My GGF's 1904 bio states: "WILLIAM WALLACE GIRTON... was born in Lincolnshire, England, on the 10th of April, 1850, being a son of John and Mary (Hubbard) GIRTON, both of whom were likewise born in England, of staunch old English lineage. The father of the subject there devoted his attention to farming until 1850 when he came with his family to America, locating in Florence, Michigan, where he engaged in farming, and in that state he passed the remainder of his life, his death occurring in 1851, while his wife moved to Wisconsin ". Mary married John LEE either before or after the move. >From my research in Lincolnshire, it also appears that John had a brother, Robert, and sister, Elizabeth (who married John MACHIN), both of whom immigrated to around St. Joseph County. I am looking for anyone who has any information on these two families. I am also looking for anyone who has access to the cemeteries in Florence Township to look for John. Thank you in advance for any help! Heidi Ann Girton Juneau, Alaska

I have information about John MACHIN and his descendants. I just sent a private email with more details to Heidi. Elizabeth GIRTON married William MACHIN May 15, 1838 in Lincolnshire, England. Their *son* John MACHIN was born October 7, 1842 in Lincolnshire, England. This family arrived in St. Joseph County in 1851, along with three younger children. John MACHIN married Mary E. ARNEY in St. Joseph County and farmed in Sherman Township before moving to Russell County, Kansas sometime between 1872 and 1886. Elizabeth (GIRTON) (died March 17, 1895, age 82 years, 2 months, 23 days) and William MACHIN (died February 23, 1871) are buried in Peek Cemetery on Constantine Road in Florence Township. Buried next to them are John GIRTON (died August 27, 1855, age 77 years) and John GIRTON, JR. (died August 22, 1851, age 32 years). I guessed from this that the two Johns are brother and father to Elizabeth, but don't have proof of this yet. I just visited the Three Rivers Library Michigan Room on July 5. The three volumes of "Cemeteries of St. Joseph County, Michigan" so kindly compiled by the St. Joseph County Genealogical Society directed me to Peek Cemetery, where I photographed the tombstones. Beth Grosshandler At 12:07 PM 7/18/01 -0800, Heidi Ann Girton wrote: >My GGF's 1904 bio states: "WILLIAM WALLACE GIRTON... was born in >Lincolnshire, England, on the 10th of April, 1850, being a son of John and >Mary (Hubbard) GIRTON, both of whom were likewise born in England, of >staunch old English lineage. The father of the subject there devoted his >attention to farming until 1850 when he came with his family to America, >locating in Florence, Michigan, where he engaged in farming, and in that >state he passed the remainder of his life, his death occurring in 1851, >while his wife moved to Wisconsin ". Mary married John LEE either before >or after the move. > > >From my research in Lincolnshire, it also appears that John had a > brother, Robert, and sister, Elizabeth (who married John MACHIN), both of > whom immigrated to around St. Joseph County. I am looking for anyone who > has any information on these two families. I am also looking for anyone > who has access to the cemeteries in Florence Township to look for > John. Thank you in advance for any help! > >Heidi Ann Girton >Juneau, Alaska > > >==== MISTJOSE Mailing List ==== >**************************************************** >Visit the St Joseph Co., MI USGenWeb Homepage >http://members.tripod.com/~tfred/mistjo.html >**************************************************** > > >============================== >Create a FREE family website at MyFamily.com! >http://www.myfamily.com/banner.asp?ID=RWLIST2