SOME MICHIGAN SIVER'S

By

Perry Nelson Hill

The Siver story in Michigan, as I know it. It has long been held that four brothers came from over seas to the United States. Point of origin is in question some say Scotland others think it may have been Ireland. Then there would be others that insist that they were of Scotch and Irish blood that came from England. While I have not found the ship they came over on. I find that the Siver name goes back to New York State with most dominance, and has been found in the early 1700's. The story goes that of the four brothers two remained in the east and the other two went west.

In all the early years that I had Prodigy and searched the Bulletin Boards I never found a Siver. I have recently from America On Line made contact with Curtis Clark Siver in Florida, while he has many Siver's in his file we have not made the common denominator clear.

What little information that I have, I believe to be correct in as much as it is from the memories of relatives combined with the research that I have done in the past couple of years.

The first record of the Siver name that I have been able to find in the Michigan census is in the year of 1860. Michael Siver was living with the family of Samuel Teas, in St. Joseph County Township of Nottowa

The census report states that he was 30 years of age born in New York State. The next record was in 1865 a Michael Siver bought 160 acres in Kalamazoo County Township of Schoolcraft for 1000 dollars.

The next census record that I have found is 1880 in Van Buren County Township of Covert. It list the family of Michael Siver Wife Vesta, Lizzie daughter 15, Fannie daughter 12, Willie son 10, Clara daughter 6, George son 4, and baby son 4 months. All children born in Michigan Michael born in New York and Vesta was born in Michigan.

In 1900 Michigan census I find Michael Siver still in Van Buren County Township of Covert, living next door to Son John E Siver. I know that John was a brother to my Grand father George, as I remember taking my Grand mother Siver to visit, late in the year of 1950. I should note that next door to John, was Riley N Doolittle and wife Lizzie. Lizzie is the daughter of Michael H. Siver. Riley and Lizzie had 6 children at the time. And Lizzie's brother William was staying as a boarder, and listed his occupation as a Machinist.

I find that in 1900 my grandfather was married to Mary D Griffin and living in Thompsonville, Michigan. This is in Benzie County in the Township of Colafax. The name of the street was Brooklyn Avenue. Living with them at the time was brother Gilbert. It may well have been Mary that talked to the enumerator that day as it is listed unknown the place of birth of the Siver brothers father and mother.

The Township of Covert, County, of Van Buren, show in Lot 10 Cemetery Number 2 Mrs. Michael Siver and on a beautiful marble stone it list Vesta Corwin wife of M H Siver, cemetery records list Michael Siver date of burial as Oct. 22 1903. and John Siver as 12/1/61.

George and Mary had a total of 10 children. Wells, Adrotha, La Grand, Elmer, Lila, Glen, Margaret, Wilda, Nora, and Reva. Reva being my mother.

Gilbert and Jenny had 7 or 8 children there is a question of twin sister to Carl per the 1910 census it list two children with the same birth date. Their children are Albert, Nellie, Dorothy, Mary, Vern, Lowell, both Carl and Marie has the same birth date.

Of the brothers of George Nelson Siver I only have information on Gilbert as having sons. The next leg down from George Nelson Siver his sons La Grand And Glen each had a son. And at that point I know of no other Siver men as descendants of Michael Henry Siver.

Grandpa George Siver moved around a lot, as I remember one time we were all in the car going someplace, when Grandma made the following statement. "A rolling stone gathers no moss." to which Grandpa said," A setting hen don't get fat." Which to me as a kid meant a no win program.

I know they lived in Covert about the time my folks married. They lived in Allegan County, Lee Township when I was born. Because I was born at their house and grandma Siver was the mid-wife. My Aunt Nora has told me that grandma made all the kids go across the road to play. After a while her older siblings sent her back to see if they could come in the house. She was sent as she was only 4 years of age and the thinking was that she could get by going in without being called. When she went into the house grandma said, "Nora look here what I have." And when she saw me she ran to tell the other children that Reva had a baby. I understand that my grandmother was also born at that same place. I visited there in August of 1994. The original house has burned and the replacement was in a state of disarray. It was the Hodgeman place.

Aunt Lila has told me that they moved from Kalamazoo when she was about 9 years of age to Covert, Michigan. I remember grandfather telling me stories about working in the paper mill in Kalamazoo, I think he also may have worked at the paper mill in Watervliet, Michigan, which is south of Covert. I remember most grandpa working as a farmer at several different farms. I remember one time he made a machine to plant potatoes, it had some bicycle chains and other things to make it work. He sent the idea to a farm machinery manufacture, which told him that it was not a good idea, but in about 2 years they started making a planter of that type.

Aunt Lila speaks of a cousin to Michael Henry Siver. A Doctor that lived in Chicago, Illinois. He would take a vacation and come out to visit Michael at the farm. I have no other names or connections at this time.

And the story will go on as more information is added. December 10, 1995.

At this point I think I should add I am Perry Nelson Hill born in Michigan on July 10, 1928. My Mother was Reva Gladys Siver Born September 10, 1909 in Michigan. Her father and my grand father was George Nelson Siver born March 4 1876 in Michigan. The father of George was Michael Henry Siver born September 1830 in New York, as per the 1900 census.

September 5, 1997

I think I should add that Grandma Siver "Mary Griffin/Siver" was not born in the Hodgeman place as stated above but in that area, so I stand corrected.

July 1, 2002

In ten days I will reach my 74 birthday, maybe we will have some cake and ice cream, vanilla please.

As I look back over the above statements. I find that I should now update and add to the pages, making corrections as needed.

At this time I want to thank the many cousins, aunts and others who have helped in this research (Curtis Siver, Jane Siver/Everest, Barbara Forsythe/Montgomery, April Siver, Nora Siver/Hoke, Lila Siver/Harris, Ila Doolittle/Clark, Barbara Harris/Dodson, Wilda Siver/Strickler) and many others. This is all that my memory will give me at this time I know I must have left out a bunch of people I can assure you that it was not my intent.

In about the fourth paragraph I stated that Michael Henry Siver bought 160 acres in Kalamazoo County the year is correct (1865) the place is not. I find that it was in Van Buren County Township of Covert. At that time it was Township of Deerfield, it was changed to Covert in about 1876. Barbara Cousins claims to have an 1873 Atlas that list Michael as a property owner in Kalamazoo County, Township of Schoolcraft section 26.

On page two I said that the tombstone listed Vesta Corwin, looking back at the pictures taken in 1994 I only see the name Vesta wife of M. H. Siver. The next paragraph I speak of Gilbert and Jenny having twins, the viewer and the film that I was using in 1994 at Decatur, Michigan was of poor quality and that’s what it looked like to me. Now in looking at the images on Ancestry for 1910 Michigan census I can see that it was not Maria, I know that Mary Siver/Bachman had written in a letter to me that there were no twins in the family. So the idea of twins should be discounted.

July 3, 2002

Now to record much of the information that has been uncovered since December or 1995. April Siver found the record of marriage for Michael Henry Siver and Vesta Corwin in St. Joseph, County Michigan. The date of marriage was June 12, 1864. While my Legacy program reports their age to be 33 and 23 that is not correct. The problem is that I have Vesta’s year of birth as 1841. This was based on the tombstone information, which listed 48 years at time of death in March of 1889.

It was first brought to my attention by Barbara Harris/Dodson that there was a Esther L. Corwin listed in the 1850 Michigan census of St. Joseph County Michigan, age of seven. The age as well as the name didn’t fit, so it was put on the back burner. Things started to come together as research on the Corwin family began to unfold. With information from here and there, I was able to see for myself the listing of Vesta L. Corwin in Kalamazoo, County on the 1860 Michigan census records. Her age at this time was 17, now four years later on the marriage license her age is listed as 21. It would seem at this time that Esther L. and Vesta L. are one in the same person. Bob Corwin who picked up where another Corwin researcher stopped supports the information that the three Corwin names Esther L., Vesta L. and Vesta on the marriage to be one in the same.

Ila Doolittle/Clark supplied me with a copy of the death certificate of Lizzie Siver (Elizabeth) who died in 1937. Aunt Lizzie was the first born of Michael and Vesta Siver. This certificate states that both parents were born in Mendon, Michigan. Vesta could have been born in Mendon, Michigan as it is in the County of St. Joseph. Michael always listed his place of birth as New York. So more than likely this is not correct. However you do come to the fact that there is also or was a Mendon, New York. It will be akin to finding a needle in a haystack, to ever find Michael Henry Siver place of birth or who his parents were. There was a Michael Siver born in the early 1800’s that didn’t leave much of a trail to follow. At this time it would be a far reach to tie the two Michael’s together as father and son.

Going on the information that Curtis Siver has on his line, and if we ever tie the two together then we are going to be German on the Siver Side. The first members to come over here in the early 1700’s were German Palatines by the name of Seibert. At some point it was changed to Siver. The Michael Siver that I spoke of in the last paragraph was connected to that line of Seiberts. Over here are the Colonials, which later became the United States of America.

There will be confusion as to Michael Henry Siver place of birth as the census records are not consistent. The 1900 census record for George Nelson Siver (my Grandfather) list ---parents born unknown. The 1930 census of grandfather list parents both born in Pennsylvania, which would account for the rumors that Michael, was born in the state of Pennsylvania. We know for sure that there was a Michael Siver the father of my grandfather. My parents spoke of him, my grandfather told the story of the Christmas presents.

Oh! You want to hear the Christmas story, well it goes that kids being kids searched and found their presents up in the loft or attic. Somehow great grandfather Michael Henry Siver found out what they had done. When confronted and confession was over it is reported he said "that’s it if you are going to act this way there will never be another Christmas in this house". Grandpa told me this story and he said, "we never had another Christmas".

Who was Vesta L. Corwin? Where was she born? I have another source that states that she was born 1843 in Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan. Another source states that Stephen Corwin and his Wife Phoebe, in 1834, purchased land in Canton Township, Wayne County, Michigan. Then 1836 they bought more land in Canton Township (40 acres). In the 1850 and the 1860 Michigan census she was listed in the family of Stephen Corwin. If you were to try and work from the images that were post by Ancestry dot com, as I did. Then you will find the image number change over time. My first reading was of image 255, but today I find that image 2 and 3 cover this set of Corwins. Thank you Ancestry as the list is down from 255 pages to less than 30 pages.

Michigan census 1850 St. Joseph, County Township of Mindon October 1, 1850 page 369 Ancestry image 2 and 3.

Line 41 16/16 Stephen Corwin 54 W M Farmer $600 born in New Jersey

Line 42 Phebe Corwin 49 W F born in New York

Next Page Image 3

Line 1 16/16 Jacob Corwin 28 W M Farmer $400 Born in New York

Line 2 John Corwin 26 W M Carpenter Born in New York

Line 3 Elisha Corwin 19 W M Farmer Born in New York

Line 4 William Corwin 14 W M Born in Michigan

Line 5 Philaatus Corwin 10 W M Born in Michigan

Line 6 Esther L. Corwin 7 W F Born in Michigan

That is all of that family listed at house dwelling 16 visit 16

The family above Stephen is James Corwin

Line 38 15/15 James Corwin 31 W M Farmer $500 Born in New York

Eliza Corwin 24 W F Born in New York

???? Corwin 5 W M Born in Michigan

I could not make out the spelling it looked like two words Calla Orona in 1860 it looked like Hallia, Bob Corwin writes the name as Hatta.

Michigan Census 1860 Kalamazoo County, Township of Brady it would appear that Stephen has moved North to Kalamazoo, County. As listed the following.

Page 10 5^th Day of June 1860

Line 17 62/62 Stephen Corwin W M 69 Farmer Restate $700 Personal Estate $317 Born in

New York

William Corwin W M 24 Born in Michigan

Philatus Corwin W M 21 Born in Michigan

Vesta L. Corwin W F 17 Born in Michigan

There are a lot of Corwins in Michigan that have the same name and came from New York State. So at this time there would be no way to prove Vesta is the true daughter of Stephen & Phoebe Corwin. All sources seem to agree that Stephen is the son of James and Deborah Corwin and that he was born between 1791 and 1796 in either New Jersey or New York. That he died in Michigan around 1885. Many sources claim that the date of death for Phoebe-Phebe Hulet(Harvett)/Corwin was July 4, 1858.

Names of sources taken from the Ancestry Message Boards

Cindy Lobb ccorwin@aol.com

Brenda J. Masters Charles charles_brenda@hotmail.com

Donald Rouse Quodon@aol.com

Nancy Corwin nfcorwin@yahoo.com

Now Bob Corwin has taken up the search he was able to obtain many of the records of Gerald Armstrong Corwin. Gerald Armstrong Corwin passed away last year 2001.

For what it is worth I once copied I thought all the Corwins in the 1860 Michigan census index compiled by Ronald Vern Jackson. This has been a long time ago and I don't see Vesta, or Stephen.

Allen Corwin Kalamazoo Co. Kalamazoo Twp. MI 564

Andrew Corwin Van Buren Co. Keeler Twp. MI 832

Edwin Corwin St. Joseph Co. Fabin Twp. MI 419

Elisha Corwin Kalamazoo Co. Brady Twp. MI 007

Elizabeth Corwin Wayne Co. 7W Detroit MI 723

G. A. Corwin St. Joseph Co. Mendon MI 049

Jacob Corwin Van Buren Co. Keeler Twp. MI 832

Mary Corwin St. Joseph Co. Mendon MI 046

I use the above information to support my claim that there are many Corwins in the State of Michigan with the same name and they came from New York State. Are they all from the same extended family? I do not know that answer. The number at the end of each name would be the page number of the census record.

More thoughts by Bob Corwin

Here is the information from census and other sources that I am comfortable with,

please feel free to use it if you wish.

Please recheck the 1850 Census line 6 Esther (our Vesta), on my copy it looks like

Esther L then the mark (ditto) for the last name being the same. All the other

children only had the ditto mark.

1820 Census index shows James Corwin, James Jr., Jesse, Israel, all on Ontario CO.

NY Lyons TWP page 110 (Ontario County was split into Ontario and Wayne Counties in

1823). James Corwin will written in 1823 indicated that he lived in Wayne County

and Lyon TWP. Lyon and Arcadia are close together so some documents refer to Lyon,

and some refer to Arcadia. But not sure if any of these were James (Stephen's

father).

Here is the census data:

James Jr. 3 1 - - 1 - 2 1 - 1 -

James 1 - - - 1 1 1 1 2 - 1

Israel 1 1 - 1 - 1 3 - - 1 -

Jesse 2 - - - - 1 3 3 - 1 -

So none match Stephen with no brothers or sisters?

1830 Census index shows James Corwin Wayne CO. NY ARCADA (Arcadia) TWP page 082.

(again I believe this to be our James.

1830 Census index shows Stephen Corwin Wayne CO Galen TWP page 149 (Not sure this

was our Stephen, need to check more on this).

1840 Census Index shows Stephen Corwin Wayne CO MI Canton TWP Page 287 (I believe

this is our Stephen)

1850 Census Index and detail agree with your letter. Also the index shows 1854

information on Stephen and James (Stephen's son) still in Mindon

1860 I agree with Stephen in Brady with William, Philatus and Vesta L.

1870 Census Index from Michigan;

Elisha Corwin Calhoun CO Lee TWP MI rolls 666-667 Page 637R

James Corwin Kalamazoo CO Brady TWP rolls 680 page 36

Eliza wife age 46, Hatta R age 25 son, Harriet age 15 daughter, Hester A age 13

daughter, Herbert age 4 son.

Stephen Corwin Kalamazoo CO Brady TWP rolls 680 page 24R (living with William)

William Corwin Kalamazoo CO Brady TWP Rolls 680 page 24R

I have not checked the 1870 and 1880 census for Siver to see if Vesta is listed

there with Michael.

Hope this helps.

Also hope you had a great birthday yesterday.

Best Regards

Bob Corwin

April Siver has what is believed to be Grandma Siver's original Bible, I will attempt to set down and record the information contained herein. In 1994 Aunt Nora said that they were many Bibles handed out by Grandma and Grandpa Siver. But that they were copies of the original, copied by family members (the children). This comment was made in response to a comment that my brother Chauncey Byron Hill Jr. made that they had grandmas Bible.

"Mrs. Geo. Siver from Husband Geo. Siver as a birthday present Sept. 13, 1936

Geo. Siver and Mary Griffin were married at Wallen, Benzie Co. Mich. 1897 at the home of the Bride parents Mr. & Mrs. E. F. Griffin

FAMILY REGISTER

Parents’ Names

Husband George Nelson Siver

Born March 4, 1876 at Covert, Van Buren Co. Mich.

Son of Micel Henry Siver and Vesta Siver

Wife Mary Didama Griffin

Born Sept. 1?. 1882 Lee Allegan Co. Mich.

Daughter of Eugene F. Griffin and Martha A Griffin

BIRTHS

Wells V. Siver Jan. 30, 1900

Adorothra Izetta Siver Sept. 13, 1904

LaGrand Cicel Siver Nov. 4, 1905

Reva Gladys Siver Sept. 10, 1909

Elmer Eugene Siver Jan. 17, 1913

Lila Grace Siver Dec. 9, 1913

Glenn Henry Siver Sept. 2, 1915

Margaret Marie Siver Dec. 4, 1917

Wilda Eula Siver Nov. 4, 1921

Nora Naomie Siver July 31, 1924

MARRIAGES

Wells V. Siver to Clara Knickerbocker Jan. 30, 1918

Wells V. Siver to Bessie Barney Nov. 10, 1924

Reva G. Siver to Chauncey B. Hill Jan. 23, 1925

LaGrand C. Siver to Martha Butler June 25, 1926

Lila G. Siver to Lawrence A Harris May 21, 1932

Margaret M. Siver to Henry N. Strickler April 7, 1935

Wilda E. Siver to Russell Strickler Oct 26, 1940

Nora N. Siver to Wm. Hoke Jan 10, 1942

Wells V. Siver to Gertrude Ritter Feb. 6 1942

MARRIAGES CONTINUE

Glen H Siver to Margie Mathews March 6, 1945

Wells V. Siver to Lucy Bitten De. 19, 1952

DEATHS

Adorotha I. Siver Nov. 5, 1904

Elmer E. Siver Jan. 23, 1913

Clara Siver July 17, 1922

Bessie Siver Sept. 4, 1941

Gertrude Siver Oct 7, 1943

Reva Gladys Siver Hill Aug. 8 or 9, 1951

Lois M. Siver Monroe April 13, 1953

Terry Gene Qualls Aug. 24, 1954

George N. Siver May 22, 1958

George Siver age 82years 2 months ?days May 22, 1958 at top of page

Claude Griffin June 13, 1960

Clifford Austin May 21, 1965

GRAND CHILDREN

Lois M. Siver Oct. 26, 1918

Jeanne P. Siver July 17, 1922

Richard G. Harris Jan 14, 1934

Marlene C. Harris Feb. 12, 1936

Mary A. Strickler March 31, 1936

Reva A. Hill Jan, 28, 1936

C. B. Hill Nov. 9, 1932

Perry N. Hill July 10, 1928

Jane B. Siver Feb. 23, 1927

John C. Siver Feb. 28, 1929

Barbara E. Harris Sept. 16, 1937

Evelyn M. Strickler Feb. 5, 1938

Millicent Strickler March 11, 1939

Joyce B. Harris Dec. 29, 1939

Donald E. Strickler May 25, 1941

Billie R. Strickler Jan 16, 1943

Glenna J. Strickler Jan. 16, 1943

Janet L. Strickler Aug. 21, 1943

Martha C. Siver Aug. 15, 1939

Michael G. Siver Feb. 8, 1946

Patsy A. Harris May 6, 1945

Theodore R. Strickler Dec. 1, 1944

April Frances Siver July 19, 1951

GRAND CHILDERN CONTINUED

Thomas Warren Hoke Aug. 14, 1959

Maria Annette Hoke Jan. 8, 1962

Denise Ann Hoke Aug. 19, 1963

Gerold Wells Hoke Jan 30, 1952

Audrey M. Harris Mar. 23, 1942

Linda A Siver June 6, 1947

Pamela R Harris June 17, 1947

Brenda H. Harris Aug. 17, 1948

Gregory B. Aug. 17, 1948

Sharon On Siver Nov. 8, 1948

Susan D. Hoke Jan. 17, 1947

Char W Hoke Mar. 21, 1948

Geo. P. Hoke April 22, 1949

Norman Eugene Hoke June 27, 1950

Penny LaGrand Siver Dec. 31, 1952

Larry Ray Strickler Jan. 23, 1953

SIVER GREAT GRAND CHILDREN

Richard Monrow March 31, 1938

Patsy Buscions Jan. 18, 1942

Jane Katy Everest April 9, 1949

David Everest Dec. 7, 1951

Mark J Everest June 25, 1954

Cheryl A Hill June 29, 1954

Warren Dale Qualls Feb. 7, 1955

Robert Glen Harris Nov. 12, 1955

Geo. Laroy Hanson Dec. 28, 1955

Robert C Dodson June 28, 1956

Debrah Ann Qualls July 25, 1956

Andrea Doria Hill Sept. 19, 1956

Rose Mary Hill Jan. 5, 1957

Larnence Eugene Forsythe June 9, 1957

Terry Gene Qualls Aug. 26, 1957

Jerry Qualls Sept. 21, 1958

Rae Victoria Hill Jan. 9, 1959

Cris Lynn Hanson Jan 16, 1959

Dean Warren Forsythe Feb. 9, 1959

Joyce Ann Bowser Sept. 13, 1959

David L. Dodson Nov. 1, 1958

Betty Jane Qualls Nov. 27, 1959

Joyce Anne Bowser Sept. 13, 1959

The following are in a different hand write

SIVER GREAT GRAND CHILDREN CONTINUED

Tina Marie Hill April 29, 1960

Ellen Martha Everest June 25, 1960

Keven Gene Ackerman July 20, 1960

Robert Oliver Bowser Sept. 17, 1960

Barbara Eloise Forsythe Nov. 19, 1960

David William Monroe Sept. 28, 1961 crossed out"

This completes the nine pages that were copied from the bible. (April gave me Photo copies of those pages.) All were in grandma Siver hand except where noted.

In 1870 I have not found a census record for Michael Henry Siver, nor in 1920 I have not found a census record for George Nelson Siver in the State of Michigan. Following is a list of Siver’s that was reported in a search of the 1920 Michigan census.

The search was done by Ancestry dot com in their data base, which list eight Siver surnames. The only one that seems to fit our family is Gibson Siver, which matches Gilbert Siver’s family.

Name Age Birthplace County Township

Siver, Erne S 14 Michigan Tuscola Watertown

Siver, Arthur 40 Michigan Genesee Burton

Siver, Clara 50 Michigan Kalamazoo Kalamazoo

Siver, Harold 57 Michigan Oakland Pontiac

Siver, Clarence E 36 Michigan Tuscola Watertown

Siver, Gibson 40 Michigan Van Buren Covert

Siver, Mike 48 Austria Wayne Detroit

Siver, Marry M 61 Canada Wayne Detroit

The County and Township are not the place of birth but the place of the census record. For what, ever reason this may not be all the Siver’s in 1920. Sometimes the search seems to only pick up the head of the household. In the case of Marry M. Siver I think I saw a single daughter age 29 living with her.