Early
Memories of
Author: Heath, May Francis
Publisher: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company;
S. L.
NEWNHAM
Stephen Newnham, son of Richard B., loves to tell of his voyage
across the ocean sixty-five years ago, coming from
"We, mother,
Richard, Lizzie, Marie and myself left the London docks on Dec. 8, 1865 on the
packet ship, the Robert Peel,-bound for America and after a tempestuous voyage
of ten weeks we arrived at New York. The trip was a stormy one, the bulwarks
were carried away, deck houses blown down and we were thankful to see land
again; we were taken to Castle Garden after the boat had undergone inspection
by health officers and the next day took the Grand Trunk R. R. line to Kalamazoo
where we were met by my father and Capt. Upham with
bob-sleighs to convey us through the wilderness to our new abode in America;
the trip proved very interesting to us children as everything was new to us and
so vastly different from our London home, when we arrived in Saugatuck, we ate
our first meal at Margaret Goodrich's boarding house."
Mr. Newnham
sailed the lakes forty-seven years, forty-five of which he was chief engineer
and for twenty-seven years he was employed by one firm, Samuel Neff and Sons.
He is high in Masonic
Circles and a Past Master of Blue Lodge and Past Patron O. E. S. Life members
of the Royal Arch Chapter and member of Council.
In 1879 he was married
to Althea Deming to whom were given five children, Wayne, deceased; Bessie,
Hazel, Harry and Richard.