The Family of Charles Howard Yeomans and Mary Belle Raney

Charles Howard Yeomans Family; Paxton, Illinois; about 1895.
Mary Belle (Raney), Fred Raney, Cora, Charles Howard and Nellie.
Photo from Harry Bobbitt.

Introduction

      I recently discovered a new third cousin, Harry Bobbitt, via the miracle of DNA matches. Our most recent common ancestors are James Yeomans Jr. and Sarah Haines Redfield. I am descended from their daughter Meroa Yeomans and he is descended from their son Edwin James Yeomans. 

      James Yeomans Jr. and Sarah Haines Redfield had 5 children: 
Albert Redfield Yeomans, 1845-1855, died at age  9.
Charles Howard Yeomans, 1846-1919.
Meroa Louisa Yeomans, 1848-1917. 
Edwin James Yeomans, 1850-1917.
Frederick Wright Yeomans, 1854-1876, died at age 21.
The subject of this blogpost is Charles Howard Yeomans, the brother of my great-grandmother the brother of Harry's great-grandfather. 

Harry had 2 photos of members of this family, including the photo above! Whenever I see a photo of several family members together, I feel an imperative to tell their story! Plus, this family is of special interest to me because I am descended from 4 of the Pilgrims, including John Alden and Priscilla Mullins, through Sarah Haines Redfield. Plus, I have always felt a kinship of temperament with Meroa Yeomans.

So here's Charles....

Early Life of Charles Howard Yeomans

      Charles Howard Yeomans was born December 2, 1846, in Kortright, Delaware County, New York, which is in the foothills of the Catskill Mountains. He was the second child of James Yeomans and Sarah Haines Redfield. His siblings were Albert Redfield (b. 1845), Meroa Louisa (b. 1848), Edwin James (b. 1850) and Frederick Wright (b. 1854). In 1850, the family was living in Delhi, Delaware County, New York. The father, James, was working as a farmer and his real estate was worth $1800.

      In about 1851, James moved his family to Shabbona Grove in DeKalb County, Illinois, where he farmed. In April 1854, Charles' youngest sibling, Frederick, was born. In January 1855, his older brother, Albert, died. Charles attended the country district school, which he supplemented with study in his spare time. He was no doubt aided by his mother, Sarah, who had taught school back in Delaware County.

      By 1860, the family had moved to Sugar Grove, Illinois, in Kane County. Evidently, James was in ill health and financially crippled by the panic of 1857.  Charles fitted himself out with horses and a plow, and broke prairie near Peotone, Illinois, in Will County, in order to help the family out financially. About this time, the land along the Illinois Central Railroad was being opened to settlement, hence the need to break prairie. At the age of 17, he began teaching school, but was not able to save any money from that occupation.

Education and Early Career

      In the fall of 1864, he entered Ripon College in Ripon, Wisconsin, utilizing $100 he had earned several years before. When he was 11 years old, he took a scythe to a marsh, cut 2 loads of marsh hay and sold it, using the proceeds to buy two steer calves. When they were 3 years old, he sold them for $100.  While going to school, he also taught school, in order to defray expenses.

      In 1869, before the completion of the college program, he studied law under the direction of the Honorable Jerry Dobbs, a leading lawyer in Ripon. During vacations, he read law in the office of Honorable C. H. Wood in Onarga, Illinois. (In the 1870 census, he is living with his family in Onarga and is listed as a law student.)

Ancestry.com. 1870 U. S. census; Onarga, Iroquois, Illinois; page 54.  James Yoemans.

He was admitted to the Wisconsin Bar on October 10, 1870.  In June 1871, he graduated with the degree of B. A.  When he returned to Ripon College in 1880 to deliver an annual address, he was granted an M. A. degree, which I suspect may have been an honorary degree.
   
      After graduating in 1871, Charles worked as principal of the Onarga graded schools for a year. In July 1872, he moved to Gibson, Illinois in Ford County, where he was the first lawyer. In September 1872, he was admitted to the Illinois bar at Ottawa, Illinois.

Marriage and Family, Life in Gibson City and Girard

      On October 1, 1874, Charles Yeomans married Mary Belle Raney, the daughter of Dr. Henry A. Raney and Susan Hunt. (Henry delivered Charles Crooks, my grandfather, in 1883.)  Mary Belle was born May 26, 1855, in Chillocothe, Illinois, so would have been about 8 years younger than her husband.

      Charles and Mary Belle had 3 children: Fred Raney, born October 7, 1877; Cora, born November 3, 1879; and Helen Virginia "Nellie", born February 14, 1884. All 3 children were born in Gibson City. According to the 1900 census, Mary had 4 children, of whom 3 lived. It seems likely that the deceased child may have been their firstborn.

      In 1876, his youngest brother and father both died. Frederick died in January and James died in March. When his father died, his mother Sarah went to live with her widowed brother, Joseph Barlow Redfield, in Chicago. Later, Sarah went to live with her daughter, Meroa Crooks, in Gilman, Illinois.
             
      Charles was actively involved in the civic life of Gibson. He was a City Attorney of Gibson for several years. He was a Supervisor from Gibson in 1882 and Chairman of the Ford County Board of Supervisors in 1883. He was also a Trustee of Gibson. He was also a member of the board of education and was master of ceremonies for the 1880 public school graduation in Gibson. Charles was public-spirited and enterprising and worked for the social and commercial advancement of his community.
   
      Charles and his family continued to live in Gibson until there was sickness in his family, which compelled them to try a change of climate. On September 18, 1884, Charles sold his practice in Gibson, Illinois, and moved to Girard, Kansas. In the 1885 Kansas census, there was a domestic servant in the household, who may also have served as a nurse. Charles practiced law in Girard until the spring of 1889, when his family had recovered, and they moved to Paxton in Ford County.

      Since the move to Kansas was right after the birth of his youngest child Nellie, I initially wondered if  Nellie was ill. Later, I wondered if Cora was the sick child based on her appearance in the above photo and her long residence with her parents! But, based on a news article, the sick child must have been Fred!

      My best guess is that Charles' wife Mary took her son Fred to Gilman, Illinois, when he became ill. I know that Mary's parents were living in Gilman in 1883, because her father delivered my grandfather in June 1883 in Gilman!

Life in Paxton

      In Paxton, he worked in the title abstract business and had a full set of abstracts for Ford County. He was also associated with Day Brothers in the real estate business. (I thought that the Day family was related to the Yeomans, but cannot find the connection right now.)  He no longer pursued law except as it related to title of real estate.

      The Dunnan-Hampton House, a single family private home in Paxton, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It was built in 1897, purchased by the Dunnan family in 1900, and later restored by the Hampton family. Charles Howard Yeomans is listed as the architect, builder or engineer! If so, that is a new talent!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunnan%E2%80%93Hampton_House

      Charles was also active socially. He was a Knight Templar Mason, a member of Paxton Lodge No. 416, A. F. & A. M. (Ancient Free and Accepted Masons). He was also a member of Ford Chapter No. 113. R. A. M. (Royal Arch Mason).  He was also a member of the Olivet Commandery No. 38, K. T. (Knights Templar). Charles served as a chief officer in all of these groups. (The Knights Templar is a Christian-oriented fraternal organization.)

      Charles Yeomans was known as a tireless worker, who provided prompt and effective attention to all of his business pursuits. He was noted for his integrity. 

       The photo at the top of this blogpost was taken while they were living in Paxton. The photographer was P. A. Rasmus and the photo had 'extra finish'. The handwriting on the back of the photo states 'Uncle Chas Family'.  Since most of the handwriting on the photos appears to be from the perspective of Bertha Louise (Yeomans) Gorton, this must be the family of Charles Howard Yeomans, brother of Bertha's father, Edwin James Yeomans.

      We know that Charles Yeomans moved to Paxton in 1889. We also know that his son, Fred Raney Yeomans, married in Paxton in 1898.  I am speculating that the photo was taken about 1895. If so, the children would have been 18, 16 and 11 years of age, which seems feasible. 

Later Years

      In 1900, Charles was living in Danville, Illinois, in Vermilion County, although I have no idea what took him there. His occupation was listed as abstractor and he owned his home free of a mortgage. He was living with his wife and 2 daughters. Cora was 19 and Nellie was 16. His son Fred married in Paxton in 1898 and was living in Ford County. 

      In 1905, Charles and his wife and his daughter Cora were living at 45 Columbia Flats in Lafayette, Indiana. The information is from the Lafayette City Directory, but no occupations are listed.

      On July 19, 1919, Charles died in Wheaton, Illinois, in Du Page County, at the age of 72. (The death record states July 20, but the tombstone states July 19.) At the time, he was living at 201 Washington Avenue in Wheaton, which is about 30 miles west of Chicago.  On June 22, he was buried in Drummer Township Cemetery in Gibson City, Illinois.

Ancestry.com.  Illinois, Deaths and Stillbirths Index, 1916-1947.  Charles H. Yeomans.

Newspapers.com. Gibson City Courier, 26 June 1919, Page 4. Obituary, C. H. Yeomans.

      In 1920, Charles' wife Mary was still living at this address with her daughter Cora, who was 39 years old and listed as single. Mary owned the home free and clear.
 
      On August 13, 1925, Mary Belle (Raney) Yeomans died in Chicago, at the age of 70. She was living at 552 N. Waller at the time. She was buried 2 days later in Gibson City, presumably next to her husband Charles.
    

Child #1: Fred Raney Yeomans 

Fred Raney Yeomans; probably in Gibson, Illinois; about 1881.
Photo from Harry Bobbitt.

   

      There is nothing on the card stock to identify the photographer or the location where the above picture was taken. The handwriting on the back of the card says 'Chas Crooks'. However, Charles Henry Crooks is my grandfather, and this just does not look like him!

      When I compare this photo with the previous photo of the Charles Howard Yeomans family, I believe this photo is for Fred Raney Yeomans! Fred was born in 1877, whereas Charles Crooks was born in 1883. In both photos of Fred, the subject has widely spaced eyes and the same set of the jaw. If Fred's age is about 4, the photo would have been taken in 1881, when the family resided in Gibson City, Illinois.

Photo to be identified

Fred Raney Yeomans, from family photo

Charles Henry Crooks

   






      Fred Raney Yeomans was born October 7, 1877, in Gibson City, Illinois, to Charles Howard Yeomans and Mary Belle Raney. As a child, he presumably lived with his family in Gibson City, Girard, Kansas, and Paxton, Illinois.

     On September 26, 1898, he married Amy Berth in Paxton, Illinois.  In 1900, they were living in Wall Township, slightly north of Paxton. Fred worked as a farmer and owned a 160-acre farm with a mortgage. They did not yet have any children, but there was an 18-year old servant, of Swedish ethnicity living with them. In 1905, he was elected as a school trustee in this township.

      I have not found Fred in the 1910 census, but in 1920, he was living in Saint Charles, Illinois, with his wife Amy and 5-year old son, Marvin, who was attending school. Fred was again working as a farmer. When Fred registered for the World War I Draft, his description was given as medium height, medium build, blue eyes and brown hair.

      Fred died on October 21, 1929, at age 52. He died in Geneva, Illinois, which was in Kane County, like St. Charles. He was buried 3 days later in St. Charles. At the time of his death, he was working as a realtor.

      I have not been able to readily find much about his wife Amy or son Marvin, although Marvin evidently died in San Diego in 1969.

Child #2: Cora Yeomans

       Cora was born November 3, 1879, in Gibson City, Illinois, to Charles Howard Yeomans and Mary Belle Raney. As a child, she presumably lived with her family in Gibson City, Illinois; Girard, Kansas; and Paxton, Illinois. In 1900, she lived with her parents and sister Nellie in Danville, Illinois. She was listed as 19 years old, but no occupation was listed. At age 26, she was living with her parents in Lafayette, Indiana. In 1920, at listed age 39, she was living with her mother in Wheaton, and was working as an office clerk in the 'Auditor of Dept St'. (Her father had died the preceding year.)

Ancestry.com; 1920 U. S. census; Wheaton, Du Page; Illinois; Sheet 10B. Mary Yeomans. 

      Cora's mother died in 1925, and in that same year, at age 45, she married Alexander Otto Enke. This appears to be the first marriage for Cora, but it was the third marriage for Alexander! He first married Emma Burdorf, but they appears to have gotten divorced, because she subsequently remarried. His second marriage was to Selma Schlies, who died in June 1925! Alexander was born in Latvia, but was a naturalized citizen. He worked as an attorney in the title examination business, so Cora may have met him through her father. 

      In 1930, Cora and Alexander were living in Chicago at 550 Waller Street. By 1935, they were living in La Grange, Illinois, in Cook County. They were living with Alexander's mother, Libby, who owned her own home, worth $4500. Alexander still worked as a lawyer for a Title Company. His annual salary was $2332. In 1942, when Alexander registered for the World War II draft, he gave F. R. Crooks, his cousin, as the person who would always know his address, rather than his wife!

Ancestry.com; 1940 U. S. census; La  Grange, Cook, Illinois; Sheet 4a; Libby Enke.

      Cora died March 6, 1944, at age 64, in Berwyn, in Cook County. She was buried 2 days later in Gilman Cemetery, in Gilman, Illinois.

      Alexander died 24 years later, in January 1968, in La Grange, Illinois .

Child #3: Helen Virginia "Nellie" Yeomans

      Nellie was born February 14, 1884, in Gibson City, Illinois, to Charles Howard Yeomans and Mary Belle Raney. As a child, she presumably lived with her family in Gibson City, Illinois; Girard, Kansas; and Paxton, Illinois. In 1900, at age 16, she lived with her parents and sister Cora in Danville, Illinois, and was attending school. 

      On April 2, 1902, at age 18, Nellie married Edward Arnold Seiwell at her family's home in Danville.  Edward was the manager of the branch office of Standard Oil Company in Danville.

Newspapers.com. The Decatur Herald, 3 Apr 1902, Page 5.  Marriage of Miss Nellie Yeomans.

They had 3 children together: Helen Virginia (b. 1904), Charles Y. (b. 1909) and Mary Belle (b. 1911). Clearly, Nellie was instrumental in naming the children who are named after herself, her father and her mother! Daughter Helen Virginia was born in Indiana, possibly in Lafayette. By 1909, the family was living in Danville, Illinois, again and Edward was working as a cashier for the Light and Heat Company. Son Charles was born in Danville.

      By 1911, they had moved to Colorado, where daughter Mary Belle was born. In 1920, they were living in Colorado Springs,where Edward worked as an office assistant for a garage. In the 1924 city directory, Edward is listed as an assistant manager.

Ancestry.com; 1920 U. S. Census, Colorado Springs, El Paso, Colorado, Sheet 5A. Edward A. Seiwell.

      In 1925, Nellie's mother, Mary Belle Yeomans, died. In 1929, Nellie's older brother, Fred Raney Yeomans, died.  By 1930, Edward, Nellie and their daughters, Virginia and Mary, were living in Glendale, California. Virginia was married and had 2 sons, but by 1940, she was listed as divorced. Edward worked as a foreman in a garage and his daughter Virginia was working as a stenographer in a music store. Meanwhile, their son Charles was living with his wife in Amarillo, Texas, and worked as a manager of City Drug Stores. In 1940, Edward and Nellie were living in Los Angeles and renting. Edward worked as a stock clerk in the retail automotive business.

      On September 28, 1954, Nellie's husband, Edward Arnold Seiwell, died in Hemet, California. Hemet is in the San Jacinto Valley in Riverside County. He was buried in the San Jacinto Valley Cemetery.

      On February 7, 1967, Nellie died in Hemet and was buried next to her husband.

Summary

1. Charles Howard Yeomans was born in Delaware County, New York, in the foothills of the Catskills, but lived most of his life in Illinois, with brief stints in Kansas and Indiana. 
2. He received an undergraduate degree from Ripon College in Wisconsin. He also studied law under lawyers in Ripon and in Onarga, Illinois.
3. For a while, he taught school and served as a school principal. His primary occupation, though, was lawyer. Later, he went into the title abstract business and real estate. He may have been the architect of a home in Paxton, Illinois.!
4. Charles was actively involved in the civic life of the communities he lived in. He was also a member of several Masons groups. 
5. Charles married Mary Belle Raney and they had 3 childen together: Fred Raney, Cora and Helen Virginia or 'Nelllie'. 
6. Fred Raney Yeomans, the son of Charles and Mary, appeared to have been ill as a young boy, which prompted the family's move to Kansas. Fred later worked as a farmer and realtor. He died on October 21, 1929, 3 days before the Stock Market Crash of 1929. He was just 52 years old. I am not sure if his early illness contributed to his death or if changes in the economy had an impact. Fred appears to have just left 1 son.
7. Cora Yeomans lived with her parents until the death of her mother. In that same year, at age 45, she married, but never had any children.  
8. Nellie Yeomans married Edward Seiwell and had 3 children. Her family lived in Colorado Springs; Glendale, California; and Hemet, California, in Riverside County.

Sources

CENSUS DATA

New York. Delaware County. 1850 U. S. census. Ancestry.com. 2009.  
- James Yeoman [sic].

Illinois. Kane County. 1860 U.S. census. Ancestry.com: 2009.
- James Yumans [sic].

Illinois. Bureau County. 1870 U.S. census. Ancestry.com : 2009.
- Henry Roney [sic].
Illinois. Iroquois County. 1870 U.S. census. Ancestry.com : 2009.
- James Yoemans [sic].

Illinois. Ford County. 1880 U.S. census. Ancestry.com : 2010.
- Charles Yeomans.

"Kansas State Census Collection, 1855-1925"; Database and images. Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., www.Ancestry.com : 2009.
- 1885: C. H. Yeomans.

Illinois. Ford County. 1900 U.S. census. Ancestry.com : 2004.
- Fred R. Yeomens [sic].
Illinois. Vermilion County. 1900 U.S. census. Ancestry.com : 2004.
- Charles H. Yeomans.
- Alexander O and Selma D Enke.

Illinois. Cook County. 1910 U.S. census. Ancestry.com : 2006.
- Mary Yeomans.
Illinois. Vermilion County. 1910 U.S. census. Ancestry.com : 2006.
- Edward A. Seiwell.,

Illinois. DuPage County. 1920 U.S. census. Ancestry.com : 2010.
- Mary Yeomans.
Illinois. Kane County. 1920 U.S. census. Ancestry.com : 2010.
- Fred Yeoman [sic].
Colorado. El Paso County. 1920 U.S. census. Ancestry.com : 2010.
- Edward A Seiwell.

Illinois. Cook County. 1930 U.S. census. Ancestry.com : 2002.
- A. O. Enke.
California. Los Angeles County. 1930 U.S. census. Ancestry.com : 2002.
- Edward A Seiwell.

Illinois. Cook County. 1940 U.S. census. Ancestry.com : 2012.
- Libby Enke.
California. Los Angeles County. 1940 U.S. census. Ancestry.com : 2012.
- Edward A Seiwell.

MARRIAGE RECORDS

"Illinois, County Marriages, 1800-1940". Database. Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., www.Ancestry.com : 2016.
- Fred Raney Yeomans and Amy Buth.

"Illinois, Marriage Index, 1860-1920". Database. Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., www.Ancestry.com : 2015.
- Fred Raney Yeomans and Amy Berth.  

"Michigan, County Marriages, 1822-1940"; Database and images. Ancestry.com Operations Inc.; 2016.
-Alexander O Enke to Emma L. Burdorf. (1902)

DEATH RECORDS

"California, Death Index, 1940-1997". Database. Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., www.Ancestry.com : 2000.
- Helen V. Seiwell.
- Edward Arnold Seiwell. 

Find A Grave. www.findagrave.com.
- Charles A Yeomans [sic], #59334217.
- Mary R Raney Yeomans, #59334243.
- Cora Yeomans Enke, #74390483.
- Helen Virginia Seiwell, #65380200.

"Illinois, Deaths and Stillbirths Index, 1916-1947." Database. Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., www.Ancestry.com : 2011.
- Charles H. Yeomans.
- Mary R. Yeomans.
- Fred Raney Yeomans.
- Cora Enke.

"U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014"; Database, Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., www.Ancestry.com : 2011.
- Alexander Enke.

NEWSPAPERS

Illinois. Gibson City. Gibson City Courier. www.newspapers.com.
- 25 Jun 1880, Page 5, "School Closing". (C. H. Yeomans master of ceremony for school graduation.)
- 25 Jun 1880, Page 5, "Local Matters". (C. H. Yeomans gives address at Ripon College.)
- 13 Oct 1882, Page 5, "Local Matters". (C. H. Yeomans goes to Dakota [to visit brother].)
- 10 Dec 1884, Page 4, "Those Rebel Flags Again! The People of Girard Kansas, Highly Indignant over the sensational story of C. H. Yeomans".
- 28 Mar 1902, Page 7, "Local Matters", (Invitations to marriage of Edward Seiwell and Helen Virginia Yeomans.)
- 07 Apr 1905, Page 8, "Town Elections". (Fred Yeomans elected school trustee for Wall in Ford County.) 
- 26 Jun 1919, Page 4, "Obituary, C. H. Yeomans".
- 31 Jan 1929, Page 3, From 26 Jan 1883. "Forty-Six Years Ago". (C. H. Yeomans returns from Gilman visit to see sick son.)

Illinois. Decatur. The Decatur Herald. www.newspapers.com.
- 03 Apr 1902, Page 5, "At Danville: Conductor Seiwell's Son Married to Miss Nellie Yeomans".

MISCELLANEOUS RECORDS

History of Ford County, Illinois: from its earliest settlement to 1908; Gardner, Ernest Arthur; Chicago: S. J. Clarke Pub. Co.; 1908; p. 285.  Internet Archive.  https://archive.org/details/historyoffordcou01gard
- p. 285, Charles H. Yeomans.

National Register of Historic Places. Ford County, Illinois. Dunnan-Hampton House. http://www.nationalregisterofhistoricplaces.com/il/ford/state.html

Portrait and Biographical Record of Ford County, Illinois; Chicago: Lake City Publishing Company; 1892. Google Books. 
https://books.google.com/books?id=V8xMAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA416&lpg=PA416&dq=Charles+Howard+Yeomans+Paxton+Illinois&source=bl&ots=UxkSwYIamN&sig=NShmrFEywS59KcLWNIT86tpSnD4&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwimn9KC1N_aAhVhdt8KHWXaAM0Q6AEIOTAD#v=onepage&q=Charles%20Howard%20Yeomans%20Paxton%20Illinois&f=false
- p. 416-17, Charles Howard Yeomans. 

U. S. City Directories, 1822-1995. Digital images. www.ancestry.com : 2011.
- 1905; Lafayette, Indiana; Charles H. and Mary B Yeomans, Cora Yeomans.
- 1906; Danville, Illinois; Charles H. and Mary Yeoman [sic], Cora Yeoman.
- 1924: Colorado Springs, Colorado; Edward A and Helen V Seiwell.

"U.S., Indexed County Land Ownership Maps, 1860-1918"; Database and images. Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., www.Ancestry.com : 2010.
- 1901: Wall, Ford County, Illinois; Fred R. Yeomans.

"World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1919." Database and images. www.ancestry.com.
- Fred Raney Yeomans.

"World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942." Database and images. www.ancestry.com.

- Alexander Otto Enke.