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

Women Involved in the Fight

With March being Women's History Month, and the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment coming in just two years, I've been trying to find out more about my female ancestors and their political interests.  Nine of my direct female ancestors living in 1920 were of eligible age to vote.  The oldest was Mary Roscoe at 84, my Third Great Grandmother.  My emails to local election offices have not been answered, so I don't know if any of them were registered. I can't get to court houses unless I use vacation time, so I turned to online Nebraska newspapers with high hopes. Unfortunately, the papers local to my ancestors are not online and their names didn't make the papers on a state-wide level.

Still, it has been interesting reading these old newspaper articles on the suffrage movement here.  The Nebraska Women Suffrage Association was organized in 1881 and worked for almost 40 years for the cause.  The women listed below were involved as state officers, committee members, even delegates to national events.  This is by no means a complete list, but I want to recognize and remember some of the Nebraska women who were involved in the fight.

Nebraska Herald, Plattsmouth, March 10, 1881

Mrs Ada Bittenbender, Osceola  (1848-1925)

Mrs Harriet Brooks, Omaha  (1828-1888)

Mrs Clara Bewick Colby, Beatrice  (1846-1916)

Mrs B J Thompson, Hebron

Mrs E L Warner, Roca

Mrs P Nicholas, Omaha

Mrs J S Burns, Scribner

Mrs C C Chapin, Riverton

Mrs D B Slaughter, Fullerton

Gertrude M McDowell  (1848-1922)

Mrs Russell, Tecumseh

Mrs Lizzie Abbott, Grand Island

Jennie F Holmes  (1842-1892)

Mary Smith Hayward, Chadron  (1842-1938)

Mrs Amanda J Marble, Table Rock  (1846-1910)

Mrs Getty Whitcomb Drury, Pender

Mrs J F Spirk, Wilbur

Mrs Edna Taylor, Johnson

Mrs J E Lewis, Broken Bow

Clara A Young, Broken Bow  (1855-1907)

Mrs Helen M Goff, Minden

Stella Groves Freese, Pender

Miss Laura A Gregg  (married Joseph Cannon in Arizona) (1869-?)

Mrs Emma Shuman, Nebraska City

Mrs Alice Isabel Brayton, Geneva (1847-1911)

Mrs Anna Kovanda, Tecumseh  (1857-1946)

Gertrude Hardy, Lincoln  (1871-1961)

Mary Garard Andrews, Omaha  (? - 1936)

Miss Mary H Williams, Kenesaw 

Dr Inez Philbrick, Lincoln  (1866-1966)

Mrs Edith Dumont Smith, referred to as Mrs Draper Smith, Omaha  (? - 1959)

Thank you ladies!

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.

Friday's Faces from the Past - Clarence L. Mann

How often can you find a photograph of one of your Great Grandparents as an infant? I feel very lucky to have this! The above tin-type was in a plastic baggie with other old pictures in a box of my Grandma Menke's things. When I saw it, I thought the little guy could possibly be her Dad, Clarence Mann. After posting it in a Facebook family group, I got word that his youngest daughter also thinks that it is him.

Clarence Mann, 1963

Clarence Lemuel Mann was born June 18, 1878 and died at the age of 90. I'd guess he looks about 2 years old in the tin-type, so it was taken about 1880 probably in Illinois. Clarence was the 11th child of 12 children born to William and Nancy (Climie) Mann, though his older siblings Stephen, Corrine and Carrie had passed away before he was born. Another sister, Elsie, was born and died in August of 1880.  All of the children were born in Illinois, and then in December of 1881 his fifteen-year-old brother Lafayette died in Nebraska. 

Like his father, Clarence farmed for many years. He married Cora Mabel Gaisford on July 5, 1899 in Fairbury and they were the parents of 14 children, one son died in infancy. Clarence and Cora moved into Beatrice about 1935. He worked for Dempster Mills for 10 years, then enjoyed retirement from 1952 until his death on October 18, 1968. 

Rerouting... John Potter Smith's Path

When I wrote the post Henrietta Smith, Daughter of, -- of course -- John and Mary Smith I had every reason to believe the parents of John Potter Smith were Aza Smith and Mehitable POTTER. That was the name given as John's mother on his death certificate. 

But, I have never been able to find a marriage record for Aza Smith and Mehitable POTTER. I have, however, found one for Azor C Smith and Mehitable WATROUS or WATERS. From the database US Newspaper Extractions, the marriage took place on Feb. 15, 1821 in Lebanon, Connecticut. From the Barbour Collection, Lebanon Volume, the date is March 15, 1821. John was born in 1825. What if the informant for that death certificate only assumed POTTER was her maiden name based on John's middle name?  Should I go down this path?

Now I don't believe all of Ancestry's hints, but there was one for Azor C Smith that led me to a death record for an Azor C Smith, who died in Worcester, Massachusetts at age 56 in 1854. His parents were POTTER & Harriet Smith. John Potter Smith had moved to Worcester by 1850. Could I be on the right road?

Potter Smith died in 1824 in Norwich. His Will is available on Ancestry. Mentioned in the widow's portion of the inventory is "A C Smith". The relationship is not explained from what I've been able to read of the documents. Is it just a coincidence? 

I have stalled out, unable to find anything on Mehitable Watrous or Waters. Women are always much more difficult. I'm looking at a William Waters in Lisbon, but have not found anything yet that connects him to Azor or Mehitable Smith.  I'm not sure where to turn, but after a break I will travel down this path again. 

My Relationship to:

John Potter Smith: Third Great Grandfather

The lineage:
1. My Third Great Grandfather: John Potter Smith
2. My Great Great Grandmother: Henrietta Smith
3. My Great Grandpa: Cora Gaisford
4. My Grandma
5. My Dad
6. Me

Newspaper Clippings - Canton, Illinois 1854

Here are more of the clippings I copied from microfilm of the Canton Weekly Register. This is my third post with these, two other posts are from 1852 and 1853. I want something to come of the time I spent searching for my ancestors, so I hope these will be of help to someone.

January 26, 1854

In this place, on the morning of the 10th inst., Dr. JAMES R. WALTER, after an illness of seven days, aged 57 years.

Dr. WALTER was a native of Virginia; was educated and entered upon his profession in the State of Ohio, from whence he emigrated to this place about seventeen years ago. As a physician, he was kind, attentive and successful, and won the confidence and affection of many. He was an active and useful member of the Congregational Church in this place. He had a deep sense of his own entire unworthiness in the sight of God, and of the fullness of the atonement and mediation of the Lord Jesus Christ. For the last few months his mind seemed unusually awakened to the importance of mere perfect consecration to the work which his Heavenly Father had given him to do. By his recent labors, several neighborhood prayer meetings have been established, in one of which he was permitted to witness the presence of God in his converting grace. At times, in his sickness, he had clear views of the presence and love of Christ, and though suffering severly from pain, he uttered no complaint; but relying on the good promises of God, he committed himself and his all to Him who is able to save. He leaves a companion, three sons and an only daughter, to mourn the loss of a kind and affectionate husband and father. But their grief is assuaged by his peaceful end, and his confident hope of a glorious immortality.

* * *

(January 26, 1854 again)

On the 4th inst., at the residence of Mr. Orville Jones, MISS MARIA SHOWERS, aged 21 years.

She embraced religion and united with the Baptist Church, in this place, in November, 1851. Her life, from the time of her conversion, was a faithful illustration of Christian consistency and faithfulness, and indicated her undying attachment to the Savior.  

Her disease was consumption, accompanied with unusual suffering, all of which she bore with Christian submission. During her confinement to the house, which lasted eight months, she often siged for the house of God and the worship of the Sanctuary; and for weeks before her death, such was her faith, that she often expressed a desire to depart and be with Christ. She sleeps in Jesus. May all be made meet for such a slumber.

Mr. and Mrs. Jones are worthy of great respect for their sympathy and kindness to the deceased during her illness and at her demise.

In connection with the foregoing notice, we desire to return our sincere thanks to the members of the Baptist Church, for their kindness in aiding us to assist one who was without relatives to protect her.

ORVILLE JONES

HANNAH C. JONES

* * *

February 16, 1854

DIED,

In this place, on the morning of the 29th ult., Mr. DAVID C. JONES, aged 42 years.

Mr. Jones was a native of the State of New York, from whence he emigrated to Canton many years ago. He was kinds, meek and faithful in all his relations as citizen and neighbor, and was highly esteemed by all who knew him. He was a member of the Congregational Church; a firm believer; a consistent and uniform Christian; always in his place as a teacher in the Sabbath school, and for the last ten years as a leader in the choir. Though meek and unassuming, he shrunk not from any duty, but with a willing mind and cheerful heart met the responsibilities that rested on him. In his death the church and community have sustained a loss which they deeply feel, and his vacant place among us, not easily filled, will long speak his worth. His last ?ments were peaceful, happy and triumphant, feeling that when absent from the body he would be present with the Lord. He leaves a companion and three small children to mourn their loss, who in their deep affliction have the heartfelt sympathy of many friends.

* * *

March 9, 1854

DIED,

In Canton, on the 22d of February, JOHN HENRY II., eldest son of Sands N. and Julia Ann Breed, aged 12 years, 8 months and 21 days.

The deceased was remarkable for his love of truth and often expressed surprise and grief whenever he witnessed deception in others. He was a most dutiful and affectionate son. From early childhood he loved the Sabbath school, and oftentime the writer witnessed with pleasure the ??? with which he seemed to hang upon the lips of his father. His mind was early susceptible to religious impressions. During the great revival in the Baptist Church, in the fall and winter of 1850, he became convinced of his lost condition as a sinner - was seen among the anxious, weeping over his sins. Soon after he expressed a hope in Christ. During the revival last spring he again manifested a deep interest upon the subject of religion; and more recently, in the series of meeting held in the same church, he expressed a greater satisfaction in regard to his confidence in God. He was an extreme sufferer in his last illness, all which he bore with unusual patience, and expressed his entire willingness to die, and that he had no fears in meeting the king of terrors. In his death his parents have sustained an irreparable loss. May God's grace sustain them in the Christian hope which they and their lovely boy cherished.

* * *

June 22, 1854

MARRIED,

On the 25th inst., by Rev. A. Fisher, Mr. JACOB E. MAXWELL, and Miss LYDIA G. LOPER, all of Fulton county.

DIED,

On Friday, June 17th inst., of typhoid fever, at his residence, about five miles northwest of Canton, NARUM GALE, Esq., in the 66th year of his age.

Mr. Gale was an old and much respected citizen in our community, whom to know was to respect and esteem for his many qualities of head and heart; being an honorable, patriotic and high-minded gentleman, an indulgent parent, a kind friend and good neighbor. We heartily sympathize with his afflicted family and friends.