Guardianship of Delilah Simmons

Delilah Simmons was born to Lebbeus & Sarah Simmons in Fulton County, Illinois in 1861. Delilah is the half-sister of my Third Great Grandfather, Lebius Simmons, son of Lebbeus & Esther Simmons.

Delilah appears in the 1870 census with Elias & Melissa Graves and son Henry age 3. She is listed as Delilah Graves. This Petition of Letters for Guardianship was filed on February 26, 1878, when Delilah was 17. According to the Illinois Statewide Marriage Index database online, Delilah and Wilson were married the next day, February 27, 1878.

PETITION

of

<Elias Graves> in the matter of the estate of <Simmons> Deceased, for Letters of Guardianship.

TO THE HONORABLE

<S P Cummings>

Judge of the County Court of Fulton County.

THE PETITION of the undersigned < Elias Graves> respectfully represents that...

<Delilah Simmons> aged <17> years on the <July> A.D. 187<8>

and that said minor <is a> resident of this county; that <s>he ha<s> no father living, or other legal guardian residing in this State; that said minor X-and that said minor-X has no property and wishes this guardianship that she may have legal authority to marry Wilson Casper.

and that your petitioner <having raised said minor> desires <to> be appointed guardian of said minor <Feb 26> 187<8>

<Elias Graves>

STATE OF ILLINOIS, FULTON COUNTY,---SS

<Elias Graves> being duly sworn, deposes and says that the facts averred in the above petition are true, according to the best of _____ knowledge, information and belief.

SWORN TO AND SUBSCRIBED BEFORE ME, the undersigned, Clerk of the County Court of Fulton County, this <26th> day of <February> A.D. 187<8>

<JCWorley> Clerk.

<Elias Graves>

Newspaper Clippings - Canton, Illinois, 1868

My good deed for the day is posting these old newspaper clippings I copied from microfilm issues of the Canton, Illinois Weekly Register which to my knowledge has not been digitized. Checking Ancestry public trees for some of these young ones, I don't find them included. No one knows about them today, but they were certainly missed by their families in 1868. 

Canton Weekly Register, March 27, 1868

MARRIED

On the 22d inst., at the residence of J Powell, by Rev G W Miller, Mr DAVID AULD, to Mrs ELIZABETH BANKS, all of Buckheart township.

DIED

In this city, on the 7th inst., JOSEY T, youngest son of Jos T and S Tourville, aged 2 years and 3 months.

At the residence of Mr Jas Stockdale, on the 16th inst., WILLIE, infant son of W E and M R Stockdale.

"The Great Jehovah, full of love,

An Angel bright did send,

Who took our little harmless dove

To joys that never end."

In this city on Saturday, March 11th, Mrs MARGARET A MOORE, mother of Mrs David Homill, of this city, aged 81 years.

Mrs Moore was a native of Merrersburg, Pa. She came to this city to live with her daughter about two years since. Her nephew, J C Austin, of Chambersburg, Pa., a prominent citizen of that place, has furnished her liberally with every means necessary to comfort in her declining years. She passed peacefully away, apparently with no other complaint than old age. She was buried on Sunday afternoon, 15th inst., a large and respectable audience attending the funeral obsequies. 

M FREANER

Canton Weekly Register, April 3, 1868

FATAL ACCIDENT AT THE POOR FARM - A young man named William Rowan, an inmate of the county poor house, who was subject to fits, on Saturday last was directed by the keeper, J K Weller, to feed the cattle from a corn crib upon the premises. While Rowan was upon the crib attending to his duties, he was taken with a fit and fell between the curb and a fence. Mr Weller discovered his position in a moment or two after, and went to his relief, but he was discovered to be dead. The fall had broken his neck. Rowan was sent to the poor house from Farmington. He was 28 years of age.

Canton Weekly Register, April 10, 1868

DIED,

In this City, on the 2d inst., ANNIE ANGELINA S., Daughter of Robt and Sarah Stenson, aged 5 year 11 months and 28 days.

At La Harpe, Hancock Co., Ill., the 26th ult., Mr JACOB CIVER, in the 73d year of his age.

Canton Weekly Register, April 17, 1868

DIED,

In this city, on the 5th inst., ALBERT, son of David and Elizabeth Reffner, aged 4 year 2 months and 29 days.

So fades the lovely, blooming flow'r,

Frail, smiling solace of an hour;

So soon our transient comforts fly,

And pleasure only blooms to die, 

The dearest treasure of our heart,

How we're called with thee to part;

The bliss of heaven to be thy rest,

And we on earth will grief opprest. 

But the bles'd time will shortly come

When we shall meet in heaven, our home,

And there with thee, O bles'd relief,

Be free from sorrow, pain and grief.

Gaisford Ancestors in Minonk Township Cemetery

It was in 2006 when I visited the grave of my Third Great Grandparents, James & Anna Gaisford in Minonk, Illinois. Please don't yell at me for the use of chalk, I washed it off and I don't do it anymore. At the time, I had learned this technique from a cemetery historian and didn't know it could damage the stone. Even with the chalk, these stones were very difficult to read then, and that was 13 years ago.  I'd love to see what they look like now, but I'm over 500 miles away. 

Minonk Township Cemetery is a large one. Before our trip, I found someone through the El Paso, Illinois website who had details for the locations of these graves. Through emails they gave me very helpful directions and it saved us a lot of time searching for them on a hot July day. It's not easy to get my family to allow me a little time in a cemetery while on vacation. My daughter transcribed the graves for me to help us get out of there faster.

                                  Wife of                        In Loving

                                J Gaisford                  Remembrance       

                               Died ?  1882                       of

                                  Aged                           James

                                                                   Gaisford

                                                                      Died 

                                                                         ?

                                                                      Aged

                                                                  87 Years

In the 1850's, James and Anna left their home and the families they grew up with in England. Six of their eight children were born there, their two youngest boys, Samuel and John "Gehu", were born in Rhode Island. About 1868, the family moved to Minonk where James and Anna lived the rest of their lives. At the time of Anna's death, two of their children had moved to Nebraska, Emma and my Second Great Grandfather Charles. When James died, daughter Hannah Pickard was also living in Nebraska and sons Sam and John were possibly living in Arkansas and Iowa. 

James Jr passed away only four years after his father. He along with siblings William and Anna Pickard and their families are also resting in the Minonk Township Cemetery. Charles, Samuel, Hannah Pickard and Emma Bailey are buried in Gage County, Nebraska, and Gehu, who lived to be 92, lies in Council Bluffs, Iowa. The father James remarried after Anna's death to Fannie Brooks, who is also buried in the Minonk Township Cemetery.

I may never pass that way again, and I certainly hope that I didn't cause any damage to their monument. But I'm glad that I was able to visit the grave of James and Anna Gaisford.

Mrs Laura Barnes Obituary Salvaged from Microfilm

Canton Weekly Register, Canton, Illinois, December 21, 1857

DIED,

On the 8th of December, at the residence of her son, Mrs. Laura Barnes, aged 60 years.
The deceased was born in Southington, Connecticut, where she resided until after her marriage to Mr. Truman Barnes. They resided in New Hartford, then at New Haven. They removed to Canton, Fulton county, Illinois, in 1838. She has lived a widow eleven years - she experienced religion at the age of thirteen years. Owing to a want of confidence in God, and fears of her hope not being as satisfactory as she desired, she delayed making public profession until after her marriage. She, together with her husband, united with the Congregtional Church. In 1840(?) she was baptised by Rev. J. D. Newel, and united with the Baptist Church in Canton, where she retained her membership until she was removed to the Church triumphant.
For many years she had been in a declining state of health, and for more than two years an almost constant sufferer, being confined to her room all the time, and the most of it to her bed. Up to the time she was excluded from the world she was a regular attendant on the means of grace, manifesting a consistent Christian life. Her policy was not of any impulsive or fitful character, but like the path of the just, "it shone brighter and brighter unto the perfect day." She endured her protracted and severe illness with remarkable Christian patience. At times her sufferings were so great that she would inquire of her children and Christian friends "Why she was spared to suffer when she felt her living would do no good to the world" but would immediately check herself by saying, "It is all ordered right" "I don't want to complain, I ought not, I will not, but the flesh is weak." Her greatest p?vation was in not being able to associate with Christians in prayer and social meetings and the Sabbath services. As she neared death, her hope of Heaven became firm and bright and death was disarmed of his terrors. When asked if the dark valley was lighted up by the Saviour, she said, with emphasis, "Yes! God is my hope and strength." Her ruling passion was strong in death; ardent love to God and her children. She steps in Jesus.
Her remains were taken to the Baptist Church, where a sermon was preached by her Pastor, S. G. Miner, from Phil. 1, 21, "For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain." Her remains lie in the City Cemetery, there to await the resurrection of the just.

"Asleep in Jesus! blessed sleep!
From which none ever wakes to weep -
A calm and undisturbed repose,
Unshaken by the last of foes."

I Left a Stone Unturned

On a hot summer day in 1998, July 9 to be exact, I visited the Bunker Hill Cemetery in Buda, Illinois to visit the graves of my Third Great Grandparents Charles and Susannah Lee. Notes in some family papers had told me they were there. 

It was getting toward evening when we got to the cemetery. Bunker Hill has only a few hundred graves and sits just north of a little church which I think was still in use at that time. It was the first time I made my family take time while on a vacation to let me do some genealogy work. They were patient (worn out from swimming) and even a little helpful. 

My husband might have found it first, to the left of the entrance only a few rows back under an old cedar tree. It was lying down with Charles' inscription on the up-side. There was just enough light left to read the inscription. I was sure that Susannah's name would be on the other side, but I didn't dare to turn it over. A few years later, someone posted photos on Find A Grave of the stone upright and with Susannah's inscription. Obviously, the photo had been taken years before it was posted and before I was there. 


Susannah died April 24, 1851 after giving birth to their third child, Thomas Jefferson Lee. She left a five-year-old son and two-year-old daughter, my Great Grandmother Sarah. I haven't confirmed any other family members for her, I've found very few records with her name at all.

Thomas died at four months old on September 8.


It was just ten years later when Charles died. I'd love to uncover the cause of his death at only 41. He had one sister that I know of - Hannah Holmes, wife of Lewis. She was also living in Bureau County when both Susannah and Charles died. I assume she helped Charles raise his two children until her death in 1858.

Charles' mother Polly Lee was living with Hannah and her husband in 1850, but I've found no record of her after that. There are some possible leads through DNA for parents of Charles, but finding documentation that confirms anything has been difficult.  I've had no success with what few records I've had time to discover. 

My Search for a Photo of Belle

I spent a lot of time last year searching for a photograph I thought would be easy to find. Spoiler alert - I was not successful. The more attempts I make to find a photo and fail, the more challenged I am to find one.

My Great Grandmother, Lena (Jorgenson) Roscoe had a sister who was very musically inclined and a performer on a small scale. “Belle”, was born Merlin Isabelle Jorgenson in 1871 in Will County, Illinois. Using details mentioned in her obituary I've searched the country for her photo.

She attended Valparaiso University (at that time the Northern Indiana Normal School) about 1892, but I was told they didn't have yearbooks until 1911. I emailed the college and they were able to confirm she was listed in the 1893 catalog as a student in the Music Department. She taught school in her home town of Peotone and was "greatly beloved for many years." ¹ City Directories for 1895 & 1902 show her living in Joliet a short distance from Peotone. By 1900, she moved to Chicago and I'm not sure if she was still teaching in Peotone then. In 1904 she moved to Rock Springs, Wyoming where "she became director of music and public speaking of the city schools. She also taught in Menominee, Michigan". ² I haven't been able to locate any yearbooks for those schools at that time, but I have found her name in the newspapers in Rock Springs, Wyoming from 1904 through 1906.

Newspaper clippings in social columns from Peotone in 1907 state she is in Chicago, studying music at the Columbia College of Music.  In 1910, her occupation was Musician, "on the road". I think this is when, according to her obituary, she was travelling with a Chautauqua around the midwest. More about the Chautauqua in a minute. 

Her obituary states she was married in 1915, but it was actually in 1911. I've found this announcement of her engagement in the Chicago Daily Tribune, Aug. 4, 1911 ³ which was shared in her hometown paper. Last year at the Abraham Lincoln Library in Springfield I searched the Chicago Daily Tribune, but found nothing about the wedding. The papers were too faded to see very well. Her obituary states that they were married by B. Fay Mills, more about him in a minute. By November 3, 1911 the Peotone Vedette had a mention that Mrs McKee "recently became the bride of Earl McKee". ⁴  They were expected "to make their home in Fort Worth, Texas." It appears they didn't live in Texas for long.



In "Music News", a trade publication out of Chicago ⁵ this paragraph about the Del Mar Ladies' Quartet was in a column of news from Los Angeles in July, 1913. By November of that same year, the name of the group was changed to the "Los Angeles Ladies Quartet" and there are two different members, Hulda Besch and and Mrs Laura Johnson Sondea in place of Miss Ethel Verda Ellmore and Miss Ruby Dale. ⁶  I found out that Miss Ellmore was killed in a car accident in early November. The name "Del Mar" Ladies Quartet lead me down a long path of the wrong group of women who sang with the travelling Chautauqua during the years 1917-1920. I found several advertisements in newspapers, some WITH a photo but the women weren't named individually. I contacted the New York Chautauqua Institution who sent me to the University of Iowa's Redpath Chautauqua Collection. They have info on the travelling Chautauquas and I found the same photo from the ads of the Del Mar Ladies Quartet with the names of those women. None of them were the same women named in the Music News notices. I'm still wondering if there is some connection between the Los Angeles group named Del Mar Ladies Quartet and the Chautauqua group.

The California Digital Newspapers online have the Los Angeles Herald where I found several mentions of the Los Angeles Ladies Quartet (with various spellings). From 1913 to 1917 they held performances in LA, often associated with the Fellowship of Los Angeles. The Fellowship was located in Blanchard Hall and just by chance I found that Mr B. Fay Mills was "permanent minister" there in 1906. B Fay Mills was the minister who married Belle and Earl in 1911 in Illinois (or at least I think it was Illinois, but I haven't found a marriage record).  B Fay Mills was a nationally known revivalist, social reformer and advocate of free religion. The connection between Belle and B Fay Mills seems like a strong one. An interesting thing to note is that in California Voter Registrations, Belle is usually registered as a Socialist. Her sister, Bertha, was married to Jacob O. Bentall who ran for Governor of Minnesota in 1916 as a Socialist, but was arrested and spent some time in Leavenworth, Kansas for violating the espionage act. But I digress.

The last time the Los Angeles Ladies Quartet appear in the newspapers was 1917, and according to her obituary it was 1918 when her husband suffered from an illness which left him an invalid. I wonder if it was polio, but have not found any more information on that. He was a court reporter for the Superior Court of Los Angeles for several years.

So with nothing more from the online newspapers, my search turned to LA City Directories. Belle is listed as a teacher/music teacher from 1922 to 1934. This was where I found her listed with the Los Angeles Coaching School. The LA Public Library was not able to find any information on the teachers of the school and didn't have any yearbooks. I also tried the Music Department of the UCLA library with no luck. 

Los Angeles Coaching School was not an ordinary high school. It was a private tutoring school where Intensive preparation was given in small groups or individually. Some of the more famous students of the school were Will Rogers Jr and the sons of Edgar Rice Burroughs, both mentioned in Belle's obituary.

One more interesting item I found through a search on Google Books was quite a surprise. She obtained copyright on a "scenerio" called "You Supply the Girl", in 1935. ⁷ I'm not sure if this is a song or a play or exactly what. I'd like to get a copy of that, but if I understand the government copyright website correctly, it would cost $200. I wish that didn't matter, but it does.

The informant on Belle's death certificate was her nephew, Carleton Bentall. From what I've seen, Carleton had one daughter Carol Ann who married Alan Steidley. This is something I need to pursue. I've contacted local libraries, posted requests in facebook groups, I occasionally check Dead Fred and other old photo sites.  Someday I hope to find a photograph of Merlin Belle McKee. One of her as a member of the Los Angeles Ladies Quartet would be great. ANY photo would be wonderful to have. I'm still working on it.

---

1 Peotone (Illinois) Vedette, Thursday, August 13, 1942, pg 1 ^↩
2 Ibid.^↩
3 Chicago Daily Tribune, August 4, 1911, pg 6^↩
4 Peotone (Illinois) Vedette, November 3, 1911^↩
5 "Music News", by Watt, Charles E., Vol 5, No. 27, Chicago, July 4, 1913, pg 5, digital images, Internet Archive^↩
6 "Music News", by Watt, Charles E., Vol 5, No. 48, Chicago, November 28, 1913, pg 30, digital images, Internet Archive^↩
7 "Catalog of Copyright Entries. Part 1. {B} Group 2. Pamphlets, Etc." New Series, Vol 32, No. 9 1935, digital image, Library of Congress, Copyright Office ^↩

Newspaper Clippings - Peotone, IL, July 1907

Maybe something in this news from Monee and Peotone, Illinois will be of help to someone. I apologize for what is cut off and also for what I could not make out due to the smudges. The circled "Miss M. Belle Jorgenson" is the sister of my Second Great Grandmother Lena Jorgenson-Roscoe. This doesn't tell me much about her, but I grabbed copies of all mentions of my family since I had the microfilm on loan. So, I will share.

Peotone Vedette, July 19, 1907

MONEE LOCAL NOTES

Chas. Plagge, of Harvey, spent Monday in town.

F. C. Pfaff, of Harvey, spent the fourth here renewing acquaintances.

Mrs. Wm. Janssen is visiting at the home of her parents in Beecher this week.

Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Tresch, of Chicago spent Sunday at the home of C. K?e.

Mrs. Ernest Smit is entertaining her mother, Mrs. Devine, of Chicago this week.

Ed Binder, of Chicago, spent the fourth at the home of his brother, F. Binder.

Thos. O'Shea, of Chicago, spent the fourth at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Ed Wathier.

H. P. Leseberg entertained his brother of South Chicago, several days last week.

There was no meeting of the village board Saturday evening owing to a lack of a quorum.

Luella and Norma Plagge and Ruby K?stedt visited relatives at Peotone several days last week.

Miss Josie Schultz and a neice from Chicago spent Wednesday at the home of Mrs. Lena Plagge.

Oscar Schroeder, of Harvey, spent several days the past week at the home of his cousin, Harry Conrad.

Mr. and Mrs. Roy Bemisderfer, of Dauphin Park, visited at the homes of their parents several days last week.

Column 2

yellow and much comment as to what causes it whether it is the green bug or the dry weather. It is hoped that the rain will benefit it now and that it will yeild the usual crop.

A number of relatives and neighbors of Mrs. Adam Holl assembled at her home Wednesday evening to help her celebrate her birthday anniversary. Mrs. Holl soon got over surprise and made the guests feel at home. After spending a very pleasant afternoon and partaking of a delightful luncheon the guests departed wishing their hostess many happy returns of the day.

F. W. Sander transacted business in Chicago Thursday.

Markets: Corn 49-1/2, Oats, 39, New Oats 35, Butter 18, Eggs 13.

Miss Amelia Triem is visiting at the home of Henry Hoffmann this week.

Mr. and Mrs. Louis Pries, of South Chicago, is visiting at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Aug. Pries this week.

The horse market Tuesday was quite well attended. Thirty horses were bought and shipped to Chicago and a large number were bought and driven away.

Mrs. J. H. Kolstedt and son, Roy, returned to their home in Chicago after spending a week visiting at the home of Mrs. C. A. Kolstedt.

On account of going out of business I will sell below cost my millinery goods. Also one standing and one side show case. Miss M. Werner.

C. Koepke returned Wednesday from a three weeks' stay with relatives in Marion, Kan. He reports that the wheat crop is very light compared with the past few years and many field have been plowed up and planted to corn.

The wind storm last Saturday moved the Gottschalk hay shed several inches from the foundation and also twisted the water tank so that new supports will be necessary.

Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Albers attended the funeral of Mrs. Albers' father, Mr. Henry Schaellein, at Beecher last week.

Bryan Hutchison, of Joliet, will be at Kettering's hotel, Saturday, July 13th, where all those having legal business to attend to can consult him.

Mr. and Mrs. Fred Schaefer entertained a party of Chicago relatives on the fourth. Among them being Mesdames F. Witt, A. Albesch and Elsie Lederer. The latter will remain here about a week.

Aug. Deutsche went to Stuttgart, Ark., last week to size up the country. His father, Wm. Deutsche bought some land there several...

Column 3

JUST ABOUT PEOPLE

Geo. Croxen took in Chicago sights Tuesday.

Henry Monk was a north bound passenger Tuesday.

Ed Duclos transacted business in Chicago Tuesday.

Mrs. K. J. Baeuerle has been quite seriously sick.

Mrs. Wm. Rauworth is the guest of Lockport friends.

F. C. Jurres was a north bound passenger Wednesday.

Little Katherine Koepke visited Monee friends this week.

E. H. Stassen and son, Harold, were in Chicago Monday.

Mrs. Samuel Pearson was a Chicago passenger Wednesday.

John Carstens transacted business in Chicago Wednesday.

C. Veuve is entertaining his son, August and wife of Chicago.

Mrs. John Schneider is visiting her brother at Tomah, Wis.

Miss M. Belle Jorgenson is spending a few days in Milwaukee.

Miss Mattie Rains entertained Mrs. C. C. Jewel, of Otto, Tuesday.

Hilma Imholz visited Harvey relatives a few days this week.

Robert Cann, of Chicago, spent Sunday with Peotone relatives.

Mrs. Aug. F. Schroeder was a Chicago passenger this morning.

Miss Florence Troughten, of Chicago, visited Peotone friends Sunday.

Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Piper sent Saturday and Sunday in Kankakee.

Chas. Henry, of Tiskilwa, is the guest of his aunt, Mrs. Harvey McFarlin.

Mrs. Wm. Conrad is entertaining her cousin, Miss Bessie Schneider, of Itasca.

W. W. Smith, of Joliet, attended the K. P., installation service last week.

Wm. Roloff, of Chicago, spent a few days of the week with Peotone friends.

Mr. and Mrs. W. A. Stassen, of Chicago, spent Sunday with Peotone relatives.

Mesdames Henry and Albert Baird spent the day in Kankakee yesterday.

Miss Tressie Harken entertained Miss Mabel Salomon, of Chicago, over Sunday.

Mrs. Margaret Wabls and son, Wilbur, were north bound passengers this morning.

Miss Katie Johnson, who came down from Chicago to celebrate the... 

Naturalization Certificate of Charles Gaisford

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

State of Illinois, Woodford County, SS

Be it Remembered, That on the <26th> day of <September> in the Year of our Lord

One Thousand Eight Hundred and <Seventy-two> personally appeared before <Bazel D. Meek> 

Presiding Judge of the County Court of the County of Woodford and State aforesaid, (the same being a Court of

Record, having and exercising common law jurisdiction, a Seal and a Clerk,) and sitting judicially for the

dispatch of business at the Court House, <Charles Gaisford> an alien-born, free, white male

person, above the age of twenty-one years, and applied to the said Court to be admitted to become a Naturalized

Citizen of the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, pursuant to the several acts of Congress heretofore passed

on that subject, entitled " An Act to establish a uniform rule of Naturalization, and to repeal the acts heretofore

passed on that subject," approved the 14th day of April, 1802: An Act entitled " An Act in addition to an Act to

establish a uniform rule of Naturalization, and to repeal the acts heretofore passed on that subject," approved on 

the 26th day of March, 1804: An Act entitled " An Act supplementary to the acts heretofore passed on the subject of

a uniform rule of Naturalization, passed the 30th day of July, 1813: the Act relative to evidence in cases of

Naturalization, passed the 22nd day of March, 1816: And an Act in further addition to an Act to establish a uniform

rule of Naturalization, and repeal the acts heretofore passed on that subject, passed May 26, 1824: and the said

<Charles Gaisford> having thereupon produced to the Court Record testimony showing that he

has resided in the United States three years next preceding his arrival at the age of twenty-one years and to the

present time, that for three years last passed it has been bona-fide his intention to become a citizen of the United

States according to the provisions of the several acts of Congress, and the Court being satisfied, as well from the oath

of the said <Charles Gaisford> as from the testimony of <Tom Pickard>

and <A. Pickard> who are known to be citizens of the United States, that the said

<Charles Gaisford> has resided within the limits and under the jurisdiction of the United States

for at least five years last past, and at least one year last past in the State of Illinois, and that during the whole of

that time he has behaved himself as a man of good moral character, attached to the principles contained in the 

Constitution of the United States, and well disposed to the good order, well-being and happiness of the same.

IT WAS ORDERED that the said <Charles Gaisford> be permitted to take the oath to support the Constitution of the United States, and the usual oath whereby he renounced all allegiance and fidelity to every

foreign Prince, Potentate, State and Sovereignty whatever, and more particularly to <the Queen of England>

whereof he was heretofore a subject, which said oath having been administered to the said <Charles Gaisford>

by the Clerk of said Court, it was ordered by the Court that the said

<Charles Gaisford> be admitted to all and singular the rights, privileges and immunities of a Natu-

ralized citizen of the United States, and that the same be certified by the Clerk of this Court, under the seal of the 

Court accordingly.

IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, The seal of the said Court is hereto affixed at the Clerk's office at Metamora,

this <26th> day of <September> A. D. 1872, and of the Independence

of these United States the <Ninety Seventh>

By order of the Court,

{Seal}   Attest, <Henry C. Dent> Clerk of the County Court of Woodford County,

                      By Peter Amicker Dpty

Charles Gaisford was one of my last direct ancestors to immigrate to the US. His youngest brother was born in Rhode Island in 1859. In 1872 when Charles filed for citizenship he was 30 years old with 3 young children. His witnesses Tom and A. Pickard are his brother-in-law and his sister Anna Pickard. Henrietta, Charles' wife, was a descendant of colonialists in British America as early as the mid-1600's. 

Three Death Records and a Baby

On the right hand side of this page under "Labels" if you click on "Simmons" you will find other posts I've written on this branch of my family tree. In several of those posts, I mention I had not been able to find death records for some of my direct Simmons ancestors. I plan to prove my line to the Revolutionary War Patriot, Libbeus Simmons, and submit a DAR supplemental application. Last year I focused on this line, and was able to find some information on the deaths of three of these Simmons ancestors. Maybe not exact dates, but good enough for my satisfaction. We'll have to see about DAR.

1. Ruth Webb, daughter of Jonathan Smith and Rachel Simmons; married first to Lebius Simmons;  and second to Cyrus Webb. Ruth's mother and her husband were first cousins, so she married her first cousin once removed.
I was sure that Ruth died in Fulton County, Illinois sometime between 1862 and 1866 when she was the wife of Cyrus Webb. You always read about the importance of military records, but if a man mustered into camp, got sick and died within a month I questioned whether there would be much of any information in his file. The military records site Fold 3 offered a free weekend, so I tried to get the "Minor's Pension" listed for Cyrus but I could not get access. About that time another company offered a sale on obtaining military records, so I took advantage of their offer and got the Minor's Pension. An affidavit from the midwife present at the births of the children of Cyrus and Ruth gave me her death date. In the affidavit, the midwife swears "that she was acquainted with Cyrus Webb and wife for ten years before she died...and that they lived together as husband and wife til Mrs Webb died which was on or about the 25th day of October, 1863." No full name given, but for me this was well worth the money spent.

2. I had the kind of experience that would make a great commercial for Genealogybank, the newspaper subscription site. My SECOND search there lead me to a very short sentence. "In Canton Esther, wife of Lebbeus Simmons, 48". Esther and Lebbeus Simmons were the parents of the Lebius Simmons above. They are my 4th Great Grandparents.
That sentence was included in a long list of deaths from all around the country printed in the Commercial Advertisor, a New York newspaper in 1839. I NEVER would have looked for anything on them in a New York newspaper, they never lived in New York. I'm sure that that newspaper picked up that little bit of news from some Illinois newspaper, likely somewhere close to Canton. Someday I hope to find that Illinois paper and read much more than one sentence. The Genealogybank subscription fee was much less than a trip to Illinois searching through all local papers for her obituary.

3. Genealogy groups on Facebook have become a great resource. I posted a message on The Fulton County Historical & Genealogical Society's page and got a results!  Years ago I had been given the death date for Lebbeus of December 24, 1879, but never knew the source. I tried to get a death record from the Fulton County Clerk with that date, but they didn't have anything. For the reasonable search fee of $5.00 I received this clipping which came from the Fulton County Ledger. There it is! December 24, 1879 in paragraph three:

"At the residence of his daughter, Mrs. Hester Ford, in Canton, Wednesday evening, Dec. 24, 1879, of old age, Mr. Libbeus Simmons.  

Mr. Simmons' age is not positively known, but he was supposed to have been from 93 to 102 years old, according to the best information we can gather from old residents. 

He was born in the state of New York. Came to Canton in 1834. He built the brick home just north of the railroad, near Mr. McBroom's. He was twice married. Six or seven years ago a son came here from New York and took the old man home with him; but last summer he was sent here to his daugher's, Mrs. Ford's, where he died, as above stated."

Lebbeus was actually married three times, and he was born in Maine, not New York, but newspapers do make mistakes. Notice it says "At the residence of his daughter "Mrs Hester Ford". Before I had this obit, and back when Fold 3 had that free weekend, there was another pension I was able to get. The Widow's pension for William H. Mills was accessible (maybe only Widow's pensions, not Minor's pensions were included in "free"?). In his file was another affidavit from a woman who was present at the births of William's children. William's wife was Rosilla Douglas Simmons, who was the daughter of Lebbeus & Esther, and a sister to Lebius Simmons. The "midwife" was Esther Ford, a name at that time I had never before seen associated with Simmons. Looking into who Esther Ford was, I found the marriage record of John Ford and Esther Simmons. She was born in Maine and her birth year was just a few years later than Lebius, so she could easily be his sister. At that point, I assumed she was named after her mother and helped deliver her sister Rosilla's children. After getting this clipping I knew for sure she was another child of Lebbeus and Esther Simmons.

Having the information on these deaths will help with my DAR Supplemental application. I still need one death and two marriage records. This line has been something I've worked on for twenty years. I really hope it will pass the scrutiny of the DAR, but as for me, I have faith in what I've found.

How I Am Related to persons in this narrative:

My Fourth Great Grandparents: Lebbeus Simmons & Esther Kelsey

My Third Great Grandparents: Lebius Simmons & Ruth Smith

My Second Great Grandmother: Rachel Jane Simmons

My Great Grandpa: Arthur McGrath

My Grandma

My Mom

Me

Newspaper Clippings - Canton, Illinois 1862

It's been a bitter cold, dreary winter. Besides the winter blahs, other things have happened that have kept me from both research and blogging family history. These newspaper clippings don't take much time to transcribe, so a quick post like this helps me get back into blogging. If these provide some valuable information for someone, that's even better. And if Spring would get here it would be great!

These were all copied from microfilm of the Canton Weekly Register, Canton, Illinois. Some of these are very difficult to read, so I may have not read the names correctly. See the other years that I've posted clippings from as well: 1852, 1853, and 1854.  

Canton Weekly Register, January 7, 1862

MARRIED,

In Ellisville, Dec. 25th, at the residence of the bride's father, by Esq. Anson Smith, Mr. WILLARD SMITH and Miss MARY WARNER.

In Fairview, Dec. 25th, at the residence of Asa Hicks,  by the Rev. J. S. Johnson, Mr. MOSES H HICKS and Miss ELIZABETH JONAS, all of Ellisville. 

Observed

On the 21 inst by Rev. G. B. McElroy, of Henry, Ill. Mr. JAMES P. SHRYOCK and Miss SARAH W WELLER, both of this city. 

Thanks for the cake.

On the 1st inst., at the residence of the bride's father, at Fulton Center, by the Rev. C. Springer, Mr. MARVIN G. COUNTY to Miss PHEBE M. BAGTEN, all of Fulton County.

On the 11th inst., at the residence of Mrs. Willman(?), in Canton, by Rev. C. Springer, Mr. JOSEPH SHALLENBERGER to Miss RACHEL VAN BUREN, all of Fulton County. 

* * *

Canton Weekly Register, January 14, 1862

DIED,

In this city, Dec. 30th, MYRA J., youngest daughter of Augustus B. and Prudence V. Smith, aged 12 years, 11 months and 22 days.

Also, on the 9th January, MINNY, only daughter of Augustus B. and Prudence V. Smith, aged 1 years, 10 months and 20 days.

* * *

Canton Weekly Register, January 21, 1862

MARRIED,

On the 15th inst., at the residence of the bride's father, by Rev. C. Springer, Mr. JOHN MESLER to Miss SARAH M WHITMORE, all of this county.

DIED,

In Prairie City, on the 9th inst., REBECCA JANE, daughter of J. R. and Annie Parker, aged 18 years, 3 months and 7 days.

* * *

Canton Weekly Register, March 4, 1862

DIED,

In Henry, Ill., Feb. 21st, at the residence of his father, of consumption, ROSWELL MORRIS WEST, aged 25 years.

The deceased was a member of the 47th Regiment Ill. Vol. He was taken sick on M???  after lying in the hospital at McPherson City and he was considered hopeless, he was sent home. When he arrived at Henry he was helpless and feeble and survived only forty six hours after arriving.

Brother, thou art gone before us,

And thy saintly soul is flown

Where tears are wiped from every eye

And sorrows are unknown

From the burden of the flesh

And from care and fear, released,

Where the wicked cease from troubling,

And the weary are at rest.

In Vermont, Ill. Feb. 22nd after a protracted illness Mrs. PHEBE ANN wife of Joseph H. Miller(?), in the ?1st year of her age.

* * *

Canton Weekly Register, March 11, 1862

DIED,

In this city, on the 4th inst., MATTIE J., youngest daughter of J. W. and E. R. Sloan, 10 years and 11 weeks. 

On the 4th inst., at his residence, four miles west of Canton, JOHN F. MILLER.

In Lewistown, 5th inst., of diptheria, ANNIE CORNELIA, only child of George and Margaretta Porter, aged 1 year, 8 months and  days.

In Muscatine, Iowa, on the morning of Feb. 28th, MAGGIE AUGUSTA, daughter of W. W. and E. S. W. Burson, aged 4 years and 14 days.

* * *

Canton Weekly Register, March 18, 1862

DIED,

In Lewistown, 10th inst., of lung fever, CATHARINE M., wife of Col. L. F. Ross, aged 32 years and 33 days.

Near Canton, on the 15th inst., of typhoid fever, SAMUEL COLTHEL, aged 24 years.