On This Day...March 30

Births:

1763 - Henry Harrison - Frederick County, Maryland Colony (Lisa's collateral ancestor)

1890 - Frances Richardson - Pennsylvania (Khris's collateral ancestor)


Marriages:

1900 - Elsie Martin & Marion Harrison - Harrison County, Indiana (Lisa's direct ancestors)


Deaths:

1920 - Cecelia Amelia Stierle Seiter - Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana (Khris's direct ancestor)

1961 - Jesse Willard Smith - New Albany, Floyd County, Indiana (Lisa's collateral ancestor)

This and all other posts on this blog are © copyright 2016-2017 by Lisa Dillman Wright.

On This Day...March 29

Births:

1853 - Harriett Byrn - Harrison County, Indiana (Lisa's direct ancestor)

1867 - Lois Ann Kern - Indiana (Khris's collateral ancestor)

1895 - Oral Lee Smith - Byrneville, Harrison County, Indiana (Lisa's collateral ancestor)

1902 - Tom C Bowser - Flora, Carroll County, Indiana (Khris's collateral ancestor)

1911 - Forrest Robert Harrison - Broad Ripple, Marion County, Indiana (Lisa's collateral ancestor)


Deaths:

1904 - Elmira Rouse Wright - Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana (Lisa's collateral ancestor)

1929 - Samuel Redford Wright - South Canaan, Wayne County, Pennsylvania (Khris's direct ancestor)

1930 - John Jack Freiberger - Floyds Knobs, Floyd County, Indiana (Lisa's collateral ancestor)

1932 - Ida Spangenberg - Scranton, Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania (Khris's collateral ancestor)

1971 - Cecelia Elizabeth Kern Baker - Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana (Khris's collateral ancestor)

This and all other posts on this blog are © copyright 2016-2017 by Lisa Dillman Wright.

On This Day...March 20

Births:

1693 - Katherine Wheeler - Fairfield, Fairfield County, Colony of Connecticut (Khris's direct ancestor)

1775 - Harriet Foster - Hancock, Delaware County, New York (Khris's collateral ancestor)

1849 - Mary Josephine Shaw - Spencer, Tioga County, New York (Khris's collateral ancestor)


Marriages:

1872 - Barzilla Martin & James Livers - Floyd County, Indiana (Lisa's collateral ancestors)


Deaths:

1934 - Marshall Wright - Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana (Lisa's collateral ancestor)

This and all other posts on this blog are © copyright 2016-2017 by Lisa Dillman Wright.

On This Day...March 6

Births:


1834 - Elizabeth D Landiss - Crawford County, Indiana (Lisa's direct ancestor)

1878 - Anna B Seiter - Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana (Khris's collateral ancestor)

1892 - Charles Mac Smith - Harrison County, Indiana (Lisa's collateral ancestor)

1924 - Maurice Byrn - Byrneville, Harrison County, Indiana (Lisa's collateral ancestor)

1940 - Robert George Gilpin - Ledgedale, Wayne County, Pennsylvania (Khris's collateral ancestor)


Marriages:

1834 - Leason Brooks Byrn & Catharine Vanfossin - Harrison County, Indiana (Lisa's collateral ancestors)


Deaths:

1967 - Pachen Venita Boston Byrne - Ramsey, Harrison County, Indiana (Lisa's collateral ancestor)

This and all other posts on this blog are © copyright 2016-2017 by Lisa Dillman Wright.

On This Day...February 17

Births:

1877 - David Samuel Dillman - English, Crawford County, Indiana (Lisa's collateral ancestor)

1884 - Chauncey Mericle - New York (Khris's collateral ancestor)

1917 - Bertha Lucille Dillman - English, Crawford County, Indiana (Lisa's collateral ancestor)


Marriages:

1947 - Betty Joan Schmalz & Victor Lucas - Marion County, Indiana (Khris's collateral ancestors)


Deaths:

1991 - Myron Clynas Martin - Alameda County, California (Lisa's collateral ancestor)

This and all other posts on this blog are © copyright 2016-2017 by Lisa Dillman Wright.

On This Day...February 13

Births:

1821 - Marinda Harrison - Harrison County, Indiana (Lisa's collateral ancestor)

1873 - Albert Robert Obergfell - Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana (Khris's collateral ancestor)

1906 - Helen Marie Fouts - Harrison County, Indiana (Lisa's collateral ancestor)



Deaths:

1861 - Coonrod Kern - Hancock County, Illinois (Khris's collateral ancestor)

1969 - Aaron Gephart Fessel - Bradford, Harrison County, Indiana (Lisa's collateral ancestor)

1971 - John August Schmid - Saint Paul, Ramsey County, Minnesota (Khris's collateral ancestor)

1990 - Hazel Bertha Dillman Melcom - Corydon, Harrison County, Indiana (Lisa's collateral ancestor)

This and all other posts on this blog are © copyright 2016-2017 by Lisa Dillman Wright.

On This Day...February 7

Births:

1876 - Christophorus Seiter - Söllingen, Rastatt, Baden (Khris's collateral ancestor)

1913 - Orval Treamond Harrison - Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana (Lisa's collateral ancestor)


Marriages:

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


Deaths:

1893 - William Henderson Landiss - Illinois (Lisa's collateral ancestor)

1908 - Christopher Seiter - Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana (Khris's direct ancestor)

This and all other posts on this blog are © copyright 2016-2017 by Lisa Dillman Wright.

On This Day...February 6

Births:

1859 - Elizabeth Keys - Boone County, Indiana (Lisa's collateral ancestor)

1924 - Reble Hudson Reeves Jr. - Leavenworth, Crawford County, Indiana (Lisa's collateral ancestor)

Marriages:

1838 - Eleanor Batman & Ferdinand Scott - Crawford County, Indiana (Lisa's collateral ancestors)

1915 - Edward Carl Harrison & Edna Dawson - Harrison County, Indiana (Lisa's collateral ancestors)

Deaths:

1919 - William Schmalz - Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana (Khris's collateral ancestor)

1949 - George Zimmerman - New Albany, Floyd County, Indiana (Lisa's collateral ancestor)

This and all other posts on this blog are © copyright 2016-2017 by Lisa Dillman Wright.

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)

This and all other posts on this blog are © copyright 2016-2017 by Lisa Dillman Wright.

On This Day...January 18

Deaths:

1910 - Flossie May Mitchell Kern - Lebanon, Boone County, Indiana (Khris's collateral ancestor)

1914 - Reuben E Harrison - Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana (Lisa's collateral ancestor)

1961 - Nettie Belle Ray Dillman - Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana (Lisa's collateral ancestor)

This and all other posts on this blog are © copyright 2016-2017 by Lisa Dillman Wright.

On This Day...January 14

Births:

1846 - Sarah Ann Miner - Pennsylvania (Khris's collateral ancestor)

1923 - Delbert Marion Shaffar - Gideon, New Madrid County, Missouri (Lisa's collateral ancestor)


Deaths:

1908 - William Landiss - English, Crawford County, Indiana (Lisa's collateral ancestor)

1967 - Clyde Taylor Dillman - Louisville, Jefferson County, Kentucky (Lisa's direct ancestor)

2013  - Francis Striby - Marion County, Indiana (Khris's collateral ancestor)

This and all other posts on this blog are © copyright 2016-2017 by Lisa Dillman Wright.

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)

This and all other posts on this blog are © copyright 2016-2017 by Lisa Dillman Wright.

On This Day...January 6

Births:

1909 - Sarah Geneva Cox - Boone County, Indiana (Khris's collateral ancestor)

1909 - Fern Virginia Kern - Brown Township, Montgomery County, Indiana (Khris's collateral ancestor)

1910 - Glidden E Byrn - Indiana (Lisa's collateral ancestor)



Deaths:

1871 - Martha Kersey Kern - Indiana (Khris's collateral ancestor)

1948 - Celia Anna Blythe Dillman - Everett, Snohomish, Washington (Lisa's collateral ancestor)

1962 - Rosa Swingle Wood - Canaan, Wayne County, Pennsylvania (Khris's collateral ancestor)

2008 - Bertha Lucille Dillman Cogell - Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana (Lisa's collateral ancestor)

This and all other posts on this blog are © copyright 2016-2017 by Lisa Dillman Wright.

On This Day...January 3

Births:

1692 - Otho Holland - Anne Arundel County, Maryland (Lisa's collateral ancestor)

1883 - Lewis Levi Harrison - Shelby County, Indiana (Lisa's collateral ancestor)

1902 - Josephine Couch - Boone County, Indiana (Khris's collateral ancestor)

1906  - Orville Wayne Dillman - Crawford County, Indiana (Lisa's collateral ancestor)


Marriages:

1827 - Thomas Kersey & Elizabeth Hinton - Kentucky (Khris's direct ancestors)

1916 - Leota Dillman & Marcellus Raymond Berry - Kittitas County, Washington (Lisa's collateral ancestors)


Deaths:

1905 - Peter Vandermark - Van Etten, Chemung County, New York (Khris's collateral ancestor)

1921 - Mary Ellen Robinson Brown - Wilkes Barre, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania (Khris's collateral ancestor)

1931 - Miletus Forest Bell - Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana (Lisa's collateral ancestor)

1949 - Frances Jennison Harrison Templeman - Los Angeles County, California (Lisa's collateral ancestor)

This and all other posts on this blog are © copyright 2016-2017 by Lisa Dillman Wright.

Wednesday's Child...Teresie Seiter

...lest she be forgotten.

Seiter Family Marker; St. Joseph Cemetery, Indianapolis, Indiana

Teresie Seiter Gravestone; St. Joseph Cemetery, Indianapolis, Indiana

Teresie was the fifth of ten children born to Christopher (Christoph) and Cecelia Stierle Seiter.  She was born on Wednesday, August 27, 1884 in Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana. By the time of her birth the Christopher and Cecelia had already suffered the death of their second born child, Anna, in 1879.

Christopher and Cecelia, both German immigrants, were a part of the large German population in Indianapolis during the late nineteenth century. At that time Indianapolis had several German language newspapers. I found the following record of Teresie's birth in The Indianapolis Tribüne, dated August 30, 1884:

Listed under the heading 'Geburten' (births); 
Christian Seiter (I have, on several occasions, found his name listed as such), Mädchen (girl), 27, August. 

Teresie's life was short. Teresie died on July 15, 1887 at the age of 2 years, 9 months, 19 days old. She is buried in St. Joseph Cemetery located in Indianapolis, Indiana. Her gravestone says:

                                                                                                     Teresie Seiter

                                                                                                 GEB 27 AUG 1884 

                                                                                                 GEST 15 JULI 1887 

Notice that it is written in German.

I found the following notice of her death in The Indianapolis Tribüne, dated July 16, 1887:

Listed under the heading "The Small Town Herald". 
"Mr. Christ Seiter and his wife have lost through death their nearly 3 year old little daughter."

Teresie's Certificate of Death Record lists her cause of death as "Dephtheria [sic] (2 Days)".  

Diphtheria, a bacterial infection of the upper-respiratory system, was once call "The Strangling Angel of Children". Considered highly contagious, easily transmitted through contact with an infected person, this disease spread rapidly through families. Until the beginning of the 1920's diphtheria was one of the leading causes of death in children. The disease caused pain, swelling of the neck and lymph nodes and eventually suffocation and death.


Teresie Seiter's life ended too soon; her life story too short. But she hasn't been forgotten.

(Teresie Seiter - Khris's Grand Aunt)

Sources: Gravestone Photos (Lisa's Personal Collection); The Indianapolis Tribüne (Hoosier State Chronicles); Certificate of Death Record (Marion County Indiana Health Department)

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.

This and all other posts on this blog are © copyright 2016 by Lisa Dillman Wright.

On This Day...October 28

Births:

1838 - Felix Wiseman - Crawford County, Indiana (Lisa's collateral relative)

1912 - Virgil Edison Corey - Greentown, Pike County, Pennsylvania (Khris's collateral relative)

1921 - Robert F Kern - Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana (Lisa's collateral relative)

1947 - Larry Dennis Harrison - New Albany, Floyd County, Indiana (Lisa's collateral relative)


Deaths:

1923 - Thomas R Couch - Lebanon, Boone County, Indiana (Khris's collateral relative)

1930 - John Henry LaFollette - Seattle, King County, Washington (Lisa's collateral relative)

This and all other posts on this blog are © copyright 2016 by Lisa Dillman Wright.

Wednesday's Child...Benjamin Harrison

Telling the life stories of those who died too soon...lest they be forgotten.

Benjamin Harrison
Son of Reuben and Harriet Harrison
Crown Hill Cemetery
Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana

Benjamin Harrison was the first and only child born to Reuben and Harriet Bright Harrison. He was born in Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana on November 21, 1869 (based on his age listed in his obituary).

The following information given for the city of Indianapolis Ward #2 for the 1870 Federal Census was based on those living in the household as of June 1, 1870. 

In this record I found Benjamin listed as 6 months old living with his father Reuben who was listed as a Lawyer. His mother is not recorded. Upon further research I discovered that she had died in February of that same year. 

I then found this published in The Indianapolis Journal later that same year dated Friday, September 16, 1870:

                                                                                                                                                                                        

The Indianapolis Journal, Indianapolis, Indiana
Friday, September 16, 1870
Page 8 Column 4

Benjamin died of cholera infantum. The modern definition of cholera infantum is 'an acute infectious disease of infancy, characterized by diarrhea, and in severe cases by vomiting, rapid emaciation and extreme prostration.'

Benjamin was buried in Crown Hill Cemetery located in Indianapolis, Indiana. He is buried in a Harrison family plot. Notice his information on the gravestone is incorrect based on both the census and newspaper records. The others listed on the gravestone are an uncle (Temple C Harrison), a cousin (Celia Ellen Harrison*), his mother (Hattie B Harrison) and his half siblings (Florence Harrison and Child of R. E. Harrison).

Benjamin's life ended too soon; his life story too short. But he hasn't been forgotten.

(Benjamin Harrison - Lisa's Maternal 1st cousin 3X removed)

*- See Wednesday's Child - Celia Ellen Harrison - dated October 19, 2016.

Sources: 1870 Federal Census (Ancestry.com); The Indianapolis Journal (newspaperARCHIVE.com); Gravestone Photo Information (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.

This and all other posts on this blog are © copyright 2016 by Lisa Dillman Wright.

On This Day...October 21

Births:

1843 - Henry Clay Fouts - Harrison County, Indiana (Lisa's collateral relative)

1846 - Edward D Harrison - Boone County, Indiana (Lisa's collateral relative)


Marriages:

1903 - Iola Fouts & Elmer Mitchell - Washington County, Indiana (Lisa's collateral relatives)


Deaths:

1918 - Dewey Temple Byrn - Downing, Schuyler County, Missouri (Lisa's collateral relative)

1922 - Lucy Jane Landiss Grant - Crawford County, Indiana (Lisa's collateral relative)

1987 - Elsie May Dillman Satterfield - Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana (Lisa's collateral relative)

This and all other posts on this blog are © copyright 2016 by Lisa Dillman Wright.

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.

This and all other posts on this blog are © copyright 2016 by Lisa Dillman Wright.

On This Day...October 19

Births:

1849 - Simon L Enslin - South Canaan, Wayne County, Pennsylvania (Khris's collateral relative)

1903 - Hedwig S Gaul - Chicago, Cook County, Illinois (Khris's collateral relative)

1918 - Lloyd C Martin - Harrison County, Indiana (Lisa's collateral relative)


Deaths:

1868 - Celia Ellen Harrison - Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana (Lisa's collateral relative)

1911 - Abraham Wiseman - Leavenworth, Crawford County, Indiana (Lisa's direct ancestor)

1928 - Gladys Moore Gilpin - Greene Township, Pike County, Pennsylvania (Khris's collateral relative)

1949 - Walter Raleigh Campbell - Evansville, Vanderburgh, Indiana (Khris's collateral relative)

1956 - Jessie Butler Kern - Wapakoneta, Auglaize County, Ohio (Khris's collateral relative)

This and all other posts on this blog are © copyright 2016 by Lisa Dillman Wright.