Occupations and Ancestors

Have you ever thought about the occupations of your ancestors? How did they make their living? Were they educated? Were they craftsmen? Farmers?  What about the women? Were they educated or were any jobs listed for them in the censuses? If they were listed as "housewife" or "homemaker" - what else did they do? Of course, nowadays, if nothing else, we would probably list them as "co-farmers."

We had a meeting of the study group yesterday. One of the ladies, Jean, had suggested that everyone put together a pedigree of occupations. It was very interesting and informative. The different careers and talents accumulated was amazing. Craftsmen tended to be in the more ethnic groups, especially if they were recently new to the country. Sometimes, though, they couldn't find work in their field, so they might have to find another craft, or farming if that was a possibility, to switch to - at least initially. Some of us (me!!) mostly come from a long line of farmers, albeit different kinds. For instance, my maternal grandfather was a dairy farmer. My paternal grandfather worked for the state of Michigan as a farmer (at the local state mental institution) and as a garden farmer transporting his produce to local grocery stores. My great-great-grandfather McDougall was a farmer in the Superior Township area of Ypsilanti, Michigan. They grew fruits and vegetables for their large family (11 children). As they ate the fruits and vegetables, they had to save the seeds (no spitting those seeds from the watermelon too far) and they then were sent to seed companies. They got paid for this.

I come from a long line of farmers of one type or another. And I can't grow anything or keep a plant alive to save my soul! The women were called homemakers or had nothing listed in the "occupation" column.  In my family, two women in particular stick out as being more educated that your average woman of the time. My great-grandmother, Mary Ella Hazelton Childs, went to Olivet College from 1874-78, but didn't graduate. (See the wonderful new picture I posted next to this post. Mary Ella is second from right and her sister, Frances (Frankie) is on the right.)  Mary Ella was in both a Ladies Preparatory Course and the Michigan Conservatory of Music (For singing, not sure if this included piano or another instrument). She married her husband, Carlos W. Childs, about the time she - and he - should have graduated. He was also enrolled in Olivet and I assume that is where they met. Carlos ran the family farm in Augusta Township and worked as a traveling glove salesman. His father was a farmer and served in the Michigan legislature for many years. Back then, I will bet most of our representatives were land owners, as opposed to lawyers today. 

Their daughter, and my grandmother, Edna Ella Childs Beckington, went to Normal College (now Eastern Michigan University) in Ypsilanti. She did earn a two-year teaching certificate. She also studied music there and at the Chicago Music Conservatory, under a man named Frederick Bruegger.  She never taught or worked before she was married at the age of 27. At that time, once a woman married, she couldn't teach because she WAS married. Edna was a contralto and was in demand for church and community events in Ypsilanti for many years, before and after her marriage. My grandfather Garth Beckington, did not go to school after high school.

Going back in time what other occupations do I see in the family? Farmers! George McDougall and the Andrew Muir family (farmers!) came from Scotland together in about 1828. George and Mary Muir married shortly after arriving in New York and before continuing on to Michigan. That first McDougall - George - "Came to America in 1828 and that fall to Michigan and Ypsilanti. Helped raise a mill-frame for Woodruff & Hardy-19 men came from all over the County for the raising. This was the first frame Mill in Ypsilanti and had two runs of stone grinders. He ran the Mill for 25 years when it was owned by Norris & McIntire. In 1853 he bought 80 acres in Section 36 of Superior Township on what is now Ford Road." (This quote from George McDougall's obituary in 1881).

The Court family (married to a McDougall) I have written about in earlier blogs, were Coopers - barrel makers, in New York and early on in Michigan. Mary Ella's father, Brooks Bowman Hazelton, was a logger and eventually so-owned the Ypsilanti Lumber Company, before his death in 1899. As far as I know, most everyone else going back to New York, and earlier in New England - all farmers.

The other part is the music. I really can't say who enjoyed music before Mary Ella and Edna, but music was and is important in my family to this day. My mother, Margaret, played the piano, at least enough to read music and pick out a few songs. My father, Ken, was a trumpet player and when he was young had a dream (short-lived) of being a professional. My dad used to tell us of the evenings in his family growing up and the music they played. Everyone (he was one of five children) played some kind of instrument or sang and they enjoyed many evenings this way. Both of my parents played in a community band for years after they were married and when we were kids. My father playing his trumpet and my mother a tuba. My sisters and I all took piano lessons, I played the clarinet for awhile in high school. Pat is a singer and travels with a gospel group throughout the United States. She played the trumpet/french horn, and drums when needed, in high school.  Pat's daughter, Lizabeth, has been a vocalist with her own and various other bands since high school and college. Pat's grandson, Matthew, sings, plays guitar and composes his own music. When he was in college, he won the "Western Michigan American Idol" contest his freshman year.  He occasionally posts his videos on Facebook for all to enjoy. His website:  https://soundcloud.com/matthew-lehtonen.

My children took piano lessons. My daughter, Taylor, played the saxophone in the marching band in high school and my son, Ian, the tuba. He also traveled with a drum and bugle corps one summer and marched in two college marching bands. Taylor continued her music with the bassoon in orchestra and eventually got her degree in bassoon performance at The University of Colorado in Boulder. She also played in a jazz band (keyboard) and played back-up piano for various groups or individuals in talent shows during high school. 

Think about putting your own occupation pedigree together and see what new and interesting things you learn.