The Big Tree

705B. Abner,⁸ (Jesse⁷ Abraham⁶ Benjamin⁵ Benjamin⁴ Abraham³ John² Nicholas¹) b. 20 Apr. 1831 near Port Jefferson, Salem Twp., Shelby Co., Ohio; d. near Fall City, Springbrook Twp., Dunn Co., Wisc., 23 Dec 1901; m. 15 Nov. 1855 to Lucina Annis, dau. James W. amd Elizabeth (Davis) Annis, b. 17 May 1836 near Saltillosville, Washington Co., Ind. The James W. Annis family moved to Union Twp., St. Joseph Co., Ind., in the fall of 1845 and lived on a farm not far from the farm of Abner's parents.

On 9 Aug. 1856 Abner and Lucina purchased 40 acres of land located about 2 miles north of Lakeville, Ind. They sold this land in 1863, but the 1860 U.S. Census taken on 21 June shows Abner and Lucina with two children, Alice Ellen, age 4, and James Alexander, age 1, living in North Twp. Marshall Co., Ind. His occupation was listed as "Cooper." They purchased a Lot in the Village of Fremont, lying on the east side of the Village of Sidney (now Argos), Marshall County on 10 May 1862 but the home was sold on 9 May 1866. (book V, pg. 322, Marshall Co.). It appears that Alice Ellen and James Alexander were born in St. Joseph Co., Ind., while Schuyler Colfax, Benjamin Franklyn and Lewis were born in Marshall Co., Ind.

Between 9 May and 28 July 1866, Abner and family, together with two of his brothers, Henry and Ezra and their families, migrated from Indiana to Wilson, St. Croix Co., Wisc. There were 39 covered wagons in the convoy, with 59 adults and children which included, in addition to the Hathaway families, the Reeds, Whitakers and Dawsons. They settled just south of Wilson and the area was known as the Indiana settlement.

On 28 July 1866 Abner filed on an 80 acre homestead two miles south of Wilson, Wisc., but transferred 40 acres of the tract to his sister, Ovanda J. and her husband Andrew Rose, and 40 acres to John Wesley Rose and wife, Alice Ellen, the oldest daughter of Abner and Lucina. Both families obtained patents on the 40 acre tracts.

On 25 Mar. 1870 Abner filed homestead papers on an 80 acre tract (Application No. 2152) located some six miles south of Wilson which was patented 10 Aug. 1875 (Vol 3, p. 155, Falls Land Office, St. Croix Co., Wisc.). Quoting from the final Proof for the Patent:

"That the said Abner Hathaway is head of a family consisting of a wife and 7 children....entered upon and made settlement on said land on the 1st day of September 1870, and has built a house thereon of logs 18 x 24 ft., one and a half stories high, shingle roof, board floor, with 3 doors and 2 windows and is a comfortable house to live in and has lived in said house and made it his exclusive home from the 1st day of September 1870, to the present time, and that he has, since such settlement, plowed, fenced, and cultivated about 18 acres of said land, and has made the following improvements thereon, to wit: has fenced 25 acres, has built a stable and a cooper shop and has set out 35 fruit trees."

This 80 acres, known as the Cady Creek home, was sold on 23 August 1877 and two 80 acre tracts in Spring Lake Twp., Pierce Co., Wisc., was purchased. This land was only about 2 miles southwest of the Cady Creek home and the family lived there until May 1885. The land was then sold and a farm purchased in Springbrook Twp., Dunn Co., Wisc., where they lived until both died on 23 Dec. 1901. Lucina had a stroke of paralysis on 18 Dec., and the anxiety caused by her condition prostated Abner and he died suddenly at 2:30 a.m. on the 23rd and Lucina passed away about 10:30 p.m. on the same day.

For many years Abner was very active as an ordained minister in the Free Will Baptist Church. During his later years the Reverend Abner was quite famous for a team of perfectly matched grey horses that he and Lucina used to drive from one religious meeting to the other in the general area of Pierce, St. Croix, Barron and Dunn Counties, Wisc.

Children:
i. Alice Ellen
ii. James Alexander
iii. Schuyler Colfax
iv. Benjamin Franklyn
v. Lewis
vi. Martha Jane
vii. Emma Mae
viii. David
ix. Samuel
x. Lenora