George W. PRIEST

Father: Joshua PRIEST
Mother: Polly EDMUNDS

Family 1: Judith A. LUTHER

(1) Portrait and Biographical Album of Clinton and Shiawassee, Counties, Mich., Chapman Bros., Chicago, 1891. Pages 755-756.

  1. Laura PRIEST
  2. Albert PRIEST
  3. Helen M. PRIEST
  4. Joseph PRIEST
  5. George PRIEST
                                     ___________________
                 ___________________|
                |                   |___________________
 _Joshua PRIEST_|
|               |                    ___________________
|               |___________________|
|                                   |___________________
|
|--George W. PRIEST
|                                    _James EDMUNDS_____
|                _Eliphalet EDMUNDS_|
|               |                   |_Abigail JENCKES___
|_Polly EDMUNDS_|
                |                    _Amos ROBINSON_____
                |_Betsey ROBINSON___|
                                    |_Hepsibah WILMARTH_

Notes

Updated October 15, 2022. Compiled by Howder (www.howderfamily.com) from the following source(s):

(1) 1840 United States Census for Michigan, Washtenaw Co., Freedom: Page 62; August 10, 1850.

- Name of Head of Family: Geo. PRIEST
- Free White Persons - Males - 20 thru 29: 1
- Free White Persons - Females - 20 thru 29: 1
- Persons Employed in Agriculture: 1
- Free White Persons - 20 thru 49: 2
- Total Free White Persons: 2
- Total All Persons - Free White, Free Colored, Slaves: 2

(2) U.S., General Land Office Records via Ancestry.com

- Name: George W PRIEST
- Issue Date: 10 Nov 1840
- Place: Shiawassee, Michigan, USA
- Land Office: Genesee
- Meridian: Michigan-Toledo Strip
- Township: 7-N
- Range: 4-E
- Section: 8
- Accession Number: MI1700__.329
- Document Number: 1833

"According to the provisions of the Act of Congress of the 24th of April, 1820, entitled 'An Act making further provision for the sale of Public Lands,' for East half of the North West quarter of Section 8 in Township seven North, of Range four East, in the District of Lands subject to the sale at Genesse, Michigan, containing eighty acres."

(3) 1850 United States Census for Michigan, Shiawassee Co., Town of Venice: Page 50; August 10, 1850.

George W. PRIEST is head of household, married to Judith A. [LUTHER] PRIEST. He is 35 years old, born in New York and is a farmer with real estate value at $1,000. Children in the household, all born in Michigan, are Laura (age 10), Albert (age 8), Hellen (age 7), Joseph (age 6) and George T. (age 2). His mother Polly [EDMUNDS] PRIEST is also a resident.

(4) 1850 United States Agricultural Census for Michigan, Shiawassee Co., Town of Venice: August 8, 1850.

- Owner: George W. PRIEST
- Acres (improved): 35
- Acres (unimproved): 45
- Cash Value of Farm: 1000
- Value of Farming Implements: 65
- Horses: 2
- Milich Cows: 2
- Other Cattle: 1
- Sheep: 18
- Swine: 5
- Value of Live Stock: 219
- Wheat (bushels): 70
- Indian Corn (bushels): 125
- Oats (bushels): 200

(5) 1860 United States Census for Michigan, Shiawassee Co., Township of Venice: Page 38, June 11, 1860.

George PRIEST is head of household, married to Judith [LUTHER] PRIEST. He is 46 years old, born in New York and is a farmer with real estate valued at $2,000 and personal estate valued at $1,000. Children in the household are Hellen (age 17), Joseph (age 15), and George P. (age 11).

(6) Michigan, U.S., Death Records via Ancestry.com

- Full Name: Geo. W. PRIEST
- Place of Death: Venice Township
- Date of Death: Sep. 7, 1899
- Marital Status: Widower
- Age: 85 years; 5 months, 13 days [calculated date = 25 Mar 1814]
- Age at (First) Marriage: 25
- Children: Parent of 5 children of whom 5 are living
- Birthplace: New York
- Occupation: Farmer
- Father: Joshaway PRIEST
- Mother: [illegible] EDMONDS
- Burial: Sep. 10 1899; Wilkson Cemetery, Venice
- Cause of Death: Paralysis

(7) 1870 United States Census for Michigan, Shiawassee Co., Venice (Corunna Post Office): page 19; August 22, 1870.

George PRUSH is head of household, married to Judith [LUTHER] PRUSH. He is 57 years old, born in New York and is a farmer with real estate valued at $6,000 and personal estate valued at $1,000. Children in the household are George (age 21) and Minnie (age 11 [adopted]).

(8) 1880 United States Census for Michigan, Shiawassee Co., Venice: Supervisor's District 3; Enumeration District 362; page 1; June 1+2, 1880.

George W. PRIEST is head of household, married to Judith [LUTHER] PRIEST. He is 66 years old and was born in New York, with his parents born in Vermont. He is a farmer. Their daughter Minnie (age 11 [adopted]) is also part of the household.

(9) Golden Wedding Anniversary via Newspapers.com: Owosso Times; Owosso, Michigan; 24 May 1889, Fri. Page 1.

"Golden Wedding. The fiftieth anniversary of the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Geo. W. PRIEST, of Venice, was celebrated in a very pleasant manner at their home on Saturday last. Mr. PRIEST and wife were visiting their daughter, about a mile away, when word came that friends had called to see them. On returning home they were greatly surprised to find a house full of friends and relatives; four of their five children were present, and numerous grandchildren and one great grandchild. It was indeed a happy surprise to the old pioneers, who have resided on the same farm for fifty years, and experienced all the joys and sorrows of life. A bountiful dinner, prepared by the visitors, was served, and then Rev. J. B. GOSS in behalf of the company presented Mr. and Mrs. PRIEST two rocking chairs, a gold breast pin, an elegant gold headed cane and a silver cake basket. Mr. PRIEST expressed thanks with a great deal of feeling."

(10) Obituary via Newspapers.com: Owosso Times; Owosso, Michigan; 08 Sep 1899, Fri. Page 1.

"Venice Pioneer Gone. George W. PRIEST, aged eighty-five years, died at his home in Venice township yesterday about noon after a severe illness of two months. Mr. PRIEST was born in Jefferson Co., New York, but drove to Michigan in 1836 when twenty-two years of age and settled with his parents on a farm in Washtenaw county, where three years later he married Miss Judith LUTHER. With his bride he came to Shiawassee county and took up eighty acres in Venice township. From the small beginning of a log house and barn the industry and thrift of the young couple changed the appearance of the homestead until it embraced one hundred ninety acres with fine, commodious buildings. Five children were born to them and now survive to mourn the loss of their father. The faithful wife was taken away seven years ago. Mr. PRIEST was a member of the Baptist church, of the Masonic fraternity and in every way was an exemplary citizen."

(11) Find a Grave

- Name: George W PRIEST
- Birth: 26 Mar 1814
- Death: 7 Sep 1899 (aged 85)
- Burial: Wilkinson Cemetery; Corunna, Shiawassee County, Michigan, USA
- Memorial ID: 39844533

(12) Portrait and Biographical Album of Branch County, Mich., Chapman Bros., Chicago, 1888. Pages 323-324.

"George is a resident of Shiawassee County, this State"

(13) Portrait and Biographical Album of Clinton and Shiawassee, Counties, Mich., Chapman Bros., Chicago, 1891. Pages 755-756.

"GEORGE W. PRIEST, one of the foremost pioneers of Shiawassee County, residing on section 8, Venice Township, is a member of an honorable old New England family, and a son of Joshua PRIEST, a Vermont farmer, born in 1781, who fought at the battle of Sackett's Harbor and was there wounded and became a pensioner of the Government. The mother of our subject, Polly EDMUNDS, a Vermonter and a relative of Senator EDMUNDS, was born in 1788."

"The parents of our subject entered the marriage state in Jefferson County, N.Y. and resided there until 1836, when they removed to Michigan, settling upon a farm in Washtenaw County, but afterward removed to Clinton County, where they died, he in 1846, and she in 1872. Of their large family of fourteen children, four only are living, namely; our subject; Electa, Mrs. SMITH; Lucina, Mrs. CULVER; and Alzina, Mrs. CHURCH. The father was a Democrat in his political views."

"Jefferson County, N.Y., was the native home of our subject who was born March 25, 1814. In his early boyhood he went to the district school a distance of from two to four miles and left home when he was twenty years old. During the first year he had occupation upon the farm at $10 a month. After a short visit home he went to Rodman, Jefferson County, N.Y. and hired out to care for horses and cows, at $15 a month. After about six months of service here he drove a team of horses to Michigan, making Marshall his objective point. He did teaming for a season, but being afflicted with inflammation of the eyes, he returned to his father's home, which was then in Washtenaw County, and there he remained until his marriage, at the age of twenty-five years."

"George PRIEST married Judith A. LUTHER, May 18, 1839. Her parents, Martin and Hannah, (EDMUNDS) LUTHER, were natives of Vermont and Massachusetts respectively. The father disappeared in some mysterious way many years ago and the mother died in 1823. Judith was then adopted by a Mr. ROBINSON, in New York State, who came to Michigan in 1830, and settled in Lodi Township, Washtenaw County. After attending the district school she taught for some time."

"After marriage the young couple made their home in Shiawassee County, upon the farm where they now reside. They took up eighty acres of Government land all timber, in beech, maple, basswood and oak. Indians and wild animals abounded and only two other families were near enough to be called neighbors, namely; the households of Mr. WILKINSON and Mr. BUNCE. Mr. PRIEST built a log house thirteen logs high, every log in which was rock elm. With the help of nine men and a yoke of cattle he raised a log barn 24x26 feet and did it in one day. For years it was the only barn in that neighborhood. He was very enterprising from the first and the very first spring planted corn among the logs and potatoes, after which the neighbors helped him to log the field. In the fall he put in wheat which came up finely, but an unexpected and heavy frost on June 10, cut it down. A second crop was put in and gre well buit it was affected by the rust, and he cut it down and fed it for fodder to his one cow. During the first eight years he did not possess $8 in money, but worked out to obtain everything which he did not raise upon the farm. He passed through severe struggles in thus establishing a new home. He manufactured black salts and as he had the only team in the neighborhood he was able to haul the salts to Pontiac and thus procure provisions."

"It was January 4 that they first made their home in this wild place and it was the month of June before Mrs. PRIEST set her foot outside the woods, so isolated was her life. They had religious services and when they went to church the whole neighborhood went on a sled drawn by two yoke of oxen. Mrs. PRIEST had a silk dress which was a possession in those days, as there was none other here. The log cabin sheltered them for twenty years and then they built in 1861 the home in which they now reside. In preparing to build the log house he had no boards and no broad ax with which to hew out puncheons. He borrowed on from a neighbor who lived five miles away and after a few days returned it at the appointed time, and trudged off five miles in another direction to borrow another which he had to return soon as it was needed. Thus he hewed out basswood puncheons for the floor. There was no chimney and no door to this log house, and a quilt was hung up to serve as a portiere, although the word was then unknown to these sturdy pioneers. They greatly felt the lack of fruit and the following spring sowed some rutabagas to serve in its place."

"Mr. PRIEST now has one hundred and ninety acres of land more than one-ninth of which is improved, and most of this he cleared with his own strong right arm. He has now retired from active work and he allows his son to run the farm. They have five children of their own and one adopted daughter. Their oldest, Laura, born in 1840, married Gleason YOUNGS and lives in this township with her husband and two children; Albert, born in 1842, married Sarah J. MORRISON, and has two sons; he is living in Hancock. Helen M., born in 1843, the wife of Norman LELAND, lives in Owosso. Joseph, born in 1844, married Sarah WILKINSON and lives in Corunna and has three children. George, born in 1848, married Priscilla NICHOLS and has three children; he lives on the farm. The adopted daughter -- Minnie Van NESS -- born in 1858, is the wife of Henry LYONS and lives in Hazelton Township."

"The mother of these children is an earnest and devoted member of the Baptist Church. Mr. PRIEST has always been interested in political movements and has held the office of Highway Commissioner. He is a member of the Masonic order, having taken the Royal Arch degree. He helped to organize Venice Township and has been a member of the local School Board. They are both in good health and spirits and are regarded in the most friendly manner by all their neighbors far and near. When he first came to Michigan, after getting settled, he had thirteen shillings in his pocket, with which to carry his family through the winter. Letter postage was then two shillings and a letter came for him after his money was all gone. He had to borrow the twenty-five cents for thirty days in order to get it."