From the Portrait and Biographical Album of Hillsdale Co., MI, 1888,
p.233.
William Nelson CASE was a pioneer of Hillsdale Co. and his story is of more
than ordinary interest. We will begin it at about the time he left his
native State of NY with the intention of making his permanent home in the
West. A short time before, he had traded personal property for 160 acres in
Pittsford Twp., for which he was to pay $1,000. Unfortunately, he was not
aware of the value of land in this area and found he could have bought as
good a tract for half the money. He had already turned over $300 worth of
property and, upon his arrival here, had $4.60 in his pocket. Consequently
his first business was to seek employment. Mrs. Case commenced teaching at
the first school in Likely District. With the assistance of his excellent
wife, Mr. Case was soon able to purchase a yoke of oxen and for several
years thereafter did all his marketing, milling and farm work with them.
Letter postage in those days was 25 cents. He remembers one time when he
carried five dozen eggs eight miles to Lanesville where he turned them over
for the postage on one letter.
Deer, wild turkey and other game abounded and the family did not lack for
meat. Mrs. Case was almost as good a shot as her husband. One day she shot
a turkey that was picking up corn near the doorstep and another time killed
a deer grazing in the wheatfield, in sight of the house. Neither husband
nor wife lacked courage and endurance and, living the first few years in the
most economical manner, in due time began to reap their reward. They are
now well-to-do and feel fully repaid for the toils and sacrifices of their
younger years.
Mr. Case was born near Johnstown, Montgomery Co., NY, on 5/5/1814. His
father, Ezekiel Case, was born in Washington, Berskhire Co., MA, and was the
son of a substantial Mass. farmer who spent his last days in Berkshire Co.
There Ezekiel grew to manhood and then set out to seek his fortune in NY
State, taking with him his recent bride. They lived in Montgomery Co. until
1820 when our subject, William, was a lad of six years. At that time they
returned to Mass., living in Rockingham Co. for two years where the father
occupied himself in burning charcoal and at other employments. In 1828, the
family again moved back to Johnstown, Montgomery Co., staying there until
the winter of 1829-30. That winter Ezekiel and William, now 16 years old,
set out for Michigan Territory, making most of the trip on foot. They first
stopped in the vicinity of Sturgis, St. Joseph Co., at the home of an uncle.
After several changes of residence, Exekiel finally settled near Brighton,
Livingston Co., where, with his family, he spent his last years. The mother
of our subject was Elizabeth SEARLS. She was born in Cambridge, Washington
Co., NY, became the mother of nine children and spent her last days in
Albany, NY, living with her daughter. Four of her children are still
living.
William Nelson Case remembers well the tedious journey which he made with
his father from NY to Mich. They crossed Bear Creek Valley before anyone at
all lived there. He was taken ill a few months later and his uncle took him
to Detroit from whence he journeyed, by lake and canal, to Meadsport. There
he was met by another uncle who lived nearby. Upon his recovery, he stayed
in that section of the country two or three years. He then returned to
Mongomery Co. where he worked for three years and then went to Onondaga Co.
He continued in the Empire State until 1840, in the meantime taking unto
himself a wife and helpmeet. In the spring of that year he moved his family
to Mich., this time locating in Pittsford Twp. They journeyed by canal and
lake to Toledo and thence to Adrian by rail. There they hired a man with an
ox team to take them to Pittsford Twp., arriving there on the 7th of May.
Mr. Case purchased a tract of timber land on section 13 and later bought 80
acres more. In due time he cleared 100 acres where he lived and labored
until the close of the late war. Then he rented out this property and moved
to Hudson Twp. where he took up a fine tract of land on which he erected a
brick house and a frame barn, and where he lived until 1876. He then traded
this property for a farm on section 21, adjoining his present homestead, and
in 1882, purchased the place where he now resides.
The wife of our subject, to whom he was married on 12/20/1837, was Miss
Fanny LOSEE who was born near Elbridge, Onondaga Co., NY, 6/8/1818. Her
father, Joseph Losee, is believed to have been a native of Saratoga Co., NY.
It is known he was reared there and then took up residence in Elbridge,
where he married and lived until 1820. He then removed to Southern Mich.
and, in company with some of his children, bought a tract of timber land on
section 32, Pittsford Twp. He later went to Round Lake, Lenawee Co., and
spent his last days at the home of a daughter in Dover Twp. The mother of
Mrs. Case was born Lucy BENNETT, a native of Balston Spa, Saratoga Co., NY,
the dau. of Miles and Lucina Bennett, natives of Reading, Conn. The parents
spent their last years in Dover, Mich., the mother dying at the home of her
daughter in May 1885.
Mr. and Mrs. Case have two children, Charles B. and Mary. Charles married
Miss Elizabeth WINDLE and lives on the old homestead. They have three
children: Ida, William N. and Lulu May. Mary is the wife of G. L. MINER, of
Roanoke, Huntington Co., Ind. and they have one child, a son, Earl L.