George Elmer was born on December 12, 1861 in Michigan to John C. Jr. and his wife, Sarah Louise Reynolds Densmore. John and Sarah Densmore had ten children; Elizabeth M. (1857), William A. (1859), George E. (1861), Alice V. (1863), Charles S. (1864), Effee Matilda (1867), Nomer A. (1869), Delbert D. (1871), Worthy L. (1873), Harvey R. ( 1882). William and Elizabeth were born in Canada and the remaining children were born in Michigan. In the 1870 Federal Census, George is 9 years old. The Densmore family is living in Marine City, Michigan. In the 1880 Federal Census, George is 18 years old. He is still living at home. He has completed school and is employed as a sailor.

George married Jennie (Janet) McNabb on May 14, 1890, according to a Machinaw County Marriage record. Delbert D Densmore and Kate McNabb witnessed the marriage which took place in St Ignace, Michigan.  George and Janet had five children. According to the 1900 Federal Census, three who are living and one who has died, a son who died at 4 months old.  In the 1910 Federal Census, there were four children listed ; Katherine Louise (1891), Donald M. (1892), Janet (1896), Georgia (1905).  The family lives in St Ignace, Michigan where George is employed as a Marine Engineer. In the 1920 Federal Census, three of the children remain at home. Donald is 27 years old and his occupation is listed as truck farmer. Janet is 23 years old and she works in a dry goods store as a sales clerk. Georgia is attending school. In the 1930 Federal Census, Janet (age 33) and Donald (age 37) still live at home. Donald is a carpenter and Janet is a bookkeeper. George at the age of 68 appears to still be working as a Marine Engineer. By the 1940 Federal Census, George is living his his daughter, Georgia, and her family at the age of 79 years. He is listed as a widower but I have found Jennie’s death information which indicates that she did not die until 1943. I do not find Jennie in the 1940 Federal Census.

George Elmer died on the 6 of June, 1942 in Saint Ignace, Michigan. His Grandparents are listed as his parents on his death certificate. His parents are listed correctly on his Social Security file and his marriage certificate. This is an obit that I found shared on ancestry.com.

Lakes Engineer Dies

Monday, June 8, 1942

Ironwood, Michigan – Daily Globe Newspaper

“St. Ignace, Mich. — Funeral services were held Monday for George Densmore, 80, old-time Marine engineer who was the last survivor of the crew which brought the original railway ferry ice-crusher “St. Ignace” from Detroit to the Straits of Mackinac in 1888.  He died at his home here Saturday.”

He is buried in Lakeside Cemetery in St Ignace, Michigan. Rest in peace, George!

Love, Jan

Note: I will stop and find this cemetery someday and post George’s Grave stone picture when I get it.