Famous Nebraskans in the State Census

With the release on ancestry.com of the Nebraska State Censuses, I thought I'd browse around and see what I could find.

Solomon Butcher was a 27 year old father of 2 in the 1885 Nebraska State Census. His occupation was listed as photographer. As this web site states, he captured about forty years of settlement of the Great Plains. He left a wonderful legacy for everyone who had an ancestor living in the middle of Nebraska in the 1880's to 1912, especially if they ever lived in a sod house. Just a quick look at the Library of Congress lists 19 of his more than 3,000 photos, plus over 200 articles. One photo is of the Haumont house north of Broken Bow. We used to go past it on our way to and from Broken Bow when I was a child. It was one of the landmarks I used to judge how far we had to go to either get to town or home. It has since been taken down. West Union Township, Custer County, Page 41, Enumeration District 180, Dwelling 287, family 289, Solomon, wife Lillie, children Lynn and Madelin

Mari Sandoz wasn't born until 1896, but her father and the subject of her most well-known book, Old Jules, was 24 and was living in Sheridan county with Paul Sandoz and other farmers, some from Germany, Canada, Holland and Switzerland. West 1/2, Sheridan County, Page 24 D, Enumeration District 740, dwelling 442, family 469. I did not find her mother, Mary Fehr, in the 1885 Nebraska State census.

Willa Cather was 11 years old in the 1885 Nebraska State Census. She lived in Red Cloud Precinct, Webster County, with her parents William and Virginia, younger siblings Roscoe, Douglas and Jessie, Grandmother Eliza Boak and cousin Bessie Seymore. Dwelling 58, Family 58, Page 6, Enumeration District 781, census date 4 June 1885.

Another author I think of as a Nebraska author, Bess Streeter Aldrich, was born in Iowa and moved with her husband to Elmwood, Nebraska in 1906.

Two of Grand Island's most notable citizens were Edith and Grace Abbott. In the 1885 Nebraska State census (name indexed as Abbot), they are 8 and 6 years old respectively and living with parents Othman A. and Elizabeth, brothers Othman A. Jr. and Arthur, Grandmother Emeline Griffin and servant Nellie Stewart. Our city library is named after Edith Abbott and a park in the north part of town honors Grace Abbott. 2nd Ward of Grand Island Precinct, Page 24 D, Enumeration District 352, census date 8 June 1885, 286 Division Street.

A few books I've read lately

A Scattered People: An American Family Moves West by Gerald W. McFarland

This book tells about the lives and choices made by descendants of five colonial families whose lives intertwine by marriage and shared experiences. Reading this well-researched book makes it easier to imagine what the lives of my ancestors were like as they moved west from New England. I appreciate the detailed Sources section in the back. If I were to ever write our family history, this book would be a good example to follow. This gets an honored place on my bookshelf.

Washington's Crossing by David Hackett Fischer

An excellent book. "Impeccably researched, brilliantly executed." Publishers Weekly. Fischer brings to life not only George Washington, but many of the players on both sides of these pivotal Revolutionary War battles. I appreciated his ability to explain in an even-handed way the motives and decisions of the American rebels, loyalists, English and Hessians. I also appreciated the maps that show where the players were in all the key battles. My ancestor, Luther Kallam, was in Lippet's Regiment, which crossed the Delaware that cold December night. He re-enlisted at the end of the month and continued on through the fight at Princeton. Following the army as it marched day by day and battle by battle was made even more interesting knowing that Luther was there. This also gets an honored place on my bookshelf.

Mayflower by Nathaniel Philbrick

Just finished this one today. I was surprised by the lack of details about the ship itself and it's history. After just finishing Washington's Crossing with its excellent footnotes and maps, the Notes section in the back was a disappointment. I was also disappointed by the lack of information about the many reasons the Separatists left England and then left Holland. I wanted more day to day details about their lives there and to see the thinking process clearer that led them to take this drastic step of sailing half way around the world so they could worship as they pleased. I was very disappointed there were so few details about the individuals who came, but my disappointment probably stems from the fact that I'm a genealogist and I always want to know more about the lives of the average person "way back when".

Half way through, I thought maybe the book had been misnamed. It became a story about King Philip and his war. It was very interesting because some ancestors, including Gov. William Bradford's son, Major William Bradford, participated in the Indian Wars. It was told in a style that made you want to keep reading to find out what happened next. But most of the book had little to do with the Mayflower. This book will go on the lower shelf, and probably won't find itself in the "take to the used bookstore" shelf.

Now, what do I read next? How about the 700+ pages of A History of Wales? Or maybe it's time to take a break and read some poetry!

Veteran Roll Call (through WWI)

I put this together quickly for Veteran's Day. I'm sure there are others who served and I will add them as I find them. This is from research done before 11 Nov 2009.

Russell / Jones Family Tree

War of Independence

Luther Kallam, enlisted at age 16, served with Lippet's Rhode Island Regiment, Captain Simeon Martin's Company, September 1776 through the end of January 1777; crossed the Delaware River with Washington and fought in the battles of Trenton and Princeton; re-enlisted in 7 Connecticut Regiment, Capt. Ebenezer Hill's Company (This company was designated at various times as Captain Elizur Warner's, Capt. Ebenezer Hills' Capt. Charles Miel's, Capt. Stephen Billings' and 8th Company.)

John Newcomb, conductor of express, using teams and wagons to transport supplies from Connecticut to the Continental Army.

Civil War

Daniel Russell, enlisted at age 38 to serve as a chaplain; returned home after a few months because of bad health

John Jones, enlisted as a substitute for Josiah Swank, mustered out at Petersburg, Virginia; served 23 Sep 1864 - 20 Jun 1865

Charles Swift, husband of Eunice, father of five, was a private in Company F, commanded by Captain William H. Marble in the 85th Regiment of the Illinois Infantry Volunteers. He died in the service at Louisville, Kentucky on 20 January 1863 of disease; buried at Cave Hill National Cemetery, Louisville, Jefferson, Kentucky.

World War I

Benjamin T. Russell, enlisted at age 40, 11 May 1918 at Grand Island, Nebraska; honorable discharge at Camp Dodge, Iowa 6 Aug 1919; served in France.

Saturday Night Genealogy Fun

Got too wrapped up in the Husker game last night to post. So here it is a day late:

Our assignment was to "Find out the geographical distribution of your surname". According to Public Profiler:

Russell
Australia has the most Russell's per Million: 1630.7
Top City: Glasgow, Scotland

Ferguson
Australia has the most Ferguson's per Million: 1057.92
Top City: Glasgow, Scotland

Mayfield
United States has the most Mayfield's per Million: 99.9
Top City worldwide: Nottingham, England
TOp U.S. city: Memphis, Tennessee

And my most elusive ancestor name, Westervelt
United States has the most Westervelt's per Million: 10.3
Top Regions: Kansas
2nd Region: New Jersey
Top City: Columbus, Kansas
2nd city: Aalten, Netherlands
New Jersey being 2nd is interesting because I believe that is where my ancestor Susan Ann Westervelt Newcomb was born. Apparently there are still many living there, probably all cousins. Wonder if any of the Kansas Westervelts would have any clues about my elusive Susan's ancestry!

And for those of you with an interest in this name:
Hollowell
United States has the most Hollowell's per million: 21.13
Top Region: North Carolina
Top City: Northampton, England
2nd most popular forename: John
4th most popular forename: James

Rachel Ann "Minnie" (Newcomb) Terpening Fenner

A lovely vacation day spent mostly on family history! I traipsed down another sidetrack today and it paid off. I decided to look for a date of death for Rachel Ann "Minnie" (Newcomb) Terpening Fenner. She is a sister to my great-grandmother, Elida (Newcomb) Russell, and the daughter of an Enos and Susan (Westervelt) Newcomb.

Minnie was married twice, first to Lawrence Terpening and second to Theodore Fenner. She had no children. This is a relative it would have been interesting to meet because she didn't seem to like to stay in one place very long. She lived in Pennsylvania, Iowa, South Dakota and Kansas.

I followed her through the census from Pennsylvania, to Delaware County, Iowa, to Fort Pierre, South Dakota, where in 1910 she married Theodore Fenner when she was 60 years old. (No retirement in a rocking chair for this woman!) In 1920 they lived in Middle Creek, Miami County, Kansas. Clues on ancestry.com suggested Coffeyville, but most cemeteries are not transcribed and online for those two counties.

As I thought about where to look next, I said to myself, I wish she would have died in Missouri! I wish all my ancestors who died between 1910 and 1958 died in Missouri! Through the generosity of the State of Missouri, we have free access to PDF images of death certificates through www.sos.mo.gov/archives/resources/deathcertificates/#search. I have found death certificates for relatives on the Jones side, the Mayfield tree and now this one, on dad's side. It's a genealogist's dream and something I wish every state would copy.

So I decided to give it a try. I typed Fenner in the search engine and got a list of 60 Fenners with death certificates. And when I saw her name, I got that little buzz of electricity I get sometimes right before I find what I'm looking for. It was "my" Minnie Fenner!

Info from the death certificate: Minnie Fenner lived at 116 W 36th Street in Kansas City, Jackson, County, Missouri. She had lived in Missouri four years. She was the widow of Theodore Fenner. She was born 25 June 1847 in Montrose, Pennsylvania to Enos Newcomb and Susan. The certificate says Van Dyke but I believe her maiden name was Westervelt. The person giving the information was Mrs. O. B. Whitesell who lived at the same address.

Minnie was seen by the doctor from 7 Nov until 9 Nov 1927 and died 11 Nov 1927 at 4:05 a.m. The cause of death was Senile Arteriosclerosis of 20 years duration. Contributory cause of death has a check mark but no additional information. There was no operation preceding death and no autopsy.

She was buried in Mount Hope Cemetery (no city given) on 12 Nov 1927.
---

Theodore Fenner is not listed in the Missouri Digital Heritage Death Records Certificates database under this name. Minnie may have been buried in the Mount Hope Cemetery in Kansas City but I couldn't find any online transcriptions of this cemetery.

Climbing Trees

Too busy flushing ancestors out of ancestry trees to post! I'm working on the Luther Kallam family. With help from the Susquehanna County PA Genealogical Society, Google books and ancestry.com, I've been able to discover information about most of his 8 children and some of his grandchildren. I'm preparing several letters to send to various courthouses and genealogical societies, because, of course, not everything is on the 'net. And besides, I LOVE to get snail mail! Of course, the ultimate research is on-site, but I don't see that happening for a few years at least.

Sometimes when I post like this, I feel like I'm just giving a teaser and not anything of substance to those who may be interested. So let me add 3 tidbits about Luther Kallam.

1. He joined Lippitt's Regiment, Capt. Simeon Martin's Company of the Rhode Island State Troops in September of 1776. (Revolutionary War) He was 16 years old. (His surname was spelled Cillum.)

2. Two of his 8 children preceded him in death, Samuel in 1815 and Lucy (Kallam) Ramsey in 1822.

3. According to his obituary, "four aged gentlemen were pallbearers one of whom, Mr. Eseck Thayre was a revolutionary soldier." Luther was 86 when he died. I wonder how old the pallbearers were.

Project update

I think it's time to update my list of current projects.

- I received a CD from the National Archives with the Compiled Military Service Record for Luther Kallam. It shows his Connecticut service from 5 July to 13 Dec 1780. I want to order again, asking for records from Rhode Island because this would not have been the time when the battles at White Plains, Trenton and Princeton were fought. I'm not sure why he would have served from Rhode Island when he was born in Connecticut but his application for pension says that he enlisted under Lt. Reuben Hewit of the Rhode Island State Troops at Stonington in February or March of 1776. I'm looking for verification of this. (Russell Family Tree)

- Not only did I receive the coroner's report for Frank Wahl, I also ordered and just received last week the coroner's report for his murderer, August Duenkel. There's a story I need to write and post soon. (Mayfield Family Tree)

- I haven't received a copy of Enos Newcombs death record from the volunteer in Iowa but I think I have enough information to apply for DAR membership. (Russell Family Tree)

- I received both books I ordered from Kirtas.com. They are of excellent quality and considering the length of one of the books, it wasn't a long process to get them. I will definitely order from them again.

Saturday Night Genealogy Fun - Scavenger Hunt!

I added census records from ancestry.com for Allen West in Nebraska and Wyoming and his father William West in Iowa. Taking a snapshot of Allen and Mary Alice West's neighbors in 1900 is an interesting study in extended family. Allen and Alice's daughter Della married Louis Patch, the son of their neighbor, Charles and Eliza Patch. (Her first of two marriages.)

Allen and Alice's grandson Hugh Russell married Florance Predmore, granddaughter of their neighbors, Nelson and Fannie Predmore, daughter of Rufus. (His first of two marriages.)

Photobucket

Source citation: 1900 United States Federal Census, Custer County, Nebraska, Lillian Precinct, population schedule, Enumeration District 70, Sheet No. 3, Allen West family, dwelling 51, family 58; Allen and Mary Alice West; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com; accessed 22 August 2009); citing NARA microfilm T623.

The stumper of the night is George Harry Worth. I've looked for this several times with a variety of spellings in the 1930 census. He should be in Loup County, Nebraska, right where he was in 1900, 1910, and 1920. He died in 1934 at the home of his daughter Elizabeth Jones in Loup County, but he is not enumerated with Frank and Elizabeth Jones. Where is George Worth in 1930?!?

Saturday Night Genealogy Fun

I'm finally participating in some Saturday night fun, even though it is Sunday afternoon. Our instructions from Randy Seaver were to:

"1) List your 16 great-great-grandparents in pedigree chart order. List their birth and death years and places.

"2) Figure out the dominant ethnicity or nationality of each of them.

"3) Calculate your ancestral ethnicity or nationality by adding them up for the 16 - 6.25% for each (obviously, this is approximate).

"4) If you don't know all 16 of your great-great-grandparents, then do it for the last full generation you have.

"5) Write your own blog post, or make a comment on Facebook or in this post."

Here are mine:

Fifth Generation (Great Great-Grandparents)

1. Daniel Russell, son of Benjamin Russell and Martha Dayton, was born on 31 Jul 1824 in Naples, Ontario County, New York and died on 29 Mar 1902 in Manchester, Delaware County, Iowa at age 77. Daniel married Maria Hunter on 23 Sep 1847. Daniel next married Mary Jane Wing, daughter of Stephen L. Wing and Mary Hayes, on 11 Oct 1857. (England)

2. Maria Hunter, daughter of George Hunter and Deborah Silsbee, was born on 13 Apr 1822 in Steuben Co, NY and died on 4 May 1857 in Pike, Wyoming Co, NY at age 35. Maria married Daniel Russell on 23 Sep 1847. (England)

3. Enos Newcomb, son of John Newcomb and Betsey Kallam, was born on 30 Jan 1815 in Montrose, Susquehanna Co, PA, died on 11 Apr 1891 in Greeley, Delaware, Iowa, USA at age 76, and was buried on 14 Apr 1891 in Delaware, Iowa, USA. Enos married Susan Ann Westervelt on 12 Feb 1845. Enos next married Margaret Hutton on 14 Mar 1866. (England)

4. Susan Ann Westervelt was born on 9 Mar 1823 in Bergen, New Jersey(?), USA and died on 2 Apr 1863 in Montrose, Susquehanna Co, PA at age 40. Susan married Enos Newcomb on 12 Feb 1845. (Holland)

5. William West, son of Daniel West and Mary, was born on 28 Mar 1818 in Pickaway Co, OH and died on 11 Jun 1881 in Decatur, Iowa, at age 63. William married Elizabeth Robison on 16 Nov 1843 in Pickaway Co, OH. (England)

6. Elizabeth Robison, daughter of Isaac Robison and Ann Humes, was born on 22 Dec 1822 in Pike Co, OH and died on 13 Jul 1893 in Decatur, Iowa, USA at age 70. Elizabeth married William West on 16 Nov 1843 in Pickaway Co, OH. (England)

7. Diamond Whittecar, son of Nathaniel Whittecar and Elizabeth Shepherd, was born on 1 Oct 1819 in Cumberland County, New Jersey and died on 8 May 1895 in Casper, Natrona Co, WY at age 75. Diamond married Melissa Donaldson on 31 Dec 1840 in Madison Co, OH. (England)

8. Melissa Donaldson was born on 28 Dec 1822 in OH and died on 30 May 1903 in Saline Co, KS at age 80. Melissa married Diamond Whittecar on 31 Dec 1840 in Madison Co, OH. (England)

9. Unknown Jones, born in Wales (Wales)

10. Unknown, born in Wales (Wales)

11. Daniel Davis was born Cal 21 May 1822 in Wales, died on 11 Jun 1896 in Chariton, Missouri, USA about age 74, and was buried in Bynumville, Chariton, Missouri, USA. Daniel married Jane Williams. (Wales)

12. Jane Williams, was born on 12 Jul 1818 in Wales, died on 19 Sep 1913 in Chariton, Missouri, USA at age 95, and was buried on 20 Sep 1913 in Bynumville, Chariton, Missouri, USA. Jane married Daniel Davis. (Wales)

13. John Worth, son of John Worth and Elizabeth, was born on 28 Dec 1815 in Harberton, Devon, Eng, died on 6 Dec 1893 in Loup Co, NE at age 77, and was buried on 7 Dec 1893 in Almeria Cemetery, Loup County, Nebraska. John married Ann Dugdale on 5 May 1845 in Harberton, Devon, England. (England)

14. Ann Dugdale, daughter of George Dugdale and Grace Angel, was born on 14 Jun 1822 in Berry Pomeroy, Devon, England, died on 20 May 1884 in Loup Co, NE at age 61, and was buried in the Almeria Cemetery, Loup Co, Nebraska. Ann married John Worth on 5 May 1845 in Harberton, Devon, England. (England)

15. Charles F Swift, son of Charles Swift and Lydia, was born in 1829 in New York, died on 19 Jan 1863 in Louisville, Jefferson Co, KY at age 34, and was buried on 20 Jan 1863 in Cave Hill National Cemetery, Louisville, Jefferson, Kentucky. Charles married Eunice Calista Robinson on 25 May 1850 in Richfield Twp, Summit Co, OH. (England)

16. Eunice Calista Robinson, daughter of Aaron Robinson and Rachel Walker, was born on 12 Jun 1832 in Cleveland, Cuyahoga Co, OH and died on 14 Oct 1906 in Westerville, Custer County, Nebraska at age 74. Eunice married Charles F Swift on 25 May 1850 in Richfield Twp, Summit Co, OH. Eunice next married Alanson Platt Hurlburt on 25 Dec 1866 in Rushville, Schuyler County, Illinois. (England)

England (including Scotland and some Scots who lived in Ireland for three or four generations): 68.75%
Wales: 25%
Holland: 6.25%

There are bits of French further back, but mostly I’m English/Welsh American. Rainy days make me feel cozy and relaxed and I attribute this to my English ancestors!