Fund Est. 2006
Henry S. Michaud • 6/2/1864 - 5/1/1929
Lillie M. Meshberger Michaud • 2/2/1865 – 10/21/1944
A former teacher in Decatur and Fort Wayne, Florine Michaud Saylors, established this scholarship in 2003 at Bellmont High School in honor of her parents: Henry S. & Lillie M. Michaud. In 2006, the ACCF acquired the fiduciary responsibilities.
Lillie M. Meshberger, 30, married her sweetheart, Henry Samuel Michaud, 31 in 1895. The two were born at the end of the Civil War – Lillie in Adams County and Henry in Wells County. They met and married in Berne. Lillie and Henry were married for more than 30 years before Henry passed away in 1929 at the age of 64. The couple had one child, Florine, in August 1903.
Henry S. Michaud was born in Wells County and was appointed Berne’s postmaster from 1893 to 1897. After he left the post office, Henry took on other professions. He sold books for a short time, taught school for several years in Berne, and then started a fruit tree business in the southern portion of Adams County which he kept until late in the first decade of 1900. Henry continued working in his fruit tree business until he was elected Adams County Auditor in 1907. Their family moved to Decatur and Henry served in that capacity from 1908-1912. Before coming to Decatur, however, he also served on the Berne Town Council and on the Berne School Board for several years.
Their daughter, Florine Saylor, 99 years old at the time of her death in 2002, wanted to honor the memory of her parents, who had given so much to the Adams County area. This scholarship is awarded each year to a graduating senior from North Adams.