Mission Point Press Faith, Family & Music: 150 Years of History & Tales of the Ed & Irene (Lamie) Fleis Family in Leelanau County

Ruth Ann (Fleis) Smith has woven together the biography of her family, beginning in the early 1870s, when her Fleis ancestors from West Prussia/Poland crossed the Atlantic in search of religious freedom to a better way of life in the great “land of delight,” Leelanau County, in northern Michigan. In this 150-year span, Smith describes her French-Canadian Lamie ancestors and their arrival in the area, and the quaint introduction of Ed Fleis, of Polish descent, to Irene Lamie, a French maiden. They united in marriage in September 1937 at St. Mary of Assumption Church in Lake Leelanau. They raised twelve children, with Ruth Ann being their firstborn. The Fleis family was known for its musical talents and community involvement—including its participation in the annual Cedar polka festivals. Smith had more than ninety contributors to Faith, Family, & Music. She incorporated memories and recollections of her parents, siblings, and other relatives, including nieces, nephews, and cousins, and others who knew their family. Events and landmarks will be familiar to residents of Cedar, Maple City, Glen Arbor, Empire, Lake Leelanau, and Traverse City. The book will also be of interest to historians, especially those who study immigration, the Catholic faith, and the settling of the Leelanau County area.