Obituary of Nicholas Moak, St. Clair Township, St. Clair County Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by *********************************************************************** * 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. http://www.usgwarchives.net *********************************************************************** ST. CLAIR TOWNSHIP (Michigan) The late Nicholas I. Moak. Nicholas I. Moak was born in Schoharie County, NY, in 1818 He was one of five brothers, the others being Peter, who lives at White Pigeon, MIch., Phillip, supposed to be in Illinois, John, in New York, and Jacob deceased. His mother dying when he was but 10 years of age, Nicholas went to live with his grandfather, and remained with him until he was 19. He then removed to Ypsilanti, Mich., and engaged in farming and teaming. He was married, at the age of 26, to Minerva Carpenter, of Ypsilanti, and then came to St. Clair county, settling on the farm now occupied by High Crockard, in the township of St. Clair. After living there three or four years he moved on the the farm where he died, in the same township and but a few rods from where he first settled. His principal business, most of the time, was farming, but for several years previous to the war he lumbered considerably in the section where he lived, it being at the time quite well timbered with pine. He had been quite a healthy man until a very few months before his death, when ge began to be troubled with pain in the region of the stomach, and could retain his food but a short time after eating. This was at first attributed to dyspspsia, but as he grew worse he went to Detroit and consulted with eminent physicians there, who told him that his trouble was occasioned by a cancer. All was done that could be to prolong life and alleviate his sufferings, but death had marked him as one of its victims, and he died at his home, surrounded by friends and relatives, on the 7th of July, 1886. The was the father of five children, Ryerson, who died at the age of four years, Charles, Jr., now living in the township of Port Huron, Maria L., married Walter Hills and living on an adjoining farm to that where the father died, Emma, married to Alzathan Jackson and living about half a mile west of the old home, and Albert, living about one and one-half miles from the old home. The old father therefore had the comforting presence of his children to do and to care for him during the last days of his life. The wife of his youth, of his middle age, and of his declining years, survives him. He never made an open profession of religion, but always recognized the principles of Christianity, as exemplified in the life of Christ, by living an honest and virtuous life. In politics he was an old line Whig, entered the Republican party at its first organization and was an ardent supporter of and believing in its principles. He was grand juror several times in United States Court, at Detroit, and also held school district offices many times. He lived to see the pine forests cleared away and cultivated farms take their place. He had seen many of the pioneers of the county, who lived here when he first drove his stake and determined to make St. Clair county his home, grow old, bend with the weight of years and the cares of life, and assisted in laying their forms away in their narrow homes, leaving their friends to mourn their decease, and now he has followed them. For him, it has been decreed by the Ruler over all, that his life's work is ended, and he is laid to rest beside some of those who were neighbors in life, and are neighbors in death.