History of Wexford County, MI. Compiled by John H. Wheeler Published in 1903 by B. F. Bowen Biography Page 114

WILLIAM W. LOVELESS

 

The life of a sailor on the Great Lakes is a laborious and hazardous one, and yet one that is not entirely devoid of fascination. Men who have sailed for a number of years find it exceedingly difficult to content themselves on land and although their opportunities for advancement upon the water are as nothing to what they might encounter on shore, their love for the fathomless lake or ocean often compels them to sacrifice every other consideration for its sake. The subject of this review, William W. Loveless, followed the life of a sailor a number of years in his early manhood, and like others, after having given it up, he often yearned for the old life upon the stormy wave. However, he seems now to have thoroughly weaned himself from the enticing calling. William W. Loveless, a resident of section 19, Haring township, was born in Essex county, Canada, of Canadian parents, April 22, 1837. He was reared and grew to manhood in his native county, receiving a fair education in the common branches at the public schools. While yet a young man he became a sailor, on a ship engaged in the grain trade plying between Buffalo and Chicago, and for seven years devoted himself exclusively to that calling. In 1863 he took a position on a ship laden with copper ore and bound for Liverpool. The passage of the Atlantic was made by this staunch little craft in forty-eight days, the vessel being propelled entirely by sail. In Ogle county, Illinois, August 10, 1859, William W. Loveless was married to Rachael A. Winner, a native of Pennsylvania, born September 14, 1837. To this union ten children were born, viz.: Walter S., Wallace E.., Willard W., Wilton W., Wesley W., Sarah E., William W. W. , Violet, Daisy, and Evangeline, who died aged three years and seven months. Sarah E. died at the age of thirteen years, Violet is the wife of Ernest Schram and Daisy died in her twenty-fourth year. August 7, 1881, when forty-one years of age, Mrs. Loveless died at the family home in Haring township, whence they had removed three years previously. In the spring of 1878, desiring to better the fortunes of the family, William W. Loveless came to Wexford county and settled on a tract of land, part of section 19, Haring township. Here he erected a modest but comfortable residence, and after installing his family therein proceeded to hew a farm out of the dense woods. How well he has succeeded is clearly demonstrated by the tidy, well-kept little farm of forty-eight acres which year after year he has been cultivating at a comfortable profit. In Wexford county, on the 23d day of January, 1884, William W. Loveless again entered into a matrimonial alliance, his bride on this occasion being Mrs. Margaret Gibson, widow of the late William Gibson. She is a native of Canada, born in Victoria county, Ontario, in October, 1837. Her maiden name was Margaret Shearer and she is a daughter of Robert and Janet Shearer, natives of Scotland. One child has been adopted by the subject and his wife, an intelligent, winsome little girl named May. In politics William W. Loveless is a Democrat and has always interested himself in the success of that party. He has served his township in various local offices. He has been a school director a number of years, township treasurer two years, justice of the peace four years, and township clerk one term. In all matters relating to the welfare of the township he has taken an active interest. He and wife are members of the Baptist church and always active in every species of religious work. He is a member of Cadillac Tent, No. 332, Knights of the Maccabees, of the Loyal Orange lodge at his home in Canada and of the Patrons of Husbandry of Wexford county. He began life with little, and whatever he has accomplished is attributable entirely to his own exertions.