Bay County Memorial Report
by Judge Albert Miller, of Bay City
February 5^th, 1880

The following are the names of Pioneers who have died in Bay County within the past year:

At West Bay City, December 10, 1879, Mrs. Trombley, wife of Joseph Trombley, one of the earliest settlers of Bay County. Mrs. Trombley’s maiden name was Sophia Chapoton; she was born in 1812 in Detroit, where she resided till her marriage in 1836, when she removed to Portsmouth, (now a part of Bay City) and commenced her pioneer life in a log trading house which her husband has previously built to accommodate his business as an Indian trader. Mrs. Trombley was truly a "help-meet" for her husband; she was possessed of all the qualifications necessary to assist him in his pioneer struggles, and to adorn and make pleasant his home after success had crowned his early efforts. Although Mrs. Trombley’s first residence in this county was in a log house, her spirit took its flight from a brick mansion at West Bay City, where she had resided with her family for many years previous. She leaves a husband, four sons, one daughter, and a large circle of relatives and friends to mourn her loss.

Aaron Oldfield was born in Erie County, Pennsylvania, July 11, 1807. He died at Bay City, Michigan January 19, 1880. Mr. Oldfield in his youth learned the trades of carpenter and cabinetmaker. In 1834 he married Miss Lucy Loomis (who survives him), and removed to Davisonville, Genesee County, Michigan, in 1836, where he resided till 1873, when he removed to Bay City, which was his home till his decease. Mr. Oldfield was a man of sterling Christian character, and boldly fought against every institution which he considered savored of oppression or wrong. He leaves eight sons, two of whom are physicians, and one an attorney and stenographer.