Murders, Accidents and Mysterious Deaths

Charles Willard Annas 1857-1927 - Gunshot

James Addison Annas 1830-1885 - Train Wreck

Frank Merrill Annis 1896-1917 - Airplane Crash

Frank Annis 1854-1869 and Elmer Annis 1862-1869 - Accidental Gunshot

Solomon Annis 1765-1830 and Solomon Annis Jr. 1808-1875 - Fall

James A. Annis 1853-1930 - Train Accident

George Washington Annis 1818-1865 - Ship Wreck

Asa Annis 1816-1859 - Fall

Harvey Annis 1825-1865 and Isabelle Annis 1858-1865 - Ship Explosion

Seth Post 1793-1838 and wife Chrystal (Annis) Post 1799-1838 - Ship Explosion

Amanda Lynn Annis 1984-2008 - Automobile - Bicycle Accident - *under construction*

Robert "Bo" 1962-2007 - Murder

Charles Willard Annas 1857-1927

Charles ("Will") Willard Annas was born September 16, 1857 at Omro, WI, the son of James Addison and Esther Ann (Loper) Annas. He married December 2, 1880, Harriet May Taylor at Green Bay, WI and had three children. Charles was a carpenter by trade, and was employed by Kidney & Sons as a boat builder at the time of his death.
Charles was struck and killed by a stray bullet on October 31, 1927, fired by an unknown assailant, as he was walking in the back yard of his daughter's home. A DePere newspaper of the day published the following article about Charles' death.

WELL KNOWN DEPERE RESIDENT HIT BY STRAY BULLET IN FOND DU LAC

The death of Mr. C. W. Annas was shocking news to all his friends and acquaintances, almost everyone in DePere having known him because of his long residence in this city, he having come here with his parents back in the '60's while he was a school boy.
Police are trying to solve the mystery slaying of Mr. Annas, 70, West DePere boat builder, who was struck by a .22 calibre bullet as he was walking through the back yard at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Leon Lallier, East Fourth Street limits.
Mr. Annas was one of DePere's respected citizens, and most industrious men. His father, the late James Annas was an expert carpenter and the son learned this trade during his younger days and followed it during many years in his later life. He also became expert in boatbuilding and has been employed in the Kidney & Son's plant the past ten to fifteen years. Mr. Annas' pricipal recreation was hunting. He was an expert shot, and has bagged many wild water fowl.
Police today ordered the confiscation of all firearms within the city limits in connection with their investigation of the shooting of C. W. Annas. Police have thus far been unable to learn the identify of the person who fired the shot. Besides his widow, he leaves a daughter, Maud (Mrs. Leon Lallier), two brothers, S. E. Annas of Chicago and James of Chicago and three sisters, Mrs. Sarah Salter of Chicago, Mrs. John Wilcox of Green Bay and Mrs. Hattie Millar, DePere; also two grandsons, Kenneth and Eugene Lallier, Fond du Lac and one granddaughter, Harriet Annas, Green Bay."

Children:

1. Maude Annas, born May 5, 1881

2. Gordon Annas, born June 8, 1884

3. Hope Annas, born April 23, 1890; died as an infant

Charles lineage is: James Addison Annas 1827-1885, Truman Annis 1786-1865, James Annis 1743-1829, John Annis 1700-c.1771, Abraham Annis 1668-1738, Cormac Annis 1638-1717

James Addison Annas 1830-1885

James Addison Annas was born September 12, 1827 at York Hills, NY; died February 9, 1885 at DePere, WI; married September 16, 1855, Esther Ann Loper {1838-1902} at Rushford, WI.
James was a veteran of the Civil War, and enlisted in the Navy at Chicago, Illinois on August 26, 1864. He served as a Landsman on the U.S.S. General Pillow until an injury forced him to be discharged for disability. James died as a result of a railroad accident on the Milwaukee and Northern Railroad about one mile north of DePere, Wisconsin. He had been riding in the caboose when the train was rear-ended by a snow plow train coming from Frost Junction.
A newspaper clipping dated February 14, 1885 states: "An accident which resulted in the death of one person, the serious injury of another and minor bruises and scratches to several others, occurred about noon of Monday on the Milwaukee and Northern Railroad about one mile north of this place. As the morning freight train was proceeding north, it became stalled by the snow at the place above indictaed, and a brakeman was sent back to put torpedoes on the track and flag the engine with a snow plow and caboose which had been passed at DePere, and which it was expected would soon come back from Frost Junction whither it had been sent to be weighted with iron. The plow ran into the caboose at the rear of the freight train, knocking off the rear trucks and raising the rear end over the plow while the front end remained on the ground. In this caboose were J. A. Annas -"
James was employed by the railroad as a pattern maker at Fort Howard at the time of his death. His obituary stated:
"J. A. Annas died at his home in this city about midnight of Monday from the effects of injuries received the same day in the railroad accident of the Milwaukee and Northern Railroad. Mr. Annas was born in Oneida County, N.Y. in 1830, and therefore was 55 years old at the time of his death. Mr. Annas was a quiet and inoffensive man and a good citizen. His wife, three sons and four daughters survive him. They have the sympathy of the community in their bereavement. The funeral occurred from the Presbyterian Church on Thursday."

Children:

1. Alma Elnora Annas, b. Jan 25, 1856

2. Alice Annas, b. Jan 1857

3. Charles Willard Annas, b. Sep 16, 1857

4. Hattie Adele Annas, b. Sep 19, 1860

5. Mary Esther Annas, b. May 6, 1862

6. Sarah Ann Annas, b. Apr 25, 1865

7. Eva Elizabeth Annas, b. Aug 8, 1868

8. Samuel Eldred Annas, b. Feb 15, 1870

9. James Amenzo Annas, b. Dec 1, 1877

James' lineage is: Truman Annis 1786-1865, James Annis 1743-1829, John Annis 1700-c.1771, Abraham Annis 1668-1738, Cormac Annis 1638-1717

Frank Merrill Annis 1896-1917

Frank Merrill Annis was born November 11, 1896 at Saratoga Springs, NY, the son of Malcolm Grame and Olivia Eugenia (Griswold) Annis.
On May 18, 1917, Frank enlisted in the United States Naval Reserve and entered the flight school at the Naval Training Station in Dayton, OH. During a training flight on October 17, 1917, Frank's airplane crashed and he was killed.
Frank was single and was survived by his mother and older sister, Ima Marjorie (Annis) Parr.

His lineage is: Malcolm Grame Annis 1856-1908, Nathaniel Flood Annis 1827-1899, Nathaniel Flood Annis 1788-1877, David Annis 1753-1824, Daniel Annis 1711-1790, Abraham Annis 1668-1737, Cormac Annis 1638-1717

William Frank Annis 1854-1869

Frank and Elmer Annis were sons of Francis and Nancy (Cross) Annis. Frank was born on February 13, 1854 and Elmer on February 8, 1862 at Boone County, IA.
Their father, Francis was born November 23, 1824 at Canaan, NH; married May 31, 1851, Nancy Cross {1831-1891} at Monroe, Green County, WI; died May 30, 1864 at Vicksburg, MS. Francis was residing at Monroe, WI in 1850, and removed to Boone County, IA circa 1851. He was a veteran of the Civil War, and enlisted into Company "D", 32nd Iowa Infantry on August 11, 1862. He died of disease at Vicksburg during his tour of duty, and is buried at the Vicksburg National Cemetery, Section L, Grave #555.
On December 20, 1869, the two boys were shot and killed accidently by a school teacher who was boarding at the Annis home in Newton, IA. The boys were being shown the gun by the teacher, when it discharged, and the round went through the younger boy, killing him instantly, and continued into the body of Frank, mortally wounding him.

From the quarterly publication, Hawkeye Heritage, Iowa Genealogical Society, Volume 21, Issue 1, Spring 1986

ANNIS UPDATE: THE ANNIS TRAGEDY

by Bertha Fehleisen

The 1870 Jasper County mortalaity schedule recorded the deaths, by accidental gun shot wounds, of Frank and Elmer Annis. Catherine Henderson supplied the following article which originally was published in The Newton Daily News during the 1930's by the Jasper County Historical Society. Bertha Fehleisen, who recalled the event was the author.

Out in our Silent City, not far from the front fence and at the top of the hill where the native trees begin, there stands a small, square marble shaft upon which is the name, "Annis". The inscriptions on it are:

Francis Annis, died May 30, 1864

Frank Annis, born 1854, died Dec. 20, 1869 [Full name was William F.]

Elmer Annis, born 1862, died Dec. 20, 1869

This was a real after-the-war tragedy which occurred on december 20, 1869. It was never to my knowledge written up for history in Jasper County. This is now the purpose of a neighbor who was then a child of eight years.

The home of this Annis family was in Jasper County, but Francis Annis enlisted in Boone County, possibly with some friends. On looking it up in Boone County history, I found this record: "Francis annis enlisted Aug. 11, 1862, from Douglas Township; served in Co. D; died in service." His people say he died of dysentery on the way from the army to the hospital.

Later. his family, consisting of his wife, one daughter, Cynthia, and three sons, Frank, Ben and Elmer, were living in Newton, their home being located where that of W. C. Killduff now stands, 823 East Fifth Street North. This was close to the newly-built Rock Island railroad tracks. At that time all north of these tracks, west for some distance, and east as far as Failor's Green House, was timber and underbrush. A small pond was on part of the Green house ground.

Mrs. Annis was keeping boarders in order to support her growing family. Among these was a man names Case who was from New York state and who had been in the Civil War and who had wandered out west in search of a job. He found one teaching in a country school in Jasper County. He also found boarding at the Annis home and rode horseback to and from his school. A great friendship sprang up between him and the three Annis boys of six, eleven and fifteen years. The war was an interesting event to them and they were eager to have him tell about it.

On the evening of Dec. 20, 1869, Case noticed a gun, which I understand was an old army gun; picked it up to examine it; and then the boys gathered around him, begging him to show them how they did it the war. He stepped to the dining room door and asked Mrs. Annis if it was loaded. She replied she thought not. He then pointed the gun at the pictures on the wall, the clock and repeating each time the commands, "Halt! Take aim! Fire!". About to put the gun away, little Elmer, seven years old, said, "Now shoot me." Then playfully pointing the gun right at his forehead, pulled the trigger, and lo! it went off. A bullet that had misfired before now was fired. It tore right through Elmer's head and Frank, fifteen yeasr old, who was standing behind him with thumbs in his trousers band, received the bullet through his hand from which it went through his bowels. Case, as soon as he saw Elmer drop instantly, was so astonished that he became like a crazy man. He tore out of the house and ran to the woods across the tracks, racing through the underbrush until exhausted(This was reported in the neighborhood. I cannot tell if it is true) At any rate he came back to the house to find Frank, too, had been shot. He had not stopped long enough to know that.

Lineage: Francis Annis (1824-1864), Benjamin Annis (1798-?), Jacob Annis (1769-1848), Jacob Annis (1741-1812), John Annis (1700-c.1771), Abraham Annis (1668-1738), Cormac Annis (1638-1717)

Solomon 1765-1830

The elder Solomon Annis was born November 8, 1765 at Lebanon, NH; died July 31, 1830 at Chelsea, VT; married March 22, 1791, Susannah Bosworth at Lebanon, NH. He was a veteran of the Revolution, having enlisted at Warner, NH on October 19, 1781, at the age of 16. He served with Captain Nathaniel Head's company of Colonel Reynolds Regiment. He was also a veteran of the War of 1812 and volunteered to march to the defense of Plattsburg, NY in 1814.
According to John McNab Currier's book, Solomon removed to Chelsea, VT in 1791 on horse back, following an old Indian trail that had been marked by slashes on the tree trunks. He homesteaded at Chelsea and pursued the life of a farmer. In the 19th century, after the arduous task of cutting the hay was accomplished, the hay was piled high upon large wagons and taken to an area that would be convenient to locate a hay mound. Solomon met his death, as a result of a broken neck suffered from a fall off a load of hay. He was 65 years old.

Children:

1. Amos Annis (twin) b: 22 Jan 1792 in Chelsea, VT, died in infancy.

2. James Annis (twin) b: 22 Jan 1792 in Lebanon, NH, d: 8 May 1849 in Irasburg, VT

3. Nancy Annis b: 18 Jan 1794 in Chelsea, VT, d: 8 Jun 1876 in Northfield, VT

4. William Annis b: 2 Aug 1796 in Chelsea, VT, d: 13 Aug 1858 in Omaha, NE

5. Jesse Annis b: 7 Dec 1798 in Chelsea, VT, d: 4 Nov 1872 in Chelsea,VT

6. Polly Bosworth Annis b: 8 Mar 1801 in Chelsea, VT, d: 21 Aug 1859

7. Susannah Annis b: 1803 in Chelsea, VT, d: 1850 in Chelsea, VT

8. Solomon Annis b: 1805 in Chelsea, VT, d: 1807 in Chelsea, VT

9. Solomon Annis b: 18 Aug 1808 in Chelsea, VT, d: 9 Jul 1875 in Chelsea, VT

10. Sally Annis b: 1812 in Chelsea, VT

11. Lydia Annis b: 1818 in Chelsea, VT, d: 1819 in Chelsea, VT

Solomon Annis, Jr. was born August 18, 1808 at Chelsea, VT; died July 9, 1875 at Chelsea, VT; married February 2, 1831, Climena Allen {1811-1869} at Chelsea, VT.
On July 9, 1875, at the age of 67, Solomon died in the same manner that his father had died in 1830 by falling off a load of hay and breaking his neck. It was three weeks short of 45 years since his father had met his death. According to a great grandson, Alfred Rowe, son of Solomon's eldest daughter, Mary Ann Annis, there were nine children in the family. Solomon and his family are buried in West Hill Cemetery, Chelsea, VT.

Children:

1. Solomon Annis b: 16 Feb 1832 in Chelsea, VT, d: 23 Feb 1832 in Chelsea, VT

2. Mary Ann Annis b: 17 Oct 1833 in Chelsea, VT

3. Elisha Scott Annis b: 11 Jan 1836 in Chelsea, VT, d: 8 Apr 1836 in Chelsea, VT

4. Marcia Jane Annis b: 30 Mar 1837 in Chelsea,VT, d: 25 Jul 1837 in Chelsea, VT

5. Lura Jane Annis b: 1 Jun 1838 in Chelsea, VT

6. Vesta Maria Annis b: 11 May 1840 in Chelsea, VT

7. Clemenia Annis b: 26 Aug 1842 in Chelsea, VT, d: 4 Jan 1847 in Chelsea, VT

8. Holton Solomon Annis b: 12 Oct 1844 in Chelsea, VT

9. Unnamed Son Annis b: Nov 1853 in Chelsea, VT d: 12 Nov 1853 in Chelsea, VT

Lineage:Solomon Annis (1765-1830), Daniel Annis (1735-1801), Daniel Annis (1711-1790), Abraham Annis (1668-1738), Cormac Annis (1638-1717)

James A. Annis 1853-1930

James A. Annis was born in 1853, the son of James and Elvina (Bryant)Annis. He married Mary Jane Morgan, July 18, 1878 at Metroplis, IL. The gruesome death of James Annis was reported in the local paper.

MET HORRIBLE DEATH UNDER TRAIN
Pilot James A Annis Killed by Illinois Train

"Right before the eyes of pedestrians Jas. A Annis, pilot on the Steamer Cowling for years and one of the best known local rivermen, met death under an Illinois Central Train at the foot of Metropolis Street Sunday evening about five o'clock.
Mr Annis was standing at the ice plant corner talking with Charlie Coyle when the switch engine came up from the west with a long string of cars, among them a caboose. As he lives up near the Rampendahl factory he remarked to Mr Coyle that he would catch a ride up home and suiting action to his words he ran out to the train and attempted to board the caboose as it passed. The train was moving faster than he anticipated and he was thrown across the track with his face at its center and the caboose passed over his body after sliding it along for a number of feet. The back bone was severed entirely and both arms were partly amputated. A number of onlookers ran to the body at once but the unfortunate man was dead when the first one arrived. Coroner Wallace was notified, summoned a jury and a verdict of accidental death and one entirely exonerating the railroad company from any blame was returned. The jury was made up as follows; Dr. R. H. Jacobs, Ed F Compton, David Smith, J. A. Fardell, Otto Schmidt and E.G. Whyers. Some of the testimony at the hearing is here reproduced.
I, Charles A Coyle after being duly sworn, depose and say: James A Annis and I were standing near intersection of First Street and Metroplis on April 30th 1911 at about 5 o'clock pm and he James A Annis said he was going to get on that train (which was an ICRR switch) and ride up home. He ran a short distance grabbed at a box car and fell right in front of the car wheels and the cars ran over him. When he fell he fell with his face down and head toward center of RR track.
I, Charles J Smith, after being duly sworn, depose and say: On April 30th 1911 about 5 o'clock pm I got on an ICRR caboose of a train on west side of Ferry Street and on First Street in Metropolis IL. The train was going east and as it got about 50 feet of Metropolis Street I stepped off and just as I stepped off James A Annis started to get on. As he did so I motioned to him not to try to get on the train as I thought he was too heavy a man to try it and not being used to such he failed to heed my warning and grabbed at bar on front end of caboose. I can't say for sure whether his hand hold slipped or his feet slipped off the steps. At any rate he fell off and as he fell pitched forward under the front wheels of the caboose, its seems to me that the wheels were pushing him along toward center of street, eventually the wheels ran over him."

James and Mary Annis had at least fourchildren:

1. James Annis, b. abt. 1880.

2. Daniel McKinley Annis, b. Feb 1897

3. Charles Annis, b. Apr 1900

4. Julia C. Annis, b. Jan 13, 1902

Lineage: James A. Annis (1823-?), John Closson Annis (1785-1849), John Annis (1764-1839), Ezra Annis (1726-1818), John Annis (1700-c.1771), Abraham Annis (1638-1738), Cormac Annis (1638-1717)

George Washington Annis 1818-1865

George Washington Annis was born 1818 at Berkshire, VT, the son of John Brokelbank Annis and Nancy Pitts. He married (1st) March 10, 1839 to Augusta Harriman at Methuen, MA, and had one child; married (2nd), February 13, 1851, Harriet A. Adams.
George's first wife, Augusta died on April 13, 1850 at Methuen, MA, probably from complications in giving birth to their son, George William Annis, who had been born on April 7th. George removed to Boston with his infant son and is recorded there during the 1850 Federal census. He married for the second time to Harriet Adams in February 1851, and soon afterwards moved his family west to Wood County, OH. George was a blacksmith by trade and went west without his family to find fortune in the gold fields of California according to his family, and Methuen Vital Records. He was residing at San Francisco during the 1860 Federal census.
In July of 1865 at San Francisco, George boarded the good ship "Brother Jonathan" bound for the newly discovered gold fields in British Columbia. At noon on July 28, 1865, the Brother Jonathan was ready to go. The Jonathan sluggishly left the dock, backwards, with 54-crew members and 190 passengers aboard. She passed through the "Golden Gate" and turned north, into a strong headwind and heavy seas. It only got worse as they slowly worked north. About two in the morning of the next day, the Jonathan arrived at the harbor at Crescent City to offload a little cargo. By 9:30 she was back underway. With the storm building, the Captain headed more west than north, to get safely around the strung-out rocks of St. George’s Reef. The speed of the ship was down and with the storm building, and the vessel hardly making headway, the Captain decided to return to Crescent City to wait out the storm.
At noon the Captain plotted his position as "four miles north of the latitude of Point St. George." The ship was brought to a more easterly heading and headed closer to shore. The ship came up to Seal Rock, where it was relatively clear, and the Captain ordered a course "Southeast by South," to head for the Crescent City breakwater. The charts then used showed no obstructions between his ship and safety. The captain ordered a mate forward to ready the anchors for use.
As the mate worked on the anchor, he suddenly saw something beneath the water and yelled back to the wheelhouse, but it was too late for the Jonathan. The waves lifted her and dropped her on a pinnacle of rock rising 250 feet from the ocean bottom. The rocks penetrated her hull between the bow and the foremast, then the next great wave carried her further, tearing her bottom out all the way to the bridge. The great weight of the ore crusher dropped through what was left of the bottom of the ship through the hull weakened by her previous collision. The force of the wind and sea twisted the Jonathan around until the bow pointed directly at the shore, some four miles away. Five minutes after she hit the rock, Captain DeWolf knew there was no hope of saving the ship, and ordered crew and passengers aft to "try and save themselves."
Despite valiant efforts of the crew, only 19 of the 244 souls aboard managed to survive the tragedy and george W. Annis was listed as a casuality whose body was never recovered.

Children:

1. George William Annis, b. Apr 7, 1850

Lineage: John Brokelbank Annis (1783-1831), Jesse Annis (1745-1820), John Annis (1700-c.1771), Abraham Annis (1668-1738), Cormac Annis (1638-1717)

For information about the sinking of the "Brother Jonathan", passengers list, photographs, and efforts to recover her treasure, please visit: California State Lands Commisssion, California Shipwrecks

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Asa Annis 1816-1859

Note: Although many of the facts about Asa's lineage are still being investigated, the following story is one of documented fact. We are indebted to AFA members Marion (Dallman) Mossuto and Jane Annis (Rixmann) Godfrey for the story of Asa.

Asa Annis was born in 1816 in New York State. Although it has not been documented as of yet, it is thought that he may be a son of John Closson and Hannah (Crawford) Annis. Evidently he went west as a young man and he married in St. Louis, MO on June 3, 1838 in the Roman Catholic Basilica of St. Louis the King to Cecelia Kelly {1822-1889}. The church record is a good one because of a special circumstance. It reads:

"On the third of June 1838, I, the undersigned received the mutual consent of marriage between S. Annis, on one part and Cecelia Kelly, on the other part, and, having granted dispensation upon the impediment of disparity of culte inter acatholicum non baptizatum, et catholicam, joined them together in the holy bonds of matrimony before two witnesses, one of whom is the father of the young lady. Jos. A. Lutz, priest.

Asa and his family appear on the Federal census at St. Louis, MO in 1850. Asa was a riverboat pilot on the Mississippi River and the circumstances of his death are both tragic and controversial. According to the newspaper Missouri Republican of Thursday, June 23, 1859:

"PAINFUL ACCIDENT - Mr. Asa Annis, a pilot on the steamer D.A. January, while walking across the deck of the Hesperian, on Friday evening, fell through the hatchway a distance of six feet, fracturing his skull, causing a frightful wound, from which a portion of the brain was removed. He is now lying at Allen's Hotel, where everything that medical aid and the attendance of the kind host and hostess can effect is being done for him. His physicians say he cannot possibly recover. He was still alive at the time we go to press."

Asa lived for four days after his terrible and ghastly accident and, as reported by the Missouri Republican on Saturday, June 25, 1859 in the 'River News' column reporting which steamer has arrived in St Louis:

"We understand that the body of Mr Asa Annis, who lately died at St. Joseph, is coming down on the Rowena."

And finally in the Missouri Republican for June 26, 1859:

"DIED - In St Joseph, June 21st 1859, ASA ANNIS, aged 43 years. The funeral will take place from his late residence North Tenth Street, between Montgomery and Warren Streets, this morning at ten o'clock."

Janie Godfrey writes:

"I inherited a fine oil portrait of a man that is supposed to be Asa Annis. It has been handed down in my family. Family legend always said that he was murdered by being pushed on his boat. I always thought it was just a story and was astonished to find the newspaper articles and death certificate describing the circumstances of his accident. Family legend had transmitted the story very accurately. The question as to whether he was murdered or not will never be answered. However, in the decade before he died we found he purchased many parcels of land in what is now downtown St. Louis. This may have been an incentive for someone to want him out of the way, but it was also corroboration of another family legend that I always thought was sheer wishful thinking and that was that "if Asa had lived, the family would own half of what is downtown St. Louis today." His widow had to sell the parcels of land off after his death to support the family.

Asa was buried at Bellefontaine Cemetery in St. Louis, MO.

Children:

1. William Kelley Annis, b. May 20, 1839

2. Hanna Annis, b. abt. 1840

3. Stella Josephine Annis

4. James W. Annis, b. Jan 1846

5. Mary Rosalie Annis, b. Oct 14, 1847

6. Frances Emma Annis, b. Mar 1850

7. Louis Henry Annis, b. Sep 1853

8. Alice Virginia Annis, b. Dec 5, 1854

9. Belle Annis

10. Gertrude (probably died young)

11. Cecelia Gertrude Annis

We are hopeful that more information about Asa and his lineage will be forthcoming.

Harvey and Ann Vessey Annis
Photos courtesy of Helen Chandler

Harvey Annis was born 1825 in Madison County, New York, the son of Lewis and Hannah Annis. Harvey was a carpenter by trade, and was residing at Oshkosh, Wisconsin when he enlisted as a Private with Company "F", 18th Wisconsin Infantry. He participated in the Battle of Shiloh on April 9, 1862, his regiment having just arrived at Pittsburg landing the previous afternoon. According to Larry J. Daniel's book, "Shiloh - The Battle that Changed the Civil War", the 18th Wisconsin was one of the regiments that surrendered at the "Hornet's Nest, but evidently Harvey escaped the disaster. He later rose to the rank of Sergeant of Company "K", 18th Wisconsin, and was than selected and promoted to 2nd Lieutenant of Company "G", 51st United States Colored Troops Regiment in 1864. Having served six months with this unit in the Vicksburg area, on February 11, 1865 he resigned his commission due to poor health. Ann Vessey Annis, his wife, and Isabelle (Belle) their youngest child, had traveled to Vicksburg in order to nurse Harvey, and together they prepared to travel home to Oshkosh on the vastly overloaded steamer, "Sultana". The "Sultana was packed full of former prisoners of war from the infamous Confederate camps at Andersonville, Georgia and Cahaba, Alabama. A poorly repaired patch on one of the boilers gave way with a resultant explosion and fire that destroyed the ship and many of its passengers. Harvey, Anne, and Belle escaped the explosion and fire, and found themselves in the roiling, freezing Mississippi River. Harvey and Belle were drowned, although Ann survived to return home to the remains of her family. The "Sultana" disaster stills ranks as one of the worst maritime accidents in American history. The tragic story of this Annis Family (as written by Helen Chandler, grand-daughter of James Willis Annis), is available.

Children:

1. Lewis Annis, b. November 30, 1851; d. August 11, 1897

2. Angelina Annis, b. February 6, 1854; d. 1891

3. James Willis Annis, b. April 8, 1856; d. September 7, 1916

4. Isabella Annis, b. 1858; d. April 27, 1865

"Among the passengers was Lt. Harvey Annis, who along with his wife Anna and their seven-year-old daughter, was also heading north. Anna expressed great fear about the large number of men getting on the boat. The Hurricane deck was sagging from the weight of the men, despite a number of stanchions put in place to buttress it. But the Sultana's chief clerk told her it would be O.K. and Lt. Annis, who had just resigned his commission and was eager to get home, agreed. So the family joined the POWs, except Lt. Annis paid for a private cabin.

At 9 p.m., on April 24, the Sultana left Vicksburg to head up river. The captain, J. Cass Mason, told an Army officer his ship had carried so many men before. He said the Sultana was a good vessel and the men were in capable hands. "Take good care of them, the officer replied. "They are deserving of it." The Sultana was badly overcrowded, Mason assumed, but not overloaded.

On Apil 26, the ship docked at Memphis to pick up coal. At midnight she headed upriver. At 2 a.m., April 27, the repaired boiler exploded. Two of the three other boilers exploded. Fire spread through mid-ship. The two smokestacks fell on the boat, crushing the Hurricane deck and killing many men. Those who survived panicked and rather than fighting the fire began to jump into the river. The flames started sweeping toward the stern, causing more panic and jumping.

Lt. Annis opened his stateroom door to see what was happening. He was enveloped in a cloud of steam. He slammed the door shut, put life belts on himself and his wife, took their daughter in his arms, opened the door again, and rushed to the stern. There he shimmied down a rope to the lower deck, with his seven year old, and waited for his wife Ann to follow.

With his daughter in his arms, Annis jumped. Anna followed. When she hit the water she discovered her life preserver had been fastened incorrectly. She managed to grab hold of the Sultana rudder.

Anna was almost hysterical in her worry about her husband and child. Then, in horror, she saw her husband and her daughter disappear into the current. As they drowned, and the fire began to engulf the rudder, she grabbed a small board and floated away.

The river was high, flowing fast, crowded with dead, drowning and barely floating men. The Sultana was in flames. When the sun began to come up, more than 1,700 were dead. The survivors began singing marching tunes. Holding onto their driftwood rafts, they looked like frogs--some men noticed this and began croaking.

The following statement attributed to Albert King is highly disputed my Helen Chandler, grand-daughter of Harvey and Ann Annis. She says in a correspondence dated May 12, 2009:

"The part of the story of Ann giving her wedding ring to King just didn't happen. There are many stories and myths about that fatal trip for Harvey and their daughter, Bell. The part about King and Ann never happened. It doesn't even seem that he ever encountered Ann. Ann still had her wedding ring and wore it until she died. She mentioned someone helping her onto the makeshift raft. The stories King told may have been about another woman... She still had her wedding ring on until she died."

Mrs. Annis was picked up by a Navy gunboat coming from Memphis. Heartbroken by the fate of her husband and child, she nevertheless managed to say thanks to Corporal Albert King, who had helped keep her afloat. She took off her wedding ring and gave it to King, saying that everything she had was gone "except my ring," which was her only "token of reward."

Almost 800 of the 2,500 passengers survived (although 200 later died). On the Titanic, 882 feet long, 1,517 died. On the Sultana, 260 feet long, the toll was 1,700. The steamship, what was left of it, drifted downriver and sank opposite Memphis.
For more on the Sultana Disaster and photographs please visit:

The Sultana Disaster - Online Museum & Archives

Lineage: Lewis Annis {1803-1859}, James Annis {1774-1862}, James {1743-1829}, John Annis {1700-c.1771}, Abraham Annis {1668-1738}, Charles Cormac Annis {1638-1717}

Chrystal (Annis) Post 1799-1838

As our nation began to grow in population and size, many families from Vermont, New Hampshire and Massachusetts began pushing west. They were seeking new lands and opportunities and the American West had plenty of those in abundant quantity.

Chrystal Annis was born January 22, 1799 in Thetford, Orange County, Vermont, the eldsest daughter of Joseph and Chrystal (Wheeler) Annis. Joseph removed to Vershire, Vermont in 1791 and it was here that most of his children were born. He he bought property, raised a large family and farmed the land there until 1817. He than removed to Strafford, Vermont, remaining there until his death.

Chrystal was married to Seth Post on May 31, 1818 at Strafford and had three children, Lorenzo, Pluma and Joseph. They resided at Thetford for a time but soon the call to move west saw the family pack up and join many in the family who had already left.

The new and elegant steamboat, Moselle, a "sidewheel, wooden hull packet ship of 150 tons left the wharf in Cincinnati, Ohio on April 25, 1838 (full of passengers) bound for Louisville and St. Louis. On board on the fateful day were Seth Post and his wife Chrystal. The ship proceeded up the river for about a mile and half to Fulton, (Fulton was located opposite Brooklyn, Kentucky) about a mile and a half above the quay, proceeded up the river and made fast to a lumber raft for the purpose of taking on more passengers. The Moselle had but just parted from the lumber raft to which she had been fast, her wheels had scarcely made their first revolution, when her boilers burst with an awful and astounding noise, equal to the most violent clap of thunder. Three of her four boilers exploded and the result was destructive and heart-rending in the extreme. Heads, limbs and bodies were seen flying through the air in every direction, attended with the most horrible shrieks and groans from the wounded and dying. Eighty-one were known to be killed, including the Captain Perin, an attentive courteous man of only 28 years. Fifty-five persons were missing, and thirteen badly wounded.

Seth Post died that day and his wife Chrystal died three days later, April 28, 1838.

In the spring of 1838, three steamboats, the Moselle, Oronoko and Pulaski, blew up and killed about 400 people. On July 7, 1838, Congress passed a law "for the better security of the lives of passengers" aboard steamboats. The law was a clumsy step toward an effective federal system of steamboat safety and in 1852, after another rash of disasters, including seven boiler explosions and 700 deaths in eight months, Congress acted again with the Steamboat Act of 1852, that became the basis of the Steamboat Inspection Service.

Children:

1. Pluma Wheeler Post, b. April 16, 1819

2. Lorenzo L. Post, b. 1821

3. Joseph D. Post, b. 1825, d. May 27, 1862 from wounds received at the Battle of Shiloh

Lineage: Joseph Annis (1766-1848), Jesse Annis (1745-1820), John Annis (1700-c.1771), Abraham Annis (1668-1738), Cormac Annis (1638-1717)