JESSE ABBEY, son of Joshua^, jr., and Tryphena (Bass) Abbe, born
in Windham, Conn., February 14, 1783; died about 1859, in Van Buren County, Mich. He removed to Ohio and later to Michigan, where he kept a hotel and was a well-known character for many years. He was one of the pioneers in Antwerp and his log hostelry was well known throughout the country. The frugal fare of the day and a bottle of whiskey were the chief elements in the
entertainment of the stage-coach passengers or the foot-travelers who stopped at these wayside inns.

One day a traveler put up with the hospitable old landlord, and, as he went in, told him he had no money, but would pay him some day. The old gentleman replied: "Stay? Of course you can stay, and pay me when you can. I've had lots of customers, but never turned one away." Sometime later, the traveler called, and, as he offered the money due Mr. Abbey on the old score, said, Do you remember me ? I stopped here and could not pay. ' '
''I don't remember," said Mr. Abbey, "but lots of folks have done that thing
here. Maybe you did. You can pay what you please." On receiving the
money, the old innkeeper exclaimed: "Hurrah for an honest man. Such a
thing has never happened to me since I've kept tavern. I've trusted hundreds
of people for their fare, and that has been the end of the matter. If there
was a newspaper published anywhere in these parts, I'd put this in sure."

There was a settlement of "Buckeyes" or Wesleyan Methodists in Antwerp
district. Jesse Abbey had joined this sect, and was considered a kind of
patriarchal chief among them. His hair was gray, long, and thin. He wore
a straw hat winter and summer, and usually, in meeting, seated himself by
the side of the minister, his straw hat on his head; and if anything in the
sermon pleased him, he would exclaim: "Good, that's right; ha, ha," clapping
his hands in exultant emotion. Other leaders in the church were Father Libby
and Johnny Johnson. There was a strife between them and Father Abbey as
to who could talk or exhort the best in meeting.
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Johnny Johnson could not write, and used to get his friends to write letters
for him. On one occasion, after the letter was written, directed, and sealed,
Johnson started home but returned in a short time, saying there was something
he forgot to put in the letter. The writer protested against opening it as it
was folded into envelope shape and sealed, but Johnson said it was very
important and must be added to the letter. So the seal was broken and this
sentence added: "Tell them that it is nick-el-ty tuckey with Father Abbey
and me as to who can talk the best in meeting" This important message was
added to the letter, it was refolded, and sent to the friends in Ohio.

The 1850 Census records him as a farmer of Antwerp. In 1845 he sent to
school an "adopted son," Ben Wait.

Jesse Abbey married LORINDA DORMAN of New Haven, Conn. She was
born about 1789 and was living in 1850.

Children

Lucien Ahiey, b. iu Connecticut about 1813. He was a farmer in Antwerp, Mich.,

in 1845 and 1850. Married Cynthia A. , who was b. iu Ohio about 1813.

Children : i. Lurinda, a pupil in the Antwerp school in 1845, probably a daughter
of Lucien, but was not recorded with the family at home in 1850 ; ii. Rebecca
Ann, b. in Michigan about 1837, living at home in 1850, probably the Anna who
attended school in 1845 ; iii. Emily, b. in Michigan about 1839, attended school
in 1845, lived at home in 1850 ; iv. Euphemia, b. about 1843 ; v. Ada, b. about
1846.

Harriet Ahhey, probably m. before 1850.

Alfred Ahicy, may have been a son of Jesse. He was b. in Ohio about 1830 and
was in 1850 a laborer in the family of James and Barbara ( ) Ford of

Almena township. Van Buren County, Mich.

Elisha Ahhey, b. about 1831 ; farmer residing with Jesse in 1850.