Sheridan Family History (draft)

Aaron Sheridan received an appointment as Lightkeeper at South Manitou Island in July of 1866, and moved his family there from the East Coast, including his father James. James filed a homestead application two years later, carving a farm out of the wilderness on the north end of Lake Florence. With the farm and full-time government employment, the family prospered. Aaron's wife Julia was appointed Assistant Keeper in 1872. Misfortune struck in six years later, when Aaron, Julia and their young child Robert were lost to Lake Michigan, just off the island, drowning when a sudden March squall capsized their small sailboat.

Five years later, the Sheridan farm was purchased by George Haas, and presented three years later as a wedding gift for his son Henry, and Henry's new bride Maggie Hutzler. Henry was 25, Maggie just turned seventeen. Henry and Maggie remained on the place until their deaths some sixty-five years later. The Sheridan farm was not one of the places preserved by the National Park, and has now been pretty much recovered by nature.

Steve Sheridan began researching his family's history as a project intended as documentation for Sheridan descendants. His work provides many insights into island life during the late nineteenth century. Available drafts are as follows:

 
• Cover Letter [pdf]
• Chapter 2 Aaron Sheridan [pdf]
• Chapter 7 Life On South Manitou Island [pdf]
• Chapter 8 Tragedy Strikes [pdf]
• Chapter 9 The Letters [pdf]
• Appendix The Farm [pdf]
 
• Aaron Sheridan
• Julia Moore Sheridan
• Barn Raising Sceen
• Family at Barnraising