Wednesday's Child...Alton Floyd Kern

          Telling the life story of one who died too soon

                                                           ...lest he be forgotten.

Alton Floyd Kern; Oak Hill Cemetery; Lebanon, Indiana

Alton Floyd Kern was the second of two children born to William Nelson and Flossie May Mitchell Kern. He was born on Friday, April 17, 1908 in Lebanon, Boone County, Indiana. At the time of his birth his father William was 21 and his mother Flossie was 19 years old. His older sister, Daisy Marie, had been born in 1905.

On January 18, 1910 when Alton was not quite two years old his mother Flossie died leaving William to raise two young children. 

By April of 1910 Alton, along with his sister Daisy, were living with their maternal grandparents Ora and Mollie Mitchell. They were still living in Lebanon, Indiana. Their father, William, was also still residing in Lebanon although alone in another residence.

The 1920 Federal Census shows Alton, then 12 years old, still residing with his now widowed maternal grandmother Mollie. His sister Daisy was also still living in the home. Records show his father William was now re-married and living in Indianapolis, Indiana.

The following newspaper mention was published in the Lebanon Daily Reporter, dated June 21, 1922:

Unfortunately, soon after entering the hospital Alton died from his illness. His obituary was published in the Lebanon Pioneer, dated July 6, 1922:

One can tell from the following newspaper article from the Lebanon Daily Reporter dated July 18, 1922 that Alton was much loved and would be greatly missed. 

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

(Alton Floyd Kern - Khris's Maternal 1st cousin 1X removed)

Sources: Gravestone Photo Information (Marc Doty-FindAGrave Contributor #46843703-Used with Permission); 1910 Federal Census & 1920 Federal Census (Ancestry.com); Lebanon Daily Reporter & Lebanon Pioneer (NewspaperARCHIVE.com)

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 2016-2017 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.

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.

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.

Wednesday's Child...George Taylor Dillman

George Taylor Dillman 1871-1871
Dillman Cemetery

Sometime on Friday, April 28, 1871 Elizabeth Landiss Dillman knew she would soon again become a parent. Only time would tell if this new arrival would be a boy or a girl.

At age 37,  Elizabeth, along with her husband Peter, had already become parents seven times. So by April 1871, this busy Dillman household consisted of parents Peter and Elizabeth along with their six living children; Cynthia-16, John-14, David-12, Joseph-9, Susan-6 and Jemimah-4. Sadly, Peter and Elizabeth had already buried one child, Mary Jane, soon after her birth in 1854.

George Taylor Dillman was born on Friday, April 28, 1871 (based on the age at death listed on his headstone) near Leavenworth in Crawford County, Indiana. George was the eighth - of ten - children born to Peter and Elizabeth.

I don't know much about little George, but I do know that the joy his birth brought in April 1871 soon turned to grief when in December 1871 his short life came to an end. According to his headstone he was 8 months 2 days old when he died. He was buried in Dillman Cemetery located near Curby in Crawford County, Indiana.

His headstone reads:

George Taylor

son of

Peter &

Elizabeth D

Dillman

Died

Dec 30, 1871

Aged

8 Mo. 2 D

There is a dove in relief at the top of his headstone. The dove on a child's headstone usually means 'innocence'.

(George Taylor Dillman - Lisa's Paternal 3X Great Uncle)

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.

Wednesday's Child - Herbert Franklin Fouts

Herbert Franklin Fouts 1915-1916
Byrneville Cemetery

When the sun went down on October 4, 1915 the Oba and Agnes (Byrn) Fouts household consisted of parents Oba - age 35, and Agnes - age 34 and their four children; Otis-13, Helen-8, Bonnie-6 and Corwin-3. 

By the time the sun set on October 5, 1915 that would not be the case. 

Herbert Franklin Fouts was born at 10:10 a.m. on Tuesday, October 5, 1915. Herbert was the fifth (of six children) to be born to Oba and Agnes. 

The joy that a newborn brings to a family would unfortunately be short lived. On April 11, 1916 at the age of six months, six days old Herbert died.

According to his death certificate Dr. Harry Engleman first started treating him on March 22nd with what was called Grippal Infection of the Intestines. In today's terminology-Influenza with gastro-intestinal complications which included vomiting, diarrhea and high fever. Herbert continued suffering from this malady until April 6th when he took a turn for the worse and came down with Bronchopneumonia. He died around 9 o'clock in the morning on Tuesday the 11th.

Herbert was buried the next day in Byrneville Cemetery, Harrison County, Indiana.

The following was published in The Corydon Democrat newspaper on Wednesday, April 19, 1916. 

Death of a Little Child

On Tuesday morning, April 11, 1916,

 at 9:45 o'clock the death angel entered

 the home of Mr. and Mrs. Oba D. Fouts

and reaped the flower of the home,

Herbert Franklin age six months and

six days, who will spend eternity in

the garden of Eden.

May this little flower as it stands 

and flourished on the banks of the

river of life which flows through the

paradise of God be the means of draw-

ing its parents and relatives to brighter

paths of truth and righteousness where

they may receive a crown of everlast-

ing life when they fall.

We comfort ourselves with the

thought that he is now at rest and one

by one we will soon begin to join him.

Asleep in Jesus peaceful rest

        Whose waking is supremely blest,

          No fear no woe shall dim that hour

          That manifests the Savior's power.

                                            Grandmother.

One hundred years later the sorrow this family felt continues to be palpable through the words of Herbert's grandmother. 

Sources:  Indiana, Birth Certificates, 1907-1940 (Ancestry.com);  Indiana, Death Certificates, 1889-2011 (Ancestry.com); The Corydon Democrat. Corydon, Indiana. (NewspaperARCHIVE.com); Gravestone photo credit: Lisa Dillman Wright, October 2010.

 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.

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.

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