Benjamin Ance

 Benjamin Ance was said to be born 8 Jan 1881, son of Louis Ance and Margaret Burney. He joined older siblings Julius, Elizabeth, August and Marceline.

Photo of Benjamin with wife Jannette Oliver.

Benjamin was baptized on 14 Feb 1881 at the Catholic Church in Peshawbestown.

Brother Casper was born 3 May 1883.

Sister Abbie was born 7 Jul 1890.

Michigan State Census - 1894 - Peshawbestown, Leelanau, Michigan

Louis Ance, 45

Maggie, 40

Louis, 22 [Julius]

Gust, 17

Marceline, 16

Benjamin, 13

Casper, 11

Abbie, 4

Brother Julius died 9 Feb 1896 in Suttons Bay.

Brother Casper died 29 Mar 1900 in Suttons Bay.

Kathy Nickerson Craker in her book "They Came to South Fox Island" states Louis Ance received allotments on South Fox Island for himself and his children on January 2, 1900. 

1900 Federal Census - Hendricks Township, Mackinac, Michigan. 

Ance, Benjamin born Jan 1881, age 19, boarder, wood chopper. In the home (camp?) of John Trasho [Trotochaud]

Benjamin's first child, John Chippeway, was born 28 Mary 1901 in Suttons Bay. Mother was Angeline Chippeway.

John was baptized on 7 Apr 1901 at the Catholic Church in Peshawbestown.

Benjamin, age 21,  was married 14 Nov 1901 on High Island to Jannette Oliver, age 17, daughter of  John Oliver and Marion Ketchmadain.

The marriage was also recorded in the Catholic Church records of Peshawbestown.

Son Levi was born May 1902 (day not given), on High Island.

An infant son Oliver is mentioned as possibly being buried near his father Benjamin in "They Came to South Fox Island". He was probably the same child as Levi above.

Son Julius was born 19 Sep 1903.

Benjamin was said to have died 24 Feb 1906 on South Fox Island due to a logging accident, hit by a falling tree. He was buried in the cemetery near his family's home. 

Daughter Emaline was baptized 19 Apr 1908 as Amalina Maria. Her birth was given as 31 Oct 1907 which was more than 18 months after her father's death. Perhaps she was born in 1905 (which would match her age on the Durant roll field notes and the priest made in error when writing her birth year. Residence was given as both Fox Island and Peshawbestown. 

Durant Roll Field Notes - 1908

page 43, #45

Louis Anse (spelled now Ance, age 60, PO Northport, Mich lives on Fox Island

wife Maggie Ance, 57

child #4 - Ben Ance, dead

    wife Janette (Olliver) Ance, 30, Fox Island, see #16-34, her mother is Mary Ann (She-no-din) Illiver of High Island

    child 1 Juliua Ance, 5, lives with grandfather, Louis Ance

    child 2 Emeline, 3

Benjamin had been alloted the W1/2 or the SE 1/4 of section 32 in Township 35, Range 13. 

Dated 12 Oct 1908 Benjamin (and heirs) 

Dated 24 Oct 1952 - Julius Benjamin Ance and Emaline Ance Wright 

Copyright (c) 2023 Vicki Wilson