My Genealogy Hound

HENRY NELSON CAMERON, a prosperous general farmer of Cass County, resides on section 8, Howard Township, and is well known and highly respected among the citizens of the community. He is a native of Pennsylvania and was born in Juniata County, on the 11th of October, 1824. His father, Joseph Cameron, was born in Lebanon County, Pa., being the son of Lewis Cameron, a native of Scotland, who emigrated to America when a mere boy. The mother of our subject was Mary, the daughter of Peter Burns, both natives of the Keystone State, the mother having been born in Juniata County.

In Juniata County, Joseph Cameron and Miss Mary Burris were united in marriage, and, locating there, they commenced housekeeping on a modest scale. He was a carpenter and followed that trade with considerable success. In 1854, accompanied by their children, they started on the long journey to Illinois, expecting to locate in that State permanently. On the day of their arrival in Galena, the wife and mother died, also one of the children, the victims of that dread disease, cholera. After this heavy bereavement the father proceeded to Stephenson County, Ill., and in the fall of 1854 came to Berrien County, this State. He died in Clay County, Ind., at the age of sixty-five.

In the parental family there were four children who grew to mature years. They were: Henry N., of this sketch; Catherine, deceased; Mary Ann, the wife of George Kiser, of Clay County, Ind.; and Susan, widow of Roy Eastwood, of South Bend, Ind. Our subject, the eldest of the family, was reared in Juniata County, where he attended the district schools, and worked during the vacation seasons on the farm. In 1853 he came to Michigan, and, locating in Berrien County, worked at the trade of a carpenter during one summer. Afterward he rented a farm belonging to David Rough and located in Bertrand Township. For one year his sister was his housekeeper, but at the expiration of that time he brought a wife to his cozy home.

The lady who on the 11th of April, 1854, became the wife of Mr. Cameron was formerly Miss Mary R. Williams, and was born in Cass County, Mich., April 1, 1838. Her parents, William H. and Ann (Pasmore) Williams, were natives of Delaware, and died at the respective ages of eighty-one and seventy-nine. They had nine children, all of whom married and reared families. After his marriage, our subject rented a farm in Bertrand Township, remaining there for four years. When he located on that place he was in debt to the amount of $80, but he prospered to such an extent that at the expiration of four years he was the possessor of $2,300 in cash, four head of good horses and nineteen head of cattle.

From Berrien County Mr. Cameron removed to Iowa, where he invested in lands and remained for two years. Later he rented a farm consisting of one hundred and sixty acres in Berrien County, residing there for four years. Next he purchased a farm of one hundred and sixty acres on section 17, Howard Township, Cass County, and continued to cultivate this property for a period of fifteen years, when he sold a portion of the estate and located at his present place of residence. Here he owns three hundred and thirteen acres, all under cultivation with the exception of fifty acres of timber-land.

Mr. and Mrs. Cameron have been the parents of fifteen children: William J., of Marcellus, Mich.; Sarah J., formerly a school teacher, now the wife of W. D. Young, of Dakota; Mary A., the wife of Solomon Walker, a resident of Berrien County, Mich.; Alice A., Mrs. Arthur Walter, of Washington; Edwin S., who formerly followed the profession of a teacher and is now a prominent citizen of Kettle Falls, Wash.; George B., who resides in Howard Township, Cass County; Cora B., and Carrie M., who are successful teachers; Charles A. and Frank N., who reside with their parents; Maud E., wife of Lewis Moore; Henry W., Simon, Frank and Rosa Z., the four last-named being deceased. The surviving children have received the best educational advantages possible, and five of them have been teachers.

In politics a Democrat, Mr. Cameron has served as Justice of the Peace and Road Commissioner. In his religious convictions he is an earnest Christian and a devout member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He is a man who carries his religious belief into his practical everyday life, proving by the uprightness and honor of his life the sincerity of his belief. As a citizen, he is public-spirited and energetic, always favoring the measures which in his judgment will benefit the community.