Edward A. Acre was born in Ontario, Canada's Niagara County on September 1, 1862. He was the son of Alexander Acre, whose mother was born Mary Margaret DePeal. Edward married Johanna G. Lundy. Johanna's parents were Joseph Lundy (1805-1877) and Esther Silverhorn Lundy (1812-1891). Alexander and Johanna settled in Michigan's Ovid Township in Clinton County in 1867 when Edward was five years old. Except for those first five years, Edward was to spend the rest of his life in Clinton County. He only had an 8th grade education.
On August 10, 1893, 30 year old Edward married 30 year old Grace Jeffrey in St. Johns, Michigan. She had been born in Ohio in 1863 to Archibald Jeffrey and Ellen "Ella" J. Henderson. Together, Edward and Grace produced five children: Ella (born July 1894), Orin (born October 1895), Ivah (born September 1897), Elma Muriel (born September 1899) and Ward (born 1904).
According to the 1940 U.S. census, 77 year old Edward (who listed his occupation as "thresher") was a lodger living with 63 year old John Hess (or Morkey) and his wife Mattie at 7-B Maplewood Drive in Duplain, Clinton, MI.
Edward died at the age of 81 on March 7, 1944 in the Detroit home of his son, Ward. Funeral services were conducted at the Carter Funeral Home in Elsie by the Rev. R.D. Marmion, pastor of the Church of Christ at Duplain. Russell Ash, who had sung at the 1918 funeral of Edward's daughter Ella, returned to perform the 1908 hymn "The Last Mile Of The Way" and "Only A Shadow Between" with Mrs. Luman Hall as accompanist.

THE LAST MILE OF THE WAY
If I walk in the pathway of duty,
If I work till the close of the day,
I shall see the great King in His beauty,
When I've gone the last mile of the way. Refrain:
When I've gone the last mile of the way,
I will rest at the close of the day;
And I know there are joys that await me,
When I've gone the last mile of the way.

If for Christ I proclaim the glad story,
If I seek for His sheep gone astray,
I am sure He will show me His glory,
When I've gone the last mile of the way.
Here the dearest of ties we must sever,
Tears of sorrow are seen every day;
But no sickness, no sighing forever,
When I've gone the last mile of the way.
And if here I have earnestly striven,
And have tried all His will to obey,
'Twill enhance all the rapture of heaven,
When I've gone the last mile of the way.

Three of Edward's children survived him: Elsie's Orin along with Muriel and Ward (both Detroit residents). Edward also left eight grandchildren and a brother, Grant Acre, of Eagle.


Groom's Name: Edward A Acre
Groom's Birth Date: 1863
Groom's Birthplace: Niagara Co., Canada
Groom's Age: 30
Bride's Name: Grace Jeffery
Bride's Birth Date: 1863
Bride's Birthplace: Ohio
Bride's Age: 30
Marriage Date: 10 Aug 1893
Marriage Place: St. Johns, Clinton, Michigan
Groom's Father's Name: Alex Acre
Groom's Mother's Name: Joanna Lemda
Bride's Father's Name: Archible Jeffery
Bride's Mother's Name: Ellen J Henderson

According to the 1900 Census, the Acres had been married seven years and had four children all living at the time. The below list adds in their last child, born in 1904:

1. Ella F. Born Jul 1894 MI
2. Orin R. Born Oct 1895 MI
3. Ivah V. Born Sept 1897 MI
4. Elma Muriel Born Sept 1899 MI.
5. Ward Born 1904 (listed in the 1910 Census)

Edward's obituary as shown was posted in the Clinton County Republican newspaper on March 16, 1944 on Page 9, Column 1.