It is finds like this that make the hump on by back from bending over the microfilm all worthwhile.
Monday, March 11, 2013
Fish Tail
From the Attica Democrat, Thursday June 15, 1893
It is finds like this that make the hump on by back from bending over the microfilm all worthwhile.
It is finds like this that make the hump on by back from bending over the microfilm all worthwhile.
Tuesday, March 5, 2013
Smith Line
Please know that this is incomplete. The Hewitt, Light, and Lutz line have already been extensively researched by others. There is a LOT to tell!
William Jennings Smith (1897-1968) married Margaret E Marr (1895-1958). They lived in Fountain County, Indiana and had one son, Chester Lee Smith.
William Jennings Smith (1897-1968) married Margaret E Marr (1895-1958). They lived in Fountain County, Indiana and had one son, Chester Lee Smith.
Nellie Lighty was the daughter of John J Lighty (1820-1884) and Nancy Plunkett (1831-1900). John was born in Ohio, and Nancy in
Kentucky. Both of their families moved
to Fountain County, Indiana. John and
Nancy had the following children: Mandy (b 1857); Samuel (b1859 m Rose Plunkett
c Everett, Maymie, Nannie, Ivan, Walter ); James (b 1864); Anna (b 1871)
Nancy Plunkett was the daughter of Robert Plunkett and Nancy
Hartley
John J Lighty was the son of Jacob Lighty (1790-1839) and Elizabeth
Hewitt (b 1791). Jacob was
originally from Pennsylvania, and Elizabeth from North Caroline. They were married in Montgomery County, Ohio,
and immigrated to Fountain County, Indiana.
Elizabeth Hewitt was the daughter of Phillip Hueit (1754-1846) and Maria Elizbetha Lutz (1763-1846). Phillip was a Revolutionary War
soldier, and Maria was born in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. They had the following children: Henry;
Michael; Simon; Elizabeth
Maria Lutz is the daughter of Johannes G Lutz and Anna
C Schopf
Phillip Hueit is the child of Jacob Huyett (1732-1812) and Anna Maria Gegin (1735-1803). Both are buried in Berks, Co
Pennsylvania.
Jacob Huyett is the son of Peter
Huyett (b 1702).
Peter Huyett is of unknown
parentage. The parents also had
the following children: Ambrose Huyett, Franz Carl Huyett (b 1708 m Maria Gerta
Guattlebaum c Ludwig); Michael (b 1719)
Monday, March 4, 2013
Mail Delivery
Newspapers often printed names of locals who had unclaimed mail awaiting pick-up. Sometimes I don't pick up my mail for a few days (which is why husband insisted on taking over that job). But mail service, for all its woes, could be worse. But before the Rural Free Delivery Service was enacted in 1896 people who lived in rural areas usually had to travel quite a distance (by horse, or shank's mare) to a general store to pick up their mail. Sometimes mail would be picked up by private contracters who would gladly deliver it to a settler's door, for a fee.
Imagine setting aside a day's worth of travel to retrieve a long awaited word from family back home, only to arrive at the general store to find out your letter never arrived or was lost. Bummer. Newspaper's often ran ads to try to coax readers into picking up their mail.
So we are spoiled. Sure, it looks like my very important letter from the amazing gentlemen at the Washington County Free Library was attacked by squirrels. But at least I didn;t have to get saddle sores to retrieve it.
Sunday, March 3, 2013
Heretics and Rebels
This will be a rare post, a story about the Royce Clan (on the Moore side). This is not a family that I am focusing on right now, as most of that research was completed long ago. But this story is worth it, because it shows the high drama of family history research.
Grandma has often expressed less than a positive opinion about digging into her family's past. At one point she informed me that they "turned their backs on the church." The Royce family has a long history in New Englad so like any good family, there are certainly some skeletons in that closet. And that is okay.
Here's the saga of Uzziel Royce: heretic and rebel
Uzziel Royce was born in Mansfield, Connecticut in 1758. Fast forward past all of the research that I don't know. Uzziel Royce was an original congregant of the first Baptist Church in Sullivan, County NY. It is weird to think of anyone on Grandma's side as Baptist!
He was excommunicated. Here's what The History of Sullivan County has to say about that
"And in this connection it may not be amiss to say that while at the first supper of our Lord there was one Judas at this judging from subsequent events there were about half a dozen. Uzziel Royce was excommunicated because he believed in open communion. Jonathan Reynolds because he wronged a brother. Jesse Bradley for intemperance. Ananias Warring walked with the brotherhood until he was an old man when he came to the conclusion that the Baptists of Thompson were a bad set and he was cut off. Shadrach Schofield during a controversy as to keeping the first or last day of the week holy concluded that all days were equally sacred and worked on Sunday and Ann Davies believing that the Church of Thompson dealt harshly and unjustly with her husband was honest enough to say so for which she was expelled from the fold. Even the good Elder himself was for a time denounced by this congregation as a child of the devil aud was driven from the sanctuary as if he were a moral leper."
I'm a big fan of open communion myself. And I work most Sundays, too.
Grandma has often expressed less than a positive opinion about digging into her family's past. At one point she informed me that they "turned their backs on the church." The Royce family has a long history in New Englad so like any good family, there are certainly some skeletons in that closet. And that is okay.
Here's the saga of Uzziel Royce: heretic and rebel
Uzziel Royce was born in Mansfield, Connecticut in 1758. Fast forward past all of the research that I don't know. Uzziel Royce was an original congregant of the first Baptist Church in Sullivan, County NY. It is weird to think of anyone on Grandma's side as Baptist!
He was excommunicated. Here's what The History of Sullivan County has to say about that
"And in this connection it may not be amiss to say that while at the first supper of our Lord there was one Judas at this judging from subsequent events there were about half a dozen. Uzziel Royce was excommunicated because he believed in open communion. Jonathan Reynolds because he wronged a brother. Jesse Bradley for intemperance. Ananias Warring walked with the brotherhood until he was an old man when he came to the conclusion that the Baptists of Thompson were a bad set and he was cut off. Shadrach Schofield during a controversy as to keeping the first or last day of the week holy concluded that all days were equally sacred and worked on Sunday and Ann Davies believing that the Church of Thompson dealt harshly and unjustly with her husband was honest enough to say so for which she was expelled from the fold. Even the good Elder himself was for a time denounced by this congregation as a child of the devil aud was driven from the sanctuary as if he were a moral leper."
I'm a big fan of open communion myself. And I work most Sundays, too.
Saturday, March 2, 2013
Marr Line
My poor, good-sport of a mother. She volunteered to go on a scouting mission to the Fountain County Genealogical Society. I gave her a list, but the folks at the FOCOSO were so amazingly helpful, that they tore through the list in no time flat. She called with some info, and some questions. she thought she hung up, but I was left yelling into the phone "No! No!!! Peter Smith was in the Civil War! Not 1812! Not 1812! Civil!!! Hello? Civil War!!" My husband is becoming immune to this behavior.
Normal people do not have an app on their phone to keep these names and dates straight. Also, normal people do not have dreams about family history research. So for you normal people, here is the makings of a family tree. But it is just a baby start. Direct line names are in yellow. There is still years of work to be done. The Hewitts and the Keefers, especially, have long roots here.
William Jennings Smith (1897-1968) married Margaret E Marr (1895-1958). They lived in Fountain County, Indiana and had one son, Chester Lee Smith.
Margaret Marr was the daughter of John Edward Marr (1863-1940) and Mary "Molly" Belle Redman Marr (1863-1920). Both lived their lives in Fountain County, Indiana. Their children are Hester (b 1889); Sarah (1892-1959 m. Fred Gayler, mother to Harold and Hubert); David John (b 1893 m. Blanche Auter, c Donald J. Marr) ; Martha L (b 1897 m. Mr. Wright); Mary A. (b 1899 m. Borden Abolt, x Marvin Dean, Milford, and Robert Lee); Evalyn E Marr (b 1902 m. John R. Brown)
Molly Redman is the daughter of David and Sarah McConnell Redman. David (b 1832 in Ohio) and Sarah (b. 1832 in Ohio) settled in Fountain County, Indiana. The had two other children, John (b 1859) and Jane (b 1866)
John Edward Marr is the son of John C. Marr (b 1840) and his first wife, Hester A. Keefer (1840-1876). John had two sisters: Mary B (b 18660 and Gertrude K. (b. 1878). John C. Marr was born in Fountain County, Indiana. Hester Keefer was born in Ross, Ohio. After Hester's death, John married Ella m. Simpson (b 1857 in New Jersey, but moved for Fountain Country sometime before 1870). John and Ella had 5 children: Roscoe Patrick (1887-1916); George Harold (b 1879 m Pansy); Thomas G (1881-1918, m Ethel c Ruth, Milred); Cary D (b 1884); Ralph (1895); Ralph (1895)
John C Marr was the son of John Patrick Marr (1812-1860?) and Anna Shull (b1810). John Patrick was born in Ireland, and immigrated to first to Hagerston, Maryland then to Fountain Couny, Indiana about 1838. Ann Shull was born in Hagerstown Maryland. Their children were James W. Marr (b 1833 and died as a child); John C (1840); Mary (1836); Sarah E (1838); Thomas (1845).
Ann Shull was the daughter of Jacob Sholl and Maria Bixler Sholl. Jacob and Maria had three other daughters: Catherine, Elizabeth and Mary.
Normal people do not have an app on their phone to keep these names and dates straight. Also, normal people do not have dreams about family history research. So for you normal people, here is the makings of a family tree. But it is just a baby start. Direct line names are in yellow. There is still years of work to be done. The Hewitts and the Keefers, especially, have long roots here.
William Jennings Smith (1897-1968) married Margaret E Marr (1895-1958). They lived in Fountain County, Indiana and had one son, Chester Lee Smith.
Margaret Marr was the daughter of John Edward Marr (1863-1940) and Mary "Molly" Belle Redman Marr (1863-1920). Both lived their lives in Fountain County, Indiana. Their children are Hester (b 1889); Sarah (1892-1959 m. Fred Gayler, mother to Harold and Hubert); David John (b 1893 m. Blanche Auter, c Donald J. Marr) ; Martha L (b 1897 m. Mr. Wright); Mary A. (b 1899 m. Borden Abolt, x Marvin Dean, Milford, and Robert Lee); Evalyn E Marr (b 1902 m. John R. Brown)
Molly Redman is the daughter of David and Sarah McConnell Redman. David (b 1832 in Ohio) and Sarah (b. 1832 in Ohio) settled in Fountain County, Indiana. The had two other children, John (b 1859) and Jane (b 1866)
John Edward Marr is the son of John C. Marr (b 1840) and his first wife, Hester A. Keefer (1840-1876). John had two sisters: Mary B (b 18660 and Gertrude K. (b. 1878). John C. Marr was born in Fountain County, Indiana. Hester Keefer was born in Ross, Ohio. After Hester's death, John married Ella m. Simpson (b 1857 in New Jersey, but moved for Fountain Country sometime before 1870). John and Ella had 5 children: Roscoe Patrick (1887-1916); George Harold (b 1879 m Pansy); Thomas G (1881-1918, m Ethel c Ruth, Milred); Cary D (b 1884); Ralph (1895); Ralph (1895)
John C Marr was the son of John Patrick Marr (1812-1860?) and Anna Shull (b1810). John Patrick was born in Ireland, and immigrated to first to Hagerston, Maryland then to Fountain Couny, Indiana about 1838. Ann Shull was born in Hagerstown Maryland. Their children were James W. Marr (b 1833 and died as a child); John C (1840); Mary (1836); Sarah E (1838); Thomas (1845).
Ann Shull was the daughter of Jacob Sholl and Maria Bixler Sholl. Jacob and Maria had three other daughters: Catherine, Elizabeth and Mary.
Thursday, February 28, 2013
"It's on North Dakota"
It takes 17 hours (according to Google Maps) to travel from Fountain County, IN to Mountrail, North Dakota. They are two different worlds. The more I learn about North Dakota, and think about how living outside of Indiana was hard for me (60 years later) the more I realize just how brave Grandma Smith had to be.
Today, just about 8000 people live in Mountrail County. The Simonson's lived in Alger Township, where the 2010 census showed the population to be 34. Yes, I did type that correctly.
I guess it is true that sometimes we have to leave our homes and our families, so make a better home for our future family. Thanks, Grandma. I miss you.
Today, just about 8000 people live in Mountrail County. The Simonson's lived in Alger Township, where the 2010 census showed the population to be 34. Yes, I did type that correctly.
I guess it is true that sometimes we have to leave our homes and our families, so make a better home for our future family. Thanks, Grandma. I miss you.
Tuesday, February 26, 2013
The Great Thanksgiving Dress Debate
There are times in your life when you can mark a change. There is no going back. those moments mark the transitions between what was, and what is. Change can be scary.
My move from normal person to...this...can be connected back to Thanksgiving 2012. And it is my mother's fault.
We found this photo in the the boxes of Marr family things. Certainly this was an maternal ancestor of Grandma Marr. The bottom showed a Fountain County Photography Studio. There was giggling. And sure enough, the back of the photo was helpfully labeled "Grandma Marr". Which means the photo was either Hester Keefer Marr, or Molly Redman Marr.
However, it might have been Grandmas Smith who wrote the label, so the photo could realistically have been...anyone. That's all part of the fun: hours of barking up the wrong family's tree.
We already had at least one photo of Molly Marr. Even in the crummy capture here, she is captivating. She looks so fragile, with her wasp waist, dark hair, and pale skin.
And here's where my world started to crack. I spent hours pouring over books and websites detailing women's fashions in the late 19th century. You might think that would be a short book: "They wore big dresses." And you would be WRONG. Sleeve styles, corsets, bustle height, background props, hair style, buttons, embellishments, photographic style...eight hours in I sought professional help in the Genealogy Department. They wished my luck and told me I was doing the best things.
Enablers.
Fast forward. You do not need to know how far this went.
Christmas rolls around and Mom pulls out another old Marr photo box. There is the dress. The same damn dress. Maybe. The back of the picture says Aunt Jane Marr.
We count buttons. We judge pleats. We use a magnifying glass. We discuss and debate. Jon decides that he is no longer interested in genealogy because it "sounds like a lot of work for no reason".
That had to be Molly Marr. There was cheering. The cats hid.
We can make up a pretty good story about this dress.
To celebrate a big birthday (16? 18?) young Molly Redman, bought the dress of a lifetime. Molly's real name was "Mary" but she had always gone by the nickname Molly, to distinguish her from her Aunt Mary Marr, who lived one farm over. Molly had always had delicate health, which made farm life a challenge.
She traveled by dusty buggy to the photographer's studio: getting there and back would be an all day event. But it was an event. She wasn't a girl any more, and this picture marked that growing up.
When it was Jane Redman's turn for her coming of age portrait, buying a new dress seemed frivolous on the family's budget. But was was creative and handy with a needle. A few embellishments to keep up with the changing trends, and the dress was even better than before.
My move from normal person to...this...can be connected back to Thanksgiving 2012. And it is my mother's fault.
 |
| Mystery Lady |
However, it might have been Grandmas Smith who wrote the label, so the photo could realistically have been...anyone. That's all part of the fun: hours of barking up the wrong family's tree.
 |
| Molly Redman Marr |
And here's where my world started to crack. I spent hours pouring over books and websites detailing women's fashions in the late 19th century. You might think that would be a short book: "They wore big dresses." And you would be WRONG. Sleeve styles, corsets, bustle height, background props, hair style, buttons, embellishments, photographic style...eight hours in I sought professional help in the Genealogy Department. They wished my luck and told me I was doing the best things.
Enablers.
 |
| Jane Marr |
Christmas rolls around and Mom pulls out another old Marr photo box. There is the dress. The same damn dress. Maybe. The back of the picture says Aunt Jane Marr.
We count buttons. We judge pleats. We use a magnifying glass. We discuss and debate. Jon decides that he is no longer interested in genealogy because it "sounds like a lot of work for no reason".
That had to be Molly Marr. There was cheering. The cats hid.
We can make up a pretty good story about this dress.
To celebrate a big birthday (16? 18?) young Molly Redman, bought the dress of a lifetime. Molly's real name was "Mary" but she had always gone by the nickname Molly, to distinguish her from her Aunt Mary Marr, who lived one farm over. Molly had always had delicate health, which made farm life a challenge.
She traveled by dusty buggy to the photographer's studio: getting there and back would be an all day event. But it was an event. She wasn't a girl any more, and this picture marked that growing up.
When it was Jane Redman's turn for her coming of age portrait, buying a new dress seemed frivolous on the family's budget. But was was creative and handy with a needle. A few embellishments to keep up with the changing trends, and the dress was even better than before.
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