Ann Keynawekezhick welcomed a daughter on 20 May 1893 in Bay Shore, Charlevoix county. Baby was named Sophia after her grandmother.

1894 Michigan State Census - Peshawbestown, Leelanau, Michigan

Shagonabe, Casper, husband, 45, married

Kate, wife, 48, married

Rosa, daughter, 5, single

Pontiac, Louis, father, 78, widowed

1894 Michigan State Census - Sophia, not found

1900 Federal Census - Sophia

Son Samuel S. Pontiac, 31, married on 3 May 1908 in Bellaire, Antrim, Michigan to Lucy Chippeway, 26. His parents are given as Andrew Wasson and Sophia Pontiac, while Lucy's parents are Daniel Chippeway and Angeline.

1908 Durant Roll

page 41 line 5

Sophia died 12 Oct 1909. Her birth was given as 10 Aug 1849, widowed, 4 children born, 2 children living. Father - Lewis Pontiac, mother - unknown.

Since Sophia died after the 1908 Durant Roll, but before the payment was made son Samuel petitioned the court for her estate to receive the money.

Son Samuel died 18 Jan 1922. Wife Lucie was the informant and gave his birth as Feb 1874, his father as Peter Pontiac. Samuel was buried in Peshawbestown.

Copyright (c) 2020 Vicki Wilson

Solomon L. Francis 1904-1989

 Solomon L. Francis was born 2 Jun 1904 in Middle Village (Good Hart), Emmet, Michigan. He was the son of Joseph Francis and Sarah Nadowegwessa. Sarah was born 9 Jun 1872 in Cross Village, Emmet, Michigan, the daughter of Benjamin Nadowegwessa and Mary Ann Tebasaw. [Benjamin was the son of Sebastian Nadowegwessa. Mary Ann was the daughter of Jacob Tabawsaw, granddaughter of John Blackman.]

Photo of Middle Village c1915

While his birth was not recorded in 1904, Solomon did have a delayed birth registration issued 23 Jan 1953. To get a delayed birth record an affidavit was submitted by a person (usually a relative or midwife) who was born prior and was present or knowledgeable of the requesting person's birth.

When Solomon was only 4 years old his father risked his life to save others.

Solomon's listing in the Durant Roll 1908 Field Notes, 1910 Federal Census and 1920 Federal Census can be found on his father's (Joseph) post linked above.

Older brothers Ed, Albert and Louis attended Mt. Pleasant Indian Industrial School.

Brother Ed died 8 Aug 1910

Brother Albert died 11 Jan 1911

Joseph and Sarah with children Mary and Louis in back; Elias, Alice, Agnes and Solomon in front, based on ages. [Elias and Solomon might be switched].

In 1914 father Joseph received the a gold medal and $500 from the Andrew Carnegie Hero Fund Foundation. From The Charlevoix Courier 1 May 1914

Solomon's listing in the 1920 Federal Census can also be found on his father Joseph's post linked above.

Levering Local, 31 Jul 1924

Older brother Louis married Victoria Meongway on 26 Jan 1925.

Brother Elias died 7 Nov 1926

Solomon, 23, common labor, married Lena Chingwa, 17, hotel employee, on 6 Sep 1927 in Good Hart, Emmet, Michigan. Helen was the daughter of William Chingwa and Mary. The ceremony was performed by Fr. Aubert Kenter, Catholic Priest Indian Missionary. Witnesses were Pat Andrews and Agnes Francis.

Daughter Rose was born 24 Jun 1929 in Good Hart, Emmet, Michigan

1930 Federal Census - Friendship Township, Emmet, Michigan, taken 26 Apr 1930

Francis, Solomon, 25, married at 23, laborer at farm and fishing

" Lena, wife, 20, married at 17

" Rose, daughter, 10/12

Tehaykehoh, Alice, sister-in-law, 19, married at 18

" John, son, 10/12

Francis, Joseph, father, 67, married at 30

" Sarah, mother, 57, married at 20

" Catherne, sister, 16

Daughter Ethel was born 26 Feb 1931. No birth record found.

Daughter Mary Jane was born in 2 Sep 1933

Son Albert James was born in Friendship township, Emmet county on 30 Jul 1935

Daughter Leona Mae was born 22 Nov 1937 in Good Hart. No birth record found.

Son William was born 17 Nov 1939 in Harbor Springs.

1940 Federal Census - Friendship township, Emmet, Michigan, taken 22 Apr 1940

Francis, Solomon, head, 33, laborer in lumber mill. Solomon provided the information, the family lived in the same place in 1935

Francis, Lena, wife, 30

Rose, daughter, 10

Ethel, daughter, 9

Mary, daughter, 6

Albert, son, 4

Ione, daughter, 2

Billie, son, 4/12

Solomon registered for the draft on 16 Oct 1940 in Harbor Springs. He gave his birth date as 2 Jun 1905 in Good Hart. Solomon was described as 5 foot 9 inches tall, 136 lbs, brown hair and black eyes.

Emmet County Graphic 13 Nov 1941 tells of Ethel and Rose missing school, but doesn't say why. Other students have the chicken pox.

Emmet County Graphic 20 Nov 1941 - Rose is still ill.

Emmet County Graphic 4 Dec 1941 sees Mary Jane, Ethel and Rose returning to school

Emmet County Graphic 22 Jan 1942 tells of Mary Jane and Rose being ill again.

Emmet County Graphic 5 Feb 1942 - Rose is still ill

Emmet County Graphic 19 Feb 1942 tells that the girls have returned to school after an unnamed illness.

Emmet County Graphic 16 Apr 1942 - poor Rose, now she has the mumps. [And if she did, most likely  her five younger siblings would as well - poor Lena]

Emmet County Graphic 7 May 1942 adds Mary Jane to those having mumps.

Emmet County Graphic 14 May 1942 - Mary Jane returns to school

Solomon's father, Joseph, died 24 May 1942

Emmet County Graphic 15 Oct 1942 tells of Albert leaving the local school to attend Holy Childhood.

Emmet County Graphic 23 Dec 1943 printed Ethel's letter to Santa.

Emmet County Graphic 19 Oct 1944 shows Albert returning to public school, but not being a strong reader.

Emmet County Graphic 17 May 1945

Members of the supporting chorus for the grade school operetta included Albert, Ethel and Mary Jane. Emmet County Graphic 16 May 1946

Emmet County Graphic 10 May 1951

Petoskey Evening News 21 Mar 1952

Emmet County Graphic 3 Apr 1952

Daughter Mary Jane married Burford Clay Jr on 6 Dec 1952 in Detroit.

Daughter Rose married 27 Dec 1952 in Emmet county to Norman H. Stoll. 

The Emmet County Graphic of 8 Jan 1953 announced the marriage of Rose.

The Northern Michigan Review 8 Jan 1953

The Northern Michigan Review 15 Jan 1953 announced Mary Jane's marriage.

Son Albert joined the service, exact date unknown.

Emmet County Graphic 2 Nov 1953

Emmet County Graphic 18 Feb 1954

Emmet County Graphic 22 Apr 1954

Sister Alice died 15 Jun 1954

Daughter Ethel married Clarence Vance on 3 Aug 1957 in Harbor Springs. 

Petoskey News Review 8 Aug 1957

Son Albert married Ellen Remley on 4 Jan 1958.

Solomon's mother, Sarah, died 10 May 1961.

Sister Rose Williams died 26 Jun 1967. Her obituary was printed in the Petoskey News Review 28 Jun 1967

Brother Louis died 19 Jul 1961

Wife Helen/Lena died 13 Aug 1973 in Petoskey. The Petoskey News Review 15 Aug 1973 printed her obituary.

Harbor Light 30 Aug 1973

Lena was buried at St. Ignatius in Good Hart, Emmet, Michigan

Petoskey News Review 22 Aug 1974

Petoskey News Review 1 Feb 1977

Petoskey News Review 8 Aug 1977

Petoskey News Review 5 Nov 1981

Harbor Light 21 Dec 1983

Harbor Light 7 Mar 1984

Petoskey News Review 12 Jul 1984

Son-in-law, Norman Stoll, died 26 Mar 1985. From the Petoskey News Review of 27 Mar 1985.

Harbor Light 19 Mar 1986 included pictures of Solomon.

Petoskey News Review 15 Jun 1987

Daughter Leona died 6 Aug 1987 in Grand Rapids, Kent, Michigan

Petoskey News Review 26 Aug 1988

Solomon died 31 Mar 1989. 

Harbor Light 5 Apr 1989

Harbor Light 2 Aug 1989

Harbor Light 6 Dec 1989

Daughter Rose died 24 May 2001

Copyright (c) 2020 Vicki Wilson