William A Sleeman Biography, Lapeer and Genesee County, Michigan

This Biography extracted from “Portrait and Biographical Record of 
Genesee, Lapeer and Tuscola Counties, Michigan…”, published be Chapman 
Bros., Chicago (1892), p. 994


This copy contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives.

***********************************************************************
ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any 
format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. 
Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the 
written consent of the contributor or the legal representative of the 
submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this 
consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to 
store the file permanently for free access.

http://www.usgwarchives.net

***********************************************************************




WILLIAM A. SLEEMAN. We are gratified to lay before our readers a sketch 
of this well-known citizen of Imlay City, who was born in London, 
Canada, September 15, 1847, and who is a son of William and Catherine 
(Hicks) Sleeman, natives of Devonshire, England. They were born in the 
same parish and were married in England, after which they removed from 
their native home and came to Canada.

   The father of our subject was a farmer and his son was trained upon 
the farm until he was about seven years of age, after which he was in 
London for five years and afterward returned to the country. He 
received a common-school education and at the age of fifteen began to 
learn his trade in Lon don, serving a regular apprenticeship, receiving 
his board and clothes the first year and during the last year being 
paid $125. He became a thorough and practical blacksmith and after 
leaving his master worked in various places in Canada as a journeyman, 
and came to Michigan in the fall of 1867. He found employment first in 
Detroit and afterward spent a year in Flint. He also spent some time in 
Grand Rapids and Romeo. In Bay City he started a shop of his own and 
there he was married on the 5th of March, 1872, to Miss Minnie Cooper. 
This lady was born in London, England, November 1, 1852. She is a 
daughter of John and Margaret Cooper.

   Mr. Sleeman was for a number of years in the employ of A. W. Sage & 
Co., well-known lumbermen of West Bay City, and did all their 
blacksmithing. He lived at Lindon, Genesee County, for two years and 
came to Imlay City in 1885. Here he has a good home and also owns his 
own shop. He is a man of intelligence and more than ordinary 
observation and thought and he has the reputation of doing the best 
work in the county.

   Our subject and his worthy wife have three bright, interesting 
daughters. Blanche graduated from the High School here in 1891 and 
expects to be a teacher; she was born in West Bay City, July 16, 1873. 
Grace was born July 8, 1875, and is a member of the Class of '93 in the 
High School, and Margaret, who was born October 7, 1879, will be a 
school girl for some years to come.

   The doctrines of the Republican party commend themselves to the 
judgment of Mr. Sleeman and he is a member of the Village Board of 
Trustees and is serving his second term thereon, and in the Independent 
Order of Odd Fellows he has held all the offices and represented the 
Lodge at the Grand Lodge at Saginaw in 1891. He is also a member of the 
Ancient Order of United Workmen. The mother of this highly esteemed, 
citizen makes her home with him most of the time as she has been for 
many years a widow, having been bereaved by the death of her husband in 
May, 1872.



j