My Genealogy Hound

William Erity is one of the large capitalists, successful farmers and universally esteemed citizens of Oakland County and resides upon a finely cultivated farm of 165 acres in section 3, Southfield township. Mr. Erity was born at Mentz, Cayuga County, New York, in 1829 and has been a resident of Michigan since he was 14 years of age. He is a son of Edward and Melissa (Garrett) Erity, the former of whom was born in Ireland and the latter in Connecticut.

Edward Erity came at the age of 18 years to the United States, where he lived until his death in 1831. He married Melissa Garrett, who survived him many years, dying in 1883, at the age of 75. She was a consistent Christian woman, a valued member of the Methodist Church. The five children born to Edward Erity and wife were: Edward, deceased; Miles; John; William; and Ann Eliza, the wife of Hiram Pike.

William Erity came to Michigan, as stated, in boyhood, accompanying his sister and brother-in-law, who settled in Southfield township, Oakland County, where he has resided ever since. Mr. Erity has engaged in both farming and milling and is one of the wealthy men of his part of the county. He has been honored by his fellow citizen’s confidence many times by being elected to various positions of trust and responsibility; he served for a long time as justice of the peace, as township treasurer and for 15 years as township supervisor.

On November 4, 1853, Mr. Erity was married to Orpha Reynolds, who was born in 1828 in the State of New York, and is a daughter of Chester and Sarah (Green) Reynolds. Three children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Erity, namely: Elissif, wife of John W. Bassett, of Southfield township, Oakland County; Mary J., wife of Chauncy Nixon, of Southfield township, Oakland County; and Althea, deceased, who was the wife of Will W. Masters. Mrs. Erity is an active member of the Methodist Church and is much beloved for her kind, neighborly actions. Fraternally Mr. Erity is a Mason, having joined the order many years ago.