The Family of Benjamin Burch and Sarah "Sally" Strong

Introduction

      The Burch family has been an amorphous blob for me! In part, this is because this family lived in both the colonies/United States and in Canada. And as I learned recently, the Burch family was not particularly diligent about recording births!

      The first breakthrough was when Doug MacFarlane reached out to me, based on seeing Parthenia Burch in my Ancestry tree. (He is descended from Parthenia's brother, Benjamin.) He pointed me to a source that helped validate that Parthenia's father was Benjamin Burch Sr.

History of the Counties of Argenteuil, Quebec...;by C. Thomas; p. 222.

The son-in-law in question, is William Johnson, whom Parthenia married! This implies that Parthenia's father Benjamin was living in Argenteuil County!

Doug also acquainted me with the Strong family lineage, since Parthenia's mother was Sally Strong. There are numerous famous people related to Elder John Strong, including Princess Diana and Franklin Delano Roosevelt.  (See the post, "Related to Royalty and a President", dated September 2, 2014.)

      The second item that piqued my interest was when Nancy B. reached out to me, based on a common connection with the Johnson family. Her research enabled me to identify one of the persons, Emily or Emma Perrin, who appears in my Carroll Family Album, dating back to the last half of the 1800's. Emma Perrin is a granddaughter of Parthenia Burch!

Purpose

           The purpose of this blogpost is to attempt to identify the children of Benjamin Burch and Sarah/Sally Strong. 

History of Argenteuil: Parthena Burch, Child #1

      I am starting with Parthena, because she is my most recent Burch ancestor! At one time, I thought her name was Parthenia, but I now believe that Parthena is more likely.

Cemetery records

      One of the key sources for Parthena comes from the transcriptions made of the Greenwood Cemetery by Ross Cotton, Roger Belanger and Leslie Higginson in conjunction with the Ottawa Genealogical Society.

Greenwood Cemetery, Ottawa Genealogy Society, p. 14.

The Greenwood Cemetery is located in West Hawkesbury Township, in Prescott County, Ontario, Canada. The cemetery is about 1 kilometer west of Vankleek Hill. The full transcriptions are listed at the link below.

Greenwood Cemetery Transcriptions

 The 2 inscriptions on the west side of the stone are for William Johnson and his wife, Parthena. Parthena was born December, 1791, and died February 9, 1835, about 3 years after her husband. Based on other research, the two persons listed on the south side of the stone, Eden Johnson and Elizabeth Johnson Griffen, are the 2 oldest children of William and Parthena. Mrs. Rhoda Green, one of the 2 persons erecting the stone, is another child of William and Parthena. 

Birth information

      One logical next question is 'where was Parthena born'? Was she born in Canada? Was she born in Europe, perhaps Scotland or England? Was she born in the United States, perhaps Vermont? I thought it was fairly likely that she lived in Vermont because so many of my Vermont relatives had ties to Canada! But I have checked the Vermont Vital Records Index, and she is not to be found!

      Because she died in 1835, the number of records available are limited. But I did view the United States census data for her 4 children who moved to the States: Susan, Rhoda, William and Parthena. The 3 daughters state that their mother was foreign-born in the 1870 census. For the census data that I did find for these 4 offspring, 5 reported that she was born in Vermont, 2 reported that she was born in Massachusetts, 1 reported she was born in Connecticut and 1 reported that she was born in Canada! It is rather a hodge-podge, but there is reasonable evidence that Parthena was born in Vermont!

1910 U. S. census; Stockholm, New York; Parthena Dyke and Rhoda Green.

Here, in the 1910 census, both Rhoda and Parthena, daughters of Parthena Burch Johnson, state that their mother was born in Vermont, their father in New York, and they themselves were born in English-speaking Canada.

Burch Family in Lachute: Benjamin Burch, Child #2 

      At this point, it is fairly evident that Parthena Burch and her father, Benjamin Burch, lived in Lachute, in Argenteuil County, Quebec.

Google Maps; Montreal to Lachute.

      A logical next question is 'were there other Burches living in Lachute?.

History of Argenteuil County: Benjamin Burch 

      Returning to the History of the Counties of Argenteuil County, Quebec, and Prescott County, Ontario, we find references to 2 Benjamin Burches in Lachute, a father and son. The father came from Vermont, and according to this source, married an Annie Burch.
   

History of the Counties of Argenteuil, Quebec...;by C. Thomas; p. 221.

Based on Doug MacFarlane's research, the eldest Benjamin Burch in this account actually married Anna CHURCH and I have seen documents confirming that.

Cemetery records

Find A Grave; memorial #66341788; photo by Graceti. 

Annis Church Burch is buried in the Lachute Protestant Cemetery. There is no tombstone picture for her husband Benjamin. Based on her death date and age at death, Annis must have been born about 1787. So it would appear that the first Benjamin Burch in the account above is likely Parthena's brother, not father. So now, we have 3 Benjamin Burches in Lachute. One is Parthena's father, one is her brother and one is her nephew!

History of Argenteuil County: Inhabitants in 1810

      Returning to the History of Argenteuil County, we find a list of the residents in Lachute in 1810. They include a Benj. Burch, a Benj. I. Burch, a Jonathan Burch and a Jonathan Burch, Jr.

History of the Counties of Argenteuil, Quebec...;by C. Thomas; p. 233.

It is fairly clear that the 2 Benjamin Burches are Parthena's father and brother, although it is not clear which one had the middle initial 'I'!  So, who are the 2 Jonathan Burches?? Doug MacFarlane has suggested that the 2 Jonathan Burches are Benjamin Senior's brother and nephew, but we will need to return to this.

Canadian 1825 census

      Looking at the 1825 census for Lachute, we see 3 relevant entries. First, there is an entry for Benjamin Burch, Senior. Two place away, there is an entry for Benjamin Burch, Junior. Immediately after, there is an entry for William Johnson! So now we have evidence that Parthena's father and brother lived in Lachute from at least 1810-1825.

Census of Lower Canada; 1825; Argenteuil, Chatham, Gore between Chatham and Argenteuil, Ile aux Chats, Lachute

Burch Family Origins in Woodstock, Vermont

      After reviewing the Burch family research by other researchers, I found the connection between Lachute, Quebec, Canada, and Woodstock, Vermont! (Lachute is the county seat of Argenteuil County and is on the Ottawa River.)

History of Woodstock, Vermont; Henry Swan Dana; page 78.

      The young Benjamin Burtch mentioned here was 20 years old in 1804, and therefore born about 1784. This is Parthena's brother and will be referred to as Benjamin Burch III. His father, although not named here, is Benjamin Burch, who left Woodstock in 1806, although his destination is also not provided here. But from the History of Argenteuil County, it is fairly clear that the older Benjamin Burch, Parthena's father, was in LaChute by 1810! Going forward, he will be referred to as Benjamin Burch Jr....From this source, it is evident that there are multiple spellings for the surname, including Burtch, Birch and Burch. Going forward, however, I will use the spelling 'Burch'.

      According to History of Woodstock, John Strong and Benjamin Burch Jr. moved into Woodstock, Vermont, from Hartford, Vermont in 1772-1773. (Benjamin Burch Jr. married John Strong's daughter, Sarah or Sally Strong.) Their home was on North Branch and they were the first to settle in that area. They opened a tavern, or public house, at their dwelling place, which they had for the duration of their time in Woodstock. They also owned a saw mill together on the North Branch. The two men appear to have lived together until 1788, when Captain John Strong moved to the jail house on the Green in the capacity of jailer and inn-keeper. In 1792, Benjamin Burch leased his farm and took possession of the jail-house. There appears to have been a falling-out between John Strong and his son-in-law, Benjamin Burch Jr., because John Strong, John's wife, Benjamin III, and 'other members of the family', moved to Argenteuil in 1804. Sometime after the death of John Strong and his wife, Benjamin Jr. also moved to Argenteuil, although he may have lived for a while in an intermediate location.  

Google Maps; Hartford VT to Woodstock VT to Lachute Quebec.

      

      As one can see from the map, the move from Hartford, Vermont, to Woodstock, Vermont, was an easy move in terms of distance. But what would have prompted them to move to Quebec? It appears that business opportunities took them north. 

      So what else have we gleaned from the History of Woodstock in terms of members of the Burch Family? We are told that Benjamin Burch Jr. had a fine flock of children, but no one is named besides Benjamin III. We do learn, though, that Benjamin Burch Jr. had brothers Jonathan and William. Jonathan was a physician and moved to Canada with other family members. (This is consistent with the 2 Jonathan Burches in the 1810 inhabitant list for Lachute!) William was a trader and moved west to Ohio and Indiana.

Vermont Vital Records: John Burch, Child #3

      According to Ancestry trees, Sarah/Sally Strong was born between 1758 and 1764 and died in 1803. Since John Strong, Sally's father, and Benjamin Burch, Sally's husband, moved to Woodstock in 1772-1773, it would appear that all of their children were born in Woodstock, Vermont. There is a very slight possibility that early children were born in Hartford VT. 

      

Ancestry.com; Vermont, Vital Records, 1720-1908, John Burtch.

      Here is the birth record for John Burtch. His parents are named as Benjamin and Salla Burtch, which must be Benjamin and Sally! As noted earlier, Benjamin and Sally were not diligent about reporting births, so I could not find any of their other children reported in the Vermont Vital Records!

Sons of the American Revolution: Wealthy Burch, Child #4?

      According to the following SAR application, Wealthy Burtch was a daughter of Benjamin Burtch and Sally Strong and married Ozias Hoisington in 1794. However, there are no references providing the source of this information.    

Sons of the American Revolution application #19281; Chancellor Jenks, descendant of John Strong. 

      If Wealthy married in 1794 and she was married when she was 18 years old, she could have been born as early as 1776. Since it appears that Sarah Strong was born in 1758, she could have birthed Wealthy when she was 18, which would make Wealthy one of her first children. This Wealthy married Ozias Hoisington. 

      According to the History of Woodstock (page 78), Sally Strong's father John had a second wife named widow Hoisington. She had a son from this earlier marriage, named Ozias Hoisington, who married 'this Benjamin Burch's sister'. There are multiple Benjamin Burch's running around, but based on the footnote, this refers to the Benjamin Burch who was born in 1751. The source of this information is an Alex. McV. Burch, who lived in Lachute in 1870. If this is correct, Wealthy is a SISTER of Benjamin Burch, not a DAUGHTER. 

      On the other hand, numerous Ancestry trees state that Wealthy, daughter of Benjamin Burtch and Sally Strong, was born on July 6, 1803, in either Woodstock or Hartford, Vermont. Since it appears that Sarah Strong died in 1803, this would make Wealthy her youngest child! This Wealthy Burtch married Michael Byrnes and raised her family about 60 miles away from Lachute. However, I am unable to find the ultimate source of her birth information, although it appears to be  One World Tree, which is a collection of old Ancestry trees without source information.

Minerva Burch, Unlikely Child?

      The information concerning Minerva Burch is simply too vague. Supposedly, she married Francis Joseph Durant. But other sources state that Francis Joseph Durant married Freedom Burch or Freelove Burch. Ancestry trees do state that Minerva was the daughter of Benjamin Burch and Sally Strong, but I do not see any supporting evidence other than other Ancestry trees. Other sources, e.g., message boards, state that her parents were John Birch and Catherine Prince. 

      On the other hand, according to Find A Grave, she was born in Woodstock in 1780. And Benjamin Burch and Sally Strong did live in Woodstock, Vermont, in 1780. And her husband, Francis Durant, was born in Lachute, Quebec, which is where Benjamin Burch moved by 1810. 

Children of Benjamin Burch and Sarah Strong 

Minerva Burch

      1. Based on Thrulines, I have 2 DNA matches to her descendants, both through John Volyn.
      2. According to Find A Grave, she was born in 1780 in Woodstock, Windsor County, Vermont. I don't know what the original source was.
      3. A Francis Durant, born about 1812 in Lachute, P. Q., names his parents as Francis and Freelove! At the time of his marriage, he was residing in Williamsburg, Dundas, Ontario.
      4. According to Find A Grave, Minerva died in 1850 in Cornwall, Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry United Counties, Ontario. She was buried in the Elma United Church Cemetery in Elma, Stormont. Again, there is no information concerning the original source and there is no photo of a tombstone. We know that she does not appear in the 1851 census with her husband Francis.
      5. Minerva and Francis had 4 children: John Volyn, Francis Joseph, Charles A. and Alexander. (This information is based on notes of other researchers.) 

Benjamin Burch

      1. Based on Thrulines, I have 4 DNA matches to his descendants.

Wealthy Burch     

      1. Based on Thrulines, I have 3 DNA matches to her descendants.

Anna Burch

      1. Based on Thrulines, I have 4 DNA matches to her descendants.

Sarah Burch

      1. Based on Thrulines, I have 10 DNA matches to her descendants.

Parthena Burch, 3g-grandmother

      1. Based on Thrulines, I have 7 DNA matches to her descendants, including 5 via my great-great-grandmother.
      2. Parthena was born December 1791. (Tombstone) Most evidence indicates that she was born in Vermont, and probably in Woodstock, Vermont. She is the daughter of Benjamin Burch. (History of the counties of Argenteuil, Que., and Prescott, Ont.)
      3. In 1806, she would have been 15 years old, so she would have moved with her parents to Lachute.
      4. In about 1809, she married William L. Johnson and they had at least 7 children together.
      5. The children were all born in Canada. We know that Eden Johnson was born in Hawkesbury, Prescott County, Ontario, Canada. (The Munson Record) Most likely, all 7 children were born there. Hawkesbury is about 20 miles west of the Lachute area via the Ottawa River.
      6. Parthena died February 9, 1835, in Ontario, and was buried in Greenwood Cemetery in Vankleek Hill. (Vankleek Hill is about 7 miles southwest of Hawkesbury.)
      7. The older 3 children stayed in Canada, but the younger 4 children went to Chittenden County, Vermont, after both parents died.

John Burch

      1. Based on Thrulines, I have no DNA matches to any of his descendants.

      2. John Burtch was born July 11, 1799, in Woodstock, to Benjamin Burtch and Salla ---. (VVRI; tombstone)
      3. In 1806, he would have been 7 years old, so would have moved with his parents to Lachute.
      4. He married Lydia Hogaboam between about 1818 and 1820. 
      5. His children were born in Ontario, Canada. Two children, Charlotte and Henry, were born about 1833 and 1835 in London, Canada. (London is about halfway between Toronto and Detroit.)
      6. By 1840, John Burch was living in Winnebago County, Illinois.

      7. John S. Burch died May 31, 1864, and is buried in Grandview Cemetery in Fayette, Fayette, Iowa, USA. (FAG; tombstone)

Edwin James Yeomans and Anna Lash: A View through Photos

Was Louise married in the Colorado Springs picture??
Last marked: EJY-15
Last reviewed: EJY-18.

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. 

      

Early Life of Edwin

      Edwin James Yeomans was born April 20, 1850, in Delhi, Delaware County, New York. He was the son of James Yeomans Jr. and Sarah Haines Redfield. He had 4 siblings, of whom 2 lived to adulthood. They are Albert Redfield (1845-1855), Charles Howard (1846-1919), Meroa Louisa (1848-1917) and Frederick Wright Yeomans (1854-1876).  His 3 older siblings were all born in Delaware County, but his younger brother was born in DeKalb County, Illinois. The Yeomans family moved to Illinois between 1851 and 1853. After several intermediate residences, they moved to Onarga in 1866. As a boy and young man, Edwin helped his father on the family farm. 

  

      While a resident of Onarga, Edwin attended the Grand Prairie Seminary, from which he graduated with honors. Subsequently, he was a teacher for several years.

First Marriage of Edwin

      On November 5, 1872, Edwin married his first wife, Miss Hannah Rose Shickle. They had one son, Arthur James. Rose died June 12, 1875, at the age of 19.

Photo of Edwin in Onarga  (EJY-1)

      The back of the photo states 'H. W. Lawhead, Photographer. Onarga, Ills'. There is ink handwriting that appears to say 'Father'. There is no writing on the front of the photo. This appears to be a carte de visite, or visiting card, which was just 2.5 inches by 4 inches. The visiting card was largely supplanted by the larger cabinet card in the early 1870's.

***************************************

      I have no good way of dating this photo. He was 22 years old at the time of his first marriage and 28 at the time of his second marriage. My best guess is that this photo was taken after the death of his first wife, before his second marriage. There is no paired picture with either wife. It is also possible that the picture was taken prior to his first marriage.

Second Marriage of Edwin

      On July 31, 1878, Edwin married his second wife, Anna M. Lash, in a double wedding with his sister, Meroa Yeomans, who married Thomas Crooks on that same day! Anna was the daughter of David Lash and Cornelia Eliza Burnside. Her father David fought in the Civil War and died in 1864, when Anna was about 10 years old. In 1874, her mother married Ransom Belden Pangborn, a resident of Onarga, and a man about 21 years her senior.

      Their children were:
1. Bertha Louise, born March 8, 1881, in Dakota Territory.
2. Grace Anna, born October 8, 1883, in Dakota Territory.
3. Jessie Ruth, born July 1, 1887, in Nashville, Barton County, Missouri.

The 1900 census states that Anna had 5 children, of whom 3 survived, but the 1910 census states that she had 4 children with 3 surviving. Anna did not have a prior marriage. It is possible that one child was born between Grace and Jessie. Or a child could easily have been born before Bertha.

Life in the Dakota Territory

      Edwin and Anna moved to the Dakota Territory, which existed from 1861 - 1889, when North Dakota and South Dakota became states. They lived in Watertown, later part of South Dakota, which is where their first 2 daughters were born. Bertha Louise Yeomans was born March 8, 1881, and Grace Anna Yeomans was born October 8, 1883. According to the Gibson City Courier, of 13 October 1882, Charles H. Yeomans went to Central Dakota for several days. Presumably, he was visiting his brother Edwin.

Photo of Grace Yeomans as a baby in Watertown, Dakota Territory

      There are 2 identical photos, printed on different stock. Both are small 'visiting cards'.
      The back of the stock for the darker image states 'C. H. Newcombe, Artist, Oak Street, Watertown, Dakota'. The handwriting on the back of the first image says 'Grace'.

***********************************************************  EJY-2a

      The back of the stock for the lighter image states 'Newcombe & Thurston, Artists, Watertown, Dakota.' The handwriting on the back of the second images says 'B. Louise Gorton'. (This was the sister of Grace.)

************************************************************ EJY-2b

      Since the photo is of a baby, I am assuming the picture was either taken in late 1881 or in 1884. Based on the dark intensity of the eyes, I believe the picture is of GraceYeomans!

      Watertown was founded in 1879 as a transportation hub. Evidently, the Edwin J. Yeomans family lived in Watertown, Dakota Territory, because there is an envelope addressed to Mrs. Edwin J. Yeomans from The West End Dry Goods House (dry goods, carpets and shoes) in Chicago. It appears to be connected with Carson, Pirie & Company.

Life in Missouri

Photo of Duval, Missouri, homestead 

    Based on a photo, and notes on the back of the photo, Edwin J Yeomans built a home in Duval, Missouri, in 1885. 

********************************   EJY-15

The photo was taken many years later because there is a car in front of the house! The photo was sent as a Christmas card. There is a stamp for a photographic studio on the back: 'Steward's Studio, "New Smile", Carthage, Missouri'. The note on the back of the photo mentions the 'old days of Gibson and Hopson'.

There was a village of Duval, Missouri, in Barton County. In addition, there was a Duval Township, now inactive, in Jasper County, Missouri. But I believe this photo is in the village of Duval in Barton County, since that is the county in which they appeared to live.

Their third daughter, Jessie Ruth Yeomans, was born July 1, 1887, in Nashville, Barton County, Missouri.  

Photo of Anna and her 3 daughters in Nashville, MO  

      There are 2 identical photos, both on cabinet cards. One states 'Anna Yeomans and her three daughters Louise Grace + Jesse'. The second states 'Anna Yeomans + girls'. The first states 'E. S. Crandall, Nashville, Mo.' on the bottom border of the photo. The second states 'Crandall, Nashville Mo.' Either one print was made later than the other, or two different kinds of stock were used for some reason. 

      Since Jessie looks about 1 year old, the photo was probably taken in 1888 or early 1889. Bertha Louise would be about 7 years old and Grace would be about 5 years old. 

***********************************************************  EJY-3a

      The daughters are listed in descending order of age. So from left to right, they are Bertha Louise, Jessie and Grace.

Photo of Jessie in Nashville, MO

      The back of the photo states 'Jessie'. The front of the photo states 'Nashville, E. S. Crandall, Missouri' in the bottom border.  

************************************************************  EJY-4

      This picture appears to have been taken at the same time as the previous picture, even though all 3 photos are printed on different card stock. The dress that Jessie is wearing in this picture appears to be the same dress she is wearing in the previous picture.

Photos of Edwin and Anna in Lamar, MO

      The back of the first photo says 'Edwin Yeomans'. The back of the second photo says 'Mrs. E. J. Yeomans'. It also says 'S171' and the number 6428 is stamped on the back of the photo. The front of both photos indicate that the studio was Foster and was located in the Northwest Corner Square in Lamar, Missouri. Both photos have Extra Finish, which makes the picture glossier. I am unable to find any information about the Foster studio at this time.

********************************************************  EJY-5, EJY-6


Photo of Anna and her 3 daughters and her mother 
   
      This photo has no writing on the back and no studio identification! It appears to be a framed photo, rather than a true cabinet card. Anna and her 3 daughters, though, are clearly the same persons that were in the earlier photo!

*********************************************************************  EJY-7

      It looks like the daughters are about 14, 12 and 8. So the photo was taken about 1895. The family was living in Lamar, Barton County, Missouri, in 1893, and in Marionville, Lawrence County, Missouri, by 1900. So this picture could have been taken in Lamar or Marionville. Edwin appears to have been a farmer, based on the 1900 census.

? - How do I know that they were in Lamar in 1893?

      The woman on the far right is Anna Lash Yeomans. The other woman, even though she looks quite youthful, is actually Anna's mother, aka Cornelia Eliza Burnside Lash Pangborn! Since Cornelia was probably living in Onarga, Illinois, this picture may have been taken in Onarga!     

      In 1900, the family was living in Marionville, Lawrence County, Missouri, where Edwin is farming. His 3 daughters, aged 19, 16 and 12, are all attending school.  

Life in North Chicago

      By 1902 or 1903, Edwin and Anna Yeomans had returned to North Chicago, which is just south of Waukegan. Edwin appears in the 1903 City Directory for Waukegan. He is listed under 'Carpenters, Builders and Contractors' and his business appeared to be on McCallister Avenue near 8th Street.

In 1905, he was listed as a Contractor and Builder . It appears that both his office and residence were at 318 Madison.

In 1910, Edwin and Anna and their youngest daughter, Jessie, are living in North Chicago, at 4 nr Marquet. Edwin is listed as a carpenter working for himself. He owns his home free of a mortgage.

In 1913, he was doing cabinet work and general contractor work and worked at 2nd Street near Marquette in North Chicago. (I suspect this was at his home address, based on census information. And I suspect the house in the ad below was his home.) He also had an office at 422 N Utica in Waukegan. His ad read 'E. J. Yeomans, Carpenter, Builder and General Contractor. Estimates cheerfully furnished and General Jobbing promptly attend to. Plans also furnished.'

www.Ancestry.com; U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995; Waukegan, Illinois; 1913; p. 544.   

Photos of Edwin and Anna in Waukegan

      The first photo says 'E. J. Yeomens, Nana's father'. The second photo states 'Anna Yeomans, Nana's mother'. Both photos on the bottom border identify the studio as Hemmen, at 216 Genesee Street in Waukegan, Illinois. Evidently, his name was John Hemmen, but I have not been able to find out much about him. In addition, there appears to be a faded proof of Edwin's photo.

*************************  EJY-8 and EJY-9 and EJY-10

Snapshot of Edwin and Anna Yeomans, likely in front of their home

      ****** EJY-11

The handwriting on the back of the photo states 'Anna & Edwin Yeomans'. The photo looks like it was taken at about the same time as the studio photos above, but they look slightly older! The location looks somewhat rural, but I suspect this is their home in North Chicago, near 2nd and Marquette.

      Edwin James Yeomans died January 15, 1917, in North Chicago, Illinois, in Lake County. He was buried 3 days later in Oakwood Cemetery, in Waukegan. At the time of his death, he was 66 years old and working as a contractor/carpenter.

************* EJY-12

      In 1920, Anna was living at 321 West Center Street, in Waukegan. She owned the home free and clear. In addition, 2 grandsons were living with her, Donald Gorton (age 10) and Frederick Gorton (age 7). They were both attending school. In addition, a Charles Crooks is listed as residing with her, but I know this is her nephew and my grandfather! His occupation was listed as 'travels, Connecticut Recorder'. I know that my grandfather married Nellie Williams, a resident of Waukegan, one year later. And I know that he frequently traveled in his work, and in 1921, worked for the Cincinnati Time Recorder, which made clocks.

      By May 1922, Anna had moved to Pasadena, California, based on notes on old photos. In 1927, Anna was living at 354 S Euclid Avenue, with her eldest daughter, Bertha Louise Gorton. She died May 26, 1927, at age 72, in Los Angeles. She is buried in Mountain View Cemetery and Mausoleum in Altadena, California, in Los Angeles County.     

Children of Edwin

Child #1: Arthur James Yeomans (from first marriage)

      Arthur James Yeomans, son of Edwin James Yeomans and Hannah Rose Schickle, married Isabelle Cropley in Utah, on August 24, 1905, in Corinne, Box Elder, Utah. This was the first marriage for both of them.  Later, they lived in the Colorado Springs area, Bonneville County Idaho, and Washington County Oregon. Arthur and Isabelle had 2 children, Mary and James. According to the 1910 census, they had one child who had died.

Postcard from Colorado Springs to North Chicago

      There is a photo postcard written by Louise and sent to Mrs. E. J. Yeomans. The postcard was postmarked March 17, 1908, from Colorado Springs. It was postmarked March 18 in North Chicago, Illinois. The photo is of a picnic on the preceding New Year's Day. At the bottom, the names Arthur, Belle, Earl, Paul and 'me' are listed. 

**************************************************************  EJY-13

      Arthur James Yeomans and Isabelle Copley would have been 34 and 29 years of age in 1908. 

      Louise, if Bertha Louise Yeomans, would have been 26 years of age. Bertha, after teaching in Illinois, came to Colorado Springs to teach, which is where she met her husband,  Frederick Edwin Gorton. The marriage probably took place in 1908, but I do not know the exact date! Since Fred is not listed on the photo, I am guessing that he took the photo. 

      Louise's husband Fred had a son Earl from an earlier marriage, but Earl would only have been 9 years of age! At this time, I have no idea who Paul is!

      Initially, I thought the people in the photo were listed left to right, but as I look at the photo, it seems unlikely! I believe that the male on the right is Arthur because he looks like his father. I suspect that the boy in the middle may well be Earl, because the boy on the left looks Hispanic or Indian. The woman on the left looks like Bertha Louise, based on comparisons with other pictures. That means the woman on the right might be Isabelle, although she looks older than 29 years of age! 

      So from left to right, it appears to be Paul, Louise, Earl, Arthur and Belle?

Photo of Mary Yeomans in Seattle

      The writing on the back of the photo says 'Miss Mary Yeomans Xmas'. In the bottom right corner of the photo, 'Hartsook Seattle' is embossed. Fred Hartsook was a photographer on the West Coast. 

************************************************************** EJY-14

      This appears to be Mary Yeomans, the daughter of Arthur James Yeomans and Isabelle Cropley. Mary was born in 1912 and lived in Washington County, Oregon, between 1930 and 1940. She attended Pacific University for a year and this picture looks exactly like the photo of one of the 27 girls in the Women's Glee Club in the 1931 yearbook!

www.Ancestry.com; U. S., School Yearbooks, 1900-1990; Pacific University; 1931; page 62, Mary Yeomans.

Child #2: Bertha Louise Yeomans Gorton.

      Bertha Louise Yeomans was born March 8, 1881, the eldest of the 3 daughters of Edwin James Yeomans and Anna M. Lash. She grew up in the Dakota Territory, in Missouri and in Waukegan/North Chicago, Illinois. Bertha taught school for several years in North Chicago and in about 1906, decided to move to Colorado Springs and teach there.  This is where she met Fred Gorton, a thriving clothing merchant. Fred had a son, Earl, from an earlier marriage, but his first wife, Maud, died in 1906.

      In about 1908, Bertha and Fred got married in Waukegan, at the home of Bertha's parents. Several of her cousins attended, including Miss Cora Yeomans of Danville, Raymond Crooks of Gurnee and Mr. and Mrs. William McFarland of Loda. (Raymond Crooks and Helen McFarland are the siblings of my grandfather.) The married couple returned to Colorado Springs immediately after the wedding.

      Bertha and Fred had 3 children, all born in Colorado Springs: Donald Edwin (b. 1909), Margaret L. (b. 1910) and Frederick Edwin (b. 1912).

      Bertha's husband Fred died on January 22, 1913, in Colorado Springs, leaving Bertha with 3 small children at the age of 31! In 1916, Bertha was living at 1435 N. Weber, in Colorado Springs. Her stepson, Earl, aged 18, was living at the same address and working as a clerk for Robbins on the Corner.

      By 1920, she had moved back to Waukegan, possibly in response to her father's death in 1917. She lived with her daughter Margaret on South Sheridan Road. Her 2 sons, Donald and Frederick, lived with their grandmother, Anna Yeomans! In addition, my grandfather, Charles Crooks, was living with them! Meanwhile, Bertha was working as a superintendent of the Hatty Burnett club. (I have no idea what this club was all about!)

      She moved to the Los Angeles County area fairly shortly thereafter. Her sister Grace died in Los Angeles County in 1924, and her mother Anna died in 1927. In 1930, she was living in Pasadena with all 3 of her children. Bertha worked as a bookkeeper for a wholesale grocery. In 1940, she was living in Daly City, California, just south of San Francisco. She was living with her daughter Margaret, her son-in-law Ronald Bobbitt, and 2 grandchildren, Richard and Thomas. Bertha worked as a saleslady for a dry goods business and her son-in-law Ronald worked as an adjuster for a fire house. In 1944, Bertha and Ronald were both registered as Republicans, but Margaret was registered as a Democrat.

      Bertha passed away on April 16, 1968, in Fresno, California, where she appeared to be living with her daughter Margaret. She was evidently cremated and interred in a mausoleum in Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, California, in Los Angeles County.

      There are 2 photos of Bertha with her very young daughter Margaret. The picture appears to have been taken in Colorado Springs in late 1910 or 1911. There are 2 boys in the background of one picture, but I have not been able to identify them.   

*********************************   EJY-16 and EJY-17

      There is a subsequent picture of Bertha Louise Yeoman, Margaret Gorton Bobbitt, Thomas Allen Bobbitt and Richard Evans Bobbitt.  The picture appears to have been taken in the early 1940's in San Mateo County, California.

*********************************  EJY-18

Child #3: Grace Anna Yeomans Yeoman. 

        Grace Anna Yeomans was born October 8, 1883, the second of 3 daughters of Edwin James Yeomans and Anna M. Lash. She was born in what is today South Dakota and grew up in the Dakota Territory, in Missouri and in Waukegan/North Chicago, Illinois. In 1904, she was a senior at Waukegan High School, where she appeared to have an interest in the theater. In 1905, she was living with her family in Waukegan and working as a teacher, like her sister Louise. 

      By 1910, Grace had married a man named Edward Yeoman, who was 4 years younger than herself.  His last name was very similar to her name, but there was no 's' on the end! It was the first marriage for both of them, but did not appear to result in any children. When he registered for the World War I draft, he was described as tall and slender, with brown hair and gray eyes. 

      In 1910, they lived at 422 North Utica Street in Waukegan, with Edward's widowed mother-in-law, Helen Yeoman. In addition, Reverend Royal Handley, a Christian minister, was lodging with them. Her husband Edward worked as a clerk in a law office. In 1913 and 1916, Edward was working as a bookkeeper for the Public Service Company. By 1919, Edward was the manager of Yeoman Adjustment Services. The company was involved with collections and adjustments and employed accountants, auditors and investigators. In the 1925 Waukegan city directory, which was probably compiled in 1924, Edward was listed at the owner and manager of Yeoman Tire and Battery Service.

      There is some uncertainty concerning the place of her death. Based on her tombstone, we know she died in 1924 and was buried in Oakwood Cemetery in Waukegan. According to the California death index, a Grace A. Yeoman died May 28, 1924, in Los Angeles, at the age of 40. Was she visiting family out there or had she separated from her husband? We do know that her mother, Anna  Lash Yeomans, had moved to Pasadena by at least 1922 and died there in 1927. And Bertha Yeomans Gorton lived in Pasadena was well. Anna, though, was buried in California, whereas Grace was buried back in Waukegan.  

      

Child #4: Jessie Ruth Yeomans Howe.

Photo of Jessie

      The front of the cardstock says 'Godfrey Photos'. There is nothing written on the back. 

******************************************** EJY-19

      I believe this is Jessie, based on comparisons with other photos! Her features are fine, her lips thin and her expression sweet! She appears to be a young woman.

      Jessie Ruth Yeomans was born July 1, 1887, the youngest of 3 daughters of Edwin James Yeomans and Anna M. Lash. She was born in Nashville, Missouri, in Barton County. and grew up in  Missouri and in Waukegan/North Chicago, Illinois. In 1910, at age 23, she was still living with her parents, but was not working.

      Jessie must have married her husband, Rudolf Howard Howe, between 1910 and 1918. Her first child, Carol Ruth, was born in about February 1919. In 1920, the young family was living in Elyria Township, in Loraine County, Ohio. Howard was working as a mechanical designer for a tube mill and owned his own home. While living in Ohio, their second child, Robert, was born.

      By 1927, they had moved to Birmingham, Alabama. In 1930, they lived in Carvers Precinct, in Mobile County, Alabama. Rudolf was working as a draftsman for an Iron Sheet Works. a

Ransom Pangborn and Cornelia Eliza Burnside

      There is a photo of Cornelia Burnside, photographed by J. K. Stevens, of Dearborn Street in Chicago. I believe this is Cornelia based on comparisons with other photos.

******************************

      The next 2 photos appear to have been taken at the same time. No names are listed on the back, but by comparing these photos with other photos with labels, I am quite certain that this is Ransom Pangborn and Cornelia Eliza Burnside. Cornelia's first husband was David Lash, and they were the parents of Anna Lash, who married Edwin James Yeomans. After David died in the Civil War, Cornelia married Ransom, who was 22 years her senior, in 1874. Ransom was an early settler of Onarga and lived in Onarga until a few years before his death in 1905. 

******************

      The date 1888 is listed on the reverse side of the card. This card has bold beveled edges, which were popular from 1885-1892. 

Sources

http://www.langdonroad.com/n

Ellen Shand: Hardy Scotswoman

1830-1905

Drumblade Parish church, photo from Joyce Shand, 5th cousin

      Ellen Shand was born April 18, 1830, in Boghead, parish of Drumblade, County of Aberdeen, Scotland, the daughter of David Shand and Jane Robertson. She was the 4th of 5 children and her siblings were William (1825?), Margaret (1825), Robert (1827) and David (1832).  Her father worked as a farmer, probably growing different kinds of oats, potatoes and turnips. In addition, he may have had some Aberdeenshire or highland cattle, and a few chickens. It appears that brother Robert died young, at least he was not living with his family in the 1841 Scotland census, when he would have been 14 years of age. The only sibling we know anything about is Margaret, who married Alexander Maitland, and had a daughter Jane (Jennie) Maitland. We also know that Margaret (and William, if truly her brother) were the result of antenuptial fornication, as the Presbyterian church would describe it!

      The earliest Shand that we know about is Alexander Shand, 6-great-grandfather, who was baptized in 1688 in the parish of Rhynie in Aberdeenshire.

      The family moved to Edinburgh in the late 1840's, where Margaret worked as a lady in waiting. About 1850, the Shands emigrated, possibly entering through Newfoundland or Quebec. The emigrating family included David and Jane, Margaret and Jennie, and Ellen. In 1852, Ellen married Josiah Williams in Dodgeville, Wisconsin. Two years later, Margaret married second husband Robert Kinnear, and David and Jane purchased about 80 acres directly from the government. Margaret had 2 children with Robert, but died giving birth to the second child. At that time, Jennie came to live with David and Jane. I have transcriptions of letters that Jane wrote to Jennie in the 1870's, commenting on family goings-on, the crops and offering sympathy when Jennie's daughter died! The letters are filled with religious references. Most of the Shand family attended a Primitive Methodist church.

      Ellen raised her family in Dodgeville, Wisconsin, including sustaining 4 young children during Josiah's Civil War service and imprisonment. Her father David died in 1866, shortly after Josiah's return. Later, the Williams family lived in Allerton, Iowa, and Kansas. In 1881, Ellen's mother Jane died, and in 1886, her husband Josiah died. In this same time period, daughter Nellie died.

       After Josiah died, Ellen applied for a pension as the widow of Josiah Williams and received $12 per month for the rest of her life. She moved with her daughter Maggie to Fremont, Nebraska for a few years, and in 1889 to Meadow Grove, Nebraska, where Jennie Maitland lived with her family. She bought 2 acres of land in Meadow Grove immediately adjacent to her daughter, Margaret (Williams) Sheets. At age 72, she purchased a 160-acre farm and began purchasing sheeting, siding, shingles, etc. for building a home! She died on January 26, 1905, age 74, in Meadow Grove, at the home of her daughter Maggie. The story in the family is that she died as a result of falling from a barn!
 

Josiah Williams: Civil War POW

1820-1886

Josiah's simple military tombstone, Find A Grave, #9435451

      Josiah Williams was born about 1820 in Indiana or Illinois. Williams is a difficult name to track and the identity of his parents and siblings are not known. It appears, though, that his father was born in Virginia and his mother in Pennsylvania. Some researchers have speculated that his parents were Daniel Williams and Mary Kimberlin, but I have seen nothing to confirm this.

      Josiah married Ellen Shand on March 4, 1852, in Dodgeville, Wisconsin. It is not clear whether his early occupation was miner or farmer, since there was a lot of mining activity in Dodgeville. In 1860, he is living immediately adjacent to his parents-in-law, David and Jane Shand. David is a farmer with real estate valued at $1000, but no occupation or real estate value is listed for Josiah. He most likely is farming with his father-in-law. In addition, I know from a third cousin that Josiah worked as a blacksmith.

      On January 23, 1864, Josiah enrolled at Dodgeville for 3 years of service in the Civil War. At the time of his enlistment, he was about 43 years old and had a wife and 4 children: Frank (10), Mary Jane (5), George (4) and David (1). Josiah served as a private in Company F of the 2nd Regiment of Wisconsin Cavalry Volunteers. He was missing in action on December 1, 1864, at Yazoo City, Mississippi, where the company was in action. He became a prisoner in Cahawba Prison, Alabama, where he contracted chronic diarrhea from severe  exposure. In March,1865, he received medical treatment at a hospital near Vicksburg, Mississippi, and was later transferred to Jefferson Barracks Hospital and Benton Barracks Hospital, both in Missouri. On June 7, 1865, he was mustered out at Madison, Wisconsin. While Josiah was missing in action, Ellen appears to have sold a piece of property to get income.

      In 1870, their fifth child, Margaret, was born. Prior to this, Josiah's mother-in-law, Jane Shand, came to live with them after the death of her husband David. In 1877, a sixth child, Nellie, was born, although I wonder if Nellie was actually a granddaughter! By 1880, the family had moved to Allerton, Iowa, where Josiah worked as a butcher and owned a boarding house for a while. For a time, the family also lived in Kansas. Josiah was moving about because he was no longer able to work at farming after his POW experience! I suspect that he had siblings in Iowa and/or Kansas, but have not been able to pin it down.

      In about 1883, Josiah applied for a military pension as an invalid. Affidavits as to his ill health were provided by numerous friends and family members. His physical description was given as 6' 2", fair complexion, auburn hair and hazel eyes. Josiah himself states, "I do not know the names of any of those hospital physicians. My physical condition was such at the time, that I took little notice of my surroundings. I was a stranger and alone not knowing anyone I saw in those hospitals... I am now not able to do any work and have not the means to procure medical treatment". A few years later, on June 2, 1886, Josiah died in Dodgeville, Wisconsin, age 65, after a protracted illness, of dropsy. In 1888, a military tombstone was erected for Josiah in East Side Cemetery in Dodgeville. Dad and I located the tombstone, but at the time, I did not know about his military service and was not sure if that was our Josiah!