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- Abram Scranton Wadsworth was born in 1812 in Durham, Connecticut. He moved with his family to Rochester, New York before heading to Michigan when he was 21. He lived at first in Monroe and then in Portland in Ionia County. Abram was married on 20 May 1835 in Washtenaw County to Martha Adaline Northam. Martha was born in 1817 in Berkshire County, Massachusetts, daughter of Samuel and Ann (Kelly) Northam.
In 1847, Abram, Martha, their two children, and brother-in-law Samuel K. Northam boarded a propeller in Detroit and headed north to Mackinac. Once there, they boarded a schooner and headed south down Lake Michigan to Cross Village, where they camped for a few days until a storm subsided. After which they traveled to Old Mission and at Middle Village camped for two days because of rain. At Little Traverse they traded with Indians for a few potatoes and a load of bread (they had been living on fish). An Indian with a boat took them across to Old Mission, where they landed on 16 August 1847.
On 2 August 1850, "Abraham" and Martha lived in Michimackinac County, Michigan with two children- James and Frances, along with 24-year-old Samuel Northam. Abram was working as a lumberman and owned $1,000 worth of property.
On 12 July 1860, Abram and Martha and their three children- James, Fanny, and Ella- lived in Megezee township (at that time in Grand Traverse County). Abram and James worked as lumbermen. The family owned $1,000 in real estate and $300 in personal property. James and Fanny had attended school for three months in the previous year. The Wadsworth operated a boarding house in 1861.
In March 1862, Abram entertained people by giving a lecture on the local Indian "Origins of their race."telling them In August 1862, he was a Republican delegate to the District Convention. Martha was a member of the Grand Traverse County Bible Society and that group raised money to provide a Bible to each area soldier departing for Civil War service. In February 1865, Abram traveled to the "outside world." At the time, such a trip was an arduous experience. On another trip, in April 1867, The Schooner D. R. Martin, owned by Dexter & Noble, of Elk Rapids, when on her passage from Chicago to Elk Rapids, loaded with grain and hay for Dexter & Noble, went ashore on the South Manitou Island on Wednesday evening last. We derive our information from A. S. Wadsworth, Esq., who was a passenger on board. Abram had been selected to be the Register of the Land Office by the president, but was rejected by the US Senate and so did not get the position.
In August 1867, it was reported that LIGHTNING- During the heavy thunder shower which visited Elk Rapids on Thursday evening of last week, the house occupied by A. S. Wadsworth, Esq., was struck by lightning. Passing down the kitchen stove pipe, the lightning found its way through the floor, splitting off the edges of two or three boards. The floor was considerably charred around the stove legs and in other places. Fortunately no one was in the kitchen at the time, but some of the family in the room over the one adjoining the kitchen were considerably stunned by the shock. On opening the door the room was found to be full of dust and ashes thrown out of the stove, and the peculiar odor arising from the ozone which electricity generates was very strongly perceptible.
In December 1867, Navigation on the Bay has not yet closed, as we saw A. S. Wadsworth, Esq., working a small boat out through the ice yesterday to make a run to Northport. He had a box stove aboard and a comfortable allowance of wood.
In December 1868, TRESPASS AGENT-A. S. Wadsworth, Esq., of Elk Rapids, has been appointed, by the Commissioner of the State Land Office, to look after trespassers on State Lands, His authority extends to Swamp, School, Agricultural Collage and Railroad Lands.
Mr. Wadsworth is a first class woodsman, and every way qualified for an able discharge of the responsible duties devolving upon him. We trust his services may prove useful to the State.
We have had some conversations with Mr. Wadsworth in regard to settlers on Railroad lands, and are satisfied that his influence will be on the side of fair and liberal dealings with all who have settled on said lands in good faith for the purpose of making homes rather than removing timber.
In September 1869, Abram participated in the Professor Winchell's geological survey of northern Michigan. In November, the Grand Traverse Herald published a lengthy letter describing the exploration of the Manistique River.
In January 1870, Abram gathered a dozen or so children and took them on a ride to Acme. In March, Abram hosted a fundraising party for the Ladies' Library Association during which he told about his adventures and helped raise $25. On 24 August 1870, Abram and Martha lived in Traverse City with their daughter Ella and 10-year-old Fanny Turrill. Abram was working as a surveyor while Martha kept house. The two girls were attending school. In July 1870, Abram reported that he had found iron ore near the Manistique River in the Upper Peninsula. At the time he was an Assistant in the Michigan Geological Survey.
In March and April 1871, Abram, writing as "Man of the Woods," published a series called "Wild Wood Stories" in the Grand Traverse Herald, relating various Indian myths.
Abram died on 29 June 1871 in Traverse City. DEATH OF A.S. WADSWORTH. It becomes our painful duty to announce the death of Mr. Abram S. Wadsworth, one of the pioneers of this region. He died at his residence in this village on Monday the 26th inst., after an illness of some three weeks. As a surveyor and land looked Mr. Wadsworth has traversed almost every section of land in this region, and know more of the country, doubtless, than any other person. Last summer was spent mostly on the north shore of Lake Michigan, in the State Geological Survey service. We would say more in reference to the deceased and his life in this new part of the state, did we not expect an obituary notice for our next number, from one much better qualified than we are to write on this subject.
Mr. Wadsworth was the author of those very pleasant and instructive "Wild Wood Stories" which have from time to time appeared in the Children's Department of the HERALD. The series was to be continued, but the hand that wrote them can write no more.
Mr. Wadsworth was a good writer but never did better than when he addressed the children. We know that many of them were interested in "Wild Wood Stories." Several articles which he prepared for the HERALD have been widely copied into other journals. The bereaved family have the sincere sympathy of the entire community.
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1812 - 1871 (58 years)
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