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Remember our Colorado miner, Cal Ingram, the one my brother Rodney looked like? Today we’re going back on his mother’s side of the family. I always say that Dad’s side were the “Johnny come lately” ancestors, but that’s not actually true.

Cal Ingram was born to James Ingram and Elizabeth Van Metre (Meter, Matre–any of those have been used). Elizabeth was born May 14, 1805, in Orange County, Indiana to Isaac Van Metre and Mary Caldwell. Her father, Isaac was born in 1778 in Ohio County, Virginia, which is now actually West Virginia. His parents were Joseph Van Metre and Drusilla (or possibly Margaret) Morgan. Joseph’s will names a portion for Drusilla, although there is some speculation that he first married Margaret, and when she passed, he married her sister.

Going a generation further back, Joseph is the son of Abraham Van Metre and Ruth Hedges. It is believed that he was born in 1743 in Somerset County, New Jersey. His father, Abraham is the son of John Van Metre and Margaret Melanaur (I’m not totally positive this is her maiden name, but so far, the research looks promising. It could be some variation.) Abraham was born about 1721. Abraham is who we are learning about today. I will say that it is difficult looking through all these generations of Van Metres, all of whom named their sons Joseph, Abraham, John,and Isaac. Luckily there was a helpful e-book on Google Books entitled “A Genealogy of the Duke-Shepherd-Van Metre Family, From Civil, Military, Church and Family Records and Documents”, edited by Samuel Gordon Smyth, 1909.

Abraham first married Ruth Hedges from Prince County, Maryland in 1742. To their union was born Jacob, Abraham, Isaac, Joseph, Rebecca and Mary. After Ruth’s death, Abraham married Martha Roberts Wheeler and had four more children: John, Ruth, Daniel and Hannah.

Upon the death of his father, in 1745, Abraham received several parcels of land, amounting to 537 acres. On March 8, 1748, he was appointed as “overseer of road from Simon Linders to Old Sayds” by the court of Frederick County, Virginia.

The Van Metres were famed as grazers and cattle traders. Abraham was no different. He and his brothers had extensive business with the frontier posts, the frontier being the Ohio Valley, at that time. In July of 1772, Abraham and his brothers were apparently in Washington County, Pennsylvania. There is an indictment against them for a riot. (Are we surprised that our ancestors were involved in a riot?) Included were Abraham, Henry and Jacob Van Metre, plus John, John Jr. and Thomas Swan.

Abraham later moved to Ohio County, Virginia, to property located on Short Creek, some of which was not surveyed until 1786, when his heirs held the property. Black’s Cabin, which was a part of the above property, was where Ohio County was created out of the District of West Augusta on January 6, 1777. Abraham sold Black’s Cabin to the county for 20 pounds. A stockade was erected on Short Creek, a few miles above where it met the Ohio River. It was known as Van Metre’s Fort.

Abraham died sometime in 1783 with his will probated November 18, 1783. Guess they weren’t such “Johnny come lately” ancestors.

Cornelius Hopper, son of Matthew (Mathias/Matheus) Hopper and Aeltje Kuyper was born either February 8, 1756 (per the baptismal record) or February 14, 1756 (Bible record). He was born either in or near Clarkstown, Rockland County, New York. He was baptized in the Clarkstown Reformed Dutch Church on February 29, 1756. Cornelius married Hanna Rockwell on December 25, 1777. They had 12 children: Matthew (1778-1779), Hannah (1780-1842), Olive (1781-1862), Esther (1784-1855), Mary (1787-1854), Anna (1789-?), Rockwell (1792-1875), Amy (1794-1859), Margaret* (1797-1860, our direct ancestor), Ira (1799-1861), Elizabeth (1801-1887), and Sally (1804-1889)

He served as a private in the New York 4th Orange County Militia, commanded by Major John Halthorn. Records in the National Archive show that Cornelius was paid 14 shillings, 2-1/2 pence for 8 days of service at Fort Montgomery.

There may be a heavy emphasis on Mom’s side in this blog, mostly because I have more information on that side. I’ve recently come across more information on our Swiss lineage, of which I will share a little today.

John Stuckey/Stukey Jr., was born on August 9, 1742 to Johann (John) Jacob Stucki and Anna Catherine Egner, in Elizabeth Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. His father, Johann, was born in Bern, Switzerland and emigrated to the colonies in 1736.

John Stukey Jr., married Salome Zimmerman in 1764. They had twelve children: Peter, Elizabeth, John III, Margaritha, Salome, Christian, Minerva Anna, Jacob, Catherine, Samuel, Barbara, and Joseph. In 1776, when the war for American independence began, John Jr., was 34. He served several times as noted here:

9th Battalion, Lancaster County under Colonel Joh Huber and Captain George Volcks, May 25 to October 8, 1778. 3rd Battalion, 1st Company, Lancaster County Militia, spring of 1789 and again in 1781, under Captain Phillip Duck. 3rd Battalion, 1st Company, Lancaster County Militia, under Lt. Colonel George Feather in 1782.

It is notable that there were iron furnaces in the county, much needed by the Americans. Also many rifles were manufactured in the area.

I looked John Stukey, JR. up in the DAR website and realized that his father also served in some capacity. Mom’s side is full of Revolutionary War Patriots!

John Stukey, Sr., died in 1786 and John Jr. inherited the farm. Anna Catherine Stukey passed from this life in 1800. In 1801, John Jr. sold the farm for $7, 850. His father had originally paid $134.85. This included 174 acres. The Stukey family (with all 12 children), loaded their goods into wagons and went to Ohio where some of their friends and neighbors had previously settled. John purchased two tracts of land, a total of 320 acres. They built a small log house and barn, built a bigger barn in 1809. Then in 1813, they built a large two story home. Legend has it that John Stukey, Jr., was an excellent axeman–the best one around. He could hew out a board, straight, without an axe mark on it. He supposedly hewed out small boards and made a square pipeline, running from the spring to his house. Salome must have loved running water in the house. Adjoined to the home was a stone cook house. He placed hinges in the rocks and inserted iron rods of various lengths. Cooking pots and kettles could be placed on these rods and swung over the open fire for cooking. (Smart man–happy wife, happy life, and I’m sure these little things made life easier for Salome and her daughters as they cared for their large family.) It is noted that the early settlers lived on cornbread, potatoes, milk, butter, and wild game. Basically, whatever they could grow themselves, harvest in the wild, or kill. Salt cost $5 for 50 lbs, flour was $16/barrel, tea was $2.50/lb and coffee was $1.50/lb. Goods were brought in by way of the old Cumberland road for many years and this was quite expensive. Farmers grew flax and raised sheep to make clothes. Dyes were made from natural materials and ranged from yellow to brown and red. Candles for light were made at home. Shoes were also made at home, or perhaps by an itinerant cobbler.

John gradually acquired a total of 500 acres of land. He died August 9, 1818. Salome died March 4, 1821. They were buried in Stukey Cemetery, near Sugar Grove in Fairfield County, Ohio. John and Salome apparently did quite well in Ohio. The boys shared in the farm. The girls each received $320! John made sure in his will that Salome was well cared for during the remainder of her life, as was typical of that time. She received 15 bushels of good wheat, properly ground and 5 bushels of rye, also properly ground. She was to have 15 bushels of corn, 200 lbs of good meat–150 lbs of pork and 50 lbs of beef, 12 lbs of flax, as much fruit from the orchard as she desired and “1/4 of the garden that their son Joseph shall plow yearly and haul on it as much manure as is required for a good garden”. Joseph was also tasked with feeding and pasturing 2 cows for Salome, with his own.

While I was easily able to find information about the family in the census, tax rolls and Revolutionary War files, I was blessed to find a book, that fleshed out their lives. Genealogy of the Stukey, Ream, Grove, Clem and Denniston Families was written by Elmer Leonidas Denniston, originally in 1939. He noted, that at that time, the original small home was still standing. What a treasure!

Beulah Frances Slaback Smith Yttri was Avis’ mother. I remember her like this. I believe this might have been her 80th birthday.

She was born December 3, 1898 in Forest, Richland County, Wisconsin to Gustavus Peter Slaback and Ruth Elnora Sanford. As a child, she attended school, probably at Goose Creek, which was a one room school house. She later attended the Vernon County Normal School to obtain her teaching certificate. Mom said that Grandma wanted to be a nurse, but her parents wouldn’t hear of it. Apparently, that was not a respectable career in their eyes.

Beulah was said to have been a teacher out in the Dakotas, where exactly, I have not been able to locate. At some point, her father made her return home, as she had not been paid her salary, just room and board, maybe in students’ homes. I’m not sure the timeframe that she taught either. I just know Mom said she did.

On January 26, 1921, Beulah married Norval Smith. They had 6 children: Avis Lenell 1921-2014, Lyle 1923-1923, Lois Lorraine 1925-1992, Norma Naomi 1927-1980, Elnora Emogene (living) and (Norval) Gardner 1932-2010. Norval had served in the Army during WWI. He contracted throat cancer and died March 21, 1942. My mom said that Beulah made several crocheted bedspreads while she was caring for Norval while he was ill. One was a white ripple pattern. I’m not sure if the multi-colored ripple bedspread I own is one she made at that time or not.

Beulah later married Edward Yttri on December 20, 1944. For some reason they went to Winnebago County, Illinois to be married. I believe my Mom, Toni and Sheila were living with Beulah at the time, as Dad was in the Navy by that point. I remember Mom saying she waitressed during that time and lived with her Mom while Dad was gone.

Mom said that she remembered when her father was living, they went to dances, played cards and generally had good fun. I’m not sure when this picture below was taken, but it is by far my favorite picture of Beulah Slaback! She looks like she was having a fantastic time!

Beulah died June 4, 1986 at the age of 88.

The Extract of entries from an Old Parochial Register in Scotland reads as follows: 11th October 1836 “James Barrie Mason in New Scone and Margaret Anderson his wife had a daughter born the 6th current and baptized by the name of Emilia.” “James Barrie Mason in New Scone & Margaret Anderson his wife had a daughter born the 6th May 1834 and baptized by the name Barbara Stratton.” There was an additional daughter, named Ann, but I have not found much information about her.

Emilia (also known as Emily) was my mother’s maternal great grandmother. She is one of my favorite ancestors. She had great fortitude as you will see. And she was from Scotland!

My mother’s Aunt Emily Slaback Anderson gave an accounting of Emily and her husband Ephraim Sanford to her son Jim Anderson. I am fortunate that he shared a copy with me. I will share some excerpts with you.

In Emily Anderson’s words: “The history of the Barrie-Sanford family started in Scotland with the James Barrie family. My great-grand father had three daughters: Ann, Barbara and Emily. He lost his wife when the girls were quite young and later married a woman who, according to Grandma, did not make a good step-mother and was rather indolent.

A daughter, Jane, was born to them and this didn’t help the family situation….The step-mother spent much time in front of the fireplace toasting her feet. The girls secretly wished her clothing would catch on fire. Lo and behold, one day it really happened much to the pleasure of the three girls. Grandma like to tell about this incident, and would chuckle while she was telling it.”

In March of 1853, Emily, along with her Uncle David Barrie and other relatives sailed from Liverpool and landed in Montreal seven weeks later. From Montreal, they went to New York state, spent a short time there and then eventually made their way to Wisconsin.

Emily Barrie married Ephraim Sanford on October 8, 1855 in Kickapoo, Vernon County, WI. I have no knowledge of where they actually met. They had 10 children: Mary Jane (1856-1923), James Bernard (1858-1931), Charles (1859-186?), George D (1860-1934), Barbara Ann (1862-1950), Elmer (1863-1927), Eliza Adeline (1864-1962), Alice (1869-1962), Ruth Elnora (1871-1956), Ona Marguerite (1872-?). Ephraim enlisted in the Wisconsin infantry during the Civil War. Emily saved Ephraim’s army pay and with this they were able to buy a farm on Camp Creek.

Emily Anderson continues: “I cannot remember when Grandma wasn’t bothered with rheumatism; her rugged life left her quite crippled. She not only care for her own family, but helped the neighbors when there was sickness in the family. She was always on call when a new baby was born–a doctor was nearly unheard of at that time. She raised herbs and made her own medicine. “

The part that Emily doesn’t mention is that after the war Ephraim came back a changed man. He had suffered from chronic diarrhea and had contracted typhoid fever while in Georgia during June of 1864. He complained of headaches. And it eventually became clear that he could not stay at home. He was admitted to the Wisconsin State Hospital for the Insane on March 26, 1872. It was said that he had become increasingly violent and the older boys had found him trying to hang himself one morning when they went to the barn to do chores. This occurred while Emily was pregnant with Ona, who was born in November of that year.

Eventually, Emily Sanford sold the farm and bought a house in Viola where she lived the rest of her life. She received a government pension for Ephraim’s service and disability. She paid her taxes and lived on a pension that ranged between 8 and 12 dollars per month. She was a thrifty Scots woman! She spent much of her time in the dining room as it had a big double window with a southern exposure, a wide shelf or sill to hold plants and her sewing equipment. Her sewing consisted mostly of piecing quilts and sewing carpet rags.

Emily Barrie Sanford died January 10, 1911 and is buried beside Ephraim in the Viola Cemetery.

Let’s step back a few generations in Dad’s family. The man I will discuss today was Dad’s great uncle on his mother’s side. Dad’s mother was Mary Margaret Moore (name according to the 1900 U.S. census). Her mother was Sarah Elizabeth (Sadie) Ingram (Ingrum). Her brother Calvin Henry Ingram is who we will learn about today.

Calvin Henry Ingram was born September 3, 1869 in Richland County, Wisconsin to Franklin Ingram and Mary Anderson. As far as I can ascertain, he was child 4 of 5 children born to Frank and Mary. Before the youngest child’s birth in 1879, they had moved to Colorado, specifically, Brownville, Clear Creek County, Colorado. At that time Frank worked as a teamster, probably for a mining company. In 1884, when Cal was 14, his father died in an accident. In the 1885 Colorado State Census, Mary is the parent of the house, and the oldest son John, is listed as a miner. I’m guessing that his wages supported the household.

On August 1, 1896, Calvin married Emma Lounetta Whitcomb. They had 4 children: James Henry Ingram was born in 1898, the year after Cal’s brother James died. In 1900 Charles Francis was born. He died October 15, 1909. In 1903 their only daughter, Martha May (Sis) was born. And finally, in 1904, their 4th child, Walter John was born.

In the 1900 Federal Census for Silver Plume, Calvin is listed as an ore miner. At some point, he and his partner, Jim Coughlin, set the manual rock drilling record.

July 4, 1906, Cal was Captain of the Silver Plume Hose Co. No. 1. I do not know how long he served in that capacity.

By the time of the 1910 Federal Census, Calvin had a new job. He was the Road Overseer, Country Roads. Calvin died on January 6, 1915, at the age of 45.

When I first saw Calvin’s picture, I was struck by how much my brother, Rodney, looked like him. What do you think?

Jack and Avis met at a dance in Viola, Wisconsin.  It was during the spring, although I’m not clear as to what year.  I do know they had to wait until Avis turned 18 to marry.   Avis turned 18 on November 24, 1939.  They were married December 24, 1939.  Christmas eve was always special in our family.  Mother said the decorations were beautiful for the wedding.

They were blessed with their first child, LaDonna Lenell on October 25, 1940.  She was the first of 10 children born to them.  One of Avis’ grandmothers said she would never live to adulthood because she had violet eyes.  LaDonna died January 21, 1942 of pneumonia.  Remember, this was a time before antibiotics were used.  Avis was pregnant at the time with their second child, Antonia Rae.  When Toni was born in February, Mom said she wanted nothing to do with her because in her mind, LaDonna had to die for Toni to be born.  Luckily, a wise doctor gave Mom something to do every hour of the day for Toni and that’s how Mom bonded with her.

On December 13,  1943, Sheila Lynn was born.  Five days later, John was inducted into the United States Navy.  He served until December 29, 1945.  He was a Seaman 1st class and spent time on the USS Somers.  He mentioned that he was a torpedoman.  He also broke his left arm while in the service and became right handed permanently.

Jack came home after the war and Toni didn’t know who he was.  She woke Avis up by whispering, “Mommy, there’s a strange man in your bed.”   Luckily, Avis knew him.  They settled into typical post-war life with kids.  They spent some time in California, where Jack apprenticed as a Master Decorator.  It was while he was working on set that he met Ronald Reagan.  Patricia Dawn was born while they lived in California.

They moved back to Wisconsin and proceeded to have more children:  Rhonda Lee was born June 11, 1949.  Craig was a November baby.  Rodney Curtis was born August 17, 1953.  Marc Robert was stillborn on October 15, 1957.   I was a late birthday gift for Rhonda, one she repeatedly tried to send back!  Erin Joseph, the baby, was born one April.  They loved us all.

Jack and Avis celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary in December 1964.

Their house, which in previous life had been a cheese factory, burned down in 196_.   We moved next door to another, much smaller house on the same land. We then moved to Yellville, Arkansas.  Jack worked at Baxter Aircraft and Avis fulfilled her dream to become a nurse.  Jack later returned to hanging wallpaper.  His most famous clients at that time were Sam and Helen Walton, founders of Walmart.

 

 

 

 

 

John Louis Jones died April 9, 2004 at the age of 85.  He spent many hours in the car, shuttling kids to and from activities.  He always said he could have read an entire encyclopedia set while waiting on us.

Avis Lenell Jones joined Jack on October 16, 2014.  She missed him until the day she died.  RIP Mom and Dad.  You are missed and well loved.

 

 

 

 

John Louis Jones was born January 16, 1919 to William Robert Jones and Mary Margaret Moore.  He was known to one and all as Jack.  John Louis was not his original name.  It took three birth certificates to arrive at the name he used during his life.  His original birth certificate proclaimed his name to be Robert John Jones.  The next version, which was filed right after the first, said his name was Robert Louis Jones.  It wasn’t until May 17, 1967, on an amendment signed by his mother, that he is listed as John Louis Jones.

Jack grew up in Readstown, Wisconsin.  The family’s land was close to the Kickapoo River.  Jack spoke of a time that the area was rapidly flooding.  He jumped on a horse and moved the cattle to higher ground.  He got in quite a bit of trouble from his father for this action.

Jack’s sister, June told me a story of his teenage years.  It seems that Jack and a few friends had gone out of town.  On their way back into Readstown, with Jack at the wheel, a man stumbled out of a bar and into the street, directly into the path of the oncoming car.  Jack couldn’t stop the car quickly enough and the man was killed.  The man’s widow did not blame Jack.  She felt that her husband was drunk and it was his own fault.  I never heard my father speak of this incident, so I was glad June shared this with me.

Jack attended Readstown High School and graduated with the class of 1938.   One night, he went to a dance…