| Home Surname List Name Index Sources Email Us | Eighth Generation2252. Noble Sullivan Bearce was born on 5 September 1852 in Washington Twp, Connecticut (Litchfield). Age 28 in 1880. In 1880 he was a butcher in Allegan, Michigan (Allegan). He lived in Allegan, Michigan (Allegan) in 1880. Noble died on 4 May 1885 at the age of 32. He was 7/16 Wampanoag/Narragansett/Mohican/Paugusset Indian, 3/8 from father and 1/16 from mother. 7/16 Wampanoag/Narragansett/Mohican Indian "Noble Sullivan Bearce, son of Iron Face and Mary Ellen Tuttle, was born at Washington Township on Wearamaug Lake, Litchfield Co. Connecticut, Sept 1852. He stood 6'-2" in his stocking feet, was of powerful build, with a gunpowder temper. He was a big quick violent man who was always afraid that he would strike and injure some of his friends in a fit of temper. In his day he was one of the best loved and the most popular men in Allegan County. He was in the Wholesale and Retail Meat and Provision Business on Hubbard Street across from the old Sherman House, and was burnt out in the great Allegan Fire. He rented the circus grounds at Allegan to Showman, supplied them with meats and provisions and was a personal friend of P.T. Barnum and Adam Forepaugh. He had his hat shot off by burglars the night after the big Allegan Fire at the ally on North Hubbard St, between the back of Sherwoods and Griswolds Store, and the old Sherman House. He had been deputized and was patrolling the business section without any firearms. The next day, when he was reproached by citizens for accepting such dangerous duties unarmed, he said that he did not need any arms, that he could protect himself with his hands if necessary. On another occasion he jumped into his buggy, and went out the old Sand Hill road to rescue and prevent the lynching of a Negro cook who worked at the old Chaffe house, who was accused of causing the pregnancy of a I9 year old girl, who jumped into the Kalamazoo River and drowned herself. The mob was stringing the Negro up when Noble Sullivan arrived at the scene of the lynching. He jumped out of his buggy pulled out his pocketknife, strode over to the hanging Negro, cut him down, and struck and broke the jaw of a citizen armed with a shotgun who tried to stop him. Walked over and dropped the unconscious Negro into his buggy, and turning to the mob told them that there would be no mob murder in Allegan Co while he was around, and drove of with the Negro to the County jail, where it was afterwards proven that the Negro was innocent of any wrong doing. Such was the prestige of Big Noble Bearce in Allegan Co. that not a man in the Mob interfered. He sleeps at Allegan Co Michigan. He was a wonderful kind man to his family, and well loved by all who knew him. Noble Sullivan Bearce was not quite a half blood Indian, 7/16ths Schagticoke, and Eastern strains, and 9/16ths white blood." Quoted from "From out of the Past, Who Our Forefathers Really Were, Our White and Indian Ancestors back to 1628" by Franklyn Ele-wa-tum "Swimming Eel" BeArce. Noble Sullivan Bearce and Mary Ellen Blain were married in 1876 in Pinewell, Michigan (Allegan). Mary Ellen Blain, daughter of James Gillespie Blain and Nandachine "Nancy" J. Hoover, was born in 1858/9 in Indiana. Age 22 in 1880, 52 in 1910, 61 in 1920. She lived in Washington, Indiana (Noble) in 1860. She lived in Allegan, Michigan (Allegan) in 1870. Mary lived in Allegan, Michigan (Allegan) in 1880. She lived on Pipestone Street as a widowed head-of-household in Benton Twp, Michigan (Berrien) in 1910. She lived widowed, living with her daughter and son-in-law in Sturgis City, Michigan (St. Joseph) in 1920. Mary was buried in Michigan (Allegan). She was 7/32 Shawnee Indian from mother. 7/32 Shawnee Indian "My mother Mary Ellen was a good dear woman with a tempermental Irish temper and loved by all who knew her, she lies sleeping at Allegan Michigan." - Swimming Eel Both parents born in Indiana per 1880 census. According to Frank's 1930 census information Mary was born in North Carolina. Noble Sullivan Bearce-46247 and Mary Ellen Blain-46248 had the following children:
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