Descendants of John Maxfield
of Salisbury, Massachusetts
Seventh Generation

John Maxfield served in the Civil War, returning home with a disability (Civ War Soldiers):

Name: John A Maxfield
Residence: Wright, Michigan
Service Record : Enlisted as a Corporal on 09 Sep. 1862 at the age of 21
Enlisted in Company B, 6th Cavalry Regiment Michigan on 11 Oct. 1862.
Promoted to Full Sergeant on 01 Jan. 1863
Received a disability discharge Company B, 6th Cavalry Regiment Michigan on 18 Apr. 1863 in Campbell Hospl, Washington, DC

This family was reported at Tallmadge Township, Ottawa County, Michigan, in the 1870 and 1880 censuses, where John was a farmer. In 1900 they were at Perris Township, Riverside County, California, where John was a salesman. The 1880 census (601:415B) reported them as follows:

Howell Edwards estimated that this family moved to California about 1895 (Edwards). He reported,

According to family history, John suffered from a respiratory ailment which was becoming worse in Michigan. For this reason and understandably the "lure" of California brought John to Perris. He later sent for his family, who made the long journey on the train (it must have been their first train trip, as the journey was a much-mentioned topic in the family in years to come). Since family history places Bessie in her "teens" and Aunt Jean as a young child when the trip was made, the author feels comfortable in placing the date of their journey West around 1895.

John A. Maxfield died at Perris, California, on 9 January 1904 (Ottawa Co obits). For his full obutuary see below. The 1910 census (91:4A) reported widow Louise Maxfield living with her daughter Jane and son-in-law Hallie Klyne at Comer Avenue, Riverside, California. In 1920 (125:2B) widow Louise Maxfield was at Comer Avenue, Riverside, with her daughter, Bessie Totty, also a widow, and Bessie's daughter Marion. In 1930 (183:3A) widow Louise Maxfield, now 85, was living on Comer Avenue with her granddaughter Marion Totty. Louisa Maxfield died at Riverside on 31 January 1938 (Edwards).

John A. Maxfield and his wife Louisa Tracy had the following children:

1. MARION B.⁸ MAXFIELD
   • b. at Lamont on 24 September 1866 (Edwards)
   • d. on 13 December 1936 (Edwards)
   • m. at Ottawa County on 14 October 1885 FRANK SLATER (Ottawa Co M; Edwards)
2. ELIZABETH TRACY⁸ MAXFIELD "Libby"
   • b. at Tallmadge Township, Ottawa County, MI, on 3 September 1868 (Ottawa Co B)
   • d. at Los Angeles County, California, on 17 December 1940 (Gibson)
   • m. at Riverside County, California, on 5 March 1894 FRED M. BAIRD (Gibson)
3. BESSIE HEDGES⁸ MAXFIELD
   • b. at Lamont on 20 July 1873 (Ottawa Co B)
   • d. at Riverside County, CA, on 2 August 1943 (CA D)
   • m. at Riverside, Riverside County, California, on 13 December 1905 CHARLES MILTON TOTTY (CA M)
     • b. at Santa Paula, Kern County, California, on 23 February 1874 (Edwards)
     • d. at Riverside County on 23 October 1916 (Gibson)
4. JOHN DENNISON⁸ MAXFIELD b. at Lamont on 8 October 1876
5. JEAN LOUISE⁸ MAXFIELD (for memories of Jean Louise see below)
   • b. at Lamont on 4 July 1888 (Edwards)
   • d. on 11 December 1976 (Edwards)
   • m (1). at Riverside County on 19 June 1909 HALLIE KLYNE (CA M)
     • b. at Illinois about 1874/5 (1910 census)
   • m (2). JIM RHODES

The sad news was received here last week Saturday that J. A. Maxfield of Perris, California, had been claimed by the Grim Reaper death, on January 9.
Mr. Maxfield’s father, Ira, was one on the first settlers in Lamont. Mr. Maxfield was born and brought up at this place and had many friends in this vicinity who will be pained to hear of his death. He was a brother of O. G. Maxfield and the father of Mrs. F. E. Slater, of this place. Besides these, he leaves a wife, three daughters and one son to mourn his demise.
Ten years ago Mr. Maxfield was obliged to move to California on account of his health. He served in the 6th Michigan Cavalry during the Rebellion and had always been troubled with week lungs since. The local G. A. R. and Odd Fellows extend their sympathy to the bereaved family. He was a member of both orders.
Additional News of J. A. Maxfield’s Death:
From the Perris, California Progress, of January 14, we glean the following particulars of the death of J. A. Maxfield—

In the death of J. A. Maxfield, justice of the peace, last Saturday morning, Perris sustained the loss of one of her most honored and esteemed citizens. Having been afflicted with throat trouble for a number of years, a heavy cold contracted while in Pasadena the week before attending the funeral of his friend, J. O. Siebert, was the cause of his sudden death. He had been complaining for several days, but the end came quietly and very suddenly like a peaceful sleep.
A large number of friends filled the house and yard at the services Sunday afternoon at 2 p. m., conducted by the pastor, Rev. G. F. Mathos. Appropriate music was rendered by the trio, composed of Mrs. A. W. Hook, Miss Alice Merritt and Mr. Revel France. The casket was buried in a wealth of flowers, the tribute of loving friends.
At the grave a short but impressive ceremony was conducted by members of Riverside Post, No. 118, G. A. R., of which he was a member.
J. A. Maxfield was born in Lamont, Michigan, March 11, 1842, and died January 9, 1904. His early life was passed in his native village, where he remained until the days of the Civil War, when he hastened to the defense of his country, enlisting in the Sixth Michigan Cavalry. He served faithfully for over a year, when he was attacked by a very severe case of pneumonia, from the effects of which he never fully recovered.
October 3, 1865, he was married to Louisa Tracy, who was also a native of Lamont, Michigan and to this union were born four girls and one boy. He leaves a wife, five children two brothers and three sisters, besides a host of friends.

Jean Louise (Maxfield) KLYNE was the youngest child born to John Allen MAXFIELD and Louise Sophia TRACY and hailed from Lamont, Michigan - that small, lovely farming settlement that remains to this day very much the same as when her own family pioneered, s e t t l e d and raised two generations there along the Grand River.
When she was about 21 years of age, Lou met and married a Forest Ranger named Hal Klyne. They lived together in the h i l l s near Corona, acquiring one of the l a s t California State Land Grants in Temescal Canyon. Hal and Lou b u i l t their home called "Sky Ranch" from native rock. Their property was beautiful but very dry too. All water was carried-in by horseback from a nearby spring.
Aunt Lou and Hal lost their only child at i t ' s b i r t h . In l a t e r years there were many dogs and cats to be found there, which possibly helped replace the children that just were not to be.
I remember that Aunt Lou made pine-needle baskets and taught classes. She worked also to help Hal in his wood business and found other ways to help make a l i v i n g . They enjoyed their peaceful l i f e in the h i l l s , and Lou loved to ride horses or her old mule, carrying her l i t t l e dog "Lady Bug" in the saddle with her.
In l a t e r years, Aunt Lou drove a Model "A" Ford Coupe. She would come into town sometimes and we would a l l return to the ranch for flower-picking excursions in the Spring. In those days (30s and 40s) the h i l l s were covered with Owl's Clover, Wild Hyacinth, Blue Canterbury Bells and many other wildflowers. I can s t i l l remember watching my Aunt s t r i ding up h i l l s on her sturdy legs, holding a wildflower bouquet.
At Christmas she made homemade g i f t s for the family, such as sturdy flannel "PJ's" that wore like iron - q u i l t s - edible t r e a t s like Pyracantha J e l l y , Boysenberry Punch and homemade olives - the like of which I ' v e never since tasted. She would come i n t o our Riverside home like a fresh breeze from the mountains, bearing greens and b e r r i e s from the ranch. Lou lived-out her days in the small town of Home Gardens, (near Corona) where she raised Hollyhocks and Berries and walked the h i l l s into her l a t e r years.

Information on this family is found in:

• Census records.

Ca D

California Death Index, 1940-1997. www.ancestry.com. accessed 15 Jun 2005

CA M

California, County Marriages, 1850-1952. Family Search (familysearch.org). Accessed 28 April 2011.

Civ War Soldiers

American Civil War Soldiers. www.ancestry.com.

Edwards

Edwards, Howell B., Butcher-Totty Families (http://contentdm.lib.byu.edu/cdm4/document.php?CISOROOT=/FH1&CISOPTR=103324&REC=2), 83.

Gibson

Gibson, Angela, "Gibson Thompson Rose Jordan Family Tree." RootsWeb's World Connect Project (http://worldconnect.rootsweb.com).

Ottawa Co B

Birth Records, 1867-1900. Ottawa County (Michigan). County Clerk. International Genealogical Index. www.familysearch.org.

Ottawa Co M

Index to Marriage Records, Ottawa County, Michigan, 1849-1902. U.S. Gen Web Archives (http://files.usgwarchives.net).

Ottawa Co obits

Michigan: Ottawa County: Obituaries. U.S. Gen Web Archives (http://files.usgwarchives.net). Accessed 20 September 2011.