The Lavender History as Heard and Seen

Bertha Otelia Kunth Lavender about 1902

The Lavender History as Heard and Seen

by Charles E. Blakeslee

11/24/97

 

Edward John Lavender was born at Uxbridge, Ontario, Canada, on 02-September-1880, the son of William Lavender, born in Ireland, and Mary Jane Kirby. A brother, Francis Henry Lavender, was born at Whitechurch, Ontario, 30-April-1882. He died 09-March-1888. The parents were married at Stouffville, Ontario on 06-February-1878.

 

Edward John later lived with and worked for a Brown family in Mecosta County, Michigan. Still later he worked at the Major Hotel in Traverse City, Michigan. This may have been his first experience with the restaurant and baking industry. It can be assumed that this was where he met his future bride, Bertha Matilda Otelia Knuth from Reed City, Michigan. They were married on 03-June-1902. Shortly afterward they moved to Grand Marais, Michigan, on the shores of Lake Superior and operated a restaurant.

 

The reason the Lavenders moved to Grand Marais may have been because William Lavender, Ed’s father, was already located there. He had a farm there. The farm is about a mile west of Grand Marais. There is also a Lavenders Corner located about four miles south of Grand Marais.

To this union were born four children: William Edward Miles, 02-January-1904; Eva May, 30-March-1906; Charles James, 16-September-1908; and Daisy Victoria, 03-September-1910. As the timber cutting was completed and the railroad pulled out, the family moved to Seney, Michigan, where Mr. Lavender was a cook in a restaurant. Two more children were born there: Francis Richard, August-1913 and Ruth Bertha, October-1914. Francis Richard died six hours after birth. Apparently the family moved to Newberry after Ruth was born in 1914, where Gerald John was born on 07-November-1920.

 

At Newberry the Lavenders operated a bakery and restaurant. At one time, their bread was shipped all over the Upper Peninsula and to Mackinac Island. During the depression, Mr. Lavender kept many people from going hungry. He was the last of the old-time bakers in Michigan when the bakery burned in 1960. The restaurant at 109 John Street was probably closed at the time the Lavenders bought the house at 208 West McMillan Avenue in 1922.

 

Mrs. Lavender died on 30-October-1944 while her son Gerald was in England serving as a navigator for the bombers during WWII. Mr. Lavender died 29-March-1961.

 

Note: I understand that Mr. William Lavender was in charge of roads at Grand Marais. Did you ever see a snow roller? They used to use them to roll down the snow in Northern Michigan. My wife, Daisy Victoria Lavender, died 03-November-2001, at age 91 and 2 months.

 

2nd Note: My father-in-law, Ed Lavender, was a great sportsman. He loved fishing and hunting. He hunted and fished whenever he felt like it. He and the Warden played a game. Both knew it was going on, out of season and in season. Ed never wasted any meat. He always saw to it that the game, as well as baked goods, were always delivered to some poor families in need. I don’t think that Ed was ever caught by the game warden.

 

 

Published in U S Legacies Magazine Dec 2005