Gazlay Family History
 

Family HistoryFamily History - Parmelia Palmer


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 Parmelia Palmer and three of her descendants down to the third generation.


First Generation
1. Parmelia Palmer,1 born ____ in New York (parents not determined).1 Parmelia married John Houghtaling (born ____ in New York, parents not determined1).

Child of Parmelia Palmer and John Houghtaling:

+2i. Margarette Esther Houghtaling, born 25 August 1847 in Hadley, Lapeer County, Michigan; died 8 July 1906 in Flint, Genesee County, Michigan. Married Harlan Page Gazlay.

  1. Find a Grave (website). Avondale Cemetery, Flint, Genesee County, Michigan; Margaretta Esther Gazlay, born 25 August 1847 in Hadley, Lapeer County, Michigan, died 8 July 1906 in Flint, Michigan. Parents: John Houghtoling and Parmelia Palmer, both born in New York (from record and attached death certificate).
Second and Third Generations
2. Margarette Esther Houghtaling2 (Parmelia1), born 25 August 1847 in Hadley, Lapeer County, Michigan;1, 2, 3 died 8 July 1906 in Flint, Genesee County, Michigan.1 Margarette married, 14 April 1877, Harlan Page Gazlay9 (born 20 August 1850 in Flint, Genesee County, Michigan, the son of Ward Gazlay and Louisa B. Hood;2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 Harlan died 21 February 1915 in Flint, Genesee County, Michigan4, 5). Margarette and Harlan are buried in Avondale Cemetery, Flint, Genesee County, Michigan.1, 4, 5

The following is a portion of a biographical sketch of Harlan; the portion of his sketch about his father, Ward Gazlay, is presented on Ward’s family record.9

HARLAN PAGE GAZLAY is a harnessmaker located at No. 1100 South Saginaw street, Flint. He is a native of this place, his father Ward Gazlay, having come here in 1837.

Harlan P. Gazlay, our subject, was born in Flint, August 25, 1850. [the correct date is believed to be August 20, 1850.] He received a common-school education in his native place and afterward learned the trade of harness-making from his father, and March 1, 1882, established in business for himself. He later purchased the property at the corner of Saginaw and Sixth Streets, South, where he opened his shop and had his residence located in the same block. They have continued in this location ever since. Our subject served for eleven years as a member of the Hook and Ladder company during the volunteer service.

He of whom we write was married April 14, 1877, to Miss Margaretta Houghtaling, of Lapeer County, and to them have been born one son—J. Harlan. Otis F. Gazlay, brother of our subject, was born December 29, 1864, and after receiving a fair education, also learned the trade of a harness-maker under the tutelage of his father, continuing in his employ until the death of Mr. Gazlay. He has resided most of the time with our subject. He has an interest in the estate left by his father. Our subject is one of the well-known and successful business men in Flint.


Children of Margarette Esther Houghtaling and Harlan Page Gazlay:

 3i. Louisa B. ‘Lulu’ Gazlay, born 15 March 1878 in Michigan;2, 10 died 3 January 1881 in Flint, Genesee County, Michigan.3, 10, 11 Lulu is buried in Avondale Cemetery, Flint, Genesee County, Michigan.10
 4ii. J. Harlan Gazlay, born 10 August 1883 in Flint, Genesee County, Michigan;3, 12 died 8 April 1904 in Flint, Genesee County, Michigan.12 J. is buried in Avondale Cemetery, Flint, Genesee County, Michigan.12

  1. Find a Grave (website). Avondale Cemetery, Flint, Genesee County, Michigan; Margaretta Esther Gazlay, born 25 August 1847 in Hadley, Lapeer County, Michigan, died 8 July 1906 in Flint, Michigan. Parents: John Houghtoling and Parmelia Palmer, both born in New York (from record and attached death certificate).
  2. U.S. Federal Census, 1880, Michigan, Genesee County, Flint, Enumeration District 73, Page No. 44, family of Harlen P. Gazlay (29, Mich., harness maker); wife Maggie Gazlay (32, Mich.); daughter Louisa B. Gazlay (2, Mich).
  3. U.S. Federal Census, 1900, Michigan, Genesee County, Flint, Enumeration District 14, Sheet No. 16B, family of Harley Gazley (50, Michigan, Aug 1849, harness maker); wife of 23 years Margaret Gazley (52, Michigan, Aug 1847, 2 children, 1 living); son J. Harland Gazley (16, Michigan, Aug 1883); brother Otis Gazley (35, Michigan, Dec. 1864, harness maker).
  4. Death Certificate, Michigan; Gazlay, Harlan Page; born 20 August 1850 in Michigan; father: Ward Gazlay, born in New York; mother: Louisa B. Hood, born in New York; died 21 February 1915 in Flint, Michigan; place of burial: Avondale, Flint, Michigan.
  5. Find a Grave (website). Avondale Cemetery, Flint, Genesee County, Michigan; Harlan Page Gazlay, born 20 August 1850, died 21 February 1915 in Flint, Michigan; married Frances Shepherd in 1908 (from record and attached obituary from an unidentified newspaper).
  6. U.S. Federal Census, 1860, Michigan, Genesee County, Flint, Page No. 57, family of Ward Gazlay (46, NY, harness maker); Louisa B. Gazlay (38, NY); Charles Gazlay (17, NY, harness maker); Elizabeth Gazlay (15, Mich.); Sarah Gazlay (13, Mich.); Harley Gazlay (11, Mich.); Hellen Gazlay (9, Mich.); Alice Gazlay (4, Mich.); Jennie Gazlay (1, Mich.).
  7. U.S. Federal Census, 1870, Michigan, Genesee County, Flint, Page No. 1, family of Ward Gazlay (57, New York, harness maker); Louisa B. Gazlay (48, New York); Sarah Gazlay (24, Michigan); Harlan Gazlay (19, Michigan, harness maker); Helen C. Gazlay (18, Michigan); Alice Gazlay (13, Michigan); Otis F. Gazlay (5, Michigan).
  8. U.S. Federal Census, 1910, Michigan, Genesee County, Flint City, Enumeration District 24, Sheet No. 1B, family of Harley P. Gazlay (59, Michigan, retired merchant, harness, second marriage); wife of 2 years Francis C. Gazlay (44, Michigan, no children).
  9. Portrait and Biographical Record of Genesee, Lapeer, and Tuscola Counties, Michigan, Chicago, Chapman Bros. 1892. Digitized copy available at Google Books. Pages 707-708, biographical sketch of Harlan Page Gazlay, indicating his birth as 25 August 1850, Onondaga Hollow, Onondaga County, New York, and including details about his wife, children, parents, and siblings.
  10. Find a Grave (website). Avondale Cemetery, Flint, Genesee County, Michigan; Lulu / Dau. of / HP & ME Gazlay / born / Mar. 15 1878 / died / Jan. 3, 1881 (from record and headstone).
  11. Michigan, Genesee County, Return of Deaths for 1881; Louisa B. Gazley, died 3 January 1881 in the City of Flint; age 2 years, 7 months; harness maker; born in New York; parents: Harley Gazley and ____ Gazley. [Constructed birth date: July 1878, which differs from the date on her headstone]
  12. Find a Grave (website). Avondale Cemetery, Flint, Genesee County, Michigan; J. Harlan Gazlay, born 10 August 1883 in Flint, Michigan; died 8 April 1904 in Flint, Michigan, single (from record and attached death certificate which names his parents and their places of birth).