Lester PRIDGEON (1894-1972)

1 Lester Agustus PRIDGEON^1,2,3,4 (1894-1972) [824]. Born 23 Jan 1894, Montgonery, MI.^2,3,4,5,6 Marr Florence G. PARADINE 8 Jul 1920, Ovid Township, Branch, MI.^2,7 Marr Anita GILBERT Oct 1968.⁸ Died 20 Sep 1972, LeRoy, NY.^5,8 Buried Machpelah Cemetery, LeRoy, NY.⁸

From the Fort Wayne News, Fort Wayne, IN

February 3, 1915 - "Lester Pridgeon and Miss Maud Kimmel were guest in the home of W. E. Ford the latter part of last week."

February 2, 1916 - "Lester Pridgeon, of Bronson, Mich., spent the week-end with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. John Pridgeon."

February 23, 1916 - "Lester Pridgeon, of Bronson, was in Ray Saturday. He spent Sunday with his parents at West Montgomery."

March 16, 1916 - "C. J. Reynolds and Lester Pridgeon, of Bronson, were guest of Glenn and Harold Pridgeon."

May 26, 1916 - "Lester Pridgeon, of Bronson, Mich., vised his parents over Sunday."

November 15, 1916 - "Mr. Lester Pridgeon, of Ann Arbor, Mich., and Mr. Carl Osborne, of Ann Arbor, spent the week-end with their parents, Mr. and Mrs. John Pridgeon and Mr. and Mrs. Ed Osborne"

December 16, 1916 - "Mr. Lester Pridgeon, of Ann Arbor spent his Thanksgiving vacation with his parents north of town [Ray]."

December 16, 1917 - "Mr. Lester Pridgeon, of Ann Arbor, Mich., spent Saturday and Sunday with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. John Pridgeon."

April 11, 1917 - "Mr. Lester Pridgeon, of Ann Arbor, is spending his spring vacation with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. John Pridgeon."

December 26, 1917 - "Harold McNaughton, Carl Osborne and Lester Pridgeon, of Ann Arbor, are spending the holiday vacation with their parents here."

April 18, 1917 - "Mr. Nelson, medical student of Ann Arbor, Mich., spent last week with Carl Osborne and Lester Pridgeon."

A photograph of Lester A. Pridgeon was published in the Michiganensian; A War Record Published by the Students of the University of Michigan, 1919. It is described as a record of the University's work in the Great War. The picture shows 17 young men in the S.A.T.C. (Students' Army Training Corps).

2 John PRIDGEON , Jr.¹ (1872-1957) [818]. Born 26 Jun 1872, California Township, Branch County, MI. Marr Mollie KIMMEL 31 Jan 1891. Marr Benetty M. SELBY 1928.⁹ Died 25 Apr 1957.¹⁰ Buried California Township Cemetery.¹¹

From the Fort Wayne News, Fort Wayne, IN

February 11, 1915 - "John Pridgeon and Wilson Paul were Angola visitors one day last week."

January 15, 1917 - "Mrs. W. E. Ford entertained at 6 o'clock dinner Dr. and Mrs. McTaggart, Mr. and Mrs. C. A. McNaughton and son Howard, C. Reynolds, Miss Maud Kimmel and Mr. and Mrs. John Pridgeon."

January 15, 1917 - "A social was held at the home of John Pridgeon Friday evening. The proceeds went to the Young Men's Athletic Club at California, Mich."

April 24, 1917 - "Mr. and Mrs. John Pridgeon visited at Jake Pridgeon's at Reading, Mich.".

4 John PRIDGEON¹² (1833-1907) [562]. Born 3 Aug 1833, Detroit, MI.¹² Marr Eunice LEASE 1858, Branch County, MI. Marr Mary SHANNON aft 1865. Marr Anna JOHNSON 24 Oct 1875, Branch County, MI.¹³ Died 4 Feb 1907.¹⁰ Cause: Fatty Degfneration of heart. Buried W. Reading Cemetery, Algansee, Hillsdale Co. MI.

8 Joshua PRIDGEON (1798-1870) [466]. Bap 4 Mar 1798, Pinchbeck, Lincolnshire, England. Born 30 Mar 1798, Pinchbeck, Lincolnshire, England.¹⁴ Marr Mary STOCKDALE 12 Jul 1827, Skegness, Lincolnshire, England. Marr Susanna BELL 27 Mar 1831, Friskney, Lincolnshire, England. Died 3 Jan 1870, California, Branch County, MI.^15,16 Buried W. Reading Cemetery, Algansee, Hillsdale Co. MI.

From A Twentieth Century History and Biographical Record of Branch County, Michigan, 1906 by Rev. Henry P. Collin.

Upon a fine farm of one hundred and sixty acres on section two, California township, resides John Pridgeon, Jr., and his father, John Pridgeon, Sr. The latter was born in Detroit, Michigan, August 3, 1833, and was brought to Branch county, Mich. by his parents in 1836. His father was Joshua Pridgeon, a native of Lincolnshire, England, in which county the birth of Mrs. Susan Belle Pridgeon, wife of Joshua Pridgeon, also occurred. They were married in England and soon afterward crossed the Atlantic to America, hoping to improve their financial condition in the new world with its broader business opportunities. They settled in Pennsylvania, where they lived for a few years and then came to Michigan, arriving in Detroit about 1825. There they spent eight years, and during that time Joshua Pridgeon came to Branch county and entered a claim from the government of one hundred and sixty acres. In 1836 he brought his family here, took up his abode upon his claim and began clearing the land. In connection with general farming he became widely known as a stock raiser and dealer. He was a breeder of Devonshire cattle and also of blanded sheep and good horses. He and his wife spent their remaining days upon the farm, his death occurring in 1875, while she passed away in 1884. They were typical pioneer residents, sharing in the usual experiences of life on the frontier and extending cordial hospitality to friend and stranger. In the active work of subduing a wild district Mr. Pridgeon took a helpful part and is classed with the pioneer settlers whose labors have made possible the present advanced condition of the county. Unto him and his wife were born seven children, all of whom reached years of maturity, namely: George, who died in this county; Joshua, who died in Hillsdale county, Michigan; John, father of our subject; Samuel, who lives in Isabella county, this state; Abram, a resident of California township, Branch county; Isaac, deceased; and Jacob, who is living in Algansee township.

John Pridgeon, Sr., was a little lad of but three years when brought by his parents to Branch county, and here his youth was passed amid pioneer surroundings. He lived here at the period when most of the homes were log cabins, when much of the land was covered with dense timber and when the work of farming was carried on in but a slight degree. He was married in 1858 to Miss Eunice Lease, a native of California township, whose father was Julius Lease, who came to this country in 1839, and whose mother was a Diamond. There were three children born of this marriage: Benjamin, who is now residing in Seattle, Washington; Henry, a resident of Kalamazoo, Michigan; abd Mrs. Emma Lazenley, of Hillsdale county. After the death of his first wife Mr. Pridgeon was again married, his second union being with Mary Shannon. their only child is the subject of this review. The mother died in 1875.

John Pridgeon, Sr., started out in life on his own account when twent-one years of age, and soon afterward purchased his present farm of 80 acres. While paying for it he lived at home. He has always carried on general agricultural pursuits, making his home continuously in California township, and his labors have been rewarded with a gratifying competence. He has cleared many acres of new land and has undergone all the difficulties incident to the establishment of a home on the frontier. he saw the first school house built in the township and he lived here when there were no roads aside from the old Indian trails. he went forty miles to mill and also a long distance to market, but the early settlers depended largely upon what they could raise upon their farms, having few of the conveniences and comforts which are now regarded as essential at this period of our modern civilization. In community affairs he has been deeply and helpfully interested and has served as highway commissioner. His memory forms a connecting link between the primitive past and the progressive present and he relates many interesting incidents of the early days when the mode of life was very dissimilar to that of the present time. In his farm work he used crude machinery, much of the labor of tilling the fields and caring for the crops being done by hand.

John Pridgeon, Jr., was born June 26, 1872, upon the farm where he yet resides, and it has been his home continuously since. Under his father's direction he worked in the fields and his education was acquired in the district schools. On the 31st of January, 1891, he wedded Miss Mollie Kimmell, who was born in Defiance, Ohio, on the 2nd of January, 1873. Her father Columbus Kimmell, was born in Richland county, Ohio, in April 1832, and was of German descent. He wedded Mary Dean, who was born in Richland county in November, 1841. He had lived in Ohio until about 1886, and then removed to Hillsdale county, Michigan, where both he and his wife now reside. They became the parents of eight children, four of whom are now living: Joseph, I.W. and Maude, all residents of Hillsdale county; and Mrs. Pridgeon. John and Mollie (Kimmell) Pridgeon have four children: Glenn D., Lester A., William harold and Mary W., constituting a bright and interesting family. Mr. Pridgeon belongs to the California Tent of Maccabees, while his wife affiliates with the Ladies of the Maccebees. He is a representative of one of the oldest families of the township, and the work which was begun by his grandfather and continued by his father is still being carried on by him. The name of Pridgeon has long stood for agricultural progress and loyal citizenship and the subject of this review is a worthy representative of the family.

9 Susanna BELL (1798-1884) [467]. Born 1 Dec 1798, Lincolnshire, Eng.¹⁴ Died 1 Dec 1884, California, Branch County, MI.¹⁶ Buried W. Reading Cemetery, Algansee, Hillsdale Co. MI.

Her son Samuel stated she was born in Ireland in 1900 census,

Note on Marriage to Joshua PRIDGEON: They came to America after they married. Stayed in PA a few years before coming to Detroit. Had a farm in Greenfield and came to Branch County around 1837.

5 Mary SHANNON¹⁷ (c. 1848-1875) [817]. Born c. 1848, Ohio.^12,17 Died 2 Aug 1875, California, Branch CO., MI.¹⁷ Cause: Metritis.

10 Alexander SHANNON¹⁷ ( - ) [2815].

3 Mollie KIMMEL¹ (1873-1926) [822]. Born 2 Jan 1873, Defiance County, OH. Died 4 Jan 1926.¹⁰ Buried California Township Cemetery.¹¹

From the Fort Wayne News, Fort Wayne, IN

December 17, 1915 - "Mrs. Mollie Pridgeon and Maud Kimmel of near Montgomery, spent Saturday with Mrs. Carl Ford."

February 16, 1916 - "Mrs. Mollie Pridgeon was a guest of Mrs. W. E. Ford on last Friday."

March 26, 1916 - "Mrs. Mollie Pridgeon of West Montgomery was a Ray visitor Saturday."

March 28, 1917 - "Mrs. John Pridgeon and daughter, Juanita, Mrs. Joe Kimmel and daughter Lola, were guests of Miss maude Kimmel last Saturday.".

Sources

1	"Newspaper articles in the Fort Wayne News.".

2	"1930 St. Clair, MI census".

3	"WWI Selective Service registration card".

4	"1940 MI, St. Claire, St. Claire census".

5	"Social Security Death Index".

6	"Obituary of Lester Pridgeon in Bativia Daily News, Batavia, NY on September 21, 1972".

7	"Michigan, U.S., Marriage Records, 1867-1952 for Florence Paradine & Lester Pridgeon".

8	"Obituary of Lester Pridgeon in the Democrat and Chronicle, Rochester, NY on September 21, 1972".

9	"History of Branch County, 1979 - ".

10	"Branch County death records".

11	"California Corners Cemetery Records".

12	"1870 Branch County census".

13	"Ancestry.com Database of Michigan Marriages, 1851-75".

14	"Information provided by Richard Brothwell".

15	"From a book "History of Branch County".".

16	"Burials Hillsdale County, Michigan, Southern Michigan Genealogy Society, 1978".

17	"Genealogical Death Indexing System - Michigan".