If you have visited Veazie.org recently, please REFRESH this page to ensure you have the latest update for this page
Family of Abijah BIRDSEY and Jane CURTIS
Abijah BIRDSEY b. 1819 May 72188 at New York2188. d. 1912 Jan 232188 at St Joseph, MI2188. bd. Riverview Cem., St Joseph, MI840.
Jane CURTIS b. 1821 Oct 30840 at New York4451. d. 1869 Oct 25840 at Royalton, MI4451. bd. Riverview Cem., St Joseph, MI840.
Married3149. The death certificate3149 for Phoebe Ann Vesey lists her parents' names, including her mother's maiden name.
The obituary4453 for Abijah's son Adelbert relates that Adelbert's father, Abijah Birdsey, was one of the early fruit growers of Berrien county. Abijah located on his farm in Royalton when he came to Berrien county, where he purchased eight acres of land on the St. Joseph River. As time passed, he added extensively to the property. His father-in-law, Daniel Curtis, was supposedly the first man to successfully grow peaches in Michigan, and Abijah took up the same pursuit. His early orchards were cleaned out by the "yellows," and he then turned to apples as his crop. He later grew peaches again and was successful. Perhaps indicating Abijah's success, the 1870 census4452 lists his real estate value as $20,000.
Following first wife Jane's death, Abijah married Matilda Whitaker, who was listed4452 as the Birdsey family's housekeeper in 1870.
Jane's death is recorded4451 in the mortality schedule for the 1870 census. Her death is listed as Oct, 1869, of "bilious fever." Her gravestone840 provides her full birth and death dates.
Children of Abijah BIRDSEY and Jane CURTIS:
| 1. | Phoebe Ann BIRDSEY3149 b. 1845 Apr 94447 at Clyde county, NY4456. d. 1936 Feb 83149 at St Joseph, Berrien Co., MI3149. bd. Riverview Cem., St Joseph, MI840. | ||||
| md. Lucius L VESEY |