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DESCENDANTS OF ZACHARIAH STRAIGHT, SR.
Zachariah Straight, Sr. died in New York in 1825.
His five sons came to Michigan in the 1830’s from Essex County, New York:
- Charles Straight, born 1819 in New York
- Daniel Straight, came with his family in 1835
- Enos Straight, came to MI 1834
- Matthias Straight
- Zachariah Straight, Jr., youngest, came to MI in 1836
1. Charles, born March 24, 1819 married Mary Towner of Livonia, born in NY December 11, 1822. Their children, Lucius C. Straight, was born in 1849 and Harriet Straight, was born in 1846. Charles settled on the east 1/2 of SW 1/4 section 11, formerly owned by Emily White, and built a farmhouse on the northeast corner of the intersection of Shotka and Ford Road. The farm house was built on a large sand hill, which housed the famous (or infamous) “Bomb Cellar” below around the start of World War II. By industry and economy he added other lands to his possessions and enjoyed easy financial circumstances. died November 24, 1903 died November 24, 1888
2. Daniel, born December 10, 1808 in New York, married Marcia Ann Ferris, born in December 1816 in New York before coming to Michigan. They had 5 children, including Oscar and Louisa, but 3 others died at young ages. Daniel died in 1875 and Marcia in 1896, and both were buried in Newburgh Cemetery in Livonia, Michigan.
3. Enos came to Michigan in 1834 from New York and with Daniel, bought the east 1/2 of SW 1/4 section 10 from Luman Fowler. They also bought the west 1/2 of SE 1/4 of Samuel Willard but worked it all in partnership. Enos returned East, married Mercy Jones, brought her to MI in 1836. In 1842, Daniel and Enos enlarged their business by engaging in wool carding and cloth dressing at Perrinsville. In 1846, they in company with their youngest brother, Zachariah and W. H. Osband, under the name of Straight, Osband & Co., built a steam sawmill at Inkster, and after three or four years, he and Daniel dissolved partnership and divided their property. They were both men of sterling worth and of undoubted integrity. Enos died in 1854 of cholera
4. Matthias’ first wife was Miss Nash of Plymouth, and subsequently married Amanda Smith of Livonia. He bought the SW 1/4 of section 11, being part of the Job Sherman estate.
He subsequently bought the eighty acres joining it on the south.
He accumulated property, and for some years lived in Ypsilanti in easy circumstances. The dates of his birth and death are not known to us.5. Zachariah,Jr., the youngest brother, came to Michigan in 1836. He was a bright boy and a good student in school. Besides the district school, he attended the Ypsilanti academy during the winter of 1843-4. Afterward, he taught three terms of district school. Zachariah married Eliza Reeves in September of 1846 and partnered in owning the sawmill in Inkster. Eliza died on May 13, 1847. In 1852 he sold his interest in the sawmill in Inkster and went to California with his brother Charles, by way of Panama. On his way he was shipwrecked at Acapulco, but reshipped. He was taken sick before he reached his destination and died a few days after reaching San Francisco.
Oscar S. Straight, Daniel’s son, was born in 1839 in Michigan, and at age 27, married Mary E. Peck of Perrinsville, born in 1843 in Michigan, at age 23, May 22, 1866 in the Westminster Presbyterian Church in Detroit. Oscar bought the home at 6221 Merriman built in 1866 by his father, Daniel, and 105 acres “more or less, according to the original survey” in 1869, for the “consideration of $3,000.00”. They lived here with their children, Marshall O., and Ralph until Oscar died in 1886 and was buried in Newburgh Cemetery in Livonia. Their son, Ralph, died at age 14 on February 18, 1887.
Mary’s father, James A. Peck was elected first PostMaster at Perrinsville on October 11, 1861. The name was changed to Pikes Peak December 21, 1882, and was in operation until August 30, 1902. Oscar was also the PostMaster for a couple of years before he died on October 9, 1886. He was buried in Newburgh Cemetery in Livonia, MI.
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