Pedrigree Chart for Anna, Margo and Marian

Pedrigree Chart for Anna, Margo and Marian

Friday, February 18, 2011

#30 - Willis Hubbs, and #31 - Elizabeth Rutherford Hubbs, members of Berea Church

As seen can be seen on the photo itself, this is a copy of a cyanotype photograph taken about 1865, just two years before Mr. and Mrs. Willis Hubbs, our ancestors, were listed among members of the Church. The photo, along with other historical information, was found at a website about Berea Church.


Mr. Willis Hubbs and Mrs. Willis Hubbs were listed among the members of Berea Church of Christ (aka The Church of Christ of Indian Creek) in Morgan County, Illinois in January, 1867. Lists of members of the church in other years include other members of the Hubbs family and some of their in-laws.

The following statement was written when the church was first organized in 1851. The information came from a record which was transcribed on a web page regarding Berea Church History.

Copied from the Original Book, Berea Church of Chirst:

"Morgan Schoolhouse No. 2, Aug. 15, 1851
We, the body of Christ, agree to organizing ourselves after the primitive practice to watch over one another and admonish each other, for our good, to take the scriptures of the old and new testaments for our rule of faith and practice.

That for practice, the new is sufficient, but for faith both are required. To call ourselves by the name given to Christians in the primitiave age by the Apostles-definitely called Christians-the followers of Christ. We agree to continue steadfastly in the Apostles doctrine, in fellowship, in breaking of bread and in prayers. Further as the primitive organizaitons were named according to locations so that they might be addressed or called upon by the traveling brethren, therefore we agree to known as the Church of Christ of Indian Creek, meeting at Morgan Schoolhouse No. 2."

Tuesday, February 8, 2011

#4 - James T. Green, #5 - Myra F. Brown, #2 - Harold John Green, and Fred Green - Family Photo

Left to Right: Harold J, Myra, Fred, James; abt 1906 or 1907

This photo came to me from a distant cousin through marriage, Martha Westenbarger Greene. She had it in her family files. It's a picture of James and Myra with Harold and Fred. The date is not given, but Fred was born 2 October 1904, and it looks like he's about two years old. The background looks like early spring, but it's hard to tell in a black and white photo. I'm just grateful we have it!

Saturday, February 5, 2011

#20 - Sylvester O'Brien, Land Patent in Martin County, Indiana

This is a copy of an 1852 Land Patent to Sylvester O'Brien in Martin County, Indiana. "A land patent is a document recording the passing of a land title from the government, or other proprietor, to the patentee/grantee. This is the first-title deed and the true beginning of private ownership of the land." (from a definition of a Land Patent at Ancestry.com) So, other than Native Americans and the US Federal Government, Sylvester was the first owner of these 40 acres. 

At the time of the 1850 Census, Sylvester was said to own real estate valued at $300, so this appears to be an additional piece of property.

Notice that Millard Fillmore was President of the United States at the time the record was made. 

Although the spelling of Sylvester's last name on this document is "O'Brian", other records show the spelling as "O'Brien" and "O'Brient". The spelling usually depended on nothing other than who was doing the writing. According to the 1850 and 1860 Censuses, Sylvester O'Brien could not read or write.

#10 - Thomas Brown and #11 - Julia Ann O'Brien, Temporary Move to Missouri



Thomas and Julia Ann (O'Brien) Brown moved their family from Indiana to Liberty Township, Crawford County, Missouri sometime between the birth of Myra (our ancestor) in 1867 and the birth of Teresa in 1870. Crawford County is 80 miles west south west of St. Louis and 275 miles from Martin County, Indiana. It's likely the Browns made the move for an opportunity for Thomas to earn money.  It's reported in the 1870 Census that Thomas is a "collier", or coal miner. The birth of the next child of Thomas and Julia was in Indiana. Apparently, they weren't in Missouri for long.

The map of Missouri shows the location of Crawford County, Missouri, in red.


This is the information given about Thomas and Julia's family in the 1870 Census in Liberty Township, Crawford County, Missouri:

Brown, Thomas; age 39, Male, White, Occupation: Collier, Personal Property Value: $125, Born in Indiana, cannot read or write, male citizen 21 years or older

Brown, Julia A.; age 30, Female, White, Occupation: Housekeeper (in her own home), born in Indiana, cannot read or write


*Brown, Stephen; age 16, Male, White, Occupation: Chopping wood, Born in Indiana, Attends school


*Brown, Mary; age 14, Female, White, Born in Indiana, Attends school


*Brown, William; age 12, Male, White, Born in Indiana, Attends school


Brown, Martha; age 7, Female, White, Born in Indiana, Attends school


Brown, Sarah; age 5, Female, White, Born in Indiana, Attends school


Brown, Myra; age 2, Female, White, Born in Indiana


Brown, Teresa, age 2/12 (2 months), Female, White, Born in Missouri  


*These children are from Thomas' marriage to his first wife, Martha Boland 

Friday, February 4, 2011

#26 - Gideon Coulter, Headstone in Center Ridge Cemetery, Sullivan, Indiana

Gideon Coulter

This is the headstone of Gideon Coulter, the father of Eliza Jane Coulter. Gideon and his wife, Permelia, divorced. Gideon married Elizabeth "Betsy" Bowman, and moved to Sullivan, Indiana.

The headstone was found at an online headstone database called "FindaGrave.com". The information at FindaGrave says that Gideon was born March 8, 1802 and he died May 16, 1876. The inscription on the headstone is said to include the fact that he died at the age of 74 years, 2 months and 8 days.

Gideon's will is found in another post on this blog.


#62 - Ezekiel Rutherford, Entry of his will in Will Book B, Morgan County, Illinois




These pages are from Morgan County, Illinois Will Book B, pages 233-235. The book is found in SLC at the Family History Library Film #1317859. The first page is Ezekiel Rutherford's will and the second two pages are testimony of the will and it's entry into probate. The third page says that Ezekiel died "on or about the 13th day of February" 1856, but his headstone states it was February 14, 1856. Notice that Willis Hubbs, Matilda's father, was one of the witnesses to the will.


Below is the transcription of the will of Ezekiel Rutherford.

Transcription:

I Ezekiel Rutherford of the County of Morgan and State of Illinois do hereby make and devise this my last Will and Testament in manner and form following to wit.

First It is my Will that my funeral expenses and all my just debts be fully paid.

Secondly, After the payment of such funeral expences [sic] and debts, I give devise and bequeath unto my son, Lloyd Rutherford the sum of five hundred and six dollars and my trunk and wearing apparel.

Thirdly, I give unto my daughter Elizabeth Hubbs my Bedstead.

Fourthly, I give and bequeath unto my son, David Rutherford one horse which he has now in his possession and my bed, bed clothes and cord.

Fifthly, I give and bequeath unto my Daughter, Mary Zachary my one horse wagon, the Lines and two Bridles the Said Wagon to be sold by my executors and the Money sent to her.

And Sixthly, I devise and bequeath unto my Grand Daughter, Rosetta Peterson the sum of fifty Dollars.

And Lastly I hereby Constitute and appoint my Grand Son John Hubbs Executor of this my Last Will and Testament revoking and annulling all former Wills by me made and ratifying and confirming this and no other to be my Last Will and Testament.

In Witness whereof I the Said Ezekiel Rutherford have hereunto set my hand and seal this 25th day of November in the year of our Lord One thousand Eighteen hundred and fifty five.

Ezekiel Rutherford    [Seal]

Signed Sealed published and declared by the Said Ezekiel Rutherford as and for his Last Will and Testament in presence [sic] of us who in his presence and in the presence of Each Other and at his request have subscribed our names as Witnesses thereto.

Ephraim Gard
Willis Hubbs

#62 - Ezekiel Rutherford, Headstone in Hebron Cemetery, Morgan County, Illinois


Ezekiel Rutheford (#62) died on Valentine's Day, February 14, 1856. [Although we don't know for certain that the Rutherfords celebrated Valentine's Day, Valentines began being exchanged in the US in the late 1700's, and commercially production of Valentine Cards began in the US in the 1840's (From: History.com)] Ezekial is buried in Hebron Cemetery in Morgan County, Illinois. 

Ezekiel was married to Sarah Johnson. His father was John T. Rutherford, a Patriot in the Revolutionary War. Ezekiel's will is posted and transcribed in a separate entry in this blog.

Thursday, February 3, 2011

#59 - Sallie Ballard, Headstone in Hebron Cemetery, Morgan County, Illinois



Sarah (nickname: Sallie) Ballard Acre was born in Kentucky and died in Morgan County, Illinois. She was married to Leonard Acre and was the mother of Nancy Ann, and several other children. These photos of  Sarah's Headstone were found at the website of Hebron Cemetery in Morgan County, Illinois. This headstone was chalked in by the person taking the photos so that it would be easier to read.

#14 - Anderson Gray Death Certificate




Two distant cousins shared digital images of Anderson Gray's death certificate with me. The front of the certificate is above, and the back of the certificate is below. From the certificate we learn, as another record had also stated, that Anderson's father, Michael, was born in Ireland. Also, the certificate gives Anderson's birth and death dates, age at death, occupation, etc. Note that the certificate inaccurately shows that the name of Anderson's mother is "Mary" instead of "Nancy".

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

#14 - Anderson Gray, Letters from Woodmere, Evansville, Indiana


     Anderson Gray spent an unknown number of the last weeks of his life in a hospital at that time called "The Southern Indiana Hospital for the Insane". His death certificate says that senility was one of the causes of his death, but these letters make it obvious that he was able to think and reason at the time they were written. Though the doctor released Anderson, and Anderson asked his son and daughter-in-law to take him home, he died at the hospital a few weeks after the letters were written. While it's heartbreaking to read the letters and find that he was apparently never brought home, we don't know all the circumstances of the situation. Thanks to a distant cousin our ours, at least we have a copy of a letter Anderson wrote, and we know somewhat more about him.

Transcription of the letter from Anderson to his son, Morton, and daughter-in-law: 


Woodmere, Evansville, Indiana
September 7, 1924


Dear Son & Daughter
The Doctor just told me this morning that you could take me out any time you would come after me. I hope to see you Soon. I am still better than I was. Hope this will find you both the same. From Dad