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Notable Annis Clergymen
Washington Church 1885, built upon land donated by Levi Annis of Scarbourough, Ontario, Canada
Rev. Jeremiah W. Annis 1850-1895
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Jeremiah was born July 26, 1850 at Darlington, Ontario, Canada, the son of William and Elizabeth (Coleman) Annis. He married Louise Watkins at Hamilton, Ontario on September 26, 1877. Jeremiah became a reknowned orator, having a brilliant career at Victoria College (then Colburg).
He held the degrees of B.A. and Bd. D., and occupied some of the most coveted positions which the Methodist Church had to offer. He died at an early age after being weakened by what was characterized as a "chronic sore throat", and left no children. Notice of the death of Jeremiah, together with an article setting forth some of the interesting details of his life, appeared in a newspaper published at the place of his death.
"The blow which has been impending over the congregation of Queen's Avenue Methodist Church for some weeks, fell this morning, when the hand of death desended and claimed their beloved pastor, Reverend J. W. Annis. It was a few minutes after 10 o'clock when the end came, and peacefully, without a struggle, Mr. Annis passed away. The end was so calm that the watchers at the bedside hardly knew when life ended and the long sleep began. Mrs. Annis was at the bedside, with her brother, Mr. Edgar H. Watkins of Hamilton, who has been present since Tuesday.
Jeremiah William Annis was the son of William and Elizabeth Annis, and was born in Darlington township, county of Durham, Ontario, on July 26, 1850. His mother was a native of England, but his father was born but a short distance east of Toronto on a farm on which is now situated the Washington Methodist Church. Both parents were strict Methodists and paid great attention to the religious edication of their children. Like the rest of the sons, Jeremiah spent his early days at a common country school, and in spare moments lent a helping hand about the farm. The father was anxious that Jeremiah should become a farmer, but the boy had a different work in view. The summer that he reached his 15th year he was converted at a camp meeting held one mile west of the old homestead, and from that date he expressed a firm determination to become a preacher. The ambitious boy obtained his father's consent to the proposition, and at 16 he went to the Victoria University at Coburg. "I feel the call to the work", he would tell his father, and soon had his father's consent to "go to college".
Mr. Annis' career in this noted institution was preeminently successful. From his entrance till his graduation Mr. Annis displayed marked ability, and in all examinations took a high standing. At the closing exercises in his graduating year he was honored by being requested to read the valedictory.
Deceased was received into the ministry in 1871 by the Toronto Conference, and was immediately appointed to the Stouffville Methodist Church. After a years faithful service there he went to Whitby, where he remained for two years. In 1874 Mr. annis was desirous of furthering his education by taking an arts course at the Victoria University, and in two years he graduated as Bachelor of Arts.
"Ever since Jeremiah took that two years' course, said Mr. Levi Annis recently, "his health has been poor. He was always ambitious and his physical breaking down was mainly due to over study."
After graduating in 1877 as an M.A., Mr. Annis was appointed to the Spadina Avenue Church, Toronto, and during his year's pastorate there. married Miss Louise, daughter of Mr. Thomas W. Watkins, drygoods merchant, Hamilton. Since his year in Toronto, Mr. Annis went to Scarboro and remained there for three years. Then he was invited to Allandale, and in one year he went to Alliston, and was stationed there for two years. From 1884 to 1887 he was at Barrie, 1887 to 1890 in the park Street Church, Chatham, and in June, 1893, he was appointed to the Queen's Avenue Church, this city, by the London Conference.
At the time of his promotion to Queen's Avenue, Mr. Annis was suffering from throat problems, and the biard of his new church very kindly granted him two months' leave of absence in which to recuperate. At the expiration of the two months' Mr. and Mrs. Annis came to London, the former improved but not in sound health. His throat still remained troublesome, and his once resonant voice, weak and husky. Both Mr. Annis and his amiable and accomplished wife won the earnest and hearty co-operation of their parishioners and the congregation flourished exceedingly under the ministration. Deceased's father is still living, with son, Levi Annis of Darlington township. David Annis, a farmer near Woodville, and Edwin Annis, living on the old homestead, are brothers of the deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Annis had no children."Jeremiah's died in May 1895 at London, Ontario, Canada. His widow, Louise, was still living in 1931.
His Annis lineage is: William Annis 1813-1905, Levi Annis 1781-1855, Charles Annis 1738-1804, John Annis 1700-c.1771, Abraham Annis 1668-1738, Charles Cormac Annis 1638-1717
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James Annas Jr. was born January 25, 1774 at Andover, Massachusetts the son of James and Beulah (Griffin) Annis. He married Betsey Winslow {1783-1856} November 10, 1802, at Stamford, Vermont. James removed to Stamford, Vermont with his parents as a young unmarried man of 24 years. He waited until the age of 28 before he married, but by that time he was firmly following the "new" Methodist religious doctrine that was sweeping the United States. He followed his brothers and father to western New York State, where, under great hardship and danger, he became a "circuit preacher". A circuit preacher was one who traveled to sparsely populated areas spreading the Gospel and ministering to the small communities on a rotating schedule.
Western New York State was still a wilderness at this time, but James could be found traveling around to the settlements of Nelson, Locke, Groton, New York, and as far south as Yorkshire, New York in Cattaraugus County.
Evidently, carrying the Good Book did not conflict with his ideas about protecting his home and loved ones, for during the War of 1812 James fought with his younger brother, Truman, at the Battle of Sackett Harbor (New York) with the New York State Militia.
After many years service in New York, James followed his youngest son to Oconomowoc, Wisconsin in about the mid 1850's. His granddaughter, Mrs. James M. Comstock, of Spokane, Washington, wrote concerning her grandfather in a letter dated November 5, 1895:
"James Annas was a minister of the Methodist Episcopal church, much after the style of Peter Cartwright. He owned a good farm which he worked during the week, preached on Sundays and held 'protracted meetings' in the winter. He was a great revivalist. His wife was a good nurse and quite a doctor among her husband's people, being called at any and all hours to minister to the sick and dying, frequently riding miles on horseback in the night, and in most inclement weather. They raised six boys and two girls, and the family remained on the farm in New York until 1849 or 1850 when they moved west and unto the farm on Brown Street, town of Oconomowoc, Wis. On this farm Mr. and Mrs. Annas lived until about 1852, when they took up their final abode with their son Chauncey L. Mrs. Annas lived to be 73 years of age, and Mr. Annas lived to be 88 years of age."
My grandfather, Rev. James Annas always spelled his name "Annas" and it is so recorded in his Bible in his own handwriting.An account of his death was given by a grandson, James O. Hazelton, in a letter dated January 14, 1896. James was an officer in the Union Army (and also a minister) during the Civil War at the time of his grandfather's death.
"My wife was with me at camp in Madison, Wis., during the winter of 1861-62. Grandfather was living with his son Chauncey L. at Oconomowoc, Wis. at that time. On my way to Erie County, Pa., to which place I was taking my wife, we called to see my uncle and grandfather. It was nine o'clock at night when we arrived at his home four miles away. Supper over at 10:30 P.M., grandfather (then near 90) took my sash, belt, and sword, and put them on to show the little boys (now men with families) how he used to salute with the sword, the sabre practice, and many other things, for he had been a soldier in the war of 1812. He retired a little after eleven o'clock, never to rise again. At 12 o'clock we were summoned to his bedside where he recognized all of us, and at one o'clock sweetly went to his reward. We are not ashamed of his life and had no fears in his death. He was a remarkable man in many respects. My mother inherited many of his characteristics. She was a Christian from childhood, mighty in prayer, strong in the Faith, and benevolent to a fault, which is peculiar to all Annises I ever knew. Grandfather named me after himself, James, and said he expected me to become a minister. I preached to him first at Monterey, four mile from Oconomowoc, in Sept, 1859. When I closed, he laidhis trembling hands on my head and said, "My son! My son! May God Bless you greatly and make you a blessing to your fellows. This is as I desired when I gave you my name."
Children:1. Lewis Winslow Annis, b. Oct 10, 1803; d. Jan 21, 1859
2. Luman Annis, b. Jul 27, 1805; d. Apr 10, 1888
3. Lyman Annis, b. Jun 7, 1807; d. Dec 20, 1880
4. Phebe Annis, b. Mar 18 1809; d. Jun 20, 1866
5. Hiram Carter Annis, b. Mar 25, 1811; d. Dec 4, 1897
6. Amanda Annis, b. Oct 7, 1813; d. Sep 16, 1863
7. David Newell Annis, b. Aug 27, 1815; d. Sep 22, 1867
8. Chauncey Lavoy Annis, b. Jul 18, 1816; d. Feb 16, 1888
James Annas died on January 21, 1862, a few days before his 88th birthday, and is buried at Monterey Cemetery, Oconomowoc, WI. Sadly his headstone has fallen over and is in bad repair.
His Annis lineage is:James Annis 1743-1829, John Annis 1700-c.1771, Abraham Annis 1668-1738 , Charles Cormac Annis 1638-1717
Annis Family Association Members who are descended
from Rev. James Annas
Mr.& Mrs. Carol Lawrence Annis of Mattoon, IL
Mr. Joshua W. Annis of Mattoon, IL
Ms. Jenna M. Annis of Mattoon, IL
Mr. Rocky D. Hardesty of Elizabethtown, KY
Mr. Edward Steele of St. Louis, MO
Rev. Hiram Carter Annis 1811-1897
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The following text and the photograph of Rev. Hiram C. Annis was provided by the generosity of Ted Steele of St. Louis, MO.
Hiram Annis was the fifth of Rev. James and Betsey Annas' eight children. He was born on 25 March 1811 in Nelson, New York. His father was a Methodist preacher, and Hiram was early converted to the faith. About 1835, when Hiram was 24, he married Mary Oakley at Freedom, New York. Mary was the nineteen-year-old daughter of Sylvanus H. Oakley and Jane Noble.
After their marriage, Hiram and Mary made their home in Freedom, New York. Freedom is a small farming community located in the far north-east corner of Cattaraugus County in western New York state. Hiram worked here, farming, and Mary gave birth to five of their six children here. The census records show Hiram's family -- in 1840 with two children (daughter Emmy and son Albert) and in 1850 with four children (now including Martha and Mary).
When Hiram’s parents left New York for Wisconsin in the mid-1850's, he and Mary and their five children (Susan had just recently been born) also headed west. They did not remain with Hiram's brother in Wisconsin, however, but continued on into Iowa. On 16 September 1856, Hiram and Mary Annis purchased a small parcel of land (20 acres) in Clayton County, just north-east of the present town of Edgewood. Hiram also bought several tracts of land in Delaware County. Here, Hiram continued to farm and to preach the Methodist gospel. He was active in the local M.E. church, whose records show that Hiram was active as a "local preacher" throughout the 1870's. He was elected a trustee of the church at a conference held in Eades Grove on 6 July 1867 -- a position that he held for the next twenty years.
Hiram continued to work the farm, aided in later years by his son-in-law, Bill Steele. The family supplemented their income by selling washing soap, which they made from animal tallow, in the Edgewood area. Hiram lost his wife of over 50 years on 16 March 1889. Mary Oakley Annis was buried in the Edgewood cemetery. The following obituary marked her passing:
"Mrs. Annis, an old and respected citizen of Edgewood, died at her home on Saturday, March 16th, the seventy-third anniversary of her birth."
When Hiram died on 4 December 1897, in his 87th year, the following obituary appeared in the Edgewood newspaper:
"Hiram Annis died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Wm. Steele, in Edgewood, on Saturday, Dec. 4th. The deceased was born in Nelson, Madison County, N.Y., and was united in marriage with Mary Oakley at Freedom, N.Y. To their union eight children were born, of whom three daughters, Mrs. Wm. Steele and Miss Susie Annis of this place, and Mrs. A. Seward of Manchester, are left to mourn his loss. He was converted in early life, at the age of twelve years, and soon after united with the M.E. Church of which he remained a faithful member until death. During the later years of his life he was sadly afflicted which disabled him so much that he was forced to give up public work entirely, but was ever found at his post, ready and waiting for the Master's call. The last day upon which he spoke, he said that his race was nearly over and he was ready. Death came without a struggle and those who were watching by his bedside would not have known when the spirit took its flight if they had not stood watching every breath. The funeral was held in the M.E. church Tuesday at 11 o'clock, and the remains were laid to rest in the Edgewood cemetery, by the side of his aged wife whose death occurred several years ago. He has gone to his reward."
Children:1. Emmy Annis, b. abt. 1835; m. Henry Durphy
2. Albert L. Annis, b. abt. 1837; d. 1890; m. Lovinia E. Steele
3. Martha A. Annis, b. Jan 20, 1844; d. Dec 12, 1912; m. William Wilson Steele
4. Mary Adelaide Annis, b. Apr 24, 1848; d. Jan 3, 1932; m. Horace G. Steele
5. Susan J. Annis, b. Aug 1855
6. Sarah Maria Annis, b. abt. 1859
Lineage: James Annas 1774-1862, James Annis 1743-1829, John Annis 1700-c.1771, Abraham Annis 1668-1738, Cormac Annis 1638
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Rev. Jerome Bonaparte Annis - 1807-1870
Rev. Jerome Thomas Latimore Annis - 1842-1911
Rev. Oliver Bishop Annis - 1885-1960
Three Generations Serving God
Rev. Jerome Bonaparte Annis and his wife, Laura (Gifford) Annis
Jerome B. Annis was born May 22, 1807 at Warner, New Hampshire, the son of Thomas and Mary (Wallace) Annis. He was married September 24, 1824 to Laura Gifford {1798-1878} at Harmony, New York.
Thomas Annis was 57 years old when Jerome, the last child, was born. Thomas had married been married three times previous to Mary Wallace, and he had a total of 18 children. Thomas died when Jerome was only about two years old and his mother followed in death soon after. Jerome was probably taken in at an early age by his older brothers, Jacob, Thomas, and Issac, and probably lived with them until in New York state until his marriage at the early age of 17.
As an adult, Jerome energetically studied for the ministry, and on May 19, 1832 he was licensed to "exhort". Furthering his career as man of the cloth in the Methodist church, he was licensed to preach in 1834, ordained a Deacon in 1837, and in 1839 he was ordained an Elder. In 1836 he had removed to northern Arkansas where he joined the Arkansas Annual Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church. It was here that he was engaged as a circuit preacher until 1846 when, from necessity, he went to farming on a more regular basis. In 1848 he was elected to represent Pope County, Arkansas in the State Legislature.
In the Spring of 1849 he went to California, by an overland route, and it was in the rough and tumble mining camps of the Gold Rush that Jerome preached the gospel. He corresponded with his brother Isaac, who may have been enticed to go to California, for Isaac is recorded as setting sail in 1849, at the age of 62, via clipper ship, from New York to San Francisco, California to participate in the Gold Rush. Isaac stayed in California until 1851 and his exploits were recounted in the letters that he wrote from Rio de Janiero (when he "rounded the Horn"), San Francisco, and from Auburn's "dry diggin's".
In 1851 he returned to Arkansas and was sent to "Camden Station" by the Conference. He bought a farm there as well as several slaves to work the land while he was "riding the circuit". The family lived on this farm until June 1865. Jerome removed to Texas at that time, and he is buried at Waxahachie City Cemetery, Waxahatchie, TX. Jerome's son, J.T.L. Annis and grandson, Oliver Bishop Annis (below) were also Methodist preachers.
Children:1. Mary Melinda Annis, b. Sep 2, 1825; d. Jan 14, 1829
2. Rhoda Ann Annis, b. Dec 27, 1827; d. Nov 21, 1852
3. Alma Matilda Annis, b. Nov 15, 1829; d. Dec 3, 1845
4. John Ayers Annis, b. Dec 4, 1831; d. Mar 16, 1839
5. Jerome Harold Annis, b. Apr 8, 1839; d. Apr 8, 1839
6. Jerome Thomas Latimer Annis, b. Sep 4, 1842
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Annis Family Association Members who are descended from Jerome Bonaparte Annis
Dr. John Richard Annis of San Miquel Allende, Mexico (deceased)
Jerome Thomas Annis of Colorado (deceased)
Mrs. Nancy Annis Brandon of Parker, CO
Alan Robert (Bob) Annis of Spokane, WA (deceased)
Jerome Thomas Latimore Annis 1842-1911
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Jerome Annis was born September 4, 1842 at Clarksville, Arkansas, the only surviving child of Reverend Jerome Bonaparte and Laura (Gifford) Annis. Jerome T. L. Annis married December 14, 1864, Clara Amelia Rutherford at Marlbrook, Arkansas, and had one child; married 2nd, May 4, 1871, Serah Frances Foster (1844-1934) at Waxahatchie, Texas, and had eight children.
When "JTL" was sixteen (about 1858) he enrolled in McKenzie College at Red River County, Texas, and remained a student there for three years. He returned to Arkansas and enlisted on April 21, 1861 as a Private in 1st Arkansas Infantry. He was later a member of the 1st Arkansas Cavalry, and, according to his great grand daughter, Francis Baker, he was wounded several times during the three years service for the Confederate States of America. He suffered with the wounds for the rest of his life. After the war he followed his father to Waxahatchie, Texas and became a lawyer by 1871 and it was at this time that he married Serah Foster. Three years later they were converted and in 1877 he was admitted to the Northwest Texas Conference. The elder Jerome Annis had pioneered into Arkansas in 1835 and became a "circuit preacher".
He also went west to California and preached the mining camps during the gold rush of 1849. JTL eventually became co-founder and first President of Belle Plaines College where he had relocated to in 1881. In 1892 Jerome was a presiding elder in the Methodist Episcopal Church and remained so until his death on October 21, 1911. Reverend Annis, the soldier-preacher is buried at Rose Hill Cemetery, Merkel, TX.
Children:1. Clara Benetta Annis, b. Jan 25, 1868
2. Charles Foster Annis, b. Feb 6, 1872
3. Rainey Veal Annis, b. Apr 13, 1873
4. Jerome Bonaparte Annis, b. Apr 8, 1875
5. Archibald Adrian Annis, b. Dec 7, 1876
6. Early Shults Annis, b. Dec 17, 1878
7. Laura Annis, b. Oct 30, 1880
8. Allene Annis, b. Mar 25, 1883
9. Oliver Bishop Annis, b. Feb 16, 1885
It is interesting to note that in the past one hundred years many descendants of the brothers, John Annis (1700) and Daniel Annis (1711) have "stumbled" upon each other in the course of their everyday lives. On April 18, 1882, while residing at Grand View, Texas, Jerome addressed the following letter to Charles Sidney Annis of Atlanta, GA, who unbeknownst to him, was his 3rd cousin.
[Note: Jerome B. Annis' father was actually Thomas Annis] I believe my father was the youngest of a large family. He had brothers Isaac, Jacob, Thomas, a sister that married a Jackson, another sister married a Corser, and yet another, a Merrill. My uncle Jacob lives, or did live a few years ago, on the Erie Canal at Albion in Orleans County, New York. I write to inquire simply beause of my isolated condition and ignorance of connection. Hoping to hear from you, I am, sir, with great respect, J.T.L. Annis"
The following October 18th, Jerome T. L. Annis penned another letter from Weatherford, Texas to respond to Charles S. Annis' letter to his query.
"Yours of the 14th inst. received by me today. I was glad to hear from you and am very thankful for the information received. I had visited my uncles, Thomas and Jacob, before the war, but had heard nothing from them since directly after. My grandfather had, I am quite sure, 19 children, of which my father was the youngest. My father's mother was a second wife. Her name was Mary, and I believe Wallace. One of my father's sisters married a Merrill, whose son made a Brig. Gen. in the U.S. Army. His sister Susan was the mother of Col. John W. Corser of the Confederate Army. Did I write you that there was some Annises at Dumfries, Virginia? I found them during the war, and I have been informed that there is quite a number of them in Kentucky."
Another example is the chance meeting of this author with Jerome's great-grandson, Robert Mansfield Annis of Miami, Florida, in 1992. This meeting resulted in a great conversation over dinner at the author's house in San Bernardino, California. And, yet again, as a result of this web site, I recently was contacted by Dr. John R. Annis who furnshed the photographs of his grandfather and great grandfather . Another unbelievable example of two cousins renewing the bond of blood after nearly 200 years.
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Oliver
Bishop Annis 1885-1960
Oliver B. Annis was born February 16, 1885 at Belle Plaines, TX, the youngest son of Jerome T. L. and Serah (Foster) Annis. He married Sue Sale Palmer {1883-1970} in 1907 at Aspermont, TX and they had one daughter, Francis, born October 3, 1908 in Aspermont. Unfortunately, there is very little known about Oliver's younger days or his ministry. According to the Federal Census records he was in quite a few different towns in Texas: Stanford, TX in 1910; Roby, TX in 1920; Texline, TX in 1930 and Seminole, TX in 1940.
His daughter wrote to me in 1991 and simply related that" - he was a Methodist preacher and a hardworking and honest provider for his family."
Oliver died December 20, 1960 at Amarillo, TX and is buried at Llano Cemetery, Amarillo, TX.
Children:1. Francis Annis, b. Oct 3, 1908; d. 1996
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Rev. Stanley Ewart Annis 1887-1962
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