Eliphalet T. PRIEST

• BIRTH: Abt. 1836, New York
• DEATH: Aft. 1920

Father: Lewis PRIEST
Mother: Nancy M. HAIRE

Family 1: Cornelia DUNSMORE

• MARRIAGE: Bet. 1860 - 1861

(1) Wheeler, John H. comp., History of Wexford County, Michigan, embracing a concise review of its early settlement, industrial development and present conditions, comp. by John H. Wheeler, to which is appended a comprehensive compendium of national biography and life sketches of well-known citizens of the county. B.F. Bowen & Co.[Logansport, Ind.], 1903. Pages 403-404. Via University of Michigan Digital Library Text Collections.

"... Her parents were Eliphalet and Cornelia (Dunsmore) Priest, natives of New York, who were among the early pioneers of the state of Michigan."

-----

ADDITIONAL NOTES ON MARRIAGE: There is something odd about the relationship between Eliphalet and Cornelia [Dunsmore] Priest. Eliphalet seems to have spent much of his time wandering and the census records show someone with a similar name -- but without sufficient evidence to tie it to him -- in various places such as a lumberjack in the woods of northern Michigan. They even lived with the same child as they grew older, but not at the same time! This may have been a marriage in name only in an age when divorce was less acceptable.

1. Melinda PRIEST

                              __
                   __________|
                  |          |__
 _Lewis PRIEST ___|
|                 |           __
|                 |_Polly //_|
|                            |__
|
|--Eliphalet T. PRIEST
|                             __
|                  __________|
|                 |          |__
|_Nancy M. HAIRE _|
                  |           __
                  |__________|
                             |__

Notes

(1) 1850 United States Census for Michigan, Ingham Co., Lansing: October 9, 1850.

Eliphalet Priest is the son of Lewis and Marianna Priest. He is 14 years old, born in New York and is attending school.

(2) 1860 United States Census for Michigan, Ionia Co., Orange Twp. (Orange Post Office): Page 361; September 22, 1860.

Eliphalet Priest is head of household, married to Sarah C. [maiden surname unknown] Priest. He is 24 years old, born in New York, and is a farmer with real estate valued at $200 and personal estate valued at $73. They live next door to Eliphalet's parents and siblings in one household, and his brother Joshua and family in another.

(3) 1910 United States Census for Michigan, Wexford Co., Cedar Creek Twp.: Supervisor's District 9; Enumeration District 142; Sheet 3A; April 19, 20 and 21, 1910.

Eliphalet (listed as Eliphet) resides with his son-in-law and daughter, Nelson J. and Linnie [Priest] McBrian. He is 74 years old, married for 50 years (on his 2nd marriage), and born in New York with his father from Vermont and his mother from Pennsylvania.

(4) 1920 United States Census for Michigan, Wexford Co., Cedar Creek Twp.: Supervisor's District 9; Enumeration District 213; Sheet 1A; January 2-3-5-6, 1920.

Eliphalet (listed as Eliphet T.) Priest resides with his son-in-law and daughter, Nelson and Linnie M. [Priest] McBrian. He is 85 years old and a widower, born in New York with his father from New York and his mother from Pennsylvania.

(5) Wheeler, John H. comp., History of Wexford County, Michigan, embracing a concise review of its early settlement, industrial development and present conditions, comp. by John H. Wheeler, to which is appended a comprehensive compendium of national biography and life sketches of well-known citizens of the county. B.F. Bowen & Co.[Logansport, Ind.], 1903. Pages 403-404. Via University of Michigan Digital Library Text Collections.

"... Miss Linnie Priest, a native of Orange, Ionia county, Michigan, born August 22, 1867. Her parents were Eliphalet and Cornelia (Dunsmore) Priest, natives of New York, who were among the early pioneers of the state of Michigan. Of the four children born to Mr. and Mrs. Priest, Mrs. McBrian was the third."