Lapeer County MI Archives Biographies.....Schuneman, Martin G. 1835 - 
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com June 2, 2007, 3:56 pm

Author: Chapman Bros. (1892)

MARTIN G. SCHUNEMAN. The owner of a farm located on section 33, Lapeer Township,
Lapeer County, is a son of John R. Schuneman, of Geneva, N. Y., a farmer and
hotel-keeper in that portion of the country, and who also served as a soldier in
the War of 18i2. Our subject's mother was Mary (Garrett) Schuneman, a native of
Geneva, N. Y., where she met and married her husband and came to Michigan in
1836, settling upon the farm which our subject now occupies. Their first home
here was a temporary shanty, which was soon replaced by a substantial log house.

  The only neighbors at that early day were the Clark family, and there was only
one little house in Lapeer Township at the time, but plenty of Indians, wolves,
bears and deer, and their oversight of their domestic animals and fowls 
was necessarily very close to keep them from the hungry fangs of the wolves. Our
subject's parents were fairly successful and in comfortable circumstances, but
they were in no wise exempt from the hardships incident to pioneer life. They
had to go to Detroit with an ox-team for provisions, each trip consuming n week.
Their tract comprised three hundred and twenty acres of land, which was
partially timbered and all perfectly new. Our subject's father died in 1856; his
widow survived him until 1881.

  John Schuneman cleared a goodly portion of the homestead and built one of the
first frame barns in the township, his death occurring immediately after its
completion, so that the funeral services were held in the new barn. They were
the parents of thirteen children, eight of whom are now living. They were active
and consistent members of the Presbyterian Church, which they helped to organize
and build. He was a Democrat in politics and held some township offices.

  Our subject was born December 14, 1835, in Geneva, N. Y. His education was
acquired for the most part in the schools of Lapeer Township, Lapeer County, and
he was reared on the home farm. Unlike many others of of the early settlers, he
never' was obliged to work out for others. When forty-one years of age our
subject was married to Libby Hurd, a daughter of Warren Hurd, a farmer in McComb
County, Mich. She was born in this State in 1847, and received a common-school
education. Our subject and his wife are the parents of two children-Blanche and
Jay. The first-named was born September 11, 1878, and the latter November 18,
1880. They are in attendance at the local school.

  Since six months of age our subject has lived upon the old homestead and his
interests are naturally centered in this vicinity. He and his wife are members
of the Congregational Church in the village of Metamora, having been so
connected for over thirty years; they are also interested in Sunday-school work.
Socially he of whom we write is a member of the Grange and has also taken an
interest in the local school. Politically he is a Democrat.

  Mr. Schuneman is the owner of one hundred and sixty acres of land, of which
one hundred and twenty acres are under cultivation. Since coming into possession
of the place he has cleared off twenty-three acres and made an attractive
addition to the residence and added other improvements. He here carries on
general farming and owns a large quantity of graded stock. Mrs. Schuneman's
paternal grandfather was David Hurd, a soldier in the War of 1812. Her mother
was Mary Jane (Eveland) Hurd, a native of Canada. Her parents came to Michigan
in 1824, having cut their way through the wilds from Detroit. They were the
parents of seven children, four of whom are now living. Of these Mrs. Schuneman
was the third child and was born November 8, 1847, in Macomb County.


Additional Comments:
Extracted from:

Portrait and Biographical Record of Genesee, Lapeer and Tuscola Counties,
Michigan, Containing Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative
Citizens, Together with Biographies of all the Governors of the State, and of
the Presidents of the United States

Chicago:
Chapman Bros.
1892


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