Erastus THURSTON

Other Events and Attributes:

• Census: 1850, Living with father in Leoni, Jackson Co., Michigan
• Census: 1870, Living in Leoni, Jackson Co., Michigan
• Census: 1880, Living in Leoni, Jackson Co., Michigan

Notes:

Name:
He went to Leoni, Michigan with his father in 1850, farmed it in Waterloo, Michigan, eight years; 1863 moved to the old homestead in Leoni, P.O., Grass lake, Michigan.

Erastus Thurston was born in Erie county, New York, April 12, 1833. His parents were Thomas and Electa (Wilcox) Thurston, natives of Vermont and New York respectively, and of English origin. Mr. T. was educated in the common schools and brought up to farming pursuits; remained with his parents until their removal to Michigan the spring of 1850, when they located on the home now occupied by Mr. T. He married October, 1853, to Cornelia H. Slosson, born in Tompkins county, New York, Jan. 5, 1835; their children are - Loine, born April 30, 1855, now Mrs. Hiram Eddy of Leoni; Carmi J., Dec. 2, 1858, died Aug. 28, 1863; Willie G., Nov. 12, 1863; Marion Thurston Hilton, march 15, 1860. Mr. T. resided in Waterloo tp. some eight years; in 1863 removed to the old homestead in Leoni, where he has since remained. His ancestors are celebrated for their longevity, his grandfather having died in 1850, at the patriarchal age of 97 years, 8 months and 17 days; his father, Thomas Thurston, March, 1872, aged 86. In this connection a few words regarding Miss Samantha Thurston, the oldest sister of the subject of this sketch. After her mother's death she assumed all the responsibilities of a mother, and conducted the affairs of the old homestead with an earnestness and well-directed zeal, which claimed the unqualified approbation and admiration of her relatives and neighbors.

Erastus married Cornelia Hunter SLOSSON on 13 Oct 1853 in Leoni, Jackson Co., Michigan. Cornelia (daughter of Julius SLOSSON and Hannah Mariah LONGCOY) was born on 25 Jan 1835 in Clinton County, New York; died on 19 Jan 1920 in Los Angeles County, California. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Julia Loine THURSTON was born on 30 Apr 1855 in Grass Lake, Jackson Co., Michigan; died on 14 Nov 1944 in Eloise, Wayne Co., Michigan.
2. Carni Julius THURSTON was born on 2 Dec 1858; died on 28 Aug 1863.
3. William Gardner THURSTON was born on 12 Nov 1863 in Michigan; died on 24 Mar 1956 in Alameda Co., California; was buried in Greenwood Memorial Park, San Diego, San Diego Co., California.

Other Events and Attributes:

• Census: 1850, Living in Leoni, Jackson Co., Michigan
• Census: 1860, Living in Leoni, Jackson Co., Michigan
• Census: 1870, Living with son, Erastus, in Leoni, Jackson Co., Michigan

Notes:

Name:
Mr. Thurston was a farmer and shoemaker in Aurora, New York. He was a stern, strong-willed man, a decided Universalist, and deacon of the church in Aurora, a Whig, and after a Republican, a man of character, honored by his fellow-citizens with several offices of trust; served in the war of 1812; obtained leave to go home and make pair of boots, his father taking his place in the army. While at home he heard that his father had been killed by the Indians. he and his brother Daniel immediately started for Buffalo (which had been burned by the British), with two ox teams, and met their father just out of the city. They loaded their teams with ammunition, which had been left by the American army, and carried it to a place of safety from the British. In 1850 he sold his farm and moved to Leoni, where he had a farm of 500 acres; P.O. address, Grass lake, Michigan.

Thomas married Electa WILLCOX on 9 Sep 1813. Electa died on 26 Nov 1833. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]