The
Highland Township Historical Society |
|---|
BACK TO FAMILY PHOTO ALBUM PAGE
John Atley was born December 9, 1860, in Wayne County, Michigan, the son of Patrick and Mary Atley; natives of Ireland who settled in Detroit prior to 1857 [Note 1]. He married circa 1881 Nancy Della Fisher, daughter of Christian W. and Susan (King) Fisher, born December --, 1867. The couple moved to Cadillac, Wexford County, Michigan, where John worked as a "setter" in a local sawmill; an occupation that involved sharpening and "setting" the teeth of the mill's giant blades. [Note 2]. He subsequently lost his left hand in a sawmill accident, prompting the family to move downstate, eventually settling in Highland Township in 1915 [Note 3]. Here he and his wife assumed management of the Highland House hotel on the north side of East Livingston Road, just west of the railroad tracks. The photo below shows John Atley tending his garden behind the hotel. The hotel's livery barn is in the background on the left.
NOTES AND REFERENCES
[1] - Patrick Atley appears on the 1860 Census for Detroit, 9th Ward, Wayne County, Family 499 as a laborer, age 30, born in Ireland. Also in the household is his wife, Mary, age 26, born in Ireland, and a son, James, age 3 born in Michigan. Ten years later Patrick Atley appears on the 1870 Census for Van Buren Township, Wayne County, Michigan, as a farmer, age 44, born in Ireland. Also in the household are his wife, Mary, age 38, born in Ireland, and sons James, age 13, and John, age 9, both born in Michigan. John Atley thereafter appears on the 1880 Census for Van Buren Township, Wayne County, as a blacksmith, age 19, living with his parents. His month and date of birth are from a family tree submitted to Ancestry.com.
[2] - See the 1900 Census for Cadillac, 2nd Ward, Wexford County, Michigan, Family 239, which gives the occupation of John "Alley" [sic], born December, 1860, as "setter in mill." That this is the same man is evidenced by his date of birth, the name and age of his wife, and the fact his parents' birthplace is given as Ireland.
[3] - John Atley appears on the 1910 Census for Hartland, Livingston County, Michigan, Family 48, as a farmer, operating a horse farm. Whether this was before or after his accident is unclear.