Talk:William H. VanderHeyden House

Emily's father
Emily's father was my ancestor, Abial Wood. And yes, he moved to Michigan with his first wife Alice who died in childbirth with their 4th child. He then remarried a Mary Luther who was the mother of Emily Wood. Abial worked in various facets of early Detroit government including 'highway commissioner' and ran a brickworks with his younger brother Emery on the Rouge River near the port. Fort Wayne was built nearby and we are currently exploring the possibility that his proximity may have provided bricks for the fort itself (which is still standing). He and his brickworks is mentioned by name in a 1830's survey of resources in the state conducted prior to statehood. It may be possible that Emily was named in honor of Emery as he was still alive at the time of her birth in 1840. I do not know if there is a relation, but one of her older half-sisters, Harriet Wood, married a man named John Vanderheyden. (still looking for any connection between him and William) 50.173.175.90 (talk) 21:20, 18 December 2023 (UTC)


 * (if you have any specific questions or want more details, please feel free to contact Scott Webster Wood, treii28 at gmail or yahoo ) 50.173.175.90 (talk) 21:22, 18 December 2023 (UTC)
 * Oh, i should also add that while we haven't proven it 100%, using descriptions from some of the deeds and news coverage around the time of the 'wildcat bank' scandals (when liens were put on many properties including the brickworks), we think we have narrowed the location down enough to verify that a 'wood street' found south of the river rouge in what used to be Springwells township is in fact the street that bordered the old brickworks. There is also a wood street in Livonia near the corner of 6 mile and farmington roads that was Abial's old farmstead) 50.173.175.90 (talk) 21:24, 18 December 2023 (UTC)