Harriet (Bessey) Fillmore was born in 1815 in New York state, daughter of Philip Bessey and Susanah (--?--). She was married on her 21st birthday at Jasper, Steuben County, New York to Ebenezer Fillmore. They lived in Potter County, Pennsylvania in 1840 for a short time, then returned to Steuben County. In the mid-1850s they moved to Lenawee County, Michigan. After her husband enlisted to serve in the Civil War, Harriet supported her family by weaving coverlets. The family moved north to Long Lake township, Grand Traverse County in April 1866. She and Ebenezer farmed along the shores of Long Lake. Harriet was a member of the Friends Church, but had previously been a Baptist. She reportedly did not cook on Sundays- on Saturday she would prepare a mincemeat pie and leave it the fireplace to cook overnight. The death of her son Benjamin in a mill accident in 1883, along with the deaths of four grandchildren, affected her a great deal. A story passed down in the family was that she slept on Benjamin's grave for two weeks to keep grave robbers (who were not active in the area) from stealing his body. Harriet died in 1896.
Harriet (Bessey) Fillmore was born in 1815 in New York state, daughter of Philip Bessey and Susanah (--?--). She was married on her 21st birthday at Jasper, Steuben County, New York to Ebenezer Fillmore. They lived in Potter County, Pennsylvania in 1840 for a short time, then returned to Steuben County. In the mid-1850s they moved to Lenawee County, Michigan. After her husband enlisted to serve in the Civil War, Harriet supported her family by weaving coverlets. The family moved north to Long Lake township, Grand Traverse County in April 1866. She and Ebenezer farmed along the shores of Long Lake. Harriet was a member of the Friends Church, but had previously been a Baptist. She reportedly did not cook on Sundays- on Saturday she would prepare a mincemeat pie and leave it the fireplace to cook overnight. The death of her son Benjamin in a mill accident in 1883, along with the deaths of four grandchildren, affected her a great deal. A story passed down in the family was that she slept on Benjamin's grave for two weeks to keep grave robbers (who were not active in the area) from stealing his body. Harriet died in 1896.
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