Grafted Together - Dillman and Wright

How the daily life decisions of our ancestors made it possible for two kids in Indiana to meet, marry and graft together their family lines. Some came from Germany, some from places yet unknown and some seem to have been in the United States before its inception as a country. Although they shared common joys, struggles and grief, they all had stories unique unto themselves. This is my attempt at telling those stories and honoring their lives so they will not be forgotten.

Showing posts with label Byrneville. Show all posts

Wednesday, March 1, 2017

On This Day...March 1

Births:

1879 - Naoma Byrn - Byrneville, Harrison County, Indiana (Lisa's collateral ancestor)

1887 - Mamie Frances Walton - Indiana (Lisa's collateral ancestor)

Marriages:

1738 - William French & Prudence Gavit - Westerly, Washington County, Rhode Island (Khris's direct ancestors)

1832 - Joseph Kinkaid & Sarah Glenn - Crawford County, Indiana (Lisa's collateral ancestors)

Deaths:

1996 - Michael Felix Gaul - DuPage County, Illinois (Khris's collateral ancestor)

1999 - Henry William Horton - Lafayette, Tippecanoe County, Indiana (Khris's collateral ancestor)

Friday, January 27, 2017

On This Day...January 27

Births:

1898 - Christopher Louis Gaul - Chicago, Cook County, Illinois (Khris's collateral ancestor)

1906 - Leo Benjamin Harrison - Byrneville, Harrison County, Indiana (Lisa's direct ancestor)

1941 - Bettie Jean Byrne - New Salisbury, Harrison County, Indiana (Lisa's collateral ancestor)

Deaths:

1856 - Sarah Summers Mock - Crawford County, Indiana (Lisa's collateral ancestor)

1908 - Matthew Paul Obergfell Sr - Sidney, Richland County, Montana (Khris's collateral ancestor)

2004 - Harry Thomas Harrison - New Albany, Floyd County, Indiana (Lisa's collateral ancestor)

Thursday, January 19, 2017

On This Day...January 19

Births:

1935 - Ronald Darwin Freiberger - New Albany, Floyd County, Indiana (Lisa's collateral ancestor)

Deaths:

1887 - Wallace Harrison - Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana (Lisa's collateral ancestor)

1937 - Lillie Maud Shaffar - Dunklin County, Missouri (Lisa's collateral ancestor)

1967 - Benjamin Ova Byrn - Byrneville, Harrison County, Indiana (Lisa's collateral ancestor)

Wednesday, January 11, 2017

On This Day...January 11

Births:

1925 - Patricia E Seiter - Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana (Khris's collateral ancestor)

Deaths:

1864 - Celia Byrne Harrison - Byrneville, Harrison County, Indiana (Lisa's direct ancestor)

1875 - Lydia Fouts Ellis - Harrison County, Indiana (Lisa's collateral ancestor)

1901 - Thompson Van Meter Harrison - Clarke County, Iowa (Lisa's collateral ancestor)

1926 - James A Miner - Waymart, Wayne County, Pennsylvania (Khris's collateral ancestor)

Saturday, January 7, 2017

On This Day...January 7

Births:

1895 - Margaret Luella Byrn - Downing, Schuyler County, Missouri (Lisa's collateral ancestor)

Marriages:

1826 - Rebecca Harrison & Enoch Holland - Montgomery County, Maryland (Lisa's collateral ancestors)

1832 - Celia Byrne & Benjamin Harrison - Byrneville, Harrison County, Indiana (Lisa's direct ancestors)

Deaths:

1914 - Joseph Kincaid Landiss - Crawford County, Indiana (Lisa's collateral ancestor)

Sunday, January 1, 2017

On This Day...January 1

Births:

1875 - Nettie Anne Byrn - Byrneville, Harrison County, Indiana (Lisa's collateral ancestor)

1888 - Rachel L Saulman - Indiana - (Lisa's collateral ancestor)

1892 - Earl Jay Palmer - Enfield, Tompkins County, New York (Khris's collateral ancestor)

Marriages:

1861 - Lydia Fouts & Joseph Ellis - Harrison County, Indiana (Lisa's collateral ancestors)

1901 - Ruby Violet Harrison & Robert Blaine Byrne - Harrison County, Indiana (Lisa's direct ancestors)

Deaths:

1955 - Anna Gertrude Gaul Schmid - Saint Paul, Ramsey County, Minnesota (Khris's collateral ancestor)

Saturday, November 5, 2016

On This Day...November 5

Births:

1863 - Karl Seiter - Söllingen, Rastatt, Baden (Khris's collateral relative)

1888 - Edward Carl Harrison - Byrneville, Harrison County, Indiana (Lisa's collateral relative)

Marriages:

1857 - David Dillman & Evaline Webb - Crawford County, Indiana (Lisa's collateral relative)

Deaths:

1916 - Felix Wiseman - Crawford County, Indiana (Lisa's collateral relative)

1924 - Susan Dillman Byerly - Mount Carmel, Wabash County, Illinois (Lisa's collateral relative)

1978 - Orville Wayne Dillman - Suffolk County, Massachusetts (Lisa's collateral relative)

1995 - Melvin Pennington - Montana - (Khris's collateral relative)

Monday, October 31, 2016

On This Day...October 31

Births:

1875 - Philena Frisbie - Wayne County, Pennsylvania (Khris's collateral relative)

1883 - Charles Thomas Byrn - Byrneville, Harrison County, Indiana (Lisa's collateral relative)

1927 - Virginia Sacksteder - Crawford County, Indiana (Lisa's collateral relative)

Deaths:

1908 - Nathaniel Kersey - Boone County, Indiana (Khris's collateral relative)

1964 - Herbert Wright - Hawley, Wayne County, Pennsylvania (Khris's collateral relative)

Sunday, October 30, 2016

On This Day...October 30

Births:

1814 - Ransom Newton Byrn - Byrneville, Harrison County, Indiana (Lisa's collateral relative)

Marriages:

1831 - Temple Cole Byrn Jr & Elizabeth Slaughterback - Harrison County, Indiana (Lisa's collateral relatives)

Deaths:

1982 - Curran Sacksteder - Marengo, Crawford County, Indiana (Lisa's collateral relative)

Thursday, October 20, 2016

On This Day...October 20

Births:

1838 - Angeline Rebecca Saunders - Clinton County, Indiana (Khris's collateral relative)

1862 - Anna Katharine Freiberger - Floyds Knobs, Floyd County, Indiana (Lisa's collateral relative)

Marriages:

1919 - Edith Lillian Byrn & Clifford Theodore Langford - Jeffersonville, Clark County, Indiana (Lisa's collateral relatives)

Deaths:

1883 - Joel Byrn - Byrneville, Harrison County, Indiana (Lisa's direct ancestor)

1917 - Harlan Keith Harrison - Greenville Township, Floyd County, Indiana (Lisa's collateral relative)

2004 - Florence Wright - Binghamton, Broome County, New York (Khris's collateral relative)

Wednesday, October 19, 2016

Wednesday's Child...Celia Ellen Harrison

Celia Ellen Harrison 1852-1868
Crown Hill Cemetery
Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana

Celia Ellen the eighth child born to Benjamin and Celia Byrne Harrison was born sometime before October in 1852 near Byrneville, Harrison County, Indiana. She died on October 21, 1868 in Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana at the age of sixteen. Celia Ellen didn't leave much of a paper trail, but I believe much of her life story can be gleaned by following the trails left be others in her family.

This is her story.

The 1850 Federal Census enumerates the Benjamin Harrison household as follows: Benjamin-age 45, his wife Celia-age 39 and seven children; Temple-age 16, Reuben-age 14, Easick-age 12, Mary Ann-age 11, Sarah-age 6, Theodore-age 5 and Tillman-age 3. They are living on a farm near Byrneville in Morgan Township, Harrison County, Indiana. Benjamin is listed as a Farmer with real estate valued at $1000.

Into this family sometime before October in 1852 Celia Ellen is born. She is named for her mother Celia. The joy that a newborn brings into a family is short lived when in December of that same year Benjamin, her father, dies. He is only 47 years old. Celia Ellen's mother is now left with a farm to manage and eight children to raise.

Celia doesn't remain alone for very long. On May 24, 1855, when Celia Ellen is 3 her mother remarries to Alexander Barfield. Celia is 44 and Alexander is 25. They continue to live on the Harrison family farm near Byrneville.

I can imagine little Celia Ellen taking this all in stride as only a child can. I'm sure with older siblings around and a farm to explore that she is quite a busy child.

In May 1856 disaster strikes Celia Ellen's family. The following is published in The Daily Ledger newspaper from New Albany, Indiana on Wednesday, May 7, 1856.:

The Daily Ledger-New Albany, Indiana
Wednesday, May 7, 1856

Notice the article describes how Celia Ellen is snatched from among the flames as the house burns down around the family. Thankfully, although considerably singed and with virtually nothing left of their possessions, no one is seriously injured. I have no idea where the family lives in the near term after this fire, but I imagine that friends, neighbors and relatives all pitch in to make sure that the family doesn't go without the necessities.

Unfortunately, disaster soon strikes again when in August, 1856 the family's barn also burns down. The following is published in The New Albany Daily Ledger on September 10, 1856.:

The New Albany Daily Ledger
Wednesday, September 10, 1856

Still living on the family farm at the time of the 1860 Federal Census enumeration the household of Alex and Celia now consists of Alex, Celia and six of Celia's children-Reuben, Mary Ann, Sarah, Theodore, Tillman and Celia Ellen. Celia Ellen's oldest brothers are now both living on their own. Interestingly, her stepfather Alex is listed as a Show Actor. The real estate is now listed with a value of $3000 with personal property valued at $400. Both the real estate and personal property values are listed as Celia's, not Alex's. Celia Ellen at age 8 is now attending school.

In August of 1862, with the Civil War raging on, Alex, still relatively young at age 32, enlists in the Union Army. Once again, Celia Ellen's mother is left alone to manage the farm and raise her family.

The year 1864 is a tragedy filled one for twelve year old Celia Ellen. Sickness invades her family and on January 11 her mother Celia dies. She is 52. She is buried in Byrneville Cemetery next to her first husband Benjamin. Then while her stepfather Alex is furloughed home to take care of his family he himself becomes ill and dies.

The following is published in The New Albany Daily Ledger on April 21, 1864. The sadness his fellow soldiers feel upon hearing of Alex's untimely death is palpable.

The Daily Ledger, New Albany, Indiana
Thursday April 21, 1864

One can imagine that Celia Ellen too will miss the tunes her stepfather, the only father she's ever known, will no longer play.

Although I don't know where Celia Ellen lives during the next few years I do know that by 1868 she is living in Indianapolis with her older brother Temple and his wife Francis.

The following article detailing the sad event of her death is published in The Indianapolis Journal on Tuesday, October 20, 1868.:

The Indianapolis Journal, Indianapolis, Indiana
Tuesday, October 20, 1868

Celia Ellen Harrison dies at the age of 16 at the home of her brother on Monday, October 19, 1868 of Typhoid Fever. She is buried at Crown Hill Cemetery in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Celia Ellen Harrison's life ended too soon. Her life story too short. But she hasn't been forgotten.

(Celia Ellen Harrison - Lisa's Maternal 3X Great Aunt)

Sources: 1850 Federal Census (Ancestry.com); 1860 Federal Census (Ancestry.com); Indiana, Marriage Index, 1800-1941 (Ancestry.com); U.S.,Civil War Soldier Records and Profiles, 1861-1865 (Ancestry.com); The Daily Ledger, New Albany, Indiana (NewspaperARCHIVE.com); The Indianapolis Journal, Indianapolis, Indiana (NewspaperARCHIVE.com); Celia Byrne Harrison Barfield Gravestone Information (Photo in my possession); Celia Ellen Gravestone Information (Gravestone photo credit: Eric McGuire-FindAGrave Contributor #46925829-September 2015-Used with permission).

Wednesday’s Child blog postings include photos of gravestones of children. A sad topic but posts can give life to the stories of these young souls.

Wednesday’s Child is a genealogical blogging prompt suggested by Thomas MacEntee at GeneaBloggers.

Monday, October 17, 2016

On This Day...October 17

Births:

1833 - Gallus Zehe - Söllingen, Rastatt, Baden (Khris's collateral relative)

1873 - Blanche Jane Engleman - Greenville, Floyd County, Indiana (Lisa's collateral relative)

1885 - Blanche Beatrice Byrne - Byrneville, Harrison County, Indiana (Lisa's collateral relative)

Marriages:

1919 - Charles Thomas Byrn & Ida Carroll - Harrison County, Indiana (Lisa's collateral relative)

Deaths:

1945 - Amanda Spangenberg Beers - South Canaan, Wayne County, Pennsylvania (Khris's collateral relative)

1961 - Reamer Spangenberg - Waymart, Wayne County, Pennsylvania (Khris's collateral relative)

Friday, October 14, 2016

On This Day...October 14

Births:

1819 - Thompson Van Meter Harrison - Shelby County, Kentucky (Lisa's collateral relative)

1839 - Mary Ellen Robinson - South Canaan, Wayne County, Pennsylvania (Khris's collateral relative)

1854 - Cynthia Jane Dillman - Crawford County, Indiana (Lisa's collateral relative)

1878 - Alice Belle Walton - Putnam County, Indiana (Lisa's collateral relative)

1931 - Norval Cleo Kern Jr. - Ghent, Carroll County, Kentucky (Khris's collateral relative)

Marriages:

1831 - Michael Dillman & Cynthia Batman - Harrison County, Indiana (Lisa's direct ancestors)

Deaths:

1823 - Sarah Sallie Brooks Byrn - Byrneville, Harrison County, Indiana (Lisa's direct ancestor)

1847 - Elizabeth Byrn Hoover - Wayne County, Indiana (Lisa's collateral relative)

1921 - Melvin A Hazzard - Byrneville, Harrison County, Indiana (Lisa's collateral relative)

1955 - Olive Haynes Shaffer - Palmyra, Wayne County, Pennsylvania (Khris's collateral relative)

Sunday, October 2, 2016

On This Day...October 2

Births:

1831 - Squire Emanuel Mock - Indiana (Lisa's collateral relative)

Deaths:

1947 - Mary Estella Byrn Parrish - Byrneville, Harrison County, Indiana (Lisa's collateral relative)

1951 - Helen Marie Fouts Byrne - Rushville, Rush County, Indiana (Lisa's collateral relative)

1974 - Nellie May Dillman Williams - Jeffersonville, Clark County, Indiana (Lisa's collateral relative)

Tuesday, August 30, 2016

Tombstone Tuesday - Benjamin Harrison

Benjamin Harrison 1805-1852

This is the grave marker of my maternal 3x Great Grandfather Benjamin Harrison. It is located in Byrneville Cemetery in Harrison County, Indiana.

It reads:

Benjamin

Harrison

Born Feb 22, 1805

Died Dec 25, 1852

The hand pointing up symbol on the stone has various meanings. Some of which include: 'pathway to heaven', 'the reward of the righteous', 'sudden death' or 'Heavenly reward'.

Tombstone Tuesday

Create a post which includes an image of a gravestone of one or more ancestors and it may also include a brief description of the image or the ancestor.

Tombstone Tuesday is a genealogical blogging prompt suggested by Thomas MacEntee at GeneaBloggers.

Thursday, August 25, 2016

On This Day...August 25

Births:

1730 - Elizabeth Holland - Queen Anne, Prince George's, Maryland (Khris's direct ancestor)

1829 - Nathaniel Kersey - Nicholas County, Kentucky (Khris's collateral relative)

1883 - Icy Myrtle Byrn - Byrneville, Harrison County, Indiana (Lisa's collateral relative)

1885 - Rose Ellen Obergfell - Newlon Junction, Richland County, Montana (Khris's collateral relative)

Deaths:

1841 - Thomas D Byrn - Harrison County, Indiana (Lisa's collateral relative)

1889 - Christena (Dillman) Wilton - Evansville, Vanderburgh, Indiana (Lisa's collateral relative)

Treasure Chest Thursday - Leo Harrison's High School Textbooks

Three books. Three small books. Each only about 4" x 6" in size. Almost one hundred years old. Tattered and worn; the titles hardly legible. Anyone else's eyes would see these as worthless. My eyes see them as priceless. Why? Because these books belonged to my maternal grandfather-Leo Harrison.

Leo Harrison was born near Byrneville, Harrison County, Indiana on January 27, 1906. He attended high school in the early-mid 1920's at New Salisbury High School in Harrison County. These were some of his high school textbooks. Quite different looking than the textbooks I studied from in the late 1970's.

And the titles...well they're also different from the titles I remember studying.

Lincoln's Addresses, Inaugurals and Letters

along with

Macaulay's Speeches on Copyright

Autobiography

Benjamin Franklin

The Odyssey of Homer

I did read this book, although I'm sure my copy was just a mass produced paperback.

My grandfather had also written his name with dates inside each of these books.

Leo's signature inside the Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin

Leo's Signature inside The Odyssey of Homer

Leo's Signature inside Lincoln's Addresses, Inaugurals and Letters

Not bad handwriting for a high school teen!

And inside the Franklin book, many notes were added in the margins.

Leo's margin notes inside The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin

I find it interesting getting a small glimpse into what my grandfather was studying as a young man in the 1920's.

I've always loved to read and have always loved history. Put that together with the love of a grandchild for their grandparent and it's no wonder why I love these books so much.

Leo Harrison 1906-1980

(Leo Harrison - Lisa's maternal grandfather)

Treasure Chest Thursday

A post with the main focus being a family treasure, an heirloom or even an every day item meaningful to you or your family.

A daily blogging prompt from Thomas MacEntee at GeneaBloggers.

Wednesday, August 24, 2016

Wednesday's Child - Agnes Ruth Byrne

Agnes Ruth Byrne 1917-1931
Byrneville Cemetery

On November 16, 1917 the Byrne family of near Byrneville, Harrison County, Indiana consisted of parents Robert and Ruby and their six children. But that all changed when at 12:20 a.m. on Saturday, November 17, 1917 Ruby gave birth to Agnes Ruth Byrne. Agnes was the eighth child born to Robert and Ruby; one child having been stillborn in 1902.

The Robert Blaine and Ruby Violet (Harrison) Byrne household now consisted of Robert-age 40, Ruby-age 37 and their children; Alliene-13, Vernette-10, Nellie-7, Jessie-6, Robert-4, Harriet-2 and newborn Agnes.

According to the 1920 Federal Census Agnes's family was living on a farm on Whiskey Run Road in Jackson Township near Byrneville. Robert was a Sawyer and Ruby was busy at home. In July of 1921, when Agnes was three-and-a-half she became an older sister when her mother gave birth to another child, a boy, Ward.

The family make up would continue to change over the course of the next several years. In 1924, when Agnes was seven her oldest sister Alliene married. Then in 1926 her sister Vernette married, followed soon after in 1927 when another sister, Nellie, married.

By April of 1930 when the Federal Census was taken the family was listed as renting a home at 713 Shelby Street in New Albany, Indiana which is about fifteen miles east of Byrneville. The household consisted of Robert, Ruby and their five youngest children.

This is a photo of Agnes (left) and her sister Harriet. I'm not sure when this photo was taken, but just by looking I'm guessing probably sometime around 1930. Harriet would have been around 14 years old and Agnes around age 12.

Agnes and Harriet Byrne, c. 1930

Then on a cloudy Sunday in March of 1931 a terrible accident happened; one that would change this family forever. Here is the write up from the New Albany Tribune, dated March 23, 1931.

By the graphic nature of the description of the accident I can only imagine the horror felt by the others in the car with Agnes. What they must have felt when they realized that she had died, their youngest sister, their 'Babe'.

However, some of the facts in the article are incorrect. According to the death certificate it was Agnes's right leg that was severed. Also, the ages given for Agnes's siblings are incorrect. Jessie was actually older than Harriet. At the time of the accident Jessie was 19, Harriet was 15, Robert was 17. Their cousin Leo was 25.

One more tidbit of information; one month earlier on February 21st, Leo and Jessie had been married in Jeffersonville, a city only a few short miles east of New Albany. I'm not sure why their names are listed as they are in the article. Even more pertinent to me; Leo and Jessie are my maternal grandparents. (Yes, I realize that the article says they were cousins; first cousins actually...but that's a story for another post.)

I can imagine the heartbreak as Agnes's family went thru her belongings, each keeping something to remember her by. I am fortunate to have a few of those items; passed down by my grandmother Jessie.

This is an over sized book entitle 'Little Housekeepers'. Agnes wrote her name on the front cover as 'Ruth Byrn'. Each page inside has a story that goes with what I call the 'Housework Chore' poem. You know the one:

Wash on Monday

Iron on Tuesday

Mend on Wednesday

Sweep on Thursday

Dust on Friday

Bake on Saturday

Rest on Sunday

She had colored inside on some of the pages.

There's also a Sunday School Attendance Chart. Each of the Lily blooms are stickers. Agnes received a sticker for each Sunday she was in Sunday School. The back of the card says, Agnes Byrne, Class No. 3, Teacher-Edmond Fouts, Jan-Feb-March. There is no year listed, but I'm assuming she was of elementary school age when she used this, so sometime in the mid-1920's. Her teacher Mr. Fouts was actually her brother-in-law, the husband of her older sister Vernette.

Then there's this; the math homework of a thirteen year old girl. Just a page of homework. But somehow, so much more. Notice the date-March 16, 1931. Just 5 days before she died.

Just a few pieces of paper ephemera; yet so much more. For me they are small snapshots into the life of a young girl; Agnes Ruth Byrne.

(Agnes Ruth Byrne - Lisa's maternal grand-aunt)

Wednesday's Child

Post photos of gravestones of children. A sad topic indeed but posts can give life to the stories of these young souls. A daily blogging prompt from Thomas MacEntee at GeneaBloggers.