Newaygo County MI Archives Biographies.....Jay, William March 24, 1817 - 
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Jan Cortez http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00020.html#0004939 March 23, 2009, 6:18 pm

Author: Chapman Brothers

WILLIAM JAY, farmer, section 24, Goodwell Township, was born March 24, 1817, 
at Binghamton, N.Y.  His 

father, Peter Jay, was born in the State of New York some time about the year 
1782.  He was of English 

parentage and died in 1840.  The mother, Ruth (Hall) Jay, was born near the 
year 1784, in Massachusetts, 

and died in 1838.

Mr. Jay went away from home as his "own man" when 17 years old.  He went to 
Missouri and passed four years 

in that State and in Fort Leavenworth, in (then) Kansas Territory.  He was in 
the employment of the United 

States Government, and worked as an assistant in getting out and preparing the 
timber to build the fort.  

In 1838 he came to Michigan and joined his brother in Oakland County, where he 
remained until the fall of 

1839.  In that year he went to Ohio, where he was married, in February, 1841, 
to Permelia Hancock.  She 

was the daughter of Abner and Miranda (White) Hancock, both of whom were born 
in Vermont, respectively in 

1798 and 1796.  They were of English parentage and died in 1856 and 1880.  
Mrs. Jay died April 6, 1879, 

leaving five children, all of whom yet survive, namely:  Delia Ann, Amelia A., 
Ruth A., Frank and Emma.

Mr. Jay remained a resident of the Buckeye State until February, 1852, when he 
sought the land of golden 

promise on the Pacific slope, leaving his family in Ohio.  He followed mining 
in California until the life 

of the Nation was put in peril through the imbecility and headlong recklesness 
of the South.  He enlisted 

in 1861, in Co. A., Second Cal. Vol. Cav., for three years.  He was in the 
service under that enrollment 

the three years, and was discharged at Camp Douglas, near Salt Lake City, 
Utah.  He returned to Ohio and 

re-enlisted in Co. F., United States Cavalry, regular service, for three years.

He was discharged at Fort Laramie in 1868, came back to Ohio, and in company 
with his family proceeded to 

Mecosta County.  Two years later he came to Newaygo County and secured a claim 
of 80 acres of land under 

the Homestead Act, where he has since expended his labor and time to the best 
possible advantage, having 

placed 40 acres of land under improvement and advanced culture, with fair farm 
buildings.  Mr. Jay is a 

Republican in political affinity.

He was a second time married Feb. 8, 1882, to Sarah P. Ehle.  She was born in 
Oswego, N.Y., Aug. 5, 1825.  

Her father, Adam Ehle, was born near the MOhawk River, and was quite a young 
lad while the was of the 

Revolution was in progress.  He ws German in national descent, and died near 
the year 1863.  The mother, 

Mary (Sternberg) Ehle, was born in nearly the same period as her husband, and 
died about 12 years since.

Additional Comments:
1884 Portrait & Bio Album of Newaygo Co.

File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/mi/newaygo/bios/jay363nbs.txt

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