Great Grandmother Made Honor Roll

Great Grandmother

Flora Belle (McFall) Joseph

1875-1910

Scanned Image from Personal Collection

Great Grandmother Flora Bell McFall was a smart girl. The Staunton Spectator reported Wednesday, February 1, 1888 the Roll of Honor for the Mt. Solon School in Augusta County, Virginia.

Image from Library of Virginia, Virginia Chronicle

No absences, no tardies, well behaved and a 92% average! Flora’s siblings Kinzer, Clara and Paul also made the honor roll.

Her father, James Addison McFall, died a young man, age 39, in April of 1887.[1] She lost her mother, Rodie Maria Harman, in May 1890 who also died young at the age of 40.[2] Consumption was the cause of death for both parents. By the time Flora Belle was 15, she was an orphan. I’m hoping family took care of the McFall children.

Six years later Flora Belle, 19 years old, married John W. Bolen, 24 year old son of James E. Bolen and Sarah F. Hopewell at Mt. Solon, VA on July 18, 1894.[3] It was not a happy union. Flora Belle filed for divorce March 3, 1899 in the Circuit Court of Augusta Co., VA. She stated that John W. Bolen had deserted and abandoned her less than a month after her marriage. A daughter, Ruby Esther Bolen, was born from the marriage and John W. Bolen refused to provide any support for Flora Bell and Ruby Esther.

The divorce case was decided Nov. 23, 1899 when their marriage was officially dissolved. Custody of Ruby Esther was awarded to Flora Belle. Flora Belle accepted $260.00 (plus interest until paid) from John W. Bolen in lieu of support and maintenance. He was also required to pay Flora’s legal fees ($25.00).[4]

When the 1900 federal census was enumerated, Flora Belle and Ruby Esther Bolen were living in the North River Township--the place where she was born and raised. Flora’s younger brothers, Paul and Lacy McFall were part of her household. The census indicates Flora owned their home. [5]

Flora would soon meet and marry my great-grandfather, Daniel Franklin Joseph, on August 17, 1904.[6] Their marriage was reported in the Staunton Spectator and Vindicator which you can see in a previous blog post about Daniel at Well Known County Man Embarks on His Third Matrimonial Venture   

Together they had three children, James McFall (my grandfather), Lacy Daniel and Flora Belle. Lacy Daniel died when a baby. The Staunton Spectator and Vindicator, Friday, Oct. 1, 1909 issue reported his death:

Sudden Death of Child near Fishersville

   Lacy Daniel Joseph, the infant son of Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Joseph, of the Fishersville neighborhood, died suddenly on Friday afternoon, the 17th ult., aged one year, nine months and ten days. The child was playing on the front porch when he suddenly fell, unconscious, to the floor. Medical aid was promptly summoned but the family physician, Dr. White, of Tinkling Spring, was absent from home and did not arrive for some hours.

   In the meantime, the fond mother, assisted by kind neighbors, resorted to such remedies as were at hand until the doctor's arrival. When Dr. White finally came he said that his presence earlier would have made no difference as the malady was beyond the power of medical skill. The little fellow remained unconscious from the first and late in the afternoon the gentle spirit passed to its eternal home on high. He was an unusually beautiful child and precocious to a marked degree.

   The father and mother have the sympathy of a wide circle of friends. The funeral services were conducted by Rev. H. A. Coffman, of the Methodist Episcopal church and the interment took place at Asbury Chapel.

Flora Belle (McFall) Joseph died April 9, 1910 about 3 weeks after the birth of her new baby daughter, also named Flora Belle, near Annex, Augusta Co, VA. She is buried in Annex Church Cemetery beside her 3-year old son Lacy Daniel.

            

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[1] Augusta Co., VA Death Register, 1871-1892 North River District, Line 18.

[2] Augusta Co. VA Death Register, 1871-1892 North River District 1890 Line 32.

[3] Marriage Certificate of Flora Bell McFall and John W. Bolen

[4] Chancery Suit Flora Bell Bolen vs. John W. Bolen Index No. 1899-047, original case 600 online at Library of Virginia, Virginia Memory, Chancery Records digitized image collection

[5] 1900 Federal Census, North River, Augusta Co., VA, Series T623, Roll 1700, Page 150, Line 3, Flora B. Bolen Household.

⁶ Marriage Certificate of Flora B. Bolen and Daniel F. Joseph

Gilbert, Mary and the War of 1812

Gilbert B. Ogden was born in Orange County, NY on July 9, 1795 to Jonathon and Sarah Ogden. His mother died when he was little and his father when he was sixteen. A few years later Gilbert B. Ogden served as a private in the New York Militia under Captain John Dunning commanded by Lt. Col. Michael Smith during the War of 1812. The unit was known as ‘Consolidated Regiment (Smith's) New York Militia’. He enlisted August 20, 1814 and was ordered out Sept. 7, 1814. Four days after Gilbert enlisted the British burned the White House in Washington DC. He served under Captain Dunning from Sept. 7, 1814 to Dec. 12, 1814 with 4 days travel allowed and appeared on the company muster roll for Sept. 7th to Nov. 29th 1814 at Quarantine Ground, Staten Island, New York. From the Company Pay Roll below you can see he earned $23.55 for his military services.

Image from National Archives Veterans Records

Gilbert married Mary Hazen Jan. 11, 1817 in Brookfield (Slate Hill), Orange Co., New York. They began a family and would become the parents of fifteen children. My great-great-grandmother, Harriet Cornelius Ogden, was the youngest.  

The 1820 federal census enumeration locates the young family in Wallkill, Orange County, NY. Gilbert was ‘engaged in agriculture’ perhaps as a farm laborer. His household consisted of himself, Mary, and his two eldest sons, John Stewart and Lewis C. Ogden. By 1825 Gilbert was dwelling in the Town of Minisink in Orange County per the 1825 New York State census. At this date the Town of Minisink included Wawayanda and I suspect Gilbert was in the Wawayanda section. Another son, William B., and two daughters, Sarah Elizabeth and Sally Malinda, had joined the family. Five meat cattle, 6 sheep and 5 hogs were owned by the Ogden’s. Wallkill was again home to the family in 1830. More children arrived—Graham, Hannah M. and Seth T. Ogden. They remained in Wallkill and four more sons were included in the 1835 New York State census—Gilbert B., Jr., Joseph Stewart, twins Asa J. and Andrew Jackson. 1840 finds Gilbert’s growing family in Mount Hope, Orange Co., NY. Another son, Charles Henry and a new daughter, Mary Jane, had been born. Two people were employed in agriculture—probably Gilbert and one of the older boys. Harriet Cornelius, the youngest of Gilbert and Mary’s children, was born October 16, 1842 in Orange County. Sometime afterward, Gilbert moved the family to Wantage, Sussex County, New Jersey. The eldest daughter, Sarah Elizabeth, married Nelson Howell Nov. 25, 1844 in Sussex County so perhaps the Ogden’s relocated to Jersey after Harriet’s birth in October 1842 and before Sarah’s marriage in November 1844.

Gilbert died June 6, 1848 at the age of 52 in Wantage, New Jersey. His passing must have been both emotionally and financially difficult for the family. The older children, John Stewart, Lewis C., William B. and Sarah Elizabeth remained in Sussex County for a time after their father passed. Sons Seth and Graham worked as laborers in homes in Wallkill, Orange Co., NY according to the 1850 federal census. I can’t document precisely when but believe Mary Ogden took her younger children back to New York after her husband died. Daughter Sally Malinda married Casper C. Crane Feb. 2, 1849 in Bloomingburgh, Sullivan Co., New York at the Reformed Protestant Church. Six days later, daughter Hannah married Joseph M. Crane at the same place. Widow Mary (Hazen) Ogden was close by per the 1850 federal census. She was living in Mamakating, Sullivan County. Her household included children Gilbert B., Jr., Joseph, Andrew, Mary Jane and Harriet. She lived in dwelling 63 with her recently married daughters nearby. Hannah resided in dwelling 60 with her husband and other Crane family members while Sally Malinda and her husband lived at dwelling 62.

Congress passed a law granting bounty land to officers and soldiers who had served in the military Sept. 28, 1850. Another act of congress was approved March 3, 1855 for additional bounty lands. Great-great-great grandmother Mary Ogden was able to benefit financially from Gilbert’s War of 1812 service. Her bounty land application was a wealth of genealogical goodies. In Mary’s Declaration and Affidavit by the Widow of a Deceased Officer or Soldier dated Feb. 4, 1851, she stated she was 50 years old and a resident of Sullivan County, NY. Mary Jane Ogden, Gilbert and Mary's daughter, referred to the death of Gilbert B. Ogden from a bible record in an affidavit dated July 19, 1852.  The affidavit stated "Gilbert B. Ogden died the 6th day of June 1848 in the 53 year of his age." I stated earlier Gilbert and Mary Hazen were married on Jan. 11, 1817 in Brookfield (Slate Hill), Orange Co., NY. Mary Ogden's application for bounty land included an affidavit from Jonathan G. Ogden (Gilbert's brother) stating he was present at Brookfield when Gilbert B. Ogden married Mary Hazen. Elder Henry Ball, a clergyman, associated with the Old School Baptist Church, married the couple. Jonathan G. Graham also provided Gilbert's date and place of death in Mary bounty land application.

Gilbert’s widow was granted 40 acres bounty land in Iowa City, Iowa July 20, 1853, Warrant No. 74429. The 40 acres was sold or assigned to William Joshua Barney.

Mary Ogden appeared in the New York State census on June 15, 1855 in the 1st Election District in Town of Wallkill, Orange County. She was living with her children, Seth, Asa J., Andrew J., Harriet C. and Melinda Crane in the Town of Wallkill, Orange Co., NY June 15, 1855. Two grandchildren, Benjamin R. and Charles I. Crane, were also residing in the household. The enumerator noted all were born in Orange County. Mary, Andrew J. and Harriet had been Wallkill residents only one year while Asa J., Melinda Crane and her children had been living in Wallkill just 2 months.

On March 30, 1855 Mary Ogden applied for additional bounty land in a ‘Form of a Declaration To be made where the Soldier has had a Warrant, and desires another’. At this date, Mary stated her age to be 54 years and a resident of Orange County, NY. She was allowed an additional 120 acres bounty land in Ionia, Michigan August 15, 1859, Warrant No. 32214. The 120 acres was sold to James Mills.

What became of Mary (Hazen) Ogden after she got the bounty land, I can’t say. There are records for all of Gilbert and Mary’s children but I haven’t been able to locate any additional information about Mary. Ogden descendants, any help would be appreciated.

Sources:

   National Archives Veterans Records, Consolidated Reg’t (Smith’s), New York Militia, War of 1812, Gilbert Ogden

   National Archives Bounty Land File, Act of 55-120 Wt. 32214; Veteran Gilbert Ogden; 1812 Pvt. NY Mil., Can. No. 547, Bundle 111.

   War of 1812 Muster Rolls, Ancestry.com online library.

DANIEL FRANKLIN JOSEPH UPDATE

I was able to obtain Daniel Franklin Joseph’s obituary that was published in the Staunton News Leader thanks to the staff at the Staunton Public Library.

Staunton News Leader, Saturday A. M., January 20, 1940, page 2

   Daniel F. Joseph died yesterday afternoon at his residence at 1222 Jackson street at the age of seventy-six.

   He had been in failing health for about six years but was seriously ill only two days.

   He is survived by his wife, Mrs. Elsie Talley Joseph; three children, Mrs. Joseph L. Crowder, Mrs. C. Clifton Farrar, and James M. Joseph; two brothers, W. O., of Staunton, and H. M. of Swoope; and four grandchildren.

   The deceased was born in Swoope and lived in this community during his entire life. He was a son of William W. and Eliza Jane Spitler Joseph.

   The funeral will be held at eleven o'clock Monday morning from the United Brethren church, conducted by the Rev. David F. Glover, assisted by the Rev. E. R. Thayer.

   Active pallbearers; J. Earl Hoover, Guy Clemmer, J. W. Fulwider, Fred Stogdale, Lon Driver, Carl Jones, William Chandler, and George Kyle; honorary, Y. M. Almarode, Clarence Miller, Elmer Hall, George Knopp, David Driver, I. K. Roby, Rex Spiece, and John Gregory.

You can see my earlier post for Daniel at Well Known County Man Embarks on His Third Matrimonial Venture 

Scanned image from personal collection

JAMES CLYDE CLEMMER'S STORY

Great-grandfather

James Clyde Clemmer

1875-1928

Scanned image from Personal Collection

Born July 18, 1875 [1] in Staunton, Augusta County, Virginia James Clyde Clemmer was the third child of Joseph Henry Clemmer and Sarah Jane Snyder. He was a true middle child with two older sisters and two younger brothers—Katherine Hannah, Addie, Emmett Joseph and William Spiegel. James Clyde lived at home with his parents until at least June 1, 1900 according to federal census records when he worked as a laborer in a pulp mill and lived in the Middlebrook Precinct. [2]

The following newspaper gives a peek about James Clyde’s social outing on a September evening when he was a young man.

Staunton Spectator and Vindicator, Thursday, September 16, 1897

        Croquet Party

Arbor Hill, Sept. 11--A few evenings ago Mr. and Mrs. T. C. Craig gave a croquet party in honor of Miss Daisy Caffrey of Ohio, who is visiting at their home. They played croquet until quite late; then they had an elegant supper and ice cream, after which they played various games until the hour of departure. The young people spent a delightful evening and enjoyed themselves immensely. Among those present were Misses Daisy Caffrey of Marietta, Ohio, Albena Cale, Effie Spitler, and Annie Hopkins of Arbor Hill, and Miss Oakey of Clifton Forge. The gentlemen were J. J. Bowman, Clyde Clemmer, Harry Baylor, and David Cale of Arbor Hill, and Alex. Caffrey of Staunton.

Ella & James’ Wedding Picture

Scanned Image from Personal Collection

James Clyde married Ella Virginia White June 7, 1905 [3]. Great-grandmother Ella was the daughter of John William White and Mary Agnes Brown. Ten children were born to James and Ella—Janie, my grandmother Lucy, Linwood, Helen, Elsie, Alice, Lewis, William, Eugene and Ray.

By 1910 Great-grandfather was employed as a store proprietor in Staunton with his home also in Staunton on Richardson Street. [4]

World War I began July 1914 in Europe. The United States remained neutral until April 6, 1917 when they declared war on Germany and entered World War I. As a result, James Clyde was required to register for the ‘draft’. His draft registration card was dated Sept. 12, 1918. At that time he was a farmer with his permanent residence and place of employment being RDF 7, Staunton, Virginia--age 43 years. [5] James Clyde was described as medium height, stout build, brown eyes and brown hair. Fortunately for his family, it wasn’t necessary for him to serve.

I found James, Ella and the children on a farm in the Hebron and Arbor Hill neighborhood Feb. 2, 1920. James held a mortgage and was farming the property. [6]

The Clemmer family was shaken when James Clyde died Dec. 7, 1928. [7] James Clyde became ill with appendicitis and surgery was performed at King’s Daughter Hospital. All expected him to recover but two days later Great-grandfather passed.  His death certificate states the cause of death was acute suppuratine appendicitis. Peritonitis septia was named a secondary cause in his death.

Staunton News Leader, Staunton, Augusta County, Virginia; Saturday, December 8, 1928

     James Clyde Clemmer, of the county, died Friday about 10:15 a.m. at the King’s Daughters’ hospital, where he underwent an appendix operation Wednesday night. His age was 53 years, 4 months and 18 days.

      Funeral services will be conducted Sunday at 2:30 p.m. from Hebron Presbyterian church, of which he was a member.

     Mr. Clemmer is survived by his widow, Mrs. Ella White Clemmer, and the following sons and daughters: Miss Janie and Lynwood Clemmer of Middletown, N.Y.; Mrs. James Joseph of Andover, N.J., Helen, Elsie, Louis, William, Eugene, and Ray at home.

Many years later a son-in-law, Casper Garber, recalled the family’s loss in a history he prepared for the Clemmer reunion:

     “The second week of December, tragedy struck—the happiness they had known was turned to blackness immediately. The father took appendicitis and 3 days later passed away. It was so sudden that it was stunning.”

     “The funeral took place on Sunday afternoon. There at the grave stood a 47 year-old mother and her 9 children, also a son-in-law, a baby grandson, many relatives and friends. Of those 9 children, 6 were less than 18 years old.”

The baby grandson was James Clyde’s 1^st grandchild. That baby was my father who was only a few months old.

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[1] Ancestry.com, World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918 Database online. Registration Location: Augusta County, Virginia; Roll: 1984209

[2]  Ancestry.com, 1900 United States Federal Census; Database online. Year: 1900; Census Place: Middlebrook, Augusta, Virginia; Roll: T623_1700; Page: 11A; Enumeration District: 36

[3] Marriage date provided by daughter, Lucy Clemmer Joseph

[4] Ancestry.com, 1910 United States Federal Census), Database online. Year: 1910; Census Place: Staunton Ward 1, Staunton (Independent City), Virginia; Page 40; Sheet No. 28A, Enumeration District 119, Ward 1

[5] Ancestry.com, World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918 Database online. Registration Location: Augusta County, Virginia; Roll: 1984209

[6] Ancestry.com, 1920 United States Federal Census Operations Inc., 2010. Images reproduced by (NARA microfilm publication T625, 2076 rolls). Year: 1920; Census Place: Beverley Manor, Augusta, Virginia; Roll: T625_1880; Page: 8B; Enumeration District: 28

[7] Death Certificate  James Clyde Clemmer

MARY'S DANCE

Great-great-great grandmother Mary A. Case was born January 23, 1800 in Norwich, Connecticut to Asahal Case and Rosanna Sloan.[1] She married Bester B. Peck who is the subject of two previous blog posts  Bester B. Peck, Husband and Father, 1798-1863 and Hunting for Bester's Parents.

When 3^rd great grandmother Mary Case was a young woman, she tried a little dancing. Her church found her out and the following was recorded in the First Baptist Church, Norwich, Connecticut records.[2]

Image from Connecticut State Library Microfilm Collection

Transcript:

Friday, Octr. 8^th 1824

Met pursuant to appointment Opened the meeting by Singing & prayer and proceeded to business     _  _  _  _

1^st Sister Mary Case being present manifested she has done wrong in joining with the youts in dancing manifested repentanes of past  Gave satisfaction to the Chh. & was cordially received

It seems like she was forgiven in a loving fashion. Her offense was first noted at the Tuesday evening, October 5^th 1824 meeting when it was voted that Elder William Palmer (pastor) visit Sister Mary Case.

Mary had joined the First Baptist Church as a 17 year old and was baptized November 12, 1817.[3] First Baptists don't baptize infants or children preferring their members to acquire a maturity to understand its significance. When Mary was baptized, she would have been immersed in water following the traditions of her church. The membership lists indicate Mary transferred to another church but doesn’t state a date or church.

A few years later Elder William Palmer married Bester B. Peck and Mary at her father’s home on December 9, 1827.[4] Bester and Mary remained in Norwich where they raised their children. Bester passed May 1863 with Mary joining him March 10, 1865.

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[1] Vital Records of Norwich 1659-1848, pub. Hartford; Society of Colonial Wars in the State of Connecticut; 1913, Part II, Page 628.

[2] First Baptist Church Records, Norwich, Connecticut, 1800-1189, Microfilm Reel #64, 65, LDS #0005066 housed at the Connecticut State Library, Hartford, Connecticut

[3] Ibid

[4] Vital Records of Norwich 1659-1848, pub. Hartford; Society of Colonial Wars in the State of Connecticut; 1913, Part 5, page 701