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JOSEPH YERKES AND HIS DESCENDANTS BY ELIAS S. WOODMAN
Right here I cannot forbear the honorable mention of Clark A. Griswold, the husband of Hannah Griswold, and a venerable resident of Plymouth. A just and fitting tribute should form the theme of a separate paper in the annals of Michigan's pioneers, hence I omit further mention at this time.
I will now take a retrospective glance at the life and times of William Yerkes, and close this paper. William Yerkes, senior, in company with his cousin, Thomas Pinkerton, early in the year 1825 journeyed on foot from Ovid, N. Y., through Canada by way of Chatham, Hamilton and Detroit, to the township of Farmington, Michigan, in search of farming lands. At that time the townships of Commerce, Lyon, Novi, Southfield and Farmington were collectively known as Farmington. Mr. Yerkes selected sections 35 and 36 in this township, while others of his party chose tracts near by. This done, they returned by the same route on foot to New York, where they remained till March, 1826, when they again set out on foot through Canada for their chosen home in the west. Their families came on later in company with Joseph Yerkes, the venerable father of William, and arrived May 14, and then began the enactment of scenes so familiar to you before me who have
passed through the same trying experiences. William Yerkes was soon appointed territorial justice of the peace by Gen. Cass, which office he held through many terms. He held many offices of honor and trust in the township and county. In 1838 he was a member of the State legislature, and again in 1857 and 1858, voting for the five million dollar loan negotiated in 1838 and 1839.
Michigan
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