GREAT GRANDMOTHER ELLA “SKIPPED THE LIGHT FANTASTIC TOE”

 

Great Grandmother

Ella Virginia White

October 10, 1881 – April 21, 1961

Ella Virginia White was the fourth child born to John William White and Mary Agnes Brown in Augusta County, Virginia on October 10, 1881. She would marry James Clyde Clemmer, also of Augusta County, June 5, 1905 and become the matriarch of a large family.

While Ella was still a single lady, she appreciated an evening of dancing and dining as reported in the Staunton Spectator and Vindicator. Her brother, Arthur White, was also included in the festivities.

Staunton Spectator and Vindicator, Staunton, Virginia

Friday, March 18, 1904

A SURPRISE PARTY

   Quite a crowd of young people met at Mrs. Houston Hall’s last Friday night. The musicians arrived about 8 o’clock and then the fun commenced. They danced until eleven, when their hostess invited them to the dining room where they enjoyed a nice supper. After this they returned to the dancing hall and “skipped the light fantastic toe” until early in the morning. Then they bid their hostess good night and returned to their homes, having spent one of the most pleasant times possible –one long to be remembered and not soon to be forgotten by some. Those present were Misses Laurena Brownlee, Ida and Mamer Coyner, Katie and Alma Brown, Ora and Essie Harris, Stella Crickenberger, Mary Younge, Effie Bateman, Ella White, and Mrs. C. A. Brownlee. The gentlemen were Arthur Brown, Elmer Cohran, Willie Coyner, Harry Harner, Ivan Hunter, Arthur Hall, Sidney Bear, Alfred Brownlee, Clarence Brownlee, Edward Wissler, Arthur White and Arthur Waide.

                                                                                                            RAMBLER.

Note: See James Clyde Clemmer's Story published Sunday, February 16, 2014. Ella and James were the parents of my grandmother, Lucy Clemmer.

GRACE'S WEDDING

The Argus, Middletown, New York, March 22, 1897

AT THE COUNTY SEAT
   INCIDENTS AND HAPPENINGS IN GOSHEN
   --One week from to-night Jerome Wilson and Miss Grace Clark, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. B. Clark, will be married at the residence of the bride's parents at 8:30 o'clock. 

The Independent Republican, Goshen, New York, March 30, 1897

   A happy home wedding took place last night at the residence of Mr. and Mrs. J. B. Clark on Golden Hill Ave., this village, when their youngest daughter, Grace L., was married to Mr. Jerome W. Wilson.  The ceremony was performed at 8:30 o'clock by Rev. S. F. White, pastor of the M. E. Church.  The home was filled with friends of the bride and groom, and after the marriage ceremony and congratulations, the company partook of a bountiful wedding dinner, followed by dancing.
   Mr. and Mrs. Wilson left Goshen at 11 o'clock on train No. 14 for New York and other points.  They are both estimable young people of this village and their numerous friends wish them a happy and prosperous future.

MARRIED
   Mar. 29--At the home of the bride's parents, Mr. and Mrs. J. B. Clark, on Golden Hill Avenue, by Rev. S. F. White, Grace L. Clark and Jerome W. Wilson, both of Goshen.

Photo from personal collection

  Grace and Jerome’s Wedding Picture

Daily Argus, Middletown, N. Y.
Tuesday, March 30, 1897

  AT THE COUNTY SEAT
    INCIDENTS AND HAPPENINGS IN GOSHEN

   At the home of Mr. and Mrs. J. B. Clark, their daughter, Grace L., was united in marriage to Jerome W. Wilson, last night, at 8:30 o'clock, in the presence of about sixty relatives and friends.  The ceremony was performed by Rev. S. F. White.  Mr. and Mrs. Wilson took the Wells-Fargo Express east for an extended wedding journey. 

Daily Argus, Middletown, New York, Thursday, April 1, 1897

AT THE COUNTY SEAT
INCIDENTS AND HAPPENINGS IN GOSHEN

   Mr. and Mrs. Jerome W. Wilson returned, last night, from their bridal tour.

Copy of Marriage Certificate

Lower portion of marriage certificate

Great grandmother Grace Lee Clark was born in Westtown, Orange Co., NY July 2, 1875 to Jeremiah B. Clark and Harriet Ogden. Great grandfather Jerome was the son of Walter S. Wilson and Mary Peck born April 17, 1873 at Port Jervis, Orange Co., NY.

Lewis Penny Doty Marries Mrs. Emily Taylor

Copy of Lewis P. Doty and Emily Taylor Marriage Certificate

Great grandparents Lewis Penny Doty and Emily (Wight) Taylor were married Jan. 22, 1897 at Port Jervis, Orange Co., New York.

From the Port Jervis Union, Monday, Jan. 25, 1897

Hymeneal Notes

 Lewis P. Doty of Slate Hill and Emily Taylor of Port Jervis were united in marriage in Port Jervis, Friday night, by Rev. George E. Gillespie

Lewis Penny was born August 17, 1867 in Ulsterville, Ulster Co., NY. His parents were Albert Doty and Fanny Jane Bennett. The marriage certificate states Lewis Penny was born in Slate Hill. That’s not true although he was living in the Slate Hill area when he married.

Emily Taylor was born Emily Wight Sept. 13, 1870 in the Town of Wawayanda, Orange Co., NY to Richard Wight and Emily Brundage. You’ll notice her marriage certificate says this is her 1^st marriage but this isn’t the case. Emily was married previously to Ellsworth Taylor Sept. 24, 1887 in Goshen, NY. They had a daughter, Mabel, born August 4, 1891. Ellsworth was a drinking man and met his end much too soon because of it. He died April 18, 1896 near Springside, (Town of Wawayanda) NY. The local newspaper headline says it all:

ELLSWORTH TAYLOR KILLED BY THE CARS

FOUND ALONG THE S. & W. TRACKS SUNDAY

He Had Bought a Horse, Became Intoxicated, Horse Escaped--He Started to Recover It, and When Night Came Got in Front of a Train

[Middletown Daily Press, Middletown, New York, Monday, April 20, 1896]

Emily was pregnant when Ellsworth was killed as Harrison Benjamin Taylor was born about six months later on Oct. 4, 1896 in Port Jervis, NY.

Not even four months later, Emily married Lewis Penny Doty bringing financial stability to her family. The Taylor children were raised in Lewis Penny’s home. A few years later on Oct. 3, 1901 my grandfather, Frank Leroy Doty, was born. His sister, Florence Adelia Doty, followed on Sept. 19, 1903.

Lewis Penny and Emily lived in the Wawayanda and Middletown/Wallkill after their marriage.

Lewis and Emily Doty

JACOB AND ANNE'S PROMISE

Augusta County, Virginia Marriage Bonds, Book 15, 1815-1816

Jacob Fifer, bachelor, and Anne Bittle, spinster, promised the Governor of Virginia that there were no legal problems with them marrying April 22, 1816. Samuel Cramer (at least I think it says Samuel Cramer) served as a bondsman. Usually the bondsman was a relative or friend of the groom or bride.

In Virginia the age of consent to marry was 21. Jacob wasn't 21 years old so his father, George Fifer, Sr., prepared a note for the Augusta County, VA clerk providing his son with his permission to marry. Jacob signed the note and John Shelly acted as a witness.

Augusta County, Virginia Marriage Bonds, Book 15, 185-1816

 

My 4^th great grandparents, Jacob Fifer and Anne Bittle, did marry and had six children—Eliza J. born Dec. 1816, Joshua born 1817, Margaret born Dec. 1821, Wilhelm born 1823, James M. born 1831 and Ellis born 1833. Eliza J. would marry Henry Harman in 1834 at Augusta County, VA. Their daughter Rodie Maria Harman married James Addison McFall Jan. 23, 1870. Flora Belle McFall, Rodie and James’ daughter, married Daniel Franklin Joseph, the parents of my grandfather James McFall Joseph.

Anne (Bittle) Fifer died on April 18, 1833—37 years old. Jacob would marry again to Frances Dickerson and Rebecca Balsey.