Spurgeon families emigrate from Little Ellingham to Michigan in 1850's & 1860's

At least 4 Spurgeons emigrated from Little Ellingham, Norfolk, England to start a new life farming in Michigan, USA during the 1850s & 1860s:

• 1850 William Spurgeon

• 1857 Ann Spurgeon (William's sister)

• 1857 John Spurgeon

• 1864 William Spurgeon (John's younger brother)

Age 22, William Spurgeon sailed alone from Little Ellingham to Canada in 1850, worked on a farm in Niagara County, New York for 3 years, then rented a farm in Oakland County, Michigan. In 1855 he bought 80 acres of land in sections 34 & 35 in Newark, Gratiot County, Michigan, cleared the land for cultivation, built a homestead and in 1862 settled with his Canadian wife Julia & their first baby (Arabella). They had 7 children; William lived on the farm until he was 91. There's a farm in the middle of the same plot today: S Begole Road, Ithaca, MI.

Age 23, Ann married William Rudd in Little Ellingham, then a month later sailed on the Patrick Henry from London to New York, arriving on 28 October 1857. They lived with Ann's brother William for a while, then bought a 40 acre homestead plot in section 26 in Newark, Gratiot, Michigan, a little north from her brother's homestead. They had 2 children; Ann died young age 43; her husband remained on the farm & remarried (twice).

Age 26, John emigrated with his wife Anna & baby Charles and settled in Oxford, Oakland County, Michigan. By 1872 John farmed a 38 acre plot in Oxford District No. 1, close to his brother's homestead. John & Anna had 10 children.

Age 23, William sailed with his wife Susan & baby George on the screw steamer "Glasgow" from Liverpool to New York, arriving on 18 April 1864. By 1872 William owned an 80 acre plot in Oxford District No. 5 near to his brother's homestead. William & Susan had 5 children.

Farming in Michigan once land was cleared- what did they grow? Look at the Gratiot County map & you'll find farms owned by Kellogg!