Camerons in Roscommon index

  Cameron in Roscommon index:

Cross-posted at In Deeds

John Cameron In Roscommon

John Cameron was in the 1884 Michigan Census taken in Roscommon County, Denton Township (from the Archives of Michigan):

This John Cameron?

Roscommon County, MI, newspaper:
5 Aug 1887
John Cameron, nephew of Duncan Cameron, died at Houghton Lake on Sunday morning last from consumption.

Obituary of Mrs. Duncan (Ellen) Cameron

Arenac Independent Newspaper [Michigan]

4 March 1898
In response from a telegram from J. B. McCrea, of Roscommon, Undertaker J. C. Fry left on the early train with a casket for that place, where he embalmed the body of the late Mrs. Duncan Cameron, of Sterling, who died on Wednesday morning at the home of her daughter, Mrs. J. B. McCrea. Mr. Fry brought the remains to Sterling on the five o'clock train Saturday.

4 March 1898
Sterling Column -- The funeral services of Mrs. Duncan Cameron were held in the M. E. Church Saturday evening. Music in connection will be string instruments in charge of Rev. Lambrecht.

Mrs. Duncan Cameron was Ellen Cameron (1833 - 1898), daughter of Ewen and Bridget (Higgins) Cameron.

James McCrea's Obituary (Husband of Isabelle Cameron)

 The obituary of James B. McCrea (1850 - 1934), husband of Isabelle Cameron, daughter of Duncan and Ellen (Cameron) Cameron.

Roscommon (MI) Herald-News / December 6, 1934

FORMER RESIDENT DIES AT MUSKEGON
James B. McCrea, former well known resident here, passed away at his home at Muskegon, Monday afternoon, after having been ill for several months.  He was about 85 years of age.  He came to Roscommon during the early lumbering days and for years was engaged in the lumber business.  When things quieted down in that industry he engaged in farming, developing a nice farm in Richfield township, where he lived for several years.  While there he was elected supervisor from that township and served in that capacity for several terms, also served several terms as chairman of the Board of Supervisors.  He gave up farming nearly fifteen years ago and then moved to Flint, later going to Muskegon where he has resided for the past four or five years.  Beside his widow, he is survived by five children, James E., of Salem, Ore., Miss Adelia and Duncan C., both of Detroit, Mrs. Ellen Audley of Waukesha, Wis., and Miss Jessie B., of Honolulu, Hawaii.  The remains are being brought here today for burial in Higgins cemetery.  The funeral will be held from the Congregational church this afternoon under the auspices of Roscommon Lodge, F. & A. M., of which he had been a member for a number of years and of which he is a past master.

D. Cameron And The New School House In Roscommon Co., MI

Roscommon [Mich.] News

25 May 1888
Local Items
D. Cameron secured the contract for building the new school house in District No. 1, Roscommon Twp.

James Cameron Family Picture

A photo of the James Cameron family:

Photo courtesy of Cousin Michael (possibly via Cousin Gail)

Cameron Property Deeds In Roscommon Co., MI

A few Cameron deeds in Roscommon County, Michigan:
Liber "6", Page 452
Liber "7", Page 265
Liber "7", Page 389
Liber “8”, Page 116

Liber “8”, Page 360

Liber "11", Page 557
Liber "14", Page 408
Liber "13", Page 209
Liber "15", Page 309
Liber "15", Page 342
Liber "18", Page 509
Liber "27", Page 280

Liber "33", Page 228
Liber "41", Page 619

Liber "42", Page 358

Roscommon Co., MI, Deeds
Liber "6", Page 452 

27 April 1903
Duncan Cameron (widower), of Roscommon
TO
James Nye of Roscommon
Strip of land 30 rods wide  Section 18, Twp 22 N of Range 3 [East or West?]

 Roscommon Co., MI, Deeds
Liber "7", Page 389 

 1897
 Duncan Cameron & wife, Grantors

Roscommon Co., MI, Deeds
Liber “7”,Page 265

Recorded: 9 March 1886
 Duncan Cameron & wife Ellen of Roscommon Twp., Roscommon Co., MI
 TO
Edward Kiely and Eugene Kiely of Roscommon Village, Roscommon Co.
$300.
E 1/2 of NW 1/4 and NW 1/4 of NW 1/4 of Section 19 Twp 23 North of Range 2 West

Roscommon Co., MI, Deeds
Liber “8”, Page 116
Recorded: November 17, 1885
Albert Hameore?, et al, of Cleveland, Ohio
Harriet Crowl, of Cleveland, Ohio
Quit Claims To
Duncan Cameron of Roscommon Village
NW ¼ of Section 19, T 23 N of Range 2 W
Witnesses: A. J. Brewer & Samuel Crowl

Roscommon Co., MI, Deeds
Liber “8”, Page 360

Made: 28 March 1888

Recorded: 6 March 1889

S. C. and Alice Hall of Minneapolis, Hennepin Co., MN

TO

Ellen Cameron of Roscommon Co., MI

SW 1/4 of SE 1/4 and Lot 4 of Section 11 in Twn 22 North of Range 4 West

 Roscommon Co., Michigan

Liber "11", Page 557
James H. Sly & wife
To
Duncan Cameron
16 November 1893
$100.00

All that certain piece or parcel of land situated in the Township of Roscommon in Roscommon County and State of Michigan, known and described as follows:
The SouthWest quarter of the South East Quarter (1/4) of Section Thirty three (33) in Township Number Twenty Three North of Range Four West Containing Forty Acres more or less. (See Roscommon Co., MI, map here (pdf file) with the Twp. Numbers and Range Numbers listed).

Roscommon Co., MI, Deed

Liber "13", Page 209

Recorded: 9 April 1895

Made: 25 March 1895

Ellen & Duncan Cameron of Houghton Lake, Roscommon Co., MI

TO

Thomas Harcourt and John Sullivan, jointly, Roscommon Co., Michigan

$400.00

Lot 4 and SW 1/4 of SE 1/4 of Sec 11 in Twp 22 N of Range 4 West

Witnesses: Harry Hiscock and H. H. Woodruff

 Roscommon Co., MI, Deeds

Liber "14", Page 408 

1899

Duncan Cameron, Grantor (no wife probably)

 Roscommon Co., MI, Deeds

Liber "15", Page 309

 1897

Duncan Cameron of Sterling, Arenac Co., Michigan and Ellen Cameron, his wife, of same place

AND [TO?]

Nels Michelson, of Grayling, Crawford Co., Michigan

SW 1/4 of SE 1/4 of Sec 33 Twn 23 North of Range 4 West

Containing 40 acres more or less

Witnesses: Lillas McLaughlin and Lizzie Castleton

Notarized in Arenac County, Michigan

Roscommon Co., MI, Deeds

Liber "15", Page 342 

Eli B. & Mary E. Smith of Fostoria, Tuscola Co., MI

TO

Nettie V. Cameron and John G. Cameron, wife and husband, of Buffalo, New York

Notarized in Lapeer Co., MI

[Not one of my Camerons]

Roscommon Co., MI, Deeds

Liber "18", Page 509

1906

J. B. McCrea and wife

TO

Hugh Cameron [probably this one]

Roscommon Co., MI, Deeds

Liber "27", Page 280 

1900

Francis McDonald and wife Grace of the Twp. of Roscommon

To

Duncan Cameron of Kenton, [Houghton Co.], Michigan

Twp. of Denton....

Strip of land 30 ___ wide

fractional Lot 3  Section 18  Twp. 22 North of Range 3 West

 10 acres more or less

Roscommon Co., MI, Deeds

Liber "33", Page 228 

1909

J. Cameron, Grantor [Unknown who he is]

Roscommon Co., MI, Deeds

Liber "36", Page 428

1911

Hugh Cameron

TO

J.R.P. Cameron

Roscommon Co., MI, Deeds

Liber "41", Page 619

1912

Frank Cameron, Grantor [Unknown who he is]

Roscommon Co., MI, Deeds

Liber "42", Page 358

J.G. Cameron & wife, Grantors [not related to me]

Who Were Maggie's Parents?

 Maggie Cameron was enumerated in the 1910 census taken in Roscommon County, Michigan, as a cousin of Duncan McCrea. 

The McCreas were the children of James B. and Isabelle (Cameron) McCrea.  Isabelle Cameron did not have any known nieces named Maggie or Margaret Cameron.  Isabelle had two known brothers; a bachelor, Allan Bruce Cameron, and A. Edward Cameron who had one child from his first marriage; an infant daughter who was born in 1892 and also died in 1892 (as did the infant's mother).  A. Edward later married in 1898 and had two sons.

United States Census, 1910

Name:     Maggie Cameron

Birthplace:     Michigan

Relationship to Head of Household:     Cousin

Residence:     Higgins, Roscommon, Michigan

Marital Status:     Single

Race :     White

Gender:     Female

Father's Birthplace:     Michigan

Mother's Birthplace:     Canada English

Family Number:     180

Page Number:     15

     Household    Gender    Age

    Duncan C Mc Crea     M     25y

    Adelia Mc Crea     F     30y

    Ellen Mc Crea     F     27y

    Mary Mc Crea     F     21y

    Jessie Mc Crea     F     19y

      Maggie Cameron     F     19y

The assumption is that Maggie was a cousin on the Cameron side and not the McCrea side of the family (I've done enough McCrea research to make that assertion).

According to the 1910 census, Maggie's father (presumably a Cameron) was born in Michigan and her mother was born in Canada.

A search of Margaret/Maggie Camerons born ca 1891 in Michigan has not landed on a family that I recognize as mine.  Perhaps I'm merely overlooking something obvious?  Don't have an answer to the question of Maggie's parents.

Obituary of Mrs. Asa Cameron

Published in the Roscommon News:

             Dec. 11,  1891
           Roscommon News
  "Mrs. Asa Cameron died at her resi-
dence on Thursday of last week. In
her death the village has lost one of its
best citizens, the husband a loving
wife and the little children a faithful
and loving mother. The bereaved hus-
band and children have the sympathy
of the entire community."

Obituary of Mrs. Asa Cameron of St. Helen, Roscommon Co., Michigan.

A big thank you to Dan, Roscommon County Historian, for sending the above obituary to me.

This blog post has additional information about the Asa Cameron family.

Duncan Cameron - Lumberjack

From the Saginaw [Mich] Evening News published October 26, 1887:

Lumber News -- October 26, 1887, Page 2
Deep River [Arenac Co.] - Oct. 26
Duncan Cameron, the old and well-known jobber of Roscommon, will lumber south of that place this winter, banking 3,000,000 feet of logs on the Michigan Central for the Ducey Lumber Company.

Update on The Some Descendants of James & Julia (Dunning) Cameron Blog Post

 On the blog post about "Some Descendants of James & Julia (Dunning) Cameron" I mentioned that I couldn't find Asa Cameron in the 1900 census.  Thanks to Pat*, who is a descendant of Asa Cameron, Asa and his family was found in the 1900 census in Munising, Alger County, Michigan.

*Message left by Pat (without non-genealogical information)
Asa Cameron was my Great grandfather, Grace was my grandmother. Asa is listed in the 1900 census but spelled wrong. Look for Acey Cansmern or Cansmen. On 1900 census, Ancestry.com, Munising, Alger, Mi. ED 4, Image 52 of 57, line 430. It should read, Asa, Caroline, Manley, Earl, Ethel, Grace and Dewey. Debby Patterson was the mother of all these children, except, Dewey Alfred. Carrie also had another boy in 1901, Roy Asa, but he died in 1901.  I have my Cameron info on Ancestry.com, see Wilkerson/White tree.

 

More feedback from another Cameron researcher was sent to me via e-mail:

You have both Eva & Ethel  Udorah born 1888 and I have Ethel Deborah Cameron born 10 Jan 1888.  I don't think Eva born July 1888 could be their daughter. The familysearch I think just made a mistake in the transcription putting Udorah instead of Deborah. Seeking Michigan has her death record.  Ethel Deborah Cameron married John Knox on May 6, 1908, in Munising, Michigan.

In the original post I had an Eva Cameron, daughter of Asa & Debby with a DOB of July 1888 -- that cannot be correct because of the obvious conflict with Ethel Deborah Cameron's DOB of January 1888.  An entry here, indexed as Eva Camenre, daughter of Asa & Debby, listed Eva's DOB as January 1888; an entry** (probably indexed from the same source) listed the same Eva's DOB as June 1888 and I had it as July 1888.  The date on the original source** (with the infant's name) was not only unreadable -- it's torn off.  Eva & Ethel are probably the same person with a DOB of January 1888.

UPDATE: December 15, 2010 (per an e-mail):
Asa Cameron m. 2nd Caroline Elizabeth Lawson, daughter of Alfred & Caroline (Ruggles) Lawson; Caroline (Carrie) was named as Carrie Van Amberg on the marriage record (it was originally thought that she was a Van Amberg but it now looks as though she was married 1st to Henry Van Amberg).

Some Descendants Of James & Julia (Dunning) Cameron

At least one known son of James & Julia (Dunning) Cameron, James, Jr., (the others were Asa and Christopher) moved to Michigan, ca 1860, according to the 1920 MI Census. His parents, James & Julia, came later (because they were probably in Houghton, Norfolk, Ontario, in 1861).

In 1870, Asa and Christopher Cameron were living with their parents, James & Julia, in Riley, St. Clair Co., Michigan. Next door were Charles, age 23, Margaret*, age 21, and James Patterson, age 1. Asa Cameron was also enumerated as a single sawmill worker living with other workers in Caseville, Huron Co., MI, in 1870. [Asa married Udora (Debby) Patterson].

*Margaret was Margaret Cameron, daughter of James & Julia (Dunning) Cameron who was enumerated with them in the 1861 census. Carrie Patterson, born in 1874, in St. Clair Co., was the daughter of Charles & Margaret (Cameron) Patterson. The Pattersons were probably living in Sanilac Co., MI, in 1900. Margaret married 2nd George Cornell, in Livingston Co., Michigan, on August 1, 1914, when she was 65 years old. Her parents were listed as James Cameron and Julia Dunning on the marriage record. Margaret, age 66, married 3rd Thomas Clement, age 55, in Port Huron, St. Clair Co., MI, on 31 July 1918; James W. & Annie E. G. Patterson were the witnesses.

Asa Lawrence Cameron & Debby Patterson were married on 17 May 1871; Lewis & Margaret Fisher were the witnesses and E. Klumph, minister of the gospel performed the marriage in Lake, Huron Co., MI

Asa & Debby were living in St. Clair County, Michigan, in the 1880 Census:

1880 MI Census, St. Clair, MI, Wales
Asa CAMERON Self M W 31 CAN Farmer CAN CAN
Deby CAMERON Wife M W 27 CAN Keeping House CAN CAN
John CAMERON Son S W 8 MI At School CAN CAN
Archy CAMERON Son S W 6 MI At School CAN CAN
Lewis CAMERON Son S W 4 MI At Home CAN CAN

Debby Cameron died December 3, 1891, at St. Helen, Roscommon Co., Michigan, age 40, born in Ontario, though her parents were named as William & Hannah Harrison, not Patterson on her death record. Was she Asa's wife? He remarried in 1894, so she probably was the person who died in 1891. We know from other records that Asa & Debby were living in Roscommon County in that time frame.

There was an Archie Cameron and a Lewis Cameron, both born in Michigan, who were living in St. Louis County, Minnesota, in 1910. Archie was 36, a widower, and working for the police in Virginia City. Lewis, age 35, a saloon keeper, married 8 years, was a boarder with M. Chee as was his wife, Carrie M. Cameron, who was born in Wisconsin. They may be the sons of Asa & Debby Cameron.

A death record for Asa Cameron's daughter, Ethel Deborah/Udora Knox (1888-1911) was found. She was born at St. Helen, Roscommon Co., Michigan and died in Munising, Alger County, Michigan. Ethel Cameron married John Knox (6 May 1908); the witnesses were William Clark & Grace Cameron.

Grace Cameron was born in 1890 to Asa & Debby Cameron, in St. Helen, Roscommon Co., Michigan.

Asa & Debby Cameron were the parents of Manley Cameron who was born in Roscommon Co., MI, in 1885. Manley was married in Munising, Michigan.

Asa & Debby also had Eva Cameron who was born on 16 July 1888.

John P. Cameron (b. 1872) was a son of Asa & Debby (Patterson) Cameron according to the record of his marriage to Stella Cornish on 1 November 1916 (his 2nd marriage). The record stated that John was born in Port Huron, Michigan. His father's name was listed as Ace L. Cameron on the record.

Asa Cameron married 2nd Carrie E. Van Amberg on 6 December 1894, in Livingston Co., Michigan. Asa was living in Roscommon Co., MI, at the time of his marriage. The marriage record stated that Asa had no prior marriages and that Carrie had one -- the information was probably reversed since her name on the marriage record corresponded with her father's surname. C. W. & Jeannette Barber were the witnesses and C.C. Miller was the clergyman.

Groom's Name Asa L. Cameron
Groom's Age 44 years
Groom's Birth Date 1850
Groom's Birthplace Canada
Bride's Name Carrie E. Vanamburg
Bride's Age 34 years
Bride's Birth Date 1860
Bride's Birthplace Michigan
Marriage Date 06 Dec 1894
Marriage Place Howell, Livingston, Michigan
Groom's Father James Cameron
Groom's Mother J. Dunning
Bride's Father J. S. Vanamburg
Bride's Mother Not Known
Film Number 2342499
Digital Folder Number 4207822
Image Number 313
Reference Number v 3 p 102 rn 1308

Asa Cameron died in Munising Township, Alger County, Michigan on 15 May 1905. He was most likely the Acy Cameron who appeared on the 1861 census for Houghton, Norfolk Co, Ontario, Page #35, Line #13.

Asa's mother was Julia and Julianna Cameron was on page # 35, line 8 of the same census (1861 Census Houghton, Norfolk Co., Ontario, Canada). His father, James (b. 1819 in Lower Canada), was line #7. John Cameron, born in 1844, was line #12. Another male (no first name listed), b. 1840, in Lower Canada was on line #10. Eleven year old Margaret Cameron was on Page #35, Line #14. Chestey (Christopher) Cameron, b. ca 1838 was on line #9 of Page #35.

Christopher Cameron, born Nov 1837, was enumerated in Robinson Twp., Ottawa Co., Michigan, in 1900. He was living with his brother, James (b. Jan. 1841), his sister-in-law, Marion (nee Allen), and their family Hugh E., John J., and Myrtle and also Evan**, a grandson of James & Marion's who was born on Jan. 1893. James & Marion had been married for 35 years and were the parents of 9 children with 7 living in 1900.

**Evan Cameron, age 18, was the son of Wallace & Sarah (Rogers) Cameron per his (Evan's) marriage record, dated Sept 26, 1911, which took place in Gladstone, Delta Co., Michigan. Wallace Cameron married 2nd Emma Piper on 28 Sept. 1896. Wallace A. Cameron died on 1 July 1925, in Delta Co., MI. Evan Cameron who was born January 27, 1893, died June 1944, per the Social Security Index on Footnote.com.

Christopher Cameron, age 64, died, single, in Robinson Twp., Ottawa Co., Michigan on June 30, 1902; the informant was Marion Cameron of Grand Haven; he was buried in Robinson Twp.

Marriage of John J. Cameron (son of James & Marion (Allen) Cameron) to Laura C. Prentice took place on 4 October 1911, in Grand Rapids, Kent Co., Michigan.

1920 MI Ottawa Co., Grand Haven
Cameron, John J., head, 34 b. MI, splitter in a tannery
", Laura, wife, age 28, b. MI
", Dorothy, daughter, age 6, b. MI
", Esther, daughter, age 5, b. MI
", Jean, daughter, b. 7/12, b. MI
Masterbrook, Miner, lodger, age 52, divorced
Cameron, James D., father, age 78, widowed, b. Canada, 1860 To US; Na 1874

I did not find Asa Cameron in the 1900 census.

Who Was John Cameron?

Michigan death records are online (1867 - 1897), but I cannot find a death record for John Cameron, whose death was chronicled in the news:

Roscommon County, MI, newspaper:
5 Aug 1887
John Cameron, nephew of Duncan Cameron, died at Houghton Lake on Sunday morning last from consumption.

My 2nd great-grandfather, Duncan Cameron, lived in Roscommon County, so was John his nephew?

In 1878 there was another Duncan Cameron in the county, per this birth record (parents were Duncan & Jane Cameron). Could she be an unknown child of my 2nd great-grandparents, Duncan and ELLEN Cameron? Probably not, but not out of the question. "My" Duncan Cameron was the only one in Roscommon Co., MI, in the 1880 census. There was a Duncan & Jane (Waishkey) Cameron who lived in Sault Ste. Marie, Chippewa Co., Michigan -- were they in Roscommon County in 1878?

Roscommon County, Michigan, was sparsely populated (1,459 in 1883), and many who lived there were lumbermen in the 1880's. In a 1911 handbook, Roscommon was described as "....hard to get to." In the 1880 census there was a John Cameron, b. 1854 in Canada, who was living in a lumber camp in the county and enumerated as "other" with several other lumbermen.

Richard & Nancy (Cameron) Cameron had a son named John (a possible nephew of Duncan Cameron's), but he was still alive in 1897, living in British Columbia, and listed as an heir in his father's estate.

Who was John Cameron who died in Roscommon County, Michigan? It's still a mystery.

Obituary of Blanche (Johnston) Stout

The Flint Journal [Michigan] Published October 1990

Flint-Worcester

STOUT, Blanche (Johnston) -- Age 95, died Saturday, October 6, 1990, at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center in Worcester, Massachusetts. Services will be held 1:30 PM Saturday, October 13, 1990, at Sunset Hills Cemetery for Mrs. Blanche Stout where she will be interred along with her daughter, Jean Webster, who passed away January 20, 1988. Rev. Fr. Amos Wischmeyer will officiate. Contributions may be made to the Citizens for Life, the Leukemia Foundation of Michigan, or a charity of choice. Mrs. Stout was born in Sterling, Michigan, July 2, 1895, the daughter of Archie [sic] and Annie Johnston. She had been a resident of Roscommon, Sterling and the Flint area, and for the past 5 years, Shrewsbury, Mass. where she had lived with her daughter, Jean Webster. She married Warren L. Stout; he preceded her in death in 1977. She was a retired buyer for Herbert H. Bush & Sons Clothing Store in Flint. Surviving are: grandson, (living); granddaughter (living) 5 great-grandchildren (living).
Sharp Funeral Home, 8138 Miller Rd.

[Blanche was the step-daughter of Donald (AKA Daniel) Cameron and daughter of Anna (Cameron) Johnston ; see the 1900 census]

Obituary of Miss Jessie McCrea

From the Tampa Tribune, published Thursday, July 3, 1969:


MISS JESSIE MCCREA

REDINGTON BEACH - Miss Jessie Beryle McCrea, 77, of 17715 Gulf Blvd., died Monday. A native of Roscommon, Mich., she came here 11 years ago from Flint, Mich. She was a retired school teacher and social worker. Survivors include a sister, Mrs. Ellen Audley, Salt Lake City, Utah.

Jessie B. McCrea was the daughter (and youngest child) of James & Isabelle (CAMERON) McCrea. She was the granddaughter of Duncan & Ellen (Cameron) Cameron.

See blog articles about Jessie's family here. Jessie McCrea's place in the Edmunds family tree can be found here. She was enumerated with her widowed father and siblings in the 1900 census taken in Richfield Twp., Roscommon Co., Michigan.

In 1920 Jessie McCrea was a social worker and living with her sister, Delia, and others at 30 Kirby Street, Detroit, Wayne Co., Michigan.

In the 1930 census, Jessie B. McCrea was living in Houston, Harris Co., Texas:

1930 census TX Harris, Houston
McCrea (indexed as McGrea), Jessie B., 39, single, MI Can MI, social worker - orphanage - E/W William D. Davis, 64, m29, TN Ire US

Jessie McCrea was my grandmother's cousin who spent time with our family. She was tone deaf, but loved to sing and play the concertina. She and her sister, Delia, spent time at their cottage at Higgins Lake, Roscommon Co., Michigan.

Who Else Would Tell Her Story? Adelia McCrea - A Renown Mycologist

Adelia McCrea was a pioneer. Her humble beginnings were rooted in rural Roscommon County, Michigan, where she was born into a family of lumberjacks in 1880. She was a teacher in Sterling, Michigan, as a young girl. By the end of her career she had earned a PhD (as well as an undergraduate degree) from the University of Michigan in 1930 while working at Parke Davis. Her accomplishments may not seem unusual in 2009, but considering the 19th Amendment (right to vote) was ratified a mere 10 years before Adelia (a woman born in the 19th century) earned her PhD, I'm still amazed.

15 year old Adelia McCrea at her 1895 graduation

This article captured the essence of Adelia:

THE NEWS (DETROIT) Monday, November 29, 1943 [Excerpts]:

'Know More Than Men and Get Along,' Says Scientist "Dr. Adelia McCrea Finds Fungi Are Interesting" By Ethel Bogardus

To realize that fungi are fun and science stimulating--talk to Dr. Adelia McCrea, pioneer in her field. Retired, but certainly not vegetating, is the charming, alert woman whose sparkling brown eyes will never cease their quest for more fascinating lore in her chosen field. Dr. McCrea, who spent 21 years as the only woman research staff member for Parke Davis & Co., manufacturing chemists, is visiting her sister, Miss Jessie McCrea, of the Public Welfare Department. You may run in to her one day poking around mossy hillsides, or scanning the ocean beach for odd bits of sea life. You may not recognize the slender figure as a scientist famous, in her own field... .


Travel and photography, the two hobbies this feminine mycologist hoped to enjoy, are forbidden her by war conditions--but she's having fun just the same.

Dr. McCrea was teaching science at the close of World War I, and became much interested in the fungus diseases of many men returning from Europe. Parke Davis was looking for such a research expert--so Dr. McCrea went to work. Modestly, she won't tell which of the many remedies put out by that drug firm are the result of her careful study*.
*See a patent here

Adelia, who never married, enjoyed entertaining young and old alike. She and her sisters invited extended family members, including me, to visit the McCrea cottage at Higgins Lake. Though at the time I was puzzled as to why mushrooms were frequently on the menu. After discovering that Adelia was a mycologist it made perfect sense. She loved her fungi, at work and at home.

I was in awe of Adelia; she was a formidable presence and left an indelible impression upon me as a child. She sparked my (short-lived) interest in science. The choice of a chemistry set for my birthday was inspired by Miss Adelia McCrea. In my mind she also helped prolong the life of my beloved grandfather. When Grandpa winced and then took some of his heart medicine, my grandmother often commented that "'Delia invented the medicine that your Grandfather is taking."

She died on January 8, 1962, in Florida. Her obituary as found in the St. Petersburg Times: ADELIA MCCREA, SCIENTIST, DIES AT 81.

Adelia was the daughter of James B. & Isabelle (Cameron) McCrea. Her siblings included two brothers, James & Duncan, and four sisters, Sarah, Mary, Ellen and Jessie. My grandmother, Beatrice (Cameron) Powers was her cousin.

Prisoner #J-55299 - Former Prosecutor Duncan Cameron McCrea

A cautionary tale written by Neal Shine in the Detroit Free Press (date unknown at this time), using the rise and fall of Duncan Cameron McCrea, at one time the Wayne County, Michigan, Prosecuting Attorney.

From Neal Shine's column in the Detroit Free Press:






Duncan Cameron McCrea was the son of James B. & Isabelle (Cameron) McCrea and the grandson of Duncan & Ellen (Cameron) Cameron. Duncan C. McCrea was the cousin of my grandmother, Beatrice (Cameron) Powers. My great-grandmother, Anna (Cameron) (Johnston) Cameron was Isabelle McCrea's sister.

The legend, as cited in Neal Shine's article, was that Duncan McCrea, the prosecuting attorney for Wayne County, Michigan, was "...hustled so quickly from his office on the fifth floor of Police Headquarters that he didn't even have time to put on his hat." When I showed the article to my aunt, she said that he knew that he was going to be arrested, and, in fact, arranged to have his nephew, Donald L. Munro, removed from the scene, safe from "collateral damage."

I only knew Duncan C. McCrea by reputation (his name was mentioned in whispered tones), since he died before I was born. His sisters Adelia, Jessie and Ellen were frequent visitors at my grandmother's house, so I knew and admired them. Members of my grandmother's family, including me, were guests at the McCrea cottage at Higgins Lake.

The fifth floor of Detroit Police Headquarters, where Duncan McCrea had his office, would have seemed as exotic as an office in New York or London to me from my vantage point as a child in the Flint, MI, suburbs. In retrospect, any floor of Detroit Police Headquarters at 1300 Beaubien would be like visiting an old and familiar friend from the past. I, too, spent many years working there.

Duncan C. McCrea, the former illustrious prosecutor, was found guilty and served time in prison after being escorted from 1300 Beaubien. Graft, gambling, and notorious former Purple Gang gangsters were not a recipe for success.

Update: See McCrea's connection to Julia M. Barker, who murdered her business partner, Edith Mae Cummings, here.

Jackson Prison record on index cards (from the Archives of Michigan):


The good news is that there was an article featuring one of the more colorful members of the Cameron family. The bad news is that this article about Duncan Cameron McCrea needed to be written at all.

Lillas (Cameron) McLaughlin

The obituary of Lillas (Cameron) McLaughlin, daugher of Duncan & Ellen (Cameron) Cameron:

Flint Journal
Tuesday, January 17, 1939

MCLAUGHLIN--Lillas McLaughlin, 117 W. Dewey St., age 64, died Tuesday, Jan. 17, 1939, at Hurley Hospital. Funeral services will be held 1:30 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 19, 1939, from the Rose Chapel, Algoe-Gundry Mortuary, Rev. Jenson officiating. Burial in Grace Lawn cemetery. Body is at Algoe-Gundry Mortuary. Surviving are: 5 daughters, Mrs. Edward Dean of St. Paul, Minn.; Mrs. Alex McDonald and Mrs. Walter Brandt, both of Flint, Mrs. Lawrence Hagen and Miss Isabelle McLaughlin, both of Superior, Wis.; 12 grandchildren, 2 sisters, Mrs. Bridget Totten of Superior, Wis., and Mrs. Anna Cameron of Flint; 1 brother, Edward Cameron of Trout Creek, Mich.

Lillas Cameron was born in Defiance, Ohio in December of 1874, to Duncan and Ellen Cameron. Why the family was in Ohio, I do not know, but they were living there for the 1870 census, too.

In 1851 Lillas's parents were in Kent County, Ontario, Canada. Duncan was living with Ellen and her parents (Ewen & Bridget (Higgins) Cameron). They were married in St. Clair County, Michigan on May 13, 1852. The couple lived in Roscommon Co., Michigan in 1880, with their children, including Lillas.

Lillas Cameron McLaughlin also lived in Arenac County, Michigan, and Houghton County, Michigan (her husband Laughlin died in Houghton Co. in 1908). Lillas lived in Superior, Douglas, Wisconsin, with her sister, Bridget (Cameron) Totten in 1930. She was living in Flint, Genesee Co., Michigan, when she died in 1939.

The children of Laughlin & Lillas (Cameron) McLaughlin were Jessie (McLaughlin) Dean, Adelia (McLaughlin) McDonnell; Lawrence McLaughlin; Rachel (McLaughlin) Brandt; Inez (McLaughlin) Hagen and Isabelle (McLaughlin) Buxton.

When first researching over 20 years ago, I found the Cameron information that had been submitted by Isabelle Buxton, who was an LDS Church member and corresponded with her. After years of searching, Isabelle found late in life that her father's name wasn't really Laughlin McLaughlin -- it was Isaac Codling! Apparently Isaac took his boss's surname and moved from Canada to Michigan under mysterious circumstances. Isaac Codling's parents were Matthew & Rachel (Stonehouse) Codling (these parents were named on the death record of James Codling here).

Lillas Cameron married Laughlin McLaughlin (AKA Isaac Codling) on 13 Apr 1895. His parents were listed as Donald & Rachel (Stonehouse) McLaughlin and that he was born in Forest, Canada.

On his death record (12 January 1908), Laughlin McLaughlin's parents were listed as Laughlin & Rachel (Stonehouse) McLaughlin. His DOB was 14 Jan 1856.

Anna Cameron's Daughter, Belle Johnston Wodtke

Great-Aunt Belle whom I never knew:

This record is an example of the records available to through the Flint Genealogical Society upon request. Since this record was requested, the actual death records are available online at Archives of Michigan (1897 - 1920) for the State of Michigan, including a death record for Isabelle (Belle Johnston) Wodtke.

Fred & Belle (Johnston) Wodtke had an infant daughter, June (born in May 1920), when Belle died. My aunt (June Wodtke's cousin), who was quite a bit younger than June, remembers an occasional visit with her. However, information that I have about this family is sketchy, except for what I have pieced together the census, obituaries, etc.

Flint Journal [ 3 June 1920]
WODTKE--Mrs. Belle Wodtke died last night at her home, 919 Wood-st, after a six months' illness of a complication of diseases. Mrs. Wodtke was born at Houghton Lake, [Roscommon Co.] Mich., July 20, 1890, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. B.R. Cameron. She had lived in this city for the last six years, coming here from Sterling, Mich. She was united in marriage to Fred J. Wodtke, July 19, 1919. Mrs. Wodtke was a member of the German Lutheran Church. She leaves her husband, parents and two brothers and five sisters. [Note: She was the step-daughter of Donald R. Cameron and the daughter of John H. & Anna (Cameron) Johnston]

1930 MI (Genesee Co.)
WODTKE, FRED, 32, MI MI MI, married at age 24
" Myrtle, wife, 27, married at age 19
" June, daughter, age 9
" Shirley, daughter, age 5
KAGAN, Omer, married, lodger
" , Rose, married, lodger

I believe (but do not know) that June's husband was the Kenneth Belanger, Sr., whose obituary was in the Pensacola News Journal on 24 September 2004.

Kenneth Richard Belanger, Sr., 86, of Pensacola, died Tuesday September 21, 2004, in a local nursing home.

Ken was born Nov. 22, 1917 in International Falls, MN and has resided most of his life in the Pensacola area. He served in the U.S. Navy during WWII and was a retired Steel Pattern Maker.
His beloved wife, June Wodtke Belanger, preceded Kenneth in death. Kenneth will be laid to rest next to his beloved wife June at Resthaven Cemetery, Baton Rouge, La., Saturday, September 25, 2004 at 1:00 p.m. Harper-Morris Memorial Chapel is in charge of arrangements.

June BELANGER
Birth Date: 25 May 1920
Death Date: Oct 1976
Social Security Number: 379-12-3462
State or Territory Where Number Was Issued: Michigan
Death Benefit Localities
Zip Code: 70816
Localities: Baton Rouge, East Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Wish I knew more about this family.

The McCrea Family At Higgins Lake

Isabelle Cameron was born on January 19, 1857, in Michigan, the daughter of Duncan & Ellen (Cameron) Cameron. She died 21 Dec 1899, and was buried in the Higgins Township Cemetery in Roscommon County, Michigan. Her husband, James McCrea, then married Margaret (Moffett) Dildine in 1905.

Adelia, Jessie and Ellen, all daughters of James & Isabelle (Cameron) McCrea, were some of my favorite people. Delia and Jessie never married and spent summers at their cottage on Higgins Lake in Roscommon County after they retired. My sisters and I were invited to the cottage and spent many hours in the what is thought to be one of the most beautiful lakes in the world.

Here's a news article about the McCrea family:

From the Roscommon News (newspaper) MARCH 18, 1887

An unknown miscreant rapped at the residence of James McCrea at an early hour Monday morning and demanded admittance. Mrs. McCrea was alone with the children her husband being at his lumber camp and refused to let him in, when he attempted to break in the door. Mrs. McCrea made her escape to the residence of J.O. Dildine and he got up in time to see him vanishing downtown. He left a club and a pair of mittens in the McCrea residence. If identified he will receive a warm reception.

The article above is one of the many reasons I love to browse through the old newspapers.