ANNIS PIONEERS
Part Two

Dedicated to the Pioneering spirit of the Annis Family in America

Orson Monroe Annis
1828-1900

Orson Monroe Annis was born August 2, 1828 at Ellery, New York, the son of Phineas and Belvera (Putnam) Annis, He was but a small boy when his parents moved the family from Ellery to Carroll Township, a short distance southeast of Jamestown, New York. This area had many mills producing lumber, shingles, barrels, and other wooden products. This is where Orson learned the carpentry trade from his father, and became a millwright by the time of his marriage to Adaline Myers on December 28, 1852.
In 1854, with his wife and baby daughter, Clara, he decided to pioneer westward, and settled in Fillmore County, Minnesota for a period of three years. From there the family moved to Rochester, Olmstead County, Minnesota, where Orson could follow his trade, but in November 1863 a scarlet fever epidemic claimed the lifes of his first two daughters, Clara and Adaline.
It was shortly thereafter, on April 24, 1864, that the family started west for Oregon, by covered wagon, to find a new life. There were many stops along the way but by the end of 1864 they had established themselves in Salem, Oregon. Orson and his family stayed at Salem for four years before, at which time he took a contract to build a woolen mill at Steilacoom, Washington Territory. After this successful venture he went to Old Tacoma and helped construct the first sawmill there, and being very impressed with the area, Orson decided to settle in the heavily timbered area of the Puyallup Valley.
Orson took claim to his homestead on March 28, 1869 and soon built a large log cabin, cleared enough land to begin farming, and with great industry he began to develop a community which he named Alderton. He built a sawmill and a new home, the first frame house in the community, and in addition to farming, he started a mercantile business, a hotel, a livery stable, and warehouse.
Another business undertaking was his collaboration with other pioneer settlers in the Valley to begin the introduction of hop growing. He and his sons were actively engaged in this production for many years, but his farm was very diversified, having sizable orchards, berry fields, vegetables, grains and dairy. The original homestead farm later became one of the best known centers of flower bulbs, in particular, daffodils, hyacinths and tulips.
After a good life of hard work, a good family, and successful business enterprises, Orson died on August 21, 1900 at his beloved Alderton. He is buried at Woodbine Cemetery, Puyallup, Washington.

The old Annis house, however, still stands, like its builder, a sturdy pioneer.

Orson's Annis lineage is: Phineas Annis 1803-1880, John Annis 1764-1839, Ezra Annis 1726-1818, John Annis 1700-c.1771, Abraham Annis 1668-1738 , Charles Cormac Annis 1638-1717

David Annis
1786-1861

David Annis was born April 5, 1786, probably at Aurelius, Cayuga County, New York, the son of Charles and Sarah (Emerson) Annis.
In about 1796, as a young boy of about 10 years, David came with his parents to the wilderness area now known as Whitby and Oshawa, Ontario, Canada. With his brothers, William and Levi, he carved out a mini-empire from the beautiful and bountiful forests of that area. He amassed his fortune with great ambition, and although formally uneducated, in 1808 David set out to become one of the most successful early settlers of the region. It was in that year that David became a Indian trader for valuable furs in the area and made several excursions north to the areas which are now Port Perry and Lake Simcoe. On these trading trips, according to the 1890's "Peddlar Papers","He and his hired porters drew upon hand sleighs, or carried when there was no snow, powder, shot, bullets, guns, blankets, knives and trinkets, such as steel disks for striking fire on the flint. On camping at night they fired off guns in quick succession, which was the signal for the Indians to gather, and next morning all within hearing came with their furs and traded for these goods. David Annis sent these furs to Montreal in Durham boats, and received gold doubloons for them, being the only commodity in that day which would bring money. The Durham boats brought back more goods for future trading."

David erected a saw mill in 1825 on the Oshawa Creek at Port Oshawa A dam was built under the frame mill to provide power, and most of the white pine in the area was sawn there. The lumber was floated down the Oshawa Creek, (which was then much larger).

With his wealth from his fur trading business he acquired "many hundreds of acres" of timber acreage. Many of the houses, store, and structures of "Old Oshawa" were constructed from the lumber that was cut at the Annis Saw Mill. David and his Company produced so much lumber that he began looking about for business opportunities, and it was at this time that began construction on the schooners "Lord Durham", "Martha Ann", and four other ships, and chartered even more to carry his lumber to Niagara and other points on Lake Ontario. The vessels were also used to carry the products from the Oshawa flouring mills to market at Kingston.
David was a talented woodcarver, and was known to keep his books with a jackknife and stick. "It will be evident to the reader that David Annis was one of the men of Oshawa of Old who gave the infant industries an early start. This man of undoubted natural business gifts wisely placed the profits of his Saw Mill and shipping into wild lands in the vicinity.."

David never married and in his later years lived with his nephew, Daniel Conant. He died on May 28, 1861 and he left his large estate at Port Union, Ontario, Canada to his nephew Daniel Conant, who continued his uncle's legacy and extended the family's holdings.

David Annis was said to have been a man of fine heart, a friend to the poor and hospitable to all. He never married, and had no children. He spent his last years living with the Daniel Conant family, and died on May 28, 1861, at the age of 75. David was buried in the Harmony Burial Ground, but was exhumed nineteen years after his death, in 1880, by Thomas Conant, son of Daniel Conant. It is unknown why the casket was opened, but it has been recorded that all who were present were shocked by the excellent condition of the body. David was moved to the Union Cemetery in Oshawa, where Daniel Conant is also buried.

David's lineage is: Charles Annis 1737-1804, John Annis 1700-c.1771, Abraham Annis 1668-1738, Cormac Annis 1638-1717

Peddlar Paper extracts courtesy of Wendy V. Annis of Ontario, Canada

Jacob Annis
1791-1881

Jacob was born January 19, 1791 at Boscawen, New Hampshire, the son of Thomas and Elizabeth (Waldron) Annis. He married April 16, 1810, Rhoda Loudon {1801-1871} at Gaines, New York.
It is obvious from his marriage record that Jacob was an early pioneer into western New York State. This was during a period of a great exodus by New England families who had their dreams laid out for the inexpensive land that became available after the Holland Purchase. In 1824 Orleans County, New York was carved from this mass, and it was made readily available to those who were hardy enough to carve out their niche in the wilderness.
The first records of Jacob as adult shows that he served three months as a teamster during the War of 1812. The next records show him homesteading at Newport (now Albion, NY) in 1817 settling on a beautiful and productive piece of land of 100 acres at what was known as Lot 10. He paid $5.75 per acre for the land and in 1818 "he built a log house thereon, without nails or glass, chimney or door." He covered the roof with bark and split out the lumber for his own flooring. His years of hard work at farming had generously paid dividends by 1850, with a sizable estate of $7500.00, an enormous sum of money in those days.
Jacob and Rhoda had but one son, Joshua R., who was born October 26, 1831 at Albion, New York. After the death of his father on July 26, 1881, Joshua inherited the old homestead of his father, and "was soon in possession of 235 acres of fine land." Jacob was a member of the Free Methodist Church, and in politics was a Prohibitionist. Many members of the family are buried at Mt. Albion cemetery, Albion, New York.

Jacob's lineage is: Thomas c.1750-1816, Daniel Annis 1711-1790, Abraham Annis 1668-1736, Cormac Annis 1638-1717.

Thomas Annis
1793-1863

Thomas Annis was born December 12, 1793 at Boscawen, New Hampshire, the son of Thomas and Elizabeth (Waldron) Annis. He married before 1828 to Harriet Perry at Albion, New York.
Thomas either removed to Barre, New York with his brother Jacob, or followed him from New Hampshire soon after. They both appear on the Federal census of 1840, 1850 and 1860. Thomas and his wife were living on land at Barre, NY in 1850 that was adjacent to the farm of his brother, Jacob. They had one son, Henry E. Annis, who was born December 1828, but he died an infant in April 1829.
It was recorded in the census records that he was "deaf and dumb", but that did not hinder him from amassing a fairly substantial estate of $3690.00. This in an age that certainly did not have much understanding of the handicap that he was afflicted with.
Thomas died March 5, 1863 and is buried at Annis Cemetery, Albion, New York.

Thomas' lineage is: Thomas c.1750-1816, Daniel Annis 1711-1790, Abraham Annis 1668-1736, Cormac Annis 1638-1717.

Isaac Annis
1787-1858

Isaac Annis was born March 20, 1787 at Warner, New Hampshire, the son of Thomas and Sarah Smith (Remick) Annis. Isaac was the half-brother of Jacob and Thomas Annis who are mentioned immediately above. He married circa 1808, Nancy McClintock, and unlike his brothers, did not travel to western New York state until he was older.
Isaac was a blacksmith by trade, but in January 1849, at the age of 62, he went to New York City and set sail on February 6th, via the clipper ship Robert Bowne, from New York Harbor to San Francisco, California. Isaac wrote his daughter, Nancy a farewell letter dated January 28th which reads:

"We shall sail next Thursday in the ship Robbard Downe [Robert Bowne] to California by way of the Horn."

After weathering and surviving a terrible storm on his passage, he arrived in San Francisco and made his way to the gold fields. He stayed in California until 1851, was counted in the 1850 census there, and his exploits were recounted in the letters that he wrote from Rio de Janeiro (when he "rounded the Horn"), San Francisco, and from Auburn's "dry diggin's". It is interesting to note that Isaac's youngest half brother, Reverend Jerome Bonaparte Annis was also in the gold fields of California preaching to the miners at the same time, having came cross country from Arkansas.
After Isaac's return from the gold fields he resided with his daughter, Nancy and her husband, Leander Russell, who kept a store and loaded canal boats at Port Gibson, New York on the Erie Canal. He died there on January 27, 1858.
Children:

1. William McClintock Annis, born June 12, 1809; died June 12, 1811.

2. Nancy McClintock Annis, born October 2, 1811; died 1898.

3. McClintock Annis, born July 6, 1814; died December 19, 1814.

4. John McClintock Annis, born June 28, 1818; died June 8, 1848.

5. Mary Ann Annis, born July 19, 1822; died November 2, 1831.

Isaac's lineage is: Thomas c.1750-1816, Daniel Annis 1711-1790, Abraham Annis 1668-1736, Cormac Annis 1638-1717.

Levi Annis
1840-1929

Levi Annis was born January 10, 1840 at Colchester, VT; died February 4, 1840 at Merrill, WI; married September 1, 1861, Armine Harnois at Fond du lac, WI.
Levi was 14 years old when his father removed to Sheboygan, Wisconsin by way of the St. Lawrence River and the Great Lakes. As a boy he made baskets from Black Ash and sold them to local stores, worked on the river, and the farm. Levi was a veteran of the Civil War and served as a Private in several Wisconsin Regiments, including the 1st, 14th, 16th, and 32nd Infantry. He originally enlisted on April 20, 1861 in the 1st Wisconsin and served three months; re-enlisted on February 2, 1862 for three years, but suffered a rupture at Pittsburgh Landing, Tennessee while performing fatigue duty for which he was discharged on July 27, 1862 at Hamburg, Tennessee. On November 18, 1863 he enlisted in the 32nd Wisconsin and reported for duty at LaGrange, Tennessee. While with the 32nd he participated in General Sherman's "March to the Sea", and the Battle of Petersburg.
He was temporarily transferred to the 16th Wisconsin on June 2, 1865, awaiting his discharge on July 12. His enlistment papers described him as 5' 5", gray eyes, auburn hair, fair complexion, and residing at Fond du Lac, Wisconsin.

Levi Annis

Photograph courtesy of James and Yvonne Annis

After the war he returned to Wisconsin and worked at saw mills at Fond du Lac before removing to Merrill, Wisconsin, where he worked as a team driver for the H. W. Wright Lumber Company. His obituary reported the following: "He was born in Vermont, Jan. 10, 1840. At the age of 14 years he moved to Sheboygan, Wis., making the trip by boat via the St. Lawrence river. At Sheboygan, Mr. Annis made baskets of black ash which were disposed of to stores. Levi went to school, but his school days in all amounted to about six months duration. He worked on the river, in the woods, on boats, and on the farm. His father died the year Buchanan was elected to the presidency, when Mr. Annis was 16 years of age. Mr. Annis recruited in the federal army in 1861, joining Company I, 1st Wisconsin regiment of Volunteer Infantry, and served three months, and then re-enlisted and remained a year in the service. He was a private. He was discharged because of illness and then reenlisted in the 32nd Wisconsin Infantry of Volunteers and stayed in the service until the end of the war." The obituary went on to state that he had a total of eight children. Levi's funeral was held under the auspices of the G.A.R., and he is buried at Merrill cemetery, Merrill, Wisconsin.
Children:

1. Ella May Annis, b. May 24, 1863

2. William Edgar Annis, b. April 5, 1866; d. July 4, 1949

3. Evelyn Edith Annis, b. May 5, 1868; d. Jun 19, 1934

4. Louise Annis, b. January 1, 1872

5. Elgina Annis, b. July 13, 1873

6. Jennette Adell Annis, b. August 15, 1875; d. March 20, 1893

7. Ellsworth E. Annis, b. December 23, 1882; d. December 23, 1882

8. Ernest N. Annis, b. June 30, 1885; d. November 11, 1968

Levi's lineage is: Levi Annis 1803-1857, Daniel Annis 1772-?, Daniel Annis 1735-1801, Daniel Annis 1711-1790, Abraham Annis 1668-1736, Cormac Annis 1638-1717

Annis Family Association Members who are descended from Levi Annis

Mr.& Mrs. James Thomas Annis of Merrill, WI
Mrs. Elaine Francis Hill
Mrs. Deborah D. L. Hoffman of Aurora, IL

Elon G. Annis
1815-1881

Elon G. Annis was born March 4, 1815 at Livonia, New York, the son of Augustus Benjamin and Phoebe (Skinner) Annis. He married Angeline Wisnor at Livonia, New York. Angeline was born October 13, 1819 at Livonia, New York, the daughter of Samuel and Hannah Wisnor.
Elon was an early pioneer to the Michigan Territory and removed to Jackson County, Michigan as early as 1837. On June 9th of that year he purchased 120 acres (Section 24) near the small town of Onondaga, Ingham County. He built up a very successful farm and stayed on this same tract of land for nearly 45 years.
Other members of Elon's family later followed him to Michigan and resided near him, including his sister, Amanda Phoebe (Annis) Buckland (1819-1898) and her family; brother Thomas Augustus Annis (1817-1905); brother Hollis B. Annis (1826-1903?); and brother Monroe Hoyt Annis (1835-?)
Angeline Annis died on February 6, 1881, and tragically, the grief that Elon suffered with the loss of his life partner was evidently too much too bear. Two days after her death, and the day that he laid his wife to rest, he committed suicide by hanging himself in the barn that he had built with his hard work.
But the tragedy did not end there.
Floyd G. Annis, the only son was born May 1846 at Onondaga, Michigan; married, Emma J. Smith at Onondaga. Floyd resided at Onondaga during the 1900 Federal census. The only information about his death is that, like his father, he committed suicide, and into the next generation, like a sad and deadly virus, Floyd's son, Merton Elon Annis (b. 1872) was reported to have shot himself at the time of his father's funeral.
In all of my research on the Annis Family, I have not discovered very many cases of suicide, but this story of three generations of tragedy is without precedent or example in the Family.
It is interesting to note that Dr. Eber Leander Annis 1824-1903, a 2nd cousin descended from Jesse {1745-1820} was residing at Onondaga in 1850. It is unknown whether they knew of the relationship to one another.
Children:

1. Marietta Annis, born 1841; died 1896.

2. Floyd G. Annis, born May 1846.

Elon's lineage is: Augustus Benjamin Annis 1789-1866; Jacob Annis 1763-1844; Ezra Annis 1726-1818; John Annis 1700-c.1771; Abraham Annis 1668-1736, Cormac Annis 1638-1717

Matthew Emerson Annis
1816-1880

Matthew Emerson Annis was born March 21, 1816 at Scarborough, Ontario, Canada, the son of Levi and Rhoda (Conant) Annis. He married November 25, 1840, Abigail Gibbs {1822-1882} at Darlington, Ontario, Canada.
Matthew moved his family to the State of Michigan after the American civl War, and started a successful farm in what is known as the "thumb" area. In the early 1880's a massive and destructive brush and timber fire swept across the entire state of Michigan. Matthew's farm and family were among the victims of this fire, and destroyed everything that he had built. This fire was the first emergency that the fledgling American Red Cross answered. Matthew was a member of the Methodist Church, and the Republican Party.

Children:

1. Sophia Jane Annis, born December 18, 1841; m. November 30, 1864, Amos Wilson.

2. Elizabeth Ann Annis, born October 3, 1844; died 1905; m. March 6, 1872, David Wright.

3. Andrew Emerson Annis, born August 16, 1846; died May 19, 1882; m. September 26, 1871, Lucy Ellen Tompkins.

4. Rhonda Ellen Annis, born May 17, 1854; died December 31, 1888; m. March 31, 1875, Robert Cleland.

5. Edmund Gibbs Annis, born November 5, 1859; died December 2, 1859.

6. Harriet Abigail Annis, born December 10, 1863; died May 2, 1892; m. April 10, 1891, Phillip Stroud.

Matthew's lineage is: Levi Annis 1781-1855; Charles Annis 1738-1804; John Annis 1700-c.1771; Abraham Annis 1668-1736; Cormac Annis 1638-1717

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Annis Family Association