| HUSBAND | WIFE |
| Husband: Joseph Sawyer Blaisdell Birth Date: February 5, 1797 Birth Place: Vermont Death date: March 10, 1848 Death Place: Assyria MI Burial Place: Bell Cemetery, Assyria MI` Father: John BLASDEL Mother: Rebecca UNKNOWN | Wife: Anna TURNER Birth Date: April 26, 1799 Birth Place: MA Death date: 1881 Death Place: Assyria MI Burial Place: Bell Cemetery, Assyria MI Father: Mother: |
| Marriage date: 1825 | Marriage place: |
| Child No. 1: Harriet W. BLASDEL Sex: F Birth Date: January 28, 1823 Birth Place: Death date: August 31, 1827 Death Place: Burial Place: Bell Cemetery, Assyria MI Marriage date: Marriage place: Spouse's name: | Child No. 2: Betsy BLAISDELL Sex: F Birth Date: January 17, 1825 Birth Place: Death date: October 10, 1857 Death Place: Burial Place: Bell Cemetery, Assyria MI Marriage date: April 11, 1844 Marriage place: Spouse's name: Theodore B. Cranson |
| Child No. 3: John BLAISDEL Sex: M Birth Date: February 24, 1828 Birth Place: Death date: Death Place: Burial Place: Marriage date: Marriage place: Spouse's name: | Child No. 4: William R.
Blaisdell Sex: Birth Date: January 24, 1830 Birth Place: Death date: Death Place: Burial Place: Marriage date: Marriage place: Spouse's name: |
| Child No. 5: Francis K. Blaisdell Sex: Birth Date: May 19, 1832 Birth Place: Death date: January 12, 1878 Death Place: Burial Place: Marriage date: September 07, 1853 Marriage place: Spouse's name: Anna Mariah Rollins |
| Sources |
| Documentation:
Assyria had its celebrated case in 1848, when not only the township, but the county, was much agitated over the stealing of the body of Joseph S. Blaisdell from the South Assyria cemetery and the subsequent sensational trial of persons charged with the robbery. Mr. Blaisdell died March 10, 1848, and two days after his burial his grave was found to have been opened and his body stolen. A prompt investigation led to the conclusion that certain medical men of Battle Creek and neighboring places were concerned in the affair, and Mr. Blaisdell's friends accordingly caused the arrest of three persons charged with having participated in the theft. "The case came on for a preliminary examination before G. W. Knapp, a justice of the peace of Assyria, and so large was the attendance that he adjourned the case to the schoolhouse, and even that building failed to accommodate half the people who came to the trial. Judge Abner Pratt, of Marshall, appeared as attorney for the prosecution, and John Van Arnam for the defense. A host of witnesses was examined, and a remarkably sharp display of legal learning was vouchsafed to the spectators. After two days' proceedings the prosecution, having failed to make a case, retired from the field defeated. The prisoners were set free, and, although continued efforts were put forth in search of the true offenders and of the dead man's remains, nothing further was ever discovered." SOURCES: Michigan Historical Society Records, Vol. 10, Michigan Census records, Assyria County Records |