Source: History of Oakland County, Michigan, By Thaddeus D. Seeley 1912

Sturman, Samuel

Samuel Sturman, who makes his home on section 29, Southfield Township, was born in Leicestershire, England, October 5, 1815. His father, Samuel, and his mother, Sarah Bachler, were both born in that county and his mother died there. His father, before his death, came to Oakland County, Mich. Our subject is the eldest son and second child in a family of nine, all of whom were born in England. After being reared to manhood he worked on the railroad for four years before coming to America. He landed in New York City in 1842, located in Dexter, and in 1844 went to Detroit where he learned the trade of a plasterer, and followed the business for about twelve years, working for one employer for seven years of that time. He accumulated some city property which be exchanged for the farm where he now resides, a place which had been known as the Trowbridge Nursery. In 1853 Mr. Sturman married Amelia Kendall, who was born in Detroit in 1830, where she received her education. This couple were the parents of ten children, namely: Henry S. born June 11, 1855, residing in Southfield Township; Emma J., July 15, 1858; James D., February 28, 1860; Walter J., September 11, 1861; Lansing G., February 18.1863; Lizzie A., October 5, 1864; Sarah M., June 17, 1866, (deceased); Anna L., September 9, 1867; Sarah M, October 16, 1869. and Edwin T., July 6, 1874. All except the eldest of this family were born in Southfield Township, on what is now the home farm. This is a fine farm of one hundred acres of improved land, where our subject is doing a general farming business. Mr. Sturman was at one time a Republican and is now a strong Prohibitionist. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church and a Trustee in the same. He is an efficient worker in the Sunday-school, where he was at one time Superintendent. He is one of the pillars of the church and never uses tobacco in any form, being very much opposed to it.