Enoch and Annie Robinson Graves

Find A Grave has photos of some of the graves of the Enoch and Annie Robinson family at Boyne Valley Cemetery. Annie Robinson was the daughter of Margaret Cooper and William Hudson. She was born 1 APR 1846 in Baildon, Yorkshire, England and married Enoch K. Robinson on 14 FEB 1866 in Cuyhago County, Ohio. At the age of 14, Annie was orphaned and living with her big sister, Mary Maria Ellison Dawes in Cleveland, Ohio (1860). Margaret’s children remained close all of their lives, often moving as soon as possible to live near each other. A testament to Margaret’s parenting.

Click on the names below to see their graves:

Annie H. Robinson

Enoch K. Robinson

Eliza A. Robinson  Eliza A. Robinson was Enoch’s sister. She lived with her niece Mary E. Robinson Crapo in 1900 in Boyne Village, Charlevoix County, Michigan. Eliza A. was living in Boyne Valley Township, Michigan by 1880.

Ernest A. Robinson Ernest A. Robinson was born in 1870 in Illinois to Enoch and Annie Robinson.

Ivy F. Robinson  Ivy F. Robinson was Ernest’s wife.

Mamie Robinson Mamie was Plynn Hudson Robinson’s wife.

Plynn H. Robinson Plynn Hudson Robinson was born 21 APR 1875 in Boyne Valley Township, Charlevoix County, Michigan to Enoch and Annie Robinson.

Ellison & Van Buren Photographs

Photographs of William Arthur and Anna Elizabeth Van Buren Ellison:

In the photograph below from 1916, first row, far left, Alice Baines and Harold Delmont Ellison seated. Hattie Forkel and Russell Henry Ellison seated in center. Russell was the eldest son of Samuel Delmont Ellison and Caroline Seegmiller. Hattie Forkel was Alice Baines’s best friend. Hattie and Russell married 29 MAY 1917 in Belleville, Wayne Co, MI. Hattie died in El Paso, Texas on 06 MAY 1922, the mother of Russell Henry, Jr. Can you identify the rest of the people?

A photograph of William Arthur Ellison at one of his three gas stations:

The photograph below is of the following children: Glenn Gee, Ruth Ellison, Helen and Norman Cole, Beatrice Ellison but which is whom is not clear.

Ella and Fred Van Buren, 1900, Boyne City, Michigan. The children of Orren and Eliza May Van Buren:

Emma and Ella Van Buren:

Ellison Family Reunion photograph circa 1957. In the back row, sixth person from left, is Alice Baines Ellison:

Thank you to the generous person who shared these with me!

Resource for Genealogists

Frederick Merks’ book “History of the Westward Movement” is a valuable resource for family historians. Merk goes into extensive detail on the history of land transfers, migrations, taxation, legislation and the American economy from the beginning of American history up to Migratory Farm Labor from 1900- 1975.

Chapters include “Land Policy and the Principle of Equality of States”, “Settlement of the Prairie and Lake Plains”, and “Agriculture in the Middle West and the Granger and Greenback Movements”.

Merk includes maps outlining road and railroad development, which crops were produced when and where, treaty cessions and population growth, amongst others. By reading his book, you may understand why your ancestor went where when. For instance, the Homestead Act was legislated in 1862 and encouraged many people to migrate into the Middle West areas, including Kent County, Michigan where my ancestor Benjamin W Ellison went early in 1863 to farm his free 160 acres.

I must add a note of caution, though, as Merk engages in offensive and racist views at times about American Indians, even referring to Indian women as “squaws” — a deragotory and offensive term. He tends to stereotype American Indians as being the simple savage and his explanations of why he thinks American Indians acted in the manner they did with white people often falls very far short of the truth. Fortunately, Merk does acknowledge that American Indian lands were gained unethically and immorally. Merk died in 1997 when 90 years old and was under the tutelage of Frederick Jackson Turner. He taught history at Harvard University for years. If you can look past this problem in the book, the information will assist you in your research of your family’s history.

Ellison & Austin, Boyne Falls Village, Michigan

In the Patron’s List of the 1901 Charlevoix County Plat Book I found an advertisement:

Ellison & Austin –General Blacksmithing, Wagon Making and Repair Shop

Horse Shoeing Done in a Scientific Manner

Within the 1901 Plat Book are listed:

William Ellison

J. P. Austin

I am pretty certain this is my 2nd great-grandfather, William A. Ellison. Further research will determine.  He was there in Boyne Falls in 1901, not moving down to Hazel Park until 1911. I wonder what it means to horse shoe “in a scientific manner”?

G.A.R. Post # 246 Boyne Falls, Michigan

Membership Roster for the John Robinson Post #246

Grand Army of the Republic

Below is information from the Membership Roster for the Union Veterans in Boyne Falls Village belonging to GAR Post #246. It is not a complete listing of all members.

Alphabetical Listing of Charter Members

Dated 25 MAR 1884:

Austin, W J

Branch, Harrison

Dickenson, Monroe

Dutche, CW

Ellison, Benjamin W

Findley, Robert

Harris, WG

Howard, Albert

Hulbert, Thomas J

Leclar, George R

LeClar, Thomas

Magee, Cromwell

Magee, Marshall

Mauri, VR

Mears, William

Roberts, Marden

Robinson, Enoch K

Weedmer, Benedict

Wright, Hiram

 

The Officers as of 16 APR 1884, alphabetically with position following:

Auston, William G.  SVC (Senior Vice Commander)

Branch, Harrison  CHAP (Chaplain)

Dickenson, Monroe  OD (Officer of the Day)

Findley, Robert  OG (Officer of the Guard)

Harris, William G.  JVC (Junior Vice Commander)

Leddick, George C.  SM (Sergeant Major)

Magee, Marshall  QMS (Quarter Master Sergeant)

Meard, William COMM (Commander)

Myers, Frank  QM (Quartermaster)

Robinson, Enoch K.  ADJ (Adjutant)

Van Buren, George  G (Guard)

 

This post was organized in 1884 and disbanded in 1900. The post claimed 29 members. 9 are buried in Boyne Falls Cemetery, Section 10 of Boyne Valley (If you are looking on a plat map). One is buried in Downey Cemetery, Section 31 of Chandler Township. One is buried in Maple Lawn Cemetery, in Boyne City, Section 2 of Wilson Township.

 

Members connected to me:

Ellison, Benjamin W.   Pvt.   Company C  16^th Michigan Infantry   Boyne Falls Cemetery

Robinson, Enoch K.     Pvt.   Company F   35^th Massachusetts Infantry   Boyne Falls Cemetery

Van Buren, George      Pvt.    Company G  10^th Michigan Calvary    Maple Lawn Cemetery

 

Benjamin Walker Ellison’s next door neighbors:

Magee, Marshall           Cpl.   Company G     10^th New York Infantry     Boyne Falls Cemetery

Wright, Hiram               Pvt.   Company I      148^th New York Infantry    Boyne Falls Cemetery

 

Source: Flint Public Library owns a copy of the following:

Membership Roster for the John Robinson Post #246

Grand Army of the Republic

 

Charlevoix County Genealogical Society, reprinted 1995

(copied from original records on file in The Bureau of Records, Lansing, MI)

This can be purchased directly from the Charlevoix County Genealogical Society for $2.50.

Other sources of information about the Grand Army of the Republic:

Library of Congress

Sons of the Union Veterans of the Civil War

Grand Army of the Republic Library & Museum

Woodland Cemetery Cleveland Looking for Photographs

Woodland Cemetery in Cleveland, Ohio where William and Margaret Hudson are buried, along with two of Benjamin Walker Ellison’s children, is looking for photographs of people interred there for inclusion in an “Images of… Woodland Cemetery” book, published by Arcadia Publishing.

William Hudson was Benjamin Walker Ellison’s step-father and Margaret Hudson his mother. Margaret’s birth family name was Cooper and she was from Baildon, Yorkshire, England as was William Hudson.

I do not have any photographs of William or Margaret.

Below is the information from Woodland Cemetery Foundation on how you can contribute a photograph of your ancestor (s) buried there. Just click on the link.

The deadline for submissions is December 15, 2011.

WC Arcadia Photo Contribution

1877 Boyne Valley Township, Charlevoix County, Michigan Tax Assessment Roll

Copyright 2011 by Jennifer Ralston Porter

Please ask permission to reprint this material.

Notes: Names are transcribed as read on microfilm # 2364734 from the Family History Library. Section numbers are only listed one time, even if business/individual was taxed multiple times in same section. The actual tax list gives information as to description of property, value, tax, and whether or not property was a homestead. If you find your ancestor listed, I recommend renting the film and reading the original, especially as many deeds were burned in the courthouse fire in Charlevoix County in 1887.

Grand Rapids & Indiana Rail Road   1

Dodge & Phelps          2

Ortman and Rothschilds         2

SF and WC Page        2,3

Ortman and Rothschilds         3

Dodge & Phelps          3

George F. Beardsley   3

G.R. & I. R. R.           3

Ortman and Rothschilds         4

G.R. & I. R. R.           5

George F. Beardsley   5,6

James Scipio    6

End of Page One

G.R. & I. R. R.           7

George F. Beardsley   8

George Weller 8

John Weller     8

Eliza Baxter    8

George F. Beardsley   9

G.R. & I. R. R.           9

John W. Baldie           9

Hiram O. Rose            10

J. L. Wood      10

Olive J. Gager 10

Dodge & Phelps          10

Ortman and Rothschilds         10

Henry Morgan 10

End of Page Two

G.R. & I. R. R.           11

Thomas T. Bates         12

G.R. & I. R. R.           13

Dodge & Phelps          13

Byron W. House         13

Dodge & Phelps          14

Olive J. Gager 14

John Cressell   14

G.R. & I. R. R.           15

Jacob Smits     15

Amos Fox       16

Lemuel D. Bartholomew        16

Edward H. Green       16

G.R. & I. R. R.           17

End of Page Three

Hugh Lawton  18

J. B. Walters et al        19

G.R. & I. R. R.           19

G.R. & I. R. R.           21

George F. Beardsley   21

H.P. Christy & Gottenger       21

Henry Morgan 21

Dodge & Phelps          21

Daniel D. May            22

G.R. & I. R. R.           23

G.R. & I. R. R.           24

P.D. Skilbeck  24

End of Page Four

H. J. Owens    24

G.R. & I. R. R.           25

M. Fellows      26

Francis Owens            26

Dodge & Phelps          26

Henry Morgan 26

P.D. Skilbeck  26

H.P. Christy & Gottenger       27

G.R. & I. R. R.           27

Henry Morgan 27

George F. Beardsley   27

Dodge & Phelps          28

Ortman and Rothschilds         28

H.P. Christy & Gottenger       28

End of Page Five

George F. Beardsley   28

Charles L. Ortman      28

SF and WC Page        28

G.R. & I. R. R.           29

Dodge & Phelps          29

Ortman and Rothschilds         29

H.P. Christy & Gottenger       29

SF and WC Page        29

H.P. Christy & Gottenger       30,31

G.R. & I. R. R.           31

Dodge & Phelps          32

SF and WC Page        32

G.R. & I. R. R.           33

End of Page Six

G.R. & I. R. R.           33

George F. Beardsley   34

Dodge & Phelps          34

W. R. Owens  34

H.P. Christy & Gottenger       34

P.D. Skilbeck  34

Dodge & Phelps          35

Henry Morgan 35

George F. Beardsley   35

G.R. & I. R. R.           35

J. A. Owens    36

P.D. Skilbeck  36

End of Page Seven

Anson, Ernest W.        22

Anderson, Jepper        4

Barry, Leonie  4

Britt, Patrick   4

Brown, Thomas           13

Baines, Judge W.        15

Bennett, George          14

John Carmoday           22

Chase, Wm J   32

Coan, Catharine S       6

Collins, Henry 20

End of Page Eight

Collins, John   20

Carpenter, Archibald D          15

Boyle, Patrick 8

Elmer, Elliott   32

Ellison, Benj W           12

Fick, Hermann L         20

Elbert, Geo L  14

Gager, Wm W 14

Howe, Seymour          13

Heagney, Michael       22

Hopkins, John 22

Hammer, L      4

End of Page Nine

Jones, Geo W  30

Jubenville, Ira  32

Kljes, George  14

Kyes, Eugene  8

Kinsella, Pierce           2

Little, Nathaniel L      14

Magee, Hershell          8,6

May, David B 22

May, Josiah F  20

Magee, Cromwell        20

Myers, Franl P             18,16

End of Page Ten

Nelson, William          16,12

Nelson, William A      22,15

Nowland, Andrew A  4,15

Powers, Joseph            15

End of Page Eleven

Powers, Joseph            15,16

Powers, Henry H        16

Roe, Alex        15

Robinson, Enoch K     6

Scalley, John   22

Sudman, John A         18

Sudman, John A Jr      20

Taylor, Jerry    2

End of Page Twelve

Ward, Samuel H.        15

Wright, Hiram 6

End of Tax List

Cemetery Readings

I was a first-time cemetery reader recently. I enjoyed hanging out with the silent ones, and there were a few things I learned about the fine art of cemetery readings for genealogical societies.

• Take a clip board and a couple of writing instruments
• Have a water bottle and a snack with you
• Wear work gloves
• Wear comfortable walking shoes that can get dirty
• Be ready with a trowel, and possibly even, a shovel. Some readers take a broom, I used my gloved hand

The headstones may be buried. They may be beneath upwards of 6 to 8″ of dirt and sod. Most of the headstones will be covered with debris.You will need to uncover the marker enough to read it.

Remember in the Jewish sections, to be particularly respectful of the stones left upon the grave marker. The stones and rocks were left there on purpose.

There will be mistakes you find on the original transcription, if you are updating, and you will find grave markers that should not have been missed the first time through.

Sometimes there are additional markings and names and dates on the backsides of tombstones, so you must read both sides.

Have fun!

William & Anna Ellison Oakview Cemetery File

The nice gentleman at Oakview Cemetery in Royal Oak, Michigan photocopied the entire file they hold for William and Anna Ellison. You may remember that William’s parents were Benjamin Walker and Mary Alice Ellison and Anna’s parents were George and Emily Van Buren. Some of the Van Buren’s are also buried at Oakview and also two more generations of Ellison’s. It is a beautiful cemetery.

I had already posted their graves on Find A Grave. Click on their names to see:  William and Anna

If any of you happen to be in Hazel Park at any time, I would very much appreciate a photo of Anna and William’s house at 23424 Easterling Avenue. I could not locate an image online but the map claims the house is still there.

I have scanned in the copies and posted them below. Remember you can just click on the image to enlarge it. Enjoy.