This Week in Family History-

September 26- October 2

September 26 : Augusta Jane Scott was born on September 26, 1877 in Nottawasaga Twp., Simcoe County Ontario. She is the daughter of John Scott and Jane Raeburn. She lived 21 years. She is buried in Victoria Lawn Cemetery in St. Catharines, Lincoln Co. Ontario. Augusta Jane Scott is my 1st cousin twice removed.

September 27 : Julia Miranda Carpenter was born on September 27, 1875 in Parry Sound Ontario. She is the daughter of Amos Carpenter and Mary Ann Cliffe, and my great grandmother Zilphie Elizabeth’s sister. Julia came to the U.S. around 1895, living in Minnesota for quite some time. Later living in South Dakota. She married William Hickok.....oh but not “Wild Bill” !!


September 30 : Happy Birthday to ME!

October 1st : Warner Cornell and Josephine Derry are married in Port Huron Michigan on October 1, 1895. Warner and Josephine made Port Huron their home, where Warner was an ENT physician. Warner is my great grand uncle, brother of my great grand father Webster Cornell. Many members of the Cornell family came to Michigan from Wentworth County, Ontario.

October 2 : Violet Anna Partridge was born October 2, 1917 in Sault Saint Marie, Michigan. She is my Aunt. Violet married Byard Raeburn, my Dad’s brother.


September 27, 1864 Jesse James is part of...

Also-in history on September 30th!

This Week, September 19-25

And for this week in the family history-

September 21, 1860: Eustalia Shier nee ??? is born. She is sooooo not related to me but is in my database as the wife of George Shier. George’s MOTHER is Mary Jane Wheeler-Shier who’s common ancestor to me is her parents; Calvin Wheeler and Elizabeth Carscallen. The family lived in Lennox and Addington County Ontario. This makes Mary Jane my “second great grand aunt”.

September 22, 1892: Willis Berkey is born in St. Joseph County, Indiana. Again another totally not related person in my database, however he is the husband of my great-grandmother’s sister...Nettie Alberta Carpenter. Willis and Nettie were married in Miles City, Montana in 1932 and have two know children; Donald Lee Berkey and Ruby Berkey. Nettie grew up in Parry Sound, Ontario with my great-grandmother Zilphie Elizabeth Carpenter-Wheeler. My Dad’s side.

September 23, 1853: James Allen McLean Wheeler is born in Sheffield Twp, Lennox and Addington County Ontario. His parents are John Edward Wheeler and Mary G. Berry. James married Emma G. Sommerville. Our common ancestors are Calvin Wheeler and Elizabeth Carscallen, making him my 1st cousin 3 times removed.....well at least he’s–RELATED!

September 25, 1880: William Raeburn Jr and Melissa Jane Lillie are married in Blair Twp, Grand Traverse County Michigan by Melissa Jane’s uncle, George Youker-Justice of the Peace. Witnesses were Esther Lillie, Melissa Jane’s sister and John George Youker her uncle.
William was a resident of Glen Huron in Simcoe County, Ontario- Jane lived in Grand Traverse County Michigan.
I picture them meeting in Ontario on a visit, where her brothers John G. and Frank Lillie lived on the property next to William’s residence. Such a chance meeting for a lifetime of love. (He spoke lovingly of ‘Jane’ to my Aunt Barbara who recorded it in her memoirs of the family.) William and Melissa Jane raised their family in Glen Huron, until 1899 when they moved to Sault Saint Marie Michigan. They are my great-grandparents.

Also in history- September 19th: 1876 1st carpet sweeper patented (Melville Bissell of Grand Rapids, Michigan)
Hey-thats my neck of the woods!

The Case of Harry, part 2

Well in my last post about Harry Spencer I had two photos of the man. Maybe.
It has been suggested by family members that the photo of the old man is Harry.

Brenda suggested flipping the photo and putting them side by side.


I still am not sure this is Harry.....wouldn't "Harry" the old man have the same receding hair line?

What do you think?
Click on image for larger view

This Week...September 12-18

This week in the family history, September 12-18th:

September 12, 1826: Priscilla Phelps is born to parents Basil and Phoebe Phelps in Pennsylvania. She married Henry Youker, who is my 2nd great grandmothers brother.
Henry and Priscilla move their family from Potter County, Pennsylvania to Grand Traverse County, Michigan along with oodles of relatives and friends around 1866. Priscilla is not related to me. My father’s side.

September 14, 1743-49: George Gorton is born to Benjamin Gorton and Mercy Foster in West Greenwich Rhode Island. He married Lydia Aylesworth.
George and Lydia move to Henrietta, New York and are buried in the Bushman Cemetery in Henrietta. George Gorton is my 5th great grandfather, my mother’s line.

September 17, 1847: Ann Eliza Youker is born in Potter County, Pennsylvania to Henry Youker and Priscilla Phelps. She married Laverne O. Sackett in Potter County around 1864 and they later moved to Grand Traverse County c 1866. Ann Eliza Youker is my first cousin 3 times removed and our common ancestors are Johann George Youker and Catherien Margaret Burkdorff. My dad’s line.

September 18, 1866: John Scott and Jane Raeburn are married in Nottawasaga Twp, Simcoe County Ontario. John moved the family to St. Catharines, Grantham Twp Lincoln County Ontario and is a fruit farmer in the area. He remarried after Jane died.
John is not related to me directly, Jane is my great grand aunt, our common ancestors of course, a common theme, are William and Margaret Raeburn. Paternal line.

Also this "week" in history:
Lewis and Clark Journal September 12-18, 1805

Today in History: September 13, Library of Congress Archives

President William McKinley Shot!!

The Sault News-Record September 7, 1901
Sault Saint Marie, Michigan

Ida McKinley Wheeler

Ida McKinley Wheeler was born July 10, 1896 to parents James Byard Wheeler and Zilphie Elizabeth Carpenter Wheeler in Seney, Schoolcraft County Michigan.

Ida’s unique name came from her very Republican, very politically involved father, James. He named her after First Lady Ida McKinley, the wife of President William McKinley who served as the 25th President of the United States from 1897 to 1901. She was born the year of William McKinley’s presidential campaign and election. Her father James was a strong supporter of William McKinley...Well I guess so!

Ida’s family spent a brief residence in Alger County before moving to Sault Saint Marie Michigan circa early 1900's. I do not know much about Ida’s life. At some point she made it to Chicago along with her sisters Marjorie and Ethel.(my grandmother) Marjorie was married and lived in Chicago, Ethel came back to the Soo after a few years and married there.
Ida married William C. Panter sometime about 1925 probably in Chicago, the couple never had any children. I heard some vague story that Ida's husband had worked for Al Capone, but how would anyone ever find that out! Ida's husband William died in Chicago July 10, 1955, and Ida continued to live in Chicago. She died September 28, 1971 in Chicago and is buried in Sault Saint Marie, Michigan in the Pinegrove Cemetery with her sister Ethel Raeburn’s family.
I would love to find out more about Ida's life in Chicago.

President William McKinley was shot on September 6, 1901 and later died from the wounds inflicted by the assassin on September 14, 1901.


Newspaper source- subscription: NewspaperARCHIVE.COM
Ida's photo, family collection.

This Week...

Thanks to Linda @ Documenting the Details for coming up with a great idea to share. It is a good idea, it keeps the mind working! I see what more needs to be done, what more intrigues me....so here is my first attempt at "This Week in the Family History"

September 5-11

September 6, 1806- Reuben Neely is born in Bath, Lennox and Addington County Ontario, his parents are John Neely and Elizabeth Carscallen. Reuben is my 2nd great grand uncle, and our common ancestor is his mother Elizabeth, my 3rd great grandmother.

September 7, 1832- James Creighton is born in Coburg Ontario to John Creighton and mother with an unknown name for now. James is married Eliza Raeburn, my great grand aunt. Common ancestors are William Raeburn and Margaret McCormick, my 2nd great grand parents.

September 11, 1901- Norman McDonald Stewart is born to parents William Henry Stewart and Janet McDonald in Badjeros, Osprey Twp, Grey County Ontario. Norman is my second cousin, once removed. Our common ancestors again are William and Margaret McCormick Raeburn.

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

Last week was better, but I didn't get it on in a timely manner, here it is anyway!

August 29th to September 4th:

August 29, 1829- Gorham H. Gorton is born in Henrietta, Monroe County NY to parents William H. Gorton and Electa Hitchcock. He is my 2nd great grand uncle, mom’s side.

August 30, 1865- George Morgan Sackett was born in Pennsylvania to Laverne O. Sackett and Ann Eliza Youker. Tragically George died two years after he was born. George would be my 2nd cousin twice removed. Our common ancestors are Johann George Youker and Catherien Margaret Burkdorff, my 3rd great grandparents. Dad’s side

August 30, 1801 Orpha W.B. Carpenter is born in Keene, Cheshire, New Hampshire. Her parents are Stephen Carpenter and Zilpha Wilbur. Orpha married Hershey Estus, they later move to East Troy Wisconsin. She is my 3rd great grand aunt!

August 31, 1887 Donald M. Finlayson is born in Canada, he is totally not related to me other than he married my great aunt, Margaret Raeburn.

September 1, 1929- Dick Wilbur Cornell is born in Traverse City Michigan to Leo and Joyce Cornell. Dick is my uncle.

September 2, 1921- George Patterson and Ellen Grace Sinclair are married in Louth Township, Lincoln County, Ontario. Ellen Grace Sinclair is my 1st cousin twice removed..Grandpa Raeburn’s first cousin. Our common ancestors are William Raeburn and Margaret McCormick.

September 3, 1829- Emily H. Ketchum is born in New York to parents Ebenezer Ketchum and Maria Thompson. She married John S. Gorton. Emily is my second great-grandmother on my mother’s maternal side.

The Case of Harry

The Spencer side of life is so much more co-operative than my Raeburn’s. My husband’s ancestors are ‘on the grid’, easy to find... even when they are not. Case in point Harry Spencer, the brother of Paul’s 2nd great-grandfather.

How wonderful it is to have heirlooms. I don’t see many photos, jewelry, furniture or even family information passed down in our family, neither my mother or fathers side. My husband’s family is rich in history both oral and photos, and even some furniture. I have been lucky enough to become friends with a neighbor who is a Spencer. Through the years she has shared the family information and photos to copy that she has...which is an entire bedroom dedicated to family history! Two chest of drawers filled with old family photos and info. She even has a piece of furniture Paul’s great-grandfather made. Wow, I feel like a kid in toyland when I go to her house!
We talked about Harry, the brother she knew a little bit about, but he was hiding out there and waiting for someone to find him. She knew he married and had a daughter who was exposed to a disease and died young. She had some photos of Harry and his daughter. I picked up where she left off and I went investigating. Some information I found with old fashion leg work, but not everything, his elusive family was still missing. Never give up...a few years ago we were looking for a needle in a haystack. Today more internet information, and waaa laaa, There you are Harry-your marriage and your family!

The sons of John and Lucinda Spencer.

John and Lucinda Spencer lived in Brownville, Jefferson County New York in the early 1800's surrounded by a large family. The had five sons, their first child John died in infancy. One year later in 1836 Medad was born, he is Paul’s 2nd great-grandfather. Then Nelson in 1839, then I suspect John L Spencer was born to them in 1841 (more on that later). Last child born was Harry P. Spencer in 1842.

John the father died in 1844 and is buried in Sherwins Bay Cemetery in Pillar Point NY. I suspect Lucinda had a rough go of it with raising the boys. Much of the Spencer family was in the area and the older boys stayed with family members. When they were barely old enough they went sailing, it is said Nelson first sailed to foreign ports before sailing the Great Lakes. I suspect sailing was encouraged by their aunts husband, Captain George W. Brown, a captain who sailed the Great Lakes. Harry stayed with his mother Lucinda and at some point he too went sailing.

Harry sailed the Great Lakes for many years. His relatives, aunts and uncles and cousins, not to mention his brothers had migrated to the Saint Clair area of Michigan, some moved on to Nunica, Michigan. When he wasn’t sailing Harry made Nunica his home, where his brothers were.

He met and married Jane Mills from Chicago Illinois. They were married in Benton Harbor in Berrien County, Michigan on Lake Michigan-just about 60 miles north of Chicago in 1876. He later settled down in Chicago with Jane and young William Mills, perhaps Jane’s son from a previous marriage.

Jane and Harry’s daughter Lucinda was born on January 20, 1881 in Chicago, Illinois. She had become exposed to Diphtheria and was sick for a month before passing away on January 5, 1888, just weeks before her 7th birthday. Harry’s wife Jane died on January 31st in 1898 also in Chicago, of chronic Bronchitis with a contributing illness of Nephritis. Both Lucinda and Jane are buried in Oakwood Cemetery in Chicago.

Harry left Chicago. He sailed again stopping to stay in St. Clair at his cousin Althea Brown Stone’s home, sometimes he was living in Nunica. In his later years he came back to the Coopersville/Nunica area. He died on June 4th, 1921 in the Ottawa County Infirmary at age 79. He left us yet another mystery to solve as he was buried next to his brother John, in the Coopersville Polkton Township Cemetery. This is a story that has recently come to light as John’s descendants wrote a tribute to him in the paper, mentioning Harry and their story of being orphaned. John was whisked away as a young child by his fathers brother, not knowing his own older brothers, only Harry the youngest. Medad and Nelson didn’t know him, why?...John was never mentioned in their memorials. One mystery solved, and now one to investigate.

Photos courtesy of Marilyn Spencer Empie. Click on photos for larger view.
Above photos are of Harry and Lucinda, his daughter. Check out the 'unknown' old dude to the left...Marilyn believes this is Harry...I am not sure, the forehead seems different, what do you think?

Harry's marriage record and Jane and Lucinda's death records were found on:
FamilySearchRecordSearch I first found Lucinda and Jane's death record information on:IllinoisStateArchives