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A Tale of Four Families: The Black History of Early Birmingham Part I: Sources
[1] Getschman, George, email communication, March 6, 2020; Birmingham Eccentric, “Death of George B. Taylor,” November 8, 1901, 1; https://archive.btpl.org/Bloomfield-Birmingham%20Eccentric%20Newspaper/1901/11.%20November%201901/Nov%201901/Nov%208%2C%201901%201.pdf. Accessed 6/20/2020. Birmingham Eccentric, “Death of Mrs. Eliza Taylor,” April 25, 1902, 1. https://archive.btpl.org/Bloomfield-Birmingham%20Eccentric%20Newspaper/1902/4.%20April%201902/Apr%2025%2C%201902%201.pdf. Accessed 6/20/2020.
[2] Birmingham Eccentric, “Death of George B. Taylor.”
[3] McKee, Jenn. “How Farmington played a role in the Underground Railroad.” Metromode/Second Wave Media, March 17, 2020, https://www.secondwavemedia.com/metromode/features/farmington-iunderground-railroad.aspx. Accessed 2/10/2021;1840 United States Federal Census, Slave Schedule, Hancock County, KY. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, Roll 113, Page 8. Family History Library Film: 0007827, https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/1260752:8057?tid=&pid=&queryId=3ee39349f57f8f8d72d5975e17afd98e&_phsrc=lYG3950&_phstart=successSource.
[4] 1860 United States Federal Census, Southfield, Oakland, Michigan. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 884 [Ancestry.com, Family History Library Film 803556] https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/7667/images/4232709_00884?pId=45228749; 1870 United States Federal Census, Southfield, Oakland, Michigan. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, Roll M593_695, 532B, [Ancestry.com, Family History Library Film 55219] https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/7163/images/4271448_00333?pId=25326910; 1880 United States Federal Census, Southfield, Oakland, Michigan. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, Roll 599, 376C, Enumeration District 270, [Ancestry.com] https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/6742/images/4241739-00403?pId=47414627, Accessed February 11, 2021.
[5] 1850 United States Federal Census, Royal Oak, Oakland, Michigan. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 238a, Roll: 359 [Ancestry.com, Family History Library Film 803556]; 1860 United States Federal Census, Royal Oak, Oakland, Michigan. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 527 [Ancestry.com, Family History Library Film 803556]; 1870 United States Federal Census, Royal Oak, Oakland, Michigan. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, Roll M593_695, 515B, [Ancestry.com, Family History Library Film 552194]; Michigan, Oakland, Southfield. 1880 United States Census, Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, Roll 599, 376C, Enumeration District 270, [Ancestry.com]; “Calvin Caison” Michigan Marriage Records, 1857-1952. Lansing, Michigan: Michigan Department of Community Health, Division of Vital Records and Health Statistics, 1894 H[u]ron-1894 Ottawa, Film 52, 442; “Matilda Allen [Cason],” Certificates, 1897-1920, 051: Oakland-St. Clair, Michigan, U.S., Compiled Marriages for Select Counties, 1851-1875. Ancestry.com, accessed 2/17/2021.
[6] Birmingham Eccentric, “Death of Mrs. Eliza Taylor;” Assessment Roll for the Village of Birmingham, Oakland County, Michigan. (1896), 42. Birmingham Museum Collection.
[7] 1860 United States Federal Census, Southfield; 1870 United States Federal Census, Southfield; 1880 United States Federal Census, Southfield; “Clara A. Taylor,” Michigan, Marriage Records, 1867-1952. Lansing, Michigan: Michigan Department of Community Health, Division of Vital Records and Health Statistics, Film 63: 1898 Mason-Washtenaw, 481, Ancestry.com. Accessed 1/27/2021; Assessment Roll for the Village of Birmingham, Oakland County, Michigan, (1900) 15; “Joseph Farmer,” Policy #952, Citizens Mutual Fire Insurance Co., Sept. 21, 1903, Birmingham Museum Collection.
[8] 1860 United States Federal Census, Royal Oak, Oakland, Michigan. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 523 [Ancestry.com, Family History Library Film 803556]; 1900 United States Federal Census, Detroit, Ward 1, Wayne, Michigan. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 4, 0006 [Family History Library 1240747]; “Julia Blevens,” Michigan, U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995, (1888) 299 [Ancestry.com]; “Julia Ann Blevens,”Michigan, Death Records, 1867-1952. Lansing, Michigan: Michigan Department of Community Health, Division of Vital Records and Health Statistics, 064528, [Ancestry.com].
[9] “Clara Farmer [Proctor]” Michigan, Marriage Records, 1867-1952. Lansing, Michigan: Michigan Department of Community Health, Division of Vital Records and Health Statistics, Film 124, 1915 Kent-Oceana, 2942; Jackson-Flagg Family Tree, Ancestry.com, Accessed 1/29/2021.
[10] “Clara A. Taylor,” Michigan, Marriage Records, 1867-1952, Film 63: 1898 Mason-Washtenaw, 481; 1860 United States Federal Census, Royal Oak, 523, 803556; 1870 United States Federal Census, Royal Oak, Oakland, Michigan. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, Roll M593_695, 525B [Ancestry.com, Family History Library Film 552194].
[11] Jackson-Flagg Family Tree, Ancestry.com. Accessed 1/29/2021.
[12] 1860 United States Federal Census, Royal Oak, 523, 803556.
[13] “Julia Ann Blevens,”Michigan, Death Records, 1867-1952, 064528, [Ancestry.com]; Martha Harris, Royal Oak Cemetery, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/213974820/martha-harris. Accessed 1/27/2021.
[14]1900 United States Federal Census, Detroit, Ward 1, 4, 0006 1240747]; 1910 United States Federal Census, Detroit, Ward 9, District 025, Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, Roll T624_683, 9A [Ancestry.com 1374696]. “Julia Blevens,” Michigan, U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995, (1888) 299 [Ancestry.com]; “Julia Ann Blevens,”Michigan, Death Records, 1867-1952, 064528, [Ancestry.com]; Julia A. Blevens, Royal Oak Cemetery, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/211526156/julia-h.-blevens. Accessed 1/27/2021.
[15] Unfortunately, many cemetery records were lost in a fire so her exact grave location is not marked or known.
[16] According to the family, Abbie Farmer Harris assembled and labeled the photo album in the 1890s.(See more about Abbie in Part II: “The Farmers of Wayne County.”
[17] “Julia Blevens, Grandmother of Berleigh Farmer and Florence Porterfield,” Portrait Album, Jackson-Flagg Family Tree, Ancestry.com. Printed with permission.