Newspaper Clippings - Rock Creek, Nebraska, 1910

I've been living life lately and my blog has been somewhat of a low priority. Not apologizing, but I will try to keep posting things I have of family history value. Winter will be here before long and I'll be home more.

This little bit of news is from Rock Creek in Saunders County, Nebraska. Transcribed as it was, it looks like they tried to correct their error in the last few paragraphs and have some lines turned around. The death of Nancy Bennett is relevant to one of  my Smith families.  Nancy was the daughter of my Fourth Great Grandparents Jonathan and Rachel Smith.

From the Wahoo Democrat, Wahoo, Nebraska, January 27, 1910

ROCK CREEK

Wm. Bennett, who at the present is making his home in Lincoln, where Mrs. Bennett is under the care of a physician, came up Tuesday to attend the funeral of his mother.

Word was received Monday of the death of Mrs. Nancy Bennett. Mrs. B. had made her home, since the death of her husband, with her daughter, Mrs. G. S. Lambert. Last fall she went to spend the winter with her daughter, Mrs. C. J. Haggerman, who lives in McCool, York county, where 

she passed away Monday, the 24th. The remains were brought here Tuesday. The funeral will be held at Mt. Zion church Wednesday and the remains laid to rest beside her departed husband.

Grant Mills, a brother of J. W. Mills, of this precinct, was found dead in a hotel in Omaha Friday morning.

George and Sadie Ethel of Green, were visiting friends and relatives on the Creek Monday and Tuesday.

D. L. Beaman arrived Thursday for an extended visit with his brothers, I. K. Beaman and J. O. Beaman.

O. L. Bennett and Walter Stewart attended the auction sale of hardware and implements at Valparaiso Saturday.

J. O. Beaman, J. H. Vanlandingham and Grace Beaman attended the funeral of Dr. R. D. Bush at Wahoo on Thursday.

Miss Ina Larson, teacher in district 40 spent Sunday with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. A. P. Lamson, [sic] near Raymond.

Have you seen the comet?

J. J. Wondra transacted business at Wahoo Thursday.

Miss Grace Hodge of Stella, is visiting her friend, Miss Edna Nelson.

Mr. and Mrs. D. F. Bennett and daughter of Lincoln, were visiting on the 

Miss Ina Lamson teacher in district [sic] the creek Saturday and Sunday.

Inez and Eva Stewart helped Everett Beaman to celebrate his 11th birthday Tuesday evening.

My DAR Line to Patriot John Adair Sr

As "Entry-taker" for the county of Sullivan in North Carolina, John Adair Sr, collected fees for land claims. In 1782, when the British were a serious threat, money was needed for ammunition and equipment for the local militia and John Adair Sr was approached for aid. His response is reported to have been, "I have no authority by law to make that disposition of this money. It belongs to the impoverished treasury of North Carolina, and I dare not appropriate a cent of it to any purpose. But, if the country is overrun by the British, liberty is gone. Let the money go too. Take it. If the enemy, by its use, is driven from the country, I trust that country to justify and vindicate my conduct. Take it." ¹

Because of this act, the DAR recognizes John Adair Sr as a Patriot in the American Revolution. Several women through the years have proved their descendancy from him. But in early 2017, his line was marked as having problems on the DAR website, so proof of the connections of each generation through the line was required. Acceptable documents to do that are birth, marriage and death certificates, as well as pension applications, obituaries, cemetery records, Bible records, land records, published genealogies, etc.

My maternal Grandpa Stan Bell is the fourth Great Grandson of John Adair Sr. I collected all the necessary papers to prove my line of descent to John Adair Sr through his son John Adair Jr (who is also a Patriot) and submitted it to DAR. I was excited to see it was recently approved. Why file supplemental applications when I'm already a member of the DAR? For one reason, as a way of honoring my Grandparents and their heritage. For another, I enjoy the research involved to prove the lineage, and each line that is proved helps potential members join DAR. Any female direct (blood) descendant of a Patriot is eligible for membership in the DAR. It's less of a challenge to provide the required proof when a potential member can connect with a previously verified member somewhere along the line.

My lineage to John Adair Sr is outlined below. His line is not marked as having problems now. Documentation proving lineage to one of the descendants printed in bold below is all that would be required. For more information, go to dar.org. 

Cicero Bell (1869-1944) married first to Mittie Ramsey (1783-1900). They had two children who survived to adulthood - 

     Frank  (1892-1954) married Chloe Davis
     George Oren  (1894-1988) married Viola Noon 
Cicero married second to Allie Lucinda Spann (1871-1958) and they had four sons - 
     Benjamin Arthur  (1901-1983) married Marie Dieckman 
     Edward Francis  (1903-1985) married Thelma Rogers 
     James Stanley  (1907-1970) married Violet McGrath - my Grandparents
     Virgil Hartwell  (1909-2005) married Helen Curtin 

Martha Evelyn Bell (1842-1928) had three children - 
     Cicero  
     John W (1874-1938)  married Elizabeth Gee Irwin 
     Laura  (1879-1973) married Carson Alcorn 

John Silas Bell (1814-1878) married to Rutha Simpson (1822-1907), they had seven children -    
     Martha Evelyn
     Ira Garner (1844-1935) married Martha E Simpson
     Mary Elizabeth (1846-1922) married John W Stringer 
     Elisha (1848-1933) married Rebecca A McFarland 
     Saphronia  (1850-by 1887) 
     Emily  (1854-after 1887) 
     Ursula Jane (1856-1890) married Henry Reynolds (at least one of her descendants has also proven this line in the DAR)
     

Mary "Polly" Adair (abt 1795-1873) married first to David Bell (1794-1818), they had four children -  
     Barbara (1813-1887) married Green Lee Alley 
     John Silas 
     Elizabeth (1816-1883) 

     William (1818-?) married Nancy McGowen
Mary married second to Garner Parmley (1801-1874), their children were -
     Robert 
     Aladin 
     Miles R
     Stewart 
     David 
     Sophronia 
     Martha
     Mary 

John Adair Jr (1754-1843) his wife's name is presumed to be Mary, her last name is unknown. They had at least these three children - 
     Barbara Adair (1793-?) married Robert Parmley 
     John Adair III (1794-1878 ) married Sarah Cooper 
     Mary "Polly" 

John Adair Sr (1732-1827) married Eleanor Crawford (1734-1827)  in Ireland. The known children of John and Eleanor are 
     John Adair Jr 
     Mary (about 1750-?) married Robert Christian 

---

SOURCES:
1 "The Annals of Tennessee to the End of the Eighteenth Century:...", by James Gettys McGready Ramsey, 1853 ^↩

 

A Transcription Challenge

Kennebec County, Maine Deed #00220532-2

On September 11, 1816, in Kennebec County, Maine Libbeus Simmons sold 80.5 acres to Robert H. Gardiner and Reuel Williams of Augusta for $165.85. Some key words aren't clear to me in that mess, so I'm not sure if this was paid in one lump sum or five equal payments. It states this was where Libbeus lived which I've always heard was "twenty five mile pond near Unity".  In 1816 Libbeus Sr would have been about 67 years old, he died nineteen years later in 1835. Three years after this deed, Libbeus Sr sells another 80 acres of the twenty five mile plantation to Lebbeus Jr. They are my Fifth and Fourth Great Grandfathers.

The description of the land reads "a certain lot of land in said twenty five mile pond plantation being lot numbered twenty on a plan of the gore lying between the Ballard line and the east end of the fifteen mile lots east of Kennebec River..."  Kennebec county is in the southern part of Maine, Augusta is the county seat as well as the state capital. The Kennebec River runs north and south through Augusta and approximately 10 miles west of Unity, which is about 30 miles northeast of Augusta. 

The two assignments written on the right-hand side are: 

On April 15, 1817  Reuel Williams sells his share to Robert Hallowell Gardiner
On March 1, 1827  Robert H Gardiner sells to James Parker, who in 1813 married the youngest daughter of Libbeus Simmons Sr.

Kennebec County has deeds available online. This was very difficult to read, but I've transcribed as much of it as I can.

Know all men by these presents that <I, Libbeus Simmons of the
twenty
five mile pond plantation in the county of Kennebec yeoman>
in consideration of <one hundred sixty five dollars and eighty five cents paid by Robert
H. Gardiner of Gardiner and Reuel Williams of Augusta in said county ?>
(the receipt whereof I do hereby acknowledge) do hereby give, grant
sell, and convey unto the said <Gardiner and Williams a certain lot of land in said twenty
five mile pond plantation being lot numbered twenty on a plan of the gore lying
between the Ballard line and the east end of the fifteen mile lots east of Kennebec
River made by Charley Hayden esq. Surveyor containing eighty acres and one half
more or less on which I now live>

To have and to hold the <aforegranted premises to the said Gardiner & Williams their>
heirs and assigns, to <their> use and <behoof> forever. And <I>
do covenant with the said <Gardiner and Williams their> heirs and assigns
that <I am> lawfully seized in fee of the <aforegranted premises> that they are free of all
incumbrances that <I> have good right to sell and convey the same to
the said <Gardiner and Williams> and that <I> will warrant and defend the same <premises>
to the said <Gardiner and Williams their> heirs and assigns, forever agains the lawful claims and
demands of <all> persons.

Provided nevertheless <that if the said Simmons his heirs, executors, or administrators ?
to the said Gardiner & Williams their heirs executors administrators or assigns the sum of one
hundred sixty five dollars and eighty five cents in five equal annual payments with
interest accordig to his five promisary notes therefore then this deed avail ?
five notes bearing even date with these presents given by the said Simmons to the
said Gardiner and Williams promising to pay the same sum & interest at the time aforesaid
? shall all be void otherwise shall remain in full force.>


In Witness whereof, <I> the said <Libbeus Simmons>
have hereunto set my hand and seal this tenth day of September in the
year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixteen.
Signed sealed and delivered in presence of us <Libbeus Simmons Daniel Whitmore>
<Kennebec> ss, <Sept. 11, 1816>  Then the above named
<Libbeus Simmons>
acknowledged <the above> instrument by     subscribed to be <his>
deed before me
<Daniel Whitmore>  Justice of Peace

<KENNEBEC> ss. Received <Sept. 16, 1816> entered and comopared with the original, by
<John Hovey, Registrar>



Written on the right side:

Know all men that I Reuel Williams within named in consideration of eighty two dollars ninety cents paid me by Robert Hallowell Gardiner within named the receipt whereof I do hereby acknowledge, do hereby sell transfer assign & set over to him the said Gardiner, all my right title & interest I demand in and ? the premises within described - To have and to hold the same to sd Gardiner his heirs and assigns forever in the same region? as he & I held the same favor to this transfer. To have and to hold the same to said Gardiner his heirs and assigns forever. In witness whereof I the said Williams have herein set my hand & seal this thirty first day of December whereas A. D. 1816
Done in presence of Fred McAllen, Reuel Williams  {seal} Kennebec ? April 15th 1817 personally appeared Reuel Williams Esq and acknowledged the foregoing assignment, by him figured to be his free act and deed before me Fred K. Allen, Jus Peace - Kennebec
Rec'd Apl 9, 1817 entered and compared with the original by Jno Hovey Reg

Second assignment

Know all men by these presents that I Robert Hallowell Gardiner of Gardiner in the County of Kennebec Esquire in consideration of one hundred and twelve dollars 16 cents to me paid by James Parker of Troy in said county yeoman the receipt whereof I do hereby acknowledge do hereby transfer assign and make over to sd James Parker the written mortgage deed granting him thereby all the right title and interest I have in and to the same both as original joint ? with Reuel Williams by within named and as assignee of said Williams, To have and to hold the same to the said Parker his heirs and assigns forever. In witness whereof I the said Robert Hallowell Gardiner have herein ?set my? hand and seal this 1st day of March? A. D. 1827. Robert H Gardiner  {seal}  signed sealed and delivered in free ?  Henry B. Haskew Kennebec J. Peace, April 9th 1827 Xcrossed outX

then the above named Robt H Gardiner personally appeared and acknowledged the foregoing assignment his free act or deed before me Soloman Adams Justice of Peace Kennebec Jr Rec'd April 9, 1827 entered and compared with the original by John Hovey, Reg

C L Mann at Two Points in Time

World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918, from Ancestry.com

During World War I, men born between September 11, 1872 and September 12, 1900 were required to register for the draft on September 12, 1918.  When he was 40 years old, married and had 10 children at home, my Great Grandfather Clarence L Mann completed this requirement.  




He was living and farming in Ellis, Gage County, Nebraska then. My Great Grandma Cora Mabel Mann was his nearest relative. I can imagine how she felt about the idea that he might have to go to war. 

Most of the 1917-1918 draft registrations I've seen are signed with the registrants full name, as if maybe they were instructed to do so. It's a nice way to get that information if it's not known. And signatures are such personal things and wonderful to have!  Great Grandpa's handwriting is very nice.

His description is medium height with slender build, blue eyes and brown hair and no obvious physical disqualifications. He signed up at the Local Board for Jefferson County, when his address was Ellis, Gage County. It may be that his land was actually just across the county line in Jefferson county.








On April 27, 1942, the fourth round of registration for World War II was conducted.  Men who were between 45 and 65 years old were legally required to register for the draft. Notice the top line below - "Men born on or after April 28, 1877 and on or before February 16, 1897". Clarence was born in June of 1878.

World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942 from Ancestry.com

Twenty-five years after that first draft, now living at 626 W Mary Street in Beatrice, he states "no regular employment". At 63 years old, I assume this means he is retired. His hair has gone gray, his eyes still blue, he stood 5 ft, 7 inches tall and weighed 140 lbs. What caused the scar on the base of his left thumb? 

My Great Grandpa Mann and Great Grandpa Menke both registered on April 27, 1942 at probably the same place in Beatrice. They shared two grandchildren in 1942 - my dad and his sister. I'm sure both families were relieved that neither man was sent off to either war. These draft registration cards are interesting and give an idea of what their lives were like at two particular points in time. 


UPDATE 7/26/18: I've learned now from Clarence's youngest daughter that the scar on his thumb was likely from butchering. Also that he worked until he was 73 years old and may have been off work at this time due to an eye injury he got while working for the Gage County bridge crew. The settlement from his injury helped him buy the last house he owned. 

C A Menke at Two Points in Time

June 5th, 1917 - the year was left off the Registrar's Report below, but I did the math (notice his birthday is in November). Charles Albert Menke was 30 years old when he filled out his Draft Registration card for "The Great War". Born in Clatonia, living and farming in Clatonia with his wife and 6 children. Another child was on the way - my Grandpa was born in November of 1917. Albert had no prior military service. He described himself as medium height, medium build with brown eyes and dark hair, not bald and no physical disabilities. 

World War I Draft Registration Card 1917-1918, from Ancestry.com

He signed the above card with his full name. In 1942 he signed "Albert Menke" on what is sometimes referred to as the "Old Man's Registration" below.  He was 55 years old, living in Virginia Sherman, Gage County, Nebraska. I wonder why he listed his sister Rose Wayman as the "Name and address of person who will always know" his address? He was married at the time with 3 children at home under 18. He was working for the W. P. A., or Works Progress Administration in Homesville, about 14 miles southeast of Beatrice. It doesn't look like he had a telephone. 

World War II Draft Registrations 1942, from Ancestry.com

He was 5 ft, 6 inches tall, approximately 150 lbs with brown eyes, black hair and light brown complexion. He wrote "none to my knowledge" in the blank for "obvious physical characteristics that will aid in identification".  Under the statement: "I certify that my answers are true; that the person registered has read or has had read to him his own answers; that I have witnessed his signature or mark and that all of his answers of which I have knowledge are true, except as follows:", something appears to have been erased. 

He did not get drafted and was able to stay at home with his family during both wars. It was the same case for my other paternal Great Grandfather C L Mann. 

Friday's Faces from the Past - Mrs Murphy

"Mrs Murphy" was written on the back of this photograph, nothing more. Several wives named Murphy lived within a 50 mile radius of Eldorado, Nebraska in 1900, but a few were in their 70's or 80's. A Mrs Mary, wife of William Murphy was 48 years old and lived in Edgar. Also Mrs Eliza, age 50, wife of J E Murphy lived in York. Both towns not too far from Eldorado. But the most likely candidate for this picture is Mrs "L L", wife of Andrew Murphy, who was enumerated just 12 households from the Negley family in Eldorado. This photo came from the stash that once belonged to my Great Grandmother Sadie (Negley) McGrath or someone in her family. 

"L L" turns out should actually be Sarah Lenora, who went by Sallie. She was 38 years old in 1900. Of course, I don't know what year this picture was taken of her. Besides her husband Andrew, a daughter named Maud, 15, was also living in the household. I've posted a photo of a Maud before, but I didn't include Maud Murphy in my list of who it could be. Either I missed her or was off in my estimation of the time of the photo. Maud's and Mrs Murphy's photos have the same type of frame, although the photographs don't look like they were taken the same year. There is no photographers logo on either one. 

If I'm right, these women are mother and daughter. What do you think?

Tracing the Career Path of Rev G O Bell

Unexpectedly finding an ancestors name in an unexpected location while searching for something else in old newspapers is a perfectly acceptable reason for going down the rabbit hole. When that ancestor is a preacher, you know you're going to easily find his name in newspapers - a lot. His service at funerals, weddings, special church events and every time he accepts a new pastorate can all make the paper. With enough online searchable old newspapers, you can follow the breadcrumbs of a minister through his entire career.

My Grandpa's older brother was Uncle Oren to family, but professionally he was known as "Rev. G. O. Bell". Years ago he recorded on audio cassette a family history which I've posted before as Amenuensis Monday - Oren Bell's Recorded History.  He leaves out quite a bit of his own personal history in his recording. I've learned more about the places he lived and the churches he served from various online Nebraska newspapers.

Born in 1894 in Wayne County, Kentucky, his mother died in Flint, Texas when he was 6. Eventually he moved to Kansas, and started working as a teacher in 1917. After a short time in the Army YMCA at Camp Funston during WWI, he was married to Viola Noon in 1919 and they moved to Nebraska.

By 1921 he was getting his name in the papers in college as a student at Cotner College in Bethany (now a part of Lincoln). The Nebraska State Journal covered the news from the colleges and universities around the state (issues between 1910 and 1921 are not online). At Cotner, Uncle Oren served on various committees and was involved with the Y. M. C. A., referred to as President once. During the same time, he was named resident pastor of the First Christian Church in Odell, Nebraska about 60 miles south of Lincoln.

Nebraska State Journal, "In University Circles", February 7, 1921

Omaha World Herald, May 7, 1921

Nebraska State Journal, Cotner Column, March 12, 1922

Omaha Morning Bee, August 26, 1922

This clipping says he had been at the Odell church for four years before resigning in 1922. The clipping below shows he earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1924. Maybe during those two years he focused on finishing his degree.

Nebraska Evening Star Journal, May 29, 1924

It was Ord, Nebraska where I accidentally found Uncle Oren. In his oral history he didn't say he had ever lived in Ord. The earliest I found his name in the Ord Quiz was in February of 1924 (prior to his graduation from Cotner), with just a note in the news from the Christian Church of "Mr. Bell's bible school class" having a party. In June, 1925 the birth of Oren & Viola's third child was announced in the church news column. Their oldest, Dorothy was born in 1921, next was David in 1923, then Robert followed later by Oren Duane in 1927. That would be my Great Grandmother Allie Bell who traveled from Aurora to stay with them for a while when Robert was born.

Ord Quiz, June 4, 1925

In 1926 he moved from Ord to Exeter and he apparently took even more classes at Cotner. Exeter is right at an hour drive from Lincoln with the I-80 speed limit at 75 mph. It may have taken him a little longer in 1926. I am wondering if there were correspondence courses available in those days.

Ord Quiz, February 1926

There are no newspapers from Exeter online, but from his history I knew that Norfolk was where he was living in 1929 when he officiated the wedding of his brother Ben to Marie Dieckman.  The article below from the Norfolk Daily News explains it was in 1927 when he left Exeter and began his pastorate at the Christian Church in Norfolk.

Norfolk Daily News, April 30, 1927

THE REV. L. BERRY RESIGNS PASTORATE

THE REV. G. O. BELL OF EXETER ACCEPTS CALL TO CHRISTIAN CHURCH

The Rev. Lawrence Berry, who has been pastor of Park Avenue Christian church since September, 1924, has resigned in order to attend Yale divinity school at New Haven, Conn., where he expects to receive his B. D. degree. He will be succeeded by the Rev. George O. Bell, of Exeter. Mr. Berry graduated nearly two years ago from Cotner College, being student-pastor of the church at that time.

The resignation takes effect June 15, as it is necessary for the Norfolk pastor to be at New Haven at that time in order to take a pastorate which he will supply during his course which begins the last week in September.

The Rev. Mr. Bell, who held special meetings here before Easter, has accepted the unanimous call to the Norfolk church and plans to be here by the time Mr. Berry leaves. The local church has made a larger percent of growth during the pastorate of Rev. Mr. Berry than it has in any like period since its organization.

There are plenty of search results for "Rev G O Bell" in the Norfolk Daily News from 1927 through 1935. Online access to that newspaper was only temporary and I didn't keep copies. He kept busy with his services at funerals, weddings, special church events, prayer meetings, and his weekly radio broadcasts.

In the 1940 census Uncle Oren was living in Bargersville, Indiana. Not in newspapers, but through a simple Google search I found his name in the book "Christian Chronicles: Bargersville First Christian church, 1861-2006".  He began his pastorate there in 1935 and continued until 1941.

I saw Uncle Oren just a few times when I was young, and I don't really remember him. He was living in Oklahoma in the 1970's and 1980's. Through online Oklahoma newspapers I found him there in March of 1941 when he performed a wedding as pastor of the First Christian Church in Kingfisher, Oklahoma. He spent the rest of his life near Oklahoma City. Before finding all of these newspaper clippings, all I knew about his career was from his oral history and this from his obituary:

"Rev. Bell held pastorates at the First Christian Church in Kingfisher, MWC, and Capitol Hill in OK C.  Between pastorates, he was also the director of rural church work for Okla. Christian Missionary Society." 

In the family history which he recorded when he was in his 80's, he spoke slowly and deliberately telling his story from memory. I can imagine during his sermons his deep baritone voice soothed the congregation until a perfectly-timed sudden rise in volume startled awake any parishoner who had had a late Saturday night.

He passed away in 1988 at age 94 and is buried in Resthaven Gardens in Oklahoma City. Viola died in 1979. I don't know what year he retired, but he had a long respectable career serving as Pastor for several congregations in three different states.