lived on a farm

Catharina Renistra b. 1820

/ Kirstin Miller

Catharina Renistra 3rd great grandmother on RootsMagic tree
Catharina was born the 20th of September 1820 in Harlingen, Friesland, Netherlands.

In 1846 Garbrand Roos crossed the Wadden Sea and married Catharina in Harlingen where their oldest son Jan was born in 1847. The family sailed to New York arriving on August 18, 1862 then went on to Freeport, Illinois where youngest son Johann was born: Johann, father of George Roose, father of Stanley Roose. By 1870 the family was in Iowa, first Grundy then Butler County. They owned land and farmed. Catharina was a widow in 1888 and on the 1900 census she is 78, head of household, living in Butler County. Her occupation was a capitalist: Persons living on income from land, stocks, etc., were to be reported as “Capitalist.” Her income was from farm land.  Integrated Public Use Microdata Series (IPUMS).

Renistra, Catherina headstone snapshot

This summer, I searched for Catharina’s headstone at the Pleasant View Cemetery in Aplington, Iowa. Catharina’s husband, sons, a daughter, grandchildren all were buried in the cemetery but there was no record or photo of Catharina’s headstone. It turned out Catharina shared a headstone with her husband, her hame, birth and death dates on the alternate side, just not photographed or documented.

Sources

  • Netherlands marriages 1565-1892 database at Family Search

  • New York, Passenger Lists, 1820-1957 at Ancestry

  • Iowa deaths and burials 1850-1990 database at Family Search

  • 1900 United States Federal Census at Ancestry

James Davis Miller b. 1845

/ Kirstin Miller

James Davis Miller, my 2nd great grandpa on RootsMagic tree.

James Miller was born June 27, 1845 in Elkhart, Indiana to Jacob and Sarah Davis Miler. The 1850 US census shows James with his parents and 7 siblings, living on a farm. In 1854 after James’ dad died, his family trekked from Indiana to Nashua, Iowa about 400 miles. In 1870 James was 25, his family farmed near Janesville, Iowa.

Miller, James and Ella snapshot
James Miller and Ella Gaines marriage certificate.

In 1878, James, or JD, married Mary Ella Gaines in Waverly, Iowa on November 13. JD and Mary Ella lived near Greene, Iowa where they farmed and had 2 sons William and James. Later in life they visited the west coast where Mary Ella’s two sisters lived. In 1905 JD and Mary Ella travelled to the Lewis and Clark Centennial Exposition in Portland, Oregon. The Expo lasted 4 months with 1.6 million visitors- it was a big deal. From the local newspaper September 20, 1905, ” Mr and Mrs James Miller living west of town have been enjoying the wonders of the Portland fair for the past week and Mr Miller’s brother Jake has been helping care for things on the farm during their absence”.

Agricultural Palace Lewis and Clark Expo 1905
Agricultural Palace 1905 Lewis and Clark Expo in Portland.

JD was a widow in 1917. In 1925 he lived with his son William and family including grandson Faber b. 1905. JD lived to age 84, he died in 1929. From his obituary, “He has been industrious and has prospered through the years. He was honorable in his dealings with his fellows and is highly respected by those who knew him.” James Davis Miller is buried in Rose Hill Cemetery, Greene, Iowa.

Sources

Johan Roose b. 1865

/ Kirstin Miller

Johann Roose b. 1865 my 2nd great grandfather on RootsMagic tree

Johann was born April 19, 1865 in Freeport, Illinois, USA the 5th child of Garbrand and Catharina Renistra Roose. Garbrand and Catharina with their 4 kids left East Friesland, Germany and sailed to America, and arrived in New York on August 12, 1862. 

Johann and family are on the 1870 census, they lived in Ogle, Illinois. On the census page at least half of their neighbors are from Germany. Johann and family moved west to Grundy Center, Iowa where they’re on the 1880 census and lived on a farm. Johann owned 80 acres of farmland in 1884 in Pleasant Valley, a township of Grundy County, Iowa.

On March 14, 1888 Johann, now John, married Lena Wisbar in Parkersburg, Iowa then he and Lena moved to Jefferson Township a few miles north. John kept farming, and buying land in Iowa and Nobles, Minnesota. In 1912 John sold his Minnesota land, saying “Iowa land is good enough”.  In 1917 John farmed near Bristow. By 1925 at age 60 he lived in Allison with Lena and their youngest daughter Lela. John died at age 61 on October 18, 1926. A newspaper story tells he visited with friends in Clarksville that morning, returned home and died, suddenly, of a heart attack. He is buried at Allison Cemetery in Allison, Iowa.

Roose, Johan and Lena marry snapshot

Sources

Thomas Clemence b. 1634

/ Kirstin Miller

Thomas Clemence 10th great grandfather on RootsMagic tree

Thomas Clemence may have sailed to America in 1642. He was definitely married and living in Rhode Island by 1655 when he took the Freeman’s Oath and purchased land. In the early days of America he supported -Salus populi- very generally “The welfare of the people shall be the supreme law”.

In Providence he was a town treasurer, deputy and stayed to defend the colony during King Philips War. Thomas in his will dated May 16, 1668, leaves land to his son Richard “60 acres of upland, meadow, etc not upon sudden motion but upon deliberate consideration”.Clemence house

And Richard built a house, that is still standing. The Historic New England Clemence Irons website is here. 

Photos, floor plans and more at the Library of Congress here.

Leonard Cable b. 1889

/ Kirstin Miller

Leonard Cable b. 1889 brother of Gladys Cable who married Faber Miller. Leonard in RootsMagic tree.

Leonard was the son of William Cable and first wife Nellie Stroud. Leonard was born in Pleasant Grove Township near Greene, Iowa in 1889. The Cable family lived on a farm. In Senior Grammar School Leonard and his sister Ruth were listed as perfect school attenders, never tardy never absent for at least 2 years.

Cable, Leonard and Ruth

Leonard’s jobs included railroad mechanic, paper hanger, machinist and a shipping clerk at a furniture store. He stayed in touch with his dad after his parent’s divorce and in 1915 stopped for a visit in Greene, Iowa on his way home to Kansas. Leonard’s WW 1 draft card shows him in Chicago, 1503 E 64 St, a machinist, living with and taking care of his mom. Leonard stayed single and died in 1920, age 31, of lobar pneumonia.

Emma Wisbar b. 1886

/ Kirstin Miller / 2 Comments

Emma Wisbar great aunt on RootsMagic tree.

An update for Emma Wisbar and Lee Cheney: Both Emma and Lee had a child prior to their 1920 marriage. Emma had a son, Vernon, on September 18, 1908, she was 20 years old, there is no record of a father. An Iowa delayed birth record for Vernon shows his birth date and place, mom and no father’s name. sister Lena Wisbar was a witness on this record. In the same year 1908, Lee Cheney married Winifred Thompson and in 1909 they had a daughter Irma Cheney and must have divorced soon after. Lee’s ex-wife and daughter were also in California, living in San Diego in 1930.

Emma Wisbar was was the youngest child of Martin and Mary Walters Wisbar. She was born in Butler County, Iowa April 7, 1886. The 1900 US Census shows Emma attending school, she could read and write. In her home both German and English spoken. In 1910 Emma was 22, living with her parents and 2 of her 7 siblings. She was a server in a restaurant.

The 1920 US census has Emma living in the home of Mr. and Mrs. Louis at 312 East 1st Street in Waterloo, Iowa with 3 other boarders. Emma was 33 years old and a waitress in a hotel. Lee Cheney was another boarder. He was 36 and a barber. The 1920 census was taken on January 7 and Emma and Lee Cheney were married on September 9, 1920.

screenshot

On the 1930 US census Emma and Lee have moved to Oakland, California, both still working, Lee a barber, Emma a waitress at the YMCA Their rent was $22 each month. They lived about 20 miles west of San Francisco and probably traveled to see the Golden Gate Bridge being built from 1933-1937. Both Emma and Lee lived into their 70s. Lee died on January 27, 1962 and Emma exactly 2 weeks later on February 10th. Both are buried in Memorial Park Cemetery, Oroville, California, Find a Grave Memorial 

Ancestry. Iowa, Marriage Records, 1880-1937
L H Cheney, barber age 38 m. Emma Wisbar 33 years, Fort Dodge, Iowa September 9, 1920.

Samuel Gaines b. 1638

/ Kirstin Miller

Samuel Gaines 9th great-grandfather on RootsMagic tree.

Samuel Gaines was born in Massachusetts, probably Lynn, in 1638 to Henry and Jane Partridge Gaines who left England for America in 1636. Henry and Jane died young, in their 30s, Jane died shortly after her husband Henry, she left a will presented in court at Salem, May of 1645. In the will the Gaines boys were set up in apprenticeships, Samuel was 6. He learned to read, write and run a farm. Samuel in his 20s married Ann and was a widow by age 27 in 1665. By 1667 he was in Connecticut and married Anna Burnham whose family lived near his home. Samuel and Anna had children and farmed. Through marriages 2 children of Samuel and Anna are 6th great grandparents of Faber Miller b. 1905: son Samuel (m. Rebecca Couch) and daughter Rebecca (m. Samuel Risley). Samuel died in 1700 at age 62. He left a will, about 27 pages handwritten, not yet read or transcribed.

Gaines, Jane will 1645

Records and files of the Quarterly Courts of Essex County, Massachusetts
Volume 1, Page 163

Elizabeth Glenn b. 1794

/ Kirstin Miller

Elizabeth Glenn, my 3rd great grandma on RootsMagic tree.

Elizabeth Glenn was born in 1794 in Adams County, Pennsylvania. Her dad was Thomas, her mom Elizabeth- last name unknown. By 1803 the Glenn family lived in Ohio. On April 13, 1818 at age 24, Elizabeth married William Speedy in Jefferson County, Ohio.  Elizabeth and William settled in Island Creek Township near the Ohio River on the eastern edge of Ohio. They had 6 children and farmed.

William Speedy and Betsy Glenn of Jefferson County, Ohio marry on the 13th of April 1818.


In Ohio and the USA, from 1829 to 1851 there was a ‘Second Cholera Pandemic’. President Polk died in 1849 and at least 150,000 other Americans died of cholera. The first Ohio State Fair and the Ohio Constitutional Convention of 1850-1851 were postponed because of the pandemic.

Elizabeth and her dad Thomas Glenn both died of cholera in 1850. Elizabeth was 55, her dad was 82. Elizabeth’s son Manford was 12 at her death. Manford left for Shell Rock, Iowa in 1856 where Elizabeth’s brother Alexander Glenn lived.

Elizabeth Glenn Speedy is buried in Island Creek Cemetery, Jefferson County, Ohio.

Sources

  • Ohio county marriages 1789-2013 at FamilySerch.org.
  • United States Census (Mortality Schedule), 1850-1880 at FamilySerch.org

Henry Gaines b. 1612

/ Kirstin Miller

Henry Gaines 8th great grandfather of Faber Miller who married Gladys Cable.

Henry was born about 1612 in England, near Olney, Buckinghamshire, England. On May 17, 1634 Henry married Jane Partridge. Around 1637 Henry and his brother in law William Partridge sailed to America. Their spouses may have sailed with them or come later.  In the Massachusetts Bay Colony on March 14, 1638 Henry and William become Freemen: they vowed to defend the Colony and to not overthrow their British rulers.  

Lynn Marshes

Henry settled in Lynn, Massachusetts where he was a juryman, owned land and farmed. The Gaines family probably lived near the seashore. Both Henry and Jane died in their 30s. Henry didn’t leave a will but Jane’s will gives and inventory and information on the 3 son’s apprenticeships. John was apprenticed to Francis Dowse of Boston, a shoemaker. Daniel was apprenticed to Luke Potter of Concord a tailor. Samuel was apprenticed to Nathaniel Handforth. 

Sources

Eliza Frey b. 1823

/ Kirstin Miller

Eliza Frey, my 2nd great grandma on RoostMagic tree.

Eliza was born around 1823 probably in Pennsylvania, and married Jonathan Cable by 1846. Their first son John was born March 22, 1847 in Somerset, Pennsylvania. In 1850 Eliza age 37, husband Jonathan age 44, and sons John age 2 and infant Chancey appear in the 1850 US Census of Jefferson, Greene County, Wisconsin. Eliza Frey has few records, in family history this is known as a “brick wall”.  Eliza’s birthdate, birthplace and place and date of death are unknown or estimated. She’s on the 1850 census and mentioned on son John’s death record and daughter Violet’s marriage record.

screenshot

Sources

  • US Federal census 1850