My Genealogy Hound

Joseph Preston Terry, one of the substantial men, prominent farmers and large land owners of Oakland County, Michigan, resides on his finely improved farm of 340 acres in section 13, Pontiac township. Mr. Terry was born on a farm situated between Port Gibson and Newark, Wayne County, New York, March 14, 1824, and is a son of Nathan G. and Belinda (Preston) Terry, and a grandson of Jonathan Terry.

The Terry family is of French extraction and at the time of the French Revolution became Refugees, settling in Bradford County, Pennsylvania. There Jonathan Terry was born and there he married a young woman with the same name as his own and their children were: Uriah, Ebenezer, Nathaniel, George, Nathan G., William, Jonathan, Mrs. Polly Horton and Mrs. Deborah Horton. It is related of this grandfather that he was something of a poet, and an example of his talent is still extant, some 20 stanzas written on the death of George Washington, and sung in Bradford County, Pennsylvania, at the first Fourth of July celebration after Washington’s death.

Nathan G. Terry was born in Bradford County, Pennsylvania, and lived there until the age of 30 years, when he removed to New York, and when our subject was 11 years old removed to Oakland County, Michigan, settling in Commerce township. Six years later, in 1841, he removed to Pontiac township and purchased 240 acres of land, now included in our subject’s present farm, to which original tract the latter has added 100 adjacent acres. Nathan G. Terry died in 1852, at the age of 62 years. He was a Democrat in political views. Although not formally connected with any religious denomination, he was a man of exemplary life and was universally respected. He married Belinda Preston, who was born in Bradford County, Pennsylvania, and they had children as follows: Mrs. Deborah Tucker, who died at the home of our subject some two years ago; David D., who lived and died in Oakland County; Joseph Preston, of this sketch; and Uriah and Mrs. Angeline Stockwell, who died in this county.

Mr. Terry has devoted his life wholly to agricultural pursuits and owns one of the finest farms in the county. Formerly he was identified with the Democratic party, but now is in sympathy with the principles of the Populist party. As a man of good judgment and large means, he is prominent in all public matters in his township and may always be found casting his influence in the direction of progressive movements which promise to be of permanent benefit to his locality.

Mr. Terry has been twice married. In early manhood he was married to Maggie Bugbee, who was born in New York and was a daughter of Tobias and Naomi Bugbee. At her death she left one son, Josiah P., who resides on the homestead. Josiah P. Terry married Mary Ross, who was born in Oakland County, and is a daughter of David and Lydia Ross, and they have two daughters, — Maggie and Ernestine. Our subject’s second marriage took place in 1882, to Mary Bryant, who was born in Pontiac township and is a daughter of Jairus and Hannah (Wilder) Bryant. As will be seen, the Terry family is one of the old and honored ones of the locality and its members enjoy the esteem of the community.