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Militia Enrollment, Franklin Township, Owen, Indiana

Update

I have found an online source for this. This is from the Indiana Draft Enrollment Lists of 1862. It has been posted online and transcribed on a site called From the Page, which seems to be a place to volunteer to transcribe documents for museums and libraries. The images on this site are much clearer than what you see in this post.

Had I known this was out there, I wouldn ‘t have done this post. But, it was fun, if tedious at times, research.

Indiana Archives and Records Administration Virtual Volunteer Program

Original Post

This image was in Helen Ruby Light Thomson (1913-2012)’s notebook in 2001. I don’t know the source beyond that.

This is a Civil War area militia enrollment log for Franklin Township, Owen, Indiana. It is undated, or the portion I have is. But, it is probably from 1862 or 1863, due to Tice Light’s recorded age.

Transcription

Militia Enrollment
State of Indiana, Owen County, Franklin Township
Roll of able-bodied white male citizens resident in Franklin Township, Owen County, Indiana, over 18 years and under 45 years of age, subject to military duty.
Enrolled in pursuance of orders from the Secretary of War, by James M. Johnson Dep. Commissioner for said Township.

                                       NOT ABLE  
                                       BODIED,   EXEMPT,
No.  NAMES.	    AGE.  OCCUPATION.  AND WHY.  AND WHY.  REMARKS
 85  Thomas Wood    19	  Farmer			
 86  A J Hicks      30    "            Right eye out		
 87  John McIntosh  28	  "			
 88  John Ooley	    25	  "			
 89  Pleasant       32	  "			           Since Vol
        Franklin
 90  William R.     36	  "	
        Johnson  		
 91  Abner Johnson  26	  "			
 92  Phillip        30	  "			           Since Vol
        Carpenter
 93  John McGee	    30	  "			
 94  Wilson Zellers 26	  "			
 95  Abner Light    19	  "			
 96  John Burns	    32	  "			
 97  Gideon B.      20	  "			
        Potter
 98  Jucson Slough  18    "			
 99  T. J. Gentry   40	  "			
100  Silas E. Deem  21	  "			
101  Isaac Ooley    22    "			
102  Edmond         19    "             Right arm broke	
        Vandeventer	
103  Lowry Deem	    22	  "			
104  John R. Brown  24    "             Heart    Weak
	                                disease  generally
105  Galen Bray	    37	  "			
106  George A.      41    "             Frequent piles	
        Hogan	
107  Tice Light     35    "             Rheumatism		
108  Henry Carter   25	  "

Notes

Tice Light really, really wanted to go to war. One story was that he was medically denied locally, and another was that the medical denial was not real, but was done because the family wouldn’t make it without him. I believe the first story, because the next part involves him leaving his family the day after the birth of his twins Elvin and Melvin in 1864 to go to Indianapolis in a last-ditch effort to join up. He was also medically denied there.

What I could find about these men

  • Thomas Jacob Wood (1843-1920) – strangely, he enlisted in Co. B, 59th Indiana Infantry 18 Oct 1861 and served until March 1864. Not sure why he was on this list that seems to be from 1862. I can’t find a burial location for him.
  • Andrew Jackson Hicks (1832-1902) – he did not end up serving, which makes sense as he was disqualified due to “Right eye out.” I had hoped to find a photo of him to confirm, but I didn’t.
  • John Wesley McIntosh (1834-1900) – his gravestone shows that he served in Co. A, 59th Indiana Infantry
  • John Ooley (1837-1919) – My first cousin 5x removed, he was the son of the brother of my 4th great-grandmother, Arvida Ooley Johnson (1804-1933). He also married Hester Ann Light (1838-1917), who was the sister of Tice Light, and so my 3rd great-grandaunt. I’ve seen no evidence of military service for him.
  • Pleasant Franklin (1820-1863) – he served in Co. H, 97th Indiana Infantry, and died during his service of phthisis pulmonalis, or pulmonary consumption. He was laid to rest at Memphis National Cemetery and, unlike many buried there who perished of disease in Memphis hospitals, his grave is marked.
  • William R. Johnson (1826-1886) – this is another cousin, first 5x removed, son of Hester Light Johnson (1798-1865), who was the sister of my 4th great-grandfather Baird ‘Bird’ Light (1805-1867). His father was a guy named Skillethead Johnson who was supposed to be a Cherokee but I think was likely at least part white based on trees I’ve seen. William’s burial location is unknown to me. His wife is at Crown Point in Indianapolis and her grave is unmarked. I don’t believe he served in the military.
  • Abner Johnson (1836-1871) – William R.’s brother, he served in Co. K, 137th Indiana Infantry.
  • Philip Carpenter (1832-1907)
    • He enlisted in Co. H, 97th Indiana Infantry and deserted a few months later. Strangely enough, he, and later his wife, seems to have collected a pension. I can’t find a burial for him, but he seems to have died in Arkansas in 1907. His wife was an Ooley, and surely a cousin, but the trees I’ve seen are such a mess that I can’t state her connection at the moment.
  • “John McGee”
  • Wilson Zellers (1833-????) – The last name is sometimes “Zellars.” He served in Co. C., 57th Indiana Infantry. His wife was Martha Johnson, another daughter of Skillethead, and so Wilson is related by marriage. His death date is nowhere to be found, but he lived until at least 1896 as I found mention of his pension being increased in a newspaper.
  • Abner Jasper Light (1842-1911) – He was my 3rd great-granduncle, brother of Tice Light and Hester Ann who married John Ooley. He served in Co. K, 137th Indiana Infantry.
  • John Burns (1830-????) – He was from North Carolina. I’ve seen no evidence of his service. He was last enumerated in a US Census in 1880 in Missouri.
  • Gideon B. Potter (1842-1868) – I have found no information on his service.
  • Jucson Slough (1844-????) – I can’t find anything about this person. I have looked for “Jackson Slough” and other Slough males to no avail. There was an Aaron L. Slough, born in 1844, who served and was from Owen County. If I’m wrong about the name, please let me know. This one is a mystery.
  • Theoderick James “T. J.” Gentry (1822-1894) – he served in Co. D, 33rd Indiana Infantry near the end of the war.
  • Silas E. Deem (1841-1934) – he served in Co. B, 97th Indiana Infantry
  • Isaac Ooley (1842-1865) – He enlisted near the end of the war and served in Co. G, 13th Indiana Infantry until his death at Point of Rocks Hospital in Virginia. He was the son of Elijah & Sarah Newton Ooley. My relationship to him is 2nd cousin 4x removed, if online trees can be trusted. His paternal grandmother was the sister of my 4th great-grandmother.
  • Edmond Vandeventer (1842-1865) – He recovered from his broken right arm and served in Co. G, 29th Indiana Infantry. He died of disease in Chattanooga near the end of the war and is buried there.
  • Lowery Deem (1839-1912) – He seems to have not served in the military. His Find A Grave memorial has the wrong death year. I’ve submitted a correction. The Deem family created a settlement of some sort that the Lights and others in my family tree lived near. Deem post office existed in the 1860s, but is now gone.
  • John R. Brown (1838-????) – John R. Brown seems to have not served in the military, which makes sense if he had the heart disease and weakness described in this document. He did manage to have children and lived until at least 1870. He died at some point before the 1880 Census when his wife was enumerated as widowed. He may be buried at Heddings Road Chapel Cemetery, Spencer, Indiana where his wife is buried. But, no legible marker currently marks his grave there, if it is there.
  • Galen Bray (1825-1886) – I have seen no references to his serving in the Civil War. He was a farmer. I have seen reference to him being buried at Fairview Cemetery in Linton, Greene, Indiana, but there is no Find A Grave memorial for him. He was a farmer.
  • George Alexander Hogan (1821-1900) – Suffering from “frequent piles” or hemorrhoids, he seems to have not served in the Civil War. He seems to have died in 1900, but I have found no record of where he is buried. He is an Ooley descendant — my 5th great-grandfather, John Ooley, was George’s paternal grandmother’s brother.
  • Tice Light (1827-1908) – He really wanted to serve, but was not allowed. He was the grandfather of my great-grandmother — my 3rd great-grandfather.
  • Henry Carter (1837-????) – I can’t find anything about him. There was a William Henry Carter, but I have found no evidence of him going by his middle name.

Recap

  • Those who served
    • 13th Indiana Infantry
      • Company G
        • Isaac Ooley (1842-1865)
    • 29th Indiana Infantry
      • Company G
        • Edmond Vandeventer (1842-1865)
    • 33rd Indiana Infantry
      • Company D
        • Theoderick James “T. J.” Gentry (1822-1894)
    • 57th Indiana Infantry
      • Company C
        • Wilson Zellers (1833-????)
    • 59th Indiana Infantry
      • Company A
        • John Wesley McIntosh (1834-1900)
      • Company B
        • John P. McKee (1831-1899)
        • Thomas Jacob Wood (1843-1920)
    • 97th Indiana Infantry
      • Company B
        • Silas E. Deem (1841-1934)
      • Company H
        • Philip Carpenter (1832-1907)
        • Pleasant Franklin (1820-1863)
    • 137th Indiana Infantry
      • Company K
        • Abner Johnson (1836-1871)
        • Abner Jasper Light (1842-1911)

Relatives

  • John Ooley (1837-1919) – first cousin 5x removed, also through his wife, Hester Light Ooley, 3rd great-grandaunt
  • William R. Johnson (1826-1886) – first cousin 5x removed
  • Abner Johnson (1836-1871) – first cousin 5x removed
  • Philip Carpenter (1832-1907) – through marriage, wife was an Ooley, exact relationship to me unknown
  • Abner Jasper Light (1842-1911) – 3rd great-granduncle
  • Isaac Ooley (1842-1865) – 2nd cousin 4x removed
  • Tice Light (1827-1908) – 3rd great-grandfather

Am I wrong?

Please contact me if I have any of this wrong or if you have additional information.

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Arvida Ooley Johnson (1804-1833)

Important note: For the first time, I am adding AI-generated illustrations to an article. Please do not add these to your family tree.

Before the US Census began recording the names and ages of household members in 1850, the only records we have of some of our female ancestors in the United States are their marriage records.

This is the case with Arvida (sometimes Anna) Ooley Johnson (ca. 1804–ca. 1833), my fourth great-grandmother (Arvida > Sarah Johnson Light > Nathaniel Light > Clara Light Schlotman, my great-grandmother).

Arvida married Lewis Johnson (sometimes Lewis David Johnson) on 6 Sep 1829, in Owen County, Indiana, by Justice of the Peace Samuel Franklin. It was a double wedding, with siblings marrying siblings—Arvida’s older brother, Christopher Ooley, married Lewis’ sister, Matilda Johnson.

A double wedding

This is the only record of Arvida, and I believe Justice Franklin recorded her name incorrectly. When he recorded the marriages two months later, he wrote “Anna.”

The marriage record of the Ooleys and Johnsons from FamilySearch. This can be found at: FamilySearch.org

What else do we know about Arvida? Her name is of Swedish origin and is pronounced ahr-VEE-duh.

In 2001, I borrowed Helen Light Thomson’s genealogy notebook and copied it. One section, “Notes from Uncle Elven,” mentioned that “Sara Johnson Light’s mother’s name was Ooley (Swedish).”

What I’ve found is that Ooley is not a Swedish name, but an English one, with origins in Warwickshire. I think that Uncle Elven Light’s information was not entirely incorrect, though. Arvida is a Swedish name, so there is likely some fairly recent Swedish ancestry in that line.

What’s more, sometimes the name is spelled “Owley” or “Wooley,” both of which are also English names.

Arvida was born around 1804, probably in Kentucky.

Arvida’s parents were John (1756–1833) and Martha Carpenter Ooley (1765–1836). Both were from what would later become Virginia and/or Kentucky. The information online is conflicting, but they were definitely both born here in what would become the United States. They married in Madison County, Kentucky, in 1791.

We don’t know when Arvida was born, but the year 1804 is associated with her in many family trees. Her birth location is most often cited as Green County, Kentucky, which is south and east of, and borders, LaRue County, the birthplace of Abraham Lincoln. They were of the same generation, as Lincoln was born when Arvida was five years old. However, it is more likely that Arvida was born in Madison County, Kentucky, as her family appears to have been enumerated there in 1810.

Arvida had at least two children, both girls.

Arvida had her first child, Eliza Ann Johnson (1830–1875), the year after her marriage.

Sarah Ann Johnson was born on 14 Feb 1832. No other children of this marriage are known, but there was time for another child to be born between the sisters, depending on when the first was born.

Arvida died sometime after the birth of Sarah Ann and before February 27, 1834, when Lewis remarried to Elizabeth “Betsey” Wise (1815–1888).

Waiting periods before remarriage were generally about a year for men and a few years for women unless there were young children who needed a mother. In such cases, the typical time between the mother’s death and the father’s remarriage was about six months. This suggests that Arvida likely died around the end of August 1833. This date is actually one I’ve seen in family trees.

Arvida’s cause of death is not known, but the most common causes of death for young women at that time were tuberculosis (consumption) and childbirth-related complications. The latter is possible, as about eighteen months passed between the birth of her last child and her presumed death date.

We don’t know where Arvida is buried, but I strongly believe she rests at Leach Cemetery in Franklin Township, Owen County, Indiana. This cemetery is located on the land once owned by her father, John Ooley. Her parents are supposed to be buried there, as are her siblings, and her husband and his second wife. I’ve visited Leach Cemetery, where many field stones are marked with only the year of death. The earliest currently marked and identified grave is from the 1850s, but there are undoubtedly older burials there.

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Mrs. Israel Light Called (Obituary)

Deadly Foe Consumption, Ends Useful Life After Many Months of Suffering
A scanned photocopy of an obituary from a newspaper. It is difficult to read.

Nettie Wood Light, the subject of this sketch, was born in Benton County, Indiana, near Fowler, on May 20, 1875, and peacefully departed this life Mar 8, 1909, aged 33 years, 9 months and 16 days.

She was the daughter of David and Martha Wilkins Wood, who with three brothers and one sister survive. She was married to Israel Light at Lafayette, Indiana, January 2, 1896, and to them were born one son, an only child, who with the father is left to mourn the loss of a thoroughly devoted mother and wife.

In early life she united with the Methodist Church, and later she changed that membership to the Christian Church at Pleasant Grove during the pastorate of Rev. W. D. Honn. She has always lived a consistant christian life. Chiefly through her own efforts she acquired a very credible common school education, though it was never her opportunity to graduate from any institution of learning.

Practically all of her married life has been spent in Benton and Newton counties, Indiana, and during the last four years her home has been continuously in the town of Brook, where she has been instrumental in founding a model home in which she took a justifiable pride. During her entire life she has exhibited that kind and sympathetic disposition and that unselfish devotion to duty which has endeared her to a large circle of acquaintances and friends. At no time have these good qualities of her character shown forth to a greater extent than during the last three years when her health has been on the decline. An abiding hope for the future was always her’s, and when a short time ago it was decided that she should seek health in a more favorable climate of a western land she departed with that hope and buoyancy of spirit which really filled her friends with a confidence in good results. But such was not to be and she longed for the familiar scenes and haunts of her Indiana home. Upon her return she seemed quieted and resigned and though hopeful for the future, yet her strength was rapidly on the decline. Her greatest desire was to live to do something for her home, her husband and little son. Everything that human skill, loving hands, and devoted friends could do was done for her comfort and relief but to no avail. The earthly life of our friend has ceased to be.

Funeral services were held in the Christian Church at 3 o’clock p. m. Wednesday, conducted by Rev. Clifford Weaver, of Eureka, Ill., assisted by Rev’s. Meredith and Ballard, after which the remains were interred in the cemetery east of town.

Source:

Unknown newspaper, unknown date
From the scrapbook of Helen Ruby Light Thomson (1913-2012)

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Marion Culver

Marion was the elder brother of my 2nd great-grandmother, Emma Culver Sinnamon Bunn (1865-1934). He was the second (known) son of David M. Culver (1821-1885) and Jane Adams Culver (1833-1902) who were both Ohio natives. He was probably born in Monroe Township, Preble County, Ohio and his birthdate was 30 Jan 1859.

Marion’s father served in the 5th Ohio Cavalry, Company F during the Civil War. He enlisted as a private in 1861 but was promoted to quartermaster sergeant within two months probably due to his experience in commerce — his 1850 US Census occupation was “merchant,” though he later farmed. During his service, David Culver was promoted several more times and ended his service as a captain in late 1864, about a year before the conflict came to an end.

At some point not long after Captain Culver came home, he moved his family to Indiana. Marion was six at the time. His sister Emma (my ancestor) was the first child of the family to be born in Indiana when she arrived nine months after her father left service.

Marion only appears on one surviving census as an adult. In 1880, at age twenty-one, he lived on the family farm in far north Howard County, Indiana near Galveston. The enumerator listed him as being a farmer but also going to school.

Marion died at age thirty-seven on 12 December 1896. His funeral occurred the following day at his home (probably still the family farm near Galveston) and he was buried at nearby Galveston Cemetery.

His cause of death is unknown at this time, but he was apparently not in good health. The following death notice/short obituary says that his death was due to “a complication of troubles.”

I can’t find any notes about where this came from. It seems to be from a Kokomo newspaper, as that is where the listed cousins lived at the time.

Marion was active in Sons of Veterans which was an offshoot of G.A.R. I guess the guys in G.A.R. wanted their work to carry on once they were gone and so created the Sons. The organization still exists today.

I’d love to see a photo of Marion. If you have one, please let me know.

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The Cahoe Bible Family Records

The Thomas and Elizabeth Cahoe Family Bible no longer exists (that we are aware of). All that is left are the three pages of family records.

In the late 1990s or early 2000s, I scanned (in low quality, unfortunately) three loose pages from the Cahoe Bible. They were tucked into a large, modern Bible that belonged to my grandmother, Imogene Cahoe Stone (1918–2004). She was the daughter of Patsie Edward Cahoe, whose birth is included in the records, as he was the son of Thomas and Elizabeth.

Grandma pointed out that the births had been altered. She said that a Cahoe sister (Pearl, I think) changed it to make herself seem younger than she was. Regardless of the reason, it has clearly been altered with what looks like a blue ballpoint pen.

The entries in the records are all in the same hand. I believe it is the handwriting of Rachel Cahoe, as Thomas Cahoe’s signature doesn’t match.

The entries also seem to have all been made at the same time, as they are uniform in appearance. If the events were recorded as they happened, there would be variation in the pen, ink, or hand used. This means that it is a snapshot of the Cahoe family at a certain point in time.

The family record was created at some point after the death of Viola M. Cahoe in May 1889 and before the first marriage of the family, that of John Thomas Cahoe in Oct 1896. So, the Bible was probably bought, and the records were completed between 1889 and 1896. The family was living in Watseka, Illinois, at that time.

The Holman Bible
An internet search yielded an exact match for the record pages in an 1890 edition of The Parallel Bible, Pronouncing Edition, for sale on eBay. The fourteen-pound bible for sale includes over 2000 illustrations, some in color, and is four inches thick. It is a “Holman Bible,” published by A. J. Holman Company in Philadelphia.

The Holman Bibles were sold by travelling salesmen. The salesmen didn’t work directly for Holman, and the company that they worked for was listed as the publisher. You can tell a Holman Bible by the “Light of the World” logo on the title page.

These salesmen carried sample books that showed the different bindings and samples of the inside content to the customer. The customer could choose from several models. Each upgrade included more features and an upgraded binding. Prices went up according to the customer’s choices. Metal closures could be added for an additional charge.

All versions of the Holman Bible included the family record pages, so it is impossible to know which version the Cahoe family bought. Prices ranged from about $5 to $12, which would be about $135 to $325 in today’s dollars (2019).

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Mary Elizabeth Cahoe (Bean) Biographical Sketch

Birth

Mary Elizabeth Cahoe was born 17 February 1881 near Danville in Newell Township, Vermillion County, Illinois. She was the fifth child of Thomas Jefferson Cahoe and Rachel Elizabeth Blazer Cahoe.

Sources: “Death of Mary Cahoe” obituary, Cahoe Family Bible, 1900 US Census, and age at death in death notice.

Siblings and the move to Watseka

Four siblings welcomed Mary into the family: John Thomas, age 8; Viola M., age 6; Minnie Alice, age 4; and Ruey Melvina, age 2.

Before the birth of their next child in 1882, the Cahoes moved their family from Danville to Watseka, Illinois. They probably came to the area after Thomas’ half-sister, Jennie Doolittle, married a man from nearby Milford on 4 January 1882.

Mary’s mother gave birth to five more children in coming years:

  • Emma Cahoe was born in early 1882. She died at age three in 1885.
  • Three months after Emma’s death, her mother gave birth to William Cahoe. William lived only six months.
  • Charles Frederick Cahoe was born in 1888.
  • The Cahoes lost fourteen-year-old Viola M. in May 1889 to a heart ailment. Four months later, their son Patsie Edward Cahoe was born (my great-grandfather).
  • Pearl O. Cahoe was born in 1898.

Marriage

On 26 Jan 1899, Mary married thirty-eight-year-old Franklin E. “Frank” Bean, a laborer. The marriage was very short and was probably annulled, possibly because Mary lied about her age on the application, claiming to be nineteen instead of her actual age — seventeen. Or, it might have been that Frank’s lie was exposed. He claimed to be twenty-nine, not thirty-eight.

Source: “Illinois, County Marriage Records, 1800-1940” database on Ancestry.com.

1900 US Federal Census

Eighteen months after the marriage, Mary was enumerated in the 1900 US Federal Census as “Mary Cahoe,” a single nineteen-year-old living with her parents in a home they owned on North Third Street in Watseka. At the time of the census, 13 June 1900, her father was tending bar and she and her older sisters, Minnie and Ruey, worked at a hotel.

The 1900 census is the only one in existence to include Mary Cahoe. The 1890 census was lost in a fire and Mary would not live to be enumerated in 1910.

Missing family members

While siblings Minnie, Ruey, Mary, Fred, “Eddie” (later called “Pat”), and Pearl Cahoe were reported in their parents’ household, Thomas, Viola, Emma, and William Cahoe were not.

John Thomas Reynolds was twenty-seven in 1900. He, his wife of four years, Louisa, and three-year-old-son Eugene, lived on the same street as his parents.

Viola, Emma, and William were already deceased at the time of the 1900 Census.

Transcription

1900 US Federal Census
Third Street (later North Third Street), Watseka, Iroquois, Illinois, USA
13 Jun 1900
Dwelling 326, Family 343

Line – Name – Relation – Sex – Birth – Age – Marriage – Birth Place – Father Birth – Mother Birth – Occupation
7 – Cahoe, Thomas – Head – M – Jan 1850 – 50 – M 28ys – IN – Ireland – IN – Bar Tender
8 – Cahoe, Rachel – Wife – F – Feb 1856 – 44 – M 28ys – TN – TN – TN
9 – Cahoe, Minnie – Daughter – F – Nov 1876 – 23 – S – IL – IN – TN – Works in Hotel
10 – Cahoe, Ruey – Daughter – F – Dec 1878 – 21 – S – IL – IN – TN – Works in Hotel
11 – Cahoe, Mary – Daughter – F – Feb 1881 – 19 – S – IL – IN – TN – Works in Hotel
12 – Cahoe, Fred – Son – M – Aug 1887 – 12 – S – IL – IN – TN – At School
13 Cahoe, Eddie – Son – M – Sept 1889 – 10 – S – IL – IN – TN – At School
14 Cahoe, Pearl – Daughter – F – June 1897 – 2 – S – IL – IN – TN

Additional info

  • All family members were white.
  • Rachel was mother to six children, six of whom were living at the time of the census. This is incorrect — she was mother of ten and seven were living. This information looks like it was added in later and so the question may not have been asked at the time.
  • All family members could read, write, and speak English, except Pearl, who could not read or write at age two.
  • The dwelling was owned free and was not on a farm.

Source: Ancestry.com, 1900 United States Federal Census, Watseka (District 20), Iroquois, Illinois, Sheet 14A, Lines 7-14, Dwelling 327, Family 343, 13 June 1900.

Illness and death

Mary became ill around Christmastime in 1901. Fourteen weeks later, on the morning of 21 April 1902, she died at the age of twenty-one at the home of her parents on North Third Street in Watseka, Illinois. Her funeral occurred two days later at her church, the Christian Church of Watseka on Ash Street, B. S. Ferrall officiating.

The resting place of Mary Cahoe is unknown, but she was probably laid to rest at Oak Hill Cemetery in Watseka, Illinois. There is no gravestone.

Sources: “Death of Mary Cahoe” obituary, death notice, Cahoe Family Bible

Obituary & Death Notice

For some reason, both of these list her father as “F. G. Cahoe,” when his name was Thomas Jefferson Cahoe.

Death of Mary E. Cahoe

Died, Monday April 21, 1902, Mary Elizabeth Cahoe, aged twenty-one years and two months.

The deceased was the fourth daughter of F. G. and Rachel Cahoe and was born in Danville, Ill., Feb. 17, 1881, and passed away at her parents' home on North Third street in this city at nine o'clock Monday forenoon.

She united with the Christian church three years ago and has been very earnest in her profession. She was a pleasant, happy disposition and a favorite with neighbors and friends. During her long illness of fourteen weeks she has shown wonderful bravery and patience.

Her bereaved parents and the other children in the family six in number, have the sympathy of everyone in their grievous loss.

The funeral services were held at the Christian church this forenoon at ten o'clock, conducted by B. S. Ferrall.

"Death of Mary E. Cahoe," Watseka Republican, 23 Apr 1902, Iroquois County Genealogical Society, Watseka, Illinois, USA.
Mary Cahoe, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. F. G. Cahoe, died at the home of her parents in this city Monday at the age of 21 years. The funeral occurred Wednesday afternoon from the Christian church of which the deceased was a member, besides her parents six other members of the family remain to mourn the death of a gentle loving daughter and devoted sister.

Death Notice, Unknown Newspaper, 25 Apr 1902, Iroquois County Genealogical Society, Watseka, Illinois, USA.

Wish List

I would like to obtain the following to add to the story of Mary Cahoe:

  • Divorce or annulment record – before 13 Jun 1900 – Iroquois County Courthouse?
  • Death certificate – 21 Apr 1902 – Iroquois County Courthouse?
  • Burial record – 23 Apr 1902 – Oak Hill?
  • A photo – 1881-1902 – Unknown
  • It would also be interesting to know what hotel she and her sisters worked at. How many hotels did Watseka have in 1900?
  • Another item of interest is the location of the Cahoe home on North Third Street in Watseka and when it was purchased. It may have been the only home Mary knew, as the family came to Watseka while she was still an infant.
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Mary Savage Goosey’s Birth Date

Biographical Sketch

A CDV copy of a circa 1850 daguerreotype of Mary Savage Goosey
(Source: Emma Jane Goosey Light)

Mary Savage Goosey was my fourth great-grandmother. She was born at Hill Row (sometimes Hillrow), Haddenham, Cambridgeshire, England, to William and Susan Butler Savage (sometimes Savidge). She was baptized at Holy Trinity Church in Haddenham 18 Jul 1813. On 13 Jan 1835 she married Levitt Goosey at the same church. It was also there that her nine children were baptised and five were then buried after dying in infancy and childhood. The family of six came to America in 1860, settling near Sheldon, Iroquois, Illinois. Mary died there on 14 Nov 1881 and was buried in Sheldon Cemetery there.

Questioning the birth date

The date I’ve always used for Mary Savage’s birth is 2 Jun 1810. The source for this is her gravestone. It states that she died 14 Nov 1881 aged 71 years, 5 months, 12 days.

Left: a photo from Find A Grave taken by Steven Baker (permission obtained)
Right: an enhanced photo-negative version of the same photo

I recently discovered Mary’s parent’s marriage record and to my surprise, it shows that they married 15 Oct 1810. This date was four months after the presumed birth date of their daughter Mary. While it is possible that Mary was born out of wedlock, I thought I should reexamine my information.

Then, I rediscovered something that I found odd years ago. Mary’s sister, Martha was baptized 12 May 1811. If Mary was born 2 Jun 1810, she was the eldest child. Why, then, was Mary not baptized until two years after Martha, her younger sibling?

I have seen many examples of baptisms of illegitimate children at that time. It seems to be a regular occurrence. Why, then, was Mary not baptized until she was three years old?

The answer seems to be that Mary wasn’t born in 1810. My theory is that Martha was the eldest child, born in 1811. Mary was born in June 1813. Here is an examination of the few records we have on Mary which include her age. I assume that June was the month of her birth in calculating years:

RecordDateAgeBirth Date
Gravestone14 Nov 188171y, 5m, 12d2 Jun 1810
Death Record14 Nov 188171y, 4m, 20d25 Jun 1810
1880 US Census2 Jun 188069y1811
1870 US Census7 Jul 187051y1819
Passenger List10 Oct 186048y1812
1851 UK Census30 Mar 185137y1813
1841 UK Census6 Jun 184125y1816
Baptism Record18 Jul 1813Not notedBef. 18 Jul 1813

Here is more information about the records in the above table:

County Death Record

Mary’s death record conflicts with what is on her stone. According to the record:

Mary Goosey, age 71 years, 4 months, 20 days, died on 14 Nov 1881 at 2:30 AM. She was a widow from Cambridgeshire, England. She died in Concord Township, Iroquois, Illinois of pneumonitis after being ill for ten days. She was buried at Sheldon Cemetery 15 Nov 1881 by E. Cradell of Sheldon. Her doctor had been Z. E. Patrick, also of Sheldon.

If the death record is correct, Mary’s birth date would be 25 Jun 1810.

1880 US Census

The next record for Mary is the 1880 US Census. On 2 Jun 1880, she was enumerated as 69 years old. This jives with the general June 1810 birth given on her stone and in the death record. And, of course, census records aren’t always correct. For reference, Levitt was listed as being 73 — a difference of four years between himself and Mary.

1880 US Census for the Levitt Goosey family

1870 US Census

The next record is the 1870 US Census and this is where we see a big change. On 7 Jul 1870, Mary Goosey was enumerated as 51 years old. Her husband was 66, which doesn’t jive with his death date and age at death. It also makes the difference in age go from four years to fifteen. Of course we don’t know who gave Mary’s age to the enumerator. But, if it was Mary, she shaved a decade off of her age. As Mary was baptized in 1813, we know that she was older than 51 in 1870.

1870 US Census for the Levitt Goosey family

Passenger List for the Christiana

The Levitt Goosey family missed both the 1860 US Census and the 1861 UK Census. They left the Port of London, England 10 Oct 1860 on the ship Christiana bound for New York. Their eldest son, George, had gone to America the previous spring, and the family decided to join him in Illinois. The Goosey family travelled in a 2nd class cabin and arrived in New York 22 Nov 1860. The passenger list shows Mary’s age as 48 and Levitt’s as 52. This would put Mary’s birth year as 1812.

Mary was listed as 48 years old in the fall of 1860.

1851 UK Census

The next record in our backwards search is the 1851 UK Census. Mary’s age was listed as 37 and William’s was 42. Census day was 30 Mar that year. If we keep Mary’s birth month as June, her birth year according to this census would be 1813.

Mary was 37 on 30 Mar 1851 according to the UK Census.

1841 UK Census

At the time of the 1841 UK Census, which took place on 6 June, Mary was enumerated as being 25, while Levitt was 30. This would put Mary’s birth year at either 1815 or 1816. As she was baptized in 1813, neither year would be accurate.

Mary was enumerated as 25 in 1841.

Mary and Levitt married in 1835. The record of their marriage did not note their ages at the time. As it was by banns, there was no age minimum.

Baptism Record

The next and final record for Mary is her baptism record. She was baptized at Haddenham on 18 Jul 1813. Her age at the time was not noted.

In conclusion

It’s hard to argue with information literally set in stone. But, 1810 just doesn’t make sense as the birth year for Mary Savage Goosey. How I will handle this going forward is to keep the date as calculated from age at death on the stone, but make note that she was more likely to have been born in 1813.

Sources