Third Generation

Family of Alexander (Alex) ADAMS (2) & Mary STANTON

3. Daniel Webster ADAMS. Born on 27 Dec 1876 in Woodville, Ontario Canada. Immigrated abt 1893 to Verona, Michigan. Daniel Webster died in Aug 1954 in Southgate, Michigan. Buried in Verona Cemetary, Michigan. Occupation: Carpenter, Millwright And Farmer.

Research: Huron County, Michigan is located in the northern tip of the Michigan "Thumb" and is bordered by Tuscola and Sanilac Counties to the south and Lake Huron to the north and east.

Daniel Webster was born and raised in the town of Woodville in Victoria County Ontario. He worked in a grocery store in Woodville when he was very young (maybe 7 or 8). In addition to his family in Woodville he had other relatives in the area and would visit his grandmother in Burnt River (Somerville township) via the train. He told stories about visiting her and eating that delicious Scot meal -- hagis. He would also take the train to Orillia.

Daniel Webster left Canada after his Mother's death and Father's re-marriage when he was 16 or 17 (about 1892). He moved to Verona/Sigel Township Michigan in Huron County and lived on the Whitelem farm with his sister Anna. This farm passed from the Whitelem's and eventually to Bill Stanton. It was this same farm that Daniel Webster would buy and farm in 1929. He lived on this farm till his marriage in 1901.

In Sigel, Daniel Webster became a carpenter apprentice under Watson Robinson and worked in the area until 1910. Watson Robinson lived in Harbor Beach and would eventually sell Daniel Webster half of his plot at the Verona Cemetary and it is in this plot that Daniel Webster and his wife Caroline are buried. (from the Album of Huron County Michgan by Chapman Brother published in 1884 is the biography of Watson Robinson's father: "Robinson, Watson: farmer, section 18, Sigel Township was born January 27, 1813, in Yorkshire, England. His parents, Thomas and Mary (Willin) Robinson were natives of England, and emigrated in 1819 to Canada, settling in the county of Peterboro. Watson was 6 years old when his parents came to Canada, and he remained on the fair until he reached adulthood. His father gave him 100 acres of unimproved land, and he occupied it until 1849, when he bought a farm in Oxford County, Ontario, Canada, on which he lived 12 years. He came to Michigan in the winter of 1861 and became the proprieter of 80 acres of land in Sigel Township under the Homestead Law. He eventually owned 370 acres of land in Sigel and Verona and had improved 40 acres when the fire of 1881 caused considerable damage. He awoke to find himself without a hat, shoes for his feet, and practically destitute of clothing, however by the fall of 1882, he recovered, and retrieved all his loses. He married in November, 1833, in Peterboro County, Ontario, to Elizabeth Livick, daughter of John and Mary Livick. They bore ten children to their marriage: Mary, Thomas, John, Jane, Margaret, Willin, James, Elizabeth, Jane(2nd) and James(2nd). Jane(1st), Willin, James(1st), and Elizabeth all died within one month of each other of malignant sore throat. Robinson married a second time in the winter of 1866, to Charlotte Harper, in Sigel Township. They had four children to their union: Watson Jr. George W., Josephine, and Maria. Josephine died in infancy. Charlotte was born September 13, 1844 in Oxford County, Ontario, Canada, the daughter of Robert and Ann (Tribe) Harper, who were natives of Norfolkshire, England. Robinson was Independent of political belief and nominated for the Legislature of Huron County in August 1878, but he withdrew his name. He served three times as Supervisor, three times as Township Treasurer, and twice elected Justice of the Peace." )

In 1910 Daniel Webster moved to Highland Park, Michigan and spent the first years as a carpenter in the Detroit area building many homes. Later on he found work as a millwright at the Ford Motor assembly line in Highland Park. He worked at Ford's up to 1929 when Ford Motor company decided to close the plant and move the workers to the Rouge Plant. Unable to find transportation to the Rouge Plant in Dearborn from his home in Highland Park, Daniel Webster decided to move back to Verona and take up farming.

"Old Bill" Stanton owned the Sigel township, Michigan farm that Daniel Webster bought in Oct 1929. Neighbors at the time included Bill Stanton to the north, Fred Zuendel to the north of the Stanton's, Dan Stanton to the east, and the William(s) family to the north of Dan Stanton's farm. The William(s) family was comprised of Winnie, his wife Bertha, a daugher Jean and a second younger daugher. Jean was about 8-10 at this time. Also living with the William(s) family was Aunt Sarah. She didn't get along with the Stanton's (either Bill or Dan). Across the street, in Verona Mills township were the Younglove farm and to the north of them was Godfrey Zuendel's farm. Daniel lived on and worked the farm for four years before losing it back to "Old Bill".

In 1932 he moved back to Highland Park and found work as a millwright again, this time for Wolverine Tube. His father died in 1939 and he did not attend the funeral. Instead he paid for the bus tickets for his son Robert to travel to Toronto and Woodville.

He stayed on with Wolverine Tube until his wife's death in 1942 when he again moved back to Verona. This time in Verona he built a house on property owned by his Uncle Fred Zuendel and worked in the area as a carpenter. He only stayed there for two or three years before he tired of the loneliness and moved back to the Detoit area (about 1946).

Wolverine Tube offered him his old job back as a millwright (he was 70 years old now) and he accepted it. He remarried but the second marriage didn't work out and he was divorced within the year. After the divorce he lived with his daughter Dora for a while then moved in with Robert late in 1950. He retired from Wolverine Tube in 1953 at the age of 77 and died in 1954.

On 17 Jul 1901 when Daniel Webster was 24, he married Caroline Regina ZUENDEL, daughter of Frederick ZUENDEL (1842-1906) & Catherine BIETLER (1849-1907), in Bad Axe, Michigan. Born in 1879 in Germany. Caroline Regina died in 1942 in Highland Park Michigan. Buried in Verona Cemetary, Michigan.

They had the following children:
i. Anna (Died as Infant). Born bef 1905.

ii. Kathy (Died as Infant). Born bef 1905.

4 iii. James (Everett) (1905-1960)
5 iv. Dora (1909-1995)
v. Frederick (Fred) (Died as Child). Born abt 1917. Frederick (Fred) died abt 1919 in Detroit, Michigan.

6 vi. (Private)

Family History: Date of license: July 13, 1901
Groom: Daniel W. ADAMS, age 24, white, residence Verona, birthplace Canada,
carpenter, father Alex, mother Mary Stanton, previously married no
Bride: Caroline R. ZUENDELL, age 22, white, residence Verona, birthplace
Germany, occupation ---, father Fred, mother unknown, previously married no
Date and place of marriage: July 17, 1901 in Bad Axe
Official: W.H. Fulton, minister
Witnesses: Ida M. Dundas of Verona Mills and Lizzie J. Fulton of Bad Axe


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