Thomas5 Arner (Henry4, Jacob3, felix2, Ulrich1), born 12 March 1803(5b) in Northampton County, Pennsylvania and christened 09 April 1803 (Sponsors: Nickolaus Paul and wife Barbara)(5b); died 09 March 1871(14) in Keeler, Van Buren, Michigan; married 20 March 1831 in Essex, Essex, New York to Rebecca Spear (daughter of Richard Spear) who was born 08 March 1810 in Burlington, Chittenden, Vermont and died 24 June 1899(14) in Dowagiac, Van Buren, Michigan.
He was a farmer. On 29 November 1823, he was on the list of communicants of the Reformed congregation of Christ Union Church in Lower Saucon, Northampton, Pennsylvania. They moved to Keeler, Van Buren, Michigan about 1840-41 (from various Van Buren County Histories).
1840 Census: Thomas Aner, page 268, Groveland, Livingston, New York.
1850 Census: Thomas Arner, page 139, visit 020/020, Keeler, Van Buren, Michigan.
1870 Census: Thomas Arner, page 408, visit 112/113, Keeler, Van Buren, Michigan.
They are buried at Keeler Cemetery in Keeler.
Known children, born in New York:
Mary Ann6 Arner, born about 1832 possibly in Genesee County, New York; apparently died before the 1900 census; married 20 May 1856 in Keeler to Richard Holmes who was born about December 1831 in Kalamazoo County, Michigan. He was a printer and a newspaper publisher [of the La Porte [Indiana] Herald; later of the Cass County [Michigan] Republican]. He served as City Treasurer of Dowagiac, Cass, Michigan (1900 census). 1860 Census: Richard Holmes, page 082, visit 686/651, La Porte city, La Porte, Indiana. 1870 Census: Richard Holmes, page 417, visit 258/259, Keeler, Van Buren, Michigan. 1880 Census: Richard Holmes, page 638, visit 251/262, Dowagiac city, Cass, Michigan. 1900 Census: Richard Holmes (widower), page 033, visit 101/111, Dowagiac (2nd Ward), Cass, Michigan. Known children, first three born in Indiana:
Ida A.7 Holmes, born about May 1858; married to Eugene Charles Lyle (son of Daniel and Mary E. Lyle) who was born about 1854 in Michigan, later divorced. He was a store clerk. 1880 Census: Eugene C. Lyle, page 637, visit 220/230, Dowagiac city, Cass, Michigan. 1900 Census: Ida A. Lyle (divorced, and child, with father). Known child: Clara H. Lyle, born about August 1879 in Michigan.
Lonella7 Holmes, born about January 1860.
Mary7 Holmes, born about 1862.
Kate7 Holmes, born about 1865 in Michigan.
George R.7 Holmes, born 05 September 1868 in Keeler (Book A, page 069); married 1903-04 to Julia E. ______ who was born about 1881 in Indiana. He owned a restaurant; later he owned a news and cigar store; later he worked in an automobile factory. She owned an antique shop. 1900 Census: (single, with father). 1910 Census: George R. Holmes, page 052, visit 086/086, Dowagiac (3rd Ward), Cass, Michigan. 1920 Census: George R. Holmes, page 108, visit 263/271, Dowagiac (1st Ward), Cass, Michigan. 1930 Census: George R. Holmes, page 037, visit 030/033, Clay, St. Joseph, Indiana. Known children: Mary E. Holmes, born about 1905 in Indiana; Robert A. Holmes, born about 1908 in Michigan; Howard J. Holmes, born about 1913 in Michigan.
William James6 Arner, born 03 June 1834; died 28 November 1919 at New Orleans, Orleans, Louisiana (Book 177, page 842); married first 17 November 1863 at Walla Walla, Walla Walla, Washington Territory (Book A-1, page 054) to Adelle [?True] Demaree who was born 11 December 1840 at Louisville, Jefferson, Kentucky and died 04 February 1923 at Three Rivers, St. Joseph, Michigan (Book 3, page 290), later divorced; married second 11 February 1886 at New Orleans (Book 11, page 678) to Della (Jones) Bisbee (daughter of ______ Jones and Sarah ______) who was born about June 1864 at Montgomery, Montgomery, Alabama and died June 1944 at New Orleans (Book 220, page 3618). He was a carpenter. [Adelle was later married to Davis B. Mapes, a Civil War veteran; and she filed a contesting claim for a widow’s pension, application #1165678 filed 25 October 1920 in Michigan.] 1870 Census: W. J. Arner, page 180, visit 270/276, Lockport, St. Joseph, Michigan. 1880 Census: William J. Arner, page 385, visit 365/387, Three Rivers, St. Joseph, Michigan. 1900 Census: W. G. Arner, page 328, visit 298/299, New Orleans (E.D. 133), Orleans, Louisiana; also 1900 Census: Adell Arner (divorced, with son Charles R.), page 149, visit 441/441, Three Rivers (2nd Ward), St. Joseph, Michigan and 1900 Census: Adell Arner (“widow”, with brother-in-law Isaac V. Cornish), page 273, visit 228/229, Fairview Precinct, Sarpy, Nebraska. 1910 Census: William J. Arner, page 109, visit 247/247, New Orleans (E.D. 223), Orleans, Louisiana; also 1910 Census: Adell Arner (“widow”, with daughter Cora F. Saxton), page 247, visit 075/084, Three Rivers (2nd Ward), St. Joseph, Michigan. 1920 Census: Della Arner (widow), page 035, visit 066/070, New Orleans (14th Ward), Orleans, Louisiana; also 1920 Census: Adelle Arnen (widow), page 256, visit 236/250, Three Rivers (2nd Ward), St. Joseph, Michigan. Children, all with first wife [NOTE: this family’s bible records were published in the newsletter of the South Suburban Genealogical & Historical Society, South Holland, Illinois: Where the Trails Cross, Volume 8:3, Spring 1978, page 036]:
Otto Harvey7 Arner, born 24 June 1864 at
Walla Walla;
died 16 February 1951 aged 86 years at Corozal, Panama Canal Zone; married 25 December 1890 in Elkhart County,
Indiana (Book 8, page 112) to Emma Jean (Kern) Thomas
(her second marriage) who was born about 1855-57 in Ohio; apparently
married second to Belisotina H. ______ who was born
about 1902-03 in Panama and died 21 May 1938 aged 35 years at Corozal. He was a
stationary engineer. Circa 1906-07, he invented a steam trap that was later
manufactured by Armstrong Machine Works (now Armstrong International) at Three
Rivers (from page 264, An account of
Southwest Michigan and St. Joseph County, edited by Charles A. Weissert, published by National Historical Association,
Dayton, Ohio, 1925). 1900
Census: Otto Arner (married but alone), page 090, visit 166/180, Niles (3rd
Ward), Berrien, Michigan; and Otto H. Arner (and family), page 139,
visit 183/190, Three Rivers (2nd Ward), St. Joseph, Michigan. 1910 Census: Oliver H.
Arner, page 085, visit 111/114, Flowerfield, St. Joseph, Michigan. 1920 Census: Otto H. Arner (married but
alone, with William S. Parsons), page 104, visit 072/---, Pedro Miguel, Canal
Zone, Panama. [Emma had one child from her previous marriage, Frank A. Thomas
born about 1873 in Ohio.] Otto is buried at Corozal Cemetery at Corozal. “Belisotina H. Arner” is also buried at Corozal Cemetery
[but in a different area]. His known child [presumably with a second wife (or
at least with a second woman 
)]: Otto Arner, born about 1919-20, died 25 March 1923 aged 03
years at Corozal, buried at Corozal Cemetery.
Thomas Shirley7 Arner, born 29 April 1867 at Helena, Edgerton (now Lewis and Clark), Montana Territory; died 18 May 1943 at Grand Rapids, Kent, Michigan (Grand Rapids Press, issue of 19 May 1943); married 31 December 1891 at Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo, Michigan to Versula Victoria Eisenhauer (daughter of Robert Eisenhauer and Elmira Nerhood) who was born 15 July 1868 in Pennsylvania and died 13 April 1946. He was a carpenter; later a printer. 1900 Census: Thomas Arner, page 130, visit 411/447, Three Rivers (4th Ward), St. Joseph, Michigan. 1910 Census: Thomas S. Arner, page 278, visit 096/098, Three Rivers (4th Ward), St. Joseph, Michigan. 1930 Census: Thomas S. Arner (“single”), page 056, line 22, Grand Rapids (2nd Ward), Kent, Michigan; also 1930 Census: Verzula V. Arner (married but alone), page 197, visit 034/034, Three Rivers (4th Ward), St. Joseph, Michigan. Known children, most or all born at Three Rivers:
Gail Harold8 Arner, born 06 July 1894(40); died 24 January 1925 at New York City. He registered for the WWI Draft at Three Rivers [occupation: student, attending _____? College].
(Doctor) Donald Carlos8 Arner, born 15 September 1896(17)(40); died 10 December 1977 at Three Rivers, St. Joseph, Michigan(17)(also Michigan Death Index); married first about 1920 to Gertrude Victoria Turville who was born about 1897 in England. He was a dentist and/or a dental surgeon. He was a WWI veteran; he registered for the Draft at Centerville, St. Joseph, Michigan [or possibly at Ann Arbor, Washtenaw, Michigan and it was filed at Centerville]. 1920 Census: Donald C. Arner, page 243, visit 100/129, Detroit (E. D. 466), Wayne, Michigan. 1930 Census: Don C. Arner, page 145, visit 356/369, Three Rivers (1st Ward), St. Joseph, Michigan. Known children: Doris M. Arner, born about 1921; Jane E. Arner, born about 1924.
Kathleen Elmira8 Arner, born 27 October 1898; married 22 October 1917 in Elkhart County, Indiana (Book 27, page 071) to Leon P. Cooper who was born 10 June 1893, later divorced. She was a proof reader at a printing office. 1930 Census: Kathleen E. Cooper (divorced, with mother).
Theron Stuart8 Arner, born about March 1900 and died 31 January 1901 at Three Rivers (Book 2, page 094).
Cora Florina7 Arner, born 04 March 1869 at Omaha, Douglas, Nebraska; died 20 December 1958 at Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo, Michigan; married 19 June 1889 at Kalamazoo to Ralph Edgar Saxton (son of Francis Marion Saxton and Emma Bowman) who was born 27 February 1869 in St. Joseph County and died by 1907 at Three Rivers. 1910 Census: Cora F. Saxton (widow), page 247, visit 075/084, Three Rivers (2nd Ward), St. Joseph, Michigan. 1920 Census: Cora Saxton (widow, with mother). 1930 Census: Cora Paxton, page 158, visit 495/592, Kalamazoo (3rd Ward), Kalamazoo, Michigan. Known children:
Vera8 Saxton, born 12 May 1890(M); died 20 May 1905(M).
Richard8 Saxton, born 26 September 1892(M); died 26 April 1893(M).
Ruth E.8 Saxton, born 07 February 1894; married about 1920 after the census to Charles McMahon who was born about 1898 in Michigan and apparently died before the 1930 census. 1920 Census: Ruth Saxton (single, with mother). 1930 Census: Ruth McMahan (widow, and child, with mother). Known child: James McMahon, born about April 1925 in Illinois.
Shirley Lee8 Saxton, born 09 December 1895(36); died 12 December 1962 in San Bernardino County, California(36); married first 13 September 1913 at Three Rivers to David Kapp Sasseman who was born 19 May 1893(40) in Michigan and died 09 December 1947 at Kalamazoo; married second to Axel Emanuel Johnson (his second marriage) who was born 02 September 1890(17) at Chicago, Cook, Illinois(40) and died May 1982 in San Bernardino County(17). David was a toolmaker. 1920 Census: David Sasseman, page 256, visit 237/251, Three Rivers (2nd Ward), St. Joseph, Michigan. Axel was a watch maker; he registered for the WWI Draft at Chicago. Known children with first husband, born in Michigan: Barbara Sasseman, born about 1914, 1920 Census: (with great-grandmother Adelle Arner), 1930 Census: (with grandmother Cora Saxton); Hugh Saxton Sasseman, born 10 June 1917(17), died 12 July 1973 at Skokie, Cook, Illinois(17), married 09 December 1939 in Cook County to Margaret Charlotte Wullschleger who was born 02 November 1918(17) in Cook County and died 31 October 1988 at Chicago, Cook, Illinois(17), 1930 Census: (with grandmother Cora Saxton).
Charles Ray7 Arner, born 23 September 1876(40); died 1954 in Martin County, Florida(45); married 29 November 1896 in St. Joseph County, Michigan (Book G, page 143) to Margaret Luella Rogers who was born 28 February 1878(17) in Michigan and died March 1970 at Harvey, Cook, Illinois(17). He was an automobile mechanic; later a civil engineer. He served in Company K, 33rd Michigan Volunteer Infantry during the Spanish-American War. He registered for the WWI Draft at Harvey, Cook, Illinois. 1900 Census: Charles R. Arner, page 149, visit 441/441, Three Rivers (2nd Ward), St. Joseph, Michigan. 1920 Census: Charles Arner, page 006, visit 121/143, Harvey (1st Ward), Cook, Illinois. 1930 Census: Charles R. Arner, page 130, visit 269/269, Harvey city, Cook, Illinois. Known children:
Violet May8 Arner, born 08 May 1897; married 22 February 1923 to George Lewis Carter (son of ______ Carter and Lillian ______) who was born 23 July 1896 at Phoenixville, [Chester County,] Pennsylvania(40). He was a machinist. 1930 Census: George Carter, page 130, visit 269/269a, Harvey city, Cook, Illinois. Known children, born in Illinois: Ruth May Carter, born about October 1923, married Oscar Donald Woods; Alice Margaret Carter, born 18 April 1925, married Ray Frank Couwenhoven.
Coral Ruth8 Arner, born 01 May 1898; married 16 June 1923 to John McFaden Elliott who was born 24 May 1896 at Egremont, Ontario, Canada(40). He was a draftsman. He registered for the WWI Draft at Harvey, Cook, Illinois. 1930 Census: John N. Elliott, page 067, visit 018/025, Harvey city, Cook, Illinois. No children with them in 1930.
Marian Adelle8 Arner, born 15 September 1900; died 06 May 1919 at Harvey (Death Certificate #032205); unmarried.
Esther Margaret8 Arner, born 08 April 1908(17); died September 1975 at Homewood, Cook, Illinois(17); married 15 June 1935 to William Theodore Kern.
(Corporal) Wilbur Benjamin6 Arner, born about 26 March 1838; died 26 June 1866 aged 28 years, 03 months, 00 days(14) in Keeler; unmarried. Civil War service: Corporal in Company D (aka Michigan Sharpshooters), 66th Illinois Infantry Regiment (aka Birge’s Western Sharpshooters). He is buried at Keeler Cemetery.
ARNER
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