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County, Michigan
Area Pioneers, Ira and Louisa Everingham Page 64
tants, the Ottawa & Chippewa Indians, were joined by the earliest pioneer settlers to the area. and the Indian word "ac" meaning place of. The word arena was a reference to the sanded arenas used for gladiators. Thus, the name Arenac roughly means "sandy place".
mine shaft was dug in Arenac county. Early industries in Arenac included; lumbering, fishing, brick and tile making and farming. Norris families seem to have been farmers and laborers in the lumber industry. They moved to the lumber rich area of Arenac County and later to the booming timber rich area of Presque Isle County. Page 65
moved from Onondaga, Brant County, Ontario, Canada with their three sons and a daughter, to Michigan in 1885. Ira's brother Adoram had died years earlier while working as a raftsman for a lumber company in Michigan. The Norris family had also moved to Arenac County and other areas of Eastern lower Michigan from Brant County, Ontario. The oldest Everingham daugh- ter, Emma B, had died at 15 months old, in 1879 back in Canada. Belle was born in Canada in 1882, but Two more daughters Edith (b.1886) and Alice (b.1888), were most likely born in Turner, Michigan. A search of Arenac County records, show no record of Edith or Alice, so their birth dates are currently unproven. was founded in 1885. This was the same year that the Everingham family became early pio- neers here. It officially incorporated as a village in 1915. By that time, most of the immediate family moved north to Presque Isle County. When the Norris and Everingham family first came to Turner, it was a large town driven by a booming lumber industry. It began a healthy growth in 1895 when the Detroit & Mackinac Railroad was built. In the June Census of 1900, the Everingham family, or (Ervingham) as they
Township, Arenac County. The Alexander & Sarah Rickard family was also living in Turner. Their daughter Maggie, married Ira and Louisa's son George Everingham. George & Maggie's first three children were born in Turner. Robert & Elizabeth "Betsey" Norris, who were noted in census data as being born in England. It is only speculation at this point, but I believe that Elizabeth's last name was "Ireland", based on a couple of death records found at the court- house in Arenac county.
( some shown right)
who married Ira's sister Alice Everingham. Charles & Alice moved to Huron County, just across the Saginaw Bay from Arenac County. Other siblings of Louisa include; James, Mary Ann, George, Martha, Jane and Anna. Some Norris cousins, believed to be children of the brother of Robert Norris also lived in the area. The Norris family was from Brantford & Onon- daga Townships, Brant County, Ontario. The only Norris family living in Turner at the same time, who were the age of Louisa, were Joseph Page 66
ful real estate agent and land owner. Sarah's brothers John and Philip Norris were living with them. It is not proven or known for sure, if this Norris family was related to Louisa but it is very probable. Those names match up with possible cousins of Louisa, but much more research will need to be done on the Norris family. It is very possible that the Everinghams decided to move to Arenac County because of their Norris relatives that had already moved there. Robert. He married Rachel Viele in Turner but died of Typhoid in 1907, just after his family moved north to Onaway, Presque Isle County. He was buried at Cedar Valley Cemetery, in Arenac County. Robert & Ra- chel had 2 daughters, Loretta and Ethel. The widow Rachel Everingham re-married in 1908 in Iosco County, just north of Arenac County. from Turner. They married in 1905 at Maple Ridge, just a few days before her brother Char- lie Everingham mar- ried Clara Jane
Ridge. Charlie and Clara's first born, a girl named Viola, was born in Turner in 1906 . The Stoner family was from the surrounding areas of Standish, Prescott & Pinconning. Like the Norris & Evering- ham family, they were also formerly from Ontario. In the book "A history or Arenac County, Michigan" by Calvin Ennes, many of the early shops and Photos taken at Allen Studios in Turner, Circa 1890s. Photo at the top of page is their sister, young Edith I. Everingham.
stores of Turner are listed including a meat market owned by Abe Stoner. a witness at Belle Everingham & William Stoner's wedding. He was obviously a friend of the family who later married one of the Everingham girls. Edith (see picture, previous page), who was born September 10, 1886, was likely among the first settlers born in Turner. settlers arrived from Canada. Indian artifacts found in the area date back 5,000 years. arrived there in 1869. The village is straight west of Turner. Smith owned three of the four corners where Maple Ridge began. Mr. Smith had lived seven years in Vermont, which lead the nation in the production of maple syrup and maple sugar. This is thought to be how he named Maple Ridge in Arenac county. The Norris and Everingham family were very famil- iar with Maple Ridge and spent time there. Some of the family were married at Maple Ridge. Road. It is not known for sure who this road was named after, but the Everingham and the Norris families were some of the earliest settlers to the area. I believe that this road was probably named after a Norris who was most likely an early pioneer. there, the town had a selection of churches, a railroad depot, general stores, boarding houses,
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lumber mills, dress shops, shoe repair shop, a newspaper "the Turner Republican", two photo galleries, harness shop, livery, drug store, ice cream parlor, barber shop, jewelry store, 2 meat markets, saloons, 2 hotels, hardware stores, grocery stores, a bank and many other stores. By the end of the 20th century, all that remained in Turner was a post office and the old elevator, among some private homes. The lumber industry had halted in the area and jobs along with people moved elsewhere.
Charlie Everingham. They were close friends and cousins. Joseph D. Norris married Pearl Karwell, February 21, 1905 at Standish, Arenac County, MI. The photo below of Joe Norris was from the personal photos of Charlie & Clara Everingham formerly of Turner. Charlie & Clara married the same year that Joseph & Pearl married and spent time with each-other's families. It is only speculation at this time, but I believe that Joseph's parents were siblings of Louisa's parents. His parents were Daniel & Martha (Ireland) Norris and Louisa's parents were Robert & Elizabeth "Betsey" (Ireland) Norris. Two "Norris" brothers may have married 2 "Ireland" sisters.
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The fifth generation of Everinghams were born approximately in the Late 1800's. To give an idea of the time they lived in,.... This is what the United States was like: 1877 The first sound is recorded by Thomas Edison 1884 Grover Cleveland elected President, in 1888 Harrison was elected President. 1896 First showing of a motion picture in NY city. Also in 1896 William McKinley President 1900 First wireless voice transmission. 1900 Foraker Act makes Puerto Rico a possession of the US. 1901 Theodore Roosevelt becomes President after McKinley is assassinated.
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The fifth generation of Everinghams are the children of Ira and Louisa (Norris) Ever- ingham who moved to Michigan in 1885 listed in order of birth. This is the first genera- tion of the Everinghams in this family line, that grew up in Michigan, and some of the first generation in this family, that were born in Michigan.
December 21, 1876 in Onondaga Township, Brant County, Ontario, Canada. According to the 1881 Census of Onondaga township, Ira and Louisa had two children living; Robert who was 4 years old, and Ernest, a five month old baby who became known by his middle name, George. in Brant County, Ontario, Canada. His middle initial probably stood for James, after his grand- father James Everingham, but no proof has been found. Rob came to Michigan with his parents and by 1901 had married. In 2000, Rob's nephew, Percy Everingham of Onaway, stated that he had an uncle Rob who had died at a young age. Percy thought that Rob had been married. It was thought that his bride probably moved away and re-married since she was so young when Robert died. Percy's memory would later be proven to be impeccable when marriage records from Arenac and Iosco county Michigan were found that proved both of Percy's thoughts. show that Robert married Rachel Pearl Viele on March 8, 1901 as witnessed by George Warren and Belle Erving-
ter. According to the marriage record, Robert was 23 and Rachel was 18 when they married. She was the daughter of Garret Benjamin Viele and Mary Jane "Jennie" Wright. Garry and Jennie were married just south of Arenac County, in Bay County in 1881. daughters; Loretta known as "Retta" was born Oct 20, 1902, and Ethel was born February 18, 1904. age 27, of Typhoid fever, in Onaway, Michigan. Robert's death certificate was found at the Rogers City Court- house in Presque Isle County. He is buried at Cedar Valley cemetery, Row 2, section A, in Arenac County. The cemetery records show his date of birth as 1878, but we know that is not possi- ble since we have Canadian birth re- cords of Emma, his sister who was born in July of 1878. It's also interesting to
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Rachel (Viele) Everingham "right" Large gravestone of Robert Everingham, Arenac County, MI photo courtesy of Barb Curtindale
Ontario Vital statistics, birth registration found by researcher Roger Harris of Ontario. She was born at home with no doctor or midwife to Ira & Louisa Everingham. By October 17, 1879, Emma had died. As noted in 1890's general knowledge books of the era, it was commonly known and accepted that one of every 13 children died at birth or before reaching maturity. Emma and his sister's death certificate Feb 25, 1880. Emma's aunt Mary (Ira's sister) was 14 years old when she died, about 4 months after Emma died. Ira & Louisa had been helping to raise his sister since Ira's mother died 10 years earlier on December 22, 1869. Page 72 (aka; Ernest George Everingham) vember 6, 1880 in either Haldimand or Brant County, Ontario, Canada. He went by "George" and his family and friends knew him only by that name. He married Margaret Ann Rickard, AKA "Maggie" December 21, 1901 in Prescott, Ogemaw County, Michigan. Prescott was just north of Maple Ridge, over the Arenac County line. At the time of marriage, they were both from Turner, Michigan, in Arenac County. Maggie was born August 30, 1884 in North Dakota, although some records indicate "S. Dakota". Her parents were Alexander Rickard and Sara McKinley of Turner, MI. The marriage was wit- nessed by Henry Teinan (sp?), and Anna Ervingham- George's sister, of Turner. "Gus" (b.1904), Lula Belle (b.1907), Ira (b.1911), and Percy (b.1913). Their son Ira, named after his grandfather, was born June 2, 1911 and died October 4, 1911 of enteritis. October 24, 1962 outside of Ona- way, Allis township, Presque Isle
cember 5, 1972 at age 88, Russell Memorial Hospital, Onaway, Michigan. George and Maggie are both buried at Hillcrest Ceme- tery on county highway 638 and Peckett Road, Onaway.
Photo above, Circa 1908 is George & Maggie
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& The Stoner Family
nabelle was known as Anna. Her great-nieces and nephews remem- ber her as "Belle". She obviously went by both names as seen in her two older brothers marriage re- cords. When her oldest brother Robert married in March of 1901, she was a witness and listed as Belle Ervingham. When her next brother George married in Decem- ber of 1901, she was listed as a witness and noted as Anna. She was born December 1, 1882 in Ontario, Canada, although her family records indicate that she was born in New York. Turner, MI, on December 1, 1905 at Maple Ridge. The wedding was witnessed by Arthur Keller, and Gracie Edwards of Turner. Arthur Keller married Belle's sister Alice, less than two years later. December 29, 1883, the son of Abraham Stoner, and Prudence
had a sister named Elizabeth who married John Stoner, brother of Abraham. William Stoner's grand- parents were Stutely Thompson & Eleanor Haney on his mother's side. Henry Stoner (b.1833 Ontario) and Mary Ann Davis. Henry was the son of another Abraham Stoner (born in the late 1700s in Albany, New York) & Elizabeth Matthews. That Abraham Stoner was the son of the German family of Peter Stoner and Margareth Frolich (b.1756).
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fought for the British, Peter was a Loyalist who moved his family from New York to Ontario in 1783. As Revolutionary War Loyalists who helped Great Britain, Peter and his brother were found on a Revolutionary era wanted list in Dutchess County, NY and served in a well known British loyalist unit called Butler's Rangers. raised Marion, who's sister Virginia was raised by a neighbor family, the Milligans. Not much is known about Marion (b.1926), except that she married Norman Gordier. State Hospital. William Stoner died in 1952 and is buried with Belle & some of their family at Hillcrest Cemetery, Onaway, Michigan.
Page 75 Known as "Charlie"
Canada. Researcher Roger Harris uncovered Charlie's birth records that proved otherwise. Charlie was born No- vember 4, 1884 at home with no doctor or midwife, in Onondaga Township, Brant County, Ontario, Canada. Shortly after Charlie's birth, the family moved to Arenac county, MI in 1885, making Charlie the last Everingham in this family line that was born in Canada. According to family bible records, Charlie married Clara Jane Graves December 25, 1905 at Maple Ridge, in Arenac County. Their marriage record notes their marriage date as December 23, 1905. George Graves & Edith Everingham were witnesses. In 1905, Charlie spelled his name "Irvingham". (b.1857) and Katherine Ann Grogan (b.1862) The Graves family were also formerly from Ontario, Canada. Clara was born November 4, 1883 in Sandusky, Sanilac County, MI. She was exactly one year older than Charlie.
(b.1906), Raymond Daliford (b.1908), Freda Eunice (b.1910), and Clifford (b.1917). ola "Everinger", died November 3, 1906 of Pneumonia. Viola's family had probably just recently moved to the Onaway area. Their second born Raymond, went by his middle name Dale, and married a local girl Leora Morgan, from Tower, Forest Township, Cheboygan County. The Third born child Freda, was born in 1910 in Onaway, but died in 1911 of a fever. The last born child of Charlie and Clara was Clifford who was born July 23, 1917 in Onaway. 1930 Plat book of Allis Township, south of Onaway, Char- lie owned two 40 acre pieces of land and 1 mile away was another 40 acres of land owned by "C. Irvingham," which was probably also Charlie. By the 1950's, his son Dale owned one of the 40 acre pieces of land across from Char- lie, the other piece was no longer in the family. The same 1930 plat book shows family relatives and friends living
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south of Onaway like; Cloid Harrison, Earl McAtee, Charles Bowles, and the Milligan fami- lies. By the mid to later 1950's, Allis Township plat maps showed Charles, Dale and George Everingham living near family; Lloyd Graves, Earl McAtee, Elwayne McAtee, Roy Branscombe, Charles Bowles, George Wrigglesworth, and the Robinsons. In the late 1950's, Charlie and his sons families moved south to rural Butternut, Montcalm County. Charlie died April 10, 1966 at Carson City Hospital in Montcalm County. Clara died February 10, 1969 at the Maple Valley rest home, in Ashley, MI. Both are buried at the Bloomer township ceme- tery, in Montcalm County. Katie Graves moved to Flint, Genesee County, MI. In 1917, Katie Graves died in Flint. At that time, Sheldon and his youngest children; Willard, and Ella were living there, and other children; George, Clara, and Frank Graves were all still living with their families in Onaway, MI. Sheldon died in 1930, and is buried in the Cedar Valley Cemetery, Arenac County, MI. This is the same cemetery that Robert Everingham is buried in. Sheldon & Katie's children were not only related to the Everinghams of Onaway, Presque Isle County, but many of the Everingham and Graves families were neighbors and friends. Howard Kenneth Klein in 1928. The Kleins were from Atlanta, south of Onaway. Neva and Howard had 5 children; Lois, Vergil, Lyle, Ralph and Doris Klein. certificate shows her cause of death was "Injury by forceps at birth" in 1914. She was buried in the Tower Cemetery, Cheboygan County, MI. 2 children; Suzanne & Daniel. Rosalia who went by Rosalie married Leland Cory in 1937 and had 3 children; Leland, Juanita, and Wayne Cory.
1919, and had four chil- dren; Catherine, Dallas, Rolland and Richard Mar- shall. Clara Graves families are discussed in detail later, as they are direct Evering- ham relatives. Photo (right) from a northern Michigan postcard. Page 77
founded in 1885 and Edith was among the first settlers born there. The 1910 Onaway Census suggests that the family came to the U.S. in 1885, a year before Edith was born. On September 11, 1905, in Turner, MI, she married George S. Graves, brother of Clara Graves who married Edith's brother Charlie. Charlie & Clara were witnesses at Edith's wedding. Her marriage re- cord lists her name as "Edith Ironigham." George & Edith lived on Spruce St. in Onaway. In the 1930 Census, George was noted as being a manager at the Lobdell-Emery Company, a ma- jor wood products corporation. clerk when he married Edith. Later, the Graves had their own store in Onaway. George Graves was the mayor of Onaway in 1935-1936. He died the next year. In January 2004, George's daughter Inez Robinson confirmed that it was her father who was the mayor of Onaway and recalled seeing a Onaway news article about "The Mayor & Mrs. Graves."
four children after losing twins and a boy named Richard who died at a young age; Lloyd (b.1908), Edward (1910), Inez (b.1914) and Raymond (b.1918). Edward died young. Lloyd married Azile F. Eichorn. Inez married Gerald O. Robin- son and had two boys. Dale & Leora Everingham of Onaway, named their first child after Inez Graves. Raymond Graves had one child. Many of the Graves family ended up near Flint, or Petoskey, MI. vember 8, 1937 and was buried at Elmwood Cemetery on the west edge of Onaway. Some time after George's death, the widow Edith Graves married Ed Klein from Three Rivers, MI. Edith Klein died May 16, 1976. and Edith Klein had a cottage at Black Lake, just north of Ona- way, Presque Isle County,
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was born in Presque Isle County, however, she was probably born in Turner, Arenac County, where the family was from, prior to moving to Presque Isle. Her obituary confirms her place of birth as Turner, Michigan. The State birth index lists her year of birth as 1889. It is believed that Arthur was formerly a resident of Turner also. Art was born about 1884 in Detroit, son of John Keller. Alice and Arthur married June 22, 1907 at Standish, Arenac County. Family say that Art was a very tall man but was known as "Shorty".
This would have brought shame to the couple & her family, at the turn of the 20th century, so Hugh was raised by distant cousins Jesse and Barbara Everingham of Ocqueoc, Presque Isle County. Hugh later died in 1917 of Typhoid fever. Death records show that Arthur and Alice tried to have children at least four more times. days. Family who knew Alice, insist that she never had any children. Her devastating child losses were obviously kept quiet by the family. Alice and Art divorced sometime after 1917. that she was 46 and widowed, and he was a 48 year old widowed merchant. Lorn was born May 29, 1886, the son of John Manning, and Mary Bannatyne. The wedding was witnessed by Roy Badgero and Mrs. E.N.Burt. Lorn was a local store operator in Onaway. Lorn and his first wife were living above their store, which was valued at $5,000 according to the 1930 Census. "Maggie" died in her bed, in a fire above the Manning store. Lake, just north of Onaway. They also had a grocery store located on main street in Ona- way, just across from the courthouse. Lorn died of heart problems June 15, 1965 in Ona- way. Alice died of terminal pneumonia and heart complications October 4, 1976 at Russell Memorial Hospital in Onaway. They are both buried at North Allis Cemetery just south of Black Lake off from M-211 Onaway, Presque Isle County, Michigan.
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miles before you reach the town of Onaway, you pass through the small town of Tower that has nearly faded away. South of the small county seat of Cheboygan, in Cheboygan County, Tower is one of the smallest area villages. ited her father Samuel, who was now living just outside of Onaway. Samuel S. Tower was a builder, but served his community as Justice of the Peace, Councilman and member of the Onaway School Board. Ellen, a nurse by profession, informed him of her interest in going south with the army. her services to her country as a nurse and to be ac- cepted. She traveled to New York to care for sol- diers who were injured in the Spanish-American war, and then on to Puerto Rico. There, she was stricken with typhoid fever and died Decem- ber 8, 1898. At that time in history, typhoid was
young people, and Ellen was only 30 years old when she died. Ellen was the first American woman to die on foreign soil in service of the United States. She was the first woman from Michigan to be honored with a military funeral with full hon- ors. January 17, 1899 over 3,000 mourners attended her service. On April 28, 1899 a post office was established in Che- boygan County, near a neighboring County village of
Samuel lived. The local people honored Ellen May Tower by naming the village and the post office of Tower in remem- brance of her. As far as research has uncovered, the Everingham family of Michigan is not re- lated to the Tower family in any way. Since several relatives have called the town of Tower
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their home, the roots of the tiny
to Tower from Owosso in the 1920s. The family had formerly been from Shiawassee & Clinton County, MI and at some point, were Irish immigrants. came to Michigan from New York. Their son Joseph was born about 1856, and married Sarah Elizabeth Farnham. Their chil- dren were Leora Marie (b.1878), William Joseph (b.1882), and John Morgan. Joseph died on Christmas day in 1920 and is bur- ied at Forest Lawn cemetery in Tower, Cheboygan County, MI. Some family indicate that Sarah died abt. 1928 or 1929 and is also buried in Tower, MI. Records show Joseph buried there, but no headstones show any Morgans since the family was very poor. Leora Marie Mor- gan was born September 16, 1878 in DeWitt, Clinton County, MI. She married Ralph Wregglesworth (b.1877) June 13, 1900 in Owosso, Shiawassee County, MI. Leora died August 10, 1923 just days after moving to the Tower area of Northern Michigan. Local newspapers say that she collapsed during a forest fire, overcome with the smoke. (see article). 1908. They had nine or more children including; Floyd, Leora, Josephine, Helen, Joseph, An- nie, Frank, Roy, Eva, and William. Of those, only five children lived to adult age. Floyd mar- ried Bertrude Neigh, Leora married R. Dale Everingham, Helen married Harry S. Wiggins, Ann married Murray Ben Johnston, and William Jr., known as "Bill," married Geraldine Sonier. children including Mertle, Lloyd, Wesley, Carl, Hazel, and Lucille Morgan. One of John's children was killed in a train accident.
Page 84 Beehler-Harris, it's known that Frank entered Co F of the 49th Volunteer Infantry at Buffalo, NY in August of 1861. He saw many battles and was wounded with a mini-ball in the hip and hit with fragments to his arm, at the Spottsylvania Courthouse Battle in Virginia in May of 1864. The 49th NY Volunteers suffered one of the most severe and unusual losses at the Battle of Spotsylvania, Virginia, where it lost over 45% of it's troops who were engaged in battle. Frank Beehler's Civil War records indicate that a Mr. George Rinker of Co. E., also in the 49th Regiment, saved his life on the battle field. Frank was badly wounded and Mr. Rinker carried him to safety so he could be taken to a hospital. Frank mustered out with an honorable dis- charge August 23, 1864. The next year, Frank married Dorothea "Dora" Brandenberger in But- ler county Pennsylvania. Dora was born the February 2, 1842 in Erie, Marion Township, Bea- ver County, PA. Her father, Philip Brandenberger, was born 1812 in Germany but came to the German settlements in Pennsylvania. dolph (b.1868), Amelia (b.1869), Nettie (b.1871), William (b.1873), Mary (b.1875), Charlie (b.1878), Carrie (b.1879), Henry (b.1881), and Joseph (b.1884). According to Frank's obituary in the Owosso Argus Press, April 1915, they lived at 1114 West River Street, Owosso, MI. Surviving were his widow and the following children: Frank Jr. and Rudow "Rudolph", Mrs. E.J. Payne and Mrs. Mary Leffingwell, and Mrs. John Ringling, residing East of Kerby; Wil- liam of Benton, Ark., and Henry of Pontiac.
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Leora recalled coming home from school and seeing her mother in bed, badly bruised after being thrown from her buggy at the end of a driveway. (see article above)
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