Some thoughts on the family of my 5th generation great grandfather, Sherman Thomas Johnson.
Lydia B. Ferris (1837-1929) is the second wife of Sherman Thomas Johnson (1798-1880). They married in 1870 when Lydia was 31. Sherman's brother Clark Johnson's (1813-1892) first wife Polly Ferris (abt 1815-1849) died at the age of 34, when Lydia was only about 12 years old. I am curious how these two ladies are related. My current theory is that Polly is Lydia's aunt. I think Polly is the sister of Lydia's father Joseph Ferris (1812-1864). Joseph Ferris is the son of John Ferris (1787-1869) and Mary Salome Zerbe (1787-1867) and I think Polly is thier daughter or niece.
Additionally, Sherman and Clark both had two wives, and between the two of them fathered 22 children (of only six were boys, Clark only had one son, and nine daughters). I am not sure why this intreagues me so much, perhaps because I have a blended family of children, and it is interesting to know that it has been happening thoughout the ages (though not through a product of divorce).
Dawn T. sent me a list of deeds issued in Hinckley, Medina, OH in November that I was just able to process today. this family is listed in numerous places, but the one worth noting for this topic is that Lydia as grantor on behalf of her husband Sherman sold a piece of property to James N. Mattingly for $4576.25. This was signed on April 18, 1880 and in today's terms this amounts to $105,028.56. They were living in Almira, Benzie, MI at the time. Considering Sherman died shortly after, it would appear, at least currently, that Lydia was not left in dire straits, even though she had five children under the age of 10.
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