Tim’s 3rd-great-grandfather, Henry Charles Raven, son of Peter George & Sabrina (Cummins) Raven, was born 11 December 1820 in Merrickville, Ontario, and died 5 January 1892 in Natural Dam, New York. He married (as his first wife) 8 July 1840 in New York, Clarinda Sweet, who was born 22 September 1820 in Depeyster, New York and died 9 February 1875 in Macomb, New York, daughter of Josiah & Eunice (Day) Sweet.
Henry was a farmer. According to DeLand’s History of Jackson County, Michigan, Henry was born in Ontario and took part in the Canadian Rebellion of 1837, then came to New York and took up adjoining tracts of land in St. Lawrence County with four of his brothers.
He there continued to be identified with the great basic art of agriculture until his death, in 1891, prospering in his efforts and being held in high estimation by all who knew him. His wife [Clarinda] passed away in 1875, their children having been twelve in number.
Fifteen years after Clarinda’s death, on 28 March 1890, Henry married (as his second wife) Fannie E. Patten, who was born c. 1824 in Ontario. They were married less than two years when Henry had an apparent heart attack and died. His obituary is from the Watertown Daily Times, Watertown, New York, 6 January 1892. The age of his death was erroneously given as between 50-60 years, but according to records he was actually 71 when he died.
A Blind Man’s Sudden Death
Gouverneur, Jan. 6 – The little village of Natural Dam was startled last evening by the report that Henry Raven, an elderly man, had been found lying on the floor in his house dead. He resided there with his wife. For many years he has been totally blind. A married daughter occupies a house near by. She has been ill for the past few days with the grip. Last evening about six o’clock he requested his wife to go to his daughter’s house and ascertain how she was then feeling. Mrs. Raven returned within half an hour and upon entering the house saw her husband lying upon the floor. She spoke to him and asked what he was doing there. Upon receiving no reply she became frightened and hastened to inform a neighbor. When they arrived he was apparently lifeless. Dr. Hassel of this village was summoned, but when he arrived Mr. Raven was dead. He was apparently in the best of health previous to his death, and the shock was a terrible one to his family. The cause of his death was probably heart disease. He was between 50 and 60 years of age. Mr. Raven was a man of some means and respected by all who knew him.
Henry & Clarinda are buried in Pierces Corner Cemetery, Macomb, New York. (Photos found on Ancestry.com)
My soul looks up and sees him smile,
While he the needed grace bestow,
All earthly sorrows to beguile,
And conquer the last foe.
Clarinda & Henry were the parents of twelve children:
1. James Henry Raven, born 25 September 1841 in New York, died 19 March 1862 in Alexandria, Virginia. James served in the Civil War, De Peyster, New York enlisted G Company, 16th Infantry Regiment, New York, and died of disease at Fairfax Seminary, Virginia.
2. Lemuel Day Raven, born 24 March 1843 in New York, died there by drowning on 28 October 1849, age 6.
3. Julia Agnes Raven, born 28 August 1844 in New York, died 11 November 1895. She married George Wesley Ingraham, who was born 8 September 1834 in Utica, New York and died 26 March 1888, son of Charles Ingraham.
4. Rachel Sophronia Raven, born 4 April 1845 in New York. She married Ace Henry.
5. John Van Buren Buchanan “JV” Raven, born 13 October 1848 in Rossie, New York, died 20 March 1911 in Bloomer, Wisconsin. John was a farmer who served in the Civil War, COB 193rd New York Infantry. He married (as his first wife) c. 1876, Mary N. Vanderpool.
JV married (as his second wife) 10 April 1881 in Chippewa, Wisconsin, Ede Betsey Cordelia Sackett, who was born 25 August 1855 in Wisconsin, and died 11 February 1907 in Bloomer, daughter of David Sackett.
6. Josephine Clarinda Raven, born 10 October 1850 in Macomb, died 21 August 1919 in Belleville, New York. She married 5 March 1873 in Ilion, New York, Lodowick Benjamin Martin, who was born 4 February 1831 in Ellisburg, New York, and died 27 May 1919 in Belleville.
7. William Franklin Raven (Tim’s 2nd-great-grandfather), born 12 July 1852 in Macomb, died 14 September 1917 in Escanaba, Michigan. William married 5 March 1878 in Cambridge, Michigan, Elona Naomi Case, who was born there 7 July 1853 and died 22 January 1929 in Badaxe, Michigan, daughter of Herman Roberts & Paulina Elizabeth (Minor) Case.
8. Myron David Raven, born 15 March 1854 in Gouverneur, died 15 December 1918 in Fowler, New York. He married Jane Ella Ward, who was born in October 1853 in New York, daughter of William & Mary (Hastings) Ward.
9. Eunice Lucinda Raven, born 18 February 1856 in Macomb, died 2 February 1927 in New York. She married (as her first husband) c. 1875, Royal Henry Huddleston, who was born in June 1843 in New York and died 14 August 1908 in Fowler, New York.
Eunice married (as her second husband) 14 November 1906 in Hermon, New York, Curtis M. Price, who was born 27 November 1846 in New York and died 1 April 1912 in Gouverneur.
10. Ella Aurelia Raven, born 7 April 1858 in New York, died 10 May 1918. She married 25 April 1877, Jasper Alonzo Day, who was born 24 October 1848 in New York and died 31 December 1927.
11. Robert Sheldon Raven, born 4 March 1862 in New York, died 30 May 1906 in Seattle, Washington. He married 19 February, in Doland, South Dakota, Edith Ione Austin, who was born 27 November 1868 in Depeyster, and died 19 March 1953 in Langley, Washington.
12. George B. McClellan Raven, born 30 July 1863 in New York. He married Lizzie Willhite.
Last Revised: 2 September 2024