A Bit About the Ennes/Ennis [Family]
by Calvin Ennes, 1969
FOREWORD
Don't be confused by the spelling of Ennis, Ennes, Hennesey, Angus and
similar words. All are derived from the Irish name Aonghus, meaning "unique
choice."
Gaelic pronunciation goes very soft on what in other language are hard
vowels so that the Englishman in trying to copy the delicate sounds made by a
Gaelic speaking saying "6 h Aonghus" (descendant of Aonghus) comes up with
"Hennesey." Ennes and Ennis has come about by a similar process. Ennis, a town
in County Clare, Republic of Eire, is the result of an Englishman trying to
pronounce Gaelic--this time the word "inis" meaning island.
It was said that the surname Ennis sprang up and spread out from the
borders of Heath and Lough north of Dublin until it was common throughout
Ireland and Scotland.
Irish history tells that in Donnegal in the fifteenth century, more than
half of the entire population were Ennis or their kin.
Heraldry experts say that the name Ennis is "armigerous"--ie: there is or
was in Ireland a landed gentry family with a coast of arms.
Frances Jane Ennes, who died in 1835 in Scotland, left to her heirs in
America the "ten million dollar estate." She may have been a kin of that class.
It was said that William Ennes, her uncle who lived in Marbleton, N.Y. was one
of her heirs. The estate was seized by the Crown. It is not likely that many
other Ennis's mentioned in this book are close relatives of hers.
A Bit About the Ennis
is dedicated to my beloved wife, Veva, who has been my companion for nearly
sixty years and to my father and mother who like thousands of other pioneers
worked to make America a better country.
Calvin Ennes, August 1969
Thanks a Million
To Mrs. Mary Jane Trout and staff, at the Michigan State Library; to the
Ohio State Library, the New York State Library; the Burton Historical
collection; the Schenectady Historical Association; Montgomery County Historical
Association; the New Jersey Historical Association, C.V. Crane, President of the
Minisink Historical Society; the Ulster County Historical Society; to Harrietta
M. Wheeler, Chairman of the Society for Genealogical Research, Detroit
Historical Society; William Heidgert of the Du Bois Family Association; To Mrs.
Berniece Heiner, Utah; Mrs. Theta Hubman, New York; Mabel Ennis, Oregon; Mrs.
Rebecca (Ennis) Treznor, New York; Mrs. Marguerete Ennis Kelly, Maryland;
Kenneth Ennis, Michigan; Mrs. Eleanor Myers at the Library of Syracuse, New
York; to my daughter, Lucy; to Donna and John, Susanne, and Janis, my
grandchildren; and John Ennis of London, England for their aid in furnishing
material and putting together, "A Bit About The Ennis."
Calvin Ennes
2
Early Ennes History
Chapter One
Legends
One tells of an Ennis family who left Ireland and came to Bracebridge,
Canada, across Lake Huron, east of Alpena, Michigan. Because of differences in
religious belief, people in Ireland were feuding. To avoid the turmoil this
family sold their belongings and with their five children and one that was
unborn sailed for America.
On the way the mother and her unborn child died. Then the father died.
Before he died, the father gave his money and a ticket for their baggage to his
eldest son who was fifteen. The son was afraid to sleep because of being
robbed. At last weariness overcame him. He fell asleep. When he awoke the
money and ticket were gone--five children alone on a crowded ship, destitute.
Kind people aided them. After two years and much hardship the children arrived
in Bracebridge.
Many Ennis families in Michigan today are descendants of that family. One
operates an insurance agency, another is a merchant (1967).
Another Ennis legend (there are many versions of it) tells of three
brothers who left the Erne River Valley near Enniskillen, Ireland, and went to
Holland. From there they sailed to American with the early Dutch who settled
along the Hudson River. Here they intermarried. From the Hudson Valley some of
the families moved to the minisink Region of the Delaware River where New York,
New Jersey and Pennsylvania join. Later some of these Ennis' families migrated
to the Susquehanna Valley and formed settlements. About the same time other
Ennis and their kin settled in Mohawk Valley.
Dutch in New York
Dutch farmers came to New York about the same time as the Pilgrims came to
Massachusetts. They purchased their property from the Indians, usually for a
small sum. They were friendly and dealt fairly with the Indians. The Dutch
built towns on the Hudson River. Soon after they came, copper and other
minerals were discovered in the mountains east of the Delaware River. To mine
these minerals the Dutch made a road of an old Indian trail from Esopus
southwestward to what is now Port Jervis and the ancient Minisink Village were
some of the places along the way.
The Minisink Region
South of what is now Port Jervis, New York was a region that was a paradise
to the Indians. The soil in the valleys which they tilled was rich. It
produced excellent crops. The forest was filled with game. The Minisink
Indians were friendly with the Dutch living in this region for nearly one
hundred years.
3
Then things changed. About 1720, people began "squatting" on the Indians
land without permission. The Indians protested, but nothing was done about it.
This caused some hard feelings and some deathjs but the tragic event that caused
the Indians to go on the warpath is mentioned below because it involved Ennis'
and their kin.
"The Crooked Walk"
How The White Obtained the Minisink
Region by Dishonesty--The Terrible Results
Early Dutch and Pennsylvanians lived in harmony with the Indians. William
Penn made a treaty which while he lived was never broken.
In that treaty the Indians agreed to sell to Penn all the land eastward to
the Delaware River over which Penn could walk in three days. Commencing where
Schulykill River joined the Delaware--Philadelphia of today--Penn and the
Indians were to walk northward for three days. The land east to the Delaware
was open for settlement to Penn's followers.
Penn and the Indians walked northward at a leisurely pace, stopping to
smoke and visit along the way. After walking only one and one-half days, Penn
said he had all the land he needed for his settlers.
For many years after this event the colonist and Indians were friendly.
Then William Penn died and his sons; John, Richard, and Thomas, ruled the
colony.
They wanted more territory. They told the Indians they were still entitled
to the land that could be covered in one and one- half days walk northward
according to the treaty their father, William Penn had made with them. The
Indians were honest. They kept their word. They agreed.
After the Indians agreed to the balance of the three-day walk, Penn's sons
agents advertised offering five pounds in money and five hundred acres of land
to the man who could walk the farthest in one and one-half days.
Arrangements were made with the Indians. On September nineteenth the walk
was to begin. They were to start at a chestnut tree above Wrighton,
Pennsylvania about fifty miles north of the Schulykill where Penn's walk had
ended.
Many people on horseback gathered to see the walk. The walker sand the
Indians were the only ones on foot. The Indians knew the walk should end in the
Lehigh Valley. Penn's sons were determined it would end beyond the rich
Minisink Flats.
Three men entered the contest. Edward Marshall, a noted hunter. James
Yeates a slim man, a runner, and Solomon Jennings, a large powerful man. One of
the Indian observers was called Quambush.
The three men stood with their hands on the chestnut tree. At sunrise the
race started. The course of the race had been previously mapped out to the
north. People were stationed along the way with refreshments for the walkers,
and to urge them one.
4 The Indian observers were Minisinks, a tribe that had inhabited this region
for centuries. Soon the walkers started to run. The Indians shouted "no lun!
no lun!"--there is no "r" sound in the language of the Algonquin tribes. At
twenty miles the Penns had a large crowd waiting to urge the runners on. Yeates
was leading followed by several men on horseback. Farther behind was Jennings
with Marshall in the rear leisurely swinging a small ax. When the "walkers"
reached Dunham Creek the map called for the walkers to swing upstream, but now
determined to get as much good land as possible the walkers ran for the
Minisink.
Because of heat, Jennings fell exhausted the first afternoon. Penn's
horsemen kept urging the other two on. At last Yeates gave out and had to be
carried home. He died three days later. Jennings never regained his health.
Marshall claimed the Penns never gave him the land he was promised--he received
five hundred acres of swamp. He had to elude Indians the rest of his life, for
his crooked walk in Pennsylvania caused an Indian War in which hundreds were
killed and desolation settled in New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
Old Church Records
Here are the names of Ennis (note spellings) taken from records of churches
in Ulster County, New YORK. These records show Ennis were there at an early
date.
Baptism Records, Dutch Reformed Church,
Town of Rochester, Ulster Co., N.Y.
Date Parents Child Witnesses
4-22-1752 William Ennest Cornelis Gysbert Rosa
Sara Hein Rachel Klaarwater
5-12-1771 Hartman Ennest Janneke Nathan Ver Noy
Elisabeth Hornbeck b. 5-2-1771 Janneke Hornbeck
1-31-1779 ditto William William & Sara
Ennist
Baptism Records, Dutch Reformed Church
Marbletown, Ulster County, New York
Date Parents Child Witnesses
5-15-1749 William Ennist Jr. Mareitje Gysbert Bosch
Sara Hein Annaatje Bosch
1-2-1754 ditto Grietje Petrus Smit
Elisabeth Roosa
5Date Parents Child Witnesses
4-19-1757 William Ennist Jr. Petrus Petrus Caterhout & his
Sara Hein wife, Jannetje Schaart
4-19-1772 William Ennes Henry Hendrik Smith
Maria Keater Sara Keater
10-2-1776 ditto Catharina Henrik Mysener
Katharina Mysener
6-14-1778 ditto Sarah none named
7-22-1781 Cornelis Ennist Sarah none named
Sarah Krom
9-9-1787 William Ennes Anna none named
Maria Keator
10-23-1788 Cornelis Ennes Lewis
Sara Krom
6-26-1791 George Ennis Maria
Elizabeth Post
3-3-1793 Cornelius Ennis Cornelius
Sarah Stag
3-12-1801 George Ennest George
Elizabeth Post born 3-2-1801
1-16-1805 James Ennest Henry
Susanna Post born 1-1-1805
Nov. 1805 George Ennest John
Elisabeth Post born 9-17-1805
5-15-1808 ditto Richard Ervin
born 2-24-1808
11-19-1808 Henry Ennest Sarah
Rode Welly born 9-22-1808
9-22-1811 John Ennest Arriantje Mowris
Polly Bogard born 7-30-1811
4-25-1813 ditto Sarah Bogard
born 3-3-1813
7-18-1813 George Ennest Louis
Elisabeth Post born 3-8-1813
9-29-1817 William Ennest Eliza Margaret
Polly Mowris born 7-29-1817
5-14-1820 Cornelius Ennest Rebecca
Catherine Cross born 1-1-1820
6Marriages
9-4-1800 James Ennest & Susanna Post
7-1-1804 John Ennest & Arriantje Mowris
Received on confession - William Ennest & wife, Maria Keter
Baptisms
5-20-1834 Daniel Dubois Elisabeth Ann
Hellen R. Enest
5-2-1846 ditto Margaret Adelia, born 10-18-1845
Marriage
3-3-1859 Issac DuBois of Marbletown & Mary Ennest of Marbletown
Records, First Dutch Reformed Church
Kingston, Ulster County, New York
Baptisms
Date Parents Child Witnesses
9-6-1696 William Ennus Cornelis Jannetje Ennis
Cornelia Veervant
5-8-1698 Wilhem Ennis Cornelis Geertruy Peters
Cornelia Post
4-20-1701 William Ennis Catharina Jan Janssen Post
Cornelia Viervand Antje Post
7-17-1703 William Ennis Jannetje Abraam
Cornelia Viervand Antje Post
1-27-1712 Wilhem Ennes Wilhem Wiljem West
Cornelia Vier-Vant Jannetje Mertissen
3-3-1700 Thomas Ennis Helena Jan Post
Jannetje Legier Cornelia Martensen
7-31-1720 Cornelis Ennis Wiljem Lammert Brink
Marytjen Van Etten Cornelia Vierbrand
4-1-1722 ditto Catrina Hendrik Oel., Catrina
Jong, Catrina Snyders
5-31-1724 ditto Jan Hendrick Ploeg
Antjen Van Etten
7Date Parents Child Witnesses
4-8-1726 ditto Cornelis Jan Van Etten,
Hendrik Kortregt,
Jannetjen Ennes
8-21-1735 Zander Ennes Elisabeth Thomas Gaabeek
Zara Middag Margrietjen Elmendorff
1-9-1737 ditto Wiljem Hendrik Kortregt
Jannetjen Ennes
5-14-1738 Alexander Ennes Aard Aard Middag
Zara Middag Hester de Lameeter
11-11-1739 ditto Jooris Augestinus Vander Merken
Geesjen Vander Merken
5-3-1741 ditto Jan Mathen Middag
Margrita Kok
7-8-1744 ditto Zara Jacobus Elmendorf Kool
Marretjen Kok
1-28-1770 William Ennist Jacobus Jacobus Keter
Why Ennis Came to America
America was a land of freedom. Land was cheap. There was not much bigotry
here. About the middle of the sixteenth century after Charles I was beheaded,
35,000 Irish were shipped form Ireland and forced to serve in foreign armies.
After the Battle of Dunbar in 1650, conditions in Scotland and Ireland became
still worse, the phrase "they are hanging men and women for the wearing of the
green" was literally true. Thousands of Scots and Irish were held as political
prisoners. They were considered "trouble makers". Some Ennis were among them.
Many of the "trouble makers" had their property confiscated. Ship loads of
these men, woman, and children were crammed in vessels and sent to Jamaica.
History tells that some of the Ennis political prisoners were sent to Black
Island, Rhode Island.
Because of this, many other people from Ireland and Scotland fled to
America.
Old histories mention Alexander, Cornelius, James, Thomas, William and Sara
Ennes in Hudson Valley before 1690. In this narrative they will be considered
belonging to the first generation, and will be follows by (I). Those in the
next generation will be follows by (II), and so on.
8
Ennes History--1690 to 1790
Chapter II
Grand Daddy of Ennes
The records of Marbleton's Old Reformed Dutch Church in Ulster County, New
York, show that the forebearer of many of the Ennis families living in America
today (maybe one of the three brothers in the legend) was William Ennes (I)*.
WILLIAM ENNES (I) was a farmer of Scot descent who married Cornelia
Viervant (I) in the spring of 1693 or 1694 at Kingston, New York.
The records state that in September 1703, two hundred acres of land were
deeded to him. After his death in 1712, his wife Cornelia married Lambert Brink
at (Esopus) Kingston on May 10, 1717 and later moved to the Minisink Region.
Cornelis Arenta Viervant,** a native of Lexmont, Land of Vianen, Utrecht
(Holland) married, in Kingston (Ulster County, NY) Jeanne le Sueur, sister of
Francois, the Lozier ancestor. He died in 1675 at Fordham, NY, leaving one
daughter-- CORNELIA VIERVANT.
Jan Jansen Postmael married Jeanne the daughter of Francois le Sueur. They
leased the Lauren Jansen farm at Harlem on April 23, 1679. They cancelled the
lease and moved to Kingston in 1684. They began Jan, born 1680; Abraham, born
1682; Anna Catrna, born 1684; Elsie, born 1686; and Anthony, born about 1688.
When Jan Jansen Postmael died, his widow then married Thomas Innes (Ennes).
Thomas Ennes and Jeanne Began Jannetje, born September 29, 1695; Jeanne
died. Thomas remarried Jannetje Legier. They began Helena Ennes, born March 3,
1700. All the above is recorded in the Dutch Reformed Church, Kingston, Ulster
County, New York. Later Thomas Ennes moved to the Minisink Region--Milford,
Pennsylvania on the Delaware River.
Children of William and Cornelia (I)
Baptismal records at (Mormel) Marbletown show that William and Cornelia had
these children:
Alexander, 1st (II) bp. 11-18-1694 --died young
Cornelius, 1st (II) bp. 9-06-1696 --died young
Cornelius, 2nd (II) bp. 1698 --married Marytje Van Etten
Catherine (II) bp. 1701
Janetje (II) bp. 1703
Alexander, 2nd (II) bp. 1709 --married Zara Middag
William, Jr. (II) born 1-11-1711 --married Elizabeth Quick
CORNELIUS ENNES (II), son of William (I), a young man born in Hurley,
Ulster County, and residing in Kyserrike, Ulster County, married MARYTJE VAN
ETTEN, a young maiden, born in Hurley, Ulster County, and residing in the
Minisink in Orange
__________
*Roman numerals in parentheses indicate the generation of the person
according to the narrative.
**Information about Cornelia Viervant and other Ennes in this section taken
from Harlem History, p. 388.
9County, New York. Their marriage banns was registered September 13, 1719.
Their children were:
William (III) born in 1720
Jannetje (III) born in 1722
Jan (III) born in 1724
Cornelius (III) born in 1726
ALEXANDER (ZANDER) ENNES (II), son of William (I) married ZARA (Sarah)
MIDDAY (II), a young maiden on September 15, 1734. She was born September 16,
1708 the daughter of Joris Midday. Joris was born in Hycoop, Holland. He
married April 27, 1696 Marritje Mariatie. Both bride and groom were born in
Marbleton. The bridegroom residing there. The bride in Shohan.
Alexander and Zara's children were:
Elizabeth (III) baptized 8-24-1735
William (III) baptized 1-09-1737 -- who married Marie Keator
Aard (III) baptized 5-14-1738
Jan (III) baptized 5-03-1741
Joris (III) baptized 11-11-1739
Zara (III) baptized 7-08-1744
WILLIAM ENNIST (Ennes) (III), son of Alexander (II) was baptized on January
9, 1737 and died in 1830. He married Marie Keator (III). They were received
upon confession at the Dutch Reformed Church of Marbleton, Ulster County, New
York. (Note: It appears that Alexander's family spelled the name Ennist.)
They had these children:
Jacob (James) (IV) baptized 1-28-1770
Henry (IV) baptized 3-16-1772
Sarah, 1st (IV) baptized 9-28-1774 -- died young
Catherine (IV) baptized 10-02-1776
Sarah, 2nd (IV) baptized 6-14-1778
William (IV) baptized 9-24-1780
Anna (IV) baptized 9-09-1787
And according to the will of 1816, two other sons John and George.
WILLIAM ENNES JR. (II), 1711-1804 was the son of William (I). A summary of
his biograph can best be given by a "Copy of records from the Old Ennis Bible":
William (Jr.) Ennis, in his own hand viz. 1711
January 10th was I, William Ennis, born at Mormal.*
1739 May 18th was I married to my wife Elizabeth Quick.
1740 Sept. 28th is born my eldest daughter Cornelia.
1743 Jan 24th departed this life my said daughter Cornelia.
1743 April 25th is born my eldest son Benjamin.
1745 Nov. 30th is born my second son Daniel.
1748 June 28th is born my second daughter Margaret
*Mormal is a town off Marbletown, NY. See church records.
10 1751 July 9th is born my third son Joseph.
1754 Mar. 9th is born my fourth son John.
1756 Nov. 26th is born my fifth son Cornelius (1st).
1759 Aug. 16th is born my sixth son Alexander
1760 Sept. 10th departed this life my son Cornelius (1st).
1761 Nov. 5th is born my seven son Cornelius.
1764 May 24th is born my third daughter Catherine.
1769 Oct. 11th departed this life my sixth son Alexander.
1778 June 21st departed this life my son John
1780 April 20 departed this life my son Benjamin,
killed by Indians, being my eldest son.
1871 April 8 departed this life my dearly beloved wife,
Elizabeth, On Wednesday at 2 o'clock.
William Ennes. (II) and his wife Elizabeth Quick are buried in the Old
Dutch Cemetery on the Mine Road in the northeast corner of Sandyton township,
Sussex County, New Jersey.
Old William Ennes House - The home of the one-armed school master who resided
here in 1751. This picture was taken in 1968 by C.V. Crane, President of the
Minisink Historical Society. Mr. Crane is standing in front of building.
More relating to William Ennes (II) is learned by reading a condensed copy
of his will.
11
Summary of Will
Archives of the State of New Jersey. First Series Vol. XXXVIII
Calendar of N.J. Wills, etc. Vol. V, 1801-1805, pp. 153-154
1799 April 19. ENNES, WILLIAM, of Sandyton, Sussex Co.; will to Grandson,
Alexander Ennes (sic) (son of eldest son, Benjamin, dec'd) 5 shillings for his
birthright. Daughter Cathrina, (wife of Simon Cartright) farm where I now live
(16 acres); she to pay L 50. Son, Cornelius, the improvement purchased from
Solomon Decker, where George Quick now lives; he to pay L 20. To the 6 children
(unnamed) of son, Benjamin, dec'd. L 18 to be divided among them. Sons,
Daniel, Joseph and Cornelius, wearing apparel. Daughter, Margaret (wife of
James Hornbeck), bed and bedding. Residue to sons, Daniel and Joseph, heirs on
son, Benjamin, dec'd, and daughter Margaret (wife of James Hornbeck) in 4 equal
shares.
Executors--sons, Daniel and Joseph Ennes
Witnesses--Lydia Capron, Alexander Ennes, Thomas Kyte
Proved --July 22, 1804
Recorded, Surrogate's Office,
Sussex County, File 1010S
More about William Ennes (II)
William Ennes is mentioned in the history of the settlement of the Minisink
Region Region. The first school in Montague township, Sussex County, New Jersey
was built in 1731. William Ennes was the third teacher. He was followed by
Madam Benjamin, the wife of his deceased son, Benjamin. In Sandyton township,
Sussex County, New Jersey, (territory once part of the provide of New York,
later made part of New Jersey) early opportunity was offered for the education
of the youth. History states, "The first instructor in Sandyton was William
Ennes, an early settler, an upright man, who came from Kingston, in the 1730's.
Although he was one-armed, he was skillful in making quill pens for his youths.
He had superior ability as a teacher." He was a deacon in the church. He held
civil offices and signed his name with the date following it."
William Ennes (II) married Elizabeth Quick (II). History tells much about
her family. Tom Quick, her brother, was a famous frontiersman. Books could be
written about his exploits. Jacob Quick (spelled, Kwik) came from Holland about
1730. He and his two sons were working in a field together when Indians
launched an attack from a nearby woods. The Quicks had no weapons, so they ran
for their lives toward their house. The father was heavy and old. His sons
grabbed him by the arms and tried to hurry him along. He begged the boys to
abandon him and flee. One of the sons was wounded by a bullet. The Indians
were gaining on them. It was an awful decision to make.
12The boys at last had to leave their father. The Indians killed and scalped him
and cut a pair of silver buckles from his trousers. Years later, after many
exploits and some narrow escapes, Tom Quick got the buckles back. All this
carnage because of the "Crooked Walk" which turned peaceful Indians into
enemies.
Children of William and Elizabeth Ennes (II)
CORNELIA (III), born 1743, farmer, born 1740--died 1743.
BENJAMIN ENNES (III), born 1743, farmer, lieutenant in the American
Revolution, killed in battle in 1780, married to MAGDALENA VAN ETTEN. They
bore:
Elizabeth (IV) born 1-16-1769
Alexander (IV) born 4-29-1772
Johannis (IV) born 5-23-1774
Marie (IV) born 11-23-1776
Emanuel (IV) born ?
Benjamin (IV) born 8-19-1780 after his father's death.
Events Leading to Benjamin's Death
Brant the renegade, was hired by the British to lead the Indians in attacks
on the Colonists. The British paid Indians for scalps.
In 1780, Jerimish Van Anken was dragged out of his school while in session
and killed. While the boys were being tomahawked outside--some escaped--Brant
took some ink and made a mark on the apron of a girl, saving it would save her
life. Brant then went outside to help catch the boys. The other girls quickly
marked all their aprons with similar ink marks and saved their lives.
Battle of Connesbaugh -- 1780
Because of the atrocity, troops and scouts were rushed in. Brant and his
Indians were located on Raymondskill Creek over the Delaware River in
Pennsylvania. During the night reinforcements were called. Captain Van Etten,
Captain Westbrook and Lieutenant Ennes came, all rushing troops toward
Raymondskill Creek. On the way the troops were ambushed by the Indians. Many
fled, but Captain Westbrook and Lieutenant Ennes stood their ground. On that
rainy day in April, 1780, Lieutenant Ennes and twelve other men were killed.
Their bodies were buried in the Old Minisink Cemetery near the Old Ennis Home.
Benjamin (IV), the youngest son of Lieutenant Ennes, was born in August after
that battle.
The children's mother, Madam Benjamin, then taught school to help keep the
family together. It was Alexander Ennes, her son, to whom William Ennes (II)
gave the birthright when he made his will in 1799.
13 In 1798, all the members of Benjamin's family, along with kinfolks, the Van
Ettens and others moved from the Minisink Region to Cayuta Township, Tingo
County, New York in the Susquehanna Valley -- more later.
DANIEL ENNES (III), born 11-30-1745, son of William (II) and Elizabeth
Quick was a farmer and blacksmith. Later he owned a tavern situated on the main
stage route to Owasco, New York. Old records say Daniel was upright, worthy and
well-liked. He served as a midshipman in the American Revolutionary war.
He married ELEANOR HORNBECK. They had two sons and several daughters. By
industry and perseverance they acquired valuable property. One, a farm where
his son Alexander resided in New Jersey near Brick House (now destroyed by the
approaches of a bridge over the Delaware River) and another near Owasco Lake in
New York, later owned by his son, James Ennes, sometimes spelled Jacobus Annis.
Later in life Daniel and his good wife Eleanor moved to New York, too,
where they lived to a ripe old age. Daniel was ninety-four when he died in
1838. His wife was ninety-one when she died in 1837. Born were buried in the
Owasco Cemetery, Cayuga County, New York.
Daniel's will dated 10-24-1837 names his children:
(1) to heirs of son, James
(2) to my son Alexander
(3) to daughter Elizabeth Van Etten
(4) to heirs of Polly Dexter
(5) to Ruth Shimer, wife of Richard
(6) to daughter Sally Westbrook
(7) to heirs of my daughter, Hydia Adams
More about Daniel's Children
JAMES ENNES (IV), born 4-11-1767, son of Daniel Ennes and Eleanor Hornbeck,
married Hannah DeWitt. They had at least one daughter, Elizabeth, born 1791.
They owned a farm near the outlet of Skaneateles Lake, New York. More will be
given under U.S. census later.
ALEXANDER ENNES (IV), the other son of Daniel Ennes and Eleanor Hornbeck,
lived near Brick House (a noted stage stop in Minisink Region in New Jersey).
Alexander's wife's name is not known. He had children: Sally Ann (V) who
married Joseph Westbrook, and Daniel (V) who married 3-8-1828 Jemina Hornbeck.
The last mentioned produced too many descendants to list here.
MARGARIET ENNES (III), born 7-17-1748, second daughter of William Ennes &
Elizabeth Quick, married Jacobus Hornbeck, a miller. They bore several
sons--one named Evert--and daughters, Elizabeth baptized 1772, and Lena baptized
1780.
14 JOSEPH ENNES (III), born 1751, son of William Ennes and Elizabeth Quick,
married 6-22-1770, GRIETJE VAN ETTEN, who was baptized, daughter of Johannis Van
Etten and Marrietje (Harriet) Westmael. Joseph was prosperous. He ran a ferry
across the Delaware River at Dingsman Landing. It is said that he aided two of
his sons who migrated to New York in 1806 and settled in the vicinity of
Alloway, New York. He sent them money and visited them in 1819. (more later)
JOSEPH ENNES (III) and Grietje's children were:
Elizabeth (IV) baptized 2-10-1773
Wilhelmus (IV) baptized 6-14-1775
Johannis J. (IV) baptized 1-24-1779
Joseph (IV) baptized 1-02-1786
Catrina (IV) born 5-27-1791
Daniel (IV) born 9-21-1788 baptized 10-12-178 9
(source for Daniel: Mackenchamack Church Records)
Wilhelmus (IV) married in 1793 his cousin Marie Ennes, daughter of
Benjamin who was killed at Raymondskill Creek in the Battle of Connesbaugh in
April 1780.
JOHN ENNES (III), son of William Ennes (II) and Elizabeth Quick, was born
3-9-1754 and died 6-21-1778. The name of the woman he married is not known.
(She may have been Anna Godivn.) They had a son John born in 1776, and maybe
Cornelius and an Alexander. John was a private in the Continental Army in the
Revolutionary War. Shell's history of Sussex and Warren County, New Jersey,
states: "One of the earlier settlers in Stumptown, Union town, was a carpenter
named Ennis, who in 1811 relinquished his business to his sons John and
Alexander, carpenters, who then ran the shop." John's son, Cornelius, may have
been the Ennis referred to above.
ALEXANDER ENNES (III), born 8-16-1759, son of William Ennes (II) and
Elizabeth died at the age of ten.
CORNELIUS ENNES 2nd (III), born 11-5-1761 (Cornelius 1st, b. 11-26-1756,
died 9-10-1760), son of William Ennes (II) and Elizabeth Quick died in 1836.
Cornelius served in the American Revolution. He owned much real estate. His
descendants migrated through northern Pennsylvania and southern New York. He is
said to have frozen his feet while aiding Washington's troops across the
Delaware River on Christmas Eve at the time of the Battle of Trenton.
Cornelius married ELEANOR DECKER who was born in 1756 and who died in 1791.
Their eldest son, Levi Ennes (IV) was born in 1782 and died in 1858. Levi
married Mary Adams who was born in 1788 and died in 1869.
Cornelius's 5th son James Ennes (IV) married Mary Ann Dunn.
Levi Ennes (IV) and Mary Adams bore
Alexander (V) born 1816 died 1879.
Alexander (V) married Eleanor Stevens and had
Anna Amelia Ennes (VI) who married John Rahm at Standing Stone,
Pennsylvania, in 1866.
15
New York and the Revolutionary War
At the time of the Revolutionary War, many were driven from their homes in
New York by the British soldiers. Aid and relief were given to those who had to
flee by representatives of the State of New York. This is a document stating
such.
List of the poor who came out of New York City includes:
Sarah Ennis; poor and distressed inhabitants; out of New York City and the
Counties of Ulster, Dutchess, and Westchester. In convention of the
Representatives of the State of New York, Kingston, May 8, 1777, dictate the
propriety of adopting some mode of Relief for such of the Inhabitants, of this
State as have been driven from their Habitations and deprived of their
Subsistence.
Ennis Who Served
The following items are taken from NEW YORK IN THE REVOLUTION, Volume I:
Ulster County Militia (land bounty rights)- 3rd Regt. Peter ENNIS (p.262)
Dutchess County Militia -Second Regiment- JAMES ENNESS (p.136)
The Levies under Col. Albert Pawling -Cornelius Ennis; Peter Ennis; William
Ennis (p.83)
The Line -2nd Rgt. Col. Philip Van Cortland -DAVID ENNIS; PETER ENNIS (p.32)
The Line -First Regiment - Enlisted men: HENRY ENNIS (p.21)
He is also shown on The Line - Third Regiment (p. 42)
Suffolk County Militia - First Regiment of Minute Men - GEORGE ENNIS (p. 169)
The Militia - Ulster County - Fourth Regiment (Hardenburgh's)
Enlisted Men: JAMES ENNIS (p. 201)
The Militia - Dutchess County - Fifth Regiment - Enlisted Men - P. ENNIS
The Line - Fourth Regiment - Enlisted Men - Peter Ennis (p. 50)
The Levies (Col. Frederick Weissenfels) - PETER ENNIS (p. 50)
The Levies - Independent Corps of 1000 Men; Raised under Act 33, passed March
13, 1779; under Col. Fred Weisenfels. Enlisted men - Peter Ennis
---------------
Index of Revolutionary War Pension Applications in the National Archives:
ENNIS, ABRAHAM; R.I. ENNES, LEONARD; Md.
ENNIS, ENOCH; Md. ENNES, PAUL; R.I.
ENNIS, HENRY; N.Y. ENNIS, RICHARD; Hazen's Regt.
ENNIS (OR INNIS) JOHN; Md. INNIS, JAMES; Penna.
ENNIS, JOHN; Penna. INNIS, (or ENNES) POLLY -
ENNIS, WILLIAM; R.I. See John Innes (or Ennes); Md.
16
Chapter III
Ennis Families - 1790
Listed here are the names of heads of Ennis families (all spellings) living
in the United States north of Maryland with the exception of New Jersey whose
census records are lost.
In Deuphin County, Pa., Alexander, Robert and Joshua;
In Suffolk County, Mass., Dorchester Town, Thomas;
In Boston Town, John;
In Bristol County, Free Town, William;
In Ulster County, New York, at Newburgh, James;
At Marbleton, George, William and Cornelius;
At Rochester, Hartman
States not listed have no Ennis. Therefore in all north-eastern United
States in 1790 there were only eleven Ennis families.
Ennis Living in New Jersey
According to records, nearly all Ennis in New Jersey lived in Bergen or
Sussex counties in the northern part of the state, portions of which were at one
time in New York.
Listed here is another will which tells more about Ennis not already
mentioned who lived in New Jersey about 1790.
Source: Archives of the State of New Jersey, First Series Vol. XXXVIII,
Calendar of N.J. Wills. Admins. etc. Vol IX 1796-1800 p.123.
1797, Feb 8 ENNIS, James, Sr. of Barbadoes Neck Bergen County, will of
Eldest son, James, 25 acres of land at Broadberry's lane, Acquacknonk Twsp.,
Essex Co. Youngest son John, home place, when 21; also 5 acres of Woodland
bounded on lands of William Kingsland and lands of Elizabeth Harrison; he paying
my daughters, Mary and Jane, each L20. Son, William L25. Residue to be divided
between the first 4 mentioned children, ie., James, John, Mary and Jane Ennis.
Executors: son James and nephew William Duvall
Witnesses: John Scidmore, Casparus DeGray and John Ennis
Proved, October 20, 1797
There was also in New Jersey a General Roger Ennis;
a David Ennes who served with Light Horse Harry Lee;
and a William Ennes who was hanged by orders from Lord Howe in December 1776.
William's son, Richard, age 6, was made to witness the hanging.
17
Ennes Move Westward
BILHELMUS ENNES (IV), B. 6-14-1775, son of Joseph Ennes (III) and Grietje
Van Etten married his cousin, Marie Ennes, daughter of Benjamin and Magdalena
Van Etten (who may have been two brothers marrying sisters).
They bore in 1793 or 1794, William A. Ennes (IV), then moved from New
Jersey in 1798 to Tioga County New York with Marie's mother, brothers and
sisters and other Van Etten kinfolk.
The federal census of 1810 for Tioga County, Spencer Township (now Van
Etten Township, Chemuny County) lists the following Ennis residing there at that
time:
Manuel Ennes: males: 1 under 10; 1 between 26 and 45
females: 1 between 16 and 26
John Ennis: males: 2 under 10; 1 between 26 and 45
females: 4 under 10; 1 between 10 and 16;
1 between 26 and 44
Wilhelmus Ennes: males: 1 between 16 and 26; 1 between 16 and 45
(Joseph's son) females: 1 under 10: 1 between 10 and 16;
1 between 26 and 44
Benjamin Ennes: males: 2 under 10; 1 between 21 and 45
females: 2 between 10 and 16; 1 between 21 and 45
Other censuses of this region show that for the next forty years Emanual,
John, Benamin and Alexander and their descendants remained here.
Wilhelmus and Marie moved to Catherine Township, Cayuta County, sometime
after 1810, for he was on the 1820 census there at that time.
Here is what history tells about Benjamin Ennis' families and their
kinfolk:
Ennis History
Alexander, John, Emanual and Benjamin Ennis settled near Cayuta Creek above
the Swartwood families in 1798. They were the sons of Benjamin Ennis,
Revolutionary Patriot who was killed in 1780. His grandfather, William Ennis,
emigrated from northern Ireland and settled near Port Jervis. The Ennis
families inherited those traits of character which made them and their
descendants worthy citizens.
Van Etten was formed from Erin and Cayuta. The name was given the town in
honor of James B. Van Etten, the member of the Assembly.
18 The first election of town officers was May 9, 1854. George Hall,
supervisor; John Swartwood, town clerk; Daniel Swartwood, James Ennis, Nicholas
Richards, assessors; Lauren Stewart, Uriah Osborn and Seymour Burchards,
Commissioners of Highways; Emanual Ennis, Superintendent of Schools; Guy Purdy,
Justice of the Peace; William Campbell, John Swardwood, John Ennis, inspectors
of election. (Town Clerk 1865-66, Miles Ennes. Justices of the peace, 1873
Elijah Rugar, 1876 Lowman Ennis, 1880-1884 Lowman Ennis.
The Hedding Methodist Church at Swartwood had its origin soon after the
first settlement of the town. Religious meetings were held at private houses.
A class was formed about 1805. John Shoemaker, Emanual Ennis, Benjamin Ennis,
John Ennis and their wives were some of the first members. Benjamin and
Alexander Ennis erected a church which was first used as a place of free
worship. Ten years later it was purchased by the Methodist Society.
The 1831-Van Etten Book of Records and Disbursements contains these items:
Paid to James Ennis as a bounty on a wild cat, two dollars.
Paid to Peter Ennes as a bounty on a wolf, five dollars.
(source: History of Seven Counties)
Ennis History 1790-1830
The descendants of Cornelius who froze his feet when Washington crossed the
Delaware settled in northern Pennsylvania and southern New York and by 1830 some
were living in Berling Township, near Erie, Ohio.
The descendants of Benjamin settled the Susquehanna Valley in southern New
York. There were hundreds of them living in Irish settlements there in 1850.
The descendants of Daniel settled still farther north near Lyons in Wayne
County, New York. Here is what Wayne County history tells us about this family:
Ennis, Charles, was born in Alloway, September 1, 1835. His grandfather,
William, came from New Jersey in 1806 and bought a tract of land in the southern
part of Lyons, known as Squire Parks farm. His father, Robert Ennis, was a
prominent contractor and in 1847 bought the Captain Toward residence and
sawmill. He died in 1860. Charles Ennis, the fourth son, was educated at Lima
and Hobart College, Geneva, and afterward removed to Minnesota, and in 1865 he
with his brothers founded the Commercial National Bank of Chicago, of which he
was cashier. IN 1867 he returned to Lyons. At the age of twenty-nine he
married Emma L., daughter of Deacon Newell Taft of Lyons, and they were the
parents of three children: Charles T., Willard G., and Marian. Charles T. is
now preparing for admission to the bar of Wayne County in the office of J. W.
Dunwell. He had many very
19
large business interests in the West, but his home was in Wayne County,
retaining the relations of being in association with the leading men of his
county, and he ever sought to advance the best welfare of those with whom he
came in contact. He died July 2, 1879, age the age of forty-three. He took an
active interest in educational and religious institutions, especially in the
Presbyterian church, of which he was a member. Source: Landmarks of Wayne
County, New York, edited by Hori. George Couley, Syracuse, New York, D. Mason &
Company, publishers 1895.
Other Ennes Pioneers
While New York, Pennsylvania and Ohio were being settled by Ennis and
hundreds of others, so was Texas and other states.
Cornelius Ennis
A native of Belleville, New Jersey, Cornelius Ennis went to work in a drug
store in New York City in 1834. Hearing a great deal about Texas, in 1838 he
moved to Texas, bringing with him a stock of drugs and merchandise.
In Houston, he formed a partnership with James W. Kimball, who had recently
arrived from Vermont. The partners operated a general trade store and shipped
the first bale of cotton from Galveston to Boston in 1841.
In this same year, Mr. Ennis married his partner's sister, Miss Jeanette
Ingalls Kimball. In 1842 Kimball and his family took passage for New York to
buy stock. The brig went down in a storm off the Florida coast and all
were lost. However, the business continued to expand under the management of
Ennis.
As mayor of Houston in 1856-57, Ennis devoted time and his own money to
apprehending robbers who were preying on the wagons that came to Houston to
trade.
As one of the incorporators and directors of the Great Northern Railroad
(later the International Great Northern), Ennis was also a builder of the
Houston and Texas Central Railroad (today a part of the Southern Pacific). He
served the road as general superintendent, controller, and later as financial
agent. The town of Ennis, Texas, once the railroad's terminus, was named in his
honor.
During the Civil War, Mr. Ennis was a blockade runner. After the war he
opened a cotton exporting business in Galveston. While in Galveston he became
interested in the "Galveston News," and was chairman of the building committee
for the present home of that newspaper. This was said to be the first fireproof
building in Texas.
Ennis' eldest daughter married Alfred H. Belo, owner of the "Dallas News"
in later years.
20 Colonel Ennis died in Houston on February 13, 1899. A tall man, grand in
stature, and holding himself erect, he bore himself proudly to the end. He left
upon his community the indelible impression of a man of great mind and great
accomplishment.
When the "Dallas News" was moving into its new home in 1948, a handsome
gold-headed cane, with the name "Cornelius Ennis" inscribed on its head, was
found in the old buildings. The News very graciously presented the can to the
city of Ennis, and today it rests in a glass case under the picture of Colonel
Cornelius Ennis in the Mayor's office in the City Hall.
How Ennis, Montana, was settled
Winnifred Jeffers writes:
When gold was discovered at Alder Gulch, Virginia City, Montana, William
Ennis who had been operating a store at Pikes Peak, Colorado came to the gold
rush country. He first freighted in Virginia City. Then, realizing he needed a
home for his family, who were left in Iowa, and feed for his livestock, he came
over the Tobacco Root Mountains, a distance of some fourteen miles and took up
"squatters rights" on some land in the Madison Valley in August 1863. The
Madison River Valley had tall waving grass, and an abundance of wildlife.
The next year he went east and got his family, bringing them west in 1865.
My grandmother kept the house and looked after the ranch duties while
grandfather continued to freight. By 1881 many other people had settled in
Madison Valley and grandfather started a small store. In those days mail was
brought over the mountains and left at our store by anyone who happened to be at
Virginia City. Later a post office was established. Grandfather became the
first postmaster, then my mother, then I, so that for nearly a century mail has
been left at our place--Ennis, Montana. William Ennis was a descendant of John
McKee Ennis of Northern Ireland. The name was spelled Ennes when the family
lived in Scotland.
21
More Ennis Who Lived in New York State in 1830
(according to U.S. Census)
Onondaga County, Pompey township:
ABRAHAM ENNIS: males: 1 between 30 and 40; 2 under 5
females: 1 between 30 and 40; 2 between 10 and 15
2 between 5 and 10
Cattaragus County, Yorkshire township:
JAMES ANNIS (ENNIS) males: 1 btw 50 and 60; 1 btw 20 and 30
1 btw 15 and 20; 2 btw 10 and 15
1 under 5
females: 1 btw 40 and 50; 1 btw 20 and 30
1 btw 15 and 20; 1 btw 5 and 10
1 under 5
Wayne County, Lyons township:
BENJAMIN ENNIS: males: 1 btw 40 and 50; 1 btw 15 and 20
2 btw 5 and 10; 1 under 5
females: 1 btw 60 and 70; 1 btw 30 and 40
1 under 5
ROBERT ENNES: males: 1 btw 30 and 40; 1 btw 5 and 10
1 under 5
females: 1 btw 60 and 70; 1 btw 30 and 40
1 btw 10 and 15; 1 under 5
Tioga County, Cayuta township, registered these men and their families:
EMANUEL, PETER, BENJAMIN, DANIEL, JOHN, ALEXANDER, CORNELIUS AND BENJAMIN ENNIS.
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Old John or Cornelius Ennes Home built about 1750
22These names were copied from the tombstones in the Swart-wood Van-Etten
Cemetery, Tioga County, New York:
Ennis and Janes:
Luther Ennis d. 1911
Sarah Ennis d. 1915
Willie Ennis d. 1912
May and Grace Ennis
John Ennis d. 1893
Caroline Ennis d. 1890
Daniel Ennis d. 1888
Maryette Ennis d. 1890
Frankie Ennis d. 1870 - 12 years old
James W. Ennis d. 1864 - 18 years old
Emanuel Ennis d. 1857
Benjamin Ennis d. 1865
Wife of Benjamin d. 1844
George Ennis 1850-1924
Emma, his wife 1854-1916*
Miles B. Ennis d. 1875
Teresa Rugar Ennis d. 1893
Abagall Anderson d. 1881 - 81 years old
Asher Edwards d. 1813 - 67 years old
Mehetibel Edwards d. 1856
Rebecca R. Rugar d. 1862 - 50 years old
Cornelius Ennis d. 1858
Sarah Ennis d. 1885
Children of Cornelius & Sarah:
George and Mary Emilline, age 10 and 4 years
Cynthae 2 years and 11 months old, d. 1836**
Jane,
wife of Alexander d. 1819 - 41 years old
Jerry Donue, son of Sarah Ennis d. (no date) - 1 year old
Benjamin Ennis d. 1861
Katie Ennis d. 1830 - 2 years old
Hiram Ennis d. 1841 - 1 year old
Caytye Ennis d. 1830 - 2 years old
Hannah,
daughter of Emanuel d. (no date) - 3 years old
Alexander Ennis d. 1853 - 82 years old
Jerusah,
wife of Alexander d. 1844
George Ennis d. 1936
Mary Ennis d. 1935
Hattie Ennis d. 1922
William Ennis d. 1933
Hannah Ennis,
dtr of Emanuel d. 1857 - 3 years old
Emanuel Jr. d. 1870 - 58 years old
* [Original, corrected here, reads 1854-1816.]
** [Apparently George was 10, Mary 4, and Cynthae 2yr 11mos when all three
children died in 1836, but this is less than clear from the original
typescript.]
23
William A. Ennes (V) Families
1793-1880
WILLIAM A. ENNES (IV), son of Wilhelmus (V), son of Joseph (III), the
ferryman, was born in Sandyton township, New Jersey, about 1793 or 1794. His
mother was Marie Ennes, a daughter of Lieutenant Benjamin Ennes who died in the
Battle of Connesbaugh in 1780.
At the age of three, William moved with his parents and other kinfolk to
Spencer township, Tioga County, New York in Susquehanna Valley. About 1812
William's parents moved from Spencer township to Catherine township, Tioga
County. Soon after this, in 1814, William went to Schenectady and enlisted in
the army in heavy artillery during the war of 1812. He became an orderly
sergeant and was stationed in northeastern New York.
When the war ended, William returned to Schenectady where he had relatives,
the Hornbecks. While there, he wooed and married Margaret Snell.
MARGARET SNELL was born in 1795, the daughter of Major Snell and Elizabeth
Gill. Margaret was the youngest of a large family.
Major Snell was a merchant. He was born in Yorkshire, near Weston, in
England in 1720. He died in 1818 at the age of 98.
While living in Schenectady, William Ennes (V) and Margaret lived in the
first ward, thirteen houses away from Margaret's parents. It was in Schenectady
that Alonzo Havington Ennes (VI) was born in 1819.
William and Margaret lived in Schenectady until 1820. They are on the 1820
census there. They must have moved back with William's parents early that year,
for they also appear living on the 1820 census with Wilhelmus Ennes. Later that
year, Margarete Marie, their first daughter was born. She was named after he
mother and her father's mother.
Soon after this William Ennes (V) and his family moved northwest to
Canisteo township, Steuben County, south of Rochester, New York. Times were
good there. The Erie Canal was being built. They lived back in the woods a
day's ride on horseback. There, he and his family lived in a Dutch-style log
building. It had double doors, one above the other.
Trouble with the Indians
It was early spring. The family food larger was running low. William
Ennes filled a large sack with grain and put the sack of grain over the horse
and rode for a day to get the grain to the mill for grinding. He left his young
wife, Margaret, and the children alone in the cabin. Mrs. Ennes latched the
lower door but forgot to latch the upper one.
Late in the afternoon of the second day, a band of hungry Indians came.
They opened the upper door and entered the cabin. They were trying to tell
William's wife, Margaret, who was frantic with fear, that they wanted something
to eat.
24
While the Indians were inside, William Ennes arrived home and heard the
Indians inside. He jumped off his horse, grabbed a bull whip, leaped over the
lower door into the house and lashed the indians out of his house.
According to census records, William and Margaret lived in this locality
south of Rochester, New York, until about 1834.
In 1823 a daughter was born to them by the name of Frances Jane. She was
named after a distant kin, Frances Jane Ennes of Scotland who left an estate
claimed to have been worth $10- million to her Ennes heirs in America. The
Ennis in New York and New Jersey held meetings, gathered money and were going
to send a delegation to get the fortune. They began quarreling as to how much
each one was to receive. Finally, one Ennis went over to the old country and
found the estate had been confiscated by British Royalty.
While living in Canisteo township, Steuben County, in 1828 another son,
William (VI) was born. William was feeble-minded and required much care. He
died in 1871. Here, too, in 1831 another daughter, Priscilla, was born.
The Spiritual Way
Near Palnyra, New York, at the same time William Ennes and family lived at
Steuben County, many religious beliefs had their beginnings--the Mormons, the
Spiritualists, the Seventh Day Advents and others.
The Ennis originally were presbyterians, but here it is said that William
became a Spiritualist and Alonzo, his son, became an Adventist.
Some time before 1834, William and family moved west.
Moves to Ohio
In what is now Union County, Ohio, there was a large amount of land
(formerly owned by the State of Virginia) known as the Virginia Reserve. This
land was divided into smaller tracts after being surveyed. These plots had been
given to the soldiers of Virginia as pay for fighting in the Revolutionary War
(1776- 1783).
When William Ennes and his family moved to Union County in 1834, they
"squatted" on Plot. No. 3237 which had been taken up years before by a
Revolutionary War soldier from Virginia. The soldier had not paid his taxes on
the land, so it had reverted to the state of Ohio for taxes. This plot was
purchased on an Ohio tax deed by Mr. Buel.
William Ennes built a cabin and started cleaning and farming on this
property. Since the property could not be legally sold for nine years, Mr.
Ennes took a lease from Mr. Buel, who had the Ohio tax deed with the stipulation
that William Ennes wold be permitted to purchase this property if the original
owner did not redeem it.
25
In 1846, William Ennes and his son, Alonzo, who had just married Olive
Bird, went into partnership and paid for this and other adjoining property on
Bokers Creek in Union County. Over the years, William Ennes bought and sold
much property in and near York Center in Union County, Ohio. Many other
settlers came from New York to live in this area which became known as York
Center. Land records of that county tell of William Ennes selling one parcel of
his property at Sommerville, three miles from York Center, in 1875 when he was
eighty-two years old.
His daughter, Frances, married Robert David, a farmer, in 1842.
The York Township Cemetery is located on the old David Farm, which was part
of the old William Ennes farm.
William A. Ennes and his unmarried children lived on the Old Ennes Farm on
Bokers Creek until 1858, when his wife, Margaret, died. Then they lived with
his daughter, Priscilla, her husband, and their family who now ran the farm.
William Ennes remarried on October 24, 1861, Mrs. Anna Richardson Dibble.
He was sixty-eight years old at the time. William and Anna then moved to
Jefferson Township, Logan County, Ohio, about ten miles west of his old home.
Here he lived until he died on November 7, 1880. He was buried in the McKendrie
Cemetery on the Old Davis Farm in York Township, Union County, Ohio, near his
wife Margaret Elizabeth. His second wife, Anna, died in 1895.
For future historians or others who may care to know more about the William
A. Ennes family in Ohio, here is a brief story of his family and where they were
living in 1880, soon after his death.
William Ennes (V) and Margaret Snell
Their children
ALONZO HAVINGTON ENNES (VI) (more about Alonzo later)
MARGARET MARIE ENNES (VI), born in New York about 1820, married Rev.
Samuel Sorthard. They lived at West Mansfield, Logan County, Ohio in 1880.
They bore:
Nellie S. Sylinger (VII) who lived at 382 Durant St., Fresno,
Calif. The Sylingers had two children:
Margaret Lee (VIII) and Florence Badiole (VIII).
Jessie S. Williams (VII) who lived at 1130 West Bridge St., Grant Pass,
Oregon. They bore:
Chrystal Burnett (VIII),
Catherine Smith (VIII),
Fred Williams (VIII),
Kennard Marshall (VIII),
Donald Williams (VIII),
Kenneth Williams (VIII)
Fred Southard (VII) (no record of offspring)
Iva S. Hunt (VII) married John Price of 7944 Hilrose St., Sunland, Calif.
They bore: Iva Horton (VIII), L. Dale Price (VIII), Virginia Pittijohn (VIII),
Anna Adair (VIII)
26
FRANCES JANE ENNES (VI), born about 1821 in New York, married in 1842 in
Union County, Ohio, Robert E. Davis. There is no record of children. She was
living in 1880 at Bradner, Wood County, Ohio.
WILLIAM ENNES (VI), born in 1828 in New York, was mentally retarded. He
lived with his parents or relatives until he died in 1872 in Jefferson township,
Logan County, Ohio.
PRISCILLA ENNES (VI), born in 1831 in New York, married in 1851 in Union
County, Ohio, Robert Brooks born in New York. The Federal Census of 1860 lists:
Margaret R., age 7, born in New York
Amanda, age five, born in Ohio
Mary I. age three, born in Ohio
Frances E., age 1, born in Ohio.
Living with them at that time (1860) was her father , William A. Ennes,
born in New Jersey, age Sixty-seven; William, age 33, born in New York, and
Franklin, age 16, born in Ohio.
In 1880, Priscilla and her family were living at Lexington, McLean County,
Illinois.
ELLEN E. ENNES (VI), born 1834, Union County, Ohio, married in 1856 in
Union County, Ohio, to Matthew Elliott. They resided in 1880 at Carelton,
Caroll County, Iowa. They had at least one son, Asa Elliott (VII) of Coon
Rapids, Iowa, and who died in Lakeland, Florida, at the age of ninety-eight.
Asa's adopted daughter, Marie (VIII), married a Zunkle. Matthew Elliot's
sister, Nancy, was the mother of Thomas Alva Edison.
LORENZO DAVID ENNES (VI), born in 1838 in Union County, Ohio, was married
12-28-1858 in Union County, Ohio, to Elizabeth Hornbeck by Rev. Samuel Southard,
his sister Margaret's husband. In 1860, they had a son, William J. (VII), then
eight months old. In 1880, Lorenzo and family were living at Grier, in Union
County, Ohio.
FRANKLIN ENNES (VI), born in 1842 in Union County, Ohio, married Mary
Hornbeck, 1-2-1862. There is no record of Franklin in his father's will which
was administered in Logan County, Ohio, on December 8, 1880, after the death of
William A. Ennes in Jefferson township in November, 1880.
Another odd thing about the marriages of Lorenzo and Franklin is that they
married sisters. It is very probable that these two sisters were distant Ennes
relatives.
Old records state that Daniel Ennes was born in Sandyton, New Jersey, in
1745 and Margriet Ennes, his sister, also married Hornbecks.
27
ALONZO HAVINGTON ENNES and OLIVE BIRD
Alonzo Havington Ennes, eldest son of William and Margaret Snell Ennes, was
born at Schenectady, New York, November 17, 1819. In 1834 he moved with his
parents to what later became York Center, York Township, Union County, Ohio.
Here at the age of sixteen he taught school and helped his father clear land.
On September 19, 1846, Alonzo H. Ennes married Olive Bird in Union County.
Rev. D. Dudley performed the ceremony.
Olive Bird's parents came from New York State in 1819, to Cuyahoga County,
Ohio, near Cleveland. There they lived for several years, then moved to Logan
County, Ohio, where on November 17, 1827, Olive was born. She was an only
daughter in a large family of boys. In 1839, the Bird family moved from Logan
County to a farm in Washington township in Union County, Ohio, about five miles
southeast of Mount Victory. Here the family grew. Many Birds served, and two
died as Union soldiers in the Civil War. One of Olive Bird's brothers, Gorham,
became one of Union County's prominent citizens.
After their marriage, Alonzo and Olive Ennes lived in Union County until
1865. He taught school and farmed. Here they had the following children:
Ordella born 8/21/1847
Martha Jane born 8/10/1849
Ellen Elizabeth born 4/03/1853
Amanda Enore born 2/26/1859
Lincoln Garibaldi born 9/26/1860
Sylvester Beecher born 6/26/1863
Then they moved to Henry County, Ohio, in February, 1865, where Sarah
Olive Ennes was born 9/11/1865.
In the 1860s, Texas, Henry County, Ohio, was a thriving village with mills
and factories. Texas was located on the Miami and Erie Canal which ran from
Toledo to Cincinnati. It was about 25 miles up the Mammee River from Toledo.
Here on April 14, 1865, Alonzo Havington Ennes and his wife Olive purchased 204
acres for $7,000 cash from Buel G. Fish and his wife Eliza according to the
record in the office of the register of deeds, in volume 11, page 309, at
Napoleon, Ohio.
On this property in Washington township, north of the Canal and bordering
Texas on the east, Alonzo and his wife Olive lived and died. Olive Ennes and
her baby died here in childbirth on the sixty of June, 1869, at the age of 41.
It is said that her death inspired her son, Lincoln, who was only nine at the
time, to become a doctor for there were no doctors available at his mother's
death. As a result, Lincoln graduated from two of America's medical schools,
Michigan and Long Island College of Medicine.
Alonzo Havington Ennes died January 6, 1879. On New Years Day that year
while butchering hogs, he cut his hand and blood poisoning set in. Doctor Hag
was out of town. His son Lincoln was in medical school and no other doctors
were available.
28
In his teens, Alonzo became an Advent, a faith which he and several of his
children followed all their lives. Alonzo was liberal in his belief. He not
only kept the Sabbath Day holy, but he kept Sundays holy also. He would not do
anything nor permit any members of his household to do anything on Sunday that
would disturb people of other faiths. There was no Advert Church at Texas. His
daughter Sarah tells how they use to worship.
On Saturday sin the afternoon, Alonzo Ennes gathered his family in front of
the fireplace in the big dining room. There by the fireplace light, if it were
cold, or by the candle light if it were warm (Alonzo never had a lamp in the
house), he would read from the Old Ennes Family Bible, which had been handed
down from generation to generation since the three sons had left the Erne River
Valley in Ireland nearly 200 years before. After reading a passage from the
Bible, they had a short prayer after which, if the weather was nice he took the
children in the woods. Although there were no newspapers, Alonzo read many
books, all by candlelight. He made the woods and outdoors interesting to his
children by his nature stories. One of the books owned and read by him was "The
Life of Abraham Lincoln" of whom he was an ardent admirer. The book, published
before Lincoln's death, is now in the possession of Mrs. Mary Wilkins, one of
his grandchildren.
When the Community Church was built at Texas, Sarah Ennes stated that
Alonzo was instrumental in getting the church finished by giving a large
contribution towards its completion. Although always an Advent by faith, he
wanted other churches to thrive. Alonzo Ennes was an ardent worker. It is said
that during the busy season, he never took the harnesses off the horses that
worked his large farms. He had his children work in the fields too, with him.
At meal time he usually sent Sarah and the younger children to the house to get
meals while he and the older children remained in the fields, for their mother
was dead.
29
The Old Ennes Farms at Texas, Ohio
The Alonzo Ennes farms at Texas had rich soil. The valleys along the streams
running through them were heavily forested with large black walnut, shag bark
hickory and sycamore trees. These woods were a squirrel-hunters paradise
because of the many nuts.
The large barn on the Alonzo Ennes farm was about eight rods north from the
Canal. Between the barn and the house was a large garden and an orchard of
apple, peach and quince trees. The large farm house had a stone basement.
South of the house next to the garden was a large grainery. Next to the
grainery was a horse-powered tread mill used to run a large fanning mill next to
the grainery.
In those days the grain was cut by scythe or cradles, bound into sheaves, hauled
in, then stacked near the fanning mill. There the grain was thrown on hard
ground and trampled by a team of horses going round and round in a circle. It
was then flailed with heavy sticks tied together with raw hides. Then the chaff
and grain was thrown into the horse-powered fanning mill which blew the chaff
and the straw from the grain. The grain was stored in the large grainery until
it was hauled to the grist mill which was located at the Canal Lock at Texas.
There it was ground into flour and feed. The grist mill burned in 1894.
Those were busy days for the girls on the Old Ennes Farm. They not only did the
housework and work in the fields, but they made the hundreds of tallow candles
needed for lighting the home, and also those used in the many square-tinned
lanterns used in the barns and stables. The girls also made the lard and the
apple butter over an open fire in a large iron kettle outdoors. In fact, they
made nearly everything except the shoes they wore on their feet.
Over the years, Alonzo bought many farms so the Alonzo Ennes Farm at Texas,
Ohio, was originally composed of many smaller places with buildings on each of
them. These farms were located north of the Canal on the east side of Texas.
After Alonzo's death in 1879, each of his children, with the exception of
Lincoln, who had been given money for his medical education, was given a portion
of his holdings.
Ordella, his eldest daughter, who married David Bowker, died in 1871.
Martha Brown, with her large family, inherited the Alonzo Ennes home, buildings,
and land where she and the Ennes family had lived.
Ellen Hanchett received and lived on the Ennes farm between Martha's and the
village of Texas.
Amanda Bellinger was given the farm east and north of the Paddy McGrain Place.
The Bellingers sold their property and moved to Findlay, Ohio, when the oil boom
hit there.
Lincoln Garibaldi Ennes was given money for his medical education in lieu of a
farm.
30
Sylvester Beecher Ennes inherited the place between the Old Ennes Farm and Sarah
Olive Miller farm which was east of Paddy McGrain Place. Sylvester lived on
this Ennes place during 1890-1893, then moved to the Ennes farm east of the Old
Ennes farm bordering Miami and Erie Canal's Wide water on the north. There, he
and his family lived until 1896 when he sold it and moved to Au Gres, Michigan.
Children of Alonzo Ennes and Olive Bird
ORDELLA ENNES married David Bowker. They had two children, Logan and Blanch.
Ordella died April 17, 1871, at age 24. Their daughter, Blanch, married a
Noble. They had three children: Nellie, who married Wilford Colbeck and Carl
O. Noble of 2040 Kollen St., Saginaw, Michigan, and Jesse Frazer living at
Pontiac in 1968.
MARTHA JANE ENNES married Albert Brown. They had five children, three boys and
two girls. Albert Brown was a salesman. He ran a huckster wagon to County
Fairs and door-to-door selling things like spring seats, water pumps, and
hundreds of items in demand.
Young Sylvester Beecher Ennes traveled with Albert on many of his trips. It was
a hard life for them and a harder life for Martha, his wife, who lived with her
father at the Old Ennes Farm taking care of her children. After Ordella died in
1871, Martha was the oldest. Alonzo Ennes gave her the Old Family Bible.
Shortly after her father Alonzo died in 1879, Martha left Brown, took her
family, the Bible (which had the Ennes family records back to 1666 in Ireland),
and a few belongings, and went to Arkansas. On the way the boat was wrecked
while on the Mississippi. The Bible and her belongings were lost, but the
family survived. Several years later she came back to Texas with her youngest
son Edward and visited. She was never heard from again after she returned to
Arkansas.
ELLEN ELIZABETH ENNES married Charles H. Hanchett at the Old Ennes Home in front
of the old fireplace in the big dining room on Christmas Day, December 25, 1871,
in the presence of David Bowker and Martha Brown.
Charles Hanchett, born March 8, 1844, in Nashville, Michigan, was a Civil War
veteran. He was wounded in the Battle of Wilderness during that war while
acting as a sharpshooter. Charles' injuries troubled him all his life. He
received a pension and acted as a lock tender for the state of Ohio at the lock
on the Canal at Texas. He died November 15, 1920, at Texas, Ohio. Ellen, his
wife, died December 11, 1905, at Texas, Ohio.
Their children were:
Roy Hanchett, born 8-23-1873; drowned at Bad Creek, 7-21-1882.
Ray Ashley Hanchett, born May 23, 1880. Married Effie (?).
He died 7-29-1957 at San Bernardino, California
31
Amy Pearl Hanchett, born 9-2-1885. In 1902 Amy married James Hendricks.
Their daughter, Ellen Ryman, bore Charles Henry McKeen. Charles McKeen married
Ella and they bore Gwen, Valerie and Butch. Gwenn married Larry L. Headrick and
they bore Amy, the Great, great, great, great, great granddaughter of William
Ennes (1967) at Flint.
The Bellinger Family
AMANDA ENNES BELLINGER, born February 26, 1859, in York Center, Union County,
Ohio, married Sheldon Lawrence Bellinger. She died on July 13, 1947. Sheldon
Lawrence Bellinger, born March 19, 1859, died February 25, 1910. They had:
Marie Ennes Bellinger, born March 12, 1881
died May 5, 1902 in Texas, Ohio.
Elbert Roy Bellinger, born July 14, 1883, Texas Ohio
died December 15, 1967.
Charles Dumont Bellinger, born December 4, 1885, Texas, Ohio
Laura Bellinger Day, born April 10, 1888, in Findlay, Ohio
Mabel Bellinger Johnston, born June 15, 1890, in Findlay, Ohio
Ella Eulalia Bellinger, born October 23, 1893, in Findlay, Ohio
died February 17, 1926.
Mildred Emma Bellinger Feller, born December 29, 1895, Findlay.
Ethel Olive Bellinger Bargar, born August 19, 1900, in Findlay.
32
Dr. Lincoln Ennes families
LINCOLN GARIBALDI ENNES, born September 26, 1860, in Union County, Ohio, moved
with his parents to Texas, Ohio, in 1865, where he lived and married Grace
Crozier of Texas, Ohio, who was born January 22, 1872.
Dr. L. G. Ennes graduated from the Long Island College of Medicine and the
University of Michigan Medical School. He practiced medicine for many years at
Liberty Center, Ohio. He was one of Ohio's outstanding physicians. During the
terrible influenza epidemic of 1917-18, he won an enviable record for his
treatment of that disease. He lost only five out of 670 cases.
After he retired, he moved to Lakeland, Florida, where he died September 11,
1951. His wife Grace died there too, January 10, 1956. Their ashes were buried
in the Ennes Family lot at Texas, Ohio.
They bore on daughter, Ruby Olive Ennes, who was born September 8, 1890, at
Texas, Ohio.
RUBY OLIVE ENNES married November 25, 1914, at Liberty Center, Ohio, Paul Asa
Parker, born January 1, 1891, at Toledo, Ohio.
They had: Mary Etta, born 4/6/1916 at Liberty Center, Ohio
Paula Jane, born 6/21/1917 at Liberty Center, Ohio
MARY ETTA PARKER married Julian H. Teague, 6/15/1940.
They had: Jacklyn Louise Teague, born 1/21/1945.
PAULA JANE PARKER married John E. Cauder, 5/14/1938.
They had: Mary Ann Clauder, born 2/16/1939
Judith Gay, born 3/23/1940
Penny, born 1/26/1946
Paul Edwin, born 7/16/1954
MARY ANN CLAUDER married Norman Jesse, 8/1/64.
They had: Anna Jesse, born 5/5/1965 and Thomas Edward Jesse.
JUDITH GAY CLAUDER married Konrad Westphal, 1964.
They had: John Westphal, born 12-11-1964
Fritz Westphal, born 2-??-1965
Frantz Westphal, born 3-31-1967
33
Alfred Miller and Sarah Olive Ennes families
SARAH OLIVE ENNES born 9-11-1865, died 2-19-1941, and lived her entire life in
Washington Township, Henry County, Ohio. She married Alfred Milton Miller, a
farmer, who was born in Pennsylvania on May 20, 1857.
They had: Pansy Miller, born 1-9-1886, died 10-20-1890
Nellie (Miller) Leuch, born 11-17-1887
Edna Miller, born 5-10-1891, died 8-5-1935
Guy Alfred Miller, born 10-29-1893
Jessie (Miller) Langel, born 12-12-1895
Ray Merle Miller, born 12-8-1897
Flossie Miller, born 9-24-1899
Marion Miller, born 9-6-1905
Lincoln Ennes Miller, born 2-12-1909, died Nov. 1968
34
Sylvester Beecher Ennes and Margaret Hardy Families
1863 - 1957
SYLVESTER BEECHER ENNES, painter, timber cruiser, son of Alonzo Havington Ennes
and Olive Bird, was born in York Township, Union County, Ohio, June 26, 1863.
When young, Beecher Ennes helped his father on the farms at Texas, Ohio, where
they lived since he was two. Later he traveled with his uncle, Albert Brown,
who ran a huckster wagon in Northern Ohio.
Beecher Ennes told the following story about a visit to his mother's folks, the
Birds, in Union County, Ohio:
"In 1877, when I was 14 years old, I visited relatives in Washington Township in
Union County.
"That spring, father had the shoemaker on his annual trip to Texas make a pair
of shoes for each member of the family. He made me a fine looking pair of
leather boots with shiny brass toes.
"Father told me I could visit my mother's folks, Uncle Gorham Bird and other
relatives living south of Mount Victory in Union County, Ohio, after the spring
crops were planted.
"As it was only 60 miles from Texas to uncle Gorham's farm, I walked. I had
gone only a few miles when I found my new brass- toed boots were too tight.
They pinched my feet. I took them off and walked bare-footed. In two days I
was there. I was treated royally by all the relatives. Everywhere I went, they
kept me stuff with pie, cake and goodies, for I was the only member of the Ennes
family at Texas who had ever visited them.
"On the morning of my third day there, Uncle Gorham came to my cousin and me and
said, 'Boys, mother is sick. I want you to go to Mount Victory and get the
doctor.' Uncle Gorham had many fine riding horses. We each mounted a horse and
galloped to town. Just as we were entering Mount Victory, a circus was erecting
its tents. We had never seen a circus. The wild animals thrilled us. We were
so excited we forgot all about getting the doctor. We tied our horses to fence
posts. We had no money. We wanted to see everything. We got a job feeding
elephants and carrying water for admission. We had our work done and were about
to enter the tent when we looked up the road.
"There was Uncle Gorham, riding like the wind, his long whiskers parted as he
rode toward us. He dashed up. He shouted, 'Where is the doctor? You scampers.
Your mother is dying and you are attending a puppet show! Get home at once.'
We jumped on our horses and rode home. Uncle rode on for the doctor. When we
arrived at the farm, there was my aunt Arcadilla sitting in a rocking chair on
the large front porch, serenely smoking a clay pipe. She did not look very sick
to me. I might mention that Aunt Arcadilla was the daughter of General Winfield
Scott of Mexican War fame.
35
"About three o'clock the next morning, I suddenly woke up with the cramps. The
excitement of missing the circus and the 'hog' I had made of myself eating too
much pie and cakes had physicked me. I attempted to make it out to the privy by
the grainery but didn't. I was so ashamed I never went back to the house for my
boots. By daylight, I was well on my way to Texas, barefooted."
+++
On September 5, 1886, Beecher Ennes married, at Texas, Ohio, Margaret Hardy who
was born in Damascus township, Henry County, Ohio, April 30, 1868. Margaret
died at Tower, Michigan, April 16, 1957, and was buried there in the family plot
at Forest Lawn Cemetery.
Margaret was the daughter of Jacob Hardy who was born August 8, 1844, and
Harriet Bortel who was born 3-21-1850 and who died at Texas 7-15-1905. Jacob
Hardy's parents were Ezra Hardy, born in Pennsylvania in 1808 and who died
October 1874 at Texas, and Margaret Beck Hardy, born 1812, died at Texas on May
25, 1883.
The Hardys and the Bortels came from Switzerland, near the German border, with
other early Americans and settled in Pennsylvania.
Jacob Hardy and Harriet Bortel were married in 1867. Jacob poled the ferry boat
across the Maumee River at Texas, Ohio, for ninety cents a day. They owned
their home and only one acre of land but by thrift and frugality they raised a
family of nine children, all of whom were successful.
Jacob and Harriet Hardy's children were:
Margaret Rachel Hardy married Sylvester B. Ennes, Texas, Ohio
Veda Hardy married Frank Hoffman, Grand Rapids, Ohio
Elva Hardy married William Rauch, Columbus, Ohio
Rosa Hardy married William Gaver, Columbus, Ohio
Floyd Hardy married Lula Rice, Texas, Ohio
D. C. Hardy married Kate Robarge, Santiago, Michigan
Roy Hardy married Pearl Huffman, Liberty Center, Ohio
Wilma Hardy married Arthur Hyter, Colton, Ohio
Hazel Hardy married Tollie Chamberlain, Ontonagon, Mich
After their marriage, Sylvester B. Ennes and Margaret lived in Texas in a house
on the bank of the canal next to David Hardy's about one block from Jacob
Hardy's home. In 1890, Sylvester Ennes and Margaret move into the house on his
inherited forty acres of the Old Ennes Farm. In 1893 they moved into one of the
larger Old Ennes Farms on The Wide Water of the Canal. In 1896, they moved to
Au Gres, Michigan, by covered wagon.
37
They had:
Calvin Ennes, born 10/3/1887 at Texas, Ohio, md Veva I. Harris.
Mark Ennes, born 8/3/1889 at Texas, Ohio, md Blanch Terrian,
divorced Blanch, married Marie DeBaeker.
Roscoe Ennes, born 1/6/1892, Texas, Ohio, md Gladys Chamberlain.
Max Ennes, born 9/1/1893, Texas, Ohio, Married Lila Veihl.
Olive Ennes, bn 11/1/1900, Au Gres, Michigan, md Charles Collins.
Asa Ennes, born 11/14/1903, Au Gres, Mich., md Mrs. Lois Watson.
Helen Ennes, born 8/27/1905, Au Gres, Mich., died 9/29/31.
Cecil Ennes, born 9/2/1908 in Tennessee, died 6/28/1929.
Mary Ennes, bn 2/1/1913, Ontonagon, Michigan, md Ambert Wilkins.
In 1908, Sylvester Beecher and family moved to Ontonagon where they lived until
1917. Then they moved to Tower, Michigan. There he lived until he died January
21, 1953, and was buried in the Forest Lawn Cemetery there.
Sylvester B. Ennes and Margaret Hardy families
Mark Ennes - Terrian - DeBaeker
MARK ENNES, born 8/31/1889, married Blanch Terrian of Ontonagon in 1911. They
bore one son, Eugene Mark Ennes, who became a merchant marine seaman. Mark and
Blanch divorced. Mark then married Mrs. Marie DeBaeker of Sidnaw, Michigan.
Mark followed the railroad all his life, first as a fireman and then as an
engineer. He died in Escanaba, Michigan, in 1941. He was buried at Green Bay,
Wisconsin, his home.
Roscoe Ennes & Gladys Chamberlain families
ROSCOE ELDON ENNES, born 1/6/1892, son of Sylvester Beecher Ennes and Margaret
Hardy of Texas, Ohio, was married March 24, 1913, to Gladys Chamberlain, born
9/26/1894, daughter of Libbeus and Lydia Chamberland of Ontonagon, Michigan.
Roscoe worked the Duluth and Iron Range Railroad Company. Later he worked in
the woods and ran river boats at Ontonagon for the Hawley Lumber Company. Then
for some years he was under sheriff of Ontonagon County, after which he became
captain of a pleasure yacht that ran from Ontonagon to Isle Royal in Lake
Superior. In 1942, Roscoe and Gladys moved to Flint where he worked at machine
repair, and she as a counselor at Buick. After World War II, Gladys worked for
Smith Bridgemans and Roscoe at painting and decorating until they retired in
1965. Then they moved back to their home town, Ontonagon.
They had:
Ethel Fern Ennes, born 4/21/1918, died 1956 after a long illness.
Elden Roscoe Ennes, born 2/6/1914, married Dorothy Price.
37
Eldon Roscoe Ennes and Dorothy Price families
ELDEN ROSCOE ENNES, born 2/6/1914 in Ontonagon County, son of Roscoe and Gladys
Ennes, married in Lansing, Michigan 9/13/1937.
DOROTHY MAY PRICE, born 5/17/1915 at Lansing, Michigan, daughter of William
Price and Emma Pauline Zischle, Genesee County, Mich.
Elder worked many years as a forger for Buick Motor Company.
They had:
Marjorie Jean Ennes, born 5/14/1938, Ontonagon, md Karl Kurz.
Sherryl Kay Ennes, born 4/17/1941, Lansing, md Robert P. Walcott.
Dorothy Mae Ennes, born 4/5/1945, Lansing.
Larry Elden Ennes, born 8/20/1947, in Lansing.
MARJORIE JEAN ENNES, born in Ontonagon Township, Ontonagon County, Michigan,
daughter of Elder and Dorothy Ennes, was married August 2, 1958, to Karl Thomas
Kurz in the Trinity Methodist Church in Flint, Michigan.
They had:
Scott Alan Kurz, born 9/30/1960 at Beauman Hospital in Birmingham, Michigan.
Kristen Therese Kurz, born 11/23/1963 in Birmingham, Michigan.
SHERRYL KAY ENNES, born in Flint, Genesee County, Michigan,
married Robert Pierce Wolcott, October 13, 1963.
They had:
Jeffrey Robert Wolcott, born 9/12/1966 at McLaren Hospital in Flint, Michigan.
Randall Paul Wolcott, born 6/20/1968.
38
Max Ennes and Lila Viehl families
MAX ENNES, born 9-1-1893, Henry County, Ohio, a veteran of World War I, married
Lila Viehl of Tower, Michigan.
Max was a hunter and trapper. During the Great Depression in the 1930s he took
his family to Palmer in the Matanuska Valley in Alaska where they remained until
the government moved the families out during World War II. While in Alaska, he
trapped with the Eskimos and had many exciting adventures.
They had:
FRANK ENNES, born 1929, married Audra Van Allen, born in 1930.
Frank and Audra live in Cheboygen, Michigan, where he is a machinist with the
Detroit Tap and Tool Company.
They have four children, Christine, a WAVE in the U.S. Navy (1968), and Timothy,
Michelle and Roseanna.
MERLE ENNES, born 1930 in Tower, Michigan, son of Max and Lila Ennes, married
several times and has many children, some of whom are: Toni L, Maxine, Debra
and Allen. Merle Ennes is a linesman for power and telephone construction
companies working in Michigan.
ETTA ENNES, born in Tower, Michigan in 1932, married Floyd Walters, an
automobile dealer from Tower, Michigan.
They had:
Arlinda, Glenn, Mary and Sandra, all of Tower, Michigan.
Arlinda Marie married Donald L. Horrocks on 6-21-1969 at St. Paul's Church in
Onaway, Michigan.
OLIVE ENNES, born 11-1-1900 at Au Gres, Michigan, daughter of Sylvester B. Ennes
and Margaret Hardy, married at Alpena, Michigan on June 8, 1925, Charles Collins
of Detroit. They had no children.
Olive taught school at Tower and at Turner, Michigan. She died of Tuberculosis
at Tower on July 14, 1931. She was buried in the Ennes Family Lot in Forest
Lawn Cemetery in Tower, Michigan.
39
Asa Ennes and Lois Watson families
ASA ENNES, born 11-14-1903 in Au Gres, Michigan, son of Sylvester B. Ennes and
Margaret Hardy. He is a veteran of the U.S. Coast Guard. He worked for the
Presque Isle Rural Electric Company as a power plant operator for many years at
Tower, Michigan. In 1938, he married Mrs. Estelle Worden Watson, who was born
in 1899 in Gregory, Michigan.
Lois graduated from the University of Michigan with a B.A. degree and had a Life
Certificate from the Eastern Michigan University at Ypsilanti, Michigan.
They had at Tower, Michigan:
MARK ENNES, born 1941, graduated from Ferris State College in Civil Engineering.
In 1968, he was employed by the State Highway Department.
MARGARET ENNES, born 1944, a graduate of Ferris State Pharmacy School and holder
of a Doctors Degree in Pharmacology from the University of Michigan, in 1968.
Dr. Ennes married Dr. Mahmoud Shafii on 3-22-1969 in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
RUTH ENNES, born 1945, married Clifford Swett, born in 1944 at Onoway.
They had:
Janette Marie Swett, born at Onaway, Michigan.
Mary Ennes and Ambert Wilkins families
MARY MARGARET ENNES, the youngest of Sylvester Beecher Ennes and Margaret Rachel
Ennes, was born in Ontonagon, 2-1-1913.
The family moved in 1917 to Tower, Michigan, where she attended grade school and
graduated from nearby Onaway High School, and Presque Isle County Normal. She
taught school and earned degree credits at Eastern State University at
Ypsilanti, Michigan.
On June 5, 1937, Mary Ennes married Ambert Wilkins, of Hemlock, Michigan, son of
George A. Wilkins and Eva Murray Wilkins of Hemlock.
Ambert Wilkins, born 5-13-1916, graduated from Hemlock High School, and was
employed at the Chevrolet Transmission Division of General Motors all of his
adult life. He was a Master Mason, and served in the United States Air Force in
World War II.
Ambert died 6-18-1968. He was buried in the Forest Lawn Cemetery at Tower,
Michigan.
40
Ambert and Mary had:
RONALD AMBERT WILKINS, born 4-14-1939 in Saginaw, graduated from Arthur Hill
Trade School, served four years in the U.S. Coast Guard, then followed the
carpenter trade.
He married at E.U.B. Church, Saginaw, Michigan, July 14, 1962, Becky J. Gillis,
born 9-19-1943, daughter of James Gillis and Frances Gillis of Saginaw. They
now live (1968) in Freeland.
Ronald and Becky had:
Jeffry Allan Wilkins, born 1-5-1963, Saginaw, Michigan (Shannon)
Elizabeth Wilkins, born 3-3-1964, Saginaw, Michigan
Amy Frances Wilkins, born 6-??-1969, Saginaw Michigan
GARY LEE WILKINS, born 12-14-1940, attended Saginaw schools, served four years
in the U.S. Navy and has worked since that time for the Chesapeake and Ohio
Railroad as switchman, brakeman and conductor.
He married at Homer Methodist Church near Midland, Michigan, 2-16-1963, Sharon
Lucille Swan, who was born 4-12-1942 in Weidman, Michigan, the daughter of
Donald and Mary Esch Swan.
Gary and Sharon had:
Patrick David Wilkins, born 9-15-1963
Cindy Marie Wilkins, born 2-5-1966
41
A eulogy to Ambert Wilkins
By his sons
Delivered by his son, Gary, at his funeral
Case Chapel, Saginaw, Michigan, June 21, 1968
Our dad was the center of our family life. Meals were planned on his
arrival home from work. Our acts of the day, be they good or bad, were
discussed then. He corrected us when we needed. He taught us right form wrong.
He taught us to love the great outdoors.
As soon as we were old enough, we went along with him fishing or hunting.
He taught us safety in swimming and handling of guns, and the maintenance of
shoes, bikes and baseball mitts.
When in school, he helped us with our study by giving us encouragement.
Our father was a great comfort to us when we were ill. Just his presence
made us feel better.
In service, when I was lonely, his letters would brighten my spirit. I've
kept his letters to this day.
In my father's endeavors, he always saw things through. He was a stickler
for making sure it was done right.
He was a strong union man dating back to when he worked in the forge. I've
heard my father mention about his old friends at work who had passed on before
retirement. He, himself, was looking forward so much to an early retirement,
and a more relaxed life at Tower, Michigan, where he loved to be with his
grandchildren and to fish and hunt.
He had more friends than I had realized as I have seen them come to pay
their last respects. I have never met a person that had a bad thing to say
about my father, though some did not agree with his beliefs as he was a strong
Democrat.
My father never possessed a prejudice of any kind in regard to a man's
color, his race or religion. He judged men for their quality and character. I
can testify to this, for his friends are the nicest fellows I know.
He had the gift of "gab" and a "dry" sense of humor which made us laugh.
Often, though, it was after that merriment that his full depth of wit was
understood.
He was a compassionate father who didn't need to be prompted to help a sick
or needy neighbor, friend or relative.
He always was a good provider. We never worried where the next meal was
coming from, or about ever finding an empty sock on Christmas morning or the
lack of a birthday gift.
In recent years, his joys have been his daughters-in-law and grandchildren.
He captured the hearts of both.
Of all his hobbies, fishing was the one he liked the most. Few things were
more dear to him than a few hours at his favorite fishing spot with close
friends.
It cannot always be honest said a man was a good man, but Ambert Wilkins
was a good man.
We went to him for advice with the assurance that his experience and wisdom
would shed new light on problems and decisions. He did not disappoint us.
He dealt fairly in all his financial dealings and never failed to pay his
debts.
I think I took him for granted while he was living. We loved him very
much, and if there were more men like him in the world, it would be a better
place to live.
42
Calvin Ennes & Veva Harris families
CALVIN ENNES, born October 3, 1887, at Texas, Washington Township, Henry County,
Ohio, son of Sylvester Beecher Ennes and Margaret Hardy, worked in lumber woods
and drove logs during his teens. He attended Ferris Institute and graduated
from Central Michigan University. During World War I, he served in the United
States Navy. He taught school for thirty-three years, was Arenac County School
Commissioner for ten years, and wrote the first published history of Arenac
County, Michigan.
He married VEVA IRENE HARRIS, January 26, 1912, at Au Gres, Michigan. Veva was
born September 20, 1891, at Boulder, Colorado, the daughter of William Tillman
Harris of Indiana and Helen Brooks of Rutland, Vermont. She was a stenographer
and bookkeeper and attended Ferris Institute.
Veva's mother, Helen Brooks, died in Colorado in 1897. Veva was then raised by
her aunt, Mrs. Addie Brooks, who was born in 1863 and died February 25, 1925.
(see page 49)
Veva also had a brother, Ashley Harris, who was born 1/8/1883 in Colorado and
died June 10, 1958. (see page 49)
Calvin and Veva had:
Myron Beecher Ennes, born 1/31/1913, died 6/25/1928
Buried Whitney-Sims Cemetery, Sims Township, Michigan
Otto Alden Ennes, born 8/25/1914, married Anna Marie Joyal,
died 7/5/1961
Helen Adelaide Ennes, born 12/5/1915,
married Norman Clayton Morgan
Lincoln Maxwell Ennes, born 11/20/1917,
married Elsie Bilacic
Mark Roy Ennes, born 4/11/20, married Amelia Frischitz
Alice Elaine Ennes, born 4/16/1922, married Edward Dittinber
Lucy Theodora Ennes, 10/27/1924, married Harry Morgan
Louis Lothaire Ennes, born 10/5/1926, married Betty Eichsteadt
Annabell Aurelia Ennes, born 12/3/1928, married John Goodman
Calvin Ennes and Veva Harris
OTTO ALDEN ENNES, jeweler, served in the United States Army Air Corps for 12
years. He married Mrs. Anna Marie Joyal of South Hadley, Massachusetts on
September 10, 1951, at St. Edwards Roman Catholic Church in Omer, Michigan.
After working at sheet metal work in Farmington, Michigan, he bought Graves
Jewelry Store in Standish, Michigan. There he was stricken by a heart attack
while putting up the American flag on July 4, 1961. He died July 5. He was
buried in the Ennes family plot in Whitney-Sims Cemetery at Au Gres, Michigan.
His wife, Mrs. Anna Marie Joyal, died at the New Providence Hospital in
Springfield, Massachusetts, on April 26, 1968. She lived with her son, Roland
Joyal, at Chicopee Falls, Massachusetts, at the time of her death.
43
Norman Morgan and Helen Ennes families
HELEN ADELAIDE ENNES was married at the home of Calvin Ennes on November 25,
1938, to Norman Clayton Morgan, born October 21, 1915, son of Alick Morgan and
Florence Marsh of Twining, Michigan. Norman's father, Rev. Alick Morgan,
performed the ceremony.
Norman, a civil leader, was a large dairy farmer in Arenac County.
They had:
Robert Roger Morgan, born 1/23/1940, married Yvonne Gotham
Dennis Richard Morgan, born 7/14/1942
Leonard Allen Morgan, born 4/14/1948
Norman Morgan and Helen Ennes Children
ROBERT ROGER MORGAN, dairy farmer, was married to Yvonne Gotham on February 11,
1961, at the Au Gres Methodist Church. Yvonne was born in Saginaw on July 28,
1942, the daughter of John Franklin Gotham and Helen Marie Krause, both natives
of Saginaw, Michigan.
They had:
Tammi Marie Morgan, born 4/7/1962
Traci Michele Morgan, born 6/2/1963
Teri Lynn Morgan, born 5/27/1967
DENNIS RICHARD MORGAN graduated from the University of Michigan in 1965 with a
Bachelor of Arts Degree.
LEONARD ALLEN MORGAN served in the United States Army Airborne Division in
Vietnam as a platoon sergeant.
44
Lincoln Ennes and Elsie Bilacic families
LINCOLN MAXWELL ENNES served in the Combat Engineers in the Philippines and
Japan under General Douglas MacArthur during World War II. He attended Michigan
State University at East Lansing and Ohio State University in Columbus. He was
a furniture merchant and civil leader in Au Gres. He married Elsie Bilacic at
the Au Gres Methodist Church on September 12, 1942.
ELSIE BILACIC was born in Turner Township, Arenac County, Michigan, January 25,
1923, the daughter of Michael Bilacic and Helen Matyas of Austria. Elsie
studied art at Eastern Michigan University at Ypsilanti, Michigan, and was a
retail buyer of furniture.
They had:
Thomas Beecher Ennes, born 7/6/1943,
married Judith Marie Pommerville.
John Allan Ennes, born 11/14/1945,
married Donna Jean Reitz, Port Huron.
Robert Roy Ennes, born 2/16/1947.
Janis Lynn Ennes, born 9/7/1948, married Dale Hardy.
Lincoln Ennes and Elsie Bilacic children
THOMAS BEECHER ENNES, pilot and electronic technician, attended Delta College
near Saginaw, Michigan. He married Judity Marie Pommerville, daughter of Morris
Pommerville of Au Gres and Essie Cotrell of Turner, on October 18, 1962. Judy
was born in Omer, Michigan, on July 18, 1944.
They had:
Pamela Ann Ennes, born 4/27/1963
Susan Beth Ennes, born 1/2/1967
JOHN ALLAN ENNES graduated from the University of Michigan with a B.S.E. degree
in Aeronautical Engineering in 1968. He married Donna Jean Reitz, daughter of
Robert Reitz of Port Huron and Onilee MacDonald of Oscoda, on May 11, 1968.
Donna was born February 2, 1948, in Flint, Michigan.
45
ROBERT ROY ENNES served in the United States Army 1st Army Cavalry Division in
Vietnam and there received an air medal decoration for meritorious service.
Robert attended Delta College near Saginaw, Michigan.
JANICE LYNN ENNES married Dale Kedrick Hardy at St. John's Lutheran Church of Au
Gres on March 1, 1968. Janis attended Michigan State University at East
Lansing.
Dale Kedrick Hardy was born October 22, 1946, in Au Gres Township, son of
Fredrick Hardy and Emma Sophia Ott of Gera, Michigan. Dale graduated from the
University of Michigan at Ann Arbor.
They had Anne Marie Hardy, born 9/14/1968
Mark Ennes and Amelia Frischitz family
MARK ROY ENNES, machine repair mechanic, served in the United States Army in
World War II under General MacArthur in the 32nd Division during the Buna
Campaign in New Guinea. He was under fire in actual combat 363 days.
In 1951 he married Amelia Frischitz of Van Dyke, Michigan, at the Ascension
Catholic Church.
Amelia Frischitz was born in Budapest, Hungary, February 19, 1923. Her father,
Andrew, was born at Osejek, Yugoslavia. Andrew Frischitz' parents were George
of Boesha, Hungary, and Katherine of Yugoslavia. Both were of German parentage.
Amelia's mother was Elizabeth Kletska whose parents were Anna of Czechoslovakia
and Alexandria Kletsha of Fijer, Hungary. They were Hungarians.
Amelia's parents came to America first, where he father followed his trade of
pattern and cabinet making. Ameila remained in Hungary and received an
education in two languages, Hungarian and German, after which she came to
America to her parents.
Born to Mark and Amelia were:
Calvin Andrew Ennes, born 5/6/1952
Steven Mark Ennes, born 8/11/1953
Mary Diane Ennes, born 10/22/1955
Allen Duane Ennes, born 12/13/1958
All were born in Detoit.
46
Edward Dittember and Alice Ennes families
ALICE ELAINE ENNES married Edward Dittenber at the German Congregational Church
at Au Gres on June 28, 1941. He was born in Turner Township, Arenac County, on
August 9, 1915.
Edward's parents were Henry and Mary Weigandt. They came to Seratoff
(Stalingrad) on the Volga River in Russia. They were German, and pioneers in
the growing of sugar beets. Edward worked their 80 acre farm and was employed
at the Au Gres elevator for many years.
They had:
Patricia Ann Dittenber, born 5/9/1942,
married Clifford Dale Killingbeck
Donald Edward Dittenber, born 1/8/1945
Dale Calvin Dittenber, born 5/6/1950
Daryl Henry Dittenber, born 5/6/1950
Cheryl Sue Dittenber, born 5/11/1960
Their home is in Turner Township, Arenac County, Michigan.
Edward Dittenber and Alice Ennes Children
PATRICIA ANN DITTENBER married Clifford Dale Killingbeck on May 20, 1961, at the
German Congregational Church in Au Gres.
Clifford Dale Killingbeck, son of Clifford Killingbeck and Juanita Koehn, was
born February 14, 1939, at Inkster, Michigan. He was a tool and die maker.
They had:
Douglas Dale Killingbeck, born 6/27/1962
Dennis Dean Killingbeck, born 1/23/1964
Their home is in Au Gres, Michigan.
DONALD EDWARD DITTENBER served in the United States Navy as seaman off the coast
of Vietnam in the Gulf of Tonkin during the Vietnam war.
47
Harry Morgan and Lucy Ennes family
LUCY THEODORA ENNES, organist, was married September 11, 1943, at the Au Gres
Methodist Church to Harry Harold Morgan, teacher, graduate of Central Michigan
University, born October 12, 1913, at Twining, Michigan. He was son of Alick
Morgan and Florence Marsh. Harry's father, a Latter Day Saint Elder, performed
the ceremony.
They had:
David Charles Morgan, born 7/16/1946
Daniel Harry Morgan, born 7/1/1949
William Calvin Morgan, born 3/15/1951
Suzanne Irene Morgan, born 9/25/1953
All were born at Au Gres, Michigan
Harry Morgan and Lucy Ennes children
DAVID CHARLES MORGAN graduated from Michigan State University in 1968 with a
B.S. Degree in Electrical Engineering.
DANIEL HARRY MORGAN attended Michigan State University majoring in Agricultural
Engineering.
WILLIAM CALVIN MORGAN attended Ferris State College and play with their football
team.
SUZANNE IRENE MORGAN attended Au Gres Sims High School.
Louis Lothair Ennes and Bettie Eichsteadt family
LOUIS L. ENNES, a tool and die maker, Master Sergeant of the United States Army
Air Corps, married Bettie Eichsteadt on July 7, 1947, at the home of his
parents, Calvin and Veva Ennes, in Au Gres, Michigan, while on furlough in World
War II.
Bettie Eichsteadt, born 11/13/1928, daughter of William and Katherine Eichsteadt
of Au Gres, moved to Hazel Park, Michigan, with her husband at the end of the
war.
They had the following children, all born in Hazel Park:
Dedria, born 6/24/1948
Kathy, born 1/31/1950
Theodore, born 11/12/1951, died 12/29/1952 in Hazel Park.
Julie, born 7/27/1953
Roger, born 1/30/1955
Tracy Scott, born 8/10/1960
They adopted:
Kimmie Eason, born 10/11/1962 in Warren, Michigan
Allyn Lipardi Ennes, born 3/4/1949
In 1968 the family moved to Royal Oak, Michigan.
48
John Goodman and Annabelle Ennes families
JOHN A. GOODMAN, job-setter, son of Charles W. Goodman and Lida Elsie Champlin,
natives of Indiana, was born in Center, Oklahoma on July 1, 1922. (This town,
near Ada, Oklahoma, no longer exists.) John's maternal grandfather was Albert
Champlin, who was 95 years old when he died in Arkansas in 1949.
John served in the U.S. Army in Germany during World War II with the 95th
Infantry Division under General Harry L. Twaddle. This division was attached to
the Third Army under General Patton. John received the Purple Heart for
injuries received near Metz in 1945.
John married Annabell Aurelia Ennes on December 11, 1948, at the Au Gres
Methodist Church. Annabell, daughter of Calvin and Veva Ennes, was born
December 3, 1928, at Au Gres.
Goodman died in December, 1929. Lida Champlin later married Thomas Hammett.
She died in 1934.
They had the following children, all born in Detroit:
Marsha Jean, born 12/23/1949
Beverly Jean, born 10/22/1951
Brent John, born 1/1/1954
Terry Lee, born 8/3/1958
Brian Patrick, born 4/2/1960
Joyce Ann, born 9/20/1964
Bobbi Gail, born 5/27/1967
Deaths in the Calvin Ennes familyu
Myron Ennes, the eldest son of Calvin and Veva Ennes, died in Au Gres on June
25, 1928. He and the others herein mentioned are buried in the Whitney-Sims
Cemetery bordering Lake Huron in Sims Township, in Lot 2 of Whitney Section,
next to the caretaker's building.
Mrs. Addie Brooks, born 1863, died February 25, 1925. She was Veva's aunt who
raised Veva Harris after her mother Helen died in Colorado in 1897.
Ashley Harris, Veva's brother, born 1/8/1883 in Colorado, died June 10, 1958.
--END OF CALVIN ENNES'S BOOK--
Transcribed for printing by WordPerfect Version 6.0 and roughly converted to
other formats by James M. Ennes, Jr. in October, 1993. Page numbering and most
syntax are true to the original. For best results, print the original file
from WordPerfect 6.0 or later. Use of other word processors or printing of ASCII text
will require extensive adjustment of fonts, spacing, and tab positions.
49
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