Journey to Albion—Four unique stories of coming to Albion
Tuesdays, 10:15 am—12:15 pm. October 7, 14, 21, 28. Olin 234. Class size 40.
October 7. Sarah Steinhauer will tell early American history through her family story. All her ancestors were here before 1776. The earliest arrival was in 1610 on the ship that saved the Jamestown colony. Others arrived in Philadelphia as religious refugees. Two very diverse narratives which planted seeds for the diversity on our country today. After many ancestor twists and turns, Sarah ended up in Abion 50 years ago.
October 14. Dave and Sue Farley. David Frazer Farley, born 1805 in NJ, moved with his father’s family to upstate NY in May 1828. In February 1835, he started alone, on foot, to Michigan, arriving in Detroit in March. That summer, as a surveyor, he located land for others in Ingham, Branch, Calhoun and Clinton counties. He and his wife, Rosina (m. 1837) moved to Albion in March 1841, carrying their goods in a wagon pulled by an ox and horse teamed together. They were one of the earliest settlers in the Albion area.
October 21. Barb Lange will talk about the family behind Bellemont Manor. The Dean family came to Albion in the late 1800’s and left a lasting legacy. To date there have been six generations to attend Albion College. They were civic leaders, major employers in Albion as owners of Union Steel Products, strong contributors to the Methodist church, owned and operated Haven Hills Dairy Farms, and built Bellemont Manor. The second half of the class will take place at Bellemont Manor for a tour.
October 28. Bob Wall will present information on the formation of two African American communities in Albion: the first from 1850 to 1915 and the second from 1916 to the present. Focus will be on the factors that motivated them to come to Albion.