James T. Haddrill Biography, Orion Township, Oakland County, Michigan From the Pictorial and Biographical Album of Oakland Co., MI. Published 1891, Chapman Bros., Chicago, IL. Contributed 2004 by Jan Cortez (janacortez@charter.net) for use in the USGenWeb Archives. USGENWEB 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. Page 201: JAMES T. HADDRILL, is a native of Orion Township, in which he resides, having been born September 21, 1846, in a log house, which was built by his father on the farm where he now lives. He is a son of Isaac Haddrill, who was born in England in 1812, and about 1840 he came to America and made his home in Orion Township. He was a drover in England. He had serious misadventures in crossing the ocean, being shipwrecked, and undergoing great hardships. He bought forty acres of Government land on section 21, ahd here made his home. He was very fond of hunting and fishing, and frequently killed bears and shot scores of deer. He probably caught as many fish as any man in Oakland County. The indians were all around his early home, and they camped on the shores of the beautiful lakes near which he lived. He found an indian burying ground on his farm, and has plowed up quite a collection of flint arrows, skull bones and all sorts of Indian relics. He served as Treasurer of Orion Township at two different times. He now lives in Lapeer County in the enjoyment of good health. His wife, Elizabeth Turk, was born in England in 1812, and died in 1880. Of their seven children, five still survive. The subject of this sketch was reared to manhood on the farm which he helped his father to clear. Many a day he drove three yokes of cattle in the breaking plow. At the age of twenty one years he rented a portion of the old homestead, and began farming for himself. In 1875 he purchased one hundred acres on section 21, and he has also bought forty acres adjoining the old homestead, which he has acquired from his father by purchase. New Year's day, 1874, was a date of great import in the life of our subject, as he was then married to Elizabeth, daughter of Nicholas and Eliza Ann (Berkman) Peacock. Mrs. Haddrill was born in Pontiac in the year 1847. Her parents came here at a very early day and settled on a farm in Pontiac Township. The father died in June, 1890, and the mother passed away some years previously, having died in 1881. They were both consistent members of the Baptist Church. The four children of our subject are Roy, born October 14, 1875; Maud, May 26, 1877; Blanche, November 1, 1878; and Stewart, August 7, 1884. Mr. Haddrill is a Democrat in his political views. He is the happy possessor of three hundred and forty acres of fine land, and raises all kinds of stock, but takes pride in breeding standard horses, and has sold several fine steppers at fancy prices. He began life with very limited means, and by industry and energy, combined with frugality and enterprise, has gained for himself and family a fine property.