My Genealogy Hound

John W. Prince, a prominent and successful farmer of Addison township, Oakland County, Michigan, owns a fine, well improved farm of 80 acres, which he has been operating since 1867. Mr. Prince was born in 1835 in Monroe County, New York, and is a son of George and Sarah (Mazerell) Prince, the former of whom was born in England, and the latter in Genesee County, New York.

George Prince came to America at the age of 40 years, and was married in New York State to Sarah Mazerell, who died at Saginaw City, Michigan, while on a visit, some 25 years ago, aged 80 years. Mr. Prince was a farmer and also a merchant. For 14 years prior to his death he resided with our subject, but he passed away in his 89th year, while in Saginaw City, where he is buried. In 1844 he brought his family from New York to Macomb County, Michigan, and later was a resident of Romeo. A family of 10 children were born to George Prince and wife, our subject being the fourth member of the family, and the others being as follows: Emeline, deceased; Cordelia, who married Elisha Brown and died in Baltimore; Charles, who also died in that city; Martha, who married Andrew Stranahan and resided the greater part of her life at Romeo, Michigan, where she died; Cornelia, who is the wife of James Durell, of St. Clair, Michigan; Fannie, who married W. L. Doyle, an attorney of Elkton, Michigan; Lucy, who lives at Ashton, Michigan; and William H. and James H., who died in infancy. Mrs. Prince was a consistent member of the Free Will Baptist Church all her life.

John W. Prince was reared in Macomb County. He has made his own way in the world and owes nothing to favoring circumstances. Since the age of 17 years he has followed the carpenter’s trade, having commenced working by the month when only 10 years old. In 1865 he came to Oakland County and worked for two years at building in Oxford and then removed to his present farm. This he has successfully conducted in connection with his carpenter business, the latter engaging a large part of his time, as he has done the greater portion of the building in his vicinity. The new church edifice at Oxford, which has a seating capacity of 100, and which was dedicated in October, 1903, was built by Mr. Prince, and is a fine specimen of his skill. Mr. Prince helped to fill the last quota of troops for the Civil War, serving seven months from Macomb County, in Company H, 8th Reg., Michigan Vol. Cavalry.

Prior to the Civil War Mr. Prince was united in marriage to Frances C. Robinson, who was born in Bruce township, Macomb County, and is a daughter of Abram Robinson, a native of New York, but a resident of Michigan. The other members of her parents’ family are: Mrs. Sarah Phillips, a widow residing in Macomb County: and Hoyt and Filmore, of Macomb County. Mr. and Mrs. Prince have three sons surviving of their seven children, as follows: George A., who is a farmer in Oxford township, and also a carpenter, was married to Ettie Shoaf, and they have one son, Claude; Elmer J., also a farmer in the same vicinity, was married to Ella Snyder, daughter of J. Snyder, and has one son, Milliard; and Herbert E., now operating the home farm, who was married to Emma Letts, and has two daughters, Maude D. and Ivy F.

Mr. Prince owns one of the best improved farms in Addison township, one which is well located and very productive, and under his training his sons have become excellent agriculturists. Politically he is a stanch supporter of the principles of the Republican party. In religious views he is a Methodist. Mr. Prince and family are universally esteemed, being first class citizens in every sense of the word.