William B. Van Buren (1863-1943) Teamster

Johann Gottfried Hauer (John Godfrey Howard) Family Line

William B. Van Buren (1863-1843) Teamster
____________________

by Carolyn Ann Howard

William B. Van Buren. He's pretty far away from me in my family line; my 2nd cousin 3x removed. But I don't want to just research Howards, and Van Buren is a fine name. He has this name because his mother, Lydia "Catherine" Howard, sometimes spelled with a "K," married John Van Buren in or around 1850. Catherine was the granddaughter of our patriarch, my 4th great-grandfather, John Godfrey Howard. Click on photos to enlarge

Early Postcard of Warsaw, N.Y.
Courtesy of Wikipedia Commons, public domain

William B. Van Buren was born 12 Jun 1863 in Middlebury, New York. In the household besides his parents were sister Cynthia, brother Charles, and sister Olive. In the 1870 census, he is with his parents in Middlebury along with his brothers and sisters, Cynthia, Charles, Olive, and younger brother Frank, who was born in 1869. By the 1880 census, it was just William and his younger brother along with two cousins, Henry and Charles. These were Seth Howard's boys, who was Catherine's brother. I don't know why they're there, but Seth's entire family was disrupted in the 1880 census, and he's in Michigan with another woman at that time.

William went by "Willie" as a child, according to the census records, so we'll call him Will. He married his 2nd cousin, Flora Howard, in 1882. Her father was Jacob Howard, who was Will's grandfather. If that doesn't create a feedback loop in your family tree, I don't know what will. They were just 3 years apart in age. When they married, she was 15 and he was 18. No shame, no foul, though. The couple stayed in Warsaw, New York, close to Will's family. Flora, at the time of their marriage, had been living in Rochester with her mom, about an hour's drive away today.

The young couple had four children prior to the 1900 Warsaw, NY census: William, born 1883; Katherine, who went by "Kittie," born 1885; Raymond, born 1887; and Flora Macey, born 1891. In the 1900 census, the Van Buren's are all together, Will and wife Flora along with their four children. Also living with them at that time was Flora's sister, on this census listed as Alida Howard. Other sources have her name as Lida and Lydia. There is also a border, Martin Gell. Will's daughter, Kittie, married a Martin Gell. However, this Martin is 15 years her senior. He may have been an uncle, but I don't know, as I didn't research the Gells.

Kittie firstly married Clayton Parmenter in 1907. By the time of the 1910 Warsaw, NY Federal Census, Kittie was already widowed with two young children, Kenneth and Clayton. She and the boys were with her father and mother, Will and Flora, along with her three brothers.

Our subject, Will Howard, Sr., was listed as a teamster in this 1910 census, as would be done the rest of his working days. The eldest son, Will, Jr., was 27 and a machinist for "elevator works." Son Raymond was 22 and a painter at "elevator works." Their youngest, 18-year-old Flora, no doubt named after her mom, was a laundress who worked "in laundry." Their daughter, the newly widowed Kittie Parmenter, was 25. Her occupation was listed as "none," but with a 5-year-old (Kenneth) and a newborn, (Clayton), we all know what her occupation was. I do not know how her husband died, but the newborn Clayton was born after his father's death in 1909 and is named after his father. The elder Clayton Parmenter, Kittie's first husband, is buried with his parents in West Middlebury Cemetery in Middlebury, New York.

The next record is the New York State Census for 1915. It is interesting. Firstly, we have William listed as "head" and as a teamster. His wife was next. There's no different family numbers or house numbers, it's all smooshed together, so perhaps there were more people in that same home? Their son, William was next in line and was also listed as "head." He was still a machinist. His wife was on the next line, Margaret. After Margaret was Katherine Gell, who is listed as a boarder. This Katherine Gell is William's sister, Kittie. After her husband, Clayton Parmenter, died, she remarried Martin Gell 18 Dec 1911, in Ontario, Canada. And now, she was there, not with her husband, but with her brother. Kittie had four children by then, two with Mr. Parmenter and two with Mr. Gell. This census, however, incorrectly had Kenneth Clayton's last name as "Gell." Her two new babies are Stanley and Evelyn. I don't know what's going on with Kittie and Mr. Gell, but it could be as innocent as he was working somewhere out of the city at the time the enumerator came by.

After this, tragedy struck the Van Buren family. I don't know what it is like to lose a child, and I never want to know. The Van Buren family lost three of their four. Firstly Flora Macey died from gastritis, 03 Apr 1912. Will's son, his namesake, died 31 Jul 1917, and I don't know why. He may have lost his life in World War I. He was buried in Warsaw Cemetery. Then Kittie died 14 Oct 1919. Her obituary doesn't say why, just that she died at her parents home. How heartbroken Will and Flora must have been, and I'm certain they never got over any of this. 

In the 1920 census, Will and Flora were still in Warsaw with two of their grandchildren, Kenneth and Clayton Parmenter. The other two grandchildren were in Warsaw, too, but they lived with their father. Will and Flora's only living child, Raymond, was also in Warsaw, living with his wife and family.

In the 1925 New York State Census, Will and Flora are still making it. Will was 61 years old and was still working as a Teamster. Flora was 58. They have three grandchildren living with them now. Their oldest grandson, aged 20, has changed his name from Kenneth Parmenter to Kenneth Van Buren. It might be that his grandparents adopted him or that he changed his name in homage to them. He was a chauffeur! Next is 16-year-old Clayton Parmenter, who was named after his father. Notice that Clayton kept his correct last name. He was listed as a farmer. And surprise! Evelyn Gell, the 10-year-old daughter of Kittie and Martin (Matt) Gell was also living with her grandparents. 

Flora died 25 Feb 1929 at the age of 62, leaving Will all alone on the 1930 census. He wasn't really alone, as he lived with William and Linda Conkle as a "hired man" whose occupation was "none." William Conkle was a farm laborer on a general farm. Will's son, Raymond, was just a few pages away from his dad in this census, so he wasn't far. Raymond was a laborer at a "milk fonderry company."

And finally, sometime before 1935, Will moved in with son Raymond and his family. In the 1940 census, we learn that Will had an 8th grade education and his son, 7th. Raymond was a farmer at "operator," working on his own account. Good for Raymond! 

Will died 10 Mar 1943 at the Wyoming County Community Hospital.

I'm very disappointed Ancestry didn't have more records for the Van Buren family. It would be nice to have seen a better picture of their lives together. I'll keep checking in with the family from time to time to make sure no new information has been added.

© 2022 by December Moonlight Publishing, LLC

Nelson Isaiah Howard (1843-1929)

 Johann Gottfried Hauer (John Godfrey Howard) Family Line

Nelson Isaiah Howard (1843-1929) A Really Nice Guy Who Knew What He Wanted
____________________

by Carolyn Ann Howard

Nelson Isaiah Howard was born 01 Feb 1843 in Middlebury, New York, a great-grandson of John Godfrey Howard, the Hessian soldier who came to the U.S. from Germany to fight in the Revolutionary War.  He was the second eldest to his parents Nelson Jacob Howard and Catherine Cornelia Mickel. 

The first census that Nelson appeared in is the 1850 census, when he was six years old. The family was still in Middlebury at this time. Nelson's father was a farmer and his real estate value was $1900. That's a pretty good number! The three oldest children, Phillip, 8; Nelson, 6; and Angenette, 5 had all attended school within the year. In 1860, however, the family was in Scioto Township, Jackson County, Ohio. Nelson's dad was still a farmer. His real estate was worth $1200 and his personal estate, $300. The eldest, Phillip, was a laborer. Neither Phillip or Nelson were in school, but this census does not have an occupation for Nelson. All the other children are in school, though, and everyone can read and write.

The Civil War soon broke out after this census, and Nelson enlisted 04 Aug 1862 as part of the 1st Ohio Light Artillery, Company L. He was a little late to the game, however, as this company's original muster date was 08 Oct 1861.  He would join his fellow soldiers at Alexandria, Virginia. As such, he would participate in 9 battles with his company, including the Battle of Gettysburg. Nelson, along with the entire company, mustered out 04 Jul 1865 in Columbus, Ohio. Later in Nelson's life, according to newspaper articles, his grandchildren would visit the sites of the battles where their grandfather had fought.

During his time in the Civil War, he lost a brother and sister - Emma Jane, 7, and William, 14. I checked every single person's Ancestry tree to see if I could possibly find a source for at least Emma's place of death. Every single person has her dying at Arvada, Colorado, and no one has any documentation for this available on Ancestry. Wikitree also has nothing. I checked all my newspaper sources and came up empty handed. Emma died 02 Apr 1863. Her brother died just two days later. According to Wikipedia, Arvada is the first place gold was found in the Rocky Mountain region. The Territory of Colorado was formed 28 Feb 1861.

I have failed to find marriage records for Nelson or his bride Frances Ellen Folin, except for the 1900 census which listed them as being married for 32 years. That puts their marriage year as 1868, the year their eldest, William Forrest, was born.

In the 1870 census, the couple are still in Ohio with their two children, William, 2, and Emily, 6 months. Nelson is listed as a farm laborer, something I'm sure he wasn't content with.  The value of his real estate is left blank, and his net worth is $100. He may have received housing as part of his compensation. This census shows him correctly as being born in New York. His wife and 2 children were all born in Ohio. I thought, at first, that perhaps Nelson worked on his father's farm. On double-checking, however, his father and mother are in Prairie Creek, Illinois in 1870. The value of his father's real estate is also blank, but his personal worth was $500.

By the time the couple's third son, Ovid Albert was born in 1872, Nelson and his wife were in Waterville, Kansas. This son soon died, unfortunately. Their next child was James Otto, who was born 18 Feb 1874. On the 1875 Kansas State Census, Nelson was still listed as a farm laborer with both real estate and personal property values left blank. His wife and three children were also with him as was another farm laborer, Leroy Field.

Finally, in the 1880 census, it looks like Nelson was on his way to the bigtime. He wasn't in Waterville anymore but 300 miles to the west in Grant County, Kansas. The census listed him as "farmer," not laborer or farm laborer. This census doesn't tell us whether he owned land or how much he was worth, though, so we can't be for sure just by looking at the record. His wife was with him, and his four children: William, Emma, James, and Harry. The oldest three were all in school. Harry was only 2. I think it's interesting that the census enumerator, when listing Ohio as the birthplace of everyone except Nelson, he simply put "O."

Nelson's parents and a sister, in the 1880 census, were no longer in Prairie Creek, Illinois, but now were in their son's old stomping ground of Waterville, Kansas! The checkmark notating sick is next to his dad's name. On this census page, 12 people are marked as sick. Their daughter, Nelson's sister, 32-year-old Frances was listed as "at home."

In the Clyde Herald newspaper dated 06 Jul 1892, it stated that Nelson had begun receiving a pension for $12 a month with $200 back pay. The article stated that he had to wait for it for quite a while, but in his good humor, he also stated that it came at a good time.

Our next document is the 1895 Kansas State Census, dated 01 March. In this census, Nelson is listed as a farmer, along with his wife and five of his eight living children: Harry, Oscar, Grace, Earl, and Herbert. And then heartbreak struck the family. Nelson accidentally turned a lamp over and burned his house down. Everything that was downstairs inside the house was saved but nothing from the second story. He did receive an insurance settlement for this from "The German Insurance Company," and he promptly built a new house.

 In 1897, Nelson's mom died. His father followed in 1899. His father's obit stated that he had "lived on the farm where he died 28 years." That means, Nelson's parents moved to Waterville in 1871, so that checks out. The senior Nelson's obit states that he was, "kind to his neighbors, honest in his dealings, and believed in a true and living God."

Back to Nelson, Jr., in the 1900 census, we get the answer we were looking for. Nelson owns his own farm. It's mortgaged, but its his. Along with Nelson is his wife, who has had 10 births with 8 living children. That is correct. Living with them are their sons, Harry, Oscar, Earl, and Herbert. The two older boys are listed as farm laborers. The younger two are listed "at school."

In the 1905 Kansas State Census, Nelson is now 62 and still owed on his mortgage for the farm. This census doesn't give us much information, basically a list of who lived in the home and their ages. In Nelson's home are his wife, who is now 59 and two of his sons, Earl, 19, and Herbert, 15.

In the 1910 Federal Census, Nelson is no longer in Grant County, Kansas, but in the city of Clyde, Kansas in Cloud County.  Listed with him are his wife and son, Herbert, along with his daughter-in-law, 19-year-old May. Nelson was a farmer on a "general farm" on his own account. No mortgage this time, but it states he "rented" his "house," not a farm. His son's occupation is that of a farmer on a farm. The Clyde Voice Republican newspaper gives us the reason for this confusing detail. Nelson and his family have moved from the farm! In the 24 Feb 1910 edition, the newspaper tells us that Nelson has moved to town and is renting a house! I'm wondering if they did this so that they could have electricity and/or telephone service. In listening to my great granduncle's interview, he talked about how much easier their lives were after getting electricity.

In the 1915 Kansas State Census, it is Nelson and his Frances, along with just their daughter-in-law, May, and her son Gerald. Herbert is not there and later documents list him as divorced. I haven't been able to find much out about May, but she continued to live with her father- and mother-in-law after her divorce. They are still in Clyde, and this census tells us that he owned his house free and clear.

In the last census record for Nelson in 1920, it is Nelson, 76, with his wife Frances, 72. His occupation is "none." May is gone, but their grandson Charles remained. He was 9. It would be Charles who would order Nelson's military stone after Nelson's death in 1929.

I was unsuccessful in finding an obit for Nelson Isaiah, but I peeked at my cousin Glenn's tree, and he appears to have been in pretty bad shape health-wise at the end with poor eyesight and hearing as well as pain. But his life was good. Newspaper articles show him visiting all manner of family, especially his son William Forrest, who lived in Pocatello, Idaho. It also showed all manner of family visiting him. He was generous, having once taken a bushel of corn to the newspaper editor's office and volunteering when others needed help. I also think it speaks volumes about a man who worked his way up to owning his own farm. He knew what he wanted, and he made it happen.

© 2022 by December Moonlight Publishing, LLC

Seth C. Howard, An "Intemps" from New York (1836-1908)

 Johann Gottfried Hauer (John Godfrey Howard) Family Line

Seth C, Howard (1836-1908)
____________________

by Carolyn Ann Howard

Seth Howard was a grandson of John Godfrey Howard, the Hessian soldier who came to the U.S. from Germany to fight in the Revolutionary War.  He was the son of Jacob Howard and Mary J. "Polly" Covell. The "C" in Seth's middle name might be Covell, but I am not certain. Seth is my 1st cousin, four times removed.

I became interested in Seth because of a document that Ancestry showed me, and that was the "New York Census of Inmates in Almshouses." Inmates did not mean prisoner. Patients were also called inmates at that time - just a blanket term for anyone housed in an institutional setting. Seth and his wife, Frances, both were institutionalized in The Genesee County Poorhouse.

Thinking of poorhouse, I think of the County Farm in Monticello, Indiana,  where I grew up in the 1960s-1970s. We didn't have a poorhouse, but we did have a County Farm that housed inmates. Two of those inmates - men - went to my dad's church, Bill Kretchmar picking them up every Sunday. They were an odd couple. It feels like one was tall and slender and the other shorter and portly. They were always in good spirits, though, so I didn't attach a negative connotation to the place where they lived. As I got older and more musically inclined, I began to accompany my father to Sunday afternoon services there so that I could play hymns for the "old folks" to sing.

Getting back to Seth Howard. He was born March, 1836 in Middlebury, New York in what was then Genesee County, now Wyoming County. The 1850 census was the first census that listed everyone by name, and in this census, 14-year-old Seth was with his parents and siblings in Middlebury. Also nearby were his aunt and uncle, as Seth's father was one of three brothers who made their way to Middlebury from Grafton, New York, in or around 1831. Seth's father, Jacob and his Uncle Elias settled in Middlebury. The other brother is my 3x great-grandfather, Abraham, who moved on to nearby Attica. On the 1950 census, the farm where Seth lived with his father was valued at $1200. Nice!

In the 1860 census, 24-year-old Seth was now married to 18-year-old Frances Peck. They had a 5-month-old daughter, who went by many names during her life, but in the end, she settled on "Ella." In this census, she was Eleda. Seth was correctly listed as a carpenter and his net worth was $75.

In the 1870 census, 33-year-old Seth was still married to 27-year-old Frances, as he would be the entirety of his life. His occupation was listed as wagon maker, also correct. He had done well in 10 years. His real estate was valued at $700 and his personal worth $300. Their eldest daughter on this census was listed as 10-year-old Alice M. who "attends school." Merritt, who was 8 years old also "attends school." Quite a jump from 8-year-old Merritt to the newborn, Carrie, who is one year old.

My dear cousin Glenn also obtained an entry from a business directory for 1870-1871. This directory listed Seth Howard as part of the firm "Cowley and Howard," who were blacksmiths and carriage makers. Cowley's first name was Covel.

The next census I have is the 1875 New York State Census. Everything looks fine here as well. Seth and the fam were in Warsaw. He was valued at $1800 and listed as a carpenter. Everyone is else is there, too: Frances, his wife, along with children Ella, listed this time as Alida, Merritt, Carrie, Henry, May, and Charles.

But here is where it gets interesting. The 1880 census tells an unusual story. What is going on here? Seth is still very much alive, but his family is all divided up. His wife, Frances, was listed with their son, Merritt, in Middlebury. He was head of household at the age of 19. His occupation: carpenter. Ella - listed as Alice - is in Warsaw with her new husband, Charles McClure.  Henry and Charles are with their aunt and uncle, Seth's sister Catherine and her husband, John Van Buren, in Warsaw. Their youngest, Ida, was with Seth's nephew George and his wife. I can't find their daughters, May or Carrie anywhere. Believe me it's not for a lack of trying.

If you use Family Search for the 1880 census records and put in Seth Howard with a birth year of 1836, you will get 9 entries for "Seth Howard." However, only one of those Seths match with ours, and it probably is our Seth Howard, who was living not in New York but in Davison, Michigan. This Seth was born in 1836 in New York, he used the "C" as his middle initial, and he was listed as a wagon maker, which is the correct occupation. He was living in the same household as 75-year-old John Golden, who was born in Ireland. But here - get this - he was listed as living with Carrie - and not his daughter, Carrie, who was born in 1869. This Carrie was born in or around 1856, is 20 years Seth's junior, AND she was listed as Seth's wife!!!!

I made a tree for John Golden, but it was futile, because I have so little information. Who was he? Was he Carrie's dad? How did all this come about?

The next record we have is the 1892 New York State Census. Seth was back with his true wife, Frances, but he is listed as a mechanic, not a carpenter or a blacksmith. However, being a wagon maker or a blacksmith would naturally transition to mechanic, so this is not a red flag by any means. Their 22-year-old son Peter was with them, listed as a carpenter. 

And then, very real tragedy struck as fire swept through Wyoming Village, taking many structures with it. Fires were a real threat as most buildings were all wood structures. Even if made of brick, the fire would still burn everything inside. Seth lost his house in this fire. Another man by the name of Cowley also lost his home. This might have been Seth's business partner. A church was lost, a cider mill, nine homes in all, and countless businesses. It must be something to be a victim of this type of tragedy. And one might think this was the start of Seth's true downfall if he had not built a post office in Warsaw, New York a year later.

On the 1900 census, Seth was with his wife in Warsaw. Everything here looks fine except for one detail. Frances states that she had 4 total births with only 2 living children. What is this? Seth and Frances had at least 4 living children at this time: Merritt, Ella, Henry, and Charles. I have found, in my research, that they had at least 7 children total. Knowing that this couple both ended up in the poorhouse, I'm wondering if a little dementia was settling in. Or maybe she or Seth were just mad at 2 of them, something like "you're dead to me" type of attitude.

The last little bit of info I have on Seth Howard before entering the poor house is a theft in 1903. He allegedly stole a bench vise from W. E. Evans. He was let out on his own recognizance, and Evans dropped the charges.

I've read a little bit about the newfangled poorhouses of the early 1900s. It was not pretty.  A huge social push was overtaking the country where reformers thought they could abolish poverty. New York had a huge bureaucratic hierarchy when it came to the poorhouse system. The thing most notable to me in my studies is that they were always trying to save money and cut corners and that everyone was lumped into the same system - those with mental illness, delinquents, and old folks. This was not going to work, and it didn't.

When entering into the poorhouse, the first thing that happened was that the inmate was stripped of their clothes, made to bathe in an antiseptic soap, and given a uniform. This intimate act of bathing was all done under watching eyes. If that didn't further affect someone's mental health, what else would? And we all know that bad, bad things happened in these dark, dreadful places.

A person wasn't just placed into a poorhouse, though. It had to be determined that they needed to be there. Things that determined this, for example, were begging in the streets or sleeping outside. In New York, a particular form was filled out for each inmate, called a census. On Seth's census, it states that he had been on "public relief" - where? "several places" and when? "about 10 years." It described his physical condition as helpless and the cause of his dependence on sickness. The one thing that really concerns me, though, is that his habits are marked as "intemps." This was an abbreviation for intemperance, meaning they thought he drank too much. Alcohol was indeed very much a problem in the U.S. at this time; however, alcohol was also given as medicine and apparently it wasn't hard to come by, even in the poor house. So, I'm not sure we can really surmise much if anything from this observation. But also, if he was sundowning, he could have very much acted like a drunk.

Unfortunately also for his wife, Frances, she was admitted to the poorhouse the very same day. Many times, the families were separated from each other and were punished if they were caught talking to each other. Her census stated that her health was "fairly good" but that she was "homeless and destitute." It stated that she had been on public relief for about 15 years. Doing my research, women were not often institutionalized in the poorhouse, because their children, while not feeling guilt for not taking care of their father, usually felt differently about their mother. But yet, here she is, living in the direst of places - a New York poorhouse in the early 1900s.

Seth died from a stroke 28 Sep 1908. He is listed on the Genesee County Home web site as having been an inmate there, he is not on the list of people who died there. Same goes for Frances, who died 29 Nov 1909 from stomach cancer. Her obit stated that she died at Ella's house and had 4 surviving children: Ella, Merritt, Henry, and Charles.

© 2022 by December Moonlight Publishing, LLC

Henry F. Howard (1870-1953)

 Johann Gottfried Hauer (John Godfrey Howard) Family Line

Henry F. Howard (1870-1953)
____________________ 

by Carolyn Ann Howard

Something I've learned, even though it seems like it should have been so clear, is how little information Ancestry really can tell you about your family. For instance, Henry F. Howard, in the 1880 census, the first census that he is counted, lived not with his parents but with his aunt and uncle. His younger brother is living there, too. Henry is 10 and his brother, Charles, is 6. Henry's mom, Frances, was listed with her son, Merritt. Merritt was listed as the head of household and as a carpenter.

A lot of the Howard family line ended up in Michigan, which led my dad to assume that the Howard family, as a group, walked from New York to Michigan. And then - according to his incorrect theory - our direct Howard line walked from Michigan down to Martin County, Indiana. This is untrue, and I have proven that this is not the case. My Howard family line came directly from New York to Martin County, Indiana, perhaps via the Erie Canal. This is where Ancestry's limitations come in. The point is that Henry F. Howard's family was disjointed in the 1880 census, and the cold, hard facts cannot, as of now, tell us why.

Henry F. Howard is my second cousin, three times removed. His parents are Seth C. Howard and Frances Peck. There's that name Peck again. It keeps coming up over and over, seemingly unrelated, but we know that nothing in genealogy is unrelated. My common ancestor with Henry F., though, is his great-grandfather, who is my 4x great grandfather, John Godfrey Howard. When Godfrey came to the colonies from Germany to fight in the Revolutionary War as a Hessian soldier, did he realize how vast and diverse his family would become? Does my father, who has since passed and is in heaven, talk with John Godfrey about any of this? Does it matter by then? I don't know, but I love, love, love researching family stories here on earth! And not just my family, but I have a few Martin County and Orange County, Indiana, families who are unrelated to me that I research and study. It's so interesting.

In 1893, Henry F. married Louise Thompson. My friend and cousin, Glenn, has her listed as Sarah Louise. I'm sure he is correct. He also provides a picture of the happy couple: Click on photos to enlarge

Henry and Louise Howard
Courtesy Lovell Family Collection

In the 1900 census, Henry and Louise lived at 114 State Street in Batavia, New York. They have two children with them on this census. Florence was 4 years old and Ernest was 2. This census tells us how many times she had been pregnant, and it was 2 times. So fortunately, she had not suffered any miscarriages or stillbirths. The home they lived in was rented, and he was a carpenter. His father had also been a carpenter.

In the 1905 New York State Census, the family lived at 307 North Street in Buffalo. He was still a carpenter and living with them were their three children, Florence, Ernest, and Delbert. (I love the name Delbert.)  The two older children were listed "at school," and the youngest, 5-year-old Delbert, is "at home."

In the 1910 census, Henry and Louise lived at 108 E. North Street in Buffalo, New York. Their now four children are listed with them: Florence, Ernest, Delbert, and Dorothy. This census showed that she has had 5 births with 4 living children. The house they lived in was also rented, and he was a carpenter of "buildings." So... a construction worker then? He was a wage earner, so he worked for someone else.

In the 1915 New York State Census, the family lived at 283 Lemon Street. Why did they move around so much? He was still a carpenter. Florence was not in their house anymore, as she was now married and living with her husband. The eldest son, Ernest, who was 17, was a lithographer. Delbert and Dorothy were "at school."

In 1920, the family still lived on 283 Lemon Street in Buffalo. It was Henry and Louise with their two youngest children, Delbert and Dorothy. Henry F. was still a carpenter of "house." Their eldest, Florence, was married and still in Buffalo. Their eldest son, Ernest, was living with Florence and her husband, Albert Windisch! Ernest's wife on the 1920 census was listed as "Mrs. Ernest." Ernest was a "motor mechanic" working in a garage. Florence's husband was a lithographer. They were both wage earners. Of course the women and children's occupations were listed as "none." That was the culture at that time. That doesn't mean, however, that they didn't earn wages. They may have been self-employed as seamstresses or other domestic services.

Funnily enough, after reading Florence's obituary, it said she was a retired seamstress. Why did the census enumerator list her occupation as "none?" Did he just assume that, as a woman, she was at home, keeping house? Did he discount that she was bringing money into the home? Did he even bother to ask what her occupation was?

In the 1925 New York State census, Henry and his wife lived on 374 Florida Street in Buffalo. Their son, Delbert, 25 years old, lived with them as a machinist. Their daughter, Dorothy, 17 years old, was a clerk. Henry was still a carpenter, and he would be listed as such until he retired.

In 1930, Henry and his wife lived with their daughter Florence and her husband, Russell Jones. Also on this census was Florence and Russell's 16-year-old daughter, Doris Jones, and Henry and Louise's 22-year-old daughter, Dorothy Howard. They are also no longer in New York but now are in Detroit, Michigan. Interesting. Dorothy was a "saleslady" at a department store. Florence was listed as a dressmaker at "garmentworks" and her husband a "photo engineer." It is good to see that Florence was given credit for her career as a seamstress and also Dorothy in sales.

Henry F's wife, Louise, died in 1938, if I have researched correctly. Something feels off here, though, and, even after an entire day's worth of researching, I am unable to put my finger on what I'm feeling. I wish I knew more! Hopefully one day I will!

Henry F. Howard
Carolyn Ann Howard Family Collection

 In the 1940 U.S. census, Henry was correctly listed as a widow, still lived with his daughter, Florence and her husband, Russell Jones. They were at 1764 Helen Avenue. And now, Henry's daughter, Doris, who was married to Lanis Robbins, along with their children, lived in the same household as well. On this census, we find out that Henry F. had a 6th-grade education. He apparently is retired, as the block for his employment is blank. I looked up 1764 Helen Street on Google Maps, and it looks like this house has been torn down. Comparing it to other houses in the neighborhood, they look big enough to support three families. Being used to living in a so-called "nuclear family," I find it fascinating how parents and children so often cohabitated together. I love it.

Unfortunately, the cohabitation wasn't enough for Henry F. Howard. And no amount of time on Ancestry can let us know what demons this poor soul was dealing with. I will, of course, continue to study. Unfortunately, Henry ended his own life 28 Oct 1953 by putting a bullet into his head. He and his wife are not buried side-by-side. I'm not even sure at this point if they're in the same cemetery together. There's something there, that is for sure.

Henry with his sister, Ella, who died in 1952
Ella went by many different names in her life
In the end, she went with Ella
Carolyn Ann Howard Family Collection

© 2022 by December Moonlight Publishing, LLC

Peter Howard of Brunswick, New York (1797-1865) The Father of a Gentleman

  Johann Gottfried Hauer (John Godfrey Howard) Family Line

 Peter Howard of Brunswick, New York (1797-1865) The Father of a "Gentleman"
___________________

 by Carolyn Ann Howard
This post was updated 05 May 2022
Click on photos to enlarge

The purchase of Peter Howard's bible was nearly fruitless
I'm glad I have it, though.

My Howard family came to America through John "Godfrey" Howard, a Hessian soldier, who was hired by the British to fight against the Americans in the Revolutionary War. After the war, Godfrey Howard took up George Washington's offer to stay in America simply by taking an oath of allegiance to the United States. Howard settled down in Grafton, New York, got married and had children. One of those children was Peter Howard.

Peter Howard was born in Grafton, New York on 17 May 1797. He was baptized as an infant at The Gilead Lutheran Church in Brunswick, New York. I have these records in a box that's in the closet. I'm sure the record has the exact date, but all I recorded on my Ancestry tree was 1797 for the baptism. And that box is not easy to get down, either, so we'll leave it at that for now. Peter's baptismal sponsors were Peter Hoener, Jr and wife Elisabeta. The church building where he was baptized is no longer there, but the Gilead Church itself is still going strong, having relocated 2-1/2 miles south in 1817.

Peter married Sarah Brust 01 Feb 1823. I only know this because I have his Bible, and it is written inside it. I don't have a marriage certificate or any other document on Ancestry for this marriage. (Correction: Family Search has a text file for this event. The marriage occurred at the Gilead Lutheran Church.) Sarah was the daughter of Matthew Brust and Anna Maria "Mary" Wager. She was born somewhere in or around 1801 in New York. Peter and Sarah had only 3 sons that I can tell: Isaac (1824-1887),  Lyman (1826-1843), and Jacob (1835-1877).

Peter's father, John Godfrey, along with several of his brothers and sisters, migrated to Middlebury, New York, in or around 1831 at the age of 77. After the trip, he soon died, which so often happened to the older folks. Peter and John, Jr. were the only sons still living who stayed behind in Grafton.

I know very little about Peter Howard and family. I was hoping the purchase of his Bible on eBay would tell his tale. It didn't. We do have the census records, however. In the 1850 census, Peter was with his wife, Sarah, and 2 surviving sons in Brunswick, New York. Peter was listed as a farmer. His eldest son, aged 26, a school teacher. His younger son, aged 13, a laborer. Their middle son had since died. This Howard family were surrounded by Brusts!

In the 1855 New York State Census, the family were in the same place, and Peter and his two surviving sons were all listed as farmers. In the 1860 Federal census, they were in the same place; they were all together in the same household, and they were all listed as farmers. Peter's land, according to the census, was worth $2,000. His personal estate: $300. 

The subject of our essay, Peter, died in 1865 of stomach cancer; my cousin told me the cause of death. Isaac was his - as they say now - personal representative. I can find no records of how the will was distributed, only that Isaac was the one in control of the estate.

Am I wrong to wonder why these two sons never got married? Don't you think it's a little odd in the late 1800s to have two sons who didn't marry? And how did that middle son die?

Five years after Peter's death, in the 1870 census, Sarah and her two sons were still together on the same farm, that was now worth $3,000. The eldest son, Isaac, 46, was listed once more as a school teacher. The youngest son, Jacob, 35, was listed as a farm laborer. Why was Isaac a school teacher and not a farmer? After all, he now was the head of household on a farm that in 1870 was worth $3,000. Isaac had been a schoolteacher before, however, and maybe after his father died, he felt he could get back to it.

There also are no longer any Brusts on the same page as they are, nor the page before, nor the page after. There is the George Wager family, who likely was a relation to Peter's mother-in-law.

In the 1875 state census, it was just Isaac and Jacob living together. Their mother, Sarah Brust, had died that same year. Isaac was listed as a school teacher and Jacob as a farm laborer. Two years later, Jacob was dead. It is said that he drowned while intoxicated. I don't believe it. And why not? Because by the 1880 census, Issac had sold all the land and had moved to Lansingburgh, New York, a part of modern-day Troy. He was a boarder of George Clickner. I did George Clickner's tree to see if there was any familial relationship between his family and the Howards. There wasn't.

Issac's occupation on that census? Gentleman. Translation: Someone who has made so much money off an inheritance, that they no longer need an income. Well, good for Isaac, I guess. But why not just put "retired" or "retired school teacher?" That he told the census enumerator that he was a "gentlemen" feels arrogant to me. I do not have the answer. But hopefully one day, I will! And when I find it, you, dear reader, will be the first to know!

© 2022 by December Moonlight Publishing, LLC

Blood of My Ancestor Family Reunion!

Beautiful Martin County, Indiana

Blood of My Ancestor Family Reunion!
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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

Coming to Middlebury, Pulling Up Roots

Johann Gottfried Hauer (John Godfrey Howard) Family Line

Coming to Middlebury, Pulling Up Roots

_____________________

by Carolyn Ann Howard

This post was updated 21 May 2022 with new information

When doing genealogy in the early years of the United States, one has to be mindful of county histories. On this posting, I'll be talking about two different places in New York, so let's sort that out first. Admittedly, I'm easily confused and bored when it comes to lots of words on a page that don't seem to be coming quickly to a point. That might be why it's my goal to explain things thoroughly and hopefully not in a boring way! But, as one of my cousins recently pointed out, it's so important to get it ferreted out, so let's look at it.

1. Grafton, Rensselaer County, New York. According to Wikipedia, Rensselaer County was carved out from Albany County in 1791. [1] The town of Grafton was formed March 20, 1807. [2] This means if you're documenting an ancestor prior to 1807, that ancestor didn't live in Grafton. And if before 1791, he/she didn't live in Rensselaer County but in Albany County. Hope this isn't confusing, because it certainly makes my head spin.

2. Dale, Wyoming County, New York. Wyoming County was carved out from 3 different counties: Genesee, Allegany, and Cattaraugus Counties in 1841. [3] What that means is that my forebear who died in 1834 in what is now Wyoming County actually died in Genesee County.

Does this sound too painstaking? Too picky? Genealogists have a sacred trust to make sure all their facts are absolutely correct to the best of their ability. Genealogists are the holders of their family's trees, and as such, it is our job and duty to be accurate.

Several members of the Howard family made their was from Grafton, New York to Middlebury, New York in or around 1833. Middlebury would have been a bountiful area in which to settle.

Firstly, let me correct a misunderstanding. My dad always said Dale/Middlbury when he spoke of Godfrey Howard. Godfrey lived in Middlebury. Godfrey's son, Elias, and his family went to church in Dale and was quite involved in that church. The towns are only eight miles apart. Godfrey and his son, Elias, are both buried in Dale. Abraham settled in nearby Attica, New York, later making his way to Indiana.

Let's look at the patriarch and matriarch, Godfrey and Susannah's children. This is what I have so far:

1. David - no known information at this time.
2. Katrina - crickets.

3. Catherine - she married Peter Vader of Genesee County, so she made the trek with the family.

4. John - his death place is Grafton.

5. Jacob - 1860 census shows Jacob in Middlebury.

6. Peter - his death place is Brunswick, 11 miles from Grafton.

7. Betsie - Her son was born in Genesee County, so she went to Middlebury.

8. Elias - He died in Middlebury

9. Abraham - definitely came with the fam to Middlebury, although continued on to nearby Attica, later taking his family to Indiana.

So, here it is one more time, those who came from Grafton to Middlebury:
Godfrey Howard and his wife, Susannah; sons Jacob, Elias, and Abraham, along with their children, and daughters Catherine and Betsie. Click on photos to enlarge

Why did they travel to Middlebury?  I have been in the dark on this since the beginning of time. Something that amazes me about genealogy is how questions that have gone unanswered for years and then finally are answered SIMPLY. I was recently reminded of how Grafton residents, at that time, were under the rule of Stephen Van Rensselaer, renting their land from him. Simply put, this so-called manor arrangement was starting to cause unrest among the tenants. By leaving when they did, the Howard family missed the Anti-Rent War. This same person also told me that Middlebury is charming. I bet it is. Hopefully one day, I'll get to visit.

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[1] “Rensselaer County, New York.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 24 Oct. 2018, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rensselaer_County,_New_York.
[2] Anderson, George Baker. “CHAPTER XXXIII. TOWN OF GRAFTON.” History of Grafton, New York, history.rays-place.com/ny/ren-grafton-ny.htm.
[3] “Wyoming County, New York.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 6 Nov. 2018, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wyoming_County,_New_York#History.

© 2022 by December Moonlight Publishing, LLC

My Hessian Great-Grandfather - John Godfrey Howard (1754-1834)

Johann Gottfried Hauer (John Godfrey Howard) Family Line

 

John Godfrey Howard (1754-1834) My Hessian Great-Grandfather

____________________

by Carolyn Ann Howard

The Howard clan, vast and diverse throughout the United States, descended from one man, Johann Gottfried Hauer. Hauer came to the United States from Germany as a Hessian soldier.

Gottfried Hauer might have been a soldier by profession. According to The Journal of the American Revolution, "two centuries of warfare had created a true military society" among the Landgraviate of  Hesse-Cassel. [1] The Digital Encyclopedia of Washington Library states that soldiers began their training as young as 7 years of age. The conditions in the military were harsh as the punishments were brutal, but the pay and benefits were good. [2] Click on photos to enlarge

The uniform of a Hessian jaeger
Painting by: Charles M. Lefferts
Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons

Hauer was a jaeger, also known as a chasseur or a sharpshooter. Translated to English, jaeger means "hunter." Hauer would've excelled in rifle skills. He would have been efficient, quick, and brave. So we learn that our forebear was a skilled hunter. Other than that, we know almost nothing of Hauer's life in Germany and very little of his personality. We can be certain that, as a Hessian soldier, he would've been highly disciplined and rugged, strong and tough.

It was not unusual at this time in history for a country to hire professional soldiers from other countries. Britain entered into a treaty with some of the then German States in exchange for Hessian soldiers. These soldiers were brought to the United States to fight on the side of the British to quell the colonial revolt. Included in this number was my 4x great-grandfather. He either answered the call to arms voluntarily or was taken by force. My gut is that he voluntarily answered the call to arms, since he was most likely already a soldier.

Hauer embarked by ship from Leipzig on 28 Mar 1777. The ship stopped at a Dutch port before landing in New Brunswick, Canada, 17 Jun that same year. Hauer was assembled with the other Hessian soldiers at Cumberland Point on Lake Champlain under the command of British General John Burgoyne. [3] The total number of men were between 7,000 to 9,000, depending on the source.

Burgoyne's March on Albany
Public Domain via Wikipedia
Click on photo to enlarge

General Burgoyne had a plan to capture Albany, New York for the British. His troops began their march from Canada into New York. The general was quite confident in his plan, perhaps overly so. A few victories but mostly failures were had along the way.

Hauer's main battle most likely would've been The Battle of Bennington, which took place as part of the Saratoga campaign, 16 Aug 1777, in Walloomsac, New York, about 10 miles from its namesake Bennington, Vermont. [Wikipedia]

Volumes have been written about this battle and a person could study for years on this one battle and its impact on the American Revolution. It was a significant loss for the British.

After this battle, all the Hessian soldiers were taken prisoner. It is likely my grandfather was bound to other prisoners by the neck like cattle. He may have been stuffed into an overcrowded building with other prisoners. They were dirty. They stank. It was hot, they were exhausted, and they were hungry. The prisoners and guards spoke three different languages: English, French, and German; therefore, much confusion was had as well as much fear. The prisoners stayed in the various make-shift prisons for a few weeks while it was decided what to do with them. [4]

Courtesy of the New York Public Library Digital Collection
Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons

The prisoners were taken to various places, many to Boston. [5]  Hauer didn't go to Boston, however. He went to Albany, New York. He may have been a deserter, or he may have joined the Americans in her fight for freedom. Indeed, many of the Hessian soldiers noted the fertile and beautiful farmlands in New York as well as the trees and the wildlife. This beautiful land became a place where they wanted to settle, so they sided with the Americans.

After the war, several thousand Hessian soldiers were offered freedom and United States citizenship in exchange for an oath of loyalty to the United States. Hauer took this offer. Once he did this, he was free to speak German, fit into a German neighborhood, and perhaps even meet a pretty German girl to settle down with. [6] Hauer met his wife, Susannah Harwick, and they married 13 Aug 1779 in Albany County, New York.

It wasn't easy being identified as a Hessian and so a name change was in order, although we cannot be certain when this occurred. Much negative and ugly propaganda against the Hessians had been circulated. Hauer most certainly would've wanted to fit in and Americanizing his name to Howard would've been a fine way to begin.

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[1] Collins, Bethany. “8 Fast Facts About Hessians.” Journal of the American Revolution, 28 Aug. 2016, allthingsliberty.com/2014/08/8-fast-facts-about-hessians/. [Accessed 13 Oct. 2018].

[2] Head, David Ph.D. “Hessians.” George Washington's Mount Vernon, www.mountvernon.org/library/digitalhistory/digital-encyclopedia/article/hessians/.[Accessed 13 Oct. 2018]

[3] Smith, Clifford Neal. Muster Rolls and Prisoner-of-War Lists in American Archival Collections Pertaining to the German Mercenary Troops who Served with the British Forces During the American Revolution, 1974-1976. Note: "Hauer, Gottfried - a Jaeger signed up with the Hessian troops from Hesse/Hanau; embarked by ship from Germany on March 28, 1777, stopped at a Dutch port en route to North America."

[4] Gabriel, Ph.D, M. (n.d.). Incident at the Bennington Meeting House, August 17, 1777. [online] Kutztown, PA. Available at: https://www.jsha.org/articles/Gabriel%20article.pdf [Accessed 12 Oct. 2018].

[5] Ketchum, Richard M. Saratoga: Turning Point of America's Revolutionary War. New York: Henry Holt. via Wikipedia. 

[6] Albanymuskrat. “Tag: Revolutionary War.” Friends of Albany History, friendsofalbanyhistory.wordpress.com/tag/revolutionary-war/. [Accessed 12 Oct. 2018].

© 2022 by December Moonlight Publishing, LLC