Regarding the Joneses: According to “Jones and Related Families,” the Joneses made their final departure from Ohio to Michigan in autumn 1830. The people included George Jones Sr., his son George Jones Jr., and his six-year-old grandson Nathan Jones.

In the prior year, George Sr. and George Jr. had purchased land in section 21 of Penn Township, which is where Cedarlee resides. Additionally, according to “History of Cass County, Michigan,” the *original* land owners in section 21 included the two Georges. Thus, other than the Indians, it looks like George’s family were the first settlers in their part of section 21.

Regarding the Bonines: According to the same book, Isaac Bonine moved to Michigan in 1842. We also know this is the right Isaac because it lists one of his children as being Lydia, the wife of Nathan.

Thus, we still don’t know for sure who built Lee and Mariko’s house. However, we do know that if the Joneses came in 1829/30 and the Bonines in 1842, then the Joneses were probably here first!

This also means we might have an official birthdate for Cedarlee Farm: Although George Sr. first purchased land, namely sections 17 and 18, on June 17, 1829, this was later sold to other people. He and his son George Jr. apparently went back to Penn on August 17 and purchased, among other things, land in section 21, assumably where the Cedarlee homestead now resides.

Thus, it looks like Cedarlee’s birthdate is Monday, August 17, 1829!