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I am looking for information on Elnathan D. Close, who I believe was from this area of NY. See below for the info I do know about Elnathan. There is an Elijah Close that is registered to vote in the same Township with Elnathan, also. I'd appreciate any info on who his parents were, and any other family history.
Elnathan's birthplace is unknown, but he gives New York as the state of his birth on the 1870 census (Cannon Twp, Kent Co, MI). He notes that his parents were not foreign born on that same census. He probably grown up in the southeastern area of New York. Several contracts of his survive, including one showing that he bought 160 acres of property in Middletown, Orange County, New York in 1836 at age 25. At some point he married Anna Roberts (abt. 1834), who was living near Shandaken in northern Ulster county. The couple had 4 children in New York.
He served as an uncommissioned officer in the New York state militia from 1837 to 1847, 5th Brigade, 6th Division. His discharge papers survive. Soon after this discharge he moved with his wife to Cannon Township, Kent Co., Michigan in 1847 or 1848. Anna's father may have purchased land along Kies road, the old Sheridan Trail, there in 1845. Elnathan and his wife lived with John and Catherine Roberts. Catherine died on December 1st, 1848 at 72, and Elnathan took over the land after John's death in 1853.
The family appears on the 1850 census with John Roberts still residing with the family.
Elnathan became a farmer. Margaret, their last and only child born in Michigan, was born in 1849. The family is shown on the 1870 census with Elnathan, Anna, 2 sons and Margaret (age 21) living at the house. Elnathan's real estate was work about 3000 dollars, and his personal estate was worth 1000 dollars.
The family seems to have been active in the democratic process. Their voter registration records follow:
CLOSE, E. D. 30 MAR 1861 - Elthanan Close
CLOSE, EDWARD R. 29 APR 1860 REP- Elnathan and Anna's son
CLOSE, ELIJAH 1877 DEM - I have no idea who this is, but he didnt live with the other Closes.
CLOSE, EVEN 4 APR 1860 - Another son of Elnathan and Anna.
CLOSE, SAMUEL A. 4 APR 1860 REP - Lived with Elnathan, but was only 11 years younger. Brother?
If Elnathan was Republican like his sons, he probably voted for Abraham Lincoln, who was elected president in 1860.
The Grand Rapids, Rockford & Greenville Railroad company had set out in the late 1860s to build a railroad running to Greenville. The path of the railroad roughly followed the path of the Sheridan Trail, and ran through the north end of Elnathan's property. The following document reveals that there was a dispute between the railroad company and Elnathan.
The Document Text Follows:
Rockford, Kent County, Michigan August the 12th 1871. In
Consideration of Deed of right of way and the privilage of
commencing work imediately upon the land so conveyed
by Elnathan D. Close and wife to Grand Rapids, Rockford
and Greenville Railroad company hereby agree on
the heart of said Railroad Company that the road fence
shall not be left open as to expose the crops of said
Close to destruction.
Mr. Thornton
Engineer
Apparently, Elnathan was worried that the Railroad Company employees would stay onto his land and somehow destroy his crops. They could be trampled or burned. Clearing a path through the woods for a railroad may have involved burning. He made the company promise to keep on their side of the fence.
The railroad company did clear and grade a path, but the company ran out of money before completion of the project.
It is unknown to me what happened to Elnathan and Anna's other children.
Anna Close died on Mar 2, 1875. Elnathan died in 1891, and they are both buried in the Courtland Cemetery near John and Catherine Roberts.
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