Watrous family papers
Scope and Contents
This collection includes original photographs of Watrous, Dale, and Tucker family members, as well as family homes and cemetery plots. There is also a labeled group photo of people with the surnames Morrell, Knapp, Herrick, and Seymour. The majority of the records consists of typewritten pages of family lineages and family stories. It also contains original newspaper clippings and photocopies of magazine articles, book excerpts, and yearbook pages related to the Watrous family. This collection would be of use to researchers studying early Grand Rapids residents or historic homes, especially those in the Plainfield Avenue area or Creston neighborhood.
Dates
- 1870 - 2015
Conditions Governing Access
This collection is open for researcher use.
Biographical / Historical
Brothers Henry Sidney Watrous (c. 1816–1882) and William A. Watrous (c. 1822–1911) arrived in Grand Rapids, Michigan, in the late 1840s. Another brother Erastus A. Watrous (c. 1829–?) arrived in the early 1870s. The parents of the Watrous brothers were Ashbel Watrous (c. 1788-1876) and Sarah (or Sally) Ingram (c. 1785–1874) of Hanover, Chautauqua County, New York. Other children of Ashbel and Sarah were Diana Watrous Meacham, Tompkins Watrous, Earl Gardener Watrous, Austin Watrous, and Sarah Watrous Herrick.
Henry Sidney Watrous married Elizabeth A. Seymour (c. 1819–1884) about 1840 in Hanover, New York. Henry was involved in the lumbering industry. Henry and Elizabeth had five known children: Burritt Judson Watrous (1840–1926), Thirza Watrous Dale (1842–1915), Marion Watrous (1848–?), Henry Seymour Watrous (1850–1924), and Jessie Watrous Tucker (1856–1935).
William A. Watrous married Adelia Hamilton (1836–1908) in Grand Rapids on 23 December 1868. They had two daughters, Cora Eva May Watrous (1871–1966) and Nellie A. Watrous (1874–1966).
Erastus A. Watrous married Sarah J. Underwood (c. 1846–1923) about 1876. The couple resided in Montcalm County, Michigan. They had one son, Hale S. Watrous (1880–1941).
The Watrous and their affiliated families lived in northern Grand Rapids and had homes on Plainfield Avenue, in what is now known as the Creston neighborhood. One of the homes was at the corner of Watrous Ave (now Lafayette Ave NE) and Dale St NE, which were named after the families.
Note that sometimes Watrous is spelled Wartrous.
Extent
.2 Linear Feet
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
This collection represents several generations of the Watrous family, who were early residents of Grand Rapids, Michigan. The first Watrous family members arrived in the city from New York State in the 1840s. There are also materials related to affiliate Grand Rapids residents such as the Seymour, Tucker, and Dale families. The collection contains original photographs of family members and family homes, as well as family history and excerpts of published materials. This collection would be beneficial for those researching these family surnames and the lives of early Grand Rapids residents.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Donated by Geraldine "Gerry" Watrous Noorman, accession 2023.030.
Condition Description
Good.
Processing Information
This collection came together in a single binder from Geraldine “Gerry” Watrous Noorman. Many of the family photos were separated out into their own folder, but other items were largely kept in their original order when they were moved into archival housing.
- Title
- Watrous family papers
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Jamie Wasilchenko
- Date
- 2024
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Grand Rapids History Center Repository
Grand Rapids Public Library
111 Library Street NE
Grand Rapids Michigan 49503 USA
616-988-5497
localhis@grpl.org