lived on a farm

Enno Frerichs b. 1865

/ Kirstin Miller

Enno Henry Frerichs, my 2nd great grandpa on RootsMagic tree

Enno Frerichs was born January 6, 1865 in East Frisia, Lower Saxony, Germany. Enno was 18 years old when he sailed to America in October, 1883 with his family: dad Casjen, mom Kunna, brother Gerd, sisters Entje and Hilka and older sister Yevkea and her husband Joost Reents. The shipped was named America, it left from Bremen, Germany and landed in Baltimore, Maryland. The passenger list shows their destination was Iowa. Yevkea and Joost had one piece of luggage, the Frerichs family had 4.

Frerichs arrival 1883

Arrival in Baltimore. Iowa was their destination.

Probably through a network of German immigrants and friendly strangers, Enno and family made their way from Baltimore to Butler County, Iowa- 1000 miles total. Imagine that journey. The Frerichs family set up their home in Jefferson Township, between Allison and Parkersburg, Iowa. They cleared land, built houses, barns, fences, planted gardens and fields and their community of German Americans built a church, Ebenezer Lutheran Church.

Frerichs, Enno and Annie

Enno and Annie Hinrichs Frerichs

Enno married Annie Henrichs on May 26, 1890 in the Ebenezer Lutheran Church. 50 years into the future on May 30, 1940 Annie and Enno celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary with family and friends. Enno and Annie’s 10 kids attended, all were in the area, furthest away was daughter Martina, married to Hobart Vance,  they lived in Dallas County, Iowa.

Enno died in 1944 and is buried in Butler Center Cemetery, very near where Ebenezer Lutheran Church used to be.

Sources

Mary Ella Gaines b. 1855

/ Kirstin Miller

Mary Ella Gaines, my 2nd great grandma on RootsMagic tree

Gaines, Mary Ella photoMary Ella was born June 3, 1855 in Bremer County, Iowa to William Gaines of New York and Sarah Swain of Illinois. Mary Ella grew up near Janesville, Iowa. She was the oldest of 8 brothers and sisters, three siblings died young. At age 23 Mary Ella married James Miller on November 13, 1878, in Waverly, Iowa. They had 2 boys William and James and the family farmed in Bremer and Butler counties in Iowa. The 1895 Iowa census shows Mary Ella, her husband, her 2 sons, her dad William Gaines, her niece Clara and James’s brother Jacob Miller living in the house. The 1900 US census has Mary Ella, her husband and 2 sons, James’s brother Jacob and another niece Jeanette Gaines. Both nieces were daughters of Mary Ella’s brother William and wife Virginia Gaines from Minnesota.

Lewis and Clark expo 1905Mary Ella’s dad, a brother and 2 sisters moved west to Junction City, Oregon about 50 miles south of Portland. In 1905 Mary Ella and James visited Junction City and attended the Lewis and Clark Centennial Exposition in Portland. The Expo lasted 4 months, had more than 1 million visitors and took close to 3 years to build.

Mary Ella was an artist, and one of her paintings survives. According to a note written by her grandson, “The pond was on their farm near Janesville, Iowa. The tree leaning over the pond was a Honey Tree (partially hollow with bee hives in it).”

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Martha Angell b. 1747

/ Kirstin Miller

Martha Angell 6th great grandma on RootsMagic tree

Martha was born February 13, 1747 in Providence, Rhode island. Her parents were Stephen and Martha Olney Angell. Both the Angell and Olney families were original (white, English) settlers in Providence. Martha’s 2nd great grandpas Thomas Angell, Thomas Olney, John Whipple and great grandpa Roger Williams all signed the 1640 Providence Agreement and were all on the 1636 original census.

Martha married Israel Angell, a distant cousin February 20, 1765 and they had 11 kids. Israel fought in the American Revolution from 1775 until 1781, Martha was 28 when Israel first left for war. From digital book Israel Angell Colonel of the 2nd Rhode Island Regiment, at HathiTrust. “Martha conducted all their home affairs bravely and well, in Colonel Angell’s diaries, “tarried at my house to-day, and found all well”. Therefore, while we consider the character of Israel Angell let us not forget the sweet and enduring influence of Martha, his capable and patriotic wife, who throughout the term of his service in the Army, safeguarded their home and children with unswerving devotion to her family and her country”. Martha died in 1793 at age 46. Her mom died the same year at age 86. Martha and Israel were buried in their family cemetery, on their farm then in 1918 their burial site was moved to the North Burial Ground Cemetery in Providence.

After Martha’s death Israel Angell married 2 more times and had 5 more kids, father to 16 total, he lived to age 91. Israel and Martha’s son Asa married Cynthia Hill from another family of original English settlers in Massachusetts. Asa and Cynthia’s son Dexter had a daughter Delia who ended up in Butler County, Iowa near Mehitable Angell who was Israel and 2nd wife’s daughter. Delia was the grandma of Philippa Mockford Speedy, mom of Elizabeth Speedy Roose.

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David Dewey b. 1721

/ Kirstin Miller

David Dewey 7th great grandpa on RootsMagic tree

David Dewey was born January 3, 1721 in Stonington, Connecticut. His parents were Jabez and Deborah York Dewey. This Dewey family includes Admiral George Dewey, 1837-1917, as a distant cousin, so the family is documented in published sources. This David’s 2nd great grandpa, Thomas, was the original American ancestor, he arrived in 1631 or so. David was the 4th generation of Deweys born in America.

David and his brother Jabez both joined and were baptized on July 5, 1741- in their 20s. They joined the First Congregational Church, known as The Road. The church was the 1st in Stonington, organized in 1674, it still stands in the same location with a newer building after a fire in 1829. The plain Puritan design, beams and box style pews were built in to the new building. The church doors open to the front of the church so walking in a person faces the whole congregation.

First church Stonington

On September 28, 1741 David married Deborah Tracy in the same Stonington church. David and Deborah had 7 daughters and 4 sons. Three sons were in the Revolutionary War: David Jr was a minuteman, Jabez was in the Battle of Harlem Heights and Christopher was the fife-major in the War of 1812. 

David’s granddaughter Sarah married John Connable, their daughter Leydia Connable and husband Obed Gaines moved west all the way to Iowa where their granddaughter Mary Ella Gaines married James Miller, grandpa of Faber Miller, husband to Gladys Cable.

Sources

Elizabeth Crooks b. 1810

/ Kirstin Miller

Elizabeth Crooks 3rd great grandma on RootsMagic tree

Elizabeth was born in Pennsylvania on May 3 1810, the daughter of Andrew and Elizabeth Jeffrey Crooks. Elizabeth’s mom died when she was 7 and her dad remarried. In 1830, Elizabeth married William Stewart, also of Pennsylvania. They lived in French Creek, PA 30 miles east of Lake Erie, on the western edge of Pennsylvania. Elizabeth’s dad died in 1849 and in his will he named each of his children, Elizabeth and her sisters each inherited $100.

On the 1850 census Elizabeth was still in French Creek, Pennsylvania on a farm, she and William Stewart had 6 kids, ages 2 to 17 years old. On the 1860 census Elizabeth and family have moved 500 miles west to Jefferson, Green County Wisconsin. On the 1870 US census Elizabeth had moved 200 miles further west to Shell Rock, Butler County, Iowa. Elizabeth was 60, her husband William 65. Their 2 younger children James 24 and Elizabeth 18 were in the home, James and William farmed. Elizabeth was a widow in 1874 and on the 1880 census was living with daughter Elizabeth who had married Manford Speedy and their family. They all lived near Allison, Iowa.

Elizabeth Crooks died September 26, 1887 and had an obituary in the local newspaper, “Shell Rock, Mrs. Elizabeth Stewart, mother of J.W. and William Stewart of this place, died at the residence of her daughter, Mrs. M.B. Speedy at Allison, Monday evening, September 26th, at the ripe old age of 77 years, 4 months, and 23 days. She was buried in the cemetery at this place on the following Wednesday”. She is buried at Riverside Cemetery in Shell Rock, Iowa.

Sources

Jacob Miller b. 1808

/ Kirstin Miller

Jacob Miller, my 3rd great grandpa on RootsMagic tree

Jacob was born in 1808 in Virginia, not much is proven about his childhood or parents. On April 18, 1833 in Jackson, Ohio he married Sarah Davis, also from Virginia. Sarah’s siblings were in Jackson too. Jacob and Sarah had their first child in Ohio then moved to Elkhart, Indiana and had 9 more kids. On the 1840 and 1850 US censuses, Jacob and his family farmed in Baugo Township, 50 miles east of Lake Michigan, near Elkhart and South Bend, Indiana. In 1850, Jacob and Sarah’s oldest daughter Mary married Moses Mitchell. Moses and his family were from New York, neighbors to the Millers. Mary and Moses moved to Chickasaw County, Iowa after their marriage. 

Jacob died in 1854 at age 46 and there’s a pretty good chance he was hit by a train after a night of drinking. The Peru (Indiana) Wabash Valley Olio newspaper of January 13, 1854 shows detail.

This newspaper of Miami County, Indiana named intoxication, “the scourge of mankind”, as the cause of death. In 1854 the temperance movement was pretty well established in America. Maine passed the first prohibition law in 1847. The movement blamed immigrants and industrialization, big cities and alcohol for the moral decline spreading across the country.

At Jacob’s death, his widow Sarah, with 8 kids still at home, decided to move 400 miles west to Iowa, where her daughter Mary Mitchell and family lived. Jacob and Sarah’s kids set up homes in California, Iowa, Kansas, Oklahoma, Oregon and Washington.

Sources

  • 1850 US Census at FamilySearch
  • Public Ancestry photo “LanceL_Ferris originally shared this 24 Dec 2013”.
  • Newspaper Archive, Cedar Rapids Public Library, Peru (Indiana) Wabash Valley Olio 1854 Jan 13

Samuel Newcomb b. 1794

/ Kirstin Miller

Samuel Newcomb 1st cousin 6 generations away or 6 times removed on RootsMagic tree. Samuel was also the adoptive dad of William Newcomb Gaines, great grandpa of Faber Miller.

Samuel was born January 8, 1794 in Bernardston, Massachusetts to William and Elizabeth Connable Newcomb. The Connable and Newcomb families were pioneers, long time residents of Berndardston. At age 18 Samuel fought in the War of 1812 and received a pension and 160 acres of land as payment. After the war he had a farm next to his brother Obadiah. Samuel married Jemima Hunting on Oct 13, 1822. Samuel and Jemima had a son William, who died before age one.

In 1826 Samuel adopted William N Gaines, son of Samuel’s cousin Leydia Connable Gaines. Samuel joined the Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), even though ‘he believed Brigham Young was an imposter’. In 1832 in Onondaga, NY Orson Pratt, an early LDS Church leader baptized Samuel and Jemima. Samuel, his wife and adopted son William moved to Kirtland, Ohio the early home of the Latter Day Saints and home of the first Mormon temple.

A sketch of Salt Lake city in 1860By 1850 Samuel and his family were in Great Salt Lake, Utah Territory. Samuel was a widow in 1851. He wrote his will in 1855 leaving all to “William Newcomb Gaines my adopted son”. Samuel lived to age 85, he died in Janesville, Iowa and was living with William and family in his later years. “He was treated kindly in his old age by Mr. and Mrs. Gaines, and he died at their home”. Samuel is buried in Oakland Cemetery near Janesville, Iowa with William Gaines and his family.

Sources

  • “History of Orson Pratt,” Deseret News, 9 June 1858, 65. John Tanner or the Bolton Branch mentioned in December 20, 1832 and February 2, 1833 entries shared on FamilySearch
  • Will in Iowa, Wills and Probate Records, 1758-1997 at Ancestry
  • Early members of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Volume 4 page 592 image 594 of 920
  • At Wikipedia ‘Utah’ page, may be from Richard F. Burton’s City of the Saints, Public Domain
  • Bernardston Births, Marriages and Death image 40 of 233 handwritten, right page Samuel and Jemima 2nd on list. “Samuel Newcomb Gaines and Jemima Hunting both of this town October 13, 1822”

George Flood b. 1860

/ Kirstin Miller

George Flood 3rd great uncle on RootsMagic

George was born March 8, 1860, the 3rd of 7 children, of William and Delia Angell Flood. He was born in Butler County, Iowa and grew up on a farm near Shell Rock, the former Lowtown area. In 1862 George’s dad William went off to the Civil War. William came back in 1865, farmed and was a blacksmith. George picked up blacksmith skills from his dad and on census records his occupation was blacksmithing.

In 1886 George married Lucy Lewis, they lived in Aurora, South Dakota. Their 2 kids Clyde and Edith were born there. George and family were back in Iowa in 1900 and on the US census that year George is a blacksmith, Lucy a housewife and both kids are in school. They live at 27 Locust Street in Allison, Iowa. Their neighbors are from Iowa, Connecticut, the Dakotas, England, Germany, Illinois, Indiana, Maine, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Wisconsin; and are farmers, a furniture and hardwire merchant, laborer, lawyer, meat dealer, music teacher, peddler, printer’s apprentice, postmaster and servant. George and Lucy stayed in Allison, Butler County, Iowa. George’s sister Nettie lived with them family for several years. George was the administrator of his uncle Charles Angell’s estate along with Leander Angell, Charles’s son, George’s cousin.

George’s daughter Edith married Roy Rathbone, they lived in Sumner, Iowa. George, his sisters Nettie and Matilda Flood Mockford visited Edith and family in August, 1928 and brought George’s granddaughter Lucy Rathbone back to Allison for a week long visit. George’s son Clyde signed up for World War 1 in August, 1917. Clyde was in the 93rd Aero Squadron and returned home March, 1919, worked on a turkey farm and married Mayme. George lived with Clyde and Mayme in his later years after his wife Lucy’s death.

George died in 1936, his obituary from the Clarksville, Iowa newspaper May 28, 1936: “George Flood, a pioneer resident of the vicinity died at the home his son Clyde at Mason City last Wednesday afternoon, He had been in failing health for a long time. Funeral services were held at the Whitaker Funeral Home at Dumont Friday afternoon with members of the IOOF lodge of which Mr Flood was a member, taking part. Burial was in Lowell Cemetery beside his wife, Beside his son Clyde he is survived by a daughter Mrs Roy Rathbone of Sumner and three sister Mrs Matilda Mockford of Allison, Mrs Eunice Culver of Detroit Michigan and Mrs Tena Lotts of Sebastopol, Calif.”.

Sources

Henry Wolcott b. 1578

/ Kirstin Miller

Henry Wolcott 12th great grandpa on RootsMagic tree

Henry was born in December 1578 in Lydeard St Lawrence, Somerset, England and baptized there on December 6 at Lydeard St. Lawrence Church. In 1606 he married Elizabeth Saunders in the same church. The Wolcott family left for America in 1630 on the The Mary and John. They lived in Dorchester, Massachusetts for a year or so, then moved to 100 miles west to Windsor, Connecticut.
In Dorchester Humphrey was an assessor, fenceviewer and selectman. He was a deputy of the Court, constable and tax collector in Windsor. Henry’s brother John was living in Lydeard in April 1636 and wrote a letter to Henry. John wrote Henry of their brother Christopher’s death, King Charles at war with Scotland, how times had changed and prayers for Henry’s safety in the new country.

Henry and his wife died within a couple months, “Mr Henry Wolcot dyed may 30th 1655. The wife if Henry Wolcot dyed July 5 1655”. They’re buried in Palisado Cemetery in Windsor, CT. They share a tombstone added years after their deaths, Henry’s inscription on one side, Elizabeth’s on the other.

Henry made his will o the day he died, “The thirtieth of May (1655), I HENRY WOLCOTT, sick of body, but of perfect memory, do make and ordain this my last will and testament, in manner and form following. First I commend my soul to God my maker, hoping assuredly through the only merit of Jesus Christ my Saviour, to be a partaker of life everlasting; and I commend my body to the earth, whereof it was made. I will that my wife shall have all my house lot, orchard, garden, hopyard and my lot in Plymouth meadow, during the term of her natural life. Also, I give unto my wife two of my cows, and half the household goods in my dwelling house”. Henry mentions each child and gifts them specific items.

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Humphrey Wise b. 1591

/ Kirstin Miller

Humphrey Wise 10th great grandpa on RootsMagic

Humphrey Wise or Wythe was born in 1591 in England. His dad Benjamin died in 1601 and “with his mother Humphrey was an infant co-executor of the will of his father, he received land in Harkstead and Erwartoon”. On April 8, 1616 Humphrey married Susan Pakeman, they had eight daughters and 2 sons. Humphrey lived in Suffolk County, near the River Orwell, on the eastern edge of England on the North Sea. Humphrey has records in Ewarton, Harkstead, Holbrook, Nacton and Woolvertsone, villages, all within 10 miles of each other in ipswich, England. Humphrey was a mariner, sailor.

The Wise family, parents and kids sailed to America in 1636. Humphrey and Susan were in their 40s. They settled in Ipswich, Massachusetts where Humphrey received a one acre “house lott and south side of Hartbreake Hill and a farm one hundred acres on the South side of a creek called the Labour in Vayne”. Heartbreak Hill has a legend involving a sailor and an Indian Maiden at Historic Ipswich.

Humphrey died in 1638, his burial place isn’t known and he didn’t leave a will. His widow remarried and her new husband Samuel Greenfield took control of the estate. the Court got involved.

In Boston January 13 1638/9. “Humfry Wise of Ipswich, died intestate, and Samuel Greenfeild late of Salem married his widow and took into his possession the lands and goods of the said Humfry, without legal order. The Court held at Ipswich 26 : 1 : 1639, caused them to deliver an inventory of the estate which amounted to about 140 pounds Wise left a wife and five children, Beniamyn, Joseph, Em., Sarah and Ann, besides some that were married and had received their portions. Samuel Greenfeild was appointed administrator, and with his consent the Court sold the house, and house lot of an acre & a planting lot of six acres with the appurtenances to William ffellowes for 20 pounds, also the farm of about 120 acres to Thomas Emerson for four score pounds, and such other sales of cattle & goods that the said Samuel had made the Court allowed. The money was given to Samuel Greenfeild, he giving bond for 120 pounds to bring up the five children, until the sons were twenty one years, and the daughters eighteen, at which time each to receive a certain portion of the estate”.

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