The Well Traveled McCrohan Family Who Sold Property In Flint, MI

Genesee Co., Michigan, Deeds
Liber "155", Page 45
Recorded: 23 November 1897
Dennis J. & Laura McCrohan of Marion County, Indiana
Warranty Deed To
J.L. More of Genesee Co., Michigan
1/2 of Lots 1 & 2
Said 1/2 located on corner of First & Smith Streets in Block "A" of Smith, Stone and Turner's Addition to the City of Flint

It is my belief that the Grantee is James Levi More who was my great-grandmother's brother. According to his obituary, James L. More owned a retail grocery business in Flint, Genesee Co., Michigan. I don't know if his store was located in the above mentioned location on the "corner of First & Smith Streets." Smith Street led into Grand Traverse and in 1958 Smith was changed to Grand Traverse.

When abstracting deeds, it is especially gratifying to find a grantor or grantee who lived somewhere other than where the property in question is located. That was the case with the McCrohans. It was even more fun tracking the McCrohans and their many residences. Dennis McCrohan was born in Whitby, Ontario and lived in (or had transactions in) several counties in Michigan and also moved to Iowa and Illinois. The moves can also be tracked through a trade publication "Fibre & fabric..." that included McCrohan's profession as a woolen mill superintendent.

Dennis McCrohan married 1st Rhoda Jane Howe 25 Dec 1864 in Hillsdale Co., MI. Their daughter Mattie (Martha) was born in Davenport, Iowa, in 1870. Mattie married Fred Pierson in Genesee Co., Michigan, in 1890. The Piersons lived on 916 Grand Traverse in Flint, Michigan, so perhaps that's the McCrohan connection to the above mentioned deed.

1870 IA Scott, Davenport
McCroham (sic), Dennis, 26, b. Canada, foreman, woolen mill
", Jane, 26, keeping house, b. IN
", Mattie, 2, b. IA
", Edward, 24, harnessmaker, b. Canada

Edwin, son of Dennis & Rhoda Jane McCrohan, was born in Ypsilanti, Washtenaw Co., Michigan, in July of 1871.

In 1875, Dennis McCrohan was superintendent of a woolen mill in Portland, Ionia Co., Michigan.

Dennis McCrohan married 2nd Laura May Morehouse (daughter of Jeptha & Phebe (Tyler) Morehouse) on 1 November 1881 in Ionia Co., MI (her sister Phoebe was a witness). His residence was given as Parkville, St. Joseph Co., Michigan, at the time of his marriage.

In 1880, the widowed Mr. McCrohan was living in Ionia County:

Inman CONKLING Self M W 45 MI Wheat Purchaser NY NY
Lu /CONKLING Wife M W 30 ENG Milliner ENG ENG
Gertie CONKLING Dau S W 12 MI MI ENG
J.D. MCCROWEN Other W W 35 CAN Woolen Manufacturer IRE IRE
Judson HENDRICK Other S W 28 MI Marble Dresser NY NY
Newton EDDY Other S W28 MI Jeweler MI CAN
Source Information: Portland, Ionia, Michigan

Edwin McCrohan was living with his Howe relatives in St. Joseph Co., MI, in 1880.

Thomas HOWE Self M Male W 34 IN Blacksmith PA NY
Mary HOWE Wife M W 30 MI Keeping House OH OH
Perl HOWE Dau S W 4M MI IN MI
Edward MC CROHN Nephew S W 7 IA IN CAN
Source Information: Census Place Parkville, St. Joseph, Michigan

In 1880, Edwin McCrohan's sister Mattie was also living with Howe relatives:

H. Charles HOWE Self M W 42 IN Clergyman PA NY
C. Eunice HOWE Wife M W 39 MI Keeping House NY NY
D. Frank HOWE Son S W 14 MI Farm Laborer IN IN
E. Anna HOWE Dau S W 12 MI At Home IN MI
W. Charles HOWE Son S W 8 MI At Home IN MI
A. Jenne HOWE Dau S W 4 MI IN MI
M. Mattie MCCREHAN Niece S W 11 IA CAN IN
Source Information: Census Place Cannonsburg, Kent, Michigan

An 1894/95 advertisement found here in "Fibre & Fabric..." (Vol. 20) stated "KNITTING MACHINES - For Sale - Twenty Lamb knitting machines; all in good order and must be sold at once at your own price. Who wants them? Address: D. J. McCrohan, Flint, Mich." Page 966 of the same publication stated that "Mr. D. McCrohan, LaPorte, Ind., has for sale some knitting machines."

In 1887, D. J. McCrohan is still in Flint, per this "Fibre & fabric..." blurb. In 1892 the publication mentioned that "J. Sherwood, of Janesville, Ohio, has taken charge of dyeing for D. J. McCrohan of Flint, Mich." An entry in the 1892 publication also stated that "Wm. Newbold has secured the position of machinist with D. J. McCrohan of Flint, Mich."

Fibre & Fabric...(Vol. 26) stated "The Model woolen mill of Indianapolis, Ind., is crowded with orders.... ." "D. J. McCrohan is superintendent, manager and salesman. He was formerly superintendent at Flint, Mich., where he was for 12 years. E. A. Jones is boss carder; Joseph Cahill, spinner; John Henderson, weaver; James Sublett, dyer and finisher; Edward Tilley is overseer...E. B. McCrohan is loom fixer, and John Neahouse is dresser."

In 1897 when the deed was recorded, the McCrohans were living in Marion County, Indiana.

1900 IL Cook Co.
McCrohan, Dennis J., head, July 1849, 50, m18, b. Canada Scot Ire
", Laura M., wife, b. Jany 1861, 39, m18 1child/1living, b. MI NJ NY
", Edwin B., son, b. July 1873, b. MI Canada IN

In 1901 the Model Woolen Mill of Indianapolis was sold to D. A. Chenoweth for $26,000.00. The mill was established 40 years ago by the Geisendorff brothers. See another Geisendorff reference here.

In 1920, Edwin Brice McCrohan, son of Dennis McCrohan, was living in Essex Co., New Jersey.