Mortimer Allen Leggett1,2,3,4

M, b. 18 October 1837, d. 18 November 1930
FatherAugustus Wright Leggett b. 11 Jun 1816, d. 12 Jan 1885
MotherEliza Seaman b. 9 May 1815, d. 9 Feb 1900
Mortimer Allen Leggett
     Mortimer Allen was born on Wednesday, 18 October 1837 in Manhattan, New York County, New York, at the family home at 76 Mercer Street. At 8:45 pm. He often went by Mort. Mortimer married Jane Mais Whitehead on 7 April 1858 in Elizabeth Lake, Oakland County, Michigan. They were married on Wednesday at 8:00 by the Rev. Mr. Dooley, Episcopal. Mortimer & Jennie had children: William Haight [3/03/1859-12/12/1954][m. 11/18/1809 Eleanor Knight], Katherine Marie [9/04/1863-10/23/1945], May Elizabeth [6/05/1867-8/26/1952 ] [m. 2/07/1895 Frederick L. Abel], Percival [6/27/1874-7/29/1874] & Jane [6/27/1874-7/29/1874]. 5 June 1870, Mortimer and his wife, Jane, were listed on the U.S. Federal Census in Waterford Township, Oakland County, Michigan. Enumerated in this household were M. A. Leggett [32 New York - farmer - Property value $8,000 & personall $2,000], his wife: Jinnie M. [30 Michigan], their children: William H. [11 Michigan], Catharine M. [7 Michigan] & May [2 Michigan], Their Post Office was Drayton Plains.5 Mortimer's wife, Jane, died on 11 July 1874 in Waterford Township at her home - "The Willows" leaving him a widower.6 7 June 1880, Mortimer was listed on the U.S. Federal Census in Waterford Township. Enumerated in this household were Mortimer A. Leggett [42 New York], children: William H. [21 Michigan], Catherine M. [17 Michigan], & May E. [12 Michigan]. Mortimer & William are farmers.7 9 June 1900, Mortimer was listed on the U.S. Federal Census in Waterford Township. Enumerated in this household were Mortimer A. Leggett [62 New York - October 1837], children: William H. [41 Michigan-March 1859 - violinist], & Catherine May [36 Michigan - September 1863].8 16 April 1910, Mortimer was listed on the U.S. Federal Census in Waterford Township. Enumerated in this household were Mortimer A. Leggett [72 New York, New York & New York - widower], daughter: Catherine M. [47 Michigan, New York & Michigan - single]. He was a farmer on a general farm.9 3 January 1920, Mortimer was listed on the U.S. Federal Census in Waterford Township. Enumerated in this household were M. A. Leggett [82 New York], daughter: Catherine M. [57 Michigan], son: William H. [61 Michigan - divorced], neice: Elrose Randall [6 Michigan], & a hired hand: Frank Riker [57 New York].10 In 1928, Emerson Dill was hired by Mortimer to help him on his farm. Dr. John Bird, his physician, introduced Emerson to Mortimer. He cad come from Cadallic to get employment in Pontiac to help support his mother & younger brother. He was employed shoveling coal for a steam locomotive. He came down with pneumonia and was no longer able to work there. His docror, John Bird, introduced him to Mortimer. He was hired to help run his farm. He was an extremely hard worker & proved to be invaluable to him. In time, Em met & married the loveof his life. The depression hit & times were very hard, some of the farm land had to be sold off for tases. The farm equipment was eventually sold.11 24 April 1930, the U.S. Federal Census lists Mortimer was residing in a rooming house at Waterford Township, Oakland County, Michigan. Enumerated in this household were John T. Bird [58 Michigan], border: Mortimer A. Leggett [92 New York], maid: Catherine M. Leggett [67 Michigan], Emerson Dill [29 Michigan][caretaker], his wife: Ester M. [27 Minnesota]. Mr. Bird is a physician & Mortimer is retired. John Bird was 21 years old when 1st married, Mortimer was 20 years old, Emerson was 27 years & Ester was 26 years. Rhey lived at Walton Blcd & Bird Island.12 Mortimer departed this life on Tuesday, 18 November 1930 in Waterford Township at his home - "The Willows" at age 93 years and 1 month.

Notice in Paper: Mortimer A. Leggett, age 91, of one mile west of Clintonville, Michigan, born New York City 10/18/1837, son of Augustus W. & Eliza Seaman Leggett, who came to Michigan 1851, settled first year in Pontiac, Michigan, married 1858 Jane Whitehead of Elizabeth Lake, daughter of pioneer parents who came here from New York City. Had four children: Percival deceased, William H., Catherine M., May E. Leggett. [Pontiac Daily Press - 7 June 1929]

He was buried at Waterford Township, Oakland County, Michigan, in the Drayton Plains Cemetery. Cemetery records note: 1837-11/18/1930 age 93 years old. He was buried in lot BO-82.

Family

Jane Mais Whitehead b. 8 Aug 1839, d. 11 Jul 1874

Citations

  1. [S91] Michigan Daughters of the American Revolution, Old Bible and Other Genealogical Records, Volume 5: page 103.
  2. [S325] Mortimer Allen Leggett, Mortimer Leggett's Life Stories.
  3. [S726] Portrait and Biographical Album of Oakland County Michigan, pages 840-841 - Mortimer Leggett owned 140 acres; farmer; republician; treasure of his school district; census enumerator; speaks in length of his heritage; m. 1858 Jennie M. Whitehead; purchased farm in 1859 - going in debt for the whole thing; held in high esteem.
  4. [S1275] Find a grave: Mortimer married Jane Mais Whitehead on 7 April 1858 at Elizabeth Lake, Oakland County, Michigan. They were married on Wednesday at 8:00 by the Rev. Mr. Dooley, Episcopal.

    Excerpts from an article that appeared in the Pontiac Daily Press, 7 June 1929:

    "Mortimer A. Leggett, an Oakland County nonogenarian, living on the same farm, one mile west of Clintonville, that he bought and cleared 70 years ago, and in the same house he erected then, looks out upon a material progress in this vicinity few men have lived to witness.

    This hardy pioneer was born New York City, October 18, 1837. His father was an editor of a New York paper, and the young man worked in the print shop when a lad. Failing health led the elder Leggett to migrate to the pine lands of Michigan in 1851, and with him came the son, then 14 years of age." ...

    "Mr. Leggett was Pontiac's pioneer fiddler. For years the strains of his sweet fiddle were heard at dances and public gatherings, and the announcement of 'Music by Leggett' was sure to bring a crowd. From that fiddling father came the first rudiments of music which blossomed forth in the violin accomplishments of a son, William H. Leggett, Pontiac's well-know violinist."

    The following is an excerpt from "Historical Collections," Michigan Pioneer and Historical Society, Vol 35, Lansing, 1907, pgs. 688-691:

    Reminiscences of Mortimer A. Leggett

    "In 1852 my father and his family left the city of New York for the, then, far west, as Michigan was called. We sailed up the Hudson river to Albany, which took about twice as long a time as it does now. From Albany we went to Buffalo on the New York Central railroad, then a single track, now it has five. From Buffalo we took a steamboat for Detroit, as there were no railroads out from Buffalo.

    Detroit at that time was a small place compared to what it is today. Where the Union depot stands on Fort street was pretty well out of town, and up Jefferson avenue you soon struck farms after you passed Brush street. Grand Circus Park was the end of the city on Woodward avenue, and both Woodward and Jefferson avenues had plank roads running through the center of each street.

    Pontiac was our destination, and there it was we boarded the much-talked-of railroad that ran on the strap-rail. The train consisted of an engine no larger than one of our threshing engines, with no tender to carry wood and water; this was hitched onto two cars, a baggage and passenger coach; both of these cars would not be as large as a modern car. ...

    At last we arrived at Pontiac, the train running into the building, one side of it for passengers, the other for freight. Here was the greatest confusion; criers for the hotels and criers for the stages. Outside were stages for Flint, Saginaw, Lapeer, Rochester, Corunna and Milford. What a funny sight it would be now to see all those stages with their four horses starting out from the Hodges House; that was the place of starting." ...

    And from "PORTRAITS AND BIOGRAPHIES OF THE GOVERNORS OF MICHIGAN AND OF THE PRESIDENTS ...," pg 840:
    "In politics he affiliates with the Republican party and served as a delegate to the Republican Convention at Detroit, where delegates were selected for the convention in Chicago at the time Gen. Grant was last nominated for the Presidency. For thirty consecutive years Mr. Leggett has been Treasurer of his school district, and has served as Supervisor and Census Enumerator." [Courtesy of Ray Henry]
  5. [S676] 1870 United States Federal Census: Oakland County, Michigan - page 22 - transcribed by Larry & Kathy McCurdy.
  6. [S392] , Oakland County: Leger page 11, record no. 91 - Jennie M. Leggett - died: July 11, 1874; cause: dropsy of the lungs at age 35 years; parents: Almeron & Annie Whitehead; buried: Oakhill Cemetery, Pontiac, Michigan. [1839-1874][plot 1-169]
  7. [S677] 1880 United States Federal Census: Waterford Township, Oakland County, Michigan - Enumeration District 273, sheet 11, line 39 - transcribed by Larry & Kathy McCurdy.
  8. [S679] 1900 United States Federal Census: Oakland County, Michigan - Enumeration District 109, sheet 4, line 85 - transcribed by Larry & Kathy McCurdy.
  9. [S680] 1910 United States Federal Census: Waterford Township, Oakland County, Michigan - Enumeration District 154, sheet 1b, line 67 - transcribed by Larry & Kathy McCurdy.
  10. [S681] 1920 United States Federal Census: Oakland County, Michigan - Enumeration District 206, sheet 1b, line 59 - transcribed by Larry & Kathy McCurdy.
  11. [S506] Note: [e-mail dated 30 November 2010 from Barbara Dill].
  12. [S682] 1930 United States Federal Census: Oakland County, Michigan - Enumeration District 63-132, sheet 24a, line 10 - transcribed by Larry & Kathy McCurdy.