James Alfred Todd8, (Alfred7, Caleb6, Caleb5, Stephen4, Samuel3, Samuel2, Christopher1) born Jan. 1, 1838, in Marcellus, Anondaga County, N. Y., married Sept. 17, 1863, Marien W., daughter of Rev. Gabriel and Sarah Burdick (Grey) Smith, who was born July 12, 1841, in New York City.
Mr. Todd, when less than year old was taken by his parents in Sept., 1838, to Nottawa Township, St. Joseph County, Mich., where he attended the county school and then two winters in High School in Sturgis, Mich.
He has been a farmer most of his life, and at the present time (1913) has a ranch near Williston, North Dakota.
He inherited from his mother, a college bred woman, a fondness for history and literature, and the ability to write and converse with interest. His father was a man of sterling integrity, universally admired for his honesty and justice. Both parents were great Bible students and brought up their family in strict religious observance. He is a Deacon in the Congregational Church in Williston, N. Dak.
He has been a Prohibitionist the greater part of his life and neither he nor any of his children drink or smoke.
He enlisted in Company A., 11th Michigan Volunteer Infantry, Aug. 24, 1861, and was mustered out of service, Feb. 24, 1863, at Murfreesboro, Tenn. He has always been loyal to the G. A. R. and for over thirty years was secretary of the 11th Michigan Infantry, which held reunions annually in Southern Michigan. He still retains an erect, soldierly carriage though growing slower in step.
Mrs. Todd’s father was a M. E. minister and was born in Polksville, N. Y., six miles east of Seneca Lake, N. Y., April 5, 1805. He was of Dutch, English and Scotch descent, and a descendant of the Wickes of Scotland. Mrs. Todd’s mother, Sarah Burdick Grey was born Jan. 13, 1813, in New York City. She traced her ancestry back to Lady Jane Grey, the “nine day Queen” of England. She inherited a great desire for reading and became a thorough student. She first attended school in Reynoldsville, N. Y., and later a district school in Michigan. She was a student at the High School in Sturgis, Mich., for two or three winters, and later completed a four year Chautauqua Course, while her children were growing up. She began teaching when she was but fifteen years old and continued at it off and on until three years after her marriage, her work being highly spoken of. She was a great worker in the W. C. T. U. and in the Presbyterian Church. Also a Good Templar.
A severe attack of Pneumonia and chronic Bronchitis left her an invalid and for the last half dozen years she has been confined to the house very largely.
Children:
1963. Petrea Eugenia, b. Nov. 11, 1866, d. Dec. 26, 1870.
1964. Raymond Smith, b. July 10, 1869, in Sherman Township, St. Joseph County, Mich. He graduated from the High School in Burr Oak, Mich., in 1887. He is a machinist. Unmarried.
*1965. Hubert Grey, b. Sept. 1, 1872.
*1966. Dwight Imnah, b. Dec. 19, 1877.
1967. Marien Almeda, b. May 16, 1880, in Burr Oak, Mich., where she graduated from the High School in 1898, and from Hillsdale College in 1902, with degrees of Batchelor of Philosophy and Batchelor of Pedagogy; taught in the Burr Oak High School as assistant Principal, 1902-05, being instructor in History and English; taught in the High School in Quincy, Mich., as Principal, teaching English and Latin, 1905-07. She moved to Williston, N. Dak., July 1909, where she taught the fourth grade in the city schools, 1909-13, with the exception of 1910.