As with many other families here in the heartland of America, my family came here in part for the rich farmland and the booming industry. Ironically in little more than a century and a half, both of these resources seem to be fading from the face of the heartland.
My Bellinger ancestors left Jefferson County, New York in the early 1830's for the new frontier. They first stopped at Manchester, Ontario County, New York but soon left via the Erie Canal for Lake Ontario. Migrating down Lake Ontario to Lake Erie and then Lake Huron they soon arrived at the shores of Michigan. Settling first (1838) in Lapeer and Genesee Counties, they soon followed the lumber industry into the thumb of the mitten (1855) near Fairgrove, Tuscola County. As the lumber industry moved into Saginaw, Midland and Gladwin Counties, their migration continued as the White Pine was being cleared from the land. My great grandfather, Jonas Fredric Bellinger was a shingle maker. He died in 1906 near the village of Avondale, Osceola Co., MI.
My Richardson ancestors migrated from the upper portions of Maine near Lake Flagstaff to first Columbianna County, Ohio then Wood County, Ohio. Within one generation they again migrated to mid Michigan near Mt Pleasant. In Fremont Township, Isabella County, they cleard the land and began farming. My father was born in the village of Winn in Isabella Co. His father, Silas Bernard Richardson owned both the saloon and the livery stable. In the 1910's the family moved to Flint, Michigan to secure jobs in the new General Motors industry. The automobile soon replaced the need for horses.
My Bielawa Family was the late arrivers, both to this country and to the auto industry in Flint Michigan. They came orginally from southeastern Poland(Galicia), settling first in Troy, Renselaar Co., NY. By 1917, the family came by railroad to Flint Michigan to secure jobs in the new Buick Plant.
It is here in the heartland that most of my family, my parents, my Aunts and Uncles and my cousins have been raised.
