Biography of William Spurgeon
William was born on 6 July 1828 in Little Ellingham to parents Stephen (a labourer) and Ann Spurgeon, and baptised on 29 July 1827.
No UK census record has been found for William in 1841. According to the 1884 Portrait and biographical album of Gratiot County, Michigan he sailed to Canada in 1850, farmed in Niagra County, New York for 3 years, then rented a farm in Oakland County, Michigan. The 1900 USA census records his arrival in the USA as 1853. In the summer of 1855 he bought 80 acres in Newark, Gratiot, Michigan.
The 1860 census records William (32, farmer) living with the Rudd family (William, Ann & baby Jennette) in July 1860 at Addison, Oakland, Michigan. William's estate was valued at $300. Shortly after, on 30 August 1860, William married Julia Moore.
In 1863 William, age 34, was registered to be drafted to join the Union Army for the Civil War: no record of his service has (yet) been found.
By 1870 William (41, farmer) & Julia (36) are living at Newark, Gratiot, Michigan with daughters Arabella (8) & Wilmina (6), & sons Charles (2) and Stephen (11 months). His personal estate now valued at $200 plus real estate $1600.
Topographic maps of Gratiot County from 1864 & 1876 show William owned two adjacent plots of 40 acres each in blocks 34 & 35 (zoomed maps: 1864 & 1876). Also shown on a 1889 map, south of his sister Ann's husband William Rudd's plot.
In 1880 Arabella has left home; the family now consisted of Mina (16), Charles (12), Stephen (10), Lottie Ann (8), Susie May (6) & Willard (3). William's wife Julia died age 50 on 15 March 1884.
In 1900 William (71, farmer) continued to live at Newark, Gratiot, Michigan with his sons Stephen (30, carriage painter) & Willard (23, farmer). By 1910 William is living with his daughter Susie May, her husband Charley Jackson & their daughter Lela at Fulton, Gratiot, Michigan. Later, in 1920 William is living with his son Willard's family (his wife Gladys & daughter Ruth) at Newark, Gratiot, Michigan.
William died on 7 February 1920, age 91.
See also: 1884 Portrait and biographical album of Gratiot County, Michigan, a biography of William & Julia (NB misprint for Mrs Spurgeon: born in Canada, 16 July 1833).