Lost and Found

This is a new type of post for my blog, and I know I have been absent from the blog for awhile, I'm still digging and discovering new things though! 

The other day a photo request came in from Find A Grave for a local family cemetery I had never heard of. Where I live is not where I grew up, but I've been here more than 20 years now, so the place has really taken me in, as many transplants may understand. As I read the description of the cemetery itself, I became intrigued. My husband was born and raised here and I read the description to him in case he would remember anything, then we pulled up Google Maps and zoomed in to the area we thought it was describing.

as you can see, the little wooded area where the cemetery is located is surrounded by modern life. It is snuggled in between a motel, what used to be a restaurant, a medical lab, doctors offices, then in the back, a new housing development. 

The description said the cemetery was behind  a place that used to be a restaurant called The Briarpatch. I have not been here long enough to remember a restaurant by that name. My husband remembered it, but I asked my local friends on Facebook if they remember it, and to confirm my husband's recollections. Looking on the maps, and zooming into the suspected location, we could see that development was closing in on the location, but there was still a small wooded patch right where we suspected the cemetery might be. Though many of the locals remembered the restaurant, none recalled knowing of a cemetery behind it. Between the encroaching of society and the lack of knowledge of the locals of a cemetery being there, my husband and I began to wonder if any remains of the cemetery even still exists.
The next couple days were a bit busy for us, but yesterday we needed to go get some groceries. The location in question is not far from where we live (maybe a half mile or so away), so we decided to drive by and at least look to see if there were any signs of a cemetery remaining. We drove around to the back of the building that used to be the restaurant, a paved drive allowed us to drive right to the back. We walked into the small overgrown wooded patch, with my camera at the ready.

the small wooded patch as it looks from the back of the former restaurant

 It only took a moment to find a small cluster of stones laying on the ground. A small stone was marked simply "mother", a large stone near it, laying face up, still had inscriptions mostly readable. I took some pictures, after we brushed some of the dirt and vegetation off. But, It would be easier to read if we could go back and clean it up some more, and maybe use some cornstarch to help bring out the markings.

Cluster of stones where small "Mother" stone and stone for Garland  Withers and his wife Sarah Morrison were found. We did not see markings on the 3rd stone seen here. 

Garland H. Withers born ___ 26, 1810 (?) Died Sept ___1889 (?)
His wife Sarah C Morrison Born July 20, 1818 (?) Died  Aug 14, 1891 (?) 

Mother

Another stone, not far away, obviously broken, only had partial markings still visible. We could see it said Elizabeth, but no last name, and not real sure we can make out any dates or partial dates.

Elizabeth

We looked and walked around some more, not really seeing any more stones standing or laying, but as we stepped around on what we thought was just solid ground covered with dead leaves and vines, often our foot would land on something hard. Clearing back the vines and leaves would reveal a stone, close to the ground. It's hard to decide if many of those stones were once head stones or markers now broken and weathered, or if they were part of what once had been a wall, or just random stones.

these two we didn't touch, this is how they appeared as we found them

my husband clearing dirt and vine and leaves off a long stone. Was it  once part of a rock wall?  Or the base of a marker? 

my shoe for size reference on what is left of a stone we uncovered. Was it once the base of a  marker? 

Another set of stones we didn't bother,  but how we found them 

At the edge of the wooded spot, there was a pile of dirt and stones, most likely left from the construction of the housing area on the other side of the wooded grove.

a pile of dirt and rock piled at the edge of the wooded spot, probably left over from  construction. We did not see any stones with markings, but we didn't dig or try to clean any off either. 

We decided this spot needed a return visit. It also needed some cleaning up with rakes, maybe shovels and who knows what else. We will have to find out who now owns the property and get permission to attempt to clean things up a bit. At the grocery store we ran into the wife of our boys' Boy Scout troop master and mentioned it to her, in case any boys were looking for an Eagle Project. We think it would be best to do what we can before growing season comes back. Can you imagine what this will be like in the spring and summer?
We were only there for a few minutes, but before we left, I whispered over the graves to those resting, so if they can hear from where ever they are, they now know they have not been forgotten.

Samuel Riggs, Continued...

I found another source with the some of the same info as the previous post, but this source is easier to read. I did a screen capture of the relevant pages and cropped them down so I could print just those pages and also find them easier in my electronic files too. For anyone interested, the PDF of this source is right here:  Illustrated Centennial Sketches, Map and Directory of Union County, Iowa Published by C.J. Colby, Creston, Iowa 1876   clicking this link will open the book in a PDF that you can read online or download. If you have any interest in Union County Iowa, I recommend checking this book out, it has wonderful illustrations of the community!

  Here I am adding images of the cover page (cute drawing!) and the pages that Samuel wrote.

Also found was this interesting little paragraph about Samuel and his cousin in The Making of Iowa by Henry Sabin and Edwin Legrand Sabin copyright 1900 (clicking link will open the book page in Google Books which is fully readable, or you can download for free) This appears on page 205. The chapter this paragraph appears in is about the Border Wars, a strip of land between Missouri and Iowa that both states claimed at the same time.

Samuel Riggs

I know I have neglected this page, there are just so many things going on in life. I still do plenty of research, I had just let this blog slip away. But what I found yesterday I think is worth sharing, since I know there are lots of other Riggs' descendants out there in this big, small world.

The other day I had gotten an email invitation to a Riggs family reunion back in Kansas. They have one every year for descendants of James Daugherty Riggs and Lucinda Barker, who are my 3rd great grandparents. I know I won't be able to attend the reunion, and I'm sure there wouldn't be a familiar face in the whole crowd anyway. But it got me to thinking about the line again and I started to dig around for new info. Well, new information is exactly what I found. Most of the information I had found before, was found by other researchers. The folks who run the reunion have shared lots of work with me, and it was a huge help is growing my family tree.

This bit I'm about to share I found, sort of, through Ancestry as a hint from browsing records for Samuel Riggs, so then I ran a Google search for him, and came upon a text document on ebooksread.com. We all know how garbled that can be, so back to the search until I found the same book on Archives.org.  (the following link will take you directly to the PDF if anyone would like to read it or download it for themselves. But I did my best transcribing the relevant content and am sharing that here.) Biographical and Historical Record of Ringgold and Union Counties, Iowa Vol 2. By The Lewis Publishing Company 1887.

Here is my transcription of two separate entries in the book concerning Samuel Riggs. There were a couple errors I noticed, and several places where I had a hard time reading the fading pages. I was particularly excited to see that a large portion of the second entry was originally written by Samuel Riggs himself!

Biographical Sketches 

page 649- 

  Samuel Riggs, __(hard to read)___farmer, residing  in Kent, Union County, was born in Dodd (sic) County, Kentucky in 1806, and is the son of Daniel Riggs and Nancy Riggs. In 1817 the family settled in Missouri, remaining in the state twenty-five years. Samuel Riggs then lived in Davis County, Iowa for thirteen years, when in 1853 he settled in what is known as Riggs’ Grove, in Douglas Township, where he entered and bought 400 acres of land, and remained a resident there until 1876. He was the third settler in the western half of Union County and experienced many of the hardships and privations of pioneer life. He was married in Howard County, Missouri in 1825 to Rhoda Belch (sic), by whom he had four children. -- James D., Eli H., Nancy, and H.P. Mrs. Riggs died in 1836 and Mr. Riggs was again married the same year, in Kentucky, to Marinda (sp?) Piper, who was born in Smith County, Tennessee in 1806. To this union were born five children—Mary, S.M., Rebecca, Joseph and Daniel. Since his residence in Iowa, Mr. Riggs has represented the people of Davis County in the State Legislature for one term. He was also sheriff four years, and held the office of Deputy Sheriff the same length of time. He has voted he Democratic ticket the past fifty years, missing but one election. He is classed among the influential citizens of Douglas Township, where he has made his home so many years.

 

 

Early and Civil History

Page 667- Douglas Township

  Frank Bruning and Asa Ames came to Union County at the same time, May 1853. Bruning settled on the southwest quarter of section 37 and Ames on section 27. In September Samuel Riggs arrived at their shanty. They were not aware of any neighbors nearer than Missouri, except Indians. John Green had a band of Pottawatomies, about 100 braves, on Grand River, ten miles southeast of Afton.

   Previous to Bruning and Ames’ settling on the Platte, they had made a selection on Grand River, and started from Missouri for their lands, they followed the divide between Platte and Grand Rivers. A very dark night coming on they got lost, and in their wanderings fell into Platte River. Coming out, they located as above stated.

  Bruning at that time had never seen a map of Iowa, and did not know what county he was in, but was pleased with the country and satisfied to locate here.

  On the 12^th day of October 1853, Mr. Riggs commenced work on a cabin of the ‘Tippecanoe’ style, on section 30.  H. Pitman, John Snow, Reuben and Mahlon Riggs came with Riggs and took claims. By February following many others had taken claims; among them were Henry Cline, Jonathan Coons, and James Howard.

  Early in march 1854, Reuben Riggs and Reuben Madden moved into the county, and Madden bought Ames’ cabin.

  Mr. Riggs writes in Colby’s Atlas: “When we were here in November we staked out a road leaving the Mormon trace where Afton now stands. Soon after our return two surveyors, from Glenwood came along surveying a state road from Glenwood to Chariton. At the time there was not even an Indian trail leading east and west; but there were several running northwest and southeast. They intended to mark out the road so that it could be followed. A few days afterward four travelers undertook to follow the trace, going west past our camp about three o’clock, pm., it soon became very foggy, and they lost their way and wandered around until two o’clock in the morning when they got back to Platte, a mile below our camp. There one of the party, an old man seventy-two years old, gave out and said he must rest before he could travel further; he was as comfortably cared for and bedded as saddle and blankets would allow, and then two of the party started to find our camp, while one remained with the old man and horses. The two came in sight of our campfire and commenced hallooing. We answered them that they had passed our camp the evening before. They at once started back for their horses and companions. On returning, they found that their hallooing had frightened their horses who had broken loose and run off, and they were left to foot it back to our camp, hungry and very much fatigued. We at once commenced preparing breakfast. We had plenty of cornmeal and coffee, but fried all our bacon.

  “After breakfast, the proposition was made to get us and our two horses and one of their number to hunt their horses. The morning was still foggy; on striking the trail we found they had started off at full speed; about ten o’clock the fog blew off and we came in sight of the run-aways; they had crossed their trail several times, running in a circle; as soon as they discovered us they were as wild as elks; they were between us and our camp and ran in that direction, coming up to it, they became more tame and we caught them.

  “The strangers now proposed to stay until the next morning and as ___ us in raising our cabin. We showed them our stock of provisions. It was found we had plenty of  cornmeal and coffee, and some dried fruit, but if they would stay we would send down to neighbor Bruning’s only eight miles distant, and get some meat. We accordingly, started a boy off to Bruning’s on horseback, while we went to putting up house logs. In due time the boy returned, bringing back the word that neither Bruning or Ames had either beef, pork or bacon, but they had just finished dressing two fine coons, and they, with pleasure, sent us the best one.

  I mention this incident more to show the fraternal spirit which governed the pioneers in their dealings than for any other purpose. The hardships and privations endured by the first settlers were, in great measure, modified by an open-hearted liberality, not found in more densely populated communities.

  “On the 13^th of April, 1854, I moved my family into our log cabin. At that time there were about eight families in what is now Platte Township, but there was no township organization. In June 1854, we carried a petition to Judge Nun, asking for a township organization, which he granted and included the whole southwest fourth of the county in one township, which we called ‘Platte’.   The first election was held at the house of H. Prentice, on the first Monday in August 1854, at which fourteen votes were cast, and necessary township officers were elected.

  “The next accession to our settlement was William Moore, who settled on section 28; then came “Uncle Jimmy” Lytle who was located on section 17 and the Meyers family, on the same section, about July 1854. In August, 1854, a man settled on section 6 who, in the spring of 1855 sold to William H. Terpenning.

  “In 1857 Platte Township was reorganized taking from her territory township 72, 30, now Highland (sic); 71, 30, now Grant; and in 1860 Douglas Township was organized. The writer of this sketch carried the petition for organization to the then county judge Hon. J.W. McDill, who granted the prayer of the petitioners, and as no name was indicated, the judge conferred the responsibility of christening the new township upon the writer, who unhesitatingly named it Douglas, in honor of Stephen A. Douglas of Illinois. At the first election but seven votes were cast, to wit:  J.S. Lytle, Robert Davis, D.M. and Samuel Riggs, William Morrow; and for four years subsequently the vote did not exceed fourteen at any election.

  “The first years we were here, we had either to go to Compton’s, near Winterset, or to Hawleyville (sp?), Page County, to get milling done, except that a small mill at Petersville would crack corn for us, provided we had any to crack.

  “Blacksmiths were scarce; Frank Bruning had a few tools and with a black oak tree for a shop, and a rude forge, improvised for the occasion, he sharpened our plows and shod our horses, as necessity compelled to patronize him.

  “The first school-house in this part of the county was erected in 1855, on Reuben Madden’s land, and was built of logs. It was probably more highly appreciated than are the commodious and attractive school buildings of to day.

  “The settlements during the years 1855-‘6 were quite rapid on Platte—Joseph Roberts, B. R. Baker, James Wisherd, The Blisses, E. Orr, and others.

  “The first post office in the west part of the county was established in 1854, S. M. Riggs, postmaster. A mail route was established from Pisgah to Glenwood the same year, and the writer was the contractor for the mail service on the route, which was carried weekly, and supplied the offices of Afton, Platte, Scioly (sp?), White Cloud, Indian Creek, and Glenwood; the distance was one hundred miles and not a bridge the entire distance and very little road.

  “The writer was the first justice of the peace in the west part of the county, being commissioned in 1854.

  “The first saw mill was a portable one, and located on section 10, and was built by Tarpenning & Company, in the summer of 1855. They completed their saw mill, sawed some, quarreled more, and spent more money at the law than they made at the saw.

  “The first school-house in Douglas Township was a frame 18x26, built of native lumber, sawed at Sharpe’s Mill in Ringgold County, and was located on section 30. The first teacher was Miss Mary Lambert. Religious meetings were not of frequent occurrence at our first settlement, but only occasionally an itinerant preacher would call the neighbors together and preach to them. The first sermon was preached in this township by Isaac Sidewell, at the house of the writer, in 1855, the next was by Moses Case, in 1861, at the school house.

  “The first store in Douglas Township was started by Lemon & Cresswell, in Cromwell, in November 1868; they were soon followed by J.C. Williams, in January 1869.

  Good fortune and natural advantages together have given to Douglas the largest city in Southwestern Iowa, except Council Bluffs. Creston has grown up on wild prairie in seventeen years.

William Morgan and Rebecca Mills

As with the previous couple, I have not very much documentation on this one either but, also like the previous couple, most researchers seem to agree (somewhat) with dates, places and names. Until I find more records to validate dates and places, this is also incomplete data and should not be mistaken for absolute fact.

William Morgan was born about 1742. Some sources say Pasquotank, N.C., some say 1738 in Frederick, Virginia. For now, I am going with the former.  he was the son of John Morgan and Sarah Lloyd.  William married Rebecca Mills  (I believe) July 10, 1760 at New Garden Monthly Meeting. I found a transcribed record online that lists the marriage as follows:

William Morgan, Roan Co., son of John of the same, m. Rebecca Mills, dt. Thomas, Roan Co., 10-7-1760 at New Garden. Wit: William Baldwin, John Mills, Hur Mills, Wm Beeson, John Hodson, Richard Beeson, Elizabeth Mills, Elizabeth Baldwin, Sarah Mills, Mary Mirphew, Phelis Baldwin, Mary Beeson.

that is from the following site: http:www.newrivernotes.com/va/swift/newgarden_marriages.html 

William Morgan died April 7, 1771 at Deep River, Guilford, N.C.
This marriage, and William's death, is also recorded in the Beals Family History (Rebecca Mills is the granddaughter of Mary Ann Beals, daughter of John Beals and Mary Jane Clayton) A PDF file can be seen and downloaded via this page for the Canaday Family. Look under the heading for Maryland Families and click on Beals to open the PDF.  This is what it says about William Morgan and Rebecca Mills:

Rebecca Mills born April 30, 1744 who married William Morgan. William died at the age twenty nine in 1771, and Rebecca then married Joseph Thornbrugh on February 5, 1778. Joseph was the son of Thomas Thornbrugh and Abigail Brown.

 Rebecca Mills was born April 30, 1744, possibly in Frederick, Virginia. I've yet to confirm the location. She was the daughter of Thomas Mills and Elizabeth Harrold.  Rebecca died September 20, 1821, in Wayne Indiana.

William and Rebecca had the following children:

1. Reuben Morgan born December 18, 1761
2. John Morgan born June 26, 1763
3. *Thomas Morgan born November 7 1765 in New Garden , Guilford Co. N.C. died February 28, 1819 in Jefferson, TN. 
4. Elizabeth Morgan born November 3, 1767 
5. William Morgan born March 2, 1770

I have seen the birth places for most of William's children as Rowan, North Carolina, but that makes for inconsistencies with locations since I have seen Thomas (my ancestor) being born in Guilford, and I haven't really studied the locations very much yet or found records to verify locations of any of the children. So, as with te previous post, anyone researching these individuals should take this information as clues and do your own research to verify dates and locations.

Thomas Morgan and Ruth Weisner

I really don't have much on this couple. (most of this information is yet to be be confirmed, so if you are researching take this as clues and try to verify for yourself. This is just what I've seen from various rootsweb files.)

From what most researchers seem to agree on, Thomas Morgan was born November 7, 1765 in New Garden, Guildford County, North Carolina. He is the son of William Morgan and Rebecca Mills. He married Ruth Weisner November 14, 1819 in Jefferson TN.
 Ruth Weisner was born 19 September either 1767 or 1700 (I've seen both dates and haven't confirmed either) in Pasquotank, North Carolina (or Orange County, N.C.). She is the daughter of Michael Weisner and Ruth Pike. Ruth Weisner Morgan died March 19, 1816 in Lost Creek, TN.

Thomas Morgan and Ruth Weisner had the following children:

1. *William H. Morgan born Aug 4, 1793. Died October 14, 1869
2. Hezikiah Morgan born February 6, 1796
3. Obediah Morgan born February 6, 1796
4. Abigail Morgan born November 25, 1790
5. Miriam Morgan born March 6, 1802
6. Rebecca Morgan born October 22, 1788

One of the files I printed off says Ruth Weisner's death is recorded in the Lost Creek, TN. Monthly Meeting record/Quaker records/Hinshaw book. Thomas and Ruth death, page 1110.

William H. Morgan and Catherine Peck

I don't seem to know a whole lot about William H. Morgan and his wife Catherine Peck. From what I have found William H. Morgan was born August 4, 1793 probably in North Carolina. He was the son of Thomas Morgan and Ruth Weisner.
William married Catherine Peck February 5, 1817. Catherine was the daughter of Peter Porter Peck and Catherine (Last name unknown). Not much of anything is known about her parents. It's another dead end.
Catherine Peck was born April 15, 1795 and died April 23, 1879.
The graves for both William and Catherine are in Ackworth, Iowa, where the family reportedly migrated after leaving Tennessee.  Their graves can be seen here along with many other family members, you can also see a photo of their church on this link.

This page on the same site has photos of some descendants of William and Catherine. I haven't figured out exactly who everyone is, it doesn't appear any are my ancestors, but they certainly are related somehow, and looking at old photos is always fun.

From what I have found so far these are the children of William and Catherine Peck Morgan:

1. Matilda Morgan- born Dec 5, 1817. died April 20, 1855. She married James Allen
2. Ruth Morgan- born Aug. 6, 1819 in TN. Died Dec 6, 1900. She married Jacob Beals in 1838 in Lost Creek, TN.
3. *Elizabeth Morgan (my ancestor)- born Jan 16, 1821 in Lost Creek, Jefferson, TN. Died June 16 1890 probably in Iowa. She married Thomas Norris Allen
4. David Morgan- born July 18, 1822. Died Dec 13, 1892. He married Lucinda Lee.
5. Jonathan Morgan- born Mar 13, 1824 in TN. Died Mar 18, 1895. He married Jane Cuthbert.
6. Abigail Morgan- born Dec 23, 1825 in TN. (no death date recorded right now). She married Abraham Beals.
7. John Basil Morgan- born Sep 29, 1828 in Lost Creek, TN. Died Aug 15, 1879 in Fruitland, Kansas. He married Abigail Moore Aug 17, 1852. (I believe this is some of those pictured on the page I linked to above)
8. Catherine Morgan- Born Apr 17, 1830 in TN. (no death date recorded). She married Frederick Smith. 
9. Elisha H. Morgan- Born Jan 5, 1832 in TN. Died Sep 6, 1868 in Fruitland, Kansas. He married Eliza Jones. It appears these two are also buried in the same cemetery as his parents. 
10. Susannah Morgan- Born Jun 17, 1833 in TN. Died Nov. 9, 1882. She married James C. Bales.
11. Mirriam Morgan- Born Feb. 9, 1835 in TN. Died July 28, 1852. 
12. Jeptha W. Morgan- Born Nov. 20, 1836 in Lost Creek, Jefferson, TN.  Died Jan 8, 1924 in Oskaloosa, Mahaska, Iowa. He married Arminta Canady in 1876.
13. Rebecca Morgan- born Apr 23, 1838 in TN. Died Feb 19, 1892. She married Pleasant Jones. 
14. William Morgan Jr.- born Dec 4, 1840 in TN. Died Feb 17, 1912. He married Elizabeth Carey.

That's pretty much what I have on this family group, I'm not even sure how accurate it all is. 

My Morgan Line

My Morgan line begins, actually also with an Allen and a brick wall. A Quaker brick wall is a bit odd, I think, since they are so well known for keeping great records.

My grandmother's grandmother was Emily, aka Emma A. Allen. It is said that Emma was born in Friendville, TN May 16, 1851 to the parents of Thomas Norris Allen and Elizabeth Morgan. I found Emma's name through some records of other researchers and relatives in Kansas who have been keeping records and having an annual family reunion for the Riggs family.
Emma was married to Joseph Hughes Riggs on December 19, 1872. Another date has been noted as the 12th, and not known which is correct. Emma and Joseph can be seen in a group photo I had posted previously . Here she is cropped from that photo:

Emily "Emma" A. Allen Riggs

 

 

 

One source, an obit from the Chase County, Ks paper (noted in the files from the Riggs relatives), says she was born in 1852 and 12 years later came with her parents to KS where she lived the rest of her life with the exception of 8 years when she lived in MO.

Emma is with her family in 1860 in Blount County, TN and she is 9 years old. Her father is Thomas, mother is Elizabeth, and has siblings by the name Amanda, Julia, Edwin, Elizabeth, and Thomas. By the 1870 census they are in Toledo, Chase Co, KS, she is 19, her father is listed as Thomas N. Allen, (farmer) mother Elizabeth, and the only siblings in the home are Julia, Edwin, Elizabeth and Thomas. In the 1880 census she is married to Joseph Riggs, living in Fairplay, Marion Co, KS. Joseph is 31 (farmer) , Emma is 29, and they have 3 children already, including Lester, my gr grandfather, age 5(?). His name was actually Ernest Lester , but went by his middle name most of is life, seems to be a common practice in my family. 1885 has them in Cottonwood, Chase Co, 1895 and 1900 has them in Cedar, Chase Co.
1910 has them in Hazelwood, Webster, MO. Joseph is 61, Emma, 58, and two children ages 25 and 14 living with them there. Then 1920 and 1925 has them back in Toledo, Chase Co, KS. Their two children Lillis and Clifford still living with them, in the 1925 census Lillis and and Clifford are age 40 and 35 respectively.

My dad went to the local library and found Emma's death announcement for me on microfilm (Emporia Gazettte) and sent me a copy. I'm not exactly sure of the date of the paper, it didn't print out with the section, but there is an advertisement on the same page dated December 17, 1928. The  notice reads:

Mrs. Emma Riggs Dead

Mrs. Emma  Riggs, 77, who lived 7 miles north of Saffordville died at 11:30 o'clock this morning at the St. Mary's hospital. She had been suffering from severe burns received December 9th when she overturned a vessel of boiling water while working at her home. Funeral services  will be at 11 o'clock Wednesday morning at the Friend's church in Emporia. (unreadable) Mrs. Carnell, pastor of the Walnut Grove church, will conduct the (unreadable but hyphenated to next line so most likely "services"), assisted by Rev. R. E. Jackson, pastor of the Friends church. Internment will be in the Hillcrest Cemetery in Florence.

She is indeed buried in the Hillcrest Cemetery  in Florence, Marion County next to her husband who died before her (May of the same year). Their memorials are on Find A Grave. Her birth on her her tombstone says she was born May 16, 1851, Died December 17, 1928. According to the notes in the files I was given, another researcher had her birth as 1850. The notes also say that her obituary in the Chase County Leader News  say she was born in 1852, that they were married in 1872, and that she died of burns received when she overturned a vessel of boiling water while preparing to take a bath in her home on December 9th.
This reference was the first I had seen about Quaker roots. I didn't even know what "Friends church" meant, and had to look it up. But I knew exactly which hospital it was where she died, I was born in the same hospital. I also knew exactly which church her funeral was in, I remember going there as a very young child, and lived near it a couple times while growing up.  Here is a photo I took last summer of the church. We didn't get to go in, since it was closed when we went to visit.

First Friends Church in Emporia Kansas

In trying to learn more about Thomas Norris Allen,  I came across some articles about his son Thomas G. Allen. Seems he was quite prominent in Chase County, so it was more through him I found more about Thomas N. and his wife.
On Chase County Pages I found the two following pages on Thomas Norris Allen  and his son Thomas G. Allen .
Then I found this page on Scribd which lists names of people buried in a small Quaker cemetery in the area which lists Thomas and Elizabeth. I found it through this Research Page which has a link to a page with pictures of the cemetery, and Thomas and Elizabeth's graves. It also includes a biographical sketch of the Allens which I find very interesting and fun to read, and have added it to my files.

The main page also has a link for more about the Morgans and it links to the church where earlier family members attended and were buried in Iowa. 
 Essentially the biographical sketch describes how the Allens and Morgans lived in Eastern TN until the outbreak of the civil war. The Quakers were peaceable people and didn't go to war, so they left Tennessee when the war made it to their area, and they went to Iowa. Some stayed there, and some went on to Kansas. So some of my Morgan ancestors are buried in Ackworth, Iowa.

Elizabeth Morgan Allen  was born January 16, 1821 in Lost Creek, Jefferson, TN. She was the daughter of William Morgan and Catherine Peck. Elizabeth (also sometimes spelled Elisabeth) married Thomas N. Allen on April 27, 1839 in Lost Creek, Jefferson, TN. She died June 16, 1890, presumably in Chase County, Ks.

Here are the photos I took of hers and Thomas' graves and the cemetery when I visited them last year:

"Our Mother Elizabeth Allen died June 16, 1890 aged 69 yrs & 5mo" "Our Father Thomas N. Allen, died 1, mo. 11, d. 1875, aged 63 yrs, 11 ms, 15 ds."

Old Friends Cemetery as seen from the road, West of the Lyon/Chase County line on Road 180, North side.

Thomas and Elizabeth's graves just south of the big cedar tree in the cemetery. 

  I think I will stop here for this post and start the next one on the ancestors of Elizabeth.  In digging through my files for this post I found a clue on Thomas that I had missed before and I want to dig around some more.
  I found a Thomas Allen in the 1850 census in Blount County, TN. He is 40 years old then, and listed as a farmer, from TN. His wife Elizabeth is 30, and also listed as from TN, as are all the children (names all match the names in other census which Emily shows up in): Wm age 10, Amanda age 6, Julia age 4, and Edmund age 2 (other census he is listed as Edwin). Also in the household is listed a Sarah, age 74 and in the location column it says "no car" which I'm guessing to be North Carolina.
North Carolina makes sense, it's not far from Blount County, and it's also where the earlier Morgans lived before they show up in Tennessee. I have other Allen names further back connected with the Morgan family, But so far I haven't been able to find any connection for Thomas to them.

New Discovery, Ties with Daniel Boone

I got a new e-reader for Christmas, so now I can sit in my recliner with my dogs and read more. I have tons of books I've downloaded from Google Books, but it's been hard to balance a lap top with a lap full of Beagles, they are so snuggly. So with the new electronic reader, I downloaded some new books, and for whatever reason, I found a few about Daniel Boone that sounded like would be fun reading. Just a few pages in I saw something I had to look into. The book named Boone's mother, Sarah Morgan, and mentioned they were thought to have been Quaker. That's all I had to read. I left the comfort of my recliner and came back to my desk and looked into the ancestry of Daniel Boone for more details. I already know that the Morgan line on my maternal grandmother's side was Quaker. I visited the grave of one while I was back in Kansas last summer.
I did find what I was looking for, dug out my relationship chart and discovered that Daniel Boone is/was my 1st Cousin 8 times removed! It was more cool news to share with the family. Sarah Morgan's brother John was my 7th great grandfather, and Daniel Boone's Uncle. The discovery has actually helped me learn a bit more about the Morgan line and the Lloyd line.
Since this connection is on a line I have not shared here yet, and I have pretty much shared all I currently know on Grandpa's line, I think this is as good of a time as ever to share it here on my blog. I shared the information briefly on my facebook page, and already had a few friends say we are related! Even though I don't exactly know how, it makes the world seem that much smaller. I must say though, I had bigger expectations of finding that my husband was related to the Boones than myself, since his Kentucky roots are so much deeper. Who knows, maybe he is, I just don't know how yet. I did read that book some more, and saw that Wallen was one who accompanied Boone on one of his first trips into Kentucky. Wallen is one who I suspect may be an ancestor of my husband's, I have just had a very difficult time figuring out if it's true or not. That all depends on proving a marriage with an earlier ancestor, which may not be possible.
 So with all of that, I will post this, and begin the task of sharing my grandmother's ancestry, which means going back to Kansas (virtually) to get started.
Happy New Year to everyone. May the coming year be full of joy, discovery and friendships!

Robert B. Duncan 1810-1897

I found something new on the Duncans! I was going through some notes I took awhile back when looking through Smart Match results on My Heritage. I don't know why it took me so long to follow up on it, it must have sat in my files for months! But I saw it a week or so ago, and I decided to look into it. So far it looks pretty good.

Robert B. Duncan appears to have been the brother of my William Duncan. All the files and stories I had seen before named William's parents as Robert Duncan (from Scotland) and Lucy Boyles or Broyles. That was pretty much it. I had the clues they were from PA/NY. What I had seen so far indicated that William was born in Genesee County, NY. But I pretty much dead ended there. There were a few clues along the way that William had a couple brothers, but not much info on them either. Well, it appears that facts about William's father and grandfather have gotten mixed up in the passage of time.
In  the files that I had Smart Matches with was a list of names of William's brothers and sisters, it named his parents as Anna Boyles and Robert Duncan (born in PA) then went on to name the grandparents as Robert Duncan (born in Scotland) and Agnes Singleton. The files also listed 8 brothers and sisters for William!! The files didn't include much about William, I still don't have absolute proof that this William is the same as my William, but going by the parents names may be the best I get.

I started looking into the siblings of William to see if I can verify anything more and to gather more clues. I have found some really interesting things. William's brother (younger than William by about 2 years) became rather successful in Indiana, and I have uncovered a biography and a sketch  of Robert B. Duncan in the History of Indianapolis & Marion County Indiana. This is what it said. It was loaded with clues!

Robert B. Duncan is of Scotch descent, his grandfather, Robert Duncan, born in 1726, a native Scotchman, having emigrated to America in 1754, where he engaged in the pursuit of his trade, that of a tailor. He married Agnes Singleton, born in 1742, also of Scotch parentage, and had children, - Robert, James, John, and three daughters. Robert was born in Pennsylvania, Sept. 28, 1772 and during his youth resided in that State, after which he removed to Western New York and engaged in farming pursuits. He married Miss Anna Boyles, and had children, - James, Ester, William, Robert B., Margaret, John, Samuel, Jane and Annie. The death of Mrs. Duncan occurred in 1822, and that of Mr. Duncan Jan. 6, 1846. Their son Robert B. was born in Ontario County, N.Y., June 15, 1810, where the earliest seven years of his life were spent. In 1817 he removed to Ohio and settled near Sandusky, his residence until the spring of 1820, when the family emigrated to Connor’s Station, in the present Hamilton County, Ind., then an unsurveyed prairie. Various employments occupied the time here until 1824, when he became a resident of Pike township, Marion Co., and engaged in the pioneer labor of clearing ground and farming. The year 1827 found him a resident of Indianapolis, where he entered the county clerk’s office as deputy, and remained employed until March, 1834, when he was elected to the office of clerk of the county., and held the position for sixteen successive years. Mr. Duncan had meanwhile engaged in the study of law, and immediately, on the expiration of his official term in 1850, began his professional career, confining himself mainly to business associated with the Probate Court and to consultation. Mr. Duncan was early in his political career a Whig, and continued his relations with that party until later indorsement of the articles of the Republican platform. With the exception of his lengthy period of official life as county clerk, he has never accepted or sought office. He was reared in the stanch faith of the Scotch Presbyterian Church, and still adheres to that belief. Mr. Duncan was married in December, 1843, to Miss Mary E., daughter of Dr. John H. Sanders, of Indianapolis, to whom were born children, - John S. (a practicing lawyer), Robert P. (a manufacturer), Anna D. (wife of William T. Barbee of Lafayette, Ind.), and Nellie D. (wife of John R. Wilson, of Indianapolis). Mr. Duncan enjoys the distinction of being the oldest continuous resident of the county.

 

Transcribed from History of Indianapolis & Marion County Indiana by Berry Robinson Sulgrove. Illustrated. Printed in 1884 in Philadelphia by L.H. Everts & Co.

Other interesting facts I have found connected with Robert B. Duncan is through his wife Mary Elizabeth Sanders. I haven't looked into this very much, it was just a peek, but it seems pretty clear that the Sanders family was descended from Squire Boone, the brother of Daniel Boone. I don't know much about Elizabeth's father, yet, but for a short time their former home was used as the Governor's Mansion. Elizabeth had 4 sisters, the youngest was Jemima. Jemima was married to Dr. Richard J. Gatling (the inventor of the Gatling Gun). Just a tidbit I thought my sons would find interesting.


As for the other siblings, this is what I have so far. (everything is assumed approximate here, it's still being researched. I just want to get this info on the web and hope other researchers find it and contact me. So please, if any of these people are in your tree, anywhere, let me know! If you have any information that can help prove any of this or dispute it, please let me know!)

Children of Robert Duncan (1772-1846) and Anna (Lucy) Boyles (1777(?)-1822)


James Duncan- born 1804. It appears he married Mary Beck 10 Sept 1830.  
I found some will information that is unclear if it's for this James or the James, son of Robert and Agnes. I'll try to include that later.

Ester Duncan- born  Dec 20, 1806. Married 1) William Robinson. I found the name of one child of theirs so far, Frances A., who married a David Bovee.
Esther married 2) John McManis who was a vet of the war of 1812.
Esther was buried in Pine River Cemetery, Richland County, Wisconsin. A note on the records I found say she "died very suddenly while her daughter [Frances A. Bovee] was being buried.
It is recorded that William C. Robinson died May 19, 1842 in Indiana
John McManis is buried in the Bovee Cemetery in Richland County, Wisconsin. It is estimated that he died between 1880 and 1896.

*William Duncan- (my ancestor) born  October 14, 1808 in Genesee County, NY. Married 3 times 1) Amanda Hutsell (my ancestor), 2) Sarah Catherine Hines 3) Susan Trammell (also my ancestor). William reportedly died Jan 5, 1879, though I have yet to find record or grave.

Robert B. Duncan- (I believe B is for Boyles) born June 15, 1810 in Ontario County, NY. married Mary Elizabeth Sanders in December 1843. They had children: 1)John Sanders Duncan, a lawyer, 2) Robert P. Duncan a manufacturer, 3) Anna D. Duncan who married William T. Barbee of Lafyette IN., and 4) Nellie D. Duncan who married John R. Wilson of Indianapolis. Robert B. Duncan died 1897.

Margaret Duncan- born April 20, 1812. died January 12, 1888. She was married to Aaron Stearns Glidewell. I found her grave in Deep Springs Cemetery in Sullivan County, Missouri. They had at least one child, by the name of John T. Glidewell (1840-1902).

John Duncan- born March 31, 1814, died December 27, 1863. He married Amaretta Ridgeway. I found John's grave in Wilson Cemetery in Monon, White County, Indiana.

Samuel Brady Duncan- born March 4, 1816. died April 16, 1906.  I found this page with Samuel's obit and and this page with some family info, including names of children. Samuel was married to Elizabeth Hornbeck in 1843. Seems he went to Iowa in 1853 and lived in Winterset. It says he was buried in the Winterset Cemetery, but I'm not finding either on Find A Grave.

Anna B. Duncan- born 1820 and died 1911. She married Durfee Bovee in 1837. Durfee was the son of Elisha Bovee and Catherine (Durfee) Bovee. So far I have found two children of Anna and Durfee: 1) Elisha Bovee (1840-1913) who married Victoria Potter and 2) Samuel Durfee Bovee (1845-1923) who married Emily West. I found Samuel Durfee Bovee's grave on Find A Grave in the Oaksdale Cemetery, Whitman County, Washington.  I found record of Anna and Durfee Bovee's graves in the Bovee Cemetery in Orion Township, Richland County, Wisconsin.

(I peeked at all the internments of the Oaksdale Cemetery in Washington, and there is a bunch of Byrums which I am pretty sure are other descendants of my Byram ancestors on my dad's side of the tree. Many of the memorials were created by a lady I have cooresponded with already! Small world!) 

 Emily T. Duncan- born 1829. d. 1863. Married James L. Shaw.  I found Emily and James' graves in Pretty Prairie Cemetery in Battle Ground, Tippecanoe County, Indiana. Her memorial says she was the daughter of Robert and Hanna Duncan.


Robert Duncan and Agnes Singleton (grandparents of William Duncan, parents of the Robert Duncan who married Anna Boyles)

The History of Indianapolis, mentioned above, tells me that Robert, the grandfather of my William, was born in 1726 and was from Scotland. It says that his wife, Agnes Singleton was born in 1742 and was of Scotch parentage.


The files I found on My Heritage and it's also mentioned in the History of Indianapolis that Robert and Agnes had three sons and three daughters, but only the names of the sons have been mentioned. They are:
*1) Robert Duncan 1772-1846 married to Anna Boyles (also seen listed as Lucy Boyles and Hanna Boyles last name has also been listed as Broyles).
2) John S. Duncan 1786-1864 (not to be confused with Robert B. Duncan's son by the same name who became a lawyer in Indianapolis like his father) I found a Find A Grave page for a John S. Duncan at the Pleasant Hill Cemetery in Indianapolis, IN. The birth date is unknown, death date given as May 4, 1864.  John was married twice 1) Elizabeth 2) Maria (last name of either not yet known.)
3) James L. Duncan  no dates have yet been found on James. The My Heritage file had the same birth dates (June 15, 1786 in PA) and same death dates (May 4, 1864 Marion, Grant Indiana). I find it highly unlikely they were born on the same dates AND died on the same dates, so until I verify both, it is assumed it is a simple error in their files.  The wife of James is only listed as Elizabeth.
I did find a couple mentions in the History of Indianapolis of John and James Duncan, but it is not yet certain it is these two.


As for the will information mentioned above with James, son of Robert and Anna, here is what I found.
it says: (do they mean "son of Robert Duncan and Agnes Singelton"?

James Duncan, d. 1855 Marion Co. IN, uncle of Robert B. Duncan and son of Robert Duncan and Anna Boyles of Ontario Co. NY
Marion Co. IN Will Books
      C-90: James Duncan of City of Indianapolis, Marion Co. IN, feeble in body; to my daughter Elizabeth $100 out of residue of personal estate after debts if there be sufficient; and that her minority shall be no bar to her receiving and receipting the money, and if necessary, she shall receive so much of my real estate or the proceeds to make up the money; the remainder divided between my wife (unnamed) and all my children, including said Elizabeth, as the law directs. Appoint my nephew Robert B. Duncan exec. 22 Feb. 1855, /s/ James Duncan, wit. Mary E. Duncan, Robert B. Duncan. Proved 9 Jan. 1857. (FHL film 499,449, SLC 9/17/91)

Well. lots of digging and sorting to do. I do hope this draws in some responses from other descendants!  This has taken me all day to post, so I hope I haven't made any serious mistakes.

My Trux line (Trucks)

My 4th great grandparents were Thomas McCluer and Susannah Trucks (Trux).
I'm not sure when Susannah was born, (one family file I found says 1791) and it seems most likely she was born in Pennsylvania. She died in 1838 right after the family moved from Ohio to Jackson County, Illinois.
Susannah's parents were William J. Trux (only seen spelled Trucks a few times) and Mehitable McCoy. I'm not certain about dates of Mehitable but I'm pretty sure was was previously married to a Asahel Bucks and had a son with that husband, William, who was killed at the age of 14 in the Wyoming Valley Massacre.
William Trux  was born 1750 in Frederick, Maryland (some sources say possibly Connecticut). I believe he was the son of George Trux and Samantha (LNU). It appears he had another wife, before Mehitable, a daughter of Porter Ayres.
I found this research which has been helpful, about Mehitable and William, and includes a bit of info about the Ayers.
Although this file places Mehitable at the Battle of Wyoming Valley, I have not been able to connect William Trux to the battle (1778). This research says Mehitable's first husband died 1779, so he survived the battle and also that she married William Trux about the same year. From what I have seen, William and Mehitable's first child was born about 1780, so this sounds right to me. It has been my belief that William Trux probably arrived to the area shortly after the massacre. Which is also about the time he was finished fighting in the war.

I do know he was a soldier in the Revolutionary War. The link above indicated that, so I went to Ancestry and searched records there and wound up finding numerous copies of records with his name on them, both pay roll and muster records. This is, so far, what I have determined about his military service: William Trux served with the German Regiment, Maryland, Continental Army. I'm not exactly sure when he enlisted, but a record from The Historical Register of Officers of the Continental Army During The War of the Revolution April 1775-December 1783 (New Revised and Enlarged Edition by Francis B. Heitman) has him  listed as follows:

Trux, William (Md) Private German Regiment, 21st July, 1776; Sergeant, 1st March 1777; Ensign 25th July 1778; resigned 1st July 1779.

I have not yet figured out why he resigned. I lost record of him in muster rolls after September 9, 1778, and he was not on the payroll for October 1778 and onward. It's only my guess that he may have been injured and that's why the time lapse between his falling off the rolls and resigning. If anyone knows how I might learn the reason for him leaving I would greatly appreciate it. I found no clues in the records I have found so far.

I found William Trux in the census for the following years and places

• 1790 Luzerne County, PA with a total of 7 members in the home
• 1800 Kingston, Luzerne, PA with a total of 5 members in the home
• 1810 Kingston, Luzerne, PA with a total of 10 members in the home, including 5 slaves.
• 1830 Blooming Grove, Richland, OH. with a total of 8 members in the home. no slaves. 

He was also mentioned in a couple sources as having bought land in Kingston, PA  in 1803 "lots 21 and 22 of the Fourth Division of lots" and built a grist mill and saw mill at what is now Trucksville, on one of those lots, before 1811. He was also described as a justice of the peace and served as an overseer of the poor around the 1797-1809 time frame. It is then said he moved to Knox County, Wayne Twsp, Ohio in 1811.
This page was one I found with lots of information.


George Trux was, I believe, William's father. I have an estimated birth date of 1725 for him. It is said that the family's origin is Baden Germany, but it is not known for sure where George was born. Some have said England, some have said Frederick, Maryland. It is not known who his parents were, I speculate he may have been the immigrant ancestor for that line.
I found a George Trux on at least one census, 1790 in Frederick Maryland with 9 household members.
I found several mentions of George Trucks in This was the life: excerpts from the judgment records of Frederick County ...By Millard Milburn Rice, Maryland. County Court (Frederick County) concerning building a bridge across Little Pipe Creek near his home, and in references to building new roads, his place of home given as reference points for locations.
That's pretty much it.

Ancestors of John A. McCluer

There seems to be a strong belief that my particular line of McCluer (or McClure, and there were lots of other lines too, how they are related may never be known) came from Ireland to America and settled in the area of Rockbridge County, Virginia. Originally they were Scottish and at some point some went to Ireland for awhile before coming to America. I have found a few things about the early McClures to read and consider already, but I can tell it's going to chalk full of confusion and conflict, as far as proof and research goes. The good thing is, I can be fairly certain of at least two more generations.

From John A. McCluer, my 3rd great grandfather, who I have written some about already, we go to his parents, Thomas McCluer and Susannah Trucks (an earlier spelling of her family surname was Trux). I found this sketch about him in the History of Richland County, Ohio.
The same site also has a small sketch on John A. McCluer's brother James Jackson McCluer as well as a sketch on Thomas' father Samuel. I haven't known the last name of Samuel's wife Sarah for some time but I followed a clue in Samuel's sketch and it says his wife was buried in the Lexington Cemetery (Ohio I presumed) and did a search on Find A Grave. Once again, that site has come to my rescue! She is listed, though there is no photo of her grave, and it shows Allen was her last name. (I'm thinking...great, another Allen! I have two other ancestors with last name Allen, one on Grandma's side and one on Dad's side-if I remember right- both of which I know little about) But that explains where John got his middle name. I was hoping I'd find out where he got that name!
This Find A Grave discovery not only gives me her surname, it gives a possible birth year and place! We all know what that means! More research! If anyone reading this can offer any more clues, by all means...fire away!
What I'm not real sure about is the statement at the end of the sketch for Samuel stating;

Evidently Samuel McCluer was interred in the Strausbaugh Baptist Cemetery shortly after his death. At some point in time, a stone was made for both him and his wife in the Lexington Cemetery."

If anyone can shed any light on this, I would appreciate it. Does this mean he is buried at the church cemetery, but a stone for him is in the Lexington Cemetery?  I looked up the Strausbaugh Baptist Cemetery on Find A Grave and there is an entry there for Samuel too. No photo of his grave there either. The cemetery is over grown and as of 2009 it was said only 2 stones were standing, some leaning against trees, others flat on the ground, most broken or no longer readable. A photo shows it has pretty much been reclaimed by nature.

I also found this, written by another researcher and descendant. Much of what I know about my family history I owe to this person, he blazed some trails for me, that's for sure. But his trail seems to have gone cold, I haven't seen anything written by him that is very recent. If anyone knows how to get in touch with James, it would be nice to tell him Thanks for all his help. After all...we are related! 
Here is a page I found for the Strausbaugh Baptist Cemetery which has a different picture of the cemetery, taken when the trees were bare, and lists some of those interred there and also photos of some of the stones, including that of Samuel, which was one that was leaning against a tree. (I have so much more now than I had before I got up this morning, and it's just now noon!) 

Most sources I've seen so far seem to agree that Samuel's father was William, but from there things get controversial, and I have more studying to do. Usually I print out the different views, and add them to my files but we all know, sometimes we just never really know for sure who was whose father, or mother and so on. One thing can be said for sure, the McCluers were true pioneers in almost every sense of the word, and were honorable, and good people. If I had a time machine, I'd like to go back and meet them. 

My Barber Line

With a name like Thomas Barber Nase, I was almost sure that Barber was another family name. So one day I decided to see if I could find out anything about that, and I did. I dug around and dug around until I found some will abstracts from Sussex Co, NJ (1860 census for TB Nase showed he was born in New Jersey and I think I had already found clues that his father's name was George). There was this entry:

BARBER, Thomas of Greenwich. 1492S - W. 20 Sep 1808; Filed 5 Dec 1816. Wife: Margaret. Sons: Samuel and John (dec'd). Daughters: Phebe STIVERS, Elizabeth NACE(sic) w/o George and Ann Perine MUCHLER. Others: S-n-l, John STIVERS; Thomas and Robert BARBER s/o dec'd son John. Executors: Wife, Margaret, dau Ann (Nancy) Perine MUCHLER and William KENNEDY. Witnesses: James McCARTER, James J. KENNEDY and William M. KENNEDY.

It was the clue I needed! Later on I found this:

File 12696 C. 

1813, Sept. 20. Barber, Thomas, of Greenwich, Sussex Co.; will of. 

Wife, Margaret, $1,333.33; also my negro girl, a cow, bed and bedding, 

household goods for 1 room, all in lieu of dower, and to be at her 

own disposal. Son, Samuel, $00.66. Presbyterian Congregation at 

Harmony in Greewich Twsp., $66.66, the interest thereof for use of 

church as long as it exists there but if dissolved, the principal sum 

to return to my estate. Having paid for land on which my son-in- 

law, John Stivers lives, I give out of said estate, $533.33 to children 

of daughter, Phebe Stivers, and residue to return to my estate. Rest 

of all estate to be sold. Residue to be divided into 5 equal shares. 

One such share to children of my son, Samuel, who is to have interest 

thereof for life and if his present wife survive him, she is to have 

% of said interest during her widowhood. One share to my 2 grand- 

sons, Thomas and Robert (sons of my son, Robert, lately dec'd), 

when 21. Daughters, Elizabeth (wife of George Nace), Ann Perine 

Muckler, and Phebe Stivers, each the interest of one share and at 

their deaths, principal to their children. Executors — wife, Margaret, 

daughter, Ann Perine Muckler and friend, William Kennedy, Esq. 

Witnesses — James M. Carter, James J. Kennedy, William M. Kennedy. 

Proved Dec. 5, 1816, when Margaret Barber*, Nancy Mutchler, Wm. 

Kennedy signed as Executors. 

From http://www.archive.org/stream/documentsrelatin08newj/documentsrelatin08newj_djvu.txt

It was great! Then I went to Find A Grave. I have not been able to find the death or grave of Thomas Barber Nase, it appears he passed before his wife Polly, since I found Polly in the 1880 census in Polk, Crawford Co, OH  as a widow living with her daughter and her family (Lucy Nase Overly). So it's most likely he died in Ohio. I did find Thomas Barber and his wife Margaret on find a grave. Thomas Barber was a patriot in the Revolutionary War. I checked the DAR site and sure enough, several ladies have joined under his patriotism. Here is his Find A Grave memorial:
What seemed odd to me was that his grave, as well as his wife's, was in the basement of a church. So I contacted the person who created the memorial and he wrote back with an explanation. He explained that "the church needed to expand and the only direction they could go was out towards the parking lot. The graves were in the way, and rather than disturb them, the church addition was built over the graves. There are about 12 graves under this addition." This person has installed a Veteran's marker right outside the door that leads to the actual graves.
This same researcher is also descended from Thomas Barber and has also tried to find out more about the family. We know that Thomas' wife's name was Margaret Perrine, but that's about it. The name Perrine sounds French to me too, does anyone know?


So, the tree from Clarinda Nace got expanded. Her parent's were Thomas Barber Nase and Polly Montanye. Thomas Barber Nase was likely born 1799 in Luzerne Co, Pa. His parents were George Nase and Elizabeth Barber. I have seen two different dates for George's birth, and haven't yet confirmed one or the other. One is 1736 and the other is 1858.
I also have two possible birth dates for his wife Elizabeth Barber: 1761-1765 and she may have been born in Sussex Co, NJ. It is said she died 1817 in Luzerne Co, PA. I have seen a possible wedding date for George and Elizabeth as 1782, so if that is true and looking at birth dates suggested for Elizabeth, I tend to think George's birth date to be more likely the later of the two seen. I have yet to locate anything to confirm any dates for this couple. The death dates I have for George and Elizabeth are: George 1814 in Luzerne Co, PA and 1817 for Elizabeth also in Luzerne Co, PA. What I'm not sure about with George's date is that has him having died before Elizabeth's father, Thomas Barber who died in 1816. Would he be mentioned in the will and abstract in the present tense if he had already passed away? Or am I just reading it too literally?
According to the dates I'm seeing Elizabeth died a year after her father, but before her mother, Margaret Perrine who died in 1825.
At any rate, I'm at a dead end with the Barber and the Perrine line, but this felt like some progress anyway.

Finding The Frenchman

As I said in an earlier post, I had been told by an uncle that there was French in the family somewhere. It took me awhile to find it, but when I did, there was no doubt. I simply found another tree and bridged the gap. I had actually seen the tree before, and it included my mom, grandparents and other names I had already known and mentioned here already. This is that tree and this is the site it is connected to. Once I realized what I had stumbled into, I was quite surprised! I communicated with someone from the site and shared copies of the Bible records and papers I had gotten from my family, and I suppose that made it official that I am a descendant of Johannes de la Montagne! 
The connection I had to make was through Clarinda Nace (Nase), who I mentioned and shared a photo of in an earlier post. Clarinda is my 3rd great grandmother and she was married to John A. McCluer. Clarinda's mother was Polly Montanye, who was the 4th great granddaughter of Johannes. Johannes Mousnier de La Montagne is my 10th great grandfather.
I made a chart to help me see this better and am picturing it below. 

My Descent from Jean Mousnier de La Montagne, aka Johannes de La Montagne, aka Doctor Johannes de La Montagne ending with my gr gr grandparents.

Three Grave Stones Identified

Just the other day I posted some pictures emailed to me by my uncle, and some were very hard to read. One looked like it said Ruth, and it did. But it is not the grave of Ruth. I returned to a site I used so many years ago to find my Missouri-Duncan information, but never got around to documenting the rest of the family and these two were both listed and documented some time ago. They are both in Mineral Springs Cemetery, Barry County, Missouri.

William H. Duncan 1872-1892

As you can see, it's getting very hard to read it. Which is why I am once again so grateful to those who came before me, and recorded things. I have never met or talked to the people who provided this information. Looks like I will have to do that soon, so they know how much their efforts are appreciated.
This is the Page where the entry can be found. You'd have to scroll down to W.H. Duncan. and you can click on their photo of the same stone. the two toned nature of the stone is also seen in their photo. They also took the time to highlight the markings and identify the person here.

The info they added to this marker was this:

Inscription: "Son of P. H. & Ruth" - Research Note: In 1880 Peter H. and Ruth Duncan were living in Lyon, Cherokee Co., KS and William H. Duncan was 8 years old, born in KS.

This other stone and info can be found on the same page as William H. Duncan. and this is what the researchers there  found out about her:

Research Note: Culver's Chapel Records read that her parents were Ruben and Elizabeth Starkey. She lived on Eagle Rock Star Route, Cassville, MO.

DUNCAN, Lillie Amanda (STARKEY) b. Sep. 26, 1890. AR  d. Sept. 15, 1973 Home, Barry Co., MO.

I will have to see if I can find out more about her. The way her name and dates is just etched really haunts me. They may not have had the money to get it engraved properly, but they thought enough of her to give her a big pretty stone (even though it looks like it was taken right from the ground and not modified much.  

The third stone I posted was easy to read.

Robert Bruce Duncan b. Nov 26, 1885  d. July 9, 1956

I believe this is Robert Bruce Duncan, son of Peter Hutsell Duncan and Ruth McCleur (McClure) Duncan. I really hadn't recorded much on him yet, as I hadn't really traced the other descendants much, but I know I've seen his name numerous times, and may have more information on him if I just dig a bit. 
The researchers who posted this didn't have anything else to add. Just added the dates provided on the stone. 
I just read over an email one of my uncles sent me back in October. He refers to a Bob and Mandy Duncan in his memories. I bet that's this Robert and Amanda! 
Here is what he says:

"The story I remember is that Peter was an Oklahoma circuit court judge and settled what was called "The Old Home Place" down at the bottom of the mountains before it became Mo. When I was six, we lived in a house that was converted to a duplex with Aunt Alberta, Laddie, Joanne and Jerry Owen that was by the Mark Twain forest tower on Hwy 76 about 10 miles N of Cassville. Dad was working for the CCC and often used his '30 Cheve as a fire truck. Grand dad's place was about a 1/4 mile S of the tower. When I started school, I walked down the mountain to a school that was on the corner of the old home place that at that time was occupied by Bob and Mandy Duncan. I think the school was called Minden. Bob's son's, William and Thomas were also in the school and were a bit older than me. Joanne saw them a few years back and says they are true to type. (Overalls and no underwear!) The last time I was down there, the tower and the house we lived in were still there. (Mom said she took me up in the tower when I was 1.) Someone was living in the school and Grand dad's house had been replaced with a new house. He had a strawberry patch on the home place and I remember going down to pick berries with him. Also there was no well on his place so he often had to haul water up the mountain with his '27 White truck. He had a sorghum press (Two large rollers, long pole, harness the mule to the pole.) and a huge pan up under the hickory tree for boiling down the sorghum and grandmother would dig sassafras roots and make tea that I hated. Before we moved to the duplex, we lived for a time in a log cabin at the corner of hwy 78 and M, several miles S of Grand dad's place. We did not stay there long, as I remember living with Lena and attending a country school near Monett by Christmas of that year, then going to a school in Monett before finishing the school year in Maple Hill."

 

Treasure Chest Thursday~Peter Hutsell Duncan~My gr gr Grandfather.

I wish I had a photo of this ancestor. I think he lived an interesting life, and I would hope to see the faces of his parents in his, if I could see a photo of him. Maybe someday I will find someone, or someone will find me, who has a photo of him and he/she will share with me.
I have found lots about Peter Hutsell Duncan in my research, but it would be difficult to share all of it in one blog entry.
His obituary sums it up pretty well, sounds like he was well loved by those who knew him.

 

Obit For Peter H. Duncan, Judge P. H. Duncan: At St. John's Hospital, Joplin, Mo., Wednesday, June 12, 1912, at 11:04 a. m. Judge P. H. Duncan answer the final roll call. He had under gone an operation for gall stones and though the operation was a serous one, he was thought to be gradually recovering from its effects. And his death was quite a surprise to his many friends.

Peter H. Duncan was born at Martinsville, Ind., August 10, 1841. In 1856 the family moved to Jackson county, Illinois. Here he attended the common schools and helped his father on the farm until the beginning of the Civil War when he enlisted in Company H, 27 Illinois Infantry of the Union Army. He made a good record as a soldier, always doing his duty bravely and promptly. He was with the army of the Cumberland during most of the war and participated in the battles of Belmont, Union City, Siege of Island No. 10, Stone River, Chickamauga, Mission Ridge, Kennesaw Mountain, Rocky Face Ridge, Resaca, Peach Tree Creek and several other engagements. He served three years and one month in the army.

At the close of the war he located on a farm in Kansas and lived here until 1888 when he came to Barry County and lived on a farm four miles east of Mineral Springs until his death.

He had been married twice. His second wife and two children, Viola and Robert survive him.

For many years he had been Commander of the Old Soldier's and Settlers' Reunion. Under his efficient management, the reunion has become the largest and most successful in all the southwest. For four years he was presiding judge of the county court and gave the county an efficient administration.

The remains were brought to this city Thursday noon accompanied by relatives and Col. Wm. Holliday. The funeral services were conducted at Mineral Springs at 2 p.m. by Rev. F. M. Smallwood. Short talks were also made by J. S. Davis and L. Beasley.

The pall bearers were Prosecuting Attorney James Talbert, Judge E. W. Davis, Judge G. W. Henson, Judge Charles Velton. Ex-collector J. M. Davidson and County Assessor W. M. Houston.

The entire service was impressive and comforting to the sorrowing family. The casket was covered with beautiful flowers, mute testimonials of love, sympathy and friendship of those who knew him best.

In the death of Judge Duncan, the county loses one of her most honored and progressive citizens, a man who always took a deep interest in the welfare of this country, state and community.

Newspaper Cassville Republican Date June 20, 1912, Thursday Death Cert Link - Resource State Historical Society of MO Microfilm Submitted by Donna Cooper

Peter H. Duncan married Ruth McCleur (McClure) March 12, 1872 in Jackson County, Illinois. The first I find them on the census in Kansas is 1875, so I don't think they went to Kansas 'right' after the war ended, but a few years later. The first I find him on the census in Missouri is in 1900. I have not found him on the census for  1860, 1870 or 1890.

My aunt and uncle (my mom's brother) shared photos of some things they now treasure that once had belonged to Peter. They shared photos of the Duncan Family Bible and pages from that Bible that helps confirm things written on the notes I got from my grandmother.

edited to blur out info for living relatives

They also shared a photo of a flask that once belonged to Peter. I have not yet confirmed his work in the Oklahoma Territory, unless the parts of Kansas they lived in were part of the territory then, or he just traveled there on occasion since it was so near.

While looking for Peter Duncan in the census I made the discovery that one of the records was recorded by Peter himself! The whole document (1875 census for Lyon Twsp. Cherokee County, Ks)  is in his handwriting! But apparently I only printed that document, and didn't save a copy of it on my computer. I'm not subscribed to Ancestry at the moment or I'd go fetch it. But it was a pretty exciting discovery. I do have a copy of his death certificate and numerous printouts of transcriptions I found online of the Cassville Republican.  An entry dated October 12, 1899 simply states.

"Mineral Springs News: P.H. Duncan has returned home. His wife died and was buried in Kansas."

In a 1900 entry of the same paper he is listed in a county court proceeding, along with several other men, named as a road commissioner.
In an October 11, 1894 edition he is in a list naming him appointed as Judge of Elections for Mineral No. 2. 
I even found a couple entries where he oversaw a court case and conducted the marriage of another couple (1907 and 1909, respectively)
Then in the June 20, 1912 edition is two entries next to each other. The first says

T.R. Duncan of Columbus, Kan., attended the funeral of his brother, Judge P.H. Duncan at Mineral Springs Thursday.

The second says

Judge Duncan died at St. John's Hospital, Joplin, MO, Wednesday, June 12, 1912, at 11:04 a.m.

If the name of that hospital sounds familiar, well, it was the name of the hospital that was destroyed by the horrible twister in May of this year. I found this neat article on the Historic Joplin Website.  I'm looking around to see if the hospital that was destroyed was on the same site, or another site. If anyone knows, please drop me a line. It would be nice to know if that building is still standing, or not.
I also found a post card of what the hospital looked like in 1912. I just hope this image stays up awhile, it's being auctioned. Yes, I'm tempted. St. John's Hospital, 1912.