Tuscola-Washtenaw-Ingham County MI Archives Biographies.....Pettingill, Henry 1808 - 
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Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com February 14, 2007, 6:28 pm

Author: Chapman Bros. (1892)

HENRY PETTINGILL. This farmer of Arbela Township, Tuscola County, was born in
Jefferson County, N. Y., December 21, 1808. His father, Elihu Pettingill, a
native of Connecticut, came to New York when a young man and was there married
to Susan Wadsworth, a native of New York, to whom were born ten children, seven
sons and three daughters. At an early day the father removed to Geauga County,
Ohio, and there he and his wife spent the remainder of their days. He had been a
soldier in the War of 1812, and was a life-long farmer and horse trader, being
greatly interested in horses and stock. He was a man of indomitable will and
perseverance and always accomplished whatever he undertook.

  Our subject remained in New York until he reached his majority and then came
to Michigan and settled in the unbroken forests among the Indians near Ann
Arbor. Two years later he returned East but after live years came again to
Michigan and followed hunting and trapping for four years, making his home in
Howell and also in Ingham County.

  The marriage of Henry Pettingill and Amanda R., daughter of Benjamin Barney, a
native of Steuben County, N. Y., took place in Phelps, Ingham County, Mich. Mr.
Barney had long been a resident of Saline Township, Washtenaw County, this
State. No children were born to this union, but by a previous marriage with Mr.
Charles Roberts the lady had a daughter, Lucy A., who has been known as Lucy
Pettingill ever since her mother's marriage with our subject. For about eight
years our subject resided in Ingham County on a farm, and then came to Washtenaw
County for a year, and after eight years in Wayne County removed to Flint, near
which he bought a farm of one hundred and sixty acres. He bought other property
there and worked in that city at the carpenter's trade.

  In June, 1863, Mr. Pettingill came to Arbela Township and settled on a farm of
eighty acres which he has now increased to one hundred and twenty acres. This
land he has cleared, cultivated and adorned with excellent buildings. He was for
eleven months in the service of his country during the Civil War, as he enlisted
in 1861 in Company F, First Regiment, Michigan Engineers and Mechanics.

  Mr. Pettingill is a spiritualist in his religious belief and politically a
stanch Republican. He has been Assessor and Collector as well as School
Inspector, and has acted as Clerk on the Board of Election. He was deeply
afflicted in the loss of his wife February 17, 1891, and the daughter of the
family is now Mrs. J. C. Silsbee. She was married August 9, 1858, in Vienna,
Genesee County. Mr. Silsbee was born in Steuben County, N. Y., December 28,
1828. He is a son of Jonathan Silsbee, a native of St. Lawrence County, N. Y.,
who was born in 1795, and married Olive Cheever, who was born in Massachusetts
in 1802 and is still living. Five of their ten children are yet in this life.
Mr. Silsbee was in the War of 1812 and took part in the capture of Ft. Erie.

  J. C. Silsbee went to Pennsylvania with his mother after the death of his
father in 1826, and twenty years later came to Michigan and there followed his
trade as a mason. He enlisted in the United States service in 1861 and served
for eleven months in Company F, First Michigan Engineers and Mechanics. Exposure
resulted in a severe cold which destroyed one of his lungs. Since his return
from the army he has resided with his father-in-law, with whom he is in sympathy
in religion and politics. He has served as Justice of the Peace, this being his
third term. A daughter, Ida, who was born to Mr. and Mrs. Silsbee died in early
infancy and they have also lost one adopted daughter, Hettie M., and have
another adopted daughter, Etha D. Mr. Silsbee is a great reader and a man of
broad and versatile knowledge.


Additional Comments:
Extracted from:

Portrait and Biographical Record of Genesee, Lapeer and Tuscola Counties,
Michigan, Containing Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative
Citizens, Together with Biographies of all the Governors of the State, and of
the Presidents of the United States

Chicago:
Chapman Bros.
1892


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