Who Was the First President Your Ancestors Could Vote For?

Katherine R. Willson of Social Media for Genealogy wrote a post yesterday, My Grandparents' First U.S. Presidental Election. It made me want to take a look and see who my parents, grandparents and great grandparents could have voted for in their very first election. Thank you, Katherine for such a great idea! 

Now, I have chosen to include my great grandparents, because my great grandmothers' would have been the first women in my family able to vote in a presidential election. 

My Great Grandparent's

My paternal great grandfather's are William Points Williams who was born in 1877 and Robert Lincoln Rich who was born in 1885. They would have been able to vote in their first elections in 1900 at the age of 25 and at age 23 in 1908 respectively. The candidates for the 1900 elections were William McKinley (Rep.), William J. Ryan (Dem. People's Party) and Eugene V. Debs (Socialist). The candidates for the 1908 elections were William H. Taft (Rep.), William J. Bryan (Dem.) and Eugene V. Debs (Socialist).

My maternal great grandfather's are William Joseph Rueff, Jr who born in 1874 and Dr Raymond Alexander Behrle who was born in 1880. They would have been able to vote in their first elections in 1896 and 1904 respectively. The candidates for the 1896 were William McKinley (Rep.), William J. Bryan (Dem. People's Party), John M. Palmer (National Democrats) and Joshua Levering (Prohibitionist). The candidates for the 1904 elections were Theodore Roosevelt (Rep.), Alton B. Parker (Dem.) and Eugene V. Debs (Socialist). 

My paternal great grandmother's are, Sarah Elizabeth (Lucas) Williams was born in 1879 and Lillian Bergamot (Lanahan) Rich was born in 1886. My maternal great grandmother's are Ann Marie (Kirn) Rueff was born in 1874 and Pauline (Orth) Behrle was born in 1888. All of these women would be able to vote in the 1920 elections Sarah would have been 41, Lillian would have been 34, Ann would have been 46 and Pauline would have been 32. The candidates for the 1920 elections were Warren G. Harding (Rep.), James M. Cox (Dem.), and Eugene V. Debs (Socialist).

My Grandparents

My paternal grandparents are William Elmer Williams and Peggy Scott (Rich) Williams. William was born in 1910 and Peggy in 1911. Both William and Peggy would have been able to vote in the 1932 election. The candidates for the 1932 election were Franklin D. Roosevelt (Dem.), Herbert Hoover (Rep.) and Norman Thomas (Socialist).

My maternal grandparents are George Kenneth Rueff and Mary Myrtle (Behrle) Rueff. George was born in 1905 and Myrtle was born in 1913. George would have been able to vote in the 1932 elections as well. Myrtle's first election would not be until 1936 and the candidates for that election were Franklin D. Roosevelt (Dem.), Alfred M. Landon (Rep.) and Norman Thomas (Socialist). 

Peggy was 8 years old and Myrtle was 6 years old when the 19th Amendment was ratified in 1919 giving women the right to vote. I can't help but wonder if they were even aware of such an important amendment to our Constitution at those ages. Knowing what I know of my great grandmothers I don't believe any of them participated in the women's suffrage movement, at least no evidence I have been able to find anyway to support that they did.

My Parents

My Mom and Dad would be married for a little over 5 years before they would be able to vote in their first election in 1960. They were living in Florida at this time. The candidates for the 1960 election were John F. Kennedy (Dem.) and Richard M. Nixon (Rep.).

Me

I registered to vote on my 18th birthday in Montgomery, Montgomery County, Alabama for the 1980 election. The candidates for the 1980 election were Ronald Regan (Rep.), Jimmy Carter (Dem.) and John B. Anderson (Independent). Unfortunately, I didn't get the chance to vote in 1980 because I was in the hospital recovering from anaphylactic shock from penicillin. I would have to wait another 4 years to be able to vote in my first presidential election.


Sources: 

Infoplease (http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0781450.html : accessed 15 November 2016), "Presidential Elections, 1789-2012".

Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org), "Nineteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution," rev. 19:00 UTC, 15 October 2016.        
                    

Happy Anniversary to My Grandparents, William & Peggy Williams!

My paternal grandparents, William Elmer Williams and Peggy Scott Rich would have been married 86 years today, March 24th. I believe is their 86th Wedding Anniversary, I think! They eloped and used variations of their names on the marriage records which I still have not been able to find but I do have pictures of their wedding announcements from the newspapers and a picture from my grandmother's scrapbook and how she arranged them in her scrapbook. My Aunt Sally is guardian of Grandma's scrapbook.

The photos below are two of wedding announcements that were in the paper announcing the surprise wedding of my grandparents and then one of the few photographs of my grandparents. My grandmother is the daughter of Robert Lincoln Rich and Lillian Bergamot Lanahan and my grandfather was the son of William Points Willams and Sarah Elizabeth Lucas.

(Personal Photograph Collection)

  The photograph above is the page from my grandmother's scrapbook. (Photo from personal collection.)

William and Peggy Williams (Personal Photograph Collection)

Tombstone Tuesday ~ Robert Lincoln Rich

From my trip to Northern Kentucky May 2004

Robert Lincoln "Bob" Rich is my paternal 1st great grandfather and he was a locomotive engineer for Southern Railway. He married my great grandmother, Lillian Bergamot Lanahan in 1905. They had 4 daughters, the eldest Helen Elizabeth born in 1906, their daughter Jean was born in 1908 and died in December 1909, their daughter and my grandmother, Peggy Scott was born in 1911 and their youngest daughter, Sarah Jane was born in 1913. He and my great grandmother were divorced in 1922 in Kenton County, Kentucky. In 1938, Bob married Lida Middleton Fowler and they had one daughter named Jane in 1941. Bob died April 14th, 1953 in Erlanger, Kentucky.

 

Breakthrough on a Monday ~ Yes, No or Maybe?

Yes! What a way to start a Monday! Today I spent some time looking through a new database, U.S. Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007 on Ancestry.com. I found my paternal step-grandfather, Glenn L. Hammond. There was much more information for him than others I have been looking up today.

This index provided me with an accurate birth date and year, the place where he was born, the names of his parents, date and place of death, his social security number and under notes were listed alternate name variations for him. I have been wondering what had happened to him for many years now. The last time I had seen him would have been in March of 1974 about three months after my grandmother, Peggy Rich Hammond died. 

The picture of above is the record I found, I took the picture so that you can see what I am talking about. I have blocked the social security number for privacy reasons. As you can can see I found a wealth of information on this record. Here is what I already knew (1) he was born in Saline County, Illinois, (2) his father was Walter L. Hammond and his wife's name was Emma M (no maiden) and I knew from census records that he had siblings and (3) I knew from conversations with his daughter that he possibly died in Alabama, but she wasn't sure at the time we exchanged emails many years ago.

This record now gives enough information to order his death certificate from Alabama and hopefully I can also get his birth certificate from Illinois. I already have the marriage certificate between Glenn and Peggy. It also gives me the opportunity to now search for his maternal lines.

While I still have more research to do on his family and I know I may order his records from the Social Security Administration to see if he remarried after the death of Peggy, if so perhaps she is still alive and can tell me how he spent the last years of his life. 

Sources: 

U.S. Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007, database and image, Ancestry (www.ancestry.com : 17 August 2015) citing Social Security Applications and Claims, 1936-2007 

Family Photo Friday - My Paternal Grandmother Peggy Scott Rich with her father and sisters

Standing left to right are my grandmother, Peggy Scott Rich, Sarah Jane Rich, my great grandfather, Robert Lincoln Rich and Helen Elizabeth "Libby" Rich. c. mid to late 1920's.

I found this photograph in collections that both my Dad and my Aunt Sally had in their possession. It is the only photograph I have of my great grandfather, Robert Lincoln Rich with his three eldest daughters, Helen, Peggy and Sarah. 

Here is a brief sketch of my grandmother, her sisters and their father in the order they were photographed. 

Peggy Scott Rich is my paternal grandmother and the mother of my father Bill and my Aunt Sally. She is the third daughter of Robert and Lillian (Lanahan) Rich. Peggy was born in 1911 in Kenton County, Kentucky and died in 1973 in Polk County, Florida. She married first, my grandfather William Elmer Williams about 1929 and second to Glendell L. Hammond.

Sarah Jane Rich, is the last child of Robert and Lillian (Lanahan) Rich. She was born in 1913 in Kenton County, Kentucky and died in 1987 in Fayette County, Kentucky. She married Robert Kirtley Points. They had one child.

Helen Elizabeth "Libby" Rich is the eldest daughter of Robert and Lillian (Lanahan) Rich. She was born in 1906 in Kenton County, Kentucky and died in 1967 in Alachua County, Florida. She married Jirah Donald "Don" Buck. They had no children of their own but for a time my Dad and his sister lived with them in Louisville, Kentucky.

Robert Lincoln Rich is the youngest son of Joseph P. and Helen M. (Lambert) Rich. He was born in 1885 in Kenton County, Kentucky and he died in 1953 in Kenton County also. He and Lillian were married in 1905 and were divorced in 1922. Robert and Lillian had a daughter Jean, who died as an infant. I contacted the cemetery where the family is buried while doing my research for this post, however I have not received any word back from them. Robert would later marry Lida Middleton Fowler in 1938 and together they had one child, Lida Fowler Rich.

I will be writing more in depth posts at a later date.

Sources: 

1910 U.S Census, database and images, Family Search (https://familysearch.org : accessed 10 June 2015), for Robert L. Rich, Ludlow, Kenton County, Kentucky, citing Sheet 11B, family # 212, citing National Archives microfilm publication T624 (National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), FHL microfilm: 1,374,502.

1920 U. S. Census, database and images, Family Search (https://familysearch.org : accessed 10 June 2015), for Robert L. Rich, Erlanger, Kenton County, Kentucky, citing Sheet 1B, family # 20, citing National Archives microfilm publication T625 (National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), FHL microfilm: 1,820,584.

1930 U. S. Census, database and images, Family Search (https://familysearch.org : accessed 10 June 2015), Robert L. Rich, Erlanger, Kenton County, Kentucky, citing Sheet 10B, family # 263, citing National Archives microfilm publication T626 (National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), FHL microfilm: 2,340,497.

1940 U. S. Census, database and images, Family Search (https://familysearch.org : accessed 10 June 2015), Robert L. Rich, Erlanger, Magisterial District 7, Kenton, Kentucky, citing enumeration district (ED) 59-77, sheet 12A, family # 225, NARA digital publication T627 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2012), roll 1325.

Florida Death Index, 1878-1998, database, Family Search (https://familysearch.org : accessed 10 June 2015), entry for Helen Rich Buck, August 1967; citing Florida Death Index, 1878-1998 Index (www.ancestry.com : accessed 10 June 2015 : 2004), citing volume 2982, certificate # 38523, Florida Department of Health, Office of Vital Records, 1998; citing original data: State of Florida, Florida Death I.

Florida Death Index, 1878-1998, database, Family Search (https://familysearch.org : accessed on 10 June 2015), entry for Peggy R. Hammond, 30 December 1973; citing Florida Index, 1878-1998 Index (www.ancestry.com : accessed on 10 June 2015); citing volume n.d., certificate # 89089, Florida Department of Health, Office of Vital Records; citing original data: State of Florida, Florida Death I.

Florida Marriages, 1830-1993, database and image, Family Search (https://familysearch.org : accessed on 10 June 2015), entry for Glendell L Hammond and Peggy R Williams, 26 March 1944; citing Broward Florida, U.S., county courthouses, Florida; FHL microfilm: 2,241,560.

Kentucky Birth Index, 1911-1999, database, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com : accessed on 10 June 2015), entry for Sara J Rich, 16 September 1913, Kenton County; citing Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives, Kentucky Birth, Marriage and Death Databases: Births 1911-1999; Frankfort Kentucky: Kentucky Department for Libraries.

Kentucky Birth Index, 1911-1999, database, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com : accessed on 10 June 2015), entry for Pegy Rich, 2 June 1911, Kenton County; citing Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives, Kentucky Birth, Marriage and Death Databases: Births 1911-1999; Frankfort Kentucky: Kentucky Department for Libraries.

Kentucky Death Records, 1852-1953, database and image, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com : accessed on 10 June 2015), entry for Robert Lincoln Rich, 14 April 1953; citing Kentucky Birth, Marriage and Death Records, Microfilm (1852-1910), Microfilm rolls #994027-994058. Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives, Frankfort, Kentucky.

Kentucky Death Index, 1911-2000, database, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com : accessed on 10 June 2015, entry for Sara J. Points, 4 November 1987; citing Commonwealth of Kentucky, Health Data Branch, Division of Epidemiology and Health Planning; citing Kentucky Death Index, 1911-2000, Frankfort, Kentucky.

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks - Week 16 - My Mormon Pioneer - Joseph Rich (1786-1866)

Today I would like to introduce you to  my first cousin seven times removed, Joseph Rich. Joseph was born April 16, 1786 in Cecil, Washington County, Pennsylvania to Thomas Rich (1763-1818) and Ann Pool (1761-1836). Joseph married Nancy O'Neal on June 3, 1808 in Boone County, Kentucky. Nancy is the daughter of Charles James O'Neal (1750-1814) and Jane Shaw (1750-Unknown) Joseph was raised in the Quaker faith. I am not sure what the circumstances were that lead him to join The Church of Jesus Christ and the Latter Day Saints. 

Joseph migrated with his parents Thomas and Ann Rich from Pennsylvania to Ohio around 1794. Then the family moved again to the counties of Boone and Campbell in Kentucky. They likely traveled by river in these early migrations of Joseph's family. The family would likely have had a journey with rough traveling conditions, facing a hostile environment with large forests, heavy underbrush, wild animals and Indians who were dissatisfied with the government for occupying their lands and the dangerous waters of the Ohio River.

Joseph, Nancy and their son Charles Coulson Rich would leave Kentucky behind and migrate to Switzerland County, Indiana around 1810.  Joseph and Nancy had four more children: Artemisia Rich (1811-1880), Jane Ann Rich (1813-1895), Minerva Rich (1816-1840) and Nancy Rich (1821-1857). It is one of two census record (1840 being the second) I cannot find for Joseph and his family. The 1820, census records show that he and his family were living in Posey, Switzerland, Indiana. 

By the 1830 census this family is living in Tazewell County, Illinois. In Tazewell, Joseph brought property totaling 160 acres between 1831 and 1839. Joseph with the help of his son would clear this land to build his family a new home and planted crops. On April 1, 1832 Joseph, his wife Nancy their son Charles and daughter Minerva were baptized and confirmed into the Church of Jesus Christ and the Latter Day Saints in Tazewell County, Illinois by Elder Hinkle. 

In July and September of 1838 Joseph and Charles bought land in Caldwell County, Missouri. According to land records they were co-owners of the property. Together they built a home for the family and one for Charles and his bride to be, Sarah DeArmon Pea. 

By  January 1, 1846 Joseph and Nancy  went through the ritual of Endowment in their Temple at Nauvoo, Illinois. On January 26, 1846 Joseph and Nancy had followed the custom of the Sealing ordinance. The purpose of the Sealing of a spouse and/or family members is so that they are bound together in this life and for all of eternity. 

During the 1840's when members were endowed at the Nauvoo Temple it consisted of two phases. The first phase was initiation, which consisted of washing and anointing the endowed after which they were dressed in temple undergarments. These garments were to be worn at all times especially when entering their temple. In the second phase the endowed would be instructed and then would move into a testing phase. The instruction consisted of the endowed's understanding of what was required of him or her by the Church such as rituals, prayers, gestures and symbols. Once the initiation was completed they would be tested on their instructions.

During the year of 1846, Joseph and Nancy along with their son Charles and their daughters Jane and Namcy and their respective families began their journey to Utah. According to the LDS Pioneer and Handcart Companies, 1847-1856, Joseph and his family traveled in their son Charles's company known as First Ten of Charles C. Rich's Guard. They arrived in Utah in July 1847. 

This was a perilous journey across difficult terrain and over the Rocky Mountains. The family would have had traveled by wagon, the men may have ridden horses and/or walked during this journey. They would have experienced all kinds of weather, hunger, diseases, birth's and death's. About three months after Joseph and Nancy arrived in Utah, Nancy died on October 5, 1847 in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Joseph Rich was sealed in marriage to Elizabeth Howard (widow of both William Standage and William Thackham) on January 18, 1853. He was then sealed in marriage to Harriet Edwards on March 29, 1857. Harriet came from overseas and between the voyage to America as well as the perilous journey to Utah she was very ill by the time she arrived. She died not long after she and Joseph were sealed. He would wed again on July 26, 1857 to Maria Bentley Christian Linford (widow of John Linford). Joseph and Maria were not sealed because she was already sealed in marriage to her first husband, John.

At the time of the 1850 US Census, Joseph is living in Davis, Utah Territory. Living with Joseph are a Elizabeth Rich age 60, Minerva Rich age 10 and a Thomas Miles age 21. I believe that this Elizabeth is possibly Joseph's second wife, Elizabeth Howard (1792-1870) and that Thomas Miles could be a relation of hers but so far I have not been able to prove this. Little Minerva is Joseph's granddaughter, her mother was Minerva Rich Earl who died a few weeks after Minerva was born. Her father, Asa Colton Earl asked his wife's parents to raise his daughter since he felt he was not able to at the time.

The 1860 Census record shows that Joseph is living with both Elizabeth and Maria in Centerville, Utah along with Maria's sons Joseph Linford and Amasa Linford. Sometime in the spring or summer of 1865 Joseph and his family moved to Paris, Idaho. Joseph Rich died at age 80, on July 23, 1866.

Sources:

Ancestry.com. LDS Pioneer and Handcart Companies, 1847-1856 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com, 2013.

Ancestry.com. Membership of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1830-1848 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2013.


U.S. Bureau of Land Management, “Land Patent Search,” database & digital images, General Land Office Records (http://www.glorecords.blm.gov/details/patent/default.aspx?accession=IL0520__.012&docClass=STA&sid=sbsyqvfu.ywf : accessed 4 September 2014) entry for Joseph Rich, Springfield, Illinois, Document #: 4105, Accession #': IL0520__.012.

U.S. Bureau of Land Management, "Land Patent Search," database & digital images  General Land Office Records, (http://www.glorecords.blm.gov/details/patent/default.aspx?accession=IL0570__.106&docClass=STA&sid=um0poif1.hkx : 4 September 2014), entry for Joseph Rich, Springfield, Illinois, Document #: 6828, Accession #: IL0570__.106.

U.S. Bureau of Land Management, "Land Patent Search", database & images, General Land Office Records (http://www.glorecords.blm.gov/details/patent/default.aspx?accession=IL3350__.145&docClass=STA&sid=um0poif1.hkx : 4 September 2014), entry for Joseph Rich, Springfield, Illinois, Document #: 16025, Accession #: IL3350__.145

U.S. Bureau of Land Management, “Land Patent Search,” digital images, General Land Office Records (http://www.glorecords.blm.gov/details/patent/default.aspx?accession=MO1230__.148&docClass=STA&sid=htw0ucg3.1lc : accessed 4 September 2014), entry for Joseph Rich, Lexington, Missouri, Document #: 9180, Accession #: MO1230_.148.

U.S. Bureau of Land Management, “Land Patent Search,” digital images, General Land Office Records, (http://www.glorecords.blm.gov/details/patent/default.aspx?accession=MO1250__.476&docClass=STA&sid=vkrtfivj.d4q : accessed 4 September 2014) entry for Joseph Rich, Lexington, Missouri, Document #: 10551,  Accession #: MO1250_.476

U.S. Bureau of Land Management, “Land Patent Search,” digital images, General Land Office Records ( http://www.glorecords.blm.gov/details/patent/default.aspx?accession=MO1250__.477&docClass=STA&sid=vkrtfivj.d4q : accessed 4 September 2014), entry for Joseph Rich, Document #: 10552, Accession #: MO1250_.477

Zula Rich Cole, Pioneer Joseph Rich 1786-1866 Father of Charles Coulson Rich

Jordon Dodd, Kentucky Marriages, 1802-1850 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 1997.

Find A Grave. Find A Grave. http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi: accessed 30 August 2014.

"United States Census, 1820," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XHG4-D1X : accessed 04 Sep 2014), Joseph Rich, Posey, Switzerland, Indiana; citing "1820 United States Federal Census," Ancestry.com; p. 171, NARA microfilm publication M33, roll 14, National Archives and Records Administration, Washington D.C.; FHL microfilm 0205608.

"United States Census, 1830," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XHPY-K8S : accessed 04 Sep 2014), Joseph Rick, Northern Precinct, Tazewell, Illinois; citing "1830 United States Federal Census," Ancestry.com; p. 166, NARA microfilm publication M19, roll 23, National Archives and Records Administration, Washington D.C.; FHL microfilm 0007648.

"United States Census, 1850," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MCS6-Y62 : accessed 04 Sep 2014), Joseph Rich, Davis county, Davis, Utah Territory, United States; citing family 39, NARA microfilm publication M432.

"United States Census, 1860," index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MH24-QZN : accessed 04 Sep 2014), Joseph Rich, Centerville, Davis, Utah Territory, United States; citing "1860 U.S. Federal Census - Population," Fold3.com; p. 28, household ID 169, NARA microfilm publication M653; FHL microfilm 805313.

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks - Week 14 - Favorite Photo

This week for 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks the theme is "Favorite Photo". I have so many favorites but I have narrowed it down to pictures my paternal and maternal grandmothers. Both of them died way too early. I wish that they had been around much longer than the few short years I was able to spend with them. They are in my top 15 list of ancestors I wish I could interview now, if only it were possible! They both led very different lives, came from different backgrounds and different areas of Kentucky. 

Peggy Scott Rich

The photo on the left is my paternal grandmother, Peggy Scott Rich. This is a high school picture of Peggy circa 1929-1930. Peggy was born on June 2nd 1911 in Erlanger, Kentucky, to Robert Lincoln Rich and Lillian Bergamot Lanahan. 

My grandmother's parents divorced when she was a young girl. She was the second eldest daughter of four girls. Peggy married my grandfather, William Elmer Williams about 1930, while in her senior year of high school. They eloped and used a variation of their names, I have had no luck in finding their marriage records. 

Peggy's paternal lines are very deep rooted in northern Kentucky and are primarily of English descent. While Peggy's maternal lines are of Irish descent with her maternal grandfather a first generation Irish-American. 

Their first child is my Aunt Sally was born in 1931 and my Dad was born four years later in 1935. My paternal grandparents didn't have a lot of time together as a married couple because my grandfather died of tuberculosis in August 1935, just 8 months after my Dad was born. My Dad and his sister were shuffled back and forth between their Mom in Florida and her sister Helen Elizabeth "Libby" Rich Buck

Losing my grandfather after such a short time and two children under 6 must have been very difficult for Peggy. She found a job working for Pan-Am and worked in Miami where she met her second husband, Glendell L. Hammond while he was stationed in Miami during World War II. They were married in 1944 in Broward County, Florida. She and Glen had one daughter.

I have many memories of my grandmother but what I remember most is that when we went to visit her she always had a pack of Pall Mall cigarettes (the red package) and the mini bottles of Coke-Cola she always let us drink. Peggy died of lung cancer at age 62 in Polk County, Florida on December 30th, 1973. 

Mary Myrtle Behrle

The photo to the left is my maternal grandmother, Mary Myrtle Behrle. Like my paternal grandmother Peggy this is also her high school picture, circa 1930-1931. She was born on May 2nd, 1913 in Louisville, Kentucky, the only child of Dr. Raymond Alexander and Pauline M. "Lena" (Orth) Behrle. 

Myrtle married my grandfather, George Kenneth Rueff on September 26th, 1936 in Louisville, Kentucky. Their first child is my mother, Nina, followed by my Uncle Kenny and my Aunt Bonnie. Myrtle never worked outside of the home. 

Myrtle is German through and through! Her maternal grandfather was born in Kentucky shortly after his parents immigrated to the United States from Germany while her maternal grandmother was her immigrant ancestor and also from Germany. 

I also have many wonderful memories of Myrtle. She smoked Bel-Air cigarettes, she wore what she called "pedal pushers" or capris pants and sneakers. She would always make us "brown cows" better known as an ice cream float. We went outside to play we could not go further than the houses on either side of her house, even as teenagers! The year before she died I went to visit Myrtle with my Mom who was attending her high school reunion. I remember that summer so well especially when my cousin Becky, instead if asking our grandmother for permission to go to the shopping center with the boy next store we asked our grandfather who of course said yes! Myrtle was not happy with us that day. 

Myrtle died of cirrhosis on her 41st wedding anniversary, September 26th, 1977 in Louisville, Kentucky she was 64 years old. 

Copyright © Dawning Genealogy/Dawn M Kogutkiewicz 2014-2015, All rights reserved.  

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks - Week 7 - Meet My Mormon Ancestor Charles Coulson Rich and Eliza Ann Graves - Part 4

Update: In an effort to get back on track with the 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks and to finish my story about Charles Coulson Rich, my Mormon Pioneer I have decided to repost the previous stories I have written so that (1) the story of Charles and his family will flow better and (2) to present the stories in order.


With the blessing of his first wife, Sarah DeArmon Pea Rich, Charles married as his second wife Eliza Ann Graves on January 2nd, 1845 at the Nauvoo Temple in Nauvoo, Illinois.

Eliza is the daughter of Reuben Graves (1786-1858) and Phoebe Palmer (1788-1858) was born in Waterford, Vermont on June 3rd, 1811. She was a sickly child and because of this she was taught to sew suits by hand by her maternal aunt. In 1832, when her family moved to Erie, Pennsylvania. Eliza and her mother, opened a tailor shop and hired a few apprentices.

It was in Erie when Eliza, her mother and her sister, Mary Palmer Graves were introduced to the teachings of the Church of Jesus Christ and the Latter Day Saints and were baptized into the church. As was custom at the time, Eliza and her mother welcomed church missionaries into their home. On one occasion while caring for a sick elder, Eliza met her future husband who had come to call on the elder. Sometime in 1841, Eliza and her family left Erie and traveled to Nauvoo, Illinois.

By all accounts, Eliza was a small woman standing about five feet, two inches tall and weighed about ninety-eight pounds. She was a successful business woman who ran and operated a sewing business in Erie, Pennsylvania and Nauvoo, Illinois. She hired women and girls as apprentices and taught them her craft.

Eliza and Charles were married on January 2nd, 1845 in Nauvoo. They were sealed to each other forever on February 3rd, 1846 at the new Nauvoo Temple. Charles and Eliza had three daughters. The eldest was Mary Bratton Rich (1846-1931), Eliza Ann Rich (1848-1849) and Frances Phoebe Rich (1850-1932). Mary Bratton Rich has the distinction of being the first polygamous child of her father, Charles Coulson Rich. 

 Left to right are: Eliza Ann Graves Rich, Mary Bratton Rich Linford and Frances Phoebe Rich Collings

Within days of Charles and his family leaving Nauvoo, Eliza gave birth to their daughter, Mary Bratton. With Eliza's history of being sickly Charles made the decision to leave without Eliza and Mary as the rest of the family headed for Winters Quarters, Nebraska. Eliza understood and asked that Charles bless her, which he did, then left her and the baby in her mother's care. 

Once Eliza was strong enough to join Charles and the rest of the family in Nebraska, Mary became very ill. Eliza and her mother endured the violence that was happening in Nauvoo in the summer of 1846. Eliza was taunted and harassed by the citizens of Nauvoo with comments such as Charles had forsaken her and their daughter. Finally on September 3rd, 1846, Eliza, along with her mother and daughter began their journey west and the family reunited.

Eliza Ann Graves Rich died on June 2nd, 1879 in Paris, Bear Lake, Idaho at the age of 67. She is the only wife of Charles Coulson Rich to die before he did in 1883.

Sources:
Arrington, Leonard J. Mormon General and Frontiersman (https://dcms.lds.org/delivery/DeliveryManagerServlet?dps_pid=IE96564&from=fhd) accessed 4 September 2014  page 286 images of the following: Eliza Ann Graves, Mary B Rich Linford and Frances Rich Collings.

Arrington, Leonard J. Mormon General and Frontiersman (https://dcms.lds.org/delivery/DeliveryManagerServlet?dps_pid=IE96564&from=fhd) accessed 4 September 2014

www.familysearch.org, Eliza Ann Graves Contributed by pandersen3803350 (https://familysearch.org/photos/stories/10489875) accessed on 27 October 2014

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks - Week 6 - My Mormon Pioneer Charles Coulson Rich and Sarah DeArmon Pea - Part 3

Update: In an effort to get back on track with the 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks and to finish my story about Charles Coulson Rich, my Mormon Pioneer I have decided to repost the previous stories I have written so that (1) the story of Charles and his family will flow better and (2) to present the stories in order.

The above image is of a young Charles Coulson Rich. This image is from The Annual Reunion of the Charles Coulson Rich Family 1965 and contributed to www.familysearch.org by Paul D. Peery.

In my previous post of Charles Coulson Rich, I tried to give a broad overview of his life and the events that happened in his life once he had converted to the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints. I had intended for the next post in this series to be about Charles and his first wife, Sarah DeArmon Pea. However, I feel it is necessary to finish with Charles first and then continue with each wife and that individual family.

Charles fled Missouri in November 1838 after the Battle of Crooked River and went to Quincy, Illinois. Upon his arrival in Quincy, Charles stayed with the family of George Crouch.  Charles rented a farm just outside of Quincy known at The Old Methodist Institute. Charles soon realized that the farm he had rented could not support his growing family. The small family returned to the home of George Crouch where they rented a room. Charles continued to work on the farm he rented and hired out to do jobs like rail splitting. 

Charles and his family were in poverty at this point in time. Having fled Missouri with almost nothing but the clothes on their back and what items they could carry or take in a single wagon. They were not alone, everyone who had fled were in similar circumstances. In the past they had looked to the leaders of the Church, their Prophet Joseph Smith and other high ranking church members for economic and spiritual support. Most of these officials were still imprisoned in Missouri. The community of Quincy did what they could to help the Mormon community by hiring the men to work in whatever jobs they had.

In April of 1839, the leaders of the Church were released from prison. These leaders began looking for options as to where they might could settle next without fear of being forced to flee yet again. They found Commerce, Illinois about 50 miles from Quincy. Here the church purchased land and Charles once again became involved in the building of new community. He would purchase a plot of land and build a log cabin home for his family. The town of Commerce became Nauvoo in April 1940.

On July 12, 1843, Prophet Joseph Smith reveals principle of plural marriage and the eternity of the marriage covenant. Charles and Sarah were told of the doctrine and it was understood that Charles was being urged to enter into choosing plural marriages. However, Sarah DeArmon Pea Rich was his first wife and the final decision as to whether Charles would have plural wives was hers. If she did not agree with the proposed idea of plural marriage then Charles would most likely would not have taken any other wives. On the other hand if Sarah did agree then Charles would then seek out an additional wife or wives. 

As it turned out, Sarah did agree with the idea of plural marriages and went so far as to help her husband choose who his future wives should be. It would be almost two years before Charles would take a new wife. In 1845, Charles would wed Eliza Ann Graves (2nd wife), Mary Ann Phelps (3rd wife) and Sarah Jane Peck (4th wife) over an eight day period between January 2, 1845 and January 9, 1845 at the Nauvoo Temple. On February 2, 1846 he wed Emeline Grover, his 5th wife. He married Harriet Sargent on March 28, 1847 in Winter Quarters, Nebraska as his 6th and final wife. Both Emeline and Harriet were 14 years old when they married Charles.

Charles Coulson Rich had six wives. Above are five of them. From left to right are Sarah DeArmon Pea, middle top is Mary Ann Phelps, middle bottom is Emeline Grover, top right is Sarah Jane Peck and lower right is Harriet Sargent.

Several events transpired in 1844 that accelerated the tensions between the Mormon and non-Mormon communities. The Nauvoo Expositor, was a newspaper published by former members of the Church who were critical of Joseph Smith. There was only one paper printed by The Nauvoo Expositor on June 7, 1844. On June 10, 1844 Joseph Smith orders the destruction of the newspaper office and printer. Eight days later, on June 18, 1844 Joseph Smith, who was also the mayor of Nauvoo at the time declared martial law and activates the Nauvoo Legion, the city's militia. An arrest warrant was issued for Joseph and his brother Hyrum. They agree to a trial in Carthage, Illinois Joseph and Hyrum were jailed and awaiting trial. Then three days later, on June 24th the Carthage jail was attacked by mob. Joseph and Hyrum Smith were killed and no one was ever charged with their murder. These events would pull Charles in and alter his world yet again. 

Stay tuned for the rest of Charles Coulson Rich's story and those of his wives and their respective families. If you missed the first two posts you can find them here http://dawninggenealogy.blogspot.com/2015/02/52-ancestors-in-52-weeks-week-4-meet-my.html and here http://dawninggenealogy.blogspot.com/2015/02/52-ancestors-in-52-weeks-week-5-my.html.

Sources:
Ancestry.com. LDS Pioneer and Handcart Companies, 1847-1856 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com, 2013.

Ancestry.com. Membership of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1830-1848 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2013.

Arrington, Leonard J. Mormon General and Frontiersman (https://dcms.lds.org/delivery/DeliveryManagerServlet?dps_pid=IE96564&from=fhd) accessed 4 September 2014

Church of Jesus Christ and the Latter Day Saints, Chronology of Church History Timeline (https://history.lds.org/timeline/tabular/chronology-of-church-history?lang=eng) accessed 10 September 2014.

The Church of Jesus Christ and the Latter Day Saints, Doctrine and Covenants, Section 132 (https://www.lds.org/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/132?lang=eng) accessed 15 September 2014 

The Church of Jesus Christ and the Latter Day Saints, Doctrine and Covenants Student Manual, 2002 Official Declaration 1 Manifesto (https://www.lds.org/manual/doctrine-and-covenants-student-manual/official-declarations/official-declaration-1-manifesto?lang=eng) accessed 15 September 2014

The Church of Jesus Christ and the Latter Day Saints, Plural Marriages and Families in Early Utah (https://www.lds.org/topics/plural-marriage-and-families-in-early-utah?lang=eng) accessed 15 September 2014 

Church History in the Fulness of Times Student Manual, (2003), 211-234, Chapter Seventeen: Refugee in Illinois (https://www.lds.org/manual/church-history-in-the-fulness-of-times-student-manual/chapter-seventeen-refuge-in-illinois?lang=eng) accessed 10 Sep 2014

Cole, Zula Rich. Pioneer Joseph Rich 1786-1866 Father of Charles Coulson Rich

Peery, Paul Davis, Family Search.org, digital image, (https://www.familysearch.org//photos/images/3815740 : accessed 15 September 2014), photograph, "Annual Reunion of the Charles Coulson Rich Family Utah State University Campus & LDS Institute - August 13-14, 1965

PBS.org "Timeline: The Early History of the Mormons" (http://www.pbs.org/mormons/timeline/timeline2.html) accessed 10 September 2014)

Rich, Emeline Grover (1831-1917),City of San Bernadino California Library Services, (http://www.sbcity.org/cityhall/library/services/history/pioneers/p_r/rich_e.asp) accessed 30 September 2014

Rich, Harriet Sargent (1832-1915), City of San Bernadino California Library Services, (http://www.sbcity.org/cityhall/library/services/history/pioneers/p_r/rich_h.asp) accessed 30 September 2014

Rich, Mary Ann Phelps, (1829-1912), City of San Bernadino California Library Services, (http://www.sbcity.org/images/departments/library/csb_jpg/csb_130.jpg) accessed 30 September 2014

Rich, Sarah DeArmon Pea, (1814-1893), The Church of Jesus Christ and the Latter Day Saints, FamilySearch.org Contributed by deeanhicks1 (https://familysearch.org/photos/images/224244?p=90846) accessed 15 September 2014

Rich, Sarah Jane Peck, (1825-1893), The Church of Jesus Christ and the Latter Day Saints, FamilySearch.org Contributed by  RobertNelsonWestover (https://familysearch.org/photos/images/755662) accessed on 15 September 2014
  Wikipedia contributors, "Chronology of Mormonism," Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Chronology_of_Mormonism&oldid=623891857 (accessed 10 September 2014). 

Wikipedia contributors. "Battle of Crooked River." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 21 Jan. 2014. Web. 11 Sep. 2014.  

Wikipedia contributors. "Charles C. Rich." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 10 Sep. 2014. Web. 11 Sep. 2014. 

Copyright © Dawn M Kogutkiewicz 2014-2015, All rights reserved.

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks - Week 5 - My Mormon Pioneer: Charles Coulson Rich Part 2

Update: In an effort to get back on track with the 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks and to finish my story about Charles Coulson Rich, my Mormon Pioneer I have decided to repost the previous stories I have written so that (1) the story of Charles and his family will flow better and (2) to present the stories in order.

A pictorial version of the Route of the Mormon Pioneers from Nauvoo to Great Salt Lake.

In my previous post of Charles Coulson Rich, I tried to give a broad overview of his life and the events that happened in his life once he had converted to the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints. I had intended for the next post in this series to be about Charles and his first wife, Sarah DeArmon Pea. However, I feel it is necessary to finish with Charles first and then continue with each wife and that individual family.

Charles fled Missouri in November 1838 after the Battle of Crooked River and went to Quincy, Illinois. Upon his arrival in Quincy, Charles stayed with the family of George Crouch.  Charles rented a farm just outside of Quincy known at The Old Methodist Institute. Charles soon realized that the farm he had rented could not support his growing family. The small family returned to the home of George Crouch where they rented a room. Charles continued to work on the farm he rented and hired out to do jobs like rail splitting. 

Charles and his family were in poverty at this point in time. Having fled Missouri with almost nothing but the clothes on their back and what items they could carry or take in a single wagon. They were not alone, everyone who had fled were in similar circumstances. In the past they had looked to the leaders of the Church, their Prophet Joseph Smith and other high ranking church members for economic and spiritual support. Most of these officials were still imprisoned in Missouri. The community of Quincy did what they could to help the Mormon community by hiring the men to work in whatever jobs they had.

In April of 1839, the leaders of the Church were released from prison. These leaders began looking for options as to where they might could settle next without fear of being forced to flee yet again. They found Commerce, Illinois about 50 miles from Quincy. Here the church purchased land and Charles once again became involved in the building of new community. He would purchase a plot of land and build a log cabin home for his family. The town of Commerce became Nauvoo in April 1940.

On July 12, 1843, Prophet Joseph Smith reveals principle of plural marriage and the eternity of the marriage covenant. Charles and Sarah were told of the doctrine and it was understood that Charles was being urged to enter into choosing plural marriages. However, Sarah DeArmon Pea Rich was his first wife and the final decision as to whether Charles would have plural wives was hers. If she did not agree with the proposed idea of plural marriage then Charles would most likely would not have taken any other wives. On the other hand if Sarah did agree then Charles would then seek out an additional wife or wives. 

As it turned out, Sarah did agree with the idea of plural marriages and went so far as to help her husband choose who his future wives should be. It would be almost two years before Charles would take a new wife. In 1845, Charles would wed Eliza Ann Graves (2nd wife), Mary Ann Phelps (3rd wife) and Sarah Jane Peck (4th wife) over an eight day period between January 2, 1845 and January 9, 1845 at the Nauvoo Temple. On February 2, 1846 he wed Emeline Grover, his 5th wife. He married Harriet Sargent on March 28, 1847 in Winter Quarters, Nebraska as his 6th and final wife. Both Emeline and Harriet were 14 years old when they married Charles.

Charles Coulson Rich had six wives. Above are five of them. From left to right are Sarah DeArmon Pea, middle top is Mary Ann Phelps, middle bottom is Emeline Grover, top right is Sarah Jane Peck and lower right is Harriet Sargent.

Several events transpired in 1844 that accelerated the tensions between the Mormon and non-Mormon communities. The Nauvoo Expositor, was a newspaper published by former members of the Church who were critical of Joseph Smith. There was only one paper printed by The Nauvoo Expositor on June 7, 1844. On June 10, 1844 Joseph Smith orders the destruction of the newspaper office and printer. Eight days later, on June 18, 1844 Joseph Smith, who was also the mayor of Nauvoo at the time declared martial law and activates the Nauvoo Legion, the city's militia. An arrest warrant was issued for Joseph and his brother Hyrum. They agree to a trial in Carthage, Illinois Joseph and Hyrum were jailed and awaiting trial. Then three days later, on June 24th the Carthage jail was attacked by mob. Joseph and Hyrum Smith were killed and no one was ever charged with their murder. These events would pull Charles in and alter his world yet again. 

Stay tuned for the rest of Charles Coulson Rich's story and those of his wives and their respective families.

Sources:
Ancestry.com. LDS Pioneer and Handcart Companies, 1847-1856 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com, 2013.

Ancestry.com. Membership of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1830-1848 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2013.

Arrington, Leonard J. Mormon General and Frontiersman https://dcms.lds.org/delivery/DeliveryManagerServlet?dps_pid=IE96564&from=fhd :  accessed 4 September 2014

Church of Jesus Christ and the Latter Day Saints, Chronology of Church History Timeline https://history.lds.org/timeline/tabular/chronology-of-church-history?lang=eng : accessed 10 September 2014.

The Church of Jesus Christ and the Latter Day Saints, Doctrine and Covenants, Section 132 (https://www.lds.org/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/132?lang=eng : accessed 15 September 2014

The Church of Jesus Christ and the Latter Day Saints, Doctrine and Covenants Student Manual, 2002 Official Declaration 1 Manifesto (https://www.lds.org/manual/doctrine-and-covenants-student-manual/official-declarations/official-declaration-1-manifesto?lang=eng) accessed 15 September 2014

The Church of Jesus Christ and the Latter Day Saints, Plural Marriages and Families in Early Utah https://www.lds.org/topics/plural-marriage-and-families-in-early-utah?lang=eng) accessed 15 September 2014 

Church History in the Fulness of Times Student Manual, (2003), 211-234, Chapter Seventeen: Refugee in Illinois https://www.lds.org/manual/church-history-in-the-fulness-of-times-student-manual/chapter-seventeen-refuge-in-illinois?lang=eng : accessed 10 September 2014

Cole, Zula Rich. Pioneer Joseph Rich 1786-1866 Father of Charles Coulson Rich

PBS.org "Timeline: The Early History of the Mormons" http://www.pbs.org/mormons/timeline/timeline2.html : accessed 10 September 2014)

Rich, Emeline Grover (1831-1917),City of San Bernadino California Library Services, http://www.sbcity.org/cityhall/library/services/history/pioneers/p_r/rich_e.asp : accessed 30 September 2014

Rich, Harriet Sargent (1832-1915), City of San Bernadino California Library Services, http://www.sbcity.org/cityhall/library/services/history/pioneers/p_r/rich_h.asp : accessed 30 September 2014

Rich, Mary Ann Phelps, (1829-1912), City of San Bernadino California Library Services, http://www.sbcity.org/images/departments/library/csb_jpg/csb_130.jpg : accessed 30 September 2014

Rich, Sarah DeArmon Pea, (1814-1893), The Church of Jesus Christ and the Latter Day Saints, FamilySearch.org Contributed by deeanhicks1 https://familysearch.org/photos/images/224244?p=90846 : accessed 15 September 2014

Rich, Sarah Jane Peck, (1825-1893), The Church of Jesus Christ and the Latter Day Saints, FamilySearch.org Contributed by  RobertNelsonWestover https://familysearch.org/photos/images/755662 : accessed on 15 September 2014

Wikipedia contributors, "Chronology of Mormonism," Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Chronology_of_Mormonism&oldid=623891857  : accessed 10 September 2014). 



Route of the Morman Pioneers from Nauvoo to Great Salt Lake, February 1846-July 1847 Library of Congress Geography and Map Division Washington, D.C. 20540-4650  (Digital ID-g4051s ct001119 http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.gmd/g4051s.ct00111) LOC Catalog Number gm69002272 http://www.loc.gov/item/gm69002272/ : accessed 15 September 2014

Wikipedia contributors. "Battle of Crooked River." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Crooked_River : accessed  11 September 2014.  

Wikipedia contributors. "Charles C. Rich." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_C._Rich : 10 September 2014.

Copyright © Dawn M Kogutkiewicz 2014-2015, All rights reserved.