Wednesday, October 25, 2023

John D. Petoskey

John Daniel Petoskey was born 13 May 1877, the son of Joseph Petoskey and Mary. This is the date John gives on his draft registrations and social security application. No birth record has been found for John. 

Postcard view of Cross Village.


He was the second son named John, the first having been born in 13 Jan 1875, dying 7 Oct 1876.





Sister Louise was born 9 Mar 1879. [While Michigan state birth record says male, Emmet county record says female.]



1880 Federal Census has not yet been found. Although there is a census record in Cross Village for Joseph Shagwabano, 26, Mary, 20, John, 3 and Louisa,1. Are the names a coincidence or is this the correct record for the Petoskey family?



Sister Louise died 31 Jan 1881. Aged 1 year 11 months.  





Brother Stephen was born 25 May 1881.


Sister Agatha was born 5 Mar 1884. She died 7 Apr 1884.


Brother Alexander was born 16 Mar 1885. He died 5 Jul 1885



Brother Thomas was born 4 May 1886. He died 6 Oct 1887.





Brother Samuel was born in 1888. He died 27 May 1889.





Sister Helen was born 28 Jun 1893 in Harbor Springs.


On 20 Feb 1900 in Harbor Springs, John, 22, married Victoria Cooper, 20, daughter of James Cooper.


1900 Federal Census - Little Traverse Township, Emmet, Michigan

Petoskey, Joseph, head, born May 1850, age 50, married 26 years

Mary, wife, born Jun 1856, age 43, married 26 years, 15 children born, 3 children living

John, son, born May 1877, age 23, married 1 year

Stephen, son, born May 1881, age 19, single

Ellen, daughter, born July 1895, age 4, single

Victoria, d-in-law, born Dec 1879, age 20, married 1 year, no children



Brother Leander was born 8 Jul 1900 in Harbor Springs.

Son Richard was born 23 Feb 1902. 


Emmet County Directory - Harbor Springs - 1903

Petoskey, John, laborer for Thomas Kneal, resides ft Bluff west end of Main

Petoskey, Joseph, laborer for Thomas Kneal, resides ft Bluff west end of Main




Son Richard died 19 May 1904 and was buried at Lakeview Cemetery.





Emmet County Directory - Harbor Springs - 1905

Petoskey, John, laborer, resides foot Bluff west end of Main
Petoskey, Joseph, laborer, resides foot Bluff west end of Main





1908 Durant Roll Field Notes 

line 50 page 20 

Head of family Shaw-gaw-waw-bun-no, dead
wife dead

child - Joseph Petoskey, age 60, Harbor Springs
wife Mary nee Kin-ne-quay, 50, see #32-20
Their children: 
    1) John, 32, Harbor Springs, wife Victoria, need daughter of James Cooper and Margaret Keywayesay
        1) John Petoskey Jr, 7 see 48-32
        2) Margaret, 3

    2) Stephen, 22, Harbor Springs

    3) Ellen, 12, Harbor Springs

    4) Leander, 7, Harbor Springs



line 32 page 20

Kin-ne-quay, dead
step children 
    1) Mary Petoskey, 50, Harbor Springs, see #50 page 21
    2) Peter Poyat, 53, near Sault St. Marie



Line 48, page 33

Michael Wawso, dead, wife dead
Daughter Victoria Cooper, 40, Harbor Springs, husband James Cooper, 52, see 41-32
    by James Cooper's first wife Margaret Keways, dead, he had 1) Victoria Petoskey, 29, see 50-21 and        Louis Cooper, 27, not married, Harbor Springs



Line 41 page 32

Mary Ann Key-way-quoum, 70, Harbor Springs; husband Peter Fridlander, 72, white; 
son James Cooper, 52, see 48-33




Wife Victoria filled for divorce on 27 Jan 1909 citing extreme cruelty. There were two children. Date of Final Action for all entries on the page was 9 Dec 1915. [Did it really take nearly 7 years for the divorce to be final?]




1910 Federal Census - Little Traverse Township, Emmet, Michigan

Petoskey, Joe, head, 58, married once - 37 years, born Michigan, father born Michigan, mother born Illinois, laborer at saw mill, full Ottawa

Mary, wife, 52, married once - 37 years, 19 children born, 4 living, born Michigan, father born Canada - French, mother born Canada - Indian, Ottawa, father French, mother Ottawa, 1/4 Indian 3/4 white

Johnnie, son, 32, married once - 9 years, 4 children born, 2 living, laborer, loading boats

Stephen, son, 28, married once - 1/52, 1 child born, no children living, laborer, street ware(?)

Helen, daughter, 14

Leandy, son, 9

Margaret, grand daughter, 4

Mary, daughter-in-law, 22, married once - 1/52

Tabasash, Angeline, 23




Sister Helen, age 15, and brother Leander, age 12, were admitted to Mount Pleasant Indian Industrial Boarding School on 15 Sep 1911 for 3 years.





Emmet County Directory - Harbor Springs 1911-12

Petoskey, John, laborer, resides Bluff
Petoskey, Joseph, laborer, resides Bluff





Son Sylvanius(Peter) was born 25 Aug 1912

Mt. Pleasant school 1912-13 - Helen and Leander





Mt. Pleasant school 1913-14 - Helen and Leander







Son Sylvester Francis was born 19 May 1915 in Cross Village

Emmet County Directory - Harbor Springs - 1915-16

Petoskey, Helen, boards with Joseph Petoskey
Petoskey, John, laborer, resides Bluff
Petoskey, Joseph, (Mary), works Harbor Springs Lumber Co., resides Indian Town
Petoskey, Leander, laborer, boards with Joseph Petoskey
Petoskey, Stephen (Mary S), laborer, boards with Joseph Petoskey





Mt. Pleasant school 1916-1917 - Leander




Mt. Pleasant school 1917-1918 - Leander




Emmet County Directory - Harbor Springs 1917-1918

Petoskey, Helen, boards with Joseph Petoskey
Petoskey, John, removed to Cross Village
Petoskey, Jospeh (Mary), laborer Harbor Springs Lumber Co., resides Indian Town
Petoskey, Leander, student, boards with Joseph Petoskey
Petoskey, Stephen (Mary S., auto washer, resides e s Ann 2 n of Lake




Son Joseph Douglas was born in 1918

On 12 Sep 1918 in Petoskey, John registered for the draft. He gave his birth as 13 May 1877, occupation as farmer, nearest relative as Angeline Tabasash. John was described as short and stout with brown eyes and black hair. 




Brother Leander registered for the draft (date not given). He gave his birthdate as 8 Jul 1900, nearest relative at Joseph Petoskey, father, employer as Cleveland Cliff Lumber Company. Leander was described at short, medium build with brown eyes and black hair. 



Brother Stephen registered for the draft 9 Sep 1918. He gave his full name as Stephen Joseph, birth at 25 May 1881, nearest relative as Mary Petoskey, his wife. Employer was Harbor Springs Auto Company. Stephen was described at shore, medium build, bronw eyes and black hair. He was missing his right hand.




1920 Federal Census - Cross Village, Emmet, Michigan, Pierce Street

Petoskey, John, head, 42, laborer at wood camp

Angeline, wife, 33

Sylvannus, son, 7

Sylvester, son, 5

Douglas, son, 2 



Sister Helen, age 24, was married 20 Jun 1920 in Harbor Springs to Clarence Mishekey, 24, son of Basil Mishekey and Cynthia Shomin. Ceremony was performed by Rev. Dontheus Phillip, Indian Missionary. Louis Meyer and Hattie Pfister were witnesses. 




Sons Sylvanus, age 13 and Sylvester, age 10, were admitted to Mt. Pleasant Indian Industrial School on 18 Oct 1925.




Mt. Pleasant school 1926 - 



Mt. Pleasant school 1926-27 -



Mt. Pleasant school 1928-29 - Sylvester


Mt. Pleasant school 1929-30 - Sylvester


The National Archives Branch in Chicago, Illinois has file 31/46 which names P. Sylvanus, Sylvester, Joe Douglas, Anna Marie (Joan) and Stanley Fred, children of John and Angeline, as attending Mt. Pleasant School


1930 Federal Census - Cross Village, Emmet, Michigan

Petoskey, Angeline, head, own, valued at $400, age 44, widowed, married at 26

Sylvanus, son,17

Sylvester, son, 14

Dougles, son, 13

Joan, daughter, 8

Stanley, son, 5


While Angeline was listed as widow, John was still alive. Could he be the John Petoskey, 53, divorced, married at age 22, laborer for the state, from the 1930 Federal Census of the Upper Peninsula State House of Correction Branch Prison in Marquette? 


Mt. Pleasant school 1930-1931 - Sylvester graduated




Brother Steve died 9 Mar 1936 in Lansing, Ingham, Michigan. Cause of death was lobar pneumonia.




Son Joseph died 6 Apr 1936 in Cross Village, Emmet, Michigan


1938 Harbor Springs city directory

Petoskey John (Angeline) labor Ottawa Lumber Co, resides at 1037 Harrison


John's mother, Mary, died 13 Oct 1938 in Harbor Springs, Emmet, Michigan. Cause of death was coronary thrombosis. Her father was given as Peter Pouillette.

The Emmet County Graphic, Harbor Springs, Mich. Thursday, October 20, 1938

PIONEER INDIAN DIES THURSDAY

Mrs. Joseph Petoskey Is Taken At Age of 86; Here 50 Years

    Death came Thursday evening to Mrs. Joseph Petoskey, 86, pioneer Indian resident of Harbor Springs. She had been in poor health for a number of years. Funeral services were held at Holy Childhood church Monday morning with the Rev. Fr. Wegemer in charge. Burial was in Lakeview cemetery.

    Mrs. Petoskey was born on Mackinac Island as Mary Pouillette. At the age of 16 she was married to Joseph Petoskey at Cross Village, where they made their home until coming to Harbor Springs 50 years ago. She is survived by her husband; two sons, John and Lee of Harbor Springs; one daughter, Helen Samuels of Cross Village; 16 grandchildren and one great grandchild.

    Pall-bearers at the funeral were Matt Kenoshemeg, Joseph Ettawageshik, Moses Shenonaquat, Joseph Gasco, Paul Andrews and John Williams.




1940 Federal Census - Harbor Springs, Emmet, Michigan

Petoskey, John D., head, 62, lived in same house in 1935, laborer at a lumber company

Angeline V., wife, 52, lived in same house in 1935

Sylvester, son, 28, lived in same house in 1935

Joana, daughter, 18, lived in same house in 1935

Fredrick, son, 15, lived in same house in 1935




On 16 Oct 1940 sons Peter and Sylvester registered for the draft. 

Peter gave his middle name as Sully, birth as 25 Aug 1912, employer as Noble DeWitt. Peter was 5'7", 145 lbs, brown eyes, black hair, light brown complextion, scar on left cheek. He registered in Harbor Springs, Michigan



Sylvester gave his middle name as Francis, birth as 19 May 1915, employer as Potlatch Yards Incorporated. He was described as 5'7", 130 lbs, brown eyes, black hair, dark complexion, small scar on forehead. He registered in Yakima county, Washington




On 27 Apr 1942 John registered for the draft. He was described at 5'5" tall, 168 pounds, black eyes, black hair, light brown complexion.






John's father, Joseph, died 23 Dec 1942. John was the informant and said Joseph was born 25 Apr 1851 in Benton Harbor and was widowed. Cause was mitial insufficiency. Joseph was buried at Lakeview cemetery in Harbor Springs.




Wife Angeline died 7 Feb 1949 in Harbor Springs

Harbor Resident Found Dead

HARBOR SPRINGS    -- Mrs. John Petoskey was found dead at 8 a.m. this morning in front of her home at Harrison and Fairview streets. Dr. Joseph B. Conti, coroner, said she had apparently died of a heart attack. 

    Mrs. Petoskey was fond near the sidewalk where she had gotten out of a taxi last night with her husband. Mr. Petoskey said that when they arrived home last night at about 11 p.m. his wife said she was going to visit a neighbor.

    He went on in the house. When his wife did not return, he assumed that she was staying all night with the neighbor. Apparently Mrs. Petoskey was stricken shortly after he left her. The body was found this morning by neighbors. 

    Mrs. Petoskey had lived in the Harbor Springs most of her life. She was well-known and loved by many children of her neighborhood for kindness she had shown in making clothes for them.

    She is survived by her husband; one daughter, Joan, a member of the WACs; two sons, Fred of Detroit, and Sylvester  of Petoskey.

    Funeral services have not been arranged.



Mrs. John Petoskey Found Dead Mon.

    Funeral services will be held Thursday (today) at 10 o'clock for Mrs. John Petoskey who was found dead at 8 o'clock Monday morning in fornt of her home at Harrison and Fairview streets, in Leighton Park subdivision.

    Dr. Joseph B. Conti, corner, pronounced her dead of a heart attack.

    Mrs. Petoskey was found near the residence by a neighbor. Mr. and Mrs. Petoskey had been downtown for the day and at about 11 pm were taxied within a block of the house, as far as the road was plowed. The wife talked of going to a neighbor.

    Petoskey went on into the house. Assuming the wife had gone to neighbors for the night he went to bed.

    Mrs. Petoskey had lived in Harbor Springs most of her life. She is survived by the husband, one daughter, Joan, a member of the WACs, two sons, Fred of Detroit and Sylvester of Petoskey.


Lakeview Cemetery, Harbor Springs





1950 Federal Census - Harbor Springs, Emmet, Michigan

Petoskey, John D., head, 72, widowed

John D., Jr., son, 50



John died 29 May 1960

Petoskey News-Review 31 May 1960

John Petoskey Rites Wednesday

    Funeral services will be held Wednesday at 10 a.m. from the Erwin Funeral Parlors for John D. Petoskey, 84, of Leighton Park, Harbor Springs who died Sunday at the Turk Nursing Home. Rev. Nelson Walker will officiate and interment will be in Lakeview cemetery.

    He was born at Cross village on May 5, 1876 and lived in that area most of his life. He married the former Angeline Tabasash in rites at Harbor Springs in 1910.

    Survivors include four sons, John, Jr. and Sylvanus of Harbor Springs, Sylvester of Port Huron and Fred of Petoskey; a daughter, Mrs. Ralph Wood of Bath, Michigan, 20 grandchildren; a sister Mrs. Joseph Samuels of Cross Village.

    The body is at the Erwin funeral Parlors, where friends my call from 7:30 to 9 p. m. tonight.


Burial was at Lakeview Cemetery in Harbor Springs. 



Copyright (c) 2023 Vicki Wilson




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