Article published in the Westville Indicator, Westville, Indiana, 1891. Submitted by C. G. Powell.
THE SAD STORY OF WILLIAM LACE
All the older citizens of the west side of La Porte County, Indiana know William Lace, the honest, upright, good natured shoemaker, who settled in Westville, I think, the latter part of 1852. I knew him most intimately and spent many hours in his workshop listening to his many tales of the Isle of Man the land of his birth.
To commence at the beginning. Mr. Lace was born in the parish of Kirk Andreas on the Isle of Man on February 9th, 1801 and resided there until he reached man's estate. Among his early and life long friends was Mr. Fargher father of William and Thomas Fargher. Mr. Lace and Mr. Fargher were born about the same time in the same locality.
Mr. Fargher on coming to America with his family in 1843, passing through Liverpool on his way, called on Mr. Lace who had become located there and that visit induced Mr. Lace to cross the Atlantic to this western Elderado, a few years later.
It was in Liverpool that William Lace first met his wife Ann Christian and he married her in that city on 31st May, 1826. His growing family of two boys and four girls were constant reminders that the over crowded and over worked English continent did not offer as much inducement for him and those depending on him for support as did the United States and he made arrangements to transplant his interest to the west side of the Atlantic. His two sons Phillip and William who had now reached the age of manhood crossed over in the spring of 1848 while their father and oldest sister Kate, who was then fifteen came in the fall following. Mrs. Lace and the three younger daughters Mary Ann, Susana, and Jane aged respectively thirteen, ten and eight, remained, the settlement of an estate causing them to delay.
William Lace, the two boys and daughter Kate came together that fall to Cleveland, Ohio, where they rented a house. It was hoped that the absent members of the family would be able to rejoin them early the following year but the law in England as well as the United States was inexorable and they were compelled to submit to its delays, the days came and went until months and even years passed and hope had almost expired when early in 1850 the glad news was received that Mrs. Lace and the girls would arrive in the following June. They were to come to New York by steamer thence by canal to Buffalo and from there by boat to Cleveland.
As the time for arrival drew near, William Lace was an earnest visitor to the steamboat landing, and the sweep of his vision was far down Lake Erie to catch the coming boat.
William Lace was at the harbour one morning when he learned that a steamer was burned about 15 miles away sometime late in the night and between three and four hundred lives were lost. He at once obtained a carriage, and drove to the fated place. The boat named the G. P. Griffith from Buffalo with over four hundred passengers had accidentally caught fire and grounded in ten feet of water and less than one hundred had survived. From place to place William Lace travelled and looked in vain for any trace of his missing ones. It was nearly noon when he became satisfied that they were not there and he retraced his steps back to the city fondly hoping that his family had not taken this ill-fated vessel. As he reached Cleveland, he was informed that a number of bodies had been brought to town and were laid out in one of the large warehouses near Lake Erie, to that building he at once removed, and there lying in one group were his wife and three girls as tranquil and placid as they could have been in life.
The funeral of Ann Lace and her daughters took place in due time and the multitude that attended it was very large. The bodies were laid away in Woodland Avenue Cemetery.
The sad harrowing memories of that eventful tragedy so shattered William Lace's mind and affected his health that his sons and daughter thought it best that they should leave the city of Cleveland and come to La Porte County and find his old friend Mr. Fargher. Soon after reaching, William decided to establish himself in Westville. Kate married a Mr. Wheeler of that place. Her father while residing in Westville married Elizabeth Harrison who resided near Union Chapel, her father was a brother-in-law of William Lace's life long friend Mr. Fargher. All these families, the Farghers, the Laces and Harrisons were old friends on the Isle of Man previous to emigrating to America.
William Lace died in Denton County, Texas on February 4th 1890 near ninety years old. His widow and her only son are now living in Dallas, Texas. Phillip died in 1870 in Chenoa, Illinois of consumption supposed to have been contracted during the Civil War, he and his brother William jnr. having served throughout that conflict. His widow and two sons still reside there. William jnr. married Lattie Parker. He moved to Texas in 1873 and is engaged in farming. He has five children one son and four daughters. His post office address is Egan, Johnson County'.
C. G. POWELL
from Westville Indicator, Westville, Indiana, 1891
THE SAD STORY OF WILLIAM LACE
All the older citizens of the west side of La Porte County, Indiana know William Lace, the honest, upright, good natured shoemaker, who settled in Westville, I think, the latter part of 1852. I knew him most intimately and spent many hours in his workshop listening to his many tales of the Isle of Man the land of his birth.
To commence at the beginning. Mr. Lace was born in the parish of Kirk Andreas on the Isle of Man on February 9th, 1801 and resided there until he reached man's estate. Among his early and life long friends was Mr. Fargher father of William and Thomas Fargher. Mr. Lace and Mr. Fargher were born about the same time in the same locality.
Mr. Fargher on coming to America with his family in 1843, passing through Liverpool on his way, called on Mr. Lace who had become located there and that visit induced Mr. Lace to cross the Atlantic to this western Elderado, a few years later.
It was in Liverpool that William Lace first met his wife Ann Christian and he married her in that city on 31st May, 1826. His growing family of two boys and four girls were constant reminders that the over crowded and over worked English continent did not offer as much inducement for him and those depending on him for support as did the United States and he made arrangements to transplant his interest to the west side of the Atlantic. His two sons Phillip and William who had now reached the age of manhood crossed over in the spring of 1848 while their father and oldest sister Kate, who was then fifteen came in the fall following. Mrs. Lace and the three younger daughters Mary Ann, Susana, and Jane aged respectively thirteen, ten and eight, remained, the settlement of an estate causing them to delay.
William Lace, the two boys and daughter Kate came together that fall to Cleveland, Ohio, where they rented a house. It was hoped that the absent members of the family would be able to rejoin them early the following year but the law in England as well as the United States was inexorable and they were compelled to submit to its delays, the days came and went until months and even years passed and hope had almost expired when early in 1850 the glad news was received that Mrs. Lace and the girls would arrive in the following June. They were to come to New York by steamer thence by canal to Buffalo and from there by boat to Cleveland.
As the time for arrival drew near, William Lace was an earnest visitor to the steamboat landing, and the sweep of his vision was far down Lake Erie to catch the coming boat.
William Lace was at the harbour one morning when he learned that a steamer was burned about 15 miles away sometime late in the night and between three and four hundred lives were lost. He at once obtained a carriage, and drove to the fated place. The boat named the G. P. Griffith from Buffalo with over four hundred passengers had accidentally caught fire and grounded in ten feet of water and less than one hundred had survived. From place to place William Lace travelled and looked in vain for any trace of his missing ones. It was nearly noon when he became satisfied that they were not there and he retraced his steps back to the city fondly hoping that his family had not taken this ill-fated vessel. As he reached Cleveland, he was informed that a number of bodies had been brought to town and were laid out in one of the large warehouses near Lake Erie, to that building he at once removed, and there lying in one group were his wife and three girls as tranquil and placid as they could have been in life.
The funeral of Ann Lace and her daughters took place in due time and the multitude that attended it was very large. The bodies were laid away in Woodland Avenue Cemetery.
The sad harrowing memories of that eventful tragedy so shattered William Lace's mind and affected his health that his sons and daughter thought it best that they should leave the city of Cleveland and come to La Porte County and find his old friend Mr. Fargher. Soon after reaching, William decided to establish himself in Westville. Kate married a Mr. Wheeler of that place. Her father while residing in Westville married Elizabeth Harrison who resided near Union Chapel, her father was a brother-in-law of William Lace's life long friend Mr. Fargher. All these families, the Farghers, the Laces and Harrisons were old friends on the Isle of Man previous to emigrating to America.
William Lace died in Denton County, Texas on February 4th 1890 near ninety years old. His widow and her only son are now living in Dallas, Texas. Phillip died in 1870 in Chenoa, Illinois of consumption supposed to have been contracted during the Civil War, he and his brother William jnr. having served throughout that conflict. His widow and two sons still reside there. William jnr. married Lattie Parker. He moved to Texas in 1873 and is engaged in farming. He has five children one son and four daughters. His post office address is Egan, Johnson County'.
C. G. POWELL
from Westville Indicator, Westville, Indiana, 1891
Article published in the Westville Indicator, Westville, Indiana, 1891. Submitted by C. G. Powell.
THE SAD STORY OF WILLIAM LACE
All the older citizens of the west side of La Porte County, Indiana know William Lace, the honest, upright, good natured shoemaker, who settled in Westville, I think, the latter part of 1852. I knew him most intimately and spent many hours in his workshop listening to his many tales of the Isle of Man the land of his birth.
To commence at the beginning. Mr. Lace was born in the parish of Kirk Andreas on the Isle of Man on February 9th, 1801 and resided there until he reached man's estate. Among his early and life long friends was Mr. Fargher father of William and Thomas Fargher. Mr. Lace and Mr. Fargher were born about the same time in the same locality.
Mr. Fargher on coming to America with his family in 1843, passing through Liverpool on his way, called on Mr. Lace who had become located there and that visit induced Mr. Lace to cross the Atlantic to this western Elderado, a few years later.
It was in Liverpool that William Lace first met his wife Ann Christian and he married her in that city on 31st May, 1826. His growing family of two boys and four girls were constant reminders that the over crowded and over worked English continent did not offer as much inducement for him and those depending on him for support as did the United States and he made arrangements to transplant his interest to the west side of the Atlantic. His two sons Phillip and William who had now reached the age of manhood crossed over in the spring of 1848 while their father and oldest sister Kate, who was then fifteen came in the fall following. Mrs. Lace and the three younger daughters Mary Ann, Susana, and Jane aged respectively thirteen, ten and eight, remained, the settlement of an estate causing them to delay.
William Lace, the two boys and daughter Kate came together that fall to Cleveland, Ohio, where they rented a house. It was hoped that the absent members of the family would be able to rejoin them early the following year but the law in England as well as the United States was inexorable and they were compelled to submit to its delays, the days came and went until months and even years passed and hope had almost expired when early in 1850 the glad news was received that Mrs. Lace and the girls would arrive in the following June. They were to come to New York by steamer thence by canal to Buffalo and from there by boat to Cleveland.
As the time for arrival drew near, William Lace was an earnest visitor to the steamboat landing, and the sweep of his vision was far down Lake Erie to catch the coming boat.
William Lace was at the harbour one morning when he learned that a steamer was burned about 15 miles away sometime late in the night and between three and four hundred lives were lost. He at once obtained a carriage, and drove to the fated place. The boat named the G. P. Griffith from Buffalo with over four hundred passengers had accidentally caught fire and grounded in ten feet of water and less than one hundred had survived. From place to place William Lace travelled and looked in vain for any trace of his missing ones. It was nearly noon when he became satisfied that they were not there and he retraced his steps back to the city fondly hoping that his family had not taken this ill-fated vessel. As he reached Cleveland, he was informed that a number of bodies had been brought to town and were laid out in one of the large warehouses near Lake Erie, to that building he at once removed, and there lying in one group were his wife and three girls as tranquil and placid as they could have been in life.
The funeral of Ann Lace and her daughters took place in due time and the multitude that attended it was very large. The bodies were laid away in Woodland Avenue Cemetery.
The sad harrowing memories of that eventful tragedy so shattered William Lace's mind and affected his health that his sons and daughter thought it best that they should leave the city of Cleveland and come to La Porte County and find his old friend Mr. Fargher. Soon after reaching, William decided to establish himself in Westville. Kate married a Mr. Wheeler of that place. Her father while residing in Westville married Elizabeth Harrison who resided near Union Chapel, her father was a brother-in-law of William Lace's life long friend Mr. Fargher. All these families, the Farghers, the Laces and Harrisons were old friends on the Isle of Man previous to emigrating to America.
William Lace died in Denton County, Texas on February 4th 1890 near ninety years old. His widow and her only son are now living in Dallas, Texas. Phillip died in 1870 in Chenoa, Illinois of consumption supposed to have been contracted during the Civil War, he and his brother William jnr. having served throughout that conflict. His widow and two sons still reside there. William jnr. married Lattie Parker. He moved to Texas in 1873 and is engaged in farming. He has five children one son and four daughters. His post office address is Egan, Johnson County'.
C. G. POWELL
from Westville Indicator, Westville, Indiana, 1891
THE SAD STORY OF WILLIAM LACE
All the older citizens of the west side of La Porte County, Indiana know William Lace, the honest, upright, good natured shoemaker, who settled in Westville, I think, the latter part of 1852. I knew him most intimately and spent many hours in his workshop listening to his many tales of the Isle of Man the land of his birth.
To commence at the beginning. Mr. Lace was born in the parish of Kirk Andreas on the Isle of Man on February 9th, 1801 and resided there until he reached man's estate. Among his early and life long friends was Mr. Fargher father of William and Thomas Fargher. Mr. Lace and Mr. Fargher were born about the same time in the same locality.
Mr. Fargher on coming to America with his family in 1843, passing through Liverpool on his way, called on Mr. Lace who had become located there and that visit induced Mr. Lace to cross the Atlantic to this western Elderado, a few years later.
It was in Liverpool that William Lace first met his wife Ann Christian and he married her in that city on 31st May, 1826. His growing family of two boys and four girls were constant reminders that the over crowded and over worked English continent did not offer as much inducement for him and those depending on him for support as did the United States and he made arrangements to transplant his interest to the west side of the Atlantic. His two sons Phillip and William who had now reached the age of manhood crossed over in the spring of 1848 while their father and oldest sister Kate, who was then fifteen came in the fall following. Mrs. Lace and the three younger daughters Mary Ann, Susana, and Jane aged respectively thirteen, ten and eight, remained, the settlement of an estate causing them to delay.
William Lace, the two boys and daughter Kate came together that fall to Cleveland, Ohio, where they rented a house. It was hoped that the absent members of the family would be able to rejoin them early the following year but the law in England as well as the United States was inexorable and they were compelled to submit to its delays, the days came and went until months and even years passed and hope had almost expired when early in 1850 the glad news was received that Mrs. Lace and the girls would arrive in the following June. They were to come to New York by steamer thence by canal to Buffalo and from there by boat to Cleveland.
As the time for arrival drew near, William Lace was an earnest visitor to the steamboat landing, and the sweep of his vision was far down Lake Erie to catch the coming boat.
William Lace was at the harbour one morning when he learned that a steamer was burned about 15 miles away sometime late in the night and between three and four hundred lives were lost. He at once obtained a carriage, and drove to the fated place. The boat named the G. P. Griffith from Buffalo with over four hundred passengers had accidentally caught fire and grounded in ten feet of water and less than one hundred had survived. From place to place William Lace travelled and looked in vain for any trace of his missing ones. It was nearly noon when he became satisfied that they were not there and he retraced his steps back to the city fondly hoping that his family had not taken this ill-fated vessel. As he reached Cleveland, he was informed that a number of bodies had been brought to town and were laid out in one of the large warehouses near Lake Erie, to that building he at once removed, and there lying in one group were his wife and three girls as tranquil and placid as they could have been in life.
The funeral of Ann Lace and her daughters took place in due time and the multitude that attended it was very large. The bodies were laid away in Woodland Avenue Cemetery.
The sad harrowing memories of that eventful tragedy so shattered William Lace's mind and affected his health that his sons and daughter thought it best that they should leave the city of Cleveland and come to La Porte County and find his old friend Mr. Fargher. Soon after reaching, William decided to establish himself in Westville. Kate married a Mr. Wheeler of that place. Her father while residing in Westville married Elizabeth Harrison who resided near Union Chapel, her father was a brother-in-law of William Lace's life long friend Mr. Fargher. All these families, the Farghers, the Laces and Harrisons were old friends on the Isle of Man previous to emigrating to America.
William Lace died in Denton County, Texas on February 4th 1890 near ninety years old. His widow and her only son are now living in Dallas, Texas. Phillip died in 1870 in Chenoa, Illinois of consumption supposed to have been contracted during the Civil War, he and his brother William jnr. having served throughout that conflict. His widow and two sons still reside there. William jnr. married Lattie Parker. He moved to Texas in 1873 and is engaged in farming. He has five children one son and four daughters. His post office address is Egan, Johnson County'.
C. G. POWELL
from Westville Indicator, Westville, Indiana, 1891
Inscription
RESTING IN HOPE OF A GLORIOUS RESURRECTION,
HE DIED AS HE LIVED, A CHRISTIAN
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