ELIZA JANE GETTY, fifth child of James and Matilda Getty, was born October 26, 1843, in the Townland of Dreen, County Antrim, Ireland. On October 29, 1843, she was baptized in Craigs Parish Church by Rev. George Kilpatrick. She was named for her grandmother, Eliza Getty, and also for her aunt, Eliza Getty Anderson. When the census of Ahoghill Parish, which included part of Craigs, was taken in 1851, she was eight years old. In 1852 she and her family emigrated to the United States.

After spending two years in New York State, the family moved to Ridgeway Township. Eliza was eleven years old by this time, and was a big help to her mother in looking after her younger brothers and sisters. When she was sixteen, she hired out to John and Martha Gifford, who had previously moved to Ridgeway Township from New York State. The Giffords had no children at this time. George Greenfield, age fifteen, worked for them as a farm hand. Eliza had worked there approximately three years, when she left their household to get married.

On April 8, 1863, in Ridgeway Township, Eliza Jane was married by the Rev. Thomas Lupton to William A. Underwood, son of John and Elizabeth Underwood. They had nine children:

• Charles W. (December 26, 1863  January 21, 1912) married Nellie Curry;

• Arthur J. (September 28, 1865  October 2, 1942) married Mamie Boyce;

• Adelaide M. (October 20, 1867  19.58) married Laban Babcock, and for her second husband, Rev. Silas Main;

• Sehina (September 1, 1869  October 23, 1946) married Edgar Exelby in 1887;

• John L. January 26, 1871  March 21, 1952) married Nancy McCarbery in October 1896;

• Lovia (September 21, 1872  March 3, 1943) married Frank D. Zeluff in 1896;

• Amos C. (April 8, 1874  Ma 4, 1949) married Rose M. VanDeventer;

• Claybon (May 21, 1876  July 15, 1956) married Cora Allison;

• Clarence (July 23, 1879  June 28, 1954) married (1) Edna Pocklington in 1909, (2) Rose McCarbery.

On August 22, 1881, when Clarence was only two years old, Eliza Jane died. On the following page is her obituary as it appeared in the Tecumseh Herald.

"Mrs. Eliza Underwood, wife of William Underwood, died in Ridgeway, Lenawee County, August 22nd, 1881, in the 37th year of her age. Mrs. Underwood leaves a husband and nine children and a large circle of friends to mourn their loss. It is a consolation to her friends to know she was conscious to the last and gave directions concerning her funeral, choosing her pallbearers and the hymns she wanted to have sung.

The funeral was held at the Christian Church, East Ridgeway, conducted by Elder George Price of Tecumseh, assisted by Rev. Fields of Ridgeway, and the Rev. C. C. Sinks, pastor of the Christian Church. Rev. Thos. Lupton, who officiated at her marriage, made a few remarks."

Eliza and William are both buried in the Ridgeway Cemetery.

The following is an excerpt from an article which appeared in a 1912 issue of the Tecumseh Herald. It was titled Exelby Underwood History Traced Out, Interesting Paper Read at Britton Family Reunion:

"William, the fifth child of John and Elizabeth Underwood, born in 1843, married for his first wife, Eliza Getty. They settled two miles east of the home farm. Nine children blessed this union, but when the youngest child was two years old the mother died and in 1882 Mr. Underwood married Adelaide Underwood, his brother Michael's widow. From this union there are two daughters. His oldest son died last February, after a lingering and painful illness, leaving a widow. When his youngest son married, Mr. Underwood moved to Britton where he and his son John conduct a stock buying business."

William's brother, Michael, was born in 1851 and died of typhoid fever on September 24, 1881. Michael and Adelaide had four children:

Mary Elizabeth, 1874  1954, married Michael Bachman. Glenn J., 1876  1932, married Anna Hoagland, 1878  1911. Clifford, 1878  1905, married Maude Cummings. Theresa, 1880  July 23, 1882, died from typhoid fever.

On August 8, 1882, William Underwood married Michael's widow, Adelaide J. Pilbeam Underwood. She was the daughter of Joseph Pilbeam and Mary A. Bodkin. They had two children:

E. Fern, born April 18, 1888, married Ray Smith on October 22, 1907. Kathryn, born April 24, 1896, married William Curry on April 22, 1914.

William died on May 19, 1919. Adelaide died March 15, 1925. They are both buried in the Ridgeway Cemetery.

"The above named church was organized on the 28th day of February, 1849, by Rev. Samuel Bradshaw, with thirty (30) charter members. Said church to be known as the First Church Of Christ In Ridgeway, Michigan."

This paragraph was written on the first page of an old book of membership records, found in the Congregational Church, Britton's oldest church. The church was dedicated January 27, 18.50, as the Christian Union Society. In 1929 it became the Britton Congregational Church.

There were very few Underwoods on a list of 451 early members. On that list, however, No's 33 and J4 are Abijah and Naomi Russell, grandparents of Naomi Russell Getty. They entered the church "by confession" March 4, 1849. Abijah is marked "deceased", and Naomi is marked "deceased May 12, 1873".

No's 63 and 64 are William D. and Elizabeth J. Russell, parents of Naomi Getty. They were "received on confession" February 24, 18.50. William D. is marked "deceased", and Elizabeth J. "discharged by letter April 7, 1877". No. 334 was Mrs. Serphina Exelby. Lovie Zeluff was No. 339, and Mrs. Addie Babcock was No. )48, having been "received by confession" March 8, 1894. These were the three daughters of William and Eliza Underwood.

In the 1890's, among the active members of the Ladies of the Christian Union Aid Society, formerly called the Ladies Home Missionary Society of the Ridgeway Christian Church, were: Mrs. William (Adelaide) Underwood, Mrs. Addie Babcock, Mrs. Phena Exelby, and Mrs. Lovie Zeluff. In 1896, Addie Babcock was the organist and the chorister. Mrs. Claybon Underwood, daughter-in-law of William and Eliza, was a member from 1910 to 1915, and in 1922 she was treasurer of the Dorcas Bible Study Class.

May 22, 1919, the Class received a thank you for the flowers which were sent at the time of William Underwood's death.

Among the members of the Young People's Society of Christian Education in 1897  1898, were Amos Underwood, William's and Eliza's son, and Earl and Myrtle Babcock (Addie's children).

Britton  July the 17  1893. For the valuable consideration that the House of Worship of the Christian Union Society of Britton be removed to some site within 80 rods East of the Wabash R.R. in the village of Britton we the undersigned promise and agree to pay to the treasurer of said society for the purpose of such Removal new site foundation wall and refitting the same the sum set opposite our respective names. Provided that at Least $8800 is pledged for such purpose within one month from late. Otherwise this subscription to be null and void this pledge renders all previous pledges for such purposes by us respectively void.

Early History of the First Christian Church of Ridgeway, Lenawee County.

The above named Church was organized by Elder S. Bradshaw on the 28th day of February 1849. No. of members at organization thirty  by the 14th of July following it No. fifty seven. Aug. 11th 18.50 its numbers were sixty eight. On July 2nd 1849 the legal Society for holding property was organized  the building of a meeting house was decided upon, and the work commenced. On 27th day of Jan 'y 18.50 the house was dedicated. sermon by Elder S. Bradshaw. present the following Elders McGregor  Dearing  Buchanan  Adams  Warner and Griffith being present  This was the first house built and dedicated by the Christians in Mich. On Sep't 7th 18.50 Elder Bradshaw closed his labors here, leaving a Church of sixty eight members with a good meeting house, and Elder Adams, and Bro Griffith each preaching once in two weeks. The Society having up to that   date expended the following amounts  for Meeting house             $600.00

            Hymn Books    20.00

            S.S. Books & pamphlets          12.00

            Insuring Church