​
Children of Jarvis and Samantha Ganoung
Frank Ganoung (1857-1936) & Kate Vincent (B 1860-?) had the following children;
 Rachel Vincent Ganoung (1886-1/13/1964), married Charles O. Mekeel. (1/19/1883-11/23/1958) in 1913.  They remained members of the Jacksonville community church.  Rachel’s brothers both out lived her.  She and Charles O. Mekeel had the following children; Rhonda Mekeel (3/16/1914-8/3/2001), Florance Mekeel (5/27/1916-10/30/2008)- married  ? Lambeth, Anna Mekeel (10/31/1918-1/28/2007) and son Jesse Mekeel (7/23/1917-9/29/1994).
 
Charles (1889- ), Married 3/10/1909 to Catherine Harris.  Following their honey moon, Charles and Catherine moved to the farm of Grandmother Samantha Ganoung Widow.  Charles and Catherine had two daughters; Ruth Ganoung(1911-) and Marjorie Ganoung (1913-)
 
 Howard (1890-) on 3/15/1916 married Harriet Shepson.  Ceremony performed by bride’s brother Rev. H.M.Shepson of Binghamton.  Howard was a farmer and settled in Covert, Seneca NY, He and Harriet had two sons-
Carol (C.B.) Ganoung (1922-), served in WWII, enlisting on 9/1/1942.  After the war Carol married Onalee Brown and had a son, Gary Ganoung 4/15/1952.
 William Ganoung (1926-8/17/2003) William married Evelyn E. ? in Ithaca, where William and Evelyn lived and worked until they retired to Florida.  They had 2 daughters, Jill Ganoung and Jan Ganoung. The following is the obituary for William:
WILLIAM B. GANOUNG
CLERMONT, FL - William B. Ganoung, 77, formerly of Slaterville Springs, NY, went home to be with his Lord Sunday, August 17, 2003, in Clermont, FL, following a hard fought battle with cancer.He was predeceased by his wife of 28 years, Evelyn E. Ganoung. He is survived by two daughters, Jill Ganoung of Cocoa, FL, and Jan Edwards of Colorado Springs, CO; three grandchildren, Sarah, Ashley and Cody Edwards of Colorado Springs; one brother, C.B. Ganoung of Ithaca, NY; and several nieces and nephews.Mr. Ganoung retired from Ridley's Book Bindery, Page Book Bindery, and was most recently employed with MGM Studios in Orlando, FL.Burial will be a private interment next to his wife in Quick Cemetery, Brooktondale, NY. The family wishes any memorial contributions be made in Mr. Ganoung's memory to the American Cancer Society, or the local Hospice facility. - See more at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/theithacajournal/obituary.aspx?n=William-B-Ganoung&pid=87919241#sthash.f9yQbUgW.dpuf
 
Children of Jarvis Ganoung and Samantha Fowler
Bertha (1873-),married  ? Fundis
Anna (1856-)- never married
Annaliza (1857-before 1870)
Charles (1858-before 1870)
Arthur (1867-), Married Alice Kirby in 1890.  Alice was the daughter of Thomas Kirby (1838-4/2/1913).  Arthur, like most of his family, was a farmer and settled in the Trumansburg NY area.  Alice and Arthur had two children; Bessie (1891- ) and Clifford (11/15/1892-8/1971) Clifford married Eva? (6/16/1889-12/1979)   Clifford and Eva lived with Arthur and Alice through 1925.  In 1930 we find Arthur and Alice living in a house they have purchased on Hayers street in Ithaca NY.  Arthur is now working as a Janitor in a chain company in Ithaca. Clifford and Eva are living in a rental apartment on Albany St. in Ithaca.  Clifford works as a general laborer doing odd jobs. Clifford and Eva had no children. No information on Bessie is found after 1925.
 Elnora (Ella) (1868- married George Vincent in 1900. George was a farmer in Ithaca NY.  Ella and George had one child that died in infancy.  They had no children after this.
 
William D. Ganoung 1808-1882 (son of Jonathan Ganoung) moved to New Haven Huron Ohio where he purchased a farm and started a family.    William and Mercy had the following children, all born in Ohio;
Lewis B. 1840- Lewis is last seen in 1870 living in Carson City Nevada.  He is unmarried.  No further information available at this time.
Charles H. has born 10/17/1841-7/23/1917- In 1866 He married Carrie A. Adams 1/19/1842-4/24/1918. Charles was a farmer and owned his own farm.  He and Carrie had one child- Nettie L. Ganoung  Born 1870.  Nettie never married.
Susan born 1848. - no information available.  We see Susan in the 1870 census living at home with parents.  She does not appear after that. She may have died, though no record of her grave is available or she may have gotten married.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       This concludes our look at the Ganoung family. It is interesting to see that the Ganoungs are joined to our next family of interest through marriage.  We turn our attention now to the Mekeel Family, also found in the Quaker cemetery in Jacksonville NY. Stay tuned.

Samuel Ganoung b. 6/28/1764- d. Sep. 20, 1850     Married Elizabeth Ganoung (9/7/1767 – 7/7/1843) family Bible of/ Samuel Ganoung and wife Elizabeth Frost Ganoung married 1/31/1790. Ganoung, Elizabeth b. 1767 d. Jul. 7, 1843 -married Samuel Ganoung They had the following children:
Thomas F. Ganoung 10/30/1790-12/10/1814
Huldah F. Ganoung 6/30/1793-10/23/1886 married Samuel Baker-died 2/19/1871, Baker bible records deaths; Abram Baker died 11/24/1844, Elizabeth Baker Bell D. 9/15/1855, Munson Baker d. 6/16/1863, Niles Baker D. 12/14/1870, Warren Baker d. 3/10/1879, Moses Baker d. 11/18/1899, Marenda Baker Owens D. 4/4/1906, Angelina Baker D. 5/13/1912, Samuel T. Baker D. 2/29/1916, Mary G. Bunnitt Baker D. 3/29/1927,Eda Genette Baker Vaughan D. 3/8/1951, Della Mae Baker Hendricks D. 2/3/1968, Mary Ellen Baker Buch D. 8/8/1975
 
Betsey Ganoung 3/7/1795-11/27/1829
Mehetable Ganoung 3/13/1797-
John F. Ganoung 2/28/1799-6/16/1800 Died age 1 year.
Munson Ganoung 9/2/1801-9/19/1820- Died at age 19.
Cornelia/Permelia Ganoung 12/12/1802-4/30/1867/ Ganoung, Pamelia b. Dec. 12, 1803 d. Apr. 30, 1867 (Daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth Frost Ganoung) 
Philomena Ganoung 3/24/1806-3/22/1881
Emeline Ganoung 11/25/1809-1/11/1867
 
 
 
 
Jason Ganoung,  b. 1769 d. Nov. 15, 1859- Married Judith Craft.   In the 1800 census Jason appears with a family of 6 children; 3 boys and 3 girls all under 10.  This means all of those children were born between 1790-1800. 
            Ganoung, Judah Craft b. 1775 d. Jun. 26, 1852 married Jason Ganoung (1769 - 1859) parents of 
Children of Jason and Judith
William Ganoung, b. Mar. 26, 1791 d. Sep. 4, 1847
Joseph Ganoung,   b. Aug. 19, 1798 d. Aug. 5, 1884   (Buried in Grove cemetery T-burg)   married Amelia Savage about 1817 Amelia Savage b. Sep. 22, 1800 d. Apr. 18, 1886    
Unknown son
Unknown Daughter
Unknown Daughter
Unknown Daughter.
 
 
Daniel Ganoung born in Dutchess county NY on 6/14/1776 did not move to Tompkins County with his brothers. He died in Putnam County on 1874.  No information has been located about Daniel other than a will probated on 11/20/1874.  Details of the will are not available on line at this time.  

​Jonathan Ganoung line-
Children of James and Eliza Ann Ganoung
Adaline Ganoung b. 1834 d. Nov. 11, 1846- Died at the age of 12.
 
Jarvis Ganoung ( note: when looking for Jarvis in the Ancestry.com database there were transcription errors made in his name in all census.  In one he is transcribed as James, in another as Jesus.  Looking at the document the truth this evident. They are all Jarvis) 11/5/1831-4/10/1893- buried in Hayts cemetery in Ithaca NY.  Jarvis married Samantha Fowler (1834-1816) on 10/10/1855.  1900 census- Samantha mother of 7- 5 living.  In 1860 census Jarvis is a farm laborer.  They do not own their own farm.  Living with them is 14 year old Warren Fowler, Samantha’s brother or possibly cousin. He does not appear in the 1850 census. Samantha Fowler is the daughter of Rheuben Fowler and Elizabeth (last name unknown).
Children of Jarvis and Samantha:
Frank Ganoung (1857-1936) Frank Ganoung  was a farmer.  He bought property next to his mother.  Frank Married Kate Vincent (B 1860-) daughter of Arnold and Eliza Ann Vincent. Frank and Kate had the following children; Rachel Vincent Ganoung (1886-1964), Charles (1889-), Howard (1890-)
Bertha (1873-),
Anna (1856-)
Annaliza (1857-),
Charles (1858-)
Arthur (1867-),
 Elnora (1868-)
 
Oliver Ganoung 1838-7/23/1926.  Oliver was buried in Tompkins NY but lived for some time in Coventry Montgomery Kansas. Married in 1893 to Sarah A. (unknown) B. December 1853 in New Jersey.  Oliver and Sarah had no children.  In 1920 Oliver and Sarah’s 13 year of nephew , Clyde Wintermute Born 1907 in New Jersey, was living with them.
William D. Ganoung 1808-1882 moved to New Haven Huron Ohio where he purchased a farm and started a family.  William married twice, 1st to Jane (last name unknown).  Jane died 4/28/1838. The couple had no children together.  He married a second time to Mercy Head born in NY State in 1813, Mercy died at some time between 1870-1880..  William and Mercy had the following children, all born in Ohio;
Lewis B. 1840
Charles H. born 1842
Susan born 1848.
    
Jacob S. Ganoung 1810-1882 also moved to Huron Ohio where he married Alma Foote on 8/2/1834.  Jacob married a second time to Emily H. Culbertson (1844-)  Jacob and Emily adopted a son, possibly a relative- Howard D. Ganoung born 6/11/1872 in Fairfield Huron Ohio.  Howard married Allie May Blair in Huron Ohio.  They had no children.

Ganoung, Jonathan b. Jun. 14, 1776 d. Jun. 2, 1854         - Elizabeth Drew11/11/1780-1/12/1866 appear in the old Quaker cemetery. 
Jonathan is thought to descend from Jeremiah Ganoung who was born 4/9/1671 in Flushing Queens NY.  Jeremiah married in 1690 in Queens to Martha Denmark born 4/9/1671 in Flushing Queens to John Denmark Jr. (1/16/1621 born in Retford Nottingham England) and Sarah Hollander born 1620 in South Hampton NY.  John and Sarah were married in Suffolk county Mass. In 1643.  Sarah died in Queens NY, in 1671, possibly in childbirth.  Jeremiah and Martha had one confirmed son, Jeremiah Ganoung Jr. born in 1695 in Flushing Queens  Jeremiah Jr. was married in Morris County New Jersey on 6/11/1720 in the Presbyterian church to Deziar (last name unknown very probably Deziar Denison born4/16/ 1693 in Connecticut to George Dennison) Born 1695 in Flushing Queens NY.  Deziar died 9/27/1741 in Morris County New Jersey.  Jeremiah Jr. died in Morris county New Jersey on 5/7/1776.  Jeremiah Jr. and Deziar had one confirmed son, John Ganoung born 1725 in New York State.  John was married in Morris New Jersey on 8/22/1751 to Sarah Clark.  Sarah was born in 1724 In Hanover New Jersey, daughter of Joshua Clark, (1698 Essex NJ -1758 Essex NJ.  Joshua married Mary Duvall in 1721 in Middlesex NJ) John and Sarah both died in Morris NJ, Sarah in 1785 and John in December of 1795.  John and Sarah have one confirmed son; Jacob Ganoung ,born 1748 in Putnam County NY.  Jacob served in the revolutionary army in the 7th regiment in 1776 in Dutchess county NY.  He married in 1775 in Dutchess county NY to Hannah Wilson.  Hannah was the Granddaughter of Samuel Wilson and the daughter of James Wilson (10/31/1718-8/11/1802 Carmel Dutchess NY) and Mary (Last name unknown ) (1/2/1718-6/4/1794) James Wilson served in the NY Militia from 1776-1782.  James and Mary had two confirmed daughters; Phebe Wilson (1748-5/23/1827 married Zebulon Washburn (1747-1833) they had one son- Zebulon Washburn Jr. (1782-1835), and Hannah Wilson married Jacob Ganoung.Jacob and Hannah died in Carmel, Punam NY.  They had the following sons; Daniel Ganoung born Putnam NY 1782-1868 and Jonathan Ganoung born 6/14/1776 in Dutchess county NY. Jason Ganoung 1769-11/15/1859-born in Putnam County married Judith Craft, and Samuel Ganoung 6/28/1764-9/20/1850- married Elizabeth Frost.
        Jonathan married Elizabeth Drew on 1/4/1799. Elizabeth was the daughter of William Drew (5/21/1755 Yorktown Westchester NY-9/11/1837 Putnam NY and Jane Fowler (1759Westchester-5/21/1849-putnam) It is likely that Jonathan did not begin life as a member of the Society of Friends.  Jonathan fought in the war of 1812 and Quakers do not believe in participating in war fair. It is likely his conversion came around the time of his relocation to Ulysses Tompkins NY.  Jonathan was a well-known and well respected farmer in the Trumansburg/Jacksonville area, Tompkins county NY, where he settled with his wife and son James.  All of the children were born in Dutchess and Putnam Counties NY.  Jonathan died on 6/2/1854 and is buried in the Old Quaker Cemetery in Jacksonville Ny.  Elizabeth died 1/12/1866.
Children:
James  Ganoung, b. Oct. 26, 1801 d. Jul. 24, 1885. Married Eliza Ann Jarvis (1805 - 1890)-child Adaline Ganoung (1834 - 1846) James left a will in Ulysses Tompkins NY leaving his heirs- Eliza Ann- wife, Oliver B. Ganoung (1838-7/23/1926) of Coventry Montgomery Kansas (died and buried in Tompkins county NY Grove cemetery), Adeline Mason of Covert Seneca NY age 34, William H. Ganoung Ulysses Tompkins age 58, and Jarvis Ganoung Ulysses Tompkins NY age 50 real-estate worth $7,000, And personal property $5,000.  The will was probated on 10/26/1801.  In 1850 Janes and Eliza are living in Trumansburg NY with their children and Eliza’s mother- Jerusha Jarvis B.1774-1853. In 1860 Elizabeth Ganoung, now widowed, is living with James and Eliza.  Children of James and Eliza Ann Ganoung:
Adaline Ganoung b. 1834 d. Nov. 11, 1846- Died at the age of 12.
Jarvis Ganoung 1831
Oliver Ganoung 1838
 
 
William D. Ganoung 1808-1882 moved to New Haven Huron Ohio where he purchased a farm and started a family.  William married twice, 1st to Jane (last name unknown).  Jane died 4/28/1838. The couple had no children together.  He married a second time to Mercy Head born in NY State in 1813.  William and Mercy had the following children, all born in Ohio;
Lewis B. 1840
Charles H. born 1842
Susan born 1848.
     Mercy died at some time between 1870-1880.
 
Jacob S. Ganoung 1810-1882 also moved to Huron Ohio where he married Alma Foote on 8/2/1834.  Jacob married a second time to Emily H. Culbertson (1844-)  Jacob and Emily adopted a son, possibly a relative- Howard D. Ganoung born 6/11/1872 in Fairfield Huron Ohio.  Howard married Allie May Blair in Huron Ohio.  They had no children.
 


Stay tuned there is more to come.

  I hope you have enjoyed our look at Quaker's in America and I apologize for the long pause between posts.        We have seen that the Quaker faith was influential in  the development of the United States but who were these people?  Let’s take a look at some of the families found in The Old Quaker Settlement Cemetery in Jacksonville, Ulysses Tompkins NY.    One of the most prominent families found in this cemetery is the Ganoung family.  We met some of the Ganoung’s briefly when we reviewed the history of the town of Catharine in Schuyler county NY.    One of the Jones relations married one to the Ganoung relations, who was at that time a Methodist.  
   We will also look at a family found in the Friend's cemetery, also in Jacksonville Tompkins NY, these are the Mekeel family.    If you are a relative of wither of these families I welcome you to send in information about your relatives and , as necessary to expand or correct any information I may post.  Please remember all of my information comes form documents found on line or within the local community.  To really have a feel for a person's character it helps to have some family input.  
​   I will be researching as I post, so we are in this together.  I hope you will find it interesting and find some valuable information you may not have been able to locate elsewhere.

The following Ganoung family members are resting peacefully in the Jacksonville Quaker Settlement.  You can see that I have started some research on this family to try and make connections. 
 1.      Ganoung, Adaline b. 1834 d. Nov. 11, 1846- child of James and Eliza Ann Ganoung.  Died at the age of  12.
2.      Ganoung, Eliza Ann b. Apr. 15, 1805 d. Nov. 23, 1890- James Ganoung
3.      Ganoung, Elizabeth b. 1767 d. Jul. 7, 1843    -married Samuel Ganoung
4.      Ganoung, Elizabeth Drew b. Nov. 11, 1780 d. Jan. 12, 1866    married Jonathan Ganoung        
5.      Ganoung, James b. Oct. 26, 1801 d. Jul. 24, 1885. Married Eliza Ann Ganoung (1805 - 1890)-child Adaline Ganoung (1834 - 1846) James left a will in Ulysses Tompkins NY leaving his heirs- Eliza Ann- wife, Oliver B. Ganoung (1838-7/23/1926) of Coventry Montgomery Kansas (died and buried in Tompkins county NY Grove cemetery), Adeline Masson of Covert Seneca NY age 34, William H. Ganoung Ulysses Tompkins age 58, and Jarvis Ganoung Ulysses Tompkins NY age 50 real-estate worth $7,000. And personal property $5,000.  The will was probated on 10/26/1801.

6.      Ganoung, Jason b. 1769 d. Nov. 15, 1859- Judith Craft
7.      Ganoung, Jonathan b. Jun. 14, 1776 d. June. 2, 1854  - Elizabeth Drew- Son Jonathan Ganoung  Born 1830. James Ganoung born 1801  (1850 they lived in Enfield NY.  Son or possibly grandson- Jonathan still at home and unmarried)(1860 Elizabeth is living in Ulysses Tompkins with son James and his family- Eliza A. B.1815,oliver ganoung b1838 still at home  )
8.      Ganoung, Judah Craft b. 1775 d. Jun. 26, 1852 married Jason Ganoung (1769 - 1859) parents of  Joseph Ganoung (1798 - 1884) married  Amelia Savage about 1817.
9.      Ganoung, Samuel b. 6/28/1764- d. Sep. 20, 1850      Married Elizabeth Ganoung (9/7/1767 – 7/7/1843) family Bible of Samuel Ganoung and wife Elizabeth Frost Ganoung married 1/31/1790. They had the following children:
Thomas F. Ganoung 10/30/1790-12/10/1814
Huldah F. Ganoung 6/30/1793-10/23/1886 married Samuel Baker-died 2/19/1871, Baker bible records deaths; Abram Baker died 11/24/1844, Elizabeth Baker Bell D. 9/15/1855, Munson Baker d. 6/16/1863, Niles Baker D. 12/14/1870, Warren Baker d. 3/10/1879, Moses Baker d. 11/18/1899, Marenda Baker Owens D. 4/4/1906, Angelina Baker D. 5/13/1912, Samuel T. Baker D. 2/29/1916, Mary G. Bunnitt Baker D. 3/29/1927,Eda Genette Baker Vaughan D. 3/8/1951, Della Mae Baker Hendricks D. 2/3/1968, Mary Ellen Baker Buch D. 8/8/1975

Betsey Ganoung 3/7/1795-11/27/1829
Mehetable Ganoung 3/13/1797-
John F. Ganoung 2/28/1799-6/16/1800
Munson Ganoung 9/2/1801-9/19/1820
Cornelia/Permelia Ganoung 12/12/1802-4/30/1867
Philomena Ganoung 3/24/1806-3/22/1881
Emeline Ganoung 11/25/1809-1/11/1867

10.  Ganoung, William b. Mar. 26, 1791 d. Sep. 4, 1847
11.  Genung, Jonathan b. 1776 d. Jun. 2, 1854 married to Elizabeth Drew
We will also look at the Meekel family buried in the Friend’s cemetery, also in Jacksonville Tompkins County NY.


1.      Mekeel, Aaron b. 1817 d. 1903 was a dairy farmer in Hector NY.  In the 1860’s Aaron became lame in his ankles and used a crutch to get around.  This limited but did not end his Dairy farming.  Aaron traveled to other counties to promote his dairy and to learn about modern technology as it applied to the dairy industry.  In 1872 the disease in his legs was sever enough to require amputation and Aaron spent some time at the Dryden Spring convalescing.  Aaron was married to Anna and had the following children; Catherine (B 1941) and Mary (1844)., Hannah (1856), Emma (1859), Mitchell (1942)
In 1914 the Mekeel farm was sold, boasting  “SALE—One of the best 15 acre poultry, truck and fruit farms that has been on the market for years, with good nine-room house, large brooder house 12x70 with hot water piped throughout, all papered and plastered poultry house 40xlO, with concrete floor, large barn 26x60, shop 24x18, lots of fruit., about 60 large apple trees, SO to 40 young apple trees, all of the best varieties and bearing, 40 choice pear trees in full bearing condition; land lays  level, with rich, black loam soil adapted to raising onions, cabbage, vegetables, in fact most any crop; about 4 acres woods and pasture, balance under cultivation and in fruit This property has been in the hands of the present owners fifty or sixty years and is known as the Aaron MeKeel farm. “


2.      Mekeel, Amy Grace b. 1885 d. 1976  May 8.1942 Amy Grace reported on the World Friends conference she had attended in Richman Indiana.  Amy Grace never married She maintained her religion throughout her life and spoke often about it.  The following appeared in the Ovid Gazette on 11/9/    1967.  DAR Hears About Perry City Quakers TRUMANSBURG - On Tuesday, Nov. 7 Chief Taughannock Chapter of D.A.R. met at the home of Mrs. Catharine Hoffmire. After lunch and the business meeting, the group listened with great interest to Miss Amy Grace Mekeel and her sister, Mrs. Hopkins both of Jacksonville. They gave an account of the coming of the first Quakers to the Perry City region; about the church built there; about the members and where they lived; where they were buried; where their children were educated and many other things about the Quakers and their belief unknown to most of the audience.
3.      Mekeel, Anna b. 1870 d. 1886 Daughter of Jesse Mekeel and Rebecca )
4.      Mekeel, Catherine Tripp b. 1878 d. 1944   ( daughter of Jesse and Rebecca)    
5.      Mekeel, Elizabeth b. 1838 d. 1908
6.      Mekeel, Elizabeth b. 1873 d. 1908 (Daughter of Jesse and Rebecca)
7.      Mekeel, Emma b. 1858 d. 1929- never married.  Lived in Trumansburg NY.  Emma was an invalid at the time of her death.  She was survived by one brother- William of Trumansburg and one sister- Mrs. Anna Hopkins of Warrensville PA.
8.      Mekeel, Hester Bailey b. Oct. 18, 1795 d. Jun. 26, 1846-married Joshua Mekeel- children of Joshua and Hester- Isaac Devoe Mekeel (1822 - 1875) & Abram V. Mekeel (1829 - 1902)
9.  Mekeel, Isaiah b. 1859 d. 3/19/1918
10.  Mekeel, Jesse b. 1840 d. 1931 married Rebecca H. ? (1850).  Jesse was a farmer in Trumansburg NY.  They had the following children; Anna Mekeel (1871), Elizabeth (1873), Sarah (1876), Catheren( 1878)
11.  Mekeel, Joshua b. Jun. 25, 1795 d. Feb. 24, 1877-married x2- Hester Bailey and Anna Underhill.- children-1) Isaac Devoe Mekeel
2) Caleb Bailey Mekeel
3) Anne Eliza Mekeel
4) Abram V. Mekeel
5) Arthur Michael Mekeel
6) Hester I. Mekeel
12.  Mekeel, Lydia B. b. 1832 d. 1920- married William E. Mekeel (1872 - 1959)
13.  Mekeel, Mary G. b. 1825 d. 1867
14.  Mekeel, Mary L. b. 1880 d. 1962       
15.  Mekeel, Rebekah b. 1849 d. 1934-Wife of Jesse Mekeel
16. Charles Owen Mekeel (1883 - 1958) married Rachel Ganoung 4/7/1913.  Rachel is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Ganoung of Glenwood.  Rachel died 10/13/1964.  survived by 1 son, Jesse Mekeel,three daughters; Rhoda Mekeel, Mrs. Florence Lambeth of Bethseda Md. , Annie Mekeel.  also survived by 2 brothers, one named- Howard Ganoung.  Rachel is buried in Hayts Cemetery.  She was a member of the Jacksonville community church.
17.  Mekeel, Sarah D. Tripp b. 1876 d. 1936
18.  Mekeel, Sarah Jane b. 1854 d. 1873  
19.  Mekeel, William b. 1815 d. 1871- married Martha G. Hussey Mekeel (1820 - 1905) Farmer in Hector NY.  He and Martha had the following children; James T. Mekeel (1836), Elizabeth Mekeel (1838-1908), Jesse Mekeel (1840-1931),Amy Q. Mekeel (1842)
20.  Mekeel, William E. b. 1872 d. 1959-married Sarah D. Tripp Mekeel (1876 - 1936)
     Stay tuned there is much more to come in the next few weeks.

        In this series we will look at the Quaker religion and how they shaped America.  I will look at a couple of Quaker families found in the old Cemetery in Trumansburg NY and see what we can discover.

If you are like me than many of you probably have heard of the Quakers, seen the Quaker oats man and not really known much about them.  In this series I will attempt to answer the questions;

1.      who were the Quakers,

2.       where did they come from

3.       where did they go,

4.       How did they influence American history? 

5.      Aren’t the Quakers really just the Amish with a different name?

      This story really begins way back in 1517.  From roughly 33AD until 1517 the Christian world was governed largely by the Holy Catholic church, later known as the Holy Roman Catholic church, but all of those splits and changes will wait for another time.  In 1517 a Catholic friar from Germany changed all of that when he started to openly question the teachings and practices of the church.  In those times the bible was written in Latin and was kept from the masses and was the sole dominion of the religious and highly educated.  When Martin Luther openly challenged the teachings and practices of the church he opened a flood gate for the Protestant religious movement.  The Bible was translated into the vernacular of the various countries and for the first time the common people had access to the word of God. (for more on Martin Luther see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protestant_Reformation, http://www.uhistory.com/pages/h1136.html )  

     Martin Luther was a catalyst for change and reformation and though there had been earlier attempts at reformation it was largely through his stance that Protestantism was born.  Before long Lutheranism took hold in Germany, The Ana-Baptist movement took hold in Switzerland and spread- spawning the Amish, Mennonite and Hutterites (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anabaptists ), The seeds of Adventism (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adventism ), Anglicanism (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anglicanism ), Baptists (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baptists ), Calvanism from which the puritans came, (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calvinism ), The seeds that would become the Methodist church  (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Methodism) and the Pentecostal churches (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pentecostalism )  were sown. 

    It was into this climate that Christopher and Mary Lege Fox, devote Anglicans living in Drayton in The Clay Leicester England, brought forth their son, George Fox in July of 1624.  Mary and Christopher were very devout Christians.  Christopher, a weaver by trade was often referred to as “righteous Christer” by his friends and neighbors.  His wife Mary was characterized as being, “of the stock of the martyrs”.  They were a simple, hardworking couple.  They raised their son to be as fiercely devoted to Christian principles as they were.

   George learned well from their example.  He was a bright boy and found himself pondering many of the teachings of the church.  Raised by his parents on the teachings of the Church of England, George had no formal education, but quickly learned to read and write.  He was fascinated by the bible and studied it continually. Fox is quoted as saying that by the time he was eleven years old he “Knew pureness and righteousness; for while I was a child, I was taught how to walk to be kept pure. The Lord taught me to be faithful, in all things, and to act faithfully in two ways; inwardly to God and outwardly to men” (Jones 1908)

     George was apprenticed to a shoe maker and shepherd.   He enjoyed this endeavor as it gave him time to think and contemplate.  He was well known for his diligence.  George constantly pursued the simplicity of life,, practicing humility and foregoing luxury.  While his work as a shepherd was brief it had a great impact on him and in later years he cautioned hid followers to remember that Abel, Noah, Abraham, Jacob, Moses and David were all shepherds and thus a formal education should not be seen as a qualification ot ministry.

    Although George practiced a simple life, his mind was always churning and he sought the company of learned men with whom he could engage in long discussions on religious matters.  George formed a close friendship with his hometown Clergyman Nathaniel Stephens, who saw George as a brilliant mind, though the two had very different ideas about religion.  Over time their friendship was strained and Stephens would later refer to Fox as a madman. 

     George also found friendship among the religious professors but by the time he was 19 he had distanced himself from them, finding their behavior and alcohol consumption at odds with his own beliefs regarding purity.  Around this time, when George was 19, he began recording in his journal his experiences during prayer, in which he heard an inner voice guiding and directing him.  George felt compelled to leave Drayton in the Clay in September of 1643.   He wandered around England in “a state of mental torment and confusion”.   George sought out the advice of clergy but found no comfort in their offerings.  Disillusioned and dejected he returned home in 1644.  Home did not offer any more promise to the confused young Fox.  Family encouraged marriage or military service as a solution to his disquiet.  George left home again, determined to question religious figures and challenge those he disagreed with.  He was actively searching for answers to troubling thoughts, trying to reconcile scripture with practice.

    For several years Fox traveled around the country side, praying, discussion and ever seeking answers to his questions.  It was during this time that his unique beliefs began to take shape.  Through prayer and medication George gained a greater understanding of his faith and what it required from him.  He called this process “opening”.   Prayer and meditation, this “Opening” time would become a corner stone of his faith.  George also experienced a series of revelations which offered him a deeper inner understanding of standard Christian beliefs in creation and salvation.  Among these were:

·         Christians differ in external practice but all are “saved” because of belief, thus rituals can be ignored as long as one experienced true spiritual conversion.

·         The qualification of ministry is given by the Holy Spirit, not by Ecclesiastical study. Anyone has the right to minister, assuming the spirit guides them, including women. ( quite and advanced thought in the 1600’s)

·         God lives in the heart of the obedient, religious experience should not be confined to a steeple house. ( fox deliberately refused to use the word Church to refer to a house of worship.  He believed that the Church was made up of the people, not the building. He was known to worship in the fields and orchards, believing that God’s presence could be felt in the natural world).

      Fox sought answers among the various clergy and denominations and among the dissenters as well, but none of them held the answers he was seeking.  Seeking guidance and direction, feeling lost and alone, Fox, while engaged in prayer and meditation states he heard a voice answering his prayer stating; “There is one, even Christ Jesus, who can speak to thy condition”.  From this Fox understood that church and denominations were unnecessary, that he could turn directly to God and speak without intermediaries.

     This was all startling revelations for the time.  Fox, enlightened and enthralled, began preaching his message in 1648.  He was met with a great deal of interest and approval among the common folk and by a great deal of animosity among the clergy and other officials.  He called people to meet in the fields and market-places and , at times, in the steeple houses when the priests had finished with them.  He spoke powerfully and with authority about his Spirituality movement, espousing what he referred to as “The true religion”.  A gathering of followers began to assemble and from this they became known as “The Society of Friends”.  Fox taught his followers to practice “Silent waiting”, when a group would come together and wait in silence for the spirit to move someone to speak.  They found that being together in silence was powerful and uplifting.  Often an hour or more would pass in silent meditation and no one would feel moved to speak.  At other times members of the congregation would feel over whelmed with words or song that they shared with the congregation and then returned to the silent waiting.

    Fox often preached mortality, grounded in scripture but punctuated by personal experience.  He attacked the practices of the church which called men to tithe to support the institutions of the church.    He urged his listeners to live sinless lives but avoided the view that all acts of the believer were automatically sinless.  Fox championed social justice, an important issue at the time when oppression by the powerful was a very real concern.

     Fox led many to convert and turn away from the corruptions of the institutionalized churches of the day.  As such he found himself persecuted by clergy and the English magistrate alike.  He was imprisoned in 1850, 1852. 1854,  for blasphemy.  In 1850 a judge mocked Fox exhortations to “tremble at the word of the Lord” by calling him and his followers “Quakers”.  From the experience of this persecution Fox strengthened his tenant of pacifism.  He taught his followers not to swear oaths, not to take up arms, spiritual or physical, against their fellow man.  Further imprisonment followed Fox career; 1656,60,63,66,74.  In 1669 Fox married Margaret Fell, a woman of high social position and an early convert. In 1671 George traveled to Barbados and to the English colonies in America.  By this time he had followers in the colonies, converted by earlier missionaries.  Fox arrived in Maryland.  While there he carried his message to local Native tribes who were interested in hearing his message.

     George Fox died January 13, 1691 in England and is buried in the Quaker Burying ground at Bunhill Fields in London.  Fox journal was published in 1694 after editing by Thomas Ellwood, and William Penn.  The journal is still in print and can be purchased from Amazon for a modest price.

     John Fox was a religious pioneer who developed a very different type of worship.  The Society of Friends was founded on his beliefs, the term Quaker, as we have seen was a derogatory slur, which was incorporated with pride by the Society of Friends.   

    So far we are off to a good start in answering our questions, but we still have some ground to cover.  We now know that the Quakers, AKA, The Society of Friends were a religious group developed in dissention to the established religions in England.  That they began in England and spread across the globe in the mid to late 1600’s, and that they were not the same as the Amish.  We still need to explore where they went and how they influenced American history.  We will cover those answers and take a brief look at the Amish as well in part II of Is There a Quaker in your Family Tree.

                                     Happy Labor Day

        

    

 Welcome back .  I am sure most of you will readily recognize the image above as the Quaker Oats man.  Some people have wondered over the years if he was a real person, and how were The Society of Friends connected to Quaker Oats.  One would imagine the company was founded by the Quakers.  One would be incorrect.    The current information from the company is that the Quaker man does not represent any real person, living or dead.  He is just an image of a man in Quaker garb selected to represent the values of honesty, integrity, purity and strength projected by the Quaker faith.  That being said, information issued by the same company in 1909 identified the Quaker Oats man as being Pennsylvania's own  William Penn.
    Looking at sketches of William Penn as a youth and as an older man one can see a resemblance.

Even though in the minds of most Americans  the Quaker Oats company company and the heart healthy oat meal is indelibly linked to the Society of Friends, Quaker Oats is in no way affiliated with the Society of Friends.   The Quaker Oats company was born of a merger of four oat mills in Ohio, and Iowa.   In 1877 Quaker Oats registered as the first trademark for a breakfast cereal. The trademark was registered with the U.S. Patent Office as "a figure of a man in 'Quaker garb.'" Both former owners, Henry Seymour and William Heston, claimed to have selected the Quaker name as a symbol of good quality and honest value.
      While this link was good for business it did not sit well with the religious Society of Friends who have on several occasions  expressed frustration at being confused with the Quaker Oats representation.  In recent years, Friends have twice protested the Quaker name being used for advertising campaigns seen as promoting violence. In 1990, some Quakers started a letter-writing campaign after a Quaker Oats advertisement depicted Popeye as a "Quakerman" who used violence against aliens, sharks, and Bluto. Later that decade, more letters were sparked by Power Ranger toy included in Cap'n Crunch cereal. 
    Over the years  Legal troubles have  plagued the Quaker Oats company, which have  threatened  the reputation of the Religious society of friends through the name association.   In the 1950s, researchers from Quaker Oats Company, MIT and Harvard University carried out experiments at the Walter E. Fernald State School to determine how the minerals from cereals were metabolized. Parents of mentally challenged children were asked for permission to let their children be members of a Science Club and participate in research. Being a member of the Science Club gave the children special privileges. The parents were told that the children would be fed with a diet high in nutrients. However, they were not told (and the consent form contained no information indicating) that the food their children were fed contained radioactive calcium and iron. The information obtained from the experiments was to be used as part of an advertising campaign.The company was later sued because of the experiments. The lawsuit was settled on 31 December 1997. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quaker_Oats_Company).
   In today's post we will take a look at the questions;  Are the Quakers really just the Amish  with a different name?  Let's start with a look at the Amish  faith.  In our last post we saw that the Amish had ties to the Ana-baptist movement which started in Switzerland.  The Ana-baptists grew out of the reformation started in Germany by Martin Luther.  The Ana-Baptist movement was founded on the principles of the bible as the sole source of authority an should be strictly followed and they preached against infant baptism, practiced throughout the Christian world.   As early as 1523, William Reublin began to preach against infant baptism in villages surrounding Zurich, encouraging parents to not baptize their children.  Ana-Baptist means re-baptized, though this is not an accurate understanding of the practice.  Yet at the time converts had already been baptized in infancy and the movement called for a re-baptism to take place when the person was an adult and was able to make an informed choice.   The Ana-baptists did not recognize  infant baptism and so for them there was only one, true baptism, made through a conscious choice and with much contemplation. The Amish church began with a schism in Switzerland within a group of Swiss and Alsatian Anabaptists in 1693 led by Jakob Ammann. Those who followed Ammann became known as Amish.
     In contrast to the Amish , the society of friends recognized the bible as a good book to follow but placed reliance of the inner voice, the Holy Spirit which dwelt within. They placed more emphasis on social justice and did not recognize baptism at all.   The Amish and Quakers share a love of simplicity, choosing to wear simple hand made clothing, and following a simple life style, but unlike the Amish there was no restrictions regarding dress placed on the Quakers.  William Penn was well known for his elaborate dress and love of fashion.  The Quaker was pacifistic, refusing to take up arms, they did not recognize dominion among men, believing g all men, women and children were equal under God, and they did not swear oaths or allegiance to a king or a government.  The Amish movement began in Switzerland and Germany, where as the Quaker movement sprung up in England.  For more information regarding the Amish or the AnaBaptist movement you can visit the following :      
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anabaptists        https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amish,  http://amishamerica.com/who-are-the-anabaptists/   http://www.anabaptistchurch.org/

    




 

  Summer has officially come to a close as we enter Labor Day weekend.  I hope you have all had a happy and healthy summer.  Before too long it will be holiday time.  I would love to post some holiday memories and pictures on the spot light page, so if you have a holiday  memory you would like to share, and/or a family picture or a picture of  someone near and dear to your heart , whether they are still with you or have passed on, send them in and I will post them in time for the holidays.
    This month we begin our series on the Quakers, AKA, the society of Friends.  The series title : IS THERE A QUAKER IN YOUR FAMILY TREE.   In this series we will look at the Quaker religion and how it influenced American history.  I will look at a couple of Quaker families found in the Quaker Settlement Cemetery located on Perry city road in Jacksonville NY  between Trumansburg and Ithaca NY to  see what we can discover.    If you are like me than many of you probably have heard of the Quakers, seen the Quaker oats man and not really known much about them.  In this series I will attempt to answer the questions; 
who were the Quakers?
 where did they come from and where did they go?
How did they influence American history?
And  Are  Quakers really just the Amish with a different name?

Let's open this series with some pictures taken in the Quaker Settlement Cemetery:

  We started this series with a look at the founding patriots of the town of Catharine.  These were men from Connecticut, mostly from Fairfield, who came to settle and improve the land they were hearing so much about from returning revolutionary veterans.  During the Clinton-Sullivan campaign to drive the natives (or annihilate them) from the land the soldiers had traveled down river into the wilderness.  They had marched down hills, across swamps, through forests, until they came upon the lush Valley where the Seneca made their home under the guiding hand of Catharine Montour, acting chieftain of the tribe.  The land in this part of New York State, with its numerous waterfalls, thick forests, and fertile valley looked like a paradise to the war weary soldiers.  Fruit hung heavy on the tree, grapes exploded on the vine.  The woods teamed with wild life and the lake with fish.  This was an entrepreneurs dream.

    They came in 1798-1805, first in small numbers, and then with families until several small communities had sprung up around the county. Names like Mitchell, Beardsley, Coe, Lovell, Caitlin spread like wild fire across the landscape. Large families were the sign of success and were a practical necessity in an age without mechanical devices to help clear, plow, and reap the land.

    Our goal was to  looking at Mary Jones, the woman who had previously owned my house.   Mary never married and left no off spring but her name lives on in the local community.  We traced her family and we found threads that ran back to the beginning of the township.  She was, in one way or another, related to the Mitchells that first split the area into lots, the Caitlin’s, Beardsleys, Aults, Lovells and, of course the Jones, Stanley and Shelton families. 

    Mary Jones house, in spite of the stories her family told, was not the first house in Odessa. It was not the sight of Itinerate ministry prior to the building of a church. We know the church predates the house by 50 years.  Even so, Mary Jones can be proud of her heritage as well as her own accomplishments.  She gave a great deal to the town and to the county during her life.  She, as most of her family before her, was a staunch Christian and very active in the local Methodist church.  Her generosity, learned from her father before her, extended well beyond the borders of Schuyler county NY and touched the lives and hearts of the suffering peoples of Hiroshima Japan.

    Building a family history is much like throwing a stone in a pond and watching the ripples spread.  Each circle encompasses a larger area than the one before it in perfect synchronicity.  As each circle pushes its way to shore, the water spills out over the bank to water the land beyond.   John Mitchell, David Beardsley, John Coe, Simeon Lovell .and Lemuel Shelton  et al., looked out over the land and threw a foundation stone.  From their vision families sprouted, thrived and grew until a county was born.  If you come from a small town don’t be surprised to discover that you have cousins among your neighbors.  

Fordyce Stanley (11/2/1892-8/1964), son of Jerome Stanley 8/21/1858-5/1910) Fordyce was an insurance salesman. He rose within his company to the rank of Vice President. Fordyce settled in Hartford Connecticut where he married Marion (unknown). They had two sons; Phillip Stanley (1924), Stanley Stanley (1930) After Marion’s death Fordyce moved to Florida and married a second time to Elizabeth B Stanley (1904 - 1982). Fordyce is buried Mansion Memorial Park & Funeral Home Ellento Manatee Count Florida, USA




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Children of Norman Buell Stanley (10/24/1856-11/30/1936) Married Mary Elizabeth Hewitt (1855-1933)

Newton Hewitt Stanley (3/6/1877-1930) Newton was a barber. He married Georgianna (unknown) around 1908 and settled initially in Trumansburg Tompkins NY., where by 1910 he was a partner in a barber shop. The family moved to Auburn Cayuga county by 1913, where Newton registered for the draft for WWI. Newton is described as tall, slender, with brown eyes and dark hair. By 1920Newton has moved his family to Perinton Monroe NY Newton does not appear in the 1930 census and Georgia and the youngest daughter are living in Monroe County as boarders in the home of Andrew and Ellen Brown. By 1940 none of the family appear in the census. Newton and Georgiana had two daughters; Helen Stanley (1909) and Ruth (1916)




Floyd Norman Stanley (4/7/1887 in Ovid Seneca NY) joined the National Guard in Auburn NY on 8/10/1908 for a five year term. Floyd had an appendectomy scar 1 ½ long on his right abdomen. Floyd was discharged from the guard on 1/3/1913 and moved to Arial Wayne Pa. Floyd worked as a painter. He registered for the draft during WWI while in Pa. Claiming exemption from service based on his religious beliefs. He moved to Baltimore Maryland where he registered for the WWII draft at the age of 55. On this draft he lists his wife as Mary Stanley. Floyd had at least one child . No further information at this time.




Hugh Charles Stanley (4/4/1879-3/20/1945) Hugh married Eva Bell Miller (1881-1973). Hugh worked all of his life an an antiquarian, dealing in antique furniture. Hugh and Eva settled and remained in Buffalo NY. Hugh registered for the draft in WWI in 1817 in Syracuse NY ,but lived in Buffalo. In 1920 Eva's father, Eugene Miller, lived with the Hugh Stanley family. Hugh died in Deaconness hospital in Buffalo NY and was cremated, his ashes scattered on 3/22/1945. Hugh and Eva had three children; Dorothy Stanley (1905) worked as a school teacher in Buffalo school 65, Gertrude Stanley (1910) worked as a cleric in a Dr. Office in Buffalo, and Hugh Stanley Jr. (1912) married Eleanor (unknown-1915) in 1931. Hugh worked as a buyer for a lumber company. In 1940 they had one son, Hugh Charles Stanley III (1932).




Earl Wayne Stanley (9/9/1881-7/14/1949) lived in Naples NY with his parents and siblings in 1900. Earl married Lillian May Jopson (1886-1971) and settled in Canandaigua, Ontario NY, where he remained and worked as a self employed contractor focusing mainly on wall paper, painting and home repair. Earl and Lillian had 5 children; Norman M. Stanley (1908-1994) married Beth E. Brizzee (1916-1991), Pearl B. Stanley (1909-1967) married John Henry Rood(1914-2002, Burton Stanley (9/22/1913-4/15/2009) married Doris E. Fillmore(1911-2000), Clarence V. Stanley (1915-2002)married Lois E. Brizzee (1920-1999), Jane R. Stanley (1/27/1924-1/3/2005) married Donald R. Dorneman on July 9, 1949 (1924-November 4, 1995)




Mary Elizabeth Stanley (1890-1978) married Clyde James Herrington (1888 – 1961) Clyde was a farmer. They had the following children;Marion G. Harrington (1916), James E. Harrington (1921)




Susan Rebecca Stanley (1893-1925) married Reid Hiram Becker (1892 - 1970) . They had two sons; Carl S. Becker (1919), Harold R. Becker (1921 – 1979).



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Ann Eliza Stanley (12/25/1851-9/1917) married 3/12/1870 to Stearns Jamison Catlin (1848-1915)- children: Claude Caitlin (1870-1872 ), Lucretia Delphine Catlin (1877-1881), Phineas Catlin(1885-1901) Unnamed died in infancy, Frances Catlin(1879-prior to 1900),Mary Agnes Caitlin (1874-3/21/1923 in Savannah Georgia) no additional information available at this time. Ida Catlin (1883-) married unknown.  No additional information at this time. ********************************************************************** 

Wesley Stanley (1839-1911) worked as a nursery man.  He married Charlotte they had the following children:La Motte (1868-1/1/1903) became a minister and served in the ME church in Reading NY.  He married his first wife, Cora Pratt after 1880.  They had one child, name unknown and both succumbed to Diphtheria.  He married a second time to (unknown) Smith of Hector NY.  They had no children Gertrude (1872-2/6/1877)died in childhood.Myrtle (1880-5/18/1938) Married Reverend J. Hudson Ballard in 1903 in Odessa NY.  She was an active member in the church and contributed to her husband’s ministry work as he served around the country, moving from Odessa to Nyack NY where their first son was born and died.  Frederick Stanley Ballard was buried in Nyack  NY.  Following the death of their son, the couple moved /served in Los Angeles, then to Hornell NY, then to Pomona Cal., a Los Angeles suburb.  Charlotte Stanley was visiting them in Pomona when she died.  She is buried I Pomona California.  Myrtle, her husband and children finally settled in Portland Oregon, where they were living at the time of her death. They had two surviving sons; Stanley Ballard, who became a professor at the University of Hawaii, and Robert Ballard who settled in Cleveland Ohio.  Reuben DeWitt Stanley (1874-9/8/1945).  In his adult years Reuben called himself DeWitt Stanley. DeWitt became a minister for the ME church in 1897.  With his family he served in Horseheads and Sullivanville, Mansfield, Odessa, Burdett and Tyrone.  His final office was in Thurston NY.  Like so many of his relation, Dewitt had a love of plants and was an avid rose grower.  When he retired he settled on Otsego lake.  His home became re-known in the local area for his beautiful gardens.  Dewitt married Laura Wheeler and the couple had one son, Edwin Stanley who settled in Boston Mass. DeWitt was reportedly buried in Odessa NY,

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William Stanley(1839-1/6/1915) married Charlotte Bowlby (1842-1933).

William Stanley (1839-1/6/1915) married Charlotte Bowlby (1842-1933)children:  William Ira Stanley (1869-1926) married  Vina (unknown) he worked as an accountant all of his life.  Ira and Vina settled in Rochester where they raised one daughter, Lois C. Stanley.  After decades of living in Rochester Vina sold the family home and returned, with her daughter Lois Stanley, to Odessa in 1952.Grace Amanda Stanley ( 11/1875-) married Wilfred H. Scobey in 1897. Wilfred had immigrated in 1895.   Wilfred was a clergyman born in England.  In her declining years, Charlotte Bowlby Stanley lived with her daughter and son-in law.  In 1920 they were living in New York City.   They settled in Rutherford New Jersey.  They had one daughter; Anna F. Sobey. She married William Krieg.Ralph Bowlby Stanley (1/27/1875-5/18/1936) Ralph was the only one bearing the Stanley name left in Odessa NY when he passed away in 1936.  Ralph married Grace Peck (     24 Dec 1880 ) in 1897 and settled down on College Ave. in Odessa.  They lived there all their married life and this was where Ralph died. In their early marriage Ralph worked as a farmer on his Brother Wesley’s farm.  He later became a Forman at an electronic manufacturer in the local area.  Ralph and Grace had one daughter, Marcia Hester Stanley (1898)Fra Stanley (3/17/1867-7/18/1926) Fra married Deane Mitchell in 1885 and remained in the Odessa Area. Deane was a laborer who specialized in Mason work.  Fra was a devote member of the Baptist church. She was well known and well-loved within the local community Fra and Deane had two children; Mary Ann Mitchell married John Carpenter, Robert Mitchell settled in Montour Falls NY.
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                                    WHY CAN'T THIS VALEDICTORIAN GO TO COLLEGE

      Meghan Coates is no stranger to adversity. Coming from a low income family with a disabled father and a mother working in the human service field, money has always been tight. Meghan, the third child and only daughter of Paul and Mary Coates, has always maintained a positive outlook and harbors a desire to change the world so that all people can live in harmony and peace without fear or anxiety due to belonging to some “out group”, be it racial, religious, sexual orientation or other. She has always wanted to be a candle in the darkness.

Meghan is a talented young woman with a passion for theater and writing. Sh has composed several songs, published several poems and maintains a writing blog as well as having written copious stories and books, all as yet unpublished. Meghan has spent much of her young life helping others, whether it be volunteering at the local library story hour or assisting developmentally disabled adults to read, she has been very active in her community. For a time Meghan sat on a community action committee as a youth advocate and also was elected to the Lake Country Players board as the youth representative.

Meghan was born against all odds. She developed SVT (super ventricular Tachycardia) in utero, which caused her heart to beat like a humming bird at 300 + beats per minute. Her heart was so fast the medical professionals were not able to count the beats and the machines used to monitor her heart rate could not keep up the count. Doctors discovered this problem at 20 weeks gestation. They prepared Mrs. Coates for the worst, telling her they would do their best but the prognosis was not encouraging. They did not think Meghan would survive to delivery. They feared her heart would tire and stop. Meghan defied the odds, surviving to a viable age and was deliver two months early on October 30,1997. Meghan was followed by a neurologist following suspected seizures shortly after she was born,for the first year of her life. She continued to see a pediatric cardiologist until she turned 16. Miraculously her heart slowed on its own to a normal rate when she was about a year old.

        Mrs. Coates was cautioned that such a premature birth would likely result in some developmental delays. Again Meghan proved them wrong. Other than being a somewhat clumsy child, she met all of hr milestones early and developed into a very bright, very sweet child.  Her mother always referred to Meghan as her "miracle baby"  because she had been born and thrived against all odds.   Mrs. Coates always believed that Meghan had been sent to be a light in a troubled world. 
        Meghan developed her thirst for knowledge early and was an A+ student in school. She spent many long hours of dedicated study at home each night completing homework and reading a variety of subjects. In the third grade, at the tender age of 8, Meghan discovered her passion for theater when she won the coveted role of Mable in the school production of Pirates of Penzance. She followed this with a talent show entry which earned her a standing ovation. In the fall of that year Meghan celebrated her 9th birthday by joining in the Lake Country Players Community theater group presentation of The Wizard of Oz. She has been acting ever since. Her goal is to gain a career in film or television and use any accompanying fame to speak out against injustice.

During her eighth grade year Meghan began to develop some mild shoulder spasms. These grew progressively worse and began to effect other areas of her body. She began to fall or stumble without a known cause, and fell down some stairs at school on several occasions. In June Meghan saw a doctor to evaluate the symptoms. Over the summer the Tics became increasingly more active, as did the vocalizations. Meghan would scream uncontrollably, cluck like a chicken and other vocalizations. She would drop to the floor and thrash or freeze, hit herself in the face or throw her head back repeatedly. She was officially diagnosed with a profoundly active case of late onset Tourette's Syndrome on the first day of high school.

Concerned about potential bullying and the negative effect the disorder would likely have on Meghan's grades, Meghan and her mother met with school officials to develop an action plan. The school was very accommodating, developing a 504 plan that allowed Meghan to take breaks as needed, have additional time on tests and take test in a separate room if desired to reduce anxiety.

During the fall of 2011 Meghan's tics were so pronounced that she often had little control over her movements and vocalizations. She missed school due to her inability to coordinate her movements. Anxiety, fatigue and depression set in, further exacerbating the tics. Meghan was forced to drop out of the Lake Country Players fall production of Sweeney Todd. A decision she made her self but one which left her in tears, fearful that she might never again reclaim the stage.

Meghan was encouraged to advocate for herself and she, believing that bullying is largely the result of fear and ignorance, developed a power point lecture to educate her class mates on the subject of Tourette's Syndrome. She gave her presentation to the entire school body, the faculty and the school board. Her story was picked up by the local news paper and television news channel and Meghan received some letters asking her for advice or help from others struggling with Tourette's. Meghan used face book to reach out to anyone seeking her support. She was invited to give presentations to parent groups around New York State, culminating with a presentation at the 2012 Families Together Conference in Albany NY. The conference was attended by parents of children struggling with mental and emotional disorders, state legislators and various state dignitary.

These presentations help Meghan to regain her self confidence and she found that when she was speaking in front of a group, concentrating on her subject her tics diminished. This is apparently a common phenomenon for persons with Tourette's, that when they are engaged in something they are passionate about the tics settle down. After the activity has ended there is often a brief period in which the tics increase , possibly due to physical and mental exhaustion.

Meghan successfully returned to the stage and has remained an active thespian since that time. She is currently working with the Old Havana Courthouse Theater for the 2015 season. But Meghan's tics were taking a toll on her body. She developed excessive body aches and fatigue so profound that there were days when she was unable to get out of bed. Again she met with doctors who were mystified. After being evaluated by several professionals Meghan finally saw a Rheumatologist and was diagnosed with Tourette's induced Fibromyalgia. She was prescribed Neuronin which successfully addressed the bulk of the discomfort.

Things were finally looking up. Meghan began her senior year applying to colleges for theater arts. She was accepted following a rigorous audition process to the coveted American Musical and Dramatic Academy in Los Angeles California. This school boasts a 95 % placement rate in the acting industry for graduates. Meghan received accolades for her audition and a hefty scholarship to help defray the very expensive tuition. Meghan applied for additional scholarships, grants and student aid. She maintained her grades throughout her high school career and finished with the highest GPA in the class, winning her the valedictorian spot at graduation.

In January of 2015 Mrs. Coates lost her job and was unable to find another job for six months. She has only recently found employment which she will start on August 3rd 2015. The result of this is that she does not qualify as a co-signer for the additional loan moneys that Meghan needs to complete her tuition package. Even with the generous loans, scholarships and grant she has received Meghan requires an additional $20,000. to complete her financial requirements. She had intended to take out additional loans for this money in her own name but Meghan will not be 18 until the end of October. She is not able to sign for loans without a co-signer.

Never one to give up, Meghan has started a fund raising campaign to try and gain the additional tuition. Meghan is a very bright, hard working compassionate young woman who deserves an education. She has over come great adversity throughout her life and maintained her positive, compassionate outlook throughout. Will her dreams of a future finally be crushed for want of a qualified co-signer and/or $20,000? We are reaching out to you, to America, for help. Help us light a candle in this darkening world, help us send this girl to college.

    In Our last post we looked at the Shelton family, from which Luella Ault Jones mother Anna Shelton was born.  Anna was the daughter of Alvin Shelton and Amelia Stanley.  Today we will take a quick look at the Stanley family.  In our next post we will finish looking at the Stanley’s, and complete our series with a look at the Bowlby family  and the Ault family. 

    Amelia Stanley was born in Duchess County in 1837, to George Stanley (1816 Connecticut) and Amanda Van Houten (1819 Chemung county), George was a shoe maker, born in Connecticut in 1816, son of Starr Stanley of Connecticut (12/26/1784-4/13/1885) and Lois Hoyt (1789-1857)of Connecticut.  The following obituary appears of the find a grave web site for Starr Stanley in Ithaca:

Baldwinsville NY Gazette Farmers Journal, April 16, 1885:

Ithaca, N. Y. April 14—Mr. Starr

Stanley, the oldest man in Ithaca, and probably in the county, died yesterday. Mr. Stanley was one hundred years old

on Christmas last, having been born December 25, 1784. A shoemaker by occupation he was noted for his uniform

good health, it being his proud boast that he never was sick and never knew an ache or pain.

  

  Charles Starr Stanley married Lois Hoyt in Danbury, Fairfield Connecticut.  Starr was a shoemaker.  He and Lois had the following children; Loren Lawrence Stanley 91815-1873), George Stanley (1816-1891), Eli Stanley 91820-1872), Hoyt Stanley (1829-1915), Charles Stanley Jr. (1832-1890).

  Starr, as he was generally known, moved his family to Hector Tompkins NY around 1838 (US Fed. Census).   Starr set up a business in Trumansburg Tompkins NY making and selling boots and shoes.  By 1850 Starr and Lois had separated.  Starr remained in Tompkins County and Lois moved with her sons Hoyt and Charles to Tioga NY. 

    Around 1860 Charles Stanley with his wife and three children moved to Trumansburg to live with Starr and join him in the family shoe business. Charles took his place as the head of the household and Starr retired from active employment.  At some time between 1865 and 1870 Starr married a second time to Elizabeth (unknown), (1825 in Canada-) This was a short lived marriage.  In 1880 Elizabeth Stanley is living by herself, claiming to still be married.  She remains in Ithaca NY.  Starr is living with Joshua and Rosalie Shaw (1821) and family, claiming to be the Father-in-law of the head of household, though there is no record of Starr having had a daughter and Elizabeth is younger than Rosalie.  There is no daughter recorded in the 1830 or 1840 census or in any subsequent census so this is a bit of a mystery.  The Shaw Family History, an unsourced family tree available on Ancestry.com, indicates Starr and Lois were married in 1812 and lists the children of Starr and Lois as ;  Rosetta (1786-?), Loren Lawrence (1815-1873), George (1816-1891), Eli (1817-1871), Rosetta (1821-1910), Elizabeth (1822-?), Hoyt (1829-?), and Charles (1832-1890).  Starr died 4/13/1885 at the age of 100.  He is buried in the grove Cemetery in Trumansburg NY.

   Lois Stanley died around 1867.  She had settled with her sons Hoyt and Charles in Catharine in 1854.  Her grave is unknown at this time but believed to be in the town of Catharine, likely in the Coe or Catharine Cemetery. It is likely there was no stone provided for her.


Children of Charles Starr Stanley

Note:  There are several families of Stanley’s around Schuyler, Chemung and Tompkins who all practiced the profession of boot and shoe manufacture and sales.  It is probably they are all inter-related but the connection is unclear at this time.  I am Focusing on the Starr Stanley family as this is the connection to Mary Jones, who was the original subject of this search. Information on this family comes from;  The history of the town of Catherine, Schuyler County, N.Y., US and NY State census reports, and Find a grave.  I have not include the daughters listed in the Shaw Family History as I was not able to verify them, other than to list Rosetta as mentioned in the 1880 US Census.

1.      Loren Lawrence Stanley 1815-1873, Loren moved from Connecticut to Tompkins County with his father around 1837.  He married Jerusha (unknown) and settled first in New Field, Tompkins NY, where sons Wesley (1840) and Isaac (11/30/1838-12/11/1862) were born.  Loren worked, as did all of the Stanley’s, as a shoemaker, first in New Field, then in Catharine, where he is listed in the 1860 US Census.  Loren and Jerusha moved to Horseheads NY where he continued to work as a shoe maker until his death in 1873.  Loren is buried in Woodlawn Cemetery in Elmira NY, along with wife Jerusha.

Isaac Stanley married Mary Butters on 11/30/1859 and settled in Catharine.  In 1860 Starr Stanley was living with them. They had one child before Isaac’s untimely death on 12/11/1862in service in the civil war.  The child, Born 1861, died in infancy, leaving Mary alone.  In 1870 she is living in a boarding house in Havana NY and working as a chambermaid.

Wesley Stanley (1840- 30 Jul 1864)- Wesley joined the Union Army during the Civil war, signing on in Reading Schuyler NY.  He was killed in battle in Petersburg Virginia on 7/30/1864, leaving no wife or children.

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2.       George Stanley 1816-1891 George was born in Connecticut and moved with his family to Hector, (then) Tompkins County around 1837.  George married Amanda Van Houten born in Erin Chemung NY in 1828.  She died in Odessa NY on 1/8/1888.   George and Amanda Lived first in New Field NY where their first two sons were born.  The couple moved to Cayuga, Chemung NY by 1850, where they had 5 more children. George was a shoe man.  He opened a shoe store on Main Street in Odessa, which he ran for many years.  George and Amanda had the following children; Amelia (1838), William (1839), Wesley (1839), Eli (1845), Frank (1849),Leroy (1842-1843),Reuben (1857-1858), Ann Eliza (12/25/1851-9/1917)

Amelia Stanley (1838-) Married Alvin Shelton. They had one daughter, Anna Shelton who married Charles Ault. (see previous post)

William (1839-1/6/1915) William married on 8/26/1865 to Charlotte Bowlby (1842-1933).  Charlotte was the daughter of William Bowlby and Eliza Cranmer.  William joined with his brother Wesley in building and operating a shoe store/factory in Charles Shelton’s store in Odessa.  William served in the Civil war and was discharged 5/25/1865 with a Surgeons Certificate.  Like his twin, William enjoyed plants and established a berry nursery with his son, Ralph on property owned by the Centralized School. William and Charlotte had 4 children; Ira (1869-1926), Grace Amanda (  ), Ralph Bowlby Stanley (1/27/1875-5/18/1936), William Ira ( ) (more on the children in next post)

Wesley (1839-1911) Wesley was William’s twin brother. He served in the Civil War from 8/21/1862-6/8/1865.  Following his return from the war he married Nancy Charlotte Beardsley (1845-1829 in Los Angeles California) on 8/10/1865 in New Field Tompkins NY.  Charlotte, as she preferred to be called, was the daughter of James Beardsley and Nancy Fitzgerald.    Wesley was originally a Nursery man.  He held this job until around 1880 when he joined the family boot and shoe business as a shoe salesman.  Wesley and Charlotte had four children; La Motte (1868-1/1904), Gertrude (1872-2/6/1877), Reuben (1874) and Myrtle (1880-5/18/1938) (more on the children in next post)

Eli (1845-12/30/1907) married 8/10/1865 to Frances Delphine Beardsley (1845-1914), daughter of Lucius Beardsley and Marietta Aiken.  Eli was in the shoe business, working as a shoe maker and Cobbler for the Stanley Brothers Boot and Shoe Factory.  He later opened his own store in Catharine.  Eli had an inter5est in race horses and owned one that he raced in Watkins Glen. Eli and Delphine had no children.

Frank (1849-1908) married 12/2/1868 to Mary Alice Bowlby (1849-4/13/1888), daughter of Nelson Bowlby and Mary McGillvray.  Frank worked as a traveling salesman for the boot and shoe factory.  Eventually he settled down and ran the shoe store in Odessa NY.  Frank had an interest in race horses and owned one that he raced in Watkins Glen.  Frank and Alice had two daughters; Luella Stanley (1870-6/1903)-married 12/23/1902 to Milo Durand.  They had no children, and Edna Stanley (1879-?) Married 2/8/1899 to Le Grande T. Couch, son of Charles Couch and Mary Turner.  They lived in Odessa and had one daughter(Esther Couch (2/7/1903-1941- married John Bell Jr. and settled in Rochester NY 1 son John Bell III)

Ann Eliza Stanley (12/25/1851-9/1917) married 3/12/1870 to Stearns Jamison Catlin (1848-1915) son of Ralph Lee Caitlin and Eliza Newman.  Ann and Stearns lived on a farm in the village of Odessa.  They had 7 children; Claude Caitlin ( ), Unnamed Caitlin ( ), Agnes Caitlin (1874-3/21/1923 in Savannah Georgia), Lucretia Delphine Catlin, Frances Catlin, Ida Catlin, Phineas Catlin. Stearns was a farmer.  (more on the children in next post)

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3. Eli Stanley 1820-9/9/1872    Eli Stanley followed his parents to Tompkins County, where he met and married around 1840 to Lillian Chambers from Lansing, Tompkins, NY.(1820-11/11/1904).   Like the rest of his family, Eli was a shoe maker.  In 1850 he and his growing family had settled in Dryden, Tompkins County NY.  By 1860 he had moved to Hector NY and continued his shoe work.  Eli settled in the village of Havana town of Montour, NY by 1865, where he opened a shoe store.  Eli and Lillian are buried in the Montour Cemetery.   They had 6 children.  All of the children, except Lily were recorded as being born in Tompkins County.  Lily was born in Schuyler; William (1855-), Charles (1841-), Harriett (1850-), Augusta 1851-), Calista (1853) Clara Belle (1860-1938), George (1863), Lillie 1865)

Charles (5/16/1842-12/23/1890) settled in Ithaca and sold Boots and shoes.  He married in 1868 to Kitty M. Meaney (4/ 8/ 1847-4/14/1937) They had three children; Maud Stanley (1869) married William Blackman (4/1866) in 1894. William worked as a dry goods salesman.  Maud and William lived with Charles and Kitty.  They had Catherine E. Blackman (12/1889), no other information available at this time, Clarence Stanley (5/ 1880 d. Oct. 12, 1884), Charles Stanley Jr.(May, 1896 d. Dec. 19, 1896)

Harriett (1850-) married in 1870 to  John H. Quigley (1843) in Havana Schuyler NY.   In 1870 they lived with John’s mother, Elizabeth Quigley (1810) and his brother Alvah J. Quigley.  Alvah worked in a factory.   John worked as a livery man.  In or around 1877 John H. and Harriet Quigley have moved to Battle Creek Calhoun Michigan where John works in a machine shop.  The Quigley’s had two sons) both born in New York State.; Oscar Quigley (1873),Harry Quigley (1875) John and Harriett have moved to Butt Montana where John worked as a conductor on the Railroad.   Oscar Quigley married Louise (unknown) and settled in Wisconsin.  Harry Quigley moved with his parent to Butt Montana. In 1897 while still living in Michigan, Harry married in Ada (unknown)(1882 Michigan-) Harry worked as an actor. Not able to make a living in acting, Harry switched to advertising for a shoe business.  Clearly he had inherited the Stanley love for foot ware.  Harry and Ada had two daughters; Florence (1902), Leroy (1904) 

Augusta Aleverette  (9/1854-) married in 1871 to   Charles Quigley(1/1849) brother of John H. Quigley, son of Elizabeth Quigley.  They remained in Havana Schuyler NY where Charles worked as a harness maker. They had two sons, both born in Havana NY; Wirt S. Quigley (1873) and Chester (6/1880) apprenticed as an engineer in 1900.  Charles and Augusta moved to Philadelphia Pa., where Charles worked as a wall paper hanger.  By 1920 Charles and Augusta have moved to Fredericksburg Virginia where Charles is manager of a ware house. By 1930 they have retired to  Hillsborough, Florida.

George (1850) settled in Watkins Glen NY and worked as a photographer.  Married Carrie Burke, settled in Ithaca NY.  Their daughter Ida Mae Stanley married 2/1904 to Leland B. Clark of Ithaca (The History of the town of Catharine) no addition information is available at this time.

Clara Belle (1853-1838) Clara Belle Stanley never married.  She remained in Montour Falls and lived with her mother until her mother’s death in 1904.  She continued to live with her sister Lillie, who supported the two of them through her book keeping work, until Clara’s own death in 1938.  No children.

Lillie (Dec. 1856) remained at home with her mother until her mother’s death ibn 1904.  In 1900 Lillie is the sole provider for her mother and sister Cora Belle.  She is working for Life Touch photography as a photographer.   She later worked as a book keeper.  Lillie never married.  She remained in Montour Falls, where she purchased a home, 104 Broadway Street.   She died sometime after 1940 and is buried in the Montour Cemetery with her parents and Sister Clara Belle. No children.

A curious note about this family, they consistently gave incorrect ages on Census records and on their head stones.  All of Eli’s children appear in the Census by 1865, with Lily the youngest being 9 years old.

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3.      Hoyt Stanley 4/10/1829-9/22/1915.  Hoyt was born in Connecticut and moved with his parents and siblings to Tompkins NY.  After his parent separated Hoyt remained with his mother, Lois in Tioga County.  Like his father and siblings, Hoyt was a shoe maker and shoe salesman.  Around 1852 Hoyt married Sarah (unknown)(1832-1892).  They continued to live with Lois Stanley, moving to Catharine by 1855.  By 1860 Hoyt and Sarah have moved to Dundee, Yates NY.  They settled briefly in Elmira by 1870.  In 1880 Hoyt, Sarah and the children have moved to Ohio where Hoyt is working as a Dancing Master.   In 1892 Hoyt and Sarah appear in Buffalo NY.  Hoyt is working as a musician.  The children are grown and gone.   Following Sarah’s death around 1892, Hoyt moved in with his daughter, Hannah Amelia, now married to ? Phillips with a daughter of her own (Amy Phillips (1890-)   Mr. Phillips does not appear in the 1892 NY state census or in any census following.  It is unclear whether he left the family or was deceased, as Lois is recorded as married. Hoyt again listed his occupation as shoe maker. 

       Hoyt moved to Kansas City Missouri, where he died of a nature gas explosion in his home in 1915.   Hoyt and Sarah had the following children; Ame Stanley (1853-1859), Hannah Amelia Stanley (1855-11/14/1930 Kansas City Mo. ) Married James Lewis Machey.    Lois Stanley (2/14/1859-)- married ? Phillips.  She remarried, (unknown) Bury.  No additional information is known at this time.

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 5. Charles Starr Stanley Jr. 5/16/1832-12/23/1890.  Charles was born in Connecticut and moved to Tompkins County with his family.  When his parents separated, Charles remained with his mother in Tioga NY.  He moved to Catharine with his mother and brother Hoyt’s family in 1855.  Like the rest of his family, Charles was a shoe maker.  In 1855 Charles married Rebecca O. Brown (1/31/1936-12/9/1888).  The couple moved to Hector to live with father Starr Stanley.  Charles and his family moved to Trumansburg, Tompkins NY where he worked as a shoe and boot maker/salesman. Charles and Rebecca had the following children; Norman Buell Stanley (10/24/1856-11/30/1936), Jerome Stanley (8/21/1858-5/1910) married Cora (Unknown, settled in Trumansburg working as a barber,  Ella Stanley (1859)Emmett Stanley (1871), Pearl Stanley (1874)

Norman Buell Stanley (10/24/1856-11/30/1936) Married Mary Elizabeth Hewitt (1855-1933.Norman settled in Havana Schuyler NY and worked as a barber, a trade he passed on to his children.  They had six children; Newton Hewitt Stanley (3/6/1877), Floyd Norman Stanley (1887), Hugh Charles Stanley (1879-1945), Earl Wayne Stanley (1881-1749), Mary Elizabeth Stanley (1890-1978), Susan Rebecca Stanley (1893-1925) (more on the children in next post)

Jerome Stanley (8/21/1858-5/1910) married in 1876 to Cora (Unknown, settled in Trumansburg working as a barber, Jerome and Cora had three children; Bernice Stanley (1898 d. 1927 never married), Lena Stanley (12/1885) and Fordyce Stanley (11/2/1892)(more on Fordyce in next post)

Ella Stanley (1859) no further information available at this time

Emmett Stanley (1871),no further information available at this time

 Pearl Stanley (1874) No information available at this time.

       We continue on our small town review.  As you recall from our last post, Luella Ault married William Lodwick Jones.  Luella was the daughter of Charles Ault and Anna Shelton.  We looked at Charles and his remarriage to Susan Van Horn in our last installment.  This time we are turning our attention to the ancestors of Anna Shelton.

    Anne was the daughter of Alvin Shelton and Amelia Stanley.  Most of the Sheltons are buried in the Coe Cemetery in the former hamlet of Catharine, now part of Odessa near the Odessa Montour line.  The cemetery sits quite a ways off the road in a clump of trees beside an active farm.  There is no way to access it without walking across the farmer’s field.  When visiting we were careful to walk on a tractor path between two crop fields.  The cemetery is very run down.  Stones are broken, buried; some stones are piled atop each other.  A few monuments still stand and, if one looks carefully can be seen from the road between the trees.  I have pictures and will post them at the end of this installment. A link to the list of people buried there appears in an earlier portion of this series.  It is a very sad sight when one realizes the founding fathers of the area are resting here, and forgotten by the very community they established.

THE SHELTON FAMILY-A BRIEF HISTORY

   The Shelton brothers, Daniel and Richard, arrived in “the new world” in 1686.  Richard settled in Virginia, Daniel settled in Stanford Connecticut.  They had been born in Deptford, Yorkshire England.  Our story comes from Daniel Shelton.

   Daniel Shelton (1668-1728) was a merchant and a wealthy land owner.  He was one of the first nonresident landlords in Waterbury Connecticut and owned land in; Corum, Ripton, Stratford, Stanford, Farmington, Oxford, Woodbury and Derby Connecticut.  Daniel settled in Long hill Stratford on a plot of land 2 miles square from Corum to the Housatanic River.  On 4/4/1692 Daniel married Elizabeth Wells (1670-4/1/1747) daughter of Samuel Wells and Elizabeth Hollister of Wethersford Connecticut.  Daniel was a lieutenant in the military.  Daniel and Elizabeth had the following children;

Sarah Shelton (1694-1787) M James Wakely (B Stratford 1/2/1694).  James was an original member of the Episcopal church of Stratford.  In 1729 he was made a vestryman.  Sarah Shelton and James Wakely had the following children, all born in Stratford Connecticut:

Sarah Wakely Baptised 11/1/17 22

Hannah Wakely Baptised 9/27/1723

Martha Wakely baptized 1/30/1728

Abigail Wakely baptized 12/20/1730

Abigail Wakely (1730-?) married Nathan Shelton.  Their daughter Martha Shelton married her second cousin- Isaac Wells Shelton. Isaac’s daughter, Charity Married Asa  Bartholomew.  Charity was descended by 3 different lines from her Great Grandfather Daniel Shelton.

Elizabeth Shelton (1/2/1692-1758) married Nicholas Masters on 10/1/1717.

Joseph Shelton (1696-1782)- married Mary Hollister of Glastonbury Conn. On  5/11/1726.  They had two recorded children; Joseph Shelton (4/2/1727), Mary Shelton ( )- married Andrew Hurd 5/14/1756

Thaddeus Shelton (?-1781)-married Easter Hollister of Glastonbury on 10/17/1733

Samuel Shelton (1704-1772) married Abigail Nichols daughter of Philo and Mehitable Nichols.  They had the following children;

Andrew Shelton 11/26/1746 married Sarah Booth in 11/1771

Ann Shelton 2/17/1749

Elizabeth Shelton 2/8/1739

David Shelton 6/16/1741

Isaac Wells Shelton 3/11/1756

Joseph Shelton 2/2/1744

Mary Shelton 2/13/1735

Philo Shelton 5/5/1738 married Lucy Prince

Samuel Shelton 8/24/1738

Sarah Shelton 7/18/1748 married Samuel Booth on 1/28/1768

James Shelton-(1710-3/21/1802) married Anna Wheeler.  They had the following recorded children; Elisha Shelton (1747 - 1803)

John Shelton- 1712-1733.  Died age 21, never married.

Josiah Shelton -  1714-4/12/1782.  Married Eunice Nichols. They had the following children; Charity Shelton married unknown Tomlinson, Eunice Shelton married Unknown Wakely

*Daniel Shelton Jr. (7/1/1700-1773) married on 8/12/1727 Mary Hubbell (3/3/1708-4/3/1749) Daughter of Richard Hubbell (1684-1758) and Abigail Thompson (1685-1777) Daniel Shelton Jr. and Mary Hubbell Shelton lived in Corum Conn. Where they raised their children.  Following Mary’s death, Daniel married a second time to Mary French on 3/13/1741 (Connecticut vital statistics prior to 1870) Daniel Shelton had the following children:

John Shelton (7/18/1729- ?)

Abijah Shelton (? - 1813)

  Phebe Shelton (?- 1822) married Nichols

  Mehetable Shelton (? - 1812)*

  Sarah Shelton (1744 - 1814) married Wakeman

  Mary Shelton (1747 - 1825) married Curtiss

(http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=106196285)

Ebenezer Shelton (1738-?) married Abigail (Unknown. They had the following children:

Ebenezer Shelton (unknown) married the Widow Rhoda Warner of Roxbury on 6/22/1800

*Lemuel Shelton (1770-1845)

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Lemuel Shelton (1770-1845) Married Anah Nichols.  Anah died in 1827. In 1806 Lemuel Shelton and Brother-in-law, Lemuel Nichols moved with their families to the Johnson Settlement (Catharine).   The journey from Bridgeport Connecticut took them 17 days.  They settled on adjacent 100 acre lots purchased from Robert C. Johnson.    Lots were measured in relation to the four corners, now referred to as Catharine’s Corners, or the intersection of ridge road and county Route 14.  The Shelton plot, (lot #21) was located North East of the four corners.  In 1809 Lemuel Shelton and Lemuel Nichols were among to founders of St. John’s church.   Lemuel and Anah are both buried in the Coe Cemetery in Odessa NY. They had the following children:

John Shelton (1799-1879)

Agar Shelton (1798- 1871)

Nicholas Shelton (4/9/1801-11/8/1880) Purchased land on Foote’s hill

Everett Shelton (6/9/1803-3/23/1887) Purchased land on Foote’s hill

Sophia Shelton

Joseph Shelton Purchased land on Foote’s hill

George Shelton

Julia Shelton

Lewis Shelton Purchased land on Foote’s hill

Mary Shelton

James Shelton

  The Shelton’s were known for their strict adherence to temperance.  They were very active in building the community and very active within the Episcopalian church.


The children of Lemuel Shelton and Anah Nichols

John Shelton (1799-1879) Married Almira (unknown) (1801-1/18/1875.  They had one son; Schuyler Shelton (1832-11/19/1912). Schuyler Shelton married Hannah Brown in 1857. Hannah was the daughter of Joseph Brown and Hannah Vaughn.  Schuyler Shelton was a farmer.  The couple had no children.

Agar Shelton (1798-1871) married Elizabeth Olmstead (1803-5/8/1852).  Agar was a farmer.  Agar and Elizabeth had the following children: Richard Shelton (1840-1844), Harriet Shelton (1826-) Everett Shelton (1828) Lemuel Shelton (1831) Guy Shelton (1833), Phineas Shelton (1835), Ashburn Shelton (1836)

 Nicholas Shelton (4/9/1801-11/8/1880) Purchased land on Foote’s hill. Married 2/25/1824 to Dithy (Unknown)(1802-1875).  Nicholas and Dithy had a farm on Foote’s hill.  In later years they sold the farm and moved to Havana NY.   They had two sons: David L. Shelton (1824-1/26/1905), Calvin Shelton ( 1836-1/10/1892 )

Everett Shelton (6/9/1803-3/23/1887) Purchased land on Foote’s hill.   On 9/23/1837 Everett married Maria Knapp (12/15/1810 in Wolcott NY-3/6/1889).  Everett was a construction worker and built many of the buildings and homes in Havana NY.  He supervised the construction of the agricultural building and, with the help of his son, Burr Shelton, built the Shelton block in Watkins Glen NY.  Everett Shelton and Maria Knapp had the following children: Burr Shelton, Anah Shelton, Ralph B. Shelton, Albert Shelton,Alvin Shelton

Sophia Shelton (1805-2/13/1877) was reportedly the second wife of Philo Beardsley, son of Elias Beardsley and brother of Zachariah Beardsley.  Sophia had no children and lived most of her adult life with her brother’s family.

Joseph Shelton (1808-1887) Purchased land on Foote’s hill.  The Shelton brothers all kept adjacent farms.  Joseph married Mary Ann (unknown-born in Dutchess County NY 1818-11/30/1876).  They owned the first farm owned by Henry Shelton on Foote’s Hill.  They had one child; Charles Shelton (1839-died in Elmira Chemung NY)

George Shelton, (8/1/1810-11/12/1891 Minnesota) George was a farmer before the Civil War.  He was reported as a deserter in the Havana Journal.  He moved to Minnesota with his family and remained there until his death in 1891.  George  married Hester A. Hasbrouck (1812-1883).  They had three children, all born in Catharine; Oliver Perry Shelton (1839-1890), Sarah Shelton (1842-1901), Edward Shelton (1851-1920).

Julia Shelton (3/19/1813-2/25/1898) married Edwin Bradley (1815 in Broome County NY-1889).  Edwin was the son of Searl Bradley and Rachel Turner.  They had the following children; Anna Bradley, Austin Josiah Bradley (1841-1911),

Lewis Shelton (1820-1895) married twice, 1st to Ruby Beardsley (1828-1/27/1852) daughter of Zachariah Beardsley and Polly Corbett-Hunt; The second time to Ellen Evans, (1826-1905).  Lewis Purchased land on Foote’s hill.  Lewis had the following children; Homer Shelton, Polly Shelton, Frank Shelton, Ruby Shelton, Henry Shelton.

Mary Shelton (1816-1888) married on 12/18/1849 to Nathan Brown from Hector NY.  They had the following children; Charles H. Brown, Orson Brown, Oscar Brown.  Orson and Oscar were twins)

James Shelton (1823-1901) married Catherine (unknown). They had the following children; Louisa Shelton (1854- Jul. 11, 1888) James moved his family to reading NY, where he lived on his farm until his death in 1901.

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The children of John Shelton (1799-1879) and Almira (unknown) (1801-1/18/1875 

Schuyler Shelton (8/1/1822-11/19/1912). Schuyler Shelton married Hannah Brown (1838-1918)   in 1857. Hannah was the daughter of Joseph Brown and Hannah Vaughn.  Schuyler Shelton was a farmer.  The couple had no children.

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Children of Agar Shelton (1798-1871) married Elizabeth Olmstead (1803-5/8/1852). 

Richard Shelton (1840-1844)- died at age 4.

 Harriet Shelton (1826-) Married Samuel Fletcher on 5/12/1850.  Samuel was the son of Joshua Fletcher and Deborah Cushing of Massachusetts.  Harriett and Samuel had the following children; Harriett born 1842 lived 2 months, Susan M. Fletcher born 1851. Joseph Fletcher became an Episcopal minister. Joseph married Harriet unknown on 4/25/1882.  Samuel and Harriet moved, along with Joseph to Washington DC, where they spent their final years.  Joseph and his wife Harriet enjoyed travel to England, to Hawaii, etc.  They do not appear to have any children.

 Everett Shelton (1828) Everett married MaryAnn Aiken (1831-). They settled close to his father’s property and, in later years, went to live on his father’s farm.  Everett Shelton went into partnership with his brother, Guy Shelton, in the sawmill but the partnership was dissolved in 1871 after which Everett moved with his wife to Mt. Winons Md.  Everett and MaryAnn had one son, Elgin Shelton born 1854.  Elgin died between 1860 and 1865.

Lemuel Shelton (1831-1901) Lemuel married in 1856 to T. Jane Aiken (1830-1899), daughter of Calvin Aiken (1783-).  Jane was the youngest daughter of Calvin.  In 1855 both Calvin and T. Jane are living with Marietta Aikin Beardsley and her husband Lucius Beardsley and their family.  Lemuel was a blacksmith.  In 1870 Lemuel’s brother, Guy Shelton is found living with Lemuel and Jane.  Following Jane’s death in 1899, Lemuel moved in to his son’s home in Van Etten, Chemung, NY.  He and Jane had one son, Freeling Shelton born 1857.  Lemuel and Jane were buried in Mount Hope Cemetery in Van Etten NY.

Freeling Shelton (1857-1935) worked as a black smith all of his life.  He was born in Catharine but moved following his marriage to Cara L. (unknown) in 1882.  Freeling and Cora settled first in Van Etten , Chemung, NY where They cared for Lemuel Sheton until his death. By 1910 Freeling Had moved his family to Ithaca Tomkins, NY, where they remained until his death around 1935.  Freeling and Cora had the following children; Harry b. Shelton 91884), Emma J. Shelton (1888), Claude Shelton (1891) and Frances D. Shelton (1905)

Guy Shelton (1833), Guy never married.  He lists his employment, as a laborer, a farmer and an engineer (1865 NYS census) He appears in the 1860 agricultural census as having 42 acres of farm land worth 3,100. , Which produced rye and oats   Guy spent his adult life living with relatives, brothers, a cousin, and moving frequently.   He lived much of his life with his brother Phineas (1860, 1865, 1900) a short time with brother Lemuel 91870) and is found with his cousin Walter Cooper in Veteran in 1880.  No children.  No further information at this time.

Phineas Shelton (1835-),  Phineas reportedly married three times; 1- on 5/2/1854 to Mary J. (unknown) (1838-5/18/1873, 2- Phebe Strong (1841-after 1880), daughter of John Strong and Azuba Plants.  Phineas married a third time on 6/24/1888 to Mary Estelle Burt.  In 1855, shortly after marrying Mary J., Phineas and Mary J. are boarding on the farm of Peter and Margaret Cooper..  In 1860 Phineas appears on the Agricultural census as owning 250 acres of land, 40 of which is improved.  Cash value of land= $1800. He owns 21 horses, 2 milk cows, 9 pigs, and raises Indian corn. Brother Guy is living with them and Phineas and Mary J. have a daughter, Eliza A. (1858) Phineas is working as a mechanic.  By 1870 Phineas has moved his family to Veteran, Chemung NY.  He is working in a saw mill and claims to own property worth 2000, and have personal worth of 10,000.    Mary Jane Shelton died in 1873, possibly in childbirth. Phineas quickly remarried to Phebe Strong.  Phineas and Phebe had a daughter born in 1880; Phebe died shortly after of during childbirth and Phineas married a third and last time to Mary Estelle Burt. By 1900 Phineas is living in Veteran with his brother Guy.  He has buried a third wife.  There are no children living with him. Phineas Shelton fathered the following children;Unnamed born/died 1855 (mother- Mary Jane)Eliza Shelton (1858-before 1880) (Mother- Mary Jane)- no information,William Shelton (1871-before 1892)(mother- Mary Jane),Mary Shelton (1873- before 1892) (mother- Mary Jane), Margaret Shelton (1880-before 1900)(Mother- Phebe Strong), John Shelton (1891-before 1900) (mother Mary Estelle Burt)

Ashburn Shelton (1836-11/3/1858 in Boston Mass.)  Ashburn was 21 years old working as an engineer when he died of dysentery in Boston Mass.  No wife, no children.


Children of  Nicholas Shelton (4/9/1801-11/8/1880) and Dithy (Unknown)(1802-1875)

David L. Shelton (1824-1/26/1905 -see obit below) David lived in various towns around Schuyler county including, Catharine, Alpine- where he served as post master in 1861, Montour, and Cayuta.  In his youth David worked as a Blacksmith, a job he held during his service in the civil war.  He chose to become a merchant, working most of his life as a grocer.  David married Caroline White around 1855.  David and Caroline had one daughter; Dorothy Bell born 1857.  Dithy Bell, as she was known, married Dr. J.B. Barnes and had three children; Carrie Barnes, Shelton Barnes, Florence Barnes (Florence married L.H. Durland and had 2 sons; Lt.Franklin Durland and C. Mortimer Durland.).

“David L. Shelton died at his home in Montour Falls, on Sunday, Jan. 21, aged 81 years. The burial was in Montour cemetery. He leaves his wife and one daughter, Mrs. J. F. Barnes of Watkins. Faithful in every relation of life, and in the discharge of every duty, of unswerving honesty, always kind and genial, his life may well form an example for the coming generations. The family has the sympathy of the whole community. JAN. 25 1906. Watkins Express”

 Calvin Shelton (12/28/1834-1/10/1892-see obit below)  Calvin married Amanda Bowlby (1840-1903) daughter of Nelson Bowlby and Mary McGillvray.  Calvin settled his family in Havana NY. He and Amanda had three children;  Frances Shelton (1860) Married Elmer Cronk of Montour Falls.  They had two children (Frances Cronk died in childhood, and  illiam Calvin Cronk (4/3/1998-)- never married), Arthur  Shelton(1866) married Mary Rogers and Mary Ann Shelton (1872)they had a daughter, Maude Shelton.  No further information available at this time. , Mary Alice Shelton married William E. Palmer and settled in Albany NY.   

“Mr. Calvin Shelton, who was financial clerk in the office of the superintendent of public works, died suddenly at his home, 54 Jay street, last Saturday. He was 56 years old and was the son of Nicholas Shelton, who lived at Havana, Schuyler County. He was connected with the public works department over 20 years. He was superintendent of the

Chemung canal until it was abandoned by act of the legislature. After that, he was section superintendent, a member of the engineering corps and special agent. About nine years ago he was appointed to the position he held at the time of his death by Supt. Duteher and he was there under Supts. Shanahan and Hannan. He was very faithful to his duties and well liked by everybody in the department. Mrs. Shelton died two years ago this month. Of the three children, two are married. The other daughter has kept house for her father since his wife's death. The body was forwarded to Havana JANUARY 10, 1892 Havana Journal”


Children of Everett Shelton (6/9/1803-3/23/1887) and Maria Knapp (12/15/1810 in Wolcott NY-3/6/1889

 Burr Shelton (5/13/1829-7/1905-buried 7/29/1905 in Greenwood cemetery- Chadron Dawes Nebraska) Burr Shelton was a businessman who had a knack for sales.  With his brother David he built and operated a store in Odessa. He served as Post Master in Odessa, appointed on 6/10/1862. He registered for the draft for the Civil war on 9/30/1863 but never served.  In 1863 Burr sold his portion of the Odessa store to partner Merwin Bulkley, and moved his family to Watkins Glen, where he build a boot and shoe store.  In 1884, with his daughter safely married, Burr and his wife Peobe moved to Nebraska, whre he again built and ran a store and was elected as the first judge in Dawes county Nebraska.   Burr married Pheobe Ann Thompson in 1851. They had one daughter, Adell who married a Mr. Putnam.  No further information is available at this time.

    The following passage is from page 16 in Prairie Justice by George Watson.:"The first County Judge [Dawes County] was Burr Shelton, who came to O'Linn in 1884 and opened a business. Judge Shelton was appointed Justice of the Peace in April of 1885 and was elected County Judge in June of 1885. Judge Shelton served as County Judge for approximately six months. He was primarily a businessman, and in December, he erected a two-story building in downtown Chadron. A street in Chadron is named in his honor and it carries his name to this day." (http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=Shelton&GSiman=1&GScid=100719&GRid=103350348&)

 Anah Shelton (1830-1834- buried in Coe Cemetery)

 Ralph B. Shelton (3/26/1833-6/1897) Ralph  worked with his brother Alvin Shelton running a meat market in the Odessa store owned by Burr and David L. Shelton.  By 1890 he had moved to Montour and was running a meat market with his son, Dealson.  The two also ran the Sheldrake Hotel in Sheldrake NY on Cayuga Lake. Ralph married Mary Melissa Bowlby (1836-7/1918) Mary M. was the daughter of William Bowlby and Eliza Cranmer.  They had one son; Dealson E. Shelton, also called D.E. Shelton born 1867-1944.  Dealson worked as a produce buyer and shipper and as a meat market supervisor. Dealson married twice.  His first marriage to Minerva (Minnie) I Prince, produce three chidren; Inez(1892), Ruth(1897) and Winifred (1903).  Minnie died in 1898, leaving Dealt with three small girls.  He married a second time after 1900, to Widow Elizabeth Smith, who had a daughter by her previous marriage, Maria H. Smith (1903).  Dealson raised Maria as his own daughter.

Albert Shelton born 4/27/1837. Albert was a twin to Alvin but only survived 25 days after his birth.

*Alvin Shelton (4/27/1837-1/31/1906) Alvin was primarily a farmer.  He maintained a farm in Catharine through 1870, when he moved his family to Watkins Glen and continued to work as a farm hand.  Alvin assisted his brothe in the meat market an eventually moved back to Catharine form Watkins Glen.  He married in 1859 to Amelia Stanley (1837in Cayuta- 9/1911 Odessa NY) Amelia was the daughter of George Stanley and Amanda Van Houten.  Alvin and Amanda had one child, Anna M. Shelton (12/25/1861-1894).. Anna married on 9/10/1881 to Charles Ault.  She was the mother of Luella Ault who married William Jones.


Children of Joseph Shelton (1808-1887) and Mary Ann (unknown-born in Dutchess County NY 1818-11/30/1876) 

Charles Shelton (1839-died in Elmira Chemung NY).  Charles was appointed Post master of Odessa from 1866-1881.  In 1860 he built a two story store which burned down in 1876.  Charles sold the store to the Stanley Brothers and moved his family to Elmira.  Charles married Amanda Thompson (1844-11/1916).  They had two children; Fayton Shelton (1872- ) married Horace Quick of Elmira.  Donald O. Shelton (1867-1941 in Elmira) Donald was the President of the National Bible Institute in New York City.


Children of George Shelton (8/1/1810-11/12/1891 Minnesota) and Hester A. Hasbrouck (1812-1883) 

Oliver Perry Shelton (1839-1890) Born in Catharine, Oliver moved with his family to Minnesota, where he joined the military to fight in the Civil War.  Oliver was a farmer, who married  Medore (unknown) born 1855 in Pa.  on 11/23/1889 Oliver received a land grant for 160 acres in Todd county Minnesota.  Oliver and Medore had the following children; Ada Shelton 91869-), Effie Shelton 91872-), California Shelton (1874-), Jessie V. Shelton (1877-)

 Sarah Shelton (1842-1901) No information is known at this time.

 Edward Shelton (1851-1920) no information is known at this time.


Children of Julia Shelton (1818-2/25/1898) and Edwin Bradley (1815 in Broome County NY-1889). 

Anna Bradley- no information available

 Austin Bradley (1841-1911)married Eliza (unknown) in 1867.  Austin was a farmer and remained in Schuyler county, where he raised his children; Frank Bradley (1870), William Bradley (1872), Eloise Bradley (1879), Anna L. Bradley (1879), Grover Bradley (1887)

Josiah Bradley (1841-1911)- no information available at this time.


Children of James Shelton (1823-1901) and Catherine (unknown).

Louisa Shelton (1854- Jul. 11, 1888) Louisa settled in Reading NY and married Hartwell Clark.  Louisa and Hartwell both died when Roy was still a child.  He was raised by his Grandparents, James and Catherine.  They had one son; Ray S. Clark (May 1883-) Ray married Elizabeth (unknown)(1873-?)  This was a second marriage for Elizabeth.  They had one son, Harry E. Clark born 1902.

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   While I was researching this series I came across a long forgotten piece of history, a valuable asset to anyone interested in the families of Catharine, but sadly, out of print.  It is a lengthy book aptly entitled: The history of the town of Catharine Schuyler County NY Written/ compiled by Mary Louise Catlin Cleaver and published by Tuttle publishing Company of Vermont 1945.   This is available on the Ancestry.com web site.  I was not able to locate it on the Schuyler County historian web site.  The Brick Tavern museum in Montour Falls houses several interesting books and local genealogical data, if you are researching someone in particular.  They have a reading room in the museum but they charge a fee to access the information.  Last I checked it was $5.00 per hour or the cost of membership to the museum, which is around $25. per year.

   Mary Louise Catlin Cleaver’s The History of Catharine was completed by compiling information on many of the families in the area from the families themselves.  Many did not respond to Mrs. Cleaver’s inquiry so she did the best she could with what she had available.  I have found several in correct items when looking through her work, so if you look for this book be aware that additional research may be necessary.  It is an interesting look at the area but very difficult to read as a great many place references are made to places owned by former residents.  If you are, like me, from out of the area, of under the age of 100 you are not likely to know who or where any of the referenced people lived.  Still, for the genealogist it is of value in that it discusses many early families and makes the connections between families that may otherwise be lost to time.

 Today we continue our history with a look at the Ault family. Luella Ault (1888-8/31/1852) married William Lodwick Jones in 1905. Luella was born in Odessa, the daughter of Charles F. Ault (10/22/1856-1/26/1924) and his first wife, Anna Shelton (1856-11/6/1897).

     Charles Freeman Ault was born in Montour Falls, Schuyler NY and is   Son of Freedom Ault and Charlotte Howell.  Both families are prominent in the history of Schuyler County. In 1870, at the age of 15, Charles was sent to live with his maternal uncle, Elijah Howell in Lodi, Seneca County, where he served millers apprenticeship. By 1880 Charles had returned to Odessa NY and was boarding at the home of Richard and Carrie Lockhart and working in the grist mill.  On 9/1/1881 he married Anna Shelton at Taughannock Falls.  They returned to Odessa where Luella was born the following year.  Anna died on 11/6/1897 and is buried in The Old North Cemetery located on Route 224 between Odessa and Alpine junction.

      In 1898, after grieving the loss of his wife, and with an infant to care for, Charles Took a second wife on 5/13/1898, Susie Melvina  Van Horn (1865- 6/22/1961  ) In February 1889 Charles became a partner in the flour mill, previously owned by Richard Lockhart.  Charles made his home on Merchant Ave. in Odessa.  He ran the flour Mill for many years and was a well-known miller/farmer in that town.  In 1899 he and Susie became the proud parents of a daughter, Charlotte Ault (1897-6/22/1926). Charles F. Ault settled his family on Merchant Avenue in Odessa and remained at that home until his death in 1924.  This was the home in which Luella Ault, Lou as she was known by her friends, grew up.

     Susan Malvina Van Horn was the youngest child of Martha Elizabeth Martin (7/20/1834-1/24/1920 (yes, the same Martha Van Horn who sold the College Ave. property to William L. Jones in 1919.) and Nathaniel Van Horn (1829 Sussex New Jersey-10/16/1889). He was the son of William and Elizabeth Van Horn of New Jersey.   Martha was born and raised in Hackettstown New Jersey.  After her marriage she moved with her husband, Nathanial Van Horn, to Thompson Pennsylvania, where daughters Ida Van Horn and Susan, Susie as she was known, Van Horn were born. Nathaniel was a veteran of the Civil war. 

    The Van Horns did not move to the Schuyler County area until 1889.  They purchased a house and barn on College Avenue, from Phineas Mitchell.  Nathaniel passed away on 10/16/1898. The Van Horns are buried in the laurel Hill Cemetery in Odessa NY.  At some time in her later years Martha lost her hearing but was known for maintaining her pleasant disposition.  She was reportedly a well-liked fixture in the Catharine area, generous with her time.

   The Van Horn’s eldest daughter, Ida Van Horn married George Gelatt in Pennsylvania and started a family.  In 1887 they moved with their four daughters to Odessa, purchasing a home on Steam Mill road, where they remained for 21 years.  In 1908 they sold the Steam mill home to Irving Charles a farm, which was sold in 1944 to L.H. Underdown.  All four daughters passed away before their parents.  The daughters were as follow;

     Evangie Galett married in 1912 to Joseph Hadley in New Jersey.  They had one son, Edward Hadley born 1916.  Evangie died in June of 1921.  After her death Edward went to live with his maternal aunt Naomi Boyce.

    Naomi Gelatt (1883-1926) Naomi attended the Cook academy in Montour Falls NY.  She married 12/28/1910 to Ethaman Boyce.  They settled in New Jersey.  Following her sister’s untimely death Naomi took in Edward and a second nephew belonging to Sister Elsie Gelatt Boyce.

   Lorraine Galett died in 1900while a student at Cook University in Montour Falls NY.

   Elsie Galett (11/23/1886-6/4/1918) married 4/23/1910 to Benjamin Boyce, brother of  Naomi’s husband Ethaman Boyce.  Benjamin was a telegraph operator in charge of the stations at Odessa, Ithaca and Towanda Pa.   They had one son, Maynard Boyce. Following Elsie’s death Maynard went to live with Aunt Naomi.  He later became a school teacher.   Benjamin remarried to Jennie Smith.  They had a daughter; Erma Boyce- Married Grant Yentzer and settled in Ithaca Tompkins NY.

    Martha Elizabeth Van Horn was the daughter of Richard Martin and Susan Ann Sowers.   Richard Martin was born 11/13/1818 in Warren County New Jersey.  He died 7/30/1902 in Harmony Susquehanna PA. on 6/2/1838 he married Susan Ann Sowers.  In 1850 the Martin’s moved to Broome NY, Settling in Harmony Pa in 1860.  They had the following children; Martha Martin (1834 NJ), Ezra Martin (1841 NJ), Frances Lenora Martin (2/13/1841 NJ)., Margaret Martin (1843NJ), Susanna Martin (1846 PA),  Elijah Martin (1847 NY)Esther Martin( 12/5/1847 NY), Pheobe (1849 NY), George Martin (1851 Pa.),.  When Marth Martin Van Horn died in 1920 only sisters Frances and Esther survived.

           Frances L. Martin Married Nelson Rands Comfort (12/12/1839-9/29/1900) on 9/6/1859.  They lived in PA. Until after Nelson’s death, when Frances moved to Greene NY.  They had the following children: (Mary Lenora Comfort (3/19/1861-3/2/1865), Frank Nelson Comfort (1/10/1864-1918 Colorado), Ralph Martin Comfort (9/10/1868-2/1/1902).

     Esther C. Martin (12/5/1847 Broome NY-12/24/1923 Binghamton Broome NY.  Married 1/2/1868 George Wallace Burns (1/26/1847-10/5/1916) they had the following children: (George Albert Burns ( 5/31/1871-9/29/1952), Frank Richard Burns (9/22/1872-1901), Fred Nelson Burns (6/12/1878-8/19/1946)

    Margaret (Mary Etta) martin (3/15/1843 NJ-5/26/1895Pa.) married 1840 Jerome Chase in Pa.  They had the following children (William M. Chase (1861-?), Emma Jane Chase (2/10/1865-9/14/1924), George N. Chase (3/21/1874-?)

So we have been able to answer the question as to who was Martha Elizabeth Van Horn in relationship to the Jones family.  She was the mother-in-law to Charles Ault and the step grandmother of Luella Ault Jones.  We also see that the house on College ave. was not built by the Jones family but had been in existence since before 1889.

     Luella’s half-sister, Charlotte Ault (1897-6/22/1926) remained living with her mother until Charlotte’s untimely death.    Charlotte was a young girl, little more than 17 when she married Lloyd Dawson Bayles (1894-7/20/1922) on 12/4/1914.  Lloyd was born in Cheat Haven Pa.  As a young child the family moved to West Virginia, where he was raised.   He worked in Schuyler County as a Station Agent and operator of the Lehigh Valley Rail Road in Burdette NY.  Lloyd died in 1922 leaving Charlotte with two small children; Helen J. Bayles (1916 -1/24/1972) and Charles Robert Bayles (1918-1/24/1962). Following Charlottes death in 1926 Susan Ault raised the children.

  Helen Margaret Bayles married James Ely (1913-9/12/1936) son of Lillian Ely and Earnest H. Ely of Binghamton.  After Earnests death Lillie moved to Schuyler county and married Asa Coe Beardsley (11/20/1882-3/1975 Alpine NY).  Asa helped her raise James and his two sisters.  Helen and James had two sons; Donald Ely and Randall Ely and continued living in the Schuyler county area.

Charles Robert Bayles married 4/12/1941 in Montour Falls to Margie Bond. They had a son 10/3/1942 who only survived for five hours. No other information available at this time.

    Luella Ault Jones was also the daughter of Anna Shelton (1856-11/6/1897).   Anna was the daughter of Alvin Shelton and Amelia Stanley.  Alvin Shelton was a farmer and a miller. He purchased the mill in Odessa in 1890.  This mill played a large role in the Jones history.  It is the same mill later owned by Charles F. Ault and eventually by William L. Jones, who operated it until his death in 1926.

 In our next installment we will look at the Shelton and Stanley families. 

  There are not very many head stones left standing in this picturesque cemetery, but the area is well cared for , I believe by the people who live next to the cemetery.  Some of the stones, though old, are beautiful to look at.  The etchings are still visible, though the years are taking their toll.  The intricate work, the care taken to etch the designs and the very fact that, though the lines were not etched deeply into the stone, the designs remain today, is impressive and well worth looking at.    As you can see from the above picture, the grass is diligently working to cover and claim the stones unfortunate enough to have fallen to the ground. Still others are being sucked down into the earth a little more each year.  many have sunk deeply enough that the writing is now below the earth.   You will find the names of those buried here in a preceding post, and can see that many of those listed no longer appear in the  cemetery.  I believe this is due to the reclamation of the ground.  There is a large expanse of grass in the ope center of the cemetery area, which,  when walking across you can feel some of the head stones beneath the grass.  It is interesting to note how the different materials used to create head stones over the years weathers time.  It often seems that the older Field stone stones hold up much longer than some of the newer, predominantly granite stones of the  manufactured throughout the 20th century.  Today granite and bronze are the most common materials used .  Marble was a favorite material for many years, especially for the wealthy, but it is a relatively soft stone and easily worn away by the elements.  Many of the older marble stones are difficult or impossible to read due to this erosion.
     Many modern cemeteries, at least in the US. prefer to use flat, markers or inlaid stones, rather than the standing head stones of years passed.  There is a belief that these flat markers are more aesthetically pleasing as they do not disrupt the landscape, and make it easier for the general care of the property, easier to mow, etc.  Unfortunately for the genealogist this means these stones will also be reclaimed by the ground much sooner that the standing stones of the past.

Welcome back.  I hope you are enjoying our latest series.  At the beginning of the series, when I was talking about the town of Catharine I posted a list of founding fathers.  Your job is to see how many of the people in this history are related to them as we go along.

    There are several important cemeteries in Catharine Township where many of the founding fathers can be found.  Instead of trying to post the list of those buried in these cemeteries I will instead insert links to them for your viewing pleasure.

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=cr&CRid=65459&CScn=North+Settlement+&CScntry=4&CSst=36&CScnty=2026&

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=cr&CRid=2523449&CScn=catharine+Cemetery&CScntry=4&CSst=36&

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=cr&CRid=65067&CScn=Laurel+Hill&CScntry=4&CSst=36&

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=cr&CRid=64234&CScn=Coe&CScntry=4&CSst=36&

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=cr&CRid=2556685&CScn=Mitchell&CScntry=4&CSst=36&

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=cr&CRid=64812&CScn=Highland&CScntry=4&CSst=36&

      Last time we looked at the immediate family of Mary F. Jones. Mary’s sister, Myrtle Stanley Jones married Edward Lovell (1917-8/10/1956).  Ray, as he was called, was born and raised in Odessa.  His father was a miller and when Ray was a boy he lived on Mill Street. Edward Ray Lovell was the son of Edward Ray Lovell (1894-1988) and Alice H. Howell (1898-1978). Ray senior served as Odessa post Master for a brief time in 1956, shortly after the death of his only son.

       In 1940 Edward and Alice Edwards continued to live outside of Odessa on County Route 15 / Church Street in what was once the hamlet of Catharine.  They were taking care of Alice’ retired parents, Horace and Ada (Lattin) Howell, and an elderly Uncle Fred Lattin formerly of California.

   The Lovell family was a fixture in the township of Catharine.  Simeon Lovell came to Catharine in 1800 from Fairfield Conn., along with John Coe and Ichabod Meeker.    He settled a piece of land in the vicinity of the Hamlet of Catharine, where he built and operated one of the first Black Smith shops in the area.   Simeon had the following children, (buried in the Catharine Cemetery); William Lovell, (1799-1855), Olive Lovell, (5/4/1800-12/26/1861)

William Lovell (5/23/1799-5/26/1855) had the following children, wife unknown at this time,; George Lovell, Henry Lovell, William Lovell-married Sarah Kendell (1821-1894) Daughter of Ephraim and Elmira Kendell, Charles Lovell-died in infancy, Sarah Lovell (?-4/1913) married Wesley Coe .  They had Mary Coe, Myron Coe and Jeanette Cor.

Henry Lovell, son of William Married  Harriett Bentley and had ; Stella Lovell married Albert Evans and moved to Elmira NY, George Lovell, William Lovell married  Etta Mackey and died in Burdette NY., Nita Lovell-married Delbert Rhodes and moved to Elmira, Nettie Lovell-never married.

    George Lovell, son of Henry Lovell, (B.1865-D. 12/23/1942) Married 9/8/1886  in Mecklenburg NY to Capitola  Lattin, Daughter of Henry Lattin and Matilda Beardsley.  They settled in Beardsley Hollow in the village of Catharine and had six children;

Clarence Lovell (9/7/1887- ) married x2-1-Maude Brink, 2-Alice Catherine daughter of Eugene Catherine and Rose Asay.  They had 5 children; Harriett Lovell, William Lovell, George Lovell Married Jean Hoy of Binghamton (2 daughters -Anna Alice Lovell & Glenna Jean Lovell), James Lovell married unknown and had 2 daughters- Joyce Lovell and Louise Lovell, Alice Jean Lovell Married 1941 James Nordquist, son of Andrew Nordquist, 1 child

Archie Lovell (6/20/1889-) Married Winifred Cogswell of Horseheads.  They had 5children;Ruth Lovell married Carlton Travis of Rochester NY (three children: Marvin Travis, Weldon Travis and Janice Travis),Morris Lovell married Lucile Wood, daughter of Tracy Wood and Ruth Beardsley(1 son recorded Martin Andrew Lovell B.11/1942), Adelbert Lovell B.11/29/1927, Lois Marlyn Lovell B:12/13/1930, Wilma Jean Lovell and Melvin Lovell.

Pearl Lovell (6/22/1892-) married 12/17/1919 Howard Bennett son of Harvey Bennett.  1 recorded son- Harvey Bennett who married Ainah Depew in 11/1940)

Ray B. Lovell (5/8/1894- Feb. 3, 1988) Married Sept. 1916 Alice Howell, daughter of Ada Lattin and Horace Howell. One son, Edward Lovell B8/15/1917 married Myrtle Jones.

Ivan Lovell born 12/24/1897 Married 10/1921 Hazel Beckwith (1 daughter Marie Lovell B12/30/1923)

Cecil Arthur Lovell (6/30/1901- ) Married Edna Bennett daughter of Harvey Bennett (Ellen Lovell married 6/21/1941 Charles Crane, son of Earl Crane. 1 son Charles Crane Jr.)

  I wonder if Myrtle Jones realized she was marrying into one of the founding families of the township of Catharine.

      William L. Jones was born 1/15/1879 in the town of Catharine near Cayuta Lake in Schuyler NY to Nicoll Jones (8/30/1836-4/2/1919) and Deborah Merwin (1842-8/17/1920).  Nicoll was a farmer who had been born in Fairfield Connecticut and moved with his family to Newfield Tompkins NY by 1840.  William was one of 5 children:

Samuel Fosdick Jones (1867-10/3/1945 Married Harriet Couch (1869-6/8/1953).  Samuel remained in Odessa.  He was a store clerk in the hardware store and had three children but only 2 survived infancy; Evelyn Jones Married 8/1920 Lee Warner and remained in Odessa where they raised their two children ( Merwin  Warner and Joan Warner), Avonia Jones married Lloyd H. Underdown of Odessa, they had three children (Lloyd H. Underdown Jr., Judith underdown-served overseas in England for the red cross, Marie Underdown and Norman Underdown.

Lucy Olive Jones (1869-1911) married William Couch (?-1937), son of Samuel Couch and Viann Woodard.  They lived on Samuel Couch farm and raised their children. Joel S. Couch (1872), Nicoll Couch (1906-),William Leslie Couch (1904-)

Frances E. Jones (1872-) married Kirk Fowler, son of George Fowler of Trumbulls corners Tompkins NY.  They had 5 children; (Roland Fowler, Frances Fowler, Carlton Fowler, Margaret Fowler, Malcolm Kirk Folwer)

Mary R. Jones (1875-) married Dr. C. Smith Williams of Lafayette NY they had two children;(Olive Jones William, Dr. F. Marian Williams of Philadelphia)

William Lodwick Jones (1/15/1879-1/2/1925)- Married 7/24/1907 to Luella Ault, daughter of Charles Ault and  Anna Shelton.  William L. Jones was well liked in his community and set a strong example for his children regarding good citizenship.  He was very active in his church and in the community throughout his life and gave generously to the church.  William purchased the house on College avenue from Martha Elizabeth Van Horn in 1911.He moved his family into the house in 1919 (Watkins Review)

   Next time we will continue our series with a look at the Jones- Merwin family, the Jones-Couch families, the Ault family and the Shelton family.   See you soon.

    Welcome back.  Today we begin our new series.  We will be looking at the Jones and Van Horn families from Odessa Schuyler county New York, and through them, the town of Catharine.    I purchased my home from relatives of Mary F. Jones in 2006.  The family continues to live and work in the Schuyler county area and is very involved with the local Arc, helping persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities.  In her will, Mary Jones originally left the house to her grand-niece to use for her own residence, with the express understanding that if she could not or did not want to maintain ownership it would pass to Mary’s nephew- father of said niece.  He lives in Virginia, so that was not a very convenient plan when it came time to execute the will, and so they sold the house to me.

     Mary had been very attached to the property, though she did not live on it continuously during her life time.  She and her siblings are said to have been born in the house and her cremated ashes had been returned there and spread in the yard.  She was reportedly a very interesting woman, though I never knew her, not having lived in this area until 2006.  Mary Frances Jones was a bit of a local celebrity.  People still refer to my house as “the Mary Jones” place.

    Mary was an avid gardener, with a passion for flowers.  The local nursery remembers her well, as she hired them each year to maintain and expand her gardens. She also had an affinity for the visual arts.  She held many art shows in the yard in her later years, inviting local artists to show their work, and displaying much of her own. Her art work was very delicate, modeled on Japanese form.  We discovered several pieces still at the house, but unfortunately they were damaged with mold from being stored in in the basement.

   She was also a staunch Methodist and very involved in the church.  She supported the work of the Methodist Missionaries around the world, both spiritually and financially.  She, herself had been a missionary in her youth.  From the time she was a very young girl Mary had aspired to visit and work in India.   Yes, she was a very interesting person, a local celebrity in her own right.  People who knew her in her old age often describe her as being very upright, very proper, spiritual, a perfectionist and, perhaps, a little set in her ways, hard to please, strict;   yet, in her youth Mary Frances Jones could be seen as very progressive for her time.

   Mary Francis Jones was born 10/5/1915 (Star Gazette-2002) to William Lodwick Jones and Luella Ault.  She was one of five children.  The Jones were very involved with the Odessa Methodist church and raised their children with civic pride and a desire to help their fellow man.  Mary embraced these teachings and, as a child, longed to serve in the foreign education field, as an emissary for Christ, in India.   She graduated from Odessa High school and went to the Ithaca College, earning a degree in Physical Education and English.  Following College, she worked as a teacher for 9 years at Williamson Central schools.

    In those 9 years, Mary never lost sight of her dream to serve overseas. India was not in her cards, however.  In 1948 Mary was finally given the opportunity to travel overseas.  Having heard about the bombing of Hiroshema, Mary was moved to go to Japan and help the bombing victims.  She approached the Methodist church for sponsorship and entered missionary work on special assignment.  Mary spent 3 1/2 years in post WWII Japan before returning to her family in Odessa in the summer of 1952.  Mary spent the summer visiting with friends and relatives and caring for her sick mother.  Luella Jones passed away on 8/31/1952.  She was able to live long enough to see her daughter consecrated on 7/26/1953 as a regular missionary for the Methodist church. Upon her mother’s death the family home in Odessa passed to Mary.

     Following her mother’s death, Mary returned to college and achieved her Master’s degree in religious education from Union Theological School.  She also took classes at Columbia University’s teacher’s college and Scanett College in Nashville Tenn.   Mary returned to her work in Japan in 1959 and remained there for another 5 years, rebuilding the Aikaen Social Center, established a scholarship program for needy children of Japan and developed day care and counseling programs at the center.

    After returning to the states Mary settled in New Jersey with her longtime friend, Elizabeth Winton.  Mary worked as a guidance counselor for the Newark City Hospital school of nursing.  On 2/13/1976 Mary added Elizabeth’s name to the deed to the house.  On 3/2/1981 Elizabeth gave her portion back to Mary and had her name removed from the deed.

     Ever tireless and civic minded, following her retirement Mary returned to Odessa and immersed herself in local affairs, and in her church.  Mary was the driving force behind the establishment of the Schuyler County NY Environmental management council and helped to develop the Odessa recycling center.  Mary was instrumental in the establishment of Earth day celebrations in Schuyler   county as well as the inter faith peace group and “My Mother’s Garden” club.  She served on the village planning board and updated the village zoning ordinance.

   Mary was awarded the Paul Harris award for her work for world peace and honored by the county in 2002 for her service on the county’s environmental management board and for her environmentalist vision.   Mary Frances Jones worked her entire life to shape the world in a way that would benefit all of mankind.  She died on 11/3/2003, leaving no children, no spouse but a monumental legacy in her wake.  The Village of Odessa, the County of Schuyler and the country of Japan have much to remember her for.

THE JONES FAMILY

We are working backward on this one, starting with the most recent family members and working our way back.    We start here with the family of William Lodwick Jones and Luella Ault.

William L. Jones was born in Odessa Schuyler NY on 1/15/1879.  He had brown hair and brown eyes and was of medium height and build, (WWI draft record).    Will, as his friends called him, was a hardworking man, a miller by trade.     In 1920 Will is recorded in the US census as living on Orchard Street in Odessa and working as a laborer on the Holly Farms.   Will married Luella Ault in or around 1905.  They had five children, (see below).  Will died 1/2/1925 at the age of 46, leaving Louella (Lou as her friends called her,) to raise the children alone. William was the son of Nicoll Jones F. and Deborah A. Merwin.  Luella was the daughter of Charles Ault and Anna Shelton.

   Children of William Jones and Luella Ault:

 John Paul Jones B. 4/20/1906 Odessa NY-D. 3/27/1980 in California-buried at sea.  Married Eunice Rannings Madden.  Eunice had married very briefly before marrying John and had one daughter from her prior marriage.  John Jones raised her as his own.    John Paul and Eunice Rannings Jones were also called to civic services.  John moved his small family from Odessa Schuyler  County NY and settled in The Trumansburg, Tompkins County area, outside of Ithaca NY.   He was known locally as “the Cider King” because for many years he and Eunice owned and operated a cider Mill in Perry City New York.   In 1960 the state threatened to shut down a local senior living complex known as the Tompkins home and farm.  The state expected the county to make major repairs or they were going to shut it down.  John Paul and Eunice were not to let that happen.  They took over management of the farm and went to work making the necessary improvements.  Within 3 months they were ready for the state inspection, which they passed with flying colors.  The facility, then home to 28 senior citizens was recertified.

    John Paul and Eunice continued managing the facility and within a  years’ time, (1961) they had increased residency to 88 people, 60 more than the year before.   Under their management the farm prospered and they were able to supply most of the food used in the facility and in 1968 produced a surplus of beef, poultry, eggs, pork, potatoes and vegetables worth $9700.  John was honored that year by the NY State Bureau of agriculture and markets  and, in a separate ceremony in New York City , by the NY City Center for the Elderly.  The couple retired in May of 1973 and eventually moved to California to relax and enjoy their final days.  They had the following children; Susan Madden, William L. Jones, Rebecca Jones,

Charles L. Jones B. 1911 Odessa NY- D10/28/1994. Married 6/25/1936 C. Elizabeth Thomas.  They had one son: Thomas C. Jones

Anna Amelia Jones B; 2/27/1912-D. 7/30/2013 age 101. Married 1938-Llewellyn Clarence Edwards and moved to Avoca NY.  They had three sons; L. Clifford Edwards Jr., Nicoll Edwards, William Edwards

Mary Frances Jones B: 10/5/1915 D: 11/3/2003.  No marriage, no children.

Myrtle Stanley Jones: B; 1919 Odessa NY died: 4/4/2005 in Montour Falls NY   Married x2- 1st-2/11/1939 -Edward Lovell , 2nd- 1958 Kurt Stepphen.  Myrtle had the following children; John Lovell, Frederick Lovell, Mary Anna Lovell, Raymond Steffen.

   Stay tuned for our next installment.  There is a lot more to come.

It’s funny how in a small town it seems like everyone is related.  Often families settle, spread out and expand and within a generation or two the family connection is lost.  You might live close to a relative, work, go to school, maybe even date someone who, if you looked at your family history, turns out to be a second or third cousin.  I can’t tell you how many times I’ve talked to people who tell me they have no cousins, only to discover a vast, untapped family waiting to be reconnected.

    Families have their own quirks and personalities. I wonder how much of this comes from the area they settle in and how much they shape the tenor of the area.  When I bought my house I was told that the family I was buying it from had built it several generations back.  They were, I was told, one of the founding families of the area and the house and yard I was buying had served as the first itinerate church during the conception of the town.  They claimed this house was one of the very first ever built in the area, and they had started it all.

     I decided to take a look and see what I could find out about the family that had so shaped the town, built the house and brought religion to this small hamlet.  My facts did not quite match their description.  Maybe they did not really know the truth.  No matter, I loved the house and the yard and would have bought it regardless of the history or perceived history of the place.  In fact the property did not come to the previous owner’s family until 1911, well after the founding of the village, the township and the county.

    I purchased the house from a relation of Mary F. Jones. Looking at the deed to the house I discovered the first registered owner, though likely not truly the first owner of the property was Martha S. E. Van Horn. Intrigued, I decided to take a look at the people involved with this house and looked into the history of the town, the founding fathers, etc.  I discovered some interesting family connections, searched through several of the small, mostly forgotten cemeteries in town and discovered that the town of Catharine, Schuyler NY, as recently as 1879, held several small villages and thriving industries.

  For those of you who may be unfamiliar with the Finger Lakes region of New York, Schuyler County New York is a small, mostly rural county.  It is the second smallest/ least populated county in New York, and as such, a fairly poor county, with a median family income (2000 Census) of $36,010.  It is contiguous to Tompkins (County seat-Ithaca), Chemung (County seat-Elmira), Seneca (County seat-Waterloo), and Yates (County seat-Penn Yan).  The County seat and best known village in Schuyler is Watkins Glen, home of the beautiful Watkins Glen State Park and The world famous Watkins Glen Race track, which draws auto race fans by the thousands each year.  It is a beautiful part of the country and well worth a visit if you are a history buff, a genealogist or anyone who loves nature, photography and camping.  The county has several natural water falls, several   small village and town parks in addition to the state park, sits on the banks of Seneca Lake and also houses the smaller Cayuta Lake, nestled in the town of Catharine.

     Before the revolutionary war the Finger Lakes were populated entirely by Iroquois tribes.  It was the Clinton –Sullivan Campaign, launched by General George Washington to annihilate the natives who aligned with the British forces that brought European colonists to the Finger Lakes area.  In 1778-1779 General Sullivan forced his march through the Finger Lakes, blazing trails where none had existed, burning villages, destroying crops and capturing horses and livestock. American soldiers destroyed nearly 50 Iroquois villages, adjacent croplands and winter stores.  Surviving natives were forced to take refuge in British held Niagara.    

    Nestled in the Valley now known as Montour Falls- Schuyler County, was a large native village known as Catharine’s town.  Catharine Montour was the de facto leader of the tribe after the death in battle of her chieftain husband.  American soldiers describing their passage through Catherine’s town marveled at the abundance of orchards, crops and the marvelous horses, raised and bred at that site for trade with other villages along Seneca Lake.  Catherine’s town was the preeminent supplier of horses to the Seneca tribes.  The soldiers lay waist to the land, killed the horses and burned the crops and orchards.  They made their way through present day Watkins Glen, along the lake and continued their attack on tribes living in present day Hector. For more on the Clinton-Sullivan campaign I have included the following link http://sullivanclinton.com/.

     Following the war many of the men, having fallen in love with this area desired to move back and settle the land for themselves.    The first permanent settlements were established in Schuyler County as follow; Town of Montour 1788; Hector 1790; Dix 1797; Cayuta, Reading and Tyrone, 1798; Catharine 1799 and Orange in 1802. (http://www.schuylerhistory.org/Schuyler_County_Townships.pdf)

     Schuyler County as we know it today was not established in its own right until

1854.  Prior to that the land that now makes up Schuyler County belonged to Tompkins, Chemung and Steuben counties.  (This information will help you should you be looking for a relative living in this area prior to 1854) The eight towns that presently make up the county are; Catharine established in 1798; Hector 1802; Reading 1806; Tyrone 1822; Cayuta 1824; Dix 1835; Orange 1836; and Montour, 1860.  Watkins Glen is the county seat, established in 1877 after a protracted legal battle with Montour.

    There were several small villages scattered throughout Schuyler county that have been lost to time including Decker’s town and Havana in Montour and Catharine and Alpine in Catharine township.  Decker’s town and Havana were swept away to become part of Montour Falls and the village of Catharine, once a prosperous area coexisting with neighboring Odessa, is all but forgotten these days.  Where once there stood two churches, one Methodist Episcopal and one Protestant Episcopal, a general store, two blacksmith-shops, two wagon shops, one tannery, a public school, a post-office and an active cemetery, as recently as 1879, there remains one active church, the Protestant Episcopal, numerous farms, one recently added dairy and a small convenience store, and a youth theater located in the former Methodist church, the first church /church building established in the county in 1809.  The village of Catharine is now a part of the village of Odessa.

    The village of Alpine remains today, marked by a sign indicating its location on county route 11 off of route 224 between alpine junction and Odessa.  Once a part of Tompkins county, Alpine was a thriving community of about 300 individuals.  As recently as 1879 Alpine boasted the following commerce; two general stores, one grocery store, a hotel, two meat markets, three blacksmiths, two wagon-shops, a cabinet-shop, a pump-manufactory, two shoe-shops, one tin-shop, one grist-mill, one saw-mill, one planing-mill, one Baptist church and a Methodist Episcopal Society, a public school, two resident physicians, one undertaker, and a resident minister of the gospel  (http://genealogytrails.com/ny/schuyler/1879history9.html).  Today Alpine sits off the beaten path, a small, tired little town filled with homes but without commerce.  Find a grave.com lists a cemetery in Alpine NY but does not provide map directions and I have yet to locate it.  Residents of Alpine, like most of Schuyler county, rely on the village of Watkins Glen, or the small cities of Ithaca or Elmira and it’s several suburbs, to meet their commercial and employment needs.

   The village of Odessa, in 1879, co-existing with its neighbors in Alpine and Catharine also had a thriving commercial trade.  At that time Odessa boasted the following active business;  one general, one grocery, and one drug-store, one millinery establishment, two blacksmith shops, one wagon-shop, one grist-mill, and three sawmills (at the place or close by), one planing-mill, a hotel, three churches,-one each of the Methodist Episcopal, Free-Will Baptist, and Wesleyan Methodist denominations, -a public school, two resident physicians, three ministers of the gospel, and one justice of the peace.  At the center of town was the small community cemetery known as the Catlin-Odessa cemetery. The population at that time was about 300.  (In April of 1911 the Catlin-Odessa cemetery was moved to make room for the village hall.  The stones and bodies were relocated to the Laurel Hill cemetery on county route 10 in Odessa.)  One has to wonder at the loss and change that has occurred over the past 136 years. 

     The town of Catharine was settled by pioneers coming from Connecticut.  As stated above, they were men who had fought in or been hired by men who fought in the Clinton-Sullivan campaign of 1778-79.  They were predominately men with vision who knew the fertile soils and understood the potential bounties of the area so rich in wildlife, forests, and lakes, streams, fish, etc.  The Johnson settlement encompassed what is now the village of Odessa, including the former village of Catharine.  John Mitchell laid the first claim in 1799 and was quickly followed by; Josiah Hinman, from Trumbull, Fairfield Co., Conn., David Beardsley, from the same county in Connecticut, having come West by way of Geneva

   In 1800 the following settlers arrived to stake their claim in the town;  Samuel Winton, from Fairfield Co., Conn, Solomon Booth,  John Coe and Ichabod Meeker, from Fairfield County Conn, and  Simeon Lovell, who was the first blacksmith in town, and noted as an excellent workman.

      In 1804, Isaac Lyon came in from Fairfield Co., As did John Stiles.  John died shortly after arriving, at the house of David Beardsley. In 1806, Lemuel Shelton,  and William H. Prince, from Dutchess Co., N.Y.   James Osterhout came in 1811, from Ulster Co., N.Y. ,Zachary A. Lewis came in 1812. Eli Beardsley settled on lot No. 21, in 1812. Eaton Agard came in from Litchfield Co., Conn., in 1813,. Mr. Agard was justice of the peace from 1837 to 1855; supervisor in 1846-47, and at one time an associate judge of the county. He died Oct. 7, 1863. Barnabas Miller came in 1814 from East Hampton, L. I., He died in February, 1872.

     In 1824, Phineas Catlin, Esq., son of Judge Phineas Catlin for whom the cemetery mentioned above was named.  Rev. J. W. Nevins was ordained a minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1829, and in 1837 was stationed in the town. Dr. Van Veckten arrived at Johnson's Settlement in 1830-31, and practiced medicine there for many years. He was one of the earliest physicians in that part of the town.

     Before 1813 the northern part of the present town of Catharine, about  two-thirds of its area, remained in the hands of non-resident owners. A few small openings had been made, generally by girdling the trees, in the neighborhood of Cayuta Lake, mostly by hunters and trappers.  It is reported that the earliest trapper in the area around Cayuta Lake was a man by the name of Paulding.  It is believed he was the first white man living within the present limits of the town.

   In 1800  Isaac Buckalew made a girdling about half a mile southwest from the lake on lot 44; It lay on the line of the Indian trail passing from the head of the Seneca to the head of Cayuga Lake, which ran on the west side of the lake. The Buckalew clearing was for many years a well-known landmark in "the seven-mile woods," lying between the north settlement in Catharine and the Harvey settlement in Hector. Its identity is now effaced by the removal of the surrounding woods.

     About 1803, James Smith made an opening on the east side of the lake, he was killed about 1816 by the accidental discharge of his rifle. His two sons, William and Hooker Smith, long resided near Cayutaville, and left numerous descendants. Smith Valley, in Hector, derives its name from the sons of James Smith, who were half-brothers of Hooker and William Smith. Garrard Smith also settled at an early day on the east side of the lake. He was drowned in the lake in 1815, and was buried on the point, which, in commemoration of him, is still called "Garret's Point". He said that he had visited the lake in 1779 while acting as a scout for Sullivan's army.

     About 1812, Sylvanus A. Beeman commenced a clearing on lot 35, In 1813, ___ Connor occupied a cabin near the lake, and  In July, 1813, Samuel and Joseph Lawrence, sons of Jonathan Lawrence, one of the partners in the Watkins and Flint Purchase, and who had inherited from the father the principal part of the northeast section of township No. 3 in that purchase, constituting about half of the present town of Catharine, having determined to fix their residence on the west side of Cayuta Lake, contracted with the late Samuel Winton, of Johnson's Settlement, to erect houses for them, to be completed within the following year. In the fulfillment of this contract the late David Beardsley and Elijah S. Hinman afterwards became partners.

In 1816 a settlement was begun on Oak Hill, situated directly south of the lake; Titus F. Mix having contracted to buy land from Samuel and Joseph Lawrence for the following men; Samuel F. Mix, David Olmstead, Jr., Coleman Olmstead, Richard Wilcox, David Olmstead, Sr.,

    In 1815 settlements were begun about one mile west from the lake, in the valley of the east branch of Catlin's Mill Creek, extending up that valley to the south line of Hector, and westerly along that line. Early settlers included; Elijah and David Sturdevant ,Jonathan Sturdevant,,; John and Henry Chapman, __ Sackett, __ Mead,; Abijah Wakeman,; and Isaac Ganung,.

   The firsts in the new town of Catharine were as follow:

The first birth in the town was that of Charles, son of John Mitchell, in 1801.

The first marriage was that in which the high contracting parties were Samuel Winton and Alice Hinman.

The first death was that of Abel Peet, in 1800. Lewis Beardsley was killed by the falling of a tree, in 1802.

The first store was kept by Elijah Booth, on the farm subsequently owned and occupied by Barnabas Miller, in 1800.

The first school was taught by Abraham Garry

The first church society organized was the Methodist Episcopal in 1805. This was the first in Schuyler County.

The first sawmill was erected by Isaac Swartwood for Robert C. Johnson, in 1799 at Odessa.

The first gristmill was built by David Beardsley, John Coe and Robert C. Johnson in 1801; also located at Odessa.

The first road was laid out June 1, 1799 from George Mills' to Phineas Catlin's; the record being signed by John W. Watkins and Phineas Catlin, Overseers of Highways.

  (http://genealogytrails.com/ny/schuyler/1879history9.html)

        Many of these names are familiar to anyone living in Schuyler county New York.  Many of the families still reside in the local area.  Streets, buildings and organizations are named for them.  As I mentioned earlier, I started this research project when looking into the history of my house.  In my search I stumbled across many of the above mentioned families.  In my search of the local cemeteries I “met them” in person.  In too many cases their graves are forgotten, the stones unreadable, broken and left to recede into the ground. 

    The genealogies of the founding fathers extend from England in the 1600’s as far away as Mexico, Texas and California and many states in between.   The next several posts will contain pictures of the Catharine cemetery as it looks today and the Coe cemetery along with the lineage of the former owners of this house, the Jones family, the Van Horn family and through them, many of the founding families in the town of Catharine.   Where available I will also try to include some biographical information. This is a very involved project.  I hope you will find the information interesting and useful.

   Because I know that what you are really eager for are names and dates to help you with your personal search I am adding the names of persons originally buried in the Catlin-Odessa Cemetery.  If you find a loved one on the list you will find their marker now in the Laurel Hill cemetery, as mentioned above. Happy hunting.

The Catlin - Odessa cemetery was, according to Mrs. Cleaver, located where the Odessa Town Hall now stands.  It was established some time after Phineas Catlin purchased the land and mapped out the village in 1824.  There was a discussion of removal of the cemetery in 1875, but nothing was done about it until Apr. 1911, when the building of the Town Hall was planned, and the removal was completed.  The stones were placed in the northwest corner of  Laurel Hill Cemetery -- and so these  names are usually included in the readings of Laurel Hill.  Mrs. Cleaver wrote that the markings on the stones were somewhat obliterated, and the names and dates were hard to  obtain, so there may be errors.  Mrs. Clever obtained the information for Louis Catlin of Odessa.  We hope to update this later.

ADAMY        Rhoda (probably dau of Ebenezer & Elizabeth Adamy)

ARCHER       Lyman B.                     d. Oct 1849      aged ?

BEERS        Sarah, wife of Wakeman       d. 1859

BEERS        Wakeman                      b. Mar 20,1788,  d. Apr 23,1861

BUCHANAN     wife of Solomon; dau of Hiram Brown, d. Jul 20,1855, aged 24

BUEL         Ezra                         d. Jun 20,1850,  aged 50

BULKLEY      Aaron                        d. Aug 23,1870,  aged 68

BULKLEY      Ebenezer                     b. Jan 22,1770,  d. Apr 20,1830

BULKLEY      Hannah, wife of Ebenezer     d. 1848          aged 88

BULKLEY      John,   son of Ebenezer      d. Sep 6,1826,   aged 21

BULKLEY      Mary,   wife of Aaron        d. Jul 22,1880,  aged 70

BULKLEY      Moses,  son of Ebenezer      d. Aug 18,1826,  aged 23

DARLING      Dr. Jarvis                   d. Dec 26,1853,  aged 58

DARLING      Lucy,   wife of Samuel       d. Jun 18, 1836, aged 73

DAVIS        Huldah, wife of Nathaniel    d. Jul 23,1826,  aged 58

DAVIS        Ebenezer, son/John & Lucinda,d. 1840,         aged 2

DAVIS        Nathaniel                    d. Aug 26,1826   aged 62

DAVIS        Sarah, dau/John & Lucinda    d. Oct 13,1843,  aged 7

EUMANS       Andrew, son/Morris & Mary    d. 1860,         aged ??

FOSTER       Adelia, dau/John & Laura     d. 1827,         aged 26 days

FOSTER       Laura, wife of John          d. 1831,         aged ??

FOSTER       Samuel                       d. Aug 11,1826,  aged 26

GANOUNG      Jonathan                     d. Jan 24,1861,  aged 55(?)

GRAVES       Mary, wife of Bela           d. Jul 18,1831,  aged 23

                   dau of Robert & Diana Howard

GREEN        Letilla                      d. Sep 12,1840,  aged ??

HOWARD       Arly Jane, dau/Robert & Diana, d. Oct 22,1837,aged 20

JOHNSON      John A.

JOHNSON      Sarah, wife of John          d. Jun 18,1874,  aged 76

KING         Daniel, son/Jehiel & Mary    d. 1863,         aged 10

MILLER       Gurdin                       d. Aug 1818      aged ??

MISNER       Mary B., dau/Henry & Sarah   d. 1853

MORGAN       Edwin M.                     d. 1870

MORGAN       George                       d. Jan 19,1875

MORGAN       George W., son/Chas. & Kate  d. Jan 18,1871,  aged 4mo

MORGAN       John O.                      d. 1851

MORGAN       Sarah J.                     date not readable

NELSON       Minnie M., dau/A.& B.        d. Aug 18,1860,  aged 29

OGDEN        Jane Elizabeth, wife/Samuel  d. Nov 27,1870

PORTER       Polly                        d. Jan 18,1847

SEAMAN       Margaret, wife/Chauncey      d. Mar 20,1837,  aged 27

SEAMAN       Mary, dau of Chauncey        d. Mar 8,1837

SHELDON      Melissa                      d. May 26,1860

SOULE        James

THOMAS       Daniel J., son/Wm. & C.J.    d. Aug 10,1863,  aged 19mo

UPDIKE       Almira M.                    d. Jul 28,1842

UPDIKE       Minnie                       d. Aug 18,1869

http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~nyschuyl/cat_odes.htm

Too often people overlook the importance of history when compiling their genealogy.  I have known many family researchers who roll their eyes at the mention of history and state emphatically, “Oh, I don’t like history, never did.”  But compiling your genealogy is all about history.  What’s that you say?  “That’s different, it’s not about places and dates and things, it’s a collection of my personal family information.”  That’s true but I still believe history matters.

   If your school experience was anything like mine, history class, or Social Studies, was often dry and boring.  The teacher expected us to memorize a bunch of dates and places and events that did not appear to have any bearing on our lives.  What did I care if Columbus sailed the ocean blue in 1492?  We rarely heard about the men and women behind the dates and events, other than that some people were heroes or “good Guys”, like George Washington, and some people were not, like Benedict Arnold.

     But history is so much more than dry collections of facts.  It is the study of how people, often average citizens like you and I, shape events and how they and their families are shaped by them.  Very often this happens by chance, rather than by heroics. Take, for example, Peter Keenan, Civil War hero.  Peter was a major in the union Army.  He was leading his men one foggy night down a narrow path in Chancellorsville Virginia.  He came upon the confederate Cavalry, led by Stone Wall Jackson and startled them into firing blindly into the fog.  As a result Stonewall Jackson was hit and killed by a bullet fired by his own men.  Peter Keenan was also killed in this battle but he claims the victory for the kill, as it was his actions that set the fire fight in motion. The loss of Stonewall Jackson crippled the Confederate army and left a pall of defeat over them that was very difficult to shake.  This has been seen by many historians as a turning point in the war.   If not for this one event the Confederacy may well have won the war.

     This is not to say that Peter was not a heroic man, but I am pretty sure he did not expect to run head long into or cause the death of Stonewall Jackson when he woke up that morning.  He was one man, doing his job and being in the right/wrong place at the right time to alter an event.  These are the things that make up history, the events and the people that shape them or are shaped by them.

     To explore this a little more closely let’s look at Poland in the 1800-1900’s.  Russia and Poland were long standing enemies, going back to the 16th and 17th centuries.  When the royal rule began to falter in Poland in the early 17 hundred’s, Russia stepped in, stirring the polish citizens to succession.  Further weakened, the royal house gave way and Russia, Austria and Prussia stepped in to take up the slack.  Poland was divided among the three counties in a series of three partitions with a fourth taking place at the Congress of Vienna in 1814 1815, tsarist Russia received a greater part of the Duchy of Warsaw, replaced with the Kingdom of Poland.  Russia dissolved the Kingdom and country of Poland, and persecuted the predominantly Catholic Poles.

  The Polish national liberation uprising of 1794, led by Tadeusz Kosciuszko, was cruelly suppressed, as were the subsequent insurrections of 1830-1831, 1846, 1848 and 1863-1864.  Following the uprising of 1863-1864 many poles fled from the constant religious persecution and economic devastation.  They longed to see their home land returned to them but knew the only way to survive and continue the fight was to emigrate.  And so it was that millions of Polish immigrants, frequently registered as   being from one of the three governing countries, came to live in the United States of America.  Many were illiterate, unable to read of write, but determined to build a new and better life for themselves and for their families.

     Among these came devote Catholics,   Pawel Czolgosz (1/2/1843 Poland) and his wife Mary Nowak (1/13/1844-10/2/1883) and their children; Waldeck (1868), Frank (1870) Joseph (1872), arriving in 1873.  Pawel/Paul settled his family in Alpena Michigan where he and Mary had several more children; Leon (1874), Cecelia (1876), Walter (1876), Jacob (1877), and John (1879).  Paul worked as a laborer.  He did not speak English, could not read or write and never learned to speak English. 

   With Paul and his family came other family members, his brother John Czolgosz and his family also settled in Alpena Michigan and remained close to Paul and his family, as did Brother Andrew Czolgosz who settled in Mettownship Plesque Island Michagan.    Others of the Czolgosz family may also have immigrated to the U.S. as well as siblings of Mary Nowak. ( I have not traced the extended families for this article)

     The Czolgosz lived within the immigrant Polish community, a fairly close knit group of near refugee status struggling to find their way in their adopted homeland.    Mary Nowak Czolgosz died in Alpena Michigan on Oct. 2, 1883, leaving Paul alone to raise 15 year old Waldeck, 13 year old Frank, 11 year old Joseph, 9 year old Leon, 7 year old Cecelia, 6 year old Jacob and 4 year old John.

    Paul moved his family to a farm in Orange, Cuyahoga  Ohio, outside of Cleveland, and married a second time in 1887, to Catherine Metzfaltr. She and Paul had four children, , Charles Czolgosz (1888) and Atone (Tony) (1890), Michael  Czolgosz (1880), Wiktaryia Czolgosz (1885). Neither Michael nor Victoria were living in the household in 1900.

    It is probable that Paul and Mary, and Catherine after her, were bitter about events in Poland.  Immigrants were not treated very well and poverty was a way of life for the Czolgosz family.  The boys helped their father on the farm and learned to work hard and to take pride in their work, except for young Leon.  Leon was reportedly an odd child.  He did not make friends easily and preferred to keep his own company. He did not get along with his step-mother and often refused to take meals with her, preferring to eat alone in his room or in the barn.  Catherine would later be recorded as saying he was not very bright, he was frail and often sickly.  His father did not expect as much from him as from the other boys.

   Waldeck, the eldest, having been born in Poland, had some memory of life before the move.  He kept close ties with his uncle Frank Szolkowski, who Waldeck lived with from 1897-1898 in St. Paul Minnesota, and his brother in law ( Cecelia’s husband) Wladeslaw Bandowski. The three were known to discuss socialism, politics and to have very strong opinions.  Leon often sat in on the discussions, taking in the conversation but saying very little.  A neighbor who was part of the Czolgosz inner circle before they left the farm to move to Cleveland,  reported being very happy when the family moved away as he thought they were too radical in their thinking and they often made him uncomfortable  with their discussions.

    By 1901 Waldeck was alone working the farm and the rest of the family had moved on to Cleveland.  Cecelia Czolgosz (12/26/1875-11/15/1976) married Wladyslaw Bandowski (5/1866-Poland.Russia) in 1894. Wlad had immigrated in 1886.  In 1900 they are living in Cleveland Ohio with no children of their own but Cecelia’s sister, 15 year old Wiktayia (Victoria Czolgosz) is living with them.  

     Events shape people and people shape events and that is what makes history.  The events that shaped this family began in Poland with the occupation and dissolution of Poland and the persecution of the Catholic Poles by tsarist and later socialist Russia.  Poverty and displacement added to the picture.  The Czolgosts were hard working, God fearing Polish immigrants struggling to raise their children.  They did not speak English, they could not read or write, but they worked very hard and they set a good example.

  Leon Czolgosz did not follow his parent’s example.  In fact, he came to embrace the ideologies of the very people who had displaced his family and dissolved his country.  Leon, with time on his hands and largely supported by his family, took an interest in the works of Emma Goldman (born June 27, 1869, Kovno (now Kaunas), Lithuania, Russian Empire—died May 14, 1940, Toronto, Ontario, Canada) infamous Anarchist and author. When she spoke in Cleveland he was there, absorbing her every word.  Following the lecture he approached her and introduced himself.

   Shortly after that meeting Leon told his family he was going west on business and did not know when he would see them next.  He traveled to Chicago and then to West Seneca NY, a suburb of Buffalo, where he took up residence under an assumed name.  Leon was reported to have large sums of cash on him during this time, though he had not worked and did not appear to be employed.  His brother Waldeck sent him money orders, also using his assumed alias. The rest of the family did not appear to know where he was.

    On September 6, 1901 Leon Czolgosz stood in line waiting to meet and greet the president of the United States, William McKinley, in Buffalo NY.  Leon held a hand gun concealed by a handkerchief draped over his hand, giving the appearance of a bandage.  As the president reached to shake his hand Leon shot him twice.

    Leon Czolgost was arrested.  President McKinley had been shot twice but appeared to rally and was expected to make a full recovery.  Unknown to his Doctors Gangrene had settled in his stomach wound.  He died on September 14, 1901.

     Leon had successfully assassinated the president of the United States of America.   Leon refused his lawyer, refused to mount a defense, stating that he had done his duty and was glad he had done it.  He professed to be a socialist and an anarchist, though Anarchistic societies did not claim him as a member.  His family were quick to denounce his actions and distance themselves from him, all but his brother Waldeck and brother in law Wladeslaw.  Paul Czolgosz traveled to Buffalo along with daughter Victoria, Waldeck and Wladeslaw.  Paul was not allowed to see his son.  He answered questions for the police and returned to Ohio.  Waldeck and Wvlad remained in Buffalo and visited Leon every day.  His trial was remarkably swift, taking place on September 23, 1901 and lasting only 2 days, 12 hours.  He was sentenced to death via the electric chair and executed on October 29, 1901.

     A weak, frail young man living a seemingly insignificant life, rising from an average immigrant family, and yet he irrevocably altered history.  Vice President Theodore Roosevelt was quickly sworn in as the President and wasted no time taking charge.

   President McKinley, an often over looked president, was beloved by the people and was heralded as the last of the intellectual visionaries following the principles of the constitution and the founding Fathers.  Under McKinley the US enjoyed a period of prosperity, peace and increased civil rights.  He sought to use free trade and diplomacy to insure world peace and had built a successful trade alliance with Russia during the construction of the Trans-Siberian Railway.  The US was supplying all of the steal and rail cars for the projects.  McKinley had arranged for a Pan American trade summit to establish trade agreements with South America.  Agreements which would have increased the wealth and security of the US American People and offered the South American countries of Mexico, Panama, Cuba, Venezuela, etc. the means to build up the economic stability of their own countries, through innovations, new Technologies, scientific expansion and fair trade agreements.

    McKinley believes in the green back economy.  He wanted gold standards and held a deep mistrust of credit.  McKinley was not an imperialist.  He did not trust Great Britain and refused to follow their examples around the world.  Following the Spanish American war he promptly released Cuba to its own governance and would have done the same for the Philippines, had he survived.  

    It has been speculated by historians that, had McKinley lived to serve out his term, there would have been no WWI, because his trade and economic expansion would have bred and sustained peaceful negotiations and strengthened the world economy.  There would have been no stock market crash resulting in entrenched worldwide depression, because he would not have supported extended credit practices which led to the crash in the first place.  Because there was no WWI and no great depression there would have been no WWII. If trade agreements had been made and nurtured there would be no need for the peoples of South America to flee their countries and seek refuge in the US.  This is, of course, all speculation because he did not have a chance to realize his vision.

   Theodore Roosevelt, well known for his slogan “speak softly and carry a big stick” was a Confederate sympathizer and an imperialist.  He admired Great Britain and had relatives living in England in order to avoid standing trial for their participation in the Civil War.  His first act as President was to cancel the Pan American trade summit.  Where McKinley can be seen as an intellectual, embracing science and ingenuity, Teddy Roosevelt is often seen as a bull in a China shop.  His approach was often heavy handed and his presentation clumsy and rushed.  He embraced the idea of a credit based economy and cast aside the Green Back ideology, setting America on its course towards the great crash 1929.

    When working on your own family history keep in mind that there real is no insignificant life and history really is what it’s all about.  We are all shaped by the events around us, some more significantly than others, and we are also all shaping the events that play out.  This is the thread of history; the tapestry of mankind is woven by this intricate interplay.

    Mother’s day is upon us once again.  In honor of Mother’s day I thought we would take a look at how this national holiday got started.  Being raised a Catholic; I had always heard that Mother’s day was celebrated to commemorate Mary Mother of Jesus. May is, after all, her month.  It turns out I could not have been less informed on this topic.

    Mother’s day was created in 1910 after a short campaign to set aside a special holiday to celebrate Mothers, started by Anna Jarvis in 1905.  Anna wanted a way to demonstrate her love and respect to her own mother, Ann Reeves Jarvis, a peace activist who had aided wounded soldiers on both sides during the Civil war.

   Anna Jarvis celebrated the first Mother’s day in 1908 when she held a memorial for her mother in Grafton West Virginia. Mother’s day was officially recognized by the state of West Virginia in 1910.   In 1914 Woodrow Wilson signed into law that the 2nd Sunday in May would be a national holiday- Mother’s day. 

    Anna had a vision about this holiday that she hoped would be shared by all.  She wanted the day named Mother’s day- to personalize it for each and every mother, not just a blanket for all mothers.  She wanted a day when people would reflect and honor their mothers in a personal way. 

    Anna was disappointed when Hall Mark jumped on the band wagon and commercialized the holiday with pre-printed cards. Florists, Candy makers, etc. soon took up the banner and the Mother’s day of today was born.  Anna was so disappointed by the commercialism, in fact, that she started a brief and failed campaign to scrap the holiday all together.

     In honor of Anna, take some time to visit your mom this year, make her a card, cook her dinner, and do something very intimate and personal.  Interestingly, Anna never married and had no children. She was never the recipient of the holiday she started.

  Happy Mother’s day to you; I hope it is filled with memories, love, and laughter.

THE JARVIS FAMILY OF WEST VIRGINIA

            Anna Jarvis was born 5/1/1864 in Webster West Virginia.  She died on 11/24/1948 in West Chester Pa.  Anna never married. No children.  She was the founder of mother’s day. 

   Anna was the daughter of Granville E. Jarvis (1824-1902) and Ann M. Reeves (1834-5/9/1905).The Jarvis married in 1850 and Ann indicates she was the mother of 13 children, 7 of them died before Anna was born in 1864. 

      In 1850 Granville Jarvis was married to Sarah M. ?.  and living on a farm close to his parents.  Granville and Sarah had two small children; Louisa A. Jarvis (1848), and John V. Jarvis (1950).  Sarah passed away shortly after baby John was born and Granville married Ann M. Reeves before the end of the year. Both children had died by 1860.

   Ann M. Reeves was the daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth Reeves of Prince William Va.  Thomas was a shoe maker.  In addition to Ann the Reeves had at least two sons; S.A. Reeves (1834), working as a laborer in 1850, and Thomas C. Reeves (1841).

 Granville and Ann Jarvis had the following known children; Josiah W.P. Jarvis (1853), (Columbia E. (1855), Claude (1859), Jarvis Jr. (1860), Anna M. (1864), Thomas R. (1866), Lilly (1868)Ellen Jarvis (?), Ralph Jarvis

   Granville was the son of a Baptist Minister, born near Pruntytown Taylor Co. Va.  He was a well-known and successful merchant and was appointed Post Master in Webster, Taylor Va. On 6/12/1858.

   On behalf of mothers around the US I say, Thank you Anna M. Jarvis, for your thoughtfulness.

    The Spanish flu pandemic of 1918-1919 was the worst pandemic in human history, rivaled only by the bubonic plague during the middle ages.

        Between March 1918 and March 1919,  500 million people worldwide, 1/3 of the population of the planet became infected with the H1N1-“Spanish” flu virus.  100 Million People, many of them young and strong, died between March 1918 and March 1919 worldwide.  25% of the population of the United States became infected and of those, an estimated that 675,000 American Men, Women and children died during this pandemic.

      In the spring of 1918 the world was entrenched in WWI.  The United States had not yet joined the fight.  They had remained neutral as long as possible, but following several attacks on American citizens, ( the sinking of the Lucitania-128 Americans killed, President Woodrow Wilson called on Germany to end attacks on passenger ships and though they initially agreed it was not long before they were again sinking civilian vessels, two attacks of sabotage reportedly by German spies, in New Jersey- Black Tom Island munitions is blown up- the explosion was so strong it was felt as far away as Washington DC and Philadelphia PA., fire at  munitions depot in Lyndhurst New jersey- later investigations determined this was an accident and not attributable to the Germans) The United States had declared war on Germany April 6,1917.  Our initial entry into the war consisted of sending support in the way of supplies and raw materials to the allies.  It was not until the summer of 1918 that troops were sent in mass, to the battle field.  They carried the infamous Spanish flu with them.

     It is thought that the flu started in a mild form in the spring of 1918 in or around Haskell Kansas among the general populace. It was not long before it moved to the Army training camp- Camp Funston.  There, in close and fetid conditions the virus thrived. Within three weeks of the first reported case at camp, 1,100 men had been infected. This was known as the three day flu, but it carried a deadly bacterial pneumonia piggyback, so many who survived the three days of flu succumbed to the deadly pneumonia. Those who survived were left weak and unable to maintain their duties for weeks, sometimes months after.

   But war must go on. US troops were sent to the western front in large numbers.  This was no common flu, it was especially virulent and quickly spread throughout Europe and across the globe.  The US Navy estimated 40% of the men contracted flu, the army estimated 36%.  The flu ravaged soldiers on both sides and it is believed that more men died of the flu than were killed in active combat.  This made the military on both sides vulnerable, so reporters were forbidden from reporting on the virus among the troops.  Spain, being a neutral country and also ravaged with flu became the source of reports on the virus.  Because of this it seemed as if the virus must have sprung up in and remained in Spain, even the King was infected.   This was how the virus came to be called the Spanish flu.

    In September of 1918 the virus mutated to an even more virulent and deadly strain.  A person could wake up and feel fine in the morning, start to feel chills by noon and be dead by nightfall.  The virus attacked the lungs and respiratory system and would cause a person to turn blue and suffocate in hours.

       Perhaps the most tragic part of the Spanish Flu story is that, unlike most virus that attack and kill the elderly, the sick or the very young, this flu appeared to be more lethal to the healthy, young adult population 20-50- with the greatest toll taken in the 20-30 year old range.  Researchers are still at a loss to explain this anomaly.  The result was that by March of 1919 there were innumerable children without one parent and even more who had lost both parents and were now orphans worldwide.  Human service workers, churches and families across the globe struggled to meet the burden.  Children were placed, when possible, with relatives, but too often there were no relatives who were able to take them in.  Even children with a living parent could find themselves in an orphan home, if the parent was unable to care for them or was still suffering the effects of the flu.

    So many people died so quickly that it was impossible for health officials or mortuary personal, or the health department to keep up with the work.  An effort was made to bury the dead as soon as possible after their death, but this often took weeks due to illness of the workman needed to complete the many steps.  It is often difficult to locate the graves of the flu victims as many of them were buried without markers and, often, without adequate documentation.  If your relation suddenly drops from the record around the time of a pandemic, it is likely they have fallen victim.  You may not find them in any on-line record but may be able to locate them through on site cemetery records.

Further reading:

http://www.flu.gov/pandemic/history/1918/

http://www.history.com/topics/1918-flu-pandemic

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1918_flu_pandemic

http://www.flu.gov/pandemic/history/index.html

http://www.flu.gov/pandemic/history/weheardthebells/script_120709.html

http://www.historylink.org/index.cfm?DisplayPage=output.cfm&file_id=2090

http://ghostsofdc.org/2012/03/28/1918-spanish-flu-pandemic-creates-orphans-across-d-c/

http://www.toptenz.net/top-10-facts-about-the-1918-flu-pandemic.php

  I have endeavored to construct a few histories of probable Spanish flu orphans.  I hope you will find this of interest.

  Robert Burnham born 1869 and wife Mary (1893-) were living in Hornell Steuben New York in 1915.  Robert was a traveling salesman.  The young couple was raising 2 boys; Robert Burnham Jr. (1913) and Charles D. Burnham (1914).  In 1915 they welcomed youngest son James W. Burnham.   Grandmother Isabella Burnham also lived with the family and helped care for the boys.

      The Spanish flu took its toll on this family, but was not able to sink them.  In 1920 we find the three boys living in an orphanage in Hornell Steuben New York.  Robert is 6, Charles is 5 and James is 4.  Things look bleak for our small friends but a look at the 1925 census shows they are all together and reunited with their mother, Mary Burnham and living in Rochester Monroe NY.  Mary is now working as a school teacher.  She is a widow.  Mary was able to raise her sons on her own and send them all to college.   The pain of her loss and the struggle to keep her family over the years must have been tremendous. If you are a relative of this family, take a minute to think about Mary and her struggles and be thankful for her strength and perseverance.

Henry Phelps (1866) worked as a brakeman and struggled to care for his two daughters; Bertha (1909) and Hazel (1911).  Henry had lost his wife shortly after Hazel’s birth but he was determined to care for his girls the best he could. In 1915 he was living in Hornell New York and had move in a care taker to help him care for his daughters.  C.G. Dan (1887) had a daughter of her own, Ana Dan (1910).  The three girls, so close in age, enjoyed playing together.

      This story does not have a happy ending.  Bertha and Hazel Phelps were forced to live in the Hornell Children’s home following their father’s death.  In 1925 they are still there, waiting for a chance to find a family to love them.

Harriet Davis (1908) and her sister Alberta Davis (1916) found themselves alone in the Hornell Orphan home in 1920.  I was not able to find them in the 1925 census and hope that means they were adopted into a good home.  It is probable and adoption would result in a name change. 

   In 1915 they were living a much happier existence with their Father Russell H. Davis (1877_ who worked as a painter, their mother, Addie H. Davis (1880), and siblings; Charles H. Davis (1910), Ralph J. Davis (1912), and Bessie M. Davis (1905).  It is assumed they were all killed by the virus as none of them appear in subsequent census reports. 

Walter Elster (1877) worked as a stationary Fireman.  His wife had passed away by 1915 and Walter and his three children; Blanche (1910), Marguerite (1909), and Gerald (1908) were living in Hornell ward 04 Steuben NY with his mother –in-law, Louisa O’Neill.  He counted heavily on Louisa for help with the children.  When she died on May 11, 1919 it was a devastating blow for the family.  Walter, unable to care for his children alone and maintain his fireman position, was forced, like so many others at that time, to place his children in the Hornell children’s home.  Blanche, Marguerite and Gerald Elster clung to each other for hope that one day , as promised, their father would retrieve them.

    They were some of the lucky children.  By 1925 we find that Walter has remarried a woman 20 years his senior.  Mary has three grown children of her own living with them; Floyd R. Mealenbacher(1897), Clyde L. Mealenbacher (1907), John E. Mealenbacher(1906).  She also had on Harvey H. and Lester R. Mealenbacher who did not living with them at that time.  Happily, Walter has brought his three children back home to him and they continue to live in Hornell Steuben NY.

Mildred M. Frantzen (1911) was born and raised in Jamestown NY ward 6 Chautauqua county.  Her father Carl E. Frantzen (1882) worked as a sales man, his wife, Mary L. Frantzen (1889) was a housewife caring for her children; Melvin E. Frantzen (1907) and Mildred (1911).  Mary’s sister, Mable C. Wiltsie (1894) also lived with them and worked as a laundry worker.  After the flu ravaged the family Mildred found herself alone in the Hornell Children’s home.  She was just 9 years old. 

   Fortunately for Mildred her aunt and uncle; Marie and Earnest Eckman took her into their home in James town.  Mildred was raised with her cousins Lester and Herbert Eckman.

   The Pandemic of 1918-1919 illustrates the value of keeping ones family close.  None of these people thought they would die in the prime of their lives and leave their children alone in the world.  Take a minute to reflect on this and reach out to that loved one who may be slipping away due to the daily cares of the world.  You may not think you need each other now, but you never know what the future may bring.  Until Next time, have a wonderful spring afternoon.

  Meet Patrick Breen.  He was born in Ireland in 1874 or 1875.  Times were hard in Ireland, jobs were few, and many of the people were still suffering from the loss created by the famine of the 1840’s.  Political unrest continued and the whole of the island was still in British hands.

   Young Patrick wanted something more out of life than the constant struggle of his forefathers.  Always a hard worker, Patrick struggled to save for the long voyage across the sea to the Promised Land; America.  In 1887, at the age of 13 or 14, he made the trip. 

     Young Patrick settled in Boston Mass.  Boston was a bustling city, just the right place for an energetic young man with a vision.  He set about the business of building his dream.  On January 3, 1897 Patrick married the beautiful Bridget Foley in Boston. 

     Bridget was a first Generation Irish-American.  Her parents, Michael and Julia Foley had come to Boston years before with the same dreams and values of young Patrick.  The Foleys could neither read nor write, but they made their home in Boston and raised a family of three girls; Annie Foley Born 1878, Julia Foley born 1872, and Bridget Foley born 1873.

   Patrick worked as a laborer for the North End Paving Yard in downtown Boston.  He and Bridget had two children; Margaret Teresa (who later changed her name to Margaret Frances Breen) born 3/29/1898 in Boston-Died 4/11/1987 in Hyannis Mass., and Charles Richard born 2/24/1900 in Boston-Died 12/1/1988 (who later changed his name to Charles James Breen).

   When Patrick left for work on the morning of January 15, 1919 he must have felt pretty good about things.  The winter had been cold and hard, as Boston winters often are, but this morning the air had a touch of spring in it.  The temperature rose from the 2 degrees Fahrenheit it had been for the past week to a balmy 40 degrees.  This alone was enough to make a man feel good.  His children had grown into fine, upstanding American citizens.  His son Charles was serving in the military, off to fight for America in WWI, and his daughter Margaret had blossomed into a lovely young lady poised to start a family of her own. 

  Perhaps Patrick was taking advantage of the unusually warm afternoon while taking his lunch, or perhaps he was preparing to haul a load of stone to another work area in the city.  We can’t know these details, but what we do know is that without warning he felt the ground beneath him start to shake as a loud rumbling sound filled the air.  Things happened so quickly Patrick was barely able to register what was happening to him.   

     Patrick was treated at a makeshift hospital, along with the rest of the 175 people who shared this devastatingly disastrous moment.  He suffered broken ribs and succumbed to pneumonia on January 19, 1919.  Bridget was so distraught over her loss that she died shortly after on February 2, 1919.

      It was lunch time, 12:30 on January 15, 1919. The day was warm and the kids were restless.  They could barely wait for recess to get outside and head home for lunch.  Once the bell rang Anthony Distasio, (Born 1910 Boston), and his three sisters, bounded out into the warm sunny afternoon.  They met Pasquale Iantosca (1909-1919), also on his way home for lunch.  It was a small Italian neighborhood and everyone knew everyone else at the school.     

   The flood came fast and furious.  A wave scooped Anthony up and tossed him on top of the thick, churning liquid like a rag doll. He was powerless in its grip and rode the crest of the wave like a surfer who has lost his board. As quickly as it had scooped him up, the wave tossed him out onto the saturated dirt, dragging at him as it receded.  Anthony could hear his mother, Carmela, calling for him, but he was unable to answer.  He felt as if he were suffocating as he lost consciousness.  When he opened his eyes again three of his four sisters stood looking down on him in horror.  His fourth sister, Maria, just a year older than Anthony, did not survive the onslaught (Maria  Di Stasio 1909-1919).  Anthony would later learn that his friend Pasquale Iantosca was also killed in the day’s disaster.

    Bridget Connolly was born in Ireland in 1854, daughter of Patrick and Mary Connolly.  She left Ireland to find work in America, arriving in Boston in 1872.  She settled in Boston’s North Side among the hard working Immigrant poor.  It was there she met and married the dapper Bartholomew Clougherty. 

     Born in Ireland in 1854, Bart Clougherty, son of Matthias and Anna Clougherty, left his native Galway and arrived in Boston in 1875 at the tender young age of 20.  He worked as a day laborer, taking jobs as he could find them.  It did not take him long to discover Bridget.  They were married in Boston on 2/23/1879.

On   January 1, 1880 the Clougherty’s welcomed twin sons Bartholomew Clougherty Jr. and Mathew J. Clougherty.  On 10/10/1881 they were overjoyed at the birth of Martin Clougherty, but their joy quickly turned to sorrow as the new baby died the same day. Their third child, also a son, was named in honor of their lost infant. Martin Clougherty was born in May of 1882, followed by Stephen in July of 1885 and Theresa on 12/5/1891.

    Bartholomew Jr.  died on 12/14/1890, just shy of his 11th birthday.  By 1900 The Clougherty’s had six children but only 4 living.  In 1901 Mathew Clougherty , now a young man of 20, married Sarah Doherty on 5/29/1901.  He was always glad his parents had been able to attend his wedding.  It was only one year later, on 5/11/1902, that Bartholomew Clougherty passed on.

     Bridget continued to keep house for her children, Martin, Stephen and Theresa.

     There were hard times to face after her husband’s death, as well as some joy. Bridget was able to see the birth of her grandchildren, Sarah Clougherty on 4/22/1902, Mathew Clougherty Jr. 8/12/1905, Theresa Clougherty in 1906, Adeline C. Clougherty in 1908 , Henry A. Clougherty in 1910, and Rita Clougherty in 1914.  Mathew and Sarah moved from Boston to New York City, living in the Bronx while Mathew continued to build his career as an engineer.

    The tragedy that happened on that fateful day in 1919 came without warning.  I am certain Bridget was counting her blessings that warm January afternoon.  The family had weathered the influenza in the fall of 1918 that claimed 4,794 Boston lives.  They had made it through the worst of the bitter winter, and this morning was like a gift from God.  After so many bitter cold weeks, to have a 40 degree day in the middle of January was practically unheard of.

      For Bridget the end came swiftly and took her unawares while she busied herself making lunch for her children.  Her son Stephen, unemployed, was lending her a hand while his brother Martin caught up on his rest after working late the night before.  Bridget sent daughter Teresa to wake him while she and Stephen completed the meal prep.   Bridget had just enough time to look out the window, alerted by an oddly muffled roaring noise.  She screamed as the house exploded around her, killing her instantly.

    Stephan was not as lucky.  He looked up as his mother screamed and watched as his mother was crushed and swept away by the rubble.  He attempted to flee but was unable to get to the door before the disaster overtook him.  Martin and Teresa were able to get out with some injuries.  It took several hours before they located their mother’s remains and discovered that Stephen had been taken to a makeshift hospital and treated for his immediate wounds.  A week or so later he was transferred to another hospital, where his physical wounds seemed to be on the mend but he never quite recovered from the trauma of that fateful afternoon.  Stephen was transferred to a mental hospital, where he remained until his death on 12/10/1919, nearly a year later.

    76 year old Michael J.  Sinnott (b.10/4/1840 ireland-d.1/15/1919) was working as a messenger. His message was never delivered.

       James Joseph Kenneally was working hard at the North end paving yard.  The day was warm and, though it was just mid-January, he was working up a sweat.  He was a laborer and worked the jobs no one else really wanted.  But work was hard to come by and he had a family to take care of so he didn’t complain.  Until this last year he had worked as a teamster for the city of Boston.  He had made friends here at the Paving Yard and as he wiped the sweat from his brow he recognized most of the men working the yard that afternoon.  He may have waved a hello to Patrick Breen across the yard, before returning to his work.

    James was born in Ireland in 1872.  He was the son of Timothy and Honora Kinaly. Always restless, James jumped on board a ship bound for America in 1885 at the ripe age of 13.  James was not a tall man, standing only 5’7” but he was a hard worker. James had settled in Boston where there was always work to be found if you weren’t afraid to look for it.  He liked the feel of the city; it reminded him of home, with the smell of the salty Atlantic wafting on the noon breeze.

    Initially James made his home in Cambridge Massachusetts, traveling to and from Boston to work every day.  It was here that he met and married Mary O’Connell on 5/26/1892.  Mary was also an Irish immigrant, the daughter of Timothy and Margaret O’Connell, born in 1872; she made her way to the US in 1883.  

     James and Mary settled in Cambridge and promptly started a family.  They had the following children: Hanora born in 1894 was named after James’ mother.  They called her Nora, they lost a child, name unknown to us at this time, in 1895 or 1896, and Margaret was born on 1/11/1897, followed closely by Timothy Christopher, named for both of their fathers, on 12/18/1898.  Timothy died at the tender age of four on 2/3/1903,Patrick Francis Kenneally born 8/20/1900, died on Christmas eve, 12/24/1900, James was born 7/24/1901, John came along in 1903, followed by William in 1905 and Catherine in 1906.  Catherine died on 10/20/1906.

   By 1910 the surviving children were half grown and working to help the family.  While James Sr. worked as a teamster for the Coal works, Young Nora, now 15, was working as a laborer for the brush works.  Five children had survived the early years and things were looking up.

   In 1918 James registered for the draft.  The world was at war and he was ready to fight if called to serve.  The family had moved to Boston by this time and James was working as a teamster for the City. Margaret was preparing to marry the handsome young Mr. Casey (first name unknown) and by a miracle the family survived the Spanish flu that hit Boston hard in August of 1918 and lingered until after Thanksgiving.

    And so it was business as usual for the Kenneally’s that January day. James looked up from his work when he heard the explosion.  The ground shook beneath him and it felt as if the world were ending.  For James it was.  He died there, along with 20 others, in a catastrophe unlike anything anyone could have imagined.

  Four others from the North end paving company would lose their lives that day; Paver  John Calhoun (age 43); Laborer William Duffy; Blacksmiths Peter Francis and John M. Seiberlich; along with teamsters William Brogan (61), Eric Laird (17), James Lennon (64), and Peter Shaughnessy; Drivers Flaminio Gallerani and Ralph Martin; Fire fighter George Layhe from engine 31 (38); A foreman for Bay State Express-James McMullen; Longshoreman Thomas Noonan (43); and Express man Cesar Nicolo (32).

   So what was the catastrophe that brought so many lives to an end and seriously injured another 150 people, leaving the North End of Boston in ruins on that warm January 15th 1919?  This was the result of the Boston Molasses Disaster, also known as the Great Molasses flood of 1919. Though this sounds like something you might see in a comic, there was nothing funny about the outcome.

     The problem started at the Purity Distilling Company facility, where a tanker of molasses 50 foot tall and 90 foot in diameter stored approximately 2,300,0000 gallons of molasses.  Molasses ferment over time and are used to make rum and other alcohols, as well as munitions.  The tanker was waiting to be transported to the Purity plant in Cambridge but the storage tanker used to hold the delicious but deadly syrup was faulty.  There was reportedly a stress crack in the manhole cover at the base of the tank.  The base is the weakest part of any cylindrical tank. Local residents were known to collect the dripping syrup for their own use.  Molasses candy was a treat few children could refuse, and though the local police tried to keep kids away from the tanker they were not very effective.

     The outside temperature had lingered around zero for weeks, but on January 15, 1919 the temperature warmed quickly to a surprising 41 degrees. Fermentation of the liquid was increasing the internal pressure on the tank.  When the external temperature rose so quickly outside the internal pressure in the tank also increased to a critical point.  On this occasion the tank was filled to capacity.  This had only occurred 7 times previous since the tanker had been built, and under more favorable conditions. There were reports that Purity distilling may have been trying to push production to get ahead of prohibition.  The 18th amendment to the constitution, which would effectively give birth to prohibition, was under review of Congress and would be ratified the following day, January 16, 1919.  The law would go into effect the following year.

    At 12:30 in the afternoon at 529 Commercial Street near Keany Square, Boston Massachusetts the tanker collapsed, or exploded.  Survivors claimed they could feel the ground shaking underneath them and heard a loud roar , followed by a long rumble like an out of control freight train, then a deafening crashing, as the fermenting liquid shot out.  The rivets at the bottom of the tank shot out of the sides like a machine gun and a tsunami of molasses crashed through the streets with a wave 25 feet high at its peak.  It moved swiftly, 35 miles per hour with enough force to bend the steel girders holding the adjacent Boston Elevated Railway.  Buildings were swept from their foundations and homes exploded beneath the raging torrent, moving debris along with it and coating everything and everyone in a warm, thick goo.  People drowned in the waves, bones were broken, lives destroyed.  Several city blocks were flooded with molasses 2-3 feet deep.  Reports from survivors stated it was impossible to make out whether forms writhing in the syrup were man or beast. Many horses, then used for transportation, died struggling to free themselves.

     Anyone caught in the surge was left with coughing fits for months, maybe years after, as the liquid coated their lungs where they had inhaled it. 

    This little-known slice of American history shows us how fragile life can be.  Tragedy can strike without warning and often leaves little trace of the devastation dealt out to so many.  For those readers out there searching for those hard-to-find ancestors and relatives that seemed to vanish without a trace, keep this story in mind. 

   For more in-depth reading on this interesting piece of history you might want to check out the following links:

http://www.charlesbridge.com/client/client_pdfs/arc_pdfs/GREAT_MOLASSES_text.pdf

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boston_Molasses_Disaster

http://www.mnn.com/family/protection-safety/stories/the-1919-boston-molasses-flood-the-forgotten-tragedy-too-bizarre

http://mentalfloss.com/article/27366/bostons-great-molasses-flood-1919

The following is some more information about the families of :

  John Calhoun born in Ireland 1876- died of his injuries on 1/20/1919.  John is buried alone in the New Calvary Cemetery in Mattapan Suffolk Massachusetts.  Unable to determine additional information at this time.

William Duffy, born in Boston 1/5/1861 died Boston 1/15/1919.  Buried at Mattapan Cemetery Suffolk county Mass.  No further information available at this time.

  Peter Francis Born 1855 Ireland- 1/15/1919 Boston.  Buried in Holyhood Cemetery Brookline Norfolk Mass.

 John M. Seiberlich, son of John M. & Anastasia Seiberich,  Born 11/22/1849 in Germany.  Immigrated to Boston and became a naturalized citizen on 5/15/1876.  On5/25/1874 he married Regina Hunzelman, daughter of John M. & Mary C. Hunzelman,also from Germany.  In 1895 they had their only child, Elizabeth Seiberlich.  She died before 1910.

William Brogan son of Patrick and Bridget Brogan, born in Boston April of 1860.  William never married.  He lived with his mother, one brother and two sisters until his mother’s death.  He continued to live with and care for his two sisters until his own untimely death in 1919.

Eric Laird, son of Eric S. laird Sr. Scottish immigrant, and Emma Powers from Canada. Eric was born on 9/8/1901 in Boston.  He had recently acquired his job working as a Teamster.  In addition to his grieving parents Eric left behind 4 siblings, (Robert laird 1900-?, Beatrice Laird 1904-?, Harold Laird 1905-1976, Marion Laird 1908-1992 married a Fay, Russell Laird 1911-?,  He was never to know his last three siblings; Georgina Laird 1917-?, Earl Laird 1920-?, and Ruth Laird 1921-1921.  Eric is buried in Glenwood Cemetery in Middlesex county Ma.

James Lennon, son of John and Bridget Lennon was born in Roscommon Ireland on 4/7/1852.  He traveled to America to make his fortune between 1869-1879. He was a hard worker and worked as a laborer and a teamster throughout his life.  James married Annie Elizabeth Sullivan (1865-1918) recently emigrated from Canada, on 9/15/1881.  Annie was the daughter of Michael and Catherine Sullivan and the sister of the famed  John L. Sullivan of Boston.  James and Annie had a large family.  When Annie died of heart disease, at home on Brook ave. in Roxbury on 4/24/1918, she left behind 8 living children, 4 sons and 4 daughters. James untimely and unexpected death on 1/15/1919 must have been a terrible shock to the children, coming so close to their mother’s death.  The Lennon children are as follow: John Lawrence Lennon (1881-1932), George L. Lennon (1883-1925), Arthur James Lennon (1888-1921), Francis Michael Lennon (1895-1978),Anna Elizabeth Lennon (1889-?), Genevieve Lennon (1894-1962),Mary Katherine Lennon Caulfield (married Martin Caulfield prior to 1918)(1887-1921),and Katherine Sullivan Lennon (1906-1967).  In addition to the living children the Lennon’s also lost three children; Grace C. Lennon 1884-1884, Harry Michael Lennon 1886-1886, and one unnamed infant 1890-1890).    The Lennon’s suffered the loss of one child at birth in 1890.  They never revealed the name they had chosen for the child.

Peter Shaughnessy, Like his friend Eric Laird, Peter was just starting out in life.  Peter was the son on Thomas Shaughnessy and Catherine Flannigan, both born in Ireland.  Peter was born in Boston in 1901.  At his death he left 7 living siblings; Patrick Shaughnessy (9/24/1895-?), twins, Edward and Thomas Shaughnessy, (1896-?), Mary Shaughnessy (1903-?), Elizabeth Shaughnessy (10/20/1905-?), and Agnes Shaughnessy 1/11/1908,John Michael Shaughnessy 11/18/1910.  The Shaughnessy’s lost two other children; , Martin Shaughnessy (10/4/1904-11/4/1904) and  Joseph Shaughnessy (1/11/1908-2/10/1908.

Flaminio Gallerani was born in Italy on 6/24/1881, the son of Antonio Gallerani.  He came to the US intent on settling in mass. On 3/21/1909, landing in the port of New York/Ellis Island.   He married Leonora? And went to work as an auto truck driver, the occupation he held on 1/15/1919.  Flaminio had not yet declared his intention to become a naturalized citizen but had registered for the draft on 9/12/1918.  No other information is available at this time.

Ralph Martin, Ralph was a Naval Reservist, registered and ready to keep the peace during WWI.  Born 1/31/1897 to Michael Thomas and Catherine Martin, he was poised to begin a new chapter in his life.  Unfortunately his life was snuffed out before he had the opportunity.

George Layhe was a fireman for Boston from engine 31.  The following is an excerpt from Find Grave regarding George service:

Boston Fire Historical Society~
Jan 15, 1919 3rd Engineer George Layhe, 37 Engine 31 (Fireboat)
The Molasses Tank explosion, he died from injuries when the quarters were destroyed. He was pinned and crushed by furniture and the large pool table. Several other firefighters were injured, 19 other people were killed and 40 injured. 2 alarms from Box 1234 (Commercial opposite Foster Street) sounded at 1240 hours and the 2nd alarm at 1245 hours and 1 alarm Box 1211, (Washington Street North & Endicott Streets) sounded at 1253 hours. Engineer Layhe had 8 years of service. Engine Co. 31 had to move to temporary quarters, foot of Lewis Street with Engine Co. 47 in East Boston. 

   George was born 10/28/1881 in Fort Plain Montgomery county New York to Daniel Layhe and Ellen Mahaney.  George always wanted to be a fireman and joined the fire department as soon as he was old enough to work.  On 8/16/1906 he married Elizabeth Eckbug (1881-Sweden) in Portsmouth New Hampshire.  They settled in Boston and George joined the Boston Fire Department as a Marine engineer.  In 1907 they had their only child, Francis E. Layhe.  On 9/12/1918 George registered for the draft.  His draft card tells us he was tall, medium build with blue eyes and gray hair.  George died while on duty doing what he loved to do.  It was a sad loss for the Boston Fire Department.

James McMullen was born in 1873 to Hugh McMullen and Mary Good, in Calais Maine.  By the time James was 8, the family had moved to Boston and settled in.  James was one of four brothers.  On 12/29/1895 James married Delia A. Quinn in Boston.  Delia died of Tuberculosis and general exhaustion on 1/19/1900.  He married a second time on 2/4/1902 in Boston to Margaret M. Brennan.  They had two children; Warren J. McMullen 1907, and Margaret m. McMullen 1908.

Thomas Noonan born 6/1/1875 in Ireland, immigrated to the US in 1892.  In 1895 he married Margaret ?, (1872-1948) also an Irish Immigrant.  They had the following children:Mary Noonan died in infancy, Rita Noonan, died in infancy, John Noonan B.1896, Catherine Noonan B1898, Thomas F. Noonan Jr. Born 1903-1942, William Noonan born 1907, Margaret Noonan born 1908 and Joseph Noonan born 1909.

Cesar Nicolo born 1887 Italy died 1/15/1919.  Buried in Saint Patrick’s cemetery Watertown Mass.

  

    

     

Black slave owners -1830

  There are pieces of history that often escape our attention.  Schools tend to focus on a very narrow portion of history which is unfortunate as it does not provide us with an accurate picture of the times.

     In a much earlier post I talked about slaves still being held in New Jersey as late as the 1860’s.  While I found that to be incredible what I am reporting today seems almost unthinkable. Throughout early American history there were incidents of Free blacks who purchased and owned slaves.  Most often this was a case of one person gaining their freedom and then purchasing family members, a wife, children, parents, etc.  The idea was then to emancipate them.  In 1830 The US undertook a census to determine how many black slave owners there were in the U.S.

    For a more in-depth look at this interesting portion of history you can consult the Ancestry.com Database Free Negro owners of slaves in the united states in 1830…together with absentee ownership of slaves in the united states.   In many cases, it appears that a free black man would purchase his wife, but not emancipate her until   she completed a probationary period during which, if she did not please him, he would sell her for a profit.

   In many states in 1830 black slave owners enjoyed the same social status as their white counterparts, attending the same churches, sending their children to the same private schools and gathering together in places of amusement and entertainment.  Inter-racial marriage was not uncommon among slave owners in the south.

   While slavery was still in practice in the north in 1830, black slave ownership appears to have been unique to the south, with Louisiana having by far the largest population of black slave owners.  In several states there were cases of Black slave owners holding many slaves and owning large plantations but this was far more prevalent in Louisiana than anywhere else in the United States.

  The following is a list of Free Black slave owners with 20 or more slaves in 1830 pulled from the above mentioned document.

ALABAMA

NAME                                      #SLAVES OWNED              
P.T. Harris                                     24

David Moneck                              27


FLORIDA

Gabriel Perpall                              39


GEORGIA

Betsey Perry                                   25


LOUISIANA

Augustin Bory                            20


Georges De Landre                 46

Widow Zacharie Honore’        21

Madame Antoine Dubuclet        44

Madame Ciprien Riccard             35

Sophie Delhonde                         38

LeFroix DeCuiel                                  59

Joseph Curiel                                        40

Antoine DeCuire                                    70

Leandre Severin                               60

Domnick Maytoier                               25

Louis Meytoier                               54

Augustin Meytoier                         25

Susan Meytoier                               20

Ve Rai Rillieux                                49

Victolce Deslonds                           52

C&S Dusman Ferrand                     38

Martin Lenormand                         44


Martin Donatto                              75

Francis Jerod                                       33

Valarien Osame                                27

Jean B. Muillion                                52

Fils Honore’                                30

Verret Polen                              69



Maryland

Richard Harwood                   39

John Hungerford                  29


North Carolina

Charles Mallett                     36

John Walker                          44


South Carolina


Robert Venning         30

Samuel Walker           24

Thomas F. Capers      47

Daniel J. Waring          41

Lydia Burnie             41

John See               22

Hannah Solomon       20

Virginia

Joseph Bragg       23

William Daniel            32

William Brocken Brough      46


Curtis Carter                  22

Benjamin Taylor            71