Book Of The Week: Historical Collections of Ohio

Historical Collections of Ohio

An Encyclopedia of the State, 

Volume 3

Henry Howe

H. Howe & son, 1891 - Ohio

©2018 Anne Faulkner - AncestorArchaeology.net, All Rights Reserved

Book Of The Week: History of Erie County Ohio

History of Erie County Ohio

With Illustrations and Biographical Sketches of Some of Its

 Prominent Men and Pioneers

Lewis Cass Aldrich

D. Mason & Company, publishers, 1889 - Erie County (Ohio) - 653 pages

©2018 Anne Faulkner - AncestorArchaeology.net, All Rights Reserved

Book Of The Week: Biographical and historical memoirs of the early pioneer settlers of Ohio

Biographical and historical memoirs of the

 early pioneer settlers of Ohio:

with narratives of incidents and occurrences in 1775

Samuel Prescott Hildreth, Ephraim Cutler H. W. Derby

 1852 - Athens County (Ohio) - 539 pages

©2018 Anne Faulkner - AncestorArchaeology.net, All Rights Reserved

Tools For The Dig: State Focused Research | Ohio

State Focused Research | Ohio

Some of my favorite research sites are slightly off-radar by today's definition.

First I'd like to talk about Genealogy Trails. From their homepage: "Our goal is to help you track your ancestors through time by transcribing genealogical and historical data and placing it online for the free use of all researchers. We are all about adding data for you to use in researching your family lines!!! We know that what you're looking for is data -- and we have LOTS of it right here.
Our hosts work continuously to bring you fresh, interesting and NEW data (well.... as new as hundred year old data can be!!!)" Pretty much everything you need to know to begin your Ohio research is contained within the pages of  Ohio Genealogy Trails. This is a thorough, well thought out site - and they are always looking for volunteers!

Companion Yahoo! Group: Genealogy Trails/MidwesternStates

Next up, RAOGK. Another volunteer site. A treasure trove of links, well organized and easy to understand. From this site you can request look-ups from a team of Ohio volunteers. Or add you name to the volunteer list if Ohio is your home-base.

OHGenWeb is an oldie but a goody! Volunteer based also, this database was founded in 1996! From their home page: "OHGenWeb isn’t an ordinary genealogy website. Ordinary websites are those where text and sometimes pretty pictures are present, but trying to get in touch with a real person to help you with your research… impossible. The strength of OHGenWeb is its many volunteers, some of whom have spent over a decade assisting others with their Ohio research. Using our county page visit the Ohio county your ancestors lived in and first try and find any information the county may freely provide on their pages (most have some sort of search built in). If the particular fact isn’t available online, then reach out to the county coordinator (cc) and they will try and assist you as best they can. Most county coordinators have their email address available on their website, though some will use contact forms."

Linkpendium is another all around resource hub. So What is Linkpendium, Anyway? "Linkpendium is a 10,000,000+ resource directory to everything on the Web about families worldwide and genealogically-relevant information about U.S. states and counties. We cover both free and subscription sites, with a strong emphasis upon free resources provided by libraries, other government agencies, genealogical and historical societies, and individuals. We are particularly proud of our unique indexes to online biographies."

Cyndi's List Ohio page.

FamilySearch:
Ohio State Wiki
Ohio State Catalog
Ohio Online Genealogy Records

State societies and archives include:
Ohio Genealogical Society
Ohio History Center
Digital State Archives/Ohio

Cleveland, Ohio is home to the Western Reserve Historical Society Research Library

A comprehensive list of newspapers can be found at The Ancestor Hunt's Ohio page.

For social context look at LOC Ohio Collection and the DPLA Ohio Hub.


As I discover more resources I'll update this post. Do you have any Ohio favorites that I've missed? Please share!


©2018 Anne Faulkner - Ancestor Archaeology.net, All Rights Reserved

UPDATE: Anna Merriman Busby: Who's Your Daddy? (52 Ancestors #8.1)

UPDATE: This was originally posted Thursday, February 26, 2015. Anna Merriman Busby: Who's Your Daddy? (52 Ancestors #8)  Good news!! I found her daddy! And I can answer a few more questions!

It began with a comment, left on the original post. I had not looked at this family in quite some time and got to thinking - maybe it was time to re-look. It's always a good idea to re-look, especially when something is a bit of a brick wall, you just never know what might turn up.

I decided to reexamine Micajah Merriman, the man most attributed to being Anna's father. In the past the scant information just did not line up. I noticed a War of 1812 Pension Application Files Index on Ancestry that I had not seen before. Light Bulb Moment! I knew that Fold3 had Pension Applications, and more importantly Widow's Applications digitized.  Something that wasn't available in 2015 when I first wrote the post. Two seconds later I had that bit of historical magnificence pulled up on my computer in the Cave. All 45 glorious page of it! If you subscribe to Fold3 (and you should!) take a gander at it for yourself here.

What I learned, Anna was born July 22nd 1807 to Micajah Merriman and Sophia Snyder. She was their first born child. Micajah and Sophia were married May 22nd 1806 in Maryland. The family removed to Ohio in the winter of 1815. Anna would have been 7 years old, so she came as a child.

I learned that Micajah's father was Nicholas who was a soldier in the Revolutionary War and his mother was Deborah.

And I found his signature!

The old Family Tree just sprouted a new shoot!

Always an exciting moment when a hunch get substantiated!

Onward.

©2017 Anne Faulkner - AncestorArchaeology.net, All Rights Reserved

Book Of The Week: History of Greene County, Ohio

History of Greene County:

Together with Historic Notes on the Northwest, and the State of Ohio 

R. S. Dills

Odell & Mayer, 1881 - Greene County (Ohio) - 1018 pages

©2017 Anne Faulkner - AncestorArchaeology.net, All Rights Reserved

Book Of The Week: A History of Adams County, Ohio

A History of Adams County, Ohio: From Its Earliest Settlement to the Present Time, Including Character Sketches of the Prominent Persons Identified with the First Century of the Country's Growth ...

Nelson Wiley Evans, Emmons B. Stivers

E B. Stivers, 1900 - Adams County (Ohio) - 950 pages

©2017 Anne Faulkner - AncestorArchaeology.net, All Rights Reserved

Book Of The Week: History of Morrow County, Ohio

History of Morrow County, Ohio: A Narrative Account of Its Historical Progress, Its People, and Its Principal Interests, Volume 1

Abraham J. Baughman, Robert Franklin Bartlett

Lewis publishing Company, 1911 - Morrow County (Ohio)

©2017 Anne Faulkner - AncestorArchaeology.net, All Rights Reserved

Photo Friday :: Lois and Earl

This series was birthed from the large old photo album I rediscovered in the back of my closet. Many of the photos are from my grandmother's side of the family. There are also unknown photos that came with the album. Story goes my dad, an avid garage saler, picked up a celluloid covered Victorian era photo album on one of his scavenges. It already contained photos of an (as yet) unidentified family. My parents put our own vintage family photos in the album alongside the mystery family's.  As children we marveled at the old fashioned clothing and settings, often wondering who these people were and what their lives were like. Of course, we thought that ALL the people in the photos were our relations! It wasn't until my mom passed the album on to me after my dad died that I learned of the mystery family residing alongside our own!

I plan to share these photos over time, sometimes they will be my family, and identifiable, others will be of the mystery family. Thanks to the world wide web, they may find their way home yet!

Enjoy!

This photo was actually a postcard and was clipped to (maybe) fit in a frame at one point? The writing on the back was cut in half too. Took me a bit, but I figured it out.

Lois and Earl
and Earl Jr
1911

The woman is Jessie Lois Twining and the man is Jacob Earl Hydeman, her husband. In the carriage is Earl Twining Hydeman born July 7th 1911.

Jessie Lois is my 2nd great aunt. Earl Jr is my 1st cousin 2x removed. Earl is just Earl.

©2017 Anne Faulkner - AncestorArchaeology.net, All Rights Reserved

Notes From My Grandmother | Twining Lineage and Genealogy, Part Seven

Somehow, much of my grandmother's hand written and (badly) typed notes and research wound up in my possession. Traveling from Chicago to Los Angeles and back to Chicago again. It sat, in the dark of my mother's closet, until my dad passed and my mom decided to begin her great purge. Knowing I had picked up the torch, the next generation to pursue the Greatest Hobby on Earth, the papers came to live with me. Unsure for many years on just what to do with them, I have decided to bring them out and share them with you - transcribed, of course - no one can read my grandmother's handwriting! But in her own words; mistakes, rambling sentences, and all. I think she will be pleased her work and her writing are once again out in the light!

the Twining papers

The Twinings held a special fascination for my Grandmother. Her middle name was Twining. Her mother was a Twining. She drank Twining's tea, as did the rest of our family. I'm unclear as to the link between our family and the Twining's Tea Company, however. Our Twining ancestor came to the 'New World' c.1640 and has been recorded in the small book Genealogy of the Twining family : descendants of William Twining, Sr, who came from Wales or England.

Of all the research I inherited, the Twining collection is by far the most expansive. My grandmother wrote 'stories' and typed up other little sketches on them. I will present them to you here, as written by her.

Twining Story, cont.

Lewis Twining, son of Elijah, was born in Barnstable, Massachusetts April 11, 1777. He married Jeanette Smith, daughter of Deacon Smith, in Tolland, Massachusetts on April 25, 1800. Their first five children were born in Tolland.

Early in his marriage Lewis sold the property his father gave him in the north part of Tolland for $6000, and in 1815 moved to Granville, Ohio where their youngest child was born. Lewis invested in land and water privileges, which at his death was all lost through an avaricious creditor. The dam was afterward swept away and the land covered with gravel and dirt, so it was never after cultivated.

He was a large supporter of the Presbyterian church.


GENEALOGY

Lewis Twining Sr b. 4/11/1777
                           d. 7/18/1821
                           m. 4/25/1800 to Jeanette Smith
                                                   daughter of Deacon Smith
                                                        b. 1/4/1780
                                                        d. 11/6/1827


children:

Almira b. 11/12/1803 d. 12/20/1883 m. 3/31/1826  to Rev. Samuel Rose
Lewis Jr b. 8/14/1805 d. 7/4/1821
Merrick S b. 7/13/1807 d. UNK m. to Corintha Clark
Lauriston b. 11/9/1809 d. 2/20/1841 m. 3/20/1831 to Mary Robinson
Edward Wolcott b. 10/5/1814 d. 5/21/1897 m. (1) 2/3/1840 to Adelia Weed (2) 9/28/1849 to Priscilla B Ashby
Darius N b. 2/11/1818 d. 5/1/1820

.................to be continued......................

***editor's note: this is a transcript of research completed in 1982 based on information available at that time. I have not yet researched this family further, but suspect there is more information/clarification available to us today. I will follow up at a future date with fresh data. *** 

©2017 Anne Faulkner - AncestorArchaeology.net, All Rights Reserved

©1980-82 Elizabeth Twining Potwin Thomas - private collection

Field Notes: Midwest Genealogy Conferences 2017

I am sad that I will not be able to attend RootsTech this year. I have never actually been able to attend. Utah is a far distance from Chicago and things just keep getting in the way. Life. Work. Parents and children. Lack of funds. The list goes on. I console myself with the presentations that are available online during the conference, and make plans to attend smaller local and regional conferences. Ones that don't take me too far away for too many days. Such is my life for the foreseeable future.

Here is a list of the upcoming conferences within a reasonable distance of Chicago. I doubt I'll make either the Iowa or Indiana conferences, they are in opposite directions on the same day. I plan on attending the DuPage IL conference, and I'd really like to make the Ohio conference. Time will tell.


  
RootsTech February 8 - 11, 2017 - No, I will not be there 'live and in person' but they will be streaming selected presentations. That information has not yet been released, but should be soon. From their website FAQs: "Similar to past years, we will stream several sessions of the conference live on our website. Once the conference is over, recordings of these sessions will be posted on our website for a limited time."



FTU 2017 Winter VIRTUAL Genealogy Conference March 3 - 5, 2017 - "Get all the benefits of a genealogy conference from the comfort of your own home! Over the course of three days, you'll get access to the latest research methods for finding your family history, from DNA testing and the latest technology to new resources and search tools. You'll get 15 presentations that you can download and keep, along with several live chats, access to professional genealogists through the discussion boards, along with tons of freebies and prize drawings." Yes please!

Learn more here:  2017 Winter Virtual Conference at Family Tree University



DuPage County Genealogical Society - 42nd Annual Conference, March 11, 2017
"The program sessions are offered in 4 tracks, each with 4 sessions, choose from 16 topics!  There are topics for everyone... those just getting started, or focus on European research, with DNA, organizing and methodology. And of course, great speakers -  Maybe you've heard of them, follow them on-line, and have used their tools.  Now meet them in person, learn tips and techniques, and ask questions!"

Michael D. Lacopo  Author, lecturer and "Hoosier Daddy?" blogger
Carole Magnuson  Author and lecturer
Kathy Meade  ArkivDigital representative, author, and volunteer specialing in Swedish research
Donna M. Moughty  Consultant, instructor and lecturer specializing in Irish research
Diahan Southard  Consultant, lecturer and "Your DNA Guide"

Learn more here. Register before February 18th and save $5.00!



Iowa Genealogical Society - IGS Spring Technology Conference, April 8, 2017.
IGS will host its eighth annual Spring Technology Conference on Saturday, April 8th.
"Back To Your Roots with J H Fonkert CGSM. For most of his career, Jay worked as a state government policy analyst — a kind of work that required research, analysis and problem-solving. After he heard a couple of accomplished genealogists talk about evidence analysis and methodology, he was hooked. He has since attended professional genealogy education institutes in Washington, D.C., Birmingham, Alabama, and Salt Lake City, and has learned from some of the best."

Learn more here.



Indiana Genealogical Society - IGS Annual Meeting & Conference, April 8, 2017
"Registration is open for the Indiana Genealogical Society's 2017 annual conference, which will be held on Saturday, April 8, 2017 at the Central Branch of the Indianapolis Public Library (40 E. St. Clair St.) in downtown Indianapolis. The featured speaker will be noted speaker and genealogist Tony Burroughs."

Learn more here.



Ohio Genealogical Society - 2017 OGS Conference: Genealogy Gone Wild, April 26-29, 2017

"The conference will be held at Kalahari Resort & Convention Center in Sandusky,Ohio. We have an excellent program for the 2017 OGS conference with a wide variety of topics and speakers for family historians of all abilities. We hope you will enjoy the lectures planned! The conference also offers a variety of workshops to enhance your conference experience. The full program brochure can be downloaded from the program page when it becomes available. Congratulations you are now ready to join the adventure of Genealogy Gone Wild!"

Learn more here.

Do you have any favorite local or regional conferences you attend? Let me know! Share your experiences in the comments. ~Anne


©2017 Anne Faulkner - AncestorArchaeology.net, All Rights Reserved

Field Notes: Write It Out - New Writing Contests For 2017

Ohio Genealogical Society Writing Competition
1 January - 1 March 2017

OGS is sponsoring its genealogical writing contest to reward amateur and professional genealogical authorship and to fill the pages of its renowned journals with quality articles. All entries fitting the criteria will be considered for publication in Ohio Genealogy News (OGN) or the Ohio Genealogical Society Quarterly (OGSQ). Editors will select the appropriate journal for each winning article. Both OGS members and non-members are able to compete. Only unpublished entries are eligible.

Prizes will be awarded as follows:

$50 Grand Prize for highest scoring article (in either category) - one prize given
$25 Prize for next highest scoring article in each category - two prizes given
$15 Prize for next highest scoring article in each category - two prizes given

Articles must be properly cited following the guidelines in standard works by Elizabeth Shown Mills, MLA, or APA.

Entries will be accepted from 1 January 2017 through 1 March 2017 and must be submitted according to The Ohio Genealogical Society Writing Contest Rules and Style Guide available on the OGS website or by e-mail request to writingcontest@ogs.org

For questions please contact writingcontest@ogs.org

See full description HERE


2017 WMGS Writing Contest (Western Michigan Genealogical Society)

~ A Sense of Place ~

All family historians and genealogists, except the Michigana Editor and judges, are invited to submit their favorite story for the contest. There is no entry fee and membership in WMGS is not required.

Location, Location, Location
Our ancestors moved, settled and moved again. Place often determines occupation, educational opportunities, and even the materials used in building a home. For the 2017 WMGS Writing Contest, entries should focus on the Great Lakes Region (Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, New York, Ohio, Ontario, and Pennsylvania). WMGS has worked for over 60 years to educate researchers in evaluating and citing sources. Your story may inspire someone else to use new research techniques or discover a unique resource. The 2017 Writing Contest will recognize unpublished excellent genealogical writing by awarding substantial prizes.

Prize winning entries will be published in Michigana. Like all submissions to Michigana, entries will be thoroughly edited before publication.

The prizes:
1st prize: $100 and 1 annual WMGS membership (total value - $120)
2nd prize: $75 and 1 annual WMGS membership (total value - $95)
3rd prize: $50
4th prize: $25

Winners will be announced in May.

We would love to hear your story. Write it up and enter the 2017 writing contest! Start your project now!  Entries will be accepted between January 1 & March 30, 2017. Full rules and entry information can be found on the downloadable and printable form HERE.


The Dallas Genealogical Society
2017 Writing Competition
January 1 - March 31, 2017

Seeking original material submitted by members and non-members, hobbyists and professionals. Length of articles may be from 1500 to 5000 words. Only original material not previously published elsewhere in any format is eligible. Winners are eligible for publication in Pegasus: Journal of the Dallas Genealogical Society.

Subject Matter: While DGS has a goal of preserving Dallas history, topics may range beyond the Dallas city and county geographic area only as specified below:

● advanced methodologies and case studies emphasizing an approach to a problem are not limited by geography

● family histories and genealogies must be linked to North Texas (as defined below), including those families who came from or left to settle elsewhere than North Texas

● historically interesting events in North Texas must include a connection with a local family

● histories of ethnic or military groups, or of neighborhoods and houses, must be specific to North Texas 

(North Texas: defined as the area that includes northern counties along the Red River from Fannin to Hardeman counties, eastern counties from Fannin to Limestone counties, southern counties from Limestone to Runnels counties, western counties from Runnels to Hardeman counties, with all interior counties within these boundaries; also counties which were included in the pre-Republic political boundaries of Nacogdoches.)

The historical time period covers from Pre-Republic days to the 1940 census.

Awards:
First Prize: $500
Second Prize: $300
Third Prize: $150

Winners will be announced in May 2017 .

Complete contest rules can be found HERE. Entry form can be found HERE.

Do you know of other writing contests? Have you ever entered a writing contest? Please share your thoughts and/or experience!

©2107 Anne Faulkner - AncestorArchaeology.net, All Rights Reserved

Notes From My Grandmother | Thomas Lineage and Genealogy, Part 2

Somehow, much of my grandmother's hand written and (badly) typed notes and research wound up in my possession. Traveling from Chicago to Los Angeles and back to Chicago again. It sat, in the dark of my mother's closet, until my dad passed and my mom decided to begin her great purge. Knowing I had picked up the torch, the next generation to pursue the Greatest Hobby on Earth, the papers came to live with me. Unsure for many years on just what to do with them, I have decided to bring them out and share them with you - transcribed, of course - no one can read my grandmother's handwriting! But in her own words; mistakes, rambling sentences, and all. I think she will be pleased her work and her writing are once again out in the light.

We pick up the story with Jesse Thomas Jr., tenth child and fourth son of Jesse Thomas Sr and Rebecah Hampton. Grandma did not have this information. She also did not have Jesse Jr's birth or death. Grandma knew that Jesse married Joanne B Stanley and that the couple lived in Perry Twp and Columbus Co, OH. She knew of one child, Zadoc Willis Thomas, her husband's father.

Jesse Thomas Jr was born July 28, 1828 in Morgan OH. He married Joanna Bell Stanley May 1, 1851 at Upper Springfield MH, Columbiana, OH. 

Jesse and Joanna farmed the land in Ohio until about 1870 when they removed to Oskaloosa, Iowa and for a time ran a hotel. This was the same time and the same place that Penn College was founded. The couple had four children, two sons and two daughters, all born in Ohio. By 1890 Jesse and Joanna had moved to Fort Dodge, IA, where they remained until death. Both Jesse and Joanna are buried in the Oakland Cemetery in Webster Co, IA.

GENEALOGY

Jesse Thomas Jr b. 7/28/1828
                              d. 9/19/1907
                              m. 5/1/1851 to Joanna Bell Stanley
                                                   daughter of Benjamin Stanley and Elizabeth Cobbs
                                                   b. 7/27/1827
                                                   d. 6/3/1904


children:

Benjamin Franklin  b. 5/26/1852 d. 1924
ZADOC WILLIS b. 5/18/1856 d. 6/16/1914 m. 10/1/1885 to Laura Alice Busby
                                                                                         b. 9/26/1861 d. 1952
Elma Luella b. 11/8/1860 d. 1/20/1913
Mary Eldora b. 12/12/1863

to be continued .......

©2016 Anne Faulkner - AncestorArchaeology.net, All Rights Reserved

©1980 Elizabeth Twining Potwin Thomas - private collection

The Mysterious Jennie Whitford Faulkner (52 Ancestors #1)

Jennie M Whitford is my 2nd great grandmother on my paternal side. She, like many female ancestors, is hard to research. I have made a few discovers, but she remains largely a mystery.

Jennie was born about 1835 in either Ohio or Michigan depending on which U.S. Census  you are looking at. She first appears in the 1860 census recorded as being born in Ohio. The 1870 census lists Michigan for her birthplace and the 1880 census again lists Ohio as her birthplace.

She married Harrison Faulkner, my 2nd great grandfather, on May 1, 1856 in Grass Lake Michigan. From the Jackson Citizen Patriot dated May 15, 1856: "Faulkner, Harrison and Miss Jenni M Whitford, both of Grass Lake, m. in Grass Lake, May 1, 1856, by Rev. C. R. Pattison."

Mrs. Harry Faulkner of Faribault

So, I know she was living in Michigan in 1856. I have not been able to find any record of her prior to this wedding announcement. Her parents remain a mystery. How did she get to Grass Lake? I can find no other Whitford's listed in the early Michigan census' at this time.

By 1860 she and Harrison are living in Faribault MN with their first child, Arthur, who was born in MN in 1859. (Second son Lloyd, b. 1862 and third son Louis, b. 1864, in Faribault as well. I can find no record of any other children born to this couple.) Interestingly, in this census there are listed two additional household members. Sarah Woodford age 16 and James Nichols age 10. Both born in MI. The children's relationship is not noted. I have always wondered if Sarah might be Jennie's younger sister. And if that is true then which surname might be correct? And who is James Nichols? Neither Sarah nor James appear in the household after the 1860 census.

On May 29, 1878 Jennie is granted a divorce from Harrison. Why? I'd love to know!

By 1880 Jennie is employed as a tailoress, still living in Faribault with her three teenage sons.

In 1885 she has moved to St Paul, MN and is listed in the city directory as Jane Faulkner (wid Harrison) residing with her three sons. Harrison, apparently following his family, is found living several blocks away.

Jennie died Feb 29, 1888 in St Paul. She was only 53. Her middle son, Lloyd, had become a successful doctor by this time and she was living with him at the time of her death. There is a record of the obituary in the Dalby Database, but I have been unsuccessful at finding either the actual obituary or the death certificate. It is claimed she was buried in Faribault MN, but that has yet to be discovered. Several other family members were cremated and I suspect that Jennie was too.

Interestingly, shortly after Jennie's death Harrison returned to Faribault where he remained until his death in 1905. The three sons remained in St. Paul.

Elijah Busby: Civil War Veteran (52 Ancestors #23)

Elijah Busby was born Nov 17, 1831 in Carroll Co, Ohio to John Wisner Busby and Anna Merriman. One of 14 children born to this couple.

Elijah grew up a farmer's son, working in the fields of his father's Ohio farm in the spring, summer and autumn, while attending public school during the winter months.

In the spring of 1852 at the age of 20, Elijah struck out on his own and headed West to Iowa. Finding himself in Mahaska County he hired on as a farm hand earning ten dollars a month.

He worked the farm for several years, saving what he could and dreaming of something better. By 1857 Elijah had met Eliza Ann Bass, daughter of William L. Bass and Margaret Roberts. The couple married on April 30, 1857. That same year the couple began farming their own rented piece of land.

Their first child, a son they named William, was born in March 1859. Soon after that Elijah purchased his own land, two adjoining tracts of 80 acres each in Madison County, Iowa. In August of 1861 their second child, a daughter whom they named Laura Alice, was born. The couple happily set about building a home and a life when the rumblings of unrest began to stir in the country.

In October of 1861 Elijah felt the call of duty and enlisted with the Union Army as a private in Company F, 4th Iowa Cavalry. I can't begin to imagine what toll this decision took on the family, or the hours of discussion leading up to Elijah's commitment, knowing that in doing so he would very well not see his family for the next three years, if ever again.  He was sent to Springfield, MO and then on to Arkansas, where he was involved in the battle of Cotton Plant in July of 1862.

Elijah's regiment was then involved in the battle of Vicksburg in Mississippi in May 1863.

On June 22nd, 1863 the regiment was engaged at Bear Creek (Jones Plantation) near Vicksburg, Mississippi, where Elijah was taken prisoner and held in Libby Prison in Richmond, Virginia for the next four months. The conditions at Libby were notorious. Overcrowded conditions lead to disease, famine and death. Over one thousand prisoners were crowded into large open rooms with barred windows, leaving them exposed to the harshest of weather conditions. Mortality was high.

Libby Prison - Richmond VA

Elijah was exchanged on September 6th 1863, and returned to his regiment at Vicksburg, where he re enlisted as a veteran and was promoted to 2nd corporal.

In October 1863 Elijah was granted a furlough and he returned home to spend a month with his young family. He had not seen his wife or children in just over 2 years. What must it have been like, returning to the ordinary after witnessing such violence and terror? Was it even ordinary any more?

During his month at home Elijah sold the 160 acres in Madison County and purchased 80 acres in Adams Township, Mahaska Co, Iowa. Why? One can only speculate that 160 acres was a lot to manage for his wife, left alone with two small children for the past two years.

On the expiration of his furlough Elijah returned to the army and remained with his regiment until the close of the war.

He mustered out at Atlanta with the rank of commissary sergeant and received an honorable discharge in Davenport in July of 1865. Elijah had participated in ten skirmishes and had been promoted 6 times throughout his time of service.

******

Back in civilian life, in a newly reunited America, Elijah set about building his farm and his home. He worked the land, improved the existing buildings and built new ones. He and Eliza had four more children; Emma, born in 1867, John in 1869, Homer in 1873 and Lena in 1877. He would make his living and his home on this farm in Adams Twp. for 17 years.

Around 1880, when Elijah felt he had developed his property sufficiently, he sold his 80 acres to purchase a 200 acre farm in Monroe Twp. Iowa.

For the next 17 years Elijah, with the help of his sons, continued to build and develop the farm, creating fenced fields and pastures. Building barns, silos and other out buildings. Working the land, creating wealth to support a family of six.

Elijah remained active in the affairs of the day. He was a staunch Republican for many years, later giving his support to the Greenback party and the Roosevelt Populists. He was a frequent delegate to the conventions of his party. He served as justice of the peace, a township trustee and sat on the school board.

About 1897, when Elijah was 65 or 66 years old and looking to retire from the farming life, he purchased a small tract of 8 acres in Rose Hill, IA containing a fine house and garden. He rented out the large farm, which afforded him a comfortable retirement.

Elijah and Eliza spent many golden years together, living into their 8th decade enjoying the fruits of their labor; surrounded by their family, all of whom stayed close, and over a dozen grandchildren. In his lifetime his children prospered and grew and became successful citizens in their own right.

Sadly, in July of 1917 the couple buried their oldest son, Dr. Wm. Busby. Elijah and his wife would soon follow. The couple died within 2 days of one another, Elijah on the 14th of December 1917, Eliza followed two days later. They are buried side by side in Rose Hill Cemetery.

*****

Beginning as a young farm boy from Ohio with not a penny in his pocket; nor friend or family in Iowa; Elijah managed to build himself a fine empire and a successful life and family despite, or perhaps because of, the hardships and horrors of war early on in his adult life.

He was a strong, courageous, loyal and determined man.

Jesse Thomas Sr.: Might As Well Be John Doe (52 Ancestors #21)

Jesse Thomas Sr.

An infuriating Quaker.

Might as well be John Smith or Doe. Seems Thomas was a very common surname among the Quakers in Chester County, Pennsylvania. Very common. Hair pulling frustration common. And (of course) there are (at least) two Jesses.......

Now, I'm sure my 3rd great grandfather didn't mean to be so difficult, and buried somewhere deep in the tomes of Quaker history lie the answers. Alas, a trip to Swarthmore is not in my future any time soon.

So today, as I write this short sketch, the answers I seek remain buried.

I admit I do have ulterior motives for this post. A little fishing expedition. The more we all can get out onto the world wide web, the more chance there is for someone; anyone, anywhere; to stumble across it and perhaps supply a missing piece of the puzzle. Genealogy appears to be a solitary pursuit, you know, with the Cave and all, but it is only successful with collaboration.

Also I might add, that I have avoided this for a while.  Quaker genealogy really is a study unto itself and I must admit that it boggles my mind and makes me cranky.

So here is what I know.

• Jesse Thomas Sr. was born about 1786* in Chester Co., PA. His parents UNK to date.  FYI there are 41 heads of household in Chester County in the 1790 Federal Census with the Last name of Thomas. Forty One! Thirty two of those households report male children under 16. (Jesse would have been 4 at the time) By 1800 there are 30 heads of household, by 1810 (eureka!) there is but one Jesse listed in Chester County with 2 young adults and one child. (The 1786 Pennsylvania Census of Taxpayers lists 52 Thomas'.... but let's not go there)

• He married Rebecca (or Rebecah) Hampton in 1808* in Chester Co., PA They were members of the Fallowfield Monthly Meeting in Chester Co., PA. 

• Rebecca (Rebecah) was born May 12, 1790 in Bucks County, PA, the daughter of Jonathan Hampton and Elizabeth Phillips. This is one case where there is actually more recorded info on the woman than the man!

• The couple had at least 11 children, according Quaker records. You'd think with 11 descendants there would be numerous people looking for Jesse, wouldn't you?

• In 1820 the family requested removal from the Fallowfield Monthly Meeting in Chester Co., PA. in preparation to move to Ohio. They requested admittance to the Stillwater Monthly Meeting in Belmont Co., OH.

• In 1839 the family is listed in the Deerfield Monthly Meeting records in Morgan Co., OH.

• In 1842 Jesse is listed in the Chesterfield Monthly Meeting in Athens Co., OH, having died in February. He is recorded as being buried at Plymouth. Could that be Plymouth, Washington Co, OH?  There is a Jesse Thomas listed in the 1840 census residing in Westley Twp, Washington Co, OH - Plymouth is in Westley Twp. Plus my grandmother (the Genealogy Queen) has in her notes that the family was from Westley Twp.

*Dates are from other family trees. I usually don't use this type of information as I have not been able to source it, but I am including it this post as a stepping off point.

As I mentioned above, there are a few records for a Jesse Thomas born in 1791 to a Phillip and Hannah Thomas. He was born in Chester but the family attended the Goshen Monthly Meeting - probably not our guy.

There is a record of a Jesse Thomas "accomplishing" his marriage in 1806, but it was recorded in the Philadelphia Northern District Monthly Meeting - probably not our guy.

And that is it. That is all I know.  If only my Genealogy Cave was equipped with a time machine .......

Well, a girl can dream.


©2015 Anne Faulkner - AncestorArchaeology.net, All Rights Reserved

Priscilla B Ashby Twining: Frontier Preacher's Wife and Nonagenarian (52 Ancestors #17)

Priscilla B Ashby Twining,  "Prissy", my third great grandmother, was born July 18, 1817. It is said that her father, Jesse Ashby, owned a plantation in the Cheat River area of what is now Preston County, West Virginia. Priscilla was the third of six children.

When Priscilla was 17 her family removed to Perry County, Ohio where her father rented a farm for several years. Dissatisfied with the country, in 1839 the family again packed up all their belongings and headed West to the newly incorporated Iowa Territory.

Conestoga or Pennsylvania Wagon 

It is told that in October of 1839 the family was loaded into an old Pennsylvania wagon with a four horse team along with ten milch cows for a 40 day journey through the wilderness. Priscilla was 22 at the time, her youngest brother was merely 4. Upon arrival in what is now Washington County the family overwintered in an old log cabin. There were but a few settlers squatting on the prairies of the new Territory when the Ashby's arrived.

Memories written by Priscilla's granddaughter include tales of the family fording the Mississippi River at Keokuk, Iowa.  Priscilla and her father traveling to Baltimore, Ohio to stock up on provisions such as flour, salt, etc. And Priscilla's recollection of looking out over the prairie as they crossed the Mississippi, seeing the tall grass meadow swaying in the breeze with orange colored flowers and wild roses, exclaiming "this must be the promised land".

The following spring Priscilla's father Jesse purchased 320 acres of newly acquired Government Land and proceeded to build a "fine farm".

Life in their new home was extremely difficult. Not only did they have to build virtually everything they needed themselves, they had to figure out food sources, fuel sources, medicinal sources. They were pioneers, others had not gone before them. The Native Americans were hostile, having just lost the Black Hawk War and neighbors were few and far between. [A really good Iowa History article can be found here.] 

In the 1840's the Methodist church began sending out circuit riders to travel through the settled portion of the state. It was one of those itinerant ministers, the Rev. E. W. Twining, that rode into town and won Priscilla's heart. Rev. Twining was a new widower with 6 very young children to care for. Priscilla had lots of experience caring for her younger siblings. It was a good fit.

On August 28, 1849, at the age of 32, Priscilla married Edward Wolcott Twining and began her life as a preacher's wife, and mother of 6!! I imagine her family was quite pleased that their spinster daughter finally found a husband!

In Iowa in the 1840's and 50's there was quite a lot of danger and disease. Scarlet Fever and Malaria were common killers, as were the frequent prairie fires that swept across the plains. Rev. Twining's first wife died, presumably of a fatal illness but it could also have been from childbirth, another frequent killer.

First Log Cabin at Fort Des Moines

The new family moved to Des Moines, Iowa soon after their marriage. Rev. Twining was assigned to minister to the people living around  Fort Des Moines, situated at the fork of the Mississippi and the Des Moines Rivers.  Priscilla recalled to her granddaughter the sight of soldiers stationed around the fort to protect the inhabitants from Indian attacks. It was here that Priscilla witnessed a great War Dance participated in by about 500 Indians on the "commons" where the Polk County Courthouse now stands. Could this have been a precursor to the Dakota Uprising?

One son was born to the couple, Jesse Twining, from whom I am descended. Twenty two days after Jesse's birth Priscilla's mother lost her life. She had been ill since the family moved to Ohio, it was the hope that in moving farther West she would regain her health. It was not to be so.

For the next twenty years the family moved around Iowa, as was the life of an itinerant preacher, but returned several times to Des Moines for extended periods.

In 1876, when advanced age made it necessary for Rev. Twining to retire from active duties in the ministry, the Twining's moved to the "City", Corning, Iowa, where they made their home with their son Jesse.

The couple enjoyed twenty more years together in their "retirement" age, helping their son Jesse and daughter in law Flora rear their four children. They were active members of the community and well liked by all.

In 1897 Priscilla lost her husband, he was 82.

Corning Iowa c1900

Sometime after 1900 the household welcomed another resident. Flora Twining's father, the Rev. Father Rowley. Several newspaper articles were written at the time about the unusual coincidence of the the two old folks, they shared the same birthday. Priscilla was one year Father Rowley's senior and for several years the local paper did a birthday story on the two on the anniversary of their birth.

Priscilla left this world on September 2, 1911 at the age of 94. Her obituary called her "one of those delightful characters to know and to love, she made many friends in Corning during her long residence here".

Priscilla is buried next to her husband in the Walnut Grove Cemetery in Corning Iowa.



©2015 Anne Faulkner - AncestorArchaeology.net, All Rights Reserved

Anna Merriman Busby: Who's Your Daddy? (52 Ancestors #8)

Anna Merriman Busby is my 3rd great grandmother. Another female brick wall. A really tough one. There are quite a few people looking for her parents. There is a great deal of confusion surrounding the facts that have been discovered. This will be a short post.

Anna Merriman (or Merryman) was born 28 July 1807 according to her headstone on Find A Grave. Census records indicate she was born in Maryland.


Anna Merriman married John Wisner Busby in Harrison Co OH in April of 1826.


By 1840 the couple was residing in Carroll Co OH, where they remained until death. It is reported that they had 14 children.


Anna is buried in the Palermo Cemetery on the grounds of the former Palermo Methodist Protestant Church in Carroll Co, OH.

Over the years there has been lots of talk, theories, speculation on who Anna's father was. Some say it was Micajah "Cage" Merryman/Merriman. This has been discredited as "Cage" and his wife Sophia Snyder were actually married four years after Anna was born. "Cage" and Sophia did have a daughter named Anna and did live in Ohio in 1820, hence the confusion. There has also been another name bandied about, "Page" Merriman, but I am unclear as to the origin of this line of thought.

I must admit I have been away from this branch of the family for several years. With the Genealogy Do-Over I am jumping back in and working my maternal line once again.

So the questions remain.

Who is Anna Merriman's father?

How did she get from Maryland to Ohio, and why?

When did she arrive in Ohio? Was she an adult or a child?

She's buried in a Methodist cemetery, was she a member of the Methodist church?

To date there are a lot more questions than answers. I hope with time, and as more and more records are being discovered, we will one day know who Anna Merriman Busby's daddy was!