Huron, MI 1850 U.S. Federal Census http://us-census.org/pub/usgenweb/census/mi/huron/1850/ These Notes were submitted by Linda Talbott for the USGenWeb Census Project®, http://www.us-census.org/ Copyright (c) 2024 by Linda Talbott ========================================================================== USGENWEB (US-CENSUS) NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization. Non-commercial organizations desiring to use this material must obtain the consent of the transcriber prior to use. Individuals desiring to use this material in their own research may do so. ========================================================================== Formatted by USGenWeb Census Project® File Manager, Linda Talbott All of the above information must remain when copied or downloaded. ========================================================================== CENSUS-YEAR 1850 CENSUS-DAY: June 1, 1850 MICROFILM #M432-351 STATE MICHIGAN COUNTY HURON ========================================================================== Catherine Shook and seven of her eight children are found on page 13A of this transcription. There is no occupation listed for her but it should be known that she was the lead lightkeeper for the Pointe Aux Barques lighthouse at this time. Pointe Aux Barques lighthouse was first constructed in 1847. Peter Loren Shook was appointed the first lightkeeper. He and his wife, Catherine, moved into the lightkeeper's dwelling in 1848 along with their eight children. Family members were expected to assist the lightkeepers in their duties and became very well learned in their roles so that the light could continue to operate if the keeper became ill or had to be absent. In March, 1849, Peter Shook set sail in a small boat for Detroit accompanied by three other men to obtain supplies. Tragedy struck and the empty boat eventually washed up near Port Sanilac with one of its masts missing. Catherine Shook knew she had the responsibility to keep the light operational and everything in good working order. She had learned her duties so well that she was appointed keeper as lead lightkeeper on May 15, 1849, thereby becoming the first female lighthouse keeper in Michigan. Disaster was not finished with the widow Shook as within a few weeks of being appointed to her position a fire caused by a faulty chimney broke out in the keeper's dwelling destroying it. Catherine was badly burned in her efforts to keep the blaze from spreading to the main building. She and her children lived in a makeshift shanty while the dwelling was rebuilt. She resigned her position on March 19, 1851 and passed away on Aug 9, 1860. She is buried next to her husband in Oakwood Cemetery, New Baltimore, MI. =============================================================================== Sources: The Indiana Herald - 18 July 1849 Annual Report of the Lighthouse Board Michigan Lighthouse Conservancy Michigan Historical Marker - Pointe Aux Barques