THE TWO JOHN DAINES OF OAKLAND COUNTY MI
There were two John DAINES/DANES who lived in Oakland County, Michigan at the same time and they were both born in New York. Probably both from the Finger Lakes area.
John Augustus DAINS(5) was born in Jerusalem town, Ontario County, in 1817, the son
of Stephen Dains (Jonathan4,Henry3, Ephraim2, Abraham1) and his 2nd wife, Rachel Fitzwater. Stephen, John A. and the rest of the family, removed from NY to Holly Township, Oakland County, Michigan, in 1836, where they engaged in “FARMING.” The 1850 Census shows John A. Dains, aged 30, in Holly Township, as a Farmer, married to Eliza, with son Arthur A. aged 10/12yrs and father, Stephen, aged 74, living in his home. In the 1860 Census, John A. is listed as 44 yrs, wife Eliza, sons Arthur 10 yrs; Marion 8 and Baron 3; & daughter Rachel 6. In the 1870 Census, John A. DANES, 52 yrs, is still a Farmer with wife Eliza, son Marion 18; Rachel 16; Barton 12, Orvilla 10, Freddy 3. I do not have the record of John A.’s death because he is not my ancestor, but presume it was in Holly Township. Below is the family of JOHN A. and ELIZA DAINS of Holly, MI.
JOHN AUGUSTUS DAINS b. 1817, Jerusalem Ontario/Yates Co., NY
Eliza (GOULD ?) b. abt 1826, NY
Arthur (Augustus) b. 1849, MI
Marion b. 1852, MI
Rachel b. 1854, MI
Burton b. 18 57,MI
Orvilla b. 1860, MI
Freddy b. 1867. MI
The other John DAINES was born 16 October 1820, also in New York State. According to family tradition, in the Penn Yan area of Ontario (now Yates) County. A statement written by John and submitted to the Masonic Lodge of Birmingham, Michigan, for membership, indicates that he was born in 1820 and his Oakland County death record indicates this, also. However, so far no one has been able to prove who his parents were.
Land Records of Oakland County show that John DAINES, purchased land in Bloomfield Township, Oakland County, Michigan, in 1842. According to the local Birmingham newspaper,”-brick and pottery works were commenced –and those were purchased in 1842 by John Daines, who commenced also the manufacture of drain-tile with a machine of which he was the inventor. In this business and at this place he continued for twenty three years.”
On 21 Oct, 1844, John DAINES married Alice Ann WATKINS in Penn Yan, Yates Co, NY, according to a Penn Yan Newspaper and the DAINES family Bible. In 1846 he served as Assistant Marshall of Birmingham in the 4th of July Festivities.
In the 1850 Census, he is listed as John Dennis, 30 yrs, POTTER, in Bloomfield Township, Oakland County, MI; wife Alice 25, b. NY; Florence 5; b.MI; Rose 2, b.MI; Hellen Watkins 15 yrs (Alice’s sister), Geo. Crandall Farmer.
In 1860 Census, he is listed as John DAINS, 46 yrs, TILEMAKER; Allice, 36; Florence 16, Rosetta 17, George E. 9; Mary A..4, Addie 4/12yrs.
In the 1870 Census, he is listed as John DAINS, but indexed as DAVIS, aged 52, KEEPING HOTEL; Alice A.. 45; Rosa 19; Edward 12; Mary A.12; Addie 10.
The Obituary of John DAINES appeared in the PONTIAC WEEKLY GAZETTE. It states that he was,”of the Village of Birmingham-----retirement from the business of Pottery and Tile manufacture which he had established at Bloomfield Center” Below is the family of JOHN AND ALICE ANN DAINES of Birmingham, MI:
John DAINES b.1820, NY
Alice Ann b.1823, NY
Florence A, b. 1845, MI
Rosetta A. b. 1848, MI
George Edward b.1850, MI
Mary Alice b.1856, MI
Addie Lillian b. 1860, MI
Research of “Primary Sources” show these are two different families.
From Fran McEvoy