George seems to be the first to migrate to the State of Michigan.
He was born in Clarence,
New York, March 22, 1819. Married Eliza Ann York, the daughter of
Jeremiah and Rhoda
on York July 11, 1845.
He dwelt on his farm which adjoined that of his brother Aaron, in
Clarence, until 1866 when he
moved with his family and engaged in the wood business on North
Manitou Island, Michigan.
In 1869, he moved his business to Chicago. In 1872 he started
farming in Empire, Michigan,
where he engaged largely in getting wood out for the Milwaukee
market. He was one who
thoroughly enjoyed looking on the bright side of life and had a
hearty laugh.
His children were: Marian, Emeline, George Franklin, Anson
Wolcott, all of whom were born
in New York He married secondly on June 8, 1868 of Chicago. From
this marriage came:
Georgianna Eleanor, Jessie, Clarence Aaron and Nettie Maggie all of
whom were born in Empire,
Michigan except Georgianna who was born in Chicago. See more on
George
Franklin,
his oldest son, and his descendants.
An added note:
From North Manitou Island: Between
Sunrise and Sunset by Rita Hadra Rusco:
The mid-1840's marked the beginning of
community life on the island and a period of ;
growth lasting for the next twenty-five or thirty years. Simon
Pickard built a second
pier and wooding station on the west side in 1854. He sold this
business in 1857,
probably to George Aylesworth. It was during
this period Aylesworth founded the
short-lived village bearing his name on the west side.
Aylsworth continued operation
of the wooding station until 1872 when he moved to Empire,
Michigan. [p. 29]
Cornelius Jones built a sawmill on the
east side which he operated until 1855. In 1856,
a second sawmill was built for Edwin Munger in the village, then
known as Aylsworth,
and later as Crescent.
