Mecosta County MI Archives Biographies.....Broomfield, William October 2, 1832 - 
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Jan Cortez http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00020.html#0004939 April 18, 2009, 1:09 pm

Author: Chapman Brothers

WILLIAM BROOMFIELD, farmer and lumberman, sec. 31, Bloomfield Tp., Isabella 
Co., was born in Ontario, 

Canada, Oct. 2, 1832.  His parents, Neil and Catherine (McLerin) Broomfield, 
were natives of Argyleshire, 

Scotland.  They came to America and settled in Canada in 1831.

Mr. Broomfield acquired the elements of a good education at the schools of the 
place where he was born, 

which he attended until he was 17 years old; by his experience and 
observation, he has improved his early 

acquirements to an unusually practical degree.  In 1849 he went to Lockport, 
Niagara Co., N.Y., and was 

there employed some time in a shingle factory.  He went thence to Hamilton, 
Canada, and engaged extensively 

in the shingle trade.  After some months, he made a prospecting trip through 
Western Canada, and in the 

spring of 1853 came to Sanilac Co., Mich., and engaged in shingle 
manufacture.  He remained there two 

years, and in the spring of 1855 journeyed through the Western country, 
visiting his home in ONtario in 

1856.  He extended his stay there until 1861, and in the fall of that year 
came to (now) Bloomfield and 

squatted on the place where he now lives.  He could only hold his land by the 
right of possession, as the 

homestead act was not yet passed.  He kept himself informed as to the 
particulars affecting the interests 

of such land-holders as himself, and immediately upon the passage of the 
homestead act by Congress he 

entered the first claim under its provisions in Isabella County.  The record 
was effected in May, 1864.  

His landed estate now includes 360 acres of land, of which he has placed 260 
acres uner the best 

improvements.  All the buildings thereon are of the first order, and his 
beautiful residence cost $3,000.  

In politics Mr. Broomfield is a Republican; has held the position of 
Supervisor in his township for ten 

years, and has been State Road Commissioner by appointment.  He is a member of 
the ancient Order of 

Masonry.

Mr. Broomfield was married at Ontario, in April, 1859, to Ellen J., daughter 
of Marshall and Mary (Jackson) 

McLerin, who died Oct. 31, 1868, of typhoid fever, leaving three children:  
Ida, born March 1, 1860; 

Marshall, June 17, 1863; and Nellie, March 15, 1861.  Mr. Broomfield 
contracted a second marriage in 

Ontario, Can., March 17, 1870, with Elizabeth, daughter of Malcom and Agnes 
(Cameron) Malloy, natives 

respectively of Scotland and Canada.  She was born April 11, 1840.  Three of 
six children of this union are 

still living; Catherine, born April 1, 1871; Neil, Jan. 14, 1873; and 
Archibald, July 3, 1875.

Additional Comments:
1883 Portrait & Bio Album of Mecosta Co.

File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/mi/mecosta/bios/broomfie593nbs.txt

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