My Day as a Guest at Crane Naval Base

Beautiful Martin County, Indiana

My Day as a Guest at Crane Naval Base
____________________

by Carolyn Ann Howard

Its been over ten years from the date of writing this post that I visited Crane Naval Base as their special guest. I have to confess that I didn't handle the event as I should have. My apologies to any whom I offended. Let me explain.

I spent many hours during the year of 2012 researching and writing Blood of My Ancestor. It was personal. My husband of 27 years had left me for another woman while, at the same time, I lost my good paying office job. This is the point where I went back to being a musician, a profession I never should've left to begin with. That's another story. I also had started researching my family tree and had stumbled upon my 2x grandaunt Adaline Cannon Lyon. Her story is what inspired me to write Blood of My Ancestor, because it is her story. The book is now out-of-print. In my grief, I pulled all my books after my third husband died.

But at the time of 2012, I was newly divorced and was finally working to write my first novel! This is what I had wanted to be from my youth - an author. And now, I was going to achieve that.

While researching for Blood, I ran into roadblock after roadblock. I had no idea what a controversial subject my Aunt Adaline was in her home county of Martin, Indiana. The historical society - run at that time by the "old guard" - would not let me research her life. They jammed the door of the records room shut so that I couldn't get in. They hid the coroner's statement and his report of her murder. They refused to let me look at any newspapers they might have had. I had to use Lawrence County's historical society as well as Washington, Indiana's library to get the information I needed to write the book. I learned, after I published the book, what push-back truly was, for I was highly criticized for daring to write a story that exonerated Adaline's husband, Joel Lyon, in her murder.

Something else. Adaline's original tombstone had been taken down and a new one erected. The person who did this spelled her name wrong - Adeline. I learned from Dale Carnegie's book How to Win Friends and Influence People that a person's name is the most important word to them, and that you need to get it right. That is something I've always carried with me. Not only that, this same person purchased a stone for Adaline's murderer with the caption "Come to the Hidden City." The connotation was that this murderer was in heaven and that his death was tragic, because it was his father's doing - not Arthur - that Adaline was murdered. This is the belief held by many people, but Joel did not murder his wife. His son Arthur did. I have proof, and I do now have the coroner's statement.

After I published the book, I was forced to take all the criticism and hate that came with it. I grew stronger for it. And then someone who was not offended by the book contacted me. She said, "First of all, I loved the book." This wonderful person was the wife of one of the higher-ups at Crane Naval Base. Her question was: Would I come to the naval base for a luncheon and book signing? Especially since Joel's home had been, prior to the construction of the base, behind it's gates? My answer was yes, of course!

In the meantime, I had met a man from Shoals, Indiana, named Neal Sheetz. He was an employee of Crane Naval Base and was very popular there. He was certainly popular with me. We had a whirlwind romance and married after only knowing each a little more than a month. Living with him on his 80-acre farm in Martin County was a dream come true, and he and I together wrote my second novel, Pioneer Stories. I could not have written it without him.

I don't remember a whole lot from over ten years ago, but I know the the day before the book signing, I had become ill with flu-like symptoms. It was in March, and I was pushing Vitamin C like crazy, trying to make myself well for the next day. Neal didn't understand that it was just Vitamin C, and he thought I was over-medicating. He became quite angry over it. I honestly think that he just didn't want me to go, because it was a Friday, and he was off that day. In hindsight, he could've gone with me. My Martin County friend, Marie Hawkins, was there, so I know Neal could've gone, too.

I had to get up very early the next morning. I was still sick, but I got ready anyway. The drive to Crane Naval Base took a bit longer than I thought it would. I don't know why. Neal drove it every morning and every evening, and I certainly knew how long it took him.

The security is tight at the naval base. I had to park my car off-site and was picked up by Cathy, who escorted me onto the base. This sign greeted me:

The book signing event was first, and I started my slide show. This was my offense: the slide show. I called out the man who had switched my Aunt Addie's stone with a new one, and who had spelled her her name incorrectly. I should not have done this, and I'm very sorry for it.

A lot of people who worked from Crane came to the book signing. Many of them came just to see the person Neal Sheetz was going to marry. It was me! I don't remember how many books I sold that morning, but that wasn't important to me at all. What was important was that Addie and Joel's story was being celebrated by so many people - in the very area where their story had taken place!

The details of that day are pretty sketchy in my head. It's been so long ago now, and I've been through so much more since that day. I remember it being a wonderful, wonderful day. After the book signing was the luncheon, attended by many, and then I did a presentation. I don't remember preparing for the preparation, and I don't remember what I said. It's not like me to not prepare, and surely I did, because I had slides to go with my talk. However, I also was in a new relationship that was going very fast, and I was commuting from Shoals to Evansville for work. I didn't have a lot of spare time right then. But I do remember that by the time of the luncheon, I had become well again. Was it the Vitamin C?

The best part came after the presentation, however. A select few of us, my friend Marie included, were driven from the event hall to the property where Joel and Addie had lived. Cathy had researched and was able to find the property. We also visited the cemetery where Joel was buried with his first wife, Malinda, and their son, Arthur, the murderer of my aunt Addie. It was emotional. Writing Blood of My Ancestor was emotional, and I cried over Adaline's death quite a bit. And now, here I was, where Joel and Adaline lived together. The log home with it's two box additions had been on the very property where I was standing. It was a bit overwhelming.

And then, it was over. Just like that. After our van returned to the event site, Cathy took me on a tour of the naval base and the residences. I don't think she wanted the day to be over, either. But then, around 4:00, I said my good-byes. I couldn't believe the day was over. Just like that. Just like that, I was back in my car, driving back to the farm in rural Shoals.

I don't remember Neal's reaction to the day. I think he was proud that I was his fiancé, for he knew how many people had come to see me because of him. (And perhaps a bit of time away from work!) I was just as proud of Neal, and I was happy to meet so many of his work friends. The day was certainly magical, and I would love to be able to do it again.

I wrote this blog post for my daughter. As a genealogist, author, and keeper of many people's family stories, I know that once someone has passed, they take their stories with them if they aren't written down. And so, I have written it down.

Many thanks to Crane Naval Base and its employees for giving me one of the most precious memories of my life. It was a wonderful day, and I'm very grateful for it.

All photos were taken by Crane Naval Base personnel and cleared by security. I have permission for their use in my blog posts.

© 2024 by December Moonlight Publishing, LLC

Seaman John Raymond Lyon (1899-1918)

The Lyon Family of Martin County, Indiana

Seaman John Raymond Lyon (1899-1918)

____________________ 

by Carolyn Ann Howard

John Raymond Lyon was born 03 Oct 1899 to Joel Campbell Lyon and his wife, Adaline Cannon Lyon. He was Addie's eldest son with Joel, born in Goldsberry Hollow in Brown Township in Martin County, Indiana. This land is now behind the gates of NWSC Crane, called Crane Naval Base by the locals. I know very little about Ray's life growing up, or why he decided to sign up for the Navy.

Ray suffered a devastating loss in 1903 when his mother was murdered in cold blood by her husband's eldest son, Arthur. Addie's three young children were all witness to the murder. Joel found Addie just minutes later. The Lyon family, however, save for Arthur, were tight-knit. Joel's daughters, Sarah and Gertrude, were instrumental in helping to rear the three young children that Addie left behind.

Indeed, it seems that all the young men in Goldsberry Hollow were close to one another. We know that Joel's second son, Ed, did odd jobs in and around the area, including in Shoals and Loogootee, Indiana. Ray may have learned machinist skills from helping his half-brother with these odd jobs. It may also be due to their father having been killed in the 1915 tornado that devastated the area of Goldsberry Hollow. The house where he lived with his father, nieces and half siblings was totaled because of that tornado.

Ray enlisted with the Navy as a Machinist's Mate (MM) 07 Jan 1917. According to the web site Careers in the Military, a Machinist's Mate had many jobs. Machinist's Mates operate, maintain, and repair ship propulsion machinery, auxiliary equipment and outside machinery. [1] This is just to name a few of what his duties were.

In April that same year, U.S. President Woodrow Wilson requested from Congress a declaration of war with Germany. Thus, the United States entered into World War One. After that occurred, Ray was assigned to the ship U.S.S. Rhode Island. According to Wikipedia, the U.S.S. Rhode Island became the flagship of the Battleship Division 3, Atlantic Fleet. The crew of the ship also underwent extensive training to bring everyone to combat readiness before being assigned to patrolling off the coast of Maryland, specifically Tangier Island. [2] Click on photos to enlarge

U.S.S. Rhode Island BB-17
Public Domain via Wikipedia

This is where Ray became ill. It was prior to the pandemic that began in or around March, 1918, but his illness was certainly a precursor to that pandemic. He got sick while on board and was taken to the Naval Hospital at League Island, Pennsylvania. I have searched on-line for pictures of this hospital and have been unsuccessful. The hospital itself didn't open until 1917, locating itself on the property of the Philadelphia Naval Yard on League Island. As the pandemic continued to grow, temporary structures and field hospitals were built. [3]

Ray died from lobar pneumonia 23 January 1918. He was 18.

His body was shipped home to Martin County, Indiana, and he was buried next to his mama in the Mt. Calvary Cemetery. Later, his sister Carrie petitioned for a military stone, which was granted.

John's Find-A-Grave memorial is here. (Link opens in a new window.)

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1, “Careers in the Military.” Careers in the Military, www.careersinthemilitary.com/service-career-detail/navy/marine-equipment-mechanics/machinist's-mate. Accessed 20 Nov 2022.

2. “USS Rhode Island (BB-17).” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 24 Oct. 2022, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Rhode_Island_(BB-17). Accessed 20 Nov 2022.

[3] “Naval Hospital League Island, PA..” Naval Hospital League Island, PA. - Navy Unit Directory - Together We Served, navy.togetherweserved.com/usn/servlet/tws.webapp.WebApp?cmd=PublicUnit&type=Unit&ID=22697. Accessed 20 Nov 2022.

© 2023 by December Moonlight Publishing, LLC

Carrie Mae Lyon (1901-1972)

The Lyon Family of Martin County, Indiana

Carrie Mae Lyon (1901-1972)
____________________ 

by Carolyn Ann Howard 

Carrie Mae Lyon was born 29 July 1901 to Joel Lyon and his third wife, Adaline Cannon Lyon. Joel's other two wives were deceased by the time of his marriage to Adaline. Because of the brutal murder of Adaline in 1903, Carrie probably knew very little about her mom, even though she was present at the time of the murder, as an infant. My hypotheses is that she was reared not only by her father, who didn't marry again after the murder, but also by her stepsisters, Sarah and Gertrude Grace. Sarah and Gertrude were very close with their father. Carrie was born in a little hamlet called Goldsberry Hollow or "Holler" as the locals say. This was located in Brown Township in Martin County, Indiana. By the way, Adaline's murderer was Carrie's step-brother, Joel's eldest son, Arthur. He killed himself 5 days later.

The first census we have for Carrie is 1910. She was listed as living with her father there in Brown Township. Joel's daughter, Gertrude, was with them as "Gertie." She was listed as married. Indeed, she was also listed on the 1910 census Mitcheltree Township in Martin County, Indiana, along with her husband and two children, Alma and Mable. Those two little girls were also on the 1910 census with their grandfather, Joel. It has been my observation that neither Sarah nor Gertie had the ideal marriage nor the "traditional" type of household. It seems like, after their stepmother's murder, they felt obligated to care for the three babies she left behind. Carrie's brothers were also on the 1910 census - John and Everett.

Joel Lyon's 3 beautiful children with my grand aunt Adaline
Carrie is on the left
Photo courtesy of Beth Willis

I have often wondered how Carrie made it out of childhood without serious mental trauma, but I really think it was her stepsisters as well as her brothers who made it happen. It seemed to be one tragedy after another, for Carrie's father was killed when a brutal tornado went through Goldsberry Hollow in 1915. It not only took Joel Lyon's life, but it also leveled their beautiful home. And then, in 1918, her eldest brother, John, died from pneumonia at a naval hospital in Pennsylvania. He had been a sailor with the U.S. Navy. So, at the age of 16, she had already lost both of her parents, a brother, and a step-brother.

I don't know how she met her husband, Wayne Bogard. It might be that she was living in Washington, Indiana, after her childhood home had been destroyed from the storm. The children didn't rebuild, although I think it was her step-brother George "Ed" who ended up with it. I have a query in at the Martin County Historical Society concerning this and will update this blog as soon as I find anything out about that. It also occurred to me that her brothers did odd jobs in construction. Wayne Bogard also worked in construction.

Carrie Lyon with her brother Everett
She has the build of a Cannon, just like her mother did
Taken shortly after her marriage to Wayne
Courtesy of Jim Lyon Family Collection with many thanks

Carrie and Wayne were married in December 1918 in Washington, Indiana. In the 1920 census, Wayne was a "concrete worker" at "concrete yard." He would be in this line of work his entire life. It makes me happy to know that Carrie understood that her father was born in New Jersey. On her death certificate, the informant, which was one of her children, didn't know her mother's maiden name. He also stated that her father was Joseph Cline. He really was Joel Lyon. Carrie's mother-in-law was a Cline. There are 4 different Bogard households on their census page. Carrie was 7-8 months pregnant for this census. They lived at 1308 East Grove Street in Washington.

Wayne and Carrie's first child, Wayne II, was born 29 Feb 1920.  How happy her father, Joel, would have been to have yet another grandson. Joel loved children. Carrie would go on to have 6 children who lived to adulthood: Wayne II, Norman, Mardenna, Noel, Joan, and Wilma. Her daughter, Geneva, who was born 01 May 1926, died 11 months later of measles. What a sad occurrence for any mother. Measles vaccines weren't available until 1963.

Something very interesting occurred in the 1930 census. Wayne and Carrie Bogard were no longer in Washington. Indiana. They, along with their living children, were in Parker Township, Clark County, Illinois on page 3! Wayne was listed as a "laborer" on a "general farm". On page 5, we have Carrie's step-sister, Gertrude, living with her third husband, Andrew Barbee, and her daughter from her first marriage, Helen. Helen, who was born in or around 1912, had gotten scarlet fever as an infant that left her blind and hard-of-hearing. She had other disabilities as well, but I don't understand fully her condition. I do know that she was loved. On page 10 is Carrie's niece, Gertrude's daughter, Alma, living with her husband and their three children. I have no idea why Wayne and Carrie would have moved to Clark County, Illinois or what might have been occurring with Gertrude that may have needed their help.

Wayne and Carrie were back in Washington, Indiana by 1935, according to the 1940 census.

In 1939, more tragedy struck. Wayne and Carrie's son, Wayne II, ran over a bicyclist with his car, who died. In the Washington Herald of 07 July 1939, the accident was THE headline. "BOY ON BICYCLE FATALLY INJURED." It's been a long time since I took Highway 57 into Washington, Indiana. With the building of Interstate 69, it's just now a straight shot from Evansville. I don't remember a hill, either, but that, too, could've been leveled since 1939. At any rate, a bicycle was slowly going up a steep hill. Do you remember going up steep hills on your own bike? It's been a long time since I've been on a steep hill on a bike, but I remember swinging side to side first on my left and then on my right, just trying to get the momentum going. Wayne Bogard II just so happened to be behind that bicycle in his car with another friend, who was riding in the passenger seat. Wayne said, "[the bicyclist] was weaving slightly back and forth as he rode slowly up the hill," and the bicyclist came over in front of his car, and Wayne hit him. The boy died at the hospital a short time later. I'm sure Carrie was just beside herself over it.

When I was first married in the early 1980s, I worked at Target on the north side of Evansville, Indiana. To get home, I had to drive my little Datsun up a steep hill that ended with a stop light. I hated that stop light, because I'd have to be on my brakes and on the gas at the same time to be able to "go" when the stop light turned green and not roll backwards down the hill. It was very much of a jalopy, that car. I don't imagine the car Wayne was driving that fateful day in 1939 was much better, as cars were still quite new. I remember my late father talking about their car as a child in the 1930s and how they would have to get out and push it whenever they came to a hill. 

The deceased boy's mother filed a lawsuit against Wayne II for personal damages, asking for $5325. She was awarded $2500 after Wayne defaulted, not attending the trial. I'm guessing he was busy with his Air Force duties at the time, but I have no idea why he didn't attend. He may not even have been stateside at that time. All the information about the accident came from the Washington, Indiana newspapers, which are available at NewspaperArchives.com.

On the 1940 census record, we learn that Carrie only had a fourth-grade education. That is better than some in her generation. Wayne completed eighth grade. They lived on Veale Creek Road, and their home value was $2,000. Pretty good for 1940. In 2023, Washington has no Veale Creek Road, but on Google Maps, I see a Veale Creek Church and a Veale Creek Theater. The old Veale Creek Baptist Church Cemetery is on Indiana State Highway 257. On this census, Wayne was listed as a contractor of "building construction." His worker class was "own account," which means he was self-employed. Their eldest, Wayne II, was, as stated before, away from the home serving in the military. The next eldest, 17-year old Norman, was working as a gas station attendant. Mardenna, 16, was doing housework in a private home.

In 1941, Carrie's son, Noel, was hit by a car. Noel was 12 at the time. This accident was on the front page of the Washington [Indiana] Democrat. The headline that same day was "Soviets Slow Down Nazi Advance." What a terrifying time! The article stated that Noel hurt his knees and that the bicycle had some damage as well.

Then the unspeakable happened. Carrie lost her 43-year-old husband to heart disease. I couldn't find a long obit which floors me, as I'm sure the Bogards were prominent citizens of Washington. A short obit in the Evansville, Indiana newspaper yields no new information. Wayne left behind two daughters at home, 10-year-old Joan and 7-year-old Wilma.

In the 1950 census, Carrie is in Indianapolis, living with her daughter, Mardenna, along with Joan and Wilma. Clues as to how they got there, though, are not forthcoming. It may be that it was a family decision to move there, as Norman and Noel followed.  Wayne would eventually get there as well. A search on NewspaperArchive - because they are the ones that have the Washington, Indiana newspapers - give a few clues. In 1944, Carrie and Mardenna attended Wayne II's ceremony where he received his pilot's wings and commission. They returned home to Washington. In 1945, a short blurb states that Mardenna was back in Washington after visiting Wayne II in Texas.

Mardenna had married a soldier, Oral Collins, 13 Jul 1940. They were stationed in California, and she filed for divorce in San Bernadino 24 Jan 1942, right before the death of her father. She may never have gone back to San Bernadino after her father died, taking care of her mother instead. I'm sure this was a godsend to Carrie, and perhaps to Mardenna as well. One can't know for sure what goes on behind closed doors, but it doesn't appear that this marriage was going great. Ancestry, however, shows that Mardenna married Oral once more in 1957. Ancestry has documentation that she then married Louis Salvaggio  09 Mar 1958 and also Richard Hayes on 23 Dec 1958. Talk about a whirlwind! We'll have to dive into all that at a later date! So interesting!

Back to the 1950 census, Mardenna was listed as divorced, waiting tables in a cafe. Carrie was "at home." Joan, 17-years-old, worked in "hosiery manufacturing." The youngest, 15-year-old, Wilma was listed with no occupation.

And, once again, that's about it for documentation on Ancestry. How I wish we had the 1960 census records, too! I have a few city directory entries for Carrie, but all-in-all, it looks like she did really well, even though I'm sure she missed her husband greatly. Her two sons, Noel and Norman, were also in Indianapolis having started United Home Improvements, Inc., working as contractors. Ah! They followed in the footsteps of their father. Carrie started drawing her Social Security at 65, and I'm positive that she was surrounded by her family most of the time.

Carrie's son, Noel, in his obituary, it is stated that he had a boat in Cape Coral, Florida. Apparently the family frequented this location, and Noel never seemingly turned anyone down for a boat ride. How fun!

Carrie died 15 May 1972 in Indianapolis at St. Francis Hospital of heart disease. She was 70, and the last of her five siblings and step-siblings to go.

In loving memory of Joel Lyon (1853-1915) and Adaline Cannon Lyon (1872-1903). Their descendants are grateful, and Joel and Addie would have been very proud.

© 2023 by December Moonlight Publishing, LLC

Blood of My Ancestor Family Reunion!

Beautiful Martin County, Indiana

Blood of My Ancestor Family Reunion!
____________________

by Carolyn Ann Howard

Last year, 2019, I cooked up an idea and didn't know where it would end up. I was looking for ways to connect with the family I had found through writing Blood of My Ancestor. Some of the family members I heard from after writing "Blood" were the step-grandson of Earl Howard, the Brown family, who live in Evansville and are descended from the Cannons, as well as several descendants of my 4x great grandfather, Godfrey Howard. Although its good to be on Facebook with them, I was hoping for more! So I put the idea out there about having a family reunion, meeting together in Martin County, Indiana. I made a Facebook event page and sat back with anticipation watching to see if anyone would join. Click on photos to enlarge

When it looked like the event had some interest, I began to plan. What in the world would we do for two days in Martin County? Fortunately, I have friends in Martin County to help! Soon my plans came together, and the family reunion was all set! I didn't know going in, however, that it was going to be one of the highlights of my entire life!

Thursday evening, we all met together at Stoll's Restaurant (pictured above). Stoll's is located on the banks of West Boggs Lake in Loogootee, Indiana. Not only is the view gorgeous, but its also the best place to have a party like the one above. There's plenty of space to spread out and be comfortable, and they have something for everyone on their buffet. We had such a good time talking together!

Kenny and I stayed the next two nights in my friend Marie's cabin, and I think we were the last to do so as she sold the cabin in 2020.  The cabin is special to me, because this is the area my ancestors first lived when they came to Martin County in or around 1850. Staying in the cabin held so much meaning for me and Marie went out of her way to make sure we were comfortable!

This is the view from the backyard of the cabin. The cabin is located on what's called The Overlook, because it looks over the East Fork of White River. Its my belief that my Howard ancestors came into Martin County from the East Fork of White River. When they saw how beautiful the countryside was, they stayed!

The next morning, Friday, Kenny and I ate at Velma's Diner in Shoals, Indiana. Velma's is a wonderful breakfast place, a fine diner. From biscuits and gravy to eggs over easy, they have anything you might want for breakfast, perfectly made to order!

Kenny and I then made our way to NSWC Crane Naval Base. Yep! Southern Indiana is home to a naval base! According to the Indianapolis Star, 21 Jun 2016, Crane employs around 5,000 civilians and adds around $800 million each year to our state economy. The base came into Martin County in or around 1941 and took the land of about three of Martin County's townships. They fenced off a lot of where my ancestors lived, including Goldsberry Hollow, where Joel Lyon lived with his wife, my grandaunt Adaline.

Fortunately, I had also learned because of Blood of My Ancestor, that the soldiers and staff at the naval base are gracious and kind. They had even reached out to me after I wrote "Blood" and threw a huge all-day event to celebrate the book! Because of this, I knew the odds were good that we'd be able to do cemetery visits as part of the reunion.

There are somewhere around 29 cemeteries behind the gates of the naval base. When I emailed them about a group of us taking a tour, the offer was made that we could tour three of the cemeteries.  I chose Boggs Creek, West Union and Williams. Seven of us gathered at the naval base. Two others joined later, just for the Boggs Creek Cemetery tour.

I was super nervous, just on edge. I had six people counting on me to make it worth their while for all they had put into being a part of this reunion. The couple from Evansville, Indiana, Laura and Bill, were staying at a hotel in Washington, Indiana. Ann, from Pennsylvania and Greg and Mary from Wisconsin were staying in Jasper. What if it turned out that they had wasted their time? What if it turned out they were bored to tears? My anxiety level was through the roof!

We made a caravan to follow the two soldiers who had been assigned to us. We were told we could take pictures in the cemeteries only. Kenny and I followed behind the soldier's truck. Bill and Laura rode with us. Ann, Greg and Mary rode together in behind us.

Crane Naval Base is HUGE!!! It took us forever to get from cemetery to cemetery, and my anxiety level was still great. Was everyone having a good time? Was anyone bored with all the driving?

When we got to Boggs Creek cemetery, the decision was made to only allow the two people who had joined only to go to this cemetery. To get to this cemetery, you must climb a very steep and long hill. The soldiers decided one would take the extra couple up in the truck and, warning us that the road wasn't very good to

the cemetery, we were told to wait behind with the other soldier. They told me I could join in going up to Boggs Creek, but I decided to stay behind with the others. It was a good decision. For August, it was a particularly pleasant morning, and it was so much fun talking with my extended family. The soldier talked a little about how he had asked to be assigned to Crane, but he gave very little away. Greg would laugh later, saying that he made a very good soldier indeed, being a man of few words.

I don't have any family members buried in Williams, but it is one of the larger cemeteries and so I thought it would be fun.

This is an interesting stone in Williams Cemetery.

After we were finished with our tour of the three cemeteries behind the gates of Crane Naval Base, we traveled by caravan back to Loogootee to enjoy lunch together. I knew by this time that the two-day reunion was going to be successful, although I still didn't realize how much it was going to mean to me in the end.

All pictures in this blog posting are from the Carolyn Ann Howard Family Collection. The photos of the cemeteries in Crane Naval Base were taken with permission.

© 2022 by December Moonlight Publishing, LLC

Lyon Family Researchers - BEWARE!

The Lyon Family of Martin County, Indiana

Lyon Family Researchers - BEWARE!

A Comparison of Two Different Samuel Lyons

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by Carolyn Ann Howard

Samuel Lyon (1781 - 23 Jun 1860)

Sources for date of birth: 1850 census and Find-A-Grave, which can be a useful tool but also can be unreliable.

Source for date of death: Find-A-Grave, not finding him on 1860 census, and wife, Amelia, living with son in 1860.

Place of birth: Unknown, but certainly New Jersey.

Place of death: Stockholm, Sussex, New Jersey.

Father: Isaac C. Lyon.

Samuel Lyon (1780 - 14 Jan 1860) 

Source for date of birth: U.S. Federal Census Mortality Schedule.

Source for date of death: Ohio, Wills and Probate, U.S. Federal Census Mortality Schedule and Find-a-Grave.

Place of birth: New Jersey.

Place of death: Miami County, Ohio.

Father, according to Ancestry member family tree: Matthias Lyon.

While trying to find more information about Samuel Lyon, Joel Lyon's grandfather, my lines kept getting crossed with the Ohio Samuel Lyon. I thought for a while they were one and the same person. When I found the Ohio Samuel Lyon's will, however, I was able to construct his family and realized these two men are very different people.

I have been trying to crack the case of our Samuel Lyon's wives, too. One wedding record in New Jersey has Samuel Lyon marrying Nancy Farber. And maybe Sarah Farber. And also Sally Farber. And then I found Sarah Farber also in Miami County, Ohio, not married? She's still living with her parents in 1860 and died in 1865. But this isn't OUR Sarah Farber, if we indeed have a Sarah Farber.

Me: Tearing my hair out.

I just want to know about our Samuel Lyon, and now I'm not sure of anything!

© 2022 by December Moonlight Publishing, LLC

  

Do Not Believe Your Family's Twisted Story

Benjamin W. Carroll Family Line

Do Not Believe Your Family's Twisted Story

____________________

by Carolyn Ann Howard

This post was updated 30 Aug 2021

My family tree has more twisted stories and lies. This is the one thing that saddens me about genealogy, but undoubtedly, every tree is filled with lies and varying degrees of twistedness simply because we're human beings each with our own filters.

Blood of My Ancestor was written to set the story straight about Joel Lyon's role in the murder of his wife and to clear his good name. He had previously been falsely accused of murder by my family and other families as well. Joel was the husband of my 2x grandaunt Adaline Cannon.

The story of Joel Lyon that my family likes to spin starts with "Joel was Catholic and Adaline was Protestant." This was happy news for the author in me, because it meant I'd get to write about the differences between Catholic and Protestant and to do so in a positive light. Because Adaline most likely would not have been taught about Catholicism in her girlhood, this became a great part of their story. Imagine her curiosity with Joel to begin with and then to learn his faith was so much different than hers.

About a month ago, I learned that even this, this small piece of the story another grandaunt had written down on paper was false! Author Beth Willis, who has chronicled so much of the history of Stockholm, New Jersey, from whence Joel came, told me that Joel was most likely Methodist. I posted this on Facebook -- like, can you believe it? And Joel's granddaughter replied:

I know that my grandfather was Methodist, because as a kid I would ride with him to church sometimes. And I was baptized Methodist when I was a kid.

Seriously, though? The whole damn story written about Joel Lyon in my family's records was false to its very core. "Joel was Catholic and Adaline was Protestant" needs to be changed to "Joel was Methodist and so was Adaline." Then again, that one sentence would blow up the whole story that begins with Joel baptizing their new infant son as a Catholic behind Adaline's back.

I recently learned more about a different story that had only been heard in passing. The story was so crazy, it didn't even sink in. My father started the story by saying, "I understand that John Cannon was an atheist." John Cannon was my 2x great-grandfather. The story was so preposterous to me, I didn't even want to hear it, which made my father realize that it wasn't true. Thankfully, he stopped telling that story. Years later, my dear cousin said he had heard his father preach about how my great-grandmother, John Cannon's daughter, who birthed and reared my grandfather, was an infidel. An infidel!

I grew up in a legalistic household with lots of rules that must be kept in order to find favor with God. That upbringing made this word infidel conjure up feelings of vilification and shame. My great-grandmother, Hester Cannon Howard, however, was not an infidel. She was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church and brought her children up the same. This was confirmed in her obituary that stated "from girlhood, she was a consistent adherent to the faith." We know that after she moved from Mount Calvary to within the city limits of Loogootee, Indiana, she attended the Methodist Church there in Loogootee. Prior to that, she attended Mount Calvary Methodist Episcopal.

I admit, sometimes I put my great-grandmother on a pedestal. Mostly, though, I just hold her in high esteem. Why not? She owned her own business and ran it successfully. She was a single mother, and she had spunk. Another uncle, one who had known her in real life, told me she had spunk. He said it with the most beautiful smile on his face. He was proud of her, for sure. Click on photo to enlarge.

Hester Howard on the left at her home in Loogootee, IN
Carolyn Ann Howard family collection

I have a theory how this story about Hester got started. You see, Hester had two boys with her husband, Billy, who died of tuberculosis shortly after their births. She was protective of them, and they of her. Her eldest son fought in World War I and, after that, he moved to Binghamton, New York, escaping her protection. Earl was 31 when he married, and he stayed in Binghamton the rest of his life.

Once Earl had moved, Hester only had her youngest son, Rodolphus, who went by Dolph, to help her on the truck farm, with their boarding rooms, and whatever needed to be done around the home. Hester's parents were gone, and her sister and best friend was gone - murdered brutally in cold blood. I'm sure Hester really relied on Dolph.

When Dolph turned 30, he married my grandmother, Grace Carroll. As was the custom in those days, the couple lived with my great-grandmother for about a year before setting up their own household. The two women did not get along. Not even a little.

I knew my grandmother well. She was excessively religious and felt rules needed to be followed in order to achieve holiness. Her father also was an extremely religious man. Her half-brother, John Carroll, was the founder of four Pilgrim Holiness churches in Martin County - Burns City, Mount Zion, Poplar Grove and Shoals, as well as the Pilgrim Holiness campground called "Singing Hill."

Singing Hill in Shoals, Indiana
Carolyn Ann Howard Family Collection

Rules were the order of the day. No pants for the girls. No dice. No playing cards. No board games. No laughter. Children do not talk. No make-up. No cutting hair. The rules were crushing. To make things worse, my grandmother attended the Methodist Church in Loogootee, and I knew these weren't Methodist beliefs, so it made absolutely no sense! The fact that her heritage as Pilgrim Holiness was never discussed led me to realize that she was a Pilgrim Holiness cleverly disguised as a Methodist.

In my grandmother's eyes, surely I'd be an infidel. I drink wine. I wear pants. I wear make-up. I use dice in my piano classroom to play music games with my students. It is doubtful that Hester drank or wore pants or make-up or even played with dice, but she had spunk and could stand up for herself, that is for sure. My uncle told me a man was harassing her, so she threw a tomato right in his face. He told me that with the same proud smile.

It's so easy to make up stories about the dead, whether those stories are true or false, good or bad. Your job as a genealogist is to sort through the data you have and make informed observations, backing that up as much as possible with eyewitness statements, newspaper clipping, and other documentation. It's also good to make sure everyone is innocent until proven guilty.

© 2022 by December Moonlight Publishing, LLC

Early Lyon Settlers of Southwestern Indiana

The Lyon Family of Martin County, Indiana

Early Lyon Settlers of Southwestern Indiana

Joel Campbell Lyon (1853-1915)
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by Carolyn Ann Howard

This post was updated 30 Apr 2022

 

Joel Campbell Lyon was a pioneer in every sense of the word, being an early settler of an area in Brown Township, Martin County, Indiana, that was called Goldsberry Hollow or holler. This land is now a part of Naval Surface Warfare Center -- Crane Division, Indiana. Click on photos to enlarge.

Joel Campbell Lyon
Photo courtesy Marilyn Lyon (1931-2017)
I was so proud to have called her my friend

He came from Snufftown, now called Stockholm, Sussex County, New Jersey, as a boy along with his parents, Alanson and Elizabeth Grimstead Lyon, his brothers and sisters. The call of the west at that time, 1867, was strong among the people of the eastern United States. Land purchased from the government was plentiful and cheap.

Unlike many pioneers, who had 40 acres, Alanson Lyon had 280, which he purchased not from the government but from Vancleve Swayze. It was first thought that he bought this land for $10/acre. New information tells us that Alanson Lyon traded his land in New Jersey to Vancleve Swayze for the 280 in Martin County, IN.

This Swayze also was originally from Sussex County, New Jersey, but died in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania. According to author Beth Willis, just a few years later, 1878, this same land was foreclosed upon and, in a sheriff's sale, sold to Oliver Reed.

The original deed between Swayze and Lyon was expertly transcribed by Kaye Seeley in 2013 and is here. Opens in a new window.

Combing through the 1880 census, I noticed  the name of Alanson Lyon's neighbor, John Drake Swayze. He also was from Sussex County, New Jersey, as was his family. In fact, anyone with the last name of Swayze on the 1880 Brown Township federal census was from Sussex County. So we know that the Lyon family and the Swayze family are somehow entwined.

In the 1880 Brown Township census, we have 3 families from New Jersey: The Lyon family, the Swayze family and the Flummerfelt family. All were born in Sussex County. Also born in Sussex County was George Lundy, but he came to Martin County prior to 1840; therefore, he was the first New Jerseyan and might be the key to discovering why the other 3 families came to Indiana in the first place.

Lyon Coat of Arms
Attribute below

Joel Campbell Lyon's ancestors originally migrated to American from Scotland as Ulster Scots and so were Presbyterians. In my previous research for my book, Blood of My Ancestor, my own family records incorrectly stated Joel was Catholic. He was actually Methodist.

This same handwritten account also stated that Joel killed his third wife, Adaline Cannon Lyon, my 2x great aunt, which he did not do. The family record, which came from Adaline's sister, Malinda, therefore, is incorrect in its entirety.

I also want to reaffirm that Blood of My Ancestor is a fictional account of the murder of my great aunt and should not be used to work on genealogy. As stated in its introduction:

"The story of Joel and Adaline Lyon is based on the true story and has been tirelessly researched to be as factual as possible. In the end, however, the story is fictional."

The only goal and intention of writing the story was to prove Joel innocent of my great aunt's murder, which was accomplished.

Joel, along with his brother James, had no choice but to come with their parents to Brown Township as they were minors. However, Warren, who would've been around the age of 17 at the time of the move, likely did make his own decision to come with his parents to Martin County. In the 1880 census, Warren, Joel, and James were all landowners in Brown Township, having inherited their father's 280 acres. They are the only Lyons listed in this township.

Other names on the 1880 census from New Jersey were Emma Ragle, Phebe Flummerfelt, who lived with John Swayze and family as a "servant" (she was in her 80s), Elias Patterson, who was a miller, and finally Marthy A. Gruver, who lived with her parents. Her parents were both born in Pennsylvania while Marthy was born in New Jersey. A connection between Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Ohio seemingly is a common thread in this equation.

Alanson was a latecomer to Martin County, Indiana, having settled in or around 1867. Most of the old-timers were already there by that time. Because the Lyon, Swayze, and Flummerfelt families all came came from Sussex County, New Jersey, it might be assumed they all came together. The evidence does not support this. The Swayzes and Flummerfelts came to Martin County in the 1850s, well before the Lyon family. Click on photos to enlarge

Screenshot from an 1860 map of Sussex New Jersey
Map courtesy of The Library of Congress

When I first saw the above map from 1860 Sussex, New Jersey, it appeared that Alanson only had a small tract of land in what looks to be downtown Snufftown, New Jersey (now Stockholm). His father, Samuel, lived next door. (In case you can't find A. Lyon and S. Lyon, look at the word Snufftown and look slightly down from Snuff.) According to author Beth Willis, Alanson's brother Halsey, also a farmer, is the H. Lyon at the top center of the map. Halsey died in Stockholm in 1871. I did take the time to study the entire 1860 map of Sussex County, New Jersey and found only these 3 Lyon family members.

Author Beth Willis also emailed me a more detailed map that proved my original theory wrong, which I'm always happy to consider new information! She also thankfully emailed this:

Snufftown 1860
Courtesy of Beth Willis
Click on photo to enlarge

"In the meantime, please know that Alanson’s property was not in downtown Snufftown. Snufftown was a small hamlet comprising 5-6 houses, a store (Lewis), a tannery (Walther), a tavern (Lewis) and the church [which is what] is shown on the 1860 Hopkins Map [the map above]... Alanson’s property was located west of Snufftown... The blue dot [on the adjoining map] is Alanson first tract of land. The red dot is where Snufftown was located... Snufftown never had a post office. But letters [that] were addressed to anyone within a 3 mile radius of Snufftown [were] delivered to the tavern."

When first looking at this map, my heart was warmed that Samuel Lyon had an "Orchard Lot." It reminded me of the Freeman family in my book Pioneer Stories who had an orchard lot on their property. Makes me wonder if Alanson brought apple seeds with him to Martin County, Indiana. When I was graciously taken to Joel's property by the wives of Crane Naval Base commanders, we didn't notice any apple trees. However, the 1915 tornado that devastated the area, taking Joel's life, may have destroyed any possible orchard that might have been. Again - just making up stories, but isn't that the fun of genealogy? To wonder? And to wander?

© 2022 by December Moonlight Publishing, LLC

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Attribution for the Lyon Coat of Arms: By Heralder: This vector image includes elements that have been taken or adapted from this:  Coat of Arms of Bergues.svg (by Tom-L). This vector image includes elements that have been taken or adapted from this:  Coat of Arms of the July Monarchy (1830-31) (variant).svg (by Sodacan). ([1]) [CC BY-SA 4.0  (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)], via Wikimedia Commons