Nimisse's Family History

This will be a page of our famly history. It will include the Blackwoods, Hilyars, Osborns, & the Harveys. As time goes by, we hope to leave no 'leaf' unturned on our 'family tree'. If you have any information on any member of our family, pease feel free to contact us! Karen & Carol

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For Your Information:NIMISSE' is the Ojibwa word for MY SISTER

We will start with the BLACKWOODs. Blackwood was our mother's maiden name. It is through her that we received our Native American Heritage. Her father, Edward Frank Blackwood was a L'Anse Chippewa Indian. He was born in Michigan and we are in the process of tracing his roots.

He received 40 acres of land in Ontonagon, Michigan. Of course, being this is land from the Government to the 'savage' Indian, it is uninhabitable!! We are planning a trip to OUR land this summer. We will post pictures of this land and you may make your own conclusions.

Here is some information that we have found using old Census records.

1900 Census for Ontonagon, Michigan ----------------------------------------

John Blackwood ~ Aug 1850 ~ Canada (French) ~ Aug 1850 ~ 49 yrs old
Josephine ~ wife ~ Oct 1858 ~ Michigan ~ 41
Louis ~ son ~ Dec 1879 ~ Michigan ~ 20
Mary ~ daughter ~ Sept1893 ~ Michigan ~ 16
Henry ~ son ~ Sept 1887 ~ Michigan ~ 12
Margaret ~ daughter ~ Dec 1890 ~ Michigan ~ 9
*Edward ~ son ~ Jan 1893 ~ Michigan ~ 7
Esther ~ daughter ~ Aug 1897 ~ 2


Here is the Census record for 1880. It list JOHN BLACKWOOD living with his mother-in-law.
1880 Census for Ontonagon, Michigan -----------------------------------
Mary Godfrey ~ Indian ~ Widow ~ age 44 ~ born Wisconsin
Josephine Blackwood ~ Daughter ~ Indian ~ age 21 ~ born Michigan ~ Both parents born Wisconsin
John Blackwood ~ Son-in-law ~ White (?) ~ age 29 ~ born Canada ~ Dad: Scotland Mom:Canada
Agnes (?) Godfrey ~ Daughter ~ Indian ~ age 19 ~ Born Michigan
Frank Godfrey ~ Son ~ Indian ~ age 18 ~ born Michigan
John Godfrey ~ Son ~ Indian ~ age 11 ~  born Michigan
Lucy Godfrey ~ Daughter ~ Indian ~ age 6 ~ born Michigan
Louis Blackwood ~ Grandson ~ Indian ~ age 5 months ~ born Michigan



Carol wrote:
"What I thought was really interesting, ..... The family next door (1 prior enumerated) were: Charlotte Godfrey Indian age 80 Born Wisconsin Both parents born Canada (Mary's mom? Josephine's gramma?) Inez Godfrey   Indian   Age 50 Daughter(Mary's sis?)     Born Wisconsin Both parents Wisconsin Charles Godfrey Indian   Age 26 Son   Born Wisconsin Both parents Wisconsin Mary Blackwood Indian   Age 70 Born Wisconsin. I'm thinking John's relation -- Maybe his mom? - right next door, Indian and Wis could be incorrect, they match the Godfrey's info (was somebody in a hurry?)"

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'worn_moccasins'