Sylvester Stanley was born Aug. 20, 1831 in Ontario, Canada. His parents were Thomas B. Stanley and Mary M. Forbes. At the age of 31, he married Elizabeth Jane Barnhard on August 14, 1862. She was only 15 years old. [Vital Records, Newaygo Co.] On Sept. 23, 1864, at the age of 33, he was drafted into the American Civil War.
He spent his short military career as a private in Company F of the 15th Michigan Infantry. As a part of that regiment, Sylvester took part in General Sherman's historic "March to the Sea" and marched with the unit in the Grand Review at the close of the war in Washington D.C. Some accounts claim that he was discharged on May 30, 1865, more local sources claim that was the date he and his brother William returned to Dayton, MI (more likely). He married two more times; Marcia Jenna Johnson on September 20, 1871, and later Irene M. Wilcox on March 31, 1907.
As of 1903, he was living in Hesperia, MI [Michigan Record of Service] and suffered from sunstroke and chronic diareaha as a result of his time in the army. [1890 Census] He is buried in West Hesperia Cemetery in Oceana County, MI after dieing of Senile Decay.
Sylvester Stanley was born Aug. 20, 1831 in Ontario, Canada. His parents were Thomas B. Stanley and Mary M. Forbes. At the age of 31, he married Elizabeth Jane Barnhard on August 14, 1862. She was only 15 years old. [Vital Records, Newaygo Co.] On Sept. 23, 1864, at the age of 33, he was drafted into the American Civil War.
He spent his short military career as a private in Company F of the 15th Michigan Infantry. As a part of that regiment, Sylvester took part in General Sherman's historic "March to the Sea" and marched with the unit in the Grand Review at the close of the war in Washington D.C. Some accounts claim that he was discharged on May 30, 1865, more local sources claim that was the date he and his brother William returned to Dayton, MI (more likely). He married two more times; Marcia Jenna Johnson on September 20, 1871, and later Irene M. Wilcox on March 31, 1907.
As of 1903, he was living in Hesperia, MI [Michigan Record of Service] and suffered from sunstroke and chronic diareaha as a result of his time in the army. [1890 Census] He is buried in West Hesperia Cemetery in Oceana County, MI after dieing of Senile Decay.
Marcid J(Jenny or Jane) Johnson
left husband Stanley, with Millis a hired hand and ended up in northern Mn probably around Redwood Falls..
Both her parents born in NY
The name change was never official, as I understand it. From the story I heard Marcid
Johnson left one day with Everett Millis and the children after Sylvester Stanley went to work.
They settled in Minnesota. There was never a divorce and she simply told the children that their
father was dead and changed their names--probably to avoid being found. It was not until around
1943 that one of my aunts and my grandparents traveled to Michigan and found the cemetery. I
believe they thought that there were other children born to Sylvester with another woman. This
discovery was quite a shock to my grandfather since he had believed that his father had been
dead. Unfortunately the exact details have been lost over the years. It is my understanding that
when they went to one of the Stanley homes in Newaygo Township, the door was closed to them
by the person who answered and they were unable to find out any more information
from (Stanley) Millis descendant
Sylvester Stanley was born Aug. 20, 1831 in Ontario, Canada. His parents were Thomas B. Stanley and Mary M. Forbes. At the age of 31, he married Elizabeth Jane Barnhard on August 14, 1862. She was only 15 years old. [Vital Records, Newaygo Co.] On Sept. 23, 1864, at the age of 33, he was drafted into the American Civil War.
He spent his short military career as a private in Company F of the 15th Michigan Infantry. As a part of that regiment, Sylvester took part in General Sherman's historic "March to the Sea" and marched with the unit in the Grand Review at the close of the war in Washington D.C. Some accounts claim that he was discharged on May 30, 1865, more local sources claim that was the date he and his brother William returned to Dayton, MI (more likely). He married two more times; Marcia Jenna Johnson on September 20, 1871, and later Irene M. Wilcox on March 31, 1907.
As of 1903, he was living in Hesperia, MI [Michigan Record of Service] and suffered from sunstroke and chronic diareaha as a result of his time in the army. [1890 Census] He is buried in West Hesperia Cemetery in Oceana County, MI after dieing of Senile Decay.
Both his parents born in NY. in 1880 living in Featherstone MN
Marcid J(Jenny or Jane) Johnson
left husband Stanley, with Millis a hired hand and ended up in northern Mn probably around Redwood Falls..
Both her parents born in NY
The name change was never official, as I understand it. From the story I heard Marcid
Johnson left one day with Everett Millis and the children after Sylvester Stanley went to work.
They settled in Minnesota. There was never a divorce and she simply told the children that their
father was dead and changed their names--probably to avoid being found. It was not until around
1943 that one of my aunts and my grandparents traveled to Michigan and found the cemetery. I
believe they thought that there were other children born to Sylvester with another woman. This
discovery was quite a shock to my grandfather since he had believed that his father had been
dead. Unfortunately the exact details have been lost over the years. It is my understanding that
when they went to one of the Stanley homes in Newaygo Township, the door was closed to them
by the person who answered and they were unable to find out any more information
from (Stanley) Millis descendant
in 1880 US census b 1880..and in Iowa. was 3 mo old at time of census. living in Osborne Mn.
possibly b 3/19/1880 in Mnd 8/1978