John George Gaunt

Tuscola Memories

Contributed by Barb Shannon.

BIOGRAPHY OF THE GAUNT FAMILY, Part 1

Written by John George Gaunt

(father of Howard Gaunt)

• *1932**

Tuscola Memories

Contributed by Barb Shannon.

BIOGRAPHY OF THE GAUNT FAMILY, Part 2

Written by John George Gaunt

(father of Howard Gaunt)

• *1932**

Many settlers came into this community about the time my father came. They formed a school district in 1856 and built a frame school that Fall, and Miss Leach taught the school. The following summer Miss Margaret Hayes taught it, as she did the following three years. In the Spring of 1857 when I was five years old I started to go to school to Margaret Hayes and went winter and summer until I was 14, then winters until 1869, the last winter to Vassar High School. My two sisters also went to school here. About 1861 as I was going to school, my sister Mary was with me, we saw a bear and two cubs in the woods some distance from us. About two years later while our family were all riding to church services at our Hobart School we saw a bear cross the road from our woods just ahead of us. This was in 1863. I never saw a wild cat alive, but William Parks shot one about this time. I saw it when he was taking it home, a very large and savage looking animal. When I was about eight years old, one morning when I was sent after the cows in our back woods, I counted several deer feeding with them. They were not afraid as they were not at that time chased by dogs.

The people were very neighborly and hospitable. Your friends were any neighbors you might know of for a long distance. The roads were very primitive, the main roads were made by chopping down trees for the width of four rods, the center logs dragged out and laid crossways (logs laid side by side in all the wet places) to drive over. The first team we had was a yoke of oxen we bought in 1861. The Civil War commenced in that year. Mother’s brother, George Wilkinson, was drafted in the summer of 1864 and served until the close of the war. There were many wild strawberries found in the clearings. When I was 12 years old I picked enough and carried them to Watrousville and exchanged them for a Fifth Reader. I have the book yet.

Mother got some money from England in 1865, so we all concluded to go to Detroit to visit Uncle Joseph Gaunt and family (Father’s brother). We hired Matthew Wilkinson to drive us to Clio to take the train to Detroit. (He had a span of horses at this time. We bought the mare and raised a young team.) We visited in Detroit one week and enjoyed it very much. Uncle was employed at his trade, a baker. They raised nine children to maturity, four are now living.

To help keep the wolf from the door when we first moved into the woods, my father ‘in the winter season’ threshed grain with a flail for a few farmers ‘who had a little money’. These farmers lived between three and four miles North of Vassar. Father worked for them for one dollar a day. He used to be gone all the week. Mother did what chores there were to do until I was old enough to help. I distinctly remember one extremely cold New Year’s Day. It was known as the ‘cold Wednesday of 1860’. Many people froze to death who did not have good shelter.

To earn a little money we used to make long strips of straw braid, and Mother sewed them and fitted them around a hat block, then sold them. So we earned a little money this way. We kept this up until about 1865. Mother sewed a hat for Uncle Sam Garner and started to take it to him after five o’clockk in the afternoon. This was in1860. After going five miles crossing the Reese road, it became quite dark, so she stayed all alone in an old shanty all night and went the remainder of the way in the morning. She showed her courage as many wild animals were in the woods at that time.

As Mary and I were going to school one morning, she slipped on a frozen rail and fell, breaking the small bone in the right elbow joint. She never straightened her arm after that, but she could use it. So things went on as usual until Mother got some money from England from her father when they concluded to build a new house and barn. The barn was built in the summer of 1866. The next year we commenced the house. It was built by Edward Greenleaf but did not finish it for another year, about 1868. Joe Youmane helped us build the frame barn. The next Fall, 1869, I went to Vassar High School. I and George Whitaker roomed in North’s boarding house. Mother brought me down every Monday morning with some cooked provisions. I finished school the next March (1870).

Then came the terrible calamity. We had a trap door for an inside entrance to our cellar. It was opened the 14th of March, 1870 or 1871, and Mother backed out of another room with a rug frame and fell into the hole, driving the ankle bone through her foot. Father and I pulled her out and sent to Vassar for Dr. Davis who came at once and set it and left us to treat it. In a few days I noticed the ankle bone had turned black. We sent for him again, but it was too late. Mortification had set in. He came every day after this, but soon said she would have to have her leg amputated. Four doctors came on Sunday, March 26, and amputated her leg below her knee. Dr. Davis prescribed a very poor treatment, requiring us to pour cold water on her leg continually, night and day. He came every day but her leg did not heal, and gangrine had set in. He then told us he could do nothing for her. So we went to Caro for Dr. Stevens, an old army surgeon. He said he had used an acid successfully in the army to kill gangrine and probably could save her. After using it a short time her leg commenced to heal. The bone was bare so she had a wooden leg made to set her knee in and strapped around the waist.

I taught school the following winter at $30 per month. Four months, $120. We paid it all out to the doctors. I worked on the farm all summer as I had done since I was 15. The next winter, 1872, I taught the Gibson School for $35 a month. I boarded at home, walking three and one-fourth miles. The next winter, 1873, I taught the VanPetten School, at same salary boarding at home as usual.

The next Fall I cast my first vote for President—voted for Rutherford B. Hayes. My sister Mary taught summer school during these years, vis: VanPetten, Ward and Black. The next winter I taught the Gibson School again. Was engaged to be married to Evelyn C, Crittendon (1875) but did not get married until October 12, 1877.

Sister Mary was married to Evert Hobart in the summer of 1876. That Fall I taught the VanPetten School again, always walking home at night. Saw the first potato bugs that summer, also the first rat.

The Fall after I was married I taught the Baker School five months at $40 a month. This was the hardest school I ever had. J.K. Osgerby taught the Hobart School that winter and boarded with us. This the year 1877-1878. The schools I taught were one at Hobart, three at Tappan, two at VanPetten, one a Baker, one at Hinson, one at Black—all winter terms. Also one summer school at Baker. Altogether nine winter and summer schools.

I worked on the farm after this. Hired Will Osgerby to work by the month. He was a cousin and stayed with us six years. He died of brain fever at about 37 years of age. He was born in Iowa 1858, and died in the Fall of 1885.

Sister Phoebe lived with us until she was married to William Tuck. He was killed by a train near Vassar. They had two sons, James and George. William Tuck was born in New York State, June 15, 1854. Married to my sister Phoebe May 5, 1881. Died Jan. 15, 1896. James Tuck, born in Tuscola County near Vassar April 24, 1882. Married Christmas Eve about 1900 to Avis Ryde who was born Sept. 11, 1885. They had two children: Russell, born in Tuscola County near Millington Aug. 4, 1904, married to Margery Brewes (her birth Sept. 18, 1906 or 1907) on Sept. 1, 1923. Alice, born on Robert Borland’s farm, April 7, 1912. Married Jan. 12, 1929. James born near Flint April 15, 1924.

George Tuck, born in Tuscola County near Vassar May 13, 1885. Married to Susie Stull, who was born near Ellington Jan. 11, 1886 or 1887. Married on Sept. 26, 1905 or 1906. Two children: Freda, born in Caro Nov. 27, 1908, married to Allen Shephard: one son Walter, born in Pontiac Jan. 4, 1913, single and living at home.

Phoebe married again to William French, born in New York State Dec. 16, 1850. Married March, 1897. Died Aug. 9, 1909. Phoebe is now living in the Methodist Home in Chelsea, Michigan.

Sister Mary married Evert Hobart in the summer of 1876. Four children. She died in the winter of 1908 of sugar diabetis. She died in middle life due to wrong diagnosis and treatment of her disease. Doctors called it a swelled finger, a felco, amputated her finger, later her hand. She went to Saginaw and they pronounced it diabetis and put her on a diet. She moved to Detroit and kept roomers in a home near Belle Isle Bridge. She died Dec. 24, 1908. Her eldest daughter Pearl married Edward Dosser, had one child, Lucy. They live on a farm near Colwood.

Clayton, oldest son, married, wife now deceased. Four living children: Harland, lately married; Harold, single, teaching school in Flint; Kenneth married, one child; Elaine, single, at home keeping house.

Austin, third child, married to Emma Howard, have two children, boy and girl, both single and at home.

Lusettie, fourth child, married to Dr. Lake, no children. After the war he was employed as a physician for Southern Railroad. While stopping at Waycross, Georgia, she died of blood poisoning and was buried there. Evert Hobart her (Mary) husband is living with his daughter, Pearl Dosser. He was born May 21, 1852, so is 80 years old, with quite good health.

Now to return to my own family—continuing to work the farm. I taught my last school the winter of 1880-1881, the Black School. My son Howard, the eldest, knew his letters when he was two and one-half years old. I broke my wrist that winter, falling from a load of wood. Lost but one day of school. Wrote with my left hand.

Four children were born to us. Howard C., born July 25, 1878, at Gilford, Michigan; Harold G., born March 10, 1882 at Gilford; Ethel Grace, born Nov. 29, 1884 at Gilford; and Ora Evelyn, born Nov. 2, 1886 at Gilford.

Howard married and lives on a farm three-quarters of a mile North of Vassar. He married Cora Schank Jan, 1, 1903. Four children were born to them, vis: Evelyn, who died in infancy; Helen M. born Oct. 14, 1905; after graduating at Vassar High School, went to college at Ypsilanti. She has taught in high schools since, the last three years in Chesaning. Florence born Sept. 10, 1908. After graduating from Vassar High School she attended Ypsilanti and has taught school most of the time since. She has had several severe hospital operations for mastoid, now in good health. George H. was born Jan. 13, 1912. After graduating from Vassar High School has attended Albion College for the past three years.

Harold G. Gaunt, a Presbyterian minister, Atlantic City, N.J. After graduating from Vassar High School, attended Alma College and Princeton Theological Seminary. Married to Susie Lou Hawes June 19, 1910. Three children were born to them vis: Margaret Philma, born in Wheaton, Minn. May 5, 1911. After graduating from Atlantic City High School attended New Jersey School for Women at New Brunswick, graduating in June, 1932. Now teaching in Tuckertown, N.J. Virginia Lou born in Moundsville, West Virginia, June 20, 1918. Now in second year high school in Atlantic City. Richard Hawes born in Moundsville, W. Virginia April 28, 1925, in second grade in Atlantic City.

Ethel Grace, born Nov. 29, 1884, married George Schanck Sept. 4, 1907, same day as her sister—double wedding. Four children were born to them, vis: Harold, born in Vassar March 13, 1910. Roland Cecil, born in Saginaw May 13, 1912. Laurine E., born in Northern, Indiana Oct. 31, 1914. Merlin R., born in Otter Lake May 29, 1919. They now live six miles West of Port Huron on a garden plot of one and a half acres. Roland and Laurine graduated this year (1932) from Port Huron High School.

I continued to live on the farm in Gilford where our children were born until the year 1908, when I sold and moved to Vassar. Here we had a very pleasant home on West Huron Avenue with enough acreage nearby to raise considerable quantities of fruit, vegetables, etc. A gravel pit from which I sold a great deal of gravel for roads and building purposes, and raising chickens and fruit, kept me well occupied until the Fall of the year of 1931. My wife Evelyn’s condition of mind made it necessary to break off house-keeping. So I sold the home to Thomas Atkins, after a sale of household goods, we moved in with my daughter and son-in-law, Ethel and George Schanck. This is in October, 1931. Eva’s mind is gradually getting worse, although physically she keeps about the same. We have been here nearly a year now. We have a fine home here. Both are so kind to us. We have joined the Evangelical Church, located very near. We have a fine Rev. R. Saxon, who drives from Flint.

All rights reserved. Genealogists may use the information provided here freely. This page, and the information it provides may not be copied for commercial use of any kind.

Benjamin Gaunt, my grandfather, was born in Barnsley, England in Yorkshire, about 1782. When he was a young man, he went to Lincolnshire. Here he married Elizabeth Marrot in the summer of 1811. Nine children were born to them. 1. Sarah, born June, 1812, Married and had two children, Died in England

2. James (my father) born Sept. 9, 1813. Died 1895.

3. Benjamin, born January, 1815. Married in England. Three children born there. Came to this country in the same boat with my father and his sister Ann. Two children died and were buried at sea. A daughter Margaret, the oldest, survived. She died in Evert at the age of 70. Benjamin died at Evert at the age of 86.

4. Henry died in infancy.

5. William. Married, no children. Died in England

6. Mary. Never married. After she grew up, she became insane at intervals until her death in England.

7. Betsy. Born June, 1818. Died Feb. 12, 1887. Married to Thomas Osgerby in England. Came to America about 1852 and settled in Iowa. Five children (four boys and one girl) were born to them. Vis: John J. who died from cancer of the stomach about 1912. The twins, Miles and Giles, both living. William, who died from brain fever. Prof. J.K. Osgerby, Tawas City, Michigan. (four children living, one dead). Lizzie, who married John Manning and died about 1905, leaving two children.

8. Joseph. Married in England. Came to this country about 1849 and settled in Detroit. There were nine children, vis: John H., James, Charley, Lizzie, Joseph Jr., William, Eliza, George and Rose. Four now living in 1932.

Ann. Came to America in the same ship with my father and his brother, Benjamin. She settled in Milford, Michigan, where she married Samuel Garner. Soon they moved to the English Line, near Vassar, onto 80 acres of fine land. Their eldest son, William, was only three months younger than I and we were great chums. It was the most ideal family I ever knew. I used to think it a great privilege to visit them. They lived 6 miles from us. Eight children lived to grow up, vis: William, Lizzie, Eliza, Samuel, Ida, Moses, Hattie and Agnes. The two younger died single, Hattie at about 18 of pneumonia, and Agnes about 16 from bronchitis. Eliza also died single about 1912 from cancer of the stomach. William, born July, 1852. Married Lucy Whidded in 1878. Died from hip disease in 1887, leaving three children, vis: Stella, married Clarence Shipley—they have six children; Arthur married Clara Frahm (a German girl)—they have four children; and Hattie, married to a blind man, Frank Goodrich. They have one child. Samuel married Jessie Lewis, Oct. 12, 1885. They have four living children: Lewis, Orrie, Austin and Ruth. Lewis married and had two children by his first wife; Orrie married and had one child; Austin married Meta VanPatten. Moses, first wife, Kittie. Four children: Lee, Ralph, Vera and Helen. Second wife, Katie Green. Three children: two girls and one boy. Lizzie married Tomas Wilson. Both dead. Left four children: Samuel married in the West, wife became insane, one child grown to manhood. Mae married to M.W. Musser, who is dead. Veva, married to Moses Garner, Sr., and William, married a widow in Chicago, one son. All living in 1932.

James Gaunt, my father, was married to Charlotte Ann Grantham in 1842. She was a cultured and refined girl, but physically not strong. One son was born to them but he died about 1845. The mother grieved so much that she never rallied and died about a year later, 1846.

My father married again in 1848 to my mother, Phobe Wilkinson. When they were married she was 33 and my father was 35. A son was born April, 1849, and they emigrated to America in June, 1850, taking a boat at Liverpool and arriving in New York with a very sick boy. He contracted bowel trouble on shipboard. He died in October 1850, about the time a second son was born, named Joseph. He later died of pneumonia about the time of my birth, April 16, 1852. Both children are buried in Milford, Michigan. The sickness of the second son was caused by the hired girl’s taking him out of doors and staying too long when my mother was sick in bed with me.

They came through New York State on the Erie Canal. It was a very hot summer and an open boat. My mother was sick too. When on the canal boat my father saw a woman milking a cow near the canal. He ran out and bought a quart of milk. Mother tasted it and said it was sour. Father asked the Captain, "Do you cows give sour milk in this country?" "Oh yes," he replied, "anything to get money".

Father’s brother Benjamin and family came on the same boat. When they got to Detroit theyhired a livery to take them to Milford. The first man they tried to deal with sought to take advantage of them, told them there were no liveries in the city, but that he would take them, asking more than twice the usual price. Both brothers, James and Benjamin, worked for John Crawford at Milford, in his store. Also drove his team gathering ashes and taking pay in goods from the store. After the ashes were worked into black salts, they were made into saleratur. They took the ashes to Detroit and exchanged them for more goods. I met Mr. Crawford’s daughter at the Chelsea Methodist Home, near Detroit, not long ago. She is still living, about 90 years old. She remembers my folks working for her father and seeing me as a babe in my mother’s arms. My father worked one summer on a farm for Captain Thompson, south of Milford. The last summer he was there he worked a farm on shares for John Harper.

The second year Benjamin bought a farm in South Lyon and moved there. Five boys and another girl were born to them there, vis: William, Alfred, Walter, Joseph, Lincoln and Cora. About 1875 the family moved to Evert, Osceola County, where most of the children lived and died. The eldest son William went West. Was a storekeeper and for some time Mayor of a Colorado town. He died about 1922. Left wife and two sons in Brighton, Colorado just north of Denver. One son publishes a county paper, the other is a lawyer in Denver. All other children died in Evert vicinity.

My father’s family moved from Milford to Tuscola County in the late Fall of 1853. He bought 40 acres of land from the government located three-quarters of a mile west of Carrs Corners, paying for the land, $1.25 an acre. It was sandy land covered with the best of pine. He built a shanty covered with hollowed basswood and having a dirt floor, a very primitive home. My two sisters were born there, vis: Mary Elizabeth, born Feb. 22, 1854, died in Detroit Dec. 1908; Phoebe Ann born May 9, 1856. Now is the Methodist Home in Chelsea.

In moving to this location from Milford, he hired a two-horse team and a cow. I do not know where we lived while father built the shanty. The logs for it was soon rolled up, the roof was made of smooth logs about a foot in diameter, split in half, hollowed out and laid side by side and covered by the same. There was only one room, about 12x18. Later it was chinked, filled with moss and cemented with clay. Father chopped what trees he could during the winter. The cow lived on the brouse of basswood and elm. He brought enough provisions with him for the winter. In the Spring he planted corn and potatoes among the logs and stumps. Harvested very little. He said he did not know what they would do to live through another winter. But that Fall he was notified there was a registered letter for him at the Vassar Post Office. He got it and found it contained $20 but there was no signature to say who sent it. He afterwards found it was sent by Mother’s cousins, George and Charley Wilkinson from Livingston County. He tried to make the money go as far as possible, so he bought a half a ton of cornmeal for $10 and some other necessary things with the balance. It was a saying of his that he wanted six months provisions ahead. He felt better now as he had meal enough for at least six months. He was so different from most men who would have bought wheat flour or something else they liked better, but which wouldn’t have lasted so long. He despised ‘johnny cake’ but knew it would go farther then wheat flour. He learned to like ‘johnny cake’ fairly well before spring. We attended some of Wilkinson reunions. This Fall (1932) it was held near Reese. Will Wilkinson lives there.

Father carried on his back one bushed of corn every other Friday afternoon to Watrousville to have it ground. He was late one time and did not get his grist until dark. After going one mile West he came to the end of the road that was chopped out, so he laid down under a tree until morning. I do not know how Mother felt with no word from Father all that night. Once it stormed so hard he could not go, and they broke the corn up between two stones and lived on it for two weeks.

We lived there three years and in the meantime Father had exchanged the home 40 acres for a 60 acre hardwood land two miles North. We moved to it in the Fall of 1856.

Some things I distinctly remember before