Notes for Francis THURTELL

Thurtell and Related Families Thurtell and Related Families

Notes for Francis THURTELL

The History of the Thurtell Family done by Susan Persia Thurtell about 1968 shows that Francis Thurtell came to America in 1834 and settled in Guelph, Ontario, Canada. He was a miller in Ontario, a farmer near Traverse City, Michigan, and a realtor in Traverse City. It was actually probably the spring of 1835 before Francis Thurtell, his siblings, and his father emigrated from England to Canada. His mother, Anne Barber Thurtell, and his paternal grandmother, Anne Browne Thurtell, had both died in September 1834. A tree done by his sister, Harriett Thurtell, shows they emigrated to Canada in 1835. Land records show his father purchased his farm in December 1835. George William Thurtell has a diary showing the Thurtell family was in Guelph as early as August 1835.

Information received from Charlotte Angst Mackie in 1997 shows that during the years 1857-1858 Francis Thurtell operated a lath, picket, and planing machine in Rockwood, near Guelph, Ontario. Following that Francis Thurtell and William Farrish ran a mill in Rockwood, where they made flour and oatmeal. This firm dissolved partnership, with Francis Thurtell and his wife selling to William Farrish in August 1863. Their son Henry was born in Rockwood in 1865.

The "Directory of the Province of Ontario 1857" by Thomas B. Wilson and Emily S. Wilson (Hunterdon House, Lambertville, NJ, 1987) shows that the 1857 Canada Directory by John Lovell listed Francis Thurtell of Rockwood, Wellington County, Ontario, Canada, as in the "lath, picket and planing machines" business.

Family Tree Maker's Family Archive CD 255 (copyright 1996 by Broderbund Software, Inc.) shows that U.S. Department of Interior, Bureau of Land Management records filed at the Traverse City, Michigan, Land Office show Francis Thurtell purchased 25.35 acres in Michigan on July 1, 1869, in Section 28, Township 28 North, Range 13 West, of the Michigan Principal Meridian (Volume 2420, Page 189, Document 3616, Aliquot Part Reference 4). He obtained an additional 160.00 acres on February 10, 1873, as a Homestead Entry located in Section 28, Township 28 North, Range 13 West. of the Michigan Principal Meridian (Volume 2480, Page 403, Document 900, Aliquot Part Reference SE, Miscellaneous Document Number 1554).

The book "Old Settlers of the Grand Traverse Region," by S. E. Wait, which was orginally published in Traverse City, Michigan, in 1918, lists Mr. and Mrs. Francis Thurtell as members of the Old Settlers Association and shows they moved to the Grand Traverse Region in 1866.

The homestead records on file at the National Archives in Washington, DC, include the homestead claims file for Francis Thurtell finalized February 10, 1873, certificate number 900, application number 1554. This file is also indexed with a copy of the land patent in the Bureau of Land Management, Eastern States, internet site at http://www.glorecords.blm.gov. An affidavit in the file shows that Francis Thurtell was the head of a family with a wife and seven children and a U.S. citizen as of May 7, 1872. He was residing at the south east 1/4, Section 28, Township 28N, Range 13, where he had begun living on December 20, 1865. He had built a log house with a story and a half, a board floor, shingle roof, three doors, and five windows. He had cultivated about 35 acres of this land, with one acre more chopped, built a log barn, and also had sixty fruit trees. Thomas and William Armstrong signed an affidavit with this information for his homestead file on May 7, 1872. Francis Thurtell then obtained 160 acres in the south east 1/4 of Section 28, Township 28N, Range 13W, in Leelanau County, Michigan, under the Homestead Act. An affidavit is also in this file signed by Francis Thurtell at the Land Office in Traverse City, Michigan, dated December 19, 1865, showing that he had filed his application 1554 for homestead property and that he had declared his intention to become a citizen of the United States on that form.

The records for his original land purchase of 25.35 acres, Lot Number 4, in Section 28, Township 28N, Range 13W, in Leelanau County, Michigan (document number 3616), show that he paid $1.25 per acre, or a total of $31.69, with the payment made in Traverse City, Michigan, on August 24, 1867. The land patent was finalized for this purchase on July 1, 1869, according to the Bureau of Land Management Records, which are available on the internet at http://www.glorecords.blm.gov.

A visit to the area of the Thurtell farm in May 1999 showed there was an old barn still standing on the interior of the parcel, complete with two antique-style lightening rods. A tiny house, possibly a mobile home, quite hidden from the road, was also there, surrounded by what appear to be future Christmas trees. There was a lake on the property called Thurtell Lake on an old map, Turtle Lake on another map which was a county soil survey, and Polack Lake on more recent maps. Both the Thurtell and Hall lands were still largely under cultivation in 1999.

Oviatt was the nearest settlement to the Thurtell and Hall farms. Armstrong School (School Number 5), built in 1874, was about one-fourth mile west of the Thurtell farm.

The 1870 U.S. Census for Kasson Township, Leelanau County, Michigan, pages 7 and 8, lists Francis and Amelia Thurtell and their family. The Post Office on the census page shows Traverse City, Michigan, which apparently served areas in both Leelanau County and Grand Traverse County at that time. Francis Thurtell is shown as a white male, age 39, who was a farmer with real estate valued at $2000 and personal estate valued at $525. It shows he was born in England and that both his parents were of foreign birth. It confirms, as does her birth certificate, that their oldest daughter, Louisa, was born in Massachusetts. It shows his wife and children Edward, Alfred, Walter, Herbert, and Henry were born in Canada, but their daughter Ellen, age 2, was born in Michigan.

The 1880 U.S. Census for Kasson Township, Leelanau County, Michigan, ED 159, SD 2, page 10, enumerated June 8-9, 1880, shows Francis Thurtell as a farmer, age 49, born in England, with both of his parents born in England. His wife, Amelia, and children Walter, Herbert, and Harry, are shown as living with him. Joshua Hall and his family are shown on the same census page as the Thurtell family in both the 1870 and 1880 census records. Joshua Hall's adopted daughter, Mary Agnes Hall, married Walter Thurtell.

A notice in the "Grand Traverse Herald" in May 1889 showed that "Francis Thurtell moves this week to Glen Arbor, to take charge of the Kelderhouse mills, for the summer."

The "Grand Traverse Herald" in December 1889 had an advertisement that read "Farmers of Leelanaw and Benzie - I am prepared at all times (Sundays excepted) to grind wheat, buckwheat, rye, corn and feed. Good sheds for teams. Give me a call. Good wheat flour, good rye flour, buckwheat flour, graham flour, corn meal, ground feed, etc., constantly on hand. F. THURTELL, Practical Miller. Glen Arbor Mills, Glen Arbor, Nov. 12, 1889."

An article in the "Grand Traverse Herald" of March 29, 2000, "Herald news . . . 100 years ago" by Emma Jane Muir, includes the notice, "A prohibition conference was held in the offices of Francis Thurtell Tuesday evening for carrying out of active plans for the Prohibition party in the county. The officers are P. I. Whitman, E. H. Pierce and Francis Thurtell. E. V. Davis was appointed delegate to the conference and convention to be held in Grand Rapids."

The 1894 Leelanau County, Michigan, census showed no Thurtell or Hall families living in Kasson then. They probably had already moved but still owned the land, since the 1900 Leelanau County plat map shows the Thurtell and Hall lands in Kasson Township.

The "Grand Traverse Herald" of June 28, 2000 (found on the internet in August 2000 at http://www.record-eagle.com/herald/2000/28histor.htm) shows that in articles from the newspaper 100 years earlier that "A family reunion is being held at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Francis Thurtell. The children are pretty well scattered and the event will be a happy one."

Francis Thurtell was a realtor and farmer near Traverse City and died in Traverse City on December 6, 1915. The 1901 Traverse City directory lists his residence as 304 W 9th and his business as Thurtell & Hammond, Grand Traverse Land and Loan Co., 6 H & M Block, Traverse City, Michigan. The business listing shows the proprietors as F. Thurtell and C. A. Hammond, and showed the business dealt with "Fruit Farms, Timber Lands, Bay Fronts, Investments, Summer Cottages, Farms, Resort Sites, Merchandise, City Property, Real Estate Loans, and Mortgages Bought and Sold."

He is listed as Francis Thurtell, age 69 and born in England in November 1830, with both of his parents born in England in the 1900 U.S. Census for Traverse City, Grand Traverse County, Michigan (Volume 23, SD 11, ED 41, Sheet 10, Line 26). His occupation is shown as real estate agent with no months unemployed; and the census shows that he owned the house at 304 West Ninth Street, Traverse City, Michigan, but had a mortgage. His wife of 47 years, Amelia Thurtell, who was born in Canada in November 1828 and was 71 years old, and their son Edward B. Thurtell, who was 45 years old and born in March 1855 in Canada, were living with him. The census shows he, his wife, and their son, Edward B. Thurtell, all immigrated to the United States in 1866, 34 years earlier, and that both he and Edward were naturalized U.S. citizens.

The Traverse City, Michigan, Evening Record for April 13 and April 14, 1903, has articles about the golden wedding anniversary of Mr. and Mrs. Francis Thurtell on April 13, held at their home on the corner of Ninth and Pine Streets, Traverse City, Michigan. Despite the inclement weather, all of their children, most of their grandchildren, and nearly 30 other guests attended. Their children attending the celebration were Edward B. and Alfred Thurtell of Chicago, Walter Thurtell of Traverse City, Dr. Herbert Thurtell of Manitowoc, Wisconsin, Henry Thurtell of Reno, Nevada, and Mrs. Wilbur D. Cook, accompanied by her husband, Dr. Wilbur D. Cook of Beloit, Wisconsin. The grandchildren were Earl Thurtell of Chicago, son of Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Thurtell; Ben, Eva, and Helen Thurtell of Traverse City, children of Mr. and Mrs. Walter Thurtell; Helen, Howard, and Irene Thurtell of Manitowoc, children of Dr. and Mrs. Herbert Thurtell; and Charles Snow Thurtell of Reno, Nevada, son of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Thurtell. Miss Harriet Thurtell of Canada, sister of Francis Thurtell, also attended the celebration.

The 1905 Traverse City directory showed his residence as 510 W 9th, and his position as Manager, Grand Traverse Land and Loan Co., with the same business address and type of businesses as the 1901 listing. The 1911 Traverse City directory shows Francis Thurtell as the Manager of the Grand Traverse Land and Loan Co, 6 Hamilton-Milliken Blk, and residence 510 W 9th, Tel Citz 254.

Although they were not listed in the 1910 U.S. Census index for Michigan, Francis and Amelia Thurtell are listed in the census record for Traverse City, Grand Traverse County, Michigan (ED 56, Part of Ward 3, Sheet 2A). The census record shows them living at 510 West Ninth Street, Traverse City, Michigan. It shows Francis Thurtell as age 79, married 57 years, born in England as were both his parents. It shows he and his wife immigrated to the United States in 1875 and that he was a naturalized citizen of the United States. It shows he was a dealer in real estate and worked on his own account and that he owned his home with no mortgage.

His death certificate, record number 410, from the Grand Traverse County Clerk, Traverse City, Michigan, shows Francis Thurtell died of chronic cystitis in Traverse City on December 6, 1915, at age 85 years and 17 days. It shows his occupation as real estate dealer, his place of birth as England, and that he was married. It lists his parents as Benjamin Thurtell and Sarah Ann Barber, both born in England. The record is dated January 6, 1916. (His correct parents were Benjamin Thurtell and Anne Barber Thurtell. Sarah Ann Davie Thurtell was his stepmother.)

No obituary could be located for Francis Thurtell in 1999 because all the known copies of the Traverse City Record Eagle from May 1915 through December 1916 were destroyed in a fire.

He is buried at Oakwood Cemetery, 1225 East Eighth Street, Traverse City, Michigan 49686, telephone 616-922-4907, in Block 5, Lot 2, Second Edition. Oakwood Cemetery records confirm he died December 6, 1915, at age 85 in Traverse City, Michigan.

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