Clarence E. Bishop - obituary

The Journal and Republican, Lowville, N. Y. December, **, 1926

Clarence E. Bishop

Died Tuesday at the Masonic Hospital. Utica, Aged 51

Clarence E. Bishop, 51, formerly proprietor of the New Walton, Lyons Falls, died Tuesday at the Masonic Hospital, Utica, where he had been a patient since last July.  Mr. Bishop was born December *, 1874 at Woodville and for many years had been engaged n the hotel business in northern New York.  Of late years he resided in Syracuse.  His first wife, whose maiden name was Ina Seymour, of Martinsburg, was killed several years ago, when Mr. and Mrs. Bishop and another couple drove off the Giddens Bridge near Adams, the car diving into the stream and killing two others beside Mrs. Bishop.
The second wife of Mr. Bishop was Miss Florence Jones, of Syracuse, by whom he is survived.  Funeral services will be held at Pulaski this afternoon.

Cape Vincent Eagle, Thursday, December 9, 1926

Clarence E. Bishop, Dies,  In Utica

On Tuesday of last week Clarence E. Bishop, well known to many in this village, died at the Masonic hospital, at Utica, where he had been receiving treatment for the past few months.
Mr. Bishop, who was 51 yeas old, was born at Woodville, Jefferson county, a son of the late James L. Bishop.  At an early age he embarked in the hotel business, acting as clerk at the Woodruff House, Watertown, for many years.  He aslo acted as clerk at the Pulaski House and the Randall hotel, at Pulaski.  Mr. Bishop and his father conducted the Union House, in this village, for a few years, and later he became manager of the Hotel Carleton.  After leaving the Carleton the family moved to Syracuse.
Mr. Bishop's first wife was killed in an accident a number of years ago, when the automobile driven by Mrs. Bannister crashed through the railing at the Giddings bridge, near Adams.  His second wife, formerly Miss Florence Jones, of Syracuse, survives him.  There are no other near relations with the exception of cousins.
The funeral was held from the Masonic Temple, at Pulaski, Thursday afternoon, the officers of Pulaski  Lodge, F. & A. M., of which the deceased was a member, conducted the Masonic burial service.  Interment was made in the Pulaski Cemetery.

I started researching the Bishop line after I posted the transcription of Jennie Austin's will.  I found many articles on Clarence, James and Mrs. James Bishop.  To date, I have not found an obituary for Nettie Bishop, widow of James L. Bishop.  The last census that enumerates Nettie (Lunette) Bishop is the 1920 US Federal Census.  She is listed in the home of her son, Clarence Bishop in Syracuse, Onondaga County, New York.  This was prior to Clarence' marriage to his second wife.  Interestingly, Clarence' second wife is enumerated as Georgia age 44 in the New York State Census of 1925.  

Clarence' father, James L Bishop was a hotel proprietor and lived in these locations according to the census:

• 1892 Redfield, Oswego County, New York
• 1900 Pulaski, Oswego County, New York
• 1910 West Turin, Lewis County, New York

James L. Bishop died in 1914.  Clarence took over as proprietor and in 1915 is listed as the proprietor of the hotel in Cape Vincent, Jefferson County, NY.   Nettie Bishop preceded her son in death.

One more genealogical mystery remains to be unraveled!  Stay tuned!

Clarence E. Bishop - Tragedy on a Bridge

Watertown Daily Times, Tuesday Afternoon, September 2, 1919

FOUR KILLED, ONE HURT, AS CAR GOES INTO CREEK

Accident Happens on Road About Three Miles South of Adams

CAR PLUNGES OFF 25 FOOT BANK

The Dead Are Mrs. Anna Bannister, Proprietor of Watertown Store; Her Sister, Miss Margaret E. Raymond; Miss Dorothy Elting, All of Watertown, and Mrs. Clarence E. Bishop of Syracuse--Mr. Bishop Badly Hurt.

Four persons ere killed and one badly injured three miles south of Adams at 11:30 Monday night when a Jeffery touring car owned and driven by Mrs. Anna Banniser of this city left the road and crashing through the iron railing of the bridge over Sandy Creek, shot through the air and plunged into the rocky bed of the creek 25 feet below.

The dead are:

Mrs. Anna Bannister, of 210 William street, proprietor of a woman's coat and suit store at No. 9 Public Square.

Miss Margaret E. Raymond, a sister, residing at 310 William Street and associated with Mrs. Bannister's business.

Miss Dorothy Elting, 19, of 314 William street, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Eli Elting.

Mrs. Clarence E. Bishop, 43, of 501 Walnut avenue, Syracuse.
The only survivor of the terrible accident is Clarence E. Bishop, 45 years of age, caddy master of the Bellevue Country Club, Syracuse. He will recover, it is thought, although badly cut about the head and with injuries to his right leg.
The four persons were wither instantly killed by being caught beneath the car or were drowned by the waters of Sandy Creek, two feet in depth at the point where the machine landed.  It is thought that the automobile skidded on account of rain that had fallen a short time before.  The bridge is at the foot of a long curving, but not particularly steep hill.
Was a Careful Driver.
With death sealing the lips of four members of the ill fated party, and with Mr. Bishop unable to narrate only that which happened after the car had taken the plunger through space, an examination, if such a thing is possible, of the car will alone determine whether or not something happened to the steering post as Mr. Bannister approached the bridge.  The woman was always known as a most careful driver, and was perfectly familiar with the road over which the party was traveling on its way from Syracuse to this city.
Mrs. Bannister, accompanied by her sister, Miss Raymond, Miss Elting, and a nephew and niece, Isabel and Charles Clark, 10 and 18 years who had been visiting at the Bannister home, left for Syracuse and Auburn to Medina, their home.
The party left Auburn, returning to Syracuse where they stopped for Mr. and Mrs. Clarence E. Bishop, with whom they were well acquainted and to whom a week before, Mrs. Bannister, while in Syracuse, had promised to bring to this city in order that Mrs. Bishop might appear in a matter in surrogate's court today.
Left Syracuse at 8:30.
At 8:30 the party left Syracuse, stopping at one or two places for candy and gasoline, including the Randall House at Pulaski.  Rain began to fall, making the road slippery in many places.  According to Mr. Bishop, Mrs. Bannister was running at not over 20 miles an hour when the accident occurred.  There had been a moon earlier in the evening, but with the approach of the shower the skies became overcast.  Almost as the crash came, Mrs. Bannister and her friends were talking of the rain and the slippery condition of the roads.
Guard Rails Break.
At the end of the bridge, guard rails had been erected, but these were snapped as though straws as the car and its passengers swerved to the left and took the plunge that cost the lives of four a moment later and left a  *** pinned beneath and in danger of being drowned in the waters that surged about.  The bridge is perhaps 25 feet above the waters of the creek which is filled with jagged rocks.  The car turned over at least once in its headlong flight, shooting through the air 40 or 50 feet before landing in the bottom of the creek.
Struggles to Get Out.
Mr. Bishop, with blood flowing from an ugly gash in the top of his head and with his right leg bruised, managed to extricate himself from the wreckage, after a 20 minute struggle.  Staggering through the water in the darkness, the man made his way to the bank and called for help.  three cars passed without hearing the cries of the injured and frantic man.  The fourth, a car on its way to New York, stopped.
At almost the same time, William Kellar, son of Mr. and Mrs. Sidney Kellar, who live a short distance from the bridge, arrived home from a baseball game at Detoriet, and was attracted to the bridged by the shadowy figures of men and women running about.
Kellar ran to his home calling to his parents to light a lantern, and to his brother, George, to help him.  One of the boys later on ran to Page's farmhouse, a short distance away, and telephoned for Dr. E. E. Douglass of Adams.
The body of Mrs. Bishop, meanwhile had been pulled from beneath the car but there were no signs of life. One of the Kellar boys, with others, pulled off his shoes and waded out to the car.  Another body was dragged from beneath the car as it was partially righted.
"Here's another body," yelled one of the men near the rear end of the car as the machine was slowly raised to its side.
The bodies were carried to the sloping bank and laid on the ground, until the fourth found a resting place beside the others, and Bishop, frantic with grief and pain, told the rescuers that there were no others.
Authorities Notified.
Sheriff Michael Gleason and District Attorney Jerome B. Cooper had been notified of the terrible accident within 30 minutes after it had happened, and left almost immediately for the scene.  Mr. Cooper posted two men, including Chief of Police Henderson, at the bridge, with instructions not to permit anyone to remove the car until further orders.  the two officials returned to Watertown, only to be called to Clayton by the report of another automobile accident.  Accompanied by the sheriff and a stenographer,  Mr. Cooper returned to Adams this morning and interrogated a number of persons in an effort to learn the true facts surrounding the affair.
Mr. Bishop had been taken to the residence of Mr. Douglass and his injuries cared for.  The district attorney question Mr. Bishop this morning but was able to learn only a few of the less important facts of the case, such as the time the party left Syracuse, the number of stops that had been made, but as to just what really happened at the bridge, the injured mans was a a loss to know, rather than to hazard a guess that the car had skidded an its driver was unable to stop it until it had plunged through the railing and onto the rocks.
Three Women Drowned.
According to Dr. Alfred Goss of Adams, who made a superficial examination of the bodies as they were taken from beneath the wrecked car, three of the four women met their death by drowning, the fourth through a fractured skull.  Dr. Goss was called to the scene of the accident about 12, and helped remove the bodies which were lying in the water at the time.
An examination of Mrs. Bishop's body shows a fracture of the skull, the head being quite badly crushed and sufficient to have caused death.  There were not other marks on the body.
The bodies of the other three women show no signs of any pronounce fractures and are not disfigured, supporting the statement made by Dr. Goss that death was due to drowning.
The body of Mrs. Bishop will be brought here this evening by Undertaker E. Raymond Hoyland and taken to his parlors on State street where the funeral will be held tomorrow morning, the hour being undecided at 3 o'clock this afternoon.
When Mrs. Bishop was killed that night, she had a purse in which there was approximately $100, and which until this afternoon had not been located.  Two men were wading about the wreckage in an effort to locate the purse and its contents.
Mr. Bishop was brought to the city this afternoon and taken to the home of Earl Seymour, a cousin of Mrs. Bishop, who resides on Boyd street.
Mr Bishop will remain at the Douglass home until such time as he can be moved.  That the man may be suffering from internal injuries was evident from the fact that he vomited blood when his head was raised from the pillow. F. I Bishop of 149 Fitch street, Syracuse, a cousin, accompanied by Mrs. Bishop and Mrs. McDonald, reached Adams at 9 o'clock this morning.
The scene of the accident attracted hundreds of persons today.  District Attorney Cooper and Sheriff Gleason arrived about 9:30 this morning, visiting the place for a second time.
At Mr. Cooper's direction, Chief of Police Henderson fished a woman's pursed from the water a few feet from the car, it belonged to Miss Raymond.  A woman's comb was picked up on the ground, probably having fallen from one of the bodies as is was carried ashore.  A further examination of the wreckage brought forth a candy box, another handbag, a book or tow, the wrenches and other tools being scattered over the creeks bottom.
The front ***one fender of the car was badly smashed where it had struck the iron protecting railing.  It was evident that the car had turned over at least once in the air, landing as it did with the wheels uppermost, the top being crushed and broken.  The tail light was still burning this morning.  The engine itself was but little injured.
As near as Mr. Cooper would ascertain, both from interrogating persons who arrived at the scene of the accident a few minutes after it happened, the car took the fateful plunge about 11:30, the watch on one of the women having stopped at that time, while another stopped at 11:58.
Alexander McMullin, a barber in Adams, told the district attorney this morning that when he reached the scene he found a woman, who later on informed him she was on her way to New York, swinging a lantern.  Bishop was on the bridge receiving first aid treatment, and repeating over and over again, "My God, my wife."  There were about a half dozen person at the accident by that time.
The bodies were carried up the steep embankment and onto the road, being taken to Scott * Undertaker's undertaking parlors in Adams, and later those of Mrs. Bannister, Miss Raymond and Miss Elting were brought to this city.
The body of Mrs. Bishop will be taken to West Martinsburg for interment.  Mrs. Bishop having at the time been a resident of that place.  She is survived by her husband.
Following Mr. Cooper's inquest this morning, the district attorney said that Mrs. Bannister's neck had been broken and that the others had died from either fractured skulls of from being drowned as they were pinned beneath the car.

The Journal and Republican, Lowville, N. Y., Thursday, September 4, 1919

FOUR KILLED, ONE HURT, AS AUTO GOES INTO CREEK

Mrs. Inez Seymour Bishop, formerly of Lowville, One of Victims, and Her Husband Seriously Injured - Others Killed Are Mrs. Anna Bannister, Her Sister, Miss Margaret E. Raymond and Miss Dorothy Elting, of Watertown.

Four persons were killed and one badly injured three miles south of Adams at 11:39 Monday night when a Jeffrey touring car owned and driven by Mrs Anna Bannister, of Watertown, left the road and crashing through the iron railing of the bridge over Sandy creek, shot through the air and plunged into the rocky bed of the creek 25 feet below.  The dead are:...

Mrs. Anna Bannister, 62, proprietor of a woman's coat and suit store at No. 9 Public Square, Watertown.

Miss Margaret E. Raymond, 40, a sister and associated with Mrs. Bannister, in the business.

Miss Dorothy Elting, 19, daughter of Mr. and rs. Eli Elting, of Watertown.

Mrs. Clarence E. Bishop, 43, of 601 Walnut avenue, Syracuse.

The only survivor of the terrible accident is Clarence E. Bishop, 45 years of age, caddy master of the Bellevue Country Club, Syracuse.  He will recover, it is thought, although badly cut about the head and with injuries to his right leg.

Mrs. Bishop was formerly Miss Inez Seymour, daughter of the late Wilbur Seymour, of West Martinsburg.  She was married to Mr. Bishop, fifteen years ago, and for some time they had conducted the Walton house at Lyons Falls.

The four persons were either instantly killed by being caught beneath the car or were drowned by the waters of Sandy Creek tow fee in depth at the point where the machine landed.  It is thought that the automobile skidded on account of rain that had fallen a short time before.  The bridge is at the foot of a long curving, but not particularly steep hill.  The party left Syracuse for Watertown at 8:30 p.m.

At the end of the bridge, guard rails had been erected, but they were snapped as though straws as the car and its passengers swerved to the left and took the plunge that cost the lives of four a moment inter and left a fifth pinned beneath and in danger of being drowned in the waters that surged about.  The bridge is perhaps twenty-five feet above the waters of the creek which is filled with jagged rocks.  The car turned over at least once in the headlong flight, shooting through the air forty or fifty feet before landing in the bottom of the creek.

Three Women Drowned.

According to Dr. Alfred Goss of Adams, show made a superficial examination of the bodies as they were taken from beneath the wrecked car, three of the four women met their death by drowning, the fourth through a fractured skull.  Dr. Goss was called to the scene of the accident about 12 o'clock, and helped remove the bodies which were lying in the water at the time.

An examination of Mrs. Bishop's body showed a fracture of the skull, the head being quite badly crushed and sufficient to have caused death.  There were no other marks on the body.

the bodies of the other three women showed no signs of any pronounced fractures and are not disfigured, supporting the statement made by Dr. Goss that death was due to drowning.

Mr. Bishop was brought to Watertown Tuesday afternoon and taken to the home of Earl Seymour, a cousin of Mrs. Bishop.

The funeral services of Mr.s Bishop were held at Watertown yesterday and interment was made at the West Martinsburg cemetery.

James L Bishop - Hotel Keeper

James L. Bishop was born in Sept. 1836 and married Lynette Graves.  I have yet to find a marriage record nor have I found a death notice for Lynette (Nettie).  I do know that she died prior to 1927 according to the note on her sister's, Jennie Austin, will.  I found the following newspaper articles on Old Fulton NY Post Cards (http://fultonhistory.com/Fulton.html) website.  The digital images searchable and can be downloaded in PDF format.  I found his death notice in half a dozen newspapers, but only downloaded the two that I have transcribed below.

Watertown Daily Times, Wednesday Afternoon, March 29, 1905

A few friends of Mr. and Mrs. James L. Bishop pleasantly surprised them last Wednesday evening, it being the occasion of the 34th anniversary of their marriage.  They were presented with a handsome china salad dish.

Watertown Daily Times, Thursday Afternoon, March 26, 1914

J. L. BISHOP, VETERAN HOTEL MAN, DEAD

HE HAD CONDUCTED HOSTELRIES AT CAPE VINCENT, ANTWERP AND ELSEWHERE

Pulaski. March 26.-James L. Bishop, for many years a resident of Pulaski and well known throughout Oswego and Jefferson counties as a hotel keeper, passed away yesterday afternoon at the Commercial House in Parish, where he had made his home with a son, Clarence L. Bishop, since November, 1912, when the latter became manager of the hostelry.  About three weeks ago the senior Bishop was stricken with a sever shock of paralysis and he had since continued to sink gradually until the end came yesterday.

James L. Bishop was born in Clerendon, Vt. nearly 78 years ago and when a young man located in Woodville, Jefferson county, where with his brother, Don C. Bishop of Pulaski, he engaged in the boot and shoe business.  About 20 years ago Mr. Bishop came to Pulaski and for a time conducted the old Salmon River hotel and later became associated with John F. Hubbard in the Pulaski House, which is still owned by the latter.

Several years ago Mr. Bishop conducted the Union House at Cape Vincent. His next hotel venture was at Antwerp where he managed the Proctor House, and a few years later he went to Lyons Falls and became landlord of the Walton House.  During the past decade or so his son, Clarence E. Bishop, has been associated with him in his hotel ventures his last one beign at Lyons Falls.  More than a year ago the junior Bishop became manager of the Commercial hotel at Parish and his parents have since lived with hi,.  The veteran hotel keeper was well known to the traveling public, by reason of the may years of hotel activities.  he was well liked and had a wide cirle of friends.

James L. Bishop, in addition to his many years of entertaining the traveling public had been for more that half a century a member of the Masonic fraternity.  he first became a member of the Blue Lodge at **wards, St. Lawrence county, and some time later affiliated with Rising Sun Lodge, No. 634 F. and A. M., at Belleville, Jefferson county, of which he was a member at the time of his death.  Mr Bishop was also a member of Pulaski Chapter, No. 279, R.A.M.

Surviving are his wife and son, Clarence E. Bishop; two brothers, Nathan P. Bishop of Adams Centre and Don. C. Bishop of Pulaski, and two sisters, Mrs. Helen Tabor of Adams and Mrs. Martha Babcock of Smithville.

The funeral will be held from the Commercial House at Parish tomorrow afternoon at 1.  The body will be brought to the Pulaski cemetery, where the Masonic burial service will be conducted by Pulaski Lodge, No 415, F. and A. M.

The Journal and Republican, Lowville, N.Y., Thursday, April 2, 1914.

James L. Bishop

James L. Bishop, age 78 a well know hotel man and for more that half a century a member of the Masonic fraternity, died in the 25th ult. at the Commercial hotel, Parish.  Where he had made his home since November, 1912, with his son, Clarence L. Bishop, formerly proprietor of the Walton house at Lyons Falls. Surviving are his wife, one son, two brothers, Nathan P. Bishop, of Adams Center, and Donald C. Bishop, of Pulaski, and two sisters, Mrs. Helen Taber, of Adams and Mrs. Martha Babcock, of Smithville.  The funeral services were held Friday and interment made at Pulaski.

Amanuensis Monday - Will of Aunt Jenny Austin

This is a handwritten will amended on Jan 27, 1927.  Jenny Austin was born Sarah Jane Graves 11 Sep 1841 in Ellisburg, Jefferson County, NY to Ira Graves and Mary Decker.  She married George Austin who was born in the month April 1826 in Ohio, according to the 1900 census.  They were married in 1867 or 1868.  According to the 1900 census for Sheboygan, WI, Jennie had never had any children.  Henry E. Austin, born Nov 1855 in Wisconsin, is listed next to them in this census.  Jennie's will mentions grandchildren; George, Frank and Orren Austin.  These children belong to Henry E. Austin leading me to believe that Henry was adopted by George and Sarah Jane Austin. Henry is listed in the 1880 census as their child.  Sarah J. 'Jennie' died 23 Oct 1927 in Plymouth, WI.

Have omitted paragraph about "being sound of mind."

First.

 I give and devise to my grand children, Geo. Austin of Montana and Frank Austin & Orren Austin of Sheb Co., Wis. The sum of one thousand dollars to be divided among them in equal shares.

Second.

I give and bequeath to my sister, Nettie Bisphop, the sum of one thousand dollars.

Third.

All the rest, residue and remainder of my estate, I give devise and bequeath to my niece Elena Edwards should she survive me, but in the event she does not survive me, then all of said residue, I give and bequeath in equal shares to nieces and nephews, the grand children of my Bro. Gilbert A. Graves. 

Fourth.

I herby nominate and appoint my niece Elena Edwards the executrix of this will & request that she be not required to give any bond.

Dated April 6, 1917

Signed by A. C. Prescott and Cora L Schraut.

The following was written by Aunt Jennie, put in an envelop and tied to large envelop containing will.  It was written wonderfully well with ink, for one of her age. 

When I made my will I gave my sister Mrs. Nettie Bishop $1,000.  She has since died, as has her only child, Clarence Bishop.  Now I want this one thousand dollars to to to Elena Edwards with the other I have given her.  This I hope is plain.  If it is not done by a lawyer, it is my wish.

Jan 17, 1927

Signed by herself,

Jennie's signature is not on this document anywhere.

Elena Edwards is the daughter of Maryetta Graves born 4 May 1834 in Ellisburg, Jefferson Co., NY.  She married John Byron Edwards (1829-1919).   Maryette and John B Edwards are found in the 1900 Census in Sheboyga, WI.  Their daughter, F Lena Edwards born Mar 1866, is living with them.  All three were born in New York and Lena is their only child.  I was unable to find Lena in any subsequent census indexes.

I decided to explore George and Jennie Austin further.  I started my search at the Sheboygan County page on USGENWEB website.  I found a biography of George Austin that answered a lot of questions.  Jennie was George's second wife.  George and Jennie were married 23 Dec 1867.  Henry was the son of George and his first wife, Annie Smith.  George and Annie were married 30 June 1853. His complete biography can be found here, http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~sheboygan/bios91.htm

Tombstone Tuesday Revisited - Uncle Jake

Wilbur Jennings Alkire Jr 'Uncle Jake' was adopted.    I decided to see what I could find on my uncle.   I looked at the 1930 census, his parents were Wilbur J. Alkire (Alkins in the index at familysearch) and Lucretia Alkire. They are living in Oklahoma City, OK.  He has a sister, Idalle M, age 2.  According to the 1940 census, they were in OKC in 1935.  Wilbur's grandparents, Adam and Mary Alkire had a farm in Dewey County, OK.  In 1940 they are living on the farm located in Township 24 N, Range 13 E.  Uncle Jake remained on this farm the rest of his life.  He and my aunt were married in 1945.  They were unable to have children and adopted a boy and a girl.  I spent several summers at the farm and one memory I have my aunt will never forget!  The Beach Boys were popular that year and I sang "I want to go home, this is the worst trip I have ever been on."   She still laughs about this today!  Some things you just can't live down.  

I wondered about access to adoption records in Oklahoma, so I did a Google search. OMG!

Oklahoma Department of Human Services manages the Mutual Consent Voluntary Registry which aids in post adoption reunions and access to adoption records, family information and medical history. Anyone age of 18 may voluntary add information to the registry. There is also a Confidential Intermediary Search program to aid in the searching of family members. Searches cost $400 dollars to start.

Children and Family Services Division
Mutual Consent Voluntary Registry
P. O. Box 25352
Oklahoma City, OK 73125 

Do you see the cost?  If I were adopted, it would be worth that much and more.  Since I am doing genealogy research, it is not something I would pay this amount of money to research.

If you are looking to find adoption information, check out Cyndi's List. http://www.cyndislist.com/adoption
Early adoptions were not necessarily a legal contract.

In many cases, children were raised by relatives or interested families without a formal adoption taking place and no official adoption records being created.

This quote is from the familysearch wiki https://familysearch.org/learn/wiki/en/Oklahoma_Vital_Records

A possibility would be an article in the local newspaper.  The newspapers weren't politically correct and a lot of information was published back then that you dare not publish today.

How do you handle adoptions in your genealogy program?  I use PAF and add notes to say "so and so was adopted on such & such" and add the child as the child of the adopted parents.  Right or wrong, that's how I do it.

Amanuensis Monday - William C Hoag letter from John M Powers

Lower Penn Neck Sep 27/75

William C Hoag

Dear Friend

I received your letter the 25th and was very glad to hear from you again and learn that you are all well.  We are all well except Mary S who is complaining very much of pain in her stum to night and wishes you were here to cure her.  We have enjoyed our health first rate ever since you left as usual it has been quite healthy throughout the township all sickness Mrs M Lippencott has passed away.  She died about six weeks ago.  Samuel ?. Snitcher (one of your Scholars) has also gone, Since you went away.  Herman tells me has never received you letter, And now I am almost at a loss to know how to give you the particulars you desire, but I will do the best I can the prospect for disposing of a load is not very flattering unless you could sell very cheap. Charley Powers says he wants one and the store keeper at Pennsville wants one also.  David Fisher says he will take a pair of mules, if you could bring a few young mares you might sell them as the farmers do not want to buy horses, There may be a better prospect after a while as there is a disease among the horses a few miles below Salem and quite a number have died with it.  I was told to night by one of our neightors that in the township of Lower Alloway Creek thirty five had died already.  Your old stock here are about the same Except Phill he has gone entirely blind, I have had an offer of $150 for Prince, $125 for Lilly and $50 for Phill. Provided I would give some time on them I don't suppose those prices would suit you, if they do, let me know it as soon as possible.  I wish you would come on this fall, Perhaps you can do better than that.  For I never could sell anything like other men.  The hoses are in fair condition I hate to let them got for such prices, whether the people think I will soon be forced to let them go for just what I can get to pay my debts I dont know for the note I gave for those I bought comes due in November again and the prospect looks very doubtful at present for meeting it.  I wish you would come on before that time and give me a little assistance if you can,  Excuse me for not writing as I have been so busy I have not had time or at least not felt like writing to any one, I know nothing more that would be likely to interest you so permit me to subscribe myself your friend John M Powers

P.S. My family all join in sending their respects
J M Powers
______________________________________________________________________________
Lower Alloways Creek, Lower Penns Neck and Salem are townships in New Jersey.  William C Hoag was a doctor.  He was born 5 Oct 1819 in New York and married Electa Ann Mitchell in Meigs County, Ohio 16 Mar 1855.  He moved to Danvers, Mc Lean County, Illinois where he died 28 Aug 1886.  William and Electa had two children, Jared B and Jane Phoebe (Jennie).  Jennie died in Ill in July 1876.  Electa died 8 Nov 1878 in Danvers, IL.  Jared is my great grandfather and migrated to Barber County, Kansas where he married Florence Graves on 25 Jan 1888.

Thomas Hedrick, Criminal

I would like to knock down the Thomas Hedrick brick wall!  I have the marriage record from Greene County, Missouri, unfortunately it is a certified copy and not a copy of the original.  I always search online resources first.  I started here:

Missouri State Archives website searchable online databases. http://www.sos.mo.gov/mdh/browse.asp?id=All
I clicked on the Civil War Newspapers link, http://shs.umsystem.edu/civilwar/newspapers/index.html. Scrolling down to select a newspaper for Greene County, I spot the Springfield Mirror and the dates span from 1856 - 1859.  Perfect for the time period I am searching.   I searched in the Springfield Missouri Weekly Patriot 1865-1876, http://statehistoricalsocietyofmissouri.org/cdm/landingpage/collection/smwp.  I searched for  Hedrick. I received 4 hits. My first hit was Nov 2, 1865 when Burton and George Hedrick, (plus four men named Beasley and John Wood Jr.)  were being sued for $6,000 by Mahala Bowman for murdering her husband, Jacob Bowman, stealing property and burning down their house in 1863. The claim was filed in Stone County, Missouri.  She is about to be foreclosed on.  Perhaps these two men will be a clue to finding Thomas.  I never dismiss anything right away!
This same group of men are accused of stealing five head of cattle, one mare, one rifle gun, bed quilts and wearing clothes from Samuel Owen in 1862. This Stone County Circuit Court notice published November 16, 1865 states the men have left their usual places of abode.

And the next hit is a BINGO!  In the Circuit Court of Taney County, Missouri notice published November 23, 1865.  Mary A Wallace, plaintiff vs. Mary B Hedrick, George Hedrick, Thomas Hedrick and Sally Burkes, Def.  They are accused of taking bed clothes, bacon, flour, sugar, coffee and tobacco of the value of Seventy-five dollars on the 16 May 1864.  The notice states they have left their usual place of abode.  They are ordered to appear in the court house in Forsythe.  The November 16, 1865 edition has a notice that on this same date in 1864, this group is accused of taking forty dollars in gold, a new saddle and bridle worth twenty five dollars, gold locket worth six dollars, set of ear bobs worth four dollars, six dresses valued at seventy-five dollars, and diverse other article and personal effects of Nancy E Gideon in Taney County.
I knew Thomas was not a stand up guy, after all he deserted Nancy and their son William.  Now I can take the clues found in the newspaper and look for more information.  I need to find out if Mary B is a sister to George and Thomas or if she was the spouse of one of them.

I checked the 1860 census for Taney County, Missouri.  I did not find Mary B, however I did find Burton age 54 b. KY, George age 26 b. MO, Thomas 22 b. MO, Samuel age 48 b. KY and Shelton age 24 b. MO.  All are living in their own households.  My conclusion is Burton is the father of George, Thomas and possibly Shelton.  Shelton and Thomas are neighbors in the census and are on the same page with Burton.  They are living in Newton Twp. before the Civil War.  Thomas in 1860 is married to a Lucinda age 18.  I don't think this is my Thomas as he married Nancy Logan in 1852.

The hunt for answers continues!

Miss Horner's Marriage

Many years ago when I first began researching Harriett Hayes Louthan on Ancestry.com, I found Harriett Horner Louthan.  Hattie, as she was known, was a 'Kansas poetess', according to the publications I have been able to locate.  The other day I was searching  http://www.loc.gov/library/libarch-digital.html digital newspaper collection.  I came across the newspaper article below.  I haven't found it transcribed anywhere on the Internet, so I thought I would share it on my blog.  

The Wichita Daily Eagle, Sunday Morning, June 14, 1893 page 5

The following regarding the marriage of Miss Hattie Horner and Mr. Overton Earl Louthan is taken from the El Dorado Republican:

A short time ago invitations to the wedding of Miss Hattie Horner and Mr. Overton Earl Louthan were sent out, and responses to these were about 130 guests met at the pleasant home of Dr. and Mrs. Horner, near Whitewater, Wednesday, June 21, to witness the happy nuptials.

The day dawned brightly and guests began arriving by train and carriages early in the morning.  El Dorado, Peabody, Newton, Towanda, and other neighboring towns were well represented.

At 12 m, sweet strains of music emulated from the house, and soon the bridal appeared at the front entrance, and stepping upon carpets spread for the occasion, advanced under nature's canopy to the place prepared for them, where the spreading branches of the trees cast their lacy shadows over the happy pair and their attendance, Miss Cora Taylor of El Dorado, and Mr. Herbert Beck of Fort Smith, Arkansas.

Rev. G H Laughlin of Kirksville, Mo., stepped forward and after a few appropriate remarks, pronounces a brief marriage ceremony, after which he introduced the contracting parties  to their friends as Mr. and Mrs. Louthan.

The bride, our Kansas poetess, wore a dainty gown of cream white china slik(sic). The skirt with demi-train was void of trimming. The waist cut square in front and V shaped in the back was very tastefully trimmed lace bretelles and pearl passementerie. The elbow sleeves were finished with a deep ruffle of lace which fell gracefully over the arm, and the gulmp of silk illusion and silk girdle added their charm to the very pretty toilet.  White silk gloves and white kid slippers completed the costume.  She carried a beautiful spray of Marechal Niel rosebuds  and in the coil of her brown hair nestled one creamy bud. She also wore a bud on her corsage.

The bride's maid,  Miss Cora Taylor, wore a very becoming dress of salmon-colored bengaline, with Eton jacket of dark velvet and trimmings of the same. In her hands she carried a spray of delicate pink rosebuds.

 The groom, Mr. Earl Louthan of Chicago, and Mr. Herbert Beck, his best man, looked well in their conventional suits of black.

 After the friends had tendered congratulations to Mr. and Mrs. Louthan, they were invited to partake of an elegant wedding dinner, spread on tables in the kindly shade of the trees.

 The presents were numerous and elegant, typifying the high esteem in which the young couple are held by their hosts of friends, who wish them many long years of happiness together and trust that the June roses of life may be plentifully strewn along their pathway.

 The bride is truly a Kansas girl.  She was connected with the educational interests of this city for several years but the past few years have been spent in newspaper work in which she has acquired the name "Kansas Poetess." At present she is writing for several of the leading magazines.  The groom was a former resident of this city and is a noble young man. He is at present bookkeeper in one of the leading firms in Chicago.

They took the evening train for Wichita where they spent a few hours with the groom's parents. They were guests of Mr. and Mrs J. M. Garrett, in this city for a few hours Thursday, leaving on the afternoon train for Whitewater.  They departed  Thursday night for their future home in Chicago. 

May joy and prosperity attend them.

 Hattie and Earl are found in 1900 Federal Census enumerated in  ED 106, Precinct 11, Denver city ward 12, Arapahoe County, Colorado residing at 59 South Grand Ave. According to this census, Overton E Louthan was born in Illinois  March 1868 and Hattie was born Feb 1867 in Iowa.  The birthplace of Earl's parents is left blank on the census page, while Hattie's father was born in Kentucky and her mother was born in West Virginia.  By 1910, Hattie is widowed and  was still residing in Denver CO at the time of the 1940 census.  She was a teacher at the University of Denver.