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My mother remembers her grandmother, Emma Berlin Bailey, as a gentle soul who played the organ and loved to read the bible. She remembers her wearing an old fashioned bonnet while working in the garden. She was living with her family in Lenawee county, Michigan when she met and married Beman Bailey in 1882. She lived the rest of her life and raised her small family on isolated farms in the Alma, Gratiot County, MI area. She had 3 children, losing one, Leon, as a toddler. The family story is that he was found with a half-eaten green worm in his hand. His portrait is displayed in the family portrait taken in front of their farmhouse. Because the family couldnt afford a headstone, he was buried without one in a local cemetery. Some years later, Emma was devastated to find someone had erected a tombstone for someone elses child at Leons grave. Emma and Bemans children were: Leon between 1887 and 1894 Blanch (24 May 1894 30 May 1972) married L. G. Stead.
The Berlin Emigrant StoryThe Berlin family originated in Strasbourg, Alsace, France and emigrated to Pennsylvania in 1738. They had been stone masons in the Strasbourg area for centuries, although, George was a flax oil maker and farmer when he emigrated. Alsace is on the French-German border and is governed by France of Germany depending on the politics at the time. In 1738, family legend states that the Catholic French king threatened Lutherans with death if they did not convert to Catholicism. So, they liquidated their assets and sailed the "Charming Nancy" to Philadelphia. The over-crowded ship took 14 weeks to make the crossing. Only 60 of 312 passengers survived the voyage. Among the casualties were the parents of our Berlin family, George and Anna Elisabetha. The three teen-aged boys arrived in Philadelphia as orphans. When the boys arrived in Pennsylvania, they originally settled in the area that is now Hanover, PA. They were: Johann Jacob (17 Dec 1717 Alsace, Fr 7 Apr 1790 York, PA) The Family of Michael BerlinMichael descends from Johann Jacob, of the three orphaned emigrant boys. He was born in Westmoreland Co, PA, 1 Feb 1808 and died 25 Aug 1891 in Lenawee County, MI. He first married Mary Susan Eberhart in 1827 and had 7 children in Westmoreland Co, PA. She died with her last child in August, 1838. Naomi Louisa (10 Apr 1830 3 Jul 1913) His second wife was Julia Ann Martin (b 3 mar 1822, Hagerstown, MD 5 Aug 1900 Waldron, MI) She was the daughter of Jacob Martin (1794 MD - 1879 MI) and Elizabeth McClure (1796 MD - 1884, MI) They were married in Hagerstown, MD in 1839. The family moved west, buying government land near Carey, OH in 1852. In 1865, the family moved north to Lenawee County, MI. Michael was a farmer and weaver of linen and wool. Hiram Rueben (21 Nov 1840 4 Apr 1921) Civil War Veteran Please email me if you have any additional information on the Berlin, Martin or McClure family. Joyce Phillips |
