Annis Pioneers

DAVID WHEELER ANNIS
1812-1877

David was born September 10, 1812 at Vershire, VT, the eighth child of Joseph and Crystal (Wheeler) Annis. His father worked the land as his father before him, and David was to follow in their footsteps. But the open prairies of Northern Illinois, and promises of rich farmland, were to be David's New World. He married on September 6, 1835 to Prudence Mercy Morrill {1813-1889} at Strafford, VT, and on September 27, 1836, merely three weeks after his wedding day, David set off alone to find a new home in the Great Plains area of Illinois. He went by steamboat across Lake Erie, walked across the state of Michigan, and ended up in Illinois on November 2, 1836. After a year of establishing a homestead in Kane County, he sent for his wife, who traveled via the Erie Canal and the Great Lakes to Chicago. Prudence kept an accurate diary of that experience, and their early pioneer years together, and she also wrote an interesting letter to her uncle, David Wheeler, of Watervliet, New York, relating her journey west to join her husband, and a description of their farm on the plains of Illinois.
Illinois, December 17, 1837
"Dear Uncle and Aunt,
Your letter of Nov. 5th is received and the contents duly noticed. I can assure you we are happy to hear from you when we have the favour, and greatly obliged for good advice and well wishes, hoping a continuance of the same. Likewise we are greatly indebted to Cousin John for Papers and I hope he will continue to send them often.
I will now commence by giving you a history of my journey, as you wished me to. I had rather a pleasant time on the Canal excepting it rained about every other day. I liked the country through which the Canal passes (some parts of it) very well and some places looked unhealthy. Utica and Rochester we passed in the night but there are some handsome villages besides those. I saw many things to attract the eye on my journey but did not enjoy them, as I should if I had acquaintances with me. We got into Buffalo the next Monday after I left Troy. Captain Lewis put my goods from his boat on to the next Steam Boat "Pennsylvania", Capt. Cotton, which was going out Wednesday. At Buffalo, I put up at the "Travellers Home" where Mr. Carter and family did and was most disappointed that they did not come on to Chicago with me. Mrs. Carter thought she was not able to cross the Lakes; I felt almost friendless to think I had what I thought the worst of my journey to perform with entire strangers. I could hardly bear that, I cried like a child, it was impossible to choke down my feelings.
We expected to have gone out in the morning but were prevented by rain, we started out a little before dark and before we had been out one half hour I was sick, the Lake was very rough, the next day I was sick again, I did not try to prevent it at all, thinking it would be a benefit to my health. I was sick one day on Lake Michigan, besides that I had a pleasant voyage, it was a fine time to be on the Lakes. I had a good chance to see what we passed when in sight of land and felt much safer than I expected, the Captain was very friendly, said he would assist me in what he could. I had a Stateroom on the Boat which was more comfortable than a berth in the Cabin. When the Boat landed and we made much of a stop, the Passengers would go ashore. I went out to Cleveland, Detroit, and Mishsllimacinack {Michilimackinac}, the latter place there were many Indians, their huts were built along the Shore, it was quite a curiosity to me to see them. I must hasten with my journey account or I shall not have room to write the whole story as you requested me to. I got into Chicago on Wednesday after being on the water one week. I intended to have gone out in the first Stage, which was Thursday but it went before I knew it and I was obliged to wait until Sunday. I felt very impatient to wait that time, I had my goods stored and took receipt for them, my passage was $25. Chicago is quite a large place and growing fast. I left Chicago Sunday morn with a light heart hoping to find my dearest where I should stop that night, which hope was realized, I found him anxiously awaiting my arrival. Our meeting was a happy one after a separation of almost a year.
I was perfectly delighted on coming out from Chicago to see the Prairies covered with beautiful flowers as handsome as ever grew in a garden and a great many different kinds. We boarded at Mr. Inman's for most of six weeks after I came, until David went to Chicago for our goods. We are know keeping house, have a snug warm little cabin with one window, the fire place is built of mud which is almost as hard as brick after it is burnt, the hearth is the same. I find things quite convenient in the house, good water near by etc. etc.
Jany. 4th, 1838. I will now give you a description of our farm. It is bounded west by Blackberry Creek, there are about 50 acres of fine meadow on it, the timber lies next and the dry prairie for tilling east of the timber and the house situated east of the timber also. I cannot give you a true description of the farm unless I mark it out which David thinks I had better do. I have not got the farm drawn wide enough for the length because I have not the room, it's some longer than it is wide. As you wish to know what we have to eat I will now tell you. We raised more than 100 bushels of good sound corn, 40 of wheat, 40 bushels of potatoes, 5 bushels of white beans and most all kind of garden sauce. I brought spice and some tea from Vermont and got sugar in Chicago for 14 cents. We have killed one hog and have another to kill soon, we have some venison and a great quantity of Prairie Hens. If you have the least idea that we have not much to eat think you will be convinced to the contrary, if you can credit what I have written. We live as well here as the people east with the exception of fruit which I hope we shall have in a few years. There are crab apples, large red plums, prairie apples and grapes that grow wild here which make good preserves, likewise blackberries and strawberries in abundance. David has two yoke of oxen, one cow, one heifer a yearling, two hogs to winter and eight pigs. My stock consists of 13 Fowls and a Cat to which I devote considerable time.
We have some fine neighbors, fine as we can wish for. There are two Mr. Whites south of us who came from New York, they visit us often and appear like relations. Mr. Sperry lives west of us, Souders, Hall, Lance and West live north of us, all good neighbors. The Indiana people are called Hoosiers, are rather an odd set of beings, but kind. There are some Southerners but the greatest number are from York State.
Jany. 7th, When I first came here there were Meetings every Sunday and generally pretty well attended for a few weeks but now we have them only occasionally, the principal number of the Professors here are Methodists. We have one Presbyterian Professor here, his name is De.... who came from Vermont. We have one Physician also, Palmer from York State. I am happy to inform that my health is greatly improved since I left Vermont and I have great reason to believe this to be a healthy country. It is a general complaint with the emigrants to this place that they have uncommon appetite. You say that you almost went to come and see us and the country, I hope you and Aunt will take a journey here in the course of one or two years and when you get here stay.
David and I often say we wish Uncle David would come here and buy Mr. Souders claim, our nearest neighbor north, he is a Hoosier. I think the cousins who have any idea of farming would do well here. Please accept my best love for yourselves and family, including Rhoda, likewise all inquiring friends. We are greatly obliged for your well wishes and good advice which I hope we shall follow, and hope you will continue this, and write often. Please write as soon as you receive this and overlook all mistakes and blotts as you see I made some in marking the farm. I remain your Affectionate Niece.
Prudence M. Annis"
David, with the help of his beloved Prudence, became a very successful farmer and civic leader in Kane County, and his descendants still inhabit the area he homesteaded. He and Prudence had five children:

1. Frank Morrill Annis, born Dec 1, 1839

2. Sarah Elizabeth Annis, born Sep 14, 1841

3. Joseph Wheeler Annis, born Jan 22, 1845

4. Charles Nelson Annis, born Feb 13, 1848; died in infancy Oct 9, 1849, diptheria

5. Jedediah Nelson Annis, born Jun 7, 1852

David died on September 14, 1877, his daughter's 36th birthday, at the age of 65 years and 4 days, and his wife, Prudence, who was born two days after David, September 12, 1812, died March 19, 1889. In the book "The Past and Present of Kane County, Illinois", published in 1878, one year after David's death, may be found the following concerning David Wheeler Annis:- “He was a noted man in the township during it's infancy, was County Commissioner and held several positions less important. It is said that he never sought for public position and possessed none of the contemptible qualities of the scheming politician. Integrity, intelligence, energy and economy constituted the invincible equipment which they brought to the new frontier home. But these are the folks that invariably win in the battle of life. None did more than they in advancing all the interests of the community and none were held in higher esteem."

I could have said it no better.

David Wheeler Annis' lineage is: Joseph Annis 1766-1848, Jesse Annis 1745-1820, John Annis 1700-1771, Abraham Annis 1668-1738, Cormac Annis 1638-1717

"Along about June 20th, 1856, there might have been seen a man of middle age, with a keen grey eye, and stern face, his trusty old rifle slung carelessly over his shoulder, his faithful, courageous, old yellow dog, Tige, following closely at his heels, making his way across the clear broad prairie lying between the streams known as the Cobb and Maple Rivers. This man would stop once in a while to survey the surrounding ground for about one half mile. In his rear, followed six or seven teams and covered wagons. This man was selecting out the best plans for crossing the low spots, and still keeping in view a certain point of timber on the Maple River. These six or seven covered wagons carried the household goods of the seven families, composed as follows: Ira Annis, his wife and five children; his sister, now Mrs. J. W. Sprague; Azro Annis and wife, Asa P. Sherman, wife and two children; R. B. Hall, wife and one child; Russell Franklin, wife and one child; Charles Durkee, and Jonathan Holbrook, and last but not least, our pilot and frontiersman, Uriah Payne and three sons. A total of twenty-five souls, making their way across the broad prairie with neither a bush or tree to greet them, and the wild prairie grass from eighteen inches to three feet tall. They left a trail behind which was followed and used as a road for a great many years, and is still a part of Mapleton's public highways.

This colony started from Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin, about the 10th day of May, and fell in with Uriah Payne. They soon learned that he was making his way to Minnesota, and as the colony had no particular point in view, naturally drifted along until we reached a place called Owatonna, a city of one frame building and one log store on the banks of a little stream called Straight River, but which we later found to be one of the crookedest little swimming streams we ever saw and which we boys fully explored, for ten days following, with a little old mud scow. Here a halt was called and a council held. Some wanted to stop, while others wished to go farther on, and it was finally decided that as Ira Annis had the only horse team, they would unload a light wagon, take a selected few, a few guns, provisions, etc... and proceed to the Maple River, where Mr. Payne had previously located a claim of 160 acres in the timber just west of where Jud Cornell lives. This party, after an absence of ten days, decided to proceed from Owatonna, so all except Mr. Franklin returned for their families, and reached the banks of the Maple River, where Ben Taylor now lives, at about three o'clock in the afternoon on June 20th, 1856, famished, footsore, and thirsty, for it was a warm day. Mr. Franklin told us there was a boiling spring of good cool water at the edge of the river below, and as soon as we could, men, women, and children made the descent of the steep bank, with cup in hand to get a good cool drink. There had been some limbs thrown into the shallow water, and not used to boiling springs, I stepped right into the bubbling sand and down I went nearly to my waist, and don't know how much farther I might have gone had I not been caught by some men and pulled out. Then when I came to drink the strong iron water, oh my! It was cold, but I could drink the stuff only by holding my nose.

Well, in a few days our little colony began to scatter out, Ira Annis and A. P. Sherman going east, up the river, about one and a half mile; Azro Annis going west into the township now called Sterling, where some of the family still reside. After this separation began the struggle for eatables and wearables. The summer and fall of 1856 was very dry, and the earth was parched and cracked in places, making fissures large enough for me, a small boy, to run my foot into the ground above my knee. My father started breaking plow at once after getting settled, and well do I remember one day along in July, while driving four yoke of oxen, we looked away to the northeast, near where the village of Mapleton now stands, and saw something very peculiar glistening in the sun. For a time we could not make out what it was, but a little later on, discovered it was a company of Indians, about one dozen, all on horseback, and the sun was shining upon their guns which caused the glistening. Well, my curiosity was aroused, and a little fear too, for when they arrived at our tent, they wanted water. But the funny part was to come, and it was this; when we left Wisconsin we had a good ten gallon keg of vinegar, and upon our arrival at our new home found three oak trees spreading at the earth between which we had placed our vinegar keg. Those Indians saw the keg and began circling around it and smelling at it until my father's cousin, Charles Durkee, went and drew out about a quart and handed it to one of the band. He smelled of it, and passed it on until it went the round. Then Mr. Durkee took a spoon and drank a spoonful and each of the party followed suit, then seemed to proceed on their way quietly. Later on, we used to have them call quite often, as our house was on their direct trail from the agency at Lura Lake, and so to Bass and Rice Lakes.
But I am getting ahead of my story, and will return. On the 4th of July 1856, at our tent was held one of the first, if not the first, celebrations ever held in Mapleton. We had prepared a good pole swing between two large oak trees (our party had been enlarged by the arrival of another Holbrook by the name of Joel, so that there were about twenty-five in number). Captain R. B. Hall made a speech, we fired the old double barrel, muzzle loading, shot guns, waved our flags, ate a good hearty dinner, and all returned home as happy as could be expected.

The winter of 1856 and 1857 was cold and many hardships we passed through. Then began the Johnny cake times and for three years it was nothing but beef and Johnny cake three times a day; even Johnny cake was scarce. Some ground their own meal in a coffee mill on account of the long distance to travel to the mill and the cold weather, but we all, as a usual thing, were a healthy lot."

Ira and Azro Annis' lineage is: James Annis 1792-1849, Solomon Annis 1765-1830, Daniel Annis 1735-1771, Daniel Annis 1711-1790, Abraham Annis 1668-1738, Cormac Annis 1638-1717

Note: Audrey Annis of Mapleton, MN, the wife of Paul Annis, was instrumental in furnishing a great deal of information concerning Azro and Ira Annis and their descendants. Paul Annis is a grandson of Azro Annis through his son, Sidney Annis 1889-1952.

Annis Family Association

Links
Annis Family Pioneers - Part 2
Annis Family in the US and Canada Directory