Ambrose Haight

Ambrose Haight

AMBROSE HAIGHT, farmer, section 9, Big Prairie Township, was born Feb. 14, 1829, in Bradford Co., Pa., and is the son of Hiram and Sarah (Swaine) Haight. The father died in 1846, in Shiawassee Co., Mich. The mother was born Nov. 8, 1804, in Plymouth, Chenango Co., N.Y., and died March 18, 1877, in Oceana Co., Mich. She was a daughter of Deacon Oliver Swaine, and was of German descent.

Mr. Haight is the oldest of eight children. His father came to Michigan in 1840 and settled in Shiawassee County, where he died six years later. After that event the son continued to reside with his mother until the fall of 1856, when he came to Newaygo County. He had been a family man a few months and removed his entire worldly effects by the aid of an ox team, consuming nine days in the trip. He bought 80 acres of land and entered upon the work of clearing and improving and establishing a homestead. He has now under cultivation 70 acres of good land and owns, besides his original purchase, 40 acres on the same section. He is quite a prominent man in his generation, belongs to the National party, and, soon after settling in the township, was elected Constable, which post he filled nine years. He officiated as Justice of the Peace six years and has discharged the duties of School Director nine years.

Mr. Haight was married in Shiawassee, Jan. 1, 1856, to Elvira Winans; she was born June 17, 1839 in Oakland Co., Mich., and is a daughter of Benjamin and Angeline (Roosevelt) Winans, both Germans and natives of Seneca Co., N.Y., the former born March 5, 1810, the latter Oct. 22, 1811. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Haight were born as follows: Hiram B., April 9, 1859; Charles Edwin, Oct. 28, 1861; Alfred W., July 19, 1868; Angeline, Sept. 11, 1870; Dora, Sept. 27, 1876; and George, Aug. 14, 1880.

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