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Our Lady of Grace, Dearborn Heights, Michigan

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MSGC : Collections : Window

Window

Building Name: First Presbyterian Church

Studio Name: Tiffany Studios

City: Ypsilanti

Window Shape: 3 (arched)

Date of Window: 1899

Subject/Title of Window: Rexford Memorial

Brief Description of Subject: The middle section in this memorial window was designed to let light through. Doric columns are pictured as if holding up the canopy and divide this middle section into two lights. These columns are in harmony with the façade which is in the Grecian Doric style.

From the booklet, "Our Memorial Windows: A Brief Description of the Memorial Windows in the Sanctuary of The First Presbyterian Church, Ypsilanti, Michigan," by Doris Milliman, City Historian, page26-27.

The Rexford Window
Francis Karthalo Rexford
August 17, 1814 - September 25, 1896
Harriet Newell Rexford
May 24, 1816 - April 16, 1886

The year of 1837 was a very exciting year for Francis Karthalo Rexford of Symrna, New York. In that year he graduated from the Medical College in Fairfield, New York, and on March 22, he married Harriet Long Newell of Chenango, New York, the daughter of Elijah and Avis Long, and three months later, on June 7, arrived in Ypsilanti.

His activities in this frontier town were quite varied. He practiced medicine until 1850. He was postmaster from June 26, 1845 to May 9, 1857. In partnership with Benjamin Follett, he opened a store on East Cross Street. Later he opened a dry goods store on the north side of Congress Street (now Michigan Avenue) which was operated by his three sons for 36 years and later sold to Webb and Marrs. He presided at the dedication of Highland Cemetery in 1864.

He was elected an elder of our Church in 1842, but resigned in 1844. In 1876, he served on a social committee for the Church.

Francis and Harriet Rexford were the parents of four boys: Charles E. (September 14, 1838), Edgar (November 18, 1842), Frank K. (August 18, 1847), and Dwight C. (April 3, 1850). Their son, Edgar, was an active leader in both our Church and community. He served as president of the Yspilanti Savings Bank and was a member of the State Board of Education. He was on the Building Committee of our Church in 1898, when the towers were constructed and the windows purchased and installed. He was a trustee for many years and a liberal donor to our Church. He was succeeded as a trustee in 1910 by Professor Bert Peet.

Francis Rexford's picture is in the Rexford file in the Archives of the Ypsilanti Historical Museum.

Inscriptions: In Memory Of
Francis Karthalo Rexford
Harriet Newell Rexford


Condition of Window: Very good

Height: 15'8"

Width: 4'2"

Type of Glass and Technique: Opalescent Glass, Lead Came

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