Elizabeth Whitney Williams was born to Walter and Elizabeth Cross Dousman Gebeau Whitney on Mackinac Island. Her mother had been orphaned and was adopted by Michael and Jane Aiken McDonald Dousman. Her mother, also Elizabeth, was first married to Louis Gebeau. He lost his life in a boating accident in Lake Michigan. They were the parents of Louis Jr., Antoine "Tony" and Charles Gebeau.
The family located to St. Helena Island, offshore of Mackinac Island and then to Charlevoix, MI. Elizabeth then married Walter Whitney in 1843. They became the parents of Elizabeth Whitney born in 1844 on Mackinac Island.
In 1860, at the age of sixteen, she married Captain Clement Van Riper. He was a schoolteacher, later becoming a lighthouse keeper on Beaver Island. He too would drown in Lake Michigan.
Elizabeth then succeeded him as the keeper of the light. She married Daniel Williams in 1875. They were the lighthouse keepers on Beaver Island till 1884, when Elizabeth requested a transfer to the newly built Little Traverse Lighthouse in Harbor Springs.
In 1905 Elizabeth published a best seller "Child of the Sea and Life Among the Mormans", a history of northern Michigan dealing with the hardships on the island and the coming of the Mormons to Beaver Island. King James Strang, their self-appointed leader was shot and killed, his followers leaving Beaver Island and it returned to its original charm.
In 1913 Daniel and Elizabeth retired to Charlevoix, MI. "Aged Couple Succumbs" was the heading of their obituary. They had been in ill health and were being attended by nurses. Daniel passed away on Sat morning followed by Elizabeth on Sunday morning, the next day. He was 87, she was 94.
Her Mother had lived beyond her 100th year. Daniel and Elizabeth had no children. They are buried at Brookside Cemetery in Charlevoix along with her mother Elizabeth and brother Louis G (who had also lost his life to Lake Michigan) and his wife Catherine Thompson Gebeau.
Submitted by 3rd great cousin - Peter A (Dousman heritage) Rodgers
The family located to St. Helena Island, offshore of Mackinac Island and then to Charlevoix, MI. Elizabeth then married Walter Whitney in 1843. They became the parents of Elizabeth Whitney born in 1844 on Mackinac Island.
In 1860, at the age of sixteen, she married Captain Clement Van Riper. He was a schoolteacher, later becoming a lighthouse keeper on Beaver Island. He too would drown in Lake Michigan.
Elizabeth then succeeded him as the keeper of the light. She married Daniel Williams in 1875. They were the lighthouse keepers on Beaver Island till 1884, when Elizabeth requested a transfer to the newly built Little Traverse Lighthouse in Harbor Springs.
In 1905 Elizabeth published a best seller "Child of the Sea and Life Among the Mormans", a history of northern Michigan dealing with the hardships on the island and the coming of the Mormons to Beaver Island. King James Strang, their self-appointed leader was shot and killed, his followers leaving Beaver Island and it returned to its original charm.
In 1913 Daniel and Elizabeth retired to Charlevoix, MI. "Aged Couple Succumbs" was the heading of their obituary. They had been in ill health and were being attended by nurses. Daniel passed away on Sat morning followed by Elizabeth on Sunday morning, the next day. He was 87, she was 94.
Her Mother had lived beyond her 100th year. Daniel and Elizabeth had no children. They are buried at Brookside Cemetery in Charlevoix along with her mother Elizabeth and brother Louis G (who had also lost his life to Lake Michigan) and his wife Catherine Thompson Gebeau.
Submitted by 3rd great cousin - Peter A (Dousman heritage) Rodgers
Elizabeth Whitney Williams was born to Walter and Elizabeth Cross Dousman Gebeau Whitney on Mackinac Island. Her mother had been orphaned and was adopted by Michael and Jane Aiken McDonald Dousman. Her mother, also Elizabeth, was first married to Louis Gebeau. He lost his life in a boating accident in Lake Michigan. They were the parents of Louis Jr., Antoine "Tony" and Charles Gebeau.
The family located to St. Helena Island, offshore of Mackinac Island and then to Charlevoix, MI. Elizabeth then married Walter Whitney in 1843. They became the parents of Elizabeth Whitney born in 1844 on Mackinac Island.
In 1860, at the age of sixteen, she married Captain Clement Van Riper. He was a schoolteacher, later becoming a lighthouse keeper on Beaver Island. He too would drown in Lake Michigan.
Elizabeth then succeeded him as the keeper of the light. She married Daniel Williams in 1875. They were the lighthouse keepers on Beaver Island till 1884, when Elizabeth requested a transfer to the newly built Little Traverse Lighthouse in Harbor Springs.
In 1905 Elizabeth published a best seller "Child of the Sea and Life Among the Mormans", a history of northern Michigan dealing with the hardships on the island and the coming of the Mormons to Beaver Island. King James Strang, their self-appointed leader was shot and killed, his followers leaving Beaver Island and it returned to its original charm.
In 1913 Daniel and Elizabeth retired to Charlevoix, MI. "Aged Couple Succumbs" was the heading of their obituary. They had been in ill health and were being attended by nurses. Daniel passed away on Sat morning followed by Elizabeth on Sunday morning, the next day. He was 87, she was 94.
Her Mother had lived beyond her 100th year. Daniel and Elizabeth had no children. They are buried at Brookside Cemetery in Charlevoix along with her mother Elizabeth and brother Louis G (who had also lost his life to Lake Michigan) and his wife Catherine Thompson Gebeau.
Submitted by 3rd great cousin - Peter A (Dousman heritage) Rodgers
The family located to St. Helena Island, offshore of Mackinac Island and then to Charlevoix, MI. Elizabeth then married Walter Whitney in 1843. They became the parents of Elizabeth Whitney born in 1844 on Mackinac Island.
In 1860, at the age of sixteen, she married Captain Clement Van Riper. He was a schoolteacher, later becoming a lighthouse keeper on Beaver Island. He too would drown in Lake Michigan.
Elizabeth then succeeded him as the keeper of the light. She married Daniel Williams in 1875. They were the lighthouse keepers on Beaver Island till 1884, when Elizabeth requested a transfer to the newly built Little Traverse Lighthouse in Harbor Springs.
In 1905 Elizabeth published a best seller "Child of the Sea and Life Among the Mormans", a history of northern Michigan dealing with the hardships on the island and the coming of the Mormons to Beaver Island. King James Strang, their self-appointed leader was shot and killed, his followers leaving Beaver Island and it returned to its original charm.
In 1913 Daniel and Elizabeth retired to Charlevoix, MI. "Aged Couple Succumbs" was the heading of their obituary. They had been in ill health and were being attended by nurses. Daniel passed away on Sat morning followed by Elizabeth on Sunday morning, the next day. He was 87, she was 94.
Her Mother had lived beyond her 100th year. Daniel and Elizabeth had no children. They are buried at Brookside Cemetery in Charlevoix along with her mother Elizabeth and brother Louis G (who had also lost his life to Lake Michigan) and his wife Catherine Thompson Gebeau.
Submitted by 3rd great cousin - Peter A (Dousman heritage) Rodgers
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