Week 40: Cemetery (52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks – 2025 Version)

The theme for Week 40 is “Cemetery.” (Honestly, this is one of my favorite themes!) Any memorable trips to an ancestral cemetery? Whose burial place have you searched for, but haven’t found? Any sextons in the family tree? This is their week. Check out all of the 2025 prompts here.

My cemetery story involves the same family. While looking for the possible grave location for my 3rd great grandmother, Harriett Elizabeth Nedry Booth, I found one for a child she had that I didn’t know about. 

After moving back to my home state for my husband’s retirement, I quickly joined the local genealogical society. Okay, it wasn’t quickly, because we moved in 2020 and it was the height of COVID-19 and many organizations had suspended their meetings. So as soon as they were resuming meetings, I joined.

I have accessed the genealogy holdings of the local library for years. However, someone mentioned they had a cemetery book for cemeteries in a nearby town, same county and since it was a huge cemetery and the cemetery that my 3rd great grandmother was buried, according to her death certificate I had the town, not the cemetery name, I decided to look up the book of the three large cemeteries.

I found an entry for an Edson Booth born 1868 and died 1869 and listed as the son of A.H. and H.E. Booth. He was 1 year 5 days per the researchers who recorded the information. 

Harriet married Amos H Booth in 1851. I knew they had three children, Martha, Wilina (my line) and Edwin who was born in Jun 1869. Because Edson was born and died between census records, I made not have ever known. However, Harriet died on Mar 2, 1916 and I decided to revisit the 1900 and the 1910 census, because they do ask how many children a woman had and how many are still living. Did I miss this very important clue?

Sure enough, the 1900 census states she had 4 children and 3 are still living. What a valuable clue I overlooked all these years. Plus, the 1910 census states she had 4 children and 2 are still living.

Another, clue I overlooked because it would have help me realize that my ancestor, Wilina had died before 1910. In my earlier days of research, I did not find her, but her two children were living together. One a married woman was living with her in-laws and her brother (my ancestor) was living with them. I figured something must had happened to the parents to have caused him to live with his sibling and not one of his parents. Actually, Wilina died in 1898 and thus, the reporting numbers on the 1900 census were inaccurate. 

On a side note: last week I wrote about the disappearing Seymour Hiltz, this was Wilina’s first husband and the father of the two children mentioned above.

Even though I still don’t know the exact location of Harriet’s grave, I have some information that I can go to the office of this large cemetery and see if perhaps they have burial records and maybe she is in an unmark grave with her infant son. This clue has help to give me a starting point of which cemetery she might be buried in. I guess I have a little trip in my future. 

Plus, this reminds me to revisit the 1900 and 1910 census records for women who were living during this time period and see if I am missing any possible children. I know that they might not of reported the correct information such as with Harriet in 1900. 

Happy Genealogy Hunting!

Week 1: Family Lore (52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks – 2024 Version)

It’s a new year and a new start of 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks by Amy Johnson Crow. This challenge has helped me look at my previous genealogy with a fresh pair of eyes. Plus, there really aren’t any requirements, participate that week or not. Interpret the themes however I like. It’s just a fun challenge. 

The theme for Week 1 is "Family Lore." Many of us have heard stories from our grandparents about incredible feats our ancestors did or a famous person we're related to. What's a tale that has been passed down in your family? Did it end up being true or did it turn out to just be a good story? Check out all of the 2024 prompts here.

I had two major “Family Lore” stories in my family. The first is that we are related to John Wilkes Booth. Yep, that dastardly person who shot President Abraham Lincoln. My mother stated that her great grandmother, Neil Orlien (Booth) Hiltz was a cousin of John Wilkes Booth. In fact, supposedly, she even had his ring because she helped him with his broken leg. 

FACT: NOPE! I was able to research John Wilkes Booth family pretty easy, they came from England and settled in the Maryland area. My mother’s great grandmother wasn’t even Neil Orlien, her name was Wilina Ellen also called Nellie. My mother stated she was named after her great grandmother; my mother’s name is Orlien Mary. Wilina was born in 1854 in West Point, Lee County, Iowa, USA. Very far from Washington, DC. It’s a little over 903 miles. Plus, the President died in 1865 and Wilina would have been only eleven years old. Her father, Amos Booth, fought in the Civil War for the north. Amos’s family came from Elizabethtown, located in Ontario, Canada. My nephew has been able to research and find Amos’s parent, plus other ancestors and there appears to be no recent relationship to John Wilkes Booth or his family.

The second “Family Lore” is of a more recent relative. My great-grandmother’s sister was supposedly the grandmother of Michael Cole of the Mod Squad fame. Michael Cole was born on July 3, 1940 in Madison, Dane County, Wisconsin. I am from Wisconsin, too.  

FACT: Not my relative. My great-grandmother’s sister, Margaret O’Brien born 1883 was married to dentist, Roy Charles Rowley. Their children were born in Wisconsin, however they moved to California. Their daughter, Mary Elizabeth Rowley, born in 1909 married Walter Eugene Anderson Cole. They had two children, Nanci Elizabeth Cole and Dennis E Cole who was born in 1940 in California.

What “Family Lore” is floating around your family. Have you been able to prove or disprove it? It might be disappointing to find out you aren’t related to someone you thought you were related too, but maybe you will find much more exciting stories that are true that you can share with your family.

Remember to have fun and Just Do Genealogy!

Week 1: I’d Like to Meet (52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks – 2023 Version)

The theme for January and for Week 1 is "I’d Like to Meet" Most of us have an ancestor who we'd like to meet (even if it's to ask, "What are your parents' names?") This week, write about that ancestor or why you'd want to meet him or her. Feel free to be creative! Click here to check out all the themes for 2023.

When I think of this theme, all I can say is Who I’d like to meet, let me count the ways. I have so many I would like to meet, not only to ask questions, but to see what they look like and get a feel for their personalities.

My 3rd great grandfather, Amos Booth just appeared in the United States around 1850 as a single 25-year-old who was born in Canada. Even though my nephew has almost certainly figured out who his parents are. I would still like to meet him and confirm this. I want to know what brought him from Eastern Canada to Northern Illinois. What happened to him during the Civil War that caused his estrangement from his wife and children?

My 2nd great grandfather, James Crinion. I want to know who his parents are. I have found three siblings, all sisters, but did he have more siblings? Did any remain in Ireland? Did any siblings not come to Wisconsin? Also, what made him so bitter that he wrote his dead daughter’s children out of his will. He stated he left them nothing because they did nothing for him in his life. WOW! Losing a mother is tragic and perhaps it was their father that kept them from him. I just want to know more about him and this sad family situation.

My 3rd great grandfather Lawrence Hiltz/Hilts. I want to know not only his parents but his grandparents’ names. My tree starts to fall apart around here. Too many Lawrence Hilts and I can’t figure out his lineage back to his immigrant ancestor who came to American in 1710. Also, was his wife Nancy also a Hilts descendant. It would explain why my DNA matches with Hilts descendants seem to have more DNA than expected. Actually, I want to know all about the Hilts clan. Why do some spell their surname as Hiltz while others Hilts? It keeps getting changed back and forth from one generation to the next and even siblings spell it differently. 

Finally, my 2nd great grandparents, Timothy O’Brien and his wife Mary O’Reilly. Not only don’t I know their parents’ names, I don’t know of siblings either. Tim was married twice, what was his first wife’s name. Was the witness at your and Mary’s wedding, Mary’s sister? What happened to her?

I could go on like this for days. As family genealogist know to well, once one question gets answered we have three new questions. This is a never-ending cycle.

Remember to have fun and Just do Genealogy!

 

July’s Theme and Week 26: Identity (52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks)

The theme for Week 26 and July is "Identity." In genealogy, we seek out the identities of our ancestors. But they were more than just names. One way you could approach this prompt would be to share something about an ancestor besides just his or her name. Be creative and have fun! Click here to check out all the themes for 2022.

When I saw the theme Identity, I thought of my 2nd great grandfather, Seymour Hiltz who seemed to vanish after 1880.

Seymour was the son of Lawrence Hilts and his wife Nancy. I haven’t found Nancy’s maiden name, though one document listed Perin as the maiden name. Seymour was born about 1850 in Manlius, Onondaga, New York, USA. He is the third son and 7th child of Lawrence and Nancy. They had a total of 9 known children, four sons and five daughters.

He is first found in the 1855 New York State Census in Manilus, Onodaga County, New York. Lawrence and Nancy moved to Jefferson, Jefferson County, Wisconsin by 1860. On the 1860 Census, Seymour is called Orville. George age 20, Uriah age 17, Orville (Seymour) age 10, Julius age 5 and Mary age 3 are living in the household. By the 1870 Census, Nancy no longer appears and Lawrence is living with sons Seymore age 19 and Julius age 15 in Turtle, Rock County, Wisconsin. My first question is where are Nancy and Mary? Did they die or is Nancy estranged from Lawrence? 

On Nov 5, 1872 in Ripon, Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin, Seymour marries Wilina Ellen Booth. They had a son, Orville Charles Hiltz (my great grandfather) in 1873 and Mabel Laurena Hiltz in 1876. In 1880, the same family are living in Chicago, Cook County, Illinois and Seymour is listed as an Engineer. 

By 1900, Orville is living with his sister and her husband and his family in Nekimi, Winnebago County, Wisconsin. This leads me to the next question, why is Orville living with his sister and where did his parents go?

In 1903, a newspaper articled titled “Was Mourned as Dead” appeared in the Daily Northwestern, Oshkosh, Winnebago County, Wisconsin. Samuel Hilts (might me a newspaper mistake with the name) wrote from South Dakota after an absence of twenty years. He writes ““Can you give me any information regarding my wife and children? I am the owner of a large cattle ranch in the Black Hills, with 1,000 head of cattle and am drawing $125 a month as superintendent of construction of a new road just building, and am anxious to communicate with my wife and children.” The letter was sent to a Ripon woman whose sister was the wife of Hilts. She forwarded the letter to her niece, the letter writer’s daughter.

About twenty-one years prior, Seymour Hilts, a cooper residing at Traverse city, Mich and his wife had some difficulty and his wife left him temporarily. She went to live with her sister. After a time, her husband wrote a letter to her asking her to come back to him. The wife agreed to do this provided he would agree to take good care of her and the two children. No reply was received to the letter and the man dropped from sight. The mother struggled along for a time alone and then secured a divorce from her husband upon the grounds of desertion and remarried. About four years ago she died. 

It was from this article, that made me look for another marriage for Wilina Booth. I found it in 1890 in Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin. She married a man named George Pansie and Wilina died on Jun 1, 1898. While looking up this record, I came across a birth certificate for an unnamed Male child born to Seymour and Wilina on Sep 8, 1883 in Ripon, Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. Was Wilina expecting when she left temporarily left her husband? It appears the child died because she only mentioned two children in her reply letter to her husband. I never found a death record in the years from 1883 to 1890. 

Several years after her second marriage, Mrs Hilts heard from the mother of Hilts that he had died and that a letter had been sent to her asking whether she would send money to have the remains taken to her home. This the mother was unable to do and the man was mourned as dead. My questions: where has the mother of Seymour Hilts been living? She wasn’t living with her husband and sons in 1870. Since this was several years after Wilina’s second marriage the date would be around 1893. 

The letter Seymour sent was written from Belle Forche, South Dakota and from the Belle Forche Hotel upon the Hotel stationary. Both the sister-in-law and daughter sent replies to the letter to the Hotel and both came back unanswered. They asked the Postmaster in Belle Forche for help and he stated a man giving the name as S. Hilts left Belle Forche for Deadwood and asking for all mail addressed to him be forwarded. No one in Deadwood or anyone in the vicinity have claimed any mail for S Hilts. 

Seymour Hilts was last seen by the family when Mrs. Buehring was a child of about three or four years old which places it shortly after 1880. In 1903, Seymour would be about 54 years old, therefore he could be alive and well.

As you can see, I have lots of questions. Reviewing the timeline above, gives me some new ideas for research. Remember to have fun and Just do Genealogy! 

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 

NOTE: the mentioned newspaper article was found through Newspapers.com using the keyword "buehring" date of 1903 and location of Wisconsin. It was published in the Oshkosh Northwestern, Oshkosh, Wisconsin on Tuesday, January 13, 1903, page 3, column 3. 

Week 4: Curious (52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks)

Week 4's theme is "Curious." Several people have already asked how to interpret this. Remember -- it's completely up to you! When I put the list together, I was thinking of something that you've always wanted to discover (something you're curious about) or a record/discovery that you find curious (unusual). You could also write about an ancestor who was curious (an inventor or detective, perhaps?)

As a genealogist, I think we are naturally curious about everything. This is the driving force behind our love of family history and genealogy research. But when I saw this topic, the person that came to mind was my 3rd great grandfather Amos H Booth. When I started my journey as an young adult, my mother gave me Amos Booth’s name along with Harriet Nedry. 

I didn’t know much about either person and my mother had the spelling of Nedry wrong. I was having no luck with either person, until one day, in Google Books, Amos Booth had a hit and it was the marriage of Amos to Harriet Elizabeth Nedry. The book was about the Sponable family, Harriet’s mother was a Sponable. I finally broke through this brick wall, well, sort of. 

I had a few facts about Amos, such as he was born about 1827 in Canada. I found him in 1850 in Marengo, McHenry County, Illinois as single male, born in Canada, living in the household of Peter Dietz. In 1860 he was living in Ripon, Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin, age 33, a cabinet maker who was born in Canada, with his wife and two daughters. His daughters were born in Iowa, so I see that he had to lived there between 1850 and 1860. In 1870, still living in Ripon, Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin, age 43 with his wife, two daughters, a son, along with another man and his one year old son. I show that his oldest daughter was married this man in 1869 and thus it was her husband and son. In 1880, he is an inmate in Wauwatosa, Milwaukee County, Wisconsin at a Veterans home and listed as a carpenter. His wife and son are living in Marengo, McHenry County, Illinois. His two daughters are married and both are living in Ripon, Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin.

I found several city directories for the years 1871, 1872, 1875, 1877 and 1878 Milwaukee County, Wisconsin. In 1871 he is an organ builder living at the factory of Marshall Bros. In 1872 he is still organ builder for Marshal Bros & Clarke, but beds at 201 Spring. In 1874 he is an organ builder and resides at 182 5th. In 1875 the organ maker beds at 420 Clybourn. In 1877 he is a millwright who resides at 201 Grand Ave. In 1878 he is an organ builder who beds at 242 Hanover.

I discovered a little history of the Marshall Bros. In May 1870, The Marshalls who had been living in Ripon, moved their business to the old Matthew Bros Furniture warehouse at Fourth and Fowler. The factory was a frame building some 30 by 100ft. A portion of the first floor was a stable for Matthew Bros.; the rest of the first floor and all of the second floor was for factory purposes. A fire destroyed the building on November 21, 1871 and by January 18, 1872 the Marshalls moved into their new factory at Tenth and Clybourn. This was two blocks south of the newly built Calvary Presbyterian Church. In addition to the new factory, the Marshall Bros. acquired another partner, Abraham F Clarke. The firm’s name became Marshall Bros. & Clarke. The new factory was 30 by 80 feet with the building room of the same dimensions, 34 feet height. The metal shop and offices were separate, and there were some twenty men employed. By 1874, the factory was said to employee fifty men. 

In the plat map from 1893, the Calvary Presbyterian Church is located at the corner of Tenth and Grand Ave. Going two blocks south on Tenth to Clybourn is where the Marshall’s new factory was located. 

In the current map, the highway interexchange system is located at the intersections of Tenth and Clybourn.  

Amos H Booth died on October 27, 1899 in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin. 

I did locate and requested his Civil War Pension record where I found his marriage date of Aug 9, 1851 in West Point, Lee, Iowa. This explains why his daughters were married in Iowa. Why he and Harriet moved from Marengo, McHenry County, Illinois to Iowa is unknown to me. It also mentioned that he was from Elizabethtown, Leeds, Ontario, Canada; however his parents were never named. 

I am unsure who exactly his parents are, however my nephew believes they may be James Booth (1803-1881) and Charlotte Sherriff (1801-1885). He found DNA matches that appear to support this relationship. Now my curiosity will be taking me to follow up on this assumption. 

Where does your curious nature take you on your genealogy research?

Check out Amy Johnson Crow 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks: Themes for 2022 to receive a weekly email with ideas for using the prompts or to check out the Themes for 2022.

Week 2: Favorite Find (52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks)

 

This week's prompt could be a discovery that you made from breaking down a brick wall or something that just made you smile.

I have chosen my 3^rd great grandmother, Harriet Elizabeth Nedry Booth.  Elizabeth, as she was known as a girl, was born 24 Aug 1836 most likely in Ohio. She is the oldest of 5 daughters of John W Nedry (1814-1890) and his wife Elizabeth Sponable (1816-1899).

By 1840, her family moved to Illinois where her three youngest siblings were born. Her father died in Cedar Run, Benzie, Michigan in 1890 however her mother died in Marengo, McHenry, Illinois in 1899.

Harriet married Amos H Booth (1827-1899) on 9 Aug 1851 in West Point, Lee County, Iowa. They had three children, Martha Jane (1851-?), Wilina Ellen (1854-1898) and Edwin Booth (1869-?).  In the 1900 US Census, it listed that Harriet had 4 children, and three were still living.

In 1860 Harriet, her husband Amos and her two oldest daughters are living in Ripon, Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. In 1870, they are still living in Ripon however they have added their one year old son, Edwin. In 1880, Harriet listed as married and son Edwin are living in Marengo, McHenry, Illinois. While her husband, Amos is living in a Veterans home in Wauwatosa, Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Now for my favorite find. I found a Civil War Pension Index card that led me to request Amos’s Civil War Pension record. The Pension record I received was about 100 legal size pages. The pension applied for was based on the Act of June 27, 1890.

The Dependent and Disability Pension Act was passed by the United States Congress (26 Stat. 182) and signed into law by President Benjamin Harrison on June 27, 1890. The act provided pensions for all veterans who had served at least ninety days in the Union military or naval forces, were honorably discharged from service and were unable to perform manual labor, regardless of their financial situation or when the disability was suffered.

So it appears that both Harriet and Amos started applying for a pension in 1890. Harriet applied under the premise she was the widow of Amos and per Claim no 473769 was started as of 18 Aug 1890.

Amos applied under the premise of disability, and per Claim no 796922 was started as of 11 Jul 1890.

During this time, Harriet for some reason married on 23 Nov 1893 to her 2^nd cousin John Sponable (1825-1906) who lived in Kent County, Michigan.  It doesn’t appear they ever lived together, that Harriet returned to her home in Illinois that she shared with her deaf sister, Lois. John Sponable was also a Civil War Veteran.  I don’t know if she tried applying under him.

Harriet’s Widow’s Pension was approved on Aug 7, 1894 and quickly rejected on Sep 1, 1894 because solider is still living and has an application claim of 796922.

Whether Harriet collected any money or not is uncertain since reading all the paperwork is confusing.

On 14 Aug 1899, Amos’s Invalid Pension was approved with $12 monthly payments to be backed paid from Oct 28, 1895.

Amos finally passed away 27 Oct 1899 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and is buried in the Wood National Cemetery, located in Milwaukee.

Harriet reapplied for Amos’s death pension on Nov 15, 1899 and was awarded $8 per month.  She had to answer some very interesting questions such as:

She swore that she has not remarried since the death of the Amos Booth. This is true because she remarried before his death.

She also swore that she has not applied previously for a benefit; however we know that is not true, but it seems this didn’t affect her benefit in 1899.

In 1908, her benefit was increased to $12 per month.

Between 1900 and 1910, Harriet sold the home that her sister Lois and she lived in. This might had been the family home of their parents, because in the pension, Edwin (Harriet’s son) stated that his mother sold the home for $1500 but it was in a living trust for Lois. She paid off the $600-$700 mortgage and then gave Lois $600 and kept the remaining funds for herself.

By 1910, Harriet was living with her son Edwin in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and passed away on 2 Mar 1916. Her body was transported via train to be buried in Ripon, Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin. I have been unable to locate a “Find A Grave” record and I am not sure which cemetery she might be buried in.

In Edwin’s correspondence to the state department to be reimbursed for funeral and final death cost for his mother, he swore that his parents never divorced. Which leads me to wonder how she was able to marry her 2^nd cousin back in 1893?

This pension file took me several times to read and re-read to gather all the facts correctly.

Currently, I am requesting a copy of the death certificate for Harriet in hopes that it might list her final resting place.