Copyright USGenNet Inc., 2019, All Rights Reserved USGenNet Data Repository Please read USGenNet Data Repository Copyright Statement on this page: Transcribed and submitted by Linda Talbott for the USGenNet Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ ========================================================================= USGenNet Data Repository NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization. Non-commercial organizations desiring to use this material must obtain the consent of the transcriber prior to use. Individuals desiring to use this material in their own research may do so. ========================================================================= Formatted by USGenNet Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott All of the above information must remain when copied or downloaded. =========================================================================== Source: Historical Collections Collections and Researches Made By The Michigan Pioneer and Historical Society Vol. XXVII - 1897 Report of the Memorial Committee: St. Clair County - By Helen W. Farrand [p. 189-192] MRS. NANCY BRAKEMAN. - Mrs. NANCY BRAKEMAN was born January 17, 1811, in the township of Moore, County of Kent, Upper Canada, and died November 9, 1894, at her residence, on the river road, two miles south of Marysville. Mrs. BRAKEMAN was the third of a family of nine children, five sisters and four brothers. She was of Scotch and English descent, both on her father’s and mother’s side. Her parents, Capt WM. and MARTHA THORN BROWN, were born in Detroit, then under British dominion. They were married in 1806, and settled the same year on land purchased of the Indians, generally known at the present time, as the Sutherland place, on the St. Clair river, in the town of Moore, nearly opposite St. Clair city, where they remained until 1814, the year Gen. PROCTOR issued his proclamation requiring all persons residing in Canada to take the oath of allegiance to the King of Great Britain or leave the country. Her father preferred the latter, and, accordingly, packed up what few movables he had and removed with his family in a sail boat to Detroit. In 1816 he purchased of a Frenchman, JEAN BAPTISTE DONEY, a farm on the St. Clair river, in the town of Cottrellville, a part of which is at present Cherry Beach, two miles south of Marine City, and removed his family there the san1e year. They were among the earliest settlers on the river after the war. Their neighbors were mostly French Roman Catholics, but among them were some very fine families, educated and refined. The Indians were very numerous, but treated the family with great kindness. There Mrs. BRAKEMAN’S young womanhood was spent, there she learned the French and Indian languages, always using them in conversing with old French and Indian friends. There were no schools here in those days, and her father, anxious to educate his children, built a log schoolhouse in his orchard, and as teacher employed and boarded JACOB G. STREIT, the first school teacher in St.. Clair county. He was a native of Winchester, Va., a son of a Lutheran preacher, Capt. GEO. H. COTTERELL at present residing in Marine City, also the late Hon. D. B. HARRINGTON and Esquire J. P. MINNIE, were pupils in the school. The winter of 1827-28, Mr. HARRINGTON walked from his father’s place, on Black river, to Cottrellville, to attend school. Mrs. BRAKEMAN well remembered seeing him coming with his clothes. and books, tied up in a bundle, hanging from a stick over his shoulder. He boarded at her father’s while attending school. He and Mrs. BRAKEMAN always kept up their acquaintance, and enjoyed talking over the olden times whenever they met. When young, she attended a singing school taught by the late STEPHEN HULING, in a log house; also attended Sabbath school in an old log house, which stood on the JOSIE MINNIE farm, half a mile south of ‘her father’s, taught by a Mr. BEACH, a hatter by trade. She remembered and frequently repeated passages of Scripture she learned at that time. She was acquainted with the Catholic priests who visited this section in an early day, and often attended their meetings in the first church built in St. Clair county. In. her young days she had traveled on the St. Clair river during the summer season in sail boats, and canoes, in the winter in carioles and French trains on the ice. There were no roads here at that time. In that manner she, with others, visited at Detroit, Mt. Clemens, Fort Gratiot, and other points along the river. She remembered Judge BUNCE’S first arrival on the river, in 1817. He was then a guest of her grand- father, Capt. WM. THORN; and again, in 1827, when he brought his bride from New York city, to the wilds of Michigan Territory, they were guests at the time at her father’s, and sixty years after she was Judge BUNCE’S guest at the celebration of his 100th birthday. Although young at the time, she remembered very distinctly the removal of her family from Canada, and their settling in Cottrellville. She related the circumstance, but a short time previous to her last illness to a little grandson, who was very fond of listening to Grandma’s olden time stories. May 29, 1832, she was married by JOHN K. SMITH, Esq., to the late PETER F. BRAKEMAN, who was of German ancestry, a native of the state of New York, one of St. Clair’s early settlers, at the time residing, and in business, at Point Du Chien. For some time previous in the mercantile business, one of the firm of Peter F. Verhoeff, a native of Germany, and GEORGE JASPERSON, a native of Copenhagen, Denmark, carrying on the largest business establishment between Fort Gratiot and Detroit. Mr. and Mrs. BRAKEMAN’S first home, after marriage, was on what is at present known as the GEORGE HARRON place, near Oak Grove, about two miles north of Algonac. During the first year of her marriage that dreadful scourge, the cholera, broke out among the soldiers, at Fort Gratiot. They were disbanded by Maj. THOMPSON, the‘ commanding oflicer, and traveled along the river, not knowing what to do or where to go, and she, though young at the time, assisted her husband in caring for several of them who had wandered down within a short distance of their home, taking shelter in an old log shanty. They all recovered. There are books in her family at the present time, which the soldiers presented to them as tokens of appreciation of their kindness. While residing at Point Du Chien, their house was the home of the early Methodist preachers, as they traveled and preached through this new Territory of Michigan. She frequently spoke of those days, and well remembered the ministers names. Mr. BRAKEMAN and herself were members of that denomination at that time. In 1836 they removed to Port Huron, then called Desmond. The same year Mr. BRAKEMAN pur- chased lots at the foot of Butler street, and built the first dock and warehouse that stood there so many years after. The inhabitants were mostly French and Indians. They found the Indians very friendly. Many of them called Mr. BRAKEMAN their brother. He had three Indian names which they had given him at different times, but was generally known among them as AH-TONG-GANCE, the Borrower, from the fact that he had at one time sold goods on commission. They called it borrowing goods. Mrs. BRAKEMAN was known as AH-TONG- GANCE-AH-QUA, the Borrower’s woman. The Indians on the Sarnia reserve and VValpole Island, in speaking of them at the present time, use these names. November, 1847, they, with a family of five young children, removed to what was then known as the township of Polk, Sanilac county, now Huron City, Huron county, Mr. BRAKEMAN entering into the lumbering business in partnership with the late Dr. JOHN S. HEATH, an early resident of Port Huron. There were no boats on that route at that time, and the schooner Mariner, Capt. AMOS JAMES, was chartered for the express purpose of taking the family and their goods. There were no docks, piers or harbors of refuge, or light houses on the lake shore at that time. The business proved to be very successful and after a residence there of six years they returned to Port Huron. The spring of 1855 they settled on the farm in St. Clair township, where Mr. and Mrs. BRAKEMAN both died. His death, which occurred in November, 1874, was the only one in the family until her own, twenty years after. In all their changes she stood by her husband, and it can be truly said of her that she was an efficient helpmeet, a thorough worker, having early acquired habits of industry. a good housekeeper, neat and economical. Their success in life was the result of their combined efforts. She led a very active life until twelve years before her death she became blind. Many of her deeds of kindness and benevolence will long be remembered. She was a strong temperance advocate. She was very fond of children. There are persons of middle life now residing at Port Huron, children of her old neighbors, whom she loved next to her own, always manifesting a great interest in their welfare, and in old age frequently inquiring of them. She was the mother of five children, three daughters and two sons, all survive her and reside in St. Clair county; eleven grandchildren and one great grand son also survive her, their homes are also in St. Clair county, excepting one grandson, and the great grandson, who reside in Atlanta, Georgia. They will remember her as a very kind and affectionate grandmother. - One sister, Mrs. M. J. COLE, of Sheboygan, Wis., and two brothers, JAMES D. and CHARLES H. BROWN, of Marine City, survive her. She was taken ill September 12, 1894, and during the eight weeks of her illness, expressed herself as willing and prepared to leave this world and go to her heavenly rest. The immediate cause of her death was heart failure. She passed away peacefully, trusting in the merits of her Redeemer. The funeral services were held at the family home, November 12, Rev. Dr. J. McELDOWNEY, officiating. Her remains were taken to St. Clair city, and laid to rest by the side of her husband in the city cemetery, to await the resurrection morn. -- ANNA BRAKEMAN. ===========================================================================