fam hist detail

BUTTON
James Ambrose BUTTON (also known as Ambrose HUMPHREY, his step-father's surname), born 15 December 1838 in Madison County, New York was the son of James BUTTON and Joanna THOMPSON. He went from Madison County, New York with his mother and step-father George HUMPHREY, to Erie County, Pennsylvania by 1850. He then migrated to Grand Traverse County, Michigan. James Ambrose's first wife, Nancy LAWRENCE, probable daughter of Zelomon LAWRENCE of Whitewater Township, Grand Traverse County, died in Grand Traverse County, Michigan. 7 December 1859.

James BUTTON married second 7 October 1860, Rachel TAGGART, daughter of James TAGGART and Rebecca HOUSE. Rachel was the mother of James Ambrose's oldest two children, George Murry and Eva Lenore. Rachel died 7 February 1866, shortly after the death of their little girl, Eva. Although it has been said that Rachel died in Grand Traverse County, Michigan, she is buried at Mina Corners, Chautaqua County, New York, near the place where she grew up.

Back: Charles, Joanna, Jim, Mary E.
Middle: Ray, James Ambrose, Phebe
Front: Frank, Earl, Harry

James married third in Mendon, St. Joseph County, Michigan on 2 September 1866, his first cousin, Phebe Jane THOMPSON, daughter of Robert Perry THOMPSON and Carolyn STARKWEATHER. James and Phebe settled for a time in Whitewater and in Mabel, Grand Traverse County, Michigan, then went west to Nebraska and Missouri. About 1878, they returned to Michigan, again to Whitewater. They raised ten children. The women in the family married MASTEN, LINKLETTER and FULLER. Phebe died 26 August 1895 and was buried at the Old Williamsburg Cemetery in Grand Traverse County.

James married fourth on 15 August 1897, Mary Ann (Beaubier) Farrow. Mary was a widow of Archibald Farrow by whom she had several children, including Daniel W. Farrow who, in 1900, resided in the household of James and Mary in Whitewater Township. James and Mary separated in March, 1901. James died 30 December 1901 at Whitewater and is buried in the Old Williamsburg Cemetery, Grand Traverse County next to his third wife, his mother, and his step-father. Mary died in 1907 and was buried as "Mother - Mary Farrow" in Antrim County, Michigan near other Farrow relatives.

Back: Cora, William Rufus, Mary (or possibly Sanford's wife Elizabeth), Sanford, Lydia
Front: Charity (Mansfield) and George William Fuller

George William FULLER was the son of John FULLER and ______. He married 1839 in St. Lawrence County, New York, Charity MANSFIELD, the daughter of Amasa and Electa (SOPER) MANSFIELD. With their large family and their farming goods and animals, George and Charity sailed in the Buckeye from Ogdensburg, New York to Glen Arbor, Leelanaw County, Michigan. It was November 1863. They settled in what later became Benzie County, Michigan, at Almira, now a ghost town. They built a farm and raised their family. The daughters married LINKLETTER, POTTER, and BROWNELL. Charity was an invalid late in life and died 25 October 1897 in Almira. George William died 2 June 1905 at the home of his eldest son Sanford in Garfield Township, Grand Traverse County, Michigan. Both Charity and George are buried in the West Almira Cemetery, Benzie County.

William Rufus FULLER (1851 - 1914) (fourth child of George William Fuller) was born in the Town of Brasher, St. Lawrence County, N.Y. and migrated to Michigan with his family. He married first in 1878, Carrie Caroline STOLL and they had an infant who died young and one son, Raymond Alfred, before Carrie died in 1881. She is buried near her parents in Homestead, Benzie County, Michigan.

William Rufus FULLER married for his second wife, Maryette Eveline (called Mary E. or Matie) BUTTON (daughter of James Ambrose BUTTON and Phebe THOMPSON. William and Matie had eight sons: George Ambrose, Grover Button, William Orange (as a young man called Orange), Lucius LeRoy, Robert Pingree, Henry Howard (called Howard), Sanford Alonzo, and Truman Lester; and two daughters, Cora Viola, and Lottie Mae. Cora, Sanford, and Truman died young. Lottie married Virgil BENEDICT. William Rufus Fuller died 12 April 1914. Maryette married second, 11 May 1930, Moses Wagner. Moses died March, 1945. Maryette died December, 1945. Both are buried in Fife Lake Cemetery, Grand Traverse County, Michigan, Moses, next to his previous wife Betsy Lyle. Marietta (named "Mother - Mariette E. Fuller") is buried next to her first husband William.

Lottie Mae (FULLER) BENEDICT and the FULLER sons have many descendants. Occasional reunions were held earlier, but since 1946 the family has gathered annually for a family reunion. The Fullers and Buttons are interrelated in several ways and the Button cousins are encouraged to attend.

Carrie Carolyn Stoll William Rufus Fuller  Mariette Eveline Button 
(1860 - 1888) (1851 - 1914)     (1871 - 1945)

Revised 29 March 2016