Son of Samuel (ca 1776-1813) and Sarah (Smith) Seaman, Daniel was a young man of serious and deeply religious inclinations. Joseph Smith founded the Mormon Church and began his work in upstate New York, across Lake Ontario from the Seaman home, and it is said that it was here that Daniel Murray became impressed with his teaching. He married Lovinia Smith in 1832, joined the Mormons at Nauvoo, Illinois, and was ordained as a Mormon minister. He worked for a time as a missionary.

Lovinia's health began to fail and they returned to New York, where she died. Daniel took their three young children back to Canada where they could be cared for by his family. Later he married Elizabeth (Betsy) Grandy, a young teacher. He continued to keep in touch with the Mormons and rejoined them after Joseph Smith's murder, when the sect moved to the Beaver Islands in upper Lake Michigan.

This was a time of trouble for the Mormons. The doctrine of polygamy, although not supported by all, created trouble with surrounding communities, and there were internal power struggles within the group itself. As a result, a large number of them moved to Utah under the leadership of Brigham Young, and the remaining colony deteriorated. Daniel and Betsy left and went to Canada, living on the Manitoulin Island for a time. We do not know how long they stayed there, but in 1853 they arrived at Drummond Island, where the family remained. They came in a small boat with their personal belongings, a cow, and a number of young children.

Drummond Island needs to be put in perspective. It lies very close to the Straits of Mackinac, which joins lakes Huron and Michigan. After the War of 1812 the British maintained a garrison there (evacuated and ceded to the United States in 1821) as a link with the western fur trade. Of particular interest to those in Ontario, it was from Drummond that a number of people of French ancestry, previously employed in the fur trade, moved to Penetanguishene when the British left.

It is said that the Seaman's camped first in the remains of old Fort Drummond, vacated twenty-five years earlier. They had their cow, a garden, which Betsy built, an island virtually to themselves except for wandering Indians and passing ships. It would be hard to find a more desolate location.

The island had almost nothing to recommend it as a place to make a living and raise a large family except its location. In one sense it was remote, but it was also close to shipping lanes passing through winding channels at the junction of three of the Great Lakes. Since sailing ships could not operate by themselves through the tortuous passage, they were pulled by wood-burning tug boats, and the Seaman's were well equipped to provide beech, maple and birch for fuel. They also caught fish which they sold to ships, settlers on the American mainland and the Canadian town of Thessalon across the channel. It is also said that stone was quarried on the island for the Sault canal, which was completed in 1855. After this, shipping along the route increased.

The Township of Drummond was organized in 1853 at a meeting held in the Seaman home, and in 1859 Daniel received the deed to one hundred and sixty acres. The island has rarely achieved fame but came closest to it when General Sheridan and some of his officers visited the island and dined with the Seaman's. Betsy recalled an occasion when, upon the unexpected appearance of guests, it was necessary to dig up potatoes recently planted, but no one has suggested that this was the time.

Daniel Murray Seaman died in 1863 at the age of 52, having fathered sixteen children from two marriages. His widow was left with eight of them, ranging in age from nineteen to just over one year. It remained for her to manage the family who stayed on the island.

By Michael Burley - Find-A-Grave