The 2nd in a Series … Volume II
Prompt: Favourite Photo
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Playing favourites is not really my style. I prefer different things for different reasons. When it comes to the old family photos I love them all simply because they exist and offer a snapshot in time I wouldn’t know otherwise.
While sifting through our limited collection of images (did I mention that my great grandmother Mary Lewis Belton (1881-1966) burned most of them in the belief that no one in the future would care?) this one of my second great grandfather Henry Belton’s new house in Escanaba, MI stood out. Fortunately, aunt Margaret (Belton) Cox, his youngest daughter, thought to write on the back of it a few sparse details.
Transcribed it reads as follows (with some blanks filled in):
“Henry Belton’s New House
Taken in 1904
Escanaba, Michigan
Mother ~ (Mary Jane (Crouse) Belton (1850-1932) )
myself ~ Margaret (Belton) Cox (1887-1978);
our old dog, the lady who lived upstairs with 2 little girls”
A Few Thoughts
Up until this point the Belton’s had been farmers in Fremont, Newaygo Co. Michigan (see map). They, like many of the state’s inhabitants at the time, had migrated from Ontario. They arrived in 1879, farmed for just over 20 years and then, it appears, sold the farm and moved to this lovely house in town.
Why Escanaba is anyone’s guess. It’s not exactly close to Fremont, Newaygo Co.. Maybe it was an emerging town with good opportunities for the girls, Mary (23) and Margaret (17), both of whom were talented seamstresses. Did the move also have something to do with the boys ~ William, George, Frank, and Henry ~ itching to work on the new Great Northern Railroad?
Within a year of moving into their new home the eldest daughter and my great grandmother, Mary Lewis Belton (1881-1966), married Steve McDonall (1877-1949) who’d already been out to Montana from Michigan presumably looking for opportunities. By 1906 Steve, Mary and her brothers had left Escanaba and were working on the railroad at Bantry, North Dakota. In addition, that year saw the arrival of Mary and Steve’s first child, Joseph Henry (1906-1967). Henry and Mary Jane either went with their family or arrived in Bantry around the time of Joseph’s birth. By 1912 the entire family, which included two more little boys, had landed in Great Falls, Montana. Only William had opted to go his own way, to Chicago.
All this is to say that Henry and Mary Jane Belton were not in their pretty new house very long before they sold up again and started the long trek west.
What might their lives have been had they decided to stay in Escanaba and retired comfortably to this beautiful house? Well, it’s a moot point for they opted instead to follow their children across uncertain terrain to an uncertain future. Much like their ancestors they threw caution to the wind, welcoming the adventure while showing devotion to family.
The Final Word
Their late-middle age story of relinquishing a genteel retirement for railroad pioneering is reminiscent of my Scottish great grandparents, William Alexander Gordon (1880-1954) and Jane (Robson) Gordon (1883-1959) who made a similar decision in 1927 when they left their own comfortable life in Motherwell, Scotland, for the untamed wilderness of northern Alberta. Also, the Palatines who left Ireland in the mid 1800s to join the growing Irish community in Ontario, and the United Empire Loyalists who sought refuge in the dark forests of Upper Canada shortly after the American Revolution. Intrepid and resilient dreamers who started again and, sometimes, again.
Henry Belton’s new house was mighty pretty, but in the end it meant nothing without the warmth of a tightly-knit family around to help him and Mary Jane enjoy it. That’s my sense, anyway, and I’m sticking to it. ❦
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©Dorothy E. Chiotti … All Rights Reserved 2023 … Aimwell CreativeWorks
Post Script
Researching family history is a fluid endeavour. Since writing this piece a couple of facts have come to light:
- In the 1900 U.S. census the Beltons are shown as living in Ubly, Michigan. This, of course, means that they did not go straight from Fremont to Escanaba as noted above.
- In 1898 the eldest son, William D. Belton, married Elizabeth Hewitt in Escanaba where they lived until 1907. It’s possible Henry and Mary Jane’s move to Escanaba was prompted by this event.
Shedding Light on the Family Tree 
Robert T. Belton, Jr. here – grandson of Robert Henry Belton, great-grandson of William D. Belton, great-great-grandson of Henry Belton. Just starting to dig into the Belton lineage. My grandfather (1900-1997) talked about Escanaba, Michigan occasionally, but it meant nothing to me, until now. I’m trying to race the Belton lineage back through Canada to Ireland. Henry Belton was the son of George Belton, but there are two – one born 1798, one born 1814, both in Ireland. Any information would be appreciated!
Hello, cousin Robert … so nice to meet you. I’m happy to share whatever info I have on the Beltons. Must admit I hit a brick wall until I incorporated DNA testing through Ancestry. The ThroughLines connected me to George Belton born in Ireland ca 1813 and his wife, Catherine Davis Kearn, also born in Ireland 1815. My sense is Co. Wicklow based on other sources, and that they migrated at different times to Madison Co., NY before heading up to Delaware, Ontario. According to the DNA George’s parents were Stephen Belton of Surrey, England and Mary Young of Ireland. The Beltons can be traced back further in England. Mary’s parentage appears to be unknown. … I hope this helps. I don’t know much about William D. Belton. Since he appears to have stayed in Wisconsin (is that where you are?) while the rest of the Belton clan continued west to Montana he wasn’t much spoken of in the family. At least, nothing has been filtered down. I would be interested in learning anything you might have on the Belton family via your own research. Let me know in a response whether you’d like to continue this conversation via email, and we can go from there. Be well, and thank you for reaching out. Your cousin a few times removed, Dorothy (McDonall) Chiotti
Dorthy,
Thanks so much for responding, and pleased to meet you, too, cousin! I knew virtually nothing about the Belton’s beyond my Grandfather, Robert Henry Belton. He never spoke much about his background. I knew he dropped out of High School in the nineteen-teens and rode freight trains to California – from where I don’t know. He connected with a Preacher and apprenticed (my best guess) for several years. He then went to Seminary in Xenia, Ohio – without graduating High School or going to College – and became a Presbyterian Minister. He became Pastor of the Central Park Congregational Church in Chicago in the early 1930’s. He met my grandmother there – her family, the Towle’s, were long-time members. They married, and then moved to several different jobs. He was Chaplain of the Berry Schools in Rome, Georgia in the late 30’s and early 40’s, then President of Kansas City Bible College in the mid-40’s, the back to Chicago and minister of a Presbyterian Church until joining the faculty of Moody Bible Institute in Chicago from 1950 – 1970. He retired, they moved to Daytona Beach, Florida for ten years, then moved to Steilacoom, Washington and lived with my parents in an in-law apartment until Grandpa died in 1997, Grandma in 1999.
My Dad was also a minister, but Baptist (his teenage rebellion, he claimed). He was an Army Chaplain from 1966 – 1986 with two tours in Vietnam. He died in 2018, my Mom died this past December 2nd, 2023, both in Washington State.
I spent 26 years in the Army, moved around a lot to include ten years in Germany. I retired from the Army in 2001 in Huntsville, Alabama, and stayed there another 14 years, working in the defense industry. I retired for good in 2015 and we moved to Mount Dora, Florida, about 35 miles north of Orlando.
I hope this isn’t too much for an introduction, but I’m excited to be going back more than two generations. I’ve only been at it a week. I had the wrong George Belton from familysearch.org. A woman in Canada on Wikitree who manages several Belton entries pointed me to the George Belton born 1814, and then after finding your piece on Henry Belton’s house, I also found your blog entry where I believe you went down the same rabbit hole. Amazing how much can be found in a short time!
Thanks again, I will certainly ask for info/help as I go along. I will dive into Stephen Belton and see what’s to be found.
Any thoughts of visiting Florida? Please come visit!
Robert T. Belton, Jr. ”Bob”
Hi Robert …
Thanks for sharing. Sounds like your family has a military tradition. I have a copy of William D. Belton’s draft card in my computer records. Would you be interested in receiving a copy?
While you’re researching Belton be sure to look at the Crouse line as well (Henry Belton m. Mary Jane Crouse in 1870, Middlesex Co., Ontario). It’s many branches can be traced back multiple generations to the United Empire Loyalists, Colonial New England, the Puritans, and beyond. We have a fascinating lineage.
It’s wonderful that you have begun this deep dive into the family history. I hope you experience many hours of enjoyment and revelation. We can learn so much about ourselves by learning about our forebears. Happy to help as I can.
No plans to go to Florida at this time, however if we ever do I’ll be sure to look you up.
Be well, and let me know if you’d like a copy of that document.
Dorothy
Dorthy,
Yes, I would like a copy of the draft card – thanks very much!
I know much more about other family lineages. My Paternal Grandmother, Lola Grace (Towle) Belton, and her sister were the end of this Towle line – hence my father’s and my middle name. She had a cousin who did an extensive search of the Towles – before the internet, the old-fashioned way, and typed a lengthy manuscript which I have. Supposedly the Towles were originally O’Tooles who moved to England from Ireland – voluntarily or otherwise – and eventually anglicized the name. Two brothers came to New England in the 17th Century, a later Towle served as a Sergeant in the American Revolutionary Army. My Great-Great-Grandfather served in Union Army in the American Civil War. Enlisted at 16, was medically discharged after six months for dysentery with a 50% pension for the rest of his life! He was Ethelbert Adolphus Towle – glad I only got his last name!
My Great-Great-Grandfather on my Mother’s maternal side, Theodore Kimmel, emigrated from Prussia in the 1850’s. He settled in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and served in the American Civil War in a German language artillery unit. My Grandmother’s brother served in WWI and had an extensive collection of memorabilia he brought back from France – and never took out of a trunk in his basement. After he died I was helping clear out his home, found the trunk, and claimed it before it was thrown out. I have all of this WWI things, plus items he had from his Grandfather Theodore Kimmel.
My standard answer when asked about my heritage has always been “northern European mish-mash.” Seems more true than ever!
Hi Robert …
Such an interesting heritage. So glad you claimed that trunk. What a treasure trove!! Do you have family to pass it on to?
My maternal grandfather, Stanley Lewis McDonall, stored all his family history treasures in his father’s railroad bag from when he and the Belton’s migrated across the northern plains (1904-1912-ish) while helping to build the Great Northern Railroad. I claimed it when we were clearing out grandpa’s house after he died.
By the way, do you know what the initial “D” stands for re William D. Belton? (Grandpa’s mother was Mary Lewis Belton, sister to your William.)
“Northern European mish-mash” sounds about right for me as well. Though my father’s family is Hungarian so, for good or ill, I can claim Eastern European also.
I see that you subscribed to my blog (presently on hiatus), so I have your email address. Would it be okay if I sent the draft card image to you that way? Don’t like to make assumptions.
Be well,
Dorothy
Dorthy,
Absolutely use my gmail account – no problem at all. roberttbelton@gmail.com – gotta have the extra “t” for Towle!
I’ve been wondering about where the WWI collection should go. One granddaughter is a history major at Florida Southern College. She will be a senior next year and wants to use the collection for her senior history project, which is great! Many years ago I tried to give the collection to the 1st Infantry Division Memorial Association (Uncle Bill’s unit) and they were not interested, to my surprise.
Sorry, I do not know what “D” stands for. Maybe we’ll stumble into it!
After I used the “term “mish-mash” I read through your entire 52-week blog series, and saw you used it as well – must be genetic!
Thanks for all the great information and the contents of your blog!
Bob
Okay, Robert … or may I call you “Bob?”
Expect to see something in your email shortly. Perhaps we can continue our conversation there. Interestingly, yesterday I was contacted on Ancestry by another descendent of William D. Belton.
I’m happy to share whatever info I have. Likewise, I’m always in search of more on the Beltons. My mother knew all of William’s siblings and remembers the Belton clan as being gentle folk with a healthy sense of humour. Also creative.
Document to follow …
Be well
Dorothy