This family was founded in Montgomery county, New York, by Daniel McMichael, who was a native born son of New York state. He came from Dutch ancestry and the tradition or presumption is that originally the family came from Scotland, McMichael or MacMichael not being a Dutch name. The point of departure, however, was Holland and all the family traditions favor a Dutch ancestry.
(I) Daniel McMichael was born in Albany county, New York, in 1785, died in Montgomery county, 1845. He was a very young man when he settled in Montgomery county. He learned the trade of blacksmith, and owned and operated a smithy in the town of Florida. He also owned farm property and was as good a farmer as he was a smith. He was well known in the community, and highly respected for his honesty and frugal, industrious habits. He married, in 1804, Janet Arnott, born in Scotland, in 1788, daughter of Robert and Janet Arnott, both born in Scotland, where they lived until 1793, when they emigrated to the United States and settled on a farm near Minaville, Montgomery county, New York. The farm was located along the Chuctanunda and has always been devoted principally to the raising of stock. Janet was but fifteen when her parents brought her to the United States, and a year later she became the wife of Daniel McMichael. Both were members of the Presbyterian church. Mr. McMichael was a soldier of the war of 1812, serving in Captain Matchin's company, on duty at Johnstown, New York, and elsewhere. Children:
- Janet, married a Serviss and died without issue.
- Daniel, bought a farm at Yankee Hill, where he lived and died; married Clara A. Truesdale; children:
- George, deceased, and
- Almira, wife of David Luke, a well-known farmer of Scotch Bush, Florida.
- Robert, see forward.
- Isabella, married Elijah Gibson; children: Henry, Emma and Erastus, all married and the heads of families.
- Christina, who became the wife of Shalott Serviss and left a family.
- Barbara, married Lyman R. Billings; they died without children.
- Charlotte, married Silas Morey; they left two children, now residents of Fulton county, New York.
- Alexander, died unmarried.
- William, never married.
- John, married Julia Hardin and removed to Illinois, where he died leaving several children.
(II) Robert, son of Daniel and Janet (Arnott) McMichael, was born June 11, 1812. He was reared on the home farm, and was a farmer of the town of Florida. He married in that town Harriet Brockway, born September 5, 1822, died January 25, 1884, daughter of Amos and Betsey (Prior) Brockway, both of New England families. Amos Brockway was a resident of Port Jackson (now the fifth ward of Amsterdam), and was quite a prominent man there. He was a contractor for quite a large section of the Erie canal, made a fortune, but through misfortune lost it. He died at the age of sixty. His wife survived him until 1864, dying at the age of eighty-five. Children of Robert and Harriet (Brockway) McMichael:
- Henry, see forward.
- Mary Jane, born in 1846, died in 1899; married John McClumpha and they left children:
- Cora, wife of Orville Powell, of Chicago, Illinois; children: Dorothy and Horace Robert Powell;
- Joseph McClumpha, resides in Columbus, Ohio, unmarried.
- Alice, born December 5, 1848, died; married Lewis Herrick, who died July 4, 1909; children:
- Arthur and
- Lillian, who died young, and
- Robert J., a resident of Providence, Rhode Island, who married Caroline Lefferts.
- Lewis, born April 17, 1851, died in July, 1895; married Theresa de Graff, died; children:
- Laura, deceased, and
- Harriet, who married Everett Mabon; children: Theresa, Susan, Charles and Margaret.
- Emery,. born July 10, 1853, died at the age of three years, three months, three days.
- Nicholas, born September 4, 1855, died at nine years of age.
- Janet A., born May 11, 1860, resides on the old homestead with her brother; married William S. Jewell, who is engaged with his brother-in-law in the cultivation of his lands.
(III) Henry, eldest child of Robert and Harriet (Brockway) McMichael, was born on the farm in Montgomery county, New York, November 24, 1844. He was educated in the schools of Amsterdam and Troy, New York, chose agriculture as his vocation and has followed it all his active, busy life. His farm, comprising one hundred and sixty acres, with timber land of thirty more, lies in the town of Florida, near Minaville. Mr. McMichael is known as one of the solid, substantial men of the town. He is connected with the Presbyterian church, and supports the Republican party with his vote and influence.
Henry McMichael married, in the town of Florida, May 10, 1872, Julia A. Casler, born in the town of Duanesburg, Schenectady county, New York, in 1854, died at their home near Minaville, August 24, 1892. She was the daughter of William and Almira (O'Neil) Casler. William Casler was born in Montgomery county, where he died at the age of eighty-six; his wife was born in Oneida county, died in Montgomery county, several years previous to her husband's death. Children of Mr. and Mrs. McMichael:
- Edna, born December 1, 1877, died September 24, 1892.
- Elizabeth Casler, born November 9, 1885; married, October, 1909, Fred Schaufelberg, a farmer of Florida township, which is his native place, being born in 1876 of German ancestry. He is one of the wide-awake, progressive men of the county; he purchased the McMichael homestead, which he is improving, and stocking with the best grade of cattle. He is a Republican in politics.