Person:Eliza Alford (3)

Mother was 14 years and 7 months old when Eliza was born!

According to John K Adams, Eliza Jane was born at Eramossa, Halton County, District of Gore, Province of Upper Canada. Her obituary stated that her father was a patriot soldier in the War of 1812 (and son of a Revolutionary War soldier).

ELIZA JANE2 ALFORD, b. November 11, 1830, Eramosa Twp., Wellington Co, Ontario, CD; d. February 25, 1901, Alamo Twp, Kalamazoo Co., MI.

Obituary: Eliza Jane obituary was obtained from Sherlene Belden. Sherlene had made a notations that Eliza Jane's obituary was found in a scrapbook at the Otsego Public Library, but as to what paper and when this was published Sherlene did not have that information. [Source: Letter from K. Linderholm 15 Feb 1999]

Mrs. John MUSSELMAN died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Horace ROOT, of Alamo, February 25, [1901] after an illness of nearly two years, aged 70 years, 3 months and 14 days. Jane E. ALFORD was born in Eramosa Twp, Halton Co, Ontario, November 11, 1830, and came with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Wm. ALFORD, to Alamo in 1838, and, with the exception of ten years that she resided in Dowagiac she has resided in Kalamazoo Co. March 29, 1850 she was married to John MUSSELMAN, who survives her. To them were born five sons and 3 daughters. The three oldest boys died in infancy. One daughter, Flora CALDWELL, died 15 years ago [circa 1886]. There are four children living, Daniel of Tato [Toto, Starke Co],Ind., William of Otsego, Mrs. Josephine ROOT of Alamo, and Mrs. Marion ULAM of Paw Paw. She also leaves eleven grand children, an aged mother, one brother and three sisters. She was the oldest of a large family of children [14] and, coming here in an early day could tell many interesting stories of her pioneer life. Her father who was a patriot soldier (and son of a Revolutionary soldier) in the war of 1812, died in 1849 leaving his wife alone to bear the burden of rearing their children. The funeral services were held at her late home last week Wednesday at 2:00 conducted by Rev C.E. Deal of Parma.

There were flowers from Mrs. J. CARPENTER and Mrs. J. WHEELER who were friends of her girlhood. Burial was made in Alamo cemetery near her old home. The bearers were three grandsons and a nephew.

It seems a matter of interest to many that a person as old as Mrs. MUSSELMAN at her death should have a mother living. Mrs. MUSSELMAN'S mother was born in Ireland of Scotch parents, her father, Patrick McCULLOUGH, being a physician. They came to America when she was 12 years old and two years later she was married to Wm. ALFORD, twice her age, and until his death 20 years later they lived happily. Several years after his death she married John STEWART, who died 12 years ago. She now resides with her son, Wm. ALFORD."

1850 Census (22 July):
Name: Jane Mussulman
Age: 19
Birth Year: abt 1831
Birthplace: Cw [Canada]
Home in 1850: Cooper, Kalamazoo, Michigan
Household Members:
John Mussulman 24
Jane Mussulman 19
Levi Fisher 26
United States Census, 1850," FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MF8F-K75)

1860 Census:
Name: Eliza Musselman
Age in 1860: 29
Birth Year: abt 1831
Birthplace: Canada
Home in 1860: Silver Creek, Cass, Michigan
Post Office: Dowagiac
Household Members:
John Musselman 35
Eliza Musselman 29
Josephine Musselman 5
Florence Musselman 2
"United States Census, 1860", FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MWDR-S83)

1870 Census:
Name: Jane Musserlman [Eliza Jane Alford] [Jane Musselman]
Age in 1870: 39
Birth Year: abt 1831
Birthplace: Canada
Home in 1870: Alamo, Kalamazoo, Michigan
Post Office: Schoolcraft
Household Members:
John Musserlman 46
Jane Musserlman 39
Josephine Musserlman 15
Florence Musserlman 12
Daniel Musserlman 9
Willie Musserlman 3
Minny Musserlman 5/12
"United States Census, 1870," FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MHHT-CR9)

1880 Census:
Name: Eliza J. Muselman
Age: 49
Birth Year: abt 1831
Birthplace: Canada
Home in 1880: Oshtemo, Kalamazoo, Michigan
Relation to Head of House: Wife
Spouse's Name: John A. Muselman
Father's Birthplace: Massachusetts
Mother's Birthplace: Ireland
Occupation: Keep House
Household Members:
John A. Muselman 56
Eliza J. Muselman 49
William L. Muselman 10
Marian A. Muselman 12
Daniel Muselman 19
"United States Census, 1880," FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MWSN-KLX)

1900 Census:
Name: Jane Museulman [Musselman]
Age: 69
Birth Date: 1831
Birthplace: Canada
Home in 1900: Alamo, Kalamazoo, Michigan
Relation to Head of House: Mother-in-Law
Marital Status: Widow
Household Members:
Horace H Rool [Root] 50
Josefine Rool 45 [Daughter]
Ray J Rool 14
Arthur D Rool 12
Adah S Rool 2
Jane Museulman 69
"United States Census, 1900," FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MSMG-SGH)

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2} Find A Grave.

   No tombstone shown: [[1]]

2.   Michigan State Census, 1894.

   FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHKW-F26), Jane Musselman in household with husband and with son-in-law Horace Root; citing p. 13, State Archives, Lansing; FHL microfilm 915,315. Alamo, Kalamazoo, Michigan.