The Life and Times of Welcome Garflied - Part I

Welcome Garfield was one of the early settlers of Farmington in the 1820s. He was born Jan. 27, 1791, and died Sept. 7, 1875. He was a direct descendent of Edward Garfield (born July 28, 1583 in England, died June 14, 1672 in Watertown, MA), the first Garfield to come to the New World about 1630, and one of the first settlers in Watertown, MA.

Welcome was the son of Elizabeth (Brewer) and Dr. Daniel Garfield, who were both originally from Shrewsbury MA. Daniel served as a surgeon’s mate in the Revolutionary War, and by his own admission, fought at Bunker Hill and Lexington. Dr. Daniel Garfield relocated his young family from Shrewsbury, MA to Winchester Township, NH about 1782. Welcome was the sixth of their 10 children, and the fourth born in New Hampshire. At age 9, Welcome, and his family moved further west, settling in Palatine Bridge, NY in the Mohawk Valley in 1800.

At the age of 17 in early 1808, Welcome left his family behind, and settled in Bloomfield, Ontario County NY on 40 acres he purchased on May 16 1808. Welcome probably married Esther before leaving Palatine Bridge, because by the 1810 census they had two boys and a girl, all under 10 years old, with Esther probably about 19. Welcome sold his land to Daniel Troop on July 8, 1811.

William, Welcome’s brother, migrated to Alexander, Genesee County, NY by 1813. By the 1820 census, the entire Garfield clan had moved there also. One might assume that Welcome was still living in nearby Ontario County with his young family, but he’s not been found in the 1820 census.

In 1824, Orin Garfield, a nephew of Welcome’s, journeyed to Farmington, MI. He must have returned to New York and his family armed with stories, regaling the wonders and new opportunities in that part of Michigan.

However, it was Welcome who was the first Garfield to settle in Farmington. On May 29, 1826, he purchased 80 acres located on 12 Mile Road, a half mile west of Halsted Road, from the U.S. government. By 1826, Welcome’s three oldest children would have all been in their late teens, and it is not known if they stayed in New York, or came to Michigan. He also fathered another boy in New York between 1820 and 1825, who did come to Michigan.

Soon after Welcome settled in Farmington, most of the New York Garfields followed him here, including Sister Elizabeth (Betsey) Gage, brother Myra F., and his brother John J. His brother Aid also came to Michigan, but settled in Ingham County. A number of nieces and nephews also relocated here.

The Michigan 1830 census shows that Welcome had a wife, who was at least 20 but under 30, a son under 5, and another son of 5-under 10. The wife’s age makes it clear she was not Esther. The youngest son was Alonzo D., who was born in 1828 in Michigan, while the identity of the older boy, born in New York, is unknown. His three oldest children were no longer living with him.

The identity of the mother of the two young boys is unclear. Welcome fathered two more children here in Michigan, Arvilla in 1836 and Darius in 1838. It is likely they were born to a third wife, who likely died at about the time Darius was born.

Next week: Welcome Garfield's lasting legacy in Farmington.