Gazlay Family History
 

Family HistoryFamily History - Elizabeth Shear


Key:1.“+” before a child’s name indicates the child has their own entry in the next generation.
 2.“born xxxx” indicates the child is under 18 years of age so the birth date is not shown.
This family history features Elizabeth Shear and three of her descendants down to the fourth generation.


First Generation
1. Elizabeth Shear,1 born ____ (parents not determined). Elizabeth married Knowles S. Brush (born ____, parents not determined).

Child of Elizabeth Shear and Knowles S. Brush:

+2i. Charity E. Brush, born 12 June 1857 in New York; died 20 April 1921 in Gilmore, Isabella County, Michigan. Married (1) Edward Francis Walker Married (2) Henry Waddington.

Second Generation
2. Charity E. Brush2 (Elizabeth1), born 12 June 1857 in New York;1, 2 died 20 April 1921 in Gilmore, Isabella County, Michigan.1 Charity married, first, ca. 1878, Edward Francis Walker (born 1 May 1855 in New York, parents not determined;2, 3 Edward died 10 February 1907 in Farwell, Clare County, Michigan3). Charity married, second, 3 September 1908 in Mount Pleasant, Isabella County, Michigan, Henry Waddington4 (born 12 July 1849 in Canada, the son of John A. Waddington and Mary Basted;4, 5 Henry died 20 April 1925 in Coleman, Midland County, Michigan5). Edward is buried in Surrey Township Cemetery, Farwell, Clare County, Michigan.3

Child adopted by Charity E. Brush and Edward Francis Walker:

+3i. Margaret M. ‘Maggie’ Walker (born Margaret Crippen), born 23 October 1891 in Union Charter Township, Isabella County, Michigan; died 23 June 1912 in Farwell, Clare County, Michigan. Married Francis E. ‘Frank’ Melvin (born Francis E. Byron).

  1. Michigan, Death Certificates, 1921-1952. Charity L. Waddington, died: 20 April 1921 in Gilmore, Isabella County, Michigan; born: 12 June 1857 in New York; father: Knowles S. Bush; mother: Elizabeth Shear.
  2. U.S. Federal Census, 1900, New York, Wayne County, Huron, E.D. 111, Sheet No. 18B, Edward Walker, 45, New York, May 1855, farmer; wife of 22 years Charity Walker, 42, New York, June 1857, no children; daughter Margrett M. Walker, 8, Michigan, Oct. 1861; mother Sofronia Johnson, 70, New York, May 1830.
  3. Find a Grave (website). Surrey Township Cemetery, Farwell, Clare County, Michigan, Edward Francis Walker, born: 1 May 1855 in New York; died: 10 February 1907 in Farwell, Clare County, Michigan (from record).
  4. Michigan Marriages, 1868-1925, Henry Waddington, age 56, born in Canada, farmer, father: John A. Waddington; mother: Mary Basted; previously married once; Charity E. Walker, age 51, born in New York; father: Knowles Bous... [sic]; mother: Elizabeth Meeker; previously married once; married on 3 September 1908 in Mt. Pleasant, Isabella County, Michigan.
  5. Michigan, Death Certificates, 1921-1952. Henry John Waddington, died: 20 April 1925 in Coleman, Midland [County], Michigan; born: 12 July 1849 in Canada; father: John Waddington.
Third Generation
3. Margaret M. ‘Maggie’ Walker (born Margaret Crippen)3 (Charity,2 Elizabeth1), born 23 October 1891 in Union Charter Township, Isabella County, Michigan;1, 2, 3, 4 died 23 June 1912 in Farwell, Clare County, Michigan.2 Maggie married, 27 October 1907 in Farwell, Clare County, Michigan, Francis E. ‘Frank’ Melvin (born Francis E. Byron)7 (born 24 July 1888 in Isabella Township, Isabella County, Michigan, the son of Theophilus ‘James’ Byron and Emma Dubois;4, 5, 6, 7 Frank died 19466). Maggie and Frank are buried in Surrey Township Cemetery, Farwell, Clare County, Michigan.2, 6 Maggie was adopted by Edward Francis Walker and Charity E. Brush.

Margaret was apparently raised and probably adopted by Edward F. Walker and his wife Charity E. Walker Waddington (nee Brush). Margaret appears in the 1900 US Census living in New York with the Walkers (and bearing their surname). This was about four months after Margaret’s birth father, Nelson Crippen, died. Margaret’s marriage record shows the Walkers as her parents. However, several census records show that Charity had no children, implying that Margaret was not Margaret’s birth mother. It is not clear why Edward Walker and his wife were chosen to raise Margaret.


Child of Margaret M. ‘Maggie’ Walker (born Margaret Crippen) and Francis E. ‘Frank’ Melvin (born Francis E. Byron):

+4i. Clarence A. Melvin, born 25 March 1912 in Farwell, Clare County, Michigan; died 1980. Married Frances S. Harris.

  1. Michigan, County Births, 1867-1917, Isabella County, Margaret M. Crippin, born: 23 October 1891 in Union, Isabella County, Michigan; father: N. H. Crippin, laborer, birthplace unknown; mother: Luella Crippin, born in Ohio.
  2. Find a Grave (website). Surrey Township Cemetery, Farwell, Clare County, Michigan, Margaret M. Crippen Melvin, born: 23 October 1891 in Mount Pleasant, Isabella County, Michigan; died: 23 June 1912 in Farwell, Clare County, Michigan (from record, which includes a note indicating she was the daughter of Nelson and Luella (Courter) Crippen; and provides the name and link for her husband).
  3. U.S. Federal Census, 1900, New York, Wayne County, Huron, E.D. 111, Sheet No. 18B, Edward Walker, 45, New York, May 1855, farmer; wife of 22 years Charity Walker, 42, New York, June 1857, no children; daughter Margrett M. Walker, 8, Michigan, Oct. 1861; mother Sofronia Johnson, 70, New York, May 1830.
  4. U.S. Federal Census, 1910, Michigan, Clare County, Farwell, E.D. 38, Sheet No. 3B, Alfred A. Melvin, 62, New York, second marriage, laborer, odd jobs; wife of 31 years Sarah A. Melvin, 50, Pennsylvania, second marriage, one child, one living; son (adopted) Francis E. Melvin, 21, Michigan, laborer, odd jobs; daughter-in-law and wife of 2 years Margaret M. Melvin, 18, Michigan, no children.
  5. Michigan, County Births, 1867-1917, Isabella County, Francis E. Byron, born: 24 July 1888 in Isabella Township, Isabella County, Michigan; father: James Byron, farmer, born in New York; mother: Emma Bryon, born in Canada.
  6. Find a Grave (website). Surrey Township Cemetery, Farwell, Clare County, Michigan, Frank E. Melvin, born: 1888; died: 1946 (from record, which includes the text from two obituaries; and provides the names and links for his father, two siblings, three wives, and three children).
  7. Michigan Marriages, 1868-1925, Francis E. Melvin, age 19, born in Isabella County, Michigan, com[mon] laborer; father: Alfred A. Melvin; mother: Sarah A. Clark; not previously married; Margaret M. Walker, age 16, born in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan; father: Edward F. Walker; mother: Charity E. Brush; not previously married; married on 27 October 1907 in Farwell, Clare County, Michigan.
Fourth Generation
4. Clarence A. Melvin4 (Margaret ‘Maggie’,3 Charity,2 Elizabeth1), born 25 March 1912 in Farwell, Clare County, Michigan;1, 2 died 1980.1 Clarence married, 2 May 1931 in Porter County, Indiana, Frances S. Harris2 (born 28 January 1910 in Brunswick, Holton Township, Muskegon County, Michigan, the daughter of Walter Harris and Louise Miller;2, 3 Frances died 19823). Clarence and Frances are buried in Hart Cemetery, Hart, Oceana County, Michigan.1, 3

  1. Find a Grave (website). Hart Cemetery, Hart, Oceana County, Michigan, Clarence A. Melvin, born: 1912; died: 1980 (from record, which gives the names and links for his father and two siblings).
  2. Indiana Marriages, 1811-2018/2019, Clarence Melvin, born: 25 March 1910 [sic, he was born in 1912, three months before the death of his birth mother] in Farwell, Michigan; father: Frank Melvin; mother: Margaret Walker; one previous marriage; Frances Harris, born: 28 January 1908 in Brunswick, Michigan; father: Walter Harris; mother: Louise Miller; one previous marriage; married on 2 May 1931 in Porter County, Indiana.
  3. Find a Grave (website). Hart Cemetery, Hart, Oceana County, Michigan, Frances S. Melvin, born: 1910; died: 1982 (from record).