FIFTH GENERATION

24. Neely SAWTELLE was born on 21 Feb 1805 in NY. He died on 13 Sep 1867 in Vernon, Shiawassee Co., MI. Shows in 1840 MI census in Oakland Cnty Avo twnshp. 1850 and 1860 MI census in Shiawasse Cnty Venice twnshp. Appears to have migrated from Broome County, New York between 1833 and 1838. Age at death was 62-6-20. Will to probate in NOV of 1867.

From 'History of Shiawassee and Clinton Counties, Michigan with Illustrations and Biographical Sketches of their Prominent Men and Pioneers' - published 1880 pg317. "Neely Sawtell, at whose house the first election for township officers was held and who served in the capacity of clerk on this occasion, removed from Oakland County in 1842, and located upon the east half of the southeast quarter of section 17. He found a serious obstacle to his settlement in the depth of the Rush Bed Creek, which was not bridged and could not be forded. Having arrived in the township in the spring, the family were obliged to remain two miles east of the centre until July 4th, when the crossing of the stream was made possible by low water. Mr. Sawtell had meanwhile built a cabin of boughs, to which they removed and at once began their pioneer labors. Truman Bunce, whose log cabin was not far distant, afforded them an opportunity of occasionally paying a neighborly visit. Mr. Sawtell remained in the township until 1866, when he removed to Vernon, and died in the following year." He was Clerk 1843-46, 50, Justice in 1849, Supervisor in 1856 and Highway Commission in 1865. He was married to Abigail ALLISON on 4 May 1825 in NY.

Taken from the Obituary of Sarah Emilene Sawtelle Yerkes published in Vernon, Michigan paper. "They moved to Venice in 1842. She was the eldest of five children born Oct.22, 1828 in Chenango Township, Broome County, New York. In September 1835 they located in Oakland County Michigan. Seven years later Neely sought to better his fortune by penetrating the wilds of Shiawassee County, so in February, 1842, he loaded his goods and family into wagons and started to his newly purchased farm in the township now known as Venice, then known as part of the township of Vernon. When within three miles of their home they were stopped by trees and underbrush which was so thick they could not get through. Finding a small house which had been vacated by some homesick settlers he proceeded to make his family at home. After making his family as comfortable as possible, he took his axe on his shoulder and blazed his way to his farm, where with the help of his oldest son, Henry a boy of about thirteen, built a low sha--- shanty, where they camped and cut logs for the new home. By dint of hard work he got logs enough to build his new house which was without window or door and with only ----- thirds of floor which was hewn ---- by axe from basswood logs. He moved his family into this home on July 4th. They sent the baby, Mary, ---- on in the ox sled with the ---- as driver, he having previously ---derbrushed a road through the w--- and the rest of the family followed on foot, driving what little stock they had and there they lived for nine years, the nearest house being two miles away. The neighbors' chickens did not scratch up the garden, they were never lonely, however, as bears, wolves, wild cats and deer were ever present with their howling. Twice Neely barely escaped being devoured by wolves. "

25. Abigail ALLISON was born on 22 Dec 1804 in NY. She died on 7 Oct 1894 in Vernon, Shiawassee Co., MI. Death record from Shiawasse county #428 for 7 Oct 1895 at 89y 10m 15d. (indicates she was born in 1805 not 1804).
"History of the Alison or Allison Family" gives her birth as 1798 but also says she married Luther Sawtelle instead of Neely. It did have the correct names of the 4 children born in New York.
In 1868 she married Samuel WILKINSON( - ).

Children were:

child i. Sarah Emeline SAWTELLE was born on 22 Oct 1826 in Chenango, Broome Co., NY. She died on 2 Dec 1914 in Chicago, Cook Co., IL. She was buried on 4 Dec 1914 in GreenWood Cemetery, Vernon, MI. Died in Chicago of pneumonia. Obituary published in Vernon, MI paper. - "She taught school for 2 years in various districts and in March 1848 married Joseph Watkins YERKES(1824-1899) of Gaines township to whom were born three children, Mrs. Emily A Clark of Chicago, Albert of Sioux Falls, ? D. or the state of Washington., and Alfred or Fredrick of Lorain, Ohio. Added to all the other hardships she was deprived of her eyesight twenty-seven years before she died. She lived with Emily in Chicago after her husband died Nov. 30, 1890."
"Chronicle of the Yerkes Family with Notes on the Leech and Rutter Families" (tracing these families from Anthony Yerkes arrival in Pennsylvania around 1700. Illustrations include many portraits and documents. Bibliographic Information: Leach, Josiah Granville, LL.B, Chronicle of the Yerkes Family With Notes on the Leech and Rutter Families, J.B. Lippincott Co., Philadelphia 1904) provides details of Yerkes ancestors and children.
child ii. Henry SAWTELLE was born in 1828 in Broome Co., NY. Constable in Venice Township in 1859
child iii. Catherine A. SAWTELLE was born in 1831 in Broome Co., NY. She died in 1867.
child12 iv. Luther SAWTELLE.
child v. Mary Elizabeth SAWTELLE was born on 18 Apr 1838 in Oakland Co., MI. She died on 7 Jun 1919 in Venice Twp, Shiawassee Co., MI. She was buried in Yerian Cemetery, Shiawassee Co., MI. Died at 80y 8m 19d.  In 1866 she married (Albert) Jerome Bonaparte FRASIER(1841- ).

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