Tim’s 2nd great-grandfather, William Franklin Raven, son of Henry Charles & Clarinda (Sweet) Raven, was born 12 July 1851 in Macomb, New York, and died 14 September 1917 in Escanaba, Michigan. He married, 5 March 1888 in Cambridge, Michigan, Elona Naomi Case, who was born there 7 July 1853, and died 22 January 1929 in Badaxe, Michigan, the daughter of Hermon Roberts & Paulina (Minor) Case.
The following is from Col. Charles V. DeLand, DeLand’s History of Jackson County, (Logansport, Indiana: B.F. Bowen, 1893), 1075-1076:
WILLIAM F. RAVEN
(1853-1929)
Among the representative farmers and dairymen of Columbia township, where he owns a fine landed estate of nearly three hundred acres, is Mr. Raven, who comes of ancestry long identified with the annals of American history. Mr. Raven is a native of the old Empire state, having been born on the parental homestead farm, in St. Lawrence county, New York, on the 12th of July, 1852, a son of Henry and Clarinda (Sweet) Raven, the former of whom was born in Merrickville, province of Ontario, Canada, while the latter was born in the state of Vermont. ……. The subject of this review passed the first ten years of his life in his native county, and thereafter was for a time a resident of Herkimer and Oneida counties. His early education was received in the public schools of the locality and period, and was supplemented by a course of study in Fairfield Academy, where he was graduated as a member of the class of 1873. Between his public school and academic courses he had learned the printer’s trade, and for some nine months he was employed as a compositor in an establishment on Fulton street, New York city. Thereafter he secured employment in connection with a lumber business at Ilion, New York, being thus engaged for four years, at the expiration of which, in 1877, he came to Michigan and after looking about the state in search of a suitable location finally took up his residence in the township of Cambridge, Lenawee county, where he made his home for the ensuing two years. He then, in 1880, effected the purchase of the Hoag farm of one hundred and thirty acres, in section 15, Columbia township, Jackson county, the same being most eligibly situated a short distance to the northeast of Clark’s lake. Since that time he has added to the area of his farm until he now has a finely improved and valuable landed estate of nearly three hundred acres. In addition to diversified farming he is now making a specialty of the dairy business, keeping a high grade of Jersey cattle and being known as one of the most progressive, practical and successful dairymen of this section. He takes a loyal interest in public affairs of a local nature and has been a member of the school board of this district for the past eight years, while in 1901 he was called upon to serve in the office of township treasurer, giving a discriminating and most acceptable administration of the fiscal affairs in his charge. Fraternally, he is a popular member of the Masonic order, in which he has passed the capitular degrees and also of the adjunct body, the Order of the Eastern Star, as well as the Knights of the Maccabees and the Grange. Mrs. Raven is identified also with the Eastern Star, the Ladies of the Maccabees and the Grange. In politics the subject is a stanch adherent of the Democratic party, taking an intelligent and lively interest in the questions of the hour, and in the community he commands the unequivocal confidence and esteem of all who know him and wields no slight influence in local affairs. On the 5th of March, 1888, Mr. Raven was united in marriage to Miss Eleanora Case, who was born in Lenawee county, Michigan, a daughter of Herman R. Case, a native of Connecticut, who came to Michigan in the pioneer epoch. Mr. and Mrs. Raven have seven children, all of whom are at home save the eldest, who is attending the Agricultural College, at Lansing, their names, in order of birth, being as follows: Paulina, Hermon, Marion, William, Emmett, Julia and Ayesha.
All the photographs on this post were contributed anonymously to Ancestry.com in 2013.
The following is from an undated and unidentified newspaper clipping:
Sudden Death of William F. Raven
Remains Brought to Brooklyn for Burial
William F. Raven, formerly a resident of Columbia township, died suddenly in a restaurant at Escanaba last Friday morning of heart trouble. he had been in Chicago to attend a wool growers’ convention and had gone north in the interests of the state agricultural extension department, being at the head of the live stock section. The remains were taken to his home at East Lansing where the funeral was held and on Monday brought to Brooklyn for burial at Highland Cemetery. He was buried with special Masonic honors, the Master of the Lansing Masonic lodge coming with the funeral party.
William Raven was well and favorably known to every Columbia resident and few men have become so well known throughout the state. He came here, a farmer boy from Ohio, and working on farms and teaching for a few years bought a farm, now tenanted by one of his sons, William. He was united in marriage to Miss Elona Case of Cambridge and a large family came to bless their home. Besides the widow the surviving children are herman, John, Emmett, Marion and Will, daughters Paulina, Julia and Ayesha, all grown men and women, a family of honor and credit to the community.
Mr. Raven has for about ten years been in the employ of the state and made his home in East Lansing. He was for a time in charge of all the college extension work in the upper peninsula. He spent a year or two on the soil survey and had charge of the live stock extension work through out the state. Prof. R.S. Shaw, dean of agriculture, and Prof. R.J. Baldwin, director of extension work, of the M.A.C. paid tribute to Mr. Raven at the Exponent office on Monday. They spoke in highest terms of his work stating that he was the best informed and most reliable of any of the men on the extension work and that his death would be a distinct loss to the state.
And the following is from “Reminiscences” by Ayesha Raven Laidlaw, Elona’s youngest daughter:
In our neighborhood the community of Jefferson had a cemetery which was supported by the township, which did not take very good care of it, except for mowing. So the women formed an organization called the Memory Circle, and they raised money for that little cemetery. It continued for many, many years. they had Ice Cream Socials, and we had the biggest house in the township, so the Ice Cream Socials were always at our house in the summer. In the winter they had a Chicken Pie Dinner, and that, too, was at our house. Brother Herman always spoke of those dinners. When Mother was entertaining, he would say, “Well, Mother’s having another Graveyard Social.” As I said, that continued many years, and, as late as when we lived in Tecumseh on Democrat Street, Paulina and I entertained those women for Julia when she was home from the East. Many, many of them came from Jackson, Liberty, Cass Lake, and Jefferson and the community, and one lady, when she got out of the car, said, “Well, you don’t know me. I’m Zilla McCready.” And I was shocked because I thought she had been dead for many years. I think there were six or eight ladies there who were past eighty years old.
Elona & William lie buried in Highland Cemetery in Brooklyn, Michigan. They were the parents of seven children:
1. Paulina Elona “Polly” Raven, born 20 July 1879 in Cambridge, died 2 January 1959 in Lyon, Ohio. She married 30 June 1917 in East Lansing, Michigan, Frederick Edwin Morse, who was born 19 January 1876 in Jasper, Michigan and died 21 April 1958 in Lyon.
2. Herman Case Raven, born 24 April 1882 in Cambridge, died 5 April 1937 in Portland, Oregon. He married 1 February 1908 in Cook Valley, Wisconsin, Elvira Florence Scritsmier, who was born 1 February 1880 in Auburn, Wisconsin and died 28 January 1969 in Portland.
3. Marion Case Raven (Tim’s great-grandfather), born 18 October 1883, died 4 December 1926 in Jackson, Michigan. He married (as her first husband) 20 June 1906 in Liberty, Michigan, Catherine Alta Verplanck, who was born 2 May 1885 in Hanover, Michigan and died there 27 July 1941, daughter of George Washington & Ermina (Huntley) Verplank.
4. John William “Will” “Bill” Raven, born 5 February 1886 in Jackson, died 28 February 1962 in Highland Park, Michigan. He married (as his first wife and as her second husband) 13 February 1913 in Jackson, Emma Belle (Faxon) Clark, who was born there 17 October 1873 and died there 7 February 1927, daughter of Dewitt Clinton & Lucy Ann (Campbell) Faxon and widow of Harry B. Clark.
Bill married (as his second wife and as her second husband) 13 August 1927 Evelyn (—) Trim, who was born c. 1916 and died c. 1973.
Bill married (as his third wife) 22 October 1955 Mabel Trim.
5. Emmett Leroy Raven, born 16 September 1889 in Cambridge, died 20 December 1971 in Badaxe. He married (as his first wife) 23 June 1915 in Mulliken, Michigan, Ethel Alvina Peabody, who was born 24 September 1892 in Roxand, Michigan and died there 25 October 1927, daughter of Elbert John & Sarah B. (Nickle) Peabody.
Emmett married (as his second wife) 18 June 1929 in East Aurora, New York, Mildred Nellie Gardner, who was born 6 January 1890 and died 26 July 1979 in Colfax, Michigan, daughter of Frederick Welch & Nellie (Roberts) Gardner.
6. Julia Agnes Raven, born 17 October 1891 in Cambridge, died 29 February 1968 in Middletown, Connecticut. She married 17 May 1932 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, William Homan, who was born 3 August 1889 and died 13 January 1951.
7. Clarinda Ayesha Raven, born 8 June 1895 in Columbia, Michigan, died 29 August 1987 in Fort Myers, Florida. She married 19 July 1917 in East Lansing, Michigan, Orville William Laidlaw, who was born 14 July 1893 in Ludington, Michigan, and died 24 December 1978 in Arcadia, Florida.
Last Revised: 31 August 2024