Note: Since the parents of the subject of this biography originally came from Pennsylvania, I suspect the nationality of origin might be German, rather than English.
“ELIAS WARE, a well to do farmer of Colon Township, is comfortably located on section 26 where he is surrounded by all the comforts of life and in the enjoyment of many luxuries. The property which he owns has been accumulated by his own industry and embraces 100 acres of good land with all the necessary farm buildings, a goodly assortment of live stock and the various other appurtenances of the modern and well regulated rural estate.
Our subject is the offspring of a good family and his parents, Phillip and Hester A. (Grasley) Ware were both natives of Lehigh County, Pa. There also they reared and married and settled for a time upon a farm. Later they migrated to Lorain County, Ohio, whence they came in March, 1861 to Michigan and took up their permanent residence in Colon Township, this county. Here they spent the remainder of their days, the mother passing away June 2, 1881 and the father in 1866. Their family included ten children, seven sons and three daughters, five of whom are living and residents of Michigan, with the exception of one who is in Pennsylvania.
Elias Ware was the ninth child of his parents and like them is a native of Lehigh County, Pa., where his birth took place Aug. 9, 1836. He was a little lad four years of age when his parents changed their residence from the Keystone to the Buckeye State, and in the latter acquired a common school education, and developed into manhood. During his boyhood and youth he assisted his father on the farm, but when twenty years of age commenced working in the carpentry trade, which he followed thereafter in connection with farming until about 1880. Since that time he has devoted his time and attention entirely to agriculture.
Miss Charlotte Smith of Lorain County, Ohio became the wife of our subject on the first of January, 1861. Of their union there was born one child, a son, Freeman, who is now a minister of the Reformed Church and located at Three Rivers, this State. Mrs. Charlotte Ware departed this life at her home in Colon Township, March 16, 1862.
Our subject contracted a second marriage, Dec. 10, 1865 with Miss Ella Wilkey, who was born in Colon Township, this county, Sept. 1, 1847. Her parents, William and Jane (McMillen) Wilkey were natives of Canada. Mrs. Ware received careful home training and a common school education, spending her girlhood under the parental roof. Of this marriage of our subject, there have been born six children, one of whom died in infancy. The survivors are: John J.; Mattie L.; Oscar E.; Norah E.; and Charles A.
Mr. and Mrs. Ware are members in good standing of the Reformed Church, of which Mr. W. was chosen Deacon about 1865 and has held the office mostly since that time. In politics he is a stanch Republican.”
Source: Portraits and Biographical Album of St. Joseph Co., Michigan, Chapman Bros., Chicago, 1889, pages 217-8
