Family History of Elsie Oleaf Dorn

Dorn Journal

Generation Three

4. John³ Dorn ((?), #8) was born circa 1820 at Tipperary, Ireland.⁸⁸^,⁸⁹ He married Bridget Hanley (see #5), daughter of James Hanley and Bridget Cathcart, in 1844 at Ireland.⁹⁰ He died on 1 Dec 1864 at Bronson, Michigan.⁹¹^,⁹² His estate was probated on 10 Jun 1886 at Bronson, Michigan.⁹³

He and Bridget Hanley immigrated to New York on 4 Jul 1844 aboard the vessel Hogarth from County Kilkenney, Ireland, at the time of the Potato Famine with their son James. They went first to New York City, then to Cleveland, Ohio. They bought a farm near Bronson, MI in 1854.⁹⁴^,⁹⁵^,⁹⁶ In 1845 in Ireland John Dorn the Potato Famine. He moved after 1850 to Bronson Twp., Branch Co., Michigan.⁹⁷ He was a farmer in Jun 1860.⁹⁸^,⁹⁹ He made a will on 28 Oct 1863 at Bronson, Michigan,
After all my lawful debts are paid and discharged the residue of my estate real and personal I give bequeath and dispose of as follows (to wit) to my beloved wife Briget Dorn the land and appurtenances situated thereon hereafter described as the East half of the West quarter of Section Number Nine in township Number Seven South of Range Number eight west now possessed by me during the term of her natural life, and after her death to be divided equally among my children whenever the youngest one Martin Dorn shall become of age and not sooner unless the said Martin Dorn shall die before coming of age.
Likewise I make constitute and appoint my brother Michael Dorn and Mikel Carol to be executors of this my last will and testiment herby revoking all former wills by me made.
In Witness Hereof I have hereunto subscribed my name and affixed my Seal the 28th Day of October A.D. 1863

Witness O.L. Cowles SS
his
John X Dorn
mark.

.¹⁰⁰ Research note: Family tradition says that he went to California, but died of the fever in Panama. The probate of his will says he died in Michigan.
Children of John³ Dorn and Bridget Hanley (see #5) were as follows:

i. James² Dorn¹⁰¹ was born on 27 Aug 1844 at County Kilkenney, Ireland.¹⁰²^,¹⁰³ He married Bridget Mackin, daughter of Owen/Orrin/Owin Mackin and Mary McKane, on 24 Sep 1868 at Branch Co., Michigan.¹⁰⁴ He died on 20 Jun 1892 at Kentland, Indiana, at age 47 shot by Jackson Plummer.¹⁰⁵^,¹⁰⁶
He immigrated with John Dorn and Bridget Hanley to New York on 4 Jul 1844.¹⁰⁷^,¹⁰⁸^,¹⁰⁹ In 1845 in Ireland James Dorn the Potato Famine. He immigrated to New York, NY, in 1848.¹¹⁰ The family moved to Bronson Twp., Branch Co., Michigan, after 1850.¹¹¹ He enlisted in the 11th Michigan Infantry, Co. D., Burr Oak, Michigan, on 20 Aug 1862. His unit was at Stone River, Chicamauga, Mission Ridge and in the Atlanta Campaign with Sherman.¹¹²^,¹¹³ He was discharged from military service in Chattanooga, TN, on 16 Jun 1865.¹¹⁴^,¹¹⁵ He was a farmer, a saloon keeper and town marshal. He was killed attempting to disarm Jackson Plummer who was angry at being ordered to trim his trees.¹¹⁶^,¹¹⁷ He was listed in the 1880 Census at Kentland, Indiana, Occupation: Saloon keeper.¹¹⁸ He was mentioned in the probate of the estate of John Dorn on 10 Jun 1886 at Bronson, Michigan.¹¹⁹ He was also known as Doran.¹²⁰

ii. Richard Dorn was born on 12 Feb 1853 at Bronson Twp, Michigan. He died on 26 Jun 1876 at the Battle of the Little Big Horn, Montana, at age 23.¹²¹^,¹²² He is buried at Custer Battlefield National Cemetery, Hardin, Montana.
7th Cavalry Trooper, Reno-Benteen Battlefield, Montana, 1876

He enlisted in the 8th U.S. Cavalry, Chicago, Illinois, on 30 Jan 1873 by saying that he was 21 when in fact he was 19. He had Grey eyes, dark hair, 5'9" tall and enlisted for five years.¹²³ He transferred to Custer's 7th Cavalry and was assigned to Company B which accompanied the pack train to the Little Big Horn. On the day of the famous battle, his company joined the survivors of the Reno and Benteen battalions atop the ridge overlooking the Little Big Horn River. They dug a defensive perimeter and, later that night, were redeployed to the north side of the position. Pvt. Dorn was killed by an Indian sharpshooter while waking his Captain the next morning. He was one of 18 soldiers killed at the Reno-Benteen Battlefield during those two days. The remains of the rifle pits where Dorn was killed can still be seen at the battlefield.¹²⁴

iii. John P. Dorn¹²⁵^,¹²⁶ was born in 1856 at Bronson Twp, Michigan. He married Anna McGuire before 20 Jul 1901 at Bronson, Michigan.¹²⁷
He was listed in the 1860 Census.¹²⁸ He was mentioned in the probate of the estate of John Dorn on 10 Jun 1886 at Bronson, Michigan.¹²⁹ He was present at the death of Bridget Hanley on 9 Apr 1896 in Bronson Twp, Michigan.¹³⁰^,¹³¹^,¹³² He witnessed the burial of Bridget Hanley in St. Mary's Cemetery, Bronson, Michigan.¹³³^,¹³⁴

2 iv. William Dorn.

v. Michael Edward Dorn was born on 24 Apr 1860 at Bronson Twp, Michigan. He married Lizzie McQueen, daughter of Michael McQueen and Mary McQueen, circa 1893 at Bronson Twp, Michigan. He married Margaret (--?--) before 1900.¹³⁵ He died on 3 Jul 1927 at Bronson Twp, Michigan, at age 67.¹³⁶ He was buried in St. Mary's Cemetery, Bronson, Michigan.¹³⁷
He was mentioned in the probate of the estate of John Dorn on 10 Jun 1886 at Bronson, Michigan.¹³⁸ He witnessed the burial of Bridget Hanley in St. Mary's Cemetery, Bronson, Michigan.¹³⁹^,¹⁴⁰ He was a merchant in 1919 at N. Matteson St., Bronson, Michigan.¹⁴¹

vi. Martin Dorn¹⁴²^,¹⁴³^,¹⁴⁴ was born between 1861 and 1863 at Bronson, Michigan.¹⁴⁵

5. Bridget³ Hanley (James, #9)¹⁴⁶^,¹⁴⁷^,¹⁴⁸^,¹⁴⁹ was born on 2 Feb 1822 at Kilkenney, Ireland.¹⁵⁰^,¹⁵¹^,¹⁵² She married John Dorn (see #4), son of (--?--) Dorn, in 1844 at Ireland.¹⁵³ She died on 9 Apr 1896 at Bronson Twp, Michigan, at age 74.¹⁵⁴^,¹⁵⁵^,¹⁵⁶ She was buried in St. Mary's Cemetery, Bronson, Michigan.¹⁵⁷^,¹⁵⁸
She was also known as Bridget Hanly Cathcart.¹⁵⁹ She and John Dorn immigrated to New York on 4 Jul 1844 aboard the vessel Hogarth from County Kilkenney, Ireland, at the time of the Potato Famine with their son James. They went first to New York City, then to Cleveland, Ohio. They bought a farm near Bronson, MI in 1854.¹⁶⁰^,¹⁶¹^,¹⁶² In 1845 in Ireland Bridget Hanley the Potato Famine. The family moved to Bronson Twp., Branch Co., Michigan, after 1850.¹⁶³ After her husband's death, she ran their 80 acre farm on Swan Creek, 2 miles west of Bronson.¹⁶⁴ She was employed at Bronson Twp, Michigan, as a housekeeper between 1870 and 1871.¹⁶⁵ She was mentioned in the local paper when she "received $97 back pay for her son's services that was killed in the Custer massacre." Beginning in 1888, she received $12 a month from the Army for the rest of her life on 22 Nov 1878.¹⁶⁶^,¹⁶⁷ She was listed in the 1880 Census at Bronson Twp, Branch Co., Michigan. She was mentioned in the probate of the estate of John Dorn on 10 Jun 1886 at Bronson, Michigan.¹⁶⁸ Her obituary reads: Death of a Pioneer

Mrs. John Dorn died at the home of her son, John, west of town, April 9, 1896. Bridget Hanley was born in Kilkenny county, Ireland, Feb 2, 1822, and left her native land for America when whe was 24 years of age; she stopped in New York city a short time and then went to Cleveland, Ohio, where whe stayed one year, and then came to Bronson, where, up to the time of her death she resided, about 49 years, and was one of the oldest settlers in Bronson township. John Dorn, her husband, died some 33 years ago, and three sons are left to mourn her loss - William, who lives in N. Dakota, Mike and John of Bronson. the funeral was held Saturday at St. Mary's church, conducted by Ref. Fr. Schaeper, and was largely attended.¹⁶⁹

6. James Alexander³ Peterson (William, #11)¹⁷⁰^,¹⁷¹^,¹⁷²^,¹⁷³^,¹⁷⁴ was born on 6 Sep 1826 at Niagra Falls, Ontario, Canada.¹⁷⁵ He married Oleaf Saxton (see #7), daughter of Col. Alexander Saxton and Elizabeth Saunders, circa 1845 at Ontario, Canada.¹⁷⁶^,¹⁷⁷^,¹⁷⁸ He died on 17 Nov 1885 at Port Huron, Michigan, at age 59 from complications of hernia surgery.¹⁷⁹^,¹⁸⁰ He was buried in Lakeside Cemetery, Port Huron, Michigan.¹⁸¹
He and Oleaf Saxton were listed in the 1851 Census at Niagra Twp., Lincoln Co., Ontario, Canada, Occupation farmer.¹⁸² He was a farmer and inherited land from his father in 1861 at Wainfleet, Ontario.¹⁸³ He was mentioned in the probate of the estate of William R. Peterson on 5 Apr 1861.¹⁸⁴ He and Oleaf Saxton were listed in the 1871 Census at Wainfleet Twp., Welland Co., Ontario, Canada, (Religion: W. Meth., Origin: German, Occupation: Farmer).¹⁸⁵ He and Oleaf Saxton immigrated to Port Huron, Michigan, in 1874 from Canada following stories of opportunity brought back by their son who worked on Lake Erie steamers.¹⁸⁶^,¹⁸⁷ He was a laborer in 1885.¹⁸⁸
Children of James Alexander³ Peterson and Oleaf Saxton (see #7) were as follows:

i. William Campbell² Peterson¹⁸⁹^,¹⁹⁰ was born in 1850 at Ontario, Canada.¹⁹¹ He married Amanda Turrell.¹⁹²
He was listed in the household of James Alexander Peterson in the 1851 Census at Niagra Twp., Lincoln Co., Ontario, Canada.¹⁹³ He was listed in the household of David B. Peterson in the 1861 Census at Stamford Twp., Welland Co., Ontario, Canada.¹⁹⁴ He was listed in the household of James Alexander Peterson in the 1871 Census at Wainfleet Twp., Welland Co., Ontario, Canada.¹⁹⁵

ii. John Burwell Peterson¹⁹⁶^,¹⁹⁷ was born on 31 Mar 1855 at Niagra Falls, Ontario, Canada.¹⁹⁸ He married Hetty Ann Flewelling on 12 May 1882 at Gardendale, Michigan.¹⁹⁹^,²⁰⁰ He died on 26 Oct 1915 at Port Huron, Michigan, at age 60.²⁰¹
He was mentioned in the probate of the estate of William R. Peterson on 5 Apr 1861.²⁰² He was listed in the household of James Alexander Peterson in the 1871 Census at Wainfleet Twp., Welland Co., Ontario, Canada.²⁰³ He immigrated with James Alexander Peterson and Oleaf Saxton to Port Huron, Michigan, in 1874.²⁰⁴^,²⁰⁵

3 iii. Susan Eugenia Peterson.

iv. Katherine Peterson²⁰⁶^,²⁰⁷ was born in 1861 at Ontario, Canada.²⁰⁸ She married George Norton.²⁰⁹ She married Sam Eldridge.²¹⁰
She was listed in the household of James Alexander Peterson in the 1871 Census at Wainfleet Twp., Welland Co., Ontario, Canada.²¹¹ She immigrated with James Alexander Peterson and Oleaf Saxton to Port Huron, Michigan, in 1874.²¹²^,²¹³

v. Roland Peterson²¹⁴^,²¹⁵ was born in Mar 1867 at Ontario, Canada.²¹⁶ He married May Rockwell.²¹⁷ He married Bridget O'Shea in 1900 at Nebagamon, WI.²¹⁸
He was listed in the household of James Alexander Peterson in the 1871 Census at Wainfleet Twp., Welland Co., Ontario, Canada.²¹⁹ He immigrated with James Alexander Peterson and Oleaf Saxton to Port Huron, Michigan, in 1874.²²⁰^,²²¹ He was employed as Laborer, Planing Mill in 1900.²²² He was also known as Roll Peterson.²²³

vi. Charles Peterson²²⁴^,²²⁵^,²²⁶ was born in 1871 at Ontario, Canada.²²⁷

vii. .
James Peterson²²⁸^,²²⁹ had two daughters.²³⁰ He immigrated with James Alexander Peterson and Oleaf Saxton to Port Huron, Michigan, in 1874.²³¹^,²³²

viii. Helen Jane Peterson²³³^,²³⁴^,²³⁵^,²³⁶ was born in 1846 at Ontario, Canada.²³⁷ She died of tuberculosis.²³⁸
Her married name was Hines.²³⁹ She was listed in the household of James Alexander Peterson in the 1851 Census at Niagra Twp., Lincoln Co., Ontario, Canada.²⁴⁰ She immigrated with James Alexander Peterson and Oleaf Saxton to Port Huron, Michigan, in 1874.²⁴¹^,²⁴² Husband was a railroad employee who was robbed and beaten and killed for the payroll.²⁴³

7. Oleaf³ Saxton (Alexander, #13)²⁴⁴^,²⁴⁵^,²⁴⁶^,²⁴⁷^,²⁴⁸^,²⁴⁹^,²⁵⁰ was born on 1 Nov 1826 at Port Burwell, Ontario, Canada.²⁵¹^,²⁵²^,²⁵³^,²⁵⁴ She married James Alexander Peterson (see #6), son of William R. Peterson and Elizabeth Lownsberry, circa 1845 at Ontario, Canada.²⁵⁵^,²⁵⁶^,²⁵⁷ She died in Apr 1903 at Hawthorne, WI, at age 76 at the home of her son Roland.²⁵⁸^,²⁵⁹ She was buried in Hawthorne, WI.²⁶⁰
Her nick name was Leafy. She and James Alexander Peterson were listed in the 1851 Census at Niagra Twp., Lincoln Co., Ontario, Canada, Occupation farmer.²⁶¹ She and James Alexander Peterson were listed in the 1871 Census at Wainfleet Twp., Welland Co., Ontario, Canada, (Religion: W. Meth., Origin: German, Occupation: Farmer).²⁶² She sold the farm inherited from her father to her brother Charles Batot Saxton in 1873.²⁶³ She and James Alexander Peterson immigrated to Port Huron, Michigan, in 1874 from Canada following stories of opportunity brought back by their son who worked on Lake Erie steamers.²⁶⁴^,²⁶⁵

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