Wordless Wednesday - Hoag-Steinmetz Reunion

Taken at Roman Nose State Park, Watonga, Oklahoma.

Madness Monday - He drives me crazy!

I posted about this brick wall last February.  I keep hoping new records will magically pop up.

I decided today to re-visit original documents that I can find online for Hiram B. Louthan.

1. Marriage record: February 27, 1834  Elkrun, Columbiana County, Ohio

    2. 1836 Tax List  Hanover Twp, Columbiana County, Ohio.

   3. 1837 Tax List Hanover Twp., Columbiana County, Ohio.

   4. 1838 Tax List Hanover Twp., Columbiana County, Ohio.

    5. 1840 Federal Census Hanover Twp., Columbiana County, Ohio.

He has lived in Guilford, Hanover Twp., Columbiana County, Ohio for at least four years.  He has three sons; Oliver Perry Louthan b. 30 November 1834, John Cope Louthan b. 28 May 1836 and James Fife Louthan b. 3 July 1838.

Family tradition is he was a blacksmith and was born in Louthan Valley Virginia.  Ok, it is actually Loudon Valley in Virginia and there was a Civil War Battle fought in that area.  There were Louthan's in Virginia but I cannot connect to them.  You will notice there is Moses Louthan next to Hiram in the tax lists.  These two men married sisters, Harriet Matilda Hayes and Catherine Hayes, daughters of Edmund Hayes and Sarah Whitacre.  The big question being tossed around, "Are these men brothers?"  I have seen family trees online that tie them as brothers, but I have not seen proof.  

I decided to look into the middle names of  Hiram's children to see if they connected to him.  Oliver Perry was named after Harriet's brother, William Oliver Perry Hayes who died 8 Sept 1830.  John Cope Louthan may have been named after John Cope who married Phebe Heald in Columbiana County, Ohio in 1833.  In the 1850 Federal Census, Oliver Louthan is residing with John and Pheobe Cope in Wesley, Washington County, Ohio.  James Fife Louthan, I have never found a connection to the Fife family.  

So, that was no help at all.  

In 1841, according to a Bible record, reported to have been owned by Harriet, they had a daughter, Sarah.

Then in 1844, Margaret was born.  Sarah died in 1845, burial place is either Columbiana or Washington County, Ohio.  Hiram is supposed to have died about this same time and place.  I haven't been able to find this information to confirm.

Harriet married William Ormiston 16 Mar 1847 in Washington County, Ohio.  Below is the Intent to Marry image from Marriage Record 1845 - 1851 book microfilmed by FHL.

Harriet's parents had also moved to Washington County.  It is not know if she moved before Hiram's death or after.  Moses Louthan moved on to Illinois and then Kansas.  They settled in Mitchell County, Kansas.  

Hiram's three sons served in the Civil War as did Margaret's husband, Alexander M. Ellis.  Following the Civil War these families, with the exception of Margaret,  migrated to Linn County, Missouri.  Harriet died in Purdin, Linn County, Missouri in 1884.  

I have a lot of information on Hiram's descendants, wish I could solve the mystery of who, what, when and where for Hiram himself.   Moses was born in Pennsylvania and his family is documented in a county history book.  No mention is made of a brother named Hiram.  There are probate record images on FamilySearch.org that I haven't read through completely. https://familysearch.org/search/image/index#uri=https%3A//familysearch.org/records/collection/1992421/waypoints

There isn't an index to the images so it will take a while to browse the thousands of images available for Columbiana and Washington Counties.   Until I have proof of who Hiram's parents were, I will not connect him to Moses.  

This is driving me mad and has been for 30 years!  Somewhere in a dark corner is a file box that holds the key!  If only I could say " Beam me up, Scotty!" and magically land in that corner!

Tombstone Tuesday - Wherefore art thou?

I know she died,  that is obvious.  She is not on any of the online cemetery sites.  Ancestry.com shows she died in 1830.  I found her male descendants tombstones photographed on www.nnygenealogy.com .  They are buried in Giddingsville Cemetery, Jefferson County, NY.  Why isn't she?

This started me thinking..perhaps she was living with a daughter and not a son.  If this is the case, I may be looking in the wrong state or county.  According to the history book I found, she and her spouse moved to Rupert. VT.

This is what I know from Ancestry.com:

Persis 1754 - 1830

Simon 1/24/1752 - aft 1803 

Children:
          Solomon Graves 1781 - 1858
          Simon Graves 1782
          Joseph Graves 1784 - 1866
          Sarah Graves 1786
          Benoni Graves 1788
          Ira Graves 1790 - 1870

From other resources there was also a son named Jesse.  There being only one known daughter, finding her married name is my next step.

From the DAR application the following children are listed, with spouses if known.

Hannah - Elisha Mack, Salmon, Simon Jr, Joseph, Benoni, Ira, Jesse, Sarah, Susan - Townsley, Submitte - John Converse, Electa, David, Persis - Nathan Underhill.

Source for this information is stated as "Graves Family" book  in the library at Fair Haven, Rutland Co., Vermont.   The last child, Persis, was recorded as born 4/01/1804.  Her mother, Persis, would have been 50 years old.  It is unknown when Simon Sr. died nor where.

Starting with the youngest child, Persis Underhill, wife of Nathan.  I found one Nathan Underhill in the 1830 census in Dutchess County, NY.  There is a burial on Find A Grave for a Nathaniel Underhill, but his wife is listed as Hannah Vail.

Checking for Submitte, there is only one John Covers in the 1830 census.  He is living in Charlestown, Middlesex County, Massachusetts.  Nothing was found for Submitte or John Converse on Find A Grave for this county in Massachusetts.

This is one of those moments that I wished I liven in New England!  Fair Haven Library: (802)265-8011

I scheduled this to post on 1/08/13 and it didn't post until 1/10/13.  Go figure!

Talented Tuesday - A Family of Quilters

Quilting is a skill passed down in my mother's family.  My grandmother, Mary Steinmetz Hoag, was a quilter out of necessity.  She had 7 children to keep warm.  My mother quilts out of enjoyment.  She made quilts for most of her grandchildren upon their graduation from high school or marriage.  She started this tradition after my children had passed both milestones.  I guess this just goes with being the eldest daughter.  She also makes lap quilts and donates them to a cancer treatment center for children.  She was able to convince her NSDAR chapter to join her in this cause.  Her group makes and donates many quilts each year.  I have helped with many quilts in the passed ten years.  Our community raffled a quilt at their come on home celebration and I joined in making blocks for these quilts.  When my daughter announced her engagement, my mother suggested I make a quilt for their wedding.  I asked my daughter which pattern and colors she preferred.  She requested a Double Wedding Ring in red, gold and black.  So, I set out to the local discount retailer to find the fabrics I needed.  Well, gold wasn't in their selection but I found some yellow fabric in different hues that would work.  The black I found had chickens on it, subtle but chickens, indeed.   She wasn't thrilled with the fabric choices, she was thinking satins.  If you quilt, satin fabric is not what you typically would choose.  It took me many years ( six I believe) to piece the quilt top and one year to hand quilt it.  It turned out to be Queen Size.  She liked it when I finally finished it.  My mother has several quilts that her mother made and this are hanging on the wall in one of her guest rooms.  I enjoy looking at quilts and going to quilt shows.
To say the least, quilters are among the most talented people on earth in my opinion.  I have a very active Pinterest page full of quilts and a folder on my computer just for quilt ideas.  I am a free thinker and do not like to follow directions.  I think of quilts as works of art, left up to the artist to create and the public to enjoy.  I am amazed at what I see other quilters create!  I have to remind myself, I am only limited by my imagination.  I am in awe of the talented ladies who are dedicated to this art!

I set out this fall to clean up the fabric remnants hiding in a dresser drawer.  So, I retrieved them from their hiding place, laid them out on the guest bed and started putting them in groups of coordinating colors.  I told myself, I would have all of that fabric used by New Year's Day.  Ha!

As Christmas approached and with it the grandchildren coming to visit, I had to put away all the fabric that was covering the guest bed.  I thought ahead on this one (I am so proud of myself) I bagged it in coordinating fabrics so I can pull one bag and I am ready to create!

I made one lap quilt this last fall.  I intended to make more but I turned instead to making doll clothes for my granddaughter's new doll.  That was a lot of fun, too.  I plan to make lap quilts this year for the veterans' project in my NSDAR chapter.  My goal is to make one each month...wish me luck because genealogy takes me away from the sewing machine.   What's a quilting genealogist to do!

Mattie Logan - Woman Pioneer?

Twenty years or so ago, I bought a manuscript, "Our Logan Family, 1803-1966".  It was compiled by Ora Ellen Doyle of Greensburg, Kansas (yes, it was devastated by the tornado in 2007).  This manuscript is my starting point when I start looking at a particular line in my Logan and Hedrick families.

The patriarch of the Logan family is Tarlton L. Logan born 7 January 1803 in Tennessee.  This line of Logans removed to Greene County, Missouri where Nancy Logan met and married Thomas Hedrick.  Tarlton had 11 children, born in Tennessee, Mississippi and Missouri. Many of his children moved West into Kansas and later Oklahoma.

One child, Wesley Robert Logan and wife, Elizabeth Milberry Hazelton, settled in Pratt County, Kansas.  They farmed in the Byers area and are buried in the Byers Cemetery.   Wesley and Elizabeth Logan had six children; Alf, Leona, Talton, Townlie, Pearl and Rosa.  Talton married Mattie Semelia Bennett in Mitchell County, Kansas in 1903.  I knew from Ora's book that Talton abandoned his family in 1913.  I decided to search for him again since it has been many years since my last search.

I started with the census so I could track the movement of this family.  I found a big surprise, but first here is the trail:

1. 1905 Kansas State Census -  Pratt County, Kansas - farmer
2. 1910 Federal Census -  Ingalls, Gray County, Kansas - farmer
3. 1912 Oklahoma City Directory lists Talton L Logan salesman for Vulco-Fiberine Co. rooming at the Colonial Hotel.

This is where the trail for Talton ends.  I Googled for the company he worked for and found digital images of The Sentinal Nespaper in Florida  from 1913, according to the newspaper, this company sold wallpaper.  That is all I could find online.

I knew Mattie lived in Colorado.  FamilySearch added a new database of divorce records so I went to FamilySearch and browsed through all the Logan index cards.  I found the index card showing Mattie as the plantiff and Talton as the defendant.  The divorce was granted 03/08/1920 in Elbert County court. This index listed their marriage date as May 28, 1903 in Mitchell County, Kansas. The minor children listed on the index card are: Florice May age 14, Lottie Elizabeth age 12, Elsie Leona age 7 and William Lee age 10. 

I put in a request to see if the divorce decree may be accessed.  I would like to know if it states the last known address for Talton.

I searched for Mattie in the 1920 census.  I found her living on a farm in River Bend, Elbert County, Colorado.  The farm is Owned/Free. She lists herself as widowed.  The census was taken in January and she was still married to Talton. I thought perhaps Talton had bought land in Colorado so  I decided to look for a land patent.  I went to glorecords.blm.gov and found Mattie was granted a patent on 320 acres in 1919 not Talton.  

  According to the manuscript, Mattie remarried in 1929 to Marcellus Hazelton.  I found them in the 1930 census, he is listed at Erneast M. Hazelton.  Both Mattie and Marcellus are buried in Pershing Cemetery, Limon, Lincoln County, Colorado. Mattie and Talton's daughter Rosa Muriel Logan is buried here also.  Her tombstone looks like it is 1918 but the manuscript states 1913.  

I wonder if Talton moved them to Colorado and then disappeared.  If the date on this stone is actually 1913, that sounds like a reasonable argument.  Why did he move them to Colorado and why did he leave? I haven't found any trace of Talton from the time forward nor have I found a burial listing anywhere.  This is a mystery I would love to solve!  I hope to hear from direct descendants of Talton and Mattie Logan who can clear up this mystery.

 Florice Mae Logan married Vernon Edwin Mathews in Denver, CO on Aug. 1, 1922 in front of the J.P.  Both were residents of Elbert County, CO.  He was almost 22 and she was almost 18.  His father was Richard Matthews born in England, came to the US in 1869, naturalized in 1893, a farmer/stockman near Agate, CO.  Vernon died in 1927 and is buried in Pershing Memorial Cemetery.  Florice married (2) James Butler.  Florice died in 1997 ans is buried in Pershing Memorial Cemetery.

Lottie, William and Elsie Leona married and moved to Twin Falls, Idaho by 1940.

Charley Hedrick OR Charles H Hedrick - Finding Proof

The first time I saw the name Charley Hedrick was in the 1880 census for Greene County, Missouri when I was following my great great grandfather from his birth in 1853 in Greene County, Missouri to his death in Major County, Oklahoma in 1913.

Charley was listed as brother along with a girl Satola listed as sister.  Now, did this mean brother and sister to the head of household (my great great grandfather) or each other?  I did some research on Ancestry.com for Charley Hedrick born in Missouri about 1865.  I found  Charley H Hedrick whose age varies through the census and decided to see where the trail would lead me.

 1880 Census Pond Creek Twp, Greene County, Missouri 24 June 1880.
Charley is 15 born in Missouri, both parents are born in Tennessee (same as the head of household).

I found a marriage record for Charles H Hedrick of Henry County, Missouri over the age of 21 married Kate Smock of Lafayette County, Missouri over the age of 18 on the 28th of November 1895.

In 1900, I cannot find Charley or Charles H Hedrick.

In 1910, I find Charley and Kate M Hedrick in Henrietta, Richmond Twp, Ray County, Missouri.  They have two children Carmel E and James T.  I got a little excited since my 3rd great grandfather is James Thomas Hedrick, the mystery man of this line.

In 1920,  Charley H Hedrick, age 56 and wife Mary K age 49 are still living in Henrietta.  Their children are still in the household; Elizabeth C age 22 and James T age 17.  Elizabeth is the Deputy Postmaster and James is the Assistant Deputy Postmaster.

In 1930, Charles H Hedrick, age 68 and Mary Katherine age 60 are still living in Henrietta along with their son James T age 27.  James is now a laborer on his father's farm.

Mary Katherine Smock Hedrick died 11 May 1938.  Her son, James T. Hedrick is the informant and gives this information:

Born March 19, 1871 in Saline County, Missouri.   Father is James F. Smock born in Mercer County, KY.  Mother is Betty Campbell born in Jassamine County, KY.  Burial is Lexington, Missouri.

In 1940, C. H. Hedrick, age 78 and widowed is still in Henrietta and Jas T age 37 is living with him.  Both are listed as farmers.

Charles Henry Hedrick died 17 May 1945.  His son, James T. Hedrick was the informant and gave the following information:

Born 10 Sept 1861 in Ray County, Missouri.  And that Charles had lived his entire life in Henrietta.  States his father was Tipton Hedrick born in Tennessee and his mother was Emaline Mullinex birthplace unknown.  Burial is in Lexington, Missouri.

I found memorials for both Charles and Mary Katherine Hedrick on FindAGrave.com in the Machpelah Cememtery, Lexington, Lafayette County, Missouri.

James Tipton Hedrick  died in 1986 and is buried in the Richmond Cemetery in Ray County, Missouri.

This is when my bubble was burst!  Darn, Tipton not Thomas?  I have tried to find a Tipton Hedrick in the census and I cannot.  So, I did find a Charley H Hedrick son of Jacob and Pauline Hedrick in the 1870 Census in Harrisonville, Cass County, Missouri.  Here is that information:

Jacob age 45 born in Tennessee, Pauline age 33 born in Tennessee, Martha age 12 born in Missouri, Jacob A age 10 born in Missouri, Charles H age 8 born in Missouri, Sarah E age 5 born in Missouri, John age 4 born in Missouri and James age 5/12 born in Missouri.

Cass County borders Henry County (the place of marriage for Charles and Mary) on the North.

I revisited the 1880 Census at Ancestry searching for Jacob Hedrick.  I found the family, including Charles H Hedrick age 17.  Two years older than the Charley Hedrick I am seeking.

Here is the information from the 1880 Census for Charles H Hedrick:

Jacob T Hedrick age 52 , Teamster, born in Tennessee as were his parents;  Emmeline, age 40 born in Indiana; Nannie age 20, daughter, born in Missouri; J Asberry age 18, son, Teamster, born in Missouri; Charles H age 17, son, Peddling, born in Missouri; Jennie age 15, daughter, born in Missouri; Mary Josephine age 13, daughter, born in Missouri; John R age 11, son, born in Missouri; Eliza age 7, daughter, born in Missouri; and Harry J age 5, son, born in Missouri.

They are residing in Decatur, Macon County, Illinois and the census is date 10 June. Jacob Tipton Hedrick, well that solves the Tipton mystery!  Could Emmeline and Pauline be the same person.  The age is off a few years and the place of birth is different.   In the 1900 census, a Jacob and Emeline Hedrick are in Cowley County, Kansas.  The ages are off and so are the places of birth.  A daughter age 20 (Fannie G) is living with them.

While this didn't prove the Charley Hedrick I was looking for, the documents I did find straightened out some details for Charles Henry Hedrick that were incorrect on his death certificate.

The search continues for Charley and Satola Hedrick, brother and sister.

 

Madness Monday - Fathering Children For 38 Years?

According to the will of Richard Gregory from 1765 in part:

In the name of God I Richard Gregory of Hereford Township in the county of Berks, yeoman, being weak in body but of sound memory, praised be God, and putting to mind human mortality I make and publish my last will and testament in manner following: Viz:........My sons, John, David, &  Richard have already got each of them their full shares from me.  And to my son Andrew I give and devise one half of all my lands I possess for himself his heirs and assigns forever......And to my younger sons Jacob, George and Christian I give and devise one half of all my lands I possess in equal share unto each of them....if any of them should die intestate without issue the surviving two shall equally inherit the portion of the deceased..it is further my will that the said my younger sons be out out to a good trade each of them in due time.

This part is significant in that the older sons are of legal age but the younger ones are not.  Christian was born in 1762.  There are records of guardianship in the Orphans Court records with the last one in 1779 about the time Christian would be approaching 18 years of age.

The will goes on to name daughters; Mary wife of John Jones, Elizabeth wife of George Mack, Judith late the wife of John Roads, Anna the wife of Joseph Betty, Margaretha the wife of Jacob Foige, and Elizabeth Kurtz.  "And to my younger daughters, Sarah and Hannah."

15 children in all, five of them minors.  The first child is recorded as born in 1724.  The only wife on record was name Margaretha Bixby.

An interesting fact, Christian Gregory signed his name in German Script.  It is thought this line came from Holland.

The madness:  I believe that Richard must have had two wives.  I have tried to find BMD records in either Philadelphia or Berks counties for this time period.  My guess is they have not been digitized nor transcribed to any extent.  Place of burial is not known by me either.  Did Margaretha remarry after his death?   I found a website by another researcher, Charles Gates, http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/g/a/t/Charles-E-Gates-TX/WEBSITE-0001/UHP-0302.html. Charles has posted everything I have that was in a manuscript put together by Loran Gregory's sister after his (Loran's) death several years ago.  The  references are included on this website. This site also contains a broken link, www.berksregofwills.com and references FTM CD  209.  The only date on his site is updated June 15, 2006 on the home page.

I plan to track down his sources as well as what is written in the manuscript and prove or disprove the information I have found on Richard Gregory.  My husband's line is through the youngest son, Christian who is buried in Union County, Illinois in 1842.  I may have far less hair by the time I get this line straightened out!

If you have suggestions, please post a comment below.  All assistance is appreciated!