Friday, November 26, 2010

Can you help me find the family of Joseph Levens MARSH?

During our work in America Cemetery we came across a stone that was not listed in the burial records. The stone belonged to a 3 month old baby, Joseph Levens MARSH.



Born: 12 April 1853
Died: 12 July 1853

I was able to determine that the parents of baby Joseph were Bazelel Wills MARSH and Sarah Ann ENDICOTT. They are listed in the 1860 census of Wabash County, Indiana along with their surviving children. (Including daughter Josephine born in 1854, I'm sure that was in memory to baby Joseph)

There are two public member trees on Ancestry with BW and Sarah and their children. However, neither tree lists Joseph. I'm afraid the descendants may not know about Joseph since he would not be listed in any census and is not listed in the cemetery records. But, both members on Ancestry have not been active in a long time.

A quick Google search reveals that Sarah Ann ENDICOTT may be related to John ENDECOTT, the first govenor of Massachuesetts! Which leads me to believe that someone out there must be actively researching the MARSH family of Wabash County, Indiana.

If you have found this blog through a google search, please contact me. I really want Joseph to be reunited with his family.

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Four little Stevens boys....but where are their parents?

During our work in America Cemetery we came across the stones for four little boys, all sons of Elijah and Permelia Stevens.


William H. Stevens
b: 23 June 1845
d: 5 Nov 1848
3 years, 4 months, 13 days



Abner Stevens
b: 23 Jan 1848
d: 7 Nov 1848
9 months, 15 days


John Stevens
b: 8 Aug 1852
d: 12 Oct 1856
4 years, 2 months, 4 days


Wabeen Stevens
b: 13 Feb 1859
d: 26 Mar 1861
2 years, 1 month, 13 days

William and Abner died just 2 days apart.  None of the boys lived to the age of 5.  None of their other siblings or parents were buried in the cemetery with them.  So where did the rest of the family go?  Where are their parents buried?

At first I thought finding them would be easy.  Permelia is not a common name and Wabash County was still a small farming community.  I thought a quick search on Find A Grave, Ancestry and Family Search would tell me the story.  Sadly, that is not the case.  The only Permelia Stevens I found on Find A Grave was too young to be the mother of these boys.

So, I'm looking for descendants of Elijah, Permelia, William, Abner, John and Wabeen Stevens.  I want to reunite these little boys with the family.  Can anyone tell me what happened to them?






Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Tombstone Tuesday - Back to America Cemetery

Back in June I blogged about meeting two new cousins, Jean and Dee Dee, as a result of this blog.  During our meeting in Kokomo we talked about the trip mom and I made to America Cemetery.  I expressed my desire to return in the fall after the poison ivy had died back to do more research and some clean up.  Jean and Dee Dee volunteered to join us and in October we returned to America and did a tremendous amount of work.



Dee Dee had also visited the cemetery in the summer time and both of us expressed surprise at how large it appeared in the fall.  With the leaves off the trees, and all the bushes and underbrush dying off we were able to see more stones then either of us realized were there!



We first had to rake all the leaves to the perimeter of the cemetery and then began work brushing off and photographing the stones.  We used water to clean some stones off and were able to read names that we previously could not read. 



By then end of a very long day we had found and photographed most of the cemetery.  We even uncovered a couple that were not listed in the cemetery records as being buried there!  Sadly, among the stones not found were some of my relatives.  I had such strong hopes of finding them but now I realize we most likely never will.  If the stones are there they are buried or sunken under the ground. 


However, I am excited to say that of the 77 interments listed for the cemetery only 14 stones were not found.  That is amazing considering the last burial in the cemetery took place in 1877, over 133 years ago!
The entire cemetery can be found on Find A Grave.




There are some stories to be told among those buried there and I'm going to post some of those in the coming days.  My family or not, they are someone's family and I would like to see them connected to them somehow. 

First up will be the story of the four little boys....but where are their parents?


T

Monday, November 22, 2010

Man bulldozes cemetery dating to 1800s

Published : Thursday, 18 Nov 2010, 11:58 PM EST

• By: Phil Sanchez

BOONE COUNTY, Ind. (WISH) - It was bulldozed and destroyed — a graveyard that dates back to the 1800s turned in to a pile of rubble.

Family members of people buried there want answers. so they contacted 24-Hour News 8.

The cemetery dates back to 1830 and is in the middle of an area spanning more than 40 acres in rural Boone County.

Henry King stood on that property Thursday, on top of his great-grandfather’s resting place, and the resting place for dozens of others.

“Don't disturb the resting, it might be a bad taboo,” King said.

The land was sold earlier this year by a pair of brothers who needed the money to pay for their aging mother’s nursing home.

“I don't understand what the big deal is,” said Don Hill, the man who now owns the property.

Hill, a farmer who purchased the land earlier this year, ripped up the land a couple weeks ago and tore down the trees surrounding it. 24-Hour News 8 tracked him down at his Frankfort home Thursday.

“I owned a farm for 20 years down the road and never heard anything about tombstones,” Hill said.

Henry King contacted the Indiana Department of Natural Resources earlier this week.

“Right is right and wrong is wrong,” King said. “I just want something done right ... that's all I'm asking.”

24-Hour News 8 reached out to the brothers who sold the land. They say they're not pleased with what Hill has done. However they don't think there is anything they can do.

DNR said their investigation is ongoing. Hill can't do anything with that part of the land until the investigation is complete.

Watch video here.


Friday, November 19, 2010

Why a 150 year old piece of log cabin is sitting in my kitchen

I must start this post by stating "I LOVE the citizens of Lincolnville, Indiana!" 

Not only have they been instrumental in identifying many Brane family members in the reunion photo, but they managed to save a piece of my family history for me. A piece of the log cabin that my g-g-g-grandfather, Daniel Brane lived in.

Here's how the story goes.  Remember our genealogical angel, Ann?  Well, when Ann met us to pick up the photo she mentioned that Daniel Brane's and Bruce Brane's farms had been bought and the homes were about to be torn down.  This set off a panic in my mother!  She had been told that the home that now sits on Daniel's farm was built around the original log cabin that Daniel lived in.  Daniel was deeded the land in 1859 making the cabin at least 150 years old if not older!

The citizens of Lincolnville once again came to our rescue.  They immediately went to the site where all the windows had already been removed.  Upon inspection they reported back to Ann that they saw no sign of the cabin inside the home.  My mom responded "I've been told if you pull back the siding you will find it."  Back to the site went our saviors with their tools.  This time peeling back the siding and revealing the log cabin inside! 



But they didn't stop there!  They pulled out a saw and cut a section of one the logs.  Now my mom and I each have a part of my g-g-g- grandfathers log cabin.  Amazingly, some of the whitewash used oh so long ago still remains.  And if you get close you can still smell the wood. 

So why is it sitting in my kitchen?  Because I'm afraid to move it any further away from the door.  In case of fire I'm grabbing 3 things: my family, my pictures and this piece of wood.























They are my most treasured possessions........

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Brane Family Reunion Photo - 1918

You can read the story of the family reunion photo here and here.  I've scanned and copied just sections of the photo below with the names of the people that have been identified.  If you are a Brane descendent please take a look and see if you can name anyone in the photo.

Man on the left is Milton OWEN, next to him is his wife Stella Young OWEN and I believe the little boy in front of them may be their son Milbourne OWEN.  Others unknown.


Little boy second row on the left is James Austin BRANE, in front of him and mostly cut off in this photo is Estacorine BRANE,  the lady in the back row on the left in the hat is Osie Luree BRANE, the woman next to her is Amanda Bricker BRANE, the little girl in front of Amanda is Marguerite Desdoma KENDALL. Others unknown.

First lady on the left (mostly cut off) Opal Jennings BRANE, next to her is Marie BRUMBAUGH and behind her is her husband John BRUMBAUGH.  Next to John and holding the baby is Homer KENDALL.  The baby is Kenneth KENDALL.  The stylish woman in the hat is Vesta Elizabeth Brane KENDALL.  All others unknown.


In this photo the only one identified is the man in the hat on the right.  He is David BRANE. All others unknown.


All five of these Brane family members have been identified!  From left to right is John Thomas BRANE, his wife Marilla Elma Scott BRANE, slightly behind is Addison SHAFFER, next to him is Charles BRANE and on the end is Charle's wife Bessie Howard BRANE.

I'd like to thank everyone who has left a comment on this blog over the past two days.  It is so special to be able to share my excitement with a group of people who understand and care.  I love reading the comments and want to be sure I let you know how much I appreciate you!

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Why a 92 year old photograph is keeping me up at night - Part 2

Following up on our idea of contacting the UB church in Lincolnville, mom placed a call to the office and left a message.  Those of you that follow this blog know that I am a strong believer in genealogy serendipity and boy did it come through for us this time!

Her call was returned by a wonderful lady named Ann.  Ann was excited to take on the project of getting people to look at the photo and identify as many people as they could.

I had racked my brain on the best way to obtain the names and decided to use tracing paper to trace the photo.  That way anyone could add the name directly to the tracing paper instead of trying to describe where they were located on the photo.  I mounted the tracing paper to card stock and hoped for the best.

So on a rainy day in October Ann met us at the BP gas station in LaFontaine, Indiana to pick up the photo and tracing and take it back to Lincolnville.  It wasn't long before my mom had a call from Ann letting us know how it was going.  It seems Ann was worried about the expense we put into the picture and instead of dropping it off at the church, contacted people in and around Lincolnville and began taking the photo to them herself!  Ann had become our own little genealogical angel! 

As news of the photo spread around the little town of Lincolnville more Brane family descendents requested to have a look.  In the end the kind people of Lincolnville, Indiana have been able to help us identify 23 of the 62 family members in the photo!  But it's not over yet!  As a result of this blog, another Brane family member in Florida is able to identify more for us!  I'm waiting to hear back from him so that I can add those names. 

So why is this 92 year old photo keeping me up at night?  Because they are my family, my history and I have a burning need to be able to call them by name and research their stories.  Every last one of them.  I want no one to be left behind.

Are you a Brane family descendent?  Can you help identify anyone in the photograph?  Please take a look.

Monday, November 15, 2010

Why a 92 year old photograph is keeping me up at night - Part 1

My insomnia began back in June when I first met my cousin Jean and he brought the existence of the photo to  my attention.  (You can read about that meeting here!)

Jean discovered the photo online on the Indiana Historical Society's website.  It is a panoramic shot of the Brane Family Reunion in 1918 in Marion, Indiana.  Jean had zoomed in on sections of the photo, printed them out and brought them to that first meeting asking if mom or I could identify anyone in it. 

Here is the photo:

(follow this link to see a larger view)

Right away mom could identify four of our ancestors on the right.  Second in from the right is Bessie Howard Brane 1883-1956, on her right is her husband, Charles Fremont Brane 1883-1967, the women next to Charles is his mother and my great-great grandmother Marilla Elma Scott Brane 1862-1948 and the man next to her is her husband and my great-great grandfather, John Thomas Brane 1861-1934. 

But who were the rest of the 62 people in the picture?  I've become obsessed with finding out.

The first thing I did was contact the Indiana Historical Society and asked how I could get a copy of the photograph.  It took a couple of months but finally I had a copy in hand.  Mom took it and had it custom framed and together we developed an idea. 

Benjamin Brane and his sons, Peter, Daniel and  Abraham came to Wabash county, Indiana and were charter members of the United Brethern Church in Lincolnville, Indiana.  That church still exists today. We knew that some Brane family descendants still lived in the area and may still attend that church.  What if we dropped the photo off to the church and let members have a look?  Maybe they could help identify some of the people in the picture?

Find out what happens next  in Part 2 which should be titled How One Old Photograph Brought a Whole Town Together........

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

Lost Children's Grave Located

Saw this article on the Indiana Pioneer Cemeteries Restoration Project website and it really touched my heart.


_By Levi Hill_ (mip://03fb8be0/cgi-bin/email_reporter.pl?staff=no)

Hobbs News-Sun
HOBBS, N.M.

Hidden among the prairie grass and mesquite bushes a few miles east of Jal, an old barbed-wire fence and wooden cross were the only evidence that four nameless children lost their lives at that spot more than a century ago.

On Oct. 25, 103 years after the children were laid to rest, the names and faces almost lost to history have been returned to Violet, William, Newton and Earl Sparks. For their nephews, Jack and Frank Sparks, the story began on March 16, 1957.

According to the Sparks family's oral histories and research by local historian David Minton, that was the day the four children's mother, Effie Sparks, broke down crying and told a niece she had four children buried
somewhere in New Mexico or Texas but had no idea where.

The revelation set Effie's grandchildren, Frank and Jack, on a quest that would take them more than 50 years. "It means closure in a sense," said Jack Sparks, looking across the site where his uncles and aunt were buried. "Our great hope is when we walk through those pearly gates, those children are going to meet us there. If they know what we did now, they are certainly rejoicing. In the hereafter we will certainly be able to share the story."

The brothers, along with Frank's son, Joe Bill Sparks, and family members Bobbie Sparks and Marc Bradberry placed a four-foot headstone to honor their long-lost relatives.

Minton, who has placed headstones on unmarked graves across Lea County for years, joined the family in cleaning up the site. "To me, it is just a great thing that these children are no longer lost to history," Minton said. "They have been found and remembered."

The search for his long-buried relatives drew Jack Sparks into the Lea County Assessor's Office one day in 2008 in search of records on the homestead his grandfather, James Monroe Sparks, claimed near Nadine in 1902. It was perhaps fate that Sparks told one of the staff the story of the Sparks family just as David Minton walked into the office. The words, "lost graves" sparked Minton's curiosity and the two began to talk.

It came to Minton's mind  a Jal resident had told him years ago about an unmarked grave east of the small town that was the final resting place of four children who died of scarlet fever on their way to the doctor.

The story fit with what Spark's father, Cecil, had told him and a search began.

"It was just so lucky I had walked in the door when he had said that," Minton said. "It never would have happened otherwise."

As the story goes, and as Minton writes it, it was 1907 and all six of the Sparks children ? Cecil, Violet, William, Newton, Earl and infant Eva Mae became ill with either diphtheria or scarlet fever.

The family loaded them into a wagon and started for Midland, Texas, the closest and best medical help at the time. A rider was sent ahead to get medicine and meet the family on the trail, but along the way four of the children died.

They were buried, and the wagon, bedding and other items were burned to prevent the spread of the disease.

James and Effie Sparks returned to Nadine with their surviving children, Cecil and Eva Mae, where they lived until about 1915, when the family returned to Coke County, Texas, along with two new children, Relia and Vera, who had been born in Nadine.

Minton, with the help of Jal area ranchers who still remembered the story passed down from their fathers, found the family grave.

It is unknown who put the barbed-wire fence or a more recent pipe-fence around the site and the marker, a wooden cross tied with barbed-wire, was also added by some unknown Samaritan.

Around the site, pieces of crockery and shards of glass bottles aged by the sun until they have turned purple are still evident. A single nut and bolt, possibly from the burned wagon, was found not far from the grave.

The headstone reads, "In memory of four children lost to scarlet fever in 1907 along this trail trying to get to a doctor."On the other side are lyrics from a song Effie Sparks was believed to have sung to her children as they lay dying ? "Dear mother, put my little shoes away."