52 Ancestors 2020 – 10 – StrongWoman – Catherine (Brown) Baker

If you have been keeping track of the numbers, you will see that I skipped number 9, which was disaster. I couldn't find a woman within the time limits to write about, so I have gone on to number 10.

I have chosen Catherine (Brown) Baker, who was my half 2^nd great-grandaunt. She was the daughter of my 3^rd great-grandmother Sarah Lollar and her first husband, Thomas Brown. I find it very interesting that Ancestry.com in their DNA ThruLines suggests that I have 20 matches from Catherine's descendants, through 9 of her children. This makes me quite confident that I am related to this “strong woman.”

Catherine should have been a strong woman because she had 14 children and at least 13 of them lived to adulthood. Maybe she learned this from her mother, who had just 2 children from her first marriage, but 14 from her second marriage to my 3^rd great-grandfather, Thomas O'Neal. As Catherine was the oldest daughter she was having her first 3 children while her mother was having her youngest 3 children (1841 - 1845).

Catherine married her husband, Oliver Baker, 17 Mar 1841 in Franklin County, Indiana, and they were married for over 60 years until Oliver's death 30 May 1905 in Delaware County, Indiana. This is another indication that Catherine was a strong woman. She lived less than a year as a widow before her death 25 Feb 1906, also in Delaware County. They were both buried there in Union Cemetery, near Eaton. At least through 1900 Catherine and Oliver lived in Franklin County. It was sometime before 1905 they moved about 60 miles to Delaware County. Their son William was living there in 1900.

On censuses (1860 – 1900) Catherine was marked as unable to write, but apparently she could read. I hope she was able to read the information about her son Maxwell, who lived in Brookville, Franklin County, Indiana. A biography for him was published in 1899 in the Biographical and Genealogical History of Wayne, Fayette, Union and Franklin Counties, Indiana, Volume II, pages 929-931. It included the following about her: “His parents are Oliver and Catherine (Brown) Baker, worthy and esteemed residents of this county.”

Another time that Catherine needed to remain strong was during the Civil War as she had 3 sons who were the right age to fight. Her son Maxwell did become one of the soldiers in Company A of the 35^th Indiana Infantry. It appears he was a substitute for someone else and joined near the end of the war, 15 Oct 1864. The official records show that the 35^th Infantry was involved in the operations against Hood in north Georgia and north Alabama until November 3. They participated in the Nashville Campaign to the end of the year, including the battle of Franklin on Nov 30 and the battle of Nashville Dec 15-16. In 1865 they moved to Huntsville Alabama and were on duty there until March. They were involved in operations in East Tennessee until April 22^nd. I expect both Maxwell and his mother were happy to know the War was ending as Lee signed the document of surrender on April 9^th and other generals were signing until the official end of the War on 26 May 1865. The 35^th Infantry went to Nashville until the middle of June when they were sent to New Orleans. Later they served in Texas until mustered out 30 Sept 1865. Maxwell served long enough that he did get a pension in 1890.

It has been a delight to learn more about this relative of mine, Catherine (Brown) Baker, a “strong woman.”

52 Ancestors 2020 – 2 – Favorite Photo – John England

It is often hard for me to choose a favorite, since I have a number of photos to choose from. This week there were only three aunts or uncles on the birthday calendar who had an available photo and fit my criteria of having a birthday during this week. I already had written about 2 of them in previous years, so it left John England for me to write about. His photo is not the best quality, but it is all that I have for him. It is a picture of John and his wife Eliza.

Eliza J and John B England

John Barnett England was my 2^nd great-granduncle, the brother of my 2^nd great-grandmother, Margaret (England) O'Neal. He was the son of my 3^rd great-grandparents, William L and Mary Jane (Walker) England.

John was the oldest son, born 11 January 1828, in Tennessee. It was most likely in Gibson County because that is where his parents were married the previous year. But John was the only child born in Tennessee as their family moved to Montgomery County, Illinois about 1829. John had five siblings, two brothers and three sisters. It was about 1847 when the whole family moved farther west to Davis County, Iowa.

John was enumerated as a 22 year old farmer on the 1850 census and was listed as a 27 year old laborer on the 1856 Iowa state census. When the 1860 census was taken, John was still living at home and was shown as a farmer owning real estate valued at $1100.00.

1865 saw a number of changes in John's life. On the 20^th of April he married Eliza Jane Goodson. The previous year his brother James and his wife Angeline with their two children had traveled the California Trail with two uncles and their families. So in 1865 it was John's turn. He and Eliza traveled with his parents and his other brother David and David's wife Eliza and their three children; his sister Margaret and her husband, C P O'Neal and their daughter Mary Ann; and John's unmarried sister Mary Ann. I wonder if it got confusing with two Eliza's and two Mary Ann's. John had one more sister, Rachel, who was married to Hezekiah Redenbaugh and she stayed in Iowa with him and their children. Sadly it was also during that year that James was killed from a farm accident in California.

On the 1870 census John and Eliza were living in Lower Lake Precinct of Lake County California. He was shown as J B England, a farmer with $400 worth of personal property. It was not long after this that a number of the England family moved north to Oregon: John's parents, his brother David and two sisters Margaret and Mary Ann.

John's mother died in 1873 and was buried in the Cogswell-Gay cemetery which is northwest of Creswell. On 14 August 1873,William Logsdon England and John Barnett England purchased real estate from John Whiteaker, in Lane County, Oregon, The property was described as 753.5 acres more or less in portions of sections 28, 32 and 33 in Township 20 South, Range 2 West. This was about 5 miles east of Cottage Grove. John's obituary stated that his home was located “at the foot of what is known as Siera Gorda mountain.” Modern maps show that mountain as Cerro Gordo.

When the 1880 census was taken John now age 52 and Eliza age 42 were enumerated in the Cottage Grove precinct of Lane County Oregon. Also in the household were Alvira Champion age 15 and Sarah Champion age 13. Their relationship was shown as servants, but were attending school. John's father William, who was both blind and deaf, was living with John's sister Margaret near Creswell on the 1880 census. According to some family stories, the children took turns having William live with them until his death in 1893. But it was earlier on 3 Nov 1887 that Eliza died and was buried at the Sears Cemetery.

John continued living in his home until 1901 when he went to Portland for medical reasons. It was there he died on 31 May 1901 at the home of his nephew Mac England.

John was buried back in the Cottage Grove area at Sears Cemetery next to his wife.

It is often fun to read older obituaries and see how the writers described the deceased.

John's is no exception. The following is from The Leader on June 7^th, 1901:

     “Uncle Johnie” was one of Cottage Grove's most substancial and highly

     respected pioneer citizens, loved by all who knew him, and was ever

     ready to lend a helping hand to the needy. He was an earnest and consistant

     Christian...and a useful neighbor, no better traits of character can be

     ascribed to any one and white the community grieves the loss of a good

     and true man he will live in the memory of his kindred and friends for

     years to come.

52 Ancestors 2019 – 8 – Family Photo – Perry Solomon Bond

It is so great when relatives share family photos. I am very thankful for their generosity. Today I want to share two different photos of my grandmother's brother, Perry Solomon Bond.

The first one was shared with me by cousin Dave Howard. This photo was cropped from a photo taken at the home of Austin Bond, Perry's uncle,  about 1906.

In 1906 Perry would have been 25 years old, as he was born 18 Feb 1882. He was the oldest son, and 3^rd child of 5 of John Howard and Mary Ann (O'Neal) Bond. He was born in the Creswell area, Lane County, Oregon. When he was about 12, the family moved to Lone Rock, Gilliam County, in north central Oregon. The 1900 census listed Perry's occupation as sheepherder. In about 1905 Perry and his brother Roy moved with their parents back to the Willamette Valley, in the Halsey area of Linn County. It was about 10 years later when the four of them moved farther south to Glide in Douglas County, Oregon, where they purchased a prune ranch.

But that wasn't all Perry found there, for he married Frances Smith 27 May 1916. His brother Roy married her sister Grace in 1917. Perry's mother died in 1918 and his father in 1919. Apparently he continued to work on the fruit ranch as he was listed there with his wife and children on the 1920 and 1930 censuses. But he did do some moving around as he was listed as a farmer in Junction City, Oregon in the 1921 city directory. By the 1940 census they had moved to Klamath Falls, Oregon, and the census indicated they had been living in Roseburg in 1935. At the time of his death, 5 Jun 1969, Perry was living in Springfield, Oregon.

Perry and Frances had 5 children, 2 sons and 3 daughters: Helen, John, Edith, Mary Jane, and Dale. His obituary stated that he had 23 grandchildren and 39 great-grandchildren. His descendants may remember him as he appeared in this photo of Frances and Perry in their later years, which was shared with me by cousin Robert Bond.

52 Ancestors 2019 – 2 – Challenge – Letha Ann (O'Neal) Lanning

This weeks theme is “challenge” for 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks. Since I have chosen to write about siblings of my ancestors, this week I have chosen Letha Ann (O'Neal) Lanning, an older sister of my 2^nd gt-grandfather, Commodore Perry O'Neal.

Letha or Leatha was born on 13 January 1827 in Franklin County, Indiana, the daughter of Thomas and Sarah (Lollar) O'Neal. I believe she fits the theme for challenge since Letha was the mother of 17 children in a period of a little over 27 years. Twelve of her children survived until adulthood and are shown with their parents in the above photo.

Letha was 16 years old when she married John Lanning on the 18^th of August 1843. It was a little less than a year later when their first child, Reuben, was born 31 May 1844. Apparently Reuben was named for his grandfather, John's father. Before the 1850 census was scheduled to be taken, four more children were born: Sarah, Mary, James and Hester. Sadly Mary died a few months after her first birthday and Hester died a little over a month after her first birthday. Then when the census was taken, Reuben wasn't at home, but in his grandfather Lanning's household. The census taker listed Sarah, James and Hester, even though Hester had already died because she had been alive for the official census date.

Children continued to arrive in their family: George, William, Joseph, Aaron, Keturah and David were all born before the 1860 census. Aaron died when he was 2 ½ years old in 1858, so there were eight children enumerated in that Lanning household, aged 16 to 1/12^th. Five children were born during the 1860's: Amanda (who died less than a year old), Nancy, Henrietta, Rosanna and John. The 1870 census shows that the three older surviving children had left home and there were still nine children from age 19 to 2 who were living in their household.

In 1871 Letha's last child, Hiram, was born, but he lived only 2 days. When they took the 1880 census the six younger children were still living at home, four girls and 2 boys. Hopefully that were able to provide help for their parents. It was in this census that Letha stated that her father was born in Ireland and her mother in South Carolina. She repeated that fact in the 1900 census where she was widowed and living with her daughter Keturah. Letha was listed as a 73 year old farmer, who could read, but not write. Her husband John of 56 years had died in November of 1899. At age 83, Letha was shown on the 1910 census with an occupation of manager of a farm. Again Keturah was living there with her. In all her census listings from 1850 through 1910 they were living in Butler Township in Franklin County, Indiana. Letha died there 8 March 1914 and was buried in Wolf Creek Cemetery.

From her obituary which was published in the Brookville Democrat 18 March 1914, we learn that Letha faced physical challenges in her later years:

Aunt Leatha or Grandma Lanning, as she was commonly called, passed through many hardships helping to raise such a large family and accumulating a nice home. Her last years were spent mostly in afflictions, and being so crippled in body she hadn't the pleasure of going about much.

When she died, Letha had 11 children still living and over 150 descendants. Her obituary gives this tribute to her:

Surely many sons and daughters can arise and call her blessed. The last few years of her life the loved ones would gather in and sing and pray with her. She always seemed so glad and happy, often expressing a desire to depart and be with Jesus.

I would say that Letha faced her challenges well.

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks – 13 – The Old Homestead

The theme for this week is “The Old Homestead.” It was during the Civil War, in May of 1862 when the United States Congress passed the Homestead Act. I believe that 6 of my ancestors chose to use that legislation and gain “free” land: 2 in Oregon, 3 in Kansas and 1 in Nebraska.

So who were my “Homesteaders”? I'll begin with those from Oregon. My 2^nd gt-grandfather, Commodore Perry O'Neal, received a patent dated 30 Jun 1891 for 164.53 acres located adjacent to land he had purchased in 1870. This was about 4 miles west of the town of Creswell in Lane County, Oregon. His son-in-law John Howard Bond, my gt-grandfather, received his patent about a year earlier, 28 May 1890, for 160 acres located about 2 miles northwest of Commodore Perry's land. John sold his land in 1893 and moved across the Cascade Mountains to Gilliam County Oregon where he stayed about 10 years before moving back to the Willamette Valley. Commodore Perry stayed on his land until his death in 1919. He had deeded his land to his 3 sons about 2 months before he died.

In Kansas, my gt-grandfather, Nathan Elias Albertson, received his patent 28 Sep 1893 for 160 acres in McPherson township, Sherman County Kansas. As I noted in a blog post about his homesteading last year, 9 Sep 2017, it was located about 10 miles southwest of the County Seat, Goodland Kansas.¹ Before the 1900 census he had moved to another township in the County, Washington Township, about 2 ½ miles west of the town of Edson Kansas.

Nathan's future daughter-in-law's (Lucie Rachel Smalley) grandfather, my 2^nd gt-grandfather, Joshua Rodney Shipman had a homestead also in Washington Township. His patent was dated 23 Sep 1893 for 159.28 acres, located about 2 ½ miles southwest of the town of Edson.

Lucie's other grandfather, another of my 2^nd gt-grandfathers, John Wilson Smalley received his patent 29 Apr 1893 for 160 acres in Itasca Township, Sherman County, Kansas. This was a mile east of Goodland and so was about 5 miles west of where Nathan lived in Washington Township.

It was one of my 3^rd gt-grandmothers who received the patent to a homestead in Nebraska, Lucy Irene Chase (the mother-in-law to Joshua Rodney Shipman.) Lucy's husband Timothy had originally filed for the homestead, but died in 1877 before it was finalized. She received the patent for 80 acres 30 Jun 1879 as his widow. This land was in Atlanta Township, Saline County Nebraska.

Knowing that some who filed for homesteads did not complete the process, I was glad to discover that at least 6 of my ancestors did the required work and were issued patents. Maybe I should also be thankful to the U.S. Congress for passing such a law so my family had the opportunity to be landowners.

1The blog post about Nathan Elias Albertson's homestead is at:

https://joannesgenealogyresearch.blogspot.com/2017/02/great-grandfatheralbertson-had.html

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks – 6 – Favorite Name

Today is the last day of week 6 and the theme for this week on 52 Ancestors is “Favorite Name.” Anyone who knows me very well knows that I dislike choosing just one favorite anything. This topic reminded me of the song from the musical Sound of Music, “My Favorite Things.” So I have written a few of my favorite ancestor names which can be sung to the tune of the first section of that song.

     Ich-a-bod Howe--- and Pe-ni-nah Par-ker,

     Je-mi-ma Booth--- and E-li-sha Ship-man,

     And there is Com-mo-dore Per-ry O'-Neal

     These are a few of my fa-vor-ite names.

If you would like to read the posts I did about these ancestors, here are the dates:

     Ichabod Howe – June 5 & 6, 2017

     Peninah Parker – December 26, 2017

     Jemima Booth – January 15, 2018

     Elisha Shipman – April 7, 2017

     Commodore Perry O'Neal – April 14 & 15, 2017

Sibling Saturday – Ivy Augusta Bond

At the beginning of this year I stated I would sometimes write about some of my ancestors' siblings. I want to try to do it on some Saturdays, so here is my first effort.

John and Ivy Stewart

Ivy Augusta Bond was an older sister of my grandmother, Florence Edna (Bond) Falk. I do have “Aunt Ivy” on my website: http://www.joanneskelton.com/p17.htm#i409

She was the second child of John Howard Bond and Mary Ann O'Neal, born 138 years ago today, 13 Jan 1880. I believe she was born in Lane County, in the area west of Creswell. When Ivy was a teenager, about 1894, the family moved north to Gilliam County Oregon in the vicinity of Lone Rock. On the 1900 census the family was living in Lone Rock and her father was working as a mail carrier. Ivy was 20 with no occupation listed.

It was just the next year, on 12 May 1901, when Ivy was married to John F. Stewart in neighboring Morrow County. The marriage certificate stated that Ivy was of Gilliam County and John was of Morrow County.

When the census was taken in April 1910, Ivy and John were living on Isabelle Street in Lone Rock in Gilliam County and now John was working as a U.S. Mail Carrier. By then they had 4 sons, Clifton, Cecil, Delwin and Rodger, ages 8 to 1 9/12. I expect they kept Ivy busy, especially since she was expecting their 5^th child. Vernon was born on the 3^rd of June 1910.

Then sometime before the end of 1912 the family moved to California, since Alma was born there 27 Dec 1912. It was almost 3 years later when their last child, Ada, was born 7 Nov 1915.

Soon after her father died in March 1919, her brother Roy filed a document with the court, listing the heirs and it included Mrs. Iva A. Stewart age about 38 years, residence Blythe, Riverside, California. Two years later when he filed the final account, she was shown as Mrs. Iva A. Stewart, age about 40 years, postoffice address, Cornville, Arizona. In the probate file I found the following receipt signed by “Mrs. J. F. Stewart” from Cottonwood, Arizona, in 1921. Apparently Cornville is about 5 miles east of Cottonwood and was an agricultural community in the 1920s.

It appears that the family moved to Arizona between 1920 and 1921 since they were still in California in Palo Verde Township in Riverside County when the 1920 census was taken. At that time John was a farmer on his own farm.

When the census was recorded in 1930 the family had moved again and they were in Inola Township, Rogers County, Oklahoma. This was a little more difficult to find, since the census index on Ancestry.com listed her name as Irma and his name as Julius. Looking at the image it really is John and Iva. The children's birthplaces were written as Kansas and Oklahoma, so I am not sure who gave the information since the children were born in Oregon and California. John was still working as a farmer, now on a rented farm.

It was some time between 1935 and 1940 when John and Ivy moved from Rogers County Oklahoma to Thurston County Washington. The 1940 census taken in April showed just John and Ivy living in Rochester Election Precinct where John was a farmer. This census gives us the added information that John had completed 7 grades in school and Ivy had completed 8. It was about a month later, 19 May 1940, when John died and was buried in Grand Mound Cemetery, Rochester, Washington.

Ivy lived as a widow for a little over 13 years. She moved from Rochester to Centralia about 1944. It was there at her home in Centralia that she died 3 Aug 1953. She then was buried at the Grand Mound Cemetery at Rochester.

It Pays to Read Other People's Blogs

I use Feedly to read a number of other people's blogs. One I read almost every day is by Randy Seaver, at www.geneamusings.com. One of his weekly posts is about new and updated collections on Ancestry.com. Recently it included that they had added some Alberta Canada vital records indexes. Since some of my family had immigrated there I decided to check them out.

The Marriage Records Index was from 1898 to 1942. My grandaunt, Lenah (Albertson) Slaight and her family moved to Alberta in 1902 and returned to the United States about 1920. While they were living in Alberta their daughter, Blossom, was married. I had estimated a date of about 1915 for her marriage, so I checked this database and there she was, Blossom Slaight married Martin H. Brown in 1918 at Harmattan, Alberta, Canada. It is not an exact date, but is more information than I had before.

My 2^nd gt-grandaunt, Sophronia (O'Neal) Elliott, with her family moved to Alberta between 1905 and 1911. I discovered her husband Robert's death date in 1911 through a probate record here in Oregon. But I didn't know when Sophronia died. I checked the Ancestry data base for Alberta Deaths 1870 to 1966 and found just one Sophronia Elliott and she died in 1919 in Geoford, Alberta, Canada. However when I checked Google Maps for the location of Geoford nothing was found. I suspect that the name was misread since in an Alberta gazateer and directory for 1914 she was living at Yeoford.

I really appreciate Randy for alerting me to these newly added databases.

Ancestor Birthday – December 7 – Mary Ann O'Neal 1858-1918

Today is the third of my ancestors, all female, who were born on December 7. Mary Ann O'Neal was one of my gt-grandmothers. She was born 7 Dec 1858, the daughter of Commodore Perry and Margaret (England) O'Neal. There is quite a complete listing of the “facts” of her life on my website: http://www.joanneskelton.com/p11.htm#i261 

She was born in Davis County Iowa, moved to California in 1865 and then to Lane County Oregon the latter part of 1870. She married John Howard Bond at her home 18 Jun 1876. It was about 1894 when they moved to eastern Oregon in Gilliam County Oregon with their 5 children, Margaret “Maggie”, Ivy, Perry, Roy and my grandmother Florence. About 1905 they moved back to western Oregon to Linn County Oregon. They went farther south to Douglas County in about 1915. It was there she died 14 Jul 1918.

I have previously posted some photos of her, but will repost some of them today.

This is Mary as a child with her parents.

This is Mary with her parents and 3 brothers. This appears to be after she was married, probably the late 1880s or early 1890s.

This photo of her by herself is one of my favorites. The same photo was published in a Douglas County History with an article about her and John.

Fotos of Some of Sarah Lollar's Children

Yesterday I posted about my 3^rd gt-grandmother Sarah Lollar and that she had 16 children. I only have photos of 3 of them, 2 daughters and 1 son.

This is one of the family of an older daughter, Leatha Ann (O'Neal) Lanning, who was born in 1827. I guess Leatha took after her mother since she had 17 children. Only 12 are shown here. My thanks go to Ancestry.com member, kittyacres, who allowed me to use this picture.

This photo is of one of the youngest daughter, Rebecca (O'Neal) Monroe, who was born in 1845. It was in the collection of my grandmother, Florence (Bond) Falk.

This last photo is of my 2^nd gt-grandfather's family. Commodore Perry O'Neal was born in 1835. It was shared with me by my cousin, Robert Bond.

Ancestor Unbirthday - abt 1799 – Sarah Lollar

Another one of my 3rd gt-grandmothers was Sarah Lollar. According to the 1850 census she was born in South Carolina. It gives her age as 46 which would indicate a birth year of about 1804. However the age brackets in the 1830 and 1840 census show a female born between 1790 and 1800, so I estimate her birth year as about 1799.

By 24 Dec 1818 she was living in Franklin County Indiana because that is where she married Thomas Brown. She had at least two children with him: Isaac and Catherine. I have not found a record about what happened to Thomas, but on 20 Aug 1823, Sarah married Thomas O'Neal, as his second wife. With this Thomas Sarah had 14 children, so altogether that makes 16 children for her. According to a family record her husband Thomas O'Neal died in 1847. Sometime before the 1850 census, she along with some of her children moved to Bartholomew County Indiana. Seven of the children were listed in her household including my 2^nd gt-grandfather, Commodore Perry O'Neal. The family record shows her death date as 17 Apr 1854.

Much of the information about this family comes from a family record which is said to have been kept by James Albert O'Neal, one of Sarah's grandsons. I do appreciate my cousin, Linda Wyatt, who shared this information with me. This is from one of the pages from that record.

Trying to Transcribe--From Probate File of William L. England – 1894 - Pt 1

This was a part of the probate file #834 from Lane County Oregon for my 3^rd gt-grandfather, William L. England, who died intestate (without a will). I was able to view it and get a copy from the Oregon State Archives in Apr 2001.

In the County Court of the State of Oregon

for the County of Lane

In the matter of the          {

Estate of                           {

William L England dec'd {

To Hon. A. H. Fisk Judge of Court,

                              The undersigned

petitioner would most respectfully represent

and show to the Court that William

L. England dec'd in Lane County,

Oregon, on the 8” day of Sept. 1893

intestate.

That the said deceased left property

in this County, both personal

and real of the probable value

of Fourteen Hundred Dollars, in

Lane County Oregon.

That the said deceased left the

following named heirs – towit:

John B. England son aged 65 residence Lane Co. Or

Margaret J. O'Neal        "   60        "            "     "     "

Mary A. Dillard             "  54        "            "     "     "

Rachel S. Redenbaugh   "  52    Davis Co Iowa

J. Mc England grandson " 30  residence Lane Co  Or

Mary N. Elkins " daughter 28       "          Polk  "     "

E. Jane Leabow "     "         25       "         Lane  "     " 

Rachel S. Walker "   "         23       "             "    "     " 

David L. England  "  son    21       "              "    "    "

James M. England "     "     19       "              "    "    "

are the children of David C. England deceased

Early Oregon Cousins – Rachel (Monroe) Stoops

This is an article that I wrote which was published in the Cottage Grove Genealogical Society periodical, Trees From the Grove, 10 years ago, in 2007.  It concerned one of my 1st cousins 3 times removed, Rachel (Monroe) Stoops.

TRACING A TRAGIC INCIDENT

In beginning genealogy we are advised to “listen” to family tradition and do research to discover whether it is true. But often we find some of the more interesting stories by just doing research. I have been trying to use the approach that I research the whole family, including all the children and grandchildren of each direct ancestral couple. With the large size of some of the families, this gives numerous opportunities to discover these stories.

One of my discoveries came while researching one of the grandchildren of my third great-grandparents, Thomas and Sarah (Lollar) O’Neal. Their son, Commodore Perry O’Neal, known as Perry, was my second great-grandfather. His youngest sister was Rebecca, who married Alexander Monroe. Both families had come to Oregon in the Creswell area by 1880.

Following the whole family approach, I researched the easily available basics: the published Lane County Marriage Records at Cottage Grove Genealogical Society Library and my subscription on-line for census records and the Oregon death index. Finding possible names to research, I obtained copies of some of the family death certificates from a trip to the Oregon State Archives in Salem.

One of Rebecca’s daughters was Rachel, born in December 1871 in California and married August 29^th, 1889 to J. O. Stoops, a son of an early Pleasant Hill area settler. The 1900 census showed them as Oscar J. and Rachel Stoops with four children, living in Springfield, Lane County, Oregon. When I checked Rachel’s death certificate for her death on October 17^th, 1905, I found that she had died in Marshfield, Coos County, Oregon and the cause of death was “killed by J.A. Armitage.” What did this mean? More research seemed necessary.

A trip to the Knight Library at the University of Oregon at Eugene was the next step, since all of the known surviving newspapers from Oregon have been microfilmed and are available there. Checking first in the published inventory of available newspapers, I found that there was a paper from Marshfield for that time period. However, when I looked at the Library I found that it was not there that particular day. Was my trip wasted? I decided to check the newspapers from Eugene to determine if any mention of the “killing” was in it.

The October 18^th edition of the Morning Register had it on the front page with the headline: “DOUBLE TRAGEDY AT MARSHFIELD: Both Victims Were Residents of Eugene Several Years Ago, J. A. Armitage Kills Mrs. J. O. Stoops, With Whom He was Infatuated, and Then Ends His own Life---Was Under Peace Bonds for Threatening Woman.” The article gave some of the details. It stated that Mr. Armitage had taken a rifle and revolver and broke into the Stoops home through a window. Mrs. Stoops and her children had taken refuge upstairs. Having taken a gun with her, she shot Mr. Armitage when he came up the stairs, wounding him. He continued up the stairs and grabbed her and shot her with his pistol. He had dropped the rifle and Rachel’s thirteen year old daughter picked it up and hit him on the head to try to save her mother. After he had killed Rachel, Mr. Armitage left the house and went back to his home where he shot himself. The article related that he had been bound over a few weeks before in the sum of $800 to keep the peace because he had threatened Rachel’s life. It also gave the details that Rachel left a husband and five children and Mr. Armitage left a wife and grown family at Eugene.

Then I wondered if a coroner’s inquest had been held. The County Records Inventory on the website for the Oregon State Archives stated that Coos County had inquest records that included 1905 at their Courthouse in Coquille. Since I was already planning a trip to Coos Bay the first weekend in November for a genealogical conference I decided to try to include a side trip to Coquille. I telephoned the County Clerk’s Office at the Courthouse and asked if those inquest records would be available for researching. The person who answered the telephone did not know at first, but asked someone and said it was possible. She asked for the names and said she would check and let me know if they had them, so I would not have to make a special trip for nothing. It was a few days later that there was a message on my voice mail that the records were there and they would have them for me when I arrived on Friday, November 5^th.

Reading the inquest record for Rachel Stoops was a sad experience. It was held later in the evening on the same day that she was killed.

Her husband was called as the first witness. He verified her identity as the 32 year old daughter of Rebbeca O’Neil and Alexander Monroe. He stated that she had told him that Mr. Armitage had threatened her life two months before, in August. Then their fifteen year old son, Frank, was called, but he had been at school so could not give any information about what had happened.

I found the testimony of their daughter, thirteen year old Lulu, the most troubling. She and her mother and the two year old baby were the only ones at home that afternoon. Lulu stated the following: We were up stairs and mama was sewing, and first we knew was when we heard him break in the window, and then mama got up and creamed[sic—screamed] and she grabbed for her gun and ran to the stairs and he was headed up the stairs and mama shot at him and then he fell backwards down the stairs and then he got up and came up the stairs again and she had shot at him as he was coming up and then she grabbed a chair and hit him over the head with a chair and then he commenced to shoot at her and then I picked up his gun and I hit him over the head with it three times and he grabbed the gun away from me, and he started down stairs and then mama fell, and I did not know anything more about him, until I heard a man say he heard him over there and that he was dying….I ran to the window and hollowed to Mrs. Margelt to come that mama was shot and she said she would go and get Mrs. Richardson and she went for her and they came down and Mrs. Richardson was the first one to the house and then Mrs. Bargelt came and then Mr. Carter came. She explained that Mr. Armitage had got into the house through the window, breaking it in. When asked what he said after he had broken in, she said: “When he started up the stairs, he said, Now I’ve got you.” She continued her story: he took his pistol out of his pocket after he came upstairs. He grabbed hold of her [Rachel] and had his arm around her neck and then he commenced to shoot her but I am not sure where he shot her. They questioned Lulu about whether he had tried to do anything to her after her mother had been shot. She told them He started to shoot me, but he must have been too weak I think…He pointed the pistol at me, he tried to pull the trigger but he could’nt. Then Mr. Armitage left.

J. O. Stoops was recalled as a witness and explained that he had left the previous day to go up the Coos River and was there when he received the news about his wife. The Stoops family had lived at Marshfield for three years as had Mr. Armitage. They had known each other, being neighbors, before moving there.

Next, some of the neighbors were called to testify. Then Lulu was called again to clarify her testimony. When asked what she said during the incident, Lulu answered: No sir nothing was said, I was screaming all the time.

The inquest concluded with the testimony of the City Marshall and the doctor who examined the body. The verdict of the jury at the inquest was: “Rachel Stoops.came to her death by gunshot wounds inflicted by James A Armitage, in her home in Marshfield Oregon between the hours of 3 and 4 oclock P.M. on the 17^th day of October 1905.”

At a later trip to the Knight Library, a weekly Marshfield newspaper was available, so I found and copied another story of this murder. Their headline on page one of the October 21^st paper (taken from Wednesday’s Daily): “SHOCKING DOUBLE TRAGEDY. J. A. Armitage Kills Mrs. J. O. Stoops and Then Himself.” On page five was a second article (taken from Thursday’s Daily): “ELEVEN SHOTS WERE FIRED. More Particulars of Tuesday’s Ghastly Tragedy.”

From research I discovered a story of a tragic incident. It appears that Rachel was involved in a case of stalking. She had obtained a type of restraining order against her adversary, but as sometimes happens today, a hundred years later; this did not prevent her death. Now, for me anyway, Rachel will not be forgotten.

SOURCES

Myers, Jane and Arlene Smith, compilers, Lane County Oregon Marriage Records 1880-1889, Vol. III Cottage Grove, Oregon: Cottage Grove Genealogical Society, 1980.

Morning Register, Eugene, Oregon. 18 October 1905

Weekly Coast Mail, Marshfield, Oregon. 21 October 1905

Oregon. Coos County. Inquest Record. Rachel Stoops, October 17, 1905. Coos County Courthouse, Coquille, Oregon

Ancestor Birthday – October 18 – Florence Edna Bond 1891 – 1979

My grandmother, Florence Edna Bond, was born 18 October 1891 in Creswell area, Lane County Oregon to John Howard and Mary Ann (O'Neal) Bond. She was the youngest of 5 children, with 2 older brothers and 2 older sisters. When she was about 3 years old the family moved to Eastern Oregon, Lone Rock in Gilliam County. A little over 10 years later the family moved back to the Willamette Valley to the Halsey area in Linn County Oregon.

It was 27 Mar 1910 when Florence married Julius Adolph Falk. They moved to his farm between Halsey and Harrisburg, with a Harrisburg address. Their first child, Howard Ludwig Falk, was born late in November of 1910 and lived about 3 weeks before his death on 22 Dec 1910. It was a little over a year later when my mother, Wilma Anna Falk, was born 27 Jan 1912. The family increased with Lois in 1915, Erma in 1919, Violet in 1924, and Gerald in 1927. Florence became a widow when Julius died in 1944. She lived most of the rest of her life on the farm until she suffered a stroke in March 1979 and died in June of that year.

I have written about her before on my blog:

22 Oct 2014—Her wedding

4 Jan 2017—Attending England family reunion in 1929

6 Jan 2017—Attending Bond family reunion in 1939

7 Jan 2017—Attending Bond family reunion in 1949

13 May 2017—Mother's Day 4 generations

10 Sep 2017—Grandparents Day

It is good to remember her in many different ways.

Ancestor Birthday - September - Margaret Jane England 1833 - 1897

Margaret Jane England was my 2nd gt-grandmother. The family Bible of her brother John gives just  the month of her birth, so I have chosen to post her page today.

I have posted a rather complete summary of her life on my website: http://www.joanneskelton.com/p13.htm#i318

Therefore I won't write anymore, but post some photos of their family which include her.

First is her wedding photo to Commodore Perry O'Neal from 1858

Second is a photo with their daughter Mary Ann, who was born in 1858.

 

Third is a photo with the whole family, including sons John, Edward and George.

My Diamond Aged Ancestors

My Diamond Aged Ancestors

As I celebrated my 75th birthday a few years ago I was interested in which of my ancestors also had lived to at least 75 years old. The diamond is the gem associated with a 75th anniversary, so I have chosen it to remember these ancestors. Following is a listing of the ancestors through my 3rd gt-grandparents that I have identified as living at least 75 years. I am using the maiden names for the women.

Name	Relationship	Birth	Death	Age at Death
Lester Oran Albertson	father	1907	2004	96
Florence Edna Bond	grandmother	1891	1979	87
Lafayette Pierce Smalley	gt-grandfather	1858	1946	87
Rosa Ella Shipman	gt-grandmother	1863	1954	90
Ludwig Falk	gt-grandfather	1815	1899	83
Benjamin Albertson	2nd gt-grandfather	1826	1908	82
Rebecca Hartley	2nd gt-grandmother	1818	1908	89
Joshua Rodney Shipman	2nd gt-grandfather	1840	1918	78
Solomon Bond	2nd gt-grandfather	1819	1900	80
Huldah Hayes	2nd gt-grandmother	1827	1903	76
Commodore Perry O'Neal	2nd gt-grandfather	1835	1919	84
Nathan Albertson	3rd gt-grandfather	1801	1883	82
Phariby Nicholson	3rd gt-grandmother	1803	1888	85
Elias Marsh	3rd gt-grandfather	1788	1871	82
Isaac Hockett	3rd gt-grandfather	1791	1872	81
Thomas Hartley	3rd gt-grandfather	1767	1843	75
Elizabeth Eakins	3rd gt-grandmother	1802	1881	79
Joseph Lester Shipman	3rd gt-grandfather	1807	1893	86
Sarah Chastain	3rd gt-grandmother	1797	1875	77
William Logsdon England	3rd gt-grandfather	1802	1893	91

If you check the chart you can see there are 20 diamond ages ancestors listed: 13 men and 7 women. You can count and see that 5 were in their 70's, 12 in their 80's, and 3 in their 90's.