My Search for Mrs. J.H. Belote

In 1908 Sarah Ann Camfield received a letter from Mrs. J. H. Belote. Initially I assumed that the J. H. would be her husband’s initials. I know, assume makes an ass out of u and me! I don’t know why I’d make such an assumption as both Sarah Ann and Anna always used their initials rather than their husbands when they signed letters.

So my incorrect assumption found me wasting a bit of time trying to find a likely candidate for the author of the letter.

Some other assumptions I worked with:

The letter was written 10 Feb 1908 and referred to letters and cards Mrs Belote had received for a recent birthday.

Mrs Belote said that she was a quarter century from the Sarah Ann’s age of 90, making her age about 65 in 1908 so she was born about 1843.

When she was 10 years old she lived in Buffalo, NY, so probably born in New York.

Many of Sarah Ann’s correspondents, other than family, lived in Branch County, Michigan as Sarah lived there many years prior to Mike’s death. So that is where I started looking.

[Note that links are to census images at Ancestry.com and you will not be able to view them unless you have a subscription]

On the 1910 census I found Jeanette Belote, age 67 born Wisconsin, wife of Lewis W. Belote.

On the 1900 census I found Jeanette H. Belote, age 57, born Jan 1843, Wisconsin in Sherwood, Branch, Michigan. She was the wife of Lewis W. Belote.

Sherwood, Michigan jumped out at me as Sarah had received birthday letters of her own. Sarah Ann's letter dated 12 Oct 1903 mentions receiving a birthday letter from Bell Plant’s mother-in-law of Sherwood.

On the 1910 census of Bronson, Branch, MI I found Bell Belote, age 36 wife of Horace E Belote, age 40. And on the 1900 census of Matteson, Branch, Michigan is Belle C Belote, born May 1874, wife of Horace E. Belote, born May 1870.

Mrs Belote’s letter also said, “When I was 28 years old (then a wife and Mother of two boys)……” which fit perfectly with the family’s 1880 census record, where they are found in Colon, St Joseph, Michigan: Lewis Belote age 43; Jeanette age 37; James L. age 6; and Horace E. age 1/12.

So I am fairly sure that Mrs. J. H. Belote was Jeanette H. Belote of Sherwood, Michigan. But what was her maiden name?

I first looked at some public member trees at Ancestry.com and found a tree named Pacific Northwest Necrology, owned by genehisthome. This tree had Lewis Waldo Belote, born about 1836, prob. Colon, St. Joseph, Michigan, died 19 Mar 1919 Tebonsha, MI. He married about 1865, Helen Jeanette Currier who was born 1843 and died 1919.

An online index to St. Joseph County, Michigan marriages has: C-421 Lewis W. Belote to Jannette Currier.

My next stop was Seeking Michigan where I found Jennette’s death certificate. It gives her birth as 29 Jan 1843, New York; daughter of Rufus Currier and Mary Hunt.


On the 1860 census I found Rufus Currier, age 54, born NH; Mary, age 48, born NH; Janet, age 17, born WI; Sarah, age 12 born NY; and Oscar, age 7 born NY.

The census records I’ve found all agree that Jennette Helen Currier Belote was born in Wisconsin. The family didn’t stay there long and based on Jeanette's birth and her letter they must have relocated to Buffalo, NY for a time before moving to Michigan.

I have not located any of these families on the 1850 census but I have found more than enough to satisfy my curiosity about a woman I am not related too! Now I will contact those that have trees that include Jennette to let them know that one of her letters survived.

Jeanette Currier Belote, Feb 10, 1908

Sherwood Feb 10 1908

Mrs Camfield
Buchanan. Mich..

Dear Mother in Israel
I greatly appreciate your letter received on my birthday, and coming from one who could number, 90 years made it doubly interesting. The whole affair was a complete surprise to me and that made it more enjoyable. I received 24 post cards, 28 letters. 2 birthday booklets. And several substancial gifts. I thought as I read your letter should I live as long as you already have, I would have to live a quarter of a century yet, it don’t seem possible to me I ever will but the Lord’s will be done on that as in every thing else. I am glad you rejoice in a Savior who is abundiantly able to make our last days the very best of all your life

Page 2

You write me you had always thought you would be a Christian sometime; I always wanted to be even from childhood. When I was about 10 years of age a revival ware swept over the City of Buffalo N.Y. where I then lived it deluged the Churches and found its way into more secluded places A young girl was converted she attended the same school that I did At the recess on noon hour she would gather the little children about her and read from her Bible and talk to us I think I got my first impression of God and Heavin at that time for ever after that my heart was reaching out after something I hardly knew what I liked old people and good people best

Page 3

I remember I went with an old lady to a quaker meeting held in the home of one of their number my minds eye can see them now as they sat erect with somber grey dresses their white Kerchiefs crossed once their bosoms very stately they looked it seemed to me a very long time they sat there without saying a word finely got up shook hands said farewell and went home I know now I was deeply impressed with the Solemnity of the hour. I was brought up to go to Sunday school and church but there came a time when like many others I broke loose from all this and sought the pleasures of the world yet when I was all alone I felt I wanted something better

Page 4

When I was 28 years old (then a wife and Mother of two boys) I sought to know the Lord whome to know aright is life eternal the M. E. people were holding the Revival meeting in our School house quite a number professed to be saved from sin but I ask myself where are they now God alone knoweth For 17 years I lived an acceptable member of the . M. E. church but I fear at all times I was not an acceptable member of the church of God’s own planting Yet I had set my face as a fl__t Zionward and I was not Confounded for God came again to my help on the first day of Jan 1888

Page 5

And in truth I did become a new Creature Old things passed away and I became a new born Soul in Christ Jesus I have been doing the best I seemed to understand to walk humbly in His sight since that time I believe it would be to His Glory to say I realize His presence with one from day to day His service is my delight I have the Port in view I hope to make it by his Grace His promises are Yea and Amen to my Soul as I listened to the singing in the class meeting yesterday of the old Hymn, Zion Soldiers my inmost Soul was moved to another Victory of Amen for fear you never heard it I am going to write down the chorus

Page 6

Don’t you know that Zion Soldiers
Dropped early from the mould
And the more their’r melted over;
The brighter is the Gold.

It maybe you have heard it sung in other years Perchance you may even know it, I would like to get all of the words we only know a part of the piece I hope you will remember me when you talk with God ask him to keep me true in evry spot and place that my daily walk and conversation may please Him.

Pardon this long letter I may not have the opportunity to write again but I hope we may ne able to sing the Song of Redemption together over there

Your’s in Christian fellowship Mrs J. H. Belote

This was a very nice letter for Sarah Ann to receive however it didn't contain any information pertinent to my family. It did however get me curious as to just exactly who Mrs. J. H. Belote was and why Sarah Ann might have sent her a birthday letter.

I hope this letter finds it's way to Jeanette's descendants.


For more see:
Camfield Family Letters
Descendants of Sarah Ann Wisner
Michael Camfield


Belote, Jeanette Helen Currier (Sherwood, MI) to “Dear Mother in Israel”
[Sarah Ann Camfield]. Letter. 10 Feb 1908. Digital Images 1-6.
Privately held by Apple, [ADDRESS FOR PRIVATE USE,]
Snowville, New York. 2009.
[Carlisle Family, Box #1, Correspondence, 1908,
Bentley Historical Library, University of Michigan. 2008.]