Abraham Ives (6) was the son of Jeremiah Ives. He was born on 1769 in Hamden, CT and christened on June 1773 at the Congregational Church., Hamden. He came to W. Springfield with his family before 1790, where they are listed in the 1790 US Census. He married Eunice Day on Jan. 22, 1795* in W. Springfield. Their marriage is recorded in W. Springfield but the intension is not recorded a usually occurs. They are both recorded as from W. Springfield. Abraham is listed as a head of household in W. Springfield in the US Census of 1800, 1820, 1830, 1840, 1850. The 1820 Census results are on the following page. Eunice was born 1771* in Springfield, MA and died there in 1844* (Her parents were Joel and Eunice Day – see upcoming Day family posts).
Both Abraham and Eunice Ives were listed as early members of the First Baptist Church in Holyoke, MA joining in April 28, 1816 with their son, Dwight joining in April 2, 1826 – from The History of the First Baptist Church of Holyoke, Mass., by Pastor Jesse A. Hungate. Abraham died Nov. 16, 1855 in West Springfield, MA at age 86. He and Eunice had four children, all born in W. Springfield:
1. Sumner, born Sept. 11, 1799,* married Sarah Humiston on Nov. 26, 1829. They lived in Suffield, CT (1836/39-1844), and he died Oct. 22, 1844 in Suffield. They had five children: Eunice (1830-1878), Sarah (1832-1850), Frances (1834-1862), Mary (1836 – after 1907), Sumner Abraham (1839-1924).
2. Eunice, born Feb. 16, 1801*, and died Aug. 24, 1856 in Jackson, MI. She married Leonard Vanhorn,
recorded in W. Springfield.
3. Abraham, born Aug. 14, 1803,* married Harriet Knowles on Nov. 11, 1832 in W. Springfield, MA. They are both from W. Springfield and their intension was recorded in Nov. 11, 1832. They had four children, born in W. Springfield: Ann, Dwight Henry (born Jan. 28, 1836*), Ellen H. (born June 17, 1844*), and Julia B (born Feb. 22, 1846*). At some point Dwight and Ellen, at least, moved to Holyoke (see following description of the town at the time). Ellen is the cousin in the Ives letters and last lived at 1966 Northampton St, Holyoke (see below). She is listed in the 1912 Holyoke Directory at 1966 Northampton St., along with her brother Dwight, a farmer, and in the 1902 Directory at 469 Northampton St, along with her brother Dwight, a farmer, and sister, Julia B. The house at 469 Northampton St. did not exist in 2003. She never married and passed on a room of furniture to each of her cousins. The S. Albert Ives family received the bedroom furniture which is still in the family. The daughters also received some of her jewelry. Ellen died around 1933. Shortly before she died, Ellen invited all the Ives to her home. The Albert Ives family drove up from Greenville, SC.
4. Dwight, born Sept. 20, 1805*, married Julia A. Arms before 1844. He was ordained the pastor of the First Baptist Church in W. Springfield in January 1836, next he was minister in Suffield, CT and Conway, MA. In Suffield he was pastor of the Second Baptist Church beginning in 1840 while his brother, Sumner, lived there. He was so zealous in his search for new members and powerful in his sermons that he gained the nickname, “Priest Ives.” He also introduced a new plan to gain financial support. Everyone wanted to sit near the front so he began to charge for the seats with the front seats costing more. At this point everyone now wanted the cheap seat sin the back, even some of the oldest families that felt they were entitled to the front seats under the old arrangement. He died on Dec. 27, 1875 in Conway, MA and is buried in Howland Cemetery, Conway, MA.
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